As the great constructs were raised across the nexus worlds, hope sprang
up across the Basin of Life that the terrible incursions of the
serpentine creatures would be abated and relative peace would settle
once more onto the lands. At first, they were met with some success,
until the Shadow Court of Glomdoring, convinced the threat was at a
permanent end, dismantled their construct - causing swarms of the
creatures to continue pouring back into the Basin of Life, where they
disappeared beneath the waves of the Sea of Despair.

Failing to upkeep their own construct, New Celest soon joined Glomdoring
in frenzied battles across their nexus world and through the streets of
the city against the seemingly endless tide of creatures.

Mysteriously, the Taint began to drain from the Sea of Despair, heralded
first by dolphins returning to the long-forsaken waters, and finally by
the miraculous transformation of the Sea of Despair into the Crystal Sea
of old. Spectre Isle was soon to follow, and before long even the orcs
of Acknor had reverted into their former orclach selves, crying out in
celebration. Meanwhile, Magnagora had discovered one of the Verses of
Magnora that hinted at dire consequences for all creation as the
"poisoned land healed true."

The enigmatic prophesy did indeed come to pass as the serpents returned
in force to the Crystal Sea, combining to form an unimaginably vast
serpent that swam those pristine waters. Many in the Basin of Life were
quick to speculate that this might be the return of Illith, the
Leviathan, one of the dread Soulless Gods. The serpent rose out of the
Crystal Sea, gorging itself on the Taint around it, and invaded
Magnagora, slithering through the winding streets and sewers of the
tainted city to coil tightly around the Megalith of Doom, drinking the
very power from the nexus. The Taint began to falter, as Nihilists
summoned angels and Geomancers were unable to spread their earthen
demesnes, and despair settled into the city.

It was then that Estarra, the Eternal, descended upon Magnagora and
attempted to destroy the serpent, sensing a threat to the underlying
fabric of creation. Yet, it was too late and She was unable to destroy
the creature without undoing all mortalkind in the process, so deeply
had it woven itself into the great tapestry of fate. Turning to the
Verses which had heralded the arrival of this serpent for an answer,
mortals were soon embroiled in a fierce debate over the best course of
action. Many claimed the Verses prophesied that only through weakening
the Nine Seals and releasing some of Almighty Kethuru's essence could
the monstrosity be defeated. Others rejected this reckless and dangerous
plan, claiming that the risks were not worth the destruction and threat
Kethuru represented. In the end, Estarra agreed to release Her
protection over the Nine Seals and allow mortals to attempt their
dangerous plan, though many still objected.

Magnagora and Serenwilde launched fervently into this plan of action,
burning their karma at the Nine Seals to weaken them, while the leaders
of New Celest and the Glomdoring forest withdrew into their innermost
councils to formulate an alternate plan. It was then that the last of
the Nine Seals was sufficiently weakened, and Almighty Kethuru, the bane
of all creation, began to stir from His ancient prison.

A darkening cloud of the Taint swept across Magnagora, the Blasted
Lands, and the Crystal Sea, befouling them with its oily touch. All
mortals who were caught in this cloud fell victim to its poisons, only
to rise again as the undead. At the core of the Taint, Kethuru wrested
with the great serpent who fed greedily upon His blasphemous essence,
and the unimaginable strength of the Soulless God prevailed. The great
serpent was shattered, its skull crashing into the Blasted Lands.

With the Soulless God weakened, Avechna, the Avenger, awoke and
temporarily sealed Him away, warning that as the the Nine Seals were
weakened, the Avenger's strength would ebb away until Almighty Kethuru
inevitably broke free once more. Estarra descended again upon Lusternia,
and spoke of their salvation. It was not Illith, the Leviathan, who had
attacked the Basin of Life, though a creature much similar to Her. What
the creature was, and how it came to be, would yet remain unknown. But
the threat of Almighty Kethuru loomed eminent.

An Ascended God must rise, Estarra decreed, and recharge the Nine Seals
with their divine essence in the ascension. Shock fell across the Basin
of Life as mortals dared to think that their splintered divine spirit
might soon ascend to true divinity and a place among the Elder Gods.

A new age dawns among mortalkind, as each vies for position and the
chance to rise as an Ascended God. Yet, still there remain Verses of
Magnora unanswered, and what they shall portend for the future remains a
mystery. Perhaps more pressing, however, is the question that looms
foremost in every mortal's mind: Which among them shall rise up and
claim the title of Ascended God?

Penned by My hand on the 23rd of Kiani, in the year 165 CE.