Reality shook as the thundering form of Avechna the Avenger stirred from
His immortal slumber and rose into the skies above the Basin of Life.
With a booming voice that reverbrated throughout the firmament, He
announced to the mortals gathered below that the first of the Ascension
Trials was to begin! Just before the Seal of Chaos was to go into play,
the villages of Rockholm, Southgard, and Ankgrag decided to revolt
against their masters, making for a very interesting and chaotic setting
indeed! Fortunately for the participants, New Celest quickly marshalled
their forces and took the entirety of the dwarven kingdom, while
Glomdoring shocked the Basin with their victory over Angkrag.

Just as the last village swore their fealty, Avechna unleashed thousands
of hamsters upon Lusternia and marked the beginning of the trial. The
greatest of them all was the Purple Hamster of Chaos, who was rumoured
to severely disrupt the mental capabilties of the one who held her as
time went on. In the beginning she passed through several mortal hands,
before ending up with Spinner Morshoth Noctis of Glomdoring for quite
some time. But it was not meant to last, as Morshoth soon fell victim to
Krellan of Serenwilde. This time the Purple Hamster ended up in the
hands of the demigod Kaervas d'Murani. Kaervas escaped into the
mountains and was able to avoid the others for over half the day,
despite the almost overwhelming effects of the Hamster on his mind and
body.

With less then a minute left in the trial, just as Kaervas was expecting
victory, he was overtaken by a Serenwilde hunting party and despite his
best efforts was slain, again by the hand of Krellan. The Purple Hamster
vanished from the scene, and when she reappeared Shorlen of Hartstone
was there to seize victory. Shortly after he was marked by Chaos and
given charge of the seal by Avechna Himself, who then returned to His
resting place until the next trial. Meanwhile, Vix Talnara, Thoros
La'Saet, and Daganev Treeripper were able to take first, second, and
third respectively in the regular hamster hunt.

How will the Seal of Chaos, now in the shape of a Medallion, affect
Shorlen? Will he be able to handle the power and responsibility in the
coming year before the Final Trial, or will he be consumed by it? Only
time will tell.

Penned by My hand on the 12th of Shanthin, in the year 165 CE.