The city of Ashtan was in disrepair, and it seemed that all the possible
misfortunes in the world were falling upon the Bastion of the North. The
plagues had already taken their toll upon the citizens through the
contaminated rat populace, yet more tragedies were to occur.

When the aquifers beneath the city began to crumble and fall, many
thought that matters could not get much worse for Ashtan. What at first
seemed to be simple leaks within the sewer system soon created
widespread panic as the underground passageways began to fill with
water. The Archons of the city rallied to find a solution under the
guiding hand of Overseer Taryn. Warnings were issued to shop owners in
haste, yet it was too late. Soon enough, their stockrooms also began
filling with water.

Concurrent to the flooding, odd shimmering curtains also began to appear
around Ashtan, stealing pedestrians at will. Some curtains led to death
below the water, while others led to an abandoned, ancient city. Rumors
began to fly regarding the origins of this deserted city and scholars
flocked to be drawn into one of the curtains in order to study it.
Although the accessible sections of the ancient city mystified the
populace, what truly lay beyond the curtains was still shrouded in the
Artificer's scheme.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent, Hakhim had been
feverishly working on a ritual to destroy the rats that had tormented
him all his life. However, the clues and advice that he had been given
for the ritual were from a deviant source, and Hakhim soon found that he
had been misled. Gaping holes opened up in several locations in both
Enorian and Ashtan, and from these sprung gargantuan rats that were
hungry for the blood of those who had belittled their kin for so long.

The monstrosities found their way to the Ratman of Ashtan, and in one
fell swoop consumed him and all his lunatic ravings. Seeing the waters
continue to rise about their home, the mammoth rats tried their best to
escape from the city but they were slain by the families of those they
had killed and others that they had enraged.

The waters steadily rose in the seaside city, unhindered by protests or
attempts to stem them. Speculations that Ashtan was sinking began to
fly, and many wondered if it would be replaced by something else after
so many years of stagnation. Central Market floundered under the deluge,
as did the Seaside Markets and much of Martin's Sorrow.

Pursuing the disasters to the city, a doctor named Grisnelda came to
Ashtan to study the gulls that had begun accumulating to feast upon the
corpses of the dead rats. After setting up camp, she began collecting
gulls from any who would offer them in hopes of finding new ways to
prevent disease. Ashtan was still in a sorry state, but the leaders had
faith they would find a way to combat the flooding, clean up the
streets, and restore prosperity to the city. What they did not know, was
that events would soon take a rather unexpected turn.


Penned by my hand on the 25th of Niuran, in the year 159 MA.