Death's Sting, In Character

Death’s Sting

In Character Information

 

Released 10/17/04

 

A great earthquake shook all of Elanith last night and what happened next shocked everyone everywhere.  A massive shadowy dragon erupted out of a mountain peak in the DragonSpine Mountains and took flight, passing over most of the major cities.

The dragon appeared not immediately threatening as it gazed down upon the citizens of all the towns.  It soon disappeared for a period of time until it was once again discovered flying along the Western Coast of Elanith.

No one would fully realize the reason behind this dragon’s appearance until a Priestess of Lorminstra came forward with a story:

“The Cycle of Life is changing to how it once was.  Long ago, when the world was new to the lesser races and the land had just left the reign of the Drakes, the Arkati graced the world with their presence.  Each of them was given a task in healing the land and restoring things to how they were before the Great War.”

“The tasks were new to all the Arkati, and their powers were still developing as they learned their new position in the world.  As such, when Lorminstra would return a worthy soul back from the brink of the Ebon Gate, she would not fully heal them, both body and soul.  As they learned to harness the full potential of their powers, she then would extend gifts of healing those worthy in full for their devotion of her deeds.”

“Kor’thriss, the shadowy dragon everyone saw this evening, is the guardian of the world.  It was his task to collect the excess essence that lingered behind on the world whenever someone died, but was not fully healed.  This essence is a form of energy that often took upon the shape of wisps, and if it remained left alone, it would have a dire effect as it conflicts with the mana flows of Elanthia.  Kor’thriss collects and distributes the energy to new life.  When the Lady started to fully heal the worthy and the essence ceased to linger, Lady Lorminstra asked Lord Koar to put Kor’thriss back to slumber in the center of the world, and there he remained until now.”

“With Kor’thriss awakened, obviously at the behest of Lady Lorminstra and Lord Koar, it has signaled to us that the Cycle of Life has turned once more.  Things will return to how they were.  We do not know the full reason why things are changing.  Some among the clergy say it is because Lady Lorminstra wishes to teach us a lesson in the value of life.  Others say that she wishes to punish us, to harden our spirits to prepare for the Oblivion should our time come.”

Shortly after the Priestess of Lorminstra told the story, everyone felt a faint presence pass over their body, and a soft sigh in their ear.  A somber voice spoke gently, “Fear not, Children of Elanitha.  A new dawn is rising upon the horizon of your lives as the Cycle of Life now has come full turn.” And then a soft white glow surrounded everyone, and coalesced into small orbs that spiraled off towards the heavens.

What happens now ... one cannot say for certain.  An era of change has passed over the faithful inhabitants of Elanthia, and we will just have to see how it plays out.

But for now, be safe.

~ A Solhaven journalist