How Jade Becameth...

The man Darlantan enters a room with a young person. This person is inquiring about the history of a strange occurrance from hundreds of years in the past. Darlantan speaks...

"Not much is known on the actual action that triggered Jade to appear, but there are references on how it became such."

He gestures with a wave of his enormous hand to a palate of books upon a table of red oak. One book in particular is open midway to a section titled 'The First'.

Darlantan, a large man, suggestive not of his heritage, but of his age, gestures once more, but to sit and read.

Glancing down, the person begins to read.

It is the year 1279 AE, Year of the Cobra: First tenday of the summer season.

This day, nine after the summer solstice, the world changed vividly. How we should know this, I cannot say, but the world just changed before our eyes. It appeared like we knew these changes, almost as if they had happened ago the two years that we think they did. Most strange I agree, but so true. Somehow, the books we have written have not changed.'

Entrenched in the writings, the person reads on.

'Morning passes with no avail this day, but suddenly just before our tea, the world rumbles and then shakes itself to pieces. The latest crack in the Language Archives section proves this worth. Yet the crack seems aged.

Apparently, something placed it's roots in the desert and rumbled the planet. Eventually, it settled and a great tree, the roots became. This tree has a power unlike that of any being less than a God.

Darlantan:"Chief Recorder of All and Nothing."

Looking back at the book again the figure continues.

It is the year 1279 AE, Year of the Cobra: First tenday of the summer season.

'I have sent two of my better scribes to go check this insinuation out the minute I heard the rumor. For rumors can be true or false, but they are laden with some half-truths.

Many other happenings affected our world. The whole way we do things has to change as well. For one, we noticed that AE as written in the books has come to mean something different. No longer is it After Exploration, but it is now referred to as to After Entropy.

Among other interesting happenings, odd creatures of old and new are coming out of the woodwork. Rumors of giantkind coming from up north have the elves in tiffle. Desert lizardmen are somehow connected with this Great Tree in the Gobu Desert.

Not only have these happenings occurred, but we have new writings on the new continental changes that had occurred two years ago. The continent of Quinalt is no more. The continent hath split right down it's middle and we now have two; Altir to the west and Quinron to the east where I reside. The great mountain kingdom of the dwarves has a new subterranean cavern under it's own feet. Far to the south a new landmass has risen from the seas, but we know not it's definition for it is clouded in a mysterious fog. Every ship entering, hath never come back to tell the tale. Some have named the land mass Frozen Death, yet I prefer Zoria. Some say a Lich of great power resides there and supports this fog with magic. He once did the same to the Rokie Islands when he was alive. Even now I have sent my other employees out to research these new geographical aspects.'

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and Nothing."

It is the year 1279 AE, Year of the Cobra: Second tenday of the summer season.

'The latest tale told comes from an area north of the Gobu desert. Apparently, a party of adventurers were sitting around a campfire yesterday, I mean two years ago suppossedly. They were sharing food with a unique female. She was a child, but appeared much older by the lines upon her face. A weathered face they said. It was strange they stated, yet even stranger they said were her eyes. She carried an eye of pure black and an eye of pure white. Although frightening, they said she did things to ease the fright and create a level of calm amongst the group.

Later, days after the fateful meeting, they offered to help her through the desert to some unknown destination. When arriving to the so called destination she stopped, sniffed the air and nodded at something in the sand.

They say she bent down and kneeled and prayed. Minutes after she was surrounded with a pale green hue and her feet dove vividly into the grey sand. Rooting herself, she changed drasticly. A tree they say she became. A tree so hard, it's crystaline features made them realize she was not of anything they new of. Druids came to their minds, because that is often what a druid will do. They become a creation of the world itself.

The next thing the group knew, they were uprooted in a small sphere and transported to the same location they met the strange girl.'

A most interesting tale of course, but one I believe is part rumor. The way word passes by mouth, the tale may change several times before tale is more of a story than a truth.

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and Nothing."

It is the year 1279 AE, Year of the Cobra: Second Tenday of the summer season.

'Upon review of the rumor, we had come to think it merely a rumor with some truths to it. Yet digesting it, the party's story seemed somewhat sincere. The problem being, is that I just received news of another tale which contradicts this other one completely.

Apparrently, there was a similar or the same party of adventurers in an area very similar north of the Gobu Desert. A young female girl arrived just outside their camp asking for assistence. She claims she was lost and needed some food. Naturally the female cleric of this party took her in with no answers to the questions the party asked. The dwarves grumbled about allowing unknowns into their nice group.

Eventually everyone had accepted the girl and decided to help her find her parents which she claimed were inside the desolate Gobu Desert.

As time passed they eventually got there, but what awaited them was not what they expected. Sitting around a small camp by a few rocks were two people that appeared by the description to be her parents.

What they found though, were two dragons of blue. Very large specimens according to the tale tellers. These dragons began their attack on the party quickly. Immediately one of the dwarves was lost in a maw when he charged blindly at them. The young female somehow and amazingly cast a few spells that were significantly more powerful than someone ten times her age. The dragons bowed and, taken aback, reared away from the party. However, the young one wasn't finished. So upset was she, that she cast a spell that opened a rift in the sand. Control was lost and the dragons were immediately swallowed by the rift. Only two of the party members remain, since the rest were swallowed by the rift without pause. The young girl, however, was sucked in the rift's direction, but as it closed her top half remained, forever sealed. She screamed in anguish, pain, and anger. Anger rising to a tumult, she appeared godlike. Slowly the girl changed and reformed herself. At the end of the anger, a beautiful chystaline jade tree lay in it's place. It was the greatest and enormous tree the two remaining members had ever seen. They left the desert that night.

So the story again tells a twisted tale of half truths. The truths we can pull out from this story and the above are this: 1) I am convinced that this Jade Tree is there, 2) Obviously there was an outside pair of eyes watching this, for we have two tales with a few similarities, 3) There was a party of adventurers involved, and 4) the girl must have been involved at some point. I am now aware of this and plan to send out two more scribes to investigate these four truths.'

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and Nothing."

It is the year 1279 AE, Year of the Cobra: Third tenday of the summer season.

'My scribes have returned. Both seem relieved to be back in the comfort of their homes here. Although travelling can be a most refreshing experience it is also taxing on some of our larger bretheren.

Reporting directly to me after eating a fine meal they seemed to be distracted, fearful, yet at peace at the same time. Johan spoke first and laid claim that there is a Tree of Jade in the Gobu Desert. Mercil only nodded in approval. Both said that the Jade Tree leaves a feeling of peaceful wonderment, but instills a raw fear about it. They seem to reflect elation during their time there.

Most interesting of their tales, was the mention of the Great Oaks. A druidic faith, had made several visits of the Tree of Jade. They appeared to have been worshipping the Jaden Tree according to the accounts of both. These were the only humanoid forms they found. The only other forms they found, were the many reptilian types that frequent the desert; Sidewinder Snakes, Young Wyverns, and many small lizard types that frequent at night.

These Druids moved in and out of the area as if on errands for a king. None came forth to touch the tree though. The two claim there were tales of those who did touch the tree but disappeared to never show again.'

The two I forgive for not staying there to research more, but they will go back to the same site once again to find out about this odd occurrance. As I have said before, I do not believe in tales and half-truthes.

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and Nothing."

Side Note 47e:

"I, Darlantan, hath given up one thing to the New World of Jade. With all things occurring and referring to the two years ago this great incident occurred I go forth with a small change to historical book keeping. Although sadly, I do this, I must. All following excerts will contain the NW following our post date. The previous expression will be passed on as the 2nd Age and the new 3rd Age continues from here on out. NW, of course stands for the New World as we see it. It is now the year 3 NW, Year of the Buffalo. The decade memorandum will continue as was before but the decade starts with a Century ( One 100 year period )of an Animal Group. Now is the Century of Hairy Creations, thus now classified as Mammalians."

A pause is set here and then a fine line that is written in some old art sets there.

"The Great OmnuS has deemed this."

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and Nothing."

An interesting thought was proposed today. An old wizard from the Tower of Glass hath visited me and reported a study he had been working on. Deritis, the old wizard, stated he caught a small rift in the way magic moves when being woven. (Devastating this could be.) So in the event, he assumed two possibilites to see if he can resolve the issue. What he assumed is that:

1) The rift is presumably created as a magic draw created by the Jade Tree east of us. Deritis claims that the weave seems to be re-centering itself east where the Jade tree lies. Somehow time's weave and magic's weave are interconnected.

2) The rift secondly could completely time based. According to some spell Deritis uses, he can detect certain properties of the weave in different areas. He decided to focus on the numeral two because that is how much time has passed between the two ages. Interestingly enough, the numeral two appeared in no combination amongst his search. Instead, he received the numeral eight in combinations of twelve and thirteen pings. He could explain the pings easily. Each set of eight had twelve or thirteen pings to it. Each set was rythmic to a marching tune. Yet, not one marching tune was similar in nature. Each set also repeated it's tunelike nature continuously. Deritis even played these pings for me performing this spell. Now I couldn't understand it, but Deritis claims he heard this music of a march. He seems to think all marches sounded like an entrance theme. Yet, every march was different. His hypothesis is this: "Eight years have passed, but not more than eight times twelve or thirteen in alternating periods. Eight times thirteen and then eight times twelve and alternating in that pattern." In considering the music and the symbiance between it, his mathematics, and the rift the theory makes some sense, at least to him and a few of his fellows. Deritis continues his theory by mentioning that a portal opens at the beginning of each new period. These portals he supposes are invisible and take or send others to and from our world or other worlds.

The impact of the hypothesis in both can gravitating. The more interesting fact is that moving about, in a world that seems much the same, is of pure idiocy. For we know not if there are two, eight, ten, or one hundred years missing of our lives.

We must research this immediately. For the implications can show us a much different world than we know of. I plan of a major dispatch of my acolytes to the regions of the world where our scholars like Deritis work. The answers must be concluded soon.

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and Nothing."

Feeling a thirst for more water itch it's throat, the person turns back to grasp the water glass. Drinking heavily, the person finishes and sets the glass down. Out of the corner of it's eye, the person notices that words begin to appear below the previous entry read. Honestly bored, yet interested, the person walks around the table and begins to read. Caught in the act, the person sits once again and follows the words hungrily.

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Fourth tenday of the summer season.

'Upon the previous entry, I had no idea that Trent had been awaiting me outside. Trent, had been at the Jade Tree a three tenday previous and hath returned. I am intrigued at his verbal.

He is back healthy and seems to be of a rested condition. His portrayal begins as this:

"I am back great friend and I bear forth this diary for your perusal. My conclusion is this. Upon viewing the Jade Tree, my first impression was that it was neat and natural geological formation. For a time it seemed so until 'THEY' approached me.

'THEY' are so called, not only out of convenience, but with a certain definition. T stands for Time, H for Honored, E for Entities of, and Y for Yandra. This name Yandra puzzled me for many days, until it came upon me that Yandra was a name. Also, it means something in ancient dwarven. Yandra, if broken down means 'Of' for ra, and 'Sentience' for Yand. My jaw dropped in shock as I thought on this. What IF this being is of separate Sentience than the Mother itself. Can the Mother be losing her grip upon the planet?

Oddly enough the thing that brought me back was the critical change the land has taken around the Tree. Most know that the desert is of a dark grey hue in nature. The sand, the rock, and the terrain itself are all grey. It all implies a volcanic nature. However, the group THEY began to cultivate the land. Odd, since sand does not form creations unless wet. This is when the weather changed unnaturally around us and rained. Upon the rain the cultist group worked the sand and planted these odd shaped seeds. Eventually sprouts came forth. Surprisingly, the sprouts were of solid stone. Jade for that matter. I thought of this importance and immediately packed my things to come see you Darlantan. This is of too much importance to ignore."

I naturally held my emotions for thought later. Deep in thought, I must consider how to act. I cannot change the path unless the scales are beyond one-sided. I should go forth and investigate myself. I also need to know more about this group named 'THEY'. Maybe Trent's Diary will bring the answers. Until I read it, I pause.'

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."

It is the year 3 NW?, Year of the Bufflo: Fifth tenday of the summer season.

"I have read the entire diary. Most of it proves the usual prattle we scribes commonly record. I have gathered enough information on the 'THEY' to move forward with my visit to the Jade Tree. Apparently, the tree holds no power over these peoples. It seems to give them power. A natural power, none like the arcane magics that surround this world. It reminds me of the druidic faith of the Great Oak Clan. Although the druidic faith has diminished over the years, a new group has replenished it. Although I may consider them a separate sect. If this Tree holds no power over this faith, then I consider this tree not so harmful. Yet, it does hold a mysterious power over this Mother that we stand upon.

Great OmnuS, share with me the knowledge on this mundane subject. A vain prayer albeit.

These 'THEY' do share a common feature, and that is a unique marking upon there left shoulders. An upside down symbol of an 'A'. What it means I cannot be for sure, but I will find out on this trip.

The 'THEY' also appear to have the skill of common farmers. They lack any other grand skills and seem to dye their hair an opaque green, with the exception of their leaders. These leaders leave their hair natural for some other unknown reasons. The clothes they wear are made of some type of burnished cloth and are a swirling cloudy green in color. 'THEY' are a group I need to observe further in order to distinguish them as outsiders or not. I may even go as far as interviewing one of them.

Until then, my Second, will resume my entries. Quitias is an excellent writer and will do well."

Darlantan-"Chief Recorder of All and of Nothing."