This treatise is an amalgamation of my experiences, penned down during my travels with fellow Aislings in Temuair, the far-flung Medenian continent and Mundane gossip from these lands. As I seek refuge in Rucesion, I have chosen to publish this publicly to bring attention of this looming threat to the nobles and to the public. It is my fervent hope that this piece of writing pressures King Bruce to address these rumors.

BEFORE BLACKSTAR: Early Beginnings 
  The early beginnings of Blackstar Village are shrouded in mystery, and it was impossible to find any trace of any discussion of it in the Libraries, but for the musings from a silver-haired woman at the Tulsi Brew in Piet to me. It is highly curious to me that shortly after her recounting to me, her story was later repeated almost word-for-word in the halls of the Mileth College by nobles… but I digress.

As early as Danaan 3177, Mundane merchants traversing the land between Sarnath, also known as Gear Inbhir, Ardmagh (present-day Loures) and Suomi described in passing about observing a few structures of juxtaposed design of rudimentary design in the distance, that seemed to have been of grandeur in the past. Upon claiming political power during The Entreaty in Deoch 6, Aislings - in particular Rucesionians, whose survival depended heavily on the maritime trade between Suomi and Loures - questioned Loures about the purpose of these structures to no avail. The Jesters of Loures stated that those were merely just a training ground for the Loures Knights “...for the foreseeable Deochs to come”. While these travelers saw the odd flash of light and signs of magick, they paid little heed to those signs - presumably due to the very nature of turbulent times in the early Atavism Ages distracting Aislings from what seemed to be overgrown and disused buildings.

  It should have come as no surprise to anyone, then, except perhaps to His Majesty himself, that there were mixed reactions when it was decreed for Blackstar Village to be reopened in the fall of Deoch 158, “...for Blackstar to be a hub of socialization and trade for both the continents of Temuair and Medenia”. Reactions predictably ranged from delight in Suomi at obtaining more coin and further strengthening of her longtime ally; indifference in Undine due to her war-torn history and recent occupation by Loures; to outright anger in Rucesion for the potential competing harbor that was likely to be built due to Blackstar Village’s prime seafaring location between the continents of Temuair and Medenia, and Oren. From conversations that I have had with Aislings in Rucesion on my Guard patrols since, speculation abounded back then on whether this was another contest for power made by Loures to wrangle back control of Temuair from Aislings. To quell the intense speculation, Loures invited Aislings for a cursory inspection of Blackstar during construction. They reported that there was indeed no maritime structure of any kind, and that there was a crypt that looked rather similar to the ones found in Abel, Piet and Mileth.

  The tales that I have heard since are far too outlandish to repeat here, but the one consistent rumor is that the town itself was known as Hoige. She seemed to have been built around Danaan 3030, for the purpose of the eradication of the dubhamid that was a pestilence on Temuair before and during the Shadow Wars. However, Hoige was quickly brought to ruin by the combination of the pillaging from goblin-folk and towards the end of Empress Ealagad’s reign (fourth emperor of Loures, and famously known as the "Steel Swan"). While historical texts describe Ealagad as a harsh but graceful ruler, nobles and Aislings feel that a cumulation of the toll of the Shadows War, the dark influence from Queen Dubhreal, the queen of Tenes, and feelings of bitterness over her parents' deaths may have driven her to melancholy and madness. Any happiness gained from the victory over the dubhamid was likely negated by Dubhreal's well-documented tainted counsel, and may have served to darken Ealagad's mind, at or around Danaan 3064, when the Court was finally overcome by madness.

Not that Aislings worried too much about it. Rumors were spreading like wildfire that there was much treasure and gold to be discovered; and by all accounts, Loures did not do anything to dissuade the rumors. Aislings eagerly awaited for the town to be restored, and for roads from Mileth, Piet and Loures to be built, primarily so they could begin plumbing the depths of this catacomb. 

ENTERING BLACKSTAR: Only The Privileged May Enter? 
 I Sparked early in Deoch 163, and quickly heard from grizzled Aislings that Blackstar Village was going to bar its doors to those with fragile minds, as "...they would be unable to bring themselves to step foot into the crypt." This was the talk of many a night at the Tulsi Brew in Piet, a popular hangout with Aislings of all ilks. Why call Blackstar a “hub for all activity” if some were going to be excluded? This description was perplexing considering that many of the most powerful Aislings in the land had been retired for a long time and had regressed to that of a fragile nature - the most renowned of them all being Biothean M’agus herself, one of the Legendary Five who broke the very Seal of Temuair itself. It defied any logic.
[Author’s Note: I located Summoner M’agus herself in an undisclosed location in Oren, and attempted to communicate with her multiple times, but she declined comment].

  On the other hand, Aislings with weaker constitutions were allowed into the crypt, and unspeakable horrors were later inflicted onto their bodies, with only their Sparks being saved by Sgrios himself. But... I digress again. I was thrilled beyond words, and like many Aislings, I was enthused about being able to explore Blackstar Village. I stopped in my tracks as I stared at the sham-shacked “village” that looked more like a… makeshift barracks meant for training soldiers. It had clearly seen better days. As I approached the entrance of the village that seemed hell-bent on keeping people in, I came across two surly-looking Village Guards, who glanced at me, checked my documents (“Not a fragile Aisling. Not like it protects you from… her. Good luck.”) and waved me along. I shivered.
[Author’s Note #2: The Knights of Temuair recently clarified with me that fragile Aislings are allowed to enter Blackstar Village, but are not allowed to enter Blackstar Crypt to fight the Dark Creatures within. It does not change the truth that many of our most battle-hardened Aislings continue to not be allowed in the Crypt.]

 IN BLACKSTAR: Strange Tongues, Quests, and The Mysterious Temple

  I approached Heel and Achille, two guards who were surrounded by an assortment of potions, weapons and other accoutrements. Their fluency in languages across the Isle of Dawn was simultaneously wondrous and bewildering, ranging from Araidhean (Dwarven) and Suomian accents to an unmistakable guttural growl that I unmistakably placed as one from a being of Chadul origin himself. Fellow Aislings that I have spoken to describe hearing the exact same voices from these same lands, as well as remote farflung locations such as the Shinewood and Mount Giragan. It continues to baffle belief that these guards would possess the ability to speak so many tongues. In the center of the city, five huge statues towered over all, presumably pertaining to each Path of Temuair. Noble Topic Gareth, in her class, speculated that those statues were a result of the Empress demanding a violent tournament to tempt any worthy foe of fighting the Empress herself… and that no challenger has lived to tell the tale. No Mundane in the village was willing to share any piece of history about these assertions. I continue to feel unease at the reluctance of anyone in the City to divulge any information.

  Finally, mundanes have gossiped about the nature of the beautiful and intricate temple in the village. With Loures maintaining their silence, loud voices have increasingly proclaimed that the temple must be that of Chadul’s creation. If it were of Danaan's creation, why would Loures stay silent? And yet, scraps of conversation from Aisling gossip and classes by nobles have led me to believe that the temple might have been in fact that of Goddess Danaan, and was built by the fourth Emperor of Loures, Empress Ealagad herself. When I visited the temple itself, I was struck by how it seemed to be almost identical to the very Temple of Choosing itself that predates Danaan or Deoch himself. One cannot help but wonder if this is a cheap attempt at replicating the very sacred temple itself in Mileth, where all of us selected our Paths. I shudder at even contemplating the dark reasons behind the construction and current closure of the temple.

Fragments of War: Dark Aislings, Portal to Chadul’s Realm, Military Ranks, and the Troupe

 All these disparate pieces point towards potential preparation for some form of war. King Bruce has instructed Mundanes to speak of the successes of the early adventurers into the Blackstar Crypt by rewarding them with ranks that increase in prestige over time (such as Recruit, Grunt, and Knight). Furthermore, spectres of previous major events have been summoned by magicians, with fragments of Law, Dark Aislings and other Dark Creatures being summoned for the most battle-hardened Aislings to hone their skill. Rangers and Knights have kept mum when asked about the rationale behind the events, with one Ranger* even commenting herself that, “...I have no idea what the Mundanes are up to. I am merely here to ensure that everyone is here to ‘play fair’”. Loures has responded to these rumors by unconvincingly stating that it is all part of the celebration to celebrate twenty cycles of Temuair.
*[Author’s Note #3: I have omitted Aisling names to safeguard their confidentiality.]

  And yet, none of those foul creatures compare to the shocking discovery of a crack in the wall of Chaos, originally known as Hn Kalrone, leading to Chadul’s Realm itself. Danaan's Seal, once thought to be eternally impregnable, has been breached *twice* in the past two Deochs! It was said that Chaos is chaotic and hellish because it is near to the prison of Chadul, and that Chadul's presence has poisoned it. While the cause of the crack in the wall of Chaos is unknown, the minions of Chadul in Temuair are likely the cause of opening the portal. Is this a sign of the weakening of Danaan’s Seal? As I write this, my blood is chilled upon recalling the words of wise Aislings in the Loures Library, in particular Omner Garamonde, who wrote at length on the widespread panic at the poisonous vipers and snakes that invaded Temuair in Deoch 18 from Chaos, ending up in the ripping of many an Aisling's soul at the time.

  And what of Suomi and the Suomi Troupe's part in all of this? Are they being manipulated by Loures? I am a Suomi Culture Advocate, and can attest to the Mundanes’ efforts at encouraging Aislings to “... go to lesser known lands of Temuair, to hunting grounds that are less visited”, which speaks to a clear push towards militancy. Furthermore, prominent voices in Temuair have gone quiet: Dartanian Lestor himself, and his wife, Kali, can no longer be reached in Suomi for comment. Keane, the Loures Knight, has presumably been stationed in Suomi to “...escort Aislings to Abel easily” when any Aisling worthy of their Path would carry a Song with them when traveling or living in such faraway lands. Once-famous voices seem to have been silenced, only to be replaced by an increasingly militant atmosphere in the once-cheery town.

  Above all, we would also do well to remember Suomi’s recent dark history. Etna Demonia herself, a previous Burgess of Suomi, once proclaimed Chadul to be the official religion in Suomi, and openly supported the Pact of Anaman in Deoch 111. While this uprising was quickly crushed by members of the Order of Danaan, led by Suomi Burgesses Danu De Lancret and Topic Gareth, there continues to be a shadow upon the intentions of Suomians. What part is the Suomi Troupe playing in this endeavor exactly? To train Aislings for a greater war that lies ahead? Or to lead all of us down the path of Chadul?
[Author’s Note #4: Etna Demonia has been spotted to be wandering the lands of Temuair recently, which sparks even more concern on my end. I could not reach her for comment as of this writing.] 

  The ill-effects have already been felt keenly, with Aislings showing distinct symptoms of madness. I personally witnessed an appointed Guard of Mileth drop all items that she had gained access to in Blackstar, and telling me in no uncertain terms of her plans to destroy all of Mileth*. It was only upon being escorted home to the Temple of Glioca in Mileth that she later calmed down. The Aisling in question has never been the same again, infrequently wandering Temuair these suns. On a larger scale, guilds have also seen a sharp rise in internal strife. Aislings have told me that their guildmates have possessed strange looks in their eyes upon returning from Blackstar, and have later resorted to crazed actions. Those include using supplication powers granted by their Gods, to cast curses and scar their fellow Aislings for their crude pleasure. Make no mistake: these signs are an eerie reminder to the well-known historical event of the Drowning of Hy-Brasyl herself, where Mundanes and Aislings were reported to upon being seduced by the gluttony of arcane power after visiting Kadath. Whispers abound that the very nature of the haunted tournament has continued to plague Blackstar - and Aislings who are foolish enough to venture into her depths. To enter Blackstar without the critical information aforementioned, with such perils involved, is akin to meeting Chadul himself in the face, naked and helpless.
 *[Author’s Note #5: Again, I have omitted Aisling names to protect their confidentiality.]

 It is clear enough that all of these loose threads point in one direction. I may be arrested for my radical abstraction, but I fear that this is all the plot of corrupted Loures officials, whom have already fallen sway to the Pact of Anaman. We know that a Pact member is already poisoning the child of Loures. We know that nobles have spoken of how Ealagad, former Empress of light and granddaughter of Ainmeal may have very well joined the Pact of Anaman in the end, and how it was likely that her insanity and pact with the darkest of gods called forth the black curse upon Blackstar. With this, it is probable that King Bruce’s mind has already been darkened by his court. I fear that his eventual plan may be to sacrifice all Aislings to the mad Empress Ealagad, and to Chadul himself, all in the name of complete control over Temuair.

I end this treatise with the same call to action: I plead for King Bruce himself to come forward and explain these recent events to Temuair and Medenia; and if not, for this essay to serve as a petition as a call to arms for all Aislings to stand against Loures herself. We deserve the truth if we are to wage war with Chadul's forces.

Respectfully,
Merisa Lightbelle
Written in the Rucesion inn, and lands far beyond Temuair, Deoch 165-166