Shadows of the Thicket

Shadows of the Thicket - Thornhaven's Dark Past

Long ago beneath the canopy of the thicket, in the depths of Thornhaven's ancient Garden of Life, another realm thrived unseen by mortal eyes. Where the murmurs of the breeze intertwine with the melodies of flowing streams, it was here amidst the verdant tapestry of nature's embrace, the Lesser Elementals found their abode.

These elusive spirits, akin to whispers in the wind and flickers in the flame, are the silent custodians of the elements' more subtle nuances. Unlike their Primordial kin, they bear no grand titles or solemn duties, but instead embody the caprice and whimsy of the natural world. Within their elemental gardens, these sprites gather, sharing a collective consciousness that dances between riddles and rhymes, mischief and wisdom. They offer cryptic guidance to those who seek it, weaving intricate webs of mystery and intrigue that entwine with the very fabric of Thornhaven's existence.

Just as the Primordial Elementals are the guardians of equilibrium, so too are the Lesser Elementals the keepers of nature's enigmatic essence, their presence a reminder that balance is found not only in grand gestures but in the delicate interplay of light and shadow, truth and illusion.

The greater elemental spirits are manifestations of nature's primal forces. Zephyr, the ethereal whisperer of Insight, dances on the wind's breath. Pyra, keeper of flames and harbinger of Lucidity, flickers with the intensity of a thousand suns. Terra, the steadfast earth-shaper of Will, anchors Thornhaven's foundations with unyielding strength. And Aqua, mistress of hidden waters and guardian of Resilience, flows with the resilience of a timeless river. Together, they form the Primordial Elementals. They command thrones of ancient stone, each imbued with the essence of their respective elements. From these thrones, the Primordial Elementals govern Thornhaven's equilibrium, their presence an embodiment of harmony amid the shifting tides of the dream realm.

In the dawn of time, when dreamers and creatures alike roamed the dreamscape in blissful harmony, the Primordial Elementals bestowed their blessings upon the Dreamwrights. With reverence, they crafted refuge for each focus, nurturing the seeds of Wisdom, Stability, Passion, and Strength until they blossomed into the sacred Four Orbs of Being. These orbs, pulsating with raw elemental energy, became the cornerstone of Thornhaven's existence, anchoring its delicate balance of the dreamscape.

But as the wheel of time turned and shadows crept upon Thornhaven's doorstep, a darkness stirred in the heart of a man grew to be consumed by ambition. Ogithus, his name became a whisper of dread upon the lips of dreamers, sought to harness the power of the Primordial Elementals for his own nefarious purposes. Through deceit and treachery, he ensnared the elemental spirits in a slumber, draining their essence through the sacred Four Orbs of Being. Thornhaven trembled beneath the weight of his acts of tyranny, and the once-verdant Garden of Life withered in the grasp of his corruption. Only the protective embrace of the thicket spared a fragment of its essence, birthing the Lightless Hollow, where shadows dance and secrets now linger like ghosts of the past

Driven by his insatiable thirst for power, Ogithus ascended to the helm of the Divine Summit, once revered as a bastion of enlightenment and wisdom. Guided by the seductive whispers of Sydrah, the enigmatic God of the Void, he preached a gospel of dominion over time and space. His charisma, like a beacon in the night, drew souls into the swirling vortex of his fanaticism, where sacrifices and rituals became the currency of power.

But as the shadows deepened and dissent simmered beneath the surface, Ogithus's grip on reality slipped like sand through his fingers. Madness, like a festering wound, consumed him whole, twisting the once-hallowed halls of the Divine Summit into chambers of torment and despair. Thornhaven, caught in the throes of darkness, teetered on the brink of oblivion, its fate hanging in the balance like a fragile thread woven between the realms of light and shadow.

As time flowed on, the full history of Ogithus faded into obscurity, and with it, the significance of the Primordial Elementals drifted into forgetfulness. They remained in stasis, distant from their thrones, as memories of their pivotal role in Thornhaven's equilibrium slipped away into the mists of time, leaving behind only whispers of a bygone era.

Reference

• https://forums.underlight.com/viewforum.php?f=132