Shadowt wrote:Whispers of goo-infected creatures and the Kami and Karavan plotting something proved to be startlingly correct. Tryker and Zorai lands came under attack by infected Gibbai, Cutes, and other primitives. The Kami and Karavan rallied their forces, each seeking to accomplish their own ends, and two great armies roamed Atys.
Kami forces, the Zorai and the Fyros, slashed easily through the goo-infected creatures, freeing them from the vile taint of that cursed Goo. Karavan forces fought valiantly, but were unable to destroy the primitives infesting Tryker lands.
In perhaps the first great campaign of this age on Atys, the Fyros and Zorai forces rolled on through the Roots, smashing the Black Circle Magicians and other enemies within and gaining themselves new titles in the bargain.
All of Atys is grateful to the warriors for their service.
A Kami Preacher and a Kami Adept (Zoraïn trained by the Kamis) travelled to Min-Cho to warn us of this danger. The Kamis sent out seekers to scout the lands and bring us word of whether this rumor were true. The seekers returned with dire news, the ferral Gibbaïs and Cutes were being infected by the Goo and were indeed overrunning the lands of the Witherings.
The Kamis sent us another Zoraï, a Kami Envoy, to give us further directions in how we might meet this threat. Obviously, this Envoy's information was invaluable as he was protected by 10-20 Desert and Jungle Kami Sentinels. The Kamis also sent a powerful Preacher to the Fyros who teleported the Kami loyal Fyros to our aid.
Now that our forces had gathered, and we were 50 or so homins strong, the defenders moved out. Led by the scouts of guilds Comitatus Praetorian, Infinity and The Celestial Warder we began scouring the Grove of Umbra. As strange sightings had been made near Withered Stock, we made that our first destination. We dispatched many Goo infected Gibbaï and Cute patrols, their corrupted bodies littering the landscape behind us, but found all quiet at Withered Stock...unnervingly so. We made a quick review of the scanty information we had from the Envoy and realized that if the Cutes were also involved then they must be coming through the Chasm of Umbra.
We marshalled our forces and fought our way to the chasm that leads to the Lands of Umbra. To our initial dismay, the entire chasm was swarming with these new foe. Even more disturbing, they had errected a camp there with totems that appeared to honor the Kitins! We called on the strength of Jena and trusted the wisdom of her true disciples, the Kami, and began felling the fouled invaders. Many brave homins fell to Atys but our valiant healers mended broken bodies and gave such strength to all that the invaders were broken. Near the Kami Altar we found him, an immense Gibbaï which appeared lethal to all who saw it but we pressed forward and even this foe could not withstand our shining blades nor our furious magic. The Kami be praised, for this horrible Gibbaï was the leader of these infected degenerates and on learning their leader was dead the other invaders quickly scattered.
In the midst of our celebration, a Kami Representative offered us thanks and with the same hand brought yet more horror: The Seekers knew that three attack forces had invaded the lands but we had hoped they would all try to defend the passage for their Cute allies. This was not so, they had made fortifications elsewhere in the Grove. Also, a terrible suspicion began forming in the minds of the leaders of Comitatus Praetorian which only seemed to be confirmed by news brought by The Celestial Warder guild. The tribe of the Antikamis, known Karavan supporters, had vanished and large patrols of invaders were seen near their camp. The tribe of the Black Circle, fellows of the Antikamis, were already known to be absent from Withered Stock. Were they driven out by the invaders as first believed or were the Kami correct and this invasion and the Goo infection itself both Karavan machinations supported by these two tribes?
We marched across the land to the Lost Maze Outpost and Kipee Mull where the Antikami camp lie and met terrible resistence. Wearied by our journey, our entire force fell to the bark but the Kami snatched us from oblivion and we rallied at the gates of Min-Cho. We quickly marched to the Antikami camp and found it swarming with Gibbaïs and Cutes. We slashed and burned our way through their horrid guards and found yet another Gibbaï of truly lethal proportions. As its fierce comrade at the chasm, this Gibbaï fell to Atys and its minions scattered. We then realized that a gruesome addtion had come to the Antikami camp and its strange Karavan device overhead: More Kitin totems! It was then that the Kami Representative reinforced our fears, the Great Stump of Atys groaned yet under the foot of these befouled creatures and so we returned to the stump of Withered Stock.
Here we met the most pitched battle we had yet seen but we were now well versed in felling our foes and we made quick work of this third camp, slaying yet another lethal Gibbaï leader and routing its followers. A third time we found the horrid Kitin totems throughout the camp. We were also met with the welcome sight of Zoraï Defenders, pledged to protect this area from further invasion. Battle weary, we made our way to the lowest level of the Withered Stock and heard yet a third time the voice of the Kami Representative but this time with a terrible warning: Evil was festering in the bowels of Atys. We prepared to march to the Chasm of Umbra to begin our battle anew but found that a Kami Seeker had appeared and was not alone but stood side by side with a Wise Gibbaï! The Seeker warned us to keep a defense force behind and to send only the strongest into the Roots. The Seeker then told us to speak with the Wise Gibbaï and to our amazement, it could speak our language! It told us that the Karavan had indeed infected the Gibbaï and the Cutes and that they were being helped by Homins! It also told us that the Gibbaï and Cute tribes had called upon the Kami, Nature Spirits it called them, to protect the Gibbaïs and Cutes from further infection and Karavan abuse. It further told us that Gibbaï and Cute hunters had been sent to the Roots and that these hunters would not harm us.
With this terrible news, we made for the Chasm of Umbra to scour the Roots as we had the lands of the Witherings. Once in the Roots, we met yet another Kami Preacher but unlike our black jungle Preachers, this was a translucent Kami of the Roots. It warned us that Karavan tribes were indeed helping to infect the lower homins and that their wizards were even using Goo to strenthen their own powers! Were our suspicions true or were we merely being used as pawns as some of the Fyros believed? It was then that we learned our defenders had fallen at Withered Stock, we hesitated; should we return to the surface to reclaim our land or drive home the battle here? The voice of the Kami Representative reassured us that our victories above were secure and that we should press the battle in the Roots.
As above, we found three strongholds but unlike the infected lower homins from above our foe was true Homin. The foes before us were the Antikamis and the Black Circle tribal mages. These tribes had not been driven out, they had helped the invaders! Both tribes attract the dissendents among the Zoraï, those who do not believe the Kami and would follow the ways of the Karavan. Despite this, we have lived side by side with them, preferring to keep harmony with all than to mar our lands with war. Now these traitors have shown their true intent, they have not only abandonded the Kami and their people, they have abandonded the fight against the Goo and have wielded the Goo in support of their Karavan masters!
Their nubmers overshadowed our forces and their powers matched ours but the light of fury now burned in our eyes and the strength of Atys flowed through us. As the last of these traitorous Homins fell to the bark, a majestic Kami Lord, another of the translucent Kami of the Roots, appeared in our midst and bestowed upon those valiant homins who had fought such terrible battles with the title of Kami Champion. Great thanks and great praise were given to these Champions by the Kami Lord.
It is clear that the Karavan are indeed behind this invasion and they have invaded their own followers' lands just to reinforce the hold they have over the minds of the Matis and the Trykers. I also suspect that the Karavan are indeed behind the attack against Mynias in Pyr as they have always engendered distrust between the races.
What new horrors do the Kitin totems portend? Was the Kitin War yet another Karavan ruse designed to enslave the Homins to the will of the Karavan? As much as I despise the Karavan for their role in this invasion, I pray Jena that they truly did nothing to stir the Kitins against Hominkind but only time will tell.
With terrible might we cut down our foes. It is with sorrow that we learned that the lower homins were but witless pawns in this battle but our rage is kindled at our fellow Zoraï who did the bidding of the Karavan. During their hopeless defense of their masters they may have called upon the Karavan for aid and strength but they received nothing from those so called guardians of Atys. Where once there was doubt, there is certainty. Where once there was guarded tolerance of these fallen disciples of Jena, there is now only refusal to accept Karavan lies. We call on all Homins to turn from the Karavan and follow the Kami. Come to the Witherings and to the Burning Desert where you may learn the true ways of Jena from her true disciples, the Kami. For those who refuse to see the horrors the Karavan are bringing upon Atys, be forewarned that the day is coming that such lack of foresight may force us to turn wholly from you and even hew you down as we did the Antikami and Black Circle tribes.
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I have since learned that a number of Tryker also aided in the fight. I am sorry to have missed seeing you, my diminutive friends as sight of you was lost to me among the many trees of the Zoraï. Thanks and praise to all who rallied to the Kamis' Call.
