General History of Dereth Vol. I
Frostfell, 10 P.Y.
"The Sudden Season"
Jaiph Rainshadow of Cragstone, ed.
Pg:1
In the month known as Frostfell, the isle
of Dereth was beset by a sudden freeze. As mages scrambled to explain the dropping temperatures, the snowline dipped down
from the lofty peaks of the Lost Wish and Linvak mountain ranges, until the entire island was coated with several inches of
snow. Even the Gharu'ndim, deep in the hot and barren A'mun desert, awoke one morn to find their stately brick courtyards
blanketed with white. In Samsur, the Fountain of Musansayn froze solid.
Pg:2
In the month known as Frostfell, the isle
of Dereth was beset by a sudden freeze. As mages scrambled to explain the dropping temperatures, the snowline dipped down
from the lofty peaks of the Lost Wish and Linvak mountain ranges, until the entire island was coated with several inches of
snow. Even the Gharu'ndim, deep in the hot and barren A'mun desert, awoke one morn to find their stately brick courtyards
blanketed with white. In Samsur, the Fountain of Musansayn froze solid.
Pg:3
Somewhere in the wastes, the exploration
party of Sir Joffre Tremblant fell afoul of dark forces. The legendary Knight of the Golden Flame order had gone in search
of a fabled lost city alluded to in certain Empyrean texts. At first, his party was presumed lost in the blinding snows. Intrepid
bands followed his meandering path from Arwic to Stonehold, gathering clues to his final destination.
Pg:4
Along the way, many assisted the aims of
Lady Tallial of Neydisa Castle, or those of her rival MacDugal in the Bandit Castle. Others grappled with Hoary Mattekars,
ferocious mountain creatures the size of a house. The hides of these creatures, when given to the skilled tradesmen of Dereth,
were quickly turned into fine Mattekar Robes.
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With the assistance of the scholars of
Zaikhal, the search parties discovered the path to the mysterious underground city of Frore. Here the fate of the Tremblant
Party stood revealed; the group had been slain and then turned into undead slaves by an ancient cult of Empyrean necromancers
calling themselves the Gelidites.
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In the depths of the frozen hell of Frore,
adventurers struggled through legions of undead sorcerers, who were lead by a council of three dark priests. These three,
Ferundi, Frisander, and Fenngar by name, were slain at the gates of the city. In the deepest caverns, parties were brought
up short by a cadre of Gelidite Lords led by the powerful sorcerer Frisirth. The Gelidite necromancer controlled Sir Tremblant,
who pleaded for death even as he was magically forced to defend his evil master.
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When Tremblant was released from his misery
and Frisirth defeated, the parties confronted a greater mystery -- a large, rotating crystal the Gelidites called the Great
Work. This magical artifact had been discovered by Frisirth centuries before. Under the enchantments of the Gelidites, the
Great Work sucked the heat from the earth, causing the snows that carpeted Dereth.
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When the explorers rushed to destroy
it, the crystal defended itself with powerful magics. Many were slain, but in the end the Isparians prevailed. Abrim of Morningthaw
chronicled the final battle against the Work in his tale "Return to Frore," which became a bestseller at the capital towns
of Cragstone, Hebian-To, and Zaikhal.
With the Great Work shattered, warmth began
to seep back into the land. The exhausted and battered adventurers returned to their homes, to enjoy the blessings of the
Solstice, Festival of Lights, and Night Feast holidays.
Pg:9
During the celebrations, new culinary delights
had been invented to delight the palate. Kakori of Thistledown made Carrot Cake, Dani the Crazed of Leafcull introduced Famous
Pizza, Raszagal and Tassadar of Morningthaw created Hot Kimchi, and Firedemon of Thistledown baked the first Spiced Apple
Pie. Bortin of Frostfell created Fruitcake, but he has since been forgiven, and is occasionally allowed back into town.
Pg:10
The remnants of the Gelidite
cult were left in sorrow, their great hopes dashed. Departing adventurers even seized their ancient scriptures as spoils of
war. Our Great Work, a memoir written by Ferundi, was given to the scholars of Hebian-To, and the ancient Book of Minesh,
a history of the Gelidite cult, was seized by the Zaikhal Arcanum.