The warm spring sun of a late Miraman afternoon shone down upon the flourishing boughs of the village of Eleusis. Fthora, hulking servant of the Earthmother, called upon the villagers, demanding their attention for a matter of the swarm.

"Bodies. Corpses. Fill the heap!" the masked mycorizae rasped gleefully to the gathered Eleusians. "More and more, we will need them all soon."

Led by High Warden Vothaec and Blackthorn General Trendric Distara, the Untamed Legion turned its attention to the followers of iron and stone. Conflict and conquest proved no match for the warriors and, even when they did, the dutiful villagers placed their own bodies willingly into the foetid pool beneath Eleusis.

Months later, a low, bone-deep thrumming echoed from within the Eastern Ithmia, a warning of the escaping swarm. Soon, rampaging formicaries dotted the mainland of Sapience as Eleusians fought to protect the queen of each one, bearing her back to the reeking sump of rotting vegetation and corpses. In the months that followed that initial formicary, queens slipped free to found colonies across the world, and each time they were brought home again through the harmonious teamwork of Eleusis.

Never satisfied, Fthora called upon the ritualists of the village to beseech the swarm and to honour every queen and brood that had been reclaimed. Aelyn Le'Yuet-Mercadia, Memory of Nature, together with the rest of Her Coven, led the villagers in a humming tribute to the insects, calling upon the Wildwood Queen to rally the swarm to their aid. A slender formicary was swiftly constructed in the midst of the dancers, whose steps faltered and stilled as the Earthmother Herself appeared beside it.

"Remember this day," Lady Gaia said, a hint of pride echoing in Her icy features, "for it stands as proof that when you remain true to who and what you are, Nature will respond."


~~~

Summary: Eleusis worked to capture the swarm's queens and return them to the heap beneath the village. A slender formicary was formed in the midst of a ritual to honour the insects and call upon Nature to aid in the protection of Eleusis. Lady Gaia's return was heralded by a new skill to replace the runic totems Eleusis gave up nearly a century ago.



Penned by My hand on the 21st of Miraman, in the year 991 AF.