Month after month, the great tree upon Narcisse Isle drew the poison from the waters of the lake around it.

Month after month, the dryads tended to its well-being. They cared for it through sickness, through growth spurts, through the passing of the seasons.

At long last, its buds opened for the first time since it grew the toxic fruit that the peoples seeking Narcisse's liberation ingested so that its corruption might be nullified. Now, however, the tree bore no fruit. Instead, its buds opened to reveal lush, gold-tinged leaves that gleamed in the glow of the autumn sun. In the end, it proved fitting that a tree meant to renew life amid ruined waters should bloom in the fall.

Their long work at last finished, the renewed dryads of Narcisse stand sentinel upon their island. Saliu, Zerina, Olanri, and Nuxila were restored to the fullness of their strength, their forms returned to them after centuries of torment. With their restoration, so too was the land made whole; the animals returned to both the island and its waters, which now ran clear, and the flora grew hale as it was not since days long-forgotten.

Only one thing was missing from Narcisse. The hanai, those unfortunate souls bound in servitude to Gaderian, were nowhere to be seen. True to Siluria's word, what was impossible to cleanse of the Mad Mage's touch was sacrificed upon the altar of the Earthmother's renewal. As with all things, there was a price to pay for a brighter future.

Far from the waters he once called his domain, the wizard responsible for the suffering of two peoples bent his malice and his arcane knowledge to a new purpose. Chanting in a low voice through rasped, ruined breaths, he wove a spell to plague Nuxila and her kin, those sisters who escaped his clutches. Gaderian's spiteful wrath will surely continue to plague the restored dryads, though how much his revenge will affect them with mighty Siluria standing guard, it is impossible to say.

So does a tale centuries in the making come to a close, with a hopefully restful peace settling upon a land troubled no longer.

~ ~ ~

Summary: The area of Lake Narcisse re-opened, revealing the restored dryads Nuxila, Olanri, Zerina, and Saliu, as well as their protector, Siluria. Far away, Gaderian cursed them once more, hoping to hinder their efforts to live peaceful and fruitful lives.

Penned by My hand on the 22nd of Glacian, in the year 973 AF.