Hail, Sapience.

As we bid farewell to the Age of Proteus and its tales of Creation, Chaos, Elder Gods, wars and more, we enter now the Age of Mortal Races to explore the histories of our very existence.

[ AGE OF MORTAL RACES ]

The birth of our world and the creation of the Elder Gods was soon followed by the shaping of mortal life upon Achaea. While the story of Humankind is undoubtedly the most famous, there are no fewer than twelve races currently known to us, and the origins of each have impacted the overarching narrative of our existence in ways large and small.

A few examples we know of are the Tsol'aa, corrupted by slaughter during the War of Humanity, who became the dreaded Tsol'teth. The Mhun, founders of Moghedu, are the descendants of Humans who fled utopian Ceylon. The Xoran, discovered to be the children of the Offspring Elara, precipitated the events that led to the Worldreaver Saga. Still others remain to be uncovered.

= EVENTS =

A slew of presentations on the histories of the mortal races awaits, ranging from the eldest such as the Dwarves and Mhuns to the more recent such as Tash'la and Fayad. See UPCOMING for more information.

The second of four Seleucarian locations, the Cartographer's Guild, now resides within the Asterian Restoration this month - north and east from the Aster Crossroads. Visit and study the cartographer's desk within to take a look at our world as known in Seleucarian times.

= JOURNAL =

Your Festival participation will be tracked - by yourself - in a journal of your choosing. To qualify as completing this Age, you must cover at least ONE (1) of the following in your designated journal:

1. Attend any of the presentations or exhibits and write down your thoughts on what you saw, heard and learned.

or

a) Explore: Visit a racial settlement or location, such as the Trolls in Kasmarkin, the Atavians in Arcadia or Genji, the Dwarves in Inbhir Ness, the Grooks and Horkvals in Ulangi, the Tsol'aa in the Aalen Forest, the Tash'la in Kelstaad accessed from the Tree of Yggdrasil, and so on. Describe a task or quest you might be set by the locals, and what you can learn from their culture in doing so.

b) Engage: Seek out another adventurer of a different race than yourself. In what ways do they look, act, think and speak differently from you? Do the traditions of their race factor into their ways of life? Discuss this with them, and be prepared to share your own insight. Note this interview in your journal.

c) Educate: Review the tome known as the History of the Mortal Races, and record your thoughts on the subject. This should be found within any library, or the Ingram Cairo Memorial Library also possesses one.

You may complete more than one task if you wish. This journal, ultimately, records your journey and growth.

Note: These tasks can be completed at any time, so long as it is before the end of the Festival. You do not need to complete Age of Mortal Races tasks only in this Age, as we understand schedules can be unaccommodating. Events, of course, are time-limited.

= MISCELLANEOUS =

1. The Grand Bazaar, the largest bazaar in modern history, continues upon the Asterian Peninsula with around 25 carts stocking wares and goods from all over Sapience. See Public news #22289, or the poster at the portal on Meropis.

2. View the artwork and curios on display at the gallery of the Anchors Acreage in the Shamtota Hills (coordinates 56264 on most maps), and decide if you want to bid on any during the upcoming Historical Art and Artefacts Auction.

3. We are still accepting applications for the Asterian Masquerade. Information in Public news #22220.

As always, ENTER the PORTAL in central New Thera for easy access to the Asterian Restoration. We look forward to your participation in our Festival.

Regards,

Jurixe S. Nithilar
representing the Asterian Restoration

Penned by my hand on the 11th of Lupar, in the year 977 AF.