The plains to the north of the Ithmian forest were long considered
boring, and not worthy of even the occasional visitor. Little did anyone
have a clue what lie past the Dry Plains.

Where the Dry Plains abut against the Tarea Mountains, a large fortress
was built in the distant past, the Fortress now known as Spinesreach. In
the center of the walled community, a large, locked Citadel rises up,
nestled between a gap in the Tarea mountains, and preventing any travel
into the tundras known to be north of the mountains.

In the walled area outside of the Citadel, a small group of farmers and
their families have gathered within the safe confines of the Citadel,
and started a community. Their presence has gone on for many years
independent of the comings and goings of the cities to their South.

The people are self-reliant, and pride themselves on their skills at
survival. They guard their community from groups of bandits that are
known to roam the Dry Plains and they are almost warlike in their
nationalism for their walled village.

The discovery of this small, loyal community would not cause concern on
most of Aetolia's mind, were it not for four lingering questions:
Firstly, what is this massive Citadel rising up from the center of these
walls, sealed from outsiders? Secondly, why do all the Gods seem
surprised to discover its existence? Is it simply so mundane a place
that their gazes passed right over it? For that matter, what were the
strange visions seen in the sky before its discovery? And why did
Qeddwyn, the last of the Ankyrean Order, suffer seemingly horrible
torment at about the same time?

Indeed, many questions have yet to be answered about this mysterious
place.

Penned by my hand on the 19th of Slyphian, in the year 98 MA.