The calm of spring blossomed across the Ethereal realm as the crescent
moon waxed. Suddenly, the ground shivered and moved underfoot. Queen
Maeve shouted something that sent a chill through the hearts of the fae:
"Be calm, Faethorn! This is nothing to worry about. It will pass. We
order every one of you to keep your calm and not to interfere! We
personally will go and see what this is about!"

Another, greater earthquake shattered the stillness of Faethorn, and
members of both Serenwilde and Glomdoring came to investigate as the fae
called to each other in a panic. Hurrying to the centre of the realm,
they discovered that Queen Maeve was missing!

Uncertain of the cause, the communes searched through Faethorn, not
believing that she would leave her realms. Finally, as a storm gathered
across the southwestern part of Faethorn and fire licked the sky to the
northeast, they discovered that new archways had been revealed. Though
one seemed obviously intended to lead to the elemental plane of Air and
the other to Fire, both archways were dark and inactive.

As the communes debated the best course of action and several more fae
panicked over the missing Queen, the little fae child approached each
archway in turn, marveling at them. She seemed little upset at the
absence of Maeve, though concerned with the feelings of her brethren.
She told the gathered commune members that she thought the Queen was
caught up in the changing Ethereal plane, and asked whether they would
activate the archways in an attempt to draw her home.

Silvery essence was brought to the archway of Air, but seemed to make
more impact upon the structure. It was Leaf Dancer Finnley, however, who
first hit upon the solution to the conundrum. Cloud and fiery essence,
placed before their respective archways on Ethereal, would orient and
activate the passageways towards the Elemental planes, while silvery and
shadowy essence placed at the other end would charge the other side!

Meanwhile, members of Gaudiguch and Hallifax were not unaware of the
identical archways now present upon Fire and Air. Mortexia Dekoven
quickly gathered that should the passage to Ethereal be activated,
Gaudiguch would finally have its own method of activating psionics
within aspiring Pyromancers. The Free city and Serenwilde quickly moved
to begin opening the door between Faethorn and the plane of Fire.

Glomdoring, on the other hand, was less certain of the wisdom of
providing the cities with quick access to the fae. They turned their
hand to stopping the process, and Hallifax voted to abstain from
activation until the situation stabilised.

Nonetheless, all too soon the archway in Faethorn was activated by a
well-placed piece of fiery essence dropped by Kinson, and soon after
Selskia opened the way upon the Fire plane. A great burst of flame
filled the air upon both planes, frightening the fae badly, as the
pathway between both opened. Terrified by the fires and the fighting,
many of the fae disappeared into the far reaches of the Ethereal plane,
searching for their beloved Queen.

Eventually it became apparent that the archways must open to allow the
Ethereal realm to settle, and in time it was mainly the efforts of
Hallifax that enabled the link to be established. Veyrzhul Val'Andra
placed the final piece of essence at the Elemental archway and lightning
crackled across the sky. When it passed, the final way was open into
Ethereal.

Released from where she was caught within the unstable aethers, Queen
Maeve returned to her throneroom and called to the errant fae to return
to Faethorn. She thanked the commune members who came to check on her.
Though the links between Ethereal and Elemental would ensure easy
passage for foe as well as friend, she claimed that what must be would
be. The archways, for good or ill, belonged upon the Ethereal plane.

Penned by My hand on the 24th of Dioni, in the year 254 CE.