The Book of Sumtoth
Inside, many of the pages have deteriorated, the outer ones have fallen to pieces, many of the inner ones are blurred or too damaged to read, but in the middle a few pages can be made out. At the very centre of the book, the pages are yellowed and worn, but the handwritten text is very legible. It is written in a strange runic script. This book was found in the ruins of an old elemental temple near the coast in the high hills to the west of Cellam in Ticetia.
... over many nations. The peoples of the world have a choice. They can follow the four and repair the world, or it will become too late. The patience of the gods grows ever short in these evil days. Even the druids mock the mighty four, and they abandon their cause to aid nature, even as the four promised to help them heal it. Such fake promises as those the druids make cannot be endured, and they have angered the four with lies. There is still time, though. They and the others still have a chance to make peace. The people of the world must take note of the anger among the gods and settle on a path of prayer and meditation. They must call upon the gods to bring peace for their deliverance from those that would do evil. Much rests on this. There is already too much bitterness between the people, and this is spilling over to the realms of the gods. New gods come and challenge the might of the four. They will never be overthrown, they are too strong, but such a lack of faith in the four weakens them and makes them less able and less willing to aid their people. We cannot suffer this either as our world and our faith rests upon the power, might and majesty of the four.
What do the gods have planned for this failing world? We have sought answers to this question long through prayer and fasting to purify ourselves in the sight of the four. We have toiled hard to earn their favour and held high their splendour. Not only that, but we have proclaimed their majesty to the world and brought new people into the fellowship of the faithful. Yet the four do not favour us as they used to. They now talk in roundabout ways, and leave doubts in our minds for their plans for their world and their people. We question daily, and the answers are often the same. We look for new insights and receive little new knowledge.
As Sumtoth is my master I ask most of him, but he is too quiet in these days. The four are planning their revenge upon the spiteful people of the world. They need to purify this land and restore our former glories. The hatred and envy between the nations is becoming distasteful to them, yet they are distracted. There are mortals that think their power is enough to allow them to defy even our powerful gods. They take every chance they can to challenge the might of the four and to mock them as only mortals can. The prophecies provided by our gods are unpleasant to us. These writings make us fearful for our futures and for our lives. We are scared by what we are given, yet we pray for forgiveness for the world. We continually implore our gods to preserve that which is good and wholesome. Our faith is strong and our love for the four unquenchable, yet they cannot provide succour for our souls if these hateful times continue. The world is balanced on the edge, yet through our faith and continued efforts we hope we can unite the people once more in love and peace. The alternative appears to be a dreadful end.
The words that the four have spoken to us about those times seem clear enough. If we fail in our task, then the four will bring an end to this world. We can see the signs if we read them, and we will know when the time is coming.
The world will darken and the time of the magician will come forth. There will be a great battling and magic will fly around the lands. Destruction wrought by mortals will ensue and many will die. This is the first sign that the end has started. After the darkness begins and the people suffer, rain will come. Aquannath will wield her mighty power upon the lands, and floods and tidal waves will sweep us over. The magicians will be blamed once more, but this will be the mighty water goddess warning the world of their folly. This is the second sign of the approaching doom. But even this will not be the end. There would still be time if any would listen to our appeals for peace. A great catastrophe could still be averted if the people put aside their anger and hatred and turn to peace. If the magic users can be convinced that their power is but a folly and only serves to weaken us in the eyes of our gods, then we can be forgiven and restored in their love. Yet the time we have to do this will not be for long. If the world still does not turn from anger and hatred, then the end will begin.
Asdreth tells us that he shall bring fire and destruction first and when this happens the end is nigh. We will no longer be able to turn back the tide of the end, and this is the final sign. Sumtoth our master who is the mightiest of the four will bend the surface of the world and all nations shall be remade. All that we know will be lost, and we shall suffer their vengeance and their wrath. A great purge will come to the peoples of the world, and much that has been harmed by those of evil standing will be made clean. This is a time of destruction, a time of death and a time of suffering. Sumtoth tells us that this is needed as the world must be remade. All things will have turned to hatred, and there shall be no peace among the people of the world. Even those of pure hearts and a longing to serve the four will suffer. They too will have turned to the evil of the world and will be held accountable with all the others. The four are already tired of this, despite their servants begs for peace. Even among the leaders of our order will there be anger and hatred and resentment, and this will be punished.
The world will be unmade and then remade. Our people will not be wiped out, but suffering will be wide. It is a just punishment for a fallen people. As the world cools from its torment, so will the suffering continue. Aquannath and Ensayeth will combine to bring snows and deep frosts across the world. This punishment is just and fair and is fully earned by the folly of the people. The hardship will endure for many long years until the four awaken again and reunite the world. In that time, many false gods will gather. They will form allegiances that will challenge the right of the four to protect and shelter the people, but they will be weak. Together they will conquer the new world, but not for long.
As the snows melt and the lands awaken, so shall the four. They will come anew to the fresh, clean kingdoms. Their majesty and might will be clear to all, and they will assume their rightful place among the most powerful of the gods. So their creation will be cleansed, and so their power will be restored. All will come to the feet of the four and beg for forgiveness for the past sins of the world. Those who dabble in the black arts and the corrupt magics will suffer the most. All that they had before will be taken away, and their unholy arts will be bent to a new cause. They will no longer be channels for the primary energies of the outer spheres, where the power of the gods will reign. All peoples will be free from the corruption that magic brings.
Slowly the four will restore the lands to fruitfulness and the long years of hardship and suffering will come to an end. Crops of food will be abundant and none shall be without the wholesome nourishment that the clean new lands can provide. At this time, the four shall present themselves in their glory to the world. They shall cast down the false religions of the minor gods and the weak and will grow in stature to aid and nurture the people, who will then be free to achieve their ultimate destiny and ultimate power.
Despite the horror that may come in the times ahead, Sumtoth tells us that after this period, there will be rejoicing and joy. The people will be free of their wars and their hatreds, and will be free of their slavery to false religions. This new era will...