[h1][center]The Seasons Change[/center][/h1]
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	The sky turned dark for a moment and in the north eastern horizon shone a beautiful, bright, white pillar of light that shot up straight into the heavens. The khalai of all shapes and sizes walked out to observe, mesmerized by the light’s beauty. Many disregarded it as a mainland event, others thought it was an omen of end times, but the Matriarch of their society thought differently.

	In the mountain capital region of the realm she sat in silence as her guards left her one by one to view the light. She sat on a low pedestal, legs crossed and smoking through a long pipe – fine [i]rami[/i] from one of the more esteemed plantations. Behind her was a window facing towards the north east, no doubt shining leaving her nothing more than a silhouette for anyone entering the finely decorated, ornate halls of the mountain palace. She took her pipe from her mouth to glance behind her briefly

	“Hmm...” Her thoughts began to flow and rise like wispy airs of smoke, only to slowly disappear as calmly as they arose. Her lips parted slightly and she began to smoke again. A few hours would pass and the light calmly faded away; the halls were then filled with guards and the hall echoed with sounds of foot steps coming from the steps that led up to it; the religious sect have come to report what they’ve found. Within moments the hall was filled with both guards men and robed practitioners of their faith clamoring for a chance to report what they saw, it wasn’t long until the arcane branch arrived to join in the imbroglio. 

	The matriarch – Dayala, finally had enough and stood begrudgingly from her comfortable spot; in an instant the room went silent as they recognized their places within the hierarchy of their society – the matriarch is now presiding the room. She scanned the hall in silence, jumping from face to face, looking at each individual and peering into the depths of their soul. “I see you’ve all ceased your obnoxious squawking...” She sat down, crossing her legs and sighed in disappointment – She took another piercing look at everyone in the room and exclaimed “Do I have to waste my voice to tell you all to get in order!?” The room burst into motion as everyone scrambled into position; the guards got in to their usual spots while the captain stood to the side, the men from the scholarly clergy all grouped up and organized themselves in ranks and the arcane branch did the same.

	“Clergy, you may speak” she gestured with one hand and turned her head to face the head of the clergy. The tall, slender, robed man spoke with a hoarse, raspy voice, “Matriarch, we have come to report that the relic – no, the two spirits within the stone manifested themselves and told us that something has begun, something that might bring imbalance to our world.” as he spoke the arcane branch head nodded in agreement; it only took Dayala one look and the woman in the middle began to speak, “We of the arcane branch believe that it is one of the signs of end times – our days have become numbered my Matriarch.”

	Dayala took a puff from her pipe and gave the captain permission to speak, but as he was about to open his mouth, Altaz the Fox entered the hall; he respectfully bowed first and asked, “With your permission my Matriarch I’ve come to deliver a much needed report.”

	“And what does a disgrace like you have to add to the conversation?” The captain’s disrespectful tone caught Dayala’s attention, “Captain, if I were you I’d be more careful with what I say; disrespecting an officer that has constantly proven himself and his capabilities is not something you’d want to do in front of me.” Dayala’s stern words caught the captain off guard as he bowed for forgiveness, Dayala however turned to Altaz and said, “Speak.”
	
	“Matriarch, my guards in the surrounding villages have reported saying that our people are worried. There’s a feeling in the air that’s new and unfamiliar, even my own elite guard are on edge...” Altaz was old, but his voice was deeper, and more whole than the clergy elder, “I wanted to bring this to your attention because undoubtedly many people from the different regions of the isles feel the same.” His voice and spirit were both filled with doubt and worry much like everyone else in the room.

	Dayala pondered for a moment as she set down her pipe and stood up, she then strode across the hall’s marble floor pass the small gathering of concerned Khalai, she walked all the way to the mouth of the building; she gazed upon the villages below and then towards the horizon. 

	“Look out there and tell me what you all see...” Dayala’s calm, candid question gave off vibes that differed from the tense atmosphere; the people in the hall looked at each other in confusion, but one arcane practitioner – a witch doctor replied after a long period of silence, “I see people, Matriarch.” Dayala clapped and smiled, as she turned heels to face her audience, “Yes! Strong people – Khalai people. We’ve endured hardships and strife to achieve the peace we have now. I can sense change in the wind and it is not something we should fear, we are Khalai after all... Tell our people to be ready… Tell our people to be strong for the change in the wind may very well blow hardships and struggle towards our shores… Tell them that we will endure.” 
	
	The clergy could not refute her for she was correct, the Khalai are a strong people and have always endured hardships; the arcane branch could not refute her for they could sense it the strength though faint returning slowly within the people around her; Altaz and the guards visibly relaxed as the tense atmosphere began to unwind, “we needn’t worry ourselves, we will simply adapt to the change and if change seeks to wipe us from history we will not be rid off without a fight.” 

	“I shall take my leave and relay the message to the other regions my Matriarch” Altaz bowed his head respectfully and left with a smile on his face for yet again the Matriarch impressed him. The clergy and the Arcane branch trailed behind him bidding their respectful farewells. The realm held its breath for what is to come whether it be the end of their existence or the dawn of a new era.

[hider=Unique terms]
[b]Rami:[/b] A plant that is grown and harvested for different uses – the leaf of the Rami is dried, ground, and packaged for use as a smoking herb similar to tabaco but with less health risks. Other parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes or for seasonings and food. 
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