The Calamity

You must see it with your eyes, There can be no substitute

We all felt it that day, the great earthquake that signalled the ending of the era of the Seven Plagues. We were all there when Solaine answered our prayer. The problem was she didn't answer them in the way we had always hoped. In the chaos, some people like myself turned to art, our own answer to the maelstrom of life. Bringing a stoke of pause, a moment of contemplation to this cruel world!

— The Loremaster Solara Merryfleck, talking about their work "The Calamity"

"The Calamity" Painted by Loremaster Solara in response to their experience of the summoning of Negus Prime, Painted 436 years After the Pulse.

First Hand Account

It was a day like any other for Loremaster Solara. A day with no noteworthy happenings and thankfully no corpses to dispose or dissect. Today was all about them. As a treat from the hard work, they opted for a stroll far from Estua. Opting instead to travel north into the lands of Paha - A strange distant place but one they had always had a curiosity about. When reaching the northernmost point, on one of the hottest days of the year, Solara lay down a handstitched blanket by the foot of the mountains. The ground was unusually warm and the breeze caught their auburn hair. The wind carried the faint smell of lavender and Solara condemned themselves to relaxation and leaned back watching the dancing hue of The Shimmer.
In the distance, they heard wolf cub children playing, merry songs and parents chatting about local strange rituals. This was a foreign land. It was full of strange beastlike creatures where someone could be torn apart at a moments notice. Solaras' mouth curled into a contented expression, they were wise enough to at least chose somewhere outsiders are at least... tolerated. One of the wolf cub children fell, let out a cry, then silence.
At first no-one moved, everyones thoughts unable to make sense of the input from their ears and feet. The ground was moving and the noise; extended thunder made worse because the vibrations were coming from below. Then like a switch had been flicked in the dark corners of peoples minds, everyone moved for safety. All of them on that desperate mode that all-consuming fear creates. The air screamed and The Shimmer above flickered rapidly showering down unfathomable amounts of earth and stone as some creature, some horrible creature ventured upward at a terrible speed. The creatures black wings unfolded for all to see and the Shimmer had no chance of catching or containing the beast. Everyone around Solaria just simple stared skyward.

It was here, as the world braced for impact, the shield that protected the world floated gracefully down onto the ground. The Shimmer had finally touched the earth after years of its guardianship of the sky. Covering all the citizens on Verra'Talu in a protective golden light The Shimmer held its citizens with worried arms. Children screamed as the sky fell and parents all around Solara had that look in their eye. The look that said "Whether we live or die depends on if the Shimmer holds." Solara knew they will all either walk away bruised or perish in the downfall.

Turned to Painting

by Solara The Loremaster

Like most Loremasters, it was Solaras job to create and record everything that happened around them. Solara tried for weeks to put what they had seen into words. Writing in a Great Bestiary all the while candle after candle burned the night away. Some say Solara didn't sleep for five days and worked through five different tomes before they had even finished the first recollection of the event. After finishing the fifth book they looked back on their work and cried. They took the yellow ember burning candle and lit one of the books on fire. As the flames licked up the spine of the book like a dog thirsty for water Solara knew this could not be wrote down. This had to be seen.
Instead they turned to the painting. Finding a canvas large enough to hold the work on; they set about creating their first-hand recollection of the event which Verra'Talus citizens now know as "The Calamity." It was the day the being from beneath the soil sprung forth and shattered the sky. It was this shattering that created the monolith of iron and stone that now resides in the foot of the mountains. A great ball of iron and stone rusted at the tip and twisted into a vile image. To Solara, who inspected the iron works quite closely, it had always looked like a prison holding whatever was deep within the core of Verra'Talu tight and locked in place. Now the creature that resides within was free to roam the cosmos and seek out the goddesses and gods to exact Tenebris revenge. Solara painted as painstakingly as they could and now because of their work The Calamity painting is one of the many wonders of Verra Talu.

Significance

Cultural Significance to all of Verra'Talu. This painting depicts a moment in history that was only observed by a handful of people, a moment that would change Verra'Talu and signal the ending of the corrupted lands and the Seven Plagues. This painting would also serve as a warning that this world, while beautiful will always be inherently dangerous.

Item type

Unique Artifact

Owning Organization

Calingwood Family

Rarity

One of a kind

Base Price

Base Value 10,000gp.

Age
346 Years Old
Condition
A few marks that give away its age but mostly intact, preserved by magic.