... and shortly after the Pangaean invasion into our lands, the flames of war raged in full, leaving the lands south of the lake of Vastness scorched and scared by magical fire and lightning, crops trampled by hoofs and heavy military boots alike. People fled their homes and hid in the mountains, but many of them never returned, so it's entirely possible they met a fate far worse than death on the battlefield.
It has been rumored that Hinnom Kohens started to lure the astral beings from beyond the Veil into enemy lands, to prey upon the enemy armies and people, but I hope these are just rumors. It's written that beings beyond the Veil have their own incomprehensible motives, and will feed on the life of friend or foe alike. The forest are no longer safe to hunt and forage, and people prefer hunger to threading among the treacherous ancient trees. Some even say that enormous, smelling beasts of vines and bones, smelling of decay, have been seen roaming the woods. During the night, howling scares cattle in villages, and some of it sounds much worse than simple wolves.
The southern Umidor Mark has been completely overrun, the castle lost, and of the expedition army, only tattered remains returned.
On the west, however, our army supposedly achieved multiple victories, liberating beseiged Zeburia and reconquering some of the lost lands. Some of the combatants returned to celebrate to Gehenna, boasting about their deeds of valor on the battlefield, showing fresh scars and also strange wolf-like talismans - apparently taken when looting the enemy commanders. These talismans must contain some strange, twisted magic, because their owners soon started to behave like actual wolves - growling and angry at the slightest provocation, some of them even disturbed the peace of the Palace and many guards had to be summoned to put them down. While these veterans are officially proclaimed heroes and given titles and riches, common folk fear them. However, their return sparked a peculiar fashion wave among the decadent, spoiled rich Gehenna youngsters, who come to feasts painted as wolves, and howl and fight while drunk.
We can only hope that swift victories will be achieved soon, because this constant war drains the strength from our lands faster than sun drinks the morning dew from the blades of grass.
Diary of a field commander Motl, undated entry
