Season One: The Tohlvasti Invasion and the Defense of the Astari

**Astari Saga Volume 1: Chapter 3**

**The Tohlvasti Invasion and the Defense of the Astari**

In a time of peace, after the conflict with the Wyrmcult a new threat emerged bringing terror and destruction to Astoria. An alien threat, a force from a realm unknown to the Astari.

Seeking information on this unknown force the Astari spread out across their realm looking for any clues that could help them identify their new foe. The search was yielding nothing until to adventurous souls, Beithe and Kinjiro made their way to the Nexus. In that structure that existed beyond time they came across the Orrery. It seemed a simple thing, possibly a fabrication of ingenuity, a trophy commissioned by Aetherian to decorate his hall.

When the pair approached for a closer look they found a faint, small, pulsing mote of light. Unable to withhold their own curiosity they touched the curious orb of light. Their sight washed white and their minds were taken racing across the cosmos to countless war torn realms. Realms who had faced this new threat that had come to Astoria. They were conquerors and destroyers, lead by a single being known as Tohlvast.

They spread throughout the the realms subjugating or destroying those who would not bend to the Tohlvasti's will. Vast fleets and innumerable armies, vision after vision assailed and haunted the pair. Just as they could bare no more they were pulled back, left dazed in a heap on the Nexus floor. They took little time with worry and made haste to inform and alert their Astari brothers and sisters. A war council was called, and plans were made and this time the Celestial Host rallied alongside their champions to defend their home.

The bombardment lasted for weeks, the Tohlvasti possessing technology far beyond what most of the Astari had seen. They commandeered the Leyshrines and used them as focus points to warp their soldiers onto Astari soil. For days the Astari fought them back, wave after wave came but the brave and determined Astari rooted themselves unwavering against the Tohlvasti tide. On the seventh day early in the morning a great column of energy struck the battlefield, to the horror of the Astari and their Celestial's the Realm Soul, the source of life, power, magic, and all things that resided on Astoria was culled from the earth and laid bare in the open.

Cellestra called upon all her magic to encase the fragile crystal within a great oak tree. There all manner of beasts, demons, angels, undead, and all things that resided on Astoria gathered. Unified in one force the pressed out, finally on the offensive they cleaved their way through the Tohlvasti forces making their way to the Leyshrine. Hours passed and in the end the ground forces had been wiped out, the battered and weary Astari stood proudly as their victory was hard fought and well earned.

It was until they realized that the armies were nothing more than a ruse, a distraction to pull them away. Much to their dismay they watched as a titanic being tore apart the Great Oak that had been safeguarding the Realm Soul. The ground quaked and fire spewed from the rifts as the creature cracked and tore away a fragment of the Realm Soul.

The Tohlvast sought to break the will of the Astari, to riddle their forms with fear and defeat but it only spurred them on, drawing deep, finding any strength they had left the rushed across the field of battle and engaged the titan. In a conflict that could not be properly honored in words but lingers in the memories of all that were there, the titan fell. There in it's hand rested the fragment of the Realm Soul. Saddened the Astari looked on as their realm heaved under the damage done to the Realm Soul. The shard's magic still remained but it was erratic and unstable, it needed anchor once more to something that was of Astoria.

Cellestra and Hashmaul each in turn altered the shard, Hashmaul honing it into an axe head and Cellestra a handle crafted from the Great Oak. The only thing left was for this weapon to be bound to Astoria once more. Argument broke out about who should wield the power, for a moment the Astari became petty and bickered, some because they thought others were not worthy, other sought the item to freely offer themselves. In the end the blade was taken by Valgerd and it's purpose was revealed.

They were to use the axe to end the conflict in finality. To sunder the Leyshrines and bring peace to their realm or to carry it to Tohlvast and drive the weapon into the heart of the accursed Celestial that ruled there. Vengeance was in their hearts or perhaps some thought to call it justice or a calling. To end the Tyrants rule and free the realms from their grasp. So now the plan and plot, they seek out allies, gather resources to prepare for their own invasion. An ending conflict to wrestle the cosmos free of Tolhvast's influnce, the Astari chose war and they chose to bring it and all their might to the footsteps of Tohlvast's seat of power.