Hello everyone. I hope most of you will admit that nature is beautiful. But nonetheless, it can also be the man’s enemy, and cause severe losses. Today’s story is proof of that. It begins innocently…
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Kingdom of the Cape, year 559 of Era II
The dense forests of the Capes have never been a particularly safe place. Heat, numerous predators, unstable ground and ubiquitous vegetation have taken the health and lives of many. When departing from the capital, king Senot II of the Cape could not know he was to join that list. His journey began normally – he walked along the forest road with a dozen guards, occasionally penetrating the overgrowth that spread onto the path. This would not change for a few hours. However, when a change occurred, it was abrupt.
Out of nowhere, a part of the wet path collapsed, sending the king and a few guards down a small hill. Falling, they noticed brushes down below, and we’re relieved, as these would ease the impact. They missed a single detail – the kind of brushes these were. In fact, they were hathe – a rare, small plant, found mainly in the Capes, known for producing a toxin that causes severe burns and excessive contact often leads to disease or death.
And that was what happened to the unfortunate travellers. Their companions that managed to stay on the road heard screaming and rushed to help. They tried to get the victims out of the brushes safely, but it was no easy task. The men – king included – only managed to get out a few aen later. They were already in agony. The healthy guards carried all of them back to the city, but this took another few hours. The group entered the city silently and through small passages so as not to alert the citizens. All the victims were immediately taken to a clinic.
After a few days, the news was made public: the king had died. He had no children, so succession was uncertain. Ultimately, it turned into a long lasting conflict, where generals, nobles and trade companies tried to enforce their candidates. The kingdom lacked a ruler for almost five years. And all of this was caused by nothing but a wild brush.
I’ll leave you with that thought, and thank you for today.
Aedilër 