The Earthstone of the New Year

From the journal of Galdor, Wind Mage of Aurellentia
1-1-4874, Seconday

Today, as I stood in conference with other men of light before the Earthstone, bathed in its radiance, it slowly grew dark within its core before my very eyes. This is a dark omen, indeed, on the first day of the new year! As we stood gazing, as if bound by a spell, the lights that had once glimmered inside the now darkened crystal globe, turned dark, and radiated all the powers of magic that we hated and feared. And for good reason! Twice have they now rained chaos upon this innocent world. Now, they threaten thrice. However, not to our memories has the Earthstone ever gone dark. Not for the first or second mage wars, nor even when the circle was nearly completed in the second mage war. As a portent, I can foresee only disaster.