Editing Mosswart Lore (section)

== History ==
=== On [[Ezheret]] ===

Mosswarts originate from the world the [[Tumerok]]s call [[Ezheret-Hazahtu]], although they only live on the body they call [[Ezheret]]. This requires some explanation. While a sun does rise and fall in the sky, Ezheret actually orbits another, larger planet called [[Hazahtu]]. Hazahtu, or “The Blind Eye,” is an enormous, cloud-shrouded grey-blue orb. Ezheret is hot, humid, and prone to extended periods of foul weather. Gales and hurricanes are frequent, perhaps due to the unusual sparseness of dry land.<ref name=AC:DMBestiaryTumerok>2001/11 [[Dark Majesty]] - [[AC:DM_CD_Lore/Bestiary/Derethian_Bestiary#Tumeroks|Bestiary: Tumeroks]]</ref> Ezheret is a moon world capable of supporting several species. Three of these species appear to have better than animal intelligence, capable of crafting rudimentary tools and sustaining a limited form of speech.<ref name=TheoriesofEzheret>2003/05 [[Discoveries]] - [[Theories of Ezheret]]</ref>

The Mosswart share Ezheret with the [[Tumerok]]s, as well as the  [[Banderling]]s and [[Drudge]]s.<ref name=AC:DMBestiaryTumerok/><ref name=TheoriesofEzheret/> Already on Ezheret, Banderlings and Mosswart were at odds with each other, and were involved in "Wanga" which probably means war or fight.<ref name=Gratitude>2004/08 [[From the Darkness Born]] - [[Bleeargh's Gratitude#Lore&Dialog]]</ref> They seek to obtain each others holy or ceremonial items through trickery, trade or warfare.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 [[Lonely In The World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref> The Mosswarts indigenous to Ezheret-Hazhatu have always been closely tied to the spirits of the land, much like the [[Tumerok]]. They are not as advanced and their culture lacks wisdom, but they are driven more by the feelings of the spirit than the Tumerok.<ref name=OfTheBurun>2004/08 [[From the Darkness Born]] - [[Of the Burun]]</ref>


=== On Dereth ===

Portals to [[Dereth]] appeared on Ezereth, and a few mosswart tribes, including a tribe protecting a special Tribal Shroud, depicting the first free Mosswart who had escaped from his alien captors and freed the rest of his people, went into this portal.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref> One of the first Mosswarts to walk through the portal to [[Dereth]] where they made their home in the swamps, and who befriended the native Gromnies, was the Mosswart Hero [Kreerg]]. He was later killed by a Virindi altered Mosswart, named [[Greearghk]].<ref name=Gratitude>2004/08 [[From the Darkness Born]] - [[Bleeargh's Gratitude#Lore&Dialog]]</ref> When they arrived on Dereth, they were enslaved by the [[Olthoi]], but managed to escape, led by the Shaman [[Drageerg]].<ref name=Gratitude/>

==== Mosswarts, Banderlings and the Virindi ====

The vendetta between Mosswarts and Banderlings did not stop when the two species arrived on Dereth.<ref name=Storytelling/>However, this changed after the Shadow Spires disappeared. A wave of fierce portal-energy squalls slid down the length of the Direlands, bringing with them fiercer varieties of banderling, shreth, and other familiar creatures. <ref> 2000/06 [[The Paths of Destruction]] - [[Announcements - 2000/06 - The Paths of Destruction#Teaser|Teaser]]</ref> Banderlings have learned to do bully lesser creatures. Reports came of mosswarts gathered under the banner of banderling camp chieftains.  Banderlings and Mosswarts started working together to attack human settlements, and established camps throughout Dereth.<ref name=Gathering>2000/10 [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/A Gathering of Monsters|A Gathering of Monsters]]</ref> 

This did not last long however, since Banderlings attacked a band of Mosswarts which were involved in the kidnapping of [[Candeth Martine]] and stole some ceremonial Banderling items.<ref name=MaceExplorer>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[Mace of the Explorer Quest#Lore & Dialog]]</ref><ref>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[A Battered Leather Journal]]</ref><ref>2000/10 [[Hollow Victory]] - [[A Dry Withered Leather Bound Journal]]</ref> Main instrument in Martine's capture was the Mosswart Chieftain [[Arrgkh Mearrgkh]] and his tribe, who was promised great powers by the Virindi in exchange for a captive human.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref><ref>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Sir Martine's Journal]]</ref><br> Another deal he made with the Virindi was to deliver them Mosswarts of his tribe to be altered. Though at first he thought this was a great deal, later he got doubts because it became less easier to rule the altered Mosswarts, and he didn't want to share his power.<ref name=Storytelling>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - [[Storytelling]]</ref> The Virindi, most notable [[Aerbax]], experimented with the concept of "Worship", using [[Idol]]s, when trying to gain control of the Mosswarts.<ref name=PiecePaper>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Piece of Paper]]</ref> Mosswarts (referred to as "croakers") were one of the creatures experimented on by [[Aerbax]] during its early experiments with the"Energy Source".<ref>2003/01 [[The Slumbering Giant]] - [[Research Notes: Mosswart]]</ref>Arrgkh stopped sending his subjects to the Virindi. He took his people, now strong with Mire-Witches and Soultrappers away from their stronghold in which they had been staying after the delivery of the prisoner, and found a new lair.<ref name=Storytelling/> There he was found by [[Candeth Martine]] after Martine escaped the Virindi, and, being forced to give up the Shroud, died a painful dead at Martine's hands. The Shroud was ripped to pieces.<ref name=Storytelling/><ref>2001/02 - [[Lonely in the World]] - description of [[Torn Mosswart Shroud]]</ref> Most probably, he was succeeded by [[Gragghk]], since this Mosswart Chieftain drops the now [[Torn Mosswart Shroud]] and [[Storytelling]].

Aerbax's later, "Prodigal", experiments resulted in the Mosswarts showing an increased degree of organization and they besieged the town of [[Kryst]], directed by [[Bragara, the Chosen One]], the Prodigal Mosswart, who was supposed to inspire a kind of "worship" amongst his kin.<ref name=PiecePaper>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Piece of Paper]]</ref> <ref name=ProdigalTeaser>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Announcements - 2007/05 - Prodigal Sons#Teaser|Teaser]]</ref><ref>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Mosswart Townsfolk Kill Task#Lore & Dialog]]</ref><ref>2007/05 [[Prodigal Sons]] - [[Aerbax's Prodigal Mosswart]]</ref> The experiment was considered a partial success, since while [[Bragara, the Chosen One]] was able to unify a force of Mosswarts, they were fraught with dissension in the ranks, they were inclined to believe a range of things, which sometimes made sense and sometimes didn't. They were inclined to be confused, and would not have worked as a stable organized force to conquer the neighboring human town.<ref name=PiecePaper/>

==== Mosswarts and the Burun ====
Later, Mosswarts became more friendly towards humans, and even called for their help retrieving important artifacts.<ref name=Gratitude/><ref name=KingToad>2004/08 [[From the Darkness Born]] - [[King Toad Idol Quest#Lore & Dialog]]</ref> The [[Burun]] spread their activities from the [[A'mun Desert]]: countless others made the Blackmire swamp their home<ref name=OfTheBurun/> and also spread towards the Direlands Swamps, in areas once populated heavily by the Mosswarts.<ref name=KingToad/> The Burun slaughtered them wherever they went, and, additionally, the swamps were changing. The land was getting spoiled and the Mosswarts were getting sick and dying. Many of them were slaughtered when the first of the Blackmire Temples was found. The Mosswarts first thought it was the Banderlings, that they had come to make war, but later they believed it was ‘ill spirits'. <ref>2004/03 [[Across the Vast Divide]] - [[Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary#Lore & Dialog]]</ref><ref name=DarknessTeaser>2004/08 [[From the Darkness Born]] - [[Announcements - 2004/08 - From the Darkness Born#Teaser|Teaser]]</ref> The Mosswarts were driven away, and reached out and asked for assistance. First [[Grearrk, Mosswart Emissary]] appeared in [[Sawato]], later, [[Bleeargh]] went before [[Elysa]] and asked for assistance.<ref name=KingToad/><ref name=DarknessTeaser/> She told the Mosswart that they would afford him passage so long as he and his tribe remained peaceful. The Mosswart exodus was related to the increase of the Burun, especially in the direlands.<ref name=KingToad/>