The Rivers Flow Once More

Expedition

A joint expedition of Sangari diplomats, Tletepecan explorers, and planar navigators set out to follow the phantom currents through the Ethereal Plane. After weeks of navigating shifting mists and planar distortions, they found a vast, floating delta—a city adrift between realms.   Shankhabhumi had not been destroyed but instead forcibly removed from the Material Plane due to a cataclysmic planar event centuries ago. Its people had survived by anchoring their civilization within the currents of the Ethereal Plane, preserving their traditions and way of life through spiritual rites that allowed them to navigate both realms.

Rediscovery of Shankhabhumi
With Akharin Sangar (1250 DR) and Tletepec (1254 DR) successfully reconnected to the Radiant Citadel, the Speakers for the Ancestors intensified their efforts to locate the remaining lost civilizations.   Tletepecan firewalkers, while mapping planar anomalies, discovered strange, repeating currents in the Ethereal Plane—a flow of magical energy that behaved like a river despite no physical water being present. They presented their findings to Akharin Sangar’s scholars, who, upon studying ancient trade records, recognized a pattern—this ethereal current followed the same routes where traders once spoke of the "Endless Rivers of Shankhabhumi."   If the theory was correct, it meant Shankhabhumi’s homeland still existed, but had been displaced beyond the Material Plane.     The Lost Rivers and the Return to the Material Plane
A joint expedition of Sangari diplomats, Tletepecan explorers, and planar navigators set out to follow the phantom currents through the Ethereal Plane. After weeks of navigating shifting mists and planar distortions, they found a vast, floating delta—a city adrift between realms.   Shankhabhumi had not been destroyed but instead forcibly removed from the Material Plane due to a cataclysmic planar event centuries ago. Its people had survived by anchoring their civilization within the currents of the Ethereal Plane, preserving their traditions and way of life through spiritual rites that allowed them to navigate both realms.   Upon the first Shankhabhumi descendant stepping foot on the Radiant Citadel, their Dawn Incarnate—the Moonstone Water Lily—awakened, its petals unfurling in the Preserve of the Ancestors, releasing a shimmering mist that reestablished the connection between Shankhabhumi’s lost city and the Material Plane.   The event caused a massive planar shift, and for the first time in centuries, Shankhabhumi’s homeland was returned to Faerûn. The rivers that had been lost to the Ethereal Plane flowed once more in the world, reconnecting trade routes and restoring its place in history.     Immediate Impact & Political Shifts
1. A Civilization Between Worlds
Shankhabhumi’s return was unlike the previous civilizations because they had adapted to living outside of the Material Plane for generations. Many of their people were used to navigating planar pathways, treating both the Ethereal and Material Planes as part of their homeland.   Some chose not to return fully, remaining in the Ethereal Plane as spiritual wanderers and planar navigators. Their unique perspective made them invaluable to the Citadel, as they had an understanding of planar stability and magic that no other civilization possessed.   2. The Challenge of Leadership
When the Speakers for the Ancestors pressed Shankhabhumi to choose a Speaker, their people hesitated. Their governance was fluid, led by river-guilds and spirit-shamans, where leadership shifted with the flow of the waters.   The idea of one permanent representative did not align with their cultural values. However, after weeks of negotiation, they agreed to elect a Speaker who would serve only in matters of diplomacy, while internal governance remained decentralized.   This decision further shaped the politics of the Citadel, reinforcing the idea that each civilization could redefine the role of their Speaker rather than adhere to a single model.   Contributions & Lasting Changes
  Restoration of the Endless Rivers
Shankhabhumi’s return restored lost river-trade routes that had been disrupted for centuries. Their knowledge of spirit-bound waterways allowed them to assist other civilizations in navigating dangerous planar tides.   Planar Expertise Shared with the Citadel
Their scholars introduced new methods of planar cartography, helping to stabilize the Citadel’s shifting planar connections. This became critical in later efforts to locate civilizations that had been even more deeply lost.   Economic & Cultural Revival

• The reopening of river trade led to a surge in commerce, benefiting both Shankhabhumi and later civilizations like San Citlán and the Sensa Empire.
• Their influence introduced river-spirit rites, music, and ceremonies that became part of the Citadel’s cultural identity.

• Akharin Sangar (1250 DR): Their historical trade records helped identify the phantom rivers leading to Shankhabhumi’s rediscovery.
• Tletepec (1254 DR): Their planar cartography and anomaly tracking led to the first clues of Shankhabhumi’s continued existence.
• Yeonido (1274 DR): Would later benefit from Shankhabhumi’s planar expertise, as their own Yokai-infused homeland had deep ties to spiritual ecosystems.

• Shankhabhumi’s homeland had been lost to the Ethereal Plane for centuries but was returned to Faerûn through the efforts of the Radiant Citadel.
• The Moonstone Water Lily reawakened upon their arrival, restoring the lost river connections.
• They resisted central governance, influencing the evolution of the Speakers for the Ancestors.
• Their knowledge of planar navigation became a major resource for the Citadel’s explorers.
• Their return restored river-based trade routes, revitalizing economic ties across multiple civilizations.