Dantia/Storylines/Mana Surges & Wild Magic/Phase 7: Heralds vs Immortals

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Player Story: By Nawain

Date Summary Link
450-03-12
Aug 31, 2024
Nawain is exhausted and despondent, as the crushing weight of divine displeasure overwhelms her. Tormented by her failure and the destruction it caused, she struggles to reconcile her devotion to the Gods with their abandonment. As despair consumes her, she quietly laments the loss of a thousand souls and her own powerlessness. Full story on Discord

Vignettes from Null Prison

Date Summary Link
450-03-12
Aug 31, 2024
Dantia waits for something uncertain, though she believes she'll recognize it when it happens. Although time blurs together, her senses are sharp, and she spends her time thinking over old battles, hoping to find a pattern to guide her. Despite the uncertainty, she clings to her identity as a survivor, determined to endure. Full story
450-03-24
Sep 3, 2024
Miskton presents a cyclical narrative where the world ends repeatedly. He sees various scenarios, from cosmic events to personal encounters, many based on visions seen in the past. Original story on Discord
450-03-24
Sep 3, 2024
Ayrell depicts being trapped in a hazy, nightmarish reality. She struggles to determine if she is alive or dead, and desperately tries to save her family from unseen threats. She experiences brief moments of clarity followed by intense battles, only to fail and return to the initial state of confusion. Original story on Discord
450-03-24
Sep 3, 2024
Navesi struggles to capture the right words and ideas. She cycles through various fragments of stories, descriptions, and dialogues, constantly rejecting them as unsuitable. She grapples with different genres and themes, in a persistent attempt to find the perfect words. Original story on Discord

Liraxes Reveals the Crystalline Machine

Date Summary Link
450-03-12
Aug 31, 2024
Liraxes reveals the beginning structure of his crystalline machine meant to help determine the correct path for Balance. It estimates the device will be complete within "one andu" (4 IC days, or 24 hours real life time).

Visit the Sorcery Messengers page for more info about this messenger and their interactions during this event.

Expand for details.

[Grassland Road, Meadow]
Before you lies the remains of a building, long reduced to jagged foundations of porous, moss-stained tufa.  Dark blades of weevil grass poke out of the rocky ground.  You hear a clattering sound somewhere within the ruined structure and a muffled oath.
You also see an incomplete structure of uneven blue crystal.

> look structure
Crystal spires and facets are in various stages of formation.  Some are fully developed and sharp-edged, while others are stubby and irregular with jagged edges and rough surfaces.  Veins in shades of blue pulse lightly, crystallizing and solidifying.  Thin strands extend from the main body, branching out like tendrils seeking connection points in the soil.  The base is uneven, with parts of the crystal still fusing to the ground, giving it an unsteady look.  The structure emits a faint, pulsating hum.
Log courtesy of Ayrell

Liraxes Opens the Crystalline Machine

Date Summary Link
450-03-16
Sep 1, 2024
Liraxes opens the way into the crystalline machine, although it notes that the machine is still not complete.

Visit the Sorcery Messengers page for more info about this messenger and their interactions during this event.

Expand for details.

[Grassland Road, Meadow]
Before you lies the remains of a building, long reduced to jagged foundations of porous, moss-stained tufa.  Dark blades of weevil grass poke out of the rocky ground.  You hear a clattering sound somewhere within the ruined structure and a muffled oath.
You also see a complex crystalline machine.
Obvious paths: north.

> look machine
The machine is a disdyakis triacontahedron of smooth, opaque blue crystal, angular and geometric, with sharp-edged spires rising from a central dome.  Along various surfaces, floating symbols glow with esoteric displays, shifting and changing as you watch.  Embedded within the central structure, you make out crystalline and flowing metallic components moving with precise rhythm, dynamically branching and withdrawing from one another in a fluidly complex dance.  There is an opening on one side.

> go machine
[Inside the Machine]
The room is vast and angular, its deep blue crystal walls scattering light into a spectrum of hues.  The smooth surfaces reflect and refract, casting intricate patterns across the floor.  Embedded in the walls are complex metallic patterns wrought in nickel, icesteel, niniam, and zinc, occasionally glowing with heat in rhythmic pulses.  Thin crystalline rods connect the mechanisms, shifting and changing smoothly.  The air hums with a subtle vibration, punctuated by the occasional metallic click.  Thin, translucent tubes filled with glowing blue liquid pulse gently, in sync with the mechanisms.
You also see a nodule of crystal extending from the center of the room and an opening in the wall.
Obvious paths: none.

> look nodule
The uneven crystal nodule bears veins of blue pulsing along its structure.  It is slowly expanding and solidifying, and emits a faint hum.
Log courtesy of Ayrell

Wolf Clan and Tiger Clan are Encased

Date Summary Link
450-03-20
Sep 2, 2024
Asildu claims the Heralds are angry with adventurers for continuing to cast sorcery. As Asildu is grilled over the events at Knife Clan, the Heralds seem to react and cast meteors down on Wolf Clan and Tiger Clan, encasing them in a similar nature as Knife Clan.

Visit the Sorcery Messengers page for more info about this messenger and their interactions during this event.

Expand for details.

Before the encasing of Wolf Clan:

A voice calmly states "We concur," and you are momentarily overwhelmed with a foreign feeling of disgust.  You cannot recall what the voice sounded like, though it echoes all around you.

The sky splits, and several writhing meteors fall from the sky, tearing towards Wolf Clan!

As the meteors tear across the sky, they leave billowing lines of ash and they curve downward, impacting over Wolf Clan!

A deafening explosion to the west washes over you!

Before the encasing of Tiger Clan:

A voice roars "The audacity!" and you are momentarily overwhelmed with a foreign feeling of revulsion.  You cannot recall what the voice sounded like, though it echoes all around you.

The sky splits, and several writhing meteors fall from the sky, tearing towards Tiger Clan!

As the meteors tear across the sky, they leave billowing lines of ash and they curve downward, impacting over Tiger Clan!

A deafening explosion to the west washes over you!

A visual representation by GM Koror: Lifesculpted Spire Encasement

Log courtesy of Ayrell

Player Letter: Briaen to the Faithful Servants of the Thirteen

Date Summary Link
450-03-24
Sep 3, 2024
Briaen decrees that Asildu is committing acts of terror. The faithful are being called upon to deliver justice and hold Asildu accountable for his actions against the Immortals. An order is being issued for Asildu to be sought out and immediately killed without mercy or hesitation. Full letter on Discord

Player Event: Investigating Hrendh Skogar

Date Summary Link
450-03-24
Sep 3, 2024
Adventurers gathered to investigate plague wraiths, creatures tied to a surge in wild magic, in the hope of uncovering their origin and role in ongoing cosmic disturbances. Leading the group, Karthor posited that these wraiths could be connected to an unseen force sowing chaos among other powerful entities, possibly related to an ancient, nightmarish entity glimpsed in visions. The group battled malformed plague wraiths, received a sense of approval from the god Kertigen, and concluded that while some mysteries were confirmed, the true nature of the underlying threat remains elusive.

Expand for details.

Everything is silent.  Strangely silent.

An angry whisper echoes all around you, damning you.

A raven circles far above, cawwing in agitation.

The raven is joined by a welkin, who swoops down before disappearing in a golden haze.

The raven flutters awkwardly a moment, and also vanishes in a golden haze.  The malevolent whispering returns, louder!

The whispering intensifies, echoing all around you!

Louder and louder, the furious whispers continue!

Suddenly, silence.
Log courtesy of Karthor

Player Letter: Elurora to Zemmunhu

Date Summary Link
450-03-28
Sep 4, 2024
Elurora requests a meeting with Zemmunhu to discuss insights into current world problems. She says that Adventurers are divided and confused about how to prevent the world's dissolution, and that visions involving Zemmunhu's kind have led her to believe they may possess knowledge that could help. Full letter on Discord

Player Letter: Saragos to Liraxes

Date Summary Link
450-03-28
Sep 4, 2024
Saragos asks Liraxes to consider developing a method to invert a Celestial Beacon, allowing travel to the casting mage's location by exploiting the brief connection during casting, and about using the Beacon to at least locate the mage's plane. Full letter on Discord

Player Story: By Allye

Date Summary Link
450-03-28
Sep 4, 2024
Allye sits at her vanity, brushing her hair and contemplating two flowers: a blue iris and a white gladiolus, which evoke memories of lost villages and people. She reflects on the mysterious spires that have appeared, replacing the familiar bustling communities with an eerie silence, and wonders about the fate of those she knew. After pinning the flowers to her gown, she stands with grim determination and leaves the room. Full story on Discord

Player Story: By Tirost

Date Summary Link
450-03-28
Sep 4, 2024
Tirost confronts an encasement of writhing vines and stone, which appears to have trapped someone named Lymira. Overcome with rage and driven by memories of his past, he unleashes a barrage of magical attacks against the encasement, including fire, lightning, and elemental blasts. Despite his relentless efforts he fails to breach the encasement and ultimately collapses from exhaustion and injury. Full story on Discord

Miraena at Encased Knife Clan

Date Summary Link
450-03-32
Sep 5, 2025
Miraena speaks with adventurers at the base of the now-encased Knife Clan. She defends the Heralds' actions as a necessary measure to make adventurers heed warnings about the dangers of sorcery. She argues that the temporary relief felt after sorcerous casting proves that ceasing sorcery restores balance. She expresses growing frustration at the hubris of adventurers, and a doubt that her mission is worthwhile at this point.

Visit the Sorcery Messengers page for more info about this messenger and their interactions during this event.

Log courtesy of Ayrell

Player Story: By Valynn

Date Summary Link
450-03-36
Sep 6, 2024
In a cozy treehouse nestled in the branches of an ancient chestnut tree, Valynn pours over ancient texts and maps, studying the history and nature of the mysterious Heralds. Her sharp eyes scan over books and scrolls by candlelight, meticulously taking notes as she pieces together the enigmatic story of these powerful figures who once curtailed the use of magic in Elanthia. As night falls, she rises, gently squeezing her cat Jack before extinguishing the candles, resolving to return to her research the next day. Full story on Discord

Player Letter: The Leviathan Correspondence Committee to Elurora

Date Summary Link
450-03-36
Sep 6, 2024
The Leviathan Correspondence Committee responds to Elurora. They state that the leviathans receive many requests, but reading and responding can be a slow process. Full letter on Discord

Player Event: Mending the Wound

Date Summary Link
450-03-36
Sep 6, 2024
Rangers, Empaths, and Bards attempt to connect with Elanthia again. During the ritual, some adventurers experience vivid visions of the planet's ancient past, revealing the creation of "Gardeners" by a dragon-like entity and their subsequent fall from grace. The visions also depict a great battle against an outside force and the devastating consequences of powerful magic.

Expand for details.

Bard / Warrior Mage:

You reach out to probe the mana streams, searching for the Aether that knits the Plane of Abiding together.  Shifting, brilliant radiance overwhelms your senses, twisting and ensconcing your entire surroundings.  The weave of Aether kinks and furls before you in familiar ways, ebbing and flowing like a knitted tide that covers as far as the eye can see, with no new gaps or bare threads that are glaringly obvious to your senses.  A faint hiss builds, a steady static that builds with a pressure.

Empath / Ranger:

At the edges of your perception, you find your connection to Elanthia still lingering, as if it never truly left you.  A sense of a pure, verdant, serene planet surrounds you, and your vision slowly adjusts.  You see yourself at the foot of a tall lifesculpted spire that crosses two strong-moving rivers, in a glade encircled by a tall canopy of trees.  The form of a large orange dragon settles at the base of the spire, towering over you, before hunching itself low, twisting and shifting until it resembles a feminine humanoid form.  She walks toward where you stand, as if aware of your presence, and pauses thoughtfully.  Your gaze looks down, and you see two small hands.  She plants a hand on the crest of your forehead, and whispers words that are not audible -- and yet you know them.  "You will be one of my Gardeners."

At her touch, the world twists, and shapes before you.  In moments, you experience flickers of memories and experiences.  You find yourself shaping creation to your whim, gesturing and twisting nature into an elegant, harmonious design, but find yourself depleted each time -- a gnawing hunger filling your being, as you pull from each available mana stream and exhaust its limitations.  Years -- decades -- centuries pass in moments, and yet you find that hunger welling deeper and deeper with each use -- insatiable and endless.  You reach to broader areas for mana, and are more selective as time passes, but the hunger does not abate.

Focusing on the hunger, you discover that the only fulfilment you can achieve is by consuming raw, pure mana in immense quantity.  In time, you find the thread of new streams of mana just beyond your reach.  You call to it, and it does not answer -- and yet the hunger grows, as does your desperation.  It takes painful ages, but in that time, you discover a way to grasp that mana -- by pulling something new inside the paradise.  Your senses are overwhelmed as you reach out, deliberately slicing into the knitted strands that protect the plane, and force the new threads of mana through, building a new weave.  In this moment, you feel more powerful than ever -- and the hunger is sated.

Boundless creation followed, and you found yourself pushing each of your limits.  Time speeds up as you watch creation become even more intricate.  And yet -- time slows until you can focus on a single feeling -- a single moment inside a single vision.  The humanoid has returned.  Again, you do not understand her words, but you instinctually are familiar with her meaning -- rejection.  Failure.  With another touch, you are unmade, and in that moment, you become acutely aware that you are accused of poisoning the purity of this world.  In the unmaking, your consciousness becomes attached to a speck of dirt inside a beam of light beneath the canopy that surrounds a now-withering spire, helpless to watch as your creations slowly are undone as a consequence of your actions inside a null prison for what appears to be an eternity.

You watch from the outside as the humanoid crafts a new being -- similar to the one you experienced, except fundamentally different in one fundamental purpose.  Where you had experienced the memories of a Gardener, these new creations warded against the fear of rot.  Again, you experience time pass in epochs as Elanthia would, watching the verdant glory tarnish, fade, and wilt, and with a feeling of dread, you cannot help but know that something has been beckoned through.  You feel pain as war ravages the planet, and time slows to one horrible moment -- when hundreds of these new creations are locked in battle with an incomprehensible outside force.  In a flash, one invokes words that have terrible meaning -- and at the expense of the verdant life, it rends everything you consider beautiful into a desiccated wasteland, leaving innumerable creators and their creations joining the soul of the planet.  Your vision abruptly returns to normal, leaving you disoriented.

Bard:

The Othersight fades and the pressure abates, disappearing into a lingering memory, like a song you cannot quite remember the words to.  You close your eyes, opening up your senses to what can be perceived in this area.  You recall an ancient battle in a place that has a forgotten name -- hundreds of thousands dying against swarms of dead and demons.  You recall a time of magic and wonder as humanity brings an age of heroism.  You recall having heard songs of this before.  Opening your eyes, you find yourself humming notes that you cannot place, from a tune you cannot quite remember.

Warrior Mage:

The Othersight fades and the pressure abates.

Cleric / Paladin:

Your feel a warmth of inspiration in your soul, as if comforted that the Immortals have shepherded you to this point.  You are unclear of the purpose of this feeling but find it to be significant.
Log courtesy of the Grey Dragons

Player Event: Gathering the Steadfast

Date Summary Link
450-03-36
Sep 6, 2024
Briaen and Nawain call those of faith to Tamsine's Shrine, where prayers for protection and guidance during uncertain times are performed. During the service, adventurers experience visions and sensations believed to be signs from Tamsine, including the appearance of a silvery cat. After the formal service, Unaka initiated a discussion about recent events, including a vision seen by Rangers and Empaths of a "First Gardener" entity that created things but became hungry for mana, leading to speculation about the true nature of the current threats.

Expand for details.

Suddenly, you smell the scents of cinnamon and cloves, and you feel a gentle get firm squeeze on your shoulder, though when you look no one is there. The air feels heavy and honeyed, and a sense of warmth pervades you, as if you were sitting in front of a cozy fire. You hear the tinkling sound of laughter around you.

A shimmering, silvery cat materializes before you, padding softly across the ground. Looking aimless at first, it wanders its way toward Unaka and slips around her her ankles, luxuriously pulling itself between and around both feet in little circles. Unaka bends down to scratch the cat's ears, but it skips behind her legs and vanishes without a trace.

Unaka looks surprised a moment as the cat appears again, its tail brushing against her calf. It casually extracts itself and walks through the area, wending its way around the gatherers. Looking down, you find yourself staring into the cat's eyes, and for a moment you see a glimmer of stars. You hear a voice, "You are seen, and welcome. Continue on the path you have chosen. Right this world. Trust in Us." The cat sits for a moment, purring, as if inviting you to pet it. However, before you can reach it, it slips off and fades away entirely into air.
Log courtesy of Briaen

Player Story: Gosen Sansebel by Lupidels

Date Summary Link
450-03-36
Sep 6, 2024
A woman hires a gardener to tend to her fruit tree. The gardener becomes consumed by his hunger, fertilizing, planting, and expanding the garden to produce more fruit. Despite his efforts, his hunger persists until he tears down the walls of the garden, expanding it further until he is finally satisfied. When the woman returns, she is saddened by the destruction of her garden and hires a new gardener to begin again. Full letter on Discord

Player Story: By Saragos

Date Summary Link
450-03-36
Sep 6, 2024
Saragos, crushed by the failure of his mission and the disappearance of Navesi, initially expects his grief to break him, but instead, it leaves him hollow and empty. Over time, a festering hatred grows within him, fueled by the realization of his failure and the suffering of the kidnapped. This hatred drives him to methodically plan not only Navesi's rescue but also the murder of those responsible, and with a calm, purposeful resolve, he sets out to continue his grim work. Full story on Pastebin

Story: By Unaka

Date Summary Link
450-03-40
Sep 7, 2024
Unaka surveys the aftermath of destruction at a crater before making her way to a refugee encampment, where she distributes food and comforts those in need. After helping build a central shelter for the camp, she returns to the city and heads to the temple, where she prays at the altar of Truffenyi, seeking guidance and permission to strike against those responsible for the devastation. In a moment of divine connection, she receives a message, telling her to wait, and despite her desire for action, she leaves the temple, resolved but patient. Full story on Discord

Player Story: By Nawain

Date Summary Link
450-03-40
Sep 7, 2024
Nawain, exhausted and filled with self-doubt, sits at her desk writing a letter to her late father, Tev, confessing the weight of her failure and the relentless emotional toll it has taken. She expresses the overwhelming pressure of her responsibilities and the looming dread of the return of Sihmiauri, which she fears may destroy her if it cannot be contained. After finishing her letter, Nawain moves to the altar, lighting candles and incense, but the flames provide no solace as she remains haunted by her inability to cope with the consequences of her actions. Full story on Discord

Liraxes Completes the Crystalline Device

Date Summary Link
450-03-40
Sep 7, 2024
Liraxes unveils a crystalline machine with a pedestal that records sentiments on pure mana versus mixed mana casting. Adventurers are invited to interact with the pedestal, either TOUCHING it to support pure mana casting or TAPPING it to support mixed mana casting.

Visit the Sorcery Messengers page for more info about this messenger and their interactions during this event.

Log courtesy of Ayrell

Player Event: Meeting of the Messengers

Date Summary Link
450-03-40
Sep 7, 2024
Adventurers gather to discuss recent developments regarding Wild Magic and the abduction of their friends. Unaka shares insights from a recent vision, while others debate theories about the nature of the threat they face. Questions arise about the role of sorcery, the history of Immortals and Heralds, and the possibility of time manipulation. As the meeting concludes, participants express a desire for more concrete information and plan various approaches to uncover the truth behind the ongoing magical crisis. Log courtesy of Ayrell

Player Event: A Vigil for Meraud

Date Summary Link
450-03-40
Sep 7, 2024
A group gathers to pray to Meraud seeking guidance on how to rescue their missing friends and resolve magical disturbances. During the prayer session, attendees experience a vision from Meraud involving a wolf, growing trees, and a hooded figure weaving and drinking mana streams.

Expand for details.

The braziers flare with silvery flames and the massive wolf statue flickers.  Bizarre shadows stream along the walls.

Time slows and the air takes on a golden light.  Everything goes silent.

A shaggy black wolf suddenly appears before you, majestic and full of presence, its eyes piercing you as if looking directly into you.  Without warning, its mouth breaks open in a toothy grin, and it pants, trotting over toward a particular spot on the stone floor, standing next to a familiar looking worn stone.  The wolf looks at you intently, then looks at the worn stone intently, then looks back at you, and wags its tail happily.  In a flash, the wolf and stone are gone.

Everything goes dark for a moment and you watch as thirteen saplings sprout from the ground and begin to rapidly grow, leaves unfurling and branches extending.  The ground ripples and a gust of dry air washes over you, pulling moisture from the ground and from the young trees.  They wither, dropping leaves and bending slightly, but recover, and continue to grow.  After some time, the ground ripples again, and the gust of air returns -- though the trees are larger and more established, still they suffer.  The trees continue to grow into mighty, towering behemoths, their canopies intertwined with one another, twinkling stars embedded within them, and their roots glow in the darkness.  The ground ripples once more, the gust of dry air returns, and the trees weather the storm.  The vision fades.

A hooded figure swathed in black robes appears before you, holding his arms wide in front of him, fingers bent in a gesture often used by mages preparing spells.  "Watch carefully," he says.  Four shimmering streams appear before him, separate strands standing apart.  Slowly, he brings his hands together, and the streams close in on one another, twining together in an intricate weave.  The man draws something that looks like liquid light away, pooling it in his hands, then takes a drink.  "There.  You see?"  He turns and suddenly vanishes.
Log courtesy of Ayrell

Player Event: Lunar Magic and Visions at Arhat's Tower

Date Summary Link
450-03-40
Sep 7, 2024
To honor the wisdom and insights of our dearly missed friend Miskton Ramahk, all Moon Mages interested in attempting to utilize Lunar Magic in an attempt to perceive new options regarding Wild Magic, the ongoing debate about Sorcery, and the possibility of returning the lost five are invited to begin with a meeting in Arhat’s Tower which will then travel to the remains of Knife Clan to investigate the new Spire. Hosted by Ruea Shai'lin, this event will focus on research, theory, and attempting to draw predictions. Any are welcome to join but we politely ask that the focus remain on allowing the Moon Mages space to utilize their abilities. N/A

Player Story: By Allye

Date Summary Link
450-04-04
Sep 8, 2024
Allye recalls a vision of coalescing mana streams, pondering whether it hints at the need for combining mana types to tackle future challenges. She and Shaylynne seek out the enigmatic Timekeeper Raerethrew, who cryptically refers to another Timekeeper, Veralos, leading them to an old newspaper article that connects Veralos's feral magic with their current quest. The article reveals clues that suggest using feral magic might be key to countering similar magic, leaving Allye and Shaylynne anxious and contemplative as they prepare to rest for the night. Full story on Discord

Player Story: By Elurora

Date Summary Link
450-04-04
Sep 8, 2024
In the early spring morning, Elurora enjoys a peaceful moment on the back stoop of her cottage, sipping tea while Claribel tends to the garden, collecting produce and weeding. After finishing her tea, Elurora joins Claribel in filling a basket with fruits, vegetables, and scones before embracing her partner, cherishing their time together amidst the chaos of wild mana. Elurora then carries the basket to a camp for displaced survivors, distributing the food to families who have lost everything and offering her help without accepting any food in return, knowing it is only a small part of what is needed. Full story on Discord

Player Story: By Zehira

Date Summary Link
450-04-04
Sep 8, 2024
Zehira, fully aware of the skepticism surrounding her, pores over a book she once claimed didn't exist, Demons and the Profane, noting its insights about the defiler and his desire to reshape the Plane of Abiding. Recognizing that the seal trapping him weakens with the use of black necromantic mana, she considers the possibility that the defiler might be closer than anticipated. With this new understanding, she decides to consult one of the greatest minds she knows, despite his eccentricities, and prepares to send notes to various contacts, including Mistress Sivroch, in hopes of unraveling the mystery further. Full story on Discord

Player Story: By Nawain

Date Summary Link
450-04-04
Sep 8, 2024
Nawain sits on the edge of a cliff, surveying the valley where three Clans once thrived, now marked by ominous spires and craters, her mood somber as she reflects on her connection to Sihmiauri. In her journal, she writes about the challenges and small victories of her journey, including the hope offered by Clerics' efforts to move away from antinomic sorcery and the struggle to manage her own Godling creation, which feels more like a dangerous deception than a solution. Despite the support and wisdom she receives from others, she wrestles with temptations and setbacks, feeling her energy and time slipping away as she resolves to continue with determination and hope. Full story on Discord

Player Event: Revisiting a Wild Magic Theory

Date Summary Link
450-04-04
Sep 8, 2024
Join Ruea Shai'lin and Ezerak Evyntine-Vershir for a gathering and brief lecture in honor of the still-missing Ayrell Evyntine. The lecture will feature details previously presented by Ayrell on her theory regarding Wild Magic that she was working on prior to her abduction. N/A

The Message of the Heralds

Date Summary Link
450-04-04
Sep 8, 2024
Asildu and Miraena present their message about the Heralds and the dangers of sorcery. They explain that the Immortals have failed in their duty to guide mortals, leading to the misuse of sorcery and the current imbalance. They emphasize that pure mana is needed to restore balance and urge adventurers to consider hosting pure mana parties instead of sorcery events. They expresses frustration with the arrogance and defiance of some adventurers but remain committed to helping save the world, even if it means facing threats and insults. Log courtesy of Ayrell

Player Story: By Medir

Date Summary Link
450-04-08
Sep 9, 2024
A bottle of scotch rests on the bar, its contents glowing in the afternoon light, symbolizing a brief moment of clarity and purpose amid the chaos of Medir's life. As he sketches posters for an upcoming Drinkfest, he reflects on the bar's rich history and his role in bringing joy to a world fraught with conflict, despite the growing uncertainty that surrounds him. With a final, wistful grin, he finishes his drawings and prepares to distribute them, hopeful that the event will offer a fleeting escape and unity in a time of division. Full story on Discord

Player Story: By Valynn

Date Summary Link
450-04-08
Sep 9, 2024
Overwhelmed by the chaos and emotions of previous events, Valynn flees to her solitary home in an ancient chestnut tree, drenched by the rain and chilled to the bone. As she tends to her black cat and reflects on the conflict between the Heralds' pure vision of nature and the Immortals' practical use of mixed mana, she is torn between her deep respect for the unspoiled beauty of the natural world and the undeniable benefits of the Immortals' approach. Exhausted and emotionally drained, she seeks solace in her quiet home, pondering the possibility of a third perspective that might bridge the divide. Full story on Discord

Player Event: Beseeching Eluned About the Immortals and Wild Magic

Date Summary Link
450-04-08
Sep 9, 2024
A group gathers to beseech Eluned, seeking insight into the relationship between the Immortals and Heralds, as well as guidance on the threat of wild magic. Despite heartfelt prayers and offerings from various attendees, Eluned does not respond directly to their pleas. N/A

Wild Magic Theory for 'Togs

Date Summary Link
450-04-08
Sep 9, 2024
Valenal presents a theory about wild magic and mana depletion. He explains that the Heralds are draining pure mana from the Plane of Abiding, causing instability, and suggests that increased sorcerous casting might help mitigate the issue temporarily. The attendees, including Unaka, ask numerous questions and engage in discussions about the implications of this theory and potential solutions. Log courtesy of Ayrell

Player Story: By Kerennya

Date Summary Link
449-05-40
Jun 19, 2024
Kerennya stands in her small dwelling, gathering materials including threads, paper, and boulders. After dyeing cotton thread in various colors, she carves two stone slabs and mounts them on her wall, creating a surface to organize her thoughts on visions and events. Despite feeling overwhelmed, she methodically labels each section and connects related ideas with colored thread, working tirelessly through the day before pausing to eat, knowing there's still much to do in order to solidify her convictions. Full story

Player Event: Repeating the Forbidden Experiment

Date Summary Link
450-04-12
Sep 10, 2024
A group led by Saragos gathers to recreate the magical experiment that previously caused the disappearance of the five adventurers. During the event, they experience strange phenomena, including a brief appearance of Meraud. As they continue their magical work, they suddenly feel watched and hear a hostile voice. The situation escalates dramatically when meteors are sent crashing into Dirge.

Expand for details.

The various energies roar to life, a medley of sounds and crackling flames, cold light and shining streaks of golden-silver.  

Time slows and the air takes on a golden light.  Everything goes silent.

A hooded figure in darkest midnight black stands before you holding a tall staff that crackles with power.  You cannot see his face, though you hear a growl as a huge black wolf steps forward and cocks its head at you.  The wolf grins a toothy smile as it begins to wag its tail happily.  

The man says, "You push at Them, and They weaken.  You fight for Us, and We are grateful."  The wolf begins to bark, leaping into the air with joyeous hops.

The man slams his staff into the ground, and a silvery haze suffuses the area, fading with starlight crackles.  Everything feels oddly...  slippery?  The man and wolf vanish.

Tenatively writhing together, the compiled mana builds, knots, and begins to coalesce.  It wavers in and out of visibility, in and out of hearing, a complex problem with a solution just within reach, a prayer nearing conclusion.

A strange toroid of looping energies forms, curiously stable and balanced.  For a fleeting moment it appears to hold its shape, and then unravels into a gentle haze.

A thick skein of energy forms, twisting around itself into a complex knot that is fairly tricky to follow.  The mass unfurls, and diffuses into a gentle haze.

A series of symbols crackle before your eyes, a proof that is glaringly obvious with just...  a few more manipulations.

A glorious paean echoes all around you, and you are filled with joy!  

A small orb of energy forms, symmetrically involuting around itself.  It vibrates a moment, seems to solidify, then falls to the ground, vanishing without a trace.

The disparate energies swirl together in a complex dance, barely visible save for a crackling thrum and odd shimmer to the air, and after a moment, stabilize, a symmetrical formation that hovers in place in a quarternary orbit. It slows, and then diffuses outward.

A refreshing calm washes over the land, and you feel a sense of pervasive balance.  Everything feels more stable, the wild storms calmed.

Suddenly, you feel a crushing observation, an inescapable sense of being watched.  There is no where to hide.

A voice calmly states "You have learned nothing, insisting on reminding us of your virulence.  Despite Their filthy intercession, you will be made to understand." and you are momentarily overwhelmed with a foreign feeling of disgust.  You cannot recall what the voice sounded like, though it echoes all around you.

A crushing weight forces you to your knees and you sense their barely contained hatred and disgust!  A flash of light illuminates the horizon!

The worn stone flickers a moment, expanding oddly, but quickly returning to normal.

The sky splits, and several writhing meteors fall from the sky, tearing towards the city of Dirge!

As the meteors tear across the sky, they leave billowing lines of ash and they curve downward, impacting over Dirge!

A deafening explosion to the north washes over you!
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Player Story: By Daerlynn

Date Summary Link
450-04-16
Sep 11, 2023
Daerlynn is devastated to learn that Dirge, her former home, has been destroyed by the Heralds. Overwhelmed by memories of her simpler life as a poor minstrel in Dirge, she retreats to write a poignant poem about the town's destruction and the injustice of the Heralds' actions. Reflecting on her past and feeling a need to reconnect with her former self, Daerlynn contemplates returning to the life of an itinerant minstrel. Full story on Discord

OOC Clarification from Lyneya on the Heralds

Date Summary Link
450-04-16
Sep 11, 2023
So, I believe some of the people's frustration may stem from the fact that they don't know what their characters should know about the Heralds as it becomes increasingly clear that they might be our villains. The public information on them is sparse and misleading.

Your characters would know the myths and rumors:
Heralds are uber powerful and do not often bestir themselves to meddle in the ways of life on Elanthia. Their existence is believed to go back to the dawn of time. They've been known to step in and govern the use of magic, but no one has ever figured out why. Even the Immortals bow down to them and their might.

Adventurers have met three Heralds: Elide, Issendar, and Kirmhara. The information I can see on Elanthipedia about these three aligns with what I have for staff documentation and what former staff members have been able to tell me.

To clear up a suspected point of confusion: The words "Guardian" and "Herald" are not interchangeable. The three Guardian Dragons on Elanthipedia are not Heralds. They are something else. This is also confirmed by the original writers and former staff I've spoken with.
Full post on Discord

Upcoming Player Event: A Place to Grieve

Date Summary Link
450-04-16
Sep 11, 2024
Nawain holds a solemn gathering to remember the lives lost. During the ceremony, she vanishes in a flash of golden light, only to reappear later with a urgent message from Enelne, encouraging the use of more sorcery to combat the Heralds. However, Nawain returns transformed, her eyes now "abyssal black" and "an inexorable streak of splaying black veins spreading along the neck."

Expand for details.

Time slows and the air takes on a golden light.  Everything goes silent.

You feel as though Holy mana is behaving differently in ways you cannot quite interpret.

A butterfly serenly floats across the area, landing on your arm.  It flutters shimmering wings that leave dusky trails of sparkling golden light, and you feel yourself become disoriented!

Suddenly, Nawain's eyes go wide and she vanishes in a flash of golden light!

You sense a change in holy power throughout the area.

Several golden butterflies flutter through the area, and suddenly vanish in a haze of golden light.

A golden butterfly flutters through the area, and flashes with blinding golden light!  It it's place, Nawain stands, her eyes wide with wonder.

Nawain's eyes glisten with a strange red light.
> look nawain
You see Enelne's Repent Nawain Augtaire, Sfarns del Dzive of Siksraja, a Rakash Cleric.
A bright aura of holy energy emanates from Nawain, standing tall and shining with a powerful inner fortitude.
Nawain has a high-cheekboned kite-shaped face with an inexorable streak of splaying black veins spreading along the neck, delicate ears accented by some Ilithic applewood-carved gatekeeper butterflies dangling upon leather cords, star-flecked abyssal black eyes and a freckled nose.  Her black-streaked ginger hair is hip length and frizzy, and is worn unkempt.  She has pale skin and a tightly laced thornweave corset ensnaring the waist of a coltish figure.
She is tiny for a Rakash.
A luminous lavender butterfly graced by prismatic lilac moonsilver wings floats lazily around her head, glowing with a lustrous sheen against her skin.
She appears to be in her prime.
Her nose is pierced with a slender hoop connected to a vine-like chain that trails across her right cheek, draped with delicate thealstone wisteria that rest against her face.  The vine terminates in an earring that resembles a wisteria bloom.
Her right palm has a tattoo of a stylized butterfly sketched in thick inky black lines.
A luminous orb formed by a starry murder of crows hovers like a will-o-wisp, following her diligently.
She is in good shape.

She is holding a small cup of aromatic wood violet tea in her right hand.
She is wearing a rolled brim thornweave hat with a decorative green jaspe band, a wispy whisperlayne uaro's'sugi (head scarf) trimmed with midnight onyx that is loosely wound around the head and neck, a slender goldenglow glaes txistu embellished with a dragon-shaped mouthpiece, a pair of mourning cloak butterfly wings crafted from velvet, an ethereal butterfly fetish spreading wings of verdant moonsilver, a somber onyx-hued mourning gown sparsely adorned with darkstone and jet, a refined mourning robe crafted from shadesatin embellished with Elamiri sapphires, a glitzy nielloed gold wristlet dusted with crushed lifeless forest green estrildite, a gold turinstil (butterfly) ring, a polished asini oath ring graced with a large glittering avene, a substantial ka'hurst signet ring set with a goldenglow glaes intaglio crest and some black velvet slippers trimmed with grey pearls.
N/A

Upcoming Player Event: Seeking the Word of Hav'roth

Date Summary Link
450-04-24
Sep 13, 2024
Chaos! Destruction! Magic tears at the very world! In these wild times, a group of S'Kra Mur seek the answer to the question: What does Hav'roth want from his people in these dark days? A call goes out to the S'Kra Mur and their allies: Come! Join the pilgrimage and hear His word. N/A

Upcoming Player Event: The Siege of Knife Clan

Date Summary Link
450-04-28
Sep 14, 2024

Join the Northern Watch as it attempts to break into Encased Knife Clan using standard military methods. We will begin with either mundane catapults or other siege equipment and Warrior Mage ballista. We will follow with a frontal assault led by Barbarians, to see if Barbarian natural resistance to magic can overcome the encasement after loosening it up. In addition, Thieves and Rangers will attempt to use ropes to scale or find a way past the encasement with a Moon Mage to open a Moongate behind the encasement if they are successful.

We will form up and then split into the different units. Everyone is welcome, but the key to this attempt is NO MAGIC (other than the ballista, if necessary). We want to lean into the non-magical resources of Barbarians and Thieves. No, you are not too small to help. (All circles are welcome.)

N/A

Upcoming Player Event: Can Blight Make Right

Date Summary Link
450-04-32
Sep 15, 2024

Eyst has put a furtive word out that he would like assistance in performing an impromptu experiment. A test on the application of blighted objects and necromantic abilities to the living meteor sites. Attendants are asked to bring objects originating from areas or creatures having demonic, or necromantic taint. If they have necromantic abilities, they should be prepared to use them.

N/A