The First Land Herald/438-04-34

Article Number: 59

Dateline: 438-04-34

CROSSING TUNNELS CLEANSED OF ICHOROUS CORRUPTION A few andaen ago, the might of the Holy was once again brought to bear in a victory for all denizens of the Crossing. The corruption which caused the previous ichorous uprising from the Crossing Empath guild (see the Herald article from 438-01-15) was cleansed entirely by a momentous flood of holy water, coupled with a ritual performed by a number of our most blessed priests and priestesses. Unbeknownst to whatever Perverse may have laid the foundation of this magical curse upon our city, after the recent eruption of vile ichor and bone monsters upon our Empath guild and our streets, Aislynn and I chose to investigate the area for the source. With my trusty monocle to hand, I scoured the walls and floor of the guild as Aislynn described to me how the ichor had crept up from the ground, always moving upward -- up legs, up the walls. We naturally decided that we must look below ground, and she showed me the entrance to the escape tunnels beneath the city's streets. Immediately I found remnants of ichor upon the walls. A scent of rot and death permeated the area. I could tell that something long ago was activated there -- something of old magic, of blood and of the infernal. The walls faintly glowed through my monocle, faded sigils visible throughout the tunnels, and their stones felt slightly warm to the touch. I could tell that the traces were disappearing from my senses, though, so I made the rest of my examination quickly. Though I was loathe to do it, I called upon our current ally against the Lich, the Philosopher Yvela, who was able to tell us more. "There is an old, dormant necromantic power laying beneath Zoluren. I could feel it there in those tunnels, and I could tell that it was recently activated to give life to those bone creatures. It's faded for the time being, but with time and effort, a strong enough necromancer could activate it again. I have no doubt that a Perverse inclined individual could harness what I felt down there. It's laying there, just waiting." Naturally, those of us in the Coalition Against the Lich could not stand idly by as this corruption tainted the city, ready to be activated again. It is quite possible, even, that it was the result of the "[binding of] his blood" performed by the Lich Jeihrem, may his toes swell until they burst like overripe grapes, as was told to me by the Purified Scholar Zauldin (see the Herald article from 437-08-18). I was fortunate that my letter reached Mother Whiteburn, who agreed to return from her overseas journey to design and perform a ritual of cleansing. We worked in secret to gather a number of brave Clerics to join her, and during the ritual I saw the following of the Holy path: Hashi, Vastriff, Traenath, Khaelyn, Maintain, and Emmajin. Together we formed the plan to inundate the tunnels with holy water, both because it was effective in cleansing the ichor from its victims previously, and because such would be pleasing to the all-mighty Eluned and Her aspects. On the appointed day, I first met with a number of Warrior Mages and Father Maintain. Zalinyar produced for us the report of the Engineer Nargles, who had examined the tunnels for any areas of structural concern that might be damaged by the flows of water. Thus we undertook a visit to each of these locations, whereupon the Warrior Mages Saragos, Kerizon, and Zalinyar worked to reinforce the stone and add layers of supporting ice. Fariden put true engineering to practice by placing timber braces, and Father Maintain called for blessings of Hav'roth and other Immortals to grant protection to the passages. Afterward, we met with the main group, led by Mother Whiteburn, in the location where Aislynn and I had discovered the corruption. I left Mazrian, Sir Kenamer, and Sir Madigan to organize defensive forces while I headed up to the Empath guild courtyard, just above us. After warning those in the courtyard to stand clear, I gave the signal to our Moon Mages, Miskton and Ghanan, to open moongates in order to flood the area with waters from Eluned's pool. As the waters poured through, I used Geyser to help direct them down the stairs and into the tunnels. Once back down in the tunnels, I and the other Elementalists continued to use Geyser to keep the waters flowing steadily through the area, churning about the Clerics and Mother Whiteburn in a display of torrential power that I can only hope did Drogor proud. Everyone stood strong as Mother Whiteburn's voice raised above the din. "O Hallowed Lords of the Deep, a thousand blessings upon Thy sovereign majesty! All-knowing Eluned! All-merciful Lemicus! All-powerful Drogor! Glory be Thine for ever! We, servants of Thou who art most revered, call upon Thee! That we might serve Thee in all things And perform miracles in Thy most august names!" Together, the Clerics performed the Holy rite of Eluned. Mother Whiteburn later told me that she could feel the resonance of death and suffering deep beneath the tunnels, the anguish of many years of pain haunting the area and leaving many souls restless and unsettled. In particular, the bones of years of conflict abandoned there were so unsettled by foul magic. While that magic itself had faded, what remained screamed to her, wailing through the streams of Holy mana she perceived. A surge of energy filled her, radiant streamers of Holy mana coursing along the waters. An inky tendril of filth writhed beneath the surface of the mana streams, as if in pain. The waters begin to glisten with the divine, a wave of clean purity spreading. Suddenly, the waters began to shake violently, and skeletons rose up against us! Our fighters rallied immediately, crushing their bones with their might and magics. The Clerics continued their Holy work unabated, protected by these brave guards. Chaotic corruption lashed against the area, writhing in agony in the waters. One tendril snapped toward Mother Whiteburn, creeping menacingly, but we successfully guarded her. Finally, as the surge of Holy mana crescendoed, the tendril began to break apart and vanish. There was a brief whiff of the scent of rotting milk and sea salt. The waters calmed, the surge of Holy energy subsided. The air felt crisp and smelled of clean sea spray for a moment. Mother Whiteburn told me that she tasted brine, and felt the barest nod of recognition. We sensed we had cleansed the space, or at least driven the corruption deeper where it cannot assert influence. Praise to Drogor, we were successful! We flushed clean that place of unholy pollution, sundering the blight and bringing the fresh, Holy presence of our Immortals once again. We may celebrate a true victory for our beloved Thirteen and our city. Let us not let our guard down entirely, though, for our assault upon the Lich is still imminent. Ready yourselves, and reach out to myself, Saragos, Mazrian, Sir Kenamer, Sir Madigan, Dantia, or any mentioned in this article for information on how you may join our efforts. Glory to Drogor, glory to the Immortals! Navesi Daerthon True Bard, Zoluren's Herald Editor in Chief of the First Land Herald

Real Date: 6/4/21

Subject(s): Perverse Empath ichor Lich Yvela Jeihrem Crossing tunnels

Author(s): Navesi