The First Land Herald/439-06-09

Article Number: 64

Dateline: 439-06-09

MULTIPLE HITS BY SIVROCH, FOUL ALTAR ERECTED AND DESTROYED Some days ago, Sivroch invaded the town of Riverhaven, along with a number of banyakea. Adventurers made short work of the Mysteriarch, may her howls sing in the ears of the Immortals, killing her a total of three times. Saragos informed me that she was pathetically easy to slay, almost as if she had never faced a skilled mage before. However, we must not underestimate her. If she is easy, it is likely because she has made herself so, in order to accomplish some other aim. She did showcase some abilities we have not seen before, clapping her two hands and the talon of her third arm together, then drawing them apart to fill the space between with hissing ichor. She lobbed this at Saragos but, thankfully, missed. Most unfortunately, she also proved her ability to unhinge her jaw by engulfing and swallowing his left arm. As an aside, if anyone should spy a knotwork icesteel wedding band after killing and searching the transmuted horror, please get in contact with myself or Saragos. Mother Whiteburn also told me that Sivroch resumed her mental attacks. She felt those five yellow eyes lock upon her, then reality began to unfurl, like broken glass fragmenting across her mind, spiraling within her as she felt her memories laid bare before the hungry grasp of the demon-thrall. It seemed an eternity before Sivroch released her hold with a snort, and the good Mother found herself curled up upon the ground. Sivroch was capable of reviving herself instantly, like most of the Forsaken who defy the sweet grace of the Immortals. Saragos told me that her skin flared red and began to flow like water, wounds knitting shut instantly. Though the writhing of flesh looked agonizing, she shrugged it off and continued her rampage. After the third death, though, she and her twisted, many-armed minions retreated. A few days later, she returned with her banyakea, again to Riverhaven. Dame Betlind told me that, as she was fighting some rebels gathered out the west gate of the city, she felt something. "Something immense and terrible. It made itself known immediately and pushed through all my head, my most recent thoughts of my family back to my distant past. And it took some sort of cruel pleasure from this. I could hear it laughing." She retreated to the Standing Stones and notified others, who came to join her. The now too-familiar buzzing was heard, heralding the arrival of the banyakea, at which point many took the fight to the city, and Sivroch was engaged again. This time, Sivroch made full use of her orb of ichor. She tossed it into the air, where it spun violently and exploded into a spray of jagged shadow and hissing ichor, and many people in the area were set aflame! Collain also told me of a direct strike she made on him with one such orb. He said it slammed into his chest, leaving behind nothing but melted flesh and charred bone, a fact that he had to discern from behind the filmy view of one captive in the somnolent embrace of death. She also whipped her vine-like third arm at Mazrian, sending a geyser of blood erupting from his neck. "You are not paying attention. You will learn." As usual, the message of the Necromancer dripped with disdain, promising some mysterious purpose that she didn't deign to explain. Finally, she fled again, the city safe once more. Perhaps the most worrisome of her attacks, though, was yesterday. She was spotted in Shard, attended by both banyakea and numerous of her Necromancer followers, including the foul Arcanist Nefis, those Heretics Agalea and Talinel, the Reaver Kretona, the Fell Researcher Nsar, and the one they call the Tallnah, Nahvani. We engaged them on the East Bridge, where Sivroch immediately used her ichor attack again, setting us all aflame, requiring us to roll to extinguish the fires. Also, this time we were all diseased too, somehow, wracked with shivering. I also noticed her summon a strangely glowing red blade, which would appear just in time to attack and then disappear again. I later learned that she is also able to mentally attack the entire area at once, sifting through memories until the victims' minds slip and struggle beneath her gaze, and their bodies falls to the ground. This time, she beheaded Sir Madigan cleanly right off, then focused her attention on me. With the aid of the many warriors rallying around me to face her, including Kintryn, Mazrian, Dame Betlind, Yvela, Dantia, Saragos, Ezerak, Mother Whiteburn, Ayrell, and Voranos, I somehow managed to withstand her assault, dodge the ichor she threw at me, and bring her down, flash freezing her chest until it exploded in a spectacular plume of crystallized blood. Her flesh is mortal and she can be slain, though she was once again able to rise again. Thankfully, still others arrived to support us, including Purnay, Mother Zynell, Collain, Natarian, Miskton, Dasheek, Sir Comfrin, and Gamalon. Disturbingly, she erected a twisted battle altar of rippling stone right before us, the squat form bearing countless eyes molded into its surface. The eyes appeared to change in size, shape, and location whenever I glanced away, as if writhing and changing with each passing moment. "Finally, the sacrifice proceeds," she said. "You will understand. We demand it." Though Nsar knelt and prayed to whatever it was, the rest of us charged in and struck it until it finally shattered, a gust of crimson smoke escaping from within and scattering. By this time, Sivroch had already fled to the skies. We must be prepared to face her again, and to find any other altars she has or will erect. Be vigilant, search for them. They cannot be allowed to flourish and feed whatever demon she is most assuredly venerating. Study our enemy, as well, that we may best her. [An included sketch of Sivroch is rendered in exquisite detail, fine lines pointing to various parts and making notes. "Eyes may be key to mental assault," is written near the five gleaming eyes. "Jaw unhinges and can consume entire limbs," by the maw of needle-like teeth. "Third arm blocks blows and makes whiplike attack," points to the well-articulated third arm that terminates in its powerful talon. "Flight easy, can carry off the weight of a Kaldar," by the insectile wings. "???" points to her thick iron anklet.] Prepare yourselves, my fellows. The Basalt Assault is coming. Glory is coming. And so is sacrifice. Navesi Daerthon True Bard, Zoluren's Herald Editor in Chief of the First Land Herald

Real Date: 09/05/21

Subject(s): banyakea Basalt Isle Forsaken ichor Necromancer Sivroch Basalt Isle Raid Saragos Whiteburn Collain Mazrian Nefis Agalea Talinel Kretona Nsar Nahvani Madigan Kintryn Betlind Yvela Dantia Ezerak Ayrell Voranos Purnay Zynell Natarian Miskton Dasheek Comfrin Gamalon

Author(s): Navesi