Gorbesh Time Anomaly
Note: This was not an event that was run by Moon Mages. This event was led by Mazrian.
A swirling wind begins to gather, and a ripple of distorted space writhes through the area. Unfurling into an open rent, a temporal anomaly coalesces, scattering bizarre delayed reflections tinged with reverse rainbows throughout the area. The anomaly shatters into evaporating fragments.
The winds once again gather, and the distorted space tears open! You find yourself staring at a large gathering of confused looking Gorbesh soldiers, cocking their heads and blinking in surprise at the assembly before them. Clad in armor and weapons that have not been in style for over a hundred years, they form a vanguard of shield and spear bearers, each carrying engineering and gathering tools. Suddenly, the anomaly shatters into evaporating fragments.
The winds once again gather, and the distorted space tears open! You see deep woods, the southern face of the city of Shard in the far north, and a small Gorbesh warband fells trees and breaks stones under the watchful eyes of scouts and foresters. Strong handed men and women begin to lay the foundations of an encampment, guided by Gnome engineers flanked by personal bodyguards. One of the Gnomes suddenly turns and sees you, and squinting in confusion, they tap the leg of one of their bodyguards. Suddenly, the anomaly shatters into evaporating fragments.
The winds once again gather, and the distorted space tears open! You find yourself peering into a large tent, and see a Gnome leaping from a rough hewn table covered in maps and diagrams. A pair of Gorbesh bodyguards reach for the Gnome, who swings behind them. The pair point and shout, raising the alarm, and the Gnome throws a small crackling vial towards you! Suddenly, the vial still arcing in midair, the anomaly shatters into evaporating fragments.
The winds once again gather, and the distorted space tears open! You hear the groaning of timber and the heavy *thunk* of a falling axe blade. After a long moment, a Gorbesh woman carrying a large pine tree trunk over her shoulder walks through the forest, dropping the lumber in surprise when she sees you. Swinging her axe into a battle ready position, she turns her head slightly and shouts behind her, "It's happening again! They're back! Come quick, the spies, the spies!", and rushes you headlong. Before she can close the distance, the anomaly shatters into evaporating fragments.
The winds once again gather, and the distorted space tears open! You see a longhouse, covered in foliage to blend into the forest. Gorbesh men and women come and go carrying supplies, pulling wheeled carts laden with stone and clay, bushels of fiber and raw timber. A Gnome peaks around the edge of the anomaly, and is quickly pulled back by a large pair of hands. You can hear someone shout, "Be careful!", but the Gnome appears again a moment later and peers back at you. The Gnome's eyebrows suddenly raise in surprise, and you hear "Not who, but whe-", and the anomaly shatters into evaporating fragments.
You hear the echoing voice of Veralos, youthful and haughty, old and tired, adolescent and uncertain, "A circle, a circle, looped and knotted. The lines cannot cross, but they're so so twisted. You have snarled them with your meddling, with your picking, knotting knitteing tied."
Veralos continues, "Will you continue, or will you them untangle? If you LEAN FORWARD, you will continue. If you LEAN BACKWARD, this snarl will resolve itself. Choose wisely, and choose now!"
Kitosaki leans forward. Vladmirr leans forward. You lean forward. Saragos leans forward. Kiks leans forward. Saedrith leans forward. Ayrell leans forward. Tankata leans forward. Aaoskar leans forward. Grakraw leans back. Aaiyaah leans forward. Ezerak leans forward. Navesi leans back. Zalinyar leans forward. Imerald leans back. Zynell leans forward. Erieck leans forward. Elizzibiana leans forward. Tiakim leans back. Xelten leans forward. Lenaea leans forward. Mazrian leans forward. Rafano leans back. Ikevindy leans forward. Kintryn leans forward. Chrysagon leans forward. Gundyr leans forward. Brahmer leans forward. Eyst leans forward. Jackmerius just arrived. Tathalus leans forward. Voranos leans forward. Rifkinn leans forward.
Forcing your will into the anomaly, you feel the winds once again gather, and the distorted space tears open again! You see the familiar longhouse, and almost immediately an alarm begins to sound. An attachment of mages and enchanters rush towards you, and before you can react, they cross over the anomaly! Reality groans and crackles with the displacement, and the anomaly rips further, trapping the Gorbesh warriors in this point in time!
You catch a glimpse of the Gnome, and to your horror, watch as the Gnome tosses a sphere over the heads of the rushing warriors. Arcing wildly, it lands with heavy *thunk* and begins to vibrate!
- ATTACK*
The anomaly ripples like water, and shatters, evaporating into reverse rainbows and bizarre shadows. The echoing voice of Veralos, youthful and haughty, old and tired, adolescent and uncertain, chimes around you, "Ah, well, it's cleaned now, a twisted line cut. Works. Next time don't let the Inquisition proffer your lands to invaders from the past."
The chamber pulses with strange energies, and the temporal distortions disperse, leaving you with an unsettling uncertainty of when you are or were, but the sensation gradually fades.