"Lost Continent: Flight From Muurdaan" (BeckonCall's FNB!)

[Beckoncall]

Heyitsjiwon :

THE SPHINX:

Upon hearing the answers of Rex and Caelis, the eyes of the sphinx burned a bright blue, and cracks began to issue all over the stone facade of the great beast. Where the cracks ran, a being of metallic flesh vibrated below - and soon the thin veneer of sandstone was sloughed off like the skin of some snake or the plumage of a molting bird.

Standing before them, Towering really -- was Sek Anhtet -- Mighty Sphinx -- and the lie indeed was that she would not longer be an agent in the fates of mortals who would command her.

"YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE MORTALS RIDDLE, AND THE KING'S RIDDLE -- MAY THE KING OF SANDSTONE AND STEEL REIGN FOREVER."

The Sphinx flew over the ruin to make it's home in the ground of the menagerie, it's presence potentially terrifying to some colonists, animals in it's vicinity were made mild at at ease with it's presence. there, the great silver monument closed it's eyes on the plains of the colony's Ranch -- a mound of stone at the foot of it stood for mortals -- and neophyte divines -- to ply it with questions.

The Sphinx had become part of the colony -- a true wonder in a time of wonders for the new world. (+5 influence Attolians!)

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

As the days got longer, the late spring was the perfect time to launch several projects that were labor intensive. However, like all projects, this meant a need for cash, which the Attolians were starting to slowly dwindle in. Thus, the Castellan took the initiative to test the new Colonial Central Bank by requesting a loan of 10 wealth for the duration of the summer until the return of the trade fleets. The Castellan had also hoped that the wealth would be directly injected into the economy and give it a much needed boost after the recent string of taxation that had occurred.

The first major project was the expansion of the Colony's naval capacity. An industrial complex based on the Depression that joins workshops, armories and shipwrights in a centralized location to push out ships efficiently. The merchant republics of the Old World were well known for their ability to push out a war ship every six hours if they ever had to. In fact, the Republic of Venita arguably was the first state in the Old World to create a factory through their famed Venitan Arsenal Such a capability would be needed in the New World as well since the sea was the lifeblood of the colony. Thus, the Attolian Arsenal was born in an attempt to boost the Colony's naval capabilities. However, to make room for this ambitious project, the Attolians extended an offer to the residents of the Depression. They were allowed free housing in the Attolian Housing District so that the current housing structures could be taken apart to allow for more room for development in the Depression. Surely, this was an opportunity for those in the Depression in quality of housing. It was cleaner, better, and safer in the virtual fort that the Housing District had turned into.

To further the naval capabilities of the Attolians, they also decided to send out caravels to explore the coast line for potential other outposts and colony sites. Although, there was some concern as the current colony was only established due to the "footprint" that left the Depression which seemed to be an unusual and artificial terrain. It was very possible that the entire coast could just be cliffs. However, they had to find out one way or another.

Finally, it became ever more clear to the Attolians that they simply needed more aid and reinforcements. Especially in regards to the sea where the Aboleth without a doubt reigned supreme. Thus, a ritual had started to form. Rex reckoned that he could call or summon the Kindly Ones... a magical species who were known to protect the weak and the good by the shores while punishing those who were cruel abd malign. It is said that the Kindly Ones appear like beautiful mermaids to those who they are trying to help while appearing like horrid seaweed monsters to those they seek to punish. Regardless, they were skilled water mages who could help the Colony have some sort of ability to project some force underwater and against the Aboleth if needed.

The Deznan Astrologers were a group of stellar and life mages whose abilities were undoubtedly useful. The first two mages had made it very explicit that the rest of the society was very interested in the New World and sought to create a unique observatory. Such an opportunity would draw more Astrologers to the New World as well. In a bid to further befriend the Astrologers, a task force went off to Spire 9 to speak with the Keyed One. The Diplomat would bring a message from Caelis. It stated.

"Hail Keyed One, Master of Spire 9 and valued ally of Attolia,

We seek cooperation with Spire 9, Destruction, for our mutual benefit. The Attolians would like to establish a permanent embassy and base in the top of Spire 9 so that we may build an observatory to learn of the stars. This base will be manned by artists, who will also be available to assist you and make repairs to the Spire as needed. All that is needed is for you to simply ask and we shall assist you in restoring your operational integrity.

In addition, we have salvaged the top half of Spire 10. We wish to learn from Spire 10 and 9, and thus seek to restore Spire 10. However, we would like your assistance. We would like to study the base foundations of Spire 9 to build the rest of Spire 10. We would be more than glad to build Spire 10 near or next to Spire 9 such that the two Spires can support each other. However, we also would like to request that your soldiers help us build Spire 10 as well. May the two Spires stand tall once more!

Signed,
Lord Caelis Wolff of Attolia"

Prince Vaethorion
The next project that the Attolians sought to work on was the expansion of the Healer's Guild. Particularly, the improvement of emergency service facilities to help provide better care for the critically injured especially in the aftermath of the recent Highborn expedition. A proper surgical center and emergency room would hopefully go a long way to bring people back from the brink and get them up and moving quicker than what was currently occurring... they needed every able man ready to fight the Cull.

In connection to the health of the Colony, it came to the attention of the Attolians that the Aymarans had horded and fed their elite all of the god rot that they could get their hands on. They grew substantially in the months that passed. It didn't take much for the Attolian chemists to figure out why. A quick analysis showed that the god rot could lead those who consume it to become substantially healthier. The more, the better. Thus, concentrating the god rot among the soldiers of the Colony would make then rather healthy and likely make them able to stand more blows in battle. This discovery led to the Attolians deciding to turn the god rot and divine distillate into a palatable powder that can be added to food and drinks as a supplement. Further research would be needed to see if they could also be turned into emergency medicine, but that was in the pipe line being worked.

---

The Vault of the Neirid was largely left alone after the first encounter. However, they now had the magical ability to determine what happened to these frozen aquatic warriors and their queen. Thus, to discover if the Neirid and the tritons are dead or alive, a detachment was sent.

---

Spacekitty

In the Fennec's former Miscreated operations, a slim, pale figure approached the location. With the power and guidance of the Colonial Government behind her, Cassandra was tasked with ensuring that the Fennec's foul experiments had been truly discontinued. With her seer abilities, she would look into the past... and make sure that things that should stay in the past only. Any sign of hindering her inspection would be assumed to be a declaration of guilt. Thus, she raised her staff and closed her eyes to begin the ritual.

The Excavation Pit that the Fennec occupied contained four individual "temples" at each corner of the pit. One was cleared, and subsequently looted by the Fennec who were supposed to surrender all the loot to the Attolians as reparations. However, perhaps it was due to incompetence on the part of the Colonial Governor, this clearly did not happen as the Attolians only received the ant eggs and the queen. Regardless, there were three others, and the Attolians sought to see what these temples were... one in particular sounded like there were clockwork soldiers behind them which perked the interest of the Attolians.

In addition, the Fennec had invited the Attolians to help tutor the Transcendent, which was accepted. It was a dangerous being, but they had faith that it could be civilized. Thus, the Transcendent would have its own personal tutors to help guide its sense of character, ethics, and morality.

---

General Deth Glitch

THE UNDERDARK! A fearsome realm that was extremely dangerous for those not used to the underground. The Attolians had discovered an entrance to the Underdark, and evidence that the former gnome slaves brought from the Narvik slave ship had fled here. Thus, the Attolians sought to send an expedition to explore the underdark and perhaps find the lost gnomes. However, it was clear that they needed guides in that treacherous realm.... Lothar would find himself before a large, nondescript stone gate. It was the main entrance to the halls of the Firebeards. Before it hung a mighty door knocker. To which, Lothar grabbed and pounded the stone gate. He heard the sound reverberate down the stone halls of the dwarves, but soon after... silence. Lothar waited. Minutes passed in silence, and yet he continued to wait, and wait. The Dwarves had a long staircase, but short legs. He understood that it wasn't easy for them to climb all the way up the great staircase. Thus, he continued to patiently wait. And wait. Moments continued to pass. Until the stone gate slightly stirred and opened a crack. A lone dwarf popped his head out of the crack with squinting eyes due to the bright sunlight. "Whatcha want lad?" Lothar raised a brow. He figured that this would be what things would be like. So, instead of preparing a speech for the Dwarven Lord, Lothar simply wrote a letter, inviting the Firebeards along with this expedition. Lothar handed the dwarf this letter and replied "For your leader, so that he may pick the bravest among you to enter the underdark with us." The dwarf nodded with puckered lips as he looked at the letter. "I'll get this letter to him. See you in the underdark soon, laddie. Better bring your best rope and torches. It's gonna be one heck of a trip." Lothar smiled back and nodded. With that, he left the Firebeards. They would show up. They always did.

---

In the Housing District, several people explored the ancient magics that they had discovered in these lands. The Linguist, Historian, and Writer set off to study the Tomb of the Bat King, which had Draconic written on it. The Draconic language proved to be useful in the study of magic in general, thus this was placed as a priority.

In the meanwhile... Caelis sat in his office. Before him, on this desk, were samples of the elements. A small rock, a cup of water, a lit candle, a chunk of ice, a small whimsical machine, a feather, a plant, a piece of bone, and a cup of blood. He would work his way down the list. His newfound divinity and powers left even the mage's guild dumbfounded and confused. Thus, it seemed to be that Caelis had to figure out his powers and the limits of it by himself. Small steps... that's how every journey started. He lifted the small rock in his hand and tried to focus as he squeezed the rock firmly trying to transform it into something else or really thing that displayed that he had capabilities in that form of magic.

1. Cassandra visits the former Fennec Miscreated operations as an inspector to make sure that the fennec are following the law.
Cassandra

2. The Attolian Arsenal! Expansion of the Shipyard and Workshops to create a naval compound where ships and weapons are made in mass. Offer the Exiles new housing in the Attolian Housing District to vacate the Depression to allow space for construction.
Shipwright, 2 Engineers, Gnome Machinist, 39 Unskilled Workers, 4 Augmented Stone Constructs, Iron Child Wraiths, 40 Kobolds, 20 Sea Wolves (Integrate their naval base along with the Arsenal), 5 Former Thralls, Cranes, Exile Allied Aid, Industrialist Trait, Dwarven Texts, 4 Wealth

3. Naval expedition to search for other suitable colony sites / trading outposts / resources along the coast of the continent
Naval Captain, Explorer, Falconer, Animal Tamer, 20 Sea Wolves, 10 Sirens, 10 Swarm Infantry, 10 Kriegan Banner Infantry, 6 Caravels

4. Establish an Observatory/Base at the top of Spire 9
Nicholas, Diplomat, 2 Engineers, 1 Architect, 1 Astrologist, Gnome Artificer, 20 Skilled Dwarven Workers, 10 Skilled Workers, 20 Unskilled Workers, 4 Augmented Stone Constructs, Industrialist Trait, Dwarven Texts, 1 Wealth

5. Summoning the Kindly Ones
Beast Mage Rex, 35 Sirens (Pulled off the sirens from glassmaking duty since industrialization seems to cover those things now), 1 Wealth

6. Examine the Vault of the Neirid once more to see if the Tritons and the Neirid are dead or in hibernation
University Death Mage, Spell Breaker, 20 Knights of the Circle, 5 Sirens, 10 Swarm Infantry, 10 Kriegan Banner Infantry

7. Mass collection of god rot and divine distillate to create a nutritious dietary supplement that can be consumed by those with more sensitive tastes. Currently reserved for those reasonably expected to fight in combat. (Leaders, Officers, soldiers, and mages)
Attolian Chemist, Gnome Chemist, Talion the Constructor (Potion/Antidote Expert), Preserver, Herbalist, Chemistry Set, 30 Skeletons, 1 Wealth

8. Expand healer's guild to include a proper surgical center / emergency room to help get the critically injured back up on their feet quicker. Especially in regards to the wounded Highborn soldiers.
1 Architect, Dr. Flemming, 15 Skilled Workers, 9 Unskilled Workers, 30 Skeletons, 1 Wealth

9. Digging in the Excavation Pit with the Fennec
Geologist, Engineer, University Metal Mage, 40 Skeletons, Steam Shovel, 1 Wealth

10. Continued tutoring of the Transcendent
Lawyer, Sheriff, Sundered King, Pantheon Priest, "Feather in Cap" Leadership Trait

11. Self Experimenting with new Divinity
Caelis

12. Expedition to the Underdark with the Firebeards
Lothar, 10 Halberdiers, 10 Attolian Swarm Infantry, 10 Kriegan Banner Infantry, Continual Lights

13. Borrow 10 wealth from the Colonial Bank
Castellan

14. Studying Ironclad Book to learn more of using crystals as prisons
Linguist, Writer, Historian

 

[Beckoncall]

Pat

The Locustas seem interested in what the merdwarves potentially have to offer.

"In exchange for alliance and sharing of ways -- we tell you this: The Drakhaina of the wailing isle has at least one tear, of the fire variety, among her treasures. When the sea was more tumultuous and the storms were more prevalent we tried to take the isle from drakhaina, but she used the fire tear to stop us. Aside from this, we only know of a great eel, known as 'the living cave' which swallowed a star tear -- deep within perhaps it could be taken while it sleeps."

"It is high tide, and we must hunt while the waters will bear our weight. Let us know if you wish to explore the kelp beds, for we can show you their dangers. We can share the caves at the base of the cliffs, but do not settle nor loot where you find our tools."

 

[Pat]

Triton motioned for five individuals to detach themselves from the main column. "I will leave with you two miners, two agriculturalists, and a blacksmith for your people to receive tutelage from in the teachings of the Merdwarf, for seven days and nights in duration. This period, however brief, is all that we can spare for now, as we too require their services. Upon subsequent meetings, they will attend to check up on your progress. Further gifts will arrive in the near future. My only stipulation is that they are concealed as to be hidden amongst your people as kin, to ward off the eyes of those who may seek to do my kind harm. We shall speak further another time."

Triton orders the resident engineer of his party to look into the construction of a machine capable of appreciably desalinating a local area of the ocean for, at minimum, a short period of time, a small insulated spherical submersible craft large enough to fit two occupants and carry a small amount of cargo, and several adhesive nets to be covered in a thick sugary substance. For these three projects, twenty skilled workers and all required materials, including the remaining magical catalysts, are assigned. It is hoped that the proposed desalination machine, if feasible, could momentarily greatly reduce the strength of the electrical shocks the great eel, the so-called 'living cave', used to sense movement and as a weapon, drastically reducing its awareness and lethality. The submersible would be used by Triton himself along with one of the automatons infiltrate the great eel undetected, who would collect the star tear of divinity and if need be drop off a payload of every cask charge the merdwarves have within their possession and use the resultant force of the blast to propel him out of the mortally wounded monster. Finally, the nets would be deployed by the four remaining automaton assets over as many of the eel's receptor patches as was possible to make it completely deaf to the world shortly after Triton makes it inside, their comparative silence and lifelessness to merdwarves would theoretically make them nearly indistinguishable from the stone they were carved from by the eel due its expected lack of effective eyesight as a consequence of what is believed to be an advanced age. The automaton with Triton would, due to its ability to appear inanimate, serve as drone once inside and much more quietly than any living being retrieve the star of divinity or be used as a distraction. The six merdwarf marines at his disposal would lie hidden in coverable deep foxholes dug just barely within range of the great eel with their harpoon guns to be summoned using Triton's telepathic abilities at a needed moment to fire a single salvo before hiding again. The remaining ten skilled labor and the handful of idle specialists under the direction of the underwater colony's resident trapper work to use the bioluminescent plant they have harvested to create indoor greenhouses inside the excavated chamber, in addition to removing all trace of their activities outside of their home and creating a stone door that blends in to the rock of the bottom of the cliff face.

Spoiler

Triton leaves the two miners, two agriculturalists, and blacksmith of his colonial expedition with the Locusta to teach them any and all practical knowledge they possess over a week as arranged as the beginning of many gifts to their people.

Triton orders the construction of a two person submersible, a desalination machine, and multiple sugary adhesive nets, in order to infiltrate and if need be slay the 'living cave'. Thirty skilled workers under the engineer.

Remaining ten skilled workers and handful of idle specialists focus on concealing the presence of their home under the direction of the trapper, restoring the area outside to the state it was before their arrival and finally creating a stone door to their excavated chamber identical in pattern to the cliff face.

 

[Shireling]

The Stoutmen of Standin
​

It was with a great amount of fanfare that the Tyren delegation were met and put up in a place of relative honor for the few days that they would be conducting their diplomatic mission. With the Tyren in the privacy of his monkish chambers, Reverend Kearney discussed his desire to form a political caucus to check the influence of the Attolians and Highborn and for relations between the Stouts and Tyren to remain steadfast. Formal agreements to assist the Tyren in their endeavors were signed, and a merchant's decree authorizing the Tyren to do business in New Harmony was posted to the community bulletin board. He expressed concern over recent declarations from the colonial government on "fractiousness" but asserted that he was doing what was in his power to appease the other stakeholders of the colony. He admitted, behind closed doors, that his people greatly desired to remove east of the river to be out from under the thumb of elves, who were among the principle of the highborn races seen as responsible for their misfortunes in the Home Country.

The kobolds, while seen as theologically inept, were gradually coaxed into the colony in a more permanent sense. Some small houses were thrown up on the westward side of the town's wall to give them more shelter from the weather and the more erudite among them were eventually let into the Chapel and trained to be alter-servers, carry lamps and censers, and give simple benedictions. A few were placed under the tutelage of the Reverend Doctor Morris to see if they had any latent magical talent for healing. Meanwhile, relations with the Zebani improved and decrees were issued allowing merchants to accept their crystals as currency.

With their skill in laying track, the Stouts also gained a working understanding of the basic principles of the locomotive train. A railway bridge is constructed across the river and a station with a switching post installed just north of New Harmony with a crowd of workman's huts going up around it. Kearney begins to use the train to commute to the Capitol.

Another military training exercise is called, this time able to be conducted within the walls of the newly-christened Castle Noleua.

Beckoncall

 

[SpiralErrant]

Communion of the grand spirits...

And so it was done. Living branches entwined with raw earth and refined metal in an alien looking display hybrid technologies. Sylvan sung architecture, dwarven engineering and tyren magics came together to make this strange wonder that inspired awe and fear from those who looked upon it. For as graceful and intelligent as the design looked nothing could hide the growls and snaps of lighting that arced between its parts or the pulse in the air that set hair and fur to standing on end.

"Feel that, eh? Feels like I'm in the middle of a Highlands storm!" Called out Brighteye the day Orm had brought them to the cliff tops to inspect the finished works. "Kind of tickles!"

Like a lot of things these days it had come out better than Orm had expected. When Anaïs had told him of this thing it had sounded like it would be a single tower that might shoot a single lightning bolt like an arrow, never had he expected that it could conjure up a furious storm cloud to send out or be warped into other sorts of magical winds.

The experts were telling him the forge was even pushing its power into the vines and the new tracks, giving each an added boost- and it still had energy to spare!

Well Orm could think of one use for it, and he'd see them strike while the iron was hot.
*****

"Do you wanna take a hit before things get started?" Bruul asked, offering a handful of mushrooms to Deryn as they went about their preparations. "It's always good to ease your way into these things, I went in raw for my first communion y'know, biggest mistake I ever made."

"No thank you, I try to keep a clear head in such matters." The druid waved him off with uncertainty as she watched the other shaman go about decorating the standing stones and drawing out an array of overlapping rings within the grove.

"Rookie mistake!" The war shaman laughed.

"So I take it you've done this kind of thing before?"

Bruul took another puff of his cigar. "A few times. We did one when we first arrived in these lands, a small ritual, just the three of us calling on the ancestors for guidance."

This was all out of Deryn's wheelhouse. While she may have taken a spiritual way of looking at wildlife and the forest when it came to her transformations but her magic was one that dealt in the physical and the waking world, not this smoke filled purgatory of dreams the shaman seemed to speak of. As a druid, the idea of communing with the elements intrigued her but none of the shaman would speak of it the same way and just lead to more confusion.

"But it isn't just them you're calling upon this time, correct? You're trying to bring something into the physical plane?"

"Oh yeah!" Bruul's eyes lit up. "We're going to try and talk to the big dogs this time. Things are gunna get weird!"

*****
​

At the centre of the henge and the many coloured rings sat Orm and Ummush in the closest thing to a comfortable silence they'd had since before the fight with the fountain.

Orm knelt in his given place like a dark statue, his breath sounding out like the soft roar of a blacksmith's bellows as he centered his mind with his new meditation techniques. His armour was adorned with beads and pattern covered sashes while his axe, the symbol of his role as chief, lay by his side. What parts of his fur that showed were coloured with shamanic dusts and patterns. Rituals like this were all about the pageantry.

"This is probably the best look I've had at you in a while." Orm breathed. Ever since what had happened at the fountain Ummush had stopped wearing his hood up and taking a lot more care in his appearance.

"Probably because you've been actively avoiding me." Ummush smirked as he went about dotting new marks on Orm's forehead.

"You look younger... younger than me now." Orm knew better than to try and offer excuses.

"That is a perk! A lot of ladies have noticed this fine new coat too, the Proud-Horn lasses didn't know me as a scarecrow so they're very impressed that a handsome young lad has risen to my rank." The two of them shared a snorting chuckle over that.

"So you'll live even longer now, I suppose?"

"I was going to do that anyway." Ummush quipped without missing a beat. Still, he saw Orm's mood go sour and the quiet between them grew again. "So much has changed for us these days, eh?"

Orm gave a stubborn nod.

"With so much always happening. Maybe once this is done we should take a bit of time for ourselves."

"Been a long time since we've had a proper chat." Orm sighed wistfully. "Maybe we should. Should chat properly, as men."

"Assuming all goes well and we survive this." Ummush added with a smirk.

"Please, who's the worst we might call on? Between all of us I think we can take on my father's father's father or whoever gave me the rage..."

"That would be Gauron..." The shaman said to himself, trying to ignore the shiver going down his spine.

*****
​

The preparations were made and time passed, until the moment of truth arrived. The moon was high in the sky, the standing stones glittered with gems and the scattered bonfires that spread their smoke and sweet scents through Harun'Taras. Much like last year, when the first three shaman had conducted a smaller ritual in their old yurt with Orm, the regular folk of the town were taking advantage of all the spirits and magic waving through the air that night. Grandmothers broke out their tarot decks, fortune tellers polished their crystal balls and all other kinds of homemade curiosities were waved around as folk tried to talk to the smaller things unseen.

This ritual had been a source of excitement and anxiety all through its lead up for the people of Harun'Taras, one that had spread through the gossip circles of the colony. Invitations to witness it had even been sent out! The shaman were loathe to share their ancient secrets but since there was no chance of hiding this from the public eye they had ceded to Orm's will and sent word to the religious leaders of the colony to be official witnesses to the closest thing the Tyren had to a religious festival.

*****​

And finally the circles were formed!

Orm and Ummush at the centre, surrounded by a ring of iron pages as they acted as the totem of the ancestors. Each one had decorated himself in the old marks of Auroch, first of the minotaurs, and Gauron, his dark kin and first of the blood-touched.

Beyond them were Bruul and Nootri, arrayed in the garb of the war shaman. Each held a bushel gem harvested from the making of the storm forge and charged with its power. Pulsing in each gem cluster was a captured lightning bolt to act as the living totem of Sky.

Further out was the ring of forest, the new edition to the honoured elements of the tribe. Forest was always thought of as a solitary and territorial spirit, something to be avoided by shepherd folk, but times had changed. So it fell to Shul as the most focused of their spirit speakers to help guide Deryn through this new brand of magic. It was far from traditional for the minotaurs to bring in an outsider for this ritual but the ancient druid had earned her way into their ranks and knew the forest better than anyone else. She certainly helped sooth the nerves of Whippoorwill the ent who took up his place as Forest's calling totem.

Then came the ring of Water. Water who was life. Water who was healing. Water who was the kindest mother who first taught Auroch to stand. It was the hope of the shaman that Water would treat Anaïs kinder than the dark spirits of her 'father'. She was technically a young girl after all, and one that Orm had become very protective of. Supporting Anaïs in her role as totem was Anuc (who wasn't a shaman but it was the hope of the rings that her own magics and spirit would work well with Water's whims) and Emme the Fist Leader and youngest of the new shaman who completed this most feminine of circles.

Then as the strongest took up the centre, completing it were the strongest who took guard at the outermost ring. Sinana Heaveywalker, first ring among her own coven and attuned to the earth spirits. Like Ummush behind her she would take up the burden of bearing a ring without another magic adept at her side. But she would not be alone. The great Olm, a child of the earth's deepest depths who saw in Earth's blind purity was by her side. He was the largest living totem of all the participants, his massive form looping around the standing stones to the point that he formed a ring in his own right. The blind serpent's false voice tingled at the edge of Sinana's mind, apparently he was excited to be a part of his first magical ritual.

With the coven assembled and everything in its place the drums began to sound. A pulsing beat accompanied by the bowl of pipes and rumbling chants. Fires blazed and shadowy figures danced in the moonlight wild.

The veil between realms was thin in this place and on this night. A call went out to the spirits so often unseen, to the grandest of their kind as the shaman spoke the hidden names the silent things of the world called themselves!

All that remained was to see who would answer.

[Grand spirit communion!

Orm and all 6 shaman.
Deryn the druid.
Whippoorwill the ent.
Anaïs the aboleth daughter.
Great Olm.
Lightening charged bushels from the storm forge.

Ritual music is lead by the 2 skilled bards.
3 influence points spreading word around the colony of this Tyren "religious" festival.

Shireling Prince Vaethorion - Official invites are sent out to Kearney and the highborn cleric given their places as local church leaders]

 

[Beckoncall]

Attolian Plans bear fruit!

Cassandra and the miscreated --

Her powers of seering and scrying had been weakened by her severance from the fountain, but they were still strong -- as far as she could tell -- the fennec had kept their word in desisting to generate more miscreated, that is, after they already had many. One thing however could not escape her unnatural gaze -- in contrast to the "perfected" -- they had one other, this one arcane and accursed, a crawling chaos, something she doubted could be so effectively tamed, or taught. So far it was under control -- but her forsight saw many possible actions by this entity -- it was cunning, and unpredictable... and intentionally slothful and inactive... perhaps to minimize it's seeming threat to the fennec themselves or the colony as a whole...

The Naval stronghold --

One did not expect this to go over so well, but the naval stronghold in a matter of weeks, overtook the depression and a good portion of the sandslope down to the sea-wall itself. Adequate labor and ample wealth created incentives to move the Exiles out of their already improved housing in the depression and into the attolian housing district. Many factions fought for their ultimate loyalty, but in the end, the Exiles sided with the Attolians, at least politically -- spiritually their hearts remained with their brothers of dracos. The improved housing and facilities in the depression only made the Naval stronghold that much better -- the production of police and exploration caravels for a second time exploded, the sea wolves making sure that they were swift and battle-ready, even if they were at many times used for conventional higher efficiency fishing by the exiles. By the start of the soon-coming fall, the sea would be buzzing with light sea-craft, so much that the shark and clam (and pearl) resources would be fully exploited. (+2 influence Attolians, colony gains effectively unlimited fish, sharks, and pearl resources at market)

Naval Expedition along the cliffs --

Many had tried this already, and both independent venturer and faction-charged attempts had come up with nothing... until now. The small and fast caravels found a canal inland -- they called it a canal because it seemed far too smooth to be a natural valley inland -- that lead into the heart of the mountainous region to the east. At high tide the waves into the canal blocked it completely, even hiding it from sight -- but lucky caravels found it at low tide, where if the timing was right, the waves of a new high tide could be rode to a group of high cliff beaches halfway up the cliffs. Simply finding this area was enough to report -- little was done to explore the new inland route to the mountains, but a base camp was set up all the same and the times the passage was navigable were quickly learned and logged -- and began to disseminate throughout the populace.

Establish an Observatory/Base at the top of Spire 9 --

The Key'ed one grudgingly accepted the intrusion of the colony, especially when it was learned many of the task force could repair or jury-rig things in the spire that had long been broken. The observatory was especially easy to set up with excess lenses and other bits of relic technology in the domain of the key'ed one. The engineers and artificer did their best to improve the efficiency of the broken down master of the spire, enabling some of the keys to be redistributed to the clockwork soldiers. Great discoveries about the heavens from this new perspective in the sky were rapidly attained, and word spread that this would soon attract astrologers from across the sea. The primary function of the spire was still obviously and formerly a weapon, but one far beyond repair at this point. still, the task force did all it could to learn about the spires, and given unfettered access much was being learned. Certain commonalities began to surface between the spires original workings and the "StormForge" of the Tyren, mysteriously -- had the hand of the fabled "paan'ni" been involved in their creation? SpiralErrant

The Kindly ones --

Summoning of the Kindly ones were successful... giant mermaids, akin to the sirens except for their each having different resplendant colors (one bright, one pastel, one dark and cool) -- the three kindly ones were quick to aid in the acquisition of god rot (which they saw as unnatural being part of the ecosystem) and unless summoned, preferred to police the actual gap in the barrier at sea. In the weeks after their arrival, they uncovered a plot of dark elf assassins Prince Vaethorion based nearby the colony and devoured them utterly, and in the odd case judged, juried and executed shipmen for what they saw as heinous offenses (in the old world or undiscovered in the new) -- they responded to the clarion call of the attolians, but judged and observed everyone -- so far only unaffiliated civilians had been "Dealt with" by the kindly ones... but it seemed it was a dark day for rapists and murderers, even if some had put it in their pasts. "Awei'qiu' -- the most forthcoming of the kindly ones, took it upon herself to be the speaker for her sisters to the colony. "Your worries under these cliffs shall recede for now, we have chased away the Dagon and sent a clear message to the fish men who balefully stare unseen just beyond your borders. We wonder if the Aboleth has the sand and wind to contend with us." The sisters seemed cocky, but undeniably powerful. "Also, the 'wailing isle' displeases us -- we should travel together to cast down the Drakhainia, the titan source of that un-nerving racket."

Vault of the Nerid --

They were alive -- they awaited freedom from the ice and some magic to revive them. The nerid was sister to the kindly ones, so they were excited at this prospect. it was also discovered that the bottom of the ice vault linked to an inland buried sea underneath it, that somehow generated the great cold for the vault. The Nerid had called the tritons back to her and imprisoned them all to survive the catyclysm it would seem... but should they be awoken? The spell breaker could see about it... especially with the kindly ones help...

God rot -- with the acquisition of the kindly ones and so many fast caravels that doubled as great sharking vessels for the larger deeper breed of fishes, god rot began to emerge as a burgeoning commodity for the colony. Given to soldiers and the elite that could afford it, the attolians maintained some semblence of control on the flow of the commodity, at least until it wound up in secondary markets. The health of warriors, especially elites, and the health of the upper class increased in the colony (+1 influence attolia, all troops in colony gain hit points)
This, coupled with medical advancements invested in by the attolians restored all wounded soldiers laid up for the season to full strength (All injured soldiers returned to duty!)

Excavation pit --

The efforts to uncover the strange temples in the fennec excavation had a secondary effect of creating new and more attractive building surface and housing territory for the fennec within the excavation. Care had to be taken not to damage early and existing fennec structures, but with machines and tireless skeletons and the right leadership, two of the three remaining temples were uncovered... one seemed to be occupied by clockwork machinery and mechanical golems that rested in some eternal slumber, the second seemed to be filled with burial chambers ready to be explored...

The Transcendent --

With difficulty, it put it's animal nature aside... "Am I not man?" it said in a particular breakthrough lesson -- the truth is it was most certainly not. It learned order, but just as easily the cunning and less comely ways of the fennec just as it acquired the guidance, and hopefully mental compass of the Attolian educators... still, so far, or in the end -- most felt they had only made the creature more dangerous. It studied anatomy and seemed fascinated with tearing things apart to understand how it was assembled. That it was wrong to kill (except in certain circumstances like defense of the colony?) was an ingrained but confusing message for the transcendent... overall, the attolians and fennec Spacekitty came away with the idea that teaching it had only made it more deadly and cunning. Perhaps more education was contra-indicated, or perhaps it just needed more seasons of teaching to become "civilized"... still, the internal logic and drives of the creature were basal and terrible, for now...

Thaumaturgy --

The magic of miracles, his tutors explained to him... Caelis attempted to wield his undefined powers to see what he could do. A rock he smashed to crystalline powder by force of will, a cup of water he separated into component gasses and burned. A candle he could write in the air with, and ice he could make warm and unmelting. A machine he seemed to give a parody of life to, a feather that flew like a dart. A plant he willed to overgrow his chamber until it turned upon itself, a bone that vibrated and began to sing. But the blood -- he could make it boil, he could will it into and out of himself as a weapon or a healing tool. there was greatest promise in blood...

The Underdark --

The task force was ready, but they waited for the forces of the firebeards to send a task force of their own General Deth Glitch -- ready to decend into the depths, what would await them there, remained a mystery.

Banking --

TEN wealth was taken from the central bank for the attolians and the economy shifted positively to the infusion of coin into the economy, and financed attolian projects. The sophistication of the growing colony industrially seemed to allude to a hunger for money, for capital, to make it even better and push the limits of what was possible. (All wealth expenditures until fall come with a bonus)

Crystals as prisons --

Last but not least a great breakthrough was made in the unlocking of the tome of crystals as prisons... in the deepest secrets of the book -- there were designs for a prison for titans where their power could be drained and used at the will and intent of it's holder... the prisons were... it was discovered... in their truest form -- TO BE THE TEARS OF DIVINITY THEMSELVES. What this might mean for the colony? One could only guess... what was the fate of titans bound to structures or items? What of tears expended at the command of their users? Did the titans yet live with their prisons or were they suspended from animation and reality? The idea that the colonists had been spewing the lifeforce of titans about like common magic was a shocking discovery to many -- and yet it begged the question -- could unwanted titans be turned into tears?

 

[Beckoncall]

Pat :

The Locustas -- "In exchange for your experts, we vow for as long as the merdwarves help us in your strange advanced ways to give you ten of our finest high-tide warriors to defend your people." (Merdwarves gain 10 Locustas Warrior Prime!)

The remaining workers not focused on the submersible mission effectively sealed their holdfast, and sowed their cave-hidden greenhouses with luminescence and growing light.

The plan to retrieve the astral tear from the living cave was ambitious, and absorbed a great deal of resources to pull off -- but the plan was sound, and the chemical and stealth-borne means to limit the "Living cave" ability to sense and respond to the interlopers paid off -- in spades. The great eel was ancient, and seemingly slothful in it's way already to have it's senses dulled further. It turned out the escape charges were not necessary -- the star tear was picked from the teeth of the enormous eel like a fruit from a bough, undetected as it was by a non-living automaton.

As the group backed away however, the eel began to stir... and responded telepathically to triton as the submersible slowly backed away.

"I cannot see... what creature cleans the teeth of the great living cave? No lamprey's or limpet-cleaners would fetch that foul thing from my jaws -- and it has been an annoyance to me for soooooo long... do I dream? Has it simply fallen away after these centuries? That will teach me to eat a wizard. Eat a wizard, you get magic stuck in your teeth. Who goes there? Anyone? Anything?"

The eel waited, but dulled as it was did not expect a reply....

 

[Beckoncall]

Shireling

Commerce with the Tyren did not come naturally to the stoutmen, but they rapidly found commonalities in their persecutions and respect for one another's deep personal traditions. The Tyren respected the stout faith, but did not seem fertile ground for it. Fair enough, for the Tyren kept their ways largely to themselves as well, which was appreciated.

The Tyren help with local projects was massively helpful, the railroad bridge and switching station, with even a bit of free tyren auxillary labor made both quality and speed to the projects.

The stoutmen trained within their new highly defensible, though somewhat small fortress -- a jewel of defense on the eastern fringe. The stouts found themselves owning their weapons in a new way... they were becoming... deadly. Training bore fruit, especially when you had a Tyren to practice with -- where one hit was all you had in you, there was no room for mistakes -- and when the stakes were life and death, each stout would appreciate the additional agility they were forced, through practice and pain, to attain in their working of war.

Reverend Kearney, With his use of the trains, begins to become more of a recognized personality in central city... his words charismatic, he ameliorates some of the tension the public has with stoutmen being so far afield unless seen at market.

The kobolds grew closer to the stoutmen, though their confusion with the faith was a continuous cause of frustration. The kobolds brought symbols and edifaces of the Dualismus into the Pantheon and began worship and observation there, as well as in the stout chapel where it was normally held.

It turned out Kobolds were dismal healers as well, though they tried. Their true talents laid in stabilizing wounded and quickly extricating them from the field, but healing magic did not come naturally to them. One of the lead kobolds seemed to have a talent for enchantment, but was uncultivated and dangerous at best without better training from a mage with established skills.

The Kobolds moved into the shanties in Stout territory and cheered "We other! Stouts Defy! Kobolds stout!" what they were on about was a matter of interpretation, but the Fetch found it beneath his contempt. If they passively scoffed muurdaan authority, it didn't matter if they maintained their productivity -- the fetch held this mentality over the stouts in general... They produced. That was enough, despite any attitude or lack thereof regarding muurdain authority.

The Summer sun was kind upon the faces of the stouts, and with their distance they found a higher sense of peace and even happiness -- despite dangers that must lurk. (stout morale improves!)

 

[Beckoncall]

SpiralErrant :

Some highborn and stouts had arrived for the great festival -- more scales fell from the eyes of "the other" -- more was learned about each other and barriers of paranoia and suspicion fell away as such earnest and open displays of culture and power became ever more the norm in the colony.

The rings and drums began their thrumming of power... Strength... Blood... Sky... Forest... Water... so many powers represented and called to -- what ancestor would heed such a call? The cloudy sky was thrown into a tremendous whorl and it began to rain. Excitement blew through the crowd and nostrils flared and hooves pawed the ground as the strength spread through the circles.

Such power -- and such personages to wield it -- the ground shook and seemed to dilate the circles, opening the layers and veils of power to make room for the called ancestors...

The eye of a storm opened right above Orm and Ummush in the center ring, and the shaking of the ground cast them apart. Lightning bolts flew upward from the charged boughs and leaves blew like rain through the rings. Orm's rage rose but he channelled all his power into the circle as a blinding white light seemed to grow in the center of the rings.

The great olm seemed to cage all the power in the rings and keep it concentrated... the rings grew lighter, whiter, brighter -- until an explosive bolt struck the center of the rings and a steam of essences poured not only from the ground, and the air around, but seemingly from the PLATES OF ANCESTRY, and even the Tyren themselves...

All were blinded, but only for a moment... and in that passing wave a new presence was FELT, intimately and powerfully, among them anew.

Ummush was the first to regain his sight -- and the first thing Orm saw quickly after is the look of Ummush's complete surprise -- something Orm had never witnessed... the body language of the ancient shaman sung of absolute gobsmack... then Orm looked at what rose from the hole in the ground at the center of the circle -- what blood was formed in rain and spirit, what bone was forged in wood and earth, what will was reborn in lightning...

BEFORE THEM, STOOD A MASSIVE BEASTMAN -- Both familiar and strange -- dwarfing Orm, Bruul, all of them. Was it Gauron? No -- the being rose taller than any Tyren... Fifteen feet tall if it was one, massively sinewed and muscled, with hooves like the base of trees. It's arms folded around it's head, it opened it's arms to the sky and the power around it and as their sight returned to them they could see it had two sets of horns -- massive ram's horns pulled tight to it's massive ears, and a second set of hugely broad moose horns that spread majestically as if to give wingspan to the entity.

"BEHOLD THE PAN REBORN. BEHOLD LAHPIDUUK, GUIDE AND COUNSELOR OF THE PAA'ANI."

Uumush prostrated himself upon the ground. None else knew how to act. The Pan were a Myth -- legendary protectors that died to save the Tyren in darkest times forgotten... and here one stood.

The power of the circles was massive, even solid -- and it began to pulse with the excited but calming heart of the great being that stood at it's center.

"WHO CALLS BACK FROM THE VOID THE EVER LOST? WHY ARE WE STILL IN BERYTOS? HAVE WE FAILED TO TAKE OUR CHARGES BENEATH THE SEA? WHAT OF THE SPIRES? WHAT... URGGNNNN...."

The giant Pan crashed to the floor and all the power of the circles drained from the shamans into the nexus of the rings as the newly reincarnated summonate collapsed to the ground. The shamans fainted dead away leaving Orm, Anais, and the great Olm the only witnesses inside the circle still conscious. Even Whipporwhill was struck flat into the still unconsciousness.

Orms heart beat with a new power in time with the pulse of the sleeping and giant Pan... there was an ancient connection here... like a father to son.

The magical festival outside the rings whipped into full swing in contrast to the collapse of the rings of power -- simple cards became tools of prophesy and parlor tricks became spells of great power.

In the distance, the stormforge flashed and rung with twice the energy normally stored in it...

Those not captivated in the great spin of magical effuse looked to Orm for guidance... what had happened? What did this mean?

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

Dulce et decorum est...​

The sound of metal plates crashing against the stone floor filled the streets of the Attolian Housing District. Once more, the brave soldiers and allies of Attolia marched to defend the people and their newfound... and, at times situational, friends of the Colony. The Knights of the Circle returned from escorting the Spell Breaker and leader from the Vault of the Neirid. Much to everyone's surprise, it appeared that the Neirid and the Tritons were in a sort of magically induced frozen hibernation. Nicholas mentioned some sort of "cryo-stasis", the scientific term that he used to discuss of the phenomena. Not alive, but not dead. They simply maintained their status quo for near perpetuity. With some magic... they could be awoken once more. Yet the question remained... was there a need to "unfreeze" this Goddess of the Seas and her hundreds of soldiers? It seemed to be more of a danger... and yet... the Three Sisters, the Kindly Ones, eagerly sought to bring their sister back to life. So far, they had seemed to have been a boon to the Colony, clearing and securing the coast of criminals and dangerous individuals... however... they were admittedly heavy handed in their approach. Caelis saw room for reform especially for those who sought to repay for their crimes... it was evident that the Sisters did not.

Caelis emerged from the central keep and looked off to the distance; he could see the dome of the Pantheon, rise in the horizon. He was... tired. A bit of melancholy befell him... by the temple were the numerous graves of fallen Attolians and friends. Many lives had been lost to come to this point... and yet... here they still stood, above the graves of the fallen giants, titans, and gods. In the background, he started to see some clouds start to roll in from the east. His thoughts were soon interrupted by a firm hand grabbing his shoulder. "Looking grim as always, Brother." A heavily armored knight jokingly said. "Heading off to the Underdark?" Caelis asked as he saw a sizeable detachment of Attolian soldiers in formation behind Lothar. "Aye, just waiting on the dwarves... as always. They seem to never appreciate showing up on time... besides... I'm just dying to get away from those... Kindly Ones." Lothar said, spitting the last two words out in a snarky manner. "They are... good at what they do. I never imagined Dark Elves were among us as well... speaking of which... have you heard from Ilva as of late? What ever happened to her?" Lothar shrugged his shoulders. Although, if he were honest... he did think of her when he heard of Dark Elf Assassins... surely she was not foolish enough to join such a dangerous group.

"Speaking of which" Lothar retorted "How was your night last night?"

Caelis replied "It was fine... I ended up exhausted from practicing magic all day and just fell asleep quickly when I was done."

"Ha! Practicing magic... is that what you call it?" Lothar laughed.

Caelis looked at Lothar with a confused look.

Lothar chuckled and said "No need to act in front of me. I saw Cassandra visit you last night while I was out on patrol."

"Cassandr-"

A loud, bright thunder boomed and exploded in the East. It was the largest thunder that they had ever seen. Caelis was blinded for a second despite how far he stood from the original site of the thunder strike. His hairs stood on end as an unsettling feeling befell him. There was magic in play, he knew in his gut. He could almost feel it. Lothar shouted "Forget the late Dwarves! We march East!" Caelis shook his head and stopped Lothar "It will take too long, and besides. The Dwarves will show up. They always do." Caelis then put on his helmet and closed his visor as he ran to his horse so that he can meet up with the Knights of the Circle and they could ride east and check up on the situation. He feared that the eastern border was under attack once more, but that just meant that he and his men had to go east as fast as they could, and with that Caelis jumped into the depths once more.

"Gafflwn Dihenydd Or fuddugol yn wiriol sydd, Ni fydd neb yn ein drechu, Falch ydy ni I drochu, Traed o flaen Ir Annwn, mewn y gwybodaeth fe godwn ni.

We cheat Death from his rightful victory. No one can defeat us. We are glad to plunge feet first into Annwn in the knowledge that we will rise."
​

 

[Beckoncall]

Prince Vaethorion rose from his bed, drained but refreshed in the paradox of afterglow. His new bed partner, the Attolian lady searshe, was as ardent a lover as any human he'd known over the centuries... an even match for the embrace of his lover and tactician, who's play of feigned weakness and sudden strength was more than enough to fulfill an immortal royal's desires. He was one of appetites, but felt strangely sated this early dawn, as he rose from his bed. His lover feigned slumber well as he gracefully donned a robe and looked out over the elven quarter and the rest of the great colony beyond it.

The highborn had never been mightier, and the holdfast of the elves seemingly never more impregnable... with the halfling auxiliaries and their great mastiffs, and other troops come across the sea the highborn projected might and force. Even the fetch was careful with his words when he came to call, despite the power and number of his housemen.

Vaethorion saw the criss-cross of the rails that united the colony now. He looked at the plumes of smoke that arose from the fennec factory and the new castle of the stoutmen. The great ritual magics of the Tyren that disturbed the winds of magic he saw with his naked eye.

Surrounding his tower were the mightiest of his troops -- the HIEROPHANTS -- four angelic highborn who's divine energies covered them with the light of the sun even in darkness, and bolstered them to the size of giants. They seemed uneasy. Today the Prince would be especially careful at this portent.

A new passage inland had been discovered by attolian and highborn ships far to the north up the cliffs... it was not a secret, as the prince had hoped, but it was the only new purchase inland, to the feet of the mountains, that had been found -- and it's watery canyon passage was only traversable when high tide flooded the pass... but with the discovery of one new landing, perhaps there would be more.

The highborn would encourage more solidarity and exert more pressure for the colony to unite. Vaethorion's eye touched upon the sleeping red light district they had built with the fennec... appetites were met and fed, profit came of it. The highborn were strong in positioning themselves whatever the opportunity.

The woman in Vaethorion's bed yawned and turned to face him. That is when Vaethorion saw the flags waved in the courtyard below -- signal flags that spoke volumes in a wave. Dark elves had been caught and slain in the vicinity of the colony. His blood turned cold as "Searshe" rose from his bed...

"It is true one has not lived without first tasting the passions of a prince" The lady said quietly. "Had I not sworn to slay you armed and facing me you'd already be in the next world from the kiss of my... lips."

Vaethorion pulled his blade to him just as "Searshe" shed her disguise -- the assassin Red Cathexus... dark elf sworn to slay him, it was only a matter of time before he'd confront her, but he never expected she would catch him alone, and from his bed, no less...

Vaethorion's sword was caught by the covers kicked like some entangling arm from the bed by the assassin. Her naked form, impossibly lithe, produced a storm of daggers from seemingly nowhere and Vaethorion used all of his grace and might in his body and sword to block, avoid, and deflect them.

Cathexus locked eyes with him, her face the embodiment of lust and seduction, her eyes the apotheosis of a confident hate and murdererous rage. A ring on her finger elongated into a rapier weapon that bent and slashed like a whip, disrobing the prince and leaving him bleeding before she locked blades with him at the window. The Heirophants were already on their way, Vaethorion could tell as momentarily his head hung from the window in an elaborate feint, before the real chess-game began. Each of them could see -- four, eight, twenty blows ahead one killing the other, and every time the predicted outcome was foiled. Vaethorion felt an alien reaction come over him -- sweat. She was wearing him down.

With a kick and a graceful hand gesture, Vaethorion sent The red Cathexus sailing across his bedchamber and through a portal into the ways. He would lock her there -- leave her for the horrors to fix. Only she caught him again with one of her lashes, and pulled him through the portal with her.

The fight continued, evenly matched, in the crumbling green ether and dizzying abyss of the ways -- over broken bridges and rubble, past the wastes of elven ruins and around and about nightmares that threatened to swallow them both.

Vaethorion carefully and practiced directed the fight towards an exit in the ways -- and the Cathexus instead expended her strength holding them there... the ways, if given time, guaranteed death by the horrors that would come... something it was obvious Vaethorion's assassin was at peace with. Not today. Vaethorion would not allow it.

The battle raged through three separate portals in the eldrich dimension until the cathexus threw Vaethorion through a doorway onto a smouldering landscape of fire and lava. They battled here for what seemed like an hour before Vaethorion opened a new portal which dropped them below some ancient and foreign sea, where both sheathed their weapons and wrestled to kill the other.

Back into the ways, and then into some purple alien sky they fought, punching and slashing as they fell through the clouds of some gas giant, the gravity rising, and piling, making every move exhausting. It was a miracle Vaethorion was still alive, and once even the Red cathexus had faltered in an all out attack to decapitate him.

Their passions rekindled in an elven fury only the immortals would understand, and Vaethorion fought to regain his composure, to retain his peace -- his assassin in turn growing only more wild and reckless in her seemingly eternal fusillade of blows to silence him forever.

This was the fight of Vaethorions life, as they fell through another portal before the forces around their fall crushed them to pieces... and this time he was back in his compound -- they were both naked, but for their weapons as Vaethorion struck one wound all the way up his demon lover's sword arm. Another storm of knives, this time puncturing him with a handful of of piercing wounds.

Then, Vaethorion fell.

Cathexus saw the end of the fight in their chess-match -- few moves remained. Deathblows all, countered and turned -- high elves ran from every direction.... she needed to kill him now...

And then Vaethorion stood behind her, his blade flourished once and brought behind his back in an elegant dance maneuver. The Cathexus turned, her eyes widening in amazement.... and then she DIED. Blood sprayed toward the heavens as the Cathexus covered her heart with both hands, and in the same gesture Vaethorion pulled a cloth flag from a low battlement and wrapped his body and his wounds in a single action.

He would ever be suspicious of any human that could be a match for his appetites, after that day.

The heirophants handled the assassins body like some pointy object that should never be touched by the sane, and cast it into a pit, where it subsequently exploded.

Vaethorion did not miss a beat when his advisors ran to him, terrified for his wellbeing --

"Is all as it should be, and all in readiness for our next moves?" Vaethorion said, pausing not a second to reflect.

"Yes, Master Prince -- but for now we shall tend to your wounds."

The Assassination attempt was long expected, long in coming. It was over now... And for the prince, there was only more work to do...

Vaethorion spoke: "Take me to Celis, Orm, Grimdr, and Kearney of the Stoutmen. I shall survey the boundaries of the colony and we shall plan expeditions in every direction. Pay gold to the Exiles to improve their well-being and station, bring them further into the light of one law." (+1 influence Highborn)

"Tell all the leaders of the colony that the portal system is complete -- travel within the confines of the colony is feasable, and easy -- and transit to points less accessible can be done with... see what ideas the factions have. Bring the magic of the portals before the mage guild, and ameliorate tensions with the mages of Attolia... help them with their iron book. Share what you are allowed to. This day is like any other." Vaethorion concluded, wiping the blood of Red Cathexus from his blade.




Orders:

The Highborn spends 2 wealth to improve exiles living conditions to make them closer to real Attolians living situations.

The Highborn demonstrate the newly made portals made with the Mithril they both cultivated. The Prince wants to show Orm personally.

The Prince will also discuss the Portal with Caelis and help alleviate any tensions between Highborn mages and Attolians. The Mage guild is summoned to discuss Portals and using the way. The Highborn share what they are allowed to.

 

[Pat]

Triton's heart raced every moment he was inside of the Living Cave, even when the automaton returned with the star tear of divinity in its hands he had not yet calmed. To have the gargantuan creature reach out to his mind as he elatedly escaped its jaws with his life intact filled his gut with a feeling of morbid curiosity. Stopping the submersible a few dozen meters away, he got out and watched it continue on its way for a moment as he went to add his recent prize to his necklace. With the star and water tears of divinity around his throat he turned and stood before the great gulper eel and responded to his words. "I only speak to you now with the trust you do not consider me prey for the service I've unwittingly performed for you tonight, Living Cave. I am Triton, leader of a band of merdwarf settlers, directed here by the locustas with the intent to retrieve a star tear of divinity from your teeth. You say this magic artifact has tormented you for centuries? Then listen to my proposal as you would respect that of an equal and never again suffer the same sort of annoyance longer than the very minute you're aware of it for the rest of your life." The merdwarf spoke, swimming upwards to look the ancient leviathan in the pale orbs of his blind eyes.

"I offer to send five creations of mine here to clean your body in perpetuity more thoroughly than I devise any lamprey or limpet cleaner you speak of would bother to in their parasitism, however mutually beneficial it may coincidentally be. On occasion, my constructs will momentarily leave your side to deliver to me any valuable objects they may have acquired during their duties and to replenish their supplies. In exchange, I simply ask of you for the courtesy to regard merdwarf and locusta alike as beings worthy of life whenever you must hunt. Although I cannot promise we would be able to do so regularly, my followers, in addition to the locustas themselves I'd imagine, would be willing to undertake favors for you with the expectation you'd repay our efforts in kind. A small price to pay to make your twilight years more comfortable."

 

[Beckoncall]

The living cave smiled a giant toothy grin, filled with parasites and bits of debris.

"I cannot wait to receive your services. In return I can share with you answers to questions you might have about the local seas, and once I have been cleaned I might even hazard to leave my cave to help you should the need be dire. Take whatever treasures you may find in my teeth or on my body... we shall see if you find anything of use, in time."

"I will not dine on the Locustas, and you may tell them so... I cannot speak for the younger of my kind, the farther out to sea and in the weed forest are younger gulper eels, ones who will not heed my word."

"I see collusion between us in the future, little cleaner. We shall see if I am wise in this regard."

("Living cave" aligns with the merdwarves!)

 

[Pat]

"Do you have an object we may take as proof of your decision to the locustas, and can you encourage your more intelligent kin to refrain from hunting merdwarves and locustas for the same terms we've agreed upon whenever you find you're in no present need of their services?" Triton inquired, reaching out to the five automatons nearby and directing them to form behind him. While he was at it, he quietly ordered the hidden merdwarf marines to disperse and take the submersible craft with them in their journey back home.

"The locustas have related to me stories of their war with a certain Drakhaina, who inhabits what they know as the wailing isle. They have made known she possesses at least one item amongst her treasures such as the one I have plucked from your teeth, a fire tear of divinity. Would I be correct in assuming her incessant noise is one more annoyance you would desire to rid yourself of as well? Finally, before I leave these animunculi to their work, I have one more question for you. The young bony fish your people prey upon, what do you know of their weaknesses, strengths, purpose, and sentience?" The content merdwarf waited for his answers. The locustas would undoubtedly be pleased with these developments.

When he parted ways with the Living Cave, he asked one more kindness of the massive eel. "Should others who are not merdwarf or locusta come to you, cautiously do with them what you will, but hide our existence from the prying sort. Hide these servants I loan to you within your mouth if possible, so they may not be detected."

 

[Beckoncall]

Pat :

"I have only my word to give the locustas and even that is silent, and deaf to their simple minds. Let them know they are safe from me in the week-sea and they will know by lack of my aggression. I cannot change the minds or hostilities of the younger gulpers... they are not my children, though if one threatens your home territory you may summon me to settle scores."

"The bony fish are the Colacanth -- ancient fish that have not changed for a long, long time -- their plates may be valuable to you, and if there was any weakness to them, they are drawn to artificial lights most readily. They have no sentience, even the oldest have no awakened mind to my reckoning... if you seek ancient creatures that think, in the near-depths, there is a place I call the azure eye -- there whisper the strolites, the makers of oxygen in the cold-depths."

"I will keep your presence secret, if such is your desire... and I will admit the wailing of the Drakhaina in the loudest storms bothers even me in the deeps -- if you can lure her to the water, I would help you fight her, or if you wish to sneak inside her dome, I know how to create a diversion that will distract her... Slay the Drakhaina and you will gain more than a tear of fire -- wealth has she, and it is said her organs can be planted in soil to grow creatures faithful to the sower. I was summoned to kill other titans of the sea... but Drakhaina is smart enough to know she is trapped on her isle... for she has foes such as me to contend with, and she would make a princely meal."

With that, Triton left the "Living cave" -- it already gasping in the rough current at the efforts of the automata setting to the task of cleaning him...

 

[SpiralErrant]

When the dust cleared and the rushing storm finally settled Orm had a mind boggling sight to take in. All around him lay the shaman of his caravan scattered and fallen all around him and in the middle of it all was... well a monster from his childhood stories made flesh. It's roar and booming voice had rendered him speechless and stunned for time, mixed with the alien sight of Ummush dropping to his knees it was all he could do to keep a clear head.

"Get the healers!" He called out to his monstrous neighbours that still made up the circle. Storming to his feet Orm rushed to Ummush's side and motioned his blood-touched brothers who had stood as gloomy guards outside or the circles. "And we guard him! We don't move anyone if we don't have to, and we especially don't try anything with that - with him!"

A part of Orm wanted to reach out and lay hands on the fallen pan, just to see if it was really there. It was as if there was some silent voice in his heart that already knew the creature in front of him, yet every rational part of his mind was roaring in an urge to run or fight. The Pan had been many things in the stories he'd been told. They'd served as monsters to scare children, as symbols to teach him as he got older. Some elders talked about them as if they were many or one, as gods or demons. They'd been all this but until today they'd never been real.

At the hilltop warriors stood guard and the great Olm sent out his silent call to the healers, all while down below the town came to life like never before, humming with a vibrant energy.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

​

Caelis found himself at the newly built Attolian Arsenal. It was a marvel of a construction and surprising to see it rise so quickly, but a lot of money and Attolian sweat went into making this project come to life. Now things were really becoming busy in the beach as more and more ships were filling the ocean, catching fish, sharks, and clams at an unprecedented rate. However, Caelis was not here to merely observe people work. No, he came to continue practicing his magic. The plan was simple. He would use blood magic to try to heal the injured and captured fish. Those who pass away... well Caelis remembered hearing about Cassandra's magical ability to force the Housemen's blood to continue to pump despite not being able to breath underwater. Perhaps, he could do the same and force the blood of the deceased fish to continue to pump and live. Then he would also attempt to see if he could assert some sort of control over the living fish or at least communicate with them like the Beast Mage does with animals. The extent of Caelis' magical abilities were largely unknown, but it was obvious that he was somewhat capable in all fields, but particularly gifted in blood magic. He guessed that this was due to the blood tear that was used to help bring him back from the brink of death. To assist him, Cassandra loaned him her staff. These magical artifacts would hopefully assist him in controlling his magic and tune into his power properly. He walked towards a docked caravel that was unloading its daily catch, and began to work on using his blood magic to heal.

---

Not far from Caelis, many other Attolians began their duties as well. The Three Sisters took the lead in helping to extract the Sunken Muurdaan Ship that was in the sharkhole. Last time, they were foiled by a particularly aggressive and hostile crab with a heavily jeweled shell. However, this time, perhaps the Three Sisters and Rex could help convince the crab to help out the Attolians or at the very least just leave them alone while they excavated the rest of the sunken ship and recovered anything useful. Regardless, a lot of the Attolian naval capabilities were thrown at this task to ensure that things went smoothly. Another expedition to the canal was also arranged. This time to explore deeper for anything of note or interest. A bunch of Attolian experts were also around the Arsenal as they worked to collect the new rush of God Rot coming from the increased fishing.

---

​

"Forward- March!"

The sound of a lone horn filled the Platz and several colorful banners waved in the air. The sound of an organized march soon followed as a heavily armed unit started to head west of the Attolian Housing District. Their target was clear. The lone building that had stood in the platz for gods knew how long. It had long been protected by a magical shield of sorts, but they had their piston machines to force the doors open. Worst case, they could rely on the Spell Breaker. However, there was one thing noticeable about these soldiers. The Knights of the Circle's shields were particularly shiny that if one were to look directly at them... one would be near blinded. It was clear that they carefully polished and coated their shields to make them very reflective. Once the men approached, they assembled in a semi circle in front of the entrance. The Knights raised their shield and pointed the light at the entrance of the "State House" The Kriegan Banner Infantry were behind them with their bows ready. With the men ready to fight, the Spell Breaker began his work.

---

At the same time, another army was marching north. Although this army was not armed to the teeth. Rather they were armed with hammers, saws and machines. A large host of Attolian laborers went off to Spire 9 to commit to recreating Spire 10. They had a lot of insight from Spire 9, and it was hoped that the Keyed One could now spare some help as some of his soldier were now able to have their own keys thanks to Attolian repair efforts. "Artists" of all sorts went to the north to assist in this project to restore the Spires.

---

To the East, the Magical Workshop was feeding magical power to help stabilize the Mithril Gates and their portals. However, this time, it was time to test the portal to see if they could accomplish what the Colony needed safely. The test was simple. They would use the Stone Constructs to test the pre-set portals throughout the colony. This was likely to succeed. But more importantly, they would try to teleport a construct to the top of the Giant Tree where the Cull slumbered. The construct would carry a greater seer stone to allow Cassandra the ability to see what the infestation truly looked like. They could test their countermeasures, but there was no need to risk lives yet. They had a viable weapon and two potential forms of "protection" to avoid detection from the Cull. They just needed to make sure this way to get to the Cull was viable and to see if they can get some intel.

---

Finally, the excavation in the Quarry continued with the Attolians deciding to search the crypt first. They believed that the graves would hold some sort of information about the past and the massive wars that seemed to occur here.

Orders:

1. Caelis continues to experiment with magic particularly in the form of blood magic, miracles, and control
Caelis, Bloodscourge, Torc of the Horned One

2. Excavation of the Sunken Treasure Ship that has the giant treasure hermit crab protecting it (New recruit?)
3 Kindly Ones, 40 Sirens, Beast Mage Rex

3. Further exploration of the canal
Naval Captain, Explorer, Animal Tamer, Herbalist, 10 Sirens, 20 Sea Wolves, Exiles, 6 Caravels

4. Opening the magically shielded "State House" that remains in the Platz and exploring it... and "meeting" its resident
Lothar, Gottendammarung, Astral Tear, Spell Breaker, 20 Knights of the Circle, 2 Astrologers, Death Mage, 30 Kriegan Banner Infantry, Crystal Prison

5. Rebuilding Spire 10 with help and inspiration from Spire 9
Nicholas, University Metal Mage, Gnome Artificer, Gnome Machinist, 5 Engineers, 2 Architects, 69 Unskilled Laborers, 20 Skilled Dwarven Workers, 25 Skilled Workers, Piston Cranes, 5 Former Thralls, Blast Foundry, 1 Wealth

6. Testing the portal and scouting out the Cull
4 Augmented Stone Constructs, Greater Seer Stone, Cassandra

7. Excavation of the Temple with the burial grounds
100 Skeletons, Iron Skeleton Wraiths, Talion the Constructor, Geologist, Historian, 10 Halberdiers, 30 Attolian Swarm Infantry

8. Continued Collection and Processing of God Rot from the recent fishing boom
Chemist, Gnome Chemist, Preserver, Dr. Fleming

9. Continued lectures and classes in Learner's Hall
Writer, Lawyer, Castellan, Pantheon Priest, Sheriff, Shipwright, Linguist, Textbooks

 

[Beckoncall]

SpiralErrant :

"Get the Healers!"

The word went up with speed and urgency -- the recently upgraded healers guild brought medical practitioners of all types, of varying strengths and arts quickly to the circle of shaman.

Anyone remotely magically sensitive in the colony got a headache that day, such were the aftershocks on the winds of magic. The highborn in particular suffered, needing healing treatments in their own right.

It quickly became apparent that the shaman, for the most part, were simply stunned -- knocked out by the sudden flash of magical power. Simple smelling salts were all it took to get many to rise, though others needed to be ministered where they lay, though quickly they would rise.

All but... him. There was no disputing it was indeed a pan -- but it was comatose, summoned yes -- but summoned at the brink of death. Uumush rose, for a moment cursing the frailties of his new "living" system -- never before would he have been so shocked, so easily overcome, but he rapidly recovered and cracked his knuckles as he stared with orm in wonder at the creature they had summoned.

Emme, taking her feet again, wielded her passion magic to dispel some of the shock, restore a peace to the basal nature of the Tyren. Sense came back over the crowd, and the shamans as a group began to take their feet.

Uumush whispered quickly to Orm before the group assembled around the Pan.

"We do not worship this thing. We must make sure the Tyren remain strong-willed and independent -- if we were once part of a consortium of races, where are they now? This thing is an ancestor older than all but the most ancient stories I can recall in my ageless youth. I know it's significance to our people -- but we must be wary of it... Promise me Orm that it must not supplant you, not a green goddess, not some ancient aquatic, and not this... you must forge our destiny..." Orm was left to ponder this.

A great tent was build around and over the slumbering pan -- and the festival rekindled anew.

A feeling of well-being began to descend as never before on the Tyren however -- the effect on the common folk was undeniable. Soon the awe of the summoning was masked by Hargin the bard laughing as he always did, but perhaps louder than ever heard before. The festival would run deep into the night and well into the following day -- even the common herdsmen felt lucky and charged with some magical force.

Dancing ruled the night, and the twilight saw new mating pairs forged between the caravans, bringing them ever closer. The proud-horns had their own tales of the Pan, and they celebrated over again that coming to the lost continent was more than just a good decision -- it was kismet -- it was meant to be.

Orm was not one for revelry -- but in his lonliness and heavy heart... he was beguiled by the eyes of the Tyren women who enchanted him. The longing eyes of Weome, the beautiful and seductive antics of Esteri. Would Orm ever choose a mate, some wondered?

...Or was he married to the rage inside him, however focused, or to his brooding and heavy head and heart... never free of the weight of his people and their world...

 

[Pat]

Triton orders the construction of five more stone animunculi and promptly bid half of the locusta warrior primes to teach his merdwarf marines and warriors the strengths and weaknesses of the monsters that traversed the depths of their new home before taking the remaining five locustas as an escort with him once it's high tide to sunken shoals for a second meeting with the tribe of lobstermen to relate to them his successful retrieval of the star tear of divinity and the arrangement he had brokered with the living cave for their benefit.

 

[Beckoncall]

Pat

Learning from the Locustas was difficult, as it was obvious so much of their strategy and hunting depended on their very different biology. In the end though, the consultation would give them an edge in combat with at least the local fauna.

In Sunken shoals, it was high tide, and the caverns were awash with the rapidly working but ponderous locustas. It was obvious they had already adopted several merdwarf techniques where it came to their farming, and the merdwarves were greeted warmly.

In addition, the locustas showed the merdwarves a vein of silver hidden away in a coral-filled grotto... un-rusting, they said they long used chunks for bludgeoning instruments but could not make blades or armor. The merdwarves were allowed to try, if they like, to exploit this resource. They seemed oblivious to it's usage as a currency, however... but they offered Triton a silver cudgel as a gift to show the merits of the metal...

 

[Pat]

Triton gracefully accepts the gifts offered to him, making mental notes to later hand the silver cudgel over to his blacksmith for examination of the metal's other (if any further) unique properties and to send a small group of miners to extract the strange silver deposit from the walls of the coral grotto. After his warm reception, he seeks out the locusta he spoke with during his first visit to tell them the good news, briefly presenting the star tear of divinity as proof of his deeds. "Not only have I successfully snatched the star tear of divinity from the jaws of the Living Cave, but I persuaded them to spare our respective peoples when they hunt in exchange for the continuous cleansing of their body, a responsibility my subjects and I will shoulder alone as a gesture of good faith. Greater yet, they've indicated they would pledge themselves to our cause were we to go to war with the Drakhaina. I know you and your kin must have suffered dearly for your previous attempt, but should we enter battle together we can silence her hellish cries for good and finally avenge the lives she has so callously taken. I plan to sink her island beneath the waves where our titan ally may aid us in vanquishing this evil. For our efforts to not be in vain, I ask of you to provide as many warriors as you can spare to guard expeditions to the depths of the oceanic trench surrounding her isle in order to establish sites upon geothermic vents that will prove invaluable in the struggle for justice ahead of us."

 

[Beckoncall]

Heyitsjiwon :

Caelis learned that INTENT was important with the application of his powers -- unfocused, sharks writhed or waves passed along their skin... but when he focused on willing them to move -- not through life but by hydraulic principle he could get the creatures to move... the blood did not carry life, but it pumped through the body and moved the corpse. Focusing on healing, he could bring lethally wounded sharks back to the bring of death, but no further... at least not yet. Bloodscourge was a useful tool -- it had ceased to speak much since the death of the fountain demon, but it guided caelis' hand. More than once he felt he could control the dead or nearly dead sharks. But it was when he willed things to HEAL that Caelis and bloodscourge were called unto their own... not only could they will things to move in an undying state, but with bloodscourge more than one shark was restored to health, if such can be said of a suffocating shark on a hook... Potential. So much potential.... it needed even more focus and guidance...

___________

The excavation at the treasure ship was a dismal failure -- the kindly ones got into an argument that they could not intercede, as the Crab was just operating to it's nature, and did not stand to be judged... although the sirens, with the crab distracted by the kindly ones, were able to liberate 3 units of wealth at little risk to themselves, the beast mage rex could not get past the crabs singular will to protect it's home. The sirens did get a closer look at the wreck, and saw a beautiful and mighty platinum prow with ramming korvus still intact amid the strangely non-decaying wood of the front of the ship... but they were left with more questions than answers... unless they wanted to directly attack and kill the crab -- which the sirens were woefully unprepared to do... they would have to re-tool their plan of attack, for diplomancy and taming surely failed...

____________

Exploration of the canal confirmed further that only at highest tide the waves would propel ships up the winding canyon to the high beaches... to do so at low tide risked trapping your ships on the rocks only to have them buried at next high tide. It was like salmon swimming upstream, but the explorer, captain and skilled sea wolves could easily make the journey. At the top they encountered highborn scouts who had used their own agile craft to travel up into the mountains Prince Vaethorion -- and the two factions established a camp at the top of the "water-climb" and begun to assay the area around the mountains. It was here that was found a small lake of oily pitch that seemed to leak from a wound in the land itself -- it was Oil. Coal deposits of great size as well as great and ancient bones laid about the scattered recesses here -- it seemed long ago many great creatures had fought over these cliffs, and had since turned into oil and left their bones, some enchanted or special, scattered about. Additional Resource: Dragon Bone, Monster Bone, Enchanted Bone.

________________________________________________

The Attolians stood ready to breach the ancient statehouse in the platz and to reveal it's mysteries... but other factions wanting to be involved stayed their hand... it was hoped that additional task forces would arrive and the task could proceed as long had many waited to unravel it's secrets...

_________________________________

The construction of spire ten was inspired and well manned -- but it rapidly became clear that the COST of building a spire was a prohibitive factor... while some wealth was invested -- it rapidly became clear that building in the ways of the ancients took treasure... perhaps 20 or 30 wealth if they were to build it at a pace with the manpower they had, lest the project take at least 5 years... work was too intricate, which required payment by experts... gilding and rarified materials were aplenty in the base and top of the tower. In the end of the summer, there was an impressive base, and half a neck for the tower, but the spire's top had barely been addressed. Perhaps more wealth from other factions or the colony could be sought, or it may have to wait for the spoils of trade to return next season...

______________________________________

With highborn permission -- the portals were proven to the stable for inanimate matter, and even living beings -- the far corners of the colony, and indeed the known map -- with the exception of some magical interference from the mountains -- could be quickly and easily reached via the portal network.

It was however another endeavor entirely that the attolians wished to send a construct forward with a seer stone to spy on the cull... transporting a construct to the top of the great tree was not the most difficult feat, but required precision and it was speculated would be difficult to perform if they wanted to send many travellers -- but one contstruct was simple enough. It appeared high in the canopy of the cull-tree with the greater seer stone.. the foliage was hot and dry here as it seemed great heat escaped from the top of the cull-sphere into the highest point in the tree.

The construct slowly descended to find multiple VENTS at the top of the cull-sphere, some mere slats, but some larger holes, and the construct used one of these venting ports to enter the cull-sphere's silvery surface.. seemed to be woven of a mixture of some kind of hardened slime and arachnid like silk...

...it was so dark inside the sphere -- all the boughs had been sealed together to form walls and sheets turning the inside of the sphere into a maze. the construct could see in this dark, as could the seer stone, but for any mortal being without darkvision seeing inside the sphere would be incredibly difficult. One feature stood out in the sheets and walls of mucus... canals of green effluence seemed to flow everywhere, like veins and arteries there were rivers of some sludge that traveled every yard of the sphere... and it was upon processing what it was that observers could begin to make more sense of what they were seeing. Cassandra divined that the "sludge" was the living essence and proteins of generations of living creatures.... that flowed throughout the sphere like a lifeblood. The thickest fluids and widest canals seemed to flow through walls and down ramps towards the center of the structure... while the smaller rivulets were packed with collections of scattered stones that seemed to mass along the banks of the rivulets...

... but they were not stones... they were hunched insectiod nightmares... the cull itself -- slumbering as small filaments slowly drank the life of all that lived in the vicinity of its home for generations. Each one as large as a great boulder, they barely moved, rows of eyes along their backs and underbody all sealed shut in an intoxicated sleep it would seem feeding on the rivers of lifeblood and digested gunk of everything live within miles of the colony. Folded close to the masses of eyes and carapace were countless sets of praying-mantis like claws, crossed tight accross the bodies of the cull as they slumbered and...drank.

The construct attempted to move further into the sphere to get a closer look at the cull and the layout of the sphere, when suddenly it was picked up by a still-sleeping scythe like claw and completely dissassembled in one unconscious motion. The seer-stone fell into the river of living sludge and flowed towards the center of the structure... taking hours to travel and spying thousands... tens of thousands... hundreds of thousands or more of the clustered boulder-insects. They clung to every surface and clustered around every vein of nourishment... and finally the seer-stone fell into a vat at the center of the structure...

...It was here a red globe of a cull-creature seemed to hover in the center of the great mass, waterfalls of the living-juice falling upon it and floating to it from every direction. A cull-beast that slept, and drank, and turned in what illusively suggested was an endless slumber. The entire inner surface of the chamber of this beast was layered with millions of skeletons of everything from wild animals to fantastic beasts to any countless number of races of people... and scattered amid those bones was an incredible mosaic arrangement of treasures -- artifacts, gems, metals, magic, and even the stone spied, tears of divinity.

A tiny cull-creature picked up the seer stone as it plopped into a lake of living sustenance fluid... the pools here seemed almost empty where would normally by the depths of the pits seem to hold great reserves... the seer stone was plucked from the pool and affixed to the wall with the rest of the treasures... the attolians had lost a construct -- but had gained a horrifying eye spying into the heart of the cull lair... the center most part... the chamber of the largest... the mother? one could not assume such things only that it was a ruby carapace that hovered infesting almost the entire space of the chamber, covered with thousands of eyes and hundreds of mantis-like claws. it was impossible to tell what end or side of the creature would orient "up" if even such a thing were a true element to it's symmetry.

Cassandra would be haunted by periodic nightmares of it for the rest of her life... if indeed anyone was fated to live past the next spring when these things awoke...

_______________________________________________

Continued distillation of god-rot for the military and continued emphasis on education for all by the attolians reaped some rewards... the level of education in the colony as a result of all factions attention had elevated considerably -- and the economy improved for it. More work done, more coin earned, more coin flowing. (All factions gain +2 influence as a bonus from learners square!) Everyone

__________________________________________

The Excavation of the 2nd temple in the fennec work-pit was a disturbing find... it was indeed a burial complex... but it became obvious from the crowding, hurried placement of burial goods, and positioning and huddling of many of the bodies that THESE PEOPLE BURIED THEMSELVES. In light of the undoubedly terrible holocaust which leveled the spectacular city of berytos -- these people, thousands of them -- ran in their last hours to their own graves to die. It seemed the alternative was to become akin to the longdead -- but this was equally on some levels as horrifying... families clustered together with vials of poison, lovers draped over one another in open sarcophagi, The crush of crowds on the lower levels who must have trampled each other only so that they might die in some semblance of peace. The Attolians were wise in their selection of task force, for the skeletons did not disturb the slumber of the dead -- it seemed real treasures might be salvagable on the highest levels of the temple complex, but the entire lower areas were just a press of people who in a paradoxical desperation killed themselves to die in peace. The horror of the scene was incredible, and the military quickly excused themselves of it.

The attolians were left simply with a question -- risk disturbing the peace of the dead here for what could constitute great treasures at the top of the pyramid, or seal the thing forever and forget about it? "The temple of Xall" at the top of the pyramid was a promising find -- but was it worth potentially animating these bones with the hatred of the unrestful? Could such an act be justified? What other ways could the treasures be extracted?

_______________________________________________________

 

[SpiralErrant]

As far as actually being a party was concerned the festival was a monumental success. From what Orm had heard even the grumps were dancing around with a spring in their step and talking about feeling the buzz of magic passing through their herds. It sounded like nonsense to Orm, he'd never been one for dancing and was practically tone deaf when it came to music. Thundering hooves and raging hearts was more his kind of beat he supposed.

His heartbeat was a prime bit of focus for Orm right now. He'd stayed on watch in the pavillion that housed their sleeping pan for the past few nights while others tended to him. There was a link between them, a force that came into the world alongside the giant in front of him. Orm couldn't describe it but it was as if he'd been reunited with something he'd never known he'd lost. He could understand why Ummush was worried about what effect this pan might have on the clans, just looking at him was just giving Orm a headache with all that he implied. He wouldn't be letting this big moose strut his weight around too much though, this lad had named himself an advisor and if he played nice then he'd be welcome to be one, just as Anais had become. If he felt like making himself god or king around here... well Orm his axe at the ready for that too.

But not today! Today he had a different monster hunt to go on. His newly named bodyguards were annoyed that he wasn't letting them come along with them but this fight promised to be one heavy with magic and he needed fighters back in the hills he could trust to hold their ground if their patient woke up and decided to get violent. They even had their own giant waiting in the wings.

Rolling his shoulders and speeding up to a jog as he thundered down the hillside towards the train station, Orm gave a wave to the cliffside as he saw the blurry figures in the distance at work. With all the energy the storm forge was pulsing with these days they had to find something to put it to work, and what better way to start then to put it into the vines it was already charging? No that Deryn was around and armed with the right protection to use the mine of vines they could let her work her magic like never before. Their primary goal was to use this boost in power to push the vine to close off that strange poison stone that made it so dangerous to use and if there was anything left over then to encourage it to reach even deeper into the earth in search of treasures.

While just above them the Tyren were finally taking an active step to looking into this strange spire that was starting to loom over their heads. Word had spread that it was something similar to their own storm forge and showed other signs of Paani works. Well pan was the word on everyone's lips now and with Anais' expertise on these works being the best they could call upon it seemed only right to find out if this new work could be turned into the cull fighting weapon Orm had hoped the forge could become.

Time would tell what would happen with most of these things, for today Orm had hist first train ride to look forward to and a fetch to fight.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

1. Join state building raid. (Orm, Sinana the earth shaman, 10 anti magic warriors. Special equipment: 10 stone breastplates of dispelling. Orm is armed with his heroic suit of armour, crystal axe of dispelling, tattoos of strength and fortitude.)

2. Assist in spire reconstruction. (Anaïs, 5 skilled workers, 10 unskilled tyren, 30 hillfolk.)

3. Powered up mine of vines! (Deryn the winterborn druid, 4 treesingers, 1 sylvan bard, 20 springborn with a twofold mission: use the boost in power from the storm forge to alter the working chamber to better block/contain the poison stone, and channel growth the vines into a wider range of depths.)

4. Guarding the Pan. (Both healers, Annuc and Weome, are on duty to tend his physical health. Ummush and Shul inspect and sooth any issues with his spirit. Emme is on hand should he wake up to keep him calm. Whippoorwill the ent and both blood-touched are on guard duty while Orm is away.

5. Helping out with the mithril gates. (Bruul serves as the Tyren representative for now, using his tracing magic to study with the highborn mages and add a boost of raw power to their spells when needed.)

 

[Prince Vaethorion]

The Highborn Prince shook off his wounds and felt stronger than ever. This fierce battle to the death through multiple dimensions had strengthened him in ways he never felt before. Vaethorian was now competent at using the ways for combat and stronger for the fight.

He waved off the rushing, alerted Highborn warriors as they came from every direction with weapons aloft, Armed and armored Halflings , armed with bows, riding their armored Mastiff mounts descended excitedly sniffing about. Dozens of heavily armored human, and half-Elven knights, with large swords and shields on foot had assembled. Mages, psionicist, advisors, and all of his officers were alarmed, but relieved to see their Prince victorious.

"Amin naa tereva!" (I am fine). The Prince assured his Elves.

"ilya Aaye i' taren!!! (ALL HAIL THE PRINCE) the Highborn host cheered.

Dawn had arrived and the glow of the new day shined on the Elven heavily fortified battlements. A horn had blown. A sentry on duty that did not leave their post sent a messenger and alerted their own trumpeters. "Large Attolian force moving towards the Haunted building". The Prince's wounds were quickly dressed, they seemed to practically heal on their own, yet, despite the Prince's tolerance of pain and great regenerative powers, he needed some attending to, and some cleaning up. The High Elves were already alerted, and the Prince directed them to join the Attolian force. "Arms and armor" the Prince ordered once he was quickly bathed and special healing bandages with oinments were applied to his wounds by the High Cleric himself. A quick healing spell, combined with the bandages, a shot of strong wine and the Prince felt anew. "Lets go fetch the Fetch" The Prince said as he was armored up gingerly and was armed. During this time the Tactician had began implementing the plan to take the Building as had been discussed for many many months. "Make sure the rest of the Colonial factions that are pertinent are alerted." The Highborn knew which factions were pertinent and which weren't. An alert was sent out. The Highborn formed of their forces and marched to the structure. Some of the most elite archers were placed hidden in positions around the structure, prepared to snipe any enemy if needed. The Majority of the forces were a bit away from the structure and the Prince, the Arch Mage were front and center with Caelis and the rest were dispersed or at the Highborn stronghold.

The Prince prepared his Way warriors and the Way for potential breaching of the Building. He suggests that himself, Caelis, Orm, Grimdr and other leaders confront the Fetch directly and attempt to reason, and capture the former Governor using the Tear for imprisonment.

ooc: more detail can be added, just wanted to get this out. Open to ideas and playing this out together.