Category Archives: In-Game Staff Submissions

Any posts made in this category are considered to be In-Game: Any comments made should also be made in an In-Game fashion and the information displayed here can be known by any character who reads it.

I Knew I’d Be a Handsome Cadaver, But Not This Way!

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Hey Elmerton!

I know my last visit probably soured you against me again, but I’m not working for Wreckanis anymore. I swear! I wanna be friennnds with youuuu, and I have information to give you as a peace offering!

The other day, I was in the forest outside of Elmerton and I met a young fae girl who was really sad. I sat down to talk to her and learned that she had found a necklace while exploring and she put it on, but then she couldn’t take it off! And what was worse than that, it was hurting her! I could tell from the Essence on the necklace that the last people to touch it were Jack Garren and Galynn, so I decided to try to make the thing my problem instead of this little fae girl’s; or, better yet, make it Jack and Galynn’s problem!

Together, the fae girl and I figured out how to get the necklace off of her and onto me, so now I can’t take it off! Shucks! Anyway, I studied it and, to my surprise, discovered it was a Tane item. Those crazy Tane are always making trouble! So, I went to Brimm and asked around and learned that the thing was made by a Tane named Jabjulalola, she used to be a Jubjub Bird, but now she wants to become a Morticent of the Gatekeeper. Lame.

(Oh, I should explain for those of you who may not know: Tane have the ability to turn themselves into other things. I don’t mean, like, just a shape change. I mean they can completely change into something else and actually become that thing, or an exact clone of that thing. It is kind of like fulfilling a dream, but in reverse since they started out in a dream world. Becoming certain things is harder than others, but ever since Tane on Brimm became aware of Magesta, many of them have set their sights pretty high. Making the change is a long road, and until a Tane completes it, he or she is still a Tane and must answer in the affirmative to the question, “are you Tane?”)

So, yeah, Jabjulalola decided that becoming a Morticent meant that she needed to have her own faithful servants and spiritual hosts, which all Morticents have, and those people are collectively known as The Cadaverate. To do this, she created cursed necklaces and gave them to people in Elmerton. Among other things, the necklaces are designed to instill their wearers with ability to host her Spirit once she finally becomes a Morticent, and becoming a Morticent is a task that is made easier for her if the necklace-wearers believe that she is already a Morticent, which is why she has been hamming up the monologues and maniacal laughter wherever she goes.

Well, there it is. Jabjulalola is no longer really a Jubjub Bird, but she is also not yet a Morticent. If she completes her journey, anyone in possession of one of these necklaces will become a member of The Cadaverate and recognized as a trusted servant by any Morticent of the Gatekeeper. While this will not mean that these people will lose control of themselves and go on a killing spree or anything, it WILL get in MY way of turning from Tane into a Redbush, and that junks for me! I hope I can get rid of this thing. It is pretty, though.

Your Dearest Friend Who Would Never Hurt YouWreckanisMadeMeDoIt,

-Mister Redbush

Rogue Wizard!

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To Denizens of the Fiddlehead hills, Elmerton, Raldo’s Refuge, and points between:

Be on the lookout for an extremely dangerous magic user who has escaped Concori Magesti’s attempt to subdue him.  His name is Silas Stonecipher, formerly of Concori Magesti, Irvanshire, who has now been expelled from their ranks.  According to a high ranking Guildsman, Silas was previously wanted for questioning about his research into dangerous magic, and was an accomplished theorist who has delved too deeply into forbidden knowledge.  He was traced through the use of stolen ritual components to a series of caves outside of Elmerton, where the mages sent to subdue him found evidence of extensive human sacrifice and what appears to be a form of void energy in an attempt to harvest spiritual matter for no doubt nefarious purposes.

Picture 139oilStonecipher is heavyset and bearded, and should be considered extremely dangerous. DO NOT attempt to engage him directly.  Even if he was to be killed, his unorthodox and profoundly perverted usage of spiritual magic may allow him to operate without the use of his body.  Contact Concori Magesti, and they will send specially trained mages to incapacitate and bring him to justice. A 15 gold reward is to be split amongst anyone who is able to provide information leading to his capture.

Please do your best to assist Concori Magesti Investigators who will be searching the countryside for Stonecipher, in a joint effort with the Portal Authority, who will be monitoring any unusual dimensional activity in the region.

Thunderclouds From a Darkened Skye

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Hey, Elmerton topsiders- We have a serious problem. Not sure what y’all did but Ms. Skye is furious. Boom and I, along with a few of our cousins, decided to go creeping through some of her far off tunnels. As we got deeper into one we heard something that sounded like an explosion. We all hit the dirt and an incredible surge of what looked like the black shards everyone is so interested in shot through the tunnel faster than anything I’ve ever seen. They moved almost too fast to see and all at once, they all shot deep into the tunnel we were creeping in. When they stopped flowing we just heard what sounded like a very angry, distant and almost painful scream that was swallowed by a popping sound that could have signaled the closing of a portal. We thought it best not to go any further and called it off for the day.

The next day shadows and shadow-touched Blackgate family members laid what might have been the heaviest assault we have ever seen. Rebekkah herself- looking a little crazed- seemed to be leading one of the first attacks, screaming about how we would be the first to pay for Elmerton’s sins. Thankfully we were able to force back the attack. Boom had to leave one of his “presents” at the mouth of the cavern and produced a massive cave in that sealed us off. That seemed to be enough to take their interests off of us for now at least. We lost quite a few people and our numbers are already small enough, so we are scrambling for healers and to build up our resources and buildings.

We can make due for now and we are fully ready to assist the town whenever is needed but heed my warning- It’s all coming apart even faster than we thought.

Stay safe, Never trust the dark.

Bosephus Blackgate.

Another Village Falls To Sazdar and the Gatekeeper

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Some may call it luck but that’s a word I would never utter with what I saw. I bore witness to the aftermath of an assault by a man named Carzon Sazdar just over a month ago, I never guessed that in my roaming wanderlust I would see one take place before my very eyes.

My wanderings that day brought me to Gindinmere a small village southwest of Elmerton just a GindinmereLocationInIrvanshirefew short miles from Bloomingport. That night I just finished dinner and was enjoying a rather large and tasty dwarven ale in the Salty Maidens tavern when disaster struck.

It happened all at once- the silence of the night torn asunder by a roof rocking blast that threw a few people off their feet. The tavern emptied as did the other houses and random businesses that remained open at that hour. People poured into the center of town to see a large and heavily armed group led by a large man who stood out in front of them. Before anyone could even speak or try and make an action, the man up front spoke in a booming tone. “I am Carzon Sazdar, the slayer of worlds and the man who is not only ready, but excited to send you all to the Gatekeeper’s Realm of True Death.” He paused then to watch the effect of his words on the town. His brow furrowed slightly as he continued, “The Gatekeeper, however wishes for me to convey his intent to you so that you will know the extent of his mercy. Listen to this well!” Sneering, and drawing a well-worn scroll from a pouch at his side, he bellowed in an even louder tone,

“’Magestans. I am the Gatekeeper. I am Death Incarnate and will take my place amongst the other Incarnations. You cannot destroy me. You cannot withstand me. However, be it known that I bear you no personal hatred nor animosity. I have no desire to inflict unnecessary pain or suffering upon any individual. I am willing to offer you this chance, Magestans. There need not be premature death and destruction, but know that I will grant the spirits of this desperate and pleading world eternal and pure rest, and with that will come the Dread of War. For those with the wisdom to bow before Destiny, I will provide places of safety in which you and your families will be permitted to live safely and comfortably and to live out the natural course of your lives or until such time as I am given a seat amongst the greater Incarnations. Those who enter this stronghold will be under my protection and will know the strength of my might. No harm will come to you.

However, I will warn you that those who do not enter this stronghold will be subjected to the Sword and Wrath of my Pledged. Carzon knows no mercy and has my leave to show no quarter to stragglers and heroes.’”

Carzon leered at the town and said, “You have until this time tomorrow to make your choice, Gindinmere. Make no mistake, I will return at that time, and will show you the strength of MY might and the extent of MY mercy.”

After all this was said, Carzon muttered a few words, made a complicated gesture with his hands, and a massive swirling portal opened in the center of town, complete with an elaborate gateway conjured out of thin air. After nailing the scroll to the gateway, Carzon and his men marched out of town. A few townsfolk rushed into the portal with zero hesitation after gathering their families and the valuables they could carry. Other argued the merits of accepting the Gatekeeper as the overseer of Death. Some disagreements turned into fistfights.

When it was all said and done over half the town went into the portal. Those who stayed behind prepped for a fight. I myself found a pig iron shed that the blacksmith uses and barricaded myself inside. True to his word, Carzon and his men marched back into Gindinmere at roughly the same time and unleashed a horror that the Abyss would be jealous of. Men, women and even children fell to their blades. Any building used as shelter was burned to the ground. There was no stopping Carzon and his men. I was literally the only one left alive as the portal in town began to pulse and then closed.

One of his men found the shed I was hiding in and tore the door open with alarming strength. He raised an axe to my head and was about to strike until Carzon himself grabbed his arm. “Ahh a roving scribe,” he said in a tone of voice full of poison. “No! She gets to live, no point in letting the story of a lifetime go untold. Run off little one and tell all what you have witnessed here.”

After letting me live to escape, he let out a whistle and his men formed up and marched out of town. He followed behind them with strong strides and left the town in ruin. When they left I quickly dashed away.
I can speak no more of the horror I witnessed…

Rasmona Susmark
Roving Scribe

From the Riverton Town Watch: Be Advised!

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Excerpted from the Watch blotter of Riverton:

14 NEWGREEN – Sir Gareth van Doren is seeking the assistance of the populace in his pursuit of an escaped criminal.  He styles himself a Bandit King who has escaped from the van Doren dungeons, and was last seen fleeing north to the Fiddleheads. Sir Gareth would like the criminal to be captured alive, but will offer a lesser reward for his corpse and effects, should it come to blows.   Please offer any and all cooperation in the apprehension of this dangerous criminal.

22 NEWGREEN – Concori Magesti reports to the watch that they had their magical storehouses broken into by a gang of criminals led by a large, bespectacled wizard, considered by some in the order to be Silas Stonecipher, a member who has been wanted for questioning by Concori Magesti for some time.  They would not divulge what components were stolen, but will reward any information leading to the capture of the thief and his coterie.

Sacred Boneyard of Aegus the Emancipator

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Boneyard of the EmancipatorHave you heard the good news? An ancient graveyard on the Northern shores of the Bay of Murmurs called the Sacred Boneyard of Aegus the Emancipator has been consecrated to the Gatekeeper and dedicated to the sanctity and purity of Death. It is a graveyard watched over by powerful spiritual sentinels that insure that once a body is interred, it is able to remain in a state of uninterrupted rest. It is a powerful place unable to be desecrated, where no bodies can be raised and any Necromancers that dare to enter will be stripped of their powers or simply turned to ash. Additionally, it is a place where one can insure that his loved ones buried there will not return to the mortal realm, as Vorkarian will sometimes allow.

Tell me, isn’t it worth it to give your loved ones the solace of eternal and lasting peace?

This boon is granted to the kingdom of Irvanshire through the hard work and dedication of Morticent Romaya Hearkin- a loyal and dedicated servant of the rightful Warden of Death.

 

High Chieftess of the Banta Kinswae Challenged by Local Baroness!

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A chorus of wild howls mixing with the pounding of drums echoed throughout the barely thawing forests and told wanderers that the Banta Kinswae- a tribal organization of wolfkin led by High Chieftess Lynsara Wolfstone- were in the midst of a ritual to welcome the New Year. As the ritual came to its climax, a single figure strode into the center of the ring of frenzied wolfkin. Her blazing eyes, white and grey fur, and bared teeth glinted in the firelight. She threw back her head and howled in a tone that expressed defiance, commanded attention, and ended in a low growl. The drums ceased and the wolfkin stopped the celebrations, chests heaving and mouths open in stunned anticipation, or perhaps rage, at the interruption.

After a few heartbeats of tense silence, a wolfkin dressed in robes of blood red and spring green stepped forward and faced the fearless white wolfkin. He raised his chin slightly in a sort of greeting, and spoke loudly enough that his voice could be heard by all.

“Huntress! What do you mean by this interruption?” His tail swished to the side in a gesture of annoyance and he flattened his ears.

Huntress growled again and showed her teeth as well, “I mean to challenge the High Chieftess Lynsara. I MEAN to take her place.” She moved forward, eyes narrowed and every muscle tense and ready. “And I mean to take out every person who stands in my way, Marrok.”

The robed wolfkin bared his teeth and growled as she moved within inches of his face, only the slight lowering of his tail giving any indication of fear. Finally, he snorted loudly and stepped backward, almost dismissively. “Do you have the tribute necessary to issue such a challenge?”

Huntress straightened up and, keeping her eyes on the man in front of her, gestured to her right. The crowd of Banta Kinswae parted and four young wolfkin entered, dragging behind them the largest hobgoblin that anyone present had ever seen. There was a sugared apple in its mouth.

Huntress pointed at the tribute and bellowed in a ringing voice, “I, Huntress, Baroness Lobea Lav’Endros, hereby challenge the authority and capability of Lynsara Wolfstone as High Chieftess to lead the Banta Kinswae. I declare my intent, here in front of my healed brethren, to take her place whether by force… or by her submission.” She paused here and looked at the robed man in front of her. “I have declared my intent, Marrok, and offered my tribute. The Chieftess will send me her Challengers, as is dictated by tradition.”

“It is not up to you to decide what the Chieftess will do,” Marrok snarled angrily. Then, composing himself, he gave what could have passed as a wry smile.”And besides, you’ve forgotten about the Affirmations, Huntress. I see no one here to offer testament to your ability to protect and provide for your pack.”

Huntress, too, offered an attempt at a smile and reached into a pack at her side. “Here,” she growled, thrusting several sealed scrolls into a surprised Marrok’s arms.

“Affirmations from members of House Lav’Endros and from several other nobles around Irvanshire. I have commonfolk on their way to give personal testimony and several other letters that should be finding you through the Messengers’ guild within a day.” She crossed her arms and glared confidently at the scowling man, a sarcastic sneer coming her to lips. “I will be back in a day’s time with the rest of my affirmations and to make sure you have finished your… paperwork.”

Smirking, she turned to leave the fire, but before she had taken five steps, a savage snarl erupted from the robed wolf-kin and he dropped the armful of scrolls he carried as he dove on top of the retreating figure. A brief, but brutal fight ensued, and within minutes Huntress had pinned a struggling Marrok to the ground.

“You have one job, Marrok, and it is not to challenge me,” she whispered fiercely. “Killing you would not prove enough to be worth the inconvenience of stripping the pack of your secretarial services, but challenge me again and your life will be forfeit.”

Huntress shoved the cowed Marrok into the dirt and looked down at him, disgust etched on her face. “Now, get up, pup, and let the High Chieftess know her time has come.”

With a final look of contempt, Huntress left the gathering.

It is official, then. A Challenge has been issued to the High Chieftess of the Banta Kinswae by the chieftess of the local pack, Baroness Lobea Lav’Endros (known to her pack as Huntress). If it is accepted, then over the course of a few weeks, several Challengers will be sent to test the ability and prowess of the Baroness in order to prove that she is capable and worthy enough to challenge Lynsara herself. A group of commonfolk from the Elmerton area has indeed left to give personal affirmations, despite the workload that accompanies the approach of Spring and the planting Season. Though a challenge of this sort is not unheard of, it is certainly uncommon. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Fledgar’s Fellars Discover Rare Rock

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Citizens of Elmerton! Please heed these words!

As some of our men were running tests and mapping out the area of Elmerton in the winter months we made a rather shocking discovery: A large and odd stone not of this world was discovered in the woods.
Our initial tests have determined that it is certainly not of this world. It is like nothing we have ever seen, but a local shaman of sorts who calls himself Matrius claims that it bears a resemblance the surface of the moon, but it is different somehow. Our best scientists have come up with two plausible theories.

1. This is sort of a piece of the moon that has somehow made it through the Void and has fallen from above.

2. During the battle you and your fellow Elmertonians had with the “Moon Monster” a piece of the monster was fired into the woods and lodged where this rock now sits.

We are warning you of the presence of this stone for many reasons, chief among them is this news which, I must confess, is a bit dire. Orcs,wood trolls, wild men and a variety of other forest creatures
have begun to worship the stone as either a deity or the symbol of one. They pray to it and fiercely defend it. They have become increasingly aggressive and have forced us to stop work in the area. We are working on recovering/moving said stone, as its far in order to make the area safer and more hospitable for our workmen.

At this point, we cannot do more than warn you. That being said, if someone does wind up recovering this stone we would most appreciate it if it was brought to us for research. A reward of some note would not be out of the question.

Thanks for your time!FLedgar's Fellers Symbol

Hector Cavalerra
Head Foreman
Fledgar’s Fellers Mining Company

Archminister Gallows Succumbs to Hearing Loss

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Allegiant Symbol AloneNews from the Allegiant Temple in Point Edgar: Archminister Valvik Gallows has succumbed to total deafness after years of dealing with hearing problems involving a magical experiment in the year 97, Age of Fortune.  Sources within the Allegiant say that the Archminister has no plans to retire, and that his ability to minister to the people is not at all hindered by this issue.  In fact, he has recently begun plans to institute several new orphanages in the kingdom’s neediest cities and has the Allegiant working with Ghaatma’s Own to establish several hospice centers within their guild walls.

Porri the Advocate, Executor of the South Farthings and an agent of Community,  is reported as saying,

“He’s been working hard despite this disability for a long time, and the people around him have learned to signal to him to get his attention. He is also quite adept at reading lips.  His sermons are on the loud side, to be sure, but this only means that his words can be heard without magical amplification.  We will continue to support and stand by the Archminister.”

 

Horrific Happenings in Irvanshire

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We have just gotten word of a horrifying attack on a small hamlet called Ipsimere located just outside the burning-skull-in-hot-flamearea of Mathers Marsh. When I first heard of it I rushed there to witness the aftermath first hand
and to get reactions from those who survived it. This small town was devastated, the dead and dying were everywhere, the smell of burning bodies and burning buildings still hung thick in the air. The carnage
was staggering. Once I gathered my bearings I was able to find a survivor who was willing to talk to me about it. Her name was Claudia Loriard and this is what she had to say:

“The night started in a state of joy. A wedding announcement for the son of our town blacksmith and his long time girlfriend, the daughter of our town tavern keeper. Most of the town was in the  tavern celebrating and then all at once the roof above us caught fire. In a panic we all began to rush to the tavern doors. When we swung the huge doors open a scene of pure horror greeted us. A large contingent of strange men with crossbows, short bows and other weapons of war at the ready. There was a moment of silence.
Then it happened! The horrifying sound of the snap of the crossbows and the twang of the short bows filled the air followed by the blood-curdling screams of those struck by the weapons. People were dying all
around me. Our town guard, a man by the name of Captain Jurison did what he could to rally our guardsmen who weren’t struck down to attack these strangers. He mustered a charge but they were all quickly either shot or struck down. There was one man giving the orders to these strangers and a pile of the dead and dying quickly began to build at his feet as he laughed. Our defenses were broken and he knew it. In a voice that sounded as if he had a throat full of broken glass he said one word- ‘Stop,’ and his men stopped attacking.
The remaining survivors stood with me in a state of shock. He reached into the pile of bodies at his feet and pulled up our blacksmith by the throat, locking eyes with him at his height.
‘Do you fear death, do you fear your end?’ he asked.

‘No,’ the blacksmith answered in a stern tone, ‘I have no doubt that Vorkarian will welcome me and send me to my just reward.’
The stranger just laughed and said, ‘Vorkarian? Oh no, you should feel honored for you get to experience a true death. One free of the lies that he has told you. You get to meet the Gatekeeper and he will judge you and give you the true death that you have been denied for far too long.’ He then raise the blacksmith above his head and smashed his head against a rock, spilling the contents of his skull on the ground.

He then threw his arms up and spoke to the few of us still standing, “Those who are still alive are only that way out of my rapidly depleting mercy. I AM CARZON SAZDAR AND DEATH IS WHAT I TRADE IN. If you still live to hear this message, remember what I say and pass it on to all you meet. I was sent here to reap spirits and this is far from the first time I have done so, thousands have fallen to my blades. The so called ‘heroes’ of Elmerton are the reason this has happened today, for if it was not for them freeing me from my prison, this example of the Gatekeeper’s power would not have been possible. Do not mourn your dead for someday you will meet your loved ones in the Gatekeeper’s true realm of death. Someday you will thank us both.”
After he spoke those words he whistled and his men marched out of town as if it was no big deal.”

After she laid down the horror she saw I asked Claudia if she had anything else to say. In a mournful tone she said yes and the following is what she had to say:
“Damn The gatekeeper! Damn Carzon Sazdar! And damn Elmerton for bringing this horror to us.”

She then threw her hood up and walked away from me.

This is the conclusion of my report. I am still shocked by the horrors that happened here.

Rasmona Susmark
Roaming Scribe