Altheren (prime)/True Cap
Altheren completed his training late on the night of 30 Ivastaen, 5124. Colloquially titled True Cap, a book was presented to him to serve as a keepsake from some of his friends and companions upon the completion of this momentous goal.
A large ocean blue suede volume contained the following pages.
Endpages, Inside Front Cover
Luxurious parchment lines the inside of the book. A stylized ink illustration in bold sweeping strokes takes up both sides of the opened book with a cresting wave in deepest blue. Silver gilt streaks follow the graceful arc of the motif, integrating reflections on top of the blue of the ocean depths as it reaches toward the sky. The wave reaches to the foredge of the book pages, inviting the reader inside.
Title Page
Commemorating a Grand Achievement
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Exalted Confectioner Altheren 5124 30 Ivastaen
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T R U E C A P
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Membership Has Its Privileges
Congratulations and welcome to the Club!
May your goals be ever endless.
~ Roblar
Kudos to the Crew
Congratulations on your true cap, Candyman! Thanks to you and your crew for all the ranger danger, Reim support, and bandit shenanigans on Kraken's Fall.
~ Deso
Blazing Existence
To my friend Altheren,
The fate of the unexceptional is written in the stars -- their destiny to shine amidst a sea of beautiful, unremarkable eternity. The rarest of us blaze their own fiery path through their cosmic playground, bending the heavens themselves to their will.
Your path has taken you to the deepest secrets of the Wizard's guild, the blood-soaked championship of the endless Duskruin Arena, and the apogee of every skill one can master.
I'm pleased to have shared some small part of it with you. Your deeds will echo in eternity.
~ Star Seer Tranquia
Candy in His Wake
That Mister Altheren Fella sure is a sight to behold. I always like it when the fella walks past, cause more often than not he leaves candy in his wake. And who doesn't love free floor candy? He must be some sorta royalty or important fella, on accounta those orange servants that are always following him round everywhere. It's no surprise to me to hear he's reached the zenith of his powers, as I always find him running round bapping arshole bandits into a fine dust. If he ever gives up his candy empire, he'd have a mighty fine career as a professional bandit grinder. Kudos to you, Mister Sir Altheren Fella!
~ Land Pirate Maylan, Mop Girl
Hero
Altheren,
As you close this chapter of your journey, I reflect on the wise words of the Warrior Raging Thrak: "Bein' a hero in the lands has as much to do with how ya represent yourself as it does with how well ya can split a rolton head open with a claidhmore or a spell. If ya show respect for your fellow adventurers and maintain a sense of style, you'll gain their respect for yourself."
You've embodied his words better than most. Thank you for the examples you've set, and for the fun you've spread.
See you out there, Candyman. ~ Greng
Illustration Plate 1
A diagram portraying a quartet of striking figures illustrates the same tall Sylvankind male, each rendition posed slightly widdershins of the previous. In succession, the variance alludes to momentum casting the subject in a crescentic shifting perspective.
The vibrantly illustrated plate offers a motif sequence that dextrosinistrally presents the subject assuming specific elemental themes.
The leading figure depicts the gallant wizard with a smoking-jacket billowing from his eccentric gestures as piques of sinuous flame helix about its sleeves.
The second iteration is veiled in periphery by a blurred vortex of wind emanating from a complex ring of sigils shown suspended midair before his outstretched hand.
{The artwork stretches across to the next page}
The next rendition in the artwork reveals the figure's brooding indigo eyes, set with intense gaze, as their hue mimics the radiant glow from a storm of sparks dancing about his aggressive posture.
The final figure wields a spiral orb-set scepter inset with colorful pieces of hand-blown glass candy. A contrasting brume of hazy mist partially obscures lucent ruins wavering behind a scattered shroud of water droplets.
Centered across the bottom, the illustration reads, "Altheren, Master of the Elements"
Superstar
Candy Man Altheren,
You crazy for this one! Crazy like a Kaedra.
Thanks for pulling me into the red-carpet-lined hallways of the upper echelon - I couldn't have made it without you. You were right, this rarified air is choice.
Now that you have all the experience, you need more experience. Lots more experience!
You know what I tell people? I say, "Altheren? He makes Roblar look like Helsfeld."
Don't you make a liar out of me!
Anyway, don't forget about us little guys now that you're a superstar. Always remember the hustle you came from - knocking on doors to get that candy.
Uh oh, gotta go, I think I see some bandits!
~ Azanoth
The Stolen Kiss
Some things get burned into a girl's memory.
The Bank at Caligos Isle had several people in it, all of them busy with the usual transactions. In the wake of what followed next, I have forgotten whatever business I had with Altheren, but the next part, I will never forget.
I was in mid-sentence of thanking him when suddenly he swooped in for a kiss. Not on my hand, not on my cheek. No, right there on the lips.
I stammered, shocked to the core. He looked at least as surprised as I was and quickly apologized. Profusely.
I am sure he was aiming for my cheek and I turned my head at the wrong time. It must have been so.
~ Unforgettable
The Legend Grows
Altheren,
News of your mastering all skills available to a Wizard has spread across Elanthia, reaching me even now while exploring the far corners of the Great Western Sea! This accomplishment is a true testament to your dedication. You are a legend among the Sylvankind and a credit to the Hand of the Arkati.
Congratulations on your incredible feat!
~ Admiral Nodyre
Bedrock
Altheren,
Congrats on reaching this significant milestone. You are bedrock of Jaketha Island.
My tiny resolute elf-owl, Cairn, will forever be grateful to you for her grooming session and smiles down upon you when drafting on the sea breezes.
Be well, ~ Leff Qualimar
Heights of Glory!
Altheren,
Congratulations on your significant accomplishment. Your pursuit of knowledge and improving yourself is admirable, and its impact is readily visible as you have reached heights that most mages can only ever aspire to. May the next steps on your journey prove as fruitful and prosperous for you as those that have brought you to this point.
~ Meliyara
Illustration Plate 2
Blackest ink depicts a long graceful hand scooping up some candy that has splled from an opened candy bag of assorted candies. Under the bag and candy is a splash of light grey watercolor providing a shadowed base for the subjects of the art. Interspersed between wrapping papers with delightfully colored ink in various designs you spot a lemon-infused dark chocolate truffle and a caramel-filled apple candy covered in milk chocolate.
Across the bottom of the plate it reads, "And So It Began".
Congratulations!
Congrats to you, Altheren, on this huge milestone! Sending wishes for many more years of learnng experiences!
~ Starlet
Excellence in Magery
Congratulations Altheren, from one mutant mage to another!
~ Aetheri Machtes Ashrim
The Page of Many Well-Wishings
Congrats! ~ Goat
Big congratulations, it was a long trek! ~ Eva
Incredible achievement! ~ Admirer from afar
Congratulations on your accomplishment! ~ Myharl
This is when things really start. ~ Ragz
Congrats on a milestone of milestones! ~ Eruheran
Amazing work! NOW what are you going to do? ~ The Entire TownCrier Team
Success and Excellence
Congratulations on achieving the incredible milestone of not needing to see your trainer ever again! Reaching such a hard-to-reach goal is no small feat, and your dedication and perseverance over the years have truly paid off. Your commitment to not only your own success but also to helping others along the way as a Mentor is truly inspiring.
May this milestone be just one of many more to come. Celebrate this well-deserved success, knowing that your efforts have made a significant impact not only on your life but on the lives of those you've supported.
Congratulations once again!
The Fabulous Fyg Ment
Tribute
Behold this tribute to Master Altheren, the Archmage of the Seas, Seeker of Pixies, Most Sedentary of the Vanguard, whose exploits are legend: In the bustling markets of Elanthia, his mercantile skills have shone as brightly as the soiled bloodscrip he has bartered. With a coin purse as deep as the ocean trenches, Altheren's grace with silvers is unmatched, his coffers ever brimming, until Meb demands settlement. As a diplomat, Altheren's words flow smoother than the finest wines from the Thrak, and he has never once uttered a mortal insult. He is a merchant whose diplomacy has shaped alliances and brought even greater riches upon the aristocracy; his journeys inspire all who dare to dream of magic and the vast, unknown seas.
His greatest regret? Even the mightiest of his magic will never match the precision of a swift arrow loosed from the bow of an ill-reputed ranger, a fact that humbled him in many a tale. May you win each raffle you enter.
~ Amerek
The Journey Is The Story
Congrats! I bet you have a lot of great stories from your journey!
Cheers to more!
~ The Marvelous (and mischievous) Miss Maevie
Respect
Congratulations on your true cap! Take pride in such amazing accomplishment!
Much respect, ~ Yardie
Remember the Shenanigans
Congrats! True Cap... That's bonkers nicely done. I remember all the great times in your 60-90's when we were running shenanigans.
~ Deck
The Precious
Dear Mister Altheren,
One of my favorite tales about you was on Caligos during the Ebon Gate of 5118, where you brought a Jackpot win for me to loresing.
It was your small ornate pocket-watch.
You handed it to me, curious. Hey, I was curious, too! And as I listened to it sing, it was the most remarkable nonsensical song I had ever heard. As I was listening, completely charmed by this treasure, I could tell you were affected, too.
The precious jackpot find had a loresong that was heard aloud! It is not common at all for this to happen. In wonder, I handed it back to you, and tried to ever so casually ask you what you were going to do with the awesome prize.
Without even a word, you emptied out things from a small pocket in your clothing and tucked it inside, patting its new home as you secured it. I was so tickled and thrilled to have heard its song.
Sometime after that, you brought it back to me, and asked me to make the loresong permanent. I recognized it immediately. Now you would be able to listen to the song any time you wanted. And others around you would hear it's little tune as well.
It may not tell time, but it certainly has mechanical gears of wonder inside of it that create this playful moment. Or a creature living in it.
It is always an honor to be part of your adventures, Mister Altheren. Congratulations on this epic achievement.
Warmest Wishes, ~ Luxie
Endpages, Inside Back Cover
Fine quality parchment endpages secure the back of the book and the cover, decorated with a rising wavecrest. It has been exquisitely drawn upon a glistening sea in striking indigo ink, taking up the entire spread of both pages as it moves across the page from left to right. Light drops of sea spray are preserved in precise but astonishingly impossible placement against the dark ink. The ink coloring the the ocean's fine spray break into a myriad of tiny, glistening pieces of candy with silver gilt flakes that flash in the light.