Ebon Gate primer - Caligos Isle

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This is a guide, tutorial, or gameplay strategy written by one or more players to better assist others with their gameplay enjoyment. The information presented here may be subject to the personal opinion of the contributor(s), and may additionally require periodic updates to keep current as the game environment changes.

Title: Ebon Gate primer - Caligos Isle

Author: TownCrier

Date Published: 2017-09-20

Updated: 2021-10-26

An Ebon Gate Primer

Quick Reference Links

Introduction

Ebon Gate is a huge, multi-faceted annual Festival Event in GemStone. The 2017 Ebon Gate was the first time it took place the entire month of October, which continued in 2018-20, and the format is back for 2021. This is a large SimuCoin event at a venue outside of the regularly accessible areas of GemStoneIV. You can buy the SimuCoin pass for just the kind of activities you wish to attend: Shopping, or Merchants/Services/Raffles, or Digging and games (by the week). There is no cut off date for the passes during October - they are sold up to the last day, and there is no maximum number of attendees. Everyone can come. Anyone will be able to access the Festival Grounds at Caligos Isle without purchasing anything at all. Doing things, though ... that's going to require the appropriate SimuCoin item pass or the seashells for the activity.

Items will be for sale for silvers and some for seashells, the local currency for Caligos Isle. There is usually one or two items that take general tickets, too, notably, one of the [permifier] obelisks.

  1. The first rule of Ebon Gate: Bookmark the wiki page and the shopping page. It saves you time later. They will be regularly updated with new Ebon Gate information as it becomes available. The wiki team has already created the pages, and will update them with new info. (Also - check with the wiki team and find out if you can help with the documentation of the Festival. There's a Lich script that does a lot the heavy lifting for you.)
  2. The second rule of Ebon Gate: Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.
  3. The third rule of Ebon Gate: tune to TownCrier on ESP or LNet to pick up important breaking news
  4. The fourth rule: Give the wiki team a week or so to map and inventory every shop. If you'd like it finished faster, study the Help:Festshop script page for the script and instructions about how YOU can painlessly help to document the festival via a great Lich script. In 2020, for instance, there were 105 shops! That's a great deal of work.
  5. The fifth rule: Use the FESTIVAL command in-game for a quick reference for General info, Schedule, locations, passes, no-passes, GHOUL, and more!
  6. The sixth rule: Stay on top of the news out of Ebon Gate. You'll find that on the TownCrier channel via ESP or Lich, or at the TownCrier web site. This year, the TownCrier will try to keep up with the news, the previews, the teasers, and the updates at the Ebon Gate Teasers Archive by The TownCrier page here at the wiki.

2021 will feature a SimuCoin entry gated Trick-Or-Treating event again. Visit the sunken relic of the Wavedancer and knock on the decrepit cabin doors to get either a treat or a trick! Creatures that spawn (undead combat warning inserted here) are attuned to the person that knocks, but can be killed by anyone. Instant experience absorption is back on for this year as well. Within this game, you have a random chance at getting candy, seashells, quest items, and on the rare occasion a trove token. This year, you'll have a chance to find an Eve of Reunion Invite*.

2018 was the first year for The Caligos Diving Competition event.

The Treasure Trove will be at Ebon Gate for 2021 starting Oct 10 around 9pm. Look for 'an eel-etched raffle token' to use with the Treasure Trove Raffles that you find at the games. It will draw once a night for 10 nights with jackpot-level prizes.

The storyline opens the first week and continues through the month. That first week usually has storyline activities building up to the quest for the rest of the month. Catch up on the history and the story so far from the past 4 years at Caligos Isle - we expect this to be the last year at Caligos Isle and there could be one whopper of a bang conclusion.

QUEST TRANSPORT EBON will get you to Caligos Isle from every city once the Festival Grounds are open.

TICKET BALANCE will show you your various currency balances. For Ebon Gate, that's the seashells line.

QUEST MERCHANT EBON will tell you how many services you have received at this Festival.

Deep Sea Diving was the SimuCoin companion event to Ebon Gate from 2017 to 2019. It was retired.


The Quest

There is a smaller story-quest you can participate in/work on the rest of the month. There will be a quest-like progress item you collect and turn in. This earns a favor-like collection score for you that counts towards being able to qualify for the Ghezyte chelioboros bracelet upgrade for the year. If you missed previous years, you can do more of whatever the task is for the current year to catch up. Each year's favor requirement seems to double, so catching up may take some time.

  • 2017: You turned in construction parts to complete the old temple on the top of the Isle
  • 2018: You found a thingie, took it to either the Warden or ??? to validate, depending on whether you want to fight against Ghezresh or have him win. Then they handed it back to you, changed, and you found a villager to give it to. Ghezresh lost this popular 'vote' in 2018.
  • 2019: There are multiple different quest items, each unique to "Pro" or "Anti" Ghezresh community, see the Questing section further below for more details.
  • 2020: From the Ebon Gate previews on the Town Square Central Podcast, there's going to be 6 choices to make this year! You collect an item called 'species' from the mini-games, digging, or trick or treating and use them to accumulate up to 4000 favor this year.
  • 2021: We're going to find out!

Shopping and Merchants:

Still updating with 2021 information as it becomes available

There are so many shops at the Ebon Gate Festival; new scripts and items are often introduced at this festival. News, Previews and teasers trickle out for weeks before the event opens. Some of the shops have wares that are only available once a year during this time. There are multiple appearances by multiple merchants during the festival. Sometimes you may even see them simultaneously and you'll have to make a QUICK decision which merchant to find. The merchant appearances are often general services (GALD: General Alterations, Lightening, or Deepening); sometimes only one or two of those things; sometimes unlockings only, or in addition. There could merchants who will provide custom tattoos, customize your features, and other special offerings. Some merchants might only work on their own things. Some merchants you dare not ever ask them to alter something they've made, remember to read all the signs. Rare unlocking and services can sometimes be found during the festival time.

Look for the Buyer's Choice shopping guide to come out. This is a compilation of shoppers' choices of the best buys of each year. Look for previous ones at this list on the wiki.

Pro Tip: Remember to read all the signage. We are not responsible for your safety when you ask Kyrinthe for something in pink.

2021 Schedule: Stay tuned to the main Ebon Gate page and to the TownCrier for details. Most will be announced in advance so that you can plan for them, but some will just pop up.

  • Oct 1: First Week Storyline historically begins this week; most shops are available for window-shopping; Seashell-taking shops probably will already be selling things.
  • Oct 2-7: Live GM-Hosted Games Week in Plat. Schedule at: Forum Post
  • Oct 8: Week 2
    • Oct 8-31: Shops are open for business (starts ~9pm eastern on the 8th)
    • Digging and Games begin, including fishing, digging up crates on the beach, the mini-games, Arena of the Abyss, The Competition High Dive, Necropolis, and Mist Survivor
    • Oct 8-31: The Trick or Treat SimuCoin companion event
    • Oct 9-14: Live GM-Hosted Games Week in Prime. Schedule at Forum post (all times listed are eastern)
      • Entrail Toss: Saturday, 10/9 Noon
      • Sing Me An Epitaph: Sunday, 10/10 2PM
      • Pick Your Poison: Monday, 10/11 9PM
      • Anemone Anagrams: Tuesday, 10/12 9PM
      • Spooky Storytelling: Wednesday, 10/13 9PM
      • Caligos Comestibles: Thursday, 10/14 9PM
      • Ebon Gate Costume Contest: No Date Yet
    • Oct 8-15: Platinum's Merchant Week
  • Oct 10-20: Treasure Trove token raffle drawing once a day on the Jangling Junker
  • Oct 15-22: Week 3 Merchant Week in Prime! There are SO many merchants. It usually includes:
    • Live Merchant sessions for GALD
    • Live Merchant sessions for Unlocking things - Many of these unlocks are only offered at Ebon Gate. Get them while you can!
    • Misc. Merchant appearances for features, tattoos, imbedding, flares, signature verbs, and more
    • Specialized Merchant appearances for Weighting/Padding/Sighting (bring all the money)
    • Specialized Merchant appearances for script swapping, attribute stripping (spikes, weighting, padding, whatever, and other hoped-for rare services like fusion services)
    • Raffles - so many raffles. Many of these raffles have prizes that are offered only once or twice a year! Remember these require silvers, not notes, and read all the signage Look for Rovvigen's Raffle page at the TownCrier web site for the detailed listing of all the raffles
    • Fish Hooking - random special merchant offers that appear on the ground as some item in front of you. The first person to get the random item gets poofed to a merchant directly! This could happen other times, too. Always be on the lookout.
  • Oct 23-31: Week 4 Storyline Finales; Finish your shopping; Finish your games; Finish your quest - it is all going to be over soon!
  • Oct 30: Eve of Reunion Event in Prime 11pm to 1am: use your invitation to attend. More info at Forum post
  • Oct 31: Eve of Reunion Event in Plat 10pm to 11:30pm More info at Forum post

Ala Carte Pricing

There is no entrance fee to wander the venue, see the sights at Caligos Isle, window shop, get a feel for what you want to do, and take part in some of the activities and events. You buy a pass only for the activities you want to participate in.

Event Type Notes Type of Pass Entry Cost
Storyline Oct 1-7, plus whatever task/s the rest of the month No pass required Free
GM-Hosted Live Games Plat: Oct 1-7
Prime: Oct 8-15		 Service (Merchant) Pass
Good all month		 3,000 SimuCoins
Shopping Oct 8-31: Goods for sale in silvers, seashells, and sometimes tickets or bloodscrip; good all month Shopping Pass
Good all month		 1,000 SimuCoins
Shopping in Stores with Seashell Prices Oct 8-31 (might be available before the 8th, seashells ARE special and all!) No pass required Seashells
Permifier Oct 8-31 (or before) Pretty sure the Obelisks do not require a pass
Spend tickets or seashells, there is an obelisk for each.		 Tickets or Seashells
Games, Activities Oct 8-31
Digging (2,000 silvers/shovel), Mini-games (1,000 silvers per play), Mist Survivor, etc		 Game Pass
good for 7 consecutive days from the time it is first used, there is also a daily pass		 1,500 SimuCoins for week
400 SimuCoins for 1 day
Trick Or Treat Oct 8-31 SimuCoin Entry They are 100 SimuCoins for each set of 10 door-knocks.
Fishing Oct 8-31
Purchase your supplies ahead of time
and then enter the fishing area by paying 50 seashells		 No pass required 50 Seashells
Cliff Diving Competition Oct 8-31, 50 seashells per dive No pass required Seashells only
Merchant Week & Raffles Plat: Oct 8-15
Prime Oct 15-22		 Service (Merchant) Pass
Good all month		 3,000 SimuCoins
Questing Item Bracelet End Prize Work through the month to qualify to get it upgraded each year, or catch up if you are behind. No pass required This final prize item costs 250,000 silvers
Necropolis Oct 8-31: Dungeon Crawl No pass required 250 seashells
Treasure Trove Oct 10-20: Token Raffles draw once a night Free, no pass required 1 Token per raffle entry
The Arena of the Abyss (AotA) Oct 8-31 No Pass 100 seashells entry
Jangling Junker (Prize Wall) Oct 8-31 No pass required Spend your seashells

Games, and Fun:

  • There are live games hosted by a GM. See the schedule under the FESTIVAL command within GemStone
    • GHOUL Games (BINGO) are a favorite, there will be several of these
    • Salvaged from the Sea - (scavenger hunt?)
    • Sing Me an Epitaph - Someone has died. Twenty someones actually, but unfortunately we have nothing to mark on their gravestones or tell for their eulogies. We will be enlisting the help of twenty of you to help us! Each presenter will receive a paper detailing one grisly demise, and each player will have fifteen minutes to write a song commemorating the fallen. Please keep presentations to three minutes or less.
    • Storytelling - It's time to bring out your bone-chilling tales, creepy stories, and murder mysteries at this year's storytelling contest. Presenters should keep their tale to five minutes or less. Spectators are welcome, but beware: here in Feywrot Mire, things definitely go bump in the night! Bring a torch and someone to protect you, as this night may prove to set your spine to tingling and your hair to standing on end.
    • Anemone Anagrams - Anagram game, read/listen to the rules. It's a fav!
    • Pick Your Poison - Last man standing poisoned drinks game
    • Entrail Toss - It's a food fight that takes on a whole new meaning as forty contestants battle one at a time to throw their food at a living target. What? A living, moving target? That just makes it all the more fun! See if you have good aim or are left in the dust in this game of hand-eye coordination!
    • Costume Contest - Wear your best (or worst) costume attire and compete not only for prizes, but the envy of your friends! This year's categories are Most Creative, Most Elegant, Scariest, Funniest, and Best Duo.
    • Caligos Comestibles - a CHOPPED-like food competition, Caligos style.
  • Mini games: pick from fun little automated games of chance that run 24/7 during Ebon Gate. Win seashells and prizes. Keep collecting seashells for your exclusive shopping.
  • Keep Eyes Open at this festival, all the time! You never know what's going to happen when.
  • Raffles - there will be many raffles held during the merchant week. There were 72 raffles during the 2019 Merchant week. Stay tuned to the raffles with Rovvi's Raffle Reports and the TownCrier. Read.The.Signs.
  • Digging is a favorite every year. You buy your shovels for silvers, and dig around the beach for treasure boxes of tickets and/or loot!
  • Fishing - costs seashells to enter. Remember there are two locations to fish from! There is one in the games area at the indigo pools (Lich room 26724), and another one you access from the north part of the village at the jetty (Lich room 27578).
  • Competition High Diving
  • The Necropolis ... take your best friends on a dungeon crawl that you'll never forget. Combat, traps, puzzles, and more! 250 seashells per person. Read the details from the opening announcement in 2018 at the Officials.
  • Mist Survivor - A Last Man Standing game down in the center of the Sea Caves area. Bring Friends. 1,000 silvers per person, requires game pass. Who will be the last adventurer standing in a multiplayer competition? It’s not on the map, but we’ve got directions! At the Northeastern Vantage of the main shops level, move into the cave mouth. Take the uneven path as if you were going to the Tidepools game (lich room 26529). But don’t go down! Look for a small dark cave, go in. There’s a minimum of 3 players. Bring all your friends and see who lasts the longest vs. the poisonous mists!
  • Treasure Piles with lesser tier prizes of previous years can be searched with seashells: Common-5 seashells (room 26438), Uncommon-25 seashells (26589), and Rare-125 seashells (room 28547)

Questing:

  • There is a storyline opening the first week of Ebon Gate. As near as I can explain, you follow the hints to listen/watch for a storyline that progresses night by night. Someone might need your help, there might be a mystery to solve. Many, many people will attend these, so be courteous of 'noise' you may make. It usually continues through the rest of the month with whatever the long-term task is that needs to be done. Last year, there were several different factions, fighting for the outcome, in fact.
  • In 2018, the Necropolis returned, reworked for Caligos Isle. You will find it off the trail in room 33 on the Caligos Map, then to the portal. Look for the walk-through at the PC from Mister Goat.
  • Arena of the Abyss was added in 2019. This is the only time of the year people can charge their Necrotic ring, by battling the things in the Arena.
  • You can only convert to the deity Ghezresh during Ebon Gate. You can get a hint on how to begin your journey by finding the Ezreshi wandering the Sea Caves and asking her about Ghezresh. For additional help on how to complete the quest, please visit Converting to Ghezresh - SPOILERS.

2021 Storyline

Introduction post from GM Thandiwe
Last Week of September's Mainland Start: The Wrath of the Father Storm post by GM Thandiwe
During first mainland storyline night:

An aquamarine light splashes through the area, washing away the last traces of eel guts and crab shells. Disembodied, a voice whispers, "Find my daughter, you must bring her to Caligos. Find the fragments of what she is and tell them to flee." As the voice speaks, an echo of the sophranic voice trails behind it.

TownCrier Report from the mainland prequel to this year's storyline

October 1 Summary: GM Thandiwe Summarized the Ebon Gate prequel to the storyline this year as it built up on the mainland. Which led up to the first night on Caligos. Here's what created those Nereids, and here is her warning now, "Flee Caligos. He is coming." Link to the complete forum post

Night 1 at Caligos: The rescued Nereids were taken to Caligos and merged back into Galaytea, Nereid of Seafoam, and we learned she, they, were sent to help get the people of Caligos safely to sea before the Storm Father destroys the Isle on the Eve. (You know, AGAIN.) A group took her to share this message with Omiko of the small seaside village, where the people started to build boats. (Oct 1, 2021)

The Month-Long Favor Quest

There will be a month-long storyline and quest that allows you to build up what is called favor to help you qualify for the special EG magic item boost each year, the Ghezyte chelioboros bracelet.

2021 Quest Information

Introduction post from GM Thandiwe

HE IS COMING

It all starts with the sea-glass bauble.

Using the Analyze of the bauble and the posted backstories, here are the nine quest choices this year for your baubles, and your quest favor.

Be sure to LOOK and ANALYZE everything when you are taking part in the quest and know that there are consequences in everything.

Quest Name Details Quest NPC
A Tale Of Survival The race against time to get the villagers off the island begins and you can help in their plight. Wise Woman Omiko in the Fishing Village
A Tale Of Love Fearful to step onto the island and succumb to the same curse as his beloved, Jothi needs your help in breaking the curse on Captain Elyssbeth. Look for Jothi in a small inlet, give him the bauble and follow directions. Jothi, First Mate of the Niima’s Promise, a rheumy-eyed half-elven sailor
A Tale Of Salvation Bring Shaemire your ghezyte-veined sea glass bauble and he will charge you with helping him gather the animals that roam the jungle.


Bring them back to him so that he can fill the ark and bring them to safety before the portended hour is upon the island. Find Warden Shaemire at the Jungle Coast on a Rickety Pier.

Shaemire, Warden on Caligos Isle
A Tale Of Desperation Visit with the Ezreshi Olienne in the caverns beneath the island and help her to complete Ghezresh’s transformation into the world beyond Caligos Isle. Bring her your ghezyte-veined sea glass bauble and she will ask you which of two tasks you’d like to take part in.


Be sure to LOOK and ANALYZE all things in her quest, as well as pay careful attention to the instructions she gives you. After all, when Caligos falls, the Fate of Ghezresh will be in your hands.

The Ezreshi
A Tale of Ownership


This portion was completed as of Oct 10, 2021, leaving only one of the 4 options above for your favor quests. All information in this section of the chart is preserved here for reference only.

The Arkati Angle has 1 quest name with FIVE options. Take the Bauble to the clerical type named, they will bless it, and then use the species they give back to you to FLIP it at one of the haunted ones.

The fight for the souls of the departed on Caligos has begun and you can help in the battle for their souls. Six ghosts, those that remain from the Original Fall of Caligos, wander the island. These are the first deceivers of Ghezresh and as such, they are more difficult to sway from their lord.

Each Arkati's point of view and representative is listed here:

Niima - Galaytea is here to offer forgiveness to those that turned away from her Grandfather, Charl, and offer them a peaceful place amid the sea where Lady Niima’s friends abide. Bring your bauble to her to support this effort. Nereid Galaytea, at the Water's Edge near the Village
Lorminstra - If you want to offer the haunted spirits redemption, then bring a ghezyte-veined sea glass bauble to Brother Aoden, who will bless them so that the ghosts can be entered into Lorminstra’s embrace. Brother Aoden, in Promise of Winter shop
Luukos - If you want to offer eternal damnation to the Deceivers, then bring a ghezyte-veined sea glass bauble to the Priestess Lurinne, who will bless them so that the ghosts can be conscripted into Luukos’ army. Priestess Lucinne. in The Mantle of the Elapid
Gosaena - If you believe that oblivion is the only path for the betrayers, then bring a ghezyte-veined sea glass bauble to Seer Veidae. Seer Veidae - in A Modest Square Grey Linen Tent
Ghezresh - If you believe that Ghezresh has a right to keep his Deceivers, then bring a ghezyte-veined sea glass bauble to Father Thombe and he will infuse them with the power of Ghezresh. Father Thombe, who wanders Caligos.

Other Years' Quest Info

2020 Quest Information
====2020 Quest Information====

Thandiwe introduces the Theme
Thandiwe introduces the cast of characters opening night

Note: May contain spoilers

In 2020, new characters and options were introduced, as hinted in the above links. Your goal is to accumulate 4000 favor this year. If you were caught up in 2019, that's 1000 more this year. Each species, when blessed and subsequently acted on, gives 20 favor towards this goal.

If you missed an Ebon Gate or 3, you can make up all this favor this year by accumulating up to 4000 favor that you need.

The favor goal is needed to unlock the quest bracelet for each year. Purchase your quest bracelet up in the mountain temple above the second level of shops. It becomes automatically unlocked at the end of Ebon Gate to all those who accumulated the requisite amount of favor.

Backing the Arkati in 2020

Take your species to one of the clerics who traveled to Caligos as representatives of the Arkati to restore the dead to their proper place in Elanthia. Give it to them. They will bless it and hand it back to you.

  • Lorminstra Representative, Aoden, is in an airy black and white silk tent on the east side of the main shopping tier of Caligos, called Promise of Winter.
  • Gosaena Representative, Veidae, is in a Modest Square Grey Linen Tent on the main shopping tier of Caligos at the northwestern corner.
  • Luukos Representative, Lucinne, in the striped olive greent tent at Harborview on the west of the main shopping tier of Caligos, in the shop called Mantle of the Elapid.

After you hand it to them, you will need to FLIP the species at one of the ghosts that haunt Caligos. There are a number of kinds of them, ghosts, apparitions, phantoms, etc.

Then you will earn your favor.

To check your favor status, go to the Fishing Village at the north side of the Caligos map, go through the fissure on the east side of their small village, and pray there.

Seashells From The Locals in 2020

For whatever reason this year, you gain no favor from supporting the warden or the wise woman at the fishing village. but they will exchange your species for 2 seashells, and thank you kindly for it. This is a nice option for when you have filled your favor quota for the year and still have species.

Backing Ghezresh in 2020

(Unknown how this is accomplished. I'm pretty sure it starts with taking the species to the Esreshi, though.)

2019 Quest Information
===2019 Quest Information===

The favor quest for Caligos Island EG 2019 was a bit more involved than the previous year. Ghezresh looks to restore his temple on the island by rebuilding the tile work and making it grand once more. The villagers of the island seek to expand into the fishing village that was found in 2018 and are looking to build homes there. There are numerous different types of favor items, but only some can be used by one side or the other. It is not yet clear if it is a competition or not.

Anti-Ghezresh

This year marks the start of repopulating the area and to do so we need to build some homes. Most rooms in the fishing village area, the center of which is lich room number 27553, should have the following: a large rectangular hole in the ground and a pile of construction tools. The rectangular holes are foundations that need to be built. There appears to be multiple phases of construction as well, which will be detailed below as they are found. For now, the following items can be placed into the rectangular hole and provide 25 favor for EG:

Phase 1
  • a tumbled grey stone
  • a smooth grey boulder
  • a waterproof sack of mortar


These items, when placed in the hole, will incur some RT and provide 25 favor. You can find the fishing village by heading to the northern passage/slope and heading down the trail. Follow the path down and into the village. You will know you are in the right area by seeing luminous stones on the ground, protecting you from the mist. Anti-Ghezresh forces can also deny the pro-Ghezresh forces favor by taking the following items to the Warden, who wanders around the High Plateau area (center of the island, up the vortex) and handing over items. They will be rewarded a few seashells for doing so. The following items can be denied:

  • a tiny blue mosaic tile
  • a waterproof bag of powdered lime

Handing a building material to the Warden: Pointing at your grey boulder, a scruffy-faced half-elven warden says, "That's just what we need up in the village. You bring it up that way, and help those folks build a home. It will go a long way, but if you aren't interested in in doing that, then, I could take it off your hands. Just give it to me again."

Handing a tile to the warden: Frowning, his brows knitting together on his forehead, a scruffy-faced half-elven warden says, "Well, that can't be good. I don't know what our little Olienne is up to this time, but I can guarantee it isn't good." Scratching at his head in thought, he says, "Why don't you give it to me again and I can take it off your hands?" Second time: A scruffy-faced half-elven warden accepts a tiny blue mosaic tile from you, quietly saying, "Let's make sure no one else can use this." He tosses it up to a lion-maned shaggy Caligos eagle, who catches it in her claws and soars away with it. Smirking, he turns back to you and says, "Here you are for your troubles." As he hands you some coins, a lion-maned shaggy Caligos eagle flies in with empty talons and a triumphant cry.

Phase 2

As the fishing village continues to be built up, the need for different materials became apparent. As the favor quest moves into "Phase 2", new items begin to drop in the activities of Caligos Island.

  • a forged horseshoe nail
  • a blocky pine beam
  • rough oak post
  • smooth wooden plank
  • rough piece of driftwood

Around the fishing village there are now two possible items that can be built upon: a rough oak frame resting upon a stone-lined foundation, this will accept PLANKS and NAILS and DRIFTWOOD a stone-lined rectangular foundation, this will accept BEAMs and POSTS

On the Edge of the village, lich room 27552 or East of the Old Well, there is a donation bin that will accept Phase 1 materials and give you favor.

Phase 3

Building continues at a quick pace, our foundations give way to frames which in turn are worked into roofless structures.

A roofless rough oak structure can accept the following favor items:

  • a square of thin grey shale
  • a small vial of black tar
  • a bluish grey slate tile
Phase 4

The house that Caligos built.

A windowless and doorless structure will accept:

  • painted wood casing
  • a smooth glaesine window pane
  • a warped wooden door

Pro-Ghezresh

Ghezresh followers and supporters will find their task for 2019 is to build a Ghezresh temple.

Phase 1

There are two items that are currently known to provide favor for Ghezresh supports that can be turned in by heading through a secret passage from EG to Zul Logoth. Head down to the sea caves playground and SEARCH for a tear in the atmosphere. By entering the tear you will be transported to a temple under construction. Head through the fracture in the wall and you will find a frame for setting your tiles in. PUT TILE IN FRAME to add to the mosaic. Waterproof bags of lime can also be put into a hole in the Chamber of the Dark, lich room number 26070 after heading through the tear in the atmosphere. This is a long journey and has a lot of RT when you move between rooms. The following two items provide 25 favor and assist Ghezresh:

  • a tiny blue mosaic tile
  • a waterproof bag of powdered lime

Pro-Ghezresh forces can also deny anti-Ghezresh items by taking them to the Ezreshi and giving them to her twice. The following items will get you a handful of seashells and deny the favor item when handed to the Ezreshi:

  • a tumbled grey stone
  • a smooth grey boulder
  • a waterproof sack of mortar


Stones and boulders cannot be used for Pro-Ghezresh means.

a waterproof bag of powdered lime, when offered to the Lithe Indigo-robed Ezreshi Grinning in a dreamy fashion, a lithe indigo-robed Ezreshi says, "You must bring it to the city under the mountain. If you build it high enough, then He will be free. You may need to SEARCH nearby to find the road, and once you are there, you may need to climb some stairs, but if you find the frame or the hole, the plinth or the monolith, then all will be ready for Him."

Phase 2

Work on the temple mosaic expands and with it comes the need for new materials. Ghezresh followers will now find a collection bin by the Mouth of the Cave where the Ezreshi wanders around to put phase 1 materials in. room 26529. woven collection basket

Phase two materials can be placed in the frame now.

  • a bright red mosaic tile
Phase 3

A large limestone plinth exists now that needs to be chiseled into shape. Found in the Chamber of the Dark, lich Room # 26070.

  • a sturdy limestone plinth
Phase 4

A shortcut appears! Search around for a new tear in the fabric of reality around Caligos (lich room 26596) and find a shortcut to the Monolith

  • Silver and green tiles
  • A crystalline vial of liquid silver
  • A small eel-carved stone

Special Features:

  • The PERM-ifier - look for the obelisks to turn your favorite perfume, cologne, or other "fluffy" item that uses up doses into a bottomless one. One obelisk takes tickets, one takes seashells.
  • The fusion shaman returned in 2019, earn fusion tokens to see him from the Arena of the Abyss.
  • GMs usually offer extra GALD sessions with "fish-hooking". That's when some little trinket suddenly appears out of thin air where you are standing. It will wiggle around a few times, and you should GET the item as soon as possible. They do not tarry long. The first person to grab it is transported to where a GM is working, and PRESTO! You've got an alteration session!
  • The Auto-Flarer uses tokens found in games to put flares on your weapons
  • There is usually a free clothing item made the very rare elesine silk given away. In 2020, GM Xayle posted that you can find it near the same place as years before, in the hidden ways at the Inn. Forum post SPOILER ALERT with Lich room number below
Click for spoiler
Lich room 27626 for the sandals, then Lich room 26568, pull desk, look in the niche for your bolt of elesine.


Getting Ready for The Festival:

General Tips

  • Japhrimel's interview, Hacking Merchant Week with Japhrimel, is a collection of amazing information and tips he learned from previous Ebon Gate Festivals. It's worth a read, and a re-read every year. Japhrimel is an Ebon Gate Pro. He has this down to a science.
  • This is the only time during the year when the Fusion Shaman will be around to turn enhancive items into enhancive Fusion orbs. See more about fusion at the wiki page. Buy your needed enhancives for this opportunity ahead of time.
  • Consolidate your shopping money in the bank of the city you'll be attending from. The Ebon Gate bank draws from the city you enter from.
  • Consolidate the gear/items you want worked on in the locker of the city you will be attending from. It'll be closer when you need it. Or carry them around with you.
  • Pro Tip: Keep an eye out on SERVICE SHOW for Merchants. They’ll appear in Monsterbold, so they will stick out a bit. A few merchants do not announce, but use this method.
  • Pro Tip: Stay tuned to GS Twitter - they might not use it for much of anything else, but they do sometimes use it for the pay Festivals. Just read the fine print since they mix plat and prime stuff up on the same channel (Don’t get me started about that…)
  • Remember that you can now use ANALYZE on most things for sale in shops at a festival and INSPECT got a lot better in 2019.
  • Unsure about the properties of something you have? Or something you buy at the Festival? Ask a bard to listen to the item sing. Look for one on SERVICE SHOW

Inventory Management

  • Have a Festival-specific large container you can drag around with you for all the things you want worked on by Merchants. You can quickly exchange it with the one in your locker of your usual stuff for a fast hunt or 6. (Lumnis happens whether Ebon Gate is open or not, after all.)
  • Gather all the special materials you need for the alterations you want. Keep them in your Merchant Bag.
  • Bring a standing cane for those times you are too loaded down and need to get back up. And they will happen, sometimes carrying your full merchant bag around, sometimes trying to get to a merchant or a raffle with all the silvers in your pocket.

Lich Preparations

  • LICH: update your map database if narost or go2 looks wonky ;repository download-mapdb
  • LICH: download ;traffle to keep track of ALL the raffles that are about to happen. use the command alone at a raffle table to register it - then use the ;traffle list command anywhere for a list of upcoming raffles. It does NOT keep track of whether you bought the ticket or not, and does not notify you since the raffles usually do.
  • LICH: download ;wishlist to start your window shopping. Look in lich/logs/wishlist.log for the saved list of what you noted; the room number and shop room name appears with the text you add: EX: > ;wishlist I think I really need the slim dark blue pants. They have pockets and are scripted with the flashy pants script
  • LICH: download ;itemnotes to track your gear, and consider using it to make notes about your alteration and ideas, too
  • LICH: download tdig.ic, ;egdigger.lic or ;digger.lic - it might help with the repetitive digging tasks. Be patient, the scripts may need to be updated for the new year!
  • LICH: download tgames.ic for those mini games action
  • LICH: Download ;roomorder to make just a little clearer sense of where you are in line. It tells you what GAZE LINE should.
  • LICH: Download ;testme to do zest tests and more. Be sure you read the script for the options! When I say more, really, it's pretty feature laden.
  • LICH: Download ;whatis to help you with abbreviations, initials, and all that special LINGO
  • LICH: Download ;multi for bulk purchase needs.
  • LICH: Download ;foreach for general help with finding things, transferring them, and more. All the repetitive tasks will be just a memory with ;foreach. Thanks LostRanger!
  • LICH: Download ;survey to find all the things in a room and look in/on/etc them.
  • LICH: Download ;invdb to help you track which locker/character has what things. Remember to update it after purchasing things!
  • LICH: ;tune towncrier for both the Ebon Gate headlines and announcements from the festival grounds of events.

Your Front End Prep

Whether it is Stormfront, Avalon, Wizard, Profanity, or something else, they can very likely make some things easier for you!

  • Color code merchant names in unique highlighting color/s so you don’t walk right by one. (Been there, done that, missed the service…)
  • Make sure your links are turned on in Stormfront so that those nested containers and rooms full of similar containers are easy to use by just clicking. ALT L toggles this in Windows. On a Mac, look for it in the Options button under advanced.
  • SET DESC ON so you miss nothing in rooms
  • Turn on logging in case you forget/lose/find a bug. ;log works great

Reference Lists

  • Create lists of what you need worked on and keep the lists open in your text editor. Update this when you buy stuff at the fest!
    • Make a list of what needs unlocking, the name of the script/merchant, and it’s current status - as well as it’s max status. Not all unlocking lingo is the same, this sometimes takes a trip to the wiki to unravel. As always, keep the items on you.
    • Have a list of items you want altered with several different versions of alterations for that item. Just in case one gets turned down, you have options to fall back on. via Cleric of Ta’Vaalor on Twitter
    • Put more things on your list of alterations than you think you need. Did I mention already that there are so many merchants at Ebon Gate?
    • Make a list of what needs lightening. And keep the items with you. Seconds count at a Merchant appearance.
    • Make a list of what needs deepening, and keep the containers with you.
    • keep a list in notepad or something of what items you buy in what store and what the merchant is so when the merchant pops in, you know what item to grab. I use ;itemnotes
  • As you buy things at the festival keep notes about what NEW things will need to be unlocked while the merchant/s are at the festival. (Or Lightened or Deepened)
  • Use the Gownifier when you need alteration ideas - even when it is not for a gown. This is a brilliant web page from Fenog's Regulars.

During The Festival:

Locations

Use QUEST TRANSPORT EBON from most places in cities.

Ebon Gate Traditional Entrance locations, which will probably take you to the outskirts of the old Feywrot Mire grounds, where you can catch a ship to Caligos Isle. Later, after it is fully open, I think a portal opens and no ship ride is involved. This is sometimes used for kick off storyline event times.

The command, QUEST TRANSPORT EBON, is instant and requires no boat ride or visit to Feywrot Mire.

Town Location Lich Room#
Icemule Trace Icemule Temple, Foyer 2334
River's Rest River Road 10841
Solhaven Liabo Plaza 1484
Ta'Illistim Shimmarglin Var 29
Ta'Vaalor Amaranth Court ?
Teras Isle (Kharam-Dzu) Vaalin Street, Temple District 1978
Wehnimer's Landing Town Square, Southeast 282
Zul Logoth Hall of Arches 9408
Four Winds Isle Oleander and Daisy 3650

General Tips

  • Use the first week to figure out who each shop's merchant is (if there is any signage) so you'll know if a merchant announcement mentions the shop you are interested by merchant name only. It can happen either way.
  • Remember that ;go2 probably knows the shop you are looking for by name:

;go2 fantabulous then ;send the number on the list that matches if you get a list.

  • TIP For Raffles: look at the ticket carefully AND read the sign on the raffle table. This will tell you if you need to be present in the room when the raffle draws or just in the game somewhere.
  • Second Raffle suggestion: use ;traffle list to help you list out the raffles even when you are nowhere near that one table you really can't remember the time on.
  • Third Raffle lifesaver: ;tune TownCrier to listen for Raffle Reminders
  • Do your general shopping before Merchant Week so you never miss a merchant or forget to buy something after the Merchants and Games wear you out
  • Not sure what a new item you bought does? Ask a bard to sing to it. Wonder about that THING you won, you dug up, or you found? Try RECALL on it first, many festival items now come pre-sung. If not, ask a bard!
  • Read.All.The.Signage at shops, merchants, raffles, and games.
  • Talk to the NPC island residents
  • If you have one of the nitricately painted tin carousels from the old Ebon Gate quests, get its annual recharging done by the Incanter, who wanders about Caligos Isle.
  • Finish your Quest requirements this year to trick out the bracelet, you can make up prior years, but if you do not finish this year, you will never be able to again, this is Caligos Isle's last year for Ebon Gate.

The LINGO

  • New to GemStone and/or Ebon Gate? There's a rash of lingo that's about to be thrown at you.
    • GALD or General Merchant Services means: General Alteration, Lightening, or Deepening.
    • the ANALYZE command will give you overall altering info and unlock status about most items.
    • the |INSPECT command will give you most of the item's properties like number of enchants, weight, etc.
    • Familiarize yourself with the rules under the ALTER verb, too.
    • EG is how everyone will abbreviate the event, both in and out of character.
    • Lich users, consider downloading ;whatis to help you through some of the lingo

Merchants

  • READ ALL THE SIGNS near a merchant. Some of the shops will have the signs up even if the merchant is not working right then. (Don't be the one asking for a pink thing from Kyrinthe!) Read all the signs.
  • Become familiar with alteration rules if you're going to have that type of work done. The command ALTER in GemStone goes over lots of what you need to know in great detail. Ask for help if you need on LNet, and if alterations are just NOT one of your life-skills, never fret about asking the merchant for help. Give the merchant an idea of what you want, maybe why you want it in some circumstances, and then give them your trust.
  • Use the wiki to plan your shopping!
  • Merchants will pick various methods to determine what order, or how many people they will be able to help.

Page Version Info

(Updated for Ebon Gate 5121 / 2021)

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