Tales of Wehnimer's Landing (storyline)/2025-11-26 - The Aralyte-enment (log)

Synopsis

The night started with a gentle fall of snow, but we knew we were in for some kind of trouble when the snowflakes turned first crimson, then inky with shadows. We gathered in town and had a fight on our hands with shadowy Ithzir, until the trouble seemed to move away from town and toward Lake Eonak. These events happened post-invasion.

Invasion Creatures:

• lithe shadowy Ithzir veilstalker
• muscular shadowy Ithzir oathguard
• thin shadowy Ithzir augur
• a mass of writhing black shadows

Previously on KST:

Invasions of writhing black shadows. Something invisible dragged Regwen's finger bloodily along a rooftop railing and wrote the Ithzir word "klaloc" on it. Then there were invasions of shadowy Ithzir, moving and forming or disappearing into shadow. There were also invasions of air / lightning elementals with Melgorehn's Reach storming.

Log

Several snowflakes glint with moonlight as they flutter down, then one by one the crystalline ice darkens to the deep shade of ink, like frozen shadows upon the backgroup of night.

Motes of azure and violet light burn into existance in  the night, drifting like ethereal fireflies before bleeding away.

A large shadow moves along the side of Moot Hall.

Several thin shadows peel off of the top of the West Tower roof, descending quickly to the ground and melding into the cobblestones.

[Town Square, East]
Here in the center of a broad plaza near the commercial area of the bazaar stands the impressive facade of the slate-roofed Moot Hall, where the citizens of Wehnimer's Landing hold various official, religious and social functions. Facing the square are some of the town's more prosperous shops, still doing business with the many customers who still frequent the streets at night. You also see a yellow-eyed silvery lor mandrake with a wild mane of violet wisp lantern hair, the web-draped Missoni disk, the mural-sided Perigourd cassone, a lazy wild grey dog, the Lylia disk, a huge dark wagon with a glowing blue-white pylon on it, a large purple wooden barrel and a wood-framed message board.

Tebon says, "Irony smell in tha air."

Among the doorways of several shops in town, shadows stir to life, taking on humanoid forms before dissolving into the ground.

[General] Leafiara thinks, "No immediate appearances... could be similar to the past few battles where the enemies spontaneously spring up anywhere or everywhere."

Tebon says, "Tha shadows are surroundin' us."

Perigourd says, "Fighting darkness itself, it seems."

Nairdin heartily asks, "What's effective against these?"

Tebon says, "Almost lost my head along with my arm."

Perigourd says, "Persistence."

Shadows bleed through the night sky, suffocating the stars. Around Melgorehn's Reach, a crown of shadows slowly forms. The stars soon return, glowing fiery red, like a black banner filled with a thousand glowing crimson eyes.

Perigourd says, "That.. doesn't look good."

A dark and swirling cloud moves in, hovering directly over Lake Eonak.

Tebon says, "Lake Eonak."


[We went for a walk.]


[Melgorehn's Reach, Lake Eonak]

You are on the bank of a beautiful mountain lake that is fed by a waterfall gushing from the mountain side. There is a path which seems to actually lead up the side of the mountain. You also see a white-masked reddish brown puppy with high triangular ears, the silk-veiled Sariara disk painted with scarlet snapdragons, the repousse copper Leafiara disk raised in leafy designs, a battered antique faewood crate, the Destrian disk, a variable lake spirit that is flying around, an enormous blue crystal monolith, a barely visible trail leading into a grove of ancient trees and a cedar chip path.

Also here: Xorus, Imperatrix Lylia, Sir Geijon, Bathcwyn Missoni, Magister Raelee, Conquerer of Reim Nairdin, Sir Tebon, Perigourd, Amathea, Telekin, Grand Lady Sariara, Destrian, Soulheaven, Squire Legionnaire Taulramil, Pukk, Whimweaver Leafiara

Leafiara yells, "Alright, let's have it!"

Perigourd asks, "Friendly fire?"

Amathea kneels down and begins to recite prayers.

Telekin says, "Ama.. you'll die if you stay."

Deep shadows stretch across Lake Eonak, its surface seeping with mist, like a shadowy black liquid bleeding out of the murky waters.

Speaking to Raelee, Perigourd asks, "You don't think this has something to do with Thadston and Casiphia.. in the lake from before?"

Leafiara says, "Not necessarily. It depends what engages us..."

Speaking to Perigourd, Raelee says, "That is not a leap I am willing to make yet."

Leafiara reconsiders, "Then again, it might be that nothing engages us and we just get buried in a cloud of plague and death."

Perigourd says, "Something that seemed beyond the veil."

Pukk yells, "We will send out our best to defeat you! Her name is Lylia!"

Lylia stiffens herself as she holds her clockwork staff gravely at her side, glowering at all before her.

Speaking to Lylia, Pukk says, "Go get em."

The shadows spread across Lake Eonak begin to bubble and twist. Crimson glows from the middle of it.

Taulramil deeply says, "Here it comes."

Leafiara says, "Right then, here we go..."

Taulramil deeply says, "Prepare."

(Telekin braces.)

Soulheaven quietly says, "If a giant lizard comes out of the lake breathing fire I am out."

Leafiara says, "We wouldn't be that fortunate."

(Lylia's eyes go wide.)

Lylia removes a pale red soulstone suspended by a frayed leather cord from in her wrap.

Missoni looks at Lylia with concern.

Telekin asks, "But.. seriously, would you ever actually marry a halfling?"

Lylia looks dizzy for a moment while the soulstone pulses faintly in her hand.

(Lylia's fingers tighten around the soulstone until her knuckles are white.)

Speaking carefully to Lylia, Missoni says, "Is that..."

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia breathes, "Could it be you, is it you?"

The soulstone in Lylia's hand suddenly flashes bright red, then settles down and becomes pale again.

Speaking in Faendryl to Missoni, Lylia says, "Aralyte."

Amathea glances at Lylia.

The soulstone in Lylia's hand flashes bright red, but then gets bright, then keeps getting more intensely bright.

Lylia whispers, "I felt it, I felt the heat of it, it --"

Lylia hisses.

Speaking melodically to Lylia, Amathea says, "I KNEW you looked familiar...."

Speaking to Lylia, Perigourd asks, "Is that going to explode?"

Suddenly a beam of bright red light shoots out of the soulstone up into the clouds!

Lylia says, "I am not at all sure. It --"

Lylia gasps.

Lylia tilts her head up.

Speaking to Lylia, Raelee says, "... curious."

Lylia raises her hand.

The shadows of the storm over Melgorehn's Reach turn blood red for a moment and everything slows to a halt, then it all abruptly snaps back in a bright red flash, with a burst of power blasting through the flows of magic and rippling the very fabric of reality.

The ground beneath you violently shakes and rumbles causing you to fall down!

Missoni adopts a look of utter repugnance before sputtering an emphatic, "Fishcakes!"

Lylia bursts out in triumphant laughter!

Pukk says, "Oh great Lylia. Break reality why don't you."

In the distance the sky glows as a rift opens with a halo of light saturating the world below it. Several moments later the sky glows in a different direction, then yet another, as somewhere else gets lit up with a lingering glow.

Tebon says, "Wat in Voln's name ....."

Suddenly, twilight grey lightning lashes in all directions from a point in midair. A rift opens at that singular point, and Thagoria steps out of the rift. Twisting magical energy halos her for a moment before fading away as the rift vanishes.

You see Thagoria Vespiria Faendryl the Sorcerer Guild Master.
She appears to be a Dark Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be in the prime of life. She has piercing amber eyes and black skin. She has long, straight steel grey hair worn in a chignon. She has a long nose and slightly upswept pointed ears.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a wracked low steel runestaff in her right hand.
She is wearing a baleful vaelfyren choker beholding an oculoth eye, a billowing jet black cape lined in scarlet bourde, a vathorboned lathonian corselet, an inky black spidersilk gown, a crimson guild insignia, a spiral-inset black leather vasculum, a twisting silver waistchain, and some oiled black leather boots.

Missoni murmurs, "There are lights everywhere."

Speaking to Thagoria, Missoni says, "Oh, fair eve."

Thagoria asks, "What in all bloody everything is happening here?"

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia says, "Honor and glory to the Patriarch."

Speaking to Thagoria, Perigourd says, "Perhaps you could tell us."

Leafiara says, "I thought you were about to tell us."

Speaking to Thagoria, Pukk says, "Lylia is breaking things again."

Speaking melodically to Thagoria, Amathea exclaims, "That's what I want to know!"

Thagoria says, "Honor and Glory to the Patriarch."

Telekin asks, "Jeeze what is that anyway?"

Speaking to Lylia, Perigourd asks, "Are you holding a key of sorts?"

With a wry grin and look of determination, Taulramil turns to lock eyes with Thagoria and then gazes to the horizon and shouts in Common, "Honor! Pride! Glory!"

Lylia explains, "The soulstone in my hand is not mine. It belonged to Aralyte Halanori Faendryl."

Thagoria says, "There were just shock waves through the veil, and there were these shadows. I flooded them with light."

Thagoria asks, "Who is Aralyte?"

Speaking to Lylia, Perigourd says, "One might consider that since you are holding it.. it is yours, at the moment."

Speaking to Thagoria, Pukk exclaims, "Light! Why didn't we think of that!"

Speaking deeply to Thagoria, Taulramil asks, "What time are you from?"

Lylia says, "Blade Aralyte was largely responsible for unraveling the entity known as Althedeus to us."

Thagoria says, "The year 5125 of our Patriarch."

Thagoria says, "The Shadows demon? I remember hearing something about that ten years ago."

Speaking to Lylia, Perigourd asks, "And the soulstone was used in this?"

Lylia says, "The Ithzir had another name for it. For them. But it was in a valence of shadow, where it teemed and hungered."

Lylia nods at Thagoria.

Thagoria nods slowly.

Lylia says, "The very one. Aralyte is the one who led the way to the valence. But she was lost there."

Speaking quietly to Telekin, Soulheaven says, "As long as they are not heading torward me...im a big target."

Thagoria says, "That is unfortunate. That is a very dangerous valence."

Missoni carefully asks, "But what of the Ithzir? Did the come with the shadows, previously?"

Thagoria asks, "There were Ithzir?"

Lylia says, "The Ithzir knew of what we called Althedeus."

Speaking to Thagoria, Perigourd says, "Indeed."

Tebon says, "Were, bein' tha key werd."

Speaking to Thagoria, Pukk says, "Lots."

Speaking to Thagoria, Raelee says, "... or something shaped like Ithzir."

Tebon says, "So far."

Leafiara says, "Or at least things that look like Ithzir."

Speaking deeply to Thagoria, Taulramil says, "Not unlike the ones in the old city."

Thagoria says, "What.. that makes no sense... the Basilica Tower monitors, watches the known Ithzir worlds."

Lylia says, "And these shadows. I believe 'something shaped like Ithzir' may be accurate. I had animated one, but..."

Speaking to Perigourd, Tebon says, "I suppose tha shadows kin form howe'er they wish inta wate'er they wish."

Lylia says, "It seems to have gone to dust."

Speaking to Tebon, Perigourd asks, "Which then asks, why the ithzir?"

Speaking to Thagoria, Raelee says, "Perhaps that lends credence to the theory that they are merely taking the form of Ithzir."

Leafiara says, "We'd been considering the possibility that they aren't truly Ithzir since their bodies are... more durable."

Perigourd says, "Why the lake."

Speaking to Perigourd, Tebon says, "Points tha finger away from them."

Speaking to Thagoria, Lylia says, "Indeed. That is why it is particularly troubling to see these, and to see shadows among them."

Leafiara says, "Their behavior doesn't entirely match up either."

Tebon says, "Who e'er them is."

Speaking deeply to Leafiara, Taulramil says, "Who's to say the Ithzir world does not have these there."

Thagoria asks, "What happened to make this.. anomalous mountain... shock the veil that way?"

Taulramil deeply asks, "Maybe some barrier is weakening and stronger ones can get through?"

Amathea melodically says, "What indeed."

Telekin says, "VVRAEL."

Telekin says, "Oh no."

Telekin says, "Ithzir Vvrael."

Speaking to Taulramil, Leafiara says, "It's possible, but, the other night, dozens of them all suddenly stopped moving at the same time and then disappeared. It was quite... anomalous."

Lylia says, "You ask excellent questions to which we are not yet certain of the answers."

Thagoria dubiously says, "The Vvrael? That sounds unlikely."

Thagoria asks, "You said something about a soulstone?"

Telekin asks, "What if it is a lich who is controlling Melgorehn?"

Speaking to Thagoria, Pukk says, "Lylia was having a bad day, and she lost control of her magic and...well...she broke things. But don't blame her. She didn't mean to do it."

Lylia shows Thagoria her red soulstone.

Speaking to Thagoria, Perigourd says, "The one in her hand seemed to radiate into the shadows above the Reach."

Thagoria asks, "Did it do something?"

Speaking heartily to Thagoria, Nairdin says, "It started to glow brightly."

Nairdin heartily says, "Then shot into the air."

Tebon says, "Feh, I 'ad an inklin' tha Cabal coul' 'ave 'ad a hand in this early on, nae so sure now."

Lylia says, "This one? It did. When we came here, I felt the heat of it through fabric and leather, burning like a coal, beating like a heart."

Soulheaven quietly says, "Well sent a beam of light into the sky."

Speaking melodically to Telekin, Amathea says, "That fool outlived his usefulness long ago...."

Thagoria glances up.

Taulramil deeply says, "After the lake went black and got all crimson in the middle."

Thagoria asks, "Into that mana storming?"

Lylia says, "It has been used as a sort of beacon before. It brought a whole keep back."

Lylia clarifies, "From the shadows."

Speaking to Lylia, Perigourd asks, "From where?"

Speaking to Thagoria, Raelee says, "... and that mana storm is quite active in recent history."

Speaking to Lylia, Perigourd asks, "Which keep?"

Telekin asks, "The Shadow Plane?"

Speaking to Perigourd, Lylia says, "The Hendoran outpost."

Thagoria asks, "There was a Turamzzyrian fortification on another plane, and that soulstone brought it back to this one?"

Lylia admits, "It sounds uncanny, but yes."

Thagoria asks, "When did that happen?"

Speaking to Lylia, Raelee says, "Years ago, now."

Speaking to Raelee, Lylia says, "Do you recall? It was some years ago now."

Speaking to Lylia, Raelee says, "Seven, eight..."

Xorus says, "It was in 5116."

Lylia says, "A decade or three, no more."

Leafiara says, "Must have been early 5116 since I moved here later in 5116 and didn't see that."

Emissary Thrassus just arrived.

Thagoria asks, "So. This soulstone that belongs to a Faendryl named Aralyte, shot some light beam into that mana storm up there, and it has in the past pushed things through the veil?"

Speaking to Thrassus, Lylia says, "The soulstone. It is awake."

Lylia says, "Or it was."

Speaking to Thagoria, Raelee asks, "Did you gain any sense of the origin... when you sensed the shadows?"

Thagoria says, "... and there are Ithzir. Shadows corrupted Ithzir, or shadows in the form of Ithzir."

Tebon says, "Ne'er seen one o' my soulstones do that."

Leafiara says, "Sounds like a fine summation."

Speaking quietly to Thagoria, Soulheaven says, "Thats a pretty good summary."

Speaking to Thagoria, Lylia says, "That is a fair summation of matters, yes. If the Basilica seeks corroborating information, I have notes and contacts available."

Thrassus says, "Well, that's a surprise."

Thagoria says, "The shadows were of darkness, something analogous to elementals. But more of a sorcerous element, shadow essence, for lack of a better word."

Nairdin heartily says, "Shadow essence..."

Thagoria says, "One of you speak of the Shadows demon, that valence is intense in that energy."

Sariara says, "Spiritelementals."

Thrassus says, "They definately carried the feel of the shadow valence."

Thagoria says, "I am not much of a historian. I know the Ithzir have some fear of that demon, or had fear of it at any rate."

Lylia says, "You should probably know as well that the soulstone has a song to sing. Aralyte is, or was, alive when the soulstone came to me."

Thrassus says, "You never forget that feeling once you have been there."

Amathea melodically asks, "Did one not attempt to communicate fairly recently?"

Thagoria asks, "When did it come to you?"

Lylia adds, "And it came to me through the work of a Harrower. Perhaps seven years now?"

Thagoria asks, "The Harrower gave it to you?"

Lylia says, "Not precisely. It fell at the feet of a knight, and he knew it belonged in Faendryl hands and gave it to me."

Thagoria asks, "Fell from what?"

Lylia says, "It was ripped from a passage through the veil as Ersix attempted to remove a different threat. Some sort of black roots."

Xorus says, "It was a portal to the Shadow realm valence."

Thagoria says, "So the soulstone fell into this world from the Shadow valence, where this Aralyte was lost, and it is her soulstone and it is active now with this shadow storming."

Lylia says, "It was not intended to be there. It seemed to exert some sort of pull, as a lodestone will draw iron."

Thagoria says, "Interesting."

Thagoria asks, "May I see it?"

(Lylia shows just the briefest moment of hesitation.)

Lylia offers Thagoria a pale red soulstone suspended by a frayed leather cord.

Thagoria accepts Lylia's red soulstone.

Thagoria studies the soulstone meticulously.

Lylia says, "It has not left me in all the time since it came to me."

Thagoria says, "This is very strange."

Thagoria slowly waves the soulstone over Lake Eonak. It faintly glows red.

Nairdin heartily says, "Doesn't seem like something we should just "experiment" with."

Thagoria removes a gleaming multicolored soulstone from within the folds of her clothing.

Thrassus asks, "Why not?"

Thagoria holds her gleaming multicolored soulstone over the pale red soulstone suspended by a frayed leather cord.

The whites of Thagoria's eyes go dark as she chants forcefully in an archaic tongue.

Speaking heartily to Thrassus, Nairdin asks, "Because that's how towns burn to the ground?"

Thrassus asks, "This is exactly the sort of thing to experiment with?"

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia says, "I have never given up hope that she still lives, or if she still lives and has been changed, resolution that she must be ended."

Shadows seep out of the multicolored soulstone, which dims in scintillation, streaming in writhing tendrils into the pale red soulstone.

The pale red soulstone suddenly glows intensely with bright red light. It settles down looking very slightly more red.

Amathea melodically says, "Well now...tTHAT is interesting."

Soulheaven quietly says, "Well thats.."

Tebon says, "Absorbed those shadows..."

Thagoria says, "That was one of those elemental soulstones, that the Aelotoi madman Alusius invented."

Speaking to himself, Tebon says, "Feh, I shoulda paid more attention ta Cosannie when she's talkin' bout her spellcraft."

Thagoria says, "When I passed through on my way here, it sapped some of the energy from one of those writhing black shadows. When I killed one."

Thagoria says, "So. This soulstone of Aralyte's is something similar, an absorber of shadow essence."

Thagoria says, "It looks only partially charged."

Lylia says, "Sir Aydan is the one who handed me the soulstone. His name should be known, and his thoughtfulness. There are many who would keep such an item instead of returning it to Faendryl hands."

Thrassus asks, "I can only assume it has that property due to the exposure to the valence?"

Speaking to Thagoria, Perigourd asks, "Does that mean if adequately charged, it can be used to open a portal through an elemental instability to the shadow valence?"

Tebon asks, "Does it need shadows that we've 'ad ta fight ta chage it, or jus' fully charged soulstones ta charge it?"

Lylia says, "Yes. It once glowed a brilliant, lustrous red."

Amathea melodically asks, "I don't suppose anyone has investigated the moon chamber?"

Speaking to Perigourd, Thagoria says, "I think so. Or at least redirect a portal to the shadow valence."

Speaking to Amathea, Lylia says, "I have not been there of late, but I tend not to tread where Rodnay sleeps."

Telekin asks, "Has anyone been to the shadow valence?"

Speaking to himself, Perigourd asks, "Is that something we even wish to do?"

Thagoria asks, "What happened that made it less charged?"

Amathea melodically says, "Right...."

Speaking to Telekin, Lylia says, "Not in some time."

Thrassus says, "Some of us have been there a couple of times."

Speaking to Perigourd, Missoni whispers aloud, "Yes."

Thrassus says, "A rather hostile place."

Speaking to Thagoria, Lylia says, "It was drained to white after the outpost's return. Sapped of almost all its energy."

Telekin asks, "What exists there? These shadow demons we've been slaying?"

Thagoria asks, "You people have been to the Shadow valence yourselves?"

Leafiara ponders, "Hmm, last time we were there was... 5120, I believe..."

Thagoria glances at Lylia.

Lylia stiffly says, "Yes. It is no violation of Shieltine's Ward, of course."

Thagoria says, "So it was used for valencial transport, and it would seem the shadows is what charges it."

Thagoria nods at Lylia.

Thagoria asks, "What does this spot in particular have to do with Aralyte and the Shadow valence?"

Taulramil deeply says, "Wonder if they want it for some nefarious scheme."

(Amathea gazes up to the peak.)

Lylia says, "Proximity to the Reach is one possibility."

Thrassus says, "This mountain seems to weaken the Veil in general."

Raelee says, "Thus, the high volume of activity in this region."

Xorus says, "Aralyte used the eye of an Ur-Daemon to turn this lake into a portal to the Shadow valence."

Thrassus says, "If it storms hard enough elementals spread everywhere."

Xorus says, "The Shadows, Althedeus, was trying to cross over into the world here, under this mountain."

Xorus says, "The way to the valence was fueled with blood from demonic blood eating black trees, which Harrower Ersix later tried to remove, which is when we got this soulstone through the rift."

(Lylia surreptitiously eyes the soulstone in Thagoria's hand.)

Thagoria says, "I see."

Thagoria harmonically sings under her voice and the soulstone vibrates slightly.

Thagoria says, "She was stuck there.. she was fighting off demons... the ground turned into demons. She fell into a sea of black liquid, but then she was not dead."

Thagoria says, "This soulstone feels tethered to a soul. It makes me think of the quasi-spheres the Harrowers use as beacons or anchors for getting back to this world."

Thrassus says, "She had been partially absorbed into the valence the last time we were there."

Speaking to Perigourd, Tebon says, "I think mos' e'eryone standin' here, 'as touched tha shadowy realm, an' dealt wit demons afore."

Telekin asks, "Can you tell whose soul?"

Thagoria asks, "Wait. Aralyte is still alive, years later, in that valence?"

Speaking to Tebon, Perigourd says, "Most, probably. One would prefer these valences kept to their own."

Thrassus says, "As of our last encounter with it, yes."

Lylia says, "It is possible. If anyone could, she might."

Nairdin heartily asks, "Didn't someone say they were able to hear Aralyte's mind in the shadow valance?"

Nairdin heartily asks, "Vlashandra maybe?"

Lylia reluctantly says, "It concerns me what she may have become."

Amathea melodically says, "Most curious...."

Thrassus says, "She had fused into the landscape."

Thagoria says, "No one would be expected to survive in such a place on their own. Not just the food and water, and the demons, but the corruptive extraplanar energies."

Tebon says, "I suppose we coul' form up a party ta search out an' find out fer certain ifin she still be alive."

Lylia hisses, "She was a filthy liar!"

Nairdin heartily asks, "And some theory about charging the soulstone?"

Nairdin heartily says, "Right but there may have been some truths in her lies."

Lylia says, "Vlashandra heard nothing, and it was a ruse."

Lylia hisses a filth-laden denunciation in icily precise Faendryl, each syllable sharp with menace.

Thagoria says, "She would surely have to have been mutated."

Speaking to Thagoria, Perigourd asks, "In which case, even if she's alive, is she still herself?"

Speaking to Lylia, Telekin asks, "Would the valence warp her by merely being there, or do you infer that what she'd become as person by simply surviving there?"

Thagoria says, "That is what I, or any of us, would be asking."

Amathea melodically asks, "If the stone were fully charged....perhaps any lingering connections might become more apparent?"

Thrassus says, "That has definately occurred."

Thagoria says, "I do not understand why a Palestra Blade would do such a thing on her own. That is not how any of our safety protocols work."

Thrassus says, "Sometimes protocols just don't work."

Lylia reluctantly says, "She did it to save many others."

Lylia says, "Ultimately, to save the fabric of this valence from unraveling, perhaps."

Thagoria says, "The safest thing to do would be to leave this here with you, for now, rather than bring it back to Ta'Faendryl and risk entangling other gateways or who knows what else."

Thagoria offers Lylia a pale red soulstone suspended by a frayed leather cord.

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia says, "Wehnimer's Landing is proximal, but a threat such as Althedeus could have imperiled the South as well."

Lylia says, "I shall care for it as I have since it came to me."

Lylia says, "And of course, it -- and I -- are ever at the disposal of the Basilica."

Thagoria says, "I have to bring this to the attention of the Basilican Sorcerer. I am not part of the same branch of things as the Palestra, whatever was involved with her work is beyond my rank."

Thrassus says, "Along with the rest of the Spire."

Thagoria says, "The fact that there are Ithzir invading here, and not from anywhere we expect, in itself should raise concern in the Basilica."

Perigourd says, "And elsewhere."

Thrassus asks, "Are we sure those things are true Ithzir?"

Speaking to Thrassus, Raelee says, "No."

Thrassus says, "I mean, they almost act as a hive mind at times."

Lylia says, "If they take Ithzir form, then they have been near Ithzir to replicate them."

Thagoria says, "But then this matter of a possibly twisted Palestra Blade in addition. I do not know what they will decide to do."

Lylia quietly says, "I have spent sleepless nights wondering that as well. She is a venerable Blade, not of the Mahkra Academy."

Telekin asks, "Would they search for her?"

Nairdin heartily says, "Perhaps they are both ithzir and not ithzir. shadows of the beings. many other things came from there before."

Telekin says, "Use the soulstone, open a gate and form a search party."

Lylia diplomatically says, "Who are, of course, remarkable in their own right -- but they have had years, not centuries, to their name."

Speaking to Telekin, Perigourd says, "A significant risk."

Thagoria says, "It is a security liability for us, in multiple ways, for a Palestra Blade to be compromised in that fashion."

Speaking heartily to Telekin, Nairdin says, "We tried that about a decade ago at ebon gate. didn't turn out well."

Speaking to Telekin, Lylia says, "They would need to find her, yes."

Speaking to Perigourd, Telekin asks, "Because of what could come through?"

Speaking to Telekin, Perigourd says, "Indeed, and because not all portals opened are so easily closed."

Nairdin heartily says, "Going into random portals is not a good idea. it can change things in both places."

Tebon says, "I recall a time where we did sumthin' similar in usin' gateways ta search fer things, an' endin' up fighting a really nasty oculoth."

Thagoria says, "This is a very dangerous valence we speak of. It is not the kind we would ordinarily visit, and in fact, it has historically been very difficult to access."

Thagoria says, "That must be why she resorted to an Ur-Daemon relic."

Thrassus says, "It's rather hostile to life as we know it."

The storm over Melgorehn's Reach starts to shift from shadows to azure and violet light, and the thousand crimson eyes slow return to normal stars.

Thagoria glances up.

Thagoria says, "The shadows seem to be breaking up for now."

Soulheaven quietly says, "Pretty sure its going to be calm for now at least."

Telekin says, "We did well then."

Missoni murmurs, "They will return, I am sure."

The shadows of Lake Eonak begin to slowly dry up. Visibly shrinking...

The shadows of Lake Eonak shrink further and further...

Lylia admits, "I am not entirely sure. It was Aralyte's; I recognized it on her. But whether it was something that she wore as a talisman, as some sort of phylactery, or something else, I am not certain -- and I never got to ask."

Pukk says, "Nice! And we didn't even have to sacrifice Lylia...I mean...see what Lylia...oh nevermind...I stand by the first part."

The last of the shadows of Lake Eonak close up, returning the waters to normal.

Thagoria says, "The threat seems to have halted."

Speaking to Thagoria, Telekin asks, "Will you question your peers about finding her?"

Speaking to Thagoria, Lylia says, "Thank you for your time. Of course I know the Basilica sees much, but it is a great relief to see evidence of this."

Thagoria says, "I will raise the matter with my superior, the Arch Chancellor of the Clerisy."

Missoni nods approvingly.

Thagoria says, "That is a high enough level to rattle loose anything."

Thagoria scratches her hands through her hair with some frustration and exhales slowly.

Thagoria says, "Unless there is something else I should know to report to the Basilica, I will return to New Ta'Faendryl, I will probably speak to the High Magus on duty first as he is in charge of monitoring the wards on the veils."

Tebon says, "'Welp, all we kin do here, is jus' keep tryin' ta protect tha innocents."

Thrassus says, "You might also want to let them know that this isn't the first time the Ithzir have attacked here."

Lylia adds, "And about Rodnay."

Thagoria asks, "They have attacked here before?"

Tebon says, "Mebbe urge 'em a lil bit."

Speaking to Thagoria, Missoni says, "The shadows did also speak, twice, previously. In Ithzir."

Thrassus says, "There's a pyramid sunken in the Bay, even."

Thagoria asks, "These Ithzir or different ones?"

Thagoria blinks.

Thrassus says, "Different ones."

Thagoria asks, "One of their pyramids is in Darkstone Bay?"

Lylia says, "The part-Ithzir hybrid pupating atop the Reach. Oh yes, and that Ithzir pyramid. I believe there is an obelisk sunk in the sands, too."

Speaking quietly to Thrassus, Raelee says, "I do want to raise that. I have for years."

Tebon says, "Ithzir, shadows, shadows that change inta mirror images of folks an' then attack us."

Lylia reluctantly admits, "When you say it all together like this, it sounds like quite a lot."

Thagoria stares off into space.

Leafiara says, "This area plays host to many oddities."

Perigourd says, "One might consider how the storm was affected by the Talon as well, when we used the storm above to transport Darkstone Keep."

Thagoria says, "The Ithzir feed on mana and there is a cambion pupating inside this mountain upon all of that..."

Thagoria gestures up at the sky.

Lylia simply says, "Yes."

Thrassus says, "That's just some of the more recent things, yes."

Thagoria says, "And there is one of their pyramid siege engines, which they use as anchors, or beacons, for securing access to worlds, under the Darkstone Bay."

Soulheaven quietly says, "When you say it like that..."

Lylia says, "It is one of the reasons I stay here; it is certainly not for the weather. We get storms rolling in off the Bay all the time."

Amathea melodically asks, "Have the shadowy ones been seen around the pyramid as of late?"

Lylia says, "Someone must keep watch."

Thagoria says, "And Ithzir from one of the other valences invaded here, it sounds like because of this mountain thinning the veil and crossing worlds."

Speaking to Amathea, Perigourd says, "If they have, it is hard to say as it's at the bottom of the bay."

Thagoria asks, "What Ithzir world was it?"

Speaking to Amathea, Lylia says, "Not that I have seen; they do not seem to venture toward the Black Sands in particular."

Xorus says, "Kol Tar'sken."

Thrassus says, "At least a few of us have sent reports of these things over the years."

Thrassus says, "I can only assume whoever reviewed them mistook them for wild tales."

Thagoria says, "That is one of the Ithzir worlds the Basilica would have noticed. They must have monitored the situation without intervening."

Thagoria says, "Again. Way beyond my rank and role in the Basilica."

Thagoria says, "I work with the sorcerer guilds."

Perigourd asks, "Why wouldn't they intervene if they knew?"

Lylia agrees, "Far beyond my scope as well. But I do write letters."

Speaking to Perigourd, Thagoria says, "Politics, if I had to guess."

Speaking to Perigourd, Missoni says, "Sometimes it is best to observe."

Perigourd says, "A warning would have been nice."

Leafiara says, "They don't owe any such thing."

Thagoria says, "From what some of you said, a Turamzzyrian fortress got pulled into that Ithzir world, in that incident."

Thagoria says, "It does not take much speculative reach to imagine why they only monitored the situation."

Thagoria says, "So. I am going back to Ta'Faendryl now to be loud, and I will see what they have to say to me."

Thrassus says, "Good luck."

Thagoria says, "I think you will all need more luck than myself."

Thagoria glances at Lake Eonak.

Thrassus says, "Maybe mentioning potential Ur-Daemonic forces will get them to wake up."

Thagoria nods.

Thagoria flicks her wrist and tears open a rift in the fabric of reality. She steps through and the rift collapses with a flash into a pinpoint of light.

The skies above Melgorehn's Reach settle down and the stars return to their normal twinkling.