Lost Palestra (storyline)/2026-02-04 - Astrolabe-or of Love (log)

You see Blade Viselda the Palestra of Shamsiel Academy.

She appears to be a Faendryl Dark Elf.

She is average height. She appears to be mature. She has long-lashed sea green eyes and dark skin. She has long, platinum hair. She has a delicate face, a classical nose and thin pointed ears.

She is in good shape.

She is holding a barbed high steel claidhmore in her right hand.

She is wearing a long grey cloak, a well-fitting weapon harness, a black leather bodysuit, a lor triskele inset with three wine-veined scarlet despanals, some grey rugged pants, and some black leather boots.

You see Harrower Vortelis Infernebrus Faendryl the Guildmaster of the Extrachthonic Cartographer's Guild.

He appears to be a Dark Elf.

He is taller than average. He appears to be ancient. He has silver-flecked brown eyes and ashen skin. He has shoulder length, thick dark brown hair worn in a single braid. He has a bony face, a sharp nose and tall upswept pointed ears. He is wearing an intricate twisted faenor headband with a murky shadowglass orb over his face.

He is in good shape.

He is holding a pale red soulstone suspended by a frayed leather cord in his right hand.

He is wearing a shadowy black hood, a suspended void black urglaes sphere with misty veins of crimson, a writhing vortex of shadows, a veniom-threaded grimoire satchel, some incarnadine vathor skin leathers enruned in burning glyphs, some enruned fitted ebon gloves, some tailored dark leather trousers, and some deep black vruul leather boots.

You see Harrower Moravius the Veilmaster of the Extrachthonic Cartographer's Guild.

He appears to be a Faendryl Dark Elf.

He is taller than average. He appears ageless. He has dark-rimmed jade green eyes and deep umber skin. He has shoulder length, unruly silver hair only partially tamed into a single braid. He has a fine-boned face, an aquiline nose and tall upswept pointed ears.

He is in good shape.

He is wearing an intricate twisted faenor headband, a banded chalcedony cameo, a whorled black leather case, some silver-shot ebon bourde robes with a grey silk tunic notched at the high collar underneath, a bezel-set ruby and silver signet ring, some jet leather leggings, and a pair of polished black leather boots.

Moravius says, "Ah, good. Bodies."

Amathea quietly says, "Oh dear."

Vivaldi says, "Sounds like ah'm gonna die."

Lylia says, "Encouraging."

The voice of Leafiara says, "I certainly wouldn't count on it being a safe trip, at least."

Speaking to Vivaldi, Thrassus says, "Very possible."

Vivaldi says, "Guess won't be the first.."

Vortelis says, "I will be coming along to test the soulstone, as well, though I would like to spend as little time with it near this mountain as possible."

(Arelder adjusts his scabbard, leaving his sword sheathed for the moment.)

Azure and celadon lights flash in the churning clouds high above, with the occasional mote of golden essence flickering by like a flake of snow.

Moravius says, "Oh, yes. We should go now. Before the storm intensifies."

Moravius uses his translucent chalk to outline a large circle upon the ground.

Moravius put some waxy translucent chalk in his black leather case.

Moravius throws his arms around the air above the summoning circle, forming a swirling cloud of energy, with burning runes emerging from the fabric of reality within the vortex.

The vortex of energy swirls into a maelstrom, morphing together into solidity, finally stabilizing as a glowing dark red portal.

Moravius says, "There we are."

Harrower Moravius's group just went through a glowing dark red portal.

[Talador, The Bleaklands]

The land is desolate and broken, with an endless terrain of fragmented, grey earth that is caked in layers of ash. The air is suffocating, with a thick, rancid odor and a faint heat still lingers in the area. The sky is bleak,

resembling an expanse of ink-whorled slate. You also see a glowing dark red portal.

Thrassus says, "The effects are quite a bit more heavy here."

Vortelis says, "This whole land is sick with shadows. It is corruptive even to be here, fortunately we do not have to stay long."

Lylia says, "Evocative phrase. 'Sick with shadows.'."

Thrassus says, "Even the sky is corrupted."

[We noticed we were having some trouble with spells...]

Lylia's magic fizzles ineffectually.

Vivaldi says, "Smells bad."

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

Perigourd says, "Interesting."

Viselda says, "This is more dangerous than that other region."

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

The voice of Pukk says, "Ewww anti magics....this is going to be interesting."

The voice of Leafiara calmly agrees, "Yes."

Thrassus says, "And mana-bereft."

Perigourd says, "It would seem the chaos of the shadow breach nullifies the mana flows."

Vivaldi says, "Hells."

Missoni declares, "Perfectly wretched."

Speaking to himself, Earthdiver says, "It's not so bad..."

Winrie says, "I would rather be dragged from here, than smell this air any longer."

Thrassus says, "The mana has been drained away to the shadow plane."

Speaking morosely to Earthdiver, Lylia says, "It is not so bad. It is worse."

Speaking to Lylia, Perigourd says, "Just kick them."

From behind Earthdiver, Leafiara's voice says, "Just wait until the shadows show up and almost nothing physical damages them either."

Moravius says, "The suffocating blanket should raise with the storm."

The air ripples and warms.

[Magic is restored!]

Speaking to Lylia, Missoni says, "Oh, we can do that."

Speaking to Thrassus, Raelee says, "Perhaps we ought to have been here earlier. There may have been ample opportunity to trace that mana."

Missoni nods approvingly.

Thrassus says, "That is a good point."

Moravius says, "There are certainly anti-magical qualities to the shadows."

Missoni murmurs, "That is better."

Lylia says, "As if I needed another reason to dislike them."

Moravius says, "I can sense the sinkholes in the Veil. They are that way, closer to the ruins of the city."

[Talador, The Bleaklands]

The land is desolate and broken, with an endless terrain of fragmented, grey earth that is caked in layers of ash. The air is suffocating, with a thick, rancid odor and a faint heat still lingers in the area. The sky is bleak,

resembling an expanse of ink-whorled slate. You also see a large unstable ripple in the air.

Earthdiver says, "Let us not tarry..."

Missoni murmurs, "It is so thin one can see right to the Shadow Realm."

Arelder raises his oak torch overhead, allowing the flame to illuminate the surroundings better.

Moravius says, "Pure darkness is what you would call anti-mana, it is an aspect of the shadows as an energy."

You gaze through the large ripple and see...

[Shadow Realm]

Traveling to the peak of this bit of land, the climb is made more steep simply by the volume of bones scattered across the ground. Layer upon layer, the remains are heaped until it is near impossible to even see what lies beneath

them. Tendrils of shadow writhe and curl in the air where the rise drops off in a sheer cliff, leaving nothing but crimson clouds of mist to haunt the darkness beyond the field of bones.

Speaking to Moravius, Perigourd asks, "Such as in the rift with the Vvrael?"

Winrie painfully says, "That name again."

Moravius says, "That is a collective sentience of anti-mana."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "... can we send something through there?"

Monthas says, "The Vvrael have no problem hurling that anti-mana back at me."

Oxhammer says, "Just stay hidden Pukk...everything will work out fine."

Moravius looks over and inspects the ripple in the air.

Moravius removes a phasing black alloy astrolabe from in his black leather case.

Moravius removes a convoluted valencial cartograph from in his black leather case.

Perigourd removes a burnished silver spyglass from in his green leather cloak.

Perigourd peers east through his silver spyglass and slowly turns the eyepiece to focus it.

Perigourd polishes his silver spyglass with the edge of his sleeve.

The voice of Pukk asks, "Perigourd, did you look into the right end?"

Perigourd says, "I did, yes."

Perigourd says, "Bit dark here though, unsurprisingly."

Moravius hovers the astrolabe near the ripple, gesturing as it phases in and out.

Amathea quietly says, "You have to attune the thingy! silly..."

Vortelis says, "Teasing the tail of the dragon."

The temperature drops suddenly as a flickering shadow spectre materializes!

[Fighting!]

Moravius says, "Impolite."

(Raelee moves closer to Moravius, attempting to see the astrolabe and cartograph more closely, seemingly unbothered by the hostiles.)

Moravius says, "This narrow passage is too tight. It impractical for forming a stable gateway."

Missoni asks, "Perhaps further in, then?"

For a moment, the ground trembles and cracks, and oddly, seems to expand as if stretching outward.

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "... what else do your readings say?"

Dirt and rock explode from the ground beneath Amathea as a glistening ashen bleakworm erupts from underground and crashes onto the surface!

[More fighting!]

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "Yes then, your readings?"

Moravius looks unfazed and continues speaking.

Pukk says, "I felt the ground rumble and was just about to tell Leafi that she needs to cut down on the chocolate."

Speaking to Raelee, Moravius says, "If we were to try to breach here, we might fall into the interplanar void, or end up in some other valence entirely."

Speaking defiantly to Pukk, Leafiara says, "Never."

Moravius says, "But then it might simply rip us into pieces through the tidal forces."

Winrie says, "Amathea..."

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "I'm here somewhere."

Moravius points at Amathea, ruining her hiding place.

Raelee asks, "Have you any mechanism amongst your tools for sending something inside without following it yourself?"

Moravius says, "Hide and seek will not work when you are dead."

Speaking to Amathea, Pukk asks, "Oh hi there. Did you know that you are dead?"

Speaking to Amathea, Pukk says, "Have you thought about not dying? It's what everybody is doing now-a-days."

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "I did, in fact."

Earthdiver says, "Is there someone to raise her."

Winrie says, "She is ready."

Arelder gestures at Amathea.

With each passing moment during Arelder's slow chant, his eyes flutter rhythmically. He folds his right arm and rests his chin upon his hand, then gazes down at the lifeless corpse of Amathea, as if contemplating her existence.

Blinking once, Arelder thrusts his hand over Amathea, and crackling raw power flows from Arelder's fingertips into Amathea.

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "How do you remain in contact with it once it passes through?"

Speaking to Raelee, Vortelis says, "There is a tether of energy that binds the probe to the sphere, so long as it does not get severed by the forces of the rift."

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

Viselda impatiently says, "We should keep moving, Moravius..."

Moravius says, "Oh, yes."

Harrower Moravius's group just went east.

[Talador, The Bleaklands]

The land is desolate and broken, with an endless terrain of fragmented, grey earth that is caked in layers of ash. The air is suffocating, with a thick, rancid odor and a faint heat still lingers in the area. The sky is bleak,

resembling an expanse of ink-whorled slate.

[Oh so much fighting! We lost a few.]

Speaking to Vivaldi, Pukk says, "So, you have died my friend..."

Earthdiver says, "Is there...someone to raise the farmer fellow."

Moravius says, "That will not do at all. You could get possessed laying around that way."

Leafiara tentatively asks, "Does anyone have a chrism on hand?"

The ghostly voice of Vivaldi says, "Ah mean.. fertilizer is fertilzer."

Arelder glumly admits, "I cannot, unfortunately..."

Speaking to Vivaldi, Perigourd says, "Indeed."

Thrassus says, "Nothing natural will grow here, though."

Speaking to Thrassus, Perigourd says, "For now."

Thrassus says, "Optimistic."

Thrassus snickers.

An old church bell rings hauntingly all around you, its distorted sound resonating throughout the broken lands.

The ghostly voice of Vivaldi says, "Yall run along and ah'll mebbe get the ground a li'l growin' like."

Earthdiver says, "No insects. It is indeed desolate compared to the other parts of the Bleaklands."

Arelder incredulously asks, "Did anyone hear that?"

A melodic chant escapes Leafiara's lips, singing the praises of the joys of living. Leafiara's eyes light up, and a sparkling yellow aura soon surrounds her as she revels in her ceremony. Caught up in the moment, she dances lively

around the body of Vivaldi, the exultant energy flowing from her to Vivaldi with every step. Leafiara takes a small bow at the end of the ritual that has left both her and Vivaldi slightly out of breath.

Speaking offhandedly to Arelder, Leafiara says, "It's, ah... not an uncommon sound around here..."

Leafiara says, "But, truly, what you'd better hope is that it doesn't signal the arrival of echoes of the Blameless."

Speaking to Leafiara, Lylia says, "Do not even speak them into existence."

Moravius says, "Blameless? Yes, I suppose we are, blameless in it."

Thrassus says, "If it was a few weeks older it would likely have turned into a maw on the end of a vine or something."

Monthas says, "Ohh thats right."

Speaking to Amathea, Winrie asks, "What happens when those fruits come home?"

Monthas says, "Dirt from the bleaklands."

Speaking to Moravius, Lylia says, "Well, naturally, but this is rather a different sort of...hmm. We can talk about it later."

Speaking to himself, Everall says, "This place..."

Earthdiver says, "Growing anything in this is almost certainly a terrible idea."

Speaking to Moravius, Vortelis says, "They mean zealots."

Earthdiver says, "Unless you grow it here, of course."

Lylia says, "Koarites."

Earthdiver says, "Then it's probably ok."

Moravius asks, "Koarites?"

Moravius frowns.

Speaking to Vivaldi, Winrie exclaims, "Not on our watch, turnip!"

Amathea quietly asks, "Devotees?"

Moravius says, "Those zealots do not even appreciate demons."

Speaking to Moravius, Thrassus says, "A brief description of them would be a political faction that still thinks invading us was a good idea."

Lylia says, "Everblood, zealotry, madness, destruction."

Leafiara says, "They've been here before--in the Bleaklands, that is--but they aren't always."

Winrie exclaims, "Good!"

Harrower Moravius's group just went northeast.

[Talador, The Bleaklands]

The land is desolate and broken, with an endless terrain of fragmented, grey earth that is caked in layers of ash. The air is suffocating, with a thick, rancid odor and a faint heat still lingers in the area. The sky is bleak, resembling an expanse of ink-whorled slate.

Also here: Blade Viselda, Arelder, Magister Raelee, Pukk, Brother-in-arms Oxhammer, Bathcwyn Missoni, Emissary Thrassus, Whimweaver Leafiara, Monthas, Squire Everall, Harrower Vortelis, Perigourd, Earthdiver, Winrie, Amathea, Harrower Moravius

Winrie exclaims, "Why would anyone?!"

Leafiara says, "But I think I recall seeing them last time we encountered those worms, so..."

The temperature drops suddenly as a flickering shadow spectre materializes!

The spectre moans evilly!

[Still more fighting!]

Harrower Moravius's group just went east.

[Talador, The Bleaklands]

The land is desolate and broken, with an endless terrain of fragmented, grey earth that is caked in layers of ash. The air is suffocating, with a thick, rancid odor and a faint heat still lingers in the area. The sky is bleak, resembling an expanse of ink-whorled slate. You also see a large unstable ripple in the air.

Also here: Blade Viselda, Arelder, Magister Raelee, Pukk, Brother-in-arms Oxhammer, Bathcwyn Missoni, Emissary Thrassus, Whimweaver Leafiara, Monthas, Squire Everall, Perigourd, Earthdiver, Winrie, Amathea, Vivaldi, Harrower Vortelis, Harrower Moravius

Moravius exclaims, "There we are!"

You gaze through the large ripple and see...

[Shadow Realm]

The face of the tumultuous mountain is altogether unlike any that can be found in the waking world. Strips of cloth that may have once been banners peek out from beneath rocks and within crevices, their countenances torn and frayed, making their crests all but unidentifiable. Sandwiched between the boulders that create the base of the range are humanoid limbs that twitch and swat at the empty air from time to time.

Monthas says, "So much to see and look at."

Thrassus says, "Interesting."

Vortelis says, "This one seems more well-formed."

Thrassus asks, "Could that be the equivalent to the Reach on the shadow valence?"

(Pukk tries to poke the ripple in the air.)

(Lylia falls silent and peers avidly at the ripple as if searching for something beyond it.)

The temperature drops suddenly as a flickering shadow spectre materializes!

A flickering shadow spectre hisses an evil incantation!

[Periodic bouts of fighting!]

Vortelis fixes a small metallic orb to a dark tendril of energy from his urglaes sphere.

Arelder concernedly asks, "Is everyone alright?"

Thrassus says, "Quite fine."

Amathea quietly exclaims, "That thing!"

Speaking to Vortelis, Earthdiver says, "Oh..what is the that orb for."

The probe vanishes into the ripple of air. The tendril of dark energy flickers around, as if being drawn like a line of rope, then begins thrashing and grows taut.

Earthdiver says, "Ah, the probe."

Leafiara steeples her fingers together, quietly observing her surroundings.

Earthdiver asks, "Does the probe also communicate through the tether?"

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "Is the energy connection stable enough?"

Earthdiver asks, "Does the probe also communicate through the tether?"

Thrassus says, "Something must have thought it was bait."

Vortelis says, "The issue is that the passage is too violently unstable. But yes, we can gleam some information, in this way."

Earthdiver says, "Somewhat like a Familiar, I suppose."

Vortelis says, "This will not do. We should get closer to the epicenter of the destruction."

Monthas says, "That sounds like a bad idea."

Pukk says, "That is why we are going to do it."

Vortelis says, "The shadows will be more intense there, we may be able to use the soulstone on it."

Thrassus says, "I have always wondered what it looks like there, anyways."

Earthdiver says, "It will be exciting."

Vivaldi says, "Dead farmers ain't too excitin'."

Viselda says, "These particular beasts have been limited. But this is dangerous. There should be more Palestra here right now."

Lylia says, "Keenly exciting. I have not seen some of these sights."

Monthas asks, "What is a palestra?"

Amathea quietly says, "More of that insight."

Speaking to Monthas, Perigourd says, "A demon slayer."

Speaking to Viselda, Thrassus asks, "As in how many more?"

Speaking smugly to Viselda, Moravius asks, "Where are your wandering Palestra of the outlands?"

Speaking to Viselda, Earthdiver says, "Do you have any advice."

Viselda scowls at Moravius.

Speaking to Viselda, Perigourd says, "Some of us here have fair experience at slaying demons as well."

Speaking to Earthdiver, Pukk says, "Don't die."

Speaking to Monthas, Lylia explains, "They are Faendryl expressly trained in the dispatching of demons, among other skills."

Harrower Moravius's group just went northeast.

[Talador, The Bleaklands]

The land is desolate and broken, with an endless terrain of fragmented, grey earth that is caked in layers of ash. The air is suffocating, with a thick, rancid odor and a faint heat still lingers in the area. The sky is bleak, resembling an expanse of ink-whorled slate.

Also here: Blade Viselda, Arelder, Magister Raelee, Pukk, Brother-in-arms Oxhammer, Bathcwyn Missoni, Emissary Thrassus, Whimweaver Leafiara, Monthas, Squire Everall, Perigourd, Earthdiver, Winrie, Amathea, Vivaldi, Harrower Vortelis, Harrower Moravius

Obvious paths: east, southwest

Monthas says, "Thank you."

Winrie proudly says, "Leave the dying to me."

Monthas says, "Did not know that."

Amathea quietly exclaims, "No!"

(Arelder rests the flat of his blade on his shoulder, tapping it idly.)

In the distance you hear a faintly unreal old bell ringing out. Soon this is met with a massing number of decomposing red-eyed bleak knights, shambling toward you with malicious and bloody intent.

Amathea quietly exclaims, "Hey!"

Thrassus says, "Ah, here they are."

A cold, dank wind blows in, followed by a decomposing red-eyed bleak knight!

A decomposing red-eyed bleak knight clatters to its feet.

[Fightinnnngggg!]

Speaking to Moravius, Vortelis says, "That is only going to get worse as the storm intensifies."

Harrower Moravius's group just went east.

[Talador, The Bleaklands]

The great northern mountains rise up like a wall of jagged, icy fingers in the distance. Their peaks are obscured by heavy black clouds, and the once fresh mountain air has been replaced by the stagnant, putrid odor of burnt flesh and scorched earth. You also see a towering oily black tree.

Also here: Blade Viselda, Arelder, Magister Raelee, Pukk, Brother-in-arms Oxhammer, Bathcwyn Missoni, Emissary Thrassus, Whimweaver Leafiara, Monthas, Squire Everall, Perigourd, Earthdiver, Winrie, Amathea, Vivaldi, Harrower Vortelis, Harrower Moravius

Earthdiver blinks in surprise, as though just becoming aware of a towering oily black tree's presence.

Thrassus says, "Oh.."

Monthas says, "Black apples."

Winrie exclaims, "Apples!"

Earthdiver says, "Where..where is that black apple fellow."

Perigourd says, "We saw this the last time we came through."

Speaking quietly to himself, Arelder remarks, "Like the old tales..."

[Frequent skirmishes throughout our time here]

Speaking to a towering oily black tree, Thrassus asks, "Well aren't you magnificent?"

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly exclaims, "Look at how big it is!"

Speaking encouragingly to Amathea, Winrie exclaims, "You made it so far. No giving up now!"

Speaking to Amathea, Lylia says, "It looks taller when you are lying down, I have no doubt."

Speaking to Vortelis, Moravius says, "Yes, I know. The situation is improving by the minute."

Thrassus asks, "I do wonder if the fruit are the same as the ones in the orchard?"

Leafiara says, "Ah, good, now we more demonstrably prove that these black apples are different than the other black apples."

Earthdiver asks, "Do we have someone to raise her?"

Leafiara says, "Oh, I thought she wanted to be fed to the tree."

Speaking firmly to a towering oily black tree, Arelder says, "Cold steel and prayer..."

Speaking loudly to Amathea, Winrie exclaims, "Still not buried!"

Leafiara reassuringly exclaims, "Maybe next time with some other tree!"

Moravius says, "Unfortunately we have other experiments remaining."

Perigourd says, "Plenty of nicer trees to be absorbed by."

Perigourd nods slowly.

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "Thus we should continue, yes? What is next?"

Speaking to Vortelis, Moravius asks, "There is one near here, can you feel it?"

Vortelis nods at Moravius.

Vortelis says, "Near the ruins to the north."

Harrower Moravius's group just went north.

[Talador, The Bleaklands]

Rows and rows of crumbled, charred stones are strewn about the broken landscape where the towering walls of Talador once stood. Even the wind is hot, swirling around and scattering ash and smoldering debris all about. You also see a large unstable ripple in the air.

Also here: Blade Viselda, Arelder, Magister Raelee, Pukk, Brother-in-arms Oxhammer, Bathcwyn Missoni, Emissary Thrassus, Whimweaver Leafiara, Monthas, Squire Everall, Perigourd, Earthdiver, Winrie, Vivaldi, Harrower Vortelis, Harrower Moravius

Obvious paths: south

Vivaldi says, "Still smells bad here."

You gaze through the large ripple and see...

[Shadow Realm]

The air hums with an unseen energy, and tendrils of deep shadow trail across the ground like snakes hungrily searching for prey. In the distance, a scarlet light pulses, distorting the bruised sky and smearing the colors like so much paint under an artist's brush.

Thrassus says, "Oh, we are at the center for certain."

Lylia quietly says, "It smells cleaner than Chaston Griffin's camps."

Lylia purses her lips in a thin line of disapproval.

Earthdiver says, "At least it is warm here."

Moravius tweaks the index of the astrolabe along the ecliptic hyperbolic engraved on its rete, looking between his map and the rift as well as the mater.

Pukk says, "It's so quiet."

Pukk says, "And peaceful."

Vivaldi says, "So's a grave."

The voice of Pukk says, "I better hide."

Winrie says, "Warm, like a fermenting pile."

Thrassus says, "That light..."

Speaking to himself, Moravius says, "This is the best we are going to be able to do, unless the veil is totally broken through somewhere in that wreckage."

Thrassus says, "That's the center."

Vortelis says, "I will check to see if this rift can be used to charge the soulstone."

Monthas asks, "What does the soulstone look like?"

Vortelis says, "If I can get a reasonable amount of shadows into it, we can try to open a test portal to the Shadow Realm."

Vortelis removes a pale red soulstone suspended by a frayed leather cord from in his vortex of shadows.

Vortelis says, "It looks approximately like this."

Monthas produces a gleaming multicolored soulstone from the depths of his spidersilk duster.

Monthas says, "Different than mine."

Vortelis holds up two fingers and slowly pinches them together until they are almost touching.

Lylia says, "It is pale now, but it was once a vibrant red."

Lylia explains, "It belonged to Aralyte, a Palestra Blade who was instrumental in destroying Althedeus, a sentient creature of shadows that sought godhood."

Vortelis brings the pale soulstone up to the ripple in the air and utters some arcane incantations in Faendryl.

Earthdiver says, "Godhood sounds like so much...responsibility."

The soulstone begins to glow red. Vortelis winces as it heats up and pulses.

Lylia quietly says, "She remained within the shadows."

Speaking quietly to Missoni, Arelder explains, "I know we have bigger problems than my memories... but it is a strange feeling seeing it. I grew up a bit west of here... we only rarely visited the capital. These stones seem like they should speak to me. But yet... they don't."

Perigourd nods grimly at Arelder.

Writhing shadows bleed through the ripple in the air, forming wispy tendrils that peel off the rift, which get drawn toward the soulstone and siphon into it.

Speaking gently to Arelder, Missoni says, "It cannot be an easy thing to see."

Thrassus says, "That pulsing light in the distance just might be where the bells are coming from."

(Winrie spreads her arms wide.)

Speaking quietly to Moravius, Raelee asks, "... are there no further readings to take with the astrolabe or quasi-sphere?"

Vortelis swaps the bright red soulstone to his left hand. His right hand is visibly burned on the palm with the imprint of the soulstone on it.

Thrassus says, "He is likely there."

Everall glances over at Vortelis and winces.

Earthdiver says, "That heated up surprisingly fast."

Speaking to Vortelis, Pukk says, "You should see a healer about that."

Speaking to Raelee, Moravius says, "He is going to try to fully open the rift into a portal."

Winrie flatly says, "Or, maybe not see one."

Moravius says, "Which would allow us to walk in ourselves."

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia murmurs, "I have held fires that burned me to the bone. It is nothing we cannot bear."

Monthas asks, "First trip to the bleaklands, and then we go to shadow?"

The air abruptly grows cold, the shadows suddenly seem alive.

Earthdiver says, "That feels better."

A fluid shadowy bleakwalker drifts in smoothly, trailed by a shadowy haze.

The dark power of the shadowy bleakwalker draws at Grhim.

[Fights...so many fights.]

Vivaldi glances at a delicate azure bonnet.

Vivaldi says, "Killed some poor granny."

Vortelis says, "We will do a penetration test on the rift with the soulstone, as Moravius was saying, seeing if it might be able to form a stable portal to the Shadows valence."

Thrassus says, "That was a bleakworm."

Thrassus says, "Not a granny."

Lylia says, "A city died here. More than one 'granny' died, I am certain."

Speaking to Thrassus, Perigourd says, "It may have eaten one, however."

Thrassus says, "Fair point."

Vortelis says, "It is not charged fully. But siphoning directly off this rift was fairly fast."

Missoni says, "That is promising."

Vortelis says, "Hopefully my hand does not transform into a tentacle."

Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd says, "Perhaps it can siphon the entirey and close this.. tear."

Speaking quietly to Vortelis, Amathea says, "It might be an improvement."

Speaking to Vortelis, Earthdiver says, "That could be exciting."

Monthas says, "That would be a deal breaker."

Lylia says, "On the other hand -- or tentacle -- it could be useful."

Vivaldi says, "Easier to scratch wit tho."

Speaking to Vortelis, Pukk exclaims, "But if it does think of how quickly you can eat food then!"

Missoni says, "That would be fascinating."

Vortelis confusedly says, "What? More shadows would only deepen the tear."

Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus asks, "Is something wrong?"

Vortelis chants in a dark tongue and faces the ripple, swapping the soulstone back to his burned hand and reaching out with it.

A flash of bright red light ripples outward into the Bleaklands.

Monthas says, "Thats the "hello we are here" beacon."

Thrassus says, "That's going to get more attention."

Earthdiver says, "A price for everything."

The tear in the fabric of reality looks unstable for a moment, and a bolt of energy soars off it, lashing past Vortelis and arcing up into the night!

More skin peels back from Vortelis's fingers, leaving ribbons of incarnadine blood and bone in its wake.

Pukk says, "I guess shooting a demon with a bow is still not going to work."

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia hisses, "Steady on."

The light within Vortelis's talisman begins to churn and slowly dissipate until it grows paler, murky, then dull white.

Speaking in Faendryl, Grhim says, "The lantern enjoys the taste of other shadows."

Speaking to Vortelis, Vivaldi says, "Don't look too good feller."

Earthdiver says, "How does that keep happening."

Speaking to Amathea, Earthdiver says, "I think they have it out for you."

Speaking to Amathea, Pukk says, "You know...I'm starting to think you like being dead."

The ripple in the air becomes darker, and the world beyond it begins to melt away, slowly turning bright red as if blood were seeping out across it.

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "It's a small price for knowledge."

Thrassus says, "It's stabilizing."

Vortelis carefully surveys his surroundings.

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "Sure! I like risks."

Leafiara agrees, "Well, alright then!"

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia breathes, "It is beautiful."

Leafiara says, "I like the spirit."

Speaking to Leafiara, Winrie says, "Go easy."

The bloody hue dims away. Through the rift are shifting vistas of black skeletal trees, piles of bones, cliffs of crimson haze, iron chains through the skies, and a floating island of flesh stabbed through with obsidian. It keeps unstably expanding and contracting.

Vortelis gazes with interest at a large unstable ripple in the air.

Earthdiver asks, "What does that mean?"

Speaking to Thrassus, Perigourd says, "I'm quite sure the bleaklands don't quite look like that."

Thrassus says, "Well, that's quite the sight."

Missoni murmurs, "Remarkable."

Vortelis exclaims, "Gah!"

The soulstone suddenly glows intensely bright and fires a beam of red into western sky!

Vortelis falls over.

The storm above Melgorehn's Reach is struck with a beam of red light. Its clouds turn bloody red, and for a moment time slows to a crawl, then suddenly snap back with a tidal wave of bright red light!

Missoni says, "Mind the storm."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee says, "... curious that the energies can be so attracted to the storm at the Reach, even at this distance. One wonders how far that connection could extend..."

Vortelis dusts himself off.

Vortelis glances at a light red soulstone suspended by a frayed leather cord in his hand.

Moravius asks, "The veil is thinning all around us. Vortelis?"

Oxhammer says, "Sounds like landin starting to pop."

Space itself seems to thin out and stretch, and what little color there is wanes in the bleak lands. The landscape itself seems like a mirage of black trees and soil of flesh threatening to become real.

Vivaldi says, "Soil of flesh."

Vivaldi says, "Nawps."

Vivaldi says, "No."

Thrassus says, "It might have stabilized things too much."

(Lylia flicks her gaze uneasily to the south.)

Perigourd says, "One might concur."

Earthdiver asks, "Do we?"

Amathea quietly exclaims, "Not yet!"

Vortelis says, "Hold."

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

Shadows peel off the rift and begin forming into masses of eyes and shadowy tentacles...

Monthas says, "Umm."

Thrassus says, "More of them."

(Winrie covers her face with her right arm.)

A massive tenebrous oculoth's central eye suddenly bleeds with a variety of hues, the colors roiling in a shadowy vortex until it finally blossoms with a solid incarnadine hue.

[Big fights!]

Vivaldi says, "Nawp nawp nawp nawp."

Amathea quietly says, "What is THAT."

Earthdiver says, "Ahhh. Finally."

Thrassus says, "Oculoth."

Earthdiver says, "My favorite animal."

Leafiara pleasedly says, "It's been too long."

Speaking to Amathea, Vivaldi says, "Nasty buggers."

Speaking to Amathea, Earthdiver says, "It's a giant eye with teeth."

Lylia says, "Do not implode them."

Pukk asks, "Implode them?"

Earthdiver says, "They...eat...the voids."

Lylia says, "I learned that lesson the hard way."

Earthdiver says, "And will vomit them on you."

Monthas says, "Eww."

Lylia says, "Messily."

Earthdiver says, "What do we have...that attracted the oculoths."

Earthdiver says, "They are normally such uh..peaceful creatures."

Speaking to Amathea, Leafiara exclaims, "We'll make sure it's clear first!"

Vortelis keeps incanting with his urglaes sphere hovering between him and the rift. The soulstone streams a thread of darkness and incarnadine light through the sphere into the rift.

Leafiara muses, "Relatively speaking..."

Speaking to Vortelis, Earthdiver says, "We will defend you."

Speaking concernedly to Amathea, Winrie says, "If you keep dying, you might not come back."

The rift becomes black as midnight, and pierced with two feystone lights.

Monthas asks, "Glowing eyes?"

Monthas says, "Or something else."

Leafiara says, "Ah, that's what she looked like last time, I believe."

The darkness of the rift resolves around the feystone lights, which burn in the shadowy orbs in the face of a dark elven woman, with a bald head and blood red sigils over her eyes. She is surrounded in blood, and her body is wreathed in shadow. She reaches a shadowy arm out toward you as from the other side of a dark mirror.

Perigourd says, "That doesn't seem right."

Thrassus says, "It's Aralyte."

Pukk says, "Yeah..doesn't look crazy at all."

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia breathes, "Oh, I am not far..."

Winrie exasperatedly exclaims, "It better be!"

Speaking to himself, Arelder remarks, "No... it can't be..."

Thrassus says, "She's closing the rift, it seems."

Earthdiver says, "Perhaps she has changed."

Speaking in Faendryl, Grhim asks, "Have you been inside of there?"

Leafiara says, "Was more or less what she looked like last time..."

Lylia says, "Many of us have been in the realm of shadows."

The soulstone burns hot and bright.

Speaking to Lylia, Pukk says, "Well, you are married to Xorus so..."

Earthdiver says, "Seems like we are still good."

Vortelis says, "I have to get this away from here, you should get back to the portal."

Speaking to Vortelis, Missoni says, "Surely you will not remain."

Lylia says, "Get it away from here how? I left her; I do not intend to leave you."

Monthas asks, "Are we raising or dragging?"

Earthdiver says, "At this rate, we could persist indefinitely."

Vortelis says, "Through a rift, away from these sinkholes, and the mana storm."

Vortelis says, "For now."

Earthdiver says, "Most of us."

Speaking loudly to Amathea, Winrie asks, "Do you still have deeds?"

Speaking quietly to Earthdiver, Arelder replies, "But not with body and soul together."

Vortelis tears open space and disappears through it.

Leafiara slowly says, "Ah, correction, no, I'm not raising... she died again too quickly."

Thrassus says, "That means we move."

Monthas says, "So drag it is."

There is a loud, demonic shrieking through the ripple, which once again becomes unstable and contracts.

Earthdiver says, "I wonder what that one could be."

Monthas says, "Ohh yeah we dragging."

Lylia says, "We do not need to drag her."

Earthdiver says, "It has been SOO long since I have talked with a demon of some ability."

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "That's probably not good."

Speaking to Amathea, Lylia asks, "Do you object to animation?"

Vivaldi says, "A critter."

Pukk exclaims, "Ooh animate her!"

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly exclaims, "Nope!"

Pukk exclaims, "That's always fun!"

Monthas says, "That works."

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "Can't die if i'm dead."

Monthas says, "You sorceress are so efficient."

Speaking to Amathea, Pukk exclaims, "And if Lylia wants she can make you explode too!"

Moravius reluctantly says, "This rift is not viable for us. We should leave this place."

Speaking to Lylia, Grhim says, "You never miss the opportunity to reanimate a corpse."

Speaking to Amathea, Winrie says, "You are now an apple."

Monthas asks, "Wait, did he go into that rift?"

Speaking to Monthas, Perigourd says, "He fled."

Speaking to Monthas, Earthdiver says, "A personal rift."

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "A fancy apple."

Lylia says, "His own rift."

Thrassus says, "He went into a different one he created."

Lylia says, "He did not flee so much as he took a dangerous object out of immediate proximity to the rift."

Speaking offhandedly to Amathea, Lylia says, "There may be some side effects. They are usually mild once you are raised."

Earthdiver says, "Can we stay a while yet."

Thrassus says, "I was worried for a moment."

Pukk says, "Landing is being invaded."

[Fighting breaks out as we make our way toward the portal.]

Moravius says, "We are almost there."

Earthdiver says, "I would like to have an oculoth one day."

Speaking to Pukk, Perigourd says, "Not surprising considering the Reach pulled some of the portal it looked like."

The sky darkens as a huge, mammoth oily black mass peels away from dark patches in the sky. Its gargantuan maggot-like body is a shadowy abomination of arms and thousands of teeth. It slowly descends toward you in the direction of the portal.

Moravius gazes up into the heavens.

Moravius says, "Fascinating."

Thrassus says, "Another one..."

Leafiara says, "Ahh, the maggot abomination..."

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "Curious."

Missoni says, "One of those...things."

Earthdiver says, "That could be a large one."

Thrassus says, "They can be killed."

Perigourd says, "Most things can."

Speaking to Raelee, Pukk says, "He says many of the things you always say. I think you might be related."

The massive shadowy blob of abomination moves closer with its tendrils and jagged teeth.

Speaking to Pukk, Raelee says, "We are not."

Perigourd says, "Though with the town imperiled, we may wish to assist there."

Moravius says, "Ah, yes. I should get that portal closed."

Moravius's group just went through a glowing dark red portal.

[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 yellow verlok feather, a glowing dark red portal, a lazy wild deep red dog, a wide-beaked copper verlok'asha that is flying around, a phantasmal indigo-eyed eel that is flying around, a mutilated shadowy Ithzir gibbet, an enormous blue crystal monolith, a barely visible trail leading into a grove of ancient trees, a cedar chip path and a shielded worker encampment.

Also here: Blade Viselda, Arelder, Magister Raelee, Pukk, Bathcwyn Missoni, Emissary Thrassus, Whimweaver Leafiara, Monthas, Squire Everall, Earthdiver, Vivaldi, Perigourd, Brother-in-arms Oxhammer, Winrie, Moravius

(Winrie adjusts her jaw.)

Perigourd says, "I'm going to aid in town."

Leafiara says, "Likewise."

Monthas says, "Thank the gods, we are back."

Thrassus says, "While the pylons can kill the things, it's still a hard fight."

Monthas says, "Not that I didn't enjoy my first trip to the Bleaklands."

A faint song draws attention to an odd silhouette that fades into a shadowy Ithzir omenbearer!

A shadowy Ithzir omenbearer raises her arms as she sings!

[Everyone's least favorite fight!]

Moravius walks over to the encampment and picks up a spear of kroderine, then walks back and hurls it into the shadowy portal!

The shadowy portal abruptly and violently collapses!

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly asks, "Oh great...these things followed us through?"

Speaking to Moravius, Earthdiver says, "That is a handy spear."

The ghostly voice of Winrie exclaims, "They lead us here!"

Thrassus says, "No, they are manifesting here."

Lylia says, "Not any more, I believe."

The ghostly voice of Amathea quietly says, "Ooohh.....it's all a bit of a blur."

The ghostly voice of Winrie exclaims, "That stupid stone!"

Earthdiver says, "It looks like the town needs a hand."

The dark red in the storm clouds of Melgorehn's Reach slowly bleeds away, becoming replaced again with azure and celadon flashes of light.

Moravius says, "That is marginally better."

Moravius put a phasing black alloy astrolabe in his black leather case.

Thrassus says, "Somewhat, yes."

Moravius put a convoluted valencial cartograph in his black leather case.

Shadows in the surface of the lake pulse with dark crimson light, for a moment vaguely resembling an otherworldly landscape in its depths.

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "From your readings, what is the primary source of instability in those ruptures?"

Moravius says, "If you had all died like this sooner, it would have made triangulating faster."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee says, "... for if we could find a way to stabilize them, it seems it would be better both for research and charging the soulstone..."

Speaking to Moravius, Vivaldi says, "Ah already died twice.."

Speaking to Amathea, the ghostly voice of Winrie says, "We did our paty."

Moravius says, "It is the chaos of the Bleaklands, and the haphazard way they are formed."

Speaking quietly to Winrie, the ghostly voice of Amathea exclaims, "We sure did!"

Moravius says, "Eventually they may collapse more fully into portals."

Thrassus says, "They might be easier to close at that point."

Moravius says, "But it seems quite likely we could get ourselves stranded in the Shadow Realm if we forced one open and it did not hold."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "... then we ought to ensure it holds, yes?"

[missing part of log]

Viselda incredulously asks, "What Prelate?"

Thrassus says, "Chaston Griffon of course."

Thrassus asks, "You saw that red pulsing light in the distance through the rift, yes?"

Thrassus says, "That might be him."

Moravius asks, "In the Shadow Realm?"

Thrassus says, "Indeed."

Lylia firmly says, "Prelate Chaston Griffin is a smear of oily soot on a pair of my once-favorite boots and the reason I cannot wear them anymore."

Moravius says, "Vortelis is more versed in the history of the Bleaklands than myself."

Lylia says, "If any shred of him remains, I shall be happy to sacrifice another pair of boots."

Speaking to herself, Lylia murmurs, "Although perhaps not this pair."

Thrassus says, "Suffice it to say a witch's device detonated in the capital and created the Bleaklands."

Thrassus says, "Taking the Prelate and most of his Blameless along with it."

Perigourd says, "It may just be my persepctive, but it looked like Aralyte dirtected them to attack us."

Thrassus says, "I suspect it might not have destroyed them, however."

Speaking to Perigourd, Viselda says, "That was how I perceived it."

Speaking to Perigourd, Earthdiver says, "Perhaps she has changed."

Lylia reluctantly says, "I have said before that she must be found. That is one of the reasons why."

Thrassus says, "Those tendrils she directed were reaching for the rift, it appeared to me."

Missoni carefully says, "She was reaching for us. Perhaps she was unaware of the effect she was having."

Moravius says, "We did not see her very long."

Speaking quietly to Missoni, Lylia says, "I thought that too. It was...ambiguous, in all the chaos."

Earthdiver says, "If only we had some way to track her presence in the Bleaklands."

Perigourd says, "She seemed imbued with shadow, herself."

Moravius says, "But there were these Ithzir, as well as shadow entities, spilling out into the Bleaklands from it."

Leafiara says, "We're dealing with shadows that appear like Ithzir and might not be them, so it's not implausible to face shadows that also appear like Aralyte and might not be her."

Leafiara says, "Just theorizing."

Perigourd asks, "Is there a point at which the shadows so saturate a person that they cannot be separated from them?"

Leafiara adds, "Although the soulstone does cast doubt on that particular one..."

Moravius says, "Siphoning energy out is one thing, but the mutations caused are something else."

Lylia says, "I do not recall her name. She spent a great deal of time with Cruxophim. She was so thoroughly taken by shadows that she may as well have been one."

Viselda says, "That would be settled with observation and treatment in a thaumaturgical asylum."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "And how many of those mutations are supported by the shadows? Are they survivable without the shadows?"

Speaking to Raelee, Moravius says, "That is a difficulty. Aberrations often become physically dependent."

Moravius says, "Or they might be able to sustain themselves in some parasitic fashion."

Lylia stiffly says, "If she is contaminated in this way, then we must still find her."

Thrassus says, "Another concern is that titanic leech."

Viselda says, "I consider this a Palestra matter at this point. But that will be up to the Basilican Magistrate and Dracovir."

Thrassus says, "It very well may eventually make its way here."

Thrassus says, "That's what the last one did."

Speaking to Lylia, Earthdiver says, "I have been working on a device to track shadow energy. Perhaps it could be of some use."

Thrassus says, "It scented its prey in the Bleaklands and slowly floated its way here."

Lylia quietly says, "Perhaps. I hope that it might."

Moravius says, "The tracing methods will prove useful, even if now it is a virtual certainty that it is all stemming from this valence."

Moravius says, "You know, it is like saying, Korvath is somewhere on Elanthia."

Moravius says, "But I think Vortelis will want to enter the Shadows valence from here at Lake Eonak."

Thrassus says, "That's likely the safest option."

Perigourd says, "Considering that the breach expanded to the Reach here, it would seem from a safety standpoint to presume the same risks."

Speaking to Moravius, Lylia asks, "Do you have an idea of the time we may expect this to occur?"

Lylia says, "I understand there is some randomness. Periodicity is not predictable with these storms."

Moravius says, "The storm cycle is dying down, probably for a month."

Moravius says, "We would be using the mana storm to help keep the portal propped open when we need it."

Lylia adds, "And Harrower Vortelis? He is safe?"

Moravius tilts his head and his eyes glaze over.

Moravius says, "Yes. Vortelis is elsewhere, waiting out the storm."

Lylia says, "Good."

Moravius says, "He may be in some trouble for hitting it with that beam."

Moravius says, "With the Archchancellor, I mean."

Lylia says, "Trouble follows in the hinterlands; it is just what happens."

Moravius says, "But it was chaos. These things happen."

Lylia says, "Just so."

Moravius says, "He was only half-joking about his hand. That was an intense exposure to shadows."

Thrassus says, "It did seem a bit stronger than anitcipated."

Speaking to Moravius, Everall asks, "Will he recover from that?"

Moravius says, "We will probably recharge it in a slower way."

Earthdiver says, "It happens."

Lylia says, "I did not mean to offend with my jest about the utility of having a tentacle. Nor should he take any comments about Ivas amiss."

Speaking to Everall, Moravius says, "If it is just a flesh wound."

Speaking to Everall, Perigourd says, "I've seen some mages recreate hands out of pure fire essence."

Lylia says, "I have had...similar incidents with burns to the hands."

Speaking to Lylia, Raelee says, "... I recall."

Moravius says, "Fortunately the storming was relatively mild. I would hate.. well, no... Viselda would hate it, if it were a much stronger volatility."

Speaking to Perigourd, Everall says, "I suppose I was unaware whether these circumstances would be treated differently."

Speaking to Everall, Perigourd says, "They may very well be."

Speaking to Moravius, Perigourd says, "I suspect I share her view."

Speaking to Moravius, Viselda says, "You will be the death of us."

Arelder wearily says, "Forgive me for parting. This evening has been... overwhelming."

Arelder wearily continues, "...and I wish to be alone."

Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "I'll have to work on a report for Sir Guarrin."

Missoni says, "We shall turn in, in that case."

Moravius says, "It is virtually certain we will have to go to the Shadow Realm now."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee says, "... that will be interesting."

Speaking to Moravius, Earthdiver says, "I am happy to accompany."

Viselda says, "Dracovir will not allow a Palestra to be in that condition, left to her own devices in a demonic valence."

Moravius says, "Yes, well. There is that, as well."

Lylia says, "We have been before. We shall go again. I have been eager -- well, no. I have been certain that returning is necessary. I would not say I am eager for it, however."

Thrassus says, "I don't think anyone was planning on leaving her in that state."

Viselda flatly says, "Yes. That."

Lylia firmly says, "I never have. I have sought to return for a decade."

Lylia says, "I know you have as well, and many others."

Moravius says, "It is a difficult and perilous place to harrow, we would not ordinarily try to go to that valence."

Moravius says, "The rift we will have to make to it will be relatively dangerous."

Lylia says, "We do what we must."

Viselda says, "The threat obviously outweights the hazard now."

Lylia says, "It was not easy when she used the Staff of Ith'can."

Moravius says, "That Ur-Daemon relic is presumably still in the Shadow Realm."

Moravius says, "We will only have the soulstone, and this old wound in the veil."

Lylia smiles slightly and says, "We have never shrunk from doing more with less, though, have we?"

Speaking to Moravius, Viselda says, "Come along, Moravius. We have higher authorities to answer to over what happened."

Speaking to Viselda, Moravius says, "Laws? How quaint."

Viselda rolls her eyes.

Speaking mockingly to Moravius, Viselda says, "Your Highness."

Moravius says, "Honor and glory to the Patriarch."

Viselda says, "Honor and glory to the Patriarch. But not him."

Viselda squints at Moravius.

Moravius says, "Famous ancestors."

Moravius shrugs.

Moravius tears open a rift that he and Viselda walk through.