Lost Palestra (storyline)/2026-07-14 - Smoke and Mirrors (log)

[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 lazy wild ash grey dog, a shielded worker encampment, a cedar chip path, a barely visible trail leading into a grove of ancient trees, an enormous blue crystal monolith, a mutilated shadowy Ithzir gibbet, Morgulis and a complicated metalwork apparatus.

Moravius says, "It is more a matter of accounting for all of the complications."

Xociral says, "I did not. But I dropped my staff. Fortunately it is wood, and floats."

Missoni brightly says, "Some standard deviation is to be expected."

Mianyn says, "Couldve swore I heard swimming sounds."

Viselda says, "The 'deviations' are where I come in."

Missoni amusedly says, "Quite so."

Speaking to Moravius, Xociral says, "Has there been further incident here since my last vistor, Harrower Moravius? I see you have built... something."

Moravius says, "There were a lot of assaults by the shadow entities and shadowy Ithzir."

Moravius says, "We captured one of the Ithzir. But now I want to capture one of the shadows."

Speaking to a complicated metalwork apparatus, Missoni murmurs, "I think it should do."

Mianyn asks, "How do you capture a shadow?"

Moravius says, "It will serve several purposes for us. The first is that we will be able to study the entity to see if it has any Ithzir quality within it."

Xociral asks, "Did the Ithzir prove useful? Do you still have it in captivity?"

Speaking to Mianyn, Missoni says, "With mirrors and glass."

Triex says, "This is fascinating, truly."

Mianyn says, "That's clever."

Triex says, "So the mountain is new, the lake has swallowed a cartographer, and something has begun whispering into my skull. A productive evening by any measure."

Moravius says, "It is some kind of shadowy, necromantic incarnation of an Ithzir."

Perigourd says, "The mountain has been here for quite some time."

Blades says, "A spooky ithzir."

Fanaliel asks, "I am no sorcerer... But what are the chances a demon, or whatever creature you're trying to snag, escapes?"

Triex says, "Alright, not-so-new."

Speaking to Perigourd, Missoni says, "Time is a bit wobbly around it though."

Moravius says, "This will help settle whether our animated specimen is a shadows counterfeit of an Ithzir."

Lylia says, "It is 'new' in an absolute sense, if not a relative one."

Moravius says, "Or if it is instead the case that the shadow entities originate in corrupted Ithzir."

Perigourd says, "Even in regular extraplanar travel it happens somewhat.. frequently."

Speaking to Perigourd, Fanaliel says, "Arkati protect us."

Moravius says, "Or if they are unrelated. That one is merely collateral damage of the other."

One of the Harrowers walks by and stands near the gibbet holding a shadowy Ithzir, calibrating some complicated device against the shard protruding from its skull.

Speaking to Fanaliel, Perigourd says, "Palestra, and Imperials more likely."

Blades says, "Unlikely."

Lylia says, "The people assembled here are without doubt those who are most qualified to deal with such matters."

Speaking to Raelee, Moravius says, "We have 'vivisected' it and torn it up and let it come together."

Moravius says, "To that end the Archchancellor has acquired Morgulis for us, who is a specialist in this intersection of extraplanar beings with necromancy."

Speaking to Perigourd, Missoni says, "I believe you exaggerate the frequency, darling."

Moravius says, "Which is a highly restricted field of study, in most respects illegal for many reasons."

Morgulis condescendingly says, "Short sighted, self-limiting, without reason."

Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "That depends on how we classify demons."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "Did the process reveal anything unexpected?"

Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "Those Nyessem for instance."

Moravius says, "That will tell us much of their origins. Which we must know to end them."

Speaking to Moravius, Perigourd says, "Swords usually work to end most things."

Speaking to Raelee, Moravius says, "We have a few theories on them."

Speaking to Moravius, Xociral says, "I have been studying the orb I was given. I believe I've managed to find a way to use the panoptic with it, if you are seeking a creature beyond this place that the orb may have come from."

Moravius says, "That is very much in line with what we need."

Xociral asks, "Is this orb tied to the shadow you speak of?"

Xociral asks, "Or one like it?"

Moravius says, "The hazy orbs come from the shadows, like some kind of ambergris of shadow energy."

Moravius says, "The second purpose of the apparatus is that we will take these two captured beings and use them to triangulate their source valences."

Triex seriously says, "A Harrower with a shadow apparatus is one concern. A necromancer brought in by the Archchancellor to study demons is a different one entirely. If the device fails, I am equally prepared for either problem to reach me first."

Lylia asks, "Ambergris of shadow energy. Fascinating, so it is an unintentional byproduct? A kind of...shadow-pearl?"

Speaking to Lylia, Moravius says, "Something vaguely similar or analogous to the low-grade plinite of elementals. Perhaps."

With a gentle hand, Xociral carefully removes the orb from his twisted faenor headband.

Xociral peers intently at a hazy tenebrous orb he holds in his fingers, meticulously inspecting the orb for flaws.

Mianyn says, "Imma just stand over here behind Triex."

Speaking to Triex, Perigourd says, "One suspects that his purpose right now is to study the form of these shadows to help rid us of them."

Moravius says, "Given what we saw in the Bleaklands, with that Aralyte, all three should be the Shadows valence."

Moravius says, "Though that is by no means certain. There could be chaotic breaches to similar valences from all of this storming."

Moravius says, "But we are inclined to think these are forms of the same entity."

Xociral says, "The orb is much like a gemstone, or pearl. I would say that is only slightly incorrect."

Speaking to Moravius, Missoni asks, "Corruptions of shadow essence, all?"

Xociral says, "It is perhaps more than that."

Speaking to Xociral, Lylia replies, "Which I quite prefer to not even being wrong."

Xociral says, "It comes from somewhere else. It has something in it not of this place."

Xociral says, "Which means we can use that to find where something else like it is."

Xociral turns the hazy tenebrous orb on his headband as he squints his milky white eyes, concentrating intently.

Cryheart asks, "Ye suspect where it may originate?"

Moravius says, "One theory is that the dark Ithzir are transformed followers of Althedeus from many millennia ago."

Cryheart says, "Ahhh."

Moravius says, "In this view their Ithzir essence is corrupted into shadows. Much like a 'bleakwalker'."

Xociral says, "It lead me above the lake. I do not think it is isolated to one specific point of origin here."

Xociral says, "It may fluctuate."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "What led you to that theory? Regarding Althedeus?"

Speaking in Faendryl, Lylia murmurs, "Once again, an over-abundance of faith leads to a bad end."

Xociral says, "Perhaps it is a cycle."

Xociral says, "Difficult to say. Difficult to say."

Speaking to Raelee, Moravius says, "It is known to have had Ithzir worshippers in the distant past, and the Ithzir are incarnated energy beings."

Cryheart says, "Hmmm..energy beings."

Xociral says, "The patterns of weakness between worlds is always varied and emphemeral."

Moravius says, "Vortelis has a more exotic theory. He thinks this is more particular to the Bleaklands."

Triex says, "This is being overcomplicated."

Triex says, "And I don't understand why."

Triex says, "Bleakwalker was a plague we ended once. If Althedeus wears the same corruption under a new name, then Voln's oath does not care what name it goes by. We end what corrupts, not what merely confuses us."

Moravius says, "His theory is that these 'dead Ithzir' are something like the 'paragon' projections of the witch Raznel."

Moravius says, "Which is a matter well beyond our expertise. Hence the conscription of Morgulis."

Moravius says, "And so we absolve ourselves of it. That is now all on you, Morgulis."

Morgulis smirks.

Mianyn asks, "Okay so we blame him if things go wrong?"

Mianyn says, "Got it."

Moravius says, "Yes, absolutely."

Mianyn exclaims, "I have the jist of it!"

Moravius says, "The third purpose is for tracking the source of this threat very concretely and directly within its source valence."

Yardie asks, "I do not. What am I missing?"

Fanaliel says, "All of them are to blame if things fall over. Lets not pin it on one scapegoat."

Missoni says, "I am certain he is up to the task."

Moravius says, "While I can use these captured entities to discern which valence, that is not searching within the valence."

Speaking to Yardie, Perigourd says, "They're basically discussing the need to understand the origins of the shadows that have been coming through to harm the Landing."

Moravius says, "To that end we will be feeding them mana to make a tracer 'thread' through the veil."

Xociral says, "Do you suspect this shadow may be some form of demon, Moravius? We need to tread carefully if that is even a possibility."

Mianyn says, "Magic adjacent energy beings serving Raznel and some Athadeus guy or something are about to come kill us all."

Moravius says, "Perhaps what Xociral has done with the panoptics will help with that."

Speaking to Perigourd, Yardie says, "How long has this been goi....."

Speaking to Yardie, Perigourd says, "That will help them decide how best to act on cleaning up some of the problems we've seen."

Triex darkly says, "I'm not the trusting type."

Mianyn says, "And its his fault."

Triex says, "Point at things and watch them writhe and die. I am onboard with that plan, Lylia."

Lylia says, "We all have our hobbies."

Geijon says, "What contingencies can we prepare for it it's one way and th' door closes."

Moravius says, "It remains to be seen if there is any sort of major demon involved."

Speaking to Xociral, Geijon asks, "I guess what have failures of this type of shadow tether looked like?"

Xociral says, "I tend to travel into the valences to bring a demon into our realm, for such tasks as the Palestra Trials. But that is with a full team of highly trained Harrowers. We are not many, and should this get out of hand we need to be prepared."

Lylia says, "Major demon."

Fanaliel asks, "Major?"

Blades says, "Sounds like a sporting prey."

Speaking to Xociral, Perigourd says, "Some of us have practice handling demons."

Speaking to Moravius, Xociral says, "We could always recruit some of the locals. Demons tend to eat them first."

Cryheart says, "I am sure the demon may resist."

Moravius says, "These shadow entities invade when the Reach is storming. So we will likely capture one then."

Yardie says, "So we're dealing with a demon."

Xociral says, "That is what I am asking."

Speaking to Xociral, Moravius says, "They have been stubborn about dying in way that are convenient to my study."

Perigourd says, "But it's a possibility."

Blades says, "Fortunately i let the sorcerers and meatshield stay in the front."

Speaking to Xociral, Fanaliel exclaims, "We will not allow you to do such things!"

Speaking to Yardie, Xociral says, "You killed my vathor. So you should know one when you see one."

Speaking to Blades, Mianyn says, "Im with you im staying in the back."

Moravius says, "Our concern is with this threat of the dark Ithzir."

Moravius says, "But the Palestra are more concerned with their missing blade Aralyte."

Moravius says, "For that we have her soulstone, which is tethered to her soul."

Moravius says, "With any luck these will not be in different directions."

One of the Faendryl works on fitting a krodera plate, tilting it and making calibrations to the springs of the metalwork.

Geijon asks, "It's all th' same solve, no?"

Moravius says, "So we need an apparatus that can be all those things."

Speaking to Moravius, Perigourd says, "Someone should establish her intentions from that realm. It wasn't entirely clear if the shadows were being directed by her, and if so, why in the way we've encountered them so far."

Moravius says, "That is very much the question."

Speaking to Moravius, Lylia says, "A challenging bit of construction, then, to serve so many ends."

Moravius says, "I could go over how it works. If you wish."

Moravius says, "But it is highly technical."

Missoni approvingly says, "It has come together nicely."

Missoni exclaims, "Please!"

Lylia says, "Please do."

Moravius says, "Say The core of it is adapting the mirror and column design that was pitched by Missoni. Modified with what Vortelis learned from studying the bleakstone statue."

Moravius says, "The gist was using concave mirrors with light to pin down a shadows entity within a column of glass."

Speaking nonchalantly to Blades, Triex says, "Meatshield in front is fine by me. It's an old, comfortable position."

Moravius says, "Specifically, the use of baleglass, with light from balefire."

Moravius says, "Along with the use of some dark orbs as shadows bait."

Mianyn says, "Im happy to stand behind you pretty far behind you."

Triex says, "Whether Aralyte is directing them or merely leaking them, the answer changes what we're hunting. Worth knowing before the apparatus gets its answer and we don't."

Moravius says, "What we are constructing here is more complex."

Moravius says, "The whole thing is a difficult set of considerations, when you put everything all together."

Speaking to Moravius, Yardie asks, "Is construction of...whatever it is....done?"

Moravius says, "These shadows entities are mostly anti-magical and bleed through solid matter."

Speaking to Triex, Lylia says, "She must either be recovered, or if she is unrecoverable, then rendered safe."

Speaking to Yardie, Moravius says, "We are still assembling it."

Moravius says, "They feed on ordinary mana, and will rip out spells and enchantments."

Moravius says, "It cannot be allowed to be severed from this existence."

Moravius says, "Which means holding a crack open in the veil."

Moravius says, "Similar to the Ithzir in this gibbet."

Moravius says, "What Vortelis surmised from his bleakstone studies is that the 'bleakwalkers', much like our shadow entities, wish to possess a combination of anti-magic and cursed animate matter."

Speaking solemnly to Lylia, Triex says, ""Rendered safe" sounds tidier than the alternative usually is. But I've said my piece; this is your considering to do, not mine."

Moravius says, "Given what we have learned from the hazy orbs of these creatures, we will probably use one in the contraption to bait the 'scent'."

Speaking to Moravius, Yardie says, "Is there a timetable? I can...er....inform the Vanguard of Mahkra again once this ordeal is ready."

Speaking to Yardie, Viselda says, "In the coming weeks. But we will need them even more when we enter the Shadow Realm."

Moravius says, "They are also highly vulnerable to destruction from too much exposure to light."

Speaking to Viselda, Perigourd asks, "Will you be bringing some of your own along as well?"

Speaking to Moravius, Xociral asks, "Do you have more samples of the orb, other than the one I was given?"

Speaking to Viselda, Yardie says, "I'll inform them again."

Viselda says, "There are already some here lurking around."

Viselda says, "There will be more."

Moravius says, "I do not have one on me at the moment. I believe Vortelis will be asking people to help collect more."

Speaking to Xociral, Missoni says, "I do have another sample at home that I can bring, if it is needed."

Speaking to Moravius, Triex says, "Holding a crack open in the veil, similar to the gibbet, is not reassuring. And if Viselda's timeline holds and we're following this into the Shadow Realm itself, "mostly anti-magical" had better mean something more precise than that by then."

Triex says, "Way more precise."

Xociral says, "I wanted to be sure that mine wasn't needed for this apparatus you've built."

Speaking to Yardie, Viselda says, "To a Harrower and Tristar? Send them to me, I am more in channel with the Palestra."

Speaking to Viselda, Yardie says, "You'll receive them tomorrow. But I did write to Xociral. I'll send them your way, Madame."

Xociral asks, "It seems functional enough. Did you measure the distance between the krodera properly?"

Xociral says, "We could test it on one of them, perhaps."

Speaking to Xociral, Mianyn says, "You cant ask stuff about measuring with a serious face."

Speaking to Triex, Moravius says, "Truly it is more a matter of when, we are trying to prevent a bigger problem early."

Mianyn says, "You fell in the lake."

Xociral gestures vaguely in Lylia's direction.

Moravius asks, "Where was I?"

Moravius says, "They are also highly vulnerable to destruction from too much exposure to light."

Moravius says, "Which is a problem of keeping them trapped without killing them."

Moravius says, "We need to combine highly anti-magical and magical materials, as well as trapping them with light. But not for too long."

Harrowers make some greenish-black flames wreath the cylinder while watching it closely for imperfections.

Moravius says, "What we are constructing will be as follows."

Moravius says, "The central core will be vaelfyren, or 'baleglass', which reveals inclusions under the light of balefire."

Moravius says, "This will be nested inside our shadowglass obelisk. Actually, out of phase with reality, within the shadowglass obelisk."

Triex says, "Saying "We will get more" is comforting only if getting more doesn't also involve losing more. And with Palestra now folded into this through Viselda, and voices promises fire from somewhere out there, I..."

Moravius says, "Which we have embedded with a meshwork of kroderine and bleakstone. With aranthium storage rings to make a flux of power into it."

Lylia says, "A friend had a magnificent parrot once. If the sheet over its silvered cage were lifted, it would scream to wake even Morgulis' experiments. I presume we shall be as careful to keep this 'bird' from too much light."

Moravius says, "The shadows entity will be drawn to it like a moth to flames."

Moravius says, "It will likely not even wish to leave from it."

Moravius says, "When the aranthium is drained by the entity, these mirrors on the ground will spring up, like one of those 'fly trap' plants that snap shut."

Cryheart says, "Interesting."

Moravius says, "There will also be a top piece that falls down, making a whole reflective chamber for the trap."

Moravius says, "These mirrors are made of krodera, which is intensely reflective of magical energy."

Moravius says, "This will initially be 'pure light' of the spirit realm."

Some dark elven workers tinker with the cylinder, shifting it slightly while measuring its distances from the ring.

Moravius says, "Which they very much do not enjoy."

Moravius says, "This will ensure the entity tries to flee inside the central obelisk rather than feed on the aranthium from outside it."

Moravius says, "The mirrors have non-uniform purity of krodera. The purity increases with distance from the center."

Speaking to Moravius, Triex says, "Kroderine, bleakstone, baleglass, and aranthium flux all in one core, drawing the thing in like a moth to a flame. That's eithher the cleverest trap I've heard of, or the most elaborate way to hand it exactly what it wants. I trust you'll have settled which before it arrives."

Moravius says, "Which means the least 'painful' direction will be toward the central pillar."

Moravius nods at Triex.

Moravius says, "It is quite the mousetrap."

Cryheart says, "Sounds like it."

Fanaliel says, "A mousetrap for a creature most of us pain to understand..."

Moravius says, "Given their own anti-magical nature, the shadows will pass over the mirrors, until the trap is sprung on them."

Moravius says, "Once it is inside the column it will be largely stuck due to the shadowglass refracting moonlight."

Moravius says, "But then we also need this entity to survive in full daylight."

Moravius says, "What we will do is have one of our urglaes spheres in the top of the cylinder, which has the innate ability to bleed through the veil."

Moravius says, "Say It will fall down into place when the hazy orb in that spot is dissolved as a lure for the shadows entities."

Moravius says, "This will be the conduit that enables us to do our tracer threading and triangulation later."

Behavin says, "This thing must have cost a fortune."

There is a flash of bright light from a nearby incanter that bounces off multiple mirrors.

Moravius says, "But it will also bring the shadowglass out of phase with this reality."

Moravius says, "It will also bring the baleglass column more into reality."

Moravius says, "This will make it considerably more difficult for the shadows entity to escape through the veil to its source valence."

Moravius says, "After all. We are not only confining it 'locally', we must also keep it within this reality."

Moravius says, "When the entity cannot escape through the shadowglass, it will try to escape through the veil itself."

Moravius says, "But it will be tricked into the baleglass column as a kind of false vacuum inside the obelisk."

Speaking to Behavin, Xociral says, "The research and materials are usually funded through the Clerisy. Our resources are immeasurably vast."

Moravius says, "I do not know if I can explain this adequately."

Amathea softly says, "Let's just hope other realities don't take an interest in the mysterious object bleeding into their world."

Moravius says, "Then when we invert the phases, it is inside semi-solid baleglass."

Moravius says, "Surrounded by an out of phase sheath of shadowglass."

Moravius says, "It will be unable to reach the veil."

Moravius says, "This bleeding through of the veil by the sphere will naturally sustain an ignition of balefire, which is an extraplanar energy that arises from contact between valences."

Triex says, "That's quite the mousetrap. A mousetrap that needs its prey to survive daylight, a sphere bleeding through the veil on cue, a lure dissolving at the exact right moment."

Speaking to Amathea, Lylia says, "We are very fortunate that it is easier for us to reach out than for them to reach in. Generally speaking."

Moravius says, "These radiances will reflect off the krodera mirrors, which will not be lethal to the shadows entity."

Moravius says, "The shadowglass layers will be transparent. Balefire will make the baleglass transparent."

Blades asks, "So the sorcerers all remembers how this all works so I don't have to bother right?"

Moravius says, "And so we will largely be able to see the shadow entity in suspension."

Speaking to Moravius, Yardie asks, "But will aid in containment? Am I understanding that correctly?"

Speaking softly to Lylia, Amathea says, "But not impossible."

Lylia says, "So it may be observed without killing it in the process."

Moravius says, "Which is the long and short of it. As you say in Common."

Xociral glances at Lylia.

Moravius says, "All of that will happen rather seamlessly."

Moravius says, "But that is the internal logic of the apparatus."

Speaking to Moravius, Yardie says, "And if it doesn't? In my line of work, we prepare for contingencies....and I imagine we are said contingency."

Speaking to Moravius, Xociral says, "I believe I've found a potential recruit from the locals."

Triex asks, "Reptilax?"

Blades asks, "Line of work? Lots of contingencies needed in pedicures?"

Moravius says, "If there is something wrong with the logic, we can recalibrate or redesign until we get it right."

Moravius says, "But if it is taking too long, we might proceed just with this Ithzir in the gibbet, and move on to the Shadow Realm."

Speaking to Blades, Yardie says, "Well, one has to adjust in working with their hands. You of all people should know when one's hands get....bloody."

Mianyn says, "Thats a good question."

Speaking to Xociral, Fanaliel says, "For the love that all is good please tell me that you got someone that knows what they're getting into."

Moravius says, "The workers here are testing components as they go. But the full device has not been tested yet."

Fanaliel says, "And not some... random peasent."

Moravius says, "This is very much a bespoke experiment."

Speaking to Blades, Yardie asks, "Speaking of bloody hands, the Marshal? She's not around?"

Mianyn says, "Its a first test maybe peasant better."

Blades says, "Shes appeared recently."

Several Palestra patrol through the surrounding area, muttering to each other seriously and looking harshly over things.

Moravius says, "The expense is partly justified by acting as the basis for future research."

Speaking to Fanaliel, Behavin asks, "Have you met a Faendryl before...?"

Speaking to Fanaliel, Xociral asks, "Moravius is no peasant. He is a Harrower of the Clerisy. Why do you speak these insults?"

Moravius says, "Pheasants? I never cared much for them."

Missoni says, "I could see how it might have wider applications."

Mianyn says, "Yeah Fanaliel."

Speaking to Behavin, Fanaliel says, "Not the sorcerers."

Xociral asks, "What is wrong with sorcery?"

Xociral asks, "Do you not practice it here?"

Speaking to Xociral, Fanaliel says, "Your talk of using locals is getting me anxious, is all."

Speaking amusedly to Xociral, Yardie asks, "How much time do you have?"

Missoni cheerfully says, "All the time."

Blades says, "Nothing, they just tend to drone on before they make someone blow up."

Fanaliel says, "Sorcery is practiced here. Just not at your... level."

Blades says, "Don't give me that eye."

Speaking to Blades, Missoni says, "I have not droned on nearly enough yet."

Speaking to Moravius, Xociral says, "When do you think this will be ready? It is time for me to seek some rest for the evening."

Lylia says, "I have not even begun to drone."

Triex says, "Just saying."

Moravius says, "It might take a couple of weeks."

Blades says, "You must fall asleep quickly."

Moravius says, "But Vortelis should be here sooner, to begin recharging the soulstone."

Blades says, "Hes asleep already."

Speaking to Moravius, Lylia asks, "Is this contingent on mana-storms in the region as well?"

Speaking to Moravius, Yardie says, "I can spread the word to the others. I should be able to be here as well, should you need me."

Missoni says, "Deep in thought, I am sure."

Blades says, "Just resting his eyes."

Speaking to Lylia, Moravius says, "Yes. We will be taking advantage of the chaos that is already happening."

Xociral says, "If there is another orb, I would like to compare two samples in the panoptic now that I have it tuned properly."

Lylia says, "Excellent."

Moravius says, "Like.. lightning rods... or whatever it is elementalists would do."

Xociral says, "I can wait until more are found, if needed."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee says, "Lightning rods are only applicable in specific contexts..."

Moravius asks, "Does someone have one of those hazy tenebrous orbs?"

Xociral asks, "You suspect there will be more to find in the coming days?"

Missoni says, "I left mine in the Gallery. I was going to make jewelry out of it."

Moravius says, "Yes. When the storming starts again, there will surely be shadows invading."

Behavin asks, "Couple weeks, eh?"

Xociral says, "Then we wait for the weather to shift, and see what comes of it."

Mianyn says, "I like shiny things too."

Moravius says, "It is my understanding there are similar entities, dark vorteces, in what the locals call the.. Broken Land..."

Behavin says, "Oh yeah."

Lylia says, "I am familiar with them."

Behavin says, "I heard about that."

Moravius says, "They are weaker. But much the same kind of thing."

Speaking to Moravius, Missoni asks, "Would their essence suffice as bait?"

Moravius says, "Possibly."

One of the Harrowers walks by and stands near the gibbet holding a shadowy Ithzir, calibrating some complicated device against the shard protruding from its skull.

Moravius says, "We might find a 'bleakwalker' in the Bleaklands, which would be more powerful."

Missoni says, "Oh, well, I am sure I can collect a few more, then."

Triex incredulously says, "Amazing."

Moravius says, "But as I said. Vortelis will probably ask for help gathering such orbs."

Moravius says, "It was much too dangerous. The way he tried to charge the soulstone last time."

Lylia points out, "Yet he did acquire useful information."

Speaking to Moravius, Viselda says, "When you and Vortelis nearly collapsed the veil there into a dangerous demonic valence."

Triex says, "Weeks to build it, a MANA STORM to trigger it, and the architects designing it still sorting out if & how it'll work."

Moravius corrects, "The utterly necessary study of a wasteland that is entangled between that valence and this mana storm."

Triex says, "None of that changes what I'll be doing when the storm actually comes, I'll be standing by ready regardless of which theory wins."

Behavin says, "Well sure."

Speaking to an enormous blue crystal monolith, Fanaliel says, "Putting the lives of innocents over... whatever this is."

Behavin says, "That's how everything goes here on the Reach."

Speaking to Behavin, Triex says, "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Speaking to Fanaliel, Missoni says, "Oh, that was an entirely different experiment."

Moravius says, "We have nothing to do with whatever that is."

Fanaliel says, "Experiments in general."

Missoni explains, "It helped move Darkstone to the Bleaklands."

Moravius says, "Ah, part of the problem, then. Excellent."

Speaking to Fanaliel, Raelee says, "... are the roots of progress."

Mianyn asks, "Is it there now?"

Speaking to Raelee, Fanaliel says, "I hate you, I hate that you're correct and that I cannot rebuke you."

Moravius suddenly kicks the floating gibbet hard, making it spin violently, which throws the shadowy Ithzir around on the spikes ripping through it. Its whole body writhes and deforms, trying to melt into shadows, but vainly fails as the low steel glows. The shadowglass through its skull pulses as it glares malevolently. Its face is a deformed visage of melted and degenerate flesh, which slowly reconstitutes to normal, as the light glows inside its chest and seeps from its surroundings.

Speaking to Fanaliel, Raelee says, "For the statement is rooted in logic."

Moravius says, "It never gets old."

Lylia says, "The notion of 'innocents' is a curious one here. Are the people who have been afflicted by these incursions of shadowy Ithzir not innocent? Should we not all do everything we must to preserve them? Sometimes, that requires dangerous action."

Xociral says, "I must retire for the evening. Being in Elanith makes my eyes itch after too long."

Speaking to Xociral, Lylia says, "Tea compresses can help."

Speaking cheerfully to Xociral, Missoni says, "Rest well."

Speaking to Xociral, Moravius says, "Fortunately the storm is more quiet. It is a terrible headache with the panoptics."

Speaking to Lylia, Fanaliel says, "If things go catastrophically wrong, the Landing is sure to suffer."

Mianyn says, "Dont miscalculate your landing spot."

Fanaliel says, "And which I hope it does not happen."

Triex says, "Xociral's eyes itch from being here too long. Mine have watched a gibbet get kicked for sport and called routine. I think we've each found our own reason to call it a night."

Speaking to Moravius, Raelee asks, "... have you need of the local, outside expertise prior to the first trial? Save for gathering tenebrous orbs and readying ourselves for defense?"

Xociral says, "May insight find you the best path forward, Harrower Moravius."

Xociral walks directly into the lake, the water parting into a nebulous rift of astral patterns. The patterns close rapidly behind him, and the waters of the lake bubble momentarily in his wake.

Mianyn says, "Show off."

Yardie says to Viselda, "You'll see my missive soon. I'll inform the others. We'll do our best to be ready."

Speaking to Fanaliel, Lylia says, "Indeed. And if we do nothing, the suffering is absolutely certain. I prefer the possibility of suffering if catastrophe occurs over an ineluctable and horrific fate for all."

Lylia coolly says, "Innocent and guilty alike, as if this matters."

Speaking to Lylia, Fanaliel says, "We're dammned if we do, and if we don't."

Speaking to Raelee, Moravius says, "It could be of some use, certainly, such as helping charge the aranthium and perhaps trying to shepherd shadows toward the trap."

Speaking to Missoni, Yardie asks, "Why do I dread that this may be a demon that we haven't encountered before?"

Speaking to Yardie, Triex says, "Missives sent, defenses prepared, and still we're left with 'possible catastrophe' as the best guarantee on offer. I'll take that wager over the certain one Lylia describes."

Lylia lightly says, "I do not believe in damnation. We will our own fates."

Speaking in Faendryl to Yardie, Missoni says, "I am not sure why you dread it. It all sounds quite exciting."

Lylia says, "I did hear the phrase 'major demon.' but it was in Common, and that is so imprecise."

Triex says, "This started as a lovely hunting trip."

Blades says, "Sounds like a great harvest then."

Speaking to Triex, Lylia asks, "...and then became something even better?"

Triex exclaims, "Absolutely!"

Triex says, "Never know what'll happen when you venture out into the world."