Lost Palestra (storyline)/2026-08-12 - Trickle Charging Aralyte's Soulstone (log)

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Synposis

  • Harrower Vortelis Infernebrus Faendryl returned with Aralyte's soulstone after half a year away in Ta'Faendryl. Vortelis removed it from the region when it interacted badly between the Bleaklands, near the ruins of Talador, and the mana storm above Melgorehn's Reach far away. The veil was on the verge of collapsing between the Bleaklands and the Shadow Realm. This was an unintended consequence of attempting to "fast charge" the soulstone with shadows off one of the rifts to the Shadow Realm valence in the depths of the Bleaklands. The Harrowers were conducting penetration tests of the rifts, trying to see if it would be safer to breach the veil to the Shadow Realm through them, rather than reopening the portal at Lake Eonak next to the mana storm. It turned out it was worse to try it in the deep Bleaklands.
  • Stuck between wishing to keep the soulstone away from the Reach, but also away from the "sinkholes" of the Bleaklands, Harrower Vortelis is attempting to do a slow "trickle charge" over a period of weeks to gradually recharge Aralyte's soulstone with shadows. Vortelis was in the Bleaklands region around Darkstone Castle. He has an immense veil iron extractor device set up, which was similar to the guild tools he used to analyze the bleakstone statue previously.
  • Agrestis surveyors have been in the Bleaklands, assessing veil weaknesses for a relatively safe spot to slowly charge the soulstone. Caius Faendryl is stationed out there under guard to monitor the veil for tearing as the soulstone recharges. Caius is very unhappy with this, and stormed off at one point.
  • Vortelis explained several ways in which the soulstone is passively or actively acquiring shadows. He explains that he manipulated it into sacrificing shadows-tainted creatures who come too close to it, ripping their souls out and extracting shadows and shadow essence from the process. Vortelis said that ability may be how Aralyte charged the soulstone herself. He also demonstrated how feeding hazy tenebrous orbs (e.g. from dark vorteces, or shadow entities during invasions) to the extractor will send small amounts of shadow energy into the soulstone.
  • Vortelis also said it is drawing in ambient shadow energy from the Bleaklands, including through the root conduits under the bleakstone statue. This means that sorcerers releasing shadow essence into the environs through sacrifice abilities, such as infesting, in the vicinity of the soulstone (now hovering over the extractor by the bleakstone statue) will get drawn into the soulstone. The soulstone is also absorbing shadows bleed-through from the Shadow Realm valence when the veil thins. Which is what Caius is monitoring.
  • Vortelis also discussed still needing Aralyte's notes that were in the possession of Pylasar. He talked about eventually going into the Shadow Realm after the soulstone is recharged. There was also discussion on replicating or adapting the soulstone, given its current "bug zapping" capability of sacrificing monsters. He said the intervention of the Palestra will increase the closer we get to trying to find and extract or destroy Aralyte. Vortelis warned that as the soulstone becomes more charged, the likelihood that it will be agitating the Reach's mana storm into allowing shadows and Ithzir to invade will increase.


Previously on Lost Palestra:

Log

Ambients from Soulstone

(1) High pitched shrieking is followed by sounds of cracking and crumbling from the device.  Chillness fills the air as shadows move through its strange crystal.

(2) Writhing shadows billow from the shadowglass protrusions, sucking into the soulstone, which pulses menacingly in a dark and bloody red.

(3) Eerie shadowy haze infesting the surroundings lifts off the ground and seeps into the hovering soulstone.

(4) Vague outlines of a bleak silhouette manifest nearby, but its spectral form is violently ripped apart, shadows streaking from it into the soulstone.

(5) Oily bleak wasps fly in from the distance, but suddenly wrench, falling lifelessly to the ground.  Shadows flow from their husks into the soulstone.

(6) Shadows seep from under the base of the bleakstone statue and bleed up into the soulstone which glows red.

(7) The fabric of space thins with ineffable glimpses beyond.  Shadows bleed through the surroundings and the soulstone burns bloody red.

(8) The shadowglass shards of the contraption become darker, and its corresponding runes burn crimson.  There is a rolling sound of something falling into place.


Gathering at Lake Eonak

[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 the mural-sided Perigourd cassone, a svelte buckskin mustang, a lazy wild pure white dog, the Amathea disk, a chunk of turbid aortic amber, a fringed red and black cloth with some stuff on it, a bright-eyed dark brown beaver, 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, a complicated metalwork apparatus, Palestra Blade Viselda and Harrower Moravius.
Also here: Perigourd, Blades, Sir Cryheart, Bathcwyn Missoni, Sir Geijon who is sitting, Amathea who is sitting, Weedwitch who is sitting
Obvious paths: southwest

[General] Vortelis thinks, "Good evening, Wehnimer's Landing."

Harrower Moravius says, "Vortelis is not likely to bring that soulstone so close to this mountain."

Missoni asks, "Shall we meet him in town? Or by the spire?"
Speaking softly to Harrower Moravius, Amathea says, "I would think not."

Harrower Moravius says, "He's probably in the Bleaklands. Near that statue."

Perigourd grunts.
Missoni exclaims, "I suppose we must take a walk, then!"
Cryheart asks, "Where?"

Palestra Blade Viselda says, "The last place you Harrowers should be."

Missoni bites her lip.
Speaking to Palestra Blade Viselda, Perigourd says, "Than come with us."
Blades glances at Missoni.

Harrower Moravius says, "Oh, don't even start, with that again..."

Missoni asks, "Would anyone else care to join us on a walk?"
Geijon nods at Missoni.

Palestra Blade Viselda says, "There are other guards out there."

Missoni nods approvingly.
Perigourd sets the point of his bastard sword into the ground at his feet and casually leans on it.
Blades says, "I'm very fragile i need guards."
Blades nods.
Raelee glances skeptically at Blades.
Cryheart grins at Blades.
Amathea dusts herself off.
Speaking to Blades, Missoni says, "Have no fear."
Cryheart says, "Ye are as fragile as an oak tree."
Cryheart grins at Blades.
Blades chuckles.
Missoni cheerfully says, "We walk."
Bathcwyn Missoni's group flounces southwest amidst a diffuse cloud of prismatic glitter.

Vortelis in the Bleaklands

[General] Vortelis thinks, "Yes, Moravius. I am in the Bleaklands by the statue."

[Bleaklands, Storm Plains]
The volatile heavens spark flares of gold, the brilliance streaking across the sky as if they were falling stars. The ground ahead trembles, the terrain splitting apart violently before the turf settles and is left uneven. You also see an immense veil iron extractor, a cracked bleakstone statue, Agrestis Surveyor Caius and Praetorian Guard Quintus.
Obvious paths: southeast, northwest

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 hovering light red soulstone trailed 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.

>look statue
The statue has been formed of polished bleakstone and shaped into the image of a slender Faendryl woman.  Smoky grey thunderstones are fashioned into a pair of wide-set eyes, while the coils of waist-length hair have been chiseled meticulously down the woman's back.  The woman's angular face looks on stoically, her lips pursed ever so slightly as if mildly amused.  A full gown of darkest night wraps about the statue and several small cracks have formed along the base.

>look extractor
The complicated device has a mouth piece for rolling in spheres of up to a foot or do in diameter.  The lower half is a shaft of kroderine with an icosahedral base, which the top being a veil iron cusp fused into a strange crystal.  There is a rotating metallic casing with glowing runes on shadow glass protrusions ending in aranthium end caps.

Blades just arrived.
Blades glances at Vortelis.

Vortelis glances at Blades.

Blades says, "Well don't i have an amazing sense of direction."

Vortelis nods.

Blades smirks as a haughty expression flits across his face.
Blades nods at Vortelis.
Blades says, "Evenin."
Bathcwyn Missoni's group flounces in amidst a diffuse cloud of prismatic glitter.
Blades glances at Missoni.
Missoni smiles.
Blades says, "So slow."

Vortelis says, "Evening."

Perigourd glances between Praetorian Guard Quintus and Agrestis Surveyor Caius.
Speaking to Blades, Missoni says, "We had to send you ahead. For safety."
Cryheart turns toward the Surveyor Caius and renders a sharp hand salute.
Perigourd nods in greeting at Vortelis.
Missoni nods politely at Vortelis.
Blades says, "You're the bait not mee."
Speaking to Blades, Raelee says, "... and yet..."
Geijon nods at Vortelis.
Caius mutters under his breath.

Vortelis says, "It has been some time."

Speaking to Blades, Perigourd says, "The best bait is that which can dissappear when needed."
Perigourd nods at Blades.
Blades nods at Perigourd.
Missoni agrees, "Quite."
Amathea just arrived.

Speaking to Vortelis, Missoni asks, "You have been well, I hope?"

Vortelis nods at Missoni.

Missoni nods approvingly.

Vortelis says, "I took a fair dose of dark energy to my hand, but the gloves took the worst of it."

Missoni nods slowly.
Cryheart nods at Vortelis.
Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "How?"
Amathea nods understandingly at Vortelis.

Speaking to Raelee, Vortelis says, "When I was trying to charge this soulstone directly off one of those rifts to the Shadow Realm."

Cryheart says, "Hmmm."
Amathea softly says, "It was pretty painful looking."
Cryheart nods at Vortelis.
Amathea shrugs.

Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd asks, "You burned the gloves?"

Vortelis says, "It was too intense. Both in heat and radiance."

Vortelis nods at Perigourd.

Vortelis taps some enruned fitted ebon gloves that he is wearing.

Vortelis says, "There are always more gloves."

Missoni says, "Better the gloves than one's hand, I suppose."
Cryheart says, "Aye."
Amathea softly says, "There are always more of those as well."
Perigourd says, "Not for some."
Perigourd chuckles.
Amathea flashes a wide grin at Perigourd.
Missoni grins wryly.

Trickle Charging the Soulstone

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "... and thus a better method of charging is required."

Vortelis says, "That was unfortunate. The veil here.. well, closer to the ruins of Talador... was nearly collapsing from it. So I cannot very well.. yes, not charge it that way."

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "Or a way to reduce the quantity of energy imparted into the stone for a more controlled charge."
Thrassus suddenly fades into view.
Missoni smiles at Thrassus.

Vortelis says, "And likewise I am wary of bringing it too close to the Reach."

Missoni agrees, "That seems prudent."
Cryheart says, "Understandable."
Amathea ponders.

Vortelis says, "So, yes. My intent is to gradually trickle charge it."

Vortelis says, "Here in this more outlying part of the Bleaklands."

Cryheart asks, "You mean charge slowly?"

Vortelis nods at Cryheart.

Vortelis gestures toward the veil iron extractor.

Perigourd asks, "How long do you ancitipate the charging to take?"

Vortelis says, "It is similar to the devices I used to study this statue, the bleakstone and hazy tenebrous orbs."

Speaking to Perigourd, Vortelis says, "Likely weeks."

Missoni nods understandingly.
Cryheart glances at a cracked bleakstone statue.
Cryheart says, "I recall that statue."

Vortelis says, "But we can make it more efficient by having multiple slow sources of recharging it."

Amathea gazes with interest at an immense veil iron extractor.
Amathea idly scrawls something on a page in her old sketch book.

Missoni asks, "Yes, Moravius mentioned we may be able to provide some help in that fashion?"

Vortelis nods at Missoni.

Vortelis says, "One way of that would be putting hazy tenebrous orbs into this extractor."

Missoni nods slowly.
Raelee glances at an immense veil iron extractor.
Thrassus nods understandingly.
Missoni brightly says, "Easy enough."

Vortelis incants and gestures his hand upward. The hovering soulstone floats from him toward the contraption, suspending itself over its shadowglass protrusions.

>look soulstone
The soulstone hovers over the shadowglass protrusions of the extractor.  Shadows surrounding it seep into it, with lambent dark red in its depths.

Thrassus says, "Getting hold of them might be a bit of a pain."

Vortelis says, "I've been studying that soulstone for some time now."

Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus asks, "Where are we to find these tenebrous spheres at this time?"

Vortelis says, "The soulstone hungers for shadows. It is naturally prone to absorbing them."

Speaking to Thrassus, Vortelis says, "They come from any sort of darkness elemental, for lack of better word for it."

Vortelis says, "Dark vorteces. The writhing shadows that invade with the Ithzir. Bleakwalkers, voidwalkers."

Bakarus just arrived.
Missoni says, "They can be extracted fairly easily in the Broken Lands."
Bakarus says, "Eternal Light, my friends."
Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "... we will need to develop a better word for that."

Method 1: Hazy Tenebrous Orb Charging

Vortelis drops a hazy tenebrous orb in the extractor.

High pitched shrieking is followed by sounds of cracking and crumbling from the device.

Thrassus asks, "We could just call them 'fragments of elemental shadow'?"
Perigourd tilts his head up.

Chillness fills the air as shadows move through its strange crystal. The shadowglass shards of the contraption become darker, its corresponding runes burning crimson.

Wisps of shadow dance in the corners of your vision, teasing glimpses of things unseen.

Missoni leans forward.

There is a rolling sound of something falling into place within the extractor.

Thrassus says, "They are more or less similar to the elemental motes we find on some creatures."

Writhing shadows billow from the shadowglass protrusions, sucking into the soulstone, which pulses menacingly in a dark and bloody red.

Vortelis nods once.

Missoni murmurs, "Interesting."

Vortelis says, "That is one way of helping recharge it."

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "Are there others?"

Vortelis says, "There is a small amount of the shadows energy in them."

Vortelis nods at Raelee.

Method 2: Soulstone Soul Ripping

Vortelis says, "As I was saying. The soulstone hungers for shadows. It is naturally prone to absorbing them."

Amathea softly says, "An interesting way to put it."

Vortelis says, "But I have manipulated it, made it more aggressive."

Missoni looks thoughtfully at Vortelis.
Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd asks, "Why?"

Vortelis says, "It will rip the soul out of these bleakland creatures if they come too near it. Much as when sorcerers 'sacrifice' their victims."

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "And only the bleak creatures?"
Cryheart rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Vortelis says, "When the tether binding the soul is severed, the shadow essence formed by it will get sucked into the soulstone."

Thrassus asks, "Oh, so just lure them here and it will do the rest?"

Vortelis says, "That is not terribly efficient. But moreso here, in this realm."

Vortelis says, "Yes. I have tried to make it only assault things corrupted with shadows."

Vortelis says, "So you can approach the extractor without being killed."

Cryheart says, "Good idea."

Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd asks, "What about those of us who have some shadow essence within?"

Vortelis shakes his head.

Vortelis says, "The intensity difference is so great."

Speaking to Perigourd, Bakarus says, "I didn't think you had reason for concern."
Speaking to Bakarus, Perigourd says, "I do not. I think of others."
Perigourd nods at Bakarus.

Vortelis says, "Between the twisted aberrations of this place, and what little sorcerers or others carry."

Speaking to Bakarus, Perigourd says, "If I had any shadows in me, the Reiverbolt surely burned them out of me anyway."
Missoni stares at Perigourd with an unreadable look of utter blankness.

Method 3: Infesting and Shadow Essence

Vortelis says, "But sorcerous sacrificing is also helpful."

Blades says, "I think i'll stay away from the machine."
Missoni exclaims, "Oh!"
Speaking to Vortelis, Missoni asks, "How so?"

Vortelis gestures and rips open a rift, apparently trying to pull something through.

Perigourd grunts.
Bakarus gazes at Vortelis.
Cryheart raises an eyebrow.

Vortelis narrows his eyes slightly, and they darken with some internal struggle. With a triumphant and cruel twist of his lips, he straightens stiffly, a dark shadow unfurling from his body with a sickly roil before rushing into the helpless body of a rolton with startling speed.
The poor, unfortunate rolton breaks out with dark necrotic veins, bulging distentions of shadow trying to burst out of its body. Foul haze bleeds through the ulcers and spreads as a nasty miasma through the surroundings.

Amathea glances at an infested rolton.
Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd says, "This rolton doesn't appear to be.. healthy."
Blades says, "It doesn't look great."

An infested rolton trots southeast.

Thrassus says, "It was previously."
Amathea softly says, "Off it goes to infest the other roltons."

Vortelis says, "Well. That is the general idea."

Thrassus says, "I don't think it can get very far here."

Vortelis says, "Infesting the surroundings with shadow essence helps."

Amathea softly says, "Never underestimate them...."
Speaking to Thrassus, Perigourd says, "I believe it was killed already."

Vortelis says, "The soulstone is passively absorbing ambient shadows energy from the surroundings."

Cryheart glances at a hovering light red soulstone trailed by a frayed leather cord.

Vortelis says, "The Bleaklands was made with that kind of taint."

Thrassus asks, "I assume there will be at least one guard stationed here at all times?"

Vortelis says, "But the shadow essence from sacrificing is a low intensity analog of the shadows."

Agrestis Surveyor Caius says, "There damn well better be."

Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd asks, "Can this device then absorb all the "taint" in the bleaklands and restore it?"

Missoni glances at Praetorian Guard Quintus.

Praetorian Guard Quintus says, "I go where they tell me."

Cryheart nods quickly!
Missoni nods approvingly to Quintus.
Thrassus says, "I would say there is too much shadow seeping into the lands for it to make much difference."
Blades says, "Well at least its a shiny guard."
Blades nods.
Blades says, "You all are good at guardin things."
Blades nods at Cryheart.
Speaking to Thrassus, Perigourd says, "Perhaps a matter of scale."
Cryheart agrees with Blades.

Vortelis says, "Gods, no. It is only absorbing a thimble full of a sea."

Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd says, "Than we're simply taking about a matter of time."

Method 4: Rift Bleeding

Vortelis says, "Besides. The rifts bleeding through into the Shadow Realm valence bring more of the shadows into this place."

Speaking to Vortelis, Geijon asks, "How much time with this sap work is needed?"

Thrassus gestures crisply and utters a practiced phrase as raw elemental energies issue forth from his dimly glowing eyes.
Thrassus gestures.
The shadows around you twist and undulate towards each other until they converge into a pillar of darkness with indistinct edges.

Eerie shadowy haze infesting the surroundings lifts off the ground and seeps into the hovering soulstone.

Sir Guarrin arrives, his figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a silver-scaled cold wyrm made of silver-sheened light skulking beside him.

The pillar of darkness ripples for a moment as it separates into shadows that recede into the darkness from which they came.

Speaking to Geijon, Vortelis says, "It will take at least weeks. But it can be helped along in such ways."

Thrassus sighs.
Thrassus nods to Guarrin in greeting.
Cryheart asks, "Helped?"
Amathea softly says, "The shadow fragments."

The fabric of space thins with ineffable glimpses beyond. Shadows bleed through the surroundings and the soulstone burns bloody red.

Geijon nods at Vortelis.
Speaking to Guarrin, Thrassus says, "You should have stepped into that column of darkness that opened before you, it would have saved you a walk."

Vortelis says, "The veil is not as weak in this spot, as it is deeper in the Bleaklands."

Missoni says, "We shall have to help it."
Guarrin nods appreciatively at Thrassus.
Thrassus snickers at Guarrin.

Vortelis says, "But there is still some thinness here, and some shadows will seep through that way."

Guarrin says, "Someone always telling me to step into a column of darkness."
Guarrin looks thoughtful for a moment, then shrugs.

Method 5: Bleaklands Siphoning

Shadows seep from under the base of the bleakstone statue, bleeding up into the soulstone which glows red.

Speaking to Guarrin, Raelee asks, "... always?"

Vortelis glances at a cracked bleakstone statue.

Speaking to Guarrin, Geijon says, "Trust or I guess it did not make a difference."
Amathea softly says, "Interesting..."

Vortelis says, "Ah, right. There are tendrils, root-like threads, extending from the base of that statue, into the ground."

Missoni concernedly asks, "Is it going to consume Mayor Lylia's statue?"

Vortelis says, "Part of the reason I picked this spot was that this should be relatively useful as a conduit."

Vortelis shakes his head.

Vortelis says, "It's the 'roots' leading up to the statue being exploited."

Shimmering visages of ethereal faceless figures wander through the misty distance, their ghostly forms shifting and wavering as if caught between realms.

Speaking to Missoni, Thrassus says, "No, it's just drawing out the shadow the statue has absorbed over time."

Spectral forms from the horizon drift closer.

Amathea softly says, "Hmmm...."

Vortelis says, "Well. It is the shadows of the Bleaklands, being channeled up from below."

Bleakland Sacrifices

Thrassus says, "SOmething is coming."
Amathea softly says, "Those aren't normal."
Speaking to Thrassus, Missoni says, "Oh, good. I do think she would be vexed. That statue has been through a lot."

Vortelis looks out toward the spectral forms.

Bakarus says, "I shall move to the back."
Speaking to Amathea, Weedwitch says, "Well I am tired and am going to work my way back to the Luukos temple."

Vortelis says, "Typical haunted."

Missoni asks, "Are they coming to haunt us?"

Vortelis says, "They may try."

Thrassus says, "Be sure to feed any orbs you find into the extractor after the violence is over."
Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "We're used to hauntings."
Speaking cheerfully to Perigourd, Missoni says, "True."

Vague outlines of bleak silhouttes manifest nearby, but then are violently ripped apart, shadows streaking from their broken forms into the soulstone.

Thrassus says, "Or that might not be necessary."
Thrassus laughs!
Speaking to Perigourd, Missoni says, "Perhaps we need one of these devices at home."
Amathea softly asks, "I expect we'll get to see what happens when those thingies get a bit closer to the stone...?"

Vortelis says, "One way or another this soulstone will gradually charge up."

Speaking to Vortelis, Bakarus asks, "Is there any way to measure the progress...visibly?"
Thrassus says, "It's tearing them apart and absorbing them."
Speaking to Vortelis, Missoni asks, "And when it does, it will be ready to act as a beacon?"

Speaking to Bakarus, Vortelis says, "It will become more red."

Bakarus nods understandingly.

Vortelis says, "Eventually a brilliant red."

Vortelis nods at Missoni.

Caius Gets Mouthy

Caius says, "The Harrowers told us to stay away from that moth kid in the cocoon. It's feeding on the power, since it's an Ithzir. Trying to become 'Pristine.' Whatever that means. In any case, they don't want to deal with it, right now. So they told us to leave it alone and not think about it. Sounded weirdly literal."

Vortelis says, "We will be able to use it for reopening Aralyte's portal to the Shadow Realm."

Cryheart nods to Caius.
Missoni claps her hands.
Thrassus nods to Caius.

Vortelis says, "Or perhaps Vlashandra's wound. Which was smaller."

Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd asks, "And once that is done, then what?"
Raelee takes a moment to observe Vortelis.

Vortelis glances at Agrestis Surveyor Caius.

Speaking to Agrestis Surveyor Caius, Vortelis says, "Stay away from it."

Thrassus says, "Using the deciever's wound would be a sort of poetic justice."

Ethereal green spores drift lazily through the air, their ghostly glow casting an otherworldly hue upon the grim terrain below.

Agrestis Surveyor Caius exclaims, "Yeah, well. Just keep me out here in these Bleaklands some longer, we'll see how long I'm willing to keep doing what you say!"

Vortelis scoffs.

Cryheart says, "Duty is duty."
Cryheart nods to Caius.
Amathea cackles at Agrestis Surveyor Caius!
Blades says, "Treason is more fun."
Blades shrugs at Agrestis Surveyor Caius.
Missoni squints at Agrestis Surveyor Caius.

Speaking to Agrestis Surveyor Caius, Vortelis says, "We need you to monitor the veil here so that it does not tear without us knowing."

Agrestis Surveyor Caius exclaims, "Then get me more guards!"

Amathea softly says, "Sooo.....they need you to stare at the sky."
Speaking to Agrestis Surveyor Caius, Raelee asks, "... is the device not destroying most threats?"
Missoni agrees with Raelee.
Missoni says, "And surely Quintus is perfectly capable."

Agrestis Surveyor Caius exclaims, "There are nasty little bugs!"

Agrestis Surveyor Caius exclaims, "Things that'll fly right up into your bone marrow!"

Cryheart asks, "Shadowy bugs?"
Perigourd says, "I might suggest requeting an airwall then."
Missoni shakes her head, totally at a loss.
Perigourd nods.
Perigourd says, "Requesting, rather."
Blades says, "Or a swatter."
Amathea softly asks, "Those things were drawn to to this soulstone....will it draw in bigger things as it charges?"
Missoni amusedly says, "Surely the bugs are worse in the Wastes."

Speaking to Agrestis Surveyor Caius, Vortelis says, "I am not going to debate your hazard pay right now."

Cryheart says, "Guard Quintas seems capable of protectint the area."
Cryheart nods to Caius.

Vortelis says, "Hopefully not one of those huge blob behemoths."

Amathea agrees with Vortelis.
Missoni adopts an agreeable expression.

Soulstone Mana Storm Hazard

Vortelis says, "But as the soulstone becomes more charged, it is more likely the mana storm will become agitated again."

Vortelis says, "More invasions of shadows and dark Ithzir."

Cryheart nods at Vortelis.
Missoni asks, "Which storm?"

Vortelis says, "The one over the Reach."

Thrassus says, "It's still linked to this region."
Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "We tied them with the Darkstone transition."
Perigourd nods slowly at Missoni.
Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "That should provide some opportunity then, no?"
Amathea softly says, "Sooo keep your demon feathers handy...got it."
Guarrin furrows his brow.

Wisps of shadow dance in the corners of your vision, teasing glimpses of things unseen.

Vortelis says, "Keeping the soulstone out of the area has more or less settled that it was being used by some dark force trying to leverage off the storm."

Vortelis says, "But we will need it to find the source of the threats."

Vortelis says, "So the only way is through."

Vortelis says, "Keeping it away was only a delaying tactic. It would not work permanently."

Missoni says, "We will have to have the town defenses at the ready, then."

Vortelis says, "They will eventually be able to breach here through the veil in the Bleaklands."

Cryheart gazes in wonder at his surroundings.

Vortelis says, "As they did briefly months back."

Missoni nods.
Perigourd asks, "Will they be able to survive beyond them?"
Perigourd raises an eyebrow.
Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus asks, "Have you given any thought to attuning a soulstone to the opposite polarization of this one?"

Vortelis says, "The dark Ithzir and shadows, and things of the Shadow Realm, have invaded outside the Bleaklands in the past."

Soulstone Study and Aralyte's Notes

Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus says, "It could prove to be a potent asset in any excursion to the Shadow Valence."

Vortelis says, "The difficulty is that this soulstone is a strange and unique construct."

Vortelis says, "I still do not have Aralyte's notes."

Missoni asks, "Does anyone?"

Vortelis says, "The ones that your Grand Magister Pylasar possessed."

Raelee mutters something about Pylasar..
Missoni nods slightly.
Cryheart says, "Ahhhh."
Thrassus says, "Well, good luck getting those."
Cryheart agrees with Thrassus.

Vortelis says, "We have heard nothing on the matter from your mayor."

Vortelis says, "Nothing from her at all, really."

Thrassus says, "Well that's because the mayor is missing."
Bakarus says, "Emissary is currently your best bet."
Bakarus glances at Thrassus.
Amathea softly says, "That is a problem all on it's own."

Vortelis says, "How strange to have a place where the head of state can be missing so long."

Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd says, "Indeed."
Missoni agrees, "It is quite disorderly."
Cryheart says, "Tis a strange occurrence."
Thrassus says, "Some redundancy is useful."
Guarrin nods in agreement at Vortelis.
Missoni says, "Thankfully, we have Emissary Thrassus to hold the place together."

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "Once the soulstone is better understood, do you believe there is any merit in attempting to replicate it?"

Thrassus snickers.
Amathea softly says, "I knew those verdant fruit were dangerous."

Vortelis says, "When the Palestra are intervening more strongly, I doubt they will be interested in any more delay on finding those notes."

Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd asks, "And how do they intend to do that?"
Cryheart says, "We need a lead."
Thrassus says, "Pylasar disappeared into a temporal storm some time ago."
Thrassus says, "We think he travelled back to the time of Kezmon Isle."
Missoni furrows her brow.
Perigourd raises an eyebrow.
Perigourd rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Vortelis says, "They will probably press your town treasurer, Mortellis, who is a Faendryl."

Amathea raises an eyebrow.
Thrassus asks, "For the notes?"
Perigourd asks, "Then you believe his notes were left with the town?"

Vortelis says, "To search any space Pylasar might have kept possessions."

Thrassus ponders.
Cryheart nods at Vortelis.
Cryheart says, "Logical."
Raelee frowns.

Vortelis says, "Yes, well. Hopefully the notes were not kept a century in the future."

Thrassus says, "Look for anything purple in that case."
Thrassus says, "The man just loved that color for some reason."
Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "... he seemed to favor the past over the future. I am sure there is room for some analysis in the meaning of that."
Speaking annoyedly to himself, Perigourd mutters, "Temporal magic."
Amathea works her fingers under her thorny briar circlet and scratches her head.

Vortelis says, "I have heard of this purple business."

Speaking to Thrassus, Missoni says, "It is a good color."
Guarrin grumbles to himself.

Vortelis asks, "Is he royalty?"

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "No, only absurd."
Geijon adopts an agreeable expression.
Cryheart says, "Was about to add, purple is a royal color."
Thrassus says, "Not that I am aware of, but who knows with him."
Missoni says, "Is it? How odd."

Vortelis says, "Is that mutually incons.. ah, no... best I do not make jests of that nature."

Faint echoes of forgotten voices linger in the air, their words lost to the passage of time yet haunting in their resonance.

Bug Zapping

Oily bleak wasps fly in near the statue, but suddenly wrench, falling lifelessly to the grounds.

Cryheart glances at a cracked bleakstone statue.

Shadows flow from the wasp husks up high into the soulstone.

Missoni tilts her head down.
Bakarus nods slowly.
Bakarus says, "Working as intended."
Thrassus says, "Voracious little thing."
Missoni mouths, "Neat."
Raelee gazes thoughtfully at an immense veil iron extractor.
Amathea softly says, "It's going to wreak havoc on whatever passes for an ecosystem around here."

Soulstone Innovation

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "... one wonders if another version of this could be built, designed to draw on something other than shadows..."

Blades says, "As long as it doesn't try to suck me up into there."
Blades glances at a hovering light red soulstone trailed by a frayed leather cord.
Speaking to Raelee, Perigourd says, "Or more that could extract the bleak itself."
Speaking to Raelee, Thrassus says, "Logic would assume so."
Speaking to Blades, Bakarus says, "Would get bright red quickly."
Blades chuckles.

Vortelis says, "The difficulty with that is the 'sacrificing' it is doing, ripping the souls out of the bodies, is inextrincably tied up in the nature of shadow essence."

Thrassus says, "Perhaps that Glatoph volcano could be put into a dormant state finally."

Vortelis says, "But I suppose an elemental soulstone could rip upon the energy of elementals in some way."

Thrassus nods at Vortelis.
Missoni looks lost in thought.
Perigourd furrows his brow.
Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "... of course, the elements are in everything."
Speaking to Raelee, Perigourd says, "That could be useful in the North."

Vortelis says, "Those were invented with some sorcery by an Aelotoi. Some decade ago."

Amathea nods sagely.

Magical energies explode across the sky in a dazzling display of vibrant colors, illuminating the bleak expanse with their transient brilliance.

Thrassus says, "The shadows and radiance are more or less elements in addition to the traditional four."
Speaking to Thrassus, Perigourd says, "Perhaps offshoots of fire, which often casts this light and radiance."

Vortelis says, "Magic theory and cosmology."

Bakarus says, "It could possibly be tweaked to siphon off the life force of the living here in the lands."
Missoni says, "Other planes may not have the same balance of elements we have."
Speaking to Perigourd, Thrassus says, "I would not go that far, more like immaterial elements compared the tradional material ones."
Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus says, "Two very fascinating things."
Thrassus snickers.

Writhing shadows billow from the shadowglass protrusions, sucking into the soulstone, which pulses menacingly in a dark and bloody red.

Property Rights of the Soulstone

Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus asks, "When all this is over, do you think you will take time to study and reverse engineer the soulstone?"
Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus says, "If it is still intact, of course."

Shadows stretch and contort across the barren landscape, casting a dark veil over the ashen earth below.

(Missoni walks a slow circle around the veil iron extractor, examining the shadowglass shards.)

Vortelis says, "Maybe. The hard thing with that is this is not exactly the most 'legal' of devices for Ta'Faendryl."

Cryheart says, "Ahhh."

Vortelis says, "It has the potential to allow things of other valences to open the veil here toward themselves."

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "... then do it here. Wehnimer's Landing has drawn many members of the Hall of Mages looking for the space to do work their superiors might not approve of."

Cryheart says, "Interesting."
Perigourd glances appraisingly at Raelee.

The shadowglass shards of the contraption become darker, and its corresponding runes burn crimson. There is a rolling sound of something falling into place.

Thrassus says, "That's true."

Vortelis says, "... yes, well. The Palestra's willingness to overlook what happens in the wilds scales inversely with the kind of threat the research poses."

Perigourd says, "I should think that once the threat is handled, the Palestra will want it destroyed."

Vortelis says, "They might."

Thrassus says, "That sounds most likely."

Vortelis says, "I would be on weak political grounds at that point to try to deny them that."

Missoni nods slowly.
Missoni says, "Though one could argue it does not belong to them."
Thrassus says, "Considering the potential complications, it might be wiser to do as they would in this case."

Vortelis says, "Then again, I did say I would return it, but on the third hand, it is the property of Aralyte."

Cryheart nods at Vortelis.
Missoni adopts an agreeable expression.

Aralyte Potential Threat

Perigourd says, "Who on the fourth hand, may be responsible for these attacks and wish us all dead."

Eerie shadowy haze infesting the surroundings lifts off the ground and seeps into the hovering soulstone.

Missoni frowns at Perigourd.

Vortelis says, "That may very well be."

Vortelis says, "Viselda certainly thinks so."

Speaking to Perigourd, Missoni says, "But on the fifth hand, she risked her own well-being for the sake of others."
Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd says, "I do tend to agree that it looks that way at present."
Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "Prior to being corrupted for years in a shadow realm."
Perigourd nods in agreement at Missoni.
Thrassus says, "Hopefully the Palestra can restrain themselves long enough for us to determine how much of a danger she is rather than hacking her apart immediately."
Missoni frets.

Vortelis nods at Thrassus.

Wisps of shadow dance in the corners of your vision, teasing glimpses of things unseen.

Speaking to Thrassus, Missoni says, "I should hope so."
Amathea glances around the area.
Raelee looks thoughtfully at Vortelis.

Vortelis says, "With any luck we will find her in the same valence as the source of these shadowy Ithzir."

Shadows seep from under the base of the bleakstone statue and bleed up into the soulstone which glows red.

Missoni asks, "That is the current hypothesis, yes?"

Vortelis says, "It is the most parsimonious hypothesis."

Missoni nods slowly.
Thrassus says, "The last we saw of her she was in that same valence."

Vortelis says, "It might be that there are two or three valences involved in some chaotic interplay."

Perigourd asks, "Will this extractor be able to remove shadow essence from her as well?"
Thrassus looks thoughtfully at Vortelis.
Amathea flashes a wide grin.
Perigourd asks, "Or would it kill her similarly to be near it?"
Missoni admits, "That *would* be exciting."
Thrassus says, "That would be very complicated."
Amathea softly says, "I would imagine it isn't as simple as just removing the shadows from her at this point."
Amathea softly says, "Much like this place."
Thrassus says, "The soulstone may more or less be part of her."

Vortelis says, "They would try to get what they can out of her in most likely a thaumaturgical asylum."

Amathea agrees with Vortelis.
Cryheart says, "Hmmm."

Vortelis says, "She would have to be quarantined."

Missoni says, "Perhaps an extractor such as this."
Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "... and thus we would never know the results of that inquiriy."
Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus says, "To say the least."
Amathea softly says, "Opportunities for a study like this aren't exactly common."
Amathea softly says, "Or available specimens, more specifically."

Oily bleak wasps fly in from the distance, but suddenly wrench, falling lifelessly to the ground. Shadows flow from their husks into the soulstone.

Vortelis says, "I could draw some small amount of shadows out of someone with the soulstone without harming them. Probably."

Shadows stretch and contort across the barren landscape, casting a dark veil over the ashen earth below.

Vortelis says, "But Aralyte is probably seriously mutated."

Cryheart nods at Vortelis.
Missoni nods grimly.
Cryheart says, "That is indeed a possibility."
Perigourd asks, "Will she even survive outside that realm?"
Thrassus says, "She certainly seemed so the last she was seen."

Vortelis says, "From what I read she already was to some extent ten years ago."

Speaking to Perigourd, Vortelis says, "It is difficult to say, it would depend on how physically dependent she has become."

Guarrin nods in agreement at Missoni.
Thrassus says, "She was melded with the blood pit that contained her, from the looks of it."
Perigourd nods slowly.
Missoni furrows her brow.

Vortelis says, "Blood aquarium, then..."

Thrassus nods.
Cryheart frowns.
Thrassus says, "There was an inordinate amount of blood there."
Thrassus says, "Like everywhere."
Amathea nods.

Harrowing the Shadow Realm

Missoni says, "One does wonder where it all...came from."

Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "Amasalen."
Missoni blinks at Perigourd.
Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd considers, "Or vampires flying over."
Thrassus says, "Doubtful."
Perigourd says, "The blood rain, perhaps."

Vortelis says, "Irrealities of such places are not really bound by the logic of our world."

Thrassus says, "It's been there for eons uncounted."

The fabric of space thins with ineffable glimpses beyond. Shadows bleed through the surroundings and the soulstone burns bloody red.

Missoni says, "No, I suppose it just...is."

Vortelis says, "I would imagine it is manifesting that way out of the deep necromantic relations with animate matter."

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "... and finding the new logic is the most fascinating part, no?"
Thrassus nods at Vortelis.

Vortelis nods at Raelee.

Vortelis says, "Absolutely."

Amathea softly says, "Ahhh yes....meat mountains and such."
Amathea shudders.
Speaking to Amathea, Thrassus says, "There were definately bone mountains."

Vortelis dusts himself off.

Shimmering visages of ethereal faceless figures wander through the misty distance, their ghostly forms shifting and wavering as if caught between realms.

Vortelis mutters something about bleaksoil.

Speaking softly to Thrassus, Amathea says, "I definitely remember seeing the bone mountain that last time."
Speaking to Vortelis, Thrassus says, "Don't try growing anything in it, it ends up being more trouble than its worth."
Speaking to Thrassus, Perigourd says, "Unless you plan to meld with it."

Writhing shadows billow from the shadowglass protrusions, sucking into the soulstone, which pulses menacingly in a dark and bloody red.

Amathea softly says, "Yet another set of lost notes."
Amathea sighs.
Missoni murmurs, "Another problem to be dealt with."
Missoni takes a bite of her pink salmon fishcake.

Vortelis says, "We will have to go to the Shadow Realm, even if it turns out the Ithzir are coming from some other source, getting in incidentally."

Thrassus says, "Hopefully she just wandered to some far off place like the Shattered Continent."
Cryheart nods at Vortelis.

Vortelis says, "The Palestra will insist on going after Aralyte. Now that it is confirmed she 'lives'."

Thrassus nods at Vortelis.
Perigourd says, "I expect some of us will too."
Geijon adopts an agreeable expression.
Missoni agrees, "She should be brought out, one way or another."

Vortelis nods at Missoni.

Cryheart says, "Hopefully she will retain a resemblance of sanity."

Vortelis says, "The soulstone will help with locating her there."

Vortelis says, "She is tethered to it."

Thrassus says, "If only to sever any chance of an anchor remaining there."
Cryheart nods at Vortelis.
Missoni nods.
Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd asks, "You'll be going in then as well?"

Vortelis nods at Perigourd.

Vortelis says, "Yes. It is one of the main reasons the Harrowers were conscripted into this business in the first place."

The shadowglass shards of the contraption become darker, and its corresponding runes burn crimson. There is a rolling sound of something falling into place.

Vortelis says, "The expectation that it would involve an excursion into such a realm."

Amathea softly says, "I wonder if some part of her might remain "uncorrupted" within this soulstone."
Perigourd nods thoughtfully at Amathea.

A solitary church bell tolls with an eerie resonance, its mournful peals echoing across the desolate landscape like the lament of a forgotten deity.

Missoni exclaims, "That would be helpful!"
Missoni says, "Of course, it does seem keen to consume shadow."

Vortelis says, "Somewhat more actively now."

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

Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "It could simply be swept into the current as it were though, to the bottom."
Speaking to Missoni, Perigourd says, "And not retained in the stone itself."

Vortelis says, "It is a latent ability I managed to discover in it. It is probably how she was able to charge it up herself in the first place."

Speaking to Perigourd, Missoni says, "Yes. It might be like a straw for the shadow."

Vortelis raises an eyebrow.

Amathea softly says, "A lot of the function is in it's name."
Missoni clarifies, "Siphoning shadows to her, but not for itself."

Shadows seep from under the base of the bleakstone statue and bleed up into the soulstone which glows red.

Vortelis says, "Well. It has been more charged than it is now, and held that charge for a year after she was gone."

Missoni nods in agreement.

Vortelis says, "There are a lot more shadows where she is now than this world."

Vortelis looks around him.

Vortelis says, "... usually."

Cryheart says, "I would imagine."
Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd says, "Best to keep it that way."

Vortelis says, "But it is still more intense there than even in the Bleaklands."

Vortelis says, "It is a place we will want to limit our exposure."

Cryheart says, "Let us hope if we can extract her, thos shadows dinnae follow."
Missoni agrees with Vortelis.

Speaking to Vortelis, Geijon asks, "Anything we can use to dampen it's effect?"

Amathea softly says, "Something opposite a cloak of shadow."
Thrassus says, "The last time we were there nobody suffered any lingering effects that I am aware of."
Thrassus says, "At least not physically."
Geijon says, "There was some visions and trauma."
Missoni says, "One can hold a bit of shadow essence with no ill effects that I have seen."

Vortelis says, "Not really. These are fundamental energies that pervade matter."

Vortelis says, "Shielding would likely be impractical."

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee says, "... but not impossible."

Vortelis says, "Yes. Shadow essence is much lower intensity. Virtually harmless."

Speaking to Vortelis, Geijon says, "This imagines some really exceptional results in our favor."
Raelee notes, "The core of most wardings is a novel idea."

Vortelis nods.

Vortelis says, "We would need to remain mobile, I daresay even highly mobile, when we are in that place."

Perigourd says, "We do mostly have steeds."
Perigourd nods in agreement.
Amathea softly says, "I want a pony."
Thrassus says, "That would also depend on how the terrain will have arranged itself at the time of our arrival."
Blades says, "Cryheart can carry me around."
Blades nods.
Cryheart snorts!
Blades snickers.
Cryheart says, "Ye probably weigh a ton."
Perigourd chuckles.
Cryheart grins at Blades.

Oily bleak wasps fly in from the distance, but suddenly wrench, falling lifelessly to the ground. Shadows flow from their husks into the soulstone.

Guarrin asks, "Do you anticipate shadows escaping while this rescue is attempted as well?"

Vortelis says, "There will likely be demonic and unliving things of that realm invading while we have the portal open."

Guarrin slowly empties his lungs.
Cryheart says, "That is what I was hoping against."
Perigourd slowly drums his fingers on his leather baldric, narrowing his eyes.
Missoni nods grimly.
Perigourd says, "It did happen the last time as well."
Cryheart says, "So we will need a strong group guarding that portal."
Blades says, "Sounds like a party."

Vortelis says, "More of a liability the further away from the portal we have to travel."

Speaking to Cryheart, Perigourd says, "Or the town itself."

A solitary church bell tolls with an eerie resonance, its mournful peals echoing across the desolate landscape like the lament of a forgotten deity.

Thrassus mutters under his breath.
Thrassus says, "That vile prelate's bell."
Missoni casually observes her surroundings.
Speaking to Vortelis, Perigourd asks, "Will the Palestra be assinging forces to insure the security of the Landing while this takes place?"

The fabric of space thins with ineffable glimpses beyond. Shadows bleed through the surroundings and the soulstone burns bloody red.

Vortelis says, "They will be at Lake Eonak at the mouth of the portal."

Amathea nods at Vortelis.
Cryheart nods at Vortelis.

Vortelis says, "Depending on what we are doing, they might also be in the Shadow Realm."

Missoni nods slightly.

Amathea softly says, "I imagine a force spreading into the city might be taken the wrong way, no matter the need."

Internal Politics and Jurisdiction

Speaking to Vortelis, Raelee asks, "... do you anticipate their interfering with the research?"

Speaking to Raelee, Vortelis says, "That has been a not insignificant part of the delay."

Guarrin nods in agreement at Perigourd.

Vortelis says, "The Archchancellor has staved that off more or less while we are doing our exploratory research."

Vortelis says, "Limiting their ability to claim jurisdiction."

Vortelis says, "But my hands will be largely tied when it comes to finding and extracting Aralyte."

Caius Goes On Strike


Agrestis Surveyor Caius just went southeast.

Vortelis raises an eyebrow.

Vague outlines of a bleak silhouette manifest nearby, but its spectral form is violently ripped apart, shadows streaking from it into the soulstone.

Cryheart asks, "Hmm...should he nae be wandering without guard?"

Vortelis says, "He better not have walked off the job."

Thrassus asks, "Where is he off to?"
Cryheart nods at Vortelis.

Vortelis says, "I do not know. I will find him."

Cryheart says, "Perhaps he got weak feet after our discussions."

Vortelis says, "But when we have him at heel, he will keep watch on the veil around this soulstone."

Cryheart nods at Vortelis.

Farewells


Shadows stretch and contort across the barren landscape, casting a dark veil over the ashen earth below.

Missoni nods approvingly.
Blades says, "Prolly sending a letter filing for higher pay."
Missoni says, "I suppose we should bring him a locust kabob every so often."

Vortelis says, "The extractor will be here if you wish to help fuel it."

Missoni smiles.
Cryheart glances at Vortelis.
Cryheart nods.

Vortelis says, "Unless there is anything else, I will be off for now."

Guarrin says, "This has been informative."
Cryheart says, "Rest well."
Guarrin says, "I should step away as well."
Speaking to Vortelis, Missoni says, "Thank you for the information."

Writhing shadows billow from the shadowglass protrusions, sucking into the soulstone, which pulses menacingly in a dark and bloody red.

Perigourd nods appreciatively to Vortelis.

Vortelis nods once.

Vortelis gestures and tears a rift open, walking through it in a flash of light.

Perigourd nods knowingly.
Thrassus ponders.
Blades yawns.
Thrassus glances southeast.
Amathea takes a bite of her black apple.
Cryheart says, "Hmmm."
Thrassus shakes his head.
Missoni slowly empties her lungs.
Pushing her coral eyeglasses with a single index finger, Amathea slides them back up her nose.
Blades says, "Well time to head up north before i get sucked into a soulstone."
Amathea gazes with interest at an immense veil iron extractor.
Cryheart nods at Blades.
Cryheart grins.
Blades waves.
Cryheart waves.
Speaking to Blades, Perigourd says, "Stormy will only keep you there for a bit."
Speaking cheerfully to Blades, Missoni says, "Safe travels."
Blades just went southeast.
Amathea curtsies politely.
Perigourd chuckles.
Her hand lowered, Missoni gives Amathea a subtle wave.
Missoni asks, "Shall we?"
Thrassus says, "You'd think Caius would realize there's plenty of bleakstone scattered about."
Cryheart nods at Missoni.
Raelee nods at Missoni.
Cryheart nods at Thrassus.
The dog hovers protectively by Missoni's side, baring its teeth at nothing in particular.
Cryheart yawns.
Thrassus says, "It sells for quite a bit to certain clientelle, or so I have heard."
Thrassus shrugs.
Missoni agrees with Thrassus.
Thrassus says, "Ah well."
Missoni says, "Some are fond of it."
Thrassus glances at his bleakstone idol.
Thrassus snickers.
Missoni flashes a quick grin.
Thrassus says, "Do have a good evening, all."
Geijon nods.
Her hand lowered, Missoni gives Thrassus a subtle wave.
Cryheart waves to Thrassus.
Thrassus gestures crisply and utters a practiced phrase as raw elemental energies issue forth from his dimly glowing eyes.
Thrassus gestures.
The shadows around you twist and undulate towards each other until they converge into a pillar of darkness with indistinct edges.
Missoni smiles.
Thrassus steps into the pillar of darkness.
The pillar of darkness ripples for a moment as it separates into shadows that recede into the darkness from which they came.
Missoni says, "Oh, darkness."
Eerie shadowy haze infesting the surroundings lifts off the ground and seeps into the hovering soulstone.
Missoni snaps her fingers.
Wisps of shadow dance in the corners of your vision, teasing glimpses of things unseen.
Missoni says, "Let us try this way."
Volute tendrils of essence coil down Missoni's arms, their atrous hue erupting in a cascade of prismatic glitter when they reach her outstretched fingertips.
Missoni gestures.
A frolic of ethereal teadragons scurry up and and over Missoni's group, and when they disappear in a blinding *poof*, Missoni's group is gone.
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