Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl
| |||||||
This story was the precursor to the release of Minor Summoning (725) in 2003.
Appearance
You see Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl. He appears to have come of age and is shorter than average. He has deep, silver-streaked dark lavender eyes and ebon skin. He has cropped, straight silver-white hair with a slender braid at his temple that is tucked behind his right ear. He has a narrow face, an aquiline nose and long, downswept pointed ears with thin tips. He is in good shape. He is holding a scarlet-banded silver lor staff capped with a grey stone in his right hand. He is wearing an intricate silver circlet inset with cabochon heliodors, a wrapped grey silk mantle with scarlet lining, a reinforced grey leather staff harness, a mass of silken fabric layered into a complex robe of scarlet and grey, a circular-cut silver signet ring with a raised scarlet pentacle on a field of grey, a small scarlet velvet hip-pouch, and a pair of knee-high black leather boots threaded with silver.
Demon Summoning Gone Wrong!
A group of large, snake-like abyran'ra demons were fumblingly summoned in Ta'Illistim by the Faendryl student Rhythus. After some vicious slaughterings of the townspeople, the sorcerer Severnus, local adventurers, and Faendryl palestras dispatched of them. After being confronted by Severnus, Rhythus was taken by the local guard, while Rhyhus made his escape.
A horde of demons was released upon the town of Ta'Illistim late night on the 2nd of Eorgaen. They were immune from physical attack but seemed to respond to focused implosions and casts of phase. After many deaths they were finally repelled, possibly due to the workings of one Severnus. It is speculated that a Sorcery caucus meeting in the town at the time has something to do in the matter.
An example:
The demons were quite vicious:
A massive black abyran'ra whips a bone-bladed flaming human spine at you!
AS: +515 vs DS: +358 with AvD: +44 + d100 roll: +55 = +256
... and hits for 91 points of damage!
Your shield arm falls to the ground, still twitching. It seems you have died, my friend. Although you cannot do anything, you are keenly aware of what is going on around you... You mentally give a sigh of relief as you remember that the Goddess Lorminstra owes you a favor. ...departing in 10 mins...
A massive black abyran'ra undulates its coils in exultant victory! A massive black abyran'ra descends upon your corpse, its talons moving in swift, sweeping arcs across your back as its forked tongue darts in and out quickly. After a moment, the abyran'ra plunges its hand into the base of your neck and rips out your spine in one fluid movement! The black abyran'ra rises up on its coils and runs its scythe-like talons over the blood-drenched spine in a sinuous fashion, a faint webwork of incarnadine energy lacing across its surface. After a moment, it begins to grow longer and longer, its bony protrusions melding into razored blades that wreath it on all sides. With one swift, sharp *CRACK* of the whip-like bone, the blood drenching the bladed spine bursts into flames -- the rippling scarlet hue cast by the blaze washing over the abyran'ra's face in lurid waves. The flaming human spine in a massive black abyran'ra's hand whips and snaps about of its own accord, the fire arcing across its surface blazing brighter for a moment.
Queen Mysara of Ta'Illistim Speaks
12/4/2003
I address my people, the guests within our lands, and the Nations as a whole this day with a heavy heart. As most of you know, a horde of demonic creatures was unleashed upon our Shining City, Ta'Illistim. But who is to blame for these atrocities visited upon us? The answer is obvious -- the Faendryl. Long have we warned them against these heinous practices of magic, and long have we been content to let them be in their city in the Wastes, far away from our ancestral homelands. This time is no longer -- the Faendryl must answer for their crimes against House Illistim's sovereignty and the horror inflicted upon the innocents who call the Shining City their home. Their careless inquiries into the demonic valences have once again brought great tragedy unto the world.
We have in our custody he who is responsible for this -- one Rhythus Veranthe of the Faendryl. He has pleaded the innocence of his 'nation' and takes sole responsibility for what occurred -- but we are not satisfied with this. For what is one rotten pomegranate if the tree that bore it still flowers and spreads its tainted fruit amongst us? We expect the Faendryl as a whole to answer for this, for it was in their academies this boy was educated, it was their culture which formed his reckless and dangerous attitude, and it was their studies of the abominable and forbidden magic that allowed him to rip open a portal and shed the blood of our people.
We of House Illistim demand reparations from the Faendryl in apology, and we insist that they detail the practices this boy went through to Illistim's royal scholars so that it might never occur within our provinces again. Know that we will not be hesitant in retaliation for these crimes against our people if they do not cooperate forthwith.
Know that we will dispense justice upon this boy; a trial shall be conducted in the private courts of our fair city. I ask those who were witness to this event first-hand to aid in our quest for a just and swift trial -- inquisitors shall soon be walking the streets, looking for any information regarding what occurred. Your statements will help us bring this boy to justice cleanly and efficiently.
— Queen Myasara of House Illistim.
Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl Executed
<< 8:30 PM EST >>
A crisply-dressed town crier approaches nearby and unfurls an gold-trimmed scroll before you. Loudly, he proclaims, "By Order of Queen Myasara, the results of the rogue Summoner's trial is to be announced! By a unanimous decision, the person known as Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl has been found guilty of treason, murder of innocents destruction of city property, and use of forbidden magic within Ta'Illistim. The punishment shall be death by beheading at nine-thirty this evening outside BriarStone Keep!" The man bows, and quickly walks off.
<< 9:40 PM EST >>
[Ta'Illistim, BriarStone Keep]
Dwarfing all buildings nearby, the massive facade of the keep rises towards the sky. Torches burn along the walls atop the building, casting fitful light across the court. Twin belltowers rise at the far corners of the keep, their blue spires sparkling slightly in the moonlight. Four guards stand in front of the keep's massive iron-bound front doors, warily inspecting passersby. You also see the Iaz disk, the red Livn disk, the Weryn disk, the purple Aetheri disk, the Austil disk, a red fox that is sitting, the Jayleena disk, a horned frog that is sitting, the Thakirin disk, a fan-tailed leaf hawk that is flying around and a large wooden guillotine inset with gold and cerulean scrollwork.
Also here: Bramlor, Mirkk, Dabu, Great Lord Eldrec, Iaz, Yactaevia, Calael, Prospera, Weryn, Livn, Lord Aetheri, Lady Placida, Lord Montrealu, Lady Llyral, Lord Methuslah, Lady Bethame, Lord Wythers, Archegle, Thrynna, Lord Meshach, Miranne, Lady Eiadh, Lord Izalude, Lady Jolena, Ganalon, Harliegha, Shadya, Austil, Desler, Sylania, Paragonimus, Elundil, Lady Jayleena, Kyal, Ashren, Sente, Suntzhu, Lord Calean, Tyraesa, Thakirin, Haxley, Mekthros, Siwas, Lord Rekarth
Obvious paths: northeast, southeast, southwest
A pair of elven magic appear on the balcony of the keep, and can be seen gesturing. Slowly, a sphere of magical encompasses the guillotine.
A crisply dressed messenger strides into view, unfurls a scroll and proclaims, "By Order of Queen Myasara, the execution of Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl for heinous crimes shall commence!"
"He has been found guilty of treason against Illistim, murderer of innocents, destruction of city property, and use of forbidden magic within city limits!", the messenger proclaims, "His punishment is death by beheading!" The messenger lowers the scroll, and steps to the side.
A few thin musicians off to the side begin to play a steady drum beat as a pair of guardsman come out of BriarStone keep, dragging Rhythus between them.
A tall elven guardsman just arrived!
You see Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl.
He appears to have come of age and is shorter than average. He has deep, silver-streaked dark lavender eyes and ebon skin. He has cropped, straight silver-white hair with a slender braid at his temple that is tucked behind his right ear. He has a narrow face, an aquiline nose and long, downswept pointed ears with thin tips.
He is dressed in simple robes, and is shackled.
[Ta'Illistim, BriarStone Keep]
Dwarfing all buildings nearby, the massive facade of the keep rises towards the sky. Torches burn along the walls atop the building, casting fitful light across the court. Twin belltowers rise at the far corners of the keep, their blue spires sparkling slightly in the moonlight. Four guards stand in front of the keep's massive iron-bound front doors, warily inspecting passersby. You also see a tall elven guardsman, a tall elven guardsman, Rhythus, and a large wooden guillotine inset with gold and cerulean scrollwork.
Also here: Yactaevia, Bramlor, Mirkk, Great Lord Eldrec who is sitting, Iaz, Calael, Prospera, Weryn, Livn, Lord Aetheri, Lady Placida, Lord Montrealu, Lady Llyral, Lord Methuslah, Lady Bethame, Lord Wythers, Archegle, Thrynna, Lord Meshach, Miranne, Lady Eiadh, Lord Izalude, Lady Jolena, Ganalon, Harliegha, Shadya, Austil, Desler, Sylania, Paragonimus who is sitting, Elundil, Lady Jayleena, Kyal, Ashren, Sente, Suntzhu, Lord Calean, Tyraesa, Thakirin, Mekthros, Siwas, Lord Rekarth
Obvious paths: northeast, southeast, southwest
Rhythus gazes up at the crowd with clouded eyes, a frown lingers upon his lips as he sighs.
The two guardsman move Rhythus towards the guillotine.
The two guardsman force Rhythus down into a kneeling position, placing his head into the guillotine.
The people in the crowd hold their breath in anticipation. A few others turn their gaze from the man.
Rhythus gazes out into the crowd, his eyes briefly settling on you for a moment before moving on.
A bulky man in a hood steps up to the guillotine's lever, and glances up to the tower's balcony as the drum beats pick up pace.
You see some movement from the BriarStone keep's balcony, and the bulky man in the hood nods.
Rhythus tries to lift his head, though settles for where it is and he gazes up at the night sky.
The fast pace of the drums suddenly come to a halt as the bulky man in the hood pulls the guillotine's lever.
People in the crowd gasp out loud as the blade of the guillotine falls. With a swift sound of metal against wood, the blade severs Rhythus's head from his body, causing it to drop into the box that lays underneath the device.
A crispy dressed messenger steps towards the guillotine with a gulp and shouts, "The punishment of Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl has been completed. May he serve as a notice to all who sought what he did." The messenger bows quickly, and moves away from the guillotine.
The crowd begins to thin, the elven mages on the BriarStone Tower's balcony leave, causing the sphere around the guillotine to disappear.
The two guardsman approach the guillotine, the bulky man in the hood resetting it, and they move the headless body of Rhythus away. One of them can be seen carrying the box that was under the guillotine.
A guardsman steps forward and says, "Nothing more to see here folks, move along. The guilty have been punished, only a mess to clean up now." He makes a motion, and moves off towards the Keep.
Two tall elves move towards the guillotine, and begin to fiddle with the ropes.
Slowly, the two elves pull the wooden guillotine away.
>inspect gua box Written upon the box in flowing elven script is, "To Patriarch Korvath Faendryl with love. Signed, Queen Myasara Illistim."
News
The Enchiridion Valentia
Dateline 12/15/2003: DELIVERY OF THE ENCHIRIDION VALENTIA EXCERPTS
By the time this notice reaches your eyes, the couriers sent out from the Basilica Tower will undoubtedly have already delivered the excerpts of the Enchiridion Valentia to all recognized towns and cities. A new era, then, has been ushered into our, the people of Elanith, history.
Perhaps Rhythus Veranthe Faendryl, in the end, achieved what he sought to: a common understanding for everyone on the safety, and capability of summoning. His means, however, did not justify the effects. His sentence to death was a justified measure by the Illistim courts.
I, and my people, stand behind our centuries of experience. If procedures and safety are taken into consideration first and foremost when summoning, the experience is absolutely safe. The propaganda Illistim spouts is one of fear, and misunderstanding.
Let us watch, together, as this new era in magic unfolds. The potential in the excerpts of knowledge from the Enchiridion Valentia has to offer is vast. It is up to the wielder of the knowledge to understand, grasp, and fully use that potential.
By my hand,
Korvath Dardanus Faendryl, Patriarch XXXIX of House Faendryl
END NEWS ITEM
The Law and Demons
Dateline 12/15/2003: LAW ENFORCEMENT DISTURBED
In light of the recent release by the Faendryl of knowledge of Minor Summoning, the law enforcement of all towns are extremely disturbed by the foreboding sense of demons running around their towns.
Therefore, all town officials are meeting in secret to determine their towns laws and regulations in regards to Minor Summoning.
Also, increased troops have been deployed by the respective governments of Ta'Vaalor, Ta'Illistim, and Solhaven to patrol their borders and to keep demons out with the resurgence of this information.
In the meantime, towns will not take legal action against demons as officials deliberate the course of action. Once a decision has been made, it will be made available to the public.
END NEWS ITEM