Tales of Wehnimer's Landing (storyline)/2025-11-11 - Writ in Crimson Shadow (log)

Synopsis

There were shadows on the rooftop of Moot Hall, which were trying to write out letters on a railing. There were intense head pounding headaches experienced widely throughout the region. The shadow eventually grabbed Regwen's arm and bloodily spelled out the Ithzir word "klaloc" using her finger. Then Town Square Central was hit with many large lightning elementals, and the rooftop was hit with many writhing black shadows that were mana draining. There was speculation later that this was Althedeus related, with some noting the Ithzir involvement in the ritual to unravel Althedeus.

Invasion Creatures:

• large lightning elemental
• mass of writhing black shadows

Previously on KST:

There had been previous attacks of shadows. In late Imaerasta on 9/29 there had been a shadows incident, with writhing shadows attacking, including forming off the shadow of a dead body. One of the shadows had its face split open into a twisted crooked grin. There was a metallic rattle echo from it, but there was no explicit use of Ithzir language.

There was later another invasion on 11/18, and a shadowy Ithzir invasion on 11/22: Tales of Wehnimer's Landing (storyline)/2025-11-22 - I See You See We All See Ithzir (log)

Then there was an 11/26 invasion of shadows and shadowy Ithzir, noticed by a Faendryl NPC and activity from Aralyte's soulstone: Tales of Wehnimer's Landing (storyline)/2025-11-26 - The Aralyte-enment (log)

Log

Brilliant arcs of blue and purple energy streak through the sky above Wehnimer's Landing.

"Motes of blue and purple light swirl about the night sky, lazily floating above Wehnimer's Landing, their electric forms stretching out, then shrinking, like glowing ethereal squids.

[General] Thrassus thinks, "The roof of the Hall."

[Moot Hall, Rooftop]
Dark slate runs across the roof of Moot Hall, providing solid footing and an impressive view of the town square below. To the west, the great oak tree in the center of town rises up, partially obscuring the western side of the bazaar. You also see the storm grey Niksue disk enshrouded by swirling white clouds, the Regwen disk, the Skulligei disk, a forest wolf, the violet Hapenlok disk, an ember-eyed fire wyrdling, a wooden railing with several shadowy hands grasping it and a wooden hatch.
Also here: Niksue, Skulligei, Sister-at-arms Regwen, Puptilian, Hapenlok, Magister Raelee, Emissary Thrassus
Obvious paths: none

Thrassus points at a wooden railing with several shadowy hands grasping it.

Puptilian asks, "Is it...a lasting energy form Althedeus?"
Skulligei raspily says, "Ther eit is again."
Thrassus shrugs.
Puptilian says, "Maybe we didn't destroy it fully last time."
(Hapenlok swings at one of the hands on the railing with his runestaff.)
Thrassus says, "They do not react to the name."
Regwen asks, "Where is a wooden railing?"
(Puptilian rubs his eyes.)

You feel a dull pain behind your eyes.

Thrassus says, "Not again."
A pained expression crosses Niksue's face.
Raelee closes her eyes for a moment.
Puptilian kneels down.
Raelee says, "... oh. There it is."
Skulligei raspily says, "My eyes...."
Puptilian growls ferociously!
Regwen says, "Oh the painin my head."
Hapenlok says, "Oh, this is gonna hurt."
[General] Monthas thinks, "My headache is back."
Regwen ducks slightly and covers her head with her arms.
Thrassus says, "We can communicate without this."
Speaking to Regwen, Puptilian says, "My eyes hurt."
Raelee slowly says, "Stop. Do not damage my eyes... simply communicate what you want."
Regwen says, "Oh right behind my eyes."
(Hapenlok jams his staff into the ground and braces himself.)
Regwen covers her eyes with her hands.
Puptilian says, "Regwen."
The voice of Grhim says, "Hmm, it would be amusing though."
You hear a wild, cackling laugh nearby.
Puptilian says, "Your lessons."
Regwen nods at Puptilian.
Puptilian takes a deep breath.
Regwen takes a deep breath.
Puptilian slowly empties his lungs.
Speaking to Raelee, Hapenlok says, "...somehow i don't think that kind of diplomacy is going to work."
Hapenlok grins bravely, ignoring his obvious pain.
Speaking to Hapenlok, Raelee says, "It has before."
Thrassus says, "You never know until you try it."

Specks of glowing light float across your vision.

Thrassus blinks.
Regwen asks, "Oh... do you see a glow now?"
(Skulligei attempts to clear his eyes.)
Skulligei raspily asks, "What is this?"
(Hapenlok leans a little too close to the railing, distracted by the glowing lights in his vision.)
Shadowy footprints appear along the ground, walking behind Niksue then disappearing.
Speaking to Puptilian, Regwen says, "It lessens the pain."
Speaking to a wooden railing with several shadowy hands grasping it, Thrassus asks, "You have some degree of physical presence, so can you at least scratch in the dirt a message or the like?"
Regwen reaches out and touches a wooden railing with several shadowy hands grasping it.
Speaking to Niksue, Hapenlok says, "...looking behind you."
Niksue says, "Ya behing me is...well it's nothing now."
Niksue frowns.
Niksue turns around.
Speaking to Niksue, Thrassus asks, "Are you feeling any different?"
Niksue says, "No, still feel as murdery as ever."
Niksue shrugs.
Kayse's eyes slowly roam over the area, an intense concentration in her eyes contrasting her otherwise impassive face. Her wings flick back and forth in piqued curiosity as she absorbs every detail.
With a subtle tilt of his head, Thrassus's slender finger taps lightly on his bottom lip as he becomes lost in thought.
Leafiara glances between Puptilian and Hapenlok.
Leafiara curiously asks, "So... this one remind you two of anything?"

The shadowy hands release the wooden railing and peel away, save for one hand.

Hapenlok says, "Oh, to hell with this."
Thrassus cocks his head and examines the wooden railing.
Puptilian nods slowly at Leafiara.

Your head begins to throb with pain.

Skulligei raspily asks, "Is this what you're after?"
Kayse winces.
Puptilian screams!
Regwen says, "Oh my head."
With a wince, Raelee slowly massages her temple.
Hapenlok begins to twitch.
Puptilian exclaims, "The pain!"
Niksue says, "It's like it's trying to like...get in there."
Skulligei glances at Puptilian.
Leafiara begins to twitch.
Puptilian lies down.
Niksue says, "It should know it's pretty empty."
Regwen moans.
Kayse glances down.

The shadowy hand stretches out one finger, which seems to grow longer and scratches a line into the wooden railing.

(Hapenlok brings his staff up over top of his head and smashes it down on the one remaining hand on the railing.)
Puptilian moans.
Leafiara furrows her brow.
Skulligei raspily says, "Yeah..that didn't help."
Kayse leans forward.
Speaking quietly to Thrassus, Raelee says, "It worked."
Raelee nods to a wooden railing.
Thrassus nods slowly.
Thrassus takes a moment to observe a wooden railing.
Leafiara speculates, "It's communicating?"
Thrassus says, "Potentially."

Your head begins to throb, resounding with pain and the heavy drum of a heartbeat ringing in your ears. Thud. Thud.

Thrassus winces.
Regwen says, "Maybe it wants us down the stairs."
Regwen screams!
Skulligei falls over.
Puptilian screams!
Niksue says, "That's starting to piss me off."
You hear a menacing snarl nearby!
(Kayse presses a palm to her forehead.)
Regwen says, "Oh the thudding in my head."
Regwen wobbles, looking a bit faint.
Regwen leans against a wooden railing.

The shadowy finger draws another line within the wood. Then another, until it forms a "K."

Thrassus squints at a wooden railing.
(Raelee leans a bit more heavily on her staff.)
Skulligei raspily says, "There it is."
Thrassus asks, "K?"
Skulligei raspily says, "It's writing something."

Thud."

Puptilian says, "She doesn't really drink."
Regwen asks, "K?"

Thud. Thud.

Leafiara says, "This could be a while..."
Regwen says, "Oh the thudding."
Kayse nonchalantly says, "There's a lot of names and things that start with K."
The voice of Grhim says, "Kill one of them per letter."
From the shadows you hear a soft chuckling. Gradually increasing in volume and intensity, the laughter quickly turns maniacal before ceasing abruptly.
Niksue says, "Also, kill everything also starts with K."
Hapenlok shakes his head.
Regwen says, "Or Keep them."
Thrassus asks, "Perhaps this is a side effect of its efforts to manifest?"
Thrassus leans on his staff.
Regwen says, "Oh my head."
Hapenlok mutters, "This'll take forever."

The shadowy finger drags slowly across the wood, the very material warping beneath its touch to form another line. The letter "L."

Leafiara says, "That's what I said."
Regwen says, "Kl."
Thrassus says, "Patience is a virtue, as they say."
Regwen asks, "Kill?"
Kayse nods encouragingly to a wooden railing.
Puptilian says, "Different line."
Puptilian says, "K then next line is L."
Puptilian says, "Not KL."
Leafiara says, "Kill List."
Regwen asks, "Klimb?"
Regwen says, "Maybe can't spell."
The finger pauses, flickering for a moment in and out of existance.
Skulligei raspily exclaims, "Wait!"
Speaking to Regwen, Puptilian says, "Two lines my Love. First is K, second is L."
Skulligei nods at Puptilian.
Viva says, "Whoever it is, seems they are giving us the finger."

The shadowy hand suddenly lurches forward, stretching instantly and unnaturally to grab Regwen's arm, pulling her up against the wooden railing as the hand coils around hers, pressing her flesh onto the wooden railing.

Puptilian nods slowly at Regwen.
Kayse blinks.
Leafiara says, "Don't look at me. I hadn't even moved here the last time you--"
Leafiara glances at Regwen.
Puptilian says, "Wait."
Viva gasps.
Puptilian tries to pull Regwen toward him.
Niksue says, "Well that went weirder fast."
Puptilian says, "You are not going to pull her off the edge."
Thrassus says, "It might be using her to finish the message, do not interfere."
Niksue says, "Now it's grabby."
Puptilian tries to pull Regwen toward him.
Raelee says, "... it may need her hand."
Raelee nods at Thrassus.
Raelee says, "Yes."
Regwen says, "I II can't move."
Leafiara puzzledly concludes, "...fought with Althedeus or whatever is what I was going to say."
Leafiara chuckles.
Kayse admits, "It's not that far. We jump off here often."
Grhim suddenly fades into view.
Kayse glances down.
Speaking to Puptilian, Grhim asks, "Are you certain?"
Raelee says, "There are hundreds of words that begin with K then L. We need more."
Speaking to Regwen, Thrassus says, "Don't fight it, let it guide you."
Raelee nods slightly at Thrassus.
Regwen says, "Oh... this hurts."
Speaking to Thrassus, Puptilian says, "Easy for you to say, let it use you."
Speaking to Regwen, Puptilian says, "Look at me."
Regwen says, "I'll try.. to relax."
Leafiara asks, "Do we need to call an empath up here?"
Leafiara nods understandingly.

The shadowy hand, covering Regwen's hand, drags her finger across the wooden railing. Her fingertip digs into the surface, her flesh peeling away brutally, blood and skin scratched away to bone. When the shadowy hand is done with Regwen, it releases her, and upon the railing is the word "klaloc." The shadowy hand vanishes.

Speaking to Regwen, Thrassus says, "A small thing, ignore the pain."
Regwen says, "I can't."
Puptilian cringes.
Thrassus says, "Ithziri."
Regwen says, "Ooooouch."
Speaking to Regwen, Grhim says, "I found it amusing."
A pained expression crosses Niksue's face.
Geijon gazes up into the heavens.
Thrassus says, "Klaloc."
Regwen swoons.
Thrassus says, "That sounds familiar."
Puptilian stares at Grhim.
Speaking to Thrassus, Kayse asks, "Do you know what it means?"
Hapenlok mutters, "Of course."
Kayse thoughtfully taps a finger against her lips.
Puptilian kneels before Regwen.
Skulligei raspily says, "I am unfamiliar with this word."
Skulligei rubs his chin thoughtfully.
Regwen blinks.
Speaking to Thrassus, Hapenlok asks, "Ithzir?"
Leafiara says, "Odd. Nothing's indicated the Ithzir before now..."
Thrassus says, "It's a word in Ithzir, I am sure."
(Regwen holds up her finger.)
Speaking to Regwen, Puptilian asks, "You ok?"
Regwen says, "Oh my finger."
Raelee nods at Thrassus.
(Puptilian holds Regwen's hand.)
Speaking to Puptilian, Regwen says, "Help me up please, love."
Puptilian stands up.
Puptilian pulls Regwen to her feet.
Puptilian gives Regwen a lingering kiss on the forehead.
Regwen leans softly against Puptilian.
Thrassus says, "I am not an expert in the language, however."
Speaking to a wooden railing with the word "klaloc" scratched into it, Hapenlok says, "Next time, just use me. i'm used to possession."
Leafiara grins wryly at Hapenlok.
Regwen nods slowly at Puptilian.
Speaking to Thrassus, Raelee asks, "It typically implies... power, no?"
Thrassus ponders.
Thrassus says, "Could be."
Speaking to Thrassus, Raelee says, "Though... not so specifically. The context matter."
(Regwen wraps her finger in her handkerchief.)
Thrassus nods.
Grhim exclaims, "It certainly was more effective than simply using the railing. Why, if we found some unwanted wretches perhaps it could write a novel!"
Hapenlok says, "I vaguely remember it being a word i heard a lot when the Ithzir were here before. But i could be wrong."
Thrassus says, "Agreed, more context is needed."
Speaking to Thrassus, Raelee says, "A power or... something more akin to essence."
Leafiara furrows her brow.
Regwen says, "I have more fingers... Pick someone else though."
Kayse folds her wings across her back.
Thrassus says, "It could just be the Reach is attracting them."
Speaking to Thrassus, Raelee says, "... I am far from fluent myself. I shall work on that."
Thrassus nods at Raelee.
Hapenlok blinks at Thrassus.
Kayse slowly empties her lungs.
Thrassus says, "Never overlook the simple explanation."
Niksue says, "And there they with the death."
Leafiara says, "Hmm."
Speaking to Thrassus, Hapenlok says, "I was afraid you'd say that."
Kayse says, "Because there is a half of one there...."
Thrassus says, "But it's too early to say that for sure."
[Help] Drizdark: "Landing invasion again?"
Kayse says, "Or was..."
Hapenlok says, "Now i think i've got to go up there."
Niksue says, "Got elementals on the street."
Hapenlok nods at Thrassus.
Thrassus says, "Elementals again."
Puptilian glances at Geijon.
Raelee gets a distant look in her eyes.
Grhim laughs softly, trying to hide his amusement.
[General] Leafiara thinks, "Mmm. Elementals attacked the square, though they're dead for now."
Thrassus leans against a wooden railing with the word "klaloc" scratched into it.

Streaks of blue and purple light burst from the peaks of Melgorehn's Reach and blaze across the sky over Wehnimer's Landing.

With a subtle tilt of his head, Thrassus's slender finger taps lightly on his bottom lip as he becomes lost in thought.
Regwen says, "It's Ithzir I think."
Thrassus nods at Regwen.
Puptilian frowns at Regwen.
Thrassus says, "I am certain of that."

A mass of writhing black shadows drifts in smoothly, trailed by a shadowy haze.
A mass of writhing black shadows drifts in smoothly, trailed by a shadowy haze.
A mass of writhing black shadows drifts in smoothly, trailed by a shadowy haze.
(etc.)

(lots of fighting and dying here)

The shadows peel away.

Raelee tosses back her head and runs her fingers through her hair.
Raelee surveys the area.
Thrassus pants.
Niksue says, "That sucked."
Leafiara says, "Okay, I know something else must have been up here because the lightning elementals down there wouldn't have killed any of you."
Leafiara furrows her brow.
Speaking to Leafiara, Raelee says, "Shadows."
The ghostly voice of Kayse says, "A bunch of shadows."
Leafiara says, "Ah, of course."
Niksue says, "Shadows that sucked the mana right out of us."
The ghostly voice of Puptilian says, "Shadows attacked."
The ghostly voice of Skulligei raspily says, "These seemed a bit different....."
The ghostly voice of Puptilian says, "Stripped me of magic then killed me."
Raelee states, "I seem to be unharmed."
Leafiara says, "Right then... we've got a large plethora of bodies here as well as in the square."