GemStone IV Wiki - User contributions [en]

Elanthian Vogue

2026-07-21T22:06:04Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Elanthian Vogue |type = periodical |author = Rohese Bayvel |author-displayed = |date = 2018-01-30}}
[[File:EV Insignia WIKI.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]
Elanthian Vogue is the official publication of [[The Looking Glass]], an established Fashion House and distinguished [[Meeting Hall Organization]] in the elven city of [[Ta'Illistim]]. Its offices and studio are located in [[Ailanthus Manor]] on Whistler's Pass.

Elanthian Vogue is a seasonal fashion magazine made up of many components, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, culture, and "runway". The aim of the publication is to raise awareness and encourage participation in fashion-oriented activities across [[Elanthia]]. The first edition was launched in [[Lormesta]] 5118. In 5123, it moved to being published annually to coincide with [[Elanthian Fashion Week]] or its associated events but, in 5126, it was rebranded to be called "V" and has since returned to a simpler, more regular format.

For further information, please contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]].

==Published Editions==
{| {{prettytable|background:#ebf7ef;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#4c9d67; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5126 (Edition No. and Theme)
! style="width:35em"|5126 (Edition No. and Theme)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5126 | V (Lormesta 5126)]] - [[Bella's Bridal Boutique]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5126 | V (Koaratos 5126)]] - [[TBShop:Ebb and Flow|Ebb and Flow]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126 | V (Fashanos 5126)]] - [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]]||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126 | V (Charlatos 5126)]] - [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]]'s Market||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5126 | V (Olaesta 5126)]] - [[RWShop:Obsidian_Raiment|Obsidian Raiment]]||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5126 | V (Ivastaen 5126)]] - [[The Tailor's Sister|The Tailor's Sister]]||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5126 | V (Lumnea 5126)]] - Trinkets and Transmogrification||
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5125
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5125|Elanthian Vogue 5125]] - Botanicals: Sea, Sand and Soil
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5124
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5124|Elanthian Vogue 5124]] - Flora and Fauna
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5123
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5123|Elanthian Vogue 5123]] - Fashion Design and Cultural Influences
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#F0F8FF;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#000080; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5118 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5119 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5120 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5121 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5122 (Edition No. and Themes)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5118 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5118)]] - Launch||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5119 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5119)]] - Glamour||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5120 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5120)]] - Relax ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5121 | Edition 1 (Spring 5121)]] - Healing, Herbs, and Self Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5122 | Edition 1 (Spring 5122)]] - Weddings
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5119 | Edition 2 (Fashanos 5119)]] - Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Charlatos 5121)]] - Birds||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part I) | Edition 2 (Summer 5122): Part I]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5118 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5118)]] - Women||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5119 | Edition 3 (Charlatos 5119)]] - Handmaidens and Horoscopes||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5120 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5120)]] - Courtesans ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5121 | Edition 2 (Summer 5121)]] - Open Sea Adventures||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part II) | Edition 3 (Summer 5122): Part II]] - The Season
|-Z||
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5118 | Edition 3 (Ivastaen 5118)]] - RED||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5119 | Edition 4 (Olaesta 5119)]] - Pirates||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Olaesta 5120)]] - Cosmetics ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5121 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5121)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part III) | Edition 4 (Summer 5122): Part III]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 | Edition 4 (Lumnea 5118)]] - Image||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5119 | Edition 5 (Ivastaen 5119)]] - Travel||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part I) | Edition 3: Part I (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas<br>[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part II) | Edition 4: Part II (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas cont.d || [[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5121 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Koaratos 5121)]] - Revelia Carnivale||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Phoenatos 5122)]] - Entertaining
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Lumnea 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5119 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5120 | Edition 5 (Lumnea 5120)]] - Call of the Wild || [[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121 | Edition 3 (Autumn 5121)]] - It's Magic!||[[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5122 | Edition 5 (Autumn 5122)]] - Arts and Crafts
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5118 | Edition 5 (Koaratos 5118)]] - Well-Being||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5119 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5119)]] - Summer Is ...||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5120 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5120)]] - Theatre ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part I) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part I]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5122)]] - Bugs!
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5118 | Edition 6 (Imaerasta 5118)]] - Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5119 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part II) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part II]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5122 | Edition 6 (Winter 5122)]] - Winter
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5118 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Jastatos 5118)]] - Veola||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5119 | Edition 7 (Jastatos 5119)]] - Art||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 | Edition 7 (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Exotic ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5121)]] - Cordwainers||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5118 | Edition 7 (Eoantas 5118)]] - Men||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 | Edition 8 (Eoantos 5119)]] - Military||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Pets || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 | Edition 8 (Eorgaen 5118)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5119)]] - Elven Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120 | Edition 8 (Jastatos 5120)]] - Sugar and Spice || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Eorgaen 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5119 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5119)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5120 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5120)]] - V(R)ogue Gallery || ||
|}

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5126

2026-07-20T18:32:28Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Ebb and Flow */

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Koaratos 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/07/20 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]Summer reaches its height in Koaratos. Long, sunny days stretch into balmy evenings, wardrobes grow lighter still, and the social calendar is filled with festivals, regattas, and leisurely gatherings beneath cloudless skies. It is perhaps fitting, then, that this month we travel beneath the cool waves for an aquatic experience in the idyllic setting of Laeqithe, and visit a boutique that captures the very essence of summer dressing for me.

Before we do that though, I would like to announce that [[Elanthian Vogue]] now has a mascot! He will hopefully be making his first personal appearance at the annual [[Elanthian Holidays/Estival Holidays#Fowl Fashion Feastday|Fowl Fashion Feastday]] celebrations to be held on the Great Piratical Flotilla at the end of the month. Some may have already spotted his likeness in chalk during Ta'Illistim's [[Elanthian Holidays/Estival Holidays#Day of the Wandering Artist|Day of the Wandering Artist]] but he looks forward to meeting you all properly soon.

==Ebb and Flow==
If Lumnea taught us that magic could finish an outfit through the use of [[Shimmer Trinket]]s and [[Transmogrification item|transmogrification]], Koaratos reminds us that true versatility can be found directly in the design of the garment itself. Over the years, boutiques across Elanthia have offered a diverse array of such items: from the classic millinery of [[Veola hair accessory|Veola]] and gem-inspired creations of [[Joola items|Joola]] to the customisable [[Farusteri gown]]s. One timeless concept, however, that the fashion-conscious never tire of is that of a capsule wardrobe made up of mix-and-match pieces and the summer festival currently underway on the Isle of Four Winds has seen the return of a particular favourite.

Once again, the [[The Acqsael|acqsael]] have invited us to Laeqithe, their underwater city that stretches across the ocean floor around Mist Harbor. Amid the vast expanse of structures formed from coral, stone, and bioluminescent growth is the Tideswept Bazaar, where several shops can be found. One of considerable interest to us at V opened for business this year.

Beyond a pearl-framed stone archway, the carved chamber housing [[TBShop:Ebb and Flow|Ebb and Flow]] is worth a visit just to admire the coral mosaics depicting reefs, seagrass meadows, and marine life. At first glance, the garments found within appear elegantly understated. Their true beauty, however, lies not in their quality materials or superior tailoring, but in their remarkable adaptability.

Each piece is designed as a [[Drapeable garment|drapeable garment]]; a unique style of clothing that allows the wearer to adjust how it is worn. A gown may be draped from a simple collar for an informal afternoon beside the water and re-arranged with a more delicate or elaborate neck-piece to create an entirely different silhouette as evening breezes arrive. Unlike conventional clothing, these garments invite participation. They are not simply worn; they are styled. The result is an ever-changing wardrobe built from surprisingly few pieces, making them ideal for summer activities.

There is an underlying theme to Ebb and Flow's collection. Light and airy fabrics fall naturally into soft folds, echoing rolling waves and shifting sands. Colours draw from the setting itself: corals, pale sands, ocean blues, and shimmering pearls. Although the establishment does not seek to recreate acqsael attire directly, there is an unmistakable kinship in philosophy. The acqsael have long favoured materials that complement movement rather than restrict it, their minimal attire responding naturally to currents and water much as these drapeable designs respond to the body. Both celebrate fluidity over rigidity. Where traditional tailoring fixes a silhouette in place - like that of the First Born - drapeable garments allow it to evolve throughout the day; a minor adjustment of a gown or accessory transforms posture, balance and expression.

Our Lormesta issue explored thoughtful curation through Bella's Boutique, while Lumnea celebrated magical wardrobes preserved within Shimmer Trinkets. Ebb and Flow offers a third philosophy entirely: versatility through design. With only a handful of carefully chosen pieces and the tailoring skills of acqsael such as [[Eulimene]] and [[Dulse]], an entire summer wardrobe begins to emerge and, for Koaratos, V suggests embracing the simplicity of these drapeable garments. Begin with lightweight foundations in natural fibres before allowing one or two drapeable pieces to become the focus of the ensemble. Keep jewellery restrained, choosing polished shells, freshwater pearls or sea glass rather than the bolder land-based gemstones. Allow the garment to create the silhouette and resist the temptation to over-accessorise.

So, in closing, we, at V, recommend investing not in more garments, but in garments capable of becoming more. Because sometimes the most fashionable wardrobe is not the largest; it is the one that changes with you.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5126

2026-07-20T17:40:54Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Koaratos 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/07/20 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]Summer reaches its height in Koaratos. Long, sunny days stretch into balmy evenings, wardrobes grow lighter still, and the social calendar is filled with festivals, regattas, and leisurely gatherings beneath cloudless skies. It is perhaps fitting, then, that this month we travel beneath the cool waves for an aquatic experience in the idyllic setting of Laeqithe, and visit a boutique that captures the very essence of summer dressing for me.

Before we do that though, I would like to announce that [[Elanthian Vogue]] now has a mascot! He will hopefully be making his first personal appearance at the annual [[Elanthian Holidays/Estival Holidays#Fowl Fashion Feastday|Fowl Fashion Feastday]] celebrations to be held on the Great Piratical Flotilla at the end of the month. Some may have already spotted his likeness in chalk during Ta'Illistim's [[Elanthian Holidays/Estival Holidays#Day of the Wandering Artist|Day of the Wandering Artist]] but he looks forward to meeting you all properly soon.

==Ebb and Flow==
If Lumnea taught us that magic could finish an outfit through the use of [[Shimmer Trinket]]s and [[Transmogrification item|transmogrification]], Koaratos reminds us that true versatility can be found directly in the design of the garment itself. Over the years, boutiques across Elanthia have offered a diverse array of such items: from the classic millinery of [[Veola hair accessory|Veola]] and gem-inspired creations of [[Joola items|Joola]] to the customisable [[Farusteri gown]]s. One timeless concept, however, that the fashion-conscious never tire of is that of a capsule wardrobe made up of mix-and-match pieces and the summer festival currently underway on the Isle of Four Winds has seen the return of a particular favourite.

Once again, the [[The Acqsael|acqsael]] have invited us to Laeqithe, their underwater city that stretches across the ocean floor around Mist Harbor. Amid the vast expanse of structures formed from coral, stone, and bioluminescent growth is the Tidewater Bazaar, where several shops can be found. One of considerable interest to us at V opened for business this year.

Beyond a pearl-framed stone archway, the carved chamber housing [[TBShop:Ebb and Flow|Ebb and Flow]] is worth a visit just to admire the coral mosaics depicting reefs, seagrass meadows, and marine life. At first glance, the garments found within appear elegantly understated. Their true beauty, however, lies not in their quality materials or superior tailoring, but in their remarkable adaptability.

Each piece is designed as a [[Drapeable garment|drapeable garment]]; a unique style of clothing that allows the wearer to adjust how it is worn. A gown may be draped from a simple collar for an informal afternoon beside the water and re-arranged with a more delicate or elaborate neck-piece to create an entirely different silhouette as evening breezes arrive. Unlike conventional clothing, these garments invite participation. They are not simply worn; they are styled. The result is an ever-changing wardrobe built from surprisingly few pieces, making them ideal for summer activities.

There is an underlying theme to Ebb and Flow's collection. Light and airy fabrics fall naturally into soft folds, echoing rolling waves and shifting sands. Colours draw from the setting itself: corals, pale sands, ocean blues, and shimmering pearls. Although the establishment does not seek to recreate acqsael attire directly, there is an unmistakable kinship in philosophy. The acqsael have long favoured materials that complement movement rather than restrict it, their minimal attire responding naturally to currents and water much as these drapeable designs respond to the body. Both celebrate fluidity over rigidity. Where traditional tailoring fixes a silhouette in place - like that of the First Born - drapeable garments allow it to evolve throughout the day; a minor adjustment of a gown or accessory transforms posture, balance and expression.

Our Lormesta issue explored thoughtful curation through Bella's Boutique, while Lumnea celebrated magical wardrobes preserved within Shimmer Trinkets. Ebb and Flow offers a third philosophy entirely: versatility through design. With only a handful of carefully chosen pieces and the tailoring skills of acqsael such as [[Eulimene]] and [[Dulse]], an entire summer wardrobe begins to emerge and, for Koaratos, V suggests embracing the simplicity of these drapeable garments. Begin with lightweight foundations in natural fibres before allowing one or two drapeable pieces to become the focus of the ensemble. Keep jewellery restrained, choosing polished shells, freshwater pearls or sea glass rather than the bolder land-based gemstones. Allow the garment to create the silhouette and resist the temptation to over-accessorise.

So, in closing, we, at V, recommend investing not in more garments, but in garments capable of becoming more. Because sometimes the most fashionable wardrobe is not the largest; it is the one that changes with you.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5126

2026-07-20T17:32:19Z

CHIVERSFREE1: Created page with "{{creative-work |title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Olaesta 5126)  |type = periodical  |author = The Looking Glass  |author-displayed = The Looking Glass  |date = 2026/07/20 <!-- Date creative work published..."

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Olaesta 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/07/20 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]Summer reaches its height in Koaratos. Long, sunny days stretch into balmy evenings, wardrobes grow lighter still, and the social calendar is filled with festivals, regattas, and leisurely gatherings beneath cloudless skies. It is perhaps fitting, then, that this month we travel beneath the cool waves for an aquatic experience in the idyllic setting of Laeqithe, and visit a boutique that captures the very essence of summer dressing for me.

Before we do that though, I would like to announce that [[Elanthian Vogue]] now has a mascot! He will hopefully be making his first personal appearance at the annual [[Elanthian Holidays/Estival Holidays#Fowl Fashion Feastday|Fowl Fashion Feastday]] celebrations to be held on the Great Piratical Flotilla at the end of the month. Some may have already spotted his likeness in chalk during Ta'Illistim's [[Elanthian Holidays/Estival Holidays#Day of the Wandering Artist|Day of the Wandering Artist]] but he looks forward to meeting you all properly soon.

==Ebb and Flow==
If Lumnea taught us that magic could finish an outfit through the use of [[Shimmer Trinket]]s and [[Transmogrification item|transmogrification]], Koaratos reminds us that true versatility can be found directly in the design of the garment itself. Over the years, boutiques across Elanthia have offered a diverse array of such items: from the classic millinery of [[Veola hair accessory|Veola]] and gem-inspired creations of [[Joola items|Joola]] to the customisable [[Farusteri gown]]s. One timeless concept, however, that the fashion-conscious never tire of is that of a capsule wardrobe made up of mix-and-match pieces and the summer festival currently underway on the Isle of Four Winds has seen the return of a particular favourite.

Once again, the [[The Acqsael|acqsael]] have invited us to Laeqithe, their underwater city that stretches across the ocean floor around Mist Harbor. Amid the vast expanse of structures formed from coral, stone, and bioluminescent growth is the Tidewater Bazaar, where several shops can be found. One of considerable interest to us at V opened for business this year.

Beyond a pearl-framed stone archway, the carved chamber housing [[TBShop:Ebb and Flow|Ebb and Flow]] is worth a visit just to admire the coral mosaics depicting reefs, seagrass meadows, and marine life. At first glance, the garments found within appear elegantly understated. Their true beauty, however, lies not in their quality materials or superior tailoring, but in their remarkable adaptability.

Each piece is designed as a [[Drapeable garment|drapeable garment]]; a unique style of clothing that allows the wearer to adjust how it is worn. A gown may be draped from a simple collar for an informal afternoon beside the water and re-arranged with a more delicate or elaborate neck-piece to create an entirely different silhouette as evening breezes arrive. Unlike conventional clothing, these garments invite participation. They are not simply worn; they are styled. The result is an ever-changing wardrobe built from surprisingly few pieces, making them ideal for summer activities.

There is an underlying theme to Ebb and Flow's collection. Light and airy fabrics fall naturally into soft folds, echoing rolling waves and shifting sands. Colours draw from the setting itself: corals, pale sands, ocean blues, and shimmering pearls. Although the establishment does not seek to recreate acqsael attire directly, there is an unmistakable kinship in philosophy. The acqsael have long favoured materials that complement movement rather than restrict it, their minimal attire responding naturally to currents and water much as these drapeable designs respond to the body. Both celebrate fluidity over rigidity. Where traditional tailoring fixes a silhouette in place - like that of the First Born - drapeable garments allow it to evolve throughout the day; a minor adjustment of a gown or accessory transforms posture, balance and expression.

Our Lormesta issue explored thoughtful curation through Bella's Boutique, while Lumnea celebrated magical wardrobes preserved within Shimmer Trinkets. Ebb and Flow offers a third philosophy entirely: versatility through design. With only a handful of carefully chosen pieces and the tailoring skills of acqsael such as [[Eulimene]] and [[Dulse]], an entire summer wardrobe begins to emerge and, for Koaratos, V suggests embracing the simplicity of these drapeable garments. Begin with lightweight foundations in natural fibres before allowing one or two drapeable pieces to become the focus of the ensemble. Keep jewellery restrained, choosing polished shells, freshwater pearls or sea glass rather than the bolder land-based gemstones. Allow the garment to create the silhouette and resist the temptation to over-accessorise.

So, in closing, we, at V, recommend investing not in more garments, but in garments capable of becoming more. Because sometimes the most fashionable wardrobe is not the largest; it is the one that changes with you.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue

2026-07-20T17:09:57Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Published Editions */

{{creative-work | title = Elanthian Vogue |type = periodical |author = Rohese Bayvel |author-displayed = |date = 2018-01-30}}
[[File:EV Insignia WIKI.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]
Elanthian Vogue is the official publication of [[The Looking Glass]], an established Fashion House and distinguished [[Meeting Hall Organization]] in the elven city of [[Ta'Illistim]]. Its offices and studio are located in [[Ailanthus Manor]] on Whistler's Pass.

Elanthian Vogue is a seasonal fashion magazine made up of many components, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, culture, and "runway". The aim of the publication is to raise awareness and encourage participation in fashion-oriented activities across [[Elanthia]]. The first edition was launched in [[Lormesta]] 5118. In 5123, it moved to being published annually to coincide with [[Elanthian Fashion Week]] or its associated events but, in 5126, it was rebranded to be called "V" and has since returned to a simpler, more regular format.

For further information, please contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]].

==Published Editions==
{| {{prettytable|background:#ebf7ef;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#4c9d67; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5126
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5126 | V (Lormesta 5126)]] - [[Bella's Bridal Boutique]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126 | V (Fashanos 5126)]] - [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126 | V (Charlatos 5126)]] - [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]]'s Market
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5126 | V (Olaesta 5126)]] - [[RWShop:Obsidian_Raiment|Obsidian Raiment]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5126 | V (Ivastaen 5126)]] - [[The Tailor's Sister|The Tailor's Sister]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5126 | V (Lumnea 5126)]] - Trinkets and Transmogrification
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5126 | V (Koaratos 5126)]] - [[TBShop:Ebb and Flow|Ebb and Flow]]
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5125
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5125|Elanthian Vogue 5125]] - Botanicals: Sea, Sand and Soil
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5124
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5124|Elanthian Vogue 5124]] - Flora and Fauna
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5123
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5123|Elanthian Vogue 5123]] - Fashion Design and Cultural Influences
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#F0F8FF;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#000080; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5118 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5119 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5120 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5121 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5122 (Edition No. and Themes)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5118 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5118)]] - Launch||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5119 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5119)]] - Glamour||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5120 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5120)]] - Relax ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5121 | Edition 1 (Spring 5121)]] - Healing, Herbs, and Self Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5122 | Edition 1 (Spring 5122)]] - Weddings
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5119 | Edition 2 (Fashanos 5119)]] - Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Charlatos 5121)]] - Birds||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part I) | Edition 2 (Summer 5122): Part I]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5118 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5118)]] - Women||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5119 | Edition 3 (Charlatos 5119)]] - Handmaidens and Horoscopes||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5120 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5120)]] - Courtesans ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5121 | Edition 2 (Summer 5121)]] - Open Sea Adventures||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part II) | Edition 3 (Summer 5122): Part II]] - The Season
|-Z||
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5118 | Edition 3 (Ivastaen 5118)]] - RED||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5119 | Edition 4 (Olaesta 5119)]] - Pirates||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Olaesta 5120)]] - Cosmetics ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5121 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5121)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part III) | Edition 4 (Summer 5122): Part III]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 | Edition 4 (Lumnea 5118)]] - Image||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5119 | Edition 5 (Ivastaen 5119)]] - Travel||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part I) | Edition 3: Part I (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas<br>[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part II) | Edition 4: Part II (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas cont.d || [[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5121 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Koaratos 5121)]] - Revelia Carnivale||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Phoenatos 5122)]] - Entertaining
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Lumnea 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5119 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5120 | Edition 5 (Lumnea 5120)]] - Call of the Wild || [[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121 | Edition 3 (Autumn 5121)]] - It's Magic!||[[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5122 | Edition 5 (Autumn 5122)]] - Arts and Crafts
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5118 | Edition 5 (Koaratos 5118)]] - Well-Being||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5119 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5119)]] - Summer Is ...||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5120 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5120)]] - Theatre ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part I) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part I]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5122)]] - Bugs!
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5118 | Edition 6 (Imaerasta 5118)]] - Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5119 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part II) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part II]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5122 | Edition 6 (Winter 5122)]] - Winter
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5118 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Jastatos 5118)]] - Veola||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5119 | Edition 7 (Jastatos 5119)]] - Art||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 | Edition 7 (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Exotic ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5121)]] - Cordwainers||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5118 | Edition 7 (Eoantas 5118)]] - Men||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 | Edition 8 (Eoantos 5119)]] - Military||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Pets || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 | Edition 8 (Eorgaen 5118)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5119)]] - Elven Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120 | Edition 8 (Jastatos 5120)]] - Sugar and Spice || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Eorgaen 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5119 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5119)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5120 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5120)]] - V(R)ogue Gallery || ||
|}

[[Category: Fashion]]

Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2026-07-05 - The Empyrean Syndicate (log)

2026-07-05T20:45:00Z

CHIVERSFREE1: Created page with "The following is a log of a lecture delivered on Sunday 5th July as part of the Mist Harbor Library lecture series. Jaired Delone was the guest speaker. Topics covered in the lecture series must be lore-based but are otherwise left to the discretion of the speaker(s). This lecture discusses the Empyrean Syndicate. The log has been edited to remove excess noise and chatter but some engagement and digression have remained to reflect the audience participation and..."

The following is a log of a lecture delivered on Sunday 5th July as part of the [[Mist Harbor]] Library lecture series. Jaired Delone was the guest speaker.

Topics covered in the lecture series must be lore-based but are otherwise left to the discretion of the speaker(s). This lecture discusses the Empyrean Syndicate.

The log has been edited to remove excess noise and chatter but some engagement and digression have remained to reflect the audience participation and subsequent discussion.

-----
'''[Library, Meeting Hall - 29806] (u3223132)'''<br>
A trio of wide stairs lead down from a wide archway into this brightly lit room. A small podium stands atop a small dais opposite the archway, and several cushioned benches have been arranged throughout the space, each offering an excellent line of sight. A number of elliptical windows line the walls of the hall, and a rich crimson-patterned carpet covers the entirety of the floor underfoot. You also see a tattooed figure drawing, the mural-sided Perigourd cassone, the web-draped Missoni disk, the repousse copper Riend disk raised in leafy designs, a makeshift table of linden planks propped on stacks of old books with some stuff on it, the glaesine Yardie disk streaked with cobalt veins, a marble-lined runic codex chiseled with cerulean runes, a Skyship landscape, a Skyship Lift landscape, a goliath diviner drawing, an engineer drawing, a clockwork vine drawing, a captain drawing, an auramancer drawing, a pegasus drawing, a prismatic rift drawing, a runestone drawing and a small table with some stuff on it.

Also here: Sir Geijon who is sitting, Sir Cryheart who is sitting, Distinguished Lady Khobra who is sitting, Librarian Bezzy who is sitting, Miss Lissaya who is sitting, Hotu, Perigourd who is sitting, Bathcwyn Missoni who is sitting, Corlyne who is sitting, Lord Teveriel who is sitting, Mistress Thurayya who is sitting, Riend who is sitting, Dahcre Reader Ordim who is sitting, Blade Yardie, Taloin who is sitting, The Infamous Tabubu who is sitting, Lucraine who is sitting, Jaired

You softly greet, "Well, good afternoon everyone and welcome back after a short hiatus!"

You softly begin, "As the Library's Loremaster, it gives me great pleasure to once again welcome you to another in our lecture series."

You brightly explain, "The aim of these lectures is to provide a platform for imparting

You gently say, "I ask that everyone be considerate to the speaker, as well as those who comment or ask questions."

You softly continue, "All opinions are welcome and indeed encouraged, as long as they are courteously expressed."

You softly say, "So..."

You apprehensively say, "Some of you may be aware of a recent proclamation from Ta'Vaalor regarding the Empyrean Syndicate."

You softly say, "I don't know about you but it raised a lot of questions and concerns for me so I am delighted that our speaker has agreed to be here today to answer some of them."

You smile at Jaired.

Jaired nods once.

You softly say, "Please give a warm library welcome to Jaired."

[APPLAUSE]

Jaired says, "Thank you all for coming. I've a quick presentation... of sorts... then I will open things up for questions and discussion."

Jaired nods once.

Jaired says, "So first..."

With a sassy twist of his wrist, Jaired produces a sharp snap with his fingers, the sound cutting through the air like a sharp retort.

Jaired says, "Imagine."

Jaired says, "You've found yourself aboard one of their massive skyships... and you've just boarded one of their lifts."

Jaired glances at a Skyship Lift landscape.

Jaired closes his eyes for a moment.

Jaired leans back.

Jaired recites steadily:

"Sol... Tal... Tir... Ral..."

Jaired recites steadily:

"Eth... Zod... Eld... El... Hel... Vex..."

Jaired orates, "The gears of the cargo lift groan into life, and the hull of the Skyship shudders around you."

Jaired recites steadily:

"Ohm... Ist... Mal... Ral... Amn..."

Jaired elaborates, "The crackling voice continues. Echoing from a strange, brass contraption."

Jaired recites steadily:

"Lo... Dol... Sol... El..."

Jaired seriously orates, "Goliaths swarm all around, and around this time..."

Jaired wryly continues, "You may be wondering how you got into this situation."

Jaired nods once.

Jaired leans against the podium, taking a momentary rest.

Jaired says, "Many of you have heard whispers of strange lights in the heavens, masked strangers seeking gemstones, and impossible airships that cast no sails upon the wind."

Jaired casually glances around the room.

Jaired slowly empties his lungs.

Jaired carefully says, "Long before the kingdoms of humanity, before the great Elven nations, and even before the Dragonspine was named... there existed a civilization known as the Gigas."

Jaired continues, "In the far north, their cities stretched across the ancient Hinterwilds. It was not always the frozen wasteland we understand it to be, and their mastery of magic surpassed nearly every discipline known today."

Jaired explains, "The speculative source of this greatness was an immense crystal known as the Lunar Shard."

Jaired nods slowly.

Jaired slowly says, "The Shard was no ordinary crystal. Legends claim it fell from the sky during the world's earliest days, embedding itself deep within the northern reaches of Elanthia. Whether it was a fragment of a drake's egg, a celestial relic, or something stranger still is unknown. What is certain is that its presence awakened impossible understanding within those who dwelled nearby."

Jaired says, "From it, the gigas learned Gemstone Craft."

Jaired focuses. Opalescent mist froths up from his skin and materializes into mauve jewel in his hand.

Jaired turns over his mauve jewel.

Jaired says, "They carved fragments into enchanted gemstones capable of magnifying magical talent beyond natural limits. Entire cities were built upon discoveries born from these crystals. They mastered prophecy, walked hidden pathways through the River of Color, and even reached distant worlds beyond our own."

Jaired leans forward.

Jaired warns, "Yet power rarely grants wisdom."

Jaired's brow knits with concentration. The mauve jewel he is holding yields into a glimmering prismatic fog that joins with his flesh.

Jaired continues, "During the Ur-Daemon War, even the greatest diviners found their visions clouded. The future itself became silent. Desperate to escape extinction, the gigas turned increasingly toward forbidden magics. Death, dimensional travel, and powers no mortal race was meant to command."

Jaired says, "Though they survived the war, another catastrophe followed."

Jaired says, "The Gigas Skalds called it..."

Jaired takes a deep breath.

Jaired recites:

"The Calamity."

Jaired says, "Another celestial object... a comet perhaps... fell from the heavens. The impact itself was enough to weather on its own, but the aftermath was another story."

Jaired nods slowly.

Jaired slowly says, "The cold spread across the north. Wyrms multiplied. Crops failed. Worse still, suspicion and paranoia infected the minds of the Gigas. Their civilization fractured from within. Their mastery of the higher arts slowly withered until even they no longer understood the wonders their ancestors had forged."

Jaired solemnly says, "Empires do not always fall beneath invading armies. Sometimes they simply forget how to remain."

Jaired leans back.

Jaired continues, "Among those witnessing this decline arose a faction unwilling to accept decay. Their seers discovered another immense crystal across the western sea. A second fragment akin to the Lunar Shard. Guided through the River of Color, they abandoned their homeland in search of renewal."

Jaired says, "There they discovered the crystal they named..."

Jaired takes a deep breath.

Jaired recites:

"The Skyheart."

Jaired slowly explains, "These exiles became the people we now know as the Goliaths."

Jaired continues, "Though diminished in size compared to their ancestors, they developed remarkable new arts centered upon gemstone manipulation and machines powered by sunlight. Great fleets of airships, each the size of a small town, replaced the impossible magics their forebears had lost."

Jaired leans forward.

Jaired casually glances around the room.

Jaired says, "But the Skyheart, too, could not halt corruption."

Jaired shakes his head.

Jaired says, "Eventually its power faded. Its lands were stripped bare. Its gifts exhausted. Consumed."

Jaired leans back.

Jaired plainly says, "Now these descendants call themselves the Empyrean Syndicate. Remember that name."

Jaired nods once.

Jaired leans against a small podium.

Jaired measuredly warns, "The Syndicate is no wandering band of raiders. It is a civilization sustained through conquest. Captives fuel its industry. Converts strengthen its ranks. Vast white skyships blot out the skies wherever they travel, and its spellcasters wield gemstone craft refined over centuries beyond anything our own scholars possess."

Jaired ponders.

Jaired lightly speculates, "Why have they come east?"

Jaired cocks his head.

Jaired explains, "Because the Lunar Shard still endures."

Jaired nods.

Jaired plainly states, "To the Syndicate they are salvation."

Jaired pushes his rectangular fel glasses up on the bridge of his nose with one finger.

Jaired warns, "Recent visions gathered through dangerous rites have revealed their intentions with unsettling clarity. Witnesses speak of colossal white vessels drifting above the clouds. Strange black devices fall from their hulls before erupting into colorless flame. Entire settlements vanish beneath silent devastation."

Jaired says, "One vision records a towering woman with a shaven head marked by intricate tattoos. She speaks no words our witnesses understand, yet her meaning is unmistakable."

Jaired takes a deep breath.

Jaired recites:

"Oppose us... and this shall be your fate."

Jaired removes a tattooed figure drawing from in the duffel bag placed alongside him.

Jaired carefully places a tattooed figure drawing on the floor.

Jaired says, "Those who have brushed against her mind describe something impossible to measure. Not hatred. Not rage..."

Jaired states, "Certainty."

Missoni narrows her eyes.

Jaired leans against the podium, taking a momentary rest.

Jaired casually remarks, "Such beings do not negotiate. They conquer."

Jaired says, "Yet despair is the luxury of those without purpose."

Jaired says, "The masked artificer... likely a descendant of those who still remember fragments of ancient gemstone craft... has begun studying recovered codices taken from fallen Syndicate agents. These strange tomes possess the ability to alter gemstones themselves, replacing one property with another through rituals known only to their makers."

Jaired nods.

Jaired reaches out and touches a marble-lined runic codex chiseled with cerulean runes.

Jaired says, "Every recovered codex weakens the enemy's advantage. Every gemstone entrusted to an artificer strengthens our own."

Jaired says, "This is why we now scour battlefields not merely for treasure but for knowledge."

Jaired says, "You will hear of Dust. The shimmering residue left when Lunar gemstones are deliberately shattered. To the untrained eye it appears worthless."

Jaired leans forward.

Jaired casually glances around the room.

Jaired slowly explains, "It is anything but. Dust carries echoes of the Shard's power."

Jaired says, "Artificers bind it into rituals. Shamans glimpse distant truths through it. And now, through strange convergences of prophecy and sacrifice, certain individuals have begun forming mysterious spiritual connections with the Syndicate itself."

Jaired continues, "Whether this bond proves a weapon or a curse remains unknown."

Jaired looks thoughtful for a moment, then shrugs.

Jaired concludes, "Thus I leave you with three lessons."

Jaired plainly says, "First: Never mistake forgotten history for dead history. Ancient civilizations often cast the longest shadows."

Jaired plainly says, "Second: Every Gemstone carries more than magical power. It carries memory, legacy, and the ambitions of those who once shaped worlds with them."

Jaired plainly says, "Third: When next you hear thunder on a cloudless day, do not look to the mountains. Look to the sky."

Jaired points up.

Jaired says, "For if the white ships have returned, history is no longer something we

Jaired says, "I will now open things up for discussion, as well as questions."

Perigourd asks, "Have you found any clues as to what other valences or worlds they may have travelled to, and if so, what the nature of them are?"

Perigourd cocks his head at Jaired.

Speaking to Perigourd, Jaired says, "That's a good question. The Artificer has suggested they've visited many worlds."

Jaired says, "In one of the visions, if I remember correctly..."

Jaired says, "The woman, referred to as simply... Her..."

Jaired points at a tattooed figure drawing.

Jaired says, "She seemed to have portals she could see through. It is... fuzzy."

Perigourd nods understandingly at Jaired.

Jaired says, "But she was monitoring the fleets progress, and they were in many places at once."

Jaired asks, "If this was more than one world? Or just our own?"

Jaired shrugs at Perigourd.

Speaking innocently to Jaired, Khobra inquires, "If thiz can never truly be zeen az a curze or a veapon. The bond created vith thiz nev pover being granted - are ve not in truth making the enemy stronger becauze of the blind lightness of greed?"

Jaired nods.

Speaking quietly to Missoni, Riend whispers aloud, "The prospect of somone able to control a fleet spread across valences is.... disturbing."

Thurayya shivers.

Missoni nods grimly at Riend.

Speaking to Riend, Missoni whispers aloud, "It makes one wonder just how many Skyships there are."

Speaking to Khobra, Jaired asks, "I would answer with another question. Would doing nothing and staying out of their way yield a... better result?"

Geijon says, "Their forces don't entirely activate like something alive or in a full physicality, like fragments or echoes."

Corlyne murmurs, "Or if they're simply testing our capabilities before sending stronger force

Jaired nods at Corlyne.

Geijon says, "These are strong scouts."

Speaking softly to Jaired, Khobra answers, "Vithout underztanding a pover - a nev zort of pover, No. Vatching and azking the correct queztionz normally get the zilent rezult."
Jaired nods at Khobra.

You softly ask, "Which leads me to my question, if I may?"

Speaking tentatively to Jaired, you inquire, "If left unchecked, would you say that the Empyrean Syndicate could be considered an existential threat?"

Speaking to Khobra, Jaired says, "Trying to understand it is what I believe we're trying to do."

Speaking to you, Jaired says, "Absolutely."

Missoni fidgets.

Perigourd nods grimly.

Lucraine melodically says, "Imagine if they alligned themselves with one of the other more threatening factions."

Jaired says, "They originally left in search of resources, and they've since... exhausted them."

You apprehensively ask, "Does anyone else have any more questions while I ponder this startling and troubling revelation?"

Speaking to Lucraine, Teveriel says, "Their focus seems rather narrow, at least for the time being. These.. shards of the Lunar Shard that Jaired spoke of."

Missoni concernedly says, "They are consumers, like the Ithzir, and we have what they need."

Speaking to Lucraine, Yardie says, "Would be bad if they aligned with the Dusk Coven."

Tabubu quietly says, "Missoni actually speaks the first solid theory so far."

Jaired nods at Missoni.

Jaired nods at Teveriel.

Speaking to Teveriel, Jaired says, "Their attacks are solely focused on where Gemstones can be found."

Teveriel nods at Jaired.

Speaking to Yardie, Perigourd says, "I'd doubt that they'd feel any need to align with the Dusk Coven, or anyone else, to be honest. The care they show for other humanoid races aboard their vessels makes me think they view us all as beneath them."

Speaking to Jaired, Yardie asks, "You just said their attacks are solely focused on where Gemstones can be found. Do you forsee them spreading elsewhere, considering how many people seem to be acquiring them?"

Speaking to Yardie, Jaired says, "Depends how quick those wells go dry, I imagine."

Thurayya asks, "Is the Syndicate in competition with adventurers for these gemstones?"

Thurayya asks, "Or are they actively tracking down those who hold them?"

Speaking to Thurayya, Jaired says, "So..."

Jaired leans against a small podium.

Khobra innocently answers, "Perhapz a bit of both."

Thurayya nods at Khobra.

Jaired nods once at Khobra.

Thurayya says, "It seems likely that they would do both."

Speaking to Thurayya, Jaired says, "So far, they're not seeking us out in our homes. Their attention seems primarily fixated on and around Talon Isle."

Thurayya says, "Good to hear, but one wonders how long it will remain that way if they are so greedy for the gems."

Speaking to Thurayya, Jaired says, "Our collections as of yet are probably too small, and their still intent on finding them at their source."

Thurayya nods at Jaired.

Speaking melodically to Jaired, Lucraine asks, "You may not know but is there a correlation between the increased activity up the mountain near the Sands by Ice Mule?"

Speaking to Lucraine, Jaired says, "I can't speak to that, unfortunately."

Lucraine nods understandingly.

You softly comment, "Such an informative and thought-provoking presentation today!"

You kindly conclude, "I am sure you will all join me in showing your appreciation for our presenter!"

[APPLAUSE]

Jaired says, "This was fun. Thank you all for coming."

[MORE APPLAUSE]
[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Mist Harbor library lectures]]

Category:Mist Harbor library lectures

2026-07-05T20:33:28Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Sortable List of Lectures and Speakers */

'''Mist Harbor Library Lectures''' are hosted by Loremaster [[Rohese]] in [[Harbor Library]] in the Eastern Harbor of [[Mist Harbor]] on Pelican Lane. These lectures are open to the public. An invited guest speaker gives a lecture on a lore-based topic of their choosing, after which they take questions for a time. Refreshments are provided.

== Sortable List of Lectures and Speakers ==

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: small;"
!Subject !! Speaker!! Month!! Year
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2020-09-27 - Age of Darkness (log)|Age of Darkness]] || [[Xorus (prime)|Xorus]] || September || 2020
|-
| [[Mist_Harbor Library Lectures - 2020-11-21 - On Temporal Magic (log)|On Temporal Magic]] || [[Raelee (prime)|Raelee]] || November || 2020
|-
| Necrobiology || [[Ysharra (prime)|Ysharra]] || December || 2020
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2021-01-17 - Katillios on Choice (log)|Choice]] || [[Katillios]] || January || 2021
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2021-03-13 - Magic Theory (log)|Magic Theory]] || [[Yukito (prime)|Yukito]] || March || 2021
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2021-05-22 - Understanding Power (log)|Understanding Power]] || [[Talinvor (prime)|Talinvor]] || May || 2021
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2021-06-26 - Journey into the Wyrdeep (log)|Journey into the Wyrdeep]] || [[Akenna (prime)|Akenna]] || June || 2021
|-
| Tehir Tradition of Oral Tales || [[Alosaka (prime)|Alosaka]] || August || 2021
|-
| Spirits of the dead and their many forms || [[Jaysehn (prime)|Jaysehn]] || September || 2021
|-
| Pennant Chase || [[Ordim (prime)|Ordim]] || November || 2021
|-
| Gastronomy || [[Traiva (prime)|Traiva]] || December || 2021
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2022-01-30 - Ivas Provides (log)|Ivas Provides]] || [[Kothos (prime)|Kothos]] || January || 2022
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2022-03-06 - Imaera and Sylvan Magic (log)|Imaera and Sylvan Magic]] || [[Meril (prime)|Meril]] || March || 2022
|-
| Storytelling || [[Kayse (prime)|Kayse]] || May || 2022
|-
| Art of the Bloodlines || [[Dendum (prime)|Dendum]] || June || 2022
|-
| Qyn'arj || [[Lucrecea (prime)|Lucrecea]] || July || 2022
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2022-08-14 - Missoni on Faendryl Glasswork (log)|Baleglass]] || [[Missoni (prime)|Missoni]] || August || 2022
|-
| Lightning Glass || [[Lunaryna (prime)|Lunaryna]] || September|| 2022
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2022-11-27 - The Code (log)|Chivalric Code]] || [[Guarrin (prime)|Guarrin]] || November || 2022
|-
| The Way || [[Talinvor (prime)|Talinvor]] || February || 2023
|-
| Permutations of Faith || [[Falicor (prime)|Falicor]] || March|| 2023
|-
| Iyo and the [[Hexah'Jing]] || [[Kiyonna]] || April || 2023
|-
| Marlu || [[Tikba (prime)|Tikba]] || May || 2023
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2023-07-02 - Comparative Study of Elanthian Poetry (log)|Comparative Study of Elanthian Poetry]] || [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk]] || July || 2023
|-
| Elven textiles and the Economy || [[Uniana (prime)|Uniana]] || September|| 2023
|-
| Sylvan Summoning || [[Starletdawn (prime)|Starletdawn]] || November|| 2023
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2024-01-07 - On Logic (log)|On Logic]] || [[Raelee (prime)|Raelee]] || January|| 2024
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2024-03-03 - On Folklore and Oral Histories (log)|On Folklore and Oral Histories]] || [[Elaejia (prime)|Elaejia]] || March ||2024
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2024-05-19 - Igaeshan Divination (log)|Igaeshan Divination]] || [[Lylia (prime)|Lylia]] || May ||2024
|-
| Sentience of Trees || [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] || July ||2024
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2024-09-29 - Teadragons and their mating rituals (log)|Teadragons and their mating rituals]] || Trallihn || September || 2024
|-
| Tavern Songs (and table top dancing) || Lucraine || November || 2024
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2025-01-05 - The Art of Empathic Healing (log)|The Art of Empathic Healing]] || [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]] || January || 2025
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2025-03-09 - Bugs and Not-Bugs (log)|Bugs and Not-Bugs]] || [[Rumplesnoots Adventuring Company]] || March|| 2025
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2025-05-25 - Fish of Northwest Elanthia (log)|Fish of Northwest Elanthia]] || Perigourd || May || 2025
|-
| [[Botanical Symposium/2025|Botanical Symposium 2025]] || Various || July || 2025
|-
| The Naelyari'i Dhiya || Tanai || September || 2025
|-
| [[Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2026-07-05 - The Empyrean Syndicate (log)|The Empyrean Syndicate]] || Jaired || July || 2026
|}

[[Category:Mist Harbor]]
[[Category:Events]]

Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5126

2026-07-01T17:23:10Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Trinkets in Brief */

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Lumnea 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/07/01 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]By Lumnea, Elanthia has settled into summer. For many of us, the layered silhouettes of winter are long forgotten, spring's experimentation has given way to confidence, and wardrobes embrace their lightest forms. From the gauzy desert robes inspired by the Tehir to the finest Elven silks, the season encourages freedom of movement, breathable fabrics, and a quieter relationship between wearer and garment.

Yet every summer presents the same dilemma. How does one remain dressed for everyday activities without surrendering the artistry of fashion? The answer lies not in tailoring but in magic. This month, V explores two of the most ingenious innovations in modern Elanthian couture: the [[Shimmer Trinket]] and the [[Transmogrification item]].

Editor

===Trinkets in Brief===
For millennia, fashion has been constrained by practicality. Heavy brocade robes and leather coats lend magnificent structure but are incongruous with the midsummer sun. Capacious backpacks are cumbersome and unsightly during picnics and festivals. Shimmer Trinkets quietly overturn these limitations. The wearer remains comfortably dressed in whatever practical attire suits their purpose, while the trinket projects an entirely different ensemble that suits the season and occasion.

Unlike a traditional garment, a Shimmer Trinket is not clothing at all. Instead, it projects the appearance of carefully crafted attire over whatever the wearer has chosen beneath.

Imagine attending an outdoor garden party in what appears to be a dramatically layered court ensemble worthy of Ta'Illistim's nobility, while beneath the glamour you are wearing leather armor, a large backpack and a pair of old boots. The audience sees elegance but the wearer experiences comfort and practicality.

The true artistry of a Shimmer Trinket begins long before it is worn. Fashion-conscious collectors first assemble a complete ensemble exactly as they wish it to appear. Every garment, accessory and layer is considered, from jewellery and cloaks to belts and shoes. Once perfected, the ensemble is captured, binding its visual appearance into the trinket. The physical garments may then be stored safely away, preserved from wear while their appearance lives on through magic.

Many now maintain several sides to their trinkets, each curated for a different occasion: a formal court ensemble for Illistim receptions, travelling attire for a visit to the Bloodriven Village, or a dramatic evening outfit worthy of any ballroom. Changing one's entire appearance becomes a matter of selecting the appropriate trinket side rather than tracking down all the relevant items and accessing the relevant lockers.

For the dedicated fashion enthusiast, the possibilities are endless and the convenience of the Trinket cannot be underestimated.

===On the Care and Use of Transmogrified Garments===
By [[Riend (prime)|Riend]] Ar'Fiernel<br>

Fashion has always been a curious thing. A cloak may keep the rain from one's shoulders whether it is plain wool or embroidered silk, and yet many of us still find ourselves drawn to a particular color, a favored cut, or a detail that simply feels right. Over the past few months, adventurers across Elanthia have begun uncovering unusual garments among their treasures, pieces imbued with a peculiar magic that allows their appearance to be shared with other articles of clothing. These so-called transmogrified items have become something of a quiet fascination among tailors, collectors, and those of us who simply enjoy a well-made garment.

Among the treasures being uncovered of late are a number of unusual garments touched by transformative magic. They are often called "transmogs" among adventurers, though I suspect most tailors would choose a more suitable name. Regardless, these garments possess a remarkable quality: the ability to pass their appearance to another article of clothing while leaving its function unchanged.

As with most forms of magic, understanding the rules is often far more difficult than performing the task itself. Fortunately, in this case the process is quite simple.

To make use of such a garment, hold it in one hand and the item you wish to alter in the other. The process begins through TRANSFER, allowing one article to lend its appearance to another. As is often the case with magic, there are a handful of rules that must be observed. The garments must be worn in the same location, and both must either be containers or non-containers. One cannot, for example, persuade a pair of boots to become a necklace, nor convince a rucksack that it ought to be a corset. The magic is simply not inclined to cooperate.

If you find yourself fond of the garment exactly as it is, CLEANing it offers a simple alternative. The transmogrification magic is gently swept away, leaving behind a perfectly ordinary piece of clothing or jewelry to wear and enjoy.

There is, however, another option, and one I have grown particularly fond of. You can DUST your find which will strip away the more distinctive appearance, reducing the item it to its simplest form. The emerald flourishes, gilded embellishments, and other decorative peculiarities will be swept aside, leaving only the base garment behind. From there, one may make use of customization options, such as the apothecary boxes from Ebon Gate, or the many specialty shops across Elanthia, to shape the item into something more personal.

Whether you choose to preserve a garment, simplify it, or transform it entirely, these curious treasures offer no shortage of possibilities. A well-loved garment need not remain exactly as it was found to be cherished. Sometimes the greatest treasure is simply the opportunity to make something your own.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5126

2026-07-01T17:11:44Z

CHIVERSFREE1: Created page with "{{creative-work |title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Lumnea 5126)  |type = periodical  |author = The Looking Glass  |author-displayed = The Looking Glass  |date = 2026/07/01 <!-- Date creative work published..."

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Lumnea 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/07/01 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]By Lumnea, Elanthia has settled into summer. For many of us, the layered silhouettes of winter are long forgotten, spring's experimentation has given way to confidence, and wardrobes embrace their lightest forms. From the gauzy desert robes inspired by the Tehir to the finest Elven silks, the season encourages freedom of movement, breathable fabrics, and a quieter relationship between wearer and garment.

Yet every summer presents the same dilemma. How does one remain dressed for everyday activities without surrendering the artistry of fashion? The answer lies not in tailoring but in magic. This month, V explores two of the most ingenious innovations in modern Elanthian couture: the [[Shimmer Trinket]] and the [[Transmogrification item]].

Editor

===Trinkets in Brief===
For millennia, fashion has been constrained by practicality. Heavy brocade robes and leather coats lends magnificent structure but are incongruous with the midsummer sun. Capacious backpacks are cumbersome and unsightly during picnics and festivals. Shimmer Trinkets quietly overturn these limitations. The wearer remains comfortably dressed in whatever practical attire suits their purpose, while the trinket projects an entirely different ensemble that suits the season and occasion.

Unlike a traditional garment, a Shimmer Trinket is not clothing at all. Instead, it projects the appearance of carefully crafted attire over whatever the wearer has chosen beneath.

Imagine attending an outdoor garden party in what appears to be a dramatically layered court ensemble worthy of Ta'Illistim's nobility, while beneath the glamour you are wearing leather armor, a large backpack and a pair of old boots. The audience sees elegance but the wearer experiences comfort and practicality.

The true artistry of a Shimmer Trinket begins long before it is worn. Fashion-conscious collectors first assemble a complete ensemble exactly as they wish it to appear. Every garment, accessory and layer is considered, from jewellery and cloaks to belts and shoes. Once perfected, the ensemble is captured, binding its visual appearance into the trinket. The physical garments may then be stored safely away, preserved from wear while their appearance lives on through magic.

Many now maintain several sides to their trinkets, each curated for a different occasion: a formal court ensemble for Illistim receptions, travelling attire for a visit to the Bloodriven Village, or a dramatic evening outfit worthy of any ballroom. Changing one's entire appearance becomes a matter of selecting the appropriate trinket side rather than tracking down all the relevant items and accessing the relevant lockers.

For the dedicated fashion enthusiast, the possibilities are endless and the convenience of the Trinket cannot be underestimated.

===On the Care and Use of Transmogrified Garments===
By [[Riend (prime)|Riend]] Ar'Fiernel<br>

Fashion has always been a curious thing. A cloak may keep the rain from one's shoulders whether it is plain wool or embroidered silk, and yet many of us still find ourselves drawn to a particular color, a favored cut, or a detail that simply feels right. Over the past few months, adventurers across Elanthia have begun uncovering unusual garments among their treasures, pieces imbued with a peculiar magic that allows their appearance to be shared with other articles of clothing. These so-called transmogrified items have become something of a quiet fascination among tailors, collectors, and those of us who simply enjoy a well-made garment.

Among the treasures being uncovered of late are a number of unusual garments touched by transformative magic. They are often called "transmogs" among adventurers, though I suspect most tailors would choose a more suitable name. Regardless, these garments possess a remarkable quality: the ability to pass their appearance to another article of clothing while leaving its function unchanged.

As with most forms of magic, understanding the rules is often far more difficult than performing the task itself. Fortunately, in this case the process is quite simple.

To make use of such a garment, hold it in one hand and the item you wish to alter in the other. The process begins through TRANSFER, allowing one article to lend its appearance to another. As is often the case with magic, there are a handful of rules that must be observed. The garments must be worn in the same location, and both must either be containers or non-containers. One cannot, for example, persuade a pair of boots to become a necklace, nor convince a rucksack that it ought to be a corset. The magic is simply not inclined to cooperate.

If you find yourself fond of the garment exactly as it is, CLEANing it offers a simple alternative. The transmogrification magic is gently swept away, leaving behind a perfectly ordinary piece of clothing or jewelry to wear and enjoy.

There is, however, another option, and one I have grown particularly fond of. You can DUST your find which will strip away the more distinctive appearance, reducing the item it to its simplest form. The emerald flourishes, gilded embellishments, and other decorative peculiarities will be swept aside, leaving only the base garment behind. From there, one may make use of customization options, such as the apothecary boxes from Ebon Gate, or the many specialty shops across Elanthia, to shape the item into something more personal.

Whether you choose to preserve a garment, simplify it, or transform it entirely, these curious treasures offer no shortage of possibilities. A well-loved garment need not remain exactly as it was found to be cherished. Sometimes the greatest treasure is simply the opportunity to make something your own.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue

2026-07-01T16:56:34Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Elanthian Vogue |type = periodical |author = Rohese Bayvel |author-displayed = |date = 2018-01-30}}
[[File:EV Insignia WIKI.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]
Elanthian Vogue is the official publication of [[The Looking Glass]], an established Fashion House and distinguished [[Meeting Hall Organization]] in the elven city of [[Ta'Illistim]]. Its offices and studio are located in [[Ailanthus Manor]] on Whistler's Pass.

Elanthian Vogue is a seasonal fashion magazine made up of many components, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, culture, and "runway". The aim of the publication is to raise awareness and encourage participation in fashion-oriented activities across [[Elanthia]]. The first edition was launched in [[Lormesta]] 5118. In 5123, it moved to being published annually to coincide with [[Elanthian Fashion Week]] or its associated events but, in 5126, it was rebranded to be called "V" and has since returned to a simpler, more regular format.

For further information, please contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]].

==Published Editions==
{| {{prettytable|background:#ebf7ef;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#4c9d67; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5126
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5126 | V (Lormesta 5126)]] - [[Bella's Bridal Boutique]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126 | V (Fashanos 5126)]] - [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126 | V (Charlatos 5126)]] - [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]]'s Market
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5126 | V (Olaesta 5126)]] - [[RWShop:Obsidian_Raiment|Obsidian Raiment]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5126 | V (Ivastaen 5126)]] - [[The Tailor's Sister|The Tailor's Sister]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5126 | V (Lumnea 5126)]] - Trinkets and Transmogrification
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5125
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5125|Elanthian Vogue 5125]] - Botanicals: Sea, Sand and Soil
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5124
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5124|Elanthian Vogue 5124]] - Flora and Fauna
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5123
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5123|Elanthian Vogue 5123]] - Fashion Design and Cultural Influences
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#F0F8FF;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#000080; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5118 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5119 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5120 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5121 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5122 (Edition No. and Themes)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5118 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5118)]] - Launch||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5119 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5119)]] - Glamour||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5120 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5120)]] - Relax ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5121 | Edition 1 (Spring 5121)]] - Healing, Herbs, and Self Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5122 | Edition 1 (Spring 5122)]] - Weddings
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5119 | Edition 2 (Fashanos 5119)]] - Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Charlatos 5121)]] - Birds||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part I) | Edition 2 (Summer 5122): Part I]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5118 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5118)]] - Women||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5119 | Edition 3 (Charlatos 5119)]] - Handmaidens and Horoscopes||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5120 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5120)]] - Courtesans ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5121 | Edition 2 (Summer 5121)]] - Open Sea Adventures||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part II) | Edition 3 (Summer 5122): Part II]] - The Season
|-Z||
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5118 | Edition 3 (Ivastaen 5118)]] - RED||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5119 | Edition 4 (Olaesta 5119)]] - Pirates||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Olaesta 5120)]] - Cosmetics ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5121 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5121)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part III) | Edition 4 (Summer 5122): Part III]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 | Edition 4 (Lumnea 5118)]] - Image||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5119 | Edition 5 (Ivastaen 5119)]] - Travel||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part I) | Edition 3: Part I (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas<br>[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part II) | Edition 4: Part II (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas cont.d || [[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5121 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Koaratos 5121)]] - Revelia Carnivale||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Phoenatos 5122)]] - Entertaining
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Lumnea 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5119 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5120 | Edition 5 (Lumnea 5120)]] - Call of the Wild || [[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121 | Edition 3 (Autumn 5121)]] - It's Magic!||[[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5122 | Edition 5 (Autumn 5122)]] - Arts and Crafts
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5118 | Edition 5 (Koaratos 5118)]] - Well-Being||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5119 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5119)]] - Summer Is ...||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5120 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5120)]] - Theatre ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part I) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part I]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5122)]] - Bugs!
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5118 | Edition 6 (Imaerasta 5118)]] - Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5119 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part II) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part II]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5122 | Edition 6 (Winter 5122)]] - Winter
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5118 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Jastatos 5118)]] - Veola||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5119 | Edition 7 (Jastatos 5119)]] - Art||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 | Edition 7 (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Exotic ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5121)]] - Cordwainers||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5118 | Edition 7 (Eoantas 5118)]] - Men||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 | Edition 8 (Eoantos 5119)]] - Military||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Pets || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 | Edition 8 (Eorgaen 5118)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5119)]] - Elven Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120 | Edition 8 (Jastatos 5120)]] - Sugar and Spice || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Eorgaen 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5119 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5119)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5120 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5120)]] - V(R)ogue Gallery || ||
|}

[[Category: Fashion]]

Rohese (prime)

2026-06-24T13:07:00Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* an adularescent pale opal ring */

{{characterprofile
|name= Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree
|image= [[File:Rohese_Midjourneyv1.png|thumbnail|center|Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI]]
|caption= She conquers, who endures.
|race= Elf
|culture= Illistim
|class=
|profession= Loremaster of Mist Harbor<br> High Priestess of Lumnis
|affiliations= [[The Unending Circle]]<br>[[House Sylvanfair]]<br>[[Elanthian Elegance]]<br>[[The Looking Glass]]
|word= Demure
|disposition= Compassionate
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength= Love
|weakness= Children
|habits= Biting her lip
|hobbies= Reading and painting<br>Horseriding and falconry
|soft=
|likes= Tea and tranquility
|dislikes= Bad manners
|fears= The dark and her sister ([[Poladra (Prime)|Poladra]])
|loyalties=
|friend= Corlyne Anduin and Lucraine
|spouse= [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk Timbertree of Bourth]] m 5121<br>Sighisoara Timsh'l Vaalor m 5104 - 5118 (widowed)
|instance= Prime
|town= Ta'Illistim
|town2= Mist Harbor
}}
[[File:Rohese by tymelorde.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rohese, as portrayed by [[Tymelorde]].]]

'''Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree''' is an [[elven]] [[cleric|High Priestess]] of [[Lumnis]] from [[Ta'Illistim]].

Rohese is currently Loremaster of [[Mist Harbor]], Chatelaine of both [[House Sylvanfair]] and [[Elanthian Elegance]], a non-official Board Member of [[The Looking Glass]], and Editor-in-Chief of [[Elanthian Vogue]]. She is also a Master in the [[Order of Voln]] and a Grandmaster Alchemist in the [[Cleric Guild]].

==Appearance==
You see Loremaster Rohese Bayvel Illistim.<br>
She appears to be an Elf.<br>
She is taller than average with a slender willowy form. She appears to be of a tender age. She has silver-lashed misty grey eyes and preternaturally pale skin. She has lustrous, cool silver hair streaming over her shoulders and down her back like a moonlit waterfall. She has slender ears peeking through her hair that taper to fine points. Her composed expression has a sense of scholarly authority despite her youthful, fey-like appearance. She has constellations of iridescent shimmer traced along her right cheekbone.<br>
She has a cascade of tiny silver stars tattooed over her right eyebrow that fades into her hairline, and an inking of a faint star constellation on her neck.<br>
She has occasional faint traces of text flowing beneath her visible skin.<br>

She is wearing a moon-filled eonake pendant, a vaalin-shot moon grey silk robe trailing silver star-caught pendant sleeves, a wedding band of midnight-tinted glaes trailing across the left ring finger, an adularescent pale opal ring, some lattice-fronted white silk robes trailing sleeves of ombred grey chiffon, and some conjoined ring footflower sandals.

Rohese's appearance is influenced by the full Liabo moon.

Through a shimmering silvery grey haze, you see a Lunar Arcanist of Cysaegir with faintly luminous misty grey eyes. Fading in and out of sight, pale moonbeams fancifully float to and fro around her illuminated figure, which is covered in a wash of silvery white moonlight.

'''Constellation''': ''Five tiny stars configured in the shape of a W have been discreetly tattooed on the side of her neck with faintly shimmering silver ink, the pattern barely visible against her pale skin. One star however appears slightly brighter than the rest and cleverly conceals a small crescent-shaped scar on her throat.''<br>

==Background==
Born in [[Ta'Illistim]] in the spring of 5012, Rohese is the second daughter to Lord Tymian and Lady Aenor Bayvel. Her formative years were spent studying with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], and books continue to be constant companion and means of escape. She can usually be found in the library or her research conservatory in the Royal Arboretum.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">The best things in life are those that are nearest: breath in your body, light in your eyes, love in your heart, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand and the path of right before you.</div></pre>

Friends and family are everything to Rohese. She is very proud of her culture and lineage and will often disappear for days to study. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, she enjoys spending time with her husband, [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk]], or honing her skills as an alchemist and artist. Her outdoor pursuits extend to horse riding and falconry, with occasional forays into woodlands and forests as part of her research into the sentience of trees.

A recent discovery about her paternal grandmother's book (see treasured possessions) has seen her renew her relationship with her grandfather, [[Eairion]] Bayvel II, and cousins on both sides of her family, Lorestel Bayvel and [[Vincien (prime)|Vincien Illithien]].

Rohese's official residence is the Bayvel family home in Highpark, Ta'Illistim but she spends most of her time in her marital home, the [[Arboreal Refuge]] in [[Cysaegir]].

==Recent Influences==
Rohese was awarded the title of Patron of the Displaced in 5116 for her work in helping exiled half-elves find comfort, shelter, food and protection in the [[Elven Nations]]. She continues to seek ways to help those in need whenever she can.

In 5117, she undertook several journeys around the [[Turamzzyrian Empire]] at the request of the [[Argent Mirror]], with a view to extending further aid. Her experiences were documented in a journal entitled, [[A Difficult Journey]].

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.</div></pre>

Early in 5118, Rohese went missing on one of those diplomatic missions. The Argent Mirror held a [[5118-08-19 - Ta'Illistim - Lady Rohese is Missing - Delegation Meeting | Meeting]] on Day 9 Phoenatos, 5118 to discuss her disappearance and the continuance of the original delegation's goals. The efforts to find her and bring her home were documented in a second journal, entitled, [[A Healing Process]].

The diplomatic work culminated in an historic event at the [[Valley of Gold]] in Lumnea 5119, where the Emperor and Mirror signed a treaty between their people that would declare mutual respect and friendship between the nations. Rohese was subsequently awarded an elven jewel for leadership (a white diamond rimmed in gold) in recognition of her service to House Illistim.

During the events known as [[The Nazhor Chronicles]] on the Isle of Four Winds, Rohese discovered an interest in witchcraft and bibliomancy. Her experiences were recorded in a third journal entitled, [[Eternal Knowledge]]. She has since been offered the position of Loremaster to the Mist Harbor Library and completed a fourth journal documenting her [[Search for the Truth]] behind her paternal grandmother's book and ring.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic"</div></pre>

More recently, Rohese and Mirkk joined the annual Bayvel [[The Hunt (short story)|Hunt]] in the fall of 5122 and, later in the same year, following the revocation of [[Chaston's Edict]] and establishment of the new Barony of Darkstone, they both found themselves increasingly drawn into imperial matters on both sides of the [[Dragonspine Mountains]]. Rohese documented her own personal struggle in a journal she entitled, [[Catharsis (short story)|Catharsis]].

5123 culminated in a reunion with her estranged sister, Poladra, and a [[The Reckoning (short story)|reckoning]] that ended tragically. Despite Rohese now being free of her sister's tyranny, however, the final warning Poladra had given her soon came true; Mirkk returned to Bourth and Rohese found herself alone. During that time, she continued to write in her [[Liminality (short story)|journal]].

==Treasured Possessions==

===an avian-crested signet ring===
Rohese's crest has been amended to reflect her status as a widow; the flourish of ink-black curlicues adopted from her paternal grandmother. It has also been honored with an elven jewel recognising her acts of leadership.

''Engraved with a crest, the face of the signet ring has been depressed slightly, leaving a raised but unbroken gold circle encompassing a field of sky blue enamel and honored with a gold-rimmed flawless white diamond. Beneath the arch is a peacock, set over a white dove rising on the vale, both birds accented by a flourish of three ink-black curlicues. Flanking on both sides are a curling acantha leaf and a trio of silver stars. Small engraved elven letters cross through the center of the crest.''<br>
''There appears to be something written on it.''

''In the Elven language, it reads:''
''She conquers, who endures.''

===a pavonated leather-bound book===
Rohese is never without her paternal grandmother's special book (Codex Ista):

''A quire of creamy vellum has been neatly bound in faded blue leather and embossed with a stargazer lily on the front. Thin bookmarks and slips of annotated parchment protrude from the top of the well-thumbed pages, marking passages of significant relevance to the reader. The title, “Deportment and Decorum,” can still be made out on the distressed spine in gold leaf along with the name of the author, “Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim.”''

Whilst many copies have been made for public libraries and private collections, the book in her possession is essentially the original text as written by her grandmother. The book is a palimpsest; beneath the innocuous rhetoric on etiquette and protocol is a far more potent source of wisdom. Sahese Bayvel was in fact a powerful [[Sorcerer | white witch]] who bequeathed her knowledge to Rohese in two layers. Initially, she passed on her insights into deportment and decorum through the basic text within the book but wished her granddaughter to also gain a wider understanding of the arcane power she was capable of.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff"> a pavonated leather-bound book</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
'''raise'''
1st Person: Holding the book up to your face, you attempt to ignore the goings-on around you. Curiosity gets the better of you and you can't resist a quick peek.
3rd Person: Rohese holds her book up close to her face, pretending to ignore the goings-on around her. Occasionally, she sneaks a quick peek over the top.

'''flip'''
1st Person: You thumb carefully through the pages of your book until you find the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with your finger as you read it, you ponder the content for a moment before giving a nod of approval.
3rd Person: Rohese thumbs carefully through the pages of her book until she finds the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with her finger as she reads it, she looks deep in thought for a moment before giving a nod of approval.

'''push'''
1st Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on your head, you stand with practiced poise and take a few graceful steps forward. Feeling the book wobble slightly, you remove it before it has a chance to fall.
3rd Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on her head, Rohese stands with practiced poise and takes a few graceful steps forward. Just as the book begins to wobble, she removes it before it has a chance to fall.

'''tap'''
1st Person: Pursing your lips in disapproval and drawing yourself up to full height, you tap the cover of your leather-bound book hoping to draw attention to its title.
3rd Person: Pursing her lips and drawing herself up to full height, Rohese's fingernails tap agitatedly on the cover of her leather-bound book. With a steely glint in her eye, she glances pointedly at the title and tightens her grip on the spine.

'''tilt'''
1st Person: Gazing intently at your book, you contemplate the importance of etiquette and education... of fancy gowns and fairies. Lost in thought, you notice that you seem to be eating your hair again!
3rd Person: Rohese looks totally engrossed in her book as she absently nibbles on the end of a lock of hair.

'''turn'''
1st Person: Lost for words, you frantically turn the pages of your book in search of an appropriate response. All you can manage is an indignant, "Foof!"
3rd Person: Rohese frantically turns the pages of her book in search of an appropriate response but all she can manage are barely audible squeaks and an indignant, "Foof!"

'''wave'''
1st Person: In a fit of pique, you lift your book as if about to swipe at someone. Quickly realizing the error of your ways, you flush with embarrassment and lower your arm.
3rd Person: In a momentary fit of pique, Rohese lifts her book as if to take a swipe at someone. She quickly lowers her arm, however, with an abashed look on her face.

'''touch'''
1st Person: Removing a thin stylus from the spine of your book, you make a small annotation in the page margin, then carefully replace it.
3rd Person: Poised and calm, Rohese removes a thin stylus from the spine of her book and makes a small annotation in the page margin, then replaces it.

'''lace'''
1st Person: Lacing your fingers together, you cradle the book in your hands and murmur a short prayer of remembrance. Whispers of familiar spoken passages fill your ears and faint lines of text seem to run just under your skin, rising to the surface like bubbles on a pond, only to dissolve.
3rd Person: Lacing her fingers, Rohese cradles her book reverently in her hands and murmurs a few words under her breath. Faint lines of text appear to swirl beneath her pale skin for a moment, only to dissolve again just as quickly.

'''kiss'''
1st Person: Bringing your book to your lips, you whisper the word "wisdom" into its pages. Faint letters rise to the surface of your exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
3rd Person: Rohese lifts her book to her lips and whispers something. Faint letters rise to the surface of her exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
</pre></div>

===an adularescent pale opal ring===
With the discovery of her paternal grandmother's ring, Rohese has since learned how to access the effaced writing of the Codex Ista.

''Flanked by a vaalin crescent and a trio of tiny silver stars, a notably large oval-cut opal sits atop a band of white gold. Flaunting a milky white body, the remarkable stone is semi-opaque and shows a play of iridescent color with flashes of silver and blue across its glassy surface. The engraving on the inside of the band has worn away somewhat but is still legible.
Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic.''

===a moon-filled eonake pendant===

''Long strands of silver and eonake have been twisted together in a double rope pattern to create a sturdy, but elegant, neckchain. Four unembellished rings situated side-by-side dangle from the centermost point of the metal strands. All four rings contain a small glowing sphere that appears to spin slowly. A bloodrune rests atop the four moons, secured by a luminescent, crimson-hued thread.''

===a glass peacock eye pendant===
She also wears her mother's pendant which has a [[loresong]] related to her background:

''Strung on tangled electrum threads, this large oval-shaped pendant is crafted from brilliant emerald green glass. A spherical dark-hued lapis lazuli stone flecked with gold has been fused in the center of the glass, creating the illusion of a peacock eye.''

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mypendant" style="color:#0000ff"> a glass peacock eye pendant</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mypendant">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
Gold motes stir within the pendant's eye as your song evokes memories of an elven childhood. Beneath a cloudless lapis blue sky, two young girls chase each other around a cottonwood tree laden with fluffy white catkins. A gentle breeze ruffles their silvery blonde hair and sends a flurry of seeds around them as they laugh and play. Their glee is interrupted only by the entrance of an elegant woman, her glass pendant glinting in the sunlight. She extends her arms and both children rush into her embrace.

[Cappyn's eyes turn a dazzling lapis blue as she sings to her peacock eye pendant. A sudden warm breeze brings with it a flurry of fluffy white cottonwood seeds and the faint echo of children's laughter.]

Your song falters as the gold motes flicker and fade like a dying candle flame. Images of harmonious family life flood your mind until one scene lingers. Decades have passed and the joyous sounds of laughter have been replaced by a somber mood. Clad in black, an elven cleric stares dolefully out of a library window, his fingers locked around a glass pendant. With a mournful sigh, he settles his gaze on his two teary eyed daughters and hands the pendant to the eldest before walking away without a word.

[A solitary tear rolls down Cappyn's cheek as she struggles to sing to her peacock eye pendant. The coo of a nearby mourning dove adds a doleful counterpoint to her melody.]

The pendant's eye darkens with your new refrain but pulsates with a ghostly blue radiance. With each waning pulse, a velvety shroud of darkness shifts to reveal a towering glowbark tree. A willowy young elf is kneeling before her black-robed sister, who clutches a glass pendant tightly in her clawed hand. The elf lifts her head as if to accompany the eerie ballad of the nearby sirenflowers, but all she can manage is a grief-stricken silence. The incandescence fades and with it the heart wrenching image

[Cappyn's eyes cloud over with a ghostly blue haze as she continues to sing to her peacock eye pendant. For a brief moment, she is accompanied by the eerie whispering lilt of sirenflowers.]

At first it seems your song may fail, but your phrasing subtly transforms into a dirge and lifts the shroud again to reveal a mausoleum. A black-robed elf with ashen hair stands over a linden casket. Her expression shows no emotion as she places a glass pendant onto the lid and leaves. Moments later, a willowy elf steps from the shadows to retrieve it. Tucking it carefully it into her white robes, she replaces it with a purple mournbloom. A distant peacock's scream startles you back to present day.

[The peacock eye pendant in Cappyn's hand flashes with a sapphire blue radiance as her song subtly transforms into a dirge and ends abruptly with a distant peacock scream. An unexpected breeze brings with it the melancholy fragrance of mournblooms.]
</pre></div>

==Written Works==
A collection of philosophical essays, books and publications written by members of the Bayvel family.

[[Essential Etiquette Handbook (essay)|Deportment and Decorum: The Essential Etiquette Handbook]] by Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim

[[A Brief History of Horology (essay)|A Brief History of Horology]] by Eairion Bayvel Illistim II

[[Elanthian Viniculture (essay)|Elanthian Viniculture]] by Tymian Bayvel Illistim

[[Palurin Fea (essay)|An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A spiritual alchemist's perspective of the world's soul"]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Effective Altruism (essay)|Effective Altruism: A discourse on our moral obligation to help others]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Unfinished Lullaby (essay)|The Unfinished Lullaby]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Isle of Graces]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity (essay)|Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta (essay)|The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society (essay)|Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective (essay)|The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the [[Festival of Lumnea 2020|Festival of Lumnea]] Symposium, 5120

[[Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi (essay)|Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the Ilyan Syndicate's [[Ilyan Syndicate/Autumn on the Mountain|Autumn on the Mountain]] Cultural Talk, 5122

[[The Five Sisters (short story)]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|The Sentience of Trees]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Elanthian Vogue]] ~ articles written and edited by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Corpse Bird (poetry)]] by Rohese Bayvel

==Player-Created Storylines==
Journal #1 - [[A_Difficult_Journey_(short_story)|"A Difficult Journey"]]

Journal #2 - [[A_Healing_Process_(short_story)|"A Healing Process"]]

Journal #3 - [[Eternal_Knowledge_(short_story)|"Eternal Knowledge"]]

Journal #4 - [[Search_for_the_Truth_(short_story)|"Search for the Truth"]]

Journal #5 - [[The_Reckoning_(short_story)|"The Reckoning"]]

'''[[/Forgotten Ink|Forgotten Ink]]''' - Short interactive story set in Ta'Illistim starting in 5125

Rohese (prime)

2026-06-24T13:06:39Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* a pavonated leather-bound book */

{{characterprofile
|name= Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree
|image= [[File:Rohese_Midjourneyv1.png|thumbnail|center|Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI]]
|caption= She conquers, who endures.
|race= Elf
|culture= Illistim
|class=
|profession= Loremaster of Mist Harbor<br> High Priestess of Lumnis
|affiliations= [[The Unending Circle]]<br>[[House Sylvanfair]]<br>[[Elanthian Elegance]]<br>[[The Looking Glass]]
|word= Demure
|disposition= Compassionate
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength= Love
|weakness= Children
|habits= Biting her lip
|hobbies= Reading and painting<br>Horseriding and falconry
|soft=
|likes= Tea and tranquility
|dislikes= Bad manners
|fears= The dark and her sister ([[Poladra (Prime)|Poladra]])
|loyalties=
|friend= Corlyne Anduin and Lucraine
|spouse= [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk Timbertree of Bourth]] m 5121<br>Sighisoara Timsh'l Vaalor m 5104 - 5118 (widowed)
|instance= Prime
|town= Ta'Illistim
|town2= Mist Harbor
}}
[[File:Rohese by tymelorde.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rohese, as portrayed by [[Tymelorde]].]]

'''Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree''' is an [[elven]] [[cleric|High Priestess]] of [[Lumnis]] from [[Ta'Illistim]].

Rohese is currently Loremaster of [[Mist Harbor]], Chatelaine of both [[House Sylvanfair]] and [[Elanthian Elegance]], a non-official Board Member of [[The Looking Glass]], and Editor-in-Chief of [[Elanthian Vogue]]. She is also a Master in the [[Order of Voln]] and a Grandmaster Alchemist in the [[Cleric Guild]].

==Appearance==
You see Loremaster Rohese Bayvel Illistim.<br>
She appears to be an Elf.<br>
She is taller than average with a slender willowy form. She appears to be of a tender age. She has silver-lashed misty grey eyes and preternaturally pale skin. She has lustrous, cool silver hair streaming over her shoulders and down her back like a moonlit waterfall. She has slender ears peeking through her hair that taper to fine points. Her composed expression has a sense of scholarly authority despite her youthful, fey-like appearance. She has constellations of iridescent shimmer traced along her right cheekbone.<br>
She has a cascade of tiny silver stars tattooed over her right eyebrow that fades into her hairline, and an inking of a faint star constellation on her neck.<br>
She has occasional faint traces of text flowing beneath her visible skin.<br>

She is wearing a moon-filled eonake pendant, a vaalin-shot moon grey silk robe trailing silver star-caught pendant sleeves, a wedding band of midnight-tinted glaes trailing across the left ring finger, an adularescent pale opal ring, some lattice-fronted white silk robes trailing sleeves of ombred grey chiffon, and some conjoined ring footflower sandals.

Rohese's appearance is influenced by the full Liabo moon.

Through a shimmering silvery grey haze, you see a Lunar Arcanist of Cysaegir with faintly luminous misty grey eyes. Fading in and out of sight, pale moonbeams fancifully float to and fro around her illuminated figure, which is covered in a wash of silvery white moonlight.

'''Constellation''': ''Five tiny stars configured in the shape of a W have been discreetly tattooed on the side of her neck with faintly shimmering silver ink, the pattern barely visible against her pale skin. One star however appears slightly brighter than the rest and cleverly conceals a small crescent-shaped scar on her throat.''<br>

==Background==
Born in [[Ta'Illistim]] in the spring of 5012, Rohese is the second daughter to Lord Tymian and Lady Aenor Bayvel. Her formative years were spent studying with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], and books continue to be constant companion and means of escape. She can usually be found in the library or her research conservatory in the Royal Arboretum.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">The best things in life are those that are nearest: breath in your body, light in your eyes, love in your heart, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand and the path of right before you.</div></pre>

Friends and family are everything to Rohese. She is very proud of her culture and lineage and will often disappear for days to study. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, she enjoys spending time with her husband, [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk]], or honing her skills as an alchemist and artist. Her outdoor pursuits extend to horse riding and falconry, with occasional forays into woodlands and forests as part of her research into the sentience of trees.

A recent discovery about her paternal grandmother's book (see treasured possessions) has seen her renew her relationship with her grandfather, [[Eairion]] Bayvel II, and cousins on both sides of her family, Lorestel Bayvel and [[Vincien (prime)|Vincien Illithien]].

Rohese's official residence is the Bayvel family home in Highpark, Ta'Illistim but she spends most of her time in her marital home, the [[Arboreal Refuge]] in [[Cysaegir]].

==Recent Influences==
Rohese was awarded the title of Patron of the Displaced in 5116 for her work in helping exiled half-elves find comfort, shelter, food and protection in the [[Elven Nations]]. She continues to seek ways to help those in need whenever she can.

In 5117, she undertook several journeys around the [[Turamzzyrian Empire]] at the request of the [[Argent Mirror]], with a view to extending further aid. Her experiences were documented in a journal entitled, [[A Difficult Journey]].

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.</div></pre>

Early in 5118, Rohese went missing on one of those diplomatic missions. The Argent Mirror held a [[5118-08-19 - Ta'Illistim - Lady Rohese is Missing - Delegation Meeting | Meeting]] on Day 9 Phoenatos, 5118 to discuss her disappearance and the continuance of the original delegation's goals. The efforts to find her and bring her home were documented in a second journal, entitled, [[A Healing Process]].

The diplomatic work culminated in an historic event at the [[Valley of Gold]] in Lumnea 5119, where the Emperor and Mirror signed a treaty between their people that would declare mutual respect and friendship between the nations. Rohese was subsequently awarded an elven jewel for leadership (a white diamond rimmed in gold) in recognition of her service to House Illistim.

During the events known as [[The Nazhor Chronicles]] on the Isle of Four Winds, Rohese discovered an interest in witchcraft and bibliomancy. Her experiences were recorded in a third journal entitled, [[Eternal Knowledge]]. She has since been offered the position of Loremaster to the Mist Harbor Library and completed a fourth journal documenting her [[Search for the Truth]] behind her paternal grandmother's book and ring.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic"</div></pre>

More recently, Rohese and Mirkk joined the annual Bayvel [[The Hunt (short story)|Hunt]] in the fall of 5122 and, later in the same year, following the revocation of [[Chaston's Edict]] and establishment of the new Barony of Darkstone, they both found themselves increasingly drawn into imperial matters on both sides of the [[Dragonspine Mountains]]. Rohese documented her own personal struggle in a journal she entitled, [[Catharsis (short story)|Catharsis]].

5123 culminated in a reunion with her estranged sister, Poladra, and a [[The Reckoning (short story)|reckoning]] that ended tragically. Despite Rohese now being free of her sister's tyranny, however, the final warning Poladra had given her soon came true; Mirkk returned to Bourth and Rohese found herself alone. During that time, she continued to write in her [[Liminality (short story)|journal]].

==Treasured Possessions==

===an avian-crested signet ring===
Rohese's crest has been amended to reflect her status as a widow; the flourish of ink-black curlicues adopted from her paternal grandmother. It has also been honored with an elven jewel recognising her acts of leadership.

''Engraved with a crest, the face of the signet ring has been depressed slightly, leaving a raised but unbroken gold circle encompassing a field of sky blue enamel and honored with a gold-rimmed flawless white diamond. Beneath the arch is a peacock, set over a white dove rising on the vale, both birds accented by a flourish of three ink-black curlicues. Flanking on both sides are a curling acantha leaf and a trio of silver stars. Small engraved elven letters cross through the center of the crest.''<br>
''There appears to be something written on it.''

''In the Elven language, it reads:''
''She conquers, who endures.''

===a pavonated leather-bound book===
Rohese is never without her paternal grandmother's special book (Codex Ista):

''A quire of creamy vellum has been neatly bound in faded blue leather and embossed with a stargazer lily on the front. Thin bookmarks and slips of annotated parchment protrude from the top of the well-thumbed pages, marking passages of significant relevance to the reader. The title, “Deportment and Decorum,” can still be made out on the distressed spine in gold leaf along with the name of the author, “Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim.”''

Whilst many copies have been made for public libraries and private collections, the book in her possession is essentially the original text as written by her grandmother. The book is a palimpsest; beneath the innocuous rhetoric on etiquette and protocol is a far more potent source of wisdom. Sahese Bayvel was in fact a powerful [[Sorcerer | white witch]] who bequeathed her knowledge to Rohese in two layers. Initially, she passed on her insights into deportment and decorum through the basic text within the book but wished her granddaughter to also gain a wider understanding of the arcane power she was capable of.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff"> a pavonated leather-bound book</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
'''raise'''
1st Person: Holding the book up to your face, you attempt to ignore the goings-on around you. Curiosity gets the better of you and you can't resist a quick peek.
3rd Person: Rohese holds her book up close to her face, pretending to ignore the goings-on around her. Occasionally, she sneaks a quick peek over the top.

'''flip'''
1st Person: You thumb carefully through the pages of your book until you find the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with your finger as you read it, you ponder the content for a moment before giving a nod of approval.
3rd Person: Rohese thumbs carefully through the pages of her book until she finds the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with her finger as she reads it, she looks deep in thought for a moment before giving a nod of approval.

'''push'''
1st Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on your head, you stand with practiced poise and take a few graceful steps forward. Feeling the book wobble slightly, you remove it before it has a chance to fall.
3rd Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on her head, Rohese stands with practiced poise and takes a few graceful steps forward. Just as the book begins to wobble, she removes it before it has a chance to fall.

'''tap'''
1st Person: Pursing your lips in disapproval and drawing yourself up to full height, you tap the cover of your leather-bound book hoping to draw attention to its title.
3rd Person: Pursing her lips and drawing herself up to full height, Rohese's fingernails tap agitatedly on the cover of her leather-bound book. With a steely glint in her eye, she glances pointedly at the title and tightens her grip on the spine.

'''tilt'''
1st Person: Gazing intently at your book, you contemplate the importance of etiquette and education... of fancy gowns and fairies. Lost in thought, you notice that you seem to be eating your hair again!
3rd Person: Rohese looks totally engrossed in her book as she absently nibbles on the end of a lock of hair.

'''turn'''
1st Person: Lost for words, you frantically turn the pages of your book in search of an appropriate response. All you can manage is an indignant, "Foof!"
3rd Person: Rohese frantically turns the pages of her book in search of an appropriate response but all she can manage are barely audible squeaks and an indignant, "Foof!"

'''wave'''
1st Person: In a fit of pique, you lift your book as if about to swipe at someone. Quickly realizing the error of your ways, you flush with embarrassment and lower your arm.
3rd Person: In a momentary fit of pique, Rohese lifts her book as if to take a swipe at someone. She quickly lowers her arm, however, with an abashed look on her face.

'''touch'''
1st Person: Removing a thin stylus from the spine of your book, you make a small annotation in the page margin, then carefully replace it.
3rd Person: Poised and calm, Rohese removes a thin stylus from the spine of her book and makes a small annotation in the page margin, then replaces it.

'''lace'''
1st Person: Lacing your fingers together, you cradle the book in your hands and murmur a short prayer of remembrance. Whispers of familiar spoken passages fill your ears and faint lines of text seem to run just under your skin, rising to the surface like bubbles on a pond, only to dissolve.
3rd Person: Lacing her fingers, Rohese cradles her book reverently in her hands and murmurs a few words under her breath. Faint lines of text appear to swirl beneath her pale skin for a moment, only to dissolve again just as quickly.

'''kiss'''
1st Person: Bringing your book to your lips, you whisper the word "wisdom" into its pages. Faint letters rise to the surface of your exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
3rd Person: Rohese lifts her book to her lips and whispers something. Faint letters rise to the surface of her exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
</pre></div>

===an adularescent pale opal ring===
With the discovery of her grandmother's ring, Rohese has since learned how to access the effaced writing of the Codex Ista.

''Flanked by a vaalin crescent and a trio of tiny silver stars, a notably large oval-cut opal sits atop a band of white gold. Flaunting a milky white body, the remarkable stone is semi-opaque and shows a play of iridescent color with flashes of silver and blue across its glassy surface. The engraving on the inside of the band has worn away somewhat but is still legible.
Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic.''

===a moon-filled eonake pendant===

''Long strands of silver and eonake have been twisted together in a double rope pattern to create a sturdy, but elegant, neckchain. Four unembellished rings situated side-by-side dangle from the centermost point of the metal strands. All four rings contain a small glowing sphere that appears to spin slowly. A bloodrune rests atop the four moons, secured by a luminescent, crimson-hued thread.''

===a glass peacock eye pendant===
She also wears her mother's pendant which has a [[loresong]] related to her background:

''Strung on tangled electrum threads, this large oval-shaped pendant is crafted from brilliant emerald green glass. A spherical dark-hued lapis lazuli stone flecked with gold has been fused in the center of the glass, creating the illusion of a peacock eye.''

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mypendant" style="color:#0000ff"> a glass peacock eye pendant</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mypendant">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
Gold motes stir within the pendant's eye as your song evokes memories of an elven childhood. Beneath a cloudless lapis blue sky, two young girls chase each other around a cottonwood tree laden with fluffy white catkins. A gentle breeze ruffles their silvery blonde hair and sends a flurry of seeds around them as they laugh and play. Their glee is interrupted only by the entrance of an elegant woman, her glass pendant glinting in the sunlight. She extends her arms and both children rush into her embrace.

[Cappyn's eyes turn a dazzling lapis blue as she sings to her peacock eye pendant. A sudden warm breeze brings with it a flurry of fluffy white cottonwood seeds and the faint echo of children's laughter.]

Your song falters as the gold motes flicker and fade like a dying candle flame. Images of harmonious family life flood your mind until one scene lingers. Decades have passed and the joyous sounds of laughter have been replaced by a somber mood. Clad in black, an elven cleric stares dolefully out of a library window, his fingers locked around a glass pendant. With a mournful sigh, he settles his gaze on his two teary eyed daughters and hands the pendant to the eldest before walking away without a word.

[A solitary tear rolls down Cappyn's cheek as she struggles to sing to her peacock eye pendant. The coo of a nearby mourning dove adds a doleful counterpoint to her melody.]

The pendant's eye darkens with your new refrain but pulsates with a ghostly blue radiance. With each waning pulse, a velvety shroud of darkness shifts to reveal a towering glowbark tree. A willowy young elf is kneeling before her black-robed sister, who clutches a glass pendant tightly in her clawed hand. The elf lifts her head as if to accompany the eerie ballad of the nearby sirenflowers, but all she can manage is a grief-stricken silence. The incandescence fades and with it the heart wrenching image

[Cappyn's eyes cloud over with a ghostly blue haze as she continues to sing to her peacock eye pendant. For a brief moment, she is accompanied by the eerie whispering lilt of sirenflowers.]

At first it seems your song may fail, but your phrasing subtly transforms into a dirge and lifts the shroud again to reveal a mausoleum. A black-robed elf with ashen hair stands over a linden casket. Her expression shows no emotion as she places a glass pendant onto the lid and leaves. Moments later, a willowy elf steps from the shadows to retrieve it. Tucking it carefully it into her white robes, she replaces it with a purple mournbloom. A distant peacock's scream startles you back to present day.

[The peacock eye pendant in Cappyn's hand flashes with a sapphire blue radiance as her song subtly transforms into a dirge and ends abruptly with a distant peacock scream. An unexpected breeze brings with it the melancholy fragrance of mournblooms.]
</pre></div>

==Written Works==
A collection of philosophical essays, books and publications written by members of the Bayvel family.

[[Essential Etiquette Handbook (essay)|Deportment and Decorum: The Essential Etiquette Handbook]] by Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim

[[A Brief History of Horology (essay)|A Brief History of Horology]] by Eairion Bayvel Illistim II

[[Elanthian Viniculture (essay)|Elanthian Viniculture]] by Tymian Bayvel Illistim

[[Palurin Fea (essay)|An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A spiritual alchemist's perspective of the world's soul"]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Effective Altruism (essay)|Effective Altruism: A discourse on our moral obligation to help others]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Unfinished Lullaby (essay)|The Unfinished Lullaby]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Isle of Graces]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity (essay)|Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta (essay)|The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society (essay)|Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective (essay)|The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the [[Festival of Lumnea 2020|Festival of Lumnea]] Symposium, 5120

[[Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi (essay)|Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the Ilyan Syndicate's [[Ilyan Syndicate/Autumn on the Mountain|Autumn on the Mountain]] Cultural Talk, 5122

[[The Five Sisters (short story)]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|The Sentience of Trees]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Elanthian Vogue]] ~ articles written and edited by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Corpse Bird (poetry)]] by Rohese Bayvel

==Player-Created Storylines==
Journal #1 - [[A_Difficult_Journey_(short_story)|"A Difficult Journey"]]

Journal #2 - [[A_Healing_Process_(short_story)|"A Healing Process"]]

Journal #3 - [[Eternal_Knowledge_(short_story)|"Eternal Knowledge"]]

Journal #4 - [[Search_for_the_Truth_(short_story)|"Search for the Truth"]]

Journal #5 - [[The_Reckoning_(short_story)|"The Reckoning"]]

'''[[/Forgotten Ink|Forgotten Ink]]''' - Short interactive story set in Ta'Illistim starting in 5125

Rohese (prime)

2026-06-24T13:05:52Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Recent Influences */

{{characterprofile
|name= Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree
|image= [[File:Rohese_Midjourneyv1.png|thumbnail|center|Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI]]
|caption= She conquers, who endures.
|race= Elf
|culture= Illistim
|class=
|profession= Loremaster of Mist Harbor<br> High Priestess of Lumnis
|affiliations= [[The Unending Circle]]<br>[[House Sylvanfair]]<br>[[Elanthian Elegance]]<br>[[The Looking Glass]]
|word= Demure
|disposition= Compassionate
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength= Love
|weakness= Children
|habits= Biting her lip
|hobbies= Reading and painting<br>Horseriding and falconry
|soft=
|likes= Tea and tranquility
|dislikes= Bad manners
|fears= The dark and her sister ([[Poladra (Prime)|Poladra]])
|loyalties=
|friend= Corlyne Anduin and Lucraine
|spouse= [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk Timbertree of Bourth]] m 5121<br>Sighisoara Timsh'l Vaalor m 5104 - 5118 (widowed)
|instance= Prime
|town= Ta'Illistim
|town2= Mist Harbor
}}
[[File:Rohese by tymelorde.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rohese, as portrayed by [[Tymelorde]].]]

'''Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree''' is an [[elven]] [[cleric|High Priestess]] of [[Lumnis]] from [[Ta'Illistim]].

Rohese is currently Loremaster of [[Mist Harbor]], Chatelaine of both [[House Sylvanfair]] and [[Elanthian Elegance]], a non-official Board Member of [[The Looking Glass]], and Editor-in-Chief of [[Elanthian Vogue]]. She is also a Master in the [[Order of Voln]] and a Grandmaster Alchemist in the [[Cleric Guild]].

==Appearance==
You see Loremaster Rohese Bayvel Illistim.<br>
She appears to be an Elf.<br>
She is taller than average with a slender willowy form. She appears to be of a tender age. She has silver-lashed misty grey eyes and preternaturally pale skin. She has lustrous, cool silver hair streaming over her shoulders and down her back like a moonlit waterfall. She has slender ears peeking through her hair that taper to fine points. Her composed expression has a sense of scholarly authority despite her youthful, fey-like appearance. She has constellations of iridescent shimmer traced along her right cheekbone.<br>
She has a cascade of tiny silver stars tattooed over her right eyebrow that fades into her hairline, and an inking of a faint star constellation on her neck.<br>
She has occasional faint traces of text flowing beneath her visible skin.<br>

She is wearing a moon-filled eonake pendant, a vaalin-shot moon grey silk robe trailing silver star-caught pendant sleeves, a wedding band of midnight-tinted glaes trailing across the left ring finger, an adularescent pale opal ring, some lattice-fronted white silk robes trailing sleeves of ombred grey chiffon, and some conjoined ring footflower sandals.

Rohese's appearance is influenced by the full Liabo moon.

Through a shimmering silvery grey haze, you see a Lunar Arcanist of Cysaegir with faintly luminous misty grey eyes. Fading in and out of sight, pale moonbeams fancifully float to and fro around her illuminated figure, which is covered in a wash of silvery white moonlight.

'''Constellation''': ''Five tiny stars configured in the shape of a W have been discreetly tattooed on the side of her neck with faintly shimmering silver ink, the pattern barely visible against her pale skin. One star however appears slightly brighter than the rest and cleverly conceals a small crescent-shaped scar on her throat.''<br>

==Background==
Born in [[Ta'Illistim]] in the spring of 5012, Rohese is the second daughter to Lord Tymian and Lady Aenor Bayvel. Her formative years were spent studying with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], and books continue to be constant companion and means of escape. She can usually be found in the library or her research conservatory in the Royal Arboretum.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">The best things in life are those that are nearest: breath in your body, light in your eyes, love in your heart, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand and the path of right before you.</div></pre>

Friends and family are everything to Rohese. She is very proud of her culture and lineage and will often disappear for days to study. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, she enjoys spending time with her husband, [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk]], or honing her skills as an alchemist and artist. Her outdoor pursuits extend to horse riding and falconry, with occasional forays into woodlands and forests as part of her research into the sentience of trees.

A recent discovery about her paternal grandmother's book (see treasured possessions) has seen her renew her relationship with her grandfather, [[Eairion]] Bayvel II, and cousins on both sides of her family, Lorestel Bayvel and [[Vincien (prime)|Vincien Illithien]].

Rohese's official residence is the Bayvel family home in Highpark, Ta'Illistim but she spends most of her time in her marital home, the [[Arboreal Refuge]] in [[Cysaegir]].

==Recent Influences==
Rohese was awarded the title of Patron of the Displaced in 5116 for her work in helping exiled half-elves find comfort, shelter, food and protection in the [[Elven Nations]]. She continues to seek ways to help those in need whenever she can.

In 5117, she undertook several journeys around the [[Turamzzyrian Empire]] at the request of the [[Argent Mirror]], with a view to extending further aid. Her experiences were documented in a journal entitled, [[A Difficult Journey]].

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.</div></pre>

Early in 5118, Rohese went missing on one of those diplomatic missions. The Argent Mirror held a [[5118-08-19 - Ta'Illistim - Lady Rohese is Missing - Delegation Meeting | Meeting]] on Day 9 Phoenatos, 5118 to discuss her disappearance and the continuance of the original delegation's goals. The efforts to find her and bring her home were documented in a second journal, entitled, [[A Healing Process]].

The diplomatic work culminated in an historic event at the [[Valley of Gold]] in Lumnea 5119, where the Emperor and Mirror signed a treaty between their people that would declare mutual respect and friendship between the nations. Rohese was subsequently awarded an elven jewel for leadership (a white diamond rimmed in gold) in recognition of her service to House Illistim.

During the events known as [[The Nazhor Chronicles]] on the Isle of Four Winds, Rohese discovered an interest in witchcraft and bibliomancy. Her experiences were recorded in a third journal entitled, [[Eternal Knowledge]]. She has since been offered the position of Loremaster to the Mist Harbor Library and completed a fourth journal documenting her [[Search for the Truth]] behind her paternal grandmother's book and ring.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic"</div></pre>

More recently, Rohese and Mirkk joined the annual Bayvel [[The Hunt (short story)|Hunt]] in the fall of 5122 and, later in the same year, following the revocation of [[Chaston's Edict]] and establishment of the new Barony of Darkstone, they both found themselves increasingly drawn into imperial matters on both sides of the [[Dragonspine Mountains]]. Rohese documented her own personal struggle in a journal she entitled, [[Catharsis (short story)|Catharsis]].

5123 culminated in a reunion with her estranged sister, Poladra, and a [[The Reckoning (short story)|reckoning]] that ended tragically. Despite Rohese now being free of her sister's tyranny, however, the final warning Poladra had given her soon came true; Mirkk returned to Bourth and Rohese found herself alone. During that time, she continued to write in her [[Liminality (short story)|journal]].

==Treasured Possessions==

===an avian-crested signet ring===
Rohese's crest has been amended to reflect her status as a widow; the flourish of ink-black curlicues adopted from her paternal grandmother. It has also been honored with an elven jewel recognising her acts of leadership.

''Engraved with a crest, the face of the signet ring has been depressed slightly, leaving a raised but unbroken gold circle encompassing a field of sky blue enamel and honored with a gold-rimmed flawless white diamond. Beneath the arch is a peacock, set over a white dove rising on the vale, both birds accented by a flourish of three ink-black curlicues. Flanking on both sides are a curling acantha leaf and a trio of silver stars. Small engraved elven letters cross through the center of the crest.''<br>
''There appears to be something written on it.''

''In the Elven language, it reads:''
''She conquers, who endures.''

===a pavonated leather-bound book===
Rohese is never without her grandmother's special book (Codex Ista):

''A quire of creamy vellum has been neatly bound in faded blue leather and embossed with a stargazer lily on the front. Thin bookmarks and slips of annotated parchment protrude from the top of the well-thumbed pages, marking passages of significant relevance to the reader. The title, “Deportment and Decorum,” can still be made out on the distressed spine in gold leaf along with the name of the author, “Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim.”''

Whilst many copies have been made for public libraries and private collections, the book in her possession is essentially the original text as written by her grandmother. The book is a palimpsest; beneath the innocuous rhetoric on etiquette and protocol is a far more potent source of wisdom. Sahese Bayvel was in fact a powerful [[Sorcerer | white witch]] who bequeathed her knowledge to Rohese in two layers. Initially, she passed on her insights into deportment and decorum through the basic text within the book but wished her granddaughter to also gain a wider understanding of the arcane power she was capable of.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff"> a pavonated leather-bound book</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
'''raise'''
1st Person: Holding the book up to your face, you attempt to ignore the goings-on around you. Curiosity gets the better of you and you can't resist a quick peek.
3rd Person: Rohese holds her book up close to her face, pretending to ignore the goings-on around her. Occasionally, she sneaks a quick peek over the top.

'''flip'''
1st Person: You thumb carefully through the pages of your book until you find the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with your finger as you read it, you ponder the content for a moment before giving a nod of approval.
3rd Person: Rohese thumbs carefully through the pages of her book until she finds the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with her finger as she reads it, she looks deep in thought for a moment before giving a nod of approval.

'''push'''
1st Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on your head, you stand with practiced poise and take a few graceful steps forward. Feeling the book wobble slightly, you remove it before it has a chance to fall.
3rd Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on her head, Rohese stands with practiced poise and takes a few graceful steps forward. Just as the book begins to wobble, she removes it before it has a chance to fall.

'''tap'''
1st Person: Pursing your lips in disapproval and drawing yourself up to full height, you tap the cover of your leather-bound book hoping to draw attention to its title.
3rd Person: Pursing her lips and drawing herself up to full height, Rohese's fingernails tap agitatedly on the cover of her leather-bound book. With a steely glint in her eye, she glances pointedly at the title and tightens her grip on the spine.

'''tilt'''
1st Person: Gazing intently at your book, you contemplate the importance of etiquette and education... of fancy gowns and fairies. Lost in thought, you notice that you seem to be eating your hair again!
3rd Person: Rohese looks totally engrossed in her book as she absently nibbles on the end of a lock of hair.

'''turn'''
1st Person: Lost for words, you frantically turn the pages of your book in search of an appropriate response. All you can manage is an indignant, "Foof!"
3rd Person: Rohese frantically turns the pages of her book in search of an appropriate response but all she can manage are barely audible squeaks and an indignant, "Foof!"

'''wave'''
1st Person: In a fit of pique, you lift your book as if about to swipe at someone. Quickly realizing the error of your ways, you flush with embarrassment and lower your arm.
3rd Person: In a momentary fit of pique, Rohese lifts her book as if to take a swipe at someone. She quickly lowers her arm, however, with an abashed look on her face.

'''touch'''
1st Person: Removing a thin stylus from the spine of your book, you make a small annotation in the page margin, then carefully replace it.
3rd Person: Poised and calm, Rohese removes a thin stylus from the spine of her book and makes a small annotation in the page margin, then replaces it.

'''lace'''
1st Person: Lacing your fingers together, you cradle the book in your hands and murmur a short prayer of remembrance. Whispers of familiar spoken passages fill your ears and faint lines of text seem to run just under your skin, rising to the surface like bubbles on a pond, only to dissolve.
3rd Person: Lacing her fingers, Rohese cradles her book reverently in her hands and murmurs a few words under her breath. Faint lines of text appear to swirl beneath her pale skin for a moment, only to dissolve again just as quickly.

'''kiss'''
1st Person: Bringing your book to your lips, you whisper the word "wisdom" into its pages. Faint letters rise to the surface of your exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
3rd Person: Rohese lifts her book to her lips and whispers something. Faint letters rise to the surface of her exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
</pre></div>

===an adularescent pale opal ring===
With the discovery of her grandmother's ring, Rohese has since learned how to access the effaced writing of the Codex Ista.

''Flanked by a vaalin crescent and a trio of tiny silver stars, a notably large oval-cut opal sits atop a band of white gold. Flaunting a milky white body, the remarkable stone is semi-opaque and shows a play of iridescent color with flashes of silver and blue across its glassy surface. The engraving on the inside of the band has worn away somewhat but is still legible.
Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic.''

===a moon-filled eonake pendant===

''Long strands of silver and eonake have been twisted together in a double rope pattern to create a sturdy, but elegant, neckchain. Four unembellished rings situated side-by-side dangle from the centermost point of the metal strands. All four rings contain a small glowing sphere that appears to spin slowly. A bloodrune rests atop the four moons, secured by a luminescent, crimson-hued thread.''

===a glass peacock eye pendant===
She also wears her mother's pendant which has a [[loresong]] related to her background:

''Strung on tangled electrum threads, this large oval-shaped pendant is crafted from brilliant emerald green glass. A spherical dark-hued lapis lazuli stone flecked with gold has been fused in the center of the glass, creating the illusion of a peacock eye.''

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mypendant" style="color:#0000ff"> a glass peacock eye pendant</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mypendant">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
Gold motes stir within the pendant's eye as your song evokes memories of an elven childhood. Beneath a cloudless lapis blue sky, two young girls chase each other around a cottonwood tree laden with fluffy white catkins. A gentle breeze ruffles their silvery blonde hair and sends a flurry of seeds around them as they laugh and play. Their glee is interrupted only by the entrance of an elegant woman, her glass pendant glinting in the sunlight. She extends her arms and both children rush into her embrace.

[Cappyn's eyes turn a dazzling lapis blue as she sings to her peacock eye pendant. A sudden warm breeze brings with it a flurry of fluffy white cottonwood seeds and the faint echo of children's laughter.]

Your song falters as the gold motes flicker and fade like a dying candle flame. Images of harmonious family life flood your mind until one scene lingers. Decades have passed and the joyous sounds of laughter have been replaced by a somber mood. Clad in black, an elven cleric stares dolefully out of a library window, his fingers locked around a glass pendant. With a mournful sigh, he settles his gaze on his two teary eyed daughters and hands the pendant to the eldest before walking away without a word.

[A solitary tear rolls down Cappyn's cheek as she struggles to sing to her peacock eye pendant. The coo of a nearby mourning dove adds a doleful counterpoint to her melody.]

The pendant's eye darkens with your new refrain but pulsates with a ghostly blue radiance. With each waning pulse, a velvety shroud of darkness shifts to reveal a towering glowbark tree. A willowy young elf is kneeling before her black-robed sister, who clutches a glass pendant tightly in her clawed hand. The elf lifts her head as if to accompany the eerie ballad of the nearby sirenflowers, but all she can manage is a grief-stricken silence. The incandescence fades and with it the heart wrenching image

[Cappyn's eyes cloud over with a ghostly blue haze as she continues to sing to her peacock eye pendant. For a brief moment, she is accompanied by the eerie whispering lilt of sirenflowers.]

At first it seems your song may fail, but your phrasing subtly transforms into a dirge and lifts the shroud again to reveal a mausoleum. A black-robed elf with ashen hair stands over a linden casket. Her expression shows no emotion as she places a glass pendant onto the lid and leaves. Moments later, a willowy elf steps from the shadows to retrieve it. Tucking it carefully it into her white robes, she replaces it with a purple mournbloom. A distant peacock's scream startles you back to present day.

[The peacock eye pendant in Cappyn's hand flashes with a sapphire blue radiance as her song subtly transforms into a dirge and ends abruptly with a distant peacock scream. An unexpected breeze brings with it the melancholy fragrance of mournblooms.]
</pre></div>

==Written Works==
A collection of philosophical essays, books and publications written by members of the Bayvel family.

[[Essential Etiquette Handbook (essay)|Deportment and Decorum: The Essential Etiquette Handbook]] by Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim

[[A Brief History of Horology (essay)|A Brief History of Horology]] by Eairion Bayvel Illistim II

[[Elanthian Viniculture (essay)|Elanthian Viniculture]] by Tymian Bayvel Illistim

[[Palurin Fea (essay)|An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A spiritual alchemist's perspective of the world's soul"]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Effective Altruism (essay)|Effective Altruism: A discourse on our moral obligation to help others]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Unfinished Lullaby (essay)|The Unfinished Lullaby]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Isle of Graces]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity (essay)|Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta (essay)|The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society (essay)|Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective (essay)|The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the [[Festival of Lumnea 2020|Festival of Lumnea]] Symposium, 5120

[[Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi (essay)|Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the Ilyan Syndicate's [[Ilyan Syndicate/Autumn on the Mountain|Autumn on the Mountain]] Cultural Talk, 5122

[[The Five Sisters (short story)]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|The Sentience of Trees]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Elanthian Vogue]] ~ articles written and edited by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Corpse Bird (poetry)]] by Rohese Bayvel

==Player-Created Storylines==
Journal #1 - [[A_Difficult_Journey_(short_story)|"A Difficult Journey"]]

Journal #2 - [[A_Healing_Process_(short_story)|"A Healing Process"]]

Journal #3 - [[Eternal_Knowledge_(short_story)|"Eternal Knowledge"]]

Journal #4 - [[Search_for_the_Truth_(short_story)|"Search for the Truth"]]

Journal #5 - [[The_Reckoning_(short_story)|"The Reckoning"]]

'''[[/Forgotten Ink|Forgotten Ink]]''' - Short interactive story set in Ta'Illistim starting in 5125

Palurin Fea (essay)

2026-06-22T12:43:24Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = '''An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A Spiritual Alchemist's Perspective of the World's Soul"''' | type = essay | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2017-03-09}}

First published on the 11th day of Jastatos in the year 5116

The Palurin Fea* is not just a philosophical concept; it is a spiritual substance within us and all around us. Just as our own soul pervades our bodies, thoughts and feelings, the Palurin Fea is present within everything. Its essence encompasses all of creation and is a unifying principle in our world, connecting all life together and forming a bond to the universe as a whole. It is a manifestation of all our hopes, dreams, and deepest imaginings. It is the home of: collective memories, the archetypes that define our lives, the potential source from which spiritual magic draws its power, and where formative ideas take shape.

When we become isolated or cut-off from our own soul, we are denied conscious access to the guidance and intelligence of the Palurin Fea; to its "light" or source. Our lives become meaningless and without purpose; we become an animation or "walking shadow" of our former selves. When we reconnect with our soul and that of the world – be that through Meditation, Restoration or Resurrection - the flows of magic are restored and our spirit well is refilled; our lives have substance again.

The ultimate goal of the true spiritual alchemist it to access the source hidden deep within all things and liberate creation. Through essential oneness and skillful manipulation of magic, the very essence of our soul can act as a catalyst to ignite the spark of consciousness and activate life's energy. This energy has the power to change the pattern of creation and, in turn, create the shape of the future; perhaps even liberate the world from the destructive forces and illusions of Luukos to restore peace and harmony.

Living as we do in the stark barrenness of a mortal landscape, we often forget the potency that lies just beneath the surface. It is easy to see the world as something apart from ourselves; as a solid and enduring object with finite constraints. But by accessing the pathways created by our conscious connection to the Palurin Fea, our own aura can sense places of power in the world; sanctuaries, where deeper layers of meaning are just waiting to be tapped. We can begin to see that the world and ourselves are more powerful than we realised. This concept of connecting ourselves to the Palurin Fea does not necessarily need to be done through Communion, it can be achieved through an inner transformation but only by those who make a real commitment to a journey – not unlike that undertaken by Voln initiates along the Path to Enlightenment. It is important to remember that an inner journey undertaken separately from the whole is not a real journey; it is just another illusion created by an ego that wishes to protect itself.

The substance of our own soul is part of the rich fabric of life, the tapestry of creation in which are woven the angels and demons of our imaginations as well as the wonders of our elven cities and horrors of the extraplanar. The recent acts of terror in the Turamzzyrian Empire have once again brought darkness into our lives and we feel that there is nowhere safe from the shadows. We do not need to be victims to these nightmares. The light of the Palurin Fea is waiting to be drawn on to connect us with the inner powers that belong to life itself. And, as the alchemists understand, by drawing on this light and channeling the real magic from within, we can work to overcome the dark, and creatively participate in changing the dreams that define our collective lives.

* Literal translation from elvish into common is Spirit of the World or the World's Soul

'''Addendum: On Vissi and the Fragmentation of the World's Soul'''

Published on the 22nd day of Lumnea in the year 5126

Recent accounts from a different plane of existence called Nyessem speak of a substance called [[Vissi system|vissi]]: remnants drawn from what their practitioners describe as the ur'vissi, the deeper essence that we Elanthians call the soul. These remnants are said to contain impressions of memory, instinct, desire, experience, and even aspects of personality. More remarkably still, they may persist independently of the individual from whom they originated and can influence those who later come into possession of them. To the spiritual alchemist, these reports are both fascinating and troubling.

If the Palurin Fea is indeed the World's Soul, then each individual soul must be understood as a thread woven into that greater tapestry. The experiences of a lifetime do not emerge in isolation but arise through continuous participation in the living fabric of creation. Every joy, sorrow, triumph, fear, and revelation contributes to the evolving dream of the world itself. The existence of vissi suggests that these experiences may leave durable impressions upon the soul, impressions capable of being separated from their source. This possibility lends support to the notion that memory and meaning are not confined solely to the mind, but are woven into the deeper spiritual substance that underlies all life.

Yet herein lies a profound concern.

The journey toward enlightenment is not merely the accumulation of experiences, but their integration into a harmonious whole. The soul matures through the reconciliation of contradiction: light and shadow, suffering and hope, instinct and reason. To remove fragments from that process risks treating the soul as a collection of parts rather than an indivisible expression of life. If a memory, desire, fear, or instinct can be extracted and isolated, what becomes of the balance from which it was taken? Can a fragment truly be separated without diminishing the greater whole? And if such fragments are exchanged, collected, or manipulated by others, does this not risk severing the sacred relationship between the individual soul and the Palurin Fea itself?

Particularly troubling are reports that some of these remnants possess awareness and may guide or influence their bearers. Such accounts raise uncomfortable questions. Are these merely echoes of consciousness, or do they represent genuine splinters of a once-unified spirit? If they are capable of exerting influence, then one must ask whether they serve the growth of the soul or merely the perpetuation of a single isolated impulse detached from the wisdom of the whole.

The Palurin Fea teaches that meaning emerges through connection. A single thread may be beautiful, but its purpose is found within the tapestry. A single note may be pleasing, but it is the symphony that gives it context. Likewise, a soul cannot be fully understood through its fragments alone. For this reason, spiritual alchemists should approach such practices with caution. The study of vissi may offer valuable insight into the hidden architecture of memory and identity, and perhaps even provide evidence supporting the existence of the deeper spiritual substance that permeates all things. Yet wisdom demands that we distinguish between understanding the soul and dividing it.

Among the known vissi to date, few present a more troubling ethical challenge than the one referred to as the Soul Harvester. If reports are accurate, this remnant grants its bearer the ability to seize and retain fragments of spiritual essence that would otherwise continue their natural journey. Such an art stands in stark opposition to the principles of the Palurin Fea, which teaches that all souls are participants in a greater cycle of "becoming". The harvesting of souls transforms what should be a sacred passage into an act of possession. It substitutes stewardship with ownership and reverence with control. The moral danger lies not merely in the taking, but in the assumption that one being possesses the right to claim dominion over another's spiritual destiny. If each soul is a thread within the World's Soul, then to sever and retain those threads for personal gain is to place individual desire above the harmony of the whole.

The tragedy of [[Velathae]] revealed almost two decades ago offers perhaps the clearest warning against the fragmentation and possession of souls. The tales preserved by the [[Of Crows and Journals|spectral crows]], the recovered journals, and the memories of the village's dead all point toward a single, terrible lesson: noble intentions do not sanctify immoral means. The twelve scholars who journeyed from Nydds sought to overcome mortality through a legendary talisman promising eternal life. Yet their pursuit led not to enlightenment, but to ruin, as the power they uncovered demanded ever greater spiritual sacrifice and transformed its seekers into instruments of suffering.

The figure remembered in Velathae's nursery rhymes as the Soul Harvester has become a symbol of this corruption. Children once warned one another of "the Soul Harvester" who reaped souls beneath the watchful gaze of black crows, a memory that endured long after the village itself was destroyed. The persistence of that warning suggests that the true horror was not death alone, but the deliberate claiming and retention of souls that should have been free to continue their natural passage.

From the perspective of the Palurin Fea, the Soul Harvester's greatest transgression was the belief that mortality was a flaw to be conquered rather than a necessary part of the soul's journey. In seeking permanence for the self, he denied the sacred cycle through which wisdom returns to the World's Soul. The destruction of Velathae and the lingering unrest of its spirits stood as testimony to the consequences of that error. The village's dead struggled to remember the fullness of what befell them, trapped between remembrance and oblivion, their fate serving as a grim reminder that attempts to dominate the soul often leave only fragments behind.

This tale serves as a warning: the soul was never meant to be harvested. It was meant to grow, to change, and ultimately to return its accumulated wisdom to the greater tapestry from which it came. The light of the Palurin Fea shines most clearly through its "wholeness". Any art that encourages fragmentation, however subtle, risks obscuring that light and replacing communion with possession, integration with acquisition, and wisdom with curiosity untethered from responsibility.

In seeking to understand the soul we must take care not to lose sight of the Palurin Fea to which all things on Elanthia belong. Further research into vissi will hopefully answer some of the questions raised and, in time, determine if these concerns are unfounded.

Rohese (prime)

2026-06-22T09:14:09Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Player-Created Storylines */

{{characterprofile
|name= Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree
|image= [[File:Rohese_Midjourneyv1.png|thumbnail|center|Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI]]
|caption= She conquers, who endures.
|race= Elf
|culture= Illistim
|class=
|profession= Loremaster of Mist Harbor<br> High Priestess of Lumnis
|affiliations= [[The Unending Circle]]<br>[[House Sylvanfair]]<br>[[Elanthian Elegance]]<br>[[The Looking Glass]]
|word= Demure
|disposition= Compassionate
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength= Love
|weakness= Children
|habits= Biting her lip
|hobbies= Reading and painting<br>Horseriding and falconry
|soft=
|likes= Tea and tranquility
|dislikes= Bad manners
|fears= The dark and her sister ([[Poladra (Prime)|Poladra]])
|loyalties=
|friend= Corlyne Anduin and Lucraine
|spouse= [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk Timbertree of Bourth]] m 5121<br>Sighisoara Timsh'l Vaalor m 5104 - 5118 (widowed)
|instance= Prime
|town= Ta'Illistim
|town2= Mist Harbor
}}
[[File:Rohese by tymelorde.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rohese, as portrayed by [[Tymelorde]].]]

'''Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree''' is an [[elven]] [[cleric|High Priestess]] of [[Lumnis]] from [[Ta'Illistim]].

Rohese is currently Loremaster of [[Mist Harbor]], Chatelaine of both [[House Sylvanfair]] and [[Elanthian Elegance]], a non-official Board Member of [[The Looking Glass]], and Editor-in-Chief of [[Elanthian Vogue]]. She is also a Master in the [[Order of Voln]] and a Grandmaster Alchemist in the [[Cleric Guild]].

==Appearance==
You see Loremaster Rohese Bayvel Illistim.<br>
She appears to be an Elf.<br>
She is taller than average with a slender willowy form. She appears to be of a tender age. She has silver-lashed misty grey eyes and preternaturally pale skin. She has lustrous, cool silver hair streaming over her shoulders and down her back like a moonlit waterfall. She has slender ears peeking through her hair that taper to fine points. Her composed expression has a sense of scholarly authority despite her youthful, fey-like appearance. She has constellations of iridescent shimmer traced along her right cheekbone.<br>
She has a cascade of tiny silver stars tattooed over her right eyebrow that fades into her hairline, and an inking of a faint star constellation on her neck.<br>
She has occasional faint traces of text flowing beneath her visible skin.<br>

She is wearing a moon-filled eonake pendant, a vaalin-shot moon grey silk robe trailing silver star-caught pendant sleeves, a wedding band of midnight-tinted glaes trailing across the left ring finger, an adularescent pale opal ring, some lattice-fronted white silk robes trailing sleeves of ombred grey chiffon, and some conjoined ring footflower sandals.

Rohese's appearance is influenced by the full Liabo moon.

Through a shimmering silvery grey haze, you see a Lunar Arcanist of Cysaegir with faintly luminous misty grey eyes. Fading in and out of sight, pale moonbeams fancifully float to and fro around her illuminated figure, which is covered in a wash of silvery white moonlight.

'''Constellation''': ''Five tiny stars configured in the shape of a W have been discreetly tattooed on the side of her neck with faintly shimmering silver ink, the pattern barely visible against her pale skin. One star however appears slightly brighter than the rest and cleverly conceals a small crescent-shaped scar on her throat.''<br>

==Background==
Born in [[Ta'Illistim]] in the spring of 5012, Rohese is the second daughter to Lord Tymian and Lady Aenor Bayvel. Her formative years were spent studying with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], and books continue to be constant companion and means of escape. She can usually be found in the library or her research conservatory in the Royal Arboretum.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">The best things in life are those that are nearest: breath in your body, light in your eyes, love in your heart, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand and the path of right before you.</div></pre>

Friends and family are everything to Rohese. She is very proud of her culture and lineage and will often disappear for days to study. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, she enjoys spending time with her husband, [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk]], or honing her skills as an alchemist and artist. Her outdoor pursuits extend to horse riding and falconry, with occasional forays into woodlands and forests as part of her research into the sentience of trees.

A recent discovery about her paternal grandmother's book (see treasured possessions) has seen her renew her relationship with her grandfather, [[Eairion]] Bayvel II, and cousins on both sides of her family, Lorestel Bayvel and [[Vincien (prime)|Vincien Illithien]].

Rohese's official residence is the Bayvel family home in Highpark, Ta'Illistim but she spends most of her time in her marital home, the [[Arboreal Refuge]] in [[Cysaegir]].

==Recent Influences==
Rohese was awarded the title of Patron of the Displaced in 5116 for her work in helping exiled half-elves find comfort, shelter, food and protection in the [[Elven Nations]]. She continues to seek ways to help those in need whenever she can.

In 5117, she undertook several journeys around the [[Turamzzyrian Empire]] at the request of the [[Argent Mirror]], with a view to extending further aid. Her experiences were documented in a journal entitled, [[A Difficult Journey]].

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.</div></pre>

Early in 5118, Rohese went missing on one of those diplomatic missions. The Argent Mirror held a [[5118-08-19 - Ta'Illistim - Lady Rohese is Missing - Delegation Meeting | Meeting]] on Day 9 Phoenatos, 5118 to discuss her disappearance and the continuance of the original delegation's goals. The efforts to find her and bring her home were documented in a second journal, entitled, [[A Healing Process]].

The diplomatic work culminated in an historic event at the [[Valley of Gold]] in Lumnea 5119, where the Emperor and Mirror signed a treaty between their people that would declare mutual respect and friendship between the nations. Rohese was subsequently awarded an elven jewel for leadership (a white diamond rimmed in gold) in recognition of her service to House Illistim.

During the events known as [[The Nazhor Chronicles]] on the Isle of Four Winds, Rohese discovered an interest in witchcraft and bibliomancy. Her experiences were recorded in a third journal entitled, [[Eternal Knowledge]]. She has since been offered the position of Loremaster to the Mist Harbor Library and completed a fourth journal documenting her [[Search for the Truth]] behind her grandmother's book and ring.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic"</div></pre>

More recently, Rohese and Mirkk joined the annual Bayvel [[The Hunt (short story)|Hunt]] in the fall of 5122 and, later in the same year, following the revocation of [[Chaston's Edict]] and establishment of the new Barony of Darkstone, they both found themselves increasingly drawn into imperial matters on both sides of the [[Dragonspine Mountains]]. Rohese documented her own personal struggle in a journal she entitled, [[Catharsis (short story)|Catharsis]].

5123 culminated in a reunion with her estranged sister, Poladra, and a [[The Reckoning (short story)|reckoning]] that ended tragically. Despite Rohese now being free of her sister's tyranny, however, the final warning Poladra had given her soon came true; Mirkk returned to Bourth and Rohese found herself alone. During that time, she continued to write in her [[Liminality (short story)|journal]].

==Treasured Possessions==

===an avian-crested signet ring===
Rohese's crest has been amended to reflect her status as a widow; the flourish of ink-black curlicues adopted from her paternal grandmother. It has also been honored with an elven jewel recognising her acts of leadership.

''Engraved with a crest, the face of the signet ring has been depressed slightly, leaving a raised but unbroken gold circle encompassing a field of sky blue enamel and honored with a gold-rimmed flawless white diamond. Beneath the arch is a peacock, set over a white dove rising on the vale, both birds accented by a flourish of three ink-black curlicues. Flanking on both sides are a curling acantha leaf and a trio of silver stars. Small engraved elven letters cross through the center of the crest.''<br>
''There appears to be something written on it.''

''In the Elven language, it reads:''
''She conquers, who endures.''

===a pavonated leather-bound book===
Rohese is never without her grandmother's special book (Codex Ista):

''A quire of creamy vellum has been neatly bound in faded blue leather and embossed with a stargazer lily on the front. Thin bookmarks and slips of annotated parchment protrude from the top of the well-thumbed pages, marking passages of significant relevance to the reader. The title, “Deportment and Decorum,” can still be made out on the distressed spine in gold leaf along with the name of the author, “Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim.”''

Whilst many copies have been made for public libraries and private collections, the book in her possession is essentially the original text as written by her grandmother. The book is a palimpsest; beneath the innocuous rhetoric on etiquette and protocol is a far more potent source of wisdom. Sahese Bayvel was in fact a powerful [[Sorcerer | white witch]] who bequeathed her knowledge to Rohese in two layers. Initially, she passed on her insights into deportment and decorum through the basic text within the book but wished her granddaughter to also gain a wider understanding of the arcane power she was capable of.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff"> a pavonated leather-bound book</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
'''raise'''
1st Person: Holding the book up to your face, you attempt to ignore the goings-on around you. Curiosity gets the better of you and you can't resist a quick peek.
3rd Person: Rohese holds her book up close to her face, pretending to ignore the goings-on around her. Occasionally, she sneaks a quick peek over the top.

'''flip'''
1st Person: You thumb carefully through the pages of your book until you find the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with your finger as you read it, you ponder the content for a moment before giving a nod of approval.
3rd Person: Rohese thumbs carefully through the pages of her book until she finds the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with her finger as she reads it, she looks deep in thought for a moment before giving a nod of approval.

'''push'''
1st Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on your head, you stand with practiced poise and take a few graceful steps forward. Feeling the book wobble slightly, you remove it before it has a chance to fall.
3rd Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on her head, Rohese stands with practiced poise and takes a few graceful steps forward. Just as the book begins to wobble, she removes it before it has a chance to fall.

'''tap'''
1st Person: Pursing your lips in disapproval and drawing yourself up to full height, you tap the cover of your leather-bound book hoping to draw attention to its title.
3rd Person: Pursing her lips and drawing herself up to full height, Rohese's fingernails tap agitatedly on the cover of her leather-bound book. With a steely glint in her eye, she glances pointedly at the title and tightens her grip on the spine.

'''tilt'''
1st Person: Gazing intently at your book, you contemplate the importance of etiquette and education... of fancy gowns and fairies. Lost in thought, you notice that you seem to be eating your hair again!
3rd Person: Rohese looks totally engrossed in her book as she absently nibbles on the end of a lock of hair.

'''turn'''
1st Person: Lost for words, you frantically turn the pages of your book in search of an appropriate response. All you can manage is an indignant, "Foof!"
3rd Person: Rohese frantically turns the pages of her book in search of an appropriate response but all she can manage are barely audible squeaks and an indignant, "Foof!"

'''wave'''
1st Person: In a fit of pique, you lift your book as if about to swipe at someone. Quickly realizing the error of your ways, you flush with embarrassment and lower your arm.
3rd Person: In a momentary fit of pique, Rohese lifts her book as if to take a swipe at someone. She quickly lowers her arm, however, with an abashed look on her face.

'''touch'''
1st Person: Removing a thin stylus from the spine of your book, you make a small annotation in the page margin, then carefully replace it.
3rd Person: Poised and calm, Rohese removes a thin stylus from the spine of her book and makes a small annotation in the page margin, then replaces it.

'''lace'''
1st Person: Lacing your fingers together, you cradle the book in your hands and murmur a short prayer of remembrance. Whispers of familiar spoken passages fill your ears and faint lines of text seem to run just under your skin, rising to the surface like bubbles on a pond, only to dissolve.
3rd Person: Lacing her fingers, Rohese cradles her book reverently in her hands and murmurs a few words under her breath. Faint lines of text appear to swirl beneath her pale skin for a moment, only to dissolve again just as quickly.

'''kiss'''
1st Person: Bringing your book to your lips, you whisper the word "wisdom" into its pages. Faint letters rise to the surface of your exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
3rd Person: Rohese lifts her book to her lips and whispers something. Faint letters rise to the surface of her exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
</pre></div>

===an adularescent pale opal ring===
With the discovery of her grandmother's ring, Rohese has since learned how to access the effaced writing of the Codex Ista.

''Flanked by a vaalin crescent and a trio of tiny silver stars, a notably large oval-cut opal sits atop a band of white gold. Flaunting a milky white body, the remarkable stone is semi-opaque and shows a play of iridescent color with flashes of silver and blue across its glassy surface. The engraving on the inside of the band has worn away somewhat but is still legible.
Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic.''

===a moon-filled eonake pendant===

''Long strands of silver and eonake have been twisted together in a double rope pattern to create a sturdy, but elegant, neckchain. Four unembellished rings situated side-by-side dangle from the centermost point of the metal strands. All four rings contain a small glowing sphere that appears to spin slowly. A bloodrune rests atop the four moons, secured by a luminescent, crimson-hued thread.''

===a glass peacock eye pendant===
She also wears her mother's pendant which has a [[loresong]] related to her background:

''Strung on tangled electrum threads, this large oval-shaped pendant is crafted from brilliant emerald green glass. A spherical dark-hued lapis lazuli stone flecked with gold has been fused in the center of the glass, creating the illusion of a peacock eye.''

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mypendant" style="color:#0000ff"> a glass peacock eye pendant</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mypendant">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
Gold motes stir within the pendant's eye as your song evokes memories of an elven childhood. Beneath a cloudless lapis blue sky, two young girls chase each other around a cottonwood tree laden with fluffy white catkins. A gentle breeze ruffles their silvery blonde hair and sends a flurry of seeds around them as they laugh and play. Their glee is interrupted only by the entrance of an elegant woman, her glass pendant glinting in the sunlight. She extends her arms and both children rush into her embrace.

[Cappyn's eyes turn a dazzling lapis blue as she sings to her peacock eye pendant. A sudden warm breeze brings with it a flurry of fluffy white cottonwood seeds and the faint echo of children's laughter.]

Your song falters as the gold motes flicker and fade like a dying candle flame. Images of harmonious family life flood your mind until one scene lingers. Decades have passed and the joyous sounds of laughter have been replaced by a somber mood. Clad in black, an elven cleric stares dolefully out of a library window, his fingers locked around a glass pendant. With a mournful sigh, he settles his gaze on his two teary eyed daughters and hands the pendant to the eldest before walking away without a word.

[A solitary tear rolls down Cappyn's cheek as she struggles to sing to her peacock eye pendant. The coo of a nearby mourning dove adds a doleful counterpoint to her melody.]

The pendant's eye darkens with your new refrain but pulsates with a ghostly blue radiance. With each waning pulse, a velvety shroud of darkness shifts to reveal a towering glowbark tree. A willowy young elf is kneeling before her black-robed sister, who clutches a glass pendant tightly in her clawed hand. The elf lifts her head as if to accompany the eerie ballad of the nearby sirenflowers, but all she can manage is a grief-stricken silence. The incandescence fades and with it the heart wrenching image

[Cappyn's eyes cloud over with a ghostly blue haze as she continues to sing to her peacock eye pendant. For a brief moment, she is accompanied by the eerie whispering lilt of sirenflowers.]

At first it seems your song may fail, but your phrasing subtly transforms into a dirge and lifts the shroud again to reveal a mausoleum. A black-robed elf with ashen hair stands over a linden casket. Her expression shows no emotion as she places a glass pendant onto the lid and leaves. Moments later, a willowy elf steps from the shadows to retrieve it. Tucking it carefully it into her white robes, she replaces it with a purple mournbloom. A distant peacock's scream startles you back to present day.

[The peacock eye pendant in Cappyn's hand flashes with a sapphire blue radiance as her song subtly transforms into a dirge and ends abruptly with a distant peacock scream. An unexpected breeze brings with it the melancholy fragrance of mournblooms.]
</pre></div>

==Written Works==
A collection of philosophical essays, books and publications written by members of the Bayvel family.

[[Essential Etiquette Handbook (essay)|Deportment and Decorum: The Essential Etiquette Handbook]] by Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim

[[A Brief History of Horology (essay)|A Brief History of Horology]] by Eairion Bayvel Illistim II

[[Elanthian Viniculture (essay)|Elanthian Viniculture]] by Tymian Bayvel Illistim

[[Palurin Fea (essay)|An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A spiritual alchemist's perspective of the world's soul"]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Effective Altruism (essay)|Effective Altruism: A discourse on our moral obligation to help others]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Unfinished Lullaby (essay)|The Unfinished Lullaby]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Isle of Graces]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity (essay)|Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta (essay)|The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society (essay)|Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective (essay)|The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the [[Festival of Lumnea 2020|Festival of Lumnea]] Symposium, 5120

[[Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi (essay)|Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the Ilyan Syndicate's [[Ilyan Syndicate/Autumn on the Mountain|Autumn on the Mountain]] Cultural Talk, 5122

[[The Five Sisters (short story)]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|The Sentience of Trees]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Elanthian Vogue]] ~ articles written and edited by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Corpse Bird (poetry)]] by Rohese Bayvel

==Player-Created Storylines==
Journal #1 - [[A_Difficult_Journey_(short_story)|"A Difficult Journey"]]

Journal #2 - [[A_Healing_Process_(short_story)|"A Healing Process"]]

Journal #3 - [[Eternal_Knowledge_(short_story)|"Eternal Knowledge"]]

Journal #4 - [[Search_for_the_Truth_(short_story)|"Search for the Truth"]]

Journal #5 - [[The_Reckoning_(short_story)|"The Reckoning"]]

'''[[/Forgotten Ink|Forgotten Ink]]''' - Short interactive story set in Ta'Illistim starting in 5125

Palurin Fea (essay)

2026-06-22T09:11:01Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = '''An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A Spiritual Alchemist's Perspective of the World's Soul"''' | type = essay | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2017-03-09}}

First published on the 11th day of Jastatos in the year 5116

The Palurin Fea* is not just a philosophical concept; it is a spiritual substance within us and all around us. Just as our own soul pervades our bodies, thoughts and feelings, the Palurin Fea is present within everything. Its essence encompasses all of creation and is a unifying principle in our world, connecting all life together and forming a bond to the universe as a whole. It is a manifestation of all our hopes, dreams, and deepest imaginings. It is the home of: collective memories, the archetypes that define our lives, the potential source from which spiritual magic draws its power, and where formative ideas take shape.

When we become isolated or cut-off from our own soul, we are denied conscious access to the guidance and intelligence of the Palurin Fea; to its "light" or source. Our lives become meaningless and without purpose; we become an animation or "walking shadow" of our former selves. When we reconnect with our soul and that of the world – be that through Meditation, Restoration or Resurrection - the flows of magic are restored and our spirit well is refilled; our lives have substance again.

The ultimate goal of the true spiritual alchemist it to access the source hidden deep within all things and liberate creation. Through essential oneness and skillful manipulation of magic, the very essence of our soul can act as a catalyst to ignite the spark of consciousness and activate life's energy. This energy has the power to change the pattern of creation and, in turn, create the shape of the future; perhaps even liberate the world from the destructive forces and illusions of Luukos to restore peace and harmony.

Living as we do in the stark barrenness of a mortal landscape, we often forget the potency that lies just beneath the surface. It is easy to see the world as something apart from ourselves; as a solid and enduring object with finite constraints. But by accessing the pathways created by our conscious connection to the Palurin Fea, our own aura can sense places of power in the world; sanctuaries, where deeper layers of meaning are just waiting to be tapped. We can begin to see that the world and ourselves are more powerful than we realised. This concept of connecting ourselves to the Palurin Fea does not necessarily need to be done through Communion, it can be achieved through an inner transformation but only by those who make a real commitment to a journey – not unlike that undertaken by Voln initiates along the Path to Enlightenment. It is important to remember that an inner journey undertaken separately from the whole is not a real journey; it is just another illusion created by an ego that wishes to protect itself.

The substance of our own soul is part of the rich fabric of life, the tapestry of creation in which are woven the angels and demons of our imaginations as well as the wonders of our elven cities and horrors of the extraplanar. The recent acts of terror in the Turamzzyrian Empire have once again brought darkness into our lives and we feel that there is nowhere safe from the shadows. We do not need to be victims to these nightmares. The light of the Palurin Fea is waiting to be drawn on to connect us with the inner powers that belong to life itself. And, as the alchemists understand, by drawing on this light and channeling the real magic from within, we can work to overcome the dark, and creatively participate in changing the dreams that define our collective lives.

* Literal translation from elvish into common is Spirit of the World or the World's Soul

'''Addendum: On Vissi and the Fragmentation of the World's Soul'''

Published on the 22nd day of Lumnea in the year 5126

Recent accounts from a different plane of existence called Nyessem speak of a substance called [[Vissi system|vissi]]: remnants drawn from what their practitioners describe as the ur'vissi, the deeper essence that we Elanthians call the soul. These remnants are said to contain impressions of memory, instinct, desire, experience, and even aspects of personality. More remarkably still, they may persist independently of the individual from whom they originated and can influence those who later come into possession of them. To the spiritual alchemist, these reports are both fascinating and troubling.

If the Palurin Fea is indeed the World's Soul, then each individual soul must be understood as a thread woven into that greater tapestry. The experiences of a lifetime do not emerge in isolation but arise through continuous participation in the living fabric of creation. Every joy, sorrow, triumph, fear, and revelation contributes to the evolving dream of the world itself. The existence of vissi suggests that these experiences may leave durable impressions upon the soul, impressions capable of being separated from their source. This possibility lends support to the notion that memory and meaning are not confined solely to the mind, but are woven into the deeper spiritual substance that underlies all life.

Yet herein lies a profound concern.

The journey toward enlightenment is not merely the accumulation of experiences, but their integration into a harmonious whole. The soul matures through the reconciliation of contradiction: light and shadow, suffering and hope, instinct and reason. To remove fragments from that process risks treating the soul as a collection of parts rather than an indivisible expression of life. If a memory, desire, fear, or instinct can be extracted and isolated, what becomes of the balance from which it was taken? Can a fragment truly be separated without diminishing the greater whole? And if such fragments are exchanged, collected, or manipulated by others, does this not risk severing the sacred relationship between the individual soul and the Palurin Fea itself?

Particularly troubling are reports that some of these remnants possess awareness and may guide or influence their bearers. Such accounts raise uncomfortable questions. Are these merely echoes of consciousness, or do they represent genuine splinters of a once-unified spirit? If they are capable of exerting influence, then one must ask whether they serve the growth of the soul or merely the perpetuation of a single isolated impulse detached from the wisdom of the whole.

The Palurin Fea teaches that meaning emerges through connection. A single thread may be beautiful, but its purpose is found within the tapestry. A single note may be pleasing, but it is the symphony that gives it context. Likewise, a soul cannot be fully understood through its fragments alone. For this reason, spiritual alchemists should approach such practices with caution. The study of vissi may offer valuable insight into the hidden architecture of memory and identity, and perhaps even provide evidence supporting the existence of the deeper spiritual substance that permeates all things. Yet wisdom demands that we distinguish between understanding the soul and dividing it.

Among the known vissi to date, few present a more troubling ethical challenge than the one referred to as the Soul Harvester. If reports are accurate, this remnant grants its bearer the ability to seize and retain fragments of spiritual essence that would otherwise continue their natural journey. Such an art stands in stark opposition to the principles of the Palurin Fea, which teaches that all souls are participants in a greater cycle of "becoming". The harvesting of souls transforms what should be a sacred passage into an act of possession. It substitutes stewardship with ownership and reverence with control. The moral danger lies not merely in the taking, but in the assumption that one being possesses the right to claim dominion over another's spiritual destiny. If each soul is a thread within the World's Soul, then to sever and retain those threads for personal gain is to place individual desire above the harmony of the whole.

The tragedy of [[Velathae]] almost two decades ago offers perhaps the clearest warning against the fragmentation and possession of souls. The tales preserved by the [[Of Crows and Journals|spectral crows]], the recovered journals, and the memories of the village's dead all point toward a single, terrible lesson: noble intentions do not sanctify immoral means. The twelve scholars who journeyed from Nydds sought to overcome mortality through a legendary talisman promising eternal life. Yet their pursuit led not to enlightenment, but to ruin, as the power they uncovered demanded ever greater spiritual sacrifice and transformed its seekers into instruments of suffering.

The figure remembered in Velathae's nursery rhymes as the Soul Harvester has become a symbol of this corruption. Children once warned one another of "the Soul Harvester" who reaped souls beneath the watchful gaze of black crows, a memory that endured long after the village itself was destroyed. The persistence of that warning suggests that the true horror was not death alone, but the deliberate claiming and retention of souls that should have been free to continue their natural passage.

From the perspective of the Palurin Fea, the Soul Harvester's greatest transgression was the belief that mortality was a flaw to be conquered rather than a necessary part of the soul's journey. In seeking permanence for the self, he denied the sacred cycle through which wisdom returns to the World's Soul. The destruction of Velathae and the lingering unrest of its spirits stood as testimony to the consequences of that error. The village's dead struggled to remember the fullness of what befell them, trapped between remembrance and oblivion, their fate serving as a grim reminder that attempts to dominate the soul often leave only fragments behind.

This tale serves as a warning: the soul was never meant to be harvested. It was meant to grow, to change, and ultimately to return its accumulated wisdom to the greater tapestry from which it came. The light of the Palurin Fea shines most clearly through its "wholeness". Any art that encourages fragmentation, however subtle, risks obscuring that light and replacing communion with possession, integration with acquisition, and wisdom with curiosity untethered from responsibility.

In seeking to understand the soul we must take care not to lose sight of the Palurin Fea to which all things on Elanthia belong. Further research into vissi will hopefully answer some of the questions raised and, in time, determine if these concerns are unfounded.

House Sylvanfair

2026-06-11T13:35:16Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

[[File:House sylvanfair.jpg|170px|thumb|right]]

{| align="right" style="width: 26em; margin: 10px 1px 10px 10px; clear:both; background:#FFF;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
| align = center |
{| style="border: 2px {{{border-color|#aaa}}} solid; width: 100%; font-size: 95%; text-align: left;"
! colspan=3 style="white-space: nowrap; background-color: {{{background-color|#000000}}}; color: {{{color|#FFFFFF}}}; font-size: larger; text-align: center;" | Officer Roster
|- style="background-color: {{{background-color|#778BA5}}};"
! scope="col" style="padding: 0px 5px;" | Title
! scope="col" style="padding: 0px 5px;" | Officer Name
! scope="col" style="padding: 0px 5px;" | Position
|-
| '''Chatelaine'''
|[[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]
|Chair
|-
|'''Chancellor'''
|[[Elaejia (prime)|Elaejia Silithyr]]
|Co-Chair
|-
|'''Seneschal'''
|[[Lissaya (prime)|Lissaya Vaillancourt]]
|Treasurer
|-
|'''Scribe'''
|Louaryne Llywdwyg
|Secretary
|-
|'''Alder Guardian'''
|Corlandith
|Co-Treasurer
|-
|'''Rose Guardian'''
|''(vacant)''
|Co-Secretary
|-
|'''Rowan Guardian'''
|[[Aendir (prime)|Aendir Silithyr]]
|Co-Secretary
|-
|'''Birch Guardian'''
|''(vacant)''
|
|-
|'''Oak Guardian'''
|''(vacant)''
|
|}
|}
== Locations ==

House Sylvanfair is located on Airioch Lane, just off the South Ring Road in [[Wehnimer's Landing]].

The House currently has three annexes:

* [[Ta'Illistim]] ~ The '''[[Sylvanfair Manse | Manse]]''' is in the Oak Grove off the Sylvarraend Road (lich ID #10091). Lockers are upstairs and through the silvery grey haon door.

<pre{{log2}}>[Sylvanfair, Cobbled Courtyard]
High stone walls, covered in dark green ivy, surround a cobbled courtyard and conceal it from the forest without. Two benches sit on either side of a gated entrance, granting a view across a well-tended garden to the west and an orchard beyond. The air is filled with birdsong and rich with the smells of earth and leaf. The entire northeast corner is occupied by an '''oak-gabled grey stone manse''' with an imposing door that is flanked on either side by twisted lilac trees, creating a fragrant archway. You also see a heartwood donation box and a stack of shallow boxes containing freshly picked apples and plums.
Obvious paths: out</pre>

* [[Solhaven]] ~ The '''[[Sylvanfair Mews | Mews]]''' is on Tumbledown Lane (lich ID #1431). Lockers can be found in the Snug, accessed through the door in the Library.

<pre{{log2}}>[Solhaven, Tumbledown Lane]
Close to the bottom of the cliffs, the cobblestone street is somewhat level. A tidy row of stone cottages faces the bay, sunlight glinting on their glaes window panes. A well-dressed elven man walks by at a fast clip, his eyes glued to the pavement. You also see a '''slate-roofed umber brickwork mews''' and some broad flagstone steps.
Obvious paths: north

Formerly an old stable block, the small converted property is set back from the cobbled thoroughfare and constructed from dark weathered brickwork with a sloping, charcoal slate roof. Staggered glaes-paned windows give the building's facade a quirky but convivial appearance, and the top section of the rustic oak stable door has been left ajar to allow for convenient access. Nestled within creeping vines of variegated green and white ivy is a limestone plaque above a sheet of cream vellum.
>
In the Common language, it reads:

~*~ Tumbledown Mews ~*~
Education, Honor, Mutual Respect.
Founded by House Sylvanfair, Lormesta 5,118.</pre>

* [[Icemule Trace]] ~ The '''[[Sylvanfair Tower | Tower]]''' is located in the forest just outside the South Gate (lich ID #2494). Lockers can be found down the archway and through the Buttery door.

<pre{{log2}}>[Icemule Trace, Forest]
The air is still, heavy with the closeness of the spruce and fir trees. The movement of a bird or squirrel high above in the trees sends a cascade of snow from the upper branches down onto the path. You see '''a silver-rimed grey stone tower'''.
Obvious paths: north, south, west

Set back from the path, the imposing tower is sheltered from the elements by a dense thicket of needleleaf trees, their evergreen branches groaning under the weight of freshly fallen snow. A thin coating of silvery blue ice partially covers the exterior, dazzling the eye with its brilliance. The only hint of warmth in the wintry scene is the pale yellow light radiating from mullioned windows set high in the stone walls. By the entrance, a silver-cast plaque and some lacquered blue spruce needle wind chimes are nearly hidden by spruce branches.</pre>

== Map ==

'''Wehnimer's Landing'''<br>

[[File:House_Sylvanfair_Map.jpg]]

==Communication==

Reach out to your fellow House members in game using the thought network (ESP TUNE HOUSE).

House members are also welcome to join our Discord channel using this [https://discord.gg/ZQ4bRzM <span style="color:red">INVITATION</span>].

Please use your character name when joining to avoid being blocked or removed.

== Events ==

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="5"|Schedule of Traditional House Events
|-
!Event
!Date
! style="width: 60%"|Description
|-
|'''Kuon's Blessing'''
|1st Ivastaen (May)
|Marking the Day of Kuon's Blessing with a traditional prayer and exchange of nature's gifts in Sylvanfair's Grove (lich #21333).
|-
|'''Strawberry Fayre'''
|Lumnea (June)
|Get crafty with the juicy berry by knitting, weaving, baking, smelting, brewing or whatever else you can come up with to show off and share. Alternatively, simply come to pick some delicious berries to eat in the Grove (lich #21333) with friends.
|-
|'''Fashion Wars (as part of [[Elanthian Fashion Week]])'''
|Phoenatos (August)
|War has been declared on the unfashionable! Take on the elegant and infamous, or simply come and bear witness to the carnage, as the Ladies Airisu and Oirisu stand side-by-side with Veola, Estefan and Farain. Bring your own siegery miniatures – or borrow some of ours - and let battle commence on the Ta'Illistim Green (lich #24555)!
|-
|'''Turnleaf Fayre'''
|Imaerasta (September)
|A celebration of the changing seasons and turning of the leaves in the Sylvanfair Grove (lich #21333).
|}

===Turnleaf Fayre===
House Sylvanfair mark the changing of the seasons in Imaerasta with their Turnleaf Fayre. The Grove (lich #21333) is decorated and members of the House are encouraged to run workshops and games to commemorate the occasion. There is also the opportunity for everyone to share their love of Imaera through stories and poems around the fire.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">'''a shimmering autumn-hued leaf'''

Amber veins twist about the leaf which appears freshly fallen. Dark shades of red, russet, and gold accentuate the autumnal orange of the leaf, adding depth and character to this once living item. A light preservative of sap coats the leaf, giving it a slightly sticky feel.

'''TURN'''
As you turn your autumn-hued leaf, it shimmers briefly, reflecting a rich green shine, and a short and brisk breeze carries with it a faint scent of pine, heralded by musical chants welcoming the changing season, passing just as quickly as it had arrived.

As you turn your autumn-hued leaf, it shimmers briefly, reflecting a warm orange shine, and a hint of warm pumpkin pie tickles at your nostrils as a motherly hum of an old and familiar autumn tune is heard from no particular direction.

As you turn your autumn-hued leaf, it shimmers briefly, reflecting a vibrant red shine, and the scent of ripe apples fills the air for the briefest of moments, evoking images of rows upon rows of full apple trees in a vast orchard while pickers whistle a traditional picking ditty.

As you turn your autumn-hued leaf, it shimmers briefly, reflecting a warm orange shine, and a hint of warm pumpkin pie tickles at your nostrils as a motherly hum of an old and familiar autumn tune is heard from no particular direction.

'''LORESONG'''
As you sing, the vision of a small sapling in an unassuming bayside wood comes briefly to mind.

Continuing your song, you again see the sapling, though this time the vision is much sharper in your mind. The sapling is now a young tree, distinguishable from the hundreds of others in view in that it appears to have grown a bit faster and become a bit sturdier than all those that surround it.

Again your thoughts turn to the tree, vibrant images filling your field of vision as the song flies onward. Though the tree stands tall and majestic, only a few of its neighbors remain, as an army of lumberjacks clear away what was once the bayside wood. Other workers mount fitted logs nearby, erecting what looks to be the beginnings of a palisade.

As you bring your song to a close, the tree remains the focus of your vision, though the surroundings provide much distraction. A large marble dome rises above several buildings in the background, while a silver-spired building dominates the landscape to the right. The tree itself now accommodates what seems to be a structure within, as doors and windows are set into its mighty trunk. The great tree still stands, as healthy as ever, towering above all else in the vista with a brilliant display of foliage in dazzling autumn colors.</div></pre>

===Collectibles===
House Sylvanfair occasionally run a fun incentive scheme where everyone who participates in our events will be given a collectible door prize.

Participants will have two choices: to collect '''charms''' for a charm bracelet or '''games and toys''' for a neat case. If you missed out in previous years, you can pick up a bracelet or case at any of the events to start you off. The door prizes available will then be a choice of a charm for your bracelet or game for your case. There are a total of 20 different charms or games and toys available and, as before, House Sylvanfair members will automatically be given a bracelet or case on request and one charm or game of their choosing to get them started, so if you're interested in joining the House and want to have a head start, let us know!

We hope you'll join in and have fun collecting your prizes. Please don't hesitate to contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] (or any of the other officers) if you have any questions!

== Bylaws, Charter, Joining Information ==

'''Statement of Purpose'''<br>
House Sylvanfair is a group of citizens of Elanthia, dedicated to the promotion, education, and advancement of the young. House Sylvanfair is nonpolitical, and offers its members a place to meet with their younger companions in safety and comfort. In addition, roomy storage facilities and dining areas will be provided.

'''Statement of Governing'''<br>
Limited Autocratic: The Chairman has final authority and overall responsibility over the House's activities. He will be advised by a Parliament of voting members consisting of the Secretary, Treasurer, and five other members in good standing selected by the three House Officers.

Terms of Office: All offices are established for life. The length of term will be until the officer leaves the house or does not wish to be an officer any longer. An unfilled Chairman position will be immediately assumed by the Treasurer, failing that the Secretary will assume the Chairmanship. Unfilled positions of Treasurer or Secretary are appointed by the Chairman and the remaining officer.

'''Article I: Name'''<br>
The name of this officially recognized House of Elanthia is House Sylvanfair, hereinafter referred to as the "House".

'''Article II: Membership Services'''<br>
The following benefits follow the guidelines as those set forth by the local government unless otherwise noted. (ref. GemStone IV House System: Services)

1. Benefit of being an organization.<br>
2. Coat of Arms: There will be a registered Coat of Arms. (see Appendix "B").<br>
3. Storage Facility.<br>
* a. There will be a 50 item locker assigned to each member.
* b. There will be an Armory available to house members. They may place items in it for other house members to use, or take items from it for their own use. It is to be stocked by the house members.
4. Workshop. Workshops and classrooms will be available to house members for doing research, holding classes, and mentoring.<br>

'''Article III: Membership and Dues'''<br>
1. Membership in this House is contingent on compliance with requirements specified in these bylaws.<br>
2. Membership is restricted by minimum membership standards as set forth by the local government. (ref: GemStone III House System: Membership Requirements)<br>
3. Membership is unrestricted by consideration of nationality, race, creed, life-style, size, color, sex or age.<br>
4. Categories of membership in this House are General member, Lifetime member, and Founding member.
* a. General Member: A player who has met minimum House and government standards for membership. A General member is required to pay quarterly dues.
* b. Lifetime Member: A General member who has paid a one time sum and is no longer required to pay quarterly dues, as outlined in Section 7: Dues.
* c. Founding Member: An original member who joined together with other original members to form the house, before construction began. A Founding member is not necessarily a Lifetime member, and may have started as a General member.
5. Initiation:
* a. Before induction a player must have read and agreed to the GemStone IV House system.
* b. Before induction a player must have read and agreed to the House bylaws set forth here.
* c. Before induction of a player, the officers performing the induction will ensure that the player has read and understood the House bylaws and the GemStone IV House System and is in agreement with the policies set forth in those articles.
6. Termination:
* a. The Chairman may terminate a member for failure to meet membership requirements, provided the member was offered an opportunity to have a hearing if requested at which the member was permitted to defend against the termination.
* - i. Before a hearing is conducted a mailing to all members will be made with minimum of one week notice.
* - ii. No hearing will be conducted in the event of non-payment of delinquent dues (as described in Section 7: Dues).
* b. If terminated, a member may be allowed to rejoin by the Chairman after demonstrating eligibility for membership.
7. Dues:
* a. An initial membership offering as stipulated by the local government (currently 5000 silvers) this applies to all members. (ref. GemStone III House System: Membership requirements)
* b. Dues of 3000 silvers will be charged of all General members, the last month of each quarter. Quarters end on the last day of Jan, Apr, quarter. Quarters end on the last day of Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct.
* c. Lifetime Membership may be purchased for 60,000 silvers payable to the Treasurer at any time subject to approval by the Chairman.
* d. Quarterly dues are not required from Lifetime members.
* e. Dues may be paid to any house officer by each General member who has quarterly dues outstanding.
* - i. General members will receive a dues notice via E-Mail four weeks before the end of a quarter.
* f. Delinquency:
* - i. General members whose dues are not received by the last day of the quarter are notified via E-Mail that they are delinquent and will be terminated four weeks after such notification if back dues are not paid, and all privileges of the House will be withdrawn.
* - ii. General members who can not meet their dues or will not be around must make arrangements with the Chairman or Treasurer in advance to avoid automatic termination.

'''Article IV: Contributions'''<br>
1. Membership contributions to GENERAL FUNDS and ENDOWMENT will be considered donations to the House. Purpose of GENERAL FUNDS and ENDOWMENT: The General Funds can be drawn upon by the Treasurer for House expenses, House entertainment (parties), loans, etc. The Endowment can never be drawn on, but continues to grow in size. Its purpose is to accrue interest which is deposited into the General Funds.<br>
2. Members are not required to contribute to GENERAL FUNDS or ENDOWMENT.<br>
3. Contributions do not entitle a member to special privileges.<br>
4. Contributions will not be accepted in lieu of dues or loan payments.<br>
5. Contributions must be reported to the Treasurer so that possible discrepancies in the accounts (system) may be found and clarified.<br>
6. Members may contribute items and equipment to the Armory.<br>
7. Non-members sharing the goals of House Sylvanfair may make donations to the House via The Chairman and Treasurer. In gratitude a plaque will be erected in one of the rooms of the house for sufficiently large donations.<br>
* a. This provision is to ensure that those who share the Purpose of the house but for reasons of obligations are unable to join may contribute to the education of the young.

'''Article V: Rules and Regulations'''<br>
The Chairman will be the final judge on what constitutes non-compliance with these bylaws, under advisement by the Board of Voting Members.

'''Article VI: House Colors'''<br>
House Sylvanfair has chosen to represent itself at official functions under the colors of Black and Silver. Black was chosen to represent the traditional color of educators around many lands, and silver for the purity of our purpose.

'''Appendix A: Premise'''<br>
We, the potential members of House Sylvanfair, are dedicated members of the GemStone community. As such, we have all spent time with new characters in the game, teaching them many things it is difficult to discover on their own. GemStone is a wonderfully complicated environment, often overwhelming to the brand-new adventurer stumbling for the first time out of the blind alleyway.

Many of us have seen actions by new players that seem incomprehensible to anyone who has been playing for any amount of time. WE all know that the man telling you that going into Town Square Central and rubbing this really neat red crystal won't really heal anyone like he says it will... (This particular incident caused nine deaths.)

We can't catch them all. But what we CAN do is provide information, and a place to go ask questions, without bothering a GM with the endless repetitions of "What does THIS do?" and "How do I..." that deluge them every day. We hope that once we are established and word of House Sylvanfair established and word of House Sylvanfair spreads, many of the questions rookies wander into rooms and ask only to have them ignored will be answered with "Go ask Sylvanfair. Someone there will help you."

We plan to have regular classes on various subjects (taught by members of the House, with guest lecturers as we can get them), tours of the city and various hunting grounds, and many other activities.

In addition, each member of the House will be strongly encouraged to take on wards, younger characters that members will take a special interest in and require members to be helpful to new characters.
We are a young House. We are likely to remain a young house, bringing in members from those we started on their journeys in Elanthia. We hope to be a very visible group to the newest members of our community.

'''Appendix B: Coat of Arms'''<br>
A black Chief with three Crescent Moons. A silver Field with a Black Tree.

== Resources ==

*[[CHE Officer Guide]]
*[[Co-operative Houses of Elanthia]]
*[[House Sylvanfair/CHE 30th Anniversary Celebration Scavenger Hunt | CHE 30th Anniversary Celebration Scavenger Hunt]]

[[Category: CHE]]

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-06-02T13:20:21Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision also needed to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

That night, both Lucraine and Rivienne experienced unusual dreams that they shared with the group.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Lucraine'''<br>
Sleep takes you suddenly - too suddenly - and the world folds into darkness.

At first there is only breath: the soft exhale of an ancient tree stirring in windless air. Then shapes bloom from shadow. You stand beneath a vast glowbark, its trunk rising like a pillar of moonlit glass. Its leaves shimmer in slow pulses, exhaling soft blue motes that drift around you like falling embers.

A single leaf breaks loose. As it descends, your dream narrows into its veins, lines turning into ink strokes, ink strokes into frantic handwriting. You hear Maerion's voice, not spoken but remembered, desperate and resolute:

"...conceal the words...no eye may see them...save hers."

The page dissolves into ripples of black water. You are suddenly knee-deep in a dark pool, ink swirling at your feet like living smoke. At the centre floats a warped, waterlogged treatise, its pages breathing faintly, as though alive. The script won't hold still; glyphs run like startled insects, then vanish entirely.

From the far shore, two lights flare; one silver, one deep, abyssal blue.

The silver becomes a sigil, Saereth's: a twisted glaes chain drifting in the air, the faint traces of her spiritual magic spiraling outward like frost. The blue becomes a shard of black coral, pulsing with quiet warning. The two lights draw nearer, circling the book, not quite touching, always kept apart by some unseen boundary.

The glowbark's roots pulse beneath the water, and the pool rises, whispering syllables that feel older than language, older than the Watchers, older than the valences themselves.

A figure steps toward the treatise - reaching, hesitating - and just before you can see who it is, the dream fractures.

The glowbark leaf flares, and everything is pulled upward in a rushing wind of ink, light, and whispers.

You stir and are left with the echo of a heartbeat that is not your own; slow, ancient, and waiting.
</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Rivienne'''<br>
Sleep brings only a flicker: the silhouette of a towering glowbark, its leaves dimming one by one like vanishing stars. A warped book hangs suspended before it, dripping black ink that spreads across the ground in creeping lines. Two lights - silver and deep blue - circle it once, never touching. A whisper rises, thin as breath:

"Not all eyes may see...but all may watch."

You wake with the odd feeling of being observed.
</div></pre>

=== 14th day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Rohese and Lucraine visited the ruins of the Calelith Villa and made a few discoveries. Secreted under the mattress of the bed in the Master Bedroom was an eye-etched black coral amulet that matched the one found earlier in the Veythorne Manor. A search in the crates in the basement revealed another copy of the Enchiridion Valentia and a Shien'tyr runestone. They also discovered a waterlogged warped black tome with ink smeared pages. The contents were impossible to decipher but Lucraine was able to learn quite a lot through loresinging.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytome" style="color:#0000ff">The Tome Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytome">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The loresong opens with a low hum, like the whispered conversations in a library hall. You glimpse a writing desk illuminated by candlelight; inkpots, sheets of parchment, and a young elven scholar hunched possessively over a black leather tome. Though it currently lies shut on the desk, spectral letters and symbols drift above it in ghostly strands. A name echoes faintly in the air: Maerion Veythorne. His quill scratches not just text, but something deeper: structured symbols and diagrams with notations alongside hastily scribbled notes.

The melody sharpens, like footsteps approaching along a quiet corridor. Now a woman enters the hall: Saereth Calelith, a black coral amulet resting against the dark silk of her robe. She does not speak at first. The two bend together over the tome, exchanging nods and half-smiles. What they learn is not meant for common eyes. Saereth adds annotations of her own to his notes - elegant and angular - while Maerion adjusts some glyphs. Some pages are crumpled up and carelessly discarded, others folded neatly and slipped into a pocket.

The tone of the song grows heavier. Rain lashes against stone as the tome is hurriedly packed away; slipped into a satchel. A voice - urgent, female - whispers, "They're coming sooner than we thought." You hear shouts in the distance, doors slamming. The book is dropped. Water seeps in. The inked glyphs begin to smear, resisting until the final rune dissolves. The contents are lost but the tome is not destroyed. It waits in darkness, its words indecipherable but not silenced.

The final verse slows, the melody muted like something long buried. You see a set of careful hands brushing damp leaves and cobwebs from the tome's warped leather as its lifted from a crate. Its pages, though smeared beyond recognition, still hum faintly with magic; residual threads of research, diagrams, and sigils once used to reach beyond the veil. Whatever arcane secrets the tome once contained, it is lost forever.
</pre></div>

Both agreed that this tome was probably the treatise mentioned in Maerion's journal that had been taken from the Library Aies and concealed in the Villa.

Rohese offered to hand over their discoveries to Alawien who would then reach out to everyone to decide what to do.

=== 29th day of Ivastaen, 5126 ===
The afternoon sun filtered through the glass window of the Pagination, Reading Room, illuminating the faint sigil marks on the worn leather book.

Alawien stood silently beside the window, arms folded tightly across her chest. Rohese sat in a nearby chair, her fingertips resting lightly upon the book's cover.

"We have debated it for months," Rohese said gently. "Every argument for concealment was weighed against those for preservation and even destruction. In the end, we reached the same conclusion.”

Alawien's gaze remained fixed on the city beyond the glass. "That their story belongs to history?" she asked quietly.

"That history belongs to everyone," Rohese replied. "The journal reveals mistakes, certainly. Dangerous ambitions. But it also reveals truth. We cannot curate the past into comfort. If we suppress it, we become no different than those who sought to hide it in the first place."

"The Veythorne family may not agree."

"They may not," Rohese admitted. "But they deserve the truth of their ancestor. And so do the Caleliths."

At that, Alawien's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

"The Caleliths," she repeated.

Neither spoke for several moments.

Rohese looked toward her friend. "Whatever happened between Maerion and Saereth happened centuries ago. Their choices are not yours."

"No," Alawien said. "They are not." But something in her voice suggested she was not convinced.

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

That night, a sealed letter arrived in Rohese's mailbox.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Rohese,

By the time you read this, I will already be gone.

I understand the wisdom behind your collective decision, even if I cannot share it. You all see a historical record. You all see a duty to knowledge. I have spent my life as as Scribe in the Library Aies believing the same.

Yet every page of that journal carries the weight of two family names. One has already endured centuries of suspicion and exile. The other survives largely because its secrets remained buried.

You told me that the choices of Maerion and Saereth are not mine. Perhaps that is true. But neither can I stand idle while their mistakes become tomorrow's fascination or the subject of yet more speculation and gossip in the pages of the Peacock Gazette.

I do not intend to use or destroy the journal. But neither do I believe every truth must be displayed upon a shelf for curious minds.

Forgive me if you can.

Alawien Calelith</div></pre>

The sun had set by the time Alawien crossed the city. She wore a plain travelling cloak, the journal concealed safely within her satchel. No guards challenged her; Ta'Illistim seemed almost unwilling to notice her departure.

Hours later, far from the shining towers and marble bridges of her home, she stood before a pair of ancient doors. Above them, carved in the stone architrave, were the words: The Library of Biblia.

Alawien paused for a long moment, one hand resting atop the satchel containing the journal.

Then, without looking back, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

The corridors seemed endless.

Alawien wandered deeper into the Library of Biblia, passing seldom-visited alcoves and galleries where entire centuries appeared to have been abandoned to silence. The scent of old paper and dry leather hung thick in the still air.

At last she found what she had been seeking: a narrow shelf hidden behind rows of neglected histories and theological commentaries. Few would think to search there. Fewer still would know what they were looking for.

Carefully, she withdrew the journal from her satchel. For a moment she hesitated, her thumb tracing the faint indentation upon the worn cover. She thought of Maerion. Of Saereth. Of Rohese. Of the Library Aies and the glowbark tree standing watch over memories that refused to die. Then she slid the book into the empty space between two forgotten volumes.

Stepping back, Alawien whispered a brief prayer to Gosaena and lowered her hand. The journal disappeared into shadow, becoming just another forgotten book among thousands.

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|a foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-05-29T13:28:09Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* 29th day of Ivastaen, 5126 */

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision also needed to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

That night, both Lucraine and Rivienne experienced unusual dreams that they shared with the group.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Lucraine'''<br>
Sleep takes you suddenly - too suddenly - and the world folds into darkness.

At first there is only breath: the soft exhale of an ancient tree stirring in windless air. Then shapes bloom from shadow. You stand beneath a vast glowbark, its trunk rising like a pillar of moonlit glass. Its leaves shimmer in slow pulses, exhaling soft blue motes that drift around you like falling embers.

A single leaf breaks loose. As it descends, your dream narrows into its veins, lines turning into ink strokes, ink strokes into frantic handwriting. You hear Maerion's voice, not spoken but remembered, desperate and resolute:

"...conceal the words...no eye may see them...save hers."

The page dissolves into ripples of black water. You are suddenly knee-deep in a dark pool, ink swirling at your feet like living smoke. At the centre floats a warped, waterlogged treatise, its pages breathing faintly, as though alive. The script won't hold still; glyphs run like startled insects, then vanish entirely.

From the far shore, two lights flare; one silver, one deep, abyssal blue.

The silver becomes a sigil, Saereth's: a twisted glaes chain drifting in the air, the faint traces of her spiritual magic spiraling outward like frost. The blue becomes a shard of black coral, pulsing with quiet warning. The two lights draw nearer, circling the book, not quite touching, always kept apart by some unseen boundary.

The glowbark's roots pulse beneath the water, and the pool rises, whispering syllables that feel older than language, older than the Watchers, older than the valences themselves.

A figure steps toward the treatise - reaching, hesitating - and just before you can see who it is, the dream fractures.

The glowbark leaf flares, and everything is pulled upward in a rushing wind of ink, light, and whispers.

You stir and are left with the echo of a heartbeat that is not your own; slow, ancient, and waiting.
</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Rivienne'''<br>
Sleep brings only a flicker: the silhouette of a towering glowbark, its leaves dimming one by one like vanishing stars. A warped book hangs suspended before it, dripping black ink that spreads across the ground in creeping lines. Two lights - silver and deep blue - circle it once, never touching. A whisper rises, thin as breath:

"Not all eyes may see...but all may watch."

You wake with the odd feeling of being observed.
</div></pre>

=== 14th day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Rohese and Lucraine visited the ruins of the Calelith Villa and made a few discoveries. Secreted under the mattress of the bed in the Master Bedroom was an eye-etched black coral amulet that matched the one found earlier in the Veythorne Manor. A search in the crates in the basement revealed another copy of the Enchiridion Valentia and a Shien'tyr runestone. They also discovered a waterlogged warped black tome with ink smeared pages. The contents were impossible to decipher but Lucraine was able to learn quite a lot through loresinging.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytome" style="color:#0000ff">The Tome Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytome">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The loresong opens with a low hum, like the whispered conversations in a library hall. You glimpse a writing desk illuminated by candlelight; inkpots, sheets of parchment, and a young elven scholar hunched possessively over a black leather tome. Though it currently lies shut on the desk, spectral letters and symbols drift above it in ghostly strands. A name echoes faintly in the air: Maerion Veythorne. His quill scratches not just text, but something deeper: structured symbols and diagrams with notations alongside hastily scribbled notes.

The melody sharpens, like footsteps approaching along a quiet corridor. Now a woman enters the hall: Saereth Calelith, a black coral amulet resting against the dark silk of her robe. She does not speak at first. The two bend together over the tome, exchanging nods and half-smiles. What they learn is not meant for common eyes. Saereth adds annotations of her own to his notes - elegant and angular - while Maerion adjusts some glyphs. Some pages are crumpled up and carelessly discarded, others folded neatly and slipped into a pocket.

The tone of the song grows heavier. Rain lashes against stone as the tome is hurriedly packed away; slipped into a satchel. A voice - urgent, female - whispers, "They're coming sooner than we thought." You hear shouts in the distance, doors slamming. The book is dropped. Water seeps in. The inked glyphs begin to smear, resisting until the final rune dissolves. The contents are lost but the tome is not destroyed. It waits in darkness, its words indecipherable but not silenced.

The final verse slows, the melody muted like something long buried. You see a set of careful hands brushing damp leaves and cobwebs from the tome's warped leather as its lifted from a crate. Its pages, though smeared beyond recognition, still hum faintly with magic; residual threads of research, diagrams, and sigils once used to reach beyond the veil. Whatever arcane secrets the tome once contained, it is lost forever.
</pre></div>

Both agreed that this tome was probably the treatise mentioned in Maerion's journal that had been taken from the Library Aies and concealed in the Villa.

Rohese offered to hand over their discoveries to Alawien who would then reach out to everyone to decide what to do.

=== 29th day of Ivastaen, 5126 ===
The afternoon sun filtered through the glass window of the Pagination, Reading Room, illuminating the faint sigil marks on the worn leather book.

Alawien stood silently beside the window, arms folded tightly across her chest. Rohese sat in a nearby chair, her fingertips resting lightly upon the book's cover.

"We have debated it for months," Rohese said gently. "Every argument for concealment was weighed against those for preservation and even destruction. In the end, we reached the same conclusion.”

Alawien's gaze remained fixed on the city beyond the glass. "That their story belongs to history?" she asked quietly.

"That history belongs to everyone," Rohese replied. "The journal reveals mistakes, certainly. Dangerous ambitions. But it also reveals truth. We cannot curate the past into comfort. If we suppress it, we become no different than those who sought to hide it in the first place."

"The Veythorne family may not agree."

"They may not," Rohese admitted. "But they deserve the truth of their ancestor. And so do the Caleliths."

At that, Alawien's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

"The Caleliths," she repeated.

Neither spoke for several moments.

Rohese looked toward her friend. "Whatever happened between Maerion and Saereth happened centuries ago. Their choices are not yours."

"No," Alawien said. "They are not." But something in her voice suggested she was not convinced.

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

That night, a sealed letter arrived in Rohese's mailbox.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Rohese,

By the time you read this, I will already be gone.

I understand the wisdom behind your collective decision, even if I cannot share it. You all see a historical record. You all see a duty to knowledge. I have spent my life as as Scribe in the Library Aies believing the same.

Yet every page of that journal carries the weight of two family names. One has already endured centuries of suspicion and exile. The other survives largely because its secrets remained buried.

You told me that the choices of Maerion and Saereth are not mine. Perhaps that is true. But neither can I stand idle while their mistakes become tomorrow's fascination or the subject of yet more speculation and gossip in the pages of the Peacock Gazette.

I do not intend to use or destroy the journal. But neither do I believe every truth must be displayed upon a shelf for curious minds.

Forgive me if you can.

Alawien Calelith</div></pre>

The sun had set by the time Alawien crossed the city. She wore a plain travelling cloak, the journal concealed safely within her satchel. No guards challenged her; Ta'Illistim seemed almost unwilling to notice her departure.

Hours later, far from the shining towers and marble bridges of her home, she stood before a pair of ancient doors. Above them, carved in the stone architrave, were the words: The Library of Biblia.

Alawien paused for a long moment, one hand resting atop the satchel containing the journal.

Then, without looking back, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

The corridors seemed endless.

Alawien wandered deeper into the Library of Biblia, passing seldom-visited alcoves and galleries where entire centuries appeared to have been abandoned to silence. The scent of old paper and dry leather hung thick in the still air.

At last she found what she had been seeking: a narrow shelf hidden behind rows of neglected histories and theological commentaries. Few would think to search there. Fewer still would know what they were looking for.

Carefully, she withdrew the journal from her satchel. For a moment she hesitated, her thumb tracing the faint indentation upon the worn cover. She thought of Maerion. Of Saereth. Of Rohese. Of the Library Aies and the glowbark tree standing watch over memories that refused to die. Then she slid the book into the empty space between two forgotten volumes.

Stepping back, Alawien whispered a brief prayer to Gosaena and lowered her hand. The journal disappeared into shadow, becoming just another forgotten book among thousands.

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|a foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-05-29T13:18:40Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision also needed to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

That night, both Lucraine and Rivienne experienced unusual dreams that they shared with the group.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Lucraine'''<br>
Sleep takes you suddenly - too suddenly - and the world folds into darkness.

At first there is only breath: the soft exhale of an ancient tree stirring in windless air. Then shapes bloom from shadow. You stand beneath a vast glowbark, its trunk rising like a pillar of moonlit glass. Its leaves shimmer in slow pulses, exhaling soft blue motes that drift around you like falling embers.

A single leaf breaks loose. As it descends, your dream narrows into its veins, lines turning into ink strokes, ink strokes into frantic handwriting. You hear Maerion's voice, not spoken but remembered, desperate and resolute:

"...conceal the words...no eye may see them...save hers."

The page dissolves into ripples of black water. You are suddenly knee-deep in a dark pool, ink swirling at your feet like living smoke. At the centre floats a warped, waterlogged treatise, its pages breathing faintly, as though alive. The script won't hold still; glyphs run like startled insects, then vanish entirely.

From the far shore, two lights flare; one silver, one deep, abyssal blue.

The silver becomes a sigil, Saereth's: a twisted glaes chain drifting in the air, the faint traces of her spiritual magic spiraling outward like frost. The blue becomes a shard of black coral, pulsing with quiet warning. The two lights draw nearer, circling the book, not quite touching, always kept apart by some unseen boundary.

The glowbark's roots pulse beneath the water, and the pool rises, whispering syllables that feel older than language, older than the Watchers, older than the valences themselves.

A figure steps toward the treatise - reaching, hesitating - and just before you can see who it is, the dream fractures.

The glowbark leaf flares, and everything is pulled upward in a rushing wind of ink, light, and whispers.

You stir and are left with the echo of a heartbeat that is not your own; slow, ancient, and waiting.
</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Rivienne'''<br>
Sleep brings only a flicker: the silhouette of a towering glowbark, its leaves dimming one by one like vanishing stars. A warped book hangs suspended before it, dripping black ink that spreads across the ground in creeping lines. Two lights - silver and deep blue - circle it once, never touching. A whisper rises, thin as breath:

"Not all eyes may see...but all may watch."

You wake with the odd feeling of being observed.
</div></pre>

=== 14th day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Rohese and Lucraine visited the ruins of the Calelith Villa and made a few discoveries. Secreted under the mattress of the bed in the Master Bedroom was an eye-etched black coral amulet that matched the one found earlier in the Veythorne Manor. A search in the crates in the basement revealed another copy of the Enchiridion Valentia and a Shien'tyr runestone. They also discovered a waterlogged warped black tome with ink smeared pages. The contents were impossible to decipher but Lucraine was able to learn quite a lot through loresinging.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytome" style="color:#0000ff">The Tome Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytome">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The loresong opens with a low hum, like the whispered conversations in a library hall. You glimpse a writing desk illuminated by candlelight; inkpots, sheets of parchment, and a young elven scholar hunched possessively over a black leather tome. Though it currently lies shut on the desk, spectral letters and symbols drift above it in ghostly strands. A name echoes faintly in the air: Maerion Veythorne. His quill scratches not just text, but something deeper: structured symbols and diagrams with notations alongside hastily scribbled notes.

The melody sharpens, like footsteps approaching along a quiet corridor. Now a woman enters the hall: Saereth Calelith, a black coral amulet resting against the dark silk of her robe. She does not speak at first. The two bend together over the tome, exchanging nods and half-smiles. What they learn is not meant for common eyes. Saereth adds annotations of her own to his notes - elegant and angular - while Maerion adjusts some glyphs. Some pages are crumpled up and carelessly discarded, others folded neatly and slipped into a pocket.

The tone of the song grows heavier. Rain lashes against stone as the tome is hurriedly packed away; slipped into a satchel. A voice - urgent, female - whispers, "They're coming sooner than we thought." You hear shouts in the distance, doors slamming. The book is dropped. Water seeps in. The inked glyphs begin to smear, resisting until the final rune dissolves. The contents are lost but the tome is not destroyed. It waits in darkness, its words indecipherable but not silenced.

The final verse slows, the melody muted like something long buried. You see a set of careful hands brushing damp leaves and cobwebs from the tome's warped leather as its lifted from a crate. Its pages, though smeared beyond recognition, still hum faintly with magic; residual threads of research, diagrams, and sigils once used to reach beyond the veil. Whatever arcane secrets the tome once contained, it is lost forever.
</pre></div>

Both agreed that this tome was probably the treatise mentioned in Maerion's journal that had been taken from the Library Aies and concealed in the Villa.

Rohese offered to hand over their discoveries to Alawien who would then reach out to everyone to decide what to do.

=== 29th day of Ivastaen, 5126 ===
The afternoon sun filtered through the glass window of the Pagination, Reading Room illuminating the faint sigil marks on the worn leather book.

Alawien stood silently beside the window, arms folded tightly across her chest. Rohese sat in a nearby chair, her fingertips resting lightly upon the book's cover.

"We have debated it for months," Rohese said gently. "Every argument for concealment was weighed against those for preservation and even destruction. In the end, we reached the same conclusion.”

Alawien's gaze remained fixed on the city beyond the glass. "That their story belongs to history?" she asked quietly.

"That history belongs to everyone," Rohese replied. "The journal reveals mistakes, certainly. Dangerous ambitions. But it also reveals truth. We cannot curate the past into comfort. If we suppress it, we become no different than those who sought to hide it in the first place."

"The Veythorne family may not agree."

"They may not," Rohese admitted. "But they deserve the truth of their ancestor. And so do the Caleliths."

At that, Alawien's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

"The Caleliths," she repeated.

Neither spoke for several moments.

Rohese looked toward her friend. "Whatever happened between Maerion and Saereth happened centuries ago. Their choices are not yours."

"No," Alawien said. "They are not." But something in her voice suggested she was not convinced.

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

That night, a sealed letter arrived in Rohese's mailbox.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Rohese,

By the time you read this, I will already be gone.

I understand the wisdom behind your collective decision, even if I cannot share it. You all see a historical record. You all see a duty to knowledge. I have spent my life as as Scribe in the Library Aies believing the same.

Yet every page of that journal carries the weight of two family names. One has already endured centuries of suspicion and exile. The other survives largely because its secrets remained buried.

You told me that the choices of Maerion and Saereth are not mine. Perhaps that is true. But neither can I stand idle while their mistakes become tomorrow's fascination or the subject of yet more speculation and gossip in the pages of the Peacock Gazette.

I do not intend to use or destroy the journal. But neither do I believe every truth must be displayed upon a shelf for curious minds.

Forgive me if you can.

Alawien Calelith</div></pre>

The sun had set by the time Alawien crossed the city. She wore a plain travelling cloak, the journal concealed safely within her satchel. No guards challenged her; Ta'Illistim seemed almost unwilling to notice her departure.

Hours later, far from the shining towers and marble bridges of her home, she stood before a pair of ancient doors. Above them, carved in the stone architrave, were the words: The Library of Biblia.

Alawien paused for a long moment, one hand resting atop the satchel containing the journal.

Then, without looking back, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

The corridors seemed endless.

Alawien wandered deeper into the Library of Biblia, passing seldom-visited alcoves and galleries where entire centuries appeared to have been abandoned to silence. The scent of old paper and dry leather hung thick in the still air.

At last she found what she had been seeking: a narrow shelf hidden behind rows of neglected histories and theological commentaries. Few would think to search there. Fewer still would know what they were looking for.

Carefully, she withdrew the journal from her satchel. For a moment she hesitated, her thumb tracing the faint indentation upon the worn cover. She thought of Maerion. Of Saereth. Of Rohese. Of the Library Aies and the glowbark tree standing watch over memories that refused to die. Then she slid the book into the empty space between two forgotten volumes.

Stepping back, Alawien whispered a brief prayer to Gosaena and lowered her hand. The journal disappeared into shadow, becoming just another forgotten book among thousands.

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|a foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5126

2026-05-23T17:21:29Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Ivastaen 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/05/23 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]By Ivastaen, spring no longer feels tentative. Cool mornings give way to warm, breezy afternoons and wardrobes across Elanthia begin their inevitable and welcome turn toward summer ease. Fabrics lighten, sleeves loosen or shorten, and colours shift towards sun-drenched or sand-weathered tones.

So, for this issue, we visit [[Brisker's Cove]] and the restless charm of [[The Tailor's Sister]] with its small range of comfortable garments that feel lived in before they are even worn. If Olaesta belonged to restraint, then Ivastaen belongs to motion. Influenced by the [[The Tehir - A_Primer|Tehir]] and the practical elegance of desert dress, the shop's inventory reminds us that warm-weather fashion need not sacrifice structure for comfort. Lightweight kaftans, airy serwals, and flowing silhouettes all speak to a philosophy shaped by travel and adaptation; clothing meant to breathe beneath the sun and move with the body rather than against it.

==The Unmistakeable Influence of the Tehir==
Spring into summer brings a loosening of silhouette, a lightening of fabric, and a reminder that movement can be graceful. For this month's V, we travel to the unruly Seareach coast and a settlement called Brisker's Cove. The city is bustling with trade, and the port operates day and night. All manner of ships arrive at Brisker's Cove, from small sloops to mighty warships. Here, tucked among weathered docks and sun-bleached planks, we find The Tailor's Sister, a shop whose aesthetic is carried on desert winds rather than sea spray.

Brisker's Cove does not aspire to elven refinement or the rigidity of the Firstborn. It is transitional; a meeting point of sailors, smugglers, travellers, and, not infrequently, the Tehir. Their influence is unmistakable. The inventory draws heavily from Tehir sensibilities shaped by life in the Sea of Fire: garments built for heat, sand, sun, and ceaseless motion. In the desert, clothing is not ornamental; it is shelter and it prioritises airflow, coverage, protection, and flexibility.

Expect to find enveloping burnooses and flowing kaftans designed to shield skin from the sun while allowing air to circulate, as well as loose pantaloons and sturdy boots that accommodate mounted travel and long marches. Fabrics are chosen for breathability - fine cottons, lightweight linens, gauzy weaves - in desert tones such as sandy browns and sunny yellows, bright blues and muted metallics. The result is a silhouette that moves constantly. Nothing clings and nothing constrains.

The Tailor's Sister lends itself naturally to transitional dressing. For coastal mornings still touched by chill, layer a tan woolen burnoose over loose golden silk pantaloons, adding a practical brown linen handbag for both form and function. As the day warms, heavier outer layers fall away without disrupting the integrity of the look; try switching out the burnoose for an ahmdir blue or ridgeweaver silk kaftan. The garments are designed to adapt; an essential trait in both desert caravans and the unpredictability of weather at sea.

What makes this boutique particularly compelling is its refusal to separate practicality from beauty. In the Sea of Fire, garments must endure extremes; blistering heat by day, cutting cold by night. Layers are not decorative; they are life-preserving. Yet within those constraints emerges a quiet elegance: the drape of fabric caught by wind, the interplay of wrap and fold, the geometry of scarf against brow.

Unlike Illistim tailoring, which refines the silhouette inward, or Nalfein structure, which sharpens it outward, Tehir-influenced clothing flows around the body, creating shape through motion rather than cut. Lady Luindra, proprietor of the Tailor’s Sister, offers garments for those who do not intend to remain in one place for long. Her Tehir-inspired inventory lends itself naturally to hot climates, desert crossings, and even occasional forays into the Sanctum of Scales.

In spring, when the world itself seems restless, there is something profoundly fashionable about dressing as though you might leave at any moment. And we, at V, approve!

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5126

2026-05-23T14:17:38Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Editor's Thoughts */

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Ivastaen 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/05/23 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]By Ivastaen, spring no longer feels tentative. Cool mornings give way to warm, breezy afternoons and wardrobes across Elanthia begin their inevitable and welcome turn toward summer ease. Fabrics lighten, sleeves loosen or shorten, and colours shift towards sun-drenched or sand-weathered tones.

So, for this issue, we visit [[Brisker's Cove]] and the restless charm of [[The Tailor's Sister]] with its small range of comfortable garments that feel lived in before they are even worn. If Olaesta belonged to restraint, then Ivastaen belongs to motion. Influenced by the [[The Tehir - A_Primer|Tehir]] and the practical elegance of desert dress, the shop's inventory reminds us that warm-weather fashion need not sacrifice structure for comfort. Lightweight kaftans, airy serwals, and flowing silhouettes all speak to a philosophy shaped by travel and adaptation; clothing meant to breathe beneath the sun and move with the body rather than against it.

==The Unmistakeable Influence of the Tehir==
Spring into summer brings a loosening of silhouette, a lightening of fabric, and a reminder that movement can be graceful. For this month's V, we travel to the unruly Seareach coast and a settlement called Brisker's Cove. The city is bustling with trade, and the port operates day and night. All manner of ships arrive at Brisker's Cove, from small sloops to mighty warships. Here, tucked among weathered docks and sun-bleached planks, we find The Tailor's Sister, a shop whose aesthetic is carried on desert winds rather than sea spray.

Brisker's Cove does not aspire to elven refinement or the rigidity of the Firstborn. It is transitional; a meeting point of sailors, smugglers, travellers, and, not infrequently, the Tehir. Their influence is unmistakable. The inventory draws heavily from Tehir sensibilities shaped by life in the Sea of Fire: garments built for heat, sand, sun, and ceaseless motion. In the desert, clothing is not ornamental; it is shelter and it prioritises airflow, coverage, protection, and flexibility.

Expect to find enveloping burnooses and flowing kaftans designed to shield skin from the sun while allowing air to circulate, as well as loose pantaloons and sturdy boots that accommodate mounted travel and long marches. Fabrics are chosen for breathability - fine cottons, lightweight linens, gauzy weaves - in desert tones such as sandy browns and sunny yellows, bright blues and muted metallics. The result is a silhouette that moves constantly. Nothing clings and nothing constrains.

The Tailor's Sister lends itself naturally to transitional dressing. For coastal mornings still touched by chill, layer a tan woolen burnoose over loose golden silk pantaloons, adding a practical brown linen handbag for both form and function. As the day warms, heavier outer layers fall away without disrupting the integrity of the look; try switching out the burnoose for an ahmdir blue or ridgeweaver silk kaftan. The garments are designed to adapt; an essential trait in both desert caravans and the unpredictability of weather at sea.

What makes this boutique particularly compelling is its refusal to separate practicality from beauty. In the Sea of Fire, garments must endure extremes; blistering heat by day, cutting cold by night. Layers are not decorative; they are life-preserving. Yet within those constraints emerges a quiet elegance: the drape of fabric caught by wind, the interplay of wrap and fold, the geometry of scarf against brow.

Unlike Illistim tailoring, which refines the silhouette inward, or Nalfein structure, which sharpens it outward, Tehir-influenced clothing flows around the body, creating shape through motion rather than cut. Lady Luindra, proprietor of the Tailor’s Sister, offers garments for those who do not intend to remain in one place for long. Its Tehir-inspired inventory lends itself naturally to hot climates, desert crossings, and even occasional forays into the Sanctum of Scales.

In spring, when the world itself seems restless, there is something profoundly fashionable about dressing as though you might leave at any moment. And we, at V, approve!

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5126

2026-05-23T14:17:16Z

CHIVERSFREE1: Created page with "{{creative-work |title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Ivastaen 5126)  |type = periodical  |author = The Looking Glass  |author-displayed = The Looking Glass  |date = 2026/05/23 <!-- Date creative work publishe..."

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Ivastaen 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/05/23 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]By Ivastaen, spring no longer feels tentative. Cool mornings give way to warm, breezy afternoons and wardrobes across Elanthia begin their inevitable and welcome turn toward summer ease. Fabrics lighten, sleeves loosen or shorten, and colours shift towards sun-drenched or sand-weathered tones.

So, for this issue, we visit [[Brisker's Cove]] and the restless charm of [[The Tailor's Sister]] with its small range of comfortable garments that feel lived in before they are even worn. If Olaesta belonged to restraint, then Ivastaen belongs to motion. Influenced by the [[The Tehir - A_Primer|Tehir] and the practical elegance of desert dress, the shop's inventory reminds us that warm-weather fashion need not sacrifice structure for comfort. Lightweight kaftans, airy serwals, and flowing silhouettes all speak to a philosophy shaped by travel and adaptation; clothing meant to breathe beneath the sun and move with the body rather than against it.

==The Unmistakeable Influence of the Tehir==
Spring into summer brings a loosening of silhouette, a lightening of fabric, and a reminder that movement can be graceful. For this month's V, we travel to the unruly Seareach coast and a settlement called Brisker's Cove. The city is bustling with trade, and the port operates day and night. All manner of ships arrive at Brisker's Cove, from small sloops to mighty warships. Here, tucked among weathered docks and sun-bleached planks, we find The Tailor's Sister, a shop whose aesthetic is carried on desert winds rather than sea spray.

Brisker's Cove does not aspire to elven refinement or the rigidity of the Firstborn. It is transitional; a meeting point of sailors, smugglers, travellers, and, not infrequently, the Tehir. Their influence is unmistakable. The inventory draws heavily from Tehir sensibilities shaped by life in the Sea of Fire: garments built for heat, sand, sun, and ceaseless motion. In the desert, clothing is not ornamental; it is shelter and it prioritises airflow, coverage, protection, and flexibility.

Expect to find enveloping burnooses and flowing kaftans designed to shield skin from the sun while allowing air to circulate, as well as loose pantaloons and sturdy boots that accommodate mounted travel and long marches. Fabrics are chosen for breathability - fine cottons, lightweight linens, gauzy weaves - in desert tones such as sandy browns and sunny yellows, bright blues and muted metallics. The result is a silhouette that moves constantly. Nothing clings and nothing constrains.

The Tailor's Sister lends itself naturally to transitional dressing. For coastal mornings still touched by chill, layer a tan woolen burnoose over loose golden silk pantaloons, adding a practical brown linen handbag for both form and function. As the day warms, heavier outer layers fall away without disrupting the integrity of the look; try switching out the burnoose for an ahmdir blue or ridgeweaver silk kaftan. The garments are designed to adapt; an essential trait in both desert caravans and the unpredictability of weather at sea.

What makes this boutique particularly compelling is its refusal to separate practicality from beauty. In the Sea of Fire, garments must endure extremes; blistering heat by day, cutting cold by night. Layers are not decorative; they are life-preserving. Yet within those constraints emerges a quiet elegance: the drape of fabric caught by wind, the interplay of wrap and fold, the geometry of scarf against brow.

Unlike Illistim tailoring, which refines the silhouette inward, or Nalfein structure, which sharpens it outward, Tehir-influenced clothing flows around the body, creating shape through motion rather than cut. Lady Luindra, proprietor of the Tailor’s Sister, offers garments for those who do not intend to remain in one place for long. Its Tehir-inspired inventory lends itself naturally to hot climates, desert crossings, and even occasional forays into the Sanctum of Scales.

In spring, when the world itself seems restless, there is something profoundly fashionable about dressing as though you might leave at any moment. And we, at V, approve!

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue

2026-05-23T14:11:22Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Published Editions */

{{creative-work | title = Elanthian Vogue |type = periodical |author = Rohese Bayvel |author-displayed = |date = 2018-01-30}}
[[File:EV Insignia WIKI.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]
Elanthian Vogue is the official publication of [[The Looking Glass]], an established Fashion House and distinguished [[Meeting Hall Organization]] in the elven city of [[Ta'Illistim]]. Its offices and studio are located in [[Ailanthus Manor]] on Whistler's Pass.

Elanthian Vogue is a seasonal fashion magazine made up of many components, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, culture, and "runway". The aim of the publication is to raise awareness and encourage participation in fashion-oriented activities across [[Elanthia]]. The first edition was launched in [[Lormesta]] 5118. In 5123, it moved to being published annually to coincide with [[Elanthian Fashion Week]] or its associated events but, in 5126, it was rebranded to be called "V" and has since returned to a simpler, more regular format.

For further information, please contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]].

==Published Editions==
{| {{prettytable|background:#ebf7ef;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#4c9d67; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5126
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5126 | V (Lormesta 5126)]] - [[Bella's Bridal Boutique]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126 | V (Fashanos 5126)]] - [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126 | V (Charlatos 5126)]] - [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]]'s Market
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5126 | V (Olaesta 5126)]] - [[RWShop:Obsidian_Raiment|Obsidian Raiment]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5126 | V (Ivastaen 5126)]] - [[The Tailor's Sister|The Tailor's Sister]]
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5125
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5125|Elanthian Vogue 5125]] - Botanicals: Sea, Sand and Soil
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5124
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5124|Elanthian Vogue 5124]] - Flora and Fauna
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5123
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5123|Elanthian Vogue 5123]] - Fashion Design and Cultural Influences
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#F0F8FF;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#000080; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5118 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5119 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5120 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5121 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5122 (Edition No. and Themes)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5118 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5118)]] - Launch||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5119 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5119)]] - Glamour||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5120 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5120)]] - Relax ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5121 | Edition 1 (Spring 5121)]] - Healing, Herbs, and Self Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5122 | Edition 1 (Spring 5122)]] - Weddings
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5119 | Edition 2 (Fashanos 5119)]] - Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Charlatos 5121)]] - Birds||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part I) | Edition 2 (Summer 5122): Part I]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5118 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5118)]] - Women||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5119 | Edition 3 (Charlatos 5119)]] - Handmaidens and Horoscopes||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5120 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5120)]] - Courtesans ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5121 | Edition 2 (Summer 5121)]] - Open Sea Adventures||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part II) | Edition 3 (Summer 5122): Part II]] - The Season
|-Z||
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5118 | Edition 3 (Ivastaen 5118)]] - RED||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5119 | Edition 4 (Olaesta 5119)]] - Pirates||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Olaesta 5120)]] - Cosmetics ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5121 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5121)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part III) | Edition 4 (Summer 5122): Part III]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 | Edition 4 (Lumnea 5118)]] - Image||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5119 | Edition 5 (Ivastaen 5119)]] - Travel||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part I) | Edition 3: Part I (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas<br>[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part II) | Edition 4: Part II (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas cont.d || [[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5121 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Koaratos 5121)]] - Revelia Carnivale||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Phoenatos 5122)]] - Entertaining
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Lumnea 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5119 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5120 | Edition 5 (Lumnea 5120)]] - Call of the Wild || [[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121 | Edition 3 (Autumn 5121)]] - It's Magic!||[[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5122 | Edition 5 (Autumn 5122)]] - Arts and Crafts
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5118 | Edition 5 (Koaratos 5118)]] - Well-Being||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5119 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5119)]] - Summer Is ...||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5120 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5120)]] - Theatre ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part I) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part I]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5122)]] - Bugs!
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5118 | Edition 6 (Imaerasta 5118)]] - Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5119 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part II) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part II]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5122 | Edition 6 (Winter 5122)]] - Winter
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5118 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Jastatos 5118)]] - Veola||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5119 | Edition 7 (Jastatos 5119)]] - Art||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 | Edition 7 (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Exotic ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5121)]] - Cordwainers||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5118 | Edition 7 (Eoantas 5118)]] - Men||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 | Edition 8 (Eoantos 5119)]] - Military||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Pets || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 | Edition 8 (Eorgaen 5118)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5119)]] - Elven Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120 | Edition 8 (Jastatos 5120)]] - Sugar and Spice || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Eorgaen 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5119 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5119)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5120 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5120)]] - V(R)ogue Gallery || ||
|}

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue

2026-05-23T14:10:37Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Elanthian Vogue |type = periodical |author = Rohese Bayvel |author-displayed = |date = 2018-01-30}}
[[File:EV Insignia WIKI.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]
Elanthian Vogue is the official publication of [[The Looking Glass]], an established Fashion House and distinguished [[Meeting Hall Organization]] in the elven city of [[Ta'Illistim]]. Its offices and studio are located in [[Ailanthus Manor]] on Whistler's Pass.

Elanthian Vogue is a seasonal fashion magazine made up of many components, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, culture, and "runway". The aim of the publication is to raise awareness and encourage participation in fashion-oriented activities across [[Elanthia]]. The first edition was launched in [[Lormesta]] 5118. In 5123, it moved to being published annually to coincide with [[Elanthian Fashion Week]] or its associated events but, in 5126, it was rebranded to be called "V" and has since returned to a simpler, more regular format.

For further information, please contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]].

==Published Editions==
{| {{prettytable|background:#ebf7ef;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#4c9d67; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5126
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5126 | V (Lormesta 5126)]] - [[Bella's Bridal Boutique]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126 | V (Fashanos 5126)]] - [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126 | V (Charlatos 5126)]] - [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]]'s Market
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5126 | V (Olaesta 5126)]] - [[RWShop:Obsidian_Raiment|Obsidian Raiment]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5126 | V (Ivastaen 5126)]] - [[The Tailor's Sister|The Tailor's Sister]]
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5125
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5125|Elanthian Vogue 5125]] - Botanicals: Sea, Sand and Soil
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5124
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5124|Elanthian Vogue 5124]] - Flora and Fauna
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5123
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5123|Elanthian Vogue 5123]] - Fashion Design and Cultural Influences
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#F0F8FF;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#000080; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5118 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5119 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5120 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5121 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5122 (Edition No. and Themes)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5118 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5118)]] - Launch||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5119 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5119)]] - Glamour||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5120 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5120)]] - Relax ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5121 | Edition 1 (Spring 5121)]] - Healing, Herbs, and Self Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5122 | Edition 1 (Spring 5122)]] - Weddings
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5119 | Edition 2 (Fashanos 5119)]] - Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Charlatos 5121)]] - Birds||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part I) | Edition 2 (Summer 5122): Part I]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5118 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5118)]] - Women||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5119 | Edition 3 (Charlatos 5119)]] - Handmaidens and Horoscopes||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5120 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5120)]] - Courtesans ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5121 | Edition 2 (Summer 5121)]] - Open Sea Adventures||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part II) | Edition 3 (Summer 5122): Part II]] - The Season
|-Z||
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5118 | Edition 3 (Ivastaen 5118)]] - RED||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5119 | Edition 4 (Olaesta 5119)]] - Pirates||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Olaesta 5120)]] - Cosmetics ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5121 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5121)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part III) | Edition 4 (Summer 5122): Part III]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 | Edition 4 (Lumnea 5118)]] - Image||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5119 | Edition 5 (Ivastaen 5119)]] - Travel||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part I) | Edition 3: Part I (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas<br>[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part II) | Edition 4: Part II (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas cont.d || [[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5121 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Koaratos 5121)]] - Revelia Carnivale||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Phoenatos 5122)]] - Entertaining
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Lumnea 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5119 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5120 | Edition 5 (Lumnea 5120)]] - Call of the Wild || [[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121 | Edition 3 (Autumn 5121)]] - It's Magic!||[[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5122 | Edition 5 (Autumn 5122)]] - Arts and Crafts
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5118 | Edition 5 (Koaratos 5118)]] - Well-Being||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5119 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5119)]] - Summer Is ...||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5120 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5120)]] - Theatre ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part I) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part I]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5122)]] - Bugs!
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5118 | Edition 6 (Imaerasta 5118)]] - Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5119 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part II) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part II]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5122 | Edition 6 (Winter 5122)]] - Winter
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5118 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Jastatos 5118)]] - Veola||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5119 | Edition 7 (Jastatos 5119)]] - Art||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 | Edition 7 (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Exotic ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5121)]] - Cordwainers||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5118 | Edition 7 (Eoantas 5118)]] - Men||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 | Edition 8 (Eoantos 5119)]] - Military||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Pets || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 | Edition 8 (Eorgaen 5118)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5119)]] - Elven Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120 | Edition 8 (Jastatos 5120)]] - Sugar and Spice || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Eorgaen 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5119 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5119)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5120 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5120)]] - V(R)ogue Gallery || ||
|}

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5126

2026-04-18T10:13:51Z

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Olaesta 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/04/18 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]Olaesta arrives with intent. Across Elanthia, wardrobes begin their familiar transformation; layers soften, colours lift, and the world leans, once again, toward renewal. But spring does not have to be gentle. Within [[Rumor Woods]], and in the stark philosophy behind places like [[RWShop:Obsidian_Raiment|Obsidian Raiment]], Olaesta becomes something altogether more deliberate. This tension is at the heart of this latest issue of V. For those willing to step beyond the expectations of the season, this month's featured boutique offers a wardrobe rooted in clarity and discipline. Guided by the principles of the Firstborn and expressed through the enduring aesthetic of the Dhe'nar, these garments do not follow the season; they shape it.

==The Firstborn Discipline of Dress==
Olaesta is often mistaken for softness. Garments loosen, brighten, and breathe more freely but, at Rumor Woods, Obsidian Raiment offers a quieter, sharper interpretation of the season; one grounded in the enduring [[Clothing_of_the_Firstborn|clothing philosophy of the Firstborn]] and shaped by the cultural rigour of the Dhe'nar.

The guiding principle is not reinvention, but control through layering. Dress is approached as a system: garments are selected and combined with intention, each layer contributing to silhouette, function, and presence. Obsidian Raiment's inventory reflects this with striking clarity.

Consider a silvery grey [[Clothing_of_the_Firstborn#Su'chao_Silk|su'chao silk]] robe, cut long and worn open over a fitted base. In isolation, it is almost insubstantial but, within a layered ensemble, it becomes transformative. The innate shimmer softens edges while preserving the underlying structure, allowing movement without surrendering form. This reflects a core Firstborn principle: outer garments should enhance, not obscure, the discipline beneath.

Beneath such a robe, an indigo lacebark [[Dhe%27nar_Clothing_Line#Szi'bai|szi'bai]] or close-fitted tunic provides the necessary foundation. These pieces establish clean lines across the torso, ensuring that the silhouette remains deliberate rather than diffuse. Tradition emphasises this interplay; that looser garments rely upon structured underlayers to maintain coherence.

Lower silhouettes follow the same logic. Narrow-cut trousers in dark silk or fine weave linen anchor the form, avoiding excess volume while allowing ease of movement; a subtle nod to the practical needs of travel and harsh climates associated with Dhe'nar heritage. A [[Dhe%27nar_Clothing_Line#Szi'euk|szi'euk]] made from any breathable material offers a suitable alternative.

Where Obsidian Raiment truly aligns with Firstborn philosophy is in its use of sashes and belts. Wrapped firmly at the waist, a lizard skin belt does more than decorate. It controls. It gathers fabric, defines proportion, and introduces tension between flow and structure. Such elements act as the means by which garments are "set" upon the body, ensuring that nothing shifts without intent. Similarly, a dusky su'chao silk sash stamped with circular patterns reinforces this structure, particularly when paired with longer outer garments. These pieces ground the ensemble visually, preventing the verticality of robes from becoming unanchored.

Headbands appear throughout the shop's offerings, typically in leather or suede. Within Firstborn tradition, these serve both practical and cultural functions; holding back the hair while shaping how the wearer is perceived as they are an important part of their coming of age.

Nothing is excessive. Even ornamentation is restrained; present only where it reinforces line or movement. Obsidian Raiment's styling is less about embracing the season, and more about adapting to it without compromise:

⚔ begin with a fitted tunic or szi'ba to establish structure<br>
⚔ add narrow trousers or szi'euk to maintain a clean lower silhouette<br>
⚔ layer a lightweight robe to introduce movement<br>
⚔ use a sash and belt to define and control the ensemble<br>
⚔ incorporate a headband for both function and visual modulation

The result is not the airy looseness typical of spring, but something more deliberate — garments that breathe, yet remain composed.

In contrast to the florals and flowing excess of other regions, Obsidian Raiment presents Olaesta as a season of refinement. Nothing is discarded without purpose. Nothing is added without control and V approves.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue

2026-04-18T10:00:46Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Published Editions */

{{creative-work | title = Elanthian Vogue |type = periodical |author = Rohese Bayvel |author-displayed = |date = 2018-01-30}}
[[File:EV Insignia WIKI.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]
Elanthian Vogue is the official publication of [[The Looking Glass]], an established Fashion House and distinguished [[Meeting Hall Organization]] in the elven city of [[Ta'Illistim]]. Its offices and studio are located in [[Ailanthus Manor]] on Whistler's Pass.

Elanthian Vogue is a seasonal fashion magazine made up of many components, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, culture, and "runway". The aim of the publication is to raise awareness and encourage participation in fashion-oriented activities across [[Elanthia]]. The first edition was launched in [[Lormesta]] 5118. In 5123, it moved to being published annually to coincide with [[Elanthian Fashion Week]] or its associated events but, in 5126, it was rebranded to be called "V" and has since returned to a simpler, more regular format.

For further information, please contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]].

==Published Editions==
{| {{prettytable|background:#ebf7ef;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#4c9d67; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5126
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5126 | V (Lormesta 5126)]] - [[Bella's Bridal Boutique]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126 | V (Fashanos 5126)]] - [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126 | V (Charlatos 5126)]] - [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]]'s Market
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5126 | V (Olaesta 5126)]] - [[RWShop:Obsidian_Raiment|Obsidian Raiment]]
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5125
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5125|Elanthian Vogue 5125]] - Botanicals: Sea, Sand and Soil
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5124
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5124|Elanthian Vogue 5124]] - Flora and Fauna
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5123
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5123|Elanthian Vogue 5123]] - Fashion Design and Cultural Influences
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#F0F8FF;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#000080; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5118 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5119 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5120 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5121 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5122 (Edition No. and Themes)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5118 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5118)]] - Launch||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5119 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5119)]] - Glamour||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5120 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5120)]] - Relax ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5121 | Edition 1 (Spring 5121)]] - Healing, Herbs, and Self Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5122 | Edition 1 (Spring 5122)]] - Weddings
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5119 | Edition 2 (Fashanos 5119)]] - Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Charlatos 5121)]] - Birds||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part I) | Edition 2 (Summer 5122): Part I]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5118 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5118)]] - Women||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5119 | Edition 3 (Charlatos 5119)]] - Handmaidens and Horoscopes||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5120 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5120)]] - Courtesans ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5121 | Edition 2 (Summer 5121)]] - Open Sea Adventures||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part II) | Edition 3 (Summer 5122): Part II]] - The Season
|-Z||
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5118 | Edition 3 (Ivastaen 5118)]] - RED||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5119 | Edition 4 (Olaesta 5119)]] - Pirates||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Olaesta 5120)]] - Cosmetics ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5121 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5121)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part III) | Edition 4 (Summer 5122): Part III]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 | Edition 4 (Lumnea 5118)]] - Image||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5119 | Edition 5 (Ivastaen 5119)]] - Travel||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part I) | Edition 3: Part I (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas<br>[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part II) | Edition 4: Part II (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas cont.d || [[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5121 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Koaratos 5121)]] - Revelia Carnivale||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Phoenatos 5122)]] - Entertaining
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Lumnea 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5119 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5120 | Edition 5 (Lumnea 5120)]] - Call of the Wild || [[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121 | Edition 3 (Autumn 5121)]] - It's Magic!||[[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5122 | Edition 5 (Autumn 5122)]] - Arts and Crafts
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5118 | Edition 5 (Koaratos 5118)]] - Well-Being||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5119 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5119)]] - Summer Is ...||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5120 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5120)]] - Theatre ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part I) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part I]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5122)]] - Bugs!
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5118 | Edition 6 (Imaerasta 5118)]] - Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5119 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part II) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part II]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5122 | Edition 6 (Winter 5122)]] - Winter
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5118 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Jastatos 5118)]] - Veola||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5119 | Edition 7 (Jastatos 5119)]] - Art||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 | Edition 7 (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Exotic ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5121)]] - Cordwainers||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5118 | Edition 7 (Eoantas 5118)]] - Men||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 | Edition 8 (Eoantos 5119)]] - Military||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Pets || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 | Edition 8 (Eorgaen 5118)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5119)]] - Elven Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120 | Edition 8 (Jastatos 5120)]] - Sugar and Spice || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Eorgaen 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5119 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5119)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5120 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5120)]] - V(R)ogue Gallery || ||
|}

[[Category: Fashion]]

Rohese (prime)

2026-04-06T14:33:36Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{characterprofile
|name= Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree
|image= [[File:Rohese_Midjourneyv1.png|thumbnail|center|Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI]]
|caption= She conquers, who endures.
|race= Elf
|culture= Illistim
|class=
|profession= Loremaster of Mist Harbor<br> High Priestess of Lumnis
|affiliations= [[The Unending Circle]]<br>[[House Sylvanfair]]<br>[[Elanthian Elegance]]<br>[[The Looking Glass]]
|word= Demure
|disposition= Compassionate
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength= Love
|weakness= Children
|habits= Biting her lip
|hobbies= Reading and painting<br>Horseriding and falconry
|soft=
|likes= Tea and tranquility
|dislikes= Bad manners
|fears= The dark and her sister ([[Poladra (Prime)|Poladra]])
|loyalties=
|friend= Corlyne Anduin and Lucraine
|spouse= [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk Timbertree of Bourth]] m 5121<br>Sighisoara Timsh'l Vaalor m 5104 - 5118 (widowed)
|instance= Prime
|town= Ta'Illistim
|town2= Mist Harbor
}}
[[File:Rohese by tymelorde.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rohese, as portrayed by [[Tymelorde]].]]

'''Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree''' is an [[elven]] [[cleric|High Priestess]] of [[Lumnis]] from [[Ta'Illistim]].

Rohese is currently Loremaster of [[Mist Harbor]], Chatelaine of both [[House Sylvanfair]] and [[Elanthian Elegance]], a non-official Board Member of [[The Looking Glass]], and Editor-in-Chief of [[Elanthian Vogue]]. She is also a Master in the [[Order of Voln]] and a Grandmaster Alchemist in the [[Cleric Guild]].

==Appearance==
You see Loremaster Rohese Bayvel Illistim.<br>
She appears to be an Elf.<br>
She is taller than average with a slender willowy form. She appears to be of a tender age. She has silver-lashed misty grey eyes and preternaturally pale skin. She has lustrous, cool silver hair streaming over her shoulders and down her back like a moonlit waterfall. She has slender ears peeking through her hair that taper to fine points. Her composed expression has a sense of scholarly authority despite her youthful, fey-like appearance. She has constellations of iridescent shimmer traced along her right cheekbone.<br>
She has a cascade of tiny silver stars tattooed over her right eyebrow that fades into her hairline, and an inking of a faint star constellation on her neck.<br>
She has occasional faint traces of text flowing beneath her visible skin.<br>

She is wearing a moon-filled eonake pendant, a vaalin-shot moon grey silk robe trailing silver star-caught pendant sleeves, a wedding band of midnight-tinted glaes trailing across the left ring finger, an adularescent pale opal ring, some lattice-fronted white silk robes trailing sleeves of ombred grey chiffon, and some conjoined ring footflower sandals.

Rohese's appearance is influenced by the full Liabo moon.

Through a shimmering silvery grey haze, you see a Lunar Arcanist of Cysaegir with faintly luminous misty grey eyes. Fading in and out of sight, pale moonbeams fancifully float to and fro around her illuminated figure, which is covered in a wash of silvery white moonlight.

'''Constellation''': ''Five tiny stars configured in the shape of a W have been discreetly tattooed on the side of her neck with faintly shimmering silver ink, the pattern barely visible against her pale skin. One star however appears slightly brighter than the rest and cleverly conceals a small crescent-shaped scar on her throat.''<br>

==Background==
Born in [[Ta'Illistim]] in the spring of 5012, Rohese is the second daughter to Lord Tymian and Lady Aenor Bayvel. Her formative years were spent studying with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], and books continue to be constant companion and means of escape. She can usually be found in the library or her research conservatory in the Royal Arboretum.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">The best things in life are those that are nearest: breath in your body, light in your eyes, love in your heart, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand and the path of right before you.</div></pre>

Friends and family are everything to Rohese. She is very proud of her culture and lineage and will often disappear for days to study. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, she enjoys spending time with her husband, [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk]], or honing her skills as an alchemist and artist. Her outdoor pursuits extend to horse riding and falconry, with occasional forays into woodlands and forests as part of her research into the sentience of trees.

A recent discovery about her paternal grandmother's book (see treasured possessions) has seen her renew her relationship with her grandfather, [[Eairion]] Bayvel II, and cousins on both sides of her family, Lorestel Bayvel and [[Vincien (prime)|Vincien Illithien]].

Rohese's official residence is the Bayvel family home in Highpark, Ta'Illistim but she spends most of her time in her marital home, the [[Arboreal Refuge]] in [[Cysaegir]].

==Recent Influences==
Rohese was awarded the title of Patron of the Displaced in 5116 for her work in helping exiled half-elves find comfort, shelter, food and protection in the [[Elven Nations]]. She continues to seek ways to help those in need whenever she can.

In 5117, she undertook several journeys around the [[Turamzzyrian Empire]] at the request of the [[Argent Mirror]], with a view to extending further aid. Her experiences were documented in a journal entitled, [[A Difficult Journey]].

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.</div></pre>

Early in 5118, Rohese went missing on one of those diplomatic missions. The Argent Mirror held a [[5118-08-19 - Ta'Illistim - Lady Rohese is Missing - Delegation Meeting | Meeting]] on Day 9 Phoenatos, 5118 to discuss her disappearance and the continuance of the original delegation's goals. The efforts to find her and bring her home were documented in a second journal, entitled, [[A Healing Process]].

The diplomatic work culminated in an historic event at the [[Valley of Gold]] in Lumnea 5119, where the Emperor and Mirror signed a treaty between their people that would declare mutual respect and friendship between the nations. Rohese was subsequently awarded an elven jewel for leadership (a white diamond rimmed in gold) in recognition of her service to House Illistim.

During the events known as [[The Nazhor Chronicles]] on the Isle of Four Winds, Rohese discovered an interest in witchcraft and bibliomancy. Her experiences were recorded in a third journal entitled, [[Eternal Knowledge]]. She has since been offered the position of Loremaster to the Mist Harbor Library and completed a fourth journal documenting her [[Search for the Truth]] behind her grandmother's book and ring.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic"</div></pre>

More recently, Rohese and Mirkk joined the annual Bayvel [[The Hunt (short story)|Hunt]] in the fall of 5122 and, later in the same year, following the revocation of [[Chaston's Edict]] and establishment of the new Barony of Darkstone, they both found themselves increasingly drawn into imperial matters on both sides of the [[Dragonspine Mountains]]. Rohese documented her own personal struggle in a journal she entitled, [[Catharsis (short story)|Catharsis]].

5123 culminated in a reunion with her estranged sister, Poladra, and a [[The Reckoning (short story)|reckoning]] that ended tragically. Despite Rohese now being free of her sister's tyranny, however, the final warning Poladra had given her soon came true; Mirkk returned to Bourth and Rohese found herself alone. During that time, she continued to write in her [[Liminality (short story)|journal]].

==Treasured Possessions==

===an avian-crested signet ring===
Rohese's crest has been amended to reflect her status as a widow; the flourish of ink-black curlicues adopted from her paternal grandmother. It has also been honored with an elven jewel recognising her acts of leadership.

''Engraved with a crest, the face of the signet ring has been depressed slightly, leaving a raised but unbroken gold circle encompassing a field of sky blue enamel and honored with a gold-rimmed flawless white diamond. Beneath the arch is a peacock, set over a white dove rising on the vale, both birds accented by a flourish of three ink-black curlicues. Flanking on both sides are a curling acantha leaf and a trio of silver stars. Small engraved elven letters cross through the center of the crest.''<br>
''There appears to be something written on it.''

''In the Elven language, it reads:''
''She conquers, who endures.''

===a pavonated leather-bound book===
Rohese is never without her grandmother's special book (Codex Ista):

''A quire of creamy vellum has been neatly bound in faded blue leather and embossed with a stargazer lily on the front. Thin bookmarks and slips of annotated parchment protrude from the top of the well-thumbed pages, marking passages of significant relevance to the reader. The title, “Deportment and Decorum,” can still be made out on the distressed spine in gold leaf along with the name of the author, “Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim.”''

Whilst many copies have been made for public libraries and private collections, the book in her possession is essentially the original text as written by her grandmother. The book is a palimpsest; beneath the innocuous rhetoric on etiquette and protocol is a far more potent source of wisdom. Sahese Bayvel was in fact a powerful [[Sorcerer | white witch]] who bequeathed her knowledge to Rohese in two layers. Initially, she passed on her insights into deportment and decorum through the basic text within the book but wished her granddaughter to also gain a wider understanding of the arcane power she was capable of.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff"> a pavonated leather-bound book</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
'''raise'''
1st Person: Holding the book up to your face, you attempt to ignore the goings-on around you. Curiosity gets the better of you and you can't resist a quick peek.
3rd Person: Rohese holds her book up close to her face, pretending to ignore the goings-on around her. Occasionally, she sneaks a quick peek over the top.

'''flip'''
1st Person: You thumb carefully through the pages of your book until you find the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with your finger as you read it, you ponder the content for a moment before giving a nod of approval.
3rd Person: Rohese thumbs carefully through the pages of her book until she finds the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with her finger as she reads it, she looks deep in thought for a moment before giving a nod of approval.

'''push'''
1st Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on your head, you stand with practiced poise and take a few graceful steps forward. Feeling the book wobble slightly, you remove it before it has a chance to fall.
3rd Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on her head, Rohese stands with practiced poise and takes a few graceful steps forward. Just as the book begins to wobble, she removes it before it has a chance to fall.

'''tap'''
1st Person: Pursing your lips in disapproval and drawing yourself up to full height, you tap the cover of your leather-bound book hoping to draw attention to its title.
3rd Person: Pursing her lips and drawing herself up to full height, Rohese's fingernails tap agitatedly on the cover of her leather-bound book. With a steely glint in her eye, she glances pointedly at the title and tightens her grip on the spine.

'''tilt'''
1st Person: Gazing intently at your book, you contemplate the importance of etiquette and education... of fancy gowns and fairies. Lost in thought, you notice that you seem to be eating your hair again!
3rd Person: Rohese looks totally engrossed in her book as she absently nibbles on the end of a lock of hair.

'''turn'''
1st Person: Lost for words, you frantically turn the pages of your book in search of an appropriate response. All you can manage is an indignant, "Foof!"
3rd Person: Rohese frantically turns the pages of her book in search of an appropriate response but all she can manage are barely audible squeaks and an indignant, "Foof!"

'''wave'''
1st Person: In a fit of pique, you lift your book as if about to swipe at someone. Quickly realizing the error of your ways, you flush with embarrassment and lower your arm.
3rd Person: In a momentary fit of pique, Rohese lifts her book as if to take a swipe at someone. She quickly lowers her arm, however, with an abashed look on her face.

'''touch'''
1st Person: Removing a thin stylus from the spine of your book, you make a small annotation in the page margin, then carefully replace it.
3rd Person: Poised and calm, Rohese removes a thin stylus from the spine of her book and makes a small annotation in the page margin, then replaces it.

'''lace'''
1st Person: Lacing your fingers together, you cradle the book in your hands and murmur a short prayer of remembrance. Whispers of familiar spoken passages fill your ears and faint lines of text seem to run just under your skin, rising to the surface like bubbles on a pond, only to dissolve.
3rd Person: Lacing her fingers, Rohese cradles her book reverently in her hands and murmurs a few words under her breath. Faint lines of text appear to swirl beneath her pale skin for a moment, only to dissolve again just as quickly.

'''kiss'''
1st Person: Bringing your book to your lips, you whisper the word "wisdom" into its pages. Faint letters rise to the surface of your exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
3rd Person: Rohese lifts her book to her lips and whispers something. Faint letters rise to the surface of her exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
</pre></div>

===an adularescent pale opal ring===
With the discovery of her grandmother's ring, Rohese has since learned how to access the effaced writing of the Codex Ista.

''Flanked by a vaalin crescent and a trio of tiny silver stars, a notably large oval-cut opal sits atop a band of white gold. Flaunting a milky white body, the remarkable stone is semi-opaque and shows a play of iridescent color with flashes of silver and blue across its glassy surface. The engraving on the inside of the band has worn away somewhat but is still legible.
Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic.''

===a moon-filled eonake pendant===

''Long strands of silver and eonake have been twisted together in a double rope pattern to create a sturdy, but elegant, neckchain. Four unembellished rings situated side-by-side dangle from the centermost point of the metal strands. All four rings contain a small glowing sphere that appears to spin slowly. A bloodrune rests atop the four moons, secured by a luminescent, crimson-hued thread.''

===a glass peacock eye pendant===
She also wears her mother's pendant which has a [[loresong]] related to her background:

''Strung on tangled electrum threads, this large oval-shaped pendant is crafted from brilliant emerald green glass. A spherical dark-hued lapis lazuli stone flecked with gold has been fused in the center of the glass, creating the illusion of a peacock eye.''

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mypendant" style="color:#0000ff"> a glass peacock eye pendant</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mypendant">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
Gold motes stir within the pendant's eye as your song evokes memories of an elven childhood. Beneath a cloudless lapis blue sky, two young girls chase each other around a cottonwood tree laden with fluffy white catkins. A gentle breeze ruffles their silvery blonde hair and sends a flurry of seeds around them as they laugh and play. Their glee is interrupted only by the entrance of an elegant woman, her glass pendant glinting in the sunlight. She extends her arms and both children rush into her embrace.

[Cappyn's eyes turn a dazzling lapis blue as she sings to her peacock eye pendant. A sudden warm breeze brings with it a flurry of fluffy white cottonwood seeds and the faint echo of children's laughter.]

Your song falters as the gold motes flicker and fade like a dying candle flame. Images of harmonious family life flood your mind until one scene lingers. Decades have passed and the joyous sounds of laughter have been replaced by a somber mood. Clad in black, an elven cleric stares dolefully out of a library window, his fingers locked around a glass pendant. With a mournful sigh, he settles his gaze on his two teary eyed daughters and hands the pendant to the eldest before walking away without a word.

[A solitary tear rolls down Cappyn's cheek as she struggles to sing to her peacock eye pendant. The coo of a nearby mourning dove adds a doleful counterpoint to her melody.]

The pendant's eye darkens with your new refrain but pulsates with a ghostly blue radiance. With each waning pulse, a velvety shroud of darkness shifts to reveal a towering glowbark tree. A willowy young elf is kneeling before her black-robed sister, who clutches a glass pendant tightly in her clawed hand. The elf lifts her head as if to accompany the eerie ballad of the nearby sirenflowers, but all she can manage is a grief-stricken silence. The incandescence fades and with it the heart wrenching image

[Cappyn's eyes cloud over with a ghostly blue haze as she continues to sing to her peacock eye pendant. For a brief moment, she is accompanied by the eerie whispering lilt of sirenflowers.]

At first it seems your song may fail, but your phrasing subtly transforms into a dirge and lifts the shroud again to reveal a mausoleum. A black-robed elf with ashen hair stands over a linden casket. Her expression shows no emotion as she places a glass pendant onto the lid and leaves. Moments later, a willowy elf steps from the shadows to retrieve it. Tucking it carefully it into her white robes, she replaces it with a purple mournbloom. A distant peacock's scream startles you back to present day.

[The peacock eye pendant in Cappyn's hand flashes with a sapphire blue radiance as her song subtly transforms into a dirge and ends abruptly with a distant peacock scream. An unexpected breeze brings with it the melancholy fragrance of mournblooms.]
</pre></div>

==Written Works==
A collection of philosophical essays, books and publications written by members of the Bayvel family.

[[Essential Etiquette Handbook (essay)|Deportment and Decorum: The Essential Etiquette Handbook]] by Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim

[[A Brief History of Horology (essay)|A Brief History of Horology]] by Eairion Bayvel Illistim II

[[Elanthian Viniculture (essay)|Elanthian Viniculture]] by Tymian Bayvel Illistim

[[Palurin Fea (essay)|An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A spiritual alchemist's perspective of the world's soul"]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Effective Altruism (essay)|Effective Altruism: A discourse on our moral obligation to help others]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Unfinished Lullaby (essay)|The Unfinished Lullaby]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Isle of Graces]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity (essay)|Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta (essay)|The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society (essay)|Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective (essay)|The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the [[Festival of Lumnea 2020|Festival of Lumnea]] Symposium, 5120

[[Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi (essay)|Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the Ilyan Syndicate's [[Ilyan Syndicate/Autumn on the Mountain|Autumn on the Mountain]] Cultural Talk, 5122

[[The Five Sisters (short story)]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|The Sentience of Trees]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Elanthian Vogue]] ~ articles written and edited by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Corpse Bird (poetry)]] by Rohese Bayvel

==Player-Created Storylines==
Journal #1 - [[A_Difficult_Journey_(short_story)|"A Difficult Journey"]]

Journal #2 - [[A_Healing_Process_(short_story)|"A Healing Process"]]

Journal #3 - [[Eternal_Knowledge_(short_story)|"Eternal Knowledge"]]

Journal #4 - [[Search_for_the_Truth_(short_story)|"Search for the Truth"]]

Journal #5 - [[The_Reckoning_(short_story)|"The Reckoning"]]

'''[[/Forgotten Ink|Forgotten Ink]]''' - An upcoming storyline to be set in Ta'Illistim during the summer of 5125

Rohese (prime)

2026-04-06T14:32:36Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{characterprofile
|name= Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree
|image= [[File:Rohese_Midjourneyv1.png|thumbnail|center|Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI]]
|caption= She conquers, who endures.
|race= Elf
|culture= Illistim
|class=
|profession= Loremaster of Mist Harbor<br> High Priestess of Lumnis
|affiliations= [[The Unending Circle]]<br>[[House Sylvanfair]]<br>[[Elanthian Elegance]]<br>[[The Looking Glass]]
|word= Demure
|disposition= Compassionate
|demeanor=
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength= Love
|weakness= Children
|habits= Biting her lip
|hobbies= Reading and painting<br>Horseriding and falconry
|soft=
|likes= Tea and tranquility
|dislikes= Bad manners
|fears= The dark and her sister ([[Poladra (Prime)|Poladra]])
|loyalties=
|friend= Best Friends ~ Corlyne Anduin and Lucraine
|spouse= [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk Timbertree of Bourth]] m 5121<br>Sighisoara Timsh'l Vaalor m 5104 - 5118 (widowed)
|instance= Prime
|town= Ta'Illistim
|town2= Mist Harbor
}}
[[File:Rohese by tymelorde.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Rohese, as portrayed by [[Tymelorde]].]]

'''Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree''' is an [[elven]] [[cleric|High Priestess]] of [[Lumnis]] from [[Ta'Illistim]].

Rohese is currently Loremaster of [[Mist Harbor]], Chatelaine of both [[House Sylvanfair]] and [[Elanthian Elegance]], a non-official Board Member of [[The Looking Glass]], and Editor-in-Chief of [[Elanthian Vogue]]. She is also a Master in the [[Order of Voln]] and a Grandmaster Alchemist in the [[Cleric Guild]].

==Appearance==
You see Loremaster Rohese Bayvel Illistim.<br>
She appears to be an Elf.<br>
She is taller than average with a slender willowy form. She appears to be of a tender age. She has silver-lashed misty grey eyes and preternaturally pale skin. She has lustrous, cool silver hair streaming over her shoulders and down her back like a moonlit waterfall. She has slender ears peeking through her hair that taper to fine points. Her composed expression has a sense of scholarly authority despite her youthful, fey-like appearance. She has constellations of iridescent shimmer traced along her right cheekbone.<br>
She has a cascade of tiny silver stars tattooed over her right eyebrow that fades into her hairline, and an inking of a faint star constellation on her neck.<br>
She has occasional faint traces of text flowing beneath her visible skin.<br>

She is wearing a moon-filled eonake pendant, a vaalin-shot moon grey silk robe trailing silver star-caught pendant sleeves, a wedding band of midnight-tinted glaes trailing across the left ring finger, an adularescent pale opal ring, some lattice-fronted white silk robes trailing sleeves of ombred grey chiffon, and some conjoined ring footflower sandals.

Rohese's appearance is influenced by the full Liabo moon.

Through a shimmering silvery grey haze, you see a Lunar Arcanist of Cysaegir with faintly luminous misty grey eyes. Fading in and out of sight, pale moonbeams fancifully float to and fro around her illuminated figure, which is covered in a wash of silvery white moonlight.

'''Constellation''': ''Five tiny stars configured in the shape of a W have been discreetly tattooed on the side of her neck with faintly shimmering silver ink, the pattern barely visible against her pale skin. One star however appears slightly brighter than the rest and cleverly conceals a small crescent-shaped scar on her throat.''<br>

==Background==
Born in [[Ta'Illistim]] in the spring of 5012, Rohese is the second daughter to Lord Tymian and Lady Aenor Bayvel. Her formative years were spent studying with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], and books continue to be constant companion and means of escape. She can usually be found in the library or her research conservatory in the Royal Arboretum.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">The best things in life are those that are nearest: breath in your body, light in your eyes, love in your heart, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand and the path of right before you.</div></pre>

Friends and family are everything to Rohese. She is very proud of her culture and lineage and will often disappear for days to study. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, she enjoys spending time with her husband, [[Mirkk (prime)|Mirkk]], or honing her skills as an alchemist and artist. Her outdoor pursuits extend to horse riding and falconry, with occasional forays into woodlands and forests as part of her research into the sentience of trees.

A recent discovery about her paternal grandmother's book (see treasured possessions) has seen her renew her relationship with her grandfather, [[Eairion]] Bayvel II, and cousins on both sides of her family, Lorestel Bayvel and [[Vincien (prime)|Vincien Illithien]].

Rohese's official residence is the Bayvel family home in Highpark, Ta'Illistim but she spends most of her time in her marital home, the [[Arboreal Refuge]] in [[Cysaegir]].

==Recent Influences==
Rohese was awarded the title of Patron of the Displaced in 5116 for her work in helping exiled half-elves find comfort, shelter, food and protection in the [[Elven Nations]]. She continues to seek ways to help those in need whenever she can.

In 5117, she undertook several journeys around the [[Turamzzyrian Empire]] at the request of the [[Argent Mirror]], with a view to extending further aid. Her experiences were documented in a journal entitled, [[A Difficult Journey]].

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Where there is charity and wisdom, there is neither fear nor ignorance.</div></pre>

Early in 5118, Rohese went missing on one of those diplomatic missions. The Argent Mirror held a [[5118-08-19 - Ta'Illistim - Lady Rohese is Missing - Delegation Meeting | Meeting]] on Day 9 Phoenatos, 5118 to discuss her disappearance and the continuance of the original delegation's goals. The efforts to find her and bring her home were documented in a second journal, entitled, [[A Healing Process]].

The diplomatic work culminated in an historic event at the [[Valley of Gold]] in Lumnea 5119, where the Emperor and Mirror signed a treaty between their people that would declare mutual respect and friendship between the nations. Rohese was subsequently awarded an elven jewel for leadership (a white diamond rimmed in gold) in recognition of her service to House Illistim.

During the events known as [[The Nazhor Chronicles]] on the Isle of Four Winds, Rohese discovered an interest in witchcraft and bibliomancy. Her experiences were recorded in a third journal entitled, [[Eternal Knowledge]]. She has since been offered the position of Loremaster to the Mist Harbor Library and completed a fourth journal documenting her [[Search for the Truth]] behind her grandmother's book and ring.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic"</div></pre>

More recently, Rohese and Mirkk joined the annual Bayvel [[The Hunt (short story)|Hunt]] in the fall of 5122 and, later in the same year, following the revocation of [[Chaston's Edict]] and establishment of the new Barony of Darkstone, they both found themselves increasingly drawn into imperial matters on both sides of the [[Dragonspine Mountains]]. Rohese documented her own personal struggle in a journal she entitled, [[Catharsis (short story)|Catharsis]].

5123 culminated in a reunion with her estranged sister, Poladra, and a [[The Reckoning (short story)|reckoning]] that ended tragically. Despite Rohese now being free of her sister's tyranny, however, the final warning Poladra had given her soon came true; Mirkk returned to Bourth and Rohese found herself alone. During that time, she continued to write in her [[Liminality (short story)|journal]].

==Treasured Possessions==

===an avian-crested signet ring===
Rohese's crest has been amended to reflect her status as a widow; the flourish of ink-black curlicues adopted from her paternal grandmother. It has also been honored with an elven jewel recognising her acts of leadership.

''Engraved with a crest, the face of the signet ring has been depressed slightly, leaving a raised but unbroken gold circle encompassing a field of sky blue enamel and honored with a gold-rimmed flawless white diamond. Beneath the arch is a peacock, set over a white dove rising on the vale, both birds accented by a flourish of three ink-black curlicues. Flanking on both sides are a curling acantha leaf and a trio of silver stars. Small engraved elven letters cross through the center of the crest.''<br>
''There appears to be something written on it.''

''In the Elven language, it reads:''
''She conquers, who endures.''

===a pavonated leather-bound book===
Rohese is never without her grandmother's special book (Codex Ista):

''A quire of creamy vellum has been neatly bound in faded blue leather and embossed with a stargazer lily on the front. Thin bookmarks and slips of annotated parchment protrude from the top of the well-thumbed pages, marking passages of significant relevance to the reader. The title, “Deportment and Decorum,” can still be made out on the distressed spine in gold leaf along with the name of the author, “Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim.”''

Whilst many copies have been made for public libraries and private collections, the book in her possession is essentially the original text as written by her grandmother. The book is a palimpsest; beneath the innocuous rhetoric on etiquette and protocol is a far more potent source of wisdom. Sahese Bayvel was in fact a powerful [[Sorcerer | white witch]] who bequeathed her knowledge to Rohese in two layers. Initially, she passed on her insights into deportment and decorum through the basic text within the book but wished her granddaughter to also gain a wider understanding of the arcane power she was capable of.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff"> a pavonated leather-bound book</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
'''raise'''
1st Person: Holding the book up to your face, you attempt to ignore the goings-on around you. Curiosity gets the better of you and you can't resist a quick peek.
3rd Person: Rohese holds her book up close to her face, pretending to ignore the goings-on around her. Occasionally, she sneaks a quick peek over the top.

'''flip'''
1st Person: You thumb carefully through the pages of your book until you find the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with your finger as you read it, you ponder the content for a moment before giving a nod of approval.
3rd Person: Rohese thumbs carefully through the pages of her book until she finds the pertinent passage. Tracing the lines of text with her finger as she reads it, she looks deep in thought for a moment before giving a nod of approval.

'''push'''
1st Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on your head, you stand with practiced poise and take a few graceful steps forward. Feeling the book wobble slightly, you remove it before it has a chance to fall.
3rd Person: Balancing the leather-bound book on her head, Rohese stands with practiced poise and takes a few graceful steps forward. Just as the book begins to wobble, she removes it before it has a chance to fall.

'''tap'''
1st Person: Pursing your lips in disapproval and drawing yourself up to full height, you tap the cover of your leather-bound book hoping to draw attention to its title.
3rd Person: Pursing her lips and drawing herself up to full height, Rohese's fingernails tap agitatedly on the cover of her leather-bound book. With a steely glint in her eye, she glances pointedly at the title and tightens her grip on the spine.

'''tilt'''
1st Person: Gazing intently at your book, you contemplate the importance of etiquette and education... of fancy gowns and fairies. Lost in thought, you notice that you seem to be eating your hair again!
3rd Person: Rohese looks totally engrossed in her book as she absently nibbles on the end of a lock of hair.

'''turn'''
1st Person: Lost for words, you frantically turn the pages of your book in search of an appropriate response. All you can manage is an indignant, "Foof!"
3rd Person: Rohese frantically turns the pages of her book in search of an appropriate response but all she can manage are barely audible squeaks and an indignant, "Foof!"

'''wave'''
1st Person: In a fit of pique, you lift your book as if about to swipe at someone. Quickly realizing the error of your ways, you flush with embarrassment and lower your arm.
3rd Person: In a momentary fit of pique, Rohese lifts her book as if to take a swipe at someone. She quickly lowers her arm, however, with an abashed look on her face.

'''touch'''
1st Person: Removing a thin stylus from the spine of your book, you make a small annotation in the page margin, then carefully replace it.
3rd Person: Poised and calm, Rohese removes a thin stylus from the spine of her book and makes a small annotation in the page margin, then replaces it.

'''lace'''
1st Person: Lacing your fingers together, you cradle the book in your hands and murmur a short prayer of remembrance. Whispers of familiar spoken passages fill your ears and faint lines of text seem to run just under your skin, rising to the surface like bubbles on a pond, only to dissolve.
3rd Person: Lacing her fingers, Rohese cradles her book reverently in her hands and murmurs a few words under her breath. Faint lines of text appear to swirl beneath her pale skin for a moment, only to dissolve again just as quickly.

'''kiss'''
1st Person: Bringing your book to your lips, you whisper the word "wisdom" into its pages. Faint letters rise to the surface of your exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
3rd Person: Rohese lifts her book to her lips and whispers something. Faint letters rise to the surface of her exposed skin, arranging themselves into words and settling into position for a moment before fading away.
</pre></div>

===an adularescent pale opal ring===
With the discovery of her grandmother's ring, Rohese has since learned how to access the effaced writing of the Codex Ista.

''Flanked by a vaalin crescent and a trio of tiny silver stars, a notably large oval-cut opal sits atop a band of white gold. Flaunting a milky white body, the remarkable stone is semi-opaque and shows a play of iridescent color with flashes of silver and blue across its glassy surface. The engraving on the inside of the band has worn away somewhat but is still legible.
Walk barefoot. Listen to the trees. Drink in the moon. Be Magic.''

===a moon-filled eonake pendant===

''Long strands of silver and eonake have been twisted together in a double rope pattern to create a sturdy, but elegant, neckchain. Four unembellished rings situated side-by-side dangle from the centermost point of the metal strands. All four rings contain a small glowing sphere that appears to spin slowly. A bloodrune rests atop the four moons, secured by a luminescent, crimson-hued thread.''

===a glass peacock eye pendant===
She also wears her mother's pendant which has a [[loresong]] related to her background:

''Strung on tangled electrum threads, this large oval-shaped pendant is crafted from brilliant emerald green glass. A spherical dark-hued lapis lazuli stone flecked with gold has been fused in the center of the glass, creating the illusion of a peacock eye.''

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mypendant" style="color:#0000ff"> a glass peacock eye pendant</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mypendant">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
Gold motes stir within the pendant's eye as your song evokes memories of an elven childhood. Beneath a cloudless lapis blue sky, two young girls chase each other around a cottonwood tree laden with fluffy white catkins. A gentle breeze ruffles their silvery blonde hair and sends a flurry of seeds around them as they laugh and play. Their glee is interrupted only by the entrance of an elegant woman, her glass pendant glinting in the sunlight. She extends her arms and both children rush into her embrace.

[Cappyn's eyes turn a dazzling lapis blue as she sings to her peacock eye pendant. A sudden warm breeze brings with it a flurry of fluffy white cottonwood seeds and the faint echo of children's laughter.]

Your song falters as the gold motes flicker and fade like a dying candle flame. Images of harmonious family life flood your mind until one scene lingers. Decades have passed and the joyous sounds of laughter have been replaced by a somber mood. Clad in black, an elven cleric stares dolefully out of a library window, his fingers locked around a glass pendant. With a mournful sigh, he settles his gaze on his two teary eyed daughters and hands the pendant to the eldest before walking away without a word.

[A solitary tear rolls down Cappyn's cheek as she struggles to sing to her peacock eye pendant. The coo of a nearby mourning dove adds a doleful counterpoint to her melody.]

The pendant's eye darkens with your new refrain but pulsates with a ghostly blue radiance. With each waning pulse, a velvety shroud of darkness shifts to reveal a towering glowbark tree. A willowy young elf is kneeling before her black-robed sister, who clutches a glass pendant tightly in her clawed hand. The elf lifts her head as if to accompany the eerie ballad of the nearby sirenflowers, but all she can manage is a grief-stricken silence. The incandescence fades and with it the heart wrenching image

[Cappyn's eyes cloud over with a ghostly blue haze as she continues to sing to her peacock eye pendant. For a brief moment, she is accompanied by the eerie whispering lilt of sirenflowers.]

At first it seems your song may fail, but your phrasing subtly transforms into a dirge and lifts the shroud again to reveal a mausoleum. A black-robed elf with ashen hair stands over a linden casket. Her expression shows no emotion as she places a glass pendant onto the lid and leaves. Moments later, a willowy elf steps from the shadows to retrieve it. Tucking it carefully it into her white robes, she replaces it with a purple mournbloom. A distant peacock's scream startles you back to present day.

[The peacock eye pendant in Cappyn's hand flashes with a sapphire blue radiance as her song subtly transforms into a dirge and ends abruptly with a distant peacock scream. An unexpected breeze brings with it the melancholy fragrance of mournblooms.]
</pre></div>

==Written Works==
A collection of philosophical essays, books and publications written by members of the Bayvel family.

[[Essential Etiquette Handbook (essay)|Deportment and Decorum: The Essential Etiquette Handbook]] by Lady Sahese Bayvel Illistim

[[A Brief History of Horology (essay)|A Brief History of Horology]] by Eairion Bayvel Illistim II

[[Elanthian Viniculture (essay)|Elanthian Viniculture]] by Tymian Bayvel Illistim

[[Palurin Fea (essay)|An abstract of "The Palurin Fea: A spiritual alchemist's perspective of the world's soul"]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Effective Altruism (essay)|Effective Altruism: A discourse on our moral obligation to help others]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Unfinished Lullaby (essay)|The Unfinished Lullaby]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Isle of Graces]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity (essay)|Owls, Elves, and Avian Affinity]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta (essay)|The Aewen Lilta and Aewen Ohta]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society (essay)|Quill Symbolism in Illistim Society]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective (essay)|The Architecture of the Museum Alerreth: A Geometric Perspective]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the [[Festival of Lumnea 2020|Festival of Lumnea]] Symposium, 5120

[[Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi (essay)|Dignity in Death: Mourning and Funereal Customs of the Illistimi]] by Rohese Bayvel ~ presented at the Ilyan Syndicate's [[Ilyan Syndicate/Autumn on the Mountain|Autumn on the Mountain]] Cultural Talk, 5122

[[The Five Sisters (short story)]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|The Sentience of Trees]] by Rohese Bayvel

[[Elanthian Vogue]] ~ articles written and edited by Rohese Bayvel

[[The Corpse Bird (poetry)]] by Rohese Bayvel

==Player-Created Storylines==
Journal #1 - [[A_Difficult_Journey_(short_story)|"A Difficult Journey"]]

Journal #2 - [[A_Healing_Process_(short_story)|"A Healing Process"]]

Journal #3 - [[Eternal_Knowledge_(short_story)|"Eternal Knowledge"]]

Journal #4 - [[Search_for_the_Truth_(short_story)|"Search for the Truth"]]

Journal #5 - [[The_Reckoning_(short_story)|"The Reckoning"]]

'''[[/Forgotten Ink|Forgotten Ink]]''' - An upcoming storyline to be set in Ta'Illistim during the summer of 5125

Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126

2026-03-31T08:26:54Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Charlatos 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/03/30 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]Spring has arrived with a new kind of energy. Where Lormesta pared back and Fashanos hardened, Charlatos begins to reimagine what was worn thin by winter. In [[Icemule Trace]], far from the polished philosophies of [[Ta'Illistim]] or the brutal spectacle of the [[Duskruin Arena]], this renewal takes on a more personal, almost chaotically charming form. Here, within a quaint white brick cottage with a painted dilapidated pirate ship mural, Nonie's Shop hums with something raw and inventive: a space where craft is not tradition, but instinct.

At the heart of it all is [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]] - mop girl, cobbler, tailor, and a lot more besides. Her work does not follow the rigid schools of elven design or the inherited aesthetics of [[Vanadre Chiras]] caravans. Instead, it is guided by feeling; by a curious, intuitive relationship with materials and an uncanny skill to see designs that work for everyone.

I invite you all to step inside this magical haven of crafting creativity with me and meet the Mop Girl of Shanty Town herself!

==Charlatos Magic in Maylan's Market==
Nonie's Shop or "Maylan's Market" is divided, like her craft, into pieces that only fully make sense when brought together. The eastern room is cluttered with salvaged curiosities - "junk," as Maylan calls it - the remnants of other lives and other adventures. The western room is where her creative talents take over: cobbling, crafting, tailoring. At the centre, quite literally, is where her vision comes into focus: a table of garments, mix-and-match pieces, and carefully constructed matching sets.

It is here that her work really shines in the shape of formal fashion. Skirts and trousers sit side by side, inviting recombination. Structured cotehardies share space with looser, more playful designs. This fluidity owes something to the [[Tailor Order Book]], which allows patterns to be created, curated, and refined. Yet in Maylan's talented hands, such structure becomes merely a starting point. The book may hold the pattern but the essence of the garment is something she finds in the act of making.

If Bella's winter was about restraint and Gamac's Goods about movement, Maylan's spring is about play. Her inventory lends itself to:

* Patchwork layering, combining contrasting fabrics and colours into something unexpectedly harmonious
* Asymmetry, where one element draws the eye and the rest follows in suggestion rather than symmetry
* Coupled design, with matching sets intended for partnerships - romantic, theatrical, or simply whimsical

But I'll let Maylan explain!

"Come on in! Welcome to Maylan's Market! Oh…" Maylan stops abruptly, her eyebrows knitting with concern. "I mean Nonie's Market," she quickly stammers. "Don't call it Maylan's Market too loud, on accounta it makes Nonie real mad. Nonie is the owner of this place, and I'm just her mop girl. Nonie is an elf lass who lives round Icemule, and I s'pose folks got used to calling it Maylan's Market on accounta they see me round here so often."

"Nonie says that doin' all the sewin' and tailerin' is also what mop girls are s'posed to do," Maylan continues. "I didn't know that. I asked her about it once, but she told me that mop girls aren't sposed to ask questions. I didn't know that either. Nonie gives me real purdy materials to work with, and sometimes I get to keep the leftover scraps. And she gives me 30 whole silvers a day! Oh boy!"

Maylan ushers me into the eastern room. "Round here is a bunch of junk Nonie found adventurin'. I didn't make any of it and it's all real boring 'cept fer the toys. I want to make sock puppets to sell, but Nonie calls 'em ugly." With an indifferent shrug, she shows me to the western room.

"Round here is where I do the cobblin' and otherly crafts." Maylan lightly brushes her fingers over an intricately woven headdress of coral-kissed nacreous raven feathers and violet-dusked beads. "Nonie says these feathers are 'ethically sourced', but I'm not real sure." Moving to the counter, Maylan directs my attention to some radiant ruby red metal-threaded jacquard pompes. "This here is the shoe wall. I'm not used to wearin' two shoes, so sometimes I ferget to make the other. That also makes Nonie real mad." Maylan thumps her mop-fringed pegleg on the floor in three rapid successions before moving to the center room.

"I like tailerin' a whole lot." Maylan's eyes grow distant as her expression softens. "The first time I set to sewin', I felt that mana flow that all us magical folk know real well - the flow that knits our world together and runs in that constant thrum." A smile slowly forms on her face as she continues. "Sewin' feels a whole lot like healin'. When I take a fabric and start puttin' it to work, I can feel the shape it's s'posed to be. It feels right and whole, just like you folk feel when I'm puttin' yer bodies back to right," she explains with a wry grin. "I s'pose you could say tailerin', arts, craftin', and cobblin' are just healin' fer materials instead of flesh. Our world is all connected in ways I still don't understand real well, but I do know that mana is what binds it all."

"In the chest round here is mix and match stuffs fer folks to wear. Skirts and pants and whatnot. But I'm real proud of what's on the table. I make matching sets fer couples." Maylan showcases a high-throated peacock blue burnt velvet cotehardie with a scalloped hem, which is displayed next to a peacock blue burnt velvet tabard featuring golden scrollwork embroidery.

"Here," she insists, "try on mine own favorite," and hands me an open-back molten copper starsilk gown with off-shoulder sleeves. Maylan then holds a sleek molten copper starsilk doublet boasting variegated flared cuffs to her chest and adopts a comically aristocratic pose. "Aren't we a sportin couple now! Harrr!"

Suddenly I hear the sound of keys jangling, and Maylan gives an abrupt yelp. "Quick, get out! Nonie's comin' round and I didn't tell her 'bout this tour!" Before I can protest, Maylan unceremoniously shoves me out of the nearest window!

Maylan's Market is not polished. It is not consistent. It is not, in any conventional sense, refined. And yet, it may be one of the most dynamic expressions of fashion in Elanthia. Here, garments are not dictated by tradition or expectation, but by instinct, by material, by the quiet pull of mana through thread and hand. With the help of knitting needles, weaving snips, cobbling awls, and the unpredictability of her own talent, Maylan creates wonderful clothing and footwear that feels less designed and more discovered. We, at V, wholeheartedly approve and encourage you all to support this small business.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126

2026-03-31T08:26:19Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Charlatos 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/03/30 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]Spring has arrived with a new kind of energy. Where Lormesta pared back and Fashanos hardened, Charlatos begins to reimagine what was worn thin by winter. In [[Icemule Trace]], far from the polished philosophies of [[Ta'Illistim]] or the brutal spectacle of the [[Duskruin Arena]], this renewal takes on a more personal, almost chaotically charming form. Here, within a quaint white brick cottage with a painted dilapidated pirate ship mural, Nonie's Shop hums with something raw and inventive: a space where craft is not tradition, but instinct.

At the heart of it all is [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]] - mop girl, cobbler, tailor, and a lot more besides. Her work does not follow the rigid schools of elven design or the inherited aesthetics of [[Vanadre Chiral]] caravans. Instead, it is guided by feeling; by a curious, intuitive relationship with materials and an uncanny skill to see designs that work for everyone.

I invite you all to step inside this magical haven of crafting creativity with me and meet the Mop Girl of Shanty Town herself!

==Charlatos Magic in Maylan's Market==
Nonie's Shop or "Maylan's Market" is divided, like her craft, into pieces that only fully make sense when brought together. The eastern room is cluttered with salvaged curiosities - "junk," as Maylan calls it - the remnants of other lives and other adventures. The western room is where her creative talents take over: cobbling, crafting, tailoring. At the centre, quite literally, is where her vision comes into focus: a table of garments, mix-and-match pieces, and carefully constructed matching sets.

It is here that her work really shines in the shape of formal fashion. Skirts and trousers sit side by side, inviting recombination. Structured cotehardies share space with looser, more playful designs. This fluidity owes something to the [[Tailor Order Book]], which allows patterns to be created, curated, and refined. Yet in Maylan's talented hands, such structure becomes merely a starting point. The book may hold the pattern but the essence of the garment is something she finds in the act of making.

If Bella's winter was about restraint and Gamac's Goods about movement, Maylan's spring is about play. Her inventory lends itself to:

* Patchwork layering, combining contrasting fabrics and colours into something unexpectedly harmonious
* Asymmetry, where one element draws the eye and the rest follows in suggestion rather than symmetry
* Coupled design, with matching sets intended for partnerships - romantic, theatrical, or simply whimsical

But I'll let Maylan explain!

"Come on in! Welcome to Maylan's Market! Oh…" Maylan stops abruptly, her eyebrows knitting with concern. "I mean Nonie's Market," she quickly stammers. "Don't call it Maylan's Market too loud, on accounta it makes Nonie real mad. Nonie is the owner of this place, and I'm just her mop girl. Nonie is an elf lass who lives round Icemule, and I s'pose folks got used to calling it Maylan's Market on accounta they see me round here so often."

"Nonie says that doin' all the sewin' and tailerin' is also what mop girls are s'posed to do," Maylan continues. "I didn't know that. I asked her about it once, but she told me that mop girls aren't sposed to ask questions. I didn't know that either. Nonie gives me real purdy materials to work with, and sometimes I get to keep the leftover scraps. And she gives me 30 whole silvers a day! Oh boy!"

Maylan ushers me into the eastern room. "Round here is a bunch of junk Nonie found adventurin'. I didn't make any of it and it's all real boring 'cept fer the toys. I want to make sock puppets to sell, but Nonie calls 'em ugly." With an indifferent shrug, she shows me to the western room.

"Round here is where I do the cobblin' and otherly crafts." Maylan lightly brushes her fingers over an intricately woven headdress of coral-kissed nacreous raven feathers and violet-dusked beads. "Nonie says these feathers are 'ethically sourced', but I'm not real sure." Moving to the counter, Maylan directs my attention to some radiant ruby red metal-threaded jacquard pompes. "This here is the shoe wall. I'm not used to wearin' two shoes, so sometimes I ferget to make the other. That also makes Nonie real mad." Maylan thumps her mop-fringed pegleg on the floor in three rapid successions before moving to the center room.

"I like tailerin' a whole lot." Maylan's eyes grow distant as her expression softens. "The first time I set to sewin', I felt that mana flow that all us magical folk know real well - the flow that knits our world together and runs in that constant thrum." A smile slowly forms on her face as she continues. "Sewin' feels a whole lot like healin'. When I take a fabric and start puttin' it to work, I can feel the shape it's s'posed to be. It feels right and whole, just like you folk feel when I'm puttin' yer bodies back to right," she explains with a wry grin. "I s'pose you could say tailerin', arts, craftin', and cobblin' are just healin' fer materials instead of flesh. Our world is all connected in ways I still don't understand real well, but I do know that mana is what binds it all."

"In the chest round here is mix and match stuffs fer folks to wear. Skirts and pants and whatnot. But I'm real proud of what's on the table. I make matching sets fer couples." Maylan showcases a high-throated peacock blue burnt velvet cotehardie with a scalloped hem, which is displayed next to a peacock blue burnt velvet tabard featuring golden scrollwork embroidery.

"Here," she insists, "try on mine own favorite," and hands me an open-back molten copper starsilk gown with off-shoulder sleeves. Maylan then holds a sleek molten copper starsilk doublet boasting variegated flared cuffs to her chest and adopts a comically aristocratic pose. "Aren't we a sportin couple now! Harrr!"

Suddenly I hear the sound of keys jangling, and Maylan gives an abrupt yelp. "Quick, get out! Nonie's comin' round and I didn't tell her 'bout this tour!" Before I can protest, Maylan unceremoniously shoves me out of the nearest window!

Maylan's Market is not polished. It is not consistent. It is not, in any conventional sense, refined. And yet, it may be one of the most dynamic expressions of fashion in Elanthia. Here, garments are not dictated by tradition or expectation, but by instinct, by material, by the quiet pull of mana through thread and hand. With the help of knitting needles, weaving snips, cobbling awls, and the unpredictability of her own talent, Maylan creates wonderful clothing and footwear that feels less designed and more discovered. We, at V, wholeheartedly approve and encourage you all to support this small business.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126

2026-03-30T14:20:04Z

CHIVERSFREE1: Created page with "{{creative-work |title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Charlatos 5126)  |type = periodical  |author = The Looking Glass  |author-displayed = The Looking Glass  |date = 2026/03/30 <!-- Date creative work publish..."

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Charlatos 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/03/30 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]Spring has arrived with a new kind of energy. Where Lormesta pared back and Fashanos hardened, Charlatos begins to reimagine what was worn thin by winter. In [[Icemule Trace]], far from the polished philosophies of [[Ta'Illistim]] or the brutal spectacle of the [[Duskruin Arena]], this renewal takes on a more personal, almost chaotically charming form. Here, within a quaint white brick cottage with a painted dilapidated pirate ship mural, Nonie's Shop hums with something raw and inventive: a space where craft is not tradition, but instinct.

At the heart of it all is [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]] - mop girl, cobbler, tailor, and a lot more besides. Her work does not follow the rigid schools of elven design or the inherited aesthetics of Vandre Chiras caravans. Instead, it is guided by feeling; by a curious, intuitive relationship with materials and an uncanny skill to see designs that work for everyone.

I invite you all to step inside this magical haven of crafting creativity with me and meet the Mop Girl of Shanty Town herself!

==Charlatos Magic in Maylan's Market==
Nonie's Shop or "Maylan's Market" is divided, like her craft, into pieces that only fully make sense when brought together. The eastern room is cluttered with salvaged curiosities - "junk," as Maylan calls it - the remnants of other lives and other adventures. The western room is where her creative talents take over: cobbling, crafting, tailoring. At the centre, quite literally, is where her vision comes into focus: a table of garments, mix-and-match pieces, and carefully constructed matching sets.

It is here that her work really shines in the shape of formal fashion. Skirts and trousers sit side by side, inviting recombination. Structured cotehardies share space with looser, more playful designs. This fluidity owes something to the [[Tailor Order Book]], which allows patterns to be created, curated, and refined. Yet in Maylan's talented hands, such structure becomes merely a starting point. The book may hold the pattern but the essence of the garment is something she finds in the act of making.

If Bella's winter was about restraint and Gamac's Goods about movement, Maylan's spring is about play. Her inventory lends itself to:

* Patchwork layering, combining contrasting fabrics and colours into something unexpectedly harmonious
* Asymmetry, where one element draws the eye and the rest follows in suggestion rather than symmetry
* Coupled design, with matching sets intended for partnerships - romantic, theatrical, or simply whimsical

But I'll let Maylan explain!

"Come on in! Welcome to Maylan's Market! Oh…" Maylan stops abruptly, her eyebrows knitting with concern. "I mean Nonie's Market," she quickly stammers. "Don't call it Maylan's Market too loud, on accounta it makes Nonie real mad. Nonie is the owner of this place, and I'm just her mop girl. Nonie is an elf lass who lives round Icemule, and I s'pose folks got used to calling it Maylan's Market on accounta they see me round here so often."

"Nonie says that doin' all the sewin' and tailerin' is also what mop girls are s'posed to do," Maylan continues. "I didn't know that. I asked her about it once, but she told me that mop girls aren't sposed to ask questions. I didn't know that either. Nonie gives me real purdy materials to work with, and sometimes I get to keep the leftover scraps. And she gives me 30 whole silvers a day! Oh boy!"

Maylan ushers me into the eastern room. "Round here is a bunch of junk Nonie found adventurin'. I didn't make any of it and it's all real boring 'cept fer the toys. I want to make sock puppets to sell, but Nonie calls 'em ugly." With an indifferent shrug, she shows me to the western room.

"Round here is where I do the cobblin' and otherly crafts." Maylan lightly brushes her fingers over an intricately woven headdress of coral-kissed nacreous raven feathers and violet-dusked beads. "Nonie says these feathers are 'ethically sourced', but I'm not real sure." Moving to the counter, Maylan directs my attention to some radiant ruby red metal-threaded jacquard pompes. "This here is the shoe wall. I'm not used to wearin' two shoes, so sometimes I ferget to make the other. That also makes Nonie real mad." Maylan thumps her mop-fringed pegleg on the floor in three rapid successions before moving to the center room.

"I like tailerin' a whole lot." Maylan's eyes grow distant as her expression softens. "The first time I set to sewin', I felt that mana flow that all us magical folk know real well - the flow that knits our world together and runs in that constant thrum." A smile slowly forms on her face as she continues. "Sewin' feels a whole lot like healin'. When I take a fabric and start puttin' it to work, I can feel the shape it's s'posed to be. It feels right and whole, just like you folk feel when I'm puttin' yer bodies back to right," she explains with a wry grin. "I s'pose you could say tailerin', arts, craftin', and cobblin' are just healin' fer materials instead of flesh. Our world is all connected in ways I still don't understand real well, but I do know that mana is what binds it all."

"In the chest round here is mix and match stuffs fer folks to wear. Skirts and pants and whatnot. But I'm real proud of what's on the table. I make matching sets fer couples." Maylan showcases a high-throated peacock blue burnt velvet cotehardie with a scalloped hem, which is displayed next to a peacock blue burnt velvet tabard featuring golden scrollwork embroidery.

"Here," she insists, "try on mine own favorite," and hands me an open-back molten copper starsilk gown with off-shoulder sleeves. Maylan then holds a sleek molten copper starsilk doublet boasting variegated flared cuffs to her chest and adopts a comically aristocratic pose. "Aren't we a sportin couple now! Harrr!"

Suddenly I hear the sound of keys jangling, and Maylan gives an abrupt yelp. "Quick, get out! Nonie's comin' round and I didn't tell her 'bout this tour!" Before I can protest, Maylan unceremoniously shoves me out of the nearest window!

Maylan's Market is not polished. It is not consistent. It is not, in any conventional sense, refined. And yet, it may be one of the most dynamic expressions of fashion in Elanthia. Here, garments are not dictated by tradition or expectation, but by instinct, by material, by the quiet pull of mana through thread and hand. With the help of knitting needles, weaving snips, cobbling awls, and the unpredictability of her own talent, Maylan creates wonderful clothing and footwear that feels less designed and more discovered. We, at V, wholeheartedly approve and encourage you all to support this small business.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue

2026-03-30T13:54:46Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Elanthian Vogue |type = periodical |author = Rohese Bayvel |author-displayed = |date = 2018-01-30}}
[[File:EV Insignia WIKI.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]
Elanthian Vogue is the official publication of [[The Looking Glass]], an established Fashion House and distinguished [[Meeting Hall Organization]] in the elven city of [[Ta'Illistim]]. Its offices and studio are located in [[Ailanthus Manor]] on Whistler's Pass.

Elanthian Vogue is a seasonal fashion magazine made up of many components, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, culture, and "runway". The aim of the publication is to raise awareness and encourage participation in fashion-oriented activities across [[Elanthia]]. The first edition was launched in [[Lormesta]] 5118. In 5123, it moved to being published annually to coincide with [[Elanthian Fashion Week]] or its associated events but, in 5126, it was rebranded to be called "V" and has since returned to a simpler, more regular format.

For further information, please contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]].

==Published Editions==
{| {{prettytable|background:#ebf7ef;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#4c9d67; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5126
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5126 | V (Lormesta 5126)]] - [[Bella's Bridal Boutique]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126 | V (Fashanos 5126)]] - [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5126 | V (Charlatos 5126)]] - [[Maylan (prime)|Maylan]]'s Market
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5125
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5125|Elanthian Vogue 5125]] - Botanicals: Sea, Sand and Soil
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5124
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5124|Elanthian Vogue 5124]] - Flora and Fauna
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5123
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5123|Elanthian Vogue 5123]] - Fashion Design and Cultural Influences
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#F0F8FF;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#000080; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5118 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5119 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5120 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5121 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5122 (Edition No. and Themes)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5118 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5118)]] - Launch||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5119 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5119)]] - Glamour||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5120 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5120)]] - Relax ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5121 | Edition 1 (Spring 5121)]] - Healing, Herbs, and Self Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5122 | Edition 1 (Spring 5122)]] - Weddings
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5119 | Edition 2 (Fashanos 5119)]] - Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Charlatos 5121)]] - Birds||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part I) | Edition 2 (Summer 5122): Part I]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5118 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5118)]] - Women||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5119 | Edition 3 (Charlatos 5119)]] - Handmaidens and Horoscopes||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5120 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5120)]] - Courtesans ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5121 | Edition 2 (Summer 5121)]] - Open Sea Adventures||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part II) | Edition 3 (Summer 5122): Part II]] - The Season
|-Z||
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5118 | Edition 3 (Ivastaen 5118)]] - RED||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5119 | Edition 4 (Olaesta 5119)]] - Pirates||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Olaesta 5120)]] - Cosmetics ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5121 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5121)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part III) | Edition 4 (Summer 5122): Part III]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 | Edition 4 (Lumnea 5118)]] - Image||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5119 | Edition 5 (Ivastaen 5119)]] - Travel||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part I) | Edition 3: Part I (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas<br>[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part II) | Edition 4: Part II (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas cont.d || [[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5121 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Koaratos 5121)]] - Revelia Carnivale||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Phoenatos 5122)]] - Entertaining
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Lumnea 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5119 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5120 | Edition 5 (Lumnea 5120)]] - Call of the Wild || [[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121 | Edition 3 (Autumn 5121)]] - It's Magic!||[[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5122 | Edition 5 (Autumn 5122)]] - Arts and Crafts
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5118 | Edition 5 (Koaratos 5118)]] - Well-Being||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5119 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5119)]] - Summer Is ...||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5120 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5120)]] - Theatre ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part I) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part I]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5122)]] - Bugs!
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5118 | Edition 6 (Imaerasta 5118)]] - Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5119 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part II) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part II]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5122 | Edition 6 (Winter 5122)]] - Winter
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5118 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Jastatos 5118)]] - Veola||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5119 | Edition 7 (Jastatos 5119)]] - Art||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 | Edition 7 (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Exotic ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5121)]] - Cordwainers||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5118 | Edition 7 (Eoantas 5118)]] - Men||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 | Edition 8 (Eoantos 5119)]] - Military||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Pets || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 | Edition 8 (Eorgaen 5118)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5119)]] - Elven Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120 | Edition 8 (Jastatos 5120)]] - Sugar and Spice || ||
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|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Eorgaen 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5119 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5119)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5120 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5120)]] - V(R)ogue Gallery || ||
|}

[[Category: Fashion]]

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-02-14T18:18:46Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision also needed to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

That night, both Lucraine and Rivienne experienced unusual dreams that they shared with the group.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Lucraine'''<br>
Sleep takes you suddenly - too suddenly - and the world folds into darkness.

At first there is only breath: the soft exhale of an ancient tree stirring in windless air. Then shapes bloom from shadow. You stand beneath a vast glowbark, its trunk rising like a pillar of moonlit glass. Its leaves shimmer in slow pulses, exhaling soft blue motes that drift around you like falling embers.

A single leaf breaks loose. As it descends, your dream narrows into its veins, lines turning into ink strokes, ink strokes into frantic handwriting. You hear Maerion's voice, not spoken but remembered, desperate and resolute:

"...conceal the words...no eye may see them...save hers."

The page dissolves into ripples of black water. You are suddenly knee-deep in a dark pool, ink swirling at your feet like living smoke. At the centre floats a warped, waterlogged treatise, its pages breathing faintly, as though alive. The script won't hold still; glyphs run like startled insects, then vanish entirely.

From the far shore, two lights flare; one silver, one deep, abyssal blue.

The silver becomes a sigil, Saereth's: a twisted glaes chain drifting in the air, the faint traces of her spiritual magic spiraling outward like frost. The blue becomes a shard of black coral, pulsing with quiet warning. The two lights draw nearer, circling the book, not quite touching, always kept apart by some unseen boundary.

The glowbark's roots pulse beneath the water, and the pool rises, whispering syllables that feel older than language, older than the Watchers, older than the valences themselves.

A figure steps toward the treatise - reaching, hesitating - and just before you can see who it is, the dream fractures.

The glowbark leaf flares, and everything is pulled upward in a rushing wind of ink, light, and whispers.

You stir and are left with the echo of a heartbeat that is not your own; slow, ancient, and waiting.
</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Rivienne'''<br>
Sleep brings only a flicker: the silhouette of a towering glowbark, its leaves dimming one by one like vanishing stars. A warped book hangs suspended before it, dripping black ink that spreads across the ground in creeping lines. Two lights - silver and deep blue - circle it once, never touching. A whisper rises, thin as breath:

"Not all eyes may see...but all may watch."

You wake with the odd feeling of being observed.
</div></pre>

=== 14th day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Rohese and Lucraine visited the ruins of the Calelith Villa and made a few discoveries. Secreted under the mattress of the bed in the Master Bedroom was an eye-etched black coral amulet that matched the one found earlier in the Veythorne Manor. A search in the crates in the basement revealed another copy of the Enchiridion Valentia and a Shien'tyr runestone. They also discovered a waterlogged warped black tome with ink smeared pages. The contents were impossible to decipher but Lucraine was able to learn quite a lot through loresinging.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytome" style="color:#0000ff">The Tome Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytome">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The loresong opens with a low hum, like the whispered conversations in a library hall. You glimpse a writing desk illuminated by candlelight; inkpots, sheets of parchment, and a young elven scholar hunched possessively over a black leather tome. Though it currently lies shut on the desk, spectral letters and symbols drift above it in ghostly strands. A name echoes faintly in the air: Maerion Veythorne. His quill scratches not just text, but something deeper: structured symbols and diagrams with notations alongside hastily scribbled notes.

The melody sharpens, like footsteps approaching along a quiet corridor. Now a woman enters the hall: Saereth Calelith, a black coral amulet resting against the dark silk of her robe. She does not speak at first. The two bend together over the tome, exchanging nods and half-smiles. What they learn is not meant for common eyes. Saereth adds annotations of her own to his notes - elegant and angular - while Maerion adjusts some glyphs. Some pages are crumpled up and carelessly discarded, others folded neatly and slipped into a pocket.

The tone of the song grows heavier. Rain lashes against stone as the tome is hurriedly packed away; slipped into a satchel. A voice - urgent, female - whispers, "They're coming sooner than we thought." You hear shouts in the distance, doors slamming. The book is dropped. Water seeps in. The inked glyphs begin to smear, resisting until the final rune dissolves. The contents are lost but the tome is not destroyed. It waits in darkness, its words indecipherable but not silenced.

The final verse slows, the melody muted like something long buried. You see a set of careful hands brushing damp leaves and cobwebs from the tome's warped leather as its lifted from a crate. Its pages, though smeared beyond recognition, still hum faintly with magic; residual threads of research, diagrams, and sigils once used to reach beyond the veil. Whatever arcane secrets the tome once contained, it is lost forever.
</pre></div>

Both agreed that this tome was probably the treatise mentioned in Maerion's journal that had been taken from the Library Aies and concealed in the Villa.

Rohese offered to hand over their discoveries to Alawien who would then reach out to everyone to decide what to do.

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|a foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126

2026-02-09T12:04:54Z

CHIVERSFREE1: Created page with "{{creative-work |title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Fashanos 5126)  |type = periodical  |author = The Looking Glass  |author-displayed = The Looking Glass  |date = 2026/02/09 <!-- Date creative work publishe..."

{{creative-work
|title = Elanthian Vogue: V (Fashanos 5126) 
|type = periodical 
|author = The Looking Glass 
|author-displayed = [[The Looking Glass]] 
|date = 2026/02/09 
}}
Editor: [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]

==Editor's Thoughts==
[[File:EV 5123 Editor.jpg|thumb|right|Editor. Image generated by Rohese's player using MidJourney]]Fashanos is a month of stark contrasts; the chill of winter still clings to Elanthia even as the heat of competition rises in Bloodriven Village. With the gates of Duskruin Arena thrown open once more, adventurers gather to test steel and spirit against formidable foes. And just as each combatant prepares spells and strategies, so too do they consider their appearance: not for court or ballrooms, but for the brutal arena of the sands. This month, V turns its gaze to [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]], a shop that trades in rugged practicality yet boasts a raw, unpolished sense of arena-ready fashion.

==Fashanos in the Bloodriven Village==
Every Duskruin run sees Bloodriven Village transformed into a bustling crossroads of combat and commerce, with the Arena and Sewers drawing bloodscrip and spectators in equal measure. Combatants enter with hopes of victory - earning bloodscrip and loot for successful bouts - and end with a mix of notoriety, wounds, and chatter in the Cheap Seats.

In this crucible, fashion means something fiercer than silk and lace. Here, garments and gear must integrate functionality for combat with a sense of identity: an aesthetic that says as much about the wearer's daring as their strategy.

At first glance, Gamac's Goods hardly resembles the elegant boutique of Ta'Illistim we featured last month. Its leaning stone walls and dust-heavy velvet curtains speak more of ramshackle charm than couture yet within its corners resides a curious blend of practical gear and stylish accessories for both skirmish and show.

In the shop's front room, faded curtains and overturned crates frame an assortment of gambling kits; from leather-strapped snakewood cases to marblewood kits with vaalorn hinges, all suggesting that, even in Bloodriven Village, leisure and lore walk hand-in-hand with combat.

But it is the back room that captures the true spirit of Duskruin fashion: a pair of mannequins stand watch, dressed in attire that marries rugged quality with flair. Here you can find:

⚔ six-times enchanted ebony leather shoes with disruption flares; ideal for unpredictable footwork in the arena.<br>
⚔ improved obsidian asp pendants and coin pouches that hold considerable sums weightlessly; both practical and striking for any combatant.<br>
⚔ charcoal suede knee-boots suitable for unarmed combat with grappling flares<br>
⚔ side-laced sable leather trousers, a textured linen shirt with distinct wing collar and high-capacity frock coat with ornate bronze buttons. Though not armour, these layered pieces articulate personality and presence. Perfect for the fighter who insists on style even when dust and blood are thick on the sands.

These offerings suggest a gritty, almost survivalist aesthetic but, with careful curation, they can become an integral part of a winter ensemble that feels purposeful rather than purely functional. The result is a style uniquely suited to Duskruin and its regular visitors.

So while the inventory of Gamac's Goods may lack the refined tailoring of Ta'Illistim, it offers something just as valuable for the gladiatorial spirit; form and flair … or flare … in equal measure. In the blood-spattered sands where survival and spectacle meet, fighters find not only gear but identity and we, at V, will gladly admire and cheer for it from the benches.

[[Category: Fashion]]

Elanthian Vogue

2026-02-09T11:49:37Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Published Editions */

{{creative-work | title = Elanthian Vogue |type = periodical |author = Rohese Bayvel |author-displayed = |date = 2018-01-30}}
[[File:EV Insignia WIKI.jpg|200px|thumb|right]]
Elanthian Vogue is the official publication of [[The Looking Glass]], an established Fashion House and distinguished [[Meeting Hall Organization]] in the elven city of [[Ta'Illistim]]. Its offices and studio are located in [[Ailanthus Manor]] on Whistler's Pass.

Elanthian Vogue is a seasonal fashion magazine made up of many components, such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, culture, and "runway". The aim of the publication is to raise awareness and encourage participation in fashion-oriented activities across [[Elanthia]]. The first edition was launched in [[Lormesta]] 5118. In 5123, it moved to being published annually to coincide with [[Elanthian Fashion Week]] or its associated events but, in 5126, it was rebranded to be called "V" and has since returned to a simpler, more regular format.

For further information, please contact [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel-Timbertree]].

==Published Editions==
{| {{prettytable|background:#ebf7ef;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#4c9d67; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5126
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5126 | V (Lormesta 5126)]] - [[Bella's Bridal Boutique]]
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5126 | V (Fashanos 5126)]] - [[BVShop:Gamac's Goods|Gamac's Goods]]
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5125
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5125|Elanthian Vogue 5125]] - Botanicals: Sea, Sand and Soil
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5124
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5124|Elanthian Vogue 5124]] - Flora and Fauna
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#FFF0F5;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#DA1884; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5123
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Elanthian Vogue 5123|Elanthian Vogue 5123]] - Fashion Design and Cultural Influences
|}

{| {{prettytable|background:#F0F8FF;height:15px;}}
|- style="background:#000080; vertical-align: top; font-size: larger; color:white;"
! style="width:35em"|5118 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5119 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5120 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5121 (Edition No. and Themes)
! style="width:35em"|5122 (Edition No. and Themes)
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5118 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5118)]] - Launch||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5119 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5119)]] - Glamour||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lormesta 5120 | Edition 1 (Lormesta 5120)]] - Relax ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5121 | Edition 1 (Spring 5121)]] - Healing, Herbs, and Self Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Spring 5122 | Edition 1 (Spring 5122)]] - Weddings
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5119 | Edition 2 (Fashanos 5119)]] - Love||[[Elanthian Vogue/Fashanos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Fashanos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Charlatos 5121)]] - Birds||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part I) | Edition 2 (Summer 5122): Part I]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5118 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5118)]] - Women||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5119 | Edition 3 (Charlatos 5119)]] - Handmaidens and Horoscopes||[[Elanthian Vogue/Charlatos 5120 | Edition 2 (Charlatos 5120)]] - Courtesans ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5121 | Edition 2 (Summer 5121)]] - Open Sea Adventures||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part II) | Edition 3 (Summer 5122): Part II]] - The Season
|-Z||
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5118 | Edition 3 (Ivastaen 5118)]] - RED||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5119 | Edition 4 (Olaesta 5119)]] - Pirates||[[Elanthian Vogue/Olaesta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Olaesta 5120)]] - Cosmetics ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5121 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5121)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Summer 5122 (Part III) | Edition 4 (Summer 5122): Part III]] - The Season
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 | Edition 4 (Lumnea 5118)]] - Image||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5119 | Edition 5 (Ivastaen 5119)]] - Travel||[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part I) | Edition 3: Part I (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas<br>[[Elanthian Vogue/Ivastaen 5120 (Part II) | Edition 4: Part II (Ivastaen 5120)]] - Ivas cont.d || [[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5121 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Koaratos 5121)]] - Revelia Carnivale||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Phoenatos 5122)]] - Entertaining
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Lumnea 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5119 (Rumor Woods Supplement) | Rumor Woods Supplement (Lumnea 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Lumnea 5120 | Edition 5 (Lumnea 5120)]] - Call of the Wild || [[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5121 | Edition 3 (Autumn 5121)]] - It's Magic!||[[Elanthian Vogue/Autumn 5122 | Edition 5 (Autumn 5122)]] - Arts and Crafts
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5118 | Edition 5 (Koaratos 5118)]] - Well-Being||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5119 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5119)]] - Summer Is ...||[[Elanthian Vogue/Koaratos 5120 | Edition 6 (Koaratos 5120)]] - Theatre ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part I) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part I]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5122 EXTRA! |EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5122)]] - Bugs!
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5118 | Edition 6 (Imaerasta 5118)]] - Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5119 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5119)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Phoenatos 5120 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Phoenatos 5120)]] ||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5121 (Part II) | Edition 4 (Winter 5121): Part II]] - Adventures After Dark||[[Elanthian Vogue/Winter 5122 | Edition 6 (Winter 5122)]] - Winter
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5118 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Jastatos 5118)]] - Veola||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5119 | Edition 7 (Jastatos 5119)]] - Art||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 | Edition 7 (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Exotic ||[[Elanthian Vogue/EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5121)]] - Cordwainers||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantas 5118 | Edition 7 (Eoantas 5118)]] - Men||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 | Edition 8 (Eoantos 5119)]] - Military||[[Elanthian Vogue/Imaerasta 5120 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Imaerasta 5120)]] - Pets || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 | Edition 8 (Eorgaen 5118)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eoantos 5119 EXTRA! | EV EXTRA! (Eoantos 5119)]] - Elven Fashion||[[Elanthian Vogue/Jastatos 5120 | Edition 8 (Jastatos 5120)]] - Sugar and Spice || ||
|-
|[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5118 (Duskruin Supplement) | Duskruin Supplement (Eorgaen 5118)]]||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5119 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5119)]] - Vogue Gallery||[[Elanthian Vogue/Eorgaen 5120 | Edition 9 (Eorgaen 5120)]] - V(R)ogue Gallery || ||
|}

[[Category: Fashion]]

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-02-03T12:46:37Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 */

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision also needed to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

That night, both Lucraine and Rivienne experienced unusual dreams that they shared with the group.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Lucraine'''<br>
Sleep takes you suddenly - too suddenly - and the world folds into darkness.

At first there is only breath: the soft exhale of an ancient tree stirring in windless air. Then shapes bloom from shadow. You stand beneath a vast glowbark, its trunk rising like a pillar of moonlit glass. Its leaves shimmer in slow pulses, exhaling soft blue motes that drift around you like falling embers.

A single leaf breaks loose. As it descends, your dream narrows into its veins, lines turning into ink strokes, ink strokes into frantic handwriting. You hear Maerion's voice, not spoken but remembered, desperate and resolute:

"...conceal the words...no eye may see them...save hers."

The page dissolves into ripples of black water. You are suddenly knee-deep in a dark pool, ink swirling at your feet like living smoke. At the centre floats a warped, waterlogged treatise, its pages breathing faintly, as though alive. The script won't hold still; glyphs run like startled insects, then vanish entirely.

From the far shore, two lights flare; one silver, one deep, abyssal blue.

The silver becomes a sigil, Saereth's: a twisted glaes chain drifting in the air, the faint traces of her spiritual magic spiraling outward like frost. The blue becomes a shard of black coral, pulsing with quiet warning. The two lights draw nearer, circling the book, not quite touching, always kept apart by some unseen boundary.

The glowbark's roots pulse beneath the water, and the pool rises, whispering syllables that feel older than language, older than the Watchers, older than the valences themselves.

A figure steps toward the treatise - reaching, hesitating - and just before you can see who it is, the dream fractures.

The glowbark leaf flares, and everything is pulled upward in a rushing wind of ink, light, and whispers.

You stir and are left with the echo of a heartbeat that is not your own; slow, ancient, and waiting.
</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Rivienne'''<br>
Sleep brings only a flicker: the silhouette of a towering glowbark, its leaves dimming one by one like vanishing stars. A warped book hangs suspended before it, dripping black ink that spreads across the ground in creeping lines. Two lights - silver and deep blue - circle it once, never touching. A whisper rises, thin as breath:

"Not all eyes may see...but all may watch."

You wake with the odd feeling of being observed.
</div></pre>

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|a foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-02-03T12:45:59Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 */

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision also needed to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

That night, both Lucraine and Rivienne experienced unusual dreams that they shared with the group.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Lucraine'''<br>
Sleep takes you suddenly - too suddenly - and the world folds into darkness.

At first there is only breath: the soft exhale of an ancient tree stirring in windless air. Then shapes bloom from shadow. You stand beneath a vast glowbark, its trunk rising like a pillar of moonlit glass. Its leaves shimmer in slow pulses, exhaling soft blue motes that drift around you like falling embers.

A single leaf breaks loose. As it descends, your dream narrows into its veins, lines turning into ink strokes, ink strokes into frantic handwriting. You hear Maerion's voice, not spoken but remembered, desperate and resolute:

"...conceal the words…no eye may see them...save hers."

The page dissolves into ripples of black water. You are suddenly knee-deep in a dark pool, ink swirling at your feet like living smoke. At the centre floats a warped, waterlogged treatise, its pages breathing faintly, as though alive. The script won't hold still; glyphs run like startled insects, then vanish entirely.

From the far shore, two lights flare; one silver, one deep, abyssal blue.

The silver becomes a sigil, Saereth's: a twisted glaes chain drifting in the air, the faint traces of her spiritual magic spiraling outward like frost. The blue becomes a shard of black coral, pulsing with quiet warning. The two lights draw nearer, circling the book, not quite touching, always kept apart by some unseen boundary.

The glowbark's roots pulse beneath the water, and the pool rises, whispering syllables that feel older than language, older than the Watchers, older than the valences themselves.

A figure steps toward the treatise - reaching, hesitating - and just before you can see who it is, the dream fractures.

The glowbark leaf flares, and everything is pulled upward in a rushing wind of ink, light, and whispers.

You stir and are left with the echo of a heartbeat that is not your own; slow, ancient, and waiting.
</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''Rivienne'''<br>
Sleep brings only a flicker: the silhouette of a towering glowbark, its leaves dimming one by one like vanishing stars. A warped book hangs suspended before it, dripping black ink that spreads across the ground in creeping lines. Two lights - silver and deep blue - circle it once, never touching. A whisper rises, thin as breath:

"Not all eyes may see...but all may watch."

You wake with the odd feeling of being observed.
</div></pre>

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|a foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Liminality (short story)

2026-02-02T15:47:25Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Kingfisher */

{{creative-work | title = Liminality | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2024-12-03}}

[[File:Rohese (midjourney2).png|300px|thumb|right|Rohese Bayvel<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]First published on the 3rd day of Eorgaen in the year 5124.

Following on from her unfortunate [[The Reckoning (short story)|encounter]] with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], this is a repository of vignettes around Rohese's continued story.

==Prologue==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Liminality /ˌlɪməˈnælɪti/

Liminality is a quality of being in between two places or stages, on the verge of transitioning to something new.

Periods of liminality are transitional, sometimes disorienting, and frequently involve waiting for something new to begin. Liminality is rooted in the idea of a threshold (limen in Latin), a kind of doorway between the past and the future."</div></pre>

Rohese was struggling but, with the help of her glamour, she was able to convince her grandfather and Mimini that she was coping with Mirkk's absence. It had been three months since his departure; a blink of an eye to an elf but she felt every minute of every day as if each were a century passed.

Her grandfather had reassured her that his journey west had been imperative and that he had to go alone. Eairion would not be drawn on the reasons and all Rohese's protestations – her many tearful and angry outbursts – had fallen on deaf ears. She simply spent her time between home and Nendelomea in a state of sullen acceptance. Mimini's futile attempts to placate her with freshly baked lemon cookies and ripe summer berries went unappreciated and Ipsy had all but given up trying to engage her with her new-found skills in starstone divination .

Feeling lost and numb, Rohese aimlessly wandered the surrounding woodlands of her family home oblivious to everything around her.

==Anniversary==
A yellowing leaf drifted down from the tree and landed in her lap. It was closely followed by a second and a third as an errant breeze ruffled the branches and dislodged the first of the turning leaves.

Rohese sat in the lengthening shadow of the ancient oak, as she had done for most of the summer, and barely noticed the subtle changes in the season. There was a slight chill in the air as the day drew to a close and faint smell of petrichor from the brief rain shower earlier that day. She picked up the leaf and her thoughts drifted back to the Glimae'den. A sharp pain pierced her heart as Mirkk's face appeared before her and, closing her eyes tightly, she quickly brushed the memory aside for fear of being overwhelmed once again by a deep-seated sense of loss. Today was their third wedding anniversary.

She had a vague recollection of Mimini passing her a book at dinner the night before. Instinctively opening it to peruse the contents, Rohese had noted that the pages were all blank and the housekeeper had written one word on the facing page, "Liminality." Looking up at the gnome to question it, Mimini had simply said, "Write it all down." She had squeezed Rohese's hand gently and left her to ponder its meaning.

In the solitude of that moment, Rohese began to understand. She was going to have to come to terms with this unforeseen change in her circumstances. Keeping a journal would hopefully help her transition from the immature elf of the past hundred years to the elf she was destined to become.

Her hand reached inside her satchel that had been casually tossed on the ground beside her and soon felt the warmth of supple leather. Lifting the small book to her nose, she was struck by how comforting she found the smell of leather and parchment and quietly thanked the beloved housekeeper for her wisdom. Slipping the leaf between two of the blank pages, her thoughts turned to what she would write.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Liminal space; it's where you are in between who you were and who you will be. It's your becoming.</div></pre>

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">An untitled poem (written by Rohese in the style of Tolkien's, The Trees of Kortirion)

In a shadowed glen where pale moon lies,
There stands an oak, old as stars' first song,
Its leaves are gold when autumn whispers sighs,
And silvered boughs when winter nights grow long.
Beneath its limbs, in days before, we walked,
Hand in hand, where time was but a dream,
Our laughter mingled with the brook that talked,
And love was endless as the sky's bright gleam.

But now the wind is but a hollow moan,
That sweeps the vale where once our hearts did swell,
The oak stands tall, but I am all alone,
And echoes fade where once they rose and fell.
His voice, a memory that haunts my night,
His touch, a ghost that lingers in the shade,
The brook flows on, but I have lost the light,
And in the glen, our vows threaten to fade.

Nendelomea, with thy ancient trees,
Thy whispers hold the sorrows of the past,
For love, like leaves, is taken by the breeze,
And only shadows of its grace can last.
Yet still I wander where the oak tree stands,
And still I listen for his whispered call,
For in this place, where once we joined our hands,
I wait for him beneath the twilight's fall.</div></pre>

==Stargazing==
Rohese sat at the edge of the lake, her knees drawn to her chest as she gazed at the night sky. The vast expanse above was a sea of endless stars, each one a silent witness to her heartache. The cool breeze whispered through the hanging boughs of willow that concealed her from view, carrying with it the faint scent of leaf and loam.

Her fingers absently traced the ring on her finger, the one he had given her on their wedding day, that now felt like a lifetime ago. She could still feel the warmth of his touch, the way his hand had fit perfectly around hers, as if they were two pieces of a puzzle meant to be together. But now, all that remained were memories, slipping through her grasp like sand.

A lone tear escaped her eye, glistening in the moonlight as it traced a path down her cheek. She had come here every night since he had gone, searching the heavens for a sign, anything to tell her that he was still with her in some way. But the stars remained indifferent, distant, and cold.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, a streak of light shot across the sky. A shooting star, brief and brilliant, cutting through the darkness with a flash of hope. Rohese's breath caught in her throat as she watched it fade, her heart aching with the bittersweet beauty of the moment.

She whispered his name, her voice trembling with the weight of her longing. "I miss you."

The star vanished, swallowed by the night, but in that fleeting moment, Rohese felt something stir deep within her - a quiet, fragile sense of peace. It was as if the universe had acknowledged her grief, offering a sliver of comfort in return.

As she gazed up at the stars, she realized that perhaps he was not as far away as she had thought. He was in the night sky, in the whisper of the wind, in the memories that would live on in her heart. And for the first time since he had left, Rohese allowed herself to believe that she would be okay.

==Remember==
The smell of freshly baked cookies wafted up as Rohese opened the package. Mimini, her grandfather's dutiful housekeeper, had sent the solstice gift basket as she did every year, and this year was no different despite the current rift between the two members of the Bayvel household.

Rohese had not spoken to her grandfather, Eairion, for over two years; not since he had flatly refused to explain why her husband, Mirkk, had returned to Bourth. They were both as stubborn as each other so Mimini's attempts at reconciliation were getting a little desperate now.

Rohese carefully lifted the parchment-wrapped bundle of cookies from the basket and placed them to one side. She peered into the basket again with a child-like excitement. Mimini's solstice baskets were always full of thoughtful little gifts and treats that reminded Rohese of the happier times spent with family growing up.

Lifting them out and examining them one-by-one, she sighed but then chided herself. She would not allow nostalgia to cause her to waver in her belief that Eairion was responsible for Mirkk's sudden departure. That was until she spotted the little box at the bottom of the basket with strange sigils scribbled all over it in her grandfather's spidery handwriting. It was their secret language; made up when Rohese was just a small child. Eairion would leave coded messages or clues around the house and gardens for her to decipher and follow to some "buried treasure" (usually chocolate). It had kept her amused for hours and, more importantly, out of his way while he worked. As much as he adored his bright and inquisitive granddaughter, she was rather prone to asking a lot of questions!

Turning the box this way and that, Rohese slowly decoded the message and began to cry. She recognised the phrase immediately; it was the inscription on the inside of her wedding ring. Rohese opened the little box and inside was the wyrwood ring Eairion had passed to Mirkk for Rohese. It had originally belonged to her grandmother, but Rohese had given the ring back in protest when she and Eairion had last argued and she had left the house vowing never to return again. In that moment, she was reminded that her grandparents had been separated for centuries but their love had endured.

Folded around the band was a slip of paper that simply read, "Remember."

==Kingfisher==
[[File:Kingfisher.png|300px|thumb|left|Kingfisher<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]OOC: This vignette is written to mark the addition of a custom kingfisher (won by Rohese at Ebon Gate 2025) to several rooms around Cysaegir as part of the [[Jeepers Creepers]] line.

The tranquillity of the Glimae'den Wildwood never failed to lift Rohese's spirits. Sleep had not come easy to her since her visit to Nendelomea for Lornon's Eve. Rohese had so many questions, but she still wasn't ready to forgive her grandfather enough to speak with him, so she kept to the kitchen and back stairs during her brief stay. As far as her inquiries went, Mimini had claimed ignorance for the most part, citing it was Bayvel family business and nothing to do with her. She was staunchly loyal to Eairion and was not about to abuse the trust he had put in her position as his housekeeper.

''When had House Bayvel become a house of secrets and lies?''

Rohese had walked for an hour to try and clear her thoughts, her bare feet instinctively taking her to her usual quiet spot deep within the ancient woods. Bathed in the late afternoon's golden sunlight that filtered through the canopy of dark green leaves, she found solace by the side of a murmuring stream. The air carried the soft symphony of rustling leaves and babbling water as it tumbled over rocks, creating a serene atmosphere that enveloped her in a sense of peacefulness.

Seating herself on a smooth, moss-covered boulder, Rohese pulled at her hairstick and let her cool silver hair cascade down her back like a moonlit waterfall. Clad in a simple velvet gown of viridian green that blended seamlessly with the surroundings, she seemed to become an integral part of the forest itself.

Now in quiet contemplation, her fingers traced the surface of the cool, clear water, creating ripples that mirrored the thoughts meandering through her mind. She missed Mirkk; he would understand her frustration. Time seemed to slow as she absorbed the gentle rhythm of the stream, lost in the ebb and flow of her own musings.

In the midst of her reverie, a sudden burst of vibrant colour and motion caught Rohese's attention. With a flash of brilliant azure and orange, a kingfisher darted into view, its wings a streak of iridescent brilliance against the verdant backdrop. She watched, with reverence, as the kingfisher alighted on a slender branch arching over the stream. The bird's feathers shimmered in the dappled sunlight, each hue merging and separating like a painter's brushstrokes upon a canvas of air.

Rohese held her breath for a moment as she and the kingfisher shared a silent connection; a shared moment of appreciation for the simple wonder of existence. Rohese's lips curved into a serene smile, a reflection of the joy that the kingfisher's presence had brought to their contemplative solitude. In that fleeting encounter, she found a reminder that even in the depths of melancholia, the world was alive with magic and unexpected beauty.

The kingfisher took flight once more, a streak of colour against the sky, and Rohese's gaze followed its path until it was swallowed by the canopy. Returning to her quiet reverie, her thoughts flowed like the stream beside her. She kept coming back to her sister's last words: "For all that love supposedly brightens, dear sister, it casts a long shadow. To lose true love is the path to darkness. One day, you will understand this too because you will lose him, whether to time or to another."

''Now I understand.''

Liminality (short story)

2026-02-02T15:46:53Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Kingfisher */

{{creative-work | title = Liminality | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2024-12-03}}

[[File:Rohese (midjourney2).png|300px|thumb|right|Rohese Bayvel<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]First published on the 3rd day of Eorgaen in the year 5124.

Following on from her unfortunate [[The Reckoning (short story)|encounter]] with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], this is a repository of vignettes around Rohese's continued story.

==Prologue==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Liminality /ˌlɪməˈnælɪti/

Liminality is a quality of being in between two places or stages, on the verge of transitioning to something new.

Periods of liminality are transitional, sometimes disorienting, and frequently involve waiting for something new to begin. Liminality is rooted in the idea of a threshold (limen in Latin), a kind of doorway between the past and the future."</div></pre>

Rohese was struggling but, with the help of her glamour, she was able to convince her grandfather and Mimini that she was coping with Mirkk's absence. It had been three months since his departure; a blink of an eye to an elf but she felt every minute of every day as if each were a century passed.

Her grandfather had reassured her that his journey west had been imperative and that he had to go alone. Eairion would not be drawn on the reasons and all Rohese's protestations – her many tearful and angry outbursts – had fallen on deaf ears. She simply spent her time between home and Nendelomea in a state of sullen acceptance. Mimini's futile attempts to placate her with freshly baked lemon cookies and ripe summer berries went unappreciated and Ipsy had all but given up trying to engage her with her new-found skills in starstone divination .

Feeling lost and numb, Rohese aimlessly wandered the surrounding woodlands of her family home oblivious to everything around her.

==Anniversary==
A yellowing leaf drifted down from the tree and landed in her lap. It was closely followed by a second and a third as an errant breeze ruffled the branches and dislodged the first of the turning leaves.

Rohese sat in the lengthening shadow of the ancient oak, as she had done for most of the summer, and barely noticed the subtle changes in the season. There was a slight chill in the air as the day drew to a close and faint smell of petrichor from the brief rain shower earlier that day. She picked up the leaf and her thoughts drifted back to the Glimae'den. A sharp pain pierced her heart as Mirkk's face appeared before her and, closing her eyes tightly, she quickly brushed the memory aside for fear of being overwhelmed once again by a deep-seated sense of loss. Today was their third wedding anniversary.

She had a vague recollection of Mimini passing her a book at dinner the night before. Instinctively opening it to peruse the contents, Rohese had noted that the pages were all blank and the housekeeper had written one word on the facing page, "Liminality." Looking up at the gnome to question it, Mimini had simply said, "Write it all down." She had squeezed Rohese's hand gently and left her to ponder its meaning.

In the solitude of that moment, Rohese began to understand. She was going to have to come to terms with this unforeseen change in her circumstances. Keeping a journal would hopefully help her transition from the immature elf of the past hundred years to the elf she was destined to become.

Her hand reached inside her satchel that had been casually tossed on the ground beside her and soon felt the warmth of supple leather. Lifting the small book to her nose, she was struck by how comforting she found the smell of leather and parchment and quietly thanked the beloved housekeeper for her wisdom. Slipping the leaf between two of the blank pages, her thoughts turned to what she would write.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Liminal space; it's where you are in between who you were and who you will be. It's your becoming.</div></pre>

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">An untitled poem (written by Rohese in the style of Tolkien's, The Trees of Kortirion)

In a shadowed glen where pale moon lies,
There stands an oak, old as stars' first song,
Its leaves are gold when autumn whispers sighs,
And silvered boughs when winter nights grow long.
Beneath its limbs, in days before, we walked,
Hand in hand, where time was but a dream,
Our laughter mingled with the brook that talked,
And love was endless as the sky's bright gleam.

But now the wind is but a hollow moan,
That sweeps the vale where once our hearts did swell,
The oak stands tall, but I am all alone,
And echoes fade where once they rose and fell.
His voice, a memory that haunts my night,
His touch, a ghost that lingers in the shade,
The brook flows on, but I have lost the light,
And in the glen, our vows threaten to fade.

Nendelomea, with thy ancient trees,
Thy whispers hold the sorrows of the past,
For love, like leaves, is taken by the breeze,
And only shadows of its grace can last.
Yet still I wander where the oak tree stands,
And still I listen for his whispered call,
For in this place, where once we joined our hands,
I wait for him beneath the twilight's fall.</div></pre>

==Stargazing==
Rohese sat at the edge of the lake, her knees drawn to her chest as she gazed at the night sky. The vast expanse above was a sea of endless stars, each one a silent witness to her heartache. The cool breeze whispered through the hanging boughs of willow that concealed her from view, carrying with it the faint scent of leaf and loam.

Her fingers absently traced the ring on her finger, the one he had given her on their wedding day, that now felt like a lifetime ago. She could still feel the warmth of his touch, the way his hand had fit perfectly around hers, as if they were two pieces of a puzzle meant to be together. But now, all that remained were memories, slipping through her grasp like sand.

A lone tear escaped her eye, glistening in the moonlight as it traced a path down her cheek. She had come here every night since he had gone, searching the heavens for a sign, anything to tell her that he was still with her in some way. But the stars remained indifferent, distant, and cold.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, a streak of light shot across the sky. A shooting star, brief and brilliant, cutting through the darkness with a flash of hope. Rohese's breath caught in her throat as she watched it fade, her heart aching with the bittersweet beauty of the moment.

She whispered his name, her voice trembling with the weight of her longing. "I miss you."

The star vanished, swallowed by the night, but in that fleeting moment, Rohese felt something stir deep within her - a quiet, fragile sense of peace. It was as if the universe had acknowledged her grief, offering a sliver of comfort in return.

As she gazed up at the stars, she realized that perhaps he was not as far away as she had thought. He was in the night sky, in the whisper of the wind, in the memories that would live on in her heart. And for the first time since he had left, Rohese allowed herself to believe that she would be okay.

==Remember==
The smell of freshly baked cookies wafted up as Rohese opened the package. Mimini, her grandfather's dutiful housekeeper, had sent the solstice gift basket as she did every year, and this year was no different despite the current rift between the two members of the Bayvel household.

Rohese had not spoken to her grandfather, Eairion, for over two years; not since he had flatly refused to explain why her husband, Mirkk, had returned to Bourth. They were both as stubborn as each other so Mimini's attempts at reconciliation were getting a little desperate now.

Rohese carefully lifted the parchment-wrapped bundle of cookies from the basket and placed them to one side. She peered into the basket again with a child-like excitement. Mimini's solstice baskets were always full of thoughtful little gifts and treats that reminded Rohese of the happier times spent with family growing up.

Lifting them out and examining them one-by-one, she sighed but then chided herself. She would not allow nostalgia to cause her to waver in her belief that Eairion was responsible for Mirkk's sudden departure. That was until she spotted the little box at the bottom of the basket with strange sigils scribbled all over it in her grandfather's spidery handwriting. It was their secret language; made up when Rohese was just a small child. Eairion would leave coded messages or clues around the house and gardens for her to decipher and follow to some "buried treasure" (usually chocolate). It had kept her amused for hours and, more importantly, out of his way while he worked. As much as he adored his bright and inquisitive granddaughter, she was rather prone to asking a lot of questions!

Turning the box this way and that, Rohese slowly decoded the message and began to cry. She recognised the phrase immediately; it was the inscription on the inside of her wedding ring. Rohese opened the little box and inside was the wyrwood ring Eairion had passed to Mirkk for Rohese. It had originally belonged to her grandmother, but Rohese had given the ring back in protest when she and Eairion had last argued and she had left the house vowing never to return again. In that moment, she was reminded that her grandparents had been separated for centuries but their love had endured.

Folded around the band was a slip of paper that simply read, "Remember."

==Kingfisher==
[[File:Kingfisher.png|300px|thumb|right|Kingfisher<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]OOC: This vignette is written to mark the addition of a custom kingfisher (won by Rohese at Ebon Gate 2025) to several rooms around Cysaegir as part of the [[Jeepers Creepers]] line.

The tranquillity of the Glimae'den Wildwood never failed to lift Rohese's spirits. Sleep had not come easy to her since her visit to Nendelomea for Lornon's Eve. Rohese had so many questions, but she still wasn't ready to forgive her grandfather enough to speak with him, so she kept to the kitchen and back stairs during her brief stay. As far as her inquiries went, Mimini had claimed ignorance for the most part, citing it was Bayvel family business and nothing to do with her. She was staunchly loyal to Eairion and was not about to abuse the trust he had put in her position as his housekeeper.

''When had House Bayvel become a house of secrets and lies?''

Rohese had walked for an hour to try and clear her thoughts, her bare feet instinctively taking her to her usual quiet spot deep within the ancient woods. Bathed in the late afternoon's golden sunlight that filtered through the canopy of dark green leaves, she found solace by the side of a murmuring stream. The air carried the soft symphony of rustling leaves and babbling water as it tumbled over rocks, creating a serene atmosphere that enveloped her in a sense of peacefulness.

Seating herself on a smooth, moss-covered boulder, Rohese pulled at her hairstick and let her cool silver hair cascade down her back like a moonlit waterfall. Clad in a simple velvet gown of viridian green that blended seamlessly with the surroundings, she seemed to become an integral part of the forest itself.

Now in quiet contemplation, her fingers traced the surface of the cool, clear water, creating ripples that mirrored the thoughts meandering through her mind. She missed Mirkk; he would understand her frustration. Time seemed to slow as she absorbed the gentle rhythm of the stream, lost in the ebb and flow of her own musings.

In the midst of her reverie, a sudden burst of vibrant colour and motion caught Rohese's attention. With a flash of brilliant azure and orange, a kingfisher darted into view, its wings a streak of iridescent brilliance against the verdant backdrop. She watched, with reverence, as the kingfisher alighted on a slender branch arching over the stream. The bird's feathers shimmered in the dappled sunlight, each hue merging and separating like a painter's brushstrokes upon a canvas of air.

Rohese held her breath for a moment as she and the kingfisher shared a silent connection; a shared moment of appreciation for the simple wonder of existence. Rohese's lips curved into a serene smile, a reflection of the joy that the kingfisher's presence had brought to their contemplative solitude. In that fleeting encounter, she found a reminder that even in the depths of melancholia, the world was alive with magic and unexpected beauty.

The kingfisher took flight once more, a streak of colour against the sky, and Rohese's gaze followed its path until it was swallowed by the canopy. Returning to her quiet reverie, her thoughts flowed like the stream beside her. She kept coming back to her sister's last words: "For all that love supposedly brightens, dear sister, it casts a long shadow. To lose true love is the path to darkness. One day, you will understand this too because you will lose him, whether to time or to another."

''Now I understand.''

File:Kingfisher.png

2026-02-02T15:43:53Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI

File:Kingfisher.png

2026-02-02T15:42:56Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

Liminality (short story)

2026-02-02T14:53:23Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Kingfisher */

{{creative-work | title = Liminality | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2024-12-03}}

[[File:Rohese (midjourney2).png|300px|thumb|right|Rohese Bayvel<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]First published on the 3rd day of Eorgaen in the year 5124.

Following on from her unfortunate [[The Reckoning (short story)|encounter]] with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], this is a repository of vignettes around Rohese's continued story.

==Prologue==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Liminality /ˌlɪməˈnælɪti/

Liminality is a quality of being in between two places or stages, on the verge of transitioning to something new.

Periods of liminality are transitional, sometimes disorienting, and frequently involve waiting for something new to begin. Liminality is rooted in the idea of a threshold (limen in Latin), a kind of doorway between the past and the future."</div></pre>

Rohese was struggling but, with the help of her glamour, she was able to convince her grandfather and Mimini that she was coping with Mirkk's absence. It had been three months since his departure; a blink of an eye to an elf but she felt every minute of every day as if each were a century passed.

Her grandfather had reassured her that his journey west had been imperative and that he had to go alone. Eairion would not be drawn on the reasons and all Rohese's protestations – her many tearful and angry outbursts – had fallen on deaf ears. She simply spent her time between home and Nendelomea in a state of sullen acceptance. Mimini's futile attempts to placate her with freshly baked lemon cookies and ripe summer berries went unappreciated and Ipsy had all but given up trying to engage her with her new-found skills in starstone divination .

Feeling lost and numb, Rohese aimlessly wandered the surrounding woodlands of her family home oblivious to everything around her.

==Anniversary==
A yellowing leaf drifted down from the tree and landed in her lap. It was closely followed by a second and a third as an errant breeze ruffled the branches and dislodged the first of the turning leaves.

Rohese sat in the lengthening shadow of the ancient oak, as she had done for most of the summer, and barely noticed the subtle changes in the season. There was a slight chill in the air as the day drew to a close and faint smell of petrichor from the brief rain shower earlier that day. She picked up the leaf and her thoughts drifted back to the Glimae'den. A sharp pain pierced her heart as Mirkk's face appeared before her and, closing her eyes tightly, she quickly brushed the memory aside for fear of being overwhelmed once again by a deep-seated sense of loss. Today was their third wedding anniversary.

She had a vague recollection of Mimini passing her a book at dinner the night before. Instinctively opening it to peruse the contents, Rohese had noted that the pages were all blank and the housekeeper had written one word on the facing page, "Liminality." Looking up at the gnome to question it, Mimini had simply said, "Write it all down." She had squeezed Rohese's hand gently and left her to ponder its meaning.

In the solitude of that moment, Rohese began to understand. She was going to have to come to terms with this unforeseen change in her circumstances. Keeping a journal would hopefully help her transition from the immature elf of the past hundred years to the elf she was destined to become.

Her hand reached inside her satchel that had been casually tossed on the ground beside her and soon felt the warmth of supple leather. Lifting the small book to her nose, she was struck by how comforting she found the smell of leather and parchment and quietly thanked the beloved housekeeper for her wisdom. Slipping the leaf between two of the blank pages, her thoughts turned to what she would write.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Liminal space; it's where you are in between who you were and who you will be. It's your becoming.</div></pre>

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">An untitled poem (written by Rohese in the style of Tolkien's, The Trees of Kortirion)

In a shadowed glen where pale moon lies,
There stands an oak, old as stars' first song,
Its leaves are gold when autumn whispers sighs,
And silvered boughs when winter nights grow long.
Beneath its limbs, in days before, we walked,
Hand in hand, where time was but a dream,
Our laughter mingled with the brook that talked,
And love was endless as the sky's bright gleam.

But now the wind is but a hollow moan,
That sweeps the vale where once our hearts did swell,
The oak stands tall, but I am all alone,
And echoes fade where once they rose and fell.
His voice, a memory that haunts my night,
His touch, a ghost that lingers in the shade,
The brook flows on, but I have lost the light,
And in the glen, our vows threaten to fade.

Nendelomea, with thy ancient trees,
Thy whispers hold the sorrows of the past,
For love, like leaves, is taken by the breeze,
And only shadows of its grace can last.
Yet still I wander where the oak tree stands,
And still I listen for his whispered call,
For in this place, where once we joined our hands,
I wait for him beneath the twilight's fall.</div></pre>

==Stargazing==
Rohese sat at the edge of the lake, her knees drawn to her chest as she gazed at the night sky. The vast expanse above was a sea of endless stars, each one a silent witness to her heartache. The cool breeze whispered through the hanging boughs of willow that concealed her from view, carrying with it the faint scent of leaf and loam.

Her fingers absently traced the ring on her finger, the one he had given her on their wedding day, that now felt like a lifetime ago. She could still feel the warmth of his touch, the way his hand had fit perfectly around hers, as if they were two pieces of a puzzle meant to be together. But now, all that remained were memories, slipping through her grasp like sand.

A lone tear escaped her eye, glistening in the moonlight as it traced a path down her cheek. She had come here every night since he had gone, searching the heavens for a sign, anything to tell her that he was still with her in some way. But the stars remained indifferent, distant, and cold.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, a streak of light shot across the sky. A shooting star, brief and brilliant, cutting through the darkness with a flash of hope. Rohese's breath caught in her throat as she watched it fade, her heart aching with the bittersweet beauty of the moment.

She whispered his name, her voice trembling with the weight of her longing. "I miss you."

The star vanished, swallowed by the night, but in that fleeting moment, Rohese felt something stir deep within her - a quiet, fragile sense of peace. It was as if the universe had acknowledged her grief, offering a sliver of comfort in return.

As she gazed up at the stars, she realized that perhaps he was not as far away as she had thought. He was in the night sky, in the whisper of the wind, in the memories that would live on in her heart. And for the first time since he had left, Rohese allowed herself to believe that she would be okay.

==Remember==
The smell of freshly baked cookies wafted up as Rohese opened the package. Mimini, her grandfather's dutiful housekeeper, had sent the solstice gift basket as she did every year, and this year was no different despite the current rift between the two members of the Bayvel household.

Rohese had not spoken to her grandfather, Eairion, for over two years; not since he had flatly refused to explain why her husband, Mirkk, had returned to Bourth. They were both as stubborn as each other so Mimini's attempts at reconciliation were getting a little desperate now.

Rohese carefully lifted the parchment-wrapped bundle of cookies from the basket and placed them to one side. She peered into the basket again with a child-like excitement. Mimini's solstice baskets were always full of thoughtful little gifts and treats that reminded Rohese of the happier times spent with family growing up.

Lifting them out and examining them one-by-one, she sighed but then chided herself. She would not allow nostalgia to cause her to waver in her belief that Eairion was responsible for Mirkk's sudden departure. That was until she spotted the little box at the bottom of the basket with strange sigils scribbled all over it in her grandfather's spidery handwriting. It was their secret language; made up when Rohese was just a small child. Eairion would leave coded messages or clues around the house and gardens for her to decipher and follow to some "buried treasure" (usually chocolate). It had kept her amused for hours and, more importantly, out of his way while he worked. As much as he adored his bright and inquisitive granddaughter, she was rather prone to asking a lot of questions!

Turning the box this way and that, Rohese slowly decoded the message and began to cry. She recognised the phrase immediately; it was the inscription on the inside of her wedding ring. Rohese opened the little box and inside was the wyrwood ring Eairion had passed to Mirkk for Rohese. It had originally belonged to her grandmother, but Rohese had given the ring back in protest when she and Eairion had last argued and she had left the house vowing never to return again. In that moment, she was reminded that her grandparents had been separated for centuries but their love had endured.

Folded around the band was a slip of paper that simply read, "Remember."

==Kingfisher==
OOC: This vignette is written to mark the addition of a custom kingfisher (won by Rohese at Ebon Gate 2025) to several rooms around Cysaegir as part of the [[Jeepers Creepers]] line.

The tranquillity of the Glimae'den Wildwood never failed to lift Rohese's spirits. Sleep had not come easy to her since her visit to Nendelomea for Lornon's Eve. Rohese had so many questions, but she still wasn't ready to forgive her grandfather enough to speak with him, so she kept to the kitchen and back stairs during her brief stay. As far as her inquiries went, Mimini had claimed ignorance for the most part, citing it was Bayvel family business and nothing to do with her. She was staunchly loyal to Eairion and was not about to abuse the trust he had put in her position as his housekeeper.

''When had House Bayvel become a house of secrets and lies?''

Rohese had walked for an hour to try and clear her thoughts, her bare feet instinctively taking her to her usual quiet spot deep within the ancient woods. Bathed in the late afternoon's golden sunlight that filtered through the canopy of dark green leaves, she found solace by the side of a murmuring stream. The air carried the soft symphony of rustling leaves and babbling water as it tumbled over rocks, creating a serene atmosphere that enveloped her in a sense of peacefulness.

Seating herself on a smooth, moss-covered boulder, Rohese pulled at her hairstick and let her cool silver hair cascade down her back like a moonlit waterfall. Clad in a simple velvet gown of viridian green that blended seamlessly with the surroundings, she seemed to become an integral part of the forest itself.

Now in quiet contemplation, her fingers traced the surface of the cool, clear water, creating ripples that mirrored the thoughts meandering through her mind. She missed Mirkk; he would understand her frustration. Time seemed to slow as she absorbed the gentle rhythm of the stream, lost in the ebb and flow of her own musings.

In the midst of her reverie, a sudden burst of vibrant colour and motion caught Rohese's attention. With a flash of brilliant azure and orange, a kingfisher darted into view, its wings a streak of iridescent brilliance against the verdant backdrop. She watched, with reverence, as the kingfisher alighted on a slender branch arching over the stream. The bird's feathers shimmered in the dappled sunlight, each hue merging and separating like a painter's brushstrokes upon a canvas of air.

Rohese held her breath for a moment as she and the kingfisher shared a silent connection; a shared moment of appreciation for the simple wonder of existence. Rohese's lips curved into a serene smile, a reflection of the joy that the kingfisher's presence had brought to their contemplative solitude. In that fleeting encounter, she found a reminder that even in the depths of melancholia, the world was alive with magic and unexpected beauty.

The kingfisher took flight once more, a streak of colour against the sky, and Rohese's gaze followed its path until it was swallowed by the canopy. Returning to her quiet reverie, her thoughts flowed like the stream beside her. She kept coming back to her sister's last words: "For all that love supposedly brightens, dear sister, it casts a long shadow. To lose true love is the path to darkness. One day, you will understand this too because you will lose him, whether to time or to another."

''Now I understand.''

Liminality (short story)

2026-02-02T14:42:34Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Liminality | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2024-12-03}}

[[File:Rohese (midjourney2).png|300px|thumb|right|Rohese Bayvel<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]First published on the 3rd day of Eorgaen in the year 5124.

Following on from her unfortunate [[The Reckoning (short story)|encounter]] with her sister, [[Poladra (prime)|Poladra]], this is a repository of vignettes around Rohese's continued story.

==Prologue==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Liminality /ˌlɪməˈnælɪti/

Liminality is a quality of being in between two places or stages, on the verge of transitioning to something new.

Periods of liminality are transitional, sometimes disorienting, and frequently involve waiting for something new to begin. Liminality is rooted in the idea of a threshold (limen in Latin), a kind of doorway between the past and the future."</div></pre>

Rohese was struggling but, with the help of her glamour, she was able to convince her grandfather and Mimini that she was coping with Mirkk's absence. It had been three months since his departure; a blink of an eye to an elf but she felt every minute of every day as if each were a century passed.

Her grandfather had reassured her that his journey west had been imperative and that he had to go alone. Eairion would not be drawn on the reasons and all Rohese's protestations – her many tearful and angry outbursts – had fallen on deaf ears. She simply spent her time between home and Nendelomea in a state of sullen acceptance. Mimini's futile attempts to placate her with freshly baked lemon cookies and ripe summer berries went unappreciated and Ipsy had all but given up trying to engage her with her new-found skills in starstone divination .

Feeling lost and numb, Rohese aimlessly wandered the surrounding woodlands of her family home oblivious to everything around her.

==Anniversary==
A yellowing leaf drifted down from the tree and landed in her lap. It was closely followed by a second and a third as an errant breeze ruffled the branches and dislodged the first of the turning leaves.

Rohese sat in the lengthening shadow of the ancient oak, as she had done for most of the summer, and barely noticed the subtle changes in the season. There was a slight chill in the air as the day drew to a close and faint smell of petrichor from the brief rain shower earlier that day. She picked up the leaf and her thoughts drifted back to the Glimae'den. A sharp pain pierced her heart as Mirkk's face appeared before her and, closing her eyes tightly, she quickly brushed the memory aside for fear of being overwhelmed once again by a deep-seated sense of loss. Today was their third wedding anniversary.

She had a vague recollection of Mimini passing her a book at dinner the night before. Instinctively opening it to peruse the contents, Rohese had noted that the pages were all blank and the housekeeper had written one word on the facing page, "Liminality." Looking up at the gnome to question it, Mimini had simply said, "Write it all down." She had squeezed Rohese's hand gently and left her to ponder its meaning.

In the solitude of that moment, Rohese began to understand. She was going to have to come to terms with this unforeseen change in her circumstances. Keeping a journal would hopefully help her transition from the immature elf of the past hundred years to the elf she was destined to become.

Her hand reached inside her satchel that had been casually tossed on the ground beside her and soon felt the warmth of supple leather. Lifting the small book to her nose, she was struck by how comforting she found the smell of leather and parchment and quietly thanked the beloved housekeeper for her wisdom. Slipping the leaf between two of the blank pages, her thoughts turned to what she would write.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">"Liminal space; it's where you are in between who you were and who you will be. It's your becoming.</div></pre>

<div style="text-align: center;">~☆ ^☽ ☆~</div>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">An untitled poem (written by Rohese in the style of Tolkien's, The Trees of Kortirion)

In a shadowed glen where pale moon lies,
There stands an oak, old as stars' first song,
Its leaves are gold when autumn whispers sighs,
And silvered boughs when winter nights grow long.
Beneath its limbs, in days before, we walked,
Hand in hand, where time was but a dream,
Our laughter mingled with the brook that talked,
And love was endless as the sky's bright gleam.

But now the wind is but a hollow moan,
That sweeps the vale where once our hearts did swell,
The oak stands tall, but I am all alone,
And echoes fade where once they rose and fell.
His voice, a memory that haunts my night,
His touch, a ghost that lingers in the shade,
The brook flows on, but I have lost the light,
And in the glen, our vows threaten to fade.

Nendelomea, with thy ancient trees,
Thy whispers hold the sorrows of the past,
For love, like leaves, is taken by the breeze,
And only shadows of its grace can last.
Yet still I wander where the oak tree stands,
And still I listen for his whispered call,
For in this place, where once we joined our hands,
I wait for him beneath the twilight's fall.</div></pre>

==Stargazing==
Rohese sat at the edge of the lake, her knees drawn to her chest as she gazed at the night sky. The vast expanse above was a sea of endless stars, each one a silent witness to her heartache. The cool breeze whispered through the hanging boughs of willow that concealed her from view, carrying with it the faint scent of leaf and loam.

Her fingers absently traced the ring on her finger, the one he had given her on their wedding day, that now felt like a lifetime ago. She could still feel the warmth of his touch, the way his hand had fit perfectly around hers, as if they were two pieces of a puzzle meant to be together. But now, all that remained were memories, slipping through her grasp like sand.

A lone tear escaped her eye, glistening in the moonlight as it traced a path down her cheek. She had come here every night since he had gone, searching the heavens for a sign, anything to tell her that he was still with her in some way. But the stars remained indifferent, distant, and cold.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, a streak of light shot across the sky. A shooting star, brief and brilliant, cutting through the darkness with a flash of hope. Rohese's breath caught in her throat as she watched it fade, her heart aching with the bittersweet beauty of the moment.

She whispered his name, her voice trembling with the weight of her longing. "I miss you."

The star vanished, swallowed by the night, but in that fleeting moment, Rohese felt something stir deep within her - a quiet, fragile sense of peace. It was as if the universe had acknowledged her grief, offering a sliver of comfort in return.

As she gazed up at the stars, she realized that perhaps he was not as far away as she had thought. He was in the night sky, in the whisper of the wind, in the memories that would live on in her heart. And for the first time since he had left, Rohese allowed herself to believe that she would be okay.

==Remember==
The smell of freshly baked cookies wafted up as Rohese opened the package. Mimini, her grandfather's dutiful housekeeper, had sent the solstice gift basket as she did every year, and this year was no different despite the current rift between the two members of the Bayvel household.

Rohese had not spoken to her grandfather, Eairion, for over two years; not since he had flatly refused to explain why her husband, Mirkk, had returned to Bourth. They were both as stubborn as each other so Mimini's attempts at reconciliation were getting a little desperate now.

Rohese carefully lifted the parchment-wrapped bundle of cookies from the basket and placed them to one side. She peered into the basket again with a child-like excitement. Mimini's solstice baskets were always full of thoughtful little gifts and treats that reminded Rohese of the happier times spent with family growing up.

Lifting them out and examining them one-by-one, she sighed but then chided herself. She would not allow nostalgia to cause her to waver in her belief that Eairion was responsible for Mirkk's sudden departure. That was until she spotted the little box at the bottom of the basket with strange sigils scribbled all over it in her grandfather's spidery handwriting. It was their secret language; made up when Rohese was just a small child. Eairion would leave coded messages or clues around the house and gardens for her to decipher and follow to some "buried treasure" (usually chocolate). It had kept her amused for hours and, more importantly, out of his way while he worked. As much as he adored his bright and inquisitive granddaughter, she was rather prone to asking a lot of questions!

Turning the box this way and that, Rohese slowly decoded the message and began to cry. She recognised the phrase immediately; it was the inscription on the inside of her wedding ring. Rohese opened the little box and inside was the wyrwood ring Eairion had passed to Mirkk for Rohese. It had originally belonged to her grandmother, but Rohese had given the ring back in protest when she and Eairion had last argued and she had left the house vowing never to return again. In that moment, she was reminded that her grandparents had been separated for centuries but their love had endured.

Folded around the band was a slip of paper that simply read, "Remember."

==Kingfisher==
The tranquillity of the Glimae'den Wildwood never failed to lift Rohese's spirits. Sleep had not come easy to her since her visit to Nendelomea for Lornon's Eve. Rohese had so many questions, but she still wasn't ready to forgive her grandfather enough to speak with him, so she kept to the kitchen and back stairs during her brief stay. As far as her inquiries went, Mimini had claimed ignorance for the most part, citing it was Bayvel family business and nothing to do with her. She was staunchly loyal to Eairion and was not about to abuse the trust he had put in her position as his housekeeper.

''When had House Bayvel become a house of secrets and lies?''

Rohese had walked for an hour to try and clear her thoughts, her bare feet instinctively taking her to her usual quiet spot deep within the ancient woods. Bathed in the late afternoon's golden sunlight that filtered through the canopy of dark green leaves, she found solace by the side of a murmuring stream. The air carried the soft symphony of rustling leaves and babbling water as it tumbled over rocks, creating a serene atmosphere that enveloped her in a sense of peacefulness.

Seating herself on a smooth, moss-covered boulder, Rohese pulled at her hairstick and let her cool silver hair cascade down her back like a moonlit waterfall. Clad in a simple velvet gown of viridian green that blended seamlessly with the surroundings, she seemed to become an integral part of the forest itself.

Now in quiet contemplation, her fingers traced the surface of the cool, clear water, creating ripples that mirrored the thoughts meandering through her mind. She missed Mirkk; he would understand her frustration. Time seemed to slow as she absorbed the gentle rhythm of the stream, lost in the ebb and flow of her own musings.

In the midst of her reverie, a sudden burst of vibrant colour and motion caught Rohese's attention. With a flash of brilliant azure and orange, a kingfisher darted into view, its wings a streak of iridescent brilliance against the verdant backdrop. She watched, with reverence, as the kingfisher alighted on a slender branch arching over the stream. The bird's feathers shimmered in the dappled sunlight, each hue merging and separating like a painter's brushstrokes upon a canvas of air.

Rohese held her breath for a moment as she and the kingfisher shared a silent connection; a shared moment of appreciation for the simple wonder of existence. Rohese's lips curved into a serene smile, a reflection of the joy that the kingfisher's presence had brought to their contemplative solitude. In that fleeting encounter, she found a reminder that even in the depths of melancholia, the world was alive with magic and unexpected beauty.

The kingfisher took flight once more, a streak of colour against the sky, and Rohese's gaze followed its path until it was swallowed by the canopy. Returning to her quiet reverie, her thoughts flowed like the stream beside her. She kept coming back to her sister's last words: "For all that love supposedly brightens, dear sister, it casts a long shadow. To lose true love is the path to darkness. One day, you will understand this too because you will lose him, whether to time or to another."

''Now I understand.''

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-02-02T14:29:52Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Book Pages */

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision also needed to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|a foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-02-02T14:19:38Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 */

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision also needed to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-02-02T14:19:02Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 */

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the ruined Calelith Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision needs to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Rohese (prime)/Forgotten Ink

2026-02-02T13:33:11Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{creative-work | title = Forgotten Ink | type = short story | author = Rohese | author-displayed = [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] | date = 2025-05-05}}
{{Work-in-progress}}
[[File:Scribe_Alawien_Calelith.png|400px|thumb|right|Alawien Calelith<br>Created by Rohese's player using Midjourney AI.]]Forgotten Ink was a player-run storyline set in [[Ta'Illistim]] during the summer of 2025. It began as a continuation of [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]]'s story; more specifically her research into the Bayvel lineage and the [[The Sentience of Trees (essay)|sentience of trees]]. What followed was an interactive quest involving other player characters.

==Cast of Characters==
* Scribe Alawien Calelith Illistim: Of indeterminate age, Alawien is the last known member of the Calelith family. With the family's ancestral home in the Glydemar Forest long abandoned, she resides alone within the Ta'Illistim city walls and has worked as a Scribe in the restricted section of the Library Aies for several centuries so knows it well. Her reputation and experience in the field of elven botany - in particular arboriculture - have earned her the honorary title of Student of Lore.
* Loremaster [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese]] Bayvel
* Lord Gilenir Veythorne Illistim

==Key Objectives==
1. Track down a missing book and, if possible, find out more about the treatise mentioned in the revealed passage.<br>
2. Unlock the book to reveal its contents.<br>
3. Determine the fate of the book.

==Setting==
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''[Library Aies, Restricted Section]'''
The library's inner foyer is fully panelled in rich, dark maoral. Pale creamy marble covers the expansive floor, punctuated occasionally by a small golden tesserae set at cross-angles with the tiles. Large antique tapestries cover the wall behind the scribe's desk, illuminated by a series of candle-lit wall sconces. You also see a spectacled elven scribe.</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">You see '''Alawien Calelith Illistim'''.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is average height. She appears to be aged, carrying wisdom and grace in equal measure. She has rheumy teal green eyes and wrinkled, fair skin. She has mid back-length, straight salt-and-pepper grey hair tucked neatly behind her ears. She has a pinched face and a thin mouth.
A long silver feather quill is tucked behind her ear.
She is wearing a pair of half moon spectacles, a silver-bound open tome pin, a gentian velvet robe graced by a crossed quill and inkwell, and a pair of soft leather slippers.</div></pre>

===Prologue===
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

The scent of parchment and aged ink lingered in the halls of Library Aies. Rohese found this comforting and regularly sought out a quiet corner in which to continue her research into the Bayvel lineage. She was particularly interested in finding out more about the glowbark tree in the Veythorne Manor grounds because of her family connection to it: was it an Anienaeun - a remembrance tree - and, if so, when was it planted and by whom?

Scholars in gentian velvet robes moved in hushed contemplation around her, their whispered debates punctuated by the scratching of quills at various writing desks dotted around the vast hall. Rohese was seated at one of these small desks poring over some old texts when an anxious elven woman approached her, her ink-stained fingers trembling around a rolled parchment. It was Scribe Alawien Calelith. Rohese knew her well as she was the scribe that often helped her to access material in the library's restricted section. Alawien glanced around nervously before pressing the parchment urgently into Rohese's hands.

"I was transcribing a passage from a book I discovered that I thought might help you when the ink changed before my eyes. The words rewrote themselves, revealing a passage that I had never seen before. Then, the book slammed shut and vanished entirely."

Her voice dropped to a tremulous whisper.

"I fear I may have uncovered something that was meant to stay hidden."

=== 13th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien met with a small gathering of scholars and friends of Rohese and introduced herself. She mentioned that she had found a book entitled, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study," and went on to explain that on opening the book and reading a passage about the gardens, the text shimmered before her eyes and revealed an additional passage but the book promptly slammed shut and vanished before she could read more than a few lines.

Alawien gave out transcript copies of both passages for further study, highlighting the reference to a treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Extract transcribed from "'''The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study'''".
Author: Unknown

The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.

Text of unknown origin discovered by Scribe Alawien Calelith.

I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden,' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?</div></pre>

=== 20th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Yunni Radottir discovered two discarded notes under one of the shelves in the Library Aies Hall of Magic. She and Rohese agreed that they had been there a very long time and seemed to be notes taken from the missing treatise.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a crumpled white note'''
In the Common language, it reads:

"Small and bound in black leather, the book bears no title and no author."

Alongside a partially completed diagram of lunar phases is some kind of sigil or glyph and the rest of the crumpled sheet is covered in hastily scribbled notes that have faded badly and illegible in places.

" when moonlight casts its glow upon the written word, it does not fall as light, but as memory."

" the night wanes - perfect for veiling inscriptions. Let the ink be writ beneath the magic of concealment and "

" no eye save mine shall read it unless the conditions are met. Even I forget, until she reminds me."

" text concealed in light's absence is safer than professed silence."</div></pre>

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a dirt-dusted white note'''
The page, written in Common, reads as follows:

"The treatise bears a crest - an open eye set against a black pyramid - Watchers? "

Alongside a hastily drawn sketch of the crest are a few lines of scribbled text, most of which are no longer legible beneath centuries of dust and dirt.

" forbidden "

"Lorae'tyr "

" Shien'tyr "

" portal or gate "</div></pre>

Lucraine had written to Rohese to explain that he was on the hunt for the "old coot" that had mentioned the Illuminator's Talisman and promised to report back. Meanwhile, Rohese finally finished examining all the books on the shelves in the Hall of Magic and found a couple that could possibly be the aforementioned treatise. She was somewhat sceptical as none of them seem to cover 'forbidden' magic to a great extent; they merely referenced it. She believed that the treatise was no longer in the Library Aies and that the author of the discarded notes found earlier by Yunni Radottir had taken it away.

She shared the two books with Alawien just in case:
*Veils Beyond the Veil: A Discourse on Valence Thresholds and the Loss of Form ~ Explores unstable valences, soul-fracture phenomena, and the irreversible price of sustained contact with other planes.
*In Light Unseen: The Obscured Art of Illumination and Thought Binding ~ A study on magical concealment, memory erasure, and talismanic triggers—rumoured to be connected to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye.

Scribe Alawien agreed that neither of them was likely to be the referenced treatise and that it had probably been moved to another location. Alawien let everyone know that she was still trying to find the 'vanishing' book in the Restricted Section.

=== 22nd day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book in the Restricted Section but it vanished again. She managed to glean a little information and wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

Today I was fortunate enough to track down the elusive book once more but I didn't have it for long before it vanished again. I was unable to open the book - it seems to be magically sealed now - but, in the short time I held it, I was able to discern a faint indentation in the front cover that looked like a sigil of some kind along with other faint markings. These markings were silver in nature and glowed slightly as I happened to turn the book towards the window where the moon was visible in the night sky.

I believe these markings hold the key to preventing the book from vanishing and perhaps even to unlocking the secrets within. I shall continue to search for the book again but, in the meantime, I think it would be helpful if you could carry out some research into the glowbark tree and perhaps the Veythorne family itself. I have spoken to some of my colleagues in the Restricted Section and they will be more than happy to assist you.

I welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how I might proceed with the book should I find it again. Please bear in mind that I will only have it in my hands for just a moment therefore it cannot leave the Restricted Section.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 29th day of Koaratos, 5125 ===
With the Symposium behind her, Rohese's thoughts turned back to the mystery of the missing book in the Library Aies Restricted Section. Scribe Alawien had spent the weekend trying to track it down again with little success and had offered to meet Rohese to discuss the matter over tea.

Comfortable in each other's presence now, the pauses in conversation between sips were not unusual as each tried to shape their thoughts and ideas into something resembling order.

Rohese sighed and replaced her teacup onto the saucer.

"So, it's clear from the first passages you saw that the book is a journal of some kind with entries concealed beneath text seemingly related to the Veythorne Manor glowbark tree?"

Alawien nodded and took another sip of tea before responding.

"The entries are definitely arcane in nature too, judging by the manner in which it was hidden and the book itself sealed. How that was done is something we should probably look into so that - should I be able to find it again - we can attempt to open it."

Rohese's brow furrowed at the mention of arcane but she nodded in agreement.

“The notes that the young elf, Yunni, found in the Hall of Magic and kindly sent to me seemed to allude to moonlight, the Watchers of the Eternal Eye and valences.” Alawien confirmed.

Rohese thought for a moment and then tentatively asked, “And we're sure it has something to do with the Veythorne family?”

Alawien nodded slowly but didn’t reply.

"I spoke briefly with Lord Gilenir Veythorne at the Symposium," Rohese continued, "and he kindly agreed to give us access to his library, should we need it. I will work with the others to compile a list of what material we might wish to look for so as not to impose on his goodwill too much."

Alawien smiled, draining her teacup and putting it back onto the table. She rose to her feet with an audible sigh and groan as she rested her hand on her back. She chuckled slightly.

"Don't get old, Rohese. These old bones need to return to the Library but I will be in touch with you all again soon. Even sooner should I track down that book!"

Rohese returned her smile and gently added, "You take care of yourself and we'll continue our research in the meantime."

=== 2nd day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
During her research, Lady Elaejia Silithyr stumbled across a passage that mentioned a scholar etching notes into the bark of the glowbark tree. She suggested that we investigate the tree more closely so Rohese offered to hold a brief commune to see what she might share with the group. Several scholars gathered around the tree at twilight.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-myglowbark1" style="color:#0000ff">The Glowbark Tree</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-myglowbark1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
[Veythorne Manor, The Glowbark - 13424] (u13111035)
Deep shadows grip the area in perpetual night, not even a pinpoint of light winking through the velvety shroud of darkness that shifts restlessly overhead. An ancient glowbark tree towers over the surroundings -- an ethereal radiance rhythmically pulsing outward from the deep furrows in its bark. Blush-tinted mezereon grow along the edges of the streams trickling beneath the massive roots of the tree, sending forth eerie cries that flow into one another to form a slow, sad melody that hangs over the area like a fog. You also see a sapphire-eyed silvered arctic fox.
Also here: Lady Vellani, Lady Arenglae

Alawien just arrived.
You smile at Alawien.
You glance at Alawien and clasp your hands in a reverent gesture.
Vellani nods faintly at Alawien.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Alawien quietly says, "Ah, some familiar faces."
Alawien nods slowly.
Straightening her back, Arenglae gives a formal, low curtsy to Alawien. She inclines her head as well, giving Alawien a brief nod.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "I am pleased you were able to join us."
Alawien smiles at you.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Of course, child. I am as intrigued as you all are."
You smile.
You softly say, "We'll wait just a few moments and see if others join us and then we'll get started."
Alawien nods appreciatively.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien quietly says, "I cannot be away from the Library for too long."
You nod understandingly at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven to Alawien, Arenglae says, "I understand that all too well."
Alawien smiles at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "Is there anything specific we should do--or not do? I do not want to be in the way."
You smile at Vellani.
Rivienne just arrived.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you reassure, "You won't be in the way at all."
You beam happily at Rivienne!
Rivienne smiles.
Vellani nods gratefully to you.
Vellani smiles at Rivienne.
Speaking delightedly to Rivienne, you say, "You came."
Rivienne exclaims, "I did!"
Rivienne says, "Hello, everyone."
Speaking softly to Vellani, you say, "I will guide you when it matters, don't worry."
Alawien smiles at Rivienne.
Alawien nods in greeting.
Speaking quietly to you, Alawien says, "Hurry now child, my Library awaits."
Vellani lets out a sigh of relief.
You giggle to yourself.
You nod once.
You softly say, "Gather close then."
Vellani gazes with interest at you.
You softly say, "Let me ensure we are protected, you can never tell what wayward spirits might wish to intrude."
Murmuring into the air, you prepare Minor Sanctuary, causing pinpoints of silver-hazed light to dance along your form. As you gesture, the starbursts link together, forming ethereal constellations that fade into the air before you.
A sense of peace and calm settles over the area.
Rivienne glances suspiciously around the area.
You purposefully pace to your right, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
You nod faintly.
Arenglae takes a moment to observe an ancient glowbark tree.
You softly explain, "I'm going to cast a circle of protection. When it's completed, you may all join me within, if you wish."
You smile.
Rivienne nods once to you.
You gently caution, "Once inside the circle though, you must not break it until I say so."
You wrinkle your nose.
You remove a small hollowed root from in your linden case.
You hold a small hollowed root at arm's length and tilt it slightly, and a thin trail of sap trickles steadily forth from it. You let it pour around you as you turn around slowly, and are soon bordered by a circle of sap.
Vellani tilts her head down.
You put a small hollowed root in your linden case.
You walk through the rough circle of the sap and stand within it, kneeling down reverently then bowing your head in supplication.
Rivienne walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Arenglae walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
Vellani nods faintly.
Alawien walks into the rough circle of sap and stands within it, then kneels down reverently and bows her head in supplication.
You remove a radiant ghostly blue leaf from in your linden case.
You smile.
You gently remind, "Don't break the circle now, no matter what happens."
You lower your gaze.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly agrees, "Do not break the circle."
You smile quietly to yourself.
You wink at Vellani.
Alawien gazes thoughtfully at a circular stain of sap.
You gently instruct, "Now if you could all place your hands on the trunk of the tree we will see what she can share with us."
You lean toward an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
(Rohese places one hand reverently upon the furrowed bark of the glowbark tree. A gentle breeze swirls around her, lifting her hair and causing it to shimmer with a silvery white glow.)
Alawien reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani leans forward.
Arenglae reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking gently to an ancient glowbark tree, you whisper aloud, "Hello Amaltara."
You smile quietly to yourself.
Rivienne surreptitiously glances at you.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
You reverently say, “Blessings upon you, Mother Tree. Forgive our intrusion but we have recently learned of a scholar who may have desecrated this space."
You carefully continue, "Would you be willing to share any insights or memories of such an occurrence?"

(Rohese glances around as a sudden hush settles over the glade. The glowbark tree's leaves shimmer faintly, as though catching light from a source unseen. Blue motes drift lazily from the upper branches, vanishing before they touch the ground, and a faint creaking rises from deep within the trunk, like something ancient shifting in its sleep. The glowbark tree pulses once with soft blue light, a rhythm strangely close to a heartbeat.)

Alawien gazes with interest at her surroundings.
Vellani breathes in slightly.
Vellani closes her eyes for a moment.
Fehala arrives, her figure partially obscured by the flickering form of a graceful brown and white doe made of moonlight silver light cantering beside her.
Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.
As she moves to a kneeling position, the fabric of Fehala's voluminous layered linen robe pools on the ground around her.
You glance over your shoulder.

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🕯️You see a flicker of candlelight in a shadow-filled library. A robed figure whispers to a companion, "- - the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight - -"

🕯️You recall a memory of bare feet on the garden paths, and a pair of voices - familiar and hesitant - speaking of hiding something not because it is dangerous, but because it is misunderstood.

🕯️You hear a single name, half-formed in breath: "Ca -- le -- lith." Then the creak of a library door closing in the dark.

🦋 A moth flutters around your head for a moment and lands on the bark of the tree in front of you. As it does so, an outline glows, forming a brief glyph resembling a stylized eye.

Speaking in Elven, Vellani whispers aloud, "I see... something."
You beam happily at Fehala!
Rivienne giggles at Vellani.
Speaking quietly to Fehala, you say, "Come and join us."
You raise an eyebrow in Vellani's direction.
Fehala tilts her head toward Vellani, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Speaking to Vellani, Rivienne asks, "A Sylvan?"
You giggle softly at Rivienne.
Vellani blinks at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae murmurs, "Ca-le-lith...?"
Alawien raises an eyebrow in Arenglae's direction.
Speaking hesitantly in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "No. Well, yes. But also something else. Somewhere else."
Rivienne says, "Oh, ok."
Speaking quietly to Arenglae, Alawien echoes, "Calelith?"
Rivienne flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.

Rohese smiles and the leaf in her palm flutters slightly, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once and a soft voice hums an incantation in a language you almost understand then a phrase can be heard through the susuration of the leaves overhead, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all."

Rivienne exclaims, "Oh!"
Rivienne leans forward.
Rivienne exclaims, "I think I saw something too!"
Vellani raises an eyebrow.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae distantly says, "Yes... I saw... bare feet on a garden path... voices speaking... but the only thing I could make out was Calelith..."
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Moonlight."
Rivienne reaches out and touches an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened libra--"

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌳Your thoughts are not your own. You hear a voice; not old but weary. "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited." A single ghostly blue leaf bursts into flame midair and turns to a dark inky colour as it falls and turns to ash.

🌿 A light breeze stirs your hair. The bark beneath your hand feels warm - unexpectedly so. Then, a whisper, thin as moth-wing, "Memory roots deep. Secrets rot slow." You glimpse the ghost of a robed figure pacing a garden path at dusk, a silver sigil glinting at their throat then the image fades, like breath on glass.

🌿 The leaf in your palm trembles, though no wind stirs. The glowbark tree pulses once beneath your touch. A soft voice hums - a lullaby in a language you almost understand then a phrase bubbles up from nowhere, "Ink sealed in moonlight. Speak not. Hide all." A blurred vision of a desk cluttered with torn pages, a moth, a hand reaching for a silver sigil.

🌿 As your fingers press to the bark, it yields slightly, as if recognizing something. A sigh rustles the branches. In the stillness, a voice - not spoken, but imprinted - resonates. "We wrote in silence, in shadow. They mustn't find it - - not as we left it." Behind your eyes, you see pages vanishing as they're turned, and a hand pressing a silver sigil into leather.

Vellani gasps.
(Vellani briefly recoils from the tree, as if burned.)
Rivienne carefully tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Speaking softly to Vellani, you caution, "Don't break the circle."
Vellani flushes slightly, some color reaching her cheeks.
Speaking in Elven to you, Vellani promises, "I will not."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is moths in moonlight, their wings vibrating the bough-song." She tilts her head to one side, setting a gaze on the glowbark's trunk, "The tree watches where they land, with its single stylized eye."
(Arenglae's eyes stare off, her lips moving quickly but murmuring no words.)
You glance up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani explains, "I saw a darkened library. And two figures speaking... one said, "the seal won't hold unless it's bathed in moonlight."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "But then..."
Rivienne asks, "Do you remember, at the symposium, Vanathys spoke about rune-grafting, the practice of inscribing magical sigils into bark or roots to essentially turn a plant into a spellbook?"
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you exclaim, "I do!"
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "We wrote in silence... in shadow... They mustn't find it -- not as we left it."
The ghostly blue leaves of the glowbark tree shiver briefly.
Fehala tilts her head toward Arenglae, examining her intently as the tip of one ear twitches briefly.
Vellani winces.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
(Arenglae's eyes move quickly back and forth, as though reading.)
Speaking apologetically to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "I'm sorry if this is painful for you."
Rivienne says, "If someone did that here, the glowbark may have grown over it."
Rivienne leans back.
(Vellani fidgets uncomfortably, but remains near the tree. Her eyes flicker to the circle's outline briefly.)
(Arenglae jumps suddenly, as if startled, though she remains seated with her hand on the tree.)
Rivienne says, "Valences and loss of control.."
Vellani nods slowly at Rivienne.
A white-footed scrawny deer mouse on Fehala's shoulder suddenly sits up, scanning the area with a mien of feral regality.
Rivienne frowns.
Speaking concernedly to Arenglae, you whisper aloud, "Are you alright?"
Alawien furrows her brow.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "A voice said, "We thought the Eye would guard us. But it only watched - - and waited."
Vellani frowns.
Alawien nods at Vellani.
Alawien quietly says, "I heard that too."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani distantly says, "I am not sure if it was the same voice..."

(Rohese's hand flattens against the bark of the glowbark tree. A whisper weaves through the branches, unintelligible but deeply familiar; as if it knows and trusts you. The bark glistens with dew-like beads of silver-blue light. For a brief moment the entire tree seems to exhale. A gnarled spiral pattern is faintly visible in the bark near the tree's base. The lines are too smooth to be natural, their edges blackened with old magic.)

[Visions possibly seen by each participant]

🌿 The bark seems to shiver under your touch, and the tree's glow intensifies. A scent like old parchment fills your senses and a clear voice echoes in your mind. "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her- - too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep." Then - - screaming wind, a shattered mirror of stars, and the sound of the book slamming shut.

🌿 The glowbark resists you for a moment, then relents. You feel cold, not on your skin, but inside your thoughts. A phrase floats up, brittle as old ink. "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens." A brief flash: the Calelith villa at night, a cloaked figure slipping inside, and a warped black leather tome under their arm.

🍃 A single leaf twirls down from the canopy, landing in your palm. It dissolves the moment it touches your skin.

🍃 You catch a flicker of silver between the bark's furrows, forming the faint outline of an eye. A ghostly leaf spirals down, catching the light in a shimmer of ethereal blue. The moment it touches the ground, it curls inward as if trying to hide something, then slowly disintegrates into motes of silvery dust.

Speaking in Elven, Arenglae whispers aloud, "She believed it could be controlled. I followed her -- too far. The valence waits, but it does not sleep."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.
You surprisedly exclaim, "Look!"
Rivienne asks, "Could someone have told the tree secrets, carved them into it?"
Speaking in Elven to Arenglae, Vellani mumbles, "I heard it too."
Fehala nods at Vellani.
Arenglae nods slowly at Vellani.
(Rohese points at the base of the tree where a pattern is fading.)
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani asks, "What is that?"
Speaking in Elven to Vellani, Fehala says, "There is a shattering-- and a closing-- finality in both."
Alawien quietly murmurs, "I've seen that somewhere before, I'm sure."
Rivienne says, "Spirals are such ancient symbols."
Vellani shivers.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani echoes, "To see the hidden, you must forget what you know. The eye closes before it opens."
You take a deep breath.
You slowly and deliberately empty your filled lungs.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani murmurs, "Calelith Villa."
Fehala leans in toward the tree, her pointed ears raised ever so slightly.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "Calelith Villa... a figure with a tome entering at night..."
Alawien closes her eyes for a moment.
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There is a bargain to be made. To forget, is to know. An eye closes before it opens."
(Vellani's fingers reach out as if trying to trace something falling.)

Rohese smiles up at the tree but it quickly fades as the air around it thickens, humming with suppressed energy. The leaves shift as if responding to an unseen presence and a gust stirs the tree's branches, shaking free a handful of pale blue leaves. They spiral downward in a slow, deliberate pattern - tracing a sigil in the air before vanishing.

You glance around the area.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly asks, "What is that?"
Speaking tentatively to Vellani, you ask, "It looked like a glyph or sigil of some kind?"
Rivienne says, "Seems something may be hidden in Gyldemar Green."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani nods slightly to you.
Rivienne agrees with you.
Fehala cocks her head at Rivienne.

A few ghostly blue leaves slowly sink to the ground from the huge bough of the glowbark tree, their pale light resembling wisps of gossamer in the darkness.

Alawien gruffly mutters, "All that’s out there is my old home."
Speaking to Fehala, Rivienne says, "Whats left of Calelith Villa."
Alawien nods slowly at Rivienne.
Rivienne glances at Alawien.
Vellani gazes with interest at Alawien.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I saw the outline of an eye..."
Alawien dismissively says, "That place has been in ruins for centuries."
Alawien waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.
Rivienne nods at Arenglae.
You nod at Arenglae.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "How... grandfatherly."
Vellani nods slowly at Arenglae.

A radiant ghostly blue leaf is suddenly caught up in an errant breeze and swirls southwest.
You softly say, "I saw that too ..."

You glance southwest.
A circular stain of sap's edges slowly fade away as it continues to dry up.
Vellani glances away.
You apprehensively ask, "Didn't Lady Vaillancourt say something about the Watchers?"
You bite your lip.
Alawien nods to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "She did."
Rivienne says, "The Watchers of the Eternal Eye."
Rivienne says, "I don’t know much about them."
You bite your lip.
Speaking in Elven to Rivienne, Vellani says, "Nor I. I wish I did, now."
You adopt an agreeable expression.
You softly say, "Perhaps she knows more and can enlighten us."
Rivienne nods to you.
You softly say, "Well, let me close this circle and we can all move more freely."
You stand back up.
You dust off your ecru suede leggings.
Vellani lets out a long, contemplative breath.
Vellani glances warily at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne stands up.
Speaking gratefully to an ancient glowbark tree, you say, "We thank you Mother Tree."
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
You purposefully pace to your left, moving in a circle around an ancient glowbark tree.
You brush your fingers lightly against an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven to an ancient glowbark tree, Vellani murmurs, "Thank you."
You softly say, "Now you can step out of the circle."
You wiggle your nose at Vellani.
(Arenglae withdraws her hand from the glowbark tree.)
Alawien chuckles.
Alawien stands up.
Vellani smiles faintly.
Vellani stands up.
Arenglae nods.
Arenglae stands up.
Alawien groans.
Arenglae takes a few steps back.
Alawien quietly says, "My poor old back."
Vellani takes a few steps back.
Alawien inwardly sighs.
You reach over and gently rest your hand on Alawien's shoulder.
Vellani nods sympathetically at Alawien.
Speaking softly to Alawien, you say, "Thank you for sparing the time to join us."
Alawien nods slowly.
Alawien quietly exclaims, "Back to the Library and I will let you know if I ever find that book again!"
Alawien waves.
You nod appreciatively at Alawien.
Alawien just went northeast.
You let out a long, contemplative breath.
(Fehala brings her ghostly blue leaf up to her lips, whispering softly into its fold. She lets the leaf flutter and fall, landing to the ground for the wind to pick up and carry elsewhere later.)
You softly exclaim, "Well!"
Fehala carefully places a radiant ghostly blue leaf on the ground.
Rivienne says, "I used to wonder about that Villa."
Vellani nods in agreement at Rivienne.
You nod at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I always found it curious."
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "Something connects the Caleliths and the Veythornes, that's for sure."
Fehala closes her eyes as she reaches out and traces the grooves of an ancient glowbark tree. Opening them, she inhales deeply, then sighs peacefully to herself as she gazes at the tree.
Rivienne nods slowly to you.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "Deep roots, it seems."
Fehala stands up.
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani concernedly asks, "But who would mar the tree?"
You furrow your brow, probably adding a wrinkle or two in the process.
Rivienne gazes thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
Rivienne asks, "Someone who knows that trees have long memories?"
You incline your head.
The silvered arctic fox barks.
Vellani nods faintly.
You softly counter, "Or who doesn't know that trees remember."
You gaze thoughtfully at an ancient glowbark tree.
You reach out and touch an ancient glowbark tree.
Speaking in Elven, Vellani softly says, "That is more disturbing."
Rivienne agrees with Vellani.
You nod in agreement at Vellani.
You softly exclaim, "She has given us much to think about!"
Arenglae nods in agreement.
Rivienne exclaims, "Yes!"
Speaking in Elven to you, Arenglae says, "I will see what I may able to dig up in the Library while there."
You smile at Arenglae.
Speaking softly to Arenglae, you say, "Thank you."
Rivienne says, "I think I will make some very subtle inquiries about the Watchers."
Vellani nods in agreement at Arenglae.
You smile at Rivienne.
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae amusedly says, "After all, I practically live there."
Rivienne says, "And maybe go for a ride to the Villa."
Speaking in Elven, Vellani says, "I will continue to look into this moon magic."
You softly say, "And I will reach out to Lady Silithyr and share what we have learned today."
Speaking in Elven, Arenglae says, "I hope she is well. I have not visited with her in some time."
You softly say, "My research has uncovered a few interesting facts too but I'm still delving into the Veythorne family history."
Speaking carefully to Arenglae, you say, "She is ... not herself."
Speaking in Elven, Fehala says, "There are places in the Gyldemar where the bough-song sings loudest. I will lend listening ears there for what passes in the winds between the branches. A forest shares its burdens. Others may know and speak of it."
You smile at Fehala.
Speaking to you, Rivienne says, "Thank you for meeting with us today, I've never seen the glowbark so responsive."
Speaking appreciatively to Fehala, you say, "Thank you."
You smile at Rivienne.
Arenglae raises an eyebrow in your direction.
Speaking softly to Rivienne, you say, "She has her moments."
You gaze fondly at an ancient glowbark tree.
Vellani smiles at Fehala.
Speaking softly to Fehala, you say, "I am sure the Glydemar has many secrets to share."
You softly ask, "Shall we meet again in a week or so to share our findings and thoughts?"
</pre></div>

=== 5th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a letter from Lucraine regarding the Illuminator's Talisman.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman1" style="color:#0000ff">The Illuminator's Relic</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman1">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
To Lady Rohese,

I write with a burden both heavy and elusive.

Last night, beneath the shroud of moonlight at Kraken's Fall docks, an old man appeared—
a figure as weathered as time itself, cloaked and silent but for his eyes, which held a
curious weight. He offered no name, no direct guidance, only a riddle—words that twist like
smoke and hide their meaning beneath layers of ink and shadow.

He spoke not plainly of the talismans, but instead recited a verse — a riddle — that hints at
their existence and location, though shrouded in mystery:

"Ink sealed in moonlight, speak not—hide all.
That’s how it begins, and how most come to fall.

There's a book that breathes but once a year,
When a silver-eyed moon draws the truth near.

Its cover is black, its pages hush-tight,
It wakes with no flame, only moonlight.

To find it, forget what you think you know -
For the eye must close before it shows.

Seek where moths once danced in dust,
And Calelith's shadows cradle broken trust.

But then, the second, it waits in green,
In the arms of a mother who weeps unseen.

Her bark bears the spiral, her breath is thin -
She grew from the seed they buried within.

Take it, and she dies with a final sigh.
Leave it, and the forest begins to cry.

One opens the way with forgotten lore.
One holds the cost, rotting at the core.

Choose the night, and find the seal.
Choose the root, and learn what's real.

But mind this well before you try -
The Eye may watch… but never lies."

He vanished before I could press him for more, leaving me only with these words—half illumination, half-shadow.

I send this to you, Rohese, because your bond with Amaltara and knowledge of the glowbark's secrets runs deeper than mine. I hope that, together, we might unravel what the Watcher's riddle means, and discern when and where these talismans might be found - before their burden falls on those less prepared.

I await your counsel.

Ever in pursuit of hidden songs and your attentions,

Lucraine the Composer</pre></div>

=== 10th day of Phoenatos, 5125 ===
Rohese received a package from Fehala who had stumbled across something hidden behind the desk drawer in the ruins of Calelith Villa.

In the pine package you see a densely woven bracelet, a page of flora-embossed vellum and a tiny spidersilk sack.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">'''a flora-embossed vellum'''<br>
I let my feet, the forest's song, and the pull of intuition guide me through the Gyldemar. Near the Villa, the boughs sway with a cacophony of whispers. They speak of past hopes, of love, of betrayal, and of vengeance that clings to the bark, spreading like lichen toward the roots.

It was at the side of a fallen maoral that I found the stillness I needed to sink wholly into the Now and listen to the beat that hides between the moth's fluttering wings. I listened, and followed the dry, fluttering whispers into the Villa.

The moth's path led me beyond dead wood wrought into pleasing forms; past a maoral door, and to a desk with a drawer. Within, I found a sigil concealed from casual eyes. Though Moth's purpose and meaning may diverge, I cannot help but think this is part of what you seek. The sigils shape calls to mind the spiral pattern traced by the glowbark's falling leaves.

A sudden battle between a raptor and a raven broke out somewhere in the rooms above, breaking the stillness and scattering Moth into memory. I have entrusted the sigil to this greedy-eyed postmaster. May it find its way to you and serve your cause.

These are my words, now bound in ink. Free them with flame.
-Fehala</div></pre>

In the sack:
<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">an ordinary silver sigil on a twisted glaes chain</div></pre>

=== 10th day of Eoantos, 5125 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book again in the Restricted Section and - as per the scholarly group's suggestion - she immediately drew down a shaft of moonlight that illuminated the faint markings on its cover, which revealed a riddle. She wrote to the group to share it.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">Dear Scholar,

With the gift of a [[Gold-framed clear crystal lens|clear crystal lens]] and the application of [[Fash'lo'nae's Gift]], I was able to draw down a [[Moonbeam (611)|moonbeam]] to illuminate the cover of the book. Four lines of elven text became visible. I have translated and transcribed them below for your consideration.

"In exile lost, yet not erased,
My name remains, a curse embraced.
Speak it true where knowledge sleeps,
And past shall wake from silent keep."

It occurs to me that this possibly refers to a verbal password that will open it for further investigation. I await your thoughts on what this password might be. In the meantime, I will continue to carry out further research in the hope it will reveal something of value and I would appreciate your continued assistance in this matter too.

Scribe Alawien Calelith
Library Aies</div></pre>

=== 18th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
At the invitation of Lord Gilenir Veythorne, a small group of scholars joined Scribe Alawien Calelith in the Veythorne Manor library. After a morning of scrutinising the bookshelves for relevant material, Alawien joined them in the Reading Nook to share her findings. Lord Veythorne had also located several chests in the attic that he thought might be of use and these were made available to the group.

In the chests, they found an assortment of ephemera. Some of the books and papers were written in an unfamiliar text but there were a few items of immediate interest: a marriage certificate and an eye-etched black coral amulet were of particular note, as well as a copy of the [[Enchiridion Valentia]] and a stone that Elaejia Silithyr identified as being carved with a [[Shien'tyr]] rune.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a stamped white certificate<br>
Despite its age, the certificate is still in pretty good condition. At its head are the sanctioned heraldic crests of House Veythorne and House Calelith, crisply embossed and countersigned beneath. The text clearly records a marriage contract between Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith and lists their lineages with a date of binding in a neat elven hand and affirmation by appointed witnesses. Alongside the registrar's mark there is a wax-stamp in the bottom right hand corner bearing a peacock insignia.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the amulet and reveal further information about the couple in question.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mytalisman2" style="color:#0000ff">The Amulet Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mytalisman2">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
The song begins with a breath of cold air and the coppery tang of blood on the tongue. You see a hand lowering some polished black coral into a shallow basin containing a liquid of unknown origin. Two amulets take shape, twin pyramidal pendants, each strung on silver cord. They are not forged, but created, bound by intention and mirrored purpose. One is set aside for a scholar. The other, for a noble. Neither knows yet what path they will share.

Now you glimpse a moment beneath the boughs of a large oak tree in the Glydemar Forest, where Saereth clasps Maerion's hand and fastens an amulet around his neck. No words pass between them, but the eyes now etched into the smooth faces of the talisman pulse faintly, resonant and aware. The exchange is not ceremonial; it is a pact, personal and private. In their shared silence, a vow is made: that knowledge would not die unguarded, and no secret be kept alone.

The song slows. You see the two figures standing apart now: Maerion at his desk, ink staining his fingers; Saereth standing over a large dresser in a bedroom and staring into a bowl of still water. Their amulets no longer glow in unison. One searches for a gate; the other, for an answer. Each wears the weight of the other's choices, but neither turns back. Though the bond remains, distance begins to fill the silence.

The final verse arrives with a sense of longing. A lone amulet lies forgotten on a bedroom floor, its mirror-like sheen dulled by centuries of dust and neglect. Somewhere far away, the second is concealed. A single note hums between them; a memory held, never spoken. Then silence. The connection flickers, then fades. Yet even now, as moonlight touches its black surface, the bond stirs faintly, as if not quite broken.
</pre></div>

Alawien then shared the notes taken from the library books she had accessed earlier that day. Her research revealed that Maerion had been quietly banished from House Veythorne - his name erased from public record - and a ledger confirmed that a tome had gone missing from the Library Aies around the same time. She had also noted that an article in a copy of the [[Peacock Gazette/Issue 18|Peacock Gazette]] talked of Maerion Veythorne. Despite this being speculation or rumour, it warranted attention.

All of this new information led the scholars to believe that the solution to the riddle (the verbal password) was a name - Saereth or Maerion - and Alawien agreed to try both possibilities on the book at the earliest opportunity.

OOC note: This new research has been added below and annotated with an asterisk.

=== 26th day of Lormesta, 5126 ===
Alawien successfully tracked down the book and was able to try both passwords on it. Whispering the first name, "Saereth," the book pulsed with a faint silvery light and shuddered slightly but failed to open. However, when she whispered the second name, "Maerion," the book pulsed brightly and fell open in her hand. Quickly turning to the front page, Alawien read the title, "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study", but for a brief moment, the words "Bound by Ink and Blood," were visible beneath it but they quickly faded away. Flicking through the book, Alawien noticed that some of the pages had come away from the brittle binding. She carefully removed the loose sheets and pocketed them, replacing the book back on the shelf where she found it.

=== 1st day of Fashanos, 5126 ===
Several scholars met with Alawien to study the book and the loose pages more closely.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: left;">a sigil-tooled worn leather book<br>
Subtle and easily missed, the leather cover bears the faint indentation of a sigil that appears to be a heraldic insignia of some kind, as well as hints of something resembling text. The warped spine is unmarked by a title, and the pages within are thick and irregular with a curious texture; some have come loose from the brittle bindings. The book shows all the hallmarks of time spent on a dusty shelf, with a musty scent and the smudged imprint of a dessicated moth trapped long ago between two pages.</div></pre>

The bard, Lucraine, was able to sing to the book and reveal some useful information.

<span class="mw-customtoggle-mybook" style="color:#0000ff">The Book Loresong</span>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" id="mw-customcollapsible-mybook">
<pre{{log2|font=arial|border=none}}>
You glimpse two figures in shadowed robes meeting within a candlelit library, the sigil of House Veythorne visible on one sleeve. An elf with ink-stained fingers - presumably Maerion - lowers his voice as he produces an eye-etched black coral amulet and slips it around his neck. The other nods once in response and does the same allowing you a brief glimpse of her face; she looks remarkably like Alawien. Together, they open a leather book, the glowbark leaf pressed within its pages pulsing faintly at their touch as they peruse its contents.

The song deepens, and the scene shifts to a moonlit grove in the Veythorne Gardens. Standing before the ancient glowbark, two elves trace runes in silver ink on a pair of black stones. The tree seems to fall still and matching glyphs on its rough bark begin to glow in response. The air feels thick and hums with an unknown presence. Saereth murmurs a phrase in elven, while Maerion chants low and steady, the runestones in their hands and amulets around their necks both pulsing with unnatural light. A circle stirs in the air - thin, like stretched glass - vibrating with unseen potential.

A sharp hum resonates. The portal begins to shimmer, revealing a space beyond: a void - black, beautiful, and wrong. Maerion reaches forward but the wind howls suddenly through the grove and the glowbark leaves overhead shiver. Something on the far side stirs. With a snap like a closing gate, the circle collapses. Saereth stumbles back. The glyphs on the tree trunk flare once and vanish. The ritual has failed. Whatever they tried to open, something looked back.

The final verse carries a fading tone, like forgotten memories. You see Maerion alone in the library, sealing the journal with trembling fingers. His amulet lies dark and dormant beside a cracked runestone next to the book. He presses a silver sigil to the leather cover, whispers his name, and the book hardens under his hands; locked against all but moonlight and memory. In the silence, a glowbark leaf crumbles to dust and the journal vanishes; waiting to be rediscovered...or destroyed.

As the final note fades, the book grows heavy in your hands. A sensation washes over you - not of magic, but memory. You feel a quiet desperation: a mind fraying at the edges, burdened by secrets too vast for words. There is sorrow, yes, but not regret.

A name surfaces - not spoken, only felt: Saereth.

The impression fades, but not before one final whisper echoes in your thoughts, not from the book, but from somewhere beyond: "The gate was never meant to open...not without the key I never found." Then all is still. The journal feels heavier than before.
</pre></div>

At first, all the scholars could read were passages pertaining to the book's original content, that covering "The Veythorne Glowbark: History and Study." After the careful application of gentle heat by waving the pages over a candle flame, however, they were able to reveal hidden text on each page that seemed to indicate the book was Maerion's journal. His entries described a failed attempt at an arcane ritual at the glowbark tree with Saereth Calelith and his subsequent banishment from House Veythorne.

OOC note: The revealed text on the book pages can be found below.

After considerable discussion, it was agreed that a visit to the Villa was probably necessary and that all involved should be cautious about who they share this knowledge with. A decision needs to be made about what to do with this book now as steps needed to be taken to ensure it didn't fall into the wrong hands.

==Research==
The following is a copy of all the extracts that scholars discovered from the research they carried out in the Library Aies.

OOC: This research is carried out in a [https://discord.gg/XwUjUBvr discord server]. Everyone is welcome to join!

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Library Aies Research
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Excerpt
!style="width: 40%"|Insight
|-
|The Veythorne Legacy: Masters of Elemental Lore
|The Veythorne family, renowned for their profound research into elementals and their planes, traces its scholarly pursuits back to Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the esteemed founder of the Elemancers.
|This highlights the Veythorne family's deep-rooted association with elemental studies, providing context for scholarly endeavors.
|-
|Prominent Figures of House Illistim
|Among the illustrious members of House Illistim, the Veythorne family stands out, having been part of the royal bloodline during the dynastic era. Notably, Nionien Illistim's union with a prominent Veythorne merchant led to the birth of Argent Mirror Ainlinnima Illistim, whose reign emphasized commerce and business affairs.
|This passage underscores the Veythorne family's historical prominence within House Illistim, hinting at their influential role in Ta'Illistim's governance and economy.
|-
|Architectural Marvels: Veythorne Manor
|Veythorne Manor, a prominent landmark in Ta'Illistim, is typically closed to the public. However, its grounds are famed tourist attractions, reflecting the family's historical significance.
|The manor's exclusivity suggests it may house hidden archives or artifacts related to Veythorne scholars in the past, encouraging further exploration.
|-
|Uncommon Practices in Elemental Manipulation
|While the Veythorne family is widely respected for their contributions to elemental studies, certain experiments throughout history have been met with disapproval. Records indicate that on rare occasions, scholars have sought to extend their understanding beyond conventional summoning, attempting to bind, converse with, or even subvert the natural will of elementals. Such pursuits often led to disastrous results, reinforcing the necessity of restraint in elemental research.
|This passage suggests that a Veythorne scholar may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable elemental research, possibly attempting to control forces beyond his grasp.
|-
|The Elemancers of Ta'Illistim: A Tradition of Elemental Study
|The Veythorne family, long associated with the study of the elemental planes, has produced many accomplished scholars in the field. However, historical records note that certain inquiries into the nature of planar energy were deemed inappropriate by the more conservative elements of the scholarly community. While most studies focused on the refinement of elemental control, there are whispers of those who sought to push beyond the established boundaries, delving into the unstable convergence of elements - where order breaks and chaos stirs.
|This passage subtly implies that some scholars attempted to manipulate elemental forces in ways that were considered reckless or taboo.
|-
|Of Scholars and Shadows: The Veiled Heresies
|Throughout history, Ta'Illistim has been a beacon of wisdom, but not all knowledge is welcomed within its spires. There are scattered accounts of scholars whose inquiries led them into dangerous, morally dubious territories - experiments with arcane forces unrecorded in sanctioned texts. Such pursuits were swiftly denounced, and those who engaged in them often found themselves erased from scholarly circles, their works suppressed, their names fading into obscurity.
|Hints that this particular author was not the first scholar to be cast out for pursuing forbidden knowledge, subtly reinforcing that his studies may have involved unsanctioned magical practices.
|-
|On the Ethical Limits of Magical Inquiry: A Discourse by the Loremasters
|While the study of magic is essential to the advancement of elven scholarship, there remain practices that must be regarded with great caution. Manipulation of unstable forces, the reckless binding of energy beyond our sphere, and the pursuit of knowledge that defies natural law have led to the downfall of even the most brilliant minds. Certain records speak of those who, in their hubris, reached beyond their grasp, only to find themselves exiled - or worse.
|A veiled reference to those who may have overstepped the boundaries of acceptable magical study. This suggests that what one person in particular uncovered was dangerous enough to warrant erasure from formal histories.
|-
|Elemental or Something Else? Anomalies in Summoning
|While the majority of Illistimi scholars adhere to the known principles of elemental invocation, some have theorized the existence of entities that do not fit within the traditional elemental classifications. These anomalous forces - neither fully spirit nor elemental - are poorly understood, and scholars who have attempted to interact with them have often failed to document their findings. In several instances, such individuals have withdrawn from public life under circumstances that remain unclear.
|This suggests that the scholar in question may have attempted a summoning or communion with something that was not entirely elemental in nature—perhaps a darker, unknown force.
|-
|The Glowbark Tree: Fact and Folklore
|Among the many ancient trees of Ta'Illistim, the glowbark of Veythorne Manor stands apart. While largely regarded as a botanical curiosity, occasional accounts suggest that the tree has responded strangely to certain magical influences. One such account, notably omitted from later editions of this text, described an instance where an unnamed scholar claimed to have 'awakened' the tree, causing its light to pulse in rhythm with spoken words. If such claims were true, they raise uncomfortable questions about the nature of the glowbark's luminescence - and what, if anything, it remembers.
|Hints that a scholar may have used the glowbark tree as part of his experiments, possibly activating something long dormant. The removal of details from later editions suggests an attempt to cover up what happened.
|-
|The Veythorne's Oldest Warden
|Legends claim that the glowbark trees of Ta'Illistim hold memories older than any written record. The Veythorne estate's glowbark, in particular, is said to have once been tended by a scholar who spent long nights beneath its boughs, etching notes in its bark as if holding discourse with the tree itself. While this is, of course, the stuff of myth, one cannot help but wonder what wisdom he sought - or what answers he believed he had found.
|A veiled reference to the author's connection to the glowbark tree, implying that he may have communed with it in unnatural ways, possibly leaving behind traces of his work.
|-
|The Vanished Names: Scholars Lost to Time
|Ta'Illistim is home to some of the most revered scholars in history, yet not all who pursued knowledge are remembered. Among the lost names are those who strayed too far from the accepted paths of learning. In certain cases, records were expunged entirely, leaving behind only gaps where their achievements - or failure - once stood. One such case concerns a researcher from a well-respected family whose work was deemed too dangerous to preserve. Though little is written of this individual, fragments of his notes were said to have been locked away in the private archives of Library Aies, lest others follow his path.
|This passage suggests that the author's name was deliberately erased from history, but traces of his work might still exist in restricted areas of the library. Players may need to gain special access to find them.
|-
|The Silent Expulsions: Scholars Forgotten
|Although rare, there have been instances where scholars of notable families found their names stripped from records, their research abandoned to time. Such erasures are never done lightly and often suggest discoveries deemed too dangerous, misguided, or unspeakable for public knowledge. Their fates remain unknown, but some whisper that traces of their work persist in hidden corners of Ta'Illistim's libraries, waiting to be found.
|Reinforces the idea that a particular scholar was erased from history, and that his research might still be hidden somewhere, waiting to be uncovered.
|-
|The Banishment of Scholars: Case Studies in Illistimi Law *
|While rare, cases of scholarly exile are not unheard of in Ta'Illistim's long history. Those who defy the fundamental principles of responsible research may find themselves cast out—not merely from their institutions, but from their families, their names stripped from records as if they had never existed. The most extreme examples involve those whose work touched upon forces deemed too dangerous or unpredictable. In such cases, even the most esteemed lineage could not shield them from the consequences of their choices.
|This passage provides a legal and historical precedent for Maerion's banishment, reinforcing that whatever he did was serious enough to warrant not only expulsion but an attempt to erase his name from history.
|-
|Anomalous Runes and Unfinished Research
|Occasionally, researchers stumble upon fragmented notations - arcane symbols that do not correspond to any recorded Illistimi school of magic. Some of these appear in older volumes with no citation, their authors long forgotten. While most scholars dismiss them as scribal errors or abandoned research, others speculate that these symbols may belong to theories never fully realized…or perhaps deliberately hidden
|This suggests that the unknown author's work may have been concealed in coded or fragmented writings, requiring scholars to piece together lost knowledge.
|-
|The Veythorne Scholars: A Lineage of Knowledge
|Among the most gifted scholars of the Veythorne line, several names stand out in recorded history: Meathrix Veythorne Illistim, the famed elemental researcher; Lirael Veythorne, an esteemed cartographer of magical ley lines; and Maerion Veythorne, whose later works remain unarchived, though references to his studies appear in fragmented form. His contributions to the family's legacy remain a subject of quiet debate.
|Confirms the latter's existence, but hints that his research was never formally archived, suggesting that his work was either destroyed or deliberately concealed.
|-
|Disputed Theories of the Arcane
|The scholar Maerion Veythorne is mentioned briefly in a handful of elemental studies, often in footnotes or as a secondary source. His theories - largely dismissed - proposed a link between elemental forces and something he referred to only as 'the unseen tide.' While his peers found his conclusions unfounded, some claim his research led him down a path that his family refused to follow.
|This passage suggests that Maerion's work was controversial and that his studies led to a break with his family. It also introduces an enigmatic phrase, "the unseen tide," which might be relevant in deciphering his journal.
|-
|The Hidden Halls: Unrecorded Alliances of the Illistimi Nobility *
|Both the Veythorne and Calelith families are known for their devotion to scholarship. The Veythornes specialized in elementals and their planes, while the Caleliths long curated one of Ta'Illistim's oldest private collections of botanical manuscripts. Generations ago, scholars from each family collaborated on esoteric research, particularly in the areas of natural magic, memory-binding, and lunar phenomena.
|Confirms the connection between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Silent Arrangement: An Unspoken Accord (From Private Libraries and Their Patrons: A Treatise on Scholarly Hospitality)
|Though no official correspondence survives, records from the Calelith estate speak cryptically of a "scholar" granted irregular access to their collection. Calelith sigils are visible on the covers of a few surviving folios. The transaction may have involved more than trust - perhaps barter, perhaps bloodline curiosity.
|Confirms an earlier association between the Veythorne and Calelith families.
|-
|The Gift of the Glowbark: A Botanical Gesture *
|The gifting of a glowbark sapling to the Calelith family marked a rare gesture between two noble houses. Whether diplomatic, scholarly, or symbolic remains uncertain. Curiously, the sapling failed to thrive, despite careful tending. Elven horticulturalists still debate whether it was unsuitable soil (or something far less mundane) that withered the gift after the Veythorne exile.
|
|-
|A Friendship Withered: The Vanishing of Maerion Veythorne (From Whispers and Exiles: Forgotten Names of the Peacock Court)
|Following Maerion's quiet banishment from House Veythorne, Calelith archives show a marked gap in guest registries. Notes on "interrupted access" and "the loss of an annotated tome" appear in private ledgers, suggesting that what began as a scholarly friendship may have ended in theft - or sacrifice. This tome, bearing the Library Aies insignia and bound in black leather, remains unaccounted for.
|The banished Veythorne scholar mentioned in other texts is named and associated with the Library Aies' missing tome.
|-
|From Eyes Unseen: A Scholarly Order in the Shining City (Excerpt from a Loremaster's report on recent discoveries in the Library Aies.)
|Among noble scholars rumoured to have ties to the Watchers of the Eternal Eye, two names appear frequently in a batch of scrolls and correspondence: a 'seeker of knowledge' in the Veythorne household, and a 'keeper of the stacks' within the Calelith Villa. Both are said to have worn tokens of polished black coral; small pendants etched with the eye and believed to be known in arcane circles as Illuminator's Talismans.
|Hints at '''two''' significant individuals that are potentially linked in some way.
|-
|A Treatise on Coral and Memory (annotated version)
|Excerpt from the marginalia: Though most black coral amulets were thought lost after the destruction of the city of Toullaire in 4565 M.E, two were recorded as active well into the late 49th century. One appeared briefly in Ta'Illistim's academic circles, tied to a Veythorne lord, the other noted - though never directly named - in the margins of a botanical study authored by a Calelith. It is possible the talismans were used not only to store visions, but to conceal the bearers' identities within Watcher rites.
|Links the same '''two''' significant individuals and their respective families to the Watchers through shared use of rare magical artifacts.
|-
|Memory Wards and Symbolic Locks (Vol. II)
|Some of the Watchers bound not just books, but themselves. The pairing of a black coral amulet and a living sigil - usually worn as a pendant - created a feedback loop between memory and object. These were not common. At least two examples, possibly one from House Veythorne and another from Calelith, are said to have been attuned to a ritual involving botanical resonance and lunar cycles.
|Suggests the amulets may have played a role in the safeguarding of the scholar's journal.
|-
|Chronicles of the Outer Circle: Known Affiliates and Allegories *
|Annotations in a Calelith ledger mention a visitor: 'M.V., bearer of the eye,' who arrived under moonless skies and carried with him 'the talisman of black coral.' He met with S.C., whose own amulet was said to mirror his. It is uncertain whether the meeting was scholarly or ceremonial. Some suspect the two were paired initiates.
|Obliquely confirms both Maerion Veythorne and Saereth Calelith as Watchers with matching amulets.
|-
|Codices Lost and Found: The History of Forbidden Volumes
|The destruction or concealment of volumes marked with the Eye was often paired with the disappearance of their keepers. In several cases, the amulet bore the final enchantment; pressed to a book's spine, it would either bind or obliterate the memory within. Two such amulets - last confirmed over 500 years ago in Ta'Illistim - are missing, along with the volumes they were said to protect.
|A dark foreshadowing of the amulets' power, familial connections, the Calelith sigil and Maerion's fate.
|}

==Book Pages==
The following is a record of the hidden text discovered by the group of scholars using the application of gentle heat on loose book pages.

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="3"|Sample Pages
|-
!Source Title
!style="width: 40%"|Original text
!style="width: 40%"|Hidden text
|-
|Original passage discovered by Alawien that started this quest
|The Veythorne family gardens are widely regarded as one of the most well-maintained private botanical collections in Ta'Illistim. Featuring carefully arranged topiaries, imported flora from across Elanthia, and a variety of native species, the gardens serve as both a place of quiet contemplation and an example of meticulous elven horticulture. Shaded paths lined with trees lead visitors through carefully curated sections, each designed to highlight the beauty of seasonal blooms.
|I was a scholar before I was a heretic. I walked the halls of Library Aies with reverence, my hands untainted by ambition. But books have voices, and some whisper louder than others. A forgotten treatise, its black leather cover warped with age, fell from a high shelf into my hands. No title. No author. The script within - archaic, tangled. Yet as I read, I understood. As if the knowledge had always been waiting for me to claim it. They call it 'forbidden.' I call it incomplete scholarship. Who decides what must remain hidden? Who deems knowledge unworthy of illumination?
|-
|a worn white page
|The glowbark tree remains the estate's most distinctive feature, its pale bark emitting a soft radiance that provides a gentle illumination at night. Positioned at the garden's centre, the tree's presence is considered integral to the estate's aesthetic balance. The surrounding areas, often used for private and public gatherings, offer a peaceful setting for study or conversation.
|The tree called to me before I understood why. As a child, I thought it only a curiosity - a relic upon the Veythorne estate. But the first time I traced the patterns in its bark, I felt something shift. The air grew thick, humming with a presence I could not name. My fingers burned where they touched the wood, yet I did not pull away. I returned that night. With ink and parchment, I traced the patterns upon its surface, careful not to disturb the fireflies that hovered near its limbs. Hours passed before I realized - these were not mere whorls of age upon its bark. They were symbols. A language long forgotten, waiting to be read.
|-
|a torn-edged white page
|The Veythorne estate maintains a strict policy regarding the preservation of the glowbark, with gardeners ensuring its health through traditional pruning methods. Despite its age, the tree continues to thrive, its roots deeply embedded in the land where it was first planted.
|It took weeks before I understood the first word. Not by reason alone, but by instinct - by something in my blood that recognized the glyphs before my mind did. When spoken aloud, the air seemed to shift, thickening around me like unseen hands pressing against my skin. It was no mere word. It was a key. There is power in the spaces between words. The Illistimi weave meaning into their script as a poet weaves silence between his verse. But these markings - these symbols - hold something deeper. I have traced them a hundred times, whispered them into the darkness, and only now do I see their true form. Read not the lines, but the emptiness they create.
|-
|a torn white page
|The glowbark tree, a rare specimen within Ta'Illistim, is best known for the faint luminescence of its bark, which scholars attribute to tiny, phosphorescent organisms living in the bark rather than any inherent magical quality. Found primarily in cultivated gardens and select private estates, its presence within the Veythorne family gardens is particularly noteworthy, as it is said to have been planted millennia ago by Iselde Veythorne, a noted botanist of her time.
|A door is not always a thing of wood and iron. Sometimes it is a thought. A whisper. A line drawn in the dirt that, once crossed, can never be undone. I stood beneath the glowbark tonight and spoke the words I have gleaned from the glyphs. The air trembled. A branch split, weeping silvery blue light where it cracked. I saw...something. Not with my eyes, but within my mind. It saw me in return. I was a scholar before I was a heretic. Now, I am something else.
|-
|a tattered white page
|The glowbark tree's age is difficult to determine with precision, but records suggest it was gifted to the Veythorne family by an unknown benefactor during the early reign of Argent Mirror Caladsal Nellereune Illistim. It is unclear whether this gift bore any deeper significance, though the tree has been carefully preserved by successive generations of the Veythorne line.
|Magic, in its purest form, is order. A predictable balance of the spheres. But sorcery...sorcery is the unravelling of that order, the reaching beyond what is sanctioned to grasp the unthinkable. The Loremasters of Ta'Illistim would call it reckless, yet in the dead of night, I have felt the weave of something greater. The wards in the library may keep lesser minds from these truths, but not mine.
|-
|a rough white page
|While commonly regarded as an ornamental curiosity, Illistimi scholars have debated whether the glowbark retains certain unique properties, given its resilience and reaction to moonlight. However, no formal studies have verified these claims. The Veythorne family maintains that any such stories are mere embellishments of history, with no bearing on the tree's true nature.
|I returned to the glowbark tree today, as I have countless nights before. Its ancient roots wind deep beneath the ground, entwining with something far older than the Veythorne name. When I pressed my palm against its bark, the runes flickered again—faint but undeniable. This tree is more than it appears. I believe it remembers. When I whisper the incantation, the light beneath the bark pulses in answer. A living key, waiting for a door.
|-
|a ragged white page
|Despite its age, the glowbark remains a striking feature of the estate, its gnarled trunk and luminescent bark making it a favoured subject of poets and artists alike. Visitors to the gardens often remark upon its serene beauty, though few seem to take notice of the intricate patterns that form naturally within its whorled bark—patterns that some claim resemble forgotten scripts, lost to time.
|They found me. My brothers, my father, my kin. The moment I saw their faces, I knew there would be no discourse, no understanding. Only fear. They accused me of defiling our legacy, of tainting the purity of Illistimi knowledge with reckless hunger. They think themselves wise, yet they cower from what they do not understand. I was cast out before the dawn. My name is no longer spoken in these halls. But the glowbark tree still knows me. And it will keep my secrets long after they are dust.
|-
|foxed white page
|Glowbarks are sacred to elven memory, not just as a symbol of knowledge, but of oaths kept and broken. An old Illistimi belief holds that swearing an oath beneath a glowbark tree binds the words to fate itself—an unbreakable contract that lingers even beyond death. Some nobles and scholars once sought the shade of the glowbark to conduct secret agreements, believing that the tree would preserve their promises. Yet the same legend warns that should one betray an oath sworn beneath a glowbark, the tree itself will remember, its branches twisting in silent condemnation. It is said that when a glowbark's natural patterns resemble a knotted script, it is the sign of a broken vow - one that may yet seek reckoning.
|Tonight, beneath the glowbark's limbs, I spoke the final words. The runes burned against my skin, the air sharp with the scent of something...wrong. I felt the weight of another presence, unseen but undeniable, pressing against the fabric of this world. And then, silence. The kind that deafens, that swallows sound and reason alike. I know now why the texts warned of the threshold, why those who crossed it never returned unchanged. The veil between is thin, thinner than I ever believed. And it watches.
|-
|a faded white page
|Folklore speaks of a glowbark tree that stands at the heart of the Veythorne gardens, its roots entwined with something far older than the soil it grows in. It is said that on certain nights, when the moonlight filters through its leaves just so, the tree will whisper to those who listen closely. Some claim it carries the voices of lost scholars, their knowledge trapped within its rings, waiting for the right mind to ask the right question. Others warn that the glow it emits is not merely natural luminescence, but a lingering echo of something long forgotten - or deliberately hidden.
|The glowbark no longer answers me. Its light is gone, its whispers silent. I have taken something from it, or it from me - I cannot be certain which. I am alone now, hunted both by my kin and by something far worse. If you have found this journal, then know this: do not look where I have looked. Do not listen where I have listened. But if you must, if curiosity or fate has bound you to this path, then return to the glowbark and press your hand to its heart. It still remembers. And it waits.
|-
|a dog-eared white page
|Glowbark propagation from seed continues to prove unreliable. Despite controlled soil conditions and steady lunar exposure, germination remains erratic. A specimen sent to the Calelith villa showed no signs of sprouting after three cycles. Further experimentation may require grafting rather than direct planting. The tree seems to favour memory over renewal.
|The Caleliths remain unaware - or perhaps they choose not to ask. Their villa sits too close to the ley line’s edge to be mere coincidence, and their collection is older than most suspect. I return when the garden is quiet and the lamps burn low; their extensive library holds what the Library Aies keeps locked away. Among their collection, I concealed the treatise pertaining to moon-phase rituals and the concealment of memory - untranslated, unlabelled, but resonant.
|-
|a crinkled white page
|The glowbark transplanted into Glydemar soil has shown greater resilience to shifting weather patterns than those cultivated nearer the city's core. It is postulated that older forest soil contributes to sturdier root networks. Further observation will be needed across successive seasons.
|It was Lady Saereth Calelith who first opened the way for me. She bore the sigil always about her neck, a sign known only to those who remember the old ways. Her trust was not lightly given. In the cool hush of their library, beneath eaves older than the encroaching forest, she let me glimpse the true catalogue—those volumes that do not bear titles, but shapes and echoes. Without her favour, I would have never achieved what I have so far.
|-
|a creased white page
|New observations suggest that glowbark trees respond favourably to ambient moonlight during their early growth phases. Saplings exposed to full moons displayed marginally higher luminescence in fallen leaves, though germination rates remain low.
|I left a token for Saereth’s keeping - a souvenir of a tree touched under the Lornon moon's second rise. It will serve when the time comes, though I know not if she truly grasps what stirs beneath root and branch.
|}

Botanical Symposium/2025

2026-02-01T16:14:43Z

CHIVERSFREE1: /* Participants */

{{TOCright}}
The Botanical Symposium was held in Ta'Illistim in July 2025. It was a two day that featured a variety of lectures and presentations in the field of botany. Presenters included both [[player character]]s and [[NPC]]s.

<section begin=summary />In 5125, [[Ta'Illistim]] hosted a Botanical Symposium, following the success of the [[2022-12-04 Botanical Research Presentation (log)|Botanical Research Presentation]] in 5122 which led to the expansion of the Ta'Illistim [[Royal Arboretum]]. Led by Lady [[Rohese]], in coordination with Lord [[Gilenir Veythorne]], Ionlas Chesylrae, and [[Vanathys|Vanathys Ravistel]], several leading researchers presented their latest findings for discussion.

Lord Gilenir Veythorne, Feriae Enfiel Vaalor, and the esteemed patrons of the Royal Arboretum invite all burgeoning botanists and gardeners to the first Botanical Symposium! We extend the invitation to partake in one or many of our presentations over the span of two days, Feastday the 26th through Restday the 27th of Koaratos.<section end=summary />

==Event Information==
<section begin=schedule />
:{| class="wikitable" style="width: 80%"
! scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Time
! scope="col" | Presenter
! scope="col" | Location
! scope="col" | Presentation Description
|-
| scope="row" | 7/26 || 1pm ET || Lord [[Gilenir Veythorne]] || Royal Arboretum, Walkway || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Lord Gilenir Veythorne Unveils the Arboretum Expansion|Introduction and Unveiling]]
|-
| scope="row" | 7/26 || 2pm ET || Lady [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] || || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Verdant Symbiosis: The Partnership between Trees and Plants. -- Lady Rohese Bayvel|Verdant Symbiosis: The Partnership between Trees and Plants.]]<br>
Following on from her paper and Library Lecture on the Sentience of Trees, Rohese looks a little more closely at the complex and interdependent community around trees and how they engage in dynamic relationships with other plant species, including flowers, fungi, ferns, lichen, and mosses.
|-
| scope="row" | 7/26 || 4pm ET || [[Aliraswaen]] || || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#The Hornet & the Hollyhock: The Cultural Importance of Flowers -- Aliraswaen|The Hornet & the Hollyhock: The Cultural Importance of Flowers]]<br>Artist and author Aliraswaen will be hosting a discussion on the cultural importance of flowers. She will do a deep dive into a traditional Nalfein flower, while inviting others to present and share specimens of their own cultures. A copy of her book, the Hornet and the Hollyhock, will be available for those gathering.
|-
| scope="row" | 7/26 || 6pm ET || || || [[Elanthian Vogue]] Cocktail Party to celebrate the publication of this year's edition. Guests are encouraged to showcase botanical-themed outfits, ideally using garments purchased from town boutiques, embellished by Speciality Design sources, and/or utilising all the crafting tools available to us.
|-
| scope="row" | 7/26 || 8pm ET|| Lady Rivienne Mandaire Loenthra || || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#An Introduction to the Quiet Beauty of Night Gardens -- Lady Rivienne Mandaire Loenthra|An Introduction to the Quiet Beauty of Night Gardens]]<br>
Rivienne delves into the unique ecology, aesthetics, and design principles of night gardens, with particular attention to fragrance, texture, and species that thrive after dusk. She will also touch on the harvesting of botanicals for magical use, including the influence of lunar phases.
|-
| scope="row" | 7/27 || 1pm ET || [[Vanathys]] Ravistel Vaalor || || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Pruned, Twisted, and Bewitched: An Overview of Magically Altered Flora -- Professor Vanathys Ravistel Vaalor|Pruned, Twisted, and Bewitched: An Overview of Magically Altered Flora]]
|-
| scope="row" | 7/27 || 2pm ET || Lady [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]] || || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Verdant Symbiosis: Communion, Ritual and Reverence -- Lady Rohese Bayvel|Verdant Symbiosis: Communion, Ritual, and Reverence]]<br>
Continuing from yesterday's lecture on the symbiotic relationship between trees and other plant species, Rohese looks at where we fit in. More specifically, what can this symbiotic relationship tell us if we take the time to be part of the botanical community.
|-
| scope="row" | 7/27 || 3pm ET || Lady [[Elaejia (prime)|Elaejia Silithyr]] || || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Lost Arts: Healing Secrets of Ardenai Folklore -- Lady Elaejia Silithyr|Lost Arts: Healing Secrets of Ardenai Folklore]]<br>
Continuing her ongoing research in the lost knowledge of oral histories, and combining it with her previous study of aberrant mana foci, Elaejia discusses the possible healing applications found in Ardenai folklore.
|-
| scope="row" | 7/27 || 4pm ET || Bathcwyn [[Missoni (prime)|Missoni Sabretache Faendryl]] || || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Botanical Forms and Geometry in Glasswork -- Bathcwyn Missoni Sabretache Faendryl|Botanical Forms and Geometry in Glasswork]]<br>
Missoni explores various cultural glassworking techniques, paying particular attention to how practitioners use glass to mimic botanical forms and natural geometry in both sculpture and wearable art pieces.
|-
| scope="row" | 7/27 || 5pm ET || [[Feriae Enfiel]] and Miss [[Aubrige]] || || [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#The Solitude Bee - Variations Along the Eastern Seaboard -- Feriae Enfiel and Miss Aubrige|The Solitude Bee - Variations Along the Eastern Seaboard]]
|}<section end=schedule />

== Participants ==
* [[Rohese (prime)|Rohese Bayvel]]
* [[Elaejia (prime)|Elaejia Sililthyr]]
* [[Missoni (prime)|Missoni Sabretache Faendryl]]
* Rivienne Mandaire Loenthra

== Supporting NPCs ==
* [[Aliraswaen]]
* [[Aubrige]]
* [[Feriae Enfiel]]
* [[Gilenir Veythorne]]
* [[Vanathys|Vanathys Ravistel Vaalor]]

== Presentation Logs ==
<section begin=logs />
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Lord Gilenir Veythorne Unveils the Arboretum Expansion|7/26/25 - Lord Gilenir Veythorne Unveils the Arboretum Expansion]]
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Verdant Symbiosis: The Partnership between Trees and Plants. -- Lady Rohese Bayvel|7/26/25 - Verdant Symbiosis: The Partnership between Trees and Plants. -- Lady Rohese Bayvel]]
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#The Hornet & the Hollyhock: The Cultural Importance of Flowers -- Aliraswaen|7/26/25 - The Hornet & the Hollyhock: The Cultural Importance of Flowers -- Aliraswaen]]
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#An Introduction to the Quiet Beauty of Night Gardens -- Lady Rivienne Mandaire Loenthra|7/26/25 - An Introduction to the Quiet Beauty of Night Gardens -- Lady Rivienne Mandaire Loenthra]]
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Pruned, Twisted, and Bewitched: An Overview of Magically Altered Flora -- Professor Vanathys Ravistel Vaalor|7/27/25 - Pruned, Twisted, and Bewitched: An Overview of Magically Altered Flora -- Professor Vanathys Ravistel Vaalor]]
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Verdant Symbiosis: Communion, Ritual and Reverence -- Lady Rohese Bayvel|7/27/25 - Verdant Symbiosis: Communion, Ritual and Reverence -- Lady Rohese Bayvel]]
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Lost Arts: Healing Secrets of Ardenai Folklore -- Lady Elaejia Silithyr|7/27/25 - Lost Arts: Healing Secrets of Ardenai Folklore -- Lady Elaejia Silithyr]]
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#Botanical Forms and Geometry in Glasswork -- Bathcwyn Missoni Sabretache Faendryl|7/27/25 - Botanical Forms and Geometry in Glasswork -- Bathcwyn Missoni Sabretache Faendryl]]
* [[2025-07-26 - Ta'Illistim Botanical Symposium (log)#The Solitude Bee - Variations Along the Eastern Seaboard -- Feriae Enfiel and Miss Aubrige|7/27/25 - The Solitude Bee - Variations Along the Eastern Seaboard -- Feriae Enfiel and Miss Aubrige]]<section end=logs />
[[Category:Botanical Symposium]]

Picae (prime)

2026-01-27T15:29:49Z

CHIVERSFREE1:

{{characterprofile
|name= Picae Peredhel van Aranlath
|image= [[File:Picae.png|thumbnail|center|Created by Picae's player using Midjourney AI]]
|caption=
|race= Half-elf
|culture= Vanadre Chiras
|class=
|profession=
|affiliations=
|word= Timid
|disposition=
|demeanor= Initially shy but quickly warms to people
|ptrait=
|strait=
|flaw=
|strength=
|weakness=
|habits=
|hobbies= Weaving and knitting
|soft=
|likes=
|dislikes=
|fears=
|loyalties=
|friend=
|spouse=
|instance= Prime
|town= Solhaven
|town2=
}}

'''Picae''' is the given name of a half-elf of the [[Vanadre Chiras]] currently residing in [[Solhaven]]. Her individual family name is Peredhel and her van name is Aranlath.

==Appearance==
You see Picae Peredhel.<br>
She appears to be a Half-Elf of the Vanadre Chiras.<br>
She is shorter than average. She appears to be young and untried. She has thick-lashed, green and gold flecked hazel eyes and lightly freckled, creamy white skin. She has unevenly cut, glossy chestnut hair tousled into a textured bun that is barely restrained by an intricately woven circlet of brown-hearted autumn beauty sunflowers. She has a heart-shaped face, a button nose and slightly pointed ears.<br>

She is wearing a patchwork knitted amaranthine and ecru wool blanket, a knotted shawl of dip-dyed sorrel camaca, an amber and gold charm bracelet, a patched and fraying raw linen dress pinned up on one side with an ochre silk linen shift appliqued with stalks of buttercream sunflowers underneath, and some dark leather high boots embossed with leaves.

==Companions==
[[File:Picae's Friends.png|thumbnail|left|Created by Picae's player using Midjourney AI]]Picae is never without her woodland companions.

Her best friends are a rather spoiled weasel named "Tag-Along" and a hedgehog called "Tibb".