GemStone IV Wiki - User contributions [en]

Leifa (prime)

2026-10-07T16:03:23Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: removing broken link after image deletion.

{{characterprofile
|name= Leifa Ar'Anya
|image= 
|caption=
|race= Dark Elf
|culture= Faendryl
|class= Ranger
|affiliations= [[The TownCrier]], [[Argent Aspis]], CODE, [[Raise Your Stout Krew]]
|word= Banshee
|disposition= Wild Entrophy
|religion= Imaera
|strength= Nature's Grace
|weakness= Self Control
|habits= Hunting without armor, Teasing Dwarves
|hobbies= Singing, Performing, Torturing my prey
|soft=horses, bears, dogs, hedgehogs, snakes
|likes= Elves, Palestra, cake, rum
|dislikes= Krolvin, Demonmasters, formal dances, children
|fears= entrapment
|loyalties= a black-toed saddleback foxhound
|friend= Erienne
|spouse=
|loved=
|children=
|instance= Prime
|profession=Ranger|border-color=green}}

== Appearance ==

Twisting vines writhe around Leifa, obscuring her in an ever-shifting barrier of thorns.

You see Leifa Ar'Anya Faendryl the Grace of Nature.

She appears to be a Dark Elf.

Resting elegantly on her head is a laurel-draped aureate crown, the metal surface etched with intricate designs of twining ivy. Set on either side of the crown are tiered antlers, their branching tines bleached to a pale bone white.

She is strikingly tall and has a graceful physique. She appears to be full grown. She has thick-lashed intense viridian eyes and sun-kissed bronze skin. She has manelike, voluminous ash blonde hair gathered into a matted mess by a tangled vine of briar thorns. She has a lean, angular face, an upturned nose and blooms of asymmetrical pale freckles scattered across her cheeks. She has a pair of luminous wings with gilt-hued specks of light.

She has a pair of etched gold hoops dangling jade oak leaves set along the slender tips of her pointed ears, an ash-packed tribal scar marking over her left eye, a stylized black-inked tribal sunburst tattoo across her collarbone on her neck, an inked golden mist coiled around and burrowing into the skin on her wrist, and a delicate peach blossom tattoo on her thigh.

She is in good shape.

An oblong sentient potato wearing a plush brown teddy bear costume is settled on her shoulder.

She is holding a rowan runestaff atop which erupts an array of glass fiddlehead ferns in her right hand.

She is wearing a labyrinthine pale vaalin choker, a glittering golden silk beluque, a fitted sage green starsilk gown with a copper mesh corset, a velvet-tied rose gold mesh coin purse, a rose gold medallion, a sleek faenor quiver paneled with sections of verdant glass, and some golden bronze bamboo ankle-tied sandals lofted on vine-spiraled heels.

 

== Background ==
[[File:Leifa_Ar'Anya.jpg|right|500x500px]]

Leifa was born the child of a young Faendryl couple who had fled their homes and accepted exile for a forbidden love. Their union had been condemned by the prestigious Faendryl houses to which they belonged, yet despite hardship, isolation, and the loss of family ties, the pair found genuine happiness together.

Over the years, they welcomed several daughters into the world and raised them amid a bohemian, nomadic existence in the untamed mountains of Rhoska-Tor. Moving from place to place as necessity demanded, they lived beyond the reach of civilization, surviving from the land and teaching their children to live in harmony with nature. For many years, their life was peaceful and idyllic.

That peace ended during Leifa's youth when a band of roving Krolvin raiders descended upon their homestead. Hidden beneath the floorboards with her sisters, Leifa watched in silent terror as their parents were brutally slain. When the attackers finally departed, the girls emerged to find their world shattered. Together they bid farewell to the only life they had ever known.

As the eldest daughter, Leifa felt a profound responsibility to care for her younger sisters. Determined to ensure their safety and provide them with opportunities she feared they would otherwise never have, she led them on the long journey to Wehnimer's Landing. There they secured modest lodging, and Leifa sought employment to support the family. Her efforts eventually led her to the Warrior Guild, where she began training in the martial disciplines of a warrior.

Leifa threw herself into guildwork and advanced rapidly. During this period, she met a noble human named Sandlot, whose friendship introduced her to the joys of the ranger's path. Though she continued her warrior training for many years, she found herself increasingly drawn to the wilderness. After suffering a devastating spirit death during a fierce battle within the walls of Wehnimer's Landing, Leifa was granted life anew by Lorminstra. The experience profoundly altered her perspective. Upon her return, she chose to dedicate herself fully to the ranger profession.

Her progress as a ranger surpassed even her accomplishments as a warrior. Bow hunting, animal companionship, foraging, tracking, and skinning came naturally to her. The skills she had learned during her childhood in the wilds resurfaced with remarkable ease, earning her a reputation as a gifted beastmistress.

While adapting to life in the more developed regions of Elanthia, Leifa also sought to understand the culture and customs of her Faendryl heritage. Through friendships with fellow Faendryl dark elves and the guidance of learned mentors, she deepened her knowledge of her ancestry and people. This pursuit eventually drew her into the Faendryl Enclave, where she found a second family among her kin.

For many years, Leifa served as one of the Enclave's founding officers, devoting herself to its growth and success. Yet leadership came at a cost. Exhausted by years of political strife, betrayal, intrigue, and heartbreak, she eventually withdrew from public life. Deeply wounded by the experience, she sought solitude on the distant Isle of Teras. There, among the rugged landscapes surrounding Kharam Dzu, she embraced a more savage existence and gradually returned to the untamed spirit of her youth.

During her wanderings through the island's jungles, Leifa encountered a solitary priest who, like herself, preferred the company of nature to that of society. The two formed a friendship, and he introduced her to the teachings of the Pantheon of Liabo. What began as simple instruction soon became a source of profound comfort and purpose. Leifa found herself captivated by the wisdom of the Gods of Light, though none spoke to her heart more deeply than Imaera, Lady of Growth and Nature.

Under her mentor's guidance, she undertook years of study, discipline, and spiritual devotion. In time, she participated in a sacred ritual through which she renounced bodily pleasures in pursuit of higher spiritual ideals. She pledged herself to a life of service to Her and wears a ring symbolizing her sacred bond with Imaera—a commitment she affectionately describes as her marriage to the Goddess. She is proud that against all expectations, Leifa has faithfully kept her vows of chastity for thirteen cycles of the season.

As a respected Archdruidess in service to Imaera, you might think she has become boring. Despite her blossoming spiritual discipline, Leifa has never abandoned her appreciation for life's simpler pleasures. She is a familiar face at merchant festivals, rarely declines a spirited game of darts, will be found bursting into song at the most inopportune times, and can often be found charging headlong into battle with more courage than caution—and occasionally without her armor.

Through tragedy, duty, faith, and perseverance, Leifa has forged a life uniquely her own: a wild-hearted ranger, a devoted servant of Imaera, and a steadfast advocate for her people.

==Items of Note==

===The Vanquishing Blow===

Leifa is holding a rune-etched rolaren warblade. This is the last remaining possession that Leifa owns of her father's.

At first glance, it seems this weapon has fallen into disuse from the bloodstained leather grip and marred runes along the blade. However, the liberal use of oils and a whetstone show that great care is made to leave the imperfections intact while maintaining a ready blade. Crude runes are marked between those worn from age to form three words. You also notice a small enchanter's glyph. There appears to be something written on it. In the Common language, it reads: The Vanquishing Blow.

===[[Alabaster_Spire#Faendryl_Enclave, Garden|Faendryl Enclave, Garden]]===

Shielded by verdant hedges, the spire's reflection garden adds a grace note of natural beauty to the building's austere architecture. A circular pool surrounded by smooth white benches provides a serene focal point for the setting, while artfully shaped topiaries create a private reserve of fanciful beasts along the tranquil garden's periphery. Flowering vines around a central statue add a note of welcome color. You also see a winding pathway and a small bowl of seeds.
Obvious paths: none
[[File:Leifa_close_Up_FINAL_SSD.jpg|right|431x431px]]
Pool: The still waters of this circular pool are marred only by the occasional fish searching for food. The pool maintains a calm, glassy surface otherwise. Clearly visible from the surface, small white pebbles and a series of obsidian rocks form a black and white pentagram along the pool's bottom.

Topiary: Members of the bushy bestiary are posed as if cavorting with one another around the garden's perimeter. The lifelike shapes give the formal garden a touch of whimsy.

Statue: In the otherwise immaculately manicured garden, one tangle of blackberry vines around the statue's base remains untamed. The statue of a rearing warhorse bears a small bronze plaque reading, "Leifa's Garden."

Bowl of Seeds: Dipping your hand into a nearby bowl filled with seeds, you scoop up a handful of the grainy substance and toss it upon the ground.

Clusters of ravens flock to the offering and chitter with one another as they peck away at the seed. It only takes a matter of seconds for them to completely consume the offered meal, though they still stand around chirping at each other for a few moments more. Rising as one, they take to the air and glide away.

*This [[Super node]] is open to the public

===[[Alabaster_Spire#Faendryl_Enclave, Dining Room|Faendryl Enclave, Alabaster Spire, Dining Room]]===

Sconces on the alabaster walls illuminate oil paintings depicting historically significant Faendryl and the officers of the Enclave. A massive ebonwood dining table set for a formal meal traverses the length of the narrow room. You also see an ebonwood doorway and a keystone marble arch.
Obvious exits: none

Painting: Masterfully painted portraits from different ages and styles line the walls, each depicting a notable person. Beginning with a portrait of a regal patriarch, newer paintings include images of a foppish man in a hat, a female Faendryl holding a cup of coffee, a man donning demonic armor, and a woman sitting beside a foxhound.

==Accomplishments==

===Barding?===

While Leifa is actually a ranger by profession, she has a great love of music and the performing arts. Over the years, she has had the great privilege of competing in and serving as a judge for the annual House of [[Argent Aspis]] [[Bardfest]] competition. Here you can see a few of her past performances.

[https://sites.google.com/a/houseaspis.com/aspis/bardfest/performances/smelts-and-the-pelts Bardfest 5111 Finals performance, Smelts and the Pelts]

[[Bardfest_5119_Performances#Leifa|Bardfest 5119 Semi-Finals performance, Rumor in the Woods]]

[[Bardfest_5119_Performances#Leifa_.281st_place.29|Bardfest 5119 Finals performance, Troll Fashion Show]]

Announcement: Ebon Gate News & Updates

2026-10-02T16:27:46Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: added default sort

{{Announcement
|category=Events
|subject=Ebon Gate Starts October 9th, 2026!
|author=GS4-THANDIWE
|date=2026-09-29
|changelog=2026
}}
Visit Discord and the [[Ebon_Gate_Festival/saved_posts_2026#Announcent_3_-_News_&_Updates|Ebon Gate Page]] for Exciting news and announcements about the upcoming festival!
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ebon Gate Starts October 9th, 2026}}
===tldr===
Ebon Gate News & Updates

Announcement: The Veil Grows Thin

2026-10-02T16:27:07Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Protected "Announcement: The Veil Grows Thin": Adding protection for annoucements ([Edit=Allow only administrators] (indefinite) [Move=Allow only administrators] (indefinite))

{{Announcement
|category=Events
|subject=The Veil Grows Thin
|author=GS4-THANDIWE
|date=2026-09-26
|changelog=2026
}}
Leaves have begun to fall as the year turns toward its quiet sleep; the veil between Elanthia and the twilight of Naidem grows as brittle and thin as a held breath. Strange things have begun to drift across the threshold between the living and unliving, washing ashore like forgotten flotsam from a dream. What purpose do they carry? Will their forms take root and linger in the waking world, or dissolve back into the mist that birthed them? Few can tell, though those who listen closely to the dark may soon begin to understand.

From now until the gates of the festival open, feeders across the realms will occasionally drop unique curiosities. Some of these oddities will fade away once their secrets are shared, while others will hold their shape, waiting for observant hands to coax their meaning into the light. Enjoy the hunt and welcome the unfolding mystery!

[[Category: Ebon Gate Festival]]
[[Category: Evermore Hollow]]
[[Category: Of Masks and Marionettes]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:The Veil Grows Thin}}
===tldr===
Unique curiosities appear in the feeders, heralding the arrival of the Ebon Gate Festival on Naidem.

Announcement: The Veil Grows Thin

2026-10-02T16:26:24Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: added default sort

Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2026-09-27 - Extraplanar Magic (log)

2026-10-01T15:55:35Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: missed a category, hope this helps even more!

The following is a log of a lecture delivered on Sunday 27th September as part of the [[Mist Harbor]] Library lecture series. Missoni Sabretache 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 Extraplanar Magic.

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)''' 
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.

Also here: Delindra, Kothos, Vivaldi, Tenacity who is sitting, Nayli who is sitting, Rivienne who is sitting, Scribe Cylnthia who is sitting, Gardener Brigit who is sitting, Mianyn who is sitting, Lady Traiva who is sitting, Magister Raelee who is sitting, Dahcre Reader Ordim who is sitting, Yunni who is sitting, Bathcwyn Missoni who is sitting

You walk behind a small podium.

You clear your throat.

You softly exclaim, "Please help yourselves to refreshments and find yourself a seat, if you haven't already done so!"

You softly greet, "Good afternoon, everyone!"

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 knowledge and encouraging discourse."

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 delightedly say, "It gives me great pleasure to introduce this month's speaker."

You softly say, "She last spoke here just over 4 years ago on baleglass so her return is long overdue and I'm in no doubt it will be equally fascinating."

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

[APPLAUSE]

Speaking happily to you, Missoni says, "Thank you, Loremaster."

Missoni strides a few steps forward.

Missoni warmly says, "And thank you all ever so for coming."

Missoni casually observes her surroundings.

Missoni ventures, "I had hoped to talk to you today about the tradition of glass gardens, or vael'ortus, and the representation and symbolism associated with them."

Missoni says, "It seemed a good follow-up to my previous lecture on baleglass."

Missoni bites her lip.

Missoni laments, "But my attention turned to something a bit more dire, and perhaps insidious, that I felt must be addressed."

Missoni states, "The nature and dangers of extraplanar magic and its potentially corrupting essences."

Missoni takes a few steps to her left.

Missoni says, "This past Koaratos, many people began to hear of a document that had been quietly making its way through Elanthia's sorcery guilds for several months: The Demonic and Undeath: The
Corruption of Dark Essences."

Missoni says, "Written by Thalita Trevil, who some here may know from the Order of the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and S.H.A.D.O.W.'s annual conference, the paper discusses myriad aspects of demonology and necromancy, going far beyond the realm of what we in the Basilica, the Faendryl institution governing sorcery, would consider *acceptable* applications of our Art."

Missoni sets her mouth in a thin line of disapproval.

Missoni says, "In fact, the Arch Chancellor of the Clerisy, Malevort Hexmor Faendryl, released a statement condemning the work as inciting the intersection of the demonic and the undeath, an illegal act outside the jurisdiction of the Basilica."

(Missoni consults a piece of vellum on the glowbark credenza and begins, "He writes . . . ")

Missoni recites:

"The violation of our strict controls forbidding the unauthorized export of knowledge from our lands has been wanton and shameless."

Missoni notes, "The entire text is there for your perusal, should you like to read it. He can be wordy."

Missoni quickly says, "But of course we hang on every word."

Missoni clears her throat.

<pre{{log2}}><div style="text-align: center;">In the Common language, it reads:

To the lay sorcerers and amateur practitioners of greater Elanith:

It has been brought to our attention that sorcerer guilds in the scattered reaches of the continent are distributing an illicit work on the wielding of dark essences. It incites the intersection of the demonic and undeath. This is an illegal act by a necromancer with known affiliations in occult societies and abuses of teratology. While it poses no meaningful threat to the power and supremacy of House Faendryl, reflecting only the barest pittance of our knowledge on cosmology, it predicates dangerous methods and pathways to the black arts which are not sanctioned by the high authorities of sorcerous law.

The Basilica condemns the reckless and irresponsible way this knowledge has been promulgated, enabling as it does all manners of potential criminal conduct and hazard to the ignorant masses. It all but endorses corruption and unnatural mutation with dark powers. In light of this troubling disregard for the safety of demonic summoning, and the constraining of its effects, we shall be compelled to make stronger regulatory interventions henceforth.

This is but one of numerous insults to our sovereignty in recent years. The violation of our strict controls forbidding the unauthorized export of knowledge from our lands has been wanton and shameless. Whether we speak of rogue grave desecrators attempting to break into secret archives of the Basilica, absconding into the sanctuary of the eastern nations with their ill-gotten thefts, or the Hall of Mages misusing oculoth blood to destroy lands and immortalize fanatics of the Church of Koar. The perfidy of those who would feign to admonish sorcery while fostering its worst abuses knows no bounds.

It is our right to destroy those books of ours we would have burned. Nor spare those which ought only ever have been our own. Those realms beyond our integral borders, perhaps even those of elves, lack the institutions to rule such practices. House Faendryl expects the rest of the world to order itself, or we will do so ourselves with the Palestra.

By my hand,

Malevort Hexmor Faendryl
Basilican Sorcerer of House Faendryl
Arch Chancellor of the Clerisy</div></pre>

Missoni firmly assures, "As a member of the Clerisy myself, I would of course never support such dangerous intersections, which have proven multiple times in our history to reap disastrous results."

Missoni regretfully says, "And of course it was only by chance that I stumbled on the horrific essay, tucked between the pages of a chapter on the baleglass arbors of Behizet."

Missoni frets.

Missoni says, "Whether it is worth reading the full article by Trevil, as it contains such illicit material, is for each to decide for themselves."

Missoni idly says, "Perhaps you have a friend close to the sorcerer guild who would lend you her copy of the paper that she most certainly destroyed immediately."

(Missoni's left eye closes in a quick wink. Or perhaps it was simply an irritant.)

Missoni carefully says, "However unpalatable it may be to us all," she pauses to bring a hand to her choker, clutching briefly at the black metal, "I would like to provide some context and examples for Trevil's work on demonology, so that we may all understand the language being used, and what we ought to be wary of in the event someone should encounter such practices and such beings."

Missoni clearly states, "One's first order of action should be to make such incursions known to the Basilica so they may be investigated properly by the appropriate authorities."

Missoni says, "Let us take, for our first example, the curious and ongoing matter of the Ithizir corrupted by shadows essence in the Landing, which is currently being investigated by the Basilica."

Missoni says, "Trevil mentions tears in the fabric of reality that happen in intense magical environments. Melgorehn's Reach, the confluence of a strong mana storm and unpredictable temporal magic, is an example of one such environment."

Prismatic silken streamers flow outward from Missoni's lirveil, dancing through the air majestically. She makes a subtle gesture and the streamers coalesce to reveal a brilliant illusion of a coniferous forest.

Missoni nods to a brilliant illusion of a coniferous forest.

Ordim gazes with interest at a brilliant illusion of a coniferous forest.

Missoni says, "Though it may look no different than a mountain if you GAZE upon it, over the course of several years, a persistent tear in reality has developed at the Readh, and it becomes more or less active according to the ebbs and flows of the mana storm in the area."

s>gaze illusion
You gaze with interest at a brilliant illusion of a coniferous forest. The tiny picturesque details hang in the air and your senses reveal...

[Melgorehn's Reach, Lake Eonak]
You are on the bank of a beautiful mountain lake that is fed by a waterfall gushing from the mountain side. There is a path which seems to actually lead up the side of the mountain.

Missoni says, "We are currently researching a way to stabilize the tear, as shadows beings and corrupted Ithzir have been making their way through to attack the Wehnimer's Landing with alarming ease."

(Missoni lofts the orb for a moment before placing it on the credenza for viewing. "The Ithzir," she explains, "are corrupted by what one might call shadow essence, the same material you see in this orb. It is akin perhaps to essence of fire or air, but is demonic in nature.")

Missoni sets a hazy tenebrous orb on top of the glowbark credenza.

Missoni says, "You might be more familiar with it as being common in the Broken Lands, where the dark vorteces dwell, steeped in shadow essence."

Missoni takes a few steps to her left.

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos says, "They leave these behind, if you manage to disperse them."

Kothos gazes with interest at a hazy tenebrous orb on a glowbark credenza mosaiced across the doors in a fan-obscured elven visage.

Missoni agrees with Kothos.

Missoni says, "It is mere residue, though it does contain some modicum of demonic power."

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

Missoni notes, "Trevil's work argues that Ithzir as we know them from places like Old Ta'Faendryl are an 'extraplanar society' rather than strictly considered 'demons,' because they are not constituted with dark essences such as the shadow essence seen here. It seems that she is trying to provide clarification in how we regard demons versus other extraplanar creatures who perhaps do not represent the same threat to our very reality."

Missoni reaches out and pats a hazy tenebrous orb on a glowbark credenza mosaiced across the doors in a fan-obscured elven visage.

Missoni says, "With these things in mind, one might begin to find that the accepted definitions of 'extraplanar' or its more vilifying synonym 'demonic' become rather slippery."

Speaking quietly to herself, Raelee remarks, "... it is a useful classification."

Missoni nods in agreement at Raelee.

Missoni posits, "But then, perhaps what has been accepted--outside of the Basilica of course--has been a *lack* of precise definition, a complete disregard for organized taxonomy in favor of fear and mistrust of any being that comes from beyond the veil and any sorcerer who dares to breach it."

Missoni frowns.

Raelee nods in agreement at Missoni.

Missoni reasonably says, "And yet, we must acknowledge that care is imperative when using any such magic, be it sorcerous or purely elemental in nature."

Missoni looks thoughtful for a moment, then shrugs.

Missoni says, "Though beings from the nearby and most often visited valences do not represent the same threat to our existence, fear forces such sorcerers to cloak them in more palatable illusory imagery, often giving the creatures the appearance of animal companions or household pets."

Missoni says, "For these denizens, the Enchiridion Valentia offers a sufficient definition and identification of three of the most accessed valences: shien'tyr, grik'tyr, and lorae'tyr."

(Missoni pauses for a moment before asking, "You are all generally familiar with these three planes, yes?")

Missoni cocks her head.

Nayli nods once at Missoni.

Missoni begins to idly braid some of her rainbow ombre hair. Finished, she tucks the braid behind her left ear.

Missoni agrees, "Theoretically."

Missoni says, "Often, there is no need to go into depth about them, as most have seen the basic version of the Enchiridion Valentia, and the Common version is readily available."

Missoni waves her hand in a dismissive gesture.

Missoni lightly says, "And for many people this entry into demonology is enough. For some, it is too much. There is no need to further question our place in the cosmos."

Missoni raises her chin slightly in a show of defiance.

Missoni says, "But Trevil speaks of peoples across the continent, from the Disciples of the Shadows in the Turamzzyrian Empire to the cultists who have remained near Rhoska-Tor these long eons, who are tainted by these tears in reality."

Missoni furrows her brow.

Missoni says, "Dark essence, whether imparted through cursed artifacts or through living near such tenuous reality, has made these people what she would call 'demonic' in some manner. In this definition, the untainted Ithzir are not demonic, though they originate from another valence, while those from our own plane might be considered such."

Kothos nods slowly.

Kothos quietly says, "The Horned Cabal."

Missoni admits, "In light of this, it *does* seem sensible to me that we must question our place in the cosmos, let we be taken unaware by the beings and energies that find their way here by unnatural means."

Missoni nods in agreement at Kothos.

Missoni curiously says, "Do we need a third classification for beings from our own plane who have become twisted by dark essence? Trevil's work I think warrants further careful academic study in this area."

Missoni says, "Fortunately, some of this work has been done regarding the curious example of the vecdrae scythir, or breathing scorpions as you might say in Common, of Rhoska-Tor."

Missoni collects an elaborate gold-framed painting from a large compartment inside the glowbark credenza.

Missoni raises her gold-framed painting proudly, displaying it for you to see.

Arcane geometry marked in silver paint stands out starkly against the massive scorpion's tuberculated jet black chitin. A pair of large, violet-black eyes are positioned centrally upon her cephalothorax, with dozens of lateral eyes arrayed along her carapace to either side of her serrated chelicerae. The creature possesses ten limbs: four pairs of segmented walking legs and two large pedipalps that end in pincers. Her thick tail curves behind her and ends in a bulbous telson with a curved stinger.

Missoni explains, "I came across a marginal note about the origin of these creatures in a tome about early uses of balefire for enhancing outdoor spaces. An interesting book I hope to relate someday."

Missoni continues, "The scythir's origins are mostly unknown, but it is posited that they were once an underground species, bred through sorcery during the second age. The Faendryl have managed to tame them through use of the scythir's own highly toxic venom, and some people also ingest the venom as a way to perform a sort of valential form of dream walking."

Missoni offers, "Should any like to try their luck with this process, I have limited samples that I invite you to take at your leisure and at your own risk."

(Missoni motions to the tray atop the credenza. She continues, "I recommend you are in a good frame of mind and with someone you trust if you attempt such a thing.")

Missoni amusedly says, "Now would probably not be a good time to ingest it."

Missoni smiles at Yunni, moving away from the credenza and back to the space at the center of the room to face those gathered once more.

Missoni says, "To conclude, despite the fact that it elucidates much that is illegal in the eyes of the Basilica, Trevil's clarification of the language used to define certain beings, especially in the Common tongue, identifies that we have not had the granularity needed to encompass the myriad ways in which one might interact with our neighboring valences, their energies, and their denizens."

Missoni warns, "We have only truly begun to understand the potential, and certainly, the threat, demonic energy could have on our very fabric of reality."

Missoni thoughtfully says, "Perhaps this understanding represents a way forward for a more academic engagement with the subject of extraplanar beings and the outer, less visited valences."

Missoni lightly says, "And when we next meet, perhaps I will discuss the subject of vael'ortus."

Missoni appreciatively says, "Thank you. Do let me know if I may answer any questions."

Missoni performs a bow characteristic of those from Solhaven.

[APPLAUSE]

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos says, "I have a question."

Speaking cheerfully to Kothos, Missoni says, "Of course."

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos says, "We have spoken before about the time distortions associated with the Lorae'tyr valence."

Missoni agrees with Kothos.

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos asks, "Do you think there is a connection between that effect, and those...samples, you brought?"

Kothos glances at a raw-edged walnut tray fusted with vert-stained vaelfyren on a glowbark credenza mosaiced across the doors in a fan-obscured elven visage.

Delindra removes a crystallized dark granule from on a raw-edged walnut tray fusted with vert-stained vaelfyren.

Delindra sniffs at her dark granule.

Speaking to Kothos, Missoni says, "It is certainly possible. Though the scythir are said to originate from our plane, they have the black corrosive blood that many demonic species share."

Kothos nods slowly at Missoni.

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos says, "So they could be a hybrid, like some of the rumored inhabitants around the Demonwall."

Speaking to Kothos, Missoni says, "Whether the time distortion is somehow held in their venom would be hard to say without further study."

Missoni agrees with Kothos.

Missoni says, "Study on the precise distortions of lorae'tyr is difficult, due to Shieltine's Ward."

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos says, "Thank you."

Kothos smiles.

Kothos says, "Most curious."

Speaking quietly to herself, Nayli muses, "Demonic halfbreeds."

Speaking softly to Missoni, you note, "You mentioned that more academic study was probably needed into those of our own plane that have been twisted by dark essence."

Missoni agrees with you.

Speaking cautiously to Mission, you inquire, "Say someone were to have been pulled into one of the nearby valences - possibly against their will - what are their chances of finding their way back here? And, in your opinion, what changes would one expect to see?"

Speaking quietly to Raelee, Kothos says, "I wonder how similar the experience is to one of Endymion's dreamscape journeys."

Kothos turns over his dark granule.

Speaking to Kothos, Raelee says, "... not very."

Speaking to you, Missoni says, "It depends entirely on the valence. We know some of course, who have come from Luukos' Maw, and one would say they are quite altered."

You nod understandingly at Missoni.

Missoni says, "Another near valence is the shadows realm."

Missoni says, "There is currently a Palestra lost there, and she has been there for nearly ten years."

Missoni frowns.

You bite your lip.

Raelee surreptitiously glances at Kothos.

Speaking to you, Missoni says, "Though we have not yet managed to meet her face to face, her image looks...quite altered by the shadows."
Nayli winces.

Missoni says, "One might see black veins, tentacles...other physiological morphology."

Speaking tentatively to Missoni, you admit, "I lost my sister some ... two years ago... but I am hopeful for her return."

Missoni frowns at you.

Ordim adopts an agreeable expression.

Kothos nods slowly at Missoni.

Kothos reaches over and gently rests his hand on your shoulder.

Speaking to you, Missoni says, "I dearly hope you can find her."

Missoni bites her lip.

Speaking softly to Missoni, you say, "Me too."

You let out a long, contemplative breath.

Speaking quietly to you, Kothos says, "You might speak with Imperatrix Lylia, when you have opportunity."

Speaking to you, Raelee says, "... it does seem like there are a great many variables involved."

You nod in agreement at Raelee.

Missoni agrees with Kothos.

Speaking softly to Kothos, you say, "I shall."

Rivienne cocks her head at Missoni.

Ordim ponders.

Speaking quietly to you, Kothos says, "She and Professor Xorus have committed a great deal of research for the sake of locating Blade Aralyte."

Speaking to you, Kothos says, "They may be able to give you some information. I hope."

Speaking softly to Kothos, you say, "That is reassuring, I will write to her."

Speaking to Missoni, Rivienne says, "Are we certain that these tears through which extraplanar beings travel are unnatural? There are some places that feel like the barrier between worlds is just ...thinner."

Speaking to Rivienne, Missoni says, "Some do occur without influence from, say, a sorcerer opening a portal."

Rivienne nods at Missoni.

Missoni says, "So in that sense they are natural, but the corrupting essence that comes through is generally considered less so."

Missoni says, "If I opened a portal to, say, somewhere else on the Isle, it would be unlikely to do any harm."

Speaking to Missoni, Rivienne asks, "But not everything that comes through is demonic. Is that right?"

Rivienne asks, "Like elementals?"

Speaking to Rivienne, Missoni says, "But some of the valences are in such opposition to our own reality, that the mere proximity of a valential tear has disastrous results."

Raelee says, "The question of taxonomy again."

Rivienne nods.

Missoni says, "Yes, the elemental planes are not generally considered demonic."

Nayli nods in agreement at Raelee.

Rivienne says, "Ah, that makes sense."

Kothos quietly says, "I wonder if this is at all related to what we witnessed on Brayern Island."

Missoni says, "There is also the distinction between elementals, which often come from another plane, and elemental creatures like...perhaps a wind witch, that originate here."

Raelee says, "Perhaps 'demonic' has become a catch-all of that which is both feared and not otherwise categorized."

Rivienne nods at Missoni.

Missoni agrees with Raelee.

Tenacity nods.

Cylnthia nods in agreement at Raelee.

Speaking softly to Kothos, you say, "I ventured there briefly but found it to be most disturbing."

Speaking to Missoni, Rivienne says, "I do find them fascinating."

Speaking to Rivienne, Missoni exclaims, "They are in themselves an entire field of study, it is true!"

Speaking quietly to you, Kothos says, "All of the citizens we encountered appeared to be...disconnected, from their previous lives."

You nod in agreement at Kothos.

Rivienne nods enthusiastically at Missoni!

Kothos quietly says, "I wondered if they were more displaced than just geographically."

Kothos ponders.

Speaking to Kothos, Missoni says, "That Isle was so carefully constructed, to me it was hard to discern what precisely to make of it."

Kothos nods in agreement at Missoni.

Ordim blurts, "Praise her name!"

Ordim beams!

Missoni bites her lip.

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos says, "As if it were a stage."

Rivienne looks thoughtfully at Ordim.

Tenacity laughs softly, trying to hide her amusement from Ordim.

Missoni agrees with Kothos.

Nayli blinks in puzzlement at Ordim.

Ordim sets about preparing himself to be as presentable as possible.

Speaking quietly to Missoni, Kothos says, "Thank you for the sample. I will...let you know how it goes."

Speaking to Kothos, Missoni says, "Do! I hope you find it relaxing. People relate varying effects."

You graciously inquire, "Do we have any more questions from the audience?"

Missoni casually observes her surroundings.

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos says, "I believe being open to new experiences is part of my career path, yes."

Raelee nods slowly to you.

Kothos flashes a quick grin at Missoni.

Cylnthia smiles warmly as she glances about.

Kothos touches his fingers to his heart, the tips digging into the fabric of his embroidered cassock, and offers a soft prayer to Ivas.

Missoni nods in agreement at Kothos.

You smile at Raelee.

You nod encouragingly at Raelee.

Kothos smiles at Raelee.

Missoni cocks her head at Raelee.

Speaking to Missoni, Raelee asks, "What do you believe is the actual motivator behind the Basilica's discrediting of Thalita's work? Do you believe it is genuine concern over the danger, or is it couched more in a refusal to move beyond established doctrine? Or is this merely another form of academic protectivism?"

Missoni clears her throat.

You nod thoughtfully.

Brigit leans forward.

Speaking quietly to Raelee, Kothos says, "At a guess, all of the above."

Speaking carefully to Raelee, Missoni says, "I could not be completely certain of course, but..."

Ordim works his fingers under his stewpot ujang and scratches his head.

Rivienne agrees with Kothos.

Kothos smiles at Rivienne.

Nayli examines her fingernails.

Missoni says, "Well, the Arch Chancellor is quite well known for being rather guarded about information that is release from the Basilica."

Speaking to Missoni, Raelee says, "Yes, that is true."

Missoni says, "Part of that is for safety."

Missoni says, "But it is likely that another reason is to protect the Faendryl Empire's superiority in the matter."

Missoni says, "He calls Talita's work a pittance of knowledge."

Missoni taps a sheet of glittery vellum on a glowbark credenza mosaiced across the doors in a fan-obscured elven visage.

You glance over at Missoni and wince.

Missoni says, "But it is more likely that he does not want to admit it represents a sizeable amount of information that has not been available outside of our walls."

You softly remark, "That is rather dismissive of a fellow academic's work."

Missoni says, "He would not consider her a fellow academic."

Missoni grins wryly.

You surprisedly exclaim, "Oh!"

Speaking to you, Raelee says, "... that is even more dismissive."

Speaking lightly to Missoni, you say, "Equally as dismissive then."

Speaking to you, Missoni says, "I believe to do so would lower himself, in his eyes."

You nod at Raelee.

You giggle softly.

Raelee says, "One wonders if it would be so dismissed if she had shared it exclusively within the Basillica."

Rivienne smiles at Raelee.

Speaking to Raelee, Missoni says, "A good question."

Kothos says, "...I know that the Faendryl are often a bit...touchy, on the subject of Summoning."

Missoni says, "It is hard to say now that it is circulated freely."

Missoni agrees with Kothos.

Kothos says, "But it could also be argued that they feel a sense of responsibility for it, too."

You softly posit, "Indeed, one wonders if the Ta'Illistim Loremasters would behave in such an exclusionary manner if faced with such a divisive subject."

Kothos says, "They have, after all, borne the consequence for it."

Speaking to Kothos, Missoni says, "And it has become a political issue in our society in addition to all the other factors we discussed."

Kothos nods in agreement at Missoni.

Missoni says, "The Basilica, the Palestra...they are often at odds."

Speaking interestedly to Missoni, you ask, "Is that so?"

Speaking to you, Missoni says, "Their approaches may differ."

Missoni says, "And of course, each wants approval of the Patriarch, honor and glory to him."

Nayli quietly jokes, "Is why I stick to swords. Disagreements, they use less ink."

Speaking to Missoni, Kothos says, "They may not be working together so much as side by side, to find what happened to Aralyte."

Nayli shrugs slightly.

You giggle softly at Nayli.

Missoni agrees with Kothos.

Yunni chuckles.

You appreciatively comment, "What an informative and thought-provoking presentation again today! I will do my best to temper my prejudices on this subject in future."

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

Missoni warmly says, "Thank you all for listening with open minds."

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

Mist Harbor Library Lectures - 2026-09-27 - Extraplanar Magic (log)

2026-10-01T15:49:07Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding category, hope this helps!

Dexterity

2026-09-24T16:47:36Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: minor edit for the bolt spell link, hope this helps!

{{ stat
|type=Physical
|prime=[[Rogue]], [[Ranger]]
| aelotoi=+5
| dwarf=-
| elf=+5
| delf=+10
| helf=+5
| sylvan=+10
| erithian=-
| bgnome=+10
| fgnome=+5
| giant=-5
| halfling=+15
| human=-
| hkrol=-
}}

'''Dexterity''' measures a character's hand-eye coordination, balance, and aim. A character's dexterity bonus adds directly to their ranged weapon [[attack strength]], including [[bolt spell]]s, and is a factor in determining [[melee]] [[roundtime]] reduction and [[critical weighting]].

The amount of critical weighting added to melee attacks is:
<div {{prettydiv|margin-right=60%}}>Weighting: (DEX BONUS + (STR BONUS - (WEAPON SIZE FACTOR))) / 4 Weapon Size Factor: Summation((Weapon Base Speed + 1) - 3 if open handed) * 2 </div>
The weapon penalty offset from strength cannot go ABOVE 0 Weighting added cannot go BELOW 0 the "open hand" from using a two-handed weapon / polearm DOES apply in the above weapon factor formula

1. Example for a halfling with max stats using a spear gripped 2-handed (6 second weapon):
<div {{prettydiv|margin-right=60%}}>DEX Bonus: 40 STR Bonus: 10 Weapon Size Factor: Summation(6 + (1 - 3)) * 2 Summation(4) * 2 (4 + 3 + 2 + 1) * 2 = 20 
Weighting: (40 + (10 - 20)) / 4 (40 + (-10)) / 4 = 30 / 4 = 7 CER</div>

Dexterity is a prime requisite of the [[rogue]] and [[ranger]] [[profession]].

== Systems and Skills Affected By Dexterity ==
{| width=67%
|- valign=top
| width = 40% |
*[[Ambushing]]
*[[Parry]]
*[[Shield Use]]/[[Block]]
*Staying on the ledge in [[Thanatoph]]
*[[Ranged Weapons]]
*[[Thrown Weapons]]
*[[Two Weapon Combat]]
*The Attack Strength of [[Bolt spell]]s
*[[Rogue Gambits#Stealth|RGAMBITS Stealth]]
*[[Tattoo (verb)|Mystic Tattoo]] success for [[Monks]]
| width = 40% |
*[[Disarming Traps]]
*[[Picking Locks]]
*[[Pickpocketing]]
*[[SKIN (verb)|Skinning]]
*[[Stalking and Hiding|Provides a bonus against detection while hidden]]
*Defense against [[SMRv2|standard maneuver roll v2]] (secondary stat)
*Defense against [[Spike Thorn (616)]]
*Defense against [[Grasp of the Grave (709)]]
*Defense against [[Call Wind (912)]]
|}

== Resources ==
*[http://www.play.net/gs4/info/stats.asp#dexterity Stats: Dexterity], on Play.net
*[https://discordapp.com/channels/226045346399256576/532373273816858636/692610848052609126 Discord Conversation where the formula was revealed by staff]

{{Statistic}}

Bottle Contraption

2026-09-24T16:31:22Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: minor formatting fix

{{ItemScriptInfo
|propername=yes
|itemscript=script
|category=Fluff
|class=Miscellaneous
|type=Cooking
|unlocks=Certificate
|customization=Bottle designs, Stoppers, Labels, Etchings
|scriptfamily=Alcohol Still items
|relatedscript=Alcohol Still, Alcohol Recipe Book, Malting Box, Jammy Juicer, Stovetop Dehydrator
|addorswap=Swap
|verb=CAST, CLEAN, CLENCH, DROP, FLIP, GAZE, INSPECT, PLUCK, POKE, POUR, PUSH, PUT, ROLL, TILT, TURN, TWIST
|releasevenue=Duskruin
|releasedate=February 2023
|addinfo=It lets you customize bottles or crates of alcohol made with an [[Alcohol Still]]. It also works on certain other bottles or jars made from parts of the [[cooking system]].
|restrictions=Yes
|permifiercost=3750
}}
==Analyze==
<pre{{log2}}>You analyze the copper-framed contraption and sense that the creator has provided the following information:
---Bottle Contraption----
This copper-framed contraption is a device that lets you customize bottles of:
* Alcohol or vinegar made with an Alcohol Still
* Juice or Jam made with a Jammy Juicer
* Tea and Coffee leaves created with a Stovetop Dehydrator
To customize a bottle, the contraption can either use the material from the existing bottle or you can provide a base material for it to work with; PUT in things like small weapons, wooden blocks, and other small fodder items to give it something to work with. It will ONLY work with metal, wood, or types of glass.
The copper-framed contraption also needs lightning magic to make it work; PUT silver or iron wands inside, or cast lightning magic at it for it to absorb. The contraption could be permanently powered by the Permifier.
TURN the copper-framed contraption to cycle through different versions of the bottle design, PUT a bottle inside, INSPECT it to view all the current settings, and then PUSH it to apply the changes to the bottle.
If you decide not to make a bottle with the provided material and want to start over, just CLEAN the copper-framed contraption.
NOTE: Anything other than a bottle you PUT into the copper-framed contraption will be permanently destroyed. You have been warned!
==Alteration Guidelines==
* Alterations to the 15/15/15 and/or long description of this copper-framed contraption are fine as long as the remainder of these guidelines are followed. Shows are not possible.
* The copper-framed contraption must be made of some kind of metal.
* The noun can change, but it must overall still look like a mechanical boxy object of some sort.
* Any merchant, if comfortable, can alter the custom settings, if unlocked (Custom Bottle Designs/Custom Stoppers/Custom Labels/Custom Etchings), as long as the guidelines for these settings noted in the "Unlockable Features" section are followed.
==Unlockable Features==
* Dye Additive [Locked]
With this feature, you can POUR cobbling or alchemy dyes into the copper-framed contraption to add colors to your designs. There are 2 dye reservoirs; one will color the material of the bottle, while the other will color the bottle's label.
- ROLL the copper-framed contraption to change which reservoir the dye commands will work on (material or label).
- TWIST the copper-framed contraption to allow dye to flow out of the focused reservoir.
- TILT the copper-framed contraption to remove dye from the focused reservoir without using it.
* Candy Bug Additive [Locked]
With this feature, you can POKE the contraption with a candy version of a Bugs On Parade bug or equivalent sea creature in your hand and add the candy to the interior of the inserted bottle of alcohol. The candy will become alcoholic and absorb some of the alcohol flavor/effects. It will automatically pop out when the last sip of alcohol is removed from the bottle. This feature only works with Alcohol Still alcohol.
* Gem Bug Stoppers [Locked]
With this feature, you can DROP a gem version of Bugs On Parade bugs or equivalent sea creatures into the copper-framed contraption and turn them into stoppers. You can PLUCK the contraption to remove the special stopper without using it. The stopper will only be functional with Alcohol Still alcohol.
* Custom Bottle Designs [Locked], Custom Stoppers [Locked], Custom Label Designs [Locked], and Custom Etchings [Locked]
Unlocking these slots allow you to have further control over how your bottles look. Custom Bottle Designs let you dictate an exact template for a description with placeholders for you to optionally include the material, material color, label, label color, and/or stopper. Custom Stoppers allow you to choose custom closures for the bottles, while Custom Labels let you choose a label description and a sentence or two that describes it in the bottle's LOOK. Custom Etchings let you choose what appears when the bottle is READ.
- Custom Bottle Designs must be feasible as a large container for alcohol and must work for any material that can be used in this contraption (wood, metal, glass, etc.) It MUST have a version of the design with material dye and without. A 15-character max article must be included separately. The adjective and noun of the bottle cannot change and will remain the alcohol adjective and alcohol noun.
Example: Article: "a bottle of", Design (No Color): "(a/an) (material) bottle of (adjective) (alcohol noun) wrapped with (a/an) (label descriptor) (label color) label", Design (With Color): "(a/an) (material color) (material) bottle of (adjective) (alcohol noun) wrapped in (a/an) (label descriptor) (label color) label".
- Custom Stoppers must make sense as something that would close a container of alcohol, such as a cork or a lid. It cannot be made of rare material and should make sense for all possible bottle types.
- Custom Labels must contain a one or two word description (Examples: ivy-edged, gold-embossed). They must also have a 1-2 sentence description of how they look in a show description format. The show description can have placeholders for the bottle noun and the label color.
Example:
Descriptor: stained, Show Description: Barely clinging
to the center of the (bottle noun) is a badly wrinkled label, its (label color)
surface barely discernable underneath a variety of dark stains.
- Custom Etchings are essentially inscriptions that appear when the bottle is READ. This is where the name of the alcohol or brewery goes, though a short sentence/slogan would work. Whatever would feasibly fit on a bottle's label. Placeholders for your name or pronouns can be included. Default language is Common, though each etching can have a set language.
Example:
"(character)'s Superb Spirits"
==Usage/Verbs==
* DROP/PUT (add material/wands), CLEAN (removes material without using it), TURN (changes various settings), PUSH (applies changes to inserted bottle), INSPECT (view current settings).
This copper-framed contraption cannot be lightened or deepened.</pre>

==Usage Information==
===Off the Shelf===
The base contraption is able to create custom bottles or jars made via the [[Alcohol Still]], [[Jammy Juicer]], or [[Stovetop Dehydrator]].
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= Option }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= CAST |modifier2= Lightning Spell |1Pview= |3Pview= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= CLEAN |modifier2= n/a |1Pview= Flipping open the top hatch and toggling a switch, you tilt your copper-framed contraption so that it is pointing away from you. With a hum and a whir, the copper-framed contraption lets out a mechanical belching noise, jettisoning any remnant material from its innards to the ground. Satisfied that everything is clean, you close the top hatch again with a click. |3Pview= Flipping open the top hatch and toggling a switch, Vanah tilts her copper-framed contraption so that it is pointing away from her. With a hum and a whir, the copper-framed contraption lets out a mechanical belching noise, jettisoning any remnant material from its innards to the ground. Satisfied that everything is clean, she closes the top hatch again with a click.}}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" role="rowheader" rowspan=3 | DROP/PUT
! Bottle/Jar
| You slide a jar of spicy-smelling watermelon and red pepper flakes jam into a niche in the side of the copper-framed contraption.
| Vanah slides a jar of spicy-smelling watermelon and red pepper flakes jam into a niche in the side of the copper-framed contraption.
|-
! Material
| As you start to lower a faewood runestaff into an intricate copper-framed contraption, you pause to think about the consequences. This will result in a bottle that has the material of "faewood". WARNING! Adding the faewood runestaff to the copper-framed contraption will completely destroy a faewood runestaff. If you are sure you wish to do this, please repeat this command in the next 30 seconds. Roundtime: 5 sec. Lifting the lid of the copper-framed contraption, you carefully lower your faewood runestaff into the depths within. With a metallic grinding noise, the copper-framed contraption whirrs to life and yanks the faewood runestaff out of your grasp, its metal frame vibrating and shaking as it breaks down the material of the offering.
| Lifting the lid of the copper-framed contraption, Vanah carefully lowers her faewood runestaff into the depths within. With a metallic grinding noise, the copper-framed contraption whirrs to life and yanks the faewood runestaff out of her grasp, its metal frame vibrating and shaking as it breaks down the material of the offering.
|-
! Wand
|  {{addmetext}}
|  {{addmetext}}
|-
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= FLIP |modifier2= n/a |1Pview= You flip a toggle on the side of the copper-framed contraption, setting it to cycle through stoppers. You flip a toggle on the side of the copper-framed contraption, setting it to cycle through label designs. You flip a toggle on the side of the copper-framed contraption, setting it to cycle through etchings. You flip a toggle on the side of the copper-framed contraption, setting it to cycle through bottle designs. |3Pview= Vanah flips a toggle on the front of her copper-framed contraption.}}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= INSPECT |modifier2= n/a |1Pview= Looking at the various dials, levers, and reservoirs of the copper-framed contraption, you note it has the following settings: Charges- 9 (DROP in silver/iron wands or cast lightning spells at it to add more.) Material- None (DROP something inside to add some.) Dye (Label)- None - POUR in some dye to add some Dye Addition- No (TWIST it to make the dye be included in the bottle's label.) ROLL the contraption to view any material dye settings. Stopper- metal wedge. Label- plain. Label Show- Wrapped snugly around the bottle is a plain white label, its surface pristine and without flourish. Etching- Vanah's Brewery [CLENCH to prevent this etching from being added] Bottle Design Template- a bottle of (adjective) (alcohol noun) secured with (a/an) (stopper). Bottle's Potential Look- a bottle of spicy-smelling watermelon and red pepper flakes jam secured with a metal wedge [DROP in some material to change it] 
Current Focus- Stoppers [FLIP to change] TURN to change the setting of the current focus item. GAZE to view any customs associated with the current focus. |3Pview= n/a}}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= PUSH |modifier2= n/a |1Pview= |3Pview= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= TURN |modifier2= n/a |1Pview= You run your thumb over a cog-like wheel on the lid of the copper-framed contraption, rolling it forward one click to reach the next stopper. You notice the new setting is a stopper with the design of "metal sphere." |3Pview= }}
{{Table end}}

===Custom Bottle Design===
Up to 10 custom bottle designs can be added to a contraption via certificate.
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= GAZE |modifier2= |1Pview= You gaze intently at the copper-framed contraption, pondering what custom bottle designs are available. 1. a bottle of (adjective) (alcohol noun) wrapped in (a/an) (label adjective) (label color) label 2. a bottle of (adjective) (alcohol noun) crafted from (material color) (material) <nowiki>*</nowiki>3.* a bottle of (adjective) (alcohol noun) secured with (a/an) (stopper) [Current] 4. (a/an) (material) jug of (adjective) (alcohol noun) suffused with (material color) undertones 5. a squat jug of (adjective) (alcohol noun) decorated with (a/an) (label adjective) (label color) label 6. [Empty Custom] 7. [Empty Custom] FLIP the contraption to change to a different output. TURN the contraption to move to the next item in sequence, TURN the contraption to # to move to a specific entry. |3Pview= n/a }}
{{Table end}}

===Custom Stopper===
Up to 10 custom stoppers can be added to a contraption via certificate.
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= GAZE |modifier2= |1Pview= You gaze intently at the copper-framed contraption, pondering what custom stoppers are available. 1. cork 2. stopper 3. lid <nowiki>*</nowiki>4.* metal wedge [Current] 5. metal sphere 6. [Empty Custom] 7. [Empty Custom] FLIP the contraption to change to a different output. TURN the contraption to move to the next item in sequence, TURN the contraption to # to move to a specific entry. |3Pview= n/a }}
{{Table end}}

===Custom Label===
Up to 10 custom labels can be added to a contraption via certificate.
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= GAZE |modifier2= |1Pview= You gaze intently at the copper-framed contraption, pondering what custom labels are available. 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>1.* plain [Current] 2. gold-embossed 3. ivy-edged 4. peeling 5. weathered 6. [Empty Custom] 7. [Empty Custom] FLIP the contraption to change to a different output. TURN the contraption to move to the next item in sequence, TURN the contraption to # to move to a specific entry. |3Pview= n/a }}
{{Table end}}

===Custom Etching===
Up to 10 custom etchings can be added to a contraption via certificate.
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= GAZE |modifier2= |1Pview= You gaze intently at the copper-framed contraption, pondering what custom etchings are available. 
<nowiki>*</nowiki>1.* Vanah's Brewery [Current] 2. Vanah's Spirits 3. Vanah's Special 4. Vanah's Extra Special 5. Vanah's Distillery 6. [Empty Custom] 7. [Empty Custom] FLIP the contraption to change to a different output. TURN the contraption to move to the next item in sequence, TURN the contraption to # to move to a specific entry. |3Pview= n/a }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= CLENCH |modifier2= |1Pview= Pressing thumb and forefinger against a mechanical arm sticking from the side of the copper-framed contraption, you spread it open, pulling it out of the way with a dull click. You are sure any bottle created will not have any etching. Pressing thumb and forefinger against a mechanical arm sticking from the side of the copper-framed contraption, you squeeze it shut, pressing it into place with a satisfying click. You are sure any bottle created will have an etching on its surface. |3Pview= Vanah fiddles with a mechanical arm sticking out of the side of the copper-framed contraption. }}
{{Table end}}

===Dye Additive===
Allows alchemy or cobbling dyes to be added to color the resulting bottles and their labels.
# {{boldmono|ROLL CONTRAPTION}} to switch between the material-dye and label-dye reservoirs.
# {{boldmono|POUR DYE IN CONTRAPTION}} to load the focused reservoir.
# {{boldmono|TWIST CONTRAPTION}} to toggle whether that dye will be applied.
# {{boldmono|TILT CONTRAPTION}} to discard the focused dye without applying it.
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= Option }}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" role="rowheader" rowspan=2|POUR
! Successful
| Flipping open the top of the reservoir attached to the side of the copper-framed contraption, you carefully pour some of the contents of your pewter dye into it before snapping the contraption's lid shut.
| Flipping open the top of the reservoir attached to the side of the copper-framed contraption, Vanah carefully pours some of the contents of her pewter dye into it before snapping the contraption's lid shut.
|-
! Error Messages
| There is currently no label dye in the copper-framed contraption - maybe you should POUR some in? The copper-framed contraption cannot accept dyes that have had additives mixed in - you may break it! That does not seem to be a proper dye. The vial of dye doesn't have enough left to properly add to the copper-framed contraption! There is already material dye in the copper-framed contraption! The copper-framed contraption needs some material inside it to dye first. The material already in the copper-framed contraption cannot be dyed, so that doesn't seem like a wise idea.
| n/a
|-
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= ROLL |modifier2= n/a |1Pview= Rolling your thumb over a dial at the base of the copper-framed contraption's dye reservoir, you adjust it minutely, changing it to point at a different side. You are sure any dye added now will affect the material of the created bottle. Rolling your thumb over a dial at the base of the copper-framed contraption's dye reservoir, you adjust it minutely, changing it to point at a different side. You are sure any dye added now will affect the label of the created bottle. |3Pview= Rolling her thumb over a dial at the base of the copper-framed contraption's dye reservoir, Vanah adjusts it minutely, making it point at a different side. }}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" role="rowheader" rowspan=2|TILT
! Dye present
|  {{addmetext}}
|  {{addmetext}}
|-
! No dye present
| There is no dye to remove from the copper-framed contraption.
|  {{addmetext}}
|-
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= TWIST |modifier2= n/a |1Pview= You twist the knob at the base of the copper-framed contraption's dye reservoir, tightening the interior valve closed so that the contents will not flow to the created bottle's label. You twist the knob at the base of the copper-framed contraption's dye reservoir, opening the interior valve so that the contents will be able to flow to the created bottle's label. |3Pview= Vanah twists a knob at the base of her copper-framed contraption's dye reservoir. }}
{{Table end}}

===Candy Bug Additive===
Allows certain types of candy versions of [[Bugs on Parade]] bugs or [[Life Aquatic]] creatures to be inserted into bottles of alcohol from an [[Alcohol Still]]. The resulting candy will absorb the alcohol. Functional candy additives and gem stoppers are limited to Alcohol Still alcohol. Simply insert alochol from an Alcohol Still, hold an eligible candy bug/aquatic creature, and use {{boldmono|POKE}}. The candy absorbs the alcohol's flavor/effects and emerges after the last sip.
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= POKE |modifier2= |1Pview= Twisting off the cork of the glass bottle nestled within the copper-framed contraption, you position a funnel so the spout leads directly into the mouth of the bottle. You hold a chewy peacock pansy butterfly candy directly over top of it and let it drop. It tumbles for a moment before you hear it plopping into the whiskey within. Satisfied, you replace the cork. |3Pview= Twisting off the cork of the glass bottle nestled within the copper-framed contraption, Vanah positions a funnel so the spout leads directly into the mouth of the bottle. Vanah holds a chewy peacock pansy butterfly candy directly over top of it and lets it drop. It tumbles for a moment before you hear it plopping into the whiskey within. Satisfied, she replaces the cork. }}
{{Table end}}

===Gem Bug Stopper===
Allows gem versions of [[Bugs on Parade]] bugs, [[Life Aquatic]] creatures, or [[Jeepers Creepers]] birds to be used as stoppers for bottles of alcohol from an [[Alcohol Still]] customized with the contraption.
# {{boldmono|DROP}} an eligible gem bug/bird/aquatic creature into the contraption.
# {{boldmono|COVER CONTRAPTION}} to toggle use of the special stopper.
# {{boldmono|PLUCK CONTRAPTION}} to discard the stored special stopper without applying it.
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= DROP |modifier2= |1Pview= As you start to lower an emerald dragonfly into an intricate copper-framed contraption, you pause to think about the consequences. This will result in a stopper that looks like "emerald dragonfly stopper." WARNING! Adding the emerald dragonfly to the copper-framed contraption will completely destroy an emerald dragonfly. If you are sure you wish to do this, please repeat this command in the next 30 seconds. Roundtime: 5 sec. You slide an emerald dragonfly into a niche inside the copper-framed contraption, preparing it for use as a stopper. |3Pview= Vanah slides an emerald dragonfly into a niche inside the copper-framed contraption, preparing it for use as a stopper. }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= COVER |modifier2= |1Pview= You slide a cover on the copper-framed contraption out of the way, allowing access to the special stopper storage. You slide a cover on the copper-framed contraption into place, blocking access to the special stopper storage. |3Pview= n/a }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= PLUCK |modifier2= |1Pview= Reaching into a small niche in the side of the copper-framed contraption, you clear out the contents within using a sweep of your hand. |3Pview= Reaching into a small niche in the side of the copper-framed contraption, Vanah clears out the contents within using a sweep of her hand. }}
{{Table end}}

===Alcohol Crate Customization===
Unlocking Alcohol Crate Customization via certificate allows the contraption to customize every bottle within an alcohol crate at once. It also expands the contraption's storage to hold up to 10 materials and, if the Gem Bug Stopper feature is unlocked, up to 10 special stoppers. Uses one power charge per bottle.
# {{boldmono|PONDER CONTRAPTION}} to list stored resources.
# {{boldmono|SLAP CONTRAPTION}} to switch between material and stopper storage.
# {{boldmono|WAVE CONTRAPTION}} to advance the selected resource.
# {{boldmono|WAVE CONTRAPTION AT #}} to select a particular storage slot.
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb |header2= }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= PONDER |modifier2= |1Pview= You ponder while gazing at your copper-framed contraption, thinking back to the materials stored within. 1. faewood [Current] 2. glass. 3. Empty. 4. Empty. 5. Empty. 6. Empty. 7. Empty. 8. Empty. 9. Empty. 10. Empty. WAVE the contraption AT # to switch to a specific item. SLAP the copper-framed contraption to switch between materials and gem bug stoppers. |3Pview= n/a }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= SLAP |modifier2= |1Pview= You slap the top of your copper-framed contraption, ensuring the internal storage compartment is set to the special stoppers. You slap the top of your copper-framed contraption, ensuring the internal storage compartment is set to the materials. |3Pview= n/a }}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= WAVE |modifier2= |1Pview= You twist a dial on the side of the copper-framed contraption, ensuring the internal material storage is set to "faewood." You twist a dial on the side of the copper-framed contraption, ensuring the internal stopper storage is set to "emerald dragonfly stopper." You twist a dial on the side of the copper-framed contraption, ensuring the internal material storage is set to an empty compartment. |3Pview= n/a }}
{{Table end}}

==Additional Information==
===Basic Workflow===
# {{boldmono|INSPECT CONTRAPTION}} to check power, materials, dyes, settings, and the potential result.
# Charge it: feed it silver/iron wands or cast [[Minor Shock (901)]], [[Major Shock (910)]], or [[Call Lightning (125)]] at it.
# Material is optional: without fodder, it retains the container's existing material.
# Change material: {{boldmono|PUT/DROP}} a small metal, wood, or glass item into it; repeat the command to confirm destruction.
# {{boldmono|PUT BOTTLE IN CONTRAPTION}}.
# {{boldmono|TURN CONTRAPTION}} to cycle the current design setting.
# {{boldmono|TURN CONTRAPTION TO #}} to select a specific numbered design.
# {{boldmono|INSPECT CONTRAPTION}} to preview the finished appearance.
# {{boldmono|PUSH CONTRAPTION}} to preview and confirm; repeat within 30 seconds to apply.
# {{boldmono|GET BOTTLE FROM CONTRAPTION}}.

===Custom Designs===
# {{boldmono|FLIP CONTRAPTION}} to switch focus among bottle, stopper, label, and etching.
# {{boldmono|GAZE CONTRAPTION}} to list designs for the current focus.
# {{boldmono|TURN CONTRAPTION}} or {{boldmono|TURN CONTRAPTION TO #}} to select a design.
# {{boldmono|CLENCH CONTRAPTION}} to toggle the selected etching on/off.
# {{boldmono|INSPECT CONTRAPTION}} to verify everything before committing.

===Material Fodder===
* Small/light weapons, including runestaves.
* Metal forging slabs.
* Wooden forging blocks and sticks.
* Small unscripted glass items.
* Small unscripted fluff with a valid material.
* Approved alteration-fodder items.
* Scripted or {{boldmono|MARKed}} items are rejected, except designated alteration fodder.
* Gems, shells, bone, ivory, teeth, horns, and tusks are rejected.
* Cloth, leather, rare materials, and special metals such as rhimar are rejected.

===Important Warnings===
* Fodder, wands, and gem stoppers are destroyed when loaded.
* {{boldmono|CLEAN CONTRAPTION}} discards the selected stored material; it does not return the original item.
* Applied material, dye, special stopper, and power are consumed.
* The first PUSH is only a preview/confirmation; the second applies the changes.

===Restrictions===
Alterations to the 15/15/15 and/or long description of this copper-framed contraption are fine as long as the remainder of these guidelines are followed. Shows are not possible. It must be made of some kind of metal. The noun can change, but it must overall still look like a mechanical boxy object of some sort.

==See Also==
* [[Alcohol Still]]
* [[Bugs on Parade]]
* [[Life Aquati]]
* [[Jeepers Creepers]]
* [[Bottle contraption customization and use primer]]

[[Category:Cooking system]]

User talk:HOST-GSFAMINE

2026-09-18T17:45:08Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: cleaning up past communication

=IMAGE PATROL QUEUE=

==Images at Risk for Deletion==

=User Page edits=

=User communications=
Hi, SCHADENFREUDE. You recently uploaded many images to the wiki that were missing some information required by [[Gswiki:Policy]]. Thankfully, you included that information in the captions of the images on the parent page they were used on, and I have gone ahead and fixed the omission. No action is required to be taken by you, this is just an FYI. Each image needs to have the "Created by player/uploader/etc in software" added to the image page itself. I have also included the AI artwork category as required by [[Gswiki:Policy]]. Hopefully this helps and if you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out via my talk page.

Hi there, JHYNNIFER. You recently uploaded an image, File:Riend and hotu cropped.png to the wiki that did not have all of the information where it needed to be as required by Gswiki:Policy. I was able to see that you included the needed information in some, but not all, required locations, so I need to know: if it was AI generated and if so, what model was used, for it to comply with Gswiki:Policy.

As a reminder, copyright information must be clearly stated on the image file and as a caption for all articles featuring it. If you use an image created by someone else, permission must be granted and noted in the caption.

An article edit comment is not sufficient for these purposes.

Additionally, Gswiki:Style guide/Images has copy/paste code examples for different image types. If you need instructions on how to do each step, Help:Images goes into detail on how to edit image files and how to display them with captions on articles.

Please be aware that any future images that do not include all required information on both the image file and all articles featuring them will be flagged. Thank you for understanding. HOST-GSFAMINE (talk) 14:53, 30 July 2026 (CDT)

User talk:SCHADENFREUDE

2026-09-18T17:43:23Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding communication with user, clarifying what information is missing per {{Gswiki:Copywrite}} requirements for uploading images to the wiki and proper attribution.

Hi, SCHADENFREUDE. You recently uploaded many images to the wiki that were missing some information required by [[Gswiki:Policy]]. Thankfully, you included that information in the captions of the images on the parent page they were used on, and I have gone ahead and fixed the omission. No action is required to be taken by you, this is just an FYI. Each image needs to have the "Created by player/uploader/etc in software" added to the image page itself. I have also included the AI artwork category as required by [[Gswiki:Policy]]. Hopefully this helps and if you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out via my talk page. [[User:HOST-GSFAMINE|HOST-GSFAMINE]] ([[User talk:HOST-GSFAMINE|talk]]) 12:43, 18 September 2026 (CDT)

==Images at Risk for Deletion==
Hi again, SCHADENFREUDE. You recently uploaded several images to the wiki that are missing some information required by [[Gswiki:Policy]]. Your images are missing the following information:
* [[:File:Arelder's Symbol.jpg]] - Who created the image? If that person is not you, was permission granted by the artist to upload it? If AI imaging software was used to create it, what is the name of that software? If AI imaging software was used to create it, <nowiki>[[Category:AI artwork]]</nowiki> must be in the image description for inclusion in Category:AI artwork.
* [[:File:Arelder - campfire.png]] - Who created the image? If that person is not you, was permission granted by the artist to upload it? If AI imaging software was used to create it, what is the name of that software? If AI imaging software was used to create it, <nowiki>[[Category:AI artwork]]</nowiki> must be in the image description for inclusion in Category:AI artwork.
* [[:File:Arelder Fighting.jpg]] - Thank you for noting that you are the image creator and that you used various AI tools as part of the creation process. This image is still missing the name of the AI software, and <nowiki>[[Category:AI artwork]]</nowiki> must be in the image description for inclusion in Category:AI artwork.
* [[:File:Arelder fighting undead.png]] - Thank you for noting that you are the image creator and that you used various AI tools as part of the creation process. This image is still missing the name of the AI software, and <nowiki>[[Category:AI artwork]]</nowiki> must be in the image description for inclusion in Category:AI artwork.
Please see [[Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights]] for more information about the image policy and its requirement to note image creators, what AI imaging software was used (if any), and if permission was granted by the creator to upload the image to the wiki. This information needs to be all images uploaded to the Gswiki as well as on all articles using them. In addition, all images using AI software in their creation are required to be included in [[:Category:AI artwork]]. All articles using a moderator-flagged image will also need to have their captions updated to include this required information.

If you need examples on how to do this, [[Gswiki:Style guide/Images]] has copy/paste code examples for different image types. If you need instructions on how to do each step, [[Help:Images]] goes into detail on how to edit image files and how to display them with captions on articles.

'''If that information is not added within 7 days, any moderator-flagged images will deleted from the wiki.''' Please do not remove the <nowiki>{{moddelete}}</nowiki> template from any flagged image file. Another moderator or I will remove that template after your updates have been reviewed to ensure that they meet [[Gswiki:Policy]] requirements.

In addition, you have several images that appear to be duplicate versions of one another. Only one version will be able to remain on the wiki for each set of duplicates. Your duplicate image sets include the following:
* [[:File:Arelder's Symbol.jpg]] and [[:File:Arelders Symbol 2.jpg]], which appear to be the same image with a minimal difference in file size. Neither image is used on any articles. If you take no action, the first image will be deleted and the second image will remain on the wiki as it has the later time stamp.
* [[:File:Arelder Fighting.jpg]] and [[:File:Arelder fighting undead.png]], which appear to be the same image with a slight difference in resolution size. Of them, the second image is featured on an article, [[Arelder (prime)]]. Both of these images are among those flagged above. If you take no action, both will be deleted, otherwise the priority for which image is kept will focus first on which one is updated to include the required [[Gswiki:Policy]] information, followed by which one is featured on any articles.
* [[:File:Arelder.webp]], [[:File:Arelder 2.png]], and [[:File:Thumbnail IMG 6642.png]], which appear to be different versions of the same image with some variation in resolution size. Of them, only the third is featured on an article, [[Arelder (prime)]]. If you take no action, the first and second images will be deleted, keeping the one that you are currently using on your character page.

Lastly, I have updated the remaining images that you have uploaded over the past two weeks to include the required <nowiki>[[Category:AI artwork]]</nowiki> for their image descriptions. This category is required by [[Gswiki:Policy]] for all images created via AI software so that they are properly included in the [[:Category:AI artwork|AI artwork]] category. While you do not need to take any further action on those additional images this time, future image uploads containing AI-generated images that are not properly included in this category may be flagged by a Moderator. If you are unsure of how to do this, you can see how I did this on any of those additional images, such as [[:File:Arelders Symbol 2.jpg]], by clicking on "Edit Source" on the top right of the page while viewing that image file.

If you have any questions about this process or need more information about the updated policy for images, please reach out to the wiki team on the Gemstone [https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1061330227843833926 Discord forum's wiki thread]. Thank you for your efforts to already include most of this information in your image uploads. [[User:HOST-GSKEBECHET|HOST-GSKEBECHET]] ([[User talk:HOST-GSKEBECHET|talk]]) 08:59, 22 July 2025 (CDT)

==Image at Risk for Deletion==
Hello, SCHADENFREUDE. You recently uploaded an image to the wiki, [[:File:Arelder.webp]], that is missing some information required by [[Gswiki:Policy]]. You noted that the image was created "by PC" but otherwise don't identify who that person is. As "PC" could mean multiple things, including the initials of a name, this is not clear enough to fully satisfy Gswiki:Policy. Your image is missing the following information:
* Was permission granted by the artist to upload it?
* If AI imaging software was used to create it, what is the name of that software?
* If AI imaging software was used to create it, <nowiki>[[Category:AI artwork]]</nowiki> must be in the image description for inclusion in Category:AI artwork.
Please see [[Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights]] for more information about the image policy and its requirement to note image creators, what AI imaging software was used (if any), and if permission was granted by the creator to upload the image to the wiki. This information needs to be on the images as well as on all articles using them. In addition, all images using AI software in their creation are required to be included in [[:Category:AI artwork]]. To add that text to the image file, you will need to click on "Edit Source" on the image file itself and add all of the required information. All articles using this image will also need to have their captions updated to include this required information.

'''If that information is not added within 7 days, this image will be deleted from the wiki.''' Please do not remove the <nowiki>{{moddelete}}</nowiki> template from the image. Another moderator or I will remove that template after your updates have been reviewed to ensure that they meet [[Gswiki:Policy]] requirements. If you have any questions about this process or need more information about the updated policy for images, please reach out to the wiki team on the Gemstone [https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1061330227843833926 Discord forum's wiki thread]. Thank you for understanding. [[User:HOST-GSKEBECHET|HOST-GSKEBECHET]] ([[User talk:HOST-GSKEBECHET|talk]]) 10:03, 7 January 2025 (CST)
:Hello again, SCHADENFREUDE. Thank you very much for adding most of the required information outlined in [[Gswiki:Policy]] for [[:File:Arelder.webp]]. I wanted to follow up with you on two things. First, you were still missing some of the needed information in locations required, so I have adjusted the image and the article featuring it to comply with Policy. As a reminder, copyright information must be clearly stated on the image file and as a caption for all articles featuring it. A caption appearing on just on the image file is not sufficient if it is featured anywhere else on the wiki. In addition, any AI-generated images must be included in [[:Category:AI artwork]]. This is done by typing <nowiki>[[Category:AI artwork]]</nowiki> as part of the image's text description. I have already made adjustments to the image file and article featuring them on your behalf, so no action needs to be taken by you this time. If you would like to see how that is done, you can click on "Edit Source" on the image file to see it. Please be aware that any future images that do not include all required information on both the image file and all articles featuring them will be flagged.
:Second, I noticed that you uploaded a second duplicate image, which also had most (but not all) information required by Gswiki:Policy. It also did not have the AI artwork category, so I have added it on your behalf, too. However, there should only be one version of the same image on the wiki. The two files you uploaded are [[:File:Arelder.webp]] (original, which is featured on [[Arelder (prime)]]) and [[:File:Arelder2.jpg]] (second image uploaded, which is a larger file size but otherwise appears to be identical). Please let me know which of the two duplicate image files you want to keep and which you want to be deleted from the wiki. You can respond either here or on my user talk page by editing the page and adding your comment, followed by <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki> to automatically insert a "signature". If you do not respond within 7 days, I will delete the image file that is '''not''' featured on any articles. Thank you again for your help with these images on the wiki. [[User:HOST-GSKEBECHET|HOST-GSKEBECHET]] ([[User talk:HOST-GSKEBECHET|talk]]) 08:07, 9 January 2025 (CST)

User talk:HOST-GSFAMINE

2026-09-18T17:42:28Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding communication with user.

=IMAGE PATROL QUEUE=

==Images at Risk for Deletion==

Hello, TWILSON. You recently uploaded a map image to the wiki, File:Moot Hall 5117.png, that appears to violate the Gswiki:Policy for Copyrights, specifically for Maps. Maps may only be uploaded by the original creator or, in certain circumstances, the editor who updated the map to account for new areas. There does not appear to be any statement on the map image to indicate that you have edited it or when. This is required for all map images that have been modified by someone other than the original map creator. I have flagged the map image for moderator review and deletion.

If this file is an original, unedited map image, it may only be uploaded by the original map creator. If you have made edits to the map, then you will need to indicate this per the copyright section on maps and reupload it with that text included both on the image itself as well as in the image file comments. If you need examples on how to do this, Gswiki:Style guide/Images has copy/paste code examples for different image types. If you need instructions on how to do each step, Help:Images goes into detail on how to edit image files and how to display them with captions on articles.

If an image file update is not added within 7 days, this image will be deleted from the wiki. Please do not remove the {{moddelete}} template from the image. Another moderator or I will remove that template after your updates have been reviewed to ensure that they meet Gswiki:Policy requirements. If you have any questions about this process or need more information about the updated policy for maps, please reach out to the wiki team on the Gemstone Discord forum's wiki thread. Thank you for understanding. HOST-GSFAMINE (talk) 11:55, 26 June 2026 (CDT)

=User Page edits=

=User communications=
Hi, SCHADENFREUDE. You recently uploaded many images to the wiki that were missing some information required by [[Gswiki:Policy]]. Thankfully, you included that information in the captions of the images on the parent page they were used on, and I have gone ahead and fixed the omission. No action is required to be taken by you, this is just an FYI. Each image needs to have the "Created by player/uploader/etc in software" added to the image page itself. I have also included the AI artwork category as required by [[Gswiki:Policy]]. Hopefully this helps and if you have any concerns, please feel free to reach out via my talk page.

Hi there, JHYNNIFER. You recently uploaded an image, File:Riend and hotu cropped.png to the wiki that did not have all of the information where it needed to be as required by Gswiki:Policy. I was able to see that you included the needed information in some, but not all, required locations, so I need to know: if it was AI generated and if so, what model was used, for it to comply with Gswiki:Policy.

As a reminder, copyright information must be clearly stated on the image file and as a caption for all articles featuring it. If you use an image created by someone else, permission must be granted and noted in the caption.

An article edit comment is not sufficient for these purposes.

Additionally, Gswiki:Style guide/Images has copy/paste code examples for different image types. If you need instructions on how to do each step, Help:Images goes into detail on how to edit image files and how to display them with captions on articles.

Please be aware that any future images that do not include all required information on both the image file and all articles featuring them will be flagged. Thank you for understanding. HOST-GSFAMINE (talk) 14:53, 30 July 2026 (CDT)

File:Gemlynn2.png

2026-09-18T17:25:15Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights

Created by Gemlynn's player using ChatGPT
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Prion 01.png

2026-09-18T17:20:28Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Prion Angrave
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Arrec 01.png

2026-09-18T17:19:46Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Arrec Winter
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:Cylnthia - Crest.jpg

2026-09-18T17:18:05Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

== Summary ==
Cylnthia's personal crest, created by Cylnthia's player using Google Gemini, uploaded by Cylnthia's player.
[[Category:AI artwork]]

Order of the Azure Sun/Collected Arms

2026-09-18T17:09:51Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding Categories from parent page, hope this helps!

="Collected Arms of the Order of the Azure Sun, First Edition" by Arelder Ronne=

Chivalry is fundamentally linked with reputation. Courage, loyalty, generosity, martial ability, faithfulness, and honorable conduct hold value not least of which because they were witnessed and remembered as examples to be followed. And a recognizable shield, banner, or surcoat attaches good deeds to a name. Therefore, to fight beneath one’s arms is, symbolically, to place one’s reputation on the field with oneself.

Herein we have collected, where available, the arms of all active individual members of the Order of the Azure Sun. Where arms for a member are not available, the Order's arms have been duly substituted.

*Note from the author: With ready access to so many dyes throughout modern Elanthia, there is no doubt that individual arms presented in these pages may be seen in practice using a variety of shades. In this collection, we have restricted ourselves to the traditional tinctures used in heraldry to afford some measure of standardization.

[[File:OAS Arms - Hall 02.png|thumbnail|none|upright=1.8|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

==Officers==

For officers of the Order of the Azure Sun, heraldic arms serve as a visible testament to rank, duty, and the personal honor vested with the Order’s authority.

===Sir Bristenn Mires===

[[File:OAS Arms - Bristenn 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Azure, a roaring lion's head erased Argent

===Sir Mynon Felcroth===

[[File:OAS Arms - Mynon 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Sable, an inescutcheon Sable fimbriated Argent, in dexter chief a sunrise Or

===Sister-at-Arms Ifanna Aynesworth===

[[File:OAS Arms - Ifanna 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Vert, a cross formy Or, overall a sprigged acorn proper.

==Brothers and Sisters-at-Arms==

For the Order’s sergeants and Brothers- and Sisters-at-Arms, heraldic symbols mark faithful service and fellowship, binding each member’s personal honor to the shared reputation of the Order.

===Dame Aiska Sunrider===

[[File:OAS Arms - Aiska 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Azure, a drake Or and chimera Gules rampant

===Dame Dirra Crawfinn===

[[File:OAS Arms - Dirra 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Azure, a hind lodged at gaze Argent

===Brother-at-Arms Arrec Winter===

[[File:OAS Arms - Arrec 01.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Per fess wavy Or and Vert, a stag's head affronté argent attired of ten tines brunet

===Sister-at-Arms Asheura Hafdine-Cole===

[[File:OAS Arms - Asheura 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Gules, four piles issuant from the chief Sable, overall a figure-eight knot Or.

===Friar Ouaen===

[[File:OAS Arms - Ouaen 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Ermine, a chevron Gules, overall two keys palewise Or, their bows to base and wards to chief and inward.

===Brother-at-Arms Prion Angrave===

[[File:OAS Arms - Prion 01.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Gules, two destriers combatant Sable

==Squires and Pages==

Although Squires and Pages are not technically armigerous within the Order of the Azure Sun, some have privately adopted arms inherited from their families or prepared individually in advance of full membership.

===Squire Arelder Ronne===

[[File:OAS Arms - Arelder 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Azure, an edelweiss proper

===Squire Jeneuer Linkwood===

[[File:OAS Arms - Jeneuer 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Argent, a sunburst Azure (substituted)

===Squire Olivianne Ravenwynd===

[[File:OAS Arms - Olivianne 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Per pale Or and Cendrée, a dragonfly displayed Or, winged Argent veined Sable, and eyed Azure

===Page Henryk Surowiec===

[[File:OAS Arms - Henryk 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Argent, a sunburst Azure (substituted)

==Inactive Members==

The arms of inactive or retired members hold a special place of honor within the Order, standing in remembrance of those no longer among us and preserving their legacy.

===Sir Aydan Mursilis===

[[File:OAS Arms - Aydan 00.png|thumb|none|Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6]]

Azure, a gannet volant Argent

[[Category: Meeting Hall Organizations]]
[[Category:Solhaven]]

File:OAS Arms - Hall 02.png

2026-09-18T17:05:05Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Main hall of Sunholm Keep
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Bristenn 00.png

2026-09-18T17:02:12Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Sir Bristenn Mires
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Mynon 00.png

2026-09-18T17:01:56Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Sir Mynon Felcroth
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Ifanna 00.png

2026-09-18T17:01:36Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Ifanna Aynesworth
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Dirra 00.png

2026-09-18T17:01:07Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Dame Dirra Crawfinn
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Aiska 00.png

2026-09-18T17:00:50Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Dame Aiska Sunrider
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Arrec 00.png

2026-09-18T16:58:18Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Arrec Winter
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Prion 00.png

2026-09-18T16:57:37Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Prion Angrave
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Asheura 00.png

2026-09-18T16:57:17Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Asheura Halfdine-Cole
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Ouaen 00.png

2026-09-18T16:56:34Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Friar Ouaen
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Arelder 00.png

2026-09-18T16:56:14Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Arelder Ronne
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Olivianne 00.png

2026-09-18T16:55:48Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Olivianne Ravenwyn
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Sythril 00.png

2026-09-18T16:55:20Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Sythril Ravenwynd
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Henryk 00.png

2026-09-18T16:54:42Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Henryk Surowiec
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Jeneuer 00.png

2026-09-18T16:54:05Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and image attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights Hope this helps.

Arms of Jeneuer Linkwood
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

File:OAS Arms - Aydan 00.png

2026-09-18T16:52:49Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding AI artwork category and attribution as required by Gswiki:Policy#Copyrights

Arms of Sir Aydan Mursilis
Created by Arelder's player in ChatGPT 5.6
[[Category:AI artwork]]

Balloon

2026-09-17T16:48:00Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: added restrictions in the proper section of the form, copied from the analyze.

{{ItemScriptInfo
|propername=yes
|itemscript=script
|category=Fluff
|class=Miscellaneous
|verb=PULL, RUB, TAP
|addinfo='''Balloons''' (or '''floating spheres''') are lightly scripted toys. They are sometimes available at [[festival]]s and events, including at [[Delirium Manor]].
|restrictions=Yes
}}
==Analyze==
<pre{{log2}}>You analyze the floating sphere and sense that the item is largely free from merchant alteration restrictions.

The creator has also provided the following information:
You sense that the base cannot be altered, and the very core look of it will always remain the same. However, a talented merchant can work with a long or show for the sphere, as well as apply lettering to its cord.

You can try to PULL, TAP, and RUB the sphere -- but beware!! -- when you tap it, you run the risk of popping it!

You get no sense of whether or not the sphere may be further lightened.</pre>

==Usage Information==
{{VerbTableStart |header1= Verb}}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= PULL|1Pview = You sharply pull down on the silken cord of your floating sphere, making it bob abruptly to the ground. Immediately, as if drawn to the skies, it soars back upright, though the ribbon keeps it from reaching its lofty goal.|3PView: 3rd Person View}}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= RUB|1Pview = You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a deep indigo hue.

You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a dark blue hue.|3PView: 3rd Person View}}
{{VerbTableEntry|modifier1= TAP|1Pview = You bat at your floating sphere, and it *ThwaPs* noisily as it bounces off of your hand.|3PView: 3rd Person View}}
{{Table end}}

==Additional Information==

===Restrictions===
The base cannot be altered, and the very core look of it will always remain the same. However, a talented merchant can work with a long or show for the sphere, as well as apply lettering to its cord.

Balloon

2026-09-16T16:19:45Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: removing old table and using new template

Balloon

2026-09-16T15:46:37Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: using the new form and updating page

{{ItemScriptInfo
|propername=yes
|itemscript=script
|category=Fluff
|class=Miscellaneous
|verb=PULL, RUB, TAP
|addinfo='''Balloons''' (or '''floating spheres''') are lightly scripted toys. They are sometimes available at [[festival]]s and events, including at [[Delirium Manor]].
|restrictions=Yes
}}
==Analyze==
<pre{{log2}}>You analyze the floating sphere and sense that the item is largely free from merchant alteration restrictions.

The creator has also provided the following information:
You sense that the base cannot be altered, and the very core look of it will always remain the same. However, a talented merchant can work with a long or show for the sphere, as well as apply lettering to its cord.

You can try to PULL, TAP, and RUB the sphere -- but beware!! -- when you tap it, you run the risk of popping it!

You get no sense of whether or not the sphere may be further lightened.</pre>

==Usage Information==
{| {{verbtable}} 
|- {{verbtableheader|90}}
! scope="col" style="width:5em;"|Verb
! scope="col" style="width: 45%"|First
! scope="col" style="width: 45%"|Third
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|PULL
| You sharply pull down on the silken cord of your floating sphere, making it bob abruptly to the ground. Immediately, as if drawn to the skies, it soars back upright, though the ribbon keeps it from reaching its lofty goal.
| {{addmetext}}
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|RUB
| You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a deep indigo hue. You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a dark blue hue.
| {{addmetext}}
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|TAP
| You bat at your floating sphere, and it *ThwaPs* noisily as it bounces off of your hand.
| {{addmetext}}
|}

==Additional Information==
Balloons have a long description that features their shape. Different balloons may have different shapes.
<pre{{log2}}>Tied with a simple silken cord, the banana-shaped sphere is suspended in the air by some mysterious means and bobs placidly with the slightest movement or breeze.</pre>

Balloon

2026-09-16T15:08:49Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: added missing additional information

{{iteminfo
|type=Fluff 
|itemclass=Miscellaneous 
|itemtype=Sphere 
|alter=Yes 
|ld= 
|feature= 
|customize= 
|custom= 
|origmerch= 
|releasevenue= 
|releaseyear= 
|questitem= 
|tiered= 
|tiersnumber= 
|unlock= 
|legendary= 
|demeanor= 
|loresong= 
|corrscript= 
|attune= 
|attunement= 
|affinity= 
|spell= 
|enhancive= 
|swap= 
|add= 
|restrictions=See analyze for restrictions. 
}}
{{itemverb
|verb=PULL 
|verb2=RUB
|verb3=TAP
}}
</td></tr></table>
'''Balloons''' (or '''floating spheres''') are lightly scripted toys. They are sometimes available at [[festival]]s and events, including at [[Delirium Manor]].
==Analyze==
<pre{{log2}}>You analyze the floating sphere and sense that the item is largely free from merchant alteration restrictions.

The creator has also provided the following information:
You sense that the base cannot be altered, and the very core look of it will always remain the same. However, a talented merchant can work with a long or show for the sphere, as well as apply lettering to its cord.

You can try to PULL, TAP, and RUB the sphere -- but beware!! -- when you tap it, you run the risk of popping it!

You get no sense of whether or not the sphere may be further lightened.</pre>

==Usage Information==
{| {{verbtable}} 
|- {{verbtableheader|90}}
! scope="col" style="width:5em;"|Verb
! scope="col" style="width: 45%"|First
! scope="col" style="width: 45%"|Third
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|PULL
| You sharply pull down on the silken cord of your floating sphere, making it bob abruptly to the ground. Immediately, as if drawn to the skies, it soars back upright, though the ribbon keeps it from reaching its lofty goal.
| {{addmetext}}
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|RUB
| You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a deep indigo hue. You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a dark blue hue.
| {{addmetext}}
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|TAP
| You bat at your floating sphere, and it *ThwaPs* noisily as it bounces off of your hand.
| {{addmetext}}
|}

==Additional Information==
Balloons have a long description that features their shape. Different balloons may have different shapes.
<pre{{log2}}>Tied with a simple silken cord, the banana-shaped sphere is suspended in the air by some mysterious means and bobs placidly with the slightest movement or breeze.</pre>

Balloon

2026-09-16T15:05:55Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Adding missing information, minor formatting changes

Balloon

2026-09-16T15:04:01Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: updated iteminfo table

{{iteminfo
|type=Fluff 
|itemclass=Miscellaneous 
|itemtype=Sphere 
|alter=Yes 
|ld= 
|feature= 
|customize= 
|custom= 
|origmerch= 
|releasevenue= 
|releaseyear= 
|questitem= 
|tiered= 
|tiersnumber= 
|unlock= 
|legendary= 
|demeanor= 
|loresong= 
|corrscript= 
|attune= 
|attunement= 
|affinity= 
|spell= 
|enhancive= 
|swap= 
|add= 
|restrictions=See analyze for restrictions. 
}}
{{itemverb
|verb=PULL 
|verb2=RUB
|verb3=TAP
}}
</td></tr></table>
==Analyze==
<pre{{log2}}>You analyze the floating sphere and sense that the item is largely free from merchant alteration restrictions.

The creator has also provided the following information:
You sense that the base cannot be altered, and the very core look of it will always remain the same. However, a talented merchant can work with a long or show for the sphere, as well as apply lettering to its cord.

You can try to PULL, TAP, and RUB the sphere -- but beware!! -- when you tap it, you run the risk of popping it!

You get no sense of whether or not the sphere may be further lightened.</pre>

==Usage Information==
{| {{verbtable}} 
|- {{verbtableheader|90}}
! scope="col" style="width:5em;"|Verb
! scope="col" style="width: 45%"|First
! scope="col" style="width: 45%"|Third
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|PULL
| You sharply pull down on the silken cord of your floating sphere, making it bob abruptly to the ground. Immediately, as if drawn to the skies, it soars back upright, though the ribbon keeps it from reaching its lofty goal.
| {{addmetext}}
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|RUB
| You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a deep indigo hue. You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a dark blue hue.
| {{addmetext}}
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|TAP
| You bat at your floating sphere, and it *ThwaPs* noisily as it bounces off of your hand.
| {{addmetext}}
|}

==Additional Information==

Balloon

2026-09-16T15:03:20Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Using the new form to update item script page.

{{ItemScriptInfo
|propername=yes
|itemscript=script
|category=Fluff
|verb=Pull, Rub, Tap
|addinfo='''Balloons''' (or '''floating spheres''') are lightly scripted toys. They are sometimes available at [[festival]]s and events, including at [[Delirium Manor]].
}}
==Analyze==
<pre{{log2}}>You analyze the floating sphere and sense that the item is largely free from merchant alteration restrictions.

The creator has also provided the following information:
You sense that the base cannot be altered, and the very core look of it will always remain the same. However, a talented merchant can work with a long or show for the sphere, as well as apply lettering to its cord.

You can try to PULL, TAP, and RUB the sphere -- but beware!! -- when you tap it, you run the risk of popping it!

You get no sense of whether or not the sphere may be further lightened.</pre>

==Usage Information==
{| {{verbtable}} 
|- {{verbtableheader|90}}
! scope="col" style="width:5em;"|Verb
! scope="col" style="width: 45%"|First
! scope="col" style="width: 45%"|Third
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|PULL
| You sharply pull down on the silken cord of your floating sphere, making it bob abruptly to the ground. Immediately, as if drawn to the skies, it soars back upright, though the ribbon keeps it from reaching its lofty goal.
| {{addmetext}}
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|RUB
| You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a deep indigo hue. You gingerly rub your floating sphere, causing tiny wisps of multicolored sparks to dance about the surface. Slowly, the sphere begins to change, taking on a dark blue hue.
| {{addmetext}}
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|TAP
| You bat at your floating sphere, and it *ThwaPs* noisily as it bounces off of your hand.
| {{addmetext}}
|}

==Additional Information==

Practical Poison

2026-08-27T17:14:04Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: made some formatting changes, hope this helps!

<table><tr valign="top"><td>
{{ItemScriptInfo
|propername=yes
|itemscript=script
|category=Fluff
|class=Miscellaneous
|type=Cooking, Crafting
|relatedscript=Poison jewelry
|releasevenue=Wavedancer
|releasedate=2005
|origmerch=Siolan
}}
'''Practical Poison''' is a liquid or powder that can be added to food or drink to poison the person who eats or drinks the poisoned item. There is also an antidote for any corresponding poison.
{{itemtiermulti
|item=Poison
|itemsummary=
|analyze=This is a Practical Poison that can be added to a food or drink. It will cause the poisoned person to <effect>. It could be altered, but has <number> doses and will crumble at the last use.
|itemverbtable=YES
}}
: {| {{verbtable|90}}
|- {{verbtableheader|90}}
! scope="col" style="width:5em;"|Verb
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"|Usage
! scope="col"|First
! scope="col"|Second
! scope="col"|Third
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|DRINK
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Liquid poison
|That most likely is not the best idea.
|''No messaging.''
|''No messaging.''
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|DROP
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Dry poison; target food or drink
|You sprinkle some ''poison'' ''on/into'' ''the target'' and watch as it dissolves without a trace.
|''No messaging.''
|''Character'' sprinkles some ''poison'' ''on/into'' ''the target''.
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|MEASURE
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Check remaining doses
|There appear to be many doses left. There appear to be a few doses left. There appears to be a single dose left.
|''No messaging.''
|''No messaging.''
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|POUR
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Liquid poison; target food or drink
|'''Drink:''' You carefully pour a small amount of ''colored'' liquid from your ''poison'' into ''the drink'', the foreign liquid quickly diffusing into the mixture without trace. '''Food:''' You carefully pour a small amount of ''colored'' liquid from your ''poison'' on ''the food'', the liquid quickly soaking into it without trace.
|''No messaging.''
|''Character'' carefully pours a small amount of ''colored'' liquid from ''the poison'' ''on/into'' ''the target''.
|}

{{itemtiermulti
|item=Antidote
|itemsummary=Antidotes are paired with a particular Practical Poison effect and type. They may be consumed, poured into another character's mouth, or applied to matching poisoned food or drink. An antidote applied to a nonmatching poison has no curative effect.
|analyze=This is an antidote that will cure someone who consumes a food item poisoned by a Practical Poison.
|itemverbtable=YES
}}
: {| {{verbtable|90}}
|- {{verbtableheader|90}}
! scope="col" style="width:5em;"|Verb
! scope="col" style="width:10em;"|Usage
! scope="col"|First
! scope="col"|Second
! scope="col"|Third
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|DRINK
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Liquid antidote; self
|You take a sip from your ''antidote''. '''Matching poison:''' You feel a faint tingling sensation rush through your body. '''No matching poison:''' Nothing happens.
|''No messaging.''
|''Character'' takes a sip from ''the antidote''.
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|DROP
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Dry antidote; target poisoned food or drink
|'''Matching poison:''' You sprinkle some ''antidote'' ''on/into'' ''the target'' and watch as it dissolves, leaving a momentary shimmer behind. '''Nonmatching poison:''' You sprinkle some ''antidote'' ''on/into'' ''the target'', but nothing seems to happen.
|''No messaging.''
|''Character'' sprinkles some ''antidote'' ''on/into'' ''the target''.
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|MEASURE
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Check remaining doses
|There appear to be many doses left. There appear to be a few doses left. There appears to be a single dose left.
|''No messaging.''
|''No messaging.''
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|POUR
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Liquid antidote; target character
|You carefully tilt ''Target's'' head back and pour some ''colored'' liquid from your ''antidote'' into ''their'' mouth.
|''Character'' carefully tilts your head back and pours some ''colored'' liquid from ''the antidote'' into your mouth. '''Matching poison:''' You feel a faint tingling sensation rush through your body.
|''Character'' carefully tilts ''Target's'' head back and pours some ''colored'' liquid from ''the antidote'' into ''their'' mouth.
|-
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|POUR
! scope="row" role="rowheader"|Liquid antidote; target poisoned food or drink
|'''Matching poison:''' You pour some ''colored'' liquid from your ''antidote'' ''on/into'' ''the target'', leaving a momentary shimmer behind. '''Nonmatching poison:''' You pour some ''colored'' liquid from your ''antidote'' ''on/into'' ''the target'', but nothing seems to happen.
|''No messaging.''
|''Character'' pours some ''colored'' liquid from ''the antidote'' ''on/into'' ''the target''.
|}
</td></tr></table>

Gwynek (prime)/Adrift

2026-08-23T20:43:05Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: removed headers and categories erroneously attributed, sorry for the confusion.

His composure faltered as he walked the boards of the dock.

''She knew. She knew and said nothing. Let us… let me…''

Gwynek stumbled, took two steps, fell to his knees, and wretched into the harbor. Bile burned his throat as the meager contents of his guts poured from his mouth, and splashed into the water, whorling and gyring into the pattern of which there was no end.

''No end. No way out.''
----
Rope burns on his hands. No - soreness from swinging the axe. He looked around, sweat beading on his brow. Acquaintances, friends maybe, felling tress for gnomes. Unrhythmic staccato thudding amid creaks and crashes. They speak, their voices tolling bells.

He answers in screams - no one notices.
----
''“If any of you feel wronged, consider what drove you to continue once you grappled with the truth.”'' She said coolly.

He keeps screaming, thrashing in a tangle of bedding while Grimsif and Falfina hold him down.

“Teeth of the spirits he’s strong for his size,” the halfling growled.

“Just the madness in his blood,” Falfina replied. “Stop punching him in the head and keep him still.”

“Keeping him still is ''why'' I’m punching him in the head!”

“You are the worst assistant.”
----
Esteem is what drove him on if he boiled his foolishness down to its essence. Rather, the desire for esteem, lacking any until he became an adventurer - whatever relationship he’d developed with Lord Teveriel and Lady Uniana was something he wanted to cultivate. What better way to impress then to succeed at a quest to save their ship and its crew? It’s why he pressed on when it went bad.

His stomach crunched and heaved as his body convulsed. A thin stream of bile and spite dangled from his split lip. Nephr glanced at him, but said nothing.

When was he now?

His knees hurt, muscles ached. The sound of tress falling to bells while he stands in the post office writing a letter in labyrinthine script he does not understand - lines shift into corridors, curve into walls of the Aies where Lissaya stands frozen screaming silent as he screams silent.

All is silence.
All is bells.

She knew. She knew. She knew she knew she knew she knew she knewsheknewsheknewsheknew.
----
It’s a cinder of a thought, but every light is bright in darkness. His scream twists into a roar; yawning, beckoning endlessly as the bloodshot sky and its attendant demons in that realm that took the triumph.

He’s on the deck of the FFZ - roaring at the Krolvin Captain, Unkindness flashing in rapid, lethal arcs amid fluxes of mana - severing limbs and snapping bones like trees are felled and bells are tolled.

She knew.

Setting fire to flame, cinders flickered while the Krovlin Brigantine burned.

She knew.

Rage, cold as the deep, anchored him; snapped him into the moment. The true moment. The actual moment, the one that made a sequence of sense. One thing, then another, then another.

There was no way out, there was no end - but nothing kept it from being a home. That moment, and the one that followed.

She will know

Fires under the water, smoldering - quenched. Drowned.

He would get lost again, might be lost now - or then - or whenever he really was. But he’d found one anchor, a few yet more and he might bear to show his face again.

Gwynek (prime)/Outside the Maze

2026-08-23T20:42:14Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264343 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

“Capn’s cracked.” Falfina said, shutting the door to Gwynek’s quarters behind her as she walked into the pissing rain to take a position with Grimsif against the gunwale on the FFZ’s deck.

“Aye?” the halfling grunted and spat over the railing into the harbor.

“Aye,” Falfina answered, and spat over the railing herself. Strange habit they got into with that, but with their captain laid up and in need of an attentive presence, what else could they do but spit into the rain and wet?

“Bad?”

“Bad.” She sighed and scrubbed at the shaved sides of her head with her fingernails. Bad and weird - muttering constantly about the turns and exits, fits of screaming about the mast, unexplained rope burns on his hands, the paranoia, the stink of sweat as if he’d been on a hard march despite being confined to quarters. It was real bad.

“Need me to stab him?” Grimsif said, a bright tone in his voice as if he’d found the best and simplest solution. One he thought himself quite for purposing.

Falfina narrowed her eyes and glanced at him sidelong. While not a champion eye narrower like some elves she’d seen about, who unlike her had centuries to practice the art of making others feel stupid with naught but a look, she considered herself highly proficient in the practice. But the halfling seemed immune to her nonverbal efforts, probably because he was too stupid to understand. “Not every problem in the world can be solved by sticking a damned knife into it, you dunce.”

“Pffft.” He dismissed her observation with a desultory wave of his hand. “Not with that attitude.”

“Why do I put up with you?” Her hand twitched with the urge to cuff him.

Grimsif sized her up, still grinning that silly, idiot grin. “Because I’m charming,” He said with a wink.

“By the -” She grunted, leaning down to shake her fist in his face, “I’ll rudding give you charming you ungracious lout.”

“Spirits, Falfina - not every problem can be solved with your fists.” He admonished her and elbowed her in the thigh in a way that he surely meant as companionable, but still forced her to shuffle a step. Gods, he was strong for his size.

Truth was, after eating the hurts of others for as long as she had, Falfina just didn’t like most people. The snarky brute beside her, though, for whatever reason, was tolerable. He didn’t simper, or beg, or wheedle, or expect much of anything from her, but he was always grateful, in his own monosyllabic way, when she healed him or did him some other service. He expected nothing, and in turn, she was happy to give him anything - not that she would tell him, and not that he’d ask.

Falfina mussed his hair because he hated it, and danced back a step from his reach.

“Oi! Uncalled for!” he scowled, broken nose wrinkling.

“I’ll quit funning when you listen and take this serious. Cap’n needs our help.” No lie in that. “And not the stabbing kind, neither.” Falfina warned.

Grimsif hissed, then spat over the railing again. “Fine.” He sighed. “What do you need from me?”

“I need you to keep an eye on him in his quarters while I go and stuff his weapons in a locker. Don’t need him doing anything daft with the sharp things, and need to make sure he’s getting some good rest.” She explained. The whole situation reminded her too much of what happened to her little sister, perhaps because Gwynek reminded Falfina or her. He was kind, bright, and naïve, despite his occasional bouts of wisdom beyond his years and equally seldom pretenses of being a hard bastard - much like her. And much like her, he was fine, then a little off, then in a bad way… then it was too late. She wondered if whatever had hold of him would force his spirit to depart and pass through the Ebon Gate - just like her sister… and if he would leave her gripping a cold hand while staring into glassy, vacant eyes, pleading through tears for a return that would never happen - just like her sister.

“Right.” Grimsif pulled out his hip flask. Falfina slapped it from his hand. It bounced, then slid on the deck, hung precariously half way through a scupper, and was sent tumbling into the harbor as the boat rocked, sinking into the depths with a quiet plonk.

“Don’t go feeding him booze neither. He’s lunatic enough right now, we don’t need him being a drunk lunatic.” She scolded.

Grimsif’s mouth hung open in shock as he locked eyes with her. Without breaking eye contact, he slowly pulled another hip flask from his belt, unscrewed the top, took a long drink, replaced the top, and put the flask away. His look of shock shifted into a broad, dung eating grin.

“You unbelievable brat.”

The halfling shrugged. “Unbelievable, ''charming'' brat,” he corrected her, and walked off to the captain’s quarters.

Inside, Gwynek howled. She heard glass breaking and wondered how badly cut he’d be when she got back, how wild those violet eyes of his would be as she ate his hurts - if he’d know her, or see her, or ever find his way back from the folly that led to his madness. She sighed again, gathered up his haversack and sword, spat over the gunwale into the harbor and strode down the gangplank. Some questions are only answered by time, and the knowing of that fact did naught to dissolve her anger at it.

Gwynek (prime)/Toll for Thee

2026-08-23T20:42:07Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264342 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

On the whole, he was thankful for the company - though he reckoned himself a poor companion more like than not. He tried to make small talk, smile with socially appropriate levels of sincerity or irony, and be no more strange than the situation demanded - though considering everything, the prevailing circumstances provided significant latitude for strangeness. Still, he hadn’t so many acquaintances of friendly disposition that he could afford unfiltered candor. He wondered, not for the first time, as he meandered the halls of the museum - rain-sodden boots squelching faintly and unpleasantly now and then - if being with others had always been such a tricky thing. He remembered it coming easier to him some years ago. But that’s memory for you, always selling a false bill of goods, making it so the easiest lies to believe are the ones we tell ourselves.

Gwynek admired Lissaya’s courage. Expressing frustration and vulnerability to a near stranger always presented risk - and the atmosphere of gloom and mania only heightened the danger. He spared a glance in her direction - neither subtle nor obvious. She seemed a well put-together sort in style and disposition, likely better educated than he - or at least a more adept study of the histories than he ever was. Spirits - he could only imagine what it would have been like had he reached out first. “Dear so and so, I <s>am</s> might be losing my mind over a vase. Are you also losing your mind? Let’s meet, eat cheese, and be mad. Maybe we will know something.”

He winced and returned his gaze to the various artefacts - examples of pottery many times his age, with neatly scribed plaques detailing their significance. The details, he found, were difficult to care about, at least those details. He sought patterns like those from his dreams or visions. Eyes flitting from one thing to the next, Gwynek noticed nothing new - no thread of insight, or pluck of kenning - just more stuff he didn’t know what to do with.
He turned in Lissaya’s direction as he heard the tolling of bells in the distance, likely signaling the middle of the day, or the afternoon, or neither, but still presenting itself as a good excuse to wrap things up and compare notes.

The Bells tolled. Louder, closer.

She seemed transfixed or frozen in place, leaning against a wall with her back to him. Her limbs trembled as she gasped and choked for air.

The Bells Tolled. Louder, closer.
He couldn’t hear his voice above the tolling. Gwynek shook his head, called out her name, but his voice was lost in the cacophonous din.

THE BELLS tolled. Closer. Louder.

The ground trembled beneath his feet, forcing his step wide to balance himself. Lissaya was still against the wall. How could she not hear it? Not hear him? It deafened.

THE BELLS TOLLED.

Singular, painful - a prison of sound. Gwynek screwed his eyes shut, ground his teeth. Did he taste blood? Did he bite his tongue?

THE BELLS.

He felt wet on his face. The sea. His tears. The rain. He didn’t know. He didn’t know anything but the sound of it. Consumate. Roaring. Unrelenting.

BELLS.

An eternity lingered in the moment. Magnitudes of agony and panic. Above malice or cruelty, there it peeled, nearly perfect in its torment.
And then it was gone. The blood rushed in Gwynek’s head. His breath came ragged, hands pressed to his ears with alarming force. Streaks of tears drying on his face as he opened his eyes to see Lissaya glancing about nervously.

Gwynek (prime)/Too Soft Too Tired

2026-08-23T20:42:00Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264341 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

He ached. Memories of the wounds suffered at the hands of the so called Poisonous Lunatic bandits made his skin crawl and itch, and no part of his skin seemed unchaffed from being rain soaked for hours on end. While more wet seemed a poor cure for his woes, Gwynek’s thoughts persistently drifted to the comforts of a hot bath. A bath would offer some succor from the chill he couldn’t shake from his bones at least. With all his time at sea, he thought he’d be used to the discomforts of wet, cold, and injury. Yet there he sat in the Hall of Lore, blistered and sullen, unable to follow the words on the page for longer than a moment.

The young elf removed his hat and itched at his scalp, before shifting in his chair, vainly attempting to find a position that didn’t make his backside ache while fixing his eyes on the text of Notable Trade Routes of Early Ta’Loenthra. It was no use.

“Reckon keelhauling is off the table?”

Gwynek cringed at the memory of his words. He didn’t know why he said it to Lord Teveriel, other than wanting to scare the burly bandit leader into saying something useful. He sighed and shook his head, as if the motion would banish his embarrassment. Truth was, Gwynek didn’t know how to be intimidating, had no notion of how to interrogate someone, and in the company of seasoned adventurers, Legionnaires, and veterans, should have followed his first instinct - which was to hang back, keep his mouth shut, and learn from the people who knew what they were about. It wouldn’t have saved him from being a liability when the band of miscreants summoned powerful magics - but, he’d at least have been less of a… he struggled with the word for it, could only wrangle some simile of it - Less a kitten pretending to be a tiger, less a pup playing at being a wolf. The humbling sting of facing Lorminstra’s judgement while others remain unbothered was something he never quite grew comfortable with, despite the many times he’d endured that ordeal.

He wanted to blame his indiscretion on the weather, consider it a momentary lapse, and move on with his work. Yet, as he chewed his lip and breathed in the scents of old paper, leather, and inexplicably brine, Gwynek acknowledged he had been coming apart for days. Since he’d started investigating the Carmine Triumph’s cargo at the library, or maybe a bit before. He’d taken to swearing in front of others, cursing the weather and the skies. Being bright took more effort than usual, and his smiles required more artifice. Gwynek had even slipped into speaking Elvish to others, which was a sure sign that he was approaching the edge of exhaustion. But the seas and roads don’t patrol themselves, and antique vases of questionable provenance don’t discover themselves - He had responsibilities, and no amount of chaffing, soreness, or exhaustion absolved him of the duties he inflicted on himself.

The young elf sighed and rubbed at his brow, craddling his forehead in his hand as he redoubled his efforts to make sense of the text, tables, and charts before him - searching for references to the Ilyan Cloud. Yet his gaze glassed over as he read the same passages over and over again. The words trembled sometimes, as a fatigued muscle might shake. He blinked and rubbed at his eyes to force them into proper shapes. The numbers then, in their neat rows and columns, dripped and spread as ink splashed in water.

Gwynek muttered something under his breath. He didn’t know what, but thought he heard the same words echoed over his shoulder. Words and numbers conspired with rows and columns - shifting and undulating, writhing and coiling, breathing from the page even as Gwynek felt breath on his neck. Words whispered, harsh and indecipherable, pregnant with blasphemies - praising all things stretched and broken, turned inward and outward, secreted within secrets; and he felt himself slide into the obscene ouroboros of the remnants of language roiling on the page as the breath on his neck grew hot and the whispered words more urgent. And then he was falling. Someone, somewhere, cried out.

Gwynek’s body jerked violently, his face coming away from the book as he sat upright. The world around him spun for a moment, his nap addled mind groping desperately to make sense of what had happened. The cool sensation of drool drying around his mouth and on his chin, and the smudged ink on the page knitted together the clues that he’d fallen asleep with his face buried in the book.

Spirits, he was tired. He glanced around, and seeing no one, dabbed discretely at the page now stained with his saliva, which only made things worse. With a sigh, he shut the tome, wiped his face, and prepared to leave. A bath, then bed, he resolved - hoping that comfort might smother the ache of failure, and lure of mad whispers.

Gwynek (prime)/What a smile gets you

2026-08-23T20:41:54Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264340 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

“Sure about this, Captain?” Falfina cast a sidelong glance at the young elf, curled back her lip, and spit over the railing as if to signal her sentiments towards Gwynek’s plan.

“It’s a good idea, and I don’t think anyone else has tried it.” He touched the edge of his hat’s brim, fussing with it while he gazed at the docks - or the close approximation of flotsam, drift, junk, and derelict ambitions the denizens of the Flotilla called a dock.

“Not saying it isn’t. Just saying maybe…” A struggle played on her features, clear silver-speckled eyes squinting while her shoulders sagged.

Gwynek tilted his head and regarded his navigator with a critical eye. “What maybe?” Not a challenge, but genuine curiosity.

“It’s a bad idea for you, specifically, lad.” Grimsif piped up all salt and surliness, giving what was surely meant as a companionable nudge - But between his height and the halfling’s difficulty expressing degrees of physicality, he got a painful elbow right in his thigh.

Gwynek winced, and frowned down at his boatswain. He didn’t mind being called lad, though in terms of years Gwynek was objectively older than Grimsif. It was likely some dwarven affectation of affection - and the self-styled War Witch didn’t stand on ceremony so much to reject it. Rather, he got the feeling his crew found him inept. “I can talk to people!” He had more of a whining note then he’d intended.

Falfina snorted and laughed while Grimsif grinned lopsided.

“Aye, Sir.” Falfina clapped his shoulder. “We’d not be here otherwise.” She pushed the gangplank out and gestured. “Now, don’t let us keep you. I’ll be waiting with the sutures.”

“And I’ll be waiting with, uh, violence - I guess.” Grimsif shrugged and patted one of the katar’s at his hip.

He scowled at each of them in some combination of playfulness and displeasure. “Pfft. You’ll see my disbelievers.”
----
No matter how long he was at sea, or how accustomed he grew to the odors of salt pork and brine, the Flying Squirrel always smelled saltier than he expected. Maybe it had to do with the confluence of old salts he suspected, which got Gwynek to thinking - rather unhelpfully - if he’d one day stink of the sea no matter how often he washed.

“... so no, I hasn’t seens nor heards of it ye daft hedgebird.” The woman had a sour look, and Gwynek realized he’d tuned her out during the scolding she gave him, but felt confident she didn’t say anything useful.

“Well - thank you for your time!” He tried his bright and cheery tone while beaming his best smile.

“Stuff your thanks.” She replied, and spat at his feet.

“How about you?” The witch elf turned his back on the grouchy sailor, and settling his gaze on a lanky giantman. “Have you heard any word of a the Carmine Triumph? It’s a merchant class carrack bound for…”

“Aye - I’ll tell you what I’ve heard you get me some rum. None of the gutbusting swill neither - proper rum.” His voice came out like gravel and mean tempers, something with an edge to it despite his apparent calm.
Gwynek continued to smile, and hoped he didn’t look too much the dunce. But smiling was what he knew, not for any genuine happiness - but people seemed to like him more when he smiled, and he needed these folks to like him. “Brusher of rum, please.”

The peg-legged bartender quirked a brow, shrugged, and a moment later handed him a mug.

“Here you are!” Gwynek handed the Giantman the mug.

He nodded and took a long drink. “Looking for a ship lost at sea? Come a bit closer, and I’ll tell you what I know.”

Gwynek leaned closer, and caught a good eye of that scarred, sun stained skin and dull green eyes. “Aye - what - ?” He squeaked, his question cut off as the Giantman seized him by the throat. He moved fast for a big, drunk man.

“What I know is you need to shut yer wagging gob and quit bringing bad luck in here. What I know is your lucky I’m not dragging you out and throwing you in the drink.” His breath stank of rot and liquor, bits of old food wedged between his teeth. “We drink to the lost, and leave it at that - you want to be feeding Ghezresh? You want to summon the Fleet of Luukos?” The Giantman was practically roaring at him - and every eye on the tavern was turned on the pair.

Asking questions in a friendly manner, a tact which had usually worked for Gwynek, struck him as a losing strategy amid this lot. Worse, he was discovering by way of a spirit soaked, muck scented tantrum that he’d violated some taboo or another. The Giantman continued screaming in Gwynek’s face, and the witch ignored him as he considered his options. Drawing Unkindness wasn’t feasible - not enough room, and it would escalate things more than he wished. His stiletto, as his primary leech removal tool, was stowed in his haversack and thus out of reach. He could immolate the lout, which seemed like the best, and perhaps worst, option at his disposal.
All his considerations became obsolete when the giantman shoved him back. He managed, just barely and with poor grace, to keep his feet.

“So you best get the wind in your sails and hopes I never see you on the seas. Cause next time, I’ll feed you to the thrice damned sharks!” the giantman roared, standing up from his seat and punctuating his threat by throwing the mug of rum at Gwynek. It hurtled through the air in an elegant arc, and cracked against his skull with a hollow “thonk!” which made the young elf stumble back further.

He swore under his breath, rubbing at his throat as his skull throbbed. His eyes stung and face flushed hot, and while his dignity had taken a beating, he refused to cry or lose his temper. Spinning on his heel, he quickly made his way to the exit as old salts and pirates laughed at his back.

"Thanks for the drink, curr!" the lanky giantman shouted.
----
Boots clomping on the planks, he made his way back to the FFZ, wiping at his eyes and sniffling. Humiliation he was used to - one does not adventure or join the Guardians of Sunfist without being acquainted with all manner of indignities. He had failed - that is what niggled at him, what made his chest and throat all tight. He failed, and could see no choice but to admit that the Carmine Triumph was lost - at least to him, and no amount of beamed smiles or friendly entreaties would save her from the depths.

Gwynek (prime)/Nesting

2026-08-23T20:41:46Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264339 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

Gwynek idly ran his thumb along the edge of the shark tooth. Strangest thing - a gift from one of those fat little bluebirds that makes its own in the Fortress. It was given after he encouraged it to eat what it liked - which at that moment was a torban leaf from atop the bench. Naturally, the young elf was inclined to provide something in exchange - so after a quick jaunt to the bakery, he returned with a piece of cornmeal bread.

The bluebird was all over it after a nudge and a word of encouragement. Crumbs spraying about as it wildly pecked at the proffered meal. The new adventurer that Gwynek had met that day excused herself so she could clear the out some Thyrils.

The day had been a pleasant one. Busier in the Fortress than he had expected, but full of pleasant company - from the glib and witty hunting type to the Sylvankind cleric, from bright eyed new adventurer to the expert healer - it all sat rather well with him. Despite the lot of them being virtual strangers, there was a comfortable, somewhat familiar rhythm to it all.

Then he was alone, but for that pudgy bluebird, chirping happily as it feasted on bread. Gwynek leaned back on his palms, tilting his head back as he drew in a deep breath and shut his eyes. Winter dry with florals and woodsmoke, he held those scents for a long moment as the sun's apricity grazed his delicately featured face. Exhaling, his eyes slowly opened. If ever a place were to feel like home, it would have been there.

But it wasn't quite home. His parents lived just outside the Fortress, and wherever they were home could not be. He had crossed mountains and oceans to be as far from them as he could be - and whenever he was in the fortress he felt guilty for not visiting. Conversely, he knew how visiting them would go. They would see him as their willful child in a stupid hat, playing at swords and magic. They'd scoff at his declaration of being a war witch, roll their eyes at his accomplishments - few as they were.

He had razed thirtyfour Grimswarm Warcamps, at least half of those single handedly. He had sunk the ships of over ten score pirates, and sent nearly six thousand predacious souls to rest forever in the deep. He had delivered Eni, the last of Omiko's people on the Isle of Caligos, to River Run - doing his small part to ensure that none from the village were left behind. In the year it had been since he left home, and the five or six months of adventuring he had done in that time, he has accomplished at least some things of note. Still, he lived in their shadow - and it was silly, and stupid, and he hated it - but there he was, no matter his feelings on the matter.

Bluebird hopped to the bench again, picking through strands of pothinir grass, selecting choice blades of the stuff and setting them aside. Gathering materials for its nest, casting aside what did not work, setting aside what would. There was a metaphor there, Gwynek knew, but it felt sour in his mouth; and he smiled as he continued to watch the bird, wistful and maybe a little rueful, though no less sincere for the simple joy of its little life.

Despite its courage in approaching Gwynek - the little thing was easily startled. At first by a parade of troops marching by, and then moments later by an adventurer in a busy hurry of activity. Just like that, the spell was broken and off it flew, the efforts of its sorting abandoned. He wanted very badly to help it, so he gathered up the grass and followed it eastward as best he could.

He placed the grass on the street and the bird hopped along branches of trees lining the street, twittering and chirping. He looked expectantly at it, and was likely viewed with some concern and suspicion by passersby. Off it flew again, and he gathered up the grass, and followed after once more. It was as futile to convince the bird to take the grass as it was ridiculous to continue to follow it and hope that it could deliver the young elf to realization - to some solution that would cure his history, or resolve his past hurts. So as it flew away again, he wished it luck.

Gwynek tucked the shark tooth into his pouch and sighed. It was just a bird, after all...

A delicate little creature, fearful as it was bold, spoked away from the labors of making a happy home. Clever, perhaps, but not unique in the substance of his struggles, nor the source of his flight.

Gwynek (prime)/A Pirate's Life

2026-08-23T20:41:35Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264338 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

“aht’s bait.” Trams croaked in her raspy, thin voice. Tender thought it an odd fit for a lass her size, but giantkin were full of surprises.

“Reckon?” Maths were never Tender’s strong suit. When confronted with an assessment of risk versus reward, he focused strictly on the reward - which is how he wound up as crew on The Discourteous Squid. Chasing schemes to get silvers got him neck deep in debt, and faced with the choice of having every limb broken and getting drowned in the Locksmehr by Indrif the Flick, or a brief stint at sea to fatten his purse with ill-gotten gains… well, some choices make themselves.

“Mmm,” Trams spat over the railing. She was an old salt, always going on about the lad she’d get back to in Solhaven - some milksop softling what fancied himself a poet. “Buy him a ring, make ‘em mine,” she’d mutter after her share of rum. Everyone knew she was full of dung - she, like the rest of the crew, were killers. The only thing she wanted to do after a romp with her lad was to get back to sea and spill blood. Tender liked her though. She was good in a scrape and her bellow could drop the court-cull merchants and twigs they’d been looting to their knees.

“Think the Captain will go fer it?”

Trams cleared her throat and spat again. “Aye - he’s a brick.”

Tender wondered if she’d eventually hock up whatever was stuck in her throat that made her voice odd. Maybe she had a point. Magenta was a queer color to paint a vessel - Captain or skipper what did that either wanted a fight, or was too much a fool to know it’d draw attention. “Sure, it’s an odd lot, but odd don’t make it no trap.”

“T’aint going nowhere.”

“Well - maybe the daft folk what go around sailing a purple ship forgot water and died of thirst.” Risk and reward lessons Tender never learned.

Trams clucked her tongue. “Think it’s one o’ them Talon lot.”

“Pffft.” Tender waved his hand. The Gilded Talon Consortium was the latest tall tale swapped between crews. Fancy, powerful elves banding together as privateers, each one possessing terrifying martial prowess or mystical powers.
“That’s just a rumor some coves be spoutin’ to spook the competition. ‘Sides - you think one ‘em nobby elves Captain somethin’ like that?”

She narrowed her eyes and glared at him. “Yer dumb, even fer a lummox.”

Tender made a rude gesture and grinned. “Aye, and yer…”

“Helm’a-lee! Cap’n says we got a prize!” Larkit Blushing bellowed from the Crow’s nest.

“Charl’s Salty Teeth,” Trams muttered before hopping to. Tender followed.
----“Huh.” Larkit Blushing kept looking through the glass.

“Wot? Lemme see.” Clever yanked the glass from the halfling’s grasp. Their prize had turned toward the squid, and its sails billowed with a sudden wind. He wanted to know what crop of fools thought their sloop could take on The Discourteous Squid.
“Oi! Manners!” Larkit Blushing punched Clever in the arm.

Clever ignored him and looked through the spyglass. “Huh.”

“Told you.”

Being at sea for a long while could make your senses do funny things. Hear the voice of friend and family hundreds of leagues away, see islands that aren’t there, or smell freshly baked bread when the only scent on the air was brine. Usually, checking in with your mates would set things straight. ''“Am I hearing My Sweet Liezadaria, or have I gone crackers?”'' You might ask, and your mate would say, ''“You’ve gone crackers. Have some grog.”'' Clever wanted to be sure to be sure. “Is that?”

"A mad bastard? Aye. That’s what I conjure.”

Standing at the prow of the magenta sloop was a small figure. They wore a strange hat, like something a wizard or a witch might sport if they were insistent on making sure everyone knew what they were about. Their black longcloak was adorned with raven or crow feathers, and it whipped behind them dramatically, revealing their lithe, almost delicate build. They wore a kilt and some leather armor that had seen better days. Clever had seen adventurers before, so the extravagant outfit wasn’t a surprise. The surprise was in the black wooden raven mask the mad bastard wore, with its beak that gleamed in the sun, along with two violet gems set in its eyes. In their arms they held bagpipes - the ebony mouthpiece extending up and beneath the edge of the mask. “Are they playing the bagpipes?”

“Aye.”

Clever rubbed at his eyes and looked through the glass again.

“Alone?”

“Aye.”

“Dressed like a maggie pie?”

“It’s magpie ya idjit - and, aye.”

“Huh.”

A barrage of cannon fire sent up a cloud of smoke accompanied by the sounds of impact - wood snapping and shattering.

“Still there?” Clever detected a note of fear in Larkit Blushing’s voice.

They remained at the prow as the slightly damaged sloop sailed nearer, still playing the bagpipes even as their leg bled from the hunk of shrapnel in their thigh. Clever’s mouth went dry. “Aye.”
----“Heave-ho, ya lubbers!” Trams cried out. With their grapnels and lines deployed, the crew made short work pulling in the sloop. The mysterious figure at the prow had vanished - either below decks, or into the captain’s quarters.

“It’s a trap.” She repeated to Tender.

“A trap with just one little elf?” Tender shot back, “Even if it is, there’s near two score of us. She, or he, or whatever they are, can’t take us all.”

Tramdalia of the Maermil clan seldom regretted the decisions she’d made in life, yet the sinking feeling snaking through her guts and into her limbs made her regret the decision to ever set foot on a ship deck.

“Fish ‘em out!” her captain roared. The crew scrambled to ready the cannons. Trams covered her ears.

“Fire!” The sound was impossibly loud. The brigantine rocked. Wood splintered and surrendered to the sudden violence of the barrage.

“Weapons!” Trams called out amid the cloud of smoke and scents of sulfur. The sound of a single set of boots thudding on the boards followed the thud of a gangplank. The smoke cleared, and there they stood - all in blacks, greys, and purples. Above the rim of a large, round metal shield peeked the violet sapphire eyes of the raven mask. The thin tips of their pointy ears betraying their species. In their right hand, they held a sword that seemed entirely too large for them.

Tender laughed. “Look at this fop. Easy as sleep e’ll be - just you see Trams.” He moved into flank the little elf with one of the greener crew she never learned the name of. “Come ‘ere you -”

The elf stomped their foot on the deck, sending out a shockwave of force that bowled Tender and the other crewman over. In a blink, they shifted into an offensive stance and swung the bastard sword in an arc that cleaved off Tender’s foot. Trams couldn’t even complete the thought to shout Tender’s name before the blade came down again and stove in his skull at his left temple.

Tramdalia knew killing - trained her entire adult life to do it, and do it well. She’d opened countless men and women in her days of banditry and piracy, yet she’d never seen such rapid violence. The green lad stood up only for the elf’s bastard sword to lash out and shatter his femur. He went down with a scream that was silenced when his guts spilled in the wake of another deadly arc.

The elf drew up into a defensive stance, humming a happy, meandering tune. The Crew of the Squid gawped - none of them eager to lead the next wave. The elf walked the boards towards the helm - turning their back and giving Clever and Larkit Blushing a chance to spring down from the rigging - two more crewmates rushed him from the front. Another stomp. Trams braced herself, but Clever, Larkit Blushing, and the others went down on their backs. Clever rolled to his feet immediately and swung his falchion at the small elf’s back.

They flickered from existence for a moment before reappearing, facing Clever with their shield up. He grunted with surprise as his blade struck the elf’s aegis rather than their flesh. The witch elf - for what could the slaughter be other than witchery - answered with a riposte. The air around Clever’s neck fluctuated and shimmered even as the blade arced toward him. With a pop, the blood vessels in his neck ruptured just as his sword arm was severed. Clever’s arm, still grasping his falchion, hit the deck while a riotous swirl of green energy taking the shape of many ravens snaked up the Elf’s blade, grabbing at Clever and knocking him to the ground. Trams looked away. Knowing what came next made the crunching sound no less sickening. To think of the times she’d howled with laughter while she and the crew visited the same violence on merchants, or whoever was unlucky enough to cross their path. Being on the receiving end proved was monstrous thing to swallow, to endure... to suffer.

She screwed her eyes shut. More screams, each cut short, punctuated by the sounds of men and women being made into meat. Trams drew in deep breaths, girding herself to attack the strange elf wielding a magical sword. She gripped her hand axe and noticed how sweaty her palms had become. They stood there amid four bodies in various states of dismemberment, humming a different meandering tune.

After a glance about the deck, they rocked back on their heels and straightened their hat. They seemed almost innocent in that moment - naïve and glad-hearted.

“Sweet mercy of Mularos.” Tramdalia thought about her lover in Solhaven - how she always promised him a ring. Thought about how she’d never hold him again, or how she would never hear his silly little poems. She would stand at the Ebon Gate, and would have nothing to show the Lady of Winter but empty promises and a trail of suffering and murder leagues long.

They turned their bejeweled gaze to her, shifted their grip on the handle of the sword, and casually strode toward her. Three more crewmates rushed the elf. She knew what came next and couldn’t bear to see it. Tramdalia walked to the railing of the Squid’s main deck, leaving terror at her back. At least she stood a small chance with the sea.
She leapt into the sea of mists and swam towards the coast, swearing to every God and spirit she could name of her life would be on land - how she would spend every moment in penance for her misdeeds. And on she swam as the Squid burned behind her.

And on she swam, swearing to Charl to never darken his waters again, if only in his grace he would deliver her to land.

Gwynek (prime)/Last Boat

2026-08-23T20:40:58Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264337 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

Gwynek was tired; tired, sore, aching, and endowed with a clamminess in his flesh he thought was strictly the domain of the drowned. With a sloshing thump, his armor wetly smacked against the hearth, followed by two dull percussive thumps as he dropped his boots. He peeled the remainder of his clothes off heaping them by the fireplace.

All was salt and soak and chafe - tiny wounds beneath the notice of empathy, raw and red abrasions from soaked leather rubbing and buckles biting, rope toothed bruises from rigging mad with liberation born on fierce winds. His mouth tasted like salt, his drink tasted like salt - somehow the Inn's room smelled like salt. The voyage was a blur of mountainous waves, sheets of rain, thunder and roaring wind in dissonant and furious chorus. But they made it in one piece.

Gwynek asked Eni to take refuge in the Captain's Cabin primarily for the young man's safety. Gwynek knew Eni was exhausted and unfamiliar with vessels the size of the FFZ, and was just as likely to get himself hurt or killed facing the tempest through which they sailed. Eni protested that he might sleep for a month were he to fall asleep then.

Gwynek would not have minded, sleeping passengers are ones he needn't speak with. Not that Gwynek had anything against Eni. He just wouldn't know what to say. Eni's kith and kin were dispersed, his home would soon be consumed by the sea.

Gwynek rubbed at his feet in a vain effort to restore some sensation other than a singular ache, his rain and sea soaked callouses made soft and peeling. He could have offered succor, kind words, hope...but Gwynek didn't have it in him. Eni and his people had lost their homes, and all the attendant beauties and sorrows that go with such a thing. He imagined Omiko remembering what the sunset was like from her fishing village, or Eni gazing idly at the sky as cloud waves raced and broke apart, he imagined the chores, the tedium, the idling hours of companionship and petty resentments and how all of that was lost to them.

Forces beyond Gwynek's ken or mortal power was taking it from them, and nothing could stop that. All their lives were saved while all their lives were lost - and something about that struck the elf as brutally sad. What comfort could he offer, "This is enough," or "Wherever you are, you are home"? Those affirmations came better from the lips and hearts of a higher quality sort.

They had their lives though, and their memories...which struck Gwynek as preferable to death. The young elf took a sip of his drink, some kind of alcohol which in the aftermath of less enervating circumstances might taste like something other than brine and burning. Pulling the blankets of the bed back, he crawled under them, shivered and clutched. It was better that Eni slept.

"Oh - they have brunch in a tree," Gwynek had called out to Eni when disembarked, trying to tell him of one of the few things he knew about the town. He didn't know if Eni had heard him. It didn't matter, really. It was a stupid thing to say, stupider than the reassurances he couldn't bring himself to say. Parts of Gwynek's flesh warmed quickly under the covers, others remained stubbornly chilled. He kicked his feet a bit, rubbing them against the fabric of the sheets and blanket trying to warm them. He attempted summoning a sense of satisfaction. It wasn't a grand rescue, or an especially heroic one - it was a tumultuous trek of manic activity - but it was a rescue nevertheless. Eni, Omiko, Rory, and the rest of the villagers would make a place, they had enough iron in them to do what needs demand.

Gwynek wanted to do the very thing he had done - sail around the world and rescue some folks...yet he couldn't quite shake the feeling that he could have done more, been a better hero, a more kind rescuer. Silence was easy for Gwynek. Sleep was easy for Eni. This chapter of his kin's story concluded as well as it could, and that ought to be enough. More than enough, if he were honest...ambitious to hope for such things.

Gwynek twitched as he drifted off to sleep, a pitching sense of vertigo pulling him from his nascent dreams. Shifting beneath the covers to stretch a knotted muscle in his calf, drink half finished on the stand, fire in the hearth reducing to ruddy glow. "It should be enough," his thoughts struggling to rise to consciousness before dissolving into the kaleidoscope nonsense of soporific liminality.
And he would believe that it was enough - at least for a short while, at least long enough to sleep.

Gwynek (prime)/A Gentle Heart

2026-08-23T20:40:35Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264336 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

Not for the first time in recent weeks, Gwynek suspected he was going mad. The whispers didn't help - they did not help at all. Still they went on - each one startling, not unlike those times when sleep draws near, and at the edge of consciousness a stranger's voice calls ones name. A jolt, a twitch, and lucidity invades, initiating the dull journey to dreams once more.

He hardly talked anymore. When he did, he found it difficult. Contrasted to a few months ago, when he had first struck out as an adventurer. He could hardly be stopped from talking. Anyone he happened to find in Ta'Vaalor between hunts he'd chat up. Not for any particular aim or ambition other than curiosity and urge to help others feel welcome, less...alone. Even aboard the FFZ, he was silent among his hired crew. They seemed haunted in their own ways - and content enough to exits in a companionable silence.

''"It is returning, he is returning, they are returning,"'' A panicked whisper - breathy, pleading, urgent.

Gwynek did not understand the world. Not in its current shape, nor its antecedent forms. Something about eels and nereids. Something about an island in the eastern sea. Something about fruition, and the nature of spirits, and bargains struck, and the sea reclaiming what it is owed. And like many subjects, he did not have the wherewithal, or patience, or whichever requisite virtue the moment demanded - and it could have all slipped by. He wanted to let it slip by. Ever since the Manticore's flight across Elanthia, Gwynek had felt reticence at the notion of getting involved in the larger affairs of the world. There were better people suited to it - better capable and better comported.
He felt content to be small, feel small, and let his world grow small - thinking that perhaps he'd be find his way out of it.

He had not. Yet people needed help, and so he went. He hoped his small efforts could contribute to a few lives saved.

"You have a gentle heart," one of his friends said one evening in the King's Court, "and you should protect it."

''"Please, just let me go,"'' the shuddering sob quivering in the whisper's voice reflected in a spasm of his eye, concealed from onlookers by blackthorn, glaes, and sapphire. A few lives saved...though, what the merchants offered appealed to his vanity.

Statement pieces to contribute to his scrambled aesthetic of witchery and foolishness - among those things a glaes beaked raven mask of blackthorn. A piece to match the spirit of his blade he had named Unkindness. He donned it, and it became one with his flesh. He could remove it, with great pain and terrible wounds...but he found that he preferred it - found that there was something deeply comforting about not seeing his face reflected back in mirrors or still pools.

''"Feed me something that screams,"'' sibilant and fleshy this whisper, as if its speaker were more jowl than jaw, more gum than tooth.
It was not that he heard voices which made Gwynek worry. It was that he was coming to accept their company, and all the stolen moments of private agony and obscene ecstasy that came with them. His concern was distant, as if he were watching himself drown from afar - but it made him long for other days, earlier days...happier days. And maybe he could get there, by helping the villagers of Caligos. Maybe he could sail to the west for so long he'd come around to the other side of the Dragonspine. Maybe he could return home proud, strip off his mask and beam a genuine smile again. And maybe, and maybe, and maybe...

''"Please don't leave me!"'' The ache of those words resonated with an emptiness in Gwynek. And maybe, instead, he would just continue being small, taking small actions to help people in his small world. And maybe that would be enough.

Gwynek (prime)/Upon Reflection

2026-08-23T20:40:11Z

HOST-GSFAMINE: Undo revision 264335 by HOST-GSFAMINE (talk)

Clear enough a night with a lingering chill - the kind that sets the breath to the suggestion of mist. Warmer than it ought to be, but too cold to be called spring. The court was alive with a stilted conviviality born from anticipation - no one could quite commit to anything it seemed to Gwynek. Not that he found himself contributing. Crowds of people tended to set him on edge as it was too easy to lose the plot - so he tended to sit in fits of quietness between awkward attempts of conversation when the numbers swelled so and the court took on its somewhat carnival atmosphere.

Flitting sociability ought to have come naturally to him according to the recriminations of his tutors and instructors - for he was a creature of shallow pursuits and vanity by their reckoning. Chewing on his lip as he glanced around the court, he felt they were not far off in such assessments. Gwynek felt like he didn’t wizard right, or dress right, or fight right, and by his estimation, had all the elegance of a bundle of elbows or a goblet of small toes. None of which would be bothersome if he led something of a normal life, yet the intensity of an adventurer’s life exaggerated errors of character and judgement to perilous degrees. The indictment of one of his instructors felt especially true of late, “You are the worst parts of Illistim and Vaalor stitched together - Pugnacious without Vaalorian discipline, curious without Illistim wisdom, and with insufficient virtue of blood from either to make up for the deficits of both”.

Of course, it was easy to get down on himself when he’d been defeated no fewer than three times in the span of a day. Watching his body get devoured as he gazed on as a helpless spirit, certainly provides clarity when considering the life choices that led to such a predicament, and how he kept making the same mistakes, just in different ways. Contrasted to the company that gathered in the court, it was all he could do but feel like a kitten among lions—small, stupid, and ineffectually fierce charms that he hoped endeared rather than annoyed.

Still he never felt more alive than he did when facing death - and every warcamp, every hunt, was a gamble on the largess of Lormnista. One day, her grace would end - and to die a final death would be an awfully grand adventure indeed. Fidgeting, he wondered if that was the best he could hope for given the disposition of his blood and spirit; to fling himself into the jaws of peril until one day they devoured him - a valorous soul, some few deeds shy of a legend, forgotten as so many others among the weeds and wreckage of history.

He looked up again, and breathed deeply, exhaling his ghost of breath. Might be some day, even if centuries off, he might be enough. Yet it wasn't that day; so for the nonce the stars, cold, and the distant chatter of the half known would have to do.

And reflecting he considered, what more could suffice?