Ebon Gate Festival/saved posts 2025: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:11, 30 October 2025

General Information

General Information - Schedule

Discord Message Link: [1]
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 12/29/2024

Join us once again as the Ebon Gates bring us to the distant Realm of Naidem where the Unliving reside in the town of Evermore Hollow.

Enjoy a variety of games, merchants, and more during this month-long festival that begins on Friday, October 10th at 9 PM Eastern, and closes on November 2nd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Finer details will be added to the calendar as time goes by, but the overall schedule is below:

10/10 - 10/12 - (Suite Key Required) - SPECTRE and SHADOW Conference
10/12 - 10/16 - Storyline & Quest Introduction
10/17 - 10/24 - Merchant Week
10/25 - 10/26 - Live Games
10/24 - 10/31 - Storyline & Quest Closing
10/31 - 11/2 - Luminary Festival

Announcements

Announcement 1 - [Official] October 2025 - Ebon Gate Announcements (Read-only Forum) is Live

Discord Message Link: Ebon Gate Announcements (Read-only Forum) is Live
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/25/2025

Join us once again as the Ebon Gates bring us to the distant Realm of Naidem where the Unliving reside in the town of Evermore Hollow.

Enjoy a variety of games, merchants, and more during this month-long festival that begins on Friday, October 10th at 9 PM Eastern, and closes on November 2nd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

Finer details will be added to the calendar as time goes by, but the overall schedule is below:

10/10 - 10/12 - (Suite Key Required) - SPECTRE and SHADOW Conference
10/12 - 10/16 - Storyline & Quest Introduction
10/17 - 10/24 - Merchant Week
10/22 - 11/1 - Trove Runs
10/25 - 10/26 - Live Games
10/24 - 10/31 - Storyline & Quest Closing
10/30 - 11/2 - Luminary Festival

Ticket Sales end on October 31st at approximately 11:55 PM EDT.

Discord Ebon Gate Channel opens approximately 9:00 PM EDT on September 26th.

Teasers will start on October 1st based on QC clearance.

You can follow our Saved Posts Page on this Player Wiki.

Trove Information will be shared on the Saved Posts Page under TROVE, while Items and Current Raffles are usually found on the Ebon Gate Treasure Trove wiki page. Be kind to the players that keep this updated. The Trove will start on October 22nd and run through November 1st.

You can find the Live Games schedule on the player wiki as well as on the Gemstone Calendar. GHOUL and the Costume Contest should be posted soon.

We will make a major Announcement when we are ready to provide details on this year's VAULT.

We will make every effort to quickly have the Shops Page up and live for you. Please give us time to get this going. Due to the number of shops, there will have to be two pages.

We should have the Shop List ready for you by Wednesday, October 1st.

Announcement 2 - Evermore Hollow Hotel Suite Keys and Opening Weekend Event

Discord Message Link: Evermore Hollow Hotel Suite Keys and Opening Weekend Event
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/26/2025

Greetings and welcome to the first of many posts regarding this year’s Ebon Gate Festival. We are very excited to have you all join us again this year. We have exciting new lore to drop, a variety of new materials, some exciting new items to offer, and storyline that has multiple quests attached to it. We are even incredibly excited to test out the new QUEST system with our quests this year.

This first post is going to be about the Opening Weekend Hotel Event.

Last year, we trialed having entries to the Opening Weekend Hotel Event go out via hunting. For some people it was incredibly exciting, for others it was the depths of anxiety inducing.

This year, we are trying something different. Here are the details:

Opening Weekend Event

Total of 30 Suites will be available

It includes:

2-room Suite w. 1 key that can be split one-time after opening weekend for a guest
Access to Guest Only Rooms
Access to 3 private Alteration sessions (Guaranteeing 3 alterations)
Access to Guest Only Roleplaying Event for the Weekend
a Goodie Bag

Before the event, all guests will receive their weekend welcome package that will include their key and an invitation to the Conference taking place in the Hotel. You will also be given a special item that provides you with access to the conference rooms and a schedule of events taking place as part of the conference.

How to Obtain one of these coveted Hotel Suite Rooms:

Via Raffle

5 will be raffled. The raffles will be broken down like so:

2 Platinum Only Entries will be placed for raffle on Mist Harbor on October 2^nd, 2025
2 Premium Only Entries will be placed for raffle on Mist Harbor on October 3^rd, 2025
1 Prime will be placed in Zul Logoth, on October 4^th, 2025

Raffle Ticket Cost: 250,000 silvers a ticket. These raffles will be set up shortly. You do not need to be logged into the game to win. You can only purchase one ticket per account.

Via SimuCoin Store

We will be releasing 5 Suites at a time through the SimuCoin Store and our release schedule is as follows:

9pm EDT on October 1, 2025
Noon EDT on October 2, 2025
9am EDT on October 3, 2025
Midnight EDT on October 4, 2025
Noon EDT on October 5, 2025

We humbly ask that you keep this purchase to 1 per PLAYER.

You can join the discussion on our Forums.

You can see information on last year’s event on our Player Wiki.

Announcement 3 - Evermore Hollow Hotel Update

Discord Message Link: Evermore Hollow Hotel Update
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/26/2025

Oh, I'm sorry, did you think we were done with the Hotel? Not this year!

Starting this year, there will be non-suite stays available at the Evermore Hollow Hotel in Naidem!

Evermore Hollow Hotel Room

It includes:

1-room w. 1 key that can be split one time for a guest
Access to Guest Only Rooms
Access to 3 private Alteration Sessions (Maximum of 3 alterations per primary key holder)
Access to 7-count Alteration Book

There will be 50 rooms available for purchase at a price point of for 5,000 simucoins.

We will be releasing 10 rooms at a time through the SimuCoin Store and our release schedule is as follows:

9pm EDT on October 1, 2025
Noon EDT on October 2, 2025
9am EDT on October 3, 2025
Midnight EDT on October 4, 2025
Noon EDT on October 5, 2025

Discord Discussion Folder
Discord Announcement

Announcement 3 - Service Pass and Merchant Week

Discord Message Link: Service Pass and Merchant Week
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/26/2025

This will be our last Announcement for tonight and it will be a bit lengthy. So hold onto your cauldron, broom, or whatever spooky thing you can find and get ready for a lot of information!

This year, Ebon Gate's Merchant Week is being broken down into the following parts to help make it easier for folks to understand and obtain the services that they want:

Merchant Weekend – Returning to the Frenzy of Yore

Starting at noon EDT on Friday, October 17th and continuing through noon EDT on Monday, October 20th, this 72-hour period will see the heaviest offerings of merchant work. It will be restricted to the following offerings:

General Alterations
Item Customization (see Item Customization Below)
Feature Alterations (see Feature Alterations Below)
Tattoos
Shop Specific Merchant Work

Continuing from noon EDT on Monday, October 20th until 9pm EDT on Friday, October 24th, merchant week will slow down and have the following offerings:

General Alterations
Item Customization (see Item Customization Below)
Feature Alterations (see Feature Alterations Below)
Tattoos
Lightening and Deepening will now be offered

After noon on Monday the 20th of October, you'll no longer see Shop Specific Alteration sessions, but this doesn't mean that you can't still get those items. The exclusive sessions just won't be around anymore, this will open up more opportunities to more attendees.

During this time, fishhooks will start appearing. What is a fishhook? A fishhook is a mundane item that floats around on the ground of Evermore Hollow. When you GET the fishhook, it will transport you to a one-on-one session with a merchant in a special merchant room. Fishhooks can take on many forms.

At Ebon Gate, we are updating and modifying what we consider a full alteration and what we are charging for these things. Some examples are:

General Alterations will always be for Silvers. The cost may range, depending on what is being done, from 25,000 – 100,000 silvers.
General Alterations can include anything quantified at GALD as well as item customization.
Feature Alterations will be for soul shards. The cost will be 200 soul shards, but each feature alterer will handle ONE FULL LINE of a feature. See more below.
Tattoo services will also range from 50,000 – 100,000 silvers depending on the type of service.

Feature Alterations at Ebon Gate

All feature alterations must adhere to ALTER RULE 200.
One Line of a Feature includes:

Eyes and Complexion OR
Hair Style, Hair Texture, Hair Color, Hair Quirk OR
Face, Nose, and Distinguishing Mark OR
Unique Feature Line

Feature Alterers at Ebon Gate will not be allowed to modify the following features: Height, Body, Wings, Wing Quirks

Wherever possible, we've updated offerings so that Unlocks can be obtained Off-the-shelf. This means that there will be fewer and fewer merchants offering unlocking services. We will also not have services that are restricted to your membership status or items that only certain members can obtain (for example: premium transport items).

Raffles – Whenever possible, raffles will not require you to be logged into the game. There are exceptions, for example: Raffles for a service that are done live, Raffles for Contest Participation (Group Basket Alterations are a good example of this), Raffles for Changes to a One-time offering (Puppy Raffles are a good example of this), etc.

We will make every effort to keep raffle tickets concise in their wording. Please remember, we are on the third year of the new RAFFLE system and use of the new RAFFLE verb. This verb will allow you to see all raffles you are currently logged into, but it will also list all nearby raffles and you can read a raffle ticket from afar.

Don't forget to get your Guidebook to the Unliving, too, as this will also list all raffles.

We are also taking a different approach with the service pass this year, the primary one being some guarantees. Here's what that means:

Every person with a service pass is guaranteed a set number of services that do not include raffle wins or trove items.

We are doing this by changing the pass to work as follows:

It is getting a name change and will instead be called a festival flier. Here's what your festival flier provides you with:

Max 15 Live Services
Access to all raffles
Access to all trove offerings
Access to GHOUL
Access to Live Games
Access to the Soul Shards Auction (No, we do not have details to share yet)

TEAR turns the flier into an Alteration book OR roleplaying orb. If you obtain the alter book, then it provides you with ten uses. However, if for some reason you were not able to obtain 15 services during the festival, the difference will be added as uses to your alteration book.

What does this mean? If you work really hard during the festival to obtain services but only manage to get 5 live services, then your alteration book will be changed from 10 uses to 20 uses. If you obtain zero live services, then your book is updated to 25 uses.

Not only that, but we are updating the alteration books (more info to follow) so that you can TEAR a page from it, sacrificing a use, to create either a lightening or deepening note.

We are also changing the cost of the Service Pass from 3,000 simucoins to 2,000 simucoins. And the service pass will be offered either solo or as part of the Vault Item (still being offered at 6,000 silmucoins. The service pass will replace the other simucoin items that usually appear in a vault.

Speaking of the Vault, this year's item (not ready to be discussed) will be a multi-year improvement item. What this means is that we will have a set of available options for it this year and more options for it next year. Not only that, but you aren't limited to obtaining a second one in year 2.

So, this year vaults will include:

Two 25-entry keys,
Two 25-entry cubes,
Service Pass,
Special item,
A death certificate (+50% exp for 30 days),
Locus oil,

Expires at the end of the event.

I know some of you are wondering, why is the service pass changing to have a maximum limit on the service pass? The answer is simple. Fairness. We've been tracking how many service pass holders get alterations during merchant week, and for the few the numbers look amazing, but for the many, they don't. Here's some numbers that I can share with you:

18.5% of all service pass purchasers last year did not get a single service. While this is likely because some folks purchased the pass either for the RPA or raffle entries, its still looks bad. However, we are going to exclude that group of zero percenters to work on those that actually obtained services.

52.9% of all service pass purchasers (excluding our zero percenters group) obtained 1 to 10 services.

29.2% of all service pass purchasers (excluding our zero percenters group) obtained at 11 - 20 services.

Leaving 17.8% of service pass holders with anywhere from 21 – 50+ services.

We are hoping that these changes will allow everyone that purchases a pass to feel like their pass was worth the purchase.

Forum Discussion

Announcement 4 - FAQ

We are going to use this space to keep a running list of answers to important questions.

Answers to a few pending questions:

Purchasing the Vault works as it always has, the person opening it is the one it attunes to.
Your Service Pass is not attuned until you REDEEM it. Once you do, TEAR attunes the item to you.
Yes, the Alteration Books are attuned. NO, they do not attune the items that they work on.
Yes, you can purchase more than one Service Pass on an account. * You can only REDEEM it on one character.
Sonreeva, yes, the thumb ring should be good to go right off the bat. We are double checking that.
Sonreeva, no, there are not any changes to it this year.
When will the Soul Shard Auction be? Sunday, November 2nd, 2025 at 1pm EDT

Announcement 5 - Shop List

Discord Message Link: 2025 Ebon Gate Shop List
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/29/2024

New Shops!

Naidem is happy to announce its newest shops opening in the various neighborhoods around Evermore Hollow and Bittermere Woods. They are:

Chapel of Fading Moments
Cloak and Mirrors
Cutting a Figure
Domicile of the Shapers
Don't Bug Me
Eaux de Joy
Jolly Jinglers
Neither Here Nor There
Scales and Shadows
Sockpuppetry
Something Borrowed
Sparked Interest
Stillwater Timber
Symbolization
The Unholy Chapel
Threads of the Widow
Twisted Hovel
Twisted Infusions

Shop Updates!

Several shops have had new additions or unlock certificates added to them. They are:

Four Humours, The
Old Ossuary, The
Shadowplay
Sounds Beyond
Twisted Glory
Twisted Lodge, The
Twisted Ways
Uncouth Wallflower, The
Whispering Pages
Witching Flower, The

All of last year's shops will also be returning. You can see them here at Shop List 1 and Shop List 2 on the Player Wiki.

Join the discussion on Discord!

Announcement 6 - Dabbler Goes Universal

Discord Message Link: Dabbler Goes Universal
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/8/2024

We have decided to teach the Ebon Gate and Rumor Woods Dabblers a few tricks out of Bloodriven. Going forward, the Ebon Gate and Rumor Woods Dabblers will work the same way that the Duskruin Dabbler does.

Special thanks to GM Estild and GM Nyxus.

Announcement 7 - Reunion Vault

Discord Message Link: Reunion Vault
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/9/2024

EBON GATE REUNION VAULT – The Spidersilk Apothecary

We are excited to announce this year's Ebon Gate Reunion Vault item is the Spidersilk Apothecary. This octagonal box is one part alter box and one part-inator, allowing you to customize your items and designs with the aid of a merchant.

Here is a brief description of what it does.

The box stores spiders, these spiders come in (this year) three TYPES. Alteration, Lapidary, or Tinkerer.

You can obtain a spider from the Spiderweb located in Graveyard Temporalis, Outer Rim (eastern side). There are over a hundred spiders.

Each spider, roughly, will look something like this when you analyze them:

ALTERATION

An Apothecary Spider

A molded suede beige jumping spider is a unique specimen that functions with A Spidersilk Apothecary, which can be obtained through an Ebon Gate Vault.

This particular specimen is considered an alteration spider that can only work with items crafted of leather.

It is uniquely crafted to add a long description on qualifying items.  It can transfer one of the following designs:
1. (article) (adjective) (item noun) embossed with curling ivy leaves
2. (article) (adjective) (item noun) tooled in a pattern of wild rose blossoms
3. (article) (adjective) (item noun) raised with a design of a crouched hare

A qualifying merchant can change these designs for you.

To utilize this unique spider, you will need to add it to a Spidersilk Apothecary.

Once this spider is your box, you can place an item that inspects as LEATHER into the box and then ask the spider to provide it with a LONG description based on the options above.

The other type of spider you will find in the web are TRANSMORPHING spiders. This year, there are two varieties of transmorphing spiders and they are:

LAPIDAIRY

An Apothecary Spider

An ebon black widow spider is a unique specimen that functions with A Spidersilk Apothecary, which can be obtained through an Ebon Gate Vault.

This particular specimen is considered a lapidary spider that will transform a foraged item into a gemstone for crafting purposes.

A qualifying merchant can change the base description (15/15/15 only) of your spider for you.

To utilize this unique spider, you will need to add it to a Spidersilk Apothecary.

TINKERER

An Apothecary Spider

A dark brown white-tailed spider is a unique specimen that functions with A Spidersilk Apothecary, which can be obtained through an Ebon Gate Vault.

This particular specimen is considered a tinkerer spider that will transform any effigy, figurine, miniature, sculpture, statuette, or statue into a charm for weaving.

To utilize this unique spider, you will need to add it to a Spidersilk Apothecary.

For full details on the vault, please visit The Spidersilk Apothecary.

Additional Vault Data

The vault's special item, the shadow box, can be turned into a violet orb via BREAK.

The service pass, the festival flyer, can turn into an indigo orb or an alter book via TEAR in November.

The shadow box is character attuned. The service pass is character attuned. The shadow box will be attuned when you REDEEM the vault. The service pass will be attuned when you REDEEM the festival flyer.

The alter book will be character attuned if you choose that. The exp orbs are account attuned.

Announcement 8 - Naidem's Worst Kept Secret – the Graveyard Crevice

Discord Message Link: Naidem's Worst Kept Secret – the Graveyard Crevice
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/9/2024

This year the graveyard crevice has been updated. There are all new items stored in and the restriction is the same (one search per day per person).

However, this year, there are two unique items that can be obtained by the crevice. They are:

The Temporalis Toy Spider

You analyze the ebonwood toy spider and sense that the creator has provided the following information:

Temporalis Segmented Spider Toy

Found in a crevice in the Graveyard Temporalis, a segmented ebonwood toy spider connected by red yarn is a simple toy fashioned of some kind of wood.
Its limbs are segmented, and it must be some kind of spider or tarantula.
Alterations are fine so long as the above is adhered to.

Verbs: HUG, PUSH, SHAKE, THROW

Naidem Scrying Glass

You analyze the shard of glass and sense that the creator has provided the following information:

Naidem Scrying Shard

Found in one of the many hidden crevices of the Graveyard Temporalis, the shard, once part of a greater mirror, holds the echoes of Naidem.  Each fragment is bound to a single place within the realm, steeped in the memory of what has unfolded there or what is yet to be.  The glass reveals only Naidem, never the world beyond, and shows each place as it stands in the present moment, shaped by the weight of its past.

To GLANCE at the shard is to catch a glimpse of the place to which it is attuned, a faint image lingering like a memory trapped beneath the surface.  To GAZE more deeply is to let the shard part the veil and reveal what stirs there now.  The vision may be ended at will by COVERING the shard, which can also clear the surface of haze and dust.

The glass answers most keenly when INFUSED with mana.  Yet this power is not freely given, for Naidem always takes what it is owed.  Each minute of spying consumes five points of infused mana, a slow but constant drain said to mirror the realm itself, which never reveals without exacting a price.
Mana may not heed your call, but take no sorrow in that truth.  Allow the shard to taste of your life and its reflection will stir.  Should you prefer, INFUSING blood will be enough to give it voice.

A thistle-frosted shard of ragged glass is attuned to Thistlegear Enclave, Town Hall.

Announcement 9 - Ebon Gate Updates by PM Wyrom

Discord Message Link: Ebon Gate Updates
Author: GM Wyrom
Date: 10/10/2025

From GM Wyrom

Ebon Gate Updates
As Thandiwe announced, we are reducing the price of the service pass from 3,000 SC to 2,000 SC. It will be taking the place of the 30 advanced spellup pills in the Reunion Vault so you can get everything there is in the vault for EG. Testing how this goes! The service pass will cap at 15 services this year. You can TEAR the service pass at the end of Ebon Gate for either an indigo exp orb or an alter book. The alter book will come with 10 uses. You will also get the differences in services to uses on the book if you didn't get 15 services. For example, if you get 10 services at Ebon Gate and choose the alter book when you TEAR it, you will get an alter book with 15 uses.

The vault will be 6,500 SimuCoins. We are also starting something new with the special item, where it can be upgraded each year. You will always get the base item each year, but you can use the base item to upgrade your previous year's item if you choose. You can BREAK the special item for a violet exp orb, like we've done with previous items.

EVENT ENTRIES has been updated for the barrel key at EG. Keys will need to be redeemed to use them to enter Trick-or-Treat and Herb Hunt. A 1,000 entry key will also be available in the SimuCoin Store. Cubes will not work for EVENT ENTRIES.

The adventurer has been updated to have a higher cooldown. You can GIVE up to 100 entries for field exp or OFFER up to 25 entries for instant exp. There is a 36 second cooldown per entry on GIVE and a 72 second cooldown per entry on OFFER. These cooldown timers are separate so you can use both independently. It's also real world time, not in-game time. This means if you turn in 100 entries with GIVE, you'd receive a 1 hour cooldown timer and if you OFFER 25, you'd receive a 30 minute cooldown timer. This change is for the NPC across all events, but it may change at a future event as we continue to monitor it.

Sonreeva now has a grace period of ten minutes after you enter that you can re-enter should you have forgotten something, die, or need to start over. This is to help get accustomed to the first few puzzles without worry of needing to re-enter right away. Sonreeva has had some puzzle updates, some new rooms, and new secrets to discover. Secrets give experience and bragging rights, and may have future titles and PROFILE updates. Last year we were going to update the price from 15,000 soul shards for the reward in Sonreeva. It will be 15,000 soul shards this run, but see below. The warning will still be in place that was in the message before entering. The reward can be upgraded once. We're currently in year 4 of the reward. If your reward is behind, you will be able to catch it up, as there are only 5 tiers total. So come years 6, 7, or 8, you will still be able to upgrade if you haven't completed. If Sonreeva doesn't exist, EG will still have an upgrade mechanic for these. Sonreeva will be opening up Saturday, October 11th to stagger the opening with the rest of the activities.

Future Updates
This will be the last year for cubes. The Witch's Hut, AotA, and Sonreeva will all get updated to either use the barrel key or a different form of entry mechanic. All rewards will be adjusted next year for these activities to be in line with either the barrel key or something new.

Announcement 10 - Running List of Item Customizations

Discord Message Link: Item Customizations
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/16/2025

There have been a lot of questions about what is expected to be allowed for item customizations at Ebon Gate with a **SERVICE PASS**. As such, here is a list of EXAMPLES:

Spidersilk Apothecary Spiders - Base article, adjective, noun - all three designs
Basketifier - Blanket & Table are one service, Basket alteration is another (100% Change, 2 services)
Small Diner's Board - 2 'sides', a side is considered: Servant, Guest Board, Host Board, Teacup, Saucer, Glass
Knitting Bowl - Base description + 2 sides OR 3 sides (100% Change, 3 services)
Veola/Creative Couture/Deck the Halls/Etc - Base Description + 2 sides or 3 sides
Any -inator that has customizing bits associated w. the look is one service w. the base design change
Murex Combs - Base description + 2 hair styles (this is an AUTOMATIC unlock to Tier 2 when adding a hair style)
Charm Contraption /Alcohol Bottle Contraption /Popcorn Kettle - Base Description + 1 side or 2 sides
Animalistic Spirit - 3 Fields (if animal type is changed, handling the plural and the animal is 1 thing)
[Corseted Vest]] - Base + 2 Customs OR 3 Customs
Uncouth (Doublet or Gown) - 4 Customs
Shadowplay - All 3 sides
[Super-Fish-All Tackle Box]] - This is an -inator. All bits can be done at the same time.
Bugs 2 Lure Jig - base item & 2 customizations, or 3 customizations
Blacksmith's Companion - this is base item & 2 customizations, or 3 customizations
Lapidary box - base item & 2 customizations, or 3 customizations
WoodChopper Box Base/Long + 2 customization fields or 3 customization fields.
Winged Wear Base Description + material & wing opening ***OR*** 2 verb customizations
Hairpick - Base Description + Hairstyle (1 if locked, 2 if not unlocked) **OR** up to 3 hairstyles (if unlocked)
Steampunk Clothing Set Base description + metal customization
Lumber Locker - This is counted as an -inator what is noted [hhttps://ptb.discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1428397910403448964 here] applied.

Metamorphic Alterations
So this is going to be tricky, but please bear with me as I try to explain:
There are two versions of this, the original and the expanded. The expanded version allows for long and shows on both sides, and these are incredibly limited. The original version only allows for LONG or SHOW on each side.
Original:

Base + 2 sides **OR** 3 sides - Additionally, and while the analyze may not say it, ANY GM/Merchant may provide side adding up to a total of 6 sides max.
If changing the base, all sides will have the minimal amount of updates needed to match the new base (like if you go from a dress to a gown, etc.) and to make it make sense.

Expanded:

 * Base + 1 side **OR** 2 sides

Twisted Alterations
Materials can't be changed on any armaments during GALD. That requires a transmute service.
Materials don't have to be clearly displayed, and you can show other traits of the armament instead.
ALL other alteration rules apply as they pertain to weapons, shields, armor, and UCS gear.

You can have the 15/15/15 adjusted along with a either the long or show description (not both)
If able, you keep the 15/15/15 as is and adjust both the long AND show description (have backup plans ready)
Armaments with multiple possible long descriptions (e.g. Twisted Armor) may require more extensive work - this could either factor into the item needing multiple services to complete and/or an upcharge in cost for the work being done
Be familiar with the item's ANALYZE and prepare ideas. Please allow your merchants to be creative, and if your item doesn't initially meet all of the alteration rules allow them to assist you with the process.

If there are any specific questions about one of the Twisted armaments that you wish to be worked on, please ask here!

[Sock Puppets]
Hi friends! With Merchant Week upon us, I wanted to ensure we're all on the same page about altering and customizing Sock Puppets.

Each puppet comes with a plethora of settings. Like many other standard items, merchants may customize up to three settings (or a side base + 2 settings).

Should be fun! Ask if you have questions. Look forward to working with you!

p.s. The wiki is being uncoorperative for me. I will get Sock Puppet item info on the Wiki ASAP.

Live Games

Live Games 1 - Schedule

Discord Message Link: Live Games Schedule
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/28/2025

Join us for a host of live games during the Ebon Gate Festival. The primary schedule is as follows:

Monday, October 13, 2025 - 2pm EDT - GHOUL!
Thursday, October 16, 2025 - 7pm EDT - GHOUL!
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 - all day - Pre-Registration for the Costume Contest
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - 1pm EDT - Wheel of Misfortune
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - 9pm EDT - Cryptic Chronicles
Saturday, October 25, 2025 - 10:30 pm EDT - GHOUL!
Sunday, October 26, 2025 - 11am EDT - Haunted Spirits
Sunday, October 26, 2025 - 3pm EDT - Spooky Ciphers
Sunday, October 26, 2025 - 5pm EDT - Costume Contest
Sunday, October 26, 2025 - 8pm EDT - GHOUL!
Friday, October 31, 2025 - 10pm EDT - GHOUL!

Please follow the Gemstone Calendar to keep up to date on any changes.
Please visit the LIVE GAMES page for 2025 on the player wiki.

Live Games 2 - COSTUME CONTEST: BUG OUT WITH US!

Discord Message Link: Costume Contest
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/28/2025

COSTUME CONTEST: BUG OUT WITH US!

Get ready to crawl, buzz, scuttle, or flutter into the spotlight! Everyone is welcome to join the fun or simply come admire the wild creativity of your fellow players.

Our judges will be on the lookout for:

Most Creative
Most Original
Funniest
Spookiest
Best Couple

The rules are simple, but do not let their simplicity fool you. Failure to follow them will affect your overall score.

RULES

Your costume presentation can be no longer than 5 minutes. We will be timing you, so watch your pacing!
Props, bystanders (with their permission), fancy scripts, and buggy antics are all fair game, but do not forget Rule #1.
HAVE FUN!
Do not forget to light your votive (just kidding)

So shake out your wings, sharpen those pincers, and get ready to shine. This contest is going to be un-bee-lievable!

Don't forget to pre-register for this event throughout the day on Wednesday, October 22nd. Announcements will be made throughout the day.

Wiki Page: Costume Contest

Live Games 3 - GHOUL

Discord Message Link: GHOUL!
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/28/2025

Join us for GHOUL! GHOUL is a game similar to BINGO created by GM Zythica and introduced at the 2015 Ebon Gate Festival in Feywrot Mire. It was originally hosted by Master Boring, and Goblyn took over the hosting duties in 2017. It has become a regular live game event during Ebon Gate in both Caligos Isle and Evermore Hollow.

Live Games 4 - LIVE GAMES

Discord Message Link: GHOUL!
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/28/2025

Wheel of Misfortune

The Wheel of Misfortune is a dagger-tossing game of chance! It will be held below Gallivant Manor in [Under the Manor] (8085066). A volunteer will be strapped to a board, and while they are spinning, a contestant will TOSS BOARD. Each contestant will get 5 tosses. Each toss scores points dependent on the location. After 5 tosses, the huckster will yell out your total score. Top 2 scorers will win prizes. In the case of a tie, the top scorers will go again until there is a clear 1st and 2nd place.

Cryptic Chronicles

Welcome to Cryptic Chronicles, a game of graverubbings and storytelling! At the start of the event, a sign-up list will be available. Those wishing to participate should JOIN (LIST) when it is opened; only the first ten (10) to sign up will be able to participate. Ten minutes before their turn, the contestant will be given a blank slip of graverubbing paper. They will RUB (PAPER NOUN) ON (GRAVE NOUN). This will generate a graverubbing, and they can LOOK at the paper and/or READ it to get information. Contestant should then craft a spooky story, poem, or other unique work based on the graverubbing. They will have then five (5) minutes to tell their story, which must be spooky and related to the graverubbing. They will be judged on Content, Style and Flair, Theme, and Time Management. When it is their turn, the contestant shall give the game runner their paper, so the judges can see for themselves what the prompt was (if the contestant wishes it for a souvenir, they can request it back after the judges read it).

Location: This year's Cryptic Chronicles will be held in the [Abandoned Cemetery] (8085034) on the Gallivant Manor grounds. Once there, you can LOOK MARKERS and LOOK SITES to see the different gravestones that will be available for the contestants to choose.

Haunted Spirits

Haunted Spirits is a creepy, mixed drink game! An hour before the start of the event, the containers in [Gallivant Manor, Kitchen] (8085062) will be opened, so players can see the this year's ingredients. Only ten contestants can participate, so a sign-up list will be posted at the start of the event. You must create a drink using at least 4 of the supplied ingredients. You can also use water for free and one ingredient of your own choosing. Plus, you will also draw a special item that you must incorporate in. You will draw this 10 minutes before your turn starts.

When it is your turn, you will have five minutes to make your drink. You do this using ACTs and other RP verbs, speaking, etc. Judging will be done by NPCs on the four categories of Time Mgmt, Theme, Style and Flair, Content.

Spooky Ciphers

Spooky Ciphers will take place in [Gallivant Manor, Library] (8085065). Your hosts will read out a word that may be a little mixed up, different, or spooky! It is your job to decipher it first. First person to decipher it wins a point. The game continues through ten anagrams or one hour. The contestants with the two highest scores win the game and get prizes.

Shop Teasers

Teaser 1 - Lumber Locker

Discord Message Link: https://ptb.discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1423418861193007225
Author: Xeraphina
Date: 10/2/2025

Too many sticks cluttering your packs? Time to start logging responsibly! Stillwater Timber is proud to present the Lumber Locker™: the ultimate storage chest for all your woodland odds and ends.

This finely crafted container holds multiple sticks of every sort, neatly stacked away so you can finally clear the clutter. But that’s not all! With the Lumber Locker unlocked, even your weary wooden armaments can be broken down into sticks and tucked inside. A trunk for your trunks, a chest for your chestnut. It’s storage that really branches out!

Stop tripping over timber and wrestling with wayward wood. Get yourself a Lumber Locker today, and you’ll never fir-get where you put your sticks again.

Chop-chop, they won’t last long!

The Lumber Locker will be available at Stillwater Timber this EG. It holds mundane wood alter fooder and when unlocked can convert mundane wood armaments to alter fodder for the sake of storage.

Please use this forum to discuss!

Special thanks to GM Thandiwe for coding this beauty (since she's the Thandiwinator!)

Teaser 2 - Twisted Armaments

Discord Message Link: Twisted Armaments
Author: GM Marstreforn
Date: 10/2/2025

Twisted Armor, Twisted Shields, Twisted Weapons, and Twisted Kicks at Ebon Gate 2025!

This is the place to ask questions and hear the buzz!

Warning! TEASERS/SPOILERS MAY SUDDENLY OCCUR!

Twisted Infusions is a new shop where you will be able to add the Twisted Armor, Shield, and Weapon scripts for Fire Edition, Frost Edition, Lightning Edition, and Vacuum Edition versions to existing armaments with the appropriate flare type already, and that doesn't already have a script on it.

Prices should reflect what was offered at the Annex during Duskruin. ATTUNE is available.
there is also a neat DRAKE CLAIDHMORE for sale there. It's +0 but it's magic and has fire flares.
The ANALYZE on Twisted Weapons for Fire Edition, Frost Edition, Lightning Edition, and Vacuum Edition has been updated to reflect upcoming unlocks available at Ebon Gate.

Teaser 3 - Chapel of Fading Moments

Discord Message Link: Chapel of Fading Moments
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/2/2025

This new shop to Naidem is a collection of past items of worship. The Of the Faith Collection, also colloquially known as "Of the Cloth" has both armor offerings and cloak-worn offerings, as well as all of the unlock certificates. Please be advised, MEDITATE is still a special raffle only unlock.

Also found in this shop is the Alternate Arkati, which has been brought to more modern standards.

What does this mean?

Previously, a Tier 1 Alternate Arkati had a single verb (Rub).

Now it has: Blink, Brush, Clutch, and Touch (Previously Rub)

Blink, Brush, and Clutch are new.

Previously, a Tier 2 Alternate Arkati had three verbs (Pull, Push, and Tap).

Now it has: Gaze, Pull, Push, Tickle (Previously Tap)

There is now a Tier 3, offering Kiss, Knock, Hum, and Mumble.

All previously unlocked (and locked) Alternate Arkati items get these new verbs appropriate for their levels.

Here is what you can expect:

BLINK

Player: You close your eyes in a slow blink, your fingertips brushing against the surface of your prayer beads as you murmur a silent prayer.

Viwer: Firstperson closes her eyes in a slow blink, her hand brushing against the surface of her prayer beads as she murmurs a silent prayer.

BRUSH

Player: You rest your fingertips against your prayer beads, pausing in quiet reflection before letting your hand fall away.

Viwer: Firstperson rests her fingertips lightly against her prayer beads, pausing a moment before letting her hand fall.

CLUTCH

Player: You briefly clutch your prayer beads tightly, seeking guidance, the tension in your fingers easing as you release it in a slow, deliberate breath.

Viwer: Firstperson clutches her prayer beads tightly for a moment before releasing it with a measured breath.

GAZE

Player: You lower your gaze to your prayer beads, letting your focus settle on its surface as if seeking silent guidance.

Viwer: Firstperson lowers her gaze to her prayer beads, eyes fixed on the quiescent object in a moment of introspection.

HUM

Player: You lower your head and hum softly, the sound resonating faintly as you brush a fingertip across your prayer beads.

Viwer: Firstperson lowers her head and hums softly, the faint sound lingering as she brushes a fingertip across her prayer beads.

KISS

Player: You draw your prayer beads briefly to your lips, pressing a soft kiss upon it in a wordless act of reverence.

Viwer: Firstperson raises her prayer beads to her lips and presses a fleeting kiss against its surface in reverence.

KNOCK

Player: You lift a single finger and tap your prayer beads once... then twice... and finally thrice, in a silent bid for good fortune.

Viwer: Firstperson lifts a single finger and taps her prayer beads once... then twice... and finally thrice, the rhythm carrying a quiet sense of ritual or superstition.

MUMBLE

Player: You murmur beneath your breath, the quiet words spoken into the stillness as your fingers graze your prayer beads.

Viwer: Firstperson murmurs beneath her breath, the quiet words barely audible as her fingers graze her prayer beads.

Teaser 4 - Uncouth Wallflower

Discord Message Link: Uncouth Wallflower
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/3/2025

Plaitime was not a savvy man in life. To say that he was uncouth would be like saying that the moons are far. What I mean to say is that calling him uncouth didn't cover the depth of slovenliness, griminess, or overall unkemptness of his stature, physique, and demeanor.

Upon arriving in Naidem, as many denizens do, he was gifted with one thing that many other new arrivals are not gifted with. A name. Now, the way he came by this name, which in fact was his own name, was rather unique. At least compared to past arrivals.

You see, he was first found belly and face down in the Gleyminn Anni River, his head bumping into the mushroom cap boats. He was pulled sodden from the lapping waters and rolled onto the ground. As is typical of a new arrival, especially one that arrives unconscious, his pockets were emptied and much to the surprise of those that found him, a name took shape.

Scoundrel. Wanted. Thief. His pockets were full of wanted posted all in the name of Plaitime. As you can imagine, our kind denizens of Naidem tend to stick to their own and, unfortunately for Plaitime, he wasn't what this group considered, "their own." So, he woke with a pile of papers on his wet chest, no idea who he was, where he was, or why he seemed to have a second smile.

His first days in this place were confusing, the first months befuddling, but slowly over the course of his first year, he started to know where things were. Pawnshop here, he rather liked that place. Jail here, he had an unhealthy fear of that place that he couldn't quite put his finger on. And so and so forth.

One day, he found himself in the Neighborhood of Fate's Holding where he found a shop that suddenly made him feel at home. Was it the dress hanging on the wall that triggered a memory in the slovenly old man? Who is to say? However, as I mentioned before he was rather slovenly, grimy, unkempt, unsavvy, and decidedly uncouth. Sometimes, even death doesn't take these traits from you.

In his second year in Naidem, Plaitime seldom left the shop and soon, as Naidem does, a second room appeared and within it was a marvel finally fit for the nobility he thought he was. Though, I must remind you, again, that he was definitely none of these things.

A peascod doublet, so fine and fancy, hung on the wall. This was something that Plaitime would come to love, almost as much as the crumped wanted posters he kept stuffed in his back pocket.

Please welcome the Uncouth Doublet to the Naidem

Teaser 5 - Cutting a Figure

Discord Message Link: Cutting a Figure
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/3/2025

Coming this year to Naidem, the shop Cutting a Figure was the answer to "What if there was a Yfane Doublet?"

While I don't think it has quite the flavor of a Yfane, I do hope it fits that niche for folks.

Enjoy!

The Corseted Vest

Teaser 6 - Jolly Jinglers - Part 1

Discord Message Link: Jolly Jingler
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/4/2025

Located in the misty forest of Bittermere Woods, there is a harlequin tent filled with motes of glowing mushroom spores and the merry sound of bells. It is owned by and named after the Jolly Jinglers.

There are three items in this collection, but for today, we will focus on the Jolly Jingler Hat.

Teaser 7 - Jolly Jinglers - Part 2

Discord Message Link: Jolly Jingler
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/5/2025

Today, we will focus on the Jolly Jingler Poulaines.

Teaser 8 - Weatherby Symbols

Discord Message Link: Weatherby Symbols
Author: GM Optheria
Date: 10/5/2025

An old, stooped glaistig hunches over a table, polishing the various pieces of merchandise, making sure each is set just right to gleam in the low light of the shop. Humming to herself, she shuffles through some paperwork, making sure everything is in proper order for the coming wave of visitors.

"Yes, yes, things are coming along nicely. This will do, indeed."

---

Sister Weatherly invites you to visit her new hovel, Symbolization, on the shores of Icebriar Lake in Winterbriar Orchard. There, you will find artifacts that will help you show your devotion to the Arkati and Lesser Spirits. Sister Weatherly will be around during the month of Jastatos, to help you make these artifacts more personal in nature.

---

Weatherby Symbols are returning to Ebon Gate, at the shop Symbolization! With their return, these symbols have also received an upgrade in their nature, notably that they now have tiers (sold off the shelf as Tier 1, with certificates for Tiers 2 and 3 available). Additionally, new Weatherby symbols are now sold with the Chrism Holder functionality! Sister Weatherly will be willing to add this chrism-holding functionality to old Weatherby Symbols, for a price, during the first weekend of EG Merchant Week (12pm EDT Friday (10/17) to 12pm EDT Monday (10/20)).

Current information on Weatherby Symbols can be found at: Weatherby Symbol

New Tiers:

T1: existing fluff, nothing new at this point in time.

T2: when the Weatherby Symbol has 340 on it, there is a 20% chance for the 340 activation to double the AS/CS bonus, and grants an additional charge to the symbol when 340 is cast on it.

T3: adds +5 to the existing AS/CS bonus that 340 gives when activated.

Teaser 9 - Jolly Jinglers Part 3 - Marotte

Discord Message Link: Jolly Jinglers Marotte
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/6/2025

And last for this year's offerings of the Jolly Jinglers Ensemble - Marotte.

Teaser 10 - Threads of the Widow

Discord Message Link: Threads of the Widow
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/8/2025

Visit Threads of the Widow, a new shop located on the southeastern edges of Evermore Hollow Proper. There you will find Metallic Gowns and Metallic Doublets.

While Metallic Gowns have been around for a while, they have had a small update to them. Here is an outline of the update:

Tier 1 – Updated to have the following verb options:

FLIP, RAISE, REMOVE, and WEAR

Tier 2 – Updated to have the following verb options:

Pose (with 8 styles: Display, Lift, Rustle, Side, Spin, Step, Sway, or Twirl)

Tier 3 – Updated to have the following verb options:

Curtsy (demeanor based)

Tier 4 – Updated to have the following verb options:

Clench

All updates to the gown do no require any special handling and will happen automatically once the script is live.

Both the Metallic Doublet and the Metallic Gown are enhanced with a metallic sheen now. And this light can be modified, provided it makes sense for the metallic threads within the garment. There are default hues selected for each metallic thread, but you can customize them.

Teaser 11 - Domicile of the Shaper

Discord Message Link: Domicile of the Shapers
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/9/2025

In the glades of Naidem, where the Bittermere trees rise with limbs so vast their crowns vanish into the auroral haze, it is said that every fall of a branch marks an omen. When such a limb breaks and drops to the earth, no hand gathers it, for both caoineag and gille dubh know that it must lie where it has fallen. Seasons pass, yet the wood does not rot. Instead, the nebula skies pour their shifting light upon it, leeching away the color until all its living hues are drawn forth. What remains is a pale vessel, hollow of beauty, yet heavy with hidden fire.

Only those branches that rest through uncounted years of such transformation undergo what the people of Naidem call Leviel'tharne, the "Release-Burning." In this long, natural curing, the skies inscribe their violet, cyan, coral, and azure energies into the marrow of the wood, though no outward mark betrays the change. When at last the caoineag or gille dubh takes it up, they do not cut nor carve, but shape it by their ancient craft. From this shaping comes Levielthar, a wood said to scour the curse of vampirism, striking with a flare not of earthly fire but of pale aurora light, as though the skies themselves had chosen to release the afflicted.

----- OOC NOTE -----
Levielthar is a new material coming to Ebon Gate.

This lore blurb as been added to Curios and Oddities of Evermore Hollow.

Anyone who purchased this book at Ebon Gate last year will notice that this bit of lore has been added to it. This will be live when the gates open and note before.

Material Specifications

This is a 4x Wood-based material that has disintegration flares w. special Naidem flavor. It is only for weapon bases that have slashing and/or piercing.

It double flares against Vampires.

It flares against Undead.

It does not flare against living creatures.

Teaser 12 - Unholy Weapons

Discord Message Link: Unholy Weapons
Author: GM Scrimge
Date: 10/5/2025

Game Master Xeraphina and I have some exciting updates and news for Black Ora (Unholy) Weapons and Cursed Armor!

1 - Terror Flares Set Bonus!

All Black Ora (Unholy) Weapons now provide a set bonus when used while wearing **Cursed Armor.** This starts at a 4% chance to provide offensive and defensive Terror Flares, and improves to a 10% chance when both weapon and armor are at Tier 4.

2 - Services Black Ora (Unholy) Weapons are now allowed!

You can now enchant, ensorcell, and sanctify these weapons, however you'll have to be quick!
Uncursing the weapon will cause the shadows to retreat momentarily, allowing you to use the required potions, and to cast their enchants.
Specialty potions will also be required as these weapons are naturally enhancive.

~~- These weapons still cannot be Sanctified.~~

3- New Tier 4 release: "Possessed" Black Ora!

A new and powerful tier of magic can be infused into your black ora weapons, empowering the evil it holds!

Enhancive properties of "Possessed" weapons are doubled!
POKE it to morph it into a mask, freeing up your hands without having to resort to a curse removal!
CLENCH it for a Shadowboost! (+25 AS and +15 CS for 3 minutes. This ability has a 15 minute cooldown.)
T4 weapons will have a demonic name!
Weapon names and mask styles are customizable with limitations. But you need to find a merchant brave (or foolish) enough first.

Other notes:

Unholy Weapons' enhancive powers will not stack if you obtain more than one of these weapons. This is due to their permanent enhancive nature.

At Ebon Gate!

4x base Unholy Weapons of many styles will be available at Ebon Gate. This will include UCS Equipment and Runestaves!
Katana, Naginata, and Claidhmore (2x) bases will be available!
Certificates will be available at Ebon Gate for unlocking each tier.||

A huge thank you to GM Xeraphina for her significant contributions to brainstorming, writing, and portions of code work.

Teaser 13 - Sock Puppetry

Discord Message Link: Sock Puppetry
Author: GM Kaonashi
Date: 10/7/2025

Ermias Dunholme stands on an uneven cobblestone path shattered by dark roots. Thick vines and a thin layer of ice coat the dense trees lining the way forward through the Darkbriar Woods. He turns, facing a multicolored stone hovel tucked between vine-wrapped oak, ash, and rowan trees. He then slides a haggard archaeologist puppet over his right hand, tugging it tight and wiggling his fingers to ensure a good fit.

"Money well spent," Ermias says, staring down at the puppet. "Welcome to Team Dunholme, little man." He raises a haggard archaeologist puppet up in front of his face. The puppet then puts one of its hands over its pair of crimson-dotted hazel button eyes as Ermias hunches his shoulders and turns in place as the puppet surveys the area.

Nodding with satisfaction, Ermias studies the puppet before noticing stray lint on his new friend. He then turns a haggard archaeologist puppet to face himself. Making a slight clucking noise and shaking his head, he meticulously picks at the puppet, tapping its pair of crimson-dotted hazel button eyes, adjusting its fine sandy blonde fur hair that runs down the side of the puppet into stylized fur sideburns, and running his fingers over the puppet's a black leather-stitched mouth.

Looking up from the puppet, Ermias squints into the distance, where he notices fellow SPECTRE and SHADOW member Caedenmon Howler limping down the Darkbriar Woods path toward him.

"Not him," Ermias groans. He then holds a haggard archaeologist puppet close to him and strokes the puppet's fine sandy blonde fur hair that runs down the side of the puppet into stylized fur sideburns. Ermias's gaze is unfocused, as if he is lost in thought. At the same time, one of the puppet's arms rubs against its chin, as if it is similarly occupying a daydream.

Caedenmon Howler limps alongside Ermias. "Dunholme," he gruffly says without making eye contact and without stopping, passing Ermias before a reply can be delivered.

Ermias holds a haggard archaeologist puppet up before the departing Caedenmon. The puppet seems to stare at Caedenmon, as if studying his appearance. After a moment, the puppet's black leather-stitched mouth begins flapping open and shut, and it seems to say, "Blah blah blah, I'm Caedenmon Howler, and I'm SO VERY important!"

Caedenmon Howler turns back toward Ermias, takes a few steps, and raises an eyebrow. "What was that, Dunholme?" he asks.

"Nothing!" Ermias replies. He holds a haggard archaeologist puppet up in front of Caedenmon's face, vigorously shaking the puppet and causing its arms to flail wildly at Caedenmon in what could generously be described as an enthusiastic wave.

"Good to see you, Howler!" Ermias says. He narrows his eyes, cocks his head to one side, and upturns the edges of his mouth in a smug grin. A haggard archaeologist puppet and Ermias then enthusiastically nod in unison, with the puppet's fine sandy blonde fur hair flopping around as it does.

Enterprising shoppers, greetings! I am thrilled to present to you for this year's Ebon Gate festival a brand new fluffy, customizable toy: sock puppets. These items will be available out of Sockpuppetry, from the multicolored stone hovel located in the Darkbriar Woods.

Sock Puppets are available to intrepid adventurers if the price is right! Who are you to resist it, eh?! They are able to take on various forms, including a "nature" side that may be freely altered and a "hero" side that you can use to capture the likeness of others!

Unlocked via certificates sold in Sockpuppetry, each puppet has five tiers, two styles of sides, and numerous customization slots. By unlocking it fully, the puppet can trap a total of 10 different looks, so feel free to design away to your heart's content – or capture the likeness of your fellow adventurers (with their consent, naturally).

The following verbs are available to you when using your sock puppet:
Tier 1: WEAR, REMOVE, PUSH, BOW AT {player}, WAVE AT {player}
Tier 2: TURN, RUB, POINT AT {player}, DAYDREAM, CLEAN
  TURN: Change from "hero" side to "nature" side and vice versa.
  RUB: Changes from one slot to another.
  POINT: Copies a player's description to a "hero" slot.
  PUSH: Adds a forageable item as a puppet's hair adornment or sets a gem as its eyes.
Tier 3: PEER, SWOON, WHISTLE, TREMBLE, APPLAUD
Tier 4: WHINE, GAWK AT {player}, SALUTE AT {player}, JEER AT {player}, PANIC
Tier 5: SHRUG AT {player}, GRIN, PRAISE, MOCK AT {player}, SMOOCH

This puppet is currently Tier 5 and has a total of 5 slots on both the "nature" and "hero" sides.

Additionally, each sock puppet may have several of their characteristics freely altered by willing merchants, including hair description, hair adornment, eyes, mouth, and expression. For example, Ermias Dunholme, from the above narrative, when LOOKING at his puppet, would see:

>look at my puppet
Stitched together predominantly from cloth with room to insert a hand for manipulation, a haggard archaeologist puppet stares ahead with a wry expression set on its a black leather-stitched mouth.  The puppet's face is dominated by a pair of crimson-dotted hazel button eyes.  Atop the puppet's head sits some fine sandy blonde fur hair that runs down the side of the puppet into stylized fur sideburns.

Each puppet sells OTS for 1,000 Ebon Gate Soul Shards, with each unlock costing a further 500 Shards. Look for the puppets and their unlocks in the child-sized stone coffins and the wide-mouthed stone ossuary in Sockpuppetry.

I look forward to what hijinks and shenanigans you can get into using your new sock puppet friends! I also look forward to sharing a few more puppetry secrets as Ebon Gate progresses!

I wish to conclude this by offering my most sincere thanks to GMs Thandiwe, Avaluka, and especially Ethereal, my coding partner in this misadventure. They are the best.

Teaser 14 - Between Tick and Tock

Discord Message Link: Between Tick and Tock
Author: GM Ethereal
Date: 10/8/2025

He missed her. She missed him. Three months had passed since death claimed him, three months since she watched the light leave his eyes. Grief hollowed them both, one in the hush beyond death, the other in the clamor of the living world.

He could not bear the silence of eternal twilight. She could not bear a dawn without his voice. So each set to work, separated by a veil of breath and shadow, yet driven by the same hunger: to steal back what fate had taken.

By candlelight, he traced forbidden sigils on linen cloth, coaxing meaning from the still air of the dead. By moonlight, she carved runes into steel, binding her resolve in plate and leather. They labored as if they shared the same heartbeat, though one had long since stopped.

At last, on a night when the stars shivered like pins of glass, their work stood complete. He drew a robe over weightless shoulders. She fastened the last clasp of her armor. A shallow cut marked each palm - an oath, a key. Blood fell, dark on both sides of the veil.

And then: silence. The world hesitated. The pendulum hung in its swing.

Tick: he was alive.

Tock: she was dead.

Tick: they were together, hands trembling toward each other across a breathless gulf.

Tock: the gulf yawned wider, threatening to swallow them whole.

Between tick and tock, they lingered. Two souls caught in the stillness between seconds, where love outpaced time itself. For an instant the clock forgot its duty; eternity bent close enough for them to touch.

Then the moment broke. Tick... tock... the pendulum fell. And they were apart once more.

Liminalium

Releasing with the October 2025 run of Ebon Gate is a new material: Liminalium! This material was developed by those who wished to pierce the veil between living and dead and has now found its way to Naidem. By infusing other materials with liminalium, it gives the item the ability to allow a wearer to step between worlds when struck in combat, their form becoming incorporeal for a brief moment in time before they return to reality. Here are the details:

My goals: After learning some lessons from lathonian leather, my goal was to simplify the material a bit. To that end, liminalium is considered to be a material one would infuse/alloy with another material to grant it its benefits (think cloth-of-vaalin). So robes may be woven with it, leather trimmed or patterned with it, and metals alloyed with it. This allows the material to exist as one named entity rather than a cloth, leather, and metal permutation (the item will still have to `inspect` as liminalium).

Shop: Neither Here Nor There

Availability: All armors (ASG 2 and ASG 5-20).

Tiering: This material comes in two flavors: lesser and greater. The lesser version will attempt to resolve post attack while the greater version will attempt to resolve pre attack.

Effect: Upon being struck (AS, UAF, SMRv2, and CS attacks), the wearer has a standard flare chance to become incorporeal for 10 seconds and the armor goes into cooldown for 30 seconds. During the 10 seconds, any attacks against the wearer will be treated as if the wearer were incorporeal.

Pricing: 100k soul shards OTS for lesser, 250k soul shards OTS for greater. An upgrade certificate is available for 150k soul shards. Transmutes will be available for 300k soul shards and are subject to additional approvals.

Service difficulty: ~~Great question. I forgot to ask.~~ -150

My thanks to GM Thandiwe for building the shop along with GM Estild and GM Isten for the QC work!

Teaser 15 - Bloodletting Leech Jar Unlocks

Discord Message Link: Bloodletting Leech Jar Unlocks
Author: GM Avaluka
Date: 10/9/2025

The Four Humours will now have unlock certificates available that will work on Bloodletting Leech Jars. You will be able to buy a certificate that adds +1x leech pulled daily (up to a max of 3x per day), and a certificate that adds a default leech design to your jar (you can TURN this to choose a leech). Yes; the jars can absolutely hold every single leech design if you so wish.

Nurse Deloras will still be available this Ebon Gate to hold a raffle to allow someone to get an unlimited Bloodletting Leech jar. She will also still offer her usual customization of any of the wares in her shop, feature alterations (other than hair), or custom tattoos.

Teaser 16 - Something Borrowed

Discord Message Link: Something Borrowed
Author: GM Elysani
Date: 10/11/2025

Elysani Forgot to Tease:
Something Borrowed!
Your one-stop shop for the groomsmen and maid of honor clothing made popular with our fabulous wedding packages! No longer do you have to rope someone into marriage; now you can also own the clothing without the commitment!

ALSO:
Introducing (THANK YOU THANDIWE) Floral Snips by Naidem!

The snips will work on a foraged flower only and will allow that foraged flower to be worn in the hair, granting the wearer a unique flower based style.

There are 20 hairstyle options.  To view them WHISPER snips OPTIONS.

You may set the option transferred to your foraged flower by using WHISPER snips {# or DEFAULT}.

Alterations
You may customize the design of the snips, but they must always remain some kind of snips or scissors.  Only the long, show, or both may be changed on these.

>whisper snips options
The snips will provide a single foraged flower with one of the hairstyle options below:

Default: She has long, straight quartz-colored bound at intervals along its length with cord, each section fitted with a small cluster of (flowers).
1.  She has long, straight quartz-colored woven into a multi-strand plait dappled with (flowers).
2.  She has long, straight quartz-colored topped in a delicate (flowers)-woven circlet, allowing the remainder to tumble free in loose ringlets.
3.  She has long, straight quartz-colored woven into a herringbone crown braid peppered with (flowers).  Incredibly fine wisps trail loose, creating a faintly ringleted halo about her head.
4.  She has long, straight quartz-colored drawn back into a crown-to-nape braid, a trail of (flowers) fitted into the tight weave and leaving the rest to tumble free beyond the cinching band.
5.  She has long, straight quartz-colored coiled into a loose chignon where sprigs of (flowers) peek between the twists.
6.  She has long, straight quartz-colored half-pinned at the temples, the remainder flowing free with (flowers) scattered through the locks.
7.  She has long, straight quartz-colored bound into twin braids that loop across the crown, their crossings marked by clusters of (flowers).
8.  She has long, straight quartz-colored twisted into an elaborate bun, its folds veiled in (flowers)-strewn ribbons.
9.  She has long, straight quartz-colored left to spill in soft waves, a scattering of (flowers) threaded along a narrow side braid.
10. She has long, straight quartz-colored knotted into a low bun at the nape, its edges softened by tendrils and tiny (flowers) tucked close.
11. She has long, straight quartz-colored drawn back into a simple ponytail bound at the nape, a line of (flowers) tucked beneath the tie.
12. She has long, straight quartz-colored brushed behind the ears and left loose, a scatter of (flowers) threaded along the temple braids.
13. She has long, straight quartz-colored twisted into a half-crown that holds the upper locks back, its crossings studded with (flowers).
14. She has long, straight quartz-colored worn loose, a single narrow braid at one side clasped with (flowers).
15. She has long, straight quartz-colored combed into a rough topknot, strands escaping to frame the face, the knot secured with a sprig of (flowers).
16. She has long, straight quartz-colored braided from temple to temple across the crown, the tight weave interrupted by small (flowers).
17. She has long, straight quartz-colored pulled back into a leather-bound plait, its binding threaded with (flowers) at each loop. (CURRENTLY SELECTED)
18. She has long, straight quartz-colored left wild and flowing, a few (flowers) tucked haphazardly through the mane as if caught by chance.
19. She has long, straight quartz-colored worked into thick ropes of braid that trail down her back, with (flowers) lodged at each crossing.
To select one of these styles, WHISPER {my} snips {# or DEFAULT}

Something Borrowed - Additional Info

There are several items in Something Borrowed that have had questions asked about them. Here's what we can tell you:

Consummate Groomsmen Ensemble

Jacket - This was broken down into 5 tiers so that it could be sold off the shelf. The pocket squares will unlock all of the tiers for you. They are:

Tier 1 - Fluff: Lean, Point - Customizations: Clean, Fidget

Tier 2 - Fluff: Poke, Preen - Customizations: Nudge, Pour

Tier 3 - Fluff: Pull, Roll - Customizations: Push, Pinch

Tier 4 - Fluff: Smooch, Weave - Customizations: Shake, Spin

Tier 5 - Customizations: Turn, Twist

Pants - This was broken down into 4 tiers so that it could be sold off the shelf. The swatches will unlock all of the tiers for you. They are:

Tier 1 - Fluff: Lean, Poke - Customizations: Clean, Fidget

Tier 2 - Fluff: Point, Pull - Customizations: Push, Pinch

Tier 3 - Fluff: Preen - Customizations: Shake, Spin

Tier 4 - Customizations: Turn, Twist

Made of Honor Ensemble

Dress - This was broken down into 3 tiers so that it could be sold off the shelf. The fabric will unlock all of the tiers for you. They are:

Tier 1 - Fluff: Nudge, Push - Customizations: Clean, Fidget

Tier 2 - Fluff: Pull, Rub - Customizations: Pinch, Shake

Tier 3 - Customizations: Spin, Twist

Corset - This was brown down into 3 tiers so that it could be sold off the shelf. The boning will unlock all of the tiers for you. They are:

Tier 1 - Fluff: Remove, Wear - Customizations: Clean, Fidget

Tier 2 - Fluff: Rub, Turn - Customizations: Pinch, Pour

Tier 3 - Customizations: Push, Spin, Twist

The other two things are hair flowers with custom hair styles, and two pairs of snips. One set of snips will turn any foraged flower into a behind-the-ear flower. The other one is Floral Snips by Naidem. This is the analyze.

You analyze the dark faenor snips and sense that the creator has provided the following information:

Floral Snips by Naidem
The snips will work on a foraged flower only and will allow that foraged flower to be worn in the hair, granting the wearer a unique flower based style.

There are 20 hairstyle options. To view them WHISPER snips OPTIONS.

You may set the option transferred to your foraged flower by using WHISPER snips {# or DEFAULT}.

Alterations
You may customize the design of the snips, but they must always remain some kind of snips or scissors. Only the long, show, or both may be changed on these.

Teaser 17 - Whispering Pages

Discord Message Link: Whispering Pages Update
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/12/2025

Whispering Pages Update Two new books have been added to this shop:

a clockworke coppery suede storybook - The Ivsenra and the Flitraegt: A Coblynau Fairy Tale
a web-incised crimson suede anthology - Scholarly Ramblings on Naidem Fables: The Arachne Cycle

Teaser 18 - Taxidermy Kit

Discord Message Link: Taxidermy Kit
Author: GM Avaluka
Date: 10/13/2025

Debuting this Ebon Gate in the northern room of The Old Ossuary is the Taxidermy Kit, a contraption that will let you make the most of the remains of animal-like creatures you hunt. With a little acid or blood magic, a dagger, and a dead eligible creature, the kit can preserve the remnants of the corpse within. OTS kits can then let you use the parts of the creature, along with foraged cotton or scrap fabric for stuffing, to create museum-quality taxidermy specimens. Unlocks will be available to let you make even more items, add material for eyes, and adjust how your creations will appear.

Features (OTS)
Belt worn (non-functional).
Preservation powered by acid or blood magic (via spells or bloodwood/crystal wands).
Uses foraged cotton or scrap fabric (think creature-generated clothes) for stuffing.
Stores up to 5 Creature Remnants.
Create Taxidermy Specimens (Full Body or Head, depending on creature size); these are props you can PLACE in a room or NUDGE to place on a container in the room. They also have a few verbs. All animal-like huntable creatures have been given a few options for color and pattern that will randomize when you first DROP the dead creature in your kit. Find the right fur/skin for your project!

Unlockable Features

Up to 20 extra additional Creature Remnant storage slots.
The ability to make Skeleton or Skull versions of Taxidermy Specimens.
The ability to create Full Body (or Skeleton) Taxidermy Specimens out of Large or Massive sized creatures.
The ability to make: Stuffed Puppy Toys, OTS Sock Puppets, or Animal Skin Rugs.
The ability to POINT at a non-animal creature to use a different noun for your creation (only for Puppy Toys or Puppets).
The ability to change: creation article and creation post-noun (long) description.
The ability to add extra decoration to your creations such as: material for eyes (metal/glass/wood/bone), pelts/skin, or antlers/horns/teeth.
The ability to add cobbling or alchemy dye to your creations.
Note: options for articles and long descriptions will change based on the type of Creature Remnant used, as well as what other decorations are added. There is no option for customs at this time, though there are a LOT of unlockable choices!

Teaser 19 - Don't Bug Me! Shop

Discord Message Link: Shop Unlocks Available
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/14/2025

Shop now has unlock certificates so that you can upgrade your BeardBugs Beard Clips from tier 1 to 2 and 2 to 3. Enjoy!

Teaser 20 - Splatterwing Forge

Discord Message Link: Splatterwing Forge
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/14/2025

This had kind of a silent opening, but all weapons in this shop are 4x enchanged and have insect bane! It will modify the AS of the attacker by 10 when used against an insect creature.

Teaser 21 - Canine Conundrum

Discord Message Link: Canine Conundrum
Author: GM Avaluka
Date: 10/16/2025

Tugaroulu gazed absently at the flickering flames in her hearth. Ever since she appeared in Naidem she felt vaguely unsettled. Unsure of where she stood. Looking around her home she constantly felt as though she was forgetting something. Something important. But what ...?

Her meandering thoughts were interrupted by the sudden yips and barks of an arriving puppy. Some of the newer additions, who were not yet touched by a curse, had been spending their weeks traversing Naidem. Especially Winterbriar. One of them must have returned from his adventures. Tugaroulu let out a ghostly sigh of relief; ever since the incident at the manor last year she had felt increasingly worried over her charges wandering there, though she could not put a finger on why. Such strange happenings in her new home.

As she floated around to greet the returning puppy, Tugaroulu could not help but stifle a gasp of surprise.

Standing in the light of Naidem spilling from the window was the puppy. But something had happened to him. Blue-tinged frost had coated his body in rime and tiny ice crystals rose from his happily wagging tail. Chilly plumes of mist floated from him with every panting breath.

What had happened to him in Winterbriar ... and has this happened to all of them?

A new curse has befallen some of the WerePuppies this year - the curse of the Ice Hound! There will be some premade versions with this curse available as choices with this year's raffle; in addition, those who win a Custom Curse Description can choose to give their puppy this curse if they so wish.

Additional messages will be rolling out to all puppies, as well: they will interact with random Bugs on Parade system bugs they notice in the area.

Many thanks to GM Xeraphina,, who crafted all of the Ice Puppy messaging!

Teaser 22 - Bone Shame Cloak

Discord Message Link: Bone Shaman Cloak
Author: GM Avaluka
Date: 10/17/2025

By popular demand I will be holding some raffles to add the Bone Shaman Cloak script to unscripted cloak-worns OR the Bone Shaman clothing script to unscripted clothing (eligible slots being front or chest-worn, or leg-worn AKA pants/skirts). This is in addition to 2 feature-concealing hood unlocks being raffled for Bone Shaman cloaks. (Please wait to see my raffle schedule post for details later tonight). Usually the best use for these kinds of things are cloak-worn containers that are deepened/lightened a lot and/or are enhancive in some way. A plain OTS Bone Shaman cloak will also be added next to the unlock certificates sometime later tonight.

Teaser 23 - EGGS

Discord Message Link: EGGS
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/17/2025

What? Piper said her peepers are producing eggs? That's crazy talk. (The Jeepers Creepers Spyglass now has an unlock that will allow you to find eggs in the environment.)

Teaser 24 - The Witching Flower

Discord Message Link: The Witching Flower
Author: GM Valyrka
Date: 10/17/2025

The Witching Flower is now open and has a new item for sale: a new version of the weaving satchel.

This new satchel does the following:

the weaving items are weightless and itemless
the tools are weightless but not itemless
the toolbelt and finished and unfinished projects count for weight and items

The basic satchel can hold 25 different weaving items, 25 in each bundle of each weaving items, and 5 tools.

You can purchase a token to upgrade your satchel:

a silver direbloom token ~ Add 25 to your weaving type count for a maximum of 50
a copper dreamphlox token ~ Add 25 to your weaving bundle count for a maximum of 900 in each bundle
a gold mistbloom token ~ Add 5 to how many weaving tools your container can hold for a maximum of 20

Thank you for being patient while we finish up this item. GM Modrian did an amazing job coding them. We hope you enjoy this new version.

analyze satchel
You analyze the leather satchel and sense that the creator has provided the following information:

You carefully analyze your leather satchel and see it is designed to hold weaving tools and supplies and only those items (specifically, weavable items, tools, projects, and tool belts).  It will also automatically stack loose weavable materials.

You sense that there are some alteration notes.  The satchel can have a long and a show description.  The satchel is closed and opened using a clasp and should be worn over the shoulder.

The satchel has special messaging for the verbs OPEN, CLOSE, WEAR, and REMOVE.  Verbs with special functionality are:
WHISPER: moves a weavable item stack to the top of the satchel.
PLUCK: removes a single item from the stack at the top of the satchel.
The satchel contains 0 of a maximum of 25 weavable item types, currently expandable to 50.
Note that duplicate stacks (grouped items of the same type) count against this limit even though they represent the same weavable type.
Stacks in the satchel can hold 25 of a maximum of 25 weavable items, currently expandable to 900.
The satchel contains 0 of a maximum of 5 weaving tool types currently expandable to 20.
This leather satchel can be lightened, but it cannot be deepened by merchants or notes, but unlock certificates can be used to increase the number of weaving tools and weavable item types it holds.

Storyline

Launch

Discord Message Link: Storyline Kicks Off
Author: GM Xynwen
Date: 10/12/2025

As the special conventions at the hotel end, spiders were seen leaving the hotel in disconcerting droves. Soon thereafter, reports came pouring in of webs proliferating across Evermore Hollow and its neighborhoods. Whatever could be happening and how can you help?

This year's storyline has several different ways you can help, and you can type QUEST to see some of them. There are several quests, and your actions taken will definitely impact the outcome of the storyline. We encourage you to do your part as frequently as possible, but what that part is ... well, you may need to make some decisions!

A special note on the Winterbriar quest: The Winterbriar quest is a bit different than the others. There is a "feeder" quest in the QUEST system that is just to get you where you need to go, so there aren't actually rewards with doing this one. There will be similar repeatable rewards, however. Winterbriar is a progressive quest, so after a prologue that lasts a bit over 24 hours, Phase 1 will start, and from there, you will have actions and choices to make, and those will possibly change depending on the collective results of these actions across the storyline. So while you can repeat the quest in QUEST for Winterbriar, you do not have to. However, I do recommend following their directions and getting all the info you can!

So...get out there and type QUEST and start seeing what you can do!

Note: Across all the quests, some of the opportunities may be considered puzzles, so when discussing, please use redacting tags (the double pipe framing your text).

Storyline information: Weavers of Arachne

Storyline/Quest Finales

Discord Message Link: Storyline/Quest Finales
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 10/27/2025

As the week unfurls, the denizens of Naidem begin to feel the influence of repeated actions in their streets, forests, neighborhoods, and communal spaces. The touch of the spiders and the visitors' responses to them have created a cascading effect, the echoes of which are slowly being felt.

[OOC: As the week progresses, there will be live storyline components to close out this year's Ebon Gate Quests. Please look to in-game Announcements for gathering times, keep an eye on the calendar, and pay attention to the Storyline forum thread.]

Winterbriar Quest

Discord Message Link: Winterbriar Quest
Author: GM Xynwen
Date: 10/27/2025

Something is happening in Winterbriar.

After much discussion, neighborhood elders have decided it is time for everyone to meet by the cabin and look at options. A neighborhood meeting at the glade will occur on Tilamaires at 8 pm as the elves tell time.

[Winterbriar quest happenings on Tuesday, 28 Oct, 20:00 (8 pm) ET [Darkbriar Woods, Glade] (8089135)]