Duskruin/saved posts August 2024

Duskruin - August 2024 - Announcements, Teasers, and Saved Posts

Announcements

Announcement 1 - Intermediate Transmutes

Discord Message Link: Intermediate Transmutes!
Author: GN Tivvy
Date: 08/11/2024

Due to some confusion regarding the retirement of the slate of Intermediate Transmutes offered during the August 2023/February 2024 events, these services will be available in HESS during the August 2024 Duskruin. Please note that these transmutes should not be considered a permanent HESS offering and will be retired at the conclusion of the event.

This includes:

Intermediate Transmute to Obskruul

Intermediate Transmute Armor to Lesser Somnis

Intermediate Transmute to Ghezyte

Intermediate Transmute to Surita

Intermediate Transmute to Shadarl

Intermediate Transmute to Aganjira

Intermediate Transmute to Somnis

Intermediate Transmute to Vethinye

Intermediate Transmute to White Alloy

Intermediate Transmute to Adamantine

Intermediate Transmute to Zelnorn

Intermediate Transmute to Kroderine

Announcement 2 - Shop list

Discord Message Link: August 2024 - Shop List
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 08/15/2024

Please remember that the categories have the following meanings:

Reopen - This means that the shop is being reopened with no changes in designs or inventory

Refresh - This means that the shop is being opened with either new offering, changes in designs, or additions

Closed This Run - This means the shop was announced last run (in August) as having its last run and the offerings are no longer available in Bloodriven Village

Last Run - This means the shop is in its final run and that the offerings will not be available in August.

Forum Discussion on Shop List

Reopening w.o Inventory Changes	Refreshed	New	Closed This Run	Final Run Shops
Alchemical Attractions	None	Coalescence	Art of Lore, The	Best Foot Forward
Amalgamations		Demon Drop, The	Best Tressed, The	Bloodriven Bowery
At The Ready		Journalist, The	Blades of Glory	Broken Coin, the
Balance and Frenzy		Totemic Spirits	Eonak Arms	Curved Cuts
Be Still My Hops		With a Flourish	Librarium, The (Study, Sanctuary, Laboratory)	Dunh's Lab
Be Warez			Shadowed Light	Fireside Supplies
Best Foot Forward			Tiles of Chance	Knit One, Punch Two
Beyond Barriers				Shield Thyself
Blood Red Rose, The
Bloodbenders
Bloodriven Bowery
Bloody Lotus, The
Bolt From The Blue
Broken Coin, the
Bundle Up
Burning Twilight
Certifiable
Clockwerke Solutions
Currents and Safeguards
Curved Cuts
Daily Grind, The
Daily Grind, The, Accents
Deep Within Darkness
Diskovery
Dunh's Lab
Essencetials
Fairy Ring, The
Fatal Afflares
Fireside Supplies
First Rule, The
Gamac's Goods
Good In-Tent-ions
Heady Spirits
Herbal Huntsman, The
Hide and Fur Depot, The
I See You
Icy Disposition
In the Shadows of the Sparrow
Just for Kicks
Knifery, The
Knit One, Punch Two
Make Your Mark
Mar and Scar, the
Mind Your Manas
Modern Morph, The
Mystic Phrases
Ode To Resistance
On The Other Hand
Paranormal Pages
Pirate Looks at Four Teas, A
Preening Plover, The
Right to Flare Arms
Rock Solid
Scoria and Dross
Secretive Sips
Shield Thyself
Sigil Shop
Skayl Mix
Sparrow's Dance
Spellbound
Sprite Club
Stay Awhile and Glisten
Temple of Tentacles
Tome Raiders
Trapper's Shack
Twinkling Twilight
Twist of Briars, A
Untamed Spirit
Vaalin Rose, The
Volatile Storage
Wild Instinct
Yarrrpee Shoppe, The

Delayed Openings

Discord Message Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1269666679206580335/1274048871856734220
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 08/16/2024

• The Journalist
• The Demon Drop
• Totemic Spirits

Please keep this in mind.

Announcement 3 - Last Run Shops

Discord Message Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1269666679206580335/1273758538593861737
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 8/15/24

Last Run Shop Reminders: This is just your friendly end-of-event reminder that the following shops will not be open at the next run of Duskruin

Best Foot Forward - (Known for Best Foot Forward)

Bloodriven Bowery - (Known for Striking Point quiver and Fletching Supplies)

Broken Coin, the - (Known for Silver Saver)

Curved Cuts - (Known for Curved Cuts Chakram)

Dunh's Lab - (Known for Armament bane)

Fireside Supplies (Known for Collapsible Tripod)

Knit One, Punch Two - (Knitting needles, Yarn, dyes, Weapon Wrap Patterns and Trukt Patterns)

Shield Thyself - (Known for Shield Cape)

Announcement 4 - Gilded Locus

Discord Message Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1273671107035271271
Author: GM Nyxus
Date: 08/15/2024

>analyze locus
You analyze the gilded locus and sense that the creator has provided the following information:

The gilded locus is a unique relic that is capable of granting vast enhancive power.  It is an arcane invention of a multidisciplinary scholarly collective that incorporates techniques of lapidary work and glasswork with complex magical infusion.  As an intricate, artistic construct that serves as a expansive repository for enhancive properties, any two loci are unlikely to be identical in either enhancive inscription or in form.

The crystalline structures of the gemstones used amplify and stabilize the enhancive magics woven into the locus, while the amorphous structure of the glass integrated into the design serves as a strategic buffer and arcane counterweight to the flows of magic throughout the construct.  The enhancive properties that any given locus supports are typically etched or applied in alchemical ink beneath the surface and sealed in glass.

The locus can receive up to 20 enhancive properties.

The locus is permanently attuned to Nyxus.  It can be TUCKed while worn in order to hide it from sight.  It has received 1 new properties and 1 property boosts since the last event reset.

The locus's enhancive properties can only be adjusted by its creator and cannot be recharged with enhancive potions.  The locus can be altered, but its noun must remain 'locus'.

The gilded locus may not be lightened.

>ask traveler about locus
The half-elf traveler flicks her hand outwards in an arcane gesture.  Your vision flickers as you experience a sudden understanding of your locus's current power.

This locus has the following enhancive power:
    It provides a boost of 1 to Max Mana.
    It provides a boost of 1 to Max Health.
    It provides a boost of 1 to Max Stamina.
    It provides a boost of 1 to Spiritual Lore - Blessings Bonus.
    It provides a boost of 2 to Spiritual Lore - Religion Bonus.
    It provides a boost of 2 to Spiritual Lore - Summoning Bonus.
    It is restricted to use by Nyxus.

The half-elf traveler says, "I can help you enhance your locus.  Just ASK me about ADDing or BOOSTing properties."

The locus is free off-the-shelf and comes with the following enhancive properties prior to any additions/boosts:
    It provides a boost of 1 to Max Mana.
    It provides a boost of 1 to Max Health.
    It provides a boost of 1 to Max Stamina.

It can be recharged with bounty points. It is worn in its own a unique slot. A character may only ever have one locus, and loci are attuned.

It is Character Attuned.

At each of Duskruin, Ebon Gate, and Rumor Woods, a locus can receive 2 new properties (up to 20 properties total) and properties can be boosted 5 times (up to +20 per property). The cost is scaling per event run, and resets before each new event run. The locus is character attuned to the character who received it, and cannot be transferred or re-attuned.

Announcement 5 - Create-a-Golem

Discord Message Link: Create-a-Golem
Author: GM Wyrom
Date: 08/15/2024

Okay.  final run of 2024 run, for the pin!

This time around, there will be more parts to find, should you want any last minute switcharoos!  The artwork had some ideas of what you might see!  The golems will also have some more updates in the build state that does the same thing the MechSpinners have where a gnome can help you out on fixing up arms/legs.  There is also a bugged arm or leg out there that they can fix this way too, though if you have a bugged one, you shouldn't need a gnome.

You will be able to update your golem, but it does come at the expense of losing your old part.  Golems cannot be altered, but special parts may happen after this run.  So be sure to save some parts if you think you might want to do some tinkering at a later date.

September 1st you will be able to do the final step to your golem and bring it to life.  There will be a small quest once you have completed your golem to do this.  You won't need to buy anything more or purchase a second vault if you don't want to.  It will take place on the Duskruin grounds.

Once it's all set, your golem will be attuned to you and you can use it like other pets.  It will have some minor abilities, which I'll tease more, but it's mostly a pet.  If you have a fully bonded Quee potato, you can place him inside the engine compartment of your golem for a unique look to Quee and some extra special messaging.  Quee will also be easier to stay happy this way, as he really wanted Galahad to release.

I'll showcase more of the golem after the initial launch of Duskruin into next week.

And if you don't have Quee, there may just be a way to get one this Duskruin.

Announcement 6 - HESS Teasers!

Discord Message Link: HESS Teaser
Author: GM Tivvy
Date: 08/18/2024

HESS Teasers!

Some HESS teasers to hopefully tide over those anxiously awaiting its opening:

A couple of  existing services are receiving a slight expansion:

• The X/day combiner service will now also work on X/day tattoos.
• The convert enhancive armor accessory to jewelry service will now also permit conversion of enhancive armaments.

New HESS services:

• Convert SK item to tattoo
• Convert SM (Self-Mana) item to SK (Spell Knowledge) item
• Add greater rhimar script
• Intermediate transmute to lathonian leather  (This will be leaving HESS after the February 2025 run)

Upstairs HESS:

Please note that, like the wheelbarrow and other extremely high end offerings before, nothing in this area of HESS should be considered a permanent addition and nothing is guaranteed to return next run.

I don't have a full list for you on offerings yet, but here are a few things you'll find:

• Greater Acuity (up to 15x) and Major Enchant (up to 15x) return for one run only
• LoreFlares
• Rage Armor
• zelnorn armor accessories

Teasers

Teaser 1 - Rage Armor (Combat Flourish)

Discord Message Link: Rage Armor
Author: GM Nyxus
Date: 08/06/2024

Trails of fiery scarlet race across your etched platemail as rage ignites within you!

Trails of fiery scarlet race across your etched platemail as the rage within surges anew!

Details

• The rage armor script add-on is back and will be available at this Duskruin!
• Goes on your existing set of armor!
• Grants an AS (and UAF) bonus equal to damage taken from any creature’s strike/cast/maneuver! (Uncapped)
• Damage bonus is now stacking! (Stacking effect is capped at 50)
• Rewritten to support more forms of damage!
• Duration extended from 15 seconds to 30 seconds!
• Now includes new-and-improved Gyres (TM) Messaging!
• Now compatible with any armor, without taking the script slot or the subscript slot!

Disclaimer: Rage Armor adds 200 project difficulty to an item for the purposes of enchanting, grit, etc. (edited)

Are your enemies mistaking your rage for a warm hug? Do they see your fury as a friendly wave? Well, friends, it's time to turn your serenity into raw, unstoppable fury with the latest sensation in the world of Elanthia: RAGE ARMOR: NEW AND IMPROVED!

Yes, you heard correctly! Feeling too serene? Get hit and let the anger take over! Rage Armor turns every blow you suffer into a surge of red-hot rage, making you stronger, fiercer, and more terrifying than a kobold with a toothache!

Just imagine it, folks! You're in the midst of a brawl, your opponent lands a hit, and instead of whimpering away, you roar back with the might of a thousand berserkers! Rage Armor doesn't just protect you—it transforms your pain into power, your calm into chaos! It's the secret weapon for anyone who needs a bit more oomph in their oomph!

[Sped-Up Legal Disclaimer Voice]
Warning: Rage Armor may cause excessive fist shaking, over-the-top battle cries, and a sudden desire to smash things. Side effects include but are not limited to: increased heart rate, sudden war paint application, and an uncontrollable urge to clash, bash, and smash. Not recommended for pacifists, peacekeepers, or anyone who prefers tranquil tea times over big biceps. Ask your doctor before equipping Rage Armor. If rage lasts longer than four hours, consult a healer immediately.

So, what are you waiting for? Turn your calm into calamity with RAGE ARMOR: NEW AND IMPROVED! Available soon at Duskruin! Unleash your inner beast and let the fury fuel your fight!

Teaser 2 - Flare Gloves

Part 1

Discord Message Link: Flare Gloves Teaser 1
Author: GM Naiken
Date: 08/09/2024

Flare Gloves Teaser #1

PROD             Toggle Greater Flares (off).

CLENCH           Toggle XXXXXX (on).

TOUCH            Toggle XXXXXX (on).

Part 2

Discord Message Link: Flare Gloves Teaser 2
Author: GM Naiken
Date: 08/09/2024

Flare Gloves Teaser #2

The shop will offer one pair of UCS gloves and one pair of non-UCS gloves.

The UCS version works exactly the same (bestow flares to held weapons) but has an ability to set its inherent flare (excludes Acuity and Mana).

New certificates:

These boost Mana flares on FlareGloves by +1 (maximum +5). The flare must already exist.

These boost Acuity flares on FlareGloves by +5 (maximum +50). The flare must already exist.

These boost Dispel flares on FlareGloves by +1 (maximum +3). The flare must already exist.

Part 3

Discord Message Link: Flare Gloves Teaser 3
Author: GM Naiken
Date: 08/10/2024

Flare Gloves Teaser #3

 You swing a rolaren twohanded sword at a triton combatant!
  AS: +399 vs DS: +250 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +81 = +259
   ... and hit for 54 points of damage!
   Smooth slash to the triton combatant's hip!
   Nice crunching sound.
 You feel drained.

 ** Your twohanded sword releases a spray of acid! **
   ... 20 points of damage!
   Bad burn chars the skin.  Weakened abdomen bulges ominously!
 You feel drained.

 ** Your left centaur hide gauntlet releases a shimmering beam of disintegration! **
   ... 12 points of damage!
   Flesh removed, forming a long gash across abdomen!
 Roundtime: 4 sec.

Part 4

Discord Message Link: Flare Gloves Teaser 4
Author: GM Naiken
Date: 08/11/2024

Flare Gloves Teaser #4

 You swing an obskruul falchion at a triton combatant!
  AS: +394 vs DS: +258 with AvD: +26 + d100 roll: +2 = +164
   ... and hit for 16 points of damage!
   Stomach shot lands with a hollow *thump*.
 You feel drained.

 ** Your obskruul falchion emits a searing bolt of lightning! **
   ... 5 points of damage!
   Light shock to left arm.  That stings!
 Roundtime: 4 sec.

Part 5

Discord Message Link: Flare Gloves Teaser 5
Author: GM Naiken
Date: 08/11/2024

Flare Gloves - August 2024

Both UCS and non-UCS gloves will be offered. The main difference with the UCS version is it has an ability to switch its inherent flare to any unlocked flare (except Acuity and Mana).

New Unlocks

+5 Acuity booster (+50 max)

+1 Dispel booster (+3 max)

+1 Mana booster (+5 max)

New Addons

Two-Handed - Empty offhand has a 50% chance of flaring after a two-handed melee flare.)

Flare Override - Allows use with weapons that possess an inherent flare (+5 mana in addition to normal stamina cost).

New Verbs

Toggle GEF

Toggle Two-Handed

Toggle Flare Override

(UCS) Set/clear inherent flare

HESS will offer a service for converting your non-UCS Flare Gloves to UCS.

(Costs of new shop items and HESS service to be announced/provided later.)

Update Summary

Discord Message Link: Flare Gloves Update Summary
Author: GM Naiken
Date: 08/16/2024

The POUND cooldown has dropped from 10min to 3min.

CLENCH        Toggle Two-Handed offhand flare.
PROD          Toggle Greater Flares.
RUB           Set and change the inherent flare (UCS only).
TOUCH         Toggle Flare Override*.
* Options:    ON (100% success and +5 mana cost)
              ON (75% success and no mana cost)
              OFF

[Right to Flare Arms]

UCS FlareGloves      2,500 bloodscrip

Addons

Two-Handed             25,000 bloodscrip

[Empty offhand has a 50% chance of flaring after a two-handed melee flare.]

Flare Override          15,000 bloodscrip

[Allows use with weapons that possess an inherent flare.]

Flare Boosters

Acuity (+5, max 50)  40,000 bloodscrip

Dispel (+1, max 3)      30,000 bloodscrip

Mana   (+1, max 5)     15,000 bloodscrip

HESS

Service to convert non-UCS Flare Gloves to UCS    20,000 bloodscrip

Teaser 3 - Animalistic Totems

Discord Message Link: Animalistic Totems
Author: GM Avaluka
Date: 08/13/2024

Debuting this Duskruin at the shop "Totemic Spirits" is a new item - Animalistic Totems. While they are capable of interfacing with the Animalistic Spirit items and hold some of the same flavor, you do not need to own Animalistic Spirit items to use a totem. They have both fluff capabilities and a passive combat benefit that can be unlocked.

Off the shelf Animalistic Totems:

• Are pin-worn, wrist-worn, or neck-worn fluff items.
• Can be POINTed at an animal-like creature, familiar, animal companion, or Animalistic Spirit item to absorb some of the spiritual essence they exude.
• Have some ambient messages related to the currently attuned spiritual essence.
• Can take certain fodder items to allow you to change the material (adjective) of the totem.
• Can have certain items PUSHed into it to change the wording after the noun much like Veolas or Deck the Halls.

Available Fluff Unlocks:

• Ability to also add fodder items, such as ribbons and skins, to change the totem's "Accent Material" (Article in the 15/15/15). Once an accent material is added, you can toggle between several different articles based on that material.
• Ability for the currently attuned spiritual essence to change how you look when you walk from room to room.
• Ability to add up to 4 additional "slots" to hold extra spiritual essences that can be switched between at will.
• Ability to change the wear location at will between pin, wrist, and neck-worn.

NOTE: You can only wear one Animalistic Totem at a time.

Mechanical Unlock - "Bestial Power"

• When unlocked, one of 4 paths is opened to your totem. Once a path is chosen, it can no longer be changed. There are 2 offensive paths and 2 defensive paths.
• Totems with Bestial Power unlocked will be functional and will passively aid their wearer in combat.
• Bestial Power abilities will happen at a standard flare rate in combat.
• Totems with Bestial Power unlocked must be fed skins from creatures to gain charges to fuel the ability; they can hold up to 500 charges.
• Bestial Power can be unlocked all the way up to T5.

Bestial Power "Paths":

• Animalistic Endurance (Defensive) +2 Crit Padding per Bestial Power Tier; activates on a successful hit. [10 charges]
• Bestial Block (Defensive) +3 DS/+2 TD per Bestial Power tier; activates on physical and magical attacks against you. [10 charges]
• Shifting Strike (Offensive) +3 AS/+2 CS per Bestial Power tier; activates before your physical or magical attacks. [5 charges]
• Feral Ferocity (Offensive) +2 Crit Weighting per Bestial Power tier; activates on successful physical attacks. [5 charges]

Teaser 4 - Twisted Armor

Discord Message Link: Twisted Armor
Author: GM Marstreforn
Date: 08/05/2024

You analyze the snakeskin bodysuit and sense that the creator has provided the following information:

   * Twisted Armor - Acid Edition *

     Available Actions
   * BOW
   * CLENCH
   * RUB
   * TILT
   * WEAR | REMOVE

Merchants that are skilled with this type of armor may customize the following:
   * Glow (color):   "green"
   * Core (article): "a glyph-etched"
   * Core (noun):    "crystal"
   * Effect:         "virescent" (fumes)
  ** Flares:         "a twisted, prismatic spray of acid" (not unlocked)

Combat Unlocks:
     - Unlocks increase the potential of abilities gained from previously unlocked tiers.
  ** Twisted Retaliation (PROD): NOT UNLOCKED
     - Chance for a reactive maneuver flare (acid) when struck by, or evading, an attack or bolt.
     - Toggle ON/OFF with PROD.  Removing the armor will toggle flares OFF.
     - Will only flare this way while in an aggressive stance.
 *** Twisted Augmentations     : NOT UNLOCKED
     - Chance for a bonus to defense against hostile warding spells.
     - Chance for a penalty to maneuver abilities used against you.
     - Will only activate while in an aggressive stance.
**** Twisted Synergy    (TOUCH): NOT UNLOCKED
     - Bonus to flare chance of your Twisted Armor, Twisted Shield, and Twisted Weapon abilities.
     - Removing the armor will immediately end the bonus granted by Twisted Synergy.
     - Twisted Synergy lasts for 30 seconds and has a 5 minute cooldown.

Twisted Retaliation must be unlocked to enable the Flares customization.

OTS stats: +20 with standard acid flares (category B), and the included fluff actions/customizations.

T2: Twisted Retaliation uses an SMR check for its flare (Category D) to hit, dealing acid damage when it does. This can occur when you evade an attack/bolt, or when hit by such an attack. When hit, this ability can resolve in addition to the standard acid (Category B).

T3: Twisted Augmentations provides a chance to gain +5 TD against hostile warding spells (does not work against unique creature abilities), and also has a chance to penalize maneuvers used against the wearer by 5. Additionally, Twisted Retaliation gains a bonus to its SMR check to hit

T4: T4: Twisted Synergy is activated by using TOUCH on the armor while wearing it, and will immediately end if the armor is removed. This increases the flare rate of Category D abilities on the armor itself, and any unlocked Twisted Weapons or a Twisted Shield you are wielding. Twisted Augmentations instead adds +10 to TD and penalizes maneuvers by 10. Additionally, Twisted Retaliation gains a more significant bonus to its SMR check to hit.

T2 special feature:

Also, adds a line below the wearer's inventory when you LOOK at them. This can be toggled ON or OFF with TURN.

A wavering haze of virescent fumes surrounds XXXXX's feet, clinging to the ground beside her.

Teaser 5 - Combat Flourishes

Full discussion thread with GM Ethereal, GM Nyxus, and GM Vanah: Combat Flourishes (aka Mechanical Flourishes)

Combat Flourishes (aka Mechanical Flourishes) Flourishes, added in February 2024, are a new way of adding multiple scripts to your favorite items! Historically, items have been limited to two scripts: a main script and a subscript. Flourishes, on the other hand, support many scripts on a single item! Combat flourishes are flourishes that provide a mechanical edge. Rage armor, lore flares, and flare affinity are all set to be released as combat flourishes at August 2024's Duskruin. Players may add multiple combat flourishes to an item, swapping the active combat flourish as needed. There may even be rare opportunities to enable multiple active slots. This is just the beginning! A lot of work has gone into building the foundation of the flourish system, and we anticipate offering many more scripts as flourishes in the future!

Discord Message Link: First Teaser
Author: GM Nyxus
Date: 08/10/2024

Tune in tonight (8/10) at 6PM ET to learn more! This presentation will be hosted at your local Hearthstone Porch discord broadcast channel and is open to all!

Discord Message Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1271828082059382904/1272190989938982933
Author: GM Nyxus
Date: 08/11/2024

Elemental Lore - Air

** As a veil iron waraxe strikes a savage fork-tongued wendigo, a fierce whirlwind erupts, encircling it in a suffocating cyclone! **

Elemental Lore - Earth

** As a vultite longsword strikes a savage fork-tongued wendigo, the ground quakes and pelts it with heavy debris and stone! **

Elemental Lore - Fire

** As a xazkruvrixis spikestar strikes a savage fork-tongued wendigo, a blazing inferno engulfs it, scorching everything in its wake! **

Elemental Lore - Water

** As a rune-etched katar strikes a savage fork-tongued wendigo, a blast of water pounds it, crushing it with relentless force! **

Spiritual Lore - Summoning

** As an imflass spikestar strikes a frostborne lich, divine flames leap forth, engulfing it in a sacred inferno! **

Sorcerous Lore - Necromancy

** A sickly green aura radiates from a blackened falchion and seeps into a savage fork-tongued wendigo's wounds! **

Mental Lore - Telepathy

** A radiant thread of light coils around the runestaff like a viper, rising to strike at a savage fork-tongued wendigo! **

Elemental Lore - Air

The cyclone whirls around a fork-tongued wendigo anew, a suffocating force of nature!

Elemental Lore - Earth

The ground trembles violently anew, pelting a savage fork-tongued wendigo again with heavy debris and stone!

Elemental Lore - Fire

The inferno blazing around a savage fork-tongued wendigo ignites anew, unleashing more waves of scorching heat!

Elemental Lore - Water

The water surrounding a savage fork-tongued wendigo churns anew, rough waters roiling towards it!

Spiritual Lore - Summoning

The sacred inferno surrounding a frostborne lich ignites anew, searing it with divine fire!

Spiritual Lore - Religion

The sacred inferno surrounding a frostborne lich ignites anew, searing it with divine fire!

Sorcerous Lore - Necromancy

(variable)

Mental Lore - Telepathy

Locked in mental durance, a savage fork-tongued wendigo is assailed by some unseen attack!

Discord Message Link: Combat Flourishes (aka Mechanical Flourishes)
Author: GM Nyxus
Date: 08/12/2024

Combat/Mechanical Flourishes: Frequently Asked Questions
----------------------------------------------------------------------

What is the Flourish System?
The flourish system was added to allow players to add a number of fluff scripts to a single item. An example of a flourish is Fancy Stancing - Fancy Stancing Flourish - which can be applied to weapons. The Fancy Stancing flourish displays fancy messaging when a player changes stances while holding a weapon.

Prior to the flourish system, items only had two script slots: the main slot and the subscript slot.

What are Subscripts?
Subscripts include but are not limited to: rotflares, lesser moods, rage armor, notrot flares, and flare affinity. Subscripts are neat because they don't occupy the primary script slot. For example, an item can have both parasite flares and rotflares.

Unfortunately, subscripts are quite burdensome to build and maintain. This is one reason why there are many scripts but only a handful of subscripts.

What are Combat/Mechanical Flourishes?
A combat flourish is a flourish script that has mechanical benefit. The subscripts mentioned above - rotflares, rage armor, etc - are all receiving new combat flourish scripts. The subscripts will be migratable via a FLOURISH CONVERT command.

Can I have both subscripts and combat flourishes?
You cannot. If you want to keep your subscript as-is, you may, but you won't be able to add combat flourishes to it. (edited)

What benefits should players see from combat flourishes over subscripts?

• Players should see more combat flourishes in the future than they saw subscripts in the past.
• Combat flourishes should have wider compatibility than subscripts (note that in the short term there may be temporary restrictions as we work out the kinks.)
• An item can carry many flourish scripts, choosing which combat flourish script is active at a given time. Subscripts have no such ability.

To give an example, a katar might have the "Flare Affinity" flourish and the "Lore Flares - Telepathy" flourish. The player can toggle between the two flourishes at will, outside of combat.

Is it possible to have more than one active combat flourish?
Yes, but this service will likely be exorbitantly priced and may only be offered in limited quantities. The details of this service are to-be-determined.

What combat flourishes will be available at this Duskruin?

• Lore Flares - Elemental Lore - Air (previously "notrot flares")
• Lore Flares - Elemental Lore - Earth (previously "notrot flares")
• Lore Flares - Elemental Lore - Fire (previously "notrot flares")
• Lore Flares - Elemental Lore - Water (previously "notrot flares")
• Lore Flares - Spiritual Lore - Summoning (previously "notrot flares")
• Lore Flares - Sorcerous Lore - Necromancy (previously "rotflares")
• Lore Flares - Mental Lore - Telepathy (brand new)
• Rage Armor (new and improved)
• Flare Affinity (unchanged)

What is the price point of combat flourishes?
The above combat flourishes will be at a HESS price point, likely comparable to the price of current rotflares and flare affinity.

This is just the beginning! Now that the foundation is set, we can do a lot more with combat flourishes. For example, in the future we'd like to offer lower tier combat flourishes at a lower price point.

Can you give me a TLDR?
Going forward, subscripts will be replaced with flourishes. An item can have many flourishes. An item can have many combat/mechanical flourishes, but by default only one slot is active. An exorbitantly-priced service will empower an item to carry multiple active combat flourishes, but no details on this service have been released at this time.

Teaser 6 - Xojium Robe Update and FauXojium Robe Flourish

Discord Message Link: Xojium Robe Update and FauXojium Robe Flourish
Author: GM Vanah
Date: 08/13/2024

Xojium robes have gotten a small update.

Previously, the noun had to remain robe or robes. We are opening this up and also allowing burnoose, cape, cloak, greatcloak, kimono, longcloak, or shroud as applicable nouns.

The GAZE verb messaging has been replaced. It was previously you being mezmorized by the weave of your robe. It now lets you adjust the folds of your robes as you gaze (in an optional style) (around the room/area or at an optional target).

All of the verb traps have been filled in on the wiki table: https://gswiki.play.net/Xojium#Robes

Further, we are debuting the FauXojium Robe Flourish at Duskruin. The PULL and PUSH function of the original Xojium robes will not be available, nor will their feature altering ability. Flourishes cannot alter features. The FauXojium robes will have all of the 18 other verb options as if it were fully unlocked (less PULL and PUSH). You will not be able to convert existing Xojium Robes to a Flourish.

The item has Flourishes that do the following:

These are FauXojium Robes.  You could do the following to your robes:
    CLENCH  FOLD  GAZE   PINCH  PUNISH
    RAISE   RUB   SHAKE  SPIN   TOUCH
    TWITCH  LIE   KNEEL  TURN   SIT
    REMOVE  WEAR  STAND

Alteration Restrictions: The item must remain fabric, and the noun must remain one of the following:
robe, robes, burnoose, cape, cloak, greatcloak, kimono, longcloak, or shroud.

FauXojium

Teaser 7 - With a Flourish

Discord Message Link: With a Flourish
Author: GM Vanah
Date: 08/14/2024

Opening in Bloodriven Village in August 2024 is a shop named With a Flourish, which will sell certificates allowing you to add fluff-only verb traps to a variety of your own items. Flourishes are add-on scripts that can be applied to items in addition to scripts and subscripts. Cost of each certificate is based on the number of verb traps unlocked, If the script or multiple flourishes trap the same verb, the script will operate first, then flourish priority as shown and changed with the FLOURISH verb.

Ingrained Quality Shield

Available for: Wooden shield

Verb traps: COVER, PEER, PUSH, RAISE, TOUCH

Ingrained Quality Bow

Available for: Wooden bow or crossbow

Verb traps: GLANCE, LACE, POKE, POINT, PULL, PUSH, RUB, TOSS

Cost: 1,000 bloodscrip

Archer's Flair

Available for: bow or crossbow

Verb traps: LEAN, POINT, PULL, RUB

Cost: 500 bloodscrip

Ingrained Quality Runestaff

Available for: Wooden runestaves

Verb traps: GRIP, HUG, LEAN, POINT, SPIN

Cost: 750 bloodscrip

FauXojium Stave

Available for: runestaves

Verb traps: ATTEND, BOW, CLENCH, FLIP, LEAN, NUDGE, PINCH, POINT, POKE, PULL, PUSH, RAISE, RUB, SPIN, STAND, TAP, TILT, TOUCH, TRIP, TURN, WAVE

Cost: 2,500 bloodscrip

FauXojium Robe

Available for: robe, robes, burnoose, cape, cloak, greatcloak, kimono, longcloak, or shroud.

Verb traps: CLENCH, FOLD, GAZE, PINCH, PUNISH, RAISE, RUB, SHAKE, SPIN, TOUCH, TURN, TWITCH, LIE, KNEEL, SIT, STAND, WEAR, REMOVE

Cost: 2,500 bloodscrip

Battle Armor

Available for: leather or metal armor

Verb traps: WEAR, REMOVE, PULL, TAP, SLAP, PUNCH

Cost: 750 bloodscrip

Heavy Handed Sword

Available for: Claidhmore or Twohanded Sword

Verb traps: CLENCH, LEAN, PULL, PUSH, WAVE

Cost: 750 bloodscrip

Into Battle Axe

Available for: Handaxe or Battle Axe

Verb traps: CLENCH, PUSH, RAISE, RUB, WAVE

Cost: 750 bloodscrip

Stance Dancing Weapon

Available for: Weapons

Verb traps: TAP, RUB,, WAVE

Cost: 500 bloodscrip

Thousand Cuts

Available for: Weapons

Verb traps: BOW, COVER, DIP, PUSH, RAISE, THUMP, TURN, TWIST, WAVE

Cost: 1,000 bloodscrip

Sparks Fly

Available for: runestaff, wand, rod, baton, or scepter

Verb traps: BOUNCE, POSE, SHAKE, THUMP

Cost: 500 bloodscrip

Shaman's Rattle

Available for: runestaff, wand, rod, scepter, baton, rattle, idol, or totem

Verb traps: CHANT, GLANCE, SHAKE, RAISE

Cost: 500 bloodscrip

Unlike full Xojium Robes, FauXojium robes do not have the PUSH/PULL trap or feature altering abilities.

Unlike the Thousand Cuts in the script slot, the Flourish does not have the skill requirement for TWC ranks, so you will receive all of the verb traps, and not just fumbling around with your weapons.

Teaser 8 - The Ranger and the Demonspawn

Part 1

Discord Message Link: The Ranger and the Demonspawn
Author: GM Ethereal
Date: 08/15/2024

Lumnea 15, 5093. The lone ranger patrolled a wall that vanished into the horizon, its stone spine stretching endlessly in both directions. The days of stalking the forest for rare fauna and flora had long since faded into memory. Home was now a distant, dim echo, a comforting warmth replaced by the cold reality of her duty. Ba'Lathon. The Wizardwaste. Known by many names, to her, it signified one thing: monotony. Five miles northeast, ten miles southwest, five miles northeast again. Tomorrow would be just as today - an endless march through sameness, a dull echo of yesterday.

As the sun reached its zenith, she turned toward her outpost five miles away. Her thoughts wandered to simpler matters: food, water, and sleep. But those thoughts were abruptly banished when she felt it - a low, guttural growl at the edge of her hearing, quickly escalating into a shriek as stone crumbled underhoof. Perhaps, like her, it too was hungry.

Without hesitation, she drew her weapon—a radiant short sword, forged for this very moment. Her training, honed through years of discipline, coupled with a surge of adrenaline, steadied her hand and quickened her pulse. The seconds stretched into eternity as they engaged in a deadly dance, a brutal choreography of steel and fury.

It was over in a heartbeat. Her sword clattered to the ground behind the demonspawn, and she knew what would come next. She steeled herself, fixing her gaze on the creature, daring it to finish what it had started. It lunged, a blur of claws and fangs. As teeth and talons pierced armor and flesh, she shut her eyes and let her thoughts drift to home one last time.

When she opened them again, all that remained was a sizzling circle on the ground and her sword. She screamed.

Part 2

Discord Message Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1273884324197957674/1273884653673119815
Author: GM Ethereal
Date: 08/16/2024

Jastatos 8th, 5113. The lone ranger patrolled a wall that vanished into the horizon, its stone spine stretching endlessly in both directions. The days of stalking the forest for rare fauna and flora had long since faded into memory. Home was now a distant, dim echo, a comforting warmth replaced by the cold reality of his duty. Ba'Lathon. The Wizardwaste. Known by many names, to him, it signified one thing: monotony. Five miles northeast, ten miles southwest, five miles northeast again. Tomorrow would be just as today - an endless march through sameness, a dull echo of yesterday.

As the sun reached its zenith, he turned toward his outpost five miles away. His thoughts wandered to simpler matters: food, water, and sleep. But those thoughts were abruptly banished when he felt it - a low, deep thrum at the edge of his hearing, quickly escalating into a shriek as stone trembled and the ground shook.

Without hesitation, he drew his weapon—a radiant short sword, forged for this very moment. His training, honed through years of discipline, coupled with a surge of adrenaline, steadied his hand and quickened his pulse. The charred meat splattered into the center of a sizzling circle that had suddenly appeared on the ground. Huh. He sheathed his sword and continued back to his outpost. What an odd day.

Lathonian Leather

Discord Message Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1273884324197957674/1273884678247551060
Author: GM Ethereal
Date: 08/16/2024

Lathonian Leather

Releasing with the August 2024 run of Duskruin is a new material: Lathonian Leather! This material was developed for those who walk the demonwall to protect the Empire from the demonspawn that lurk in the Wizardwaste. This material is extremely reactive to attacks and, when struck, will attempt to banish the attacker to another plane of existence. Once the banishment wears off, the attacker will return to its point of departure, suffering damage as traveling across planes can be a bit hazardous. Here are the details:

My design goal was meant to give pures an interesting material to consider since options have typically been a bit scarce. The goal of this material is to protect them after being hit and give them some time to recover.

Shop: The Demon Drop

Availability: robes, light leather, and rigid leather only (ASG 2 and ASG 5-12).

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 and will negate it if successful.

Pricing: 100k OTS for lesser variants, 200k OTS for greater variants. A 100k upgrade certificate is available.

Material Details: The material increases player service difficulty by 100. It only uses the material slot, leaving the flare slot open.

Combat details: The armor will only trigger with the character is struck in combat. Misses will not trigger the material. This material will activate against AS/DS, UAF/UDF, and CS/TD resolutions.

Asked Questions:

Is it lanthonian or lathonian?
Lathonian. I'm bad at this game.

Does the creature return to the room or the player when banished?
The room they were banished from.

What happens if the player or creatures dies while banished?
They'll still return to the room they were banished from, assuming the creature hasn't decayed.

Are transmutes available?
Yes. They'll be avaialble when HESS opens. 250k to transmute to the greater version.

Do I suffer the damage from being hit?
No. The attack is negated and the attack simply poofs (assuming the SMR maneuver is successful).

Updates

Discord Message Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1273884324197957674/1275574453362757644
Author: GM Ethereal
Date: 08/20/2024

[Duskruin] Lathonian Leather Update

Several updates have been rolled out for Lathonian leather:

• The flare rate of the armor has been improved. It now (roughly) flares twice as often as normal flares.
• The material (both lesser and greater) now protects wearers against SMRv2 attacks.
• There is now a small delay before the attacker poofs to avoid goofy messaging.

The Demon Drop is open again in all instances. Enjoy!

Teaser 9 - Necromancy Lore Flares

Discord Message Link: Necromancy Lore Flares
Author: GM Nyxus
Date: 08/20/2024

[Necromancy Lore Flares Live]

Rotflares can now be converted to Necromancy Lore Flares by holding the armament in your right hand and executing FLOURISH CONVERT.

Do I need to convert my subscript to a flourish? No. You can leave it as is. However...

Why should I convert my subscript to a flourish?

• In some cases, like rage armor, converting the subscript to a flourish will provide a power boost.
• Combat flourishes cannot be added to an item with legacy subscripts (other subscripts that have been converted to Combat Flourishes), so converting your subscript to a combat flourish allows you to add more combat flourishes. Keep in mind that by default only one combat flourish will be active at a time. The active combat flourish can be selected via FLOURISH UP/DOWN while out of combat.

FLOURISH CONVERT, and General Flourish Certificate Requirements:

• You cannot have the same script on the item as a script or subscript AND a flourish at the same time, or both the legacy version and the flourish version at the same time (Example: You cannot have both Lesser Moods and Least Moods on the same item, but you can FLOURISH CONVERT Lesser Moods to Least Moods).
• Certain scripts like some historical morphing weapons will prevent the addition of Flourishes. If you run into these, please let me know and I would be happy to take a peek to see if this can be resolved!
• When adding flourishes, certain flourish scripts may have individual requirements. For example, lore flares must be applied to a weapon, runestaff, UCS gloves or boots.
• You can ANALYZE the certificate while holding your item while the certificate is for sale, and will see a message if your item is or is not compatible with the certificate.

What's Next? If this rollout goes well, FLOURISH CONVERT will be updated to support Flare Affinity, Rage Armor, and Notrot Flares.

All of these will be available for sale at this Duskruin!

Teaser 10 - Gilded Locus

Discord Message Link: Gilded Locus
Author: GM Nyxus
Date: 08/20/2024

[Duskruin / Ebon Gate / Rumor Woods] The Half-Elven Traveler, and the Gilded Locus

The gilded locus is a unique relic that is capable of granting vast enhancive power. It is an arcane invention of a multidisciplinary scholarly collective that incorporates techniques of lapidary work and glasswork with complex magical infusion. As an intricate, artistic construct that serves as an expansive repository for enhancive properties, any two loci are unlikely to be identical in either enhancive inscription or in form.

Players can receive a gilded locus with +1 max resource of the player's choice and 200/200 enhancive charges for free. The max resource will increase automatically as the player upgrades the locus. A player can have more than one locus, but only one locus can be used at a time, and loci are account attuned.

The locus can receive up to 20 enhancive properties.

• The locus has a unique inventory slot
• The locus can be upgraded at each run of Duskruin, Ebon Gate, and Rumor Woods
• Platinum and Shattered will receive a 75% discount

Pricing

The following prices reset each event:

• Add 1st property: 5k
• Add 2nd property: 25k
• 1st property boost: 5k
• 2nd property boost: 10k
• 3rd property boost: 15k
• 4th property boost: 25k
• 5th property boost: 35k

(the first two additions a locus receives will start at +5, subsequent additions will start at +1)

All property boosts include the following:

• The boost itself: the chosen property will be increased by +1
• The locus will receive one month of enhancive charging. During this time, it cannot lose charges. This bonus is stackable.
• The +max resource on the locus will be increased as a free bonus! For the first 50 boosts, the resource will increase at a 1:1 rate. For the next 50 boosts, it increase at a 1:2 rate. Then a 1:3 rate, and so on.

The half-elven traveler is giving away loci right now at Duskruin! She can be found with QUEST TRANSPORT DUSKRUIN, then one UP!