Ebon Gate Festival/saved posts 2024

General Information

General Information - Schedule

Discord Message Link: [1]
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 11/15/2023

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 4th at 9 PM Eastern, and closes on November 3rd at 11:59 PM Eastern.

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

10/4 - 10/11 - Platinum Live Games, Storyline & Quest Introduction

10/11 - 10/18 - Premium Live Games, Platinum Merchant Week

10/18 - 10/25 - Prime Merchant Week

10/25 - 10/29 - Storyline & Quest Closing

10/30 - 11/3 - Special Event (Not Delirium)

10/30 - 11/1 - No GM interactions

General Information - Reunion Vault

Discord Message Link: [ Reunion Vault]
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/29/2024

This year at Ebon Gates, we will be featuring the Reunion Vault.  It will have the following items inside:

• Two 25-use keys (for Trick-or-Treat, Herb Hunt)
• Two 25-use cubes (for Arena of the Abyss or the new game)
• +50% Exp - 30-day death certificate
• 90-use death’s sting salve
• Lotus Oil
• The Ferryman’s Lantern^
• A Glass Pane Folio^^

^The Ferryman’s Lantern (lore to be released soon) is a wrought iron lantern that is decided to be placed at the feet and will move on spindled legs with its owner.  It will provide ambient messaging that changes based on the Season, 4-specfic Holidays (Cholen’s Eve, Zelia’s Warning, Festival of Oleani, and Eve of Reunion), which glass panes are installed in the lantern, and if it is in Naidem.

The lantern has two special features, the ability to briefly steal light from the surrounding area or the ability to dispel local shadows.  These features can only be done in Naidem.

Each lantern has four windows, that can be fitted with panes found in the various games.

Additionally, the Lantern will tell the Tale of the Ferryman when appropriately manipulated.  This tale is portrayed through illusions, shadows, and a disembodied voice.

^^A glass pane folio is designed to hold your spare windowpanes when they are not installed in the lantern.  It can hold a total of 75 glass panes weightlessly.  Glass panes can be altered.

The lantern can be broken to obtain an RPA Orb.

Lanterns attune.

Learn the lore of The Lantern of the Ferryman.

Announcements

Announcement 1 - Hotel of Evermore Hollow

Discord Message Link: Hotel of Evermore Hollow
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/20/2024

Evermore Hollow’s Hotel

This year, Evermore Hollow’s premiere hotel is hosting a conference of the SPECTRE and SHADOW organization. Guests are coming from far and wide to gather within the hotel’s newest rooms.

Select guests will get to stay in the hotel in one of their recently renovated hotel suites and take part in the conference, allowing them the opportunity to visit the attic, library, ballroom, kitchen, dining room, sitting room, and ride in the lifts.

Starting this weekend, ten invitations will go out via the feeder system. These invitations will grant you access to the conference and much more.

Starting on October 1st, 20 invitations will go on sale. We will release a few each day and at a variety of days and times.

Please join us at our Discord Post or on our Ebon Gate Saved Posts page on the Player Wiki to review our Q & A about this exciting announcement.

Q & A

Question – What is SPECTRE and SHADOW?

Answer - SPECTRE and SHADOW are a series of acronyms. They stand for:

Sorcerers, Practitioners, Enchanters, Conjurers, Thaumaturges, Researchers, and Evokers
Seers, Hypnotists, Astrologers, Diviners, Occultists, Witches

Question – What does the conference entail?

Answer – The conference begins on opening night of the Ebon Gate Festival in Naidem. Guests are encouraged to arrive at the hotel starting at 10:30 pm EDT, and throughout the evening into the night. The conference has a full schedule, which I’m happy to share here:

Event Schedule:

Day of the Huntress

Welcome Reception: A light affair and social hour where you can mingle with fellow attendees before retiring to your rooms.

Feastday

Breakfast: Start your day with a delightful breakfast while meeting other guests.

Morning Workshops: Engage in workshops led by our esteemed speakers.

Lunch: Enjoy a leisurely lunch with fellow practitioners.

Afternoon Sessions: Attend presentations and discussions on the latest in magical research and practices.

Grand Masquerade Ball: The highlight of the event, featuring a sumptuous dinner served small-plates style and an evening of dance and mystery.

Restday:

Farewell Brunch: Conclude the convention with a delightful brunch and final opportunities to connect with new friends.

Question – What do I get for participating?

Answer – 30 adventurers will get to take part in a unique weekend long RP event, obtain a key to a 2-room suite within the hotel, as well as some goodies! Here’s just a few things for you to consider:

Opening Gift – Invitation to the SPECTRE and SHADOW conference, a key to the 2-room hotel suite, 3 opportunities for a private merchant session, access to restricted rooms in the hotel (your key allows you entry), and a fully unlocked Naidem Mask.

Weekend Event Items – Access to the individual conference panels and workshops, access to 3 merchant sessions, a Grand Masquerade Ball, and multiple meals.

Closing Gift – The ability to SPLIT your key into two so that a friend can stay with you in the hotel, allowing them access to it after the opening weekend, a 5-count alteration book, a 25-count event booklet (key), and a few other goodies that we’d like to keep a surprise.

Question – Can you explain the splitting of the key?

Answer – Of course! Sunday, October 6, 2024, you can SPLIT your key. This second key can be given to one friend. For the remainder of the Ebon Gate 2024 run, your friend can join you in your hotel room. At the end of this year's run, the key becomes a souvenir but no longer provides access to the hotel.

Question – What should we be looking for?

Answer – Much like the Taffy Quest, the Map Quest, the Caligos Advertisement Scrolls, and the Crows Quest from Ebon Gate of yore, the item will be in the feeders and you’ll be able to open it. There’s a chance that an embossed leather luggage tag will stay behind. This is your prize into the event.

Question – How do we get our key? Is it in the feeders?

Answer – Your key will be delivered to you through the player mail. As will each goodie bag leading up to and after the event.

Question – Should I plan to be available for the whole weekend?

Answer – Yes! We’ve packed it full of roleplaying and individual merchant time. But we also have a schedule that can be viewed as soon as you either win or purchase your hotel room. ```

Question - If I wanted to purchase this, what would it cost?

Answer - 15,000 SimuCoins

Question – What are the actual days of this special event, should you get a ticket?

Answer – Opening Weekend, 10:30 pm on October 4th, 2024, to approximately 3ish on October 6th.

Question - When do the invitations become available in the feeder?

Answer – I’m aiming for tomorrow morning. An announcement will go out.

Question – How will the sales be done?

Answer – Starting on October 1st, each day until EG opens the store will have a small batch of available tickets for sale. They will go on sale at various times to ensure that we spread out the availability and opportunities.

Question - Are loot-capped characters able to find the invitations, or is this predicated on not being loot-capped?

Answer – This is a special thing and shouldn’t be affected by the loot cap.

Question – Is the key attuned? Could I find it on one character but let another character use it?

Answer – I’m putting all the luggage tags inside an Ebon Envelope. When you open the envelope, and the tag is in your hand, it has a chance to turn into something else. If it turns into a raven, then you have not won the entry. However, if it turns into something else then it attunes to you. My recommendation would be to only open envelopes with the person you want to go to the event.

Question – Is this replacing the EG Storyline RP?

Answer – Absolutely not! We are excited for this year’s storyline, titled: The Ivsenra's Fate. The storyline will start once the weekend is over.

Announcement 2 - Mandrake Lore

Discord Message Link: Mandrake Lore
Author: GM Xynwen
Date: 9/21/2024

[Ebon Gate] New Lore - The Mandrake and the Witch
**NOTE** *There are some dark themes in this, so just be aware.*

Ever wonder how our beloved mandrake pets came to be? Well, wonder no more -- I present, mandrake lore!

Wiki Page: The Mandrake and the Witch
Forum Discussion Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1287152224526536797

Announcement 3 - Trove (part 1)

Discord Message Link: [2]
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/24/2024

Starting on October 11th at approximately 9 pm EDT (look for specific announcements both in-game and on Discord), the Trove will return and run until October 30th.  We have approximately 100 personal customizations (some that are class-specific) and a variety of unique items that will be offered out of Gavelsdown Hall.

During that same time frame, the shop “The Roof Over” will also have a variety of offerings for those individuals who are property owners.  This year, there is an update to qualifications.  Some prizes will be able to be used by MCP (Middle Class Properties).

This is a soft announcement so that folks can start planning.  We will provide a greater list in the days ahead.

Here is some information you may need:

•    You can buy a token from the gjenganger in Gavelsdown Hall. From the entry GO DOOR.

•    A token costs 100,000 silvers.

•    You can enter only** 1 token per trove.**

•    You must have **a service pass to participate.**

•    There are four troves in Gavelsdown Hall. GO ARCH from the entry. The trove through the arch is the items, the troves NORTH are all delayed service troves.

•    The trove pulls at approximately 9 PM EDT every 24 hours for the next 24 days.

•    If you are a private property owner, you can go to The Roof Over and GO DOOR to use your token.

•    If you are in the game at the time of the drawing, you will get a notification.

•    If you are NOT in the game at the time of drawing, all you have to do is log in and you will get a monster bold message every few moments reminding you to pick up your prize. The monster bold message is: **Congratulations! You are now the proud owner of <item>! Return to the raffle area to collect your item.   Please note that you will not be able to enter another raffle until you have done so. In addition, items not picked up before the next raffle draw will be forfeited!**

•    You have 24 hours to pick up your prize or it is forfeit.

•    You can get your prize from the RACK in the trove room. Only the winner can do this.

Discord Trove Discussion:

Discord Private Property Trove Discussion

Announcement 4 - Luminary Festival

Discord Message Link: Harvest Luminary Festival
Author: GM Xynwen
Date: 9/25/2024

Ebon Gate 2024-Introducing the Harvest Luminary Festival
The Harvest Luminary Festival is an annual tradition amongst Naidem residents, and finally, they are ready to let everyone attend.

This mini-festival-within-the-festival will run October 30 - November 3. It's meant to be a simple, fun way to relax and get a bit of a carnival atmosphere at the end of Ebon Gate.

Details are forthcoming, but below is a bit of information and the lore behind it.

Features:

• Return of the Midway Games: There are no jackpots for this return, but you can earn general tickets to spend on prizes
• Prize Walls: There will be "prize walls" for you to spend your general tickts on for prizes. Examples you may expect to see are customs from Caligos and a few other items.
• Prize Piles: There will be prize piles similar to what was seen at Delirium Manor at Naidem in 2023

Lore:
There is a new flower, the wisp lanterns, that are portrayed on this year's artwork. Similar to the real life lanternberries (aka Chinese Lanterns), wisp lanterns have a bit of a Naidem twist to them. These will be special forageables found on the Harvest Luminary Festival grounds.

New gems, wispstones, can now also drop in Naidem.

Harvest Luminary Lore: Harvest_Luminary_Festival_Traditions
Harvest Luminary Discussion Link: Discord Forum Discussion

Announcement 5 - Hotel Find Update

Discord Message Link: [3]
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/25/2024

Hotel Finding Adjustments

We've decided to make the following changes to the Hotel Key lottery:

• CLAIM will have 1 envelope in it starting on October 1st. It will be available until October 3rd. You may CLAIM once per account.
• On October 1st, only creatures that generate boxes will have an opportunity to discover an envelope.
• On October 1st, 5 keys to the hotel will be sold at roughly 3pm and then another 5 at 9pm.
• On October 2nd, 5 keys will be sold at roughly 3pm and then another 5 at 9pm.
• Hotel Stays attune, this includes those sold in the SimuCoin store. Those found in envelopes attune upon opening the envelope.
• Do not purchase a Hotel Stay if you intend on reselling it, that isn’t an option.
• Do not open an envelope if you intend on reselling it, that isn’t an option.

Announcement 6 - Live Games and Costume Contest

Discord Message Link: Costume Contest
Author: GM Xynwen
Date: 9/27/2024

Ebon Gate - Platinum and Prime Live Games Schedule
Please see the calendar or the discord link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1289328723023233046 for the 2024 EG Live Games Schedule.

Wiki: Ebon Gate Festival/2024 Live Games

Ebon Gate Prime Costume Contest
Date: October 27, 2024 at noon ET
Discussion: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1289348289845788744
Wiki: https://gswiki.play.net/Ebon_Gate_Festival/2024_Costume_Contest

Announcement 7 - Hotel Contest Begins

Discord Message Link: Hotel Suite Contest Begins
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/30/2024

Hotel Stay Contest Begins!
Starting at 1am on October 1, 2024, treasure chests across Elanthia will have a chance to produce a gold-inked ebon vellum envelope.

Upon opening the envelope, you will have a chance to find one of ten luggage tags.

Here are some important things to remember:

• Do not open the envelope if you do not want to win the hotel stay. Instead, wait until we announce that all ten have been found and then open your envelope for a small token.
• Hotel Tags attune upon being found. If you win it, then you are expected to attend a weekend at the Evermore Hollow Hotel.
• Any box that is created has a chance to have an envelope in it. Yes, this includes OSA.
• The envelope will ONLY generate within a box.
• You can “vaporize” your boxes without any fear of vaporizing an envelope, but please be aware that your envelope will end up on the ground and open for anyone to pick up. Do this with caution.

Also starting at 1am, you may use CLAIM once per account to obtain a gold-inked ebon vellum envelope. This is your free chance to find a tag.

Free-to-Play accounts do not qualify for CLAIM or the Contest.

SimuCoin Hotel Stays

• On October 1st, 5 keys to the hotel will be sold at roughly 3pm and then another 5 at 9pm.
• On October 2nd, 5 keys will be sold at roughly 3pm and then another 5 at 9pm.
• There will be an in-game and Discord Announcement when they go on sale.

All Other SimuCoin Sales

• Keys, Cubes, and the Reunion Vault will go on sale on October 4th.
• Trick-or-Treating, Herb Hunt, and Arena of the Abyss will open on the 4th along with the grounds.
• Necropolis will open on the 18th and run for the remainder of the Event.

Teasers

Teaser 1 - Twisted Armor, Shields, and Weapons in Evermore Hollow

Discord Message Link: Twisted Armor/Shields/Weapons
Author: GM Marstreforn
Date: 9/20/2024

This year at Ebon Gate, a handful of new armament shops will be opening in Evermore Hollow.

Twisted Glory: Twisted Weapons - Lightning Edition, Twisted Armor - Lightning Edition, and Twisted Shields - Lightning Edition

Twisted Lodge: Twisted Shields - Vacuum, Fire, and Frost Editions

Fortified: Twisted Armor - Vacuum, Fire, and Frost Editions

Premiering this event are the Lightning Editions for Twisted Weapons, Twisted Shields, and Twisted Armor.

Teaser 2 - Life Aquatic - Fishing Tier

Discord Message Link: Life Aquatic - Fishing Tier
Author: GM Marstreforn
Date: 9/22/2024

Available at Rodnir's Bait and Tackle this Ebon Gate, the Life Aquatic device, unlocks, and collection pail will be sold for soul shards.

Additionally, a new stand-alone unlock is available for the devices. This unlock allows you to POINT the device at a freshly caught fish, and store its essence in the device as usual.

Special thanks to GM Vanah and APM Thandiwe for this awesome update!

Teaser 3 - Fisherman's Hat

Discord Message Link: - Fisherman's Hat
Author: GM Marstreforn
Date: 9/23/2024

Available at Rodnir's Bait and Tackle this Ebon Gate!

This hat is a Fisherman's Hat. It is designed to be decorated with a gem, feather, gem insect or sea creature, fishing lure, pointed item or fastener, or other miscellaneous item. Miscellany includes foraged items, skins, shells, and other larger non-gem treasure items.

Extra special huge thanks to GM Vanah for working on this project with me.

Teaser 4 - Kaleidoscopes

Discord Message Link: Kaleidoscopes
Author: GM Xynwen
Date: 9/24/2024

Script Update - Kaleidoscopes
Just in time for Ebon Gate, the old kaleidoscope scripts were updated! There were three very similar, very old scripts that had different "views." With this update, all 3 scripts have been combined into 1, with all messaging options from all 3 scripts retained.

Script Wiki Link: https://gswiki.play.net/Kaleidoscope_Toy (Warning: I've thrown bare bones on here, and it's not even formatted right yet)
Forum Discussion Link (includes additional details): https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1288182040826744884

Teaser 5 - Storyline

Discord Message Link: Storyline
Author: GM Xynwen
Date: 9/24/2024

Ebon Gate 2024-Storyline Info - The Ivsenra's Fate & (Redacted)
Greetings, my lovely Ebon Gaters! For 2024, we are pleased to present The Ivsenra's Fate as our primary storyline. Right now, not a lot is being released about this, because we're not quite ready, but I'm starting this thread for random speculations and so I can drop hints as I feel like it!

This year will have a combination of live RP and quests you can do around the storyline.

In addition, there is going to be something else, a sort of "side-storyline," but that's all I'm going to say about that.

Wiki Storyline Page: https://gswiki.play.net/The_Ivensra%27s_Fate_(storyline)
Discussion Forum Link: https://discord.com/channels/226045346399256576/1288568751104720907

Teaser 6 - Juggling Orbs

Discord Message Link: Juggling Orbs
Author: GM Xynwen
Date: 9/30/2024

Just in time for Ebon Gate 2024, an old juggling orb script has been updated. Originally created by GM Krash in 1999, the updated version keeps his original messaging with a few minor tweaks for grammar. In addition, a new tier has been added. At Tier 2, you can choose "masterful," "inept," or "average" juggling skills. There are also updated alteration guidelines (see the analyze).

All pre-existing ones are at T1, which incorporates all the original verbs and messaging.

If you wish to buy a set, or unlock a set, you can head over to the Garden of Shadows in the Winterbriar neighborhood and go into the ziggurat, once Ebon Gate opens.

Wiki page: Juggling Orbs

Teaser 7 - Jeepers Creepers at Piper's Peepers

Discord Message Link: Jeepers Creepers
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/30/2024

This Ebon Gate visit Naidem and purchase one of Piper’s Spyglasses. This spyglass is part of the Jeepers Creepers (Where’d You Get those Peepers) Series and will introduce Elanthians to the world of birds!

With three tiers available now, and one later down the road, Jeepers Creepers follows the same line as Bugs on Parade and Life Aquatic, allowing you to venture forth and find birds! In this series, you will find paper birds, bird gemstones, bird candy, a bird cage, and a feather holder.

But that’s not all! A tier 3 (the Candy unlocking tier) you’ll have a pretty good chance to find a feather laying around in the terrain where you found a bird. Paper Birds are different in the Jeepers Creepers Series as instead of looking for the noun of the bird to determine the paper, it instead remembers the TOWN (or nearest location) it was found in and provides you with a design based on that area.

Gem Birds and Candy Birds are unchanged from the other two series.

Both the Bird Cage and the Feather Holder can house 45 different birds/feathers!

For a preview of the system, visit our Wiki.

Wiki for Jeepers Creepers: Jeepers Creepers Series

Teaser 8 - Nereid's Voice

Discord Message Link: Nereid’s Voice
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/30/2024

Step into Nereid's Voice, where whispers of the ocean meet the artistry of sound. Delve into a world of enchanting tones and exquisite craftsmanship, as we unveil a new instrument that embodies the essence of the sea. Fashioned of clay, wood, ceramic, or metal, this one-of-a-kind instrument can be yours!

Whether you're a seasoned musician or a curious newcomer, discover the magic that lingers in the air. Come listen to the gentle echoes and let your imagination dive into the depths of musical wonder. Your journey to a new sound begins here!

This year at Ebon Gate, we are introducing a new instrument! The OCARINA!

Here is a sampling of the music:

• Joyful

You play a rapid series of trills on an ocarina, the notes bouncing in a lively rhythm like droplets dancing on a leaf after the rain.

• Mournful

You let an ocarina's hollow notes seep into the air, the tune heavy and languid, like the tears of an old, forgotten memory.

• Softly

Your fingers move delicately across an ocarina, pulling forth a serene tune that flows like a calm stream, each note smooth and quiet.

• Fast

Your fingers race across an ocarina, producing a flurry of quick, vibrant notes that dance through the air with playful energy.

And so much more!