The Stone Eras - The First (essay)
Title: The Stone Eras - The First
Author: Geijon Khyree
(August 2010 - Jan 2012)
Grishom Stone first appeared as an entrepeneur in Wehnimer's Landing in the early fall for 5110 where he purchased Chol'gars bathhouse for renovations under the interim mayor Chambeli.
During the course of the attacks by the Summoners of the Arcane Eye with Albright and Raznel, Grishom briefly runs for Mayor while doing merchant work for people on the Albatross and during Frontier Days, he was endorsed by the Merchant's guild, but drops out quickly stating he had not been a citizen long and wishing to focus on his new business acquisitions. He endorses Chambeli in his speech. Grishom Stone is seen as charismatic and talkative in exchanges with locals.
Walkar Wellington wins the vote and is sworn in as mayor beating out Chatalaine Chembali and Barnom Slim.
The Orc Thrazyar is accused of aiding the summoners, and acting as an assasin while truthfully he was aiding the city.
Raznel increases her attacks on the city in the meantime with undead and plagues of disease all the while showing increasingly powerful attacks and the ability to transform herself into bugs to evade capture.
During a respite Willow Hall held a dance and ball event that Grishom attended with a woman identified as Ophilia from Ta'Illistim, visiting as a cartagropher. Grishom had previously shared a fondness for women with green eyes while flirting with women with such features during merchant work.
The following day Ophilia is holding a dagger wound to her stomach. She claims Grishom is the culprit and he is arrested. Later, after no evidence against Stone, the real body of Opilia is found and the imposter is arrested and taken back to Ta'Illistim. In transport to Ta'Illistim the wagons are attacked and burned. Her body is not located assuming she escaped.
Grishom announces new renovations to the Landing Museum he is funding and the following month opens up the Stone Baths. He is killed by Vylina, resurrected and she is expelled from town. It is later found she was possesed and Grishom asks for her to be forgiven, which Mayor Walkar does.
The Ta'Mori and other groups, including Greganth have secondary agendas they push forward. Much of it in opposition to Mayor Walker and in accrodance to revealing the suspected true nature of Grishom.
Rumors swirl that Grishom has an island near Mist Harbor and dealings out of Brisker cove, but nothing is substantiated yet.
An undead knight appears before the Order of the Silver Gryphon and warns to respect the "Eyes" and that there is power "Beyond the Arkati". Sir Cryheart and the Order had organized and instructed heavily on the defense of the city, combating particular attackers like the golems and namely the Vathor demons.
Women around the Landing begin hearing a mysterious voice. Riend and Vylina experience particularly strong visions and the same voice. Grishom has seemingly strong feelings or trust in Riend he shares with her on several occasions, professing affection if not outright love for her.
Grishom states that while Landing is his home, Mestanir is his place of birth and he lends all the aid afforded to him to it's defense. Riend and Greganth reached out to him, as friends. Due to the demonic threat he sends enchanted weapons to Mestanir that are able to pierce the strongest demons defenses. Riend is noticed at this point to be struggling in her feelings for Grishom while working to expose him.
Thayzar gives details involving the faux Odilia, Raznel and others, but its abstract and detailed information only comes to light much later.
Riend remains concerned and reaches out to Grishom. In reality she's being tormented by the ghost of a woman named Madelyne, Madelyne Cross, the daughter of Elithian. He offers to contact his resources in creation of a potion to free her of the possessive spirit.
Mestanir is beset by golem forces similar deployed through red portals. Baron Chydenar dispatches knights to defend his people. Portals open in Wehnimer's Landing to Mestanir proper.
Mayor Walker steals away to Mestanir to gain details regarding one named Elithain Cross or to confirm his suspicions that Grishom Stone is the leader of the Arcane Eyes. This coincides with the attacks on Mestanir and Walker is later rescued by a group of near two dozen from the Landing.
The attacks in Mestanir and the Landing intensify, but are repulsed. Sir Detlev comes to Wehnimer's Landing through a portal to give details.
Odilia is revealed as a woman named Arleasta. She is killed in Mestanir and letters from her lover Nysorm are revealed. Later, more details are mentioned that Grishom woed her and gives reasoning for Nysorm's the animosity towards him. On her death after a prolonged attack in Mestanir and Wehnimer's Landing the portals close and the attacks cease. The letters also portend to a "Him" who seeks to be worshipped, using the golems as a source of faith.
Victory is declared in Mestanir. Local heroes are recognized by Mayor Walkar and Baron Chydenar declares Grishom "Hero of Mestanir" marking the end of the conflict.
The apparition inflicting Riend remains a concern and during an appearance at Hearthstone an ethereal fog appears projecting Madelyn's death by Grishom, him preying and killing on green eyed, black haired women and finally as the red robed summoner creating the goldem, Mirayam. He denies it at the time.