Ebon Gate Festival/saved posts 2026
Announcements
Announcement 1 - Dates
Ebon Gate Festival Runs from October 9th - November 3rd
Announcement 2 - Feeder Fun
Discord Message Link: [1]
Author: GM Thandiwe
Date: 9/26/2026
Leaves have begun to fall as the year turns toward its quiet sleep, the veil between Elanthia and the twilight of Naidem grows as brittle and thin as a held breath. Strange things have begun to drift across the threshold between the living and unliving, washing ashore like forgotten flotsam from a dream. What purpose do they carry? Will their forms take root and linger in the waking world, or dissolve back into the mist that birthed them? Few can tell, though those who listen closely to the dark may soon begin to understand.
From now until the gates of the festival open, feeders across the realms will occasionally drop unique curiosities. Some of these oddities will fade away once their secrets are shared, while others will hold their shape, waiting for observant hands to coax their meaning into the light. Enjoy the hunt and welcome the unfolding mystery!
Announcent 3 - News & Updates
We've been working hard; the day is nearly here, and we are as excited as you are to return to Naidem. With October 1st on the horizon, and the opening close on its heels, we’ve got a lot of updates and changes to share with you.
Evermore Hollow Hotel
We’ve heard your discussion and feel your concern; there were many pain points about the hotel stay that were confusing or upsetting to some players. As such, we are taking the following steps to ease confusion and merchant anxiety.
There is a new hotel verb that will present you with information on your stay. Primarily, it will tell you if you have a reservation or not. It can be used with HOTEL or HOTEL HELP. This verb will be live soon.
All hotel stay purchasers, regardless of whether it is a suite or a regular room, will be able to SPLIT their key upon receiving it and gift it to whomever they desire. Additionally, we’ve done away with waiting around for a merchant to get to your floor. Instead, we’ve increased the alteration book count to 10, and you will receive it immediately in your welcome package.
Conference goers will still receive a single ‘pass’ into the conference areas, which will be opened up once the conference is over.
Distribution:
Batches of 6 Suites & 9 Room Hotel Stays
- Tuesday, October 6 - 9 am, Noon, 3 pm, 9 pm, Midnight
Raffle for Hotel Room Stay:
- In Zul Logoth - 1 - Prime - 9 pm - October 7
- Mist Harbor - 2 - Premium - 10 pm - October 7
- Mist Harbor - 2 - Platinum - 11 pm - October 7
The cost to enter the raffle is 250,000 silvers.
Merchant Week
Over the years, we’ve heard various discussions, suggestions, and requests for Merchant Week. There have been folks who stress about how the merchant pass works, getting it, using it, and then forgetting to rip it for their gift. Others purchase a pass and then find they can’t use it because life gets in the way. Last year, we tried something new. This year, we are trying something else.
Condensing Merchant Week
We are condensing Merchant Week to run from Friday the 16th at noon through Tuesday the 20th at midnight. We’ve found over the years that the full 7 days is too much on staff, leading to longer ASSIST queues as players get items fixed due to errors made during the fatigue.
No More Merchant Pass
That’s right, going forward there will not be a need to purchase a merchant pass. Having a pass created an expectation for players regarding services, and for 61.6% of those players, the expectation was not a reality and led to deep disappointment, with many of them unable to receive even one service. Therefore, instead of a pass, services, raffles, and merchant work will be handled as follows:
Merchant Work:
Spinners have been reconfigured to require the person spun to confirm they want the work. Each merchant has the ability to set how long the confirmation time will last, but the default is 30 seconds. Winners will confirm on the WORK LIST attached to the spinner by TICKLing it, which will automatically deduct a Soul Shards fee for the service. All work will have a minimum fee of 1,000 Soul Shards. Some services may require a higher fee, but this will be explicitly stated and part of your confirmation. You may DENY by TAPping the associated work list.
If for some reason, your requested work gets denied, then the merchant will refund you. You will get confirmation of this as well.
- Here is what that looks like in practice:
The dark mahogany spoon comes to a stop, pointing directly at you! You have been selected by Ayleano's dark mahogany spoon. To confirm that you want this service, TICKLE Ayleano's work list within the next 30 second(s). If you would like to decline, TAP Ayleano's work list within the next 30 second(s). A fee of 1,000 soul shards will be deducted from your balance when you confirm. The dark mahogany spoon continues to spin about, seeking someone else...
Confirmation:
>tickle list Confirming will finalize your service and deduct 1,000 soul shards from your balance (you currently have 14,000). If you are sure, TICKLE Ayleano's work list again in the next 30 second(s). >tickle list You tickle Ayleano's work list and confirm your service. 1,000 soul shards have been deducted from your balance (NEW balance: 13,00).
What it looks like if your time elapses:
Your time to confirm the service on Ayleano's work list has run out. Your name has been removed from it. >tickle list You tickle Ayleano's work list, but nothing happens. Either you have not been selected for this service, or your window to confirm has already passed.
What it looks like if you don't confirm:
Your time to confirm the service on Ayleano's work list has run out. Your name has been removed from it.
What it looks like if your service type is denied:
Your place on Ayleano's work list has been withdrawn, and 1,000 soul shards have been returned to you.
If for some reason, you log out after a denial and before your refund can be processed, then you can ASSIST to have it returned.
- All of the above messages are in monster bold.
How We Came to Pricing
We found the total of all service passes sold, multiplied it by cost, then divided it by services received. We are pretty confident this is a fair and equitable service cost per item. It adds value to your soul shards, too.
Last Year's Passes
For those of you who found yourselves inundated with passes, fear not. You'll be able to destroy the pass for 20 barrel keys.
The Trove is Retired
We are retiring the Trove. Instead, we are focusing on raffles, with the really high-end Trove items moving to the Auction. This includes Private Property Trove.
Raffle Updates:
Raffles have been updated to allow for the winning items to be sent directly to the winner via the PLAYER MAIL system. The entry fee for all raffles will be 100 silvers. Winners will pay a COD of a minimum of 1,000 soul shards, with others being higher based on the item being offered. All raffles will list COD costs on their signs where they apply. Wherever possible, all raffles will be marked for offline drawing.
Live Games
- Live Games will continue again this year. They will take place over the weekend of the 24th and 25th. There will be four games.
- Also, Seynne will be running her games outside of Merchant Week. You can look for her on the 21st and 22nd.
Vault Update
The Spidersilk Apothecary takes on a new cosmetic look this year to help you differentiate it from last year’s box. This year, it is an octagonal witchwood apothecary. When you look at it, you’ll see the bronze hooks.
The apothecary will come with 10 Transmorphing Spiders. They are:
- The Confectionery Spider – This spider takes any foraged item and turns it into a spun-sugar specimen. It can be eaten for a tasty, sweet treat.
- The Websmith Spider – This spider takes 1 row from a skein of yarn and turns it into 25 pieces of {yarn adjective} yarn for weaving.
- The Minimalist Spider – This spider will remove the long description from any qualifying item.
And lastly, you’ll get 7...
- Metallurgy Spiders – These spiders will change the base metal of a piece of jewelry to the metal of the spider. This year, the apothecary comes with a gold, white gold, rose gold, copper, sterling silver, faenor, and vaalorn spider.
- None of the Transmorphing Spiders can be altered.
In lieu of a searchable spiderweb, a new shop has been added to the Graveyard. Inside it, you’ll find the new Alteration Spiders. These spiders will allow you to add long descriptions to:
- Chopsticks
- Utensils
- Cigars
- Paper
Lastly, fishing has been updated to offer alteration spiders as prizes.
The House of Spider item has been retired, as each apothecary houses 80 spiders. We are providing you with 10, so you’ve got room to collect another 70.
The Vault will be updated to mirror other event vaults.
Speaking of fishing...
Fishing Updates
Fishing has been broken for a while, but we are moving it into the same odds as the Duskruin Boosts (1d250). Many of the prizes in fishing have been updated, but this will be the last year for fishing. Those prizes will be moved to a new event next year.
Witch's Hut and Arena of the Abyss
As mentioned last year, entry to these activities was updated to match the universal barrel key entry. The rewards have been updated to match the appropriateness of the entry (ie: soul shard return and incidentals).
Sonreeva will also be changed to a flat-cost entry. This new cost will cover the upgrade of the thumb-ring.
There will be more information on this during opening week.
Guide Book to the Unliving
The guidebook has had a couple of updates. Primarily, obtaining one has been updated to QUEST. Additionally, you will now be transported directly TO the merchant in the list, provided that you are IN Naidem.
Last Year of the Mandrake
This year will be the last time you can find the Mandrake in the Herb Hunt. Next year will see a new prize.