A boy goes missing and more fell Ithzir influence in Olaestra 5116

It happened the 8th of Olaestra, 5116, in Wehnimer's Landing, as Irar chatted with Lord Clunk, master smith and longtime House Phoenix member and Palestra Blade Aurach about it a few days later. The two Lords fought together at Shadowguard against a shadow demon. Here, your humble correspondent reports a summary about the Ithzir, the death of the boy Jimmy, and the kidnapping of orphans from the Landing by Ithzir scouts.

Before Irar could relay his perspective of the events, Aurach felt it prudent to retell his account of happenings weeks prior. He described a mana storm around the Landing, with Melgorehn's Reach being particularly active. He recounted that there were several locations with active rifts, causing adventurers to be absconded. One of the spots, he mentioned, was the Hendoran Outpost. Aurach spoke of witnessing the Outpost disappear while at the Reach with Hapenlok, and that they heard the Ithziri language while they climbed. He mentioned that it was metallic, like the whispers that many adventurers have reported hearing in the following weeks.

Aurach went with Derogoaten to investigate at the Outpost, and finding a thin spot in the fabric of reality, Aurach was sent to a mist realm. He reported having to flee once the temperature there reached dangerous levels. He’d seen and heard an Ithzir while there, and his neck was touched. It took many healers to keep him alive afterwards. He then witnessed Lasindrel’s abduction from the Outpost ruins.

Correspondent Irar then recounted his version of events concerning the disappearance of Jimmy, and the incident that followed.

A sizeable group of adventurers ad gathered after witnessing a mother distressed about the disappearance of her son, Jimmy. She could not account for why he may be gone, but reported hearing “a metallic sound.”

The adventurers split into several groups to seek the boy, some staying in town, some venturing elsewhere. Irar was in a group deciding to investigate the Outpost for any signs of the boy. Whilst there, many of the adventurers reported hearing metallic whispers, and then a series of strange events happened.

Several of the adventurers in the area lost control of themselves in a variety of ways. Nosebleeds abounded, and this seemed to indicate being affected by the odd magical interference taking place. Balantine’s actions were of particular interest. He became unable to control his actions and began attacking comrades at random, as well as himself until he was incapacitated.

After some time, one member of the party, Alasatia, burst into flames. Nearly everyone in her vicinity also caught fire, and some fled to put out their own flames and heal. The only reported death was Dirra, and Aurach later revealed that not everyone caught fire, though he could not account for why.

Some time later, many received visions of the missing boy wandering through the streets of the Landing, with blue pupil-less eyes and weeping blue fluids from his eyes. He was spotted heading for the North Gate, and by the time Irar’s group arrived, he was dead. Empaths and clerics attended to him, but there was nothing that could be done.

Not too long after, Jimmy’s body started weeping more blue fluid and began to twitch. Suddenly, rift worms burst from his corpse, but were quickly slain by the large group present at the gate. Afterwards, adventurers again split up, Irar’s group went to monitor the Outpost, but were recalled when reports of Ithzir scouts in the small park in the Landing were made.

Immediately upon arrival, witnessing a short battle between Ithzir and Landing residents, Irar and all present were sucked into a rift. Irar had been wounded in the exchange, and took some time to find his way out of the rift, and by the time he exited, a battle had taken place at the orphanage. According to the guard there, many of the orphans were abducted by Ithzir.

Irar never witnessed the orphans' retrieval, if they ever were.

Some time after, the storms ended and the Landing was clear of Ithzir and conflict.

by Irar, TownCrier Correspondent