Elaejia (prime)/2023-05-20 - Lost in the Mist (Player-Run Storyline Arc)

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This is a creative work set in the world of Elanthia, attributed to its original author(s). It does not necessarily represent the official lore of GemStone IV.

Title: Lost in the Mist

Author: Elaejia Silithyr Loenthra

OOC Note: The Lost in the Mist player-run storyline took place between April and May of 2023. It was written and conceived by the players of Uniana and Teveriel Anduin, and this page is a consolidation of Elaejia's experience in that arc.

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Evening One

Gilded Talon Consortium Announcement ~ On the evening of Charlatos the 10th, there will be a mandatory fleet inspection of all vessels moored in Mistwatch that fly the under the Gilded Talon flag. Please have your ship out and make sure to inform one of the chairs that you are participating in the inspection. We will begin half past eight in the evening.

Storyline Event Recap: After an inspection of some of the ships moored in Mistwatch, the group retired to the newly opened Spirit of the Mists for socialization. Then an agent of the Gilded Talon found Lord Anduin and informed him that a ship from the fleet was over their arrival time by an entire day. The Gilded Talon is asking all allies to keep their eyes on the seas open for the "Carmine Triumph" a merchant-class carrack vessel, crafted of pine with a dark red wash along the waveline. Captained by Seveintine Marest, it is rumored that they may have hit bad weather after departing from Loenthra.

• Elaejia hears about the loss of the Gilded Talon vessel, and makes a note to keep abreast of the details of this event as it unfolds. Heavily involved with intercity trade, the Silithyrs have a strong interest in understanding the perils and risks of the business.

• Aboard the deck of the Spirit of the Mists, several Elves from around the western City-States are curious as well, and offer to assist in the search effort.

• Elaejia learns that a shipment of items she was herself expecting is among those lost with the Carmine Triumph. She and Aendir attempt to increase the likelihood that their items will be recovered by offering a large reward.

• Elaejia begins her own contribution to the search by seeking information from her network of informers. Several letters fly among the interested parties.

Evening Two

Gilded Talon Consortium Announcement ~ Still no word of the Crimson Triumph, the Gilded Talon gathers the manifest for review. The consideration is that if the vessel has been claimed by pirates that some of the cargo will no doubt start showing up on the black markets.

Storyline Recap: Those present continued to consider ways to track down the missing carrack, the Carmine Triumph. After reviewing copies of the ship's manifest it was determined that the only traceable goods would be a series of antiques. An agent of the Gilded Talon has been tasked with following up on the Loenthra side to retrieve bills of lading with the exact description of the items.

Lord Yavs was present and suggested that his understanding is that the ship is indeed lost to the depths as well as the crew, but it was not the doing of Ghezresh. Many remain hopeful given that the crew is skilled, the ship had lifeboats and Ghezresh is perhaps a most unreliable narrator. Even still, there is a policy by the Gilded Talon that ships not returned to their port of call within a two week window are considered lost and thus if no sign of the ship turns up a memorial will be held next week. Those who attend are asked to bring pearls to leave in honor of the lost crew.

Evening Three

Gilded Talon Consortium Announcement ~ Memorial for the lost ship, Carmine Triumph - Participants are encouraged to bring tokens of pearl to return back to the sea.

Storyline Recap: With no sight or word of the missing carrack, a memorial was held for the crew of the Carmine Triumph. Families, friends, dockhands and neighboring crews were there to honor those who are seemingly lost to the depths. Chair of the Gilded Talon Consortium, Teveriel gave a statement of condolences along with a pledge to fully compensate the families of missing crew. Yanias, the first mate who stayed ashore to care for her sick loved one, gave a brief eulogy about what it means to be a part of a crew. Carew offered kind words and a fitting austere dirge to mark the sorrowful evening. Those gathered returned pearls back to the sea and received pieces of amber jewelry, an Ashrim tradition that promises safety for those who take to the ocean. In a desire to return to normalcy after so much bereavement the Gilded Talon is hosting their first ever OCEAN fishing contest next week with prizes being silvers, a fully unlocked survival kit, a custom gown, and an indigo orb.

Evening Four

Gilded Talon Consortium Announcement ~ The fishing contest was a success and bass seemed to be biting! Syari and Yardie both took prizes for winning individual rounds. During a third round when bass suddenly seemed elusive, Vandraxas, the agent of the Gilded Talon was anxious to reach Teveriel with some unsettling news. Vandraxas discovered through a close acquaintance that Yanias is not who she has appeared to be. Taking a direct approach for answers, Teveriel instructed the group to visit her home where she was to be tending her sick partner only to find that the details of her residence had also been a lie.

Storyline Recap: Placeholder text.

Evening Five

Gilded Talon Consortium Announcement ~ Reviewing the bills of lading in detail to determine the exact cargo on the lost carrack, the Carmine Triumph. It's going to be a night of surprises.

Storyline Recap: After being presented with the bills of lading and matching them to the original manifest it was determined that one slip regarding a crate full of antiques was absent. Aendir Silithyr, the financer, spoke up and stated that a crate of antiques was coming from a member of the the Silithyr family. Particularly of interest is a vase that his fiancee Elaejia, a benefactress of the arts was hoping to form an exhibit around at the Ilyan Syndicate's base of operations at the Illithien Aerie.

Though there was suggestions that the natural of the vase might be borne in superstition, there is nothing mystical about the ten million silvers Aendir is putting up for information leading to its return. It was suggested that those willing to locate the missing might search either the Library Aies, the Museum Alerreth or even some of the leads gathered by Vandraxas to uncover more details about a cobalt-hued labyrinthine vase or even about Yanias, the suspicious first mate.

Effects

Your legs feel leadened, your feet shoot a stinging pain up your calf with each step. How long have you been walking? Before you can answer you take another step to the left and then without questioning continue on your trek. The sounds of waves crashing grow closer and suddenly your feet are submerged into cold water. It would almost be refreshing save the infinite tiny grains of sand beneath your skin slipping away as roughly as a sliver of jagged glass. The receding waves leave behind imprints in the water, long rectangular doorways that brim with light on the other side. A sleeper wave suddenly overtakes you and drags you out into the dark water, the doors opening as you fight against the riptide. 

An endless labyrinthine library. 

A balcony looking out into cloud-covered mountains. 

A hellscape of undead and flying monstrosities. 

Blackness envelops your vision and your lungs begin to fill with water as a hand wraps around your wrist. A modulated feminine voice seems to push back the water, “How unusual. You should not be here.”