Category:Wicked Times (storyline)

Note: To see the culmination of this storyline, see the Linden tree adventure (saved post).

1

Find a blade that's known no blood.
And cut the wood, soft and light.
Find the plant that heals the head.
Gather the blooms, bonny and bright.
Fetch the water that burns so nice.
Bring the vat to hold the soup.
Fire it all with the purest flame
To make the wand that saves the group."

2

"What's wrong with baby? She looks so still.
The white one comes and eats its fill.
What's wrong with grandad? Screams and moans.
The white one comes and cracks his bones.
What's wrong with momma, what's wrong with son?
The black one comes, eats everyone."

3

"Beneath a tree that grows too fast
Gather the few, gather the few.
Follow the root to the distant past.
The beast pursue, the beast pursue."

4

"Light soft wood, good good good.
Virgin blade on the branch is laid.
The stalk that heals a new side reveals.
Blossoms yellow, that's a good fellow.
In a big old pot, make it nice and hot.
With the water of life it could clear the strife."

5

"Sunny morning, sunny day.
The children go outside to play.
Day so pretty, sky so blue
Mom and dad so proud of you
Something happen to your head.
Something come and kill you dead."

6

"Where do they go, the taken ones?
Away from the sun, away from the sun.
Where do they take the sweetest fruit?
Find the root, find the root.
Where do they go, the old and slow?
Down below, down below."

7

"Danger, danger underfoot
Kiss the child goodbye
Gammy, gammy, gammy's gone
Wonder wonder why
Nobudy here?
They all dissappear!"

8

"A blade clean as new cuts a bough from a tree.
A pot that's shaped like the hive of a bee.
A head-healing herb joins a golden flower
With the water of life to save the hour."

9

"Tree, tree newly seen
Razor blade, razor keen
Juice, juice ,very mean
Weed, weed fresh and dirty
Bloom, bloom very purty
Pot, pot oh so sturdy
Mixing them and hopin
Eyes and mind wide open."

I was passing by and noticed this thread again.

Below is a posted log by Carabele in Nov of 2000. Dramar's explanation of the feithidmore:

Category Quests, Sagas, and Events (6)

Topic Something Wicked ... (19)

Message Lorekeeper Meeting in the Landing Log (Long) (1352)

By CARABELE@PLAY.NET

On Nov 18, 2000 at 17:35

This log contains only Dramar's words. None of the questions and answers are included. Others may post what they feel is relevant from those, but thought the majority would wish to hear Dramar's words.

(Sorry for the repost, but I realized I cut one line he said, so reposted.)

****************************************************

You see Dramar Aleandron the Sylvan Lorekeeper.

Age has taken its toll on the wizened scholar, for his white hair has receded to the point of leaving just a bushy tuft above each ear. A pair of thin gold spectacles rests on his nose, doing little to hide his tired, dark eyes.

He appears fatigued, but in otherwise good health.

He is wearing a carved ivory cloak clasp depicting the image of a modwir pine, some long linen gold-trimmed robes, a pendant suspended from a long vaalin chain with a large golden topaz in its center and seven curved vaalin rays encircling the gem, an incised leather belt with symbols tooled in gold covering its length, a thick brown woolen cloak with a deep gold-edged hood, a pair of tall brown leather boots with lacing up the sides and a tooled leather sheath worked with an over-all pattern of interlocking branches and accented around its edges with small tree-shaped studs.

Dramar says, "We face a danger that none of you in your lifetimes has yet faced."

Dramar says, "And pray that should any of you survive, you never again witness these events."

Dramar says, "Before I explain what is happening to your city, let me introduce myself to those who have not yet seen me."

Dramar says, "My name is Dramar Aleandron, a Lorekeeper sent from the Council of Elders in the city of Ta'Illistim to investigate the odd occurences you have seen these past weeks."

Dramar says, "We were sent to investigate your town because Ta'Illistim began to see the same occurences as you have."

Dramar says, "Our children began reciting unusual chants, seemingly in a state of possession."

Dramar says, "Upon awakening from this state, they did not recall what they said or did."

Dramar says, "This was most alarming to us, for it reminded us of the very thing we once were sent to Ta'Illistim to study."

Dramar says, "Many of you have observed that we are sylvankind living in a city dominated by the landwalking elves."

Dramar says, "You have keen observations."

Dramar says, "Long ago, the events that you now face we believe struck the world."

Dramar says, "At the time, my ancestors - our ancestors - in Yuriqen survived the event."

Dramar says, "They did not recall exactly what happened, but knew that an alarming event struck the world."

Dramar says, "Voluntarily, they left the safety of Yuriqen, headed to Ta'Illistim."

Dramar says, "Since then, a group of sylvan Lorekeepers have lived there, studying histories of all sorts."

Dramar says, "Our ancestors left shortly before the closing of Yuriqen, of their own free will. They hoped to spare the world the horrors of what once occurred."

Dramar says, "It is my hope that I, my associates, and all of you live to succeed in this purpose."

Dramar says, "Before I continue about the danger we face, I must give a warning..."

Dramar says, "If you remain in this town, it's very likely you will die."

Dramar says, "You may have no control over this grisly fate."

Dramar says, "If you fear for your safety, you may head to Icemule. This town remains safe from the threat we face."

Dramar says, "You have seen appearances of the banaltra already."

Dramar says, "Fierce beasts that have claimed the lives of children..."

Dramar says, "So many children..."

Dramar sighs.

Dramar says, "As well as adults."

Dramar says, "It is my belief these appearances will continue, and increase in duration."

Dramar says, "And although they pose a serious threat, they are not going to be your true concern. For you see, they are only a harbinger of what is to come."

Dramar says, "The true problem we face is the feithidmor. Let me explain a bit about this creature for you."

Dramar says, "First, understand that what I tell you today is in good part speculation."

Dramar says, "As none who have lived through this event in the past could recall it occurring..."

Dramar says, "We have an idea of what is to come, but cannot say our every belief is fully accurate."

Dramar says, "The feithidmor are ancient creatures that have a very unusual life cycle."

Dramar says, "We know that they live underground, and that they are self-reproducing."

Dramar says, "Each feithidmor in its lifetime will lay one single egg, after which it will die."

Dramar says, "This egg will eventually grow into a feithidmor identical to its parent."

Dramar says, "During which time they are cared for by colonies of banaltra."

Dramar says, "During this time the banaltra live off small creatures that live underground, for the most part."

Dramar says, "You will not see these creatures on the surface."

Dramar says, "As the egg begins to quicken and eventually hatches..."

Dramar says, "The banaltra must then begin to gather food for the young feithidmor."

Dramar says, "This is what you are witnessing now."

Dramar says, "The feithidmor feeds off the decomposing flesh of dead children and adults that the banaltra kill."

Dramar says, "The banaltra then feed off the remains - the bones."

Dramar says, "You have likely heard a thrumming sound emmanating from the earth..."

Dramar says, "This is, and will continue to become, the root of your problem."

Dramar says, "For you see, the feithidmor emits a thrumming sound that can travel through soil and stone."

Dramar says, "This sound is extremely dangerous to sentient beings, for it can block all mental activity."

Dramar says, "Those afflicted by the thrumming sound may find themselves entering a fugue state at best..."

Dramar says, "Or find themselves a victim of brain death, at worst."

Dramar says, "For those of you who may not be familiar with the term I just used, I will explain this fugue state."

Dramar says, "During this time, the victim will be fully concious, but will be completely incapable of thought."

Dramar says, "When this state passes, they will regain their senses, but have no recollection of what may have happened during their fugue state."

Dramar says, "Some of you have become a victim to this already."

Dramar says, "I myself have also."

Dramar says, "This sound the feithidmor emits will only become louder as the feithidmor claws its way to the surface."

Dramar says, "Currently, it is at its weakest state."

Dramar says, "Those most afflicted by the fugue state are children, elders and those who study the magical arts."

Dramar says, "Children because their minds are still weak and easily susceptible to outside influences..."

Dramar says, "Mages and elders because they depend more on their mind than their wits."

Dramar says, "Eventually when the feithidmor surfaces, no one can escape."

Dramar sighs.

Dramar says, "Now perhaps you understand why my associates and I cannot give you all the answers you seek."

Dramar says, "None who live through this occurence will have ever had the capability of recalling the horrors they witnessed."

Dramar says, "Those who resided within the afflicted cities either died outright, or entered the fugue state - hapless victims awaiting the banaltra."

Dramar says, "Large populations would be destroyed before the banaltra and feithidmore were finished feeding."

Dramar says, "When the feithidmore were finished in each location, they would again burrow into the earth, lay an egg, and die."

Dramar says, "Naturally any survivors would then awaken from their state."

Dramar says, "They would certainly know something terrible happened, but it was most often chalked up to an attack by a large force or a plague."

Dramar says, "None ever knew what truly happened."

Dramar asks, "How did Yuriqen and other sylvan communities survive?"

Dramar says, "We are an arboreal race, and although we suffered from the sound of the feithidmor as land-dwellers..."

Dramar says, "Due to the safety of our trees, they could not feed upon us."

Dramar says, "This was how our ancestors knew something dreadful happened - they did not know exactly what, but they were determined to find out."

Dramar says, "These rhymes you have heard lately..."

Dramar says, "We believe that they may hold vital clues in how to deal with the feithidmor that now rests under your city."

Dramar says, "Although survivors of the past feedings could not conciously recall what occurred..."

Dramar says, "We believe that somehow the horrors they witness seeped into their unconcious, collective memory."

Dramar says, "These memories lie just beneath the surface of the mind - but they cannot be reached while concious thought occurs."

Dramar says, "The fugue states that many of you have seen block these concious thoughts."

Dramar says, "And it is from here where the chants and rhymes are brought forth."

Dramar says, "Passed on unconciously from generation to generation, none ever knowing they possessed such knowledge until afflicted by the feithidmor."

Dramar says, "Remember, this is only speculation as of now - but from the little we have heard of the rhymes."

Dramar says, "I believe they hold vital keys."

Dramar says, "There are two ways to survive the coming feithidmor..."

Dramar says, "Leave town and live off the wilderness until after it strikes."

Dramar says, "The banaltra require a rich source of food - this makes cities ideal for the feithidmor."

Dramar says, "The wilderness does not offer this convenience, thus those who leave on the outskirts of civilization are spared the horrors."

Dramar says, "We also believe Icemule to be safe from this threat."

Dramar says, "We have not seen any indication of an odd linden tree growing in their city in the past weeks."

Dramar says, "It may be due to the climate, I do not know."

Dramar says, "But one commonality we have noticed is that every city across this continent that is experiencing these rhymes and oddities"

Dramar says, "Also found a sapling linden tree appear unexpectly."

Dramar says, "We do not know if the tree has anything to do with the feithidmor, or what it may represent."

Dramar says, "But it is a peculiarity that is worth further study."

Dramar says, "If you remain to try and solve this impending problem, you have my thanks."

Dramar says, "If you choose to leave for safety, I do not blame you for exercising common sense."

Dramar says, "Not many are willing to face certain death."

Dramar says, "Myself, I have lived many years already. I will do my ancestors proud and remain here, studying for a way to solve this problem."

Dramar says, "If you remain, I would have your help in these coming weeks."

Dramar says, "When we discover a way to confront this feithidmor, I will seek out volunteers to aid in this cause."

Dramar says, "I am NOT seeking volunteers currently, as I do not even know if there is a way."

Dramar says, "I believe it is vital we stop the feithidmor before it surfaces..."

Dramar says, "For if it reaches the surface, we will either instantly die or enter a fugue state."

Dramar says, "And all will be lost."

Dramar says, "I was not able to share this knowledge with you upon my arrival."

Dramar says, "The Council of Elders required that we know for certain what is happening before we share it with you."

Dramar says, "I will now try and answer some of your questions, but will likely not be able to answer them all tonight."

Dramar says, "If I do not, you will surely see me in town this week."

Dramar says, "Please spread the word of what I told you this day."

Dramar says, "To any who may not have attended."

Dramar says, "It is imperative all in this city know what they face."

Having finished addressing the assembly Dramar sits back down.