Long ago, in the mists of Nexal time, eight of the most powerful Wizards ever to exist banded together to set their magical wits against gods, angels and demons and elevate their craft above its humble origins. By simultaneously wresting the secrets of the Weave of Magic from the universe and wringing fluid matter from the Breaths, they forged a powerful new institution - the Council of Keys - to delve into deeper mysteries and create a haven separate from the endless war.
That was long ago, and the original Councilors have not been seen in the lifetimes of all but the eldest of Nexal combatants - who for quite sensible reasons do not always advertise who they are. And so it drew attention when - in the most recent Breath - a signal was received by all Wizards, a riddle that hinted at a higher secret out of the deep past. Wizards are curious beings by nature and training, always testing and analyzing, and so some of the finest minds in Wizardkind set to the task of trying to interpret the implications of the message. Eventually, a gathering of the whole Council was called in their hidden Vale, and the Weave of Magic itself was wielded to test various possibilities. Some surprising secrets were cracked in the process, such as a hidden peak beyond the known boundaries of the Vale and a whole new way to wield the Weave that was spellbound into a seemingly invincible door. But none of them seemed like the secret, and eventually effort turned to frustration.
In time, though, the Council took a new approach, one that would reshape their future - to find the secret, they would make their own.
(OOC: Since the Wizard Exhale is an ongoing event that might leave folks a bit exposed, I'm going to let the story lag behind the events a bit. Feel free to chip in your characters' perspectives!)
Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
Isabel Hasheen was an unlikely candidate to get the ball rolling. A lower-case-r revenant and a Wizard remarkable only for sheer dogged persistence in infusing, she had always been quite open about the fact that her job on the Council was to represent the interests of Hashaa - no more and no less. The sheer cold practicality of this was apparent when she pursued the Seal of Divided Matter tied to the unloved school of Slashing magic simply to ensure this representation continued no matter how heated the competition for the more prestigious Seal of Dust and Bone of Death Magic.
She had said very little in the whole Breath, and usually in a cryptic, riddling fashion that was probably Hashaa's fault and always implied that she knew more than she let on. And so it was probably a surprise to many when a new perspective - and a plan - came spilling out of her. Perhaps she did know more than she let on, and finally felt the need to talk.
How to describe the Wizards' Estate of Altostratus, to those who have never been there? To walk its halls is to visit a place that feels like a half-remembered verdant dream, a radiant and distant memory - even when your rational mind knows full well that you are literally, physically there. It feels infused with a light and a grandeur that greatly exceed its actual, objective physical proportions, and it has been said that no two Archmages remember the layout of the place quite the same. Every Councilor has an elegantly apportioned set of quarters there, and indeed many Wizards who are no longer or have never been Councilors have claimed some suite of rooms within it for themselves, but for all these reasons and more, some are more comfortable with long dwelling in their quarters than others.
The metaphysical challenges of sleeping in such a place did not, however, extend to holding a tea party there to discuss dead ends and new possibilities. Jorus, keeper of the Seal of Dust and Bone, came to join the discussion first.
She had said very little in the whole Breath, and usually in a cryptic, riddling fashion that was probably Hashaa's fault and always implied that she knew more than she let on. And so it was probably a surprise to many when a new perspective - and a plan - came spilling out of her. Perhaps she did know more than she let on, and finally felt the need to talk.
- You say, "I'll leave my watchers here, but I think it's fair to say that this isn't working." (2025-06-12 15:11:31).
- You say, "I'll be in my quarters at our estate. Even with the fires it's getting cold out here, and I'm dead." (2025-06-12 15:12:05).
- You emote, " sounds surprisingly non-cryptic here, almost as if Hashaa can't get to her as well. And more than a little like her sister, but that's probably a coincidence." (2025-06-12 15:12:34).
- You step outside of Pivot Peak. (2025-06-12 15:12:38).
- You step inside Altostratus. (2025-06-12 15:13:09).
How to describe the Wizards' Estate of Altostratus, to those who have never been there? To walk its halls is to visit a place that feels like a half-remembered verdant dream, a radiant and distant memory - even when your rational mind knows full well that you are literally, physically there. It feels infused with a light and a grandeur that greatly exceed its actual, objective physical proportions, and it has been said that no two Archmages remember the layout of the place quite the same. Every Councilor has an elegantly apportioned set of quarters there, and indeed many Wizards who are no longer or have never been Councilors have claimed some suite of rooms within it for themselves, but for all these reasons and more, some are more comfortable with long dwelling in their quarters than others.
The metaphysical challenges of sleeping in such a place did not, however, extend to holding a tea party there to discuss dead ends and new possibilities. Jorus, keeper of the Seal of Dust and Bone, came to join the discussion first.
And with that question, another Councilor entered - Frigidaris, keeper of the Seal of Wind and Wave - and soon after the enigmatic Lady Morgana:- Jorus said, "Indeed. Seemed like another location might be more fruitful" (2025-06-12 15:25:55).
- You emote, " pokes around her quarters. Some of it is startlingly neat, while other surfaces are littered with piles of books, gems and loose parchments." (2025-06-12 15:26:03).
- You emote, " puts a kettle of tea on, which is plugged into something in the wall that probably isn't electricity. It hums and crackles. You notice the bed in the room is a padded coffin." (2025-06-12 15:27:16).
- You say, "I spent a lot of time on that mountaintop, looking into a whole lot of nothing. It's not the cold that got to me - I'm dead - but that nagging worry. And I think I've got what I was worried about figured out." (2025-06-12 15:28:04).
- You emote, " sounds, you notice, a whole lot less cryptic and more clear than you're used to. Maybe Hashaa has less reach here. Maybe she's trying really hard." (2025-06-12 15:28:35).
- You say, "Deep within the wind of this world, like a watch unspooling it - oh for Hashaa's sake. Sorry about that." (2025-06-12 15:29:47).
- Jorus stops wandering around inspecting random bits and bobs in the room and turns attentively towards Isabel (2025-06-12 15:30:00).
- You emote, " coughs. Looks like it's the "trying really hard" one." (2025-06-12 15:30:05).
- You say, "We've been out here looking for a secret." (2025-06-12 15:30:18).
- You say, "I don't think there *IS* a secret." (2025-06-12 15:30:27).
- You say, "...it's the Vale, of course. There's secrets upon secrets. Thousands of years of Wizard magic at work. Layers on layers. But we've been looking for the big obvious right exact combination of things to do to make some big engine turn on. Like those dots and dashes were an instruction manual." (2025-06-12 15:31:43).
- You say, "I don't think there is an engine. Or if there is, I doubt it works anymore." (2025-06-12 15:31:57).
- (2 times) Jorus said, "An interesting theory. Although, if what you say is true then why send the message at all? What goal might there be if there isn't a specific secret to uncover? An engine to turn on as you say?" (2025-06-12 15:35:52).
- You emote, " hears a small thud from the tea kettle. "Ah, there we go." She serves two cups and sips the other." (2025-06-12 15:36:28).
- You give your Cup of Tea to Jorus. (2025-06-12 15:36:43).
- Jorus said, "And we have made progress due to the messages sent in the past. Unlocked new magic and woven it into the weave of magic" (2025-06-12 15:36:56).
- You say, "That is what kept me wondering. The power to send us a message is less than the power to really build something like that. It could be toying with us. It could want us out of the way of something. Ultimately, I don't know." (2025-06-12 15:37:33).
- Jorus sips appreciatively, although somewhat distractedly (2025-06-12 15:37:47).
- You say, "But what I do know is it hasn't spoken since." (2025-06-12 15:37:47).
- You say, "And we have found things, but thinks locked up here as it were. A spell woven into that door. An old hideaway, reachable from the right vantage point. Things here all along. It could be that the messenger did not make them." (2025-06-12 15:38:38).
- Jorus said, "Very possible. The timing of the messages correlates with the destruction of these doors and the unlocking of new magic into the weave, but correlation does not mean causation" (2025-06-12 15:42:55).
- Jorus said, "The question being, how are we to determine the truth?" (2025-06-12 15:43:45).
- Jorus said, "And even if the message isn't responsible, are there not yet more worthwhile secrets to discover here?" (2025-06-12 15:44:59).
- You say, "I'm sure there are. Consider, though." (2025-06-12 16:07:25).
- You say, "There must be a great deal that is old buried here. Layers on strata." (2025-06-12 16:07:49).
- You say, "But we are the Council. We, not some old voice, are the most powerful presence here." (2025-06-12 16:08:05).
- You say, "What do *we* want the secrets to be?" (2025-06-12 16:08:15).
- You give your Apple Pie to Frigidaris. (2025-06-12 16:09:42).
- You emote, " has a treat from somewhere. You didn't see her open the fridge." (2025-06-12 16:10:01).
- Frigidaris said, "Sure, thanks. Don't mind me, I heard you were discussing Council business and I came to hear your thoughts." (2025-06-12 16:11:33).
- Frigidaris raises a slab of earth and shapes it into a couch. (2025-06-12 16:12:05).
- You emote, " scoops her papers out of the way of the couch and rearranges them on a table." (2025-06-12 16:14:03).
- You say, "To summarize a little - I don't think there's a thing we can do to wake up some big old secret. If there was a machine underlying it all, it's not functioning and I'm not sure that coded voice has a plan." (2025-06-12 16:16:52).
- Frigidaris said, "Personally, I'm interested in discovering new ways to shape the Weave via the Council. I was assuming, of course, that the keys to new powers lay buried somewhere in the Vale, but if our collective willpower is enough then I'm fine with going back to the Nexus again." (2025-06-12 16:18:43).
- Frigidaris said, "And I've enjoyed discovering things here, but the fact that we're constantly swinging in the dark and overanalyzing every single detail is exhausting me, frankly." (2025-06-12 16:19:54).
- Frigidaris said, "Sometimes I wish the voice would drop the cryptic commentary and tell us what it wants plainly, and the fact that it doesn't is making me skeptical of its power." (2025-06-12 16:21:46).
- Frigidaris lounges on the couch. "Anyway, that's my two cents." (2025-06-12 16:22:49).
- You say, "I've had many of the same thoughts. Well worded." (2025-06-12 16:31:49).
- Frigidaris said, "Alright, how about this: I've long had the theory that the gears outside Pivot Peak are related to the underground room, but Wonderworking didn't seem to do anything. If Mastery of Tools doesn't activate anything new and nobody has other suggestions, I propose we leave the Vale and enjoy our lives before this Breath ends." (2025-06-12 18:53:56).
- Frigidaris said, "And if one of us comes up with a new way to fold the Weave of Magic, and we don't need to rummage around in this place for that to become a reality, then I'm fine with leaving." (2025-06-12 18:54:39).
- You say, "I suspect that the Weave is doing precisely what the Weave has always done: set the rules for Archmages." (2025-06-12 19:18:19).
- You say, "Not a lever on some old machine. Maybe there's a "pull a lever on an old machine" thing it can be set to somewhere. But I am doubtful of our ability to find it." (2025-06-12 19:18:58).
- You say, "But consider this: This place was shaped by the Council. *We* are the Council. Whatever power made this place, we have." (2025-06-12 19:19:45).
- You emote, " looks sideways. Coming from her it looks pretty unnatural. "In theory."" (2025-06-12 19:20:08).
- You say, "We've been asking what some powerful ancient being would like to happen with this place. What would *you* have happen with this place, if you could?"" (2025-06-12 19:20:48).
- You give your Apple Pie to Lady Morgana. (2025-06-12 19:25:48).
- You say, "Oh, hello, Lady Morgana." (2025-06-12 19:25:57).
- You emote, " offers another slice of pie to the newcomer." (2025-06-12 19:26:09).
- Jorus said, "I would have this place be focused on research. Finding new ways to alter the weave. Replicate powers we know others possess. Wrestling powers usually reserved for others and bending them to our will" (2025-06-12 20:05:40).
- Jorus said, "We already know how to utilize hidden portals, but what about gaining further mastery over the portals all others know of?" (2025-06-12 20:07:20).
- Jorus said, "Or perhaps delving further into teleportation magic so that we need not blink over such short distances, but take longer strides?" (2025-06-12 20:08:41).
- Jorus said, "You ask what I want this place to be?" (2025-06-12 20:10:33).
- Jorus said, "I want this place to be the beginning. The start of Wizardoms ascension to heights of power heretofore undreamed of." (2025-06-12 20:13:07).
- Frigidaris said, "Very well said, Jorus." (2025-06-12 21:38:23).
- Frigidaris said, "Personally, I want to have an active hand in the shaping of this plane, leave my mark in it. This corner of existence was shaped by our predecessors, but as it stands now it is an unchanging monument to past glories." (2025-06-12 21:39:21).
- Frigidaris said, "This mindset may stem from my connection to earthly magic, but if this place was created by the Council's power, then I wish we Councillors could alter the Vale's landscape; make it our own little world, not just an interesting relic from a bygone era." (2025-06-12 21:41:40).
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
Wizards are more prone than, say, Conduits to be status-conscious beings, and the original Councilors were apparently quite interested in some badge to signify their power. Each of their Seals of magic were tied to a single item. Some seem remarkably wondrous, some take the form of documents and records of important information, and some appear to only be broken keepsakes of some bygone time. Yet functionally all perform the same function - to tie the wielder to the Weave (and though most understand it less, the reverse).
The strangeness of some of the items was bound to come up sooner or later.
The strangeness of some of the items was bound to come up sooner or later.
- Frigidaris said, "Changing the subject a bit: I have a question for you, Isabel. We Councillors possess an artifact to signify our status, and I understand the nature of most of them; I carry the Map in my knapsack, Jorus wears the Fingerbone around his neck, and so on. My question is, how do you carry around a Shattered Planar Foundation Orb? Do you hold it in your hand like a crystal ball, does it float around you...?" (2025-06-12 21:52:56).
- Frigidaris said, "Though to be honest, I'm not sure how Gandledore carries around his Chalice of Everlasting Flame either." (2025-06-12 21:53:09).
- You say, "Ah, that old thing? The first Councillor to find it kept it in a handbag. The second had it float around him like a moon." (2025-06-12 21:55:37).
- You say, "Me? Well..." (2025-06-12 21:55:43).
- You emote, " holds up a hand in front of her face and whispers something in Hasheen. You see the familiar flash of a death spell, and the hair, skin and flesh of her head go transparent, showing only bone. The bones of the back of her skull are interlaced with shards of a shimmering, silvery metal written over in fine, intricate runes." (2025-06-12 21:57:35).
- You emote, " stops the skull and her appearance goes back to normal. "I'm dead, so a different method came to mind. I'm keeping it close."" (2025-06-12 21:58:06).
- Frigidaris said, "I have to say, that's a clever way to carry that thing around. Fascinating!" (2025-06-12 22:11:12).
- The Council of Keys has decreed that magic be directed to enhance tools and technology for those who have mastered it. All weapons will have greater accuracy in the hands of an Archmage! (2025-06-13 00:00:02).
- You say, "What can I say? It keeps my hands free." (2025-06-13 00:17:40).
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
As the flock grew, it finally had added to it a wizard neither interested in status nor luxury: the woods mage Nirvanyos the Arcane, keeper of the Seal of Stone and Silt. And hints that the Tirazah Coven as a whole might have taken an interest...
Whatever the plan, any time you have the ear of a possibly authority on your magical artifacts is a good time to dig into their provenance - a question that would, in time, prove relevant:- You say, "Ah, welcome, Nirvanyos. I don't usually have guests, but I have quite a lot of seating anyway." (2025-06-13 00:44:22)
- You emote, " isn’t kidding, judging by a look around the room, but a lot of the furnishings seem to be made of bone. They're surprisingly comfortable anyway." (2025-06-13 00:45:04)
- Nirvanyos the Arcane wanders into the estates, his tatty robes swishing over the marble flooring. He dips his head in greeting, the brim of his wizard hat flopping some with the movement. The rugged obsidian staff he carries marks his passage with a high pitched 'tink' each time it taps against the floor. In his other hand, he carries a smoldering burl pipe. As he nears his quarters, an impatient wave of the staff prompts the protective waffle-weave of wooden overgrowth barring the entryway to retreat into the ground. The venerable sage mutters. "Hrh. Musty. That'll need a minute to air out." Finally he turns about and joins the gathered wizards. "So we finally gave up on the goose chase, eh? Back to plannin' and plottin'?" (2025-06-13 00:45:28)
- You emote, " pours a drink for the newcomer. "Knowing you, you probably don't visit your quarters at all." (2025-06-13 00:45:50)
- You say, "I think we've been going about it wrong." (2025-06-13 00:46:25)
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, "Yeh, hard to settle into a place where everyone knows t' look for ya. Makes the back o' my skull itch." He pauses to take a long, pungent draw off of his pipe. He inhales thoughtfully, holding the drawn breath as he thinks over Isabel's words. The eventual exhale streams smoke out his also-venerable nostrils. "Ay, been thinkin' that a while, too. Didn't have the heart to stomp on the tea party, as the saying goes." (2025-06-13 00:50:11)
- You say, "Of course, now we're having an actual tea party..." (2025-06-13 00:58:15)
- You say, "Ultimately - we are the ones with the Council's power now, and we could - theoretically - shape it as we need. As we wish." (2025-06-13 01:05:14)
- Nirvanyos the Arcane nods. "Kind o' figured that ought to be the case. How's about we make a big tower in the middle o' a vast, empty wilderland?" (2025-06-13 01:51:46)
- You say, "Mm. This is many things, but it isn't vast. That could change." (2025-06-13 01:55:58)
- You say, "The power here is a knot. Preserved. Locked out of sight." (2025-06-13 01:57:46)
- You say, "Oh Hashaa, I'm sounding like *me*, aren't I? Seriously though. Someone took a bundle of matter and power away from the cycle long ago and made this." (2025-06-13 01:58:16)
- You say, "And it's separate, but the cycle is contracting anyway. There is no better time to tinker with how all...this...works. To ride the tide." (2025-06-13 01:58:42)
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, "Y'know, seems like these sorts o' mysteries tend to hit a fever pitch 'round this time in the cycle. And somehow you an' yer sisters always end up tangled in it. Heh." (2025-06-13 12:58:29).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane falls quiet for a beat as he tamps down on his pipe with an air of well-practiced ritual--not necessary, perhaps, but rote-familiar handiwork to help himself think. "Ya believe this place really is separate from the cycle, though? We could bunker down and ride out the end?" (2025-06-13 13:20:18).
- You say, "We're bound to the Nexus. We'll be caught up in the end the same as anyone." (2025-06-13 15:03:50).
- You say, "It's this, this place, this matter, that's outside of it though. This isn’t like Stygia that's part of the normal respawning planes. Nor like Nifleheim that it gets a total change every Breath. This valley has been the same for a long, long time." (2025-06-13 15:04:55).
- You say, "It stands to reason that anything we do *to* it will ride out the breath." (2025-06-13 15:05:11).
- Iona said, "hmmmmmmmm" (2025-06-13 16:53:30).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, ""Ehm. If we're gonna be settin' a while while the others gather, I did have somethin' completely different to ask ya about, Isabel. Er, not you specifically but it seems like somethin' ya might know about. Ever seen a book like this?" The wizard shoves a hand down one of his voluminous sleeves and digs around. After a few moments, he produces a grimy grimoire covered in runes. "All I been able to translate of it is the title. Says 'Codex Mortis'....I think."" (2025-06-13 21:51:07).
- You say, "Ah. I see these from time to time." (2025-06-14 01:20:40).
- You say, "There's a legendary artifact out there somewhere - Hashaa's Book of the Dead. It keeps...an incredible amount of knowledge about who died, when and where and what it means." (2025-06-14 01:21:35).
- You say, "And with that knowledge comes power." (2025-06-14 01:22:08).
- You say, "But Hashaa governs entropy, decay, death. So no one can get something like that and keep it for long. You find it, you start reading it, after a while it vanishes." (2025-06-14 01:22:52).
- You say, "I've never, personally, seen the real Book of the Dead. My sister Katerina says she had it once. I think most of the time no one has it. I don't think it wants to be found." (2025-06-14 01:23:38).
- You say, "But most people who've had it, by the time they know enough to find it, know that it's going to slip away." (2025-06-14 01:24:25).
- You say, "So from time to time you'll see a knockoff, a copy someone who had the real deal jotted down either in the time they had, or from memory." (2025-06-14 01:25:07).
- You say, "Sometimes the person who does this is pretentious enough to call their copy the Book of the Dead. Sometimes not." (2025-06-14 01:25:32).
- You say, "But that's what you've got - a replica of a big-league artifact. Still useful, in its own way." (2025-06-14 01:26:34).
- You say, "Good find." (2025-06-14 01:27:32).
- You say, "The real deal would be quite handy for what we're trying to do. I have never hidden that I represent Hashaa's interests on the Council. But I wouldn't begin to know how to find it." (2025-06-14 01:38:11).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, ""Huh. Bootleg relic. How 'bout that."" (2025-06-14 01:49:50).
- You say, "Where'd you find it, anyway?" (2025-06-14 02:02:31).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, "Well." The wizard sighs, scratching the back of his scraggly pate. "Kind of a long story. Y'know how sometimes that plane of winter sorta...imposes itself on the fabric of the Nexus? Well, me bein' me I had to go explore it...and ended up down in some ancient tunnel system below the village that turned outta be full o' death cultists..." He shrugs." (2025-06-14 02:28:55).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, "It were self defence--really. But the priest that attacked me dropped this after I dropped *him.*"" (2025-06-14 02:29:36).
- You say, "You'll get no blame from me. No one in that place is trustworthy. It's in safer hands." (2025-06-14 02:34:25).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, "That is a very kind, and perhaps misguided thing to say. My track record with responsibility is checkered at best." (2025-06-14 03:14:47).
- You say, "You didn't turn an entire town into a murder-cult temple." (2025-06-14 04:06:08).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane snorts. "Y'know what? Fair dues. You did say 'safer', not 'safe'. And that's true enough. Hard to be more dangerous than what was goin' on in that place." (2025-06-14 12:40:48).
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
If, theoretically, the Council could restore fluidity to the Weave - wield it to, however briefly, do as they please - what would they do with it? That, again, was the pressing question.
And with that, another hint at a strategy dropped into the Wizards' laps. A single jotted-down set of notes is one thing, but two hinted at a wider strategy and a possible solution.- You say, "I can see why you'd want a tower away from civilization, if that's a big part of your exposure to it." (2025-06-14 14:01:29).
- You say, "So that's what you'd do, if you could?" (2025-06-14 15:08:50).
- Jorus lit a stick of incense. As its fragrance reaches you, you feel self-assured and tranquil. (2025-06-14 17:02:05).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane shrugs. "I...yeh, actually. I'm tired. War is not what I'm made for. The endless conflict. I want t' find somewhere peaceful. I want to enjoy the worlds we get dropped on. Instead o' thinkin' about how best to wage war on them. I'd like somewhere beautiful, somewhere to make tracks and get lost in. A hut would be fine for me, but a tower is nice...ye can gather like minded folks there. Collect knowledge. S' good." He flames up his pipe, taking a long drag therefrom. (2025-06-14 17:44:30).
- You say, "It looks like whoever made this place wanted the same, albeit with a little less exploration and more creature comforts." (2025-06-15 02:56:07).
- You say, "Though I suspect then as now, the risk is the same - by being there, we risk bringing the war with us" (2025-06-15 02:56:50).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane nods. "Yeh, well, suppose that is indeed a risk. Same time, s'not like we lose anything by it. An' at least this place is somewhat sheltered. Only us magick-y types here to bicker over it. And we've done a fair job of not bickerin'." (2025-06-15 16:28:32).
- You say, "Institutions are an alternative to fighting. Until the institutions themselves are fought over." (2025-06-15 18:31:46).
- Frigidaris knocks on the door. (2025-06-15 18:34:32).
- Frigidaris said, "I've come to say my goodbyes. I'm going back to the Nexus again, since I've seen enough of the Vale for the rest of the Breath. If you want to come visit, I'll probably be residing inside 52, 26 Cordillera; it's not as opulent as our quarters here, but it's perfect for an Earth wizard like me." (2025-06-15 18:38:05).
- Frigidaris said, "The last thing I wanted to test is the fact that Cracked Threshold let us fly indoors, which I'm not sure is something exclusive to the Vale. Since I'm leaving anyways, I'll try it outside and let you know what happens." (2025-06-15 18:39:24).
- You say, "Fare well. One more thing." (2025-06-15 18:39:31).
- Frigidaris takes off his wizard hat and bows at the waist: "Take care, my friends." (2025-06-15 18:40:22).
- You say, "You had dreams for what to do with your power. Should you find an opportunity to chase them, a crack in the threshold, do not turn it down. Remember your dreams." (2025-06-15 18:40:24).
- You say, "I felt like I ought to say that. Not sure why." (2025-06-15 18:41:26).
- Frigidaris said, "Wise words, and ones I'll carry with me for a long time. I almost forgot, I have something that belongs in your hands, Isabel." (2025-06-15 18:45:08).
- Frigidaris rummages around in his knapsack, finally pulling out an ancient tome covered in ominously glowing runes. (2025-06-15 18:46:15).
- Frigidaris said, "The Codex Mortis! I heard you had been talking about this and remembered I had a copy with me. I'm not sure it's even a copy of a copy, but still, I think you should have it." (2025-06-15 18:47:45).
- Frigidaris gave you a(n) Codex Mortis. (2025-06-15 18:47:53).
At last the workings of the possible spell became apparent - at least somewhere inside Isabel's room-temperature head. But a few pieces remained. And that meant seeking out more help, if help could be had.- Frigidaris said, "Well, nice seeing you lot. Take care now." (2025-06-15 18:48:54).
- You say, "...there are more of these than I thought." (2025-06-15 19:51:25).
- You say, "It looks a little different than yours." (2025-06-15 19:51:38).
- You have sent 1 credits to Frigidaris along with the message: Isabel’s thanks echoes throughout the magical voidnet. She seems very intrigued by something. You hear paper rustling. (2025-06-15 19:52:02).
- You say, "The same nickname, but..." (2025-06-15 19:52:15).
- You emote, " scoots Nirvanyos' copy over from the other side of the table, turns both over in her hands, and opens them with an impressive display of dexterity." (2025-06-15 19:52:54).
- You say, "Color me surprised. Two authors - look at how the hand is different." (2025-06-15 19:53:29).
- You emote, " sets them down side by side and rustles up some parchment and a pen. Every so once in a while you see her take a note as she flips through them. The written form of Hasheen is surprisingly shorthand-like." (2025-06-15 19:54:28).
- You say, "Two authors and commentaries on two *almost* entirely different aspects of the Book of the Dead." (2025-06-15 19:54:55).
- You have changed your vote for the direction that the Council of Keys will apply to the Weave of Magic. Your new vote is: Hidden Pathways (2025-06-15 19:55:10).
- You emote, " seems quite excited by something. You feel her change her Council vote almost without a gesture. She pores over the books." (2025-06-15 19:57:08).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane scratches thoughtfully at his beard, looking over her shoulder at the two open books. "Would take me a bit for a proper translation, but yeh...even I can tell they're not quite the same. Hrm." He chuffs at his pipe, taking great pains (including a small prestidigitation) to direct the smoke away from the books and the wizard in front of him. "Think if we found enough copies, we might be able ter sorta... reverse engineer the original? Or, y'know. An approximate?" (2025-06-15 21:35:57).
- You say, "Or enough of the original for our purposes. It goes away. The copies don't." (2025-06-16 01:33:13).
- You emote, " by now has a pretty significant collection of notes and doodles. You notice the latter look like drawings in the books, but they fit together surprisingly well." (2025-06-16 01:34:41).
- You say, "I'm starting to get a theory. The beginnings of an idea of what we could, perhaps, do." (2025-06-16 01:35:26).
- You say, "But there isn't quite enough here to commit to it. If I had the right additional citation from the original..." (2025-06-16 01:52:29).
- You say, "There's one other person I know has had their hands on the original, and that's my sister Katerina. If I know her, she's probably made her own imitation and is probably acting like it *is* the original." (2025-06-16 01:56:41).
- You say, "I can't go myself - weird stuff usually happens when Hasheen get into the same room. Like two pawns trying to fit onto the same square on the board." (2025-06-16 01:58:51).
- You say, "If some of you could track her down and go try to talk her out of it, it may be the missing piece to getting this place moving *our* way, not that voice's way." (2025-06-16 01:59:27).
- You say, "Because the universe is moving. Contracting, spiraling toward the exhale. And if I read this right, this might be very best time. Or the only time." (2025-06-16 02:24:51).
- Frigidaris has directed the Seal of Wind and Wave to vote differently on the Council of Keys. They are now voting for the Weave of Magic to be: Hidden Pathways. (2025-06-16 20:12:41).
- The Council of Keys has opened a secret network of portals throughout the Nexus, their workings known only to Archmages! (2025-06-17 00:00:02).
- You say, "All right. That should make it possible to get *back*." (2025-06-17 01:38:36).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane nods. "Ol' Kat and I go way back. Might be able to bend her ear, if we could gather up a little adventurin' group?" (2025-06-17 02:12:10).
- You say, "Oh, you've met? That'd help." (2025-06-17 02:41:41).
- You say, "Meanwhile I could make preparations." (2025-06-17 02:41:48).
- You say, "All just a theory at this point. Of course." (2025-06-17 02:41:59).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, "Everything's theory 'til it happens. Then it's theory again afterward." He nods again, the bobbing brim of his hat wafting a streamer of smoke into a fine haze. "That's academia, for ye."" (2025-06-17 12:12:09).
- Jorus said, "I don't have a Codex Mortis, but I have obtained a copy of the Tome of Everfrost." (2025-06-17 23:58:25).
- Jorus said, "I'm not sure if the knowledge contained within is relevant in this context, but if it is...." (2025-06-17 23:59:10).
- You say, "Not for the spell - if you can call it that - I have in mind." (2025-06-18 04:27:40).
- You say, "But its knowledge may yet prove useful, before all is said and done." (2025-06-18 04:27:57).
- You emote, " waves to the fur-covered archmage. "Welcome! I don't think I've seen you before. I'm Isabel Hasheen, keeper of the Seal of Divided Matter."" (2025-06-18 04:29:02).
- You say, "You'll find a lot of people around here who say things like that." (2025-06-18 04:35:54).
- Atrele Kasha said, "Greetings. I'm here to learn. And explore." (2025-06-18 07:29:47).
- Jorus waves his hand in the general direction of the southeast (2025-06-18 14:19:55).
- Jorus said, "You can find a cave over there" (2025-06-18 14:20:07).
- Jorus said, "There should still be potions inside. Feel free to help yourself" (2025-06-18 14:20:33).
- Jorus said, "I tend to brew when I'm not musing on the workings of the universe" (2025-06-18 14:21:22).
- Nirvanyos the Arcane said, "Oh. Erm. Perhaps I need to be a bit more assertive about rallyin' a wizard-adventure posse." (2025-06-20 01:14:19).
- You say, "Quite." (2025-06-20 01:48:04).
- You say, "Jorus can't have gone far." (2025-06-20 01:48:41).
- You say, "As for me...I have an idea for what I can do. If we have to do what I think we do, we'll need a means to fool a god. I'm going to go back to that peak and see who I can rally to help me figure that out." (2025-06-20 01:49:40).
- You say, "Good luck with that book. You know how to reach me." (2025-06-20 01:49:54).
- You emote, " gathers up her notes and heads out the door." (2025-06-20 01:50:03).
- You step outside of Altostratus. (2025-06-20 01:50:05).
- You step inside Pivot Peak. (2025-06-20 01:50:17).
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
[[[great read so far! Feels like an entirely different place, not having a Wizard in the game this is all excitingly obscure]]]
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
"Fool a god" was quite a note to leave off on, and that probably didn't help any. But the problem was there: for the Council's dreams to not just be dreams, they'd need a whole big infusion of new power. There was only one logical place to get that power: the great cycle of Breaths. And that cycle was being watched over by quite possibly the worst being in the entire universe, liable to shoot a ramshackle vessel piloted by Wizards out of the sky. And that means they would need cover.
Fortunately, as anyone familiar with the early history of the Deadly Sins knew, Isabel had some prior experience infiltrating demon hordes, as badly as that ended for everyone. But unlike that time, Stygia was probably now missing a prince.- You say, "We've been debating back at the estate, and I think I have a sense of what we can do with this place." (2025-06-20 01:52:00).
- You say, "It isn’t what that voice wanted...but perhaps it can be what WE want." (2025-06-20 01:52:19).
- You say, "I think I see one lead, and have asked some folks to go after that because it's something I can't do." (2025-06-20 01:52:48).
- You say, "But. There is another." (2025-06-20 01:52:53).
- You say, "If we're going to get power from the change of breath - and I think I see a way to - we'll need a way to disguise ourselves from the winner." (2025-06-20 02:21:38).
- Gandledore said, "Interesting... Hiding ourselves from an Elder Power. I do like that idea, especially since it appears it will be an Entity of Malign Influence." (2025-06-20 17:39:21).
- Gandledore said, "What did you have in mind, Isabel?" (2025-06-20 17:39:31).
- You say, "Okay, I've gotten ahead of myself. I guess I didn't ever spell out the plan I've been deducing. Even when I should have, with Jorus and Nirvanyos back there." (2025-06-21 01:53:39).
- You say, "I think...the puzzle we were after goes nowhere. But we can make our own answer." (2025-06-21 01:54:04).
- You say, "The breath change is a time when great energies are in flux. If we were to get this place in the right proximity to it, we could scoop off a heaping spoonful of fresh world-matter and re-arrange this place to something more elaborate, more to our liking." (2025-06-21 01:55:11).
- You say, "The key is in the entropy of the old world, that contraction." (2025-06-21 01:55:39).
- You emote, " holds up her sheaf of notes, copied earlier from the various copies of copies of the Hasheen Book of the dead." (2025-06-21 01:56:14).
- You say, "We could exploit it and profit. The problem is...that contraction and expansion is being managed by Tlacolotl. We'd have to do it under his gaze. And that means looking like something he'd want to see." (2025-06-21 01:57:07).
- You say, "Something like, perhaps...an Overlord." (2025-06-21 02:05:18).
- Jorus said, "My my my. All these undead around" (2025-06-22 18:06:49).
- Gandledore looks thoughtful for a moment. "An overlord, you say? One to rule over all? Sounds... oddly familiar. However, the devil, as they say, is in the details. How do you propose finding this Overlord, and how would we shape this pocket of reality to keep ourselves safe? (2025-06-23 18:23:10).
- Jorus said, "What's this about an overlord?" (2025-06-24 00:43:40).
- You say, "We'd need to fly what we're doing under Tlacolotl's...whatever he has that's an analogue for a nose." (2025-06-24 03:34:00).
- You say, "Some time ago, I spent a while on a mission from Hashaa, taking on the mantle of a Dark Oppressor. She needed the angels and demons war kicked up at the time for...reasons." (2025-06-24 03:35:03).
- You say, "I got a good look at how the magical network there worked. There was a whole web of influence on the land, and a horde to organize." (2025-06-24 03:35:36).
- You say, "Anyway, it ended when the demon prince whose throne I was stylishly perched on woke up from a thousand-breath slumber and drove me off. But I did get a sense of how it works." (2025-06-24 03:36:23).
- You say, "Fortunately, there's a lordship in Stygia that no one has - because invaders have cleared it. If we could get ahold of the relevant badges of office, one of us could keep up appearances long enough to make our run." (2025-06-24 03:37:34).
- Jorus said, "Sounds like interesting work. I wouldn't mind knocking those demons down a peg or three. I've spent some time hunting them down in Stygia, so I'm at least passingly familiar with the place" (2025-06-24 14:26:19).
- Jorus said, "If you've ideas about how I can help, you have my attention" (2025-06-24 14:26:49).
- You say, "I think that to start we'd have to capture a base of operations. A building uniquely ours, magical and transcendent. From there we could work our magicks." (2025-06-24 16:49:13).
- You say, "Fortunately, I am a skilled infuser. But there will be more foes to fight than the architecture." (2025-06-24 16:49:35).
- Jorus said, "I'm not skilled in infusion, nor do I particularly care for it. I am however reasonably good at murdering demons. If we could locate a place there for their deaths to be made useful....." (2025-06-24 21:05:34).
- You say, "The worlds are malleable now. There are places where the Angels have so thoroughly saturated buildings that they act like bits of the heavens. If we were to get ahold of someplace important enough, we'd have a suitable workshop." (2025-06-24 21:14:10).
- You say, "I go to prepare the ground. The angels and demons are locked in war, but Penumbra seems the least fought over. I will try to take hold of a base of operations there." (2025-06-25 04:31:35).
- You emote, " steps outside." (2025-06-25 04:31:46).
- You step outside of Pivot Peak. (2025-06-25 04:31:47).
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
While these conversations were being had, Katerina Hasheen, former Wizard and now Hashaa's first and (as far as she knew) only Angel, received a surprise visitor in the Elysian neighborhood of Arcadia. Katerina had come a long way from her eons of unquestioning service to Hashaa and had grown a great deal in her subsequent formative years in Laurentia, but even one such as she could feel the winding-down of the Breath. The long war against the demonic invasion in the north had grown inconclusive, and she spent much of her time now in rather Wizard-like study, fiddling with the interrelations of two seemingly contradictory theories of power - with occasionally spectacular results.
All of which is to say that when the call to adventure knocked on her door, she was rather eager to answer.
All of which is to say that when the call to adventure knocked on her door, she was rather eager to answer.
As it happened, Isabel's recollection was not wrong - Katerina had, indeed, once possessed the Book of the Dead - with a catch.- Frigidaris sent you 1 credits with this message: To the honorable Katerina of clan Hasheen: your assistance is needed in important affairs pertaining to the Council of Keys. Please come see me at the Last Homely House (7,17 Elysium) at your earliest convenience. I will await you in hiding. (2025-06-22 11:14:49).
- Sofia Piscitelli said, "I'm so excited." (2025-06-22 17:43:36).
- Sofia Piscitelli said, "Are we going to do something fun?" (2025-06-23 10:41:22).
- Sofia Piscitelli read some of the books. (2025-06-24 15:12:46).
- You emote, " puts a hand to her head. "Ah. I too, see a message. I will investigate."" (2025-06-24 17:16:57).
- You step outside of The Gourmet Bard. (2025-06-24 17:17:00).
- You step inside The Last Homely House. (2025-06-24 17:17:04).
- You emote, " steps inside, followed by a pair of sprites. While they float like other sprites, and within you can see the tiny outlines of their bodies, the light they give off is dim and harsh - like some old and flickering lightbulb." (2025-06-24 17:17:58).
- You emote, " pats the sprites reassuringly and sets about searching the room. "In hiding, you say."" (2025-06-24 17:18:22).
- You search and find an Apple Pie. You also find Frigidaris. They were hiding. (2025-06-24 17:18:25).
- You search and find a Whipped Cream Pie. (2025-06-24 17:18:28).
- You emote, " thinks. She checks the kitchen, the patio, the sleeping rooms upstairs, before realizing that someone named Frigidaris is probably in the magically enhanced chilling root cellar." (2025-06-24 17:19:15).
- You say, "Ah. There you are." (2025-06-24 17:19:21).
- You step inside The Last Homely House. (2025-06-24 17:20:23).
- You use the herb to heal Frigidaris for 3 points of damage. You gain 3 experience points. They are now fully healed. (2025-06-24 17:20:25).
- You say, "I got your message, and it seems a friend did too. I am Katerina Hasheen. You've come a long way to see me." (2025-06-24 17:20:59).
- Frigidaris blinks blearily, rubs his eyes and stands up. He was either deep in meditation or he fell asleep inside the fridge. (2025-06-24 18:58:44).
- Frigidaris said, "Yes, thank you for coming. I apologize for my insistence, but there's something important we need to discuss." (2025-06-24 19:02:55).
- Frigidaris moves to the kitchen, pours two cups of tea, and sets them on a table. He grabs one of the cups and a thin layer of frost spreads across its surface. (2025-06-24 19:06:23).
- Frigidaris said, "I assume you’re familiar with the Vale, the secret demiplane accessible only to Archmages? The reason I called you here is because your sister Isabel believes she might have found a way to alter it, using the Council’s power as well as knowledge gathered from Hashaa’s Book of the Dead." (2025-06-24 19:07:50).
- Frigidaris said, "“Fei-Aihfaa, Fei-Eih”; I’m not an expert on Hasheen lore, and I probably mispronounced it, but I believe that’s the core of her theory: applying Nexal knowledge to the Vale in this moment of universal contraction to force lasting changes in its nature. Riding this Breath’s last breath, so to speak." (2025-06-24 19:08:07).
- Frigidaris said, "Unfortunately, I think she’s hit a snag. Last I heard her notes weren’t complete, and she doesn’t have the knowledge to fill in the blanks by herself. So that’s where you come in: you’re the only other person we know to have read the original Book of the Dead. I’m not asking you to hand over the Book, only to let me write the important parts in parchment and deliver them to your sister." (2025-06-24 19:09:39).
- Frigidaris said, "You probably have some objections. Why should I trust you with this knowledge? What do I gain from this? The answer to the first question should be clear in your eyes, for like myself, you can judge someone’s character at a glance. Take a look and you will see my honesty. And about what you stand to gain, think of it: the Vale is a world outside the Nexal cycle, a place of unchanging beauty and, perhaps, shelter. Isn’t the goal of the Ragged Philantropists to build a place of peace in the midst of war?" (2025-06-24 19:10:40).
- Frigidaris said, "I’m not promising you an easy answer: the way ahead is uncertain, and while the Council’s power endures the Councillors come and go. But the way I see it, we have a little world outside the struggle; it’s up to us to shape it into something worthy. Maybe one day we can open it to the battle-weary; maybe we can use the Vale as a template for the Raggeds’ ideal shelter. Who knows? But if we want to take the first step we’ll need your help now, before the Breath ends." (2025-06-24 19:11:57).
- Frigidaris leans back in his chair. "Anyway, that's what I wanted to say. Sorry if it was too wordy." (2025-06-24 19:19:38).
- You say, "Would you believe I had *not* heard of the Vale?" (2025-06-24 20:57:25).
- You say, "I'd suspected a thing like it, of course. And if my sister is there, Hashaa knows more than you'd like. But I've never been on the Council myself. Not even when I was a Wizard." (2025-06-24 20:58:20).
- You say, "It is good to hear that something like that has been made to work. In my time, I have witnessed quite a few havens outside the struggle. And quite a few people who aimed to make one. With...varying...levels of success." (2025-06-24 20:59:38).
- You emote, " looks contemplative. "Fei-aihfaa, Fei-eih, Hash-fei-ashaaf."" (2025-06-24 21:01:44).
- You say, "Your crew are not wrong about the limited time. The breath will become an un-navigable maelstrom soon enough." (2025-06-24 21:03:41).
Among the Transcended Elder Powers, it is said that Goros deals with hard facts, and Marquai with thoughts and ideas. Hashaa does both - but inhabits a liminal space. Her hard fact is entropy, dissolution, the notion that everything has a name and that you can't get something for nothing. And that absolute manifests as a dizzying range of ideas, perceived a dizzying range of ways. The Deadlands plane of Nifleheim has, as a result, taken countless forms - a dark forest, a dusty cowboy wilderness, a vast range of caves, a crumbling and parasite-infested space station, and countless more. Katerina had, in her long Nexal life, visited many of these places in reality and others in dreams. Sometimes the dreams reflected a reality that, if one looked hard enough, one could find - somewhere.- You emote, " digs a battered leather-faced book out of her main satchel. It is marked with the four-pointed sigil of Hashaa." (2025-06-24 21:05:26).
- You say, "My sister's memory is good. I did, however briefly, hold the Book - some time before Saint Germaine's Breath, but after the fall of - well, I shouldn't get carried away with reminiscences." (2025-06-24 21:06:55).
- You say, "There is, however, one problem." (2025-06-24 21:07:23).
- You emote, " flips open the book. At first glance, the pages appear to be entirely blank. It is only when she runs her hands over its stiff pages that you see the subtle pattern of dots. She runs her fingers over them and whispers in Hasheen. You don't see any ink at all." (2025-06-24 21:08:51).
- You say, "It's not what it looks like. I can see you just fine...now. But not when I wrote this. And I can't very well expect you to be fluent in Hasheen, or to keep an hours-long oral history in your head." (2025-06-24 21:11:09).
- Frigidaris said, "Oh, I see. That's a setback, no doubt about it. Do you think there's a way I can be of help relaying this knowledge, or is it a lost cause?" (2025-06-24 21:19:58).
- Frigidaris said, "It's not the end of our plans, mind. From what I hear, lady Isabel is plotting something in regards to the Stygian thrones. So even if this was a dead end, no harm done." (2025-06-24 21:21:34).
- You say, "I don't think it's a dead end. The problem is picking out which of hours of information is relevant to whatever she's trying to do." (2025-06-24 21:23:28).
- Frigidaris said, "Thanks for stopping by anyways, and I'm happy to hear your eyesight got better." (2025-06-24 21:23:40).
- You say, "Somewhere in the world, there has got to be a locus of Hasheen magic strong enough to let me store the language in something a bit more resilient. And a bit more reusable." (2025-06-24 21:24:10).
- You say, "There are a few possible candidates." (2025-06-24 21:24:51).
- Frigidaris said, "Hmm. Well, I can think of a couple of ways to solve this, but they aren't optimal. If you and your sister are in contact, you could ask her which parts she needs and transcribe them for me. If you're not in touch I could go ask her and come back, but that would take me a day or two." (2025-06-24 21:33:35).
- Frigidaris said, "I assume transcribing the whole book isn't a possibility, based on the density of text. And this last one is preposterous, but you could give me the book and I'd promise to return it as soon as possible." (2025-06-24 21:33:54).
- You say, "Hasheen is actually a pretty concise language. It's hard to think about things when you're dead, and so it's constructed from some pretty basic concepts." (2025-06-24 21:39:10).
- You say, "So transcribing it would be tricky by normal means, but I suspect there is a magical means." (2025-06-24 21:40:09).
- You say, "There's a Hasheen...citadel...in Purgatorio. An old tower, overlooking an old town. My friend Esrahil sees it in her dreams sometimes, when she dies. It is a reflection of an older and greater citadel in Nifleheim, a tower I have visited but once." (2025-06-24 21:41:21).
- You say, "My mission keeps me here, so I haven't been to the Purgatorial tower in a long time. If you're up for some travel, I suspect we can find what we need for a more digestable form there." (2025-06-24 21:43:00).
- Frigidaris said, "Oh yeah, I can work with that. A call to adventure, unearthing magical artifacts, exploring ruins? Sign me up!" (2025-06-24 21:52:46).
- You say, "I'm not particularly tired today, so I'm going to see if I can find my way over to the place." (2025-06-24 21:55:04).
- You emote, " whispers something in Hasheen and the sprites dart into her bag." (2025-06-24 21:56:46).
- Frigidaris said, "Before you leave, I want to make sure of something." (2025-06-24 21:57:59).
- You emote, " raises an eyebrow." (2025-06-24 21:58:37).
- Frigidaris said, "This tower you speak of, is it The Devil's Luck in 10,27? Or is it the Ancient Temple in 22, 11?" (2025-06-24 21:59:05).
- You say, "There's old and there's ancient. It's got to be the ancient one." (2025-06-24 22:00:37).
- You emote, " picks up her bags and steps out the door." (2025-06-24 22:00:52).
- Frigidaris sent you 1 credits with this message: Go on ahead, I'll catch up to you after I get some sleep (2025-06-24 22:02:05).
- You step inside Equipment Site Theta. (2025-06-24 22:04:41).
- You step outside of First Ridleyton Church. (2025-06-24 22:04:46).
- You step inside Ancient Lighthouse. (2025-06-24 22:04:58).
- You emote, " steps inside the old, giant, creaking doors, tired from ascending the tumbledown stones that lead to the summit." (2025-06-24 22:05:33).
- You say, "In retrospect, I should have flown the whole way instead of 99% of the way." (2025-06-24 22:05:51).
- You emote, " peers around the dark entry hall, illuminated only by a few sickly-pale torches. A few sprites in the same color flutter out of her bags. "...hello?"" (2025-06-24 22:06:48).
- You say, "I'm in search of...okay, I'm not sure what I'm in search of. But this is a Hasheen place, and somewhere in here must be a means to crystallize knowledge." (2025-06-24 22:07:25).
- You emote, " practically trips over a skull, but catches herself." (2025-06-24 22:07:58).
- You emote, " watches as the sprites bob over to a corner of the room where they seem to have found someone to heal!" (2025-06-24 22:09:46).
- You say, "In any case, it’s nice to meet you." (2025-06-25 03:35:56).
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
Meanwhile in Stygia
Wizards, unlike most Conduits, like a controlled environment. A space long used by a Wizard is often littered with creature comforts - arcane apparatus for making and storing one's favored food and drink, sleeping and studying quarters, devices for controlling the light and sorting documents. These may be stunningly near or stunningly messy, but at both extremes, the Wizard who built the system will insist that they know where everything is.
Which meant that when Isabel (to whose perspective we return) asked the Council and the Coven to set up shop in a demonic fortress regularly patrolled by monsters and turn it into a proper Magos Tower, this was a bit of an ask.
Wizards, unlike most Conduits, like a controlled environment. A space long used by a Wizard is often littered with creature comforts - arcane apparatus for making and storing one's favored food and drink, sleeping and studying quarters, devices for controlling the light and sorting documents. These may be stunningly near or stunningly messy, but at both extremes, the Wizard who built the system will insist that they know where everything is.
Which meant that when Isabel (to whose perspective we return) asked the Council and the Coven to set up shop in a demonic fortress regularly patrolled by monsters and turn it into a proper Magos Tower, this was a bit of an ask.
Nevertheless, after days of effort, the Wizards did succeed, and a shimmering Magos Tower stood where an Ebony Tower once did. And that created the problem that every demon in Stygia could now see it.- You step outside of Pivot Peak. (2025-06-25 04:31:47).
- You write runes signed by the Council of Keys and mentioning some cryptic mission in blue chalk. (2025-06-25 14:57:30).
- You step outside of Heart's Blood. (2025-06-25 14:57:31).
- You write runes signed by the Council of Keys and mentioning some cryptic mission in blue chalk. (2025-06-25 14:57:34).
- You have sent 1 credits to Jorus along with the message: Some signal flickers from Isabel - a beating heart spurting with blood, a long line of sigils, an exaggerated circus tent in the distance. (2025-06-25 14:58:42).
- Jorus said, "Ah, there you are" (2025-06-25 15:47:12).
- Jorus said, "I'm here, but invisible. The locals don't appreciate my presence very much" (2025-06-25 15:48:07).
- You say, "If I perish, I perish. But usually I at least conceal myself in the shadows." (2025-06-25 15:53:28).
- You say, "The ruler of this place is a mighty magus indeed, but one who delves into things they ought not." (2025-06-25 15:54:18).
- You emote, " has a certain off pitch to her voice, and you get a nasty suspicion that her Hasheen curse is returning outside the Vale. Perhaps there was more than one reason why she wanted to send others." (2025-06-25 15:55:01).
- Jorus said, "Do you speak of Eldritch? Or perhaps the creator of this dark and horrid tower?" (2025-06-25 16:01:43).
- You say, "What one began, another may follow. Objects in motion remain in motion." (2025-06-25 16:06:37).
- Jorus was flying and has now landed. (2025-06-25 16:09:02).
- Jorus said, "Wait a moment. I've just remembered something about this place" (2025-06-25 16:13:18).
- Jorus said, "It was tied to the second Lord of Penumbra, and that is the location we seek to exploit" (2025-06-25 16:14:01).
- Jorus said, "There is a tie there. A connection" (2025-06-25 16:14:22).
- You say, "A lesson learned. A thread severed." (2025-06-25 16:56:09).
- You say, "That thread, grasped by a successor - usually." (2025-06-25 16:56:44).
- Jorus sent you 1 credits with this message: I have determined to learn the art of infusion. I hope you realize the gravity of the situation. I detest such trivial concerns in maters of who controls what, but matters dictate that I contribute (2025-06-26 02:15:59).
- Jorus sent you 1 credits with this message: However untasteful I deem that method to be (2025-06-26 02:16:31).
- You step inside Heart's Blood. (2025-06-26 14:32:51).
At this point, a curious new clue appeared that the Wizards had neither planned on nor intended. In their searchings, each Wizard in Stygia started finding pieces of a broken and majestic Throne, of demonic make.- You say, "Well done, whoever worked on this. I hope someone can hear me." (2025-06-26 14:33:04).
- You say, "And flipped! Well done, everyone." (2025-06-27 00:27:40).
- You say, "I sense it could be transformed soon enough." (2025-06-27 00:27:59).
- You emote, " fades into the shadows, but you sense the presence of something new." (2025-06-27 00:28:56).
- You cast the spell, and feel the shadows warp and bend around you. You are now hidden. (2025-06-27 00:29:34).
- Perrick repaired the door! (2025-06-27 10:01:02).
- Iona suddenly appeared out of thin air. (2025-06-27 10:01:29).
- Jorus suddenly appeared out of thin air. (2025-06-27 10:01:29).
- Lady Morgana suddenly appeared out of thin air. (2025-06-27 10:01:29).
- (2 times) Perrick spoke words of mystic power and traced eldritch shapes into the air. A burst of warmth rushed through the area as they finished the incantation. (2025-06-27 10:02:05).
- Iona scurries away to her potion bag (2025-06-27 11:39:13).
- Iona disappeared from view. (2025-06-27 11:39:16).
- Lady Morgana disappeared from view. (2025-06-27 12:10:34).
- Jorus disappeared from view. (2025-06-27 13:24:12).
- Iona said, "New tower!" (2025-06-27 13:35:14).
- Jorus sent you 1 credits with this message: (A raven flies to you and drops a small bone inscribed with the following message) "Iona, Lady Morgana, and myself have wrested control of the tower. It now stands as a bastion of free will. We have found remnants of a shattered throne. (2025-06-27 13:38:12).
- Lady Morgana gave you a(n) Potion of Extended Invisibility. (2025-06-27 13:44:59).
- You emote, " examines the pieces. "I remember hearing something about this - a War For The Stygian Throne, fought long ago."" (2025-06-27 15:13:04).
- You say, "I believe there was once one ruler of this land, but the last one was killed by a higher power and no one took his place. Then it became the fractured map of fiefdoms we know today." (2025-06-27 15:13:54).
- You say, "During my infiltration mission, I used to make a big deal about this, questing to put the pieces of the throne back together." (2025-06-27 15:14:27).
- You say, "That was an act. I would not have dreamed that it was a real item. And yet, here we are. These seem real enough." (2025-06-27 15:14:57).
- You emote, " looks around. The black velvet and eerie light have changed to an architecture more familiar from the Vale. "And at last, perhaps, we have the means to *work* with the pieces."" (2025-06-27 15:16:06).
- You emote, " re-cloaks in shadows, for the enemy is never far, but you sense she is still here." (2025-06-27 15:16:37).
- You emote, " peers around the tower. It practically glows with Unaligned magicks, and the silvery machines in its rooms clack and whirr." (2025-06-28 03:14:37).
- You say, "I see the Coven. Your machinations visible at last. Though you are not." (2025-06-28 03:15:15).
- You step inside Heart's Blood. (2025-06-28 03:40:45).
- You say, "An Overlord we must be, a seat we must steal. But this place is well defended by the Eldritch one, whose name is known only to themselves." (2025-06-28 03:41:31).
- You say, "This our bastion, our foundation, our tower of mischief." (2025-06-28 03:42:42).
- You say, "It is not where a seat needs to be. But it can - hopefully - be the key to one." (2025-06-28 03:43:28).
Re: Vale of Mysteries: A Wizard Exhale Quest
Back at the Lighthouse - a Welcome and a word on Names
Upon arriving in the Ancient Lighthouse, Katerina found that it was not, in fact, without residents. A titanic edifice of its scale could have housed a host of thousands and did not, but amidst its echoing halls still stood the bastion of the venerable Mage's Council and its host, the indispensable Professor Saccharine - who offered a cheerful welcome.
(Out of character, that's Arabic, Chinese, Dakota, Greek and Latin, in order that they're mentioned).
Upon arriving in the Ancient Lighthouse, Katerina found that it was not, in fact, without residents. A titanic edifice of its scale could have housed a host of thousands and did not, but amidst its echoing halls still stood the bastion of the venerable Mage's Council and its host, the indispensable Professor Saccharine - who offered a cheerful welcome.
When Katerina sent her curiously named sprites (Aldebaran, Tianyi and Aƞpo Wicaƞhpi) to investigate, it invited a fair question about their curious names.- Frigidaris whispered to you, saying "Okay, here I am. What are we looking for?" (2025-06-25 06:50:53).
- Saccharine seems to materialize from the darkness, the sprites' light sparkling off patches of exposed bone. "Guests! Welcome to our humble halls." (2025-06-25 11:35:02).
- Saccharine claps her hands together! The ghouls otherwise lounging about snap to attention. "Take our friends' luggage, would you my dears? And change the linens in the spare rooms; it's been a while since we've had visitors, I'm sure they must be positively moldy." (2025-06-25 11:39:38).
- Saccharine said, "My apologies for the state of the place, I must get better about tiding up after my experiments..." She bends down to pick up the rogue skull. "Again, welcome! You're seeking knowledge you say? Our labyrinthine library may be a good place to start." (2025-06-25 11:46:00).
- You emote, " watches as the ghouls scamper about. You hear "Okay, here I am. What are we looking for?" echoing around the vast chamber, but not in her voice." (2025-06-25 14:55:31).
- You emote, " sizes up her host. The Professor appears lively enough in one light, but downright skeletal when viewed from another." (2025-06-25 14:56:04).
- You say, "No blame from me on not keeping this place tidy. It takes a significant time out of my day to handle a space a thousandth of this size." (2025-06-25 14:56:37).
- You emote, " looks around. "Maybe a five thousandth."" (2025-06-25 14:56:47).
- You say, "We are in search of a special locus of Hasheen power. This place has quite a lot of clues that it might contain one...somewhere." (2025-06-25 15:08:37).
- A Hasheen Gloomstalker has been summoned by the Elder Powers! (2025-06-25 16:12:04).
- You emote, " feels a surge of energy from somewhere at the emergence of the Hasheen Gloomstalker, though she doesn't see one. "Do those pop up all the time?"" (2025-06-25 20:20:20).
- You say, "I don't often come here." (2025-06-25 20:20:25).
- You emote, " concentrates and a third, flickering sprite appears." (2025-06-26 14:38:22).
- You emote, " cups the sprites in her hands and whispers something to them in Hasheen. They dart off, pinging clumsily off the walls, down the various dark corridors of the tower." (2025-06-26 14:38:51).
(Out of character, that's Arabic, Chinese, Dakota, Greek and Latin, in order that they're mentioned).
Sadly, for all the promise suggested by their names, an investigation by the sprites alone was not to bear fruit.- Frigidaris said, "Hey Katerina, a question. What do your sprites' names mean? That language is unknown to me." (2025-06-26 14:49:25).
- You say, "They're all in languages from Breath worlds. None of them have been *the* language of a Valhalla for a while, but history is long." (2025-06-26 15:30:26).
- You say, "Aldebaran, al-dabaran - "the follower". It was the first sprite to come to me, and a friend suggested the name and it stuck." (2025-06-26 15:31:55).
- You say, "Tianyi...I think it means "the great celestial one". Tian, the heavens, the celestial place. It was a bright star in the sky of an old Earth. Kind of ironic since it shines the dimmest of them all." (2025-06-26 15:33:40).
- You say, "Áƞpo Wic̣aƞḣpi, the morning star. Áƞpao, the daybreak, and Wic̣aƞḣpi for star. The civilization long ago that coined that name had a legend that humans had come from the stars, and so their word for star was a portmanteau of their words for human being and nest - the human nest from which we had flown." (2025-06-26 15:36:10).
- You say, "Sort of ironic again, in that it was the last sprite to come to me. Alonai probably has millions of sprites, but I only know of five attuned to Hashaa who will answer my call." (2025-06-26 15:37:25).
- You say, "Sometimes I get two others - Mu Cephei and Eta Carinae. They too are named for stars. But they did not come to me today." (2025-06-26 15:38:07).
- You say, "Five names, five stars, five languages. But they are all named for stars." (2025-06-26 15:53:04).
- Your stronghold is under attack! (2025-06-26 19:51:23).
- Your stronghold ward has been destroyed! (2025-06-26 19:52:10).
- You say, "Ugh. My home base got hit. Supposedly they survived..." (2025-06-26 20:25:49).
- Frigidaris said, "Oh, that's a shame." (2025-06-26 20:50:34).
- Frigidaris said, "By the way, if you ever earn another sprite, you could name it Artizarra." (2025-06-26 20:51:01).
- Frigidaris said, "It means "Bright star" in the language spoken where I come from, because it shone the brightest in the night sky. In fact, it was often the last star shining when the dawn came." (2025-06-26 20:51:17).
- You say, "A good name. I'll keep that in mind." (2025-06-26 21:49:05).
- You say, "The pronunciation sounds vaguely familiar, but I am not sure from where." (2025-06-26 21:49:37).
- You emote, " sees the first of the sprites come tumbling out of the labyrinth after some hours' search. The others follow soon after." (2025-06-26 23:00:12).
- You say, "Oh..." (2025-06-26 23:01:45).
- You say, "Well, I should have expected that. Nothing so simple as a quick path up to that lantern." (2025-06-26 23:02:03).
- You say, "I had hoped to get them to map the building." (2025-06-26 23:02:15).
- You say, "It's possible that there's nothing to find...or that it requires sufficient intelligence." (2025-06-27 00:25:43).
- You say, "I suppose we shall have to investigate directly." (2025-06-27 03:09:14).
- You say, "Thanks for taking my bags." (2025-06-27 03:09:19).
- You emote, " calls the sprites back and starts ascending the tower." (2025-06-27 03:09:42).
- Frigidaris said, "Excuse me for a while, I need to go do some exploring around Purgatorio. I'll be back soon." (2025-06-27 13:45:37).
- You say, "Perhaps he will find something that I would have missed." (2025-06-27 15:22:24).
- You say, "I am no longer a Wizard per se, after all." (2025-06-27 15:22:35).
- You emote, " looks up at the soaring vaults. You see nothing whatsoever about her that indicates that she is an Angel, except for the unusually lit Aethersprites." (2025-06-27 15:23:20).
- You emote, " spends quite a bit of time roaming the labyrinth, trying to memorize paths, and poking into various side rooms." (2025-06-28 05:14:07).