The War On Ailmere

[Caedis 425]

 

KAETHUL’S EFFORTS TO REPEL THE DARKNESS

 

FOR THE PAST FIVE years, the city-state of Kaethul, in tandem with Norland and groups of independent adventurers, has been at the forefront of the NORTHERN WAR ON AILMERE. Commander of the Northern Front, Anatoliy Ilya Silveira, writes the following missive in the hopes of spreading awareness, and sharing information, to defeat the encroaching Darkness.

 

FOR THOSE UNAWARE, THE tribes of Ailmare, the Northern Snowplains, have all been united under a singular figure - The Harrower. Information on who this individual is, is sporadic at best. Recent reports suggest The Harrower is a spirit - one of darkness, who was able to connect our world to his own via a forbidden blood magic ritual that took place on the continent centuries ago. This ritual was performed by an ancient noble family, known as the ‘Gnaefa’ family, who swept over their lands, abducting their own people and casting vile magicks on those who remained. Their defeat is theorised to have been brought by the Mori, who had inhabited this Continent long before they crossed to our old lands of Almaris.

 

 

For reasons unknown, the Harrower has returned. His forces possess a large, barberic arsenal:

‘Thrall’ - The cannonfodder peasantry of the raiders. These soldiers are weak alone, but work exceptionally well in formations. It is believed that this is due to the Harrower’s influence, and that ‘Thralls’ possess no personality of their own, merely acting as instructed by their master.

 

‘Chosen’ - The elite of the Harrower’s forces. Each one of these soldiers possesses a rare metal weapon, most commonly Azhl, though Boomsteel, Thanhium and more have been confirmed. They possess dark shadow magic, able to not only teleport at will between shadows, but fade into black mist and become the shadows themselves. There are also reports of Chosen possessing Shadow-Clone magic.

 

‘Raven-Riders’ - Thundermaw Ravens who are under the influence of the Harrower’s mind control. They rule the skies, with a ‘Thrall’ rider sat atop them, and rain down bolts of destructive lightning from their beaks. It is believed that impacting one with null arcana will cause them to go feral - Though equally, it is far more effective to simply shoot to kill.

 

‘Mammoth Riders’ - Exactly as described. The Raiders of Ailmere have either mind controlled or tamed the mighty mammoths of the North, and use them to charge forth into their enemies. These beasts are tough to kill, and possess large tusks that are more than capable of demolishing a descendant - However, they are unable to compete with the raw alchemical might of a Smogger.

 

‘Goat Cavalry’ - The Raiders do not possess horses, but instead large Goats capable of easily traversing the frozen, rocky wastes of Ailmere. These creatures can skewer descendents with their horns, trample them with their legs, or simply get their rider close enough to launch their own attack.

 

THE HARROWER’S FORCES ALSO possess siege equipment, observed to be large trebuchets on wheels, and likely possess even more. Furthermore, in every corner of their lands, you will find a large looming banner that overlooks strategic placements - These banners act as watchtowers, allowing the Harrower to look through them, and observe his domain. This means that if you step foot in the North, you have already been spotted. Camouflage has proven an effective means of avoiding the Harrower’s sight, implying that the Banners merely allow him to see through them, but do not automatically identify a person’s presence. These banners are regarded as highly dangerous, as ANY physical contact with them, be it from a man or animal, will result in possession until contact with the banner is broken. There is likewise a theory that suggests each banner is crafted using the very soul of the ancient inhabitants of Ailmere, though this has yet to be proved.

 

 

The most Dangerous weapon the Harrower possesses though, is the ‘Mark’:

THE ‘MARK’ IS A powerful, exceptionally dangerous curse. This curse is placed upon a captured descendent, and allows the Harrower to not only see through their eyes, hear what they hear, and read their very thoughts - but equally it lets them possess the victim, and even acts as a teleportation gateway that allows the Chosen to appear around them.

THE CURSED ALSO SUFFER mental side effects, with their minds altered to show loyalty and willingness to the Harrower, essentially turning them into unknowing slaves. These effects are removed once the curse is lifted.

IN THE PAST, THE curse was identified via a marking upon a person’s back - An open palm with an eye in the centre. Overtime, the curse has evolved to hide this marking, and now the curse can only be seen via things such as Arcana Flow goggles, which will show the cursed individual as having a constant, ominous aura that clings under their clothing.

Currently, only one means of curing has proven effective - Spirit Walking. The important thing to note however, is that attempting to spirit walk with the afflicted will NOT take the shaman, nor the cursed, nor any who join, into the Spirit Realm. The Shaman, cursed, and other participants will be taken in the realm of the Harrower - A reported land of complete darkness and endless twisting staircases. The Shaman and other participants will then have to engage in battle with the Harrower’s forces, in an attempt to rescue the cursed from the clutches of the Harrower. As long as the cursed is willing to be freed, however, they shall be, but failure to safely rescue them will result in the cursed, after being returned to the mortal plain, erupting into black flames that seek to consume their entire body. It is theorised that null arcana might be able to subdue these flames, but nothing else has worked. The cursed will also suffer permanent memory loss of any and all events relating to the Harrower.

 

 

I will also be releasing a list of all known cursed individuals, who have already been discovered before, but have evaded capture and escaped to the Harrower:

 

Slith

Hera

Gallio

Narli

Sermi (Yes, the Devil. Do not bother with curing - Kill her on sight - Though the Church should expect the Harrower’s forces to intervene.)

Grimni

Lorandil

 

ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE CONFIRMED to be cursed, yet have been either willingly or not, taken away by the Harrower. In cases such as Slith and Hera, it is unwilling, with their minds confused as Chosen drag them into the shadows.

YOU MAY ALSO NOTICE many dwarven names here - Until they have been cured, it is of my personal opinion that Urguan has already fallen to the Harrower.

 

I HOPE THIS MISSIVE aids the forces of Light, in the war against the encroaching shadows.

Remain Strong. The Night Will Fade.

 

IF YOU HAVE ANY questions, or seek to join in this fight, merely send word to Anatoliy or Dainn (Caelaerin)

 

And a special message for Hera, because I know you are reading:

We’re coming to rescue you. We haven’t forgotten you, and you are not alone. Kaethul remembers all you have done for us; as do I. Stay strong, Icon of Salvation, it’s our turn to save you.

 

 

Spoiler

An OOC Note: 

This is an ST eventline that can result in pk under specific conditions. After immersing myself in this eventline for the past few weeks though, I can assure everyone, it’s fun as ****. Sarven is doing a wonderful job at leading it, Mini is a legend for helping, and all the other ST who figured out lore and help with the fights deserve a lotta love!

 

 

 

SIGNED,

 

JUNIPER AURELIA ROSE,

Royal Scribe of Kaethul, Anti-Darkspawn Air Shielder

 

HIS LORDSHIP, ANATOLIY ILYA ALYOVICH SILVEIRA GODUNOV,

Baron of Verskaya, Commander of the Northern Front, Sword of Salvation

 

Edited March 25 by Caedis

[Apotolofo 1414]

Hera is actually blind right now, but she appreciates the sentiment.

 

Edit: Hera, being canonist, would probably be sweating at being called an 'Icon.'

[Pancho 2527]

Cerrick Fenifaer, a follower of the Golden Light, read the missive with great interest. He hummed as he handed it to his kinsman and comrade, Ryvel. 

"Looks like a great show, how about we engage?"

@Kanapes

[SlitheryC1 484]

A helmed man, 'Slith', looked at the missive with a faint grumble within the comfort of their own home, placing a hand upon their ferrum forehead.
"Ye kiddin me? Why didn't they scratch m'feckin name out yet!?" The man yelled, slamming his fist into his armrest as they grumbled.
"...Oi bettah have nae paladins at m'doorstep..." He malded. Seethed, even.

[satinkira 5911]

Serwa prayed for salvation. "The only true deity is GOD."

[Operator_Bugman 221]

Orin read the missive and began drawing out the plans for another smoggers, more ambitious than before yet still very simple in its construction and purpose.

[Digit_005 245]

Though it was a brief trip to the South, Klaus von Berkhoven would notice this missive upon the notice board within the Commerce City. Seeing the value that the information would have for his people that lived on the edge of Canondom, the Alchemist would take an empty sheet of parchment from his bag and transcribe the message.
Putting the valuable, transcribed missive carefully into his bag, Klaus would pull a brass pocket-watch from an inner pocket of his coat to check the time before closing the lid and returning it there, then quickly journeyed back North without a moment’s thought as every second without this information could spell disaster.

[Liam5232 340]

A dark elf would stifle a giggle reading the missive dropped into the library - "Being sentenced to life in solitary is not all that bad I suppose. At least some are having fun."

[Xarkly 12618]

 

"Hmph."

 

In the dim light of the hall of the White Comet's Chapter-House, Villorik closed his eyes, and rested his head against the back of his chair. Tatiyana had brought him this particular report not so long ago, before he had gruffly shooed her off to sleep. Now, he sat alone, with only what remained of the candles for company.

 

"Let's see, then," he mused to himself, "if Kaethul can spill more Light than it has nurtured the Shadow."

 

For, to Villorik, that had always be the truest measure of redemption.

[Sarven 1715]

Gather did the great banners once more,

Cries ethereal, howls other worldly,

Battlefields picked clean...

 

[Ewdrawings 455]

I didn't sign this.

[ScoutTheWitch 360]

“A wonderful creditin' of my risks and efforts . . . I am not, in fact, an 'independent', nor an 'adventurer'.” A Lady Magister of Hohkmat grumbled as she looked over the page, “And it's 'Gnæfa', not 'Gnaefa'.” She corrected over pedantically.

[StingyParrot 132]

"Ooh. I really should get involved in this - if naught else the battlefields would make for a neat painting." A journeyman mage then pulls a sheet of paper from his drawer, setting his quill just next to it, before briefly disappearing into his basement to procure a pair of gauntlets. "Mmmh. Yes, these'll do, I think - " That goosefeather quill was then swept up, the nib dipped in green ink, and Arakawa began to write. . .

[Xarkly 12618]

2 hours ago, Ewdrawings said:

I didn't sign this.

 

Spoiler

RP it as someone forging your signature ! 

 

[TeawithFrisket 2634]

“Damn it all- I hoped to be wrong for once” Ember exclaimed waking up from her sleep