amendment [Fjarriagua Addition/Amendment] Gaze onto the Winter Weeping of the Stars

[Agy 340]

- VOLUME TWO: Nostalgia of Foreign Memories -
Fjarriagua Addition/Amendment: Gaze onto the Winter Weeping of the Stars

Spoiler

When properly translated from Icelandic, “Fjarriagua” translates into “Distant Waters”.

 

 

Part One: The Old Growth

 

The Forlorn Totems 

The fruit born of an Altar and the literal pillar of their worship, each one wholly unique in its physical appearance and reflecting a part of the Fjarriagua’s mind that created it, but all Totems share the purpose of further compounding the influence and the magic of the Fjarriagua as it seeps within the physical plain evermore, acting as metaphysical extensions of the Altars and their will, as well as a safe haven for any Witch to come and rest their tireless minds and bodies.

To create one, a Frost Mother along with the help of [1] Fjarriagua must plant a “seed” born of cursed ice upon any chosen land and with the empowerment of the wicked powers the witches wield, they may awaken the seed from its dormant state, rapidly and aggressively beginning to take root within the land and quickly growing into a Forlorn Totem. The newly created Totem will find itself quickly fully maturing soon after its creation, although being limited into a rather timid size as opposed to their greater variant, nevertheless still all too capable of enacting boons and a sense of comfort and safety to any and all Fjarriagua that rest by its side, even if in a lesser degree.

Spoiler

Mechanics
- A Forlorn Totem can be created by a Mother in association with another Fjarriagua.  
- The Totem requires [6] harsh blunt hits in order to be destroyed, typically from pickaxes, large hammers, or other heavy blunt objects. Alternatively, a constant stream of fire or heat magic can effectively destroy the Totem in [8] emotes.
- Non-Witches within a [5] meter radius of the Totem would feel a nose-biting chill and very mild frostbite if they are inadequately prepared for a frigid environment. Witches within the Totem’s proximity on the other hand  would feel a great sense of home and protection, a sense of tranquility befalling their burdened immortal minds.
-Upon resting by the side of the Totem within an area of [5] meters for [30] OOC minutes, a Fjarriagua may feel rejuvenated, capable of being passively healed of any non-fatal wounds by the Totem so long as they are out of combat. If combat ensues at any time during this period, the effect will cease requiring the witch to wait an additional [30] OOC minutes. The loss of ligaments, lesser organs or Limbs can only be healed by a Sabbath.
- Can only perform the Sabbath of Healing.

- Mortals wearing more than half an inch of cloth will be immune to the effects of the Totem’s frostbiting chill, though still face an uncomfortable cold.
- If a Forlorn Totem is destroyed, its effects in the area will fade. Totems are never indestructible.
- A Forlorn Totem must be made in a frozen/temperate region, referring to any region mechanically identified as a biome capable of supporting the Fjarriagua. A Forlorn totem  can not be created in a dry/hot region, such as a sunny beach or desert, or any region with constant heat.
-Strikes upon a Totem will prove not-so-effective, while holy/deific-adjacent magics such as Shamanism, Druidism, Paladinism or Templarism may easily purge the Totem. Requiring a total of [3] Holy Mages to begin Purging the Totem, leaving behind a sterile husk of mundane ice.
- Totems cannot be moved after their creation, their roots having dug too deep into the earth and would be destroyed should they be uprooted.
- Totems have to be mechanically represented in a minimum of  [2] meter tall icey blocks and may come in any shape its creator wishes, although being fully visual in nature as they will still maintain the exact same durability and capabilities no matter the form the Totem takes.
- The Totems can only ever be used for the Sabbath of Healing, incapable of having any other Sabbath being done on them.
-Each Mother may only create [1] Totem per OOC week.
- While a Forlorn Totem can be created within an area under the influence of a Witch Altar, it will offer no additional boons or manner of stacking of effects.
-These Totems may be imbued with echoed whispers, by the Mother that created them, allowing each one to have a message of their own to share.
-Requires ST signature.

PURPOSE:
The Forlorn Totems are a cheap and easily affordable alternative to the costly and risky creation of Witch Altars. Primarily in their lessened creation requirements, as well as their far smaller area of effect, allowing them to more easily be placed in discrete locations as opposed to a Tier 3 Witch Altar’s 50 meter radius of frostbite-inducing cold that would instantly expose their presence.

Nevertheless, a totem's main niche is to act as a “mini-lair” of sorts, for a Fjarriagua to be able to lick her wounds and heal from any injuries she may have suffered without requiring the creation of massive and usually permanent lairs as are required with Witch Altars. Being only capable of healing Witches and acting as a less expensive backup base in the event of the loss of a Witch Altar.

 

Part Two: The New Growth

 

The Blossoming Ice

The phenomenon of a Totem Blossoming is a peculiar characteristic of these inorganic yet unmistakably living structures, for should one be allowed the rare privilege to bask in the flowing northern winds that permeate the surface, entirely lacking in any obstruction from the skies above; there from which the first snow of winter always arrives, then the Totem will begin to undergo a radiant metamorphosis, as it blossoms and ascends into a Beholder; a finely tuned instrument born of wicked ice magick. Unlike the dominating presence of the Witch Altars, a Beholder specializes as a radiant beacon for the Fjarriagua, dutifully listening in and relaying to the witches the melodic influence of the birthplace of their kind; Skjoldier.

Spoiler

Mechanics
- If a Forlorn Totem is created above the surface and without an obstructions from the sky above uninterrupted for [1] OOC Week, then it shall bloom into a Beholder, empowering the former Forlorn Totem’s influence and bestowing access of  the Boons of Yule to the coven of Witches for them to make use of.
- The Beholder retains the durability and passive effects of a Forlorn Totem, with its radius being extended to that of [10] meters instead.
- The Metamorphosis of a Blossoming Totem can optionally be mechanically represented as undergoing a “second growth” with the former Totem growing in size, although still retaining the exact same durability. Creative liberty is given with said new appearance as long as it offers no advantages of any kind, being purely aesthetic in nature.
- Should anything be built to cover the Beholder after its blooming, then it will lose all of said gained boons, reverting back into a Forlorn Totem in terms of capabilities and offered boons until these obstructions are removed, requiring [1] OOC Day to return to its former glory.

- A totem must remain without any obstructions to the sky above in any way or form for it to blossom into a Beholder, this includes glass or any other such physical “see-through” material.
- Should a Totem that has yet to blossom be obstructed for more than 3 OOC Hours by any physical material, then the timer will be reset, requiring another OOC Week for the Totem to properly blossom.
- Witch Altars cannot blossom into Beholders, being exclusive only to the Forlorn Totems.
- Blossoming can only happen in Frozen/Temperate climates.
- Requires to be ST Signed to mark its blooming into a Beholder.

The Boons of Yule

Spoiler

Mal Du Pays
The Frost Mothers, they who hold the strongest and most potent of connections to the Altars and the lands of Skoldier may meditate and dream under the shining presence of the Beholder, their minds being showered and exposed to a deluge of ancient knowledge, visions and even messages from their faraway home and ancient kin, receiving them to an almost overwhelming degree for some of the youngest Mothers, causing their minds to sometimes unravel into fits of hysteria.

Spoiler

Mechanics
- Should a Frost Mother rest or focus by the comforting side of a Beholder, then she will begin to enter a deep sleep as her mind momentarily departs from her body, allowing Frost Mothers to bear witness to Prophecies and visions.
- This can be performed by any Frost Mother on her own, requiring her only to focus without distractions within an area of [10] meters near a Beholder.
- For the duration of this ability, the Frost Mother’s physical body remains exposed and defenseless, should it be destroyed, the Frost Mother will be slain, following standard revival mechanics.

- Mal Du Pays allows Frost Mothers to see prophecies, following the redlines of Prophecy Lore.
- A Frost Mother will need to spend the appropriate time within the presence of a Beholder, simply stepping into its presence will not automatically bestow its effects, requiring the Mother to infact begin concentrating on connecting with the Beholder and by extension the Lands of Skjoldier to receive their visions.
- For a Frost Mother to concentrate and thus make use of the ritual, she must not be in combat.
- Mal Du Pays cannot be used as a way to metagame factually correct information of the actual lands of Skjoldier, Fjarriagua Lore or anything else in general.
- The mental effects of Mal Du Pays to any Frost Mother is purely up to them to RP as they wish.

Unshackled Esbat
All Altars and Totems of the Fjarriagua bear an innate connection to each other, a metaphysical network of their shared duty to anchor the otherworldly presence of the Witches reaching back to the lands of Skjoldier, each one spreading their influence beyond the borders of their unholy birthplace to every corner of the mortal plain that they visit. With the Beholder acting as an absolute and potent empowerment of these connections within their given continent. A boon often used by the Fjarriagua themselves as a method of communing with their fellow kin and allies spread across the lands.

Spoiler

Mechanics
- A Fjarriagua may rest or focus right by the side of a Beholder, allowing her to enter a deep sleep as her spirit begins to depart from her corporeal body, projecting itself onto any Altar or Totem within their given continent, allowing them to commune with fellow witches or those that dare work under them, materializing as a collection of ethereal ice and frost.
- Alternatively, Fjarriagua may instead slumber by the side of any Witch Altar and or Forlorn Totem and project themselves exclusively on the Beholder.
- This can be performed by any Fjarriagua on her own, requiring her only to focus without distractions within an area of [10] meters near a Beholder or Altar/Totem should a Beholder exist somewhere within the continent.
- For the duration of this ability, the Fjarriagua’s physical body remains exposed and defenseless, requiring its player to place a sign mentioning their empty husk for as long as the ability is in use. Should the body be destroyed, the Fjarriagua will be slain, following standard revival mechanics.
- Fjarriagua may only ever project themselves exclusively within the boundaries of the continent they currently inhabit.
- The Projected Fjarriagua may take on any kind of form and voice that they wish, whether monstrous or animalistic in nature. Having complete creative freedom in how they present themselves as long as the form is made out of ice and frost, as well as not attempting to impersonate any already existing player controlled characters, living or dead. Unless given OOC consent by their player of course.

- Should Unshackled Esbat be used with a Beholder then the Fjarriagua may project herself on any Altar or Totem within their Continent, if It's done from a Witch Altar or Forlorn Totem then she can only ever project herself upon a Beholder.
- Fjarriagua may only project themselves to any given Altar/Beholder/Totem with OOC consent from the Altar’s/Beholder’s/Totem’s “Owner”.
- There is no limit to the total amount of Fjarriagua able to project themselves onto an Altar, Totem or Beholder at any given moment.
- The Projected form is fully incapable of interacting with the world physically in any way or form, being only able to speak and communicate with others. This includes the usage of  any magic or participation in rituals.
- A Fjarriagua will need to be mechanically present within the Altar/Totem/Beholder she wishes to project herself onto, if she cannot mechanically reach said location, then she cannot project herself onto It.
- Upon usage of this ability, the Fjarriagua’s player will need to leave behind a sign detailing the Witch’s slumbering physical body until they return back into It.
- The Projected form may only ever wander [10] meters away from Its summoned Altar/Totem/Beholder, excluding walls and any such barriers.
- Should the Beholder be destroyed, then any projected Fjarriagua will be banished back into their physical bodies, the same goes for any Altar or Totem they have are projecting themselves to or from.
- One cannot metagame information with the usage of Unshackled Esbat without having directly talked to the projected Fjarriagua, or the individual they are projecting to.
- This ritual cannot be used to uncover the location of unknown Altars, Totems or Beholders.
- Non-Fjarriagua cannot make use of Unshackled Esbats.
- ST may make use of Unshackled Esbat to have fellow Fjarriagua from beyond the continent or even Skjoldier itself to manifest and project themselves within the Beholder for any kind of reason should their call be answered by the Coven.

 

 

Sisters of Blood
Akin to a grand beacon, the Beholder is capable of pulsating Its wicked influence for all Fjarriagua to sense, taking on the role of a guide for the spirits of long since departed and slain Frost Witches, bidding them to return back to their grieving kin, if only for a moment. Soothing the weeping souls of their slain sisters with an unnatural clarity of mind, so that they may commune once more and at last discuss without the intervention of a Frost Mother.

Spoiler

Mechanics
- A group of two Fjarriagua may come forth to a Beholder and begin beseeching one of their slain kin - whether it be Soft-PKed or Hard-PKed Fjarriagua - and call them towards the pull of the Beholder from wherever their spirit may linger, allowing them to commune with each other for a short time.
- The [2] Fjarriagua will be required to know the name of the slain Soft/Hard-PKed Witch in order to be able to begin being able to summon them forth
- The summoned Frost Witch will manifest herself as a collection of ethereal ice and frost, following the same redlines as ‘Unshackled Esbat’.

- In the case of the PKed Frost Witches, the original roleplayer of the summoned individual must reprise their role for the ritual.
- The summoned Frost Witch must infact be PKed for this ritual to be made possible, whether it be Soft-PKed or Hard-PKed.
- The PK’d player must consent OOCly and ICly for the communion to transpire.
- A character cannot directly interact with a PKed Fjarriagua if they both share the same player.
- Magics, Feats or anything of that nature cannot be taught through communion.
- The communed Frost Witch cannot recall actions that led to her death.
- When summoned, a Fjarriagua may manifest as a spectral force composed of a collection of flakes of ice and snow.
- A PK’d persona can only be contacted once a narrative month.
- Summonable Hard PKed Fjarriaguas exclude ones that were slain from suffering the complete obliteration, displacement and or erasure of their soul.
- This ritual cannot be used in any way or form to make a Hard-PKed witch capable of revival.
- Cannot be used to summon slain Fjarriagua Lore-Figures.

 

 

 

PURPOSE:
The main star of today’s show; The Beholder, a mechanic that was infact fully thought out and developed all the way back since late February, that I was a bit too lazy to properly finish writing out until now..!
They are in essence a ‘goal’  for well established witch covens to strive for, requiring you to maintain a weak little Totem for up to a week as it is fully exposed and visible to any travelers, hunters, Holy Mages or even rivals creatures of the dark perhaps! Thus hopefully resulting in an interesting way to create conflict and rewarding those that pursue such a path.

The rewards of course being purely flavourful rituals in nature that offer no combative boons. This is not to be mistaken as adding new and interesting rituals only to lock them away behind risky mechanics, rather just making the Forlorn Totems themselves have more depth that is unique to them alone, the Witch Altars will have their time soon enough.
Now as for each of the mentioned rituals:

Mal Du Pays
The simplest of all the three, for the costs and ever-present risks of creating a Beholder, the coven’s Mothers are rewarded with being able to peer into Prophecies, something that very much thematically fits them.

Unshackled Esbat
Non-Metagaming-Communication-based mechanics are everyone’s favorites! And with this ritual allowing for a safe and reliable method of communication between all covens, thus benefiting all Fjarriagua, I hoped that the creation and maintenance of a Beholder would act as something that would unite and promote cooperation with any future splintered covens instead of acting as causes for greedy infighting for who gets to “control it”.

The Fjarrigua after all are one of the few (if not only) Dark CAs that despite being one of the most unambiguously evil in mentality, hold an interestingly strong thematic focus on teamwork and cooperation with their fellow coven members, doubly so in the case of Frost Mothers.
This ritual wishes to further cement and develop this unique theme of theirs.

Sisters of Blood
In current lore, it is already allowed for a Frost Mother to commune with a Soft-PKed Fjarriagua and as well as there being no mention of naturally Hard-PKed Witches suffering any “obliteration of the soul” kind of things, thus I believe there is no such an issue here with the Beholders being able to achieve such a feat, including this rituals being  a common one within various other Magicks, such as Necromancy and Shamanism.


 

Part Three: Quality of Death

OLD LORE:

Spoiler

Witch Death and Resurrection

 

As the Fjarriagua are wicked creatures which the Monks of the Cloud Temple refuse to bring back, should the Witch perish, her soul will be pulled back to their Coven’s Altar instead. Once her soul has reached the Altar, the power of the Altar will cause nearby precipitation to father, creating a large fractal of ice nearby the Altar from which the Witch will emerge.

 

However, when a Fjarriagua is burnt alive, her soul is completely ripped from the Material Realm, sustained only by her seething hatred and will, requiring that only the direct intervention of her Mother and sisters can bring her back. While within this state, the Witch is reduced to a phantasmal state, yet far weaker than any ghost or spectre, as she cannot interact with the realm around her whatsoever, not even to speak. The only way she may alert her sisters to her presence is by returning directly to the Altar and calling out for mercy. The Mother of that Coven will then be drawn to the Altar, hearing the Witch’s faint cries for help. She may then perform the Sabbath of Resurrection along with her daughters in order to bring back the fallen Witch.
 

Spoiler

Mechanics
- When a Witch dies by regular means (stabbing, bleeding, etc), she will melt away or crumble into ice, her Soul being pulled back to the Altar in her respective Coven. Once she has reached the Altar, she will dematerialize from the ice and precipitation around the Altar, leaving her within her Banshee form and unable to cast Witch Magic for a total of one OOC day, save disguises. They have no recollection of the events leading up to their death, and while they mechanically respawn at CT, it is implied in roleplay that a Witch respawns directly at the Altar.  
- When a Witch is burnt alive, the Fjarriagua will not respawn at the Altar. Instead, they will be reduced to a pale white phantasm which lingers around the Altar, unable to re-materialize or interact with the world around them. They may speak, but in a very soft tone, very hard to hear. She may only be seen by Mothers in this state. In order to be brought back in this state, the Witch’s Coven must perform the Sabbath of Resurrection; the dead Witch will enter the cursed ice, before breaking free, revealing her in her Banshee Form. When revived by this method, a Witch will be unable to cast for up to two OOC days, save disguises.

 

- If a Witch burns to death, they can only be brought back through the Ritual of Resurrection. This includes voidal fire and dragonsflame.
- A Witch may only be brought back through the Altar should she be apart of a Coven, should a Witch not belong to a Coven she will have no Altar to be reborn from.  

- During the period of a phantasm, a Witch may not interact with any non-Witches and they have no other powers or abilities that may pertain to other spectres or ghosts.  

- Witch Deaths from suicide or starvation still adhere to PK rules and cannot be revived.  

- Fjarriagua do not recall the circumstances of their death.

 

 

NEW LORE:

Spoiler

Witch Death and Resurrection

 

As the Fjarriagua are wicked creatures which the Monks of the Cloud Temple refuse to bring back, should the Witch perish, her soul will be pulled back to one of their Coven’s Altar/Totem/Beholder depending on their choice instead. Once her soul has reached any one of these unholy structures, Its power will cause nearby precipitation to father, creating a large fractal of ice nearby the chosen Altar/Totem/Beholder from which the Witch will emerge.

 

However, when a Fjarriagua is burnt alive, her soul is completely ripped from the Material Realm, sustained only by her seething hatred and will, requiring that only the direct intervention of her Mother and sisters can bring her back. While within this state, the Witch is reduced to a phantasmal state, yet far weaker than any ghost or spectre, as she cannot interact with the realm around her whatsoever, not even to speak. The only way she may alert her sisters to her presence is by returning directly to an Altar exclusively and calling out for mercy. The Mother of that Coven will then be drawn to the Altar, hearing the Witch’s faint cries for help. She may then perform the Sabbath of Resurrection along with her daughters in order to bring back the fallen Witch.
 

Spoiler

Mechanics
- When a Witch dies by regular means (stabbing, bleeding, etc), she will melt away or crumble into ice, her Soul being pulled back to one of the Altars, Totems or Beholders of her respective Coven. Once she has reached the chosen structure, she will dematerialize from the ice and precipitation around It, leaving her within her Banshee form and unable to cast Witch Magic for a total of one OOC day, save disguises. They have no recollection of the events leading up to their death, and while they mechanically respawn at CT, it is implied in roleplay that a Witch respawns directly at the Altar.  
- When a Witch is burnt alive, the Fjarriagua will not respawn at the Altar. Instead, they will be reduced to a pale white phantasm which lingers around the Altar, unable to re-materialize or interact with the world around them. They may speak, but in a very soft tone, very hard to hear. She may only be seen by Mothers in this state. In order to be brought back in this state, the Witch’s Coven must perform the Sabbath of Resurrection; the dead Witch will enter the cursed ice, before breaking free, revealing her in her Banshee Form. When revived by this method, a Witch will be unable to cast for up to two OOC days, save disguises.

 

- If a Witch burns to death, they can only be brought back through the Ritual of Resurrection. This includes voidal fire and dragonsflame.
- A Witch may only be brought back through the Altar/Totem/Beholder should she be part of a Coven, should a Witch not belong to a Coven she will have no such structure to be reborn from.  

- During the period of a phantasm, a Witch may not interact with any non-Witches and they have no other powers or abilities that may pertain to other spectres or ghosts.  

- Witch Deaths from suicide or starvation still adhere to PK rules and cannot be revived.  

- Fjarriagua do not recall the circumstances of their death.

 

 

PURPOSE:
Just some pre-emptive clean up to avoid conflicting lore bits should the amendment be accepted and just  to be further clear:
For non-Soft-PKing deaths, a witch will be automatically revived in a Witch Altar, Forlorn Totem or Beholder of their respective coven. For Soft-PKing deaths only a Witch Altar can revive them with the usage of the “Sabbath of Resurrection”.
A simple decision to give the Forlorn Totems more overall importance as easier to hide “backup altars”, all the while still making it clear that a Coven without a Witch Altar will still be in constant grave risk of being wiped out in its entirety should they be so unfortunate.

 

CREDITS
Writing by Agy (I also wrote this!)
Editing and mental support from Diogen!
Music by Studio Thumpy Puppy
Art in order of appearance by: Jana Heidersdorf, Maéna Paillet and Stephanie Law
 

CHANGELOG
Nothing yet…!

 

Edited May 5 by Agy
fixing up some more wonky formating

[satinkira 6148]

[Rebellionlife 397]

Another Agy lore to add to the books! +1 TOTEMS

[𝙻𝚞𝚟 XO 3133]

is agy the next supreme? +10