Hyperdron

Several cloaked figures chatter excitedly to each other in the background. There was much to prepare, much to be done... who knew when they may next be called upon? They await their deliverance with bated breath.

The 3rd Hearth Forum, 38 SA Issued 8th of the First Seed, Year 38 of the Second Age Section I: Administration Date: 8th of the Sun's Smile, 38 SA (Sunday 22nd August, 5pm EST) Location: Varhelm Hearth Temple (X: -1840, Z: -2640) Participants: Red Faith clergy, Red Faith laity Arbitrator: Lord Purifier Viktor Eldrsson Oath of Sanctuary: those in attendance shall not be prosecuted for their words spoken during the Forum, unless they entail a direct attack on the Red Faith and/or its beliefs. This immunity shall be in effect from the Arbitrator’s declaration of commencement, to the Arbitrator’s declaration of dismissal. The Arbitrator shall have the final say on any alleged violations. Section II: Itinerary On Spreading the Flame - promoting the traditional Red Faith wedding A discussion on how best to foster Red Faith culture in Norland, beginning with the wedding. On The Long Dark - a tale of Tckarls A story on Tckarls, a Norlandic boogeyman, led by the living Paragon Vykk Volaren. On The Long Dark - combatting mages and other such spellslingers A discussion on optimal strategies when dealing with the wielders of corruption and decay. Open Discussion An opportunity for all those in attendance to request, through the Arbitrator, a proposition, discussion point, or otherwise, to be pitched to the Forum. The Arbitrator shall have the final say as to whether the request will be put forth. Scribed by, Lord Purifier Viktor Eldrsson

Tremors in the Earth ♪♪♪ A single light marks the Northern mountainscape as the night lays down her cloak of darkness, blanketing the snow-laden peaks in freezing mist and blackened clouds. The light betrays sounds of merriment rolling down the slopes from where it perches. Shadows dance against a ruined stone wall, a group of tattered but vitalised warriors revelling together in booze and bloodshed. One such warrior raises his voice above the excitable chatter. “They say the invasion will begin soon, that the rest of the Host is soon to arrive!” “Our lord has already bloodied his blade against the Southlanders, it won’t be long now.” One figure, however, remains separate from the celebration. A scrawny, hooded figure, huddled in a corner far from the fire, scrabbling at the wall they leant against in a shivering fervour. Muddled mutterings spew from a pair of cracked lips, unintelligible against the cheers of their comrades. Their legs kick out feebly every so often against a sharp boulder resting stubbornly before them, dislodging small powders of pure white snow from its top. Suddenly, the figure freezes. A moment passes. Then another. Silence envelopes the figure in a stifling embrace, before they call out in a comprehensible murmur, quiet but firm. “They call…” Another moment. “The Gods call…” Their cracked, wrinkled hands grip tightly at the indents of the wall as the foundations beneath them begin to shudder. What snow left atop the boulder is thrown off, the tendrils of grass once holding it in place snapping violently away as with an abrupt kick the figure sends it crashing down the mountainside. The gleeful hubbub surrounding the fire instantly dwindles - whether from the sound of the tumbling boulder, the trembling earth beneath them, or a combination of the two. Men and women alike drop to the ground, scrambling for shelter from this seemingly all-encompassing attack, but the hooded figure stands, awestruck against the onslaught, a strength in their body unseen by their comrades for many months. A great moan echoes up from the dirt, assaulting those above with a deep, guttural resonance that rattles their very cores. The figure simply stares up to the twinkling sky, cracks forming in the clouds, a crazed smile plastered across their face. Their hood falls to their shoulders as the darkness parts, exposing their bloodshot visage and strangled grey hairs to the moonlight. The rumbling begins to subside, yet the figure remains transfixed upon the great black ceiling. Slowly, the others push themselves to their feet, all eyes moving to witness their priest bathe in enigmatic wonder. After what felt like an age, Gharakis Bloodbrand raises his arms to the void above and lets loose a horrific cackle. “See how the Gods look upon you, warriors!” His manic gaze pierces each and every one of those assembled around him. “They call for more! For carnage, for destruction!” Unfettered glee paints its mask of madness upon his features. “All to fall under the Serpent, and all to fall again!” He cackles again, voice grating against the blustering winds, clarity clouding his eyes. “IT IS TIME!” The tremors in the earth ripple forebodingly through the Northern lands. Something is coming.

The 2nd Hearth Forum, 34 SA Issued 8th of Malin's Welcome, Year 34 of the Second Age Section I: Administration Date: 8th of the Grand Harvest, 34 SA (Saturday 24th July, 5pm EST) Location: Varhelm Hearth Temple (X: -1840, Z: -2640) Participants: Red Faith clergy, Red Faith laity Arbitrator: Lord Purifier Viktor Eldrsson Oath of Sanctuary: those in attendance shall not be prosecuted for their words spoken during the Forum, unless they entail a direct attack on the Red Faith and/or its beliefs. This immunity shall be in effect from the Arbitrator’s declaration of commencement, to the Arbitrator’s declaration of dismissal. The Arbitrator shall have the final say on any alleged violations. Section II: Itinerary On The Long Dark - the increase of voidal activity within Norlandic borders A summary on the most recent voidal corruptions to seep into Norland, followed by a discussion on how best to tackle the issue. On Spreading The Flame - a history of The Bastion A story on Donovan 'The Bastion' Freysson, the Paragon of Defence and Governance, led by the living Paragon Vykk Volaren. On The Long Dark - the results of the monastery scouting mission A presentation and subsequent discussion on the abandoned monastery west of Varhelm, led by Purifier Scholar Orin Velenest. Open Discussion An opportunity for all those in attendance to request, through the Arbitrator, a proposition, discussion point, or otherwise, to be pitched to the Forum. The Arbitrator shall have the final say as to whether the request will be put forth. Scribed by, Lord Purifier Viktor Eldrsson

The 1st Hearth Forum, 30 SA Issued 8th of Malin's Welcome, Year 30 of the Second Age Section I: Administration Date: 8th of the Grand Harvest, 30 SA (Saturday 26th June, 5pm EST) Location: Varhelm Hearth Temple (X: -1840, Z: -2640) Participants: Red Faith clergy, Red Faith laity Arbitrator: High Keeper Dramyr Edvardsson Oath of Sanctuary: those in attendance shall not be prosecuted for their words spoken during the Forum, unless they entail a direct attack on the Red Faith and/or its beliefs. This immunity shall be in effect from the Arbitrator’s declaration of commencement, to the Arbitrator’s declaration of dismissal. The Arbitrator shall have the final say on any alleged violations. Section II: Itinerary On Spreading the Flame - formalities of Hearth Temples in vassal lands A discussion on the efficacy, procedures, and ceremonies of constructing and maintaining Hearth Temples in Norlandic territories. On The Long Dark - Maneaters, led by Purifier Initiate-Scholar Orin Velenest A presentation of initial research into a newly-discovered mutant beast. Courtesies are extended to Tannon Svartvind of the Elysium Rangers, for his assistance in the Purifiers’ acquisition of a specimen. Open Discussion An opportunity for all those in attendance to request, through the Arbitrator, a proposition, discussion point, or otherwise, to be pitched to the Forum. The Arbitrator shall have the final say as to whether the request will be put forth. Scribed by, Lord Purifier Viktor Eldrsson

Inception of the Hearth Forum Issued 4th of The Deep Cold, Year 28 of the Second Age Preface In recent years, with the reintroduction of the Order of Purifiers, the Faith has seen a remarkable growth in those wishing to serve the All-Father. However, there still remains an air of stagnation - the Varhelm Hearth lies mostly bare, seeing little of its pious members, while the Norlandic people struggle in their duty to spread the flame. With former High Keeper Alisa Camian passing the torch to Dramyr Edvardsson, it is time to bring us Brothers and Sisters of the Faith closer. We must come together and dedicate our time, our resources, and our faith, so that we may proudly uphold the Father's Tenets not only as individuals, but as a collective. To this end, the High Keeper and Lord Purifier declare today the inception of the Hearth Forum. Section I: Purposes of the Hearth Forum The Hearth Forum will be an organised gathering of our faithful - Keepers, Purifiers, Hearth Brothers/Sisters, and all others who serve the faith in any capacity. The High Keeper will preside over the forum as the Arbitrator, or otherwise a Keeper or the Lord Purifier should the High Keeper be unavailable. The Arbitrator must first and foremost maintain order in the Forum, but otherwise may contribute to discussion where reasonable, holding all (including themselves) to the same standard. All attendees will be given a chance to speak to their fellow peers on any topic within the Red Faith they deem relevant or worthy of discussion. For example, this could be debating interpretations of the Father's Tenets, or sharing information on a particular agent of the Long Dark, or even suggesting endeavours the Hearth could take on to further spread the Father's Light. It is hoped that this will help deepen our collective understanding of the Faith, and spark new life into the works of our warriors, scholars, and missionaries. As a secondary purpose, Purifier scholar-initiates who produce a high-quality work for the Hearth Forum will be awarded a Purity Seal for their efforts, which will contribute towards their promotion to a full Purifier Scholar. Section II: Calling the Hearth Forum Beyond emergency congregations when there is an imminent threat to the Faith, the Hearth Forum will take place at least once every 4 years, held in the main Hearth Temple - in the current lands of Nyrheim, this would be the Varhelm temple. Dates will be announced at least a year in advance, to give attendees adequate time to collate what they wish to contribute and to make those propositions to the High Keeper, so that a basic itinerary may be formed. Purifier scholars and scholar-initiates may also approach the Lord Purifier with their propositions. Guests may be invited to speak from the greater masses of the Faith, or even from beyond the Faith, as long as the High Keeper approves them. Should something occur that requires an emergency call of the Hearth Forum, this must be made aware to the High Keeper or the Lord Purifier, who will then follow the necessary steps to summon all to the Hearth at the closest available time. The Inaugural Hearth Forum The date for the inaugural Hearth Forum is given as the 8th of The Grand Harvest, 30 SA. All those who serve the Faith are encouraged to attend. Should you wish to make a presentation or a suggestion for discussion, contact the High Keeper or the Lord Purifier. An itinerary will be produced and circulated prior to the forum. OOC: Saturday 26th June, 5pm EST/10pm BST Varhelm Hearth Temple (X: -1840, Z: -2641) High Keeper: Dramyr // Askuzai // Askuzai#5373 Lord Purifier: Viktor Eldrsson // Hyperdron // Hyperdron#6673 By Order of, High Keeper Dramyr Edvardsson Lord Purifier Viktor Eldrsson

Best of luck my dude o7

man this warclaim's OST is fire

Just gotta petrify like a few thousand keepers and build an unbreakable wall with them (maybe even 3 walls, why not) to protect the rest of the cult so that hundreds of years later they can release them all to destroy the world in a cataclysmic event known simply as The Grumbling

Viktor Eldrsson would receive a copy of the missive while cataloguing some loose documents in the Hearth Temple. A grin rises on his face as he reads of his fellow people's perseverance and skill. "Ay, a job well done. The All-Father smiles upon their resolve." He places the missive to the side and returns to his task, reciting blessings to them all in his mind.

On one cold night in the Hearth Temple, a solitary, hulking figure sits by the hearth. A set of Purifier armour glimmers in the firelight, lain on the ground by the man's feet, as the man himself faces the flames flickering in front of him. His eyes move not a single step away from the fire as he contemplates, the heat his body usually rejects now surrounding him in a comforting warmth. The air lay heavy, as if the temple itself grieved its loss. Ay, he could feel the weight of duty here - the weight of Thorfinn's legacy. After some time in silence, Viktor Eldrsson turns to the armour beside him, grasping the helmet with large, scarred hands, and brings it level to his face. The helmet stares back at him; a cold, unflinching plate, unyielding and resolute. Viktor's eyes fall to the image of the Ashwood tree emblazoned on the chestplate, and he opens his mouth, as if to speak - but no words come out. There is nothing to be said. He has opened his soul to the flame, bearing all doubts, all worries, all uncertainties, all thoughts naked to the All-Father's vision, and let the light guide him to the singularity of his spirit. Cleansed. Purified. Determined. Viktor rises to his feet and dons his armour. Slowly, methodically, piece by piece, re-assembling himself to now match his invigorated resolve. The Father's Tenets shall be upheld. The Order of Purifiers will prevail. Thorfinn's ambitions shall be seen through. A small, mournful smile escapes Viktor's lips before grim stoicism wipes it away. He lowers his helmet over his head - the final piece of his uniform, and the shouldering of the All-Father's faith in his Children. Two piercing, ice-blue eyes now gleam from behind the visor. Viktor is ready. His soul is ablaze.

A tall, shirtless Highlander would take note of the announcement before leaving for his next hunt. "Da... that sounds exciting." He takes a sip of his homemade liquor as he thinks, and grins. "Veeery exciting. Though I hope the armour isn't always required - that could get a bit warm..."

Viktor nods approvingly.

Norlandic Lead Mine Expedition 17 SA A drawing of the valley where the mine is located, from the perspective of base camp. Organised by: Viktor Eldrsson, hunter of Varhelm Tannon, Head Ranger of Elysium Aims of the Expedition To explore a newly discovered abandoned mine in the foot of a valley far northwest, and to set up a base camp nearby to aid future expeditions. The Team Viktor Eldrsson - leader, scout, guide, camp builder, lookout Tannon - co-leader, scout, guide, excavator, mine explorer Melkor Frey - camp builder, lead excavator, mine explorer Orris Vallei'onn - camp builder, excavator, mine explorer Audry Sanguine - camp builder, excavator Agmaer Vildr - camp builder, excavator Valen Dreth - camp builder Ninskeeq-Ungri - camp builder Vilnoth Auth'rukt - camp builder Lorrick Al-Wahdi - medical, reporter Kryst - lookout, medical, caretaker Alexandra Snowell - child Preparation After Viktor's discovery of the mine, Viktor and Tannon visited the site during The First Seed, 17 SA, in order to map the safest and least taxing route to the valley, work out the best way to approach the collapsed entrance, and see if any more surface entrances existed. Unfortunately, no other entrances were found, though traces of lead were identified in the area. A call was made throughout Norland for all those able-bodied to assemble in the Ashwood Tavern on the 7th of The Grand Harvest for an expedition to the abandoned mine. All financing and equipment was self-sourced by the organisers and participants - no support was requested from any other person, organisation, or nation outside of those who attended. This included food provisions, material for building a base camp, armour, weapons, and pickaxes. Timing 7th of The Grand Harvest - gathering and briefing at the Ashwood Tavern 8th of The Grand Harvest - early departure from Varhelm, arrival and setup of base camp 9th of The Grand Harvest - first mine excursion 10th of The Grand Harvest - second mine excursion 11th of The Grand Harvest - departure from base camp, arrival in Varhelm Travel The group departed on foot from Varhelm's north-west gate, Viktor leading the vanguard with Tannon keeping the rear in check. Most group supplies were carried by the stronger members of the expedition, while others carried their own personal baggage, or helped keep a look out for hostile wildlife. Base camp was set up at the foot of the valley the mine was located in. After dealing with a sudden bear attack and resting otherwise peacefully through the night, some members returned to Varhelm, while the rest trekked northward to the mine itself. Minor casualties were sustained from the attack, but were patched up quickly. The First Mine Excursion Upon arrival at the mine, Viktor and Tannon noted that some of the rubble around the collapsed entrance had shifted since their last visit. This had exposed a point in the rocks that would provide an easy approach to digging out the entrance. With help from Melkor Frey's experience and leadership in excavation, he, Tannon and Orris made good headway into the rubble, until the floor collapsed beneath Tannon and Orris, the two men falling into a small chamber below. A medium-sized boulder fell near the opening, with any further displacement possibly trapping them inside. Thankfully, those outside the mine were able to move the boulder without disturbing any other rocks. Upon lighting a torch, Orrin discovered a swarm of spiders, each roughly the size of a halfling's head. The species was unable to be identified. They retreated from the sudden burst of flame, either deeper into the mines or out into the snow, where they would bury themselves in cracks in the mountains; as such, these spiders are assumed to be incredibly light-sensitive from how long they have lived in the darkness of the mine. Some were burnt as the torch lit their webs on fire, though Orris quickly extinguished his flames before they burnt the wooden supports nearby, relighting his next torch carefully before he and Tannon delved deeper. A small room would be found not far in, containing two wooden stools, a small log-campfire, and a pile of ropes. At the behest of Orris, the duo used the ropes to exit the mine with the aid of those at the entrance, before the group retreated to base camp to reconsider their options. Upon reaching base camp, the group found a bear within one of the tents, eating away at some of the food supplies left there. The encounter did not turn violent, as the bear fled at the sight of so many armed people approaching. The rest of the evening was spent planning, eating, and resting for the next day's attempt. No casualties were sustained from the events of this day. The Second Mine Excursion The ones to descend into the mine on the second day were Orris, Tannon, Audry Sanguine, and Melkor. Orris led, once again holding a torch as his light source. Viktor, Lorrick, Kryst and Alexandra remained on standby at the entrance. The wooden supports on the inside of the mine were in much worse shape than those exposed to the outside, and parts of the mineshaft were partially collapsed. As the group continued, they used wood they had as improvised supports to stabilise the mine while they were inside. Within the walls were many mineral deposits containing shiny, black rock, identified as lead. This confirmed that the mine had indeed been primarily used for lead. As the mine opened up into another room with old, rustic furniture strewn across the floor, Orris' torch shone upon a huge spider-beast, almost half of the elf's size. Melkor leapt forth and slew it quickly, allowing the group to fully enter the room. There were many other spiders lurking in the darker corners, but they appeared more passive than the smaller ones from the entrance. Unfortunately, this room was as far as the group could go - the mine further on was collapsed beyond repair with what tools the expedition had at its disposal. While the group tried crawling through some of the larger openings, and digging away at some of the rocks blocking the paths, in the end nothing could be pursued further by those present. As spiders continued to retreat from the light of Orris' torch, it was noted that they were able to scurry much deeper into the rocks, so there must be a good amount more left to explore. With no more options left for the mine group, and smoke starting to build up from the torch, they deemed it reasonable to return above ground, bringing some spoils with them. The loot was divided equally between all those present before returning to base camp and officially concluding their time at the mine. No casualties were sustained from the events of this day. Return All in attendance had been made familiar with the route back, so they departed in their own smaller, separate groups, while Viktor and Melkor remained behind to tidy up base camp, making their own departures later. To the organisers' current knowledge, everyone returned to Varhelm safely. [!] A roughly drawn map of the terrain is attached with a line showing the path taken to base camp, and the location of the mine. [OOC stuff below. Please be aware this report has not been made public IRP yet - will update this warning once it is! For now, if Viktor hasn't handed this report to you IRP, L]