High_On_Math

Luthriel groaned. "I cant control coincidences! And I can't control what my sky god rolls!" Her forehead plopped on the table. "I should just have sent Kosher a bird."

When you pay extra to get an orc strength limb that you think is really cool and people decide that your atronach limb should now have no combat special effects because they want you to die apparently

Some elfess sat in the back room of a tavern, a wolf at her side. She'd stare blankly at the wall. "Will he be in Stargush . . . or . . . did they send him somewhere else?" Her head dipped. "Now that I am an honorary . . . will Borok ne do something like this to me, if I offend him?"

Yes, I think you should! I am TheBeagle, otherwise known as the person who has a mental breakdown whenever her character dies, and she starts frantically dming people for emotional support. CRP sucks a lot sometimes and I will openly admit that I suck at it. Well, TBH my emotes are alright but i'm afraid of my character dying or having a major personality shift forced on her. For example- watching your character randomly and stupidly die out of nowhere. I got no advice for this other than to stay out of unwanted CRP by avoiding roads, always riding a horse, wearing armor all the time, staying in gated cities, always having a friend nearby, etc etc etc. If you're worried about stupid stuff happening to your character during an event that you want to attend, however, I dont think you should be. Simply avoid that DM in the future or talk to them about your experience. I think most DMs try to give a realistic experience. IDK, but it could also be possible that you got bitten in order for the DM to create a sort of a story with the encounter "first, they watch their friend die, then they get revenge!" Personally, I haven't had a really negative encounter with a DM yet. In fact, I think events are generally pretty fun because you get to decide to go to them, and so you're mentally prepared for everything and it's on your own terms. CRPing events with people you already know should be fine, especially if they know you don't like unrealistic injuries/deaths. And ST are normally very good at handling events since, well, that's kind of their job. And CRP with friends is good because it means both of you don't really want to see eachother's character die, but instead you both know you're all just trying to follow the communal story.

"Huh? This is ne good. . . Perhaps Pamph should go. And the lads." An elfess squinted at the missive.

Luthriel blinked, "I wonder if that's. . . Remon? I wonder. . . What he looks like now." She'd furrow her eyebrows and run over to her kids' room to make sure they were safe and well.

Natural Magic - A service producing made-to-order alchemical and herbal products If interested in any of these products, please send a bird to Luthriel Xatophon (TheBeagle). Prices can be negotiated, but herbal products range from 5-20 minas and potions range from 50-200 minas. Non-Alchemical herbal products: Energy drink Sleeping tea: Helps people fall asleep Tea of mental strength: Calms, provides clarity of mind, eases trauma, helps one to sleep, and tastes good! Scar and burn salve: heals scars and can be used for first aid to treat burn wounds Blissfoil salve: For first aid- numbs an area so one cannot feel pain Blood Lotus tea: A nutrient rich tea given to people recovering from illness, starvation, or bloodloss Migrane reliever Wound cleaner/disinfectant Mandragora tea: increases the body's healing ability by 2x Fever reducer and Extreme body temp. reducer Tippen's root salve: stopps bleeding Fungal infection treatment Infection-cure Edible Painkiller (can be used for internal injuries) Cold-killer tea (gets rid of colds or flus) Cold fridge: A box of any requested size that can be used to keep items like foods and dead specimens preserved for longer periods of time via treating to keep the inside cold Semi flame retardant treatment: Causes any item to remain cool to the touch and semi-flame retardant Beard Growth Oil Scented Lotions Anti-aging cream Hallucinogenic tea (2 varieties, one causes a sense of oneness with the world) Nightsap syrup - gives calmness and euphoria and helps one sleep but is addictive Cactus Green Glow in the dark lantern Silencing oil: Reduces the sound created by any object. Ideal for stealth armor Quick Dry Powder - can be used to quicken the drying rate of substances Glue Potions: Any of the Core Potions and any Open Potion Rare Potions: The Muritor Elixer (Vampire Cure) Lector Alchemy Azhl Anemia Cure Saint Felder's Vitality (eliminates fear and cowardice, turns skin red) Hound's Howl (vapor that creates an ear-piercing shriek) Adunic Alchemy Alteration Alchemy Cockatrice's Breath Cockatrices Breath (Cannot make the cure to cockatrice's breath) Brews Beneath the Mountain Arkenlyte

Luthriel looked down at Cinh'. "Haelun, where were you? What's happening? Does it have something to do with why we left Krugmar and the ground's rumbling all the time?" "Ti, dear oemii. Remember how we were talking about a giant worm?" Cinh' nodded. "The worm has eaten a dragon, and that's what was causing all the rumbling. I've been trying to investigate it." "Oh, ok. Then we're safe, right?" "Of course, Cinh'." Luthriel lied.

[!] You find a long missive/short book somewhere. It seems it's been mass-printed and distributed across Almaris. ABOVE US AND BELOW US, IN THE HEAVENS ALL AROUND US, A WAR OF PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS RAGES. Since the beginning of time, the anguldaemons, the inferi, and other beings have been fighting a war amongst themselves. Fractured into countless factions, they do not merely fight descendents, but fight each other as well. And, at the end of time, this war has now spilt into our realm. Now, they have fallen from the skies, and seek to carry out their conflict on our earth. —------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As this book is being written, Inferi are invading Haense. This is not the first time inferi have placed a descendent city under siege. The events now occurring on Almaris are similar to those that occurred on Arcas. This book is based upon the book ‘Bloodmaris’ by Luthriel Xatophon, though she now expands on her work in this book, providing new information. This book will: 1. Describe the destruction of Arcas and its similarities to the events now occurring on Almaris. 2. Describe Almaris-specific information. 3. Describe unexplained phenomenon that MUST be investigated as swiftly as possible 4. Types of monsters fought in Arcas and Almaris 5. Provide plans for defense. PART 1: THE DESTRUCTION OF ARCAS. We currently live on the continent of Almaris. However, in 1776, we lived on a continent called Arcas. Descendent kind immigrated from Arcas to Almaris due to an inferi invasion that destroyed the continent (Song, 4). Lights proceeded by a large red and purple orb were seen in the sky throughout the continent. A purple and red eclipse occurred, and all things in the sky froze (Song, 5). 5 meteors fell out of the sky. Only 2 hit Arcas. A blood-red meteor has recently fallen out of the sky in Almaris, and soon after, Haense was assaulted. One meteor landed on the Urguani mountain side. This meteor was revealed to be the skull of the Kharajyr’s creator and god, the daemon Metzli (Camian, 5). This skull seemed to be the impetus for the inferi coming to Arcas. Surrounding the craters of the meteor’s impact were many monsters. In his book, Unknown Invaders, author Talos Song claims to have spoken with one monster. The creatures had built a wall around the crater, and the creature said that the wall’s purpose was to keep descendents out. The creature proceeded to attempt to eat Song out of hunger. Around one of the craters on Arcas was an aura which gave descendents mental trauma (Song, 12). After the comets, the sky rained blood. It rained blood here, in Almaris, around the year 1870. Next, inferi generals appeared. Cities were taken. The sky rained with the corpses of the fallen (Aeonn). In his account of the attack on the Orenian city of Helena during this time, Ri’Haskir’Kul notes that the assault was composed of undead beings led by an inferi general. He notes that inferi cannot animate the dead. A ritual site was found nearby. A pig’s head was attached to the corpse of a sheep (Notes on the Undead Assault). Large, bug-like creatures appeared (20-30 meters high). These were led by inferi generals. They adapted to all man-made weapons used against them (Aeonn). Biologist Yasmin Alcaide observed that the creatures would collaborate without verbal communication, prompting her to hypothesize that the creatures were part of a hive mind. The inferi and the bugs began to terraform the desert of Arcas, known as Korvassa, turning it into a hellscape (Aeonn) (On Al-Faiz Daemons, 12). The sand of the Arcas desert turned blood red, or turned scorched black (accounts differ). Malflame burned everywhere. A strange tree (or trees) made of wailing flesh appeared (Aeonn). The bug-like creatures appeared to live as a Hive beneath the mountains at the edge of the desert. Alcaide speculated that the beings were creating an ecosystem. The presence of fire may mean that they require low levels of oxygen. The inferi also created large flesh and blood pits, possibly for feasting (On Al-Faiz, 17). Nina de Alcaide, the granddaughter of Yasmin Alcaide notes that the inferi ecosystem resembles that of the Nether (The Inferi of Arcas, 17). The descendents decided to push further into the hell-scape of Korvassa. During this battle, the knights of Malchediael first appeared. Angels appeared, blessing descendent-kind and fighting alongside them. At the center of the inferi and bug mob, inside the desert-turned-hell, was a gigantic blue skull covered in flesh (Aeonn) (Ri’Haskir). This was the skull of Mitzli, which had originally crashed into the Urguani mountain side, but was taken by the Hive to the desert (Camia, 25). Flames appeared to surround the skull, but they were mirages, or illusions. The ground beneath the flames was made of flesh. Alongside the skull was a gargantuan egg containing a gargantuan humanoid form. The Angul of New Beginnings, Gazardiael, called this egg “The Egg of the New World.” It is believed that the skull of Mitzli was needed to power the ritual by which the egg could be hatched. A large rune appeared in the sky of the inferi hellscape. Nina hypothesizes that this is from sacrificial magic (The Inferi of Arcas). It became clear that the angul of New Beginnings, Gazardiael, was attempting to end creation, and thus Malchediael sentenced Gazardiael to death (Camia, 26). The Rex and Grand King delt the killing blow. Someone used a weapon to shatter the skull (Aeonn). This caused the hell-scape desert to explode. Some inferi and bugs remained, and these were hunted down. The /first wave/ of the invasion had been defeated, but a second invasion was about to occur. Earthquakes shook Almaris. Cloud Temple collapsed. Monsters, some of which were undead, began to appear (Aeonn). While the monsters were ultimately defeated, Arcas was left in ruins, and thus descendent-kind immigrated to Almaris. PART 2: Almaris-specific information. Many decades ago, the city of Luciensburg (near Yong Ping, Urguan, old Lubba’s Keep, and Pinemaw) was overtaken by Ratiki. The leader of the Ratiki sacrificed his underlings to obtain great power, and then left the destroyed and abandoned city of Luciensburg, traveling to the desert city of Kivdrona. There, he played a role in a grand scheme to unleash alchemical gas on the populace. Upon breathing that gas, the citizens of Kivdrona all turned into monsters. A portal to another realm filled with demons was discovered in the abandoned sewers of Luciensberg. While that portal has now been destroyed, there still stands a shrine to a strange being in the ruins of the city. Around the shrine are corpses which were sacrificed to the being, and in blood, the being’s name is written on the shrine. A hole in the middle of the shrine contains a snake. This very being, presumably summoned by the Ratiki king, was discovered in Kivdrona, where it killed a man and resurrected him, turning him into it’s own slave. This man was not undead. He seemed very much alive, indistinguishable from a normal descendent, and aurum did not harm him. The being is non-corporeal and extra-dimensional. Unfortunately, it is said that even thinking about the being, or knowing his name, makes him stronger. However, secrecy is also an ally for him, and we must expose him to fight him. This being has now been located in a city called Karkosa. Furthermore, there is a portal in Karkosa that leads to this being’s realm. Strange missives have been found linking this Being to the end of the world. The capital city of Haense, which is now under siege by inferi, had a Ratiki infestation in its sewers approximately 60 years ago. Furthermore, a destroyed portal-like structure can be found in its sewers. Given the nature of the being’s shrines (it requires blood sacrifice), its association with Ratiki (which tend to be almost exclusively evil and devious), its connection with the corruption of Kivdrona’s populace, its cruel enslavement of a man, and its association with portals to worlds filled with demons, we can assume this being is evil and at least partially behind the events we have been witnessing. —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some say Iblees has returned. He has returned by being reborn in the form of the “Widu Tree”. While we do not know if he has fully returned, it seems that he has at least some presence on Almaris. Others say that Widukind is currently impersonating Iblees, and thus Iblees has not returned. The Widu Tree is currently using a gigantic worm - large enough to destroy a city - to kill Azdrazi titans (dragons). The dragon Cloudbreaker has already been killed. There have been great rumblings felt all across Almaris, but the earthquakes originate from Krugmar, where the worm seems to have been most active. Most fauna has now fled Krugmar, and a sensation of dread seems to flood every crevice of the volcanic lands on the edge of Krugmar. These phenomenon are likely caused by the worm. —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shortly after the rumblings were felt, the sky was filled with red lighting. This red lightning lasted a while and then went away. It seemed to stretch across the sky horizontally, like a system of tree roots. —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A land of poltergeists and ghosts existed near Norland. Coming into contact with the water of this land brought great depression. In this land are also many ancient ruins. While the ghosts have now disappeared, the ruins remain. Inside the ruins lies an enormous gate. As one approaches the gate, one is filled with depression and dread. In front of the gate lies a gigantic broken chain. —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Inferi temples have been located in the southern desert as well as in the sewers of Providence. Both are now long-ruined. —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The siege of Haense ended in Haense being victorious. First, comets rained down, destroying the Karasograd Palace. Second, fire rained down from the sky. This time, there were both bugs and inferi soldiers. The inferi soldiers wore demonic steel. —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An active cult worshiping a Daemon associated with the realm of Moz-Strimoza exists on Almaris (Valro, 7). PART 3: Areas for investigation What caused the bloodrain? Why did the bloodrain fall several decades before the inferi invaded? What role might the Ratiki and the Being have in this invasion? Are the portals which the Being seems to be related to the gateways by which the inferi are entering our world? The coordinates of all flesh pits should be identified so that the feeding pits may be destroyed. Coordinate of suspected feeding pit: 1086 / 163 / 3285 What is the gate in Norland? Should it be destroyed? How might the worm be combatted if it is turned upon descendents? A comet was seen in the sky before the siege of Haense. Was that comet another skull? We must determine what, exactly, the large, blood-red comet that fell was. The entirety of Almaris should be explored, and any invasion-related sites reported and immediately dealt with. PART 4: Types of monsters fought in Arcas and Almaris Most inferi have a humanoid body-type. Thus, the bugs and other non-humanoids fought were most likely not inferi. However, some witnesses claim they fought non-humanoid inferi. During Arcas, a supposed inferi Aeonn fought looked like an eyeball. It manipulated his mind and attempted to cause him to hate himself (Aeonn). Alcaide notes a color scheme used by the inferi invaders and their bugs during Arcas. Orange: support Purple: combat Blue: navy Alcaide documents four types of purple/combat creatures, two types of orange/support creatures, and one type of blue/navy creature. PURPLE COMBAT CREATURES: Death Horn: Bipedal Large white horn heavy back to counterbalance the large horn on its head. Tail for balance. Human-like arms yielding twin weapons. Side-facing eyes Theropod, has 4 toes Chitin-like armor Armor vulnerable at joints 25 meters high, 20 meters long Frequents feeding holes Looks like praying mantis Stag Beetle: Quadrupedal Tall back covered in horns Toothed pincers Glowing sack attached to front legs. May contain corrosive material. Forward facing eyes 35 meters tall Pulta-Pillar Larvae Could potentially become moth or butterfly if its lifecycle is similar to earthly creatures Has many legs, though they seem to not work Mandibles Forward facing eyes Catapult constructed by inferi is attached to its back May create corrosive green goo 20 meters high, 35 meters long The Condemned Seemingly resurrected undead humanoids ORANGE SUPPORT CREATURES The Orange Brutes Bipedal High muscle mass Forward facing eyes Intelligent: plan their own logistics, wield tools and weapons, construct forts Flying Monkeys Bipedal Looks like human-bug hybrid Resource gatherer Hooked arms Humanoid head with sharp teeth Carry heavy loads while flying 2.5 meter wings BLUE NAVY CREATURES Muerta de Paleta Shark-like, has paddle tail Powerful bite. Can breach a ship. Light blue fins, rest of body is dark No side fins Will eat small ships OTHER SOLDIERS AND CREATURES Inferi Footsoldiers Various humanoid forms Imps Small, humanoids with wings. Used for spying Red Elephants 40 meters high HellHounds Hound-like beasts 5 meters high PART 5: DEFENSE STRATEGIES Large cities should prepare for invasions by: Hiring transportation mages to stand by and aid in evacuation in the event of an attack Fire-proof all buildings Plan escape routes Individuals should protect themself from blood rain by: Having a pancho available at all times Armor may substitute in an emergency Tea containing Oracle Wood may counteract negative mental effects from the bloodrain and other disturbing phenomena. Water-proofing their homes. Fire-rain and comets Some sort a dome may work to shield an area from the fire-rain Underground bunkers may be better protected from comets General mental distress: The following herbs can ease certain forms of mental distress: Oracle wood gives unnatural clarity of mind King’s Ivy boosts energy Shade Leaf (does not require ST item, unlike most herbs) provides major calmness and helps with trauma Upon consumption, the Saint Felders’ Vitality potion eliminates all fear and mental distress for a period of time. Certain magics can ease mental distress. Practitioners of these magics should be identified and distributed throughout Almaris. Undead: Aurum and voidal magic harm the undead Weapons and Armor should incorporate aurum Cities should incorporate aurum in their architecture Weapons such as aurum nets should be prepared in case of large-scale inferi invasion Inferi Terraforming Inferi terraforming has 2 key parts: flesh and fire Methods for fire-proofing should be researched. Alchemical potions for decreasing temperatures, coating armor to protect from heat, fire-proofing, etc. should be produced in mass. Wood buildings should be replaced with stone ones. Voidal water mages should be on-call in the event of an inferi-related fire. Methods for combating mal-flame should be identified and pursued Saffvil should be collected in mass. Saffvil is a plant that grows in dead flesh, consuming it. In case of terraforming, it should be planted in order to consume the growing flesh. Combat: The inferi quickly adapt to weapons. A plethora of weapons should be invented for /single use/ in inferi combat. Through trickery, one can turn the bugs against each other. This method is optimal.

When the elfess heard of the summoning, she swallowed. Indeed, her heart raced - to be given a second chance on the paths was something she didn't think was possible. And yet, her hope and excitement was tainted by a little voice in the back of her head, "You will fail again, and again, and they will eventually be compelled to execute you." She pursed her lips, respondingto the doubts, "As long as my lliran are with me, I can do this."

A high elfess sighs, her bright eyelids drooping, "Ne. Haense is-" She paused. She'd lived in Haense for 10 years. She knew they werent totally evil. But still, they'd caused the death of elves from Ebonwood, and she couldn't forgive them. "I suppose I'll go." She muttered. At least she could try to protect any unfortunate souls caught in the wrath of some pirate wannabe.

RIP Carl Floop

Carl sighed happily. Yesterday was so stormy. He thought he'd have to cancel the fishing expedition. But fortunately, today was such a clear, bright, and sunny day. It's time to go fishing! [!] A missive is pinned on notice boards across Almaris. "Hello! My name's Carl Floop. I'm a professional fisherman going on an expedition into the Western coast to find the biggest, coolest fish I can find. It would be my pleasure to take you along for the ride. Show up at that weird-lookin' city named "Sulianpoli" that lies just outside of Krugmar between the Giant Cactus and the volcano. I hope to see you there! - Carl Floop" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What: Fishing When: Begins 3 P.M. EST on Saturday, 10/29/2022 Where: Meets at Sulianpoli (It's right near Krugmar.If you cant find it, DM me) Warning: Do not attempt unless you are an experienced fisherman. Carl will not be held liable for any deaths experienced on this trip. Hosted by: TheBeagle TheTruthIsOutThere#5784

OOC NOTE: Sulianpoli Esoteric secrets lay beneath your feet as you walk through the City-State of Heroes, for the denizens of this city follow Qarkah, the Spirit of the Immolation of what is Impure and Weak. Carved into the flaming mountain is a reflection of Qarkah’s Spiritual realm – a maze chiseled turn by turn, passage by passage, to match the hellish Labyrinth of Qarkah. The winding realm is not vacant. No! It is home to many creatures . . . none of which are pleasant. What brought the monster-slaying Heroes of Sulianpoli to harbor such things beneath their pure streets? Sulianpoli Culture History Sulianpoli, a small settlement built upon the side of an active volcano in Krugmar, began as a Haelun’orian colony. It’s founder, Pamphilos Callidora Hyptos, is both a Pure Mali’thill and a Honorary Orc. Both nations, Haelun’or and Krugmar, recognized the valiant deeds Pamphilos and his Lads had done in pursuit of Heroic Fame, and thus supported the Band in their endeavors to create the city. The land, which borders a fiery hellscape, was not chosen arbitrarily. For Pamphilos’s ancestors, Great Mali of Old, had settled there long ago, many ages before the bulk of descendent kind had immigrated to Almaris. Yet Time had conquered even these Valiant Men and Women, for the Great City of Sulianpoli had withered to its brick and clay bones. No Hero had walked on that land for thousands of years, and the city was only ancient ruins. Now, Pamphilos’s Bronze Band of Heroes returned life to the land, constructing Great Temples and cultivating the purest vineyards, the largest beets, and the most worthy olive trees. Now, Sulianpoli is once again a Grand City of Heroes, where Brave and True warriors of all races may come to gain great spiritual Honor and Fame, a concept known as Kleos. But beneath the feet of the heroes lay the ruins of the city of the past, and along with the ruins, the Esoteric Secrets of the Ancestors . . . Spirits The city is dominated by large, imposing temples built upon the city’s hills. The temples were constructed in honor to different Spirits. Scorthuz, Qarkah, Leyd, and Kezt are the main Spirits worshiped in Sulianpoli. Scorthuz is the personification of purity; Qarkah, as stated in the introduction, is the personification of immolating impurity and weakness; Leyd is the personification of physical strength and domination; and Kezt is the personification of honor and bravery. Pamphilos, the city’s founder, is a mali’thill and shaman, and denizens desiring blessings or contact with the spirits will approach him and request a ritual. Rituals take place in the pure pools of the Black Acropolis. Pamphilos looking at the Black Acropolis The veneration of Scorthuz in Sulianpoli reflects the city’s Haelun’orian heritage. Rather than rejecting purity, the denizens of the city have found a new and more fulfilling way to pursue it. This emphasis on purity-worship leads the denizens to focus on personal health and aesthetic. They take frequent baths, both ritual and regular. They care for their skin and hair with various ointments and salves, and they often anoint their bodies with olive oil. A ritual to Scorthuz The veneration of Leyd both binds Sulianpoli to Krugmar and enables the city to engage in a greater pursuit of Heroism. Both the orcs and the members of Sulianpoli value strength, and the two cultures often heft together. Truly, one does not need to ask “Do you even lift bruh” in Sulianpoli, since to live in the city is to be a frequent hefter. The pursuit of Heroism is aided by this veneration of strength because the denizens of the city shed all weakness, becoming the ultimate warriors able to cull any wicked beast which crosses their path. This is especially true of the Mighty Lads of the Bronze Band, the city’s sacred brotherhood of elite heroes (note: Females can also be lads, and a member of any race can become a Lad!). For more information about the Bronze Band, see this post! https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/209769-the-bronzed-phalanx-akaleh-misthios/?tab=comments#comment-1894590 At the intersection of strength and purity lies Qarkah. Because Qarkah burns away impurities and weakness, some seek him out in an effort to burn away the imperfections of their bodies, minds, and souls. Furthermore, Heroism in and of itself is an expression of Qarkah, for to be a hero is to be one who culls what is impure and weak. The Labyrinth, left over from the City of the Ancestors, serves as a way to test and challenge Descendants who think of themselves as heroes. The warriors are given a quest to retrieve certain sacred objects from inside the Labyrinth, and in attempting to do so, they are either proven weak and culled, or proven strong by culling the foes they meet in the tunnels. The most deadly of foes are the Minotaurs, the children of Qarkah, who have been captured and placed into the Labyrinth as a sacrifice to Qarkah. Furthermore, they make the Labyrinth more dangerous, thus enhancing the Glory of all who succeed in navigating it. The temple to Kezt is the largest, and it rests upon a mound in the center of the city. While the worship of Leyd, Qarkah, and Scorthuz mostly involves pursuing physical strength and beauty, Kezt demands the strongest character. He smiles upon acts of honor and bravery, pleased with the heart behind the action rather than merely physical might. Oaths are sworn before Kezt, and being the Spirit of Honor, he ensures that those oaths are kept. He appears to Descendants as a Silver Hoplite. All Bronze Lads strive to reflect his character in their own. For more information on how the denizens of Sulianpoli view the Spirits, see this forum post: https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/216904-a-formal-interpretation-of-the-shamanistic-spirits/?tab=comments#comment-1937829 Ancestor Veneration The denizens of Sulianpoli honor their heroic ancestors, ever seeking to grow more like their forebearers. There exist hidden rituals surrounding discovery of one’s heroic ancestors, and each member of the Bronze Band wears a bronze ancestral mask, depicting one of the wearer’s heroic ancestors. This tradition is in line with other cultures, such as Malinism, that venerate and worship their ancestors, creating common ground for strong inter-cultural relationships. Economics and Politics Sulianpoli is a democratic city-state where all citizens are expected to vote on civic matters, and the majority-vote wins. However, not all who live in the city are citizens. Only the members of the Bronze Band are granted citizenship. Thus, in order to have a voice in the political affairs of the city-state, one must first prove themself to be a holder of heroic virtues – of bravery, might, loyalty, and determination. This prevents weak, no-life, tea-drinking nerds from being able to corrupt the city. Sulianpoli’s currency is salt mined from Haelun’or’s original location on Almaris, the Silver Isle. Favorite Sulianpoli Pastimes: Drinking Pure wine from the local vinyard Gladiatorial games Hunting beasts and going on adventures Alchemy Philosophical discussions Spirit worship rituals Hefting competitions in the gym on top of the volcano Sacred, esoteric pool parties Selling salt and fine bronze metals Wearing togas Here’s the link to join our Discord group! https://discord.gg/PFDY9t9u If that doesn’t work, DM me at TheTruthIsOutThere#5784, or Pamphilos at Tyto#0435, or Edgars at Zuko#2906.

Lucilia cried, "EXTEND THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO 18 YEAR OLDS!"

The desert heat pounded down on Lucilia's back as she sat in the gardens of Haelun'or, looking down at the printed missive. She stared at section IV. "We're literally Balain's slaves now! The savages are going to send our mali to fight in unprovoked conquests of greed. Slaves, damnit." The 16 year old picked the missive up and began anxiously pacing around, now talking out loud to herself. "Grand Uncle would probably say that we're doing the best we can to promote peace, but the best we can isn't enough. Why do valah have to kick us out of our home, and then we come here and once again rely on them? How can we sleep at night knowing everything we have is a joke and a lie, which could be taken from us at any moment?!" She'd pause, realizing that she had been talking out loud. . . She scanned the gardens for other people. Fortunately no one was close enough to hear her talk. She took a deep breath and decided to retreat back to the privacy of her house. As she walked, rationality fought with angsty teenage hormones inside her brain. . . "I know we're ne supposed to be proud and greedy like valah. I know I'm ne supposed to feel ashamed that we left our home to prevent more violence. I know I'm ne supposed to hate the valah peasant-slaves forced to fight their monarchs' wars. But- but I really hate feeling like the valah own us." Though she'd managed to keep her monologue internal, by the time Lucilia had reached her home, the missive was crumpled and held by a tightly clenched fist.

A Formal Interpretation of the Spirits To outsiders it may seem that the religion of the Orcs is an unsophisticated one. I myself used to think this way on my first visits to Krugmar. The main city and surrounding area is littered with bloody shrines. Heads rest upon spikes leading into the city, and bodies can often be seen hung up, impaled on sticks, and rotting away. They have a propensity to use violence to solve problems, and often duels to the death can be seen happening in their pits. The bodies of the dead might be skinned, their blood and flesh offered to some ominous entity known as a “spirit”. And yet, a much lesser known fact is that not far from Krugmar lies a small settlement known as Sulianpoli. This city too is littered with shrines and temples, yet blood is absent from them. Instead, the city is filled with amphoras of oils that bring health to the skin and hair. The city cultivates beets, which are known to have purifying health properties to those who consume them. Barrels of salt, too, are hoarded, a symbol of the city’s hatred for filth, disease, and infection. And, in the temple to the spirits, pools lay before the icons – pools of clean, pure, and blessed water rather than blood. It was this city that taught me that the spirits are not a monolithic cult of blood, but rather something much deeper. The spirits are, in fact, personified forms. To put it simply, a form is an idealized concept of a thing. Things that exist in physical universes are instantiations of forms. For example, numbers seem to have a real existence outside of the minds of sentient beings, and yet it is impossible to find them in the physical world. You can never simply see a number, only an instance of a number. I can never see 3 itself, but only 3 dogs, 3 cats, or 3 apples. Circles and points too exist, and reflections of them appear in our universe, but we cannot find them by themselves. We see circular shapes in eyes and in the heavens, but a perfect circle, one that is perfectly round and is only the thickness of 1 point, does not exist anywhere in nature. Likewise, geometers can easily conceptualize a 0-dimensional point, but they can point to nowhere in nature where such a point can be found. Just like shapes and numbers, even emotional and ethical ideas can be forms. Examples of justice exist in our world, but justice itself is an abstract idea. You cannot ever destroy grace. You could destroy every graceful thing in the universe, and yet the notion of grace would linger. The Uruks’ religion is not centered around some dark beings, but around forms. They have discovered that from the Creator’s thoughts came these forms, and that just as the matter of our universe was created, so too were the shapes in which it can be molded. Furthermore, the Creator has given life to forms, and given each its own realm. These realms are the spiritual realms, and the forms, given sentience, are the spirits. The spirits that many Orcs follow are violent, but many other Orcs pursue wisdom, pursue nature, and pursue purity. The choice of which spirits to follow is not one that only Orcs are faced with; indeed, whenever one chooses to pursue forms of violence they are pursuing spirits of violence, and whenever one chooses to pursue forms of peace, they are pursuing spirits of peace. The city of Sulianpoli is one such place. We do not worship the forms like gods. No, we pursue them, just as all beings do. But there are different ways to pursue forms. The ways of other cultures rely on individual being’s abilities to create instantiations of the forms themselves, with their own hands, and these efforts are futile. Instead, we commune with the forms since we can speak and make requests of and honor the spirits of the forms. We have direct access to the realm of forms, and we have a relationship with it. It is this relationship that has been the strength of all shamanistic cultures. In future missives, I will hope to establish which spirits ought to be pursued and which ought to be scorned, as well as to establish a connection between shamanism and alchemy. Ahernan for reading my musings, Xatophon

An elfess wearing gambeson and chain mail crawled through some foliage into a hidden, temporary camp she'd set up in some forest. She'd close her eyes momentarily, listening to the sounds of the forest as she quietly called to her dog to come over. "Time to read the news." A slight smile came over her face as she flipped through a few missives, until she came to this one. She'd stare blankly at the missive. "Poor Edgars, my llir. Just like Orinmon? What caused you to do this? I know you are a mali of good character and strong principles, unlike Orinmon who always seemed to embrace a certain amount of moral ambiguity. You must have had a reason . . . but what was it, llir? And- " she paused, realizing she was now talking out loud to no one. She'd sigh, before intentionally continuing, "And who will I teach if ne you? Few people can I trust . . "

I think maybe the arrow should be 1/4 as effective as the regular potion. You could maybe make the potions in the arrow tip itself to avoid transfer issues with the blasting potion. But then the arrow tip would have to be large, and have a large hole for putting the signs and symbols and bases inside. That could damage the arrows effectiveness and make it impractical to fire. Maybe make a ballista version? You could also make an alchemy pack where you get powders and oils and such that you can use to coat weapons including arrows. What about potion slingshots?

An Elfess thinks back to the time the ex-Rex asked her to betray Haelun'or by helping him steal their library of books. "I wonder if he'd betray other peoples. . . I'm glad we got a new Rex. I hope this valah is better. Though I also hope someday he puts a shirt on."

A tired elfess looks upon the rafters of an unfinished structure on the side of a volcano. "Architecture will have to wait." She muttered. She turned her gaze to the city of Sulianpoli, and watched its denizens walk about. "I hope we have done no wrong to anyone. Yet we lay in Krugmar's domain and must fight to protect ourselves."

A high elfess looks down, "I try not to think about how you are a prince, and your brother-" She sighed, "I need to visit my oemii Nuldar soon. So much has been happening . . . " She ripped the missive up without reading it thouroughly and muttered, "Damn Kosher, Damn Ivarielle, Damn Elvenesse, and Damn Celianor!"

[!] You would find the following missive posted around Haense and its neighboring territories. Let the judgement of GODAN be upon Haense, for their hearts have turned from the wealth of the spirit, and now desire the wealth of the land. For GODAN bid his faithful this: You shall not desire the wealth of this world, nor the wealth of others, but the wealth of the spirit; yet the men of Haense stripped Mali of their own wealth. Out of Haense’s lust for the wealth of the world, they seek to strip Haelun’or bare. GODAN has not given the earth as inheritance to the children of Horen, but to the Mali. Likewise, he gave to Mankind the Seven Skies as their allotted inheritance. And yet the men of Haense turn their eyes from Heavenly things and lust after the soil of the earth. Haense proclaims, “We are a Cannonist Kingdom!” and yet they act no more morally than the heathens of Urguan (To whom Haense has bound itself). Hear this, remaining faithful of Haense! Shall you serve GODAN and pursue justice, or shall you remain servants of Greed and Lust for Wealth, which Urguan, bearing these curses, has become an emblem of?

Luth has war flashbacks to Urguan and Haense raiding Ebonwood. Now she lives with the bronze elves in Krugmar. Time to get some magic shaman water to ease the trauma.

A beagle