squakhawk

Amendments/Additions implemented into main lore post. Thank you for your submission. Moving to correct subforum to prevent redundancy and clutter.

Amendments/Additions implemented into main lore post. Thank you for your submission. Moving to correct subforum to prevent redundancy and clutter.

The Aevos Bestiary 

The enigmatic continent of Aevos bears much flora and fauna unique to it's lands and ecosystems, giving the continent life and continuing the cycle. Though many common creatures live upon Aevos, there are a notable few beasts indigenous to Aevos which are unlike those seen before- some perhaps more unique than others, these beasts are exceptional in their appearance and traits compared to those past- if not completely undiscovered before.

The Wild Grimoire

The Temperate Forest Ecosystem

The Desert Ecosystem

The Caves & Caverns Ecosystem

The Mountains Ecosystem

The Marine Ecosystem

The Arctic & Tundra Ecosystem

The Savannah Ecosystem

The Plains Ecosystem

The Tropics & Jungle Ecosystem

The Swamps, Marshes, and Bogs Ecosystem

Lore has been shelved and moved to the appropriate subforum. If you have questions about why this specific lore has been shelved, please contact an ST Manager or the ST Administrator.

Lore has been shelved and moved to the appropriate subforum. If you have questions about why this specific lore has been shelved, please contact an ST Manager or the ST Administrator.

Lore has been shelved and moved to the appropriate subforum. If you have questions about why this specific lore has been shelved, please contact an ST Manager or the ST Administrator.

Lore has been shelved and moved to the appropriate subforum. If you have questions about why this specific lore has been shelved, please contact an ST Manager or the ST Administrator.

Aevos - 9.0

This map is a placeholder until our interactive 3D map is available (hopefully soon 🥺)

The Jungles of Beleth

The native Green Hell of Southeastern Aevos, The Jungles of Beleth sat neatly between the crescent mountains which shielded the continent from the monsoons which came in from the southern seas. The desert met with a fertile oasis from the lifeblood of rivers which ran through The Jungles in full saturation, providing life and nourishment to the harsh and brutal rainforest.

The Jungles of Beleth

The Jungles of Beleth were among the most hostile of any environment to live, and yet the resources abundant made it difficult to avoid. Minerals rich in the fertile, mineralized soils filled with rich and nutritious sand that fed the earth greatly, and thus, whatever fed upon it. The Jungles were gargantuan, as tall Palm trees, Brazilnut trees, Kapok, Rosewood, and Acacia trees pierced the sky above and canopied the thick underbrush below rich and full of life. The weather was unsustainably hot year round, as thick humid air stuck to the skin like a neverending sweat. The sun looked favourably upon the jungle for most hours of the day year-round, where it's shine was most unwelcome in the already scorching heat. 

When the sun did not show, thick grey clouds did which rolled in from the sea in as short as minutes. Typhoons and monsoons which tore and ripped apart trees showered the land in harsh waters that caused the rivers to surge with life, local floods often taking up portions of the jungle for themselves. Yet, as one found themselves in greater highland of the jungle, more mild weathers and storms were seen more often. The monsoon went from an existential terror of flood and downpour to a heavy, calming rain almost welcomed in times of stress.

This however, was a luxury few were afforded.

The Jungles of Beleth were filled with creatures both kind and harsh; Dixie Dart frogs, Musavis, Caedilus, Hernta, Bearded Pike and Arazi Lotus which uniquely haunted the region; and found scarcely elsewhere upon Eos, if anywhere. The fauna and flora unique to the jungle were unlike those encountered anywhere else, outside of the staples found within The Jungles that grew despite adversity. Cacao trees, tigers, monkeys, countless reptiles and avians which plagued both the ground and skies. 

Even with this, various creatures venomed with a psychadelic toxin that caused vivid hallucinations, terrors, and paranoia as one entered another world when threatened by even a mere butterfly; corrupted by The Jungle's harsh living. Jailor's moss proved a thick and barbed deterrent from various parts of the jungle, whilst Mandragora grew in scarcity in the underbrush. Bitter reed grew in irony to the diseased jungle that surrounded it, whilst Gislocinovi, Diddyfunkle, and Aquanymph too hid between the large brush and flora that grew vibrantly within the jungle.

Despite it's wildlife and splendor, The Jungles of Beleth would be an environment cruelly harsh to the most unprepared of descendants; even those arriving to Aevos, the seas were littered with remnants of dead pirate upstarts and broken ships that had come from places far and times past. But The Jungles of Beleth held their namesake for one thing, and one thing alone...

The Beleth Expedition

This tale is provided by the unreliable narrator of Legend, and thus, may not be wholly accurate. Characters may spin, add to, or redact parts of this tale as they so please as they may have heard it in character to further develop it's story and legend.

An infamously failed expedition from the distant republic of Berillia far across The Southern Seas, Captain Darius Beleth was a skilled captain from the kingdom who's town was raided by pillagers of unknown origin. Their magics were foreign, and they disgusted him greatly; sorcery of unknown origin that even the court mages, despicable as they were, provided him with little information. Driven by something; perhaps rage? Fear? Revenge? The good Captain with this in his heart and mind would form together a crew of expeditionaries from a charter of exploration by a mixture of The Great Guilds within the city. Three ships were raised, The Cordelia, The Cressida, and The Catherine. 

Three ships left, and yet none returned. Wary by the prospect that the guilds may have been scammed, a mercenary ship by the name of The Carcharodon had departed too to the seas north of Berillia, where they too would not return. Cut from their losses, and struck with great superstition as one of the great cultural movements of their time; a time among few where the squabbling republic could agree upon one foe, and one man's purpose, conspiracy and tall tales arose. Countless among them, were the "True" fate of Captain Darius and his three ships.

Many spoke of Darius landing upon the continent, and plundering it for it's splendor; pocketing the gold of the guilds and of the islands found, and making a fleet of his own. Sometimes of pirates, sometimes not. Others spoke that Captain Beleth had set upon an island, and in soontime had been killed; be it by wildlife, natives, or even his own men. The most sadistic and twisted of tales spoken fewest were that of cannibalism, betrayal, and massacre as hundreds of good men had disappeared to never return. Few spoke ever of the vessel sent to recoup losses, The Carcharodon, which too had never returned. Though few care for mercenaries, fewer within Berillia. 

With unknown tales at the mount, a song arose as prominent from some of the most popular of tales. Supposedly sung by mad bard accompanying the crew whom had returned as a bloated corpse walking who still yet sung before being cut down. Regardless of origin, the song accrued popularity; particularly in Berillia, but as a sailor's ballad of grim grief and wanderlust, for wherever revenge brings one, death is surely to follow.

The Folly of Good Captain Darius

O'er the waves they go

Vengeance was his goal

The ship rocking to-and-fro

His men's fate soon to be known

Captain Darius

Committing sin and slaughter

For the life of his own daughter

The Captain let his men die

Drawing closer to fate

As his end met the date

The Captain heard his men cry;

You traitor you traitor 

You've damn killed us all

For our wives will be longing

And our children's lives small

You promised glory and fame

But you've only brought us shame

It's time you meet your end

But the good Captain tried

And yet still he died

The Good Captain lay bleeding soon-to-go

Yet soon did he see

His world turned to snow

The Captain's daughter saw him in red

And soon did he die, his body had bled

Yet tears wept from his eyes

The young daughter saw

Her hero did fall

Softly her jaw

Let words that did crawl

Oh father oh father

How close you did seem

To meeting your dream

Was all that you gleamed

Yet now you lay dead

Your heart no longer red

A knife in the back

Is all that it took

To kill the good,

Captain Darius

With the arrival of The Descendants upon Aevos, remnants of The Beleth Expedition would permeate not only within The Jungles of Beleth, but elsewhere throughout Aevos aswell. Tales and signs of his failed expedition would show up in legend and tale throughout the continent, though sparse and difficult to find. The Expedition itself could be seen in tattered remains in various places throughout The Jungles of Beleth, from broken camps to destroyed huts and tents of more permanent civilization. Corpses either taken by the wildlife or so ancient the tale truly is as old as legend itself, slowly over time would they come to find out what truly had happened to Captain Darius Beleth and his failed expedition. 

OOC Information

The Beleth Expedition is another maplore piece similar to Ailmere which hosts countless connections with other pieces of maplore, and hopefully, events throughout this map. There are many events in the jungle and opportunities to explore the backstory, truth, folktales, and fate of The Beleth Expedition that are to come this map through various eventlines with a lot of special interactions, items, and character artefacts. 

The psychadelic poison mentioned some creatures maintain is for strictly, non-combative narrative use of players, and free use for ET on how they may wish to utilize it. Venom is not gatherable nor acquired by tameing, nor is one able to inject the venom into another person by any means of control, magic, taming, or gathering. One may emote the venom being injected by themselves only, acting as a strong psychedelic and hallucinogenic. 

The Silent Valley

Spreading from the eastern shores of Aevos that kissed The Bitter Sea and dancing westward to the balmy currents of The River Petra, The Silent Valley was a wandering land of trees, rocks, and ruin. No wind blew through the trees as the air stood still, a grim reminder of such tremendous loss even so distantly far ago.

The Valley

The Silent Valley sprawled in an environment which transformed greatly, and yet the dour feeling of loss felt all the same. Starting from the east, red poppy fields grew in clusters of hundreds and thousands; the red petals of the hardy flower shining daintily amongst ruins and rolling hills. Gentle seas from The Bitter Sea rolled in to tuck in against the coast, calm and soothing without fight or fuss. Furthering west, the great lake of Loch Stjor stood hardily with freshwater from the plentiful mountains which came from all sides as it's current pushed against the harsh tide of the sea which brought with it waste and fodder, such as Sweetrock, driftwood, and migrant birds from continents unknown.

A great forest of towering birches and dotted lakes stood betwixt the great Mountains of Beleth to the south and those which formed the great range of The East. Meeting the desert oasis westward, The Valley crawled north and settled upon foothills which met the resting place of an ancient oak; it's age beyond years countable as it's growth stood as a testament of time. At least, so it had seemed.

The air was eerie and still within the valley, quiet breezes brushed by and the weather remained temperate for most of the year. The sea ebbed harsher waves of weather and the rivers brought life to the land, whilst the mountains protected it from great storms, winds, and invasions; would they ever come. A cradle of civilization, The Silent Valley held to it a grim undertone that was palpable by even the most sanguine and the most austere. Roaming upon the broken civilization, one would begin to wonder what had become of those who had lived before.

The Valley was held tightly by creatures of the forest, such as Tinker Weavers, Tahala Stag, Musavis which visited from the south, and countless species of natural indistinct wildlife such as deer, foxes, bears, wolves, snakes and varied lizards. Blissfoil, Nightsap, Sweetrock and Nightglow grew handily within the region as it's most potent herbs and reagents that permeated throughout Aevos. Boiling however beneath the waves, was a foe set out for purpose; perhaps revenge, or conquest? Shuul lurked as they stalked the coastline, scouting for something which was yet to come..

Remnants of A Civilization Gone

Strolling throughout The Silent Valley, it was hard to miss the landmarks and splendor which rolled throughout the land. Ancient ruins made of pure marble and silver, now broken and tarnished, from a civilization ancient and old. The buildings sprawling from Sea to River, yet broken to pieces and left to nothing but rare bricks and pillars. It was impossible to piece, truly, how these ancient buildings could have been connected across such great distances, at least without more being present. Yet, it seemed as if an entire city were eradicated outside of a spare few hardy ruins.

The eastern seashore bore a great statue of a terrible aberration, a man with the head of an angler fish bearing a cruel spear which seemed in disrepair. Zha'ero, it read, standing tall as the sea ate away at the statues base. And yet miles away, moved not once pace from it's slimy gaze as grime overtook and grew upon the statue, was another that met it. The Last Defender the statue had read upon it's broken nameplate, the great watcher of southern Loch Stjor. It's trident held high, though crumbling, as time began to eat away at all things.

Despite this, time could not eat at the memory; nor hatred; these two statues had shared amongst one another. Locked in an eternal gaze from whence they were built, until they would be destroyed- or even destroy eachother.

Behind The Last Defender between the trees and ponds of the misty birch forest, was a stone vault sat taut with the lakebed. Almost overgrown, a great sense of wealth and power drew from it's maw; the call of insurmountable treasure and desire that beckoned through those titanic, unbreachable doors. It had the stench of deific magicks which stained it like yellowed teeth; a taint which left it alone, and left it desired.

Further west, a great tree which leaves did not weep in autumn, nor did it's resident pond freeze in the summer nor dry in the winter. It flowered in spring, and it's pondwaters glew with the nightly glow of the moon. Supping from this ancient pond gives one clarity of mind; peace in their person and dreams, and a great silence of the mind to reflect and ruminate on memories long past. To recall, to learn, and to overcome. The Memory Tree spoke in tongues so old even druids could not make sense of it; though not without effort. Perhaps with time, sense could be made, and communication established; but whatever tales the tree told, were unheard of for now.

The Revival

Shortly after their arrival upon Aevos, descendants were soon visited by the last remaining force of Naga known to live, to both themselves and descendants. These Naga established a fort in The Silent Valley called Fort Hope, hesitant to interaction with the nearby descendants. Establishing themselves, they began to explore nearby descendant culture and language in attempt to better communicate them for the Shuul of The Crimson Company that would soon come after them, determined to exterminate their race. They had come seeking artefacts of old, such as The Ocean Heart, rumoured to give life to Eastern Aevos and give it the land's lush nature. As well, The Hall of Mirrors, a holy site to worship their foreign serpentine goddess Kyria. Lastly, The Vault; a fabled door which only a Naga could open, would restore their race and revive their people, bringing them to the golden age and advanced civilization they once were upon Eastern Aevos. The most vehement advocates for this discovery was The Naga Priesthood, and Arion himself. The Depthguard and Greenspeakers seemed to hold reservations about such a grand prophecy. 

It first began with Trade-Prince Mika Anarion of Lurin and his guard rescuing the Naga Arion, unwilling regent-leader of their tribe, from a host of Shuul which had attacked them upon the eastern shores. Establishing initial relations, Lurin helped construct Fort Hope with materials supplemented from the port city itself. Following shortly after, Petra had met with the leader of the Naga Greenspeakers, Nero, and reawoke altogether The Memory Tree. Shaking off dregs of magic which had stood upon the tree for centuries, The Tree surged with life and flooded Aevos briefly, and even still to this day, with druidic energies abound the continent.

As Petra further explored the past memories through The Memory Tree, a purple star awoke in the sky in The Silent Valley. Beneath it, a cavern opened within the cliffside south that held the rumoured Naga artefacts such as The Ocean Heart, The Hall of Mirrors, and The Vault- exploration of so still continuing.

It was later in the conflict that The Crimson Company had began to raid the eastern shores, and establish hesitant relations between The Captain Egelrex Jones and King Adrian I of Balian. These relations are tenuous to this day, as The Crimson Company hires mercenaries from the area, and even rumoured Vortice, to hunt down stray Naga. Seeking more help as The Naga had difficulty pushing into the tunnels which held The Ocean Heart, The Hall of Mirrors, and the fabled Vault supposedly, they'd reached outward. The leader of The Depthguard, the royal house-guard of the Naga, Seraphon, established relations with King Edmund II of Aaun, making a pact of mutual defense against The Shuul that would inevitably push deeper into Eastern Aevos. 

The supposed "Revival" of the Naga was still yet to develop, and more of the story yet to be uncovered...

The Hall of Mirrors

After repeated expeditions by the brave citizens of Petra under the leadership of Paul Alexander and the guidance of druids Norra and Av, guarded by the Knights and Riverguard, the parties had uncovered through visions of The Memory Tree a mystical cavern. Dubbed "The Hall of Mirrors" by the local Naga after their return, this cavern sat beneath a radiant purple star in the south of The Silent Valley, deep within a damp cavern which had been left untouched for centuries. 

The cavern itself seemed heavily magical; influenced by some force ancient and familiar that seemed to warp the cave heavily. Within, the cavern seemed fulfilled with crystals and rocks with mirrored surfaces. A still, empty pond sat in the antechamber of the cavern that too mirrored the surface of the cave above perfectly.

The cave itself was dead silent.

Within the cave, the cool waters would yield an eerie reflection of one's self, which moved and gently reacted upon its own. This reflection seemed to be a hard truth to one's persona, showing their true self. The longer one stared into the pools, the more their character traits would visibly break down and be seen. Their flaws, their strengths, their attributes and at the last, even their most buried emotions on what they truly thought about themselves. There was no lying, nor hiding; the longer one stared into the mirrored surfaces, the quicker their true self was unveiled. 

But it was not just to one's self.

The truth of who one truly was seemed to be fully exposed; even others able to see what the water showed. The water too reflecting what those had truly thought about another person, incapable of concealing their true emotions. It was maddeningly blunt how even the most old, complex souls could see their true selves come to pass in the waters and stones of The Hall of Mirrors.

OOC Information

The Silent Valley, shamelessly, is an eventline I had planned for Almaris which is now seeing greater purpose since the prior edition did not take off past a probing teaser phase. These events will be extensive and expansive, for one-off's and multiple playerbases working together to solve a mystery of what once lived within The Silent Valley, and what happened to it; most importantly, why. 

Currently, the statues and the vault door are uninteractable for the time being, but will be opened shortly after map launch with interaction signs/region messages. The Memory Tree's waters are able to be drank for insight into one's own past, but do not grant the character any benefit but the narrative motif of deep reflection and inner conflict/resolution of old mental scars left repressed or at stress. 

The Hall of Mirrors is a self interaction site which does not utilize ST Interaction, and is up to players to utilize with themselves or one anothers. The only limitation to this is that the hall of mirrors reflective properties are not "Mind Readers" or a "Truth Serum" of any kind, and the revealing of thoughts, emotions, and opinions, is strictly about other characters and their traits rather than everything they are/can think of currently. As well, The Hall of Mirrors was excruciatingly difficult to damage, or take any pieces from; were one successful, they would be mundane, minorly reflective crystal, stone, or regular clean pondwater. 

All records and detail will be posted on this forum post as it's update.

ET are free to utilize Shuul scouts who serve as a significant playing piece of this eventline who would be initially skeptical and hostile to descendants, although uncommunicable since they're fish people. ET are encouraged to inquire for more information and information upon the backface to be able to develop their own plotlines and threads of the story to make a greater and more rich narrative.

The Palmreaders of Ailmere

Ailmere

The rolling tundra of Ailmere was a vast expanse of cold, year-round winter snows. A grand lake nestled to the south of the valley between grand hills which formed a baisin within the centre of the mountainous, frigid wasteland. Mountains, the highest upon Aevos and the continents surrounding, rolled to the north and west, blocking off the great sea-storms from the north and the scorching flames of The Redmont to the west. The valley itself was covered sparsely in grasses that barely grew, deeply rooted into the ground- growing tall against the mounting snows in order to attain any sunlight the valley attained.

With the grand mountains of The Valley both north and south, daylight was sparse, more akin to a constant sunset in most months of the year. The sun's light barely shed upon those freezing lands, the scarce vegetation left little room to grow. Spruce, pine, hemlock, and evergreen, were the only trees which grew within that land; rains never visited, in their place, heavy snows and blizzards which pelted the land with flake and hail alike. The skies were cloudy, and at the seat of The Mountain, the lights of heaven were the most tumultuous. Vibrant, beautiful arrays of colour flared between the clouds of the region which rarely showed the sky's magnificence. 

Native to the region were few animals- rabbits, elk, caribou, thundermaw ravens, Aveta stonebacks, Tulpa, Avirrin, and Rimetrolls. Herbs such as Frostvine and Athin dotted the land whilst Barrier Bush plagued the north like a rolling plague. Native and exclusive to the region on Eos, Barrier Bush was a wandering pestilence that formed massive and sprawling thickets of thorn and bramble; often blocking paths and rolling down hills, quickly and deadly enough to consume man or animal. 

Adventurers to Ailmere would be instilled with both dread, and a sense of beauty. Whilst the land was hostile, brutal, and frigid; it did hold a peace and quiet unlike other places upon Aevos. The land mostly unplundered by descendant's exploits, the rocks and snows within Ailmere were often those as old as creation themselves; a good chance that wherever one stepped, they were the first, and last, to step within that place.

An island separated the north with a small, thinly channel spent most of the year frozen over save for the warmest of months. Beside that stony, hard island, was a spire that reached from the depths of the ocean to the heights of the heavens. Surrounded in a thick ice fog and spikes of packed, permafrost ice, the spire gave off the most faint traces of ancient true magic unseen anywhere else upon Aevos. 

Despite this, the winds blew faintly with traces of a magic more young, and corrupt. A magic which descendants could hear, feel, and smell, but not yet understand. Stories of yore tell of The Palmreaders of Ailmere, and The Mare of Long Shadows which now resides in their place. Truth be told, stories of pure fantasy may even have some power within the deep snows of Ailmere... 

The Palmreaders and The Mare of Long Shadows

Centuries ago, a cartographer from The Dandelion Guild had resided within the lands of Castellaneta, as a court mage to the local nobility when a strange ship had come to harbor. It's sails black, with the insignia of a grand white mountain obscuring a red sun behind. A symbol of no kingdom, house, or company he had ever recognized before. Clear as day did it's nameplate read The Faultless Hierophant. It was captained by a woman with no name, helmed by a brawny man simply called Endurance. Intrigued, did Ser Winston inquire further of their crew. She gave simple glance at the man, and Winston was wracked with paralysis. His voice cut, his fingers twitched and froze, his muscles spasmed as they fought against something, but did not move. It felt an eternity, yet ended in an instant as her gaze broke from him. Hair masked her face of which he could not recall; the pieces fit together of what he had thought she had looked like, but now he began to doubt. Had he even seen it before? What of when she looked upon him?

His plan quickly seemed to come apart, as quickly as they had come, quickly did they leave. Dockworkers and skippers from other crews had held the same curiosity as Ser Winston. Quietly and without word, they dropped their loading crates and left all they had known behind without a word. Had it really only been seconds that Ser Winston was entranced? Minutes? Hours? It was impossible to tell; his mind scrambled and time without sense. As the collection of crew boarded, soon did the banner of The White Mountain and Red Sun quickly fade into the distance. As his senses slowly came to him, he felt as if he could name further of the crew without having even met them. Faith. Strength. Fear. Curiosity. His urge to chase grew as each sense returned, and his jumbled thoughts could finally begin to make sense. Yet, before his mind could even put sentences together, the ship had long faded away into the distance. Hours passed, the sun beginning to fall beneath the horizon. 

His palms hurt.

It was centuries later that descendants had landed upon Aevos; those same banners flying high over a small, broken, walled settlement nestled at the foot of The Mountain. It's stormcloud boiled over high as the abandoned town sat derelict and left behind, snows heavy set and leaving the ruined village a small piece of times forgotten frozen in ice. Permafrost and icicles held grip over buildings made of wood older than most who would ever set eyes upon them. Beyond the village limits into the hills, a trail which began a path upward of the mountain.

Descendants could walk days between travel and journey up the The Leviathan, encountering expeditions of those long past. Eyes set upon the fallen, frozen skulls and remains could still be found in the snows. Those who had fallen to ice, starvation, deception, and betrayal - The Mountain was a graveyard of corpses. Littered along it, names whispered beneath the wind too distant to hear beneath the howling flurries that permeated around the mountain. Their hands missing, their eyes cut deliberately from their skulls as fewer and fewer corpses could be found further up The Mountain. Magic radiated like the scent of death from the corpses, whatever means of spellcraft they had once possessed were just barely tangible. As if upon the tip of one's tongue could they just begin to listen; but not quite understand; whatever sorcery was speaking to them.

It was as if the land had despised them, each and every individual which had stepped within Ailmere's bounds. Descendants spoke tall-tales of the pale shadow of a woman who stood taller than the snows, watching from a distance with a piercing gaze. Moonlight white, white like eyes, her gaze pierced the hearts of men and women as she observed eerily still from any distance. Without approach or contact, her presence would linger; the feeling of being watched everpresent within those snows as she continued to observe until descendants left Ailmere's bounds. 

Without explanation, even unvisited from camp; those who looked upon her, or rather, those she looked upon, would find themselves troubled within Ailmere's heavy snows. Campfires snuffed, the cold emboldened and frigid within her presence, dreams turned to nightmares as they were invaded by her unending glare. An omen of lies, regret, and destiny; bad fortune which stuck upon descendants like snow upon ice.

Ailmere was cold, quiet, and The Mountain above did not wish to be disturbed. 

OOC Information

Ailmere is a significant portion of the map riddled with mystery, fate, and curiosity. There are a lot of interactions and events which interact with the map circling back to Ailmere. In the near future, more worldlore, prophecies, and even a feat in close relation will be released as players engage and discover more of the land's mysterious past through various eventlines. The fate of The Palmreaders discovered over time, descendants would not know what they had awoken upon their unwilling landing to the continent.

The Mare of Long Shadows is able to be roleplayed only by ET for unsettling interactions or as a small part of events taking place within the region, and cannot be spoken to, reached, or effectively attacked. Tormenting victims, The Mare would torturously try and sabotage descendants and bring them further into Ailmere, and further into it's cold blizzard. Corralling visitors unwittingly to The Mountain by accident. 

The Mare and The Account of Ser Winston are available to be known by any as detailed on this post as legend. These accounts in this lorepiece may not be wholly accurate or true, but for the purposes of roleplay, characters may remove, add, or phrase however of the above best fits their take upon the stories told. Players may state or have actually interacted with The Mare without ET present, although following the above, none would ever reach, interact, or truly harm The Mare. 

The magic left behind of The Palmreader's corpses littered along the mountain clearly gives off hints of some form of mana, although it's nature, origin, and purpose is indistinct and not discernable until further notice.

This lorepiece will be updated as eventlines progress and storylines occur throughout the map.

Description

Shadegrain was a gritty, granular black stone only found in geometrically perfect shapes, unable to be broken down or forged in any manner by any magic. The gritty stone had a skin like a very mild sandpaper, almost as if it were crafted of black sand fused incomprehensibly tightly together. Despite this, the material rubbed off and stained any surface it touched with a deep velvety black colour, almost as if painted with a single stroke of fresh black paint. 

Shadegrain was highly resistant to most forms of damage as a sedimentary stone, able to withstand crushing impacts from even the largest creatures upon Eos with ease- not even shedding a single grain nor showing any sign of weakness within. However, if subjected to repeated, heavy blunt trauma (such as from a hammer or pickaxe), the stone would shatter all at once. When shattered, the stone simply stained in a perfect shape where it once was, losing all notable effects other than an irremovable black paint. 

Despite it's deceiving size, Shadegrain was exceptionally heavy, unaided by any form of strength, muscle, or magic. No method of weight could truly describe or make sense of the stone, and every race struggled to carry it the same- as if physical strength were no determinant in it's handleability. It smelled faintly of very strong concentrated herbs and seawater, the stone itself sounding with a dull, flat thud when struck without vibration. No matter it's age, Shadegrain could not be weathered by any means, decades and centuries of burning, washing, or wind, would have no effect on the stone and leave it entirely unharmed.

Effects

Shadegrain, Grimstone, Fused Stone, whatever the name granted- seemed to bear a multitude of strange and unconventional effects. For example, when in a mere [8, quiet] metre range of the stone, life would seem to slow and quiet. Almost as if the outside world were muted, nothing but the most uninhibited and natural sounds would roll through. Such as a quiet breeze, a distant rain, a shore miles away, or even just pure silence. One's sounds within the square were not affected by any means, nor was their physical hearing of the outside- the perception of attention would just be focused to something else. Whatever this something else was, it seemed to be incomprehensible, or simply misunderstood, by mortal and immortal beings. As if one were listening for something which was not there, or perhaps was- it was just as if the listener did not know what they were listening for.

Another noticeable effect was specifically on spectral undead; spirits, spectres, poltergeists, gravens, and wights most specifically. Within the [20, roleplay] metre range of a unit of stone, spectral undead seemed to be extremely inhibited within physical capability. Limited to half pace movement and strength, spectrals felt as if they were persistently being pulled to the stone. Almost as if their very soul were being tugged, a spectral would constantly be fighting to resist the drift of the stone. If killed within the presence of a stone, a spectral has the potential of having their soul being bound and ripped from the mortal plane, taken for whatever unknown purpose the stone exists for. In most circumstances however, being banished within the presence of Shadegrain prolongs the reformation of a spectral undead, doubling it's time.

Red Lines

-Shadegrain is ST Signed, and sites where Shadegrain is placed (Itemframe OR chest-with-sign, etc) are ST Signed. 

-Spectrals are not mandated to PK within the presence of Shadegrain and are simply given the option.

-Spectrals killed within the 20 metre presence of Shadegrain are given respawn timers twice as long. Refer to individual lorepieces for more information on respawn timers.

-Spectrals are defined as ghosts, spectres, spirits, poltergeists, gravens, wights, and any undead or event creature with a ghostly or apparition-like appearance.

-Arcane Scions or other lorepieces which involve a directly exposed soul are permitted to act in the same sluggish or inhibited manner, but are unrequired to.

-Shadegrain may not be broken, re-shaped, molded, or fused to other pieces of Shadegrain in any permanent manner; remaining in individual blocks or bricks.

-Shadegrain is too heavy to carry on one's person and fight effectively, leaving it strictly to buildings or ritualistic sites. If upon a person, Shadegrain would quarter one's movement or strength which was otherwise dedicated to lugging around the stone. The spirit of this line is to prevent mobile use of the material. There is no gimmick or way around this.

-Shadegrain did not deafen the sounds within it's range or mute sounds from outside, just altering one's perception to focus on pure unnerving silence.

-Shadegrain would not be clearly discernable by any magic of it's true creation, intent, purpose, or instilled magic/effect until further eventlines play out.

-Shadegrain when broken, would break all at once- destroying the material and leaving a mundane black paint behind.

-The stains/paint created by Shadegrain, intact or not, would not bear the effect of Shadegrain and would not permanently adhere to skin, fur, or any part of a living person, save for their items or belongings. The paint would easily be washed off.

Harvesting

Shadegrain currently has no known method of harvesting, nor true point of origin. Prolifically found throughout the northern coast of Aevos, Shadegrain was rarely found in singular units; often through old storages left behind of The Goldenvine Colony, as the Shadegrain present there is found fused together and unbreakable. It is unknown how Shadegrain is formed, or it's intent.  

The Mountain

Looking downward upon the most of Aevos, The Mountain and it's eminence look down upon the continent with majesty, and might. The Mountain and it's majesty pierced the sky's heart, the blood of clouds swirling in a neverending vortex upon it's invisible peak. The Mountaintop held mystery, as much as it did control of the meek continent.

The Leviathan, The Giant, The Emergence of Fate

The tallest point upon all of Aevos, The Mountain is a peak in the far north of the frozen wastes of Ailmere. It brushes one edge along the icy Bitter Sea, and another 'pon the valley of Ailmere. The mountain was snowed-in year round, with even ice growing over the harsh and jagged rocks surrounding the massive rock. The Mountain was ever shrouded in a storm of some kind, with tumultuous stormclouds swirling about the mountain top in an ever-raging storm. In the spring and summer, a deep red which brightly lit the night sky as if it were day bled from the mountaintop as the clouds shifted with seasons. In the colder months during autumn and winter, a blackened vortex swirled around the giant, full of anger and wroth.

The Mountain seemed as if it were the centre of the continent, all fates tied to the great rock. Lost travellers inadvertantly, no matter their place, ended up making their way toward The Mountain. Adventurers stricken with wanderlust who had taken to the sea would be pulled to it. From the Great Storm and to it's footsteps, adventurers would be dragged as if the very threads of fate were manipulated to bring them to it's place. Those caught within it's ineffable pull were doomed with cryptic visions and prophecies, ones which were always twisted in some manner to fit the pulled's own narrative. As if a method to cope, or make reason, of the inevitability of destiny.

The Mountain stands imposing upon Aevos, it's peak unreachable and obscured by heavy stormclouds which struck at those who dared to challenge it. It commanded gazes across the continent, visible for miles offshore as well as the storms and light that emanated from it's peak. Many have tried, and none have returned, of those who have attempted to conquer The Mountain. Those sorry souls caught within it's pull slave to fate, and surrendered to destiny.

When fate dawns in the twilight of armageddon, The Mountain and it's true purpose may unveil, it's grip upon Aevos thereon unforeseen. 

OOC Information

The Mountain is a supplemental piece to Ailmere and multiple other lorepieces throughout the map. It's influence and purpose will be tied in through multiple interactions throughout Aevos. Players or ET may utilize The Mountain's calling in a similar method to The Great Storm, in which people feel controlled, paranoid of, curious about, or what have you in regards to The Mountain. This lorepiece will expand and develop as eventlines play throughout the map's lifespan. There may be prophecies that occur throughout the map and interactions with Palmreading in regards to The Mountain as well as other maplore pieces.

Accepted. 

Accepted. 

Denied. 

Accepted. 

Accepted. 

Accepted. 

Accepted. 

glad to see u again bro. crazy to think we started back on mm/RoC over a decade ago. time flies 😅

The Drowned Strand

Gazing eternally upon the north-shore of Aevos, The Drowned Strand was a long stretch of cliffs, rocks, and shoreline that protected the northern coast of the continent from harsh monsoons and sea-storms which battered the coast. The Drowned Strand was a place with an air of tragedy and heaviness, one which brought the mere spirit of one's presence slow and sluggish. Legend of the ruined port of Goldenvine which once ruled the northern coast in luxury haunted the few who lived there, and the many who would travel.

The Strand

The Drowned Strand was a cold, Taiga-forest which was peppered with snow all year round. Harsh flurries flew from the western tundra of Ailmere whilst The Bitter Sea to the north blew harsh and climactic winds against the coastline, giving it features of heavy-scaling rocks and weathered boulders covered in grime and barnacles that coated them like a plague. Storms crashed against the coast from the north, the waters perpetually tumultuous and brackish with a never-ending sea of driftwood that never ceased to flow upon the land's cursed shores.

Curiously, The Strand was home to a strange, dusty-black stone. Native strictly to the land and found nowhere else upon Aevos- or even Eos for that matter- this blackened stone bore no growths, no chips, dents, or signs of wear- even unaffected by the erosion of the sea, with pillars of the black rock stalwart against the constant battle of the tide. The blackened stone, Shadegrain, would make up the most remarkable landmark upon all of the northern coastline. 

Despite this, the land was wracked with evidence of ruins from great tides of days long past. Tsunami's and storms which battered those out at sea and near the coast, the shoreline would be wrecked with sheer cliff faces, wreckage new and old strewn about the rocky and unfriendly beaches, and no trees upon their hilltops; most blown away or broken by the strong winds and mighty waves that crash against the shore.

However, with all the calamity the land faces, life still finds a way to thrive within The Drowned Strand. Creatures from the depths of the seafloor to the damp warmth of the shore and tidepools would live plentifully among the land. Crabs, urchins, starfish, rockfish, and shrimp would live in bounty amongst the shore, whilst farther out at sea do Shuul, Korcal, Hippocampus, Shulkra, sharks, bass, char, and cod plentifully make up the populace of The Bitter Sea despite it's chaotic and tumultuous nature beneath The Great Storm. 

The air was as salty as the sea, as most days of the year The Drowned Strand was plagued with mild snows and heavy winds and rains. The nearby forests were littered with nurse logs, broken stumps, and fungi which grew heartily in the land of decay. Serpent's Stalk, Gislocinovi, Deep's Gleam, and Aqua Nymph grew in pitiful amounts in the forests and shoreline of The Drowned Strand, often trapped in the tidepools upon the seashore. Shells of hermit crabs, clams, mussels, and oysters were found in mighty amount, often weathered and waned from the degradation of time and repeated battering of the harsh sea.

Curiously, the most notable habits of The Strand were found within the effects of The Heavy Heart- some believe it a folktale, others swear by it. Yet, it's effects were prevalent; ever since The Tragedy of The Goldenvine Company, peoples living within The Drowned Strand devote themselves to the myth that was The Heavy Heart, described below.

The Tragedy of Goldenvine

Centuries before the descendant's arrival upon Aevos, it was upon the lands of Aeldin in the Kingdom of Agathor where the struggling company of Goldenvine Ventures sought a direly needed solution. A dry few years of drought plagued the lands, jewelry priced the same as bread as noble and serf alike struggled to feed themselves and their young. Tarriffs in nearby kingdoms were high, and yet the rich ruby mines of Agathor provided for none. As with many man in the kingdom at the time, people had sought any work or venture which had paid them. Goldenvine Ventures, a shipping company in the face of complete financial collapse, broke sea to revive an old shipping route with a distant island unnamed, yet charted upon every map. 

The sea was remarkably gentle, and easy upon the desperate sailors as they eventually broke land. Upon arrival, the dozen-manned crew found a remnant city built of stone and wood, yet abandoned and in ruin. Without a soul to be seen did they find a city waterlogged, yet seemingly with sturdy defenses; titanic, smooth black walls of fused stone which surely could provide ample protection from the sea outside. Even the homes incorporated the stone, which still stood despite the wreck of town and ship that uglied the area like remnants of a bloody murder. Within the cliffside of the rocky town as a large statue of a veiled woman with a bell of fused black stone plated in gold. Ominous and foreboding, but the men were undeterred by the ecstasy of exploration. 

With the calm waters and favourable terrain, Goldenvine Ventures would begin a small trading port upon this new, unbroken land. Meant to be a stop upon the long journeys around Aeldin, or even a trade-port itself for timber, potatoes, shellfish, and jewels. Although too heavy to transport, there was a remarkable supply of the aforementioned black stone. Far more sturdy and gritty, it broke as if one would break wet sand- yet it took dozens of strikes of the pick to even cause it to break.

Sailors from Aeldin and beyond rarely heard or cared for the name of Goldenvine, yet it's usefulness did have niche within the struggling market of the time. The town and it's denizens thrived, and yet so did the wealth it brought back to Agathor. As men, women, and children, fled for ships to this new promised land, so too did they help colonize the distant port which fed riches back to the home.  Although sailor's tales are often far spun from their original spool, word did reach of troubles in the colony. Not struggles with living; but with the dead. Tales of ghosts, phantoms, spooks and more surrounded the port with superstition. The imposing black stone fortress in which the city resided in added none, for the juxtaposition to the pleasant wooden shantytown was all too predictable to some. As the years went by and the rains returned to Agathor, the unremarkable colony left off all but the most detailed maps faded away into obscurity. 

One day it simply seemed as if Goldenvine Ventures and their port-colony of Goldenvine had just disappeared. Sailors spoke little of it, and ships that ventured to the port never returned. Shipments had stopped coming from Goldenvine and it's mysterious new island. In the decades that followed, obsessive expeditions by the governor of Agathor ventured north to reclaim the profitable colony and claim it oncemore for Empire. However, each ship could not find the island; using even the most accurate of maps and nautical tools, Goldenvine and it's mysterious island had just vanished into the sea.

Tales regarding Goldenvine's existence began to draw conspiracy and confusion about it's nature. Many began to question if there was truly a Goldenvine to begin with- perhaps a way for the nobility to dispose of mass amounts of peasants to spare food? A place to stow away their gold and riches to better steal away from the poor? Or perhaps it truly did exist; but was an escape, a paradise unforetold exclusively for the rich and powerful. Even the nobility had their own deviant thoughts. The poor and unnotable Goldenvine Ventures, rumoured to having started as smugglers, worked on behalf of another rivaling kingdom to steal their serfs and their riches. A funnel for wealth whilst they diabolical company salted their fields and plagued their grain to make an extra pound of gold. 

The truth of Goldenvine Ventures and their flagship port is now a distant tale of greed, viewed with disdain and distrust by all for it's dubious and unknown nature. Perhaps it wasn't real; and sailor's tales just live on.

The Heavy Heart

The Heavy Heart is the phrase for a physical and emotional weight that plagues one upon the northern coast. Despite death, spirits of the dead seemed to linger and flash back to the surface. When walking through The Drowned Strand, it was as if strolling through a graveyard; silence, calmness, and a low sense of dread that boiled beneath the surface. 

It was frequent in which travelers and wanderers would find themselves talking to someone, who when unviewed, simply disappeared; leaving behind only a watery puddle where they had once stood. It seemed there were dozens of wild and intrepid explorers throughout the region, yet they would simply vanish into nothing. The question of the traveller's sanity would be questioned, if it were not for the wide spread and independent nature of the accounts. 

Those journeying to The Drowned Strand could witness the effect themselves. People walking about their lives in between moments, vanishing and reappearing when one's attention was not upon them. Vivid conversations recalled with people who, in the blink of an eye, simply were there no longer. Seawater-soaked belongings, handshakes, beds, tents, and campfires smothered reports which came out of the land. The Heavy Heart was a mysterious effect that any but those within the region would vehemently deny and write off as mere superstition. But to those that had witnessed it- it was as real as the vanished themselves.

OOC Information

Goldenvine Ventures, as it is told upon this post, is considered open knowledge and anyone may recall, spin, twist, or add onto the tale as they please. The true fate of Goldenvine Ventures and their colony will be expanded upon (within this post) at a later date as eventlines occur. The Heavy Heart is available to roleplay by any, and in short detail, describes spirits of the dead returning to very real physical forms that behave normally; as if the soul and it's attached person had never died to begin with. This can include interactions with characters native to the region, or characters of your own that may have died there, so long as you have an applicable Phantom/Wight CA. 

For ET, please use the above for whatever instance you would like to for an event, and refer to the backface document for more explanation, details, and examples.

The Divide

The Great Expanse of central Aevos, The Divide marks the rolling hills and plains that make up a bulk of the continent's interior. Forgivingly easy to traverse and remarkably tranquil, The Divide seems to be the coveted land of kings from around the world. Multiple expeditions from nations old and young have failed each time in their journey to reach the land which would build empires. Peculiar that the skies above The Divide seemed to be an ocean more complex than the waters surrounding Aevos.

The Stars That Divide

The Divide is a land remarkable for its beauty and terrain. The greenest land upon Aevos, The Divide bore an aspect unseen in any other territory- and yet it’s most beautiful sight. The skies of The Divide were unlike anywhere else upon Eos. Beautiful arrays of vibrantly clear cosmic storms and nebulas, tumultuous clouds which reflected the vibrant colours of the sky both day and night. Everpresent, although easiest seen in the night, was a star that had shined brighter than even the moon. A brilliant blue light immeasurably far in the distance, it gave off a soft glow that made even the darkest nights visible with a soft sapphire hue.

Curiously, the land’s rocks and stones would be of an odd and nonsensical makeup- different types of stone scattered in a strange patchwork throughout The Divide as the earth seemed completely jumbled and disjointed. Volcanic stones beneath simple meadows, deep-sea sediment under hills and beside fertile surface earth. There was no clear age to the land nor it's makeup, as young and unbroken stones often would lay beneath broken and ancient rocks which clearly had not been moved in centuries. Gemstones mined from The Divide seemed to be far more brilliant in colour, and remarkably pure with little contamination.

Alongside this curious makeup of the earth, the ground would often violently shake for periods lasting from seconds to minutes. Earthquakes rattled the land frequently as the earth below trembled. Curiously, with each earthquake, the skies would seem to shake too.

Habiting the land were typical creatures found in plains, forests, and hills - Coltsfoot, Tippen's Root, King's Ivy, Nightglow, Amberriddle, Blissfoil, Alabaster Leaf and more were found dotted along the landscape of maple, oak, aspen, and birch trees. Shardspine Raptors made their dens within the caves that dotted the land whilst Trolls fought for the very same homes beneath the rock and earth. Praerie Dulks and Direwolves strode as kings of the land, roaming throughout the plains between the various patches of forest that were scattered across The Divide.

The area had a sense of uninterrupted, careful peace which almost gave off a sense of uneasiness. Despite the odd geology and harsh tectonic activity, the land offered a serenity found nowhere else on Aevos. 

OOC Information

The Divide is a portion of the map meant to be a bit of a break from the deep mystery and tragedy that may surround other areas of Aevos. Don't be deceived however- The Stars That Divide hold mysteries of their own soon to be discovered. This post will be updated as eventlines throughout the map progress. The Geology of The Divide being a complete jumble is at free will for players to notice and roleplay, as well as the blue star that always watches over.