Reece Nolan

I'm probably a bit underinformed here, so someone on my end can chime in if I'm wrong. The reason the fort was declared illegal was because the plan was to make the entire fort out of wall blocks. That's why it looked so odd, you would have been forced to fight through a pre-determined path of gates and ramparts to get to our core because laddering would have been impossible no matter how much you mulched the keep. This was something that was approved by Josh before the protest (egg on our face for taking only josh's word for it). With the benefit of hindsight, multiple fort designers have stepped up and let us know there was no world where that monstrosity would have been allowed to pass. The fort was converted to full blocks instead, thus removing the illegal part. The same still has to be done with our other forts because the others were built in the exact same way. As far as your RP goes, I actually like it! The Mad King bent on conquering the world for the sake of legacy even as his empire is cracking under its own weight and size, is much more compelling than the powdered wig larp that became standard of empires past. Our reactions to you saying to kill your own kids that we captured were wild, Hadrian wasn't even hiding it even in his missive replies. It's a massive breath of fresh air to have someone evil or twisted for the sake of it and not "You don't understand! I'm actually the good guy! Sure I genocided the elves (based??) but they had it coming, trust me!" And again, the raids were also nice while administration was busy sitting on its hands over warclaims, it went a long way towards making the war feel more active and less drawn out. Somewhere out there my golem core is even being used as a paperweight by some gigachad imperial who killed me in one of the raids.

Hey, Why are we accusing Werewolf and his group of being OOC? As far as I'm aware the extent of his OOC interaction goes as far as war-planning. I'm gonna kind of butter him up here, but in-spite of the looming threat of Urguan being shattered, this has actually been one of the most pleasant Warclaims I've had with the Empire since the Three Day War in Arcas. Werewolf absolutely did not need to OOCly reach out and coordinate multiple raids on the Urguan capital, multiple skirms, and continue to engage with us in roleplay after the warclaim that just happened. And yet he still does. In-fact, I think this is probably the most I've ever seen an Emperor roleplay with us other than Tide1, usually they tend to just come into power and immediately war us with no dialogue while propaganda posting in their war discord, and we just engage back in the same manner. Before I move down to other replies, I do wanna drop my thoughts on the matter of last warclaim. For the entire week I was under the impression that we were going to use cheap or broken kits and take the L on the field battle since the empire has more than triple our numbers. On Thursday (the 19th) an Iron Assembly was held and it was decided that we would be taking no kits at all and saving it for the siege battles since those are the only ones we can actually win due to the number disparity. When I joined the war discord VC at 2:30 P.M. everyone was laughing and were talking about putting on a caveman skin shared in chat, and changing our names to variations of Unga and Bunga. Someone had gotten a double-chest of snowballs, bamboo rafts and stone weapons and placed it in the Urguan square. I hopped on the bandwagon because I thought it was funny, we lost in less than two minutes, I made my warclaim video, and then carried on with my day and went to teach one of my FA students. I find it incredibly ironic that the outrage towards this kind of thing was nowhere in sight when many among the Imperial rally wore Bart and Lisa Simpson skins to the siege prior to last weekend's warclaim, or that these same players who rallied with us as the Church in Aevos had nothing to say when many of Balian's players during the last two defenses opted to wear power rangers skins and no armor. I don't think the issue is really a matter of troll skins or cheap tactics, more than it is just the waste of time. I absolutely agree that we should have forfeited the tile and expedited the warclaim directly into the next siege, at the same time I've also never seen that done in any of the war's I fought and had no idea it was an option, nor am I the one to make that decision. As a matter of fact, that idea is so unprecedented that it has only happened about one or two times in LOTC's history according to multiple oldheads who were in the chat when we were talking to Smol Bean about the disaster of a warclaim later that evening. That's where I do agree we absolutely dropped the ball, that and the absolute flurry of remarks about coping and ragebaiting that followed afterwards. While I'm apathetic to the Imperial's reaction to this, the biggest insult was mostly to the mods who took time out of their day to manage a warclaim that could have been skipped. (Although I am still curious how the war server was so broken after less than a week. God forbid people actually did bring kits to that. That's probably more of an administration or tech issue than it is mod responsibility). Enderking still has no idea what he did by the way. You got stopped at the gates of Cerulia, messaged Enderking saying "Do better." and accusing of him of OOC leading, and then left the discord. Nobody hears from you for weeks on end and when they do it's in the form of a forum reply generalizing the playerbase you left. As far as your accusation of OOC leading go, I've personally seen Ulfar conversing with Hekkaes Goldhand in his house or being pulled aside to discuss war plans multiple times a week. The decision to bring no kits mentioned above was made entirely in roleplay and we even conversed with vassals in the same assembly about what the plan was should Urguan face subjugation (whether to bend the knee or dissolve the realm). Epicethan, despite managing training, skirms, and the warclaim, has still found time to roleplay both casually and during trainings.

In no particular order, because it's hard to rank them against each other. 1.) XxEnderking - I've known him since Arcas, he's consistently passed the vibe check and is remarkably level headed or happy in situations that would make most crashout. Grogg and Ulfar are characters with a surprising amount of depth and lore put into them as well. 2.) xMuted - As much as I dislike his recent takes and the people he surrounds himself with, he's fun to talk to in chat. Very go-getter attitude. 3.) __Media - Much needed crackhead energy brought to the server. Probably the most "dwarf" dwarf player right now. There's never an instance with Media where I don't have fun. 4.) Mickaelhz - Single handedly responsible for some of the healthiest interactions of PvP and RP on the server, quite literally the only person I've met during my entire duration playing LOTC that viewed PvP as a means to generate RP, as opposed to the people around him who used RP to generate PvP. Dude is hilarious and lowkey very smart. 5.) Hawkeye_Gough - I've only been talking to him for a couple months at most, but he's very patient and actually helps people quite a lot when they're confused. He's also actively organizing player events and getting people involved into ST events, scheduling and playing multiple characters simultaneously. 6.) Bethinwonderland - Beth was there literally at the start of my experience with LOTC, and she's always been someone to radiate positivity. She's consistently the most helpful mod I've seen in years (Trinn deserves a mention here too). 7.) Nightcastorkitty - I've literally never interacted with them once, but they're sort of an unsung hero of LOTC, genuinely. In a sea of people who couldn't care less about the position they went out of their way to apply and volunteer for, Nightcastor reliably handles tickets and apps in a timely manner. Without them and Astrophysical, the entire application and ticket process I feel would come to a screeching halt. 8.) Squakhawk - I see squak get a lot of flak by virtue of their position, and also because sometimes they make decisions that aren't exactly popular. But it's an absolute crime that nobody mentions the disaster Squakhawk inherited by stepping up to Story Team Administration. They've done a really good job at what they're here for, remained professional for almost the entirety of their time as an admin, and for a time, actually made me think the LT was improving, which is no easy feat considering I'm probably one of the most vocal critics and haters of the LT on this server. They're not exactly groundbreaking or single handedly pushing the server forwards, but they deserve a massive amount of credit for the peace and stability that's come from their term as Admin. 9.) SimplySeo - I give this guy a lot of shit sometimes, but it's seriously impressive that he raised two nations, a clan and then became a mod on top of it. As long as I've known Jorvin, his roleplay has been the absolute height of quality on LOTC. There's nothing he doesn't consider in great detail and with ample passion. Imagine my surprise when this man turned on his webcam and was actually a dwarf in real life complete with the beard and axes hanging on his wall. You'd be hard pressed to find someone more committed to their characters than him. 10.) ArgentEra - Argent has done a phenomenal job leading the Musin to great places during her time on LOTC, but something I really appreciate about her is her enthusiasm about EVERYTHING. She's a skinner, an artist, she makes figuras, she leads her community while also playing her character regularly, she built her entire vassal by hand without creative or even a schematic, she does politics in game, she does events, she joins events, she does absolutely everything with this undying enthusiasm and joy. If you gave me a lineup of new players and asked me which ones have made the biggest splashes in LOTC, her and Media would be my first choices.

Within the bowels of Kal'Baraz, an old and grey dwed worked tirelessly to supply a war-torn Urguan. During his break, sat himself atop one of the many cannon barrels readied for transport, enjoying a small tin of blind cave-fish pickings. As he did, a flyer pinned to the miner's notice board caught his attention, needles cascading across his pallid skin. "Noh.. Et cahn't beh-" He mumbled, waddling closer. Before him was the abhorrent tongue of the Mori, a language he was all too familiar with despite being unable to understand it. Memories of the Underdark flooded his mind, memories of a darkness and despair unfelt for nearly two centuries. "Oi mus' take t'is tae Obok, ef t'eyre back..." his words trailing off, mind awash with fear, anger and resolve. "Oi'll kill t'em all."

Looks good! Maybe a bit trigger happy on the slotting though. I find it very hard to believe that two slotting Fire Evo allows you to create a miniature sun whereas two slotting Mysticism gets you an incomplete transformation pay-walled behind 3 slots. Having Hexxing behind amputation which now requires a slot is a little inconvenient too.

"Ulfar, cahn ye PLEASE stohp talkin' tae yurself en dah smiffy? Oi'm tryin' tae sleep!" Balas yelled, fluffing his pillow and pulling the blanket back over himself and the anvil he rested upon.

Cheezzy Garlikk

I enjoy additions like this, because LOTC has a tendency to feel very dull and entirely text based at times. It feels like people (especially in the replies to this post) confuse roleplay for pure text based interaction and believe anything that pulls people away from that is counterproductive, when that couldn't be further from the truth. What is harmful is the removal of plugins/systems which serve to offer players other things to do on the server when they don't have the time/energy to type, or the addition of plugins which circumvent effort for convenience. All of that's to say, Tech team is doing its job by implementing plugins exactly like these. I think the direction to go from this next would be to find ways to make race/CA specific mechanics. Orcs being able to eat raw or rotten food, golems, constructs and undead not needing food, and maybe buffs or mechanics for culimancy?

POV: Smol_Bean

Balas read the missive in a dark, cold room, sat beside a giant bubbling pot and pyre for warmth. "Dah Rhun? Whot es dah Rhun?" He asked to himself quietly. He considered heeding the summons, folding the paper neatly and sliding it into the fire. (I would attend but I can't make 2pm since I work Wednesday, but we'll see if I can join if the meeting goes on for enough hours.)

Very nice.

Balas contemplates how he's going to use fire to knock his opponents off their feet without injuring them, reminiscing on his last combative encounter.

A tall, granite golem stirs as it overhears dwed reading the missive aloud. Ancient sigils of fire and faith hum to life, ignited with purpose again. "To. War." It rumbled, reaching for its kingstone halberd.

I still recommend the name Aethyr

WightWolf watching in horror as his precious Underdark Carbarum is used for dentures

Thank you!

“Left for dead we were, consigned to damnation for the misdeeds of one. But this shan’t be our tomb, the abyss will know of Yemekar’s providence whether it cares to or not.” - Baleg ‘Guarded Garnet’ Gemeye The term ‘stubborn’ is often used to describe Urguan’s Folk, fitting for a race so resilient as to bend the very earth to their whims. Though there are few clans with the fortitude to survive the death sentence, and even fewer to defy it twice. Born of the Underdark and sister to the Elder Clan Starbreaker, the Gemeyes stood among these few. Their story is long, a tragedy buried beneath history which told of a once-great people who refused to fade into the forgotten. Formed of Starbreaker exiles and lost spelunkers, the Gemeyes were a matriarchy of highly skilled and pious artisans united under one name, among them were jewelers, alchemists and golemancers, all of whom sought to defy their rocky confines with a thriving civilization nestled in the very heart of darkness. Their sons and daughters paved the path forward with courage and might unparalleled, successfully claiming a slice of the Underdark for themselves. Wary of becoming chaos dwarves, they modeled their culture off the Urguan they never knew, supplanting foreign concepts such as the sun, the moon and the stars with the spectrum of light. The Gemeyes prospered for over two centuries before they were ultimately crushed by the Mori, cast into the abyss as nomadic survivors of a bygone era. Doomed they were, until the dwarves of Almaris unknowingly freed their kin from exile while unearthing ancient Gemeye texts. Over the course of the next nine decades, a single Gemeye sought to raise the ancient banner of his clan and usher in the next chapter of their history, what sits before you now is the recovered legacy of Clan Gemeye, da Kazamar Kresttrulliv Gemeye culture can be traced to two distinct time-periods, life before-prosperity and life after-prosperity. Much of their identity is steeped in struggle, with scarce resources and light a precious commodity, early Gemeye culture almost exclusively revolved around survivalism and optimization. Though, as a consequence of their kin’s efforts, the newfound safety of Kaz’ad’Nerroth and the cultural explosion following the Prismatic Doctrine’s introduction mutated their way of life into a lavish caricature of what once was. Appearance ᚨᚱᛞᛟᛚ ᚲᛖᛉᚾᛟᛚ'ᛗᚨᚱ Possessing the muddled blood of Arbrek, it’s no surprise that the Gemeyes take after their Starbreaker ancestors. However, while the Gemeyes are a clan exclusively composed of Cave Dwarves, their extended stay in the Underdark has altered them for better and for worse. Most Gemeyes struggle to surpass the height of 4’3” and, moreover, are significantly less muscular than their ancestors. The Gemeyes themselves do not identify with Stoneblood and Ironblood, rather, there are three distinct bloodlines the majority of remaining Gemeyes originate from: Baleg “Guarded Garnet” Gemeye The kin of Baleg Gemeye are easily identifiable amongst the khazadmar, for they have inherited his dominant albino visage which refuses to be quelled by the genetics of others. Described as simultaneously appearing both old and young, those of the garnet lineage possess clay-like pallid skin and silvery hair from birth. They are unable to be born with eye colors other than various shades of red or purple. Urgrim “Meticulous Malachite” Gemeye The kin of Urgrim Gemeye resemble the Starbreakers more closely than any of the three bloodlines, said to be easily confused with a Stoneblood of the elder clan. Described as well-kempt and robust, those of the malachite lineage possess dark gray or ashy skin with black hair and excellent beard genetics. They are often born with amber eyes, though they have occasionally been born with green eyes. Olga “Opulent Opal” Gemeye The kin of Olga Gemeye appear visually distinct from the average cave dwarf, believed to have been the most changed by their extended stay in the underdark. Described as dazzling or divine, those of the opal lineage possess slate colored skin and onyx black hair. They are frequently born with heterochromia and are prone to every possible eye color, including those usually induced by albinism such as red or purple. Sunlight Sensitivity ᛋᛟᛚ-ᚲᚱᚢᛏ Being descendants of Elder Clan Starbreaker, it was inevitable that the Gemeyes would inherit their lack of pigmentation, and by extension, their photosensitivity. Though, this sensitivity has since been exacerbated as a consequence of their exile rendering them unable to access sunlight whatsoever. With their recent release, the Gemeyes have found that short-term exposure to sunlight results in severe sunburn in just under an hour, with debilitating rashes and skin degradation in a matter of three hours. Most Gemeyes cannot bear to even observe the sun’s rays due their light sensitive eyes, and those of Baleg’s lineage suffer these symptoms to an even greater degree as a result of their albino nature. To combat these effects, full body coverings such as robes, tunics and caps are worn to prevent sunlight from touching their flesh and to shade their eyes. Darkvision ᛞᚺᚨᚱᚷᛁᚹᚨᛚ Having endured multiple generations living in the underdark, the Gemeyes possess superior darkvision than that of their Starbreaker counterparts, capable of limited sight even in near pitch black circumstances. Though, their perception consists of washed out grays or blacks and objects may lose some of their finer details in such low light settings. The twinkle of their colorful eyes might also confuse predators into perceiving them as gemstones embedded in distant rocky outcroppings, or equally as likely, betray their location when attempting to hide from danger. Clothes and Armaments ᚲᛚᚨᛞ ᚾᚨᚱ ᛗᛖᛞᚱᚨᚲ Contrary to their Starbreaker ancestors, Gemeyes never quite adopted the heavy armors and blunt weaponry their counterparts are known for. Even Baleg himself, renowned for his iconic silver breastplate, only wore a sort of munition armor layered over cloth. Such is the way of the Underdark, where mobility and reach dictated survival when faced with fast-striking, monstrous creatures. Thus, Gemeyes tended towards robes, tunics and half plates, contrasted by their choice of spears, glaives and pikes. During the era of Gemeye prosperity, armaments transitioned from mere tools and garb to personal effects. Plates were crafted with excruciating detail and encrusted with the gem of its owner, jewelry clung to the sleeves and hood of robes, and gems took the place of buckles and harnesses on tunics. Weaponry became more of a statement than a staple, trading the polearms of old for decorative daggers and ornamental warpicks. This further fueled the schism between modern Gemeyes and more survivalist kin whom believed anything which increased your odds was the right way, the latter of which being the majority to survive during Enn’os’Moroth. Crystal Bouquets ᚲᚱᛖᛋᛏ ᚹᛃᚱᛏᚠᚨᛃᚱ'ᛗᚨᚱ It's an unusual but dazzling tradition that Gemeyes tend to present not flowers, but a solid crystal geode cut and carved to appear like a bouquet of flowers to lovers or at weddings. The most commonly referred example is a lump of amethyst carved to appear like roses with the calcite left whole and smoothed out to look like wrapping paper. Mining Shanties ᚦᚨᛋ'ᚷᛖᚱᛟᚾ ᛋóᚾᚷᚱ'ᛗᚨᚱ An old tradition born during the construction of Kaz’ad’Nerroth, it became a fun pass time novelty to write and sing mining shanties with your brethren on expeditions, as well as an excellent way to honor the three patrons of the clan all at once. Over time some mining shanties evolved into religious hymns as well. __________________________________________ Working Dwed Heave-ho, stone upturned All that glimmers shall be unearthed! To and fro, picks will go Shovel the rubble then lift and throw! (CRACK!) Sulfur and soot, smoggy air Burns on your feet and dust in your hair! Throbbing wrists and aching back Strike the coal til’ your skin turns black! (CRACK!) I see endless webs and a thousand eyes, Mycelial woods and deep toad cries. I’ve passed gremlin camps and lurker lairs, Abandoned shafts with creaky stairs. (CRACK!) I've braved the deep where nothing sleeps, Crossed hot plains where magma seeps. I see a long worn line of working dwed, Quarrying stone to earn their bread! (CRACK!) Heave-ho, stone upturned No gems shall go unearned! To and fro, picks will go Shovel the rubble then lift and throw! (CRACK!) Nickel and nodes, noxious fumes Breathe too much and be sent to your tomb! Bleeding nose and stifled lungs Take another breath, there’s work to be done! (CRACK!) I see endless caves and a chasm wide, Lapping waves and lulling whines. I’ve passed mori traps and beetle dens, Winding cracks without an end. (CRACK!) I’ve braved the dark where none dare embark, Crossed damp plains where water scars. I see a long worn line of working dwed, Quarrying stone to earn their bread! (CRACK!) __________________________________________ Ode to the Guiding Light Lost alone, no way home, Abandoned in stone to be swallowed whole. (Hear my words, son of the earth.) Foreign man, ragged hand, He grips your shoulder and whispers again. (Avert your eyes or this neck I’ll slice.) Dark blade, black knife, Its obsidian edge threatens your life. (Borrow my light, I’ll aid your plight.) You nod, you pray, You wish not to die this way. (Walk now kin, my patience wears thin.) A stumble, a step, Your harrowing journey commenced. (You know my face, you delve in my name.) The lord of this land, his shadowed hand, You march through his darkness in fear of the end. (Your kin have not lost you, search for your band.) You climb, you scale, Unhindered by cliffs nor rock nor shale. (Brave through damnation, you will prevail.) A glint of light, their torches burn bright, Your kin have not lost you, reach for their hand. (Farewell, we part, til I bid ‘pon your spark.) You turn to thank him, but are met with the dark. __________________________________________ Amethyst Prayer O’ Thrumm-’ur’-Derkalimin, Thrummaz eron da Mhornar, Othok’koss aina’dwedki’az tiwaz nir othok’koss trumm-’ur’-mhornar, Aina’thamar’az und ulro ut othok’koss raz orvul’os. Aina’thamar’az zal olkodran oz azhron, Da dharg yol-mer ljoss’os Ulro othok hethra na nerak. O’ Lord of Avarice, King of the Shade, Your children sleep in your beard of shadows, We keep by us your obsidian blade. We have nothing to fear, The darkness is clear With you here and near. __________________________________________ Clan Recipes ᚲᚨᛉᚨᛗᚨᚱ ᚱᛃᚦᛃᚨ'ᚷᛖᚱᛟᚾ The Gemeyes are a clan born of struggle and the necessity for survival, which lends itself greatly to the clan’s culture. Nowhere is this more blatantly obvious than in their cuisine, which has been formed largely from scarce and odd resources. These recipes are dear to the clan’s heart, held with sworn secrecy and bestowed only to those Tumbled. Recipes which contain lore material such as alchemy herbs should follow all redlines belonging to them. An ancient guarded secret of the Gemeye Clan, Gem-Wine appears to be a scarlet, earthy and mineral infused wildberry wine. It is a rare drink exclusive to celebrations such as the Tumbling Ceremony or weddings, coveted for its flavor and richness. The common drink of the Gemeye Clan, Miner's Spirit is a clear and purple liquor with the distinct aroma of ancient wood. It's a drink that goes down smoothly and leaves a burning trail in the throat, possessing the long lingering taste of Miner’s Helmet mushrooms with a faint hint of sweetness and caramelization. An ancient recipe authored by Basra Gemeye and restored by the Grand Library, Miner’s Supper Soup is a murky blue, bone broth based soup with an extremely bitter taste. This soup is best known for its tendency to turn the tongue glow-in-the-dark green for up to an hour after consumption. An ancient recipe authored by Basra Gemeye and restored by the Grand Library, Deep Toad Tongue Steak is a chewy, mostly edible experience not recommended for impatient eaters or those with a weak jaw. It’s a meal notable for its exceptional saltiness and receptiveness to seasoning, the fibrous texture resulting in a near unparalleled crust. An ancient recipe authored by Basra Gemeye and restored by the Grand Library, Blind Cave Fish Pickings are a delicacy among Clan Gemeye, favored for their firmness and often enjoyed fried with a spicy dipping cream of some kind. A travel food for long expeditions, Denatured Slime Film is less a meal and more a protein nutrient which never expires. It’s very well known amongst the clan as an unpleasant and unfortunately unforgettable experience for first time eaters. One of the better kept secrets of Clan Gemeye, Opal Scrying Oil is a reagent of scrying concocted by Olga Gemeye as a means of yielding more visible patterns for divination. It is a curious substance, known for burning violet when lit and eliciting severe anxiety or hallucinations if its fumes are inhaled. If ingested, the body will reject it in the form of vomit, causing immense fatigue and nausea for up to an hour after consumption. The Gemeyes believe in the core principles of the Brathmordakin as has been preserved in their tablets throughout the ages, though over their time spent trapped in the underground, they have developed unique associations, rituals and themes to their faith. These differences are collectively referred to as the Prismatic Doctrine. Everything in the culture of this clan is in some way tied to the Prismatic Doctrine. Precept of Prism ᚨᚾᚨᚱᛏ'ᚲᚺᚱᚢᛗ-'ᚢᚱ'-ᚹᛟᛪᛏᚱ It is believed among the Gemeye Clan that light and its sources are holy, each Brathmordakin being associated with such. Yemekar: White Light, Light of the Forge Anbella: Green Light, Light of the Hearth Dungrimm: Moon Light, Light of the Soul Armakak: Sun Light, Light of Fortune Grimdugan: Light in Darkness, Light of Guidance Belka: Red Light, Light of Celebration Ogradhad: Candle Light, Light of Knowledge. The Gemeyes, being Deep Dwarves, have eyesight better suited to life in underground caverns. However, their natural advantages could only help them so much in total darkness. With their limited resources in the Deeps Roads, materials to craft sources of light were incredibly scarce. Thus organically over time, reverence was developed towards sources of lights and they became associated with the Brathmordakin. The main patron of the Gemeyes, Grimdugan, is most commonly known as the Brathmordakin of greed, mining, gemstones and darkness. The Gemeyes however, have a more nuanced view of this Brathmordakin, believing him to be the ‘Guide in Darkness,’ as documented by the personal experiences of the first Clan Father, Methysko Gemeye. The Brathmordakin Belka, is the secondary patron of the Clan. The Gemeyes do not associate her with storms and weather, since such things have been seldom seen in the caverns. Instead, they focus on her aspects of beauty and revelry. Traditionally, women of the clan take on nicknames and aesthetics relating to rubies, of which the colour red has been tied to Belka. Overtime, the association between beauty, the colour red and Belka grew in the clan. It is not clear if this trend was initially influenced by the already common beliefs surrounding Belka, or if the fashion senses of the Gemeye women simply reinforced this belief. The tertiary patron of the clan is the almighty Yemekar. As per the scrolls of Da Kirkja Dverga, the Gemeyes believe that Yemekar was the first Brathmordakin who forged the world and created the other Brathmordakin. Through rigorous scientific study of gemstones and prisms, they discovered that when white light is passed through a prism, it splits into a multitude of colours. After great internal debate about the meaning of this phenomenon, they determined that all the Brathmordakin are aspects, or possess some higher aspect from Yemekar himself, beyond being created by him. This also explains why light, in all its colours, is also important to the clan. This phenomenon is also what gives the Prismatic Doctrine its name. Precept of Prophecy ᚨᚾᚨᚱᛏ'ᚲᚺᚱᚢᛗ-'ᚢᚱ'-ᚲᚱᛟᚾᛟᛋ When stuck in the deep dark caves, with nothing but mining rocks and killing cavern critters to keep your mind occupied, one may start hearing and seeing things that aren’t there and derive meaning from them. The popularity of this precept once more came from the experiences of Methysko Gemeye, who was believed to have seen a single flickering light when staring into a pitch black chasm, and he saw the figure of Grimdugan holding the light. This coupled with the cultivation of shrooms, has resulted in the clan believing objects that exhibit pareidolia to be signs of omens. Following the clan’s name, imagery of eyes and seeing eyes in nature are signs that the Brathmordakin and the ancestors are watching them. However, if there is only one eye visible, it is a sign of Khorvad’s presence. Deep echoes of whispers, unusual sounds, discovering new veins in abandoned mineshafts, and other signs are analyzed by the clan’s diviners. The most popular ritual of the clan is scrying and divination using crystal balls. These sorts of signs are recorded, in order to determine any patterns, which has led to the Gemeyes to be proficient in recordkeeping in the traditional dwarven language. Precept of Purity ᚨᚾᚨᚱᛏ'ᚲᚺᚱᚢᛗ-'ᚢᚱ'-ᚹᛖᛚᚢᚲᚱᚢᛗᛗ With life always on the line in the lethal environments of the Deep Roads, the Gemeyes came to value the integrity and strength of their bodies. Following the belief that Yemekar created the dwarven race perfectly, the Gemeyes believe that the body is like a gemstone, it is made raw, beautiful and pure just as Yemekar intended. You are sent into the world to be tumbled by the happenstance of life into a more refined piece so that you are even more beautiful by the time you return to him in the Khaz’A’Dentrumm; that all of your hard edges are smoothed out by your legacy during your mortal life. Thus, the scarring and maiming of a Gemeye is considered sacrilegious. If one becomes maimed while performing their duty, for example losing an arm, the arm would be collected and preserved for funerary rites and a replacement golemantic prosthetic would be installed. The most severe injury one could receive is the loss of one eye, since having a single eye is usually associated with Khorvad. Thus two golem eyes are made, one to be used as a prosthetic and one to pair with the dismembered eye. The Precept of Purity and the Precept of Prophecy are often intertwined, which can be seen in the clan’s tendency to venerate their ancestors. Ancestors who have accomplished great deeds and are ‘pure’ are often thought to be able to give prophecies or advice even from beyond the grave when scrying. Despite all of the above, there tends to be conflict in the clan with the more survivalist individuals, who believe that survival should be ensured through any means necessary since life in the caverns is a constant battle. Thus it is usually up to elders and diviners to determine what is or isn’t acceptable or ‘pure’ on a case by case basis when it comes to difficult topics such as the use of magics that modify the soul. During the refinement of the Prismatic Doctrine, Karvia’s sons and daughter put forth an addendum which outlined the spirit of their people. These tablets became the bedrock of their values, texts which delineated the principles of a Gemeye engraved permanently into solid gemstone. It is theorized that a fourth was carved, The Amethyst Tablet, but it has never been found or referenced in any capacity. The Garnet Tablet ᛞᚨ ᚲᚱᛟᚾ ᚨᚱᛞᛟᚦ'ᛟᛋ As recorded on the Garnet Tablet of Baleg Gemeye, the practice of golemancy within Clan Gemeye is complex and abstract. The basis for every gem golem, or “Gler’Khoren”, is a concept, an expression of Belka’s beauty in all things and passion for creation. Thus, most Gemeye-made golems are created with form over function and bear striking features evocative of a particular idea their maker wished to express. The most prominently expressed concept within Clan Gemeye is from an addendum to the Prismatic Doctrine, the “Light of the Refracted Soul”. Ordinarily, one would be unable to view the core in its active state, but gemstone’s transparency allows for the unique opportunity to see the core’s coursing anima & mana as refracted light. It’s believed that this light is the most beautiful thing a person may witness in their lifetime, as Yemekar crafted the dwarven soul with absolute perfection; To observe the light of a core is to witness the craftsmanship of Yemekar himself in a way like no other, unparalleled and raw. It is for this reason that many gem golems feature heavy emphasis of the core on their body’s exterior, typically as a ring of sigils around their chest. These concepts partially extend to the creation of golemantic prosthetics, which will typically be made with the same aesthetic flare of their fully constructed counterparts, but are hewn of calcite or other rocky materials due to the limitations of golemancy’s advancement. The Gemeyes do not shy away from the topic of soul golems, rather, they embrace it, believing that the form of a soul golem should reflect the true nature of the entrapped individual. For their enemies this often means a fate worse than death, the most infamous of which being when Baleg Gemeye and his silver legion captured a den of drow that had tormented the clan for decades. All were executed via soul core and placed into crude, brittle bodies of coal meant to reflect their ugly and unpleasant nature, and ordered to march themselves to death for their surviving kin to see. Similarly, kin preserved within golems may be crafted in their own likeness, or given a form which expresses the contents of their character in exaggerated fashion. Gler’Khoren are the greatest testament to one’s skill as a golemancer, for they may only be carved once and without error. Every chisel placement, every strike of the hammer, every part of the process is made with careful consideration and conscious effort. Even the slightest crack is intolerable as gemstone cannot be repaired, unlike stone golems which may be mended with clays or putty. Their role within Gemeye society is that of the sacred protector, the guardian of a concept instilled by their creators, a living window of insight into the minds of brilliant craftsmen who wished to honor Belka through their creation. To defile such a guardian is to forfeit one’s life, for Gler’Khoren defend their maker’s passion with great intensity. The Malachite Tablet ᛞᚨ ᚲᚱᛟᚾ ᚷᚱᛟᛒ'ᛟᛋ As recorded on the Malachite Tablet of Urgrim Gemeye, the practice of artisanry within Clan Gemeye is venerative and disciplined. To craft with respect to the Brathmordakin, one must be mindful of their resources and work with efficiency. Yemekar did create the world with finite material so that his children would not be wasteful, so that one's greed may be tempered by scarcity. All precious metals are considered sacred, for the Lord of Avarice does not depart with his riches on a whim, and neither should his acolytes. Thus, kin should pay heed to their ancestors' wisdom passed unto them from generations of toil and labor, lest they mock Grimdugan’s generosity with ruined or flawed projects. However, no metal is more sacred to the Gemeyes than Azhl. To Urgrim, it was a dark and alluring stone which greatly punished the hubris of spelunkers, reminiscent of Grimdugan’s teachings of Dharg. A deceptively dangerous rock in its rawest form, Azhl was the lesson made manifest, that any who respected its fury would have it bestowed in the form of its maker’s choosing. Only by braving its danger were its treasured traits revealed, be it an edge so wicked it inflicted excruciating pain upon all life, or a surface so mesmerizing it transfixed any who glimpsed its hidden crimson beauty. Thus, it was named “Bokkvuur”, the Black Stone, declared the sacred metal of Grimdugan and coveted by Clan Gemeye ever after. Also of great importance to the Gemeyes, jewelry. It acts as a profound signifier of one’s devotion to a Brathmordakin and their tenets. The fine details of metalwork allows for the expression of one’s faith through intricate shapes, whereas the variety of gemstones at a jewelers disposal offers a range of methods to venerate the gods through their corresponding colors of light as discussed in the Precept of Prism. This practice is taken further by way of Gemforging, the variant of Warforging which allows its user to impart alchemical transmogrifications unto gemstones. With it, Brathmordakin iconography is enhanced, and rubies may be blessed with bolt of Belka whereas emeralds might carry the flame of Anbella’s hearth betwixt a dwedlon’s bosom. Of note, Bokkvuur was once a highly desired metal for jewelry during the era of Gemeye prosperity. Pieces which utilized it had their edges aggressively smoothed, often resulting in round amulets or rings with emphasis on Azhl’s unique crimson veins. The Opal Tablet ᛞᚨ ᚲᚱᛟᚾ ᛒᛚᚨᚱ'ᛟᛋ As recorded on the Opal Tablet of Olga Gemeye, the practice of scrying within Clan Gemeye is faithful and open-minded. One must cast their prejudice aside when approaching the topic, as disbelief can cloud the window that peers into fate’s pond. It is understood that the mundane world entertains a specific randomness colloquially known as luck, though with more careful observation patterns may begin to emerge. These patterns are what the Gemeyes refer to as “Uthr’mar”, ripples generated as a Brathmordakin’s presence displaces the waters of fate. Ordinarily these patterns would be obscured as ambiguous nonsense, being much too noisy to discern meaning from happenstance, but by cultivating a sensitive point in space where Uthr’mar may layer over each other one may achieve a level of consistency from which fate may be read. For the Gemeyes, scrying is the preferred method of divination. Early scribes had discovered crystal’s tendency to split light and distort images, and their rigorous study of prisms would later inform the refinement of the Prismatic Doctrine, but among their findings was the crystal ball and its myriad of strange interactions with light. Olga, curious as always, spent many decades studying their properties, concluding that crystal balls were the perfect vehicle for producing Uthr’mar in a controlled environment with the aid of an oil slick. This marriage of science and theology inspired the standard method of scrying within Clan Gemeye, a process which read the oil patterns over an image to ascertain the fate of the scryer. Though this method usually employs the clear quartz crystal ball coupled with opal scrying oil, the potential for other variations of scrying remains a widely unexplored topic. Alchemy ᚷᚨᚢᛚᛞ Clan Gemeye covets the practice of Alchemy greatly so, as its presence has been a boon to their kind since the earliest days of their empire. First introduced by the Ancient Amethyst, alchemy bled into several aspects of Gemeye culture, appearing in their food, in their brewing and even in scrying. It was not until the refinement of the Prismatic Doctrine, that Alchemy was finally assigned meaning by the Gemeyes. They were fascinated by the Material Alphabet’s transcendence of language, believing that signs and symbols must be the origin tongue; A universal language understood by all innately, first written by Yemekar when crafting the world and later adopted by the Brathmordakin pantheon as their native tongue. The Gemeyes believe that Ogradhad bestowed upon them a lesser variant of the gods’ language, the runic alphabet which later became the dwarvish language. Gemeye Burial Rites ᚲᚱᛖᛋᛏᛏᚱᚢᛚᛚᛁᚹ ᚲᚱᚨᚹᛁᛁᛚ ᚨᚲᛃᚦ'ᛗᚨᚱ Following the Precept of Purity, to prevent the dead from becoming flawed and to ensure a safe passage to Khaz’a’Dentrumm, the gemeyes cremate their kin upon death and turn the ash into a gemstone. In traditional Grimdugan follower fashion, their kin’s valuables and hoard are gathered and stacked neatly in their tomb with the gem placed atop. Stealing from a tomb goes directly against the core teachings of Grimdugan, such an act is punishable with a grudge and execution. The trials are a sacred tradition which transcends all dwarven clans, they are often a rite of passage for beardlings, a quest meant to raise kin proper in the ways of their own. For the Gemeyes, the trials are a matter of heritage, designed to immerse their youth in the environment and practices of their ancestors. Held among the highest of truths is the notion that, it is only with experience that a khazad may truly appreciate their potential in a way that matters. Trial of Understanding ᚨᚾᚨᚲᚱᚢᚾ-’ᚢᚱ’-ᛃᚨᚱ'ᚹíᛋ’ᚷᛖᚱᛟᚾ The Trial of Understanding is the first and most crucial step for any beardling, it tasks them with finding and studying their birth gem in great detail, using libraries or any other available materials to supplement their understanding of the stone which defines them. They must identify what the gemstone represents, its meaning and place within the world, and armed with this knowledge they are to craft a ring using their birth gem and inscribe the stone’s purpose into its underside in the dwarvish tongue. Trial of Illumination ᚨᚾᚨᚲᚱᚢᚾ-’ᚢᚱ’-ᚹᛖᚲᚨᚨᚾ The Trial of Illumination tasks the beardling with learning of the Brathmordakin and Prismatic Doctrine first and foremost. Then, they must craft an oil lamp influenced by the faith. Once crafted, the beardling is to take their lamp to a Tumbled Gemeye who may initiate the second half of their trial. The beardling will be brought to the deep roads or underdark, their lamp is to be filled with opal scrying oil and lit before being sent into the darkness with the sole task of surviving until the violet flame burns out. The fumes produced by the violet flame illuminates the beardling’s senses, heightening them and allowing them to experience the dark as it truly is; To comprehend the meaning of danger and grow their appreciation for the gift of light. It may be difficult for the beardling to discern between the dark’s true nature and reality while under the effects of the violet flame, rendering them prone to severe anxiety and paranoia. The lamp is for the beardling to keep as their own personal light source after the trial is completed. Trial of Veneration ᚨᚾᚨᚲᚱᚢᚾ-’ᚢᚱ’-ᚨᚲᛃᚦ The Trial of Veneration is a test of the beardling’s patience and aptitude, tasking them with carving an idol or statue of either a Gemeye ancestor, a dwarven paragon or one of the Brathmordakin. Their task will be done under the supervision of an Elder or the Clan Father/Mother but without help or guidance. They will be watched to gauge the quality of their craftsmanship, determining whether or not they pass their trial once their product is completed. Tumbling Ceremony ᚢᛗᚢᚱ’ᚢᚱᛟᛉ ᚠᛃᛚᚷï The completion of one’s trials is a momentous occasion, one which asserts that a beardling has mastered the virtues of consideration, bravery, and patience. What follows is the Tumbling Ceremony, a solemn rite reserved only for such occasions. The ceremony is initiated by lowering the khazad into a bath filled with coarse stones and water, where they are presented a chalice of Gem-Wine to ward their tongue of Khorvadic babble. Then, the beardling is to take the Grinding Oath with the guidance of their kin, as they are repeatedly dunked in the bath to be tumbled anew. Umur’uroz Baraz | An oath taken during the Tumbling Ceremony, the Grinding Oath is a holy incantation which binds a khazad in body and spirit to the services of Grimdugan. It is sworn between gasps for air, perilous in nature and traumatizing to many. Umur’uroz Baraz ᚢᛗᚢᚱ’ᚢᚱᛟᛉ ᛒᚨᚱᚨᛉ O’ Thrumm-’ur’-Derkalimin, Thrummaz eron da Mhornar, (O’ Lord of Avarice, King of the Shade) Aina’k’az ekorok vo’thakav oz othok’koss dharg, (I surrender myself to your darkness) Dag aina’k’az sar talok othok’koss raz, (That I may wield your blade) Dag aina’k’az sar voxtr da uloon, (That I may shape the night) Dag aina’k’az sar iraal othok’koss mhornar, (That I may don your cloak) Yno’k’az va-mer umur deb’os, (I am tumbled new) Nir eklaan eron othok. (In service of you) The khazad is then pulled from their bath, a beardling no more. Tumbled they are, consecrated in service of the Nightbearer. They are bestowed a title, typically in the form of an alliteration which combines their birth gem and a defining quality of the kin’s character, such as ‘Bashful Beryl’ or ‘Emphatic Emerald’. The title is of high regard among Clan Gemeye, its besmirchment warranting a grudge by itself; These titles are bestowed not for the mere accomplishment of feats but as a secondary name, as a Tumbled Gemeye you are reborn a zealot of Grimdugan bearing the true name of your gemstone. To aid your holy quest, you are afforded the opportunity to learn golemancy, alchemy, clan recipes, and any other resource available. The tragedy of Clan Gemeye is long, a history unknown to those who dwell ‘pon the surface, a legacy enriched with the lessons of grief, love, and perseverance. Their tale starts with the daughter of Arbrek Starbreaker, who mothered a son so foolish as to fuel himself with ambition o’er greed, opening himself to the Betrayer’s manipulation in doing so. Should you read their story, I beg thee to heed my warning. Khorvad is the Brathmordakin of Power, his hunger for control is insatiable and his reach is far beyond that of those afflicted with tagum. He is the antithesis to Yemekar’s creation, bent on destroying it in favor of his own creation for which he would hold absolute power over. His influence is everywhere, like corrosive miasma seeping through the cracks in one’s foundation, he is the sudden and foreign doubt which invades your mind, the inexplicable urge to kill, and the whisper encouraging you to jump. Chapter I: Entropy Chapter II: Consternation Chapter III: Retribution Chapter IV: Lament Chapter V: Solace Chapter VI: Repentance Chapter VII: Atonement Chapter VIII: Ethos Chapter IX: Conquest Chapter X: Logos Chapter XI: Evangelism Chapter XII: Pathos Chapter XIII: Hope Chapter XIV: Zenith Chapter XV: Reckoning Chapter XVI: Salvation ( If you’re interested in creating a Gemeye, respond to this post with your IGN, Discord and Timezone, or message Reece_Nolan in-game. ) Credits to these individuals for making this entire project possible, it’s been two long years and we genuinely couldn’t do this without you! RoyalClouds XxEnderking SimplySeo Nooblius DrHope GremlockGremlin CharlestheDwarf nepir Scatmanpro Jamwill Xergarok Wulfric_Borr PanicZealot3724 xMuted Titanium430 siglms_ Cheezboi9 Credits for images used in the order they appear. Zack Stella, MTG BulletproofSteak Chris Rahn MaiMaiArt sadxzero Leonardo Cordeiro Viktor Titov Below is a directory of resources for those unfamiliar with the dwarven aspect of LOTC, many of these are also citations for the creation of this post. Be sure to upvote each as you visit them! The Creation Mythos The Encyclopedia of Dwarven Language Yemekar Runic Translator Anbella The Material Alphabet Grimdugan Alchemy Armakak Warforging Belka Golemancy Ogradhad Elder Clan Starbreaker Dungrimm Clan Silverbraid Methysko’s Journals Aevosi Tarot Gemeye Cooking

I'd like to suggest the name Aethyr

"They will knoh ov dah fury ov dah lumbah mill, fathah." A voice spoke from the shadows.

Karaag'ul stood idle in the coal mines, reflecting on the recent battle. It recalled the screams of the covenant, though try as it could, the construct could not relate. The concept of brotherhood and family was entirely alien to it, the wailing of Haensti soldiers sobbing over their fallen were an emotionless memory, one which held no context to the golem other than the difference between "life" and "death". It remembered being drenched in gore as the onslaught continued, taking blow after blow of lance and sword, uncaring, unfazed. These humans fought against the inevitable, even when their opponent was solid granite, they fought for something so abstract, so intangible, so... foreign. It cleaved through stone, sundering ore from the mineshaft wall as it processed this, uncertain of who's mindset was more detached, one of stone or one of flesh.

The Wronged: Balas of Clan Gemeye. The Assailant: The Khorvadic Cultists of Thorim Blackheart. The Wrong: The maiming of a Gemeye as is deemed sacrilegious by the Prismatic Doctrine. On the date of wrongdoing, house B - 4 which was occupied by Balas Gemeye amidst home renovations, was broken into by an armor-clad uruk, human woman & a goblin smashing through the front door. The home was burglarized for its valuables as the intruders announced their desire to spread the word of Thorim Blackheart's return & their mission to blight the realm with Khorvad's presence. Balas Gemeye was then lacerated by way of dagger, having had the mark of the betrayer carved into his forearm & abandoned in the rubble of his desecrated home. Date of Wrongdoing: The 6th of The Grand Harvest, Year 215 of the Second Age. Terms of Settlement: The capture of Thorim Blackheart & any loyal to him, followed promptly by their execution. Their corpses are to be cremated & their ashes compressed into diamonds, which are to be distributed between Clan Gemeye, the Grand King of Urguan, & the many kin afflicted by Thorim Blackheart's reign of terror.

Balas huffs, lowing his shovel and wiping the sweat from his brow as Ulfar finished penning his response. "Ulfar, may oi take ah break?" He sighs as Ulfar shook his head no. Balas, shovel in hand, began throwing more piles of food into the Grand King's mouth.

"Weh 'ave envestigatehd ourselves ahnd found nuffin' wrong."

I love this so much

With the track record of LOTC's staff, who is really surprised anymore at this point. I could show them an abstract painting and it would lead to someone getting banned.