Callie’s Notes: Part 2
EM Godiva

Callie brushed a lock of blonde hair from her face as she finished posting the last of the fliers.

Event: Callie’s Notes (Part 2)

Date: Thursday, May 17th, 2012

Time: 7:00 pm PST / 10:00 pm EST

Location: EM Hall

Sleep, Interrupted: Part 3
EM Godiva

Between her own uncertainty of what, exactly, happened to her in Exodus’ Dungeon after she lost consciousness and the reoccurring nightmares she has been plagued with, Callie begins to wonder if her initial trip there might be what triggered the catastrophic chain of events leading to the recent attacks on Ver Lor Reg by Exodus monsters.

“Tell me again.” Callie said simply, foregoing all pleasantries.

Balthan calmly retold the story of that night in Exodus’ Dungeon, as he always did, for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“And?” she asked.

“I do not know.” Balthan replied patiently.

“You must know SOMETHING.” Callie insisted.

“I do not.” Balthan assured her, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Instead of turning away from him, this time Callie whispered, “Take me back.”

Balthan said nothing.

“Take me back!” Callie repeated.

“I will not.” he responded.

“You KNOW what this means to me.” she pleaded.

“I do.” He said.

“Then I’ll find someone else!” she threatened, her stomach knotting up.

“I know.” Balthan looked away.

Ver Lor Reg Prepares to Evacuate
EM Sangria

The high council of Ver Lor Reg was in session – again. As usual the main focus was the increasing numbers of Exodus overseers and treasure hunters. It was odd putting exodus overseers and humans into the same category, then again, perhaps not so odd.

In times of plenty, the treasure hunters going through Ver Lor Reg to get to the Exodus dungeon entrance would have been a boon. But these were not times of plenty. Supplies were extremely limited so the treasure hunters bought as much as they could in Ver Lor Reg. Even more treasure hunters were now coming to Ver Lor Reg to sift the sands outside their beloved city. There wasn’t enough for all.

“We must bar the humans from the Exodus dungeon and our city to prevent further damage!”

“That would start a war! The humans have greater numbers!”

“I’m surprised we are not already at war with the humans after Killibrut’s attacks on them using those Chaos Minions.”

This comment silenced the room.

“Has Killibrut been seen since?”

Again, silence.

“Very well, send the humans a message informing them that Killibrut has been made an outcast of Ver Lor Reg for his crimes against them. They may do with him as they wish.”

This decision didn’t fly well with many of the gargoyle council members present, but all of them knew they needed the humans’ help. The Ver Lor Reg gargoyles were at war, with the Exodus machines. The majority of the Ver Lor Reg citizens had already left, but those who remained behind would need to be evacuated. Yes, evacuated. The Exodus machines were winning this war. There were also supplies, documents, art, historical artifacts and other items that needed to be moved and transported.

“Also, send a message to Queen Zhah saying that we accept her offer and would like to meet as soon as possible to make final arrangements. In the meantime, prepare the city for evacuation.”

Sleep, Interrupted: Part 2.
EM Godiva

Callie brushed off a log near her tent and sat down. She knew some of what had happened to her and what little she did know she could recite in her sleep. She had made Balthan, the guide from Ilshenar, replay that night over and over…

* * * * * * * * * *

They were in Exodus’ Dungeon. Balthan was uneasy. Callie was determined.

“This will be the find of the century, you know. It’ll be put in the Vesper museum with our names on it and they’ll never forget us.” Callie said, removing a strange panel from the wall.

A rumbling erupted from somewhere as she tore the panel from the wall and soon the entire dungeon seemed to be vibrating.

“Time to go.” Callie said, turning to Balthan.

Callie pulled out two Recall scrolls. She handed one to Balthan. They both began casting. Balthan did not realize her spell had fizzled.

“And?” she always asked.

“I do not know.” Balthan would reply patiently, as he always did, when he reached this point in the story.

“You must know SOMETHING.” Callie would insist.

“I do not.” Balthan would assure her, with a hint of sadness in his eyes.

At this point, Callie would always slip into silence and turn away from him.

* * * * * * * * * *

“What am I missing?” she asked herself.

Callie pulled out a small satchel of coffee grounds, knowing she would not be returning to sleep.

She surveyed the excavation site as the pungent aroma of Occloean Roast filled the camp. One of the workers stirred and then awoke, offering a sleepy grin as he approached.

“Yer up early.” he commented, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Coffee?” Callie asked, forcing a smile.

“Sure.” he replied, yawning as he stretched his back.

They sat in silence as the coffee finished brewing.

“Almos’ fergot. Somethin’ came fer ya las’ night.” he said accepting the mug from her with a nod.

He walked back to his bedroll and retrieved something before returning to Callie. He made a clicking sound as he tossed it to her.

Callie’s brow furrowed as she looked over the parchment.

“Somethin’ wrong, ma’am?” he asked, sipping his coffee.

“Exodus monsters have been spotted in Ver Lor Reg.”

“Where them Gargs live?” he leaned over and passed wind.

“Mhmm.” Callie continued reading.

To be continued…

Sleep, Interrupted: Part 1.
EM Godiva

(Global fiction pertaining to this can be found here.)

Callie awoke, drenched in sweat, her heart pounding violently in her chest. She had another nightmare and, as usual, she could barely remember the details. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on the flashes in her head.

A Control Panel…

Callie’s hands reached out instinctively.

A Rumbling…

Callie turned her head to the side.

A Recall Scroll…

Callie mouthed the words, “Kal Ort Por.”

Electricity…

Callie flinched.

Darkness…

Light…

A Presence…

Callie froze.

Darkness…

Light…

Whispers…

Callie arched her neck to listen.

Darkness…

Light…

A Necklace…

Callie opened her eyes and shivered.

She had repeatedly declined to comment on what, exactly, happened in Exodus’ Dungeon but the truth was that she simply did not know. Images, whose legitimacy she could not discern, haunted her dreams. Were they memories, fantasy, or some combination of the two?

Callie swept a mess of blonde hair away from her damp face and pulled it back into a ponytail. Then she pulled her shorts on and walked outside the tent, listening to the chorus of insects echoing through the night.

To be continued…

Artifacts Stolen
EM Sangria

Artifacts from a long dead human civilization have been stolen from an archaeologist dig site in Ilshenar! It is believed raiders stole these items and are selling them or replicas of them to further finance their raids on our cities!

OOC – Fel event Friday (5/11) at 7 pst! The first part of the event will be in guard zone, the second part outside guard zone. The town criers will announce the starting location at 7 pst on Friday.

We Didn’t Start the Fire
EM Godiva

Lady Charlotte Christianson watched helplessly from behind the castle walls as the world exploded around her. A seemingly infinite array of bright flashes peppered the evening sky and she did not know what was happening. She was frustrated and scared.

Charlotte had repeatedly tried to leave but the palace guards stopped her each time, informing her in annoyed tones that it was “for [her] own safety”. Eventually, they escorted her to a private room in the castle, and locked her inside. Again, they claimed it was “for [her] own safety”.

Charlotte began pacing back and forth, her fists balled up at her sides. She felt like a prisoner…again. She let out a scream, low and primal, as she kicked her runebook across the room. The runes scattered across the floor but she did not care. It was currently useless anyway. As soon as the chaos began, a powerful mage was called in to limit traveling magic both to and from the castle.

Her rage quickly subsided when she realized where she was. It was the room Nicholas Tarrant had brought her after she was rescued. That seemed like a lifetime ago. Suddenly exhausted, Charlotte flopped down on the bed and wept as she was assaulted by memories she wished would just remain buried.

Tortured
Abandoned
Kidnapped
Orphaned
Possessed
Comatose

Charlotte’s trip down memory lane was mercifully cut short when a large explosion from the North-East violently shook the walls of Castle British. She immediately leapt from the bed and began pounding her fists against the door, calling out for someone to unlock it. No one came. Charlotte stopped and listened, trying to make out anything from beyond the thick, wooden door.

“…bridge…Castle Blackthorn…incinerated”

Anskitas Artifacts Found
EM Sangria

“Jeff this site is fantastic! These artifacts are Anskitas! Their capital city was Montor which of course you already know. So little is known about them…” Callie trailed off as she studied a design on one of the pottery shards.

Jeff chuckled. If Callie was this excited over pottery shards, he couldn’t wait to see how she was going to react to his next find. “I have something else to show you Callie. This way,” he gestured.

He took Callie to a covered area with some boxes. He opened one. There packed in straw were several Minotaur skulls made from stone.

“Ohhhh these are magnificent Jeff!” she exclaimed. “Are they all the same?”

“Yes.” Jeff told her their theory as to why, “we are pretty sure they were made here. We know there was a volcanic eruption and since we haven’t found any human remains, we assume they had prior warning and evacuated. Most likely when the people evacuated they decided not to take the statues. They are rather heavy.”

“We can learn so much about the Anskitas from these! Thank you for bringing me out here! I can’t wait to hear what you learn from them,” said Callie.

Last night, patrons gathered at the Sea Witch Tavern to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, the eve when the native peoples of De’Lucia overcame the Empire of Khal Ankur and gained their independence. But what began as a night of celebration, became something more.

Weeks ago, Nicholas Tarrant defeated (or murdered) a Privateer associated with the Seaport of New Magincia. The man, who some referred to as “the Hook,” was a reclusive figure who was obsessed with the occult and various cursed artifacts he had found in his travels, including the ornate weapon he had mounted on the ruined stump of his right hand. Amongst his papers and notes, the Hunter discovered maps leading to some of these artifacts, buried throughout Southern Trammel.

Tarrant delivered these maps to a Delfan Peregryn of Dawn. The Archaeologist and Treasure Hunter owed Nicholas a favor, and it was time to collect. In exchange for finding the buried treasure, Delfan would be allowed to keep whatever treasure he found, so long as all notes and grimoires were delivered to Tarrant.

Delfan returned to Dawn a week later, and delivered what he found to Tarrant. Amongst the collection were several notes written in Enochian, the ancient script some associated with Angelic and Daemonic powers. Delfan also noted that all these treasures seemed to be buried around Trinsic, which was strange considering the danger a Pirate would be placing himself in to so much as visit the region.

Last night, Delfan and Tarrant were both at the Sea Witch Tavern, the Hunter sponsoring the bacchanalia, when Delfan revealed something else was amiss. Since investigating the treasure and artifacts, he had been pursued. His pursuers appeared to be associated with a Black Order, a group associated with Minax, and in his investigation he had discovered connections to Blackthorne as well.

Tarrant glanced amongst the listeners. Lance Marshal and Beldin of Kraggen-Cor had remained late into the evening. Rising, he revealed what he knew. It’s no surprise that Minax would be stirring. Exodus, the common thread between the Dark Enchantress and the Philosopher of Chaos, was stirring, and the Machines desire to become a God and the “Guardian of this world,” as recorded during the Third War, would put her in danger.

Blackthorne might be dead, but his followers were still active in the world. Trubo Saius (EM) had been part of an inner circle during the Third War, a secret order that had survived their master and hoped to toppled Britannia. Zephera the Dispossessed was still bounded in Castle Britannia, but the rest of the Order continues to survive, acting in secret to eliminate Britannia once and for all.

And then there was the matter of the Black Order. The Black Order, Tarrant revealed, was another name for the Black Hand, a secret organization of assassins and spies that had once served the Crown of the Kingdom of Dawn in Felucca. The semi-mythical organization was no more than an urban legend for some, but, as Tarrant revealed, the tale has a grain of truth. Dark amusement flashes across his features, as he glanced to Peregryn, and told him he would leave it at that.

Determined to continue his quest and see this investigation through, Delfan promised to continue searching for the Enochian runes in Trinsic. Meanwhile, questions are raised as to the nature of this Black Order, it’s connection to the Duchess of Dawn, and what the interest in Enochian was for the now deceased Pirate.

Castle Britannia Blocked and Inaccessable
WarderDragon

Delfan (Zapa) of the Kingdom of Dawn was the first to notice something was wrong.

The wayward archaeologist was wandering past the gates of Castle Britannia when he noticed flames pouring from the interior gate. He assumed rioters were responsible, but as he approached, he noticed something more. Castle Britannia has been walled off, conjured flames licking the granite walls.

Further investigation reveals that the Castle is inaccessable through magical means. Mages attempting to enter the Castle are prevented from doing so, as if some sort of barrier has been laid upon the centuries old fortress.