Royal Guard and Concerned Citizens
EM Sangria

We have a mystery on our hands.  Citizens have been seen near homes that have a nexus.  These citizens are confused, lost and seem to be looking for their ‘master’.  Naturally this has us concerned.

Please meet at the EM Hall Friday (5/25) at 6 pst, 9 est!

The Technocrat War
WarderDragon

Journal penned in the Year of the God Emperor British, Sunday, May 20th 2012.

Last night, as the bell tolled seven past the noon hour, we gathered. Britannian zealots and pirates from the Eastern Isles, hunters and heretics from the Abandoned Lands, we came, lured with the promise of wealth and artifacts belonging to some ancient, long dead race. Callie, the treasure hunter and antiquities dealer responsible for leading us to Ver Lor Reg during the siege, had lost some trust amongst Britannians for the blunder, but people were still willing to wager the tomb she had witnessed was authentic, and just out of reach.

It was not long before we found ourselves in a gauntlet of death, fighting for our lives, and reminded all too well about promises that are too good to be true. As we entered the hall, confronted by clicking gears and glowing panels, a wayward hand tripped the alarm, summoning the all too living denizens of this ancient, desiccated tomb. The beings, technomancers, are the fusion of alchemical and necromantic science combined with the technologies Mondain had recovered from the stars, transhumans that combined flesh and steel. Cancerous limbs, bubbling with tumors and other unnatural deformities mingled with steel and titanium pipes, gears, and other mechanisms I cannot properly describe. The machines were accompanied by beings of pure energy, wraiths bound to these strange, unnatural predators.

Our magics and the blessings of our Immortal Lord overcame them, as dragons and the elect clashed with the eldritch race. But it is unclear how Britannia would fare under an onslaught of these …things. When all was said and done, we were left with less treasure, and more questions than answers.

The Sands of Time: Fortunes Fire Casino Opens to Public
WarderDragon

The Fortunes Fire Casino – established on Chesapeake in 2011 – has been patched to Baja and other shards. The resort is certain to attract aristocrats and gamblers from all corners of Trammel and the Abandoned Lands. It also includes a bar and nude beach for those not wishing to separate from their hard-earned wealth.

You can find the Fortunes Fire just west of the Underworld entrance in Trammel. The BRPA will be hosting tavern night there in the coming weeks to see that it gets used.

See Fortunes Fire Casino.

The Machine of Discord: Clash in Ver Lor Reg
WarderDragon

Tonight, Britannian mercenaries and hunters gathered at the behest of Callie, the Treasure Hunter some contend is responsible for the recent chaos in the Dark Core.

Led to the deserts of Ilshenar, adventurers encountered a land that was overrun with mechanical and technological abominations, including the aforementioned Exodus Minion Lord. They fought their way into the besieged metropolis to discover evacuations had begun, while Gargish sentinels were locked in a melee with Exodus’ children.

In an laughable episode in the midst of the confusion, Queen Zhah appeared. The Gargish monarch, who had failed to muster support from her people during the anti-Gargish Campaign and the final stand against Scelestus, appeared without an escort, claiming to have anticipated there would be no danger waiting for her. It was then that Vraal, representative of the Gargish High Council, appeared, and welcomed the two parties.

Zhah offered her condolences to the Councilor, and informed him that Ter Mur would offer the Gargish Ilshenari sanctuary in the void-devoured land. She told him that healers and rations would be awaiting them at the moongate, along with other refugees. She ordered the humans to clear a path for evacuations, before departing.

Vraal, tired and looking grim, offered to take a roster naming those individuals who participated in the battle, promising that Ver Lor Reg would forever remember those who fought in its name.

Callie’s Notes: Part 3
EM Godiva

Event: Callie’s Notes (Part 3)
Date: Saturday, May 19th, 2012
Time: 7:00 pm PST / 10:00 pm EST
Location: EM Hall

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…