The Frozen Gate

Tuesday evening, Lord Magnus Grey, Royal Spymaster, assembled the Royal Spies at their secret headquarters to discuss the latest mission the spies were being sent on. “The King shares our concern on the slowly expanding dome,” Grey announced, refering to Mors Gotha’s blackrock dome encasing a guard tower in southeastern Britain. “You will be working with Michael on this problem,” Grey added, “I believe Damion’s injuries and state of mind make him problematic to work with on this matter.” The Royal Spies headed to Castle Blackthorn to meet with Michael of Moonglow to learn what help he could be.

“As you have probably guessed, the prisms are connected to the dome,” Michael told the assembled Spies. “Think of the prisms as a sort of river of magic. They connect a bunch of lakes and ponds together. Using this river, Mors Gotha sort of poured a lot of magic into her spell to make the dome.” Michael then noted that the blackrock dome would likely grow into a large space, suggesting that perhaps it would eventually be large enough to house an invasion army. Michael also noted that Neptune’s suggestion that the blackrock dome acted as a sort of anchor was correct, and the plan then would be to direct the magical energies away from the dome. In order to do so, the set of blackrock prisms being used on the other end of the magical energies, those likely used by Mors Gotha, would have to be recovered. “I think we can reopen the gates Mors Gotha used. And send you somewhere else…”

Elemental Battle

Following Michael to the blackrock dome, the goal was to use one of the blackrock prisms to open a gate to the location of one of Gotha’s prisms and retrieve it. “When Mors Gotha opened her gate,” Michael explained, “the prisms started to behave strangely.” Pointing at a prism that had been placed near the blackrock gate, Michael noted, “This one got really, really cold.” Michael then requested the assistance of all mages and magical beings, asking everyone else to back away for safety’s sake. As Michael placed runes around the blackrock prism, the mages were asked to chant a spell: “In Ort Vas Rel Por.” Over and over they chanted, until suddenly there was a great explosion of energy, and a handful of Greater Frost Elementals poured through the gate, attacking the Royal Spies.

Once the monstrous elementals were defeated, Michael and the Spies returned to the blackrock prism. “I believe the path is stable now,” Michael announced, warning, “I suggest you do not stray far from the gate.” The group traveled through the now stable gate, arriving in a cold, frosty environ filled with equally chilling horrors. Facing Ice Golems, the battle was frenzied and chaotic, but eventually the Royal Spies prevailed, only to face Dire Ghosts. The second battle on the other side of the gate was far less hectic, and in time, the entrance was secured.

Anodunos

With time to inspect, two tomes and a warm, wrapped body were discovered. Michael hefted the wrapped body, noting that it was still breathing. A huge ice barrier barred further progression, and so Michael and the Royal Spies retreated back to Britannia to care for the wrapped figure, and to take time to figure out how to further progress. It was clear that Gotha’s first prism would not be recovered this eve. Placing the figure in the care of the inn near the Spies’ headquarters, the Spies themselves reported back to Lord Grey the events of the eve.

The following passages are the texts from the two tome found beyond the frozen gate:
 

The Frozen City by Alorik
Ours was a great city. Lead by our queen, Beatrice, it was a center of art and culture for the entire continent. Our people were prosperous because the warm climate meant we never went hungry, and deposits of filanium brought trade and wealth to our home.
      It was not to last. The northern empires waged war against us, and we lost [all of our] land but our walled city. In our moment of desperation, our mages cast desperate rituals to summon allies to our cause, but not demon or elemental could stop the hordes. Our calls through the Ethereal Void brought us to the attention of another power who sent its emissary to teach us in the ways of war for a price. With Mors Gotha’s help, we turned our filanium’s purpose from healing toward death. We brought destruction to our enemies.
      Our weapons were terrible, and even won, the war demoralized our people. The price we paid was even higher. We paid higher and higher tributes to this great being, [strip] mining away our wealth of filanium. Eventually, the burden became too great, and we refused to pay any [more]. We never expected what happened next.
      This faceless titan cursed our world, bringing a magical cold that turned our paradise into eternal winter. We did our best to survive for as long as we could, moving underground around thermal vents and building great golems to travel out into the cold. It was not enough. The world grew even colder, and eventually, so many of us [simply] went to sleep. Anodunos is now a frozen grave.

The Warm Body

Filanium by Alorik
Filanium, the greatest resource of Anodunos, is a mineral prized for its use in healing magic and alchemy. In its unrefined state, filanium mud can be used in baths that promote good health. [The] mineral can also be dissolved in healing potions that can cure many different ailments.
      The mineral has other uses. That which it can heal, it can also destroy, so dangerous sorcerers have been known to use the mineral for harming spells and rituals. The mineral can also be used to bind together creatures of flesh and creatures of spirit. Some in the northern lands have been known to use this mineral to allow dead ancestors to speak through them.

The Royal Spies meet on most Tuesdays at 8:00 PM (Central) beneath the Britain Counselors Hall in West Britain (near the bridge leading to King Blackthorn’s Castle). Everyone is invited to attend these events. The next meeting of the Royal Spies will be on Tuesday, 12 February 2013 at 8:00 PM (Central).

Also, mark your calendars for the RED VELVET FAIRE on Saturday, 16 February at 4:00 PM (Central), an afternoon faire featuring Naked Archery, Teddy Bear Summoning, and a Kissing Booth!