Plot Update 1-31-2021 - Night That Brings the Dawning To Light

- Rituals, Loss, and Dawn
- Starless Night Armies Disbanding
- Divinity Remains Absent
- Direct Divine Power Transformed
- Deaths Odd Absence
- The Forgotten Faith Rises
- A Price to be Paid
- The Dragons Call
- Histories Clues
- Extras (LARP Playlist)

Rituals, Loss, and Dawn: It has become clear to many in Roekron that something dramatic in the world has changed, and that a major crisis facing the land has been overcome in some unknown way. The rumors through the land are that a secret group of adventurers from across the world somehow defeated the leaders of the Armies of the Starless Night through use of some arcane ritual, perhaps of the Undead Hunter variety, but this has not been confirmed. While many across Roekron seem to debate and theorize as to how this could have been done and what it means about the world, others look more to the brave and selfless acts these adventurers must have undertaken to accomplish this goal. It is believed that the act cost the lives of many who permanently died in the process, and it is with no small amount of gratitude and sadness that individuals such as Embarcarious Petrofloutus, Gwythlere Logleen, and Electra Bosium all have decorated their homes with glowing flags six of which fade into fireflies each night, and six of which burst into flames at dawn. This ritual seems to be done by many notable mages and monks from Sorikonia, to Dsesnor, to Blackspire, and even in Dagdeoth regions. How all these groups learned this ritual or why they all carry it out is unknown, but as it does not appear to have a political purpose, but rather, a personal one, it has not yet been banned. Each of these individuals appear to tend to these flags alone, unaided by magic, and ties the new flags on by hand each day personally, appearing to take great care with each new flag placed to catch the breeze and sway until it vanishes again. When asked about the flags, Embarcarious smiled and said, “It is the way we mark the passing of friends, of lights that once shared our fire, and now return to the flames. It takes a special soul to light a lantern where there is none. We now keep the light they lit bright, as a beacon, to the many who cannot find their own light, to remember, through the storm.”

Starless Night Armies Disbanding: Over the past few weeks it has become more and more clear across Roekron that the control the Armies has over their territory has begun to slip and be released from their wintery grasp. People from these regions are pouring into other nations seeking refuge now, or turning on their former militaries. Areas in the once continuous cloud cover now see sunlight, and yes, starlight as well. Most of the main armies of the Starless Night, from the Order of the Black Crescent to the Tower Thousand, all appear to have broken ranks and no longer function as the nations soldiers, but rather, bands of fighters, set on their own goals, or returning north, to homes long forgotten. It appears to be the beginning of the end of the Armies of the Starless Night, and many nations now look to reclaim the lands they lost years ago and to rebuild their nations as soon as possible.

Divinity Remains Absent: Something many mages have attempted to study is the slow return of divine effects in regions once controlled by the Starless Night. Whether it is due to the long possession of the areas and the destruction of shrines within, or something else entirely, many note that though the skies are clearing in Starless Night territory, the divine abilities still do not function within these zones. A few individuals have discovered that they can now receive divine intervention from their gods within the previously non-divine zones, leaving many scholars to wonder how this interaction works exactly and why this one effect seems to reach where others cannot. Some priests worry that the damage to these zones is permanent and that the divine will never be able to function correctly in these areas again. Others take the long view and note that the world changes and has changed quite a bit over its thousands of years, and that none can know for sure what will happen a thousand years from now, and thus, one should not speculate. Who knows if these effects foreshadow good or ill, but most choose to see the return of divine in any form in these spaces as a step towards good, and not an omen of doom.

Direct Divine Power Transformed: Much more concerning to those across Roekron, as it affects everywhere across the land, is the sudden absence of divine beings taking and direct actions upon our world. At first some theorized that the deities merely do not wish to act at this time. But many Oracles and rituals began to suggest that the deities cannot act as they once did. Whether something now holds them back, or they simply lack the power to do so is unclear but mages across the land are now studying the phenomenon and attempting to learn its origin and meaning. Many effects and enchantments that existed purely from their divine powers are gone, and cannot be remade. While direct action is impeded, the connection of divine power within individuals appears to have increased. Gods and goddesses seem to be attempting to act through the people of the world, giving them the power and guiding them on their path. Many Paladins are rejoicing at this development, seeing a great future for themselves in a world where they are more needed by their god then ever before.

This change in the interaction with the divine has had an unforeseen consequence on how individuals choose to honor their gods. People no longer seem to be able to Sacrifice items to divinities, as the gods appear to be unable or unwilling to take material goods from our world. This has caused a huge shift in many religious groups that have had many who once were devout followers, leave in disappointment, and others find new purpose in gods they never before understood. Very quickly, the way in which people have begun to honor their divinity has shifted from physical sacrifices to giving of mana, taking vows, performing actions, and completing quests. Items, gold, gear, etc. cannot be Sacrificed anymore (they could be destroyed in the name of the god, but the being would receive nothing of these items power or value). This appears to have caused a crisis for worshippers of the Dadgemar who are confronting the possibility that their entire purpose on this planet is now moot!

Deaths Odd Absence: Perhaps most strange and concerning of all the changes the world is now describing surrounding death and the age old encounters with the being known to all pantheons as the keeper of the bag of the stones of life. Something strange and until now, unknown appears to have happened regarding this fundamental element of all life. In the past several decades Death has gone through many transformations and the stones that one is said to draw forth from Deaths bag have shifted and changed due to the actions of mortals and gods. But now, rather than any riddling, bargains, or choices which have been a theme of Death these past twenty years, everyone now seems to describe their experience as entering into an empty room, with a single table that holds a bag, which they pull from on their own, quietly, alone. Once they see their stones, they seem to decide if they will pass on, or return to the world, but no one makes them do this anymore. Currently, it appears no one must pass on to the afterlife anymore, though what the cost of this is, is unknown as yet. The only known effect is that they forget a great deal, and lose an entire Rank when they return from an encounter that would normally have taken them from this world. Most of the scholars regarding death seem both intrigued by this change, as it has been foretold by some that something of this nature might one day come to pass. But the specifics for what is to come past this point have most mages and priests very worried. What will happen when those that choose to remain finally do reach an age that they cannot be brought back to life? Will their afterlife be waiting for them then, or is some cost of their choice being set before them, made in this moment, that we are as yet unaware of the consequences.

The Forgotten Faith Rises: One of the few troubling developments from all of this appears to be the sudden, vast increase in the power and control of the Order of the Forgotten Faith. Once rare anti-paladins leading elite fighting forces across Roekron in conquest, this group now appears to be seeking out groups of not just Paladins, but of all classes and all nations. Their abilities still focus around strange disruptions of the functioning of the world around them, but now their armies are much larger, as most of those disbanding from other Orders find their way to Forgotten Faiths divisions. These armies are now the last remaining organized foes within the Armies of the Starless Night and they appear to not just be holding their positions but expanding out beyond the areas that the armies previously controlled. Their attacks appear very organized and systematic, almost ritualistic. The Order of the Agantine Wraith appears to be a major part of this new development, and the Agantine effect is common among these troops, making them very feared across Roekrons frontlines. Without the help of most mage schools and organizations, the likelihood of nations being able to defeat this new group is quite small. Most avoid them, give ground, and attempt to save as many lives as possible whenever they decide to cut into new lands.

A Price to be Paid: Of the numerous Oracles done on the subject in these recent days, most notable of them are those from Sorikonia which involve all the eight clans describing very similar visions and dreams of a great vessel sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Many still stood on the deck dressed in their armor and cloaks, apparently unaware that they would soon drown. On the deck were piled the many chests of gold, fine weapons, armor, and gems plundered by the crew, so high they almost reached the sails. Some aboard the ship seemed to try to get the ship to move, but none understood why it would not rise, or even that it was below the surface already. This is usually where the vision ends, but one of the monks of Thunder said, “We sail when the balance between that which ties us to the world and that which pushes us up from the depths meet in harmony on the surface of the sea. The universe has filled our life with many wonderful things. Wisdom is knowing which things to keep and which things must be let go.” Many other mages and prophets across Roekron describe a similar sense of visions of a scale unbalanced, or a poor beggar following them endlessly through their dreams. Most have come to understand these messages to mean that something remains out of balance with the world, and that unless the people of the world can figure out what that imbalance is, most agree, the results will not be good. The most popular quote on the topic is from Katie Moonswain from Pinnacle, a notable prophet in her own right, who said, “When talking to dragons, be sure to bring gifts of magic items and food. It’s always better to decide what trinkets and meats you want to give rather than what trinkets and meats you will soon become…”

The Dragons Call: Speaking of dragons, numerous nations across Roekron have reported seeing more dragons in recent days. While the numbers are by no means high, accounts of at least one dragon sighting per day are cause for alarm for many, in times when the glorious creatures have been rare at best. The dragons do not speak to anyone, and most assume they have their reasons for this, but they do appear to be singing, though the language and form of this song is not understood by many. The notable harper Gwythlere says that he “cannot say that I understand their song, but I can say I know the melody.” Cryptic as ever, when asked if he could clarify what he meant he replied simply, “yes” and then left to go play his harp alone in the forest. Apparently those with the knowledge to decipher these signs and symbols of our age are content to leave us in the dark, grasping for answers in a world too filled with change. At least we can take some solace from the calmness with which these individuals approach these many developments. They seem content, and resolved to see something through. As the Dragons sing and return in ever larger numbers, who knows what will emerge into the world when their song is complete. Perhaps even the dragons do not know what magic they weave. But whatever song they bring, it is the song of the making, and as we all came from the song of the dragons in the beginning, what fear should we then need when faced with the song we all knew once, when the world was young, and the possibilities endless.

Histories Clues:

2013-14 Time Jump “Until recently things seemed to be going well for most of Roekron in relation to the spell of the Elder Goddess Priestess and the “strengthening of the tethers.” But six years ago, Oracles began to fail across Roekron with very troubling results. At first, the Oracles were just dark or confused, but then they became dangerous. Numerous Nature Mages reported coming out of their rituals with both eyes hacked, and shortly after it was discovered that many could never be healed of these wounds. Some chose to continue to Oracle, given their permanent blindness but most shy away from the spell now, and others spells like it, fearing what has happened to the world that their attempts at understanding are so thwarted. The problem seems to originate with the nature of the connection to the divine plane, as this effect has been noted in every pantheon, across every faith and even with those without any religion. As time has passed, and mages continue to test the waters, some have been cursed, others killed outright, and there is now a blanket ban on the use of the spell, for the mages own protection. When asked about the situation, Anne shook her head and said the Temple was researching the issue. Many mages from different schools met to debate the issue, and have not agreed on a cause, some citing the Rastkuru as having evolved to a new form, others pointing to the decimation of Sorikonia as relating to this spirit connection, and still others finding conspiracy theories more apt, blaming the Wizard Trade Order as out to get the Free Republic yet again. While many of these may be true, most are fond of quoting Electra Bosium on the subject, as one of the oldest living mages in Roekron outside of Astengrad who said famously, ‘the Eye of the World is weeping and Fate is blind…. Never liked the spell much anyway.’”

2014 Plot Update “Numerous localized storms have been reported to the north off the map. One such storm seems to have a very specific path and is heading directly towards Axiems. It leaves in its path a frozen wilderness unlike that seen in Roekron and seems to reveal something of the world far to the north. Creatures native much further north are common in this swath of winter that plunges south, ten miles wide and some forty miles long. At the center of the storm characters have encountered what they have called an Ice Wraith, also sometimes called The Ominous. It is a transparent white creature, about size seven, with cold blue eyes, and a swirling storm of snow constantly swirling wildly about it. It’s behavior seems unpredictable, but it asks questions of the party, and often seems to charm players that are unconscious as well as animating dead players as it’s guards. Twice it has caused characters to experience a vision which has blinded them and revealed images of a dark figure standing on ice and things moving below, of shattering of ice, and of a Dark City in the snow with many vampires dead all around it. What these visions mean is unclear. Many characters have had different encounters with it and it has said different things to different people. A meeting of those who have encountered it may help to put the pieces together as to what is going on.”

9-4-2015 Plot Update: “And a few, quietly, secretly, venture behind the lines of the dark, to strike at the very center of the mysteries that now overtake us all, desperately hoping to thwart a danger none but themselves even know to exist; a handful of cryptic words and phrases, something being shattered, a dark tower rising from a lake. Who will you be in this story? Your journey awaits, just beyond the door, ready for you to make the choice to act. To you is left the challenge of whither you will chart your course. What steps do you now take that doom us all… or lead us, if ever so slightly, towards the light? For though a single step may seem meaningless, it is the collective steps of all of us that will either trample the world in fear, or guide it now in a dance only we can know. Choose wisely my friends, for the world is in your hands. Who are you?”

2015-16 Time Jump “Fortunately, a few brave individuals sacrificed themselves on what appeared to be a fool’s errand to try and destroy this tower, and somehow, managed to trigger it’s destruction just in time. How this was done is still not completely understood, but the accounts of these selfless adventurers describes a harrowing journey through the north, posing as Dagdeoth Troops, and eventually gaining access to the tower where they all died permanently, having discovered the tower surrounded by at least 24 Green Dragon Seers, as well as some hundred or so Green Drake Seers. But something changed once these adventurers ended their quest. A battle erupted between Dragon Seers and many of them used their powerful breath weapon which unfoges magic items it hits, to destroy the tower...”

Extras: THE LARP PLOT PLAYLIST - by Christopher