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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Archon Basileus" data-source="post: 6979774" data-attributes="member: 6855545">MORGRYMBesides the magical devices present among the equipment, Morgrym identifies several touches around the environment. To begin with, the symbols hold some magical echoes, almost vanished by now. Some of them were magical traps, while others were barrier triggers. The traps sided the original entrances, and the barriers seemed to be provoked by touch, when they worked. Through more detailed analysis, the druid discovers the signs to be items incrusted into the walls. Now they obviously ran out of juice. But a skilled druid might be able to carve them out and take the plaques somewhere else to use once more. Of course, a single mistake might destroy the artifact, chipping part of it away. As for the objects sprung around the room, books and instruments glow as if some spell had been applied upon them. One of the maps that Reynard currently studies has a strong magic aura (magical item). The map holds the most peculiar incantation: it seems capable of guiding someone towards his or her need or desire, as presented at the moment the map is opened or held. The horn of plenty shines with great intensity, its properties transferred faintly to the fruits that climb down from its mouth. In a similar way, its incantation gives the owner what it needs to nourish itself, as long as it gives the horn part of its life (in this case, sap falling from branches into the little mouth of the horn). Beyond that, it works as a hero’s feast, at least in amount of food.Curiously, Reynard’s bag shines the most among all other objects. In it, a familiar shape holds Morgrym’s view in check. It’s the dagger the companions received from Grontar not long ago. It’s nature is very confusing at first, but soon the spell clarifies the mystery. That dagger holds the tendrils of many planes. In fact, it can be best described as a planar amulet, shaped by unknown powers to allow planar travel.REYNARDThe maps seem to follow very distinct traces from those Reynard regularly employs, and it’s only through generous effort that the sailor begins to relate some of the areas with the ones he knows by heart. Mostly, scales and names are different, but it becomes easy to understand what the maps portray once the accidental code is broken. In truth, the maps he sees before him are much more faithful in scale and shape to reality than those his cartographer colleagues tend to draw. As for the contents, the many scrolls and maps portray lands close and far – some even unknown to the sailor, bearing strange names in undecipherable inscriptions. The ones Reynard can recognize are peculiar – and certainly invaluable. A detailed model of the Reaches of Zurt and its frozen islands is followed by behavioral studies for the moving Kingdom of Blyss. The Underworld Domains are portrayed in elegant lines by someone that travelled them exhaustively. There is even a pair of maps for Gaelia, one representing the continent before the cataclysms that created the grey desert on the southeast and recreated the coastal lines and another presenting the current state of the lands. Upon them, though, a series of unknown territories and cities are named and vaguely described. One of them bear the familiar name “Cartagula”, being located precisely at Maran’s spot. Other cities seem to describe what was once the sprawling power of the Willing, whoever – or whatever – they were.His attentions are soon driven towards an ample map, marked by old folds and pinpointed by several nautical charts. Reynard recognizes the descriptions present in many charts he’s seen through his trips. These ones, though, seem to be ordained to explain the modus operandi of their former owners. They are somehow similar to those the gnome exploration vessels preserve. Notes on several species and magical discoveries are present on several points of the map, as well as potential clues to natural planar gates and passages to concealed or – up until then – unreachable lands. Clearly those who conceived this map were interested in researches and attempted to force the boundaries of this world. A lack of concern for militaristic positioning seems to denounce a peaceful race. Also, they commanded, at least at one point of their history, powerful magic. The floating lands of the Edge are drawn as if they were accessible through ships, illustrations allowing Reynard to imagine flying vessels instead of conventional boats at some point.MARIUSAs he flaps the pages, the monk glances at a few passages of interest. Everything, from planar theory to silver paths, is somehow described in it, all in a very precise way. Many planes are somehow presented, each entry describing life conditions and potential preparations necessary for entering the plane it deals with. Two passages of the journal are caught in Marius’s mind as he reads them.“The small and hard-working species seem to hold a special affection for detailed tasks. It demonstrates great interest in all forms of knowledge, and first attempts at contact were very fruitful. The creatures showed great talent to learn our language. Still, they seemed somewhat lost, as if the lack of leadership had led them astray. (Note: later on we discovered these homunculi were now in lack of a master. They did not bend to our will as we might expect, though. When inquired of the whereabouts and fate of their old masters, they simply corrected us, saying “there was only one”, and moved on to shifty answers that proved the gravity of the matter, as well as their reluctance to dwell in the past. So far, the mystery remains.)“The true origins of such artifacts are still unknown. All we know for sure is that the planar amulets are made to target claims beyond the barriers of reality. In our travels, we have been able to discover only five of them, revered and protected as treasures of great valor (one was indeed worshiped as the weapon of a so-called god, within the prison-plane of Avidor. This is the one now preserved in the Hall of the Convergent. We were forced to steal and use it in order to return, since the plane itself would not allow departure under any other way. I can only speculate why the locals never used it. Perhaps they fell to the same trap and, by anchoring themselves to loved ones, they brought them to be imprisoned instead of leaving that accursed chaos world.) The text is followed by a drawing very similar to the dagger the companions received moments before.As for the experiment register book, it holds by its end a series of entries that, in a way, confirm the group’s suspicions about the surrounding garden. They depict a war among several factions of a forgotten race. The writer attempted a last-resort action to save his people, bringing this garden to life.[sblock=EXPERIMENT LOGS]“Day 59 of Margramor.    We have failed to show the error of our choices to the Willing. They will not succeed without the rituals, and now they blame us for the numerous losses upheld on the Coincidental Assemblies. We were not mistaken. It was not possible to defeat such tremendous power through sheer constancy and strength of character. The “god” would not tolerate eternal debate. Nevertheless, we need his talents. Otherwise, none of the others will be fooled into our trap.”“Day 7 of Orgariz.    My colleagues are mistaken. Defeating the so-called God of Mysteries is but a feeble conquest. Others have already taken notice, and the Assembly fights amongst itself. Willing insist that we might turn into gods through sheer will, sorcerers ally themselves with the obsessed Willing, Slayers wish only for the death of the supposed gods… We need a better plan. We need to ensure the survival of our work, even in the event these so called “divine beings” march against us.““Day 34 of Guraur.    After my brief encounter with one of the homunculi, I have finally discovered how they managed to achieve awareness. The ritual is not pretty, but it is better than the option. The God of Mysteries betrays our commands as he is set loose from his prison even now. The Contract we shaped is not enough, for we are not capable as he is (something we should change eventually).     To obtain his powers, we should resort to a most dreadful crime…     And to think these cruel pests now run amok on our own world! May history forgive us for that… I almost can’t. “Day 37 of Longmonth.    Assembly has disavowed my plans. I was soon after sought by Slayers. They agree to go through with it, as long as we can take the Contract from the Table of the Willing. It will be hard, but possible.“Day 45 of Longmonth.    They did it! The God is no more, and I fear what they might become! After the ritual ended – sated by blood and flesh tore off from the god’s body – it seems that madness and hunger took over them. I must seek shelter within my laboratory. Under the Fallen Temple of Anguish I might even find protection.“Day 4 of Mirash.    I gathered my faithful. We have precious little time to spare. The only solution I can find now is to risk everything, so we might endure the test of time. Slayers and Willing fight in the streets. Our cities burn with astounding speed… Sorcerers have made sure of it. Our theurgist cast is almost entirely dead, the old Relief Statues silent as the officiants lay torn at their feet.     I have decided to do it, finally. I’ll allow myself to disappear into my garden – concocted from a mixture of the most persistent and fertile species I could find in the planes. With luck, I’ll become aware within its body and live through the ages as we once desired. Fools, we were. The answer we sought was not among the stars. Only a generation after another might expect to be immortal, the inevitable chain of ages. I hope to live through the aeons as the descendants of this garden spread throughout the lands.     My followers will be sent to the furthest reaches of existence, through dimensions we alone know. Someday, if all works out, they’ll be able to return here and start over from the ashes of our failure. Maybe then I’ll reassume my former position and complete the work of my life.”[/sblock]“He looks over his companions as each checks the room in his own way paying special attention to their new companion.”Arvana does not risk taking anything from the room. She moves gracefully around, paying special attention to the sounds outside. She’s close to fissures on the wall at all times, almost as if she wanted to understand the creatures surrounding the building. Her gestures and manners remind the uses of hunters: the careful steps, the calculated glances, the shy and precise leaps forward. She doesn’t notice Marius’ furtive study, though, distracted by the environment. She noticeably approaches the horn of plenty with every step, that much becomes clear as everyone explores the room. As she comes within arm’s reach, she does not try to touch it, though, resting a fascinated eye upon it and its peculiar product. It’s almost as if she covets the object, but holds back from trying and reaching out for it.[Sorry for the delay, guys! We hosted dinner and lunch for our families. Also, the post came out larger than I expected. I'll keep posting at my pace and responding to your posts. If you guys need to take some time, just warn me, ok? This one is overly long because it's the last bridge of the prologue. I hope you guys like it! Happy Holidays!]@<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=6801450" target="_blank">Trogdor1992</a> @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=24380" target="_blank">Neurotic</a> @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=6801311" target="_blank">KahlessNestor</a> @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=6855130" target="_blank">Jago</a></blockquote>

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