(IR) The 3rd IR, Turn 0 - The Sending of the Wanderer
- Thread starter Edena_of_Neith
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From the past . . . Reprisal speaks for the UC
What follows is the official UC response to the Wanderer's message. I believe this will count as another "sending" across Toril and Oerth.
----------------
The United Commonwealth of Toril Responds:
Using the 20th Century capabilities of her people, the
Right Honourable Erika Lesage, Prime Minister of the
United Commonwealth of Toril settles herself at a
stately looking desk and regards the cameras in front
of her.
"It has come to the attention of the United
Commonwealth that through the magical capabilities of
the being known as the Wanderer, slanderous and
distorted material has been spread throughout your
world. Though the images seen are indeed quite
truthful, it is not that which is untrue, for it is
the interpretation by the Wanderer himself that is not
the truth. This information the Wanderer has given you
through his own voice, as convincing as it seems, is
full of distortions, omissions and blatant lies."
quote:
The image of that land appears. There are the mountain
ranges, snow capped and mighty. There are the fields,
castles tall amongst them, manor homes and peasant
homes sprinkled throughout. There are the forests,
green and verdent, from the tall boreal forests of
Luruar to the lush tropical rainforests of Chult.
There are the cities: mighty Waterdeep, noble
Silverymoon, proud Zhentil Keep, menacing Mulmaster,
Calimport in all it’s sprawl, Candlekeep with it’s
endless libraries, and many more. Like the Flanaess,
there are the scars of wars and magic ... the High
Moor is bleak and barren, the desert of Anarouch
shimmers in the heat. Like the Flanaess, there are
places of mystery and wonder. The Halls of
Eveningstar, the Star Mounds, Ironfang Keep, the
mysterious magehalls of Nimbral, the buried wonders of
Raurin.
Like the Flanaess, there are places of great beauty:
Evermeet, a green and shining island of wonder in the
middle of the blue sea, the stately grace of the
islands of the Moonshaes, rising in green covered
cliffs out of the froth, the grandeur of the Great
Rift, the glittering caverns of Mithril Hall.
The elves of this land are like the elves of Oerth,
pretty much; some are blue and some are gold, and some
are even green, but they are all elves. The dwarves
are like those of Oerth, noble and strong and stout.
The gnomes are the same, short and clever and darkly
humorous. The halflings are similar; some are peaceful
gardeners, and some are lonely foresters, but all are
reasonably non-violent. Except for the altered
geography, and the fact that there are more mages in
this land, and they are slightly stronger than the
mages of Oerth, this might well be the Flanaess.
(The people of this land, choose to walk a path that
diverged from wisdom and the Light.)
"The Wisdom and the Light, as the Wanderer puts it,
has not been as pure and good as he might have hoped.
As with the history preceeding our own Rebirth, I am
quite aware of the devastating wars, wasting famine,
terrible diseases, and horrendous evils of human and
demihuman alike that the Wanderer's Utopia has brought
about. And I might note, that while evil is still
known to rest in the hearts of a distinct minority of
our people, we have all but done away with disease,
famine and domestic warfare. The only thing
threatening the harmony of Toril are foreign
aggressors, such as those forces allied with the
Wanderer..."
quote:
Images appear, in order, one by one.
A stately old inn is seen, probably over a hundred
years old. It is made of wood, it is aesthetically
beautiful, the price is fair, the service excellent,
and the food superb.
But now a large number of people are converging on the
inn, and with picks and axes they are chopping it
down, reducing it to kindling, and hauling off the
remains.
And with the inn goes all the trees and shrugs around
it, all hewed down and carted away.
An ugly building, 3 stories high, made out of dinghy
stone, is put up in it’s place.
The new owner, a gnome, looks it up and down, smiles
and nods: ‘This is progress. We will make much more
money now.’
A pleasant country village is seen, with a scattering
of homes, churches to various dieities, the general
store, the blacksmith, the cobbler, the bakery,
everything.
But they are tearing it all down, and people are being
evicted from their homes by force.
Again, all the buildings are demolished, and all the
trees and shrugs hewed away, and everything carted
off.
In the place of the town rises a set of what look like
tall stone block buildings (apartment tenements), and
a new industrial center rises at the center of town,
ugly and black, filled with odd and nonsensical
looking pipes, beams, wheels, and long tall stacks.
The people are made to live in these stone buildings.
They do not look happy.
Now, smoke begins to rise out of the tall stacks at an
incredible rate. It very quickly changes the color of
the sky to a murky blue, and the fumes cause people to
gag, to cough, to hold their hands over their mouths
as they hurry to and fro.
(They chose to walk a crooked path, a path that went
wrong, terribly wrong.)
The same town, but now it is a city.
There is not a tree or bush in sight.
There are endless rows of tenements, hundreds of them,
filling the entire vision, no countryside to be seen
at all.
Gigantic buildings tower over the tenements, but these
are not churches; they are great buildings of iron and
stone, and an awful sound comes from them.
The sound of bellows, of steam, of hammers, of chains,
of some unholy uproar, as if all the demons were loose
and on the warpath.
The people in the narrow, grimy streets are rushing to
and fro like a hoard of demons were coming for them;
pushing through each other in an incredible jam,
beggars and the destitute and the homeless evident at
every corner, being splashed by the filthy slime
thrown from the streets as the passerbys step in the
murky water.
From the great tall cyclindrical towers are coming
multiple plumes of smoke - so much smoke it seems like
a forest fire is in progress. No amount of wood could
produce that much smoke unless whole forests ARE being
cleared to produce it.
The sky is a sickly yellow brown color, and the
sunlight coming through the smoke is weak and reddish.
(The people of Faerun went wrong. As they continued
walking their new path, reason and care were discarded
on the grass.)
"Once again, we see the selective eye of the Wanderer.
He, if I may presume gender, has shown you in several
seconds what it took our people years to accomplish.
Yes, it was painful, but it was growth and as all
should know, with growth, comes great pain. That pain,
however, is temporary, and the benefits of such
progress is many times that of remaining static and
stagnant... Reason and care were not 'thrown on the
grass,' as the Wanderer would have you believe. It is
Reason that has allowed us to rise above what we once
were to become what we are."
quote:
A large gathering of gnomes, bald men and women in red
robes, men and women wearing black garments adorned
with the symbols of a skull or other ghastly markings,
and many others are congregated around a table.
A conversation is in progress:
‘We have perfected Permanency, and now it can be cast
without any penalty to the wielder’
‘Yes, but will it take on items?’
‘Indeed, for we have modified it so that it will cover
most spells, and most items.’
‘We can create magical items on an assembly line.’
‘Show us some of these items.’
‘Here is an arquebus (the device) that fires three
times as fast as a normal arquebus, it never misfires,
and it is twice as accurate.’
‘Here is a cannon (the device is shown) that loads
itself, and we are working on making Bolts of Holding
for the ammunition.’
‘Here is a device that will propel a ship through
water without sails, employing steam, and its steel
blades won’t break from any normal cause’
But now one of the gnomes steps forward, and presents
a flask of greek fire.
‘When this is thrown, it will burst with 10 fold
effect, and nothing will put out the fire until the
oil itself has burned out!’
- - -
(Walking their path, they abandoned the care and
caution of magecraft. They abandoned the
responsibility of power. They chose to turn a blind
eye to consequences. Only power mattered, and that was
pursued ruthlessly.)
"Indeed, the United Commonwealth of Toril commands a
great many powerful devices in the defense of its
people and way of life. The images you are seeing, are
not how the UC operates today, or even decades ago. At
the same time, the mere creation of powerful weapons
does not automatically mean that they will be used for
good nor evil for tools are without morality, as the
Wanderer clearly does not understand."
quote:
The forests are being hacked down, trees falling,
crashing, thundering to the ground.
The new and horrible sound, the sound of chainsaws, is
heard, and the forest is being destroyed at an
appalling rate, an incredible rate.
Two iron or steel rails have been laid through the
cleared area, and a gigantic machine is sitting on the
rails, or a series of gigantic machines. The logs are
being laid upon them, piled high, until thousands of
trees are laid on the train, for train it is, and the
engine roars to life, and with black puffs slowly
accelerates, pulling the massive assemblage of logs
and steel vehicles away, with a noise like steadily
rising thunder.
Some of the trees that were cut are not hewed apart,
but instead stripped in mills - strange mills filled
with the deafening scream of magical saws, and then
placed straight up.
Long rows of these naked posts are set up, then wires
- made of some unknown substance - are hung from them,
again and again, and more and more posts go up, and
more wires, until they seem to block out the sky.
A bird lands on one of the wires, then contacts a
second wire. With a flash like lightning, the bird is
incinerated. Grumbling gnomes are seen climbing up and
working on the wires with devices that are
unrecognizable.
They kick the corpse of the bird into the nearby
river, which is murky and has a strange sickly smell
to it.
The view pulls back, and it can be seen that the
devastation to the forests is far and wide, and
everywhere these steel beams have been placed over the
ground, and the poles and wires are everywhere.
All the quaintly old towns and villages are vanishing,
and vast cities are springing up.
Cities where the air is so toxic men and women and
children die from breathing it, people are made to
live stacked up 10 stories high, 5 to a room, where
beggars and the destitute rot in the narrow streets,
and where endless vast factories, forbiddening, black,
pour endless amounts of smoke into the atmosphere,
filling the whole sky with a black pall.
The rivers are poisoned, and those who fall in come
out sick, and they die, or must be magically healed
... but magical healing is still as rare as ever, and
the clergy are raking in the money more than the new
bankers or stock brokers are, shouting and yelling and
brandishing slips of paper in a meaningless (and
endless) cacophony of sound.
"Once again, I feel compelled to reiterate the fact
that the UC does not act in this way anymore! This was
in our past, a past I'd not like to remember. As you
can now see, our lands are as full of life, as clean
and pure, as yours are."
quote:
(Some among them had never chosen to walk the crooked
path, and had retained wisdom and reason. They gave
battle to the gnomes and technomancers, fought to keep
them from making Faerun over as they pleased.)
- - -
The druids are gathered in conclave in the sacred
grove.
Next, they are seen in the blackish pits of the
machines, the factories, throwing their magic,
wrecking the machines, stopping the smoke from
billowing out into the sky, stopping the poisons from
flowing into the rivers.
The sacred grove appears again. Into said grove march
figures sheathed in armor, head to toe. The armor is
strange; the figures look like they are covered in
giant shells. Each figure is carrying a long tube that
spits fire: fire that melts rock, and devours trees
and shrubs, burning them quickly to cinders.
The grove burns, wails of protest by the dryads as
they die unavailing them, for those who are attacking
are without pity or remorse.
The image of a court appears. The gnomes are the
judges, and the jury.
And the executioners, and the druids, men and women,
are taken out and hung, by the hundreds, their bodies
left to rot in the poisoned sunlight.
Wizards with red robes shoot blazing beams of light,
whether magic or technology is unknown, and those
beams cut down trees in a flash, like they’d been
struck by lightning.
Mile after mile of forest is destroyed, then fireballs
and thousands of the new greek oil explosives are
thrown in, incinerating all.
The screams of the dying druids are matched by the
screams of dying animals, birds, and the Faerie,
trapped and unable to flee the firestorm.
The scene of a dungeon. Druid women hang in rows. With
great glee, the men and women who are their jailors,
wearing the hideous skull symbol seen earlier, begin
their work of torture, ultimately multilating the
victims beyond recognition.
"If one was to look at the correct chronology of
events, it would be obvious that it was not the
technocratic powers that attacked the druids, it was
the druids and their allies that attacked the
technocratic powers. It has long been the belief of
the UC that the inhabitants of a land are the sole
executors of its destiny. The Druids and their allies
did not believe this, and decided to impinge upon the
sovereign right of the technocratic powers to do as it
may in its own territory. The attacks by the Druids
were nothing less than an act of war, a ruthless
attack on innocent and unarmed factory workers and
loggers that left women widowed and children
fatherless. It is little wonder that the people rose
up against the oppressive druidics."
quote:
(Drunk with power, victorious over the peoples and
forces of reason, they chose to willfully abuse the
very magic that had made them strong, and to hand the
secrets of its power over to those who should never
have been allowed to even know of such things.)
- - -
A man and a gnome are sitting, facing the hideous
visage of a great orc, and a small grinning kobold.
The man speaks:
‘This is the new gatling gun, with Permanency and
Haste, and with bullets augmented with explosive
magic.’
‘Here is the secret of mass producing the new rifle.
With this weapon, you can kill your opponents at
thousands of yards, and their arrows cannot touch
you.’
‘Here is how you build a factory to mass produce
weapons of war ...’
He hands the weapons to the orc and kobold, and shows
them extensive schematics.
‘Here is how to make Permanency effective over and
over, without cost to yourself.’
‘Here are the secrets of magic, which have been
wrongfully withheld from you.’
‘Here is how to cast high powered spells.’
‘Here is how to combine magic with science.’
A new image appears. It is like a Nibelungen cavern,
for it is full of the den and uproar those dwarves
would make.
But it is kobolds who are making this den, as they
work in the hellish uproar of a great underground war
factory. Magical blades, magical bullets, magic
firearms, magical armor, and a number of
unrecognizable oddities are all being made, while
kobolds gloat over them, grin over them, and peer over
schematics.
The scene shifts, and now an orcish city is seen. It
is worse than the human cities ... they didn’t even
bother to build tenements for their workers, and most
live in huts.
But their factories tower into the sky, unleashing
ungodly torrents of smoke, and from those factories
come great vehicles mounted on the twin rails, and
huge versions of the arquebus, over 10 feet long, are
sitting on them. The orcs jump and howl with glee as
their first magical artillery rolls out the door.
"My, my, our dear friend the Wanderer sure enjoys his
repetition does he not? These images occured in our
past! This is not the way the UC operates! It will
never be, ever again. Might I, once again, reiterate
the fact that the humanoids came to the aid of the
Technocracy with nothing but honourable intentions?
Yes, I believe I shall: The Humanoid Alliance never,
ever, raised a hand in the direction of their
technocratic allies. It was a time of great war, a
hegemonic war, a war that would result in the entire
world of Toril taking one of two paths:
"That of Progress, of Modernity, of Mutual Prosperity;
and that of Stagnation, of Inequality, of Mutual
Despair."
quote:
(Those that should have stopped them, failed in their
duties. And when the illithid, aroused by the turmoil
Above, choose to make themselves masters of the
Underdark, nobody even bothered to look for the danger
until it was upon them, and they were slaughtered.)
- - -
The Chosen of Mystra sits in her dressing room,
peering at herself in the mirror. She looks gaunt and
sad, and is holding a sheath of papers.
On those papers, is a long list, the list of druids
and elves slain by the gnomes and humans of the
Technomancy, as it now calls itself, and by the new
and greatly feared Humanoid Alliance.
She shakes her head, and says: ‘We must not interfere.
We must allow the world to make it’s own choices, for
good or evil. We shall not stop this thing.’
The scene flashes to a drow city 2 miles below her.
The drow are being slaughtered, the mind flayers
(illithid) are blasting them, incinerating them,
blowing their brains out, devouring those they can
catch.
Soon all the drow city is in ruins, and the last
survivors are rounded up by the illithid, and march
off as mindless automatons under illithid mental
domination.
The great House of Baenre falls, and Narbondel breaks
in half and falls, shattering, shards flying
everywhere. Menzoberranzan is whelmed by the illithid.
Blingdenstone, the home of the Svirfneblin, lays
silent and empty, no remaining life in the ruins,
every last gnome carried off to the illithid cities.
The priestesses of Ghaunadaur fall to illithid mental
power, and their servants, the puddings and oozes,
halt, and acknowledge the overlordship of their new
masters, the illithid, supreme rulers of the
Underdark.
"Those that died are honoured for their courage to
stand for what they believed in... This is a
universality in the UC. If one was to bother to put
things into perspective, the evil Illithid acted on
their own volition and were destroyed by Technocracy
and the Humanoid Alliance, saving all of Toril in the
process."
quote:
(Their path led to the ruin and multilation of Faerun.
In that ruin, even those peoples of reason and lore
were pulled down into folly and darkness. Amongst the
technomancers who had perpetrated this wreckage, no
act of madness was now beyond their scope of thought.)
- - -
The dwarf king roars in anger: ‘The elves started this
trouble. I want Queen Amlaruil of Evermeet and all her
mages brought here so they can be tried, properly
found guilty, then drawn and quartered! Do you hear
me?!
The elven emissary gasps, and states: ‘That is not
reasonable, m’lord. The elves are victims of this war
also.’
The king glares. ‘Bring me the Queen, or face the
wrath of the dwarves!’
The elven emissary looks offended, and says ‘I shall
depart now, and come back when you will be courteous
and have thought upon the matter, and realized that
what you ask is impossible and unjust.’
The dwarven king jumps to his feet in anger, points at
the emissary, and states ‘I want him taken, chained
up, and given 50 lashes. I want it done now.’
The elven emissary looks horrified and shocked. ‘I am
a diplomat. Have the dwarves chosen to throw aside all
diplomacy??’
The dwarven king roars ‘Make it a hundred lashes, and
to the bone. If he starts to die, heal him! Then throw
him out the front gate to rot!’
The flogging is carried out, the dwarves grim and
strangely eager to the task, and the screams are
deafening. What is left of the elf is tossed outside
the Gates, which then slam shut.
"It should be known that though the elves of this era
believed themselves to be victims, it is the belief of
many scholars, elven scholars included, that the elves
did not act out of the goodness of their hearts. Their
invocation of Karsus' Avatar ((?)) led to the death
and injury of millions of men, women, and children, of
all known races, across the world. It was after that
act did the dwarves demand that the elves be held
responsible for the deaths of so many dwarves for it
was the elves that did do these things. For good or
ill, justice needed to be served, and it was..."
quote:
When the battle is over, they doff their helmets, and
the hideous visages of orcs, bugbears, kobolds,
gnolls, every kind of humanoid in some unholy harmony,
are seen.
"At the time, the Technocracy had nothing to do with
the annihilation of the elves of Evereska et al. We
did not condone the action at all, but of course, the
wise and all-knowing Wanderer once again failed to
show you that..."
quote:
The Faerie. But they are leaving. Pearly gates open,
the Faerie step through, and the Gates close behind
them ... forever.
By the hundreds, by the thousands, the Faerie, many
mourning and weeping, are leaving.
The very lifeblood of the world is stricken, the Weave
falters, the forests are permanently less verdant and
green, the power of life is forever diminished.
The elves of Evermeet ... but now they are in
underground caverns, cavorting and dancing and
feasting as elves do ... with their new friends the
orcs, gnolls, bugbears, kobolds, and all the others.
The daughter of Queen Amlaruil, beautiful and radiant,
kneels before the great orc king, and kisses him on
the feet. Then he sweeps her up in his arms and kisses
her deeply, his body pressed to hers.
With a cheer and a roar, dozens of others do the same.
Bugbears sweep up elven women in their arms, elven
women clasp kobolds lovingly, elven and humanoid faces
stare at each other lovingly, and there is comradery
and merriment ... and many children.
Children.
Half elf half orc. Half elf half bugbear. Half elf
half kobold. One third elf one third orc one third
kobold. One quarter orc one quarter goblin one quarter
flind one quarter ogre.
A great dance begins, as elves and humanoids swing
their partners around in glee, and the orc king sits
with his elven concubine in his arms (she is totally
naked, along with three quarters of the crowd),
fondling her, while she grins and giggles.
Over all are two statues. One is of Father Grumsh, the
Wise Old Sage, venerated by all elves and humanoids,
and Mother Sehanine, the Mysterious, who all humanoids
and elves venerate for magic and psionics.
Well, actually - only a few venerate these two. Most
of the elves and humanoids abandoned their respective
religions long ago.
The temples of the Seldarine lay silent and empty.
They were not laid to rest with care, but were looted
and ransacked, and the sacred shrines defiled.
More importantly, it was the elves who did this.
Elven swords hacked down the statue of Corellon, even
arrows are embedded in the great murals, and elven
swear words and curses are written on the walls and
the shattered altars.
"By the Gods, how racist this Wanderer fellow is! Had
the idea that the Humanoids and the Elves, after a
lengthy period of peace-making, become great friends
and allies ever cross his narrow mind? If the growth
of two peoples for the good of the entire world is to
be hated on your world, then perhaps the UC should
have nothing to do with it. But, unlike the Wanderer,
the United Commonwealth has more sense then that, we
are fully aware of the great potential all peoples, be
they elf, human, dwarf or humanoid, have deep within
them. I can only hope that their advances will serve
as an example for all like-minded peoples."
quote:
(In the new world the gnomes and technomancers had
created, depravity became the norm)
A great cathedral, complete with stained glass
windows, looms all about.
The sunlight shines down upon the congregation.
The congregation, is having an orgy.
But this is not just any orgy; this is an orgy of the
Church of Toril.
Mind flayers are using their tentacles to pleasure
women. Beholders are being stroked along the eyestalks
by loving dwarven hands, even as the Beholders kiss
each other and those on the floor, licking with their
long tongues.
Kender giggle in the background, stealing everything
as they move through the crowd, pointing out (as if it
needed pointing out) in eloquent detail each new scene
they witness.
Several ogres are present, wearing girdles of giant
strength. They are quite popular.
Even more popular are the half reptilian Yuan-Tin,
with their long snake-like tongues that give a new
definition to the words french kissing.
An aboleth is present, and is serving as a carpet for
two lovers, who are busy with each other even as the
aboleth fondles them with it’s many tentacles.
It would appear several undead are present - their
cold embrace is a novelty to the living, and spectral
figures merge with the warm, living ones.
Even a few skeletons are present, drawing their long
bony hands up and down the backs of those present,
sending delicious tingles up and down the spines of
men and women.
Meanwhile, the high priests and priestesses are having
a private romp of their own.
A human woman wraps herself in magically altered Grey
Ooze, and as it pours into her mouth and other places
she convulses with pleasure (breathing apparently is
optional), and it would seem the Ooze itself is
radiating a sense of delight of it’s own.
The halfling woman prefers the Black Pudding. Its
thousands of tiny microscopic mouths are giving her
thousands of tiny nibbles, from head to toe, like a
thousand kisses on her flesh, and she croons with the
joy of it.
The elven woman yonder prefers the classic, high style
version: the Ochre Jelly. As it pours into her every
orifice, she cries out in delight, trying to wrap her
arms around it as it encases her in it’s gooey
substance.
Men, women, slimes, jellies, and oozes all meld with
each other, merge with each other in joyous passion.
Of course, the succubi and even a few erinye are
present, with all that entails, and they are a
definite hit with the men ... and the women.
Cries of passion and cries of pain compete with each
other for dominance in the air, which is thick with
reddish incense; powerful aphrodasiacs working upon
the lungs and minds of all in the room.
Particularly angered by these descriptions, the Prime
Minister stands up quickly and bangs her fist on the
table. Tears welling up in her eyes, she draws in a
deep breath. Panning out, the cameras pick up a giant
orc moving to reassure her. The Prime Minister raises
her hand in his direction and smiles meekly, "No
friend, I am fine."
Exhaling deeply, she opens her eyes and peers deeply
into the cameras, sitting down. "How dare you
trivialize our most sacred beliefs, Wanderer. Would I
make fun of the rituals of your religions? Have I
ridiculed your beliefs in all their ignorance and
arrogance?!" Settling down, she continues, "If I were
to choose between a society that venerates killing,
destruction and inequality; and a society that
worships life, passion, equality, and most importantly
love, there would be no choice in the matter.
"None at all."
quote:
The gnome is standing at a pupit, giving a speech, in
which he is explaining the basics of ... well, it is
gibberish really (quantum physics).
An audience of learned sages, illithid, a number of
phaerimm with beholder servants, humanoids, githyanki,
and other assorted beings are present, listening.
When the diminuitive gnome is finished, they all stand
and applaud him, even the phaerimm.
Now, you are inside the gnome’s head, hearing his
thoughts, as he watches them applaud, and he is
thinking ‘We have shown that we are superior to all of
them, we gnomes, and they appreciate this now. About
time.’
You are now inside the head of one of the phaerimm,
whose magic and genius is legendary. And it is
thinking ‘It is a privilege to learn at the feet of he
who holds the Seat of Academia. If only I could
actually get to meet the distinguished professor, that
would be very nice.’
"Unlike the ignorance of the Wanderer, it has become
obvious that the only thing in the way of true
knowledge are other people, and the culture of those
people. I find nothing at all wrong with a gnome more
voiced than a Phaerimm in the ways of the physical
sciences, and I applaud the gentle Phaerimm for his
will to learn."
quote:
(WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION. IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT FOR
OERTH? IS IT? IS IT??!!
FOR EVEN NOW, THEY SECRETLY TRAIN THE GNOMES AND
DWARVES OF THE LORTMILS IN THEIR WAYS, AND THOSE
PEOPLE EAGERLY FOLLOW THEM.
LOOK!)
"I only urge those that this message reaches to use a
critical eye when viewing any and all mass broadcasts
such as this... The capability to speak does not
necessarily mean that nothing but truth will result,
the same holds true for the Wanderer, and myself. It
is the sincere hope that any and all of those wishing
to know the truth will strive to discover it on their
own. Do not rely on others to tell you the truth for
it is far too easy to get lost in the rhetoric and
biases of such people.
"It should be known that any attacks on the United
Commonwealth and its allies will be considered an Act
of War. Though we are not a warmongering people and as
such, are more than willing to involve ourselves in a
discource with anyone willing to sit down and talk...
"In the future, I will return to you all with
questions, ideas and propositions. It is my hope that
you will keep an open mind in these matters. Believe
what can be proved, not what is said...
"Thank you."
What follows is the official UC response to the Wanderer's message. I believe this will count as another "sending" across Toril and Oerth.
----------------
The United Commonwealth of Toril Responds:
Using the 20th Century capabilities of her people, the
Right Honourable Erika Lesage, Prime Minister of the
United Commonwealth of Toril settles herself at a
stately looking desk and regards the cameras in front
of her.
"It has come to the attention of the United
Commonwealth that through the magical capabilities of
the being known as the Wanderer, slanderous and
distorted material has been spread throughout your
world. Though the images seen are indeed quite
truthful, it is not that which is untrue, for it is
the interpretation by the Wanderer himself that is not
the truth. This information the Wanderer has given you
through his own voice, as convincing as it seems, is
full of distortions, omissions and blatant lies."
quote:
The image of that land appears. There are the mountain
ranges, snow capped and mighty. There are the fields,
castles tall amongst them, manor homes and peasant
homes sprinkled throughout. There are the forests,
green and verdent, from the tall boreal forests of
Luruar to the lush tropical rainforests of Chult.
There are the cities: mighty Waterdeep, noble
Silverymoon, proud Zhentil Keep, menacing Mulmaster,
Calimport in all it’s sprawl, Candlekeep with it’s
endless libraries, and many more. Like the Flanaess,
there are the scars of wars and magic ... the High
Moor is bleak and barren, the desert of Anarouch
shimmers in the heat. Like the Flanaess, there are
places of mystery and wonder. The Halls of
Eveningstar, the Star Mounds, Ironfang Keep, the
mysterious magehalls of Nimbral, the buried wonders of
Raurin.
Like the Flanaess, there are places of great beauty:
Evermeet, a green and shining island of wonder in the
middle of the blue sea, the stately grace of the
islands of the Moonshaes, rising in green covered
cliffs out of the froth, the grandeur of the Great
Rift, the glittering caverns of Mithril Hall.
The elves of this land are like the elves of Oerth,
pretty much; some are blue and some are gold, and some
are even green, but they are all elves. The dwarves
are like those of Oerth, noble and strong and stout.
The gnomes are the same, short and clever and darkly
humorous. The halflings are similar; some are peaceful
gardeners, and some are lonely foresters, but all are
reasonably non-violent. Except for the altered
geography, and the fact that there are more mages in
this land, and they are slightly stronger than the
mages of Oerth, this might well be the Flanaess.
(The people of this land, choose to walk a path that
diverged from wisdom and the Light.)
"The Wisdom and the Light, as the Wanderer puts it,
has not been as pure and good as he might have hoped.
As with the history preceeding our own Rebirth, I am
quite aware of the devastating wars, wasting famine,
terrible diseases, and horrendous evils of human and
demihuman alike that the Wanderer's Utopia has brought
about. And I might note, that while evil is still
known to rest in the hearts of a distinct minority of
our people, we have all but done away with disease,
famine and domestic warfare. The only thing
threatening the harmony of Toril are foreign
aggressors, such as those forces allied with the
Wanderer..."
quote:
Images appear, in order, one by one.
A stately old inn is seen, probably over a hundred
years old. It is made of wood, it is aesthetically
beautiful, the price is fair, the service excellent,
and the food superb.
But now a large number of people are converging on the
inn, and with picks and axes they are chopping it
down, reducing it to kindling, and hauling off the
remains.
And with the inn goes all the trees and shrugs around
it, all hewed down and carted away.
An ugly building, 3 stories high, made out of dinghy
stone, is put up in it’s place.
The new owner, a gnome, looks it up and down, smiles
and nods: ‘This is progress. We will make much more
money now.’
A pleasant country village is seen, with a scattering
of homes, churches to various dieities, the general
store, the blacksmith, the cobbler, the bakery,
everything.
But they are tearing it all down, and people are being
evicted from their homes by force.
Again, all the buildings are demolished, and all the
trees and shrugs hewed away, and everything carted
off.
In the place of the town rises a set of what look like
tall stone block buildings (apartment tenements), and
a new industrial center rises at the center of town,
ugly and black, filled with odd and nonsensical
looking pipes, beams, wheels, and long tall stacks.
The people are made to live in these stone buildings.
They do not look happy.
Now, smoke begins to rise out of the tall stacks at an
incredible rate. It very quickly changes the color of
the sky to a murky blue, and the fumes cause people to
gag, to cough, to hold their hands over their mouths
as they hurry to and fro.
(They chose to walk a crooked path, a path that went
wrong, terribly wrong.)
The same town, but now it is a city.
There is not a tree or bush in sight.
There are endless rows of tenements, hundreds of them,
filling the entire vision, no countryside to be seen
at all.
Gigantic buildings tower over the tenements, but these
are not churches; they are great buildings of iron and
stone, and an awful sound comes from them.
The sound of bellows, of steam, of hammers, of chains,
of some unholy uproar, as if all the demons were loose
and on the warpath.
The people in the narrow, grimy streets are rushing to
and fro like a hoard of demons were coming for them;
pushing through each other in an incredible jam,
beggars and the destitute and the homeless evident at
every corner, being splashed by the filthy slime
thrown from the streets as the passerbys step in the
murky water.
From the great tall cyclindrical towers are coming
multiple plumes of smoke - so much smoke it seems like
a forest fire is in progress. No amount of wood could
produce that much smoke unless whole forests ARE being
cleared to produce it.
The sky is a sickly yellow brown color, and the
sunlight coming through the smoke is weak and reddish.
(The people of Faerun went wrong. As they continued
walking their new path, reason and care were discarded
on the grass.)
"Once again, we see the selective eye of the Wanderer.
He, if I may presume gender, has shown you in several
seconds what it took our people years to accomplish.
Yes, it was painful, but it was growth and as all
should know, with growth, comes great pain. That pain,
however, is temporary, and the benefits of such
progress is many times that of remaining static and
stagnant... Reason and care were not 'thrown on the
grass,' as the Wanderer would have you believe. It is
Reason that has allowed us to rise above what we once
were to become what we are."
quote:
A large gathering of gnomes, bald men and women in red
robes, men and women wearing black garments adorned
with the symbols of a skull or other ghastly markings,
and many others are congregated around a table.
A conversation is in progress:
‘We have perfected Permanency, and now it can be cast
without any penalty to the wielder’
‘Yes, but will it take on items?’
‘Indeed, for we have modified it so that it will cover
most spells, and most items.’
‘We can create magical items on an assembly line.’
‘Show us some of these items.’
‘Here is an arquebus (the device) that fires three
times as fast as a normal arquebus, it never misfires,
and it is twice as accurate.’
‘Here is a cannon (the device is shown) that loads
itself, and we are working on making Bolts of Holding
for the ammunition.’
‘Here is a device that will propel a ship through
water without sails, employing steam, and its steel
blades won’t break from any normal cause’
But now one of the gnomes steps forward, and presents
a flask of greek fire.
‘When this is thrown, it will burst with 10 fold
effect, and nothing will put out the fire until the
oil itself has burned out!’
- - -
(Walking their path, they abandoned the care and
caution of magecraft. They abandoned the
responsibility of power. They chose to turn a blind
eye to consequences. Only power mattered, and that was
pursued ruthlessly.)
"Indeed, the United Commonwealth of Toril commands a
great many powerful devices in the defense of its
people and way of life. The images you are seeing, are
not how the UC operates today, or even decades ago. At
the same time, the mere creation of powerful weapons
does not automatically mean that they will be used for
good nor evil for tools are without morality, as the
Wanderer clearly does not understand."
quote:
The forests are being hacked down, trees falling,
crashing, thundering to the ground.
The new and horrible sound, the sound of chainsaws, is
heard, and the forest is being destroyed at an
appalling rate, an incredible rate.
Two iron or steel rails have been laid through the
cleared area, and a gigantic machine is sitting on the
rails, or a series of gigantic machines. The logs are
being laid upon them, piled high, until thousands of
trees are laid on the train, for train it is, and the
engine roars to life, and with black puffs slowly
accelerates, pulling the massive assemblage of logs
and steel vehicles away, with a noise like steadily
rising thunder.
Some of the trees that were cut are not hewed apart,
but instead stripped in mills - strange mills filled
with the deafening scream of magical saws, and then
placed straight up.
Long rows of these naked posts are set up, then wires
- made of some unknown substance - are hung from them,
again and again, and more and more posts go up, and
more wires, until they seem to block out the sky.
A bird lands on one of the wires, then contacts a
second wire. With a flash like lightning, the bird is
incinerated. Grumbling gnomes are seen climbing up and
working on the wires with devices that are
unrecognizable.
They kick the corpse of the bird into the nearby
river, which is murky and has a strange sickly smell
to it.
The view pulls back, and it can be seen that the
devastation to the forests is far and wide, and
everywhere these steel beams have been placed over the
ground, and the poles and wires are everywhere.
All the quaintly old towns and villages are vanishing,
and vast cities are springing up.
Cities where the air is so toxic men and women and
children die from breathing it, people are made to
live stacked up 10 stories high, 5 to a room, where
beggars and the destitute rot in the narrow streets,
and where endless vast factories, forbiddening, black,
pour endless amounts of smoke into the atmosphere,
filling the whole sky with a black pall.
The rivers are poisoned, and those who fall in come
out sick, and they die, or must be magically healed
... but magical healing is still as rare as ever, and
the clergy are raking in the money more than the new
bankers or stock brokers are, shouting and yelling and
brandishing slips of paper in a meaningless (and
endless) cacophony of sound.
"Once again, I feel compelled to reiterate the fact
that the UC does not act in this way anymore! This was
in our past, a past I'd not like to remember. As you
can now see, our lands are as full of life, as clean
and pure, as yours are."
quote:
(Some among them had never chosen to walk the crooked
path, and had retained wisdom and reason. They gave
battle to the gnomes and technomancers, fought to keep
them from making Faerun over as they pleased.)
- - -
The druids are gathered in conclave in the sacred
grove.
Next, they are seen in the blackish pits of the
machines, the factories, throwing their magic,
wrecking the machines, stopping the smoke from
billowing out into the sky, stopping the poisons from
flowing into the rivers.
The sacred grove appears again. Into said grove march
figures sheathed in armor, head to toe. The armor is
strange; the figures look like they are covered in
giant shells. Each figure is carrying a long tube that
spits fire: fire that melts rock, and devours trees
and shrubs, burning them quickly to cinders.
The grove burns, wails of protest by the dryads as
they die unavailing them, for those who are attacking
are without pity or remorse.
The image of a court appears. The gnomes are the
judges, and the jury.
And the executioners, and the druids, men and women,
are taken out and hung, by the hundreds, their bodies
left to rot in the poisoned sunlight.
Wizards with red robes shoot blazing beams of light,
whether magic or technology is unknown, and those
beams cut down trees in a flash, like they’d been
struck by lightning.
Mile after mile of forest is destroyed, then fireballs
and thousands of the new greek oil explosives are
thrown in, incinerating all.
The screams of the dying druids are matched by the
screams of dying animals, birds, and the Faerie,
trapped and unable to flee the firestorm.
The scene of a dungeon. Druid women hang in rows. With
great glee, the men and women who are their jailors,
wearing the hideous skull symbol seen earlier, begin
their work of torture, ultimately multilating the
victims beyond recognition.
"If one was to look at the correct chronology of
events, it would be obvious that it was not the
technocratic powers that attacked the druids, it was
the druids and their allies that attacked the
technocratic powers. It has long been the belief of
the UC that the inhabitants of a land are the sole
executors of its destiny. The Druids and their allies
did not believe this, and decided to impinge upon the
sovereign right of the technocratic powers to do as it
may in its own territory. The attacks by the Druids
were nothing less than an act of war, a ruthless
attack on innocent and unarmed factory workers and
loggers that left women widowed and children
fatherless. It is little wonder that the people rose
up against the oppressive druidics."
quote:
(Drunk with power, victorious over the peoples and
forces of reason, they chose to willfully abuse the
very magic that had made them strong, and to hand the
secrets of its power over to those who should never
have been allowed to even know of such things.)
- - -
A man and a gnome are sitting, facing the hideous
visage of a great orc, and a small grinning kobold.
The man speaks:
‘This is the new gatling gun, with Permanency and
Haste, and with bullets augmented with explosive
magic.’
‘Here is the secret of mass producing the new rifle.
With this weapon, you can kill your opponents at
thousands of yards, and their arrows cannot touch
you.’
‘Here is how you build a factory to mass produce
weapons of war ...’
He hands the weapons to the orc and kobold, and shows
them extensive schematics.
‘Here is how to make Permanency effective over and
over, without cost to yourself.’
‘Here are the secrets of magic, which have been
wrongfully withheld from you.’
‘Here is how to cast high powered spells.’
‘Here is how to combine magic with science.’
A new image appears. It is like a Nibelungen cavern,
for it is full of the den and uproar those dwarves
would make.
But it is kobolds who are making this den, as they
work in the hellish uproar of a great underground war
factory. Magical blades, magical bullets, magic
firearms, magical armor, and a number of
unrecognizable oddities are all being made, while
kobolds gloat over them, grin over them, and peer over
schematics.
The scene shifts, and now an orcish city is seen. It
is worse than the human cities ... they didn’t even
bother to build tenements for their workers, and most
live in huts.
But their factories tower into the sky, unleashing
ungodly torrents of smoke, and from those factories
come great vehicles mounted on the twin rails, and
huge versions of the arquebus, over 10 feet long, are
sitting on them. The orcs jump and howl with glee as
their first magical artillery rolls out the door.
"My, my, our dear friend the Wanderer sure enjoys his
repetition does he not? These images occured in our
past! This is not the way the UC operates! It will
never be, ever again. Might I, once again, reiterate
the fact that the humanoids came to the aid of the
Technocracy with nothing but honourable intentions?
Yes, I believe I shall: The Humanoid Alliance never,
ever, raised a hand in the direction of their
technocratic allies. It was a time of great war, a
hegemonic war, a war that would result in the entire
world of Toril taking one of two paths:
"That of Progress, of Modernity, of Mutual Prosperity;
and that of Stagnation, of Inequality, of Mutual
Despair."
quote:
(Those that should have stopped them, failed in their
duties. And when the illithid, aroused by the turmoil
Above, choose to make themselves masters of the
Underdark, nobody even bothered to look for the danger
until it was upon them, and they were slaughtered.)
- - -
The Chosen of Mystra sits in her dressing room,
peering at herself in the mirror. She looks gaunt and
sad, and is holding a sheath of papers.
On those papers, is a long list, the list of druids
and elves slain by the gnomes and humans of the
Technomancy, as it now calls itself, and by the new
and greatly feared Humanoid Alliance.
She shakes her head, and says: ‘We must not interfere.
We must allow the world to make it’s own choices, for
good or evil. We shall not stop this thing.’
The scene flashes to a drow city 2 miles below her.
The drow are being slaughtered, the mind flayers
(illithid) are blasting them, incinerating them,
blowing their brains out, devouring those they can
catch.
Soon all the drow city is in ruins, and the last
survivors are rounded up by the illithid, and march
off as mindless automatons under illithid mental
domination.
The great House of Baenre falls, and Narbondel breaks
in half and falls, shattering, shards flying
everywhere. Menzoberranzan is whelmed by the illithid.
Blingdenstone, the home of the Svirfneblin, lays
silent and empty, no remaining life in the ruins,
every last gnome carried off to the illithid cities.
The priestesses of Ghaunadaur fall to illithid mental
power, and their servants, the puddings and oozes,
halt, and acknowledge the overlordship of their new
masters, the illithid, supreme rulers of the
Underdark.
"Those that died are honoured for their courage to
stand for what they believed in... This is a
universality in the UC. If one was to bother to put
things into perspective, the evil Illithid acted on
their own volition and were destroyed by Technocracy
and the Humanoid Alliance, saving all of Toril in the
process."
quote:
(Their path led to the ruin and multilation of Faerun.
In that ruin, even those peoples of reason and lore
were pulled down into folly and darkness. Amongst the
technomancers who had perpetrated this wreckage, no
act of madness was now beyond their scope of thought.)
- - -
The dwarf king roars in anger: ‘The elves started this
trouble. I want Queen Amlaruil of Evermeet and all her
mages brought here so they can be tried, properly
found guilty, then drawn and quartered! Do you hear
me?!
The elven emissary gasps, and states: ‘That is not
reasonable, m’lord. The elves are victims of this war
also.’
The king glares. ‘Bring me the Queen, or face the
wrath of the dwarves!’
The elven emissary looks offended, and says ‘I shall
depart now, and come back when you will be courteous
and have thought upon the matter, and realized that
what you ask is impossible and unjust.’
The dwarven king jumps to his feet in anger, points at
the emissary, and states ‘I want him taken, chained
up, and given 50 lashes. I want it done now.’
The elven emissary looks horrified and shocked. ‘I am
a diplomat. Have the dwarves chosen to throw aside all
diplomacy??’
The dwarven king roars ‘Make it a hundred lashes, and
to the bone. If he starts to die, heal him! Then throw
him out the front gate to rot!’
The flogging is carried out, the dwarves grim and
strangely eager to the task, and the screams are
deafening. What is left of the elf is tossed outside
the Gates, which then slam shut.
"It should be known that though the elves of this era
believed themselves to be victims, it is the belief of
many scholars, elven scholars included, that the elves
did not act out of the goodness of their hearts. Their
invocation of Karsus' Avatar ((?)) led to the death
and injury of millions of men, women, and children, of
all known races, across the world. It was after that
act did the dwarves demand that the elves be held
responsible for the deaths of so many dwarves for it
was the elves that did do these things. For good or
ill, justice needed to be served, and it was..."
quote:
When the battle is over, they doff their helmets, and
the hideous visages of orcs, bugbears, kobolds,
gnolls, every kind of humanoid in some unholy harmony,
are seen.
"At the time, the Technocracy had nothing to do with
the annihilation of the elves of Evereska et al. We
did not condone the action at all, but of course, the
wise and all-knowing Wanderer once again failed to
show you that..."
quote:
The Faerie. But they are leaving. Pearly gates open,
the Faerie step through, and the Gates close behind
them ... forever.
By the hundreds, by the thousands, the Faerie, many
mourning and weeping, are leaving.
The very lifeblood of the world is stricken, the Weave
falters, the forests are permanently less verdant and
green, the power of life is forever diminished.
The elves of Evermeet ... but now they are in
underground caverns, cavorting and dancing and
feasting as elves do ... with their new friends the
orcs, gnolls, bugbears, kobolds, and all the others.
The daughter of Queen Amlaruil, beautiful and radiant,
kneels before the great orc king, and kisses him on
the feet. Then he sweeps her up in his arms and kisses
her deeply, his body pressed to hers.
With a cheer and a roar, dozens of others do the same.
Bugbears sweep up elven women in their arms, elven
women clasp kobolds lovingly, elven and humanoid faces
stare at each other lovingly, and there is comradery
and merriment ... and many children.
Children.
Half elf half orc. Half elf half bugbear. Half elf
half kobold. One third elf one third orc one third
kobold. One quarter orc one quarter goblin one quarter
flind one quarter ogre.
A great dance begins, as elves and humanoids swing
their partners around in glee, and the orc king sits
with his elven concubine in his arms (she is totally
naked, along with three quarters of the crowd),
fondling her, while she grins and giggles.
Over all are two statues. One is of Father Grumsh, the
Wise Old Sage, venerated by all elves and humanoids,
and Mother Sehanine, the Mysterious, who all humanoids
and elves venerate for magic and psionics.
Well, actually - only a few venerate these two. Most
of the elves and humanoids abandoned their respective
religions long ago.
The temples of the Seldarine lay silent and empty.
They were not laid to rest with care, but were looted
and ransacked, and the sacred shrines defiled.
More importantly, it was the elves who did this.
Elven swords hacked down the statue of Corellon, even
arrows are embedded in the great murals, and elven
swear words and curses are written on the walls and
the shattered altars.
"By the Gods, how racist this Wanderer fellow is! Had
the idea that the Humanoids and the Elves, after a
lengthy period of peace-making, become great friends
and allies ever cross his narrow mind? If the growth
of two peoples for the good of the entire world is to
be hated on your world, then perhaps the UC should
have nothing to do with it. But, unlike the Wanderer,
the United Commonwealth has more sense then that, we
are fully aware of the great potential all peoples, be
they elf, human, dwarf or humanoid, have deep within
them. I can only hope that their advances will serve
as an example for all like-minded peoples."
quote:
(In the new world the gnomes and technomancers had
created, depravity became the norm)
A great cathedral, complete with stained glass
windows, looms all about.
The sunlight shines down upon the congregation.
The congregation, is having an orgy.
But this is not just any orgy; this is an orgy of the
Church of Toril.
Mind flayers are using their tentacles to pleasure
women. Beholders are being stroked along the eyestalks
by loving dwarven hands, even as the Beholders kiss
each other and those on the floor, licking with their
long tongues.
Kender giggle in the background, stealing everything
as they move through the crowd, pointing out (as if it
needed pointing out) in eloquent detail each new scene
they witness.
Several ogres are present, wearing girdles of giant
strength. They are quite popular.
Even more popular are the half reptilian Yuan-Tin,
with their long snake-like tongues that give a new
definition to the words french kissing.
An aboleth is present, and is serving as a carpet for
two lovers, who are busy with each other even as the
aboleth fondles them with it’s many tentacles.
It would appear several undead are present - their
cold embrace is a novelty to the living, and spectral
figures merge with the warm, living ones.
Even a few skeletons are present, drawing their long
bony hands up and down the backs of those present,
sending delicious tingles up and down the spines of
men and women.
Meanwhile, the high priests and priestesses are having
a private romp of their own.
A human woman wraps herself in magically altered Grey
Ooze, and as it pours into her mouth and other places
she convulses with pleasure (breathing apparently is
optional), and it would seem the Ooze itself is
radiating a sense of delight of it’s own.
The halfling woman prefers the Black Pudding. Its
thousands of tiny microscopic mouths are giving her
thousands of tiny nibbles, from head to toe, like a
thousand kisses on her flesh, and she croons with the
joy of it.
The elven woman yonder prefers the classic, high style
version: the Ochre Jelly. As it pours into her every
orifice, she cries out in delight, trying to wrap her
arms around it as it encases her in it’s gooey
substance.
Men, women, slimes, jellies, and oozes all meld with
each other, merge with each other in joyous passion.
Of course, the succubi and even a few erinye are
present, with all that entails, and they are a
definite hit with the men ... and the women.
Cries of passion and cries of pain compete with each
other for dominance in the air, which is thick with
reddish incense; powerful aphrodasiacs working upon
the lungs and minds of all in the room.
Particularly angered by these descriptions, the Prime
Minister stands up quickly and bangs her fist on the
table. Tears welling up in her eyes, she draws in a
deep breath. Panning out, the cameras pick up a giant
orc moving to reassure her. The Prime Minister raises
her hand in his direction and smiles meekly, "No
friend, I am fine."
Exhaling deeply, she opens her eyes and peers deeply
into the cameras, sitting down. "How dare you
trivialize our most sacred beliefs, Wanderer. Would I
make fun of the rituals of your religions? Have I
ridiculed your beliefs in all their ignorance and
arrogance?!" Settling down, she continues, "If I were
to choose between a society that venerates killing,
destruction and inequality; and a society that
worships life, passion, equality, and most importantly
love, there would be no choice in the matter.
"None at all."
quote:
The gnome is standing at a pupit, giving a speech, in
which he is explaining the basics of ... well, it is
gibberish really (quantum physics).
An audience of learned sages, illithid, a number of
phaerimm with beholder servants, humanoids, githyanki,
and other assorted beings are present, listening.
When the diminuitive gnome is finished, they all stand
and applaud him, even the phaerimm.
Now, you are inside the gnome’s head, hearing his
thoughts, as he watches them applaud, and he is
thinking ‘We have shown that we are superior to all of
them, we gnomes, and they appreciate this now. About
time.’
You are now inside the head of one of the phaerimm,
whose magic and genius is legendary. And it is
thinking ‘It is a privilege to learn at the feet of he
who holds the Seat of Academia. If only I could
actually get to meet the distinguished professor, that
would be very nice.’
"Unlike the ignorance of the Wanderer, it has become
obvious that the only thing in the way of true
knowledge are other people, and the culture of those
people. I find nothing at all wrong with a gnome more
voiced than a Phaerimm in the ways of the physical
sciences, and I applaud the gentle Phaerimm for his
will to learn."
quote:
(WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION. IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT FOR
OERTH? IS IT? IS IT??!!
FOR EVEN NOW, THEY SECRETLY TRAIN THE GNOMES AND
DWARVES OF THE LORTMILS IN THEIR WAYS, AND THOSE
PEOPLE EAGERLY FOLLOW THEM.
LOOK!)
"I only urge those that this message reaches to use a
critical eye when viewing any and all mass broadcasts
such as this... The capability to speak does not
necessarily mean that nothing but truth will result,
the same holds true for the Wanderer, and myself. It
is the sincere hope that any and all of those wishing
to know the truth will strive to discover it on their
own. Do not rely on others to tell you the truth for
it is far too easy to get lost in the rhetoric and
biases of such people.
"It should be known that any attacks on the United
Commonwealth and its allies will be considered an Act
of War. Though we are not a warmongering people and as
such, are more than willing to involve ourselves in a
discource with anyone willing to sit down and talk...
"In the future, I will return to you all with
questions, ideas and propositions. It is my hope that
you will keep an open mind in these matters. Believe
what can be proved, not what is said...
"Thank you."
LordMelkor{Talos}
First Post
Shadow Empire gives technology to entire Underdark`s Alliance, npt only Kalanyr1
TURROSH MAK!
We thought you know us quite well sice we are in aliiance! You have already received great gifts from us! We will help you conquer entire Ulek and more!
To Iuz The Old One:
We might be interested in alliance if you help us against our enemies( attack The Kevellond League) and we won`t attack Cairn Hills for now!
TO Edena- Shade are summoning planar allies from Gehenna, Shadow Plane and Negative energy Plane. We offer them technology and souls of our enemies and slaves!
We also raise undead from City of Greyhawk cementary!
TURROSH MAK!
We thought you know us quite well sice we are in aliiance! You have already received great gifts from us! We will help you conquer entire Ulek and more!
To Iuz The Old One:
We might be interested in alliance if you help us against our enemies( attack The Kevellond League) and we won`t attack Cairn Hills for now!
TO Edena- Shade are summoning planar allies from Gehenna, Shadow Plane and Negative energy Plane. We offer them technology and souls of our enemies and slaves!
We also raise undead from City of Greyhawk cementary!
Serpenteye
First Post
Forrester
--------------------
"It should be known that any attacks on the United
Commonwealth and its allies will be considered an Act
of War. Though we are not a warmongering people and as
such, are more than willing to involve ourselves in a
discource with anyone willing to sit down and talk... "
--------------------
Pray tell, noble leader, who are your allies here on Oerth?
--------------------
"It should be known that any attacks on the United
Commonwealth and its allies will be considered an Act
of War. Though we are not a warmongering people and as
such, are more than willing to involve ourselves in a
discource with anyone willing to sit down and talk... "
--------------------
Pray tell, noble leader, who are your allies here on Oerth?
Re: Forrester
(That's what I get for cutting and pasting)
I believe Erika was referring to our allies in Realmspace (like the scro) or our allies on Toril (like the Angels of the Isle of Hope). The Wanderer is attempting to provoke an attack against Toril -- obviously, we prefer peace, and mutual advancement, but should you fall for his lies, let it be known we are ready to defend ourselves.
Serpenteye said:
(That's what I get for cutting and pasting)
I believe Erika was referring to our allies in Realmspace (like the scro) or our allies on Toril (like the Angels of the Isle of Hope). The Wanderer is attempting to provoke an attack against Toril -- obviously, we prefer peace, and mutual advancement, but should you fall for his lies, let it be known we are ready to defend ourselves.
Serpenteye
First Post
That is well. Does this mean that you will not enter into any conflict internal to Oerth? Unless some fool attacked realmspace first?
<Forrester -- not Erika -- now speaks.>
Yes, I'm sure you would like to know the answer.
Unfortunately, it depends on the success of the City of Shade in making allies. They belong on Oerth no more than we do; as long as they are a presence, our intervention can hardly be ruled out. And they have already taken Greyhawk.
We have no taste for war -- yet, we cannot let our enemies casually take control of an entire world.
Were they to be expelled, then perhaps promises could be made . . . until then, though, all I can say is that we will wait, and watch.
Certainly, you brave and noble men can hammer out a peace?
Yes, I'm sure you would like to know the answer.
Unfortunately, it depends on the success of the City of Shade in making allies. They belong on Oerth no more than we do; as long as they are a presence, our intervention can hardly be ruled out. And they have already taken Greyhawk.
We have no taste for war -- yet, we cannot let our enemies casually take control of an entire world.
Were they to be expelled, then perhaps promises could be made . . . until then, though, all I can say is that we will wait, and watch.
Certainly, you brave and noble men can hammer out a peace?
LordMelkor{Talos}
First Post
JohnBrown are you interested in alliance?
Serpenteye
First Post
Forrester said:
Rest assured, Forrester, the Shade Imperium will never take control of the entirety of Oerth. They certainly could never do so casually! Oerth can guard itself against that.
Neither are we looking foward to an Oerth where the Shade have taken over one half, and you have taken over the other half -- any *sizeable* presence by the City of Shade will cause some to bring to the table arguments for war.
In my old age, I find that the pull of war grows weaker and weaker, and I have many other things to concentrate on. But not all in the UC feel as I do.
Expel the City of Shadow. You do not need them there. And if they remain, you risk . . . well, you risk. Let us leave it at that.
Lord Forrester
Peacemaker
In my old age, I find that the pull of war grows weaker and weaker, and I have many other things to concentrate on. But not all in the UC feel as I do.
Expel the City of Shadow. You do not need them there. And if they remain, you risk . . . well, you risk. Let us leave it at that.
Lord Forrester
Peacemaker
LordMelkor{Talos}
First Post
Another sending comes from The Shade!
"Do not listen to the lies of Torillian Commonwealth! There are already working on changing Oerth into their colony, this is why they gave their secrets to Lortmilis!"
To Edena!
Shade are going to contact Nations of Kara-Tur that you said are enemies of Commonwealth. Can you speak for them?
"Do not listen to the lies of Torillian Commonwealth! There are already working on changing Oerth into their colony, this is why they gave their secrets to Lortmilis!"
To Edena!
Shade are going to contact Nations of Kara-Tur that you said are enemies of Commonwealth. Can you speak for them?
Edena_of_Neith
First Post
UPDATE
THE NEWS
Here is all the information that is publicly known, or you are able to find out.
Kas and his 5 million strong have just marched into the Principality of Ulek, and are approaching the borders of the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj.
Turrosh Mak does NOT have anywhere close to the number of ships needed to ferry that army across the water, unless he devotes his entire navy to doing that - and only that - for an entire Turn.
The Dark Union does not have enough ships, unless they send their ENTIRE navy down to the Pomarj, and help, and then it will take a full Turn.
Even working together, Turrosh Mak's fleet and the fleet of the Dark Union would take a full Turn, really, to get the job done.
It would appear the threat of a Kas / Kevellond War has been adverted, although there is serious destruction in Keoland and the Principality of Ulek (where the dwarvish leader is hiding his people in the mountains.)
The Baklunish Confederation has set up a defensive line west of Ket.
They have dug HUGE trenchlines (think of World War One), and put stakes in the ground, and have amassed an army there.
The dwarves of the Yatils are helping them.
The Baklunish Confederation has set up a second, much stronger line of defense north of Tovag Baragu.
Backed by the protection of the great, enchanted forests and their sentient trees and forest spirits, the Baklunish have dug in massively to face the threat of Vecna.
The titans of Esmerin have already arrived to help them.
The forces of Orcreich are on the way, as are the halflings of Esmerin.
It is fair to say the fleet of Zeif is keeping a careful watch on the north. The Solistarim have not been forgotten.
The Baklunish Confederation and it's allies have now summoned thousands of Planars to their aid, and these are taking up defensive positions beside the baklunish.
The Kevellond League has fully mobilized. Planars are pouring in to aid them.
The Yeomanry, where Kas passed through, has every man and woman in the country under arms.
From the Stark Mounds and from Sterich troops are pouring.
The army of Keoland is fully mobilized, and all cities are barricaded and ready for a siege.
Furyondy, Veluna, and all the other places in the Kevellond League are under the process of full mobilization.
The visit of Jaran the mage to the Lortmil Technomancy turns up NOTHING suspicious.
EVERYTHING is normal. The dwarves are doing exactly what the Wanderer showed they are doing: they are making firearms, cannon, machine guns, explosives, and other weapons of war.
Their society is indeed alien, for it is that of late 19th century Europe, and it is beautiful and wealthy beyond the imagination of the medieval visitors.
The Olympic Games of Torture are on.
Who's joining in, please?
There is no shortage of people who join involuntarily, because a lot of looters and arsonists were caught during the panic that followed the Sending of the Wanderer.
The Cult of Loviatar gets started in spite of the Emperor's efforts to stop it, and quickly spreads to other lands.
And then, something awful happens ...
Along with Loviatar, some of the other religions of Toril start cropping up ... and one in particular ... a diety's name is mentioned, and she is said to be the very essence of magic, and all others are pretenders.
Her cult is growing, her new priestesses powerful, and they have a message and a mission.
Their dieity is Mystra.
No news is forthcoming from the Alliance of the Rising Sun, other than they are mobilizing and Planars are coming in by their summoning.
It is almost disturbing, the way there is no news from the west.
A lot of spies were sent west ... most of them, have disappeared, without a trace of what happened to them.
Anabstercorian has sent out messengers with a blunt message: NO TRESSPASSING.
And the Solistarim mean it. They make a few examples to show the rest to stay clear.
The Quaggoths suffer more than a few deaths before the fierce Snowmen get the message.
The aboleth messenger to the Deepwater League may or may not be killed on the spot - that is up to Kaboom.
Amazingly, divinations show that the Solistarim are not summoning any Planars.
Like they had to.
The Efreeti and Salamanders and many Fire Elementals make their HOME in the Godspires!
Everyone else is pulling in Planars by the thousands.
Divinations show Oerth being flooded by nascent armies of Planars of all alignments and every type.
There is no news from the League of Light and Shadow.
Perrenland is silent.
The Vesve is silent.
The Faerie of the Flanaess are silent.
The Elven Imperial Navy has not moved from it's dockage.
Vecna has emerged at Tovag Baragu.
Just a split second before he did, the Doomgrinder clicked that last click.
(The Doomgrinder is an evil windmill. But it's blades are made of steel, and do not turn. They click, like the minute hand of clocks.
It is said that when the blades are perfectly up and down, right and left, then Doom will fall on the world.
The blades have been one click away from standing perfectly vertical and horizontal.
They just made that final click, an instant before Vecna emerged from Tovag Baragu.
For anyone interested in tearing the infernal device down, it stands in the Cairn Hills, where Iuz holds power.)
Tenh, Delrune, and Calrune have built a system of massive fortifications between themselves and the Warlords to the west.
They have also fortified their northern border with Iuz.
They have armies deployed to stop any giant attacks from the Rakers.
Reports say that Gamboge Forest and Phostwood are being turned into gigantic traps for any army so foolish as to set foot inside them.
The same reports are coming from Celadan Forest.
They are confirmed in the Grandwood.
It would appear that the Grandwood is being MASSIVELY fortified, and that help, including Planar help, is being sent there (by whatever magic is available.)
Also, the people of the Gnarley Forest, always tough and loyal to their woodland, are digging in, bracing for an attack from the Shadow Throne.
And they are getting help from the Welkwood, and undoubtedly from others.
The Wild Coast is likewise bracing itself.
I don't need to say that the fiercely evil and fiercely independent monsters, hoards of monsters, in the Cairn Hills are ready and waiting for the Shadow Empire ... they WANT a fight. They want blood and battle and death.
The 3 Ulek Nations, the People of the Kron Hills, and the People of the Welkwood just formed into a new nation, called the Kingdom of Ulek.
It has allied with the Sky-Sea League.
To it's aid is coming a fleet of flying mountains - dwarven spelljammers, containing thousands of dwarves each (yes, the dwarves, and the dwarves alone, can do this ...)
Of course, I'm sure the Kingdom of Ulek does NOT appreciate Kas plundering the Principality of Ulek.
Kas was considering attacking Keoland, but he has changed his mind and marched into the Principality of Ulek on his way to the Pomarj.
Just what he will do when he gets there, nobody (including me) knows.
He DID send everyone a message, which said in no uncertain terms what would happen to any power that threatened him.
He also has revealed that VECNA is arrived in the Present, with his legions, which are TENS OF MILLIONS strong.
Seers and scryers find out very quickly, all too quickly, that Kas is telling the truth - and many of those scrying Vecna die, along with everyone in the same room, in sprays of blood (Vecna does not like being scried.)
Conversely, everyone who is sensitive to it feels Vecna scrying THEM. And they can't stop it - no magic seems to ward the scrying away (it's as bad as the Eye of Sauron, except taking the Ring off doesn't help.)
Wish spells don't stop Vecna's scrying ... although they do harm those attempting the Wish.
Kas sent some images of what Vecna is like. These images are all too true, and they are actually a severe understatement of the ghastly truth.
Vecna makes the Solistarim, Iuz, and Ivid look like clergy of Peace and Beauty, in comparison.
The Scro Armada is taking up positions over Oerth.
Over Oerth also are the Illithid and Neogi Armadas (along with the dwarven spelljamming mountains.)
These spelljamming forces are eyeing each other, waiting.
The United Commonwealth of Toril is allowing all ambassadors to enter their world.
Your ambassadors find a world of superscience and supermagic (think 11th level magic in use by every country.)
They find the world is filled with a strange race called the kender, who wish to come to Oerth and explore it.
They find a world where illithid, aboleth, beholder, phaerimm, elf, orc, troll, gnoll, dwarf, kobold, drow, svirfnebli, gnomes, halfling, human, scro, and just about everything else you can imagine, are all talking, walking, and working together like they were old friends.
And yes, they have the great cathedrals where the great orgies take place, and yes - they are exactly what the Wanderer said, and more.
They are an enlightened and noble people, the Torilians - but they are a little sad too.
They have been through it, so to speak, and the graveyards of the dead are enormous.
There are great monuments to battles and catastrophes all over the world, even though all the scars of battle have been erased.
By the way, the UNDEAD walk the streets also, and some of them are rulers, movers and shakers, in the United Commonwealth.
The United Commonwealth is a democracy, an alien concept to Oerth, where all it's people meet in a vast place called the World Forum, and while someone called the Prime Minister oversees the proceedings, they VOTE on what is to be done.
Nobody gives commands, nobody orders anyone around. Everything is done in committee, and by vote.
And, most amazing of all, the common people of the UC get to VOTE for their representatives to this World Forum!!
And if they don't like their representatives, they can vote them out.
The representatives of the UC must actually do what the people want, or be expelled!!!
There are rumors that Iuz is looking for something, and has sent people out to search. Who, and what for, is not known.
Meanwhile, a great force of humanoids is moving towards Vesve Forest.
They obviously intend to attack the place.
There is confirmation that the Frost, Snow, and Ice Barbarians, and Ratik, have allied with the Sky-Sea League. Spies discover this, and report it back to their respective countries.
There are reports the Scarlet Brotherhood is up to something.
What, nobody knows.
The Scarlet Brotherhood has been especially good at keeping spies out (and the fate of those they catch, even I'm not going into.)
The Shadow Throne is mobilizing. There is no question of it.
And unlike everyone else, they have their full Planar Army already on Oerth. It is huge. In the hundreds of thousands, at the very least. More like, in the millions.
Those armies are beginning to move. What is going to get hit first, nobody knows.
News comes that a spy in the Dark Union has been tortured to death, then raised as an undead. Apparently for his failure to discover that the Lortmil Technomancy existed.
The Dark Union is mobilizing, and hoards of peasants, struck with blood lust and dark patriotism, are flocking to the God Emperor's banner.
Worse, a group of ancient elves, locked in ice for thousands of years, has awoken in the Adri Forest.
These elves are very powerful, and very evil.
They are mobilizing all the evil forest spirits, and gaining control of the trees, and are preparing to take the Adri Forest.
They have apparently allied with the Dark Union.
A lot of spies from the Dark Union are caught in other countries.
In the Lortmil Technomancy, those caught are summarily executed, on the spot (GnomeWorks made this very clear. Interesting, but no spies seem to be able to get into the Lortmil Technomancy and report anything important ... or, they don't report back at all.)
There is a rumor that the Quaggoths of the Burneal (the abominable snowmen) are about to launch a major assault, either on the Nomads, the Solistarim, or both.
There is feverish activity in the Burneal.
In the barbarian lands, in the evil forests, the quaggoths there are astir, and up to something.
The Orcish Empire of the Pomarj has been sending ambassadors out, to every nation, to ask about the Sending of the Wanderer, what it means, and whether it is true.
The Kevellond League has talked with them, and a few others, but most seem to have ignored Turrosh Mak.
There is a massive buildup of forces in the Hool Marshes, led by no other than the demipower Kalden, Prince of Swords. There are reports of Planars massing there.
There are reports of extreme cruelty and barbarism in the Pomarj, and these reports are verified. Slaves who do not work hard enough are killed, and turned into undead who will work hard.
There is, surprisingly, little or no information from the Alliance of the Northwest Crescent.
However, most of the spies sent there are never heard from again.
The Wind Dukes of Aaqa are famous for their power, and they do not brook spies.
The Unseelie have started showing up all over the Flanaess, which is spooking an already terrified populace further (and of course, when news of the arrival of Vecna hits, a SECOND wave of panic rips through the Flanaess, with even the soldiers panicking. Many people die as order is restored brutally and forcefully in evil countries. In good countries, it takes longer for the anarchy to subside. There are more fires and more looting, more people fleeing into the hills, forests, and even mountains looking for shelter. Towns and hamlets lie deserted, the streets of cities are emptied as everyone huddles indoors.)
The Kevellond League has dug a series of trenches, a fortified battle line, up and down the borders of the drow and giant holdings, and along the lines of the mountains.
The forces of the Kevellond League are on the move, westward.
It is confirmed that the demipower Heward is leading one of these forces. It is confirmed that the demipower Murlynd is leading another.
In the evil nation of Zindia, Seers report an attack is imminent. From what, or where, they do not know.
THE NEWS
Here is all the information that is publicly known, or you are able to find out.
Kas and his 5 million strong have just marched into the Principality of Ulek, and are approaching the borders of the Orcish Empire of the Pomarj.
Turrosh Mak does NOT have anywhere close to the number of ships needed to ferry that army across the water, unless he devotes his entire navy to doing that - and only that - for an entire Turn.
The Dark Union does not have enough ships, unless they send their ENTIRE navy down to the Pomarj, and help, and then it will take a full Turn.
Even working together, Turrosh Mak's fleet and the fleet of the Dark Union would take a full Turn, really, to get the job done.
It would appear the threat of a Kas / Kevellond War has been adverted, although there is serious destruction in Keoland and the Principality of Ulek (where the dwarvish leader is hiding his people in the mountains.)
The Baklunish Confederation has set up a defensive line west of Ket.
They have dug HUGE trenchlines (think of World War One), and put stakes in the ground, and have amassed an army there.
The dwarves of the Yatils are helping them.
The Baklunish Confederation has set up a second, much stronger line of defense north of Tovag Baragu.
Backed by the protection of the great, enchanted forests and their sentient trees and forest spirits, the Baklunish have dug in massively to face the threat of Vecna.
The titans of Esmerin have already arrived to help them.
The forces of Orcreich are on the way, as are the halflings of Esmerin.
It is fair to say the fleet of Zeif is keeping a careful watch on the north. The Solistarim have not been forgotten.
The Baklunish Confederation and it's allies have now summoned thousands of Planars to their aid, and these are taking up defensive positions beside the baklunish.
The Kevellond League has fully mobilized. Planars are pouring in to aid them.
The Yeomanry, where Kas passed through, has every man and woman in the country under arms.
From the Stark Mounds and from Sterich troops are pouring.
The army of Keoland is fully mobilized, and all cities are barricaded and ready for a siege.
Furyondy, Veluna, and all the other places in the Kevellond League are under the process of full mobilization.
The visit of Jaran the mage to the Lortmil Technomancy turns up NOTHING suspicious.
EVERYTHING is normal. The dwarves are doing exactly what the Wanderer showed they are doing: they are making firearms, cannon, machine guns, explosives, and other weapons of war.
Their society is indeed alien, for it is that of late 19th century Europe, and it is beautiful and wealthy beyond the imagination of the medieval visitors.
The Olympic Games of Torture are on.
Who's joining in, please?
There is no shortage of people who join involuntarily, because a lot of looters and arsonists were caught during the panic that followed the Sending of the Wanderer.
The Cult of Loviatar gets started in spite of the Emperor's efforts to stop it, and quickly spreads to other lands.
And then, something awful happens ...
Along with Loviatar, some of the other religions of Toril start cropping up ... and one in particular ... a diety's name is mentioned, and she is said to be the very essence of magic, and all others are pretenders.
Her cult is growing, her new priestesses powerful, and they have a message and a mission.
Their dieity is Mystra.
No news is forthcoming from the Alliance of the Rising Sun, other than they are mobilizing and Planars are coming in by their summoning.
It is almost disturbing, the way there is no news from the west.
A lot of spies were sent west ... most of them, have disappeared, without a trace of what happened to them.
Anabstercorian has sent out messengers with a blunt message: NO TRESSPASSING.
And the Solistarim mean it. They make a few examples to show the rest to stay clear.
The Quaggoths suffer more than a few deaths before the fierce Snowmen get the message.
The aboleth messenger to the Deepwater League may or may not be killed on the spot - that is up to Kaboom.
Amazingly, divinations show that the Solistarim are not summoning any Planars.
Like they had to.
The Efreeti and Salamanders and many Fire Elementals make their HOME in the Godspires!
Everyone else is pulling in Planars by the thousands.
Divinations show Oerth being flooded by nascent armies of Planars of all alignments and every type.
There is no news from the League of Light and Shadow.
Perrenland is silent.
The Vesve is silent.
The Faerie of the Flanaess are silent.
The Elven Imperial Navy has not moved from it's dockage.
Vecna has emerged at Tovag Baragu.
Just a split second before he did, the Doomgrinder clicked that last click.
(The Doomgrinder is an evil windmill. But it's blades are made of steel, and do not turn. They click, like the minute hand of clocks.
It is said that when the blades are perfectly up and down, right and left, then Doom will fall on the world.
The blades have been one click away from standing perfectly vertical and horizontal.
They just made that final click, an instant before Vecna emerged from Tovag Baragu.
For anyone interested in tearing the infernal device down, it stands in the Cairn Hills, where Iuz holds power.)
Tenh, Delrune, and Calrune have built a system of massive fortifications between themselves and the Warlords to the west.
They have also fortified their northern border with Iuz.
They have armies deployed to stop any giant attacks from the Rakers.
Reports say that Gamboge Forest and Phostwood are being turned into gigantic traps for any army so foolish as to set foot inside them.
The same reports are coming from Celadan Forest.
They are confirmed in the Grandwood.
It would appear that the Grandwood is being MASSIVELY fortified, and that help, including Planar help, is being sent there (by whatever magic is available.)
Also, the people of the Gnarley Forest, always tough and loyal to their woodland, are digging in, bracing for an attack from the Shadow Throne.
And they are getting help from the Welkwood, and undoubtedly from others.
The Wild Coast is likewise bracing itself.
I don't need to say that the fiercely evil and fiercely independent monsters, hoards of monsters, in the Cairn Hills are ready and waiting for the Shadow Empire ... they WANT a fight. They want blood and battle and death.
The 3 Ulek Nations, the People of the Kron Hills, and the People of the Welkwood just formed into a new nation, called the Kingdom of Ulek.
It has allied with the Sky-Sea League.
To it's aid is coming a fleet of flying mountains - dwarven spelljammers, containing thousands of dwarves each (yes, the dwarves, and the dwarves alone, can do this ...)
Of course, I'm sure the Kingdom of Ulek does NOT appreciate Kas plundering the Principality of Ulek.
Kas was considering attacking Keoland, but he has changed his mind and marched into the Principality of Ulek on his way to the Pomarj.
Just what he will do when he gets there, nobody (including me) knows.
He DID send everyone a message, which said in no uncertain terms what would happen to any power that threatened him.
He also has revealed that VECNA is arrived in the Present, with his legions, which are TENS OF MILLIONS strong.
Seers and scryers find out very quickly, all too quickly, that Kas is telling the truth - and many of those scrying Vecna die, along with everyone in the same room, in sprays of blood (Vecna does not like being scried.)
Conversely, everyone who is sensitive to it feels Vecna scrying THEM. And they can't stop it - no magic seems to ward the scrying away (it's as bad as the Eye of Sauron, except taking the Ring off doesn't help.)
Wish spells don't stop Vecna's scrying ... although they do harm those attempting the Wish.
Kas sent some images of what Vecna is like. These images are all too true, and they are actually a severe understatement of the ghastly truth.
Vecna makes the Solistarim, Iuz, and Ivid look like clergy of Peace and Beauty, in comparison.
The Scro Armada is taking up positions over Oerth.
Over Oerth also are the Illithid and Neogi Armadas (along with the dwarven spelljamming mountains.)
These spelljamming forces are eyeing each other, waiting.
The United Commonwealth of Toril is allowing all ambassadors to enter their world.
Your ambassadors find a world of superscience and supermagic (think 11th level magic in use by every country.)
They find the world is filled with a strange race called the kender, who wish to come to Oerth and explore it.
They find a world where illithid, aboleth, beholder, phaerimm, elf, orc, troll, gnoll, dwarf, kobold, drow, svirfnebli, gnomes, halfling, human, scro, and just about everything else you can imagine, are all talking, walking, and working together like they were old friends.
And yes, they have the great cathedrals where the great orgies take place, and yes - they are exactly what the Wanderer said, and more.
They are an enlightened and noble people, the Torilians - but they are a little sad too.
They have been through it, so to speak, and the graveyards of the dead are enormous.
There are great monuments to battles and catastrophes all over the world, even though all the scars of battle have been erased.
By the way, the UNDEAD walk the streets also, and some of them are rulers, movers and shakers, in the United Commonwealth.
The United Commonwealth is a democracy, an alien concept to Oerth, where all it's people meet in a vast place called the World Forum, and while someone called the Prime Minister oversees the proceedings, they VOTE on what is to be done.
Nobody gives commands, nobody orders anyone around. Everything is done in committee, and by vote.
And, most amazing of all, the common people of the UC get to VOTE for their representatives to this World Forum!!
And if they don't like their representatives, they can vote them out.
The representatives of the UC must actually do what the people want, or be expelled!!!
There are rumors that Iuz is looking for something, and has sent people out to search. Who, and what for, is not known.
Meanwhile, a great force of humanoids is moving towards Vesve Forest.
They obviously intend to attack the place.
There is confirmation that the Frost, Snow, and Ice Barbarians, and Ratik, have allied with the Sky-Sea League. Spies discover this, and report it back to their respective countries.
There are reports the Scarlet Brotherhood is up to something.
What, nobody knows.
The Scarlet Brotherhood has been especially good at keeping spies out (and the fate of those they catch, even I'm not going into.)
The Shadow Throne is mobilizing. There is no question of it.
And unlike everyone else, they have their full Planar Army already on Oerth. It is huge. In the hundreds of thousands, at the very least. More like, in the millions.
Those armies are beginning to move. What is going to get hit first, nobody knows.
News comes that a spy in the Dark Union has been tortured to death, then raised as an undead. Apparently for his failure to discover that the Lortmil Technomancy existed.
The Dark Union is mobilizing, and hoards of peasants, struck with blood lust and dark patriotism, are flocking to the God Emperor's banner.
Worse, a group of ancient elves, locked in ice for thousands of years, has awoken in the Adri Forest.
These elves are very powerful, and very evil.
They are mobilizing all the evil forest spirits, and gaining control of the trees, and are preparing to take the Adri Forest.
They have apparently allied with the Dark Union.
A lot of spies from the Dark Union are caught in other countries.
In the Lortmil Technomancy, those caught are summarily executed, on the spot (GnomeWorks made this very clear. Interesting, but no spies seem to be able to get into the Lortmil Technomancy and report anything important ... or, they don't report back at all.)
There is a rumor that the Quaggoths of the Burneal (the abominable snowmen) are about to launch a major assault, either on the Nomads, the Solistarim, or both.
There is feverish activity in the Burneal.
In the barbarian lands, in the evil forests, the quaggoths there are astir, and up to something.
The Orcish Empire of the Pomarj has been sending ambassadors out, to every nation, to ask about the Sending of the Wanderer, what it means, and whether it is true.
The Kevellond League has talked with them, and a few others, but most seem to have ignored Turrosh Mak.
There is a massive buildup of forces in the Hool Marshes, led by no other than the demipower Kalden, Prince of Swords. There are reports of Planars massing there.
There are reports of extreme cruelty and barbarism in the Pomarj, and these reports are verified. Slaves who do not work hard enough are killed, and turned into undead who will work hard.
There is, surprisingly, little or no information from the Alliance of the Northwest Crescent.
However, most of the spies sent there are never heard from again.
The Wind Dukes of Aaqa are famous for their power, and they do not brook spies.
The Unseelie have started showing up all over the Flanaess, which is spooking an already terrified populace further (and of course, when news of the arrival of Vecna hits, a SECOND wave of panic rips through the Flanaess, with even the soldiers panicking. Many people die as order is restored brutally and forcefully in evil countries. In good countries, it takes longer for the anarchy to subside. There are more fires and more looting, more people fleeing into the hills, forests, and even mountains looking for shelter. Towns and hamlets lie deserted, the streets of cities are emptied as everyone huddles indoors.)
The Kevellond League has dug a series of trenches, a fortified battle line, up and down the borders of the drow and giant holdings, and along the lines of the mountains.
The forces of the Kevellond League are on the move, westward.
It is confirmed that the demipower Heward is leading one of these forces. It is confirmed that the demipower Murlynd is leading another.
In the evil nation of Zindia, Seers report an attack is imminent. From what, or where, they do not know.
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William Ronald
Explorer
In a crowded room, a short man with blondish-red hair appears. He is dressed in blue breeches and a red tunic emblazoned with the Black Lion of Keoland.
He turns to the gathered delegates and speaks.
"Our world faces many uncertain times. The Kevellond League is seeking the truth about Toril. We know full well that anyone can make a claim and present it as true. Someone seeks to manipulate us all, whether for our good or ill. We soon expect to have answers to our concerns, that we will freely share with others. We urge all nations to pursue their own investigations into the nature of the Torillians. Whether they are truly as the message portrayed is yet to be determined. However, we are convinced that the Lortmils Technocracy is motivated by a love of Oerth and does not seek to rule over us or be the lackey of another world. Indeed, can anyone truly say that the Torillians mean us good or ill? Whether they are from the United Commonwealth of Toril or this Church of Shade that urges an attack on us."
"Previously, we called for an end of all conflict between nations for the present crisis. However, we still hear those who call for attacks on their neighbors. Perhaps there are even those who wish us to fight amongst ourselves so we will fall when they strike. It has been done before."
"We are ready to stand with any nation, including our traditional enemies, for our own mutually assured survival."
"We urge all nations and powers of Oerth, include the Empire of Iuz, the Empire of Aerdi, and all others to stand down in their conflicts with their neighbors. Our situation now resembles that of an old parable:
There were two towns once. In each town, some parts of the city warried with others while others had peaceful relations. Regardless of the faction, there was courage and cunning to be found on all sides.
A dragon came to the lands of both towns. One town chose to continue its wars, and its inhabitants were slaughtered and enslaved. The second town, having wiser leaders, put aside their conflicts to deal with the threat of the dragon. Because of their wisdom and courage, the best was slain and the town was saved.
Which course shall we take, nations of Oerth? Shall we continue our present wars in the face of a foe who could conquer us all. Our shall we, at least for the present, put aside our differences and stand as one. What is your choice, leaders of Oerth?"
We now seek a truce with all nations and powers of Oerth.I know that I ask a difficult thing: peace with longstanding foes. However, as a popular proverb says, only a fool fights in a burning house. I trust that I am not addressing any fools."
"Ambassador Gwilym Raonul is journeying to Toril as we speak. There is at least ONE place where he can find the truth. Based on what he learns, we may accept the offer of an embassy to the United Commonwealth of Toril. Indeed, Ambassador Raonul is the person we sent to speak with the peoples of Toril and learn what threat they may pose to Oerth."
A message appears magically near one of the lieutenants of Kas.
(Only Mr. Draco and anyone he tells about the message is aware of it. Except for myself -and any possible allies I might have.)
To : Lord Kas
From: Archcleric Hazen, President of the Kevellond League
Our league has no quarrel with you or your people. Or with your enemy Vecna. We will escort you to the borders of our land to assist you in reaching the Pomarj.
We ask that you respect our people. As we respect yours. I and my allies suggest that you make haste to join your new ally in the lands that we share. We will not hinder your movements in the least, so long as you do not attack. We offer a non-agression pact with you. We also will offer the same non-agression pact with your enemy Vecna. We have no desire to see you and your foe fight each other in this land. Indeed, I suspect there are those besides myself who would look ill upon such a move."
At the same instant, a message appears near one of the lieutenants of Vecna.
(Only Vecna and anyone he chooses to tell knows about this message. Except for myself and any possible allies."
To Lord Vecna
From Archcleric Hazen, President of the Kevellond League:
Our league has no quarrel with you or your people. Or with your enemy Kas So long as we are not attacked, we have no desire to attack you.
We ask that you respect our people. As we respect yours. I and my allies suggest that you make haste to join your new ally in the lands that we share. We will not hinder your movements of Kas in the least, so long as you he does not attack. I have no qualms about letting him join his new ally in the Empire of Aerdi. We will not attack you unless we are attacked by you. We offer a non-agression pact with you. We also will offer the same non-agression pact with your enemy Kas. We have no desire to see you and your foe fight each other in this land. There are those who wold likely look ill on such action. "
To Iuz:
"It would appear that the Church of Shade seeks to subvert you to their will. You have warned us about the people of Toril. Do you think that the Church of Shade has a place for you that you would truly desire. We await your answer and your actions."
He turns to the gathered delegates and speaks.
"Our world faces many uncertain times. The Kevellond League is seeking the truth about Toril. We know full well that anyone can make a claim and present it as true. Someone seeks to manipulate us all, whether for our good or ill. We soon expect to have answers to our concerns, that we will freely share with others. We urge all nations to pursue their own investigations into the nature of the Torillians. Whether they are truly as the message portrayed is yet to be determined. However, we are convinced that the Lortmils Technocracy is motivated by a love of Oerth and does not seek to rule over us or be the lackey of another world. Indeed, can anyone truly say that the Torillians mean us good or ill? Whether they are from the United Commonwealth of Toril or this Church of Shade that urges an attack on us."
"Previously, we called for an end of all conflict between nations for the present crisis. However, we still hear those who call for attacks on their neighbors. Perhaps there are even those who wish us to fight amongst ourselves so we will fall when they strike. It has been done before."
"We are ready to stand with any nation, including our traditional enemies, for our own mutually assured survival."
"We urge all nations and powers of Oerth, include the Empire of Iuz, the Empire of Aerdi, and all others to stand down in their conflicts with their neighbors. Our situation now resembles that of an old parable:
There were two towns once. In each town, some parts of the city warried with others while others had peaceful relations. Regardless of the faction, there was courage and cunning to be found on all sides.
A dragon came to the lands of both towns. One town chose to continue its wars, and its inhabitants were slaughtered and enslaved. The second town, having wiser leaders, put aside their conflicts to deal with the threat of the dragon. Because of their wisdom and courage, the best was slain and the town was saved.
Which course shall we take, nations of Oerth? Shall we continue our present wars in the face of a foe who could conquer us all. Our shall we, at least for the present, put aside our differences and stand as one. What is your choice, leaders of Oerth?"
We now seek a truce with all nations and powers of Oerth.I know that I ask a difficult thing: peace with longstanding foes. However, as a popular proverb says, only a fool fights in a burning house. I trust that I am not addressing any fools."
"Ambassador Gwilym Raonul is journeying to Toril as we speak. There is at least ONE place where he can find the truth. Based on what he learns, we may accept the offer of an embassy to the United Commonwealth of Toril. Indeed, Ambassador Raonul is the person we sent to speak with the peoples of Toril and learn what threat they may pose to Oerth."
A message appears magically near one of the lieutenants of Kas.
(Only Mr. Draco and anyone he tells about the message is aware of it. Except for myself -and any possible allies I might have.)
To : Lord Kas
From: Archcleric Hazen, President of the Kevellond League
Our league has no quarrel with you or your people. Or with your enemy Vecna. We will escort you to the borders of our land to assist you in reaching the Pomarj.
We ask that you respect our people. As we respect yours. I and my allies suggest that you make haste to join your new ally in the lands that we share. We will not hinder your movements in the least, so long as you do not attack. We offer a non-agression pact with you. We also will offer the same non-agression pact with your enemy Vecna. We have no desire to see you and your foe fight each other in this land. Indeed, I suspect there are those besides myself who would look ill upon such a move."
At the same instant, a message appears near one of the lieutenants of Vecna.
(Only Vecna and anyone he chooses to tell knows about this message. Except for myself and any possible allies."
To Lord Vecna
From Archcleric Hazen, President of the Kevellond League:
Our league has no quarrel with you or your people. Or with your enemy Kas So long as we are not attacked, we have no desire to attack you.
We ask that you respect our people. As we respect yours. I and my allies suggest that you make haste to join your new ally in the lands that we share. We will not hinder your movements of Kas in the least, so long as you he does not attack. I have no qualms about letting him join his new ally in the Empire of Aerdi. We will not attack you unless we are attacked by you. We offer a non-agression pact with you. We also will offer the same non-agression pact with your enemy Kas. We have no desire to see you and your foe fight each other in this land. There are those who wold likely look ill on such action. "
To Iuz:
"It would appear that the Church of Shade seeks to subvert you to their will. You have warned us about the people of Toril. Do you think that the Church of Shade has a place for you that you would truly desire. We await your answer and your actions."
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Edena_of_Neith
First Post
There is latebreaking news.
The Kingdom of Ulek has allied with the Lortmil Technomancy.
Well, well ... the United Commonwealth issued a rebuke to the Sending of the Wanderer.
And now, they are saying they want the Shadows expelled.
Powers on Oerth are asking if the United Commonwealth will stay out of the war, and the UC is saying ... yes, but they want the Shadow Empire out of there too.
The Eternal Alliance of Kara-Tur has nothing to say to the Shade Empire (known as the Church of Shadow on Toril.)
The Eternal Alliance states that it is neutral, has always been neutral, and will always BE neutral.
They most CERTAINLY WILL NOT involve themselves in the affairs of a bunch of primitive savages on a primitive backwater world like Oerth.
And that is their final answer!
They then expel the emissary of the Church of Shade from their country.
- - -
Everyone who is seeking to find out who this Wanderer is, finds out information at about the same time.
You do not find out where he is, but ...
He is an elderly man, thousands of years old.
He is a druid (and to the UC, this should be important, since druids started the trouble on Toril.)
He is neutral in alignment, and worships the dieties of nature.
He has a history of bringing peace and contentment to those he has been in contact with.
He also has a history of bringing news and information to people ... startling and unexpected news. Sorta like the current news he just revealed.
He has no home. Truly. He is never in the same place twice, and has never visited any place on Oerth more than once.
He is not a demipower, but he is very powerful. He alone seems to be immune to Vecna's scrying (and, for that matter, the scrying efforts of the United Commonwealth.)
The Kingdom of Ulek has allied with the Lortmil Technomancy.
Well, well ... the United Commonwealth issued a rebuke to the Sending of the Wanderer.
And now, they are saying they want the Shadows expelled.
Powers on Oerth are asking if the United Commonwealth will stay out of the war, and the UC is saying ... yes, but they want the Shadow Empire out of there too.
The Eternal Alliance of Kara-Tur has nothing to say to the Shade Empire (known as the Church of Shadow on Toril.)
The Eternal Alliance states that it is neutral, has always been neutral, and will always BE neutral.
They most CERTAINLY WILL NOT involve themselves in the affairs of a bunch of primitive savages on a primitive backwater world like Oerth.
And that is their final answer!
They then expel the emissary of the Church of Shade from their country.
- - -
Everyone who is seeking to find out who this Wanderer is, finds out information at about the same time.
You do not find out where he is, but ...
He is an elderly man, thousands of years old.
He is a druid (and to the UC, this should be important, since druids started the trouble on Toril.)
He is neutral in alignment, and worships the dieties of nature.
He has a history of bringing peace and contentment to those he has been in contact with.
He also has a history of bringing news and information to people ... startling and unexpected news. Sorta like the current news he just revealed.
He has no home. Truly. He is never in the same place twice, and has never visited any place on Oerth more than once.
He is not a demipower, but he is very powerful. He alone seems to be immune to Vecna's scrying (and, for that matter, the scrying efforts of the United Commonwealth.)
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Serpenteye
First Post
Forrester said:
Ah! Then you will wait until the Shade presence is sizeable, something it can not yet be considered as being. They, and we, are far from ruling half of Oerth.
Festy_Dog
First Post
Silver Phase lay dumbfounded in his coffin as the wanderer's message filled his vision, but amongst all this, unrelated images flicked for mere fractions of seconds, as if the wanderer's message was bringing back memories of a former life. He disregarded them.
Quickly he sat up and started analysing what he could remember, but when he came across one of the unrelated images (a female human cleric) his mind was racked in pain. He tried to avoid these strange images where he could from that moment on. An hour later he had gathered his thoughts, and was deeply disturbed by them. His scaly brow furrowed in deep thought.
"There will be hard times ahead, a test of my physical and mental fortitude, and of my ability to lead," he muttered to himself, he then got out of the coffin and sat on a seat next to a great tome on a desk. He quickly wrote a couple of pages and then tore them out.
"Khelarque!" he yelled into the dark passage.
While he waited he took some loose papers from inside the desk and scribbled some more writing. As the oldish Duergar entered the room Silver shoved the fistful of papers at him.
"Get this done now, our people must be informed of what they have witnessed," he told Khelarque, pointing at a specific page, "I'm doing this personally, but I want you to be aware of it," Silver pointed towards another page, " And this is what you should do after that, get Obni to go with you, you will represent me and Obni will lead. I won't you on your way before the end of the month, the other pages will give you details on additional minor tasks and how everything should must be done."
"Yes my lord, I will see to these tasks immidiately," replied Khelarque, he had a fair idea of what Silver was thinking, he had been serving him for some time now. He guessed he was going to see Kalanyr about it.
"I must confer what has happened and what must happen with Kalanyr, I may be gone for some time while we're planning so I'm relying on you" and with saying that Silver Phase turned into a bat and quickly flew out of the crypt into the envoloping blackness.
Khelarque stood for a moment in the presence of Silver's empty coffin. He wondered how old Silver was, and for exactly how long he had known Kalanyr, then Khelarque looked at the walls and the carved depictions of war upon them, the thought of how many images would be replayed in the coming months came to him. He shrugged the thought off, he had more important things to do.
Khelarque said some incantations and teleported from the room, leaving it devoid of movement, save the shadows shifting eerily from the flickering candles, burning with the same flame that they had been lit with millenia before.
What I'm gonna do exactly:
- send a PL 35 force towards the Amidio Rainforest containing Obni and Khelarque.
- share what tech I know with Turrosh Mak, Forsaken One, LordMelkor{Talos}, The Dark Union and Kalanyr.
- Silverphase will personally appear at the conference with Kalanyr then afterwards will return to his crypt to make preparations
Quickly he sat up and started analysing what he could remember, but when he came across one of the unrelated images (a female human cleric) his mind was racked in pain. He tried to avoid these strange images where he could from that moment on. An hour later he had gathered his thoughts, and was deeply disturbed by them. His scaly brow furrowed in deep thought.
"There will be hard times ahead, a test of my physical and mental fortitude, and of my ability to lead," he muttered to himself, he then got out of the coffin and sat on a seat next to a great tome on a desk. He quickly wrote a couple of pages and then tore them out.
"Khelarque!" he yelled into the dark passage.
While he waited he took some loose papers from inside the desk and scribbled some more writing. As the oldish Duergar entered the room Silver shoved the fistful of papers at him.
"Get this done now, our people must be informed of what they have witnessed," he told Khelarque, pointing at a specific page, "I'm doing this personally, but I want you to be aware of it," Silver pointed towards another page, " And this is what you should do after that, get Obni to go with you, you will represent me and Obni will lead. I won't you on your way before the end of the month, the other pages will give you details on additional minor tasks and how everything should must be done."
"Yes my lord, I will see to these tasks immidiately," replied Khelarque, he had a fair idea of what Silver was thinking, he had been serving him for some time now. He guessed he was going to see Kalanyr about it.
"I must confer what has happened and what must happen with Kalanyr, I may be gone for some time while we're planning so I'm relying on you" and with saying that Silver Phase turned into a bat and quickly flew out of the crypt into the envoloping blackness.
Khelarque stood for a moment in the presence of Silver's empty coffin. He wondered how old Silver was, and for exactly how long he had known Kalanyr, then Khelarque looked at the walls and the carved depictions of war upon them, the thought of how many images would be replayed in the coming months came to him. He shrugged the thought off, he had more important things to do.
Khelarque said some incantations and teleported from the room, leaving it devoid of movement, save the shadows shifting eerily from the flickering candles, burning with the same flame that they had been lit with millenia before.
What I'm gonna do exactly:
- send a PL 35 force towards the Amidio Rainforest containing Obni and Khelarque.
- share what tech I know with Turrosh Mak, Forsaken One, LordMelkor{Talos}, The Dark Union and Kalanyr.
- Silverphase will personally appear at the conference with Kalanyr then afterwards will return to his crypt to make preparations
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William Ronald
Explorer
A statement is issued from the Kevellond League.
"Our ambassadors in the Uleks and the Lortmils speak highly of the good intentions of the rulers of those lands. We ask those rulers to contact us in private to see if we have mutual interests. We are at peace with you."
"Our ambassadors in the Uleks and the Lortmils speak highly of the good intentions of the rulers of those lands. We ask those rulers to contact us in private to see if we have mutual interests. We are at peace with you."
LordMelkor{Talos}
First Post
TO the leaders of Kara-Tur:
It seems that your enemies from Torillian Commonwealth are trying to make Oerth their colony! Then they would be unstopable! Could you do something, like diplomatic threats, that would take Commonwealth`s attention and stop them from sending forces to Oerth?
It seems that your enemies from Torillian Commonwealth are trying to make Oerth their colony! Then they would be unstopable! Could you do something, like diplomatic threats, that would take Commonwealth`s attention and stop them from sending forces to Oerth?
LordMelkor{Talos}
First Post
I am going offline for 8 hours. Edena, in case fighting begins while I am off remember that Shade have entire squadrons of highly skilled Assasins/Sahdowdancers, that are even deadlier because of their Shade template, they will strike at enemy leaders before any invasion.
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