If you're viewing this page on mobile, please consider switching to desktop view.
Where in the World?
Date: June 29th 2018 - August 3rd 2018
Type: Story Event
Overview:
Nametba, the famous crafter of Hanor, has gone missing. Her partner Scirocco has asked Valcyon for help, and he has called Niravar from all over Terran to help search for her.
Outcome:
After trekking all across Terran looking for Nametba, it turns out she was trapped in a cave system deep in the jungles of Sarthia. This system is now known as the Blood Crystal Caverns due to the brilliant red crystals found deep within. These are the same crystals Nametba was researching when she was trapped by a pack of Void Reapers. The crystals' magical essence allows gemstones to grow directly from a Niravar's pelt. Scirocco was the first Nir to discover this, when he accidentally sat on one of the crystals, causing small red stones to sprout from his rump.
This event added the following to the game:
- Gembound Mutation
- Crafting
- New quest to obtain Gembound Crystals
The sun rises in Hanor, light shattering against the various waterways into an array of brilliant flashes. With the sun, the city also stirs. People and Niravar begin to fill the streets and bridges, and you hear the buzz of the city coming to life. You have also found your way into the great city of Hanor - perhaps as a tourist, or perhaps looking to sell some of the materials you have gathered from your hunts, or perhaps you live here anyway.
As you go about your business, you hear rumors that Valcyon has been antsy recently - strange for one with a reputation for being so calm. You find out he has called for a public meeting in the Hanor’s City Hall. Typically these meetings are mind-numbingly boring discussions on prices of cabbage vs cilantro, but it’s rare for Valcyon to call for a meeting himself. Curious, you decide to take a peek. You can leave at any time if you get bored, you figure.
As expected, you are one of the only ones who bothered to show up aside from the city leaders. You see some familiar faces, including Darteri and Sade. There is also an unfamiliar white Niravar sitting to the right of Valcyon. He looks nervously between Valcyon and the ground, working his claws against the tiled floor. Valcyon appears surprised at your presence, but gives you a grateful nod. He clears his throat. “As you may have noticed,” he begins, “Hanor’s esteemed crafter, Nametba, has been missing for the past month.” The white Niravar gulps. Valcyon continues, “Nametba is responsible for creating most of the crafted goods available in Hanor -- no, all of Sarthia. “I propose forming a task force to locate Nametba as soon as possible.”
One of the city leaders interjects. “I understand that Nametba is a skilled crafter, but she is but one citizen. We can assign some local officers to try to find her, but I’m not sure if this is such a priori-”
The white Niravar leaps to his feet, trembling with anger. He glares at the leader and speaks in a teary voice. “She - Nametba - she, she’s not just-” Valcyon puts a large paw on his shoulder to calm him.
Valcyon rumbles deeply. “Nametba is a dear friend to both myself and Scirocco.”
Scirocco sits down, still shaky and angry, but abashed at his outburst. He murmurs an inaudible apology.
Everyone is silent. Valcyon finally speaks again. “If you are unwilling to loan some of Hanor’s protective forces, then we will gather a team of volunteers. I understand your not wanting to allocate so many resources to findingjust one citizen.” There’s the slightest hint of an accusing growl in his voice.
The city leader shifts uncomfortably.
- Reaction #1: *You cough awkwardly, unsure of what to do.*
- The tension in the room continues to grow until Valcyon sighs and pulls out a piece of paper. He scribbles something on it, then looks towards you.
- Reaction #2: *You volunteer to help look for Nametba.*
- You break the silence by speaking up and volunteering your aid. Scirocco looks surprised and Valcyon gives you a grateful smile. You wait for others to volunteer as well, but are met with awkward averted gazes. It looks like it's just you for now.
Valcyon grins and slides a piece of paper towards you. It’s a drawing.
“This is who you’re looking for,” he explains. “Darteri will provide you with assistance in directing your search. He may be blind, but he’s explored all of Terran and knows every location better than anyone else. I’m sure Scirocco would love to help too.” Scirocco jumps up and nods enthusiastically.
- Reaction #3: *“…..But that drawing doesn’t even help.”*
- Valcyon takes the paper back and stares at it intently, turning it this way and that. He sniffs, slightly miffed that his artistic prowess has gone unnoticed. Scirocco quickly jumps in, exclaiming, "Thank you though for helping us look for our friend! We appreciate it a lot! Right, Val?" He nods, immediately forgetting your transgression.
- Reaction #4: *You silently nod.*
- Valcyon nods back. So does Scirocco. You gaze at each other silently until all three of you crack into huge grins.
Valcyon beams then calls Darteri over. The blind mapmaker trots over and lays out a detailed map of Terran. You and Scirocco gaze at the dozens of locations you’ve never heard of before, much less seen. He begins explaining in a subdued voice, “We should start searching closest to Sarthia, where Nametba was last seen. We can then branch out and expand the search if we need to. I propose we start here.” Darteri points at three marked regions surrounding Sarthia: Grandiaga, Isiar, and Inor. How he does this while blind will forever be a mystery.
As you both turn to leave, Scirocco smiles at you and introduces himself formally. “Thanks for helping to find Nametba. I’m Scirocco, and I’ve been her assistant for the past 9 years or so. I mostly help with the newfangled magic things she’s been trying to craft. She said she’d found something really exciting about a month ago, but then she just vanished.” He lays his ears back and frowns in worry. “I searched all of Sarthia for her but couldn’t find her. I hope she’s okay…”
➤ Explore, Grandiaga, Isiar, and Inor.
Your search throughout Grandiaga, Isiar, and Inor have come up with interesting sights and sounds (as well as some loot), but no crafter. You return to Hanor to regroup.
Scirocco hangs his head low dejectedly as you deliver your results to Darteri and Valcyon. Valcyon headbutts Scirocco’s shoulder in reassurance. “We’ll find her,” he says, “don’t worry. You have your friend helping you, don’t you?” Scirocco gives you both a weak smile.
- Response #1: *"Hey, at least it was great to be in Grandiaga again, wasn’t it?"*
- Scirocco nods, frowning again. He replies, “We weren’t really there for fun though. I would have liked to go there with Nametba again…” Great. He’s sad again. Valcyon gives you a look and continues to comfort him.
- Response #2: *"We searched every blade of grass in Inor and she can’t have gone much further. We’ll find her!"*
- “Yeah, I guess,” Scirocco responds. Valcyon nudges him in encouragement.
- Response #3: *"We braved the dark forests of Isiar -- we can handle anything now!"*
- Valcyon’s eyes widen. “You actually went to Isiar? Both of you? You’re both unscathed!” He looks between the two of you. You and Scirocco both nod. Valcyon beams with pride and addresses Scirocco, “I never thought you’d ever willingly go to Isiar. I can’t say how proud I am of you and your dedication to your friend.” Scirocco blushes pink under his white fur and looks away, embarrassed.
Then Valcyon whispers so only you can hear: “Thank you for keeping him safe. Isiar is dangerous -- even I hesitate to go there -- and your commitment is appreciated.”
- Valcyon’s eyes widen. “You actually went to Isiar? Both of you? You’re both unscathed!” He looks between the two of you. You and Scirocco both nod. Valcyon beams with pride and addresses Scirocco, “I never thought you’d ever willingly go to Isiar. I can’t say how proud I am of you and your dedication to your friend.” Scirocco blushes pink under his white fur and looks away, embarrassed.
Darteri, businesslike as ever, pulls out his map again. “We’ll have to expand the search then. Let’s try Maktara and Ashki. Both are south of here and you should be able to get there in a couple of days’ time.” He gestures to two large regions beyond Inor. Valcyon nods. "Good plan," he says, "I'll try to follow my own leads from here in Sarthia, so why don't you two try looking there?"
- Response #4: *"What leads?"*
- Valcyon hesitates, thinking. He finally replies, "I don't want to get your hopes up, but Nametba wrote me a letter shortly before her disappearance that she had found 'something cool' and was going to investigate. I'll let you know if I learn more." You nod, though what Valcyon said wasn't exactly helpful. Scirocco cocks his head to the side. "Nametba never said anything like that to me! And if she was going to check out something like that, why wouldn't she bring me...?" Valcyon shrugs apologetically. Scirocco sulks, miffed that his best friend neglected to include him on whatever her new discovery was.
- Response #5: *"Sounds like a plan. Let's go."*
- Darteri nods and wishes you luck. You and Scirocco ponder the map, wondering where to go next.
➤ Explore Ashki and Maktara.
You return to Darteri in Hanor, still without Nametba. At this point, you have searched the entire Sarthian continent. Scirocco is almost in tears.
Darteri pulls out his trusty map again and stares at it thoughtfully. "Is it possible that Nametba went overseas?" He turns his head towards Scirocco expectantly, blind eyes having the same piercing effect as a direct stare. Scirocco finally breaks down. He sobs, "I don't know! She always tells me these things! Always! But she didn't this time, and I don't know why!" He continues to cry softly and Darteri turns away awkwardly.
Valcyon rumbles gently, causing you to jump. You never heard him arrive. Scirocco buries his face in his ruby mane and Valcyon puts an arm around him. "It's certainly possible that Nametba has gone overseas, but it's true that she's never gone so far without notifying anyone. My own leads have turned up something but don't know if it brings us any closer to finding her." Scirocco regains some of his composure and steps away from Valcyon, who looks at him with concern. Scirocco sniffs, wipes his face with a paw, and asks in a thick voice, "What did you find?"
"Well," Valcyon replied, "Nametba mentioned that she had found something in a cave outside of Augenne to the northwest. I'm still not sure what that something is, and it seemed she just stumbled upon it while doing some casual exploring on her way back to Hanor from Augenne. As that was the last contact I had with her, I decided to investigate and see if she had returned to that cave. After searching for a bit, I found a cave. It makes sense with respect to location and it fits her description I suppose, but..." He trails off.
"But what?" Scirocco asks.
"...It's full of Void Reapers." Valcyon finishes quickly and braces himself for Scirocco's response. There is none. Scirocco simply stares at Valcyon blankly, as if he doesn't know how to react. When he finally speaks, his voice is nothing more than a whisper.
"You mean," he gulps, "she's in a cave full of Void Reapers? And has been there for the past month?" He finishes in a cracked squeak. "No, no, no!" Valcyon hurriedly reassures him. "Well she might be, but it's not likely! She wouldn't go in there without any sort of protection or without telling us, right?" Valcyon looks to you for backup.
- Response #1: "I think she's in that cave."
- Valcyon glares at you as Scirocco's lip wobbles. "But I'll help you look," you add. Valcyon growls. "You are not going in that cave. It's too dangerous, even if there are two of you." You stare down Valcyon defiantly. "We've traveled across this entire continent looking for her and you're not going to let us explore the one lead that could help us find her? Even if you and Scirocco aren't willing to look for her there, I'm going!" you exclaim.
"I'm going too," sniffles Scirocco. Valcyon stares at him with his mouth agape. "You too? Did you hear me say that the cave was full of Void Reapers? Do you have any combat experience whatsoever?" Scirocco shakes his head, but straightens his posture and declares, "but I can learn! I have magic too!" To illustrate his point, he unleases a powerful concussive wave of energy into the air. You hear a loud whump as it rushes past you. It seems Scirocco's magic deserves more credit than you've given it. "I'll do anything to find Nametba and you can't stop me -- you can't stop us." He corrects himself, looking towards you.
Valcyon glances between you both and sighs. "Alright then. So be it. We'll need to prepare before we go. I'll teach you both to defend yourselves." Scirocco grins and nods, fresh determination brewing in his eyes.
- Valcyon glares at you as Scirocco's lip wobbles. "But I'll help you look," you add. Valcyon growls. "You are not going in that cave. It's too dangerous, even if there are two of you." You stare down Valcyon defiantly. "We've traveled across this entire continent looking for her and you're not going to let us explore the one lead that could help us find her? Even if you and Scirocco aren't willing to look for her there, I'm going!" you exclaim.
- Response #2: "Yeah, that's not likely. Let's keep searching the other regions of Terran."
- Scirocco takes a deep breath and agrees. "Yeah. She wouldn't go somewhere that dangerous without telling us, right?" Valcyon smiles. "Leave that cave to me. We'll find Nametba somehow, I'm sure of it."
Darteri clears his throat and gestures to the map again. "These are all of the other regions on Terran. You may explore as you wish." You and Scirocco gaze at the different regions, trying to decide where to go next.
- Scirocco takes a deep breath and agrees. "Yeah. She wouldn't go somewhere that dangerous without telling us, right?" Valcyon smiles. "Leave that cave to me. We'll find Nametba somehow, I'm sure of it."
➤ Spar with Valcyon, or Cross the Ocean with Mivory.
If you chose to spar with Valcyon:
Valcyon huffs and falls on his side on the dirt floor of the training arena. He flicks his tail in defeat. "You win. That was quite well done, both of you" Scirocco pants and sits down to rest, grinning from ear to ear. "Are we ready to enter the cave now?" Valcyon sighs. I suppose we've made Nametba wait long enough, haven't we? Let me get some rest and we can go." Scirocco leaps to his feet, both excited and nervous.
If you chose to cross the ocean with Mivory:
Exasperated and fatigued, you and Scirocco both return to Hanor. As you disembark your ship, you are surprised to see Valcyon waiting for you on the docks. "Come," he rumbles, "we found her." He begins to walk briskly back to the city hall. Scirocco bounds after him. "What?! Where? Is she okay?" Valcyon grimaces.
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?!"
"Do you remember that cave that I mentioned earlier? I explored part of it. I found this."
Valcyon produces a dirty leather glove. Scirocco gasps, instantly recognizing it. "But, but this is-"
"Yes. It's hers. I believe she is still alive though. The glove didn't look like it was just dropped -- I think she was using it to point towards where she was."
It's clear that Scirocco is somewhat dubious, but he nods hopefully. "We should go find her then." Valcyon begrudgingly nods. "I'm going to go convince the city of Hanor to lend me their best fighters. They'll bring her back for sure-"
"I'm going too."
Valcyon wheels around. Scirocco glares at the Ancient, daring him to challenge his assertion. He repeats himself. "I'm going too. Nametba is my friend. I've traveled all across Terran. I can handle some Void Reapers. Valcyon shakes in anger. "You're going to be killed. I'm trying to protect you." "I can protect myself!" Scirocco stamps his foot and magic sparks appear. "I won't be alone either, my friend is coming too! Right?" He looks towards you expectantly.
You and Scirocco follow Valcyon to the cave he spoke of -- only about a day's journey away. The entrance is hidden behind thick jungle foliage, but once the leaves are pulled back, the dark void stares at you ominously. Valcyon glances in Scirocco's direction, expecting him to be afraid.
Instead, Scirocco surprises everyone by padding forward into the cave with no hesitation. You walk quickly to catch up, and when you do, you realize that he is more focused and determined than ever before.
And then the first Void Reaper attacks.
You stumble upon it, really. In the darkness of the cave, you nearly run into it while it was doing...whatever Void Reapers do. It snarls and lunges for you. With a slash of your claws and a burst of magic from Scirocco, the Reaper skitters away deeper into the cave. You hear more movement further down though, and you strain your eyes to see. Perhaps a torch of some sort would have been a good idea.
As if reading your mind, Valcyon appears behind you carrying a burning torch. Its hazy orange glow isn't bright, but it does help illuminate the cave. He gives you both a chastising look for heading inside without him. Scirocco isn't looking at Valcyon though. He's investigating the dozens of small, red crystals that line some of the cracks in the cave. "What are these?" he asks in a whisper. As Valcyon brings the torch closer to look, the pool of light illuminates something else on the floor of the cave further down. It's a dirty leather work glove. You can tell it used to be white, but it's been stained with oil and dirt. It appears to be pointing further into the cave.
Show your Niravar with or without Scirocco/Valcyon trying to pull off or examine one of the red crystals, investigating the glove, or fighting a Lesser Void Reaper deep inside the cave.
You venture deeper into the cave. Then deeper still. Valcyon and Scirocco remain by your side as you squeeze through tight crevices and claw your way up nearly vertical climbs. The orange glow from Valcyon's torch seems to become less and less effective at illuminating the space around you, even though the fire itself burns as strongly as ever. How long have you been in here? Hours? Days? After some time, you realize that no Void Reapers have attacked you in a while. Looking around, you see no trace of any Void Reapers. There is nothing but the flickering of Valcyon's torch, the occasional drip of water from a stalactite, and even more of those strange red crystals.
Scirocco shifts uneasily and Valcyon doesn't look pleased either. "It's the crystals, I think," Scirocco mutters in explanation, "They're giving off some kind of magical energy... I don't like it." Even though Scirocco does his best so speak quietly, his voice echoes between the cave walls. Valcyon shakes himself and moves on, glancing sideways at a particularly large clump of crystals. Before he can take more than a few steps however, there is an echo back:
"...Hello?"
It's barely above a whisper, but it's unmistakable. Scirocco's eyes immediately widen and he jumps. "That's her!" he yells, no longer caring to stay quiet. "Nametba, it's us! We're here! Where are you?"
"I'm over here." The faint voice comes from what you thought was a pile of rubble to one side. Upon closer inspection, it appears these rocks were moved pretty recently--a cave-in? You hear rocks being moved on the other side, and the whole top portion of the pile shifts precariously. Scirocco runs over to the pile and uses his magic to begin clearing rocks from the top of the pile. You and Valcyon have to dodge the large rocks as Scirocco haphazardly throws them to the side. Eventually he clears a window at the top and peers through. "Nametba!"
You clamber to where Scirocco is to be greeted by a woman's face smiling weakly at you. "Scirocco!" she whispers weakly. "How on earth did you find me, you silly cat?" Her dark curly hair is matted and dirty, and the pale dust over the dark skin of her face makes her look almost skeletal. Scirocco doesn't speak, just reaches in with his paw and sobs while Nametba takes it in her hands.
The escape from the cave feels like it goes much more quickly than the trip into it. Scirocco pulls himself together and between you, him, and Valcyon, you're able to clear a path for Nametba to crawl through. She's clearly weak and emaciated, and Valcyon throws her onto his back as if she weighed no more than a cub. The four of you practically race out of the cave, swiftly dealing with the few Void Reapers who dare cross your path until you stand blinking in the bright light of day. Valcyon doesn't pause however, and leads the party to the great hospital at Augenne--mercifully just under an hour's walk from the cave. The healers gasp as you approach. You must be quite a sight; all of you are covered in dust and dirt and whatever injuries the Void Reapers managed to land. One of them takes Nametba off of Valcyon's back and whisks her away. It's only now that you realize how tired you are, and you let a healer lead you to a hospital bed where you promptly fall asleep.
You awaken to sunlight streaming through the curtains of the white ward. You lay there confused for a moment, until you remember where you are. This is a room in the hospital at Augenne. You have successfully rescued Nametba. Where is she now? And the others? With some effort, you roll yourself off of the hospital bed, limbs protesting from the ordeal you've been through. You see that the healers have cleaned you up and bandaged you as you slept. You hear a deep, booming laugh from outside the door, probably down the hall. You slowly make your way to where the sound was coming from to see Valcyon in another room, sitting next to another bed. He laughs again, and this time you hear a woman's laugh too. Nametba is sitting up in the bed, already looking much better than she did when you found her. She sees you enter and smiles warmly. "You! I'm sorry, we never introduced ourselves. I'm Nametba, the crafter. Thank you so much for coming to find me!" You approach her bed and introduce yourself. "Where's Scirocco?" you ask.
"Right here." Scirocco trots in through the doorway, clearly just as tired and sore as you are. He just barely refrains from jumping on you and settles for sitting next to you, butting his head against your shoulder playfully. "Oh, you," Nametba murmurs as she pulls in Scirocco's head for a hug. Scirocco stiffens. Nametba notices and pulls back. "What's wrong, 'Rocco?"
Scirocco doesn't look at her and stares intently at the bedsheets as he asks, "Why didn't you bring me with you when you left? Or tell me where you were going? We're supposed to be friends, aren't we?"
Nametba sighs sadly. "I know it was dumb, but I wanted to surprise you. I found some materials at the cave that I thought you could use to help me craft some cool new things. I just went back to get some more to surprise you with when I was attacked by Void Reapers. They chased me deeper into the cave, and then I got lost, and then there was a cave-in, and...and I'm really sorry Scirocco."
Scirocco finally turns his head to look at Nametba. His bobbed tail begins to wiggle and he finally headbutts her too, letting her put her arms around his neck. "Well what was the surprise though?" he asks, voice muffled from his head being buried under her arm.
"Oh!" Nametba quickly reaches over to a bag lying on a bedside table. She turns it upside down, sending old food wrappers and several small red crystals tumbling out onto the bed. "You probably saw these in the cave too," she says, picking one up. "I'm not magical like you are but I just know these have some magic in them. What do you think, 'Rocco?" She holds it out to him.
Scirocco leans in and sniffs the crystal. You can feel a hum of energy coming from it, though it's less disconcerting now that you are in a more comfortable setting. The albino Niravar closes his eyes and leans his forehead against it, touching it experimentally with his own magic.
There's a bright flash and a yelp. "'Rocco! Hey, you okay? 'Rocco!" You rub your eyes with a paw, trying to blink away the afterimage of the flash. Valcyon is already by Scirocco's side. He blinks, dazed. "Well, that's some magic for sure. I'm not sure what we can use that for, but maybe...why are you all looking at me?"
Scirocco looks different. Red gemlike growths have appeared on his flanks and face. "Uh, you may want to go look in a mirror," Nametba suggests.
As Scirocco races off to find a reflective surface, Nametba turns to you. "You're free to take some too. I think they're safe to touch as long as you don't try to activate them magically." There's a yelp from down the hall. It appears Scirocco found a mirror. Nametba chuckles. "I guess you could try to make that happen on purpose if you wanted to. I think I actually like that gem-covered look."
"Speak for yourself!" Scirocco trots back in. "I didn't ask to be gembound!"
"'Gembound,'" Nametba repeats thoughtfully. "I like it. You okay, Rocco?"
"Yeah," he replies, "it doesn't hurt or anything." He sits and cranes his head back to gaze at his newly bedazzled rump.
"Well, it looks like the crystals have unintended side effects so we may not be able to use them for crafting after all. But why don't you take a few anyway? They'll make pretty trophies if nothing else. Come see us in Hanor sometime and we'll see what we can craft for you!" Nametba winks. "I'll even set you up with a discounted rate!"
Journey to the Lucent Caverns
Date: October 31st 2018 - December 16th 2018
Type: Story Event
Overview:
Mivory has snatched a treasure map from Sade, and has recruited you to help uncover what secrets the map might reveal.
Outcome:
After navigating through the unpredictable tunnels of the Lucent Caverns, a hidden enclave of Niravar featuring traits never seen before was discovered first by the Niravar Marigold and Spire, who were followed shortly after by Thoron, Loki, Fury, and Sirloin. The leader of the Lucent Caverns enclave, Vibris, was welcoming and with careful mediation has opened up trade between the overworld and the Caverns.
This event added the following to the game:
- Lumos marking
- Angler Barding, Double Ears, Double Horns, Tendril Tail
- New starters Vibris, Feliconia, Katreya, Fasir
- New quest that replicates the random prompts of the event.
"Hey, you!" A voice grabs your attention. You whirl around to find the source is a black and red merle Niravar hastily trotting in your direction. You squint. Perhaps he looks familiar?
Before you can react, he breaks into a run to close the distance between the two of you. He skids to a stop, panting for breath, and you discreetly wave away the cloud of dust he's raised. "You!" he exclaims, "I've been looking for you!" Seeing your puzzled expression, he continues rapidly, "My name is Mivory. We may or may not have worked together a few months ago, I can't quite remember faces too well. Sorry. But anyway, have I got a proposal for you!" Mivory grins toothily and sits up. With unnecessary dramatic flair, he whips out a rolled-up piece of parchment and lays it flat before you.
You peer quizzically at the parchment. It's a map. It's not particularly old, but someone--probably a Niravar--has carefully scratched out some clear outlines and landmarks in black ink. You glance up at Mivory, awaiting an explanation. He winks, looking proud of himself. "That there is a bona fide treasure map! You'll never guess how I got it!" He bites his lip for a moment, virtually shaking from excitement, then bursts out, "I stole it! Ha! From Professor Sade herself! Turns out she can't hold her drink as well as she thinks she can!" Mivory cackles. "Just get a lil' booze in her and she starts yammerin' away about all the secret work she's been doin' in Maktara."
"Apparently there's been an earthquake there--a huge one! The place has always been hot and dangerous, but now it's even more so. Fountains of fire that create more of those glass spires, whole areas that are choked with poisonous gases, you name it! You've gotta be crazy to go somewhere like that if you ask me, but apparently ol' Dr. Sadie's got guts! And wouldn't you know it, she found something at the heart of it all."
Mivory pauses for dramatic effect. You're beginning to lose your patience.
"It's a cave!" He continues, "But not just any cave. This is an old volcanic tunnel--this goes deep under the desert. And! And! She found evidence that others have been there! Like runes or something, I don't know!
Oblivious to your reaction, Mivory keeps talking. "I went to check it out, y'know? But--and I'm ashamed to say this--I couldn't make it through. I found the opening of the cave all right, but it's a godsdamn maze in there." He scratches his mane sheepishly. "I'm a seasoned pira-er, I mean bounty hunter and trader. Volcanoes and caves aren't my thing, y'see? But! Maybe you can help?" He turns the map over to reveal some of his own crude drawings and scribbles: failed attempts to map the labyrinth. "There has to be something in there that's really, really valuable. Imagine who wrote those runes and how old they are! But we have to get in, and then get out as quick as we can. The ground's always shifting there, especially now that the volcano's acting up. What do you say, are you with me?"
After a treacherous journey through Maktara's heat, you reach the desert's center, a place known as Silacia. Glass spires rise around you and beneath one such spire, you find the half-buried entrance to the cave. It looks like word has spread and there are a few other pairs of pawprints leading inside. Taking a deep breath, you enter the warm, dry volcanic tunnels. Very quickly, you see the path splits before you. Do you continue to the left, center, or right?
You continue deeper into the labyrinth. The promise of treasure might still drive you determinedly forward, or perhaps you are exhausted from your journey and are wondering how you will ever find your way back out. As you walk, you realize that you have been making your way through a set of winding tunnels for a while without anything eventful happening. You look down at the floor and see some impressions in a patch of volcanic dirt. Are they...footprints? Yes! Niravar footprints. Several sets of them. It looks like a few Niravar have come this way before. You follow the footprints until you begin to see a faint blue glow at tne end of the tunnel.
With one final turn, you blink your eyes at a sudden brightness. The air smells fresh; however, you're not outside. Your eyes adjust to see a marvelous cavern illuminated by the glow of hundreds of enormous glowing mushrooms. Tiered waterfalls cascade into several pools, the top-most of which also emits a soft glow. You recognize it instantly. An Aether Pool! That must be why there is so much life deep in a vacant magma chamber. The Pool's life-giving energy probably sustains the entire ecosystem down here.
Suddenly, there is a soft cough. You tear your eyes away from the spectacle to see an odd-looking creature. He is definitely a Niravar, but he sports traits that you have never seen on a Niravar before. Like everything else in this cavern, he too is glowing.
"Who arth you, carfaill?" he asks in a soft voice. His English has a heavy accent that you don't recognize, but most of it remains understandable. Looking past him, you finally notice many pairs of curious eyes belonging to other Niravar hidden among the mushrooms. Many of them also have the same strange traits as this one. The golden stranger tries again in slow, broken English. "My ainw... my name isth Vibris. You arth...lost? You arth not first lost teithaill...ah...traveler here, but first in long time. You stay. The twneila, the tunnels arth sehry perytach...much dangerous."
Congratulations, you have reached the Lucent Caverns!
Winter Celebration 2018/2019
Date: January 1st - January 20th 2019
Type: Casual Event
Overview:
A long time ago, during the great Cataclysm, Drakhan was locked under a thick layer of ice. Frozen solid, the entire northern continent was devoid of life. The Drakhanites that live there today tell tales of a brave warrior who fought for a hundred years against the ice and frost to bring warmth and life back to the region. Each year, with the return of the snowy winter, they celebrate their triumph over the ice as a reminder that the harsh times of cold and scarcity are only temporary and that with each other and with a hundred years' worth of determination, they can overcome anything. Come take part in the festivities! The more Niravar celebrate together, the faster spring will come!
There were three types of activities in this event.
- Snowy Battlegrounds, where Niravar would build and defend snow forts.
- Winter Dance, where Niravar would attempt to snag a cluster or redberries into the antlers of a Spinehind.
- A New Friend, where Niravar would trek into the wilderness and attempt to befriend an Ice Drake.
This event added the following to the game:
- Standard and Pearlescent Ice Drakes
- The starter Norvindh
- Drakhan Aurora Background
The Library of Tybernoa
Date: March 15th 2019 - April 12th 2019
Type: Story Event
Overview:
Strange comets have been seen streaking through the sky and upon investigation, they are magical 'Flight Seeds'. Quall, an Ancient like Valcyon says the hidden library of Tybernoa, which has circumvented Terran since the Cataclysm is falling and needs your help.
Outcome:
Niravar across Terran came together and selflessly sacrificed the Flight Seeds they found to Quall, rather than keep them for themselves. This sacrifice allowed Quall to utilize the power of the Seeds to restore the magic that kept Tybernoa aloft, saving countless pre-cataclysm documents from certain ruin. Niravar ended up donating 156 Flight Seeds of the required 75.
This event added the following to the game:
- Quall, the Ancient of Space
- Feathered-Wing Mutation
- New quest to obtain Flight Seeds and replicates the random prompts of the event
It's twilight. The sun has just set and you are outdoors finishing up your daytime business. For a fraction of a second, your surroundings brighten and your shadow dances on the ground before you. You blink and look up. Nothing. The sky is clear. ...Whatever it was, it's gone now. Or maybe it was nothing.
Just as you are about to look away, a shooting star streaks across the sky. Ah, that must have been the source of the light from before. It's quite a bit brighter than you're used to and you weren't aware that there was supposed to be a meteor shower tonight. What luck to see it!
As you finish your thought, there is another shooting star. And another. Soon enough, the sky is filled with streaks and flashes of light that come cascading toward the ground. Oddly, they seem to originate from one central spot in the heavens. You take a step back, wondering if you should find shelter. As you watch, one final star--larger than the rest--falls to the ground somewhere on the horizon. And then the sky is still. Squinting up at the central point where the stars came from, all you see is the vague outline of a dark shape. What could it be?
The next morning, Niravar everywhere are abuzz with the news of the previous night. The strange astronomical event was visible across most of the northern hemisphere, from Drakhan all the way to northern Sarthia and Urus. Even the areas that experienced daytime during the event reported bright streaks in the sky. That was no ordinary meteor shower, but no one is quite sure what it is yet. Furthermore, in the light of day, the dark shape that the stars came from is more visible. Valcyon and Professor Sade are in a state of controlled panic as they continue to monitor the object. There are whispers that it is slowly drifting closer towards the earth. You squint at it. It might indeed be getting slightly larger, though it's difficult to tell.
The more adventurous of Niravar have set out on quests to search for the fallen stars, or whatever they are. There is much curiosity regarding what they could be, especially the large one that fell at the end. Centori seems particularly antsy. She joins in the search, setting off into the forests bordering Grandiaga where she thought she saw it fall. Will you join in the search?
➤ Search for fallen stars.
"You," Centori gasps.
You realize that the object in the crater is, in fact, a Niravar. You dash forward--perhaps out of curiosity, perhaps out of concern. Still frozen, Centori stays behind. You roll the strange Niravar over. She groans and her leg is at a strange angle, but she is alive.
Her eyes flutter open. "Who...wh..." she mutters, sitting up and wincing. She puts a paw to her face and gathers herself. "Th-thank you... Where am I?"
"You're back on Terran, Quall."
Centori spits out the name with an unexpected vehemence, as if the word has sullied her tongue. She stiffly stands before Quall, glaring down at her with icy blue eyes. It takes her a moment, but Quall gasps in recognition. "Centori! But I-"
"What, never expected to see me again? After you banished me from our home?" Centori's tail flicks in anger. She sneers. "And now look at you. What, is your precious library in trouble? Do you need my help?"
Quall sighs, not meeting her eyes. "...Yes." Seeing Centori's eyes flash in anger, she interjects, "Please, Centori! Tybernoa needs you."
Quaking in rage and disbelief, Centori sputters and stalks off. Quall sighs and nurses her injured leg. You wonder if you should follow her or stay with the injured Quall.
- Response #1: *Follow Centori*
- Concerned for your companion, you give Quall a quick apology and chase after her. You catch up to her as she is leaning against a tree, still shaking with anger. Noticing you, she sighs.
"The gall of that Nir! After what she's done to me, she expects me to..." She trails off, noting your confused looks. "I guess I should explain," she grumbles.
"That's Quall. The Ancient. She disappeared hundreds of years ago after the Cataclysm. You know where she disappeared to? She created an enormous library--big enough to preserve all of our knowledge from before the Cataclysm. It contains everything you want to know: history, magic, science, you name it. She called it Tybernoa. And after the Cataclysm happened, she was afraid of it! She said that so much knowledge would only be misused if anyone else had it. So she used her magic to raise the entire library into the sky and it's been floating above Terran, hiding in the clouds.
"I was born there. There's an Aether Pool at its center and one day, it created me. An Aether-Born. Quall was surprised to say the least, and she was my mentor for a while... But when I saw everything going on on Terran... All the war, sickness, people getting hurt... And we had the knowledge to save people! Stop the suffering! She wouldn't let me make Tybernoa known to the rest of Terran. She wouldn't let me help anyone, even though I was able to! And when I tried, she banished me from Tybernoa--my home."
Centori dug her claws into the ground. "I don't even care what happens to it anymore. If she wants help, she's going to have to ask someone else. Just...just leave me alone. You do what you want."
Respecting Centori's wishes, you give her some space and return to Quall, who gives you a nervous look as you check her injuries. "Please," she begs even as she cannot meet your eyes, "you must help me."
- Concerned for your companion, you give Quall a quick apology and chase after her. You catch up to her as she is leaning against a tree, still shaking with anger. Noticing you, she sighs.
- Response #2: *Stay with Quall*
- You watch Centori leave and stay with Quall. "I'm sorry for our behavior," she apologizes. "I'm afraid my daughter and I have quite a few issues to work through. Hm? Oh, she's not my daughter by blood, no, she's an Aether-Born." She sighs. "I suppose some exposition is in order. Have a seat."
"My name is Quall. You might know me as one of the four Ancients: the sole survivors of the Cataclysm. Tybernoa is a library. A repository of all of the information that I could gather before the Cataclysm, and I've been adding more and more information ever since." She peers up into the sky. "I hid it among the clouds so that the knowledge would never fall into the wrong hands and cause another Cataclysm."
"Centori was born from the Aether Pool at Tybernoa's center. A while ago, she and I had a...disagreement. She was a danger to the library and I had to make sure that all of the knowledge was safe. She was going to make the library fall out of the sky! I had to do something!" Quall gives you a look, desperately wanting you to understand. "Her magic isn't as strong as she thinks--she could have gotten hurt or destroyed the library!" Tears form in her eyes as she clutches your shoulders. "And now that might all be for nothing."
- You watch Centori leave and stay with Quall. "I'm sorry for our behavior," she apologizes. "I'm afraid my daughter and I have quite a few issues to work through. Hm? Oh, she's not my daughter by blood, no, she's an Aether-Born." She sighs. "I suppose some exposition is in order. Have a seat."
"Tybernoa is falling." Quall whispers.
You glance briefly at the sky.
"Well, gradually, but it is still falling. Its Aether Pool was showing some instability you see, and I tried to purify it on my own. And it worked, I think. But it created a blast of aetheric energy that destroyed the flight magic holding the library up. It also blew me away and, well, I fell off the edge. Please, you can't let it reach the ground! All of the knowledge that has ever existed on Terran...it will be lost! Or worse, it could fall into the wrong hands."
You try to calm her down. She takes a few deep breaths.
"If I can get back up there, I can stabilize the magic and save the library. I don't have the magic to fly myself up there, especially in my current state, but if you can gather some Flight Seeds, I should be able to harness the magic inside them." She opens a paw to produce a faintly glowing seed.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" she says softly. "It's from the tree at the center of Tybernoa. It's older than myself and full of magic from the Aether Pool at its base. Its seeds were scattered around during the explosion and there should be a few lying around. You might have seen the falling from the sky--they're a bit hard to miss. I think...I think I will need 10 of them in order to have enough magic. Please, will you help me?"
➤ Search for or fight for a Flight Seed.
“Careful, it’s really picking up here!” Quall shouts over the roaring winds of the falling island.
Centori nods, using all her focus to match the angle of Quall’s wings as they rise up to meet Tybernoa. The great tree at its heart creaks and groans, leaves flying wildly from its branches in a long trail marking Tybernoa’s downward descent.
Quall dives down towards a grassy courtyard, landing softly before running towards an impressive stone staircase. The island rumbles and already bits of stone and dirt have been ripped from the ground, leaving gruesome scars embedded in what was once carefully tended greenery.
You and Centori quickly follow after Quall who waits at the top of the stairs. She points towards the right at an immense building constructed of white marble and adorned with a golden domed roof.
“Hurry, we can access the great tree from there.” She says
The marble building creaks as it fights to maintain its structure. Fine cracks spread across stone pillars that Quall rushes past with a glance. Within the center of the building the deep Aether Pool of Tybernoa swirls calmly, oblivious to the impending doom of its home. Quall leaps up another staircase and steps out onto a wide balcony built right next to the gnarled bark of the great tree.
“Please stand back,” She cautions.
Quall closes her eyes and concentrates. The Flight Seeds from her satchel glow brightly and zip free of their confines. They circle Quall, softly pulsating and soon Quall herself is bathed in the same golden light as the seeds. She whispers something in the tongue of the ancient Niravar and her normally blue eyes turn glowing white. The Flight Seeds spin faster and faster, ringing her in a halo of gold. Giant white runes appear around the base of the great tree, many fractured or missing entirely. The damaged runes begin to fill with the same gold light that cloaks Quall. With each repaired rune it seems as though Tybernoa’s descent slows more and more.
“Just...a..little bit more.” Quall grunts through gritted fang.
The last rune fills in and the area is flooded with golden light. As your eyes adjust you see Quall collapsed amid the now grey and lifeless flight seeds scattered on the balcony floor.
“Mother!” Centori gasps as she rushes to the ancient’s side.
Quall’s eyes flutter open, now returned to their normal blue shade. “My dear...we did it. Tybernoa is...safe now.”
You look up at the great tree where rings of alternating clockwise and counterclockwise runes rotate around its immense trunk. It’s branches were a bit bare but nothing that time couldn’t fix.
Quall pushes herself to her feet with the help of Centori and approaches you.
“I was wrong for hiding Tybernoa. I see now that Terran, though full of outsiders, is full of generosity and has a lot to offer. I am indebted to you all.”
Centori’s mouth falls open in surprise, then curls into a feline grin.
Quall looks up at the great tree with pride. “Tybernoa will remain unhidden. Anyone who can find their way up is welcome to explore and make their home here.”
Shipwreck Sighted!
Date: June 4th 2019 - July 13th 2019
Type: Casual Event
Overview:
Perime of the Djama Trading Company has sought assistance in navigating the Nirmuda Square to recover shipments lost to wreckages beneath the waves. These chests could be turned for Treasure which could be redeemed for a number of items. Chests contained a small chance of a Cursed artifact.
This event added the following to the game:
- The starter Pisciv
- Finned Mutation
- Cursed Forgery, Cursed Compass, and Cursed Medallion
- New quest to obtain Shiny Scales and replicates the random prompts of the event
"Hey! Hey you!"
A familiar voice calls out to you.
"Hey, it's me again! Mivory!"
Mivory trots up to you, looking proud of himself. He has a stranger in tow.
- Response #1: *You groan in annoyance. What does he want now?*
- Mivory bats you on the shoulder. "Don't be like that! I have something very exciting--and profitable--for us!"
- Response #2: "Hi Mivory! Another adventure?"
- "That's right!" he answers, teeth flashing as he beams. "I knew you would want in!"
Mivory continues. "This is Perime from the Djama Trading Co. and it turns out that she...well...why don't you explain?"
Perime gives a slight nod.
"Pleased to meet you. I've contracted Mivory here to do a bit of research for us. You see, many of our ships have unfortunately been lost in an area of ocean off the coast of Djama called the Nirmuda Square. We try to avoid these waters as they're known to be quite dangerous, but we've lost some ships--and product--in the area regardless. We were hoping to conduct an expedition into the area to find out just what makes it so dangerous. This would involve traveling into the Nirmuda Square and diving to examine any wreckage you find in case there are clues as to what sank the ship."
Mivory interrupts with a cough. "May I have a word with my dear associate here?" He puts an arm around you. Perime nods politely and moves away. Mivory huddles in close and reduces his voice to a hoarse whisper.
"So here's the kicker! Some of the shipwrecks down there are old. I'm talkin' pre-Cataclysm old. You know what that means? Treasure!" He twirls his whiskers with a claw. "Though, between you n' me, if you want to sell any rare chests you find to me instead of opening them, I'll buy them off of you for more treasure." He winks. "So, are you in?"
- Response #3: "Count me in!"
- Mivory beams and claps you on the back. "That's the spirit!" He motions for Perime to come back.
- Response #4: "Nope, bye."
- Sends you back to the homepage. :P
- Response #5: "Why don't you go diving for treasure yourself?"
- Mivory laughs. "I would, but the Nirmuda Square is no joke! I'll need a strong crew before I even think about venturing there. Not to mention that I'm not much of a diver myself--not that I'm afraid of the sea, oh no, it's just that an expert captain like me needs to be on deck to steer the ship! Better use of resources, wouldn't you say?" He laughs a bit too loudly, attracting the attention of Perime.
Perime returns to the conversation. "I trust you have reached a decision on whether you will support our endeavor?" she asks. "If so, then we can set off at once."
Inoran Harvest 2019
Date: September 4th - October 5th 2019
Type: Casual Event
Overview:
Inor is famous for its rolling meadows and endless fields of crops that feed the majority of the continent, and provides a robust trade route through Sarthia, Grandiaga, and even over to Drakhan and Djama. As the fields mature, a great celebration is held all across Inor to mark the time for harvest. This celebration is filled with good food and fun games, and Niravar from all over funnel in to enjoy the activities!
There were three types of activities in this event.
- Apple Bobbing, where Niravar dive into creeks and rivers to snag delicious apples while avoiding the harsh taste of the onions mixed in.
- Dance of the Lady, where Niravar dressed up like a ladybug and frolicked through the fields.
- Evening Fireflies, where Niravar ventured out into the night to try and catch as many fireflies as possible.
This event added the following to the game:
- The starters Knik'el, Eiere, Brutus, Azarae, and Somnus
- The new markings Azurite, Jade, Heliodor, and Seaspray
- New Firefly familiar and skill Lucky Lure
Winter Celebration 2019-2020
Date: December 13th 2019 - January 31st 2020
Type: Story Event & Casual Event
Overview:
While this event consisted of the standard celebration activities as the previous year, it also introduced a new story event where users could ally with either Atra or Noktis as they navigated the dangerous and icy wilds of Drakhan to hunt down the legendary ice drake Vynnfurth.
Outcome:
More Niravar sided with Noktis who secured the tenuous loyalty of Vynnfurth. Atra was defeated and her followers scattered. Noktis and Vynnfurth traveled to the Sorcas Islands where Vynnfurth brought ruination to the islands and thus secured Drakhan's hold on the territory. The great ice drake continues to patrol his territory from the sky, while Drakhan soldiers cover the ground. While Noktis has won some respect back in Drakhan, some disagree with his methods.
This event added the following to the game:
- Amber and Albino Ice Drakes
- Icy Fur and the Draconic-Winged Mutation
- Removed Atra and Mnemoc from the Starter pool
- New quest to obtain Icy Fur
As you return from a day of festivities, a bit of heated conversation sticks out from the rest of the atmosphere of the celebration. Hidden away behind an empty Spinehind corral you see Noktis and Atra arguing.
The dark coated Niravar pushes past the mottled black and blue coat of the larger draft. He sulks past you, hardly sparing a glance. His eyes focused on the path ahead. Atra watches him leave, muttering under her breath.
- Choice #1: *Join Noktis*
- As Noktis slinks off, you quickly spin around and dart along the Spinehind corrals until you intercept him. He jumps back at your approach and into a fighting stance, a low growl emanating from the back of his throat.
"What do you want." he snarls.
You mention you overheard his conversation with Atra, and that you were interested to know more about 'Vinnerth'.
"It's Vynnfurth." He growls. "Why?"
The question throws you off-guard and you take a moment to think. Eventually you begin to list off a few different reasons why you're interested in the legend such as, you'd like to see if its true, you've got nothing better to do, its better to travel with someone especially in the mountains, your list goes on and on in the hope that something will stick with Noktis.
About 12 reasons in, Noktis raises a paw, clearly irritated. "Alright I get it. You're very excitable you know? But you're right, I haven't been in the mountains for some time and it's better to have someone watching your back."
You watch as his eyes wander before locking onto yours. "As long as you're not against the interests of Drakhan that is," he hisses.
You quickly shake your head and he seems to relax a bit.
"Good. I'm leaving tonight but can spare a few minutes if you need to collect supplies. Meet me at the northern gate in 15 minutes."
- As Noktis slinks off, you quickly spin around and dart along the Spinehind corrals until you intercept him. He jumps back at your approach and into a fighting stance, a low growl emanating from the back of his throat.
- Choice #2: *Join Atra*
- You carefully approach Atra whose eyes narrow at your approach.
"I thought you might be eavesdropping." She growls.
For a moment the tension in the air is palpable, and you begin to regret your decision to approach. Then, like the first breeze of spring melting the winter snow you watch as the tension leaves Atra's face and she sighs heavily.
"He acts as though a icy bit of fur is some grand sign that a dragon lives in the mountains. I've heard the tales and I'm pretty sure someone was high on 'Nip and just happened to see a unusually large Ice Drake." she scoffs, tail flicking against the snow.
"Still, Noktis hasn't been in Drakhan proper for some time now, I think he's forgotten how dangerous the mountains can be, even for the experienced."
Atra stands and you watch as her eyes take on an icy discerning gaze as she looks you up and down.
"You seem capable of not dying immediately. I'm going after Noktis, whether that's to save his tail or to tell him 'I told you so'. I could use some extra muscle should the time come to bring him home."
With that rather gruff invitation, Atra circles around you and heads back into the crowd.
"I'll be leaving at first light. If you're interested, meet me here again before sun up, and make sure you've made your preparations before then."
- You carefully approach Atra whose eyes narrow at your approach.
- You also had the option to not choose anything and return to the festival.
➤ Depending on who you pledged your loyalty to, the random prompts differed a bit.
“This is it. We’ve found it.” Noktis whispers, his voice nearly lost in the frigid wind that whips between you.
You stop in the deep snow, lifting your head into the wind to see an immense dark gash beneath a tall snowbank. To your eyes, it looks like another of the many caves you had taken shelter in during travel. Before you can question Noktis he darts forward, quickly disappearing into the cavern. You shiver against the icy wind and quickly follow him, unaware of the black and silver face watching from a distance.
“There must be something here, they entered that cave with too much enthusiasm.” Atra says, her eyes narrowing with a look of suspicion.
She pulls back behind the rock face for cover, her paw curled shut, holding something within. After a few ponderous moments, she looks at you and reveals a pristine white fur tuft, a bit of frost clinging to the silk-like fibers. You ask how she got it from Noktis.
“Didn’t. Found another, on a dead bush at the last turn. It’s definitely not from a Nir.” She mulled before hiding the tuft back in her own satchel. “Come, we must see where this cave leads.”
You nod in agreement and quietly follow behind as you two climb into the dark cavern.
--
While viewing the cave from the outside presented a nearly pitch black interior, once you crossed the threshold of the entrance your eyes widen as bright shades of blue stream through nearly translucent ice. What had seemed like a snowback you now realized was just a thin layer of snow upon a smooth translucent ice dome. The ice itself is unlike any you have seen before. Glass-like in its translucency, all light seems to be refracted within, giving the interior an illuminated glowing appearance.
“Vynnfurth.” you hear Noktis whisper from the back of the cave.
You pull your gaze from the blue ice and you look towards Noktis only to see a huge furred and scaled form against the back wall of the cavern. The creature looked very much like an ice drake, only thousands of times larger, such that it towered over Noktis' dark form as he stood before it. The dragon lay curled up on the icy ground, slumbering, its wings folded over its coiled form. A bit of movement catches your attention and you watch as an ice drake plucks at a bit of fur on the larger one, before darting out over your head with a bit of nesting material. A single tuft of the silk y white fur lands on your nose and you quickly shake it loose before it conjures a sneeze.
“Noktis wait!” you hear a sharp hiss from behind you, and looking back see Atra lumbering forward. Unafraid of the sleeping dragon a short distance away.
Noktis turns and you watch as he lowers his head, fangs bared. “Come to lay claim Atra?” He hisses. “I won’t let you take this from me!”
The two Drakhanites snarl at each other as they begin to circle one another. It seems combat is the main method of problem solving in Drakhan. You keep pace with the ally you traveled with, ready to assist if needed. Movement catches your attention from the corner of your eye, towards the slumbering form of the dragon. A quick glance over reveals nothing amiss...although, wasn’t its tail a bit more to the left?
A strange icy mist begins to form between the two combatants, soon obscuring them in the frigid fog. Large shadows rise up from within as the mist is soon buffeted away and you find that both Atra and Noktis now sport large leathery wings from their backs which twist and flap against the air. These new appendages do little to distract them from each other as they lunge forward in a flash of claw and fang.
➤ Your Niravar was shown aiding the starter the pledged their loyalty to.
A winded gasp forces its way from Atra’s maw as she tumbles and slams into the icy wall. A moment of pause as Noktis and his allies circle and snarl at Atra and her own forces. The larger draft, fur matted with the signs of battle, slowly pushes herself back up one more time, her eyes locked on her rival.
“You lose, Atra.” He says coldly.
Atra wills herself forward in a stumbling gait towards Noktis. “Finish it,” she hisses. “And live with what you’ve done.”
A dark paw tipped in sharp claws arches back, primed to deal the final blow. The eyes of the two rivals remain locked.
“ENOUGH.” A deep booming voice washes over the group, echoing off the frozen walls.
Both friend and foe spin towards the sound, watching as Vynnfurth shifts and rises. The great drake quickly towers over the Niravar, his neck arched along the top of the too small cave.
“YOU HAVE PROVEN YOURSELF WORTHY OF MY ATTENTION, SHADE OF THE ANCIENTS. WHAT WOULD YOU ASK OF ME?” Vynnfurth asks, his wide jaws parting in a reptilian smile.
“I require your aid, your power. My own strength has not been enough to accomplish my goals, so the favor I would ask is for you to lend me yours.” Noktis answers, dipping his head in a low bow.
“TO WHAT MEANS WOULD YOU DIRECT MY POWER?” Vynnfurth purrs, the vibration shaking the very ground upon which the Niravar stands.
“There is an uprising that has not been quelled for many years. I would have you end the rebellion, decisively, for good.”
“VERY WELL. BUT A FAVOR GIVEN REQUIRES ONE IN RETURN.”
Vynnfurth’s pointed snout looms over Noktis who instinctively recoils from the drake. “What would you ask?” He asks.
“ALL WILL BE REVEALED IN TIME.” The drake hisses through a fanged grin. “NOW COME, LEAD ME TO THIS UPRISING.”
Vynnfurth coils his legs beneath him before springing up. The smooth ice of the cave shatters like glass around him as wide wings bear him through the jagged opening. A single beat of his wings and the great ice drake shoots up into the overcast sky of Drakhan, flurries of snow forming around the scaled body.
Noktis braces against the shattered ice that falls from the opening in the ceiling. He quickly spins, looking for his rival, only to find that Atra and her allies have seemingly slunk out during his conversation with Vynnfurth.
“COME SHADE.” The drakes booming voice echoes down from the sky above.
Noktis huffs and turns back towards the drake. He spreads wide the new wings that mirror Vynnfurth’s and with one beat, then two, he shoots into the sky, following his newfound ally.
After these events the following occurred in the world:
- Either embarrassed by her defeat or seeking a way to stop Noktis, Atra is gone. Missing somewhere in the deep mountains of Drakhan. Even her allies, though scattered, have no clue where she might be.
- The rebellion in the Sorcas Islands has been demolished, any survivors have gone deep into hiding, including Mnemoc. Many lives have been lost in the indiscriminate ice breath of the great drake. While Drakhan officially holds the territory, Vynnfurth has claimed it as his own.
- The governments across Terran are scrambling at the knowledge of Vynnfurth and finding ways to either build an alliance with Drakhan or a way to defend themselves should the ancient ice drake be directed at them.
Spring Bug Racing
Date: April 8th 2020 - May 5th 2020
Type: Casual Event
Overview:
The world champion bug racer Buglorde is hosting a grand race, where Niravar can come to root for their favorite bug or jeer at their least favorite. The bug with the most support will surely claim victory! There were 3 preliminary races total, each lasting for 1 week. The winners of those races then went for the championship on the 4th week, and Tiny was the victor.
This event added the following to the game:
- The starter Buglorde
- Bug Racing activity
- Bug themed mutations, and Bug Coins mutation currency
Summer Pool Party
Date: June 27th - August 1st 2020
Type: Story Event
Overview:
The Aether Pool of Courvil has become corrupted, and Void Reapers from all around are swarming the city - apparently to stop the Wardens from completing the ritual needed to purify the pool. The town is overrun and the Wardens have asked for reinforcements to aid in the defense. For those who have unlocked their magic, they can participate in the ritual alongside the Wardens. Everyone else is needed at the walls offering support, claw, and fang.
Outcome:
Despite a close call, those defending the town and powering the ritual were able to purify the pool - but not before everyone present witnessed a huge winged Void Reaper try to claw its way out of the Aether Pool. Luckily, it was destroyed when the Pool was purified.
This event added the following to the game:
- The starters Ponichi and Amusa
- Rooster Tail, Kitsune Tail, Vulpine Ears, and Nyala Horns
What started off as a few whispers and rumours among workers travelling between Courvil and Hanor soon spread from Sarthia's capital to other cities; Courvil's pool has become corrupted, and the Wardens are in need of assistance.
Whether you believed the townsfolk right away or took time to verify if the rumours were true, you eventually find yourself travelling to Courvil to investigate. Almost immediately, something seems amiss. The town is strangely quiet and, upon drawing closer, you find that most of the buildings are vacant. If Courvil's inhabitants are here, they are well hidden.
The only audible sounds seem to be coming from another part of the settlement. Silently moving in the direction the commotion is coming from, you turn the corner and freeze, pausing for a moment to take in the utter mayhem before you. Before you is the town's aether pool, but visibly lacking its usual bright colours. Instead, the space in front of you is pitch black - the rumours were true after all. But the noise you had been following isn't coming from the pool itself.
Instead, its source lies at the pool's other end, where you can easily spot a group of Wardens, running around while carrying what seem to be supplies and materials. Among the Wardens hurrying back and forth, you spot an older looking niravar. As soon as you look at her, her eyes snap to your location and she waves you over to the Wardens' side of the pool.
"You there, you look lost. Are you here to assist or gawk?" She asks pointedly.
When you confirm the former, the Warden's shoulder slump slightly in relief. She lifts her nose towards the Void Pool, the black aether turning sluggishly like thick oil.
"Good, we really need all the help we can get. The Courvil branch has already lost a few members to the void reapers, and we don't expect reinforcements for another week. At least word of mouth is doing us a favor this time." The niravar pauses as a wave of realization hits her. "Oh, I am Sakti the one in charge here by the way."
You nod and introduce yourself and Sakti tips her head in acknowledgement.
"If your magic is potent we could use your help powering the ritual." She says, using her nose to point towards a group of wardens positioned around the Void Pool, weaving their magic into large translucent crystals set at even intervals around it. "If not, then I hope you're good at fighting, as the void reapers seem to be doing everything they can to stop us."
"Ture is at the southern wall. They can provide more information about what exactly they need help with. Good luck."
With the short introduction finished, Sakti quickly trots off to grab the attention of small group of new arrivals.
- Option #1: Power the Ritual
- You leave Sakti to their task and make your way over to the Niravar surrounding the pool. With their eyes closed in focus, you watch as a wide variety of magical energy is channeled from each of their bodies into what you guess is a focusing crystal of some kind. The nearly translucent crystal pulses softly with magic and each pulse expels a wave of shimmering blue light into the blackness of the corrupted pool. A voice behind you speaks softly so as to not interrupt those focusing.
“It’s not difficult to start, just sit close by and clear your mind. Focus your magic outward and envision it entering the crystal,” A small swift Niravar says before taking his own place near a crystal. “If you have not mastered your magic yet, channeling the ritual is tedious and you might check in on the others to make sure they’re not pushing themselves too hard.”
With that bit of advice, the smaller Niravar shuts his eyes and focuses into the crystal.
- You leave Sakti to their task and make your way over to the Niravar surrounding the pool. With their eyes closed in focus, you watch as a wide variety of magical energy is channeled from each of their bodies into what you guess is a focusing crystal of some kind. The nearly translucent crystal pulses softly with magic and each pulse expels a wave of shimmering blue light into the blackness of the corrupted pool. A voice behind you speaks softly so as to not interrupt those focusing.
- Option #2: Defend the Wardens
- Feeling as though sitting around meditating isn’t your cup of tea, you head to the southern gate to find Ture. It’s not difficult to pinpoint their location as you hear them barking orders from atop a wooden platform. Dozens of armored wardens and mercenaries dart about to their various posts, some wearing the battle scars from a close encounter with the snarling void reapers, others carrying supplies to both repair the wall and keep the troops maintained.
The leader's eyes fall over you and without missing a beat they call you over.
“You there! This no time to stand around gawking, lend your fangs or get to work moving the wood closer so the wall is easier to fix.” They shout roughly.
You acknowledge the command and quickly get to work.
- Feeling as though sitting around meditating isn’t your cup of tea, you head to the southern gate to find Ture. It’s not difficult to pinpoint their location as you hear them barking orders from atop a wooden platform. Dozens of armored wardens and mercenaries dart about to their various posts, some wearing the battle scars from a close encounter with the snarling void reapers, others carrying supplies to both repair the wall and keep the troops maintained.
The air was filled with the snarls and roars of both Void Reaper and Niravar alike, each desperate to overcome the other and claim ownership of the Aether Pool. Multi-colored magic poured into the focus crystals surrounding the tainted Pool, each pulse shooting across the slowly turning sludge.
“It’s working! Keep at it everyone!” Sakti encouraged, fatigue heavy in her voice as she continued her patrol around the pool. There was no time for rest, not when they were so close.
An explosive bang echoed across the area as yet another crystal shattered into a spray of piercing shards, those nearby twisting away to avoid injury. The supplies were low, and they could not replace many more of the crystals.
Sakti could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the sound and chaos falling aside to a persistent ringing as her eyes locked onto the center of the pool where a grotesque movement had begun. The sludge of the Void Pool had begun to bubble, rising and twisting over itself as it slowly began to push upwards towards the night sky. A hooked beak and snarling teeth formed from the sludge and a horrid stilted roar grew in volume as the throat too became solid. Next came a wing, still half merged in the pool, twisting and wrenching towards the sky in an attempt to pull free. Even now, half formed and only partially solid, this new monster’s size dwarfed even the largest Void Reapers which threatened Courvil’s walls.
The hope that powered those performing the ritual seemed purged from the area as the horrid form grew from the corrupted pool, those present only able to look on in horror. Sakti did not hear her name being called until a firm paw knocked her on the shoulder.
“Commander!”
Sakti pulled her gaze from the writhing form at the center of the pool to see a bright red Niravar with orange spots on either side of their face staring back at them.
“Name’s Amusa. We’re here to help.” The newcomer said, before turning to shout back at dozens of newly arrived Niravar. “Those with magic to the crystals, everyone else make sure the walls stay strong!”
“What, is that?” Another, deeper voice asked to Sakti’s other side. “A Void Reaper? It’s huge.”
“And it’s growing wings.” Sakti whispered, looking to her right to see an orange Niravar whose white maw hung agape at the strange form writhing in the pool. “Come, the ritual is nearly complete. Your aid should be enough to finish it before that thing breaks free.”
“You didn’t happen to see a sandwich lying around here have you?” The orange Niravar asked as he followed Sakti towards the pool, magic already whispering along his fur.
“You can eat when we’re done here, Ponichi!” The ruby Nir cried out in disbelief. Ponichi’s stomach rumbled in defiance.
The trio pushed forward as the ritual continued with a sense of renewed purpose. If the air was humming with magic before, it was singing now. Wave after wave of cleansing energy struck against the forming reaper, each blow halting its growth from the pool. As seconds stretched into minutes, and those in the ritual gave one last push, the half-formed reaper let out a shrill shriek of pain before the area erupted in a blast of light, evaporating its twisted form.
The blinding light lingered for a few moments, and when it finally cleared tiny motes of light floated softly towards the ground. One by one, they began to twist into a softly turning whirlwind of light before being drawn back into the chasm where the pool had rested. As it all finally settled back into place, the speed of the whirlwind picked up and a soft glow permeated the area from the now clean, purified Aether pool.
“It’s done.” Sakti sighed before slumping to the ground, exhaustion taking over.
From the corner of her half-lidded eye, she saw a familiar red and black Niravar approaching from the southern gates.
“The Reapers are retreating!” Ture shouted in relief. “The southern walls were coming down when that blast of light went off. But we did it. We did it.”
Inoran Harvest 2020
Date: September 20th - October 31st 2020
Type: Casual Event
Overview:
Inor is famous for its rolling meadows and endless fields of crops that feed the majority of the continent, and provides a robust trade route through Sarthia, Grandiaga, and even over to Drakhan and Djama. As the fields mature, a great celebration is held all across Inor to mark the time for harvest. This celebration is filled with good food and fun games, and Niravar from all over funnel in to enjoy the activities!
There were three types of activities in this event.
- Apple Bobbing, where Niravar dive into creeks and rivers to snag delicious apples while avoiding the harsh taste of the onions mixed in.
- The Path of Courage, where Niravar traversed into a dark and scary forest to prove their courage and make it to the center.
- Evening Fireflies, where Niravar ventured out into the night to try and catch as many fireflies as possible.
This event added the following to the game:
- Adventurer's Backpack and Bone Meal items
- A noise from behind catches your attention and you whip your head back to investigate only to find nothing there. As you turn back towards your path a huge black form drops down from the trees before you, eight legs wiggling wildly in the air as a spider hits the ground with a dull thump. For a moment you think some beast has invaded the forest...until you realize the spider is made of lumpy cloth and its eyes are painted on. Show your Niravar either getting spooked as the spider drops in front of them, or investigating the well-made prop.
- You press forward, coming across a narrow wooden bridge that spans a muddy stream filled with gnarled branches. As your paw touches the bridge you do a double-take at the branches, only to find that rather than benign bits of fallen timber, they are instead the stiff hands and paws of humans and Niravar! Show your Niravar staring in horror at the (fake) hands, or quickly escaping the bridge.
- Your path through the forest has so far been rather mundane and you suspect you'll reach the end shortly. The shriek from earlier suddenly appears loud and close, moving quickly in your direction from behind you. Looking back you see a Niravar burst through the undergrowth, adorned in a strange costume. Show your Niravar reacting to this costumed Niravar (not owned by you) as they bolt towards you screaming.
- Trudging forward, you flinch as a particularly sharp branch snags at your fur. The brambles here grow thick, and you have to be careful as you continue on your path. A bit of movement catches your eye and for a brief moment you think you've come across another soul braving the Path. Closer inspection, however, reveals the movement to be nothing more than a bit of tattered cloth stretched over the brambles, giving the illusion of Niravar and Humans. In fact, as you look around, there are many instances of these shifting cloth forms in the branches and trees and you get an eerie sense that you're not alone. Show your Niravar standing among the brambles, surrounded by the shifting cloth forms.
- Your path takes you close to a small lake, where the water begins to ripple gently as you approach. Rising from the depths, Peosith, dressed as a water spirit, emerges from the lake, a mischievous smile across their face. 'To continue your path, you must bring me a sacrifice from the nearby grove.' They say in a hushed and dramatic whisper, clearly enjoying their role. 'I require a red autumn leaf. Do not disappoint me.' With their request made known, Peosith slinks backwards into the lake, leaving their head above the water to watch you. Show your Niravar harvesting red leaves from a grove, or delivering the red leaf to Peosith.
- Leaves crunch beneath your paws as you continue forward. A cool autumn breeze sweeps through the woods, filling the air with the sound of rustling leaves...and something else. A gentle clacking sound, somewhat hollow, punctuates the rushing of the leaves. A quick glance towards the source of the strange sound reveals a number of small totems suspended from bits of twine dangling from the nearby trees and shrubs. With each breath of the wind, the totems rattle against each other, and the sound grows louder and louder the longer you remain. Show your Niravar surrounded by these strange hanging totems.
- The path grows dark and while your vision doesn't suffer too terribly, it is a lonely and eerie feeling as you continue your trek through the woods. You take a moment to steel your nerves before continuing on, when a dark shadowy form darts across your path before disappearing into the forest, leaving no trace behind. You strain your eyes and ears in the direction it fled but you hear and see nothing. Once more you are alone. Show your Niravar witnessing the shadowy form darting across their path.
- Your journey through the Path of Courage leads you to an area of thick underbrush and winding tree branches. A section has been cordoned off, directing you along many twisting paths, dead ends, and loops that force you to retrace your steps. The walls of this maze are littered with woolen spider webs stretched across the many trees and bushes. Just as you think maybe the maze can't possibly be navigated, a small chirrup catches your ear. Flitting forward, an amber-colored Ice Drake perches on a nearby branch. It chirps at you again before flitting down the path you swear you just came from. Show your Niravar following the Ice Drake as it helps you navigate the maze, or your Niravar's reaction to the thought they might be trapped forever.
- The clouds part and for a brief moment the full moon illuminates your way forward as you navigate the marked trail through the forest. The soft rays of the moon stream through the trees, creating a beautiful, if not eerie atmosphere and you stop to take it in for a moment. As you stand there watching the moonbeams, you feel something begin to twist around your ankles before gripping tightly - but not to the point of pain. You leap away, twisting in the air to face whatever grabbed you. Hidden beneath a dark sheet off to the side of a path a Niravar pokes their head out, giving you a thumbs up before hiding again. Show your Niravar reacting to being grabbed or interacting with the hidden Niravar (should not be owned by you).
- The full moon is briefly obscured by the clouded sky as you press forward along the Path of Courage. As the silver light fades, dozens of glowing eyes appear in the trees and bushes around you and you get the very concerning feeling that you are being watched. You continue onward, focusing on your path when the eyes shift and seem to follow you. Show your Niravar surrounded by many sets of glowing eyes, or fleeing while the eyes chase after them.
Winter Celebration 2020-2021
Date: December 31st 2020 - February 14th 2021
Type: Casual Event
Overview:
The previous year's Winter Celebration started off mundane enough as Niravar from all across Terran ventured to Drakhan to participate in the Drakhanite's celebration of defeating winter. A celebration that took on a grave new meaning as the Great Ice Drake Vynnfurth was awakened by a desperate Noktis and employed to devastate the Sorcas Islands. Their efforts were successful, but at the great cost of life - something the leaders of Drakhan did not condone, but did not outright condemn either. Despite this, they did not hesitate to capitalize on his efforts, and continued to send and maintain their troops in the region.
Tensions across the region were high but due to the sheer power of Vynnfurth not even Drakhan knew how to rein in Noktis and thus far have left him to his devices in the Sorcas Islands. General Atra, who Noktis defeated in battle with the aid of his followers, has not been seen since and many presume her dead - whether she succumbed to her injuries or by exposure to the elements in a self-imposed banishment, no one can say for sure.
Now the new year's Winter Celebration has rolled around once more, and the tale of the hero that defeated the cold and ice that encased Drakhan for centuries has taken on new meaning. Many denizens of Drakhan and across Terran suspect that the story of the Winter Celebration was more literal than previously thought, and that the winter that was pushed back to allow Drakhan to thrive was none other than Vynnfurth the Ice Drake himself.
Though Drakhan's relations with the rest of the world are far from friendly, many still make the trek to the frigid region to participate in the festivities of the Winter Celebration.
There were three types of activities in this event.
- Snowy Battlegrounds, where Niravar would build and defend snow forts.
- Winter Dance, where Niravar would attempt to snag a cluster or redberries into the antlers of a Spinehind.
- A New Friend, where Niravar would trek into the wilderness and attempt to befriend an Ice Drake.
This event added the following to the game:
- Chill-Touched Mane
- Standard and Ember Gekkotas
Embers on the Tundra
Date: March 26th - May 7th 2021
Type: Story Event
Overview:
Vynnfurth started as a legend of a sleeping dragon deep in the Drakhan mountains, his hibernation a symbol of winter's defeat and life returning to the previously frozen peaks of Drakhan. But other such legends exist, and with Vynnfurth now terrorizing the Sorcas Islands, many nir across Terran have begun to give more weight to these legends, striking out to see if any contain a grain of truth. A truth that maybe more than just an ice dragon has slept deep beneath the land, and that perhaps in order to defeat this dragon, another - more benevolent - creature could be called on for assistance.
Your journey takes you to the wide grassy plains of Ashki, where low, rolling peaks appear suddenly among the nearly treeless landscape. Many who make the journey to Ashki arrive one of two ways - they either enter through the wilderness from the southern reaches of Inor, or they take a ship to one of the many ports along the east coast, including the capital, Anghor Thom. Both methods bring their own threats: while the ports may offer some reassurance due to the protection of the various guilds in the cities, bandits run amok both in the wilderness and within the cities.
This event added the following to the game:
- The starters Ushas and Rajani
- Two new genetic mutations - Serpent-Tailed and Gradiented
- Anomalies for Jade, Bloodstone, Helidor, Azurite, Seaspray, Rusty, and Greying
- The ability to find starter slot tokens to Ushas and Rajani while Exploring Ashki
Prompt #1
Show your Niravar entering Ashki, either through the wilderness or at one of the ports. Is the port reputable, or did they arrive at one known for banditry? What scenery do they see in the wilderness?
Prompt #2
During your Niravar’s journey through the wilderness, they run into Ushas, who is also travelling the sloping plains of Ashki. You join them, finding company more palatable than travelling alone and regale them with your theory of other legendary beasts in the land. They smile, confirming that there is such a legend in Ashki, and perhaps visiting the monastery where they live could provide more answers. You agree, and later than night you set up camp together - however, in the middle of the night, you find yourselves ambushed! Show your Niravar defending their camp, their new monk friend aiding them. What ambushed the camp? Was it a pack of lesser void reapers - or more likely - a bandit group looking for an easy target?
Prompt #3
The following day, your Niravar and Ushas continue towards the monastery. After a few hours, Ushas chimes that you've arrived. However, you see nothing but the same rolling hills and rocky mountains, although your companion seems to be staring at a huge stony outcrop rising up from the soft dirt. You hesitantly follow them, and find that carved down into this rock is a nearly perfect cylinder shape, nearly 60 feet across, with beautiful windows, doors, and stairs carved into the rough stone. Many other monks and villagers mingle in their pseudo-underground home. Ushas takes you to their leader, who invites them to a well-made meal, and regales them with their stories of the beast of Ashki, said to embody the strength of a volcano. Show your nir feasting with Ushas while listening to the elder tell a story of the fiery beast of Ashki.
Prompt #2
While leaving a nearby tavern, your Niravar suddenly finds themselves cornered down an alley by what seems to be a fairly organized bandit group - Rajani - at the helm. Before you can say a word, the bandit group is upon you, and despite your prowess, you are clearly outnumbered and the fight ends with you pinned to the ground by several of Rajani’s goons. 'You've got some fight in you, but alas, not good enough.' Rajani taunts. you find yourself quickly bound and helpless before the criminal leader. 'Unfortunately for you, this is not your lucky day. Welcome to Ashki.' Show your Niravar fighting the group of bandits in the alley, or pinned and bound after their unfortunate defeat.
Prompt #3
In spite of their numerous attempts to escape, your Niravar soon finds themselves imprisoned, undoubtedly destined for some sort of hard manual labor. As you wait in the cell you had been placed in, trying to spot another opportunity to quietly slip away, you overhear Rajani talking to the rest of their group, seemingly boasting about how kidnapping people was becoming so much easier with the influx of ‘would-be heroes’ coming to Ashki to look for ways to stop Vyynfurth. Rajani also does not fail to mention that they have collected some of the information from the imprisoned travellers in hopes of using it for more monetary gain. Though your first meeting may not have gone entirely well, Rajani could prove to be a useful ally - after all, can your Niravar afford to be picky about their allies? Show your Niravar either offering to make a deal with Rajani, or sneaking out of their cell to steal their notes
You follow the path through Ashki’s wilderness, marked partially by ancient stories and partially by adventurers who came before you, until you finally reach what you can only assume is your destination: half submerged into a partially dried up lake are the ruins of a monastery carved into solid stone, its towers crumbling and falling under their own weight. Nature seems to have slowly begun to reclaim the building, with some of the walls entirely covered in vines and moss and small fish swimming between the rubble in the water. Underneath the wild flora covering the buildings, you can see meticulously carved imagery of Niravar, working with what appears to be metal.
Walking further into the abandoned monastery, your Niravar finds a stone relief - one of the few parts of the original building that seems to have remained intact. Next to it, precariously hanging over the edge of a small stone pedestal, is a metal cylinder with four independent rotating parts, each with a series of strange - non-Niravaran - runes along their radius. The subtle sound of mechanical whirring can be heard within the cylinder as any given part is twisted.
Suddenly, though, your train of thought is interrupted by the footsteps of an uninvited guest entering the temple from behind you. You turn towards the figure standing in the doorway to face them, ready to protect your newfound treasure. Show your Niravar fighting off or striking a deal with either Rajani or Ushas. Is the intruder a stranger to them, or are they defending the treasure from their former ally? (You can also depict the other starter aiding you in the fight
Your journey has led you through the plains of Ashki, and you cannot help but reminisce about all the places you have seen while you are fleeing with the peculiar artifact in your possession, having left the abandoned temple far behind you, alongside your former allies.
As the commotion dies down, Rajani and Ushas are left alone at the temple, equal parts disheartened and shocked by what had transpired. They part ways bitterly, with Ushas returning to their elder to report that an ancient relic has now been lost, stolen by the newcomers that had entered Ashki mere weeks ago.
Rajani slowly wanders back to their gang, upset that they lost a potentially priceless treasure they could have made a fortune off of. They also cannot help but feel the slightest bit of concern; that stuffy old monk looked far too upset about the relic being lost for it to be a mere trinket.
The news of the fight at the sunken temple spreads like wildfire, and soon every one of Ashki's citizens is wondering as to what the fate of the stolen treasure will be.
Whatever the relic that you retrieved from the temple is, it will not give its secrets away easily. Unravelling the secret that it hides will be a lengthy, tedious process – but you are determined, and something tells you that this item is just what you were looking for.
Summer Solstice 2021
Date: June 26th - July 31st
Type: Casual Event
Overview:
Every year, King Meothion, the charismatic and extraordinarily good-looking Lord of Brillia and True King of Grandiaga, hosts a party to celebrate the day of his birth. As is fitting for such a wonderful and philanthropic ruler, he invites everyone to partake in this month of partying, good food, and more flowers than you've ever seen.
There were eleven different prompts for this event, shown below in the menu.
This event added the following to the game:
- The new rare marking Crystalline
- The starter Maengo
- The lake that borders Brillia, known as Lake Melirial, often supports the growth of some of the most beautiful and exotic flowers known to Terran. Over the many years of King Meothion's rule, he has ensured they always bloom in the days preceding his party so that all might enjoy their beauty. Show your Niravar enjoying these blooms that grow in the lake's water, or collecting a few blossoms for themselves.
- Every day, when the sun is highest in the sky, a wondrous parade makes several loops around Lake Melirial, featuring boats decorated with so many flowers that the original structure of the vessel is all but obscured. Show your Niravar either helping decorate one of these parade floats, or watching one sail by on the lake.
- For those that prefer a quieter party experience, in many of the side houses of the main event, Niravar sit and practice the art of flower-arranging. Since the setting offers strange and exotic blossoms, Niravar from all across Terran make the venture to see the blooms and perhaps demonstrate their skill and eye for detail with their arrangements. Show your Niravar artfully arranging flowers into a wonderful art piece.
- Guided tours of King Meothion's palace also take place twice a day during the festivities. Each tour group is taken through a set path of the palace to see the incredibly detailed interior and - a fan favorite - King Meothion's jewel-encrusted Unicorn sculpture. A lucky few might even meet the King himself as he darts between one activity and the next. Show your Niravar touring the palace, encountering the gem-encrusted unicorn sculpture, or even stealing a glimpse of King Meothion.
- A popular activity particular for the young is a water game known simply as 'Nose-Ball'. In this game, two teams work together to push a ball across the surface of the water in a particularly shallow part of the lake. The rules are very simple; you can only use your nose. Show your Niravar playing Nose-Ball, or cheering someone on from the sidelines.
- The sands along Lake Melirial are soft and fine, perfect for sculpting. During the party, many sandcastle competitions are held, with judges awarding more points for those that utilize water features from the lake's waves and demonstrate a high level of decoration. Show your Niravar constructing or decorating a sandcastle in one of these competitions.
- Lake Melirial is not just known for the blossoms that grow from its waters, but also for the colorful assortment of fish that seem to have adapted to hiding within the colorful flowers. Show your Niravar diving beneath the waves to spot some of these beautiful and colorful fish that call the lake home.
- Enjoying a party does not always consist of active celebration and many Niravar find themselves lounging around one of the many pools scattered throughout Brillia to decompress after a long day. Show your Niravar lounging around one of these pools with a snack and drink.
- An activity brought by humans and adapted to Niravar physiology is the enjoyment and use of parasails. While those Niravar with wings often find the ordeal a bit claustrophobic, those without wings find the magical sails provide a smooth and pleasant ride as they view the colorful Brillia from above. Show your Niravar riding a parasail over Lake Melirial.
- Cliffs line the northern section of the lake, and many adventurous Nir journey to the area to partake in a bit of dare-devilry as they take turns leaping from the cliffs into the crystal-clear waters below. Even the younger Nir are not left out as stiff wooden boards are secured a bit closer to the water so that even the cubs can enjoy the sensation of a brief freefall. Show your Niravar leaping from the cliff or wooden board, or their expression as they plunge into the lake's waters.
- With the party comes many vendors from across Terran who visit Brillia to take advantage of the swell in population and visitors. Oftentimes these merchants have themed booths to draw in the wandering eye amidst the otherwise colorful and heavily decorated streets. Show your Niravar shopping at one of these vendors, what is it they are looking to buy?
Forged Beneath the Tundra
Date: Sep 25th - Nov 6th 2021
Type: Story Event
Overview:
The peculiar puzzle tube discovered in Ashki contains directions leading into Anghor Thom's underground, which has been left unexplored for decades due to its dilapidated state. But as your Niravar is about to head into the treacherous tunnels, they are approached by an old acquaintance: Mnemoc, who was drawn to your location by the energy exuded by the puzzle tube. And so another journey begins, to unravel the mystery hiding within the ruins beneath the city.
Outcome:
At the heart of the ruins, you discovered Rotamund, an ancient creature who has been spending his seemingly endless lifetime creating animals and humanoids out of a strange fusion of metal and magic. Since the machines residing within the ruins were treated well for the most part, Rotamund is not too displeased with your visit and, upon hearing about Vynnfurth, grants you a stash of Living Metal - a material the effects of which could be strong enough to combat the drake's powers.
This event added the following to the game:
- The starter Zarall
- A new mutation – Warforged
- A new quest to obtain Living Metal
The puzzle tube uncovered at the sunken temple in Ashki proved to be more cryptic than any could have fathomed. No scholar or mage seemed to be knowledgeable enough to be able to decipher the symbols on it and, as your Niravar could not ask the monks of Tel Nahuel for assistance, they were left with only the decorative carvings on the metal plates making up the tube to guide them. The carvings seemed to portray Niravar working on creating something that no scholar that you approached about the topic was able to identify.
However, what your Niravar initially assumed to be mere decorations on the puzzle tube eventually proved to be the only hint they needed to solve it. After months of experimenting and attempting to align the plates into different combinations, during which it almost seemed as though there was no solution at all, the faintest click could be heard when your Niravar moved the plates into one of the last remaining combinations they had yet to try. A soft, warm glow emanated from inside the puzzle tube and, to your Niravar’s surprise, the decorative carvings on the outside lit up as well, and moved. What you thought were images carved into the metal turned into a handful of small, stylised Niravar cheerfully moving within their respective plates, some carrying what appeared to be pieces of metal back and forth, some operating machinery that most of Terran no longer remembered, and some seemingly performing a magic ritual your Niravar could not recognize.
Mesmerized by the enchanted carvings, your Niravar almost failed to notice that the tube itself started moving. It rolled off to the side, revealing a yellowed map that, upon closer inspection, portrayed a very familiar place; Anghor Thom. There was a path leading through the city, ending with what your Niravar could only assume was an arrow pointing towards the capital’s dilapidated, sprawling underground.
And so, your Niravar found themselves in Anghor Thom again, carefully following the map they had discovered while avoiding crowded places and suspicious alleys alike in an attempt to not draw the attention of Rajani’s gang. The map is old, ancient perhaps, and, much to your Niravar’s dismay, some of the markers and streets drawn on it no longer match the layout of the city. Nevertheless, you press on, and are eventually left standing in front of a moss-covered, decrepit gate beneath a partially collapsed flight of stairs.
It is then that a silhouette suddenly emerges from the shadows behind your Niravar: Mnemoc shakes off the thin layer of dust that seems to have gathered on her iridescent coat while she was following you through the city, and wastes no time getting straight to the point; she assures your Niravar that it was not their inability to go unnoticed that led to her finding them, but rather the object they were carrying. The puzzle tube seems to be radiating a magical energy so powerful that Mnemoc has been able to sense it and find its source. Before your Niravar can ask any more questions, she nervously shifts from one paw to the other and remarks that it’s about time to see what the gate in front of you hides, and promises all the explanations they desire once they are not out in the open.
The gate is surprisingly sturdy, despite its apparent age, and does not give until the third push. Eventually, however, both your Niravar and Mnemoc find themselves standing in a derelict tunnel leading to what the residents of Anghor Thom refer to as ‘the Pits’ - an old system of tunnels and corridors running under the entire city, filled to the brim with bandits, thieves, and other criminals. The lower levels of the Pits remain entirely unexplored, and it is said that the tunnels run much deeper than any living on the surface could imagine. Whether or not those rumours are true, a journey into the underground is a journey into certain danger. But you cannot give up now, and so, your Niravar ventures into the depths of Anghor Thom’s underground alongside Mnemoc.
In-between fighting small groups of thieves and crawling through half-collapsed tunnels, Mnemoc explains what brought her to Anghor Thom: After Vynnfurth was woken up and left his lair alongside Noktis, she ventured inside the now empty cave only to find a gravely injured Atra. At first, she saw it as an opportunity to easily get rid of one of Drakhan’s generals, the perfect opportunity to deal a significant blow to their army… but she could not quite bring herself to kill Atra. Even in her near-death state, the general was beyond remorseful, and it was that remorse which convinced Mnemoc to not only let Atra live, but to personally make sure she would be alright.
Atra was determined and had seen countless battles, but to say her injuries were severe would be an understatement. Even with Mnemoc’s constant care and assistance, the general’s wounds kept her confined to the small interior of the hideout she is presently staying at, and Mnemoc admits, with a degree of frustration, that Atra is still nowhere near recovered. Mnemoc herself has no small amount of scars, but regards your Niravar with an annoyed frown whenever they so much as glance at them, and so they opt not to ask about them.
Finally, your Niravar and Mnemoc reach a peculiar sight among the overgrown and half-collapsed interiors of the Pits: an intricate, beautifully carved metal door, with a circular slot in the very center. It almost seems out of place among the derelict brickwork making up the tunnels of Anghor Thom’s underground, yet there it is nonetheless, and the now empty puzzle tube fits into the slot perfectly.
As soon as the tube is locked in place, the door moves, pushing away layers upon layers of dust that had gathered around it over the years. You see beautifully carved cogs and gears turning behind the metal bars that make up the door, and a quiet humming sound can be heard as it slowly opens.
Mnemoc nods to herself, and mutters something about destiny before confidently venturing forward through the gate. She says there is no time to waste - the ruins ahead undoubtedly have answers, and Mnemoc hopes they are exactly the answers she and her allies seek. She seems content leaving your Niravar on their own, making a vague comment about ‘her own tasks to fulfill’ when asked what she intends to do in the ruins. The last thing she says before vanishing into the maze of tunnels beyond the gate is a warning; the residents of these ruins have been undisturbed for years, and will likely not take kindly to intruders - they have little patience to offer, and, as such, utmost caution is needed.
And with that, your Niravar is left to their own devices at the entrance to the ruins. A seemingly endless network of corridors and rooms lies ahead; what will they encounter inside, and what is at the end?
There is only one way to find out.
Show your Niravar on their journey to the clockwork gate alongside Mnemoc. This can be in any stage of their journey after meeting Mnemoc at the entrance to the Pits, be it while fighting bandits, crawling through tunnels, taking a moment to rest, or when arriving at the gate itself. Mnemoc should be at least 50% visible.
- Your Niravar enters a spacious, partially collapsed room with a narrow, improvised bridge built across the chasm in the center. They have little time to contemplate their next step, however, as a large automaton emerges from behind them. Its form is similar to that of a praying mantis, with its sharp, mechanical arms folded in front of its torso. The only way to go is across the rickety bridge, but, fortunately, the machine seems to be fairly slow. Your Niravar could sever the ropes holding the bridge together after they cross to get rid of their pursuer permanently, or they could simply hope to outrun it.
Show your Niravar:
a) severing the ropes of the bridge, thus causing the automaton to fall and stopping it from following them
b) running away from the automaton with the bridge intact - Your Niravar opens a heavy, metal door and now stands on the edge of a seemingly ordinary room. However, as they take the first step inside, they realise that the floor is actually a large platform balanced on a beam running through the center of the room and towards the doorway on the opposite end of it. They notice a set of gears on their left, which appear to be tilting the platform one way or another depending on where your Niravar steps. Below the platform is a dark pit of which they cannot see the bottom. They could attempt to stay in the center of the room to safely cross to the other side, or they could jam the mechanism to prevent the platform from moving.
Show your Niravar:
a) crossing the room with the tilting floor, moving carefully so as to preserve the balance
b) jamming the gears near the doorway to guarantee safe passage to the next room - Before your Niravar is a narrow room with a ceiling so high they can barely see it. The room is partially flooded with water, and the doorway on the opposite end of it is significantly higher than both the water level and the small platform your Niravar is standing on. Turning slowly inside the water is a large, metal wheel, similar to that of a watermill. Your Niravar could attempt to climb it to reach the doorway. However, there might be another option: next to your Niravar is a set of levers, the small labels underneath which imply they could be used to control the water level inside the room.
Show your Niravar:
a) climbing the water wheel or otherwise reaching the doorway on their own
b) using the levers near the entrance to slowly raise the water level to allow them to swim to the opposite end - Your Niravar enters a vast, spacious corridor constantly shifting and changing in size due to its moving walls and ceiling. The walls rotate and move around, separating sections of the corridor for a time before being moved away and to another part of the room. The floor is made up of small sets of staircases and platforms freely rotating and moving up and down. Each of the moving parts seems to have a small mechanism consisting of multiple gears attached to it – if your Niravar finds a way to damage or jam the mechanism, they might be able to stop the corridor from changing to allow themselves safe passage across. Alternatively, they could try to make their way to the other end of the corridor without altering the mechanism.
Show your Niravar:
a) stopping one of the mechanisms responsible for moving the walls and floor around
b) making their way across the shifting corridor while the walls and floors change and move around them - An intricate door of beautifully shaped, interwoven metal bands blocks the way. It looks like it requires a special key, the socket for which sits in the center of the door. This seems to be the only way forward – but if your Niravar doesn't have the key, maybe they could bend a few of the metal bands that make up the door to allow themselves to squeeze through.
Show your Niravar:
a) attempting to squeeze through the door by bending or otherwise moving the metal out of the way
b) inspecting the door for another way of opening it, trying to fit different objects into the socket, or looking for the key in the surrounding area
If the Nir has RoMs completed:
As your Niravar gets closer to the door, the socket in the center lights up in response to their presence. The door begins to shake lightly.
Show your Niravar:
a) reaching out to the door with their magic
b) attempting to squeeze through the door by bending or otherwise moving the metal out of they way - As your Niravar enters the next room, they hear a series of loud noises behind them. Turning around, they spot three identical mechanical orbs, each easily as tall as a Draft’s shoulder. Inside each of them is a large, metal gyroscope encased in richly decorated, moving metal plates. The orbs begin to roll towards your Niravar without warning, one of them bouncing up on a nearby wall with ease in hopes of reaching your Niravar faster. They seem far from friendly.
Show your Niravar:
a) running away from the orbs in an attempt to lose them in the labyrinth of rooms and corridors
b) trying to get rid of the orbs, either by locking them in an isolated room, leading them off a ledge, or otherwise incapacitating them - The sound of quickly approaching, heavy footsteps stops your Niravar in their tracks. The narrow corridor in front of them makes a right angle turn, preventing them from seeing what lies ahead even as the footsteps grow significantly louder. Suddenly, a large machine emerges from around the corner; a mechanical beetle so large that it takes up the entire width of the corridor. Attached to its head are multiple brushes which rotate noisily as it scuttles through the corridor, seemingly attempting to sweep the floor. It briefly pauses to inspect a damaged cargo box before bending down and consuming it, continuing in its journey soon after.
Show your Niravar:
a) jumping on top of the beetle’s back - perhaps it will take them somewhere interesting
b) fleeing from the beetle or attempting to fight it - As your Niravar continues their journey, they suddenly feel something small landing on their back. Worse yet, it seems to have legs, and quickly scurries over to your Niravar’s head – it’s a small, mechanical spider. It thoughtfully taps one of its legs on your Niravar’s forehead before jumping down to the ground and skittering away. Soon enough, another spider emerges from the surrounding debris and attempts to carefully climb up your Niravar’s leg.
Show your Niravar:
a) squishing or shaking the spiders off
b) following the spiders – perhaps they could lead your Niravar towards their goal?
If the Niravar has FoAs completed:
One of the spiders keeps poking your Niravar’s paw and taking a couple steps away before returning. After deciding to follow it, your Niravar soon comes to a stop in front of a large pile of debris further into the corridor. Another small spider sits helplessly next to it, one of its legs trapped under the pile of metal and stone. As they bend down to inspect the spider, they spot something out of the corner of their eye; a silhouette vanishing further into the ruins, seemingly in a hurry. If they leave now, they might be able to catch up.
Show your Niravar:
a) moving the debris out of the way to free the spider
b) leaving the spiders be and pursuing the silhouette - Your Niravar turns a corner only to stop dead in their tracks – in front of them stands a mechanical deer, its head bent down as though it’s grazing. The deer’s body is covered in a multitude of glimmering, colourful crystals, their shimmering light disrupted only by the empty slot square in the center of its back. The floor is littered with crystals matching the ones embedded in the deer’s metal plates. It seems to be searching for something. After inspecting the crystals more closely, your Niravar is certain that they are beyond valuable and could be easily traded to a merchant on the surface… or perhaps they could be useful later on in the ruins.
Show your Niravar:
a) helping the deer find a crystal that matches the slot on their back or finding and giving the crystal to it
b) taking the crystals for themselves - The dilapidated remains of a ship sit in a narrow chamber with a ceiling so high it fades into the shadows. The stern remains and, as you circle around, you see the name ‘THE VANGUARD’ painted on the back. It’s a name you recognise; The Vanguard sank near Anghor Thom years ago, but the wreckage was never found. Scurrying busily around the ship are numerous spherical automatons, and at first you think they’re slowly dismantling the ship as they swarm over the wooden hull. However, after a few moments you realize that while they are snipping away at the wood with delicate claws, they’re actually removing portions of wood-rot, before rebuilding the area with a fine spider web-like spray of liquid metal. A quick look around reveals a pile of crates near the ship, likely the cargo the ship once held. Maybe something interesting was left behind?
Show your Niravar:
a) investigating the crates near the ship
b) climbing aboard the ship’s remains to assess the restoration process - The room your Niravar enters is filled with debris, metal scraps and what seems to be trash or otherwise unwanted items from… Anghor Thom? The discarded objects form a large pile in the center of the room, and as your Niravar circles around it, they suddenly stop with a startled gasp – in front of them stands another Niravar! They seem to be inspecting the pile of junk as well. However, before your Niravar can get any closer, the stranger jumps back as something starts moving among the debris. Pieces of stone and metal tumble to the ground as a large, bipedal machine emerges from the pile of rubble. Where a pair of glimmering crystals once sat to make up its eyes is now a pair of empty, dark sockets, and its arms twitch this way and that as it struggles to stand up. As soon as the automaton regains its balance, however, it takes a swing at the Niravar in front of it. It is then that they finally notice you, and cry for help!
Show your Niravar:
a) attacking the automaton
b) distracting the automaton to lead it away from the other Niravar - Your Niravar comes across a peculiar sight; an automaton vaguely resembling a human sits on top of a pile of papers which, upon closer inspection, all turn out to be wanted posters from Anghor Thom. The machine seems to be studying the faces on the posters closely, gingerly setting down the paper it was looking at before picking up another one. It does not seem to have noticed your Niravar’s presence whatsoever. Could it be that the machines are kidnapping Niravar from the surface?
Show your Niravar:
a) attempting to take the posters away from the automaton
b) taking this opportunity to sneak past the machine - Your Niravar encounters an old, dilapidated room filled with cargo boxes of various shapes and sizes, all seemingly originating from Anghor Thom’s docks - the tiles making up the floor are ancient and threaten to collapse if stood on for too long, which would send both your Niravar and the boxes falling into the void below. There is a path visible among the layers of dust coating everything inside the room, possibly promising safe passage across. Your Niravar also notices a row of old statues fixed to the wall on their right - they could jump from one statue to another and avoid the floor entirely. However, the elaborately decorated sculptures would no doubt be damaged in the process.
Show your Niravar:
a) crossing the room using the path visible in the dust on the floor
b) crossing the room by jumping across the statues - A long, twisting corridor leads your Niravar into a vast, open area, resembling an underground cavern more than any of the rooms you had encountered before. Inside it are dozens upon dozens of plants which, as your Niravar steps further inside, all turn out to be made entirely out of metal. Their leaves glimmer and gleam in the light coming from a complex mechanical structure embedded into the ceiling, seemingly meant to replicate the cycle of day and night on the surface.
Show your Niravar:
a) taking a moment to enjoy the peace and quiet
b) plucking a flower from the garden to keep as a souvenir - Your Niravar opens a heavy brass door to reveal a shocking sight; a humanoid automaton stands perfectly still in the centre of a room filled to the brim with gold and treasure, looming over a silhouette crouched down at its feet. It would seem the ceiling of the room has been raised to accommodate the machine’s towering height. The automaton notices your Niravar as they step into the room, but does not move. The piles of treasure surrounding it consist of items your Niravar recognises; jewellery crafted in Terran’s cities, silver and gold goblets, and richly decorated furniture all sit on top of a pile of glittering gold coins. A closer look at the automaton reveals the silhouette in front of it to be a human man. He is dressed in expensive clothing that is now torn at the seams and badly damaged. His hands are bound together with metal chains, the ends of which seem to be attached to the automaton’s hand. The man is certainly alive, but does not speak.
Show your Niravar:
a) trying to find a way to free the prisoner
b) leaving the prisoner be and inspecting the piles of treasure instead, perhaps taking some of it for themselves
After what feels like days exploring the winding hallways and strange mechanical contraptions that populate the depths beneath Anghor Thom, your Niravar finally stands before a grand door surrounded by several paths that seem to lead into the winding ruins you just arrived from. As you approach the door to check if there is a mechanism for opening it, the lets out a loud hiss followed by a burst of steam. As the intricate gears and actuators twirl and flex, the door parts down the middle and slides into the surrounding walls. Steam billows into the space around you, and a large toothy maw juts through the vapors, a heated glow emanating from deep within the creature’s throat.
“So you’ve made it through my playground.” A deep voice rumbles.
As the steam dissipates, you finally get a look at the large beast before you. Far larger than a Niravar, it appears to be a cross between an alligator and a bull, though the twisting and almost liquid metal that forms its front limbs and body gives the creature an otherworldly look. Beneath the metal structures, an intense orange fire flickers and swells, bursting forth from the creature’s form.
“You may call me Rotamund.”
Congratulations, you have completed Forged Beneath the Tundra. Stay tuned for the final results which will be posted at the end of the event. In the meantime, feel free to continue exploring the ruins beneath Anghor Thom!
Rotamund does not seem particularly fond of chatting, and instead opts to turn around and walk back into the room he had emerged from with a simple “Follow me.” And so your Niravar does as the peculiar resident of the ruins requested, and you follow his hulking form into a spacious, well-lit circular chamber. The walls are lined with intricately carved cogs and pipes, with the occasional flowerpot dotting the edges of the room.
At the very center of the chamber you’ve now found yourself in is a large metal table covered in detailed carvings. A closer look at what your Niravar had presumed to be mere decoration reveals the table to be a map of the ruins, with small symbols in each room denoting what it contains. However, as soon as you try to lean over the map to see which route you had taken to the center, a bemused voice speaks up behind you.
“There you are! Took you long enough…”
Mnemoc lazily walks into the room from one of the adjacent chambers, followed by a Niravar whom you have never seen before. One of the draft’s eyes seems to have been replaced with a mixture of metal and pure magic, not unlike Rotamund himself, and they regard you with an icy stare before uttering a surprisingly quiet “Hello.”
Having noticed the other Niravar’s hesitation, Mnemoc introduces them as Zarall - Rotamund’s apprentice and assistant. She says that while you were ‘stumbling about’, they showed her a multitude of blueprints detailing the use of a mysterious substance only referred to as ‘Living Metal.’ According to the information Mnemoc gathered from Rotamund and his assistant, Living Metal could grant its user the ability to replace parts of their own body with enchanted metal. The intensity of the enchantment is so high, Mnemoc exclaims with the slightest trace of excitement in her voice, that not even Vynnfurth’s ice can damage it.
But before discussing any of the details, Zarall quietly invites both you and Mnemoc to sit down and enjoy a meal of, surprisingly, fried sablefish. It only takes one bite to confirm that the food is, in fact, real and not a very accurate metal replica, and Rotamund only watches in mild amusement as you enjoy your first real meal since entering the ruins.
While eating, your Niravar notices a familiar object lying on a nearby table; the puzzle tube which had led you to the ruins in the first place. So the tube belonged to Rotamund in the end - but why would he leave it at a temple on the surface?
“A few visitors now and then have never hurt anyone…” Rotamund notes upon noticing your confused glances, “But they must prove themselves worthy, first. As you… have, to an extent.”
Given the way he looks, the beast’s emotions are hard to discern, but the expression Rotamund makes after speaking almost looks like he’s gritting his teeth.
“It seems respect is harder to fathom for some than for others,” he finally comments, “I was on the point of considering leaving this accursed place to rot. The city, the ruins…”
He lets out a disgruntled sigh.
“If only it weren’t too much work for just a few hapless fools in my domain. I will remain here.”
“But tell me,” he turns towards your Niravar, his metallic voice echoing through the room, “what were you hoping to find? Treasure? What could you need that cannot be found on the surface?”
Your Niravar and Mnemoc exchange a hesitant look before Mnemoc speaks up, carefully explaining the situation on the Sorcas Islands. Heavy footsteps almost cause your plate to fall off the table as Rotamund paces around the room, deep in thought.
Finally, he takes a deep breath, the resulting plume of smoke only narrowly missing you, and says:
“I will not fight Vynnfurth.”
He goes on to explain he is not a fighter (a statement your Niravar finds difficult to believe given the fact that Rotamund would have to lie down on the ground for them to even see his face properly), but that he disagrees with Vynnfurth’s actions and wishes to help you nonetheless.
He points your Niravar towards a subtly glowing chest located near the entrance to the room. No sooner do you attempt to approach it than Rotamund warns you not to open it - the chest, he says, contains a large quantity of Living Metal, and sudden exposure to the substance could be… troublesome. He gently scoots the container over to you, the chest looking almost comically tiny in his grasp, and tells your Niravar to bring the Living Metal to whomever is willing to harness its power in the fight against Vynnfurth.
The gift he had been keeping now taken care of, Rotamund snorts, letting out another cloud of smoke.
“Now, I’d say that’s been enough excitement for one day,” he says, walking over to another, smaller doorway which seems to lead into a dimly lit, narrow corridor, “off you go. And don’t break anything on your way out.”
Evolving Horizons
Date: Dec 29th 2021 - Feb 2nd 2022
Type: Story Event
Overview:
A ship has docked in Grandiaga bearing a strange discovery: a thrush capable of setting things ablaze with its wings. Word is that the peculiar bird flew in from a strange mass of fog just off the coast of Isiar. Could it be that the fog is hiding something previously unknown? The cartographers Bartholomew and Darteri come forward to organize an expedition to this area in hopes of finding out where the thrush came from, and, contrary to all maps known in Terran, they discover an archipelago shrouded in mystery. The expedition members are eager to start, but all they have to lead them are ancient texts, equally unclear and poetic. Help them make sense of the cryptic descriptions and map the Galterel Archipelago before Bartholomew's patience wears thin!
Outcome:
The map of the archipelago is complete, and, after briefly stopping at the final stretch of land that remained unmapped, the expedition heads back to Grandiaga. Over time, they develop a steady travel route between the nation and the newly discovered islands, granting any who would dare brave their strange environments access to the archipelago.
This event added the following to the game:
- The ability to evolve familiars
- Evolution currency
- Three new exploring locations: Kirlisle Glittereef, Voxis Grotto, and Tlasyn Firelands
- Bartholomew as an NPC
A peculiar piece of news has been spreading through Grandiaga; a trading ship has recently arrived to its northern shore, the crew perplexed and nervous, and its captain has been trying to contact scholars from far and wide to come investigate what they had encountered...
Read the event introduction here!
- Birds of scale dart wingless among craggy fixtures adorned in a rainbow of bulbous plants and fans of stone.
- Weary of watching from high above, mist dreams of flowing between the mountains.
- Collapsed by time, the round pit's mouth fills the air with a clouded exhalation.
- Claimed by land but pulled free by the sky, the ruin's foundations rest on clouds, and its roof sees stones as stars.
- Blossoms weep among their family, formed of tears shed in sorrow for their brilliant, yet short lifespan.
- Upturned bowls of translucent gel float serenely through the air, draping colorful streamers beneath them, a soft touch adding items to their floating hoard.
- The steady rhythm of a forgotten musician's drum echoes through the dirt. The auditorium is empty, but the clouded sky came to listen.
- Slumbering giants lay scattered in a field, their cold bodies providing shelter for smaller beings who burrow into their sides
- Colorful hats upon fleshy stalks, produce their own thick rain to drop on those below. They stand together, cheerfuly leaning this way and that, watching all that transpires underneath them.
- The sky is never clear, its anger reaching towards the ground in an iridescent gaze. The scorched canopies of the surrounding trees are filled with an otherworldly glow.
- A crowd of unliving figures, their twisting limbs pointing travellers the right way through the clouds that coat the ground.
- The sky spills out from underneath the door of every abode, their walls now lonely and blank. The marsh is reaching up to embrace them in their solitude.
- The scalding eyes of the earth are dangerous, but they are lined with fallen stars.
- A row of tall guardians lines the path, their breath suffocating all those who would try to pass.
- A place of worship carved of blackened stone, glows with the scarlet celebrations of the past's favored memories.
- Figures of old rest quietly in their home of knapped black glass, observing those who break the silence.
- Within the mountain's apex, liquid sun swallows a hollow stone spire.
- Armed in plated azure, tiny sparks wage war above a glowing river.
- The remnants of a great war dot the fields. The warriors are long gone, but proof of their bravery remains still.
- The cave is aglow from the burning heart of the earth.
The archipelago seems to be hiding an insurmountable amount of information. Multiple weeks have passed since the expedition first landed, but it seems there is still a wealth of discoveries to be
found.
And so, when your Niravar returns to the expedition's camp only to notice an unusual amount of activity among the residents, they pay next to no attention to the commotion, deeming it nothing out of the ordinary. It is only when Darteri calls them over to the center of camp that they realise this is not like the usual excitement over the expedition's discoveries....
Read the story here!
Your Niravar wakes up to Darteri summoning all the expedition members for a meeting, as has become the norm in the past month. Except this time, nobody is looking for a group to travel with, or standing by the pile of old texts to search for yet undiscovered places. Darteri is especially cheerful, and Bartholomew is nowhere to be seen as his cousin declares that the expedition has reached its goal...
Read the event conclusion here!
Evolving Horizons
Date: Dec 29th 2021 - Feb 2nd 2022
Type: Story Event
Overview:
A ship has docked in Grandiaga bearing a strange discovery: a thrush capable of setting things ablaze with its wings. Word is that the peculiar bird flew in from a strange mass of fog just off the coast of Isiar. Could it be that the fog is hiding something previously unknown? The cartographers Bartholomew and Darteri come forward to organize an expedition to this area in hopes of finding out where the thrush came from, and, contrary to all maps known in Terran, they discover an archipelago shrouded in mystery. The expedition members are eager to start, but all they have to lead them are ancient texts, equally unclear and poetic. Help them make sense of the cryptic descriptions and map the Galterel Archipelago before Bartholomew's patience wears thin!
Outcome:
The map of the archipelago is complete, and, after briefly stopping at the final stretch of land that remained unmapped, the expedition heads back to Grandiaga. Over time, they develop a steady travel route between the nation and the newly discovered islands, granting any who would dare brave their strange environments access to the archipelago.
This event added the following to the game:
- The ability to evolve familiars
- Evolution currency
- Three new exploring locations: Kirlisle Glittereef, Voxis Grotto, and Tlasyn Firelands
- Bartholomew as an NPC
A peculiar piece of news has been spreading through Grandiaga; a trading ship has recently arrived to its northern shore, the crew perplexed and nervous, and its captain has been trying to contact scholars from far and wide to come investigate what they had encountered...
Read the event introduction here!
- Birds of scale dart wingless among craggy fixtures adorned in a rainbow of bulbous plants and fans of stone.
- Weary of watching from high above, mist dreams of flowing between the mountains.
- Collapsed by time, the round pit's mouth fills the air with a clouded exhalation.
- Claimed by land but pulled free by the sky, the ruin's foundations rest on clouds, and its roof sees stones as stars.
- Blossoms weep among their family, formed of tears shed in sorrow for their brilliant, yet short lifespan.
- Upturned bowls of translucent gel float serenely through the air, draping colorful streamers beneath them, a soft touch adding items to their floating hoard.
- The steady rhythm of a forgotten musician's drum echoes through the dirt. The auditorium is empty, but the clouded sky came to listen.
- Slumbering giants lay scattered in a field, their cold bodies providing shelter for smaller beings who burrow into their sides
- Colorful hats upon fleshy stalks, produce their own thick rain to drop on those below. They stand together, cheerfuly leaning this way and that, watching all that transpires underneath them.
- The sky is never clear, its anger reaching towards the ground in an iridescent gaze. The scorched canopies of the surrounding trees are filled with an otherworldly glow.
- A crowd of unliving figures, their twisting limbs pointing travellers the right way through the clouds that coat the ground.
- The sky spills out from underneath the door of every abode, their walls now lonely and blank. The marsh is reaching up to embrace them in their solitude.
- The scalding eyes of the earth are dangerous, but they are lined with fallen stars.
- A row of tall guardians lines the path, their breath suffocating all those who would try to pass.
- A place of worship carved of blackened stone, glows with the scarlet celebrations of the past's favored memories.
- Figures of old rest quietly in their home of knapped black glass, observing those who break the silence.
- Within the mountain's apex, liquid sun swallows a hollow stone spire.
- Armed in plated azure, tiny sparks wage war above a glowing river.
- The remnants of a great war dot the fields. The warriors are long gone, but proof of their bravery remains still.
- The cave is aglow from the burning heart of the earth.
The archipelago seems to be hiding an insurmountable amount of information. Multiple weeks have passed since the expedition first landed, but it seems there is still a wealth of discoveries to be
found.
And so, when your Niravar returns to the expedition's camp only to notice an unusual amount of activity among the residents, they pay next to no attention to the commotion, deeming it nothing out of the ordinary. It is only when Darteri calls them over to the center of camp that they realise this is not like the usual excitement over the expedition's discoveries....
Read the story here!
Your Niravar wakes up to Darteri summoning all the expedition members for a meeting, as has become the norm in the past month. Except this time, nobody is looking for a group to travel with, or standing by the pile of old texts to search for yet undiscovered places. Darteri is especially cheerful, and Bartholomew is nowhere to be seen as his cousin declares that the expedition has reached its goal...
Read the event conclusion here!
Nokohii Crest Carnival
Date: March 19th, 2022 - April 23rd, 2022
Type: Casual Event
Overview:
This was a casual event where you could complete prompts to earn a special event currency - called Biriame Fruits - which could be redeemed in the event shop for various in-game items. Each entry awarded 5-15 Biriame Fruits.
Outcome:
All the participants enjoyed the festivities to their hearts' content.
This event added the following to the game:
Remote though it may be, Urus is no stranger to celebrations. They present a rare opportunity for its isolated communities to come together and enjoy each other's company before returning to their distant mountain villages and cities. The Emperor of Urus welcomes these events as a celebration of the nation's traditions and history, and foreigners visit them to learn more about the region and its culture. The Nokohii Crest is located in the center of Urus, close to the Twin Whispers, and it allows all of the residents to easily reach the Carnival's location to enjoy the festivities.
- A crucial part of the Carnival is sharing and remembering old folk tales. Those who are eager to learn about Urus's folklore and history might be interested in participating in the Sundown Stroll, in which Niravar dress up in meticulously decorated, elegant costumes resembling a variety of insects (which popularised Urus through the sport known as Bug Racing) before embarking on a long walk through the surrounding forests and cliffs. The procession follows one of the local elders, who eventually chooses a suitable resting spot, where all participants enjoy a peaceful, moonlit dinner while the elder shares the region's oldest stories with them.
- The wind in Urus seems to be unrelenting. This can be dangerous for travellers, but makes for a perfect opportunity for flying kites. During the carnival, Urusians host contests to see who can make the most beautiful kite, or who can make their kite fly in the most beautiful patterns while in the air. Rendriel is always nearby to fetch any kites that slip out of their owner's grasp.
- Years of living in the mountains have left Urus's residence with a cuisine tailored to their lack of farming space. During the Carnival, the locals set up small outdoor kitchens to teach visitors how to prepare some of their most popular meals. The top favourites include a beet soup with three separate kinds of meat and a host of other vegetables and spices, or dumplings made from the biriame fruits that grow on Urus's cliffs.
- The biriame fruit is an apple-sized, violet fruit covered in what seems to be small scales on the outside. The plant it grows on is rather prickly and resembles a cactus. The inside of the fruit is vivid orange and resembles the inside of a pomegranate. Having adapted to the difficult landscape, the fruit exclusively grows on rocky cliffsides, making its harvesting incredibly dangerous. At the carnival, visitors can try this precarious task for themselves...with safety nets and harnesses included.
- Urus is dotted with remote shrines, seemingly isolated from the rest of the nation and usually placed atop the highest mountains. During the Carnival, many Niravar make the precarious journey to leave offerings to the nature spirits the Urusian locals worship. The trails leading to the shrines are marked with colourful ribbons and stone statues.
- One of the most highly valued professions in Urus is serving as a messenger between the Emperor and his people. Messengers deliver everything from supply packages to important letters and missives, and sometimes, for them, time is everything. To honour their dedication and discipline, festival-goers are invited to try a part of this profession for themselves. A stack of packages is placed on a central cliff, and Niravar are tasked with delivering each one of the packages to their destinations, which are usually placed on adjacent cliffs, connected via rickety rope bridges. Safety nets are provided under the bridges, but falling off or dropping the package will cost your Niravar precious time. Those who can deliver all packages the fastest are rewarded with medals and other memorabilia.
- Urus's residents harbor deep respect for the spirits that supposedly dwell within the region. During the Carnival, visitors can participate in workshops hosted by the locals where each participant creates a small model of Urus's mountains and then has to find a way to connect them all using rope bridges. The bridges are said to allow spirits to travel through the mountains, and if a mountain is left without a bridge leading to it, the spirits will slowly turn malevolent and haunt the area until a bridge is constructed, making it dangerous for any who may want to visit that specific mountain or travel within its vicinity. The models are then richly decorated with small trees, buildings, and small animal figurines.
- Over the years, Urus has become a gathering spot for winged Niravar. They are highly valued for their ability to quickly travel between the region's isolated settlements, and thus get to enjoy the most luxurious of living conditions if they agree to work as messengers for the Urusian Emperor. Those who do not possess the ability to fly, however, can be granted special enchanted harnesses which allow them to take flight. During the Carnival, visitors can try out the harnesses for themselves. The Carnival ones are adorned with colourful streamers and fabrics, and Niravar create unofficial competitions in who can do the best tricks and acrobatics while in the air.
- Those who seek an opportunity to rest after a long day of Carnival activities may find respite from the crowds and competitions in Nokohii Crest's hot springs. The pools are lined with enchanted paper lanterns, and Niravar who wish to rest in the hot springs have a good view of all the festivities going on in the main area due to the springs being positioned on a cliff above the Carnival grounds.
- A large, wooden stage is set up in the middle of the Carnival grounds. There, Niravar dress up using shed scales and wings from the Plated Sixwings that are native to Urus, and perform a variety of magnificent dances.
- Due to its landscape, Urus features a variety of magnificent views and vistas. During the Carnival, locals offer painting supplies to anyone willing to try their paw at plein air painting. The paintbrushes attach to the Niravar's dew claw to make painting easier.
Vision of the Impassioned
Date:
June 25th, 2022 - July 30th, 2022
Type:
Casual Event
Overview:
This was a casual event to introduce the new Ardorsurge activity. Players chose a team and competed in the Ardorsurge as part of said team to win tiered prizes.
Outcome:
Xyris's team won and its members received the gold version of the event badge.
This event added the following to the game:
- Ardorsurge, an arcane sports contest consisting of three different disciplines
- Item enhancement and enhanced crafting materials
- The Stats system
- A handful of new NPCs
Inoran Harvest
Date:
June 25th, 2022 - July 30th, 2022
Type:
Casual Event
Overview:
Inor is famous for its rolling meadows and endless fields of crops that feed the majority of the continent, and provides a robust trade route through Sarthia, Grandiaga, and even over to Drakhan and Djama. As the fields mature, a great celebration is held all across Inor to mark the time for harvest. This celebration is filled with good food and fun games, and Niravar from all over funnel in to enjoy the activities!
There were three types of activities in this event.
- Apple Bobbing, where Niravar dive into creeks and rivers to snag delicious apples while avoiding the harsh taste of the onions mixed in.
- The Path of Courage, where Niravar traversed into a dark and scary forest to prove their courage and make it to the center.
- Evening Fireflies, where Niravar ventured out into the night to try and catch as many fireflies as possible.
This event added the following to the game:
- Feywing Horns
- Pixie Barding
- Starters Oberon and Titania
- A noise from behind catches your attention and you whip your head back to investigate only to find nothing there. As you turn back towards your path a huge black form drops down from the trees before you, eight legs wiggling wildly in the air as a spider hits the ground with a dull thump. For a moment you think some beast has invaded the forest...until you realize the spider is made of lumpy cloth and its eyes are painted on. Show your Niravar either getting spooked as the spider drops in front of them, or investigating the well-made prop.
- You press forward, coming across a narrow wooden bridge that spans a muddy stream filled with gnarled branches. As your paw touches the bridge you do a double-take at the branches, only to find that rather than benign bits of fallen timber, they are instead the stiff hands and paws of humans and Niravar! Show your Niravar staring in horror at the (fake) hands, or quickly escaping the bridge.
- Your path through the forest has so far been rather mundane and you suspect you'll reach the end shortly. The shriek from earlier suddenly appears loud and close, moving quickly in your direction from behind you. Looking back you see a Niravar burst through the undergrowth, adorned in a strange costume. Show your Niravar reacting to this costumed Niravar (not owned by you) as they bolt towards you screaming.
- Trudging forward, you flinch as a particularly sharp branch snags at your fur. The brambles here grow thick, and you have to be careful as you continue on your path. A bit of movement catches your eye and for a brief moment you think you've come across another soul braving the Path. Closer inspection, however, reveals the movement to be nothing more than a bit of tattered cloth stretched over the brambles, giving the illusion of Niravar and Humans. In fact, as you look around, there are many instances of these shifting cloth forms in the branches and trees and you get an eerie sense that you're not alone. Show your Niravar standing among the brambles, surrounded by the shifting cloth forms.
- Your path takes you close to a small lake, where the water begins to ripple gently as you approach. Rising from the depths, Peosith, dressed as a water spirit, emerges from the lake, a mischievous smile across their face. 'To continue your path, you must bring me a sacrifice from the nearby grove.' They say in a hushed and dramatic whisper, clearly enjoying their role. 'I require a red autumn leaf. Do not disappoint me.' With their request made known, Peosith slinks backwards into the lake, leaving their head above the water to watch you. Show your Niravar harvesting red leaves from a grove, or delivering the red leaf to Peosith.
- Leaves crunch beneath your paws as you continue forward. A cool autumn breeze sweeps through the woods, filling the air with the sound of rustling leaves...and something else. A gentle clacking sound, somewhat hollow, punctuates the rushing of the leaves. A quick glance towards the source of the strange sound reveals a number of small totems suspended from bits of twine dangling from the nearby trees and shrubs. With each breath of the wind, the totems rattle against each other, and the sound grows louder and louder the longer you remain. Show your Niravar surrounded by these strange hanging totems.
- The path grows dark and while your vision doesn't suffer too terribly, it is a lonely and eerie feeling as you continue your trek through the woods. You take a moment to steel your nerves before continuing on, when a dark shadowy form darts across your path before disappearing into the forest, leaving no trace behind. You strain your eyes and ears in the direction it fled but you hear and see nothing. Once more you are alone. Show your Niravar witnessing the shadowy form darting across their path.
- Your journey through the Path of Courage leads you to an area of thick underbrush and winding tree branches. A section has been cordoned off, directing you along many twisting paths, dead ends, and loops that force you to retrace your steps. The walls of this maze are littered with woolen spider webs stretched across the many trees and bushes. Just as you think maybe the maze can't possibly be navigated, a small chirrup catches your ear. Flitting forward, an amber-colored Ice Drake perches on a nearby branch. It chirps at you again before flitting down the path you swear you just came from. Show your Niravar following the Ice Drake as it helps you navigate the maze, or your Niravar's reaction to the thought they might be trapped forever.
- The clouds part and for a brief moment the full moon illuminates your way forward as you navigate the marked trail through the forest. The soft rays of the moon stream through the trees, creating a beautiful, if not eerie atmosphere and you stop to take it in for a moment. As you stand there watching the moonbeams, you feel something begin to twist around your ankles before gripping tightly - but not to the point of pain. You leap away, twisting in the air to face whatever grabbed you. Hidden beneath a dark sheet off to the side of a path a Niravar pokes their head out, giving you a thumbs up before hiding again. Show your Niravar reacting to being grabbed or interacting with the hidden Niravar (should not be owned by you).
- The full moon is briefly obscured by the clouded sky as you press forward along the Path of Courage. As the silver light fades, dozens of glowing eyes appear in the trees and bushes around you and you get the very concerning feeling that you are being watched. You continue onward, focusing on your path when the eyes shift and seem to follow you. Show your Niravar surrounded by many sets of glowing eyes, or fleeing while the eyes chase after them.
Frostbitten Fauna: Kezutli's Compendium
Date:
December 28th, 2022 - February 2nd, 2023
Type:
Story Event
Overview:
This was an event used to expand the game's bestiary. Players ventured into Drakhan's wilderness to encounter a variety of creatures and document them for Kezutli Moonfeather, a human zoologist.
Outcome:
Our players braved the frozen wilderness of Drakhan and helped Kezutli complete their Compendium! Thanks to their help, they were able to record critters previously unknown in Drakhan, and will soon publish their work to distribute this new knowledge across Terran.
This event added the following to the game:
- Kezutli Moonfeather, a zoologist NPC
- The Crowned marking
- Starters Georamus Airan and Saekilia
Call of the Abyss I.: A Fish Out of Water
Date:
March 25th, 2023 - April 29th, 2023
Type:
Story Event
Overview:
In this event, Niravar ventured into an archipelago known as Dead Man's Haven, just off the coast of Ashki, to interfere in a conflict between two pirate captains.
Outcome:
Our players found the crew member the two captains were fighting over, but not before discovering the secret Dead Man's Haven was hiding: a sunken pre-Cataclysm city with a corrupted Aether Pool sealed below the surface of the ocean. The captains' bickering eventually grew into all-out battle, and though Captain Adelivren eventually reigned victorious, the resulting naval combat damaged the sunken city's defences, releasing a massive Void Reaper known as the 'Dead Man's Phantasm' into the seas of Terran. From the city, however, players were able to recover detailed notes on the Galterel Archipelago, prompting more expeditions into the area.
This event added the following to the game:
- Abyss barding
- The starters Hirill and Aquira
- The 'Expert Hunts' activity