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SPEAK OF THE VISHMIIR ...
A transcription of the terrible events which have unfolded so far
...
Dateline: 25th of Lormesta, year 5102, The Day
of the Huntress
 ARE
YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?
Priests of Liabo throughout the continent report that they have
sensed strange energies building, a dangerous force that they
feel is both ancient and terrible. They caution adventurers to
be wary, as this energy could manifest itself in deadly ways in
the future. Sages and priests alike are investigating the matter
to stop it before it becomes hazardous to the people of Elanthia.
Dateline: 26th of Loremesta, year 5102, Feastday
DARK ENERGIES
Citizens of Solhaven report a discussion with Monk Thalenn, priest
of Lorminstra, wherein the monk describes "a dark energy
in the skies and in the ground.” The priest goes on to
temporarily open their awareness to this energy, bringing much
dread upon those involved. The monk cautions, “…
its power is growing. Monks like myself are trained to be sensitive
to such powers, perhaps as it grows...you will all be affected
too. … Tell others, everyone must be made aware of what is
occurring. I will attempt to have other officials in Voln's Order
spread the word as well."
Dateline: 27th of Loremesta, year 5102, Restday
WEHNIMER’S LANDING:
The old warrior of the Order of Voln reported to the residents
that though the Order has received a number of messages from priests
and priestesses along the western continent, they have had no
answers to give. Officials of his Order have sent ravens east,
in the hopes that the elves of their Order may have some special
insight.
TA’ILLISTIM:
Residents report a discussion with Anebrin Belandel, Monk of
Jastev. He confirms the presence of a dark presence, and also
discusses messages that have arrived from other parts of Elanthia,
including the west. This danger, apparently, spans the continent.
RIVER’S REST:
On this day in River’s Rest, the Priestess Veelani Saffine
warns the people that: “This is no ordinary magic, this
is something far more terrible than I have ever felt."
SOLHAVEN:
Late in the day Monk Thalenn clarifies that the Liches that plague
IceMule Trace are not behind the terrible evil that is growing
across Elanith. "The disturbances in the sky tonight were
caused by the Nine, but what I feel is not their doing. I had
hoped it was, for an instant. I would know how to fight against
lichs, even powerful ones... ”
Thalenn still awaits a response from his letters of inquiry to
other members of the clergy.
Dateline: 28th of Loremesta, year 5102,
Volnes
THE POWER GROWS
Across the continent the peoples of Elanthia become more aware
of the growing evil, as their minds are filled with a black oily
presence, shrieks fill their ears, and the ground seems to tremble
with a rhythmic thump.
Dateline: 29th of Loremesta, year 5102, Tilamaires
WE RISE AGAIN
As the mental noise grows in volume and power, the presence
begins to pass along the message "We...rise again..."
Dateline: 30th of Loremesta, year 5102, Leyan
SPEAK OF THE VISHMIIR ...
In Ta’Illistim, a part of adventurers, (Middnight, Opalina,
Akashe, Swahami, Mange, Shooure, Peche, Aerofoil, and Rontuu)
were sent by the Monk Anabrin to deliver a message to Monk Thallen
in Solhaven in order to warn the western cities of the evil that
has fallen upon Elanith.
The adventurers were given a parchment that read:
Brother Thalenn --
Our people have memories of many things. The Vishmiir are
one of them. I cannot say much, except PREPARE. We have found
out about them too late, the force has awakened. There is no
sanctuary from them that we know of, prepare while they are
still stirring in awakening. You must hurry. Hurry now before
it's far too late!
~ Anebrin Belandel
The party of adventurers was warned not to speak aloud the name
of the terrible presence, lest they call it upon themselves.
Braving many dangers, the adventurers carried the message across
the DragonSpine Mountains and delivered it to Monk Thalenn.
Word of this information passed like rapid fire among the citizens
of the Empires of Elanith. Too soon, many had called the terrible
plague upon themselves.
Do not speak the name of the Vishmiir.
Dateline: 31st of Lormesta, year 5102, Niiman
VISHMIIR ENCOUNTERED!
The adventurers Mnar, Tianni, Lord Tjaran, Lady Iscikella, Lord
Dregaus, Kadesha, and Lady Juspera were visited by a pair of Vishmiir.
The first Vishmiir was quickly dispatched. The second Vishmiir,
no doubt of greater power, caused such great fear on the part
of the adventurers that they were powerless. After causing great
chaos, the Vishmiir vanished.
The servents of the Vishmiir have risen against the living
citizens of Elanith. The gods help us!
Dateline: 1st of Fashanos, year 5102, Day of
the Huntress
SAFEHAVEN
The strange energies first sensed weeks ago have manifested themselves
in hordes of undead beings! Scrambling for answers, high clerics
worldwide have come to an agreement on the origins of these strange
new undead that plague us -- the passing of the recent Lornon's
Eve has caused a disturbance across all the continent of Elanith.
The powers of darkness rose to untold heights during that night,
and have awakened the Vishmiir, an ancient type of undead that
leeches off the thoughts of the living.
This is not all, the Vishmiir have called their many undead thralls
to them as they appear and spread havoc. They appear anywhere
that civilization is, and people of all towns are advised to take
cover from these monstrosities. Clergymen worldwide are searching
for an answer to banish these foul beasts, and have found a temporary
solution -- the Vishmiir's power wanes within the heart of the
DragonSpine, and the settlement of Zul Logoth seems to be safe
from their physical threat. They can touch the minds of people
there, but their hordes cannot come through the dense rock, and
neither can they.
Dateline: 2nd of Fashanos, year 5102, Feastday
VISHMIIR REVEALED!
Those who invoked the name of the Vishmiir during the early morning
and afternoon began to feel drained as if their very life were
sucked away. Sometime in the afternoon, reports of a Vishmiir
summoned in Icemule Trace's Hall of Gods came in from the north.
It was said to have killed the one who called it down, despite
efforts of the man's intent to ally with it.
Later in the evening, it was said another Vishmiir manifested
itself to a group of adventurers: Ichiko, Jadziana, Nofret, Landrai,
Bartain, Azorack, Angellyna, Allanor, Alisaire, Leofred, Iannerra,
Prospera, Tanager and Turinrond who sought a way to stop them.
Among it's words to the brave adventurers gathered were... "You..
call.. upon.. many.. to.. aid.. you... but.. it.. is.. all.. for..
naught. Our.. reign.. will.. not..be.. stopped. Soon.. you.. will..
all.. visit.. the.. grave. You.. have.. brought.. me. And.. now..
you.. die. Others.. will.. join.. you.. in.. time, little one."
It then dispatched Tanager with a swipe of its spectral claws
and disappeared into the air. The terror was not over for the
night, however.
For later on in the evening, the Vishmiir were heard once again
in everyone's minds. People reported that a thick feeling of oozing
oil swam within their mind, the rancid feeling resembled a thousand
crawling snails their brain. The presence pulsed and seemed to
be within the very core of their mind amidst their deepest thoughts
and memories. And then the Vishmiir spoke, "As.. darkness..
falls..our.. power.. grows. Your.. death.. comes.. little.. ones."
The ground rumbled in response, and the many thralls of the Vishmiir
rose up once again to terrorize the continent. Reports have come
in from Wehnimer's Landing, River's Rest, Solhaven, Icemule Trace,
Ta'Vaalor, Ta'Illistim, Teras Island and even the ruins of Old
Ta'Faendryl that the undead there rose up to attack. May the
gods help us all.
As the Vishmiir's thralls spread carnage, reports have also indicated
that the Vishmiir themselves made several appearances in the physical
form. Some only stayed to speak in an almost sickeningly curious
fashion to the adventurer's, like children fascinated with what
horrible destruction they could reap upon us, others killed many
valiant adventurers with a mere gesture. The presence of the Vishmiir
once again made its way into our minds and spoke, heralding the
end to their thralls attacks.
"We.. can.. feel.. you.. fall, little.. ones. And..our..
power.. is.. not.. even.. at.. it's.. fullest. Such.. amusing..
playthings..you.. are. It.. was.. delightful.. to.. watch.. you..
all..in.. such.. panic. We.. will.. relish.. cleansing.. the..
world.. of.. you. All.. in.. due.. time..."
As midnight approached, the monk Thalenn came out from resting
in the temple of Lorminstra in Solhaven. Apparently the Vishmiir's
presence was too much for him to join in the battle against their
thralls, he sat down among the people there and told a story of
what he knew of these terrible beings via missives sent from the
elves, these are his words.
"They are many, and one. They are bound together in a
place that is both here and not here. They are unused to being
among us. They are a very ancient type of undead. They can manifest
themselves in the physical realm if they wish now. And their powers
are bound to darkness. But they listen, all the time. They listen
even now. I can hear them screaming in my mind trying to dissuade
me."
"Their power peaks when the sun no longer hangs in the
sky. They are like a slime, covering the continent of Elanith.
Something we can only see when they choose to make themselves
known, and only see, not attack, not fight against..."
"The only way to escape their manifestations is to head
inside that dark, dark city in the earth (Zul Logoth). The undead
come from our realm...but those who are noncorporeal exist and
do not exist. It is a complicated process to explain. And the...evil...they
are a very strong noncorporeal being."
When asked if the beings had a central power source could be
found to target...
"There is no focal point that I can sense. They are just
all over. Spread everywhere, with no central source..."
And, feeling incredibly weary but also thankful that he was not
wracked by the painful spasms brought on by the creatures, Thalenn
departed, his final words being, "We must be vigilant,
and may Lord Voln's blessings guide you in the coming days."
We will indeed, Thalenn. All of us.
Dateline: 7th of Fashanos, year 5102, Niiman
FEALYNA'S HOPE
The Vishmiir have attacked both mentally and physically for the
past five days, manifestations have occurred worldwide for those
foolhardy enough to speak their name. Their hordes have gotten
increasingly stronger, and the clergy of Elanthia have tried to
rally themselves to fight, but even Brother Thalenn had been stricken
for many days by their attacks through thoughts. Even the citizens
of Elanthia are plagued by painful thoughts great enough to sever
life and limb. It looks like they will not be stopped.
But tonight, there was a glimmer of hope shining in the city
of Solhaven. The Brother Thalenn gathered the people to the North
Market and revealed that the temple of Lorminstra which he takes
up residence in had been holding a secret. He informed the many
citizens gathered around him that he had argued long with the
local clergy about opening the halls barred from the public, and
in the end he had won.
As they walked to see the now-public halls of the temple, Thalenn
spoke of a relic of power, these are his words:
"Ill tidings, but one with a glimmer of hope while the
threat lays dormant this night."
"The reason I am here tonight, and I have deliberated
much with my fellow clergy is to tell you of what is housed in
the temple I have taken up residence in, that is the true purpose
for which I have come here. It has long been kept a secret, this
is why I could not tell you before."
"Long ago, there was a great priestess of Liabo...her
name was Faelyna. Who she served was lost to time's eternal winds...but
she was a powerful servant and a caring one. There is not much
known of her, other than that she was very powerful and fought
evil with all her heart and soul."
"Rumours say that during her life, she crafted a chalice...a
chalice that would hold Life's potential. This ... is that chalice."
And Thalenn revealed to the people a silver ora-veined chalice.
It was crafted from a silver so immaculate that it appeared to
be a perfect mirror, the chalice was veined with streaks of pure
white ora. Flowing runes encircled its base, pulsing a wan blue
every few moments. The white ora around its lip was sharply downturned
in some places, the patterns twisted their way in an arcing, lightning-like
path down toward the stem of the beautiful chalice. It appeared
to be completely empty.
Thalenn continued, "It is empty...because Faelyna also
crafted a sister item of power...a crystal. The Faelynian crystal
was said to sense the pure Life which is always around us, and
that the goodness in mortal's hearts would make it grow with power,
but, long ago in a struggle for power between light and dark it
was shattered."
"It was said the warriors and priests of the dark stormed
into Faelyna's beloved temple and slaughtered the acolytes and
clergy there. Faelyna herself escaped, but was never seen again.
Her clergy...they died to save the crystal."
"We do not know what became of the crystal after those
dark days. We believe it may be the only hope we have. This is
why the temple's halls were opened to you. We are only so many...and
the situation has grown too desperate. We need your aid, for you
to keep your eyes open and to spread the word."
When asked how to search for the crystal, Thalenn replied
"I do not know...I can only recommend to you what I have
done...I have kept my eyes open. With many pairs of eyes...one
might just pick up something..."
Be ever watchful, perhaps you will be our deliverer of hope!
Dateline: 8th - 10th of Fashanos, year 5102
ANCIENT GOOD AWAKENS
The Vishmiir's power continues to grow, but hope has sprung to
life in the hearts of Elanthia's citizens. The spirits of Faelyna's
long-lost acolytes have risen to combat the evil, and they place
the burden on our shoulders now in atonement for their past failure.
Reports from all over Elanith, from the largest cities to the
smallest of villages say that strangers have appeared in tattered
clothing, looking as normal as your everyday adventurer. When
these strangers observe someone doing a kind deed, they are said
to ask the do-gooder if they would take a shard of crystal and
pass it onto others who do kind deeds, and charge them with the
same task. If agreed, the shard is passed, and glows a bright
silvery color! It is said that the shards are the remnants of
Faelyna's crystal, brought back from beyond by the acolytes to
help combat the evil.
They have said that the fate of Elanthia now rests in her people's
hands. Let us not disappoint.
Dateline: 11th of Fashanos, year 5102, Volnes
THE TAINT
As the shards of Faelyna's crystals have been passed from person
to person, to do-gooder to do-gooder, the chalice has filled to
almost three fourths with a warm golden liquid...though there
is a streak of blackness within. What this means, no one quite
knows yet, but Thalenn has spoken of performing a ceremony when
the chalice becomes full...and is worried about this blackness.
He spoke to adventurer's gathered in the temple of Lorminstra
in Solhaven, where the chalice is housed, saying...
"I must perform a ceremony once the chalice is full.
I have spent the last few days looking for any scrap of information
upon it...it is very dangerous."
"It is dangerous because it involves immense power, but
I do not know what the blackness will do."
When asked if the blackness was something normal for this chalice,
Thalenn said, "This is unheard of in the scraps I've pieced
together, it is always described as a liquid pure golden and none
other color. It is the only thread upon which our salvation might
dangle now. The beasts...they grow stronger. Last night they said
they would not need the thralls soon. Once it [the chalice] is
filled...I must act quickly."
When asked if he knew how long it would take to fill... "I
do not know, it depends entirely on Elanthia's people."
And when asked if any could help him in this ceremony... "...I
feel I will need many friends and supporters during this ceremony,
and I thank you for asking."
Shortly after the priest left, the group of adventurers were
attacked by the evil itself in the very chamber which houses our
last hope. Though they stood bravely in defiance of the evil power,
they were cut down...all almost seemed lost. But when the foul
Vishmiir attempted to destroy the chalice, they were driven back
by it's power. There still is hope as long as the chalice fills!
Life is gathering, and Evil gathers in turn. The time is soon
coming, and we pray that we are successful in our attempts. Share
the shards of Faelyna's crystal in kindness, gentle readers, and
add your hope all others when the time comes for everyone to be
judged.
The Vishmiir are Banished!
Leyan 14 in the month of
Fashanos.
The Vishmiir are Banished!
The day was grim, even by the standards first set by the vishmiir's
appearance. Thalenn was believed to have been slain or captured
by the evil's hordes, and this was later confirmed when the monk
dragged himself to the gates of the temple, dazed and bloodied.
The monk could not speak, and seemed to not be in control of
his own actions. Reports say that after some tkaro root was forced
into his mouth, Thalenn was able to briefly regain control of
his mind again, and a vishmiir was driven out from his body. It
killed all assembled and faded away, leaving a pile of corpses.
Thalenn quickly explained once all were tended to that he had
been taken by the enemy, and the vishmiir themselves pulled him
into a cold, dark place and attempted to break him through torture.
When they were unsuccessful in this, they sought to use him as
a puppet to destroy the chalice somehow, and he was lucky to have
regained a brief moment of control when he did. He brought even
more grave news, however, he said that the vishmiir's power would
peak completely that night, and they would have no use for the
thralls anymore - they would kill us all, over and over, until
the world was truly cold if their power was allowed to grow that
far.
He asked people to make haste and show kindness, as the chalice
was not yet full, and spoke of a ceremony he must perform when
it was. He retired to his chambers in the temple, and the people
of Elanith worked hard to fill the chalice as best they knew how.
Night began to settle over Elanith, and soon the thralls rose
up, the vishmiir's power had not yet peaked... though they spoke
of it happening within a few short hours. The chalice had not
yet been filled, and the added chaos of the invasions only caused
to slow efforts down. Still, the people triumphed and rejoiced
as the chalice filled completely.
Thalenn quickly arrived as the monks on guard had notified him
of the event, and soon the people were led out to the courtyard,
where the ceremony was to commence. A rough transcript follows:
Thalenn spoke, "Their thralls have withdrawn for they focus
their power entirely now...and it will be unleashed on us. Their
true name...the evil's true name... And I only speak it now for
I am basked in the protection of the chalice...is Vismi'irkha."
"There will come a time when I ask you to chant the name,
and another phrase...you must say it without fear. We will be
protected, if all goes well..."
And Thalenn held the chalice high above his head, his hands shook
slightly as he began a quiet prayer, his head bowed.
Twinkling motes of light began to whirl up from the chalice,
resembling a small golden cyclone. They start to spin faster as
Thalenn continued his prayers.
Specks of blackness mottled the cyclone of light, and the chalice
rattled slightly in Thalenn's hand. He continued with the ceremony,
sweat beading upon his forehead as his brows furrowed deeply in
concentration. His prayers did not waver one bit.
Slowly, an image began to form in the glowing cyclone of light.
Thalenn spoke, "When she speaks...speak the name of the
ancient evil... We will be protected, it is Vismi'irkha....repeat
it when needed..."
The visage of a beautiful elven woman faded into view from within
the whirlpool of golden light, and a soft, feminine voice spoke
"Speak the name of the evil who would threaten, and fear
it not, for with its naming thelight shall plunge itself into
its dark heart like a sword. Speak, bravechampions of Life. Speak."
And everyone did shout out the name Vishmi'irkha without fear.
Thalenn spoke, "Anor'lan'da ta vismi'irkha! Edasva'da a'anoi!"
The flickering golden visage of the woman nodded and closed its
eyes, and Thalenn continued his prayers, the woman's voice mirrored
his own, "Anor'lan'data vismi'irkha, edasva'da e'asah a'anoi!
Hold your heads up high, peopleof Elanith! Release the crystal's
energy, release Life's potential!"
Thalenn exclaimed, "Anor'lan'da ta vismi'irkha edasva'da!"
Thalenn raised his fist defiantly.
Twinkling motes of fiery golden light suddenly winked into existence
around us, whirling in a spiral dance in the air before flowing
upwards and out of sight. As they faded away, we heard a man's
voice raised highin a desperate chant, "Hold your heads up
high, people of Elanith! Releasethe crystal's energy, release
Life's potential!"
The cyclone of light twirled and whirled faster, and rised up
like a pillar of golden light into the sky. It rapidly expanded
beyond the width of the chalice, the bright golden glow spread
out and encompassed everyone gathered in its warm embrace.
As the golden light washes over us and speeded into the sky,
we can see the hazy forms of dark beings at its edges, their eyes
glaring at us with intense, seething hatred. Cold, whispered voices
spoke in our mind, "You... will... not... succeed!!!"
We hear shrieking cries resound within our head, the voices cold
and in obvious pain. One voice rised above all the others, the
sound of it made our very bones freeze with a mind-numbing chill,
"Kill... them! Kill... them all!!!! Make...the world... cold!"
Thalenn exclaimed, "No! No! Steady, hold! Raise your voices
in song! Anor'lan'da ta vismi'irkha edasva'da!"
Darkness begans to rise from below and clot the very air around
us with its choking embrace. As it began to obscure our vision
completely, most of us feel an intense cold grip your limbs, and
our mind went blank, our breath squeezed out of us by an intense,
powerful force. Our blood seemed to boil within the void, and
we felt as if we might explode from the pressure any second. We
heard a voice from within the painful feelings, cold and full
of hatred and triumph, "You... have... failed."
And many fell, but still the brave group continued with the song.
Suddenly, voices raised high in song reached our ears, and a
mote of light winked into existence before us, soft and rippling
with a golden glow. Within seconds countless others join the first,
and they whirled about before us in a weaving dance that banishes
the darkness! Relaxation flooded our limbs and all pain is quelled
as the light completely encompassed our vision!
And we then heard a loud scream that threatened to rip our very
being to pieces with its anger, "NOOOO! It... will... NOT...
BE! The... void... gone!!! We... will... not be... banis----"
The voice is cut off as a sharp *WHOOSH* resounded in our mind.
And then the moans of the long dead filtered up from the ground,
and the lights began to drift down toward them. As they did, they
suddenly winked out of sight and were replaced by motes of darkness,
and a slight chill spread across the area. A soft feminine voice
spoke within our mind, "Life has not proven wholly pure...greed
has stifled the power...and not all can be banished..." With
a quiet, sad sigh, the voice faded away, echoing the words, "Not...all..."
The golden light in the sky then faded, raining down in gentle
golden wisps that floated by quietly.
Thalenn fell to the ground and said that we were successful in
banishing the Vismi'irkha, but not their thralls. He explained
that the swirl of blackness within the chalice had failed in banishing
their undead thralls, but that they would be much easier to fight
as they would be unorganized. The thralls are still tied to darkness
as their banished masters once were, and have seemed to rise up
every night, but far more chaotic in their fighting than before.
Afterward, a strange occurance happened in the night sky... the
Grandfather's Eye began to emit a strange glow.
Far above in the dark night sky, the seven stars of the Grandfather's
Eye twinkled brightly. The slit-pupiled eye appeared to be watching
things intently for a moment, and an ancient, quiet voice seemed
to rise in upon the wind, like a protracted, inquisitive sigh.
Though the sound was faint, it iwas not filled with sadness or
relief - only a detached kind of satisfaction.
It appears that the Lornon Lord Fash'lo'nae may have had something
to do with the releasing of these monstrosities, no doubt to see
what new knowledge would be uncovered at the cost of so many lives.
But we remain vigilant, and stand against the thralls as they
come...
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