Monday, March 18, 2024

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team




Friday, March 15, 2024

Aeston's Cartography Corner Part 6 - Falling Into Place

Wow it's actually been a couple years since we've done one of these map updates! Time sure flies. Happily, however, I have some additions that I am very excited to share with all of you in our continuing quest to maintain this shared visual of our world.

Link to map on RealmsNET: https://www.realmsnet.net/maps


In the last couple months we've finally been able to make our largest single addition to the map to date, the Kingdom of Invictus, which, for those of you with a long historical perspective, will notice takes up the real estate that once was boasted by the Borderlands. 

Invictus has some pretty interesting geographic features worth a closer look. For example here is the capital area of the nation showing how the city of Invictus is set in the shadow of the majestic Cedar Mountain. Across The Acheron, perched upon its tranquil shores is the famous Alchimia Lupinaar.


In the eastern region of the kingdom lies the imposing and odoriferous Great Cinnabog, the largest known swamp in the Realms. Unable to support the infrastructure of roads, travel across this area is accomplished by boat through its many waterways.


There's lots more to see in this expansive nation so make sure you take a look at the link on RealmsNET. I want to extend a special thank you to Sara Jessop for being an important partner in helping me organize all of the information I needed to make this large edition to the Realms map.


Another significant change since our last big update includes the addition of the nation of Val Dara. This land was recently remapped thanks to the contributions of Briar Sieracki. Some historic landmarks that have made a real impact on our shared IC culture can be found in Val Dara, including the Calm Shores Tea House and the Onyx Tortoise Bathhouse.


Another noteworthy change is the removal of the historic nation of Ekembria, as that land has been subsumed by Ashenmark to which it was deeded some time ago. 


The Dark Isle, a plot-based land off the northern coastline has been detailed.


And lastly, the historic region of Caer Candra south of Folkestone has been detailed as well.


As usual, a plethora of smaller changes, corrections, and additions have been made across the lands as well.

With these latest additions almost all active nations and plot areas have been added to the map. There's always more to do, however, and I will keep working to make it complete but as always that endeavor requires your help.

If there are things you need added to the map it's as simple as sending me a message and letting me know. You can find me on discord on the Realms server or send me an email at jason.t.rosa@gmail.com

See you next time!

In service,

Jason "Aeston" Rosa

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Maker's Space with Kyle “Killian” Yazinka

Organized by: Justin "J'ortsa" Thibeault

Makers Space is a View series about interviewing the makers, crafters, and artificers of the Realms and sharing their creations with everyone! I know I take pride in my work so I know you all must as well. That being said, how often do you get to humbly (or not so humbly) brag about your creations, so this is your outlet! Tell me everything!!

1. What is your OOC name?

Kyle Yazinka

2. What is your character's name?

Killian

Photo courtesy of Steve Nelson via Facebook

3. What crafting mediums do you typically work in?

Any weapon cores. Bamboo, PVC, fiberglass

4. What is your favorite medium to work with? Why is it your favorite?

Bamboo weapons: easiest, cheapest, and lightest weapon material we use.

5. What is the most challenging part of working with this medium for you? How did you overcome it?

I tend to go for the lightest piece for competitive fighting and the bamboo tends to break faster. I’ve just been sacrificing a bit of weight for stronger bamboo.

6. What is the piece you are most proud of? Why?

My first win for QoH weapons smith. Tourney was for a 1 path combo. Made a single short, dagger combo with a lightning bolt motif. I used glow in the dark tape.

Photo courtesy of View Staff

7. What is the piece you have done most recently that you are allowed to share? Tell us about it!

I’m in the process of remaking an old magic weapon prop. Breaking it down to the old fiberglass core and making more modern and lighter.

8. What is the earliest piece you made? How long ago did you make it?

I’ve made my own weapons since I started in 2003. Using heavy wall PVC and spiral taping the foam on. We’ve come a long way in weapons.

9. What medium do you wish to learn more about or have been interested in? 

Leather working 

10. What advice do you have for the rest of the community when it comes to crafting and making?

Take your time. If you plan on making something, carve out a huge chunk of your day just to work on it. And if it’s not close to finished by the end of the time don’t rush through it to finish it.

11. What inspires you to do what you do? 

I’m very specific about the weapons I like to fight with. In this competitive combat system, any leg up on your opponent helps. So, I make weapons to the specifics the person wants to help them in the game.

12. Is there anything else you really wanna share with us? Any upcoming projects, etc.?

The plastidip weapons look really cool and more realistic but in a high combat game, they hurt more than pipe foam with socks. So, I tend to stay away from making those weapons. 


Photo courtesy of Bri Meisser via Facebook


If you have any questions or would like to be interviewed, please send a DM to Justin Thibeault (spartan_a239 on Discord)

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Why I Want to Go - Sanctuary Questing

By: Keith “Saegan” Cronyn

I want to go to Sanctuary Questing, I plan to go, and you should too if you’re able. 

The sum of it is that the Sanctuary plotline has created an interesting plot with fun mechanics, and in depth world building. It has a little bit of something for everyone, and the level of investment is pretty much up to the individual, as the staff do their best to accommodate everyone’s needs, and the rule is always “real life comes first.”

But if you need a bit more of the meat of what’s going on let me offer some. Sanctuary is a Sanctuary. It’s a sort of demi-plane, created with the purpose of being a space to protect those in need of it. Innocents being hunted. Orphans of war. The lost, and alone. They all seem to find their way, and are protected by Sanctuary. 

Sanctuary is empowered by 12 runes; one for each month of the year, which call on cardinal powers of the universe. The runes are: Time, Love, Nature, Creation, Protection, Soul, Space, Light, Mind, Magic, Truth, and Hope. Each rune has a guardian, a being of power that created it, who has command over the powers the rune encompasses. Each guardian is opposed by a being called a devourer, which is a bit complicated so more on that later, but put a pin in it because it’s important. 

Every person resonates with a rune on some level, and within Sanctuary there are trials which someone can undergo to determine which Rune ( or runes, in some cases) that they align most with. While the trials are individual, and somewhat unique to each person, there is a system to them, and people shouldn’t be afraid to try them if they’re curious about which rune they align with. The rune system is an intricate system where runes have complex relations with each other, and the “anti-runes” that make up the Devourer’s system of powers. 


This weekend, based on the decision of the heroes, we are going questing to try and take out the Devourer of Truth, which is currently hiding in Fae. The reason for that being that the Devourer of Truth has the ability to skew our research into the other Devourer’s information, making any other assault on them more difficult. 


Earlier I mentioned that Devourer’s were in opposition of the Guardians, and that’s true. But they don’t necessarily just have a counteracting ability, but rather they consume the function of the Guardian’s runes. So in the example of Truth, and Anti-Truth, Anti-Truth does not create a lie, Anti-Truth consumes the Truth of a thing, and then a new Truth, different from the old one, sort of floods in and becomes the new Truth. 


I know that’s kind of a complicated and confusing concept, and trust me, those of us that have been spending our time in Sanctuary trying to figure out what’s going on, have spent some time confused as well, debating the philosophical implications of what this sort of thing means. 


Here is an example that might help. I am a human. The Devourer eats the Truth of me that makes me Human. Three forces are applied in this instant to determine what happens, the will of the devourer, my will in opposition, and the base function of the universe that there cannot be a total absence of truth. If the Devourer’s will succeeds, it is able to make me into whatever it wants, perhaps a mouse. If I win, I can become something I may want, other than human, let’s say a Dragon. Now, I only have the ability to intervene if it’s directly affecting me, and if it’s important to me. If the devoured truth is that the rocky path I’m walking on is suddenly lava, well that may be important to me, but I don’t get any sway over that.


Making matters worse, or perhaps just more interesting, is that this devourer is hiding in Fae, wherein, the power of belief has the ability to make things into Truth. So now we have this creature, that can fundamentally change the things around it based on eating it’s Truth, we have an environmental effect where the power of belief can will things into Truth, and we have a bunch of adventurers trying to save a place that is designed to help those in need. 


I could go on, but I think that covers a good bit of why I want to go. Of course if you want to know more you should feel free to ask. But we have a friendly plot, with interesting and meaningful mechanics, that has the potential to meaningfully develop characters, but all the same is casual enough to understand that real life comes first. Honestly I’m going because I’m going to have a blast. 


And I hope to see you on the field.

Keith “Saegan” Cronyn


Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Laughing Gods In the Eye: Moving On

"I don't always have a funny joke to these things so here."

-JB





Monday, March 11, 2024

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team




Friday, March 8, 2024

Rumors for March 1024

 

[Across the Realms]

{Coastal Ports}

Reports of a strange bioluminescent seaweed washing up on shores and in harbors along the coast of Valehaven have become commonplace.  The density of the plant in the water has made it difficult for ships to maneuver.  Additionally, reports of brawls in the afflicted ports have also increased, creating problems for local constabularies and tavern owners alike.

{Deep Sea}

Deep Sea fishing vessels and merchants have reported unusually rough seas this time of year as well as attacks by fish folk on such vessels.  This has led to a significant decrease in ships willing to travel into deeper waters for any purpose.

[Ashenmark]

The town of Highmarkets' woes grow greater as rumors of the ancient tale of the Lady Yorona start to take hold among some of the people.  None now dare to enter the forest, but instead many people have begun constructing small makeshift shrines in hopes to appease the angered spirit.  Offers of food, coin, and even effigies of the weeping woman have begun to collect around the altars.  Stranger still are some reports that the forest’s trees have begun to move and sway in windless nights, purportedly dancing to the haunting dirge that many claim to hear.

[Blackavar]

Blackavar City seems to no longer have a rat problem. Or rats.

[Blackwood]

During work on the castle for the upcoming Clontarf Shuffle, workers discovered a hole leading to an undiscovered ruin, now accessible through the Labyrinth under the castle. Archeology experts from around the realms are discussing what this discovery might mean.

[Rhiassa]

It has become more and more common in the last half year for people to travel the Vanfrost in both directions, creating an ebb and flow of culture, goods, and friendship between the Realms and the people of Norlund. Yet throughout all of this, Midgard has become less and less hospitable of a place and it's clear now that without some sort of intervention the entire world might collapse perhaps sooner rather than later. People that have come back from that place speak of tremendous quakes and relentless storms as if nature itself cannot figure out how it should all settle together in harmonious existence.