This custom Wordle-adjacent-puzzle features a 5-letter word that is particularly relevant to the Realms.
If the embedded page isn't working below you can click this link to get to the puzzle.
Like regular Wordle you can copy your result's (but only if you follow the link), so paste them or a screenshot onto social media to let us know how you did. But no spoilers!
Yes, even on this day of knowledge and lessons there was a court held. Here is a brief summary of events and what has changed within our Realms.
First to hold court was the Knights of the Sable Dragon. Perhaps not unexpected due to Training Day being a mutual effort between the Wyvern College and the KOSD.
Dame Kindrianna of Voraniss spoke, of the Knighthood and of her time as the KOSD Knight Commander. She stepped down, passing the title to Sir Elwin of Stonewood. With the passing of the title of Knight Commander there also is a passing of the firsts to the Knight Commander. Under Kindrianna, Sir Torolf was the First for the Knights of the Sable Dragon. Elwin announced that Ser Gordon will be the First for the Knights of the Sable Dragon going forward.
With that business concluded, several members of the Knights of the Eternal Flame stepped up. Mahkta (Kathy), Eliza (Dani), and Daekara (Greg). Their ooc names are listed to denote the place the KoEF hold in our community as an ic and ooc order. Mahkta announced that they were taking up court business to gift a Fireball upon a recipient. Kathy then called up Kelly "Fern", the organizer of the event series.
Each knight spoke positively about Kelly, and Kelly was awarded a Fireball.
Thus concluded court for Training Day 2, 1025.
Misery sounds so mean to describe a place, but I think this may be a case of a name not matching the truth of the people. I spent a number of recent years in my library in the Fae Wildes, so I may have missed when this kingdom first joined our social gatherings and quests, but I do hope to rectify that soon. They seem like fun people!
Felnar Dulintel
The Kingdom of Misery
The Kingdom of Misery was founded by a mysterious mushroom lady named Bloom. Located on an uncharted island to the east, Goddess Gaia bestowed the kingdom upon her because of Bloom's pure love and devotion to her. It was a quiet place once surrounded by clouds and thunder; these days it's surprisingly loud with laughter and cheer. All are welcome in the Kingdom of Misery; we take in the old, the poor, and the evil, so long as one is looking for a path to kindness. The inhabitants include man and monster, living and undead. In Misery we strive to be the best versions of ourselves; depending on what that means to you. The Kingdom is protected by a magical Bubble that hides the island from view, for the safety of all who may wish harm to the inhabitants.
The kingdom is a monarchy, with Queen Bloom having ultimate authority over the population. The Queen appoints her most trusted and faithful followers to the Queensguard, headed by the Knight Sir Karamir and Captain Rain Holmes.
Knowing little of this island kingdom, these are the locales that the locals look to.
The Golden Pond: This is where the messenger butterflies go to die. When their magic runs out, the butterflies bodies turn to gold and line the lakebed.
The Temple of Gaia: It is located in deep in the forest. The temple is off limits to all but the most devoted.
The Forge of Ataraxia: Sits in the city center. The arms created here are made of Ataraxia Steel.
Mount Valla Appalla: An ancient volcano on the northern archipelago.
The island is temperate and thickly forested, with walled city and castle at the center. A magical Bubble covers the whole of the island and obscures its presence to the outside world.
Following the creation story of the kingdom, Misery is aligned with Her Highness Queen Bloom's goddess, Gaia. The most devout worshippers practice ritual bloodletting in exchange for a higher connection to Her power. In the spring, they celebrate Light the Sky, where they send wishes to Gaia on flying lanterns. The winter is marked by The Darkness, the season where the messenger butterflies die. Beyond this, the Bubble is reestablished on a rotating count of Miserian days.
The Kingdom of Misery’s economy is operated around coins called Flutterbucks, or affectionately called “flucks” by their people. These may also have some connection with the Golden Pond and the messenger butterflies, as it’s been noted that the seasonal replenishing of the Pond has led to massive inflation, as Miserians have taken to raiding the waters for golden butterflies.
Their regional dish seems to be something simply called Miserian Pasgetti.
Miserians wish to let others know that they want to share kindness and teamwork with the other nations of the Realms, and that they will always raise dead bodies, regardless of their national affiliation.
All are welcome in the Kingdom, so long as they are committed to kindness and act with peace to the peaceful. Joining the Kingdom is as easy as asking!
I'm here again with your monthly Toahscope. The dice have predicted some very interesting things this month. As usual, if you don't know your runes, leave a comment and we can help you learn. I'd also be curious at this point to hear if anything has occurred as prophesied.
Air
Traveling this month will have some unexpected happenings
Fall should be careful going to Neden
Spring will find results in Rhiassa
Summer may find themselves in Voraniss
Winter will find their fate in Stonewood
Day will encounter a local to the land, Night will meet someone visiting
Earth
You should try a new type of weapon. If you already use your chosen type, perhaps change between blade and blunt
Fall should look into using daggers
Spring will want to try a pike
Summer may want to pick up a bow
Winter will find hand and a half weapons of interest
Day will want to use their new style in a tournament and Night will want to go questing
Fire
Specific spells will shape your future
Fall will see results around Magic Missile
Spring should look out for Intervention
Summer may want to be aware of Call the Soul
Winter will find answers with Light
Day should watch for friendly casters, enemy casters for Night
Metal
Perhaps during poker, perhaps elsewhere, playing cards will serve a purpose for you
Fall may want to look for the 2 of Spades
Spring should find the Jack of Clubs
Summer will find the Ace of Diamonds
Winter will have the 7 of Hearts
Day will find the card hurtful while Night will be helped
Water
Colors will impact you in the near future
Fall should look out for red
Spring will see yellow stripes
Summer will find results around dark green
Winter will want to watch out for white
Day will find their color on an object and Night will see it on a person
By: Raindrop of Soul and King Saegan of Blackwood (and Truth)
Hello fellow Adventurers of the Realms!
For those who are not aware, off the coast of the Arthurian Isles is a land known as Asteria. Asteria was once an idyllic land, but the gods of the land, the Starlords, created twelve beings to help them manage aspects of the universe. These beings decided the best way to do so was to consume it all. These beings are called the Devourers. Although, saying their name can attract their attention, so we tend to refer to them as the antis or hungerers.
Anti what, you might ask. Well, when the Starlords realized their mistake, they created twelve other beings, the guardians, who would stand in opposition to these hungerers. The idea was that when they collided with each other, they would destroy each other and the power would go back to the Starlords. At that point, the Starlords could create more balanced beings to help rule over reality.
But... then we showed up. Adventurers who made friends with the guardians, and formed relationships. We aligned ourselves to aspects of reality, and set out to destroy the Hungerers without losing our friends. Last year, we destroyed the being known as anti-truth. This year, we sought to slay anti-soul and anti-light.
We all met up in Sanctuary. I will not describe where it is in writing, only that you can find it if you need it. ((There's a lovely discord server for folks who enjoy text RP and e-questing. Although the staff does a really good job in making sure you don't need to do either one to participate in events.)) It is a demiplane that helps provide a home for those who have lost their own. From there, we ventured to the lands of Asteria, to a university known as the Onisac University, where the anti-soul had made it's home. We had a quest to do, and we had to do it quickly or anti-light could join forces and we would be fighting two gods at once.
Before we could face anti-soul directly, we had to do two things. One, we had to find all the soul boxes that it had created, freeing the souls it had consumed and trapped. This involved channeling out the souls from the boxes into hematite, then laying them to rest and sending them beyond the veil. Much of the quest involved various challenges to fight our way to soul boxes, or complete various challenges or puzzles that sealed them away. While we did that, we had to build up sufficient soul magic to destroy anti-soul. I performed a ritual which allowed us to capture the power of moments of vulnerability for us to release all at once upon our foe.
Once we had laid to rest all the souls in the boxes, we could face the Devourer of Souls on the field. We set up a place for last rites and healing in the back line, and ritual space for the ritual to destroy it in the back line, and the fighters fought hard. When we had performed the ritual, it became clear that there was still not enough soul energy. So people had to come up to those who performed the ritual and open up about their hopes, fears, desires, and motivations. Once enough power had been built up, I took it to the Devourer of Souls and it consumed me and all the magic and then exploded. Fortunately, Laika had a powerful magic item that brought me back to life.
We also rescued Perseus, a powerful paladin of an Asterian order, who had had their soul eaten by anti-soul and turned into anti-light's servant. When they were rescued, they took Jasper and one other person as their squires to their order.
From there, anti-light came out, as the sun fell and it grew dark. The fight against anti-light was a defensive one. We found the Astral Forge, a powerful artifact of Asteria, and forged swords that could be used to affect the entity. Meanwhile, Perseus empowered Jasper to lead a ritual to entrap anti-light in a circle of light forged from the astral forge and powered by the astral flame. This powerful light spell destroyed anti-light, and won the day for the heroes.
-Raindrop
~~~~
We left on a mission to destroy the Devourer of Soul, and the Devourer of Light, and we succeeded. That’s the base of things.
Asteria, in the ruins of a college, our enemies awaited us. Served by ghosts, goblins, and even an array of chimera. The fight was a slog. The enemies seemed to keep coming; at times they felt unbeatable.
Our powerful magics dwindled, and many of us, were sent, rendered to the Servant of the Devourer of Soul, to gamble for our lives.
Until finally, as the sun began to near the horizon, we found what we needed to bring the Devourer of Soul to the field. Soul brought an army. We fought it back only to watch it rise in our wake to cut us down from behind. We broke through the army, striking at the Devourer, only to have them strike back with a force that would sever our souls from our physical forms, and leave us as a husks on the battle field.
When our morale was nearly tapped, several of our casters brought forth a trap; Raindrop presented a soul bomb. The Devourer took the bait, and Raindrop all the same, Raindrop was lost, but the Devourer of Soul was defeated, and all others were freed.
As sun set we left the field, to plan and prepare.
We returned, in the dark of a dreary cold night, prepared for the Devourer of Light. But first, Laika, brought forth a powerful artifact, and with magic backed by the deep meaning of his words, he called Raindrop back from beyond.
We cheered, our army delighted by the complete victory over Soul, and were ready to take on the Light.
Our first task was to find the Celestial Flame and prepare ourselves with weapons of light to assault the Devourer and their minions.
As we made a forge of light’s power, the Devourer arrived with an army of ghosts and bats. It as a terrible defense. The Devourer tapped into it’s power to turn our Friends against us, forcing us to cut down our own in terrible blood.
Our lines were thin, and surely we would have fallen if Elizah hadn’t called on her mystic forge to keep us going midline.. My armor was barely marked before she was fixing it. And so true for those next to me as well.
The fight carried on. More Friends were turned. More blood. More bats and ghosts.
Until finally, we won. Having carried the Forge bearing the Celestial Flame to the Battlefield, our weapons ablaze, we struck our foes down in final victory. Not every fight can be so clear a victory, I am very grateful for everyone’s hard work in making this challenge such a success.
-Saegan
By: Nixon "Jasper" Showalter
Hello friends, foes, and otherwise!
Did you all miss me? I know it has been so long since you last heard why I wanted to go to something. Thrilling, isn’t it? This time the stakes are not lower, but different! While fighting monsters and defeating the evil in the world is always important, you can never undervalue defeating the evil of missed learning opportunities!
While I do spend quite a bit of time at the Wyvern College as a student, I am looking extra forward to all of the guest lecturers coming to teach a ton of amazing classes this Saturday! I’ll personally be taking Rosetta’s Runes, Tournament Poker 101, Magic Marshaling, An Abridged History of Fae, and Oaths and Independence. While I have been in the Realms for around a year and a half, I have learned that there is always something new to learn and this is the perfect opportunity to do so. With the Realms being so diverse there will always be an expert you can find to teach you all they know, and usually they are more than happy to share what they know!
With all of the amazing rituals and lore behind Rosetta’s Runes, I knew I had to take a class to learn more about them. And with there being a follow up class on how to practically use them, it's a package deal! Tournament Poker is something that has always been intimidating to me, but I love making money and I love playing games, so I knew that would be a class right up my alley. Magic Marshaling is such a complex and interesting part of the Realms in my opinion, and to be able to learn directly from people who do it so well is an opportunity that is hard to pass up. I am always looking to hone my skills and things that are mostly learned in practice, and experience is best passed down!
On the topic of passing down experience, learning about the history of Fae is something I could spend the entire day listening to. It is one of the topics that every time I meet someone they have their own unique set of stories and perspectives and I absolutely can't get enough! And as a new player, Oaths and Independence immediately caught my attention to get a better grasp on my future in the Realms. While there are so many options, sometimes it is best to take your time and set your own path through the world!
While gaining knowledge is one of my favorite pastimes, a close second is food, and boy oh boy will there be opportunities to indulge! There are some incredible people taking charge of the college’s dining hall and I simply can’t wait for what they will cook up. There will also be a bake sale taking place with some amazing goodies for you to buy, so keep an eye out and always leave room for dessert! And while you are looking at what is for sale, make sure you stop by the auction being ran all day too. I’ve heard whisperings of some pretty neat stuff that will be available to bid on which you totally should (unless I’ve bid on it then you should totally let me have it).
Regardless of what classes you plan to take, or if you will spend your time helping in any capacity, I am sure you will have an incredible time doing so. There is so much to learn, experience, and take away from this day. After attending the first Training Day and gaining so much insight into topics I to this day reference, it was a no brainer why I want to go to the second Training Day!
Best of luck with your learning,
Jasper Sherwood of Alifon
By Kieran/Kyra Barry
Credit to Sean Finn for an article I wholesale got from him, no wording change needed.
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Hello members of our Realms community,
In the face of discriminatory laws at both the federal and state level, the Knights of the Realms remain steadfast in our desire for the Realms community to remain an inclusive space for everyone.
We are opposed to the federal executive order limiting gender to that assigned at birth.
We are opposed to a similar and reprehensible bill, HB148/SB268, making its way through the New Hampshire legislative process.
To our LGBTQ+, and specifically trans, friends, know that we would be lesser without your full presence in our lives. You are a vital and valuable part of this community and we are committed to doing everything we can to make sure you know you are wanted here.
To every member of our community. If you believe in the sentiments that we have expressed above, let this missive serve as a call to action.
As of the time we’re writing this, this legislation in New Hampshire has passed through the House and the Senate. There is still time to act, however, before it is signed by the governor. A very similar bill was put to the previous governor, Chris Sununu, last year and he vetoed it, saying “It is unacceptable and runs contrary to New Hampshire’s Live Free or Die Spirit.”
The following webpage contains multiple methods to contact Governor Ayotte. https://www.governor.nh.gov/contact-governor-ayotte
Reach out and let your opinion on this bill be heard. If you do not live in New Hampshire but have family or friends there, encourage them to express their opinions on this legislation.
Never fool yourself into believing that elected officials, especially our local ones, are ever in a position to ignore the calls and emails of their constituents. I can assure you that they read our emails and listen to our calls. Minds can be changed and votes can be influenced with a large enough groundswell.
We know that calling this a difficult and scary time for many in our community is a severe understatement. This rollback of civil rights is unprecedented in our lives up until now.
The best we can do as a community is to stay true to the path we have chosen. We will look out for each other at all times, seek understanding from each other when we disagree, and stand by each other when disruption to our inclusive ways seems inevitable.
We pledge to do these things always as we march into uncertain times ahead.
In duty,
The Knights of the Realms
Undersigned
Jason Rosa, Knights Commander
Patrick Bobell
Matt Brenner
Keith Cronyn
Kathy Fey
Randy Gordon
Jason Gray
Angela Gray
Lani Jones
Steven Matulewicz
James Murphy
Tucker Noyes
Ian Pushee
Sean Veale
Written by: John "Potato" Peloquin
I look down the hall and see a couple people putting up their art to display or admiring the art. Closer to the end of the hall, I think I might’ve seen two people with metallic skin, shiny clothes, and glowing eyes and hair near some plushies on a display. The yellow-haired one looked like they were adding to the display before they turned a corner out of the hall. I think I’ve walked by them before towards their house in Sanctuary. I should go over and formally introduce myself some time. I thought to myself, before walking up to the first display.
I scrolled off to the next display, it was a small book. The display read a Light rune trial a story of three princesses written by Mistral. I sat back at a convenient chair by the display. Feel like it is there for the purpose of enjoying this tale. I lost track of time in this riveting tale about the princesses battling against a dark wizard wanting to take the kingdom and power they had. Through this reading I start to get this feeling it's more than just a tale about saving their kingdom. It's about their journey on overcoming insecurities and accepting who you truly are. In the end everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses, but one can become stronger when with others. What a thoughtful tale for people to enjoy. I closed the book and put it back on display, so others can learn from it and proceeded to the next display.
The display was an armor stand with a place card pinned on the chest. On the shoulder was a striking deep green pauldron and below it, the place card that read Leather pauldron crafted by Saegan. The leather pauldron was designed, textured, and dyed forest green. On the main plate displayed two embossed majestic stags locked in combat, displaying strength and the untamed spirit of the soul. The plate under it had the heraldry of Blackwood embossed on it, identifying where he hails from. The strap had an intricate design flowing down the sides showing off his attention to detail. Overall this piece shows the dedication to the craft made with the passion of his soul. I should keep his name in mind with my journey of learning leather crafting. Maybe he has some knowledge he'd willing to share.
Bowls crafted by Keith C. & Emma S.
I walk up to the next display and it looks like a couple tables were put together to make more room. The place card read "Multiple works of art crafted by Lady Tarnisha and my daughter Mandolin." There were some colorfully fun gingerbread cookies decorated on a platter. Next to them were some sewn fabric stuffed plague rats, maybe trying to get the delicious-looking cookies on the platter. A beautiful dream catcher on a cold-colored matching necklace that looks like it will be used for a ward spell. As well as what appears to be a worst-case scenario colored drawing of a solar eclipse. I feel like these ones were done with little Mandolins growing talents, very nicely done by her. There was a sheet of paper next, it was a ballad written and titled Ballad of Darkvale, sounds like it's about what took place during Winter Reverly. The last piece was a sideless light blue and tan surcoat. It had its own little note attached to it that said it's just a first pattern for a more complex SL surcoat, she is making for King Orion's Coronation. Even so it was still elegant, decorated with an upper band of flowers along the chest line, and patch of flowers under the right armhole of the surcoat. If this is just the first pattern I can't wait to see how gorgeous the final will be. This display of work just shows the time they spend with family is what's important to her soul.
The next display to be seen was a poem written by Styx. I found the poem to be captivating how they captured what their soul would look like. Felt like I was there looking into their soul, the home that was built that shows the hardships and good times the soul has had. Content with who they are as a person and the journey they have had. Home is where the soul is. As I placed the poem back down for others to see I got a whiff of something sweet going behind me and turned around.
I thought about leaving the art show, but then I looked at an empty display. I stood there and thought if my crafts had anything I thought was worthy of being shown off as my art of the soul. After some thought I walked over and decided to place two items. I took out my chainmail coif with holes for my ears, my first chainmail craft. I made it because I wanted to be more protected so I can fight better with my friends and allies. I had fun making it, and will continue until it's a full suit. The other piece of art I decided to place were a few of my Potato Chips I have been making. Woodburned circular chips one side a potato and the other a number one with a P and C, with a decorative dash border going around. I hand burned each one, and have many more to continue making. My hope is to make it a new currency the realms will like when Im ready. Back by my shop and food cart, if anything maybe they'll want to collect the art. I put my soul into my art and the memories I make with my friends. I write down on the placecard what I placed on the display and my name. Left the art show with a little more thought about what art of the soul can be and appreciation for the artists for showing me their soul.
Written by: Nixon "Jasper" Showalter
Hello friends, foes, and otherwise,
For those of you unfamiliar with Sanctuary, its people, its Guardians, and the foes which threaten the plane, let me give you a quick refresher. Sanctuary is just that, a plane which offers sanctuary to those in need. It is protected by twelve Guardians, each encompassing an alignment, with each alignment having a rune. The twelve alignments are Time, Love, Nature, Creation, Protection, Soul, Space, Light, Mind, Magic, Truth, and Hope. For reference, I am Soul aligned (if you could only imagine), following Guardian Amber of Soul. While these Guardians look to help all who they are capable of, they are not uncontested. There are other beings, known as Devourers (but saying that word can cause them to listen, so be careful), which look to destroy what the Guardians represent.
Across the seas two of these beings have been laying waste to the alignments they counter and it is up to us to stop them. While many of you know me, know the condition I have been left in as of a year prior, these beings are to blame. The first we will be targeting on this journey is Anti-Soul. Anti-Soul is currently consuming many Souls which have been taken from their rightful body and consumed, not being allowed to exist nor past to their after life. As you can imagine, this is a problem. We know of ways we can return these Souls, via the use of Hematite rings, weapons, and missiles of Soul Channeling. Once we have gathered the Souls into the Hematite, we can put them to rest. Additionally, we will need to defeat Anti-Soul itself. It currently has six Soul boxes which need to be destroyed before we can destroy the being itself. These are seemingly hidden around the university which we are visiting, it is up to us to find their exact locations. There is a seventh Soul box, belonging to Sir Perseus, a once Paladin of the Celestial Flame turned Servant to Anti-Light. We intend on freeing Perseus from their bond to Anti-Light as we did for Barton and Anti-Truth some year ago. This will not be as straightforward, requiring us to locate their head and reattach it, while also physically removing the rune from their body. However, I am confident in our ability to do so. Anti-Soul does currently have a ‘servant’, though they lack the power of other servants we have seen and are reluctant to be in their position. They are a Soul, located within Anti-Soul, currently serving as a clerk for the being, organizing the Souls within. There is little information known about them, but we are nothing if not a group capable of on the fly thinking.
After we handle Anti-Soul and free Sir Perseus, we will then be going to defeat Anti-Light. This is a being which feeds on Light. Expect darkness to surround us, Light magics to be haltered, and vision to be obscured. We are going to be fighting against it mainly in a tunnel battle, so prepare your long weapons and your best shields, we will need them. Other than that, this fight is more of a mystery, at least to me.
I hope you have made it this far, the information above will be crucial to our success. If you haven’t surmised, I want to go to Asteria to defend Sanctuary because it is a place that offers itself to defend those who need it, so it is only fair I offer myself to do the same. Anti-Soul and Anti-Light both are wreaking havoc on Asteria, capturing innocent Souls and sucking the Light out of the world, and for this they must be stopped at whatever cost. It is also relevant to note that I am a vampire turned by Sir Perseus. I have chosen to stay this way in hopes that the connection to them may strengthen their bond to our world. We will have to see if this holds true once they are freed.
If you have any questions, you are always welcome to reach out to me in whatever means you are able, I am happy to help. There are also many knowledgeable people going on this journey, so posting to boards around the Realms will also help gather the information you seek.
Until the sun touches the sea,
Jasper Sherwood of Alifon
((OOC:
Hi everyone! Nixon here! Sanctuary Questing 2 is going to be an absolute blast. There are going to be so many interesting mechanics, so many cool encounters, the entire quest is going to be full of so many things to do! And the BBEGs are just begging to be hunted down, so we must do as they wish! The plot team is full of incredible people and the work they have done, have been doing, and continue to do is incredible.
You may have heard this before, but I can’t emphasize it enough, trust yourselves, trust your marshals, and have fun!))
Written by: Keith “Saegan” Cronyn
Famed author Brandon Sanderson can be cited saying that a good fantasy story has enough Strange to be interesting, but enough Familiar to be relatable. I think this is a very poignant idea, and a hard needle to thread, and many fantasy writers slip too far in either direction, but I think the Sanctuary Questing team, does a brilliant job of threading that needle.
Sanctuary, a sort of pocket dimension for protected individuals, is empowered by 12 iconic forces, represented by beings called the Guardians. Players can take trials to align to these powers, either 1 or 2 of them, and gain specific benefits by doing so. These forces are made up of intangible ideas like Truth, Love, and Soul; as well as aspects of physics like Time, Space, and Light. Combined they create a deep meaningful system, that is both easy to opt into and relatable; while also offering deep actionable quality, and leading to important character moments.
It is not uncommon for players to say something like “I never realized “X” about my character, until taking the trials, that’s pretty cool.” and that comes from aged veteran and newbie alike.
The staff of Sanctuary Questing, are driven by the fundamental ideas that their plot should be available to everyone, taking steps to ensure that a plot that could be criticized as being overwhelmingly E-Questing centric, is not that. Over the last year they have introduced elements that allow for people to take home their Trials, as between event actions. They’ve created summary documents so that if you’re busy you can just read the bullet points, and be caught up with all the important information. They’ve organized meetings for players, and encouraged team work to create an environment of friendship and success. They strive to do everything they can to make this even series, fun, interesting, accessible, and unique.
In a more specific highlight, to encourage the arts within the community, as a specific benefit for the event, players are allowed to submit art pieces that represent themselves or their soul in some way. This benefit specifically aids the players in the quest in that it protects them from the Devourer of Soul. I think this is such a great idea, because the Arts can be so often left to the side as a part of the community. This highlight, and meaningful mechanic reinforces participation in the arts in a way I can’t recall having ever been done before. And it’s fantastic.
This weekend, our enemies will be the Devourer of Soul, and the Devourer of Light, and their respective minions. They sit as polar opposites of their respective Guardians, and I think their names represent their goals fairly obviously.
So, this has been a bit more of a long winded “Why I Want To Go” than usual. Why do I want to go? I want to go because I want to support the meaningful efforts of the staff. I want to go because I have a great time when I play in the world they’ve developed. I want to go because I know I am going to have meaningful choices to make, and important character decisions. I want to go because I want to see what’s going to happen. Who we can save, who will be lost to the light?
I am so excited to see you on the field.
Keith “Saegan” Cronyn
Here's our next installment of “Straight Outta Context” where we post a photo with absolutely no context and see what you think is happening! To kick off each post, we'll ask someone random in the community to take a stab at what's happening!
Jason "Aeston" Rosa guesses:
"Captain America training camp"
Share your guesses about what is going on via Discord or in the Facebook comments!
Want to take a stab at what's happening in our next picture? Reach out to Dani Lacasse via discord or facebook messenger to signup!
By: Ethan "Jean Baptise" Goldman
Got your morning cup of coffee and a few minutes? Great! We're trying out a new feature at the View - we're going to be asking a series of questions and we want to know your answers! The question is posted below. So while you sip your morning beverage of choice, ruminate on this one:
Your character wakes up one morning and decides to start a podcast, what's it about? What's it's called? And, who is your ideal first guest?
Head on back to Social Media to let us know!
This custom Wordle-adjacent-puzzle features a 5-letter word that is particularly relevant to the Realms.
If the embedded page isn't working below you can click this link to get to the puzzle.
Like regular Wordle you can copy your result's (but only if you follow the link), so paste them or a screenshot onto social media to let us know how you did. But no spoilers!
From the minds of the great puzzlers of activities for Leviathan, we give all of you who missed their chance to work on these Feast of the Mind activities or for those who wish to try their hand again. This is part 1 of a series of yet to be determined length. Despite the inclusion of points, there is no prize for the digital version of these challenges, simply for the fun of it.
[Knighthood Word Search: This word search contains the names of 10 different knighthoods. The terms you are searching for would follow "Knights of [the]...". Word can be hidden diagonally or appear backwards.]
In this continuing View feature, we show you a picture of a theoretical magic item. Then you go back to social media and in the comments, invent your idea for the powers that this item would have.
Here is this week's Pi Day themed item:
By Kyra/Kieran “Omri” Barry
OOC Foreword:
What do you mean these series of events took place Febuary 1st, more than a month ago? I wrote this post haste and sent it via bird through the lands of Fae-oh I see what happened here. Fae time weirdness. Yes that’s exactly what happened and why it’s late. Do you want to know what you missed or not???
In all seriousness, kudos to the Avalon team for running three Arthurian style mods (Arthurian style, I’ve come to believe, means people switch off NPCing and PCing for each other). You had to NPC at least one, and you could NPC all 3 if you so choose. Way to go team players who did so this event.
IC:
1st part:
I will attach the letter written by a fae aided by adventurers for the first series of quests undertaken. It appears that it was a party with political intrigue, murder, and ghosts.
“Greetings,
Adventurers of the Realms, I thank you for your efforts in attempting to restore my father. I understand you were unable to save him, and understand even better now that I hold his power why that was so. Since your departure the Manor of Levenstone and its surroundings have adapted to my rule and have truly become my own domain, not part of another. However, I have started to see darkness creeping in the Expanse nearby. Friends of mine have travelled there and not returned. This will be a task for another time though, for now, we will rest and recover our strength. I hope to see you again in the future, and under better circumstances.
Sophia del’Rhomar, Duchess of Resolution in Conflict
Unnerving.
2nd part:
A fissure of sort opened via a Nightmarish door a while ago. The door is gone but what has been opened does not easily close again. Our world has a tear to another, and various factions have come on through. Two sets of refugees, one of plants and one of animals akin to wolves, in opposition to each other, both took up residence near a village. We managed to get the villagers freed who had been slowly turned into plants by overthrowing an evil plant advisor. We managed to convince the wolves creatures to remain relatively peacefully in their caves. And hopefully these two don’t cause any more issues, although they weren’t the only ones to come through.
3rd part:
In the First Age of Fae there was a teacher of a magic system involving Mage Runes. It seemed that one student remained uncycled through all that time and has become corrupted by Space Magic. They were attempting to control, enslave, a fae dragon, and to defeat them we had a gruelling fight against many foes of different types.
To be honest I mostly found myself beside the captured dragon, attempting to soothe and free it. It was truly a group effort.
Another in our continuing series! In the below picture there is a Realmsie-shaped black hole. Can you figure out who it is based only on the profile? Tell us on social media if you think you know who it is! The answer will be revealed later in the day.
It took me a comically long time for me to learn of Rhiassa. In part, because I hadn’t made the connection that they were the ones running Queen of Hearts. Though, to be fair, my early years in the Realms did mean that I was still fumbling through learning a lot about the nations I wasn’t actively surrounded by at the time.
Rhiassa has a lot of history. And I do truly mean a lot. Just…see for yourself!
-Felnar Dulintel
The Nation of Rhiassa
Excerpt from the history of Rhiassa:
Sir Duncan, a Knight of the Eternal Flame, grew up in a place far from the Realms, far enough that its location relative to the Realms is still unknown. Duke of a land called Crestview in the kingdom of what we now call Old Rhiassa, Duncan's lands were destroyed in a surprise attack by an army of drow from the realm of Nifelheim. Soon afterwards the entirety of the kingdom was besieged by the evil race.
One of the knights of Old Rhiassa and an accomplished hero in his own right, Duncan undertook a great quest to find an ally against the drow, a fae elf known as Lorien. Though the elf was gravely wounded when they rescued him, Duncan was successful in bringing the fabled creature back to the castle of Old Rhiassa where he began to recover. Meanwhile, the drow army and the people of the kingdom prepared for what would be their final battle.
The forces of Rhiassa, led by their knights, clashed with the army of the drow across an expansive battlefield, and although they fought valiantly, the best the people of Rhiassa could do was slowly give ground as they were forced back towards the center of the kingdom. During this exchange, Duncan was gravely wounded and brought back to the inner keep where the fae elf Lorien saved him from the dire effects of the drow poison.
By the time Duncan was roused from his sickness, the drow army had broken through the interior of the castle. All of Old Rhiassa had fallen but for the king's tower, where Duncan and a handful of others now sought to make their last stand. Hope would have been lost then, but Lorien opened a portal into fae, and the few soldiers and nobles who remained fled the destruction of their kingdom into an uncertain fate.
Those warriors and gentry were scattered from one another in the wilds of fae. Many of them Duncan never saw again, but with the help of Lorien he was eventually able to find his cousin, Lady Fallon. Together they stepped out of fae and into the lands of the Realms. There was no way to return to the land that they came from and no kingdom left to go back to in any case, but the two Rhiassans did not fall to despair. Instead they chose to honor the lands that they came from and the memories of those who had died in the drow invasion.
They donned the heraldry of their old kingdom, the black lion, but on a blood red field instead of the traditional white, to symbolize all they had lost. They began their new lives then, and while they never forgot the link to their past, they remained steadfastly focused on building a new future for the country of Rhiassa.
Rhiassa is a city-state with a triumvirate of lords that all share equal rank between Lord Sir Aeston Stromgate, Lady Dame Areni Stromgate, and Lord Sir Gwen Stromgate. It is also a Knightocracy, where the knightly order is the noble class. Knights, and to a lesser extent squires, are responsible for all of the duties of coordination and administration that make a country function. A lord of Rhiassa also serves as the knightly order's commander.
The culture of Rhiassa is very heavily dependent on that knightly order. The mission of Knights of Rhiassa, as well as the philosophy of the entirety of Rhiassa itself, is one of service. Service to the community in a myriad of ways, such as projects and initiatives that are of benefit to the Realms, but chief among all of them is making the gatherings that Rhiassa hosts of the highest quality. The Knights set the standard for both their squires and the rest of the group for what it means to give of themselves in order to make the Realms succeed.
Rhiassa has a number of important geographical landmarks, some that relate specifically to the gatherings held yearly.
Cold Springs: The capital city, known for its large central cathedral dedicated to Garm. Cold Springs was the site of the quests referred to as “What Lurks Beneath”, where an army of goblins and trolls compelled by an eldritch horror attacked the city from caverns and sewers below the streets.
Fallon’s Crossing: One of Rhiassa’s most important mercantile hubs.
Oregoth: A mining town and the source of Rhiassan Steel, and the hub of the Gilded Lion Ironworks, which provides vital weapon making materials to the whole of the Realms.
Crestview: The retirement estate for the former lords and nobles of Rhiassa.
War Maneuver Fields: The site of the yearly Queen of Hearts Tournaments and War Maneuvers.
Southland: A southern city that is well known as the location for the yearly Feast of the Leviathan. It also boasts The Grand Parthenon of Justari, a central hub of the Justarian faith.
The Vanfrost: A portal connecting to the worlds of Norlund, where the Echoes of Ragnarok took place.
Rhiassa's ecology is to a very large extent typical grasslands and woodlands with some elevated rocky bluffs and hills. Within this nation’s borders dwell two subnations. Periden, a historic nation in its own right, was claimed by Rhiassa and presented to Aeston and Areni’s son, Aerik, as his birthright. The other, Lionsmark, was once part of the lands of Ashenmark, gifted to Rhiassa on the occasion of the birth of Aeston and Areni’s daughter as her birthright. Lionsmark stands as the symbolic home of the friendship and alliance between Rhiassa and Ashenmark.
Rhiassa is well-known as the Realms geographical center of the worship of Justari. However, the worship of the Just God in Rhiassa is recent, compared to the nation’s more historic religions. In its earliest incarnations, Rhiassa was the home of Kethrellen, the High Priest of Aurora, with Lord Sir Duncan serving as one of her faithful paladins. After Da’oud broke the sword Dalindanna, Duncan was forced to become one of Garm’s paladins instead, and built a cathedral to honor him in Cold Springs. During the Third Age of Rhiassa, with the onset of Bedlam across the Realms, the worship of Justari became a central part of Rhiassan culture.
Worship of Leviathan is also to an extent a part of Rhiassan culture. While Leviathan is a regional deity of Aeston's homeland, the yearly feast in Leviathan's honor does make him an important god in Rhiassa's history. It is said that the feast keeps him slumbering for another year.
Of course, this does make Feast of the Leviathan Rhiassa’s most important holiday. Held every January in the middle of the month, in many ways, it acts as the Realms’ New Year’s celebration. While the origin of it comes from Aeston’s far-away homeland, Feast of the Leviathan has been embraced by the people of the Realms, and is truly now one of the cornerstones of the year. During a time when chances to tournament or quest are lessened by the weather, it does all of us good to come together in kinship and camaraderie.
Though food seems to be Rhiassa’s (pardon the pun) bread and butter, the gigantic and resplendent charcuterie boards that are on display at many Rhiassan-led gatherings, are impossible to miss.
In Aeston’s own words: “Rhiassa is well known for keeping in trust two of the Realms' most important and historic gatherings in Queen of Hearts and Feast of the Leviathan. A great deal of our national pride and the lion's share of our efforts each year go into making sure these two events remain as high quality as they can possibly be.
Otherwise, I hope Rhiassans are known for their dedication to making the community a better place, for our work ethic, and for our mission of service. Everything we do, from our national knighthood to the training we give to even our newest members all starts with those foundational beliefs.”
(OOC, further words from Jason: If you enjoyed learning about Rhiassa and would like to know more about our members, our traditions, our events, and dozens of other things please visit http://rhiassa.com/
If you believe strongly in making the Realms endure and making sure it constantly grows into a better place. If you are not afraid of hard work and embrace the idea of personal growth. If you want to live a life of service and dedication to others and find joy in helping other people and watching them have fun. If you want to be a part of a team that works well together toward their highest ideals. If all of those are true of you than Rhiassa might very well be the best home you can have.)
