Why I Want To Go: Ush'dui and the Causeway: The Dreaming: Hysteria

"Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria
Oh can you feel it, do you believe it?
It's such a magical mysteria
When you get that feelin', better start believin'
'Cause it's a miracle," -Def Leopard, Hysteria

Janna Oakfellow-Pushee is one of the most talented story tellers in the Realms.  She adds depth and diversity to the eventing experience.  She is able to convey a nuance and creativity to all stories she has brought to the Realms.    And the Dreaming?  Well, it is just the right canvass for her to apply her colorful palate to. 

So if you are going, hold on tight.  It is going to be a bit crazy, perhaps a bit funny, and will definitely be deadly.  Janna and her staff always try to bring people a great event with the resources they have available.  It is in Riley Commons at WPI, which for many has its detractors.  But Janna has been able to throw many successful events there over the years.  Players should expect… well…  Hysteria.  And Time Snarls.  And there’s a door that some are trying to open.  "Mmmmmmmyessssss!"

"ALL WITHIN THE SOUND OF MY VOICE!!!!  YOU LIKE PIE!!!!!"

Navigating the Spell System by Keith

Change is on the horizon.

Every year at the EHC we muck around with the spell system and really screw up the game for some of our beloved players. This year we really decided to spread the wealth and affect everyone. We took out the alchemy path. We made the magic system 0 cost buy downs, and cut out an entire circle. And I'm not even going to mention the poor necromancers we literally hamstrung.

But, like it or not, in the name of growth and forward progression, these changes are here to stay, at least for this season.

So what can you do? Well the good news is that we’ve given you some new tools to make up for all the changes. I’ve outlined some of the points to ponder below.

The alchemy system boasts a lot of flexibility for a character that lost some power in all the change.

Since it's point based, you have the ability to choose the potions you brew as needed, you can brew them all in advance and plan ahead, or you can mix the two, and brew some potions you know you'll need in advance, and bank some for flexibility.

Some nuances I'd like to point out; because of the point economy, power potions effectively become 1 cost buy downs.

So in order to make a power potion for a 2nd circle spell, you need to spend the point equivalent of a 3rd circle spell.

That's a neat thing to know, and it's all well and good, but realistically you probably don't care. But you probably should, because this is an important nuance. It means that if you had a lower circle spell that you used a lot, or had a lot of learnings of previously, you can gain some of those learnings back by taking alchemy in a higher circle.

For example, Repair Item, a second circle spell, costs 4 alchemy points to create a functional power potion. That means the 8 points you get with a 5th circle slot of alchemy is the equivalent of two power potions worth, which can make up for some lost castings, from the new system.

What’s also interesting, is that the point system can work both ways. Your alchemy points can come from anywhere, so you can effectively use lower circle spells to create a power potion for a higher circle spell. For example you can reset a 5th circle spell with a 4th circle and a 3rd worth of alchemy points. 6 and 4 respectively. Now, honestly I'm not sure why you might want to do that. I know there is someone out there that will want to though, so I'd be remiss to ignore it. Personally, I like having more abilities than having a lot of one powerful ability--- which you might find ironic because this whole article is about a spell system where we took a circle of spells away from our powerful casters. I should note that you cannot reset your 6th circle spell with alchemy, while on the topic of resetting higher circle spells.

Not only that but we integrated all those spells into other circles, so now we have two circles that are really dense with power and choices we just don't want to make. Enchant armor or armored cloak, COP? Combat raise? Ugh how do I decide?!

I'm going to make the bold statement that it's okay if you don’t have all the things. A good balanced system encourages diverse characters, and diverse roles. That means that if you have a hard time choosing between two spells, because you want both, then someone else will also have that struggle. And hopefully they'll pick the other one.

But what about the things? Well I already told you some people got hamstrung. ( Sorry necromancers. ) But what if I told you there were new things? Combinations that were impossible before? Zero cost buy downs did that for us.

Now you might sit there and say “well I could have gotten all the things with 1 cost buy downs because you bastards got rid of an entire circle.” Sure, but now there are combinations between 5th ( formerly 6th) and 6th ( 7th ) circle spells, that could have never happened before. For example; it's now possible to get familiar 3 times and still have a 6th circle spell.

Familiar, while somewhat limited in its choices is also a good spell for eking out some of that power lost from the lost circles. Why? Well you can get more combat raises by taking familiar three times, than you can by taking combat raise. Weird right? Similarly, if you like Find the Path, Familiar is a good route to go. Find the Path, a 4th circle spell, gets one use. Familiar a 5th circle spell, can get it twice, and have a point left over, for a raise dead, or a disrupt.

So what can I tell you about the new spell system? It's flexible, it's diverse, it's powerful, and interesting. People can pick and choose spells, and rather be than being constrained by the idea that “x spells make me a wizard, and that's what I want to be.” We can sit back and say “Who am I? What spells fit my play style? What am I designing?”

Or look at it this way. Before we told you that sorcerers wore red. Healers wore white. And so on. I mean, for years many of us have espoused that the spell system is just a gaggle of mechanics and that you can build whatever you want. But the system was always laid out in a way that lead people down a line, more or less. This year, we get to color outside the lines. You can tell me you want to be a healer, but now you have an entire box of crayons to prove it, and sure, some choices will be obvious, but I think we’ll find some really creative builds once people really start rolling up their sleeves. So get to it.

---Keith “Saegan” Cronyn

Arc Sphere Distortions

Arc Sphere Distortions

by Steven "Therian" Matulewicz

The View Retrospective - Rituals

Scanned by Jeremy Grayson
Originally published in The View from Valehaven, 2nd Edition, Volume 3, Issue 2; March 2006

No Better Life - Chapter One

No Better Life

Chapter 1

by Gerard "Gray" Chartier

A light drizzle spattered on Gray’s head as he navigated upstream on a river south enough of the Southern Wastes to not appear on any of the maps he’d been able to obtain.  An explorer by heritage and inclination, cruising into the unknown concerned Gray little. He imagined his passengers were even less phased. Just to be in the Realms, they’d already taken a much greater leap of faith than sailing off the charts could ever be.

“I wish we could have taken an imperial vessel on this voyage!  A proper ship would have somewhere to get out of the rain!”

Gray glanced at the complainant, a slender figure huddled in her cloak, shielding her gleaming bronze skin from the rain. “We’ve only got about four feet of water under the keel, Kamilla,” he replied, “One of your imperial ships would have run aground days ago.”

The Mayerling elf flicked a lock of her golden hair out of her face.  “It’s not that Stormseeker isn’t a fine boat, Gray. It’s just that she lacks…amenities.”

“And her lack of amenities makes her light enough to bring us to our destination,” Charwindle said as she approached the stern, her red scale armor jingling in time with her movements, “Instead of at least three weeks hard riding, Gray’s ship is bringing us to our destination in just a little over a week.”

“If it’s there,” Gray remarked.

Kamilla raised her chin.  “Everything has been just as my informant told thus far.”

“Which could just mean we’re reaching a prearranged ambush point,” Gray retorted.

“Either way,” Charwindle interjected, “We should be prepared.”  She turned to the bow of the ship. “Mayerling!” she called, “Look lively!”

At the bow, Eion sprang from where he’d been lounging, stringing his bow and scanning the forested riverbanks.  Darvin and Swift did likewise, but with the economy of movement of veterans, while Soft simply peered out with interest, not even bothering to draw his tiny dagger.  From the stempost, Killer the squirrel cast his baleful eye over all of them, screeching his disapproval.

“That squirrel would make a fearsome sergeant,” Charwindle observed.

Stormseeker’s hull hissed through the water, her oars rising and falling in unison as if manned by silent ghosts. The bend they rounded in the river lacked an ambush, but it did have a worn statue rising from a plinth in the water – a robed, hooded woman bearing a shield on one arm, the other held aloft broken off below the elbow.

“As described,” Kamilla gloated.

“No one likes a told-you-so,” Gray grumbled.

Past the statue, Stormseeker wasn’t the only vessel in the water.  Gray steered their course around small boats whose occupants dropped fishing lines into the water, or dove below and came back up with handfuls of mussels – at least until they laid eyes on his ship.  As soon as they did, they invariably snatched up oars and rowed frantically for shore.

Gray nodded towards the fleeing fishermen.  “They don’t seem very friendly.”

Charwindle cast a glance at the carved dragon head curling from his ship’s stempost.  “I imagine Stormseeker is a more formidable vessel than they’re accustomed to seeing.”

The longship easily outstripped any of the boats trying to flee upstream, so for the next hour they scattered fishermen like a hawk putting pigeons to flight.

Darvin pointed out to shore.  “Buildings! To the right!”

“Starboard,” Gray corrected.

“Whatever,” Darvin said, “Over there!”

Gray looked the way Darvin pointed, towards stone structures in varying states of disrepair, most missing at least some portions of their walls and roofs.  Some showed signs of repair with planks, timbers, or thatch. They cruised towards supports for a bridge that had long since collapsed, but some enterprising soul had built a pier out to the support nearest the shore.

Stormseeker responded to his hand at the tiller, curving towards the pier, her oars sliding into the hull as the ship slid into place, her hull bumping against the piles.  Gray clambered up to the pier and began securing his ship while Charwindle’s troops formed a defensive line.

Gray finished his task as a half dozen toughs tromped down the pier towards them.  “Here!” shouted the biggest, a boat hook over one shoulder, a frown on his scarred, grizzled face, “Ye can’t just tie up to our pier!  Ye got to pay the docking fee!”

Kamilla glided out past the Darvin and Swift, ignoring the crude weapons the toughs brandished as she lowered the hood of her cloak.  “Forgive us, good sir. We were unaware there were duties to be paid. What is the cost of the docking fee?”

The lead tough seemed taken aback by the apparition of grace he was suddenly confronted with.  “Uhh…milady, the fee be a hunnred gold pieces.”

Gray snorted in contempt.  “I’d sooner incinerate these fools where they stand than pay them a hundred gold!”

“Strong talk for one don’t carry no sword!” the lead tough snarled.

Gray began drawing in his power.  The toughs all took a step back as electricity began to crackle from his form.  “I don’t need a sword!”

“Gray!” Kamilla snapped, “You’re not helping!”

Gray scowled at the elf, but let the power dissipate harmlessly into the air.

Kamilla turned back to the lead tough.  “I apologize for my friend. He has a bit of a temper, but I’m sure he won’t object to a reasonable arrangement.  Would you care to negotiate the terms of one?”

The lead tough shot a terrified glance at Gray, but he nodded.

A few minutes later, the lead tough spat into his open palm and offered it to Kamilla.  The elf showed no hesitation in doing likewise, the two shaking on the deal they made. Charwindle started counting out the agreed-upon price as most of the gang members retreated back up the dock, pretending not to hurry.   Kamilla led the way after them, humming a cheery tune. Gray brought up the rear of the Mayerling group.

“I hate to admit it,” Gray grudged to Killer, “But Kamilla struck a good deal.”

The squirrel on his shoulder chittered about his preference for resolving conflicts with extreme violence. Gray only half-listened - it was a typical rant for his familiar.

Upon reaching the end of the dock, the lead tough surprised Gray by distributing even shares of his haul to all his men.  “Burt and Kline, ye’ll guard the pier like we agreed. Ye, Reed,” he said, “Ye’ll be their guide.”

Reed, a burly man Gray guessed was in his mid-twenties, pushed back his mop of sandy brown hair and nodded.  “Aye Donner.” He turned to the Mayerling party. “Reed be me name! How can I be serving ye?”

Kamilla favored Reed with a brilliant smile.  “First, can you take us someplace where we can rent rooms for the night?”

“Why?” Gray asked, “We can stay aboard Stormseeker.”

“I think we’d all like a roof over our heads tonight, Gray,” Charwindle pointed out.

Killer chittered his disagreement.

Charwindle sighed.  “Everyone except Killer, that is.”

Gray offered Killer an acorn to silence him.  The squirrel snatched the nut and began chewing happily.  Gray surveyed the surroundings as Reed led the group to a two-story building where three still-standing stone walls had been supplemented with a fourth wall of rough planks and a sod roof.  Wispy smoke drifted from a pair of chimneys, and the aroma of cooking food wafted from within.

Reed grinned at them.  “The Leaping Trout,” he said, pointing to a crude sign with a reasonable painting of the inn’s namesake, “Me cousin runs the place.  I’ll see ye’re treated decent.”

Reed’s cousin turned out to be a sturdy woman of roughly the same age with a crooked nose.  “I’ve three rooms can sleep three each,” she said, “Two gold gets ye a room, food, and fresh straw for a week.  An extra gold gets ye a bath every other day.”

Kamilla readily agreed, and they were ushered to the common room for an early dinner of crayfish stew and brown bread.

“So, Reed,” Kamilla said as she sniffed at a spoonful of her stew, “What was this town originally named?”

Reed shrugged.  “Don’t rightly know.  Folks just call it Broken Bridge, for the obvious reason.  Must have been someplace to somebody, but that was ages and ages ago.

“Who runs the place?” Darvin asked.

Reed slurped at his stew.  “No one, really. Gangs control bits and pieces.  Sometimes, someone takes it into his or her head to try and make him or herself  lord, it ain’t never stuck.”

“Reed,” Kamilla said, “We’ve heard about someone who looks like me, but male.  A elf with metallic-tinted skin.” She gestured to the double-headed dragon heraldry on her tabard.  “Possibly wearing emblems like we bear. Have you heard of such a person?”

Reed smiled and nodded.  “Ah, aye! I have heard of who ye speak!  Quotes from books no one round here’s even heard of!  Folks call him the Scholar. He be spending his time in Red Walls territory.

The ‘descended’ Mayerlingers, as Gray thought of them, all leaned towards Reed, their food more or less forgotten.  “Reed, can you take us to see this Scholar?” Kamilla asked.

“Aye,” Reed agreed, “I’ll need to approach the Red Walls gang, but they be havin’ no quarrel with the Dock Rats.  Ye should be able to see ye’re Scholar in a day or two. No more than three, be sure.”

“As soon as possible, please, Reed,” Kamilla urged.

“Ah, well, it be important, it can be sooner, if the right palms be greased,” Reed said.

As if expecting Reed’s statement, Charwindle produced a small pouch and slid it across the table to Reed.  The local picked it up and shook it, smiling at the jingle the contents produced. He rose and sketched a bow.

“Lords, ladies,” he said, “I be off to do ye bidding.”  Whistling, he sauntered out of the inn.

“Swift,” Charwindle commanded, “Follow him.  Discreetly.”

Swift grinned and got up from the table, shedding his tabard and bracers before darting out the door after Reed.

Charwindle dabbed her mouth with a ragged cloth napkin and rose.  “We should do some scouting. Darvin, you go out with Gray. Soft, you’re with me.  Kamilla, you and Eion stay here. If I don’t return, you have command of the mission.

The elf nodded.  “Understood, captain.”

Darvin looked at Gray and nodded his head sideways towards the door.  Gray grabbed a hunk of the bread and got up from the table, following the soldier out.

To be continued in Chapter Two...

Why I Want to Go - Neden Presents: A Day of BBQ Fun 3

by Lani "Gwen" Jones

It’s finally here folks, my favorite season of the year--BBQ season! There are few things that I enjoy more than a fun relaxing day of food, games, and friends and Neden is helping us kick the season off with their third annual BBQ bash. Neden is known for serving some top notch grub, and I am coming with my appetite for all the classic standards and a spicy twist that promises to be unique and exciting.

Personally I’m thrilled to be in attendance this year because of the great things that I’ve heard about this event and others like it over the past few years. I got a small taste of the carnival at the Tournaments of Artemis and had a blast playing some mini games and enjoying the silliness. In addition, I have it on good authority that there will be a mix of standard BBQ lawn games and Realms tournaments to keep everyone entertained when they simply can’t eat any more. I also have heard from a reputable source that there will be an extra special tournament called the Neden Triple Crown that you have to see to believe how epic it will be. For those of you who like to gamble (and I know you are out there!) there will likely be a chance for you to test your luck and skill that way as well. And of course, what are tournaments and games without prizes, and word on the street is, some of them may be magical. This event has a little bit of everything to make sure that everyone has a good time.

During a time in the season when the weather has been rather dreary and we are all desperately awaiting spring, Neden is stepping up to provide us with a day of lighthearted fun and I know they will deliver just that. Their positive attitudes make it impossible not to smile and their dedication to providing content that is easy for everyone to engage with is what sets apart Neden events. As I write this, I’m already starting to smile more despite the snow, because I know that spending time with my Realms friends and family at a BBQ is exactly how I want to be spending next Sunday. I look forward to seeing you all there.

Legends of Voraniss: Riel the Ram

by Renee "Mouse" Booke

The lands of Voraniss weren’t always filled with werewolves and giant men. There was a time, long ago, when the Elves flocked to her forests to enjoy a deep and profound connection to the natural world. This place has always been a haven to those with respect for the wild places, and so it was only right that the Elven people should also make a home here in the shadows of the ancient oak trees.

The locals believe that the Elves treated these lands not as a place to settle or conquer, but as a spiritual retreat more than anything else. Some people even believe that it was the Elves that built some of the oldest shrines you can find here still. There is one thing that is consistent in their stories and memories, however, and that is the legend of Riel’iefyr; fondly known as Riel the Ram.

While they may disagree on the term: Wizard, Sorcerer, or Druid, everyone agrees that Riel’iefyr was a master of fire. He was a paragon of his art, truly a prodigy of evocation and flame. It was he that tended to the many torches and bonfires of the shrines and always made sure that the spirits had a guiding light with which to find their way home. More than that, it was he who always made sure that the Elves and peaceful folk of those early times never went without warmth during the long winters.

Riel’iefyr went about his work without complaint and even seemed to enjoy using his gift for the benefit of the people around him. He did what he could to make their lives bearable, and in turn they would offer him food, drink, or shelter for a night here and there. His work allowed him to travel much of the forest that otherwise went undisturbed which allowed him an up close and personal view of many of the different creatures and animals that made their home in the undisturbed wilderness. Life probably would have gone on much the same for Riel, but as is its nature…change was destined to come.

Nobody really saw the Darkness coming. If they had, surely they would have taken preventative measures to limit its influence. There were hints of its malice in the beginning, but only vague oddities that could be chalked up to unseasonable coolness and early sunsets. It wasn’t anything they hadn’t seen before, and so all of the warnings went unheeded until the Darkness could no longer be ignored. Those that were there finally knew there was a problem when one summer day the sun just didn’t rise, at least that’s the story that has been passed down through their families.

Problems only escalated from there. Without the sun everything became dark and cold. Even bonfires were refusing to light. It was as if there was a heavy blanket cast down over the land that smothered any hope of radiance. Nobody could see their way through the forest without light, and many Elves became stranded despite their innate visual prowess. There was something unnatural about this Darkness, and it sucked up more than just light and warmth. Hope became a rare commodity, for how can one fight what they cannot see?

Riel’iefyr took this assault on the light very hard. To him it was a personal attack, or some kind of insult to his honor. Was he not a bringer of fire and heat? Living in a world where he was not allowed to use his gifts did not interest him, and so he stubbornly set out to find the source of the misfortune that had befallen the people and land he loved. He struggled to find his way, but his feet remembered what his eyes could not find in the endless haze of darkness. Step by step he wandered deeper into the forest, afraid of what he would find.

When the Darkness overwhelmed him, Riel’iefyr knew he was close. The shadows were so heavy that they reminded him of the space between the stars in the heavens, the endless void of emptiness that existed only to make the illustrious brilliance of the cosmos appear all the more radiant. He had read about things like this before; spirits of darkness that fed off of the light and life force of entire peoples. They were so terrible and feared that they had never been given a proper name, but they were supposed to be myths! It couldn’t possibly be what they were dealing with now…could it? The Elf shuddered at the possibility and wrapped his arms around himself to shield his body from the cold.

“You do not belong here,” a deep voice whispered.

Riel’iefyr jumped, his skin crawling with discomfort. He couldn’t be sure, but it had felt like the voice was speaking directly into his mind. There was understanding without sound, and certainty that the message had been specifically intended for him. “Who goes there?” he cried back. “Show yourself!”

“I am all around you,” said the voice, “I am Darkness. I am Despair.”

“Leave this place!” Riel’iefyr shouted again. He waved his arms through the air in an attempt to dissipate the concentrated blackness. “You are not wanted!”

The sound of laughter echoed everywhere, mocking the Elf’s demands. “I will consume this place.”

The shadows began to shift and change, rushing past Riel’iefyr in a tangible whoosh. He squinted his eyes to make sense of the movement and a horrible ethereal face flashed before his eyes. This continued for what felt like an eternity as the Darkness danced before him. One moment the face was there, and then it was gone. The creature was everywhere, and the poor Elf couldn’t be sure that it hadn’t devoured him already. He felt weak and lost, like all his efforts had been in vain. What could he possibly do as he stared down the face of an ancient spirit? It was so mighty and he was so, so small.

Riel’iefyr clenched his hands into tight fists and dug his fingernails into the palm of his hand. He was so frightened that he didn’t realize how powerful his grip was, and the warmth of his own blood startled him back to reality. He couldn’t let himself be lost to this creature. His people were counting on him. This forest was counting on him. The Elf defiantly raised his eyes to match the gaze of the haunting face of Darkness. “I will not let you expand your grasp on this world any further.”
“Pathetic mortal. What hope do you have in the face of my power? I have taken all the light from this place. You have nothing that can stop me.” The great being retorted. It seemed amused by the futile act of defiance.

It may have been true that all the light was gone. It may have even been true that on his own Riel’iefyr had nothing he knew of that could have stopped the malevolent spirit, but that wasn’t going to stop him from trying. The Elf grit his teeth and concentrated on the warmth of the blood that had awakened him from his lament. There was some heat that still lived, some fires that never went out. So long as his heart continued to beat, he would carry his own flame.

Energy began to gather about him. Other spirits who were drawn to his determination began to pull away at the Darkness with curious fingers. His stalwart resistance began as a single spark within the space they created for him, and the stubborn Elf poured all of his courage and will towards stoking that ember. The cold was starting to fade from his body now, and he could see his fingers start to glow with golden light.

“Your efforts are meaningless,” the spirit barked again. “I will put out your light forever.” The Darkness converged all around him and attempted to grab him. It would have succeeded too if the goodly Spirits of the forest, which Riel’iefyr had long tended to, hadn’t placed themselves in its path.
Riel’iefyr cried out louder, and the light on his fingers and hands began to spread rapidly over his body. Soon he was fully encompassed in the golden glow, and the Darkness was forced to retreat back a little ways. “I’d like to see you try!”

Furious, the Darkness drew in its breath and began to suck the other spirits out of the air. If they were going to protect the pesky Elf, then they would die with him.

A bone cutting chill erupted throughout the area, and Riel’iefyr could feel icicles growing upon the ends of his ears. This light was only enough to keep the creature at bay, not enough to slay him. He needed more power. More light. In that moment, he knew he needed to push himself beyond his limits if he was to have any chance of taking this thing down.

Placing his palms together, Riel’iefyr formed a circle with his arms and closed his eyes as he tried to concentrate. He listened to the beating of his heart, to the blood rushing through his veins. He could feel the warmth from the golden light that had surrounded him and continued to push what energy he had left into amplifying it. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep the magic stable, but he was also too stubborn to give up. The golden glow turned red, shifting through a spectrum of fiery colors before it finally turned white and solidified around his body like a tangible shield.

The Darkness shrieked and lunged forward, lashing out at what he most feared. Riel’iefyr was ready for him this time, and he released the tenuous grasp he had upon his explosive magic.

Silence. Nothing but silence at first. Gradually a dull roaring sound filled the air, and then finally, an explosion of light and flames. Riel’iefyr’s body was torn apart by his own magic, but the furious light could not be held back now that its handler had released the reins. The brilliant white light lit the area and the Spirit of Darkness shrank into nothingness beneath its blinding rage. It was done.

They say the land experienced immediate relief after that explosion. The fires they had been trying so desperately to light flickered into existence all at once. The sun came back, and the cold was snuffed out by a warm wind that gushed forth out of the area following the blast.

The Elves and other locals were so grateful to Riel’iefyr for his aid that they implored the spirits to reward him for his deeds, a request which they were only happy to oblige. His heroic spirit was given new form beyond death, one that honored the nature of his life. Riel’iefyr became Riel the Ram: representative of Fire and Light in the spirit realm; known for strength, stubbornness, and sacrifice. To this day they say you can find him wandering the forests and mountains of Voraniss; leading lost adventures to safer places and lighting any unattended shrine fires and torches with a touch of his horn.