Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

Conspiracy Monthly

By: Kyra/Kieran Barry

From the award winning publication! 

What You Missed - Arken Expedition 2

by: Ella "Violet" Smith

Hello good people of the realms, this is what you missed at Arken Expedition 2: 

 All of us adventurers gather before the fire before making the trip to the Arken castle, where there was a call for adventurers to help defend the castle. They had heard rumors of a plan to seize the castle. Once we made it to the castle, it was only quiet for mere moments before the attacks started. The front was hit hard but held; the sides remained strong throughout; the archers would have ran out of arrows if not for the amazing use of shape shifting magic to go out and retrieve the shot arrows. 

 Once the siege appeared to be over, we were informed to go claim the land surrounding the castle. Each area had its own tasks to complete to raise the Arken flag, whether they be fighting or  puzzles. I can only recall what me and my small group got into. We were told when entering the area that there was not a game of fighting, but of wits, and the word inconceivable was thrown around a lot. I volunteered to do this challenge. The challenge was to pick between three glasses: two with poison and one without. Myself and the man that I was to play this with would each drink one. It was only until my hands were on the glass that I was told it was no mere poison: if I picked the wrong glass, part of my soul would be torn apart, leaving a permanent mark on my soul. However, I was willing to gamble; it was, after all, a one in three chance. Thankfully, I gambled correctly. I took the only safe glass, and after my opponent died, we were given a mirror shard and what appeared to be a recipe to seal the mirror realm. In addition, we got to raise the Arken flag for that area.

Once me and my small group got back from that, we were tasked to collect all the mirror shards so that they were in the same place. I got the feeling that the more I collected them, the more they were pulling to go towards the old shattered mirror. After the knowledge was shared, all of us adventurers made our way to the old shattered mirror. We put the pieces into the mirror and made it whole again. With the mirror whole again, we entered the mirror realm and were immediately met with violence. After we cleared the area and ensured that part of the land was safe, we took a quick soup break. We are mortal, after all. At least, most of us are. In addition, the feedback on the chili was absolutely incredible. 

After the soup and warming by the fire, we were back to the quest. We soon encountered slimes on the road. We quickly pieced together that the recipe I had gotten earlier was for the slime goo, and if we did it correctly, it could make a potion that could forever seal the mirror realm. The only problem is that we couldn't kill the slime or touch them to get the goo. Luckily, we had a magical ladle to collect the goo. While the goo was being laddled, the rest of us were working on distraction. Once all of the goo was collected, we needed to perform a ritual: we needed three magic users, two people of the color green, one person who symbolizes rage, and an alchemist to oversee it all. I was one of the magic users involved, and the ritual was a giant success.

After the ritual, we needed to get moving fast because the rest of the adventurers were already fighting up ahead. When I got to where the fight was happening, there was a lot of death. However, once the magic users were back up, everyone was raised again. We spent some time fighting towards a massive mirror building that seemed to hold all of the people we were fighting. There were some negotiations, but none seemed to work, so we just brute forced it and crushed the building. We took out the remaining people, I became a mother to a fox during this fight and still don't really know how that happened, and other people found really amazing magic items.  

We could at last  make our way out of the mirror realm, where we met up with Fancy, who exclaimed their thanks to us for assisting. Finally, mirror-Fancy showed up and started monologuing, but we all started running and officially sealed the mirror realms. 

Thank you all for reading my tale, stay warm  -Violet  

Why I Want to Go – Sanctuary Questing 13

by Alistair “Kasca” Gilmour

Heroes of The Realms,

I write to ask you for your aid.  Sanctuary, the plane my family calls home, has been under threat by forces that wish to destroy it and the Guardians who protect it.  My friends and I have worked to whittle down their forces over the past two years (maybe more?), but this time, it’s different.

At Black and White last fall, Warble, Guardian of Time and one of my friends, sacrificed herself to annihilate one of our worst foes.  Sanctuary has been in stasis ever since, and those of us who are Time mages have been stranded here, regardless of whether we belong in this time or not.  To save Sanctuary, we need to bring Warble back home.

To do this, we will be venturing through the Plane of Lost things, a land where anything that is lost ends up, whether it be socks, things you were sure you put in a safe place, even old foes and Time itself.  It will be dangerous, but knowing everyone, that kind of danger will be seen as a challenge.

The friends and family I have in Sanctuary have become an important part of my life, so to anyone who chooses to help out, you have my deepest gratitude.

- Kas

((OOC: I’ve had a lot of fun at every Sanctuary Questing event so far.  There’s a bit of everything for everyone, regardless of the magic you have or lack thereof, or your appetite for role-play.  The team has been amazing and they have big things planned for this weekend.  I think it will be fun regardless ^-^))

Rumors around the Realms February 1026

   

Rumors around the Realms December 1025

Across the Realms

In the deepest parts of the night, you hear from everywhere at once n a terrifying voice say "Despair mortals, for your actions have given rise to the most fearful, the demon of Maleficence!"

in the vicinity of Lionsmark

A town militia spotted a golden skull-faced demon-looking creature, standing over a recently fallen corpse, holding the victim’s severed arm in its hand and cackling triumphantly: “That’s nine of yours now!  Garm demands balance!” before scampering off into the night.  

Shadowlands

Lots of commotion within the lands lately.  Potato patches and chicken coops have been popping up like crazy.  The Wandering Potato Shop has opened up within the many shops in town.  Also we have been having a spoon shortage, which Isoba needs to be talked to about that…Karmha Creations is busy making the first of many of the nation of Shadowlands tabards.  Good things are coming to the Shadowlands now to just deal with these pesky cultists as the Queen prepares for the Blue Rose tournaments which has some new surprises coming so keep an eye out! 

General Realms

Random citizens in various locations speak of a sudden turn of bad luck striking someone they know, more than might normally be expected.  People have reported their neighbors suffering misfortunes ranging from the loss of items or senses, to strange behaviors and crippling maladies.

The Wyvern College

As outside help comes and goes from the Wyvern College in the months preceding Training Day, rumors begin to circulate about the draconic relatives in the area. Some claim that they’ve seen dozens of kobolds applying to the college in search of a higher education. And some whisper that they’ve heard that the Wyverns that live wild in the surrounding woods are actually expelled and transformed students.

Meme Monday

 by the Meme Team

Why I Want To Go - Arken Expedition 2

By: Matthew 

Hi! I’m Matthew “You-can-call-me-Traveller-though-that-is-not-my-name” Mueller, and about one-fifth of my personality is that I drive a minivan with four wheel drive. When SMAS makes a transportation sheet for each event, I have the dubious honor of driving the clown car- and tetris-ing everyone’s gear into the car. Turns out, 7 people, 6 shields of varying sizes, a couple 5’s, and many, many single shorts, 3’, and daggers can fit with little issue. I’m pretty sure I could even add a pike or two to that mix. Anyways- I figured I’d ask each of the Clowns this time round why they want to go to Arken- and getting four out of five responses is pretty good for busy college students.

Keith ‘Harkel’ Palmer-Poirier (Shotgun. Navigational Aid): 

“Attending last year’s Arken Expedition was a lot of fun, one of my favorite events of the year. I found the regionals to be fun as a shield fighter who got to feel important by being able to block a lot of the projectiles which were flying around. Additionally, the event has an interesting setting, with the mirror world being a really neat idea. Lastly, the site is a lot of fun, with the castle that we were able to siege as well as the field and the trails, giving a lot of variety to where we were fighting! Overall, last year was a great experience and I see no reason to expect anything different this year!”

Aiden Emeric | Ace (middle row, right, so I can keep an eye on him and his demon sword):

“A few reasons. 1st is to get a better understanding of the realms via participation in events and to become a better fighter so that I am more recognized IC which. 2nd is that my demon sword wants souls and I thought this might help with that.”

Elise “Topaz” Sainio (Middle row, left. Trusted not to kick the seat in front of her):

“I've heard great things about last year's Arken Expedition, and want to experience it for myself. Also, snow combat is fun and should be done more.”

Emma “Companion” Perez Rovira (Back left. Will probably fall asleep):

“I was told ot's[sic] cool. And i like the realms :3”

I attempted to reach out to the pike, nicknamed “Emiko’s Aura of Fear”, and the 5' diagonal “Shield of social obligations 2, electric boogaloo” which are occupying the 6th seat in the ride sheet. I did not receive a response.

And finally-why I want to go: The promise that the Arken team is making is one of a playground. Fighting through 2 feet of snow, with a castle, regionals that are as fun as they are powerful, and a premise that is both deeply serious and silly. I’m going to be running around with one point armor and two 3-foots, as a 3 path. In addition, the Arken team is playtesting fun new mechanics, from Ian’s animal companion overhaul, to a new ritual style spell alternative. I’m going to be craft swapping with a new friend, flinging myself through the snow, gasping dramatically at the plot twists I (totally) saw coming, and having a (snow)ball!