Written by: Emma "Irri" Sherman
Traveling to Neden this past weekend was a chance to embrace great weather and greater friends. The day started with your standard barbeque foods, a lovely bar supplied by Ser Elizah (with some delicious mocktails that I thoroughly enjoyed), and some limited tournaments marshaled by Meatball. There were also hidden cashes of treasure hidden throughout the land which many bravely set out to find. For those uninterested in fighting, the Tournaments of Sobriety were there! I drank so much water, and got prizes for it!
As the sun set on the Castle, court was called. Murmur (Tulli) was Knighted into the Knights of the Steward. Lilly was squired to the Knights of the Steward. Bestie JB was made Neden’s Second by Sir Syruss.
Overall, it was a nice day to spend with friends.
Sincerely,
Initiate Irri
Organized by: Brookelyn "Rowan" Gingras
Written by: John "Gordon" Rescigno
Discovered near the grounds of the Church of Aurora in Chimeron City is a piece of paper, cracked and broken but held together with jagged lines of red material, and painful to the touch.
“You must have missed a domino. I appreciate your meddling, and look forward to seeing you all again. Our time together in Darkvale was too short for my liking, and with my current power I’m sorry to say I won’t be able to host you as I would prefer.
Thank you for providing me a vessel to come into this new realm, though no doubt I will tire of it soon. In the meantime, I’m sure little Danny and I will be fast friends."
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Written by: Alistair "Kasca" Gilmour
Long ago, Sir Chan Ottokar sacrificed himself to protect his friends and ensure Rexan’s defeat. Nearly two years later, Adventurers of the Realms stepped up to venture into Gaol and recover the pieces of their fallen friend.
After Margaret opened a portal to Gaol, we found ourselves in Garm’s domain. He was prepared for our arrival and put on display the soul we sought to reconstruct and the scales we had to balance. Our objectives were clear: Purify Angelbane, cleanse Corruption with the Hammer of Justice, fight for the fragments of Chan, and balance the scales so that the purpose of his sacrifice would not be undone.
We set out to meet the Silver Legion, and the spirit of Darkvale confronted us along the way. The angel, Chan, greeted us and reunited with his old friends. After much discussion, the angel insisted on purifying Angelbane. N was willing to surrender the cursed weapon, but there was a misunderstanding, and the Silver Legion took Angelbane by force.
Justari’s Red Knight met us after our unsuccessful return and warned us about the forces we were meddling with. Chan’s soul bore the weight of many sins he committed during his life, and that weight had to be lifted before we could restore his soul. There were twelve sins, and twelve noble adventurers stepped up to take them as their own.
Purifying Angelbane was not the only reason why we sought the Silver Legion. We also needed a divine spark to reforge the Hammer of Justice. We were hoping for Chan’s wings, but couldn’t negotiate for them, so we had to make do with what we had, and we split into two teams.
One team set out to fight for Chan’s identity as a Knight of the Crown, but Zula bois stood in their way. Not even swords imbued with light were enough to fight the Infinite Dark, and the adventurers were forced to retreat.
Meanwhile, a smaller team of adventurers brought pieces of the Hammer of Justice to Hephaestus, the god of the forge, so that he could reforge it. He requested embers to light his forge, and slime to glue the pieces together. James Swift, determined to prove his devotion, collected so much slime from the bog that even Hephaestus was surprised! With the forge lit and the hammer covered in slime, Hephaestus went to work and reforged it, then he used the hammer to cleanse Corruption.
The two teams reunited, adventurers set out to claim the Red Branch in Fae, but something was strange. Upon entering the plane, everyone became fae, and the fae became even more fae. They scrambled to avoid Wayland blades, eventually stealing the red branch and running. Those who were less fortunate were rescued by a fae dragon who wanted to be their best friend forever and ever and ever…
We knew we had to confront Dionin’s Avatar, but before we did, we had to right one of Chan’s wrongs. Margaret carried the skulls of the angels Chan had slain, and it was time to bring them back to life. A great ritual was conducted, and we succeeded. The angel Chan sought us out, and we told him our plans to confront Dionin’s Avatar. If we were to bring Chan back as a mortal, both the angel of the Silver Legion and Dionin’s Avatar could exist no longer. The angel understood and accepted the fact.
We set out to battle Dionin’s Avatar. The angel confronted him directly while the rest of us fought his minions. It was a long, brutal battle made difficult by the Avatar’s resilience, but when it appeared we’d run out of time, all shining steel was granted Valor, and we made one final push and emerged victorious.
Our task wasn’t yet complete. We still needed to balance the scales. We all scrambled and sacrificed parts of our souls to match the sacrifice that killed Chan in the first place. Our time quickly ran out, and Garm shut himself in his office to check the scales. He emerged to tell us we were successful and sent us away, but our balancing act wasn’t perfect, and a fragment of Rexan, the slain god, escaped into the Realms.
In due time, the Storyteller will use the fragments of Chan’s soul to create a new being named Amawar. Before the book can be closed, the final chapter must be written, and that responsibility has fallen to me.
by Jason "Aeston" Rosa
If you frequent the Realms Discord and have spent any time catching up on the #weapon-construction channel there isn't a lot I'm going to say that you don't already know. But in an attempt to keep the majority of the game properly informed, I would like to tell you all about the Rhiassa Tube (W).
As most of you know, the majority of manufacturers for the 5/8" foam that we use for weapons have stopped producing it. This has been a slow process as stock of the foam can still be found here or there but ultimately the situation is near it's breaking point. There are various solutions to this problem that have been pursued by people across the community with various ranges of success.
I would like to introduce you all to my attempt to address this problem, the Rhiassa Tube (W).
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| fig1. From left to right: A pool noodle, the current common Frost King Foam, Rhiassa Tube (W) |
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| fig2. Equally magnified, the cell structure of each material |
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| fig 3. The clamp I used to test compression |
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| fig 4. The clamp placed on each material. |
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| fig 5. The testing method used in this second compression test. Top-left: the rings of foam I tested. Top-right: marking the sides that would be squeezed with red marker and the bamboo core insert. Bottom-left: the degree to which each foam sample was compressed. Bottom-right: The foam cut into pieces for measuring with the clamp. |
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| fig 6. The compression of the clamp on each material after being crushed in the vice. |
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| fig 7. The testing set up for sustained compression. |
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| fig 8. The puncture test. Left: The screwdriver that was used. Center: The testing rig. Right: The red lines show how far the screwdriver would have to move for me to end the test and record the weight. |
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| fig 9. The set up for the tensile strength test. |
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| fig 10. Foamy, the mascot of Rhiassa Tube (W) |
Several years ago Rhiassa Games introduced to the Realms a brand new table game called Luck of the Lion, seen since then at several Feast of the Leviathan events and at the Clontarf Shuffle as well. The will behind that project was to introduce custom Realms-themed table games to the community to make the casino experience in our game more unique.
Now Rhiassa Games, with the kind cooperation of the Saurabian Casino and the Church of Tychasaurus, would like to introduce the next table game in that series.
Saurian Sprint is meant to capture the feel of being in Norlund watching the dinosaur races on a sunny day, a betting slip in your hand, hoping to take it all on the long odds of a dark hose (dino) coming from behind and winning big. It's a dynamic, interactive table game where anything can happen with the next roll of the dice.
Nine dinosaurs start lined up to race on the track on the left side of the board. That series of squares is meant to represent a 3-lap race track (with the final lap elongated to simulate how hard it is to bring it all home when exhaustion starts to set in).
The dealer rolls two six-sided dice and the result indicates which dinosaur then moves one space forward on its track. If the same result comes up twice in a row it could even result in some bonus movement for some of the dinosaurs. The dealer continues to roll the dice and move dinos forward until a first, second, and third place cross the finish line.
There are lots of ways to bet during Saurian Sprint!
In the center of the table are a series of red rectangles that are the prop bets. These are all bets that must be made before the race begins and are of all kinds, from betting on the specific place dinos will finish in to bets about which dinos will outpace other dinos.
To the right of all the prop bets are the place bets. These are bets about which dinosaurs will have crossed the finish line when the race is over. WIN means being the first dino to cross the finish line. PLACE means being the first or second dino to cross. SHOW means being the first, second, or third to cross.
The largest block of bets where you can see WIN, PLACE, and SHOW are all bets that must be made before the race starts, but you can also place bets during the middle of the race.
As the race develops and you can see which dinosaurs sprint out ahead, you can make further bets. While all dinosaurs are still on the first lap, you can make bets on which ones will WIN or PLACE. And as long as no dino has crossed onto the final lap, you make still make bets on which one will WIN. All these bets are further on the right side of the board.
A more thorough explanation of the rules and odds can be found on the Rhiassa web page at: http://rhiassa.com/games/gambling.html
Rhiassa games is proud to introduce this game to the Realms and have it premiere at this year's Clontarf Shuffle in a few weeks.
Special thanks to Pi Fisher for calculating all of the odds for this game and Carol Wohlmuth for painting the dinosaur minis.
Name of Offender: Commanding Officer:
Ibnade-Yigol Pholdri, Infantry Cadet Dathon Perthi, Mounted War Captain
Date of Incident: Nature of Violation:
4/13/1024 Insubordination
Details of Occurence:
On the 13th of April during our second stand against the intruders, Cadet Pholdri and I attempted to recruit another dinosaur mount for our army. Though it was land-bound, as opposed to the pterodactyls the officers were riding, my underlings continued to request mounts of their own. We encountered a riderless dinosaur working with the intruders that they referred to as “Alpacasaurus”. This creature repeatedly collapsed dead on the ground, providing ample opportunity to approach and capture it. I was feeling generous and allowed Pholdri to attempt to tame their own mount, and by the time I went to check on them again they were successfully riding their own dinosaur. I would be lying if I did not say I was proud. However, Pholdri’s actions following this feat were extremely disappointing. While I was hoping to reward them with the mount for good behavior, it was my mistake to think they could handle the pressure of handling their own dinosaur. Atop their commandeered Alpacasaurus, Pholdri began to collude with the intruders, winning their affection and breaking through their lines. I was hoping that they would begin using their mount to make a surprise attack on the enemy, however I quickly realized that Pholdri had betrayed us. As much as I tried to convince them to turn against their new friends, the traitor had seemingly forgotten that they must listen to their superior. As I ordered them to slay the foes around them, the intruders attempted to convince Pholdri to kill me instead, and their pleas were not going unheard. While demonstrating how easily my underlings could be turned against me, this insubordination enabled the intruders to further progress through the maze of webs. Alas, I fear our alliance with the Huntsman has been strained due to the failure in our mission to create the new spirit of Yggdrasil, and furthermore the loss of one of the rare Megaspiders essential to our supply of spider milk. Reports from the western flank informed us that it was the same Alpacasaurus who absconded with the missing Megaspider - yet another consequence that may have been avoided if not for Cadet Pholdri’s actions.
Expected Improvement:
Cadet Pholdri must improve their ability to follow orders and respect the chain of command. From here on out, they may not be rewarded with a personal mount until they have proven they can handle the responsibility. If Pholdri fails to demonstrate improvement, they will be denied opportunities to advance in their position and will not be entrusted with further assignments.
Offender Statement:
I sincerely regret my actions which questioned my allegiance to my fellow soldiers, no matter how much fun the temptation was. I tamed Alpacasaurus with the full intent to use the enemies’ trust against them, but found myself unprepared against the foreign adventurers’ enticement to join in their jovial antics. I will not make the same mistake again.
Riding atop Alpacasaurus was the most joyous moment of what I now realize is my dreary life. Give me whatever punishment you deem fit, but I’ll be damned if I don’t make the same decision of fun over obedience again at the nearest opportunity.
No regrets - You only live once.
Cadet Ibnade-Yigol Pholdri
By: Matt “Vesper” Hewitt
After many years of waiting, we can close the book on the Saga of Ragnarok.
While many adventurers traveled to Norlund this past weekend, I personally answered the call eager for the opportunity to no longer be a deadbeat godly parent. We reunited with Jarl Ulric of the Jomsvikings who informed us that, while yes Norlund was now safe from Bedlam and new Aesir gods were doing their jobs well, the plane still faced much hardships due to an out of control world tree as well as many spiders which had mysteriously found a way to travel between Yggdrasil’s branches to spread destruction. Suddenly a humanoid spider appeared telling us he was one of the new Aesir and we could call him The Huntsman, which I must admit is a very cool moniker, and how he was created by some dashing adventurers in an unholy ritual with stolen godly sparks. The Huntsman let us know that while yes, he was a god of death he was also a god of the hunt, thus we were challenged to a competition. If we could fix the tree despite his forces he would give up on the destruction of all living things as well as eating one of the cupcakes I had baked him as an apology for being an absent parent.
Thus the game was on, we entered the web covered branches of Yggdrasil which the spiders had made their home and found the first acorn that was required to guide the growth of the world tree, the bones of some mysterious creature, and many enemies. Sir Jean Baptise, Tony of Stonewood, and Sir Nos formed an elite spider milking team dubbed “Milk Team Six'' who would milk the venom from all dead spiders to create magic tattoos. Sir Orion led our dinosaur cavalry’s galant charge through many walls and webs. The first acorn was returned and the tree partially guided. Upon the newly formed path was a nicer one of my grandkids named Bartholomew who had made his web on this branch in an attempt to make friends. We freed some trapped vikings, promised Bartholomew to be his friends then continued on our way. Another trip through the web covered branches, another acorn found, and another part of the tree guided.
Another giant spider named Eduardo, a single father of a clutch of babies rested near the edge of a branch. More vikings sat on the other side of the void between the two branches and asked us to kidnap the baby spiders and create them a bridge to cross. We consulted the fae of our group on how to properly kidnap a sleeping child and began our task. A bridge created, another trip into a web maze, much glory earned, more bones found, and another guided tree section.
Lastly we entered a room with a giant spider named Ricardo who was chained to a wall and starved by the vikings. We freed and fed Ricardo who gave us the final acorn we would need and left for Saurabia under the guidance of Alpacasaurus. Upon returning the last acorn a path opened to the center of the Yggdrasil where we would need to assemble the mysterious bones we had gathered into a Vanir god which would become bound to the tree as its arborist. When the bones were assembled correctly they transformed into a small triceratops which was promptly named Kota. The Huntsman had lost, threw a tantrum about losing, did not eat his just deserts, and left. Children, what can you do?
With Yggdrasil now managed, I believe the realms of Norlund may finally be back to a balanced state of existence.
Written by: Anna “Hedda” Hewitt
I have never graced the lands of Neden with my presence. I think it's far past due.
I have a lot of questions about this "tournament of sobriety" they speak of and the competitive hydration contest. I am not one to lose at anything so I am sure I can outlast!
The allure of a poker tournament hasn't escaped my eye, if you know anything about me gaining more coin is always a positive.
It does seem as though I will have to keep my whits about me and stay awake for all the fanfare. To the truth you must remember, when were Medieval armies too tired to fight?
When they had a lot of sleepless knights!
Awaken yourself and draw yourself from your bedchambers. It's time to join me in the enjoyment of nedens lands.
Even if you are not one of the sleepless knights who are resting from the battles of the day. They seem to have festivities for those who are less combative as well.
I am curious as to how the waters of Neden fare? Quality of waters and drink alike tell a lot about a nation! They’re also accepting a form of sustenance of canned food donations. Who ever knew food could be contained so!
I am curious as well to the benefits they speak of for bringing some of this mysterious food to their lands. And though you may have slain many dragons and beast, I care not. You are still privy to put the latrine seat down!
If you have been unsure as to why you shall join me in my adventures in the Neden, I assume I have remedied your apprehension. If I have yet to convince you to join me in this, I shall challenge you to come and beat me in the ensuing competitions.
-Whan-Hedda con Atlantis, Squire of Blackwood
by: Brianna "Margaret" Meisser
But we all have regrets. Things we want to change. What makes this one any different? Maybe if my friend had been able to enjoy his death, in service to the Just god and Hope’s Daughter, things would be different. But that is not what happened. The manipulations from an enemy from afar, the wounds of betrayal, and my own desperation and incompetence worked together to create the perfect storm, a storm in which Chan lost everything and became the embodiment of an enemy whom he swore to defeat.
So now we have my friend, whose death I severely regret, scattered to the wind. Pieces of himself torn between gods and planes and demons and nightmare. This is not how the story was supposed to end. So now I quest. To shatter the corruption within the heel of justice. To heal the wounds of betrayal. To defeat the enemy who I allowed to claw back from the dead. And maybe. Just maybe. To get back a friend in the process.
I will see you on the other side of this,
Squire Margaret August, Lightbringer
OOC:
DI2 was my first questing event and it changed the trajectory of my realms career forever. It is where I gained confidence in myself. Where I became a Page and learned what it means to be a true Auroran. And where my character lost a good friend. Time has passed, and I don’t expect things to be the same as they were. But if there’s something I can do to help my friend, who helped me to grow into myself, find their feet and enjoy this game we play together once more. I have to try.
They have assembled an amazing plot team who has my greatest confidence, and I cannot wait to laugh and cry (lots of crying) with them this weekend.
This is a capped event, and if you didn’t get a slot and still want to play realms, or just to hang out with friends, I highly suggest going to the Neden BBQ which is happening the same day. Their drinks sound divine. No matter where you end up this weekend, I wish you all happy questing and a great time.
1. What do you do outside of the game? What would you like to be doing? (Work, school, projects, etc.)
Plastics Engineering!
2. What hobbies do you enjoy other than LARP?
I GM a few games on discord.
3. Favorite meal, dessert, and drink?
Pho, Flan, and Kombucha.
4. If you could go on vacation anywhere, where would it be? Would you bring anyone?
Knottsberry Farms maybe? I havent thought about it.
5. Are you working on any life goals that you’re willing to share?
There are a few but I keep putting them on the backburner for some OTHER thing or so. In this moment, I am happy, and I can't ask for much more.
6. Favorite outfit other than garb?
Um waaaaaaaay back when I got a nuka cola t-shirt thats moth eaten to hell and back but they don’t make anything like it these days anymore.
7. Do you have any professional or personal skills you’d be willing to talk about?
I can write.
8. What drew you to the realms, and what keeps you there?
That’s a story and a half. I was brought into the realms by Vawn and Duncan as part of a attempt to drum up publicity for the LARP club through selling cider. I am the only one who remembers the event which is how life goes. At the time I got kicked from some other dnd groups for not fitting in and needed a reason to go outside.
I stay since the skills you have transfers better in this game to actual results then in most games, where its very sheet focused.
9. Favorite movies/shows/books?
South Park and Cursed Princess Club.
10. If you happened upon 3 wishes, what would they be? (Wishing for more wishes doesn’t seem to work...)
Time and Energy, all you need. 3rd one i’d save in case nuclear war happens or something.
11. Who would you like to see interviewed next?
Elwin.
12. Anything else you’d like to add?
Naaaaaaaaaaah.
If you'd like to do one of these interviews, send Dani Lacasse (lilpotatogem on Discord) a message to let her 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!
by Eric "Rosetta" Willisson
OOC:
Rhiassa has been Presenting quests for many, many years, and they have always excelled in the areas of providing meaningful combat, challenges both physical and mental, excellent props and costumes, individual and group activities, and giving a clear sense of purpose. I look back on their What Lurks Beneath series with great fondness, and with Echoes of Ragnarok they have woven a tale of doom, prophecy, monsters, gods, and mortals, that has already made its mark on the Realms. This conclusion is a long time coming: in 2019 when we forged new gods, we knew that next year, "the heroes of the Realms would return to complete one final task that would forever ensure the world they left behind would prosper." Well, in a story about world-shaking events sending prophecies awry, perhaps we should have seen something like this coming. Now, in 2024, Rhiassa has rallied to use the extra time wisely, expanding the world through the collaborative game "The Quiet Year," and inviting us to show how we acquired dinosaur steeds to carry us over the lands.
Echoes of Ragnarok, in addition to showing Rhiassa's usual polish and willingness to experiment, has also had some of their largest forays into incorporating PC choices into their world. While we have never been powerless, it is striking to me how much at this conclusion event will be borne of our actions as much as of any plans for the story. I will personally be attending with an artifact I created with Squire Crispin on a dwarven forge some years ago. Part of the sense of new life in Norlund came from an effort by the faithful to resurrect Dio, a god of the Realms who was slain as part of the Dark Dissent series. The very existence of the land of Norlund as it currently stands was shaped by adventurers who sought an alternative beyond oblivion for its people. And, of course, the motif of dinosaurs spread all over the world tree came from the offer for us to design our own gods.
This last quest promises to venture over, under, and through Yggdrasill the world tree itself. I am so excited to see what the team at Rhiassa has put together and what they have in store for us.
IC:
For the past nine years, Rhiassa has been leading the way to Norlund, a plane beyond our own marked by ice and snow, mighty warriors, gods and giants, and a prophecy of end times. Unlike so many end times, they greeted theirs with open arms: it seemed that a destruction that would bring about renewal was central to their expectations. Almost a decade ago, we learned that their world had been scarred by Bedlam, as had so many others besides our own. Several key figures in their prophecy, including their own gods, had been consumed by Bedlam, and thus were unable to fulfill their roles. Heroes of Norlund came to us, not seeking our protection, but rather begging our aid in righting their world by setting it back on the path to Ragnarok.
We of the Realms have rarely been willing to take the obvious path. Over the years, we faced opportunistic giants, re-forged godly weapons, and forged bonds with the remaining people of Norlund. A decision was made that they should not be made to perish with their world, despite their apparent willingness. Instead, we found a way out, and a path to renew their world without total destruction.
Incredibly, this changing of fate has been accomplished, and new gods now watch over a changed land. We watched how the people regrouped and began to prosper over the quiet years, and came to terms with the challenges and opportunities in their new lands. We also saw how Yggdrasill, the World Tree that bound the planes together, took a destructive turn, thrashing and tearing through the newly-formed earth.
Now, at last, we have been summoned to return to Norlund, to help quell the chaos of Yggdrasill and stabilize the new Norlund once and for all. Some of us have tamed mighty steeds, terrible two-legged lizards under the patronage of the god Tychasaurus, to help travel the lands. It is time to finish our task and save the people of Norlund from the damage caused by Bedlam so long ago.
Join me at the roots of Yggdrasill!
Hello people of the Realms,
There has been so much traffic across the Vanfrost these few months that I am sure the rumor has reached many of you that it was necessary to halt Norlund-bound travel for a time last week due to a strange incident.
I've been informed that members of a well known merchant caravan were found deceased having just traveled back across the gateway from Midgard. The circumstances of their death are still being investigated but it is clear it was not from any kind of danger we are familiar with.
On their persons were some strange papers, torn asunder as if through a struggle. We've collected what we can find of these papers and assembled them for you to take a look at, as we know many of you are planning to travel to Norlund in a few days to heed our friend Ulric's pleas for aid.
I hope anything you are able to find within them will be of aid to you,
Best,
Lord Sir Aeston Stromgate
[click here to see all the papers]
(Opening the above link will give you your own copy of this interactive clue)
Reports of vampirism are spreading throughout the Kingdom. They have the areas best vampire hunters on the job.
~~~
Princess Theofania and Lady Jane Duplaine are still missing after the attack in September. King Oliver insists that it is safe for them to return, but reports of vampirism leave many skeptical to this claim.
The political situation in Blackavar has grown tense. People claiming ancestral lands and titles remain at odds. Bright side, no rats still!
A man was rushed to magical affliction experts after a mishap at an archeological dig site in eastern Chimeron. His current condition is believed to be stable, but the exact nature of his injuries are unknown.
Increased feeling of hopelessness are being reported in the area around Coventry. One person notes: “We have no King, we were invaded by the Lost Kingdoms, some stupid adventurers capped the reality well, and nightmares have escaped the Dreaming. I’d be shocked if there wasn’t a bit more hopelessness than usual.” Aurorans in the area work to reassure everyone that things are okay.
Traffic was held up over the portal to the Vanfrost for a few hours on Wednesday as the Lion Militia barricaded the whole surrounding area for an investigation. Those who were close to the perimeter heard whispers of a party of travelers found dead, covered with mysterious liquids of different colors. Others mentioned catching whiff of an acidic smell on the breeze.
