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Difference between revisions of "Revelations"
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As the inhabitants of [[Sapience]] glanced up at the familiar constellations | |||
As the inhabitants of Sapience glanced up at the familiar constellations | |||
on the night of the 11th of Lanosian before returning to their toil or | on the night of the 11th of Lanosian before returning to their toil or | ||
their rest, none could possibly foretell the peculiar and extraordinary | their rest, none could possibly foretell the peculiar and extraordinary | ||
happenings the morrow would bring.... | happenings the morrow would bring.... | ||
The 12th of Lanosian, year 105 of the Midnight Age, dawned much like | The 12th of Lanosian, year 105 of the [[Midnight Age]], dawned much like | ||
every other day. Tasks both important and frivolous were undertaken as | every other day. Tasks both important and frivolous were undertaken as | ||
the sun rode across the sky, and both weapons and flagons were raised as | the sun rode across the sky, and both weapons and flagons were raised as | ||
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day stretched to twice, thrice, four times its usual duration and more. | day stretched to twice, thrice, four times its usual duration and more. | ||
Nearly a dozen sets of sunrises and sunsets passed, the date stubbornly, | Nearly a dozen sets of sunrises and sunsets passed, the date stubbornly, | ||
unprecedentedly remaining inert. Then, the voice of Apollonia, the | unprecedentedly remaining inert. Then, the voice of [[Apollonia]], the | ||
beautiful but enigmatic Oracle, shouted to the continent her profound | beautiful but enigmatic Oracle, shouted to the continent her profound | ||
despair at the loss of her second sight, caused by the failure of the | despair at the loss of her second sight, caused by the failure of the | ||
heavens to continue in their usual motions. | heavens to continue in their usual motions. | ||
A group quickly clustered at Apollonia's small hut in the deep Mannaseh | A group quickly clustered at Apollonia's small hut in the deep [[Mannaseh | ||
Swamp, attempting to console her and probing without success her | Swamp]], attempting to console her and probing without success her | ||
knowledge of the troubling events of the ever-lengthening date. | knowledge of the troubling events of the ever-lengthening date. | ||
Unexpectedly, the astrologer Elenina arrived on the scene, having | Unexpectedly, the astrologer [[Elenina]] arrived on the scene, having | ||
interrupted her stargazing atop the watchtower in the Valley of Kalebb | interrupted her stargazing atop the watchtower in the [[Valley of Kalebb]] | ||
and hastened to the Oracle's side. She spoke of the signs she had seen | and hastened to the Oracle's side. She spoke of the signs she had seen | ||
in the sky - the stars reversing their courses midway through the night, | in the sky - the stars reversing their courses midway through the night, | ||
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significant landmarks of the realm and await whatever signs might be | significant landmarks of the realm and await whatever signs might be | ||
revealed. And revealed they were, as for four sunsets and four sunrises, | revealed. And revealed they were, as for four sunsets and four sunrises, | ||
a quintet of locales in Shastaan, the Putoran Hills, the Mhojave Desert, | a quintet of locales in [[Shastaan]], the [[Putoran Hills]], the [[Mhojave Desert]], | ||
the Isle of Polyargos, and the Aalen | the [[Isle of Polyargos]], and the [[Aalen Forest]] produced vision upon vision | ||
that slowly, through the efforts of many, combined into a cohesive | that slowly, through the efforts of many, combined into a cohesive | ||
interpretation of the strange events. | interpretation of the strange events. | ||
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The tenacity of many Aetolians was in evidence on this long day, many of | The tenacity of many Aetolians was in evidence on this long day, many of | ||
whom showed exemplary devotion to unravelling the mystery presented. | whom showed exemplary devotion to unravelling the mystery presented. | ||
Winger stood watch at the Tenebrous Glass as it displayed images of a | Winger stood watch at the [[Tenebrous Glass]] as it displayed images of a | ||
rope-cleaving sword in its misty glass and a bowl-shaped altar in its | rope-cleaving sword in its misty glass and a bowl-shaped altar in its | ||
falling sand. Seeing such an image himself, Lamar journeyed to a Fulgent | falling sand. Seeing such an image himself, [[Lamar]] journeyed to a [[Fulgent | ||
Prototype and witnessed the orrery repeating its motions in resonance | Prototype]] and witnessed the orrery repeating its motions in resonance | ||
with the stars and susurrating words of truth and mystery. Thalian saw | with the stars and susurrating words of truth and mystery. [[Thalian]] saw | ||
these and the Ruby Sphinx too, who spoke similar words and whose side | these and the Ruby [[Sphinx]] too, who spoke similar words and whose side | ||
flashed a view of the sealed Inner Gate of Spinesreach. Prompted by | flashed a view of the sealed [[Inner Gate of Spinesreach]]. Prompted by | ||
similar experiences, Alsai travelled to the Demon Mirror to find its | similar experiences, [[Alsai]] travelled to the [[Demon Mirror]] to find its | ||
turbulent waters frothing into symbols of Lanos, Lord of Truth, and a | turbulent waters frothing into symbols of [[Lanos]], Lord of Truth, and a | ||
likeness of the fortified Citadel. And Nevle journeyed from the desert | likeness of the fortified Citadel. And [[Nevle]] journeyed from the desert | ||
to the Garden of Midnight, where ever-changing ghosts of butterflies and | to the [[Garden of Midnight]], where ever-changing ghosts of butterflies and | ||
owls were spotted bearing markings of Lord Lanos, of Niuri the Evenstar, | owls were spotted bearing markings of Lord Lanos, of [[Niuri]] the Evenstar, | ||
and of a dozen longswords. Through it all Zorn, who had heard the Sphinx | and of a dozen longswords. Through it all [[Zorn]], who had heard the Sphinx | ||
speak in person when he investigated the rumour that the vanished | speak in person when he investigated the rumour that the vanished | ||
Elenina had been consumed by her, waited in sympathy with Apollonia, | Elenina had been consumed by her, waited in sympathy with Apollonia, | ||
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had been seen in the sands of the hourglass. Drawing on the experiences | had been seen in the sands of the hourglass. Drawing on the experiences | ||
of Lamar and Thalian who were present, as well as descriptions of the | of Lamar and Thalian who were present, as well as descriptions of the | ||
other omens, Ahel came to place twelve longswords in the altar's marble | other omens, [[Ahel]] came to place twelve longswords in the altar's marble | ||
bowl, whereupon the entire structure evanesced, gone in a swirl of light | bowl, whereupon the entire structure evanesced, gone in a swirl of light | ||
and a sourceless exclamation of words in an unknown tongue. Apollonia, | and a sourceless exclamation of words in an unknown tongue. Apollonia, | ||
who had been strengthening considerably as she was informed of the | who had been strengthening considerably as she was informed of the | ||
continuing visions, sensed the altar's disappearance and hastened with | continuing visions, sensed the altar's disappearance and hastened with | ||
Zorn to Shallam, where a score of people waited in wonderment. She | Zorn to [[Shallam]], where a score of people waited in wonderment. She | ||
ascertained that the omens had stopped occurring at the sites of power | ascertained that the omens had stopped occurring at the sites of power | ||
and concluded Ahel had completed the Offering of the Longswords. The | and concluded Ahel had completed the Offering of the Longswords. The | ||
Altar of Truth, she explained, had stored within it the Twelve Words of | [[Altar of Truth]], she explained, had stored within it the Twelve Words of | ||
Revelation, a message of power left behind by Lord Lanos. | Revelation, a message of power left behind by Lord Lanos. | ||
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harbouring two notes written on plain parchment. There was a brief | harbouring two notes written on plain parchment. There was a brief | ||
uncertainty as to the proper course of action, but after Apollonia | uncertainty as to the proper course of action, but after Apollonia | ||
shouted her intention to travel to the Mhojave Murad, who too had stayed | shouted her intention to travel to the [[Mhojave]] [[Murad]], who too had stayed | ||
with her through much of the ordeal, grabbed the notes decisively and | with her through much of the ordeal, grabbed the notes decisively and | ||
headed for the desert. At this moment, the Ruby Sphinx awoke with great | headed for the desert. At this moment, the Ruby Sphinx awoke with great | ||
questioning shouts and summoned Murad to her side. In the view of a huge | questioning shouts and summoned Murad to her side. In the view of a huge | ||
crowd, Murad surrendered the notes, which contained riddles for the | crowd, Murad surrendered the notes, which contained riddles for the | ||
Sphinx to announce. The first, answered correctly by Malhavoc, revealed | Sphinx to announce. The first, answered correctly by [[Malhavoc]], revealed | ||
that the note itself contained enough of the Temple of Truth's power to | that the note itself contained enough of the Temple of Truth's power to | ||
enable the Ruby Sphinx to repair the cycle of the days; and at the | enable the Ruby Sphinx to repair the cycle of the days; and at the | ||
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Truth. Brandishing a scroll of blue and silver parchment tied with a | Truth. Brandishing a scroll of blue and silver parchment tied with a | ||
knotted rope, the Sphinx avowed that the Words were to be delivered into | knotted rope, the Sphinx avowed that the Words were to be delivered into | ||
the custody of Lady Niuri. With a thought she brought Sekhtet, Aakhut of | the custody of Lady Niuri. With a thought she brought [[Sekhtet]], [[Aakhut]] of | ||
Niuri, to her presence and placed the scroll into her care. Then, as a | Niuri, to her presence and placed the scroll into her care. Then, as a | ||
reward for those who had made possible the deliverance of the Altar's | reward for those who had made possible the deliverance of the Altar's | ||
riddles, she offered to answer any single question posed by each of | riddles, she offered to answer any single question posed by each of | ||
Ahel, Murad, Gracie, and Malhavoc. In this way it was revealed that | Ahel, Murad, [[Gracie]], and Malhavoc. In this way it was revealed that | ||
Spinesreach was destined to take its place among the great cities of | [[Spinesreach]] was destined to take its place among the great cities of | ||
Sapience, its impact to be shaped by Mortal hands. However, the Sphinx | Sapience, its impact to be shaped by Mortal hands. However, the Sphinx | ||
grew angry at the discontent with which her truths were received, and | grew angry at the discontent with which her truths were received, and | ||