Difference between revisions of "Revelations"

135 bytes added ,  05:37, 30 November 2012
m
no edit summary
(Created page with ' 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 their rest, none could possibly f…')
 
m
Line 1: Line 1:
 
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
Line 17: Line 16:
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,
Line 38: Line 37:
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 forest produced vision upon vision
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.
Line 45: Line 44:
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,
Line 67: Line 66:
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.


Line 94: Line 93:
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
Line 110: Line 109:
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
42

edits