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No, unfortunately.
You are actually the only person who has responded at all, whether here or on Discord. Nothing has changed on my end from my original post.
When Danya set her eight portal stones in a circle within Iglavik and initiated a second column of light within one region, concern spread throughout the encampment surrounding the Pyre of Plenty. It was known that a second set of active portal stones within the same region as another often resulted in chaotic instability and light columns collapsing catastrophically. Had Danya just ruined everyone's sacrifices by setting her eight portal stones in a circle?
The two columns of light seemed to struggle against one another, flickering on and off, magic-lightning flashing across the clouds at each other. The Voice in the first light column shouted angrily at the second light column. The Pyre of Plenty's flames receded. The first column lightened in its purple hue to a soft lavender.
But the combined magnitude of sacrifices within Iglavik sustained the first column of light. The first light column's magic-lightning struck the second column of light's portal stones at its base, shattering the column of light and throwing magical light-shards across the Colonies. These light-shards found themselves attracted to the most magical of Colonial regions and to portal stones carried by adventuring commoners.
Throughout the Colonies, portal stone carrying adventurers find themselves wounded proportionally to the quantity of stones carried as their stones are zapped by magic lightning, thus exploding their mystical rocks. Aethelgyth, Altard, Louise, Moshe, Oak, and Newton find themselves lightly wounded, Aodh, Erya, Macguyver, and Sven find themselves wounded, Hogni the Undying finds himself seriously wounded, and Colin, Jasper, Joan, Ludmilla, and Yallbin find themselves critically wounded. Eleanor is left nearly dying.
From the most magical of Colonial regions to the least:
In Frundi, light shards activate Eleanor's Curse of Rust scroll which randomly targets the Black Bolts with its curse. Light shards kill 1200 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Corali Forest, light shards kill 800 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Nidalery, light shards activate two of Colin's scrolls, blessing Blackpike with magical armour, but also striking fear into Blackpike. Monsters are summoned by Colin's third activated scroll. Light shards kill 1022 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Naan Forest, McTavish Weisz accidentally confuses their bottle of poison with their bottle of beer, and then slips and falls in the bath, due to being randomly targeted by two of Kharyn Kye JeVondair's Accident scrolls. Yet there remains a happy end for McTavish Weisz as the light shards also activate Kharyn Kye JeVondair's Healing scroll, which fortunately selects him for its blessing. Light shards kill 280 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
Light shards kill 1729 people in Outer Tilog, 360 people in Maira Merani, 784 people in Hulaferd, 720 people in Asker, and 176 people in Vir el Mari heights, while monsters reproduce and undead infect.
In Hilly Holes, the light shards illuminate a lost unique item. Nobility decide to determine its owner by playing a game of headball and Gerald tentil becomes the proud new owner of the Thrice-Blessed Oil. The Thorns of Lancaster are blessed with magic weapons by Edwin Burep's Magic Weapons scroll. Light shards kill 498 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Irdalni, rotten food is discovered and thrown out after Sapiens Dulcis's Decay scroll is activated. Light shards kill 684 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
Light shards kill 414 people in Grentzen and 300 people in Drenga, while monsters reproduce and undead infect.
In Rollsovar, rotten food is discovered and thrown out after Turloch Spearhawk's Decay scroll is activated. Light shards kill 480 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Rola Sierrie, rotten food is discovered and thrown out after Macguyver's Decay scroll is activated. Webin suffers two splashes of acid from Macguyver's Splash of Acid scroll. Light shards kill 420 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Narrowdep, Oak is bitten by a scorpion thanks to Aethelgyth's Accident scroll. Undead are summoned, and if that isn't enough, some good ole morale panic is spread throughout the region due to Aethelgyth's Panic and Summon Undead scrolls. Light shards kill 180 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Reckrandi, light shards kill 360 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Giblot, monsters are summoned by Godric Altenahr's Summon Monster scroll. Light shards kill 848 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
Light shards kill 477 people in Abaka, 350 people in Briarull, and 270 people in Bode Batura, while monsters reproduce and undead infect.
In Alowca, Alec Moore is in a building when it collapses due to being randomly targetted by Cassandra Foxglove's Accident scroll. Myles Vilanova is playing in the city's canal when a flash food goes by as a result of Idaho Gildre's Accident scroll. The Carpi are splashed with acid by Cassandra Foxglove's Splash of Acid scroll while the Launchers are splashed with acid by Idaho Gildre's Splash of Acid scroll. Myles Vilanova finds himself healed by Idaho Gildre's Healing scroll. Light shards kill 585 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Alebad, light shards kill 774 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
In Iglavik, monsters are summoned by Elrond Edain's Summon Monster scroll. Light shards kill 180 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
Light shards kill 150 people in Windaria, 120 people in Helsera, 140 people in Wirkfyr, and 80 people in Krunari, while monsters reproduce and undead infect. in Highglades, light shards miraculously miss everyone - all 23 of them.
In Oritolon, the Special Forces are splashed with acid by Ares Manor's Splash of Acid scroll. Light shards kill 306 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
Light shards kill 156 people in Portion, 90 people in Koolaris, 40 people in Dalverdy, 90 people in Adaria, 50 people in Crifts, 40 people in Pirht, and 80 people in Kadnala, while monsters reproduce and undead infect.
In Lukon, the light shards illuminate a lost unique item. Nobility decide to determine its owner by drawing sticks, and Gama Wader becomes the proud new owner of the Grisly Codpiece. Light shards kill 96 people and nourish the growth of more monsters and undead in the region.
By the time its over, the Colonies' regions have been drained of their existing magic and the second column of light within Iglavik is gone.
If I wasn't a good-for-nothing PHP hater I'd even offer to code some of them
- now that portal event reduced rogues, it might be slightly moot...
Within and around Iglavik and Narrowdep, an increase in lunatic children is reported. Numerous children claim a Voice spoke to them, when they were near the portal stone light beam. Adults are skeptical about these stories. Healers, priests, philosophers, and exorcists have begun to gather within these two regions, proclaiming causes and attempting cures.
Over the last two years Iglavik had accepted the light column as a mundane local landmark. Perhaps pets behaved bizarrely. Perhaps commanders knew not to march beasts past the stones. Perhaps local wildlife avoided a square mile around the light beam. But otherwise life went on as normal.
So it was just another day in Iglavik when a young boy ran away from his mommy and daddy to climb a peak of the Snaketooth Mountains. He wasn't paying a lot of attention to the fact he chose the peak bearing eight portal stones assembled within a circle shooting a beam of light into the sky. That is until the buzzing got louder. But by then he was committed to the climb. He soon reached the summit and cast his gaze upon that below. Tired from his long hike, he sat down to rest his legs and enjoy a snack.
"Hey, little boy, come here," whispered a Voice.
Jumping to his feet in surprise, the boy failed to see anyone around, "Where are you?" he shouted.
"Come to the light," was the response.
The boy's eyes widened unconsciously as he clambered towards the light beam, getting within arm's reach. He remembered when the portal stones were first set there had been many town notices, and a couple stern lectures from his parents, about avoiding anything to do with it. But that had been two years ago. Little care regarding the column of light seemed to exist now. Besides, his parents were mean. What did they know about portal stones anyway? They were only coopers. Why he had heard an adventurer passing through town explain that you could use a portal stone to...
"Gellin Kye, you have been chosen for a quest," the Voice loudly interrupted the boy's thoughts, addressing him by name.
The boy was excited, "A quest? Really?!? What for?!"
"Where for," the Voice replied matter of factly. Continuing, "You are to travel to each capital. At each capital and along the journey to each capital, tell the tale of what happens here today. When in Corali Forest, warn them of grave danger for messing with that they do not understand.
Seek out those fond of cold. Gather those with the spirit of a fox. Find those who excel at sprinting. I want those of an innocent, loner, direct temperament.
Summon adventurer, knight, lord, duke, and royal alike. Let adventurers bring their most prized unique item, knights donate the best ware of their estate, lords present the most esteemed export of their region, dukes gift the pride and glory of their duchy, and rulers offer the most excellent of their realm. Let all sacrifice that most valued to the Pyre of Plenty!"
The Voice deepened, "It is paramount that more and superior sacrifices are brought here than are brought to Narrowdep. Should the Pyre of Plenty be superior to the Bonfire of Bounty, perhaps, perhaps, perhaps I will be able to bless those in Iglavik."
"What type of blessing?" Gellin inquired.
The Voice ignored his question, "Hey, thanks for not running away screaming when I spoke like all the other boys and girls did before you. But now, Go!"
The air was getting chilly. Still mad at his parents, and excited for adventure promised by a voice from a light beam, six-year-old Gellin set off down the mountain and out across the Colonies upon his journey.
Life had acclimated to the light beam within Narrowdep in a short time. Why hadn't there been such a light beam within Iglavik for over two years with no strange occurrences besides abnormal animal behavior the closer one got to the column of light? So it was not unusual that a young girl was gathering water from a well at an oasis, about thirty feet from the portal stones.
It was unusual that a Voice spoke from the light column, "pssst, come here".
The little girl was given such a fright she spilled the water she'd just collected. After not seeing anyone around, she felt both reassured and yet scared of what may lurk out of sight. With a timid, terrified voice, she meekly called out, "Hello?"
"Yes. You. Come here, little girl," came the response.
Sensing the voice's direction more clearly now, she gingerly approached the column of light. It hadn't ever been discussed, but she'd always had the impression she was to avoid it as much as possible.
Her guilt mounting, she stopped about ten feet from the portal, then retreated a few more feet and stood around awkwardly, when the Voice spoke again, "What's your name?"
"Henri," the little girl peeped up.
There was a long pause.
"Is your brother Sue?" the Voice finally spoke, when the little girl impatiently prepared to leave.
"No, I don't have any brothers, at least not...", she skeptically answered.
The Voice interrupted, "Nevermind that. Anyway, what's your clan? Your people? Your surname?"
"I am of the Tandaros, desert-dwellers as long as family memory holds," she stated with defiant pride, hands upon her hips.
"Well, pleased to meet you Henri Tandaros of Narrowdep. I have chosen you for a very important mission," the Voice paused for effect before continuing, "You are to travel to each capital. At each capital and along the journey to each capital, spread word of this moment. When in Frundi, warn them of grave danger for messing with that they do not understand.
Seek out those fond of heat. Gather those with the spirit of a snake. Find those who excel at marathons. I want those of a cautious, communal, polite temperament.
Summon adventurer, knight, lord, duke, and royal alike. Let adventurers bring their most prized unique item, knights donate the best ware of their estate, lords present the most esteemed export of their region, dukes gift the pride and glory of their duchy, and rulers offer the most excellent of their realm. Let all sacrifice that most valued to the Bonfire of Bounty!"
The Voice deepened, "It is paramount that more and superior sacrifices are brought here than are brought to Iglavik. Should the Bonfire of Bounty be superior to the Pyre of Plenty, maybe, maybe, maybe I will be able to bless those in Narrowdep."
"Who are you?!?" Henri interjected incredulously.
"Go," the Voice commanded.
Try as she might to get the column of light to reply to her, it spoke no more, and she soon began to feel a bit silly shouting at the light beam to say something. Returning to the oasis, she fetched herself a drink, being parched from all that desert dialogue. As she drank the cool water, she thought upon what had just occurred.
It didn't take long for her to conclude that she was not crazy and that she, at a whole seven years of age, was going on an adventure across the Colonies regardless of what her parents had to say. Actually, probably better not to tell them about any of this until she got back from her adventure. Still, she had been spent to gather water for the household. She may be plotting to run away on an adventure once her parents were asleep, but she had always been taught to finish her chores, and finish them before leaving she would.
I'd love to see the Adventurer class more involved with the BM world at large:
- hunting bandits for bounties (which would improve control)
- telling tales (which would improve morale and maybe weaken control)
- doing some of the messy, hands-on things infiltrators can but probably shouldn't because of the risks like sabotage and murdering militia
- doing a bit of banditry themselves like robbing tax collectors or thieving or running protection rackets in cities (which would gain gold and lower control)
- being able to set up gangs/parties and secret societies so there could be thieves guilds, etc. without noble involvement
- smuggling and black marketeering
- being lay clergy or rabble-rousing demagogues
- kidnapping for ransom
- being those anonymous scouts and secret police
- becoming a wizard or sage
Some of these would also require new shiny things to spend the extra gold they produce on.
And how do we go about selecting those that you care about and those you don't care about?
