@everyone, end of week 2 (after solvunn visits)

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor’s hurried script is maybe familiar to some, but what’s different now (beyond the fact that it’s slightly more hurried) is that it appears on its own. Whatever this is about, it’s apparently important enough for him to make a rare solo appearance, a departure from his joint broadcast with Jayce. Right now, it's just him, relaying information as quickly and expediently as possible.

If you’re not necessarily familiar with Viktor himself, the words match those soliciting location information not too long ago. It seems this is the culmination of those efforts.]

We know where the captives are being held. It’s an island directly north of the Singularity crater, roughly three hours off the coast of Thorne’s border, where I am now. I’ve created a map in my Horizon to show the location, as well as the data from the trackers that allowed me to pinpoint it. The explanation is slightly technical, but suffice to say the system is improved to the point where I am confident in its accuracy. Jayce and I can answer any questions about it, though you may need to direct inquiries regarding the magical component to Stephen.

[Who is here, also.]

Thank you to those who offered to collect additional data with the receivers. We would not have been able to locate this place otherwise.

The island itself is not large, though we suspect it’s heavily warded, with the exact holding area magically concealed. We weren’t able to detect anyone coming or going, so it’s likely the captors are using portals to access it directly from various abduction sites. I imagine this aligns with other investigations.

What happens now will require cooperation. Sam has done what reconnaissance he can, but we're not sure of what awaits us on the island itself, nor do we know who is responsible. Accessing the island will require us to eliminate its magical defenses or otherwise dispel its enchantments—any additional information that anyone has gathered is, at this point, vital to share.

[ooc: full receipts are here for the curious! responses may come from any of the four characters currently investigating the island, and please thread jack away. pit people…feel free to receive snippets of this message as appropriate. for additional plotting/convergence of plots, hit me up on plurk at whitticus or discord at whitticus#8139.]

Comments

[ushiri]

On the Thornean peninsula near the island we found an illusion spell covering the area. It had to be dispelled with High Magic, not exactly common in Thorne.

[ Which might be the same on the island. ]

[thedevilwhorose]

Additionally, the guessing game to break the illusory magic required invoking the right god; I'm guessing this would ring true for dispelling other forms of High Magic, were we to come across them.

[sorser]

Which one was the "right god" this time?

[thedevilwhorose]

Nikodaemus. Connected to mirages and reflections. He's "newer" to the Solvunn pantheons--still thousands of years back, but not ancient like the rest. Apparently.

[cryptsleeper]

Good to know, most certainly time to be looking into knowledgeable resources.

[ushiri]

Solvunn should have the best of them.

[cryptsleeper]

If their portal remains open, it might be wise to have a large research team focus both on texts and any oral histories that have been transmitted over the years to gather as much as we can.

[ushiri]

I think I might be heading that way soon, then.

[cryptsleeper]

In that case, I'll ask through channels if Nocwich might have any perspective that can be offered, given Luna's connection with Solvunn.

[ushiri]

If you have any connections through to the Luna itself, you might try cutting out the middleman. I've tried asking around Nocwich before about the gods and what little I found came from the people of Luna.

Otherwise I've heard about a strange fortuneteller in Nocwich, but she hasn't been around.

[cryptsleeper]

Not direct, but I am working on it presently.

--I recall her when the place first opened. It could be something, it could be nothing.

im a dingdong that keeps confusing nocwich as a whole and oleuni square 8V

[ushiri]

I can keep you updated on what I find, if anything.

it happens

[cryptsleeper]

Mmm. Once there's footing on how to organize research we may wish to speak again.

[cointosser]

You have no need for a middleman.

I will look into it.

[cryptsleeper]

You are a true friend.

[cointosser]

You've only now figured that out?

[Alucard's lucky no one has taught Jaskier mental emojis. Yet.]

[techmaturgy]

But you did dispel it. Is that what you're saying?

[ushiri]

It's been dispelled, yes.
If they were watching us, I can't say.

[techmaturgy]

It's likely the island itself is under similar illusion. What did you have to do?

[ushiri]

That's what we're hoping.

It took three mages to dispel it, plus myself and another Summoned assisting. The Thornean mages explained this type of magic invoked a god named Nikodaemus, and that knowing the specific god's name was the key.

[techmaturgy]

We have a lot of work ahead of us, then. It will be easier if we can confirm that they only invoke one god.

[ushiri]

From what I was told the god they use for a spell has to be connected to whatever they're trying to accomplish.

Nikodaemus is connected with mirages and reflections, which wasn't anyone's first guess.

[techmaturgy]

Knowledge of this kind of magic is lacking in Cadens.

[ushiri]

That's not surprising.

Only Solvunn and Luna, to a degree, hold faith or value in the old gods.

[ He has been trying to look into this from the first day he arrived.

But now he knows Thorne does have books on the gods and High Magic. They just haven't allowed Summoned access to them, until now. ]

[techmaturgy]

Then, that's where we go next.