abraxasnet | · TO EVERYONE ·

[this message will arrive into the awareness of all summoned. however, given the nature of this content, with both istredd and wanda’s telepath abilities combined, they’ll make it so that the summoned can choose to read it at a later point in time when it isn’t a nuisance to them; an unread message, as it were. they will also telegraph the images linked into the minds of those reading as they read, for ease.]

This is Wanda. Istredd and I have talked about the importance of making this information available to all Summoned.

What we are going to detail here are events that happened a few months back. It has to do with Josselyn Creed—those in Solvunn would have noticed her ashes displayed in the main square of the Primary Settlement. It has to do with the abductions that took place, what happened to those who were taken, and what those of us who stayed behind were able to uncover.

It might not be an easy read, especially for those who were taken. But we think it’s important that we are all on the same page. To be aware of our surroundings and cautious of the intentions of the natives here some more. Any comment or action that may seem a little odd might be worth taking note of.

And… perhaps this can bring some closure to those who are still feeling the effects of what happened.

I can speak from my perspective as one of those who wasn’t abducted. Josselyn was part of it as the representative of the Tertiary Settlement, making her a member of the Council in Solvunn. Before all this happened, she made some… questionable decisions. Acting separately from the Council as a whole.

I went to the Tertiary Settlement at the behest of Rowan, another council member, and found a house shrouded in an aura of corruption. The boy in this house had gone to a nearby shrine in the woods and returned to be haunted by a ‘white-faced demon’. After purifying the shrine, I saw a symbol, and we would later realize it was the same as the one others found after the abductions had taken place. The corruption I found in this shrine and in the woods was present in or near areas where the Summoned and natives were known to be abducted.

This is to say that things were already in motion before this group played their hand.

And then the abductions started. Natives and Summoned started disappearing from Solvunn, and then we heard that the same was happening in the other nations. We were scattered for a while trying to find leads, but eventually it all led back to Solvunn. The borders were open during this time to allow others to help in the investigation here. Josselyn was a point of interest because she was an influential figure and she, too, was abducted.

It wasn’t until later that we found out that she was not one of the abducted, but an abductor. The leader of the movement, in fact.

Her house was a point of interest. There was a door warded with magic that we couldn’t open, and a number of artifacts in bottles and jars that were worrisome. Then there was a book, too. A ledger. I apologize for the details being very general—so much was happening at the time. We were advised to recreate a High Magic ritual to try and open the door by invoking the right god or using the ledger. When we opened the door, what we found was further proof of Josselyn’s involvement, and personal items that would be used to find her. We also found an early base of a recipe that was used to find a cure for those who were abducted.

This is something Istredd could speak of better, but there was a monster in the pit, and while it was anything unlike what’s been seen in Abraxas. I found out the following: Isar Hart, the one who took over Josselyn’s duties in the council, told me that unknown creatures can be made through rituals and magic, typically of the transformative kind and it acts on already existing objects or beings. It’s against Solvunn’s traditions, and only the Old Gods should have the power to choose what new beings enter the world.

The Old Gods, as unlikely as it may seem to some, are real. We saw one in Josselyn’s execution. Cadaevos. We’ve seen some before any of this happened, in visions, and I’ve made a pact with one myself. We can discuss the Old Gods at some later point, though, because that’s another long-winded discussion…

But it’s worth mentioning that there are newer gods. Nikodaemus was one of them. He was responsible for creating the illusions that were hiding those who were abducted. Enchantments were used to make the island and the peninsula appear untouched. There is an illustration of this god in Solvunn’s records, for those interested to see.

This is Istredd. I was one of the people captured. I apologize to the people who will see their experiences written out here, but I will be very general. If you wish to share more specifics of what exactly you went through or facts you think must be shared, please do so.

About half of the Summoned were captured and placed inside of what is called "The Pit" by many of us, a dark cavern without any visible exit, they didn't need to guard us because at that point there was no way out. There was very little food and water so we had to ration.

Any special abilities were dampened by a High Magic spell and they utilized physical and mental distractions so we couldn't focus to reach out on the network or go into the Horizon. There were monsters within the place that some of the Summoned fought off. We found special shrines within that had newly painted the symbol Wanda shared. There was a monster within it that spoke to us mentally to try and be released. We were given access to them from an acolyte who turned against them named Hydnellia, now Lorelai, and tokens found otherwise. We resolved to only let the monster out as a last resort.

The second week, the Summoned were taken and experimented on. I was one of only two who was not taken into the ritual, but I was told the details about it. The summary is that they took people and forced them to eat something. They claimed it was to help them "commune with the gods". This led them to experience lesions, fungal growths on their skin, and a changed mental state with delusions and violence.

This all culminated eventually into experiencing a vision. I believe most people saw different images, but those who talked to me referenced something similar to when the Summoned had shared nightmares last year and images we saw when the Heralds were affecting us. For example, the maze some of us got stuck in during the Heralds. The vision also showed a shadowed man at the very end.

Realizing we were definitely in too much danger to wait for rescue, as more people were put in the ritual and struggling with their sickness, we worked to find an escape. The shrine monster was released and caused havoc within the cavern, destroying much of the ceiling. There were two escape routes with portals, which is why people ended up in two separate locations. One was through the floor as water seeped in and there was enough space to swim, and another through a hole that required people to stay behind to hold open with webbing.

Those of us who stayed behind were placed within an altar room, away from the main area as it was destroyed in many places. We were trapped within and it slowly began flooding. The acolytes started to turn on the cult and help us. While a group from the outside tried to negotiate with them, another one broke their way in, but by that point the cavern was collapsing into the water. The only way we survived was a giant turtle appeared who the Thorne Summoned had helped when beached. Then everyone was rescued and reunited in Nocwich to recover.

Whether you agree with it or not, Solvunn’s customs called for Josselyn’s execution, as a way to right her wrongs. As mentioned, an Old God was summoned for the ritual and she suffered a gruesome end. I don’t think I need to specify how it happened. I know many decided not to assist because they knew she’d be executed.

The acolytes that survived were spared and are currently imprisoned. Two members of the group were rescued, Lorelai and her brother Esmond, and they’ve resettled here in the Tertiary Settlement.

Some of us got to interrogate her before her execution. Her true goal was to have the same ability that we, the Summoned, have to communicate or receive communications from the gods. At least that’s what she believed we could do. She claimed that because some of us have had shared visions, visits from the Heralds, and a powerful connection to the Singularity, that we have a connection to the divine. Ancient texts suggested that divinity could be reached through metamorphosis, so she used plants containing hallucinogens and transformative properties in hopes of providing the right trigger.

Josselyn and her sect were formally put together within a year, but these ideas have been going on for a while, though, and the research is available for anyone who knows where to look. All of her people were captured, and we have psychic assurances of the fact. But that doesn’t mean that other people couldn’t see what they did and think it’s possible to try it again.

We still don’t know who the original shrines were to, or what the shrine monster was–whether it was a god itself or a servant of a god, nor where it is now. Motions are currently being considered to be pitched to our factions requesting access to the island and the ruins to investigate. We don't know if they'll allow us, but we're trying.

It might also be worth considering more people learning High Magic in order to counter this sort of thing. Solvunn is the place where this kind of magic is prevalent, but… I could share what I know with others who are skilled with magic in the other nations so that they can teach it to those around them, too.

We’ll meet at some point–all of us–in the Horizon to discuss what we can and should do next. We will let you know when. If there are any questions or additional information to be shared in the meantime, feel free to do so.

( ooc: this means that now every summoned has ic knowledge of what happened with josselyn and her cult! we will be setting up a mingle in september for characters to get together, from all factions, to discuss things more in depth after some time has been given to digest the information. also to avoid the event log lol )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What if I saw something that I know nobody else did?

I—

I guess it'd depend on what it was? Was it related to the Singularity?

Kind of? That's how I saw it, but I think it was

[ There's a brief pause, like she's trying to put the right words together. ]

When we were trying to find the lost connections, I gave it a shot in the dark and told the Singularity to look for Josselyn. It didn't really understand that, so I think it can't feel the natives like us.

But when I gave it the only other name we had... the god she used to hide the island. Nikodaemus. The god of illusions and reflections. The Singularity showed me something. A different place than any of the ones anyone's ever mentioned.

It's not that surprising to know that the Singularity has a stronger connection with us. Or that it has some connection with the gods.

[hm]

And what did that place look like?

Weird.

[ That single word is the only thing that comes for a moment, but then a better description starts to come. ]

It was an ocean, but not of water. I don't know exactly what it was, but it was shiny, like liquid mercury. There were... statues, I guess? Made of the same mercury stuff, rising up from the "water" part. A man on a rock, holding a head. A woman's face, with a smaller woman stretching out of her mouth, both of them stabbed through with swords. And a fish skeleton mounted on a board, but lying flat on the surface of the "water", next to the head man.

It seemed to stretch on forever. No land. Some kind of metal road hanging in the sky, not connected to anything. It went upside down like a roller coaster, sort of.

[wanda is thinking about this carefully, so it takes a moment for her reply to come.]

Would you be able to make a painting of this scene in the Horizon, to see it properly?

Did you feel anything in particular when seeing this vision?

I can show you, if you want. I only got a quick flash of it. When I saw things through the Singularity, it was like it was too much energy. I'd get kicked back out to my body, and then usually I passed out like immediately.

I didn't feel anything special, but I did see an arcana in the sky there. The Moon.

[hm. arcanas. she doesn't think any of the summoned she's seen show up in solvunn since her arrival have borne that arcana. is it relevant to them? to others in abraxas?

is anyone looking into arcanas...? she can't remember.]

I wonder if it was trying to point you towards something, or someone in specific. Someone with The Moon as their arcana.

Has the noise come back at all, even if just briefly?

When we've seen those other places, they have arcanas too. I've seen the Magician, and I know someone else who's seen the same one in a different place. I think the arcanas belong to... the gods, I guess? The gods who live in those places.

[ Julie's assumption is that they're seeing the homes of the specific gods. She doesn't have anything in particular to back that up, but it makes more sense to her than being some kind of directive. ]

No, thank God.

The gods.

[hm… interesting theory, but one that can neither be denied nor proven, at this point. and, if others have experienced something similar, at different points, then maybe it has nothing to do with julie’s “noise” problem in the past.]

Do you know of anyone who has been looking into the arcanas? I don’t think we have a lot of information on that here in Solvunn.

[ Julie has, three times now, seen places that she doesn't understand, all related to the Horizon somehow. Two of them had arcana, and the place Rhy was stuck also had arcana. She doesn't know what they mean, just that they're present. ]

Not here in the Cities either. The arcana here is like the way we did zodiac things back home. It's just like, a fun thing for them. They put the arcanas on jewelry and read horoscopes and stuff. No one takes it seriously.

I know some people in Thorne were trying to figure it out, during the kidnapping. But I don't know who, specifically, or what they found.

I suppose we’ll have to talk to someone in Thorne about it. I won’t tell them about what you’ve told me, though, unless you want me to.

Has the Singularity been any different since then?

Stephen, maybe. I don't trust anyone else in Thorne to know.

[ There is Kyle, but their current relationship is unsteady at best, and he's also so pious that she doesn't know how he might react. ]

It was really, REALLY upset when they were gone. It was kind of clingy for a bit after, until it understood that I wasn't leaving it. It's okay now, though. It's sleeping.

[ There is a pause. And then -- ]

Oh, I guess I should tell you it's always there now. In my head, always connected.

I'm fine.

[there was no doubt in wanda's mind that julie would be fine, as far as anything is concerned regarding the singularity and her. it's interesting, though, to hear about how things have evolved.]

That's changed. As long as you're both alright with that, it should be fine.

[....it was probably really lucky julie wasn't part of the abducted.]

You'll let me know if it ever wakes up?

[ There's another pause. Julie just looks at Wanda's words for a moment, head tilting one way and then the other. Oh. She misunderstands. ]

It'll be up sooner or later. It always is. Probably after dinner. Or maybe before I fall asleep.

[ Did Wanda think Julie meant asleep as in hibernation? She meant asleep like a cat. Mostly sleeping, but also plenty of times it's not asleep.

She can't talk with someone who's asleep. ]

Oh. I see. That's probably a good thing then if it keeps to a routine.
I guess I should rephrase: Don't hesitate to reach out if something's ever amiss in your connection with it.

I won't.

· TO EVERYONE ·

locked to Wanda ONLY

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