· TO EVERYONE ·

[carmesi]

[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 )

Comments

[magicalarchaeologist]

No one has a full understanding of the Singularity. The people of this world can't get close to it, only we can closer and have access to the Horizon. Some of her assessments were correct.

We have been proven to be connected to the deities of this sphere, we experienced their direct influence over us in October. A few of the Summoned have had further interaction with the gods here, like Wanda and Himeka (who mentioned it above). The gods are also connected to the Singularity and the Horizon. While what the cult did was barbaric, the effort taken to force a vision using their experiment was successful.

Josselyn was not the first person who attempted to 'steal' the Summoned's connection to the Singularity. Thorne tried to do the same thing early on in the Summoning to one of us.

[ AKA it's okay for her to say as much. She's not wrong! ]

[glaciare]

Your patience and understanding is appreciated. Yet I cannot help but feel as if I understand the urge which drove her. Who among us would not view it as a gross injustice to be denied a close connection to the divine in favor of those who simply ended up in our world by a twist of fate? If we wish to prevent this from reoccurring, perhaps we'd be wise to see if the resentment in their hearts can be addressed.

[carmesi]

Whatever inspired Josselyn and her people to act this way had nothing to do with how we treated them. The Summoned in Solvunn are always helpful and we have a good relationship with the natives of the land.

She could have just asked, had she wanted to know more. It’s not like we understand why we have this connection in the first place.

[glaciare]

Do you think they care how they were treated when all they can see is their own gods favoring strangers over them? To be at the mercy of someone else's whims? Josselyn couldn't have be the only one who looked at the Summoned and desired what we have or else she would have had no cult, no support. There is resentment there, regardless of what your relationship with Solvunn may be.

[carmesi]

You're asking your questions to the wrong person, but I will continue to stand by it not being resentment what drove her. Their traditions and beliefs have existed for thousands of years, and we're just a means to an end.

Like most everything else is around here.

[glaciare]

I can only speak for myself, but I will not be a tool for others no matter how deep their personal beliefs are. Better to search to find a way to allow them to contact their gods themselves.

( jill can't find it within herself to accept that her fate here is just to serve as some... half exalted, half envied, divinely connected tool. she will save this world, yes, but if she wished to do it with all the baggage they're implying it comes with she might as well stayed back in her own world. )

[carmesi]

I don't think you have much of a choice, having been summoned here.

[glaciare]

( unfortunately for wanda, she's just stumbled across and then slammed down on what amounts to a large red button that reads "ACTIVATE TRAUMA". jill's writing turns sharp and jagged and less the fine polished script of a lady. )

There is always a choice. That you've made yours so readily does not mean I must as well.

[carmesi]

[hm]

Perhaps this is not a conversation to be had here.

If you aren't in Solvunn, then you won't see much about the Old Gods on a daily basis. Your connection to the Singularity as a Summoned will make you and the rest of us experience things the locals cannot understand. You still have free will, but you don't exist independently from the greater powers of this world.

[glaciare]

I am ever at your disposal for when and where you would like to have it.

Cannot understand, you say. But I have seen nothing that indicates you've tried. Only excuses as to why you are content to act in their stead, even when seeing the cost of such a thing. A connection to a greater power, something divine, does not mean that you can simply do everything for those who can't. That way lies ruin and bloodshed, and while they may embrace you now, it can change with the slightest ill wind.

[carmesi]

Am I being lectured?

[aquaveiled]

It's possible she may have resented us, yes. She isn't really around to tell us any further thoughts on it, though. I think there are always going to be people who see something and want it for themselves no matter what it is.

But Wanda is right, the prevailing sort of vibe from most of the Commune is that we also have some sort of special blessing or relationship with the Gods. And the Gods are connected to the Singularity, at least to them. The devotion to the Gods is ingrained in literally every aspect of life, here. To want to be closer to them is something I feel most people in the Commune can understand.

[glaciare]

Can we aid them in that at all? Not through simply conveying words or doing out best to commune with their gods on their behalf, but find a way to bridge the gap between them and their gods?

[aquaveiled]

I'm not sure. We'd probably want to make sure we understand what their Gods really are before creating that bridge, though. An entire nation in the thralls of an unhinged primal would be...

Well, probably bad! At least not very good.

Not that their Gods are bad, mind you. Some are just very dangerous and whatnot. We had an incident about a year ago where several of their Heralds blighted the land all over the realm.

[glaciare]

That, at least, I can agree on. Though I suppose simply killing them all to free the population from the threat of their influence and allow them to make their own choices is out of the question. For now.

[aquaveiled]

What do you mean, killing the Gods?

[glaciare]

An idle thought, pay it no mind.

( but jill is gonna think about it REAL HARD. )

[aquaveiled]

I'm not sure I would, if at least because I don't think the gods are bad. And we don't know if that's even possible.

🔒 private.

[ofthesword]

[If there every was a giant neon sign that would be attracting Nero's attention... but they're not among people who'd agree. Sorry, god-lovers.]

I don't recognize your name, and you don't gotta trust me, but I've seen what you're dishing out here. If you're in Solvunn, I will say this: don't trust a single native in those colonies. Wanda and Himeka mean well, but they don't know what it's like. They don't know what people devoted to their god are really willing to wait for.

And let's be real. Gods are just monsters with egos.

- Nero

🔒

[glaciare]

Thorne. Though normally I might say 'thankfully', none seem to be without their drawbacks. If you happen across Clive Rosfield and Cidolfus Telamon -- they think as you and I do. It is not an opinion I regret sharing, but I can tell it isn't popular.

[magicalarchaeologist]

I believe I spoke with Josselyn the longest. You are not wrong to guess that there was some resentment with her cult toward us for being closer to their gods simply by existing. It wasn't the driving force of her intentions, she saw us as a means to an end to get what she desired, but I have little doubt that being a true believer would be frustrating to see these newcomers being 'blessed' without faith.

There are always going to be people eager to gain power by any means necessary. But that's not the majority. We should still be cautious.

As for the gods, I don't think they are necessarily malevolent. They're not human so they don't act or think like those of us who are. It doesn't mean their intentions are bad. We are still working on getting to know them.

[glaciare]

Do you believe that time will heal the divisions between us and the natives or cause it to yawn wider? I don't doubt that those in support of the gods here have their reasons, but I can't help but question the wisdom of fulfilling whatever 'divine role' has been set for us. If it is integral to this world... what happens if what we want and what they want end up at odds? Or if we leave -- and take their only connection to the divine with us?

Though my own experience with 'gods' makes me wonder if they are truly so incomprehensible.

[magicalarchaeologist]

To be clear, Solvunn is the only place that is religious. On the whole, Thorne and the Free Cities are not worshippers and would not talk about divine roles. Though the gods are known now. I have a pantheon of the gods in my Horizon library, it has everything that is known about them from the Summoned in Solvunn. High Magic is not trained in either of the other locations either, so even if we wanted to summon or work with a god in the other places, it's impossible.

[ Something he is disappointed about but lives with. ]

There is a theory that some of the gods used to be people like us. This is an unproven theory so it is not widespread yet, and I have been reluctant to put it out there because of that. Finding a way to communicate with them may be the only confirmation or denial we can get on that subject.

From experience, it seems some of the gods communicate through images and feelings, rather than words and thoughts. They aren't incomprehensible, they don't think as we do. Finding a way to bridge the gap is worth trying.

ff16 spoilers just in case.

[glaciare]

I see. Is there a reason Thorne and the Free Cities shun the pantheon and the magic, or is it simply a matter of taste and culture?

I'm not certain relying on those Summoned from Solvunn to confirm or deny your theory is the best option, even if it is currently our only one. But neither would I count myself as unbiased. But if it is true -- I dislike the implications.

Though I will have to trust your experience when it comes to communicating with them. The one 'god' I am familiar with may have fancied themselves as incomprehensible, but by keeping them apart and above humanity only served to be their downfall. They didn't care for the people they communed with, the people that worked to make their god's will real. I fear that the same could be said here.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Taste and culture, mostly. The Free Cities disdains magical reliance so I'm not surprised they also aren't for religious beliefs, in a general way. Thorne probably doesn't enjoy acknowledging power they can't control.

Keep in mind that sometimes conversations here are not the best reflection on people because we're not in person, having a real conversation. I trust Wanda and Himeka to try and communicate with the gods for the greater good and if anyone can get answers from them about our potential 'god' future, it's them.

It's possible, but I very much caution people from bringing their experiences and assumptions to this sphere without more time to understand it. The natives here have their own cultures and beliefs, and it may not be our place to try and change things, even with good intentions.