cryptsleeper: (Default)
Alucard \\ Adrian F. Ţepeş ([personal profile] cryptsleeper) wrote in [community profile] abraxasnet2024-07-18 10:01 pm

TO: EVERYONE [mid-july]

[ The message arrives to the Summoned in two distinct styles of handwriting, indicating that Alucard and Thancred are coordinating the transmission of this important missive in tandem. ]

Apologies for the interruption, but after some time of investigating, Thancred and I have found some interesting information related to a remaining mystery that dates back to the first time many of us experienced the eternal night of Nocwich.

Alucard is granting me far too much credit, please know he’s the one who uncovered this. But yes, for those of you who were here back then, I’m sure you’ve been wondering who was truly behind the attacks on the three Summoned delegates. It’s certainly haunted me, especially given that it led to the attack on Libertas and the subsequent retaliation against Nott.

It turns out that those responsible were a Nocwich faction of Josselyn Creed’s cult, who skillfully were able to manufacture equipment that appeared to originate from the Free Cities, thus appropriately assigning the blame.

It doesn’t excuse the Queen’s lack of a proper investigation before she made assumptions and mounted her attack, but it does give us all some closure. We can’t be entirely certain what the cult’s motives were, but we can speculate.

It is worth noting here that Josselyn’s cult has roots in a more established faith here, one associated with the concept of a New Day and the Page of Pentacles. I first heard the phrase when we were invited into the realm of the Fae, and it concerned me given how much it sounded like something that could be a cult. As it turns out, there are a number of branches throughout Abraxas. Josselyn was able to turn branches towards her own ends, which in turn explains how so many of us were taken when she executed her plan.

To add another branch to this winding tree, a small village associated with Nott called the Old Emberwoods still practices this faith, and there are other similar hamlets scattered throughout Thorne and Solvunn. While they appear to be harmless and practicing an untainted version of the faith, a few of us will be keeping an eye on them all the same out of an abundance of caution.

On top of that, a mage named Oliver is apparently from Old Emberwoods. Only a few of you may recognize that name, but he was one of the mages who helped a group of Summoned escape Thorne about three years past. Beyond that, all I have been able to learn is that he is older than he looks — about a century, all told.


This information was likewise shared with Sten, who some of you may know from Luna. He was kind enough to keep an ear to the ground, and eventually found an old flyer for one of this group’s meetings. When I visited the location in Ikorr earlier this month, I was able to find another flyer that had the impression of a strong hand writing on top of it. Making rubbings revealed the plans as we have just outlined them, thus bringing this information full circle. From the looks of the location, this branch of the cult has not been active since.

We realize this is a lot of information to take in, particularly for those of you who are more newly Summoned. Feel free to ask questions and we’ll answer to the best of our ability. With any luck, this cult will never again rear its ugly head and we have the answer to a question that has been plaguing some of us for quite some time now.

Likewise, we realize that this information may seem pointless given that this faked attack and the responses it garnered offers uncomfortable parallels to our current moment. There’s no true connection between them, and we are sharing this information for the sake of knowledge and closure.

(( ooc: In case it’s not clear, blue font is Alucard and black font is Thancred. Responses will come from one or both of them, and threadjacking is encouraged as there is a lot to discuss here! ))
magicalarchaeologist: (talking to side)

[personal profile] magicalarchaeologist 2024-07-23 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
They portaled into the dungeon? That should be impossible given the magical wards here. Although I suppose they could have strengthened them after the appearance and it was weaker before, but that's still very impressive.

Do you think they used another race's magic? It could account for much of this if so.

Oliver was in the Horizon with her? Or to the Singularity itself in the physical realm?
princessvegas: (014. high on legal marijuana)

[personal profile] princessvegas 2024-07-23 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep. Just stepped out of a portal, unlocked the cells and then told us to follow him through to the courtyard. Oh, and he put Relena back with us first for a few minutes. I guess maybe so she could spread word and we'd be more inclined to go. The wards killed all magic and even natural powers, so I don't know if they changed them after. I didn't stay to find out.

Could be. We didn't see them do enough to really have a good idea. Just freezing the kingdom and portals. Which are big but not like, a lot of info to consider, you know?

Physical Singularity, at least as far as I know. She was almost dead, I don't think she could have gotten to the Horizon. And I don't know if she even knew how to get there from outside the crater, since by then, no one in the dungeons had been able to go back after they got thrown in the first time. I was in the summoning after that.
magicalarchaeologist: (sigh no one listens)

[personal profile] magicalarchaeologist 2024-07-23 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
This is valuable information, I've only heard secondhand about what happened.

You spoke to this Relena? She said that Oliver took her to the Singularity in person? I thought that was impossible outside of the Dimming.

For Oliver to have access to that, I don't know what to make of it. Perhaps Alucard's theory about his relation to the divine is accurate.
princessvegas: (192. til it goes to her head)

[personal profile] princessvegas 2024-07-23 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I never talked to her but I was there, and she told other people. I can't say exactly how close they were though.
magicalarchaeologist: (wait what?)

[personal profile] magicalarchaeologist 2024-07-23 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I see. Thank you for giving us more information, it's illuminating. I don't know how it's possible for Oliver to have gone there without dying.
princessvegas: (222. you just can't help it)

[personal profile] princessvegas 2024-07-23 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure if they were inside the crater itself. Back then, we didn't know much about it to really talk about, and Relena wasn't here much longer after we got out, so she wouldn't have thought to be so specific, I don't think.

But sometimes, it's best to just let a mystery stay a mystery.
magicalarchaeologist: (pic#16570255)

[personal profile] magicalarchaeologist 2024-07-23 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Perhaps. I don't think any of us had intentions on seeking them out again, although I am very interested in how they did all of that, but not enough to look. It appears the discovery of where Oliver is from was secondary to their research on the Nocwich attack, and likely unrelated.
Edited 2024-07-23 18:34 (UTC)
aquaveiled: (himeka-642)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2024-07-23 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Something like that, yes.

Will you lead the charge?
aquaveiled: (himeka-655)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2024-07-23 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Very odd, which makes me think there WAS another motive behind it, but I would rather give the benefit of the doubt.

[ Which is just her default state, but...questioning things! Is improvement! ]

I can name several people who would love to hermit their way into retirement.
aquaveiled: (himeka-544)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2024-07-23 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Bat! That's an important one.

Yes, I have. But we know you're far better at infiltrating and information gathering.


[ YOUR MOVE ]
ordinar: (♛ 051)

[personal profile] ordinar 2024-07-23 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I hope it permanently scared them off from starting more shit.

Well...thanks. Both of you, for looking into all of this.
itookashot: (pic#14855158)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-24 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
Oh I would be happy to. These guns aren't just for show!
demigoth: (016)

[personal profile] demigoth 2024-07-24 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
im sorry sometimes it’s hard for me to read fast enough to keep up. The mage named Oliver from Old Emberwoods, why is he important? I really want to understand what’s going on. ~ Nico
funbreaker: (thancred-court-063)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-27 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
You hardly give yourself enough credit. You have your charm.
funbreaker: (pic#16108642)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-27 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
As far as you know, that is.
funbreaker: (pic#16108686)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-27 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
I can't imagine it would be impossible to keep everyone in Thorne from talking if either one of them was once established in Hayle. In some ways, it feels as if they came out of nowhere.

Mainly, I would be curious to find out what precisely leads to certain mages becoming long-lived.
funbreaker: (pic#16108659)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-27 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
I suppose all we can do for now is speculate, but I'll see what more I can learn. It does feel very much as if they don't wish to be found.
funbreaker: (thancred-court-017)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-27 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
Right. Bat. And wolf. How could I forget?

I suppose I can't argue that. I'll see how else I can put those skills to use.
funbreaker: (pic#16108655)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-27 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think either of us realized it would circle back to this particular mystery, but it is a relief to no longer be left wondering.
funbreaker: (pic#14106057)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-27 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, apologies for such a large amount of text. It was difficult to make any of this concise, especially when we wanted to explain as best we could to those of you who are newer. I believe Alucard covered it all rather well, however.
demigoth: (98)

[personal profile] demigoth 2024-07-27 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds like Oliver is a real hero. Elizabeth too. I think I'm with Julie though. He's kind of earned his retirement, and Thorne probably wasn't too happy with what he did?

Does Thorne like the Summoned now? I've never been there.

It would be nice if he could swing a permanent portal between the Free Cities, Solvunn, and Thorne. If you're reading this too, Oliver, hi. No pressure.
ordinar: (♛ 011)

[personal profile] ordinar 2024-07-27 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
What were you trying to find?
demigoth: (081)

[personal profile] demigoth 2024-07-28 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
You don't have to apologize. I mean thank you, but it's on me.

There's nothing to worry about right now, is there? This is all just information? The Sten person isn't going to be in trouble for telling you?

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