TO: EVERYONE [mid-july]

[cryptsleeper]

[ 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! ))

Comments

[funbreaker]

When you wouldn't tell them anything, what was their reaction?

To be honest, I still don't know how Jolene was aware myself. That's a question I'd like the answer to one day.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Annoyed. I wasn't entirely polite about it. They put me back in the dungeon for a few days after the first refusal, but let me out after the second refusal. I think I could have been out sooner if I answered anything, but I had no interest in that.

Hayle is locked off for good now, I assume it'll be a long time before we hear from them again. But maybe some day you'll get to ask her.

[funbreaker]

It could have been much worse. I imagine they decided that the outcry that would have followed if they went so far as to harm you wasn't worth it to them.

In any case, I appreciate the two of you suffering gaol time for us.

Hayle is locked off? How so?

[magicalarchaeologist]

They probably also figure it's not as if you three are far away. Which means you must be prepared for a change of mind down the road. Coming to Nott with a force wouldn't be that difficult.

I think they temporarily locked off during the conflict, but they need those trade routes so they're likely open again by now. I think they may just be more careful about who is let in out of fear of Sidwell. Perhaps he would have sent more of a problem there if he found out Jolene and in extension perhaps Anastasia helped us.

[funbreaker]

True, there's a chance they plan to come collect us at some future date.

[ And if that ends up being the case, Thancred would like to believe he'll be ready for it. He's not wont to let his guard down. ]

That's a detail I don't plan to share with anyone other than who I've already told, if I can help it. Does that mean that the Summoned as a whole are no longer allowed to travel there?

[magicalarchaeologist]

I don't know, but I suspect there are tensions between the locations. Anastasia likely must make peace with the new King, but that doesn't mean she trusts him. Nor would I, in her position. I can't see Sidwell allowing any of us to travel that far right now. Perhaps with time. Everything is tense right now, it doesn't mean forever.

With our knowledge of the possible future, it's interesting to think about how Hayle ended up the only refuge for Thorne, as far up north as it is.

[funbreaker]

Yes, there is something to be said for simply allowing these embers to die down.

It's difficult not to continue thinking of the details from that dream as we try to determine if we're somehow following the same path despite our best efforts. It seems far too early to tell, especially when my memories early on are quite hazy.

[magicalarchaeologist]

I don't remember a coup precisely but there was something that triggered its downfall and the other two dominating it, so it very well could have been similar. I don't think that the future that god showed us is locked in stone, but perhaps some parts of it were strong predictions.

[funbreaker]

I suppose that's possible, though I suspect that some of us, if not all of us, will be taking steps to avert such an outcome.

[magicalarchaeologist]

To avert parts of it, perhaps, but I don't think the general reality of it can be averted. We are changing into supernatural beings with each day we're here.

[funbreaker]

You're right, there's no stopping that given the Singularity's existence here and its effect on us. Which I suppose means that for those of us who don't want to change in that way, we need to find a way home on our own terms if possible.

[magicalarchaeologist]

I think it's best if people are not in denial about what is happening to us. In many ways, I think the vision was a kindness. Wrapped up in terrible reasons, of course, but it alerted us to what was happening, and warned us about where it was going. To not prepare for it would be the wrong reaction.

[funbreaker]

Aye, you make a good point. I would always prefer to have information than to not have it, and one can never be too prepared.

[magicalarchaeologist]

It was all theoretical before. Having confirmation of my suspicions was helpful. I do like being right, even if in this case, it's a complicated kind of right.

[funbreaker]

Take the wins where you can, I suppose.

can wrap on this one! They should meet up in more current time tho

[magicalarchaeologist]

Exactly.