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! ))
itookashot: (pic#14855148)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-19 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
So are we thinking Oliver had something to do with the attack, if he's connected to the cult and all?
earthborn: (Default)

[personal profile] earthborn 2024-07-19 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
What kind of evidence do you have to back all this up?

I'm not doubting your conclusions, but this is important intel— if you have proof, and if you're right, you can't keep this just between the Summoned. If Free Cities is making plans based on a false flag operation, they'll take us to war for no reason.

Or hell, even if they aren't— against the wrong people.
funbreaker: (pic#16108607)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-19 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
The Old Emberwoods doesn't seem to have any direct link to the cult. I believe it would be hasty to jump to such a conclusion.

I would like to know more about Oliver and his connection to the village, however, and I intend to try and ingratiate myself to the people there in hopes of earning their trust and more information. We'll see what comes of it.
itookashot: (inkonic-s-b-s2-jesper-48)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-19 04:08 am (UTC)(link)
They're not likely to admit to being a part of Josselyn's cult, distantly or not, are they?

I've theorized for some time that Oliver and Elizabeth are in the Feywilds. It's too bad we haven't been able to speak with anyone there again.
magicalarchaeologist: (looking to side)

[personal profile] magicalarchaeologist 2024-07-19 12:51 pm (UTC)(link)
For the record, this is not unusual. The High Mages in Thorne have lived centuries without trouble. Their magic sustains them, perhaps he is the same.
princessvegas: (238. people say run don't walk away)

[personal profile] princessvegas 2024-07-19 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Oliver is the best friend the Summoned have ever had. He didn't just free us, he saved Relena's life. He's never asked anything from us, even though there's barely any of us left from that far back to call the favor on.

No one should be digging into him or Elizabeth, whoever they are. We owe them more than we can ever pay back.
itookashot: (KY_166)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-19 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
They might have their own reasons for doing that, Julie, and their own plans. No one does something for nothing.
princessvegas: (018. he looks just like his father)

[personal profile] princessvegas 2024-07-19 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course they do, but they ain't bothered us in three years. Isn't it just as likely that their reasons and plans are about fucking the territories, and freeing us was just an act that lined up with that? You gonna get up in arms defending Thorne's right to throw us in a dungeon and do human experiments on us? Cause that seems to be the only thing they fucked with.
itookashot: (0gLRmjW)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-19 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
I just asked if there could be a connection, I'm not saying let's find them with torches.
princessvegas: (014. high on legal marijuana)

[personal profile] princessvegas 2024-07-19 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
And I'm just saying we shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth just 'cause zebras have hooves too.

Besides, "a new day" is barely a clue. Shit, y'all should hear what pastors back home used to preach would happen after the return of Christ. We heard all the time that it'd be a new day, a new world, blah blah blah.
itookashot: (Rh3clX5)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-19 05:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't really care, I was speculating out of sheer curiosity. It's not surprising to hear the cult or an offshoot of it was beyond something else bad. Seems like them.
aquaveiled: (himeka-643)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2024-07-19 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I'll weigh in, first with I don't think we really have any reason to believe one way or the other. He appeared once three years ago and hasn't been seen or heard of since... it's very mysterious. And we have several mysteries around here.

Still, I am grateful for what he did to set us free and spare Relena's life. Strong as she was, the marks it left on her even after in Solvunn were still there. She was so young.


[ Himeka misses Relena quite a bit. She'd become like a younger sister or daughter in the months they spent together. ]

But I agree we don't know how or why he did it. I like to give the benefit of the doubt, at least. I will say no one in the village that Wanda and I have been monitoring have mentioned him by name.
aquaveiled: (himeka-673)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2024-07-19 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you both for sharing all of this! Even if I hadn't been one of the targets, it's nice to have some answers after so long.
itookashot: (8YMHV24)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-19 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm the suspicious sort so when I see an important name thrown around connected to another thing, makes me wonder if something isn't a coincidence. Doesn't mean it's true. I am a paranoid sod though.
aquaveiled: (himeka-682)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2024-07-19 06:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I've been told more than once I should exercise more caution, so mayhaps I should follow your lead.

I agree that I doubt it's a coincidence. Few things seem to be around here.
gynvael: (435)

private @ thancred & alucard.

[personal profile] gynvael 2024-07-19 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Because that's just how Geralt is, and he has no patience for other people chiming in unwanted. ]

And the Thornean mage?
Are we to assume he fell to them, as well?
itookashot: (KY_74)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-19 07:47 pm (UTC)(link)
There's probably a medium ground we could find between paranoid and trusting.
aquaveiled: (himeka-197)

[personal profile] aquaveiled 2024-07-19 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Who has the luxury of levelheadedness these days?
itookashot: (pic#15664245)

[personal profile] itookashot 2024-07-19 09:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Certainly not me!

Anyway it seems unlikely we'll be able to find the fellow and ask, but it's good to at least have the information around.
ordinar: (♛ 035)

[personal profile] ordinar 2024-07-19 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[That night in Nocwich, the burning of Libertas, the retaliation on Nott — none of it is ever too far from his mind. They come back, like ghosts, at the slightest provocation. He supposes it should make him feel better, having someone to blame for the whole catastrophe.

But the botched protection spell had dealt as much damage as the attack itself.]
So you know who did it, but you don't know where they are now?
funbreaker: (thancred-court-053)

[personal profile] funbreaker 2024-07-19 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Not admit to it, no, but I observed them discreetly for some time. I saw no signs of ill intent. Again, I will be keeping an eye on that village as a precautionary measure.

Why the Feywilds?

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