#[Ebon Gate-Prime] Storyline Summary & Credits

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ember epoch
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Summary - Part 1
Draugr across Evermore Hollow anxiously anticipated the coming of Vistix Akrath, a lord of some sort who had not been seen in the area for several years. Vistix Akrath Yvalyst welcomed everyone to his manor found in the Winterbriar neighborhood and hosted the annual costume contest as well as a ball.

It was at this ball where he met and fell in love with the beautiful Yraelia, eldest daughter of the widowed owner of the shop, Nightfire Brews. A whirlwind romance followed, with Akrath proposing a marriage to take place on the 6th of Jastatos, just before midnight, a date and time he claimed was auspicious. Many adventurers who were visiting in disguise expressed suspicions and concerns amongst themselves, but never to Yraelia or her mother, Tasthera, or her sister, Samyrha.

While bride was somewhat late to her own wedding, she did appear, and soon, Jehckle had the happy couple wed and shooed off for their first night of marital bliss. After the nuptials ended and the couple had left, guests were interrupted in their revelry by haunting visions and ghostly accusations for lack of action.

Several people were worried, including Yraelia's family, but the couple made a few appearances that assuaged some concerns. Unfortunately, Akrath exhibited an unfortunate tendency toward impatience, upsetting his bride at a dinner party she threw. After he left angrily, it was discovered there was a room she was not allowed in, and everyone convinced her they should have a tour of the manor, including this forbidden room. She felt it harmless, since he had told her it was because of its state of disarray, and the guests offered to help her restore the room and hopefully his good temper.

Alas, it was not to be. The locked room had all the makings of a summoning chamber as well as a series of severed heads sitting on a shelf. Soon after entering, the door slammed shut, and the room went dark, trapping everyone inside. When they were released, Yraelia was gone, and numerous individuals reported horrific visions.

The next week was spent in fruitless searching by Tasthera and Samyrha, as well as the adventurers invested in Yraelia's health; the Vistix was nowhere to be seen, and his manor was tightly closed against visitors. Finally, several days after Yraelia's disappearance, the manor mysteriously opened its doors. All within experienced more horrific visions and voices, and it began to appear as if the Vistix had perhaps had a hand in his wife's disappearance and in trapping these spirits within his home.

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Summary-Part 2
When Akrath finally did appear, he beside himself with rage at the opening of the manor, and he accused the adventurers of causing the issues, issues he steadfastly refused to elaborate upon. It would later be clear that he worked under a mighty geas, but while some may have suspected, none knew for certain. Pressed to provide something, Akrath stated a ritual would need to occur the next night to solve his issue; he needed help from those present if they would give it; he left in anger.

On the night of the ritual, numerous individuals gathered, including Samyrha and Tasthera. Akrath led them to the garden, which had been inaccessible all day while he prepared for his ritual. At long last, he addressed Samyrha. She shared the most blood with Yraelia, being her full sister. He implored her and proclaimed his love for his wife. Samyrha was won over and defied her mother to participate in the ritual.

All present were admonished by Akrath not to interrupt the ritual once it was under way, no matter what they saw or heard.

Unfortunately, one persistent woman insisted on attempting to attack Akrath not just once, but twice, and succeeded in disturbing the salt circle. And just like that, the ritual was broken, and chaos ensued. A figure pulled itself from within Akrath, an imposing ghostly man exuding what most would define as pure evil. With hardly any thought, he used magic to immobilize all in the garden and behead Samyrha. He called forth his last bride, a headless spectre who brought with her the captive Yraelia. Yraelia's fate mirrored her sister's as the figure taunted Akrath before pulling him down through the earth.

The ancient vistix crowed about his success, leaving to further his studies. As he left, undead creatures poured into the garden, and a battle ensued. When it was over, the manor was once again impervious to entry, and the survivors were left to contemplate their actions, while the heartbroken mother, now without both daughters, fled home in agony.

Soon thereafter, the witches Hehckle and Jehckle felt the disturbance and came to share what they knew. It is from this visit that those present learned of the evil of the original vistix and how his progeny contains his essence, his evil, and protects Evermore. How, every hundred years as reckoned by the Living, the current vistix must find true love and live for a year in the manor, to re-infuse the very walls of the house with the power of true love. And how, now, the geas, the spell, the entrapment of this evil, it is all gone.

The consequences of the failed ritual may echo across Naidem yet, but for now, all appears, for the moment, still. The fate of the already unliving sacrificed this day remains unknown, but no hint of them remains in Naidem.

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Credits

  • GM Xynwen wrote "The Last Wedding of Vistix Akrath," a Draugr fairy tale with roots in their former dark elven lives. This served as the loose basis for the storyline.
  • The storyline outline itself was a joint effort between APM Thandiwe and GMs Casil, Elysani, and Xynwen with several pivots based off player actions, responses, and spur of the moment "wouldn't this be better if" thoughts
  • The glory of Yvalyst Manor was painted by GM Elysani off of loosely given ideas by GM Xynwen

Cast of Characters

  • Akrath Yvalyst, the Vistix: GM Casil
  • Yraelia, the Bride: GM Elysani
  • Tasthera, the Mother: GM Thandiwe
  • Samyrha, the Sister: GM Xynwen
  • Henshor, the Head: GM Marstreforn
ember epoch
ember epoch
ember epoch
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Here's the end part of the summary had you let it all play out (and I'll post the full ritual in a few as soon as I clean it up for non-GM consumption): ```[Success: Choosing to obey, the onlookers let the ritual take place, and while it looked as if he may kills Samyrha, still, they watched; they watched, and they were rewarded. As the ritual drew to a close, Yraelia appeared. Unbound by any geas, Yraelia explained what her husband did not, indeed, could not. Akrath was the next in a long line of vistixes who had to take on the burden of imprisoning an ancient vistix who sacrificed many brides (and others) in the pursuit of eternal life, necromantic expertise, and demonology. Once every hundred years, the current vistix must return to Yvalyst Manor and renew the wards. This involves bringing a bride of true love and living for a year and a day there. Akrath's father unexpectedly passed his burden on to Akrath mere months before the century was up, and it fell to Akrath to find true love. He was lucky and met Yraelia in the nick of time, but the days after their wedding were so taken with others, he never got time alone to share his curse with her, for that was the one exception to the geas -- the bride of truest love may know.

And thus, a great evil (minus a few escaped severed heads) was contained yet again, by true love and the trust of strangers.]

upper glacier
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Thank you for sharing the alternate ending! While my character was rather displeased with how things played out, personally I always have to root for the evil outcome out of sheer principle alone. I wasn't able to participate in all nights of the storyline but did enjoy the ones I made it to.

inner vale
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Yeah thank you for having multiple paths and thank you for letting us "lose"

violet talon
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I'm glad we got the happy ending, where the ancient deathless evil was freed from his unjust prison.

atomic rock
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Wow - just read through it. Incredible story. Its enough to spur me to start participating in events like this (timing is always difficult for me)! 👏

ember epoch
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The full ritual for posting – NOTE – THIS DID NOT OCCUR, this is just the player-friendly draft of what would have happened with the other path!

Unused Ritual Summary - Part 1
Akrath holds Samyrha's right arm over the basin in one hand, taking his pentacle-inset dagger in the other and making a deep slash across her forearm.

Samyrha gasps involuntarily, closing her eyes in pain.
(injure Samyra's right arm)

Blood freely flows from Samyrha's arm into the basin.

THIS IS WHERE AKRATH WAS TACKLED….we let it go once, but we couldn't let it go twice

With a quick, fluid motion, Akrath grasps her other arm and swiftly makes a second, deep slash.
(injur Samyrha's left arm)

Samyrha cries out in pain, tears running down her still-resolute face.

Akrath to Samyrha
=advise I am going to let go of you now. Do not bother to run. It will not work.
=instruct Hold your arms over the basins and do not move.
=stress :serious If you move, you will get hurt.

Akrath gazes steadily at Samyrha, his eyes focused and full of determination. Akrath slowly releases his grip on her arms. She holds them steady above the basin, blood splashing into it at regular intervals.

Akrath quickly draws the knife across his palm, a wince playing across his eyes as crimson blood wells up from the deep incision. For a moment, something dark passes across Akrath's gaze, and he fights it back with effort until his countenance is as it was before.
(injure Akrath's hand)

Akrath forms a tight fist over the basin, his blood forced out in thick droplets, where it falls into the basin to intermingle with Samyrha's. He begins to chant, voice deep and husky, in an unrecognizable tongue that bears a slight resemblance to Dark Elven.

Panicked whispers and cries emanate from the vicinity of the house. You hear a chorus of voices cry in despair, "Killing us. Killing us. Killing us."

His chanting abruptly ceases, and Akrath immerses his dagger's blade in the basin of blood. He roughly grabs Samyrha's arm and squeezes, causing more of the sanguine liquid to fall upon his stained blade, the metallic aroma heavy in the air.

Samyrha looks deathly pale but holds steady, slumping only slightly when Akrath releases his grip on her.

Akrath points his dagger at the pentacle tip holding the fairy primrose.
Reciting
With this blood, I here renew
The enchantment bound between me and you
Hear me, spirits, and hear me well
Your secrets I shall never tell.

Blood drips from the dagger, splattering the petals of the fairy primrose in its garish hues.

Akrath momentarily appears to split, to exist almost as two individuals superimposed upon one another, but with visible effort and a muttered, "No!" the vision disappears with an audible SNAP, and he is as he always was.

Akrath extends his arm, pointing his dagger at the nightshade as blood trickles down the fingers of his opposite hand.
Reciting
Sorcerous intent meets protective care
Return to me that which is fair.

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Unused Ritual Summary - Part 2
The tip of the dagger pierces the nightshade bloom, and a shriek from a window high above echoes across the garden. The woman's voice cries out, "No, no, let me go!"

Akrath to Samyrha :frantic =insist We need more blood–now!

Shivering weakly, Samyrha presses her hands against her injuries, urging more blood to spill upon Akrath's outheld blade.

Akrath points to the alyssum, droplets of crimson falling about it. A wild cackling fills the air.
Recite
Held by sacrifice, kept by love
I renew this now with fresh resolve.

Samyrha sways, arms falling to her lap and staining her dress.

Akrath tightly grabs Samyrha's limp arm and wipes the flat of his blade across one cut, renewing its bloodied sheen. He turns slightly to point his dagger at the amaranth.
Recite
Bound together for love so true
this sacrifice I give for you.

With a faint moan, Samyrha falls to the ground, curled about the basin. She looks deathly pale, but she is still visibly breathing.

Akrath dips his dagger in the basin another time before touching the bloody tip to the mournbloom.
Recite
In grief is power, we mourn with thee
Return my love, so mote it be.

A bone-vibrating hum fills the air as Akrath stops reciting. The air fairly crackles with power as he dips his dagger one final time in the basin and traces lines between each flower, leaving blood in the wake.

Ghostly voices frantically murmur, pleading staining their desperate tones, "No, no, we are almost trapped. Save us!"

Crimson blood runs down the exterior of the manor, and unholy shrieks pierce the air.

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Unused Ritual Summary - Part 3
(pause here…last chance they will have to stop it)

Bowing his head, Akrath murmurs more words in that unusual, melodic language heard at the start of the ritual. As he finishes, he drops the dagger into the basin and gently holds Samyrha's hand.

Akrath yells, "IT IS DONE! RETURN HER!"

Voices shriek, "No…no….no…." as the coneflowers strewn about the area rise up and begin to swirl in a colorful tornado of blossoms. In their midst, a feminine shape takes form.

An imposing figure forces itself out of Akrath's form, causing him to curl inward for a moment before standing tall again. Fleetingly, the two figures, alike in noble brow, stare at one another. Then Akrath growls with anger and shouts, "You are contained!" and the form abruptly snaps itself back into Akrath and disappears.

The storm of coneflower blossoms dissipates and disappears as Yraelia falls to the ground from its midst.

Several heads swoop by shouting gleefully, "You got the old Vistix, you got the rest of us, but we hid! We are free!" They disappear into the night.

The manor shudders and settles, and a general sense of peace fills the air.

ALL OF US: We can now RP it out…welcoming Yraelia back, Samyrha being weak and needing to be healed. At some point – Yraelia will need to tell the story about his geas, as she learned of it and is not bound.

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And there you have...the ritual you missed. I mean, I wrote poetry and used meaningful flowers, so I figured I should share so it wasn't all gone to waste!

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Xynwen was invisible in the room holding this: a body bag

l in bag
In the body bag you see an imposing figure, a headless body and a pair of headless bodies.

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For those that missed things: a large pentacle centered within the briar-bound garden in your left hand. G>l pent Etched deeply into the garden's grass is an oversized pentacle outlined in tiny obsidian stones. At each point, different flowers have been laid -- alyssum, amaranth, fairy primrose, mournbloom, and nightshade. A wide swath of salt encircles the pentacle, and dozens of colorful coneflowers are strewn about as well. An obsidian basin rests at the center.

alpine nacelle
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Thank you for posting both versions!

ember epoch
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G>l basin
Set directly in the center of the pentacle, the obsidian basin is covered in silver-filled runes incised along the exterior.```
upper glacier
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Wow, what a lovely ritual. I'm really sorry we missed seeing it play out as it was written.

I mean.. go go team evil!

ember epoch
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The body of Samyrha lies just outside the pentacle, her severed head resting a few paces away.```
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>l bodies in bag
The headless body of Yraelia lies draped across the corpse of Samyrha, both heads resting a few paces away and staring blankly at their surroundings.```
glossy lark
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Thank you for sharing both versions..

tribal void
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I'm sorry I missed it and that all your poetry and flowers went to waste, Xynwen. Thank you for sharing it and the new wiki page, both great reads.

glossy lark
ember epoch
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You mean the ambient messaging we were doing during the events? Any and all of us.

glossy lark
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Well they were very persuasive:)

urban stump
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Yeah, any and all of us spent time sending voices telling anyone who showed up to stop him or help him or both, throughout the week and at events.

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They were certainly trying to be!

ember epoch
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Elysani and Casil get the most credit for the personalized spooky storyline messages. They really killed it!

glossy lark
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The spooky messages were awesome well done. It was hard to go against the group on this one.. the backlash is going to be rough.. I am sorry not sorry?

urban stump
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I think Kiki is still mad about the beheaded husband one.

ember epoch
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the beheaded spouse ones were awesome

viral karma
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I should sell that crimson glass necklace thing as a souvenir.

ember epoch
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you should! It was great

quick imp
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hmm.. so next year, do we get to kill the "great evil"?

alpine cloak
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There's a great evil? Weird, how'd that happen

quick imp
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And thus, a great evil (minus a few escaped severed heads) was contained yet again, by true love and the trust of strangers.] This evil.. (since this part didn't happen so that means the evil was not contained)

digital rain
alpine cloak
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idk it's probably Grishom Stone again, dude gets around