02-23-2025, 06:43 AM
Reports from the city of Martyr's Vigil vary, though news spread quickly as the faint winter sun remained present over the settlement. Though no ritual was conducted, the controversy sparked by such a thing sent shockwaves through nearby settlements, resulting in intense debate within the city square proper and tension among the non-magi populations of both Gloomlight and Martyr's Vigil. Eventually, a decision was made to postpone and relocate the ritual, to assuage objections raised. Afterwards, the Captain-General retreated to his offices, ostensibly to quote, 'figure out what to do with all the supplies that were saved and allocated in the event something went wrong.'
Civilians interviewed in the aftermath of the incident issued a variety of responses. Some bemoaned the cancellation, citing a desire towards spectating such a feat. Yet more expressed frustration regarding the preparations taken beforehand having been for nothing.
Others were mixed about the plan, considering that it would have been inconvenient to have to step outside city limits to enjoy what little sun the winter provides. Another group expressed relief regarding concerns over more serious complications, calling the ritual reckless.
Oddly, after that day, the streetlamps of the vigil are notably different, radiating a slight warmth and sunnier coloration than the artificial white from before.
Eventually, a missive emerges from the Captain-General's office. Citing various concerns and a lack of trust in the newness of the ritual, the exalted shadow mage declares a relocation to a far-away island as a form of demonstration. His island. Arilator's Landing, uninhabited for decades, in the far reaches of the southern sea.
An apologetic letter is sent north, towards Drakanspire, recognizing the inconvenient timing posed by a baptism, and west to Viritas, noting their art competition. The general assures that the ritual, should any wish to attend, will be set such that prospective attendees can ideally meet both places.
When pressed for comment, the Captain-General issued the following statement:
Civilians interviewed in the aftermath of the incident issued a variety of responses. Some bemoaned the cancellation, citing a desire towards spectating such a feat. Yet more expressed frustration regarding the preparations taken beforehand having been for nothing.
Quote:Golems had to be relocated out of workshops and fields to put runes under the sidewalks, and in the planters. Extra firewood was harvested in case something went wrong with the heating, and rations had been stockpiled. We'd even gotten moved around a bit in case something went wrong. All that for a spectacle we've never seen before, and a bit of yelling from nosey know-nothing outsiders has the city bending? Other countries are laughing at us, or think we're stupid or something. What a joke.
Others were mixed about the plan, considering that it would have been inconvenient to have to step outside city limits to enjoy what little sun the winter provides. Another group expressed relief regarding concerns over more serious complications, calling the ritual reckless.
Quote:What if the spirits got angry and attacked us, or it got freezing cold from it? What if the fields all died out, or it spread over the farms and ruined them in some way? Sure, the captain general says he's got it all figured out, but he's no nature mage. He's for sure able to do it, but how does he know things will work out? Besides, it's dark enough as it is in the winter! We don't need more! All that prepwork could have been spent on something else. What's more, he's gone and pissed off our neighbors with it. It's just embarrassing.
Oddly, after that day, the streetlamps of the vigil are notably different, radiating a slight warmth and sunnier coloration than the artificial white from before.
Eventually, a missive emerges from the Captain-General's office. Citing various concerns and a lack of trust in the newness of the ritual, the exalted shadow mage declares a relocation to a far-away island as a form of demonstration. His island. Arilator's Landing, uninhabited for decades, in the far reaches of the southern sea.
An apologetic letter is sent north, towards Drakanspire, recognizing the inconvenient timing posed by a baptism, and west to Viritas, noting their art competition. The general assures that the ritual, should any wish to attend, will be set such that prospective attendees can ideally meet both places.
When pressed for comment, the Captain-General issued the following statement:
Quote:The accusations and claims of disastrous effects upon the environment and local populace are, while from a place of concern to the good of the many, assuredly something that would remain unrealized. I assure all that consultation was made with local officials and plans lain within the bounds of the ritual, with season and opinion taken into account. The statement from the court regarding the non-magi is formally denounced; if the honorable sorcerer is going to lay insult, at least be accurate.
However, the concerns of the international community are to be recognized.
Martyr's Vigil was considered a safe locale to perform such a low level feat. Though I would have preferred to grant a tranquil night upon the Vigil, I understand that to some, the proposed events would have seemed frightening or malignant. Let this assuage those concerns.
Given the doubts, and the relative newness and novelty of such a ritual, I will be conducting this process on Arilator's Landing. The island is owned by my family, and holds no denizens whatsoever for many years. It is isolated from the rest of the continent by a great distance, possesses basically nothing of note in terms of flora and fauna due to it's diminutive size, and is conveniently out of the way of migratory wildlife patterns. At this time of year, it's quite barren and cold. Though the ritual's scope remains as small as it was over the vigil, so even if thus were present, it is predicted the timing and scale would cause no long term effect.
This does not come free, of course.
In such a relatively uncontrolled and utterly undeveloped environment, and without the same degree of runework set in stone and metal, alongside infrastructure support, I anticipate complications to arise that would not have been present in the far more well prepared Martyr's Vigil. I would advise participants be prepared for some measure of danger, given the wildness of the location. Though, given the scope of the ritual, and thorough knowledge of a place I called home for many years, any danger is predicted to be more disruptive than truly threatening.
On a positive note, the instability and rushed nature of such a thing stresses potential failure-points upon the ritual, and strains preventative measures. While it will not be indicative of the ritual that was to be done over the vigil, per the abovementioned points, this will doubtless provide some interesting observations and valuable data as a result.
If any have questions or concerns, I invite that they be visited well in advance, rather than directly as it is about to begin. Then again, I doubt many will care what an old man does in his back yard.
- Grey Aundeoth
DATE: Sunday, 2/23/2025
LOCATION: Arilator's Landing (912, 22, 1)
TIME: 2PM EST
https://chronicles-of-eternia.com/forum/thread-219-post-110527.html#pid110527
Credit: littlefirebird
![[Image: 9l6auq.jpg]](https://i.imgflip.com/9l6auq.jpg)
(I want you to know that this shitpost got an audible laugh out of me and really helped raise my mental, which was pretty worn at the time. Thank you.)
LOCATION: Arilator's Landing (912, 22, 1)
TIME: 2PM EST
https://chronicles-of-eternia.com/forum/thread-219-post-110527.html#pid110527
Credit: littlefirebird
(I want you to know that this shitpost got an audible laugh out of me and really helped raise my mental, which was pretty worn at the time. Thank you.)