Although anyone can join, this thread was created at the request of The Kindred and the Cult of Lycholme. One group seeks to release an ancient dwarven lich upon Ecetopia while the other seeks to destroy the ancient evil. The setting is the subcontinent of Rzail, where most things are dead and living is difficult. There have been rumors of bones shambling over the dunes, but so far nothing definitive has been revealed.

In order to not make this an immediate race to the boss, I decided to just start off with a clue and we can go from there.

Pings:

• Kindred: @Silvan Haven, @Lyla, @coyotelovely, @Ashevelendar, @Arawak, @t2wave
• Cult of Lycholme: @Pyromaniacwolf, @JaceBeleren, @Sophrus, @Overlord Thraka, @Circ

Now what fun would this be without some kind of prize to for the victors?! So ... !!!

If the Cult win, they'll get:

• Karnorouni

If the Kindred win, they'll get:

• Ez-Lye Shrine

If a third party comes in and wins, they get to choose from either of the prizes.

---

Name: Karnorouri
Species: Dwarf
Class: Lich
Type: Critical NPC; cannot be auto-killed, must be treated with the same respect as a player character; may be played by any member of the possessing group.
Influence: 5 (global); while not incredibly powerful himself, Karnorouri is able to grant considerable boons upon his allies.

Description: Weak from his long imprisonment, Karnorouri is hesitant to abandon the protection of his familiar subterranean abode. Instead, he elects to act through proxies. Eventually, he hopes, through sacrifice and ritual he will be restored to his former glory. In the meantime, he sits in the dark on a throne of stone, an dwarf of an age beyond reckoning, in tattered gray robes. Even so, he is quite capable of empowering those who act on his behalf.

Abilities, Talents, Traits, Powers:

• ^{( 6 )} Word: True Undeath -- Karnorouri may restore to full vitality and power any slain ally regardless of the extent or length of their injuries. Their wounds will still be visible and horrid. Their sanity will be briefly frayed by the terrors of the realm of the dead and the agony of their dark resurrection.

• ^{( 5 )} Word: Tenuous Obscura -- Karnorouri may cast an aura of darkness on an ally allowing them to, for up to an hour during the day or an entire evening, pass through physical objects or have physical objects pass through them. While under this effect, parts of their body, up to the whole, that they choose to become insubstantial will visually appear as a black fog.

• ^{( 5 )} Lich -- His soul bound to an ancient holy site, Karnorouri drew on its power to ensure his immortality and transformed into a lich. With that comes the standard lich fare, such as immunity to the wiles of mortality, such as common diseases, time, drowning, and air temperature. Moreover, he can animate the skeletons of those weak-willed in life and send them out to do his bidding.

---

Name: Ez-Lye Shrine
Class: Holy Site
Type: Critical Point; this bonus territory does not count against the three critical points the group is allocated upon creation.
Influence: 5 (global).

Description: A cave deep within the mountains of Ez-Lye that houses bioluminescent vegetation and a subterranean pool fed by a crack in the ceiling. Discovered by druids while Ecetopia was yet young, for centuries it served as a natural sanctuary of worship and healing.

Abilities, Talents, Traits, Powers:

• ^{( 6 )} Soul Anchor -- Those who come in peace may establish a soul anchor with the power to restore their spirits to their bodies should they suffer death. However, to be made whole their remains, no matter the wretchedness of their condition, must be brought to the shrine and mended.

• ^{( 5 )} Ward Against Calamity -- Meditation within the shrine will avail visitors with an aura that can be converted into a barrier. Multiple individuals working in harmony may expand the barrier to gird an entire city under the mantle of its protection. Through this no evil may enter and no harm may come, but it lasts only so long as nature's energy is actively channeled.

• ^{( 5 )} Holy Site -- Released from the taint of Karnorouri and purified, this site is once more holy. As such, no evil may enter. For those pure in soul who venture within its boundaries, no lies may be told nor any crimes committed. Similarly, disease, fatigue, worry, and all the ills of the outside world are suspended, allowing the entrant to recover until they are ready to again take up their burdens and venture out into the world beyond.

Would be a good idea to have a defined map for Ecetopia? There are enough determined locations to make a start, at least, and as this continues to grow it'll get confusing fast.

Btw, Shiluuki will be joining the Kindred, so you can add her in there if you want.

Also, depending on what another mod other than Circ says, maybe Zhul can also be in the Cult (just not being able to fight until Tier 5 permission for the public is available)

The Lich has to go, it is of great danger to the continued existence of ecetopia.

I don't know how I said that with a straight face.

It's almost as if it would require some great activity inducing quest.

Would be a good idea to have a defined map for Ecetopia? There are enough determined locations to make a start, at least, and as this continues to grow it'll get confusing fast.

If you make one, I'll use it.

@Rilla Not my forte, but I'll see if I can make it happen. So we've got New Bastion and Riverdale on the mainland, and this subcontinent, Rzail, which has Doch Mol, aboroginals, possibly somewhere called Eceterum Alacis, and which is otherwise a generally unpleasant place. Did I miss anything?

Hopefully I did that right.

@Rilla Not my forte, but I'll see if I can make it happen. So we've got New Bastion and Riverdale on the mainland, and this subcontinent, Rzail, which has Doch Mol, aboroginals, possibly somewhere called Eceterum Alacis, and which is otherwise a generally unpleasant place. Did I miss anything?

Eceterum Alacis is just the name of a university which could be in New Bastion or Riverdale or wherever we want.

Hopefully I did that right.

I thought your post was fine, although it isn't clear to me exactly where on Ecetopia she is. Some place with trees. o_O

@Circ I have a relative position in a relative sub-continent of a relative continent of a planet in relative space. :P I shall attempt to clarify based on what @Silvan Haven told me.

We were planning on doing the initial ruin exploration quest for this storyline in the main topic since this topic is for the subcontinent.

I blame @Circ. You and your confusing helpfulness.

We were planning on doing the initial ruin exploration quest for this storyline in the main topic since this topic is for the subcontinent.

I blame @Circ. You and your confusing helpfulness.

So should I move my post?

For the sake of keeping everyone together. Yes, please do.

Are char submissions fine yet?

Are char submissions fine yet?

I'm not sure I follow. If you have an approved character in Expanding Horizons you can jump in.

I think I'll be adding King Eagalius to the mix as his own separate party. What do you guys think?

Actually no, I won't.

@Circ

Sorry I just want to make sure I have this right.
This is a jump in for anyone?
Are the rumours of what lay hidden enough of a hook for outside characters?
Are we waiting on anything in particular to begin or can we post when ready?

Thanks!
This should get interesting.

@Dark Light can't answer all the questions, but I think we are waiting for stuff to happen in other threads before this one starts.

@Dark Light

This is a jump in for anyone? Yes.

Are the rumours of what lay hidden enough of a hook for outside characters? As Ecetopia is a magical planet, I would think there might be more interest/mainstream coverage of archaeology, especially an inscription that mentions a seer, so the hook should be sufficient.

Are we waiting on anything in particular to begin or can we post when ready? You can post whenever you want.