Search for the Arcanum
A peaceful day in Andras was suddenly interrupted by a great booming sound that echoed across the land, reverberating from the mountain peaks around Azmarin. Over the next few days, Woolynes everywhere suddenly started to lose their memories. The Arcanum, an ancient group of powerful Woolyne who tested the limits of Lyss and was rumored to practice forbidden magics, was responsible for the deed. They claimed that pushing the limits of Sol Lyss had rebounded, and sent its effects across all of Andras. They stressed that the effect was likely just temporary and with help from their friends and loved ones, the memories would soon return.
Lorelei, a Duchess of the Amiyn Court, and a student at Aerilon in Azmarin, was not convinced by The Arcanum's claims of Sol Lyss. After spying a group of Woolyne bearing cloaks with odd symbols of them, she sensed heavy traces of Void Lyss. Gripped by her own suspicion, Lorelei pursued the three cloaked strangers. Along the way, she drew her own conclusions that The Arcanum's spell had not been Sol, but instead Void Lyss- forbidden time-altering Void Lyss- and the three she was pursuing were indeed apart of the lying Arcanum. She confronted the Arcanum followers, and they aggressively lashed out at her in defense, furthering Lorelei's suspicion that The Arcanum was covering up for an illegal spell.
Lorelei was missing for weeks as she followed the three Arcanum followers from Azmarin, to Seawynne, to Fenmoore, then all the way past Aldlight and up to the coast around Myrkka. Her absence did not go unnoticed. Worried about her missing friend, Princess Rue called on those willing to help find the Duchess, which she knew was related to The Arcanum's spell backfire.
The search party scoured the land in search, traded gossip, and researched what they could on the mysterious Arcanum. Finally, the search party met up with Lorelei near Myrkka, just as she was on the brink of an all-out final battle with the three Arcanum followers she had been chasing. Together, Lorelei and the search party took down the Arcanum followers, and brought them back to the Amiyn Court for trial. The three refused to speak of or confirm their use of forbidden lyss, and no one else from The Arcanum showed up to defend or deny. Until a decision could be reached on their fate, they were thrown in a high security prison in Azmarin. Lorelei returned to school safely, and Princess Rue and Pandora thanked those in the search party for their bravery. Andras was safe again, for now....
Lorelei, a Duchess of the Amiyn Court, and a student at Aerilon in Azmarin, was not convinced by The Arcanum's claims of Sol Lyss. After spying a group of Woolyne bearing cloaks with odd symbols of them, she sensed heavy traces of Void Lyss. Gripped by her own suspicion, Lorelei pursued the three cloaked strangers. Along the way, she drew her own conclusions that The Arcanum's spell had not been Sol, but instead Void Lyss- forbidden time-altering Void Lyss- and the three she was pursuing were indeed apart of the lying Arcanum. She confronted the Arcanum followers, and they aggressively lashed out at her in defense, furthering Lorelei's suspicion that The Arcanum was covering up for an illegal spell.
Lorelei was missing for weeks as she followed the three Arcanum followers from Azmarin, to Seawynne, to Fenmoore, then all the way past Aldlight and up to the coast around Myrkka. Her absence did not go unnoticed. Worried about her missing friend, Princess Rue called on those willing to help find the Duchess, which she knew was related to The Arcanum's spell backfire.
The search party scoured the land in search, traded gossip, and researched what they could on the mysterious Arcanum. Finally, the search party met up with Lorelei near Myrkka, just as she was on the brink of an all-out final battle with the three Arcanum followers she had been chasing. Together, Lorelei and the search party took down the Arcanum followers, and brought them back to the Amiyn Court for trial. The three refused to speak of or confirm their use of forbidden lyss, and no one else from The Arcanum showed up to defend or deny. Until a decision could be reached on their fate, they were thrown in a high security prison in Azmarin. Lorelei returned to school safely, and Princess Rue and Pandora thanked those in the search party for their bravery. Andras was safe again, for now....
Part 1: The Search
Intro"Thank you all for joining me."
The delicate voice is just loud enough for the crowded tavern to hear. The spread of Woolyne gathered around the hooded one at the front of the bar perk their ears and adjust their stances, eager to listen further. The previous muttering and murmuring falls to almost complete silence. Slowly, the Woolyne at the head of the room removes their hood, revealing a billowing movement of stark white hair. The majority of the room watches, some seemingly surprised, and others not. The Woolyne clears her throat. "I'm sure you are all aware of the distress caused by the Arcanum recently," Princess Rue begins.... 
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...A wave of voices answer her, all in agreement and all in unfriendly tones. Despite the Arcanum owning up to their spell's mistake, their public image had nearly shattered. The spell's effects had mostly settled, but unfortunately, some Woolyne were still recovering from their memory loss, and many still making up for lost business.
Rue nodded at their voices, continuing, "Since that day of the great booming sound, my dear friend, Lorelei, a Duchess of the Amiyn court, has been missing. I had been looking forward to her visit home from her studies in Azmarin, yet she never arrived." Voices in the room sounded up again, sounding confused and interested and concerned all at once in a wave of noise. Rue lifted her chin, realizing she had been looking somewhat downward. She pressed on among the crowd's babble.... |
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...."I have sent word for her, sent messengers personally for her, sent servants to find her- all have said the same. She has been missing since the day of the Arcanum's spell backfiring. Her teachers and fellow students have not seen her in class or in the halls, and her boarding room is completely untouched. I am greatly worried."
Rue let her eyes scan the crowded tavern, attempting to put on an appeasing face. The room had quieted again. "Please, I am asking for answers, and for help finding the Duchess. The Arcanum have sworn to have no hand in this, but I do not trust them." As she spoke, she began to clench her fists in frustration at her sides. "I would go looking for her myself, but I am not allowed to leave Aldlight currently. I have voiced my concern, yet the court has not acted. I fear time is short."... |
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...Raising her arms, Rue suddenly began to speak even louder than she had been, announcing, "I ask you all to aid me in finding Lorelei, and aid me in finding the answers we deserve from the Arcanum. Those who pay a helping paw will be rewarded. Please, be safe, and please, find the Duchess."
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Backstory
"The day of the booming sound caused by the Arcanum spell backfiring, I was just outside Azmarin, and on my way to the port to begin a journey home to Aldlight. The moment it happened, I knew it was a massive amount of untamed void lyss- I could feel it hanging in the air. Before I could head back to Azmarin, I noticed a group of suspicious Woolyne hurriedly making their way to the port to catch the ferry to Seawynne. I could feel the void lyss seeping off of them, the same energy that was still lingering around us. I immediately knew they were tied to the incident, and I followed them in haste onto the ferry with little thought…”
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Part 2: The Battle
It was the edge of twilight in a rocky, mountainous part of the Andras mainland just south of the mysterious ruins of Myrkka. Your dedicated research- and perhaps simple fate- led you here, where you stand staring at the cloaked figure you appear to have startled. You feel awestruck in a way, since out of all the other Woolyne, it was you who found her. It was you who found the missing Duchess Lorelei, finally, after your long search led you to this time and place.
Lorelei removes her hood, her purple Amiyn horn glowing in the dim light and further confirming that it really is her in front of you.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Lorelei demands.
You explain yourself- the call to action from Princess Rue herself, the desperate search, and the answers needed from the Arcanum. Then you feel confused, wondering why Lorelei does not appear to be kidnapped, or in any sort of danger at all. She looks completely unharmed. You question her then, emphasizing how many have been looking for her.
"It's just like Rue to make this big of a fuss," Lorelei says, half to herself. Then she looks you hard in the eyes. "We don't have much time. I'll tell you the short truth, since you are in this with me now, whether you like it or not."
You startle, wondering what she means by that, but you fail to get a word in before she continues.
"The truth is, I have been both fleeing from and chasing after Arcanum followers since the day of the spell backfire. The Arcanum may have acknowledged their mistake publicly, however, they did not admit to the use of lyss that is forbidden. I quickly became aware of their usage of such a massive amount of time-altering void lyss- that which is illegal to cast- and I attempted to follow and confront some followers. I was threatened and attacked by them for doing so, leading me to flee and search for answers while they hunted me. In our game of Felistra and Sootmus, I managed to get them to lead me to a hideout, which is where we are now. I have been in a stalemate here with them for over two days."
You blink in surprise at her. An Arcanum hideout? Here? You feel yourself brewing with new questions.
Lorelei sees you attempting to process the information. "Now that you're here, you have to help me. There's three of them around here somewhere, and they're all too aware of my presence, but you might be a surprise. I hope you have some fighting ability in you."
Lorelei removes her hood, her purple Amiyn horn glowing in the dim light and further confirming that it really is her in front of you.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Lorelei demands.
You explain yourself- the call to action from Princess Rue herself, the desperate search, and the answers needed from the Arcanum. Then you feel confused, wondering why Lorelei does not appear to be kidnapped, or in any sort of danger at all. She looks completely unharmed. You question her then, emphasizing how many have been looking for her.
"It's just like Rue to make this big of a fuss," Lorelei says, half to herself. Then she looks you hard in the eyes. "We don't have much time. I'll tell you the short truth, since you are in this with me now, whether you like it or not."
You startle, wondering what she means by that, but you fail to get a word in before she continues.
"The truth is, I have been both fleeing from and chasing after Arcanum followers since the day of the spell backfire. The Arcanum may have acknowledged their mistake publicly, however, they did not admit to the use of lyss that is forbidden. I quickly became aware of their usage of such a massive amount of time-altering void lyss- that which is illegal to cast- and I attempted to follow and confront some followers. I was threatened and attacked by them for doing so, leading me to flee and search for answers while they hunted me. In our game of Felistra and Sootmus, I managed to get them to lead me to a hideout, which is where we are now. I have been in a stalemate here with them for over two days."
You blink in surprise at her. An Arcanum hideout? Here? You feel yourself brewing with new questions.
Lorelei sees you attempting to process the information. "Now that you're here, you have to help me. There's three of them around here somewhere, and they're all too aware of my presence, but you might be a surprise. I hope you have some fighting ability in you."
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Conclusion
After a long, tiresome battle, the three nefarious Arcanum followers- dubbed as Tooth, Tail, and Nail- were all defeated with your help. Together with Lorelei, you managed to take them back to the Amiyn court for questioning, where the three continued to refuse to speak of the Arcanum’s plans behind their wide-spread memory loss spell. Until a decision could be reached on their verdict, or until any other Arcanum followers decided to come forward and defend them, the three would be held in Arcton, a high security prison in Azmarin.
Thankfully, however, with your aid, the effects of the Arcanum’s original spell was completely reversed, the missing Duchess Lorelei returned safely home, and the Arcanum followers’ threats were thwarted. Per the gracious compliments you received from Lorelei, the Amiyn court decided to reward you for your bravery.
As you stood facing Pandora sitting upon her throne, Lorelei approached, holding several medals.
“If it weren’t for your help, those three would have crafted a spell to make us forget we had even seen or heard of them,” Lorelei announced to the room. “Thanks to you, we can safely begin an investigation into the Arcanum’s usage of time-altering lyss. For your bravery, wit, and excellent timing... Pandora wishes to commend you.”
She held out a medal.
“Thank you.”
Thankfully, however, with your aid, the effects of the Arcanum’s original spell was completely reversed, the missing Duchess Lorelei returned safely home, and the Arcanum followers’ threats were thwarted. Per the gracious compliments you received from Lorelei, the Amiyn court decided to reward you for your bravery.
As you stood facing Pandora sitting upon her throne, Lorelei approached, holding several medals.
“If it weren’t for your help, those three would have crafted a spell to make us forget we had even seen or heard of them,” Lorelei announced to the room. “Thanks to you, we can safely begin an investigation into the Arcanum’s usage of time-altering lyss. For your bravery, wit, and excellent timing... Pandora wishes to commend you.”
She held out a medal.
“Thank you.”
THE FATE OF THE ARCANUM FOLLOWERS AND THEIR PLANS WILL BE CONTINUED, SOON...
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