Harrow Glades
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Harrow Glades by unknown
The Harrow Glades was created by a single generator, placed jointly by House Calenture and Gathering of the Entranced. As the trees on both the Houses planes had been demolished for ease of use, each desired a place to relax, and enjoy nature.
In order to let the glades develop naturally.. they created a single generator (the small lighting charge we see) which spawned the entire area. Unfortunately, as nature is chaotic by it's very being, it has been affected by the growing chaos more than most others.
Along with the growing vegetation the Harrow Glades is home to several interesting creatures as well as an interesting tree that houses a Dreamer by the name of Alder.
The Story of Rovalith and the Glade
The pleasant aroma of Harrow Glades was smothering as it filled Rovalith’s nostrils. Rovalith meant death in the Ancient Tongue, but not as a noun; a verb. He had chosen it when They chose him, and the name fit his personality in a chilling way. He was akin to a child then.
The memories came of their own accord.
It had barely been a year since his Awakening, and he was well on his way to becoming an influential dreamer, though his humility made it seem he never noticed his rising fame. It was true, he was Lord-Captain of the City Guard, those dreamers who had dedicated their time to ensure the safety of the City above any adversary, beast or dreamer. “Dreamer” was an odd addition to him at the time, no dreamer would have harmed the City, it was unthinkable. But, the pledge was drafted in the earliest days of the Guard, when dreamers ravaged the City as frequently as the beasts did.
A Gatekeeper in focus and personality, he was stoic in his resolve, or so it seemed. His teacher and mentor, Humald, had begun his murmurs of something greater, something beyond his dreams. It was when he started to listen that the naive dreamer began his path to Rovalith.
Rovalith’s mirthless chuckle echoed momentarily before the strong bark of the trees and the clutching swath of vines absorbed the sound. Humald had shown him the way, but it was the meaning behind Rovalith’s name that saw him surpass his former teacher. He wondered idly if any dreamer, now or in the distant future, would find Humald’s bones in the deep recesses of Albino Caves.
He shielded his eyes with a hand from the bright sun that was so constant in Harrow Glades. He pulled his cowl tighter, its blackness in stark contrast to the verdant green of the Glades lit by strong sunlight overhead. Tonight would forever mark the City, a sort of permanence that could not be eradicated no matter how feverishly one tried; some stains are indelible. They had chosen the Glades deliberately. They would bleed their darkness into the richest evidence of life in the City, and from its core would seep the tendrils of their malcontent.
Rovalith wasn’t on time. He purposely arrived late to make the others wait, to remind them with every meeting that they waited for his word, and could not proceed without him. Humald had said he grew so strong because he had been so honorable. Something about the need to be adhered to a cause being so deep in Rovalith’s spirit that it could only grow when it shifted, instead of wane. It wasn’t something Rovalith understood or really even dwelled on, Seers were full of such useless blabbering.
The other five sat in an incomplete circle, a void at the Northern most section meant for Rovalith himself. They hurriedly stood as he came into view. He ignored the bows and reverent murmurs of “Hail, Shadow’s Master,” as he took his place, a curt gesture placing each on the ground where they had been.
He wasn’t fond of long speeches, and it wasn’t like anyone would remember the words after he had said them, beyond himself, of course.
“Tonight, the Forsaken rises.” Fitting, he thought, “Forsaken” could be singular or plural. He allowed the smile to breach his lips, they would probably misplace it as an eagerness to see their small coalition rise publicly.
“You all know what must happen, and the sacrifice that must be paid.” They all nodded, most of their eyes nervous or fearful. “Let us begin,” he said simply.
With that he activated his namesake once again, but at a level previously unfathomable. It would be a night of firsts. Willing participants, all of them. He had made sure, it was required. He extended his Will outward, literally and metaphysically ripping the souls from the five around him, one by one. Their wails permeated the plane and continued on and on ceaselessly. Their bodies were limp and animated at the same time, a seizure of sorts that accompanied their wails. The sound hurt Rovalith’s ears, in truth it seeped into his very soul, the audacity of what he had done being strong enough to make him pause. The five soul essences were before him, their owners dead yet still imprisoned by the heinous action they had just committed willingly.
He crushed each underfoot, the wails stopping abruptly, one by one, at each breaking. I bet they didn’t see that coming, he thought with a touch of dark humor. The City seemed to take up their wail when they could not, a vibration of sorts that rocked the entire plane and would no doubt be felt throughout the entire City. It wouldn’t be long until he was discovered. Empowered by the soul essences he had destroyed, he looked inward and began the process of wrenching his own soul essence from his body. He pain struck him like a hammer, and he realized that his own, uncontrollable wails melded seamlessly into the sound he assumed the City itself was making.
It seemed to go on for eons, and just when he thought the pain would unravel his own sanity, it stopped. He looked around. He was in Threshold, seemingly unharmed. Wait-- he clutched something. Opening his palm, he saw it. A soul essence, its sea-colored hues pulsing with an inner energy. He laughed, this time a sound full of mirth and darkness that it surprised him. Stopping abruptly, he laughed again, the darkness rich in his ears. He had paid the price. Sense Dreamer provided what he expected, a horde of dreamers either in or moving toward Harrow Glades. He knew what they would find. The darkness of his deed would be strongest at the epicenter.
He smiled to himself, tucked his soul essence in his pack, and began his steps toward the Glade himself. He practiced the shock that would be expected upon seeing the ravaged Glade, it's beautiful greenery and amber hues of sunlight replaced by the encompassing darkness of dread. It would be the same shock his enemies would feel if they ever tried to Strike him. He laughed again and stepped through the portal.
The Forsaken has risen.
by Kenra
The Final Stand Part 1 - Harrow Glades
by Aileron
This is going to be a very long read most likely. It is an account of what I saw and experienced during the cities final push against the darkness. It will be broken down into three separate parts Harrow Glades, Lost Caves, And finally Lower Palisade.
On the 13th of the 7th month, many in the city gathered in the Garrison of Umbric. Among us that gathered were the Yissen Alina Sedros, Elysea Fraine, Vivian Fraine, Harmon Sedros, and Thea Bloom. The gathering started with discussing the plan, which was to go to Harrow Glades where the darkness had been taking over and draw it out using the dreamers as bait. While it was distracted, we would attempt to contain the energy of the darkness using "Gutted chaos wells stuffed with Radiant Blaze and cloaked in Shadow Step." As described by Tamarisk who had created 5 them. From there we would draw the darkness to Lost Caves. Lace explained "The device in the Kabal has a positive energy room, a negative energy room and a neutral one. The flow be specific thru these three. The goal would be... the Cauldron in Teng's Crypt." Where the darkness could then be trapped and contained. Alina also instructed "If we succeed in luring The Darkness out...no matter what happens or who dies...we need to then quickly attack the Altar while it is weakened." During this time we all sensed the darkness beginning to boil around the Palisade, darkening the skies over the Barrows. Everyone in attendance determined that the best side of Harrow to strike from was the Totality side due to the proximity of the sanctuary of Albino. With the plan set, we all gathered ourselves and made our way to Harrow Glades.
When I arrived in Harrow at the Totality exit, Alina and Harmon were already there. Alina said "We'll need to work together tonight. Time to put the past behind us." To which Harmon merely rolled his eyes and retorted "Sure." Not long after everyone was gathered and ready. Lace looked at the group and spoke "Alright, shall we try to get The Darkness' attention?" I offered my assistance in attempting to open one of the closed portals in the room so The Darkness would funnel straight to where we wanted it. She agreed and I started on the portal, drawing runic sigils on the four corners of it, each channeling a different element that was funneled to the center core. While I started this, Thea Bloom reached forward and touched the tree in the center of the room. Her eyes rolled back in her head, revealing nothing but the whites in her eyes. Her hand gripped the bark as her lips formed a tight line. As I was beginning my work, the portal exploded with energy. My vision was taken from me for a few moments as was the same with the whole room I believe. I pushed my hand slowly into the center of the portal, attempting to reach it's core at this time. Tamarisk handed out the modified chaos wells to some of the group while Hrrum evoked Drain Self between his claws and held it, the energy modified the energy in the evoke column, trying to reverse the flow of drained energy from the tree to a Chaos Well. Purple Lace took a vial out of her pocket and opened it. The Cuscuta berries bounce actively as she pours the liquid around onto the roots of the tree.
Soon after we all sensed a column of menacing Darkness spiral up out of Lower Palisade, blackness fanned out across the skies. Lace turned to me and asked how things were going. I wrapped my fingers around the core of the portal, the sigils pulsed focal energy from around the portal into the core through my fingertips. I replied to her that it seemed we at least had it's attention. Thea Bloom breathed out something I couldn't hear, her nails scraped down the tree as her eyes roll forward, blinking rapidly. Lace was urging me to make haste with the portal. Alina looked to Thea and said "Thea, tell us if you have any visions of warning. We don't want to be caught off guard here." In that moment the portal exploded once again with dark energies and a wave of poison permeated the room. During this time the Chaos Well, being held by those who they were given to, were being held out in the room. Harmon spoke up and said "We need to distract it while they work." Alina was of the same mind as she said at the same time "We need to bring it here." Harmon glowered at Alina as she stepped forward holding her hands out as she said "Vivian, Harmon, Thea, Elysea. Time to do our part." Vivian nodded to her and Alina reached out to Elysea beside her. Elysea looked Alina hesitantly before reaching for her hand. Harmon grumbled and walked up, taking Vivian's hand.
I wasn't having much luck with the portal, Lace came to my side offering any assistance she could give. Dark energies from Harrow began to accumulate inside the modified wells. Alina smiled to Thea and held out her other hand. Thea took Alina's hand, holding out her other to Harmon who stated "I really don't want to die for her mistake." He however took Thea's hand. I informed Lace that it seemed like the core of the portal was needing more energy. The focal bursts I was doing on my own weren't working and by this time I was starting to get frustrated. Purple Lace held up a finger on her free hand, a fiery spark flashed off the nail in a very slight stream. It impacted the portal sending more energy through it. As the five Yissen took each other's hands, a ball of brilliant light began to form in the middle of their circle. Hrrum kept gathering energy into his well. Tamarisk as well, holding it out and capturing some of the dark energy. I was looking about the room while I was attempting to force more energy through the portal forcefully by applying more pressure by way of hitting the portal with my balled fist, energy sparked off the portal. Harmon then suggested "Perhaps if we burn away the energy you all are trapping." Nathan invoked the potency of the Radiance within a nearby SoulWell. Hrrum gasped as that shut the cover of the well. OfF KiLTeR asked "What is the best way we can burn up that energy?"
Radiance filled the skies over Harrow Glades. The Darkness began pouring towards it, heat began building through the forest. Vivain spoke up "Brothers and sisters, do not lose heart." Thea Bloom tightened her hold on Alina's and Harmon's hands. She sucked in a quick breath, flicking a shocked glance over at Harmon. OfF then tried helping me with applying some blend to the surface of the portal to help the energies infuse into it easier. Hrrum stepped inside the the circle of the Radiance and held up the Cloaked Well. The energy from Hrrum's soulwell was instantly burned away by The Radiance and the light grew stronger. I started tracing more resilience over the portal with my palm while Lace joined OfF with applying blend to it. Nathan gave an assuring grip upon Alina's shoulder. Adding his own Radiance to theirs. Harmon looked at Thea briefly, eyes wide. Hrrum dropped the darkened Well as it hissed in his claws. Tamarisk threw his hands high above his head as his soulwell closed tightly. Mandus tossed Tamarisk a vial of dark red liquid, exclaiming "Seal it up!" Lace pressed her against the portal as he continued applying blend, stating "I sense the pressure on the other side... building..." Harmon's voice was hard next, "Burn away the rest of the energy you're trapping. Make it feel pain."
Elysea squeezed Alina's hand tightly as she moved closer into the circle. I shoved my hand fully into the center of the portal once again directing bursts of energy directly into the core, trying to spark it to life. Lace spoke "We've teased The Darkness... but nay lured it yet." Hrrum motioned others into the radiant circle. "Where are the other wells? We cannot maintain this forever." Alina asked. Lace responded, letting them know she had one. She set it by the other in the circle, where it was emptied of its dark energies and immediately burned away. The Radiance started to grow stronger. Tamarisk and Sadara both placed their wells into the circle soon after. A thousand demonic screams were heard across the City, coming from all directions. I finally pulled my hand out of the portal, letting the energies fade away from it. It was apparent that my efforts were in vain, not without lack of trying. The other soulwells were then emptied and burned away. The Radiance grew in intensity, filling Harrow Glades. Vivain's voice came through the screams "Do not lose heart, even in the Darkest of times." "I think we got its attention!" said Lace. Harmon then asked "What do we do now?!" "We let it chase us!" Lace replied. "We wait for it to show up, I suppose. It's going to let us know the next step, I suspect." OfF added. The Darkness then hurled itself towards Harrow Glades, coming down upon it like a meteor of hatred and vile! The impact caused the orb of Radiance to explode violently.
Nathan grasped a number of Radiance Power Tokens in his fist. The light shined brilliantly through his fingertips. The explosion of the orb ripped through the room, shredding through the dreamers there. Thea stumbled back, losing her hold and breaking the connection with Alina and Harmon. "We will clear the Glades of ye foul breath, Darkness!!!!!!" Screamed Lace, as he shook her fist at the sky. It was in that moment that Vivian Fraine was torn apart by the mix of The Darkness and shards of Radiance. Vivian Fraine was destroyed. Many gasped, many stood shocked, Alina's voice rang out "No - wha--" Elysea's mouth opened wide, she screamed out for Vivian. Purple Lace leaned over, and delicately gathered his SoulEssence. Thea Bloom fell back against the tree and scrambled back up to her feet, reaching out to Vivian. "Noo!" Harmon screamed at Alina, "Vivian too?!" Alina looked helplessly at Harmon, "I...I di--" Suddenly Coraal spoke, his voice was firm "Enough, Vivian said "Do not lose heart" Let us finish what we have begun. Squabble amongst yourself later" Hrrum picked up the sizzling Tome that got left in the place where Vivian once stood and hugged it tight to his chest. Elysea's hands began to shake nervously, she continued saying Vivians name over and over. Darkness began swirling around Harrow Glades, lashing out at dreamers. Mandus rushed to Elysea's side and reached out to take her hand before being hurled off by the darkness. Coraal spoke again, "The Darkness comes. Lace, grab the wells and let us move. The energy should still be within" Lace nodded to him. Thea gritted her teeth before simply nodding, "Onward." "Sister, they are right. We cannot let him die for nothing." Alina said. "She's not your sister, you callous bitch." retorted Harmon. "To the Caves... go thru Albino" Directed Lace. Thea looked to Harmon "Enough, Harmon. We must go - now."
The group of dreamers and the Yissen, the pain of one lost already being felt, made their way to Lost Caves. To be continued in Part 2
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