2017 ALT Event (Teaser Stories)

Part 3

CHRONA PHI 1217/NEW WORLD - "The Dark Sun"

Travance Proper had been dark for over 5 years now.

That’s not to say it was abandoned or without life. There were still those who lived there, some nearly-2000 living souls. They went about their lives as normal, tending to their shops and plying their trades, dining and gambling and singing. Life in Travance had been strange these past few years, but not unbearable, if you kept your head down and went about your business. Most of the common folk had, after all, never had much mind towards who called themselves by what title, so who was really to say that Count Fallow was any worse than the others? Still there were some differences.

For example, there were the eerie cornfields in all directions, guarded by unliving scarecrows and likely to swallow up any who wandered too far into them. There were the sapient dead in their midst, far out-numbering the living. The Chapel of Light lay in disrepair, the worship of the gods within forbidden by death… or worse. And there was the sun. Even at its brightest, the pall of darkness around it never allowed it to shine brighter than a pale, sickly light bright enough for some crops, but not really enough to call daylight. It had been this way since the alliance of dark powers had stolen its power over the undead.

Still, life and unlife progressed onward beneath the anemic sky mostly as normal until one week ago.

A great roaring was heard, the sound of a gout of flame, a torrent of wind, a flood of water. A tattered hold tore open across one of the necromantic cornfields. The world viewed through this rift was strange, alien. It flickered with wisps of light, shimmered with power unseen. The very air on the other side hummed and rippled with energy. A timeless moment passed, then the power came rushing through the rift. Beings seemingly composed of nothing but energy and the elements manifested. At once, the nearby Fields were consumed in lightning and stone and fire. The nearby undead, after the initial shock, moved to defend their lord’s fields, but the beings seemed even more numerous than the legions of the dead.

In the week that has passed, more and more rifts have torn open, raw arcane power pouring through them. Many of the undead subjects of Travance have retreated deep into the Fields, while the living have found what refuge they could elsewhere. No one seems to know who has caused this or why. Worse, no one can figure out how to stop it.

At this point, all playtesting professions are capped except:

-Smith (Era of Peace timeline)
-Priest (Era of Peace timeline)
-Healer (Era of Peace or Dark Sun timeline)
-Mage (Age of Immortals timeline)

You may still volunteer to playtest; if so, we may ask you to test specific skills which we will give you the rules for.

Part 4

CHRONA THETA 117/OLD WORLD - "The Age of Immortals"

No matter where you went in Dalain, the smell of the sea followed you, whispering to you of mysteries hidden by the implacable depths. The shimmering air seemed never to rest on the small island, light breezes constantly playing in the treetops and sending the small motes of light that dwelt in the forest dancing and spinning. The sand and soil were soft and nurturing; none on the island wanted for food. But it wasn’t the water or the air or the earth that drew people to Dalain, but rather the tower of fire at the heart of Magentia, visible even here, though the greatest city in Doth Moria was several days travel. All those who wished to journey there passed through Dalain, and so it had become a popular waystation for travellers both mortal and immortal.

The people of Dalain had once practiced druidism, but as relations with King Merlantius improved, more and more residents of the island began to learn the arts of magic, some from passing mages, some from books, some even picked up a trick or two from the Fey. Soon Dalain had grown into a mystic hub in its own right with libraries, sanctums, and an academy. Immortals, majestic and aloof, soon took note and travelled to see the mortals playing at power. Some even stayed to watch. Life in Dalain was strange, and sometimes hard, but always interesting.

One week ago, life became much more interesting and much, much harder. From all around the town a great cracking noise could be heard, as if the shattering of glass. A jagged line formed across the sky, parting in sudden, rapid bursts of movement to form a sort of window. Through this rift, the people of Dalain saw a much different world. There was a sea of shining white tents where the ocean should be, the emblem of a golden eagle visible upon them. Buildings stood in the distance, their architecture unlike anything built in Doth Moria or Ejaral or anywhere else known. The sounds of music in an unfamiliar style drifted faintly through from the other side. Then the light began pouring through. Those it touched felt an indescribable brightness upon their soul, such as they had never experienced before. They became overwhelmed with empathy, paralyzed by strange thoughts of justice and compassion and purity. In the distance, there was the agonized roar of a dragon. Panic broke out among mortals and immortals alike, all of them fleeing for shelter from the dreadful light.

In the days that followed, more cracks have opened at an ever-increasing pace, the light pouring from them now occasionally being joined by an inky blackness that spawned cruel, spiteful thoughts in those it touched. Halfastrals have begun to feel sickened even when not standing near the rifts. Many residents have boarded ships or opened Gates and fled from the island, leaving only the strongest to contend with the problem. No one knows what is happening, only that they must either stop it or watch the doom of their world.

Character Cards
At check-in you will receive only your Alt character card. If you are playtesting, there will be a sheet stapled to it. Your alt card must be signed and turned in at the end of the event as if it were your regular card.

Since you will not have your main character card, there will be no player versus player activity allowed after the changeover on Saturday night. We're using the honor system here, so please don't cheat in PvE - anyone found to be cheating will have appropriate action taken against them.

Fates
At this Alt Event, Fates will function as normal. You may spend SP or your main characters' Gold to purchase Fates for your Alt character. Your SP total will be printed on your Alt card; you may check how much Gold you have in the card system before check-in or use coin. After the changeover happens on Saturday night, the Fates will apply to the character you play.

To make Alt PvP more fair, we are offering free fates to newer players! If you have attended Knight Realms for less than two years, you are eligible for free fates as follows:
0-6 months: 4000SP
7-12 months: 2000SP
13-18 months: 1000SP

If you are eligible for free fates, you may purchase up to two of each (as if you spent both SP and gold on it). Anyone who purchases fates using her own Service or Gold may not receive free fates.

Since check-in is not the quickest process, if you are planning to purchase more than one fate, please come with a list handy of what fates you are planning on purchasing and their costs.

If you are found to be overspending Gold on Fates, your characters' bank accounts will be reduced to negatives to compensate for what was spent and you will receive a Rules violation.

Alt Event PvP
PvP activity is allowed during the Alt portion of the event. A marshal is not required for PvP unless you are attempting to enter someone's cabin while it is unoccupied, or the occupants are asleep and you do not intend to wake them up. Standard cabin-raiding rules apply in this circumstance.

If your character steals items at the Alt event, they must be brought to Logistics as soon as possible, as per normal theft rules.

Treasure
Any treasure or items you earn as your alt character may be carried over to your main character unless stated otherwise on the item card.

Unique Mechanics
Due to the nature of this event, there are some unique mechanics. All mechanics will be explained again at opening ceremonies, but they are listed here for your convenience.

Glowsticks
During the event you may come across a line of colored glowsticks. You may cross the glowsticks, but must spend ten seconds doing so. Time slows down as you pass through an invisible wall. You do not perceive the slowing effect, but others watching do. More information on glowsticks will be discussed at opening ceremonies.

Master Luck
Every PC at this event gets two uses of the skill "Master Luck" per period. This allows you to utilize a periodic use of any Master list skill. You will only have access to Master Luck at certain locations on camp. You will be told the locations you may use Master Luck at opening ceremonies; you may always ask a Rules marshal or any of the people running the event if you can use Master Luck where you are.

Items from the Inn
You may find items in the inn that your character wishes to steal. The inn will be surrounded by orange glowsticks; no in-game item or prop from the inn may be taken past these glowsticks. If you attempt to cross the glowsticks with any of these items, they fall from your hands and remain within the area of the glowsticks.