2010-07-27: The Saga of the Poseidon's Fury
The Saga of the Poseidon's Fury
| Author: EM Dudley | Published: July 27, 2010 |
This is a rough outline of the events that have transpired since late 2008...
Andrea Kildare, the Royal Surveyor, receives word of the discovery of an archaeological find somewhere in the wilds of Ilshenar.
Kildare contacts court mage Lord Balandar of Moonglow to assist in the excavation and identification of this find.
Lord Balandar goes missing.
Lord Casca, newly appointed King of Britannia dispatches Drake Foxx to find Balandar, fully expecting the Royal Guardsman, known for his fondness of the drink, to fail.
Drake Foxx, assisted by the citizens of Britannia, tracks Balandar to a beach in Ilshenar and links his disappearance to Lord Casca.
Lord Casca orders Alodar Salafna, a member of the King's Own private security forces to murder Drake Foxx after they've taken him captive near Chaos, Ilshenar.
Citizens of Britannia rescue Drake Foxx.
Lord Balandar is found and the archaeological site is identified as the remains of the HMS Poseidon's Fury, a ship constructed to use the power of the Serpent's Pillar to travel to far away realms and recover exotic and foreign items of interest.
Lord Casca is uncovered as a fraud under the influence of the Shadowlords. Alodar Salafna is the only remaining member of the King's Own and meets his demise during a caravan destined to Magincia with goods from Britain. During the caravan Scarlet Von Trinsic the Brigand escapes as she is being transported to the Yew Prison.
With the help of the Royal Surveyor, the Fury is excavated and a team goes inside to find the Crew has been brutally murdered at the hands of one another following the acquisition of a mysterious artifact.
Inside the Fury, the only man left alive is the insane Captain,Marcus Tokinson. He is infused with a vile evil that is purged with the help of Drake Foxx and Lord Balandar and the swift actions of the citizens of the realm.
The ensuing battle within the below decks of the Poseidon's Fury causes the wreck to become unstable. Her munitions hold ruptures and the entire wreck begins to collapse. As the wreck falls apart from explosion after explosion the journal ofMarcus Tokinson is recovered from a busted cabinet. The Journal details the artifact that was recovered and a piece of a map that leads to where Tokinson buried it. The artifact is fabled to possess the ability to control the seas themselves.
Lord Balandar, learning of this map begins his attempts at recovering all the missing pieces and eventually find the artifact before it can fall into the wrong hands.
Dawn is named Queen of Britannia and Drake Foxx is promoted to Commander of the Royal Guard.
Lord Balandar begins researching the mechanism behind the Posiedon Fury's crytalline drive and how the Serpent's Pillar provided power for it's deep exploration into the unknown. During that investigation a mysterious whirlpool develops near the Serpent's Pillar off the coast of Jhelom and is discovered during the Queen's Regatta.
Unknown forces surround the whirlpool, a great naval battle is fought. Drake Foxx leads a group into the whirlpool to find it obstructed.
Lord Balandar prepares Alchemical Devastation, a powerful incendiary salve to open up the final cavern of the underwater cave. A great sea monster is found to be guarding a treasure. The sea monster is slain and a second piece of the map leading to the artifact is recovered from an SOS set adrift by CaptainMarcus Tokinson.
Lord Balandar continues his research into the location of the missing map pieces. Late one night he finds himself gazing into an unfamiliar mirror within his bed chambers.
Lord Balandar finds himself in a land of pure imagination, where everything is edible and there is a maze of chocolate. He is bound by the power of an orb known as the Cryosphere.
Drake Foxx leads an expedition into this bizarre world to rescue Balandar. The gifts of the Cryosphere and the greed of the investigators are too great and overcome the need for Balandar's immediate aid. Lord Balandar drifts into the fade.
Using the Cryosphere, a mysterious black image freezes a faded Lord Balandar into a block of ice sealing him within confines of the whirlpool.
Derrick Mornwok, a wealthy resident of Vesper, owner of the Vesper Ale Brewery, recruits a group of well known treasure hunters to follow a map he purchased for a large sum.
The map leads deep into the jungle's of Jhelom. Amongst the sweltering tropical climate is an oasis of pure ice. Lord Balandar is found, frozen as a block of ice. Standing atop what used to be Lord Balandar the mysterious dark image taunts his would be rescuers.
Lord Balandar is recovered from the depths of the Whirlpool and returned to his estate in Moonglow. He had found a third map piece that he'd hidden within the hollowed out base of a candlestick shortly before he entered the mysterious mirror world.
Derrick Mornwok recruits the Royal Guard to find a missing mycologist known as Jamison Tort who owes him a large sum of money, some speculate related to a gambling debt.
Drake Foxx gives the task of recovering Jamison Tort to Lt. Gwen Irina of the Royal Guard, stationed in Papua.
Scarlet Von Trinsic, acting under the employ of an unknown party kidnaps Lady Tavalia Zodok, Ambassador of Her Majesty, Queen Dawn.
Tavalia Zodok is held captive within a Brigand fort in the wilds of Britannia. Some Royal Guardsman defect at the opportunity to assist Scarlet Von Trinsic.
Gwen Irina leads the recovery of Jamison Tort, who is being held hostage by Ophidians. During his incarceration Jamison Tort witnesses a mysterious figure who's dress matches the sandstone of the fort preforming experiments on the Ophidians using cold. There is no sign of Tavalia Zodok.
An Orc offensive begins against Guardian's Gate for demolishing an outpost.
The Orcs kidnap Tavalia Zodok from Scarlet Von Trinsic in a desperate act of retaliation against the Crown.
Commander Drake Foxx leads a raiding party against the Orcs. Lady Zodok is rescued just moments before an orcish drilling device eviscerates her.
Derrick Mornwok learns many of the personal affects of his Great Uncle's estate in Magincia are being safely held in Ocllo. He recruits the Royal Guard to recover them.
Scarlet Von Trinsic leads a band of theives to steal the priceless heirlooms against Lt. Gwen Irina.
Chief Detective Sheffield is found murdered in Britain. Evidence points to the involvement of a tinker's apprentice.
Undead begin plaguing the lands in surprise attacks.
Derrick Mornwok arranges for a delivery of Vesper Ale to various ports throughout the realm. Meanwhile, Scarlet Von Trinsic learns of this and attempts to steal the shipment. A third naval force blockades the port of Buccaneer's Den, their identities are unknown.
The Unknown naval force is protecting a ferry to the islands of Tokuno. There the mysterious dark image as well as a vile Lich known only as the Servant are in the midst of an excavation.
A great battle is fought on a remote Tokuno island, a map is found leading somewhere to a dungeon in Ilshenar.
Gypsies are disappearing in the deserts of Northeastern Ilshenar.
Drake Foxx leads a force to investigate these disappearances. Inside an Ilshenar dungeon the Lich known as the Servant is found to have devoured most of the missing gypsies. The dungeon is a tomb of vile blood and gore.
The mysterious dark image and the Servant appear to have once been working together but now find themselves at odds. The Lich escapes with a tinker's apprentice in hand. The Image vanishes. Undead and Mechanical creatures of all types are dispatched.
Lord Balandar believes that David, the Keeper of Knowledge, may have or at least may know the whereabouts of another map piece. Arriving there, a crazed man calling himself only "Headmaster McMurdo" refused to allow entry to the Temple of Knowledge without first having several puzzles solved.
The Temple of Knowledge appears to have been ransacked and looted, and David was nowhere to be found. Undead corpses littered the Temple and lead deeper into the underground dungeon. Inside The Servant appears to have the map piece and is about to acquire the mysterious and powerful Cryosphere. The Image of the Magician confronts him but is dispatched.
The Magician himself appears just moments before the Servant gains control of the cryosphere, and uses it himself to destroy the Servant by freezing him and then shattering him into thousands of pieces. He takes the map piece and leaves the dungeon. David, the Keeper of Knowledge is found unconscious but alive.
Sheffield's residence is examined for clues pertaining to his disappearance, a not left is deciphered and leads to a cavernous area that seems to be a hideout for Scarlet Von Trinsic and her gang. They are routed, but Vont Trinsic outsmarts Lietuentant Irina with a bluff of a bomb and escapes.
Kendrick Morrow the Magician is set to perform within the Summit Chamber inside Castle Britannia. In the midst of the act a incendiary charm distracts those in attendance, allowing Ambassador of the Crown Tavalia Zodok's abduction. Incendiary Elementals invade the Summit room killing many in attendance and igniting the Chamber in a fiery inferno.
An unconscious Kendrick Morrow is found in the outskirts of Eastern Britain. He is badly beaten and appears to have been robbed and bound shortly before the performance, suggesting an impostor was responsible for Tavalia's abduction. He assists Commander Drake Foxx in tracing the whereabouts of Tavalia Zodok. Her body is found lifeless, her throat slit in a cave in the wilds of Britannia.
A secondary tome in Sheffields' residence is finally deciphered by Fanny Firebottom, who passes the information on to the Royal Guard. Acting on it, Derrick Mornwok is questioned which leads to the discovery of a band of gypsies who may provide further clues.
The Band of Gypsies direct the Royal Guard to a remote ice bound location where a large castle is found. Inside the castle the Image of the Magician's forces are desperately trying to uncover a piece of Martin Tokinson's map. The castle is destroyed and the Cryogen, the birthplace of the Cryosphere is found deep inside the Ice Dungeon. Along with the Cryogen a fifth piece of Tokinson's missing map is found. The castle is discovered to belong to a distant relative ofMarcus Tokinson.
Virtue Bane forces begin invading the cities of Britannia, corrupting the Bells of Courage.
Ors, husband of Queen Dawn, goes missing.
A young male, identifying himself as Godfrey Tanner, requests assistance from the Royal Guard to recover family keepsakes reported to be held in the Bank of Cove.
Royal Guard units manage to push back hordes of Bane Chosen allowing access to the records within the bank but not before an explosion sets the bank on fire destroying most of the records held within. While trying to flee, Virtue Bane himself appears and picks up the youth and hurls him with deadly force. Showing unforeseen and surprising agility Godfrey lands on his feet with a dagger drawn. In a failed attempt at the life of Godfrey by Virtue Bane himself, Godfrey is witnessed to have sustained serious injury to his face, yet lacking any blood and exposing healthy flesh underneath. Amidst the fray Godfrey uses a smoke bomb to make an escape into Cove Bay.
Further investigation into the Tanner family reveals their boy, Godfrey, was killed weeks before he requested assistance from the Royal Guard.
The cities of Britannia are lost to Virtue Bane.
A Royal Guard depot is established on the Island of Serpent's Hold, along with the open enlistment of citizens into the Royal Guard to defend the realm.
Royal Surveyor Andrea Kildare discovers the existence of a Tome known as the EpiOlmec Cascajal which may reveal the location of a piece of the Tokinson Map, leading to the Poseidon's Artifact. The Royal Guard is dispatched to Ilshenar to recover it.
The Savages of Ilshenar are slaughtered in the recovery of the EpiOlmec Cascajal.
Mages and Arcanists, at the suggestion of Recruit Rivi Ravenwynd bind any magics inside of the mysterious Tome.
Scarlet Von Trinsic attempts to steal the EpiOlmec Cascajal, only to awaken a sinister magic upon breaking the protective charm. A battle is waged on the streets of Trinsic and the EpiOlmec Cascajal is returned safely to the Royal Surveyor's Office.
In a secret attempt at defeating Virtue Bane, Lord Balandar delivers a magical salve to Queen Dawn that will allow her to bind the power of the Crook of Humility to a blade, allowing her to defeat Virtue Bane. During this attempt Ors appears to Dawn, blinded by love she does not notice he is succumbed to possession by blackrock. During an embrace Ors stabs Dawn, killing her. Virtue Bane appears, congratulating Ors for doing as he commanded, but releases him from his posession to lament in the sorrow of his actions. Ors runs off as Virtue Bane releases an army of black rock golems which slaughter those in attendance. Following the battle, Lord Commander Drake Foxx and Captain Gwen Irina return Queen Dawn's body to lay in State while Queen Zhah of the Gargoyles orders Gargoyle Stonecrafters to create a memorial to the Queen for the whole of the realm to remember her by.
In the absence of a regent the Royal Guard assume command of government and open the Royal Guard Depot at Serpent's Hold to the refugees of the mainland.
Citizens assist in attempting to uncover the mystery of the EpiOlmec Cascajal. After many hours of study, research, and investigation the code is finally cracked by Traveler, Stryder, Balthier Trakand, Cordelia, Fanny Firebottom, and Eclipse. A great temple of unknown origin is discovered, however there appears to be no viable means of entry upon its discovery.
During a briefing by Captain Irina the Royal Guard is approached by a messenger of Derrick Mornwok, demanding better accommodations than he currently has on Serpent's Hold. With his political connections severed Captain Irina confronts Lord Mornwok and presses him with questions of his involvement in the murders of Sheffield and Tavalia Zodok. It is revealed Mornwok held some connection to the murders and possesses a vast skill in magery.
Virtue Bane's cruel grip on the realm tightens and citizens flee the major cities. The Royal Guard is called upon to save those who seek refuge.
Mysterious stones begin to manifest within the various townships throughout the realm. Shortly after their appearance horrid phobic terrors begin invading the townships, harvesting the nightmares of the citizens of those townships.
One by one the townships of each facet is besieged by the manifestation of their worst nightmares. Lord Balandar works closely with the citizens of those townships to destroy the Nemesis Stones.
A new resort opens on the shores of Humility Isle. Citizens are able to play games of chance and enjoy the relaxing hot springs provided by the Volcano there.
An enchanted library is found that magically transports readers into the stories that fill its many volumes. It is rumored that ancient bonsai trees and mystical dragon eggs are recovered.
Virtue Bane is humiliated back into the void by the uncanny use of pie. He is heard from no longer.
After Mornwok's escape from Serpent's Hold and Virtuebane's defeat, Drake Foxx issued orders to sieze Mornwok's assets and remove them from his estate to Serpent's Hold. On leading the caravan, Captain Irina took them to the Docks where they encountered Kendrick Morrow , who offered to lend his services. His gate took them to an ambush point in Ilshenar, an icy area covered in snow. He spirited away the pack animals and then shortly after the Cryosphere appeared. As Captain Irina and others approached it, a horrific monster spawned from it, and the cryosphere vanished. The Guards beat the monster back, but were unable to catch up to Morrow.
Strange texts found amongst Mornwok's belongings indicate where the ruins of the Lost City of Paws might be located. The Initial foray was made in Felucca, where faction forces rose to compete heavily with Royal Guard forces, causing a long running battle. In the end, Royal Guard Forces were able to make a tactical retreat after downing some of the monstrous creatures, while the Faction members defeated others. Royal Surveyor Andrea Kildare has been working hard to find a way to safely remove the blockage since.
The mysterious image that has plagued the realm appears to have been behind the Nemesis Stones. The hub of their evil power is found to be guarded by a Nightmarish Guardian never before seen. After many hours and bloodshed the Guardian is destroyed and the Nemesis stones are eradicated from the realm!
A great memorial is erected at the Hall of Victory commemorating the defeat of the Nemesis Stones.
Kendrick Morrow is captured in the Ilshenarian City of Mistas. He is uncovered to have lead a second life with the secret identity of Derrick Mornwok. He alone knows the location of one of 2 missing pieces of Captain Tokinson's Map.
Lord Balandar finally translates the EpiOlmec Cascajal and finds the entrance to the hidden temple. Access orbs are used by Citizens to enter the temple, only to find it heavily guarded against infiltration. Temple guards seize the intruders but are quickly dispatched. In the final chamber of the temple a massive smoke monster is defeated, and a piece of Captain Tokinson's map is recovered.
Queen Zhah requests that the Royal Guard assist in the assault of the Atheneum Isle. Minions of Sclestus are dispatched and ancient Gargish Documents are recovered.
Intuiting that Mornwok may have been surprised enough to be forced into hiding something frantically, a second foray was made into Mistas. Prior to arriving, a Meer Envoy implored the Royal Guard to kill the Juka, as they were planning to strike against the Meer. After a brutal siege and assault, it was found that the majority of Jukan Forces had abandoned the city during the assault, including their Shirron, or leader. A Jukan approached Commander Foxx and identified himself as a Master of the Way, and told him of a device being used against them to force their golems to disobey. Reaching a pact, the Waymaster led them to a golem factory, and destroyed a control device, while the guard siezed a memory delving device from the factory.
Using a the memory delving device discovered in Ilshenar Lord Balandar, under orders from Lord Commander Drake Foxx venture into the mind of Kendrick Morrow in an attempt to locate the missing piece of Kendrick Morrow 's map. Inside the mind of Kendrick Morrow it is revealed that a secret passage leads to a vault under Mornwok Estate. The final piece of the map is recovered by Royal Guard forces.
In the absence of a Regent to decide his fate, Kendrick Morrow is tried by jury at the order of Lord Commander Drake Foxx. In a complete shock to the realm at large, Kendrick Morrow is found not guilty of besieging the townships of the realm, murder of innocents, and kidnapping the Royal Mage Lord Balandar.
The Royal Guard and Citizens of the Realm assist Queen Zhah in freeing her daughter and battling Scelestus, a vile demon who long ago imprisoned her family. Queen Zhah thanks those who assisted her and offer a hand of the defiler as commemoration of such accomplishment.
With all pieces of the Tokinson's map in hand, the Royal Surveyor's Office sponsors excursions to uncover its secrets. A string of clues are uncovered that lead the Sureveyor's to a small peninsula north of Delucia. There, a cache of supplies is discovered, as well as indications that the artifact has been hidden where "No Olmec Would Go"
Two couriers carrying craft liquors are escorted from the City of Britain. Along the way they are ambushed by opposing liquor companies and ransacked by the Von Trinsic Gang.
The Royal Surveyor's Office is poised to restore the Poseidon's Fury to its former glory. Unhappy spirits stand inside its ancient decks and are finally put to rest by a dedicated group of adventurers.
And that is the story so far...
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