Chaos Storm #557 has swept the Lok'Groton island chain. Please post any changes you have observed and wish to share with others in the comments. If you don't want to read possible spoilers, please do not read the comments.

Creed sent the following report to TMN:

Creed, your roving reporter, here with some images from the ethereal invasion that was still going on, even as I sketched!

For many puddlehours, now, parts of the marsh, east field and east farms have been filled off and on with hordes of marauding etheral creatures.

It all started with a Greater Death and a few ethereal slugs in TC. A number of strong fighters were out and about, and with the help of mystics and healers, they vanquished the GD. Then Crius began to shout that ethereal creatures were invading east field. Most of the strong fighters declined to scout eastward, declaring that Crius was lying and/or leading us into an ambush.

The lure of ponies proved too strong for me to resist, and I did decide to peer eastward, followed by the brave Althea, York, Cookies, and a few other fighters, healers and mystics. As you can see by my sketches, the thoom Romanus deserted his post early on—before the threat even became serious!

For many hours, this small brave group did our best to defend Puddleby's eastern borders. Again and again, the ethereal army encroached on our gates, but the small group self-titled the B-Team kept pushing them back, keeping them mostly confined to East Field and keeping the East Farms mostly clear. It was inspiring to see mystics At'n and Asenath swinging their blades and helping with the battle! Finally, though, the ethereal creatures became too strong and our group was tiring. Many of us fell, and the situation looked hopeless.

We were reinforced just in time by the arrival of the doughty members of Falinea's Blade, who swept in, rescued and raised many fallens and joined the fight.

The arrival of so many reinforcements raised everyone's spirits to the point where Althea could joke about the fashion downside of being repeatedly "slimed" by dense ethereal spume.

Once most of the fallens were raised, I had to head for the library for a rest after so many hours of healing. From what I understand, the struggle continued on with varying degrees of intensity. But I just want to salute the small group who worked so hard and so tirelessly early in the invasion for the safety of all Puddleby!

[Editor's Note: Does anyone have an update on this story? -Para]

Femme Destine!!
-Creed

Chance sent the following report to TMN:

Hail Para!

I thought your readers might be interested to see what Grefo Toppa has been up to. An exploration group recently discovered the temperamental garmentmaker's new digs in a cave deep in the OOB.

As most exiles may remember, Grefo recently made an appearance in OC1 after being gone for a very long time. Apparently he used to sell forest green shirts that matched the pants sold by Fergar Edgley, but he left his post after an argument with Fergar. Well, during this recent re-appearance, Grefo whipped the Puddleby fashion world into a frenzy by selling a few new forest green shirts at top prices . . . then he argued with Fergar and disappeared yet again.

Apparently he's decided to change his business model. He's been seen by a handful of exiles selling a sort of "muddy" green shirt, but as you can see by these sketches, he doesn't seem to have perfected the process yet. Perhaps once his new stock is finished, he will once again return to Puddleby.

Cheers,
-Chance

Galadriel has posted a report on OWE News about the return of Chiron and early results from the testing of the new tool for healers, the Asklepian staff.

Creed sent the following report to TMN:

Hail, Para!

I have a couple of small items to show your readers today!

First, I wanted to offer this sketch of the (relatively) new crystal formations on the EP. Perhaps not everyone has been able to visit lately and see them. They are lovely and mysterious!

Second, I would like to congratulate Chance on getting her first morph as a Ranger. She chose to study infant meshra for her low-histia morph because, quite frankly, she finds them hilarious. On a trip to LP, she showed off for Janus, who unfortunately did NOT show Chance the respect she deserved! :-)

Speaking of Chance, she and I were discussing the fact that we haven't had a farm cleaning expedition in quite some time. Perhaps if Farhope reads this she will organize one, or let us know if she's too busy right now. Chance was roaming the farms east of town recently, and the farmers there seemed quite concerned about the level of rat and vermine activity.

Both Chance and I are willing to help lead a farm cleaning if others are interested.

Cheers,
-Creed

Torin reports on a recent Open Hunt expedition to the Toks at OWE News.

Largo, by Hoggle

Former Fen Vice President Largo, still in self-imposed sandwich-eating exile from exile, has taken up the pastime of drawing the residents of Puddleby. His artworks can be seen on the Clan Lord Sentinel.

Para, by Largo

Super Chicken, by Largo

Chaos Storm #554 has swept the Lok'Groton island chain. Please post any changes you have observed and wish to share with others in the comments. If you don't want to read possible spoilers, please do not read the comments.

V'ree sent the following report to TMN:

Greetings Paramedic,

Earlier today, the illustrious Chiron came out into town, looking for Elaph and Selenite Crystals. He chatted with us in town for a while, telling us about how he has been studying these crystals and sharing notes with Elaph and Rady Ann. Apparently, while Elaph has been focused on creating a tool that can burst people from a distance, Chiron has been working on creating a tool to heal multiple people from a distance at once. They've both been having problems - Elaph's crystals explode, while Chiron's crystals end up going dark and useless. Chiron tried to use his latest example of the healing tool—an asklepian—but it burnt out in his attempt. They both need more crystals to experiment on, and Chiron did receive one such that he could continue his research.

Good news for all healers, as it looks like some new tools are being researched!

-V'ree

V'ree sent the following report to TMN:

Greetings Paramedic,

Melabrion recently took a break from his studies to talk with exiles. Several exiles were present, and Connie translated for those who could not speak dwarven. Thanks, Connie!

The chat started out talking about the mysterious Darkstone. Melabrion wished to know much more about it and its powers. Conversation included where the shards were found, what they were like, and how the whole stone was made. A picture is attached showing Melabrion examining a shard.

This led into a much longer conversation on the Darshak and the Ethereal Plane. A great deal of effort was used to impress on him that the Darshak are using the plane for evil causes, as well as dealing a large amount of damage to both the Ethereal and the Material planes. He was surprised to learn about the Darshak outpost on Tenebrion's Island and their stable ethereal portal on the island. He had assumed we had made the portal, in our general plane-damaging ways. He had no suggestions on better ways to combat the Darshak, other than to imply that he would be looking into the situation.

To finish things, Melabrion offered a boon to the people of Puddleby both in thanks for the Darkstone information as well as to help us fight the Darshak. He will arrange for ethereal-trained mystics to be able to construct portal island pass keys in the Ethereal Forge! This will allow more exiles to have access to the island and therefore the Ethereal Plane. With such an advantage, we may be able to push some more of the Darshak out of the Ethereal Plane, benefiting both us and the planes themselves.

All in all, a very successful conversation.

-V'ree

Torin has posted on OWE News about a recent Pathfinder Book 3 expedition.

Eden has updated her journal with a new entry on the all-thoom Lugubrion Exploration Group.

TYP sent the following report to TMN:

Dear Para:

I am sending you some crazy clips.

First one is the footage of TYP being sued in court.

The 2nd and 3rd are the recent Beer Invasion.

Please at least fast forward while watching, else it might be too long.

I hope we can have more of these types of fun (the beer invasion).

-TYP

TYP in court (50K ZIP)
Beer Invasion 1 (247K ZIP)
Beer Invasion 2 (552K ZIP)

Creed sent the following report to TMN:

Hail Para!

Roving reporter Creed here with a few little news tidbits from around Puddleby. As usual, my sketching pencils have been busy, and I've also collected news from some other exiles.

I'd like to congratulate my close friend Chance for achieving her first morph as a Ranger. For a low-histia morph, she chose her favorite little monster, the Infant Meshra. As you can see in the attached sketch, Nyla recently helped Chance celebrate in Town Center.

Chance sent me a sketch she made of Stora displaying a sudden desire for a personality . . . something I think many of his detractors would agree with.

And Peril, who doesn't leave the library often, was a little shy about writing to you with her bit of news. She just wanted to share a sketch of a recent Bookwyrm hunt. The members of Bookwyrm were excited to have five of their number out of the library and hunting together all at once, and they had a successful Jade Noids run.

As for myself, I had a fun experience one day recently when I was the only healer outside of the library. In fact, not many exiles were out at all. And so everyone in the world was sharing me! Heh—ah, the fun only lasted a few moments.

Fiona entertained me and several hunt partners during a brief break in Melabrion's Keep with her rendition of Coyote Ugly.

And last but not least, Lorikeet and I were both entertained by a meeting of the . . . minds? Whiskers? Between two mighty morphin' Rangers on Metz.

I hope your readers enjoy some of these diversions!

Cheers,
-Creed

Brune sent the following report to TMN:

I don't honestly know why we should even bother with Penn Venables (aside from his considerable pirate army resources). He's not much on grammar or he would have labeled his signpost "Venebles' Town." Doesn't every pirate schoolkid know that one needs to include an apostrophe to denote possession?!

Furthermore, he really should have formed a special committee to test new Town names. I myself came up with better ideas off the top of my head!

Really, can such a rube with such little imagination really pose a credible threat?

Pffft.

Torin reports at OWE News on a recent expedition to the Twilight area of Metz.

Dandelion has updated her Sketchbook with some new images.

Eden reports on a trip to Metz in her most recent journal entry.

Suu'ub sent the following report to TMN:

Hey, Para

Not sure if this is really news anymore, but I figured I'd tell people interested, those who don't already know, what's up with Elaph's healer staff and crystals quest. I'm submitting this in hopes Elaph keeps tabs on Thoomcare news and might show up!

Seems a few of these crystals, called "Selenite Crystals," have been found around the lands. The first I know of was found by Theo, and I found one shortly after. Not sure if this is news or if anyone else as found one, but I figured I'd tell you what I know.

The Selenite Crystal asks in a way similar to the moonstone. It heals others and self-heals the same, and the commands offer the same response as a moonstone (/use, /examine, etc.) It doesn't do anything else that I know of, so I imagine the real effects of it will be known when it is successfully attached to Elaph's staff.

However, all attempts to contact Elaph have failed. There's no known way to "leave a note" for him. Yelling, /showing, /praying and other fruitless attempts didn't work! We were hoping just having the crystal equipped or in inventory might have made the note theory possible, but no luck. I suppose we'll just have to wait for Elaph to show up again.

I hold a great interest in this new staff, and have been wanting it for a long time, so any news of progress on it would be greatly appreciated! Here is a picture of the crystal.

Thanks!

- Suu'ub / NNK!