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TMN has received the following letter from Sawyer written in an exceedingly neat hand, without any trace of flourish or embellishment, addressed "To whom it may concern; ThoomCare"
To whom it may concern, and any interested mystics, mages, initiates, novices, etc...
As many of you know, I have made a point of studying the bloodpool: its nature, effects, and influences. My studies often lead me to spend many hours at the altar in the temple in contemplation, ritual, and even prayer (or a form of it). While such studies, up until now, have yielded only reflective silence, recently there has been a breakthrough, and I believe I have made steps closer to understanding the pool in a way perhaps more akin to how Dourin and the other Speakers seem to.
While at the altar the other day, I was able to feel--much more palpably--a vague, insatiable hunger. I had just finished returning a dozen or so Maha corpses to the pool, as Dourin informed all who would inquire that the pool hungered for Savannah Maha. And the pool had begun to hunger for Raste Winders, instead. While standing there... I could *feel* that hunger almost as if it were my own. When stretching out my mind and my focus, I inquired of the pool what to do with that hunger, after which I received an image...swirling and indistinct, snake-like forms joining and swirling and re-joining. (It was not until later discussion that I made the connection that the pool was very likely trying to *show* me the form of its craving, as it were.) It was around this time that Stinkfist arrived at the pool to ensure that I was not "going mad" and still retained my free will. After a brief exchange, we both left to collect the corpses of snakes.
Upon returning, and offering a meager handful of adders to the pool, I once again reached out my senses. Again, I could *feel* it there. A presence so vast. So much greater than a single isolated phenomenon. An ocean of blood, with a hunger as deep as mountains. It's almost as if I could see it. Stinkfist returned with his offering, and began to prance around as he often does, waving a moon manual and spouting inane gibberish in an attempt to look impressive. and did his best to make a scene, in his usual fashion, while I came up with a much more interesting offering.
Taking my bloodblade in hand, I lifted my arm and let my own blood spill into the pool. My own blood as an offering, in an attempt to satiate the insatiable. I do not believe an exile has ever been offered to our local... tributary, as it were...but my offering was accepted, and I soon collapsed into the pool. Communicated to my mind was a feeling of momentary satisfaction. And, while risky, I am pleased that my service and efforts are an acceptable offering.
Stinkfist continued to march around like some sort of annoying, flamboyant bird for some time, waving his moon manual and seeming very pleased with himself, but eventually dragged me back to town, and the bard concert, and all but forced me to relate parts of this experience to those in attendance, there.
I think there are several interesting things to note in this exchange. The nature of the way the pool communicates is illuminating, as it seems to speak through impressions, urges, simple thoughts and images. It speaks mostly of a deep hunger, and attempts to make its cravings manifest to those who seek to commune with it through the same swirling, indistinct patterns that were placed in my mind. Of note, it could be that the snake-like forms shown to me might have only coincidentally seemed like representations of actual snakes... perhaps they are something else entirely. The only way to truly know will be to continue to commune with the pool as best I can, perhaps as it craves other creatures, it will show other forms to those who seek to understand and interpret.
The pool spoke other things to my mind, as well. Things that should necessitate future conversations... future thought... One pool for all. One and many. Many and one.
There is much to think on. Much to think on, indeed. Please share this letter in your paper, if you feel it prudent, and may your path be clear.
-Sawyer the Seeker
OOC: A cleaned up and slightly color-coded log of this little event is available to any interested party. Simply approach Sawyer about her journal, or fire me a message on Discord!
Chaos Storm #1236 has swept the Lok'Groton island chain. Please post any changes you have observed and wish to share with others in the comments.
Delta Tao's "What's New" for v1236:
8/4/2021 v1236
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude
toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change
rather than allowing it to master you.
— Brian Tracy (b. 1944)
- Using a shieldstone while it is active will de-activate it.
- Added explicit /cancel and /on options to all activated bloodblade abilities (in addition to default toggle behavior).
- Bloodmages can now specify a percentage of their total health as their health limit using /set X%.
- Blood inferno now causes affected monsters to bleed when they die.
- Fixed the masking in the super advanced library.
- Inspired by the Olympics, our world gerbils have strapped on their go-fast shoes and picked up the pace: the unofficial speed bump (to 5 frames/second) that occurred in v1232 is now officially permanent.