Echoes of Power, Part V: Dark Depths

Stirred to wakefulness by celestial power, another landmark flared to life off the coast of Mournhold.

Manifesting as naught but a flickering within the water, the landmark’s energies created a narrow, brilliant shaft of light that stretched from the vast skies above to the eldritch depths below. Already gathered to await the potential resurgence, several adventurers exclaimed their surprise and wonder before discussing amongst themselves how best to access the ancient artifact mired within the seafloor. Those ascendants who possessed knowledge of magic, especially aquamancy or sorcery relative to day or night, could sense the raw power emanating from the giant hourglass adrift beneath the waves. Adventurers that focused upon its energies managed to catch a glimpse of its current state: pushed upon its side and filled with mundane sand, the landmark’s energies were as inert as they were massive, making it little more than a pretty prize in its current state. Adventurers caught glimpses of the horologe’s condition several times as its latent power manifested illusory images within the column of light, leaving all of them to piece together the details from their landbound vantage point.

However, disaster struck as the Hammer and Heartwood investigated the light together.

Put on high alert by the violence throughout the month of Celes, Duiran and Enorian immediately employed force to deter the first arrivals from the Sanguine Fist and the Theocracy of the North. What ensued was a bloody battle that stretched on for most of the afternoon as the two sides once more relived the terrible brutality of elder days in the streets of Mournhold. Employing religious shrines, crystal aegises, and terrible magics, adventurers traded control of the coast multiple times before a stray spell struck some of the town’s resident jellies. Hungry for magic and highly unstable upon the Prime, the Kal Keleru natives rapidly transformed into raging ctenophores that executed unspeakable, indiscriminate violence upon both sides of the conflict, causing Mournhold’s citizens to run for cover as the creatures tore a warpath throughout the general vicinity.

Several ascendants recognised that the landmark was physically trapped within a knot of strong ocean currents throughout the raging battle and investigations, prompting some to theorise about its eventual recovery. Jhura and Yesufa, attuned to the seas through vocation and religion both, reached out into the waters with their magic as their fellows guarded their backs, prompting Xavin, Benedicto to channel magic through their Divine-anointed armaments. At the same time, Urim and Inthirath lent their aid through the power of their Slyphian astrolabes, intensifying the aquamancy with their added faith. Intent on manipulating the currents to bring the landmark to the surface, they found the work slow going – and repeatedly interrupted. Though the spellcasting circle broke apart several times amidst the rigours of warfare, they inevitably closed back in like unto inexorable tides, converging their wills upon Mournhold’s waters every time they occupied the coast and could spare a thought. Eventually, the gathered Slyphians met their match in the form of a betentacled creature that had grown fond of the landmark. Unwilling to let it float to the surface, the beast curled its tendrils around the submerged relic and tugged downward, keeping it beneath the waves at the expense of wrapping itself around the landmark to weigh it down.

Despite the creature’s determination, the hourglass awakened in full. Set on its base now so that its grains could run through it and activate its new celestial nature, the Solar Horologe underwent a glittering transformation. Aspected now as the Dawn’s Promise, the newly-transfigured sandglass pulsed in time with the Hammer’s will, its aureate frame awaiting recovery and the providence of new, pristine sand. This transformation marked a significant turning point in the battle, leaving the Lightsworn and the Heartwood satisfied with their triumph as they parted ways after one last celebratory ululation, leaving Enorian to plan the logistics of nautical hauling.

As Enorian’s influence crept through the Solar Horologe and bestowed upon it new purpose, a majestic beast took flight upon monochrome wings…

~~~~~

Summary: The Solar Horologe awoke off the coast of Mournhold, prompting adventurers to investigate. After several bloody battles alongside Duiran and multiple ctenophore rampages, Enorian managed to aspect the landmark as the Dawn’s Promise and resolved to retrieve it from the clutches of an eldritch monster that had appropriated it for their hoard via nautical expedition.

Penned by my hand on Falsday, the 2nd of Lleian, in the year 10 AC.