faderiftorg | PROJECT: Elven Artifacts

PROJECT: Elven Artifacts

PROJECT

ELVEN ARTIFACTS

Evidence indicates that Corypheus has taken an interest in ancient elven ruins—and even if he hadn't, eluvians and other ancient artifacts could be powerful tools for whoever holds them. The Inquisition will be devoting some of its personnel to searching for these ancient mysteries and making sure they do not fall into the wrong hands.

DIVISION: Scouting
LEADER: Sorrelean Ashara
ASST. LEADER: n/a	STATUS: Active

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Reports for project-relevant research, missions, etc., can be filed here. The provided form is a template; feel free to add additional fields if you need them.

SUBJECT: Elven ruins on the island near Llomerryn
PARTICIPANTS: Senior Warden Loghain Mac Tir, Wardens Inessa Serra and Anders Howe, Jehan Mercier, Valentine de Fonce
DATE FILED: Upon return from the voyage.
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: An exploration team ventured into a hidden chamber within the elven ruins on the deserted island near Llomerryn, where we identified the remains of a broken Eluvian, an ancient and eroded map of Thedas, and a spirit of unknown origin. Our party made diagrams of the map and took as many pieces of the broken Eluvian with us as was possible. We did not engage the spirit.

REPORT: ...In addition, I made the following observations: the architecture of the ruin was riddled with blue lyrium veins. They did not appear corrupted to my uneducated eye, but given the close proximity of these ruins to the red lyrium-tainted sea serpents, I fear it is only a matter of time before it spreads. The map on the chamber floor seemed to have some correlation to the Eluvian on the far wall. If you reference the attached diagram, I infer that these green lines indicate points of connection, pathways, between different Eluvians across Thedas. The spirit within the ruin indicated that the ruins themselves were built by the elves who reached the island via the Eluvian, but then were unable to leave again once they had arrived.

Given the many hallucinations we were all given over to during the course of our visit to the ruins, it became clear to me that this spirit was the source. However, as none within the party had ever encountered such an entity before, and as it was neither aggressive nor interested in engaging us in combat, I elected to simply gather what intelligence we could from the ruin and leave it be. I accept culpability for this decision.

NOTES & LINKS: The log. (Included in this report are also copies of the diagrams made by Jehan and Val. The shards of the Eluvian were delivered separately.)

SUBJECT: Investigating the Blackmarsh
PARTICIPANTS: Inessa Serra, Anders, Kain Ventfort, Melys, Myrobalan Shivana, Loghain Mac Tir
DATE FILED: Harvestmere 9:43
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Basically, Anders spoke to Inessa about his misadventure in the Blackmarsh with Warden-Commander Cousland, and the trap that the First laid for them. Namely, an orb that brought them to the Fade. So, they went to retrieve it in hopes of understanding Corypheus' orb better/gaining an advantage for the Inquisition.

REPORT: In Harvestmere of 9:43 Dragon, I gathered a team to enter the Blackmarsh, an abandoned and cursed area once explored by the Hero of Ferelden. It was brought to my attention by Anders that one of the encountered darkspawn possessed an orb which brought Warden-Commander Cousland and his companions to the Fade. As it sounded quite similar to the orb Corypheus bears, I thought it worth investigation. Anders joined the team, as he was familiar with the area, and his knowledge proved invaluable.

The Baroness and the Queen of the Blackmarsh that had terrorized the area before remained defeated, though issues persisted in the Blackmarsh itself. Blight wolves still roam the area, and the dead. The Veil there is unstable and perilously thin, prompting the Fade to bleed into the physical realm and form visions of the area's past. They were unsettling but at least in once instance rather useful, as we were able to witness the incident of which Anders had spoken about, regarding the orb. The largest threat to the area was the rift, which proved difficult to seal even with two shardbearers. It was akin to attempting to sew a rip in cloth which is falling apart; pull the edges back too hard and a new tear forms nearby. So it was with our first attempt to seal the rift. Only through focusing on both simultaneously were we able to succeed.

Afterward, it was Anders who recovered the orb. Its description seems to match both Anders' memories and what we have been told of Corypheus' orb, and though intact it remains inert at this time. Further research will be needed to determine its capabilities. I will turn it over to this project, though given our mutual interest in its potential, my own stands ready to assist.

NOTES & LINKS: Log and map

SUBJECT: Best Served Old
PARTICIPANTS: Morrigan, Iorveth
DATE FILED: Justinian 31
STATUS: Ongoing
SUMMARY:
Morrigan and Iorveth investigated the Orlesian trend of digging up ancient elven corpses for use in foods, as Orlesians are wont to do because they have incredible judgement at all times. Finding where the operation was run and all that these remains were said to cure, they did their utmost to convince them that no it's not going to cure all your maladies.

Without hurling spells or firing arrows because the picture of restraint, both of them.

REPORT:
If you wish an education in ill-advised combinations of the medicinal and the culinary by way of Orlais, refer to the attached note. Perhaps not whilst eating, I would not recommend unless you wish to sample the remedies yourselves.

We arrived in Orlais and found what we sought with little trouble, and sought to investigate where they were carrying out these ghastly works - I have seen those using elven blood for power before, and rifling through their ruins and graves, but to devour them in such a manner is a new and disturbing trend, perhaps some might comment on the politics but that is not why we were sent.

Of course anyone with an ounce of sense will know that eating the ashes of the dead will not cure a damned thing, 'tis remarkable none of them died from their consumption in the first place.

Our actions to dissuade them from further consuming the corpses was rather direct but given the desecration of ancient elven bodies and the sites they had taken them from, there was no other way. Iorveth spoke to those gathered while I feigned disgust with proceedings and left that I might utilise my shapeshifting. A most cunning ruse that would not have worked without one gifted and passionate in words such as he, you could not have sent a better team.

A stinging swarm rising from a corpse is a powerful deterrent even to the most foolish amongst them.

Signed,
Morrigan & Iorveth

NOTES & LINKS: log
Attached is a pamphlet Morrigan picked up and brought back describing some of the preparations for the corpses. It's not pleasant reading.

SUBJECT: Mythal
PARTICIPANTS: Morrigan;
Stage i; Korrin Ataash, Ellana Ashara, Thranduil, Alistair Theirin, The Medicine Seller, Kit
Stage ii; Thranduil, Myrobalan Shivana, Herian Amsel, The Medicine Seller
Stage iii; Alistair Theirin, Gwenaëlle Baudin, Thranduil
DATE FILED: End August
STATUS: Ongoing
SUMMARY:
For a long time Morrigan has been haunted by her mother and has sought to track her down, given her reputation for involvement in events that shape the ages. Beginning where she last saw her in the Korcari Wilds, Morrigan was set on a differing path: to look further back into the old legends of the Chasind, of what the constellations were once named, and then to the Tirashan where wild elves roamed. There she uncovered Geldauran's Claim of what the gods were and with more pieces assembled after her discussions, realised what her mother might truly be.

It was some time after that her son was kidnapped from Sundermount, prompting a rescue and confrontation with the woman who was not simply Flemeth but also the vessel of Mythal, an ancient elven god who had been here all this time, shaping history.

REPORT:
None of this is easy to write. I do not imagine this will provide comfort for those who read it and am well aware of all that will come of this; I will deliver this news to the Inquisition myself, once all has calmed down. But I was there in the end.

Let me say it this way: I set out to hunt down my mother. Flemeth, Witch of the Wilds, Mother of Vengeance to the Chasind, Asha'bellanar to the Dalish. You might have heard tales of her, and I had reasons of my own but at the outset, I believed her to be a danger.

When Sundermount where last she was sighted prior to my taking leave of her gave no answers, I returned with a group to the Korcari Wilds and to the Chasind who gave her one name and long ago learnt magic from her where their shaman spoke to us. 'Twas...of the the weight of vengeance, the price to be paid for it as well as speaking of dragons, that the sky splits itself, and then of Tevinter coming and how Silence is not what it was; Silentir, once, was said to by Mythal's constellation. That it was not the Old God of Silence or a dragon in flight but scales.

The shaman said I looked in the wrong place, and so I went to the dark of the Tirashan where the whispers were of elves who did not worship the Creators. Instead they offered up prayers to something else. A full copy has been submitted with this report but this line in particular struck me: There are no gods. There is only the subject and the object, the actor and the acted upon. Those with will to earn dominance over others gain title not by nature but by deed.

And I wondered, when I asked the Inquisition: what is a god? Do we create it?

And I looked to a book I had taken from my mother many years ago when she had been slain - or so I had thought, so we all had thought - that bore the symbol of Mythal and I knew. For there was a ritual at the Altar of Mythal at Sundermount where Flemeth appeared and yet at that time she had not yet been slain...

But the last was-- she took my son. She took my son when she lured him to that very site, and I knew of another site in the Arbor Wilds dedicated to Mythal, and so we went there. She told us. She told us who she was. That my mother is some fragment of Mythal that has survived until now, no spirits or demons at all involved in any of the tales but one of the Creators. My own mother. Fortunately my son was returned, I...I cannot say what she wanted of him only that she is cruel. That she knew it would bring me to her at last. Mythal the mother goddess is no mother, she is cruel and vindictive and wicked, she raised me, I know her for what she is. But she is real, those who were there will very much vouch what they all saw and I have submitted all the notes I have collected this past year that have brought me to this.

Perhaps look to where Flemeth has shaped or nudged at history with a sharper eye: Maric, Cousland, Hawke.

She is alive. In some fashion. And she has been for such a long time. She wishes vengeance for the wrong brought upon Mythal, and for that, I would beware.

-- Morrigan

NOTES & LINKS:
Masterpost of all Flemythal hunt related nonsense
Stage i
Stage ii
Stage iii
A copy of Geldauran's Claim previously talked around on the sending crystals found in the Tirashan elf camp
Extra note: Flemythal is in possession of the Old God Soul but this detail is not being divulged (as it would reveal too much about Kieran, Morrigan + Alistair, the Wardens) so no one outside that little group knows any of that!

SUBJECT: The Jailbreak Jitterbug
PARTICIPANTS: Sorrell, Merrill
DATE FILED: early Harvestmere
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Someone had to convince Merrill to let her use her eluvian. Bless.

REPORT:
Sorrell,

Of course you can use my eluvian for the mission! Just remember - I get to go with!

-Merrill

NOTES & LINKS: The Convo

SUBJECT: Potential artifact in the Dales
PARTICIPANTS: Kostos, Pietro, Solas
DATE FILED: Now, late IC due to recent events and procrastination
STATUS: Complete
SUMMARY: Three mages wandered around an Orlesian village asking about a curse and getting doors slammed in the faces before zeroing in on a haunted stump and rehoming an angry spirit, like you do.

REPORT:
Solace 15-18, Roussillon, Orlais.

Not an artifact. Possessed tree roots.

Rumors of stillbirths and illness are likely true, but unless the Inquisition intends to stoop to weaponizing demons to cause miscarriages, which would be ~~fucking~~ abhorrent, further investigation into the connection seems irrelevant. If you disagree I would strongly recommend sending Orlesian humans to handle it.

The spirit was returned to the Fade to prevent someone from having too many feelings about it. Future rumors of people being thrashed to death in the woods by an angry tree will also be likely true.

You can have the stump.

—K. Averesch

NOTES & LINKS: Log. And he did indeed bring back the parts of the stump that could be dug up (though a lot of the roots were left behind) with all of the dirt still attached.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

PROJECT: Elven Artifacts

REPORTS

Forms & Information

no subject

no subject

Best Served Old

no subject

The Jailbreak Jitterbug

Haunted roots