Link to primary sources: https://www.rprepository.com/events/epicweek/2021/library
In the year 580 of the Basilisk, an archeological dig headed by the dwarf Dumdutain Earthbrand discovers an ancient city, perfectly preserved in the middle of daily life. Earthbrand theorizes that the find is old, from well before the current era - possibly the Era of the Sphinx, or even the Era of Dawning. At first, they think that the entire town was turned to stone by a creature like a medusa or a curse, but they quickly establish that the city was buried in volcanic ash.
Earthbrand writes to their friend Qrowet, the Royal Geologist, asking if she has any thought as to what might have preserved a whole city. Qrowet finds the phenomen so interesting that she leaves a vacation with her family to come see the dig site.
Together, Earthbrand and Qrowet determine that the cause of the city's preservation was a sudden volcanic eruption, which buried the city in rock and ash in a split second, preserving everyone who was there. Qrowet quickly tracks the source of the eruption across the Kudos Mountains to Mount Ovation, and makes the discovery that Mount Ovation is in fact still an active volcano, and due to erupt by the end of the decade, an eruption "of a scale that could erase us." Upon making this discovery, Qrowet writes a letter to an unknown recipient (nobles? Royals? The Defense Committee?) urging them to take some action to stop the eruption.
Subsequently, The Defense Committee orders the creation of The Order of Volcanic Tranquility, and tap Eladun, the head of the Chromatic Council of Wizards to lead it. The Order is tasked with finding a way to avert the impending eruption.
Eladun accepts the appointment, and quickly calls upon a range of other magic users from a variety of backgrounds to also join the order and work on this project with him.
The Order pursues a number of different potential magical solutions, eventually deciding that they will create 3 different seals around the sides of Mount Ovation. Each of the three seals will employ a different strategy to tame the volcano, in the hopes that the three spells working together will be enough. In order to obtain enough long-term magical power to run these enchantments, they decide to tap into the power of the volcano itself. Several members of the order raise alarms that the math doesn't work out, and the volcano will provide so much power to the spells that there will be many unintended consequences. Eladus insists that he has the experience to make it work, and to trust him.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the Order, Eladus has struck a deal with a necromancer, Inilorh Moonfall, to use up the excess power by packing the caverns around and under Mount Ovation with corpses. All the excess power will be used to animate these corpses indefinitely. Eladus and Inilorh seal the zombie horde into the mountain together. Eladus states in his journal that, "If we fill the caverns surrounding Ovation with the undead, the power required to keep them animated can be absorbed. If the spell is well-maintained, no one will ever know what I have agreed to. If the balance of the spell fails, the dead will batter their way out of their tombs. Ligorin doesn’t think that I heard her about the need for warnings to future generations, but I did. When they trace back the source of this plague, they will find the enchantments - and the volcano - that they have forgotten. May it be enough warning for future civilizations. May the Genres forgive me."
Indeed, the strategy seems to have worked, as the first warnings the RPR receive in the present of a problem with Mount Ovation is zombies and skeletons escaping from their caverns and driving those living around the mountain out of their homes.
In the year 580 of the Basilisk, an archeological dig headed by the dwarf Dumdutain Earthbrand discovers an ancient city, perfectly preserved in the middle of daily life. Earthbrand theorizes that the find is old, from well before the current era - possibly the Era of the Sphinx, or even the Era of Dawning. At first, they think that the entire town was turned to stone by a creature like a medusa or a curse, but they quickly establish that the city was buried in volcanic ash.
Earthbrand writes to their friend Qrowet, the Royal Geologist, asking if she has any thought as to what might have preserved a whole city. Qrowet finds the phenomen so interesting that she leaves a vacation with her family to come see the dig site.
Together, Earthbrand and Qrowet determine that the cause of the city's preservation was a sudden volcanic eruption, which buried the city in rock and ash in a split second, preserving everyone who was there. Qrowet quickly tracks the source of the eruption across the Kudos Mountains to Mount Ovation, and makes the discovery that Mount Ovation is in fact still an active volcano, and due to erupt by the end of the decade, an eruption "of a scale that could erase us." Upon making this discovery, Qrowet writes a letter to an unknown recipient (nobles? Royals? The Defense Committee?) urging them to take some action to stop the eruption.
Subsequently, The Defense Committee orders the creation of The Order of Volcanic Tranquility, and tap Eladun, the head of the Chromatic Council of Wizards to lead it. The Order is tasked with finding a way to avert the impending eruption.
Eladun accepts the appointment, and quickly calls upon a range of other magic users from a variety of backgrounds to also join the order and work on this project with him.
The Order pursues a number of different potential magical solutions, eventually deciding that they will create 3 different seals around the sides of Mount Ovation. Each of the three seals will employ a different strategy to tame the volcano, in the hopes that the three spells working together will be enough. In order to obtain enough long-term magical power to run these enchantments, they decide to tap into the power of the volcano itself. Several members of the order raise alarms that the math doesn't work out, and the volcano will provide so much power to the spells that there will be many unintended consequences. Eladus insists that he has the experience to make it work, and to trust him.
Unbeknownst to the rest of the Order, Eladus has struck a deal with a necromancer, Inilorh Moonfall, to use up the excess power by packing the caverns around and under Mount Ovation with corpses. All the excess power will be used to animate these corpses indefinitely. Eladus and Inilorh seal the zombie horde into the mountain together. Eladus states in his journal that, "If we fill the caverns surrounding Ovation with the undead, the power required to keep them animated can be absorbed. If the spell is well-maintained, no one will ever know what I have agreed to. If the balance of the spell fails, the dead will batter their way out of their tombs. Ligorin doesn’t think that I heard her about the need for warnings to future generations, but I did. When they trace back the source of this plague, they will find the enchantments - and the volcano - that they have forgotten. May it be enough warning for future civilizations. May the Genres forgive me."
Indeed, the strategy seems to have worked, as the first warnings the RPR receive in the present of a problem with Mount Ovation is zombies and skeletons escaping from their caverns and driving those living around the mountain out of their homes.
Characters
Members of the Order of Volcanic Tranquility
- Eladus - Former head of the Chromatic Council of Wizards. Went on sabbatical from that position after being assigned by the Royal Defense Committee to become head of the newly minted Order of Volcanic Tranquility. Uses he/him pronouns.
- Ligorin the Azure - one of the oldest serving members of the Chromatic Council, both in terms of membership time and in her age. She is also one of the most highly credentialed Wizards in all of the RPR, with degrees from Yoxelts, Erodwiths and Bogsarth. A long-time friend and collaborator of Eladus. Uses she/her pronouns.
- Rhozora the Seer - A seer consulted by monarchs about matters relating to famine and illness. Seems to float constantly, and to glow from within with the light of the stars. Agender and asexual, but not aromantic - forms a relationship with Usim during zir service on the Order of Volcanic Tranquility. Uses Ze/Zir pronouns.
- Usim "the Fire Heart" Motenad - Well known and beloved battle mage, with an affinity for fire magic. Wears gold and black armor, with fire motifs etched on it. Falls in love at first sight with Rhozora. Uses he/him pronouns.
- Artificer Basia Emnunydae - known for the wide array of magical traps that she has invented for the defense of sorcerer’s towers, including an expansive labyrinth surrounding one of the archives of the Chromatic Order. Uses she/her pronouns.
- Liri Starsprout - Half-fae druid, apparently with no formal training but widely regarded in the herbalism community as the most complete and reliable source in the land of the Repository for information on spell components that can be grown, found or foraged. Uses they/them pronouns.
Other Important Characters
- Dumdutain Earthbrand - Lead Archeologist on a dig in Welcomeville, who discovers evidence of a catastrophic volcanic eruption in the past. Uses she/her pronouns.
- Qrowet - Royal Geologist, she/her pronouns
- Inilorh Moonfall the Bone Singer - Necromancer, she/her pronouns.
Lore Wiki » Epic Weeks » Epic Week 2021 » Research Library » Plot Overview