The Harvest Moon Consortium

[Winterhawk99]

A ritual was called for in the Wealdath forest of Druids and Shamans. A dormant dark force that poisoned the ground and produced undead deep within it had reawakened. The call was made to perform a ritual to break through the veil of mystery surrounding this growing evil.

4 Shamaness and 4 druids heard the call. They gathered many defenders and went to a place near where this darkness nested. The spirit walkers were to call the spirits. The druids: nature itself to finally know what this 'Scar' was and how it did the things it does. The ritual was a disaster. As they commenced maddened animals attacked them. The trees bled, and the circle of the ritual was broken. The only thing they learned about the Scar is that there is some form of sentience within that will defend itself from magic.

The shamaness Eibhlin of the Grey Forest called a meeting of the spirit walkers to discuss this and opened it up to all learned people so that they may gain wisdom. Only one other Shamaness showed a woman who talks to stone by the name of Elithaela along with three renowned wizards of merit. What follows is a record of their meeting.

Notes on the Spirit walkers meeting:
Eibhlin

When I started the meeting the only other spirit walker that showed was Elithaela. I started by describing the ritutal.

“We went to an area called the Brambles. There were 4 spirit walkers and 4 druids among us. The spirit walkers were Silvera, Eseal, Elithaela, and I. The Druids were Dilliun, Shele, The dwarf Olvid, and Val’torin. Each put a focus in the middle of the circle, and each carved a symbol into wood.

We prayed and started the ritual meant to call our spirits so we may ask them questions about the nature of the scar. As the magic began, I touched my locket sending my mind and soul to the spirit realm.

I saw the magic of the circle being created. I saw the sprits in the distance coming to us to speak. Then a black mist cut them off and surrounded us. Realize I am seeing all of this from a different realm. I do not know what was happening in this world.

Maddened animal spirits came and attacked the defenders. One of the participants in the ritual broke the circle to fight them. The magic of the ritual was lost for a time. One touched me and I experienced the pain of the scar. Which I had experienced before. The member of the circle came back, and the magic restarted but it was much weaker and ineffective to hold the black mist at bay. I woke up sorely wounded my body broken and some defenders half carried/half dragged me from the area. That is when I heard that the trees bled in this world during the time I was in the spirit world.

Elithaela, what was your experience during the ritual?”

Elithaela: We did receive and answer, however. Perhaps just not the way we wanted, I believe.

My steady rhythm, it seems, served to protect me from the worst of it, so I did not experience pains during the ritual. I do not know if I did something wrong in not making myself vulnerable enough, or if the spirits protected me more effectively. But neither did I experience insight that my own mind and eyes could not gleam. Thus, I sought to focus on what I know, of fighting mundane blights and illnesses that often gain a foothold in the battles between positive and negative energy.

I may not know a spell that cures all, but I have made pacts with the spirits who do fight these ills, in this place, in the ensuing days.”

Some missing notes:

Varitan: Just a few decades ago I might have been more willing. Armed as I was with knowledge of the more esoteric magical practices.

Eibhlin: “I still believe our first mistake was going to close to the scar where it could sense our magic. In fact, if we did it in a place like the starlight court we may have been more protected by the gods’ favor. Though there would be a risk that the scar could feel us there too.”

Varitan: “What you are prescribing is a relatively simple divination, however.”

Eibhlin: “Yes, exactly, so why be so close to it when not needed to be?”

Elighaela: “Then we have learned that something within the scar is not merely a magic, but it has senses.”

Ylvahim: “Would you risk it now, knowing the court imperiled should mists gather anew?”

Eibhlin: “I would only risk such a venture with the tribe elder’s permission.”

Varitan: I will give these advices in turn. A divination requires specific intent to be effective. It isn’t enough to ask the question broadly; you must be specific in your goals. Which spirit, specifically, do you wish to contact as an example.”

Elithaela: “Regardless of the risk, I would not hold such a ritual anywhere near the mother tree. And I would examine the ritual site most thoroughly for signs that the scar’s presence has spread.”

Varitan: Distance occasionally plays a factor in such things, but regardless, it bears mentioning that magic is oft a two-way road. Just as you reach out, that path can be followed back. As a result, distance may not be the salve you hope for.”

Eibhlin to Elithaela: “I see the wisdom of your words Elithaela. Perhaps somewhere away altogether from the scar.” She turns to Varitan. “But we were not trying to contact the scare itself but the spirits we work with to question them on the scar. I don’t believe such a simple thing need to be so close to it.”

Varitan: “Specificity matters with such things. The Weave is sentient, and the act of spellcasting is merely a set of instructions. It might, or might not, follow.”

Hel’ thalvin: As for the Art of the Arcane we Artist use gestures, words or even both simultaneously. The weave bends under our pressure and forms till it the new shape represents the result we hope to expect. How does your Art correspond to that?

Ylvahim: Your insights aid my understanding, and I thank you.

Elithaela holds up her hand and nods toward Hel’thalvin, promising to speak more at length later, but returns her attention to Eibhlin in the moment.

Eibhlin: “The second problem with the ritual. Someone left the circle as the magic was building. They came back but the magic was already gone and had to be built up again while the scar or whatever it sent attacked us. This is I think obvious to everyone.”

Elithaela: “I know it well. Never break a circle then try the same ritual again.”

Ylvahim: “It is good the backlash did not harm the others.”

Elithaela: “I think I was protected from the backlash in this”

Eibhlin: “This was a brutal lesson for everyone attending. It nearly killed me, I think.”

Ylvahim: The energy of the ritual is greater than one body can sustain. Minds shatter under such, hearts shatter. This is always most serious.”

Varitan: A solution to this problem, given the same circumstances, would be to tighten the ritual to fewer people. It is difficult, but far from impossible, for one channeler to be replaced by another should the need arise. It was a common thing in the past. The fundamental principle, if not the specifics, should still function.”

Elighaela: “I think talents lie more with healing than with spellcraft. I remember many of the oldest ways, but these are not the new ways, and I will need to learn again.”

Eibhlin: “I believe that it attacked me first because it already knew my spirit from another encounter previously.”

Ylvahim: “Was there a stronger will than yours?”

Varitan: “Those that find themselves tired, injured, or otherwise incapacitated can be moved and replaced.”

Eibhlin: “Interesting Varitan. Thank you for your wisdom. The third problem I found was that the whole of the ritual was performed with a sense of chaos as each of us worked somewhat separately in our own styles. This needs to be corrected. We need to know each other and how each other works with spirits. So, we may work better as one and with one thought. In fact, Iramir suggested something about this.

Elithaela: “Be careful with Iramir. The secrets of how the druids work their magic are secret for a reason. And druidic magic stops working when these details are shared. He asks too much of us to be placed as an empirical judge of druidic magic. Best a druid does this.”

Ylvahim: “This I know well. Once, I thought myself a hunter. Now, I know myself an arrow in a greater quiver.”

Eibhlin: His suggestion and the way he explained things to me is that when the mages perform a ritual, they have one central leader that takes and molds the magic with purpose so that there is one thought and goal. The leader is the one who truly guides the ritual and keeps its focus. I suggest that if we ever perform a ritual as spirit walkers, we choose a leader that works with the spirits closest to the thing we want and perhaps focus our efforts and magic into them instead of each one doing their own thing.”

Ylvahim: “Thus I asked, Was there one with greater will than your own?”

Varitan: “That would be dangerous.”

Eibhlin: “And secondly we should have regular meetings like the conclave so that each of us know each other and how we work with spirits since we are very individualistic in how we work with them.”

Ylvahim: “There will be a leader, chosen or not. The first to feel the change, the first to direct.”

Varitan: “Suggesting that one person mold the power of seven others? I do not think it wise or safe.”

Eibhlin: “Ok, what would you suggest then Varitan for these types of things?”

Varitan: “Well, you said yourself. You all did not have a solid plan for how this was to be done. There seem to h ave been many conflicting methodologies in play, and this may have contributed. Merely having a plan and methodology that all present agree to follow is a fine enough substitute. There are other avenues, but I would be hesitant to attempt them without some manner of trial first.”

Eibhlin: “that makes sense.”

Varitan: “That being said. There are a number of accomplished diviners amongst us. We could, perhaps, link your minds together as on telepathically. It would be dangerous, however, and I do not know if we are truly capable. But the principles are sound.”

Elithaela: “It is better to teach a druid of the science than druidic magic to a scientist. For science does not stop working when it becomes known.”

Ylvahim: If four call their own spirits to share thought, we but need for them not to quarrel?”

Elighaela: That is a risk, Ylvahim. For spirits work together through the call of mortals, and not often with each other.”

Ylvahim: “Did you choose grand ritual to compel answers not given to one?”

Elithaela: “It would be like asking a wolf and a deer to sit down and get along. The wolf will try to eat the deer. The deer will try to buck the wolf. I tried to make the question very specific, assuming this would be difficult. Asking for truth is exhaustive. Asking for yes, no, and noun-filled answers is easier. Asking for feelings can pass. Or used to pass.”

Eibhlin: “We were looking for answers from the spirits on the nature of the scar not to give answers. They know much more but are afraid or prevented from speaking to us singularly. I have tried many times with the trees to my determinant.”

Hel’thalvin: It is still in question if our concept of the art is combinable with yours.”

Varitan: “It’s all still weave magic. The fundamental forces and limitations still apply, even if the methodology changes.”

Elighaela: “Any time drudic magic has been attempted to be reproduced in arcane ways, in my memory, it has simply failed to work. It would be akin to. Demanding that the gods bend the knee. It is quite rude to ask.”

Hel’thalvin: “The way steams of energy flow, is intensity. The way how it behaves when spells fail. How the spirits react. The medium is similar, I agree.”

Ylvahim: "It is possible to drum on a lute. Its strings will not sound as sweet, but music is born all the same.”

Eibhlin: “I am glad I left this meeting open so that learned men and woman from other disciplines could discuss this and add their views.”

Elighaela: “Reproducing the steps to produce magic is right out. Bonds are needed. Pacts must be formed. This is different than breathing phosphor to fire and commanding light.”

Ylvahim: “Have you used a focus?”

Eibhlin: “I think we have gained much insight. Though some of this may lead down rabbit holes some may be of great importance.”

Elithaela: “This ritual used a focus for every participant. I am not sure that was wise, but I was able to send my own.”

Eibhlin: “We did have a focuses, and that is true Elithaela.”

Ylvahim: “I speak of one, a solitary vessel to channel the full charge of your intent.”

Elithaela: “As many as there were participants. Not one. This was new to me, yet I did not question it, for I thought it the new way of magic in these times.”

Ylvahim: “Perhaps you find it easier to translate different methods to a singular vibration that way.

Eibhlin: “Now knowing how badly we failed everything needs be questioned.”

Varitan: “Rigor can be a difficult thing to teach to those already learned of the Arts, regardless of their origin. Planning should be amongst the most major concerns, as I see you have deduced from this meeting.”

Elithaela: “The old ways, the old plans, the old methods, I know. And the stones have always spoken to me. Just never in this way. I worry that the old ways are remembered only as pacts, not as truth-in-magic. I worry that I wear down their strength, asking.”

Eibhlin: “The trees talk to me the same however each forest is different and unique. As you know Elithaela. It can be hard to deal with them at times.”

Elithaela: “We asked the stones and the trees, and though we asked of their pain, they answered. What can we glean from their answers?”

Eibhlin: “I think I would ask now in this meeting each sprit walker give a bit about themselves and how they operate so that others would know. Completely voluntary but I think necessary if we are to work together again.”

Elithaela: “The knowledge, among druids is forbidden to non-druids. Spirit walkers such as us only have the freedom to answer this question.”

Eibhlin: “If you wish privacy, Elithaela we can do this. And I would prefer it myself.”

Elithaela: “I can share some. I just do not want to disappoint you.”

Ylvahim: “Walk together. Work together.”

Eithaela: *holds up a worn worry stone* “This is a fossil of a friend of mine, a stone spirit who insists that he was a tailor in a past life. I am unsure if this is a joke, for he insists that he has ‘seen some shirts. He has a penchant for jokes. About anything. Riddles too. He is always eager to share when prompted. I speak to him often. He grows quiet, since the ritual. I asked him to speak on our behalf, to the spirits and I do not know what bothers him. Just that he offers greater boons than before but never asks me why anymore. I miss his chirping. I miss our chats. I miss the way that he holds everything in the world as some private jest, meant to sweeten our friendship. The magic I command is stronger. But I worry that some magic was lost.”

Ylvahim: “Loneliness is a stranger to few. Loss is something we gain. I hear your ache.”

Eibhlin: “I guess it’s my turn. I come from a long line of shamaness boing back millennia. All the way back to the early Eaerlann kingdom from the far north if I said that rightly. The pact has been given from mother to daughter in an unbroken chain as a totem, or pact with the trees of the world. I only speak to one type of spirit: The spirits of the trees. Trees do not move therefore I must hibernate and send my own mind and spirit to them on the ethereal plane while my body lays at rest.

Because my spirits are specific, I have many taboos I must adhere too. I am a totemic shamaness and we tend to be more specific in our ways and dealing with spirits. We each carry a symbol of our pact with our spirits. It is a conduit to speak and commune with them as far as I know. The tree spirits, at least that I know. are some of the wisest of things in both worlds. Old but difficult to deal with for their wisdom and age is so great it is sometimes incomprehensible to me with only a bare fraction of their experience.”

Ylvahim: “Long wisdom is drawn through the roots, a wide web few could begin to understand.”

Eibhlin: “You would be correct, Ylvahim. Both a gift and a burden for me but I knew this when I accepted their pact. So now both Elithaela and I know each other better hopefully we may be able to work together more closely.”

Elithaela: “You know much of my way. Not every story, but….”

Eibhlin: “And you me. Thank you for sharing.”

Elithaela: “And you as well.”

Eibhlin: “As I said I had hoped more spirit walkers would participate. This meeting was full of insight for me. This might indeed be a means to secure future success.