[Xanth]

Elysian Chronicles

Welcome to Issue #017 of the Elysian Chronicles! I've switched format again (sorry) in an effort to balance the work required with helping you guys keep a finger on EF's pulse. Since I'm also sending this out as an email newsletter, I've kept it as a simple list. Feel free to leave comments as replies!

IC Catch Up

• SITE PLOT: The Dionica Crucible
  Recruitment: 14th January. Rewards: 25th February.
  High Wisdom Fay Prydwen has spent years searching for artefacts and lore that will put the Voice of Xanth back on the map. When she found evidence of an ancient ruin she believed to be the first ever temple built in Xanth's name, she sent a priest named Nikandros Phadra and several expeditioners to Dionica to explore and claim it. This party included Maaike Sullivan, Lazuli Kitay, Kiel Taskel, Aella Karakinos, Mortimer Jericho, Erasmos Eugene, Nero Seaglade and a trio of mercenaries known as Faust's Gang. Before they even made it into the temple, the explorers were forced to clean out a nest of kumo to save the bumbling priest. They also put the smack-down on another expedition, only for Faust to turn on them at the last minute and help the other group escape. They were stopped and taken to the local Watchtower, and the discoveries Prydwen's explorers made will keep the Voice busy for years to come.
  
  
• SITE PLOT??? When Hell Froze Over
  Xanth and Danae held a secret meeting to discuss a mysterious deal. What on Earth could they be up to?
  
  
• Running on a Sunny Afternoon
  In Minevas 10,011 XA, Ionia Essytia was running errands for her friend, Trent Vaughn, when she was spotted by a bounty hunter named Maaike Sullivan. Having previously run into one another while on a mountain trail, Maaike recognised Ionia but could not remember exactly where from and decided to follow her. Assuming Maaike to be working for the enigmatic Faolan, Ionia attacked, forcing Maaike to flee.
  
  
• Open Invitation
  Lazuli Kitay was invited by Guild Administrator Darren Tavera to become a Purifier in recognition of her renown as a powerful Nyad.
  
  
• Frightful
  Kiel Taskel stumbled across a corpse on the shores of Lake Sybil. His girly scream attracted the attention of Maaike Sullivan while on her way to Hesia with an unconscious bounty, leading to a misunderstanding between them before they agreed to take the body back to town.
  
  
• Reap What You Sow
  Ionia Essytia caught Mortimer Jericho and his goons in the middle of a shake-down near the Clay Pits in Hesia. Rather than call for the Knights to arrest him, she followed him to his shop to buy a few blackmarket toxins and agreed to become a supplier.
  
  
• Disturbing the Peace
  Mortimer Jericho escorted Kazuma Uemori to the Haramonds' address in Hesia so he could inform Divine Haramond of her husband's death. Once there, they found Divine hanging from a noose near the bloody corpse of Mysto Haramond. Upon hearing the name of the alleged culprit, Jericho told of a sadistic and psychotic vampire slayer named Calvin Morris who had tried to kill him for undisclosed crimes during the Scourge Wars. Kazuma is now investigating Jeremy's murder. Jericho fled the city.
  
  
• Weeds Within Soil
  Maaike Sullivan and Aiden Roy headed into the mountains to investigate a man named Paturn. After a dangerous tussle with a few guards, they found evidence of stardust and wolfsbane experiments. On questioning the only conscious guard left, they learned of a slave shipment soon to leave Vyrma. After calling Aiden's friend in the League of Protectors for help, they took the evidence for further study and left.

OOC Updates

• Welcome, Pchan!
  We welcomed new player, Pchan, and her Zanaryan character, Faris ibn Alsyad al-Espur, who has already made himself indispensable to the crew of the Artega! Pchan has paid close attention to the complexities of Zanaryan politics while creating Faris, leading to the submission of three House pages and an infographic charting alliances and rivalries.
  
  
• FEEDBACK REQUESTED: Revamping the Racial Pages
  I am currently working on making the racial profiles more concise and providing the must-know information in as brief a manner as possible. There are now three drafts ready for review: Nymphs, Zanaryans and Anyeli. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, either relating to the revamp and presentation of information or to the species themselves, now is an excellent opportunity to raise them!
  
  
• FEEDBACK REQUESTED: Cross-Site Event
  I have been in talks with the administrator of Sizael and we had an idea to host an inter-site event. Mostly centred around quests, it would provide members of both sites an opportunity to rejuvenate muses by playing in another environment. It is not intended to poach members from either site but as a bit of fun where players can make new friends, generate new quests for each site, allow members to play out storylines and with characters they might not otherwise, and basically just enjoy themselves. Each site would have an AU forum and allow guest posting (in our case through use of the NPC account) so only basic knowledge of each site's setting and lore would be required. However, we will not go ahead unless at least a couple of people on each site are interested, so please let us know if you would like to participate in an inter-site event like this.
  
  
• SURVEY: Race & Skill Survey
  
• SURVEY: Plots, Gods & Quests Survey
  
• SURVEY: Achievements, Usershops & Staff Survey
  
  
• CONTEST: Apothecary Wars
  Series, Solstice and I came up with some awesome new items for the Prize Shop throughout the Apothecary Wars contest in December and January, with Series taking a creativity bonus for his Iron Maidens.
  
  
• CONTEST: Design a Guild Challenge
  Also in January, Series and I designed some cool new organisations for you to play with, including the Monks of Shaddar, Oengunourmouryoosa and the Cult of Aleron.
  
  
• CONTEST: The March Hare
  In March, Elysians were invited to a wiki race to submit as many quality articles as possible. Liv won with a grand total of 27 pages and a personal challenge to submit one page for each letter of the alphabet!
  
  
• Help & Feedback
  The cash reward for posting in the Help & Feedback board has increased from ζ2 per post to a minimum of ζ5 per post. The amount is also now weighted so the more you say, the more you earn.
  
  
• Quest Update
  You can now claim rewards for quests whether or not they are complete if other participants have not posted in two weeks or more, as long as you have made visible efforts to finish them. I have also increased rewards given upon evaluation.
  
  
• Wiki Directives
  I have added four directives to the wiki system. You can now create (:Stub:) articles for collaborative effort and -Talk pages to discuss additions or suggestions. Articles (except for profiles) require approval before publishing.
  
  
• Wiki Updates
  2012 has been a great year for wiki submissions! You can see the full list of updates, including contest entries that have been approved, here.

Background Happenings

• The Voice of Xanth
  Since reclaiming the ruined temple at Dionica, High Wisdom Fay Prydwen and her priests have been more vocal than ever in their efforts to raise funds for new temples. Alexshire and Espur both have been open to the idea but Nubia has flatly rejected proposals. Meanwhile, Hesians have already set aside land earmarked for a series of new shrines and statues. Construction itself has been delayed by the unsolved and brutal murder of Neluín, the master Shaper hired for the work.
  
  
• Slaves Rescued
  After a COM call from Maaike Sullivan and Aiden Roy, the League of Protectors raided a warehouse in Vyrma looking for Therian slaves. The unit, led by Lersa Torguerra, took heavy damage during the rescue and more than half of the slavers escaped, but the captives were freed and returned to their families.

Coming Soon

• Summer Camp 2012
  It's almost that time again! Summer is almost here and with it comes June's month-long series of writing challenges. If you have any suggestions for themes or improvements on how I run it this time, please do not hesitate to post in Help & Feedback, shoot me a PM or email me.
  
  
• 6th EFiversary
  On the 8th of August, EF will be celebrating its sixth anniversary, so get your thinking caps on! How would you like to wish EF a happy birthday?
  
  
• SITE PLOT: Acanthan Arc
  I'm planning a major plot-line that will open Acantha as a playable area and introduce at least two new playable races. This plot will probably take place over the summer and coincide with anniversary celebrations, but may or may not be longer than previous plots like the Anorian Expedition. Please see the related surveys listed above and do not hesitate to send me any feedback or suggestions.

That's it for this issue. Until Issue #018 in August, have fun and don't be shy!