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2nd Brahmarusday of High Summer, Second Age 1855

Temple of Storms

by Isenara Eiryant

3rd Qindirsday of Summer’s Dawn, Second Age 1855: We made landfall on the shores of Silvanyr, roughly two days’ march from the ruined temple we seek. The journey was mercifully uneventful, giving us time to prepare. Bahzel, ever resourceful, foraged strange edible plants along the way, bitter but sustaining. The quiet trek gave me too much time to think, Aranesi’s absence a constant ache. She’d have analyzed those plants, turned them into something useful. Without her, I’m just pushing forward towards some unclear goal, hoping action fills the void she left. I am beginning to think it was not an accident for us to find that symbol of Drustanus, perhaps this is what was meant to happen, to correct an atrocity committed millennia ago and we were simply a useful tool due to our condition. It is curious how gods and spirits pull at our strings and use us to further their own goals and yet we still worship them, hoping for some kind of a reward. Even now we are pursuing a call from Lady Aria's patron, likely calling her to demand some service. The temple awaits, and I’m ready to face it, to carve a path through whatever stands in our way.
 
5th Qindirsday of Summer’s Dawn, Second Age 1855: We entered the temple today, its icy grip immediate. A frozen gate gave way to an antechamber blasting freezing winds, followed by a bridge lashed by gales that cut to the bone. Even Talindra, usually at ease in the cold, was shivering. I passed around my coffee supplies — Daereth took to it eagerly, his eyes lighting up with each sip. I hope he doesn’t lean on it too hard; we need him sharp and not dependent on the drink. The temple’s guardian, a winter pixie, met us with a plea: shadow-blighted fae, redcaps, an ice wyrm, and two other hostile winter fae have seized control. She wants them gone, and I’m more than ready to oblige, freeing Winter from Shadow is part of our purpose after all. The fight was grueling—ethereal foes slipping through our strikes, not just ghosts but creatures half in this world, half out. We need better tools for these incorporeal threats, but we pulled through. While the others rested, I studied the temple’s ice crystals, their surfaces etched with arcane runes. I replicated the enchantments, crafting a formula to recreate their magic. Aranesi would’ve beamed at this, her pride warming me more than any fire. I did it for you, sister—your spark lives in every move I make. The victory’s bittersweet without her to share it.
Past the temple, we climbed winding stairs to a windy platform where stone islands floated, defying gravity. A cave gleamed on a distant, larger island, our goal. We leaped between them, lashing ropes to weapon-spikes for safety, crossing unscathed. Then, at the true temple, air creatures materialized, including a bizarre tornado packed with squirrels. For guests of Lady Aria, the obstacles are relentless. We fought hard, clearing the way. Aranesi would’ve theorized about those floating islands, their magic, a way to harness the elements to recreate them back at home. I just keep moving, fighting, because it’s all I have left to honor her. As if jumping over floating islands wasn't a trial enough, as soon as we entered the temple we were ambushed by a number of spirit wolves that solidified out of thin air as well as a miniature tornado filled with squirrels? What madness is this? Considering we are answering a call that Lady Aria received, we seem to be facing far too many obstacles along the way. Finally standing face to face with her patron, a seemingly powerful spirit of the realm of air, Lady Aria inquired about the purpose of the summons. It appears he wants us to create another demi-plane, because he wasn't prepared for the first one. As if it's such a simple task to just go and create new realms of existence. Well, best we can do is try what we did the first time and hope for the same result, but with the chaotic nature of the elemental realms, who knows if we will achieve the same result. I will have to study the channeling rod Aranesi made in hopes of improving the design. Every bit of advantage we can get will count.
 
1st Seojungsday of High Summer, Second Age 1855: We docked in Anorain, the summer elf port, its streets buzzing with life. Humans swarm here, far more than I expected in an elven city — likely due to Anorain’s role as a trade hub and the Summer Speaker’s push for population growth. The energy is vibrant, but it feels hollow without Aranesi’s voice to dissect it all. She’d have loved the mix of cultures, the stories in every face. Despite the Speaker's goal to indoctrinate the humans into elven culture, the situation appears to be quite the opposite. I’m just passing through though, acting where she’d have pondered. I wandered the streets, gathering what I could but finding no signs of the Sol Variar activity, ready for the next step.
 
2nd Brahmarusday of High Summer, Second Age 1855: Four days later, we reached the summer elf capital and were welcomed by the Summer Speaker. His banter with Lady Aria was sharp, laced with polite jabs, but she won him over. He granted us access to the old elven crypts, where we hope to uncover Luthais’s plans. He was hiding something, though — his charm too polished, his eyes too guarded. It seems Lady Aria is more than willing to confront him about that in private. Bold move given their relative positions, but that is one of the reasons why I follow her, if she could stop a war between two elemental realms with just a few words, convinsing the Summer Speaker to give up his secrets will be child's play.
The week before the summer holiday was spent buried in ancient tomes, hunting traces of Sol Variar. We made solid progress, but the holiday looms, forcing us to pause. Days like these hit hardest — Aranesi’s absence is a wound that won’t close. She’d have thrived between these book laden shelves, piecing together Luthais’s game. I’m fighting for both of us now, but every tome I close feels like losing her again.

Continue reading...

  1. The Expedition
    2nd Judicday to 4th Respitesday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1852
  2. Mystery of the Winter Temple
    4th Respitesday to 5th Judicday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1852
  3. Night of the Dead
    5th Vaeraleusday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1852
  4. The Beginning
    5th Amerysday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1852
  5. Home
    5th Respitesday of High Spring, Second Age 1853
  6. Ghosts and Dead Trees
    2nd Judicday of Fading Spring, Second Age 1853
  7. Far Afield
    5th Respitesday of Fading Spring, Second Age 1853
  8. Dead
    3rd Quindirsday of Summer's Dawn, Second Age 1853
  9. Wreckage
    1st Judicday of Summer's Twilight, SA 1853
  10. The Truth Revealed
    4th Amerysday of Summer's Twilight, SA 1853
  11. Of Ratmen and Skeletons
    3rd Brahmarusday of Rising Autumn, Second Age 1853
  12. The Neighbors
    1st Judicday of High Autumn, Second Age 1853:
  13. Eglasil, the Moon Elf neighbor
    3rd Respitsday of High Autumn, Second Age 1853
  14. Flames and Storms
    2nd Respitesday of High Autumn, Second Age 1853
  15. Island Ruins
    3rd Seojungsday of Autumn's Edge
  16. Ancient Discoveries
    4th Judicsday of Autumns Edge, Second Age 1853
  17. Visitors from across the Sea
    3rd Vaeraleusday of Winters Chill, Second Age 1853
  18. Lothithil Estate
    5th Seojungsday of Winters Chill, Second Age 1853
  19. Tirion Anor
    3rd Brahmarusday of High Winter, Second Age 1853
  20. Darkness Ended
    3rd Qindirsday of High Winter, Second Age 1853
  21. Unwelcome Visitors
    1st Respitesday of Winter's End, Second Age 1853
  22. War at our Doorstep
    3rd Seojungsday of Winter's End, Second Age 1853
  23. Conquest in the Dark
    5th Amerysday of Winter's End, Second Age 1853
  24. Terrors Beneath
    1st Qindirsday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1853
  25. The Journal Entry’s title
  26. The Journal Entry’s title
  27. Winter Dryad
    2nd Seojungsday of Spring's Birth, Second Age 1853
  28. The Journal Entry’s title
  29. The Journal Entry’s title
  30. Thief!
    3rd Brahmarusday of High Spring, Second Age 1853
  31. Griffons
    3rd Respitesday of Rising Autumn, Second Age 1854
  32. The Journal Entry’s title
  33. The Journal Entry’s title
  34. The Voyage
    4th Judicday of High Autumn, Second Age 1854
  35. Bri'Inis
    5th Brahmarusday of High Autumn, Second Age 1854
  36. The Journal Entry’s title
  37. The Journal Entry’s title
  38. At war with nature
    5th Amerysday of High Autumn, Second Age 1854
  39. The Longest Night
    3rd Seojungsday of High Winter, Second Age 1854
  40. The Journal Entry’s title
  41. The Journal Entry’s title
  42. Dark Ahead
    5th Vaeraleusday of High Winter, Second Age 1854
  43. The Journal Entry’s title
  44. The Journal Entry’s title
  45. The Long Death
    1st Qindirsday of Winter's End, Second Age 1854
  46. The Journal Entry’s title
  47. The Journal Entry’s title
  48. Alone among enemies
    5th Amerysday of High Spring, Second Age 1855
  49. The Journal Entry’s title
  50. The Journal Entry’s title
  51. Beneath the Waves
    5th Judicday of Summer’s Dawn
  52. Temple of Storms
    2nd Brahmarusday of High Summer, Second Age 1855
  53. Summer Games
    3rd Vaeraleusday of High Summer, Second Age 1855
  54. Energy hijacking
    3rd Qindirsday of the High Summer, Second Age 1855

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by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.045 © 2017-2025 [] | Anvil Time: 23:41, Dec 20 2025