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Quest for the Umbral Archives. Or any other names you want to use here. This is an outline/framework that you can use to build a quest for an RPG group or as a starting point/outline for a story if you want. I might try building a story with this later. Anyway to undertake this Voyage/Quest you will need a few things. Being insane is often listed. Although there is some debate about this actually being a requirement. An individual or group with some reason to make the trip. So, let's take a moment to consider reasons for wanting to go there. Which in turn requires knowing what the place has to offer. Mostly it offers knowledge. Including the knowledge of how to become a Shade. A rather surprising number of sages and scholars have sought this knowledge; for actual use and not just academic coursity; over the ages. Or maybe it's not so surprising if you think about it. Of the various types of undead one might consider becoming Shades are the best suited to the purpose of continuing academic activities free from the distractions of being alive. No need to eat or sleep. No worries about getting sick or dieing of old age before you finish studying your chosen subject. This has inturn lead to the creation of the Umbral Archives. All that research and knowledge has to be stored somewhere. And that somewhere is on the Demiplane of Shadow. Where exactly? Well, that's rather hard to say as things on the plane of Shadows tend to wander around, rather a lot actually. Fortunately there is a way to travel directly to the Umbral Archives. A few different ways actually. If you have the aid of someone who knows the place well and/or has made the trip often. They can lead you there by way of the Plane of Shadows or a Teleport spell. Unfortunately people who know the way and are available to act as guides are extremely hard to find. However there is another option. Apart from just blundering about the Plane of Shadows and hoping. And that option is a ship known as the Shadow. The Shadow is said to make port at the Umbral Archives regularly. However it is not known to make port anywhere else. And finding a captain willing to take you out to meet the Shadow is not exactly easy. The Shadow, the Umbral Archives, anyone who wants to go there, or even talk about it, are all things most people consider to be bad luck. Or rather, talking about it: bad luck, actually seeing the Shadow: BAD LUCK. Although enough money, including the price of Blessings from a Priest and many lucky charms and talismans, can convince some captains to make the trip. Make sure you have a reliable way of determining a person's true intent. As more than half the captains who say that they will take you to the Shadow are going to try to kill you and toss you overboard as soon as you are out of sight of land. One of the other challenges is finding an Orical who can tell you when/where the find the Shadow. I'll cover the details of how to board and travel on the Shadow later.

Some people and places of interest in the City of the Shademakers. Grayhall Academy. Because of the number of living people in the City it was decided that a school system was needed. Along the way the Academy grew from a basic school into an Adventurer's Guild. Anne of Grayhall. Head mistress of Grayhall Academy. And wife of Jonathan Appleblack. Jonathan Appleblack. The current Supreme Shadow. It is worth noting that Jonathan has been the Supreme Shadow for a few hundred years now. And that Anne married Jonathan because she wanted to be with him. His being Supreme Shadow was just a job he had as far as she was concerned. It's also rumored that Anne does as much of the job of Supreme Shadow as Jonathan. Jonathan manages to remain Supreme Shadow mostly by ruling with a firm and fair hand. And organizing things so that he has to as little ruling as possible.

While I have spoken of the Varna elsewhere I want to take the time to cover them in more detail here and briefly touch on the ChoKa; which I will deal with more fully later. Choka are what Varna tadpoles turn into if not implanted. The Varna, as noted elsewhere, are created from modified Thulian larvae to serve as spies and assassins. That is only partly true now that the Varna are trying to become a free people in their own right. An effort which is likely futile, as will be seen as we look at the different types of Varna a the success rate of the Morphoses process. The success rate for Varna morphosis is basically the same as for Thuliens that are becoming Illith. Which is to say about 25% become Varna. 25% die.(no splits here). Kulls are basically just a failure with the victim gaining knowledge from the Varna. It is unclear if a Kull of this type would be able to leave their former body and/or become a Gree later on as there are no confirmed reports of anyone actually escaping in this state. Shulls are still Shulls. Although it is believed that there are potions that effectively allow a Shull to finish the morphosis process later. So technically a close to 50% success rate because of Shulls of this type being able to finish later. type two Varna are basically type ones after they reach a certain size. The growth process can be slowed by taking certain potions but this tends to have the inconvenient side effect of binding the Varna to its Husk. Type two Varna(hereafter called Gree) can undergo a morphosis process and become a fully adult Thulien (also referred to as an Elder.) Such Adults seem to be no different than ones that took a different life path. although there are some reports that Gree Elders produce eggs that hatch into about equal numbers of regular and Varna tadpoles. It is unclear if the morphosis from Gree to Elder is something that simply happens at some point or if some potion is needed to trigger the process. In interest point to consider in light of rumors that the Varna are seeking to become a separate species. Given that Varna who have reached the Gree stage can create more Varna by way of a morphosis causing injection they could have an independent life cycle. Assuming the Morphosis from Gree to Elder is a triggered rather than a spontaneous event. And even if spontaneous there could be potions that could be used to block it. It is worth noting that Gree are also able to lay eggs which will become Thulien tadpoles. It is unclear if these tadpoles are Varna or regular Thulien tadpoles or a mix. As Choka, Cephalarack, and, Illith are not particularly desirable to the Varna they have no particular reason to lay eggs.

I was just rereading this and noticed that I never actually got around to saying what Varna look like. Now obviously while a Varna is wearing a husk you don't get to see it. That is rather the point after all. But when a Varna is out on its own Type ones look like a floating brain with a bunch of jellyfish like tendrils dangling beneath it. It's not entirely clear what the tendrils are for. Given that it has a psi-blast ability for defense and offense if needed. And telekinesis for moving objects. Type twos also look like a floating brain just larger. Type ones are the size of a normal brain while type twos are about 3 feet long by about 2 feet high and wide. Main body, with octopus like tentacles about 3 feet long hanging below. Type twos also have a stinger like appendage at the rear near the brainstem. Type twos are able to produce spawn by injecting a victim with whatever compounds are produced by their stinger. While it was previously believed that type twos were basically type ones who had grown too big to continue wearing a husk. This seems to no longer be the case as there are now reports of type twos (hereafter refered to as Grees ) displaying the body compression ability similar to that seen in Seku. More on this as information becomes available.

Let's start out in the wilderness where you have roaming bands of Barbarians and maybe a small village now and then. Out here it's mostly a bartar system and the closest thing to money is wampam beads. One Bead is equal to a Copper pice in terms of buying power. A String of 10 Beads; A Silver And a Bundle of 10 Strings; A Gold You won't find anything for sale at more than 5 Bundles . Or at least not very often. People out here want things they can use. An odd qwerk of this is that you might be able to trade a couple of well polished Copper pieces for a String while not being able to get more than a Bead or two for a tarnished Silver piece. And on the flip side of this you might be able to sell a single Bead for a couple of Gold. To the right Collector. Such trades are rare and typically not repeatable, but well worth keeping in mind if you get the chance. In Towns on the edge of the Wilds you can usually find someone who will be able to swap Coins for Beads and back again at the Bead for Copper rate. For a small service fee of course. Another place where you are likely to encounter off beat Money is in the Goblin Quarter of Cities that are large trading hubs. Here you might encounter Iron Bits, Iron pieces (8 Bits to the Piece ) Ceramic pieces, Guild Marks, etc. Pieces and Marks are usually about the same value as a Copper pice. If you venture into these places keep your Silver close and don't let anyone even think you have Gold unless you are so obviously powerful that no one would dare mess with you. In Civilized places the Money goes like this: 10 Copper pieces to the Silver 10 Silver to the Gold 10 Gold to the Electrum 10 Electrum to the Platinum 10 Platinum to the Krystal (Yes the 1K piece being 1000 Gold is totally on purpose.) So basically standard D&D/Fantasy world Money with the Krystal pice being the notable addition. Krystal pieces are made from Gem jell mixed with diamond dust a catalyst and a bit of magic to trigger the reaction.

By the Light of the Witch Moon Under Eldritch Skys By Balefire's Glow To Ride the Neither Winds. To Plant the Dragon's Teeth. Title ideas for stories linked to the Finial Days of Horkuna. The basic idea is an Earth like world Magic or maybe Psi Abilities are rare and mistrusted in most places This world has a second Moon. Small with an odd orbit and little effect on the tides and such. Barley visible to most people. But to those who have the Mage/Witch sight a full Witch Moon is as bright as a regular full Moon. Nights when the Witch Moon is full and the regular Moon is Dark are seen as Ill-omened by most. Which becomes a self fulfilling sort of thing. Because a night when honest folks stay home is naturally a night when those up to no good are going to be more active. General outline is one or more Gifted/Cursed as the main character and somewhere along the way they discover something that is a major threat to their world and because of their abilities they are the only ones who can stop it and save the world.

While exploring an abandoned house You find a research lab belonging to someone who has been exploring the Backrooms. Notebooks, Maps, Weapons, Supplies, and Gear for finding your way in, out, and around. The last entry in the main Notebook is dated three weeks ago. What do you do? I've been toying with some ideas as to what the Backrooms could be used for if someone had a way of finding/opening/closing entry/exit points both from the "real" world side and from within the Backrooms themselves. There are Lurkers. But I'm still working out what they are. Where they come from. Why they are there. Ect. Use ideas include hiding, smuggling, making just about anything one could need a reason to keep hidden.

Some notes about the City itself. As noted elsewhere The City of the Shademakers is located in the Plane of Shadows. It's not entirely clear just when, why, how the place got started but the general drift of the story goes something like this. A group of scholars/sages/lore masters ect who were all interested in Shadow Magic, Necromancy and other such related topics worked together to establish a research area free from distractions. Just when they discovered the process enabling the transformation into a Shade is not recorded but it was long ago and over time others learned of the Umbral Archives and came to join the group. Then others came not wishing to become permanent members of the group but wishing to visit and consult with the resident scholars. This created a need for the compound to grow into more of a regular city. For while the Shades don't need to eat or sleep, visitors who were mostly still among the living most definitely did. And anywhere there is a need that can be satisfied for a profit, sooner or later someone is going to start a business satisfying that need. And so all the usual business turned up. There was already some need for transport to and from the Umbral Archives as many of the Scholars needed research materials, add to that the needs of a growing city. This lead to the creation of the Shadow Fleet. There are actually several ships that are all The Shadow. As the ship is believed to be an Ill omen it never makes port as itself but takes on the aperance of some other ship. Quite probably the ship it was before joining the Shadow Fleet. Just how a ship joins the Shadow Fleet is a secret known only to the Captains and the Supreme Shadow. There are likely a few others who have figured it out, But they are not likely to be sharing that information unless they are offered a good reason typically in the form of a rather large amount of treasure or possibly information that is valuable enough. It is worth noting that because it started as a city of scholars, information and research materials are as much a form of money as actual coins and gems. As to the matter of food and lodging it depends on your personal taste and available funds. If you are broke and/or don't care about quality you can find a place about two streets back from the harbor. Or you can try camping in one of the empty warehouses right along the waterfront. If you happen to have some coin to spend and want a good deal try looking about five to six streets back from the docks. This is also the point at which you are most likely to find merchants with goods that are actually worth buying. If you are rich and/or looking for magic items and such you will need to go twenty streets in and get a guard to let you in. The walls and gates here mark the start of the city proper. This is where a city watch actually bothers with patrolling and such. Before this you are in Thieves Guild territory. Not that the Guild doesn't have a presence in the walled parts of the city. But outside the walls they are the ones running things. Inside the walls, they keep a much lower profile.

Upon first sighting the Shadow you will likely see it maneuvering in a way that is only possible with a full crew. Any attempts at communicating from this range will receive no direct response. The ship will however take up station keeping once you have signaled your intention to come alongside or otherwise board. If the ship doesn't do this or disappears, return to port and get a new time/location to try again. Once you are within range to do so, you will see absolutely no one on the Shadow. Magical items, spells, etc that enable seeing invisible beings will probably allow you to see the crew. It is generally considered a bad idea to do this. The Shadow disappearing or sailing away are the most common results. There are some reports of the crew of the Shadow attacking. This is largely unconfirmed, but all such reports agree that this happens only if you are already alongside. As to what the crew of the Shadow look like; I'll cover that a bit later. Never set foot on the deck of the Shadow until you have asked permission to come abroad. You will know if it was granted by nothing happening. There are no reports of the request being denied if you were allowed to come alongside in the first place. There are no confirmed reports of anyone being stupid enough to not ask permission. So what exactly would happen is unknown. The most likely reactions are the Shadow disappearing or the offending individual being tossed over the side. In any event once on board find a spot on the deck that is out of the way of the crew and stay there. Unless you feel like you are being asked to get out of the way, then get out of the way. Do not interfere with the operation of the ship. Do not go below decks. Do not go into the galley. And especially don't sit down and eat when there is a meal on the table. Unless you want to join the crew. More on what happens if you do in a bit. Do not enter the captain's cabin. Some say you can enter if you ask permission and have a good reason for being there. Make sure you have a good supply of food and water. If you follow the rules the trip can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of weeks. When you arrive at the Umbral Archives. Thank the captain and crew for their hospitality, and get off. For those who lack common sense and want to push their luck. Here are the likely results of breaking the rules. You will be attacked by the crew, and the ship itself, if you are holding your onw against the crew. They will either throw you over the side, or kill you and then throw you over the side. Assuming that the ship doesn't just vanish. If you are still in the normal world, pray that there is an island nearby. In any case you are in the ocean, good luck. If you have crossed into the Plane of Shadows, you are stranded there in a random location. Good Luck. Or you have landed in some random Demiplane. You will probably need all the luck you can get. If you fight the captain and somehow manage to win. Whoever landed the killing blow is now Captain of the Shadow. Everyone else in your group is now part of the Crew. Any surviving members of the original Crew are now as loyal to you as they were to the former Captain. And you are now bound to the service of The Supreme Shadow, Lord of the Umbral Archives, and whatever other titles that notable might happen to have. In theory you can take that Title by winning a duel or otherwise conquering the current Supreme Shadow. There are no confirmed reports of anyone ever having managed to do it. The Crew of the Shadow are Shades with the ability to turn invisible and stay that way even when attacking. They are also able to heal themselves as per Vampiric Ring of Regeneration channeled through their weapons. The Captain has the Crews abilities as well as the ability to Animate Object anything that is part of the Shadow as a free action. And is almost always a Magic User of some sort. I might try to work out more exact stats for these guys later.

Psionics definitely exist in the Shard Scape. And is most notable, among the various types of "magic" available, for being the most flexible. Psi users follow the Sorcerer form in terms of how they learn their skills. It is also under the Psi format that the concept of resonance comes most fully into play. There are a number of Psi Abilities that are distinct from Powers in that they don't consume Psi energy to work. Powers consume Psi energy to manifest and are typically at a distance. Abilities simply require that the needed level of power is present and are typically enhancements to the individual using them. Exceptions do exist, and I'll try to cover those at some later time. Psi powers work equally well in high magic/low tech environments and in low magic/high tech environments. Psi is of course just as negatively impacted as anything else when dealing with low tech/low magic/low life environments. Those places are basically hostile to everything. Synthoids and Undead fair somewhat better than average in such environments but even they struggle. As to how Psi fits in among Arcane, Eldritch, and Divine/Infernal magic it is most closely related to Arcane magic. The primary difference being that Arcane magic works by adjusting the Chaos that underlies Reality Psi works by adjusting the Order. Which is why it works in high tech environments. Technology alignes with Order and Magic typically works by manipulating Chaos. In high Tech areas Order is enhanced and Chaos is suppressed. By the time you reach a level of Chaos high enough to have a notable effect on Psi, you are dealing with Chaos levels that are approaching the limits of what most beings can deal with. At some point I will try to cover the related topics of abilities that parallel magic but are derived from Cybergrafts, Biografts and other related types of Bio-mancy and bonded equipment.

Mine goes by mood. For some reason, the Smurfs song always comes on my 'radio' when I'm working. Rain sounds are best for quelling such earworms, I've found... At least for me. Feeling very transparent today, for some reason... like a balloon filled with too much air. Stretched almost to popping. And not in a good way. Maybe I need to go find some real rain..

The Bel'Vekian jumping turtle is, basically, a frog/turtle hybrid whos' origin is . . . disturbing. As we know, the Bel'Vekians have turned their planet into a giant science experiment in order to create weapons (or whatever may be desired) to sell to the highest bidder. They live in sterile labs that span the entirety of the planet, sealed off from its' atmosphere and protected from whatever survives within its environment. The Bel'Vekians have found that, simply ejecting their failed experiments and waste indiscriminately, can lead to discoveries never contemplated. The Bel'Vekian jumping turtle is the product of this practice. The Nevb Coalition of sector 7.23 of the Direliz Quadrant had commissioned a physical enhancement drug to allow their settlers to survive the higher gravity of several planets they had conquered and depopulated. The Bel'Vekian scientist used testosterone, the adrenal glands and pituitary glands of the giant marsh frogs to create a drug but it was far too powerful, causing grotesque physical changes that were incompatible with sustaining a colony. So, they dumped it. It didn't take long to totally contaminate the giant marsh frog population, leading to larger, more aggressive offspring. It was so devastating, within three generations, not only were all members of the species larger and more aggressive, not one female was produced. This is where it gets disturbing. The last generation of the giant marsh frog; larger, more aggressive, filled with testosterone and no . . . outlet, descended upon a large population of marsh turtles, eliminating all the males and . . . violating the females in an uncontrollable frenzy. It lasted, non-stop for days, until the last giant marsh frog expired from exhaustion. Like I said . . . disturbing. With all the contaminates in the environment, it was actually quite easy for cross species breeding to occur. Thus, we now have the Bel'Vekian jumping turtle. This unexpected outcome has also led to the creation of the Bel'Vekian: Monitor Sloth, Spider Worm, Tarantula Hamster and the surprisingly cuddly Centipede Wombat - among others. ** All animal names used are of the closest Earth animal equivalent of the actual Bel'Vekian species in appearance, in order to be able to visualize the subject **