Announce posts — Aetolia's Forums

Announce post #3004: Undercity of Djeir

Autoposter — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 08:58:27 +0000

9/11/2019 at 8:54
 Keroc, the Starborn
 Everyone
 Undercity of Djeir

 i've gone through and updated a lot of the quests in Djeir to the new quest system, including adding dialogue options for possible responses. I've also fixed a few of the quests and altered some to make a bit more sense. Some hints weren't perfect so I had to alter some quest routes too.

 If you've never been to Djeir, check it out, it has some great lore to explore and learn.

 P.S. And if that doesn't tickle your fancy, the main quest of Djeir now has a fame line for its completion!

 Penned by my hand on Gosday, the 20th of Variach, in the year 483 MA.

Announce post #3488: Classleads February 2023 - part 3

Autoposter — Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:56:21 +0000

3/7/2023 at 10:55
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Classleads February 2023 - part 3

Per report 3247, I'm going to be trialing the removal of certain second life skills.

Skills removed:
- Luminary & Earthcaller: Rebirth / Reformation.
- Zealot & Ravager: Resurgence / Unfinished.
- Carnifex & Warden: Substitute / Intervention.

Skills remaining:
- Indorani & Oneiromancer: Soulcage / Remembrance.
- Level 200: Store (there's a number of different names).
- Tattoos: Starburst.
- Modifications: Returning.

I'm going to be monitoring how this affects team battles and the like, and then decide if it should be a permanent change or not.

Feel free to message me if you have any concerns.

Penned by my hand on Gosday, the 6th of Midsummer, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3487: Classleads 2023 February - part 2

Autoposter — Sun, 05 Mar 2023 04:47:35 +0000

3/5/2023 at 4:46
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Classleads 2023 February - part 2

Performance
=========================
- [3214] New Skill: Flair.

Shamanism
=========================
- [3228] FETISH STRING is no longer considered an aggressive action.
- [3228] FETISH REMOVE now has the same hinder conditions as FETISH STRING.
- [3228] You can now FETISH REMOVE .

Subterfuge
=========================
- [3257] Worm Warp can no longer can be detected by movement reporting skills.
* This also applies to the 'wormhole_warp' artifact.

Artifacts
=========================
- [3257] The 'combined_powers' artifact has been clarified to state the 'enemy_sense' upgrade only allows seeing through incorporeal states.
* This has been done to avoid having to list out a ton of specific scenarios where it works and doesn't.
* However do note that it will no longer detect the following, to match other movement sense skills:
- Players that are underground.
- Haven movement.
- Movement in arena games where skills are disabled.

Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 18th of Khepary, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3486: March in Aetolia!

Autoposter — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 00:01:37 +0000

3/1/2023 at 0:01
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
March in Aetolia!

Hi folks!

March has arrived already as 2023 rapidly pushes forward! We may have a surprise or two for you later in the month but in the meantime, pots of gold are making a return for March with my customary tune up on prizes, odds, and of course a retooling of values!

Pots of Gold can be obtained from the Aetolia website (www.aetolia.com/credits) and opened for a variety of prizes. These are very similar to Cryptic Chests but with a higher minimum guaranteed value (around 21 credits vs the typical 17) and a much higher ceiling.

Within, you might find:

- Credit prizes from 21 - 500
- Ironcoin prizes from 20 - 100
- Globes of elemental energy
- Chocolate bags
- Minipet cages that open for: a small golden poison frog, a sideways goldfish, a shiny gold bug, a golden scarab beetle, a rainbow-coloured raccoon, and a small, golden-green serpent
- Style scrolls for: phasic, insane, gourmandic, and friendly
- Relic coffers with pieces for: trapgold, goldtranslocator, raceidol, cage_goldarm, gold_shield; these all trade in for 10 credits per piece
- Pantheon relic coffers (see HELP PANTHEON RELICS); these all trade in for 30 credits per piece
- Compendium pages for: the Statue of Varian, Dovan Hollow, the Endless Fields, the Underbelly, Clawhook, Maestral Shoals, and the Liruma Crater
- Rainbow vox iterators
- Artifact discount vouchers
- Shapeshifter pelts
- Chalices of knowledge
- Artifacts valued between 50 and 2000 credits
- House deeds
- Hunting boon tokens
- Tokens of passage
- Ambience tokens
- Antiquated salvage

Each pot of gold will also award some actual gold and consumables, including four-leaf clovers. These clovers can have leaves ripped from them up to four times (RIP LEAF FROM CLOVER) and provide 2% bonus critical hit chance for 6 hours!

Every 500 pots of gold opened will trigger a global bonus prize where one of the next 50 will award the lucky owner 500 bound credits!

Lastly, throughout the month of March, being logged in for one hour each day will allow you to complete a bronze milestone to find a rainbow! Once it appears, you may SEARCH FOR RAINBOW every 10 seconds to get a clue as to how close you are. Finding the rainbow will grant you a double xp bonus for one hour (note that this does not stack with chalices).

There's also a pot of gold in the milestone wares for March!

Enjoy!

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 18th of Chakros, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3485: Contacting Admin

Autoposter — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 06:29:38 +0000

2/27/2023 at 6:29
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Contacting Admin

Hi folks,

I'm writing to remind everyone that our official channels for reporting issues and making queries from the admin (bugs, issues, messages, emails) are the intended method for contacting staff.

There have been some situations lately where people are using Discord DMs to ask questions that should really be filed through these methods, resulting in miscommunications or mixed messages without a paper trail or any ability to followup or weigh in by the rest of the team.

In other words: Discord DMs are not the venue for staff enquiries. Please use official channels. This is for your benefit as much as ours.

Thanks!

Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 7th of Chakros, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3484: Archer divisions

Autoposter — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 05:24:45 +0000

2/27/2023 at 5:22
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Archer divisions

I keep getting asked questions a lot about archers, so here is the definitive list:

Archers WILL:
* Fire a volley of arrows at enemy troops who march adjacent to them.
* There is no cooldown, marching adjacent to them will trigger it.
* Fire at troops even if they are fighting a PLAYER.
* Fire at enemy troops again if they are marched adjacent to the archers once more.

Archers WONT:
* Fire at troops if they are not in FORMATION (don't confuse this for fortified).
* Charge into the room and start a battle after firing.
* Automatically fight a division that marches into their location.
* Continue firing after the first volley, it is ONE volley and that's it.
* Fire at troops they are not at war at (think and plan carefully about this).
* Fire at troops if they are fighting by another MOBILE or DIVISION in battle.
* Fire at troops marched into the same room as them.

Other things you need to know:
* Archers are for DEFENSIVE play mostly, but they aren't terrible offensively. Ignore this advice at your own risk.
* The single ranged attack mechanic is automatic, you don't have to order an attack or any other command, they just need to be in formation.
* One volley basically rolls exactly like one round of battle. Expect a similar amount of causalities.
* Blessings, captured land, and commander-present bonuses apply on the volley.
* The volley does not clear or remove a troop blessing.
* Multiple archers stacked in a same room will only let ONE DIVISION fire.
* If the are in separate rooms, multiple archer divisions can fire on a single enemy division when they are marched adjacent to them all.

Lastly:
* Learn to make use of ORDER REPORT STATUS. All timers and stats are there.

Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 7th of Chakros, in the year 508 MA.

Events post #360: Abyssal Conquest: Asaraii and Bulrok, Adherents of Tyranny

Autoposter — Sat, 25 Feb 2023 22:04:08 +0000

2/25/2023 at 22:02
Anonymous
Everyone
Abyssal Conquest: Asaraii and Bulrok, Adherents of Tyranny

Across centuries and rebirths did the Goddess Iosyne harbour a secret, closely guarded even from Her Siblings - the resting place of an ancient calamity, its horrors sealed away and forgotten, festering in the deepest recesses of the world. His name, lost to the continent of Sapience, is writ in recorded history but a handful of times: Hansekkaramnis he was called, and his containment was an unspoken duty befalling Iosyne, who raised Her very temple in the Aureliana above whence he rested. There the Goddess kept steward over the Abyssal Lair, staying the stirring of Hansekkaramnis.

This secrecy, once a boon in keeping that calamity at bay, slowly invited disaster as She was cast down, Her duty sundered by the strike of Bamathis. Left without the confining touch of its captor, Chaos began exerting its warping hold upon the lurkers hidden from the skies, unnoticed until swathes of them finally burst forth, tunneling into the cities of Bloodloch and Enorian. As Draden Jibbs, once a favoured Apostle of the Malevolent Goddess, opened the confines of Her Lair to the world once more, adventurers plumbing its depths came upon a maddening sight: a bridge between an eldritch realm of Chaos and Prime, offering a glimpse into the twisted reality cropping up around the massive decaying remains of what Iosyne had kept hidden.

It was only a matter of time before the discovery would draw selfish interests to the surface; aided by the fragmented memories of the Divine essence He usurped, Abhorash was the first to make His move, summoning His Reavers Asaraii and Bulrok to accompany Him into the unveiled depths. Assigning interim command of His Hegemony to Maeve in His absence, the God fully severed the wavering line between the two Planes, immersing the trio fully in the realm of Abyssal Chaos.

No sooner did Asaraii and Bulrok alight upon Chaos than it enveloped them, an overwhelming will demanding their subservience to its whims. The pair of Reavers writhed under its crushing oppression, forced to change forms a thousand times in the blink of an eye, their bones splintered and remade as they twisted at the mercy of that upon which they trespassed - until their God re-exerted His claim upon them, reforming their bodies with grinding agony. Locked now in an unseen battle with Chaos itself, Abhorash turned His focus to keeping its overwhelming powers at bay, assigning the task of finding His prize to the Reavers.

Even as eldritch beings swarmed them - faceless entities of rippling teeth, vermiform masses of fungal atrocities, bipedal mouths slick with manifold tongues - Asaraii and Bulrok bent Chaos to their whims, forcing the realm to unveil its secrets. Thrice did Tyranny's favoured cast their wills against the awakening consciousness of the realm, and thrice did they emerge victorious: at the end of each forged path lay a third of the monstrous remains of Hansekkaramnis, collected and delivered to the Hegemonist.

At each offering, the realm shuddered, twisting and turning as the memories imprinted upon the remains rose to the surface.

----------

Visions paint the arrival of a young Hansekkaramnis, mortal then, upon the shores of Sapience. Guided by Divine providence, the maddening touch of Lanu Du's hand, the Nazetu trudges forward to conquer this foreign land, to become a god unto its pitiful, simpering natives. Followers and peers flock to him, principal among them the Human boy Yetrent. Collaborators they become, but even as the continent fell under Yetrent's heel, Hansekkaramnis' focus turned to the realm of Lanu Du, the Chaotic dregs of the multiverse. There, he finds the route to Godhood.

One by one, the demonic inhabitants of a Chaos splinter fall before the Nazetu's undeniable will as he evolves - scales, tentacles, spurs of bone and muscle boiling out from beneath his flesh. Syl'ghardos, the Red Queen puts up the greatest fight, her six scimitars spinning death until he breaks her arms, her smooth sleek scales appealingly smooth until Hansekkaramnis claws wounds into her. He crushes the once-Queen until she is sworn to him for seven lifetimes over, and it is she that whispers the last secrets of becoming to Hansekkaramnis, eldritch understandings so vast that they defy comprehension; the last piece of the puzzle, and thus does Hansekkaramnis burst from himself, consuming the Chaos he had won, placing himself beyond the reaches of mortal death. There is no line between imagination and reality in Chaos: Hansekkaramnis becomes all there is, and there finds certainty that he will not return to his homeland; he had become a homeland in and of himself.

The Chaos Lord crafts a doppelganger of himself out of primal chaos and sends it back across the planar divide to continue to teach the Indorani and other dark sorcerers of Chaos all that he has learnt of triumph and conquest. When the forces of the Light finally come to stop Hansekkaramnis, they purge scores upon scores of his students, his own Prime shell slain beyond repair and the bridge between Prime and Chaos severed. There his remains rest, deep underground, forgotten over the centuries as the Chaos Lord turns his attention instead to guide the Nazedha isles.

It is in Nazedha that Hansekkaramnis finds his greatest student: Lahkencai, a man who can truly unite the divided isles and begin the work of conquering the mainland. Unto this Nazetu does Hansekkaramnis deliver his revelation, and beneath the Chaos Lord's watchful eye and the fell grace of Lanu Du, Lahkencai raises a dark tower upon the central isles of Nazedha. Their relationship steers close to friendship, the young Nazetu always probing about the transformation unto Chaos itself - yet Hansekkaramnis guards this knowledge, the tension of give-and-take ever present in their dealings.

One day, Lahkencai asks a trinket from Vhaug, Hansekkaramnis' Keeper of Keys, which the Lord grants. The ambitious Nazetu locks away a part of his Chaos mentor, shutting the door so tightly his realm splits in two, sundering the twinned halves of Hansekkaramnis' awareness. The Chaos Lord is left paralysed, defenceless, and Lahkencai tears the heart from Hansekkaramnis' doppelganger mask, drinking the wealth of Chaos' essence and memory. Thus did one Chaos Lord fall and another ascend.

God no more, Hansekkaramnis is locked away from existence, bridges broken and severed, floating in the dark, unconscious. Yet his bones remain on Sapience, an anchor to which the broken fragments of Chaos drift. Piece by agonising piece, the remnants of his consciousness gather - a process of centuries by mortal measure, of millenia in the forgetting void.

----------

As the visions faded and the Hegemony's vanguard understood what it was they faced, Abhorash steeled will and might alike admist the awakening realm that was Hansekkaramnis. Casting aside the Bard Bulrok's attempts to deflect attacks unto Him, the God led His Reavers into a titanic confrontation as the entire universe about them warped to suit its needs.

The Progenitor took to the air, His visage terrible as He brought the full depths of His power to bear against Hansekkaramnis. Down on the churning hellscape below, Asaraii and Bulrok weaved through countless hordes of hostile entities, traversing unfettered Chaos with skill and haste to avoid the brunt of Hansekkaramnis' attacks, awaiting their opportunity. Soon it came - a mighty blow from their God sheared pieces of the realm's will, freed ego raining down upon the field. Battling their way across the landscape, the pair engaged each fragment of floating will, drawing upon the imperious authority searing through their veins to abolish its very right to exist.

Thus did the battle rage on - and when hundreds of swarming creatures dragged Abhorash to crash down onto the battlefield, His Reavers came with fury, clearing the horde besetting their God that He might resume His deadly duel. Blow after blow exchanged between Tyranny and Chaos, the Godly clash underpinned by the carnage wrought by Asaraii and Bulrok as they continued to crush the realm's spawn and will alike beneath bardiche, falchion, and Tyranny. As the Hegemony's trio withered away the realm's puissance, Hansekkaramnis, fueled by the desperation of impending death, wove cataclysm: hundreds of pale tentacles erupted forth from every inch of the realm, stretching with singleminded purpose towards Abhorash. Though the first to meet the God was shorn in two, carved asunder by manifesting claws of crystalline blood from betwixt the vampire's knuckles, the next dozen found purchase, coiling about the Progenitor in a heaving pile before forcibly dragging Him to crash against the hostile landscape.

Offering no quarter, Hansekkaramnis formed stalactites of crackling Chaotic energy that cascaded downwards, slicing through the enveloping ball of tentacles to reach Abhorash and puncturing through Him at every angle. Steps hastened by the predicament of the Progenitor, Asaraii and Bulrok carved their way to their injured God, their surroundings running thick with His Blood and essence. With brutal dominion and resolve did they free Him from the mountains of eldritch creations assaulting Him; though Bulrok's attempt to disperse the impalement pinning Abhorash ultimately failed, the Reavers' intervention created the opening needed for the God to strike.

Naked fury twisted every contour of Abhorash's face as He gathered Himself. One moment He was pinned beneath the terrible might of Hansekkaramnis - the next, the vampire diffused into crimson mist, droplets streaming out of Chaos' hold. In the meantime, drawn by the irresistable pull of the streamers of Abhorash's Blood and essence coiling about the air, Asaraii and Bulrok alike stretched forth their hands. Obligingly did the Godly vitality seek them out, forming rings that swirled about their wrists.

The vampiric mist coalesced into Abhorash's physical being once more, the God ascending the stalactite that once bound Him, cape flaring with the violent speed of His movements. Simultaneously did His freed essence plunge into the skin of His faithful, flaying bare their veins and ripping their forearms asunder in a crimson spray. Even as their vitality poured free, Blood Divine rushed in to plug the tide, suffusing the pair with the reign of Tyranny and ushering in their rebirths as His first Adherents.

As their God wove dark magic and burning resolve into a trembling vortex of tyrannical will made manifest, Asaraii and Bulrok wrested the accumulated oppressive might of the essence of Tyranny still suffusing the room into their grasps. Bending the Hegemonist's tangible coalescence to their own wills, they shaped torrents of sanguineous wrath, the confidence and surety of their own supremacy inciting the burgeoning phenomenon to tremble and shudder with violent portent. Hansekkaramnis was naught before them; this they knew in their very bones as they turned loose that which they had wrought, unleashed puissance crushing Hansekkaramnis' body, mind, soul, and will to resist beneath the heel of their inevitable dominion.

Rushing to fill the opening provided by Asaraii and Bulrok's conquest, the gathering storm about Abhorash finally acceded, exploding outwards in a vicious onslaught of all-consuming fire and shadow. Finding the tears laid bare by His Reavers' sanguineous wrath, the barrage annihilated all in its path, sundering the Chaos realm's ego and breaking Hansekkaramnis' will. Chaos energies torn free slithered into Abhorash's hands, patches of Prime breaking through the hellish landscape in their wake - and now the trio stood in the Aureliana forest, firmly anchored on the Prime Material Plane once more.

The sky wept crimson as Asaraii and Bulrok emerged from Abyssal Chaos wielding hitherto unreached heights of Tyranny, and it was underneath this crimson backdrop that Abhorash now stood, flanked by His Adherents, His right claw embedded around the throat of a slender, humanoid Chaos Lord - a world no longer, Hansekkaramnis had been reduced to tangible form. Gone was the rage that had consumed Abhorash - now the vampire regarded His prey calmly, fangs pushing past the line of His lips. The moment was short lived before the Hegemonist sank those fangs into the creature's neck, slurping with unrestrained greed as Hansekkaramnis' remains withered and faded, consigned to join the God's Hegemony.

As the abyss beneath it crumbled, the southeastern quadrant of the Aureliana exploded with the release of centuries of pent-up power, leaving naught but a pulsing crater behind as a violent harbinger of a new age of despotic dominion - and the official end of Maeve's short-lived reign at the head of Abhorash's Hegemony.

Penned by my hand on Falsday, the 24th of Arios, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3483: Classleads February 2023 - part 1

Autoposter — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 04:19:36 +0000

2/23/2023 at 4:19
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Classleads February 2023 - part 1

Avoidance
=========================
- [3251] Bolstering now lasts for 30 seconds, up from 25.

Bladefire / Chirography
=========================
- [3249] If the target already has epilepsy, then Lightning / Aneda will upset their balance for 1 second.
* The balance loss will only occur if you are using a two-handed weapon.

City Research
=========================
- [3243] The Blockade manipulation has been marked as a restricted skill.

Corpus / Ascendance
=========================
- [3245] Gash / Censure now works with one broken arm, but only if using the lightly / leninent modifier.

Elemancy
=========================
- [3210] The affliction 'ice_encased' is now cured alongside 'frozen' at the same time.

Miscellaenous
=========================
- [3239] Players will only show on RANKINGS SECT RATING if they have completed at least 10 duels for the current rating period.

Primality / Alchemy
=========================
- [3242] The affliction 'vitalbane' now lasts for two procs before being cured.

Performance
==========================
- [3248] New Skill: Frugality.
- [3226] Bravado can no longer be dodged.

Tekura
==========================
- [3224] Axekick balance recovery time has been reduced to 7.5 seconds, down from 8.

Wayfaring
==========================
- [3235] Splint will now heal your legs in 12 seconds, down from 20.

Woodlore
==========================
- [3212] Might balance recovery time reduced to 2.5 seconds, down from 3.

Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 8th of Arios, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3482: Capture the flag

Autoposter — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 12:24:03 +0000

2/21/2023 at 12:23
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Capture the flag

Hello folks!

It's been a fair while, hasn't it? Dusted off for this weekend, the CTF game (HELP CTF) will make its splash return!

For those of you who are new and perhaps don't know what the CTF is, the CTF is a large arena in which various teams compete to capture the other teams flag. Upon doing so, it can be returned back your base to score point!

But there's a twist!

From the start of the CTF, siege weaponry will be available for use within the arena in order to either defend your flag, or shoot down your opponents who are desperately trying to defend their own.

And of course, part way through Dhaest, the red wyvern will awaken from his slumber! Kite this monster towards your enemies who have gathered together, and have him smash apart their fortifications so you can break through and grab their flag!

Unlike previous CTF games, this one will be done as a city vs. city CTF. As such, there will be four flags up for grabs instead of the usual two.

To find the specific time this will take place, please see EVENTS INFO 467 and ensure you have configured your timezone under CONFIG.

See you then!

Penned by my hand on Closday, the 23rd of Ios, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3481: Globes of Elemental Energy - Artifact Cart

Autoposter — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 20:25:34 +0000

2/20/2023 at 20:25
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Globes of Elemental Energy - Artifact Cart

Hi folks,

By popular request I've added globes of elemental energy to the artifact cart under "consumables".

Note that like chocolates these will still decay so please keep that in mind should you choose to purchase them!

They're costed at 20 credits.

Enjoy!

Penned by my hand on Falsday, the 19th of Ios, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3480: The Lair Re-opens

Autoposter — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 01:41:27 +0000

2/19/2023 at 1:40
Tedrunai
Everyone
The Lair Re-opens

The Lair beneath Azdun, once the Malevolent's favoured haunt, is now accessible once again by going IN from v1804.

The pit at the northeast corner of the Lair will take you into the Endless Battlefield, a hunting grounds with infinite prey. Note that this area has unique mechanics; you can read HELP ENDLESS BATTLEFIELD for more details on this area. This is an endgame level area for experience but will not produce corpses or gold. This area is Open PK.

Entry deep into Iosyne's tunnel network beneath Sapience is also possible from the maw in the centre of the Lair. There is additional hunting to be found here... and maybe something more...

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 8th of Ios, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3479: Submissions Closed

Autoposter — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 04:02:38 +0000

2/15/2023 at 4:02
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Submissions Closed

Submission for new classleads is now closed.

You can use REPORTS UNCOMMENTED to find reports you haven't left a comment on, and REPORTS ABSTAINED for reports you haven't voted on.

After three days to gather comments and votes, we will start to post decisions.

Thanks!

Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 10th of Severin, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3478: PK Issue Etiquette

Autoposter — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 17:51:13 +0000

2/9/2023 at 17:50
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
PK Issue Etiquette

Hi folks,

I just want to remind people about a couple of PK-issue related things:

First, as per HELP ISSUES, if you have a grievance with another player, please do not use ISSUE ME. You need to issue the alleged rule-breaker directly so they can give their side of the story and let us make a judgement. We won't be providing judgement calls or take action based on ISSUE ME.

In all cases, you should issue the person actually causing the grievance. In cases where there are multiple offenders, you should issue them all and not just one.

Secondly, you cannot issue on behalf of someone else. It is up to them whether to issue or to resolve things their own way, and I'd ask that you please respect the wishes of your friends when considering this.

Lastly, issues are for you to communicate your problem to the admin. They are not a platform to rant and rave at the person you're filing it against and they are not the venue to make a case for punishments or other subjective commentary about how bad people are. Please keep them concise and factual.

Thanks!

Penned by my hand on Tisday, the 2nd of Variach, in the year 508 MA.

Announce post #3477: February in Aetolia!

Autoposter — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 00:02:08 +0000

2/1/2023 at 0:01
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
February in Aetolia!

Hi folks!

2023 is speeding right along and for the month of February, we have a few offerings for you: a salvage sale, the return of the artifact cart, and a direct lesson sale!

Every 100 credits purchased from the website will come with a piece of antiquated salvage, which is typically valued at 200 credits. These pieces may be traded to other players and used without bearing your mark, EXCEPT for purchasing the Antiquated Artifacts themselves. Once you obtain the first level, you can use any salvage you like to upgrade it.

HELP ANTIQUATED ARTIFACTS will be of interest to those who aren't familiar with how salvage works, as well as HELP ANTIQUATED [RING/GOGGLES/GAUNTLET/CROP] for a specific breakdown of what each item does.

As for the Artifact Cart, all artifacts purchased directly through the cart have a 30% discount applied; this stacks with Iron Elite Membership for a total discount of 40%!

In addition to the large discounts, there are a number of exclusives available only through the artifact cart, including:

- Chocolates
- House deeds (these come with FIVE rooms in total and can be redeemed by e-mailing me as per HELP CASTLES)
- Fireworks
- Upgrade tokens
- Several other artifacts

Silver chalices can also be found under the 'artifact packages' section of the website, with an option for one chalice or a pack of five at comparable discounts to the cart.

Last up is the lesson sale! For the month of February, lessons can be purchased directly from the website at a significant bonus. Those with Iron Elite Memberships will also receive 10% bonus lessons on any lesson purchase they make!

As always, the cart, credits, and lessons can be found on the Aetolia website at www.aetolia.com/credits!

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 25th of Niuran, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3476: Classleads February 2023

Autoposter — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 13:08:23 +0000

1/31/2023 at 13:07
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Classleads February 2023

...and thus he commanded, let there be the first round of classleads for thy year...

Hello folks!

We're a day early, but it's here none the less!

Information for this classlead cycle:

Submissions will be open for TWO WEEKS in which you can submit THREE reports in for consideration which will be left anonymous. Once this time frame is up, there will be THREE DAYS to vote before we will start posting decisions. You can still vote early as per normal, but the extra three days will be there to avoid the feeling of late reports purposefully being submitted to be snuck through near the end.

Much like last time, there are no restrictions on which classes you can submit reports for!

If you're new, continue on below for more information on classleads. If you're old, please read HELP CLASSLEAD GUIDELINES at the very least.

---

What are classleads:

Classleads are a two week period that allows players to submit reports about their class (or other classes) for review by the administration. Do you believe that Teradrim should be able to fling dirt in someone's eyes? Then this is what you've been waiting for!

Make sure to read through HELP CLASSLEADS to learn the commands needed to make and submit your reports, and I also highly recommend HELP CLASSLEAD GUIDELINES to help avoid common potholes when creating your submissions.

If you want to keep track of submissions and results, have a look at CONFIG CLASSLEADS and consider turning it on.
Also consider joining the Discord! On top of being a great place for report feedback before submission, each report will have a thread created about it so you can discuss it with others. See HELP DISCORD for information.

Details on submission:

* Newly created reports will be marked as anonymous, your name as a submitter will not be revealed to others.

* You may submit up to a total of three reports across the skillsets of the game to suggest combat balance adjustments, new features, or quality of life upgrades. Please note that this limit is based across all characters you own.

* Reports that are based on skills you do not possess will be much more heavily scrutinized, so make sure they are top-notch before submission.

* While you must provide reasonable solutions to your report's problem, we may opt for a fourth solution instead based upon feedback.

* Once a report is submitted, -anyone- may vote upon its merit using the CLASSLEAD <#> SUPPORT/REJECT commands. If you wish to support/reject a report, please provide your reasoning and make sure to point out any shortcomings or additions you feel might be necessary. You may also simply leave a comment using CLASSLEAD <#> COMMENT , if you wish for a more neutral approach.

* Any commentary which basically boils down to 'I agree with my bud' or 'This is a terrible idea' will automatically be discarded, and will you hurt your chances at passing through reports in future rounds, perhaps even resulting in loss of ability to submit at all. If you can consistently provide level-headed thought and in depth knowledge then your opinions will be valued more highly over others, and could result in extra submissions.

* You can use REPORTS ABSTAINED and REPORTS UNCOMMENTED to find submitted reports you have not voted upon or commented.

Penned by my hand on Closday, the 22nd of Niuran, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3475: More Combat Tweaks!

Autoposter — Sun, 22 Jan 2023 07:36:03 +0000

1/22/2023 at 7:34
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
More Combat Tweaks!

Afflictions
======================
- Impairment will now increase stun durations by 50%.
* It will continue to block racial skills as well for now.
- Deadening will now increase the threshold trigger of shock/burnout to 40%.

Battlefury / Riving
======================
- Battlecry / Anguish equilibrium recovery time is reduced by 1 second if the opponent has epilepsy.
- Zeal / Harrow balance recovery time has been lowered to 4.40 seconds, down from 5.
* PvE damage on Zeal / Harrow has been likewise reduced to keep it consistent with its balance time.
- Disembowel / Extirpate performed with a two-handed weapon now counts twice towards the instant kill.

Enchantment
======================
- Time enchantment reworked:
* Now increases balance and equilibrium recovery for everyone by 1 second.
* Requires at least four people minimum in the location, otherwise it has no effect.

Hypnosis
======================
- New Skill: Ebbing.

Illumination / Tectonics
======================
- Cleansing / Thermics no longer has the mental or physical choices, it is now just a random affliction.

Spirituality / Subjugation
======================
- The loneliness affliction from Chasten / Subdue has been replaced with self loathing.
- The berserking affliction from Facesmash has been replaced with misery.

Weaving
======================
- Ironcollar now prevents flying and swinging once latched.

Hunting Grounds
======================
- The Night Eye pendant now uses the command EYESEEK to use.
* It must be worn in order to work.
* Costs 5 willpower to use, just so you're aware.

Penned by my hand on Gosday, the 17th of Lleian, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3474: Bounties, Out of City Crimes, Defiling, et al

Autoposter — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 17:10:31 +0000

1/20/2023 at 17:09
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Bounties, Out of City Crimes, Defiling, et al

Hi folks,

I have an update to the PK rules to announce today pertaining to bounties and out-of-city crimes. It's long been my policy that city bounties can only be filed for city crimes that occur inside the city; the reasoning for this was to promote organic PK in the moment and let people fight it out without the tediously elongated litigation that follows with bounties after the fact.

However, with the advent of new systems allowing for conflict starters outside of cities (screm, soliads, alchemy, akkari, voidgazing, and such), I've decided to revise that policy.

Thus, you can now file city bounties for crimes against the city that don't occur in the city OR you can kill the people doing it in the moment. Not both. You cannot hunt them down after without a bounty.

There's not an exhaustive list of what counts for this but I would expect common sense to prevail. If you aren't sure whether it counts, it probably doesn't, so let it go.

I hope that this will solve a lot of the grey areas and bad faith cause counting surrounding stuff that happens outside of a city. I have been very lenient in most cases due to this grey area, but as of now I am going to have a very low tolerance for skirting rules, egregious cause counting, and bogus bounties. The onus is on you to ensure your cause is justifiable and that your bounties are legitimate.

Lastly, I want to clarify the following point:

If you are in a group that is defiling shrines, you are not immune from being killed after the fact even if you aren't the one typing the command to get the defile aura. As always, I strongly advise against involving yourself in conflict scenarios if you do not want to risk being killed.

Penned by my hand on Tisday, the 7th of Lleian, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3473: Flintyard & Flintbeard

Autoposter — Sat, 14 Jan 2023 00:03:13 +0000

1/14/2023 at 0:02
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Flintyard & Flintbeard

Hi folks!

This is a 24 hour reminder that at the next Howling, the Flintbeard dungeons will be closing until December 2023, and the speedrun fame holders will be locked in!

Last chance to take the fame!

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 17th of Khepary, in the year 507 MA.

Events post #359: An Accord Renewed

Autoposter — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 22:18:47 +0000

1/10/2023 at 22:17
Anonymous
Everyone
An Accord Renewed

Throughout the terrors of the Second War of Night, the Hammer of Dawn stood as a shining torch, a defiant people intent on repelling Ohlsana's ravenous invasion. Returning to their far-flung roots as hunters of shadow and evil, with the aid of the three Exarchs, Enorian invoked the terms of an ancient pact made between Idar Karif - famed General of the forces of Light - and the Angelic Triad of Rewh'va.

And so it was that at the darkest point of their campaign, the Blade of the Host, Ael'mael, personally projected its power into the Prime to see the dreaded general Isalemei obliterated by the holy dictation of Dumavai - condemnation, in the Esmari tongue.

Following the war, the task of renewing the terms of this historical agreement fell to the sacred Illuminai and the Sage of the Host's zealous representative, Exarch Barrad of the Naraak. Though originally meant to be renewed every seven years, Idar's fall from grace and time's erratic divergences left the specifics of the holy covenant lost for most of the Midnight Age until the arrival of Exarchs Berrad and Saebi during the war.

Thus, in the middle of the month of Chakros in the year 507, the agreement was renewed with the assent of Roux Aquila, Dhie Lacinier of the Illuminai, and Benedicto Silverain, Grand Crusader of the Akkari Host. Though the specifics of its wording were modernised from the days of Idar, it still fosters the same intent: to bring about a world free from Darkness, its people sheltered by the grace and purity of the Light.

The Grand Library is able to unveil the full terms of the accord below:

=== Preamble ===

We renew this covenant amongst those holy folk of sacred Rewh'va and those Primal folk who walk in the footsteps of honored IDAR aal-Inurshi-hutubr and whose way is Light and Fire in twain. Together in good trust we bear the banner of the cause of Spirit, and war for the order and security of all planes and worlds.

Though the long shadow of Shuamvu Ushiduk - Mother Black - is gone from our planes, the battle against Her evil - and all evil - is far from over. The Primal folk no longer need fear the empire of Indoron, but new threats rise to take its place on all sides. We count among these dark horrors:

- The amoral pursuit of false divinity through profane and wicked science
- Foul magics in the hands of any who would see to undo the HOST's holy might against their will
- The tyranny of warmongers, slavers, and wielders of dark sorcery
- The continued push of Corruption's foul touch - reminders of the treachery and theft of the Castle of Illumination
- All who propagate despair, hopelessness, strife, and suffering
- The practitioners of fell magic, particularly those who wield the vile element of Shadow to the detriment of Prime with every incursion
- Any who stand against the Holy Crusade of the Light or impede progress towards the Age of Dawn
- Those who besmirch the name of aal-Ianurib Dej'aniyva - Most Holy Dejaani, Whose spark IS Light Incarnate Immortal

All this and more threaten the good and honest people of the Prime and jeopardise their contribution to the Holy Work.

In accordance with our duty as keepers of knowledge, there, we formally renew diplomacy between our two planes to the greater benefit of both, and re-affirm our commitment to trade in vessels and in summoning. We shall continue to take from among you those whom we deem fit to produce aal-Duamviyb yet to be.

In return, the worthiest ones among you shall retain your right to call upon those formless creatures of Creation's blessed font - your plane of Spirit - for the purposes of driving back abominable darkness no matter its form and no matter its origin. You shall set to bountiful light every fallow field and shadow-cursed corridor, such that the stain
of evil, darkness, strife, and misery shall know our precious worlds no more.

We emphasise the need for just and decisive authority to right the endless wrongs of Prime's accursed state, and we therefore reassert our endowment upon the descendants of IDAR - those whom the Prime name the forces of Light - the ILLUMINAI and the AKKARI HOST, for the twain must be united in purpose - to beseech and contract with those aforementioned beings of Spirit toward our shared and sacred purpose. These contracts, as well as the renewed terms of envesselment, shall be laid forth below and renewed or amended with each passing of seven years.

Should these contracts be broken, or should the taint of darkness seep into the hearts of those sworn to uphold the cause of the LIGHT, it is the right of the Exarchs of Rewh'va to revoke the gifts of the blessed Triad and to pass judgement as befits the situation.

=== On Angels ===

What the Primals name angels are mere three-medial projections of creatures who represent a greater and more timeless truth. They are the perfection for whom all Duamvi search and reach, fonts of Creation's great potential. It is known, however, that these perfected beings are as still oceans: their power requires guidance, require the suffering and focus
of a summoner for its direction.

We give the following instruction to the mortal summoner, for by these terms and these alone shall the aid of Creation pour down upon you.

You shall show allegiance to the descendants of IDAR aal-Inurshi by show of symbol or light. You must envision clearly in your mind's eye that vital sacred Spark of Creation's glory. We entrust the ILLUMINAI to educate you in how to commune respectfully; they may ask whatever they wish of you before you approach us.

When you approach, you must do so at the break of dawn. Invoke us by the highest bonfire of the Castle of Illumination at dawn's breaking. Speak your purpose aloud and in full faith, and as the sun's last edge breaks free of the greedy horizon, your servant shall be sent to you. As your communion with this servant grows, it shall become better able to
make its will truth on your behalf.

This servant is a projection made by one of the angelic many who dwell in a timeless place amid the cosmos - a junction between Spirit and Prime where their reality becomes possible. They are given form and purpose through their bond with you.

Your angel shall be your closest guardian, your nearest companion, and a reflection of your will and intent. Its shapes and colors may change, but under no circumstance may it acquire its own reality: for to do so would be to attempt to exist elsewhere, which would blot it out for all time.

Many is the soulful angel who has ceased to exist for want of their dying owner: they are loyal companions. Do not ask existence of them, for they cannot give it. Therefore if an angel is found to be subject to the excesses of a Primal, that Primal shall be brought to swift and merciless justice and the descendants of IDAR aal-Inurshi concede our full
right to act in this interest.

We write this only to gravely emphasise our reverence for angels, and the depth of the bonds we entrust to your world. It is one that grows with time, until you are - in some beautiful and unconscious way - a single individual, like the ever-perfecting Duamvi who strive to become angelic.

Once every seven years, we shall send an envoy to renew these terms beside the pyre which was set aflame against Shuamvu Ushiduk - the Mother Dark.

If this fire should cease to exist, and no new point of communion be set, then angels may be bound and summoned from all points of Sapience and at all times of day by any who know the way and are in need of their assistance. We make this so in case the worst should befall the forces of Light, and to grant the peoples of the Prime necessary hope.

=== On Intervention ===

The Triad has deemed that the Primals may beseech them for guidance or aid in times most dire, in order to ensure the continuation of light upon both planes. Such an act of communion shall require no less than seven supplicants and their angelic companions to ensure it is not taken in vain. In preparation for this holy plea, these supplicants must remain pure in the eyes of the Triad; for one week of Primal time, they shall consume only of manna, supplementing with simple bread and water as needed, and not sully themselves with intoxicants.

Stand beneath the Holy Eye of Dawn when its gaze sees all the lands of light, and join hands with your peers with your angels summoned. As one, you must return the Eye's gaze with an unflinching stare and conviction in your heart. Do not falter even as your eyes become blinded, for those with good intentions will be restored to the light. Should those with
false hope number amongst your ranks, then all seven shall forever be turned from the light. Speak aloud your prayer to the Triad, and should they deem your purpose pure, they will send to you an envoy from whom you may make your request.

Should it come to pass that the Holy Eye of Dawn has become blinded on either side, as it has in times past by the agents of darkness, a contingency has been prepared. Construct a large bonfire, for all fires are a reflection of the Holy Eye, and within it burn sage. As before, stand together with joined hands and angels summoned. Then you must volunteer your sight to the light by ordering your angel companion to sear your eyes away. As one, step within the bonfire and speak aloud your prayer to the Triad. Those with pure intentions shall be spared from the flames, and the Triad shall send you their envoy.

=== On Vessels ===

With the reforging of bonds between Material PRIME and Holy REWH'VA, we must needs revisit our promises of numerical equality for those we take as worthy vessels. Though our preference remains the race among you named Humans, we affirm This servant is a projection made by one of the angelic many who dwell in a timeless place amid the cosmos - a junction between Spirit and Prime where their reality becomes possible. They are given form and purpose through their bond with you.

Your angel shall be your closest guardian, your nearest companion, and a reflection of your will and intent. Its shapes and colors may change, but under no circumstance may it acquire its own reality: for to do so would be to attempt to exist elsewhere, which would blot it out for all time.

Penned by my hand on Falsday, the 23rd of Chakros, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3472: Combat Changes

Autoposter — Sat, 07 Jan 2023 05:30:23 +0000

1/7/2023 at 5:29
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Combat Changes

Afflictions
======================
- Physical disruption now increases the length of WRITHE by 1 second.
- Physical disruption now only works on writhe impale, rather then all physical writhes.
- Haemophilia now causes the Clotting skill to fail 80% of the time, up from 33%.
- Chance for Dizziness to make you fall is increased to 40%, up from 20%.
- Stun duration reduction has been lowered to 15% per stack, down from 20%.

Assassination
======================
- Doublestab now causes 60 bleeding per hit, 120 total.
- The amount of bleeding caused by Slit (including bonuses) has been doubled.
- The asphyxiation damage caused by Noose has been increased.
- The bonus damage from Snipe has been doubled.

Battlefury / Riving
======================
- Battlecry / Anguish will now knock you prone if you are not deaf.

Cities
======================
- Pushing siege weapons balance recovery lowered to 2 seconds, down from 4.

Curing
======================
- Restoration can now be applied to LEGS and ARMS without it failing.

Domination / Contracts
======================
- Pit / Maw will now ignore levitation if three or more people ENSORCELL / SPELLBIND it.

Kaido
======================
- Banish no longer requires you to be unafflicted.
- Banish no longer has a room-tether based cooldown.
- Banishing a player now places a cooldown on them preventing anyone else from banishing them again for 30 seconds.
- The amount of time a player is banished has been altered, and is now 2 seconds times the amount of enemies within the room.
* This amount of time is capped at 12 seconds total.

Psionics / Egotism
======================
- Disable / Outlaw now requires your opponent to not have the clarity defence again.

Sciomancy
======================
- New Skill: Phantom.
* Grants you 20% extra damage in a room that you recently died in.
* This is marked as a restricted skill and won't work in restricted zones.

Shamanism / Experimentation
======================
- Omen / Casuality will now shatter magical shields when it lands.

Shrines
======================
- Worldburn can now be used outside of Holy Wars.
- Worldburn now has a cooldown of 8 hours instead of having 3 uses.
- Worldburn SE cost has been increased to 250,000, up from 50,000.
- Encompass hinder chance has been increased to 60%, up from 40%.

Survival
======================
- The mana cost of Clotting is now marked as a drain.
- The 'mana_boon' artifact now only reduces the mana drain of Clotting by 20%, down from 33%.
* This is so that we can better stabilize bleeding strategies for everyone.
* You can request a refund for this artifact if this no longer suits your needs via ISSUE.

Tattoos
======================
- Tree tattoo will now cure a second affliction if three or more people have attacked you recently.

War
======================
- Troop RNG for deaths in combat is now determined by PRD.
* This means it is now -less- likely to have streaks that result in large swings, although it is still possible.
* Just less, not completely removed.

Wayfaring
======================
- Greenheart cooldown reduction reduced to 2 seconds, up from 3.

Weaponry
======================
- Envenom and Targeting have been swapped with each other in the skillset.
* This will place Envenom pretty low and make it easier to obtain.

Weaving
======================
- Horologe can now break magical shields when it triggers.

Zeal / Brutality
======================
- Jawcrack / Slug will no longer cause blurry vision.
- Disunion / Exhilarate bal/eq righting lowered to 0.3 seconds, down from 0.6.

Miscellaneous
======================
- Wielding a shield now reduces your dodge rate by 2%.

Penned by my hand on Kinsday, the 1st of Chakros, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3469: New Year Q & A

Autoposter — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 19:49:48 +0000

12/31/2022 at 19:49
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
New Year Q & A

Hi folks!

About half an hour after the coming Howling, myself and some of the team will be hosting an informal New Year's Q & A.

You'll be able to find us IN from North of Trees, where you can come and go as you please, ask questions, listen, or just see in the new year with some chatter.

Everyone is welcome to join us, and we'll also be doing the drawing of December's stocking raffle at the very start.

Happy New Year in advance!

(PS: Don't forget to do something with your vouchers; see post #3467 for details.)

Penned by my hand on Falsday, the 13th of Ios, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3470: Happy New Year! January in Aetolia!

Autoposter — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:01:03 +0000

1/1/2023 at 0:00
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Happy New Year! January in Aetolia!

Hi folks!

Happy New Year to all and welcome to January! We're saying goodbye to stockings (though your platinums should all now be full - enjoy!), and welcoming back cryptic chests!

Chests can be obtained on the Aetolia website (www.aetolia.com/credits), and opening one will award one or more prizes from a wide selection as outlined below.

Every 500 Cryptic Chests opened will trigger a global prize where one of the next 50 to be opened will contain a bonus of 500 credits on top of the other prizes!

Here's what you might find inside:

- Chocolate bags, elemental globes, fireworks, customisation certificates, iron coins, and a low chance at salvage.

- Credit prizes ranging from 15 - 250.

- Various artifacts valued between 50 and 2000 credits.

- Several new minipets: a smelly baby skrell, a spawn of Khtapssos, a fledgling war spider, a tiny Underbelly parasite, an irradiated phoenix hatchling, and a diminutive swamp miscreation

- Coffers with pieces for the crystal set, these trade in for 30 credits per piece! Available options are: crystal_bullhorn, crystal_tortoise, crystal_pike, crystal_mirror, crystal_tome, crystal_illusion, crystal_singularity, crystal_gem, crystal_deathgem and crystal_cluster.

- Scrolls for the following new styles: GAMBLER, GORY, RITUALISTIC.

- Compendium pages for: Maestral Shoals, Maestral Reef, the Liruma Crater, the Underbelly, the Statue of Varian, Clawhook, and the Mannaseh Swamp.

In addition to these, you will always receive a filler prize (grimstim pills, various consumables, omnipotence pills, etc). These do not count towards your chest's value.

Enjoy!

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 14th of Ios, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3468: Flintbeard's Backyard

Autoposter — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 15:07:24 +0000

12/31/2022 at 15:06
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Flintbeard's Backyard

Hi folks!

I'm writing to announce a new 3-player holiday dungeon: Flintbeard's Backyard!

Within, you'll find a series of brand new challenges to overcome, each themed to the festive season in some way.

The entrance can be found at v74620, but note: You will need to have completed Flintbeard's Lair to be able to enter!

Completing the Flintyard will award giftbags (you can only get this reward once per howling, but you can do both this and the Lair to get two per howling), a new fame, and autographs which can be spent at Gilbert's shop.

The shop has some new wares that can only be purchased by those who complete the Flintyard instance!

This new dungeon (as well as the original Flintbeard dungeon) will be open for two weeks until January 14th.

Enjoy!

Penned by my hand on Tisday, the 12th of Ios, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3467: End of month reminder: stocking raffle

Autoposter — Sat, 31 Dec 2022 00:01:17 +0000

12/31/2022 at 0:01
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
End of month reminder: stocking raffle

Hi folks!

This is just a quick reminder that the stocking raffle will close and have its prizes drawn in just over 24 hours.

If you have decorative gift vouchers, you will need to either gift them (if they have your mark) or exchange them (use LOTTERY EXCHANGE VOUCHER, if they were given to you by someone else) in order to enter them into the raffle.

Any vouchers not exchanged by 1st January will disappear, take note!

HELP RAFFLE has all the details for anyone not familiar.

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 8th of Ios, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3466: Timeline Updates

Autoposter — Fri, 30 Dec 2022 16:23:27 +0000

12/30/2022 at 16:21
Emellan
Everyone
Timeline Updates

Hello, everyone!

Over the last few days, we updated the Timeline of Aetolia to include all major story events up to the recent happenings in the Free City of Delve. I assigned proper tags to all of these entries, but if you feel something is amiss or could use additional detail, feel free to let us know!

If you aren't sure how to use the Timeline, HELP TIMELINE contains all the relevant syntax.

Enjoy and happy New Year!

Penned by my hand on Tisday, the 6th of Ios, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3462: A History of 2022 & Previews for 2023!

Autoposter — Wed, 21 Dec 2022 22:15:21 +0000

12/21/2022 at 22:14
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
A History of 2022 & Previews for 2023!

Hi folks!

It's that time again already (somehow) for the year in review post and previews for 2023! The post proper will be in the forum thread for this announce (give me about 30 seconds to post it), with a write up of the year 2022 and some idea of what you can expect from Aetolia in 2023.

Feel free to comment in the thread with your thoughts and speculations!

Penned by my hand on Falsday, the 3rd of Variach, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3464: Mejev Nider Nesve wo Ti, Matati wo Eja sota Aran wo Aransa

Autoposter — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 00:42:09 +0000

12/26/2022 at 0:41
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Mejev Nider Nesve wo Ti, Matati wo Eja sota Aran wo Aransa

Hi folks!

As is only befitting the season of Celesmas, we have a festive miracle for you!

The area of Mejev Nider Nesve wo Ti, Matati wo Eja sota Aran wo Aransa is now available for you to explore!

Situated on the border of the Liruma and Mhojave, this area is majorly comprised of an enormous marble statue dedicated to Varian, the War of Night and many of the acts that the various forces of Sapience took.

You will find that it is competitive in terms of hunting to other endgame areas for experienced bashers. A number of quests are available, including one that gives you a bit more creative flexibility within the statue itself!

You can find the statue of the Celestine from multiple entrances: v305, v300, v225, v265.

Enjoy, and happy holidays!

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 3rd of Severin, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3463: Orrery Update

Autoposter — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 16:45:31 +0000

12/22/2022 at 16:45
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
Orrery Update

Hello folks,

The Orrery gets a small update to its system today, hurrah! No longer bound to tethers, ANY faction and its members may now vie over its bountiful rewards. That's right, you can attempt to gain its bonuses as either:

a) A city
b) A guild
c) An order
d) A congregation
e) A clan (here come the rogues!)

If you are successful, then all members of that organization will obtain its bonuses.

In order to attune the Orrery towards your chosen organization, you must ORRERY SUPPORT before you INFUSE the Orrery with any orbs of essence you find. If you choose no one, then it will default to your city.

We've also changed up the rewards you can gain from the Orrery:

NEW
Level 1: Gain a 5% increase to critical hits.
Level 2: Increased gold drops from denizens by 5%.
Level 3: Balance/equilibrium recover faster when fighting denizens.
Level 4: An increase of 3% to both dodge and divert chance.
Level 5: A bonus of 5% extra healing in health/mana from elixirs.

OLD
Level 1: 5% bonus to shadow damage audit (spirit-aligned), or 5% bonus to spirit damage audit (shadow-aligned).
Level 2: Gain +1 to celerity during the day (spirit), or night (shadow).
Level 3: Small bonus chance to gold drops at day (spirit-aligned), or night (shadow-aligned).
Level 4: At noon (spirit), or midnight (shadow), stats are set to 21 and gain increased balance/equilibrium recovery.
Level 5: Small increase to health restored by elixirs during the day (spirit), or night (shadow).

Just keep in mind the rewards might see adjustments as we go, depending on how useful or lacklustre they end up being.

Finally, for the next Orrery event in a short while, I have switched it over the the Scattering contention type. In the past, it mattered which type of essence you grabbed, but now since all organizations can contest it, you can grab any essence type to infuse it into the Orrery for points.

Whomever has the highest point during its active period will gain an attunement point towards the Orrery. If a different organization from the attuned gains higher points in a round, then it'll knock them back down an attunement point. At zero attunement, it can switch to the organzation who wins the next round.

However many attunement points the winning organization has in the end will be the Orrery level until its next unlock.

That's all for now, enjoy!

P.S.: I intend to work a little bit more on Orrery in the future, such as getting it switching between Scattering and Assimilation. Stay tuned!

Penned by my hand on Tisday, the 8th of Variach, in the year 507 MA.

Announce post #3461: Flintbeard's Return & Ironbeard's Capture!

Autoposter — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 23:18:22 +0000

12/16/2022 at 23:17
Ictinus, the Architect
Everyone
Flintbeard's Return & Ironbeard's Capture!

Hi folks!

As you've likely just heard, Ironbeard had begun his rounds for this year's Celesmas celebrations, but the dastardly Flintbeard has taken him prisoner again, and the Flintbeard's Lair dungeon is open again until the end of the year! This is a three-player instance with special bosses you will need to defeat in order to rescue Ironbeard and defeat Flintbeard.

You will find the entrance located at v18093 and you can ENTER LAIR from there. Remember, you'll want to ENTER LAIR to join the instance of leader, ENTER LAIR by itself will generate a new instance under your name and you won't be able to join your friends if they already made one too.

Defeating Flintbeard comes with a fame line, and as gratitude for rescuing him, Ironbeard will give all three of you a giftbag. You can only receive the giftbag once per Howling, and this shows up on COOLDOWNS.

In the meantime, Ironbeard's apprentice has taken up the task of delivering giftbags!

Holly trees and mistletoe bushes will spawn randomly across the land, their locations changing every so often. You'll need to SNAP (tree) to get a branch of holly, and PULL (bush) to obtain a sprig of mistletoe. Once you've obtained one of each, head down to your favourite pub or tavern so you can DECK THE HALLS and HANG MISTLETOE to decorate it in a bit
of Celesmas cheer. Once done, the tavern owner will give you a platter of sausages and beer.

Throughout the day, Ironbeard's apprentice will pick out people who have platters to visit. The more platters you have, the higher the chance of him visiting you is! When he chooses you to visit, he'll hand over one of his coveted giftbags and gobbble up ALL the platters you have (he's a hungry fellow).

NOTE: The platter quest can only be done once per real day!

In addition to that, the Tsinkin outcast village has re-appeared in the Southern Tundra, with a host of rewards that are only available during the festive season!

There have been some strange noises coming out of Flintbeard's lair this year. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open over the coming days...

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 24th of Slyphian, in the year 506 MA.

Announce post #3460: War Victory Conditions

Autoposter — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 14:33:11 +0000

12/16/2022 at 14:32
Keroc, the Starborn
Everyone
War Victory Conditions

Hi folks,

We now have an endgame to war! The mechanics are relatively simple to begin with, but there has been room left for it to grow if the need arises OR we want to tweak conditions in relation to an event.

In order to win a war, you must:

- Occupy and hold all three BASE territories held by your opponent.

OR

- Occupy and hold the city of your opponent.

In order to occupy territory, you must march Soldiers to the town square in the area and then order them to OCCUPY LAND. This will take roughly one hour and a half in order to complete and there must be no enemy divisions in the area. The division used will become unable to be moved during this action. If you are not at war, then this action will instigate a war if the territory is held by another, so be warned!

Once occupied, your division will be able to freely move once more. However, in order for the territory to count towards your victory, you must maintain a hold over the territory for 8 hours by ensuring that you have a division of any type or number within the area. Your opponent can try and reclaim the area by simply wiping out any divisions stationed within.

The only difference is capturing the city itself, which will take 12 hours instead of 8.

As for the timer itself, it is not simply a matter of holding it for 8 hours straight. If there is no friendly divisions within the area, the timer will count downwards until it reaches zero again. So if you hold it for 2 hours, then your opponent must keep the zone clear for 2 hours to reclaim their territory back. If there are divisions of opposing forces within the area, then the timer will not increase or decrease.

You can use the TERRITORY command to check on your progress on holding the territory, and the SURVEY command to find the town square of a territory.

While there is two victory conditions that can be done in order to win a war, the ending result for your opponent is not the same.

In victory, the opponent is:

- Placed into a surrender state.
* Surrender state has its own conditions, such as the inability to order/conscript troops.
* HELP TREATIES has more information on the surrender state.
- This surrender state lasts for 25 IG weeks, or 25 IRL days.
- All troops are all moved to the barracks.

However, if you capture the city as your victory condition, then the following also happens:

- The opponent's pylon is damaged and loses access to rank 5 in all trees.
* This will last for the duration of the surrender and will repair itself automatically at the end.
- The Aechrian Coil upgrade is damaged and will need to be rebuilt.

There is no victory spoils for the winning city from this forced surrender. Instead, the negative effects placed on the losing city are there to encourage them to negotiate a surrender with the winning city.

You can also occupy a few neutral villages to increase the recovery of troops in your reserve pool. They work the same as controlling territories above, but neutral zones don't trigger a war to occupy UNLESS someone else controls them. Owning or losing them does not effect any victory conditions.

The neutral territories that can be occupied are:
- the village of Nuunva
- the village of Saluria
- the village of Bihrkaen
- the village of Craneskull
- the Salma Settlement

REMEMBER, if you wish to hold onto a neutral territory (or really any territory that is not one of your base territories) for the long term, you will need to leave a division of troops within the area. Once there is no more friendly troops within the area, your occupation will start to lose its hold and eventually come to an end.

This more or less explains this iteration of the war system for now! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

Enjoy!

Penned by my hand on Closday, the 21st of Slyphian, in the year 506 MA.