Guide

Map

Celestion

1.

Divined Secrets of the Torine Sisterhood: An Exposé

Lore

Filed by “Ramscoop” Sunjack, Exile News Network

The Torine Sisterhood. Who are these mysterious, well-armed females haunting the forests and woodlands of planet Nexus? How did they arrive on this far-flung Eldan world beyond the Fringe? And are they potential allies for the Exiles? Or are they enemies that threaten everything we’re trying to accomplish on this world?

Bold Exile explorer Dorian Walker was the first to encounter the Torine sisters in the wilds of Celestion, famously saying they were
both the “most exhilarating and frightening” women he had ever met. He barely escaped with his life. He was able to ascertain some clear facts about mysterious warrior women:
– They speak a form of archaic Cassian, implying they are of Cassian origin.
– They wield massive swords in the style of the old Cassian swordmaidens, who still serve in the Dominion military to this day.
– They derive their name from that of Tresayne Toria, the fabled Cassian heroine who is said to be the mother of Dominus,
the first emperor.
– They worship a “life goddess” they call Vitara.
– They are quite long-lived for humans, or reckon time by another method, for the youngest Torine sister Dorian Walker encountered claimed to be more than one hundred years old.

What can we conclude from these facts? A great deal, dear reader. Although additional research is warranted (assuming it can be safely carried out), this reporter is prepared to propose the following hypotheses:
– The Torine Sisterhood is directly
descended from Tresayne Toria and her entourage. Yes, the fabled swordmaiden truly did reach the planet of the Eldan as Dominus claimed!
– This proves that Dominus himself was born on Nexus, and Exile scientists would do well to search for clues concerning his origins. Understanding the secrets of the Torine means understanding the secrets of the Luminai… and perhaps, victory over the Dominion!
– Despite their Cassian origins, the Torine appear to have no love for the Dominion. Indeed, their entire
culture, such as it is, appears bent on protecting the Focus of Life and their goddess, Vitara. If Exiles can reach an understanding with these warrior women, the Torine could become valued allies. At the very least, antagonizing them is a bad idea.

Perhaps most incredibly, this reporter has uncovered a great deal of circumstantial evidence – including testimony from the Torine themselves – that Tresayne Toria still lives somewhere on Nexus. How this is possible after so many centuries is unknown
for now, but considering the purported lifespans of the sisters Dorian Walker encountered in Celestion, this reporter is willing to stake his reputation on this hypothesis and expects full credit for the discovery should this prove true.

(“Ramscoop” Sunjack is a freelance reporter and explorer who was among the first media personalities in the Exile Fleet to make the journey to Nexus. A version of this story first appeared as part of his independent news broadcast, “Ramscooped!”)

Guide

Ascent Lifeglade Hills top.

Map

Celestion

1.

Teleportation Made Easy with “Stitch” Grundleburn

Lore

Got some place to be on the double? Somewhere to go in a hurry? Maybe some kind of secret lair or ancient gizmo needs to be uncovered, and you just don’t have the time to find the front door? Then congratulations on your purchase of the Grundleburn Tele-Matic Mk. III, the most affordable and reliable teleportation device that very little money can buy from an independent discount technology retailer!

What makes the Grundleburn Tele-Matic
Mk. III worth your hard-earned space-money? Three things:
– Value!
– Affordability!
– Low prices!
– And, to a some extent, reliability!

But don’t take my word for it just because my name’s on the product. Our customers speak for themselves!

“As a… legitimate businessman, I need an easy and relatively fail-safe way t’be boardin’ a fat cargo ship full’a loot and plunder and, er, merchandise. Since I picked up a Grundleburn Mark III,
me profits be through th’roof and me mates’ve never been happier! Thanks, Stitch!”
Captain “Mads” Magzazz, Marauder
“Ever since I gave in and got the Grundleburn Mark III, my many missions into the mysteries of this magnificent world have simply been a snap. Try the Tele-Matic. You’ll be glad you gave it a go!”
Professor Orlo Vekov, Mordesh Alchemist
“I ain’t no kind of explorer, and I ain’t lookin’ to launch a sneak
attack on anybody. I’m just a simple Granok lookin’ for a way to fetch a can of Gnox-strength ale without havin’ to get up offa my duff. Thanks to the Tele-Matic III, the beer cooler in my kitchen is just an arm’s length away! I may never get up off my stony butt ever again.” – Hojek Sitwater, Lazy Exile

So what are YOU waiting for? Order your Grundleburn Tele-Matic Mk. III right now!

Guide

Quest “Godwood Ascension”, part- Enter the Gate to the Heart of the Godwood, takes you inside Heart of the Godwood Tree.

Map

Celestion

1.

Blademother’s Song

Lore

[This Torine epic is written in a distinctive form of archaic Cassian that your datachron easily translates into the modern form – although it loses most of the rhyme structure along the way.]

The gods of life and death called for her,
She alone, among the worthy, called to the stars.
The shining ones, the metal men, descended in ships of silver and gold,
To take her to the heavens, never to return.

A cold and dreamless sleep passed in an instant,
Years, days, centuries,
it was no matter,
For she awoke at the time of their choosing,
Within the hidden chambers of their home beyond the Fringe.

And what became of the one who would be Blademother?
And whence came the son who would leave her for the stars?
Speak her name: Tresayne Toria, swordmaiden, Blademother.
Know the answers are not hers to give, nor yours to demand.
She sang to the stars and was heard.
She called to her sisters, and they became one.

And when the child of her heart grew to be a new god,
She bade him to depart, for she had found a new purpose.

And in the days before the Blademother,
Where did Vitara seek solace?
Who befriended the goddess of life
When the swordmaiden’s call did not ring in the still and silent mist?

For when the Blademother’s progeny fled to the stars,
And Vitara called in the dark,
The Blademother answered, steel in hand.
Sisters of the Torine, daughters of Cassus, children
of Vitara, arise!
For your goddess calls you to serve life above all.
She calls from afar, reaching through the world.
Embracing the smallest branch, the mightiest Eldertree,
Lifting the living, swordmaidens of old,
To the stars on wings of gold.

– Swordsister Althea of the Jagged Edge

Guide

Map

Celestion

1.

Doctor Drugaur’s 100% Pure Vitalus Supplement Solution

Lore

DAY 27

At last, the breakthrough I have been waiting for! The solution is stable. It has taken many months, but I believe I have finally perfected my Vitalus supplement solution. If my calculations are correct, merely a small amount of this simple formula added to Lazarin’s Vitalus Serum will extend the usefulness of the serum by nearly 500%! This breakthrough could well prove to be as important to the survival of our people as the
invention of Vitalus itself. Our supplies will quintuple overnight. We need not fear long voyages of exploration and discovery. And if I can build on these successes, perhaps one day a Mordesh need only receive an annual Vitalus shot – as long as it’s mixed with Doctor Drugaur’s supplement.

Naturally, there will be questions. How can I prove the supplement really works? Don’t we need to wait and see? And what if it doesn’t work? All
valid and viable questions, of course, and ones I am excited to explain.
– Of course I can prove it really works! I’m not Ravenous, am I?
– I did wait and see! And look at me. Fit as a fiddle. I’m even preparing answers for questions no one has yet queried.
– If it doesn’t work? Not an issue in any way. Because it does. Why do these hypothetical fools ask such querulous questions?

Why? Why? Why? Whywhywhwywyhhw?

I feel fffrantic. Thiiis
strikes me as strrrrange. Blood. Blood. Blood. Test. Testing. No! Vitalus shot. Will help, must help, will help, willlll. Supplement. Ffffailing. Fresh. Need. Fresh. Serum. Flesh. Flesh serum. Fresh. Fleshhhhhhhhhtggugphgghh

[The flashing red light after this last word indicates the voice-to-text function of the journal ceased recognizing the sounds Doctor Drugaur was making at the time. A gallant effort was made to finish recording.]