Spell of Voids

From Background: "A spell of forgetting [cast by the Elves], a deliberate purging of the past, an expunging of all memory and recollection of the North Island." Also referred to as the 'Barrier'.
From Swanfeather: "the Wild was driven back and facing defeat. Soratan himself cast the Spell of Voids in order to enable the remnants of the Wild to escape, but that casting is now also cracked and breaking.”Day 65 - Far Haven - Tripwires
It now appears there there were several 'great' spells involvedZoom 2021-01-07 21:00:
*An 'escape' spell cast by Soratan around Trollheim/Ghoulagabba - creating portals that allowed the Wild to escape. This was about 350 years agoElven View of Timeline. This was supposedly powered by the sacrifice of his Mirthil Dragon.
*Later on (about 300 years ago), a similar spell cast by the Elves which allowed them to depart North Island through 5 portals, plus a Spell of Forgetting that was somehow combined with it. These were powered by the Cloud castles, destroying one and grounding three of them. It apparently took the ELves to a different plane to the one accessed by SoratanElven View of Timeline.
*A 'barrier' spell that prevented the parties from returning: This may have been a separate spell, or part of the previous spells (eg the portals were one way)
The departure portals for the Elves were the same locations as the current five Teleport Sinks.
==Final breakdown of the GSOV==
Onwen was killed by Vinmira and his group (including some Dopplegangers) on day 94 - see Zoom session 18th March – Meeting Bez Drock and Days 87-94 (10-17 May), and his Holy Symbol apparently destroyed.
The GSOV was bound to Onwen's Avatar, Holy Symbol and life-force. The symbol appears to have been brought to this place [2 hours ride from White Beach ] and thoroughly destroyed by the fire which means that the GSOV is now completely broken, with the following likely consequences:
* The immediate appearance of the Dark Hoof Centaurs tribe (the Wild Centaurs) scouting parties in the immediate area. (He was surprised that they were not fully armoured and prepared for battle as would be expected.)
* The return of all the Wild – not just the advance cannon-fodder scouting parties seen thus far. Drock thought they would all appear around the area of Onwen's destroyed holy symbol, but now expects them to rally where the Dragon Riders appear – they will define the muster point.
* The Elves are no longer restrained and can bring their Empress through.
* The 'forgetfulness' of the GSOV is broken – so Clearsight will effectively start radiating out from this point. (Brokef suddenly remembers about the Dark Hoof tribe!)
----
It appears that 26 years ago, Onwen's group of Wyldwood worshipers in Far Haven managed to 'crack' the barrier to the Elves This could be the 'help' referred to in Days 11 - 13 ,and that it turn started unraveling the Spell of Forgetting.
We did not know how the 'barrier' to the Wild was breached - except to say that no Legendary Creatures were reported before the actual Elven invasion. We now believe this was, in some part, due to the activities by Onwen and his peers at the Wyldwood temple in Far Haven about 26 years ago.
----
According to Elven View of Timeline:
Sadly the Elven destination was a different plane to the one travelled to by Soratan, and so the Elves have been searching for a way to return and protect the North Island ever since. Thankfully a group of indigenous researchers who had been investigating the history of the island and realised the benefits of alliance with the Elves. With their assistance, the Elves have managed to reopen some gateways to return and are looking to return order to the Island. Unfortunately, in their clumsiness the researchers also appear to have provided a way for Soratan and his hordes to return.
==Onwen's research==
===Great Spell Onwen Notes 1===
(Notes found in Onwens cellar – most of which are tedious ramblings)
In bestowing upon me the blessings of the Guardian, Wyldwood has determined that there is benefit in keeping the Great Spell in place for as long as possible. I am constantly aware of threads in the weavings unravelling but in the main the spell is holding, with my death I suspect the unravelling will be massively accelerated and irreversible. Bez is content to act as my minder, although I do wonder how much he knows about what has happened, he acts slow witted – but I have come to suspect that there is more intellect in that thick skull than he lets on. I do wonder what is happening within my church though, the Priests will be suspicious of the Druids simply because of the actions of a few idealistic fools, what is worse – in holding the Great Spell together – many of the Priests and Druids will not be aware of the root cause of this distrust. The schism could be dangerous, particularly when the Great Spell breaks down.
===Great Spell Onwen Notes 2===
(Notes found in Onwens cellar – most of which are tedious ramblings)
So it would appear that Soratan himself developed the ritual that would become known as the Great Spell of Voids, what set him upon this research path is unclear, but by analysing the weave that I am holding together I have found a number of components
Firstly, what I assume to be an original casting, quite crude in nature when compared to the later castings. It would also seem that whatever beings left North Island with this casting are still linked to the weave somehow, so that when this weave breaks those creatures will be forcibly returned to the North Island. Despite my best efforts this weave is breaking down and decaying the quickest of all of the patterns.
Seconds, a much more powerful casting, which I assume to be Soratans rescue or exodus of the Wild. Again, some beings seem to be still connected with the weave somewhat. This weave remains strong although occasionally I feel that it is under assault although I cannot determine from where, this would imply that the Wild, or elements thereof are looking to return or something is trying to bring them back.
Thirdly, another powerful casting, although nowhere near the magnitude of the second. This casting is much more elegant in nature with significantly more efficient use of mana in it’s establishment. This was the Elven casting, I know that much, and this was the casting that we, in our ignorance, disrupted at Far Haven. What I now realise is that the Elves built in limited means of communicating with the North Island, but these embedded within the weave created points of weakness.
Fourthly, a related casting, but purely Elven in nature that winds between all of the other castings like a tapestry. This is the Spell of Forgetting, that the Elves in their arrogance decided to establish – possibly to prevent any further castings, possibly to simplify their eventual return – I cannot determine. As the voids castings slowly break up, the damage to the Spell of Forgetting is even greater, more and more people are becoming aware.
==Information from creatures from the Void==
===From Day 75 - Fleet of Foot===
Hedrick Forestlore: “The vermin [ie Goblins] spoke no language that we understood, and so in the end we had to resort to arcane means of understanding. Even then, they said very little of coherence, they talked about the great void as some place of great comfort and peace, their home. It kind of felt as though they had been ripped out of the void to return here and were not happy about it, or prepared.”
Hedrick: “It is difficult to tell I know, but we have noticed that there are both male and female goblins around some looking quite old and frail, but no children. The rabble that they are, are frightened and lashing out wildly. If it wasn’t for the damage they have caused, I would feel sorry for them.”
Tein Crossguard: “Remember though, one of them mentioned Soratan.”
Hedrick: “Oh yes, forgot that, what was it he said again Tein?”
Tein: “That Soratan had promised them eternal safety in the Void, then just went back to babbling about how lovely the void was and wanting to return there.”
Tein: “At the time, we wondered whether the Goblin was referring to Saratak, but nowadays I am not so sure.”
Hedrick: “I suspect it was just confused babbling from a creature obviously terrified out of its wits.”
==From Zoom 2021-01-14 21:00==
Soratan's spell was cast in haste, when all the Wild were concentrated around Trollheim/Ghoulagabba. The return of the Legendary Creatures is therefore not related to where they 'went' from – it does seem that they are returning to places appropriate for them (ie Sahuagin in the lake etc)
Elves spell(s) were cast with planning – but they probably 'over-egged' them by adding too many extra embellishments. It was their spell that had the five portals where the Teleport Sinks – ie it appears the sinks are the remains of the mechanism used to gather the Elves to the portals. Again, the Elves didn't seem to return to these points – but they have certainly made them strategic objectives!
==Swanfeather's infoDay 65 - Far Haven - Tripwires==
Swanfeather: “Onwen and his friends had rather fallen in love with the fairytale Elves that the clouded stories told them. Elves that would heal the land and spread wonderment and love of nature wherever they went. Too many people had that view, some people still do. The problem is that Onwen and friends tried to do something about it.”
Swanfeather: “Nobody knows the detail, except perhaps for Onwen. Whatever, they cracked the spell of voids and made contact. In so doing they also damaged the weave of the Spell of Forgetting, initially only a minor tug in the weave, but the damage has spread from that day. The first to see was Onwen, who quickly realised what a mistake was being made. The second to see was Saratak, who could only see one way of dealing with it. Saratak has told me no more about this, but I do know that Bez Drock thought he had prevented the Elves coming – but as he realised shortly after razing the shrine – he had failed and at least some Elves had returned.”
=='SEP' effect==
We currently believe that the 'forgetting' is more akin to a 'Somebody Else's Problem' field where anything covered by the spell is simply ignored or not believed. DM mentioned that the effect of the GSOV was to stop you making ‘connections’ between information, as much as ignoring/forgetting it.Zoom 2020-11-26 21:00
The peak effect is from 100 years before the Age of Chaos to 10 years after.Zoom 2020-11-12 21:00
People with Clearsight appear to be unaffected by this SEP effect. The party and several important characters have Clearsight.
Olg Stonemaker gave us this information and believes that the Spell of Voids is breaking down.
Quercuis theorises that the Legendary Creatures were trapped in a Void, Stasis or whatever by the Spell of Voids, which they are now breaking out of. However, Council Record Fragment 2 states that "their departure, although I have instructed First Mage Renzel to lead a research effort into the ritual that they followed. What is certain is that their presence is no longer to be found" implying that either the Spell of Voids was cast by the Wild to allow them to 'escape', or that that was a different ritual entirely - and that the Spell of Voids was cast by the Elves to keep the Wild from returning - a view supported by the warning in the Song of the Spheres: 
== Warning concealed in the Song of the Spheres==
If you can read this, then I believe that the Great Spell has been sundered or is at least unravelling. My warning to you dear reader is to beware of the Wild, for they retreated but were not vanquished. We may never return, but they undoubtedly will.
The casting of the Great Spell is taking far more mana than expected, we will succeed but there will be a cost, I can see now why Soratan was so hesitant. As the unravelling begins, I can see side effects – if you are a keeper of knowledge please document everything. Perhaps at a future time we can meet. E
==The Mana cost of the Spell==
The comment in the warning in the Song of the Spheres taking more mana than expected has led Dougal to speculate that maybe the spell(s) drained the land of magic (eg causing the grounding of the Flying Cities) – and this caused the Elves to have to depart. The party then discussed what evidence there was of high level magic being cast in the intervening years.Zoom 2020-11-19 21:00
==Olg Stonemaker's information==
“Well those with clearsight seem to be resistant to the forgetting part of the ritual. Able to ask questions and make connections when most people would just shrug and say ‘just is’. Since the Elves reappeared, more and more people are asking these questions and my current belief is that the Spell of the Voids is fraying. Day 28-34 – The third week in Northlake
* The forget/ignore effect seems to	cover everything from a period about 10 years into the Age of Chaos	and back. People, religions, events – all seem to come under the	umbrella effect. It seems to particularly limit any focussed	activity as opposed to generic. So for instance during the Age of	Chaos people were aware of the Elven ruins but simply passed them	by, as things stabilised people were able to explore these and a	general understanding of the existence of Elves etc. was gained.	People or groups of people with intellect and insight were able to	explore more deeply, hence the success of the College, but even so –	until clearsight began emerging they were just skimming the surface.
* Another thing to note is that once	a fact emerges it seems to be removed from the scope of the	‘forgetting’, once enough people had seen Elves for instance –	their existence become known to all and not considered as folklore.Day 35-41 – The fourth week in Northlake
==From Background:==
* Then came the Age of Chaos. And the Elves, to the last one, fled South, putting between the North Island and themselves a barrier of not only the oceans but also the great Spell of Voids, a spell of forgetting, a deliberate purging of the past, an expunging of all memory and recollection of the North Island.
* Explorers had always held that there was another great island, mirror to the North Island, on the other side of the world beyond the great Barrier of the Spell of Voids.
* those few [Elves] who had overcome the mental fog of the Barrier sufficiently to recall their past recording the changes wrought in the land with tears in their eyes and sorrow in their heart for what it had become.
==Outstanding Questions==
The invading Elves apparently had 'help' breaking back through the barrier to return to North Island.Days 11 - 13 This now appears to have been Onwen in Far Haven 
It is not known how/why the Legendary Creatures came through the barrier.
Not sure if the 'forgetting' just applies to the Elves passing through the barrier forgetting about North Island, or if it also implies that those left beind on North Island are made to forget about them. We now believe it does affect the inhabitants of North Island - except those with Clearsight.
Also, if the Elves who passed through forget about North Island, how did they know to come back? (The text implies that the few who remembered only did so once they had returned.)
==Week1 Research:==
The spell of voids is mentioned a number of times as a great arcane ritual that was known to the Empress and her inner circle of arcane advisors. The first week's research has not unearthed any specifics around this ritual and its purpose though.Day 21-27 – The second week in Northlake
==Golderod's legitimate question:==
Despite dimsissing as fantasy many of the topics covered by the Spell of Voids, he does make a legititmate point:
"If the Elves were so powerful that they could invoke magic that simply transported them all away and made everyone else forget about them, I fail to see how this fractured realm was able to resist their invasion."Day 35-41 – The fourth week in Northlake