Venntiverse Trivia

## **Images - for images**

“The Creator’s Mark”

I forget what this one is but I think the thief at Westchester mansion had it on their hand? Wasn’t it on a wall at some point? Or like, a cat? I think this might be a block-y version of Venn’s symbol?

Mission Log 11527 Operation: Cinnamon Hunt

## **Miscellany  (for other stuff that seems important)**

### The Godhead Runes

* Found by the Recruits at Ood’s Landing, in a cave near the entrance to the tributaries along with an old workshop
* Translated, with a few ambiguities, by Dr. Fenton at Gywyn University
* Reads as follows:
	+ “Y’wor the Boatman Y’wor, child of Ood, god of movement, caster of air, master of the rivers, was tasked with the responsibility of guiding mortals to Mal’s [island/prison]. It is in this [resting place/inn] that Y’wor found [rest/solace], and when it rained, she slept in the Cave of Respite. Y’wor prayed that when the mortals will have arrived, her father’s brother will be kind and gentle to them.”

## Josh-Certified Lore, Courtesy of the Fact-Stories-Rumors Discord Channel

[COMMON - Agriculture] Native to northern regions of Amphala but exported all around Amnis, the genus *Unguflora* is more commonly referred to as leafstock. These domesticated creatures are similar in appearance to cows or sheep with the notable exception of a leafy exterior rather than wool or fur. The leaves range in appearance, texture, and flavor from kale-like to seaweed-like. Leafstock are bred and raised for their leaves as a nutritional supplement where dark green vegetables are uncommon or difficult to farm. Leafstock acquire their plant-like abilities from the grass they consume, and several liberal breeders are exploring the potential of breeding leafstock fed on different materials.

[RARE - Physics] A passage from Aetherial Theory and Metaphysicks: There are two laws of the universe. The first is entropy, of course, the breakdown of order, the great deconstruction, the universe folding in on itself. But there is a second law. An equal and opposite reaction: the coming together, that which brings order in the first place. Is it the way one folds their laundry, it is the nostalgia of autumn air at the end of a hot summer, it is the reason I am able to write a book! Yes, the universe is decaying. Yes, yes, it is collapsing, deconstructing, folding in on itself. The universe is folding in on itself. Coming together. This is the second law of the universe, and as its discoverer, I shall name it... Harold. - Harold A. B. D.

[RUMOR - Gristan] "Y' heard about them ghost trains down in the Stillborn Station? They say some folks were working on a tram line through the underground, a'spite the Tribut'ries. Never did get finished. No one knows why. One day we all just stopped thinkin' 'bout it. But every so often when you're down there, you can hear the train rumbling along, looking for the station that were never built. 'N if you find that unfinished platform, 'n you see them lights down the tunnel and sum'in fierce rolls up... You do not get in that train... It ain't normal, and it ain't goin' nowhere you wanna be."

[UNCOMMON - Religion] There are other harmonies beyond the Sect of Justice. But I'll let the famous poet Willhelm Vilkensein speak to why they're not very popular in Gristan. After all, he composed the original children's rhymes which led to their infamy and mass disgust: Supreme Green, Sect of Dreams, Think of art all day, Ask them how to save the world And they'll ask you to pray! Orange orange, Sect of Sorrow, Tell me who you hate. Lie and cheat and beg and borrow Just to fill your plate! Always right, Sect of White, Claims all Three are One! But when their Calling Day has come, Who do they stand for? None!

[UNCOMMON - Religion] Most churches of Gristan worship Ood or Resh, but a rare few of them worship both in harmony: a will to make the world better and the power to do so; beautiful art and the intense emotions needed to create it; peace and the laws to keep it. These churches are banded together by a community of Justices, priests wearing sacred purple and gold, vowing their lives to the harmony of Resh and Ood. But their sect has dwindled, and there are so few good Justices these days.

[MYTH - Dark Elf Legend] (As told by Imogen Lynn, chaplain of the Three Rivers Guild) “It’s an old dark elf legend, probably not even real but...” “Deep down in the tributaries, there’s a creature known as the Mason Wight, an undead shade of an mage crushed in a tributary cave-in. It’s a spiteful spirit, driven only by a desire to crush adventures in its stone arms, reenacting its own gruesome death over and over. Its skin is made of pure stone that no blade can pierce. It advances on you and while you’re completely powerless to stop it. But it has a weak point: a single gap in its stone armor in the middle of its back. A single blow to this spot will fell the wight.” “But the Mason Wight is smart and fast. It will never let you see it’s back. The only way to take it down is to work as a team: one to distract while the other sneaks around it’s back.” “But the Mason Wight knows this too. So it uses its command over stone to shift the walls of the tributaries to split parties, separate allies from each other. You see, its greatest power is not its skin of stone but its power to divide. Trapped in its labyrinthian walls, many heroes give in to despair as it picks them off one by one.” “But the thing is, the Mason Wight can only make so many walls. Some are easily climbed over. Some you can walk around, if you just keep going. So the key is to remember that no matter what the Wight seems to do, you are still never alone. There are people just around the corner who want to help.”

[COMMON - Meteorology] Most winters are mild in Gristan. Most, that is, statistically. But one in a handful is always worse. There's one in a decade if you're lucky, three if you're not. But it always comes. The Long Winter. The longest, coldest, darkest season that Gristan knows. It covers the plains in a thick blanket of snow, it freezes the lakes. It makes us coalcounters, every last one. And this year the forecast is it's going to be pretty bad. The storms are predicted to be so large that they will carry across the ocean to Newinter and bring our Long Dark there. Start chopping wood, Amnis, you're going to need it.

[UNCOMMON - Geography] A few dozen miles southeast of Garamond, Est Acre is a small town called Toelock. The population is estimated to be around 800, largely consisting of elderly women. No one knows why the town is named Toelock or how it came to be nicknamed "Land of Aunts". Regardless of its origins, many a masterwork quilt or fine fabric can be found in this small town.

[UNCOMMON - Alchemy] Three-headed orcs mutated by Greenblood tend to move toward areas of high air pressure and freshly wet regions. Alchemists believe this to be due to their mutated noses, which attracts them to the smell of rain.

[COMMON - Three Rivers Guild Roster] Centesimus Pertinax is the runt of his family. When his mother prayed for fertility, she did not expect the number of children the gods granted her. Yet this boon came at a price, a curse of misfortune upon their family. Now in 2260 CR, all ninety-nine of Centesimus's older brothers and sisters have fallen to the frayed strings of fate, and only Centesimus the Frail remains. This is what he thinks about every day as he serves the guild with sword and shield. His is a duty of three parts: to uphold his family name, to bear children, and more than anything, to stay alive long enough to wear out his family's curse.

[VIGNETTE - Ritita, Newinter] *Mission Report from Captain Quiermos: The transaction was a success today. The runic stone set for transfer to the North Bay made it into the hands of appropriate authority without any interruptions or interference. I hope not to bring bad luck upon future transfers, but I am thoroughly glad to have had such a boring mission for once. And yet, I could not help but feel eyes on me as I supervised the exchange. I checked the shadows and found nothing, but it felt - for a moment - as if the shadows themselves were watching me. Perhaps I have been reading too many stories. I will remain vigilant for the remaining transfers of the Venntricular Key.*

## Josh12/02/2019

[COMMON - Meteorology] It's not always sunny in Amnis. Weather patterns range from inconvient to catastrophic. Luckily, that range is usually in order of rarity as well. Uncommon weather on Amnis includes rain and thunderstorms, with more than occasional lightning. Less common still are acid rains, gloom, and aetherwinds or "wild tempests." Rarer still are full-blown aetherstorms and shade flares, during which the midnight shade lingers longer than expected, eclipsing the sun during the day and lasting up to a week by historical records. Luckily, these rare catastrophes only occur once every few years, and cities can go decades without experiencing that harsh of inclement weather.

[COMMON - Religion] Because of when their high holidays are celebrated, each Creator is associated with certain seasons. Resh is celebrated during Summertide, Mal during the Long Dark, and Ood during Bloomdays. All Creators are praised during Harvest.

## Josh11/19/2019

[UNCOMMON - Language History] According to linguists, the days of the week were not always what they are today. They believe the previous names were: Sun Day Moon Day\* Twos Day Weddings Day\* Threes Day Free Day, possibly Fright Day Satyr Day \* Some linguists argue that Moon Day was actually Ones Day, and still others argue that Weddings Day was actually Ones Day. Pop culture has latched onto the former in order to make claims about the bond of marriage.

[UNCOMMON - Garamond News] This week in the College District, come to Hardwood and Thorny during Tuesday Happy Hour to hear the raunchy tales of Ezekial Bowan Tall! Watch as the halfling with the roundest glasses known to Amnis tells of his journey to Vodkaville and the town where every woman is named Prudence! Don't miss - this Tuesday - Zeke the Torysteller!

[UNCOMMON - Three Rivers Guild Rumors] It is a common misconception that when veteran guild members speak of "The Incident," they are referring to the time a biotinker kept a monster as a slave beneath the armory. In fact, this phrase is used to refer to the first time Imogen and Rally went on a date. No one knows exactly what happened. Some claim it involved explosions of pasta sauce, others say there was a fire. Only two people will ever know the truth, and they refuse to speak a word of it.

[COMMON - Fashion, East Gristan] Formal dress in the northeast of Gristan is suits https://slm-assets2.secondlife.com/assets/2564868/lightbox/ad\_renaissance\_dark.jpg?1290663935 and dresses https://i.pinimg.com/236x/de/63/9f/de639fd2a91dfc4ef3fa6bb81bba0c73.jpg. Work clothes are typically leathers https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e0/6b/89/e06b8928367f7c7c3f39b5a5d5b61741.jpg or cloth http://c15131978.r78.cf2.rackcdn.com/ProdImages/Large/1/LargeA80220.jpg. The most common wear is occupational leather with a bit less functionality and a bit more decorative flair https://www.amazon.com/Steampunk-Renaissance-Cosplay-Leather-Costume/dp/B07MXWZXCR. Scholars and white-collar workers often wear robes https://visionsoiaf.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/caprotti-schemes-of-the-scholar.jpg?w=529&h=285.

[COMMON - Politics, East Gristan] A short list of rulers of some places you know of: - Est Acre: King Restimar - Urgristan: Lord Daniel Stratton-Marbury, son of Abigail Virginia Claire IV of Stratton-Marbury - Ood's Landing: King Burtimer - Bromhil: King Geoff Bromston - Dragonsage Shore: Lady Grim-Miloc - The Shackled Dagger: (ongoing conflict) Lord Sunblood; Ronlin the Halfling; Lady Iseni - Southern Hartlands: King Durchil Hart - Evern Coast: Queen Lynda Evern - Selmorow: Selmyn the Elven King [This fact brought to you by accumulated Campaign Points from Nicolas and Uttkarsh in their Capital flashback.]

[COMMON - Food, East Gristan] Throughout the northeast of Gristan, the most popular alcohols are honey mead, gin, and brandy. Drinks here are generally very sweet. Common fan-favorites include the "Rose Pop" (mead-based), the "Spring Bubble" (gin-based), and the "Twisting Double" (brandy-based). [This fact brought to you by accumulated Campaign Points from Nicolas and Uttkarsh in their Capital flashback.]

## Josh10/30/2019

[COMMON - Economics] Although trades are often spoken of in silver, there are more types of coins of the realm. Namely, there are copper pence (cp), silver pieces (sp), and gold proofs (gp). One gold proof is worth a hundred silver pieces; one silver piece is worth ten copper pence (singular: penny). Often a piece will be cut up into two ha’pieces (worth five pence each), and a penny can be cut into two ha’pence, denoted as (/p). Proofs can be cut into half proofs (50 pieces) or quarter proofs (25 pieces), but rarely ever smaller fractions due to arguments over even cutting.  While precious metals are nearly universal currency, some nations use paper monies. The most popular of these currencies is the Gristan Grist. One Grist (abbreviated “gr”) is equal to one silver piece, but the bills come in amounts of 1/p, 1cp, 5cp, 1sp, 5sp, 10sp, 20sp, 50sp, 1gp, 2gp, and 5gp.

[COMMON - Astronomy] The solar system has 3 planets: Ewox An is the closest, then Amnis, then Ivlit. Amnis has one moon, Uudana. Amnis's year is 365 days with a 24 hour day cycle.

[UNCOMMON - Astronomy] The sun is formally named Bel, making our solar system the Bel system. Ewox An is 60 million miles from Bel. It has an orbit of 183 Amnean days and a day cycle of 183 Amnean days. The planet has a diameter of 12000 miles. Its only moon is Mukt, one third the size of Ewon An. Amnis is 90 million miles from Bel. Its diameter is 7200 miles. Uudana has a diameter of only 2000 miles. Ivlit is 210 million miles from Bel. It orbits once every 600 Amnean days and a day cycle lasts 9 Amnean days. Ivlit is 6000 miles in diameter. It has 3 moons: Ensimmainen (1000 mile diameter), Amenalusavor (2000 mile diameter), and Siphapheme (600 mile diameter). For more on the geography, flora, and fauna of these planets, see The Geographer's Guide to Our Solar System.

[UNCOMMON - News, Frostborough] After months of labor in cooperation with the Garamond Guard, the Frostborough Construction Union has been able to bring stability to the town. The pits which had opened up in the Tributaries and sunk an important street of commerce have been neutralized and the street rebuilt. Yet many citizens remain concerned, as similar emergencies have begun appearing in neighboring towns and farmlands. Local environmentalist experts at GUAMT have been contacted regarding the increased threat of subterranean activity, but no statements have yet been released.(edited)

## Josh10/10/2019

[COMMON - Pop culture, East Gristan] The popular music of eastern Gristan is electro swing, evolving from the more traditional musics which are kept alive and well in every other part of the world. To people living far from this region, the music that spreads through the Capital and the Gywyn University of Arcane and Mechanical Technologies is rambunctious and disrespectful of tradition.

## Josh10/09/2019

[VIGNETTE - Lower Agathovgarud, Ivlit] Dearest daughter Callissandra, I leave this letter for you in the furnace of our shul. It is already wet with the tears I weep for you. The women who came to my door this morning brought the news. They said you had taken an extra night shift in place of a friend who was ill with the black lung. They said your crew had almost finished the tunnel to Petrosonsburg. They said you were diligent to the very end. Callissandra, I will not lie that the news did not shatter my heart and hope, that it has not shaken everyone who bears the Vortivulges name. I cannot hide the sobbing that presently seeps into the bluepad on which I write. But I know what you would say. You would say to us, do not fear. You would say do not give up hope or abandon our cause. That we are each but a single gear in the Great Working, the Most Grand of Machines. You were devout with every breath and action, every turn and tick of your life.

I know what is spoken in shul. I know we say that every stone has its purpose, every person their place, every sprocket its reason. I know the scriptures tell us of a blueprint written by the Creators for the world to turn. I do not dispute the word of the Gods. But what purpose does your death serve, my beloved child? For what reason were you crushed by that collapse? How broken is Our Machine that it would discard its most precious of pieces? I cannot hold in my mind that Our Working is good and yet it has no place for you among it!

The women who came to my door this morning brought the malachite gear necklace found broken beneath the shale. This is the first time in 12 years I've seen this symbol leave your neck since your ninth creation day when we first brought you to shul and you heard our sacred purpose. I struggle to believe in a purpose that does not believe in you. I leave your gear with this letter. May the smoke carry its way to you wherever you are in heaven and beyond, attending to your true purpose as the Working would have it. I love you, dearest Callissandra. I love you always and with all of my heart.

[COMMON] It's no surprise that the working class have less than tender words for those who don't have to work. A common insult for bookish, sheltered, or noble women is "butter knife." That is, everything is sharp about her "but 'er knife." The term can be used for noble men as well, in which case it additionally implies a lack of masculinity

[UNCOMMON - Tinkers] Haste Paste is an uncommon but useful part of a tinker's toolkit. This lotion, applied to the hands, massages the nerves and reduces the frustrating delay tinkers face when their minds move faster than their hands. While the brief effects of the paste last, the tinker finds they can move their hands as fast as they can think to do so, drastically speeding up crafting at the cost of the expected lifespan of the product. Frequent use of Haste Paste has been linked with shaky, slowed, or dulled control of the fingers.

[COMMON] Common blue-collar jobs include: lightsmith (installing magic or magitek lights which last between an hour and a week), street cleaner, plumbing maintenance, construction, electrics (often more difficult, rarer work found only in some cities, and most often refers to wardsmen, who maintain the city's electrical lux ward grid), and couriers, in addition to all basic civilization jobs (guards, soldiers, farmers, cooks, caretakers, etc)

[UNCOMMON - Historians] Lux wards are the oldest known technology still in use today. Widespread practice of lighting these dim candles to prevent attacks from the midnight shade can be traced back thousands of years before the Creators' Reawakening.

[COMMON] Although it's typical to refer to one's "birthday", folks from traditional or religious cultures refer to it as one's "creation day."

[COMMON] The insulting term for a rude individual is a jackamule.

[COMMON] 'Pfordin's fisherman' means one who actively looks for trouble or a devil's advocate.

## Josh 2019+

[COMMON - Transportation] The most common ways to get around a city are walking, trams, and tricycles. Less common ways are motorcycles and steamboards. Least common ways are auto mobiles and horses.

[UNCOMMON - Tinkers] A passage from *Tink Like a Thinker* by Beedleby Manasthanatawn:

```
<Have you ever seen a child watch an airship go by? They are absolutely flabbergasted by the power of tinkering! It does not take much to inspire the heart of a child, indeed, tinkering is a wonderful, incredible thing of itself. "How does it work?" they ask. "How does something so heavy float like a butterfly?"
How indeed, dear readers. For a single engine may not be strong enough to lift itself up. It's own weight is too heavy - so how is it to ever lift itself and something else?
This is one of the first principles any good tinker learns: the principle of Mechanical Multiplication. You see, although one engine may not be enough, with two they combine their strengths, and with three even moreso. By the time you reach the amount of engine power on an airship, these relatively simple machines are able to lift things many times their own weight into the air. It is a fundamental fact of our universe, even, dating back to the ancient mage Winnias Gestalt in 536 CR. She wrote: "The strength of two women is more than the strength of one woman twice. Thus does our civilization build upon itself, mother after mother, daughter after daughter, amplifying our own strengths and dampening our weaknesses. If every mortal of our world held hands, we too could reach the heavens."

That being said, this principle also applies to the complexity of the machine...

Chapter 3 - Debugging...

```

[UNCOMMON - Language History] According to linguists, the days of the week were not always what they are today. They believe the previous names were: Sun Day Moon Day\* Twos Day Weddings Day\* Threes Day Free Day, possibly Fright Day Satyr Day \* Some linguists argue that Moon Day was actually Ones Day, and still others argue that Weddings Day was actually Ones Day. Pop culture has latched onto the former in order to make claims about the bond of marriage.

[COMMON - Midnight Shade] *"What is the Midnight Shade? Is it, as some believe, a curse upon our world? Or is there a meteorological explanation? Here is what we do know about it: we know that there was not always Midnight Shade. There are multiple accounts many centuries ago which describe it as a new phenomenon, something to be feared, or perhaps a punishment from the Creators. We know that there is not Midnight Shade everywhere. Our relatively recent ventures to Ivlit and Ewox An have confirmed that they do not experience the Midnight Shade. This phenomenon is solely for Amnis to bear. But we also know the feeling of darkness as it creeps up our backs and under our skin. We know the sadness of seeing the stars fade in the pall swept over us like a thick fog. Yes, like the clouds, there are moments where it breaks and we can see some light creep in. But in the many moments of pure black, we live every night with no moon, every sleep without stars. Yet still there are those who claim to be able to see the stars through the Pall of Shade. I am not one of them, as you may be able to tell. Their accounts claim they can still see the stars, however faint, through the darkness. These people also claim to be able to see further into the night than other watchful eyes. They describe it as lit with black light, cast in purples and blues, where -- rarely -- they can see faint spirits lingering in the darkness beyond. We have no further descriptions, because the most curious among these inevitably find themselves caught in the depths of the Midnight Shade, and are discovered the next morning, their bodies brutally ravaged by some unseen creatures of the night. The Midnight Shade remains a mystery, and so I for one will continue to light my Lux wards each night before bed. I implore you to do the same."* - from the Treatise of Night, by Brother Archimedes Holmes

[COMMON - Agriculture] Snapping peas are a common semi-sentient weed that plague farmers who accidentally use soil that's been in or near the Tributaries. They are considered one of many reasons to sound the land -- or check the depths with agricultural sounding equipment -- before buying a plot and planting crops.

[COMMON - Three Rivers Guild Roster] Standing at a lanky 7', Ghoti has always stood out in the cafeteria. No one knows what his deal is: why, if he's half-elf, is his skin green? What does he even do, if no one has seen him registered for a mission? Where did he come from? Only one fact is known about the mysterious lurker: his name is pronounced "fish."

[VIGNETTE - Ritita, Newinter] A short, balding orc sits outside on a park bench. The crumpled photograph that he had clutched in his hand was now slotted in his book as a marker while he, occasionally, read passages. But mostly he was glancing nervously around, anxiously waiting as the time passed. He tried to focus on the book, which was titled *Amnean, The Common Tongue: The Story of How One Language Took Over A Planet* by Harold A.B.D. But the orc couldn't really focus on anything right now. There was just too much waiting to do. He checked his watch. Then again. But even the face of the clock did nothing to tell him the reassurance he needed. So instead he put down his book and he picked up his guitar, and he gave it a strum and he picked up a tune, and it sounded a bit like this. https://youtu.be/objtyJW4heA

[RUMOR - TRG] Tago "Frago" Bilbins has joined the tournament. Despite criticisms that the halfling man is merely a dilettante with an affinity for grenades and "doesn't actually have any real abilities," Tago has made great success in the past with his near-infinite munitions and equally abundant patience.

[RUMOR - TRG] While in his cups at Sprockets last night, veteran guild member and explorer of note "X" Dellefont told the story of his expedition to the "castle in the mirage", a desert fortress which simultaneously exists and does not exist. He says that the locals of the area believe there to be powerful jinn somewhere in the castle, capable of granting wishes. X, however, had to return home early and did not have enough time to find these jinn. If you believe his story, power beyond your wildest imaginations may be hidden in that mysterious fortress.

[COMMON - Medicine] Lintlung, colloquially "sock throat," is a common affliction of washermen and washerwomen who spend all day in the laundrials where steam presses and air pumps lift particulates into the air and settle into the airways. Treatments include gargling with manganate of potash and a visit to the purified oxygen bars. Symptoms typically clear up within a few weeks, but more severe cases may become chronic.

[UNCOMMON - Culture] In certain Newinterian cultures, it's customary for the buried to have a grave cap. Explanations of this tradition range from religious separation of life and death to the prevention of necromantic uprisings.

[UNCOMMON - TRG] One of the nicest members of the guild is a man hired off the street, saving him from homelessness. Despite his hardships, he believes that kindness and good deeds persevere above all. His habit of wearing tattered clothes has earned him the nickname "Patches." Why is it that new recruits never seem to trust him?

[UNCOMMON - Monsters] The mitenaught is a terrifying insect which burrows in the brains of animals and, rarely, humanoids. Entomologists believe their diet consists of the thoughts and prayers of their host, eating away at their mind. Symptoms of mitenaught infection include a negative affect, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, apathy, and a lack of faith.

[UNCOMMON - Culture] Any TRG member worth their salt can name three theaters in Garamond alone. True, all of eastern Gristan is well-known for its musicals, dramas, and comedy theater. You'll also catch an occasional performer on the streets everywhere from Ood's Landing to the Capital. But elsewhere in the world, they tend to favor different media. Take the south -- Quel-Kiv and the Hartlands -- down there, the heart speaks as it comes: improvisational dance. To watch a dancer create magic on the spot is like watching James Monart write an epic on stage for you alone. But in the Northwest, dance is much stricter. The elven wilds of Selmorow and even the sailing shores of Violetwind prefer to choreograph their performances, often telling the tales of battles won and lost or loves made and separated through the sharp movements of bodies in sync. In Amphala, though, dancing is taboo. Instead, the theater puts on cathartic comedies and tragedies in similar fashions to our ancient Greeks, complete with exaggerated masks but also including something the Greeks had not: illusion magicks to liven the experience. But where did the theatrical performances originate? Some speculate they came from the region of Elégian, now called Ardylous in southern Polod. There, theater is only ever tragedy, and is treated with a grave seriousness like one treats a funeral. Historians believe this is where the word elegiac comes from.

[RARE - Culture] The most famous play from Elégian is still performed today in many variations around the world despite being thousands of years old. The play is titled "Gan Teaguth," or in Amnean "Untouched Voice." The play follows two lovers given an ill hand by fate. An elven man, a musician, cannot get the money to visit his true love. She, fearing that they would be permanently separated, makes a deal with Pfordin, begging Her to make things better. Pfordin gives her one day to improve her own life first, but out of cowardice, she cannot. Following their deal, her soul is imprisoned into a theremin, tasked to sing her heart's woes in the most beautiful pain heard by mortal ears. As fate would have it, this theremin falls into the hands of her lover, though he knows this not, and with his instrument becomes famous for his beautiful music. But without his lover, this fame is hollow and he ends his own life to escape the pain of not being able to touch his lover whose voice he keeps almost hearing but never quite.

[UNCOMMON - Culture] "In order to fit in on the streets of the Hartlands, one must have the right garments. Nothing too fancy for everyday wear, some simple leather or cloth doublets or vests will do, especially in tans and browns. You may see men in robes, but this is reserved for intellectuals and formal attire. Ladies, if you have a formal event to attend, the tailor's market has a variety of dresses in fashionable red and orange. Your first stop in the south should almost certainly be a meal, if you can handle the heat! Try the stewed fire boar, marinated in a wet and spicy, mouth-watering cactus garlic sauce. Or sample the delectable dips and soups from your local stewsman. And with that meal, how about a beer? We have bitter ales like the Rotten Temper and pale ales like the Orange Bear. You may notice a strong bitter aftertaste of heavy ginger. I assure you this is an acquired taste!" - Excerpt from *The Traveler's Guide to the Southern Hartlands* by Cantribar Banglebrush Esq.

[UNCOMMON - Culture] "In the Southern Hartlands, the most important thing is family. Families are big where we come from, and each one is sacred. And don't bring any eastern jokes about wives serving their husbands at the table --- down here, we're all equal in the eyes of Gris. Families come first, and kindness is a close second. They don't call it southern hospitality for nothing, you know! Hospitality is traditional here, and those sorts of traditions are the kind we keep close at heart. Besides, what more could you want besides your family, your traditions, and a kind, simple life? Any details besides those are between you and Uud. And there are plenty of churches to strike up that conversation! On any street you'll find a church or a House of Balance. That's not just frequently: that's the law!" - Excerpt from *The Traveler's Guide to the Southern Hartlands* by Cantribar Banglebrush Esq.

[UNCOMMON - Religion] "The Great Working is not merely a religion, it is a cultural heritage. Its recent interest on Amnis can be traced back to the Ivlitian tinkers, many of whom define their lives around this shared orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Many scholars before me have argued that The Great Working is a deviant branch, streaming from the church of Tink. Yet, while its roots may be in the honor of Tink and Her Mother, the Great Working is itself an agnostic faith --- there is no Creator who can claim to be the foundation of The Great Working. Rather, it is a belief built by the tinkers themselves. In this work, I will unroll this history and demonstrate why many Amneans are today acknowledging their role as Cogs of The Great Working." - Excerpt from *An Anthropological Historical Account of the Great Working,* the doctoral thesis of Yosmin Xalnan Umner Ianwin

[UNCOMMON - Ivlitian Cuisine] One of the most common flavors of Ivlitian food is carorsous. In its natural form, carorsous is a neon green liquid, although it is also made into pastes and dried into powders. Carorsous is harvested by venomen, or ranchers who raise the carorita spiders who produce natural carorsous. This role is traditionally a dwarven profession, which has led the carorita to be known as a "dwarf spider" despite being on average about three feet in diameter. Carorita have historically also been ranched as travel mounts before the development of modern autonomous spiders. Carorsous is expensive and difficult to find on Amnis, because as a spice it is lethal to native Amneans.

[UNCOMMON - Linguistics] Luck, serendipity, windfall... Amnean has several words for things working out in one's favor. But its root language Gilian actually has even more words for this phenomenon. *Fhortún an chruinnithe* and *fhortún an ama* differentiate between spatial and temporal serendipity. *Adhchéile* describes the luck of things coming together or falling into place just so. *Adh'haralt* is an even more specific kind of *adhchéile* which comes together in spite of difficulty; it can often be translated as "pieces in place" or "together despite the circumstances." Those circumstances generally refer to *eantrópych*, the breaking apart of things. In this way, *Adh'haralt* is denotationally synonymous with the less common *fritheantrópych*, or what Amnean might formally call ectropy.

[Vignette - Yugaria, a few years ago] The bar is crowded with drunken sailors and imperial guards off duty. The first floor is smoking and juke tunes. The second floor is card tables, Three Blind Dice, and Masons' Gambit. "...just got promoted!" a woman finishes saying --- or, more like yelling over the music --- to the bartender. She's in her mid twenties, curly brunette hair and a beauty mark above the side of her lip. She has a tall forehead and muscular arms for a woman of her stature. Dressed in her dark blue uniform, she seems equally ready to kiss or kill, but her bubbly voice assuages the tension around her. "Yeah I'll be on Operation Howl!" "Doing what?" the bartender shouts back while mixing a drink for someone else. The bartender, a woman younger than the uniformed one by a couple of years, is dressed to collect tips from her patrons. "That's classified!" she laughs. "Are you celebrating?" "Sure, I'll take a Twisting Double." "Make it a double Double?" "Make it a double Double!" she chuckles in agreement. "You got it, Mag." Mag lets out a contented sigh and leans onto the bar. "Oh wow, I can't wait to tell-" "What was that?!"

[UNCOMMON - Gristan Politics] The kingdom of Freyhurst was an early ally to Urgristan, now simply Gristan proper, during the time of the empire's rise. Freyhurst is ruled tirelessly by King Lavont, who can trace his agnatic succession back nearly seven centuries. Freyhurst's main exports include lumber, pelts, zanhors (common sweet orange or purple tubers), fish, and able-bodied soldiers. The kingdom is primarily port cities along the coasts with forestry running a strip down the center, open to hunting except for the pockets of hunting towns that have cropped up over several millennia. Freyhurst is one of the oldest human civilizations, and as such they bear a rich history and culture which they pride themselves on through museums and tourist attractions. Yet, Freyhurst remains one of the most traditional of kingdoms when it comes to keeping power in the monarchy. Although some of east Gristan now leans toward mercantile rule and has begun forming councils in government, King Lavont maintains a strong hand in steadying the course for Freyhurst's future.

[COMMON - Slang] The phrase "smallest gherkin in the jar" refers to someone or something which is lesser, similar to the phrases "runt of the litter" and "not the sharpest tool in the shed." From this phrase came another, "biggest gherkin in the jar," however, this is often used ironically, referring to someone with more self-importance than is warranted. This is sometimes expanded as, "Even the biggest gherkin in the jar is just a little pickle."

[UNCOMMON - History] The oldest records of civilization known to historians and archaeologists on Amnis are approximately 50,000 years old, give or take a few thousand years.

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[COMMON - Literature] Tinkers are a popular topic for children's books. In "Spanner Hands" by Leigh Moon Lumens, a tinker boy discovers he can craft with wild haste. In his naivety, he starts building many things, from toys to bikes to a new brother. Soon he cannot help but create what comes to mind, and the town is overrun with his creations. In "Maze of Gears" by E. G. Zaleman, a girl goes to the Capital to see its wonders, but wanders into a factory and gets lost among the many machines. Critics praise the book for teaching about various common machinery, but call it "grim for a bedtime tale."

[COMMON - Traditions] Every human in Gristan has a few celebrations to look forward to in their lifetime. Historically, one's twelfth birthday is a mark of coming-of-age, when one could join hunts, take a craft, or be wed. These days, it's still a mark of adulthood, and most laws against child labor (where they exist) only prevent those younger than 12 from work. The second most important birthday is one's 27th. This is seen as, in some ways, fulfillment through adulthood. If you make it to 27, no one can say you didn't live a full life. At least, that was historically the case. These days, with modern alchemy and thaumaturgy, most people live to twice this age, so some have started celebrating their 54th as a second 27th.

[COMMON - Races] Although there is no scientific distinction between them, modern anthropologists recognize three major races of elves on Amnis. Green elves, who live primarily in today's Northwest Gristan, are named after the slight greenish hue to their skin, an adaptation that helps them adjust to forest and jungle dwelling. Some alchemists have hypothesized that they also possess plantlike qualities, but this has largely been dismissed by the academic communities. Green elven culture honors humility, nature, and community as important characteristics, and they have rich traditions to connect them to their land and extended families. High elves are the majority race of Newinter and the majority elven race of Gristan, exemplifying the elven stereotypes of purity, honor, and refinement. Although often negatively connoted as being polite to a fault, high elves are a gracious and dedicated people who are known to keep their promises and revere authorities. Amphalan elves are, unsurprisingly, elves from Amphala, although anthropologists also classify several regions in northern Polod as Amphalan. Amphalan elves can come off as cold or terse to Westerners, but this derives from their respect for others' time and privacy. Amphalan elves pride themselves on a low wage gap among citizens, but Amphala largely has worse international policies and treatment of outsiders. Amphalan culture values personal independence and societal dependence, leading to strong centralized governments and honoring great figures of their history. It's said that in Amphala, "progress is made with two eyes, one to watch and one to work."

1. [UNCOMMON - Dragons] "The term *dragon* actually captures several families of draconic and reptilian creatures. What most people call a dragon is usually either the wygon, which has only three legs, or the common wyvern which has two. Interestingly, dragons are one of the few taxonomical families which are evidenced to live on all three planets. However, dragons on Ivlit have a metallic color and dragons on Ewox An are much larger than Amnean dragons. These 'dire dragons' as Amnean scholars term them, are called *storgroot joka* in Krott, meaning great serpent. Dragons have an above average intelligence, even among other magical creatures. Oral histories claim they can read Runic inscriptions, and some tales mention dragons who learn to speak Amnean or, more often, Gilian. The lifespan of a dragon is estimated to be at least one thousand years, and dragons seem to grow stronger with age --- a trait attributed to honing their magical talents over centuries. On Amnis, the three most common types of dragon are blue, red, and yellow, though they are equally often named Uud dragons, Resh dragons, and Mal dragons respectively owing to their similarities to the respective Creators. Some scholars posit that this analogy holds true for the lesser-known green, orange, and purple dragons, though the theory cannot explain the rumors of black dragons supposedly residing on the continent of Wolfshead. Blue dragons, by far the most common of dragon, are known to have magical powers of water, ice, healing, and protection, among other arcane talents. Nearly all encounters with dragons are young blue dragons due to Amnean expansion into dragon territory and the whelps' naivety. Several legends describe adventurers who have met with --- and spoken to --- elder blue dragons, often to be then given a quest or boon by the ancient beast..."
2. [12:13 AM] "...Red dragons are known to have powers of fire, persuasion, and pure arcane strength. Although encounters with these dragons are less common, they are proportionally more lethal a beast. Yellow dragons have been rumored to be able to control light and dark, thunder and shadow, as well as construct and destroy machinery with their minds --- hence the origin of the children's rhyme, 'Yellow dragon, yellow dragon, build me a home.' Despite the common depiction in art of dragons resting on piles of gold, only red dragons actually hoard coins, and their hoards typically consist of mostly silver and copper, being the more common coins of the land. Yellow dragons, on the other hand, tend to hoard books, scrolls, and other papers. They have also been known to live nearby to Rune stones, and some recent reports describe them taking devices or machinery (even machines as large as several tons) to add to their collection. It is hypothesized that blue dragons hoard territory, since they can be seen roaming around the same region for their entire lives, as if keeping a vigil over their land. It is unclear whether this hoarding behavior is a natural instinct or if they believe it to serve some greater purpose. One fact remains clear: dragons are powerful creatures, even at a young age, and should never be mistreated or underestimated." - Excerpt from *Creatures of Legend* by Algernon Ligbroegun Pailerboy

[UNCOMMON - Languages] Among the slang spoken by the underside of Gristan cities is a language simply called The Code. The Code was originally a communication tool from a now long-gone thieves' guild and has since become a staple of anyone working in the shadows of an upstanding city. The canonical Code consists of exactly 333 symbols, each with a particular meaning, although the language has since been extended to include other symbols and re-interpretations of the original 333, which itself leads to several ways to talk about each word-symbol. Each city has its own dialect of The Code. Garamond, for example, has built a rhyming slang on top of it. For instance, is sometimes called "soot," from the phrase "soot and ash" referring to cash. The existence of The Code and its many variants is the origin of the eastern Gristan adage: "There are 27 ways to say something and no way to say it right."

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[COMMON - Leisure] What's there to do in a city like Garamond? Besides the food and drink, most cities have theaters, gyms, parlors, and picture houses. Some smoking rooms will also carry "exquisites," a marketing term someone came up with a hundred or more years ago for specialty drugs including purified oxygen and some types of regulated rust. If you prefer the sober life, there's always plenty to shop for. Besides jewels, mules, and various fuels, the markets have bric-a-brac aplenty. Everywhere you go, tinkers will be peddling their latest creation and alchemists hawking the latest cure for everything from low sexual potency to... well, it's usually that. Out of cash? Not a problem. Stroll the streets, there's always some kind of fight to watch or a scene to stand by, or even just interesting people to trade stories with, from gossipmongers to adventurers to that chick from up north who saw that guy with the weird face. You know the one. But if you're not rich, chances are you don't have much time for these activities anyway. These days, there's lots of work to be done, and something's always broken if not about to be around the house. You just hope that if something big does come up, someone will be around to take care of it. Because you sure as hell don't have time right now.

[COMMON - Monsters] Vampires are undead immortals. They terrorize the living, sucking the life out of mortal creatures with fanged teeth to draw blood. Once they have sucked your body dry, they inhale your soul as your spirit tries to escape. In the sunlight, they cast no shadow, but they can move like lightning through the Midnight Shade. You can ward vampires off with lux wards or kill them by exorcism.

[UNCOMMON - Monsters] Vampires can shapeshift into any animal, and will often use this tactic to escape vampire hunters or find prey. In addition to exorcisms, vampires can be killed by decapitation or by luring them into drinking sanctified blood. They can also be warded off with poppy seeds and sulfur. Vampires come from corpses buried with untreated wounds, or those buried too close to the Tributaries.

[RARE - Monsters] Vampires were one of the most common monsters prior to the 2100s, but have since become relatively less of an issue due to ???? ?????? ????. Vampires tend to be collectors, obsessed with a particular kind of object, and will seek out new additions to their collection. This is thought to be because ???? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ??? ???????. You can ??? ????? ?????????????? to ?????????, which some veteran vampire hunters do.

[RUMOR - Sailing] Veteran sailors will tell you that Amnis has many more islands than show on most world maps, primarily due to difficulties in adequately documenting all of them onto a single map --- hence the commonality of local maps for particular seas. But sailors of the north seas will also tell you of many smaller islands off the shores of Wolfshead which adamantly refuse to be mapped. No matter how careful your lines, or how precise your instruments, the Wolfshead Archipelago is never quite how you remember it on your return.

[COMMON - Agriculture] One of the most common farming techniques used by many growers today is called H breeding. This technique uses a variety of measurements to define a crop's H-index which describes its genetic stability. Farmers of staple crops breed for the highest H-index in order to produce more consistent harvests, while independent farmers, agricultural researchers, and drug hobbyists breed for the lowest H-index to maximize the diversity of their batches. No plant is completely immune to mutations, so work is always ongoing to find good cultivars. This is why it's so difficult to work with older recipes. The zanhors of even 30 years ago are not the same zanhors grown today!

[UNCOMMON - Naval combat] The Milligun, also called the "Thousand Handgun" or the "Nine Knocker," is an airship cannon designed for combat between massive battleships. This cannon fires nine meter rounds. Rather than piercing the hull, the intention of this projectile is to knock the ship off course or otherwise open a weakness through a manipulation maneuver. The oldest Milliguns date back to the Great Wars.

[UNCOMMON - Holidays] *Börgrhüst* is a dwarven community holiday celebrated every *Ensimmainenhringrás* (one rotation of Ivlit's moon, roughly every 250 days). This three day festival begins with a community gathering, which can be quite massive in cities. The first day of festivities usually includes a street market --- with peddlers selling food and drink, arms and armor, trinkets and souvenirs --- and a public address from the local government. By the end of the first day, the community organizes themselves into teams of six. The second day begins the hunt. Teams venture out for a single kill and bring their trophy back. The third day is the feast. Teams gather together having cooked or otherwise prepared their kill, and a timed contest is held for the trial of consumption. For this contest, teams are judged on three categories: size, lethality, and how much they were able to eat in the time limit. The winning team is celebrated all evening. Towns tend to keep records of past winners and their scores, and winning *Börgrhüst* is something you can be proud of for years. The fourth day of the festivities is *Katurdag,* or Hangover Day.

[RARE - The Venntinaire] At the turn of the twelfth century, the dominions of Yugaria, Irchanyos, Ul-Acre, and Mantana were engaged in what would eventually be called the Shadedays War, so named because the aftermath of each battle would smoke so terribly that the sky would fill with darkness as if the Shade saw daylight. This international conflict was near the end of the Great Wars, and most people were exhausted by the many years of hardship. During these times, airships were becoming increasingly prominent and seen as a promising avenue for mobilization of the military. It was in this trend of some of the first large-scale airship combats that the Yugarian Empire built a new model of an Urchin-class airship called the Brisk Interceptor. Brisk Interceptor Alpha, or B.I.A., was the first ship of this model and, as it turns out, the last, as the Yugarian Empire decided to cut short production of any new Brisk Interceptors. As an Urchin ship, the B.I.A. was designed for speed and agility. When it was built, it had only two decks and was only two thirds the length it is now, with less than a quarter of its masts and rigging that now support its larger frame. Despite its size, this vessel played a key role in the turn of the Shadedays War through the victory at the Battle of Razieltair.

General Raziel, great-grandson to the city's founder, had set a nearby fortress as the last line of defense between Yugaria's western reach and Wist Acre. Yet, while a great number of troops from both sides fought both at and above the fortress, the B.I.A. and its crew bravely sailed around Ul-Acre's defenses, avoiding fire by sheer agility in the skies. Though the Urchin ship had no weapons of its own, this flank proved a great distraction for Ul-Acre's forces, allowing Yugaria to push in. When General Raziel gave the command to ignore the B.I.A., its crew took the opportunity to sieze a larger Ul-Acrin vessel, promptly firing from behind enemy lines. Although this vessel was then shot down, killing most of the B.I.A.'s crew, its pilot survived to get the ship to safety, having succeeded in turning the tide of the Shadedays War.

[VIGNETTE - Garamond, Est Acre] "Oh my gods Mag, you can't just say things like that!" I shoved her shoulder as we walked out of church. "What? What did I say?" she feigned ignorance, holding back a smirk. "You were supposed to say 'Forgive me Father for I have sinned.'" "Is that not what I said?" Mag tucked her curly hair behind her ear. Damn her for trying to flirt, that move was intentional and I knew it. But then, she knew that I knew it. "No! You said 'Sorry Daddy I've been naughty'!" "That's, like, the same thing, right?" "When we get back to the guild-" "You'll what?" I never finished that sentence. You can't threaten someone who's gorgeous. It's their superpower or something, it just doesn't work. They'll just give you a half-smile and those puppy eyes and you just stop talking. So I kissed her instead. That'll teach her.

[UNCOMMON - Architecture] "The Gristanian history of architecture can be traced back to the Tricyclic roots of early high elven construction. Thus gave way to the Tricursive period, beginning around the 6th century ACR and continuing well into the 18th century. During this span, the Tricursive period underwent several shifts. First, the Diamond order, which was dominated by motifs of two triangles mirroring each other, often repeating. This was true not just for design flourishes but for foundational structures as well. In the mid 9th century, the Diamond order gave way to the Errant order. From then until the 13th century, architecture explored a turmoil of interwoven motifs, shapelessness, and triangular constructs seemingly dislocated from otherwise meaningful patterns. Advocates of this era hypothesize its investigation into functionality, claiming that function defies structure and form. Critics, on the other hand, point out some remains from this period which are not even functional, claiming that the misshapen and nonexistent patterns were simply a statement of loss, confusion, and anguish. Finally, by the 13th century, form returned plentifully in the Fractal order. The dominant themes of this time were triangular patterns recursing, as if infinitely, at varying scales. Rebelling against the Errant order, this period leaned heavily into pattern, setting a definitive tone for future motifs in the modern era, as I will discuss in Chapter 6..." - excerpt from *Architecture Through the Ages* by Wilmot Corinthian Anglius

[VIGNETTE - The Capital] Today in her retirement, Mary-Em witnessed the birth of her brother's son, Cormick Justice Corbett. To many, Mary-Em is a fierce fighter. But to Corm, she's Aunty Em.

[COMMON - Gristan Culture] To say that the city of Newport on the southern coast of Hardell is "fast" would be a drastic understatement. There's a reason its denizens refer to it as "Newpoor". Only in Newport can you be poor on Monday, rich by Wednesday, and poor again come Friday. Most people who come to Newport do so to make a name for themselves, shooting for the promised riches of the fast life. But more often than not, living in this city is an easy track to poverty, and the streets are lined with vices for every man, woman, and child. As they say: "If you've gone poor, head to Newpoor. If you wanna be poor, head to Newpoor." What they usually leave out is that once someone goes there, they hardly ever leave.

[COMMON - Meteorology] A yellow moon is a meteorological Amnean event where the light from Bel reflects both from Ivlit or one of its moons and from Uudana, the Amnean moon, onto Amnis. The effect is that Uudana appears yellower than usual, and the night is much brighter. Yellow moons are notable for their effect on the midnight shade, which does not appear during the night of a yellow moon. Yellow moons have a sporadic frequency and may appear between several times a year or once every few years.

[COMMON - Slang] The term "duke" is a Gristanian honorary title to one who skirmishes, usually in the underbelly of a city. The name both implies that they "duke it out" often and that, among their peers, they are of nobility in this regard. Calling someone a duke unironically implies that they are skilled in fist-fights and knife-fights and a dominating force among other rapscallions, though the term is more often used sarcastically to refer to one's belligerence despite their physical weakness.

[COMMON - Myth/Religion] In Uudic texts, disciples speak of the end of times brought about by Seven Executioners. Each executioner stands seven feet tall, cloaked in dark robes which conceal what bodies they have underneath. When depicted without their hoods up, they appear violent, cruel, and malicious. Slaughter, with the head of a bull, brings about war and wanton murder. Chaos, with the head of a serpent, seeds confusion and entropy. Greed, with the head of a pig, takes advantage of the poor and corrupts the rich. Plague, with the head of a rat, spreads sickness and disease. Despair, with the head of a raven, consumes all hope and resistance. Deception, with the head of a coyote, creates tricks and turns sisters against each other. And Ignorance, with no head at all, casts darkness over what knowledge used to remain. The Seven Executioners are a popular subject in art and used as icons to depict ill affairs.

### Artifact of Interest for the Recruits

The Spooky Dagger (?)

* A magical dagger that has a number of notches on the handle. Apparently gains a notch every time it is used to kill.
* Has been in the possession of Mirabel "Maxie" Azerin, Bang L. Konn, and is now currently owned by Shen Alar, with 8 notches on it.

Owl Locket

* Wren has one and the other was stolen from the Westchester mansion
* Has a picture inside of two men and the symbol of the creator

Void Crystal

* Something Wren needs

Vibratium Rod

* Something Wren needs
* Something we have.