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The Awakening of the Great Spirit of the Sea

BEHOLD! A loggy from Gurashi's perspective during yesterday's awakening of the Great Spirit of the Sea's event!!
It started with them being vigilant in New Celest's harbor alongside some of their friends and trying to 'convince' the seaweed to leave politely, as one does.
What a wild time it was! Thank you to everyone who came to help (and hinder - I love the surprise nereid players! stinky traitors!)
(had to post loggies to Rentry.co instead of Pastebin because of content flags. two logs, because Rentry has a max word limit, woe)

The Awakening of the Great Spirit of the Sea 
Part One   Part Two 

Li-varili rises swiftly from Her coral throne and steps lightly towards the edge of the platform, the rising winds pulling Her unruly hair in all directions. The she'nasim nereids raise their voices in song, gazing with adoration towards Li-varili, while the undersea monstrosities swim about to ward off danger. Tangles of ethereal energy exude from the members of the Bloodtide Coven and from the nereids and sea creature about Her as all nearby lifeforce is pulled forth to sustain the straining Goddess, who stands at the centre of a whirlpool of swirling reality.

Amidst the torrent, Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons says, "Slow and steady! Slow and steady!"

Her voice carrying like a whisper upon the salty breeze, laden with malice, Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons says, "None of Them believed in Me. Underestimate Me at Your own peril, fools!"

Your melodic voice sings into Xiran Stormcrow, Scribe of the Woodbine's mind, "I do not know what to do - does anyone in the Forest have ideas??"

You see Li-varili, Lady of the Lagoons shout, "Come forth! Come forth to Me, Great Spirit of the Sea!"

You glance askance.

The soft voice of Xiran tickles your ear, "The forest is silent."

The soft voice of Xiran tickles your ear, "If this were to go well, certainly it would be a blessing for Nature."

Li-varili holds the Eye of Dynara aloft, its white light blinding, and crimson lightning in the other hand arcing and dancing like reaching fingers towards the leaping waves. She lowers both towards the turbulent waters as the she'nasim nereids chant over and over again, "Basla'oren shesha zyai!"

GurashiGurashi

Re: Absence Thread

I'll be less active for a while. Have fun in Waterworld, everyone!
AvarisAvaris

Re: Lusternian AMA

1) Ghani stuff! Hearing tidbits (and hero worship from a certain someone) is not the same as being there, wish I'd been around for all of that.

2) Currently enraptured by Li-Varili and the threads there and can't wait to see what happens next. I'd also really love to see an event where Drocilla escapes the collar and Her true power is unleashed. Would we all die? Maybe! 

3) Jojobo, or something else jungle/tropics/rainforesty would be a cool addition that we don't really have. A hidden village of people who were tainted like Magnagora and evolved like viscanti but perhaps in a different way? A tainted village still devoted to the light? Or a sect of merian who wish they had been tainted? Some murky grey that would be awkward for both Celest and Magnagora could be fun!

Re: Lusternian AMA

1. The Cogs in the Smog and founding of Magnagora's modern guilds! I've heard so many cool stories about that, really sad I missed it.

2. A resurgent Cogs of the Smog. Something more minor would be finally deciding the fate of Ghani's assistant's. Edwin and Latifa actually meeting after we tried to arrange it last bloodfaire too! (Edit: Also bumping the evilLantra plot)

3. Hmmm! This isn't really something in Lusternian history/lore, but I love the idea of an area with tainted aquamancers. I could picture some research station in the Sea of Despair where they were trapped, tainted, and driven insane unable to escape.
UzrielUzriel

Re: Lusternian AMA

1. Wish I had been around for the Black Sun events! Lots of interesting lore came out of that arc and I've always been a sucker for poor Sun.

2. A slight continuation of the Lovers arc would be interesting to see. I think Valtreth absconded off with Dumaliel and Grimbach? I'm a little fuzzy on the exact details of that. Seeing either a resolution of what happened to them or another arc about how and what they're doing would be fascinating :smile:

3. I highkey want Jojobo if only for all of the amazing descriptions we got out of the Black Sun event being brought back! I would also be down for the Marne Sea or Amberle Sea being explorable ;)

Re: Lusternian AMA

1. Is there any particular past event you wish you had been active for in Lusternia? Which one, if so?

2. Any daydreams of a future event you’d love to witness in Lusternia? What would be a cool “what if”?

3. What unreleased area in Lusternia’s history and lore would you most love to see go live?
LantraLantra

Upcoming Celestine Rework

A number of reports in the past reporting cycle or two have been aimed at Celestialism/Sacraments in an attempt to bring new capabilities and or increase the strength of the Celestine Class. A number of these reports have been rejected due to Celetines being on the star map for a rework.

Below is the current plan for the Celestine Rework. It is important to highlight that this is currently only a plan, and everything listed on this page is subject to change.

* Absolve will be removed and Celestines will no longer focus on mana drains for their kills. The new route for a Celestine will be focused on Inquisition.

* A new affliction will be added called HolyFire. HolyFire will be a levelled affliction that functions similar to TimeWarp/TemporaryInsanity. Certain abilities will increase this affliction, and smoking steam will remove HolyFire levels. If a player has both Holyfire and TimeWarp, smoking steam will cure both at the same time. At this point in time, there is not going to be a passive effect from HolyFire, however it is a possibility that it will be added based on balance checks later in the project. If a passive effect is added, it will either be a small % ego drain based on the level of the affliction, or a small %ego healing malus.

* HolyFire is given to a player by marking them a Heretic. When Heretic/Infidel/Inquisition ends, all HolyFire will be removed.

* Heretic and Infidel timers will be extended to allow time to build HolyFire. Passively, Heretic and Infidel tics will apply a small amount of HolyFire. In addition to this, the power cost of the Inquisition chain will be lowered to 8 and the chain will no longer be tied to one specific Celestine/Paladin.

* Powersink is going to be moved to an Ego drain from a Mana drain.

* Inquisition will no longer strip defenses or cause a massive stun. The stun would be reduced to ~4 seconds. When Inquisition ends, the target will take % Current Ego Damage based on the level of their HolyFire. If their ego is less than 25% at the end of Inquisition, or they have maximum HolyFire, they will be slain.

The ratio of HolyFire to % Current Ego damage is below:
* 0 HolyFire: 10%
* 15-25 HolyFire: 25%
* 26-35 HolyFire: 40%
* 36-50 HolyFire: 55%
* 51-70 HolyFire: 70%
* 75 HolyFire: 100%

* A new skill will be added to replace Absolve. This will function similarly to DrawDown/NightKiss and grant the Celestine both the Halo and Wings defenses. This new ability will not replace the original skills, it will simply allow them to cast both simultaneously. It will also allow them to use the following new abilities:

* STARCALL RETRIBUTION - A 0p attack that will do fire/divinus damage and a small amount of HolyFire (less than 5 HolyFire).
* STARCALL HOLYSTRIKE - A 0p attack similar to STARCALL RETRIBUTION, styled to use a weapon and damage type based on which Supernal the Celestine has their deep pledge with (less than 5 HolyFire).
* STARCALL HOLYSTRIKE EMPOWERED - A 3p attack that would do increased HolyFire and apply 1-2 afflictions from the chosen Deep Pledge pool (less than 10 Holyfire).
* STARCALL CELESTIALRAY - A 6p attack that will apply a large amount of HolyFire, 1-2 afflictions from the chosen Deep Pledge pool, and one other random affliction based on the Deep Pledge Supernal.

The damage typing for HOLYSTRIKE would be:
* Methrenton - Fire
* Shakiniel - Cold
* Japhiel - Magical
* Raziela - Psychic
* Elohora - Electical

The afflictions for CELESTIALRAY would be:
* Methrenton - Physical Affliction (excluding mutilated limbs)
* Shakiniel - Internal Afflictions
* Japhiel - Mental Afflictions
* Raziela - Any random affliction^
* Elohora - Spiritual afflictions^
^ These would not afflict with class/timed afflictions such as GreyWhispers, BadLuck, TimeEchoes, Oracle, BendAura etc.

Other sources of HolyFire would be:
* Angel hits would deal a random small amount of HolyFire (1-4).
* Damage from Hallowed Ground would deal a random small amount of HolyFire (1-4).
* Paladins whose weapons are blessed with RighteousArms that attack a target afflicted with HolyFire will apply a small amount of HolyFire (1-4) or double that for two handed weapons.
* Symbols blessed with RighteousArms willl also add a small amount of HolyFire (1-4) with SYMBOL STRIKE.

It is possible that we will also look into changing some of the angel investable afflictions to line up with this. We are also looking at removing HolyLight as a resource, and in place of abilities requiring a HolyLight cost, it will either be power or there will be no cost (ability dependent).

As a summation, we are trying to create something new and fun to play, while also creating synergy with other classes in Celest. Once again, none of these numbers, abilities or changes are set in stone and are subject to change based on feedback.

Re: Lusternian Divine AMA

Tyrus said:
My turn to ask some questions:
IC:
1. What is one animal that best represents your personality?
2. How do you deal with stress?
3. What is your favorite scenic area in the Basin?

OOC:
1. What is your most memorable or favorite spontaneous (non-Event) RP moment?
2. If you could go back and talk to your Ephemeral-self, what would you tell them?
3. What is your favorite easter egg in the game?

IC:
  1. Someone said this once and it stuck with me: Lantra is one of those beautifully fluffy elegant cats that does not under any circumstances want to be touched.
  2. Stress? What stress? It's fine.
  3. Hmm! This is a tricky one, I'm not sure. You could make the argument for Celestia or Mornhai, but neither is seeming like the right choice. I'll think on this.
OOC:
  1. I love any time that players unexpectedly catch onto a quirk of Lantra's and react to it. It's always such fun to respond to in the moment. She's a pretty understated personality in a lot of ways, so when people pick up on her little nuances, it's very satisfying for me.
  2. This is a great question. My advice would boil down to, "Remember that being an admin doesn't mean making everyone happy all the time. Some days, it's enough if you're making yourself happy." There will be days you and your order aren't logging in during the same hours. There will be things you build that don't get the glowing reception you want. The players you most enjoy engaging with could one day stop logging in because life got busy. That doesn't mean you are inherently failing as an admin, though. I made a deal with myself early on to make time to design, create and implement things that give me great personal satisfaction in Lusternia, because no matter what the player reaction wound up being in those moments, I could look myself in the mirror and say, "I made something I personally stand by and feel great about." It's easy to think being an admin is only about giving to the playerbase, because that's 99% of what you do. Don't forget, though, about the 1% that's focused on making the experience good for you, too. Something needs to fuel you on the days that nothing else does.
  3. I love easter eggs! Rhizoda in particular has a few fun ones.
LantraLantra

Re: Gurashi Draws: An Autobiography

I will never be over the fact that Ham is 1673 pounds. I can't think of a heavier IG mob ngl LOL. Big Boy. BIG BOY.  (This was made before he grew up btw, not even a full-growed boy)  

Re: Gurashi Draws: An Autobiography

Some art from a Very Sad String of Events that happened last month, involving Gurashi's favorite person, Tridemon.

There was a worst-case-scenario that came to reality.

And a very goodly comforting cousinling Esei who made a very sad Gurashi feel better.

And a very, very sad, heartbroken but still lovely lucidian. 

Heartbreak and torment survived. Trials and tribulations faced and overcome. It will be O-K :')

"I am yours, and you are mine. Know, then, that I will never forsake
you, until the day that the world is torn asunder and nothing remains.
This is my Truth and my Will."