The Twin Cages

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Taurus Daggerknight
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Posted by Taurus Daggerknight »



The first major battle between the forces of Sigil and the enemy (now known as the Crimson Dawn) occurred in a dual front clash.
As a force of planewalker mercenaries and Harmonium soldiers marched on the mystical bridge known as Gipon's Crossing, a smaller force took to the river and infiltrated a border fort established by the enemy. The ambush was well-timed, and caught several Crimson Dawn occultists by surprise, just as they prepared a dark ritual. Much to the Sigilian's surprise, it turned out that the mirror 'Harmonium' was quite willing to summon demons from the infinite Abyss itself. Nevertheless, the enemy force was wiped out, and the fort taken.

Meanwhile, a bloody battle took place on Gipon's Crossing, where the enemy not only unleashed scores of battle golems, but also sent forth their lithe gladiators, whose arms and armor were imbued with powerful magic. Yet Sigilian determination (and stubbornness) prevailed, and the bridge too was retaken by the Cagers.

With the river secured and Gipon's Crossing now under Sigilian control, the path to Faunel was open. Preparations now began to break the siege, and strike back at the enemy from beyond...
I just want to kill monsters and get prizes for it. Is that REALLY so much to ask for?
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mimifearthegn
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Posted by mimifearthegn »


Some days ago, the Gatecrasher team captured one Inquisitor Aidan from the Other Cage. After some brief questioning, he was transferred to the Prison for more in-depth interrogation. The Mercykillers have since relayed the following to the council of Factions and the various teams:
Although the city is ruled by the Crimson Dawn, there are chinks in their armor. There are corrupt commanders who seek power or prestige over "the mission" and it causes them problems (i.e. the failure of the Crimson Dawn on the Acheron front, or the attack on Sigil itself)

The following factions are "approved" on the other side: Harmonium (Crimson Dawn), Sign of One (Occult Sect), Transcendant Order (Gladiators and Sportsmen), Athar (Mystics and Statesmen), Guvners, Fated (Inquisition), and Society of Sensation (as the Office of Civic and Social Affairs).

The following factions have been declared terrorist factions or are otherwise out of favor on the other side: Godsmen, Doomguard, Mercykillers, Dustmen, Xaositects, and soon to be Bleak Cabal (currently the Cabal is under heavy scrutiny)

The Free League and Revolutionary League had been "neutralized" even before the so-called Battle of the Bazaar, which led to the destruction of the Market Ward. Prisoner XH-0002 thinks that they were absorbed by the Doomguard, who were themselves hunted down and exterminated after their failed revolution 3 years ago. The Doomguard factol and his right-hand, Doomlord Andor, are dead, and there are no known Doomguard cells left.

The Mercykillers are likewise very few in number. According to Prisoner XH-0002, there are five left. They were led by a man named Swan's Son, who was fairly militant, but also killed during the Battle for the Bazaar.

Even though the revolution was crushed, the Inquisition was called on to seek and erradicate any remaining sympathizers, especially those who may have discovered gates to the other Sigil.

There are still suspected Godsmen, Dustmen, and Xaositects in Alt-Sigil "causing trouble." There are also dissident members of the Bleak Cabal and Office of Social and Civil Affairs. Recently there has been strife even between the loyal Athar and Sign of One, due to the re-appearance of Aoskar.

Prisoner XH-0002 has confirmed the existence of a seemingly-immortal entity known as "The Seer" who guides the Crimson Dawn Senate.
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Simsalabim
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Posted by Simsalabim »


In the hours following the retaking of the bridge in the Outlands, Crake and Tindra meet in the Lady's Ward and discuss a large red tome. Soon after they both depart for the city courts to begin producing six copies of The Book of the Crimson Dawn, five for use as intelligence by the war teams and a sixth for Factol Hashkar.

They request the assistance of two mimirs and six aides and the work of copying said tome commenced, the pair splitting up with one half of the book, one mimir and three aides each. After several hours the aides, some of them rubbing their quill hands, were exchanged for a group of new ones, and this happened again after several more. The readers themselves did not seem to pause much in their work; it was nearly a full cycle before a group of aides were released with no more being brought in. The pause lasted only for a few hours before six new aides were summoned once more and the work continued...
- Tindra Tir'ein
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astraeus
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Posted by astraeus »


True to his word, Grey the Godsman has been seen crafting and enchanting continuously, preparing gear for those taking the fight to the Crimson Dawn and their immortal Seer. On at least one occasion a line three deep waiting has happened, though he appears unperturbed by such things.

One thing people are undecided upon is whether he has poor merchant skills or is truly altruistic, as he has refused payment beyond material costs. In some cases going below such costs. Whatever the case, he appears to have set his mind to arming the entire city. All the better perhaps to win a war where only one Sigil will likely survive.
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Taurus Daggerknight
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Posted by Taurus Daggerknight »


The day before the planned Battle for Faunel, a group of Mercykillers make their way to the camp from the other side. They appear weary, and some have clear injuries, but nonetheless march with determination. Four of them carry between them what looks to be an iron sarcophagus, marked with various wards. These four speak no words and, at the direction of the Factor leading them, head straight for the marked Mercykiller section of the compound. The Factor himself went right towards the command garrison.

The report itself is not spread through the camp, but rumors do begin to circulate;

- Word is that the Mercykillers were coming on a captured enemy Spelljammer, but were attacked en route by a -dragon- and scores of enemy troops.

- Chant is that the high ups think that the route was supposed to be safe, but that the enemy somehow caught wind of the plan.

- Dark chant says the enemy was -real- keen on whatever's inside that coffin they were carrying.

- Darker chant says it's a commander in there, probably from the Acheron front.
I just want to kill monsters and get prizes for it. Is that REALLY so much to ask for?
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mimifearthegn
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Posted by mimifearthegn »


// General Announcement! We have the following upcoming events scheduled:

Sunday, June 7th @11:30 US Central Time - Portal Research and Investigation Team Meeting

Wednesday, June 10th @7pm US Central Time - Crossover Diplomacy Team / Gatecrasher Team event

Friday, June 12th @2pm US Central Time - Team Medic Event

Saturday, June 13th @2pm US Central Time - Outlands Defense Team Event

Please continue to check the individual team forums for updates and future event timings.
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Red the Rogue
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Posted by Red the Rogue »


A report is filed to Factotum Da'nanin running the Gatecrashing Team, joining any others that might come his way. A copy was also made to Mistress of the Heart Zahra running the Diplomacy Team. Both copies were marked to be made available for all teams out of urgency.
We've managed to rescue all eight patients, including Lyra. We'll want to notify our contacts on the other side since they have been delivered to the Bleak Cabal on our side to make sure they get the proper care they need. Although things did not go according to plan, we've come out successfully and learned some key information. I urge that all teams be notified of this intel ASAP.

Our contact with the Bleakers on the other side informed us that the Crimson Dawn take away patients to process them at the Harbinger House in the Lower Ward. The place has a great sense of dread to it, a strange and potentially supernatural presence to it. With the aid of Leyana, Jillian, Surradio, Sartorix, Caex, Darik, and myself, we've been able to infiltrate the building and find the patients. We were ambushed by strange blue gladiators that clearly expected intruders. After dispatching them in a rough scuffle, we were forced to open a portal for the Infinite Staircase to escape.

... Except we did not arrive in the Infinite Staircase. We found ourselves on their side of the Outlands, reddened sky and everything. Crimson Dawn guards from the nearby town attacked us on sight before we were able to open a temporary gate from our location to the war-camp on our side. Before we returned, we've learned some key information.

1: The power we all wondered about, their Signers confirmed that he has returned to life. Because of this, they have urged the faster and more numerous processing of more individuals to their faction. The Crimson Dawn officer and the Signer seemed peeved with one another but the officer complied with the demand. Potential sacrifices to the power possibly, but it doesn't just confirm he lives, but that he had died before. This may be crucial in diplomatic and research talks later.

2: On their side, Glorium holds a portal to our Glorium. This holds significance in that it acts as a strong avenue for reinforcements and could prove more dangerous when our forces seek to re-take our gate-town. The team handling the war efforts in the Outlands will need to know this, and the guard that gave us this information was turned in at the war-camp.

3: Do not use gatecrashing techniques to reach the Infinite Staircase while on their side. While it technically works, it will lead to their Outlands somewhere. Only in emergency cases, and with magic to return.

4: Gate magic does work between our side and their side.

5: Something is going on at the Harbinger House. Besides the supernatural dread we all felt while there, Leyana described it as a "nexus of power". This may need investigating, but the guards will be on high alert.

-Sharon & Leyana Raynsford
Sharon Raynsford - Experienced adventurer finding renewed purpose beyond her prime.
Lyanna Wayfarer - Traveler of worlds, cultural explorer, and experienced physician.
Tavia - Bardess, tale-teller, daring-doer.
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mimifearthegn
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Posted by mimifearthegn »


After many painful days of reading and copying the Book of the Crimson Dawn, Crake and Tindra finished making copies of the Book of the Crimson Dawn for the Council of Factions.

The book is long. Thousands of pages long, and full of grandiose statements. But it is now available for those who have the stomach to read it.

The Book of the Crimson Dawn is divided into two smaller sections - labeled the Book of Deeds, and the Book of Days. These sub-books are in turn subdivided into chapters, the contents of which can be summed up as follows:

The Book of Deeds

Chapter 1: The Mandate of the Dawn
The Multiverse is full of chaos, strife, and ugliness, but it need not be so. Just as our forefathers battled the Chaos of Ortho, so must we battle the Chaos of the Multiverse, which seeps into every Prime World, bringing destruction in its wake.
The Crimson Dawn is devoted to rooting out "chaos": in their own lives, but most importantly, in OTHER people's lives. It goes into great detail about how the Dawn must confront the bringers of Chaos. There is some lip service given to the idea that you should try to convert them first, but there is the expectation that the bringers of Chaos will not understand, and must be dealt with violently.

Chapter 2: The History of Harmony
And then a few brave men and women stood up, to battle the chaos and evil that rampaged through the land. Their courage and moral fortitude served as an inspiration to others, and what started as a few became many. . .
The Crimson Dawn's history starts out much like that of the Harmonium: 500 years ago, a band of adventurers went out to “rid the country of chaos and bring peace to the land.” And they succeeded. Their adventuring party became an army, and within a hundred years they took over their Prime, crushing any resistance to their law and order. When they were done, Ortho was at peace.

Chapter 3: The Imperfection of Ortho
Or it should have been. It soon became apparent that their just and lawful society - though guided by the best of principles - was not Harmonious. There was strife within families, nations, and continents. The Senate deliberated, and determined that the Chaos came from outside their world. And so the forces of the Harmonium marshalled again - this time, against the Abyss.

Hundreds of thousands of men marched into the Abyss to fight against the Heart of Chaos Itself, in what is dubbed "The War of Iron." They fought valiantly, but at last, there were only a few thousand remaining. These few thousand prayed to Harmonia herself for aid, and it came - in the form of a red-winged figure who is referred to as the "Seer." She led them out of the Abyss, and to a new land in need of their help: the City of Sigil.

Chapter 4: The New Order
Sigil was a pit of despair and chaos, barely above the Abyss itself, ruled over by warring factions. And once through the portal, the Harmonium found themselves unable to return to Ortho. So they set out to make their new home better. The Seer opened their eyes to the truth: that the Harmonium had been imperfect, and that stronger measures were needed for true peace and harmony. Under her leadership, they reforged themselves as the Crimson Dawn, and conquered first the City of Doors, and then the Outlands around it.

The "history" of the Crimson Dawn ends with Chapter 4, and then the book turns to describing more recent events and principles.

Chapter 5: Of the Outland Tribes
Unto those who follow from the line of the Lost Legion shall be granted all places of every world: all those lands which are green with plants, as all those places which are but sand and stone, and all places too which are covered in snow and frost. Let those who follow from the line of the Lost Legion inherit too all those cities built of mortal and immortal hands alike, and all places which lie between them. For this is the destiny of they who embrace the path of Crimson Dawn, which is a path that is right and just. Let they who would defy this destiny be put to the sword, for it is in this defiance that suffering is made. Therefore, let they who are of the Path put to death any who defy the destiny of Crimson Dawn, for it is right and just.

Yet as all the forests and the deserts, all the oceans and the mountains, and all the cities and all spaces in between are promised unto they who embrace Crimson Dawn, one place yet will remain promised to a chosen few. Let those who dwell in the Great Outlands which surround the City of Doors, in particular those who are of the Thirteen Tribes, be exempt from the destiny of Crimson Dawn. For in the Thirteen Tribes is a purpose that will serve the Path. Thus, they alone are to be allowed their places among the Great Outland. Let any who bring war unto their dwelling be put to the sword, for in such act shall be found sin against the Crimson Dawn, which is a right and just path.


Chapter five spends a great deal of time distinguishing between the "Lost Legion" (the descendants of the Orthans who were rescued by the Seer, and the people they have conquered. Strangely enough, the Thirteen Tribes of the Outlands post-conquest do not seem to be held to the same standards as the Lost Legion and the people in Sigil. The only explanation of discrepancy is that the Seer decreed that they had "a different purpose."

Chapter 6: Of Future Things
Know well the Sign! For the Sign of the One will mark those days when the destiny of all who walk the path of Crimson Dawn becomes manifest. In the Sign will be the key and the door, and from death shall come life once again. The Sign will show the way to the promised lands, which have yet to know the light of Crimson Dawn.

The Sign will call forth the Lord of Doors from his eternal sleep, and in his wake will appear all the ancient roads which the scions of the Lost Legion must once against walk upon.

Know well the Sign of the days to come, when they who are of the path of the Crimson Dawn will look unto the sky and behold the Lord of Doors! Know that the Sign will mark the day that the horn is sounded, which will call forth the Thirteen Tribes to the cause that is right and just. See then how the path will be known to the Lord of Doors, who will say “I have come now to open the way!”, and by his hand the path of enlightenment shall be open to the ignorant and the savage, and thus the salvation of all worlds.


The last chapter of the Book of Deeds is a series of prophesies, rambling on about the Sign, and the Lord of Doors, and of course, the Seer.
The Book of Days
For every man, woman, and child must live according to the dictates of the Dawn, or we will all drown in the Chaos.
The Book of Days describes the principles by which good members of the Crimson Dawn are to live their lives. Its chapters are many, and cover everything from table manners and hygiene to work and family life. While the lifestyle is notably rigid and well codified, some of the rituals and festivities prescribed sound downright dark and bacchanalian.

One of the more noteworthy chapters is:

Chapter 4: Passage from Dusk to Dawn
For each house, there shall be two who are named Master or Mistress. They will be appointed by the numbering of their years, and unto them shall be granted full authority and burden of their line. All who are born of their blood and image shall be alike to officers of the House, and to the Master and Mistress will be owed full allegiance. In turn shall it be the privilege and duty of the Master and Mistress to instruct their descendants to the path of the Crimson Dawn, in all ways of duty, and all ways of being.

The Master and Mistress of a House shall either prosecute these duties themselves, or else appoint one of their hold, by blood or by employ, to do so in their stead. Of these duties, the first shall be the instruction of the word, for in the word begins enlightenment and Harmony. The youngest of the House shall thus be led to the path by way of the Word, as is written and as is spoken. All the youngest of a House shall be afforded time from their second year until their sixth to master the Word. There shall be no more and no less than those years spent to guide the child to the path by the Word. If by the sixth year a child should yet be unable to know the word or find the path by the word, it will be known that the sin of the past has made manifest once more! For only can the evil of those days be so ever resistant to the Path. Therefore, the child shall be submitted to the fire, lest the lineage become impure with the future seed of the child.

Following the thirteenth year, those who are named Master or Mistress are to put the child’s path to the test. All children of a House must by led by the Master or Mistress to one of the appointed Oracles, who will officiate over the child as it is led to an altar. Upon this altar will be placed a codex, whose pages are bound in ashes, which are prepared by rights which the Oracles are instructed in. The Oracle will open the codex, and offer to the child’s hand a quill of red plumes. The tip of the quill will be wetted in an offering of blood of the child’s own hand, which the child will offer freely upon the guidance of the Master or Mistress of the House. For in the offering of blood lies the offering of the body to the cause of Crimson Dawn, which is noble and just. This offering will be made whole as the child presses the quill unto the pages of the Codex, and marks by blood that name which was granted by the Master or Mistress of the House. In this the pledge of Blood will be marked. As the mark is made, so too will the words be spoken, as guided by the Oracle, in the Ancient Tongue. These words carried by the voice of the child will be the offering of the spirit, offered freely by the child. For in the voice lies the offering of the spirit to the cause of Crimson Dawn, which is noble and just.


((The rest is censored for reasons of forum appropriateness. If you want to know more, message Taurus Daggerknight.))
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mimifearthegn
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Posted by mimifearthegn »


Upon the request of the Council of Factions, the Mercykillers have submitted another report on the information gleaned from Inquisitor Aidan. Unfortunately, it seems that the Inquisitor has simply refused to give information on the subject of possible targets. However. . .
Further interrogation of Prisoner XH-0002 suggests that there may still be multiple agents at large in the city. The Crimson Dawn is aware of our Revolutionary League, and is almost certainly in contact with the Cells.

Increase security in the city is advised.
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mimifearthegn
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Posted by mimifearthegn »


//Upcoming Event Schedule:

Saturday June 20th @ 2pm US Central TIme - Medic Team event + General Event for anyone in Sigil (Gatecrashers, Portal Research, and Diplomat teams)

Sunday June 21ist @ 1pm US Central Time - Portal Research Team Event

Wednesday June 24th @ 7pm US Central Time - Diplomat Team Event

Saturday June 27th @ 2pm US Central Time - Outlands Defense Team Event
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