2004 Events

Over the last month in Dereth, the Burun Kukuur have mounted several incursions in the depths of ancient Falatacot temples. Each time, they have been repelled by the force of arms of Isparian heroes.

The full list of changes in the December event.

The Calm

Antius stepped into the portal and reality was whisked away. The grass, sand and sky blurred into a streaked, purple mess. His stomach lurched as gravity disappeared. The sounds of the birds and surf faded to a bleak pinpoint of nothing. They were replaced with a high-pitched whine that assaulted the warrior's ears.

He looked down at his flesh. It was still new to him. He both loved and loathed its alien feel - its texture; its smell; its oils. So powerful, yet still so flawed and weak compared with the existence he had previously known.

November, 2004: On Bended Knee

Letter to the Player

Read about the upcoming changes and additions for the November event!

Read about what's new and changed in the November 2004 event!

On Bended Knee, Contents

The November 2004 teaser is in four parts. See all four parts along with teaser pics here!

At long last the page ran red with blood. Months of unending silence gave way to a horde that rivaled the incursion of the Olthoi. Words scribbled across the page; the prophecies began to form once again.

October, 2004: All That They Survey

Learn what's new and changed in the October event!

Learn about the upcoming changes and improvements for October!

This month's teaser is a continuation of The Shattered Coil.

Antius considered the maps again. With the death of one Burun leader and the disappearance of another, the creatures had become more violent but less organized. The situation had improved... but only marginally.

September, 2004: A Small Victory

Read about the changes coming up in the September event.

Read about what's new and changed in the September event!

A Small Victory

This was not his home. He had been ordered to T'Gru Kookur to wait and to watch for the phenomenon of the Eye to begin. When it did, he was to send word to Reeshan, his liege. Then he was to walk through the portal, round up Morgluuk and Torgluuk, and find a way to force the eye open at T'Kuruul Reeshan. Reeshan would then enter the new portal and find the way to bring the other Kukuur Masters to the world of the Fiazhat Gods. There the Burun would complete their destinies and become the rulers of both their own world and the world of these would-be usurpers. That had been the plan.

"Antius, they've proven that they can change the world by their very presence. Look at the Blackmire or the swamp in the A'mun." Elysa slid her finger from the locations on the map. "They'll find a way if that is their next goal." There was a long, awkward pause. Then Hendac slid his hand onto the table and placed his finger on a spot that marked a solitary location, nearly inaccessible to uninitiated explorers.

August, 2004: From the Darkness Born

Read about the changes and updates coming in the August event!

Read about what's new and changed in this month's event!

From the Darkness Born

Passers-by were not being very kind to the Mosswart who huddled near the branches of a fern, sitting on a stone to rest his legs. He had arrived the previous night with a small slip of parchment bearing Elysas seal. A member of the Royal Guard had escorted him into Bai Yao Fengs tent; when the little creature assured Bai Yao in broken Roulean that he was there at the behest of the High Queen, the guard nodded her confirmation.

Nearly all had lost their minds, save one. That one waited for a shining moment of bliss. She would never be free, but she would have her revenge. The Lady would feel the pain of the death and the long years of torment. She would feel all of it.

July, 2004: Treaties in Stone

Read about the changes coming up in the July event.

Read about this month's changes and updates!

Treaties in Stone

Thunder shook the hall. Niarltah paused mid-stride and looked toward the nearest window. Outside, trees bent toward the ground in honor of the wind that threatened to tear their roots from the ground. Further down the hall, Muldaveus booming voice drowned out the roar of the wind. The Lugian was still howling about their defeat at the hands of the Isparians.

Fanzen San walked quietly back into the Hebian-to library. He had spent the better part of a week traveling along the shores and inland areas of the Vesayen Islands. He was tired and worn out from a long, yet fruitful trip. The trip had been something that he meant to do for years now, but time had never been in surplus. But recent events, witnessed just outside of the city, had given him a reason to venture out into the wilds of the island.

June, 2004: Pillars Made of Sand

Read about upcoming changes to the game, such as Allegiance Bind Stones and Item Magic Buffing improvements!

Read about what's new and changed in the June 2004 event!

Pillars Made of Sand

In a deep cavern, hidden far from the prying eyes and sharpened steel of Isparians, torchlight flickered across a stone table. Two figures stood there, bent over maps and parchments.

They had assembled in the vast caverns. From across Dereth they had come. From the captured citadels in the west to the pickets around Dryreach in the east; from the deep forests of the north to the snow-capped mountains in the south; they had come.

May, 2004: Mired Hearts

Read about our upcoming plans for May and beyond.

Allegiance tools, new paperdoll slots, imbued weapon underlays, and more!

Mired Hearts

Hendac pushed a small leather scrollcase toward the High Queen. She reached across and took the case up. It was too large to be made by Isparians and the leather was tanned to be softer. It bore a resemblance to the hunting bags carried by the Tonk of Marae Lassel. Elysa recalled seeing the bags only recently; hunters from Marae Lassel had asked to hunt on Dereth and issue challenges to the Ispar tribe. They had set up a few camps across Osteh, and even near Ayan Baqur.

The Shattered Coil

The Eye of The Sleeping One had opened in less time than it took to gut a Moar; Morgluuk and Torgluuk had seized the opportunity for their race. Hundreds of years of servitude and abuse would be rectified by fulfilling the greatest prophecy of the Burun. They would cross the vast divide and destroy the matron saints of the Fiazhat race, a race that for several millennia ruled the surface of Bur and brought the burning lands to cover the face of the world.

The sound of breaking bones and tearing flesh filled the small cavern. Okret had volunteered for this assignment because he knew that Muldaveus and Niarltah would look favorably on him should he perform the task well.

April, 2004: A New Threat

Welcome to the April Letter to the Players! Dont worry, we know its technically still March. Were still working out our communication timetable to take into account changes to our schedule.

Read about what's new and changed in the April 2004 event!

In Development Follow-Up

In our April Letter to the Players, the In Development section listed a number of changes that we are working on for May. Wed like to take this time to provide further details as well as describe some additional changes that were working on. We know you havent even had a chance to see the April event yet, but wed like to start getting feedback on these topics while were still early in the May development cycle.

A New Threat

As Antius entered the room he removed his helm and shook his head in disbelief. Our fears are confirmed. Something new has arrived here on Dereth. He placed the helm on the table across from Elysa and Fadsahil. Any news from Shoyanen and Celdiseth?

Id never have believed it if I hadnt done it myself. Celdiseth folded his arms across his chest. Its like the ley lines changed, shifted, flooded magic up through the world and into our beings. Who knows where the possibilities will end. He looked to Ciandra, It might also explain why Shoyanen was able to start working with lifestones.

March, 2004: Across the Vast Divide

Letter to the Players Follow-Up

This letter was initially intended for Monday, March 1st, but we held it so that we could include additional comments regarding the treasure changes.

Id like to apologize for not taking further steps to prevent all of you from being blindsided by some of our upcoming changes. More to the point, were making some big changes to the way we release information about upcoming updates. Well be releasing information farther ahead of time, which will allow us to listen to your feedback and discuss these concepts and ideas with you long before we begin development on them.

Across the Vast Divide: The Investigation Begins

Read what's new and changed in the March event!

Across the Vast Divide

Wails grew louder and the little figured looked backward, tripped on a root, and tumbled into the thick muck of the Blackmire Swamp. Though the nights were warmer than they had been only weeks before, the night air was still wintry. The creatures muscles stiffened and his blood became as viscous as the winter swamp about him. Another wail sounded and the mosswart clapped his yellow-green hands over his ears and met the sound with a scream of his own. His breath came in short gasps and his saucer eyes looked about wildly.

Antius made his way along the road leading into Hebian-to. No one in Cragstone knew of Rage Laos whereabouts. He hoped beyond hope that his search would be more fruitful in the Sho capital. The sun was high in the sky and the city was active, hope filled him when he saw that the archmages shop door was open and two patrons stood within. One ran off before he had the time to speak but the second remained behind.

Across the Vast Divide, Part Two

Rain fell in torrential sheets, splattering the already foul mire toward the weeping heavens. For one hundred and twelve cycles it had rained. Ruuk Soothsayers danced around sheltered luminescent fungi and told tales of The Sleeping One, the time of reckoning and the revelations that will bring the circle of vengeance closed. They had long ago cleansed the tainted Fiazhat race from the surface of Bur, their world, but remnants of Fiazhat Gods hunted them still.

The sun rises each morning. The moons come each night. Words ceaselessly appear on the pages of this book. Auberean has survived by way of these constants. But what happens to creation if the words one day stop?

February, 2004: The Madness of Men

You may be a little surprised at how soon after the January event this letter arrived, and I dont blame you. Several months ago we began planning to move our events to the second week of the month, starting in February. Combined with our need to delay the January event until the very end of the month, however, this means that there will only be about two weeks between the January event and the February event.

See what's new and changed in this month's event!

The Madness of Men

Its the laughing, you see? The guard was disheveled. His clothes were torn and bloody, his eyes set deep in their sockets, his skin covered with grit and his hair matted and greasy.

Ye Te took a step towards Wah Chon, who turned and ran, slipping up the hill. Ye Te spied glowing red eyes and black wings through the snow. She grew pale as well as she retreated into her shop and slid the door closed.

January, 2004: Mirror Mirror

It is a new year both in our world and in Dereth, and this new year brings many changes. We believe youll be very excited about them, we know we are!

Read about what's new and changed in the January event!

Mirror, Mirror

The cold black walls were home. There was no other explanation for the warmth that spread through him. Since Kaedrix had made him aware that the Virindi were leaving the home of his Lord, the Mirror had wanted to see the halls, the halls of BaelZharon, the Hopeslayer, the most fearsome entity that this world had ever known. His Lord.