Months ago, a new Aspect of the Scarlet Goddess appeared before Maligorn
Shevat chanting:

"MHA SZI AA." "RHO SZA MHAAAA." "DZAAAAAAAAAAAA." "SZA III SZAAA IKIL
ARR RHA."

Known as the Doom of Spires, this Aspect lead Maligorn, and soon a
company of Hallifaxians, to the Seal of Justice. Together, they repeated
the odd mantras until few were gifted a vision of purple sands and
crystalline spires. Thus the rumour was born: could Zvoltz, the
Architect have found Himself trapped in this unknown place of Iklara?

A couple months passed as two of the Architect's own, Pejat and Shedrin
Shevat, ventured for answers. They arrived in the Night Market, begging
the Ecumenical Merchant for information; the hooded figure has
knowledge, however, it was not willing to share. Only a month or so
thereafter, the city of Halifax was greeted with a surprise visitor.
Bobbing and weaving along, the Replicant Dynodeon queried: Where is
Mister Zvoltz? In the ensuing conversation, Pejat and others relay the
visions they received months before as well as the curious statements of
the Merchant. Disturbed by the news, the Dynodeon vowed to go to the
Night Market to learn what had come of its Creator.

Meanwhile, the chanting of the Doom of Spires resonated in Gaudiguch,
His voice croaking with mantras before Talan Ysav'rai and a visiting
Marcella n'Lochli. As the pair attempted to make sense of the mystic
language, a bright glow erupted before the Eternal Flame: a cosmic
apparition, enveloped by waves of energy. Unable to speak in little but
garbled static, this apparition desperately tried to communicate to
those present; failing that, it disappeared. Shortly after, Sebitti
Silkenhand arrived to consider what had happened, as did a cadre of
Hallifaxians. Learning of the Dynodeon and its plan, Sebitti was
determined to prevent the machine from entering the Night Market, for
fear of the destruction it would cause. So, the adventurers set their
sights to the strange Night Market for answers.

A standoff occurred at the obelisk that demarcated Night Market from the
rest of the Basin of Life. Sebitti Silkenhand and the Replicant Dynodeon
threatening each other with statements about a Silkenhand Caravan, with
Pejat standing nearby to defuse the threat of violence. Talan, Ardmore,
and Ixchilgal went to speak to the Ecumenical Merchant looking for
answers; however, the Dynodeon, ignoring commands that it was not
allowed entry to the Market, zipped past demanding answers. It became
convinced that what was necessary was entry into Iklara, which it
believed was possible through the Market. And so, the Dynodeon, as per
its name, replicated itself. One Dynodeon became fifty, but it was
unable to maintain itself - the stretching of its mechanisms causing a
serious malfunction. The Dynodeon rampaged, stealing items from the
Market and burning things down. Talan, Ardmore, and Ixchilgal fought
them off, while Shedrin hoped to placate the machines. The Gaudiguchians
handed the remains to the Opaque Merchant, who arrived to see the
damage.

There, questions were demanded: Why did the Dynodeon do this if Zvoltz
was in the Seal of Justice? Who were the visions from? What is the
Silkenhand Caravan? The Opaque Merchant dodged them, explaining that
they might learn what they desired if they helped replenish the Night
Market stocks, and specifically, replace the important wares by
bargaining with the Papaxian Woman.

Returning in the light of day, Talan and Shedrin went into the depths of
the Night Market, eventually finding the being known as the Papaxian
Woman. At that point, they split off, Talan toiling with the tasks of
the Merchants, while Shedrin - and later Pejat to replace him -
interrogated her. Where is Zvoltz? What is the origin of the Dynodeons?
Where is Iklara? The Woman, much like the Merchants, purred answers that
pleased no one, only creating more and more questions.

They learned that the Papaxian Woman was stuck: imprisoned long ago by
her own magical workings and that she was working to break free by means
of a ritual. Her trading with the Merchants were necessary to gather the
ingredients to acquire a key. However, whatever spell she cast
ultimately failed, and she fled into nothingness in distress. Talan
offered the last of the hard-earned wares to the Crowned Merchant, who
shared more about the Papaxian Woman's history, and finally delivered
her the title of Honourary Merchant of the Night Market.

So many questions remain in this latest saga of this place called
Iklara. Where is it? What do the Dynodeons and the Night Market have to
do with it? Was everything, the visions included, but a farce for more
nefarious means? Lastly, if the Papaxian Woman's ritual were to be
completed: what would its outcome be?



Penned by My hand on the 11th of Estar, in the year 416 CE.