Shroud of the Avatar – Update of the Avatar #155
Greetings Fellow Avatars!
Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar:
- Hilt Fortress Interior
- New Britannia’s Next Top Model
- Myrcello’s Peaceful Novia
- Seven Piece Musical Performance
Hilt Fortress Interior
[A Dev+ Forum Post by Scottie Jones]
Finally I’ve had the chance to complete Hilt’s expansive interior! This map doesn’t include the upper tower itself, which will appear in a later release, but does include all the lower areas deep beneath the earth.
Once you pass through the exterior doors, you will appear in an entry hall adorned with friezes and stone carvings of past Obsidian battles and victories, now defaced and crumbling. The torches are lit, evidence of the kobolds which have decided to make this area their own.
Beyond, a huge reception rotunda hosts the four stone thrones of the ancient Obsidian generals who once held court here. It has become of den of the kobolds, who just might be willing to make a deal with the players (eventually) which could include escort through these ancient halls if the players are willing to fight an infestation of giant spiders far below.
Deeper still are several of the forgotten chambers adjacent to the large barracks, similar to those at the surface. Here the party will discover areas such as the old kitchens and mess hall, armor and weapons forges, and a small armory. The kobolds are frustrated because neither of these proved to be the Obsidian Forge of legend…
Below the Barracks a huge, shadow-filled training area sits, choked with vast spider webs and filled with crawling horrors. It is here that the players might find a few meager kobolds attempting (and failing) to fight the many giant spiders that prowl this room, especially the lowest arena floor where the players must cross to go deeper..
Sticky webs seem to halt intruders at every turn, and of course the spiders immediately attack any who dare trespass. At the chamber’s center, a huge nest stretching to the ceiling is adorned at its base with many corpses that have been sucked of blood yet still carry treasures to loot… The players are welcome to continue delving further downward in search of the real Obsidian Forge… The kobolds wish them luck…
Below the Training Arena the stairs eventually lead to the main entrance to the Crypts of Eternity… Apparently the ancient Obsidian Builders truly outdid themselves when they found the old lava caves here, because now the grand central crypt hall is an impressive area filled with fly-over walkways, multiple arches leading to tomb-filled halls, and great pillars stretching many stories up and down into darkness. Only further down these side halls might one find evidence of the crude lava tubes they were originally carved from. A single path through this echoing hall, lit by eternal sorcerous crystal sconces, leads to the far side, where a door continues deeper down below… But between here and there, however, sinister green mists rise form the floor and gaunt, skeletal shapes move menacingly through the glowing vapors….
Below the Crypts of Eternity is a long-abandoned Chapel where the Obsidians once performed dark rites in honor of their dead before carrying them back up to be interred in the endless tombs… This is largely full of collapsed stone and old furniture, including a few supply chambers and the office of the old Chaplain, but the main feature here is the secret door the players must discover that will finally allow them into the hidden volcanic chambers of the Obsidian Forge itself.
Beyond the Chapel’s secret door, a natural tunnel lined initially with a few crystalline lights leads deeper into the earth, eventually emptying out into a large, dangerous-looking chamber filled with swirling vapors and angry pools of lava…
Beyond this, at the back of these natural volcanic chambers, is an entrance carved by the Obsidians leading into a large circular chamber excavated to expose part of a massive, alien glyph-covered artifact that seems to be made of volcanic glass even more ancient than that which fell from the shattered moon… This must be the true Hilt that once pierced the land long ago!!! And at its center, under a shaft of crimson light and power that falls from a huge floating piece of obsidian, is the Forge itself…waiting…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little tour through the depths of Hilt! Hopefully I’ll be able to post some more once the tower interior is done… Have a great weekend!
Scottie ^_^
New Britannia’s Next Top Model
[From a Release 24 Events Forum Post by Lace]
Diamond Fields, one of the newest Player Owned Towns, is proud to announce its first event, [New] Britannia’s Next Top Model. Diamond Fields is located a wagon’s ride from Port Phoenix in the Elysium Isles. Just west of the wagon drop off point, you will find a large catwalk constructed for this event, complete with dressing tents for contestants, a red carpet walk for our spectators, along with concession tents, and a ‘swag bag’ pickup depot.
That’s right, not only will the grand prize winner receive 15,000 gold, with the runners up receiving 10,0000 and 5,000 gold, but also all our lovely spectators will receive swag bags containing fabulous prizes that no self respecting fashion show would be without. Prize money may be increased as we approach showtime, but these are the minimum guarantees.
The rules are simple, contestants will have approximately 2 minutes to use the stage and surrounding area to combine emotes, and their most bold fashions choices in order to take home the cash prizes. Various props are being constructed about the area to allow more creative expression, so contestants are encouraged to come practice on the stage or request perhaps a special prop to be constructed to help them with their routines.
If more than one person wishes to compete as a team, that is fine as well. If you want to have your own music to do your routine with, then there is a piano, but you must supply your own musician(s). To keep crowd expectations high, I strongly suggest all contestants arrive in their street clothes at entrance located behind the stage, and use of of the dressing tents before their debut.
Myrcello’s Peaceful Novia
Community member Myrcello created this beautiful and deeply moving video of SotA visuals that he posted in the Release 24 Screenshot Gallery Forums. Words can’t do it justice so you’ll just have to watch it. Thank you Myrcello!
And in case you missed it back in April, check out the very impressive “I Dreamed a Dream” video, created by Myrcello during Release 16.
Seven Piece Musical Performance
Quality Assurance Specialist, Rhys Romero, happened to be in attendance this week during a 7-piece, synchronized musical performance held in Vertas. Fortunately, community member Elnoth captured a video of the performance, which Rhys shared with the rest of the SotA team. The performance was the brainchild of community member Minerva, who shared these comments:
Arkah EMPstrike is my musical mentor, and I requested that he make ‘Soul Man’ from the Blues Brothers for us to play together. He set to work. Not having brass in the game was a huge challenge but he made the flutes fill in the gap. It was hours of work. We asked Winfield to have his weekly “Fishing with Winfield” event in Vertas, knowing a piano was near by, and that there would be enough people to play.
Most had no idea what they were going to hear but cheerfully joined when asked. We passed out parts and gave out instruments to those who did not have them. Then the magic happened! It was so well received they wanted it streamed, so Elnoth offered to document.
The performers included: Margaritte (lute), Leostorm (drum), Arkah EMPstrike (harp), Minerva (piano), Kazyn PhoenixFyre, Jack Knyfe and Kal Tasker (flute)
