As usual, weird things are afoot in Charon, and as usual, the adventuring types need to check it out. Not that Astrid is too bothered by the fact; that’s why she adventures, after all! There’s always something new and exciting going on. By the sound of it, some strange reality-warping portals have appeared. Given the appearance of the strange portals on the battlefield outside of Thunderhoof, these definitely need to be looked into, especially if they’re dangerous.

By the Mage’s Guild’s investigation, they have been, so it’s off to contain the area and find as much information on them as possible. That might mean playing with some magic or tossing something into it. Curiosity is the best way to approach something like this, but caution is a good wingman. Luckily, other members of the guild are looking into these portals too, so Astrid doesn’t expect she’ll be alone in this endeavor. Hopefully, she runs into someone else looking into things at her destination.

To start, she heads to one of the portals reported within Dragon’s Cradle: something near Stormgale Village, which, not-so-coincidentally, is where a ring of magical flowers affected speed and gravity some time ago. She’s not sure if the flowers have disappeared, – That’s a separate issue to look into. – but she knows that Mizzi Bells had the area secure enough, and the gnome leader of Stormgale will be more than happy to let the adventuring types deal with the strange raw magics of other realms any day.

So, after a quick conversation with Mizzi in town, Astrid looks around for any other prospective investigators, even someone who might seem curious, before she heads out. Surely, there must be someone else here to check things out.

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Quest details:

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Beyond the Veil
Guild: Mage's Guild
Participants: Two or more
Location: Anywhere
Post Requirements: 5 post per person, 200 words per post
Base Reward: +1 Renown
Guild Reward: +1 Mystical Archive Ticket, +1 Guild completion
Description: Urgent calls to the Mage's guild are asking for help right away. Unstable portals of raw magic have started popping up in the wilds of Charon, and are dissolving matter around them. These portals are violent, unpredictable and can cause random, dangerous effects to occur. However they don't go anywhere, and instead dissolve anything trying to pass through it. Guild members are being asked to contain the area around the portal and take records of what is happening.

Special Requirements: It is believed that someone is intentionally causing these rifts to open up, and that a dark, powerful magic is at play. Someone is taking advantage of Charon's new connection to the other realms and whatever they are doing could become a huge problem.

Using Work Charter for Dalanor to receive all guild rewards

Gafelker was looking for information on the Rings of Flowers appearing around Charon. The portals reported within Dragon’s Cradle fascinated Gafelker, and his research on the different domains of magic was becoming fruitful now. The Fae magic, or what some were calling wild magic, intrigued him. Wanting to learn more, he desired to look into this place.

Looking into the investigation, he was pointed to someone he knew, only my reputation, Lady Astrid Stormstone. Gafelker would be so honored if she would allow him to accompany her, also looking into the mysterious flower ring. He had learned more about its effect in Dragon’s Cradle. The magical flowers affected speed and gravity, so the rumor went. He had someone he could meet up with after a short conversation with the Gnome leader. That was Lady Astrid Stormstone.

Gafelker saw her also looking for someone to help, and with the backing of the Mages Guild, he walked up to Lady Stormstone. He gave a bow but was still leaning on his staff. "Lady Stormstone, I am Gafelker of Moonglade, a Scholar of the domains of magic and following the Path of Elemental magic. I have been told you are looking for someone to travel and help you with looking in to a ring of flowers?" explained Gafelker, introducing himself.

"It is a great honor to meet you. Your reputation precedes you. I humbly ask to accompany you," Gafelker requested, still bowing politely and talking with respect.

Dalanor was reading and walking at the same time again, a potentially dangerous combination, and partly talking to himself too. Usually he kept his thoughts to himself, but after long periods with no social interaction, the thoughts started to speak for themselves.

"So this is Stormgale Village..."

The wastes weren't exactly a chilly place, but they were for a man not used to traveling the wilderness. Though he wouldn't consider himself a rich man, he was a bit spoiled by the comforts of the Academy, and not quite used to venturing to places where a warm hearth wasn't available at all times. A breeze blew by and he folded up his map and put it in an inner pocket of his long blue coat, then flipped up the hood and put his hands snugly into his bottom outer pockets.

"I hope it doesn't get any colder, I might need to purchase some mittens..."

It was then that he was briskly walking by a pair of people who he otherwise would not have bothered, except he heard the magic word - literally. He dramatically slowed his pace, probably noticeably. His hearing wasn't extrasensory, but he could pick up when someone said the word "magic" from across a noisy room. In this case, it was across a short distance in an open area that was not too loud.

The next words that he heard - "ring of flowers" - reeled him in.

Veering in his tracks, he re-routed towards the pair at a normal pace. He heard it was a town for adventurers, and before he could even make it to the inn, lo and behold, he already heard something that peaked his interest.

He stopped in front of them and flipped down his hood.

"Hi, apologies for the intrusion, but I heard magic and ring of the flowers in the same sentence." A nervous smile followed and a raised hand in greeting.

"I'm Dalanor Zai of Capitol Landing. I have been researching the fae and the possible connection to the ring of flowers. Unless I misheard or I'm intruding... then I apologize, I can be on my way..." Dalanor looked to the pair for validation.

Just as Astrid finishes her conversation with Mizzi, the gnome leader of Stormgale, another gnomish individual she doesn’t recognize approaches and introduces himself. Astrid and Mizzi exchange a glance with a smile. “See, told ya someone would be around ta help soon enough,” Astrid says to Mizzi.

The other gnome shakes her head. “S’pose ya did. Good luck, you lot,” Mizzi says, waving her hand as she walks off to attend to other business.

Astrid turns to Gafelker again. “Good ta meet ya,” she says, holding her right hand out to offer a handshake. Her metal left hand rests on her hip casually. “Ya can just call me Astrid. Yer name’s a little familiar. Did ya just join the Mage’s Guild?”

It seems that Gafelker’s introduction caught someone else’s attention, and Astrid looks Dalanor up and down. “No worries. Good ta meet ya too. I’m Astrid Stormstone.” Once her hand is freed up, she offers Dalanor a handshake as well. “I’m actually not here ta look into the ring a’ flowers,” she says. “Already did that a few months ago. Those are over by the hot springs if yer really interested in ‘em, though I’m sure we’ll get a glimpse of ‘em while we’re checkin’ out the new problem.”

Pulling a piece of parchment with some information from the Mage’s Guild on it, Astrid offers it to each of the men interested in joining her on this journey. “Some weird portals have been poppin’ up. Probably similar magic ta what caused the flower rings, so I’m expectin’ stuff ta go kinda wacky an’ be dangerous. If that still sounds like somethin’ yer both interested in, I’m happy ta have the help. I don’t know all that much about the fae magic except that I’ve seen a good bit of it up close an’ know it ain’t predictable.”