The Time Realm Revealed!

Notes from the Phoenix Overnight Quest, 2014.

It began with an archaeological dig, headed by Firos of the ATLAS Society and Lykar ("Lenny") of the College of All Magic. At the site of the old Seer College, a Time Gate was discovered, and the Seer Ruins were uncovered to explore. Soon, the entire College of All Magic was interested in researching the lost art of Time Magic. Powerful "Time Keys" were found that seemed to come in and out of existence.

More importantly, the archmages were able to scry upon eight Time Artifacts that were possibly needed to further unlock the Time Gate. These Time Artifacts were lost and scattered, and when the archmages contacted the current owners, it was a surprise to everyone. The organizations that had the artifacts were seemingly random: House Phoenix of the Empire, the Adamantium Guard, the Sable Dominion, the Brown Rangers from the Sun-on-the-Sands, the Mercenaries of Krov, the order of the Heralds Arcanos from the College, the Snake Eyes crew of pirates from Black Bart's crew, and finally, a group of spies that no one realized were spies, masquerading as dignitaries from the Sidhe Court of the Summerlands.

Within hours of the different organizations' arrival, the archmages were hit with disaster - they were frozen in time, seemingly the work of a mysterious being that could bend time to its will. The delegates from the organizations decided to delve into the depths of the ruins to find more Time Keys in the hopes that they could unlock the archmages from the Time Stop.

During their excavation and investigation, the Questers put the pieces of the mystery together: the mysterious being was "Konig Zeit" - a villain of the Mage Wars who was able to learn the secrets to Time Magic. Now, appearing from the past, he wanted back the Time Artifacts that he crafted. When the Questers realized that each of the Time Portals that seemingly took them back in time were really Time Pockets, they realized that Zeit could only exist in a Time Pocket. If they could unlock the power of the Time Gate and send his Time Artifacts into a collapsed Time Pocket, they could defeat this villain. In a final battle where they battled Zeit's incarnations from many different times, every organization used the Time Artifacts to first battle with Zeit and then destroy it by sending it through the Time Gate. The archmages, the Risen Lands, and perhaps all of Thael is saved!

Preview of the Phoenix Overnight: The Keys of Time!

The Mage Wars were a dark era in the history of Thael. Fortunately, the College of All Magic was reformed in the Risen Lands, but ever since, the landscape was changed. Twisted by sorcery and home now to strange beasts and magic. 

Just two years ago, the College of All Magic fractured and nearly caused another Mage War during the Shadow Wars, when Shadow Dragons roamed the lands. 

The Shadow Dragons decimated the College of All Magic

Questers maintained the peace, and during an overnight quest, delegates from the Empire of the Seven Stars restored the balance of power. The College of All Magic was rebuilt from the Dream Realm using Healer magic. 

In the rebuilding, a discovery was made. Deep within the old Seer College, there was found a Time Gate. Very little is known about the advanced disciplines of Time Magic, but the Chronomancers of the College have gathered to study it. Archaeologists from the ATLAS Society have done their part to delve into the more mundane areas, hoping to find more information. Furthermore, kobold Mercantiers from the Underguild have taken an interest, claiming that, by proclamation of the former Battlemage College, they are the true custodians of whatever is discovered, as it is technically in the Penumbra.

But more importantly, the rumor of eight Time Artifacts has spread. Once held by a mysterious villain called the Time Lord - an instigator in the Mage Wars - these artifacts were lost until the Time Gate was found. The Chronomancers of the College glimpsed into the Time Gate and traced the history of these artifacts.

1. One is held by the Adamanitum Guard as a weapon for Light.
2. One is held by the Brown Rangers as a heritage gift for the Pharaohs that will come to reign again.
3. One is held by the Heralds Arcanos, the most accomplished emissaries of the College of All Magic.
4. One is held by Black Bart of the Pirate Isles - a prized token of his exploits.
5. One is held by the Summerlands in the Seelie Court.
6. One is held by House Phoenix of the Empire, an item that has been crucial to the efforts to stave off shadowy beasts in the jungles of Duami-na.
7. One is held by the Mercenaries of Krov, who have been expelled from the Risen Lands due to their allegiance to the Underguild when the recent conflict between mages seemed to hearken a new Mage Wars.
8. Finally, the eighth Time Artifact is held by the warrior-aristocrats of Pellarghiem in the Sable Dominion.

These eight artifacts must be retrieved if the College of All Magic is to know more about this possibly volatile Time Gate, and the Heralds Arcanos have negotiated a deal for each one to bring the Time Artifact to the College of All Magic for a summit of unknown power...

A Mercenary of Krov. They teach the Oath of Dispassion, though some take pleasure in their grisly duties.