NexusEye
Aspiring God
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I thought that most of Kazador's children were daughters? Actually I have a quote right here.
Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
- Fantasy Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
- Location
- California
[X] Battle: Surreptitious Intervention
[X] Karak: Windherder
[X] Personal: Xeno-Affinity
[X] Karak: Windherder
[X] Personal: Xeno-Affinity
Note the 'I think' and future tense in that quote. If it becomes relevant to events there might be a full family tree at some point, but currently all that's absolute canon is that there's a lot of them.
- Location
- Aotearoa
Well, that and the knowledge that they're currently bringing the best of Karak Azul style lovin' to the rest of the Karaz Ankor.
[X] Karak: Windherder
[X] Battle: Surreptitious Intervention
[X] Personal: Ancestor-Gods
[X] Personal: Mountain Mystic
[X] Battle: Surreptitious Intervention
[X] Personal: Ancestor-Gods
[X] Personal: Mountain Mystic
PsyFarrow
Verified Necrodancer
- Location
- Space
Depending on what Thorgrim knows, another reason to not tell Belegar about the situation occurs to me.
Assuming it's well known just how chummy Belegar is with the human Wizard that took back so much of his Eight Peaks, and Thorgrim has even the slightest inkling of what Gray Wizard's normally do, it's not unreasonable to be concerned about potential leakage there.
If it was just that, perhaps he'd still be willing to spill the beans. It goes against 6,000 years of tradition and breaks part of his oath as High King, but with Kragg and Thorek on site odds are they'll realize something's up eventually. Except things aren't that simple, because Belegar hates Thorgrim, and if the older dwarf has a lick of political sense he's entirely aware of that.
Combine that with Belegar's disregard for tradition, lack of piety, and how buddy-buddy he is with one of the human's more capable intelligence agents, one that has effectively limitless leverage against him... I'd be hesitant to spill the beans to say the least. Perhaps wait a while, see if things can simmer down a bit between kings before seriously considering nominating Belegar as the next High King. Because that's what reading him into the situation is if Thorgrim doesn't want to break his oath to the Ancestors. For such a major decision, taking extra time to be certain only makes sense, especially for a dwarf.
Besides, the young king's got eight bloody peaks to get in defensible position, seems like some damn long odds that he'll figure out what no other king has cottoned on too in the last 6,000 years.
Assuming it's well known just how chummy Belegar is with the human Wizard that took back so much of his Eight Peaks, and Thorgrim has even the slightest inkling of what Gray Wizard's normally do, it's not unreasonable to be concerned about potential leakage there.
If it was just that, perhaps he'd still be willing to spill the beans. It goes against 6,000 years of tradition and breaks part of his oath as High King, but with Kragg and Thorek on site odds are they'll realize something's up eventually. Except things aren't that simple, because Belegar hates Thorgrim, and if the older dwarf has a lick of political sense he's entirely aware of that.
Combine that with Belegar's disregard for tradition, lack of piety, and how buddy-buddy he is with one of the human's more capable intelligence agents, one that has effectively limitless leverage against him... I'd be hesitant to spill the beans to say the least. Perhaps wait a while, see if things can simmer down a bit between kings before seriously considering nominating Belegar as the next High King. Because that's what reading him into the situation is if Thorgrim doesn't want to break his oath to the Ancestors. For such a major decision, taking extra time to be certain only makes sense, especially for a dwarf.
Besides, the young king's got eight bloody peaks to get in defensible position, seems like some damn long odds that he'll figure out what no other king has cottoned on too in the last 6,000 years.
- Location
- Singapore
Oh wow, did the Negaverse Thogrim Quest rolled a background crit fail to produce this result? I guess in the Negaverse, there was a ??? (What does King Belegar know?) roll that came out as 2 on a 1D100.
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- Location
- Toronto, Ontario(occasionally)
Wasn't there a kill list somewhere? I'm having trouble finding it.
Or am I thinking of a different quest?
Or am I thinking of a different quest?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Different quest.
NexusEye
Aspiring God
- Pronouns
- She/Her
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Oh, that. I thought they meant a GM created one.
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario(occasionally)
(On reaquiring thunder mountain)
The things are heavy and they were under attack by a dragon, maybe they left some behind.
(On using 100 favours at once)
It's not likely to be immediately relevant, but if the future emperor's mother is going to be pushing them to recapture Marienburg, an ironclad steamship nearly invincible to anything Marienburg can come up with out of its own resources would be devastating to a maritime power.
I'm imagining blockading them, and one ship having an outsized effect on crushing their no-doubt excellent navy.
I'm just going through Omakes and previous informational posts, sorry for quoting things from so far back, but things have been raising questions.
Maybe there's an Anvil of Doom or two to loot among all the collapsed storehouses and poisonous volcanic gasses?
The things are heavy and they were under attack by a dragon, maybe they left some behind.
(On using 100 favours at once)
If we start talking about steamships is this still the case?
It's not likely to be immediately relevant, but if the future emperor's mother is going to be pushing them to recapture Marienburg, an ironclad steamship nearly invincible to anything Marienburg can come up with out of its own resources would be devastating to a maritime power.
I'm imagining blockading them, and one ship having an outsized effect on crushing their no-doubt excellent navy.
I'm just going through Omakes and previous informational posts, sorry for quoting things from so far back, but things have been raising questions.
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No. An ocean-going vessel of that size is a whole bunch of items working in concert.
Mopman43
Mountain-Hermit of Nitpeak
- Location
- Vermont
Sadly, Mathilde still needs to breathe.
We could try sending Johann to scout, and hope that the dragon either left millenia ago or is asleep, or he might try adding Johann to his hoard...
- Location
- Brazil
I think I recall reading that K8P is in the Top 3 Waystone Nexus worldwide or somesuch.
deathofrats0808
Don’t think of it as dying; just as leaving early
- Location
- Earth
You realize that you'd be blockading the High Elves too? They have a colony there, their last in the Old World.
The Eye of Gazul: A Mountain-Scale Burning Shadows Emplacement With Dwarven Runic Augmentation
Vebyast
Nascent Transhuman
Many thanks to @Firnagzen and @BoneyM for reviewing this submission.
The Eye of Gazul: A Mountain-Scale Burning Shadows Emplacement With Dwarven Runic Augmentation
Abstract: We report on our development of a new weapon known as the Eye of Gazul, which burns free the souls of armies attempting to assault the Karak Eight Peaks region by channeling Zharrvengryn through a spell of Burning Shadows applied to the shadow of Karag Nar, a local mountain. The Eye of Gazul can be fired at any time, in any weather, and at any target in line of sight by components which control the weather and move the sun. Any authorized individual can operate the weapon using a runic control system and storage apparatuses for the necessary Winds. We additionally report on the successful deployment of the Eye of Gazul to break Waaagh Birdmuncha with fewer than 500 casualties. The Eye of Gazul is, to the author's knowledge, one of the world's most powerful operational defensive systems.
Index Terms: Burning Shadows, Dwarven Runes, Gazul, Siege Weapons, Towers
King Belegar Ironhammer's Expedition to Karak Eight Peaks retook Karag Lhune, Karag Nar, and the Citadel in 2479. Impending threats from nearby orcs, trolls, and beastmen indicated immediate fortification. Several approaches to the Expedition's holdings are too open to be easily defensible, notably the slopes of Karag Lhune and the Caldera. During the Expedition's initial push these open approaches were held using artillery, Anvils of Doom [9], and infantry. This was unsustainably expensive and the siege-scale resources, particularly the Anvils, could not be guaranteed to be present in the future. A more permanent large-scale defense was needed.
We detail the design, capabilities, construction, and initial combat deployment of a unique weapon system which satisfies Karak Eight Peaks' need for permanent large-scale defenses. A cluster of towers atop Karag Nar binds a spell of Burning Shadows which is projected through the shadow of the mountain. A Rune of Gazul allows targets that fall within the shadow to be burned from the inside out by the anti-fires of Zharrvengryn, which is Dwarven Hell, the Sword of the Dwarven Ancestor-God Gazul, and the fire that Gazul uses to destroy the bonds between soul and body when casting judgement [3], [11]. A cluster of other towers clear the weather, place a light so the system can be fired at night, and move the image of the sun so the shadow of Karag Nar can be placed anywhere within the Karak Eight Peaks region at any time in any weather. In 2482 the Expedition's holdings fell under attack by Waaagh Birdmuncha, numbering approximately 1.2 million greenskins. The system was deployed by Magister Dame Mathilde Weber to instantly destroy almost half of the Waaagh. The Eye of Gazul greatly strengthens Karak Eight Peaks and suggests that large-scale defensive emplacements may be more feasible than classically believed.
A. Burning Shadows
Burning Shadows melts flesh like acid by disappearing it into the depths of the shadow that is used as the spell's focus [15]. Occasionally referred to as "Baby's First Battle Magic", its exacting requirements give it a reputation for being tantalizing powerful in the right situation and dangerously useless in every other. If every single one of a dozen conditions is met, a brand-new journeyman can instantly break a charge or obliterate an enemy formation. If even one of those conditions is absent, an enemy too far or too close or too many lights or not enough lights, the spell does nothing. Many wizards have lost their lives while attempting to arrange the perfect shot [4], [15].
Scaling Burning Shadows up for battlefield use has been a topic of research since the spell was invented [2], [4]. These attempts suffer from the same limitations as the original spell and have a similar success rate. Recorded downfalls include: A Magister killed when beastmen attacked their tower at night [8], a Lord Magister killed when the forces of chaos attacked their tower on an unseasonably cloudy day [8], and a Journeyman killed when a greenskin shaman doused the bonfire they were using to direct their wagon's shadow [14].
B. Gazul
Gazul, Lord of Underearth, is one of the Dwarven Ancestor Gods and the Dwarven protector of the dead. He is additionally credited with the discovery of the signature Runes for himself as well as his siblings Grungni and Valaya. Gazul's signature weapon is the runesword Zharrvengryn, "Flaming Vengeance". Little more is known about Gazul as many details of his worship are considered religious secrets [3], [11].
C. Dwarven Runes
Dwarven runecraft uses precise inscriptions in rock and metal to capture the Sevir and bind them into useful, predictable conformations. Each rune has a unique and well-defined effect, such as making a belt's wearer immune to fire or strengthening the blows of a hammer. Complex rituals, methods of construction, and material requirements are the norm, making the difficulty of runecraft exponential in the number of runes involved in a project [12].
The Eye of Gazul is a cluster of heavily-enchanted and runed towers built atop and into Karag Nar. The Grey Tower contains the system's core components and the control room. The Red Tower contains the Aqshy-based night-firing system. The Blue Tower contains the Azyr-based weather-clearing system. Finally, the Rune of Gazul is buried at the base of Karag Nar. See Fig. 2.
A. Grey Tower
The Grey Tower contains the system's core components, including the Bound Spell of Burning Shadows. We follow Algard [2], [21] for the majority of the construction. The walls and foundation are of a common granite from the surrounding area chosen for stability, lack of existing attunement to the winds of magic, and a conceptual link to Karag Nar. Steel beams tie the tower into the bedrock of Karag Nar to make the tower conceptually part of the mountain. Refer to [2] for further details. To further guarantee the beams do not interfere with the power they transmit, Dwarven Runesmiths were employed to reject all winds but Ulgu while the steel was being smelted. Extensive runic inscription on the beams and in the tower's internal spaces ensures stability and permit manual operation.
B. Chamber of Dawn and Dusk
An enchantment draws morning mist to the tower, bringing Ulgu with it. This Ulgu is absorbed by a partially-completed powerstone which only attracts Ulgu. Note that, to avoid contamination and ease construction, the mist-drawing enchantment is not a standard weather-control spell using Azyr, instead being purely of Ulgu, see [1], [10]. The powerstone, combined with a pattern of interlocking shadows [4] and Ulgu-attuned wood from Araby [7], provide an Ulgu-friendly environment in which the wind accumulates. Ulgu is channeled to the Eye of Gazul through beams made of more Ulgu-attuned wood. As a side benefit, the Chamber provides a reservoir of high-purity Ulgu that can be drawn on for research purposes.
C. Red Tower
The Red Tower uses Aqshy to cast a bright light so the Eye can be operated at night. Aqshy is produced by mundane fires and drawn into a chimney built into the tower, where it's captured through a series of beams from the Aqshy-friendly wood of the local black pine [6]. A slab of black volcanic glass is used to store the captured Aqshy. The spell uses the outer framework of Curtain of Flame to maximize power delivery to a cluster of "light cores" each similar to a scaled-up and augmented spell of Marsh Lights [17], [19]. These light cores are prevented from interfering with each other by adapting techniques from Fiery Blast [18].
D. Blue Tower
The Blue Tower is the focus for a standard Bound Spell of Clear Sky [16]. The Azyr for the spell is provided by simple accumulation at the tower's altitude or a lightning rod mounted at the top of the tower [5]. Care was taken to make the spell of Clear Sky efficient and clean because it employed a significant amount of Azyr in very close proximity to the Ulgu used to cast Burning Shadows.
E. Rune of Gazul
A Rune of Gazul is buried directly underneath the center of the Grey Tower, plus or minus six ten-thousandths of an inch, at a depth placing it at the conceptual boundary between Karag Nar and the rest of the world. The Rune of Gazul is approximately two meters across and formed of pure diamond, which as a product of the depths of the earth is conceptually related to Gazul's realm. Further details of the Rune's construction will be elided.
The rune is connected to the tower and made part of it using a perfectly vertical steel beam. The visible parts of the beam glow with a faint blue light in indoor lighting. Some witnesses describe the pillar as "unearthly" or otherwise unsettling, but no movements of Sevir have been observed in or around the beam so it is unlikely that this response is other than simple fear of magic.
F. Control Room
A Grey Wizard can operate the Eye of Gazul from a revolving chair in the center of the control room. In this mode, the operator provides the Ulgu for the spell directly and the Eye can fire as long as the operator's focus holds.
The Eye of Gazul can be manually operated in the absence of a Grey Wizard. Levers activate and deactivate the Blue and Red towers as well as the sun-placement component of the Grey Tower. A control panel can be moved around the room on a track to control the shadow's azimuth. A dial sets the altitude, which can be determined using a precomputed table of landmarks. Switches lock the dials to ensure the targeting parameters aren't changed once configured. A set of targeting crystals each contain a magical signature for an enemy to be targeted. Existing crystals include greenskins, ogres, several varieties of beastman, undead, and four varieties of daemon. Additional signatures can be added by any wizard with a basic knowledge of enchantment and decent Magesight. Finally, a button triggers the firing sequence.
Detailed instructions for operating the Eye of Gazul are available to authorized users in the armory of Karak Eight Peaks and the archives of the Grey College. Refer to [20].
A. Effect on the Target
Targets affected by the Eye of Gazul are killed instantly, leaving behind fragile, hollow statues of pure carbon. These statues disintegrate into ash at even a light touch or in a stiff breeze. Clothes and equipment are untouched. No flesh is left behind, even flesh hidden under clothes and armor. No smell is present. Magesight shows no energies in the statues, either lingering from the activation of the Tower or showing any hint that the statues were once living creatures. This is consistent with the effects of Zharrvengryn, which "ignites the energies that bind body to soul" [11].
B. Range
Karak Eight Peaks is at roughly sixty percent north by the Praag-Norden wasteline, or about forty by the theoretical Northern Chaotic Pole. On Sonnstill, the shadow of Karag Nar runs exactly east to west, covering the entire Eastern Path, the easternmost 20% Death Pass, and the entire Caldera and the Eastern Valley. On Mondstille, the shadow covers 80% of Death Pass but misses the entirety of the Caldera and the Eastern Path. See Fig. 3a.
The Eye of Gazul can also cast a spell of illusion to cause the sky to forget where the sun is and swap it with another part of the sky. This can be coordinated with the activation of Burning Shadows to cast Karag Nar's shadow at an arbitrary angle. The Ulgu necessary to affect the sky itself, rather than the people under it, is provided by a series of Ulgu powerstones placed throughout the Grey Tower.
When controlled, the Eye of Gazul's engagement range covers the entirety of the Caldera, the Eastern Path and Eastern Gate, the door of the Western Gate, Death Pass, and the Eastern Valley. The only overland entrances to Karak Eight Peaks that cannot be targeted are the exterior mountain slopes. The immediate approach from the Caldera to the Citadel is shadowed by a southern ridge on Karag Lhune, but enemies can be engaged as the cross the caldera before they reach this area. See Fig. 3b.
C. Power
When operated by a Grey Wizard, the Eye's operation is limited only by the user's ability to remain focused. When the system is operated manually, power is provided by the Room of Dawn and Dusk. Enough Ulgu is stored for between three and five hours of continuous operation. Filling the Chamber of Dawn and Dusk from empty requires approximately three weeks.
The Red Tower stores enough Aqshy for approximately three dozen nighttime shots. Cooking and heating fires in the inhabited portions of Karag Nar are funneled to it as a passive source of Aqshy. It takes approximately a week to fill the Red Tower's store of Aqshy from empty. If more operation is required, the Red Tower is fireproof and may be powered by a bonfire set in its central chamber.
The Blue Tower stores enough Azyr to clear the weather for between two and twelve hours depending on the severity of the weather. It takes approximately a month to fill the storage from empty. In more severe weather the tower attracts lightning, which carries with it enough Azyr to operate the Eye for several minutes per strike. Weather that is severe enough to be difficult to clear is significantly more likely to supply Azyr to the Blue Tower [13]. The nature of Azyr makes manual recharging difficult, but mentally disciplined individuals engaging in meditative or artistic exercises can supply some power if necessary [5].
D. Defenses
Runes throughout the three towers ensure that only properly authorized users can operate or modify the tower. Armored plates over the windows protect the operator and can be opened when firing by eye. The tower's more sensitive components are protected by thick walls, extensive runecraft, and the power of the Rune of Gazul. In manual mode, the Eye of Gazul requires a targeting crystal; targeting crystals are only available with the signatures of enemies of the Empire and the Karaz Ankor. Further details of the tower's defenses will not be made publicly available, though authorized users may consult the system's Manual of Operation [20].
E. Aftereffects
The Eye of Gazul is sufficiently powerful that large activations can disturb reality for hours afterward. No effects were apparent when tested on six captured greenskins. When deployed against a Waaagh to kill over 500,000 greenskins, however, significant unreality lingered for nearly three hours throughout the entire Karak Eight Peaks region. Observed effects included:
F. A Note on Target Selection
It is commonly believed that Burning Shadows draws information from the caster's mind to differentiate between target and non-target [15]. The authors observed otherwise when firing the Eye of Gazul under Wizard control:
It is possible that the divergence is due to the presence of the Rune of Gazul. Confirming targets as enemies of the Dawi, rather than as enemies of the operator or simply targets, is particularly suggestive of this possibility.
The Eye of Gazul has so far only been tested against greenskins. Future work will report on its effectiveness against other attackers and on extensions of the targeting array. Of particular interest is the possibility of adding targeting parameters for destroying particular portions of an enemy force (e.g. assassinating Bosses or Shamans), servants of Chaos less significantly mutated than full daemons, and invasive greenskin flora.
The authors are also interested in peacetime uses of the system. For example, a targeting crystal attuned to Sosnowsky's Hogweed, which causes severe burns and photosensitivity on skin contact, could make weeding and brush-clearing less dangerous in the surrounding region. However, the nature of the tower does cause some concern in those that would need to be liased with for these applications.
We demonstrate a practical method to address the limitations of Burning Shadows as a battlefield-scale spell. Excepting the Rune of Gazul, the core capabilities could likely be duplicated by a handful of Magisters in a timeframe measured in years rather than decades and on a budget that is large but not impossible. We also show that dwarven runecraft integrates with collegiate enchantment relatively easily and with spectacular effect, as each discipline is able to cover the weak points of the other. Finally, we demonstrate a transformative improvement in the security of the Karak Eight Peaks region.
The authors would like to thank King Belegar Ironhammer of Karak Eight Peaks, King Kazador Thunderhorn of Karak Azul, High Priest Gunnars of the Cult of Gazul, Lord Magister Melkoth of the Grey Order, Lord Magister Grey of the Grey Order, Magister Grey of the Grey Order, Magister Bann of the Bright Order, Magister Kereveld of the Celestial Order, Magister Solmann of the Celestial Order, and the many artisans, smiths, and engineers of Karak Eight Peaks for their expertise and contributions.
| Mathilde Weber | Algard | Kragg the Grim |
|
Loremaster of Karak Eight Peaks Magister of the Grey Order |
Magister Patriarch of the Grey Order | Master Runelord of Karaz-a-Karak |
Index Terms: Burning Shadows, Dwarven Runes, Gazul, Siege Weapons, Towers
I. Introduction
King Belegar Ironhammer's Expedition to Karak Eight Peaks retook Karag Lhune, Karag Nar, and the Citadel in 2479. Impending threats from nearby orcs, trolls, and beastmen indicated immediate fortification. Several approaches to the Expedition's holdings are too open to be easily defensible, notably the slopes of Karag Lhune and the Caldera. During the Expedition's initial push these open approaches were held using artillery, Anvils of Doom [9], and infantry. This was unsustainably expensive and the siege-scale resources, particularly the Anvils, could not be guaranteed to be present in the future. A more permanent large-scale defense was needed.
We detail the design, capabilities, construction, and initial combat deployment of a unique weapon system which satisfies Karak Eight Peaks' need for permanent large-scale defenses. A cluster of towers atop Karag Nar binds a spell of Burning Shadows which is projected through the shadow of the mountain. A Rune of Gazul allows targets that fall within the shadow to be burned from the inside out by the anti-fires of Zharrvengryn, which is Dwarven Hell, the Sword of the Dwarven Ancestor-God Gazul, and the fire that Gazul uses to destroy the bonds between soul and body when casting judgement [3], [11]. A cluster of other towers clear the weather, place a light so the system can be fired at night, and move the image of the sun so the shadow of Karag Nar can be placed anywhere within the Karak Eight Peaks region at any time in any weather. In 2482 the Expedition's holdings fell under attack by Waaagh Birdmuncha, numbering approximately 1.2 million greenskins. The system was deployed by Magister Dame Mathilde Weber to instantly destroy almost half of the Waaagh. The Eye of Gazul greatly strengthens Karak Eight Peaks and suggests that large-scale defensive emplacements may be more feasible than classically believed.
II. Related Work and Background
A. Burning Shadows
Burning Shadows melts flesh like acid by disappearing it into the depths of the shadow that is used as the spell's focus [15]. Occasionally referred to as "Baby's First Battle Magic", its exacting requirements give it a reputation for being tantalizing powerful in the right situation and dangerously useless in every other. If every single one of a dozen conditions is met, a brand-new journeyman can instantly break a charge or obliterate an enemy formation. If even one of those conditions is absent, an enemy too far or too close or too many lights or not enough lights, the spell does nothing. Many wizards have lost their lives while attempting to arrange the perfect shot [4], [15].
Scaling Burning Shadows up for battlefield use has been a topic of research since the spell was invented [2], [4]. These attempts suffer from the same limitations as the original spell and have a similar success rate. Recorded downfalls include: A Magister killed when beastmen attacked their tower at night [8], a Lord Magister killed when the forces of chaos attacked their tower on an unseasonably cloudy day [8], and a Journeyman killed when a greenskin shaman doused the bonfire they were using to direct their wagon's shadow [14].
B. Gazul
Gazul, Lord of Underearth, is one of the Dwarven Ancestor Gods and the Dwarven protector of the dead. He is additionally credited with the discovery of the signature Runes for himself as well as his siblings Grungni and Valaya. Gazul's signature weapon is the runesword Zharrvengryn, "Flaming Vengeance". Little more is known about Gazul as many details of his worship are considered religious secrets [3], [11].
C. Dwarven Runes
Dwarven runecraft uses precise inscriptions in rock and metal to capture the Sevir and bind them into useful, predictable conformations. Each rune has a unique and well-defined effect, such as making a belt's wearer immune to fire or strengthening the blows of a hammer. Complex rituals, methods of construction, and material requirements are the norm, making the difficulty of runecraft exponential in the number of runes involved in a project [12].
III. Construction
The Eye of Gazul is a cluster of heavily-enchanted and runed towers built atop and into Karag Nar. The Grey Tower contains the system's core components and the control room. The Red Tower contains the Aqshy-based night-firing system. The Blue Tower contains the Azyr-based weather-clearing system. Finally, the Rune of Gazul is buried at the base of Karag Nar. See Fig. 2.
A. Grey Tower
The Grey Tower contains the system's core components, including the Bound Spell of Burning Shadows. We follow Algard [2], [21] for the majority of the construction. The walls and foundation are of a common granite from the surrounding area chosen for stability, lack of existing attunement to the winds of magic, and a conceptual link to Karag Nar. Steel beams tie the tower into the bedrock of Karag Nar to make the tower conceptually part of the mountain. Refer to [2] for further details. To further guarantee the beams do not interfere with the power they transmit, Dwarven Runesmiths were employed to reject all winds but Ulgu while the steel was being smelted. Extensive runic inscription on the beams and in the tower's internal spaces ensures stability and permit manual operation.
B. Chamber of Dawn and Dusk
An enchantment draws morning mist to the tower, bringing Ulgu with it. This Ulgu is absorbed by a partially-completed powerstone which only attracts Ulgu. Note that, to avoid contamination and ease construction, the mist-drawing enchantment is not a standard weather-control spell using Azyr, instead being purely of Ulgu, see [1], [10]. The powerstone, combined with a pattern of interlocking shadows [4] and Ulgu-attuned wood from Araby [7], provide an Ulgu-friendly environment in which the wind accumulates. Ulgu is channeled to the Eye of Gazul through beams made of more Ulgu-attuned wood. As a side benefit, the Chamber provides a reservoir of high-purity Ulgu that can be drawn on for research purposes.
C. Red Tower
The Red Tower uses Aqshy to cast a bright light so the Eye can be operated at night. Aqshy is produced by mundane fires and drawn into a chimney built into the tower, where it's captured through a series of beams from the Aqshy-friendly wood of the local black pine [6]. A slab of black volcanic glass is used to store the captured Aqshy. The spell uses the outer framework of Curtain of Flame to maximize power delivery to a cluster of "light cores" each similar to a scaled-up and augmented spell of Marsh Lights [17], [19]. These light cores are prevented from interfering with each other by adapting techniques from Fiery Blast [18].
D. Blue Tower
The Blue Tower is the focus for a standard Bound Spell of Clear Sky [16]. The Azyr for the spell is provided by simple accumulation at the tower's altitude or a lightning rod mounted at the top of the tower [5]. Care was taken to make the spell of Clear Sky efficient and clean because it employed a significant amount of Azyr in very close proximity to the Ulgu used to cast Burning Shadows.
E. Rune of Gazul
A Rune of Gazul is buried directly underneath the center of the Grey Tower, plus or minus six ten-thousandths of an inch, at a depth placing it at the conceptual boundary between Karag Nar and the rest of the world. The Rune of Gazul is approximately two meters across and formed of pure diamond, which as a product of the depths of the earth is conceptually related to Gazul's realm. Further details of the Rune's construction will be elided.
The rune is connected to the tower and made part of it using a perfectly vertical steel beam. The visible parts of the beam glow with a faint blue light in indoor lighting. Some witnesses describe the pillar as "unearthly" or otherwise unsettling, but no movements of Sevir have been observed in or around the beam so it is unlikely that this response is other than simple fear of magic.
F. Control Room
A Grey Wizard can operate the Eye of Gazul from a revolving chair in the center of the control room. In this mode, the operator provides the Ulgu for the spell directly and the Eye can fire as long as the operator's focus holds.
The Eye of Gazul can be manually operated in the absence of a Grey Wizard. Levers activate and deactivate the Blue and Red towers as well as the sun-placement component of the Grey Tower. A control panel can be moved around the room on a track to control the shadow's azimuth. A dial sets the altitude, which can be determined using a precomputed table of landmarks. Switches lock the dials to ensure the targeting parameters aren't changed once configured. A set of targeting crystals each contain a magical signature for an enemy to be targeted. Existing crystals include greenskins, ogres, several varieties of beastman, undead, and four varieties of daemon. Additional signatures can be added by any wizard with a basic knowledge of enchantment and decent Magesight. Finally, a button triggers the firing sequence.
Detailed instructions for operating the Eye of Gazul are available to authorized users in the armory of Karak Eight Peaks and the archives of the Grey College. Refer to [20].
IV. Capabilities
A. Effect on the Target
Targets affected by the Eye of Gazul are killed instantly, leaving behind fragile, hollow statues of pure carbon. These statues disintegrate into ash at even a light touch or in a stiff breeze. Clothes and equipment are untouched. No flesh is left behind, even flesh hidden under clothes and armor. No smell is present. Magesight shows no energies in the statues, either lingering from the activation of the Tower or showing any hint that the statues were once living creatures. This is consistent with the effects of Zharrvengryn, which "ignites the energies that bind body to soul" [11].
B. Range
Karak Eight Peaks is at roughly sixty percent north by the Praag-Norden wasteline, or about forty by the theoretical Northern Chaotic Pole. On Sonnstill, the shadow of Karag Nar runs exactly east to west, covering the entire Eastern Path, the easternmost 20% Death Pass, and the entire Caldera and the Eastern Valley. On Mondstille, the shadow covers 80% of Death Pass but misses the entirety of the Caldera and the Eastern Path. See Fig. 3a.
The Eye of Gazul can also cast a spell of illusion to cause the sky to forget where the sun is and swap it with another part of the sky. This can be coordinated with the activation of Burning Shadows to cast Karag Nar's shadow at an arbitrary angle. The Ulgu necessary to affect the sky itself, rather than the people under it, is provided by a series of Ulgu powerstones placed throughout the Grey Tower.
When controlled, the Eye of Gazul's engagement range covers the entirety of the Caldera, the Eastern Path and Eastern Gate, the door of the Western Gate, Death Pass, and the Eastern Valley. The only overland entrances to Karak Eight Peaks that cannot be targeted are the exterior mountain slopes. The immediate approach from the Caldera to the Citadel is shadowed by a southern ridge on Karag Lhune, but enemies can be engaged as the cross the caldera before they reach this area. See Fig. 3b.
C. Power
When operated by a Grey Wizard, the Eye's operation is limited only by the user's ability to remain focused. When the system is operated manually, power is provided by the Room of Dawn and Dusk. Enough Ulgu is stored for between three and five hours of continuous operation. Filling the Chamber of Dawn and Dusk from empty requires approximately three weeks.
The Red Tower stores enough Aqshy for approximately three dozen nighttime shots. Cooking and heating fires in the inhabited portions of Karag Nar are funneled to it as a passive source of Aqshy. It takes approximately a week to fill the Red Tower's store of Aqshy from empty. If more operation is required, the Red Tower is fireproof and may be powered by a bonfire set in its central chamber.
The Blue Tower stores enough Azyr to clear the weather for between two and twelve hours depending on the severity of the weather. It takes approximately a month to fill the storage from empty. In more severe weather the tower attracts lightning, which carries with it enough Azyr to operate the Eye for several minutes per strike. Weather that is severe enough to be difficult to clear is significantly more likely to supply Azyr to the Blue Tower [13]. The nature of Azyr makes manual recharging difficult, but mentally disciplined individuals engaging in meditative or artistic exercises can supply some power if necessary [5].
D. Defenses
Runes throughout the three towers ensure that only properly authorized users can operate or modify the tower. Armored plates over the windows protect the operator and can be opened when firing by eye. The tower's more sensitive components are protected by thick walls, extensive runecraft, and the power of the Rune of Gazul. In manual mode, the Eye of Gazul requires a targeting crystal; targeting crystals are only available with the signatures of enemies of the Empire and the Karaz Ankor. Further details of the tower's defenses will not be made publicly available, though authorized users may consult the system's Manual of Operation [20].
E. Aftereffects
The Eye of Gazul is sufficiently powerful that large activations can disturb reality for hours afterward. No effects were apparent when tested on six captured greenskins. When deployed against a Waaagh to kill over 500,000 greenskins, however, significant unreality lingered for nearly three hours throughout the entire Karak Eight Peaks region. Observed effects included:
- Fluidized soil (by the use of runecraft to forcibly induct air) could be boiled as if it was water by non-phenomenological introduction of heat.
- Mages with sensitive Magesight could see, smell, taste, feel, and taste the energies used in the activation of the Eye. Descriptions of the phenomenon include "reality twanging", "membrane between reality and the domain of souls and gods rippling", and "aftershocks".
- A greenskin Warboss retreated from an impending fight in good order.
F. A Note on Target Selection
It is commonly believed that Burning Shadows draws information from the caster's mind to differentiate between target and non-target [15]. The authors observed otherwise when firing the Eye of Gazul under Wizard control:
Article: For an instant that stretched into what felt like hours, I glimpsed one greenskin after another for a fraction of a second each and mentally confirmed that, yes, it was an enemy of the Dawi. Apart from some having been Orcs and some Snotlings, the only variation was the scarce handful of vultures mixed among them, following hopefully in the Waaagh's wake and likely destined to be very disappointed. And throughout the entire process I could feel the energy of the Waaagh like an unpleasant vibration in my teeth.
It is possible that the divergence is due to the presence of the Rune of Gazul. Confirming targets as enemies of the Dawi, rather than as enemies of the operator or simply targets, is particularly suggestive of this possibility.
V. Future Work
The Eye of Gazul has so far only been tested against greenskins. Future work will report on its effectiveness against other attackers and on extensions of the targeting array. Of particular interest is the possibility of adding targeting parameters for destroying particular portions of an enemy force (e.g. assassinating Bosses or Shamans), servants of Chaos less significantly mutated than full daemons, and invasive greenskin flora.
The authors are also interested in peacetime uses of the system. For example, a targeting crystal attuned to Sosnowsky's Hogweed, which causes severe burns and photosensitivity on skin contact, could make weeding and brush-clearing less dangerous in the surrounding region. However, the nature of the tower does cause some concern in those that would need to be liased with for these applications.
VI. Discussion and Conclusion
We demonstrate a practical method to address the limitations of Burning Shadows as a battlefield-scale spell. Excepting the Rune of Gazul, the core capabilities could likely be duplicated by a handful of Magisters in a timeframe measured in years rather than decades and on a budget that is large but not impossible. We also show that dwarven runecraft integrates with collegiate enchantment relatively easily and with spectacular effect, as each discipline is able to cover the weak points of the other. Finally, we demonstrate a transformative improvement in the security of the Karak Eight Peaks region.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank King Belegar Ironhammer of Karak Eight Peaks, King Kazador Thunderhorn of Karak Azul, High Priest Gunnars of the Cult of Gazul, Lord Magister Melkoth of the Grey Order, Lord Magister Grey of the Grey Order, Magister Grey of the Grey Order, Magister Bann of the Bright Order, Magister Kereveld of the Celestial Order, Magister Solmann of the Celestial Order, and the many artisans, smiths, and engineers of Karak Eight Peaks for their expertise and contributions.
- A New Accounting of the Known Effect of Atmospheric Moisture on the Winds of Magic, by L.M. Marius (Celestial), M. Aurel (Gold), 2472.
- A Terrain-Reliant Enhancement to Burning Shadows, by J. Algard (Grey), 2439.
- Ancestor Gods of the Karaz Ankor, by Professor Leichthardt, U of A.
- Collected Notes: Ulgu, by Loremaster Teclis (Saphery), 2310.
- Collected Notes: Azyr, by Loremaster Teclis (Saphery), 2310.
- Coniferous Trees of the World's Edge Mountains, by J. Nikolaev (Jade), 2320.
- Crepuscular Flora of the Desert of Araby, by J. Sigi (Jade), 2332.
- Dangers of Indiscriminate Enchanting, by M.L. Reicthard, 2325.
- Deployment of an 'Anvil Of Doom' During The Battle Of Karag Nar, By M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), J. Panoramia (Jade), J. Esbern (Amber) and J. Seija (Amber), 2478.
- Disentangling the Weather, by J. Helmuth (Celestial), M. Josefine (Celestial), 2455.
- High Priest Gunnars of the Cult of Gazul, Interview, Nachexen 2482.
- Observations on Runecraft During The Expedition To Karak Eight Peaks, By M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), J. Maximilian de Gaynesford (Gold), J. Esbern (Amber) and J. Seija (Amber), J. Panoramia (Jade), 2478.
- Observed Rates of Azyr Harvesting From Inclement Weather, By J. Oursler (Celestial), 2468.
- Report on the Passing of Journeyman Sforza, By M. Grey (Grey), J. Sforza (Grey) (S·T·T·L), 2433.
- Scroll of Burning Shadows (Grey, 2455)
- Scroll of Clear Sky (Celestial, 2423)
- Scroll of Curtain of Flame (Bright, 2393)
- Scroll of Fiery Blast (Bright, 2402)
- Scroll of Marsh Lights (Bright, 2462)
- The Eye of Gazul: Manual of Operation, by M. Weber (Grey), M.P. Algard (Grey), Kragg the Grim, 2482.
- The Weaponizations of Wizard Towers, by L.M. Algard (Grey), 2466.
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- Location
- Toronto, Ontario(occasionally)
I had admittedly forgotten about elftown.
But if separate diplomatic entreaties are made to the elves and and fighting stops at a siege and blockade, without messy fighting in the city itself(though if it comes to that, the place is conveniently divided into islands to keep the troops away from the elf quarters), it should be possible to avoid fighting Ulthuan, also it's possible to selectively let ships through a blockade after being searched.
Or else that specific conflict could be avoided by manufacturing an incident between the governments of Marienburg and the high elves.
In any case, the way they can sustain the city entirely off of maritime trade and import an incredible number of reinforcements and mercenaries means that any serious war would involve at least an attempt at a blockade.
I just think an attempt without a better navy backing it than the empire currently has would fail.
Hmmm, complete change of topic: what's your opinion on the traits vote?
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Mopman43
Mountain-Hermit of Nitpeak
- Location
- Vermont
I'm doubtful of the ability of a single ship to effectively blockade the entire city, particularly given that "speedy" and "ironclad" rarely go together.
deathofrats0808
Don’t think of it as dying; just as leaving early
- Location
- Earth
That could be so, but would rely on the individual captains not to disagree with being searched, because that would likely start an entirely separate incident with Ulthuan. Especially because most of the Asur's trading ships are from Lothern, where Finubar is from.
They also sustain their city of how ludicrously rich their trade makes them (it's how they buy all those mercenaries and food) so economically undermining them would be just as effective and less likely to start an actual war with a nation that doesn't rely on hiring mercenaries.
I avoid voting. I just enjoy debating topics in the thread, usually lore or situational ones (ie. politics or military strategy), as well as reading the story.
Aranfan
Team Plasma Grunt
What's the difference between "J. Nikolev (Green)" and "J. Panoromia (Jade)" in the citations?
deathofrats0808
Don’t think of it as dying; just as leaving early
- Location
- Earth
Marienburg's port isn't a nice wide open area. It's got a great big island sitting in the middle that splits it into lots of channels. It might be possible to sustain a blockade with just an ironclad, assuming it's positioned correctly.
After this campaign no one would call Panoramia green.