Hereafter - Event Epilogue
Below you can find a recap of all that transpired in Hereafter, our second multi-day adventure larp; recounted in a thematic, evocative manner appropriate to the Southern traditions.
The Necropolis of Ephyra, with its grand cemetery lies in the northeast of Southlands, a short distance away from Kranéa, where your characters previously visited. Following a written letter by Alice Peran, the Hush Head of Kranéa, asking for assistance in the lands of Ephyra, you arrived in the Necropolis, finding it caught up in turmoil.
A Defiler had appeared amongst the townsfolk, committing the most heinous of crimes: desecration of the Graves of the Departed. As if in tune with this disturbance, the Dead rose from their graves, as hungry Kehres, seeking the blood and flesh of the local populace.
The Defiler
The Defiler’s actions however triggered an even more ancient ward, that of the Emperor, who kept sealed his most trusted friends under a ward of revival. When the Defiler, later revealed to be the Mayor of Ephyra, Meleagros, dug their graves, the spell activated, returning figures of old to life.
The Man of Clay
Efkarpos of Lichadonesos, the Man of Clay whose grave had come to contact with Tenebrium preached on Unison under his Thumb, claiming the lost Empire would not fend for them, while using any means to gain dominion over the land.
The Sword of the Empire
Belissarius, the Sword of the Empire and Head of the Dawnguard, also arose from the grave with his garrison, attacking the gathered adventurers and trying to remake the Empire of Old. The adventurers soon rose to his call, thinking him to be the lesser evil that can be dealt with easier, while delivering to him his almighty, enchanted artifacts.
The Veiled Lady
The Veiled Lady, later rumored to be the Tendershade incognito, appeared in the lands, offering Oblivion, and urging the adventurers to forego action and let go of the responsibilities that come with Heroism.
Corvax the Crow
Corvax, an assassin of the Court of Crows was also sent to stop the wards from activating and the dead from returning to life and halting all knowledge of the Crows from becoming widespread, while also throwing shade to the Tandriall Kingdom.
The Battle of the Three Rivers
Their efforts towards the land culminated in the Battle of the Three Rivers, where Efkarpos, using the Waters of the Rivers of Death tried to take Control of the Land by Force, while the other Three Sides was each fighting for their own agenda.
The Battle ended with the defeat of Efkarpos and the prevailing of Belissarius and the River of Pain, Phlegethon. Through personal effort by two alchemists, Bjorn of the Hjort and Azrael Tandrial, a second river, Acheron, the river of Lamentation was saved, favoring Corvax and the Court of Crows.
The Battle ended with the defeat of Efkarpos and the prevailing of Belissarius and the River of Pain, Phlegethon. Through personal effort by two alchemists, Bjorn of the Hjort and Azrael Tandrial, a second river, Acheron, the river of Lamentation was saved, favoring Corvax and the Court of Crows.
Melpomeni of the Seamstry
Following the advice of Melpomeni, the Head of the Seamstry, the visitors learned to spin their own Olden Songs, as was tradition in Ephyra, a tradition that is said to stave off the hungry dead from attacking. It was later found out however that the Kehres were not occurring out of spite of the Dead - but some kind of bigger ploy was afoot, as a Hungering Stone was placed to curse the land - an item that awakens the flesh into cannibalistic frenzy.
Yet adventurers gathered and sang the Whistler Song in Unison, exiling the Evil from the land and returning it to balance. The Question yet remains, of who brought the Stone to this land…
Yet adventurers gathered and sang the Whistler Song in Unison, exiling the Evil from the land and returning it to balance. The Question yet remains, of who brought the Stone to this land…
Kyrill of the Athenaeum
The Athenaeum, directed by Researcher Kyrill, found ancient texts to be tampered with, precious information having been changed through the years, and history erased. With careful guidance and academic diligence, it was found that the Court of Crows, an elusive group shrouded by Mysteries has been long tampering with information and the stories of the common folk. One of their agents, named Korvax in fact, appeared in Ephyra to further the plots of the court. In the meantime, aspiring alchemists got caught up with experimentation under the guidance of Master Kyrill, coming up with the recipes of two new potions.
Antigone of the Hush
In the Hush, recently dropped into the hands of young Antigone, plagued by the grief of the disappearance of her father and the questions he left behind, coordinated the attempts of the Hushers to delve into the story of the accredited Creator of the Device, Gehrman en Germaine, and his apprentice Vladosj the Half Man, who were said to take residence on the outskirts of the city of Ephyra. In their journey, they amassed information on who these people were and what twisted creations their brilliant minds have brought to the Southlands, while also helping Antigone come to terms with her father’s loss.
Pittakos of the Bastion
Officer Pittakos, an injured man forced to leave his ambitions behind, served the Bastion, routing the people towards removing any fragments of Tenebrium from the Land, finding a mysterious banner oozing with the mysterious liquid. He also coordinated any attempts at diplomacy and warfare within the visiting factions, and hosted a new initiative to create a bank for the common folk of the Southlands within the Bastion grounds.
Dianneira of the Hekateion
The moonstruck prophet of the Hekateion, known as Dianneira undertook all practitioners of Magic, urging them to create flower crowns and practice in the Old Traditions, unearthing their lost texts wherever they found them, while also assisting people to awaken the magic inside of them. The Sancted Grounds of the Hekateion were utilized by the Cult of Alheima to bless their endeavours against a mighty foe; Antiphates, the Lestrygon.
Kalfas of the Charm
The Guild of the Charm, run by an Undead man named Kalfas and later joined by Ginger, helped the visitors navigate through magical anomalies, such as the bewitching field of Dreams or the Appearance of Thaleia; the Fey Warrior. Indulging mostly in entertainment, communication with the unknown and sealing pacts with powerful figures, the Charm however allowed people to make the grave error of invoking the Thrice Graced, resulting in two deaths within its premises.
Ylas of the Hunt
The lodge of the Hunt, run by a man named Ylas, later revealed to be a hexed hunter of the Sorrowbound, named Kanein, was specifically sabotaged by a powerful entity to stop his work upon the land - making sure whatever was in Ephyra did not awaken. However, as the Sorrowbound are now broken, he turned to the adventurers to receive their help in rebuilding their noble cause - to protect this land that has been cursed with Oblivion and Grief. During their campaign, they managed to defeat a Lestrygon and the first prototype of the Talos. A mystical Chessboard appeared to signal the coming of powerful enemies, like the Drunk Oinefs, who spoke of his philosophy of serving the King of Black, and the Viper, Alsumi, who was felled (but not slain) by the Suntouched Order.
Hermolaos of the Shipyard
Lastly, the Shipyard, represented by Hermolaos, spoke of the Old Silver Mine that was swarmed with Undead. Safekept by the Tandrial Kingdom and Suntouched Order, who claimed the spoils of silver, the mine worked once more. The Shipyard in the meantime was infiltrated by a rogue agent of the Court of Crows, Corvax, who stood up to sabotage the Tandrial Kingdom.
These are but the most notable of the story developments from the expedition of the heroes and adventurers of the Southlands in the Necropolis of Ephyra.
Many more stories got created and advanced, too many to collect easily. Some of them will stay with you forever. These are what larping is all about.
More fables and legends are waiting to be explored. We will be waiting to write them together with you all.
Until the next one. See you in the South!