2002/08 - The Elemental Cisterns

Chronology

 * August 17th 2002 - Portal to the Core of the Ice Cistern (restricted level 20 - 40) opens up in Qalaba'r
 * August 24th 2002 - Portal to the Core of the Fire Cistern (restricted level 30 - 60) opens up in Stonehold
 * August 31th 2002 - Portal to the Core of the Acid Cistern (restricted level 50 - 80) opens up in Ayan Baqur
 * September 16th 2002 - Portals to the Core of the Lightning Cistern open up in Dryreach. Four portals in total opened up successively, with different level restrictions (Lightning Cistern Lower Core: 20-40, Lightning Cistern Mid Core: 30-60, Lightning Cistern High Core: 60-80), and a last one (80+), which could only be accessed if you were PK.
 * Towns were also attacked by Crystal Lord Sovereigns and Elemental Clouds around the time of these events.

Images
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Lightning Cistern
Martine Speaks on the Fallen Ice Cistern Core
 * Martine arrives and surveys the destroyed crystal.


 * Martine says, "You have done well. This is our first assault against Gaerlan. I..."


 * Martine pauses and looks to the floor. He breathes a heavy sigh and then looks at all the warriors, mages and archers assembled.


 * Martine says, "I was wrong. Moreover, I failed in bringing the peace for which I yearned. My desires to lead you, to kill Asheron, the harm I brought to Elysa to all of you, all results of Gaerlan's poison words."
 * Martine says, "Gaerlan appeared in my holding on Marae Lassel as I set the portals to the island here on Dereth. It was an unintentional breach of a Virindi shield that surrounds the Empyrean in portal space that freed him from his stasis. Upon seeing him I had intended to kill him, but he groveled well."
 * Martine says, "He offered me a gift in exchange for his life. My one true desire. My heart's true wish. A way home. The same way home that he now taunts us with. Ispar..."
 * Martine says, "I believed him, I sheltered him, and now he has betrayed me. I have read what he has written, his diary, and his reports. They inspired me to visit a larger area of Auberean, looking for evidence of the portal destination from the Olthoi world."
 * Martine says, "My time there was brief, for the lands there are covered in blight, fungus, and Olthoi. They cluster together on the land and in cavernous burrows beneath the golden cities of the Yalain. Smaller winged Olthoi fill the sky. The fliers are too small to carry their larger cousins, and look too fragile to embark across the sea, I think they are of no true threat...now."
 * Martine says, "I made my way to Knorr. The Lyceum where Asheron taught his pupils. I searched for evidence of his magic at the place where the Olthoi invaded this world. It is a trick that I learned, when I closed the portals from Ispar to Dereth. I expected to find that it was Asheron's magic that was left, but I found something else..."
 * Martine says, "I found traces of Gaerlan's magic at the arrival point. It was Gaerlan...his folly, his miscalculation. He moved the portal from their world, when he tried to trap Asheron there. He did not close it."
 * Martine says, "The Yalaini have held Asheron accountable for this folly and made him a criminal, even though he has saved his race...saved our race. And I meant to kill him..."


 * Martine pauses and looks at the assembled crowd.


 * Martine says, "A little boy, a little prince, came to me. He asked me why I tried to kill his uncle. I could not find an answer to his question. I searched within myself to find one, to tell him that Asheron had caused me all of this pain. But Asheron did not bring this upon me. Alayne sold me to the Mosswarts, and the Virindi."
 * Martine says, "It was curiosity, and an explorer's nature, that made me use the portal to Dereth. We all, made the choice to come here, as others do every day on Ispar. The portals call to us, but it is in our nature to seek something different and new."
 * Martine says, "Asheron lives, and with his assistance we will overcome Gaerlan, bring his fortress down, and right what has been made wrong with Dereth."


 * Martine's voice takes on a very deep and guttural tone.


 * Martine says, "Gaerlan's power is drawn from these crystals that sap the mana from the ley lines beneath Dereth. A barrier surrounds his citadel. This barrier is impenetrable as far as I can discern. I cannot circumvent it by the magical means that I know. We must continue our efforts and destroy these crystals."
 * Martine says, "Asheron is at work in his Castle, with Elysa. They are divining the locations of these caverns so that you might have access to the crystals. You will be informed when they have found the second, third and fourth. I will be preparing..."
 * Martine says, "I intend to bring the citadel down. I have unfinished business with Gaerlan."
 * Martine says, "Gaerlan will have his reckoning!"
 * Martine says, "Until next we meet..."

Martine Speaks on the Fallen Fire Cistern Core
 * Martine surveys the area.


 * Martine says, "A decisive victory. Gaerlan will not allow us to seize his power passively. There will be more resistance as we edge closer to taking his seat of power. New pitfalls will appear, and we must all be prepared."


 * Martine says, "With this second crystal shattered we have drawn much attention to our efforts. He will surely become desperate soon."
 * Martine says, "Asheron has informed me that he has noticed a horrible disturbance and fluctuation in the flow of mana beneath the fallen city of Yanshi. Elysa has sent a contingent of her Royal Guard around the city and is sending her most learned scholar to assist in the study of what transpires there."


 * Martine lets out a soft laugh.


 * Martine says, "It is possible that something has gone terribly wrong for Gaerlan already, but the result of this error could have larger implications for the world. Asheron has thus placed the discovery of these chambers upon me. I will inform you when the next has been found and furnish you with a way into the heart of the cistern."


 * Martine looks as though he will leave for moment, then he examines the gathered populace.


 * Martine says, "In my discussion with Asheron I learned something of importance. The Empyrean that are still trapped in portal space are sealed from him. He cannot see any of them. For the past several years he has struggled to pierce a veil that was put in place by the Virindi."


 * Martine says, "When the lifestones were created they did indeed have a dual purpose. They anchored our souls and bodies to this world, circumventing a death that was not natural. They were once the beacons that the Yalaini used to guide their ships. Powerful navigational devices would drive massive stone structures and great ships through the air to these waypoints."


 * Martine says, "When Elysa, and the other humans, emerged from the Olthoi caves victorious over the True Queen, Asheron altered the lifestones composition. What Gaerlan told me is true. The lifestones do siphon energy from us, feeding it to the Empyreans in portal space. A lifeline of sorts. Our sacrifice keeps an entire race alive in the whirl of portal space."


 * Martine says, "Asheron is a man that holds duty, above his own well being. He feels ultimately responsible for bringing us to this strange world and watches over us as best he can. It is also true that he feels as though he must aid his fellows, trapped there in the world between worlds. But we, have become his primary concern. Though one day he still hopes to free his people."


 * Martine says, "Asheron thought I held a key to freeing them, he thought that I had been beyond that wall deep within portal space. It was luck though and nothing more. My connection to the singularity through my symbiotic virindi was limited and dissipated quickly as I drove it out and fell into madness."


 * Martine says, "This news was a blow to him."


 * Martine shakes his head gently.


 * Martine says, "So much wasted time focusing my rage on him. So many wasted hours trying to find a way to destroy him, when in truth he only wanted to help me, help all of us."


 * Martine says, "The penitent man is humbled in the midst of a greater presence, not indignant."


 * Martine says, "I have much to atone for."

Martine Speaks on the Fallen Acid Cistern Core
 * Martine says, "A battle well fought, and a hard victory wrested from the jaws of defeat. We are closer to Gaerlan's destruction."
 * Martine says, "We have done well. I thank you for the chance you have given me. Soon we shall hold this world as our own."


 * Martine arrives and surveys the devastation.


 * Martine says, "One more crystal waits. Buried in the earth, feeding from the mana. Giving him raw energy to command."


 * Martine pauses and adjusts his mask.


 * Martine says, "Not as good a fit as it once was."


 * Martine chuckles.


 * Martine says, "Elysa told me that her scholar has reported on the situation in Yanshi. Something is growing there, within the temple that Gaerlan used to sacrifice his fallen generals. Odd magical fluctuations and elemental storms have been seen sprouting up in the area of the great stone there."
 * Martine says, "Asheron is still concerned that the flow of mana has not righted itself even though we have destroyed these active crystals. His concern is that the mana flows have been redirected once more, to an area even deeper beneath Dereth than he thought possible."
 * Martine says, "He has not stated it openly, but I believe he feels that if this continues, it will hollow the land to a point where it can no longer support its own weight. Crumbling upon itself like a hollow void."
 * Martine says, "We must act quickly. There is no time to waste. My summons will come as quickly as I can discern the location of the final crystal."

The Lightning Cistern Core
 * The final Elemental Cistern Core appeared in four stages. For the final stage, Gaerlan enchanted the entrance so that only those who had shed Asheron's protection and became a Player Killer could enter the portal. Because of this development, different outcomes occured on different servers. See the The Defense of the Cisterns for how the event played out on Thistledown, Harvestgain and Darktide.
 * At Dryreach a portal into the Heart of the Lightning Cistern has opened.

 Martine Speaks on the Fallen Lightning Cistern Core	
 * Martine says, "I am, Sir Candeth Martine."


 * Martine says, "Your blood, your sacrifice and your efforts have not gone unnoticed. It is time now that we make our final assault on Gaerlan. Once the base of this crystal is destroyed, I shall ascend to his citadel and destroy the navigation devices. This will cause the citadel to fall to ground, and then we shall take the fight into his home."


 * Martine says, "But before this, you must know that Asheron and Elysa have discovered the source of the continued entropy of the ley lines. In the place where Gaerlan combined the elemental lords a new elemental is growing. One with complete sentience."


 * Martine says, "It understands what it does, and means to live its life. We will need to prepare for battle against this creature as well, lest we defeat Gaerlan only to fall to another foe."


 * Martine says, "Asheron remains resolute in his study of the entity and will afford us with details when he can."


 * Martine says, "When the time is right I will alert you all of my attack. I wish you to witness my atonement. I will summon portals in my Retreat, the base of this crystal and the capital cities."


 * Martine says, "I will make amends for my transgressions."

 High Queen Elysa Comes to Aid in the Attack 
 * "I am not yet defeated!" he shrieked, his frozen spittle clattering on the floor.


 * High Queen Elysa, a bold woman of her words, decided to take charge of the events and lead her people in the defeat of the Empyrean Mage Gaerlan. With the aid of her Royal Guards and the Lugian Lord Kresovus and the Tumerok Aun Hareltah, she led a group to attempt to defeat those defending Gaerlan's final elemental cistern. However, Elysa had chosen to shrug off Asheron's protective magics and was herself made a target of those leading the defense. Having been dealt a blow so strong, even her ancestors could feel it, Elysa Strathelar was forcibly removed from the battle.


 * Martine, still seeking redemption and retribution, arrived on the scene.


 * Martine says, "Very well, you have made your choice. I will do this on my own."


 * It appears then that Martine himself entered the Lightning Cistern, where he encountered many friends and many foes -- including Gaerlan himself, corrosive acid still dripping from his fingertips. Martine and his fellows were held off by the valiant, or perhaps traitorous, defenders of Harvestgain and Thistledown. The world of Darktide, who has shunned Asheron's protections from the start, fought bravely and with the aid of the High Queen's party, were able to defeat the Cistern Core. Just what will this mean for the citizens of Dereth, only time will tell.