seasonsmods | Extra Information from IC Explorations

Extra Information from IC Explorations
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Anything on this page is public information, shared with the Research Center who has shared it on Guild databases where they can be read.

Exploration Info bits

TBA

Event #8 information gathering
Library event

Diary Snippets

More Personal accounts

"I safely arrived to this world. It's all new and weird. I'm not the only one either, which is both interesting and rather infuriating. None of them are people I know, but two of them seem to be in close contact with one another. None of us have gained these seasonal powers, but held onto our own ones, or so they say. I have no way of knowing if they're telling the truth.

I could probably run some very interesting tests on this world. Perhaps I should consider it my pet project while I'm stuck here. I already have so many interesting ideas. What would happen if someone tried to receive blessings from multiple seasons? Could one get them all? All very, very fascinating.

- The Scientist"

"Darkness is pure. It's made of the souls of power holders, refusing to depart this world. We should not fear the Darkness as it's out loved ones' embrace. Feel the Darkness, let them talk to you. Hear their whispers and wishes. That may be key to understanding. Set the darkness free and let our loved ones do what's right for the world. beComE oNE oF Us. The worshippers or darknesssss. Destroyyyy the barrier. Joiiinnn ussssss. [Text becomes even harder and harder to read at this point.]"

Darkness

Of the Darkness and dark energy

• The Darkness from before was made up of the souls of power holders who died under bad conditions and were left with regrets. Their grudges and desire to still live on left them in the world and started corrupting the areas around them. This particular piece of information as never published due to the fear of upsetting people too much.

• Someone was exposed to a lot of Dark Energy, due to Darkness-corrupted monsters ganging up on him. By some sort of miracle, he survived the attack and seemed to be fine, but then he himself was partially corrupted by the energy. Half of his body turned into a pure dark creature with fangs and claws sharper than knives. He was still control of his body, but in agony, and begged to be put down before he would kill someone. After that people have been exposed to the dark energy, but it takes a lot to be turned into something similar.

• The origin of dark energy dates back to before 'Darkness' of any kind was formed. The first 'versions' of it were a product of negative human emotions and it was enough to corrupt plants and small creatures. It was only after the souls of the dead power holders joined in that it started corrupting larger, more powerful creatures. It even started affecting magic, making it weaker. The only thing that stands against it is the Seasonal Abilities. We're quite sure it's because of the power holder souls.

Dragons

Dragons, after all

• Dragons have existed in Ellipsa a hundred years ago. They vanished before the Darkness came, for reasons unknown. They were last seen in the skies of the Winter Segment. Those who still remember dragons (from stories their grandparents might have told them) don't speak about them because it's painful to have lost their grace and their magic.

• All of the Seasons have their own signature dragon that controls a certain element, linked to the season. It has been rumored that Seasonal abilities are a blessing from the dragons, but no one has been able to confirm that. The book also has images of different dragons of different shapes and sizes, such as one that looks like a dragonfly more than a dragon or a giant skyscraper dragon.

• First weapons and armors were made from dragon scales and nails, donated by the dragonkind. They wanted people to be able to protect themselves even without them around, so they made sure to always give "all extra" to them. Some of the very old folk may still have peculiar looking armor beneath their clothes that are most certainly made from scales.

• There is a cult that actually believes dragons are gods that have descended from above to guide them. They believe in it so much that always get down on their knees before them, as a sign of respect. Most dragons find this a little awkward, but some play along, as if not to hurt their feelings. The cult believes that the end of the world is close at hand due to dragons no longer blessing and protecting them and continue to pray for their return somewhere.

Geography/History

Places and Knowledge lost

• There used to exist more safe places to live like Nightwake all around the Segments. However, due to the efforts being concentrated on Nightwake, most people chose to abandon their villages and move to where others were settled, leaving them unguarded.

• Temple of Life has a counterpart; the Temple of Death. They're very similar, as no one knows what exists inside the Temple of Death - no one has dared to open the door because of the temple's name.

• Crystal Mines existed in the Autumn Segment. Before the Darkness came, multiple different races of dwarfs worked there and protected the place. To become a miner in these mines always meant someone had to go through the dwarf trials to be proven worthy.

• The crater in the middle of the Bamboo Labyrinth leads to an underground lake, full of golden and silver fish that bring fortune to those who capture them.

• There exists a village somewhere in Autumn Segment woods where a species of intelligent frogs live and learn the art of ninjutsu. They have lived and survived there for generations and occasionally appear to help people in need, as they constantly watch people from the shadows.

• The Forest of Spirits used to be a gateway to the Forest of the Lost Souls, but ever since the Darkness it was sealed by the spirits wandering the forest. The Forest of the Lost Souls is a place where anyone can meet their lost loved one and spend a healing moment with them whenever they feel like they need it. The Forest of Spirits can only mimic a fraction of that by bringing forth illusions of someone's home.

• There used to be an actual amusement park in the Autumn Segment, but it was abandoned due to spirits and ghosts possessing the rides; apparently building such thing upset the natural spirits of the world. The ruins were lost to the Darkness.

• In the Forest of Courage, south of the Great Tree of Death, one can find a tree that has several marks of the ninja carved into it. Reciting the right words (carved onto the tree, written in a code language) will open a portal to a village hidden. Despite being in the Autumn Segment, the village is bright and has natural greenery all over... but it's also meant for small people. Frogs, to be exact. The biggest frogs are size of a small child. They can use ninjutsu to make visitors their size, however.

• There used to be a city called the Sunsprout City that shut its doors to all outsiders. The city was between the Lower Great ocean Lake and a big Savannah. Not much is known about the community, except that they seemed to live far longer than normal people and occasionally one might have arrived in other villages to scout for new members to move into the city.

• Fairy Kingdom is located in the Spring Section, further north from the Cherry Blossom Parks. It's even bigger than Nightwake. In fact, it's the biggest settlement in the area currently explored of the world. The second biggest settlement is the Survival Fortress, home to the Northern Pirates. After that it's finally Nightwake.

• There exists a kingdom with humans, under the Flowing Woods of the Autumn Segment. The king and queen work closely with the forest elves and in return the knights protect the woods from monsters. It's a harmonious place, where anyone can visit, as long as they promise to respect nature. It's also a great place to get delicious apples and pumpkins.

• Somewhere on Ellipsa lies a legendary valley. It's hidden under magic, in a regular valley. It's said that only those of the purest hearts and intentions can find the hidden valley and enter, as it's a place full of purest form of magic: love. Those who have visited the valley are few, but all of them say that a power unlike any other coursed through them and they understood, at that moment, what love meant for them - making magic easier to control and come to them as natural as breathing. There are records of a place opposite to the place existing, and finding it would cause [this section has been torn of].

• Valley of the Wind was a prosperous village in the Spring Segment. The best grains came from there, as the place was perfect for mills to work with ease. The bread made from the flour made in the village was most divine thing. It was also the place where people invented different kinds of flying-related inventions and produced. The Winged Mounts usually frequented the valley as well, playing with the children and acting as couriers for the produce.

• The river around the city used to be a hot spot for fishing and finding a fresh source of water. It started showing signs of change when dark energy was discovered and eventually it was the first "victim" of the energy, turning the river completely into something that saps energy. Scientists have yet to find a way to reverse the effects.

Magic

Magic is Everywhere

• All magic is more powerful when used together with someone. Even two power holders using their powers together is stronger than individual attacks done at the same target. The more trust between the people using seasonal abilities or magic, the stronger the power is.

• Whenever you're in a bad situation, it might be the greatest idea to kiss someone. Kisses have mysterious powers, all positive in their nature. Some say they can even cure someone who was turned to stone by monsters. It's confirmed that kissing someone under a sleeping curse will always wake them up - unless it's the True Love's curse, which means they need to be kissed by the love of their life.

• There exists a magic of dance that let's someone pass through impossible environments, such as lava, water or even empty gaps between platforms. As long as the person has an area in mind they want to cross to, they can apply the magic to cross the distance. The magic protects the user from harm - or from falling.

• All magic has different colors, even if they're not usually seen by the naked eye. These colors are usually determined by the feelings of the user at the time. With right enchantments, it's possible to see the color and know what the person using the magic might be feeling. This applies even to monsters, which might lead to better understanding their reasons for attacking us.

• There used to exist a way to enhance items without needing to use worded spells or good feelings. These methods dealt with making mixed powders of different flowers and herbs and sprinkling them onto the items under moonlit nights. There were festivals designed for this very purpose. However, once people learned new ways, these old ways were forgotten. Wizard's who were disappointed in abandoning these ways sealed the recipes away into the Wizard's Tower on Autumn Segment.

• While every native in Ellipsa is able to use magic, not many have the right genes to become masters of it. These masters, witches and wizards, have proven to be different; much like the power holders are. None of the seasonal power holders have ever been witches or wizards. It's a strong theory that those with genes to become witches and wizards have elven ancestors, while power holders may have had [this part has been ripped off by someone].

• (CW/TW: blood things) There exists a magic that was forbidden to use by anyone. This was called blood magic: the ability to control blood of yourself and others. A certain ritual needed to be done to gain access to this magic, but this ritual was sometimes fatal to whoever participated in it. Mostly because those who unlocked blood magic sometimes went berserk and drained everyone out of their blood. It's said there are still ghosts that suck blood out of people, who are the ghosts of those gone through the ritual as all of them were hunted down and killed.

• Those who bath in the crescent moon lake, under the crescent moonlight, are said to be blessed with youth. The lake has a magical effect that will help one's body relax and become a less stiff. If only it weren't so far from the city.

• There is magic behind touches, as long as they have some kind of an intention behind them. Just placing a hand on someone's shoulder and thinking you need to comfort them has magic that will actually make someone feel better. However, the same can be said about touch with ill intentions. Someone who loathes another may very well cause even permanent damage to someone just by touching and feeling these feelings. While the effects are more 'mental' than 'physical', the ill-meant touches may feel like they affect the whole package.

• Magic has always been considered a part of the world. Even before humans were able to control it, several other races could. Eventually they learned, through studying and practice. Children started to be born with natural talent for magic. Anyone who was open for the idea could learn magic and it was the one thing that bound all living things together in one way or another. Hence any imbalance in magic could easily break those bonds apart. Which it eventually did, as people started being afraid and mistrusting of the greater powers they could not learn to control.

Misc. Information

I promise to sort these out one day

• The magic in the world is so strong that it can repair places back to their former glory surprisingly fast. If a forest burns a new one will grow in a month's time, as an example. However, some damages need help from others to heal, especially if it was done by people instead of happening naturally.

• Technology wasn't native to Ellipsa. It was discovered when magic helped the world to gather information from other worlds. After that the ones interested in technology started advancing rapidly. The technological advancements were focused on Nightwake in general, but the plan had always been to distribute them to other villages once they were tested to be safe for Segments' sometimes unpredictable weather.

• There are eight wonders in Ellipsa. Each Segment has two unexplainable phenomena. Summer has golden waterfalls in the Jungle of Judgement and a flaming grassland. Autumn has the Silent Mountain and the giant shipwreck. Winter has a bridge that shows visions of loved ones and the iceberg in the middle of snow. Spring has the One Very Big Tree and the crescent moon lake. (Some of these locations have been lost the Darkness)

• I think, therefore I am. Never say this out loud near a group of ghosts or they will start thinking they're you and take your form, perhaps even your body. Spoken from true experience. If you see multiple ghosts going by the name of Sir Price, exorcise them for me, please.

• Somewhere inside the mountains in the Winter Segment lies a flower field full of magical flowers made of glass. They absorb the moonlight and can act as weapons to purify curses and things corrupted by the darkness. It's not something that can completely fight the darkness away, but they help when creatures are overpowering.

• Moonstone crystals can be grinded into a powder that acts as a natural seasoning to any food. It will automatically choose a flavor that fits the ingredients. However, using too much Moonstone powder will result in becoming reliant on moonlight to say energetic and healthy.

• There used to be a group of people who believed all of the Seasons had a God. They believed that making offerings for them would help to keep them at peace and that the natural catastrophes were a sign of their ire. No one was, however, able to confirm their existence or find any even more ancient text about such gods existing.

• Magic is constantly gathering new information from other worlds. That's why sometimes new cultures or traditions may pop up or new trends (albeit sometimes really backdated) become viral. It's also how new leaps in science and technology happen.

• Most of the fauna and flora used to be dangerous for natives to eat. However, with magic and potions, people were able to adapt and become more resilient to them. However, as they learned how to cultivate their own foods, they stopped trying to build resistance for new things.

• Blessed Seaweed harvested from the Great Ocean Lake is one of the healthiest foods in the world. Eaten just one raw seaweed a day will give you all the important nutrients you need in a day and you can eat whatever else you want the rest of the day. The problem is that the seaweed in question is 2 metres / 6.5 feet tall and it needs to be eaten fully - and raw.

• Ellipsan calendar used to be different. There were only eight months, two for each season. Each month had 60 days and a week had 10 days. These months were named after seasonal constellations: Northern Sword & Amethyst Seal for Winter, Diamond Tiger & Large Sapling for Spring, Caracal Minor & Southern Gate for Summer, Maroon Raccoon & Big Maze for Autumn. For simplicity, they were usually shortened to one word (such as Sword, Seal, etc.) The days were simply just called One to sixty and weeks were called from first to sixth. So one full date would have been: Day one of the first week of Caracal Minor. As knowledge of other worlds started to flow in, they took a different calendar and adapted to it instead, as all the old calendars were lost in the tragedy.

• First signs of technology were discovered in the Deserter's Desert. It seemed to be some kind of a giant treasure box, locked with different technology-made locks. Before anyone could go check it out, it was buried under all the sand and no one has seen it since. Some even claim it was just an illusion.

• It's said that every creature on Ellipsa has at least one 'unicorn' in existence. These rare beings are always magical and posses powers of healing nature. Corrupted 'unicorns', however, do the exact opposite. Finding one is very hard, but it's said that they especially like basking in the full moon's light. Those who see these unique creatures will also get a blessing of great fortune (anything that requires luck has a 90% chance of succeeding).

• Making a weapon out of three specific metals will result in a very powerful weapon. Two of the three metals are easy to find, as they're common in weapons made in Nightwake: High Carbon Steel and Magic-infused Silver (it helps with making weapons easier to use with seasonal magic). The third metal, however, is a mythical Blood Metal, only found in the deepest levels of the highly dangerous Wolf's Blood Mountain. Using these three metals will result in a weapon that can shoot crimson light slashes out of it, capable of cutting through things like a sword would but from a distance. Using Blood Metal on its own will make weapons very sharp and red-colored.

• Around the same time every month (at the end of it) a weird sound can be heard from the Silent Mountains. Which should be impossible, considering all sounds should be gone from there, but there have been multiple reports of this happening every single month. The sound is close to human cry, but not quite. It's difficult to discern what it truly is.

• Before people started using horses as primary mounts, they used bears. Each season favored a certain bear: winter has polar bears, spring had giant panda (bears), summer had brown bears and autumn had grizzly bears. Summer was the first move to horses as bears due to them being a little too hot to ride with all the fur and eventually, people found horses to be a little faster and more obedient. Some bears still like people, however, and sometimes even seek their company.

• Scholars at the City of Lost Memories practice alchemy. It's potion making as we know it has taken its inspiration from alchemy, but has left out significant parts of it such as [messed up text unable to read at all, goes on for a long time]. Practicing such things outside the city is very dangerous and forbidden.

• There used to be an actual wedding tradition on Ellipsa that has been forgotten a long time ago. It involved having a power holder from all of the seasons present and performing a special magic of elemental blessing. All four main elements were cast above the couple and they collided, breaking apart into dust and raining on them. This blessing will ensure a long-lasting relationship, blessed by the elements.

• There are plants that only live on magical energy. They can grow anywhere, on any surface and in any climate. When exposed to large amounts of magic they grow into plants taller than buildings and they won't stop growing unless cut down. These plants are most commonly found underground spaces, as innocent looking ferns that seem to lime the dark climate. They grow into plants that somehow symbolize the first magical energy they absorb.

• There used to be a mayor in all of the districts in Nightwake. All of them would gather in the central district to discuss the future developments of the city as a whole and make important decisions together. However, after a series of conflicts between ideals, they decided to appoint on neutral mayor, who would always have the final say: the one in Nightwake. [Inspecting about this will lead to learning that after the Tragedy, all other mayors quit their positions (too stressful or too many lost family members) and only the one in Nightwake Center remained. However, he takes advice from power holders etc.]

• Killing someone who has been transformed into a monster is not considered a crime, even if they would seem to be in control of themselves. The city takes no risks in the people transformed eventually losing themselves and attacking the normal people. We also consider it mercy, as who would actually want to spend rest of their lives as a monster. [If asked from locals, no one remembers this law being a thing in Nightwake and it certainly isn't currently.]

• There has never been a need for a military in Ellipsa, but we have been very close to having them. The Sunsprout City in Summer Segment was built of warriors who believed having an army would do great things for defenses. Most of the other settlements did not share their vision, saying that just having power holders to defend them from monsters was more than enough. Yet, rumor has it that the human Kingdom in the Flowed Woods started preparing their knights in a military like manner "just in case".

• Once upon a time there was a kind princess living in the elven kingdom. She was admired by everyone. However, someone wanted her for the power she held, so she was hidden in a tower far away. Then the Darkness came and the princess is still hidden away.

• Those touched by the Ice Phoenix are known to rise to do great things. Their lives are bound to the phoenix and whenever a chosen one dies, the phoenix appears once again to find its next chosen one. Instead of rising from ashes like a regular phoenix, the Ice Phoenix rises from the ice cold water, transforming in the air surrounded by icicles. This always happened at the Frozen Lake that used to open up everytime it was time for the phoenix to wake up again.

Other (new and old) races

Fairies, elves and others, oh my

• There exists a world above the clouds that's full of different races who talk our language. They're animal tribes, who act like humans but look like animals. The Winged Mounts come from said place, but only those who receive a blessing from an ancient tree (currently lost to Darkness) can reach the clouds.

• Vampires used to exist in the Autumn Segment. They were almost hunted into extinction by evil researchers since they wanted the secret to immortality ... and good looks. Every vampire has an unexplainable charm.

• It's possible for a Fairy and a Human to have a child. This child is called a half-fairy, who possesses fairy-like magic. It's usually impossible to recognize someone as one, unless they use magic in front of someone.

• Fae are just fairies who craved more power than they were gifted, abandoning their fairy names. It is said those who learn a fae's true name can turn them back into fairies, should the fae desire it.

• Elves existed on Ellipsa several hundred years ago. They lived in the forests and in the mountains. No one has seen an elf after the Darkness came, but most of them could mask their ears and unnatural eyes to pass as a human.

• Elves have a medicine that's a cure-all. I had the honor or staying with them and they nursed me back to health with just one potion. I had several conditions back then, such as a fever, a few critical injuries and even poison in my system. But just one medicine was able to heal them all. All I can say that it tasted really creamy somehow, but I have no idea what was in it.

• Mermaids and sirens used to rule the Great Ocean Lake together. However, after one the mermaids killed the leading siren's son, a war broke out and things have never been the same since. History seems to claim that the war was caused by siren's greed, but most of the old mermaids should know the truth and have been silent. The newest generations have no idea of the bloody history.

• Dark creatures lie in a dimension different from ours. We call this dimension Inferno. Those well versed in magic are able to summon the creatures from within the dimension, but it can also be accessed through dimensional portals. Dark creatures, in this case, are mostly different kinds of demons and unexplainable dark monsters. And also void cats. When they first came to Ellipsa they were terrifying creatures that ate all light they found, but most of them adapted to their environment and became more cat-like creatures. They still have the potential to become monsters, but usually don't bother to (but still eat light).

• Some monsters are shapeshifters and can turn into any kind of creature they see. A lot of them pretend to be like the creatures, mostly to spy habits and best ways to eventually attack the community from the outside. As people, they can even mimic speech. It's very hard to tell that they're not what they pretend to be.

• After the dragons disappeared and their scales and nails couldn't be used for weapons anymore, people started looking for alternatives. At first it was similar scales from hunted game and bones, but eventually people found out it was easy to use anything as long as you could enhance it with magic. That's why there are still weapons such as sturdy sunflowers. They actually cut things, believe it or not.

• Losing the kingdom in the Autumn Segment was a loss of variety of weapons and knowledge on how to use them. Even if they never attacked anyone, they were nervous enough to prepare an army for possible attacks from other settlements. That's why it became mandatory for every knight of the kingdom to also study warfare.

• This is mostly a rumor, but Riki might be a Warlock from another world other than Ellipsa. There's no real records of his past and the items he can sometimes come up with aren't exactly normal.

Seasonal Powers

Spill the tea on seasonal powers

• Just like the Winter Power Holders are able to use the power of the moon, the Summer users used to be able to use the power of the sun. This was, however, deemed too dangerous for the users, so it was later banned from being taught to anyone and then the skill was forgotten.

• In ancient times, winter power holders were usually classified as Exorcists, due to their powers to see and communicate with ghosts and spirits - and even exorcise them. In turn, summer power holders were their knights, protecting the winters from other sorts of harm whenever they were out exorcising haunted places. Winter power holders are still called upon to help with matters of the dead, but the tradition has slowly died down. Otherwise exorcising spirits takes several hours or rituals and the right conditions to do, such as the festival held in October and November in Nightwake.

• Much like summer and winter power holders worked together, spring and autumn power holders did as well. Spring ones used to be dedicated healers, who also purified toxins and curses out of the nature, and grew new plant life, while autumn ones helped by restoring the earth and protecting the spring power holders on their journeys. These traditions have long since been forgotten, even if each power holder works indepently to aid the world to their best ability.

Cursed Knowledge (cw/tw: it gets dark here)

This gets cursed

• The Great Tree of Death is actually made of multiple people who opened a very magical box. This box held a curse that bind them all together and eventually made them into the tree. No one remembers their names or their stories, but it's believed they're still alive and spread the pain they're constantly feeling on others with their visions gifted by the curse.

• Before graveyards were made, people were buried under beautiful trees in the Spring Segment. There trees were the ones in the Cherry Blossom Park. Out of the soil the cherry blossoms got magical properties that even now heal ailments. However, the soil also attracts monsters, who wish to keep the soil enriched - even by dragging people who are still alive to bury them six feet under.

• A Kraken has been sealed in the Great Ocean Lake, that's able to eat something as big as an elephant with one bite. As long as its tentacles remain bound by the enchanted stones, it can't escape, but as time goes by, the angrier it gets and it will fight against the binds even harder.

• Under the abandoned farms lies a creature of horror. It's a being that could easily devour a whale whole. It was sealed away and is even now guarded by the sentient vegetables that live on the farm, making sure no one accidentally sets it free. [A picture is attached of a very gory looking slime that seems to be made out of blood. It has four sets of eyes and a the note under the picture says it's much bigger than the space allows it to be.]

• It's scientifically possible to combine a human with anything else found from Ellipsa. My research, now wrongfully shut down, shows that anyone could become a better version of themselves just by a few experiments. We could survive without seasonal powers! Become enhanced humans! But the leaders of the world shun my scientific progress and refuse to let me continue my tests. If they won't support me, I will do it without their help. They will be sorry when they realize what they missed out on.

• (cw/tw: dismemberment, gore) The pirates used to have a 'sport' called 'Hostage Hustle', which included using civilian hostages as game tools. This meant things as gross as cutting of their feet and using them as balls or attaching them onto some robe and dragging them around in contests of strengths, in the middle of snow and ice. Many bodies were found near their settlement in the Winter Segment that were in horrible shape. They did not care for the lives of their hostages and used them as they pleased, even if someone came to pay them a ransom for them.

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