An old obsession... (Part 3)

This is the third posting of this series.

Previous posts can be found via the following link: http://trollkeep.com/steem/planeshift.html

Each saturday the GM Team of an MMO, which has been an old obsession of mine, hold a GM Event.

It, generally, is a chance to take players to areas of game lore which would not normally be accessible via game mechanics. Today's event was no exception.

To understand the event a casual reader may need an explanation of the game map, as well as the game's magic system.

Game Map

The game world is known as Yliakum.

Yliakum is located under thousands of metres of solid rock inside an enormous excavated stalactite. This stalactite itself hangs from the roof of a cavern so massive it would engulf any kingdom of the races' lost worlds. The inhabitants, nine distinctly different races, also call it the "Land of the Azure Sun", referring to the huge crystal that lights the realm and bathes it in life-giving energy. The inside of the stalactite is tiered in eight levels, with each underlying level smaller than the previous as they descend.

Source

Lifegiving light comes from "an enormous raw stone of pure faceted Crystal. It exudes both the visible life-giving light and the tremendous magical energies that travel deep through the soil and rock.."

Most characters have access to the top level of the game world's eight levels, known as The Dome, which is closest to the Crystal. This event took us to just about touching range of the Crystal!

Yet perhaps that is getting ahead of the story...

The Magic

My character came from a warrior priestess background before dipping her toes into magic. But by her understanding the magic comes from the Crystal and is channelled through magical items called Glyphs.

Magic in PlaneShift is divided into six different Ways. To find and cast spells there are three things you need to do.
First, you need to obtain and purify glyphs. A small number of glyphs can be purchased from NPCs, many players sell the more common glyphs, and the best way to get glyphs is to do quests where they are given out as rewards. To purify a glyph you need to open the 'SPELL BOOK' from the main toolbar.

Second, to discover spells you need to research them.

Third, you need to cast the spell.

Source

Today's event had us on the hunt for magical glyphs.

Storyline

A friend from past adventures, Radavan, arrived in the local tavern with intentions of raising a party to go on a glyph hunt. His theory was that there was an old abandoned Pterosaur training grounds high in the Dome's walls close to the Crystal itself. Trained Pterosaur are used by warriors of the land as well as by traders in delivery of goods. He would need those brave of heart and not scared of heights as companions. Of course he had no shortage of volunteers.

The party took Pterosaur rides to a large Fortress from where we would start our climb up the steep walls of The Dome.

So up we climbs....

Along thin ledges yet breathtaking scenery until we came to our first destination....

Radavan's hunch was correct and we found an assortment of glyphs there. Once satisfied that there were no more to be found Radavan pressed on even higher across a heart stopping bridge clouds high above the gorge, coming at last to a platform that had been used for Pterosaur training in bygone days.

Again, Radavan's hunch proved right and many glyphs of different kinds were found along the cliff face.

Just when we thought we had found them all, Yorlak spotted some below the platform. Damola came forward to say she was willing to be lowered below to retrieve them. Venorel and Anoebe tied their ropes around themselves and then Damola then lowered her below...

Once Damola was safely back on the platform the party glided to the ground far below through the magic of the Bird Glyphs they had found in the hunt.

Once on the ground the party gave fond farewells and went their separate ways... a good time had by all....

[ To create a character visit http://planeshift.it ]