Austin's Entry for May 2013

 (4 points)

I know most of you couldn’t care less but here’s my situation as of now. The connections I’ve tried to establish over the past year are starting to unravel, and forging new ones is proving to be a real uphill battle. At least there isn’t much in the way of actual fighting going on for the moment. Darrel’s people were able to swing northwest and repulse the Turkish invasion much to my relief. I was able to refly the Naxxanar once a few... technical issues had been dealt with, but I’ll get to that in a moment. For now an uneasy mutual defense pact against Turkey has been struck between the Iraqis and the new Islamist government I helped to establish in Syria. That’s about it as far as good news goes.

I’ve been dreading the day my partners would discover just who else I was in bed with no homo, and now it’s come at last. The Greeks want to have nothing to do with either the Muslims or the Jews, and they’re not too fond of Scientologists either. Michalakos is furious that I’m using his airplanes to deal with Israel and wants me to send them back along with the tiny ship he lent us. He accuses me of betraying his trust, deliberately sabotaging the campaign in turkey, and threatens to confiscate the vessel and and all cargo once it returns to the mediterranean. This wouldn’t be a problem if she wasn’t hauling my entire Arkham library AND the Fist of Zeus, something I pray the crew doesn’t find out. She’ll need a lot more protection for the final leg of the trip, but of course the Syrians and Israelis are as mistrustful of one another as they’ve ever been and they both refuse to work with Sea Org.

Israeli institutions themselves are polarized. The government has claimed they’re more than willing to accept my offer to protect Jerusalem, particularly after the deadly toppling of what was left of Solomon’s temple. But the Magi in Israel are as orthodox as the Pharisees themselves and forbid cooperation with the Exarchs. Out of everyone only the Scientologists seem to understand the concept of an alliance of opportunity and just how desperately one is needed. I have to say, I like ‘em. Chairman Mueller’s people are still wonderful. Polite. Punctual. Hygienic. Brutally and refreshingly honest. More than I can say for anyone else I have to put up with.

Around me they’re perfectly ready to come out as frauds and manipulators; none of their directing brains ever actually believed in the mythos of scientology. It was and remains a front for living comfortably at the expense of stupid, desperately bored and lonely upper-middle-class people. I can honestly respect an agenda like that.  I’d even go so far as to call it quite ethical, at least under the circumstances. We agree that fellow Cynics ought to look out for one another.  I’ve been calling in a lot of favors from them recently, and anyone else I can get in touch with. Let’s wait and see what it’s going to take to rescue us from THIS limbo.

Now to the fun bit. Like I said, I’ve been calling in favors from the Union, one of which was granted to by someone named Amon. Amon represents the ‘Ascending Ones’, vigilants in Egypt and Saudi-Arabia who I visited some months ago. Apparently he’s one of Darrel’s close associates. I didn’t know what to expect from the old man or what to ask of him, but he offered to show me through his stock of artifacts and answer any questions. We came upon an ornate iron breastplate frilled with gold feathers. Amon said it was one of the most ancient and mysterious relics he possessed and that it was called the Breastplate of the Alak’r Warrior after the heroic bedouin vigilant whose name was lost to time. The Warrior supposedly possessed the ability to transform into a mythical beast and rend his foes, and that power remained in his breastplate long after death. Harnessing that power was as simple as putting the armor on and working the slightest amount of will. The piece would change shape along with its wearer and continue to provide some protection. Removing it involved simply turning a catch on one of the buckles.

I asked if it worked, he said it did indeed. Need I say much more? Of course I asked about side-effects and complications and... apparently there weren’t ANY. It’s one of the most sophisticated enchantments ever wrought upon an inanimate object, and I really, really couldn’t bring myself to the look the poor guy in the face when I asked for it. He wasn’t expecting that. There was so much else in his collection that could and would confer weightier powers, but I wasn’t expecting to ever run across anything remotely like this. Amon was bound to an oath, and this was a prize too good for me to pass up, even if only for the chance to finally live out a childhood dream.

So that’s what I did, and all seemed well until I embarked with enthusiasm on that  joint venture to smash the Turkish reactionaries. Then immediately I was contacted by Amon, Darrel and some others who were afraid I might disrupt the balance of this land whilst they were trying to form their own consortiums. Amon promised he would take action if I didn’t withdraw Naxxanar south of the Turkish border, but I didn’t have a clue what was bothering them, let alone why they thought it was any of their business. Neither did it seem likely they could inconvenience me all that much so long as the Lords of the Sky were at my back.

But that’s what they did. Even though we all seem to be strangely guarded against sympathetic magic, somehow Amon was able to get to me via the same iron vestments he’d reluctantly given up a few weeks earlier. The curse made it so I couldn’t disengage the armor. Believe it or not I was actually trapped in the shape of a griffon for several days, which meant I could no longer pilot the Naxxanar. When a mage tried to interface with the stellascopic control column he started retching up blood, and then we all fell right out of the sky.

We’d have been stuck there a lot longer if Darrel hadn’t eventually turned up. Once it was safe I left for Amon’s Nile estate some two-thousand miles away, or I dunno it certainly felt like that flying the whole way by myself. Not that it wasn’t an incredibly mellowing experience.  You’ll recall I wasn’t in the same exultant mood as the month before. I was ready to discuss terms and forswear myself if necessary. It was late when I finally arrived, but the porter assured me I was expected and it would be no trouble to fetch his master. He directed me to wait in the expansive oasis in the courtyard,  home to a menagerie the likes of which hasn’t been seen in Egypt since the reign of the pharaoh. At that hour the air was full of the piping of what must have been thousands of frogs and bloated Nile toads. To think that not much more than a year ago I wouldn’t have found those cracked chimes the least bit frightening! It recalled to me many a chilling poetic verse from the Necronomicon. How does anyone sleep at night in a place like that? Amon took me inside without a word. Not much needed to be said. I think he understood better than I how I felt.

Anyway, yes, he lifted the curse then and there, though he suddenly seemed quite insistent that I should keep the armor, partly because he had no intention of having me escorted back to Syria. Evidently the griffon is an ancient commanding symbol in the Middle-East, demanding the respect of all who were symbol minded. Once I was human again we stepped outside thinking to cut across the garden to a far wing. We were both astonished to be greeted by a sudden, perfect silence. Though perhaps it was a coincidence after all, at my step the cracked jeering notes of the frogs and night insects all ceased. But whether this was of any significance isn’t important compared to what thoughts struck me. I remembered that dead Cthulhu and his hosts were and are entombed in R’lyeh for a reason. They lost. It was the people of Leng, our forefathers, who thwarted their malign desires unto death, even the designs of Elder Gods.

Even the puffed Shoggoths mourn the loss of our first parents, the Elder Things. Now they look to us their brethren with a glimmer of hope, and I know now exactly what I must do. While there is yet time I must return to Leng and plumb its depth more fully. I know I will be welcomed there.

It never occurred to me that Awakening would be such a long process. I’d thought it ended months ago, but it continues even now.

Rick's Entry for May 2013

(( 4 pt. 1 for time, 1 for mentioning others, one for local plot, one for main plot. Although technically, I think those last two are one and the same in this case. ))

Hello, everyone.

I'm going to be quite, quite quick this time. It's not that I don't want to talk to you guys, but I've read Chris's message not so long ago and apparently, no one told us about that before now. I guess I should have watched the news instead of... anyway... point is, time to go to Shanghai to help Chris and Rami over there. I wish we would meet in better times, but it's an emergency, I ha... we haven't gathered and prepared an army to stay quiet when things are getting hot. Nope, we're going there, as soon as in the next 10 minutes. If the plane is on time. Many have already left in the last few hours, planes after planes crammed full of people and material. I wish we had been more prepared, we aren't bringing our A-game, but it's better than nothing. I spent those last few hours trying to convince Amelia to stay behind for the safety of the baby, but she wouldn't listen. I can't say I'm exactly surprised, I mean, she has been pushing me around for a year now and things aren't getting any better with her body being messed around by influx of hormones of all kind. So, I guess I will have to just watch over her a little more.

As for you guys... keep up your good work Darrel and Austin. Christian and Ramira, we will see ourselves soon, so it can wait until that. And you Lizzy... hey, you should come over with your ghost mob group! Then we can have a double date with good ol' Chris and Amelia, it's gonna be awkwardly awesome! I still don't get what you see in him though, I mean, you should have fallen in love waaaaay earlier, you've known each other for longer than we do. Having it happen now is... random and weird to me. But then again, I can't say I've ever understood people. I prefer animals and it's reciprocal. Wild love! (Rimshot)

Oh, look like I gotta go! Amelia is waving at me. Darn, I wasn't doooooooone messing with the new couple of the month! Meh. Bye guys, let's see if we survive China!

(( PS: Kris, next month, Rick, Amelia and about... 2000 ferals of all species will have joined you guys. Feel free to have anything happen, you have free reign over everyone for that month. Lucky you! ))

Christian's Entry for May 2013

(( Five points. One for on time, one for subplot, one for others, one for progress. And a WORLD EVENT: Shanghai becomes a battleground as a war between competing factions of mages aided by other supernatural allies battle for control of the Earth.))

Onward Christian soldiers, marching on to war. With the cross of...

I swear the pun isn't intentional. Actually I didn't have much to do with the actual conquest side of things. That's not really my strong suit, let's be honest here. Remember when I tried to rebuild the Diamond Nation? I do! How’d that go? Oh, I‘ve had to start tearing it down? Yeah, that happened. Or it's happening right now. Work in progress, but much more progressed than it was back 1n the Dreamlands. There’s so much to talk about I don't even know where to begin! Let's start with the Diamond. I’m sorry you don't want me to succeed, Darrel. Please don't think I mean this new organization to rule the world and all who live upon it. The Diamond Nation was once the ruler of humanity. That doesn't include you or Rick or even Lizzie technically. Some mages think that it ruled the entire Earth way back when. I’m not so sure about that, just like I’m not sure about the history of the spirits and that whole thing shamans talk about sometimes. You’re right that we are going to need something new Darrel, since the world of the past is gone. No more secrecy and no more lies. I love the Union and everything it stands for... but before we can contribute like we need to, we need to be united. That’s why this has been my main priority since the very beginning.

I applaud every worthy effort that has been engauged by our various members. And if you look at the different individuals in our group, I see that every one of us has became a leader in our own right. Everyone has made an impact. Even you, Justin. Don't tell yourself that you're meant for the background. No wlllworker is made for that. You like I have tasted of Supernal fire — this fire is meant to change the world. It is humanity's birthright, but not all of us can channel it yet. Not everyone has tasted of this living water. As one of the few, we have a responsibility to be a beacon. Do not abandon your efforts. Do not abandon your city. I have faith in your ability. Besides... I think we’ll be needing that city to be intact.

The Undying Ones have dreamed again. They dreamed that our great council shall be built again atop your powerful Egyptian relic. Their ancient magic shall make of it a fortress that the Outsiders will cower to see. We shall weave anew the rends they tear in the tapestry. There are many; many more every day. There is work enough to do.

Along those lines, I fear I gave the wrong impression about my allies (mostly to Darrel). The Undying Ones are not truly immortal. They are not the invisible Masters with their world-shaping elder magics. Those I have not met since my days with the Order. They are ordinary mages of ordinary power, who have earned their name because they have become beings of soul, not body, and so are not affected by time. They are the Undying Ones because they come from hundreds of years of history. Thousands of years, really. The dreaming minds of the greatest men and women to live among the Awakened, and many who were not awakened 1n their life but had the secrets of the Dreamlands anyway. Here on Earth they are very mortal. So far as I know, none of them has ever been killed. If they did... I have good reason to suspect they would end up in the Underworld, almost without fail. They are basically the ghosts of dead mages more able to learn and to grow, and fully physical. Kill them, and they die like ghosts.

You might ask now I know that. Well, as you may've heard by now, there’s been a hit of a war lately. Sorry about causing so much death and strife, Lizzie! I hope you'll still love me. Alas, we’ve had no choice. The unity of the Orders I created has been working toward our destruction... all of ours... in the insane hope that the Outside might be placated somehow, as though it were an ordinary abyssal acamoth that could be paid off with a few souls and sent back to its gnawing unknown home. That would have been enough were they not trying to kill us as well. All legend and occult insight agrees we are surely the only way to bring an end to this. And can anyone fail to see why?

Look at the impact we have had! Rick and his uniting of the ferals, Darrel and his war for dominion of the Earth with the others of his kind. Lizzie and the Dim Suns. And Justin, you too. How could anyone not see the difference we're all making here! There is more to do; much more. This enemy was mighty. They have been too occupied with killing me, as a rival for power among our kind. With me dead, I have no doubt they would have turn on all of you next. Justin first, then the others. But that is not a concern anymore.

My foolish Diamond Nation is no more. I cannot share with you the joy I felt to see that city fall. The mightiest elder magics... among my kin and vampires both... was employed 1n protecting it from any threat. But they were totally unprepared for what happened. I would not be at all surprised if the population of mages in the world was significantly impacted by this invasion. Thousands, and more than a hundred thousand others among past dreamers who were not Awakened themselves but wielded our Enlightened weapons. Many vampires were slain by Supernal sunlight. I have never seen justice so liberally administered.

By all accounts the battle was a rout. It never helped that the Arrow has been loyal to me from the beginning, as well as the Mysterium. Seeing our army at their gates with the banner of the Undying Ones, most of the security force defected. The Arrow are an honorable lot. They would not turn and slaughter their charges... but left as a group all at once, nearly two hundred battlemages, to do honorable combat as they have been waiting to do for some time.

It did me no pleasure to see the Chancellor of the Veil and many of the Seers standing and fighting to the death when they discovered that the Undying Ones had created a dead zone in the city, preventing all supernal influence but our own. Not that such was easy. But I will spare you the detail of price. Right now we estimate the loss of life on both sides and civilian bystanders was nearly ten thousand. A great victory, won at incredible cost.

It's been a somber moment for Rami and I. The snake no longer has a head, but the war isn't won. Just because the heads of those orders that wished humanity harm (even if they didn't understand it) have been killed or imprisoned (so far as we know, nobody escaped who was in the city at the time)... this does not mean we have won the loyalty of the Veil or the Ladder, to say nothing of the Seers (their head surrendered, so we're not entirely hopeless there). As a matter of fact... plenty of the Ladder have since openly stated they intend to wage a war for revenge for the overthrow of their dominance. The Veil isn’t inclined to declare much of anything, but the Undying Ones warn me their heaviest hand remains unplayed.

But there is hope. The Arrow is ours again, honored and willing to serve. The Free Council and the Mysterium were with us before the war was even over. There is not much left to build our center here... so we shall move on. There are far too many men for this city to support. I cannot say where we are going next, except that it is important. I don't know how we will make the other Orders kneel. Perhaps we never will. But I am getting reports that significant numbers... those that have supported us from the beginning... are defecting to the Arrow and the Mysterium. The Free council doesn't need anyone else... it's been the largest of the orders ever since the world’s been falling apart anyway. All the newcomers. Can't say I’m upset about that either.

Be safe, everyone. This is a great time to be alive!

Oh, and congratulations Rick! To create life is a sacred responsibility. Now that you've done it, you have to stay true to that. Your child deserves a father who can raise them to be better than he was. This is your new responsibility... in addition to somehow helping us to save the world. Is the child of two ferals more likely to be teral too? I’ve never really understood how you left humanity to begin with. I know that you're not numan. You've got a dualistic spirit-soul nature like werewolves do, and don’t go to the Underworld like werewolves don't. At least usually. That's the trouble with stuff like this. There are always exceptions. But you get the point! Let us know when you know its sex. Keep your mate safe.

Lizzie, I expect you to stay safe too. For similar reasons I suppose. Though so far as I know there aren’t any babies on the horizon, are there? Is that even possible for Sin-Eaters? I get that you’re not entirely human, but it seems like you’re alive enough for that. From what I remember you are. No double-entendres there, I swear. I've missed you, Lizzie. Rami and I have got loads closer out here... being together in the Dreamlands for more than a year can do that... but it's nothing like... well, she does know my secret as I've said, but more to help us hide than anything else. On the plus side, she's learned some damn good Japanese because of it, so that's cool! Helps me a whole lot during those times, since my English hasn’t improved yet. It's sorta like a reset each time. which she finds endlessly hilarious.

Alas, I'm out of time. We've one more night here, then it’s time to mobilize. Dai, everybody!

-Christian

((Sorry you all probably got this way late, and chances are not even because of Kirby. When I get everyone's posts a day before the month ends, it's very hard to have a reply written in time for the next month.))

Lizzie's Entry for April 2013

((3 points: Late, but I talked about all the peoples, and advanced my plot, and got closer to killing the bad guys.))

Hey everyone!

I'm here in the Underworld, a place the locals call Dead Man's Hand. I know you might wonder why I sound so cheerful, Chris. You're the only one who really knows how bad it can get down here, and it's certainly no Dreamworld like you've been hanging out in. But it's just so nice to be away from that stupid office and actually doing things.

Anyways, this isn't that bad a place as far as dead domains are concerned. It's like... wild-west themed, and the people running the place used to be Sin-Eaters (though they think they still are). Anyways, that's not really what's important. The reason I'm down here is because we think we've finally gotten a lead of where to find the dominion that the old ones end up in between dying and pulling themselves out of our universe.

See, there's a ghost or something down here we're trying to negotiate with. No one's quite sure where he came from, but he's been here longer than anyone who lives here remembers. The locals call him El Diablo, and I have to admit the resemblance is uncanny, though it's just a mask. It hasn't been easy getting him to cooperate, especially since he and the "Sin-Eaters" here don't exactly get along. But... he's definitely hinted that he knows something. It's just a matter of convincing him it's in his best interest to help us. He's hinted some at the fact he could use something from us, but seems unwilling to say so. Turns out negotiating with the devil isn't entirely straightforward. But I have a couple of my best people on it, and I feel confident.

Now, Ricky, you hush, alright? I didn't go making fun of you when you started dating Amelia. And Chris and I aren't really dating... yet... We just spent a lot of time together in the Underworld, and in his apartment.  It was fun, though. Especially when we just spent the whole day after getting back from the Underworld staying in bed... I bet we'll sleep in even longer when this is all finally over, eh Chris?

Wait, fuck, I actually read these letters. Ricky, are you serious? A child, now? I mean, congrats and all, but... Shouldn't you have been using protection or something? I mean... You've only known each other for... almost a year...? That's less than you knew me! Not that... I wanted to get pregnant before even getting married, but... Nevermind. I'll just stick with congrats.

I'm not sure I completely understand what you're talking about, Austin. Weren't we all chosen for this? By... some group or another. I still don't understand the details beyond the legends my Krewe has shared about me. Being their speaker and such. There's implications that it's true of other races, as well, but... we're hardly a representative sample of the whole world. Perhaps there were others we could've met up with but fate didn't quite get there? I can't say understand that stuff as much as I like, but you've been studying that sort of magic more recently, haven't you, Austin? Surely you have some idea of what your place is.

And Darrel, sounds like you've got your hands full in much the same way I do, though we don't have anyone directly opposing us at the moment, so perhaps I'm a little better off for it. I wish you luck, though. You're a pretty good tactician from what I remember of the games we used to play, so I have no doubt you'll do well. Good luck all the same, though!

Well, seems it's time for me to go. The folks here have made us up some food. Where they got the supplies I have no idea, but it isn't half-bad for nearly-spoiled beans and undercooked "meat". Either way, I'll hopefully have more progress to share next time I get in touch with you all. Until then, take care!

-Lizzie T. O'Conner

Rick's Entry for April 2013

(( 4pts, you know why, no time for that today. Enjoy the plot-twistness! ))

Dear Everyone I care about, minus my dear family,

Today is a day of celebration! I, Rick Filion, have managed to accomplish a feat of extraordinary courage and dedication! I singlehandedly managed to create life, using only my magnetic charm and my extensive knowledge of technology! The Gods should bow become me, that's just how awesome I am!

Seriously though, everyone please have a metaphoric, tabbacco-less cigar, because I'm going to be a father! Isn't it that great? I know -'m bouncing around in joy over here, I'm litterally on a leash. I tried to tell Amy that I'm not a dog, but she has those mood swings, so I limited my complaining to save my life. This said, we hadn't really planned for this, but I'm not one to take a life for no reason, so we decided to keep it. Now I know we're supposed to be married, so... We're going on a honeymoon of sort, after a quick, civil wedding. Kind of. If we survive all of this, we're gonna go for the real thing, but for now, we're going to visit some of the world most extic locations in search of more members for our.... Petting zoo... As Chris so bluntly put it. On that note, getting petting from a hot redhead vixen is something really awesome, Christian. BAM! Take that! Now we're even.

Speaking of hot things, you guys are really doing some crazy stuff out there. Darrel and Austin, you need to take it easy. You're not going to help if you're dead. Then again, who knows. Lizzie laughed at death, so maybe it will work for you two. Lizzie, congrats for your new status and your newfound 'love' for bureaucrathy. Seriously, I know you well and I have no idea what they were thinking. You're an action girl, a thinker, not a... Well, whatever you call paperwork. You should delegate that to someone else and be useful out there, leading your people and what's not. I know you can do it, you just need to be a little more assertive and believe in yourself. Also, I'm sorry in advance for this, but... CHRIS AND LIZZIE, LAYING NEXT TO A TREE, S-E-X....

Da fuck, Amy hit me! It was just a joke, geese! That bi... Female dog. Love you too. Oh wait, what was I saying? Must not have been important. So we're leaving for two weeks, then we will finish regrouping ourselves. By next month, we should move our operations in northen China, closer to the rest of you guys. But for now... It's party time! I'm gonna be a daaaaad! Wooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

-Rick

PS: I took offense to your comment Chris about us not being human, or real, or something. I feel very much real and smart and stuff, so I don't want to hear anymore of this species bullcrap. We're all equally awesome. Peace and love for all, peps!

Austin's Entry for April 2013

The world was finally a perfect hole to be in. Everyone was so free you could dance wherever you wanted and on the streets or anywhere, but that wasn't good enough for some people was it? Now I can't even use my equipment anymore, and also we crashed into a mountain. Darrel if you see this I want you to please tell that Amon guy who called that I still don't know who he is, nor do I care.

I can't begin to describe how much trouble I'm in right now. I must be the biggest, most pathetic and worthless idiot in all creation.  I was stupid to think I could ever be my own center of gravity, a power to be reckoned with who could shape human history. That's not what I'm for, and this is what happens when you try so hard to be something you're not. The power and the glory belongs to all of you, or at least to Chris. My fate is to be a safe-house for anyone fleeing the inquisition; a light in the darkness need not burn especially bright. It is better to toil in obscurity in pursuit of virtue than to flail in the light. Or perhaps not. I could choose to prefer to be in the wrong. My heart desires above all to be exalted in the High Heavens and know the thrill of victory. Why should the Truth value of a proposition be esteemed above else?

 I suppose all that matters is I live so I can at least remain a pawn to one or all of you. What do I care, I've got wings! Plus it would certainly be more than I deserve. But Darrel, you're closest, so... I need your help. It's only a matter of time before these goons bug out. For now they're hemmed in with the rest of us. We're just inside the border with Turkey impaled in a steep hillside. I'll attach coordinates. Right now I, I can't even stand up, and this f... this place has to be kept safe. It's a treasure. We didn't just find it out in the open, it was buried deep. We only found it because it wanted us to.

Be careful. The General's best troops have formed a ring to keep the Turks off of us, but I doubt they'll want to take me seriously anymore. The LZ is very hot. Gutterdamerung.

(4 points)

Christian's Entry for April 2013

Since it’s april, I just thought I should inform everyone that I have singlehandedly slain cthulhu and all of the great old ones. I found an ancient, powerful atlantean spell that enabled me to create the cosmic elder sign and wipe them all out. There are none left, and as such world peace should be declared shortly. After all, what reason do all of us supernatural individuals have to be fighting one another without the outsiéers to worry about? I think we can all agree that we can all go back to our ordinary lives and forget any of this happened. I look forward to being a dork again and playing board games and video games and not accomplishing anything of value to anyone. So you can all turn everything off and catch the nearest planes home.

April fools. :(

In all seriousness though, this month has actually been a productive one for me. I thank all of you who offered me help and advice. In truth I would have taken it were I able. But the only option was to flee. The guardians awoke this 200-foot metallic clockwork monster mech death machine thing to kill me, and I had no way of fighting it. The Master's magic he gave me does no good on fellow Atlantean magic. Ramira and I figured out a way to open the iris at the last second, and there was no way for the thing that‘s following me to open it. It takes archmastery to do something like that. Somehow I think that if the invisible masters know of me, which I fear they might, they are more discerning than common mages in their actions.

We found ourselves in a beautiful village of green, with houses and farms stretching down a quaint and lovely hill. The village itself got more dense as we reached the peak of the hill, which became a dense and thickly populated town of sorts. The people were people exactly as I might have expected them to be, people every bit as real and physical as the people of Earth. They did not speak our tongue, but the time of being bothered by such things is past for me, and it became surprisingly easy to speak even without magical aid. Many recognized me, in fact, and I was hailed as a dreamer of great renown. All showed unto me respect and directed us to the monastery, a massive stone chapel in the center of town called the Temple of the Elder Ones. Within this temple was a wizened man named Atal, fully three centuries old but still very keen of mind and memory. From him I learned where the iris had led Ramira and myself. We traveled in body where most humans will only visit of mind; to the unearthly vistas and impossible world known as the Dreamlands. The place of human slumber for as long as history has recorded.

It feels so strange to be writing to all of you new. An unearthly thing that I have not done in a very long time. This is true from my perspective, because time here does not flow in sync with time back home. The priest Atal informed me of this and many other things as I met with him the first time. Though only a month has passed for you, nearly a year of time has flown by for me. I have lived here in the Dreamlands as though it were the only world. This is literally true for more and more every day; I am not the only one from our world here. Indeed, many humans (and only humans) visit this place in their slumber, and those that die while visiting remain long after the death of their bodies. I don’t knew if I will have aged as long as I stay here when I return to Earth. Atal tells that time itself is simply less troublesome here; that this is the place of stories more than the place of laws. That much I do believe, having lived it.

Seriously... I can’t believe the time‘s actually come to write all of you. But my cell phone has been keeping track. It might not have cell service here (technology here in the Dreamlands is medieval at best) but at least it can keep track of time and forces magic can keep it charged. Mana is plentiful here, more plentiful than I have ever felt before. A chance to grow and advance and study has been mine for the year since I arrived. A time of rest and of preparation. Much has been accomplished since I arrived here. Despite the chance for much needed rest, I can assure all of you that I have not been doing nothing. I fear the changes you are making to the world. Austin, I fear for more than most. I have never heard of such a device before, and power like that frightens me. It does not seem the Atlanteans would have simply left such a powerful machine to crumble. Something doesn't feel right. Just be careful.

Oh God I hope I haven’t really been gone for a year this whole time I've been here. The war is probably over by now. There would be no world to return to. I suppose the Dreamlands wouldn’t be a bad place to live, but I fear that the Outside would find its way in here eventually. It is already here, actually. The crawling chaos Nyarlathotep dwells here, messenger to Azathoth. He seems perfectly content to exist here exactly as he ever has, though. Leng and Kadath aside, he leaves Dreamland well enough alone, and has for the whole time I was here. Actually, I've even met him once. Rather cordial and polite. More than I expected for one of the Outsiders. But then we were conversing on his terms.

I fear I'm not making sense. I fear that a single entry isn’t sufficient to say what I want to say. I can't tell you how many times I've written this and rewritten this, thinking and dreaming and imagining what I might tell you when the time came. The time is here, but I cannot make a message that is too long. I will choose only the most important things and hopefully that will be enough.

This world is vast, at least as large as Earth, though it is very different. Humans are the only race like it here, but there are others. Cats, for instance, are one of the more powerful and prominent races here. There are others. Gouls and Zoogs and the strange travelers from Leng with their turbans and too—wide grins. But I was not concerned with them. Ramira and I spent the first little while relaxing. We stayed in a charming little inn here in Ulthar. After a week, the two of us were feeling much better. Not once anyone made an attempt on our lives, or done anything at all that was even the slightest bit frightening. The world might be ending back home, but nobody told anyone here. Life goes on here as it has for many years, likely will for many years to come.

When we realized that we had more or less as much time as we could possibly want, Ramra and I spent some time deliberating. What could we do that would be an effective use of our time? How could we come back into the world. Obviously both of us are very much targets, and many have made it clear cf their intentions to kill us and not ask questions on the matter. So many stupid efforts and attempts had been made on our lives, but now was different. Now we could be safe, since both of us are immune to Sympathetic magic in our different ways. The mages wishing to kill us might dream here of course, but when they did they would not remember us, since every dreamer carries with them the memories of their life in the dreamlands, not in the waking world. So, we were safe, safe and free to do whatever we wished and return at whatever point we desired to return.

The realization did not take us very long. There are vast powers arrayed here in the Dreamlands, which is indeed a world no different in size than our own, though not nearly as expansive along other dimensions as the real world. So Ramira and I embarked on a journey across the realm to see if there was anything or anyone we could win to our aid against the outsiders. Once we were both healthy and ready to go, we waved goodbye to Ulthar and took our journey to Thran. It was no easy trek, but I will spare the details in light of limited time and ability to transmit across the gulf of the void. At least I must assume there is such a gulf for I am warned that a message too long will not reach. It seems that the strain of crossing the border of universes is not an easy one to overcome.

The Dreamlands are vast and are ruled by powerful city states. Thran is the mightiest of these, a city older than memory, made from beautiful alabaster stone with two hundred towers, all wrought in one solid piece by what means no man knows, for none is old enough to say. I had not come to explore architecture, however.

Thran is a city of traders and magic. A city of mages like myself, many of which are far older than any man of Earth could live. Many of them were once dreamers of Earth, and like many mages, learned of this place and instructed kin to kill them in their sleep, thus assure their immortality. It is not true life of course, since they are trapped within the Dreamlands forever. Or so they thought. So far as anyone has ever known, there has never been a way to travel between Earth and the Dreamlands in anything more than spirit. It is better this way, or at least it has been. Indeed Ramira and I had great advantage to be here in body as well. We have a power far beyond anyone here... we are more real than they, and they all see it. It earns us great respect wherever we go, since people can see we are dreamers of no small learning.

Of course I am not here the proper way and neither is Ramira. Many times during my stay here have people thanked me or complimented me for my deeds, but never have I known what they were talking about. Evidently my appearance is the same however. I was already known to the people of Thran as we neared the gates, and we were admitted without paying the usual toll. The city stretched huge before us, but we had one goal in mind: the immortal council of mages from Earth that rules the city. I cannot rehearse names for fear they might be displeased with me, but suffice it to say that the list contains many influential historical figures. The enlightenment in particular is well represented. Founding fathers not a few, and many others. All were Masons, if that helps. It seems the Masonic order has known of this place for some time, and has been instructing its members regarding travel and power here for many years. Without the Abyss to get between us and the Supernal (if such a place exists), one need not be a mage on Earth to do magic here. All of the council, or the Undying Ones as they are more properly termed, knew we were coming. They had seen us. Dreamed us here, as they put it. For a specific purpose. Though they could not influence affairs back home anymore, they were concerned for the welfare of Earth and wanted to do everything they could to protect it. They had been praying to the feeble gods of Earth for a way to make a difference, and here we were.

You can imagine my relief when they told us this story. You can’t imagine my feeling to finally know someone, anyone, was not out to kill us but actually had our positive interests at heart. A relief beyond reliefs. So we had friends. Friends in the absolute mess of a world that we were living in right now. Friends who wanted to help and had some power to do it.

I spoke of the Diamond Nation, Darrel. I nor the united orders ever called themselves that. The Diamond Nation is the dream of uniting humanity under the rulership of benevolent mages who would rule with an enlightened grace and protect us from all threats. I imagined that I had helped to create such a thing, to begin what might be the recreation of Atlantis itself on Earth. But my vast dreams were made to nothing. There was no hope. I fear that in uniting the orders the way I did that I have done more harm than good. Now I will have the opportunity to undo that harm. The undying ones have made a plan for Earth’s protection and reclamation. Many days, weeks even, were spent planning our tactics. The undying ones had planned such things many times, but now they had to work with me to adapt one of their many stratagems for use in the real world. I had something they had not imagined: a physical way to travel between the worlds. No more would we need to rely on cats to pass messages to people on Earth proper, a difficult method considering the number of people who can speak to them. Aside from you Rick, and your kind, we have had very little luck passing messages until now. After all, your kind cannot come here themselves. Once they leave humanity behind they also leave the Dreamland. Nobody can remember anyone who's ever not come back because of becoming an animal or a werewolf or something, but that doesn‘t mean they never came here. It might be memory of them is gone from us when it happens. Or it might mean they were never really human to begin with and so had no place here. Meaningless philosophy.

It is true all the great powers are mobilizing for the defense of reality. Darrel has spoken of the spirits, and Austin‘s Sea Org for humanity and the Union for all of us of course. To say nothing sf Rick’s petting zoo (don’t tell them I called it that). I have dire news of what the enemy is planning. An invasion of Mi-Go. An entire fleet has been organized and should be arriving from their travel in from extra-universal space within a few months of our time. You are high on their list of targets, Austin, but beyond that it is very hard to say what they plan to do. Their master would tell me only so much. The crawling Chaos has ordered Earth to be taken at last. Expect them to come in all their technological might. Weapons of molecular disruption shall be employed, and far stranger things I cannot even speculate on. I have tried to gather all the lore I could, but I don’t knew how much of it is strictly true. The fleet is coming, that I know for sure. The Undying ones have seen it.

With a plan devised, the forces of the Dreamlands have been marshaled. Every bit of monetary or diplomatic pressure that Thran has at its disposal has been employed. At first it was just meetings with the leaders of the other city states. But as months passed, a tent city has begun to form around Thran, as dreamers from all over travel here, flocking to the very literal banners of our Diamond Nation. There are legions of us now. Every major city and village is represented here. The strange northerners from the arctic waste of Inquanok. The cats in their vast numbers, all except for the hideous almost-people transposed here trom frightened Leng to the northeast. There are now two cities, and a constant flow of men and provisions into the city of cloth as well as the city of stone and magic. Every supernatural resource has been spent. Many dreamers of past ages have come. They are the captains or leaders of our legions. We might not have technology, but we shall make up for it with magic. Magic the likes of which the Earth has never seen, not since the Dreamlands were a part of Earth itself and trade between the two was free and frequent.

The plan now is this. Using the magic I have perfected here, I intend to widen the iris so that it will permit the travel of many souls at once, perhaps a hundred abreast or more. The army is very large, and many of us will be riding horses. Once we have established ourselves on Earth around the exit to the portal, I shall make my presence known. We wi11 be returning to Shanghai. My colleges shall see me again soon. The guardians are done. I have dreamed them gone, and now all that remains is to do it. With their influence removed, we can reunite the mages of Earth with the mages of the dream, and together be prepared for the cataclysmic end. Let hell try and stop us.

((Four points. Advancement, plot, other people, and on time. Kirby, please get this posted ASAP so people don't have to wait like last month.))