The Codex

Calamity Journal

A Druid’s Lost Journal

I believe I may have found the answer to a great conundrum of we Druids. Though I have spent my life toiling these long years alone in the Realms, searching for Spirits, speaking to them as I am able, there are a great many that have remained ever beyond my grasp. Carnute, Bucca, Elder Eoten. They turn their backs to me, deaf to my pleas, yet I hear tell of a spiritualist by the name of Ludivine Saint-Clair roaming a distant Realm known as the Hollowed Moor. She works beside both Hermetics and my fellow Druids, and has made incredible strides where I have failed, truly a curious woman. Initially, I doubted her legitimacy. Charlatans abound to threaten the legacy of the old ways, but now I stand convinced. She is a practitioner of Louisiana Voodoo, something beyond the scope of my knowledge, though it intrigues me greatly. Her beliefs bear striking resemblance to my own, focusing substantially on communion with Spirits. Where we have our ceremonial dress, floor drawn symbols, ritual dance, so too do the Voodooiennes. I hear Ludivine may even utilise methods abandoned by Druids. Mayhaps I keep an ear out for further rumours, see what more I can learn.

Calamity Journal

A Matter of Character

A peculiar thing happened to me this morning… I’d collected a bowl of blueberries for my pie. I happened to look across to old Maisel’s abode. That loon was out sweeping her yard again. What drives this woman to absurdity? Sweeping one’s outdoors…Forty years my family has been her neighbour. My grandmother used to say her mother was a right quack too. And all that time she spends on her sunflowers, as if she was the next Gertrude Jekyll. I’m getting carried away. After contemplating my neighbour’s madness, I set back to my task, only the berries were no longer there! Which led me to think that I never picked them at all. Perhaps I was on my way to do something when I stopped… That darn woman. A complete distraction! I must set off again if I am to have the pie baked. I suppose I’ll invite Maisel to tea later. She does so love my pie, and I have a question about my hedge. I will also enquire about the sweeping. Perhaps I can convince her to refrain as it distracts me so.

Calamity Journal

First Foray into the Realms

Property of Isabella Bird

Much to my dismay, it seems I’ve ended up alone in the Realms. My travelling companions are nowhere to be found, along with the entire city of St Augustine. I have walked a great distance already, and, thus far, I have passed nothing and met no one. The air of the Realms has been said to aid those of weak constitution, and it seems that will be put to the test without delay. Though I lack many of the comforts recommended for one of feeble health, I am thankful at least to be so thoroughly burdened with other supplies. While my packs are heavy, I have much of what I need to keep myself fed and in high spirits. My dress has been my greatest hindrance. The propriety of city life is largely lost in such a place; I felt little embarrassment hiking my skirts to tromp through the brush, though many at home would malign me for it. I have made camp for the time being in a sheltered grove. Tomorrow, I continue my journey, and with any luck I’ll find myself in St Augustine as the sun sets.

Calamity Journal

Journal of Lowri Havard

Translated from Cornish

Day 1 <i>Torek Prout</>. That is what we Druids—and Luella most of all—have called the Hermetic researchers for as long as I’ve lived. Yet here I stand, accompanying one Percival Hallewell on his expedition into the Realms. Luella requested me specifically as the nature of his study involves the mycorrhizal network. Mushrooms. Spyrys, geist, I have cooked with these at the Inn. But never the <i>poder</>. While safe to eat in moderation once cooked, it must be cracked like a nut with a tool forged of iron, and delicately so as to prevent the outpouring of maddening spores. I have not seen anyone turn poder-mad, and I thank my refusal to cook them for that. Yet this is the species Percival wishes to study. I am tentative. Nevertheless, Percival is not what I thought. Luella depicted him as invasive, stubborn, conceited. A man obsessed with results and not the journey, just like the others. Yet, as I write, he places his equipment with cautious, soft hands. He has asked me many questions and listened to my many answers. He is not dismissive of our rituals and ways. Perhaps I have found the only good Hermetic.

Calamity Journal

The Veil between Us

November 3, 1889 Sambungan Paris is lost. All communication with the city has ceased; the last missive received claimed a substance emerged from the Paris Transept Portal. Since then, only silence. Our work continues in the shadow of this news, the Portal ever present while we study the artifacts brought back from the Realms; however, uncertainty gnaws at us, and we are vigilant for anything untowards. Sita left on an expedition through the Portal but days earlier. With luck, she will have arrived safely to the warm embrace of Nightingale City. She should return soon, but by boat or by Portal, I no longer know. I worry for her. Were we wrong to trust in the Portals, in the Realms? For now, all I can do is wait.

Quartermain's Journal

A Contract Upheld

Azazel, the Penitent

Azazel, eldest and most respected of the council, nodded his head in solemn agreement. The Fae before him grinned, surrounded by the viscera of its rampage. Together, they left the people of Sylvan’s Cradle behind. They watched with tearful eyes, but none could follow. The deal with the Court of Hearts was done. It had been a clear choice in the man’s mind. He would suffer until the end of his life, and, in return, his village would forever be spared. All those many lifetimes, in exchange for whatever few years remained of his. Even the council’s impassioned objections could not stand against scrutiny when the trade was so clearly right. It was this firm belief in righteousness that kept Azazel marching dutifully into the hills. He wanted to speak to the Fae—after the Druid’s lifetime of devotion, it felt a waste not to—but he found the questions caught in his throat. Why had it come? What missteps in their rituals had brought about such hatred? The longer he thought of the potential answers, the heavier his legs began to feel. He pushed the thoughts from his mind, and, focusing only on the goodness of his sacrifice, kept pace.

Quartermain's Journal

A Fugitive in the Realms

Keziah’s Journal

‘A fortress of knowledge’ they call it, and I just waltz into the Calcularium like it’s nothing. Took me all of an hour to get through to the library and back, hardly saw a soul, and not one saw me. Would’ve started in this line of work ages ago if I’d known how easy it was. I have the designs and diagrams, just like they wanted. Now I wait for the morning shift to head through the NTTC Transept. Five guards watching it now, but I’m well out of sight, and they’re more interested in their game of Hazard than standing guard. First thing tomorrow, I’ll be gone, no one the wiser. I haven’t even set foot in the Realms, but already I’m keen to get settled. No one looking to tell me my place, an empty, infinite swath of land and a Fae begging me to work for them. This couldn’t have played out any better. The Elephants will miss me dearly when they realise I’m gone, and I won’t spend a second looking back. All that’s left is to bask in the grand reward that awaits me when I hand everything over.

Quartermain's Journal

A History of Nightingale City

written by Amika Vanderbilt

The Druids are a curious folk—to the modern, enlightened eye, they come across as backwards and primitive, even savage. However, despite their general hostility towards modernity, we owe them much. For it is because of the Druids that Nightingale City exists at all—indeed, our fine city’s name comes from the Nightingale Inn, owned by former Chief Druid, Angharad Furniss, around which the city grew into the jewel of progress it is today. Ironically, despite their disdain for technology, the Druids are also who we must thank for the discovery of Portal magick. For it was their collaboration with the Hermetic Dr. John Dee that enabled the revival and stabilisation of the Portal at the ancient site of Boscawen-Un, upon which the Crystal Palace was built. Later, this same Portal would become what is now known as the First Transept.

Quartermain's Journal

A Knight of the Realms

April 23, 303 May the grace of God lend me strength in these lands. The sorcerer Archimago freed me and some of my brethren from the trials of Emperor Diocletian. By what means, I do not know. Yet his sorcery has brought us to what he calls the Realms, a place of wonder and beauty that even the greatest of poets could not fathom. Architecture that surpasses the glory of Rome: towers with foundations free of rock and soil, roads that shine like the rising sun and gates that with a single step lend passage to faraway lands. These marvels are both wonderful and terrifying to behold. Those who inhabit and call this place home are most peculiar. Archimago calls them Fae, and, though I have never crossed their paths before, they speak our language with ease and fluidity. As if natives of our homelands themselves. There is another amidst their company who also understands the workings of the Fae, a woman garbed in black; her speech is both familiar and foreign to me. Yet there is a comfort there, as if we were destined to venture forth upon distant roads. Her name is Una. George of Lydda

Quartermain's Journal

An Encounter with the Elder

Lost Logs of a Doomed Journey

January 4, 1603, W. Raleigh The queen is dying. I am once more called to serve... Nay, not to serve. To call my endeavour such would demean she who is the sky and stars of all England. I have a quest and, on its outcome, lies nothing less than the fate of our most sublime monarch, Elizabeth. Even as my pen mars this page, she withers Abandoned by the craven who called himself her husband. Oberon fled into the night like a thief. He left her naught but a trinket by her bedside. Bereft of Oberon, our queen wanes. Should he not return… It is beyond contemplation. I will find the Blaggard and bring him back, bound in chains and dragged by the keel if I must. She must be saved, elsewise England may be lost. Still, despite all, I cannot deny the exultation I feel with every sea-stained breath that fills my breast. The Ark Royal is mine once more. A Fae merchant, lately of Troy Town, informed us that the Summer Court has traversed the sea of Ahdyr not more than a few days prior. The gate is before us, and a stiff breeze alights on our backs. I will not fail.

Quartermain's Journal

Desma Valavani's Field Notes

My elixirs have yielded negative results, and thus my pursuit of knowledge on the ailment of the local flora, and of Aurelio, remains my primary objective. A direct correlation is difficult to surmise, for, upon entering the temple, Aurelio was and has remained the sole victim of this rapid illness. Furthermore, he does not display the same symptoms as evident on practically every inch of foliage within several kilometres of our location. Day and night I run tests, doing my due diligence, hoping that a particular compound or a missing component will unveil itself. Given the circumstances lingering over this Site of Power, I have argued for the relocation of our camp, but Aurelio refuses to listen. At the start of this venture we believed a finite crew would be the best means of implementing our resources. Yet now we find ourselves stranded. What little time remains to us is unknown, forcing me to expedite my theoretical process in the hopes of developing a cure. One last thought: given where we are, if this is a curse of the Realms, or of El Dorado, will my efforts here be in vain?

Quartermain's Journal

Expedition of the Realms

Quatermain's Diary

What is a life well lived? For myself, a life of quality lies in the nomadic impetus to explore and to experience our world with the senses gifted to us by glorious evolution! It is this impetus that compels me to helm another expedition into the wilds. Hudson Gordon had but to mention the Desert Realms before I found myself accepting with unwise haste. Hudson desired to map the Desert Realms, but lacked the more tangible skills of Realmwalking. Knowing his own faults, he also enlisted the help of Eilish Ní Maotháin, botanist and seasoned Realm guide. Perhaps this trip will harden his soft heart, for Realmwalking is no flight of fancy. Excitement builds in my breast at the thought of the Realms. Truly, one could not imagine a worse fate than being shackled to a desk in the Diogenes Club.

Quartermain's Journal

Granville Woods's Notes

a hastily written list

Assemble Fae devices ✓ Transition Pale Pylons ✓ Find new magickal source ??? Provisioner's Borough? Basement, Fae collectibles

Quartermain's Journal

Incendiary Incantations

My dissatisfaction with the typical immolation enchantments has led me to devise an improved version, with farther reach and a more impressive impact. After being asked not to conduct my tests within the Academy of Arcane Sciences itself, I have taken temporary residence in a lesser travelled Realm, where I will 'pose no risk to students or faculty'. <b>First Experiment</> Upon first cast, the fireball struck its mark with a delightful crash. The flames did not linger, but the affected trunk was sundered quite expertly. While I am satisfied with impact volume, I would have appreciated more theatrics in the meteoric tail and initial impact. Those who witness it should be left starry-eyed for no less than one hour, thus I return to the drawing board. <b>Second Experiment</> A touch hot upon the hands, but I nearly have it! Blue flame at its core, with a grand whistling as it arcs toward the trees. Still, the fire refuses to catch and the impact is ever so slightly dim. One further revision and I can return with the fruits of my labour. <b>Thir</>- <i>[The remainder of the page is charred and crumbling.]</>

Quartermain's Journal

Magwytch Marshes Personnel Files

McAvoy’s personal notes

April 14, 1884 Employee #233: Nicolás Rodríguez Peña Vicuña. Department: Factory Management Been paying close attention to Nicolás for a while. He has exceeded the Company's expectations. Driven. Found success at a young age—much like myself. Dedication is strong. Practically lives at his factory—only leaves to sleep and check in on his wife. Even-tempered. Underlings like him. Generally quiet, but can command attention with his orders or jokes. Understands the chain of command and does not put up a fuss. Model employee. I am appointing Nicolás to be mayor of Magwytch Town. He’s just what this town needs. McAvoy.

Quartermain's Journal

On the Nature of Ghosts

From the Journal of Hezekiah Moore

I have been ruminating on the nature of ghosts. Pondering the Beyond was never my area of expertise, but the thought experiment was always a welcome distraction from my studies. Oh, how lively the discussions! We would take the chairs nearest the fire—the best ones!—and debate the whole night. Are ghosts truly the essence of the departed? Or perhaps a summoned Fae, finding entertainment in creating a facsimile of the deceased? Regardless of their nature, they haunt me. I hear the voices of those I know to be dead, calling to me from the Pale, held back only by this Calcularian machine. And me, to maintain it. But our supply of coal dwindles, and where once I had friends, family, and colleagues to keep me company, I am alone. Except for the Bound, who are relentless. And the ghosts.

Quartermain's Journal

Otranto, Tallywag, Tower of Loss—and back again

S. Jonson Printers & Drafters

Day 28 in the Realms I am the only man living to have seen the Castle of Otranto twice. On the way out, we were full of joy—who wouldn’t be? We were heading to new lives in the infinite Realms. It was Mary who spotted it first—dear Mary—as the convoy broke for tiffin. ‘Oh, look at that spectacular rockface!’ she said. ‘I’d love to get my crampons into it!’ ‘Mary, sweet’, I said. ‘That's no cliff. The top’s all crenellated. I think it’s a castle!’ Still extravagantly delighted in our elopement, we went. A gatetop inscription read simply ‘Otranto’. In the courtyard beyond was a great Fae helmet, a hundred times larger than life, tightly covered in black feathers. Intriguing art, we agreed, very pre-Raphaelite. We explored a maze of subterranean galleries then went on our way. A month later, a storm was lashing the makeshift convoy as I fled disaster. The soldiers had stayed behind to hold off our pursuers, never to be seen again. As we bedraggled few passed ‘neath the rockface, lightning struck, and I saw a silhouette of that great helm, moving above the battlements. I was too busy fleeing to cry.

Quartermain's Journal

Pocketbook

S. Jonson Printers & Drafters

A short telegram arrived from Lavelle in the morning. It read, ‘PARIS TRANSEPT MIST = CHAOS. HEADING COAST FAST’. I tried to puzzle it out over my toast and marmalade but, coming up with no theory beyond yet another Bonapartist revolution, fancied I would pop in on Ogilvy at Imperial College to see if anything had come through the pneumatic tubes on the Transept. I remember, I found her in the light canteen, happily tucking into an excellent cottage pie. I ordered some myself and probed her for news. She was excited about the new Paris Transept, but reported that the pneumatics were disordered. ‘A little inter-Realmic Pale leakage’, she said. About the telegram, she was quite clear: the French must have rushed the Portal closure, got their equations wrong; the Calcularian types in Nightingale would know more. As soon as the pneumatics were up again, she promised to message Paris.

Quartermain's Journal

The Cataloguer’s Notes

from the Journal of Antonia Maury

<b>The Empyrean Observatory holds the key.</> I write it down, and I write it again, so I won’t forget. At the edge of the Well, I can hear the light so clearly. It would be so easy to leap… An ocean of wisdom. It would be so easy to drown… But I heed its warning. It will wait for me. Wait, until I’m safe to cross. <i>The Empyrean Observatory holds the key.</>

Quartermain's Journal

The Giant’s Legend

A Wanderer’s Transcription

As if these old bones tumbling through a sodding natural Portal wasn’t enough, it dropped me at the feet of a great Swamp Giant and did me the indignity of shutting thereafter. I feared the worst, but the giant deigned to set me on my feet. Walked me back to his hovel, he did, and, as another shock, began singing in the giant’s tongue. Though I parsed not a word, it conjured such vivid images that his meaning became clear as day. Lacking his magickal aptitude, my responses were reduced to much prolonged, wild gesturing. I had thought all giants to be towering men, like the old fairy tales. It seems the familiar sort, Sun Giants, keep to the deserts. I asked all I could about his mythical kin, but my benefactor knew little. While cousins, I suppose, the two clans rarely meet. Only one Swamp Giant had bridged the gap, coming to understand the sun-folk and what they desire. Then, as I never thought to experience in all my years, he sat me down like a babe for a story, and began to sing anew. His voice painted a great legend of his people, about the hero called Danu.

Quartermain's Journal

The Hero of Sylvan's Cradle

Written by Cyril Barclay

Sylvan’s Cradle Listen closely, for this is far more than a fable. ‘Tis the tale of our home and the people of Sylvan’s Cradle. Once nomadic by nature, our people built themselves communities where their rituals could better be practised. We were devoted to the Fae of Summer Court and our devotion was rewarded. Our knowledge and wisdom deepened. Our communities grew and thrived in the peace and bounty of the Summer. Our people experienced generous crops, the gaiety and lightness of cool evening breezes and shoeless freedom, for the terrain bore no stone or dried thistle. We slept with ease, lulled by our trust in the gift of our safe haven. Elders taught the next generations how to revere the Fae to ensure they would continue to benefit from these gifts. Our way of life and pleasant Realm left little room to doubt the goodness of the Fae. But all good things end, and our devotion was not enough to stop the destruction.

Quartermain's Journal

The Journal of Hortensia Lynch del Solar

We travelled for nearly a month, across the ocean to Nightingale City, through their Portals and across the Realms, to stop here in the swamp called Magwytch Town. Our bed creaks, but by lantern light I can write without waking my sleeping husband. The new house is quite a bit larger than our home in Santiago. One bedroom is furnished, the other, bare. Nicolás tells me it is for us to decorate as we like, that he’ll make me a studio for my painting, but I see how it was papered, in soft blue and yellow. From the window, I can see the broken bassinet, stuffed behind the neighbour’s house, but I do not tell him that I know how the Company dressed a nursery for our darling Nico. He is so happy here. So happy to be of import to these strangers. I do not wish to take that from him.

Quartermain's Journal

The Light-House

Edgar Allan Poe

Jan. 1 — 1849. This day — my first on the light-house — I make this entry in my Diary, as agreed on with Reynolds. As regularly as I can keep the journal, I will — but there is no telling what may happen to a man all alone as I am — I may get sick, or worse ..... So far well! I had a narrow escape — but why dwell on that, since I am here, all safe? My spirits are beginning to revive already, at the mere thought of being — for once in my life at least — thoroughly alone; for, of course, Neptune, large as he is, is not to be taken into consideration as “society”. Would to Heaven I had ever found in “society” one half as much faith as in this poor dog: — in such case I and “society” might never have parted — even for the year, or years...

Quartermain's Journal

The Notebook of Nellie Bly

November 26th, 1889 I suppose it should come as no surprise that Mr. Quatermain, Victor, and myself are separated. After wandering through this desolate Realm, I enter a high wooden structure. Inside, ruination. It seems clearer each moment that those in Nightingale were wise to close the Transepts, yet there are signs of humanity everywhere I turn in the Realms. Mankind cannot simply be abandoned here. I hear noise in the brush and retreat up a crumbling side staircase. I see the shadow of a man below and think to call out in relief. His movements stall me. He is hunched and lurching, at first it seems out of injury, then his head swings wildly, like a hound catching the scent of fox. I have seen such creatures only once before, not even yet a true Explorer then. Quatermain called them the Bound, a rare and unsettling sight. The beast falls to all fours, running toward some unfortunate soul lost in darkness. I pray it is only an animal. The night is spent sleeplessly, and I depart in the morning without delay. If ‘The Watch’, as Quatermain called it, is truly to be humanity's safe haven, I must reach it.

Quartermain's Journal

The Unending War

The Undying Father of History

This is the result of the enquiry of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, so that great and marvellous deeds displayed by the Court of Empyrean not be forgotten in time, including what was the cause of their Unending War with the Court of Hearts and the reasoning behind their disappearance. The Coronary Fae say that the Empyreans were the cause of the dispute. These (they say) overstepped their bounds, claiming entire Realms for their Empyrean Network that had not belonged to them. But the Empyreans do not tell the same story. They say that these Realms were gifted by kin, and they never laid claim to them. For my part, I shall not say that this or that story is true, but I shall identify the one who I know did the Empyreans unjust deeds, and thus proceed with my history.

Realm Lore

Fae Glyphs

Realmwalker’s Poem

Those ancient glyphs soon lost to time Still stewarded by wisps sublime Hidden lest they shine their light A tongue that few remain to write Read not with mind but open heart The prayers of those who did depart A plea to Elders far or near A wish that none would ever hear Children abandoned to the dark Leave desperate words etched out of spark A contract with the very stone Still holds the dreams they called their own

Realm Lore

Failing Upward

Where Are the Fae?

They have been gone for so very long. You cannot hope to find them. You who toils in arts and crafts like a child. As if you could understand the complexities of summoning their kind, you barely understand the will of the axe in your hand. But, it seems, you must try to seek them out. For Queen and Country? For Nightingale? For yourself? And, if you do, how do you imagine you can coerce them to betray themselves? To offer themselves? Oh yes, Gloriana ensorcelled her Prince Consort, but you are not her. You do not have her charms. You do not have her wit. How little you understand what you are seeking. No, no, no, leave them be. Perhaps play house instead. Settle the lands, build a home. Grow old if you must, but forget the Fae. Forget the Summer Court. Forget me if you dare.

Realm Lore

Oberon and Elizabeth

A Historic Tale of Romance, Mystery and Woe

Act 1, Scene 2 <i>Day.</> 1569, in the throne room of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Slight and graceful she sits, wearing a lightly powdered wig. <i>Enter Courtier.</> <i>Courtier.</> My liege, may I present John Dee, accompanied by the Prince of the Summer Court Fae, Oberon. <i>Enter John Dee, Oberon, and Oberon’s page.</> John Dee walks joyfully forward. Oberon follows, dressed vibrantly, spinning and gazing around with all the awe and decorum of a child. His page follows at a distance, head low. <i>Elizabeth.</> [<i>smiling</>] You return. Oberon turns to find the source of her voice. As his eyes settle on her tiny form, he pauses, before letting out a boisterous laugh. All in the room look away in horror. Elizabeth, stunned, cannot help but stare.

Realm Lore

The true history of that irritant, Hope-

As transcribed by Edgar Allan Poe

Before we met them, we were utterly different. We’d been created, yes, in a particular disposition, but our creators were artists, and we art—living art—formed from their own empyrean. So, to now-me, then-me is incomprehensible—like looking at a memory of an etching through a scratched lens. (Even these words—lens, scratch, etching, memory, looking—all of these were impossibly foreign to our pre-encounter existence.) We were separated from one another, mostly, but like raindrops running down a glass, it only ever felt momentary—flowing together was inevitable, we thought. Today, of course, we consider ourselves quite, quite separate… I was contemplating a lunar system at the time, I remember, and had been for distance/ages (perhaps everywhere/forever). But an arc was worrying at my lamina, and I went to realign it, restrain it and bring it into my…my…aril? Order? System? The concepts aren’t there… Anyway, in grasping it, I came to recognise that it too had an inherent system, simple but fascinating, and it was my integument that collapsed. I sloughed dimensions to understand, focused down…and became as I am now. And that was my first encounter with the humans.

Tarot Reading

Seeking Guidance

'How do I survive in the Realms?'

The Moon: Our first card… Full of fear, the path ahead lies obfuscated. You find yourself in lands unknown.

Tech Tree Lore

Abeyance Site of Power Cleared

Magick flows freely through the Heart of the Realm, now cleansed of despair.

The <tl>Portal to Sylvan's Cradle</> awaits in <tl>The Crossways</>.

Tech Tree Lore

Magwytch Marshes Site of Power Cleared

Magick flows freely through the Heart of the Realm, now cleansed of despair.

The <tl>Portal to Gloriana's Tears</> awaits in <tl>The Crossways</>.

Tech Tree Lore

Nightingale Lies Within Your Reach

The City Card quietly vibrates with a nostalgic pull

Nightingale can be reached after building a Remote Transept.

Tech Tree Lore

Radiant Site of Power Cleared

Magick flows freely through the Heart of the Realm, now cleansed of despair.

The <tl>Triad of Portals to The Gauntlet</> awaits in <tl>The Crossways</>.

Tech Tree Lore

Sombre Site of Power Cleared

Magick flows freely through the Heart of the Realm, now cleansed of despair.

The <tl>Portal to Hollowed Moor</> awaits in <tl>The Crossways</>.

Tech Tree Lore

Sylvan's Cradle Site of Power Cleared

Magick flows freely through the Heart of the Realm, now cleansed of despair.

The <tl>Portal to Welkin's Reach</> awaits in <tl>The Crossways</>.

Tech Tree Lore

The Court of Heart's army has been defeated

Humanity's Hope — stolen and perverted by the Court of Hearts — is free once more

The Automaton Queen lies vanquished at my feet, and from the fragments of Despair, Hope is reborn

Tech Tree Lore

Welkin's Reach Site of Power Cleared

Magick flows freely through the Heart of the Realm, now cleansed of despair.

The <tl>Portal to Magwytch Marshes</> awaits in <tl>The Crossways</>.

Tutorials

A Letter to Tully

Tully, you would never believe me unless you could see it with your own eyes! Father Almighty, I saw it and even I can scarcely think it true! You know that job I took, the infrastructure project in the plaza outside the NTTC? We broke ground around a fortnight ago. Hard work, the bedrock is tough as nails in these parts and those rich bastards across the street complained like nothing else about the noise. But Tully, underneath the city there’s a whole labyrinth of Fae buildings! Black as night with gold woven through, alien as anything I’ve ever seen! We’ve been told to be hush about it, I hear they’re going to bury it below a statue and hide it from the rest of the people. Could you imagine the outcry if news of this were to get out?

Tutorials

Acquiring Essence

How to Play

Essence can be traded for unlocks in the Progression menu. Acquire Essence by extracting items in your inventory or as rewards for completing encounters and quests.

Tutorials

Advanced Crafting

How to Play

Resources in Nightingale have various attribute modifiers. Resourceful Realmwalkers can, in turn, use different resources while crafting to create items that are more powerful than normal. For example, Realmwalkers can opt into creating a refined axe with a blade made of tin or a blade made of iron. Iron increases a tool's damage output while tin increases the damage dealt to weakpoints. Use combinations of resources to create tools that fit your preferences. As you gain more complex recipes for higher power tools, more opportunities to mix and match resources to craft even stronger tools will arise. Augmentations and Minor Realm Cards can also have an effect on the crafting result. Experiment with different Augmentations, materials, and Realm Cards to build stronger tools! Note: There are soft and hard caps to attribute increases. When a soft cap is reached, attributes will increase at a lower rate. At the hard cap, further increases will not be possible.

Tutorials

Aid Fellow Survivors

How to Play

A Survivor nearby needs your aid in completing a structure. Help them complete the structure for a reward.

Tutorials

Augmentations

How to Play

Augmentations are placed on or near workbenches and other crafting stations to speed up or modify the results of crafting. A single bench can house a limited number of Augmentations. Discover new Augmentations by purchasing them in the Progression tab. Augmentations can also be used to increase the yield or speed of crafting.

Tutorials

Basics

How to Play

Your Guidebook has information on structures and items necessary for survival. Craft tools to gather better resources and defend yourself in the Realms. When you have no tool equipped or it is sheathed (MMB/B), you can use your fists to defend yourself in a pinch. Punching does not require stamina.

Tutorials

Bastille of Agility

How to Play

An exposed Hope Echo is hidden within a nearby point of interest. Use your jumping and climbing skills to reach it for a reward.

Tutorials

Bastille of Insight

How to Play

A Hope Echo is locked within a Fae structure nearby. Activate all hidden glyphs in the area to receive a reward.

Tutorials

Bastille of Intellect

How to Play

A Hope Echo is locked within a Fae structure nearby. Fae pylons in the area pulse in sequence. Memorise and repeat the sequence for a reward.

Tutorials

Bastille of Might

How to Play

A Hope Echo is locked within a Fae structure nearby. Activating the switch will cause the Bastille to close and creatures to appear. Battle until all waves are defeated for a reward.

Tutorials

Bound to Suffer

The bells. They took another one of us. I’ll never see them again. <i>Confinement seems to have done quite a number on your mental faculties.</> Perhaps. What am I saying? Am I at my wits’ end? <i>You've stopped praying for salvation. No one is coming. Better to pray for the sweet release of death.</> They don’t want us to die. They want us to suffer. Twice a day, they throw us scraps of food, barely enough to keep us going. <i>It’s like they want you to cling to the hope of ever leaving this nightmare, only for them to take it away.</> The inhuman sounds these monsters make while they torment us. It almost sounds like… <i>They’re deriving pleasure from it.</> I hear the bells again. We’re next.

Tutorials

Build Mode

How to Play

Build mode allows Realmwalkers to edit the placement of workbenches, furniture, augments and storage. It also allows Realmwalkers to destroy structure pieces or remove the blueprint.

Tutorials

Building

How to Play

You will learn schematics you can use to place and construct buildings and objects. Open your Guidebook and go to the Building tab to view available schematics.

Tutorials

Building Structures

How to Play

You can place structures in the world to build a home, craft new tools or unlock other useful gameplay effects. Choose structures to build from the 'Building' section of your Guidebook. Once you place a structure, it will indicate to you what resources you need to complete it. Structures can be modified in 'Edit Mode' ('X' Key or 'D-Pad Down').

Tutorials

Building Traits

How to Play

Building traits modify the function of certain structures. The environment and nearby structures determine which traits the structure has. For example, a bedroll is more effective when it's in a warm, dry place.

Tutorials

But for the hammer

A Poem from Virgin’s Veil

For the loss of a hammer, we lost a Realm. One small hammer, that my father bought for two bob. That he gave me as a leaving present That I treasured and took to the Realms. That came with me to Virgin’s Veil. To the fort in the pass. Where I was chief chippy and proud. One small hammer. That I was nailing together planks with. That Odd Henery borrowed to fix his barrow. That he ‘forgot’ to return when the caravan left. That meant I couldn’t fix the wood together. That meant I had to tie the last planks up. That meant the main gate was weak in the middle.

Tutorials

Cause for Celebration

Master Quatermain: The latest field report came with a curious but fortuitous discovery that you should find most promising. Earlier reports of abnormalities in the behaviours and patterns of the Realms’ wisps had me send a most eager group of Realmwalkers to look into the matter. Through observation, they noted how certain wisps have taken to gathering in strange clusters, as if moths to a flame or bees to their queen. Upon dispersal, the wisps uncovered a before unseen type of Essence, which the team managed to retrieve and return to me. Through extraction and careful study, I’ve determined the source of this new Essence to be human Hope. Though, how Hope came to be the origin of this Essence, I cannot yet say. Up until now, Essence has been quintessentially Fae, but I posit that humanity’s increased presence in the Realms post-Calamity may have something to do with it. I shall continue my research, but I do not believe the implications of this discovery should go without celebration. There <i>is</> Hope in these Realms, Quatermain! What better way to bolster our fortitude than to celebrate these Sparks of Hope? Agatha Harris

Tutorials

Charms

How to Play

Charms are similar to Enchantments, meant to imbue a Realmwalker's gear to increase one's abilities. You can find them in chests, as rewards for quests, and they can be crafted at an Enchanter's Focus. Recipes for Charms can be learned in the Progression tab under 'Magick'. Charms provide conditional bonuses and effects to your combat and exploration abilities. You can apply one Charm per item. Applying a second Charm to an item will overwrite the previous one. Charms only provide their bonuses when the item they are applied to is equipped. Charms will not provide stacking bonuses.

Tutorials

Charms

How to Play

Charms are items that may be applied to your equipment in your inventory to boost your Realmwalking abilities.

Tutorials

Clear the Enemies

How to Play

Hostile creatures occupy a nearby point of interest. Defeat the corruption that is summoning them into the Realm for a reward.

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Consumables

How to Play

Equip them in the consumables tab of the inventory.

Tutorials

Cooking

How to Play

Cooking food is important to surviving in the Realms. Besides preventing starvation, cooked food will provide a variety of bonuses. Food is cooked on a Cooking Station. These stations require you to provide fuel in order to create cooked food. Find items to cook, create a Cooking Station, provide fuel and ignite the fire to create meals that will help you survive.

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Defend Fellow Survivors

How to Play

Survivors need your aid in defending their structures from attacking creatures. Protect the structures until all waves are defeated for a reward.

Tutorials

Desert Heat

How to Play

The sweltering heat of the Desert drains the stamina of exposed Realmwalkers. Seek shade or use an umbrella to mitigate the heat.

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Eanach Blight

How to Play

The waters of Swamp Realms are hazardous to wade in. Long exposure times result in contracting Eanach Blight.

Tutorials

Emotes

How to Play

Several emotes are available to use to express yourself. Z (Hold) - Opens a radial menu with several emotes to choose from. Certain puzzles may require their use.

Tutorials

Enchantment

How to Play

You can imbue your tools with magickal Enchantments to provide additional actions. You can apply Enchantments by opening the context menu on the Enchantment in your inventory and selecting 'Apply'. Note: Only mainhand tools can be imbued with Enchantments. Ranged weapons and offhand tools may not be enchanted. Enchantment recipes are unlocked in the Progression tab of your Guidebook. Though rare, you can also find them in chests or as rewards for completing encounters. Build an Enchanter's Focus to craft Enchantments. Tool Enchantments will be displayed in your inventory with the item tool tip information. To activate an Enchantment, press the Ability key to prime the Enchantment, then use your Primary Action to cast it. If a tool has multiple Enchantments, hold the Ability key to select between them.

Tutorials

Enchantments

How to Play

Apply Enchantments to your tools in your inventory to cast powerful incantations and spells.

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Equipment

How to Play

You can equip items to increase your stats and your ability to survive the Realms. From your inventory, you can equip/unequip clothing and gear items through the context menu or by dragging them to the appropriate slot. Tools and consumables can be equipped to the hot bar by right clicking and selecting Equip. You can cycle through your hot bar items while exploring using the '1–0' keys or the scroll wheel (D-Pad Left/Right on gamepad).

Tutorials

Essences

Hermetic Primer: Magick

Essence. Much studied, yet barely understood. What we, the Calcularia, have gleaned thus far is this: they are the fundamental building blocks of all things in the Realms. Each is, itself, a potent piece of a Realm’s magickal constitution, imbued with its own unique character. For this power, they are highly valued, useful in a variety of enchantments and imbuements. Their acquisition, however, is often difficult, relying on still imprecise science. Despite our efforts, Essence has never been successfully extracted from any material on Earth, begging a much larger question… - Ada Lovelace

Tutorials

Estate

How to Play

Placing your Estate Cairn marks a safe area to build your Estate! Should you lose consciousness in your Abeyance Realm, you will be returned to your Estate Cairn.

Tutorials

Excerpts from Cerddi Taliesin

Elegy of the Nameless Warrior

Nameless Warrior, blade in hand, shall ne’er lay down her sword No foe too great or battle long to slow her as she roared For all her deeds and feats of strength, she surely was adored And every soul who watched her fight, their love they would award But even during times of peace, she craved the coming horde Nameless Warrior, blade in hand, she watches from afar Her wish for battle answered swiftly as a falling star From deep below spewed blackest mist and creatures most bizarre Now finally a group of challengers had come to spar She led a band of fighters there, brought to the abattoir

Tutorials

Excerpts from Cerddi Taliesin

Lament of the Wisp

An Elder crafts Fae just as man crafts a chair A tool or a puppet, but never an heir Now living, they wish for a Maker to care But bored with the building, they’re cast from the lair Like a toy, set aside when the playtime is done No warmth but the soft, distant touch of the sun Truly poor comfort for a life just begun Resentful, they seek not to be merely one Rage bids them tear free of the bindings of fate Claws deep in the flesh of the Realm, they create They aim then to build themself one equal mate Instead, comes a being of starlight innate

Tutorials

Excerpts from Cerddi Taliesin

The Fears of Fae

A soft blue light from place to place, Remember where it goes But wonder you who placed it there? What purpose may it pose? Though it seems but a simple game, It hides a great reward The thing that Fae cannot command, Imprisoned with a ward A magick of the human sort, Unique from all before Golden gleam of manifest Hope, A remnant of days yore

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Excerpts from Cerddi Taliesin

Ballad of the Bound

The fields have burned Our home is gone The Bound are here The lines are drawn Haxan, Vermin, Knight, or Fiend Who now comes to call? With beasts on the horizon, Flee or raise your maul The Haxan casts a vicious spell The Vermin comes to gnaw The Knight then wields its mighty blade The Fiend bears teeth and claw

Tutorials

Excerpts from Cerddi Taliesin

The Journey of Taliesin

You know me now as Chief of Bards My fate spelled out in teller’s cards As one who journeyed far from man Learning from Fae when time began But hear that I have many names And have been fond of many games Gwion, Taliesin, Radiant Brow Was not always who they are now Before I was renowned for song, I sought my fame, I travelled long To greatest heights I oft would climb And claim such treasures lost to time

Tutorials

Excerpts from Cerddi Taliesin

Guardians of Samhain

Farewell, young Summer. Make way for darker half As we appease spirits with slaughtered calf Let’s feast and gather near bonfire’s cleansing power Our guises protect from Autumnal Fae’s hour <i>Aos sí</> dance with us. By masks, their faces hidden Rev’rent, yet fearless, our offerings are given Should these gifts be received, food and drink taken Autumn’s court vows mercy when Winter waken With Fae come old kin, souls released at first gloam Unless remembered, their feet will ever roam So make space for them at both table and fire And dance with their memories ‘round waning pyre Before embers fade, we harvest the flame And bring them to rest in hearths all the same With powers of darkness and blight now made thin Rest well my fellow Guardians of Samhain

Tutorials

Favours

How to Play

On completion of an encounter in a Realm, you may be awarded a Favour. You may select one of three Favours to earn. Upon selection, an awarded Favour will provide you with a bonus or benefit for a limited duration. Watch for Hope Echoes that spawn in an encounter area to gain these benefits. Use them to gain an advantage in exploring the Realms!

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Final Moments

The Lost Calcularian Crew

<i>Albert Watson</> … I made it. Such a geo-gravitational pull. Unheard of. Where’s my notebook? I need to— My legs… I can’t…feel them. Guess I’m not going far, then… The others… Did anyone else make it? If I could just… Argh! That’s better. A good view. I deserve that. Ah. The stars… My old friends. You were always…there for me, weren’t you? … And to think we came so far just to…see you again. I hope the others...had more luck than I did. Hell, what am I saying? As if luck had anything to do with— ‘... Yex…’ What was…? Who? ‘... Rōdhō idh yus tīwēdh…’ Yeah…that…sounds about…right…

Tutorials

Font of Authority

How to Play

Gain control over all pillars from the Font of Authority to gain rewards or reveal new passageways. Stand your ground and defend each pillar from enemies. When a pillar is under your control, it will change to blue and rise to its full height. Enemies might take back control over an unattended pillar. If this happens, the pillar's colour will return to red. Enemies will continue to spawn until players have gained control over all pillars. The Font of Authority will be complete when all pillars are blue and at full height.

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Font of Secrecy

How to Play

Complete a three-part ritual to reveal a locked or hidden passageway. First, locate hidden glyphs to activate the stones surrounding the ritual circle. There will be one hidden glyph per stone. Next, examine the ritual circle and the surrounding stones. Identify the stones that are directly connected to the central pillar in the ritual circle via the blue magick lines. Interact with these stones to point their energy forward to re-establish their connection with the ritual circle, or point their energy up to break their connection with the ritual circle. After redirecting the magickal energy from the stones to the central pillar, interact with the puzzle button to lower the barrier separating the ritual circle from the stones. If the magick has been redirected correctly, a hidden message will appear. To complete the Font of Secrecy, follow the directions provided in that message using the correct emote from the Emote Menu.

Tutorials

Gathering Resources

How to Play

Crude resources can be gathered with no tools. Approach a resource and press [Interact] to collect it. Stones: Found on the ground, especially near rocky terrain. Sticks: Found on the ground in forests. Can also be collected from small saplings and dropped by Sere Eoten. Plant Fibre: Found throughout the Realms by plucking plants and bushes. Berries: Found on shrubs dotted across the Realms.

Tutorials

Growing Plants

How to Play

Certain structures such as plant boxes allow you to grow your own flowers, herbs and vegetables. Plant a few seeds, water them and watch them grow!

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Guidebook

Hermetic Primer: Realmwalking

The Realms are dangerous at the best of times, but, as an intrepid explorer, one who aims to discover all the Realms have to offer, you are not without invaluable tools. In order to survive well within the wilds and to realise the true potential of a Realmwalker, we bequeath this Hermetic Guidebook to you. Along with the Pocketwatch, these two tools work in tandem to shepherd Realmwalkers, even tapping into the arcane Echoes of those who have come before. Newly acquired knowledge and discoveries will manifest within to aid you in not only surviving, but prospering. - Allan Quatermain

Tutorials

Hope

Hermetic Primer: Survival

Even in the darkest moments, humans will carry on. Ours is a perseverance that never wavers, that which makes us distinctly human. When Pandora opened her box, all the ills flew from its confines, until only Hope remained. Whether it was intended as a Fae Elder’s curse or blessing, we have turned it to our advantage. An increase in the Echoes of Hope of late only reinforces what latent magick we humans carry within us. Above all else, we must believe in a better tomorrow and continue to live in Hope, lest we all succumb to despair. - Dame Micawber

Tutorials

Hope’s Favour

‘Who can tell me what this place is?’ <i>Muffled laughter. Their first outing from the travelling village since arriving in this new Realm, and they’re more than a touch restless.</> ‘Alright, you rowdy lot. This is class time, not a vacation. Where are we?’ <i>‘Fae ruins!’</> ‘Very good, and what was their purpose?’ <i>‘To live inside?’</> ‘Not quite. This place holds something very special. Something rare, even to we Druids. Follow me; it’s just ahead.’ <i>The Favour calls out, magick growing as the group walks single file toward it. Now intrigued, the children stay silent, feeling the pull increase. For those Realm-born, it seems both familiar and foreign. A piece of the home they’ve never seen.</> ‘Ah, here we are.’ <i>In the centre of a crumbling hall, it glimmers like embers rising from a fire, swirling with long forgotten symbols.</>

Tutorials

Infusions

How to Play

Infusions are stat bonuses that can be applied to equipment. Similar to Charms, only one may be applied to an item at a time. New infusions will overwrite previous ones. Infusions may be crafted at the Enchanter's Focus. Infusions may also be found in chests or as rewards for quests. Unlike Charms, Infusions provide unconditional bonuses to items.

Tutorials

Infusions

How to Play

Infusions can be applied in the Inventory to provide stat bonuses to the equipment they are applied to.

Tutorials

Injuries

How to Play

Certain situations you get into may result in injury. Injuries inflict a temporary effect that could greatly impact your ability to survive. Injuries take place in two stages. Each stage increases the impact of the injury on your ability to survive. Injuries may be healed with the use of salves or resting.

Tutorials

Inventory

How to Play

Manage your backpack items and hot bar slots from your inventory. Right click/select an item to access the context menu for additional management actions. Equip/Unequip: Available on consumables, gear, clothing and tools. Repair: Recovers an item's durability to max. Extract: Available for refined items and certain resources. Turns the item into Tier 1 Essence. Drop: Drops the item on the ground. The item can be picked up again. You can sort your backpack by several methods with the 'Sort' button in the bottom bar. There are also multiple tabs in your inventory you can find on the left side of your inventory window. Backpack: Your main inventory. Realm Cards: Stores all your aquired Realm Cards. Realm Cards do not weigh anything, and there is no limit to how many you can carry. Essence: You can extract or drop Essence from this tab. Consumables: You can designate multiple consumables for use in the consumable radial wheel here. The first slot will always be available with quick consume. You may hold the quick consume button to access the other equipped consumables.

Tutorials

Item Durability

How to Play

Your equipment takes damage as it is used. Eventually, these items will become broken and unusable. You can repair broken equipment. Repairing costs Tier 1 Essence. You can repair an item from your inventory by right clicking/selecting the broken item.

Tutorials

Lost to the Hunt

‘Easy now, don’t strain that leg.’ She helped me gently onto a dry cot of branches, hair wreathing her face in the golden sun. I protested, as was required, but her smile held. She had never wavered in all our years together. Even now, home long behind us and our final borrowed Realm Card exhausted, she held fast. ‘You’ll look after him, while I find us something to eat?’ She nodded toward the grisled man behind her, prodding our pitiful fire with empty eyes. ‘Don’t be long, please.’ ‘He’s not so terrible.’ She laughed, deflecting, but I knew she understood. I could see the sweat on her brow, how her hands clenched tight. What lay outside this camp was far beyond either of our meagre imaginings. One gentle kiss graced my forehead, and she left.

Tutorials

Magick

Hermetic Primer: Magick

Of all our innovations, few intrigue and dazzle the masses more than our work with magick. While many believe it to be a force beyond our comprehension, the learned know it to be governed simply by a set of rules, much the same as mathematics or physics. Magick, like the bonds between atoms, is a contract between pieces of our material reality, written in mutable terms. These terms, with sufficient study, can easily be understood, and what can be understood can be controlled. - Ada Lovelace

Tutorials

Map

How to Play

The map shows discovered Points of Interest and allows you to place beacons and stamps.

Tutorials

Minor Realm Cards

How to Play

Minor Realm Cards can be used at a Realmic Transmuter to apply their effects.

Tutorials

Navigation

How to Play

Use your navigation tools to help explore the Realms and discover new things. Use your compass, map and a spyglass to orient yourself and spot nearby important locations. On your map, you can place beacons and stamps to mark locations for tracking. Fellow Realmwalkers in your active party will be able to see beacons you place on your map.

Tutorials

Ode to Yex

A Hymn

Yex, the Given Sweet blessing of Momus Servant of Prince, of Fae, of man Yex, the Given To serve and preserve us Bring Summer and glory again (Again)

Tutorials

Open the Portal

How to Play

Opening a Fae Portal to a new Realm is dangerous. The Bound will emerge from the inter-Realmic void to attack you. Defend yourself until the Portal opens.

Tutorials

Portals

How to Play

Portals are your means of travelling to new Realms and ultimately getting back to Nightingale. The Crossways in the Abeyance serves as your hub to the Storied Realms of Nightingale. You may also construct your own Portals, which require a Synchronous Lotus and work similarly to Fae Portals. You may then use Realm Cards at your own Portals or Fae Portals to navigate to unexplored Untamed and Temporal Realms.

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Progression

How to Play

You can find new crafting recipes and structures in the Progression tab of your Guidebook.

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Realm Cards

How to Play

Realm Cards can be used as gateways to new Realms as well as to alter the current Realm. Major Card: Play these to enter Storied, Untamed and Temporal Realms. Minor Card: Play these to modify the Realm in unique ways. These can only be played at a Realmic Transmuters found or built within the Realm. Only one may be active at a time. Your connection to the new Realm will remain active until you close it. A Portal can only have a single active connection to one other Realm at a time.

Tutorials

Refinement

How to Play

Refinement is the process of taking one resource and turning it into something new. Refined resources are typically required for more advanced recipes and structures. At a refinement station, you can refine many of a single item at once. This refinement process takes time, and you can see the progress in the refinement screen as well as in world over the station. You can pick up refined items as soon as they are ready; you do not need to wait for all of the items to complete. Refer to your Guidebook schematics and recipes to get information about how to obtain the refined resources you require.

Tutorials

Rescue Survivors

How to Play

Help the people of the realms escape to gain rewards and companions. Use all your survival tools to help them navigate. Smash down obstacles, build paths and protect them as you take them to the designated safe zone. You can find the safe zone on your compass, map, and by looking for the glowing hat.

Tutorials

Resource Collection

How to Play

Some resources require a tool in order to collect. Craft tools from your Guidebook or at a Workbench in order to gather more useful materials. Logs: Gathered by chopping trees with an axe. Stone and Ore: Gathered by mining larger rocks and ore deposits with a mining pick. Hide, Bone and Meat: Gathered by skinning wildlife with a hunting knife. Fine fibre: Collected from plants in their natural state with a sickle.

Tutorials

Respite

How to Play

Your Respite is considered your current home. You can have only one designated Respite at a time. This can be set via interaction with any Estate Cairn. You can move your Respite by building a new Estate Cairn and setting it as your current Respite, or by using Build Mode to move your current Estate Cairn. NOTE: you will lose the ability to fast travel to your previous Respite! Whether in your Abeyance Realm or another Realm, you can travel to your Respite with your Pocketwatch. Go to your map (M) and press the 'Return to Respite' button. You may also return to The Crossways from the map at any time as well.

Tutorials

Respite

Hermetic Primer: Survival

The Pocketwatch, which you should ensure is always upon your person, serves several purposes, least of which is a fail-safe to return you to Nightingale City. Should you ever find yourself in the most dire of circumstances, simply use the watch to whisk yourself to safety. Should further misfortune befall you—or dare we suggest that something ill may befall the beacon that is Nightingale—the Pocketwatch will endeavour to return you to a safe locale of your choosing. - Allan Quatermain

Tutorials

Rested

Hermetic Primer: Status Effect

If you find yourself adventuring in the Realms, proper rest and care will take you far. A worst case scenario is to find yourself flagging while a Sanglier pursues you. No matter what trials and tribulations you face throughout, it’s always best to get a good night’s rest, preferably somewhere warm and safe. - Nellie Bly

Tutorials

Resting

How to Play

A bedroll requires a minimum amount of comfort before you can rest on it. Try building the bedroll under shelter!

Tutorials

Return to The Crossways

How to Play

You can return to The Crossways in your Abeyance at any time by pressing the 'Return to The Crossways' button in your map.

Tutorials

Shelter

Hermetic Primer: Survival

The heart of a wanderer is always on the road, but there is something to be said for a place to come home to, or at least somewhere to rest one's head and keep their belongings. Should you find yourself far from home with no way back, there are other ways to find shelter. Look towards the rocks, for you may find caves within which to take cover—though beware that there may be more within the depths than you were anticipating. - Allan Quatermain

Tutorials

Siege

How to Play

Defend the caches of supplies from the waves of Bound invaders. The encounter will end when all Bound waves are defeated OR all caches are destroyed. If the Bound destroy all the caches, speak to the NPC to restart the encounter.

Tutorials

Stamina

How to Play

Stamina is spent to perform actions in game, such as sprinting, climbing and using tools. While resting, comfort levels determine base stamina regeneration. Comfort can be increased by building amenities such as heat and shelter near beds or bedrolls. Other structures and decorations may also affect comfort levels. You can also manipulate your stamina pool and regeneration with food, potions and equipment.

Tutorials

Starving/Well-Fed

Hermetic Primer: Status Effect

How is a man supposed to eat in these accursed Realms? A mighty feast of steak and kidney pudding is hard to come by. We make do with what we can, but it is far from the fare that I am accustomed to in Nightingale. Fortunately, should one search far enough, they are able to find some spices to add a bit of flavour. Food is more than just sustenance; it is a lifestyle. - Henry Hyde

Tutorials

Storage

How to Play

If your backpack is getting too heavy, you can build storage structures like an Angling Basket to store your extra items while you travel.

Tutorials

Structures and Crafting

Hermetic Primer: Survival

The key to any sort of crafting or experimentation is a well-organised space. Ensuring you have everything at hand lowers the risk of accident while increasing effectiveness. To obtain the best results, it is imperative that your tools and augmentations suit each other. You would not have a dress form next to a cooking pot if you intended to enchant a weapon. By appropriately leveraging our tools and augmentations, there is evidence to suggest there may even be lasting, tangible benefits to the person. A place for everything, and everything in its place, as they say. - Dame Micawber

Tutorials

Succumbing to Perils

How to Play

When your health hits 0, you will fall unconscious, you will lose any active buffs, and your items' durability will be reduced. You will respawn at the closest Respite, Lodestar or Portal.

Tutorials

Survival

How to Play

You must take care of yourself if you hope to survive the dangers of the Realms. Health: If your health drops to 0, then you will be knocked unconscious. Other Realmwalkers or Survivors may help you up. Hunger: Impacts your maximum health and stamina as well as the rate you regenerate lost health. Manage by eating raw or prepared food. Comfort: Impacts your health and stamina regeneration. Shelter: Impacts your exposure to harsh elements such as rain, hail, cold and heat. Manage by building a house or crafting an umbrella. Get detailed information on your active status effects through your inventory.

Tutorials

Synchronous Lotus

How to Play

Synchronous Lotuses are Fae relics that resonate with the energy of the Realms. They are an invaluable resource for building magickal structures, such as Portals and Lodestars. They are easier to find in Untamed Realms and can be obtained by exploring Fae Towers and Vaults.

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The Call of the Tower

Such chaos, I can scarcely recall it. The sickly, rolling fog, bodies rushing to the Transept, herded through like cattle, mad with fear. The horrible roar of the crowd as we were forced forward by the sea of bodies. Mothers screaming for their children, Companymen shouting orders, the stampede of boots on stone. Then silence as I was thrust into the Portal. The inter-Realmic void swallowed me, and, as I felt myself drifting, I saw a figure. Much like a man, but with great horns and a face of porcelain. It beckoned, and, in my desperation, I could do naught but follow. Now, I find myself here, alone. There were so many of us flooding through, they must be near, somewhere. I cannot be the only one.

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The Last Empyrean Works

A Translation from Old Norse

I was warned that these ‘Álfar’, <i>Empyrean elves</>, were a strange people, but, when the elders sent me to observe their rites, I did not expect this. Crossing this leg of the Network, I was met by awaiting elves who had me accompany an architect by the name of Forseti—one of the many responsible for this great construct. The construct appeared like a sort of vast well, dug deep into the soil and rock, farther down than one could see, lest one risk leaning over its precipice. I thought to, so that I might better explain their works, but Forseti held a sturdy arm ahead to stop me. There is a Portal, he told me, at the deepest depth. Meant not for us to travel, but to pull something else—not only through, but <i>down</>—from the very heavens. Andlang itself. They called it the ‘Demiurge’. Spoke of it like a God. And then the Portal came to life. What came through was not this ‘Demiurge’—though a God it may have been.

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The Lost Souls of Nightingale

Miss Casey really has the prettiest eyes in all of Nightingale City. No, dare I say, the world? Shining like amber, glittering and perfect. She came by the factory the other day to drop off the weekly rations and I could not catch my breath! I am besotted, captured and helpless. The word in the quarter is that the Calcularia will find a way to reverse the Pale. Soon, we’ll be able to leave this place! When that happens I am going to invite Miss Casey to accompany me to the fields outside the city. We will have buttered scones along the banks of the Oberon, perhaps I will even see if I can buy some of that overpriced tea left in the Royal District!

Tutorials

The Queen’s Call

The Marshes held a disquieting serenity to them that night. No breeze passed through the gnarled trees. No stirrings roused the murky waters. Not even a cricket sang in the rough grasses. All was calm. Dark. It called to Hedrek. Away from the warm hearths of the town he wandered, breathing in the stagnant air as if it were life itself. Magwytch Town was secure, familiar, but <i>busy</>. Here, in the stillness, solitude was freedom. He relished in it even as a sharp gust blew across his scalp. He closed his eyes as another came. Then another. And another. Accompanied by the flapping of leathered wings and a soul-piercing screech.

Tutorials

The Scientific Perspective

Memory of a Calcularian

Gathered with bated breath, you and your Calcularian colleagues stare intently at the swaying arch of branches over the path ahead. As the wind slows, the branches of either side nearly contact at their apex. With each approach, a palpable tension, followed by a sigh as they drift apart. Then, with one final gust, the branches meet. You flinch at the sudden eruption of light as a Portal swirls to life in the formerly vacant space. While you envy those the Calcularia assigned to the engineering marvel that is the Fourth Transept, you now relish the opportunity presented to you. 1867 had marked an incredible leap forward in mankind’s capabilities, and yet these natural Portals form the building blocks of it all. A much more revelatory experiment than their laboratory counterparts. With a grin, you ready yourself for the dive.

Tutorials

Tier 1 Essence

How to Play

Essence is a magickal resource you can extract or earn from a variety of sources, such as completing encounters and harvesting raw materials. It is used to unlock schematics and blueprints from the Progression tab, as well as for crafting, building and repairing items. You can primarily retrieve Essence by completing encounters, chasing wisps or extracting it from refined resources. You can repair damaged items using Tier 1 Essence. Right click a damaged item in your inventory and choose Repair. Higher Tiered Essences can be found in Realms outside of the Abeyance Realm.

Tutorials

Tools

How to Play

Tools you craft can be used to gather resources and defend yourself in the Realms. LMB - Primary Action: Use the tool on a resource or a target. RMB - Secondary Action R, F - Tool Abilities You can get detailed information on your current tool's functions on the inventory screen by examining the action bar.

Tutorials

Tracking Quests

How to Play

Not every quest will be automatically added to the Quest Tracker on your screen. Use the Quest Atlas to choose which quests you wish to track.

Tutorials

Travels of an Ancient Magickian

Thoughts Reaching Back Two Millennia

It has been some time [...] I now have the means to understand the Faelang tablet. The text still feels quite alien to my eyes, and I imagine it will take a great deal of study to parse all of the knowledge [...] Kallikrates had his many doubts about my work, but now that I see my toils realised [...] he would share my enthusiasm. I miss him dearly when I have such joyous news to share. [...] Jasim is leading yet another expedition into the Worlds Beyond, and I have been invited to follow. It seems he wishes for the aid of [...] not merely to sell me what treasures he finds. They are departing from very near Sana’a, [...] I may find signs of my Kallikrates there. [...] unsure of the answer I will give Jasim, but it would, as well, be opportune to [...]

Tutorials

Traverse the Portal

How to Play

As a Realmwalker in Nightingale, you will traverse many Portals into the Realms. For humans to traverse the Realms, they set their destinations with the use of Realm Cards.

Tutorials

Upgrading Items

How to Play

Tools, firearms and clothing can be upgraded using Essences. Upgrading increases the power level and stats of the item further. Use an Upgrade Bench to upgrade an item's quality.

Tutorials

Warning Echoes

One day I stood upon the shore I stood there tall and proud I thought myself a sailor true No waters could confound So, I built myself a sturdy ship I built her well and strong But waves took over much too fast As if to prove me wrong Here’s our hope, ye lads and lasses Here’s our hope for all Stay ashore, ignore the waves Heed not the siren’s call

Tutorials

Wet

How to Play

You can get wet from rain showers or traversing through water. This effect reduces your stamina regeneration. Shelter will keep you from accumulating further wet status. To alleviate the effects of the wet status more quickly, you can stand by a source of warmth to dry off. You can discover and craft tools, gear and clothing that can also protect you from the rain.

Tutorials

Wet

How to Play

Getting soaked by the rain or wading into water reduces your stamina regeneration.

Whispers (A)

A Modest Proposal

Foreman Cadenus, The number of souls left in this city dwindle by the day, and whomsoever is not taken by Bound will surely be taken by starvation. I yet again humbly offer for your consideration that we make use of the resources we have in abundance to stretch out those we do not. With our Transepts closed and the rest of the world lost in the Pale, our options are limited. Yet even in apocalypse, the people must eat! The Bound are not human, and the Hermetics swear they are not Fae. That leaves flora or fauna, and both are edible. I beg you, consider my proposal. In better times I would never have endeavoured to promote such awful work, but I care only for the publick good of what’s left of our city. Yours, Gulliver

Whispers (A)

For Louise, and then Eddy

Fordham, Jan. 28. 47

Lest I never see you more and this letter is all that finds you — I bid you know I died blessing you. Though I extend my love, my heart is heavy with fear. Not for my life which is all but lost, but for my Eddy. I have caught the smell of wine in his kisses. Darling...be a friend to him. Do not forsake my poor Eddy — lest his unhappiness and misfortune take him prematurely. Now, for my Heart, my Life, my Eddy — Remember your words to me: “Keep up your heart in all hopefulness, and trust yet a little longer.” Dearest, I will never never leave you. Though I may be removed from this world with its sin and care, I will persist as your guardian angel, and what gifts you have given me I will return tenfold. Yet when you cannot trust in me, trust instead in yourself. No man alive has ever had such capacity for love, devotion, and persistence in this uncongenial, unsatisfactory, and ungrateful life as you. Continue — if not for me, then for you. Heaven bless you, for you have given life in death to your darling little wife, Virginia E. Poe

Whispers (A)

Re: Onward to Nightingale

Whispers of Nightingale City

Dear Mrs. Astor, I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to let you know that my family and I are planning on making our way to Nightingale City using the Transept Portal. Viscountess Mandville says that the city is the only safe haven from the dangerous fog we have been hearing about. We are preparing to leave shortly, after securing provisions for the journey. If you should need anything in these trying times, do not hesitate to ask. Yours, Alva Vanderbilt

Whispers (A)

The Long and Storied History of the Nightingale Inn

Furniss Family Archives

<i>Original text translated from Cornish </> Nones of October, 1102 Chief Druid Ancel, The magick you weave whispers through the trees even here, and it is most heartening to receive your missive. I thank you once again for sending news of the monarchy’s foolhardy games. Let us hope that, with only one of William The Conqueror’s sons remaining, and their power-hungry warmongering at an end, we will at last see peace across these lands. If you feel it now safe to travel, the Inn stands ready to welcome you and all our fellows on your pilgrimage to Boscawen-Un. Construction was finished just days ago, and we now begin the task of clearing well the path to the ritual site. I am ever thankful for the desertion of this place. Not one traveller has graced our path as long as we have remained here, and so, near the rocky, blustering coast, I imagine such will always be the case. I hope it pleases you to know I have called the Inn ‘Nightingale’, a sweet song even in darkest night, to guide we Druids home. Ever loyal, Wymarc Furniss

Whispers (B)

From Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, to Nicholas Throckmorton

Throckmorton, The evacuees have been situated safely. We can wait no longer for those who remain in Mordryg Fen. We have already extended more grace than we can afford. Send a team to transport Mordryg Fen’s remaining coal to Queen’s Brae. Afterwards, deactivate the Pale Pylon. That such a thankless task should fall to you is unfortunate, and no doubt your mind will linger on its consequences. I bid you: put them aside and focus instead on what must be done. There will be time enough for regret after we have declared victory. Your actions buy us time. If that time ensures that even just one human survives to see the end of this calamity, then we have won. Even a pyrrhic victory is still a victory. Yours, A.A.L

Whispers (B)

Letters from a Young Explorer

Peters, As you advised, I’ve tracked the Sun Giant through The Gauntlet, keeping a fine distance. So far, it doesn’t seem to have caught a whiff of me at all, the great brute. I must admit to some impatience, and my trigger finger itches to claim its trophy. Your wild claims are all that keep my discipline intact, and, if the beast truly does guard some vast treasure in its lonely hovel, I’ll be returning to the Diogenes Club with unmatched spoils. Can you imagine? Me, fresh from my first independent excursion, carting in heaps of gold and jewels? What a glorious introduction that will make. Expect me soon, joining you as a full-fledged Explorer. Your friend, Jeremiah Grey

Whispers (B)

On the Dealings of Fae

April 12th, 1886

Dr Ellison, Due to the age of the manuscript you requested, I am not at liberty to release it from the library. However, attached to this letter, please find a transcribed collection of relevant excerpts for your consideration. Be aware that the scribe’s preface reveals this information to be compiled, at the behest of Queen Elizabeth, from the subjective accounts of Prince Oberon and his Page. I need not remind you of the Prince’s spurious reputation, and thus I implore you to keep a critical eye when utilising such sources. Regards, Emilia Pembridge --- <b>Introduction to Court Structures</> Paramounte to know is that the Fae dyuide themselues into courts, each ruled by a Lord, Lady, or, at times, both. A court is to Fae both nation and family. Small in size, but immense in power, wyth far reaching polytical relations. These courts form the base of Fae customs, though a strange few courtless choose to lyue outside of thys structure. Courts are classyfied greater or lesser, dependent vpon the bloodlines of both Lord and courtesans. For the immortal Fae, who do not track lyneage as we do, the ‘blood’ they trace refers to the Elder from whom they spawn.

Whispers (B)

Re: Hope’s Truth: The origins of Hope

October 3rd, 1806 Professor Shaw, Cease publication of your article ‘Hope’s Truth’ <b>immediately</>. After reviewing the pages—whose criminally late arrival on my desk has been noted—I cannot, in good conscience, allow it to reach the general public. What madness propelled you to put such ink to paper? To shirk the academic duty to research? To trust in the beguiling falsehoods of Greek mythos? To curse Pandora as the catalyst for Hope rather than praise her? By gods, Shaw, it’s debasing. If I had any sense, I should banish you from The Archives, but meet me here nonetheless. If your honest desire is to share the truth of Hope, it’s time you learned its origin. I’ll have the librarians scrounge the proper materials for you. There are texts you should see. In good faith, Dr Marion Griffiths

Whispers (B)

To Open When You Need a Little Home

June 19, 1783

Ainsley, If you opened this, I suppose you’re missing me. Or missing home, at the very least. Home is good. Calm. I hope you found some calm too. Hope you’re safe. Not certain where you are right now. Never did care for those Portals or bother to understand how those Realms worked. But you did. My magickal prodigy. How a simple fisherman like me raised a gifted child like you, I’ll never know. But I’m proud of you. If I’m honest, I’m not certain what to write you. You were always better with words. I just knew how to keep you fed and read you bedtime stories. Maybe that’s why you left. I fed you adventure too young. But that’s a selfish thought, isn’t it? You should be out there learning. Exploring. You were born for it. I’m happy you’re following your dreams. Anyway, I hope you’re doing well. Miss you. Think of you every time I cast a line. Still got that rod? Cast it and think of me too. Love, Your Father