Labyrinth

Conflicting reports are coming in about unrest in Adratos, a minor disputed region between the Northern Empire and Southern Empire on the continent of Zong-Di Shao. It has the dubious distinction of bordering on the lands of the Northern Empire, Southern Empire, Ezu, the Land of Endless Sky and Dolom.

It has been recorded in all Tharenan ledgers that Adratos is in the Imperial province of Nanteia. I will remind the Northern bandits to leave immediately or face just retribution.

— Notice from Gregon Pantoros, Prefect of Adratos

Me? I've lived in Adratos all my life. Been a Northern Empire place so long as I remember. These thugs rolling in from the South? Trouble if you ask me, we don't want to pay their taxes, and I certainly don't want their bureaucrats counting my goods as theirs. Ah, but I'm just a lowly merchant, ain't I?

— Conversation overheard in a tavern

Information posted by the Word-Keepers on the Market Street.

While our scouts did not move far into the Labyrinth, from the underground meadow we first accessed we identified several potential paths forwards. One is through the town immediately visible from the entrance, belonging to a faction that identifies itself as the Allied Guilds. The other two paths seemed to present much more immediate peril:

Steam Cave — a cave accessable from the meadow. Steam is occasionally seen to come in puffs from the cave's mouth, and the temperature grows hotter as one approaches.
Crevice Maze — Moving down the sides of the cliffs near the town, a stone-walled maze is visible at the bottom. It spans a large area, and at several points seems to contain passageways deeper into the Labyrinth.

A Message posted on a board outside the chapel where the entrance to the Labyrinth is found

Hello people from the world above. My name is Taki, and I am the leader of the Collective of Kind Hands Helping One Another Thrive. We are a society that has been living in the Labyrinth since it first was cut off from the rest of Thyslann.

The Labyrinth can be a very dangerous place and we find it is safer when we help eachother. We hear that many of you are trying to look for a crown in the Labyrinth. To help you, we thought we should let you know about some rooms where you might begin your searches.

The Giant Coral Reef — Located below the illuminated caves where we, the Collective, live. A reef with no water, huge coral, and giant floating fish. Watch out for sharks, jellyfish, and moray eels.
The Wetland — Also located below the illuminated caves. A plain filled with vernal pools where the day and night cycle is faster than in the rest of the Labyrinth. At night there are little glowing lights that appear. Some are harmless, others are not.
The Spire — The base of this giant spire is where we in the Collective farm. It is an easy sight to spot from many of the Allied Guilds’ towns. People tried to climb it before to find out what is at the top, but all have been unsuccessful due to the unpredictable weather near the top.
The Sealed Room — You can see inside through the glass-like substance but we don't think it is glass. There are a lot of plants and some have even seen rain and all kinds of weather inside. There is no proper door to speak of, but one section of it has what seems like a keyhole — though in no shape or configuration anyone has ever seen before.

We hope you stay safe on your adventures. Try not to journey alone and let us know if you need any help.

Numerous delegations from the Northern Empire have been noted heading to Kythara, both from the current Imperial Capital of Venna, and from the regions of Polonia, Corpunia and Altalyria. Generals, scholars, knights, mages and some say spymasters have all been summoned to assist Harol the Black. The Ambassador himself has already arrived on Kythara and taken an old Tharenan villa as his headquarters. Known to be the right hand of Empress Callistian, the Northern Empire looks to be making a significant bid for exploration into the Labyrinth and the riches to be found within.

I heard that there is a delegation from the Junior Empress of the North, Iohanna. You know what else I heard? Her and the Senior Empress are related… yes, both Ssar… yes, but she is from a much later spawning. Means they're close but not that close as I understand it. If she's sending her own people separately that's like all the duchesses of the Empire sending their people there too. Well, yes, they're also doing that. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. Now… about these fees for passage to Kythara…

— From the negotiations between a merchant and shipmaster in Dolom.

Supreme Duke Meleion Kallianos has appointed his only child, Grand Duchess Amalina Kalliani, to command the Southern Empire's expedition to the Labyrinth. While she distinguished herself in her previous command in Southwest Helat, she is still considered by many to be young and inexperienced. Still, the Southern Expedition is filled with professional soldiers and craftsmen along with a hundred or more adventurers hoping to make their fortune, and is backed by the economic might of the empire that sent it.

The Crown of Horns was given by the Guardian to Kallia, and given by Kallia to her child. It is her line, and her line alone, that has a right to bear it in the name of the Guardian. It is with pride, then, that I place my daughter, most venerable Amalina, in command of our expedition to reclaim the birthright of Kallia's heirs. By proud Tharenan hands shall the crown by reclaimed, and upon my daughter's proud head shall it sit.

— From Supreme Duke Meleion Kallianos' announcement of the Southern Empire's expedition

To the surprise of many, the Land of Endless Sky has sent a delegation to the Labyrinth to help the delegation from the Southern Empire. The delegation is headed by Princess Tai-An Aolin, second in line to the throne, and appears to be part of the Emperor’s unprecedented attempts at forging an alliance with the Southern Empire.

This is following the announcement that Princess Tai-An Aolin has been betrothed to Grand Duchess Amalina Kalliani. Some even speculate that the two will be meeting each other for the first time on Kythara.

The head of the Church of the Guardian, Principia Vena XII, has set out from Tharena to Kythara in person, accompanied by a small honour guard of Word-Keepers. She intends to bless the expeditionaries as the Labyrinth is formally opened, and then to remain in session at the Temple of the Scale of the Guardian to mediate discussion between the Northern and Southern delegations.

Merchants across Thyslann are keenly watching the price of goods in the markets of Dolom, the Imperial Capital of Sky, Venna, Thysera and everywhere in-between.

Prices for many goods are fluctuating in unpredictable (to the untrained eye at least) ways since news of the Labyrinth rising have circulated.

Salt? Sell salt, I don't care. The future is in rope! Think how much rope will be needed for climbing down the Labyrinth! We'll be rich Bris! RICH!

— Speculator speculation in a Dolom market

Please apply at the sign of the Rusted Bucket in Anneia. Blacksmiths need not apply, we've drowning in blacksmiths. I have the horseshoes, just need someone to fit them.

— Notice posted in Anneia, Kythara

New to the Labyrinth? Looking for a guide for your expeditions? Then look no further than Natto and Asta!

With years of experience exploring the Labyrinth, they’ll be able to answer any questions you might have. Just look for the white wolf Wildborn with the blue ear.

(This notice was written by Puzl, on behalf of Natto and Asta)

Posted just outside the Labyrinth. Next to the text of the advertisement is a drawing of a white wolf’s head. Their left ear is coloured blue, and looks slightly gooey.

Visitors to the island are reminded to be aware of any subsidence following the re-emergence of the Labyrinth. While aftershocks have now stopped, subsidence and sink holes are still affecting travelling so be cautious. If you suspect you have found a new issue of subsidence please report it to Word-Keeper Dromos in Bigha.