Siege on Vanishing Island
... a chilling mystery churns deep beneath the island of disappearances!
“Has anyone seen the ships?”
“Not for weeks.” The watchman’s tone wavered between hope and dread. Like all denizens of Calcoras, they awaited the mainland's supplies.
Nearby, restless Mystic fishermen cast their hungry nets into the sea from their local haunt, the Fisherman's Hook. The ocean returned their prayers with nothing.
The water seemed unnaturally still, as if holding its breath. Dark hands of foamy waves crept onto the island, dragging crumbling ice and stone into dismal depths. The watchman's stomach knotted.
“This accursed siege will end soon,” one said, “but stay vigilant. If they come for us, it will be from the sea.” Both watched the horizon with an uneasy anticipation.
Beneath the surface of the ocean lies the remnants of the sea-side bastion, Calcoras. Within years of establishing a foothold on the sea, Calcoras was beseiged by enemy forces. Yet descendants of the refugees described a darker presence beneath the swirling waves and rocky shores of the Ruins of Calcoras.
The outpost ruins became a central locale for raiders, but even they feared to linger upon the haunted remains. The land had been devoured by the sea, during one of the most important naval conflicts recorded in the Folk Lore. There were few refugees, but their descendants shared the story of the horrifying events that abandoned Calcoras.
Historical Context
Mystomythian & Aelven Aggressions
The Mystomythian Conflicts were a turbulent era of territorial wars between the primordial Aelves and the unified Mystomythians. Folk were the inevitable successors, claiming the frozen lands of their Aelven foes and dispersing their Tribes.
Both factions committed brutal acts during this expansion. Notably, the Mystomythians' actions led to the creation of the Mer, a savage, ocean-bound species. This enmity sparked the Siege of Calcoras, otherwise known as the Famine Tide.
Origin of the Mer
During the sack of Aefalgar, the Aelven homelands, the Mystomythians drove the Aelves into the icy seas. Struggling for survival, these Aelves used ancient Disciplines to adapt, but the madness of their Magic transformed them into the Mer. Consumed by hatred, the Mer attacked sea vessels and raided coastal towns of Aelves and Folk, alike. Their true nature only came to light with the onset of the Siege of Calcoras and the devestation that followed."Baferi isn't here", the watch man spoke nervously.
They had been searching for the fisherman's daughter since early morning's light. "No sign she was ever here. Perhaps she moved her Domicile inland?"
The watch man considered, "Nay- without telling anyone? I'm uncertain."
He glanced up from the snowy bank and peered into the dark ocean's depths. "There's no tracks- it's as if she vanished. Batheri is the third this week."
Factions & Forces
Mystomythian Conflicts
The Mystomythian Expanse is regarded by Mythologists to be dark history for the Folk. Their Tribal Nations, adapted to the frigid climate and armed with the first vessels of land and sea, were a dominant force in the Ice Age. Thus, Mythologists refer to this icy super-continent as Mystomythia.
Myst & Myth Folk secured vast domains and hunting grounds, agitating the Aelves into drastic action. Aelven Renegades were the first to attempt a coup upon the Folk, ultimately leading to Aefalgar's loss. Aelves and Folk, after hundreds of years of war, settled peace through commerce.
Aelves of the Conflict
The Loss of Aefalgar
The failed assassination of the Folk's Noble Chief triggered a brutal campaign on Aelven soil. Tactical strikes, aided by swift sleds, outmaneuvered the Aelven slings and Spells, while a relentless naval presence secured Mystomythian dominance over Aefalgar. This victory expanded their borders deep into Aelven homelands. The name Aefalgar was held by the Folk as a title of conquest against the Aelves.
Disenfranchised rebels and refugees settled unfamiliar lands. Others sought peace, adapting to a life of civility far from conflict. There were others who harbored deep resentment, viewing their loss as the start of Aelven society's decline, leading to its eventual ruin and extinction. Aelven artifacts capture the fleeting harmony and bitter animosities that lingered after the bloodshed. Aelven and Folk cultures began to assimilate.
After the Conflicts
After an unspoken truce had been established for hundreds of years, the Aelves welcomed new generations of Folk who were less inclined to bloodshed and war. Hunting games resumed, and the Aelves began to settle once more within the unified Mystomythia. Yet many believed Legends that those who were lost or perished at sea, divided by those conflicts, became the Mer. Others believed that the wealthiest Aelves had secured their transport from Aefalgar long before its' demise, leaving their kin to their fates. The Pure-Bloods of the Aelven dynasty remain a mystery to Mythologic, their disappearance unlike the Mer; unresolved. Stranger tales of Aelves of Light inspired other Legends.
Folk of the Conflict
During the conflict, the unified Mystomythians employed innovative tactics, such as the swift raids by Bede Sleds and powerful naval fleets that allowed them to dominate Aelven defenses. These strategies proved critical, pushing the Aelves back to their stronghold, Aefalgar. The Folk's victory was decisive; they seized control of Aelven territories, expanding their reach while displacing many Aelven survivors. Yet, it was not without cost. The bloody conquest stirred deep-seated animosity and marked a shift towards aggressive expansionism.
After the battles, a reluctant peace emerged. New generations of Folk, weary of war, fostered a spirit of coexistence. They engaged in trade and cultural exchange, learning to coexist with the refugees and remnants of their former enemies. However, legends persisted- whispers of those lost at sea, transformed into the aquatic Mer, filled the night air. The Folk grappled with the lingering shadows of their triumphs, knowing the tides of war could easily return to claim what they had fought to claim.
Construction of the Deep Core
During the Conflicts, a prominent sea-faring trade route, an island bastion, known as Calcoras, or "Deep Core", was constructed to aid travel between the North and South Polas. Far from the coasts of Mystomythian shores, this island was a reserve during it's initial construction, serving settlers and pilgrims, alike. The Island of Calcoras and the trade chain established the Dark Island Standard- a Folk Banner emblazoned with the image of an island in black upon a blue wave beneath a pink sun on yellow or pale silk- as a commemoration of it's eventual completion, but it wouldn't be long before the supply line would experience trouble.Once the Siege of Calcoras began, it was a slow, agonizing defeat for the Folk.
Mer of the Conflict
Of Aelves & Mer
After the attack on Aefalgar, many Aelves hostile to their Folk captors were driven from the coastal cliffs into the ocean. Their agony became an ancestral hate for those who dwell on land. Beneath the ocean they delved for thousands of years, forming the race of Deep Aelves, otherwise referred to as the aquatic Mer.
Using ancestral magic, they created the Deep Scrolls; a collection of magical scrolls woven into Icing Silk, and kept in shell chests. They used this magic to extend their life underwater, becoming monstrous entities of the sea. From their tidal imprisonment, they be-sieged Calcoras Island, aided by malevolent patrons.
"They found another one."
Fisherman dragged their limp nets in front of the watchmen and spilled their contents. Disgusted, the watchman swallowed first, before examining the fisherman's haul.
It isn't unusual to pull strange things from the ocean- some were even edible- these were unsavory. Globuled forms, their bodies were like soft mounds of forger's clay- pliable, amorphous, gelatinous mimicries of what tasty fish could be. Bulbous, dead eyes peered into the watch man, deflating beneath their own pressure.
His stomach churned, as he curled an angry fist, and smashed the fish-like substance into a putrid paste- bones and all. "I don't understand! What's happening to the fish?!"
Each morning, the shoreline seemed just a bit closer, as though the sea itself was creeping in. The watchman washed his hands, and felt the pull of the tides.
He said what they had been thinking, "We need to abandon Calcoras."
Events & Tactics
Calcoras Island was established for 34 years before the siege. At first, the denizens of the Island were unaware of the plot against them. It began with the loss of their supply lines; once this had been established, the Folk were powerless to the sea. They relied on stores and rations until those were gone.
Then, it was the loss of their land. Reports from the descendants of the refugees described the island slowly drifting away, pulled by the ocean's currents into the abyss. Poisoned fish issued from the depths, as hunger and hysteria swept Calcoras. Those survivors attempted many times to flee.
"I haven't seen them since crossing the Bands. Weren't they ahead of us?"
Ships creaked, adrift on their third day's journey towards Aefalgar. Several of their crew had weakened to starvation and sea sickness yet they kept rowing. The watchman, lantern in hand, scanned the dark, murky waters, his pulse quickening.
“Wait- what is that?” He pointed, voice sharp, as ripples formed in the distance. The ship slowed, the lantern swinging, casting eerie light on the surface.
As the glow swept over the water, a dreadful sight emerged.
"Turn back!" the watchman bellowed, voice waivering. He gazed at the floating wreckage of shattered vessels, bobbing lifelessly, half-submerged in the swell. His stomach lurched violently as he heaved.
The lantern flickered, casting jagged shadows across the broken ships, as if the darkness itself was drinking the light. That night, they dared to search the ruins, salvaging scraps of hope before retreating to Calcoras. The watch men sobbed together at the horrors they had witnessed and endured.
The Famine Tide
After weeks at sea, refugees returned to the island to find it had been ravaged in their absence. Mer destroyed several of the remnant homes and holds, leaving only the Bastion of Calcoras as the surviving structure. Fortunately, the Folk had developed Snow Domiciles- portable homes, often carried with them, but resettling in their weakened condition left many to perish from starvation. Only an estimated 700 of the 1.2K population remained; before discovery, the Famine Tide lasted for 116 days.
Word had spread about Calcoras and the missing supply line vessels. With only rumors and no news from Calcoras, Aelven pirates siezed an opportunity to plunder, leading the Mystomythians to respond with a small fleet of vessels to meet their adversaries.
For a month, they clashed, skirmishing across the waters as remnants of the missing supply vessels drifted, forming a ring around Calcoras and deepening the island’s enigma. Unable to escape, riptides and massive whirlpools forced them closer to Calcoras.
The Fisherman's Hook had vanished, consumed by the dark sea.
With scraps and rations long gone, desperate villagers turned to cannibalism, lurking near the bastion of Calcoras. The watchmen, stationed by the fires of the sea towers, kept vigilant for signs of life.
Suddenly, thunder cracked, and a terrible storm appeared above the horizon. Under freezing rain, they spotted their own ships speeding towards wooden Aelven vessels. As each force neared the island, their ships began to splinter upon the waves, trapped in vicious tidal whirl pools.
Only a few ruined ships reached the shore. Aelves were pulled from the wreckage, telling the watch men tales of a strange force guiding them to the island. By the next day, the sea claimed the surviving ships, dragging them back into the depths.
Myths & Legends
Calcoras, the Vanishing Island
Thalasyx Wood-Cut
One of the Artifacts discovered within the ruined bastion was a piece of drift wood emblazoned with the image of the monstrous Titan, Thalasyx.It isn't known whether this Artifact was Aelf, Folk, or Mer in origin. The artist has been obscured by time, but it is believed to be a witness record, lending evidence to the claim that Calcoras was attacked by the Mer.
The Vanishing Island Arc was established in the final year, when Calcoras had vanished, assumedly beneath the waves. The story of missing boats and the island itself left many in fear of the area known as the Bands. The supply chain was abandoned, and a memorial was placed at sea, representing the legend and those who perished on the island.
The Ruins of Calcoras was discovered once more, in the Saurian Age, where the descendants of the survivors had lived beneath the island, in hidden chambers and vaults. They emerged changed by the experience of living in the darkness of the deep bastion. The Artifacts recovered helped to establish the legend that the island had been swallowed by the sea.
According to superstition, remnants of the island belong to Thalasyx, where the ruins now form its' dark, watery realms, referred to as Lost Calcoras.
The Ruins of Calcoras was discovered once more, in the Saurian Age, where the descendants of the survivors had lived beneath the island, in hidden chambers and vaults. They emerged changed by the experience of living in the darkness of the deep bastion. The Artifacts recovered helped to establish the legend that the island had been swallowed by the sea.
According to superstition, remnants of the island belong to Thalasyx, where the ruins now form its' dark, watery realms, referred to as Lost Calcoras.
Thalasyx of Ten Calamities
Thalasyx the Rift-Maker
In the darkest depths of the oceans lies Thalasyx- the Titan of Anticipation. When the Mer descended into the fathoms, they found it lurking, and began to follow it like a natural force. This Titan resembles a Megalodon- with a maw that sends the consumed to Over-World, leading to the speculation that it contains a Dungeon.
Thalasyx' presence inerts great force on its' environment, bringing the pressure of the deep to the surface. Vessels capsize and decompress, creatures from the deep lurch closer to the shore, and great storms engulf the sky, creating coastal tempests.
Thalasyx' presence inerts great force on its' environment, bringing the pressure of the deep to the surface. Vessels capsize and decompress, creatures from the deep lurch closer to the shore, and great storms engulf the sky, creating coastal tempests.
Titan of the Deep
It has been known to lure those who linger near the shore into a watery grave. Possessed by the Eidolon, Dagan Loci, Thalasyx and legends of dark water frighten fishermen and Mariners as they avoid the ocean's perils. Thalasyx is represented with shark's teeth or jaws, often dipped in black ink.Thalasyx is known as one of the Ten Titans of Calamity. When these Titans approach each other, their fury destroys the land around them, inviting great catastrophies among those who are trapped between their raging conflicts. Thalasyx is associated with coastal storms, whirlpools, and the abyssal ocean. As a Profane Source, Thalasyx gave rise to Mermancy- terrifying, dark arts with enigmatic powers related to adapting or utilizing the dark, watery environments, or the intense pressure of the ocean.
Thalasyx and the Moons
One day, when the stars align, Thalasyx will have grown so large, that it will rise from the depths to swallow the Moons, pulling them from the sky, and swallowing the Moon Goddess, Mystendr. This Mer belief, contained within copies of the Deep Scrolls, along with the events of Calcoras, the Vanishing Island, will continue to haunt the Aelves and the Folk, as the Thalasyx and the Mer pursue their ultimate demise.
Each night, they came from the sea to claim them.
The Mer emerged from the sea, capturing the starving Aelves, webbed fingers coiling their hair as they pulled them into the depths. The Folk remained huddled within the crumbling bastion of Calcoras, watching the shoreline in terror.
The watchmen saw the starving cannibals slowly descend into the sea, their arms held towards the raining skies, welcoming their fate. Then, a horrible form began to emerge from a swirling vortex beneath the dark, churning waves.
The cannibals were swallowed by an abyssal maw, with gnashing rows of giant teeth that rose high into the sky. Vicious storms streaked into the ocean with a divine intensity, lighting the sky against its' pulsing eyes menacingly glaring at the island. The watchman's gut wrenched; his brother felt it too. Lightning rippled against its' back as it screamed, thrashing back into the ocean. Loose detritus was thrown into the sky before sunk violently into the depths as a great wave rose above Calcoras.
Water flooded the bastion as the last of them entered their Domiciles. For some, their homes became watery graves, cracking beneath the pressure. For those who watched the horrors and survived, they were havens, that spared them the fate of the Titan of the Depths.
Deep-Seated Hatred
Factions
Myst & Myth Folk
Aelven Tribes
The Mer
Geography
Ruins of Calcoras
- Region:
Broalagan - Borders:
Aefalgar
- Location:
Unknown - Marvel:
Vanishing Island
Legendarium
- Origin:
M-Mythia - Age:
Ice Age - Era:
Third Era - Epoch:
Mythic Epoch
- Date:
TBD - Cultural:
Multiple - Custody:
Folk Arc - Complete:
125 yrs
Casualty Report
- Casualties
3.8K+ Folk
- Casualties
6K+ Aelves & Myr
1.2K/ Population of Calcoras
Mythologia
- Artifacts:
DeepScrolls of the Mer - Symbols:
Dark Island Standard - Ex- Myths:
Pure-Blood Aelves - Art History:
Talasyx Woodcut
- Arcanum:
Vanishing Island - Tribute:
Island Memorial - EX- Myths:
Origin of The Mer - Alt History:
Talasyx, Rift-Maker
- Motive:
Revenge v Folk & Aelves
- Outcome:
9.8K Casualties
I love what you've done here, and the lore you've built. Are the Mer still around and plaguing the world, or did they not survive to later ages?
I appreciate that very much! And I'm super-glad you enjoyed the Article! One thing I didn't expect writing this Article: establishing the second "Elven" species! The Mer will definitely make more appearances! The oceans aren't safe from the Mer-men and Mer-Maids! I'm also hoping that the Aelves make it through these harsh Ages! Between Beasts, Eidolon, Folk War, and Giants, they've had some of the worst luck! Thank you!