Tolling Bells

This one rings true, and it rings for you.

The Jotunn... wretched things. I was there. I remember primordial battlefields beyond counting. The faceless beast towered over the clouds, its body made of wood and stone. It held a mallet, bigger than any tower we could even try to build. In a brief flash of lighting on that dark day, I saw it staggering back for a swing. When the mallet hit the bell towering over us, the battle was over. The sound was so deafening, we couldn't even hear it as the blast travelled in wide arcs across the field. I saw the other Jotunn brace for the incoming force, and then bore witness to the bodies of my people being ripped to shreds.

— Malious Derat of the Old Blood

A Tolling Bell is a rare catalyst for spells. It is used by many to achieve arcane effects, but is most commonly associated with those who practice Arcana Mortis. Tolling Bells act as a catalyst for spells by ringing in an irregular tone at a particular frequency of sound. The Bell is capable of altering this tone depending on the spells being cast.

Tolling Bells come in many shapes and sizes, some small enough to fit in the palm of your hand whereas others are so large they are almost impossible to lift by the average person. The tolling bell always come with a matching striker of some sort, either mounted on the bell or separate from the bell taking the form of a small hammer. The bell usually features ornate engraving on its outer shell, and can be made from a variety of substances depending on it's intended use.

For whom the bell tolls

The first use of a tolling bell to achieve arcane effects comes from The Giants and The Nocturna who developed the method long before even the The Alfen arrived in this world. It is said that when the nocturna warred with the Jotunn, the Giants would carry massive bells into battle. Their inability to practice magic led to the practice of creating objects to do it for them. They would strike them and send a wave of death and misery across the field of war. The nocturna responded in kind, condensing the soft sounds of a gentle death into a horrifying resonance.
While these bells were much smaller, the giants did learn to fear their deafening wail. The nocturna still produce these magnificent objects, selling them in their refuge of Arkysalem

Bells throughout the ages

The Alfen were next to utilize the tolling bell. When The Hive Elves were created it is said that the method of controlling the servitor race came from small chimes no bigger than the average person's thumb. These Chimes would resonate on a frequency that is impossible to hear for most sentient races. This was a feat of ingenuity. Beforehand bells were only used as weapons, particularly artillery.
The connection to death came about in Ozlith. One of The Seven Gods of Ozlith, The Widow, gifted ritual bells to her loyal cultists for use in their practice. Shortly after the empire fell, those who practice the art of Arcana Mortis would keep the legacy alive, using both passive and aggressing bells to focus their power.

Aesthetics

Apart from the basics, bells come in many shapes and sizes often for aesthetic purposes, rather than function. Their composition can vary from copper, iron, and brass, to glass, crystal, and obsidian. Individuals who produce these items love to experiment with different substances. They mix and match different styles and swap out heads on the striker to achieve new sounds that have yet to be heard.
The engravings on the outside of the bell can be simple designs taken from a certain culture or can be works of art depicting scenes from myth and legend. These Artisans can only be found in Arkysalem, as others still lack the finesse to produce these tools as efficiently as the nocturna do.

by Kamal Rao

Bell Style

Their are three styles of bell, each having its pros and cons.

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Chimes

Chimes are the smallest form a bell can take. They will never exceed size of your palm, and often hang on a straight handle. The Bell is sounded merely by moving the handle and one does not necessarily need a striker. Some chimes are held in the palm of one's hand with a button that triggers a striker, causing the Bell to ring. Chimes are often used for quick casts and rituals. They lack the power of larger variants, at the speed with which an individual can cast their spells is unparalleled.

Standard Bells

Most bells come in a standardized form. They usually range from slightly bigger than one's hand to the size small bucket. These bells usually require a striker, but the smaller variance can often be shaken to chime with the striker hanging inside the body. This variant is standard for a reason. The power of the bell as well as the speed with which one can use it are fairly well-balanced.

Artillery Bells

The largest variety, artillery bells can often be taller than the average person some are more compact and capable of being carried. Striking the bell requires it to be stationary on the ground. Bell usually hangs from some structure rigging, and often features a striker inside the body. These require an outside striker. The striker within this placed only for repeated chimes as the bell rings. This variant is often slow in how quickly one can cast their spells, but the shear force and power that can emanate from it are second to none. The bell requires significant strength to strike, but this power has been known to leave entire armies in ruin.

Passive and Aggressive

There are two functions a bell can serve, though each can only function as one or the other. This has to do with the shape of the bell which changes the sound it emits. It is also important to maintain the Integrity of the Bell. Passive Bells seem to prefer their passive states and don't want to be aggressive, and any attempt to do so will often lead to failure

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Passive bells

A passive or ritual Bell is designed for use in ritual. Each tool it's timed just right during ritual to enhance the effect of the ritual. These sounds are often considered beautiful to hear, consisting of light tones with harmonic melody. The bells are shaped perfectly to create the sound. A passive bell is often considered the hardest to create, and it takes the most skill to use. Those who use them must learn the timing of the bell as well as the apex strike zone of the bell just to get the bell to function.

Aggressive Bells

Aggressive bells are more crude often featuring a wider body. The largest and most powerful are similar to gongs rather than bells. Anyone with the ability to attune can you use an aggressive bell. Aggressive bells are designed for active casting of spells, which is to say spells cast with immediate effect. They often chime in low, drowning tones. The strike zone and timing of the bell are not nearly as important, as striking it in different places can often yield different results that may better suit the situation.