Hello, I’m Branwyn Two-Moon of Clan Lightridge, and if everything is going according to plan, these are the Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor for the week of Wisp Fading, 2019.

And they’re live from… somewhere in the Shrine of Void.

As accessed by the Shrine of Magic.

Yeah, I know. I’ll explain in a moment.  Right now, I’m kind of just resting and refocusing.  According to Warp, Luna’s counterpart with Shade, I’m ahead of what was anticipated and the next step will be ready once I’m rested.

This would have been far more reassuring had Warp not appeared in the form of horse made up of a starfield with glowing green eyes and purple flames where mane, locks, and tail would be, but I’ll take it.

So let’s talk about the Shrine of Magic.  Entering was not a problem, as I expected.  The only room I could see featured a fountain of obsidian pouring a liquid of a thousand shades of silver over its three levels as the centerpiece.

The room itself was round and contained eight doors. Seven of them clearly bore the markings of the entrances of the other seven shrines.  This immediately answered the question of how I was supposed to get to another shrine and back.

And then Luna appeared hovering over the fountain, pale golden yellow and brilliant silver defining a waning moon wreathed in white light.  And she spoke. And I think I managed to record it. Her voice was… ethereal music, like a choir of Wisp spirits humming, but with words I understood.

“Welcome to the Shrine of Magic, Branwyn Two-Moon of Clan Lightridge. You are the first potential champion in many, many years.”

Oh good, that worked. Let me let her talk then.

“Magic itself is about making choices, and mastering magic requires not only knowing what choices to make, but when not to make any at all.  That said, the first thing you must do is make a choice. A Champion of Magic cannot be limited to one kind of magic, not even raw magic itself.  So, pick your path, claim your first element to champion, and return here.”

I vaguely remember nodding in response to this, and then set off for the dark amethyst and onyx bats and swirls that marked the entrance to the Shrine of Void.

The… foyer… of that shrine is well documented, and Shade himself indeed seemed to look down from high above as members of the Shrinewatchers’ League explained how to begin Shade’s trials.

Three trials later, I am sitting on my tail in a void of purple and gray stars. I’m not even sure what I’m actually on, but I can sit on it.

And a vertical slash of light has just appeared and widened into a doorway… a pitch black doorway.

I think that’s my cue. Hopefully, you all are getting weather news somehow. 

The Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor are brought to you by Red Wombat Tea Company, purveyors of fine and otherworldly tea. Red Wombat: We Dig Tea.

Also brought to you by Jesse Stringer, who invites you to support his Extra Life campaign raising money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Details online at http://bit.ly/2019TangoExtraLife. The T, the E, and the L are capitalized.

These have been the Ersatz Echoes of Eastfjord Harbor for the week of Wisp Fading, 2019. Take care, and stay cool.

“I am Shade. Be welcome in my sanctuary, Champion.”

Oh.

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The voices of Shade and Luna were provided through the technical talents of Mikail O’Brien. Check out his podcast, Managlitch City Underground, at managlitch.com.