Veilscribes


Era: 300 AC
Overview:
Veilscribes, elite scholars of the Iron Quill, operate from Quill’s Court, a rune-lit bastion in Ravensgate’s heart, where they inscribe primal runes to counter eldritch influences threatening the Aetherian seal. Born from the Calamity’s (0 AC) aftermath and pivotal in the Ravensgate lockdown (290 AC), Veilscribes specialize in utility and support, wielding buffs and rituals to bolster allies and weaken Eldritch Gods like Xulthar, Morgrath, and Xyraxis. Their study of forbidden lore in the Veilspire Archives risks madness from Morgrath’s whispers, yet their work aids Plague Doctors in the District of Desolation’s miasma-choked slums, investigating plagues and fortifying the seal. Steeped in steampunk horror, Veilscribes balance knowledge and peril, their quills a beacon against a second Calamity.

Role and Abilities:
Veilscribes are master scribes and ritualists, blending primal and arcane arts to counter eldritch threats. They inscribe primal runes—distinct from tainted Aetherian runes—to create protective wards, enhance ally resilience, and disrupt void-beasts. Their rituals, conducted in Quill’s Court, stabilize Veil rifts and weaken the Eldritch Gods’ influence, aiding Plague Doctors in curing Witherplague and Whisperplague. Veilscribes support the City Watch and Skyrunners’ Guild with buffs, such as miasma resistance or rift navigation, but their deep study of forbidden tomes risks insanity, as Morgrath’s whispers tempt them toward eldritch pacts. In the District of Desolation, Veilscribes investigate plague sources, their runes glowing amid shattered spires, but face void-tainted horrors that test their resolve.

Training and Creation:
Veilscribes are selected from Iron Quill initiates with a knack for primal lore, trained under Lady Myren Duskglow in Quill’s Court. Novices study Sylvaris’s primal chants and Aetherian tomes, learning to inscribe runes that resist Xulthar’s voids. Training involves grueling rituals in the Veilspire Archives, where exposure to forbidden lore—salvaged from Crownspire ruins—hones their craft but risks Whisperplague infection. Initiates craft their own Starlight Quills, infusing them with Sylvarbloom sap and darkstone, a process guided by Saffron Veil healers to purge void-taint. Those who survive the trials, resisting Morgrath’s whispers, earn the Veilscribe mantle, sworn to protect the Aetherian seal under King Thorne II’s decrees.

Key Equipment:

  • Starlight Quill: A brass quill with a darkstone nib, channeling Starlight Ink to inscribe primal runes. It buffs allies with plague resistance but risks madness if overused.

  • Veilgrimoire: A tome with primal rune-etched pages, used for rituals to weaken eldritch influence. Its void-touched binding whispers Morgrath’s secrets, tempting scribes.

  • Rune-Gauntlets: Steam-powered gauntlets, etched with primal sigils, amplifying rune-casting. Forged with Ironreach darkstone, they falter in miasma-heavy zones.

  • Wardbeacon: A crystal pendant, glowing with primal energy, stabilizing Veil rifts. Its darkstone core risks summoning Xulthar’s void-beasts if mishandled.

Crafting Methods:
Veilscribe equipment is crafted in Quill’s Court’s Runevault, blending Sylvaris’s primal materials with Ironreach’s darkstone. Starlight Quills are forged with Saffron Veil blessings, using Sylvarbloom sap to counter void-taint. Veilgrimoires are bound with primal leather, their runes inscribed under lunar rites to resist corruption. Rune-Gauntlets combine Valthorne’s steel with primal sigils, and Wardbeacons are carved from Veilcrypt crystals, purified by Sylvaris’s druids. Morgrath’s whispers disrupt crafting, causing scribes to etch cursed runes, and Xulthar’s voids taint darkstone, risking seal destabilization.

Usage and Distribution:
Veilscribes use Starlight Quills and Veilgrimoires to reinforce Ravensgate’s rune-wards, with Rune-Gauntlets and Wardbeacons aiding rift stabilization in the District of Desolation. They distribute Wardbeacons to Skyrunners’ Guild for deliveries and share Veilgrimoires with Plague Doctors for plague research. Albion’s City Watch borrows Rune-Gauntlets for patrols, while Nocturne’s Veyren Duskbane steals grimoires for Ebon Star rituals. Ironreach’s Drenvar Steelrend trades darkstone for quills, and Valthorne’s Lyria Valthorne seeks Wardbeacons for espionage. Sylvaris’s Sylvara Thornbloom supplies herbs for crafting but warns against darkstone use. Black-market smuggling in Ravensgate’s slums fuels Ebon Star schemes.

Impact and Risks:
Veilscribe equipment strengthens the lockdown, countering plagues and stabilizing rifts, but its darkstone and rune reliance risks Xulthar’s voids. Starlight Quills and Veilgrimoires enhance allies but tempt scribes with Morgrath’s madness. Rune-Gauntlets and Wardbeacons protect against miasma but fail in void-heavy zones, and their void-taint invites eldritch breaches. In 300 AC, Veilscribes are vital to Ravensgate’s defense, aiding Plague Doctors and the City Watch, but Nocturne’s thefts and Ebon Star’s influence threaten a second Calamity in the District of Desolation’s plagued streets.