Player Warning - please stay out
Thoughts on the Chamber of the Spheres
by Jesper AndersenI don't have all my Gazetteers near me, but I have been trying to piece together a complete picture from articles at the Vault. There are some things that leave me confused, so I hope you guys can help me out.
The Great Rain of Fire
Another name for the cataclysm in 3000 BC, forcing the shifting of the planet's axis. Sources differ on what caused it. As far as I can tell, it was either A) Blackmoor technology that failed? og B) The crashing of a spaceship (the F.S.S. Beagle?). Not sure I understand how the crashing of a single ship could cause so much damage to a planet...
Nucleus of the Spheres
The name by which the Immortals of all spheres know the reactor core of the F.S.S. Beagle, located far, far below Glantri City. Immortals of the Sphere of Energy (who exactly?) modified the Nucleus of the Spheres (when?), allowing mortals to get a quicker path to immortality in the Sphere of Energy.
In return, immortals of Matter, Time and Thought cursed the Nucleus of the Spheres, making it drain magic from Mystara, thereby lessening the influence of Energy.
Radiance
NOT the same as magic. A power emanating from the Nucleus of the Spheres, allowing a handful of initiated mages (Brotherhood of Rad?) to cast very powerful spells and accellerate their path to immortality in the Sphere of Energy. The immortal Rad is watching over the use of the Radiance but not restricting it as such? Eventually, the use of Radiance will accellerate the drain of magic from Mystara, causing the recurring Day of No Magic?
Magic
A primal force that existed even in the days of Blackmoor. It allows the use of magic spells but is slowly being drained from Mystara because of the curse, the immortals put on the Nucleus of the Spheres.
Chamber of the Spheres
The great secret project of the immortal Rafiel in the temple of the Shadow Elves. In essence, it is a "nuclear" reactor same as the Nucleus of the Spheres. The Shadow Elves have been gathering soul crystals for its completion for centuries.
Is all of the above more or less correct?
If so, what do you suppose will happen when the Chamber of the Spheres is completed? I see these options:
1) The Chamber of the Spheres counters the drain on Mystara's magic caused by the use of Radiance. The Nucleus of the Spheres is drained to a state of uselessness, eliminating both the quick path to immortality in the Sphere of Energy and the curse. Magic on Mystara is once again normal. Crisis averted. Rafiel is satisfied his mind still works.
2) The immortals of Matter, Time and Thought are upset that Energy is once again bringing everything out of balance. They retaliate against the Chamber of the Spheres - either with a new curse or devastation of the Shadow Elf lands.
3) The Chamber of the Spheres is shielded in ways the Nucleus of the Spheres is not, so its "Radiance" is contained and solely used for high level Shadow Elf shamans to ascend to immortality besides Rafiel. Nothing changes regarding the Nucleus of the Spheres, the Radiance and the curse draining magic from Mystara.
What do you think?