The rough, gray stones of Aethelgard stand once more as a silent sentry over Douxel Vale. For weeks, the scraping of trowels and the thrum of restorative magic have echoed through its ancient halls. The fortress, home of the Laetora Gravebound, is slowly being woven back together—its deepest scars mended by shimmering ribbons of dark obsidian rock, like solidified shadow holding history in place.

Yet, for all the progress made by the forces securing it, Aethelgard refuses to yield all its secrets.

Deep within the keep, several massive doors remain tightly shut, sealed by layers of impenetrable, ancient magic. Frustrated by these arcane dead ends, word was sent to the Sunless Tavern in Douxel Vale. It didn't take long for an answer to appear. Nix, the strange, shifting creature of shadow, slinked out of the tavern's dim corners and offered his unique talents to bypass the wards.

The seals are vibrating. Nix is ready. The choice of where to strike first is yours. Nix will let you know he only has the power to open 4 doors currently perhaps items found in the sectors will help open the remaining ones. Upon joining please indicate which sector you would like to open.

The Sealed Sectors (NOTE)

(The magical wards have shifted, obscuring the layout. Choose your destination wisely. As your chracter will be locked in Douxel Vale until the area is cleared)

• Sector 1: The Armory (AL 8) 1-2 Sessions
  A breathtaking testament to elven craftsmanship. Behind these doors lies a vast hall where every blade is polished to a mirror sheen and intricate armor catches the light. The entire space hums with a quiet, purposeful beauty—a place of function elevated by the sheer skill of its makers.
• Sector 2: The Forge of Resonant Shadows (AL 8) 1-2 Sessions
  Locked behind a door of pure, heatless fire deep below the keep. Inside sits a master-work forge powered by a localized rift to the Shadowfell. It is cold to the touch but was designed for melting and reforging the rarest metals, like Mithral, Adamantine, or Obsidian iron.
• Sector 3: The Echoing Scriptorium (AL 10) 1-2 Sessions
  A sprawling library sealed by a door requiring a password only spoken by the dead. The shelves are lined not just with books, but with glowing soul-crystals and ancient scrolls. This is where the Gravebound recorded the true histories, secret lineages, and weaknesses of the great evils they fought.
• Sector 4: The Observatory of Shattered Skies (AL 10) 1-2 Sessions
  High in the highest spire, sealed behind a door of solid starlight-glass, lies an ancient elven observatory. At its center floats a massive, fractured brass astrolabe built not to track the material stars, but rather the shifting boundaries of the Shadowfell, the Astral Plane, and the weave of magic itself.
• Sector 5: The Alchemical Conservatory (AL 10) 1-2 Sessions
  A heavy door weeping with condensation and glowing with a faint, bioluminescent green light bars the way. Inside is a massive, self-sustaining indoor greenhouse where rare, shadow-infused flora and magical herbs grow. It was used by the ancient Gravebound to cultivate ingredients for potent poisons, elite healing elixirs, and oils to coat their blades.
• Sector 6: The Vault (AL 12) 1-2 Sessions
  The heavily guarded deep-vault of the fortress, constructed specifically to hold the accumulated riches and historical wealth of the Gravebound
• Sector 7: The Teleportation Room (AL 12) 1-3 sessions
  A critical strategic room containing several ancient teleportation circles. In the fortress's prime, these circles were utilized to instantly transit forces to designated anchor points across Sylmeria and Gildas.
• Sector 8: The Temple of the Gravebound (AL 15) 1-3 Sessions
  Locked behind two formidable, divine-sealed doors. This sacred inner sanctum was used to house the religious artifacts, holy relics, and deep spiritual knowledge of the order.
• Sector 9: The Heart of Order (AL 15) 1-3 Sessions
  The great, circular Chamber of Enduring Order. This vast room served as the spiritual and operational hub where the Gravebound performed their most sacred duties. At its center stands a massive pillar of pure obsidian—a powerful monument to the caste's purpose.
• Sector 10: The Dungeons (AL 20) 1-3 Sessions
  A grim, subterranean network where high-profile prisoners were historically held under heavy confinement. Magical signatures suggest entities are still contained within, ranging from ancient, powerful enemies of the order to individuals whose allegiances might align with Vexius' cause.

The Shadow's Edge: Nix stands before the grand corridor, his form blurring against the stone walls as he looks back at you with a fractured, toothy grin. "The threads of magic are tangled, friends. Tell me... which lock shall we break open first?"