calderamods | THE STORY THUS FAR

June - 2024

First Wave

The first wave of Visitors arrives in Caldera. They are introduced to the three regions of the world and directed to the Questboard to begin aiding the locals.

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July - 2024

Heaven's Bow Falls

The locals host a tri-city festival to properly celebrate the arrival of the Visitors. Unfortunately, given the world's current state of decay, a piece of Heaven's Bow falls, causing tidal waves and tremors below the sea and creating a crater in the land. Hundreds die, but many are saved by intervening Visitors.

August - 2024

Clean Up Efforts / Second Wave

Another wave of Visitors arrives just in time to aid in the continued clean up after the Heaven's Bow disaster. The crater outside Grey Ward has opened up rivers of molten rock and revealed creatures called Salamanders living within the lava.

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September - 2024

The Queen's Arrival

Queen Cordelia makes an appearance, announcing her desire for transparency and offering an olive branch to the Visitors in the Undine faction. She allows them the chance to peruse her private library, revealing a handful of secrets hidden to the public. Elsewhere, the queen's statue shudders, the magic light within it dims, and shadowy tendrils begin to protrude from the stone. Investigation makes Visitors dizzy and disoriented.

Rumors spread around Heaven's Bow about the goings on around Caldera. Scholars in the Soot Spire request the previously unearthed Salamanders be captured for experimentation.

October - 2024

Third Wave / Veilwalkers

More Visitors arrive. The world, for the most part, seems to have begun healing, noted by a bountiful harvest. Below the sea, the Ghost Tours of one Princess Harriett are disturbed by shadowy tendrils in the deep. And on the surface, a hag drags Visitors into a nightmare they can barely manage to escape. A farmer and his wife host an Escape Room with, thankfully, no further chaos ensuing.

During the middle of the month, the rumored Veilwalkers arrive to escort wayward souls through the veil. Visitors learn that a single touch from them could result in a state of paralysis, wherein some of them glimpse into the veil itself.

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November - 2024

Black Waters

Admiral Aella speaks out, suggesting that Cordelia's earlier gesture of opening her library to her Undine might have not offered much in the way of truths about the world, and in turn offered her own advice. Much of which was just as cryptic as what was found in the Queen's library.

Meanwhile, Visitors are encouraged to catch and exchange enchanted leaves during a special Calderan event. Stories are exchanged down in Salt Spire in a yearly celebration, but the festivities are disrupted when shadows from the depths suddenly begin to engulf and attack the bubble surrounding the city. For three days those down below are trapped, while those above attempt to aid them. All the while the lava pools within the crater outside of Grey Ward begin to stir with the disturbances from the sea.

December - 2024

Fourth Wave / Season of Light

Yet more Visitors arrive. In an attempt to make the best of a bad situation, the Calderans continue their traditions similar to the earthen year-end holidays. A grand masquerade is held where Visitors are encouraged to partake in various events themed around the land, sea, and sky, and everyone is trying desperately not to think about the odd, seemingly alive lava pools taking shape in dryad territory.

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January - 2025

THE VOLCANO RISES

The crater outside of Grey Ward rose to reveal a massive volcano. Terra encouraged the Visitors to venture forth and explore. She believed the volcano held not only answers but hidden treasures. In her mind, it was not an omen of doom, but a sign of the world’s slow, steady healing.

Multiple trials awaited the Visitors inside the volcano, and at the end they were met with a woman made of molten rock sitting upon a throne, ready to receive and congratulate them for their efforts. The woman, Ignacia, claimed their hard work aiding Caldera was paying off, and that they must continue to press on, together.

February 2025

Fifth Wave / Radiant Sun & Jealous Moon

Visitors arrive. The city of Ignacia's Cradle appears to have formed around the volcano. Within its boundaries are magical hot springs that show glimpses of people's memories, their potential futures, and can even heal minor wounds.

The Radiant Sun rises, bringing warmth and joy in abundance to the people of Caldera. Bonds are mended, love blooms, but as the Jealous Moon takes the sun's place, the world is cast into chaos. People act on baser instincts and with violence towards those they were so truly in love with hours before in the sun's light. The Visitors find a way to resolve the issue with physical touch and affection.

Aella and Terra claim this was a one-off anomaly and assure everyone all is well. Cordelia is not seen.

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March - 2025

Rise of Vesper

Cordelia, after having not been spotted for weeks, calls for aid, begging the Visitors to help her in summoning Vesper, the new Star God meant to fight against a being simply known as Triton. She asks for precious memories, works of art from the soul, or items held dear that they are willing to sacrifice. Both Salt Spire and Grey Ward suffer massive damage and casualties in the wake of the destructive wave of dark magic rolling through the sea and land. Heaven's Bow remains untouched.

April 2025

Sixth Wave / Astral Echoes

Visitors arrive.In the aftermath of chaos, the people of Caldera unite in gratitude for the Visitors whose sacrifices summoned Vesper, a new star god born of both light and lingering darkness. Celebrations erupt across the three cities—Salt Spire, Grey Ward, and Heaven’s Bow—each offering their own unique tributes in a moment of unity and shared hope. Yet, beneath the joy lies the looming shadow of Triton’s enduring influence. As Vesper quietly watches the revelry from the edge of Salt Spire, he addresses the crowd with a solemn vow: their battle is far from over. The darkness that birthed him still festers, and he will need their continued strength and trust to stand against what lies ahead.

Thus begins the special quest for the Astral Echoes—violet shards containing memories of Triton’s rise, fall, and the secrets that shaped

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May - 2025

WAR AND REBIRTH

On the eve of Triton's return, Caldera was gripped by a haunting unease — seas darkened, emotions flared, and shadows twisted. Old anger stirred in people's hearts, and the sky pulsed with violet light. As dawn broke, Cordelia addressed the world, confessing her past and urging restraint.

Triton rose from the sea, transformed by grief and vengeance, unleashing monstrous abominations born of his sorrow. Vesper, his brother, met him with compassion, not violence. As Caldera's defenders battled the nightmares, each act of courage chipped away at Triton’s fury.

In the end, the storm broke. The monsters fell, and Vesper reached Triton with words of hope. Shaken, Triton hesitated; his redemption not yet complete, but possible. The battle had not just saved the land — it had opened the door to healing a broken god.

June 2025

SEVENTH WAVE/SPRING BLOOMS

Visitors arrive.No leader claims it, but word spreads: a quiet gathering by the sea. Lanterns glow with the colors of Caldera: blue, orange, green, white. One for each realm. One for the lost. Names are whispered. Grief is honored.

When the final lights drift to sea, Cordelia, Terra, Aella, and Triton speak — not as gods, but as people. They promise no easy peace. Only honesty and a chance to begin again.

As spring stirs at Triton's touch, the shore blooms with warmth. Food, crafts, laughter, and the hush of healing fill the coast. A new age begins, they hope...

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July - 2025

DEATH OF AN ADMIRAL

It has been one year since the Visitors first arrived, and Caldera's leaders mark the anniversary with a grand festival. Yet, unsettling changes ripple through the Sylph lands — winds grow restless, and those under Aella's rule feel the disturbance.

Then the terrible truth: Aella is dead. Murdered in her Sky Palace. The Visitors are called to investigate, uncovering clues that point toward the exiled Unknown God, whose moon looms dark and ominous above the city.

As Heaven’s Bow tilts and threatens to crash, hope arrives in the form of a new Star God — Nymion. With thunder and lightning, he steadies the floating city, boldly claiming he is the savior Caldera desperately needs.

AUGUST 2025

Eighth Wave / Sweet Mourning

Visitors arrive. The skies of Caldera fall silent as Heaven’s Bow mourns its fallen ruler — Aella, Admiral of Heaven's Bow. Her empty armor stands where her body should be, surrounded by offerings and grief.

As the funeral ends, the new god rises. Nymion, bold and pompous, declares the mourning over and offers his Sylph's Blessing — a week of wind and storm power to any Visitor brave enough to claim it.

Meanwhile, far below in Salt Spire, the mood lightens. A new café, The Drifting Cone, opens its doors, offering "sea cream" treats and playful contests. For a moment, Caldera exhales — a brief reprieve between the chaos.

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SEPTEMBER - 2025

WONDER OF REVELS

The moon draws dangerously close to Caldera, its weight pulling at sea and sky alike. Heaven's Bow trembles in the air, Salt Spire churns beneath the waves, and even the land feels the strain. Nothing remains steady — the world tilts under the moon's looming presence.

In response, Cordelia calls for unity, urging the Visitors to make use of the safe havens she has promised at the behest of one of the Visitors. But before her plea can settle, Nymion interrupts — bold, impatient. He mocks caution and declares a challenge instead: The Revel of Wonders.

Visitors are summoned to prove their worth through craft, talent, and daring feats. Across all cities, stages rise and banners flutter under the watch of the storm god. Nymion promises rich rewards for those who impress him — a wish granted, a charm to cheat death, and wings to ride the wind. The choice is clear: rise to the challenge, or be forgotten.

OCTOBER 2025

Ninth Wave/Veilwalkers Return

Visitors arrive.The Tavern — once a place of calm — becomes the first battleground. Under the moon's harsh light, beasts twisted by its power invade: wolves with cracked jaws, red-eyed crows, and deer crowned in crescent antlers. The Visitors fight for survival, learning that nowhere is safe from the moon's reach.

Then, fog rolls in. The dead whisper. The Veilwalkers return — not as enemies, but allies in desperation. They teach the Visitors to carve red sigils across Caldera to hold back the veil's collapse. When the final night comes, wraiths surge through the rifts, and the Visitors defend the cities until the barrier seals again.

The veil endures... yet the moon lingers close, its hunger undiminished. Those who touched the Veilwalkers are haunted by visions — deaths, futures, and memories not their own — a chilling reminder that the boundary between worlds is thinner than ever.

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