Inferno [RP plot on Crom -OPEN]

Recently, fires have been spreading, apparently spontaneously, in all of Hyboria. From the desert sands and the swamps of old Stygia to the frozen wastes of Asgard and Vanheim, to the rolling plains of Aquilonia to the blossoming forests of Khitai all lands seem to be mercilessly sunk into Inferno.

Travelling through a forest path, you’d see smoke and orange, eerie glow nearby, smell of smoke assaulting your nostrils. Crossing a river, water would bubble suddenly, with blue flames occasionally breaking the surface with a cloud of smoke and smell. Sand burns at night and during day the tongues of flame dance in the heat, nearly unseen yet still furiously hot. Distant plains let out thick strands of smoke, visible from afar, heralds of sinuous, vain embers ready to lasciviously give themselves to the ever-shifting winds and bear raging doom.

Ask in cities and towns for information, investigate the fires, search for clues, use divination or intuition to figure out what may be hailing the lands of Hyboria.


((This is my little, humble attempt at a long-terms, epic-scale, server-wide plot! :D I hope some roleplayers will pick this up, get to learn more and get involved, no matter how lightly or deeply. Next time, IC, there's nothing to say, drop this piece of rumor in the conversation and send an OOC link to this! Have fun and add your own flavour to it :)
You can most likely get a hold of me on Mitridatesh, on chat client. Be patient if I do not reply immediately but be sure I'll read your tell and get in touch soon.
Link: http://forums.ageofconan.com/showthr...67#post2083067))

((A little progress was made...))

Travelling through one of the mountains' valleys of the cold, harsh north, a tribal shaman saw the sky-slithering spirals of smoke rise from over a peak's profile.
Marching on, he passed the mountain top, spotting the source of the smoke. A vividly orange and roaring fire, cracking loud and spitting sparks, assaulted the rocky flank of the slope. The carcass of a beast seemed to break into the strong wind, the flames engulfing it fueled by the gusts surrounding them, cynders dancing about. Yet, aside from the burnt frame and naked rocks, nothing stood there to be burned.
Unnaturally, the flames continued to rage forth, climbing slowly but inexorably.
It was but a small, although intense fire on the side of a distant peak and yet the air tainted with its smoke felt thick, dense of promises of destruction. The shaman came closer and attempted to examine the slope. He could breathe in, together with the eye-burning smell, the nearly audible cry of the earth. Something wicked burned with the flames.
The shaman hoped to investigate further, but the fire, agitated and stirred by the wind, nearly lashed at him, threateningly.
Before he sought safety down in the depth of the valley and the village's palisade, the shaman felt his skin burned, his mind searing with deep hunger and crave for pain. The fleeting image of a azure-robed figure flashed in his mind's eye. Then he ran, unsettled and troubled, in need to meditate and ponder.
Meanwhile, rumor spreads and among the northeners, the hunt for answers and for those of azure robes began...

((Nice bit of development potentially. If you happen to play a Cimmerian, act extra suspicious, next time you see a Mitran! :D ))

Marching across southern regions of Stygia, directed to a fortifyed palace, a knight and his squire were reached by shrill screams of women and soon noticed smoke in the distance.
Riding swiftly to find the source of the smoke, they saw a grove of low trees up in flames, surrounded by peasants and slaves intent in the attempt of putting out the fire.
Eager to assist, the knight and the squire drew close, asked to the peasants what happened. They were told children got caught among the burning bushes and trees but that nothing more was known. Disregarding the causes of the fire and the danger, both men moved in to see if they could brave the heat and flames and save the children.
They became separated, the squire dismounting and driving forth among the grove, the knight seeking a passage on the opposing side.
As he rode carefully in the grove, the knight, among no wind nor breeze, saw - with great horror - the fire leap to his horse's barding. To save the beast from flames, he swerved his steed sidewards. The movement drove him closer to the low branches of the nearby trees. He hit his head strongly. Panicked, the horse rode off.
Now the man swear, in the safety of taverns and inns of Stygia, that the fire had its own, wicked will, and sought to devour him and his horse! He'd tell all who offer him a drink that the blasted peasant younglings must have delved in dealing with underworldly entities.
Nothing is yet known of the fate of the squire, nor of the lot of the children...

As rumors spread, much like these inexplicable fires, across the south, it was not long before the priestcraft of Set caught wind of the news and began investigating.
The will of the serpent demanded answers and its priests were zealous in seeking them. At first, their observation was quiet and attentive. Soon it grew restless and frightened as they failed to understand this most peculiar and unnatural phenomenon.
Surely, this was the punishment of Set on the unfaithful and heathens plagueing the lands of old Stygia. Thus, their foulness had to be purged...
Intollerance blazed and travellers suffered from its cruel grasp. Slaves of unpure breeds, dark peasants of the south and petty villagers paid the toll of the priests cluelessness. First suspicion, then violence engulfed the miserable.
Virgins from the villages were sacrificed among the raging flames appearing among the regions of Stygia, in an attempt to appeace the serpent's anger. All to no apparent avail.
As the sacrifices failed, the priestcraft concluded that Set had not unleashed the fires and that perhaps a rival entity of its domain had dared to defy the great serpent's leadership.
Investigations proceed. Rituals are performed near the fires by the priests, at the expenses of temple servants, who often are caught in the flames and wounded or killed, in spite of their caution.

As the accident at the burned grove caught the attention of the priestcraft in Khemi, which stands near to the village involved, an advisor of the temple was sent to investigate. He found the knight who was spreading rumors of this event. The two soon agreed that it was needed to learn more of the matter.
Seeking a culprit the crowd could blame, in the meantime, the temple captured two twins, accused of controlling fires and thus being arsonists. The advisor did not believe this, however and succeeded in striking a deal with the temple; the woman of the two would stay in custody, the man, instead, was to follow him as the advisor believed his control over flames could serve his search.
Thus, followed by the alleged arsonist and led by the knight, the advisor made it to the location of the fire.
What they found was a devastation the likes none had previously witnessed, with ashes and cinders covering all that was once a rocky landscape crowned by trees and bushes.
Further more, the place was surrounded by a group of armed guards and robed priests who replied dismissively to the group's questions. They decided to abbandon the search for the time being, hoping to find more answers once they returned with greater forces to assist them...