Current Research Topics

Members of Cumhacht na Réig are involved in research into a variety of topics, some of which are listed below. This list is by no means comprehensive but exists to help inform members of the Band of the topics that have been receiving the most focus, in case they wish to provide assistance in researching them or learn about what is known so far. If anyone wishes to provide such assistance, or has a topic they would like included, please reach out to the Reconnaissance Office and we will help you get in touch with the relevant people.

As a primarily military organisation, The Band’s research is primarily through visiting libraries and speaking to bards and historians- we don’t have the resources or time to conduct full research projects and mostly rely on finding knowledge that already exists but has been forgotten.

(OOC Note- all information on this page is based on IC knowledge and assumptions, and thus may be inaccurate).

Primordials

Primordials is a term used to refer to ancient powerful beings that seem to pre-date mortals. This includes famous creatures such as Dragons and Gryphons and others that were considered mythical, such as Sphinxes or Leannan Sidhe. In total we have descriptions of over two dozen of these ancient creatures, though they are of quite differing strength and influence.

Our main focus at the moment is identifying these creatures, determining their names and the powers they had at their disposal. However, there is another significant aspect to this research that could have a lasting impact on Tirneach- there have been claims that some of these creatures were responsible for the creation of the mortal species that call the Five Realms home, undoubtedly with the Shaper’s guidance.

Primevals

A different type of ancient being, Primevals are believed to be created from two competing elements, causing them to be dangerous and unstable. Information on them is sparse, as they pre-date historical records, and while the Band is only certain they have encountered one of these creatures, it is believed several of them are hunting the Band, namely the Bush Monster, The Wolf Lady and The Basilisk. It seems these creatures bear a particular grudge against certain members of the Band, and it is believed this is a result of a seemingly normal mission in Baol that may have resulted in the release of these creatures from an ancient magical prison. These creatures have demonstrated incredible resistances, but it is theorised that their dual elemental makeup leaves them vulnerable to very specific effects, which likely can only be found through trial and error- a dangerous proposition when the creature is seeking to kill you and your allies.

The Elements

Probably the least practical and most esoteric of the research topics of interest to the Band. Over the generations numerous scholars have theorised that the world is made up of 25 elements, consisting of a wide variety of forces, including the traditional elements like Fire and Water, as well as concepts such as Destiny and Rebellion. As we have investigated other topics they have occasionally led back to this one, making it of general interest to the Band, but it is also the topic we are least likely to be able to research directly due to lacking the academic resources and time for such a complicated concept.

The Weeping

By happenstance and perhaps some slight influence of the Shaper, we have gleaned some insights into The Weeping and the Atosú that aren’t common knowledge. Like a lot of our research it can be difficult to separate the truth from the wild theories, but unsurprisingly this is a topic of interest to quite a number of the Band, so significant efforts are being put into isolating fact from fiction.

The Draconic Presence and "The Deathstorm"

Shortly before the Band departed The Shaper's Steps a massive magical storm arose, heralded by the thunderous crashing of rain and a formation in the clouds that evoked the appearance of Dragon's wings. This is likely related to the Drakeblooded cultists on the islands, who had worked with the Band to utilise the Whisper With The Dead ritual to speak with a deceased Dragon named Impact of Crashing Rain, but then took the relic that had been utilised in that ritual, threatening violence against the Band if any attempts were made to stop them. Since then, a roiling black cloud formation, dubbed "The Deathstorm", has made its way from the Steps to Tirneach and where its black rain touches strange new Undead have arisen. It is suspected that Suiríoch is responsible in some fashion, though much more research is required.