February Newsletter from Iron Realms Entertainment

This year is off to a fast start and our newsletter is full of the latest information about our worlds, including sneak peeks on what is coming. Read on to learn all about your favorite IRE game.

Earth Eternal
On the Earth Eternal front, we're regularly releasing more world history and art, and we've gotten some mainstream media games coverage as well. Check out the website and sign up for the EE newsletter on the front page of the site to be eligible for a spot in alpha or beta testing.

Aetolia
The first month of 2007 started with a bang, after the mysterious discovery of a spot of pure darkness in the heavens. Much confusion, argument, and violence spread across Sapience as squads of harpies began to abduct men from the land. Finally, Karim succeeded in discovering a magical chalice at the end of a trail of clues left by the imprisoned wizard Hycanthus and earned a new constellation in her honour, restoring the tapestry of the stars. The rise and fall of the fates of such adventurers continues unabated in the Midnight Age, and there is ever room for more great heroes.

The bug wipe has continued throughout January with more than a thousand bugs fixed and a brand new system for liaisons to submit skill suggestions. Players can review what has been submitted by their liaison and the reasons the administration may reject or approve a submission. It offers transparency and flexibility like never before.

Imperian
Imperian has seen several extraordinary changes in January, continuing the game's forward momentum with quality innovation. Guild charters are the current rage, with the Abhaen and Spectre guilds being the first to jump on this new opportunity; more are certainly on the horizon. Further, with the level restrictions removed, Zenigra the 'bashing master' leads the charge on level 101 in what is likely to be a challenging but potential-laden content addition. In the front of Imperian's user-friendly trend, the artifact buying process has also been streamlined, allowing players to peruse and purchase them from anywhere in Aetherius, eliminating the need to travel every which way for gear. Finally, cooking saw an update with a new custom messaging system, and chefs can now personalise their specialty creations with custom eating messages, a welcome cap to yet another highly productive month.

Achaea
During the month of January Achaea unveiled two new areas. First, a search group for a missing child came upon a previously unexplored stretch of ocean along the coast of Sapience: the Eastern Shore. Not long thereafter, a path into a lake populated by amphibian humanoids called the Angai, Lake Narcisse, was discovered within the Western Ithmia forest. The class of Serpents received a significant update, including a new venom called nechamandra, the ability to target illusions, an "insta-kill" ability called Execution, and more! Behind the scenes, extensive updates to the code to improve system performance were implemented.

Last but not least, Achaea is thrilled to announce the creation of the part-time paid position of Assistant Producer for Roleplaying. The job description reads, in part, that the position will "...help to ensure the continuous flow and evolution of the roleplay and storylines within the world of Achaea, in order to promote overall game dynamism and the immersive appeal of a changing environment open to influence via interaction." Two of the volunteer administrators (gods) in Achaea have accepted this position and are working in tandem to create and facilitate roleplay events in Achaea. We promise exciting things to come!

Lusternia
In Lusternia, the Nine Seals binding the Soulless Gods were weakened. As stated in the histories under Coming of Estarra, when the Nine Seals are weakened, there is only one way that they can be recharged: through the ascension of a mortal to godhood! Thus began the Ascension Event which lasted throughout the month of January. There were nine challenges, each representing one of the Nine Seals. The winner of a challenge became a Seal Bearer and became qualified to enter the final challenge.

Shorlen of Hartstone held on to the mysterious creature of chaos long enough to complete the Challenge of Chaos.
Shamarah of Celestines battled through a series of war games and claimed victory in the Challenge of War.
Forren of the Aquamancers won the Challenge of Justice through excellent use of his debating skills.
Kaervas of the Blacktalon Druids won the Challenge of Nature, exhibiting his superb knowledge of the realm during a complex scavenger hunt.
Hallen of the Geomancers won the Challenge of Knowledge by dominating an extremely difficult quiz that tested his knowledge of the realms.
Amarysse of the Spiritsingers won the Challenge of Beauty through her artistic design of a woodland tapestry and became the youngest of the Seal Bearers.
Soll of Aquamancers won the Challenge of Life, by healing many furrikin who were inflicted by a foul, mutating disease.
Daevos, the Warlord of Magnagora, won the Challenge of Death through his wholesale slaughter of hundreds of denizens.
Exarius, the self-proclaimed raja who bows to no commune or city, won the Challenge of Harmony through his skill at influencing others.

Of the Nine Seal Bearers who won the great challenges, four main contenders vied to hold the Staff of Ascension so that the realm would be safe from Kethuru: Shorlen of Serenwilde, Daevos of Magnagora, Soll of New Celest, and Kaervas of Glomdoring. Though Shorlen controlled the Staff of Ascension for much of the beginning of the challenge, and then it subsequently switched hands repeatedly, it was finally Soll, through his nimbleness, strategy, and sheer determination, who finally held the Staff of Ascension long enough to claim victory. Holding the Staff of Ascension burned Soll's body to ash, out of which rose the first Ascended God, Ayridion the White Flame.

Once again, thank you for your support and we hope you will continue to enjoy the IRE universe.

Sincerely,

Matt Mihály
CEO, Iron Realms Entertainment