Stepping into Voln
By Durpin Dar
an over talkative Hobbit Wizard
Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How

====================================

Who is Voln:
He is a Lesser God. His sphere of Power is Battle against the Undead.
When appearing in humanoid form, Voln always appears ready for
battle in full armor of black chain mail topped by a white
surcoat and carrying a white shield. His demeanor is grim,
sometimes snide.


While not directly a servant of Lorminstra, Voln does owe much to
her and shares her hatred of Luukos. Tales suggest that Voln's
very existence is a result of Lorminstra's constant entreaties to
Koar for some direct action to counter the spreading curse of
Luukos' Undead. Most tales attribute Voln's paternal lineage to
Koar and a mortal woman. His upbringing, in a land where he
witnessed loved ones lost to Luukos' curse, shaped him with an
undying hatred of the Undead and provided a lifelong mission.
Now fully cognizant of his own immortal nature, Voln has pledged
himself to the release of every soul enslaved by Luukos. Voln's
symbol is a white shield on a field of black.


What is Voln
The Lord Voln has established a society for those who share his
desire to release the souls of the Undead who are enslaved by
Luukos. Individuals from all Races and Professions can be
recruited into this society. Giants were the first to be
recruited by Voln.


Where is Voln:
The Voln Monastery is located south, and east of Wehnimer, across
the bridge. It is at the end of the second trail north of the
bridge. The first trail leads, conveniently, to the Graveyard.


When is Voln:
You must have at least 3 years of training (level) prior to
joining Voln. You must be invited by a Voln Master, or the
Grizzled Old Warrior in the Landing


Why is Voln:
In return for releasing souls of the Undead, you receive special
powers. These are given to you as a . Using the Symbol
allows you to perform some act, give you some knowledge, etc.
These Powers are very beneficial early in life and more so as
you become older. The use of symbols cost favor.
We discuss Favor now:


How is Voln:
You earn favor by releasing Undead. When sufficient favor has
been earned, you may step to the next level. Before taking your
step, a task will be assigned to you. After the task
has been done you receive the symbol of that step. The use of
most of the symbols cost favor each time you use them. This
means you will need to gain more favor to advance to the next
step if you use these symbols. You are told if a particular
symbol costs favor when the monk first teaches it to you.


Mechanics of gaining Favor:
===========================


Favor is given based on your level and the level of the Undead
you are attacking. Note that this is not changed by the Voln
Step you are on, only your training level. The equation is:
Favor = (Undead Level) / (Your Level)


Examples:
A Level 3 Cleric kills a Level 3 Greater Ghoul. Favor = 3/3, or
1 favor.
A Level 3 Cleric kills a Level 6 Lesser Mummy. Favor = 6/3, or 2
favors.


Now, if you are unable to release an Undead, but are there to see
it¹s soul be released, Voln is somewhat pleased by your interest
in helping. It appears he grants you 1/3 of the normal favor in
this case. You get this favor whether or not you hit the
critter, or even tried to hit it.


Examples:
A Level 3 Cleric Watches a Level 3 Greater Ghoul be released.
Favor = 1/3*(normal favor) = (1/3)*(3/3), or 0.333 favor.
A Level 3 Cleric Watches a Level 6 Lesser Mummy be released.
Favor = 1/3*(normal favor) = (1/3)*(6/3), or 0.666 favor.


Rumors: Receiving Favor from watching soul being released was
verified at one time, however rumors abound that it may no longer
be so. Lord Voln may require that you attack or earn experience
before granting favor. This may make it rough on Empaths who earn
favor when healing a group who are releasing Undead. Rumors also
have been heard that Voln takes no favor in Clouds. (stun clouds,
tangleweed, etc.). Finally, It is rumored that watchers receive
favor only if a Voln member releases the Undead.


Skinning: There is a rumor that skinning reduces (by 1/3) or
eliminates favor. This may be due to the Œother society¹ needing
skins for some unknown reason. We should not be surprised that
Voln would not grant favor, if, as a by-product of your actions,
you aid that Œother society¹. Warning: this is just a rumor!


Some final notes on Favor.
I have been assured that favor will carry over from step to step.
This means that you do not need to go and claim your step before
starting on the next step. One individual claimed that when he
stopped hunting he had accumulated enough favor to claim 3 steps
(after doing the associated tasks for each). Once, after
receiving a new symbol, on the way out I stopped to pray. I
dreamed 1/3 of my lute strings were missing! (2/3 completed on the
next step.)


When you reach the Last Step, you become a Master of the Order.
Master may use their favor for symbols as they see fit, however
they must continue to earn favor, if they choose to use the
symbols. Masters have access to the Masters Hall, where an
interesting transportation device resides for their use.


The Steps of Voln:
==================


There are 26 steps and 26 symbols in Voln. Each step is
controlled by one of the Lords of Light. The first step is
basically free. To advance a step and learn another symbol, you
must earn favor by releasing Undead souls. You will have to earn
25 favor for the next three steps. The following three
steps require 50 favor. The next three steps, Steps 8-10, require
75 favors. See Step Chart below


Before receiving the symbol of the step, a task must be
completed. The monk tells you what your task is after you have
earned the necessary favor. When you return, the monk teaches
you the new symbol after you have completed the task. Your step
number is the number of Symbols you know.


Step Favor
Symbol Needed Task the monk gave to me
======/======/===========================
0 none Soak in spring at monastery, until cleansed.
1 25 iron in Lake Eonak (s of Wehnimer, north of
trolls, east of main road) You may have to make
your own iron! I got some from a Kobald, which was
not acceptable to his Lordship
2 25 Rose at florist ( on altar at
Wedding Glade
3 25 OUTSIDE hut in shantytown, (100sp * your
level), song to Lord Cholen (2.5% done)
4 50 dark praise to Jastav at the Graveyard
Gate. Key(?) words: Death, dark, power, Lord Jastav
5 50 an acorn outside Imaera's Shrine. Look at
the tapestry in the shrine repeatedly, for a better
understanding of Imaera. Not a Œsafe¹ trip.
6 50 coral on the dais in Charl's Shrine.
7 75 in Kai shrine. East of
Velnalin circle, go trees, up to summit, go arch to
shrine. Bring someone along to watch. A real romp!
8 75 Wave a lit Candle Votive in the underground tunnels
under the Graveyard Crypt, in Arch Wight-land. Get
help, not a safe trip. Ring out. Light candle from
eternal lamp by the monk. (12% done)
9 75 Place any(?) healing herb on the altar in the City
Temple. Go Temple. Go Pillars, to the altar where
you return (hopefully) after decomposing/departing.
10 100 Go to Ronan¹s shrine (south of Hobland) and lie
down. You will fall asleep. Ronan will ask you a
riddle which will cause you to contemplate life.
11 100 Answer Riddle at Rone Wheminer¹s Grave in Bog. East
of squishy path, search! Learn which God is married
to which before you go. (21% done)
12 100 Praise Koar in the Well under TSC. Receive a nice
mana kicker. Do not stand in Koar¹s presence!
13 125 To Coastal Cliffs, beyond Sea nymphs, deliver a
message. Search or read rock for right location.
One step east from the cliff's furthermost west end.
14 125 To the Catacombs workshop, west of salamanders, pull
the thing on the wall. Touch? the sword. (32% done)
15 125 Buy a dozen roses (~6200 sp). at Wedding
Chapel. This is in the town Temple, not at Glade.
16 150 Make your friends (at least 5) laugh on the roof of
the Museum. (40% done)
17 150 Brass Shrine in Fishermen Village. Leaper area.
Shrine (45.2)
18 150 Go back to Imaera's shrine, where you planted an oak
tree. Kneel and Pray. When the Deer (Imaera)
comes, to her. (50.0 done)
19 175 Give Lord Charl 100sp x your level. in Ocean
off the end of Spectral Fisherman dock. (55 done)
20 175 Drop a weapon in the pool southwest of Stonehold.
Need a fair search and climbing skills to get there
South of Lower Trollfang (61)
21 175 Travel to the lava pool in north danjirland. Drop a
blue crystal in the lava. Best done when a critter
is there, cause the crystal kills the critter.(67)
22 200 Go to temple altar where Lomistra restores the
dead. Give a deed to a low level person who has just
been revived, who has no deeds. ³Lomistra, give
my deed² (73)
23 200 Climb Mel¹s reach. This is complicated and hard.
You can get stuck here and need help getting out.
I have not seen a spoiler for the reach on the web
yet. The reach also has a place to recharge items
at the top, hence the draw and difficulty of the
climb. Many older Volners will help you here. (80)
24 200 Search and Crawl your way through the sand castle to
the hermit. ³Ask Hermit about task² He will ask you
3 questions out of about 8 different ones.
25 225. No task, just report to the monk. Have a friend
announce your wonderful achievement!
26..........You are Done. You have just Mastered in Voln? What
are you going to do now? Does Elanthia have a
Disney Land?


Read the chart like this: You start as Step 0. You need no favor
to get your task (initiation). Your task is to soak in the spring,
which you do. You earn your first symbol from the monk, and are
now at step 1. You next earn 25 favor and visit the next monk.
He tells you about the iron. You drop the iron in the lake, and
return to the monk. He gives you your second symbol You are now
step 2. You next earn 25 more favor.. Go to the next monk, and so
on, and so on...


If you return to the monk before finishing your task, he will
give you a little more information, (after scolding you). Some
do this as a matter of routine. I know of no penalty in doing so.


Note: Many other Voln Guides claim the total number of favor is
3150, which is what the % done is based on.. However, it is not
so. The total number of favor needed is 2925. Fastidious little
Hobbit I be, what? No, I did not count every one!


The Symbols
===========


The following are the powers you gain step by step:



Step: Symbol of: Uses:
1 Recognition Indicates Voln members and Undead in the
From Tonis room. They also see you use the symbol.
If you read carefully, you will see the
Voln Masters identified also.
2 Blessing Allows you to bless a weapon in your hand.
From Eonak Costs 1 favor. Swings: 3x your level
3 Thought Gives you access to a Voln "thought" net
From Oleani Hearing is free, talking cost favor.
4 Recovery Restores some health to you. I get 10-15
From Cholen hpts. It saved my life often times. I
like to use when bleeding in very bad
weather.
5 Courage Increases AS by your Step number, also may
From Jastev provide protection against "fear" spells.
6 Protection Adds to your DS, again, by an amount equal
From Imaera to your step number. Have not verified
any TD protection.
7 Throw lets you throw a creature/player.
From Charl (brawling modifies this) Need a free hand
to attempt. Costs no favor
8 Punch along the lines of throw. Shield is OK
From Kai (brawling modifies this) Costs no favor
9 Kick Can kick with both hands full.
From Phoen (brawling modifies this) Costs no favor
10 Calm Spell like Death dirges and Sea Nymphs.
From Lomistra Can calm creatures and players based on
your CS. Requires favor.
11 Sleep Similar to the major elemental spells
From Ronan Can sleep creatures and players based on
your CS. Requires favor.
12 Turning Causes Undead to turn and flee, when
From Lumnis successful. Based on your CS. If really
successful, the critter gets scared to
death, and dies! Requires favor.
13 Mana Uses TWO deeds and favor to replenish your
From Koar mana. Is this really how you wanted to
use your deeds?
14 Sight Allows you to find and watch a Voln member
From Tonis for a short time. Everyone in the room
will know they are being watched. The
target will also know your name when you
watch them. There are sighting
restrictions. For example, You can¹t see
in Teras Island from Icemule! Your friend
just died? You want to know they are in
good hands? Symbol Sight .
15 Holiness Allows you to bless magic metal weapons,
From Eonak like the bless symbol. Also the symbol
can be directed at a creature. will strike the
wight for about 25 damage. I think this
will only strike Undead. 3 favor to use.
16 Submission Causes the Undead creature to bow before
From Oleani you. This reduces the targets DS by 46,
at least when I do it. I suspect the DS
reduction is based on your step number +
20. It targets one creature Another CS based
symbol. A nice tactic when helping
younger family/friends hunt over their
heads. I have never seen a creature live
long enough to attack after submitting.
But I know it happens. I do not know if
submission affects the creatures AS.
17 Restoration Recovery II, more blood, 25 or 30 the only
From Cholen time I used it, might heal more that just
blood, but don¹t count on it.
18 Need An Emergency Beacon that sends a vision to
From Jastev all in Voln what is going on where you
are. Being invaded? Use it! Usually
used after death to summons help.
19 Retribution An effective attack: hits, and may kill
From Imaera any Undead in the room. The attack is not
as powerful as it was in earlier times.
Imaera has recently changed how she grants
this favor. Now, you can only use this
symbol after you are dead. Seems gentle
Imaera was being overworked when the
living could call on this symbol.
Basically, the symbol now allows some
small revenge. You earn field experience
for the critters that are hit with the
symbol so you will get some field
experience to absorb after you come back
to life. Used to cost 5 favor, perhaps
lowered now after with the changes.
20 Throw 2 More powerful version
From Charl
21 Punch 2 More powerful version
From Kai
22 Kick 2 More powerful version
From Pheon
23 Preservation Lets you Life keep (LK) yourself and
From Lomistra others (even if you are dead). Requires
2 or more favor.
24 Dreams Lets you regain health, mana, and adsorbs
From Ronan experience faster when dreaming. Must
stay asleep during this time, but may
speak using the command. 5 favor.
25 Return Brings your group back to Voln if that is
From Lumnis possible. Otherwise, it takes you to a
safe place. When I used it in pookas, I
returned to Œthe ledge¹, the local node.
26 Invitation Allows you to serve as a recruiter for
From Koar Voln Invite .


The Only symbols which are Free are Recognition, Throw, Punch,
Kick (Both), and Invitation (I think).


Rumors: Throw, Punch, and Kick may use favor when employed on
non-Undead critters.


Strategy:
=========
One strategy for 3 year old characters with a decent DS (50-60)
is to hang out in the GY dirge area. Dirges are level 9, so just
watching them die earns you one favor when you are 3. You never
even have to even swing at them. Also near Dirgeland, level 3
Ghouls show up for you to hack at and earn some
experience. By hunting Ghouls and ducking the Dirges, you can
progress rapidly thru the Voln steps. Assuming you only hunt in
Dirgeland, you should be at step 5 before you make level 4, and
step 7 at level 5. Around Level 6, hacking at dirges every now
and then, you will be close to the ninth step, and have your Punch,
and Throw, Voln-Fu! You may not be this far along if you have
been using symbols, such as blessing your own weapon, but you
will be doing well all the same. If you are wanting to take
advantage of Voln-Fu, be sure to train in brawling.


Another variant is to just watch Ghoul Masters die. They are
level 18 and you need to have your DS up to about 100. But you
can just sit in Stance DEF and watch the fun. Nice if you are an
Empath, and can heal for some experience, while racking in the
favor. Do not worry, there are almost always people there to
kill them for you. At level 3 you will earn 25 favor after 13
Master Ghouls are released. If you never gain level, and 60
Masters arrive and depart each hour, you will be a Voln Master in
32 hours, plus the time to perform the tasks. But don¹t forget
about the time spent getting rezzed after those occasions when
the Master DOES hit you! 32 hours is quick! By the way, unless
you are an Empath, some people might frown on this tactic.


The best tactic, of course, is to just collect your favor as it
comes. Gain your experience releasing the Undead, and let Voln
favor you as he will. Just check in at Voln once or twice each
level, more often if you are doing a lot of watching.


A final question often left unasked is: Should you be in Voln at
all? I am at Voln because I pursue honor over personal pursuits.
If you are looking for a premium fellowship of friends, who have
also chosen honor over personal gain, then head for Voln! People
I do not even know come to my aid. And I in turn would come to
theirs. This is not always true. There are some bad eggs in
Voln. That other group tends to be more selfish, and selfishness
is the root of all evil (not money). Continued pursuits of
selfishness will cause you to become evil also. Still, this is
not always true in That other group either. In fact, I am sure
there are many more 'good' people in That other group, than there
are 'bad' people in Voln!




Durpin Dar


³Honor and Ignorance is one dangerously foolish combination.
Please enlighten me, for I am already committed to Honor.²


Others works I learned from in the compilation of this treatise:


Laranna¹s Lair for Background on the Gods. If you have not been
to this webpage, you need to! Wonderful background on Elanthia!
http://www.mystikal.com/laranna/


Morandas¹ Mausoleum for Voln information. Two works reside on
this website, both Morandas¹ Voln Guide and Galyden¹s Voln Symbol
Guide were very helpful, but do not reflect some of the recent
changes. Another incredible site. If you have not surfed here,
your Web tour of the Gemstone websites has not really started!
http://pages.prodigy.com/Gemstone3/start.htm