Celestial Alignment Ritual

The Celestial Alignment Ritual is a dangerous and forbidden technique described in fragmented texts found within the Vault of Whispers, hinting at a deeper understanding of the cosmos than the Dwarven Abbey readily admits. It is not a prayer to any deity, but a manipulation of natural forces, a crude attempt to force reality to bend to one's will. The ritual requires the precise arrangement of celestial bodies – moons, stars, and even the rare appearance of Aetherium Storms – to channel energy through specific locations on the surface of the Iron-Grip Mountains. These locations are often sites of ancient power, such as the Aetherium Fount or the Echoing Cairns, where the veil between worlds is already thin. It is said to require the sacrifice of a sentient being within the Null Fields to fully power the ritual.

Performing the ritual involves the use of Runes of Alignment, etched onto Obsidian Shards and arranged in precise geometric patterns. The Order of the Azure Hand is rumored to have mastered portions of this ritual, hoping to achieve apotheosis by bridging the gap between the mortal and celestial realms. However, the consequences of failure are catastrophic: uncontrolled surges of Auric Resonance, the opening of Warped Gates, or even the complete annihilation of the surrounding area. Even the Skyclaw Griffons flee the site of the ritual when it is performed. Archivist Theron believes the ritual is described in Elder Borin's Chronicles, but the relevant passages have been deliberately obscured. What role did Valia, the Empty play in the creation of the ritual? Perhaps the Forgotten Smith knew how to complete the ritual safely. The Chitinous Swarm have demonstrated resistance to its energies. The Cobalt Corsairs may be interested in the potential power this ritual offers, if they can find a safe way to harness it. Perhaps the Crimson Cartographers have mapped the path by which the celestial bodies align. The Silent Monks of Durin's Peak are strictly against its use, saying it hastens the Great Unmaking. Could the ritual be used to unlock the secrets of The Lost City of Umbral? The Gnomish Tinkers might be able to build a device to detect when an alignment is about to take place. They see the potential to weaponize it, creating a Celestial Cannon. Perhaps there is a new Chapter of the Void to be written about the ritual.