“There was a time when the deserts of Sibayad were just a tale; a distant sandswept land far from the shores of Arelith. There was little reason to journey to such an inhospitable place, to brave the seas and the orcish pirates that plague so much of the Nelanther Isles. But then, what is it that they say? Necessity is the mother of invention? Then perhaps it is also the father of compromise...

For when the people of my homeland turned their back on me – burned my home to the ground, and drove me from any place I dared to show my face - where else could I have gone? The underdark? I would not last a week living under the boot-heel of the drow. They say in Sibayad nobody cares for one's reputation in Arelith. That in a land where so few questions are asked the word 'outcast' becomes meaningless. All that matters is coin, and I have plenty of that. To hell with Cordor, Guldorand and the rest!”

This massive update to the Distant Shores greatly expands the isle of Sibayad, and establishes it as the latest player run settlement of Arelith. Among the standard surface characters (with the exception of elves and aasimar) it also welcomes outcasts, gnolls and minotaurs as player citizens under the new Vizier, the representative of the all powerful Merchant League.

A town where all characters, whatever their origins, are free to come and trade, it has seen a great many updates, largely centered around the new 'Golden Alleys'. Existing areas have been updated, and a great many more have been added, both to the town and the surrounding region.

Be advised, reaching Sibayad now requires considerable effort, first crossing the sea using one of Arelith's player ships, but then making the long journey along the Spice Road to the interior of the isle.

The River Port of Sibayad

This update includes:

- Approximately 50 new areas

- 8 New Music Tracks

- Dozens of new and updated creatures

- 19 New Writs

- New Mount – Camel

- Pet System – Purchase a number of different animals to decorate your home, or a dog to accompany you on your travels

- 3 New Boons – These now stack, and last 45 RL days

- 3 New Henchmen

The Eyrie in the Dune Wastes

My thanks to the entire Arelith development team, it's artists, coders, writers and the rest for helping me realise this new vision for the server.

And finally to Kevin MacLeod for the music

Kevin MacLeod is an American composer and music producer. Described as "arguably the most prolific composer you’ve never heard of", MacLeod has composed over 2,000 pieces of royalty-free library music and made them available under a Creative Commons copyright license.

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