EBON GATE PREVIEW: GM Kaonashi introduced Sockpuppetry to Elanthia at Ebon Gate. New this year, an entire Sockpuppetry shop features amazing hand puppet action, with unlocks for all the extras. Read in detail and don’t miss the POINT feature:
Text of Discord Post follows:
GM Kaonashi
[Ebon Gate 2025] Introducing: Sockpuppetry
on 07 Oct 2025 2:09 PM
from the Official GemStoneIV Discord
on #forums/paid-evens channel
Ermias Dunholme stands on an uneven cobblestone path shattered by dark roots. Thick vines and a thin layer of ice coat the dense trees lining the way forward through the Darkbriar Woods. He turns, facing a multicolored stone hovel tucked between vine-wrapped oak, ash, and rowan trees. He then slides a haggard archaeologist puppet over his right hand, tugging it tight and wiggling his fingers to ensure a good fit.
“Money well spent,” Ermias says, staring down at the puppet. “Welcome to Team Dunholme, little man.” He raises a haggard archaeologist puppet up in front of his face. The puppet then puts one of its hands over its pair of crimson-dotted hazel button eyes as Ermias hunches his shoulders and turns in place as the puppet surveys the area.
Nodding with satisfaction, Ermias studies the puppet before noticing stray lint on his new friend. He then turns a haggard archaeologist puppet to face himself. Making a slight clucking noise and shaking his head, he meticulously picks at the puppet, tapping its pair of crimson-dotted hazel button eyes, adjusting its fine sandy blonde fur hair that runs down the side of the puppet into stylized fur sideburns, and running his fingers over the puppet’s a black leather-stitched mouth.
Looking up from the puppet, Ermias squints into the distance, where he notices fellow SPECTRE and SHADOW member Caedenmon Howler limping down the Darkbriar Woods path toward him.
“Not him,” Ermias groans. He then holds a haggard archaeologist puppet close to him and strokes the puppet’s fine sandy blonde fur hair that runs down the side of the puppet into stylized fur sideburns. Ermias’s gaze is unfocused, as if he is lost in thought. At the same time, one of the puppet’s arms rubs against its chin, as if it is similarly occupying a daydream.
Caedenmon Howler limps alongside Ermias. “Dunholme,” he gruffly says without making eye contact and without stopping, passing Ermias before a reply can be delivered.
Ermias holds a haggard archaeologist puppet up before the departing Caedenmon. The puppet seems to stare at Caedenmon, as if studying his appearance. After a moment, the puppet’s black leather-stitched mouth begins flapping open and shut, and it seems to say, “Blah blah blah, I’m Caedenmon Howler, and I’m SO VERY important!”
Caedenmon Howler turns back toward Ermias, takes a few steps, and raises an eyebrow. “What was that, Dunholme?” he asks.
“Nothing!” Ermias replies. He holds a haggard archaeologist puppet up in front of Caedenmon’s face, vigorously shaking the puppet and causing its arms to flail wildly at Caedenmon in what could generously be described as an enthusiastic wave.
“Good to see you, Howler!” Ermias says. He narrows his eyes, cocks his head to one side, and upturns the edges of his mouth in a smug grin. A haggard archaeologist puppet and Ermias then enthusiastically nod in unison, with the puppet’s fine sandy blonde fur hair flopping around as it does.
—-
Enterprising shoppers, greetings! I am thrilled to present to you for this year’s Ebon Gate festival a brand new fluffy, customizable toy: sock puppets. These items will be available out of Sockpuppetry, from the multicolored stone hovel located in the Darkbriar Woods.
Sock Puppets are available to intrepid adventurers if the price is right! Who are you to resist it, eh?! They are able to take on various forms, including a “nature” side that may be freely altered and a “hero” side that you can use to capture the likeness of others!
Unlocked via certificates sold in Sockpuppetry, each puppet has five tiers, two styles of sides, and numerous customization slots. By unlocking it fully, the puppet can trap a total of 10 different looks, so feel free to design away to your heart’s content – or capture the likeness of your fellow adventurers (with their consent, naturally).
The following verbs are available to you when using your sock puppet:
Tier 1: WEAR, REMOVE, PUSH, BOW AT {player}, WAVE AT {player}
Tier 2: TURN, RUB, POINT AT {player}, DAYDREAM, CLEAN
TURN: Change from “hero” side to “nature” side and vice versa.
RUB: Changes from one slot to another.
POINT: Copies a player’s description to a “hero” slot.
PUSH: Adds a forageable item as a puppet’s hair adornment or sets a gem as its eyes.
Tier 3: PEER, SWOON, WHISTLE, TREMBLE, APPLAUD
Tier 4: WHINE, GAWK AT {player}, SALUTE AT {player}, JEER AT {player}, PANIC
Tier 5: SHRUG AT {player}, GRIN, PRAISE, MOCK AT {player}, SMOOCH
This puppet is currently Tier 5 and has a total of 5 slots on both the “nature” and “hero” sides.
Additionally, each sock puppet may have several of their characteristics freely altered by willing merchants, including hair description, hair adornment, eyes, mouth, and expression. For example, Ermias Dunholme, from the above narrative, when LOOKING at his puppet, would see:
>look at my puppet
Stitched together predominantly from cloth with room to insert a hand for manipulation, a haggard archaeologist puppet stares ahead with a wry expression set on its a black leather-stitched mouth. The puppet’s face is dominated by a pair of crimson-dotted hazel button eyes. Atop the puppet’s head sits some fine sandy blonde fur hair that runs down the side of the puppet into stylized fur sideburns.
Each puppet sells OTS for 1,000 Ebon Gate Soul Shards, with each unlock costing a further 500 Shards. Look for the puppets and their unlocks in the child-sized stone coffins and the wide-mouthed stone ossuary in Sockpuppetry.
I look forward to what hijinks and shenanigans you can get into using your new sock puppet friends! I also look forward to sharing a few more puppetry secrets as Ebon Gate progresses!
I wish to conclude this by offering my most sincere thanks to GMs Thandiwe, Avaluka, and especially Ethereal, my coding partner in this misadventure. They are the best.
~GM Kaonashi~
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