>In particular, I'm looking for some updates on what happened to magic, what Theurgy took the place of, and what happened to the good old days of people sitting in the Crossing Cleric Guild?

Right now Guildfest is going on up in Therengia so it might be relatively quiet in Crossing. You occasionally see people in the Cleric guild but hangouts these days tend to be in places where you can collect (forage) rocks and vines.

I know this is a lot of links but there's been a lot of changes. Elanthipedia should have the answer to almost any question and if it doesn't it can easily be edited to. Check out these pages:

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Returning_players

(you have a small window of real life time upon returning to respec your stats and possibly shuffle some magic skills around so check out the general section from the above link first)

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Cleric_new_player_guide

(even though you're a returning player, the explanations in this guide will be helpful to you)

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Category:DragonRealms_Updates

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Combat_3.0

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Combat_3.1

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Magic_3.0

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Magic_3.1

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Magic_3.2

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Cleric_3.0

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Theurgy_skill

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Cleric

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Popular_gathering_places

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Roleplaying_resources_and_community_connections

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Post:ESP_2.0_on_11/11/16_-_11/10/2016_-_16:41

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Esp_command

Welcome back! Clerics are still awesome, that's all ya really need to know!

ok, apparently 8 years of sleep wasn't long enough to fix the parry requirement. Hah.

my highest blade is still about 60 ranks behind my Parry skill, and my magics are good for the next 30 circles with the exception of Theurgy.

is there some awesome combination to work Theurgy that I don't understand yet? Honestly it sounds like a chore, (literally so from an RP perspective).

Pretty much what Gab said, I only use Meraud's, Eluned and Tamsine though, it's worked well to get me into the 1500's Theurgy. While hunting, if you put down a Meraud's then it opens the doors to do the devotion building rituals (dance, last rites, etc). For me, after my Meraud is put down and then once Theurgy reaches 20/34 I'll do an Eluned, once it hits 20/34 again I'll do a Tamsine. There's a 20 minute timer for learning after performing a commune, that's why I rotate those two.

Outside of combat I still just use Meraud's, I'll drop it either in the Empath courtyard or in our Gathering Hall, and same deal with Eluned/Tamsine as Theurgy reaches 20/34.

>can someone remind me how to get the meraud orb from the eyes of the thirteen again? or is the siergelde only place near crossing now until i get Truffenyi's commune?

Make sure Meraud's altar is clean.
Put an appropriate offering on Meraud's altar in the Main Temple in the Eyes of the Thirteen or Aesry's Cleric guild. You can check each Immortal's epedia page for appropriate offerings.
Pray.
Wait ~20 or so seconds.
Get the orb on the altar.

For the Main Temple altar of Meraud; from here:

[Eyes of the Thirteen, Meraud's Shrine]
Carved alexandrite-dusted wolf prints continue their trek over a black onyx platform, making their way towards a polished granite altar set at the darkened far end. On either side of the dome are black steel braziers that are lit with eerie purple flames, setting a surreal ambience in the room. The lighting caresses its way across the four intricate carvings lined on either side of the tracks set into the platform. You also see a black lacquered altar with hints of cinnabar and gold leaf, a polished black granite archway and a black marble altar inlaid with silver lightning bolts.
Obvious exits: none.

GO PLATFORM to here:

[Eyes of the Thirteen, Eye of Meraud]
The gem-kissed wolf tracks end their journey at an inscription carved before a polished black granite altar veined in deep purple alexandrite. Sitting on top of the structure is a stunningly detailed statue sculpted from polished granite as dark as the stone from which the altar is made. Encompassing the platform is a faceted dark crystal dome that refracts the incoming light with the glow coming from the braziers into a dimly hued array of color and shadow. You also see a tall silver candlestick.
Obvious exits: up.

Proper Offerings to Meraud:

blood wolf pelts or paws
carved (mech lore via a wolf primer) wolf beads
shaped (craft engineering via a codex) wolf beads
parchment wolf primers
Immortal Meraud (collector) cards
runestones

https://elanthipedia.play.net/RanikMap2a

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Meraud

https://elanthipedia.play.net/Altar_list

If it's for Osrel Meraud you can also use Firulf or Kerenhappuch orbs if those altars are more convenient (or you prefer them cosmetically) outside Crossing.

>hah, i was offering it up straightaway instead of waiting on the prayer. thanks! not alot of clerics around to solve these little quirks IG

Lots of Clerics around! The new Theurgy systems allows actual use of communes to train Theurgy, so you'll find a lot more hunting these days than just hanging around the guild like the old days.

If you do want to hang out, the normal spot is in the side building.

I got FOU, the quest was fun and not easy to figure out.

199 TM.

Questions about the spell, is there actually a risk to casting it, the discernment of the spell warns of the risks inherently involved with summoning Ushnish's strength. Second question, does it work on flying or undead critters?