11/03/03 (Real world)

<A SPECIAL NOTE FOR THE READER: Because this particular journal entry pertains more directly to the background of the author, Dain Lonair, I felt it appropriate to take this moment to reveal some important details of that history. Therefore, I present to you the expanded character background of Dain Lonair, Human Akashic, Apprentice in the Order of the Erdaenos Collectors.>

Dain (Saul) Lonair is a member of the Order of the Erdaenos Collectors ("OEC"), a secret organization dedicated to rebuilding the Library and Museum of the city of Erdaenos. The Order is headed by Hanrel Tannison, a human champion who led the group of oathsworn, librarians, sages, and scholars back to the Library of Erdaenos to secure its collection. Or, at least that is all the public knows.

Privately, the group is dedicated to regathering all the knowledge and magic that was lost as a result of the Dramojh and Giantish invasions, for their own purposes. They use Erdaenos as their base of operations, and have secret agents spread across much of the realm.

While not anti-giant, the OEC believe that the ruling Giantish members of the Diamond Throne hierarchy would not be pleased to hear that non-Giants are attempting to gather so much knowledge and power for themselves. They have therefore kept this part of their goals private, and value discretion in most of their actions.

Prior to joining the OEC, Dain was a skilled craftsman near Navael. He left home in pursuit of knowledge, eventually traveling to the famed Library of Erdaenos. Once there, he met Uxilach, a Verrik Akashic woman who serves as a freelance guide for visitors to the Library, and secretly serves as a recruiter and spy for the Order. Her profession as Library guide conveniently places her in the position of often being a newcomers first contact in the city.

Unknown to Dain, Uxilach was impressed with the young Akashic's intelligence and quick wit, and decided to put Dain through the Order's qualifying test. Dain successfully passed the test, finding his way unaided through the elaborate maze of the Library at Erdaenos, and discovering there the planted book on the history of the Order, with instructions on his duties should he agree to participate in the initiation ceremony.

Dain agreed to participate in the ceremony, and was initiated into the Order. The details of that ceremony are rather private in nature, and are even more closely guarded than the existence of the Order itself.

Dain is a now a neophyte Akashic and relatively new member of the OEC. Dain himself is not privy to what the ultimate goals of the OEC might be for using the knowledge and power they are gathering, but he is attracted by the opportunity to study with them and seek lost knowledge and artifacts. After training for some time with the OEC, Hanrel Tannison has sent him his first real mission. He is to travel to Gahanis.

The OEC has learned through extensive research in the Library of Erdaenos that Gahanis was the primary destination for the people of the realm who escaped from the Dramohj rule, including several powerful Magisters and Akashics alive at the time. Those fleeing people traveled there with great stores of valuable artifacts that they wished to hide from the Dramojh.

It is further believed by the OEC that below Gahanis lies a vast natural cave system, with an entrance within the old fortress of Gahanis. The OEC think that the caverns were used by many of those who escaped, and may still contain the hidden caches of artifacts. In addition, an ancient castle within the Floating Forrest known as Ebonring Keep lies just north of the city, and it is believed to contain the secret to a Dramojh artifact. Dain is to investigate the city, the old fortress and caverns, and Ebonring Keep in search of any artifacts hidden in those places by people fleeing the Dramojh, or by the Dramojh themselves. If possible, he is to return any powerful artifacts discovered therein (though he may use such during his travels, if necessary and important to his mission), and send word of any additional knowledge that might hint to the location of other items. Should any other locations be discovered along the way that might also hold powerful knowledge or artifacts, Dain is authorized to seek out those locations as well.

This mission is expected to last quite a while, and the OEC is not anticipating that they will see Dain again for a very long time. They have provided him with an additional stipend of 100 gold pieces to assist him in his mission, and free use of their forge facilities for the practice of his armor and weaponsmithing crafts in preparation for the mission.

Should Dain discover anything of vital importance, he can send a message back to the OEC by means of a Verrick Akashic/Magister known as Nefenr, a trusted contact of the OEC. Nefenr will know how to deliver a message or package to the OEC. He can usually be found performing his "memory art" somewhere in the city, and is generally not difficult to track down, should the need arise. Nefenr is aware of Dain's mission.

<Thus ends the background of Dain Lonair. And now, on with this weeks story.>

Dain finds himself a secluded locale, carefully takes out his quill and ink pot, and opens his journal to the first page.

With meticulous and heavy lines, he begins to alter the first page of his journal, blotting out the uncoded heading name and references to "NEFNR, THE MEMORY ARTIST, IN THE CITY OF GAHANIS", and replacing the words with "HANREL TANNISON, IN THE CITY OF ERDAENOS". He does this with all five of the prior Mission Reports, and finally moves on to a clear page to begin Mission Report 6.

<Note: All text hereafter, except the heading, is written in a coded form of Draconic>

IF THIS JOURNAL IS FOUND, THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL REWARD FOR ITS RETURN TO HANREL TANNISON, IN THE CITY OF ERDAENOS

To: Hanrel Tannison
Order of the Erdaenos Collectors
Library of Erdaenos
City of Erdaenos

From: Dain Lonair
The Ale House Inn
City of Gahanis

Re: Mission Report 5

Date: 14 Fifthmonth 1757

While my compatriots celebrate what appears to be a successful beginning chapter in our adventures, I write with a heavy shadow over my shoulder, and dark and chaotic thoughts dominate my mind.

We are, perhaps, betrayed, and the secrets of the Order of the Erdaenos Collectors may be in jeopardy!

It all started with the capture of the second bandit within those dank and gloomy caverns beneath the Battlehome Fortress. Seduced by the ease with which we had captured Den Rutinger, we marched confidently on to face his partner, Merril Yannis.

Sniktari, ever skilled in stealthy endeavors, led the way, slinking from shadow to shadow at the point position of the group, at least 30 feet ahead of us.

His stealth was successful it turns out, though we did not know it at the time. Just as he was about to turn the corner to view the area we believed Yannis might be hiding, Snik himself was surprised by the vicous attack of a large snake!

The battle was fierce, but brief. Snakes strike with deadly accuracy, but so do wolverines. Sniktari's counter-attack was brutal, slicing into the thing's scaly skin with multiple claw strikes.

Before the rest of us could catch up to the battle front, we all heard a roar of rage from behind Sniktari. It was not long before we witnessed the source of this anger. It would seem the snake had been the companion of our target, Yannis, and he was out for blood and revenge, with all the hatred a snake totem warrior can muster.

Deadly darts flew past Snik's head, barely missing him, as Yannis charged. The rest of us quickly assumed strategic positions. Iyri let loose a massive blast which exploded from the very rockface nearest Yannis, as shards of rock tore into Yanni's exposed flesh and armor. Meanwhile Snik covered the gap between them quickly, slicing into the enraged bandit with his own deep source of anger driving him on. Finally, Roksha's arrows flew, thudding into Yannis's chest with a sickening sound.

Yannis sunk slowly to the ground, the fire fading from his eyes.

Quickly, Iyri and I raced to his side. His breathing was shallow, and there was an unhealthy gurgling coming from deep within his chest. I implored Iyri to heal the man, for he was more valuable to us alive than dead.

With a reluctance bordering on disgust, she laid her hands on the still Bandit's form, and poured some of her essence into him. Immediately I could see some of his most grevious injuries heal over, and his breathing normalized. But he was far from being conscious.

I searched him, stripping off his snakeskin armor, and begin to securely bind his arms, legs, and mouth, as we had done to Den earlier. The battle was won.

My search revealed that the snakeskin armor was of a special quality, possibly magic. It also turned up a spikestick, 12 gold pieces, and 4 potions (J,K,L,M). Back in his lair, I also discovered a key with the letter "G" on it, and a spare bedroll, near a stool. I took the key and bedroll, suspecting the "G" might stand for Gahanis, and most likely opened the front door to the fortress without the need for lock picking.

There was little left to explore in the underground caverns. Desiring that my report be complete (with the exception of course of the endless tunnels we had found earlier, which would require a search party numbering in the hundreds, or a year-long project), I encouraged the party to proceed down the final unmapped tunnel, being the southwest riverbed passage we had skipped on first coming down to these caverns from the well within the stables above.

It was not long before we knew something was amiss. Seventy feet down the corridor, we spotted a faint phosphorescing glow. As we approached, I spotted numerous mushroom-like mold spores covering the walls of the riverbed passage. As we reached the flowing mass at the end, the entire passage was blocked by the large, glowing mushrooms. We had discovered the source of the goblinoid infection, and Den's downfall as well.

As I turned to break off a sample of the stuff to research later, unexpectedly Roksha suddenly reached out, grabbed a chunk of the fungus, and brought it towards his mouth as if to eat it. I was shocked! Had the man gone insane? Had he not see the grotesque creatures above, more plant than humanoid, that sprayed such sickening gasses at us earlier?

Ah, no, he had. Indeed, he had inhaled the noxious gaseous substance earlier, gasping for breath. Perhaps it had done something to him, unknown all this time.

Whatever the cause, we knew we had to try and stop him. Several of us lunged for his full hands. I, being the closet to him from seeking out a sample of the stuff, was able to dislodge the chunk quickest. Lifting the piece off the ground, I quickly began to stuff it in the empty pouch I had obtained from the long departed Jedreth.

I was too quick, however, to dismiss the matter, and my attention should have remained on my companion until the danger had passed. Alas, it was not the first time that my thirst for knowledge had outweighed my wisdom.

Roksha again grabbed a piece of the mushroom mass from the wall. Several others again lunged to stop him, but unfortunately Roksha was able to overpower their efforts, and before anyone could stop him, he had stuff the mushroom in his mouth and begun to swallow.

Quickly we dragged him away from the area. But it was too late. As the mysterious enchantment of the fungus wore off, a look of dread and disgust covered Roksha's face.

"You cannot let me near those things. Not ever again. I feel ill."

We sadly looked at each other, knowing as we did that none of us had the kind of magic that would be required to purge such a thing from his system, if such magic even existed.

We walked back to the Bandit lair, all the while Gur carrying one bandit over each of his massive shoulders, as I took over the task of holding the lantern aloft.

Again, we spotted a ghost-like being off in the distance, and again we heard the chant of long dead Giants, whose intonations could not be made out by even the keenest of ears in our group. This time I chanted back, in my best, ancient Giantish, full of ceremony and fury, but to no effect. Whatever beings must still haunt this fortress, they do not seem to wish to communicate with us. Perhaps they are just asking that we leave them in peace.

We traveled back up to the main keep, seeking out the interrogation room intent on questioning our captives.

Den was the only one in any way close to being in a condition to answer questions. We waited, holed up in that ancient place, for him to slowing come around. It took several hours, but eventually he came to.

As expected, he was none to happy to see us. We propped him up on the pedestal, and forced him to peer into the eyes of the iron mask on the wall, which again emitted an aura of foreboding strength.

Snik tested it out by asking the man a question. I response, the bandit spit at Snik.

Obviously, this wasn't working out as planned.

I decided it was time for some good, old fashioned, good guard bad guard interrogation. So I rolled up my sleeves, and got to work.

Sniktari caught on quickly. He stood nearby, claws extended, picking his teeth with them, all the while giving a casual but menacing look in the direction of Den. I motioned towards my new pouch, now full of mushrooms, and told Den that he had a choice - he could answer our questions, and get some mushroom, or he could decline to answer, and get Snik and his claws.
[Note: I rolled an 18 on intimidate, for a total of 25].

Den began to talk.

My first question, of course, concerned the book "Inmagis Libellum", eluded to on the note we had found in the bandits treasure chest. Den didn't seem to know that name, so I asked him about the notation about an "Old Tome from Xavel" and he seemed to understand. The book was at the bandit lair.

I asked where that lair was. Den seemed reluctant to talk again, so I looked over at Snik, and asked the question again, the threat clear in my voice. [Note: I rolled a natural 20 on this intimidate check, for a total of 27, more than enough to secure my intimidation for the near future].

Den decided it was safer to talk rather than not. He revealed that their base of operations was near this lake of lost voices, which we had a map to already. The map of the lands to the north and east were not meaningful to him. Odthow, mentioned in the note we found, was their leader, and he was at the Lake. Their relationship to the goblins was coincidental only, and they were merely mutually neutral. He did not know of Jedreth Heros or Shema N'ralep, nor the prior owner of the permit named Sterith Blackweather, and did not sound like he had explored the fortress itself very much. Nor did he have any relationship to the Jaren, though that is less telling than it might seem, given the Jaren's reputation for duplicity and secrecy.

I was just finishing my queries, and pleased with the results, when I came back to the note.

Who was this "N" character mentioned on the note, who had received 50 gold pieces, a ruby, and a sapphire in some relation to the Bandit group? I knew about all the other entries, but that one remained a mystery.

Den's eyes grew cold, and I could tell he seemed scared. Something was wrong.

I asked again, my tone as firm as it could be. I knew I was on to something here, something important. [Note: DM here required a special additional intimidation roll. I thought it odd, but went with it - and yet again rolled a natural 20, for a total of 27. Good die! Cookie for you later!]

Sweat began to pour down Den's face, and a fanatical look seemed to be in his eyes.

"Nefenr! It stands for Nefenr!" he barked out, spittle flying as rage overtook him. He struggled for a bit, and then went totally slack, his eyes downcast as if in defeat.

My blood ran cold.

"Nefenr? The Memory Artist? That Nefenr?"

Den refused to answer any further. He began to beg for death, kicking at Sniktari, attempting to prod him into attacking.

I asked him again, threatening to turn him over to the Jaren if he didn't answer. Spittle was my answer.

I let Sniktari take him away, as I tried to provide an outward calm to shield my inner chaotic thoughts. I sat down, and tried to think.

Nefenr! My Gahanis contact with the Order. My only link back home. What was I to do? What role did Nefenr play with the Bandits? Could he just be a third party hireling, paid to appraise two gems for the Bandits? No. Not with the reaction I had gotten from Den. This was something deeper. Something more sinister than that.

Perhaps Nefenr was working with the bandits in an attempt to get them to give him the book, on behalf of the Order?

That didn't make sense, but was possible. Nefenr knew my mission. I went to see him, and gave him the secret handshake. He knew where I was staying that first night, and had every opportunity to speak with me privately to tell me about his plans. If that was what was going on, he should have told me.

There was another possibility, one I dreaded to consider. Perhaps Nefenr had betrayed the Order, and was seeking out the book on his own in an attempt to obtain its secrets for his own ends!

It was possible. Nefenr knew about the existence of the book. He must have been informed when he was told about my mission. These two bandits obviously knew Nefenr, and considered him dangerous enough to seek death for themselves rather than further betray him. They must have had some manner of intense dealings with the man.

And Nefenr, as a member of the Order, already had a deep interest in rare artifacts. Given his known Akashic and magical talents, possessing buried arcane lore would have some allure for him.

But there was no way to tell which explanation was true, or if there were yet another layer to this mystery. What was I to do?

I could go directly to Nefenr and ask him. That wasn't likely to work, however. I can be rather persuasive at times, but from what I saw of Nefenr, so could he. And my ability to discern truth from lies was no better than the next man.

I could go to the town guard. But, what proof did I have really? That some lying bandits said an N on an odd note related in some way to their famed Memory Artist? That wouldn't take me very far. It stood a better chance of landing me in jail for slanderous statements against an important personage.

I could tell the Jaren. But then what? The Jaren would be too secretive to tell me anything further on the subject, even if the information was meaningful to them. It might just result in their killing Nefenr, just to be safe. And I might never know the truth, whether I had condemned a good man to death with speculation, or a traitor who might have revealed too much to our enemies.

I needed to contact the Order, and obtain further instructions. This was just the sort of situation they asked me to contact them about.

Except Nefenr WAS my contact! I knew of no other way of getting a message to Erdaenos, aside from going there myself or hiring a rider to transport the message. Neither means was particularly fast or desirable.

But wait, how did Nefenr contact the Order? He must have some means of communicating with them in a timely manner.

I thought long on this conundrum, waiting for the other bandit to come around. It was possible Nefenr had an object of power that let him get a message to the Order. Perhaps it was a spell.

I reached deep into the Akashic record, seeking answers. Images passed in my minds eye, mostly scrambled, of various things from the past dealing with long distance communication.

Then, suddenly, I saw something that might have some promise. Mirror magic!

Some rare individuals had the ability to communicate through mirrors. Usually, such people were of exceptional inner magnetism, and were keen spellcasters. The kind of people that could enchant anyone to do their bidding.

That fit Nefenr. I recall thinking how odd it was that he was so charming, for a Verrick.

Indeed, I only now recall that Hanrel possessed a floor-to-ceiling length mirror in his personal office. There was always someone on duty in that office, either serving as a guard, a secretary, or usually Hanrel himself.

Could that be Nefenr's secret? Could he be communicating with the Order by means of mirror magic? There was no way to know. If that was his secret, then my chances of contacting the Order seemed slim. Unless their was another spellcaster in town who could work such magics, which seemed highly unlikely, then I was probably stuck without any means to report back.

I would have to think on this issue further. But for now, I felt a sense of hopelessness come over me.

The second bandit was unfortunately no help at all. He resisted the mask, just as Den had, and refused to provide any further information, or anything on Nefenr. We knocked them both back out, and carried them out of the keep.

I recovered the buried memory stone, which we had received from Nefenr's student, Howorand Sala. Such a "gift" took on a new, sinister meaning in light of our most recent information. What did Nefenr want with our memories of the fortress? Was it to gather information to blackmail us with, for illegally entering the keep? Or was it indeed an innocent method of sculpting the interior of the place for the sake of art?

I continued to focus on my problem all the way back to the town, but with no conclusions.

The party discussed the best way to collect the reward. I thought it would look suspicious if we just walked into town dragging two unconscious bodies on the back of a giant. So, it was decided that I would approach the Jaren first, and the rest of the group would stay a ways outside of town just off the road, waiting for a pickup.

I approached the Jaren establishment, which was again closely guarded. The guards insisted that I come back in the evening, as the Jaren were not inclined to take unexpected guests. I agreed.

Returning that evening, the guards let me in after a brief discussion and delay. I entered again the secure entry chamber, and eventually was passed through to the inner chamber. A Jaren was there, masked as always. I explained that we had captured the bandits, and told them where they were located. I showed them the note, though left off the fact that we had discovered who "N" was.

The Jaren agreed to pick up the prisoners, and I waited, asking whatever questions I dared without tipping out hand too much. The Jaren were, as usual, not very forthcoming with their answers.

Eventually, guards arrived, reporting that the prisoners had be successfully retrieved. There was a short confusion about the maps, which were retrieved in a separate trip. But eventually everything was cleared up. The Jaren had their Bandits, and the maps (which I had previously committed to memory), and they gladly paid us the 400 gold piece bounty.

I informed them that we were now going after the Tome, which we believed was hidden at this Lake of Lost Voices. The Jaren agreed that we should do so, and that our bargain was still sound, and quickly departed.

I sit here now in a room at the Ale House Inn, pondering my opinions. I could I contact the Order without Nefenr? Was Nefenr a betrayer of the Order?

Perhaps the Inmagis Libellum held the answer.

Tomorrow we will seek aid for the sickly Roksha. And then, we head out to the Lake of Lost Voices.

I must find that book!

In the name, the word, and the symbol of the Order of the Erdaenos Collectors,

Dain Lonair, apprentice.

<200 experience points each party member>
<100 experience to Sniktari for RP Vote>
<100 experience to Dain for the log >