The Undead Surge in the Forest

[Phaz22]

letter dropped off at Hands of Mundus, with an illustration.

Dear Magus Radda:

Brimlor Rockbottom and myself have discovery a terrible truth in the Viradale Forest. The plane of negative energy is bursting forth invading this one; if it continues unabated, it could overwhelm the entire area. We encountered a sentient hell hound who warned of a Demon Blade that is perhaps the key to all of this. The creature sent legions of vampire assassins and undead against us.

Though we did survive, the hound escaped into the forest. He also mentioned the fabric of our plane becomes weaker and weaker as they push deeper and deeper into ours. We hope the Hands can offer insight and help us end this threat or undead will be rising up in every city and town. I've made an illustration of the one of the strange undead that attacked us. Brimlor bravely fought against it as i was recovering from an injury.

--Quartz

[grant]

Limping back up to her room Radda reads the letter, "I wonder if this has anything with that garbled sending that knocked me down the stairs in the Trade Tier earlier?"

Arriving at her room, she sits at her trunk and prepares a Sending spell.

"Hand, this is Radda, I recieved a letter today that may be of some concern."

Begins reading the letter.

[Phaz22]

notes and an illustration in Dmytri's journal

In case we all are lost when the negative plane invade ours, i am writing a follow up to what has happened. I fear there is not much time left. If anyone finds this perhaps we can offer you a clue to reversing the situation. This assumes you're not a vampire and you want to set the world to how it was before this crisis.

Brimlor and Brunnus captured a vampire and brought it the temple of Kelemvor. Brimlor dominated it to answers questions in front of Solerena, the Judicator of Kelemvor, as well as the Scriviner of Jergal (who was recently displaced and now is working out of the temple in Sestra).

It did not know many answers, perhaps we weren't asking it the right questions. But it did reveal a few vague clues: that silver can aid us against their defenses; it confirmed the negative plane is intruding in our plane; and said the Devil Woman in involved. It did not know of any ritual. The Hell Hound that Brimlor and I met in the forest spoke of a ritual and the Demon Blade. But this vampire did not know about that specifically.

Radda and Ahriman from the Hands of Mundus were also present during the questioning. Abathor too, who pledged a few clerics from his order to help. After questioning was complete, the Scriviner released the vampires soul and said it was headed to rest with Selune, so it seems one's deeds in life can still can positively affect the afterlife of such undead.

The Judicator tasked Brimlor to continue the investigation. The Scriviner mentioned that Bane rules over of the God of Blood. Perhaps Banites are involved. We must act quickly.

hastily scribbled addition:

Outside the temple, Abathor noticed that Brimlor had been bitten, he was looking quite pale. I am also very concerned about Radda, she did not wish me to hear it, but i clearly heard her tell her fellow Hand "The sword I swore not reveal details about has now come to light" if she speaks of the Demon Blade I am greatly concerned. How can we trust the Hand to help us in this crisis if they're not being truthful, I must inform Brimlor about this after he rests.

[Phaz22]

additional notes

I think I may finally have my mind wrapped around what is happening. Maybe. I am writing this down to try to be clear. (As clear as muddy water can be anyway.) Some facts are in dispute possibly and really it's not much but it's all we have.

Jeshana, the angel, was apparently sold by her celestial father. I think for a time before becoming "pure" as Radda would say (as pure as a drunk can be) she may have done some questionable things. Apparently she may live for a 1000 years so really she's still just a baby. Well, and I'm not sure how exactly, but she had in her possession a Balor Sword, which some refer to as the Demon Sword.

Radda was kidnapped by the horrible creature Hadavi, who lives in a fortress high on the mountain above Aquor. Hadavi also acquired the Demon Sword. In order to secure Radda's release and the return of the Demon Sword, the Hands of Mundus traded to Hadavi the Axe of the Banite General. Doesn't sound like a clever thing to do, honestly, but what is done is done and we must move forward.

So this Axe is one of the artifacts that Banites and vampires need to continue to push the negative plane into our own. Some have suggested they are trying to bring back Myrkul. (Why followers of the Blood God or Banites would want to team up for this is, of course, not clear.)

Something important that I forgot to write down from the Temple incident with the captured Vampire is it mentioned some called the Damonklinge. From what I can gather this is either: the name of Colibrus's sword, or the name of the location it was kept in. Is this what we must find before they do? I don't know. Will the Banites find it before us? I hope not. Is there much time left? No.

Addendum: I might try to enchant or buy for Magus Radda a lucky charm: she's be been shot at, bitten by vampires, and kidnapped, all within a few days, she incredibly unlucky. Don't sit next to her during dinners. Radda has explained to me her cryptic comment about the sword that I overheard before, I do think she's still trustworthy after all, I hope so anyway.

Brimlor and I explored the Shild Mountains and although my heart was pumping fast from the excitement and I was nearly electrocuted on numerous occasions it was a relief to see that the undead have not appeared in that part of the land, yet. My leg that was bitten by the hell hound, has nearly healed fully.

I do hope Brimlor and myself can find more clues or that the Hands can help us divine the location of any remaining artifacts. I have bought some garlic to wear under my robe, foolish I know, but although Brim has taught me much about Kelevmor, I am not ready to end this life for the next, either as a corpse or a vampire.

[Phaz22]

A long letter with illustrations, addressed to Magus Radda, dropped off at the Hands of Mundus

Dear Radda:

I want to update you on our investigation. Much has happened and we've learned some useful pieces of information.

Brimlor was in the graveyard and was attacked by some creature more powerful then he (hard to believe, I know). He would have surely died if not for the fast thinking of Varnz Fury, a Guardian of the Forest, who retrieved a cleric in time. Brimlor does not remember much, but I interviewed Varnz personally. He revealed the strange figure said he was a guardian of the Graveyard and warned Brimlor to stay away. Since the creature wore chain mail, even over his head, Varnz could not make out what the creature was. I believe since Brimlor has been working to thwart the threat of the vampires, he's being targeted. No where is safe for him anymore until this crisis is over.

After much discussion Brimlor and I decided we would return to the place high on the mountain, that fortress where we "rescued" Samantha. Since we know it is Vampire Hadavi's domain, we hoped we would learn more about the plot to release the negative plane into ours.

Brimlor and I needed help and Varnz said the Keepers of the Forest wanted him to investigate as well. Another ally for our cause. (Undeath is, by its very definition, an unnatural state; I am not surprised the druids and rangers will aid us). But we still needed a way into the fortress, someone skilled with tumblers and locks and such to come with us. Your friend Mitee the fighter and armorer agreed to come as well, and luckily, Varnz ran into a Mister Salarius Praetorian Twilight of the Legion. We gathered supplies and the five of us set off from Sestra.

[Phaz22]

The letter continues on a new page.

We traveled to Aquor and set off from there. As the path climbing the mountain narrowed, there was a sudden landslide and we nearly were knocked off the mountain. Luckily no one was injured,. We spotted a figure high above us, surely someone or something was trying to stop us.



We made camp near the gate to the fortress and rested uneasily. As we were preparing to invade the fortress a strange skeletal being approached us, the Caretaker. He spoke with us. Since the Caretaker serves neither Bane nor Colibrus, but only serves to the keep the Temple of Myrkul safe, he agreed to share information with us, but claimed he would deny it later.

After much questioning, he explained the Damonklinge has nothing to do with the current plot, that that sword has been in the land far longer than the Hands. He warned us not to enter the Fortress, we would all surely perish and were no match for Hadavi. Brimlor who does not fear death, was still willing to try and Varnz prepared by polymorphing into a giant! But we spoke more with the Caretaker.

The Caretaker also revealed the artifacts the vampires seek are not keys in the typical sense like we had suspected. They are more a focus of negative energy themselves. The vampires are trying to gather them together to intensify the energy which is what is causing the rift. Positive energy flows in and vitalizes people. Negative energy consumes energy, and usually the two are in balance. But if many of these artifacts, with strong negative energies, are gathered they can cause an unbalance. The Axe they already have (from the trade with the Hands) was a General Deimus's Axe and has a strong negative force.

The Caretaker also explained that the vampires are trying to surround all of Sundren in an unnatural darkness! A darkness that life cannot pass through! The land will be cut off and nothing living could enter or leave. NO help could come and no one could escape. They can then feast on the population at their leisure. However, this also does not bode well for the Black Hands as they also would be trapped. It seems the vampires don't care what happens to anyone but themselves, so perhaps we can use dissent amongst the nefarious factions to our advantage later.

[Phaz22]

The Caretaker again warned us not enter the fortress and left. Suddenly a figure walked out of the swirling snow, coming from the direction of the Fortress. It was a Vampire named Katria, who I had, luckily, never encountered before. Mister Twilight seemed to know her somehow though. She seemed quite upset: she has recently discovered she is the daughter of Hadavi ,Queen of the Vampires. She didn't care one way or another if we entered the fortress and dismembered all of them. She was much too upset to speak more and headed back into the blinding blizzard.



As we tried to decide what to do, the gates suddenly opened and legions of vampires, assassins and wizards and fighters, poured from the gate. As the blizzard grew stronger it was difficult to see and fight and move in the snow, it was chaos! The party worked very well together considering the extreme difficultly. But the undead would not stop and I had exhausted all of my magic and scrolls and yet still they came like river. Varnz fell in the snow to one. The tide of battle was turning against us. Brimlor picked up Varnz's body and we trudged through the snow and tried to find the path back down the mountain. The undead who had tasted blood now still pursued us, in addition to the hunters and wolves who roam the mountain side. But soon we were nearing Aquor and I felt relieved (although strange black smoke seemed to rise above the city) until we came upon another unexpected encounter.

[Phaz22]

The letter concludes on a final page.

Demons and vampires everywhere it seems! As we near Aquor, we see Katria and someone standing next to her, the unknown figure was holding a silver dagger to Katria's neck! Twilight threatens the second women, who is also upset. She's recently become a vampire herself, and has burning hatred of Hadavi. This vampire's name is Trixie.

Trixie wants to use Katria to lure out Hadavi. Twilight wants no harm to come to Katria but Brimlor insists either now or later both undead creatures must answer to him and Kelemvor. We also consider the idea of using Katria to help us gain entrance to the fortress. I feared our party would turn against each other as everyone had different opinions on what to do. Trixie suddenly plunges the dagger into Katria's back, she screams, Twilight calls forth a powerful incantation to hold Trixie, who nearly passes out. Mitee stands guard over Trixie and then, Hadavi herself appears standing on the road watching the entire scene.



I pull out my stone of teleportation, run over to Trixie, grab her and activate the magic of the stone. The two of us appear in Aquor. During the confusion the other member of my group manage to avoid Hadavi and meet me in town. Trixie says we are fools. She says she knows Hadavi's weakness, but, of course, would not tell us, either by force or persuasion. Trixie says the "Watchy One" won't let vampires take over the valley. She suggest the half-angel Jeshana knows who this is, Radda you must ask her at once about what this means.

Twilight claims Trixie will spend the rest of her unnatural life in a cell, but Trixie summons forth a cloud of darkness and escapes. Meanwhile Varnz body is growing cold, but Twilight insists we pursue her, as any advantage against Hadavi is worth risking our lives for. Brimlor manages to revive Varnz and we all head back to Sestra where our journey began.

Varnz draws on the power of nature to polymorph into a cat and he tracks the trail to a locked hatch in the southwest corner of Sestra. Twilight unlocks it (and he had wondered in the beginning how just opening a lock would prove invaluable) and as a few others gather with us to see what the commotion was about we all entered an underground wine warehouse (a smugglers den no doubt) run by a small man, known to Twilight. Twilight convinced him that we must find Trixie, that the knowledge she possess could help the land, could finally help defeat Hadavi. The rogue, at first reluctant, agrees to help us and says his syndicate will deliver Trixie to us tomorrow.



So, I know this tale is long, and I am tired from the travel, but I feel I finally have a better grasp on what is happening. And if it's true, that Trixie knows a weakness of Hadavi, and if she can be captured and if she can be convinced to reveal it, it would help us all. Help us try to stop this diabolical plan of the vampires. I must rest. I am wet and tired and hungry.

--Quartz

[Phaz22]

Diary Entry

Magus Radda updated Jeshana Diams of the Triad and me on new information regarding the danger. We spoke in hushed voices in a secluded area at the Exigo Trading Camp. It was misty with a chill in the air and clouds were gathering for another storm.



Radda it seems had an opporunity to question Katria when she was in custody in the city jail. Radda told us that Hadavi's plan is more and less then we thought. She isn't trying to resurrect a dead god but she is trying to make the barrier around Sunren that would kill any life touching it. People would starve as trade routes into the area stopped, and those who survive the hunger and despair would become mere cattle for the vampires.

Katria, who is still rather emotional, is a conjurer with the power to summon the phylactory into our realm from its final resting place. Since she's so angry with her mother Hadavi she doesn't seem to want to her help (Unless Katira's true motive is merely to klll her mother and supplant her -- but one problem at a time.)

During the interview Hadavi appeared in the jail. Although the area is warded against teleportation spells, Hadavi has the power to travel using the shadowplane. Katria has this ability too it seems. When Katria left the fortress she left her research and spell notes about the summoning spell behind. Hadavi must not find those. Katria, or someone helping her, must get back into the fortress and get that research. If Hadavi find it she can summon the phylactory and the start the ritual to summon the death barrier.

I did also ask Jeshana about what Trixie had insinuated. I asked Jeshana if she knew who or what was "The Watching One" is -- the one would not let the vampires bring this plan to fruition. Jeshana seemed unaware but then something clicked. She said that something did watch over the glades and the forest. Jeshana said she took a vow to not discuss it more. I tried to convince her that so much is as stake but she would not reveal anything else. The rain started pour again and we went inside to dry off.



As we relaxed in the post a Mister Dain Tombrook (also of the Triad) and Alandrian (a healer in the service of Ilmater and the Triad) asked us to escort them to the Gate of the Sunderer. They were on an urgent task and needed to leave quickly. Since I was so tired, I could only travel with them to the start of the road. I do hope their task was successful.

I hope I can tell Brimlor of this news soon.

[Phaz22]

Diary Entry

Today in Aquor I met a very respectable wizard name Yevelian; we exchanged a few tips on deciphering ancient languages. I do hope to talk more with him at a future date and possibly exchange a few incantations as well. He seemed quite intelligent and thoughtful and has been practicing wizardry for a great number of years. You could sense standing in his presence he was an excellent student of the arcane.



Later I stopped by the camp in the Viridale forest to rest, but once I arrived the camp was under attack! I assisted as best I could. The captain let that odd Kyle the swordsman and "dragonslayer" fellow be in charge of a small detachment. We fought off hoards of goblins and other creatures. My new associate Yevelian also helped to defend the camp along with two others along with the camp guards.

After the battle I realized that the note I has seen earlier in the day: "Bring Coin to Learn Secret to Defeating Hadavi" was written by this Kyle. Sensing a chance to make money off me he brought this up himself. I demanded he reveal the secret for the good of the land. He stubbornly refused making totally illogical claims as to why he couldn't just tell me. He wanted a 1000 gold for the information, he claimed that's how much it cost him, but I knew he was lying. He then threatened to raise the price to 2000 gold.



This irritated me to no end, and although ethically questionable, I had had enough of his exploiting the situation and cast at him a domination spell. His simple mind was no match for the power of the spell. I demanded he reveal the secret he had learned. He fell under the spell and spoke these words: "The Secret to defeating Hadavi, her only weakness, is her daughter." The spell faded, and I knew he wouldn't recall the small time lapse or what had occurred, so when he increased his price for the information to 4000 gold I told him I'd consider it, but would have to talk to Brimlor first to see if we could raise that kind of coin. I did ask him where he got this "secret" from and said the Seer Tao told him.

Later at night, I met Brimlor and Radda at the Four Lanterns Inn in Sundren.



As we sat by the fire, Brimlor updated me on new information he had learned from Naomi and I told him what I had done learn to learn the "secret".

Brimlor explained that apparently Katria is not undead in the typical sense. She was BORN undead. How this is possible is not entirely clear to Brimlor or myself. If she was "born" undead, she couldn't have a soul and no overseer or God could have sway over her it seems. She's almost like an outsider demon, or like a, I don't know honestly. Brimlor still feels strongly Katria would have to be destroyed, but the Council at the Temple of Kelevmor decided since she is not a malevolent undead creature and doesn't wish to harm anyone, she shouldn't be destroyed. She also wasn't created as undeath to unnaturally sustain another's life. This is hard for Brimlor to accept, that such a creature should be allowed to live, or unlive as it were. But for the time it seems he will follow the decree of the Council.

Katria's state of being is most unusual and I will have to visit the Archives at the library and see there's ever been a similar case like this. It's poses many fascinating philosophical questions about the nature of life and undeath. I am starting to understand Katria's anger toward her mother a bit perhaps. It's all ... perplexing. The "secret" information I gathered from Kyle isn't the silver dagger we had hoped for since we already were considering plans to convince Katria to aid us against her mother, but if the information is true then we are on the right track.

Radda informed us she had found a few gemstones we were seeking. And Brimlor was kind enough to pay for them so I may continue my research.

After nearly a month of study have finally deciphered an ancient design for a powerful health amulet. I now must raise the money required to create it. I also traded away a 6th circle spell in order to gain the spell Undeath to Death. Perhaps this will aid us against the vampires and other undead minions. Brimlor, Radda, and I will continue to learn what we can.

[Phaz22]

Diary Entry

Today in Aquor I met a very respectable wizard name Yevelian; we exchanged a few tips on dechipering ancient languages. I do hope to talk more with him at a future date and possibly exchange a few incantations as well. He seemed quite intelligent and thoughtful and has been practicing wizardry for a great number of years. You could just sense standing in his presence he was an excellent student of the arcane.



Later I stopped by the camp in the Viridale forest to rest, but once I arrived the camp was under attack! I assisted as best I could. The captain let that odd Kyle the swordsman and "dragonslayer" fellow be in charge of a small detachment. We fought off hoards of goblins and other creatures. My new associate Yevelian also helped to defend the camp along with two others.

After the battle I realized that the note I has seen earlier in the day: "Bring Coin to Learn Secret to Defeating Hadavi" was written by this Kyle. Sensing a chance to make money off me he brought this up himself. I demanded he reveal the secret for the good of the land. He stubbornly refused making totally illogical claims as to why he couldn't just tell me. He wanted a 1000 gold for the information, he claimed that's how much it cost him, but I knew he was lying. He then threatened to raise the price to 2000 gold.



This irritated me to no end, and although ethically questionable, I had had enough of his exploiting the situation and cast at him a domination spell. His simple mind was no match for the power of the spell. I demanded he reveal the secret he had learned. He fell under the spell and spoke these words: "The Secret to defeating Hadavi, her only weakness, is her daughter." The spell faded, and I knew he wouldn't recall the small time lapse or what had occurred, so when he increased his price for the information to 4000 gold I told him I'd consider it, but would have to talk to Brimlor first to see if we could raise that kind of coin. I did ask him where he got this "secret" from and he said the Seer Tao told him.

Later I met Brimlor and Radda at the Four Lanterns Inn in Sundren.



As we sat by the fire, Brimlor updated me on new information he had learned from Naomi and I told him what I had done to Kyle.

Apparently Katria is not undead in the typical sense. She was BORN undead. How this is possible is not entirely clear to Brimlor or myself. If she was "born" undead, she couldn't have a soul and no overseer or God could have sway over her it seems. She's almost like an outsider demon, or like a, I don't know honestly. Brimlor still feels strongly Katria would have to be destroyed, but the Council at the Temple of Kelevmor decided since she is not a malevolent undead creature and doesn't wish to harm anyone, she shouldn't be destroyed. She also wasn't created as undeath to merely unnaturally sustain another's life. This is hard for Brimlor to accept, that such a creature should be allowed to live, or unlive as it were. But for the time it seems he will follow the decree of the Council.

Katria's state of being is most unusual and I will have to visit the Archives at the library and see there's ever been a similar case like this. It's poses many fascinating philosophical questions about the nature of life and undeath. I am starting to understand Katria's anger toward her mother a bit perhaps. It's all ... perplexing. The "secret" information I gathered from Kyle isn't the silver dagger we had hoped for since we already were considering plans to convince Katria to aid us against her mother, but if the information is true then we are on the right track.

Radda informed us she had found a few gemstones we were seeking. And Brimlor was kind enough to pay for them so I may continue my research.

After nearly a month of study I have finally deciphered an ancient design for a powerful health amulet. I now must raise the money required to create it. I also traded away a 6th circle spell in order to gain the spell Undeath to Death. Perhaps this will aid us against the vampires and other undead minions. Brimlor, Radda, and I will continue to learn what we can.