The journal of Vetris Stratham

[Delexos]

The journal of Vetris Stratham




~Secured and guarded within the depths of the citadel of Bane rests a small, leather bound, tome. It is a tome much like many others and would not draw even a second glance due to its unassuming outward appearance, embossed upon the front cover are two letters written in a flowing elegant script, those letters read V.S and within the pages of the tome, penned by an equally poised and refined hand, are contained the memories, thoughts and opinions of Vetris Stratham, devoted warrior of the dark lord Bane~

It has been some time since my, somewhat undignified, journey to the lands known as Sundren and yet I find myself with the need to put certain thoughts into order. For certainly there is nothing in this world more important to me than absolute order. My departure from my home in the Moonsea was a most regrettable affair yet one cannot simply ignore an order from Bane, for many generations the Stratham family has worked tirelessly to enforce our dark lords dominance upon the lands, and each of those generations has been spurred on by the understanding that; only through the absolute control of the lives and liberties of the common people can total law be achieved. None have ever proven themselves more in tune with this notion than the black hand himself.


One must only look upon the history of Zhentil Keep to see such an example of the prosperity and power to be gained through the true worship of my lord. Though my homeland has not been without it's moments of considerable strife and duress, most notably during the absence of Bane and the subsequent ruination brought about by the foul usurper the 'black sun' I shall not spoil these pages by referring to that fiend by name for even thinking it brings my blood to a boil.


However regardless of what devastation was wrought upon Zhentil Keep the city is once again slowly coming under control, thanks to the efforts of the chosen high priest Fzoul Chembryl, to think that it was only two years ago that we marched under the banner of Bane at the behest of Fzoul to eradicate the Dark suns followers from the city once and for all.


Who knows what reason there may have been for holding back the further expansion of the Zhentarim into the sword coast, one can only assume that some greater force declared it to be so, a force beyond my lowly station to know.


And yet I digress, my memories are seemingly trying to make me relive times passed that have no baring upon my current deployment. Needless to say, what ever pact once held the forces of Zhentil Keep in check have gone, and like so many other brothers and sisters of the faith I was issued an order to travel far beyond the familiar sights of the black wall to ascertain the value and nature of the rest of the realms.


The target of my investigations, is Sundren.


I arrived with little to my name, a condition of the task that had been set out before me. For all the wealth and status of my family back home I must become unassuming. The rest of the lands do not look upon the worship of Bane as readily as they do within the confines of Zhentil Keep. The journey was long and arduous, though thankfully uneventful, and it was not until I had almost reached the entryway to the lands of Sundren, a place known as the 'Gate of the Sunderer' that any real misfortune befell me. Perhaps the lead caravan master had fallen asleep at his post and had failed to spot a particularly treacherous section of the trail ahead, but not more than ten miles from the gate the caravan company came to a halt, the lead caravan having broken a wheel or some such. To make matters worse, and despite the generous amount paid for my travel in the first place, it seemed that those gathered expected me to make the walk to the gate and get help for the stranded company.


Not wishing to rouse any suspicion I agreed to the task and with the hopes of those who had travelled with me resting upon my shoulders I set off for the gate and my first views of the land that would soon have to be considered my home.


I often wonder what became of that caravan company, needless to say I cared not for their plight, I rather fancy that they became the object of attention to some passing band of brigands or wolves, it brings me some satisfaction to think of their useless existence ended in some unfortunate way, it would seem a suitable punishment for forcing a paying client to do the leg work for them.


Finally I reached my destination, and passed through the gate of the Sunderer, the land seemed mostly unremarkable, rocky almost mountainous terrain with a smattering of trees and other assorted foliage, it looked no different from a great many places I passed on the way to reach this land. Still I am grateful that I was not ordered to head to some desolate wasteland or barren desert for my mission. No sooner had I crossed the threshold of this new land did I encounter my first taste of Sundren law, a guard approached me and began to fire off questions regarding the reasons for my arrival, he apparently needed to know where I had come from and the main purpose of my visit. Thinking quickly I recall that I informed the man that I had arrived from the Moonshae Isles for the sole reason of 'fun and adventure', it would seem that the guards of the great gate are not paid enough to truly care about those they let in, for he seemed to simply take me at my word and wave me through.


I remember thinking that if this was the extent of the current regime’s control of the land, there would be little problems with establishing the lasting oppression and control of Bane.


Alas, time grows short and I can hear my name called, a summons by one of the Dreadlords within the citadel, I shall have to continue this documentation of my endeavours later, for much has happened, and continues to happen even still.


With praise to Lord Bane who's litany of hatred fuels my every waking moment.


Watchful Brother Vetris Stratham.

[Delexos]

~The second entry added to the journal appears to be written in a much heavier script, as though the writer had placed more weight upon each stroke of the quill an act which adds to the obvious frustration of the author~


I was a fool, my complacency and lack of judgement has very nearly caused my own downfall!


~The writing style seems to calm at the point and regains some of its usual grace~


For all of my training, and the teachings of my superiors I very nearly met my demise at the hands of the self absorbed 'righteous' elements of these lands, to think I would fall so readily into their trap is unforgivable, their use of the law to entrap those who follow the teachings of Bane is deplorable at best, but I have learned from this experience and I shall become better for it.


Already my thoughts are wandering, I must relay this information in a logical and ordered fashion, lest I displease my very own sensibilities upon future reflection and reading of my own words.


I have explored a great deal of the lands of Sundren by this point, the capital city itself being one of those locations. Upon my wanderings through the city I encountered representatives for the local guard, they had need of some able bodied assistance to deal with an alarming spread of vermin within their 'storm drain' system. Deciding that presenting myself in a favourable light to the local garrison could only make my work in the region easier I set upon the task readily, upon my return to notify the guard captain of my success I overheard him speaking with his quartermaster and an unknown stranger. To my surprise the topic of conversation was the worship of the 'dark gods' it seemed that the unknown male was a worshipper of Myrkul and was dutifully informing the guard of his affiliation, for a considerable sum of the local currency, known in these parts as a 'Stag', he was able to procure a document allegedly acknowledging his chosen deity and authorising his worship within Sundren.


During the conversation I clearly recall hearing the quartermaster state that the document would provide sufficient, legal evidence that the holder had lawfully announced his allegiance and as such, unless seen or proven to have acted against the laws of the land, they were not to be persecuted for their faith. The idea that I might legally hold the right to spread the word of Bane throughout the lands brought a smile to my face, and without pausing for thought I approached the quartermaster and announced that not only had I rid the storm drains of the menace that plagued the city, but I was also a worshipper of Bane and wished to acquire the legal documents to support my faith. The quartermaster was only too pleased to relieve me of my coin, much of which I had only just earned by assisting the guard with the vermin problem. And I walked away blissfully ignorant that I had just emblazoned a sign about my person that would cause me no small amount of trouble later.


Seeing my newly obtained documents as an opportunity to begin converting the masses I headed for the bustling trade tier of the city, dressed in full Banite regalia I began to speak with groups of citizens about the greatness one could achieve under the rule of Bane. Two things happened at this juncture that confirms my belief that the city must be crushed within the iron grip of my lord. Firstly, during my conversation with one of Sundren's many commoners an armoured man walked by and began to observe me closely, before heading towards a local temple dedicated, no doubt, to one of the pathetic gods of the Triumvirate, the look in the man's eyes was not one I am unfamiliar with, for we, the faithful of Bane, are quite used to being despised and feared, it is not only something to be expected but to be actively worked towards.


However something about the look set me on edge, after the man had entered the temple another of the local commoners approached me and in hushed whispers alerted me to the fact that the worship of Bane was outlawed and punishable by death, I was most grateful for this Bane sympathisers warning, and was able to find a back alley to remove my armour and stow it out of sight. No sooner had I returned to check that the coast was clear when suddenly three armed goons of the Triumvirate appeared from within the temple and began questioning the 'locals' about the whereabouts of the Banite. Thankfully the sympathiser kept quiet and the commoner I had been speaking with wisely decided to remain silent, rightfully fearing repercussions should he have chosen to speak. I adopted the mannerisms and speech patterns of a local peasant and successfully convinced the armed men that I had seen the man they were after, and directed them towards the military tier of the city. Once the opportunity presented itself I reclaimed my armour and made my escape.


Shortly after this I encountered a man who made it known that there was an active organisation of Banites in the region, known as the 'Black Hand of Bane', I quickly sought to prove myself worthy of joining this group and for my efforts was presented with a powerful symbol of my faith, it seems that by concentrating my thoughts and prayers upon this relic I am able to transport myself to the safety of a hidden citadel, dedicated to my great master. It is from this location that I now reside and compose my thoughts.


That I am not alone in this land is a boon, though I have yet to meet the majority of the membership of this order, I can only assume that my fellow brethren are about in the lands bringing forth the fear of our lord as is our sacred duty.


I go now to meet with some potential allies in my quest to spread the fear of Bane, although I doubt very much that those whom I am to meet truly grasp what it is that I am trying to do. They do say, however, that ignorance is bliss.


We shall see.


Deadly Adept,
Vetris Stratham.

[Delexos]

~The following entry appears to have been added a little later, the script, though still quite elegant, appears to be somewhat rushed~


I am no longer alone, as I look upon these five simple words the true duality of their meaning is not lost on me. Certainly I have never been alone since the day I was inducted into the church of Bane, however whilst that companionship was one of the faithful and the master, these new ties I have forged are of a more physical nature.


I have taken steps to gain allies in this land, as I have still yet to meet with any of my true brethren within the confines of the citadel, without wishing to spread my influence too thinly at this point I have decided upon four to be the number of my companions, and it is my intention to slowly work my wiles upon them so that I may bend their will to my own.


The first, and quite frankly the simplest of my companions is a towering monster that goes by the name of Grag, one can only imagine the horrors of his conception for he appears to be a mixed breed of human and orc, regardless I do not choose my companions for their social graces nor their appearance. The raw physical power of the beast is impressive to behold. I doubt that subtle manipulation of Grag would prove effective, his simple mindedness would likely act as a shield against corruption and insinuation. However he works for me now as a bodyguard, I need only continue to pay the beast a fee of gold and his loyalty is likely assured.


The second, a deceptive little Hin that goes by the name of 'Kit', here I find perhaps my most useful companion, and yet that usefulness is a double edged sword requiring much thought and planning before using. Kit seems to share most of the common traits of her kind, nimble, stealthy and agile. A competent scout and information gatherer, though some times a touch too reckless for her own good. Much like Grag, Kit appears to be primarily motivated by the acquisition of wealth, however unlike Grag I believe this is only part of the true 'Kit'. I believe there is going to be an eventual cost for the use of her services and that cost will not be in Stags alone. It is with Kit's assistance that I have now been able to fabricate a new identity to keep myself out of the watchful gaze of the Triumvirate, however more on this later.


My third companion is, at this point, still largely a mystery to me, Why she would willingly aid me in my work is unknown and much caution must be taken when in her company. She goes by the name of 'Shara' and is one of the druidic folk, her powers are a sight to behold, able to summon forth the very essence of the land to bolster her allies and lay waste to her foes. Shara is not very talkative in the presence of others however, though she seems to be quite content to speak with me at length when we are alone, my assumption is that her time spent out in the wilds communing with the land and the beasts has seen her social skills decline. What her long term goals are, and how I happen to figure into them is still unknown to me, however if I am able to secure an alliance with the woman I am certain the benefits would be unimaginable.


Finally my fourth companion, and perhaps my greatest work to date. I have travelled the lands for some time with an ageing human by the name of Morgan Norick, he at first, appeared to be little more than an old sword for hire. I was immediately drawn to his 'no nonsense' attitude and the way he proficiently wields a blade in martial combat. He seemed to share many of the common beliefs concerning the way of the world that I also believe in and together we made quite the forceful impression upon the savage creatures of the Viridale forest. On one such excursion we encountered an unknown man who was travelling the lands seeking donations for the construction of a temple to the Lord of Bones, during our discourse I made mention, in a hushed whisper, that I was a follower of Bane, I wrongly assumed that Morgan was stood too far and was simply too old to have possibly heard me. And so I was surprised to say the least when later upon our travels I was questioned by Morgan regarding my worship of the Lord of Tyranny. I weighed my options in my mind and decided that we were far enough from civilization that should his response be negative I could simply slay the old man and leave him as carrion for the beasts that dwell in the darkness.


Once more I was surprised to find that Morgan's attitude towards my open declaration of faith in Bane was one of acceptance, he declared that as long as my faith did not impede his own ambitions he was unconcerned to be fighting besides a true Banite. The greatest revelation, however, was yet to come. I believe that it was due to my dedication to Bane, combined with my own prowess in battle that began to sway Morgan, the morally ambiguous fighter may have taken note of what could be accomplished with the will of the black lord on his side, for a few days later as I knelt in prayer before the altar of names I discovered Morgan, ready to offer the severed head of a black sun mercenary leader to the altar as a sacrifice in the name of Bane himself.


My efforts have brought more power to Bane, as Morgan Norick takes up the mantle of 'Watchful Brother' his prayers strengthen the divine essence of our lord.


But these companions I have gathered are merely a stepping stone to greater things, I shall prove myself most loyal to Bane, I shall sacrifice all that I have and all that I am in his service. One day I shall be rewarded for my absolute loyalty and even then I shall use those rewards to further impress the power of Bane upon the mewling masses.


As mentioned previously I have created a new persona which shall act as my shield when travelling the lands, this has been achieved with the aid of my scout 'Kit'. After the fiasco in the trade tier of Sundren I have enshrined my ordained black hand armour within the citadel, and there it shall remain until such a time when Bane's presence can walk freely upon the land.


To the eyes and minds of Sundren's populace, Vetris Stratham never existed. In his stead stands one mister Robert Kessler, a mercenary out of Luskan, Kessler is a simple man who's grandest aspirations stretch no further than the nearest tavern. Kessler is a man of simple pleasures and a great deal more sociable than I could ever be, I shall continue to use this identity for as long as it suits my purposes, needles to say that through Kessler I have been able to acquire information regarding certain tasks that have been ordered of me by those of higher station within the Black Hand order.


All things come to those who wait, and my patience is as absolute as that of my master. When the day arrives that my dutiful service is rewarded fully, all shall know that I am chosen by Bane, and through me shall his will be made manifest.

I have been summoned by the Dreadlord along with Watchful Brother Norick, we shall see what matters are afoot. Due to the urgency of the summons I cannot tarry here with my journal overly long.

"May the litany of hate bolster my strength, cleansing my soul with the fear of Lord Bane. Through his tyranny let the world, at last, know absolute law. "

Deadly Adept,
Vetris Stratham.