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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1764765" data-attributes="member: 6294">Excerpted from the Diary of Mantreus ...My fellow adventurers of the Random Encounter.I feel I must put the following to paper in case something untoward may happen to myself during my investigations of the copper pendant we found in the rangers tower.This is therefore a log or diary of my investigations. If something may happen to me during these investigations, I have left instructions with Garralus the Scribe in Marikest to pass this diary on to “The Company of The Random Encounter based in Amberdale” as well as my last will and testament.Regards,MantreusDay One - MorningFor some time this copper pendant I’ve been carrying has been worrying me. The inscriptions on the pendant look wrong somehow, and I cannot place my finger on it.I am going to take the opportunity of being in Marikest, a town of decent size, to investigate the origins of this pendant. I’ve made arrangements to pass this diary onto my friends in case something happens to me. Overly cautious perhaps, but I feel it’s well justified.I have decided not to inform my friends of the investigation as I work better alone in my dealings with people. The Padre is a good man, but can be somewhat abrupt. Twinkle is a sweet little thing, but I somehow don’t think she would be up to the seriousness of this matter. The others all have their virtues, but I feel I am the best person for this particular job. Not only this, but I have a hunch there is much more to this pendant than is obviously apparent, and it could therefore be dangerous. There is no need to endanger my friends unnecessarily. I go now to investigate the taverns of this fine town to see if I can’t find out where I might go to investigate this strange pendant further…Day One – Evening. After a few hours of touring Marikest’s drinking establishments, I found an interesting fellow that loved to gossip about everything and everyone. Every town has one, and it took all my efforts to steer his conversation toward what I was interested in.He gave me three options. The first being the name “Artimas Sendant” who apparently has been locked up in the local mental asylum for the past 4 months. The other suggestions being a place called “The Obelisk of the Winds” or the local Church of St Cuthbert.All sense would point me towards the Mages tower, but I can’t help but wonder what happened to a highly regarded sage that caused him to go insane? I will go to the asylum tomorrow and see if Artimas knows anything about this pendant. Somehow I doubt it, but my curiosity has the better of me. Perhaps Shadow's behaviour is wearing off on me?Day Two – Morning I have returned from the asylum. I fooled the staff into thinking I’m a long lost cousin of Artimas. It never ceases to amaze me how far a modicum of acting skill can take you when you need to know something. Apparently Artimas is quite the loon and requires restraint. Therefore they have asked that I come to visit tomorrow.Considering I have some time to kill, I might see if I can’t charm the pants of that well-rounded serving maid at the Golden Goblet.Day Three – Morning Beldaren was quite stunning to behold, unfortunately every time she opened her mouth it sounded like Twinkle trying to sing. Enough of that though, I’m off to talk to the mad Artimas.Day Three – Evening Well, an unsettling meeting to say the least. I was stripped of my weapons before entering, which concerned me a small amount, though I still had my magic available to me if things turned violent. I was then escorted to a small stone room with a burly looking guard watching proceedings. The door was then locked behind me.I found myself gauging the relative toughness of the guard, checking the room for other exits and examining the door for weaknesses. I have to stop myself from doing that; I’m a respectable adventurer now.I found poor Artimas tied to a chair and looking at me eagerly.I will write down everything that was said before I forget. A rough transcript follows:“Dear cousin Artimas! What has become of you? I had come to visit and ask about a family heirloom, and I find that you've been incarcerated!”, I said, looking quite convincingly distressed if I do say so myself."Cousin, eh?  Is that what They told you to say?  But, eh, what's this?  A little body in a deep grave?"  he leant forward as much as his bonds allowed, "Not the gravedigger after all, are you, lad?  Well, well.  What can old Artimas do for you?" he twitched his head, "Not that you'll thank me.  I can hear them.  They whisper about you.  They whisper about so much ...""Artimas, it is I, Mantreus. I was hoping you could help me with identifying this old family heirloom..."He lunged forward at the sight of the pendant - at least as far as the straps would allow him to, anyway.  His eyes wide, he stared at the nondescript little thing with an unsettling intensity.  Finally, he snapped his gaze up to me, and I couldn’t help but take a step back.  The look in his eyes ... I expected to see mania, or confusion ... what I saw instead was utter clarity.  A level of clarity so intense that it could only have been madness."Oh yes.  I know it.  Want to know its secret, lad?  Be careful.  The secret may come to know you." he giggled, "Or perhaps it does already.  Perhaps the touch is on you now.  Yes.  Ready to drag you down, into the darkness and the whispers, 'til your ears run blood at the sound ..." his expression grew sly, "It is good to see you again, 'cousin'.  I know the story that that you want to hear, but it is a long one, and I am a tired old man.  Come back tomorrow and I will tell you more."So I am to return tomorrow. I was going to go to the Golden Goblet again tonight, but I’m not in the mood really. I believe I will have a quiet night with Shadow, and think some more on this.Day Four - Morning I’m off to see Artimas again, hopefully for the last time. I realise the things he says are probably just the babblings of a madman, but I can’t help but feel uncomfortable. I slept very badly last night, and Shadow seemed jumpy, like there was something or someone watching us. There was nothing though. It’s still unsettling, Shadow is rarely wrong about these things.Day Four – Late MorningOn my return, Artimas immediately asked to see the pendant."Intriguing, it is.  All hidden things are.  Show it to me again ... my memory of it has faded, and must be fresh to answer your questions."I showed him the pendant again, he stared at it intently for a long time - perhaps 30 seconds or so - as if memorising every last detail.  He neither spoke nor moved in that time, and ignored any attempts to communicate with him.Finally, he looked up at me.  When he spoke, his voice was a hoarse whisper."It belongs to Them.  To the dark ones.  Who, you ask?  The secret court.  The court that makes the laws for those we do not see.  You have stumbled on more than you know, my young blood.  More than most would know.  But I know.  Yes, I do.  Put it aside, if you value your life.  It will lead Them to you, and their whispers will fill your ears, creeping like shadows into your mind.  Already they have sensed you.  Already you draw their eyes.  They see into places and things that you cannot.  You do not know what you face."And then suddenly that manic, twisted smile returned, and the relative calm fled from his tone."Dance on your grave!  That's what they'll do.  Or make you dance there.  Meat-puppet.  You meddle!  You will pay.  I have paid.  But when They are done with you, you will envy me.  For I am warm and snug, and their whispers comfort me.  For you there will be only cold."He giggled insanely, drool puddling from one corner of his lip.It was apparent that I would get nothing more from him. He continued to babble about “Them” and kept calling me a “Meat-puppet”.I'm leaving the pendant with Garralus, copying the inscriptions from the pendant onto some paper and taking that with me to the Obelisk of the Winds to ask if I can have the inscription investigated, or if they don't want to, for me to make use of their library to investigate it myself (if they have one). I require the opinions of a sound mind, not more of this babbling.Day Four – EveningJust when you think you’ve seen it all, something comes along to prove you wrong. I don’t honestly believe I’m the most powerful or charming sorcerer (I hate that word) in the land, but I’ve not met the likes of those I met at The Obelisk of the Winds. In my earlier days, I doubt I would have been given entry at all.At first glance, the person who opened the door appeared to be an elf, with the long features, pointed ears, and flowing white hair of that race.  But no elf is 7 feet tall, and no elf had eyes like hers: pale blue like the morning sky, with neither pupil nor iris apparent.I explained my purpose. I must admit that my voice faltered a little as I noticed her clothes and hair stir in the breeze; because there was no breeze.  The air was still.When I finished, she shook her head,"You must seek elsewhere.  The masters' business is the sale of items, not of information."With that, she started to close the door.I had to think quickly, so I used all of my persuasive skills and charm, although I fear that it had nothing to with her eventual decision. "Then possibly there is some item I might be able to purchase that might help me with my purpose? If not, I may be interested in some scrolls anyway.", I implored, giving her my most dazzling smile.She stopped with the door half-shut, then slowly opened it again."Enter."My relief was palpable. Not only was a small part further along in my quest, but I got to admire this strangely beautiful woman further.She lead me along a stone hallway, and into a small sitting room.  Even indoors, her clothes and hair rippled constantly, as if brushed by the wind."Please wait here.  I shall see if one of the masters is free to speak with you."  She gestures, and a sheet of parchment, ink pot and quill float from a desk across to you.  "Please compile a list of the items you require, while you are waiting.  Refreshments are in the cabinet on your left."Despite her alien beauty, I was unimpressed by her cheap telekinetic trick. What happened next impressed me a great deal however. When she left the room the door closed behind her, it - and the door by which I entered - glowed briefly, then transformed into blank stone.I quickly wrote some requests for some scrolls and a magical device that might help me find out what the inscription from the pendant meant and attached my drawing of the pendant.I fixed myself some refreshments, lit my pipe and wandered about the room. I noticed that the temperature of the room was pleasantly cool despite the frigid temperatures outside. There was no evidence of a heating system though.After about 5 minutes, a handsome human male entered, followed by the tall woman."Good day," he said pleasantly, "I am Nerev.  Do you have your list ready?"I floated the list to him in much the same way that the tall woman gave me the parchment in the first place. Nerev did not appear to notice, although I thought I saw the woman smile slightly. Nerev read over the list and nodded."The scrolls are readily available - in total they will cost you 150 gold.  I cannot provide you with anything that will tell you what the inscriptions mean, but I can offer you a Wand of Object Loresight.  That may allow you to learn more about the item.  That will take about a week to procure, and cost a further 750 gold."750 gold was well out of my means. Thinking quickly, I said, "Unfortunately, the wand is presently out of my means. Would it be possible to hire someone to perform a casting of the enchantment that the wand contains for a lesser fee? If not, I perfectly understand and shall return later once I have procured sufficient funds.""There may be an apprentice or hedge wizard in town who could cast it for you." Nerev flickered his hand disdainfully, "I myself do not perform such work."Rather than let this Nerev fellow think me an impoverished “hedge wizard” I said, "I understand Nerev. I would prefer not to consort with such folk. I will purchase the wand." And produced the gold even though it pained me greatly. My pride will get me killed one day.Nerev smiled, "Very well.  Return in two days, and I shall provide you with the wand.  Skye here will bring your scrolls shortly."Both of them then left the room, the doors sealing as they did before.  After only a minute or so, the tall woman - Skye - returned with the scrolls I requested, then escorted me to the door.An interesting encounter to say the least. I will write more once I get this expensive wand and examine the pendant with it.Day 6 – EveningI now have my expensive wand. It’s fairly boring looking. It appears to be made of copper with a rose quartz tip. I certainly hope it proves worth the investment. I’m almost feeling “normal” again. Both Shadow and myself are less jumpy, and Beldaren from the Golden Goblet doesn’t sound so bad after all. I will do some work tonight with this new wand instead of cavorting about town and get this awful pendant stuff out of the way.Day 7 – Late MorningAfter all of my investigations, it appears the madman was right. I found out the following about the accursed pendant:- it is 106 years old- it was created by someone called Ellowyn- Ellowyn is an elf ... and a vampire- the object's purpose is to identify the bearer as a member of the Ebon Court- the item was created in the elven village of AnielI remember that horrid vampire thing we encountered beneath the monastery of Pelor where Sirdros fell.  It mentioned the Ebon Court.  It seems we have crossed their path more than once.This might not necessarily indicate that Artimas was correct about them tracking me via the pendant except Shadow and I were not imagining it. As I was examining the pendant last night, I noticed a slight blurring in the air near my window, almost like a circular window through space.  Someone has begun scrying me.</blockquote>

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