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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Creamsteak" data-source="post: 4186902" data-attributes="member: 552">Jesme calls back, "Well, there's all these valuables obviously. Painting, throne, some of these things the crazy guy has. Not much we can salvage unless you strip the old man or want to haul this giant seat out of here. However... I was looking for any... well... more removable gems or something, in the throne. You know, stuff that wouldn't involve needing a horse to drag it out... and well... under the seat there's a lock. I undid it, something of a challenge, and well... no treasure. But um... you 'may' want to take a look at this first."There are a number of papers hidden within the throne are in the goblins hands.[sblock]Flocktime 14th, 586 CY: Liberation Day! Istivin is recaptured-and without a fight! The enemy has left the cityempty and intact. They feared our might and fled beforewe arrived. Yet strangely, the emptiness feels menacing,as if we are not as alone as we think. Surely the mood ofwar still hangs upon this place and will soon pass. Qualtaineis once again upon its seat, this time the throne of amarquis and not the lesser chair of an earl!Fireseek 3rd, 588 CY: The city prospers once again. The lastof the occupied lands to the west should be reclaimed by spring.Our army is blooded but stronger for it. Why then is thisforeboding upon me? Why do the people seem hesitant ratherthan jubilant? A pall rests upon the city of my fathers.Coldeven 28th, 588 CY: We are not alone! There is somethingin Istivin. It is among us, in the very stones of the city,I am sure of it, and I know not what power it possesses.Some machination of the drow? I must not alert it to myinvestigations. None are safe from its grasp. No one mustknow what I have found until I have learned more, not evenmy beloved Res. There are cries in the night.Brewfest, 589 CY: Though it cost dear, I have a name for mynemesis. It is the Malgoth. Galmoor's demon priest tied itto this place before those foul giants withdrew. Darknessfalls like a veil in waking dreams. My eyes are caught bythe void. This demon priest, too, has a name. He is Ilkharis,a frost giant worshiper of Kostchtchie. Somehow he imbeddedthe Malgoth in my beloved home like a bloated tickupon a host. The voices whisper near constant now. I amthe marquis; it requires a leader, someone to speak for itto the people. I will die before it has me.[/sblock][sblock]Fireseek 18th or 20th, 590 CY: It is with me always now. The Malgoth won'tlet me die. The knife slipped from nerveless hands as I laid it upon my wrist.I fear there is no hope for me. Booming echoes silence the light. Shadow touchesshadow and passes through. Ilkharis is my only hope. He must be found. Surely hecan break the bond that he forged. I will send my finest knights to locate him.Wealsun? 590: Dear Res... she doesn't understand. I am becoming more now.One with the Dark Master is a prize, not a punishment. And she thinks meunhinged. I shouldn't have killed the maid. They have given me the finestcell for "my protection." Sparrows and hawks fall to the fox. I shall demanda throne. A seat befitting my status.Five 91!!!: The Dark Master tells many secrets. He whispers them long intothe night. I don't think the guards like my songs.Fall, 591: The Malgoth is growing. Sometimes I can hear it in the stones. Themoments when I can think without that voice in my ear are fewer and farbetween. Res and Verbane came. I ordered them to send my knights after thefrost giant. They think that part of my ravings, too. I don't blame them.592-593?: Days pass when I don't even realize I am me. I can't hold it off forever.It promises power...[/sblock][sblock]I think it is 594, the guardsspoke of Needfest celebrationsome time back-I fear it is almost over. Adarkness is in me, and Ican feel its energy. I can...do things now. It does notknow I keep this journal.I must stop writing in it,hide it, and hope that whatI become never finds it. Ican feel it blooming. Theseshall be my last words as aman. Darling Res, the ringyou brought me shall be mysalvation. I can use it toescape this body with thesenew gifts, to hide in thebody of one of the guards,and then if I can only maintainmyself I can use himto warn you. I don't knowif I can hold on once I imbuethe magic jar, but to sleephere with the dreams butone more night is worse. If Ican just get outside the cityperhaps I can escape it. Ifnot, perhaps the blade ofa watchman's sword canprovide release of anothersort. Forgive me Res, Ishould have told you.[/sblock]</blockquote>

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