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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lucius Foxhound" data-source="post: 430977" data-attributes="member: 6593">From the journal of Lucius Foxhound1373 DR, The Year of Rogue DragonsTarsakh 13As cells go, this one isn’t so bad.  They’ve left me my books and bring my food each day (although I haven’t touched it). Luckily, the duel has helped me gain mastery over a number of new spells, which I’ll take the time to scribe.  Not much else to do, eh?   Ah, poor Gustav.  You always were a good teacher.Tarsakh 15It’s been two days.  I thought I was ready to escape.  I was wrong.  Cell beat me bloody, and then threatened to kill Wisp.  Tomorrow, I try again.Tarsakh 16I got the locks off these manacles, which I believe to be dimensional anchors.  But Cell caught me and threatened to kill Wisp if I didn't put them back on.  Curse him!Tarsakh 19It’s been three days since I tried to escape.  Cell won’t let me sleep.  I keep seeing Gustav and Mela in my dreams.  Why Mela, why?  You were so beautiful.  Gustav… Mela.Tarsakh 20Another day has passed.  Another day. Day’s going by. Sleep eludes me. Eludes…Illusion.  It’s all an illusion, you know…but who is Illusion’s master?Tarsakh 21Finally, I was able to sleep!  I remember being awakened by Dashell Kandler, an Arcane Investigator from the Order of Watchful Magists and Protectors in Waterdeep.  This diviner was here to prove my innocence…or guilt, I suppose.  I told him to come back in a few hours after I rested.   When he returned, I found Dash to be a likable fellow.  Young and a bit cocky, his mind seemed to work in interesting ways.  His personality was compelling, and I found myself wanting to help him…but also wanting to escape to find Calumn’s timepiece. Dash took me with him (manacled) to interview witnesses and investigate my crime.  We found a witness who saw a dwarf reading from a golden scroll at the mageduel … the same dwarf who came to see me the night before.  Dash rented a scrying mirror and scried for this dwarf, but he saw nothing.It was then I realized who the dwarf was.  It had to be him, after all these years.  Iago, my old mentor.  Master of illusion, man of a hundred faces, trickster, scoundrel, and overall vicious bastard.  He set me up and stole the timepiece.  And I wanted to get it back.  But how to find him?Dash the diviner knew a way.  He went back to where the lovely Vel’larien Mistmantle met her death (turned to stone, actually).  Dash spotted something that no man or elf that I know would have seen. He found a single eyelash that may have belonged to the killer.  Using that, he scried upon its owner, but I knew what he’d find.  Iago…in a tower somewhere.Dash was convinced of my innocence, and wanted to track down the guilty party.  He gave me my bracers, which I’d earned in the duel, and we traded them for a number of scrolls, and a bag of holding for myself.  Yes, Teleport without Error will come in handy, and True Seeing is essential when fighting the master of illusion. Tarsakh 22We rested, then put some spells upon ourselves and went to find Iago.  As we teleported to Iago’s sanctum, I knew immediately that the Iago we faced was a mere simulacrum!  Before the simulacrum could cast a spell, I melted him to dust.  With True Seeing, I was able to spot all the traps, secret doors, and the illusory walls Iago had raised against us.  We defeated a summoned salamander with its coursing fire and then found Iago sitting in his room.“Sorry, old friend,” I said. “But I have no choice.”  I threw a Polymorph Other his way, only to have it thrown back in my face!  Dash’s spells were reflected as well.  Iago then Webbed us and pulled out his ace in the hole…Calumn’s timepiece.  In the blink of an eye, he had numerous protective spells around him and more spells were tossed at Dash and me!  Dash was almost fried with a shadow lightning bolt, but managed to pull a whopper on old Iago – he Suggested that Iago destroy all his spell components…and when that was done, he threw a nauseous cloud around him.  Iago staggered as he tried to escape the vapors.  “Take the manacles,” Dash yelled, “get him!”  But I knew, Iago would never come quietly.  And no manacles could ever hold the greatest trickster I ever knew.  I hit the sickened Iago with a hold person…then I cut through the Webs and made my way towards him.“The timepiece!” Dash screamed. Yes, first let me grab the timepiece and then…but I held back.  Once I touched it, I’d be with Calumn and Dash would be at the mercy of a very angry Iago.  But in a few seconds, Iago would be free.  I had so few spells left… Iago.  My mentor and teacher.  A man who loved a good laugh, but only at the expense of someone else.  A man who would love you like a son, unless your goals and his didn’t match.  Then, he’d destroy you without a second thought. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.  I brought my quaterstaff back and dashed out his brains with a single stroke.   It was over.  Curse you, Iago.  Damn you, master.  May Tymora have mercy on your soul.</blockquote>

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