Post by Bandgoat on Jul 7, 2014 12:45:02 GMT -6
Kuthona 17, 4707 – Late Evening
My Dear Late Husband,
With Winter’s Eve rapidly approaching, the long nights leave my imagination to wander, despite the fatigue of our recent battles. As I lay resting, I could not help going over events in my mind, rereading your letters and replaying my own memories of the past few months. With the enticing prospect of using the ancient library below Jorgenfist for some research, I thought I would write down a few notes here for reference.
It all began just shy of three months ago when you arrived in the small Varisian town of Sandpoint in time for the annual Swallowtail Festival. As Lady Luck would have it, the town was attacked by goblin raiders that evening. It quickly became evident that the attack was carried out under the orders of someone able to control the chaotic ankle-biters and unite some of the warring clans to carry out coordinated attacks around that area of the Lost Coast. It was discovered that the attack on the town was merely a diversion to kidnap a local businesswoman and steal the body of the former town priest. The resulting rescue of the woman and arrest of her assailant led to the discovery of tunnels below the city and the news of the mastermind behind the goblin attacks. An exploration of the tunnels under Sandpoint revealed an ancient pool of energy being used to conjure hideous monsters. Evidence pointed to followers of Lamashtu and later research gave a name to the magical device: Runewell.
In an attempt to secure the safety of Sandpoint, an expedition was undertaken to assault the goblin stronghold of Thistletop. Under the goblin fortress, evidence was found of the plot to attack Sandpoint and the charred remains of the Sandpoint priest, burned in some ritual to Lamashtu. Dread creatures were being summoned for some unknown purpose and a ghostly scene involving the name Alaznist was witnessed. The mastermind of the goblin attack, a devotee of Lamashtu named Nualia, was found and killed. With other evidence found at the scene, research suggests ties to the ancient civilization of Thassilon.
A series of murders began to spring up in and around Sandpoint. The victims were marked with a strange symbol: a Sihedron Rune. A cursory investigation pointed to a noble named Aldern Foxglove as the perpetrator. Investigating his haunted manor south of town, found ancient caverns below the house, which probably led to the family deaths and subsequent haunting, much like Nualia’s exposure to the Runewell led to her descent into madness. Foxglove’s business dealings led to a cult connection in Magnimar. The cult in question was perpetrating additional murders in the large city in the form of a Sihedron Ritual, probably linked to Thassilonian culture, under the influence of a lamia matriarch named Xanesha.
Evidence found in Xanesha’s possession indicated more sacrifices were being made around Turtleback Ferry near Hook Mountain in Central Varisia. Upon investigating, the nearby Fort Rannick had been captured by ogres, most likely influenced by outside forces. The castle was retaken and Lucretia, the mastermind behind the attack and the sihedron sacrifices, was discovered. Following an assault on the ogre stronghold atop Hook Mountain in which Lucretia was killed, Thassilonian carvings, a shrine to Lamashtu, and evidence of an impending attack on Sandpoint were found.
Defending the town against the giant raid led to the discovery that the attack was designed to gather a stone from an ancient ruined tower on the edge of town, most likely of Thassilonian origin. The attack was orchestrated by a stone giant named Mokmurian, who had been gathering an army to attack all of Lower Varisia. Following the giants retreating from the attack on Sandpoint led us to discover the hidden base of Mokmurian, Jorgenfist, deep within the Iron Peaks of Central Varisia. Underneath the fortress was found mysterious runes and artifacts we suspect to be Thassilonian. We also found a shrine to Lamashtu, the aforementioned library, and we killed Mokmurian, who, in his death throes, became ensorcelled by some unseen being, making reference to awakening the armies of Xin-Shalast and uttering the name Karzoug. However, the army of giants was successfully disbanded, though an even greater threat I fear is looming ahead. Apparently, someone (or something) is trying to resurrect the power that was once Ancient Thassilon. Without more information, that may or may not be a bad thing. However, the means by which this person or thing is bringing about this reincarnation is wholly unsavory. It may be that a diplomatic solution can be reached, but I seriously doubt it. There is also the possibility of using the powers of Thassilon to throw off the yoke of the diabolist Chelaxians, but with power usually come corruption.
That brings us to the events of today. I am curious about the scroll we found this afternoon. If only I could figure out the puzzle box containing it…maybe it has something to do with the phrase the mummy kept repeating: The Green Light. I will look into it further in the morning and begin what is sure to be an exhaustive research into the history of Ancient Thassilon. May the gods illuminate our path.
- With All Hope and Love, Epshi
My Dear Late Husband,
With Winter’s Eve rapidly approaching, the long nights leave my imagination to wander, despite the fatigue of our recent battles. As I lay resting, I could not help going over events in my mind, rereading your letters and replaying my own memories of the past few months. With the enticing prospect of using the ancient library below Jorgenfist for some research, I thought I would write down a few notes here for reference.
It all began just shy of three months ago when you arrived in the small Varisian town of Sandpoint in time for the annual Swallowtail Festival. As Lady Luck would have it, the town was attacked by goblin raiders that evening. It quickly became evident that the attack was carried out under the orders of someone able to control the chaotic ankle-biters and unite some of the warring clans to carry out coordinated attacks around that area of the Lost Coast. It was discovered that the attack on the town was merely a diversion to kidnap a local businesswoman and steal the body of the former town priest. The resulting rescue of the woman and arrest of her assailant led to the discovery of tunnels below the city and the news of the mastermind behind the goblin attacks. An exploration of the tunnels under Sandpoint revealed an ancient pool of energy being used to conjure hideous monsters. Evidence pointed to followers of Lamashtu and later research gave a name to the magical device: Runewell.
In an attempt to secure the safety of Sandpoint, an expedition was undertaken to assault the goblin stronghold of Thistletop. Under the goblin fortress, evidence was found of the plot to attack Sandpoint and the charred remains of the Sandpoint priest, burned in some ritual to Lamashtu. Dread creatures were being summoned for some unknown purpose and a ghostly scene involving the name Alaznist was witnessed. The mastermind of the goblin attack, a devotee of Lamashtu named Nualia, was found and killed. With other evidence found at the scene, research suggests ties to the ancient civilization of Thassilon.
A series of murders began to spring up in and around Sandpoint. The victims were marked with a strange symbol: a Sihedron Rune. A cursory investigation pointed to a noble named Aldern Foxglove as the perpetrator. Investigating his haunted manor south of town, found ancient caverns below the house, which probably led to the family deaths and subsequent haunting, much like Nualia’s exposure to the Runewell led to her descent into madness. Foxglove’s business dealings led to a cult connection in Magnimar. The cult in question was perpetrating additional murders in the large city in the form of a Sihedron Ritual, probably linked to Thassilonian culture, under the influence of a lamia matriarch named Xanesha.
Evidence found in Xanesha’s possession indicated more sacrifices were being made around Turtleback Ferry near Hook Mountain in Central Varisia. Upon investigating, the nearby Fort Rannick had been captured by ogres, most likely influenced by outside forces. The castle was retaken and Lucretia, the mastermind behind the attack and the sihedron sacrifices, was discovered. Following an assault on the ogre stronghold atop Hook Mountain in which Lucretia was killed, Thassilonian carvings, a shrine to Lamashtu, and evidence of an impending attack on Sandpoint were found.
Defending the town against the giant raid led to the discovery that the attack was designed to gather a stone from an ancient ruined tower on the edge of town, most likely of Thassilonian origin. The attack was orchestrated by a stone giant named Mokmurian, who had been gathering an army to attack all of Lower Varisia. Following the giants retreating from the attack on Sandpoint led us to discover the hidden base of Mokmurian, Jorgenfist, deep within the Iron Peaks of Central Varisia. Underneath the fortress was found mysterious runes and artifacts we suspect to be Thassilonian. We also found a shrine to Lamashtu, the aforementioned library, and we killed Mokmurian, who, in his death throes, became ensorcelled by some unseen being, making reference to awakening the armies of Xin-Shalast and uttering the name Karzoug. However, the army of giants was successfully disbanded, though an even greater threat I fear is looming ahead. Apparently, someone (or something) is trying to resurrect the power that was once Ancient Thassilon. Without more information, that may or may not be a bad thing. However, the means by which this person or thing is bringing about this reincarnation is wholly unsavory. It may be that a diplomatic solution can be reached, but I seriously doubt it. There is also the possibility of using the powers of Thassilon to throw off the yoke of the diabolist Chelaxians, but with power usually come corruption.
That brings us to the events of today. I am curious about the scroll we found this afternoon. If only I could figure out the puzzle box containing it…maybe it has something to do with the phrase the mummy kept repeating: The Green Light. I will look into it further in the morning and begin what is sure to be an exhaustive research into the history of Ancient Thassilon. May the gods illuminate our path.
- With All Hope and Love, Epshi