Post by Delilah Daybreaker on Sept 1, 2021 11:45:14 GMT
Rolled into a palm sized tube is a piece of nondescript parchment around a notice, with an appendix of extra information on Vorsthold. The nondescript sheet and appendix is written in a mix of common, symbols, and elvish.
ASSIGNMENT REPORT #13
People/Organisations of Note:
Little Beastie – trained cat companion
Jaezred Vandree – mage (divine?), noble, drow, male
Veridian Pentaghast – mage, human, male; homunculus companion, Paracleus V
Sergeant Grimes – holy warrior, fighter, human, male
Whistler – rogue, nature warrior, shadar-kai, male
Jenna – mage (dragon), human, female
Archmage Duron Cragshin – mage, dwarf, male
Meryl Pickdriver – mage/artificer, dwarf-turned-illithid, female (deceased)
Cognizance – clockwork illithid-turned-Elder Brain, sexless (deceased)
Locations:
Fort Ettin – living location
Vorsthold – dwarven city, 5 days journey from Daring Heights, under a mountain
Body:
Vorsthold, the dwarven stronghold under the mountain just south-east of the Feythorn Forest, was an interesting mission. Not much has been heard of from the dwarves since the Accords signing but it seems a mage with a penchant for tinkering and clockwork had set up shop in their city – and tried to make a clockwork illithid to study. (NB: Why do mages never know when they have taken a question too far?)
Their naturally suspicious nature was confirmed when our party arrived. Two clerics dispelled any and all magical effects on our persons – much to Viridian’s dismay as Paraceleus V returned to the clay it was created from – to ensure none of us were anything other than what we appeared. There were no blindfolds as we were taken in though. Perhaps their trust in the Dawnlanders has grown despite how few requests for help they have sent to Daring.
For full description of Vorsthold proper including notes on the city, its magic, necromancy, and a brief history of an attack by a cabal of liches see Appendix A.
For two weeks one district of the city has been impenetrable to the dwarves. Any scouts sent have just collapsed. At first we were under the impression they were dead. But upon going into the affected area, it was determined that they were alive but unconscious, and slowly starving to death. If that was not odd enough, all of them were holding different types or forms of metal, and heading in the same direction.
When returning to the group, Sergeant Grimes had grabbed one of the closest dwarven bodies back to a safe distance. Pentaghast was able to bring him back from whatever magical coma he had been under, though it was very difficult to do. The mage described something like a presence behind the magic, a sound of static. That was our first true clue. The second was when Lord Vandree asked if there was anything felt when entering the affected area. I had my vicious dagger in hand, thumb pressed to the sharp side, blood slowly dripping out.It reminded me of her. Once aware, it was easy enough to let go and quickly bandage the injury.
Following the lead the direction of all the dwarves were facing brought us to a shop, the Gearmaster, where we found Meryl Pickdriver’s workshop and her plans to build a clockwork illithid. “There’s no better way to understand them than if we build one.” What a joke. Her notes indicated she built one – she called it Cognizance – but there was a distinct lack of a clockwork anything in the workshop. Which led to only one conclusion: Pickdriver had been successful.
Continuing to follow the emancipated Dwarven bodies, we found where Pickdriver and Cognizance had come to rest, and how both had changed into something more.
Pickdriver had become some horrible dwarven-illithid hybrid whilst Cognizance had begun to morph into an Elder Brain, but had yet to fully form into one yet. (NB: Cognizance the Younger Brain? Are Younger Brain’s a thing?) They were both inert though, which allowed us to plan. The psionic energy of such creatures is incompatible with the clockwork according to Pickdriver’s notes. That was why the dwarves of the district were brought into the Elder Brain Cognizance’s hive mind – it needed more metal, and quickly. But they must not have moved fast enough. We also had to contend with the request for Vorsthold proper: Find a way to free the unconscious dwarves so they can wake up. Those in the party who knew more about such creatures surmised that if young Whistler or I went ahead and killed it in its dormant state that would kill all the dwarves of the district.
Instead we worked out a plan to turn Cognizance back on, Lord Jaezred would cast a web to hold it in place, and Pentaghast would protect our backs with a Wall of Force.
The fight was quick but nearly fatal for me. It served to highlighted my training is not over. Though I can walk through and seek shelter in Shadows, when it comes to fighting against attacks of the mind I am still weak. Were it not for Whistler and Sergeant Grimes it would be my body being sent back, rather than this report. But our success was had and Vorsthold is no longer held prisoner from an enemy within.
Report passed on 17 day of Highsun.
Neh diis lus’a, lus diis’a.
To the Council of Daring Heights,
There is a potential danger to our citadel that we are unable to resolve ourselves. There are reports of movement in an abandoned part of Vorsthold. It is not safe for dwarves, but as there are few among your adventurers I have seen, they should have an easier time of it.
Please dispatch a group of your specialists at your earliest convenience. Payment will of course be provided.
Regards,
Archmage Duron Cragshin
There is a potential danger to our citadel that we are unable to resolve ourselves. There are reports of movement in an abandoned part of Vorsthold. It is not safe for dwarves, but as there are few among your adventurers I have seen, they should have an easier time of it.
Please dispatch a group of your specialists at your earliest convenience. Payment will of course be provided.
Regards,
Archmage Duron Cragshin
ASSIGNMENT REPORT #13
People/Organisations of Note:
Little Beastie – trained cat companion
Jaezred Vandree – mage (divine?), noble, drow, male
Veridian Pentaghast – mage, human, male; homunculus companion, Paracleus V
Sergeant Grimes – holy warrior, fighter, human, male
Whistler – rogue, nature warrior, shadar-kai, male
Jenna – mage (dragon), human, female
Archmage Duron Cragshin – mage, dwarf, male
Meryl Pickdriver – mage/artificer, dwarf-turned-illithid, female (deceased)
Cognizance – clockwork illithid-turned-Elder Brain, sexless (deceased)
Locations:
Fort Ettin – living location
Vorsthold – dwarven city, 5 days journey from Daring Heights, under a mountain
Body:
Vorsthold, the dwarven stronghold under the mountain just south-east of the Feythorn Forest, was an interesting mission. Not much has been heard of from the dwarves since the Accords signing but it seems a mage with a penchant for tinkering and clockwork had set up shop in their city – and tried to make a clockwork illithid to study. (NB: Why do mages never know when they have taken a question too far?)
Their naturally suspicious nature was confirmed when our party arrived. Two clerics dispelled any and all magical effects on our persons – much to Viridian’s dismay as Paraceleus V returned to the clay it was created from – to ensure none of us were anything other than what we appeared. There were no blindfolds as we were taken in though. Perhaps their trust in the Dawnlanders has grown despite how few requests for help they have sent to Daring.
For full description of Vorsthold proper including notes on the city, its magic, necromancy, and a brief history of an attack by a cabal of liches see Appendix A.
For two weeks one district of the city has been impenetrable to the dwarves. Any scouts sent have just collapsed. At first we were under the impression they were dead. But upon going into the affected area, it was determined that they were alive but unconscious, and slowly starving to death. If that was not odd enough, all of them were holding different types or forms of metal, and heading in the same direction.
When returning to the group, Sergeant Grimes had grabbed one of the closest dwarven bodies back to a safe distance. Pentaghast was able to bring him back from whatever magical coma he had been under, though it was very difficult to do. The mage described something like a presence behind the magic, a sound of static. That was our first true clue. The second was when Lord Vandree asked if there was anything felt when entering the affected area. I had my vicious dagger in hand, thumb pressed to the sharp side, blood slowly dripping out.
Following the lead the direction of all the dwarves were facing brought us to a shop, the Gearmaster, where we found Meryl Pickdriver’s workshop and her plans to build a clockwork illithid. “There’s no better way to understand them than if we build one.” What a joke. Her notes indicated she built one – she called it Cognizance – but there was a distinct lack of a clockwork anything in the workshop. Which led to only one conclusion: Pickdriver had been successful.
Continuing to follow the emancipated Dwarven bodies, we found where Pickdriver and Cognizance had come to rest, and how both had changed into something more.
Pickdriver had become some horrible dwarven-illithid hybrid whilst Cognizance had begun to morph into an Elder Brain, but had yet to fully form into one yet. (NB: Cognizance the Younger Brain? Are Younger Brain’s a thing?) They were both inert though, which allowed us to plan. The psionic energy of such creatures is incompatible with the clockwork according to Pickdriver’s notes. That was why the dwarves of the district were brought into the Elder Brain Cognizance’s hive mind – it needed more metal, and quickly. But they must not have moved fast enough. We also had to contend with the request for Vorsthold proper: Find a way to free the unconscious dwarves so they can wake up. Those in the party who knew more about such creatures surmised that if young Whistler or I went ahead and killed it in its dormant state that would kill all the dwarves of the district.
Instead we worked out a plan to turn Cognizance back on, Lord Jaezred would cast a web to hold it in place, and Pentaghast would protect our backs with a Wall of Force.
The fight was quick but nearly fatal for me. It served to highlighted my training is not over. Though I can walk through and seek shelter in Shadows, when it comes to fighting against attacks of the mind I am still weak. Were it not for Whistler and Sergeant Grimes it would be my body being sent back, rather than this report. But our success was had and Vorsthold is no longer held prisoner from an enemy within.
Report passed on 17 day of Highsun.
Neh diis lus’a, lus diis’a.