The previous mission we had on behalf of Calimport [see 'Welcome to Calimport' notes] was to obtain stolen materials that were meant for Deryan Kaya.

We are summoned to Calimport today, urgently and quietly, because Deryan's constructs, made with those recovered materials, have been going haywire. It's the Three Days festival in which the Sultana herself will be participating. There are three major points of concerns; a colossal statue that's appeared, nimblewrights which are arresting people they shouldn't, and shield guardians that are guarding more than they should.

Strangely, the shield guardians, Kaya doesn't recall augmenting.

Kaya wants this to be done as quietly as possible. She fears she will be blamed [and blames herself, in part, it seems] and does not want to invoke the Sultana's ire.

The first stop was the Colossus. Salviron's familiar and Snap scouted ahead and found a Dao, an earth genie, carving the Colossus. His name is Pulvi, and he carves it so that Prince Sadir will allow him back into Olympus Dag. He insists it will show the might of the Dao, that they need no protection. After conversing, and a great many questions, Pulvi was sent to Deryan Kaya's lab. He thought it is an opportunity flirting and getting pointers to make his construct less terrifying. We took it as opportunity to investigate the colossus and found nothing dangerous of it.

In the second instance, of shield guardians, we found shield guardians around their unconscious keepers who hade amulets upon them. Salviron informed us that shield guardians tend to protect the keepers of their amulets or runes, though it doesn't explain why their keepers are unconscious. We made a plan to take the amulets off their bodies as soon as possible, Arlis and I set as distraction.

It's the first time I've chosen to transform without any distress. Yashir's illusion... Shifted something. The days of meditation after helped refine it. There was something like control.

Haala El-Salahuddin, a contact of mine, was witness to the events. She informed me the unconscious gnomes, keepers of the shield guardians, are part of the Night Wisp crime family. She offered to round them up to see them to justice, and in exchange for the honor, she said she could keep find more information about the incidents of failing constructs. She invited me to find her in the Muzad, the undercity of Calimport.

The shield guardians were returned.

As we came across the third situation, Nimblewrights supposedly arresting innocents, the Zeraphi, the peacekeeping force of Calimport, were on the scene. Nimblewrights and hulks alike were trying to detain innocent citizens, attacking them with needless force. Arlis was magnificent in this. Some sort of roots stopped a charging horse and pulled it from a citizen it was trying to trample, and Salviron's magical fist destroyed a great many thing. Tealight's spells augmented the group, emboldening Snap.

It wasn't enough. One casualty.

We returned to Deryan. Two of three events were kept quiet, but the third... There was no hiding that.

9/16/2026

A letter was given to us from someone named Deryan Kaya, requesting our discretion and for us to be on our best behavior to not gain the ire of the Sultana.

We met with Deryan and followed her to her lab and she let us know about some constructs that are going a bit haywire. There's shield guardians causing issues as well. It seems Deryan built some of the constructs and they just aren't acting right. There is a collossal statue, nimblewrights arresting people they shouldn't and the shield guardians are over protecting. She didn't want us to destroy the constructs but wanted us to recover them so she can figure out what was going on before the Three Day Festival that is scheduled to occur.

Deciding to stop the colossal statue first, we traveled through the city. Snap decided to hide and I sent Geribald to investigate as well. There was an elemental man that was hammering at the colossal and he spotted Snap to give a wave. We headed back to the group and Cyrus advised that the statue may just be being made for the festival since elementals visit for the festival. He was attempting to impress people with the statue and called himself Pulvi. The statue was just for the festivities and to impress Prince Sadir and they would let Pulvi back in to Olympus Dag. If the might of the dao can show off their defensive capabilities, then the Sultana would not have to keep her oath against the djinni. We convinced Pulvi to go visit Deryan so that we can gauge if there was a relation to what he was creating versus the issues that have been occuring.

The statue itself was made entirely of stone and rock and rather than usual constructs that involve electrical components, the rock itself would be enchanted with the magic of the Planes. It was decided to do nothing with the statue for the time being since mechanical constructs are much different than constructs enchanted with magic of the planes.

We continued our journey, heading to the location that the shield guardians were overprotecting. We engaged in combat with them and knocked them out, gnomes having amulets that I recalled were able to control the guardians. Cyrus spoke with a woman that had watched named Haala el-Salahuddin--he seemed familiar with her and they kept mentioning something called the Muzad. She told us about a crime family called the Night Wisps and it seems the gnomes that were controlling the guardians despite being unconscious. Tealight was able to use the amulets to control the guardians so we could return them to Deryan. As soon as Tealight commanded them to awaken and move, one became hostile but it was easy to knock out again.

Since they were acting strangely, we went back to Deryan's lab to deliver the guardians and also check on Pulvi. When we arrived, Pulvi was unconscious on the ground and being tied up by Deryan's assistant. He tried to flirt with her and she did not like that....

There was no mention that we told him about a potential romance between inventors.

After dropping off the guardians, we went to the final location of people being wrongly arrested. When we arrived, we saw various constructs, some on horses, others with multiple arms. Some of the City Watch was around, Zeraphi, flying on carpets. The constructs were violent in their arrests so we engaged them in combat. The Zeraphi worked to rescue the citizens, while we defeated the constructs. Only one citizen lost their life and the Zarahi cleaned things up, aiming to deliver the constructs to Deryan themselves as we told them that some group was attempting to sabotage the festival.

Deryan let us know that she has a fair bit of research and investigating to do to try and figure out what is happening.

Learnable Creature(s): Dao, Djinni, Shield Guardian

9/15/2026

We received notification to head to an island as a test. We boarded a ship and were transported to the island, meeting with a man that knew who we were and seemed to be in charge--in a way. Although the island was a bit weird. We left the mainland as night fell but the island itself was alight and busy. Surx was in a different form, I'm uncertain if I've ever seen it before. We wandered through and were led to a large manor.

Shev was being...whatever he is at time. I don't even know anymore.

Walking up the manor steps, we met with Leland Armstrong Leadale the 4th (Ted Lasso), who hired us. We were led through the manor and Surx connected us all telepathically which I think will be the greatest mistake considering Shev is here. Surx and Shev have a strange kink thing going on where Surx calls him master.

I learned far too many things about the Syndicate people here than necessary.

But then we were led to a dining room and given breakfast. I didn't eat anything as per usual but its still strange to me that time is different here. It appears I will need to get an orb of time. Lord Leland did let us know there is a stroke of bad luck impacting the town and he wants to see what the Syndicate can do. He sent us to investgate a shipwreck that has a nasty infestation on it. Some guards were sent out that way but came back without success. They were attacked by strange tentacle creatures and arrows like coral needles were shot at the guards.

We prepared ourselves and headed out to the shipwreck where Surx saw a bunch of tentacle creatures and then compared them to Shev. Can they stop revealing strange kink things.

We engaged in combat with the creatures and it's unfortunate but the spellcaster creatures seemed to have summoned the fighter ones. After making sure everything is clear, we confirmed all the missing items and headed back to the manorhouse to return them to Lord Leland. He gave us our payment and a gift of paint pigments.

9/11/2026

Captain Ilyra Venn sent us a missive requesting our assistance with the Lords' Alliance. We were asked to head to Neverwinter to conclude a moment with something called the Aegis Core, useful for teleportation. She wasn't comfortable sharing more information in the missive. This was a later-hand follow up to a contract we had around a month ago.

Meeting with her at the Syndicate, she recapped what our last job for her entailed and confirmed a prisoner informed them of a man part of the Many-Starred Cloaks. There was an infection spreading in the space that Aderyn Kest was experimenting on with the Aegis Core and we are being asked to recover the Core. We can recover Vest as well but it is not required.

We used a mechanical wonder--a gyrocopter, to fly to the tower location. We left it behind and started exploring the dilapidated tower. As per usual, I put up my detect magic and could feel the spatial distortion in the air. As we continued moving into the tower, there was some kind of repetition of that spatial magic that was coming upon us. Sylk had the idea that it was the Aegis Core, which is possible, but I'm uncertain if that's exactly what it was.

We continued exploring, finding a locked door blocking our path. Luckily no one is of the "destroy the door" type and we went through another gate to walk through a cave. Walking through, we spotted a large, pulsing sphere with metal rings surrounding it as they spun about. A man that looked to be wearing a mask was there and Bri confirmed his identity as Aderyn Kest. She antagonized him a bit and then we engaged in combat.

We defeated Aderyn and for a moment, it was as if bugs and insects of all kinds began crawling out of its body and from behind its mask. Then as if with a blink, Aderyn was back in his normal form, unconscious. We moved around to dispel the spatial magic around the area. As we were finishing up, the Many-Starred Cloaks appeared with Captain Ilyra and started taking a look through all things Aderyn did. They also gave us a fair bit of rewards.

The Cloak Tower Breach

11 Elieint, 1502 DR

I was late to our mission and missed the majority of information. Thankfully the others described the situation regarding the Aegis Core. A powerful artifact being used to manipulate space, with Aderyn Kest leading the chaos. I, along with Bri, Salviron, Shev, and Yashir, investigated the Cloak Tower to stop too much danger from happening.

The tower was dusty but recently disturbed. Various space disruptions shunted us about and hurt. We traversed until spying the Aegis Core itself, flanked by a pink-hued hulking beast, an ugly man, and Aderyn Kest himself. He taunted us, and combat began. Shev used his magic to toss the hulk off the ledge. Bri, Yashir, and I flanked the two mages who tried to teleport around. And it was Salviron's forceful hand that knocked Aderyn into unconsciousness. The fight was tricky when the Aegis Core sent a shockwave of energy and nearly launched Bri to her death. But we controlled the fight.

At the end, the representatives of the Lords' Alliance met with us and showered us in rewards, including gyrocopters, plenty of gold, and items we can enjoy in the distant future. We've also successfully opened up the way to teleport to Neverwinter!

I don't fully understand what was happening. But I'm happy to have been of help. -Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

Road to Baldur's Gate

9 Eleint, 1502 DR

-------

Our party of Maze, Orri, Tealight, Wuyon'e, and myself, pursued leads within Baldur's Gates, for a hint of where to locate permanent teleportations. Greeted by Blaze Darth Silvershield of the Flaming Fists, we appeared in the Lower City to investigate leads. Our first stop took us to Jopalin's, where the titular half-elf gave suggestions on where to explore. We sought out the temple of Umberlee, Sorcerous Sundries, and the Elfsong Tavern in that order. At the Water Queen's House, an acolyte requested we scrub barnacles off the bottom of a ship, made easier with clerical spells. At Sorcerous Sundries, a flock of birds arriving spelled chaos until we could evict them. At the Elfsong Tavern, two of our clerics engaged in drinking to bond with the common folk. We headed to the High City for work, convincing an old man to obey curfew through threats. The High House of Wonders, a Gondian temple, tested our mettle in invention. After that, we went home.

Errokkadaen

Party: Wuyon'e, Tealight, Orri, Rokka, Maze
Location: Baldur's Gate
We were requested to find leads on locations that we may be able to open a teleportation circle with the Syndicate. We med one Blaze Darth Silvershield of the Flaming Fists, who directed us to the various locations. It seems, if we participated in activities that would benefit the city and the district in some way, then it would allow us to begin developing rapport, and allow us to network. We went around all of Baldur's Gate meeting people and assisting with various tasks. It seems we have made an overall good impression and now have options for where we would like to situate the teleportation circle.

8th of Eleint, 1502 DR

Myself, Srin, Torva, Alvin, Citrus

I'll be honest, I didn't fully understand this one, even though it was pretty simple.

We were to meet at the One Eye Jax with a bartender named Serena, in the city of Luskan. On our way there, a drow child snagged my Headband of Awareness right off my noggin. Obviously, we pursued after them, and were blocked by two drow adults. Their parents? Don't think so. We pacified the two and restrained the one, taking my work back. After some questioning, we found the bar! Apparently they were hired by someone at the bar to steal from us? Their boss or something? Weird.

When there, we were tasked with our mission: clear out spiders from a basement. Very tedious job. Took two days! The spiders were strangely smart and strangely dangerous, but still no match to us. The bandits were more difficult.

At the end was a big spider construct that was apparently attracting those spiders down there. Man-made construct, of course. Unfortunately for it, seems I'm pretty good at short-circuiting constructs, because it didn't get to do anything, and between my fists, Torva's storm and Alvin's stick, we made short work of it.

That's about all I remember very important there. I think Srin had more to talk about with the bartender, but I was done.

With resolve,

Snap

Eleint 8th, 1502 DR

I'm constantly put up with these jobs to initiate contact for a new location; I must be good at them. This time around, a lot of familiar faces came along for the job in the city of Luskan.

Nothing too unexpected of a port city full of roguish types, except for our lovely kobold being pocketed by a really slippery drow kid, which was a shocker in many ways. The problem was dealt with with decent speed, only to find out that quite a few drow live and work in this place. The sigil I found on one of them and the bar, One Eyed Jax, have a ring of familiarity that I can't yet put my finger on. Something to look into after the job.

The work given by Serena, the bartender, was simple: clear a basement full of spiders; ironic considering the major populace here. Only that it wasn't as simple as it sounded: a basement of spiders that was more like a trial den that would make even some of the high Houses of Menzoberranzan blush. We got rid of the problem within a day, aparrently some construct used by us to attract spiders was left inside the inner depths of that place. Still, there is no clear idea of the purpose of that place.

This city is full of secrets of the Underdark that I'm keen to find, so now with the job done, I'll stay for a few hours longer and see what I can find about this mysterious organization and maybe who's behind them... and maybe some lead towards the lost souls...

Mission Report: Spider Infestation at the One-Eyed Jax

Location: Luskan
Syndicate Members: Tova, Snap, Ssrin, Alvis, and Cyrus
Contact: Serena, bartender at the One-Eyed Jax

The Syndicate received an offer from someone identifying themselves only as “J,” who promised favorable standing in Luskan in exchange for completing a simple job. We were instructed to meet Serena at the One-Eyed Jax.

Luskan remains heavily fortified and in poor repair. Most of the people we encountered were armed and openly unfriendly. Gunshots could be heard in the distance without drawing much attention from anyone nearby.

On our way to the tavern, a young drow stole Snap’s helmet and fled. When we pursued, two adult drow confronted us. We subdued all three, and Cyrus restrained the child with his manacles. The child claimed they had been instructed by their employer to find our group. We brought him with us to the One-Eyed Jax, where Serena recognized the situation and the child identified us as the group they had been looking for.

Serena’s job involved clearing a spider infestation from the tavern’s basement. The infestation was far more extensive than she had indicated. We encountered large numbers of spiders and extensive clusters of sacs resembling eggs. We were eventually forced to withdraw, returning the following day to finish clearing the lower chambers.

In the final chamber, we discovered a mechanical spider carrying some form of substance that Ssrin identified as a spider attractant. We were unable to determine who placed it there or why someone deliberately drew so many spiders beneath the tavern.

The infestation was cleared, and we received the promised payment. I also recovered a worthwhile piece of treasure from the site.

Given the targeted theft, the child’s claim that someone had sent them to find us, and the mechanical device discovered below the tavern, I do not believe this matter is finished.

~Tova~

My companions have, no doubt, filled out the details of this adventure. I, Cyrus Sicarius, look back upon this days later. This is where I acquired the lichen which would plague me and, eventually, seemingly be spread to friends. I have brought this upon them.

In this mission of spiders and trials to prove our worth, we needed more breaks that perhaps rightfully we should have taken. Such is the cost of being in a party with so many magic users. They've no way but to engage but to burn themselves at both ends. It's not something for me to judge. We managed in the end, all the same, to clear the spiders which were attracted to the bait the the spider-golem had. Our job is done and we are paid, and now, we need only live with the repercussions.

I'm sure someone took note of the date.

The party: Myself, Ssrin, N'sir and DUSK

Athkatla... what a ripe plum of a city. More wealth concentrated there than in most of Faerun and I suppose I could not expect my welcome to be warm considering the company I was keeping. Now, that's not to say they weren't useful. The snake has a very reliable way of disposing of remains, and one should always know a good cleaner. The construct - DUSK - has an interesting business she's started that could be very lucrative. And that... drow woman.. a handy sword to have on one's side.

The Captain of the ship upon which we sailed was charming in his way. They were moving gems. We chatted, I had a look at his ledgers and the Zhanye family name came up. Something I'll need to go back and research.

We did manage to fight off undead pirates and an attractive but menacing Cambion. Sadly, he lived to fight another day and I do wonder what the motivation was for such an assault. I suppose more will become clear with time. Another small pay day and a step closer. I really should work more often...

Dahlia

Eleint 7th, 1502 DR

Another Syndicate business expansion, this time to Athkatla, and the big boss made sure that we knew this was a really important one. He's an odd character for sure, an odd presence to him, but that's for another time.

I guess the drow and tiefling nobility weren't a bad pick for this job, even including the construct... can't say much about the naked... snake? lizard? creature. Even so, apparently we found the snobs of the snobility, but an impressive city indeed, with nice lamps and awful heat. Why do I always end up in rich and blazing cities?

A test was given for our worth instead of decent pay, figures, to assist a trade to Baldur's Gate by ship; it seems merchants are always being ambushed. But this time it was worse than lycans or snake-lion creatures: an actual ghost ship of pirates and fiends on top of it, nearly felled by that damned cambion... but at least the cargo was unharmed and managed to sail away from what remained of the assailing ship.

At least we didn't fuck it up as Thraxx hoped, and possibly some future dealings with the devils in the future, but who knows which are which.

We were hired by the Harpers to find missing people in the region of Chult.

As we walked towards the suspected location, filthy undead creatures jumped out of a massive pit and attacked us.

We prevailed rapidly and without too many wounds, but the dwarf criminal that was supposed to guide us escaped during the fight.

We then descended down the pit, the smell was horrid. And after a couple of hours looking through corpses, we found an entrance.

There, a massive ball made of bone barreled down towards us, fortunately, Orri, our goliath companion stopped it with his giant might, quite the impressive feat I must say.

Unfortunately, this feat seemed to have exhausted him quite a bit.

After that, we encountered a talking flaming skull that offered to lead us in the maze that was in front of us if we were to play a game of chess against him.

I offered to take my chances, as I used to play the game in my childhood.

Unfortunately, it seemed that the skull was playing a different version of chess. And despite my masterful tactics, I couldn't keep up with the creature's deep knowledge of his version of the game.

I had then to drink an ill liquid that exhausted me too. But alas, the creature held his part of the deal and guided us towards the last room of the maze.

There, we found a floating mass of flesh, mixed with the corpses of some of the people we were supposed to save. And behind it, the one responsible for this atrocity.

And she wasn't in the mood for talking, so we fought. And we fought hard.

But the desecrating woman had many undead monsters under her service... the tides turned to her favor and we fell one after another.

The situation seemed desperate, I kept coming in and out of consciousness, trying my best to destroy our enemies.

But if it wasn't for Yap, the strange tall creature accompanying us, I think most of us would have died in these catacombs.

The necromancer, seeing that we were about to win the fight, decided to take us all with her and casted one last fireball that destroyed the mass of putrid flesh in the middle of the room.

That's when we felt it, the whole structure started shaking, and we knew we only had a few seconds to escape, or this place would be our tomb.

So we killed the necromancer, freed the only remaining living prisoner and took the corpses of the poor adventurers that didn't turn into undead monsters... and we escaped.

It was a very tense mission, probably one of the closest call I've ever had. But that's the adventurer's life. That's what we all signed up for.

-Theoden Brightshield

Eleint 4

I, Wu, Mila , Biscuit, Jue

Person, friend Wu, find factory make metal beast, want destroy. Happy help.

Enter place, facility, under ground. Start stealth, attack ape metal beast, win. Then, move.

Worker find, start alert all. Giant fight. Very difficult. They, good gear. Mila, down. I, down. Jue, down. Not all once, but, many fall. Still, I, Wu, Biscuit, Mila, all heal, easy stay alive. Win.

Then, go further. Find metal spider, attack. Find missing geese. Save geese. Good. One dead, Wuyon'e raise.

Job done, good.

We went to assist Jabbress Viconia in attacking the facility that stole and harmed her spiders.

It was a slaughter. Thanks to Mila's foolishness and desire to be a hero, the whole facility was alerted to us, and we had to fight all of their men at once. Mila needed to be raised from near-death multiple times. I exhausted all of my healing. I am thankful Biscuit gave everyone a map... though I will miss being able to see Azrael all the time. Alas, that decision saved lives.

Then, there was what they did to the spider. Desecration. Sacrilege. A complete horror that I had to put out of it's misery.

I prayed over it, then returned it's head to Jabbress Viconia along with the corpse of the scientist we were supposed to capture alive. He killed himself to spite us.

She presented me a rare new flail in reward.... I am... honored.

We will speak to the scientist tomorrow when I prepare Speak with Dead. Then, I will have to visit Bellwick and Raise the goose.

Eleint 4, 1502 DR,

Jue was asked last minute to fill in an job. This job seems to be against the same cultist that attacked the village and farms that Jue helped defend earlier. The factory was easy to find and in so far everything started well. Then the factory got fully alerted to us and went into high alert. Which means the plan to take out the enemies one-by-one and group-by-group turned into all against us.

Even so the fight went well and Jue managed to release the Ravens from their suffering. Seeing as how the cultist would dare harm them, Jue has no problem with their destruction.

-Jueinuma, Spear of Rashemar

Azrael turned into a mammoth. In exchange for letting me ride him into battle, I have made the promise to leave Wuyon'e be from hence forth. And in exchange for him dismissing his undead, I have promised to apologize to Wuyon'e.

The Color of Imagination

2-3 Eleint, 1502 DR

-------

we were summoned by virginia sinns some goblin lady near loudwater because she wanted to get special pigments for her daughter cinna sinns who got majorly into painting! we had to go into the stillwood to get stuff. mushrooms, spider carapaces, venom sacs, ore, flowers, and stuff. so we went out!

to be honest it was pretty straightforward besides the fact that we all almost died :( there were mushroom guys and we fought them and azrael fell from the sky as a mammoth. then we fought a buncha spiders and they went down pretty quick because we made the azrael mammoth really big. then we fought some shambling mounds in a field! no mammoths this time.

when we brought all the stuff back miss virginia paid us for our time. but her kid had already moved onto another hobby. kids are weird.

-R\&W <3

Well, today was... Odd. We went on a mission to gather supplies for a little kids art. We had to go out, kill plants and spider... harvest them. Everyone nearly died to a bunch of mushrooms, (Besides me, who was smart enough to stay at a distance.) Luckily for them, I killed a good majority of them. I have to say, one benefit from this, I got Cyrus to promise to be kinder to Wuyon'e. I will say that the next time I am polymorphed, I will be dropping it the second combat has ended. Nonetheless, we got paid, and I will not have to do anything like that again.

Eleint 2

I, Rokka, Maze, Cyrus, Azrael

Close Loudwater. Virginia Sinns, green small human, ask help. Spawn, Cinna, try paint. Want special color.

Special color... mushroom, spider, mound. All attack. Mushroom, strong, close death. Spider, mound, weak.

I, create friend, help. Azrael, transform, giant beast. Cyrus, ride beast. Rokka, scout, small metal flying. Maze, heal. Teamwork good.

Job, simple.

Party: Azrael, Cyrus, Maze, Rokka, Yap

Location: Southwood

We had been requested by one Virginia Sinns to assist in acquiring pigments for special paints for her child. She had us go further into Stillwood to collect the ingredients. We fought mushrooms, spiders and shambling mounts... In the end we retrieved the pigments but discovered her child no longer wanted them. I am... tempted to seek out Virginia Sinns to see if she still has the pigments and allow me to take them for my own painting.

Life in Loudwater is nice, but that's not what I wanna tell you

I have had two close encounters with the cult of the dragon, in a faraway land northeast from here. My eyes laid on a powerful green dragon, the Maimed Virulence, Vorgansharax

I feel closer to find a way into the cult. The first part of my plan will be succesful. Master will be pleased.

This month was full of surprises :

First, I've discovered that Wu and Azrael are two ruthless and merciless people. I know we're in a mercenary guild, but I didn't expect obviously evil people to join it.

Second, the wet finger technique is still unbeaten when it comes to find your way in a labyrinth. Biscuit did have her map, but it seems the walls were magically moving. And no magical moving walls can beat the wet finger !

Thirdly, I spared against Bri, with the help of the good Fenris. It was a close fight. Bri is a scary opponent, but she's not invincible. I hope one day to have the capability to face her alone.

All in all, quite a good month for me. I feel my power growing and I learn more about this organization. Hopefully, my name shall be known soon enough.

Theoden Brightshield

The State of The Syndicate - August 2026

Eleasis 1502 DR

Reported by Tova

Eleasis has been a steady month for the Glassfang Syndicate. There has been work, travel, training, recovery, and the usual amount of questionable decisions made in the name of bravery.

Contracts continued this month, including work near Silverymoon involving mushroom corruption and unstable magic. That report has been written separately, so I will not repeat all of it here. The short version is that the matter was handled, everyone returned alive, and fire around strange mushrooms should be used with caution.

There has also been activity in Loudwater at Faerdress, Sylk’s tailor shop. Music from the Underdark was shared there, along with conversation and attempts to learn from one another’s traditions. It was not Syndicate work in the formal sense, but it was still worth noting. Members bring more than weapons and spells with them.

There were also some departures. Na’ima left with a proper sendoff, which was deserved. Fenris also left. I will only say it is unfortunate that we were not able to find an accord before he went. Feelings and communication are difficult for some people. Myself included, when I am being honest. But that is life.

Training has continued. I have been working more with my own magic, especially control and defensive spellwork. Lighting up the sky is satisfying, but precision is better when other people are standing nearby and would prefer to remain unsinged.

Overall, the Syndicate remains active. Members are taking contracts, recovering from recent hardships, helping one another where they can, and finding new trouble with impressive consistency.

In other words, business continues.

Signed,
Tova

Greetings, Friends. If in Loudwater you see a man named Michael, human man (description of the man), if he is being a piece of shit (especially to children- he has literally abandoned his daughter after her mother died for no greater of a reason than "I'm done with her," instead choosing to use his time getting his rocks off with a prostitute.) feel free to beat him senseless. He deserves it.

- This report is unsigned.

My introduction to the: Syndicate has been: Successful.

I have made: Friends or:: Allies with:

Dorris (Designation: Best Friend)

Aber (Designation: Other Best Friend)

Yap

Theoden

Jue

Dusty

Bri

I almost got: Chomped to: Death by: Wilson. Wilson is: The Primary Threat at the: Syndicate.

Other: Potential threats include: Shev, Rokka, due to Proximity to Wilson, John.

I have been on: Three adventures. Going to: Calimport was perhaps my: Favorite.

I am working on making: Jewelry in my: Downtime.

I am: Pleased with how the: Tests to my features are going after: Some Improvements.

Aim function remains unsteady. I will seek: Improvements in: radar.

Eleasis 1502 DR

The first month at the Syndicate has been quite... eventful. A lot of odd characters in this place, but the lack of questioning has been beneficial. Although I did not expect to meet my kind so soon on my surface journey... and to connect so quickly... and deeply... with some of them... especially after an unexpected meeting with the Matron of Ravens...

As quickly as these bonds were made, so too were they suddenly cracked... because of the tyrant I was made to be. Even so, I will embrace this so I'll keep becoming stronger, making more allies to bring the hurt... and dull mine, and join any mission that will further my goal, my oath of conquering all who stand against us... against all I care for.

They wanted an ilharess, so my ruthlessness shall be their mercy until they're done for.

Signed,
- Ssrin

Eleasis 1502 DR

I have done a lot this month but few things of note. Most days I found meself in the workshop, using the smithy for a few bits and bobs to be sent to the nearest town.
I went to the city of Phlan and alongside Dusty, Ferris, Ssrin and John White were we uncovered and defeated a band of maurauders working for the Cult of the Dragon. They were looking for a dragon mask. Seems like a lot of work and people killed for a simple piece of costume. Must be a magical costume.

Later I met another drow woman in the Syndicate in between the days in the workshop. She seemed very angry and sad about everything, especially her human lineage. She seemed lost... praying to a goddess and god that didn't value her. Drow gods usually don't. I made her a dagger and gave some kind words. Hopefully it's enough to make a difference.

Eleasis 1502 DR

Report by Dorris A. Aranis

All my past reports have been formal, unbiased, and for naught but information, but I've decided to use these monthly reports as a personal account rather than a formal record.

I joined the Syndicate on the 3rd, alongside a Warforged named C.H.E.F. We became acquainted, and he gave me a cookie containing THC. I then met Tova, Rokka, and Cyrus. I spent the evening browsing the library through the eyes of my familiar before taking the rest of the night to read. I feel lucky the library had a book I've been wanting to read for some time, and it's safe to say it's now my favorite book! To anyone who might read this, do consider reading Star-Eyed Lovers.

I spent most of the next week familiarizing myself with the Syndicate and its members while preparing for my first job (see: The Griffons of Longsaddle, 7 Eleasis, 1502). Unfortunately, on the same day of my first mission, C.H.E.F. had passed away during his own job. This is noted as the Syndicate's first recorded death. It was... hard mourning him. I thought of him as my first friend here, but he was gone so suddenly. I've taken it upon myself to record the answers to a question he asked me. I haven't kept up with this promise in some time, but I'm hoping to continue in the coming month.

On the night of the 26th, I was accompanied by Syndicate member D.U.S.K. out onto the grounds. It's there during the full moon we encountered a Pegasus tending to a magical ward. With our assistance, the ward was repaired. I have been meaning to go examine the site since, but I haven't had the chance.

Nothing else of note has happened thus far. Amendments to this report may be added if anything occurs.

State of the Syndicate: Eleasis, 1502 D.R.

There is... much to be said of this month, and little that I will say. Less still that I wish to say, but I've a certain responsibility to uphold, I suppose.

There has been little work for me. The lower ranks -- of which there are many new, though I've met precious few of them, as I have kept to my home -- are awash in jobs aplenty, but none of them seem to find their way to the higher. I would, almost, that I could drop back to theirs, so that I might maintain an income. My projects, learning and the crafting of powerful magical items, interfere with my business. I've apprentices now, of course, and employees, but they mostly pay for themselves with little left over.

That is about all that may be said for the professional state of the Syndicate. As for the personal....

Well. I do not wish to speak of it. It does not matter. Nothing does.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

It's hard to keep track of everything which has happened.

• At the beginning of the month, C.H.E.F. died. This was the catalyst for me losing control of myself. News spread among some cohorts quickly of what happens when I do, and now, it's becoming a staple on missions. I've yet to discuss with anyone the destabilizing effects, but how can I? Constantly, it seems a necessity, and I can't - won't - risk losing another member like C.H.E.F.
• During this time, the group which resides mostly in Faerdress [Ssrin, Tova, Wuyon'e, and perhaps Snap?] grew paranoid and hostile at fear that I would discover Sylk's secret and use it to hurt Sylk. This treatment inspired curiosity, and I went digging. I learned the secret, and by uncovering it, it drew attention from unwanted forces. How this is to resolve, I've yet to see, but Wuyon'e's attacked me twice now and once on mission. Things are unstable.
• Solia and I went to an extradimensional party. Ashhorn is always a magnificent host even if I never can remember much of what happened after.
• The work for the teleporters continues and I have embarked to help with Calisham. It's a city I fell in love with instantly and I hope we get the teleporter up soon enough.
• I grew closer with quite a few Syndicate members. To discover each, to know the quirks, to understand where it is they come from and where they go; it's a high honor. Even if sometimes I think that the 'where' of 'where they go' should be in a pit six feet down.
• I didn't get Maze pregnant.
• Wuyon'e and Azrael, among others unnamed, broke into a prison, slaughtered the guard, freed a necromancer and some other prisoners, and then proceeded to arm that necromancer with research on how to augment creatures biomechanically AND gave him access to study an extremely powerful animal.
  Somehow, no one sees how this could go horribly wrong.
• Bramnir, my best friend in the world, has come to the Syndicate! It's a glorious occasion.
• Fenris left this month. Some issue about love. He yelled at Tova as he left. I'm starting to understand the urge.
• This is the month in which I planned a feast for Salviron. There was a surprise within, something by which to help him with something, but it all went poorly and destroyed any friendship that could blossom there before it began. I've thought a few times of arranging flowers and choosing them in such a way to convey my apologies, but, well... I grow incredibly awkward around him. I haven't really discerned why.
• I miss my sister. Desperately. I wonder what she would have thought of all this.

There are, I am sure, a dozen different instances I forget. What one man marks as important, another deems useless.

Eleint 21, 1502 DR

Jue has not been doing these notes as Jue hasn't done much during Jue's time in the Syndicate. But now Jue does wish to write about Jue's trip to Calimport. Seeing as a permanent teleportation circle might be set-up there as as result of an job going wrong, or perhaps just right. Further more, Jue is slowly accommodating to the Syndicate, as such Jue is trying to get to know more about it and it's people.

-Jeuinuma

The State of the Syndicate

24 Flamerule - 30 Eleasis, 1502 DR

-------

I speak from personal experience that this month has been much more active than the last. Not in the way of adventures and chaos, but in personal stressors. Though I suppose this is par for the course of a mercenary who has lived the life I have.

A brief summary of the last month's Syndicate-specific events.

• I assisted Arlis in solving a mystery, and helping Arlis befriend a bear.
• I protected Ivor's home from being completely overrun with ash mephits.
• I helped a lousy warden determine how a fae escaped her own prison.
• I took on mimics at a tavern with Tova who latched on too close for comfort.
• I worked with friends to unite nobles in Waterdeep before a future marriage.
• I was forced into a vehicle derby in Avernus and fought to escape the hells.
• I investigated mushrooms appearing around Silverymoon's borders.
• I saved a man traded by yuan-ti in Loudwater, with Jax's assistance.
• I explored a cavern to the Underdark and cleared its threats.

This is only a brief summary of the events of the last month. Troubling news has crossed my path, though I am thankful for the friendships I've made to help rectify the dangers that may befall me in the coming months. To all my friends, my home will always have its doors open to you. To those who are not friends yet, I provide a discount on tailored goods to fellow Syndicate members.

-Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

-------

another month has passed yay!! but like its been a weird one? because cyrus got curious about my brain and then salviron did some brain magic and now theres another person in my head :( feels like a headache that wont go away even though errokkadaen is really nice and trying not to take over my brain by accident. trying to live every moment i can but hey what are you gonna do haha

stuff happened this month!

• buncha crazy wild magic in silverymoon when delivering a package
• stopped some dragon cult stuff from happening near phlan
• fought a cyclops alongside snap and orri
• took on pirate ogres with wuyone and snap
• worked on solving some magic shenanigans in neverwinter
• stopped fellow kobolds from getting held as ransom

weird times!! errokkadaen and i are working on a more permanent method to get her separated from me so she doesnt overwrite my consciousness and i cease to exist so if anyones got advice on that lemme know please thank you <3

-R\&W

Eleasis 1502 DR

Arlis the Shade

So much fucking shit has happened lately.. I really don't wanna put it to paper...

In the way of missions, I didn't do much. Lief joined the Syndicate, and I been spending my time training with him. At some point I gotta get back to sparring with Vincel so I can hit that 50 spars mark. But for now... me and Lief gotta get stronger...

-----

Sargrea Maze

This month has been an active one for me. I have gone to the far north near Icewind Dale, to Neverwinter, to Basht... I have had some missions where moral dilemmas have come into play that made me have to think, and put my role as an Arbiter to the test. There have been multiple opportunities to send off the dead and pray to my Lord. I continue to do his work with honor and pride.

I have also found myself more invested with some members of the Syndicate. Friendships have blossomed and deepened. I found a passion for painting and have decided to make a series of paintings of my travels from Ormath to Loudwater. I still have many, many more to go, but it does bring me joy. I hope to expand on my art in the future.

August 2026

This month was fairly slow. I was busy much of the time but Dorris, a tabaxi wizard, took initiative to gather other wizards and we shared spells within our spellbooks. I was a bit surprised to see they haven't taken care to protect their spellbooks from people with...less than kind actions. It's nice to see a wealth of knowledge to magic.

Cyrus had asked me to assist in casting magic on a kobold named Rokka. We learned something interesting about her and after keeping the memory from her when I broke the barrier that blocked her mind, discovered her soul had been split in two by a dragon. Errokkaeden was their name. And she was cut off from Rokka and changed into a kobold as a...jest of sorts. An interesting tale honestly. Thought soul magic is not something I studied and I do not know much about it past the higher tiered magic of Soul Cage.

I've been researching more often. I've a lot of creatures to learn about.

I've a familiar now as well. He manifested originally as a lizard. I've called him Geribald.

And everyday I'm further and further surprised at the lack of knowledge many have about dragonchess.

-Salviron Lisel

Character Break

I joined a new place called the Glassfang Syndicate this month. Its very different than the Rashemi. I think I like it. I guess. I learned cards. We killed a bunch of goblins.

-Talyndra

This has been a... wild month. I never thought I would join the Syndicate, but... as time had gone on, I must admit I got a little bit of cabin fever being cooped up in Arlis's, well, our home. Since joining, I must admit I have grown in ways I didnt think were possible. I have gotten stronger, faster, sharper... Its as though I went from the background to something more important. I have certainly... leveled up, if such a thing is possible.

I have been on a number of missions, and made many friends in this time. Most of the people in the Syndicate are... skilled at what they do, and even more of them are talented spellcrafters. Part of me wonders if I should join them in that pursuit, but... No. I have more important things to do than waste my time fiddling with magic. Ill keep to my weapons.

But, I have managed to find a new home away from the Boys, and step out of the shadow of Yargenlilly. That is all I have ever wanted... I can only hope to continue to grow.

The following report is penned in quickly-written, loopy cursive:

On the last day of Eleasis, I, along with Dorris, D.U.S.K, Rilifen, and Murtin, were tasked to escort Ms. Forgeborn's caravan. While the escort itself was a simple task, about halfway through our trip, we were approached by what appeared to be a lost dog. On its collar was the name of its owner, and that if the dog was indeed lost, to return it to a wizard's tower nestled in the Greypeak Mountains. The dog herself, however, seemed to try to be urgently guiding us off of the path, which we interpreted it as a cry for help.

Concerned that the owner of the dog, or perhaps someone else, was in danger, we had gotten express permission from Ms. Forgeborn to follow the dog for a short while- Ms. Forgeborn herself was content to take a break on the peaceful trail and stay behind.

The dog had lead us to a cave opening in the nearby mountains, one that we soon discovered was filled with powerful steam vents and, in a section we discovered later, lava. I am unsure of the exact name of this cave (I am happy to provide vague coordinates if need be), but we did soon find that it was occupied at some point. Although, it was mostly devoid of life- empty bedrolls, goblinoid skeletons, and a hidden room with nothing but broken objects and some potions.

Eventually, we went back to an earlier fork in the path, previously inaccessible due to blistering, concentrated steam. The potions we collected blunted most of the harm, but it did take us a perilous minute to crack the magically-augmented door at the end of the hall.

Inside this locked room, we discovered a party of other people along with caged animals, of which the other party had captured in order to please a dragon that supposedly ruled this cave. After some negotiations, they agreed to leave peacefully and let us free the animals. Making sure they were alright, the animals accompanied us on our way out.

This is where the report may get a bit messy, loathe as I am to admit. A red dragon had suddenly accosted us not a minute after we left the cave. He claimed that the dog who lead us here was not a dog, but rather a druid by the name of Dell. She'd killed his parents many years ago, and he was determined to get his vengeance- giving us the choice between giving up Dell and the animals, or being roasted alongside them.

Murtin was quite decisive, thankfully, and simply shot the dragon with what must have been a bolt of magic guided directly by the god he worships.

The ensuing fight was quick but fraught with danger for my teammates; despite the dragon being young, its fury and pure strength were still quite a lot for us to contend with. Not to mention a few of his hired hands had ambushed us midway through. I am happy to report, however, that my teammates were more than capable of handling ourselves, wielding weapons and magic alike with ease. Not a single one of us was downed, and the dragon fell in less than a minute.

Dell was happy to heal us afterwards, and made sure that her animal companions were safe before leading us to her friend and home- the 'owner' mentioned earlier in this report, living in a tower further in the mountains. After a quick conversation, we made our way back to Ms. Forgeborn.

The actual escort mission was quite peaceful, and they made it to their location safely and on time. Our travel back to the Syndicate was similarly uneventful.

The four who explored alongside me were invaluable teammates, each providing useful insight, practical skills, and an impressive showcase of combat-oriented abilities. I hope to go on further missions with each of them.

~ Dusty

We were hired to investigate on people stealing things I didn't understand the beggining of, so I assumed it was the usual copper wire thieves.

We got teleported to a location near Neverwinter, where a group of scouts were waiting for us. They explained that the thieves had gone into an old facility and were actively stealing more wires... the wretches.

So we entered, and lo and behold, an ancient dwarven forge. Massive stone statues and lava everywhere, the usual.

But as we advanced, some statues started to move. Gargoyles ! And a strange and very slow animated boulder.

The fight took quite some time, as the gargoyles revealed themselves to be surprisingly nimble despite their stone nature.

After that, we entered some narrow corridors, unfortunately too narrow for my loyal mount, Dawnbringer. So I left him at the doors, giving him the order to go get help shall we not return from our expedition.

As we explored these corridors, multiple graviturgic anomalies appeared. I don't understand why or how they are possible, but they were not so dangerous.

Then we descended further into the depths of this facility, where, with surprising ability, we were able to sneak upon the thieves.

There they were, stealing and thieving. We build up a quick plan and jumped our very surprised enemies. I summoned Dawnbringer in a larger corridor to block the path of our enemies, hoping to split their forces.

Unfortunately, most of their members were on one side. So a massive melee ensued. Spells were flinging, swords were clashing and strange environmental anomalies kept happening.

After a grueling fight, we prevailed. We then had to manage one last anomaly and we finally found the last survivor of our battle.

The coward had abandoned its companions and refused to die honorably. So I grabbed her by the scruff and shaked all the information I could out of her, with the help DUSK, whom seemed familiar with interrogations methods. That's when I understood that these thieves were stealing something far more important than copper. Which only further my anger towards them.

After we were done interrogating the last survivor, she was only a sobbering mess. But crying after committing multiple crimes wouldn't get her any pity from us. Evil must be punished.

So we tied her up, handed her the local authorities and got our reward before getting teleported back to the Syndicate.

All in all, a dangerous but heroic mission. I'm glad this group seemed more inclined towards goodness than usual. I prefer my companions to be strong, but just.

-Theoden Brightshield

30 Eleasis, 1502 DR

Jue was hired together with others to investigate people stealing things from a ruin belonging to the Lord's Alliance. The explanation wasn't truly meant for Jue, as Jue has not knowledge about things like that. But the Jue was then teleported towards a place near Everwind.

Once there we were to go in and deal with the thieves and recover the thing that the Lord's Alliance needed from there. The location was nice, dark with lava and statues of dwarvenkind. Until the rocks came alive. But Jue has long since learned how to cut through wood and stone, so the rocks fell fast. Atleast that is what Jue wishes to write here, but Jue's great weakness cam to light again. A massive shining horse made of burning sky ball, blinded Jue on every attack. As such Jue's spear missed Jue's target more often then not. This is failure on Jue's part and Jue vows to improve Jue's skills when losing Jue's sight.

Inside the ruins, we're wierd corridors filled with magic stuff that made up down, and right left. This was only a minor inconvenience. The real fight was about to start, in according to the plan made, the Burning Sky Horse was to block one corridor while we dealt with enemies in the other. The plan fell apart someone decided to go the other way. Jue then followed said way to make sure our flank wouldn't collapse. In the end, Jue managed to make up for Jue's lack of skill previously. At least a little bit.

The thieves were felled and the magic orb was return to the wizards who lost it? Jue still doesn't really know why this was important.

-Jueinuma

The Aegis Core

Report by Dorris A. Aranis

Syndicate Members included:

- Dorris A. Aranis
- Yap
- D.U.S.K.
- Jueinuma
- Theoden Brightshield

Requested by Captain Ilyra Venn of the Lords' Alliance, we were sent to Mount Hotenow to investigate an unknown group of people that entered an old Delzoun site. The site potentially houses a device known as the Aegis Core and falls under jurisdiction of the Lords' Alliance. We were also informed that the people suspected in this crime are related to, or perhaps are the same as, the group that stole other various materials relating to defenses and teleportation sites. We are tasked to find the Aegis Core, subdue any unwarranted peoples inside the site, stabilize the Aegis Core if possible, and discern if the group intended to relocate the Aegis Core to if possible. We were entitled to 200 gold as a reward, along with any supplies or materials we find and/or sell. We were rewarded with 297 gold to split between the five of us, along with:

- Emerald Pen
- Potion of Greater Healing
- Spellwrought Tattoo 3rd Level (Tiny Servant)
- Mechanical Wonder (Domestic)
- Potion of Giant Strength (Hill)
- Driftglobe
- Mechanical Wonder (Mobility)
- Bag of Holding
- Spell Scroll 2nd Level (Protection from Poison)
- Mechanical Wonder (Flying)

After the briefing, we were teleported to a Lords' Alliance camp several miles from Mount Hotenow. We were informed that several humanoids passed through to the mountain recently while hauling heavy equipment and reinforced crates. No humanoids were seen exiting the mountain.

Inside the mountain was a dwarven structure and signs of a group of humanoids, along with signs of both battle and the moving of heavy equipment. Heading further into the structure, we discovered strange creatures of living stone supposedly used as the structure's natural defenses. There were five gargoyle-like creatures along with a large, humanoid-shaped natural golem of stone. All six creatures were slain. No Syndicate members sustained any injuries. We recovered the following:

- Driftglobe
- Emerald Pen
- Potion of Hill Giant Strength

We proceed into the structure and are met with small chambered corridors. In one room was a strange, gravitational trap and another room housed a temporal, illusionary trap. Yap noted the familiarity of these traps to those used by the group encountered near Neverwinter before (see: The Masked Liaison, 12 Eleasis, 1502). One Syndicate member, Theodan Brightshield, sustained a minor injury from the temporal dissonance.

We continued down a flight of stairs to find the suspected group of peoples still there. Yap recognized them to be of the same group encountered before (see: The Masked Liaison, 12 Eleasis, 1502). There were two warriors, three spellcasters, and two magical (?) constructs. All refused surrender and were slain. Inside that room were four mechanisms, each expelling a strange magical effect such as gravitational warping.

The Aegis Core was found in a room nearby, and the Syndicate members were able to stabilize it. Past that chamber was a library with a fourth spellcaster hiding. She recounted the following information:

- The Core is part of an old Delzoun magical system.

- It has some connection to teleportation magic.

- The stolen components from Neverwinter were necessary to remove it safely.

- Their group was specifically instructed not to damage the Core.

- Once extracted, it was supposed to be transported to the Cloak Tower.

- Someone at the Cloak Tower, part of the "Many-Starred Cloaks" and potentially named Aderyn Kest, is expecting it.

- The operation is already behind schedule.

The mission concluded and the Syndicate members return to headquarters.

Eleasis 30

I, Dorris, Jue, D.U.S.K., Theoden

Not... fully understand job. People, go, old ruin site. Need help remove. We help.

Go mountain. Find short-stocky-person structure, hot gray water. Stone creature, attack. Defend, good.

Go in site. Through trap place, down, find people. Recognize people, same, weird shipment. Remove people, good.

Job good.

Something went wrong with the teleportation and we ended up in the middle of the desert. After a few hours, we came across a caravan that came from Memnon and was heading to Calimport. Led by the gregarious and friendly, Shezar Han, I... admittedly got distracted with the absolutely magnificent specimen of an axebeak that loved being scratched. He said something of transporting goods for Deryan Kaya.

For the uneducated, Deryan Kaya is the woman responsible for replacing slaves with robots. An artificer of legendary renown.

In exchange for a ride to Calimport, he asked us to go check the road further ahead and ensure the path clear of the water elementals. Out we went, but there were no elementals to be seen, and just as we determined that - Shezar Han summoned us back urgently. He'd been robbed.

When we arrived, he explained quickly; the entire camp had been lulled to sleep and when they awoke, Deryan Kaya's shipment had been stolen and the guards they had hired to protect them were gone. We tracked the footprints to a rock face and revealed a cave hidden by illusion, and within, two werejackals! Imagine my surprise! Before I could register it, Ssrin had slaughtered one and the other surrendered. His name is Hellwatch, and we had killed his brother.

With some convincing, he agreed to get the other werejackals, hired by Shadzy to do the job of stealing purely for profit, to leave. They went to hold a service for their fallen brother as we dealt with the half-lion, half-persons within and Shadzy, a massive speaking serpent. The details therein get fuzzy.

After we dealt with them, we returned the package to Shezar, and Shezar introduced us to Deryan. She told us that the teleporters have not been working correctly since some of the wars to the north, in the Calimsham desert. Impressed with our work, she said that if the Glassfang Syndicate continues to show its worth, she can help us in establishing a permanent teleporter to the area.

Ah, and I bought silks for Sylk [funny, I know] and clay for Biscuit, native to the region! Sylk's done me no wrong, even if I don't want to be close for the absolutely insane company he keeps, and I do hope he enjoys the patterns. As for myself, I intend to stay in Calimsham for a while. My grandparents are from the region and I intend to explore this culture to the fullest my few days will allow.

Eleasis 29th, 1502 DR

As if the normal summer sun in the Savage Frontier wasn't enough, now I have to endure the scorching blaze of the Calimshan desert. Mostly because the teleportation magic went awry and we had to travel for several hours in the barren desert with no civilisation in sight.

We eventually found a caravan of a merchant, Shezar, resting at an oasis. A merchant of the usual sort, but he did have a special package along the mundane for a apparently well know tinkerer, Deryan Kaya, who could be our way in for a more expedite method to travel to and from Calimport. In exchange of an extra group alongside his hired guard to protect him, Shezar agreed to escort us to the city.

First task was to scout ahead in fear of a possible elemental ambust, really odd desert, and report back. The way was clear and seemed the mission would go smoothly... only for his hired guard that stayed back to betray him and steal his special cargo. So we went back with a new mission, get his stolen merchandise and then to Calimport, which may be a more beneficial favor to bargain with.

After following some tracks tha started to look more animalistic, we discovered a cave hidden by am illusion spell. We enter without much scouting, only to find 2 werejackals at the ready to jump at one of us. I quickly dispatched one in one swift strike, which gave us some leverage to negotiate with the other and get relative safe entrance without more lycan bloodshed.

An attempt of an infiltration later where we stopped a pack of lamias and some giant serpent who stole and ate the cargo who I put the fears of the Gods in them, then removed them, we managed to get the cargo with no issues. We returned to Shezar, who kept his end of the bargain and escorted us to Calimport. Quite the beautiful city if it were not in the middle of the desert, but with full of business potential.

We met with Deryan Kaya, our deeds put us in good favor with her and after some inquires answered, we were sent our way with the assurance that contacts will be made regarding a better teleportation method with no errant magics in the works. Thank the Gods I bought desert clothing, I couldn't have stand this place.

Eleasis 29

I, Cyrus, D.U.S.K., Ssrin, Jue

Ask, teleport, Calimshan. Place, desert. Easy.

Teleport, not place. Teleport, desert, away. Walk. Distract, illusion water. Find real water. Find... merchant. Ask help, find Calimshan. Say, check way clear. Check way clear, clear. Merchant attack, run back. Merchant okay, civilian okay. Guard gone, merchant thing gone. Find merchant thing.

Walk. Find illusion wall. Through, beast person. Guard is beast person. One kill, they try ambush, other spare, help. Go in. They plan ambush. We ambush first.

Fight many half-beast person, make charm. Fight giant snake, make small snake. I, very hurt. Attack many. Other, okay. Kill giant snake, find merchant thing, return.

Go Calimshan with merchant. City... smell, very good. Very very good. Want food. Hungry. Meet strong arficer. Arficer say, help teleport back, help make teleport circle. I, keep contact merchant, tome.

Job good.

This is why they freed a necromancer from prison? This is why they killed those guardsmen?

We saved a village, there's no denying that. Without us, they would have been overrun. Maybe destroyed. But all we needed from that previous blunder was the intelligence. Intelligence that could have been gathered by investigating, that could have been gathered by reaching out to others, that could have been gathered a dozen different ways.

These biomechanical horrors, they're fierce, but there was never a moment of doubt. Never a moment where I thought we wouldn't make it. Azrael's responsible for that in no small part. Seeing the man turn himself into a mammoth - twice - is something to behold. It's a dangerous form. Breaks when his concentration does.

It's only as we see a goose, a strangely powerful goose, that Azrael reveals his secret; he's promised Phalor, the necromancer he broke out of prison, the necromancer that already has some form of research on how to biomechanically augment animals, that he would give Phalor the goose to study. The, may I write again, the strangely powerful goose.

There was an argument. We brought the goose back to the farmer. There was another argument.
Wuyon'e kicked me in the nuts for flipping her off after she began yelling.
Jue argued with Azrael to convince Phalor that he needn't take the goose.
It was all for naught.
Phalor dimension door'd the goose, kidnapping it, and it was all made irrelevant.

Gods help us all, their short-sightedness will kill us.

I am too beyond furious to properly write notes. All that is worth knowing is that we stopped the onslaught. I took several fireballs head-on and was grappled by a bear before I slaughtered it. I spent hours afterwards trying to help repair the village while Cyrus and Jue departed. For people who claim to care about civilians, they surely have odd way of showing it.

He's probably going to tell everyone I kicked him. And, I did. After he foolishly refused my healing magic, threatened our goals, put Azrael and I at risk, made degradingly obscene comments and gestures about Maze and Myself, Sabotaged a crucial deal related to our mission and spread dirty laundry about my abbil.

The foxes were new, they could burrow and shoot lightning. The snakes and Gorrila were new too. Azrael thankfully took down the Gorrila. I got Jue up from brink of death and she thanks me by sabotaging Azrael's deal with Phalor. At least Yap is competent and knows not to intervene against us in grave matter. I like Yap.

I managed to get some mechanical components for Erko, and Phalor made off with the goose. He will keep his deal, Azrael and I will ensure it.

Jabbress Viconia told me about some of her spiders that went missing and pointed me to another facility. We shall investigate when I can.

Eleint 21 1502 D.R.

Jue was sent on a job for the syndicate to protect a village and some farmers from an attack by a cult. Said cult has created monstrosities/constructs and were testing them by sending them after the village. Some of Jue's party has seen the monstrosities/constructs before and is aware of their origin. Jue and party fought against them on a bridge, in a barn and on open fields. The enemies fought were, foxxes, Hounds, ravens (for this Jue believes, that cult should be destroyed to the last), pythons, bears and a wild Gryla of the Woods. Being on the frontline has seen Jue take hits again and again. Jue must invest in better armor or train more. The job was succesfull and the village and farms weren't destroyed though damage during the fighting.

-Jueinuma

Personal note:

Jue wishes to note that Jue did not agree with the agreement made by Azreal with the necromancer named Phalor. Though happened after the job was done and stands separate from it.

Eleasis 28

I, Cyrus, Wu, Azrael, Jue

Job... take, less hour. Fast. Metal beast attack Bellwick, attack town, attack farm, attack fields, attack bridge... we, strategy, defend. Have green person, bomb. Have necromancer. Two help.

Start, defend bridge. Easy. Other place hold okay, some hurt. Farm do meh.

Then, defend farm. Prevent farm attack. Hard. Other place, still okay. Field, no defense, threat destroy.

Final, defend field. Gorilla, bear, metal beast. Very hard. Think, close death. But, we good. We help defend.

Azrael say... deal necromancer, give goose for help. Azrael, Wu, and Cyrus, Jue... talk, bad. Not agree. Not understand. Wu attack Cyrus.

Necromancer... teleport with goose. No one win.

But, town safe.

We managed to convince the kidnapper to bring forth two kobolds as proof of their living status. We followed them best we could, and ambushed them... To just to be ambushed in return. It was fast. Bloody. They were hidden, always out of reach, always too far. Rokka yelled at me to- ...

I did.

It felt different than it usually does. More choking. More total. An eclipse, with only glimpses of light and healing and... Unwanted memories. We finished the first lot after a harrowing battle, and made it to the safehouse where they were holding the rest of the kobolds.

We were worn.
We were tired.
I write these excuses even with my stomach full of things that should not be there, and I am equal parts sick and starving now. The hunger is growing.

Kobold Kidnapping

26-27 Eleasis, 1502 DR

poke the kobold who works at the syndicate got a ransom note! there was supposed to be a 2500gp sum to pay at the river by "T.L.S" to get the six captured kobolds back! so we went to the river and cyrus handled negotiations because hes real good at that. the guy we met didnt have proof besides a scale that the kobolds were alive so cyrus said hey go bring some? so they did. we noticed they did magics to hide their footsteps. they got back a while layer and cyrus tricked the guy to grab him but it didnt work and we got ambushed kinda :( real speedy guys who couldnt get pinned down and they were invisible and it was a lot and real rough. but we made it somehow and the kobolds the one guy brought didnt die!!! we took a rest.

part two involved getting to this cabin. i made an illusion that sounded like the real guy and then aber whacked a guys head. i killed so many people. we freed the kobolds outside then found a basement and freed the last of the kobolds. then i touched a cool lock but it zapped my brain but i got better.

we went home and poke was really happy and then offered to make me another wilson which was REALLY COOL <3333 and NOTHING ELSE WAS OFFERED!!!!!

we did it!!! -R\&W :D

Party: Aber, Cyrus, Forvis, Rokka, Maze

There was an urgent request to assist in returning some of the kobolds that had gotten kidnapped from the Syndicate. Naturally, we answered the call and headed out to the meeting area where the kidnappers had requested we meet with the ransom.

Cyrus had spoken with them, a negotiation to allow us to see some of the kobolds before we "handed over the money", as an attempt to ambush. We had gotten ambushed in return. They had the numbers. We struggled, and the outcome looked grim, but by Lord Death, it was not our day to die. We fought them off and continued to their hideout where they had the other kobolds locked up. This time, we were prepared, and managed to overtake them easily. The kobolds were rescued, and we headed back to the Syndicate.

Underdark Expedition

23-24 Eleasis, 1502 DR

Our team followed up with our contacts of Jacob and Venel from Silverymoon, after the discovery of a portal to the Underdark. Alvis, Azrael, Ssrin, Wuyon'e, and I (Sylk) set out with the task to ensure the cavern was clear of dangers, for the city's sake.

The mission was as standard as they come. Between Azrael's familiar and Ssrin's stealth, we scouted ahead to try and take safer paths. A variety of horrible things attacked us though none of us were harmed too badly- babau, vargouilles, maw demons, and draegloths. Shortly after, we were accosted by a wave of undead, the threat cut down significantly thanks to Wuyon'e's prayers. After I spied distant phase spiders and a drider, we all returned to the cavern entrance to rest.

Then came the spiders. Given the drow-like party, we used this to our advantage and somehow convinced the drider to leave. Much credit goes to Alvis' choice disguise. We determined the caverns were free of threats and returned to Silverymoon to report our success.

I would be happy to never disguise myself as a moon elf again. -Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

Heading into the underdark again. I was once again so close to home and yet so far- but this time, it was amplified by my mentals state. It has been far too long since I've been in these caverns. Far, far too long.

First: I must do what I promised Jabbress and give myself credit. I managed to stop a horde of undead by invoking the name of Selvetarm. I found tracks which led us in the direction we needed to go. I withstood an onslaught of demonic entities. I forumlated a plan to deal with the Drider and gave the others useful information to assist in doing so. Furthermore, I wasn't caught in Silverymoon.

However, we were not able to fully locate the source of the mushroom plague. I suspect we will need to go back in now that the cavern has been cleared out. Though, this is the underdark. Things can move about the caverns, undead can rise, and demons can come in from other planes. Clearing it out seems like a futile task, but we were paid.

I shall forego sharing my weakness or failures. Those are for myself and Selvetarm to know.

Eleasis 23st, 1502 DR

I wouldn't have expected 2 weeks ago that I would be back on familiar ground so soon. I can't really say I've missed "home", especially when the job given by the Silverymoon people was to clear out a cavern full of fiends, undead... and even driders.

Most of the job went well, aside from another near-death encounter with some demonic entities, but the mission has run us dry fast. Thankfully, Wu was an amazing help with that undead horde and to "peacefully" negotiate with the drider alongside Alvis's... interesting disguise. Honestly, he wore it pretty well; he might be fit for our ranks. I would never mind not having to use my name for "persuasive" negotiations, especially so close to home; you never know what problems that may cause me... or all of us.

It was nice seeing all my drow associates in a fight; they are more than capable of handling anything that comes their way... probably more than me, but I will get there... I must.

Arriving to the coastal town of Bhast, where the mayor is a goat and the harvest festival's in swing. Unfortunately, mayor Snowball, too drunk from the bowls of beer left out from him, made a mad dash for it.

We followed after, killing will'o'wisps along the way. My smite was ineffective, but with the help of my steed and Forvist - who slew two snakes with a single arrow - the job was quickly done. Onward we went, to find Snowball partying with Good Fae who invited us to partake. Apparently he's intended to be used as a sacrifice, a particular shame given his sentience. [Kyani's was willing to dance and drink with me, a kindness; she's grown in my esteem. Maze had no interest in dancing. It's understandable given the last time we did, she broke a heel, but it's disappointing all the same.]

Lief managed to convince the Fae they need to give up Snowball, who drunkenly didn't want to go, in a sight that was terribly intimidating. Truly, the man seems handy with his weapon and his threat of taking the mayor back by force didn't seem idle. They gave up peacefully, even if sadly. Maze wishes to return Snowball at the end of this; agreeable.

(The handwriting of the notes shift. The writing presses on the page so hard it tears through it in spots.)

THEY WERE CHILDREN! THEY WERE CHILDREN, THEY WERE CHILDREN, THEY WERE CHILDREN!
=====================================================================================

Party: Cyrus, Forvist, Lief, Kiyani, Maze

Location: Bhast

We were brought to a town called Bhast where they were having a harvest festival. We discovered that the mayor of the town was a goat named Snowball that seemed to like to drink... quite a bit... The goat mayor ended up escaping and running into the forest. The town started to go into a panic and desperately sought after the goat. We offered our assistance, and with the help of one of the townsfolk, we were led into the forest.

We ran into a will-o'-wisp that seemed to want to trick us and we had to fight a couple of them and snakes before we headed forward. We continued on and found the goat with a group of fey that were celebrating their own little harvest festival with food and drink. We tried to convince them to let us take the goat, but they believed that the goat was an offering from the village and did not want to give it up. Unfortunately, they had to be intimidated into allowing us to take it. But we promised that we would bring the goat back for them after we were done.

We had discovered that the town had been giving offerings to some dark fey, and that without an annual tribute in either an offering of a goat or a child, misfortune would become their town. We decided to use the goat mayor as a ruse to see about taking care of the dark fey problem. We discovered a cloaked figure had been turning the children that had been sacrificed into these twisted little creatures. Darklings. They could not be saved, and so we had to put them to rest the only way we could.

The cloaked individual ended up escaping before we could stop them, but we did end the suffering of the transformed children. May their spirits be guided by a kind hand to the City of Judgement where they may be met with open arms... and another child to keep company.

Sit Rep

Group:
Cyrus
Maze
Forvist
Kyani
Myself

The group headed to the town of Bhast, where a festival was already taking place. They were celebrating a goat mayor, who seemed all to happy to drink his fill and abscond from his duties at the first sign of freedom. We took it upon ourselves to follow after him with the assistance of a talented town tracker. Despite his... bloodhounded qualities, we were able to trace the Mayor, Snowball, past floating motes of light and snakes, where he seemed to be enjoying the company of the fey. They invited us to party alongside the Mayor, but I did my best to remind him of his duty and his constituants.

Things almost turned to violence, but I managed to dissuade the fey from attacking under the promise to bring him back as soon as we figured out this... sacrifice that Bhast had been conducting for seasons. Apparently, they were giving the goat to dark fey?

We got back to the town, and were told about a deal that had been struck to keep the town safe, and how every season they had to sacrifice their mayor, or the fey would take children, I think? Didn't much matter, we could take out those Fey and free the town from this obligation. When we arrived to do so, we leapt right into the fray, and battle commenced. Their leader... left, but after dispatching the rest and calming Cyrus... we found the Mayor in a jar, and returned him to his proper station.

Doomguide Yovir Glandon called John White, Ssrin and Ferris' group to help with a delicate matter in the city of Phlan. They called for backup from the Syndicate so Dusty and I went to them.

We arrived at the cemetery of the humans... I always forget their god of the dead. It's always so macabre. Why would you call yourself a Doomguide if you are meant to lead people to the afterlife? He seemed to have a good heart though. He wanted us to investigate a series of massacres happening in the hamlets leading up to Phlan. He also didn't want to be involved with politics, he said there was a single survivor and that the rumours were of ghosts attacking the villages. If that's the case we have to put them to rest. Can't have ghosts walking about murderin'. The survivor was in the hospital, right next to the cemetary. Again kinda grim. Do they treat people expectin' them to die right away?

We went to the hospital in the Kelemvor grounds and met with Cassyt, who became a healer after her induction as a cleric into the Most Solemn Order of the Silent Shroud. John seemed to like her quite a bit. Dunno why.

The crazy man named Yip said there was a eye of the dracolich coming to get him. He didn't have a name but they named him that because he yips all the time. I tried to get information out of him but he bit my hand. It happens. Ssrin was intimidated him into telling the whole dracolich story. This was kinda useless in the end, there was no draco or liches in the attack.

We then went to Knight Aleyd Burral of the Order of the Black Fist, a human woman that led the city's law enforcement. She was difficult to deal with but once we mentioned Yovir sent us she cooperated. I don't like this town. She told us there were 4 attacks alongside the Moonsea, each of them 4 days apart. Ssrin saw that it could be related to the moon cycle and the next attack would be in 2 days.

Dusty then looked at the map and dicerned were the next attack would most likely to take place by looking at what hamlets were attacked.

The party got lent horses from Doomguide Yorvir and went on their way. We stopped at a run down shack, we walked inside but it was struck by lightining. We then looked for a place to rest and set up tents, the night would have been uneventful if a couple of wolf cubs hadn't entered Ferris' spell. We all woke up and John went to play with the cubs. So we fought their dire wolf mother. Since the dire wolf was only protectin her children it was spared.

The party then paid a toll to the ferry and went to the small island that had the hamlet that was going to be attacked by ghosts according to dusty. The ferryman was racist against tieflings. There must be something in the water around here.

There was a young, lass named Elisande, when we approached the hamlet and she asked us all sorts of questions regarding the outside. Poor lass must not get around much because she was fascinated by John... and I have to say he looks like a fine man, but he has a madness around him, specially when fighting, as I will explain later.

We apprached the village leaders. Three creepy human ladies, finishin' each other's sentences, mixturin' somethin in a cauldron all creepy like. There is definetly somethin' in the water around these parts, is it the moonsea?

John smelled magic about and went searching for it. He later said it was a necklace one of the people were wearing.

Ssrin casted a spell and went about looking for undeads and fiends and such. Didn't find anything. Not even the 3 creepy ladies had no different aura about them.

The youngn's Dusty and Ferris spent the day making alarms made of ropes and bells and such. It didn't work, but they had their heads in the right place. Day passed and the enemies attacked. They were not ghosts after all but very well disguised humans and kobolds looking undead, attacking in the middle of rainy nights so they are not discovered. John fought the whole thing with a kid on his shoulders... he shouldn't be trusted with kids! There were about 20 kobolds and 2 humans. The spells from Dusty and Ferris probably saved the day killing a lot of the scaly fellas.

After the fight we found the maurauder's boats that had 500 gp and a ring of evasion. There was also a journal that talked about a person named Ixas who is searching dragon masks for a dragon cult.

Since the little girl was an orphan, John wanted to adopt her, I would have protested if the village were not creepier than John to begin with. When we hopped on the boat the girl disappeared though. Something must have changed her mind. It was strange because when we were leavin the goats were louder than normal. We didn't even see any goats in that place.

We made our way back to Phlan and gave the horses back to Yorvir. He gave us a healing potion each and we went back to the Syndicate.

Eleasis 21st, 1502 DR

Apparently I was right; the jobs on Phlan keep on coming from the same doomguide, no less, and the same crew with a new addition. I expected more undead problems afoot, which was true, but not in the way I thought.

In short, villages around Phlan were assaulted, based on the reports, by a "ghost fleet", and each new attack was closer to Phlan than the previous one. We interrogated(?) one of the survivors, who was a rambling madman, and all we got were some mentions of a "dracolich" who's watching us. Fortunately, a contact from the Black Fist Order offered us better insight and concluded that each attack happens when the moon phase shifts, for what purpose we still don't know; also, an attack pattern indicating which location is the next target.

With a bit of travel and some... minimal costs to it, we reached a recluse island of fishers that looked nearly abandoned. The people were strange and uncooperative, no clue what their deal was, and it gave me a foreboding aura, but I could not find the cause ot true nature of these locals.

We prepared for the attack, only to do nothing as a dozen skeletal(?) kobolds and a couple of individuals attacked us. Even with the sudden assault, and being jumped by 6 of them at once (kobolds have a thing for me, don't they?), we cleared them with no issue, but with no clear idea of their mission beyond the knowledge of being part of the Cult of the Dragon.

Once again, I do not believe this will be my last stop at this place...

We investigated the graveyard which led to the Crypt of the Copperhands. Inside, there was a riddle: We deduced the answers after a bit of thinking: Body, Metal, Power.

After heading inside, we stumbled across a cave with a narrow passage that led to an abandoned labaratory. There I gathered notes for Phalor. We further investigated a store room that gave us shipment logs. We identified this facility as #2 and a central distribution center as facility #5. Then, we went in and slaughtered the scientists in the lunchroom.

After, we discovered an odd statue... religious in nature but not any religion i know. Which is concerning.

Inside we went to fight against the Hobgoblin boss. He had a staff that could grapple us, and dealt an incredible deal of damage. It was even able to bypass my defenses. Twice.

This was my first time actually facing off against those biomechanical things as well. That bear... I wanted to kill it so badly after seeing it charge through Ant'aonar and Azrael's spirit summon. Alas, Ant'aonar claimed his own revenge.

We finally found one of those bastards. One of the head researchers, the one who was hurting all of those animals. We went into there and got some notes for my fellow necromancer. I killed all of those researchers, and then... when we got to that final room, and we had that battle... I ended up crushing his skull with my boot. If I could go back, I would do it again. We ended up saving another one of the farmers Giant Geese.

Seems as though the rest of the group freed that necromancer anyway. Didnt need my help for it, either, and I preferred it that way. This guy is creepy as all hells, and when we went to his lab to meet, well... Everyone else in the group, Azrael, Wuyon'e, and N'asr, a snake that certainly gave me the willies just being near, kinda all wanted to do whatever this guy wanted. He wanted the notes from a secret hide out where they were apparently conducting these experiments to make the bioarcanically engineered beasts we had fought before, and while I agreed to help... I dont like the idea of him having them instead.

Not.. One.. Bit.

We get there, solving a riddle on a crypt to be let inside, before heading down into the depths below. There were guard dogs, that seemed to be running from something, which goes against the research I had conducted. They shouldnt... feel fear, or at least, it should be suppressed. Continuing down, we came across a lab, where the dogs had run from. It was torn up, and seemed... like something went wrong. Continuing further, there was a broken teleportation device, and voices behind a door. The rest of the party wanted to slaughter them. I... wasnt going to help them do that. I cast a spell, and left them to the dirty work.

I explored a separate room, where it appeared to be some kinda... religious space? To some god, and some symbol I didnt know. No one knew... But that was a question for another day.

Eventually we journeyed deeper, and found the boss of this place in front of a giant tank for a goose. A fight broke out, and I... well... I took care of the boss. Dont wanna talk about it more than that.

This has to end. I built something to fix all our issues, and I hope it will help us do that.

20 Eleasis, 1502 D.R.

Work at last. I am glad indeed for the opportunity to take my mind off of things and simply apply simple, physical solutions to problems. The mission was taken on by myself, Solia, Shev, Bri, and Vincel.

There was... awkwardness all around. It is the first time I've seen -- well, that is not pertinent to the mission.

A personage simply called SEER summoned us to the town of Beregost, and the Burning Wizard Inn, to discuss the job. The ancient Ulcaster School has recently been cleared out (and its headmaster raised from the dead?), but the adventures who accomplished this task were unable to penetrate into the library, where some very important magical items and scrolls and such were stored. Instead, a band of pirates got in.

There was... a great deal of explanation and backstory, but ultimately, the problem had indeed a simple solution. We were to go in, navigate the ruins, wait for Ulcaster's wizard apprentice friend to perform a ritual to open the library door, secure the trove of items, and kill anyone who got in our path.

Many people got in our path.

We accomplished our goals, despite a labyrinth of corridors, puzzles, and pirates. SEER and Ulcaster seemed pleased, and we were paid accordingly.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

Findings: A beholder. A good amount of gold. Zombies.
It was difficult fighting in such a cramped corridor.

Stealth protocol seems to be functioning properly.

Aim protocol is functioning properly.

I referred the Beholder that we found to my Creators.

I know they employ other Beholders.

I am sure they will find some use for such a powerful, yet trusting creature.

It was an interesting first mission with the Glassfang Syndicate.

SIGNED: D.U.S.K.

The Beholder's Temple

Report by Dorris A. Aranis

Syndicate Members included:
- Dorris A. Aranis
- Ferris Harrogate
- John White
- D.U.S.K.

Responding to correspondence for a survey team, we were sent by the Syndicate to speak with a man named Wren. He informed us that the recent heat and drought has dried the nearby riverbed and uncovered an entrance to strange ruins. We were entitled to 100 gold as a reward, along with any supplies or materials we find and/or sell.

Wren told us of the ruin's location along the nearby river, north of the village. Villagers noticed the lack of wildlife near the area of the temple, along with strange fog emitted from the uncovered doors of said temple. We were also made aware of the mountainous caverns located towards the backside of the ruin's entrance, implying a connection between the two. As such, upon our own inspection, the temple seemed to almost be built into a cavern behind a waterfall.

Inside were few traps inlaid into the floor, along with carvings of humanoids seeming to worship a Beholder. From this room were entrances on the west, north, and eastern walls. We proceeded through the northern entrance, opening the portcullises without triggering any further traps. Dorris Aranis then sent her familiar forward to scout, encountering four zombies and tripping

The report cuts short, the rest of the empty page stippled in small wrinkles, presumably from something like... dried tears. It's curious she filed this away without finishing it.

The request for this job was in a small logging town nestled between Elturel and Baldur’s Gate. The man who met us there, Wren, explained temple doors had been exposed from receding waters, and the townspeople have been far too afraid to venture close, frightened off by the strange mist seeping from the entrance and imagery of figures worshipping beholders.

Against better judgement and as we had been tasked, our party followed the directions there. We immediately found that the temple was trapped, and curiously, the reliefs inside depicting the beholders had been scratched out. There were three passages that branched off from the initial room we found this in. We detected movement behind the door to the right, which I can only describe as a wet, rhythmic sound, so we decided to secure the others first as it did not pose an immediate danger.

We were forced to clear out a hallway of zombies to head in further. Shooting off from an altar room we used to open many of the temple’s doors, we encountered a jail. In one of the cells, trapped within an orb, was something I never thought I would encounter: a friendly beholder. At first I was, very reasonably, extremely wary of him, but after speaking with him, we were inclined to believe he is actually just an idiot, trapped here after scaring those that imprisoned him. In retrospect, I should have asked more of his story, but he didn’t seem like the type to be able to give an accurate answer. This beholder said his name was Narren, and knowing allowing him to leave immediately would cause problems with the locals, we invited him to continue investigating the temple. He did provide some interesting information, at least, such as pointing out the pool where they used to boil virgins.

The party pushed in further and encountered a group of bandits robbing the temple. A man pulled a lapis stone from a statue, which triggered a swath of smog to pour out. In the most wonderful turn of events, we found this gas to be poisoned, and Narren helpfully informed us that this was designed to blanket the entire Sword Coast. I expected a temple dedicated to beholders, not a genocidal and ecological disaster waiting to happen. By the grace of the good gods we managed to take them out and set the stone back in its place.

We reported our findings and the remaining danger to Wren. I would have suggested sending a team to eradicate the undead beholder, however the village seemed content to simply seal the temple and let the waters cover it when the drought is over.

I wonder if I’m going to be the one on call to solve the problem. Again. Dorris seemed rather shaken up by the fight; hopefully she can rest after this ordeal. She seemed too innocent to join the Syndicate, and that supposition might’ve been correct. I don’t think she expected that she may have to kill.

It appears releasing that Oni had more consequences than anticipated. Oh well. Lief wants to see it killed. Azrael too, I feel. I for one am not looking to make an enemy of it. I see no reason to interrupt it's rampage, but... i do need to keep at least some abbil, so I suppose I'll help.

We recruited a killer. Which is fine. I do not see the issues the others do. We were hired to take care of a problem, and we did so. And now we have an ally against the Oni for when we face it.

I do not care much for the followers of Chauntea beyond the gold they provide. They are inconsequential in my mission home.

The same village we already investigated twice, with the lost gesse and murdered family. Now someone murdered cows of the guy who found the latter bodies. And local priest and nun of Chauntea informed us a long-time follower of the church went missing AND a local boatman saw someone carrying something heavy few days ago. After spending some time investigating an odd artifact in the church, some sort of spear left after local hero has slain some sort of unspecified evil i nthe area, still holding a piece of said evil, we sent off to investigate.

First we checked the killed cows, though it is more correct to say others have confirmed it was some sort of ritualistic murder, while I consoled the farmers and expressed distress over how many horrible things have befallen this single town in a short time. We then talked with the old boatman, who told us it appears this stranger he saw was carrying something person-sized and headed towards the old, unused crypt. Finally, we investigated the house of missing man, discovering he has lost a wife and child and last entry in his journal was that someone can help him bring them back.

We decided to check the crypt, only to be immediatelly jumped by Revenants, who beleived we were the ones to desecrate their graves. Three of us almost beaten us to a pulp, but we prevailed. After I convinced Azrael to not take the gold that person who actually desecrated the gaves has just...threw into a pile in the corner, we descended to face the culprit. it turned out to be a missing man. Through tense discussion we convinced him to go with us and help us get revenge on mysterious "tall blue one" who had convinced him that by killing local nun in ritual sacrifice, he can bring his family back. Azrael in particular seems suited to get information out of the man. However, when we realized the nun has been kidnapped days ago and yet we talked with her just hours ago, we rushed to the church.

Inside we saw priest murdered in a gruesome way on the altar, and the spear stolen. Our farmer friends also saw a blue monster flying towards the forest. This creature, the Oni, has played us from the start. We all agree this requires appriopriate response - to hunt it down and slay.

We had gone to investigate a Disappearance and the murder of a few cows. We looked at the cows which seemed to be sacrificed, and after following the lead, we found that of a fool who was deceived by an Oni, we talked him down and started to head back to find the priest who hired us had died. Turns out the Oni has been on a spree since we released it. We are going to kill it soon enough though.

Sit Rep

Group:
Azrael
Mila
Wuyon'e
Myself

We were sent to a small hamlet to investigate a few disappearances and some... concerning livestock slaughter. The Father of the city told us of our reward, and we set out...

Only to find some truly disturbing things. Something big had moved these cattle corpses, arranged them in that formation. A house was abandoned, and it appeared that whoever lived there was deep in grief, missing a wife and a child. A farmer had seen the man head off in the direction of the city crypt, which is where we head next...

Undead were commonfair as we arrived, before descending and finding a failed ritual. Standing over the corpse of one of the holy sisters that we had talked with in the chapel, the man rambled about being tricked and the fact that it was supposed to bring 'her' back. I was ready to take him in to receive some form of justice, but none of my cohort saw it how I did. They wanted to let him go, and since i was outvoted, that was what we did.

Upon returning with the holy woman's corpse, we discovered that the father had been killed, too, by some giant blue man. An oni... an Oni.... I wanted to hunt him down immediately, and was again overruled by this team. How utterly aggravating. What was it all for?

The Mushroom Plague

15-16 Eleasis, 1502 DR

-------

A druid in Silverymoon by the name of Jacob summoned help from the Glassfang Syndicate. His partner, a drow man named Venel, confirmed the sudden growth of mushrooms in the area to be from the Underdark. Lately a different drow, a wizard, had caused issues including corrupting Shiitake the Dryad in the Evermoors. Our team of Lief, Snap, Tova, Wuyon'e, and myself (Sylk) set out to explore the source. Teleported into an area with controlled burnings, the druids cast a circle spell to ensure our safety from poisons. Then, we marched.

Early on we discovered the bodies of drow soldiers, perhaps a hint of what was to come. Upon investigation the soldiers animated, spores frothing from every orifice, but their souls clinging on. Despite some initial trouble, we cut them down and moved forward. Then by a shack, a field of mushrooms greeted us. Lief leaped into action, and plants attacked, but Tova's fire ignited the shrooms and timmask spores (which cause poison and confusion). Most of the plants went up in the fireball. The others attacked and attempted to absorb myself. But thanks to everyone's efforts, I was not made into fertilizer. We rested then pressed on.

In the depths of the woods, shambling plants lured us in. An ambush, as a massive plant creature attacked and swallowed Snap. But our beloved friend fought from within. We dealt with the other plants and pressed in on the large foe until it toppled, revealing the source of everything. A cave, filled with magical spores, and a breeze suggesting a further distance beyond.

I dispelled the magic, then we returned with news that the job was complete.

-Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

Report: The Mushroom Plague

Date: 15 Eleasis, 1502 DR
Location: Silverymoon, Moonwood region, Underdark-connected site
Party: Snap, Sylk, Wuyon’e, Lief, Tova
Patron: Jacob, druid of the forests surrounding Silverymoon

The Syndicate received a request from Jacob, a druid near Silverymoon, regarding strange mushrooms spreading through the surrounding woods. According to him, they had first seemed harmless, then spread far too quickly and into places they did not belong. He had heard the Syndicate had dealt with something similar before and asked for assistance before the problem grew worse.

We met Jacob and Fennel at the Unicorn’s Horn. From there, we learned the infection was believed to be strongest near the Moonwood. Arcane and divine magic in the area were not behaving properly. Teleportation was unreliable, divination was not useful, and the closer we got to the problem, the clearer it became that this was not normal fungus.

We were transported through a tree and arrived in an Underdark-connected area where people were trying to hold the mushrooms back with controlled burns. That worked about as well as one might expect when dealing with magical mushrooms that absolutely should not be on the surface.

We found drow on the ground, barely breathing, with fungus growing from their mouths. They attacked us. One was killed, and Sylk used one of his abilities to raise a specter from it. The specter helped us, though I will admit it was a bit unsettling. Useful, yes. Normal, no.

Further in, we crossed a field of red and orange mushrooms. Important note for future parties: fire and strange mushrooms are a terrible combination unless you are hoping to make the situation louder, worse, and covered in toxic sludge. I sent a burst of fire toward a large fungal creature, and the red mushrooms ignited along the path of the spell. They exploded and caused the orange growths to release some kind of poisonous sludge.

The creatures we fought were large, corrupted, and made of bodies, fungus, and plant matter. One managed to engulf Sylk at one point, which I did not appreciate. Lief was extremely effective throughout the fighting. I do not know where that man gets his stamina, but I respect it. Sylk’s magic was also impressive, especially when one of the creatures was marked by the light of his smite. Snap, as usual, threw himself directly into danger with very little concern for his own survival.

The final fight was rough. I used Spellfire Storm to try to catch multiple enemies, and later placed a Fireball carefully to avoid Snap while he was caught by one of the creatures. Unfortunately, the fungal growths amplified the blast and sent fire back through the area, damaging him anyway. That kobold is fearless to the point of concern.

I used what healing I had to keep people standing, including Aura of Vitality and Cure Wounds. We eventually cleared the field.

Afterward, we found a strange portal connected somehow to Menzoberranzan. I am almost certain I still cannot say that correctly, but I am trying. Sylk kept his distance from it at first, and Wuyon’e was clearly concerned about whether it could lead home. Sylk cast Dispel Magic, and the portal collapsed, leaving a cave entrance behind. That appears to have ended the main source of corruption we were sent to deal with.

I recovered a stone from the site in case it proves useful for future investigation or connection to the location.

Results

The mushroom corruption near Silverymoon was investigated and cleared. The unstable portal was dispelled. The party returned alive, though not without injury and several moments of questionable judgment involving fire, fungus, and proximity.

Recommendations for future work: avoid fire around unknown fungal fields, expect magic to behave strangely near similar corruption, and keep Snap away from anything large enough to swallow him unless someone is ready with healing.

Signed,
Tova

Another mission where I am so, so close to home... And yet so far. I managed to sneak in and out of Silverymoon undetected. These masks that Azrael uses are quite impressive. And Sylk offered me a hat as well, which may have been useful, but I did not wish to cast Disguise Self just yet. We were on a time crunch for this. We only had ten hours to go in to the fray, and come back alive. It took us five hours to get to the epicenter, where we discovered a portal home. I didn't know where it'd spit me out on the other end... so... regrettably... i did not go in, after Tova talked me back to my senses and prevented me from making a hasty decision. Sylk closed the portal.

I never saw Snap with so many injuries before. They are an impressive combatant, but our enemies are now growing far, far stronger. There were times I couldn't even touch them from a distance, because the magical corruption made it dangerous to cast anything above the cantrips I knew, and the cantrips I knew were necrotic. They were immune, yet not undead, so I couldn't turn them.

Lief was here on this mission as well. They are inspiring and efficient for a human. I quite like the bloodshed they are able to contribute to. It makes me want to hit things harder.

I am curious, if this siege on Silverymoon is somehow related to the siege I was on previously... i suppose only time will tell.

15th of Eleasis, 1502 DR

Myself, Slick, Torva, Wu'yone, Lef

This one was horrible.

We were sent to Silverymoon to investigate and clear out a growth of strange mushrooms in the woods. In terms of what we accomplished, there is little to say from my end, in part because I don't understand all these Underdark related things.

First, we fought undead drow warriors. Bloated with spores, they were moving on their own. It was a pretty simple fight.

Then, we found a patch of weird mushrooms. Me and Lef identified they would explode in a big radius, but it wasn't until Torva threw a bolt of fire we learned they explode when fire is in proximity. They all blew up, alongside twigs. But the larger spore husks lived, the same ones that once grafted me to them, though there were more. I took many, many, MANY spore bombs and nearly fell, but Torva had my back. We freed Slick from one and killed them all. At the end of this, I was terribly bruised, on death's door twice, and needed to rest.

Finally, we arrived near the center, where the mushroom spread came from. After Torva cleared the field from more mushrooms, we moved in to what we expected to be an easy last battle. Two mounds of plants. Then, a third, enormous one rose from the earth. As I hit hard, I was its main target. Worse than being grafted, it engulfed me. I couldn't see, I couldn't fight back, I was stuck. I screamed as loud as I could, to no avail... until Slick's mental pull finally freed me. Terribly bruised once again. I thought I wouldn't make it, but I trusted in myself and my team. We did it.

Then was a cave. Apparently, it lead down to the Underdark. I believe Slick managed to close the portal and end the spore spread, but I was sick, physically and emotionally.

With resolve,

Snap

Sit Rep

Group:
Snap
Sylk
Tova
Wuyon'e
Myself

This was pretty straightforward. We were teleported into Silverymoon and informed by some druids of some mushrooms that were infecting and plaguing the surrounding areas. This was a deadly fungus, and it was our responsibility to find the source and clear it out. We were granted a druidic protection, and had to chart our course through the woods and fungus...

I lead us through, navigating us on the safest path, before coming across three bodies. They were drow, which made Wuyon'e and Sylk wish to help them, though... something didnt feel right about this. By the time she got close, it was clear that these drow were possessed by the mushroom, and a fight broke out. We managed to take them out and carry on...

Into a clearing with many mushrooms that appeared... volatile. I leapt through and around them, only to trigger many other living hulks of fungus, and combat broke out. The volatile nature of the mushroom did help us, though, as they exploded around one hulk that i shoved back into the spores. Hard fought, we managed to defeat them, as well, though... it was clear it wasnt the source.

Further north we marched. Until the very ground beneath our feet rose with vine monsters beside it, seeking to swallow us whole. Snap fought bravely, even when in the mouth of the swamp things, and victory was soon ours. There was an open hole that seemed to go down forever, and the others of the group mentioned that it was a path to the Underdark: clearly the source of this outbreak. I told them to seal it up, and we could be on our way.... Wuyon'e seemed... saddened to leave.

All in all, we succeeded. No shame in that.

Infernal Pursuit

14 Eleasis, 1502 DR

-------

Duke Ulder Ravengard of Baldur's Gate invited a party to the Kismet Derby. To participate, to guard, it is still unclear. Aber, Alvis, Ivor, Snap, and myself were all thrown into Avernus by surprise cultists. Let me be the first to say that the hells are unpleasant. Someone I believe was a rakshasha named Mahati summoned us. A rival of Mad Maggie, the denizen of Avernus had many soul coins of his stolen. He provided the means to build an infernal vehicle and sent us off. If we retrieved at least seven coins, we would be permitted to leave. I was not a fan of this deal.

Our different vehicles pursued different camps of Mad Maggie's people. While Snap was turned invisible to swipe coins, Alvis disguised himself as one of the rec caps swooning over a medusa. Somehow they succeeded and found five coins... Snap didn't want to risk further.

Then, we approached a caravan of Mad Maggie's, and decided to choose the attack. It went alright, but chaotically. Our vehicle was quickly damaged to nearly beyond repair, but once we split and began damaging the drivers of the attackers, the tides turned. At some point I recall a slaad. Regardless we saved the creatures inside, who offered to fix our vehicle army as thanks. We looted thirteen coins then rested before Mahati's next orders came through, and we were released through a portal back to Baldur's Gate.

On the other side, Mad Maggie was, well, mad. A Roc and some Meregons attacked, grabbing innocents and using them to feed their infernal machines. We ran forward and did what we could to strike down the fiends, though at a point Mad Maggie grew bored. She said she would remember this, then called her minions back. Mahati paid us for our time and amusing effort and left us be.

I have decided I do not like Baldur's Gate. -Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

Vroom vroom

What the hell was even that? We got transported to Avernus into a hellish car race. Not funny.

I wanted to meet the Duke's son instead.

MISSION REPORT: nine hells derby DATE: 14 Eleasis, 1502 DR.

Departure: left the Glassfang Syndicate towards Baldur's Gate by teleportation circle. Brief: obtained from Duke Ulder Ravengard. participate in the Kimset Derby.

Observation: unknown magics have surrounded the party. relocated to the Nine Hells. Note: possible outcomes deadly within this area. New brief: obtained from Mahati. challenge Mad Maggie and collect 7x soul coins in exchange for safe return. Note: no other valid escape alternative found. Observation: received infernal machine to assist in the mission. Machine directive: controlling the vehicle.

Note: reached the location of a caravan. Directive: assist syndicate member Snap with the invisibility scroll collected. Observation: Snap collected 5x soul coins with the additional assistance of syndicate member Alvis.

Observation: the chase began. New directive: destroy a caravan and collect the remaining soul coins that are needed - nO fIeNd Or FeY sHaLl StOp Us! We WiLl NoT rEmAiN tRaPpEd iN tHiS tReAcHeRoUs PlAcE! bUt ThEsE sOuL cOiNs ArE iNtRiGuInG, tHeY mUsT bE sTuDiEd! - Result: collected a total of 11x soul coins.

Note: returned to Baldur's Gate as per the agreement. Observation: fiends are assaulting the city. infernal machinery is in use to collect souls. Directive: stop the - WrEtChEd FiEnDs! We HaD a DeAl, YoU dO nOt CrOsS uS!

Post directive: hells' invasion casualties minimized.

Post mission: rewards collected from the encounter. Note: the nature of soul coins will be studied.

14th if Eleasis, 1502 DR

Myself, Slick, Abuh, Alvin, Ivor

This was one hell of a job.

We were invited by Duke Ravengard to the city of Baldur's Gate to participate in a pretty cool derby.

We didn't do that.

Instead, cultists dragged us down into Avernus, to participate in a much more exciting, although deadly, derby. Our goal was to collect seven soul coins for Matahi, from their rival Mad Meggy. We had to choose modules for some infernal machine to race around with, and I heavily insisted on taking a thunder cannon. We barely used the machine.

Before the race, we stumbled onto some devilish fey creature working for Mad Meggy. We devised a plan: Alvin would disguise as one of them, while I went invisible and pick pocketed them for coin. In the midst of it, Alvin had another infernal idea: instead act as a mechanic and disable their vehicles' breaks. I was successful in my search and found five coins, though was a little too eager, and we left before they got too suspicious.

Then, we went onwards on our machine. We had many options on how to proceed and chose to fight. It was a difficult fight, considering the creatures were so damn tough, but we prevailed and stole their machines. Plus, I freed some guys with really big heads, apparently slaves meant to repair machines forever. They were happy with the killing of their previous owners and helped our own machine. We also found way enough coin for quota!

Finally, a portal to the surface opened back up. Going through, we noticed some of Mad Meggy's infernal goons were attacking the city and its people. We went forward and began attacking these monsters, until suddenly... they vanished. We didn't get a single kill on them. Oh well.

So what did we do? Live, I suppose. Matahi paid us for our efforts, and we left. Eh. Sure.

With resolve,

Snap

Eleasis 14th, 1502 DR

A last-minute job came up, requiring another mercenary, or it wouldn't have gone through... so I decided to cut my fun time with my favorite people short. The job is back in Phlan, always something to do in that place, but not at some clerical house of the dead.

As expected, some undead infestation needed clearing; with my skill set and the people with me for the job, the work was done without issue; each room was cleared of undeath. We did find a group of Welcomers hidden and scared out of their wits deeper in the catacombs; at least this time we let them go and sent a message to their organization not to mess with us... not before grabbing a few treats out of one of their pockets, of course; no kindness done for free.

Our guide Cassy really kicked ass and even helped one avoid meeting the Raven; should keep in touch with her, she was amazing. There was something odd about this event; a wizard in red robes seemed to be the culprit but vanished not long after... I guess my jobs in Phlan aren't done anytime soon.

This mission found me back in the city of Phlan. There had been reports of members of the local clergy—Phlan’s Faithful of Kelevmor, I believe—gone missing, and we were tasked by the Doomguide to investigate what had been happening. We were guided by one of their acolytes, Cassyt, given her knowledge of the crypts.

Apparently the crypts have existed long before the city was erected above it. When we entered, I noticed some of the architecture was perhaps a few hundred years old, but the stairs that led in were far more ancient. It was almost dissonant, knowing those halls could house remains forgotten for possibly a thousand years, yet there were banquets held near the entrance for the ones recently passed. Concerningly, it didn’t take much exploration beyond that point to experience our first encounter. We had to fend off a small group of zombies a short walk away in the “bone pit room,” because of course there was a bone pit room, and of course I had to slip into it.

We pressed on after that. Our party ran across more of the Welcomers; Ssrin escorted them out with more tact than I expected from the woman considering our previous job, and we rejoined for the push towards the Necropolis. If it wasn’t so eerie, it might have been beautiful; it was a city unto itself, tucked beneath the earth. Fortunately, we didn’t have to stay there long—I don't understand how Cassyt felt so comfortable there. From an offshoot of the hall we entered the Necropolis from, we found our first real danger: a Red Wizard searching the tomb for an unknown to us and a small band of kobolds, undead, and ghouls….

On second thought, I don’t really wish to write on this any longer. I know this helps me keep my thoughts on record and it’s useful for processing the experience, but I don’t want to process this one, or think about it anymore. I never want to feel the way I did ever again. It’s times like this I feel angry at her for what she pressed me into. All I wanted was a quiet life, and she clawed me down with her.

We managed to fight through it. The crew that was robbing the crypts escaped. That’s it.

At least John seems to have found someone he likes very much.

Sit Rep

Group:
Wuyon'e
Azrael
Yap
Minister Lambkin
Myself

Wuyon'e briefed everyone on the circumstances, informing us that there was some necromancer that they needed to save. Discussions were had as to the best approach, until it was decided that we should head through the sewers. Navigating our way through, Azrael used some of his skeletons to create a distraction on one side of the facility, while we rushed the other. It started off easy enough..

Until everyone and their brother and their construct came crashing down into us. Sheer numbers, we were well past our depth. Course, them freeing some big guy certainly helped. Guess he double crossed the guards, as he quickly started to slaughter them. Either way, we took care of their leaders and constructs, and were able to get this necromancer.

Frankly, it could have been worse.

We have done it.

Due to proper strategizing, good timing, and... perhaps the sheer luck, and Selvetarm's blessings- we've broken Phalor out of the Green Pit, and rescued a Jabbress as well. And, a goblin skilled with explosives. And a few bandits who made good use of my crowbar.

No one had died. I did not need to expend revivify, though Azrael and the other Cleric with us came close. I managed to get them up, however, with a good few Mass Healing Words and some Cure Wounds.

It was a success.

We had gone back to the prison to free the Necromancer. We decided that the sewers were our best bet. We got down there, and the guards were posted down there. I decided that my skeletons would be a good distraction, and got everyone sidetracked on the right side of the prison. Sadly, my cover was blown when I was disguised as a guard, and a fight happened. We killed all the constructs, and all of the guard's bosses, until the remaining few surrendered. We got everyone out of there, including the Necromancer. Overall, a successful mission.

Eleasis 14

I, Wu, Azrael, Lief, Lambkin

Before, try break prison. Fail, bad. Now, try, plan. In, sewers. Good. Illusion, call... guard close. Then, attack.

Attack, difficult. But, win. Free many, keep kidnap, plan death. Free, death. Success.

Job, do good.

Writing is hard and I prefer not to do it. People don't make my size pencils without them being entirely unusable. We fought a large beast creature that spoke Sylvan-adjacent. It nearly killed everyone with its howl. Then we continued to a campsite after Cyrus transformed into a wild beast with a billion eyes. Oh, skulls also don't taste good, it was too filled with dirt. But we killed the hobgoblins and returned successfully.

Party: Cyrus, Lief, Talyndra, Theoden, Maze

A remnant goblin camp was discovered and we were requested to clear it out. We were provided a horses and wagon for travel. We reached an area just before the camp but discovered bones of various humanoids, but not goblins. As we were inspecting the area, we were attacked by a Dire Worg. It took us all by surprise, and its howl overwhelmed some of us. It took down Theoden and... Cyrus... did not take that well. It took a bit of effort, and we struggled a little, but it was not our time to die.

We continued on, finding the goblin camp. Cyrus had gone ahead of everyone, and it took us some time to catch up. Cyrus, Lief, Talyndra and Theoden were all very formidable combatants and handled the battle very well. Fortunately no casualties on our side. We were able to clear out the camp, and I was able to quickly practice funerary rites before we took the wagon back.

Im not one for writing, but I think it is important to keep track of what happened.

Sit Rep

Group:
Cyrus
Theoden
Maze
Talyndra
Myself

Heading out with a cart and two draft horses, I kept everyone on the road as we followed after a wayward group of goblins and hobgoblins that broke off from the assault on the Syndicate. The smell hit us first, and we each hopped off. I noticed huge footprints, and suddenly we were attacked by a massive worg. It took Theoden out, and suddenly...

I dont think it is worth sharing

Look, we managed to kill it as a team. Cyrus took off after a trail, following it towards the larger group of hobgoblins. They were tough, but we were tougher. There were none left alive. That is all that matters

When that thing appeared and started ripping into the group, I felt the first pang of fear. When Theoden went down under the onslaught, I felt nausea. All I could see was CHEF. All I could do was hope. I took the potions I thought might help and I accepted what might have happened.

I don't know what happened after. I woke up soaked in blood, aching, and my stomach too full of... I don't know. I can assume, but...

Theoden's alive. Everyone's alive. It doesn't matter.

I was called on emergency to go with a group and finf the remaining members of Orlak, the goblin warchief.

As we arrived, I noticed that no one had any way of producing light. Fortunately I had my trusty lantern and the power of my faith to light the way forward.

As we investigated, a monstrous beast attacked us. Despite my best efforts, even knocking it down, I fell in battle.

The next thing I remember is waking up next to the tiefling lady named Maze, Fortunately a cleric.

But Cyrus was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a monstrous beast gnawing on the corpse of the first one we fought. I was told that was Cyrus. The poor man.

Anyway, we pressed on and found a hobgoblins camp. Most members rushed and climbed with different means, I was stuck on foot.

But after much climbing and hearing the screams of horrors of the enemy fighting whatever Cyrus was possessed by, I was able to land a few hits.

The battle finally settled and we headed back to the Syndicate.

Theoden Brightshield

I feel somewhat.... of that odd feeling for threatening to break up with Azrael so publicly. But, good to know it got him to be obedient. I think returning the honey to the bees definitely saved our arses in that mission.

What are bees, even? I see they have hierarchy like spiders, but fly like... flies. And have less legs. And do not crawl or have webs, but still inject poison. They are interesting. Impressive too, if their swarms could lift a ship, but I know these were not ordinary bees.

I assume ordinary bees are weaker. Like the sea elves. It was fun watching that one who thought he had a chance with me die.

Eleasis 13

I, Wu, Azrael, Tealight, Forvist

Help make happy-ship safe. On ship, move, make safe. Make bee safe. Initial job.

I, look out. Water... Moonsea... pretty. Very pretty. Look, long... Pretty. Not find thing not make safe. Move. Find... lollipop. Try. Very good. Make head happy.

Water hole. Ship fall, long, long, long. Water wall, near, all. Lollipop die... take new. Take other, bag, keep. Water person come, water beast. Want in ship, bad. Job, make safe. Water person leave, other beast die.

Hear... sad, in ship. Check. Person, bee attack. Help, heal. Take honey, person. Hear bee, out.

Giant bee. Not bee. Monster bee, want honey. More water person, want honey. Bee make honey, give bee honey. Attack water person. Giant bee leave.

Water wall, land, ship. But, giant bee, come. Lift boat sky. Alive. All alive. Thankful.

Job good. Help. I, lollipop.

Well, what started out as just guarding a boat turned to pure chaos, and quickly. We were just guarding the boat, until a giant whirlpool appeared, causing the boat to hit the ocean sea. It was pretty easy to tell that magic was the cause of it, and soon enough, some ocean people came and attacked. We fended them off, then went to check on the bees, and found a sniveling coward who was there to steal their honey. Turns out those bee's where aberrations, and their honey was special. The ocean people wanted that jar back, and so did the bee's, who were capable of speech. I did try to get them to fight each other, but it didn't work. Wu threatened me with our relationship if I did not give the bee's the honey... So, I did what I had too, killed the ocean people, and the bee's managed to get the boat back up to the surface to the water... what a fucking day.

A job for the Lord's Alliance.

Teren, a now-dead scout found by the prior team, field notes were mostly missing but what survived pointed to an individual by the name of Tavian Rusk as the next link to go speak to.

Rusk is a city freight clerk, a possible lead that may be able to tell us more about the shipments that these strangely intelligent, mutated trolls have been attacking caravans or these missing components.

Unable to track the strange trolls. Came from the moors?

These magical components, specifically for the defenses of Neverwinter, have been going missing for two or three weeks. A few things have been going missing 'here and there.' Merys Vein (spelling), a Lord's Alliance intelligence officer, has more information of what the components do.
__________________________________________
We've been teleported to a private room in the Moonstone Mask. Merys Vein awaits us. Three suspicious shipments have been put through Tavian Rusk's office. Missing materials include:

- Planar grounding stones
- Electrum conductors
- Crystal matrices
- Silvered focus rods

Rusk knows where the second transfer goes. Do not arrest him until the destination is confirmed.

Tavian's disappeared from his normal routine. Most recent activity places him at the freight district, dock side.

TASK: Find Tavian. Keep him alive. Determine where components went. Recover evidence to tie the responsible party to the crimes.

__Tavian, physical description:__ human man. Freight clerk, short, heavy set with warm brown skin and thick curly hair, black. Hang in his face. Wears round spectacles.

Unknown if he has priors.

Whoever has access to the defensive stores (multiple city employees and contractors), Tavian's office handled the transfers of equipment that went missing.

__________________________________________

Heading to the church of Mystra near the docks to inquire if any priests have seen Tavian. As we approach, there seems to be a bubble of some kind arcane magic around the temple. There's a - second image? A translucent copy? Everything is duplicated and set apart, some crack in the wards.

Rokka knows the ward and we manage to save the two trapped in this shifted reality, and were directed to the docks.
__________________________________________
Orri was surrounded. Rokka disappeared into an alley with what sounded like too many boots. I woke up covered in blood, Rokka looking up at me in fear, or shock, I don't know.

We captured Tavian alive. Notes of what we go on him:
- He falsified six shipments.
- He initially did it for money. He later tried to stop.
- All six shipments eventually passed through the same waterfront warehouse.
- Some components remained there.
- Others were repacked and shipped north.
- He repeatedly heard the word Aegis.

This information will be given to Merys. Everything hurts. The blood's soaked through.

The Masked Liason

12 Eleasis, 1502 DR

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so this lady named captain ilyra venn of the lords alliance wanted us for this weird mission. apparently theres been all these space distortions everywhere around neverwinter and they found the body of this agent, teren aldren, and his badge was weirdly warped. but his notes say he was hunting down leads including this guy named tavian rusk in the city. we talked to another agent when we got there, found out that a bunch of magic ingredients and conduits were going missing. aldrens note originally said keep rusk alive so we can figure out whos stealing what.

cyrus knew a guy in the city for bounty hunting so we followed him and found this whole space distortion (super cool!!!!!) at a mystra altar. the acolyte lady was keeping everyone back but there were two people trapped in there. so i saved the day!!!!!! because errokkadaen is real good with wards and such and i guess i was channeling or something. orri threw me in there to help get the guy out and i think i married him (the guy) (not orri) (unless?) (lol). the contact pointed us towards the docks of the city so we went thataway.

a bunch of thugs had our guy, the rusk guy! so we intervened. orri almost died. then wilson died. :( cyrus went all beast mode? the fight was kinda scuffed i mean we split up immediately but like what choice did we have but it worked out so its okay! wilson got better. and rusk told us what he knew! theres some warehouse theyre shipping things out of. seems like its this big smuggling situation and theyre shipping things north (luskan? further??). all these ward things and rusk got real into it? like how gambling is wrong but you get addicted. he got us this crate of real good stuff including a bunch of spellwrought tattoos that are kinda protective in nature in my opinion which is cool. oh yeah there might be animated armors and something called an aegis up that way so good luck to you suckers who go up there. its me. im suckers.

-------

think im gonna take a nap for a while... -R\&W

Eleasis 12

I, Cyrus, Rokka, Orri, Petraios

I not understand job. Shipment... not have, thing need. Five thing. But, find, not job. Track person, think make not have thing.

Thing... make, all thing near, distort. Not understand. Rokka, Orri, fix? Help person.

Find person. Other bad person, try take. Orri fall, many bad person attack. Bad person die, find person make not have thing. Explain.

All... understand. I not understand. Help? Try.

So we were sent to the far north The Chief (Old Goat) of the goliath tribe (Kunkulakalaga) first asked you to help Raskur Hideminder with the goats. Recently several hunters and goats and 1 shepherd were killed by a mysterious creature. I was pretty sure it was that freaking Owl Bear again but i didn't want to frighten the new members. So I followed along. We were asked to Milk goats while a blizzard was raging around.

While we were helping we heard the sounds of wolves so Rakur gathered all but one of the goat. We went out to gather the last one and Ssrin was attack by a wolf and we found the corpse of another goat. I found a feather confirming that it was in fact that Owl Bear. But there are also wolves. Wolves of multiple sizes are also here.

After this we were asked by Chief Old Goat to aid their people with the Owl bear. We followed the head hunter to an old Goliath druid. We were attack on the way there by a giant toad and some Ice Elementals while trying to cross a river.

We got there no one was home. Find some interesting notes but we are not sure what they mean. Though they talked about the rock slide that we were caught in last week, apparently something about voices. Hmmmm. We also learned two names from the notes, one was Feral Tongue and Frost-claw

We rested for the night and then headed out. At which point we were attacked by Giant Wolves with frost powers. The Alpha spoke to us and told us Frost-claw made her stronger. I asked who Frost-claw was and she chomped me.

We returned to Chief Old Goat and we learn all of these monstrous animals have been corrupted by a evil metal known as Chardalyn, and that Feral Tongue was Probably the druids name. As we were about to leave we heard screams and we rushed to find their source and find two armored Goliaths ripped apart and something was written in blood that we couldn't read.

The Wolves of the North

Report by Dorris A. Aranis

Syndicate Members included:
- Dorris A. Aranis
- Kyril Coveran (Retired)
- Victor van Hugo
- Ssrin
- Rillifen Ranathil

Requested by the chief of the Kunkulakalaga Tribe, we were sent over to assist some villagers with daily tasks in lieu of recent attacks. For the first day, we are to help a local shepherd tend to his flock of goats. We spoke with the chief, Old Goat, for information on the attacks in case of any upcoming threats to the flock, and we learned that 2 of the tribe's hunters, 1 shepherd, and 7 goats have been killed and mutilated. Some victims were dismembered, others impaled onto trees with their intestinal organs removed. We are then led by a local scout to meet the sheperd, Rakuur Hideminder.

As instructed, three of our members tend to mundane shepherding tasks while two survey the perimeter for threats. None are found. Wolven howls are heard, and the flock are ushered into shelter. One goat escapes, and Ssrin fetches it. The corpse of a goat is found impaled to a tree with its intestinal organs removed. Nearby are wolf prints and a large white feather. Victor van Hugo identifies it to be an Owlbear feather, and we return to the chief with this newfound information.

Victor van Hugo claims the feather belongs to the supposedly cursed Owlbear spotted five days prior (see: The Frozen North, 7 Eleasis, 1502). Heeding his warning, the chief tasks us to seek the help of a nearby shamanic Druid. The tribe's head hunter, Kaskur, leads us to the Druid's cave. While crossing a frozen river, he is pulled beneath the ice before we are attacked by three Ice Mephits and one large Ice Toad. All were slain and no Syndicate members sustained any casualties. Notably, the Ice Toad bore strange black markings. The hunter is retrieved and tended to.

We find the Druid's cave but are met with a magical barrier disallowing us entry. A Mud Mephit appears and claims to be the Guardian of the Dragon's Maw (assumedly the title of the cave) and holds the five runic marks used to pass through the barrier. After simple deliberation with the Mephit, we are presented the five runic marks and enter the Dragon's Maw.

We enter and do not find the Druid. Instead, there is a journal belonging to the Druid. Notable excerpts will be shared in Scribe's Notes at the report's conclusion. We leave the cavern and begin traveling back to report to the chief. We are met with dozens of wolf prints and the howling of the wolves they came from before encountering a single wolf, three Dire Wolves, and a strange, ice-covered beast resembling a wolf or bear. The ice-covered beast spoke, claiming that "Frosclaw made [it] stronger." All five beasts were slain, and the Syndicate members and hunter return to report to the chief. After giving the Druid's journal (who is now labeled as Feral-Tongue) to the chief, two of the tribe's guards are slaughtered before a note, translating to the Common word "soon" is left. The Syndicate members are then rewarded with:

- 400 Gold Total
- 1 Potion of Healing
- 1 Potion of Water Breathing
- 1 Pair of Sending Stones

The mission concludes and the Syndicate members return to headquarters.

Scribe's Note:
Notable excerpts from Feral-Tongue's journal include:
- "...rockslide revealed a structure buried in the mountain..." - potentially alluding to the avalanche five days prior (see: The Frozen North, 7 Eleasis, 1502)
- "...they call me Feral-Tongue, and I have so many gifts to give!" - the Druid takes a new name while alluding to a newfound power to bestow upon others
- "...must share this power with the beasts of the land..." - potentially the source of the strangely corrupted Ice Toad and speaking ice-covered beast the party encountered

Eleasis 12th, 1502 DR

Got a job in Icewind Dale, which, after all the heat and intense daylight from the blasting sun of the surface world, was a nice change of pace to be somewhere colder and cloudier. Plus, being able to rock the wonderful outfit made by Sylk was a delight; I shall commission him for more.

The job was from a goliath clan, and the rest of the party was a mix of familiar faces and some new ones. Apparently, the clan's goat livestock was being butchered and mangled by some unknown beast, and they thought that a group of mercenaries literally made for the job of killing should instead guard and milk goats. Guarding the goats wasn't too difficult, but the weather didn't make it easier; the other milked the goats... well, more like tried to do so, and I even wrangled a lonely one myself.

When I wrangled that goat, we discovered evidence of a nearby kill, mangled as the goliaths described, with constant howling around us. Even though hunting the nearby quarry seemed a higher priority, the shepherd tasked us with delivering milk and the intel... at least Victor was on my side, although he seems kind of unhinged about this owlbear thing that no one has seen.

The goliath chief, upon hearing our report, requested that we find the clan's druid to discern more about this beastly encounter. After traversing a frozen river and fighting some ice elementals and an ice toad, we arrived at their lair. Once opened after an annoying set of useless negotiations, we found the lair empty, with a note telling of the druid being overcome by some corruption of a Thzunn entity, under the pseudonym Feral Tongue, who began corrupting other animals from the Dale alongside some creature called Frostclaw.

We decided to bring this revelation back to the chief, but not before being ambushed by a pack of dire wolves in the middle of the night, with the large head of the pack wolf corrupted by some strange magic, giving it more strength and mystical powers. We managed to deal with no issue and report this information back and get our pay, but not before the camp was suddenly ambushed by a creature that left as quickly as it came, leaving a mark similar to the one we saw at the very beginning of the job. Icewind Dale sure is a mysterious place full of odd entities and powers.

A request came from the Lords' Alliance, letting us know she needs our assistance in escorting a supply caravan to Neverwinter. The cargo is needed to supply and foritfy the city's defenses. Several attacks along the High Road has caused issues and a scouting troop that has gone missing. We are set to gather intel about things but the priority is the caravan.

We met with Captain Ilyra Venn and she gave us the run down. There have been large footprints of what seems like trolls that have been around the road. I know some things of trolls but more than likely these won't be trolls I know of. If they are though, that's much more lucky. (Bri apparently has a thing against Neverwinter). She arranged our transport to the caravan and we set off.

Arriving at the caravan found us meeting Sargeant and being informed a bit more of what we're escorting. After...strange conversation where Surx revealed he has no idea how babies are made and Shev seems to have been possessed by something that insists on calling himself a human.

I've no idea how we even managed this job.

On the road, we came across a cabin to the side of the road, a pristine outpost without anything seeming out of place. We entered the outpost to investigate and the scouting troup out here was sent to investigate this section of the road. We found a journal entry that indicated they went north to inspect in that direction. I read over the entry multiple times and the last bit of message was darker than the rest. The marked pathings also seemed to not go where they needed to, in a strange way. I made note of it before we headed back out.

It began to storm a bit and one of the cargo wagons nearly fell off a cliffside and we had to work together to pull it back right. It was a bit of a process but we managed to bring it back to where it needed to be and we continued forward on the road.

Eventually, we came to a stop as a wagon...of sorts...was dismantled in the middle of the road. Bri took a look at it but something reached out and tripped her and when she was on the ground, trolls appeared. Some were normal trolls that I learned of while others are trolls I'm unfamiliar. One had rotting skin and seemed to spew necrotic pus when standing too close to it. Another had poisonous postules that burst with each hit to its body and we had to catch them all on fire in order to stop their regenerative abilities. Another troll, unlike any other, appeared as well, just a spirit though. Rather than fire or acid, it seemed force or psychic was needed to stop its own regeneration. We were able to take them out after a struggle as Nathan (Surx) became stunned still by its bite.

When they were all defeated, we searched the area and found a corpse wearing a Lords' Alliance scouting uniform. It seems this is where the scouting troupe headed out this way and were ambushed by the trolls. They had acted strangely, preferring to focus on the wagon rather than attacking. We took a look over the scout and found his badge that was stretched out without having it be broken. The stamped insignia no longer aligned.

We arrived to Neverwinter, delivering the caravan there and speaking with the contact there. We told her about what we found and there was a Field Report that was missing and the badge seemed to be needed as well.

Learned Creatures that Applied: Troll

11 Eleasis 1502 D.R.

It has been some tendays since my last official job with the Glassfang Syndicate. Perhaps the same can be said for my compatriots, for it seems most of them had forgotten how to comport themselves in a professional manner.

We were summoned to protect a Lords' Alliance caravan passing through dangerous moors around the city-state of Neverwinter. Captain Ilyra Venn greeted us courteously and informed us of our task, warning us that the High Road had become dangerous and that previous caravans -- and guards -- had gone missing. If quicksand and insect swarms weren't enough, trolls were said to be in the area. I detest trolls.

While Salviron and I listened and did our best to establish a proper working relationship with our clients, Surx pouted, wailed, and bemoaned her spurning by Na'ima, who was not present but who seems to have finally convinced Surx that they are not in fact in a romantic relationship together. Shev has become fully possessed by his blubbering pint-sized megalomaniac of a patron and spent most of the mission screaming impotent demands for servitude and cookies while failing hilariously to convince anyone that it was just Shev and not a many-eyed planar aberration bent on world domination as soon as it figures out how legs work. Bri struggled to come to grips with this, and was consequently a mess. Venn rightly rebuked us all, but still sent us on our way.

For a time, the journey was uneventful. We traveled. We found a station along the way from which the missing guards had set out, but little information there beyond hints at vague dangers. We pressed on. One of the carriages nearly went off the road into the swamp, but we remembered at last how to work together and managed to succeed in saving it. Our clients, who had become more and more skeptical, began to take us more seriously.

Then came the ambush.

A wrecked cart lay across the road. When Bri went to clear it, a hidden chain popped up to begin ripping apart one of our carriages, and then the trolls attacked from all sides.

I shall spare the details for the most part. It was a grim fight, and Surx especially took a beating; some of these trolls were very different from the simple brutes that had attacked my home, spiritual entities that struck at the very soul. But we preserved and destroyed them one and all. What does bear mentioning is that, given the opportunity, these trolls ignored or distracted us and went directly after our most valuable cargo. This strikes me, though I am no expert, as very un-trolllike behavior; they have always seemed to me most fixated on their next (preferably sentient) meal. These focused on *things* for which they should have had little use, and they knew exactly what they were looking for and where to find it, and attempted to flee once they had it.

I suspect, then, that they were directed. These attacks cannot be random.

We uncovered also the body of what seemed to be a Lords' Alliance officer. On the corpse we found a filthy, tarnished badge, which we returned to our client upon our return trip. They were glad to have it, and in fact seemed excited in a grim and dangerous sort of way; it must have indicated something to them that eluded us. They asked about a duty log, which was not present with the body -- meaning someone must have taken it.

All interesting stuff, and surely important for any followup we might be called to do. But ultimately none of our business. It was a job well done, and we were paid, and that is all that matters to me.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

As the Giants threat became more real than ever, the need for a here felt urgent.

It is in this occasion that I stood up against the larger people.

Going around the land, looking for more allies, strategising with the chief captain, offering the occasional warmth: those were the many ways in which I enabled the citizens to see another day.

Killing Big Fruul, finally, was just the cherry on top of my heroic deeds.

11th of Eleasis, 1502 DR

Myself, Abuh, Socks, Ivor, Nima :(

A siege was planned on the city of Parnast in the Savage Frontiers. A giant by the name of Bed Frule donned a crown that turned her evil, and so was about to sent a mixture of goblinoid troops to claim the city. Our mission was simple: stop it. We had four days to prepare.

First, we went looking for some two-headed Ettin Graham that the Syndicate was familiar with. On the way, we convinced orc scouts to talk to their leader to postpone the raid. We didn't know it at the time, but it earned us an additional day. Then meeting up with Graham, we tried to convince him to join us by chugging beer (that is what he wanted), but that didn't go so well. He still sent us some help.

After that, we arrived at Parnast. Over the next few days, we reassured and trained the civilians and set up traps. We also prevented an important person, Chandra, from being kidnapped and killed.

Then, finally, was the siege. It was a tough battle for sure. The first wave was of goblins and worgs, easily taken care of. The second was of orcs and... bears? Which gave us a little trouble, but ended up fine. The third wave was completely wiped out by the town's defenses, giving us time to rest. The final wave, was the one with giants, mammoths and Bed Frule. Lord, this was a step up. I went west to ambush smaller troups, but everyone besides Ivor decided to follow along, leaving him stranded against every other force. Overwhelmed, he went down, though Nima did her best to keep us all alive. I stood in Bad Frule's way to prevent her from going after the others, and lost my own consciousness for a split second. But with the big bad evil gal down, the rest of the forces split up.

At the end of the day, we succeeded. Parnast is safe, thanks to us. I am proud to have been with Nima on her last job.

With resolve,

Snap

So when went down to Madame Freona's Tea Kettle and my companions ate and drank quite a lot. After a while a hooded man entered and had a job for use. It was a simple job we just had to perform a exchange, a dragon egg for diamonds. Well the guy was with the Harpers and gave us fake diamonds to trick the other party with. Who he believed to be with the Cult of The Dragon. Well I despise the cult of the dragon, false worshipers they are. So anyways we went there and the exchange went exactly according to plan, which I found surprising since things never go according to plan. But after we got the egg it turned out to be a fake as well. So we gave them fake diamonds for a fake Dragon Egg. Ironic.

Well as we were about to take our leave we were attack by thugs. we Killed them. We completed the job. We got payed.

Well while we were waiting for our kobold friend to come and pick us up. Goblins kidnapped a bunch of villagers so we tracked them down and killed them. Freed the people and made our way home. Simple two jobs for a nice amount of gold. Tiamat is pleased.

For sake of security I will not divulge the events that led to our mission. Our employer was not one to show their face or give more intel than what was required of us—and given the nature of it, I think it grossly negligent to leave a detailed record in the form of writing.

In essence, this recounting eschews most of the inane happenings we encountered. Or the ones the others committed.

The initial job itself involved espionage. We posed as interested buyers in dragon eggs being sold by suspected members of the Cult of Tiamat. This made for a great opportunity to test my new armor model, and the job went exactly as planned, partly in thanks to my own innovation—I have to say that I’m very pleased with my work and its performance on the proving grounds. If only the artisan guilds in Waterdeep would have me back… Once I have actual armor completed rather than the frame, it will be far more fearsome in battle. Regardless, I’m straying from the topic. It was found afterwards that the eggs were fakes and instead some intricate contraption. I worried that these were explosive devices made to kill, but on further inspection they seemed to be more akin to flash grenades—a good way to escape if your buyer suspected foul play.

A third party attacked us soon after from the local thieves’ guild, but they were soundly dealt with. It was also in this job that I finally encountered the brand of people I expected from the Syndicate. It was certainly an experience watching a man be robbed, stripped naked, beg, and be horrifically emasculated before dying on the end of a point. The opportunists proved to be inconsequential.

The kobold that was to be running our teleporter back was late, so we regrouped in the teahouse we originally met in. While there, because nothing ever goes smoothly, we caught word of a goblin attack at one of the farmsteads. We tracked them through the jungle to their hideout where they were holding the farmhands captive. We fought our way into the first room where we dispatched the guards. The others were not alerted by some incredible stroke of luck or stupidity on their end, and we struck a deal in coin to free the slaves. We managed to strike down the slaver and retrieve our gold just as his roar called an entire cave system’s worth of goblin inhabitants to reinforce him. We managed to usher the human group back to Phlan, earning us goodwill in the process.

Eleasis 10th, 1502 DR

First job as a Syndicate member. I may still be fatigued from my recent rise from the dead, but I will not let that stop me from getting stronger... and repaying the debts I owe. This job had some unexpected outcomes and intriguing allies on the job: a murder-obsessed armor construct, a dragon-obsessed kobold, and 2 charming tieflings. If all Syndicate jobs are like this, then I'm going to have a lot of fun in the future.

The job was simple really: disguise as a merchant, keep the buyer distracted so the others can implant a magical tracker, and collect the item from the merchant using fake money, which was a dragon egg. I don't understand why we did so much planning when we all had the tools needed for this type of job, but nevertheless the quarry was marked and the cargo was acquired... until a group of opportunistic, still-green thugs tried, and failed, to steal our cargo. I will say it was fun making their leader squirm and beg under my boot and blade; although killing him wasn't necessary, the sight of him crawling away naked and scared would have been more entertaining. But as the job concluded, we discovered the egg was a fake, ironic, if I think about it- but we still got paid by the mysterious agent.

Returning to the meeting point, Madame Freona's Tea Kettle, is when things got interesting; aside from almost being made to explode for her fiendish scones, a new, sudden job arrived. Given by some disinterested guards, why are these people even paying taxes? It was information we heard across the room, from a scared woman who mentioned a goblin raid that captured some humans. The place was not hard to find and after a bit of goblin murder and actual negotiations and purchase of the humans, because that's where the morals lie here I suppose, we freed them. Oh, we also killed the bugbear and got our money back before the army of goblins came. We got some extra cash for a Zentharim member to keep quiet, which a girl has no reason to deny.

Overall, quite a good first mission, even if with odd outcomes and even odder actions by us, I believe this is a sign for a lot more fun to come... I should keep in touch with that Zentharim agent; he might know something.

A request was recieved to head to the Meeting Room for a debriefing of the job we were asked on. A kobold of the Syndicate let us know that we were being sent to the Northlander Isles. The kobold had a spell scroll, I believe, that teleported us to a ship in the middle of the ocean. The ship itself looked to be more like a mercantile ship but was made for mercenaries instead.

There was a captain aboard, an air genasi with cloudlike vitiligo. And a goat...I will never understand some things. There was a man looking over a map so I determined the best way to go about things was to figure out exactly where we were and where we were going. I ended up speaking with First Mate Cirrus and he let us know that we were headed to the Northlander Lagoons but there were various dangers ahead. I helped map out our course, having become more used to reading maps compared to what the Syndicate has in its library.

We assisted in commanding the ship and spotted an enemy pirate ship in the distance. We steered and avoided various hazards and managed to get the ship close enough in order to board it. Things were touch and go for a moment but after working together and Mimsy holding focus on a Hypnotic Pattern, we removed all enemies aboard, searching for further loot inside and around the ship.

Heading back to the other ship, we spoke with Captain Aurora and she gave us another contract for the Syndicate before we were teleported back.

Learnable Creatures: Bandit Captain, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Kraken Priest, Cultist Fanatic, Water Elemental Myrmidon, Naiad

Was good adventure. Quite like this one. Was worried cold at first, but reassured, Alvis-abbil, not too cold. When got on ship, bright... Not like very much. But had Canons! And got to yell at chefs cook better. Then had very good meat.

Fight seemed difficult at first, but opponent weak. Kept get incapacitated, easy hit. Afterwards, got many teeth for Azrael.... I hope he likes. He always give rothe gifts. Should give him gift in exchange, as to not have debt-weakness, yes?

Noted others. Tealight, very good with whip. Almost good as Ilharess with it. Alvis and Mimsy play good tune- quite enjoy, balances screams of enemies nicely. And Salviron- Impressive hand, impressive poison. Competent party. Perhaps even skilled fighters. Like these ones more than others have been travel with prior.

Eleasis 9th, 1502 DR

I finally arrived at Glassfang Syndicate just a day ago, all the "inquiries" I did along the journey from Menzoberranzan led me to this place as being the least "picky" about the type of hired work they accept in their fold - perfect for a temporary place to stay if nothing less, and if I'm lucky maybe find other of my own or those entaglened with them to gather intel.

How lucky I was, not only finding a rivvil, but a full-blooded young noble, maybe a captain or some future consort; he looks the part for either (especially the latter). I did a small "interrogation" with both of them and two humans and... well... one thing led to another, and I found myself spending a long night at the drow's place, Sylk, alongside one of the humans, Tova, who's apparently his partner. Perfect opportunity to learn more about his situation and the neighbouring city around the Syndicate, which I'll explore in the morning.

[Notes scribbled weakly]

Eleasis 10th, 1502 DR

I... can't believe this... me... a first-daughter... brought to the Raven Queen's domain... by some lowly packs of BATS... I... should be stronger... I should have endured...

This was humiliating... and... harrowing... all I saw after was... a bed of raven feathers and... feeling like I was pulled from 3 directions... to the point of breaking... there was skittering... and hisses... and melodic hums... all accompanied by raven cries...

That would have been... the rest of my existence if not... for Sylk and Tova... they brought me back from the Raven's slumber... with the help of 2 orc women... I only met them a day ago... that short time spent was amazing... but I didn't expect to do such an act... for me... why is my heart pounding?

My first job with the Syndicate. This occurred within the week of joining, and I will say, it was not quite what I expected. When I signed on I thought I would be surrounded by experienced mercenaries and soldiers. It was comforting that was not the case, but perhaps not as comforting that some of us nearly died multiple times.

The job was represented by a man named Gundar Shornshield. Longsaddle has been experiencing a plight at the claws of wild griffins, and we were tasked to handle them. Our little group witnessed for itself an attack on the markets before we set off into the woods with the warning that the last adventuring party did not return. Thrilling.

We had the pleasure of falling into the river a few times during our hike and facing off against wild dogs until we made it to the nesting cliffs, which was where most of the danger was. We sent two groups upwards with the hope of evading notice, which the one I accompanied did, which gave us some edge in the fight. Unfortunately, both Zena and Kyril faced great danger, but thanks to Yap, I believe it was, they survived.

By the end we stole what eggs remained and reported back to Longsaddle. It seems the griffins are of the northern variety and had been pressed from their natural territory by a more fearsome predator. I have always disliked animals and today only strengthened that. With the exception of one young escapee, it appears the problem has been dealt with. Hopefully local trappers can see to it the end while more experienced hunters can strike at the root of the problem.

The Griffons of Longsaddle

Report by Doris A. Aranis

Syndicate Members included:

- Doris A. Aranis
- Kyril Coveran
- Ferris Harrogate
- Zena De'Dragon Slayer (Retired)
- Yap

A member of the Glockeberg Guild, named Gundar Shornshield, requested help from the Syndicate with some "pests," which we were informed was a pride of griffons. We were entitled to 250 gold as a reward, along with any supplies or materials we find and/or sell. We were rewarded with 350 gold to split between the five of us, along with:

A scroll of Feather Fall
A potion of healing
Gloves of Swimming/Climbing
A staff of Birdcalls
A Mind Crystal (Subtle)

We were then told about another hunting party that left to deal with the griffons only a few days ago (it was unclear how many days exactly) and to "keep an eye out for them." These attacks began only a few months ago (anywhere from two to three), but it seems the original mated pair of griffons arrived two months before that (up to four to five months from now). They seem to have flown in from the Icewind Dale according to the feather patterns found on them during inspection later. According to scarring and wounds found on the griffons, it seems they were driven out by larger predators. I will see about contacting a guild or syndicate in the Icewind Dale of the overarching issue to make sure this does not happen again.

A synopsis of our duties are as follows:
While speaking with our informant, the griffons in question attacked the village's nearby market. Two young griffons and one adult griffon were slain, along with two of the village's horses. No civilians died, though one suffered minor head trauma. Zena De'Dragon Slayer was harmed, but Yap healed her wounds. From here, we plan our hunt towards the suspected nesting ground of the griffons. We uncover a chunk of Starmetal.

We traveled west alongside the bank of a river with a few minor complications due to unsteady ground. No injuries. We were then met by a small pack of three coyotes and one dire coyote. All four were slain. All showed signs of malnutrition, likely due to the griffons' overhunting the surrounding area. Syndicate members suffered minor wounds, all of which were healed by Yap.

We then reach the foot of a small mountain, finding the bodies of two Gnomes (identities unclear; villagers have been notified) who showed signs of injury matching that from griffons. They also had injuries matching a fall from great heights, so it was unclear what they succumbed to. The party was able to recover the following gear:

- 2 Climbing Kits
- 2 Hand Crossbows
- 3 Nets
- 20 Crossbow Bolts
- 1 Whip

Using the recovered climbing gear, we scaled the cliff to successfully find the griffons roosting. Battle ensued, and three young griffons and one adult griffon were slain, though one young griffon fled. Dorris Aranis, Zena De'Dragon Slayer, and Kyril Coveran were notably injured with the latter two falling unconscious. All Syndicate members were healed by Yap. From the nests, we were able to recover the following items:

- 1 Staff of Birdcalls
- 1 Mind Crystal (subtle)
- 3 Gold Nuggets
- 3 Griffon Eggs

The nests were burned to keep any living griffons from easily rebuilding. From there, we descend and return to the village's tavern to inform our contact. We are rewarded with the 250 gold, along with 100 gold from the collective sales of various items (including the three eggs). The mission concludes, and the Syndicate members return to headquarters.

Scribe's Note:
Each Syndicate member involved also received the offer of a free riding saddle when purchasing a horse from any stables at Longsaddle.

Eleasis 7

I, Zena, Ferris, Kyril, Dorris

Longsaddle, many griffon attack earlier. Baby, not baby. Gundar offer coin, for track. First, shop place attack. Run.

Many griffon attack horse and elder. Hunt griffon, I bow and sword, other all magic. Success. No death. Elder give potion for help.

Now track griffon. Zena try lead, all fall into water. I try lead, ambush, wolf. Kill wolf easy, magic ice armor, all bite. Kyril try lead... okay.

Later, cliff. Many cliff. Find short person, dead. Earlier warn, dead short person. Remark, claw and crushed, griffon, but no eat. Hm. Climb cliff. Climb cliff. On short person, find five magic close broken two glove, help climb. Climb cliff. Climb cliff, try stealth, not work. Many griffon, many baby, one not baby.

Attack big griffon. Dorris throw cold knife, explode. Zena link lightning. Ferris attack magic? Kyril... get pick up big griffon, throw, fall high. Knock out. I, start magic heal rite, heal all over time. Kyril up. Zena down too, up. Dorris hurt, heal. Good magic.

Later, big griffon kill. Baby griffon try flee, one yes hurt, rest no. Take griffon egg, return. Pay.

Longsaddle offer saddle, if buy horse. Other not. I buy. Return riding horse. Happy.

Do good today. Happy.

The caravan we were hired to guard was waylaid by an avalanche. Only seven survivors. It would have been six, if not for Zena. Rations are low. The party agreed not to try to consume our own dead and burned them on the pyre instead. Thanks to Chef, it was an option; he made of the wolves meat that may sustain us.

We travel need to get to Icewind Dale.
___

We've been traveling for a day, past a ravine, past two celestial owls that were never unsummoned, their summoner dead. Victor terrified them, mimicking a natural predator. Perhaps I would've smiled, if only I could feel my face. We hid in a cave, to get away from the blizzard. I have been leading from the front. I have been navigating, planning, directing. The responsibility to keep them alive falls on me. The responsibility for the knight's death, dragged away into the snow and ripped apart by some massive, terrifying beast... Is mine.
___

Exploring the cave further, it was a vault of sort, protected by pebbles. When we opened the door, the dwarf touched it and it spelled his name in blood. He ran, screaming, outside - and the moment he was out, the beast reappeared, shoving him into its maw and- I will spare the details. Another is fallen.
___
Necromancy. That's what this tomb hides. The mage who seems interested in this seems genuine in her intent.
___
WHAT IS THAT? GODS BE DAMNED, WHAT IS THA-
___
C.H.E.F. is gone. I was meant to protect the new adventurers. It does not matter if the Gods forgive me. I will not.

So we were tasked with helping a caravan head north to Icewind Dale. Second time I have been to the far north. Weird both my jobs have been to the frigid north so far. Any ways a huge avalanche took out most of the Caravan, nothing to be done about that. We fought off some wolves trying to eat the survivors. We found a Human warrior named Guero Riero, a Dwarf named Espero Paperhammer, and a Mage women named Maga Morgana. Maga Morgana took liking to me and stayed close to me throughout this long adventure. I did my best to keep her safe along with my fellow Syndicate members. When we rested for the night we woke up to find the other people in the caravan, torn apart and mutilated we did are best to honor then and gave them a form of final rites.

We carried on. We made our way past a large ravine and eventually we out witted a couple of giant celestial Owls. Finally we made rest again, but our companion Guero Reiro was taken by some large creature in the night. His head torn off and thrown back at us from the darkness.

Later we entered the cave and me and Maga would have interesting conversations about magic and gods. We found references to ancient empires and necromancy. Unfortunately I am not the most well versed in these fields but it was interesting and I enjoyed talking to her. We found long dead skeletons that surprisingly didn't animate and try and kill us. We then fought some weird eyeball monsters, solved a puzzle and we helped Maga get to the ruins that she wanted to explore. When the door opened something started to happen and it startled Espero and he run away. We found him torn apart later. The monster was stalking us, and I grew paranoid that we were being picked off one by one.

We continued a crossed a bridge, beneath the bridge was several hundred severed animated hands crawling around beneath it. Again we did not get attacked by them. We crossed the bridge and saw an exit to the outside, but also the ruins Maga had come all this way to investigate. We decided to help her investigate, she was so exited by what she discovered. But then it happened. I let her out of my sight for only a moment, and the monster appeared again it crushed her with a boulder. She was slain instantly. The Monster was corrupted by Chardalyn an evil metal, but I didn't care we had spent days with Maga. I didn't know her for long but I grew attach to her and I failed her in every way. Worst of all the beast escaped and run away. We were too wounded to follow after it. Tiamat once again letting me be reminded of my weakness. But I will kill it and all of it's kin. I swear I will.

Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure. Failure.

The same line is written into her journal dozens, maybe hundreds of times. The writing gets more and more frantic as the page goes on, scrawling into incomprehension. At some point, blood drips onto the page.

I will not go back. I will not let anything interfere with my rightful return to my home. If I am going to die, it will be at the hands of my family. Not strangers. Not Loudwater. Not Silverymoon. Not anywhere other than the halls of House Irr'diin.

I am not leaving my room until my atonement is complete.

This, I swear.

Eleasis 8

I, Mila, Azrael, Biscuit, Wu'yone

Need info from Phalor. Necro magic user. Prison. Three day, break prison. Try, I, other, find info. Fail.

Prison visit chance. Ask no mask. No. Other go, I stay. Wait.

Meet Earl, farmer, from earlier. Bring food prison. Ask, come later. Yes. Lead.

Later. Biscuit come. Say, try magic, but magic not allow. Many weird word. Leave. Other in prison.

Later, other return prison. No break prison.

We had gone to meet up with the Necromancer who had been buying the parts from the poacher, but sadly it seems we were too late. He had been imprisoned in a high security prison on the outskirts of Loud water. We had successfully gotten in to scope the place out, but... Sadly, Biscuit had decided that healing a man who did not need it was more important than everyone getting out without any trouble. They managed to flee, but the rest of us where captured. I was lucky enough to be able to talk my way out of it, but... That was so stupid of them. I can only hope I am not paired up with them on other missions anytime soon, or I might be unprofessional, and let my distaste for them cause another failure...

This mission was a diseaster. We found out our contact regarding mysterious biomechanical attacks has been arrested and we needed to break him out of a prison of ridiculous security levels. We spent a lot of time gathering information and even attempted to infiltrate the prison as supposed relatives, to get some questions out of the man...only for Biscut to try casting spells despite knowing we're being watched, then running away and leaving us at guard's mercy. We're lucky we got out of that pit alive. I felt useless during the entire mission. I'm, at my core, a soldier, not a spy. I know others will do a second attempt at dealing with the prison. I decided to opt out, I can tell when a mission is not suited for my skills.

The plot thickened.

We tried to meet the hunter's contact to sell the parts and maybe figure out who it was that was making these things. Which lead us to a trashed laboratory, and a tiefling woman who said the necromancer we were supposed to meet had been arrested and was going to be executed. She asked for us to go save him. Me, Wuyone, Azrael, Mila, Yap. What could possibly go wrong?

We scoped the place out, tried to get as much information as we could, before trying to enter under subterfuge to visit the man himself. They took everything from us, which was certainly interesting, but this place was backwards anyway. I didnt like the way a guard was talking to us, and the tension was thiiiiiick. We eventually got to Phaelor's cell, and started communicating with one another about how to get him out. They had told us that the cell blocked magic uses inside, but I was curious if magic could extend into the cell if cast outside of it. Logically, since we were all talking, it seemed unlikely that a spell cast with only verbal components could be seen and understood by a guard that was at least a baseball field away, but apparently this place is bereft of logic.

When the guard tried to arrest me, and it was clear that the rest of the group wasnt going to do a thing about it, I made my escape. Frankly, that was the right decision. Told Yap what happened, and got outta dodge. That place is best left behind. Why do we need that necromancer anyway? Im going to find a solution to this mechanical issue all on my own.

Party: Devlin, Maze, Myev, Petraios, Ronan
Location: Neverwinter

We had been requested to assist with an anomaly with the forest near Neverwinter. It was masked in an ominous shadow. We were led to the area, which happened to be a cemetery. From there, we found a kitten that had been trapped in an unclaimed grave. Ronan and Myev managed to get the kitten out from the grave and a disembodied voice told us to follow the cat. Named Obsidian.

It led us into a mausoleum, to which we were attacked by spectres. We took care of them, and I provided prayers for the souls, soothing them and allowing us to move on. There was an amulet that ended up getting purified, and found a way further down into the crypt. After some puzzle solving and traps triggering, we managed to enter the sarcophagus room. We found some things, but did not desecrate the resting space. We found that there was more to look into and continued on.

We found the Obsidian Tower that we were tasked to find, and found that there was an unholy ritual occurring. The necromancer conducting the ritual was raising the dead. We were quick to eliminate her undead minions, and just barely took her out before the ritual set off. With her meeting her end, the shadow upon the forest dissipated and we were able to see the moon. All is well, and balance has been restored. Praise the Lord of the Dead, for I have done a service to him.

Scrawled in a surprisingly neat hand, the following report is dated for 8/5/26

The group consisting of Myev, Ronan Darak, Delvin, Petraios, and Maze was sent by the Syndicate to investigate reports from Neverwinter of a dark fog that had overtaken the nearby forest. After transportation was provided, the group started our investigation and found the presence of a small black kitten with a collar reading "Obsidian" mewling in what appeared to be an abandoned grave within a forgotten cemetary.

The cat was extracted, upon which an etherial voice was heard by all of us that "Obsidian will lead the way." With little other leads, we followed the cat, who led us to first to a small mausoleum that was haunted by several spirits due to a cursed amulet. Once the spirits were dispatched, Ronan dispelled the magic on the amulet, and it was collected. *(See estimated item value report on the last page)
A staircase led to a lower level, in which a caged sarcophagus lay alone in its own room. The walls were inscribed with ancient runes that seemed to refer to something called the "Obsidian Order," or "Obsidian Tower," a name that doesn't seem prevalant in any modern Neverwinter History text to my knowledge. Upon investigating the coffin, several more spirits appeared to point us in a specific direction, though they disappeared and did not turn hostile afterwards. A greater potion of healing was collected from the crypt, several burial jewels left untouched. *

The cat then led us to a tower within the forest, the magical fog strong enough to blot out the ambient natural light. A ritual circle was south of the tower, occupied by a single necromancer and several undead. As far as we have been able to surmise after the fact, the ritual circle was made for the purpose of some necromantic act, possibly involving the raising of the dead within the forest as the start of some army. The wizard was dispatched before the ritual could be completed, with no casualties from the party to report. Once the wizard was killed, the shadows over the forest lifted, and the party returned to Neverwinter to report their success to the local guard.

Signed: Myev, Novice Guildmember

The expedition went poorly. An avalanche. A white muskrat guided us to a cavern, and we were met by a talking walrus. Mother Tusk. The unnatural weather here is concerning - a curse, she calls it. She says she can get us to where we go, but in order to gain her help, we must help her in turn.

The three options:
- Find one of her missing creatures, sent out as a scout.
- Dethaw the spring.
- Clearing the cave.

The scout, Whisket, is a small, white snow fox, missing after a scouting mission to the spring.
____
Sleds. Hyenas. Victor attempted to leave me behind after he tumbled the sled. A fair enough response given we were in pursuit. It was far more pleasant to ride behind Maze.
___
Tent over the water spring. A woman does rituals within. Gone, now, but I can't feel my hands. Can't feel my feet. My teeth won't stop chattering. Ritual stopped. Within, Jeb, and a spear, tipped with strange eye.

There's so much magic afoot here, problems cropping up.
___
The dead do not pass. They do today.
___
A greedy halfling. Zombies galore. I am tired. Cold. She is divinity among death. My blood runs hot and I swing again.
And again.
And again.

I am no match for the paladin. For Yap. I persist regardless.
___
Home. Somewhere warm.

Went to the Far north with Maze, Yap and Cyrus. Finally got to see my fellow Syndicate members in action. It was Nice we helped a butch of Intelligent Animals with their Zombie and Gnoll problems. It was easy though the ice was annoying.

Eleasis 4

I, Maze, Cyrus, Victor

Track, Icewind Dale. "Teleportation Circle", make way. Cold storm, follow small beast. Safe place. Large beast talk, Mother Tusk, ask help. Three help. Do two.

Hot water... very cold. Track, find scout, Whisket, beast. Hurt by hyena. Hyena try flee, kill, help Whisket. Track hyena camp. Gnoll camp. I talk, other hide. Ambush, kill. In camp, Yeenoghu ritual. Stop. Hot water, hot.

Later, cave. Track cave, many corpse. Inside, find god rock. Not understand, yet. Inside later, not dead, live corpse, attack. Maze pray, similar Wuyon'e. Maze very good, Wuyon'e bad. Live corpse stop, run. Place, put rock. Trick room, magic. More live corpse come, water walls. Put four rock, water, solid, live corpse stop. Kill live corpse.

Late. Return Mother Tusk, help cold storm. Track way through, return Syndicate.

Party: Cyrus, Maze, Victor, Yap

Location: Near Icewind Dale

We were taken to the furthest north where we spoke with a talking walrus, Mother Tusk. She offered to help us if we helped her. She gave us a series of tasks and where to go. The first task, we had to find a white fox by the name of Whisket, who had gone missing. Some searching, and we found the poor thing being harassed by hyenas. Using sleds. we hunted them down and eliminated the threat.

The second task, we located a tent over a water spring that was being used as a ritual site. Gnolls were about, and we took them out and stopped the ritual. To those who we found dead and dismembered, I prayed. Even for the gnolls that lost their life, I prayed for their transition into the afterlife. I had to restore balance. We continued on, we found stone tablets that had orc gods' symbols on them. We were to match them to their slots in a cave, where a greedy archeologist halfling had took them and triggered a sort of curse. Undead orcs stormed the place, but they were no match for my fury, as I held off many so that we could restore the tablets to their rightful place. Yap was exceptionally helpful in our task.

We did not reach the third task before cold and fatigue wore us and we were forced to return. I would not mind coming back here to clear out the undead. I feel there are more afoot that need to be eliminated. Next time we may be better prepared.

Eleasis 2

I, Azrael, Mila, Biscuit, earlier Vernal

Farmer, want help. Family killed, from not know. Find, know. Search house, find fur, find not-blood, find tracks. Beast, four-leg. Track.

Find beast. Wolf, small. Not... live. Not, not dead, not live. Metal. Fire fire. Not easy, kill. Help Mila. Rest, find other track. Vernal leave.

Forest, track. Trap. Beast trap, rope trap. Careful. Sky metal beast, fire fire. Shoot, kill. Azrael, make dead. Dead know bow, shoot, kill. Track.

Forest house. People. Not... important. Loud, need help. Track...

Large beast, metal, kill. Beast down Mila, I help. Shoot, magic, I, other, kill beast.

Job, not... important? Not understand. Still, I help.

We found a family, ripped to shreds... It was not the best sight to see in the morning; I will not lie. We decided to follow those tracks, and after a while, we found roboticized dogs. They were tough, took a bit to take them down after about half a minute though. Examining them further, it seemed that the gear was somehow grafted onto them... It truly did pain me to see a living creature suffering. They are alive Afterall, I learned that after we encountered the Ravens that had similar constructs grafted onto them...
Later, we found some poachers that were killing them and selling the parts to someone. I will have to talk to that man soon. They then heard a scream and ran off, and we followed. Turns out, a bear that had mechanically turned into one of those beasts killed him. We defeated the bear, got some leads, and headed back home. When I find the man responsible for this, I will show him no mercy and accept no surrender.

The brother of a farmer, whose giant gesse we saved the other day, has stumbled upon his nighbours having been brutally murdered. The brothers informed local priest, who contacted the Syndicate. We investigated the crime scene and discovered the family was slain by some sort of animals with metalic parts. We followed the tracks of these creatures and discovered they're some strange dogs with mechanical parts engraved into them. Disposing of them, which was not easy when they can cast fireballs, we followed the lead further, having to withstand an ambush, now from similiarly biomechanical crows. And once we dealt with that, the trail lead us to a cabin of two people, who turned out to be poachers. Moreover, they seemed to be hunting these creatures and stripping them off parts, sending them somewhere. Before we could confront them, their third partner was attacked and mauled by a biomechanical bear. Out of all battles that one was by far the hardest, almost devastating our group. I personally almost died. Thankfully, we pervailed in the end, thanks to good teamwork. The poachers told us who was paying them for the biomechanical parts, giving us a future lead. This is far from over.

This was the beginning of something far more sinister than I would have ever anticipated it being...

We were called by a group of farmers to investigate the murder of a family. Looking around the house, it was clear that a massacre of some kind had occurred, though the reason for this assault was ultimately unclear. Nothing was stolen, or broken, or anything of the like. Just... death. Wuyon'e, Mila, Azrael, Vernal, and myself took off after the tracks..

What we came across were a pack of vicious dogs that seemed mechanically altered. Shooting harpoons, breathing fire... They seemed intent to kill all of us. It was strange, though... where did these things come from? Then, further on, there were crows that seemed as though they had arcane eyes, acting as sentries for someone else... I gathered a few of these creatures to examine later.

Then, we came across some hunters in the woods. I thought they might have something to do with it, but it seemed like they were collecting these parts and wanted to get rid of them, as well. We followed them to where their friend had run off to, only to find a bear, altered with the same upgrades that turned it into a violent, flame adorned beast. After taking it out, i took its head for further study........

This must run quite deep..

The Lord Sage of Phlan summoned us to investigate an old structure up the river. Reportedly, an insane wizard, U'rosh, lived there who had a large silver pyramid. The wizard was defeated by Reno the Blade and his fellows, but before he fell, he made this structure which was described to us as a 'death trap for adventurers.' It's begun to leak and it's poisoning the river.

Lord Sage of Phlan spoke on how chaos infects the local ecosystem around the pyramid. Fish with too many eyes; grass turning purple and fuzzy. The base of the pyramid is a labyrinth. The Lord Sage of Phlan presented to us a charm to stop from mutations as we traverse. Wuyon'e took it but I traded her 20 gold to wear it myself.
____
The shrubs moved. The water looked like oil. It reminded me of the Plane of Limbo, a plane of chaos. I've only heard folk tales and this was the first I had encountered it myself.
___
Azrael summoned a small army of skeletons. It made all of us save Wuyon'te uncomfortable.
___
Slimes. Ghouls. A chimera. The chimera's been trapped and it's starving. Biscuit and Wuyont'e helped me to cook it a meal; a surprise Wuyont'e didn't poison it. It was pleased with the meal and allowed us to pass. I'm shocked it allowed us to pass. There was discussion of shrinking it down that it might escape these halls, but it would not promise us that it would not eat people once it was free. To investigate.
___
There was a strange fish people. Like fish, with lizard, with- fur? They had been touched by Chaos. I was able to commune with them thanks to my advanced communication training, and they led us to their queen. She informed us her people were taken by a 'frog man' who had made his way to the upper floor, and that since he arrived, the water pressure of their chaos-tainted water has gone down. He's the source of the link.

Should we bring her people back to her, she will gift us treasure.
___
The frogman atop was a gruesome thing. A slaad. It died and the fish-lizard people were freed. On our way back we tried to convince the Chimera to enter the Plane of Limbo, a way for it to be free. It disliked the suggestion and tried to attack, but we were haggard and it was time to leave; we fled with the treasures the queen gave.

Hm... was okay job. Got work done. Was weird. Whole thing weird, weirder than surface usually is. Did not like. Felt anger, useless, just tag-along.

But, at least pay at end of day. Nothing of interest truly learn, but think got stronger, at least. A little bit of pay towards journey home.

Will need confront Cyrus, sooner or later, though. Cannot have witness to weakness. Cannot. Refuse. Must buy or ensure his silence.

I learned 3 things from this adventure :

-Azrael and Wu have a thing going on between each other... with maybe Cyrus in it too.
-Biscuit abilities are quite useful.
-The wet finger technique is still unbeaten to this day.

We went into an Pyramid of a long dead mage, that has been taken over by his pervious experiments. A sorry Excuse for a mage he was... I hope he is rolling in his grave. In fact, I hope that I can find his grave and bring him back to tell him how sorry of a mage he is. To have your base taken over by a Slaad above all things? It's truly sad. We did leave that Monstrosity alive though... I wonder if we will regret that.

During this mission, Cyrus, Theoden, Wuyon'e, Azrael, and myself headed into a dark pyramid with a... infectious quality to it. Apparently it had been poisoning the local town's watering hole, and the leader needed us to go solve the issue. I wonder why they would have a town so close ta a pyramid, but that is beside the point.

Upon entering, the layout of this building constantly changed. We had to go through a maze, and I tried ta make a map of the inside. Whole lotta good that did us, unfortunately, but Theoden seemed to navigate it pretty well. There were traps that released nasty undead things atop us and slime, a chimera who just wanted a bite to eat, a tribe of fish people, and eventually, we got to the source of all the issues. Some big toad looking thing was blending the planes together and the magical byproduct was leaking into the water supply. Gross.

We managed to take the big guy out, and I ensured that the valve couldnt be reopened to taint the town further. Honestly, a successful mission!

Ivor

As a new month begins, the day after I turned older, I cannot but see a bright future ahead for my family name and me.

May Bersk become a synonym of power, respect and fame.

The Syndicate just got attacked. Everyone survived. We have to get a leader and a real military organization. Because we only survived thanks to individual strength.

The Sun will rise tomorrow.

This month has been a busy one. I actually can't even begin to describe it. For someone to attack a bunch of mercenaries with an army that we managed to fight off is absolutely absurd. I do not think I will ever be able to accurately describe how frustrating the entire process was. Attempting to make sure people stay alive and we don't lose positioning was the worst thing I've ever had to do currently at the Syndicate.

But enough about that nonsense. I've learned and researched many more creatures. Perhaps I'll be able to learn about most that we may come across. Fenris has the idea to write a book of it but I wouldn't feel right about writing a book without checking my sources. I will need to focus my skillset towards it more so I have less issue finding what I need.

Though I've found a steady stream of people interested in chess for whatever reason.

The State of the Syndicate

17 Kythorn - 23 Flamerule, 1502 DR

-------

What else can I say regarding my time in the Syndicate? It is chaotic. It is stressful. It has brought me to the brink of death more times than I can count. And yet I have no regrets joining its ranks.

The following has transpired since my last entry a month ago:

• I fended off ghasts and ghouls with Ivor in a harrowing fight.
• I fought against frost giants and helped buried them in an avalanche.
• I assisted in the safe precurement of cheeses in Waterdeep.
• I took down poisonous foes bothering Nahaunglaroth the Sky Surge in the Nether Mountains.
• I joined a couple halfling mercenaries in a game of cards.
• I watched Tova detonate ogres into oblivion.
• I bested bandits alongside Wuyon'e and Tova.
• I worked with Ivor and Aber to clear undead from a bookkeeper's basement.
• I crashed a wedding that was in turn crashed by hags.
• I was turned into a goose. But got better.
• I took on a chimera alongside Snap.
• I attempted to recapture an escaped archfey.
• I faced yuan-ti who threatened a walk that Tova and I took.
• I defended the Syndicate from Orlak's forces.

In this time, I have gained items and experiences far beyond what one would assume. The most notable in my mind and heart is forming a relationship with Tova. A spitfire of a woman, true to herself and what's right, and fearless. She's been by my side through my dealings with my patron, and forming a plan to fulfill my pact. And I am quite fond of her. A month has felt like years of perfection.

Snap and I have also become close to one another. We decided to become roommates, in the home I have purchased for myself in Loudwater. This should be a wonderful alliance, and especially reassuring I will have someone to water my plants while I am away. Regardless I value Snap's advice and comradery, and look forward to the future.

A handful of other Syndicate members have caught my attention for one reason or another. Alvis, Arlis, Fenris, Jax, Mimsy, Orri, Salviron, Tealight, Temoren, and Theoden have all caught my attention and respect, and I look forward to working with everyone in the near future. This has been a legendary experience, working with all of you. And as I move into my own tailor's shop soon, I will be sure to stop by often to share drinks and stories.

-Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

-------

i cant believe its been like over a month since i joined! thats crazy!!! its been a weird time gotta say but since getting here me and wilson have grown A LOT. got up to so many shenanigans.

• on our first day we really badly helped some spooked horses and runaway carts
• some thayan wizard guy was upsetting the local giants in daggerford but we cleared the bad guys out
• a satyr summoned us to a pocket dimension to help sort out some bickering flowers. and then dahlia turned into a sheep!
• watched a sea hag eat lil turtles. it was her last meal
• a nice lady (NOT A SEA HAG) (OR ANOTHER KINDA HAG) trained me and snap on scimitar stuff
• dealt with goblins worshipping a rock
• some big dragon (narglarock?) had us go through an undead dungeon
• dealt with a yuan-ti lady who worked with a big spider?
• got ambushed by kenku but i got em back
• got jumped by wererats but artificers stay winning
• gave a feydragon a cinnamon roll and in return got friendship!
• went and investigated dragon cultists (more on this one later!)

ive had fun! so has wilson. :D looking foward to more!!!! -rokka

Flamerule 23

Wow, this has been a month. First off, a LOT of new members, which is great. What's not so great is danger has continued to increase around loudwater and the delimbyr.

The syndicate was recently attacked, the first one it has faced. It is no secret who was behind it: Orlak, that FUCKING goblin. After murdering solia and escaping all those months ago, he's been busy. An army of goblinoids, devils, a dragon, and a beholder has been amassed.

What came down upon the syndicate was only a small piece of what he had.

But, this ends. Soon.

The first half of the month was pretty quiet but that came to an end when the Syndicate came under attack by a large force of goblinoids and fiends. We all rushed out to defend the grounds and while it was chaotic as most large scale battles are, we prevailed, though a good number of kobolds on our side had been slain. After the battle and the numerous bodies having been cleaned off the field, things have pretty much returned to normal I guess. Solia seems off but she has many good friends looking out for her, so I'm sure she'll be ok.

The State of the Syndicate

July 2026 / Flamerule 1502 DR

Reported by Tova

Flamerule has been busy for the Glassfang Syndicate. That is still the polite way to say it. The Syndicate continues to gather capable, dangerous, strange, and occasionally very attractive people under one roof. New faces have arrived, familiar faces keep finding new ways to surprise me, and the feast hall remains one of the best places to hear rumors, find work, share a drink, or accidentally learn something personal before the meal is finished.

The work has continued steadily. Members have taken contracts beyond our walls, investigated threats in places most sensible people avoid, and returned with bruises, stories, and sometimes a bit more mud than necessary. Corruption, fey influence, hostile creatures, missing soldiers, and worse have all made an appearance this month. Training has also been active, with sparring, spell practice, crafting, and preparation shaping the Syndicate into something stronger. Some of us are learning how to hit harder. Some of us are learning how to avoid being hit. Some of us are learning both the hard way.

The biggest threat this month was the assault on the Syndicate itself. The attack was organized and serious, with goblins, hobgoblins, bugbears, fiends, and siege equipment pressing both sides of our defenses. The Syndicate held, but not without cost. Several kobolds were lost during the attack. They helped keep this place running before the siege, and many helped defend it during the fighting. They should be remembered as part of the Syndicate, not treated as background losses.

This month also made something clear to me. The Syndicate is not just a place people pass through for coin. At least, not for me anymore. I have grown close to people here. Friends, allies, sparring partners, troublemakers, and one particular drow who has become very difficult not to care about.

Because of that, I found myself standing against Akordil Kuldrexel, Sylk’s patron and grandmother. She made it clear she believed I was interfering with the future she had planned for him, and she expected fear, duty, and old bloodlines to be enough to make him obey. I disagreed. Strongly. Sylk is his own person, not a title, not a weapon, and not something to be bent into shape by someone else’s expectations. I do not hold power over him, and I do not need to. Caring for someone without controlling them is not weakness. It is love, and I will stand by that.

I have also had difficult words with Wuyon’e about Sylk, duty, and the expectations placed on him by the world he came from. We do not agree on the value of life, choice, love, or whether people are allowed to become more than what others named them. For the record, I believe they are.

The Syndicate is full of people carrying old wounds, old duties, old fears, and old names that do not fit as well as they used to. Some are trying to change. Some are fighting it. Some are doing both while pretending no one notices. I notice.

Morale is not untouched, but it is not broken. People are still training. Still taking work. Still gathering in the hall. Still laughing, flirting, arguing, healing, and walking back through the doors with new bruises and better stories. The Syndicate is not quiet. It is not safe. It is not simple. But it is alive, and after this month, I think that means something.

Signed,
Tova

---------------------------------------------------------------------

State of the Syndicate

Reported by Temoren Cairnwright

This month was busy in a way that felt less like one clean road and more like several badly marked trails crossing at once.

I have continued taking Syndicate work where I can, and the pattern remains consistent: the world is full of old problems, new problems, and people who insist on handing adventurers unclear maps before sending them toward both.

One job took us north toward the Nether Mountains on behalf of Nahaungloroth the Sky Surge. The work involved the Blood of Morueme, a goblinoid messenger named Hario, an abandoned and warded city called Glaurachyndaar, swarms of stirges, giant scorpions, poisonous dragon-like creatures, and wyverns. The provided map was poor, so I corrected my copy as we traveled. This is not a complaint. It is a fact, and also a recurring theme.

I also joined work involving the Mistbourne, the Tidewheel, and the Dark Tide. That matter was considerably stranger. The town was built around the ribcage of a dead leviathan, which I am still deciding how to categorize in my notes. We learned more about Joturr, the storm around old Ithal, and what the Dark Tide has become. Erlan Fleetfoot survived, which matters, because he may be one of the few people capable of helping the Mistbourne understand the Tidewheel without becoming part of the problem himself.

I have also met several new people around the Syndicate this month, including a white-haired woman with very striking markings. I do not know her story yet. I have learned not to assume too much based on appearances, but I do keep notes. Quietly.

Fetch continues to be helpful, though not always durable. He was taken out by friendly fire during one patrol. He has since been repaired. I have tools, and he has opinions.

On the craft side, I have begun offering spell scroll scribing under the name Cairn & Compass, which is also the name I intend to use for my future bastion once the proper location is settled. The bastion itself is not ready yet. I want the location to be right, not merely available. There is a difference.

For now, I am focusing on useful work: scrolls, corrected maps, field notes, and whatever preparations keep people alive when the next road turns out to be worse than advertised.

No one died on my watch this month.

That is not the same thing as success in every matter, but it is worth recording.

~Temoren Cairnwright~

State of The Syndicate

Flamerule 1502 DR

It has now been a month and a half since I've joined the Syndicate, and I don't regret it. The company is great, better than I've ever had. Free lodging and food has been quite the benefit. And, of course, how can I forget the thousands of gold I've made over simple craftwork? How have I never accomplished this before?

It has been quite eventful. Since my last report, I've ended a plague on the Far Forest, been turned into a goose, inspected caravans and rid them of wererats, looted a crypt for old artifacts, made some hobgoblins cry because they couldn't rob me, evacuated Phlan from that one stupid Cult of the Dragon, protected people from underwater beach horrors, beat up a Chimera, was chased by the same Chimera, became best buds with a Djinni, defended the Syndicate from goblins, and, of course, made another set of manifold tools for even more gold.

I've also finally moved in at Loudwater, in Slick's attic. Recently, I've been crafting more and more gear and have gotten a few commission requests, and as such I require better access to materials. Whether I will miss the Syndicate building itself is another question, but for now I am quite content. Rehka has also proposed that perhaps I could become a dragon, or something of the sorts, which is something I may consider looking into, although her following ramblings show that perhaps she hit her head once or twice as a child.

As much as I'd like to write out another list of people I am grateful for, my relationships haven't quite changed. I've met Brie, Soilia, Jasmal, Valentine and Wuyoney, I suppose. I have also not seen Forest, Basar and Read in a minute. If I think of more to say, I will write an addendum to this text.

With resolve,

Snap

State of the Syndicate

as written by Tealight on 28th Flamerule 1502 DR

When I first joined the Syndicate, I had hoped simply to prove myself useful. Looking back over the past month, I believe I have done just that.

Most of my assignments have involved investigating strange occurrences throughout the surrounding forests. Giant burrowing creatures, fungal infestations, mysterious plagues, and even the occasional beach party gone terribly wrong. I have fought bulettes, monstrous insects, undead, hags, dragonspawn, and creatures far stranger than I care to list. Thankfully, I have survived them all.

One thread has continued to stand out to me. Illness seems to be spreading throughout the region in many different forms. Parasitic mushrooms consuming entire forests, mysterious plagues afflicting nomadic tribes, and strange corruption affecting wildlife. Whether these incidents are connected or merely unfortunate coincidence, I cannot yet say. It is something I intend to keep watching.

Among the more memorable assignments was assisting the dryads Maple and Shiitake. Maple sought our help after a fungal infestation returned to her grove, while Shiitake had chosen to live alongside the very mushrooms that consumed her. Their knowledge has already proven invaluable, and I hope their research leads us closer to discovering whoever is responsible for creating these unnatural fungal amalgamations.

Not every mission has involved saving forests or delving into forgotten ruins. There was also the peculiar beach festival where Sunbeam kindly lent me his shirt after I discovered I had packed rather impractical clothing. The day somehow involved wild magic, enchanted dancers, an argumentative fish-man, and a monkey stealing an important package. Looking back... it was strangely enjoyable.

Perhaps the greatest surprise has not been the adventures themselves, but the company.

Lady Death has become a reliable companion, calm even when situations become dire. Sunbeam continues to prove that kindness and unwavering optimism can survive even the most dangerous battles. Azure Eyes somehow manages to remain cheerful regardless of how often magic decides to inconvenience him—though I suspect he will never entirely forgive me for making him even larger than he already was. Pink Lady has been pleasant company whenever our paths have crossed, and Lucinda...

The Syndicate itself has impressed me more than I expected. During the recent assault on our headquarters, adventurers and staff alike stood together to defend it. Kobolds manned ballistas without hesitation, companions rushed to one another's aid, and everyone fought as though protecting something they genuinely cared about.

I think... I understand why.

When I first arrived, I was simply looking for work.

Now, I find myself looking forward to seeing familiar faces whenever a new request is posted.

Overall, I am pleased with my time here. There is still much to learn, many places to explore, and more than a few mysteries left unresolved.

For the first time in quite a while, I find myself genuinely excited to see what comes next.

State of the Syndicate: Flamerule 1502 D.R.

The big news of the month has already been expounded upon by other voices than mine: the Syndicate has weathered its first full assault, while the master of the place was absent -- or lured away. Let their accounts, and those of the formal reports, stand for that. As an addendum, we have hunted down and killed the vermin responsible for it.

The Syndicate at large is still reeling, I think. There are hard feelings, stemming from poor leadership and decisions during the attack. Far from bringing us together, as it ought to have, the attack has sown seeds of discord that will likely outlive its architect. Let it be.

My business continues to grow and thrive, even as the official Syndicate work continues to falter -- for me, at least. I spend most of my time at my home. I fear I shall become a recluse. I have been obliged to make a veritable fortress of it, following the death of one of my hired guards -- Puff by name -- at the hands of trolls who slipped past my less imposing defenses. Another of my guards, called Lief, the ultimate source of much drama in my personal life, has simply vanished -- formed a relationship with Arlis, I believe, and the two of them have retreated to the privacy of their new cabin in the woods. I did the windows for the place myself.

But Optometry still rules from her castle in the sky, and I have yet to deal with her directly. A Red Wizard of Thay still wants his things back, and has the means to enforce his will upon Solia and Bri. There are still more loose ends to die up than are healthy for any of us, and I cannot begin to plan for what the future holds. I can only make as many general preparations as I can, and hope for the best.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

Arlis the Shade

This month has been fuckin' wild... From helpin' the Emerald Enclave more to the Siege against the Syndicate to goin' to Waterdeep to helpin' the Gatekeeper of the Autumn Bough... I don't even know where to fuckin' start... Honestly, the Siege is the biggest thing that happened. Orlak had an army come and attack the Syndicate. Bunch of goblins and hobgobbos, ogres and devils... He swarmed the Syndicate from the east and west and it was a mess. Fortunately Vincel and me were preparing to spar so we were already on sight. There were two waves and.. I almost didn't make it. At the same time, Lief had gone back to Shining Peaks after the news of Puff's death. He ended up fighting Yargenlily for his freedom and WON! He's no longer one of the Boys. I'm so proud of him for winning his freedom. Something I could never do... Yashir, Bri, Solia, Vincel and I think Surx? Went out to fight Orlak. From what I heard they actually killed 'em. But... I dunno if the war is over. I feel like maybe Orlak wasn't the biggest boss in the room. Thrax also had a group of us head out to Waterdeep to try and find a spot to set up a teleportation circle. The city is HUGE! I'm excited to explore it more. Sol's got a list of places to go. There's... there's more, but... I don't feel like writing it here.

Sargrea Maze

My activity within the Syndicate has been minimal as of late. I have acquired a new skill with painting supplies to the thanks of my benefactor, Mister Waures. I have acquired new friends... I am slowly settling in here. I will be taking on more jobs in the near future, and I hope that my services will be more beneficial.

So much occurred this past month. So much so that to try to encapsulate it all would take hours if not days to do so. For my part, I spent a majority of it training with Arlis. This, along with continuing to learn Leatherworker's tools, has kept me quite busy. I have hardly had time to go on adventures, or quests, or missions for that matter.

There was a major attack on the Syndicate. This has got me worried about my own safety, and that of my home, so, I have already begun planning the upgrades to Liberuma'poena. Hopefully, they will prove most effective in the months to come.

I have also begun work on a solution for Solia and the bothersome issue of her Keystone Relic. What is known of these artifacts is limited, and as such, my research into them has provided limited results. I have attempted to attune a planar fork to the innate frequency harbored inside the eye, though, I have yet to align such things. We have only attempted once, though, a question she posed after the attempt... leaves me worried as to what might happen, should we all embark into the space beyond spaces: into that prison that keeps an entity locked away.

What could such a thing have done to be locked away in such a manner? Is it possible to kill such a thing, should it come to it? Or will we trap ourselves inside, alongside this Weaver?

Hubris is the downfall of all, and Wizards are prone most of all to pride. I know I must think of a solution before jumping in to these uncertain waters, lest I never reach the great heights I push myself to attain. I cannot falter now, not when the answers are so close...

SYSTEM LOG: 1502 DR - kythorn & flamerule

ARCHIVE 1: kythorn

Arrived at Glassfang Syndicate. Became official member of the guild. Completed 4x missions. Achieved Initiate rank. Acquired syndicate allies: Snap, Sylk Teke'zynge, Tova Sundara. Favors: Waterdhavian Cheese Gourmet, unicorn Primira. Enemies: ex-employer Mirt

Warning: mainframe and system infection increased. syndicate allies close to harm. Recommended: dispose of the corruption. Directive: search individual skilled in smithing.

ARCHIVE 2: flamerule

Completed 7x missions. Achieved Adept rank. Acquired syndicate allies: Rokka, Temoren Cairnwright. Favors: Fellowship of Bowyers and Fletchers. Penalties: Waterdeep edict - 1 month ban from the city. system almost failed completely.

Warning: mainframe and system infection reached new corruption levels. Note: syndicate member Bri's effort showed no results. Received guidance to seek ally Temoren for further assistance. Directive: seek out Temoren. must get stronger. must protect friends.