After being holed up in my mansion, doing secret things that I won't tell you I am out.

Jokes aside, the month was a bit a boring, not gonna lie, but isn’t it part of life? To be bored? To live with your own thoughts?

End of the month, 30th, is day I turn 39 years. Can't believe six months have passed since raid on Silverymoon. Cannot believe been up here for so long. How long will it take to get home? Half a year is nothing to my kin, but feels so long here.... At least receive best present could get: Working. Will be working that day.

This month... have learned to grapple with feelings. Is ... odd thing to say. Very odd thing to do for me. Used to, not have them. But surface allows for more freedoms. One of them is freedom to feel. And now that I can feel, want, yearn, hurt.... it is... different. I used to not deal with any of this.

My family has helped. Arlis has helped. Lief has helped. Yashir and Solia have helped.

Work has been slow, and that has been hard deal with. Left feeling useless. Unproductive. But those who care have helped.

My strength was sapped for a while. Less a punishment, like feared, more a warning. A reminder that must keep focus, must keep fighting even though life seems... so different, now. So strange, now. And, while with Ssrin... heard... some song. Some calling. have reject it, but think I know who it was.

Something about that... terrify me. And makes me angry. And makes me want fight, at same time. But somehow... makes me think, may relate to purpose here.

I want more work. I want work harder. Has been good, helping Yashir at Shining Peaks, sparring and competing. Met a new Knight at Syndicate and have been train her up. Just want keep working hard, not losing part of self that keeps fighting.

Jack:

What is there even to write? I arrived by the edge of death, and have continued along it since I got here.

But that seems to be the catch with this place, isn't it? The price of kindness and kinship. I do not miss the moonsea.

State of the Syndicate, Marpenoth 1502 D.R.

I've little that I care to write here. Work has actually picked up a little bit for me, which is a blessing. It takes my mind off of things I would rather not think about. Dragons, undead, horsemen... Briarfael has returned, thank the elements.

I am trying to maintain a professional attitude, but enough has happened which I do not wish to write about to complicate matters greatly for me. I have begun to consider moving on from the Syndicate. The roots I had set down are not as firmly... rooted... as I had hoped. I've made no decisions as yet; just something to think about.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

What news have I, but to say I've arrived? How very fortunate for those of the Syndicate.

The mercenaries here are receptive, their training facilities adequate, and the work on my villa proceeds apace. I've found, in my time, more than one willing sparring partner, including one of such vast power as to be breathtaking in more ways than one.

It's nearly enough to keep the homesickness at bay.

Signed,
Elysia Vaelthorn

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

Where to begin?
Missions have been had, near death of friends experienced, but we've managed to get through the worst of it. The newest generation of adventurers is eager, hah! But that eagerness... It can lead to them biting off more than they can chew. We're lucky they all had soul directives to return.

That's been the most pressing thing on my mind, journal.
How can we keep the younger generation alive?

Some of them distrust me because they say "I smile too easily." It's the third or perhaps fourth time my kindness has been taken as malicious intent. Would that I could write their paranoia doesn't bother me. Among the number, Lukan, a man who looks like he could be my sibling, really. I've taken to mentally calling him 'little cousin' but I do avoid saying it aloud; rather not get stabbed.

I work toward providing winter gifts for the Syndicate. It's an attempt to answer that earlier question, 'how to keep them alive,' but in part too simply to bring some holiday joy. It's been a heavy year for many. Opening wrapped presents might help to alleviate that stress. I think Rokka has agreed to help me? Biscuit is labeled 'perhaps,' her promises of aid dependent on her fluctuating commissions, and Yashir has offered to help with the costs.

With everyone pitching in, I think this might be truly possible.
I've been hammering night and day, if not for a gift, then a commission to pay for a gift. My arms are sore, but my heart is full, and even should they all pull their help, I will not stop until I've made enough gifts to spread some cheer to the newest generation.

- Cyrus

The days have been tranquil for me this month... no combat to speak of. Clangeddin would not approve. This month I've dedicated myself to Dugmaren. My knowledge of monsters is lacking and so is my hability to understand them.
I've struggled against dragons in the past. So I learned draconic. I'm sure I will struggle against giants in the future, so I've dedicated myself to learn the different types of giants. I'm also learning how to speak giant. So I'm ready for trouble, wouldn't want to be turn into paste by insulting a giant's mother... unless it's on purpose.

Party: Kami, Kyani, Lukan, Nyemelaving, Venn

Our party decided to follow up with Leadale situation. We spoke with Old Man Jacob, where he offered to answer one question we had. River had asked if there was any kind of event that happened in the town's history. The old man said there wasn't anything too out there except about 200 or 300 years ago, there was an influx of new settlers and that's when things started to change. People started going out into the sun less and less. He said there was a lot he didn't know since it was far beyond his time. And he had warned us that we shouldn't be questioning anything about the barriers around the island. Something is going on...

Old Man Jacob suggested going to a library on the mainland in Zazesspur.

So off we went back to Zazesspur, and went to one of the more prominent libraries. We began our search for information.

• Kyani found a fiction called "Old Gods" - A book with a story about a massive entity that was slain out at sea and became an island. The book is formulated as a first person perspective recounting with commentary at the end.
• I found that there were three books that were checked out by an individual three days ago:
  • History of Leadale
  • Imports and Exports
  • Tethyran Myths and Legends
• River had spoked to a scholarly man and discovered that there is a rumor that Leadale or, Thordentor was cursed because it seemed that was an annual place where whales went to die. Every year whales would beach themselves and die, leaving whale bones all over their shores. Not sure what the relevance is, but, it may be worth looking into as well.

Lukan discovered a duck. River spoke to the duck. Apparently the duck was a 'ductective' and was frantic because their master had gone missing behind a bookshelf. Supposedly some cloaked figures took her and she has yet to come back. We all began our search for a hidden lever or button, something to open a hidden bookshelf door. We ended up finding the switch and opening the door. We found a secret room where several red-robed mages seemed to be having some kind of meeting. A cult, perhaps? We were attacked, and forced to defend ourselves. Afterwards, we managed to find some correspondence in a language and code we could not read.

We descended some stairs that led us further into a hidden chamber- a ritual was being cast. Some mage was holding one Detective Loretta Bond captive to be the sacrifice for her ritual. We stopped the ritual and saved Detective Loretta. We spoke with her and agreed to work together to solve the mystery behind the island. The correspondence we found seemed to be in Thayan, but encoded. Loretta said she would work on cracking the code and would call upon us in the future once she has further information.

All of this... the mages in red robes.. I think it's not all a coincidence that interest lies in the same gray matter material that Leadale is known for... What is the big picture here?

End Report.

It was me, Wuyon'e and Azrael

Everything started at the Kelp & Kraken tavern in Vornskar, where Thalia and Erlan revealed that the pirate king Uazi was mutating his crew with black brine to awaken the leviathan Joturr, prompting Erlan to steal the artifact known as the Celestial Tidewheel. As the town was suddenly invaded by the Dark Tide, we fought our way through the flooded streets while protecting Erlan from a terrifying freezing transformation. Reaching the Bonewharf Docks, while Captain Aurora clashed with the pirates, Wuyon'e raced up the Stormspire Lighthouse to slot the Tidewheel into its ancient recess, blinding our foes with a burst of spectral light. After defeating massive frost giants and a colossal storm crab, we boarded The Cutlass and convinced a stunned Captain Aurora to set sail straight into the raging, forbidden maelstrom of Jorturr’s Fury to finish this war once and for all

-Ivor Bersk

Party: Cyrus, Lief, Arlis, Wuyon'e, Yashir
Location: Beregost/Near Beregost

We went to Beregost and met a Psuedodragon that is a familiar of SEER. It commissioned us to go find her in some ruins or some shit. So we go there, we fight some big guys, some vampire guys, and a ghost in a vase took over Lief's body until we threatened the shit out of it. Apparently, the ghost was the ghost of this wizard guy called Ulcaster? He asked for our help too. So we took him with us, fought some black oozy things (I fuckin' hate those things), some screaming undead things, and some ghostie things? Made our way through there and fought some more undead things, an undead beholder, and then found our way into a room where a vampire lady had SEER captive. They wanted to talk but we weren't having it. So we kicked her fuckin' ass and she turned into mist and ran away. We managed to rescue SEER and help the Ulcaster guy. I think we did a pretty good job considering some of us were arguing and shit the whole time.

We were hired by Pseudodragon, gold one, familiar of woman named Seer in Beregost to investigate ruins and rescue Seer. Entryway, guarded by Clerics of Lathander. Was friendly with them, though unfortunately for them, their men fell, who were positioned to guard ruins- slain by giants. we avenged them. While in ruins, we discovered ghost of wizard, Ulcaster. He wanted us find his body, promised reward. We agreed do so in exchange for help find SEER. He did not prove to be much help, but did pay splendidly for task of return him to tomb. We fought an undead Beholder, vampire spawns, and oozes and wraiths. Even a few banshees. Was a shame turn undead would not be as useful here. Would have loved turn them, but alas, enclosed space. Make harder for them flee in terror.

When we found Seer she was possess by a Vampire, who got away, escape into mist. I attempted to go after with help of Yashir, but escaped too far, too fast, into crack in wall.

One vampire, attempted surrender. I do not take prisoners.

After, I spent time to consecrate the grounds with Forbiddance so no more Vampires posed threat, including perhaps one who tried flee in mist form. Any who did not leave the ruins would not survive unless return day after once Forbiddance wore off.

The mission was... made far more difficult, by interactions with team, than any enemies we faced. I will not say am proud of it. I will not say more.

26 Marpenoth 1502 D.R.

SEER, with whom I have done some fairly extensive work in the past, was captured. Her familiar, a pseudodragon, called upon the help of the Syndicate to retrieve her, and Lief, Cyrus, Wuyon'e, Arlis, and myself answered the call.

I... could wish it had been others to answer the call rather than they.

SEER had been exploring the ruins of the Ulcaster Academy, which some of us had previously delved, and there been ambushed. We met with her familiar in nearby Beregost, were... briefly.... briefed, and went on our way to search.

Cyrus and Wuyon'e were at each other's throats immediately. It was a constant running dialogue of insults and attacks and defenses. I was obliged to raise my voice against them more than once. Lief and Arlis stayed mostly out of it, but none of us were unsullied with infighting. It was frankly an embarrassment. We were more a threat to ourselves than were our enemies, a few paltry undead and vampire spawn led by a chatty vampire.

Old Ulcaster, the headmaster of the school who had previously been a ghost but was restored, had apparently managed to get himself trapped in a soul jar again, and his body buried. He decided to rectify this by usurping Lief's body when we got close to him to ask for our help. We of course obliged, with the promise of a reward, but by flame and wind, I was tempted to find out what would happen if I bound him to his jar and smashed it. Anyway, Ulcaster is back in his body again, for now. He should be more careful around jars in the future. I believe that was what trapped his spirit and rendered him a ghost in the first place.

Done with that side task, we got on with the main job of saving Seer's life. We fought our way through minor vampire spawn who posed little threat to us, and horrid black oozes that smelled more strongly than they struck, and what is, I believe, the third undead eye tyrant I have faced. If I had a silver for every undead eye tyrant, and so forth, weird that it's happened three times so far.

Soon enough, we found the vampire in charge of it all, with a hypnotized SEER by his side. He tried to monologue at us. Cyrus would have allowed it, I believe -- I do not know his plan -- but the rest of us, most notably myself, were having none of it. I regret taking the direct path, somewhat; I generally at least try to talk first. But I felt confident that the creature would not deal in good faith, and anyway, SEER was my highest priority. We ganged up and beat him into red mist in a few seconds. Unfortunately, the red mist remained ambulatory and fled through a crack in the wall. I would have pursued, but was blocked by some phantasmal force. We retrieved the now-unconscious but safe SEER and returned to Beregost triumphant.

At no point, I must stress, did the cross-talk cease. This was not a group I especially enjoyed working with, despite my friendship with... well, all of them, individually. Recommend splitting them up in the future, at least Wuyon'e and Cyrus.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

To Whom it may Concern:

I'm still not great at these 'after-action reports', as I am not well attuned with names or places. But this is written in the best way my memory has served me.

We were hired by a farmer who explained that his 'community', if you could even call it that, is made up of farmers that found a place in between each of their land to build their homes so the farmers could help each other out and watch over each other.

There was just one issue: people were going missing. There were no threats of monsters or anything so it was just strange. They had their culprit, however. A group of spellcasters that moved in.

The spellcasters needed a place to stay so they offered the building that wasn't in use because that family moved. And when they got here, people went missing. So the farmers got afraid and hired the Syndicate to handle the problem.

We went to that house and it was boarded up on the inside. I did a perimeter check, checking for runes, traps, and perhaps weaknesses in their boarding job. Nothing was detected, not by magic detection nor my careful inspection.

I did find a small gap in one of the windows. I looked inside and saw them huddled together at a table and very anxious. After the party at the front door knocked and they stayed dead silent, I took a risk and took matters into my own hands.

I teleported inside through the gap in the window. They stood up and looked afraid and defensive. I was trying to convince them that I meant no harm and we just wanted to get their side of the story. No violence needed.

They eventually caved and let the party in, after determining I wasn't going to hurt them right then and we actually wanted to talk.

They told us that the farmers jumped one of their own and killed him while he was fetching supplies. That none of the farmers went missing and they don't know what we're talking about. That they're terrified and the person they killed was their most powerful: their way to teleport home.

They told us that they are students from Witherbloom and they were traveling, they stopped to rest and found unique mushrooms growing in the basement, got side tracked, and stayed to study them. The mushrooms apparently grow around iron- more specifically iron found in large amounts of blood.

Dusty and I explored downstairs. Jack was making small talk. And Rillifen was keeping watch. Rillifen noted that the farmers were standing outside and just watching us. Strange.

Downstairs, I was examining the mushrooms for strange properties while Dusty found out the floorboards were loose. Using my crowbar, he lifted the boards and there was a ritual circle underneath.

We both examined it and determined it's a summoning circle, Abyssal, and seemed to summon some kind of demon. We went back upstairs, explained it to the druids, and they were not only stunned but shaken up by it. It seemed like they were not acting.

So we all went outside and tried to play it off as we did the job. The farmers claimed we were lying because if we did, He would be summoned. That was enough. We all began to fight.

After we eventually took down the farmers, who were casting spells and using weapons that I've seen warlocks use, we took a moment to lick our wounds and the leader came out.

He saw the mess and decided we were a threat. He tried to flee but Jack had cast a spell that could see him, invisible. Dusty stopped him in his tracks and we took him down.

Everything worked out in the end, the Witherbloom students were safe, we destroyed the circle, and killed all of the cultists. We believe the original farmers were killed and replaced.

Signed:

Blink

10/24/26

A kobold approached us to hire our group rather than having an actual client. Apparently the others had already been involved with something similar previously but now fighting something called War. We went to the location we were to protect or at least intervene from the incoming threat.

After minor discussion, others scouted out to find where the army was coming from. I stayed back to go over my spells to confirm which ones would be proper to use for handling an army.

The siege on the Syndicate months prior still weighs on my mind. But we're all stronger than back then.

I set up a fortress as well as symbol, using my own expenses and components to do so. I had a fair bit or preparation to do. Giving an Abjuration wizard time to prepare is a dangerous combination.

Perhaps I can convince Thrax to allow me to ward the Syndicate in the event of future issues.

We planned to lock Yashir in a Wall of Force with the horseman that we assumed was War and the rest of us handled its minions. A variety of flaming skulls, skeletons, death knights, and wasps. It was a hard fought battle but we succeeded in the end.

Learnable Creatures: Flaming Skeleton

Job log

Party

Tova, Sal, Yashir, Solia, Surx

We were teleported by a k9bold from the syndicate, this guy named Pokémon I believe. Says Okay a LOT. It is a bit unsettling. He sent us to the same banshee again and she wasn't aware we were neing sent. She did come and assist our preparations for the oncoming creature named War. Our directive was to defend the ruins and in doing so Salviron erected this insane fortress. That wizard is fucking powerful. I dont think we would have fared as well had it not been for his magic.

I was able to slow quite a few, also slam these damned flaming skulls. I had activated my crown of stars for the first time and had almost forgotten they were there. Those things do significant damage and it doesnt compete with my other main action. This might actually make me rethink my metabolic as quicken spell is not as needed with that and my ability to cast sacred flame about 5 times a day as a bonus as well. I had been pondering the skill that allows me to extend the range on my spells. That shall be my next choice given the opportunity. I feel limited in large areas and want to project my storm further out than 60ft.

Regardless, everyone got some major hits, Briar was fantastic but went down. Yashir... I cannot say how much that man has done. His bravery and ability to stay up and not get hit in a fight is legendary in itself. Nothing could touch him. I have learned from him and also am much harder to hit with my cloak and shield as well.

All in all, we were able to take the creature down and save the place. Unsure what is in store for us next but I am proud to fight along side each and every one of them.

~Tova Sundara

24 Marpenoth 1502 D.R.

In a first for me, the Syndicate was called upon by... the Syndicate. I do not mean that Thrax sent us to perform some task, nor even that a member rallied a team; instead, one of the kobolds -- the one I've dubbed the OK Kobold -- apparently took an interest in our last job and decided, of his own volition, to do a follow-up.

I was... hesitant about the entire situation, which was demonstrably not OK on many counts. Still, the OK Kobold offered us coin and magic items, though I'll not put to parchment my suspicions as to where he acquired them where Thrax can so easily read it. We took the job. A tenday or so ago, we had been called to face a headless horseman called Conquest. Today, myself, Solia, Surx, Tova, and Salviron were sent to face his brother, War -- the second, it seems, of four.

We enlisted the help of the ghostly woman who had previously enlisted us to deal with Conquest; she obliged us by providing some traps to set up the battlefield, as we had advance warning of War's approach. But it was Salviron's magic tower and illusion-work that really set the battlefield in our favor. We funneled the enemy to a single point, and each of us were able to play to our strengths.

The horseman was the last to appear, of course, but even after having spent several long minutes fighting off his horde of minions, he was no match for us. Salviron stunned his horse and so dismounted him, and I held him off while Solia, Tova, and Surx rained hell down upon his head. When he perished, so too did the skeletons he commanded.

I expect the OK Kobold will be summoning us again -- twice. For the time being, though, this part of the job is done.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr.

In the records for Marpenoth in the year of 1502DR another small page is found. The tiny script of 'Ansrivarr'  fills the page.

Another delve into crypt and tomb puzzles awaited us, and dangers too. Though what i did not expect was a spirit. Bound to this place she was knows as Eopei. May her name be remembered by some, for her spirit was kind and gentle. Her bones were carried by my companions and I to a high hill where she might look over her lands and watch the sunrise before her final journey.

Eopie was the grand daughter of one called Ra-nefar. A powerful practitioner of magics and while Eopei's spirit had been saved the ravages of madness the other had not. Twisted into a being of bone and death it was not a foe to be caught alone by. Something I can attest to personally.

Though, with the skill and cunning of Dusty, Biscuit, Karno and Onics, we were able to find and activate all the orbs, and with them, the arcane lights within the tomb. What malice gripped Ra-nefar was made weak by the light and together short work was made of his true death.

What comes next is the final cleansing of the tomb. Eopei's knowledge of the infernal ties between the prisoner of this tomb and one called Orcus. A topic which I am less familiar with than Abberations and their ilk.
~ I am known here as Ansrivarr.

Green is Yashir's Favorite Color

23 Marpenoth, 1502 DR

-------

Villastormoz the green dragon was our contact, summoning Yashir and a team to take down a white dragon, Tenelestromoz, for its heart. I don't get paid to question things. We, along with Snap and Bri, all headed north.

Our first trouble as we climbed the summit were six frost giants as they built a bridge across a chasm. I spoke with the group, befriending and flirting with one giant to allow us, the dragon's new mercenaries, to pass. Yarg the giant helped us out by tossing some of us across the ravine. The second trouble involved more frost giants with icy wolves who refused flirtation. Again, I helped convince them their jobs were at stake, that Tenelestromoz hired us to replace them. But we agreed to put in a good word for them, and went inside the cavernous lair.

Tenelestromoz was none too pleased we came for his heart. He had no counter offer we cared about, so a fight broke out. Thanks to Snap and Bri, we won, but Yashir and I were pinned in place and I was downed half the fight. Regardless we succeeded. Bri had the pleasure of carving the dragon's heart, Snap took its blood (???), and we all exited the lair. Villastormoz greeted us out front, having killed the frost giants we left alive, and gave us a ride back. We returned home with a dragon's hoard of gold, trinkets, and some odd magic items.

The next time someone asks me to go to Icewind Dale, I'm quitting. -Sylk

23 Marpenoth, 1502 D.R.

A dragon with whom I had dealt with previously called upon me again, this time through the Syndicate, and this time under a different name than the one he had used before. A young green dragon, Greenshard Toxinflight, had asked me to help him kill a fully-grown adult red dragon who, he claimed, had stolen his lair. I did so.

Now, under the new name of Vilastramoz, the green dragon -- substantially grown into a mature form in the couple of tendays since last I saw him -- wanted my help killing a different dragon: an ancient white, far to the north near Icewind Dale. He had no interest in lair or hoard, but wanted the dragon's heart brought to him.

I am fairly confident the creature did not directly lie to me, not in any way I can prove, but I have been visited by the mate of the red dragon I previously slew. That dragon, Volacane the Catastrophe, informed me that the younger green had claimed their rightful lair and destroyed their eggs along with it. I hesitated to work with the wretched creature again, and frankly, doing so made me sick in a way no poison can match. But a job is a job, and I am a godsbedamned professional. The others -- Snap, Bri, and Sylk -- had fewer qualms. They didn't know about the destruction of the eggs, and I didn't see fit to volunteer the information in front of the perpetrator himself, but I doubt it would have stopped them. If it would, well, let them learn of it in this report, and share my disgust. I am fairly confident that Vilastramoz devoured the eggs in some foul draconic ritual to speed his growth, as he intends to do again with Telestromoz's heart.

Ugh. A red dragon is a greater threat than ever Greenshard Toxinflight was, by its very existence; and an ancient white dragon is a greater threat even than the mature form of Vilastromoz is. But I am reasonably certain that he will be the size of the white we slew, the next time we see him.

Well, I am getting ahead of myself. We passed north, and Sylk talked us past a group of frost giant guards -- and then two larger, stronger-looking honor guards. We entered the white dragon's lair and spoke briefly; he declined to buy us off, an opportunity I afforded him because Vilastromoz had declined to pay us in advance, and we were obliged to stand to battle.

I say "we." I spent the entire battle with my feet frozen to the floor, as useless in practice as I have felt for the past several months. Fortunately, the others were equal to the task without me.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

In the records for Marpenoth in the year of 1502DR another small page is found. The tiny script of 'Ansrivarr'  fills the page. This entry seems to have many stops and starts in the writing and the script is not so flowing. Either Ansrivarr had much on her mind or was perhaps in the back of a bouncing wagon while writting it.

After given time to research the Whitehawk bid us return. I find him an interesting individual still.
With him was Lucy, a halfling rescued from the catacombs under Shiningfalls, recovering in his quarters. I am pleased that she is physically recovering, though what she must now live with- perhaps she thinks it would have been kinder that she did not survive. Though that is not a notion I agree with.

With me came the elf Rillifen, returned on the same path, though I still know little of him. Jack, whose character and spirit are still under consideration. A timid soul, but one that has shown courage by continuing this path, yet showing either stupidity or naivety; I know not which one yet. The brash and bold Zephyra also came with us. A fine fighter and one attuned with the storms was a welcome partner to join us again. Lukan was the last to take up the call. (Here a few dots of ink are set beside Lukan's name as if she didn't quite know what to write about the man.)

What was found within the tome left behind was a record of the Crone's experiments and philosophy. The joining of consciousness and community twisted. My hackles rise at the familiarity of such speech. My resolve to carry out my Mentor's will bid me continue on into dimension created by the Crone.

Though not without means of return. The Whitehawk would remain behind, tying around our arms a band of white cloth, a thread to connect us back to him. A costly bit of magic no doubt, one that will be repaid. Though to hold the debt and show my intentions, a gift was given in turn. A stone of great importance to me.
The debt owed is great indeed.

Within the plane, the place between, death had been bound. Spirits and specters wandered the path which hung suspended in the inky blackness. It was here that Jack showed his flaw. Speaking to what cannot be seen before it speaks to you is a mistake that almost always leads to death. Especially when in the area of their dominion. Ghosts have many reasons for being and in this case, bound by the hand of the Crone as I suspect they were, it would have been wiser to leave them well enough alone until we were sure of their disposition.

As it was, they were angered as the silence was disrupted. The fight was fraught with danger, though I was added to that danger. Taken over by the Crone and used as a weapon to take the others. Though... upon reflection, the Crone wished not to simply kill, else my body would have been used to much greater and powerful action. Still, Lukan proved his combat prowess by avoiding my strikes; else I fear we may both have been plunged into the darkness.

When the fight ended, we sought to rest, but I could not. The voice of the Crone echoed in my mind and tore at my spirit.

Jack seemed likewise tormented, and be it folly or bravery, he spoke back. Standing up for himself against her taunts. I reserve judgement, though my initial reaction was negative. Perhaps it would not have mattered in the end if he spoke or not. Just as it may not have mattered if the ghosts were spoken to. I do not think so highly of myself as to know all ends.

Though, at last, I can say that we know better the truth of what it is we face.

The Crone is but a Mindflayer. Though one twisted and contorted beyond its nature.

Touched by undeath, its mind and power have been warped, but at its core, like all Mindflayers, it seeks the bonding of minds with others. The collective and community is a thing that, no matter how twisted its form, all Mindflayers rely on. Crave.

What has twisted this one and drawn it from its own collective is a mystery to me still. Its powers over death and the stars is a strange combination of magics that I did not anticipate. Though the source may be twofold, one is without doubt the binding of a great being. I know not if it is a god or a mighty force given humanoid form, but within the Crone's realm it lay among the stars bound with runes of Deep Speech. Bindings which glowed with power as the Crone used its magics to bend the stars and the nebula clouds to its whim.

A test set forth by the Crone. A test that I failed. That we nearly all failed.

Many debts are now owed. Jack fell, scorched by the stars themselves. Lukan collapsed, though thankfully he did not suffer death.

I later learned Rillifen also died in the attempt to get Lukan and Zephyra on their feet to continue the fight, and that it was by Zephyra's magic we were made victorious.

I have much to do.

~ I am known here as Ansrivarr

This being is a scourge. To everything she touches, everything she collects.

Shadow and stars, blood and rot. It all must be destroyed.

What started as a mishap during an autumn festival has spiraled into the uncovering a plot from this horrid monster.

She is an aberrant, and we will stop her.

We were requested by a loud, sturdy fellow ( whom I believe is a member?) to request an artifact that was stolen. We were sent through a portal through the shadow fell, a shortcut, he said.

We met a group of travelers, fortune tellers that spoke of misery and loss and woe. It was here our mission became doomed.

Traveling through the dark realm was expectedly dangerous. Weakened from undead, a headless rider upon a flaming stead was able to fell one of our own. We ended him in kind, but the travellers warned it would return.

We passed through another portal out of the realm and into the eastern desert. Here, we found the hideout of the members apparent followers. The site was a massacre, and the artifact had been stolen by sharan worshippers.

Failure.

I lack all thought to write with the due formality of a report.

Conscripted to fulfill the wants of a member of the Syndicate who seemed ill himself, we set forth to find a golden relic lost. I would only learn of this purpose in hindsight.

As it was, we were spirited away to a dead tree trunk, stepping through it and pass the veil into the fabled Shadowlands. Though the gloom is reminiscent of my magic, there exists no familiarity within. We came across a group of what I can only describe as perhaps some kind of goblin, and in their kinship, they offered us food, drink, and readings to our future.

A caravanning sort of people, they agreed to allow us to accompany them to the exit we needed in exchange for our protection. After hours, we encountered a group of wraiths that left some of us worse for wear and one of the locals unfortunately deceased. Wraiths, it seems, all but suck the life force from their victims.

We continued, 'til we heard hoofbeats. Our caravanners panic'd, and for good reason; what greeted us was a Dullahan riding upon a fiery Nightmare. The fight was brutally quick. One of ours did not survive it, though was later able to be brought back to life. Out of respect, I'll go into no further detail save to say that when finally we arrived to the temple that held the golden idol, we discovered there was a massacre of the priests within and the idol stolen by Shar's worshippers.

In the records for Marpenoth in the year of 1502DR another small page is found. The tiny script of 'Ansrivarr'  fills the page.

Mistress of Fate has a sense of humor. A thing I have learned over many encounters and memories. On this day it was such a moment as upon a rare visit to the Syndicate Keep I was pulled into an adventure of many twisting turns.

A harried individual brought a letter forth to us, calling for urgent aid. One Aya Glenmiir, who would later be revealed to be an elf woman, needed aid in the matter of a crime committed upon her person.

What aid we would provide to a traveler so far from us that the local town governance could not provide intrigued me. Curiosity led me to accept the call.

The reason for the others to take up the mission I do not know but two were new to me.

A being by name of Blink was one. A (Here the even pen strokes pause, noted by the darker ink in the following few words. Perhaps she had to pause in the writing.) being of origin I would rather not guess at. Proof and time will reveal what has touched them and if action should be taken.

Another was Elysia. A woman of noble heritage I guess, based on her demeanor and quality of equipment. One that, depending on how the coin lands, may be a friend or a foe.

Dusty and Kaeno were ones to join us as well. Welcome as proven allies in combat, though in matters of investigation it is Dusty that I would trust more. Kaeno, strong as they are, oft act before they think. One day, I fear there will be a leap of his that will fall into death.

Upon our arrival the crime to have taken place was one of robbery. Gur traveling with merchants, lashed out and took what was not theirs. Weapons, gold, artifacts of magic. I have had dealings with the Gur in the past, limited to one family, it may have been, but we shared much. I was inclined to find the truth, rather than assume. The others, thankfully, seemed likewise inclined.

Into the woods we ventured to find the missing member of the Gur family. Unfortunately, he was attempting to sell gems and jewels to a merchant. More unfortunately, the local flora seemed in need of sustenance. It is the nature of all things to eat, but in the wilds one must be willing to fight and survive to earn that right. In this case, the Blight Needles and Vines were not strong enough to earn their prey and fell to fire, claw, and magic.

We returned to the inn with the young member of the family and returned the jewels to the merchant, but our work was not yet done. Before the situation could be resolved fully. The Inn was surrounded by thick fog, thicker than at the start of the evening, and with it came a small colony of adult giant bats came for blood. A strange turn that leads me to think an imbalance exists within the area of Phlan. I know not the druid circles that take charge of the land there, but I will report it to the Keepers, and they will send assistance, I am sure. Though not mine. I still have work to do here.

The bats, like the flora before, were little struggle for us, though in the chaos of the fight a child was taken.

Their mother, with two other children to take care of, was forcibly commanded to stay at the inn while we ventured into the fog to find them.

When they were found, the boy was surrounded not by the colony as I anticipated, but by the dead. With some luck, the boy was unharmed while the dead were released from this plane.

In the end, the source of the crime was an attempt to forestall a great doom felt by the matriarch of the Gur family. Such a thing I have seen before. And will again, I have no doubt. Still, the attempt to save a child is one I will forever and always regard with the highest respect.

~ I am known here as Ansrivarr.

[The following notes are in practiced cursive.]

We were summoned to the Crossing Inn in Phlan by the mage Aya Glenmiir, who charged us with a matter of some urgency: the recovery of precious gemstones stolen by one of the Gerrs, a nomadic family passing through the city, whose conduct had, until then, been most amicable. Yet the recovery of these stones was but one part of our charge, for we were also tasked with uncovering the truth behind the dense and unnatural fog that had settled over the surrounding lands.

Following a lead into the swamp, we discovered the errant Gerr attempting to barter the stolen gemstones to a company of merchants. Upon our intervention, the merchants professed ignorance of the stones' illicit origins and, upon learning the truth, promptly withdrew from the transaction. Our confrontation was, however, interrupted by the sudden emergence of sentient, monstrous shrubs, which assailed us from the surrounding undergrowth. These creatures were dispatched in due course, and we returned to the inn with the frightened Gerr in our custody.

It was there, before the assembled company, that the young man revealed the truth of his family's conduct. His mother, gifted with the sight of foresight, had foreseen some dreadful calamity and instructed her kin to aid in the preparation and defense of Phlan by securing allies wherever they might be found. The theft of the gemstones, the appropriation of weapons, and even an attempted theft of a wand had all been undertaken with this singular purpose in mind: to barter such goods for the aid and support they believed the city would soon desperately require.

We had scarcely begun to reckon with this revelation when a scream arose from beyond the inn's walls. The fog had thickened further, and within its murky embrace lurked enormous bats, whose predatory attentions had fallen upon a young family. We intervened without hesitation, driving the creatures back and ensuring the family's safety. I must confess, the encounter yielded an unexpected benefit of a more personal nature, as I have since acquired another bat for my collection. One must endeavor to find some small pleasure, even amid such grim affairs.

Our respite proved brief. Upon the family's rescue, we learned that one of the children had fled into the surrounding mist. We immediately took up the trail, pursuing the child into the gloom, where we encountered and dispatched several undead creatures intent upon claiming him. Upon examining the fallen, we discovered a collection of peculiar coins upon their persons, the nature and provenance of which remain uncertain.

By then, the mist had grown yet more oppressive, its presence threatening enough that prudence counselled our withdrawal.
We therefore returned to the Crossing Inn, bearing with us more questions than answers, and with the unsettling certainty that whatever dark portent had been foretold was drawing ever nearer. May the people of Phlan prepare for it properly.

Signed,

To Whom It May Concern:

I am not a professional at making these, I was instructed to write down what I remembered. I apologize for my inability to remember names very well, and my thoughts being all over the place. That being said:

We arrived on scene, it is relevant that it was in a tavern. There was a lot of fog on the outside, it was very hard to see. We immediately met suspicious eyes before they realized we were not who they were gossiping about.

I went to meet with the barkeep first, and as soon as one of the party members mentioned that we are of the Glassfang Syndicate, a woman beckoned us over: our mission holder. She explained that some family got into trouble, stole some gems, and poisoned a scholarly man. She referred to him as 'nerdy', I'm not familiar with the term.

We questioned the scholar and he verified that he got poisoned, but that the family seemed like good people and he's surprised (and angry) he got poisoned. We got a map of the last known location of the man we needed to track down, and were instructed to bring him back safe.

The party moved quickly, we approached the caravan and spotted him trying to sell some gems to the caravan. Once she was informed that they were stolen, she claimed she wanted nothing to do with it and ended the deal. But, before we were able to reprimand him, the strange bushes I noticed that weren't native to the area came to life. We had to fight... bushes. It was certainly something.

Either way, we 'destroyed' the bushes and took the man. He was scared silly, so it was pretty easy to just take him with. We brought him back, the guards took him, and the family told us something really bad is coming. We saw a woman and her children outside, they were frightened. We went outside and they were being jumped by giant bats.

So, we saved the family, killed the bats, except for one, which was befriended by a party member. Minus one son, who we went after in the fog. Once we arrived on scene, there were ghouls or undead or something carrying him off. Once again, we fought the monsters, killed them, and saved the young boy. Someone found a strange coin on the body, I didn't recognize it though. It had a raven on it and some strange words.

We headed back with the child and the mother was very happy with that. The family thanked us for helping out, and got forgiven by their peers for what they did. We returned the gems to our mission holder. Everything turned out alright. We had the coin translated, and it was from an unfamiliar place. But it was apparently valid currency, for that place.

Signed:
Blink

In the records for Marpenoth in the year of 1502DR another small page is found. The tiny script of 'Ansrivarr'  fills the page.

Upon our return to the tomb of Psammetichus the fissure that exposed it has become wider, deeper, longer. What awakens below is no doubt a thing seeking to break free. What woke it we have yet to discover. Though if I had to venture a guess it is the lord of this place.

The second level of the tomb was one of more puzzles and tricks. Four orbs, four traps. A fitting, if imperfect number. At least the builders of this tomb are consistent. Though if this was a place to remember the dead, it seems strange for it to be so locked thus. Another venture of a guess is twofold. Either it is a matter of keeping the dead in, or keeping the living out. Fear or Treasure.

Though records are not the place for speculation.

Among the number to accompany Azriqe's call were Onics, whose disposition has not changed, Dusty, who is quickly forming in my mind as a reliable fellow, Jack, the dower beast in tiefling skin, and a new spirit- Smoke at First Light, whose lively and quick-witted step sparked a joy in me.

Three puzzles we faced.

A falling boulder was first. An angry stone which nearly squished Dusty, though a latching on of root and some grease allowed him to escape.

A room of six statues missing the physical representation of their purpose was next for us to reason out. A scholar, a smith, a fisherman, a farmer, an assassin, and a king. We gave unto them their missing tools, and they allowed us passage.

The next was a trial of blood. The ruined flesh of death stalked the shadows, mutated by what, I do not know. But these creatures were powerful in a way I have not faced in some time. I was brought to my knees, and only those companions with me saved me from death. Another reminder that the cycles have been far too kind to me, dealing with common folk and small pests of the Grandfather tree.

Another room filled with many dead still waited for us. Controlling the narrow entryway, we were able to work together to send their souls onward with little trouble. Within this room were many stone tablets in what I now know to be Primordial. I believe I will ask Dioscorus to sit with me a while and teach me the basics of the languages which make up the writings when the tomb is fully cleared and I can dedicate time to the learning. As it is there were images carved in the stone to aid in the telling. Some great beast, a guardian perhaps, was shown.

One that we would meet in the next room.

It pains me to know that such a magnificent creature had not seen the light of day, perhaps ever. I have only ever heard of the mighty Tyrannosaurus yet here one was. Collar about its neck and crammed into a tiny room. I can only assume, with door to its cage so small, that it grew up there. A fate worse than death, and even in death it was not released.

But such a beast was too great for us. In our state, battle-worn and tired, we simply snuck past it and touched the remaining key, allowing us access to the floors below.

Upon our return to Azriq, with rubbings and information passed over, there was some discontent from my fellows regarding the amount of gold given. I have yet to find reason to spend the gold I have acquired thus far, but I know that it is a valuable thing to many and one day I might have need of it. I am content simply with the knowledge of what has been learned and the experience to remember. The gold and other rewards are simply additional boons.

~ I am known here as Ansrivarr.

We traveled to the cold North where, after saving a couple of guards, fighting spirits and some angry Rhemorhaz, we managed to get to Bryn Shander and to make contact in the name of the Syndacate.

Bryn Shander

Ivor, Cyrus, Azrael, Jueinuma

Our assignment was to establish a teleportation circle in Bryn Shander. Unfortunately, our teleportation went a wee bit wrong, and we arrived on the Eastway in the middle of a battle between town guards and some rather nasty frozen spirits.

We managed to save two guards, Emma and Hemrick, and learned they were investigating missing caravans from Easthaven. I mapped our location, and we continued along the road, eventually discovering several remorhazes responsible for the disappearances. Their stomachs contained remnants of caravan supplies. We dispatched them and found no further threats nearby.

Back in Bryn Shander, we met Sheriff Markham Southwell. He was receptive to establishing a Syndicate teleportation circle, though the cost and construction still need consideration. He also expressed interest in future assistance from the Syndicate.

Outcome: Caravan threat resolved, contact established in Bryn Shander, teleportation circle pending.

Reward: 370 gp and a Spellwrought Tattoo of Passwall.

Note to self: Always verify teleportation coordinates. And rebuild Fetch.

In the records for Marpenoth in the year of 1502DR another small record is found. The tiny script of 'Ansrivarr'  fills the page.

Looking out over the seas from the deck of a ship, I feel a strange calling to the west. It was for this curiosity I agreed to take on this venture. That it was in the company of new souls, and one familiar to me was another.
Lukan's adventurous spirit made the journey far more interesting than if it had just been the other three alone. A tiefling by name of Kyani who I know little of even after our trials together though her wings are quite curious to me. A man influenced by the hidden hand of spirits known, sometimes, as Venn. A curiosity, and I wonder if his temperament was the source, the cause, or the product of those spirits. Another, Kami, was likewise quiet. Had it not been for Lukan I feel we would have spent the whole journey to the sea with but ten words spoken between us.

When we reached the sea, it was blessed by the appearance of a great dragon turtle. It grazed the ship with its thick shell, which, thankfully, did not sink us. I wish we had been able to stop and speak to it. Never have I seen a dragon turtle. What stories it could tell, I can only imagine. If I should return to the area, perhaps I will seek out the creature on my own.

The town we were to visit for work was a small one but filled with secrets and curiosities. People slept during the day and worked by moon and torchlight. But the longer we remained, the more curiosities would come forth and present themselves. We were met by the leader of the town, Leland Armstrong Leadale the 4th. I have never understood the human custom of taking the name of another. Why carry the weight of a name whose deeds are already remembered instead of claiming a new one? Though I am reminded that humans do not choose their name; rather, their parents do. They must not like thier child much if they weigh them down with an old name.

In the end, we were requested to venture into the forest to collect herbs for the town's herbalist, including Blightroot. An herb of considerable importance to the town, and one I do not trust. A truth I feel more certain of for after we gathered the roots from the depths of the caged and bound forest the herbalist showed to me a Voidmire Blossom. A flower which grows only in Limbo and is sustained by Chaos Ore. It is a thing which should not exist here, and yet it does. If only just. That it cannot take root and flourish speaks what I need to know.

My curiosity has become stronger for this strange place, and Venn seemed to be in agreement for our thoughts took us to the oldest man in the village. The Elder, by the name of Jacob, allowed us one question to be answered.

In a town where secrets and memories blend with the touch of magic and darkness, there's but one question to ask. What happened in the past to make it so?

To his memory, some centuries ago settlers came to the island, and from there things changed. Unusual things became normal, and those who lived here became nocturnal. I can only assume that this is also what bound the forest under the influence of magic, turning the spirits within vengeful and dark.
We could not remain longer than that single night, though if opportunity arises, I will venture forth again.

~ I am known here as Ansrivarr

Party: Kami, Kyani, Lukan, Nyemelaving, Venn

We were requested to go to an island off of the coast of Zazesspur called Thordentor. We went to a small town and spoke with Leland Armstrong Leadale the 4th, who had requested our assistance in gathering some local herbs. The most important one, was one called a Blightroot. The herbs are frequently used within the town and one of which is the main source of income. Another is an arcane material called Grey Matter. It is a pinkish metal that is highly sought after by the magically inclined for its capabilities of storing ambient magical energy. Leadale said that's what keeps their town afloat. As.. this town is rather special... There are.. some other strange things about the town. We were told that the town is only active at night, as the sun tends to be very dangerous. Something about the sun melting flesh from bone? I am curious to find out what exactly is happening here...

We were given our task and directed to the wilderness nearby. Using my hag eye, I had discovered that there was some kind of intricate high level magical barrier around the dark forest, and another around the island itself. I could not tell what kind of magic it was... it was far too advanced from my scope of knowledge.

We headed into the forest where we encountered a series of plants that came alive and attacked us. We did well to dispatch them and collected the herbs around. Though the one in We also encountered puddles that we got the sense we did not want to step in. Avoiding those and eliminating the shambling mounts, we found a plant creature that held the blightroot. We eliminated it, collected the root, and went back to Leadale.

Side note, there is word, that there may soon be in the works, a teleportation circle in Zazesspur. We may eventually have access back to this town.

End Report.

Adventure Notes - Tova Sundara

Myself, Surx, Solia, Yashir, Lief

We were sent to the Neverwinter Wood to meet Agatha, a rather unusual woman who calls herself the Ghost of Neverwinter Wood. Apparently, a headless rider had taken up residence in the ruins of Conyberry and was gathering an increasingly large army of undead. Worse, these weren't ordinary skeletons. Several radiated light rather than the usual necrotic energy.

We fought our way through two sizeable groups of undead before finally meeting their leader. Solia and I discovered that combining her Spike Growth with my Spellfire Storm was particularly effective. We've taken to calling it the Pain Sandwich. I'm rather fond of that one.

One of the undead commanders wore white armor bearing half of a red skull, an emblem we later saw on the headless rider himself. Lief collected a piece of the armor, which I stored in my Portable Hole.

The rider introduced himself as Conquest. Rather arrogant, though strangely polite. He actually offered us time to rest before fighting him. He claimed to have two brothers and a sister, mentioning War and Death by name. He also spoke rather casually about conquering Neverwinter. Something tells me we haven't heard the last of that family.

After a difficult fight, we destroyed Conquest, and the remaining undead vanished with him. Only his golden crown remained, which Yashir took for further examination. It apparently possesses some magic, though we don't yet know what.

We returned to Agatha, collected our payment, and were sent home.

Of particular note: Conquest's siblings, the half-skull insignia, and that crown. All worth remembering.

Reward: 2,500 gp each. I also received a Scroll of Fire Storm.

And I absolutely intend to use the Pain Sandwich again.

Sit Rep

Group:
Yashir
Soila
Tova
Surx
Myself

We were summoned by Agatha, a supposed famous ghost, to deal with a number of skeletons who had taken over the nearby Conyberry ruins. She said some headless thing had taken over, and we needed to turn them all into dust if at all possible. There wasnt much to question here as we made our way into the fray, but each fight we had we were able to strategize our best approach...

An opportunity we did not let go to waste, as we created a sort of 'pain sandwich' that proved invaluable. First, a guard outpost on a valley that we quickly disposed of, though... I took quite a beating. The second, we were able to strategize around killing two of the targets that seemed to... bolster its allies in the previous fight, and that was my sole focus during it. Take them out as quickly as possible.

During the fight, Briar returned... I dont know why, and Solia didnt seem to, either...

But, our victory was cut short as the headless knight appeared, challenging us to one final dual. He said his name was Conquest, and his three siblings were all going to take over the world or some shit. His hubris was his downfall, of course, as we were able to fully recover before fighting him.

I hope we dont run into his three siblings...

Party: Yashir, Tova, Surx, Lief and me

This... was a strange experience. I wish I could say I wasn't entirely distracted, but I was. There was a lot of baggage in this party composition, and that's entirely my fault. We fought skeletons - so... so many skeletons and undead.

Tova and I had a pretty good hoard stragtegy called a Pain Sandwich, where her spellfire worked from above and my thorns worked from below. That was helpful. But I'm still not great at crowd control.

The best thing that came out of it was that when I thought all was lost...and certainly felt like I needed her... Briar came back. Inexplicably... she returned to me. And I feel like a part of my soul has returned. I'm so grateful for her.

We ended up fighting the headless knight we had come for, and his plans for Conyberry were ruined. I'm curious if there is more to this... but for now I'm glad for my girl.

Afterward, some things happened and the party removed my eye, but not until after it was all done. That wasn't part of the mission proper and shouldn't affect other jobs too much...

This isn't a very good account I'm afraid, but my memory's a little fuzzy in the aftermath.

- Solia

16 Marpenoth, 1502 D.R.

The Syndicate was called upon by a strange, ghostly woman called Agatha, which is both a common name and an appropriate one for a ghost for reasons I cannot explain. Myself, Solia, Surx, Tova, and Lief answered the call. It was a relatively straightforward mission, if a long one: destroy a bunch of undead and slay their leader, a horseman short a head.

The first batch of skeletons posed little trouble. Though they were alert, they did not see us coming, and we were able to take them by surprise. Solia and Tova collaborated to create what they colorfully called a "pain sandwich," an area of raining spellfire and spiked growth in a wide area of effect that kept the horde locked down, spread out, and fairly useless while we mopped them up.

The second group was larger, and tougher as well. By then we had identified several distinct types of the monsters, but there were simply too many; the pain sandwich was still effective, but less so than it had been previously. We persevered, however, thanks in part to the timely return of Solia's companion Briarfael.

Words fail me, and... well, my feelings on the subject are generally outside the scope of this mission. Suffice it to say, we dealt with the second group and then, at last, faced off with the horseman himself. He identified himself as Conquest, the first of four brothers. He was a jovial fellow, all things considered, but I for one grew swiftly tired of his antics. He reminded me of Vincel. We destroyed him, and with his passing, the remaining lesser skeletons vanished into dust.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

In the records for Marpenoth in the year of 1502DR another small page is found. The tiny script of 'Ansrivarr'  fills the page.

Summons by the Order of the Gauntlant

Returning to the crypt by request of a member of the Order of the Gauntlant, I returned. Even had the summons not come, I would have, as the rot has yet to be cut away and the ashes spread to nourish new growth.

The Whitehawk that greeted us was agreeable enough, though hearing the nature of his work only strengthened my resolve in the matter of my continued involvement. Though, as last time, I was not alone. Lukan and Zephyra also returned with me, though two new spirits joined us.

Jack- A timid one, but he held himself well in the catacombs under the crypt. I did wound him in the course of the fighting, though in the end the debt was repaid and no more is owed.

Rillifen- One who appears after the fashion and name of one of The Seldarine. Of his intentions or origins, I know not.

Down into the catacombs under the crypt we ventured to seek the root of corruption, leading us, a cat marked with a rune of Deep Speech upon its skull. A thing of note, which would continue as the catacombs, lined with bones and skulls of many a creature, stirred at our coming. Skeletal minotaurs, blazing skeletons, and a bone naga were among them. A question arises as to what such bones were doing below the graves of halflings and humans in a small town like Shining Falls. A question for another time.

Linked, likely, to the presence of a powerful individual working in the tunnels. Surrounded by piles of flesh and bone, captives held in cages marked with runes, this Crone, for I know not if she is a hag, witch, or even as she appears to be, worked within a tome.

Surprised at our coming, she was not, and bothered by our intrusion, she was not. She simply strips the flesh from the bones of those within the cages, speaking of other places better suited to her work. Ones already set to her needs. Places that, assuredly, I will be seeking out to cleanse.

She left us in what I can only assume to be a teleportation spell. The Whitehawk had spoken of psionic power, and this only proves his senses were correct.

Perhaps the Crone thought her dead could stop our pursuit of her; perhaps she truly did not care. Her power seems quite strong, so I am inclined to think she fears us not. Her plans reach beyond us.

We dispatched the dead and returned to the surface. The Crone's tome was given to the Whitehawk, and I have the intention of working with him to decipher and translate what we can of her work. If we do find a clue in the book, it is likely either a trap, as she left it there on purpose, or it is but one of many places her rot has infected. Time will tell.

~ I am known here as Ansrivarr.

Party: Lukan, Kamathariel (Kami). Onics, Venn, Zephyra

Location: Brackenridge

The Syndicate had been requested by Bracklenridge Councilor Brenna Holt to investigate the disappearance of some of their residence following a violent incident and unusual activity in the surrounding woods. Upon arrival, Holt explains the situation further:

• Tomas Marrin has gone missing six days ago.
• He had gone to the charcoal pits in the woods where he normally works, and never came back home.
• Two days later, he had gone back to his and his wife, Elira Marrin's home where he had an incident with his neighbor, Harl.
• The incident resulted in two dead goats and a severely injured Harl.
• Harl has massive scratches across his chest that did not seem to match any kind of normal animal.
• Tomas fled the scene after ripping past Harl and fled into the woods. No one has seen him since.

We were tasked to find Thomas and investigate the strange circumstances in the woods. A strange mist had been rolling in from the north that had not been the case previously. We were also told about howling and other strange sounds coming from the north, which were not common around these parts as well.

We decided to speak with Harl to get his perspective of the situation. The information that he provided corroborated with what Holt had told us. Zephyra healed Harl's wounds. He seemed surprised. It seems, Brackenridge doesn't get very many magically inclined people coming through.

Our next objective was to go and investigate the woods and the mist. We entered the woods and began to look around. We spotted a large oddly-shaped boar that we identified as a wereboar. Other monsters came out and attacked us. It was a difficult fight, but we dispatched them.

After recollecting ourselves, we followed a lead that led us to a large building- The Arclen Field Institute. The place was in shambles. A massacre had happened there. Blood everywhere, research strewn about. As we were investigating, we were attacked by two horrible abominations. One, was this fleshy multi-mouthed thing. Another, a conglomeration of body and spirit. We fought them off and eliminated them. Once things settled, we gathered as much information as we could. Our discover revealed that there were researchers that were abducting people that showed signs of lycanthropy. They experimented on them, forcing them to transform and revert and recording how long, and memory retention. They were torturing these people. Eventually their experimentation became too much, and their containment faltered. The experiments escaped. Some of the researchers were able to escape with some of their research, but many never made it out of the institute.

We found Tomas barely alive, but we managed to save him. He explained to us what happened to him, which matched the researcher's journals we had found. We told him that both Elira and Harl were alive and Tomas agreed to go back to Brackenridge, though he asked us to not let him hurt anyone else if he changes again. Something difficult for us to ensure, but some of us will most likely return to Brackenridge to check up on them from time to time.

End Report
Venn Charles

Marpenoth 14th, 1502 DR

Our efforts in Luskan continue; we were invited to a fundraiser to help open the closed teleportation circle. Unfortunately, my drow background caused some suspicion among the staff, so I couldn't get inside and left to provide emergency backup as I patrolled the outside of the venue.

What I've heard from the chatter of those who left early, the Arcane Brotherhood was overly ambitious in requesting too many resources for support, with little to show or offer in return; some complained that even the events were lackluster or non-existent.

It seems the event was a failure, stopping any immediate efforts to have accessible magical transportation to Luskan, but our members who got inside managed to prove themselves worthy for future jobs in this endeavour, and we'll make sure no other attempt at accessing the circle will be stopped.

I did see an interesting blue pigeon there; I would like to find them again. I always leave parties with new friends, it seems.

Hate wearing disguises, but is what is. We were paid by Jarlaxle of Bregan D'aerthe and House Baenre to infilitrate a fundraiser by the Arcane Brotherhood. It was... big job, and I did not know that it was Jarlaxle who hired us until after. Very important then, that we impress him. Would not wish to dishonor House Irr'diin by upsetting a son of House Baenre.

We snuck in, gathered intel, and found out the following:

• The teleportation circle is covered in bile lichen , infectious and nonfunctional as a result.
• The Arcane Brotherhood tower is historically connected to the Duegar of Gracklstugh
• They want to wage war with the Duegar and have been developing a mighty weapon to do so
• They need funds for the war with the Duegar
• Their weapon is ranged and massive capability, so that there is no risk of grackle lung or boots on ground warfare.

We managed steal all the funds they've raised, after Ssrin and I snuck into vault room. Ssrin took everything into portable hole while I served as shield and distraction. Was burned to crisp, almost. But survived.

I do not know if believe the Arcane Brotherhood's claims, but.. worth looking into.

A war against the Duegar would be devastating, after the fall of Q'Xorlarrin in Gauntlgrym, things are politically tense with the Duegar and my House's allies. It could be worthwhile to see how this pans out, though, getting involved in the politics is above station of mine.

Two Hundred and Six

13 Marpenoth, 1502 DR

Doctor Victor von Frank of a manor north of Waterdeep requested our services. His creation, his "monster," had escaped over desperation to explore the world despite the tight leash. The poor thing didn't even have a name, so I will refer to it as Ivor henceforth. Despite this being the butler's name.

We followed the leads of the townsfolk to a chapel, where a small militia had formed. The townspeople were enraged about the rampage of Ivor, wanting the monster dead and scaring it with fire. We calmed them enough to let us pass, though the fighters inside were less eager to comply. Through some magic and combat, we subdued Ivor while knocking the townspeople unconscious, and scurried through the woods unseen with our quarry.

The doctor paid us quite well for our services. Though it feels more of bounty hunting rather than a job well done. I do hope Ivor can raise against his father and live a satisfying life of his own. -Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

Sit Rep

Group:
Arlis
Alvis
Sylk
Wuyon'e
Myself

The group of us used the teleportation circle to head to Waterdeep, before traveling north. Apparently, our services had been requested by the Doctor... Arriving at the manor, we were greeted by a little goblin guy who let us in and took us to the parlor, where we met Dr Von Frank. He explained his circumstances, and how his greatest creation/son had fled his home, and how he wanted us to bring him back. Seemed... simple enough, as I helped track this creature through to another local town...

Wuyon'e pulled a commoner aside to ask about the creature, and he informed us that the thing squeezed a man so hard his bones turned to paste. This unfortunate soul, Jeff, was now in a bag, and the entire town wanted justice for Jeff. So much so that a contingent had formed just outside the church where the thing was hidden. Alvis did a good job talking to them, trying to get them to disperse as we all headed inside.

Seemed as though there were already a group of civilians inside trying to kill him. Everyone got to work, and the others handled the creature while I took care of the city's militia. I didnt kill anyone, of course, as they did nothing wrong, save for trying to kill me.

We subdued the creature, brought it back to the Doctor, and were paid....

Party: Arlis, Alvis, Lief, Sylk, Wuyon'e

We were called to the manor of a guy named Victor von Frank. He said his creation got loose in the nearby town and he wanted us to go get 'em. Didn't think much of it, so off we went.

We made it to a chapel where the townsfolk were up in arms with pitchforks and torches and shit. Had to knock some of 'em out so we could chase after the big guy.

We found him, knocked him out, and brought him back to Victor. Something just.. didn't feel right. But we did our job and got paid. So.. that's that I guess.

We were summoned by a Dr. Von Frank to rescue his... child? Thing? Creation? Was huge monster. Somehow living, made of some twisted magics i could not identify. Had strength enough to kill man, squash him completely, and was somehow immune to being held by spell that holds... almost anything.

We arrived at Dr.'s mansion, he introduce to us and tell us his child had got away. Was big creature, he said, but did not say would be dangerous. When we went to chase after, discovered town was in riot, because monster had killed man, named jeff. Rioters were going to kill creature. Shot me, but Dalninuk create portal and we escape. We manage subdue creature, bring back to Dr. We were paid for mission and left there.

Was unsettling, however, how doctor spoke of his creature. But, we were not paid to interfere with father and... son. We were paid to get son back. And so we did. Was it good decision? unsure. Feels too much like bounty for liking of mine.

I am good at kill things. Or keep things alive. But not both on same thing at same time.

In the records for Marpenoth in the year of 1502DR another small page is found. The tiny script of 'Ansrivarr'  fills the page.

Assistance for Azriq of the Grand Library

Dusty spoke to me of the desert, and I was most pleased to join a request for assistance to Calimsham. It is much as he described. I wished to remain and observe the land's souls, but that was not the nature of why we were requested.

I traveled with other members of the Syndicate. D.U.S.K. included, though what hostilities she gave me were set aside for the sake of the work that must be done. The others that answered the call were:

Kaeno- A large soul trapped within a small body. He is well suited to combat, though I fear incomplete somehow.

Biscuit- A pleasing sight of a former time and one that I believe would be welcome company in future.

Onics- An overly quiet girl with too much emotion to contain within the confines of her chest. I suspect she will either learn to release it or she will explode. Only time will tell on this.

In meeting with Azriq, he spoke of one of the scholars of the library vanishing in search of a desert tomb which has no record contained within the grand library. The scholar is of the name Dioscorus. Little information was able to be gathered before we set out across the desert, but we were able to find our way with the directions provided. A curiosity that there exists no record of what is within yet there are directions clear enough for travelers to find it with little incident.

A puzzlement for another time, perhaps.

The tomb itself was a puzzle.

Four orbs to unlock, four riddles to solve.

A room with a painting charmed to hold the gaze of those looking upon it forevermore. It was unfortunate to be caught in its web, though fortunate to find. With no record of the tomb, the canvas was cut from the frame to offer to Azriq and potentially assist in finding more information about this tomb and the history within.

A room with a clock's face in the form of braziers awaiting life. The riddle within was cryptic, but with some trial and error, the shadow was made to lie upon the orb, allowing us the opportunity to move forward with our search for the scholar.

The next room was set with a trap of zombies, though they were quickly dispatched, allowing access to the third orb. It was here that the combat styles of my companions became clear. In future, should I venture alongside them again, I feel we will have better cohesion.

In the last room, another riddle awaited us. One which, when answered aloud, unlocked the remaining orb. Clever and rather innocent, a punny rhyme regarding a nose makes me curious as to the nature of the creator of the tomb. There was also a tiny closet found, noted with the plaque naming it the 'Closet of Disappointment '. The one who built this place seems uniquely minded.

Still, there was no sign of the scholar even as the last door was unlocked at last. It was not terribly surprising to find them within, transfixed by an undead dressed most regally. Though I do wonder if they made it through the guardians and the riddles and were reset, or if they came to be there by other means. A detail that we may yet be able to find an answer to, as we were successfully able to knock him out of his transfixion and kill the guardians at his command.

Bringing him back to the Library, we were able to offer some of what we learned of the tomb, and in turn we were given the name of the one who had taken command of Dioscorus- Psammetichus, the Desolate King.

I suspect that there is more to the telling for us to find, and when the time comes, I intend to join the next excursion into the deeper halls.

~ I am known here as Ansrivarr.

We were hired by the head librarian of the Calimport Library to go investigate the tomb of an unknown entity. I was with a rat, Dusk, an eladrin and a satyr(I think). When we arrived it was a single hallway that split into three room, one locked behind orbs of some kind that we later learned we needed to illuminate. We traveled to the right first and were immediately attacked by invisible creatures. We traveled through a maze, and found a room with a painting. It charmed me, and made me think it was the most beautiful painting in the world. We activated one of the orbs and traveled back to the beginning, solving a second puzzle with shadows and then heading to the left side of the room. We fought some Mummies, activated another orb and then found the final room. We solved a puzzle somehow, though I'm not sure how, and finally gained access to the final room. There we found the librarian dinosaur named buddy and a mummy lord that was controlling him. The mummy lord disappeared and we beat up the assistant until he had no teeth left. Then we brought them back to the library and got paid. Overall an interesting job. I hope I can go back to explore the rest of the tomb

-Onics Stone

In the records for Marpenoth in the year of 1502DR another small page is found. The tiny script of 'Ansrivarr'  fills the page.

The Harvyfest

Requested as guardians of the autumn festival in Shining Falls myself, and four others, were chosen.

Lukan- A man unbound from the constraints of societal shackles

Elspet- A quiet one who would prove to be focused on the people rather than the threat

Zephyra- One of elemental persuasion and a fair pairing to Lukan

Dusty- One that I had met before

Our presence was more than necessary, as an ill omen lay over the festival grounds from the first.

The tortured and agonized visages of pixies were set as illusions within jars to provide light. A sign that none seemed to notice.

While the others moved to their own ends, I went to greet the most distinguished guest of the evening: A pumpkin the size of a dragon curled upon itself in sleep. There I spoke with the farmer who had grown the pumpkin, and when asked of its transportation, there was a claim that two mules had done the work. Many a fine mule have I met, but no two of them could have accomplished such a feat. I desired to speak with them in earnest to learn of their strength myself. In the course of my inquiry, the farmer found amusement in my words. A sorrowful and lonely fellow I found him. I was full glad to offer some reprieve, yet he extended a warning to me. To leave that place.

I turned to gather the others, but it was too late. Festivities are not things stopped so easily, and as the giant pumpkin was cut, it unleashed the source of the farmer's warning.

An amalgamation of plant, flesh, and bone poured forth from the pumpkin. With it came creatures I now remember to be Rot Grubs. Burrowing insects that feed off flesh and strip it down to the bone in moments. It has been too long since my duties put me at odds with such beings, and I have since turned my reveries to the past that I may be better prepared.

Many souls were released that night before we were able to end the mass of ill-conjoined matter. But some were saved. Lukan fought with reckless abandon to the point of endangering himself. Elspet focused on the people and endeavored to assist them in their escape. Dusty chose tactics and distance as befits his critical-thinking mind. Zephyra fought with the breath of the elements at her side, and it was with a relish for the moment.

Once sure that the creature was dead, I followed the farmer's steps to the graveyard of the town, the others behind.

The plants, guardians and sentinels of the grounds, looked alive, yet their spirits had turned from nature, recoiling from me. A tainted place, and my first instinct was to burn it all to make way for better growth. New growth free of the memory of whatever horror had come to mark the land thus.

An impulse I did not act upon as Lukan descended into one of the crypts. Fitting, I suppose, as where does one cleanse corruption but at the root?
When the rest of us came to the crypt, there was another horror made of bugs and bones. It had burts from the floor of the crypt and attempted to devour us. In the end, it was unable. The crypt had been subject to scrawls of some language which I recognized but could not understand. A deep-rooted feeling of unease and disappointment filled me as the script pulled at some distant memory. I took careful note of the scrawl that I could see and took them for translation to D.U.S.K. In time, it came to be known that they were the words of madness poured out in the way that one might mumble gibberish, and the words were in the script of Deep Speech.

The reason for disappointment lay bare, and something that must be corrected with due haste.
The root of what happened has yet to be found, and as charged by my mentor, it will be cleansed.

~ I am known here as Ansrivarr.

Party: Elspet, River, Lukan, Dusty and ME.

Well first of, I ain't that good at writing things down, so this here's gonna be a list of shit I remember happening.

1. Vibes
There was a festival and a buncha halflings! That's my kinda thing, so Lukan and me found us a pie eating contest while everybody else checked out the stalls and shit.

2. Pies
Get this - some smug fella, thinkin' he could best us just because he'd won a buncha times before or whatever tried to out-pie Lukan and me! So we beat him into submission! You don't have to eat as many of the pies if ya just start throwin' 'em. That's just smarts, that is. Anyway, I won and I got a pie plate trophy!

3. PUMPKIN!
There was a big fuck-off pumpkin to look at!

4. Oh shit, it's made of bugs.
It was full of bugs.

5. We found a Crypt
Kraken (that's my cephalpod - Kraken) found an entrance and Lukan jumped in a big hole and then we went underground to figure out where the bugs was comin' from. Turns out it was from underground. And underground is basically like goin' to the fuckin' Hells and I don't want any part of it.

Anyway, we won and then I drank until I fell asleep but I shoulda taken a bath first because now there's crumbs in my bed.

I don't know how to finish this.

Unsigned, obscene doodle left behind.

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

Four newer recruits and I were tasked with overseeing a local festival in Shining Falls. The night started rather normally, with bustling activity and popular stalls around every corner. A few of us even participated in the festival traditions ourselves: I know that Zephyra and Lukan enjoyed what I believe was a fight with pies as weapons. A bit messy for my tastes.

River, however, had taken notice of some oddities around the festival grounds. First it was strange illusions of what may have been tortured fey, acting as lanterns in some areas, and then something... simply being off with a gigantic pumpkin that was to be carved into soon.

River's apprehensions proved correct. As the top of the pumpkin was sawed off, a horde of grubs burst forth, followed by a monster made of plants and rot. One that I do not recognize, even in my many studies of monstrous flora. Though my companions and I eventually slayed both it and every last maggot that crawled out of the pumpkin, I am saddened to report that there were indeed casualties among the civilians trying to flee. My condolences to their families. Elspet agreed to stay behind in the aftermath, aiding survivors and escorting them to safety. And the rest of us pushed forward to a nearby graveyard, as River mentioned the farmer who brought the pumpkin had fled this way.

While River and I were investigating the graves themselves (and the various trees and bushes that gave River pause), Lukan and Zephyra were bold enough to enter a crypt. Well, Lukan was- the genasi instead sent her summoned familiar down with him.

I'm not entirely sure what Lukan witnessed down there, but by the time I had entered, he and the others were engaged with another horde of insects. This one looked to be made of centipedes and skeletons, a grisly thing that was eventually felled.

Once things calmed down, we could look over the crypt freely. Meticulous notes were taken on each symbol and letter written on the wall, and as of writing this, we are working on finding a translation for it. River is leading most of the research and initiative on that front.

Each of my companions performed excellently on this job, even if all of us were taken by surprise by the night's events. I would... like to join them on future ones, I think, but preferably on missions that do not outwardly concern investigating this mystery. The deaths of those at the festival were grisly and excruciating. I don't want to witness something like that again.

I wish River, Zephyra, Lukan, and Elspet the best of luck in looking into this.

This was a rather straightforward mission. Arlis, Solia, Yashir, Surx, and myself were sent to by the Lords Alliance, and Seer, personally, to clear out Durlag's Tower. We were asked to secure it, before decent could take place sometime later. There were also a pair of former Zhentarim members, twins, that we were to dispose of. Arriving rather quickly, we realized there were many buildings that would require our attention, so we slowly started to work our way through them.

The first was no issue, and we cleared out the barn like safehaven should we need to recover sometime later. Rounding the next corner, there were demons and a beholder, and combat soon ensued. Darkness filled the entryway, and it was almost impossible to get a shot on any of the creatures. But, rushing in, Yashir and I dispatched of the eye tyrant rather handedly.

We ventured round, looking into the other buildings. I found an old dwarven distillery, while the others located a druid who seemed... troubled. Surx saw a swarm of flying invisible creatures around her, and after some negotiations with them, Yashir and Solia soothed the druids worries and the stalkers dissipated. We tucked her away in the safehouse. Surx then discovered some sort of box, and Arlis and I approached the tower that was... locked.

Then the others were sent up to the sky. Unsure how that happened...

We were ambushed by the twin dwarves, but... I hate to say they put up little to no fight, but they were disposed of far too easily to have been a threat.

I quickly solved the mechanism to open the door, before Arlis gave it a shove open. We were greeted with 4 statues, a Crafter, a Reveler, a Hunter, and another I cannot recall, besides the fact the dwarf was beardless. We had to swap the items they held, which was... easier said than done. Failure to do so correctly lead to devastating and exhausting consequences. Eventually we determined the solution, and a elevator rose, and a lounging demon greeted us.

The battle started not long after.

We cleared the tower, disposed of all the enemies, and returned to Seer, and were rewarded for our efforts.

Party: Yashir, Surx, Solia, Vincel, Arlis

SEER from the Lords Alliance sent for us to clear out Durlag's Tower. Don't really know much about it but apprently some Zhentarim members are holding out there and we were to get rid of 'em. We showed up, there was a lot more than we expected. Assholes used darkness to keep us at a distance, but we cleared 'em out.

We looked around, the twins ambushed us. We took them out.

We got into the tower, there was a puzzle that the others figured out.

Then there were some demon... things? Devil things? I dunno. We killed 'em. Then we went back to SEER to collect our rewards.

Party: Yashir, Surx, Vincel, Arlis and Me

SEER of the Lords' Alliance sent word that we were to clear out Durlag's Tower. Apparently, a band of Zhentarim had taken up residence there, and someone decided it was our problem to deal with. I can't say I knew much about the place beforehand, beyond its reputation. Perhaps I should have asked more questions.

We arrived expecting trouble. We found considerably more than we'd bargained for. The Zhentarim had numbers on their side, and they made good use of darkness to keep us at a distance. A rather cowardly tactic, if you ask me, though I suppose I can't fault them for trying. It didn't save them in the end. We fought our way through and cleared the lot of them out.

Or so we thought.

While searching the area, we were ambushed by the twins. I can't say I appreciated the surprise, but they proved no match for us. We dealt with them and continued on our way.

Getting inside the tower proved a little more complicated. There was some manner of puzzle barring our progress, though thankfully the others were able to make sense of it. I'll admit, I was content to let them handle that particular challenge. Not every problem needs a sword put through it.

Beyond that, we encountered a collection of rather unpleasant creatures. Demons, devils, or something of that ilk. I confess I wasn't particularly interested in determining the distinction while they were trying to kill us. Whatever they were, they died just as readily as anything else.

With the tower cleared and our work finished, we returned to the Seer to collect our reward. A productive outing, all things considered. Though next time the Lords' Alliance sends us somewhere, I should very much like to know whether clearing out a few Zhentarim means a handful of thugs or an entire bloody army.

- Solia Faolanri

5 Marpenoth, 1502 D.R.

The party -- consisting of myself, Solia, Vincel, Surx, and Arlis -- were called upon by Seer of the Lord's Alliance, with whom we have worked before in various capacities. Today, we were summoned to the town of Beregost, where we met our benefactor to discuss, before traveling eastward to the apparently notorious Durlag's Tower. Our task was fairly straightforward: a couple of rogue ex-Zhentarim had taken up residence, and the tower itself was said to be infested with traps and fiends. We were to clear a path to the entryway of the tower, after which... someone would follow after us, but our task was to secure a foothold against Seer's enemy, a giant whose forces we have faced before. It is uncanny how frequently the interests of these two conflict.

There were indeed many fiends, and that was before we even entered the tower proper. We were equal to their challenge, however, and dealt with them handily. A mad druid lurked in a glade nearby, tormented by elemental spirits she had apparently inadvertently summoned, and by some horrid curse inflicted by the fiendish master of this place. I was able to restore her mind, and she made good her retreat with her gratitude.

The ex-Zhentarim assassins attacked us en route to the tower itself. Their initial attack caught us by surprise, but we rallied and cornered them one by one; their trickery was no match.

Within the tower, a puzzle. I confess I was of little use in this; there were those better suited to it in the party, and those who enjoy such things. I haven't the patience. They handled it. Success opened the way to the elevator. It also opened the way from the elevator to us, which was important, because the fiend who had broken the druid's mind soon came out of it, along with reinforcements, to break ours.

We were made of sterner stuff, however. These fiends were no match, either. Durlag's Tower stands open and ready for future exploration, but -- though I am curious -- that was not to be our task, at least not this night.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

As we arrived to Hillsfar, a notably racist place, our very first second within the tavern was greeted by the bartender being poisoned and a mysterious man in a red robe appearing. Azrael managed to save the bartender (but took with him wine for his payment) and the red-robed told us that Bert, the goblin who originally hired us to investigate the poisonings in the town, was arrested on suspicion of poisoning.

We were to exonerate him or the hatred of nonhumanoids would burn brighter and hate crimes against them would be on the rise.

Following where we were led, we came into a basement in the underdark. Defeating the goblins that protected the basement on Bert's orders, we investigated the area to see if we could find things to exonerate Bert. There were a great many clue, and among them, a squirrel which Ivor insisted to be important. We rounded it all up and headed to the courtroom.

Long story made short, it was an oblex, leading a slimey cult. It was assimilating humanoids and was puppeteering the prosecution, wanting to stoke more hate crimes so its own could go undetected. We defeated it, and though Bert had no gold which to give us, he did share some magic items.

Upon our arrival in Hillsfar—a city notoriously hostile to non-humans—we barely stepped inside the local tavern before chaos broke out: the bartender was poisoned, and a mysterious red-robed figure abruptly appeared. We managed to save the bartender’s life (claiming a bottle of wine as compensation), while the stranger informed us that Bert, the goblin who had hired us to investigate the town's poisonings, had just been arrested for the crime.
To prevent a surge of racial tension and violence against non-humans, we needed to clear Bert’s name. Our investigation led us into a subterranean basement connected to the Underdark. After defeating the goblins guarding the area on Bert's orders, we searched the hideout for evidence. Among numerous clues, a local squirrel was crucial to the case.
We gathered our findings and rushed to the courtroom. There, we uncovered the true culprit: an oblex leading a slimy cult. The creature was assimilating humanoids and impersonating the prosecution to incite racial hatred, using the chaos as cover for its own covert expansion. We vanquished the beast and exonerated Bert, who, lacking the gold to pay us, rewarded our efforts with a set of magic items instead.

There was that of a strange cult that we had to investigate in order to prove that of a goblin innocent of poisoning. When we got all the evidence to do it, and brought it for the man's lawyer, his lawyer quit and we had to defend him. After which a Giant Ooze appeared, which we killed rather quickly. They did not pay us like they said they would, so I will be sure if I see that goblin again, he will wish he was found guilty.

Sit Rep

Group:
Cyrus
Ivor
Azrael
Ssrin
Myself

Hilsfar. What a disgusting place. We arrived in the city and were promptly told that our contact had been sacked, and we needed to prove a goblin, Burt's, innocence. We went to his home, and were met by guards who would only let us in if we told them the password. They were goblins, so I grabbed the leader by the ankles to try to get the password. She held firm, before Azreal... walked through the wall. Combat broke out, and I told everyone to NOT KILL THEM. Fortunately, they listened.

Upon investigating, there were plenty of papers that seemed... forged. We also found an important Squirrel and a secret room that had... ooze furniture? And a journal with quite incriminating evidence of some ooze cult turning humans into... ooze? It was gross and way above my paygrade. We went outside, and met a different red robbed individual. Apparently the person we met who told us our mission, had been sacked. No one was safe. She, fearing for her life, hoped we could prove Bert's innocence.

So we went to the trial. Bert's lawyer left as soon as we gave extra evidence, so it was our job to save him. I realized the Squirrel saw everything, so could corroborate everything we were saying. Ssrin gave it the power of speech, and as soon as she did, the trial was over. A giant ooze thing exploded out of an evidence box, and tried to flee... fat chance.

We killed it, and ended fantasy racism.

Marpenoth 4th, 1502 DR

A last-minute change of our job sent us to Hillsfar, where I soon discovered the only charming thing about it was the name. While waiting for our contact, the bartender got poisoned. Fortunately, Azrael assisted them first, only to be jumped by a red-robed individual who tasked us with proving the innocence of a goblin named Bert.

We went to inspect their lair, but we were stopped by the goblin guard, and after a failed negotiation and putting them to sleep (literally), we went deeper inside. We soon discovered the racism and hatred steeped in this place, with enough evidence to prove Bert was set up and innocent, plus some suspicious ooze... and a squirrel deemed important.

We met with another red-clothed individual, and per the description and letters, it was clear they were an ally of Bert who ushered us to assist with the goblin's court hearing. After some daming evidence on our part, Azrael the lawyer, and an awakened squirrel with eyewitness proof, the goblin was proven innocent.

Unfortunately, we discovered the reason for the ooze cult existing... it was in the courtroom all this time, but an oblex was nothing compared to the rest of us, and we splattered it easily... earning almost nothing in exchange, aside from the need for a shower.

I despise Hillsfar, and I don't want to see it ever again.

There are things which should remain unspoken of how it is we ended in the Palace, but it was in the Palace we ended up.

I had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of General Nirmalya, an Efreet of Gozva Ka, and Adivsor Elçin, Djinni lady working for Farnesslee of Burin Bi. The Advisor seems to have wishes available, something which she's offered in exchange for favor when she thought it to be prudent for our return trip. More on that in a moment.

As we were enjoying the festivities in the ballroom, a guard burst in and announced we were under lockdown. Those acquaintances which we made during the initial socializing were leveraged to get out of the ballroom and speak to the captain of the Queen's Guard, whom we offered all the information we'd collected in the last few weeks.

The Soverign Firtinia, a disliked man, had taken the Calimemnon Crystal. We were tasked with its retrieval.
Through conversations, we learned Firtinia had a hidden space in renovated sewers beneath his city, and there we were teleported by the Advisor who had visited before to see his... Bedroom. I very purposefully asked no questions.

We navigated through, encountering ice, and... Things get blurry. My memory is starting to grow a bit better but the Beast, its hate is so visceral, so... Scared. My hate is so scared.

We managed to return the Crystal, my jaws ached, and there was blood beneath my nails. Apparently, it was enough to be rewarded by the Sultana. Gold, her blessing, a belt.
But this isn't the end. Far from it. I need to talk with the Advisor or perhaps the General, who I'm admittedly a bit... Well. Not worth writing in the report.

I have to get that wish.

Sit Rep

Group:
Cyrus
Yap
Alvis
Ssrin
Myself

We all arrived at the city of Calimport, dressed to impress, before heading up to the palace where this Three Day's Festival was taking place. One of the Night Wisps let us in, as we snuck in the back door. The place was full of dragonborn guards, and we decided against sneaking around as to not draw further suspicion to ourselves. Entering the party proper, it was certainly full of nobility, and some recognized us as Alvis and the Boys... We knew that the Sovereign ForTuna, the Myrid, was up to something. Best to divide and conquer.

The party split up to gather more information, and I made my way over to the table full of guards. And one of them was the Captain. He seemed to be in good spirits, but I told him to keep an eye on that water delegation.... This, of course, was right before a guard came rushing in to inform the Captain that something had been stolen. The Calimemnon Crystal. I knew the name well... some folklore spoke of an item that trapped hundreds of djinn. If it had been taken... likely they would try to destroy it.

The party once again split, trying to gather support to go after the Sovereign. I recognized that someone was missing, and moved to speak to a different Captain, Sojo, who was the captain of the City Guard. Apparently his wife was off to investigate further, and he was rather... bored. I told him of our plan to go after the thief, and asked if he wanted to join. He did, and we all got teleported to the Sovereign's underground sewer lair.

It was freezing there. And full of ice guardians that did not take kindly to our intrusion. I barely held on...

But, during the final conflict, we quickly handled the Sovereign, and his water elemental companions. When we returned, we gave the Calimemnon Crystal back to the Sulteness, and she showered us in rewards.

Marpenoth 2nd, 1502 DR

It has been a while since I had to bear the scorching heat of Calimshan, so back to my leathers it was, but thankfully it was under better conditions. Invited to a festival, which we got access into thanks to Alvis and "the Boys" previous work with Calimport, so we can keep an eye out for a water djin, Sovereign Firtinia, who's looking to sabotage the sultana.

We mingled for a while to gather information, met and danced with a lovely air djin, even if she didn't have much to converse with... But I got a possible trip to the Elemental Plane of Air, so I'll take that as a win. Unfortunately, the fun time ended quickly when a guard came in to lock down the place as the Calimemnon Crystal was stolen.

After some inquiry and recruitment of additional allies, we got teleported to the Sovereign's place with the help of Deryan and Advisor Elçin. Now deep into a watery and freezing place, pushing through several ice elementals, we found the myrid... which we dispatched rather quickly and got the crystal back.

Upon the Sultana herself called to us to be rewarded with quite the bounty and even receive her elemental blessing, which may come in handy.

I should go to the Air Elemental Plane someday.

State of the Syndicate — 5 Eleint, 1502 DR

Reported by Temoren Cairnwright

This month has continued to be productive, though not always in the form of formal patrol work.

I acquired an All-Purpose Tool +1, which has become the center of my fieldwork, crafting, and spell scroll preparation. It has replaced the wand I had been using and suits my methods better: precise, adaptable, and practical.

The Cairn & Compass scroll service is now posted with prices and available spells. I expect most requests will be for emergency use, travel preparation, and spells people realize they needed after the problem has already started. I will be building a small stock as time and materials allow.

My future bastion remains delayed until I know where it can be built properly. The name will be Cairn & Compass. Planned facilities are bedroom, kitchen, storehouse, and arcane study. The location is not settled. I would rather wait than build somewhere unsuitable.

I sparred with Snap. In the first round, Fetch was disabled and will need repairs. In the second, I used flight to keep distance for a time, then fell roughly eighty feet. I used one Feather Fall scroll. Result: alive, bruised, down one scroll, and with several practical notes about aerial positioning.

I also spoke with Yashir again. It had been too long. We discussed scroll work, shields, enchanted gear, future construction, and the possibility of an airship. The airship remains expensive, impractical, and not impossible. Fetch also kept company with someone who did not want to be alone, which he handled well.

I met Bramnir, a dwarf with skill in stone carving and design. We spoke about Twilight and about different approaches to stonecraft. His work focuses more on carving, finish, and presentation than what I was taught, but it was useful to hear another craftsperson explain his methods.

Current priorities:

• Repair Fetch.
• Replace the Feather Fall scroll.
• Build a small scroll inventory.
• Continue gathering information on possible bastion locations.
• Review magic item plans now that the All-Purpose Tool has replaced the wand.
• Keep better records before the next emergency makes that harder.

No major conclusions yet. Several useful adjustments.

~Temoren Cairnwright~

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

The State of The Syndicate - September 2026

Eleint 1502 DR

Reported by Tova

The Glassfang Syndicate has continued regular activity through Eleint. Members have taken contracts, trained, recovered, met new arrivals, and found new ways to turn simple plans into complicated ones.

Training has continued across the Syndicate. Weapons, spells, tactics, fieldwork, and basic survival sense are all getting attention. I have also started learning a new tool proficiency, because I want to be able to provide a service that will help others, and myself. Progress is being made. Slowly. Annoyingly. But made.

Members have also spent more time working with one another outside of formal contracts. There have been shared meals, practice sessions, conversations with newer members, and the usual amount of people pretending they are not tired after doing something reckless.

Some private disagreements and difficult conversations have happened as well. A few have reached better ground. A few remain awkward. That is not unusual when this many armed and opinionated people share the same halls.

Overall, the Syndicate remains active. Contracts continue. Training continues. New members continue to arrive. People are adjusting, learning, recovering, and preparing for the next job.

In other words, business continues.

Signed,
~Tova~

This is only the beggining of the month, but I will take a break from the adventuring life for a few weeks. So here's my report so far.

Bri has called for help to build her prison. And since I had this special tool that gives me the knowledge of any trade, I've decided to help.

It seems that a lot of people were helping, as I met multiple members on the construction site.

Other than that, I've survived a very tense mission in the region of Chult. Where, if it wasn't for Yap, I would have probably died in.

I'm very grateful for this silent, strange creature. Despite the appearances, he's a very helpful and seemingly good intended individual.

I've also met Orri, a massive goliath, follower of Lathander. We didn't have much time to exchange about our similar beliefs, but he showed himself to be a very representant of the Morning Lord. I'm happy to see honest, trustworthy men in this organization.

Other than that, I will be working on making an adamantine armor during the month. It seemed very useful when I spared with Bri.

- Theoden Brightshield

State of the Syndicate — 5 Eleint, 1502 DR

Misplaced Diary Inserts - Authored by Luzi ó Maoldhomhnaigh

Likely found by informants of The Syndicate or kept in an administrative desk somewhere or The Lost & Found.

[Dated equivalence - Sept 14]

Dear diary,

Being in the Prime Material Plane for over a month now was a challenging feat, navigating the Underforest of Nacthur and the forests of this realm are apples to oranges, the sun is actually visible to my two darkly inclined eyes, and they have never been so positively swollen with energy. The weave here certainly feels different, The Wisen Crone have taught me many things but how this Mystra affected the magical currents of Toril and the realms outside Feywild remains a topic of naivety for myself and other young Fey.

Nevertheless, I miss my family, I miss my relatives in Clan Maoldhomhnaigh, I especially miss my brother, I do hope he is doing grand, I am sure he and the others will survive the cruelties of the Fomorians for we are but hardy folk after-all.

I learnt recently of a society of adventurers and mercenaries, they are called The Glassfang Syndicate, they appear to be working on some sort of teleportation network, I have faith that if they could forge such technological marvels, they can surely help me find my way back home! I talked to a strange woman named Onics, she did not look like she ate enough, she says she eats well, I do not believe her though! I then met a handsome fellow named Sylk and his companion who was a Kobold, I know nothing much about Drow and Kobolds but I have staunchly recalled Drow consorting with my slave master when I was held captive, they were not particularly happy with each other, but it does seem as if The Wisen Crone was right, the ancient Pact of Eschatos seems to be honoured.

Mayhap, I could earn the trust of the Drow to do their very best to push back against this ancient accord. Such beautiful people should never find themselves working with something so twisted, hateful, ugly and cursed like the cruel Fomorians.

As for the Kobold, he apparently lives a really long life? Strange, it could be because of his intense draconic blood! Volothamp's Guide did say that Kobolds are want to serve their dragon masters, maybe even supplicate before them, he also did say they were astute labourers, witty mercenaries and even fine companions to the humans of Waterdeep. What a handy little book to read to help me know the folk of the Material Plane!

On the other hand, I tried to check in at the front desk yesterday, but no one was there so, I simply signed myself into the organization. I did return to the front desk on the way out to see that the contract I fashioned for myself based on juxtaposed organizational trends appears to have been removed or taken in for safe-keeping?

I also slept on a few beds, it is odd that there were no keys found nor was I assigned a room but I suppose everyone here shares these beds like a big old game of sleepy musical chairs...musical beds? I do hope the ink I spilled all over the receptionist's desk got cleaned up, it seems to have gotten into the wood staining layer...oh bollocks! Well, the stains I cause as a result of working with parchment, pen and mind seem to always take the shape of a Forget-Me-Not, I do not know why...my favourite flowers are Jasmines after all, maybe it would add some character to the furniture- so it has!

-

[Dated equivalence - Sept 15]

Dear diary,

If anyone would have a gold coin every time Tova almost flattened a new member of The Syndicate let alone a new member of The Syndicate who is also part of Feykind, they would have two gold pieces. Still, it is strange that it has happened twice now.

Needless to say, I feel really bad about it, Volothamp's Guide did not mentioned how to deal with troubled mystics, I should have asked for her permission before I chose to bestow one of my silly little gifts, I still need to learn that the humanity of this world have some very strong and perhaps....too strong, boundaries. I did write an apology letter, I hope it makes up for it, but I do think that overtime, if I keep at it, my weird antics will stop being weird and then I can get along with everyone!

-

[Dated equivalence - Sept 16]

Dear diary,

I am writing to express that I have made several good connections, I actually finally found a potential group of players for Tressyms & Terrors, people seemed intrigued enough and I can run small one-shots here and there down at Faerdress. A kind halfling artificer made me a Storyteller Screen, it has the wonderful magical features of "Magnets." Why do they work? Magnets must be magical, they were quite rare in the Feywild, the elves in Evermeet did not have much of this resource, but yet it is so plentiful here in the Prime Material Plane it seems. I am really liking this place! Oh...the teleportation network has been rumoured to have slowly made headway, apparently they are close to establishing a travel connections with Neverwinter, I should doss around in that city sometime but I feel a bit mullered after all that exhausting alchemy. Needless to say, I feel like everyday I am with these people, I get closer to finding a way to return to my home plane, that is deadly like!

-

State of the Syndicate: Elient 1502 D.R.

I hardly know where to begin. Everything has spiraled so far out of control that I cannot begin to get my bearings. I am simply reacting, trying to keep from being swept away -- and failing, and making everything worse in the process.

I usually save these reports for the tail end of the month, but I feel it likely that before too terribly long I will be unable to bring myself to write. So here we are.

First, the professional. Official jobs have been slim this month, which is unfortunately nothing new. I did receive a surprise burst of work -- three jobs in barely more than a week -- but that is all, and all that stands on the horizon unless there are further surprises. There seems no shortage of jobs for the rest of the Syndicate, however; those who joined even a few weeks ago are ranking up swiftly to my own rank or beyond.

I have no time to lament such things, however; I have better things to lament on the personal level. It seems I can do no right by my beloved, who languishes under the perpetual attack of some fell Fey creature. There seems nothing I can do to help; those who have leads to pursue are doing so, but I can do little but sit on my hands and watch her slip away. Well, that and push her away with my own stupidity and poor decisions.

My new seneschal, Grace Bennet, does her best to keep my spirits up. I find myself avoiding her for exactly that reason. Wonderful as she is, this does not seem an appropriate time for me to be comforted, even by the very best.

Something has to give. There has to be something I can do. But the more I strive, the farther she drifts. There is an inevitability to it.

I don't know what to do. I am fast losing hope, and have only determination to fall back on.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

(( I wrote out something REALLY NICE and heartfelt but then realized it overwrote dusks' notes. So like a DUMMY i then accidentally overwrote wu's notes with new brand notes for dusk. So here's sparknotes for wu.))

• Spent most of the month working in Baldur's gate to get teleportation circles open
• Helped Cyrus, Maze and Bramnir with Lichen Plauge
• Grew closer to Alvis, Bri, Solia and Yashir
• Convinced the Knights in Silver commander to dismiss the bounty
• Drowma at Faerdress that concluded in reconciliation and becoming familiy and a rescue from the Silverymoon Guard
• Building Sanctum Adamance
• Smooching Azrael because they're in love.

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

This month at the syndicate has been: Quiet. It is: Good. People are: Staying out of my: way and I can: invest my time in: Making jewels and upgrading my: Features.

I did have a few: Odd intruders on my: Property, but other than that things are: Well.

I did not get too many: visitors, but Yap, Dusty, and Dorris each came over: once or twice. It was a: Pleasure to have them there and I met a new: Friend along the river named: Snap.

He calls me: Duck. I am not: A duck.

There has been: Some work but other than that my most: Lucrative business has been my: Gemcutting.

I do hope the: Portals to: Calimshan will be fixed by: Next month. I would like to go: Visit my: Creator's inspiration again.

I hope I can go back to: Athkatla too. That city was also: Very wealthy. As was: Caer Callidyrr, but I prefer the: South to the: West.

Lief

This has been a rather... slow month, all things considered. I have spent all of it either sparring, smithing, or constructing my own additions to the Cabin. Arlis and I have gotten stronger, which is more than I could ask, but he has been away for a number of days now, so I have found myself occupying my time with others in the sparring ground. Im having... mixed luck, ultimately. Some matches go my way, while others are the exact opposite.

But, I know I can resist magic now. Putting it into practice is a hell of a thing. Watching a caster's eyes widen as you resist their spell... that is a thrill unlike any other.

I have found more of myself in the thrill of battle, but there have been many conversations I've had with others where I discovered more about myself than I would have initially expected. It is... nice, to talk to others. Meet them as my own person, not... well, not as a member of The Boys.

Here is to next month. I am working on a place to house some animals... plan on getting another wolf here soon... maybe a Griffon, if I can find one.

Vincel

I have spent a majority of this month journeying after the Lady Vesperleaf in an attempt to cure Solia from her plight. The journey... well, I have already put my thoughts down before in regard to the journey, and will not do so again. Needless to say, Yashir has grown ever egotistical and self absorbed in his methodology. How narrow minded must one be? To simply assume that everything is as it should be? That we do not share in his worry and care? Foolish and arrogant humans...

However, I am nearly there. I have been playing chess with Salviron, and I know it is coming... The next tier... I havent gone on a mission in so long Perhaps there will be one soon

State of the Syndicate — 5 Eleint, 1502 DR

I don't even know where to start.

The state of the Syndicate is hardly the state of myself. But, since this is about the Syndicate proper and my place within it, I'll keep it impersonal.

It's been hard to go to the grounds or the hall. They were a place of peace once, but I still think on the violence that's happened there and members quickly rising in rank that I don't have the strength to - well... I can't let that be true, can I? If it comes to standing shoulder to shoulder with my fellow members, it can't matter who they are. But suffice to say I'm insulated from many of the comings and goings day to day while I stay in Stillwood and concentrate on my projects.

I haven't had much work in the past month outside of commissions and making art to sell, along with trying to get the word out about Stillwood to the locals. I remain Guardian of the Forest. I try my best to make sure I wear that mantle honorably, at least to those outside my immediate circle that see the weakness in me and my unworthiness to the title.

Other members are investigating the Weaver and the threat it may be - I may become - to the Syndicate itself. I've found an unlikely kinship with Shev, who I think in a weird way is the only one who really understands what's going on inside me. He's at least found detachment and maybe peace in accepting his fate and isolating himself... people seem fine with it and I don't think his Patron is really a threat to the Syndicate right now. He's more comic relief than anything. So, while months past may have brought fights and sieges, I don't think anything like that is in our immediate future.

Harvest time is coming, perhaps there is some joy to be found in that.

- Solia Faolanri, Guardian of the Forest

Bri

This past month has been quiet. The prison at the forge is completed, and we have a wonderful guard owlbear named Jessica. I am working on training her to take orders, but she's learning how to play without trying to kill me, which is a benefit. The forge itself has also been upgraded, thanks to some newer ranking members.

On that note, lots of new faces. Maybe one day I'll learn all their names.

Theres a teleportation circle open to Neverwinter now. I have not been back there for fun though. I'm not sure I will be, too many bad memories. We also went on a job on a mining island out at sea, Liefdale. Odd place. We currently theorize the whole thing is a giant skull, and the material being mined is the creatures mind. Mining of Minds.

Jobs overall have been scarse though. I feel like Im right on the tip of a breakthrough.

Arlis the Shade

This month has been such a blur. I've been working on training with Lief and my craft, mostly. Lief is getting strong real fast. I don't think he realizes how strong he actually is. Hopefully while I'm gone he's been training still and can see against others just how far he's come. I'm real proud of him. As for me... I still have a ways to go. I need to get stronger. To get better... I need to prove that I'm worth my voice and my voice has merit. Currently I'm out on a mission to find Vesperleaf. I wanna help her. I think helping her will help with some of our other problems too.

Sargrea Maze

My month has been quiet for the most part. I somewhat assisted in finding a location to establish a teleportation circle in Baldur's Gate, though as I am writing now, I will not be the one to see its opening. I have relocated to Calimport for the time being. There is a temple of Kelemvor here that I have neglected to make my pilgrimage to. My services are requested here, and so here I shall be for the foreseeable future. A teleportation circle to Calimport should be opening soon enough, and will allow me to return back to the Syndicate.

Cyrus Sicarius

So much has happened. Too much. It was only last month, a great many of my friendships were dashed on others' paranoia, ill-treatment delivered by ill-thought out fears. When I did make a mistake, they used it as retroactive justification, never once apologizing for what they'd done before or how they treated me.

It was this bitterness I carried into the next month, but only for some days and then, I allowed it to heal into indifference. It is a method my mother taught me. Those who do not apologize and those who cannot change - two separate categories - do not deserve my attention nor acknowledgement. It allows us to work together in some capacity and blessedly saves me from interactions. To an extent.

Not extent enough. A deal was struck with Azrael, and in exchange for letting me ride his back, I pledged to apologize to Wuyon'e. But in truth, it was I who suggested the pledge to begin with because I am not a man who carries hate well. It ways on the shoulders and I simply wanted everything with Wuyon'e to calm, and this, this seemed like fine opportunity.

After all, I was taught many times over in very short period that Drow only seem to understand transactional behavior. That my apology came as a 'transaction' would have made it better in her eyes, I thought.

I was wrong. The surface must truly be getting to her to some extent - but a very limited one. Because after I apologized, she rejected it, and hounded me, following me all the way to my room. I had hoped to retreat to keep my temper, but she forced herself in, and I thought it wisest for me to simply walk away... Only to find her sleeping in my bed, covered in <u>*blood. </u> <u>IN MY BED.***</u> (The script here is so impressed into the paper that it nearly ripped through.)

After that, I no longer felt like my space was sacred nor safe in the Syndicate, so I moved with Bramnir.

A few missions later, and I contracted Lichen Plague. Bile lichen grew on my arm and sapped me of my energy, and when I went to the Syndicate for help, sleeping in the infirmary, I-
Well.
I'll spare you the details, but I was assaulted again by someone within the Syndicate.

After that, I no longer felt like my safety - or anyone's safety, for that matter - was considered in the Syndicate.

Yashir had been kind enough to take me, and all those that could have been infected by me, in, but it's a fact I learned belatedly. The last memory I had was of the assault, so when I woke not in the Syndicate's infirmary, but in Yashir's home, I was disconcerted and terrified. I don't remember much of what happened after. Only that I was suddenly in the woods, and Solia and Yashir were there. I had nearly killed Solia, Yashir told me. And then he punished me for that while, it seems, trying to... To prove something to Solia?

I can't remember. The illusion he summoned, it...

... Well.

Needless to say, after having my room broken into, my bed slept in, assaulted twice over, tormented by Yashir [deservedly; in this, he holds no fault], losing all respect I held for some of my once-favored comrades, and gods only knows what else I'm forcefully forgetting now, I moved to Calimport alongside Maze and haven't looked back.

I'm helping the Syndicate with opening a teleportation ring in Calimport, but beyond that, I have enjoyed being away. Even should I return more regularly, so as to protect the newcomers from making the same mistakes I did [such as trusting the Syndicate infirmary, apparently], I will live in a different city, I believe. Neverwinter, perhaps, after this? Luskan, I hear we try to open. I do like the cold.

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

Harper

I have arrived at the Syndicate, and found its occupants in need of carpenters and those patient enough to create furniture. My time is spent as a builder and the newness of the skill is marvelous, the feeling of creation foreign and welcome. That dwarf did well in crafting this gauntlet that summons tools that fit perfectly to my hand. Well done indeed, Bramnir.

Now you who reads this, nosy little creature you are; what interest do you have with me?

The State of the Syndicate

1-30 Eleint, 1502 DR

-------

A comparatively more calm month for myself. In summary, my small events as a mercenary include:

• Freeing Neverwinter of the temporal chaos led by a magical manipulator space.
• Saving a farmer from a retired assassin after a dispute gone wrong.
• Facing bulettes ravaging the markets and the innocent shoppers.
• Dissuading bounty hunters from their prey and ruining their reputation.
• Taking down a Zhentarim leader while protecting a Waterdhavian noble wedding.
• Having a chance encounter with a stunning merchant.

A less busy month than others before. But, all the same, wonderful in its own way. My relationships have deepened. My business has flourished. I've gained substantial rewards, as the Syndicate has opened itself up to cities on the Sword Coast. In some sense, I hope my future reports are just as uneventful.

-Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

-------

i didnt do a whole bunch!!!!! thats okay :) i went and fought a buncha mushrooms and spiders and plants for dyes for some gobbo mom and her kid. then we went out to baldurs gate and explored to go find some leads but i dont remember that because i was asleep but apparently we were successful and i hear that now we can go there???? idk but ive been making a buncha weapons for the syndicate along with building fort wilson :D so maybe im not adventuring but im making a lotta progress!!!

if anyone wants to trade my weapon-making services for a casting of wish then id be happy to talk about it! still no leads which is kinda concerning... :( but i wont give up!

-rokka & wilson

Eleint 1502 DR

A busy month of Eleint, I assisted with starting negotiations for teleportation circles for multiple cities: Athkatla, because I didn't have enough heat for an entire season; Baldur's Gate, which was run-of-the-mill; and Luskan, which proved to be quite an interesting city of drow that I'll need to keep a closer eye on in the near future. I did have a productive talk with the bar owner, so there might be more to come for me there.

Also helped some druids close to the Syndicate; apparently, some long-running hunt for a druid saboteur that we managed to deal with, and in turn we got paid very handsomely for it.

These jobs allowed me to open up a place of my own in Loudwater, so I'm also close to those I care for, and to eventually run some business of my own. Honestly, good it happened so soon, after the recent capture attempt of Wuyon'e a few days ago, I can't see the Syndicate as a safe place anymore. Someone who's close enough to Sylk and her was part of these machinations, and so far only the Syndicate could house such a suspect... I can't in good conscience spend more time than necessary there, at least until this mystery is uncovered.

We need to tread carefully now, and good thing I'm a dame of means in this upside down.

Signed,

- Ssrin

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

SYSTEM LOG: 1502 DR - eleasis & eleint

ARCHIVE 1: eleasis

Completed 2x missions. Acquired syndicate allies: D.U.S.K. . Favors: Temoren and D.U.S.K. offered assistance for system corruption.

Observation: mainframe and system infection has not escalated. syndicate allies danger potential nominal. Directive: analyse potential methods of mitigation.

ARCHIVE 2: eleint

Completed 1x missions. Enemies: Kaskur for sparing Feral-Tongue. Penalties: Unknown Chardalyn corruption to the main systems.

Warning: mainframe and system have been infected by an unknown corruption. main corruption within similar detected levels. Directive: discover affliction of new corruption. recalibrate main system function and equipment for higher combat efficiency.

Is this of common practice for guilds? An interesting way to go about records and employee reviews.

As of the end of The Fading, I have been staying at the Syndicate for about one and a half months. It feels as if both a long year and only a minute has passed, although that may be my muddled sleep schedule disturbing my sense of time. But my time here has been, surprisingly, quite pleasant.

Although mercenaries are technically freelancers, I've never felt a particular kinship with them before. They're oft to be troublemakers, to put it lightly- a majority of them of low renown and only focused on making coin, consequences or other livelihoods be damned.

Perhaps things are different, under the watchful eye and security of a guild, because the people that I've met here are all lovely and helpful- immediately friendly, even to an unfamiliar or odd face such as mine. I dare say I've even made a few friends. It's a deeply stark contrast from my travels just to get to Shining Falls, and one that I am very thankful for. (I've even picked up a new hobby, potion making- thank you, Yap, and my fellow students!)

That is all to say, however, that I'm unsure how much longer I'll be staying. I came here for a specific purpose, and as soon as it's fulfilled, I'm heading straight back the way I came... deserts and bandits be damned. I'll miss this place, though, so perhaps letters will be a viable alternative to simply never communicating with anyone here again.

If I'm particularly lucky, perhaps a teleportation circle will be stationed past Anauroch, near the forests I lovingly call home. It may still take some travel time, yes, but nothing as grueling as the months-long trek I made.

As for an actual report... Things seem to be going well for the Syndicate. Plenty of new faces signing up what feels like multiple times a week, members constantly honing their craft or their skills in combat, even a few making their own houses or businesses purely off of their success in missions. It's impressive, on all fronts, and I hope for everyone's sake that Marpenoth doesn't break this streak.

Even if there have been a few... alarming posts on the notice board. I believe there was a kidnapping at some point later in the month? I wish all the best for those involved.

But yes, I would go so far as to say that I'm enjoying my stay and employment.

(A few more sentences are started and then hastily scribbled out- "I should head home," "For my own sake," "For my loved ones sakes,"...)

It certainly wouldn't be... terrible, if I had to spend more time here.

The note that is added (belatedly) to the Syndicate's records for Eleint 1502DR is a small slip of paper no larger than a postcard. No matter the size, there seems to be an incredible amount of information crammed onto it, as the tiny curved script of the eladrin known among the Syndicate as 'Ansrivarr' fills it from edge to edge.

Eleint 1502 Dale Reconing

When the elders among the Keepers of the Grandfather tree came to me and bid me travel southeast, it was with reluctance. By the reckoning of the stars, it had been many years since I tread the paths in that part of the forest, so it would usually have been with eagerness that I took up the request.

Twas the reason they bid me go that made me hesitate.

I sought out my mentor for counsel.

It was by the wise words of theirs that I did heed the petition of the elders and began to watch and keep record of the point of concern. To observe, to question, to assess.
In time, I found myself seeking those knowledgeable about the area, which brought me to individuals associated with the Glass Fang Syndicate. The construct known as D.U.S.K, a man by name of Lief who spoke a shared tongue, two drow by names of Sylk and Wuyon'e, and a woman who lived with them by name of Tova were among them. Though there were others. Their dealings with me were the song of the Syndicate. A discordant and fractured tune which grates on the ears and offends the harmony of one's emotions. Only with one did I find common ground. But the song as a whole was found wanting in many matters. And most concerning was the confirmation that among them there was no druid.

An affront to say the least, though not unexpected given my observations.

Considering their contract with care, I found no clause which bound me to the Syndicate above my other duties and no master to serve which superseded my mentor's designs. As such, I determined that it only assisted me in the requested task if I were to join their numbers for a season. How long a season, I do not know, but when the time comes to leave this place, one may hope the song they sing will be a better one than the one sung to me.

~ I am known here as Ansrivarr.

This month was wrought with strangeness in all honesty. We pursued Lady Vesperleaf, Vincel enacted our agreement to compete with each other for a full month, and everyone grows stronger by the day.

It certainly has been a trip despite the business I find myself in.

-Salviron Lisel

This has been a pretty busy month. I've made many tankards and jewerly at the smithy, enough to buy the materials to make plate armor!

Regarding adventures Dusty and I met with a few other Syndicate Members to escort a caravan towards the Greypeak Mountains. On the way a strange dog called us towards a steam filled cave. It was hard work but we managed to intimidate the thugs inside and free some random animals. The dog was actually a broken minded druid wanting to help her friends. We later fought a red dragon that wanted revenge on the druid.

A few days later we received a message. A apprentice wizard needed some help. He called himself a fool, he was cooking using fire magic and managed to open a portal to the fire realm... pretty impressive to do as an apprentice wizard.

Later in the month I went back to Phlan with John White. There was a ghost in the keep? Or something... honestly this trip was a failure. We wanted to make the beacon in Phlan's keep to work again.

We only managed to find a shrine to Dagon in the basement, kill some undead and save the Black Hand guards.

We investigated the caves we found last time. Again we were hired by the Hlaths and we discovered another cavern in the area that led to a base of operations for the cult of Yeenoghu. Inside, they were able to cast spell of darkness that wounded many of us. We found quite many treasures, including a potion of Giant Strength was able identify, and I consumed it to aid in mission. It helped me hit much better, and felt good to do so. I also enjoyed turning the foes' javelins against them.

End of the battle I went down, but got up by Orri, and was able deliver final blow to cultists. Was rewarded with a very nice new shield. I feel my strength increasing and preparations home are beginning to look possible.

I wonder what was the purpose of their ritual and why they were summoning a maw, or why they posed as cult of Absolute. So many questions left unanswered... but ultimately it is not my concern. I did my job.

I: Almost needed to make and use a: contingency plan. I am glad my idea of an: Impromptu performance managed to get us a: Legitimate early audience: as it would have been a: Shame to wait or: resort to more: Sneaky methods.

We managed to talk to the: Nobility of: Caer Callidyrr and were informed that the: Teleportation circles were: Malfunctioning.

We set out to the: Moonshae Isles to: Investigate. We found: Necromantic energy and had to fight a: Lot of mushrooms and: A tree. It was: A very dangerous encounter and the tree is what I would describe as a: Category 5 threat. I was almost: Killed by: it.

Thankfully: Willow was there to: Get me up, and: Nas'r and: Forvist were able to help: Kill the: Tree. Valentina was also a: Big help with: Convincing the: Nobles earlier and I quite: Enjoy her sense of: Fashion.

I would like to: Work alongside everyone again in the: future on more: Missions.

Eleint 26th, 1502 DR

Wuyon'e was captured using an underhanded method, luring her out of safety with a forgery of Sylk's writing to ambush and poison her so she couldn't fight back. We managed to find her trail and assemble a rescue group that successfully freed her with no further complications from any other party encountered.

Everyone is safe... for now.

As the facts currently stand, the only way for these events to have unfolded like so was with the involvement of someone who knows Wu's and Sylk's relationship and has been close enough to know his penmanship. This currently narrows it down to someone involved with the Syndicate, which does not bring peace of mind; quite the opposite.

If a Syndicate member truly was involved in this, it is a breach of our unspoken agreement, for this to be a space where our past lives and actions do not define our stay and safety here. Wuyon'e is not a saint, but whatever sins were made, instead of dealing with them face to face, it was deemed more appropriate to bring our past to the surface to haunt us again, to suddenly gain the right of judge and jury over our lives.

This made it clear to me that the Syndicate is NOT a place where I can sleep safely at night and feel like I'll be accepted, not anymore.

The records of this mission are one that I will not over explain or relay beyond conveying that we were successful in locating and saving Wuyon'e from her temporary capture. Despite the knowledge that the Syndicate would not willingly give over any information or records of previous missions to interested parties, I will not be the reason things come to bite us in the ass if a member does. Someone got Wuyon'e captured. And who that is? Im not sure.

But if it was one of us? Im happy my conscious is clean.

There was a troop of Cyclopses involved. Their intentions are still unclear, and I hope that we will be able to figure them out, sooner rather than later. A journal written in giant was salvaged, and hopefully that will provide answers.

Wu stopped answering, and that was enough for us to go looking for her.

Lief, Ssrin, Azrael, and I set out together. We had good reason to believe she'd been taken and that there were other people looking for her too, so Ssrin helped us keep a low profile. I'm deliberately not writing down where we went, who exactly we encountered there, what names anyone used, or anything else that could make somebody else's job easier if these notes ever ended up in the wrong hands.

By the time we arrived, things had already gone very badly. There were bodies everywhere, and whatever had come through before us had hit hard. We found one survivor barely hanging on, and Ssrin helped her while the rest of us tried to figure out what had happened. It sounded like Wu's captors had run into trouble of their own, and whatever was carrying her had gotten away during the chaos. That at least gave us something to follow.

There was a little disagreement before we left. Azrael wanted to kill the survivor, and I told him no. She hadn't done anything to us personally, and whatever orders she'd been following before we found her, she was already half-dead when we arrived. I wasn't going to stand there and watch somebody finish her off just because it was convenient. Maybe kindness comes back around someday and maybe it doesn't, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop choosing it when I can. I also made it very clear that if Azrael decided to do it anyway, he'd have to go through me first. He didn't.

We moved on and eventually ran into a group of basilisks. Somewhere in the middle of that mess, we found that Wu had apparently managed to leave behind some kind of magical guardian that was still active and doing an excellent job of killing anything stupid enough to get near it. Lief, naturally, decided this meant we should introduce the basilisks to it. Honestly, it was a good plan. Ssrin almost got petrified during the fight, which was considerably less amusing, but Lief managed to give her just enough of a push to fight it off. We cleared the rest and kept going.

After that, we started hearing something enormous repeatedly hitting metal ahead of us, which is never a comforting sound. That led us to the group that had intercepted Wu's captors. There were several of them, and one was throwing around some very unpleasant magic. I put my storm down on them and eventually hit the worst one with five flares. Five. I don't remember whether I was angry, showing off, or had simply decided that particular bastard had lived long enough. Probably all three.

Lief had a rough time seeing for part of the fight but still managed to beat the hell out of things anyway. I really liked fighting beside him. He's solid, doesn't panic, and doesn't make things more complicated than they need to be. Somehow, he also hits things hard enough that the rest of us feel more capable afterward. Literally. I don't know how he does that, but I appreciate it.

Then we finally found Wu.

She was alive, and that is the important part.

She was trapped inside some kind of containment orb being carried by a construct, and one of the big bastards was trying very hard to smash the thing apart. Azrael had some undead with him that could have helped, except they were much too far away to reach the fight in time. Conveniently, I've learned a new trick.

Scatter.

I grabbed all five of them at once and dropped them exactly where we needed them. I cannot adequately describe how satisfying that was. Ssrin had already covered part of the area in magical darkness, and between that and getting the undead into position, the construct finally had enough room to get away from the thing attacking it. From there, it was mostly a matter of surviving long enough to finish the job. The undead did considerably better against the giants than I expected, Ssrin was excellent, and Lief continued being Lief. Eventually, everything trying to kill us stopped moving.

Getting Wu out of the containment device was a little more complicated. Azrael came up with a solution involving changing his appearance into someone Wu absolutely did not want to see while she was already surrounded by undead, some of whom were wearing very recognizable uniforms. Wu was confused, frightened, furious, and probably about three seconds away from trying to murder all of us. Completely reasonable, honestly.

Ridiculous as Azrael's plan was, it worked. The construct accepted his order and released her. There was then some additional business involving a cliff that I am choosing not to examine too closely.

But we had Wu.

Alive.

We got everyone patched up enough to leave and headed home. So that's the important part. Wu was captured, we found her, and we got her back.

Anything else can stay unwritten.

Also, Scatter is fucking fantastic.

Following a lead into the literal underworld of Calimport, the Muzad, we searched for a lead. We were pulled into the arena, Shezar made our sponsor, and we cleared the floor with what was thrown at us.

We were able to meet with the head of the Nightwisps who granted us the knowledge that the Sovereign Firtinia of Maryan Saya had hired the Nightwisps to sabotage. The Sovereign Firtinia of Maryan are associated with the marids, the water genie of this region. It seems like the marid are going to make a move at Three Days Festival.

Before we headed to the arena, we looked over the night market and stumbled upon a slave trader. I couldn't do nothing. I promised 2,550 gold to buy 30 of her 50 slaves. I could buy no more. After we won, though, and had an audience, I had the opportunity to... To betray someone who has been nothing kind to me, who, last we interacted, took three Nightwisps prisoner to interrogate them in rather brutal fashion.

... I sold her out. I cannot write how deeply I wish I hadn't needed to.
But because I did, the debt to the slaver was wiped, and with the gold I received back, I turned around and bought the rest of the 20 slaves.
They will all be free now, and with the gold that remains, I will be able to provide them with shelter, even if temporary, and food, opportunities. Deryan might be able to help.

If you had to sacrifice one friend's life for twenty peoples' freedom, would you?

Sit Rep

Group:
Cyrus
Yap
Alvis
Azrael
Myself

We were teleported to the town of Calimport, sent to open up a teleportation circle for the Syndicate. Immediately we were immersed in the wild nature of the warm city, with automatons aplenty. Cyrus greeted us, and took us to the Muzad. He explained that Deryan Kaya, the world's best artificer, had been framed, and some of her mechanical creations or deliveries had malfunctioned. Apparently, the Night Wisp Family knew of this, and could provide more information... So, that's we were headed down into the underbelly of the city, Muzad, to meet with them.

Upon arriving, Cyrus spoke to Shezar Han and a Werejackal, and we were told of a tournament that was taking place. Hosted by the Night Wisp family, whoever won would get riches and a request granted by the moguls, which is why Shezar Han agreed to sponsor us. He did warn us of Mary, who was apparently the champion of the tournament, though, I wasnt worried. The party made their way over to sign up, and we decided on the team name of "Alvis and The Boys"....

I tried to object, but that is what we settled on.

We passed through all the trials of the gladiatorial combat, defeating Drow and wind creatures, and eventually the 6 armed Mary. The meeting with the Night Wisp Family went well... overall... Cyrus made further agreements with the leader of the organization, and we discovered the next stage in this overarching plot to frame Deryan. I only hope the Three Day's Festival is not a... catastrophic event.

I am: Surprised I was not able to: Fix the: Beacon. I am usually good with: Technical things. However: I did not really want to help our: Employers anyways. They gave me: a Bad Feeling.

We managed to: Fight a good amount of: Undead. My only regret is that I could not: Take home a: Chunk of: Jade. it was too:: Ancient and Stone-like for my jewelers tools to work. We found a: Jade statute to a: Demon Lord. It was: Valuable jewels and I like: Collecting them to make: Jewelry.

Other than that there was some: Mystery about: Ghosts of: Clerics of Tyr that we were: Unable to solve. Also: John destroyed a: Nice painting of a: Noble merchant and that made me: Somewhat upset. That painting could have been worth: A lot of money.

A Fitting End

22-23 Eleint, 1502 DR

-------

Lady Yalah Gralhund of Waterdeep invited members of the Glassfang Syndicate to the wedding of her son, Zartan, with Charrin Tesper, soul heir of Lord Armult Tesper. In our last adventures, we assisted the union of the two. It seems Zartan was eager to see us again and invited our entourage out to enjoy the festivities. However, Yalah's guards seemed on alert despite the happy day, and the lady of the house requested our services. Urstul Floxin, previously an ally of the house, had acquired a special crystal. Yalah wanted it. Knowing Floxin had allies within the Zhentarim, our party of Alvis, Dahlia, Jax, Tealight, and myself (Sylk) set out with arcanist Brigsly Gibbons to track Floxin.

Upon meeting the Zhent, hells broke loose. Brigsly threw a Fireball. Assassins in the rooftops tried to claim this crystal for their own, ducking out of sight to cause more mayhem. Though I rushed Floxin, he was able to evade my grasp and flee. We finished the fight against the Zhentarim, unsuccessful, and found an alley to duck into for hiding until the worst blew over. Brigsly revealed that, while Floxin had fumbled through his pockets to toss a grenade, he had tossed the crystal out with it, which the ally of ours swiped up. The halfling wanted nothing to do with the crystal, eagerly allowing us to give the Syndicate credit while he claimed plausible deniability.

I wish I could say we were successful in having a peaceful wedding. Mid-service, Jax overheard and Alvis announced the noises brewing downstairs. While the nobles ducked for cover, Floxin burst through the doors again, demanding we surrender. We did not. His strategy was sound this time, targeting our cleric first before our sorcerer. When Floxin suffered enough, he fled, and I gave chase. It nearly cost my life. Dahlia kept the pressure against the foes Alvis sent in a stupor. The others recounted that Jax enraptured several Zhents with a pretty rock, I'm not exactly sure. And Tealight flew in to save me, giving me enough clearance to blast the smug grin off Floxin's face.

The snacks at the rest of the wedding were quite delicious. Despite the obvious, the ceremony was concluded in success. I do wish Zartan and Charrin all the best in luck and life. They're wonderful people. Though political in nature, the union of the two seems also beneficial for the sake of their love.

Meanwhile, I plan to sleep for the next tenday. Too many hors d'oeuvres. Too many poisons coursing through my body. At least the Gralhunds paid well for this strange crystal... -Sylkran "Sylk" Teke'zynge

We were hired by the wealthy Hlath family to track down the cause of some disturbances at their businesses. While investigating the city we came across armed cultists of the Absolute who seemed intent on committing arson on some of the family's storefronts. We defeated them, and Forvist traced them out of the city towards the waterfall. They were extremely powerful spellcasters and even compelled my allies like Dahlia to dance and render them helpless. We defeated them despite this, as I managed to avoid the charm along with Tealight. In the end we discovered a statue that Yap knew more about. Why would these cultists pose as the Cult of the Absolute when they actually worshipped Yeenoghu? Hopefully we will find our answers and destroy this threat, and get the teleportation circles open at last.

Eleint 19th, 1502 DR

Another teleportation-circle job, this time to open one in Baldur's Gate with Lady Alyth's help, but we need to earn more by escorting a convoy of supply carts to Loudwater for her son, Alan.

A run-of-the-mill job, with the run-of-the-mill outcome: an ambush by highway robbers. We got rid of most of them except for 3 who managed to get out of my grasp and leave with half of the trading supplies. Can't believe a group of ineffective fighters escaped my blade; this issue has to be corrected.

We managed to find their trail easily, but that didn't mean there were no issues... The path was littered with traps, pits, and darts, which made me despise every second in those woods. Thankfully, with the combined perceptiveness, Tealight's airborne mobility... and sheer unexpected brute forcing, we passed the hellish side of the forest and reached their camp.

After a lengthy deliberation of how to infiltrate their hideout without being porcupined by arrows, which revealed they were more incompetent than expected by having no means to see in natural darkness, a temporary distraction from Wu was more than enough to get inside and finish the fight we started. Their boss was quite a challenge, surprising for someone so competent... to even fell me... has such a lackluster crew, but Orri and Maze made sure their compensating efforts were for naught... I owe them for that one, as I do Wu for the last mission.

With the help of our cleric crew, the rest of us ran them through without further issues and got the carts back and some decent payment, although not as good as the last.

We returned to Baldurs Gate to help escort supply carts to Loudwater. We were ambushed on the road by bandits which led us to a camp of them. I had not expected to face that crippling of a poison outside of the Underdark. Nor that many traps. These surfacers were so resourceful that you'd almost expect them to be kin, but they were not.

So I took no hesitation and absolutely all of the pleasure in slaughtering as many of them as I could. I managed to summon my Guardian as a distraction, then we entered the camp. Their leader was waiting in the shadows by the gate, with a poisoned blade at the ready, and it managed to bypass all of my defenses. I was downed, but recovered thanks to healing from the others, and we proceeded to massacre our assailants.

9/18/2026

Arlis let us know that the Emerald Enclave was fighting off some force from a hamlet. We hurriedly headed out to assist.

Quickly heading out, we arrived at the hamlet, seeing the higher up figures in the Emerald Enclave. We spoke with them briefly, learning more of the rogue archdruid as was mentioned prior. He's destroying everything that can be called technological expansion. He's been controlling the animals to become more sympathetic to his cause and attack the enemies. The archdruid is Warden's brother, Dominic. They want us to bring him back alive preferably. Dominic defected, not seeing eye-to-eye on how the curent Emerald Enclave is being handled.

Dominic is up in the mountains and would like us to stop him, bringing him back alive.

As we traveled up the mountainside, I found various glyphs set up, blocking our path forward. After brief discussion, we all were able to fly and teleport out, me viper climbing on the side of the cliff instead. Then we came to a field of abominable yetis and winter wolves.

Of which I have researched extensively.

It was a bit of a touch-and-go situation but we managed to take them all out. We took a brief rest as Wuyon'e prayed and immediately continued forwards. A battle was ahead of us on a frozen lake where the council of the Emerald Enclave was fighting animated trees. We bypassed them as they looked to be succeeding and continued up the mountain.

We met with Dominic, who tried to speak with us in regards to joining his side but his idealology is not something I support. They've attacked far too many innocents to warrant us being on his side, and he has no empathy towards those that are simply trying to survive in this life instead of going after the ones that are the actual cause of this all. So we engaged in combat.

He fought with more yetis and wolves by his side but I captured him with Bigby's Hand and made him unable to act as he pleased. We proceeded to knock him out together and the Enclave leaders came up and rewarded us for capturing Dominic.

Eleint 18th, 1502 DR

We went to a nearby settlement, close to the Greypeak Mountains, at the behest of one of the Syndicate members, Arlis. The place was in flames, and from the druids' tellings, the brother of one of them, an archdruid named Dominic, went rogue and started assaulting the farmhouses supplying Loudwater out of rebellion for people's nature to expand... ironic how a man of preserving nature would go against others'.

On the way up the mountain, we encountered magical wards, but with Salviron's magics, the group's overall perceptiveness, and my sweet boy Velkyn, we avoided the weather defense without much issue. Although the packs of yetties and wolves were not avoidable, it was quite a lengthy but successful fight.

The druids also came to our aid and held off more threats to come as we went directly for the archdruid... who was defended by more yetties and wolves. After an unsuccessful monologue and a near-death experience, but nothing more thanks to dear Wu and more bloodshed and magical antics, we apprehended the archdruid without killing them, as requested by Warden, his brother.

For our great success, outside the allyship of the Enclave, we were handsomely rewarded with magical items, more gold than I've ever gotten from one job... and some strange magical blessing. I need more jobs like this; I kind of like it.

This mission was too damn cold. Thank the Gods that Arlis had that windskip or I would have needed to stay behind, there was no way to cross that gap otherwise. We fought several yetis and snow wolves before travelling further up the mountain. The Emerald Enclave seemed grateful that we were willing to assist, but they seemed to have a small burning settlement under control, so we continued further to the Archdruid's den.

I am once again reminded that I am far better at violence than I ever was at talking things through. I did not mind bludgeoning that man. We were getting paid to do it. I didn't like having to take him captive, but, we were getting paid and the Enclave was sentimental. So we captured him alive.

I had thankfully managed to get Jabbress up, and she and Tealight did a good bit of damage to the yetis, allowing Salviron and I to get close to the Archdruid with magic in his case and steel in mine, and subdue him.

I met Falken of the Emerald Enclave on the road. He stopped me to request help save some hamlets that were being destroyed and set on fire. As quick as I fuckin' could, I arranged a team to meet the Enclave out there.

We learned that all of this was the rogue archdruid Dominic's doing. The Warden had asked us to bring his brother back alive. So we set out. We ran into some glyphs and wards that Sal had to navigate us through. Fortunately I had my fuckin' windskiff and managed to get Wuyon'e and me across.

Then got fuckin' jumped by Yetis and wolves. It was a hard fight and we coulda easily lost, but we managed to pull through. We passed through where the Enclave was fightin' some trees and kept 'em away as we rushed in to where Dominic was. He was holed up in some ruins. He tried to convince us to join 'em, but when we refused, he attacked and we attacked back.

In the end, we defeated him without killing him, and brought him back to the Warden. We were given a bunch of rewards and a blessing. But.. something tells me this isn't the complete end for Dominic.

9/18/26

Murtin, Dusty, Mika, Scrawny (Onics), and myself (Kyani)

Some stupid fucking wizard got distracted while making his dinner and set his wizard boss's tower on fire and filled with little flaming assholes. He hired us to go in and kill them all. And there was a lot of them. So many, that we all almost died, I used all my healing potions, and we didn't get paid nearly enough for the bullshit of the exploding assholes.

That guys a shit wizard, and an even shittier cook, his food wasn't even good. I've had more flavorful water. Wonder how he's going to explain the burnt tower to his boss. At least it was close by.

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

This day was rather mundane until, only a few hours before we arrived at the job's destination, five of us were made aware of a new, urgent request on the notice board. Preparations were swiftly made, and in no time at all Murtin, Mika, Kyani, Onics, and myself were sent out .

The request only warned us of billowing smoke in the sky, and once we were close enough we found a rather obvious source; a wizard's tower, erupted into flames with a panicking apprentice in front of it. After informing us that many accidentally-summoned monsters had practically taken over the tower, we assured him that we would handle it and headed inside.

The first floor was vacant, but the three floors above did indeed have many small, imp-like creatures running amok and either stoking fires themselves or taking advantage of the unique destruction a fire brings. On the fourth floor, we came across a full-blown Fire Elemental next to a summoning circle. The fight to bring down this one was much, much tougher than the small ones below, and after a frightful minute or so of my companions almost dying, we succeeded. The tower was unfortunately still heavily burnt, but it shouldn't be in danger of outright collapsing into ash.

Each of my teammates were valuable members to have on this mission- I don't know how I'd fare with even one of them missing. I hope to go on further missions with them soon... provided that we do not cook to death during so.

9/17/2026

Another request from Leadale was received, something about a mine. Great.

Once again we boarded a ship with the same captain as last time, Captain Delhany. However when we got to about halfway there, we experienced strange turbulence that fully rocked the ship. I stayed below deck in the room assigned to me. We eventually arrived to the island once again, meeting with a contact that directed us to the same manor as before where we spoke with Lord Leland again.

Shev struggled with the stairs again.

Lord Leland led us inside to give us breakfast again and Bri asked why the islanders are not able to go outside during the day. It seems the people of the island burn up into skeletons in the sun. They have reflections however so they are likely not vampires, especially since they properly eat still. He gave us a rundown about the mine, miners going missing and strange noises happening so he wants us to confirm it is safe for the islanders and his people. He provided us devices that can be used to breath in airless environments to assist as we explored the mine.

We headed to the mine next and a few workers were talking at the front of it. They warned us to not have open flames, which is common sense considering there's an unknown gas. After a small bit of preparing, we headed down into the mine.

After walking down for a bit, we spotted shadowy snake-like creatures. I'm...not entirely sure what exactly happened. I think Shev started speaking telepathically. But then their attention was drawn to me for some reason and they lunged forward to attack. They attempted to swallow Shev but Yashir and Bri were able to stop it from burrowing beneath the ground with him. When they were defeated, they dispersed into the shadows--the likely culprits of the missing minors.

Our exploration continued and the gas intensified the more we went downwards. Yashir found a diary of sorts that explained as they expanded the mine downwards they hit a gas pocket and intended to close the mine off due to deaths. It labeled the ore we found as greymatter. Yashir came to the conclusion that the mine was actually some kind of creature's skull and the shadowy snakes we fought were brain worms...

We continued down further, finding a large cavernous space that looked like a lair that had a lot more of the rocks piled up. There were many pools of the strange, pink goo that emitted the gas and we found strange tadpole eggs inside. We removed them and killed a vast majority, taking some for ourselves. There were bones of what we assumed to be the missing miners, likely being used as food for the eggs so that they can grow.

Then we headed back up, completing the exploration and telling Lord Leland what we learned.

17 Elient, 1502 D.R.

Myself, Solia, Salviron, Bri, and Shev/Gobbles were dispatched once again to the town of Leadale. The mayor seemed to approve of our performance last time, and we set out again by boat, much to Bri's dismay. The trip was mostly uneventful, though at the end, we were briefly disrupted by the appearance of a giant eyeball, staring at us. It was, apparently, benign. Apart from staring and unnerving us all (except for Shobbles, who took it as a challenge he intended to win), it did nothing to trouble us, and soon disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.

The town was much the same this time as last -- bustling despite the hour, and the Mayor served us breakfast again. He also seemed oddly determined to learn our names, which I like not at all, but none of us refused him. I began to wonder if the entire place were peopled with vampires, but the others assure me I am being paranoid. No, no. The simple, obvious explanation is that they are active at night because they cannot be during the day, when the sun strips the flesh from their bones. No, they don't know why. No, they aren't particularly curious about it. This is all normal.

Whatever. I have more important mysteries to occupy my attention.

Some miners had disappeared in a local mine, according to the mayor. We were sent not so much to find and rescue them as to learn what had happened to them. The mine was long disused, and Leadale told us that anything we found there of value was ours to keep. We were also informed of "natural" gas suffusing the place, and were given equipment with which to safely breathe.

Well, we found what had happened to the miners soon enough. A couple of serpentine creatures, conversing in Draconic and hungering for brain activity, confronted us a few steps into the mine. We slew them despite their burrowing, and despite their consuming some of us (only temporarily).

With them out of the way, we were free to explore the mine. We searched the place from top to bottom, and what we found was a whole bunch of strange pinkish ore. We found, also, some mining logs identifying the -- once again -- PINK ore as "gray matter." That's brains, right? Gray matter? That's a colloquial word for brains. There was also a lot of pink goo that we convinced Shobbles to eat. It seemed to do him some good, though he said it tasted like copper. You know. Like blood, or similar stuff.

It's a brain. The mine is a giant skull, and they're mining its brains. The creatures we slew were monstrous brain-worms, and while we only encountered two of them, there was evidence of many more. We discovered and mostly destroyed their eggs. The miners had been fed to the creatures.

Once again, the others assure me I am being paranoid. The mountain in which the mine rests does not in any way resemble a skull. The mayor insists that the gray matter and pink goo are used to power their technology, which is entirely normal. He bought from us all that we found and paid us fairly for it, all things considered.

This is not normal. It is also, however, none of my business. I have more important things to worry about; this cannot be one of them.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr