LRC:Hunting the Darkness

Starring: Robhim, Ist'Vaech, Wolfdale, Grim Greycastle, and Sir Valans
Guest Starring: Simon, Spellbook, Thug, Cleric of Waukeen, and the world's worst Flesh Golem!

Raising Spellbook

Newly released from prison, we made our way to the burial grounds. The mass grave for the unclaimed dead was a sad sight, but there was little difficulty in obtaining Spellbook. We filled out the paperwork, and I certified Spellbook would be buried outside of Ordulin. As I expect Spellbook to never return to the place, I do not consider the certification false. We quickly realized the awkwardness of making Wolfdale and Sir Valens carry Spellbook from the city, so we sought a wagon. We found a man willing to sell a wagon in much disrepair. After much complaining about the price I paid for such a poorly kept wagon, Robhim ingeniously made whole the wagon, and made bickering about its quality meaningless. Pulling a wagon with a body in it is apparently also demeaning to our glorious muscle-wrought companions, so I also purchased a horse. While we made our way out of the city with little comment, Robhim wandered away muttering something about panthers, rats, and dogs. I presumed he was looking for a replacement companion. We took Spellbook a couple of miles from the city and I preformed the weighty task of asking Kelemvor to return a soul to its body. Kelemvor and Spellbook were both willing, and Spellbook soon woke up quite a bit confused.

On the Caring, Feeding, and Questioning of Spellbook

We had not taken into account Spellbook's lack of clothing or food when provisioning ourselves for his raising. Wolfdale continued to insist we could feed Spellbook my new horse, but we eventually sent people back to the city for food, and Ist'vaech also purchased him some clothes. When dealing with Spellbook, I remember he is a gentle soul, but I often forget he is... of a lesser wit. We attempted to inform him what had happened and the miricale of which he had been no small part, but he lacked the ability to truly comprehend. While we spoke to him, we also asked him about his master and why Spellbook had killed him. Apparently, some villian named Janus enjoys turning strong men against their more intellectual brethren. Also apparently, he uses a rose as his symbol. My companions gathered from Spellbook's sad tale, Janus compulsed Spellbook into killing his own master. To top things off, this Janus is apprently fond of the so-called necromantic arts. He is a fool with which we must quickly deal. Unfortunately, all Spellbook derived from our discussion was that flowers made him kill his master. I'm afraid the half-giant goes into a murderous rage at the sight of any flower. Simon had the idea of using one of Robhim's animal messengers to ask a Harpel from Lone Rock to come and transport Spellbook to the island where people could look after him, and utilize the spells he has tattooed about his body. Eventually Shannon Harpell apeared to escort Spellbook back to the city. Shannon was not much of a communicator. He seemed distracted by the most mundane of things. Odd. One point of note: Wolfdale seemed to imply to Shannon that Spellbook should be used as a "thing" or a slave. I shall have to keep my eye on him.

We learned these things about Spellbook's master and his house:
- The main pass-phrase in the house is "The dragon watches you".
- Spellbook's Master had a mirror he would enter.
- Spellbook likes playing with blocks.
- The house's address.

Janus Hunting

My assumptions about Robhim's wanderings were soon proven correct. He reappeared with a mangy mutt named "Dogwood". After discussing Janus for a bit, we all split up for a day to see what we could find about Janus in Ordulin. I went to the city's graveyards to see about any disappearances. I spoke to a few people and helped perform last rites on the fallen, but I uncovered much of real import. There is the occasional grave robbery, but usually the corpse is left. Ist'vaech and Simon went on a date, but had more luck. They found that Janus frequented a restaurant with an older woman and two children. It seemed to bother my companions that this vile necromancer might have a family. Reproduction is natural enough, and as long as he hasn't spread his dark knowledge as well as his seed, we should not have to kill them.

Against the Thieves

Went catiously approached Spellbook's old home, and noticed the front door a bit ajar. Wolfdale quickly produced his mind blade, much to the surprise of the passersby on the street. We entered the house and encountered clerics of Waukeen and a motley gang of thieves ransacking the home. We dispatched the thieves, but both clerics escaped. One of the clerics did inform us they were working for the Silver Ravens and they were looking for components, which I deduced to be for a most vile undertaking. The components they seek are for the animation of a dracolich. We must get to the bottom of this most heinous plot. The interlopers also escaped with a copy of the manuscript Despair of the Living by Jonathan Nightbringer.

Through the Looking Glass

After looting the looters, we searched the rest of the abode and discovered the mirror Spellbook had mentioned. Robhim and I entered the mirror to find a reverse copy of the house. We waited for the others to join us and then Robhim returned to the "real" world when they didn't. After a bit I began to think they did not intend to come through with me, but they eventually appeared. We discovered the place was not an alternate dimension, rather it was a pocket dimension made up to look like a copy of the house. We soon encountered a very pathetic flesh golem, who made up for his lack of ability by standing in a room with four lightning bolt generators which healed him repeatedly. After defeating the golem, we entered Vanion's (Spellbook's master) office; we learned the Silver Ravens have spies following an evil mage (presumably Janus) with vampire followers and connections to the Six Coffers Market Trading Company. We must get to the bottom of this plot soon.

Grim Greycastle.