Wodinsday the 14th of Hells

I have finished my research for now. I still have a stack of cantrips to learn, but I need a rest from study for a while. Tomorrow the group is to RSVP to the ball and must identify the masks we will wear, so I will take some time today finalising preparations for that. The cantrips I have yet to learn are: Toll the Dead; Thunderclasp; Shape Water; Mold Earth Infestation; Gust; Frostbite; Create Bonfire; and Control Flames. I will learn these when I get another opportunity. But for now, I have access to all the other spells I have come across over the past few weeks, which are many. My training as a wizard is quite advanced for my level and ability and I prove to be quite the asset to the group and our goals to save the world. I am aware of my ability but I still consider myself humble. I am concerned that if anything did happen to me, that the Proselyte might be able to obtain the Torc and stone – and the book containing the details on the construction of the Eye of Death for that matter. I consider my survival as important to the cause. I’m sure that if I died and another of our group get the Torc, that it would be safe and it would teach its new user how to use it and the teleportation system. But if there is even a small risk that our enemy could get the Torc, we must avoid that at all costs. It almost happened last week. I must be more careful and avoid it happening again.

I have given 2,000 gold pieces each to Swift and Ehrman as a gesture of friendship. I am quite wealthy after selling my boots and I wanted to share it. The other members of the group haven’t been around lately, so for now, they miss out.

It will take 8 hours to learn the remaining cantrips.

As I slept, I dreamed of the Torc. The Torc had a message for me:

”Kethra, as your understanding grows and my respect improves for you I will reveal more of my knowledge. You have proven yourself again and so here in this dream I gift you knowledge.

• The Master teleport rooms have sixteen selectable destinations.
• The four Great Fortress’ and the twelve Guardian’s residences
• As well as these sixteen locations, each has a Dolan dial, selectable of four positions. The wearer of me needs not know of or use the Doyan dial for I also have this power.
• Position 1 – Disables the Teleport room
• Position 2 – The base location – Teleport is on and the sixteen locations are available.
• When you understand more I will reveal the other positions
• The four levers in the outer teleport room select the sixteen destinations
• Position 0 is its own location – The Fortress of Eld
• Setting to this position turns the teleport outbound and inbound off, an attempt to use in this position sounds an alarm that The Guardian will be aware of

Kethra, keep to your oaths, you have my trust for now, do not waiver, and a warning – The old rumours are true, a wearer of me may not lie. I will punish you if you do. A truely evil act will be your end. Now sleep – For you need to recover, much is before you.”

While reading through one of my spell books. It is one that was very badly damaged. In it, I find the remains of the past owner’s journal. The passage reads:

”The second journal of Gord the Wanderer. In my wandering seeing arcane knowledge about a year ago I came upon the ‘Monastery of the Saint”, and met with the Abbot. The monastery was a place of learning a I decide to stay a while and delve into research. I became quite interested in this very holy and ancient man. I often wondered on his age and origin, it was rumoured in the monastery that he was truely ancient, rumoured to be even older than this place and that he formed the monastery is said but this is of course impossible for humans could never live so long. Possibly he is of a long line of such men, but he has never spoken of his origins.

I would argue philosophy and discuss for hours what could and could not occur in the world. On one such occasion he introduced me to his great friend Arch Druid Kathra Whitbranch, of the Bourn Hills. She was an amazing Dwarf, not gruff and uninteresting as so many other I have met. She dressed in bright colours and spoke warmly of the natural world and wilds. She offered to help me in my research should I need. “Drop by sometime – any friend of “the saint” is always welcome at my hearth”. The Abbot spoke at length of the great cataclysm, he told me that the knowledge he was passing to me was dangerous. “Those of power sought to destroy such knowledge”.

The Abbot’s Story:

”After the fall of the twelve the world began to fall into chaos. The years leading to the great cataclysm were full of strife, it seemed every kingdom, city or state was at war. There was no obvious causes of these it seemed as soon as one ended another broke out. Looking back knowing what I know now it’s so obvious. Ah, but I’m ahead of myself. Then even an now the Monastery was an island fo calm amid the world’s storm. I kept eh Monastery seperate, assisted by the powers of meditation and our resolve we remained unaffected. Well that’s what we let the world believe. You see I am a custodian of two artefacts that have been helpful in keeping us protected. Aloof, we have allowed something grow that has almost consumed this world. You see we have identified a power that benefited from all this, and that’s is the powers of chaos. With that clue I set upon a cause to uncover that has occurred and that lead us to identify an order of clerics who do not so much worship a god, but rather chaos. They call themselves the Proselyte of Chaos. They operate in secret, feeding their gods with continued chaos, and this continued so their powers grew. I’ve discovered that this group or order have somehow obtained the patronage of all the known gods of chaos, and in doing so have been able to draw upon not a single god’s power, but all these gods of chaos powers. It was with this power that they caused the great cataclysm, and event so vast that they have linked 5 planes crashing them together, destroying order. They continue to farm this chaos, they continue to mostly work in secret and wherever order returns they snuff it out. Once I obtained this knowledge I knew we needed to act, so I sent monks in secret to search out those who could help return order, to build in secret some organisation to oppose this Proselyte of Chaos. To find how it formed and what power is behind it. We found many allies in unusual places, and a true resistance to this situation has now been formed all in secret, well it seems until now. We have been betrayed, knowledge of our actions has somehow reached the Proselyte. They have been seeking a way past the protections of our artefacts and I have failed us. I have overused the artefacts and they are fast draining.”

Several days passed before I saw the Abbot attend. The Abbot looked very old, he was drawn and grey. He spoke:

”Time is short I’m afraid, it is best if you leave us now. I call upon our friendship and ask you to make a journey to the Abbot of the Temple of the Oceans on my behalf and take the knowledge I’ve shared with you, my most recent discoveries along with some important items. There are a few things you should know of the Temple of the Oceans, it is not as it seems and not what it shows to the world.”

Temple of the Oceans – The Abbot’s recollection:

The Temple of the Oceans has an interesting history. Starting as a lookout point for incoming shipping it developed initially into a lighthouse. A low tower was built to hold a fire which was lit during bad weather. Slowly a small fortification was added and a garrison. The location attached a band of wandering, who, finding it a wonderful location to study, settled around the garrison building a small monastic settlement. Over the centuries the Monastery took over the location, taking on the shipping responsibility and the duties of the small garrison was replaced by clerics. Eventually the Monastery complex expanded to cover the promontory, at its pinnacle a tower continues to shine to sea, only it is now always lite and with a divine radiance. The Temple of the Oceans is a place seekers of peace come to meditate and pass time in study and contemplation. It is isolated being surrounded by the sea and Forest of Iherick. It is believed the monks and clerics now seek a method to return the sea to its liquid state. To the south, on the opposite headland is said to be another such temple, but this one a ruin of the great cataclysm, and now obscured by the invading ‘Dark Rastrich’. This is all general knowledge, but what is not known is the Abbot is a true researcher and his cohort of sages and specialists (not all the monks I may add) seek knowledge of how the cataclysm can be reversed and how the powers of the Proselyte of Chaos curtailed. The monks purport to be solely seekers of wisdom and serenity and not warriors like ourselves. While it is true they, like us, do not seek power or conflict they do wield great power but simply keep it hidden. Many of the monks there have trained with us. The Temple of the Oceans does attract those seeking solace and peace and they are welcomed, but in a way they are camouflage. So I ask you here to seek the Abbot, he is known as ‘Scolas’, present him with these items and explain what is occurring here.”

The Abbot provided me with two scrolls – sealed with his signal and a small box intricately carved with symbols of the elements – and no obvious opening (that I could see – it was entrusted to me so I took no other action).

”These contain information to help Scolas in his task along with all the research and information I’ve obtained. Protect these as they will be irreplaceable and many have died (or will) to see these safe to his hands. You may then do what you see fit, but “DO NOT RETURN HERE”. I fear by then this place will be more more. Scolas will have methods to put you in touch with the Resistance, should you wish.”

The Abbot answers a few questions and then reached for his neck and manipulated something invisible and suddenly a golden Torc was in his hands.

”This, I pass to you, it is a symbol of power and should ‘it’ decide you are worthy, Amy provide you assistance. Wear it at all times and it will become in-noticeable. I suggest you hide it under clothing though until it knows you. May you prove a wiser custodian than myself.”

Departure from the Monastery of the Saint:

I departed with a small escort with haste reaching the main pass in a day. The travel was easy. On the third day my escort bid me well and rushed back. As I let the mountains fall behind me I began to have uneasy dreams. I awoke suddenly on the fifth night. Somehow, I knew that the link I felt to the Monastery – and The Saint – was gone – I turned to the horizon and behind me a fierce glow of beep green and red could be seen, then nothing. The night was dark once again, another night with no moons to see by.

Scolas and the Temple of the Oceans:

I hurried my journey as much as possible to be as expeditiously as possible. I eventually, and in secret reach Scolas at the Temple of the Oceans and pass the items to his care, He is a kind but abrupt man. He asked me what has become fo the Abbot, when I mention the blast he quickly snatched the items from me an in a manic like moment breaks the first seal. His face is ashen, and he gasps “no no – but of course Koshanth it makes some mad sort of sense. Oh sorry, I’m a poor host – go with my secretary he will provide you a room and sustenance – I must study these fully.” I have tried to see Scolas many times but he never seems to be available. So with the few clues I have, I seek them knowledge the best way possible by using the resources here in the Temple of the Oceans. I had two clues: The Torc, and the name Koshanth. The Torc proved easy enough: A Golden Torc over many centuries by the tradition has become the symbol of leadership and protection is predated the cataclysm. In some places the Torn is called a Tolve. In the city of Newfeld they continue this tradition by bestowing a Torc on the counsellors to denote their role. In small towns a mayor or similar wear a simple Torc or office, though, if gold, its probably just paint. But what led to this tradition this proved a true rabbit hole. In one treatise I found mention of it in this snippet:

”… it is understood the Tolv were established in honour of the Twelve Great and Major Gods…. And each Tolv will be known by their might and they symbol of power and right about their neck, for should they break faith their neck would surely be severed…”

I recognised the word Tolv as an ancient way to indicate the word ‘twelve’. Ah I was getting there. Then realisation “the Tolv, the Tolv of course” I exclaim, “mother used to sing us a lullaby calling that name – oh how did it go…”

”Let the Tolv bless and protect you while you slept for the Tolv protect and guide us all”,

Yes, something like that. And of course Tolve and Tolv – a link. Ha!!

So I surmise 12 persons known as the Tolv became protectors of – what. This land, a city, something. They wore some item about their neck “The Torc’s – were they representative of their Gods.” But I was at a dead end. So I started to research Koshanth. Spurred on, I dived into the libraries, but asking the custodians about the name Koshanth received a very cool response. “Not another one! So why are you interested in such fairy stories, Koshanth? The Deathless One? This Quizling? Honestly stories to scare children to stay in bed 0 Oh the Quizling will get you if you go out at night, – Koshanth the Deathless with eat you. By the God’s haven’t you something better to do.” It seems my interest did not go unnoticed and the next morning I was summoned to Scolas’ study.

Scolas’ Study:

I arrive and find Scolas alone in his study the door ajar. Strangely he is standing at the great windows overlooking the “once sea”, between us are a number of seats arranged in a semi circle. A small table set with many light foods, and drinks. It seems in this audience I am not to be alone. Scolas did not turn but he addresses me. “Take a seat Gord, we have a few minutes before the rest arrive, so I’d like to clear the air a little first. Help yourself to some refreshments – this I’m afraid will take a little while”. He gestures to the food and drink… I look around, choose a seat and await the others…..”

The journal does not continue for it is badly damaged these few pages all tear was salvageable…

I would like to learn more of Scolas. The demeanour of Gord’s journal suggests that Scolas may be an agent of the Proselyte, or he may not. There is too little information to accurately determine this. My com erases and I plan to journey to the Temple of the Oceans shortly. I think Slay – who has returned from his sea walk, mentioned Scolas, that he was a mentor to him? I will ask Slay at our first opportunity about his relationship with Scolas, and any other information that might be useful.

The party have left to go to the Temple of the Oceans, however, I remained behind to further my study of some spells. I will follow tomorrow.