Shadow War Strategic Studies

[jmecha]

Deep within the House of Heroes several Prawns gather along with a Pawn to begin marking up a freshly purchased map of the city, and adding notes and field reports to a large board.



1399 DR

• Alathene Moonstar approaches the Watchful Order of Waterdeep seeking to research a Dark Shadow Resonator that she has in her possession.

1400 DR
Hammer 1400 DR
Alturiak 1400 DR

Ches 14th, 1400 DR

• The Legion under Commander Amaurri make preparations to journey to Shadowdeep

.

Tarsakh, 1400 DR

• The Legion is either moving to occupy Shadowdeep or have already occupied Shadowdeep, and establish a friendlybqorking relationship with the local community of Shades.

Mirtul 1400 DR

• The 5th
  The Legion is stationed in Shadowdeep and moral is degrading as poor living conditions take their toll upon Legion.

The 16th

• Two men desert and are caught and hung for their crime.

Kythorn, 1400 DR

• The 2nd
  Two Legion Patrols are lost to Vanrak Moonstar's forces and the Shades that previous aided the Legion lock themselves in their homes and distance themselves from the Legion.

• The 7th
  The Gate that the Legion was relying upon to be their connection to Waterdeep is closed, leaving them with no escape from Shadowdeep. The moral of the Legion spirals lower as the Command works to inspire hope.

• The 13th
  Vanrak Moonstar rides a Dragon, and leads a large host including Shade Mercenaries against the Legion's main body at the Shadow analog of Mount Waterdeep.

• The 14th
  Lieutenant Tolis deserts his command to try and hide amoungst the Shade community.

• The 16th
  Private Holderk, Private Giram Vev, Private Qung Lia, Private Jular Shokhel, and Private Gonik are slain by undead wearing Legion uniforms.

• The 23rd
  Captain Valas entrusts fourteen Resonators to 1st Sergeant Larbjeld Bjaarsvadson with orders tobget them to Alathene Moonstar at all costs because they are the mission.

• The 30th
  1st Sgt Larbjeld Bjaarsvadson along with Private Vunrin and Private Gilisqan scatter the fourteen Resonators across Shadowdeep. They place them in established safe houses in hopes of preventing them from falling into enemy hands.

Flamerule 1400 DR
Eleasis 1400 DR
Eleint 1400 DR
Marpenoth 1400DR
Uktar 1400 DR
Nightal 1400 DR

1401 DR

Hammer 1401 DR

• The 8th
  Highsword Bloodhelm of Tempus shares his dream as follows.
  "I had a ....dream.... a vision really. It could be from no other than the Foehammer.The streets of waterdeep were filled with darkened smoke, barely light could be seen.....The sounds of battle though were all around. War is coming."
  
  The House of Heroes reaches out to the Sky Pony Tribe of the Sword Mountains to forge an alliance before the coming War.

• The 14th
  The Prawns begin training in methods of escape and evasion in an effort to prepare them for the coming War. As well as how to survive being captured.

• The 16th
  The Sky Pony Tribe shares their knowledge of the herbs Ephedra and Edelweiss witht he House of Heroes, after several acts of bravery had been committed to prove worth.

• The 25th
  Prawn training for escape and evasion comes to a close

Alturiak 1401 DR

• The 12th
  A man assumed to be a survivor of the Legion escaped Shadowdeep, presumably through a Moon Door only to be either murdered by a Sharran Priestess or Collected, within a cloud of darkness outside of the House of Heroes. This man dropped a piece of Crystalized Mana that was brought from Shadowdeep.

• The 15th
  Sarenna Irithyl reports a clergy of the Tower of Luck having suffered a horrible nightmare of Selune being torn in half and Waterdeep being swallowed by darkness, as well as other people having disappeared within the city in clouds of darkness. It is also this day that Iffrona Vennon confiscates the Crystalized Mana on behalf of the City of Waterdeep.

• The 25th
  Iffrona Vennon recruits a team of Adventurers to look for a missing Agent of the City named Cesa Brul. While Agent Cesa brul is found dead within a stretch of forgotten sewers beneath he city, clues found upon her body later lead others to discover a Vampire Lair beneath Balthorr's Rare and Wonderous Treasures.

Ches, 1401 DR

• The 4th
  A team of Adventurers work to find one of Agent Cesa Brul's informants named Loltarn at a hidden tavern deep beneath the Copper Cup. Loltarn agrees to be a guest of the House of Heroes until he could be relocated where those he had informed against could not reach him for reprisal.

• The 5th
  Rightious brother Hronkil Elgredsson of the Order of the Sun Soul requested the House of Heroes aid his order by moving a large alchemical order from Kappiyan Flurmastyr's home to the Lathanderite Compound. The House of Heroes fails to do so because of theft and deception, and instead fights in an underground fighting tournament against members of the Dark Brotherhood.

• The 7th and 9th
  Loltarn is carefully questioned and fails to provide any information at appears useful.

• The 9th
  Loltarn is carefully questioned, again and fails to provide any information at appears useful. Shortly afterwards members of the Xanthar Guild attack the House of Heroes to capture or kill Loltarn, and they fail. Loltarn is then provided passage to distant lands and enough wealth to start a new life away from the Xanthar Guild he had been an informant against.

• The 12th
  Letters from Alathene Moonstar are delievered to different organizations of Adventurers across the City.

"In recognition of your great deeds, I invite you to take part in the greatest endeavor for the good in the city ever to take place and secure our long term fate and future! Heroes of the Feywild, The Saviors of the Docks Ward, and those that thirst for adventure please accept this humble invitation and honor me with your presence at The Blushing Mermaid Festhall on Ches 13th, 1401.

- Your's Truly
Alathene Moonstar"

• The 13th
  Adventurers are sent by Alathen Moonstar to carry a large shipment of supplies to the Legion within Shadowdeep, where they find the Legion forces at the Shadow analog of Mount Waterdeep completely destroyed. This is the first time the Adventuring community is made aware of Void Doors and Moon Doors, of the Legion having been sent to Shadowdeep. in response to the Adventurers having been sent into Shadowdeep, Vanrak moonstar appears before the Masked Lords of Waterdeep and demands his title as Lord Moonstar be reinstated. Vanrak Moonstar threatens to reveal the identity of the Masked Lords if they do not comply, and then takes Laeral Silverhand hostage before using the Eye of Jupiter relic to escape to Shadowdeep.
  
  Alathene Moonstar after being exposed as a Lich by her brother, disappears and has not been seen since.

• The 14th
  An effort to begin studying Shadowdeep by the Adventurering community begins. These studies are focused upon mapping the locations, opening, and closing of Void Doors and Moon Doors, as well as how Shadowdeep effects travelers and the use of the Weave.

• The 20th
  The House of Wonders reports that the Resonator that Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot had brought them to study was a curious item that appeared to be a hard outer shell of negative energy that kept a large amount of positive energy contained within, and that such a device could release enough energy to destroy sections of the city if tampered with.
  
  It is also this day the Moonstar Family of Waterdeep is interviewed and claim that none of them know of Alathene Moonstar's plans for Shadowdeep, the Resonators, or her current location nor how to contact her.

• The 25th
  A large crowd of people are Collected outside of the Tower of Luck and a band of Adventurers enter Shadowdeep to successfully bring them back to Waterdeep. During these efforts a Resonator is recovered from Shadowdeep.

Tarsakh, 1401 DR

• The 2nd
  Corrupted Undead Brother Hronkil Elgredsson leads a group of undead in a raid against the Foundry, murdering and capturing the staff before setting the building on fire.

• The 9th
  Research regarding the opening and closing of Moon Doors is present tot he House of the Moon for review, and the House of the Moon agrees they are confusing. The House of the Moon though does hand over an old book about the Black Jungles that was previously owned by Vanrak moonstar during his living days long ago. It is also this day that the shadows of Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot and myself, Pawn Xandos Klaxxan go missing.

• The 10th
  A band of Adventurers following clues found upon Agent Cesa Brula's corpse discover a Vampire next beneath Balthorr's Rare and Wonderous Treasures. A Resonator is recovered during these efforts as well as a missive expressing the importantance the vampires keep the Resonator from falling into he hands of Waterdeep's Leaders or their allies.
  
  Later this day, Unrightious Undead Brother Hronkil Elgredsson leads an assault force of undead against the Sun Soul Monastary of Waterdeep. Many Monks of the Sun Soul are slain during this assault, the Armory and Treasure are looted, and several sections of the Monastary are severely damaged. A Prawn named Danny Lu is seen carrying a Sharran Banner beside Unrightious Undead Brother Hronkil Elgredsson during this assault.

• The 17th
  Sun Soul Monks discover a missive from Danny Lu amongst the battle wreckage letting it be known he and others are being held at the Shadowdeep analog of the Lathanderite Compound where they are forced to work on behalf of Vanrak Moonstar's forces building weapons.

• The 22nd
  Brujo, a member of the Gray Hand Enforces had been captured by Vanrak Moonstar's forces within Shadowdeep and was being held in a prison located in Shadowdeep's Dock Ward. Due to the efforts of a team of Adventurers, Brujo was freed from his imprisonment, but there were casualties amongst the Adventurering Team.

• The 28th
  The Journal of 1st Sergeant Larbjeld Bjaarsvadson of the Legion is recovered from Shadowdeep.

• The 29th
  Efforts to experiment with anchoring Teleportation Magics within Shadowdeep determine an excessive amount of Crystalized Mana would be needed to prepare the destination site in advance.

Mirtul 1401 DR

• The 7th
  Shade Mercenaries lead by Corrupted Sun Soul Monks and a Corrupted Sun Soul Blackguard successfully raid the House of Heroes stealing all of our gathered maps and intelligence. There is a limited window of opportunity to reclaim the stolen intelligence before the enemy can make use of it.

• The 9th
  While the Sky Pony Tribe was lead by Rako Ca'tra against the front Gates of the Spires of the Nightsinger, a small team was sent in through a secret entrance and managed to successfully rescue all of the surviving Prawns, recover the lost intelligence, plant false information, and defeat Hronkil Elgredsson.

• The 27th
  Cleric Alain of Kelemvor successfully lead a team against a lair of Vampires and slew the Vampire Odoloff and seized valuable intelligence from Vanrak Moonstar's forces.

• 30th
  Tiberius of Chessenta has arrived to Waterdeep as ordered by the Citadel of Strategic Militancy to lend his aid to Waterhavian Forces in the Shadowdeep War.

Kythorn 1401 DR

• The 4th
  Gnomish Wyk Whitehorn has confirmed that Collectors are projections from a Controller likely located in Shadowdeep and that the Adventurer's Guild is working to locate this, Controller and the Contraption that projects the Collectors to Waterdeep.

• The 10th
  The Fourteen Dark Shadow Resonators were gathered within the House of Heroes and Vanrak Moonstar's forces attacked in an effort to seize them. While we failed to assemble the Fourteen or learn any deeper understanding of what they maybe used for, we did successfully repel Vanrak Moonstar's Forces.

• The 12th
  Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot of Helm and myself confronted our rogue shadows within the Shadowdeep House of Heroes and convinced them to once more return to their proper place.

• The 17th
  The Grey Hand Enforcer Aries Vexx and I failed to deliver a letter that Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot wrote to establish communications with Commander Amaurri.

• The 24th
  Grey Hand Enforcer Aries Vexx and I managed to successfully reach the Legion Head Quarters atop Mount Shadowdeep and delivered Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot's Letter to Commander Amaurri.

• The 29th
  Anovallis Starmane presented a Potion for testing, that may Dimensionally Anchor people who drink it, providing effective protection from being Collected.

Flamerule 1401 DR

[jmecha]

Alturiak 12th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes

Richart Reyne, a six foot tall, dark skinned man, and new to the city, was according to his accounting within a zone of truth, suddenly grabbed by a city guard outside the House of Heroes. Immediately after the City Guard grabbed Richart Reyne, the pair were cloaked in darkness and blood. When the darkness faded, a piece of Crystalized Mana was found on the grass where the Guard had previously stood.

Richart Reyne, uncertain of what had just happened knocked upon the doors of the House of Heroes and asked for aid. Myself, Rako Ca'tra, Elder Em of the Sky Pony Tribe, and Dwarven Clergy Raldin Thunderbeard stepped outside of the House of Heroes in response. It was then Richart Reyne told us of his experience and Dwarven Clergy Raldin Thunderbeard invoked a Zone of Truth in an effort to insure Richart Reyne was not intentionally deceiving us.

Rako Ca'tra carefully studied the scene of the event and found blood in the grass where the Guard had last been seen standing before the, Darkness and Blood that obscured Richart Reyne's vision. There though was no signs of a body having been dragged away from the scene and so what became of the Guard or his corpse remains unknown.



Using a potion of Lore I examined the Crystalized Mana found at the scene. Making note of the sparkles within it and the faint blue hue, I identified the Crystal as Crystalized Mana, Magic itself, which I had only ever before heard discussed by philosophers gathered in the open squares of Cimbar, who spoke of such existing only as a theoretical possibility.

Perhaps only by coincidence, shortly after investigating the scene a representative of the order of the Sun Soul by the name of Righteous Brother Hronkil Elgredsson, entered the House of Heroes to let it be known the Order of the Sun Soul was currently heavily engaged in a very important and secretive manner that required the majority of their attention and resources, and so the Order of the Sun Soul was looking to employ the House of Heroes to under take some of their more menial tasks in and about the city in exchange of material rewards from the Church of Lathander's vast coffers.



As of the moment there are far more unknowns then knowns regarding these events, and moving forward I intend to have Sixteen the Artificer carefully examine and study the Crystalized Magic in hopes learning more of the Crystal's properties, potential, and even orgins may give us further insight to the strange event Richart Reyne bore witness to.

[jmecha]

Alturiak 13th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes

I have reported to the North Gate Watch House the account of darkness and blood, Richart Reyne shared with us at the House of Heroes. I though did omit the finding of Crystalized Mana from the report. I was politely thanked by the staff duty Sergeant at the desk to whom I filed my report with, and was then told that the Watch was not missing any of their members.

This may mean the man who grabbed Richart Reyne survived the event or may have never been a member of the Watch and Richart Reyne being new to the City of Waterdeep misidentified him during the confusion of the sudden happening of events.

[jmecha]

Alturiak 15th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes





According to Sarenna Irithyl, an acolyte of Tymora within the Tower of Luck recently experienced a vivid vision of Darkness swallowing Waterdeep and reaching up to tear Selune asunder.

Sarenna Irithyl along with her companions were attacked by Shadows near the House of the Moon while traveling there to warn of the vision. Afterwards the Priestess Naneatha Suaril of the House of the Moon directed them to the House of Heroes to investigate rumors of an encounter with Darkness and a mysterious Crystal.

Along their walk to the House of Heroes they encountered a pile of ash in the street with a residual magical aura. Near the pile of ash was an expensive collectable children's toy that was one of a collectable set of 13. I unfortunately was unable to meet with them and answer their questions, and Highsword Bloodhelm instructed them to return another day when I might be available.

Of note, none of the visitors to the House of Heroes seeking answers and speaking with Highsword Bloodhelm of Tempus offered not even a humble donation to the Temple.

Sarenna Irithyl
Zod
Brujo
Flynn
Dorian Orthallas

Today though I was able to meet with Sarenna Irithyl, and she relayed this information to me as well as her suspicion that a man named Vanrak maybe responsable for the darkness. Apparently her now deceased husband Kal was once asked by Vanrak to infiltrate the House of the Moon and help him destroy it. Kal instead choose to become a faithful of Selune and was brought back to life several times by the Priestess of the House of the Moon before finally dieing his final death.

I showed Sarenna where the encounter Richart Reyne described took place, and she showed me the pile of ash that had since been trampled over by the foot traffic of the city. Both sites had faint residual magical auras. The pile of ash did not smell of suffer and brimstone, which maybe a small grace.



Upon Sarenna's request I carried the Crystalized Mana to the House of the Moon for Priestess Naneatha Suaril of Selune to inspect. Upon presenting the Crystalized Mana for inspection, Iffrona Vennon, a representative of the Masked Lord's of the City, marched upon us with an armed escort of Waterdeep Castle Guards. Iffrona Vennon presented the writs of her authority and informed us she was there to take possession of the Crystal. I obliged her, and offered to her the pillow lined box I used to transport the crystal. Priestess Naneatha Suaril apologized and explained that Iffrona Vennon left her no choice in the matter and she could not oppose the Masked Lords. Sarenna Irithyl expressed her disgust with Priestess Naneatha Suaril, and walked off without leaving a Temple Donation.

Priestess Naneatha Suaril and I agreed it was not our place to work in opposition of the Masked Lords of the City but to aid them and through them the People of the City. I left a donation for the House of the Moon and returned to the House of Heroes without further incident.

With the Crystalized Mana in the possession of The Masked Lords, there is one less item to investigate from our quarter here. I will now focus efforts upon....

1) Learning more about this Children's Collectable Toy to see if there is any meaningful connection or even learn who was known to own such a rare and expensive toy.

2) Speak with the faithful of other religious institutions about the city to see if anyone else amongst their number have experienced vivid visions in recent Rides.

3) Question Sarenna for more information about her dead husband's former associate, Vanrak

[epetrow]

A letter written in neat but elegantly flowing script is pinned to the Crystalized Mana Board in the House of Heroes.

Pawn Klaxxon,

It has come to my attention that a bit of Crystalized Mana had briefly come into your possession.
First and foremost, I urge you to contact me immediately if you cross paths with any more of this substance. I firmly believe that only by working together can we solve such a complex riddle. I have done some research in the Font’s library concerning this substance and, in the spirit of such cooperation, I will share my findings with you.

I can find no practical experience nor instances of physical examination of Crystalized Mana. All of the following is just theory. I have also eliminated the preposterous and only list theories and pertinent information that aligns with my research and practical understanding of the Art.

1. Crystalized Mana is the physical manifestation of the Weave, the very fabric of the Art.
2. Crystalized Mana will not occur naturally nor is it native to the Prime Material plane. The Weave flows freely on our plane. The solidification of the Weave requires the flow to be somehow restricted. Much like a river where the raging rapids do not freeze but a still pond form the same river does.
3. On a plane or in a place where the flow of the Weave is low or non-existent, this substance could be utilized for the casting of spells or to otherwise access the Weave.
4. The substance would be extremely valuable
5. I have theories on some practical uses of Crystalized Mana on the Prime Material plane but they would require the examination of a physical sample to make them more than conjecture and I will not waste your valuable time with such superfluous speculation.

I offer my meager skills should you come across any more of the substance or information regarding the same. I am also available to answer any questions.

Warm Regards,
Wyk Whitehorn
Seeker of the Font of Knowledge
Loremaster Emeritus of the Adventurer's Guild

[jmecha]

Alturiak 25th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes



Iffrona Vennon put out a call for aid to the Adventurer's Guild, The Lhuvenhead Trading Company, The Third Circle, as well as the House of Heroes. In response representives of the called upon factions as well as some independent and unaligned adventurers gathered to meet Iffrona Vennon inside the Great Hall of Castle Waterdeep to hear what would be asked of them. Those who answered the summons were Sarenna Irithyl of the Lhuvenhead Trading Company, Gael Lynch and Soosh Mieroc of the Adventurer's Guild, Jed Ironwing of the Third Circle, The recent Champion of the Field of Triumph Brujo, the warrior Aries Vexx and the large hammer that appeared and smelled of nothing less then petrified feces, Selu an adventurer recently returned to the City, and myself Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes.

We were informed that a trusted agent of Iffrona Vennon's by the name of Cesa Brul went into the City Sewers using an entrance just north of the Lhuvenhead Trading Company to investigate a potential lead into the origin of the Crystalized Mana that has recently been found within the City of Waterdeep. We had been gathered because Cesa Brul failed to report back from her investigation and it was suspected she maybe in dire need of aid, and so we set out to follow her trail. The several of us set out immediately for the city sewers in effort to find Cesa Brul.

We found ourselves to late to do more then recover her corpse and what personal effects she carried upon her person from the long forgotten tunnels in which her body was discovered. In an effort to see where her search may have lead if she had not been slain, we pressed forward combating a variety of skeletal undead beings the likes of which I have never before seen until we eventually emerged within the City of the Dead.



We returned to Iffrona Vennon with the corpse and possessions of her Agent Cesa Brul as well as a reporting what we found and encountered. We were thanked for our aid in recovering what we had and asked if we would make efforts investigate what lead Cesa Brul had been following in effort to learn more about the origins of the Crystalized Mana. Below is an inventory of the various items and objects we found with her corpse.

[jmecha]

Alturiak 27th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes

After reviewing the inventory of items recovered from Agent Cesa Brul's corpse I am going to suggest our next step be to try and make contact with Loltarn at the Copper Cup.

Rako Ca'tra after reviewing the items suspects the cloak was used by Agent Cesa Brul to disguise herself. Rako also suspects that receipt for a stack of Mulhorandi coins and no coins being present suggest they were spent, possibly bribing Loltarn for information, and he advises we aquire more of said coins before making contact with Loltarn.

The other items are perhaps spell components?
I will ask an Arcanist to make a study of such and determine what if anything they maybe used for.

[jmecha]

Ches 4th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes



Roughly a dozen or more members of the greater adventuring community of Waterdeep gathered within the Copper Cup in search for Loltarn, without a unified plan. What followed involved confusion, dancing, threats of violence, drinking, and awkward groping for information from both the dancers and the bartender. Eventually though we learned Loltarn kept a private apartment on the second floor of the Copper Cup that was well secured by a sturdy door and an exceptionally complex lock. After knocking on the door without any response, it was decided we would enter to investigate without invitation, and after several different efforts eventually Aries Vexx climbed up the exterior of the building and entered the apartment through the window to let the rest of us inside.



While Loltarn's apartment appeared to be decorated and furnished in the manner you may expect a wealthy young man's place of living above a nude dance hall to be, there was also a hidden staircase attached to the apartment that lead us beneath the Copper Cup into a series of old abandoned tunnels beneath the city. Together we set out through the twisting and turning tunnels encountering Kobolds and their devious traps. After pushing through several Kobold ambushes we managed to find what appeared to be an Altar to Shadowlord Master of All Thieves, and a tavern named the Hidden Grotto. Here we finally found Loltarn enjoying the company of other patrons and the tavern's food and refreshments.



After some, convincing of a corporeal manner, Loltarn revealed to us that he had been working for Agent Cesa Brul, serving as her inside man within the Xanthar Guild and primarily he would feed her information about the Xanthar Guild's politics, conflicts, smuggling operations, routes, methods, and other business practices. With his previous cover no longer intact due to our arrival and demands being witnessed by so many others, I have offered to Loltarn the opportunity to return to the House of Heroes for a proper debriefing and s place of temporary safety and security until such a time we can provide him a fresh start outside the Xanthar Guild's sphere of influence.

[jmecha]

Ches 5th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes

Righteous Brother Hronkil Elgredsson of the Order of the Sun Soul came to the House of Heroes to request we aid the Order of the Sun Soul by picking up an order of alchemical supplies from Kappiyan Flurmastyr, and we failed. I take full responsablity for our failure.

Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot, Dwarven Clergy Raldin Thunderbeard, Elder Em of the Sky Pony Tribe, Rako Ca'tra, and myself were provided simple instructions to carry a sealed invoice to Kappiyan Flurmastyr, and then transport the alchemical products to the Rectory of the Lathanderite Compound. I carried the sealed invoice, and lost it almost immediately upon leaving the House of Heroes.

A young boy covered in filth was crying on the House of Heroes lawn asking if it was true he could find opportunity at the Foundry. When I approached the boy to address him, he stole the sealed invoice and tucked a new letter in my belt before dashing off to a nearby waiting cart that spirited him away while he waved obscene gestures farewell to us. The letter he left me was also sealed, though the image pressed into the wax seal was not that of the Order of the Sun Soul as the original letter, but instead a crude phallic image.

The letter insulted us with crude language and provided us instructions to go to the Monster Pit if we wanted to get our original letter back. It was signed by R.R. This implies whoever wrote the letter knew in advance we would have an invoice to steal and that my charity work with impoverished children would provide an opportunity to steal the letter. This leads me to suspect that someone within the Lathanderite Compound is leaking information to nefarious sources or nefarious sources have devised other means of carefully watching the workings of the Lathanderite Compound well enough to predict their moves as well as my own.

In an effort to prevent the invoice from being used to acquire the alchemical supplies we went directly to Kappiyan Flurmastyr to explain the larceny and warn against giving the Lathanderite Order to the devious thieves. We then set out to find the Monster Pit which proved to be a large underground pit fighting arena hidden beneath the Dock Ward.



Once inside the exits were sealed behind us and the orginal sealed invoice laid waiting inside the ring. An unseen announcer introduced us by name and the unseen crowd somewhere above us cheered with enthusiasm. When the announcer introduced that we, the Red Team of the House of Heroes would be fighting the Dark Brotherhood, the crowd cheered louder.

The members of the Dark Brotherhood teleported into their positions and unleashed magical darkness to give themselves an advantage. The Dark Brotherhood team consisted of two male Drow warriors, two female Drow warriors, a male Duregar Cleric, a male Half-Orc Savage, and a Male Human Monastically trained Warrior bearing the symbol of a black disc with a deep purple boarder. The fighting that followed was ruthless and deadly. We nearly lost the battle, but in the end stood victorious to be showed in the ale steins and bottles thrown at us by the unseen crowd, as well as bag of treasures dropped upon us as a reward. The exits were unsealed and we were allowed to leave without further incident.



By the time we reached Kappiyan Flurmastyr with the proper invoice, Righteous Brother Hronkil Elgredsson had already arranged for the alchemical goods to be picked up and moved to the Lathanderite Compound. With our appearance being haggard and ale soaked, Righteous Brother Hronkil Elgredsson expressed his displeasure in our inability to follow simple instructions and was unimpressed with our needing to stop at some tavern instead of directly doing the work he had assigned to us.

Upon leaving the Kappiyan Flurmastyr, I opened the previously sealed invoice to learn it was for thousands of curative and restorative potions.

[jmecha]

Debriefing Lolthar
A man who claims to have been in Agent Cesa Brul's employ as an informant imbedded within the Xanthar Guild.
Ches 7th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes



Xandos Klaxxan: Have you given any thought to where you want to go?

Lolthar: A ship to anywhere. I mean I'm sure there is a hefty price on my head from the Xanathar

Xandos Klaxxan: How long did you work for Cesa?

Lolthar: four years.

Lolthar: Oh she was a dandy let me tell you.

Xandos Klaxxan: Please do.

Lolthar: Very spartan, but I do think she had feelings for me, of course most women eventually do. I mean her quarters were bare. Only books she had was those that dealt with politics. That's it. She was very cut and dry, but I think I was getting past that. There was more there. I'm sorry to hear she's gone now.

Xandos Klaxxan: Where were her Quarters?

Lolthar: That I did not know. She always knew where I was amazingly. I think she had contacts on contacts. She wove a mighty web in this city. I'm sure the city will be at a loss without her.

Xandos Klaxxan: You describe her quarters as spartan and know the books she kept on her shelf, but you can not say where her quarters were?

Lolthar: She kept to the Blushing Mermaid, had a room booked there. Sorry this pain that animal inflicted on me has addled my mind.

Xandos Klaxxan: So then.....when was the last time she gave you an assignment?

Lolthar: It was about three months ago. She knew the Xanathar to be a powerful organization in this city. She knew that they were capturing travelers and citizens alike enslaving them.

Xandos Klaxxan: What was your assignment, specifically.

Lolthar: The closest market for that is Skull Port. She also confided in me she thought the Thayans were paying the guild as well for slaves due to the fact in their nation slavery is widely accepted and quite profitable.

Xandos Klaxxan: What did your investigations reveal?

Lolthar: I was a middleman for drugs, I did aquire some documents shady documents let me tell you.

Xandos Klaxxan: That is why we are here.

Lolthar: I could not prove it, but I believe a masked lord was involved with the trade as well.

Xandos Klaxxan: Any idea of Who the Masked Lord's true identiy is?

Lolthar: Nay

Xandos Klaxxan: I want you to explain to me how this slavery trade works. I understand Xanthar captures people and makes them slaves or buys slaves from Skull Port and sells them to surface organizations and People.....I though want to know.....

Lolthar: The Xanthar had too many, truely offical documents to help them get past the guards. They kept on telling us that they had someone with power in the city.

Xandos Klaxxan: Where are the exchanges made and where do the slaves go from there? The Thayan Enclave does not appear to be swelling with slaves, nor are slaves seen on the streets of Waterdeep.

Lolthar: Both ways work. I mean you can buy them in Skullport for a greater price. Cut out the middleman and aquire them fresh before they hit the markets. That's why she thought the Thayans were in on it. Let me tell you a secret mate. Rumor has it that the Thayan Embassy has a portal straight to Skullport, a very active portal. Can't prove it but I hear quite loose tongues telling me that. They were not higher ups so I can not verify it, but I think that's a good possibility that it could be true.

Xandos Klaxxan: So then.....these Slaves purchased.....you never learned where they are going?

Lolthar: No. That was tighest secrets that I could not unlock. The old need to know phrase. So why were you after me? You have some beef against the Xanathar?

Xandos Klaxxan: Cesa died and I have inherited her work. You are serving as Her Case Notes. Now then.....What is the preferred Currency for purchasing Slaves from the Xanthar and Skull Port? Gold or something else?

Lolthar: Oh when I asked about the slaves, They told me to stick with my job, I was not a slaver. Gold, Gems, magic items. So Cesa died, surprises me she didn't do my craft very much. It must have been very important to get her on a case by herself without other contacts.

Xandos Klaxxan: Hw did you come to be in Cesa's employ?

Lolthar: I grew up on the docks got into some scrapes. Did some bad things in my younger days. I got drunk one night. I got into a fight and pulled a dagger. Plunged it through the man's heart. I don't know why I did it. Something just clicked.

Xandos Klaxxan: These things happen.

Lolthar: Anyhoo, I was put under the Castle in their holding cells for four of five months. Trial and all that. Sentenced to hang by the gallows. A few nights before my execution. Cesa visited me.With the offer of a new lease on life, just had to do some dirty work for her. Work for those Xanathar goons. They are always recruiting, was easy to get in the door.

Xandos Klaxxan: I understand, and what was your Job, within the Xanthar Guild that they told you to focus upon instead of asking questions about the Slaves?

Lolthar: Aye didn't stop me, I befriended a few slavers the lower ranks. Anyways...I had to move drugs from...the Dockward to the more entitled patrons of various households and establishments. The Jade Jug, the Dripping Dagger. Back ally deals. They paid top coin for their nasty habits.

Xandos Klaxxan: During the course of doing your Job, did you learn your way through the City Sewer Systems, perhaps using tunnels and routes unknown to most?

Lolthar: Not at all, why? I mean I did make a couple of trips, but routes unknown. Explain?

Xandos Klaxxan: Cesa was found dead in a long forgotten section of the Sewers that appear to have been unmapped or discovered in some years.

Lolthar: That's fuk'n weird mate. Not like her at all.

Xandos Klaxxan: I am working to make a connection between the Information you provided and her death.

Lolthar: I see

Xandos Klaxxan: When you moved Drugs then, what were your routes if not the Sewers?

Lolthar: Brought them in on ships, a few crates disguised with other contents. Some really good shit from Calimshan. I tried not to partake.

Xandos Klaxxan: No doubt. Are you familiar with the....Monster Pit and R.R.?

Lolthar: Oh ya, I've seen a few shows

It was here that I decided to end the debriefing for the day and invite members of the Adventurer's Guild and Lhuvenhead Trading Company to partake in further questioning.

[jmecha]

Debriefing Lolthar Notes
Ches 9th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes

With the aid of Inquistor Guardian Hans Copperpot of the Companions of the One True Vision, Sarenna Irithyl of the Lhuvenhead Trading Company, Rako Ca'tra and myself, I believe we have throughly questioned Lolthar. What was learned of note follows.

• Someone high ranking in the Waterhavian goverment maybe aidding the illegal trade of criminal factions by providing offical documents to facilitate the movement of illicit goods and slaves.

• Agent Cesa Brul had a book about coin collecting in her apartment above the Blushing Mermaid that may hold clues to what connection the Mulhorandi Coins had to the case she was working.

• It was unusual for Agent Cesa Brul to do field work because she normally worked through her network of information gathers. Whatever drove her into those tunnels alone was likely very important.

• The arrows found near Agent Cesa Brul's corpse were recgonized as belonging to the Grey Company, which is a top teir mercenary company known for their secrecy, competence, and specializes in assassination.

• The Thayan Enclave, Xanthar Guild, and Skull Port are actively trading slaves and there may be a Portal within the Thayan Enclave leading to Skull Port.

• There is a low level scribe inside the Thayan Enclave named Drogono who was willing to work with Agent Cesa Brul but the two had never met and reaching out to Drogono will likely result in endangering the scribe.

• Lolthar was being magically scried upon during the interview process and a sizable mob of Xanthar Guild members directly assaulted the House of Heroes afterwards, and destroyed the front door of the temple with a fireball. We had just recently had the door fixed.

• Lolthar remains a guest of the House of Heroes under our protection until such a time comes that we can safely provide him an escape from the Xanthar Guild trying to kill him.

• Lolthar is a lier and a thief, prone to self delusions of his own worth and prowess, easily manipulated by attractive women, a worshipper of the Lord of All Thieves, and prone to requests for indulgences and quickness complain about any inconvenience.

[jmecha]

Ches 12th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes



From receive a letter with a wax seal marked with flourishing letters A.M.

In recognition of your great deeds, I invite you to take part in the greatest endeavor for the good in the city ever to take place and secure our long term fate and future! Heroes of the Feywild, The Saviors of the Docks Ward, and those that thirst for adventure please accept this humble invitation and honor me with your presence at The Blushing Mermaid Festhall on Ches 13th, 1401.

- Your's Truly
Alathene Moonstar

[Peter_Abelard]

Ches 14th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper

A record of events following the gathering called by Lady Alathene Moonstar, at the Blushing Mermaid Festhall, Ches 13th

By Sarenna Irithyl, with copies sent to the Adventurer’s Guild, the Hall of Heroes, the Font of Knowledge, the Order of the Third Circle, and the Tower of Luck

…please accept this humble invitation and honor me with your presence at The Blushing Mermaid Festhall on Ches 13th, 1401.

Yours Truly,
Alathene Moonstar

Six came to the Blushing Mermaid at Lady Moonstar’s request, to hear what she might relate, and ask of us: Soosh Mieroc, Cornelius Tauber, Selu Basha, Aries Vexx, Hans Copperpot, and myself.

After greeting us all warmly Lady Moonstar told us of how a year ago, unbeknownst to the average citizen of Waterdeep, a plan to ensure the safety of the city was begun.

A large force made up of several religious orders was formed, led by Commander Amaurri of the Temple of Helm.

Using an artifact Lady Moonstar had acquired two years ago called the Eye of Jupiter, she opened a portal to the Shadow Plane. The plan as suggested by Commander Amaurri was to bring the fight to the forces of darkness that threatened the city, before those dark forces could strike at the city again, as they had in the past when the city hesitated to attack.
Lady Alathene told us how the forces of darkness in the Shadow Plane are led by her brother, Vanrak Moonstar, and how he will stop at nothing to destroy this city.

One year ago Commander Amaurri led the city’s contingent through the portal into the Shadow Plane, and established a base on the slopes of that Plane’s own twisted and shadowy reflection of Mount Waterdeep. From there, the Commander would lead the force against Vanrak’s realm in Undermountain, using an access within the Shadow Plane.

Lady Moonstar asked for our assistance, to enter the Plane of Shadow, delivering some needed supplies to the Commander, and joining with him as he prepared his Forces of Light for the final assault against Vanrak in Undermountain.

All six agreed to deliver the supplies and speak with the Commander, and entered the portal.

The Waterdeep we found in the Plane of Shadow bore just enough resemblance to the city we knew to make a mockery of it. The streets and buildings were much the same, and from the steps of the castle we could see Mount Waterdeep to the west, and fires burning from an encampment on its peak. But the sky above us was purple, and the streets dimly lit with a sickly grey green light, when there was any light at all.

Inquisitor Copperpot assumed command of our venture and we made our way west toward the Commander’s encamped army.

We quickly discovered the Plane of Shadow is by its nature harmful, and we were weakened by the negative energy that surrounded us from our first step through the portal. The Weave we rely on to form magical spells is weak there too, and casting of any kind, whether from spells or enchanted items proved difficult.

Along our march west we found places where Crystal Mana had formed, and Cornelius found he could use his pick to mine some pieces of crystal, that we could then carry.

Soosh learned that holding a piece of crystal mana provided enough magical energy to form spells from the Weave, allowing casting on that Plane that would not otherwise be possible. On our journey Cornelius and Soosh were able to gather a small collection of Crystal Mana, which I suspect will prove essential items on any future travel into the Plane of Shadow.

Insistent that we keep to our purpose, Inquisitor Copperpot urged us forward by force of will up the mountain. We were at times attacked by small patrols of undead creatures, but we were able to defeat them and pressed on.

With Aries leading the way as our scout, we made our way up the mountain to the palisade wall protecting the encampment of Amaurri’s Forces of Light.

Surrounding the gate in the palisade were scores of corpses, left to rot from a battle that must have fought there some time ago. From the gate, we could see a house to the east atop a hill, with lights shining in the windows. A moon door that Lady Moonstar had spoken of stood nearby, promising a way of returning to the city when our task was done. The fires of the soldier’s encampment burned in a shallow valley to the west.

We pushed on to the Officer’s House, and after waiting a while for an answer to our knocking, entered.

Inside the house, the wearying tug of the Shadow Plane did not weigh on us, and continual light enchantments kept the house bright, but there was no one there to greet us. We searched the house.

Aries found a map, and between them he and Soosh confirmed that this house was the headquarters for Commander Amaurri. Searching the rooms upstairs, we found a number of belongings of the Commander and his officers, which I have included sketches of at the end of this record.

In one room we found the body of a Helmite Priest, his throat slashed in his sleep as best as we could tell. His belongings suggested he came from Calimshan, originally.

It was clear enough to us by then that if the grand Army of Light hadn’t been destroyed utterly, then they had certainly been defeated, and perhaps captured. Commander Amaurri himself was nowhere to be found.

Something from outside shook the house, and we hurried out to meet it. Several more undead were there to greet us, and we fought our way to the front yard of the house, nearly losing Selu in the battle.

There was a gust that buffeted us, and a great shape, darker shadow against the purple sky flew overhead. We took cover by the front door, but the great beast flapped its wings and landed on top of the house with a roar.

We ran hard for the moon door, the beast close behind us. As we ran I could see into the soldier’s camp, but saw only more undead shambling between the tents and fires.

With a last desperate push we ran for the moon door, and threw ourselves through, and crashed to the floor amidst a meeting of the Masked Lords in a Great Hall within Castle Waterdeep.

Before the podium of the Open Lord, Piergeiron the Paladinson, and in witness of the assembled Masked Lords, Iffrona Vennod, Laeral Silverhand, and Lady Alathene Moonstar herself, we told them what we had found: Commander Amaurri was lost, his Force of Light destroyed, their camp overrun by Vanrak Moonstar’s undead.

Alathene Moonstar asked us if we were at least able to obtain the Eye of Jupiter the Commander had held, but it was her brother Vanrak Moonstar who chose that moment to appear and answer her, that he held the Eye now.

Vanrak demanded that in reparation for the Masked Lords’ unprovoked attack they restore him to his rightful place as head of the Moonstars, in place of his clearly unfit sister. He scorned their judgement of him because he was undead, and revealed that their chosen Moonstar, his sister Alathene was also undead, though she tried to hide it.

At that moment Inquisitor Copperpot moved to attack Vanrak, but was frozen in place by him with a glance.

Lady Moonstar shouted that it was a lie, and vanished from the chamber.

Vanrak vowed to expose the treachery and identity of the Lords, unless they surrendered to him what was rightfully his.

To the best of my recalling, here is what was spoken then:
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: *points to the masked lords* And expose you all I will, unless you surrender what is rightfully mine.
Sarenna Irithyl: You've..you've shown them yer strength, Vanrak. You've destroyed their army. Let that be enough. *Voice trembling*
Aries Vexx: *positions himself between Vanrak and the masked lords*
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: The lady of secrets will expose all of your identities
Hans Copperpot: *still not moving, the barest amount of drool forming on his lower lip*
Cornelius Tauber: Vertrauen nicht
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: And your own city will rip you apart.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: Do not think there is anything that you can hide from Shar. She IS the secret herself.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: I only ask for what is mine.......I did not start this war.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: *clenches fist* but I WILL finish it.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: The army you have sent is now mine. Any further encroachment and you will all be exposed.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: For the vermin you are.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: If you will not restore me, then I will finish this war.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: Blackstaff.... I know you are listening.
Lord Vanrak Moonstar: If you so much as set a foot in my domain, your woman will be subject to a most gruesome violation before she is killed.
Aries Vexx: [Party] *eyes widen as Vanrak and Laeral disappear*
Piergeiron the Paladinson: CLEAR THE COURT!

Following are the sketches of the items recovered from the Forces of Light forward camp.

Dear friends in the Life, we have all of us faced together threats and dangers in a thousand forms before. The threat posed by Vanrak Moonstar resembles those dangers as the Plane of Shadow resembles our own city; to mock their weakness.

I have admired and respected Lady Alathene’s judgement since I first met her, but she made a terrible mistake in underestimating her brother. I implore you not to make the same mistake.

I urge you all to gather with me and prepare for the coming war, because that is what is coming. If you care about this city and its unsuspecting citizens at all, then we must face our fear and be ready.

Yours ever,

Sarenna Irithyl

[jmecha]

Dark Shadow, Resonator
Ches 20th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes



Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot of the Companions of the One True Vision and Aries Vexx of the Grey Hand Enforcers, discovered this unique gem during one of his ventures into Shadowdeep in which he was seeking shelter. This gem was discovered within a positive energy haven capable of protecting travelers from the insistent negative energy drain every present in Shadowdeep whose only notable markings were a banner of Helm left there to hang on the exterior of the building by the former Legion.

After a brief study of the unique gem, Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot of the Companions of the One True Vision brought the Gem to House of Wonder for the Clergy of Mystra to study. After a Ride's worth of time Clergy Ilbrost Mythyl of Mystra had the following to report.

• The Crystal Gem appeared to be cut and is likely one of several such unique gems, though he has no means of guessing how many there maybe.

• The Crystal Gem was a power source that if mismanaged could easily destroy a city block with the potent positive energy locked inside.

• Several of the Clergy of Mystra who studied the Crystal Gem conjecture that this could possibly charge magical items on a permanent basis. Applying this would be difficult though.

• Clergy Ilbrost Mythyl of Mystra assumes the crystal gem is ancient crafting. Perhaps dating back all the way to the Netheril.

• The device works because upon it's surface there is a field of strong negative energy that is effectively encasing the potent positive energy trapped inside. For practical day to day handling of such, the two energies appear to cancel each other out making the crystal gem safe to touch. Within the crystalized gem though the two energies are in conflict, neither able to cancel the other out and both racing faster and pushing harder against the other in an effort defeat the other. It is this created energy that could power magical items or if mismanaged easily destroy large sections of the city.

[jmecha]

Interviewing Members of the Moonstar Family
Ches 20th, 1401 Dale Reckoning, Year of the Sheltered Viper
Scribed by Pawn Xandos Klaxxan of the House of Heroes



Inquisitor Guardian Hans Copperpot of the Companions of the One True Vision, Aries Vexx of the Grey Hand Enforcers, Sarenna Irithyl of the Lhuvenhead Trading Company, and myself went to the Moonstar Family Manor in Waterdeep adjacent to the House of the Moon to interview the Family about any insights they may have about Lady Alathene Moonstar and Vanrak Moonstar. While the family was at first very resistant to allowing visitors into their home, after some insistence we were granted access to the family manor house, and in time developed what appeared to be a friendly alliance with the Moonstar Family.

• The Family unanimously claimed to not know where Alathene Moonstar had gone and described her as missing. They have no means of contacting her, and that it is not uncommon for her to go missing, for she has done so several times in the past without warning.

• Wylynd Moonstar's opinion was that Shadowdeep exists in the Plane of Shadows, which exists shadowing our own existence. Shadowdeep is a mirror of Waterdeep, but a vicious mockery of it. She also said that in parts of the Shadow Plane, cracks in the Astral Wall between planes allow the nearby Plane of Negative Energy to leak Negative Energy into the Plane of Shadows.

• Wylynd Moonstar's claimed to have read reports about the Void Doors and Moon Doors, but does not know who they are created or what they truly are beyond passage ways between worlds.

• Ultimately the Family claims to have been aware Lady Alathene Moonstar was planning something to combat Vanrak Moonstar, but they were not part of the planning nor assisted her in any way. They are as surprised as anyone with the revelation of Alathene having been a Lich, and not at all surprised that Vanrak made demands to be made Lord of the Family once more.

If the matter needs to be further pressed in the future it has been assessed that Feluna Moonstar The youngest of the house hold is training to be a warrior and has Alathene's favor and through such maybe allowed access to family secrets others are not, she currently appears to know nothing. Lord Helve Moonstar is willing to cooperate but is the least likely to know the secret inner workings of the War between Alathene and Vanrak. Wylynd Moonstar appeared the most knowledgeable of the three, and the craftiest if she did have a secret to keep.

In closing they have either been successfully kept unaware of Lady Alathene Moonstar's movements and plans, or are so exceptionally well rehearsed at feigning ignorance as a Family that not a single member of the family slipped up once to accidently reveal their deception. In closing I suspect that they are in truth unaware of the inner workings of the conflict between Alathene and Vanrak, and are not prepared for the fight that has been started.