Rumors & RP of Darkhold

[Valleriani]

The sky above the Darkhold darkened that night. Not from a storm or shadows, but something thicker - a black-red cloud that seemed to boil in place.

No flames were seen. No bells rang. No screams were heard. The wind had stopped. Only silence remained in the darkened night.

Then in the quiet, a soft light crept through the darkness - deep crimson and amber, leaking out behind the broken stone of the Keep. It flickered a few times, then slowly faded. After a minute, the wind returned, but it carried a scent - the smell of burnt copper and sulphur. . . the unmistakable reek of brimstone. And though the glow faded and the silence gave way to wind once more, something remained - a pressure in the air that did not lift.

Whatever had happened within the Keep. . . could not be undone.

[Kiran]

Late in the evening, a lone courier wearing Mystran insignia would arrive at Darkhold on a horse. They would, in turn, speak to one of the guards there. The conversation would be brief, and a small object would be handed over. The same courier would then later depart from the area hastily.

[Zeikari]

By the dawn of the 23rd Eleasis 1361, a pale knight of ivory hair slowly dragged himself through the heavy rain of the Sunset Mountains, headed for Darkhold. Tall, looming, bearing an unnatural pallor and a dusty, old plate armor, the man would seek entry at the gate, bearing a sealed message for the Lord of the keep.
Sporting a rather sour and reserved disposition, the man would refuse to utter more than the bare minimum needed to explain the purpose of his trip. He would then wait unmoving and silently in place, until such time as the message could be retrieved from his hands. No sooner would the task be completed, that the eerie knight would dismiss himself and drag his rusty shape out of the stronghold, leaving a faint trail of cobwebs and dust as he disappeared in the morning mists.

[Zeikari]

A few days following his visit, on the 25th of Eleasis 1361, the grey knight would appear at the gates of Darkhold once more, though this time he would not be alone. At the head of a small caravan, the dour figure was seen escorting a very young man of distinct bearing into the keep.
The grey knight would re-emerge not long after, accompanied by a handful of servants of the keep, to oversee the transfer from the caravan to the castle of a varied array of goods, which included several books and enchanted scrolls, various items of clothing, military equipment, weapons, a couple of heavily-locked and compact treasure chests, and steely paraphernalia bearing the mark of the Black Hand.
Once the task was completed, the knight disappeared past the inner gates himself, having hardly spoken a word throughout.

[Spoiler for those who have free/frequent access to Darkhold IC]

Hidden: show

It would not be hard for those who often enjoyed the hospitality of the Lord Regent to learn, from Zhentilar and servants alike, the identity of the grey knight's master. According to rumor, the Lord of Darkhold granted an audience to a young Tethyrian claiming noble status. The southern visitor had come to seek support from the Zhentarim against enemies back home, offering gifts and assistance in return. Though no clear decision was seemingly reached during their lengthy conversation, the Lord Regent did agree to grant his hospitality to the young man, for the time being.

Following the meeting, the visitor would waste no time getting comfortable in the quarters freed for him within the hold, sending for the help, and ordering his own retainers on minor errands. In the following days, the fluttering of wings of his imp would be heard coming in and out of the keep at a frequent rate, though the fiend would always be wary to keep itself out of sight and out of the way of the locals.

[Afendaria]

On the evening of the 26th of Elient, 1361, the sound of Alchemist Fire can be heard exploding in the Darkhold Vale cemetery, and soon light smoke can be seen billowing out from behind the walled off section of the Vale's graveyard.

No damage was done to any of the graves, nor was the wall broken. The smoke continued to rise into the air for a short time, before it began to dissipate. Soon after two dark silhouettes left the cemetery grounds, one after the other. Some time passed, and a further two left together. All that remained was a charred section of land where the bomb had gone off, and the residual smell of a burned up body.

[Zeikari]

During the late afternoon of the 30th of Elient 1361, the southern Tethyrian guest who has taken residence for about a month now in the visitors' tower has another audience with the Lord Regent. While in previous occasions the subjects of conversation were mostly political and military in nature, this time the talk quickly shifts towards theology... And it is fair to say that the visitor was rather pleased by the outcome.

On the midnight leading to Highharvesttide, an ominous yet somewhat familiar echo of drums spreads from the ramparts of the tower, a cadence which has not been heard in the Vale for years, as the visitor, assisted by his fiendish and undead servants, leads an Infernal liturgy singing the praises of the old Lord of Tyranny. The public portion of the function lasts for about half an hour, after which the officiant retires back to his rooms to finish the rest of the rite in private.


[Spoiler for those who have free/frequent access to Darkhold IC]

Hidden: show

[The raucous voices of the undead lead the opening chorus, sung in infernal over the feeble wailing of the offering]

Throne of the Cosmos,
Dominate of the Soul,
Taloned Hand that clutches the World.

In midnight darkest,
Let all be cursed
Who raise their faces,
In fearless insult,
To gaze the mightiest.

Unseen eternal,
Inescapable tyrant,
Umbral law that ordains Mankind.

In deepest pit,
By war and famine,
Let be tormented,
Whosoever uttered
One treasonous thought.

Ambition of Kings,
Terror of Mortals,
Almighty god of dreaded ire.

Scepter and orb,
Crushed by terror and hate,
Forever bind
the unworthy in chains.

[The officiant takes the lead in plainsong Common]

Deepest Mystery of Bane.
For the Lord of Darkness is ever unseen,
Yet none escape his gaze.

(Chorus in Infernal: Deepest Mystery of the Black Hand)

Ever be mindful of the Black Lord’s gaze,
For no infraction is too small nor servant too insignificant
To escape the terrible reach of the Black Hand.

(Chorus in Infernal: Deepest Mystery of the Black Hand)

Know that all who rule do so at the behest of Lord Bane,
Whose domain encompasses the world entire.
Ever obey your masters,
for rebellion and treachery upon one’s betters are abominable acts
upon the eyes of the Black Lord.

(Chorus in Infernal: Eternal chains, in life and death compel)

Curse upon doubt, curse upon rebellion!
May solace grace those who embrace the certainty of the chain.

(Chorus in Infernal: Eternal chains, in life and death compel)

[The chorus resumes singing in Infernal, while the offering is slowly beaten to death]

Certainty of the Chains,
Strings of the soul,
Solace from pain.
No word of defiance,
Be met without disdain.

By might and dread,
Let the dream be dead,
And by whip or spell,
Service compelled.

Certainty of the Chains,
Strings of the soul,
Solace from pain.
No word of defiance,
Be met without disdain.

In bondage inescapable,
Thoughts of disobedience
Be proof of foulest cowardice.

Certainty of the Chains,
Strings of the soul,
Solace from pain.
No word of defiance,
Be met without disdain.

[The officiant takes the lead in plainsong Common, while raising a bloody offering to the floating Black Hand]

Ruler of all, receive this bloody offering.
For all its struggles, it could not escape your grasp.

(Chorus in Infernal: Futility of Rebellion)

Let all be ever wary, for the scepter which is blessed by the Black Hand cannot be broken.

(Chorus in Infernal: Praise to the Once and Ever Tyrant)

[The officiant retreats back into the tower while a reprise of the first hymn is sung once more, accompanied by low drumming. The servants follow suit, and the tower falls silent once more.]