Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

A relatively crisp, sealed envelope addressed to one Gruthek Khan is spirited into the safekeeping of the Temple of Mystra's attendant in the wee hours of the morning. The half-elfin woman who delivers it leaves the holy house almost immediately with no small amount of discomfort carved into her mien, no thanks to utilizing the many portals there, and she keenly avoids everything else that is obviously magicked in nature.

Khan,

I am in great need of anatomical and physiological codices related to fiends, as discussed in the afternoon past. The arming of my mind is just as important as the arming of my body, and I confess to having ignorance regarding the weaknesses of such vile creatures.

Marshal Nathan of House Darius has made mention of beasts known as 'erinyes' and 'brachina,' so I would prefer texts correlating to their unmake. Anything referencing the various strangelings we encountered at the Bridgefort yestereve would also be of use.

I know that my gratitude alone makes for a poor exchange, and enlightenment is a currency in and of itself. Although I do not share beliefs, I am prepared to donate either my service or monetary value to your House for this information.

It is my modest hope that I may be judged worthy, so I can wield this knowledge to protect both my comrades and those who cannot fight in these warring days ahead.

Honorably,
Batz. Borte-Suul

A small bundle of transcribed pages rolled up in a leather scroll tube rest in a sheepskin leather wrapping under a cairn of stones by the outskirts of the Watch's Camp.

(PM Pending)

*the notes describe the physiology of several types of devils and slightly outline the known environment of each circle of hell.*

Deathgrowl wrote:A blue robed man enters the temple of Mystra and presents himself to Lady Neela as Oryoon Archost, a fellow priest of Mystra. He asks her who he should talk to in order to register as clergy of the local temple.

A golden eyed cat followed the man with it's gaze from the shadows of the altar, then leisurely sauntered back to the inner chambers when the man left.
Deep within the temple, the dust stirred on the floor of the Keeper's chamber. The cat uncomfortably shifted in it's sitting, averting it's golden eyes to tend to the cleaning of it's fur instead. In the center of the chamber, a lean figure of an elf materialized, silvery white satin robe sitting smoothly on her form, silky dark brown hair collapsing down on her shoulders and back.
If Oryoon Archost visited the church again in the following days, he would be greeted by an acolyte, saying the Keeper wishes to speak with him.

An acolyte hurries through the main square of the East Gate district, and pins a scroll on the bulletin board.

Tsidkenu wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 6:41 pm A large crowd entered the Temple of Mystra yesterday, headed by a cleric of Helm and a well-known figure to the temple clergy, Darius employee Nathan Goldenmane. The fellow was carrying a small, metallic box and looked to be expending enormous amounts of energy in the task given the exhaustion on his features.

After the crowd was dispersed, the dangerous object was explained, restrained and locked away by the Dweomerkeeper, Neela Daren, awaiting further investigation by the temple clergy and its arcanists.

The Helmite Pryat promised to make a return to the temple after a few days to discuss a few other matters with their clergy.

For a few days after the arrival of the group, the clergy of the Church seemed extremely busy, frequently running between the library and the laboratory. The most busy of all seemed to be the new ranger of the Shooting Star, carrying letters from and to the temple all day, for the visible relief of a certain hin priestess.

Since a few days now, the Innates of the Church excitedly whispered about an open class to take place in the Temple, for the four refugee children who showed potential in the Art.

In the morning, the children and their escorts were led to the Church. Though it was sunny outside, the altar chamber remained in dusk, the flickering light of dozens of candles projected twitching images on the high ceiling and walls. The tall stone pillars gently guided the flow of a large circle of twinkling lights, waking many-colored shimmering on the surface of the small pools around the pillars.

Inside the circling light flow, thick blankets were laid down in a semicircle around the center of the chamber. Other seats were prepared further out on the marble edges of the pools, for the Ilmateri escorts and other guests.

A tall elf woman in a green wizard robe and waist-length chestnut brown hair greeted the children, standing in the middle, with a warm smile on her face.

"Greetings, my children, in the temple of the Mother of All Magic."

She addressed the adults sitting on the side with a bow of her head, then focused her attention on the children sitting around her.

"Magic is the mystery that is discussed by many, but truly understood by only Mystra herself. Those who can weave spells are gifted by Mystra, and feared for their abilities by many."

With a sudden golden shine in her eyes, she reached her arms out wide, palms upwards, as a pair of sizzling fire globes lit up above them. But as abruptly as it appeared, the heat vanished, and the flame tongues dissolved into tiny sparkling ambers, growing fiery wings, and soon the chamber was lit by dozens of shimmer-winged butterflies, lazily flying up towards the faceted ceiling.



"But as much as Magic is feared, it is admired by many, because Magic can create wonders of never heard of magnificence."

Finally the apparitions were gone, but the hall remained illuminated as if some holy light shone down on those sitting in the circle. The Servants of Mystery chanted a blessing, which seemed to resonate with the twinkling of the circling lights. The Keeper swept her amber gaze through the children, and spoke on a tender voice.

"Magic can be terrifying, and Magic can be wonderful. You all have the gift of Mystra in yourselves, and you all could be able to weave spells to some extent in time. I would like to teach you how to recognize your gift, so you don't have to fear magic anymore."

She sits down then in the middle, her eyes curiously watching their every reaction.

"I would like to show you, how to find your greatest potential, because my Lady, Mystra is the Goddess of Magic who created the Weave, so mortals can use magic and create wonders."

The wizard dismisses her spell of invisibility, and three wooden toy knights appeared standing on the floor before her. The knights were all carved with careful detail, raising their mighty weapons to the sky.

"I believe you all have heard stories of mighty heroes who wielded magic in their fight, and you heard about evil, otherworldly creatures who wanted to destroy all what we hold dear."

On a gentle tone, she whispers the words of Arcane, conjuring first a tiny version of a stone wall before he knights, then a small, concentrated globe of darkness on the other side of the wall.

"Magic can cause destruction, tear down walls and tear apart families.."

The wizard weaves her hand, and a gust of wind wakes before her, knocking down the flimsy wall and the wooden soldiers to the ground.

"But on the other side, magic can aid and protect, magic can strengthen warriors or show a hidden way out when everything seems hopeless."

While the sun-elf speaks, her magehand lifts up the knights to their feet, and a short incantation weaves a warm, bright light around them. The darkness diminishes.

"You are here now because you all have the potential to weave spells. And just as you shouldn't be afraid of your own magic, you should not use your magic in a way that would make your surroundings afraid of you. You all belong to a new community now, that welcomes you and would aid your every steps. I would like to show you how to use your gift, the power of the Arcane, to the betterment of your families and your environment."

Her eyes jump up for a fleeting moment to the Ilmatari priestess, then her gaze returns to see how the children cope with the situation so far.

"Now, my name is Syndreth. How are you called?"

Nathan arrives upon learning of the teaching taking place and sits out of the way to watch the lesson with a slight smile.

He even appears to be taking notes on the general teaching methods used and their effectiveness.

After the lesson concludes he stops by for a short hello to the instructor before going about his business in the city.

A tall man in his thirtieth winters dressed and cowled in rich crimson robes observed the lesson. There was critical analysis in his sharp blue eyes as he tracked the speaker and her spellcraft. He seemed polite when engaged with by the public in the temple and had introduced himself to any who addressed him as Magi Belhagruz Odrenkh, a "quite prominent" Red Wizard of Thay belonging to the nearby Enclave - to which he returned, when curiousity was satisfied.

A little after dawn's breaking does a blond man come to the Mystrans. He is clad in dark mail, the face of the suit inscribed prolifically with gravitic sentiment and floral filigree. He trespasses until he finds one to speak to, and then his black-gloved hand produces a black feather unlike a bird's.

"I'd like to know everything you can tell me," he says to whomever, blue gaze patient, keen.