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A dark, foreboding journal
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:06 pm
by Akulakha
So here I be, writing in my journal which has sit motionless in my pack since I bought it from that cursed bookkeeper back in the gate many months ago. I told that wretched she bear I wanted a book of fine quality with newly formed parchment and an attractive cover. She gives me this and claiming it's the only one she has that is of any substantial worth as adventurers come and go constantly buying journals from her...bah!
My name is Azreizhul Larsay Snyderthur, first and only son of Harlen Snyderthur, who was an archmage and member of the Council of elders of Halruaa. My life is...well, my life has proven to be quite interesting even though I have been exiled and sentenced to death by Halruaa, the fools will never find me. It was good of the bleak academy to have a mark of non-detection present on my back for the fools will never find me despite their vast attempts at divination or whatever else they may have at their disposal. Killing that accursed fool back in Halruaa was the worst mistake I could have made...I should learn to control my emotions lest they be my downfall! And ever since those damnable paladins of Lathander found and assaulted the bleak academy, I've been strictly on the run ever since. My father's disappearance before the paladins assault is too much to be a coincidence, I'm certain he is behind the attack...wherever it is he may be.
Still, I consider it wise to now go ahead keep a record of my thoughts and happenings across the gate as well as a record of my research. I have been coming close to recognizing the near extent of my power since the raid on the Xvart village with Natasha and Boris, both who have proven useful and worthy of the power they possess in their own way and in assisting me in my battles. I have recently joined this dark cult of men and women who call themselves the Coven. I have effectively murdered a lonely priest of Illmater and an accursed monk to succeed in my initiation with them. Ha! Taking their lives was like taking candy from a baby!
I still have many goals to accomplish before I begin my ultimate plots. First and foremost, I must continue to expand my power without anyone noting who I am or what I am capable of which is absolutely essential! I cannot risk discovery especially at my current predicament. However I am a young mage and developing the power I crave will possibly take months...or even years! Much research is needed to be done and I will have all access to the magical knowledge available to me!
To accomplish this I must be sure to have access to all magical knowledge that is available here in the coast, thus I should make efforts to seek to forward diplomatic relations with Thay and eventually visit the candlekeep library soon and hopefully make good use of the valuable lore they no doubt have stored there. Once that is accomplished, I will process what knowledge I have acquired and use it for my own ends. I will continue to write down frequent updates as they come along but for now I must away as I have many tasks to perform.
I must admit however...bringing such words to paper certainly brings a certain...peaceful tenderness to my mind as if some unknown weight I have been carrying this whole time has been lifted off my shoulders. I will update soon and be sure to enchant my journal with a powerful, magical lock bearing a password that only I know of so no one can view my thoughts! Haha my thoughts are my own and none shall view them save for my eyes alone!
Re: A dark, foreboding journal
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2016 2:35 am
by Akulakha
6th of Ches, the claw of the Sunsets, year 1352
I've done it! Yes it is mine! Through the assistance of several colleagues of mine I have been able to fuse the skeletal graft to my left arm! For now, this graft is at it's first stage, enabling me to temporarily paralyze anyone I touch it with, provided I speak the necessary chant to enact it's power beforehand. But as time passes, the power of the arm itself will slowly build up using the negative energy plane as an endless power source and powering up the skeletal graft until it eventually becomes an embodiment of death itself, enabling me to instantly slay anyone or anything that feels its touch.
I have decided to write down explicit instructions for myself. I have the entire ritual memorized to heart but just in case it is always better to have a backup layout should I forget. Before enacting this necromantic ritual, it is often wise to have colleagues or even undead servants to assist you with this process as you will not be able to complete this ritual on your own. Have a fellow necromancer or a trusted physician act as the ritualist who will speak the necessary phrases and make the connection between you and the negative energy plane. Any other offered assistance from trusted colleagues should be accepted just in case. To help me remember, I've taken the liberty of writing down the needed instructions and materials of the ritual below as I may need them for future use.
Needed materials
- You will need the blood of a holy man or woman to use as ink for the inscription on your undead graft which will serve as a source of power between you and the conduit. You will need much blood to craft the proper symbol beneath the bearer of the undead graft which is shown in the century old page below. The size of the symbol matters not, expand it as needed. I explain more of the bloods proper use below...
- Distilled essence of nightshade, a rare plant which I hear is often found with the poisoner in Soubar which you use to simply coat the skeletal arm in its alchemical properties which help to act as a preserver for the bone material.
- 12 candles of which are to be placed around in a circle around the blood symbol you have drawn and the bearer of the undead graft and to serve as an arcane containment field to keep the necrotic energy of the undead graft from spurring out of control.
- Several small sacks of crushed black pearls which can be found in the caverns beneath the ruins near the Wyrm's bridge. Black pearls are known amongst necromancers for bearing necrotic properties within them (which is why we use them in our animate dead rituals), thus pouring them over the graft and the bearer of said graft will help provide a necrotic connection between the ritualist and the negative energy plane.
Step 1: As part of the ritual, I've used the blood of a dead illmater priest in order to write down the appropriate inscription on my arm which is written in the draconic language:"Death comes fort thou; may thou assailant's life end!"This inscription was inscribed along the upper and lower portions of the arm as per the instruction of the ritual. The inscription itself is supposed to serve as a command phrase for enacting the undead graft's power thus it can vary from necromancer to necromancer.
Step 2: After that, the designated necromancer of whom the arm shall belong too will have to have his left or right arm surgically removed either with tools or weapons, preferably an axe as they tend to cut through muscle and bone more easily than a sword. It is obviously wise to prepare the necessary pain wards, such as the spells false life and bear's endurance, to help maintain ones life force in such a process as much of the blood belonging to the 'soon to be bearer of the arm,' will spill onto the ground.
Step 3: Once this is done, the ritualist will then begin the arcane chant the following in the draconic language to summon the powers of the negative energy plane:
"I do hereby summon the dark powers to be bestowed upon this man who shall be blessed with powers of death! May this one, who has chosen to forever bear the curse of undeath, serve himself as a conduit between the material plane and the negative energy plane! From this day henceforth, let the stain of undeath's signature be forever marked upon this ones body and soul: let it serve as a dreaded curse from hell and a sinful blessing upon his soul! Let the gods of light forsake him and instead let the gods of darkness gift him with power unending! Let him now be remade in the image of undeath! Let him now be reborn in darkness!"
Step 4: When the chant is complete, the arm itself should glow brightly with negative energy, with the Humerus ready to fuse with whatever it is the ritualist carefully connects it too. This is a very delicate process as the arm will only stay imbued with negative energy before the effect wears off. The ritualist is then required to connect the Humerus of the skeletal arm with the shoulder bone and it must be accurately placed for once the end of the humerus bears a connection it will instantly fuse thus it is vital that the ritualist place the arm as accurately as possible for maximum use and to prevent it from fusing with the muscle. It would often be a good idea to entrust this critical task with one who is an experienced medical doctor or even a fellow necromancer who has experience with these kind of rituals.
Finally, this will effectively summon and call upon the powers of the negative plane to make a connection with the undead graft. Once the connection has taken place, the humerus should connect with the shoulder blade and thus the negative energy infused with the rest of the bearers body. This will result in the bearer of the arm, not right away, but turning partly into undead himself with his mortality wearing off and undeath taking its place, similar to the process of a lich but no where near as powerful. The duration of this process however varies with each individual and it is always wise to take the necessary magical precautions as only a select few cases in recorded lore have begun to suffer from very dangerous cases of brain decay or skin deterioration, resulting in the individual becoming a zombified version of his formal self.
"A small picture of the ritual with said instructions in an unknown language."
I must do more research! Who knows how much power is available in the field of necromancy! First things first of course, I must continue my training and keep close company with those I trust. Allies are always useful to have, especially when ones life is in danger. Soon however, I will be above such company...
Re: A dark, foreboding journal
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:11 pm
by Akulakha
12th of Ches, the claw of the Sunsets, year 1352
I write this before I leave: I travel with a noteworthy companion named Jessie, a cleric and servant of Auril, the lady of the cold dawn and the frost maiden. She has proven a reliable ally over the time we have spent together. Her display of the power of Auril has proven quite fearsome I must say as any that stood in her way have met with the unfortunate end of being turned into nothing more than a block of ice or having their soul completely drained from their bodies. We now plan to collect the ingredients for a rather curious imp that lingers in the woods of sharp teeth, an annoying little beast to be sure but has made promises of great reward to both me and Jessie should we manage to collect the ingredients for his master, the lord of murder. We journey now to the west and south of the friendly armed inn to collect. Oh, what marvelous peril awaits us today I wonder...
---
I write to further update this day's journal entry. I was selling to that fool of a blacksmith in beregost when I was accosted by a rather curious earth genasi, large and built like a mountain. The fool dared to touch me and push me aside to deal with the blacksmith. I let him leave for now...but when I find him in the wilderness, his body will make a useful addition for my necromantic experiments! I leave once again as we must travel south to collect the last ingredient required for the imp: a small batch of...hill giant's dung...bah! I can't even begin to imagine what a lord of darkness would want with such a thing. The very thought of digging around in...ugh it offends my very being!! If that cursed imp does not live up to his promise of a reward I'll send it back to the Ninth circle of hell myself! I care not if it angers the lord of murder that his precious servant has been banished it will suffer endlessly!
---
Another joyous update for today's journal! By sheer luck I have found that earth genasi and a companion of his tramping about in hill giant territory. I told that wretched fool to kneel before me but he would not do it. He drew his mundane sword and shield and charged forth for my companion, Jessie. When we combined our magical might the earth genasi was slain in seconds. I collect the blood from his body to be used in my blood magic rituals. I have already sent a servant of mine to deliver his body to my base of operations where I will continue to experiment on his dead body. I have never had the fortunate opportunity to experiment on a being from the plane of earth before. I'm confident my studies may yield great results. The earth genasi's companion however had retreated from the battle. Should he show his face again, I will gladly deal with him personally.
---
Confounded curse of the hells I nearly came at risk! I encountered a fool by the name of Adin Cain, some cursed ranger companion of Jessie's I believe who had been told that a necromancer had dwelled in the surrounding area! He chose to travel with me and Jessie up north curious about whether or not it was me that was the necromancer. Luckily, I was able to evade his suspicions for the moment but as soon as our quest is finished I will have to go into hiding for a few days. Thankfully, my magics protected my appearance and the fool who escaped earlier could not properly identify who I was. However I know his face...should I learn that he has alerted more across the coast about me I will send coven assassins to bring me his head! The fool will not escape my notice so easily! I will have to head back and conduct a divination ritual on where the little rat is hiding...
Re: A dark, foreboding journal
Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 3:39 pm
by Akulakha
23rd of Ches the claw of the Sunsets 1352
I have found the jackpot of a lifetime. A few days ago, me and my companion Natasha Lane had encountered a...strange woman, though I hesitate to call her such, present in the woods just south of Ulgoth's Beard. She assigned me and Natasha the task of finding strange components for her: a half-bitten sandwich, some empty bottles, and a monkey's bladder. I was tempted right then and there to send her shriveled body into the ground where it belonged for bothering me with such trifling matters. However, the only reason I stayed my hand is because she afterward gave me a promise of much gold and potions. Bah! She was lucky I had nothing better to do. I should've just killed her and took her treasures for myself but...I am glad I bothered to proceed with this quest as I have found a far better reward in Ulgoth's beard than what she had to offer.
My companion Natasha and I stormed a nearby pirate cove that was hidden inside the hillside next to Ulgoth's beard. The coward pirates inside proved no match for us and fled before our might! I brought down great destruction upon them with a variety of evocation spells while Natasha summoned her water elemental armada to utterly destroy any pirates that stood in our way. The fools had attempted to flee on board their small ships afterward but the water elementals simply melded into the ocean and proceeded to sink the ships and drown the pirates present within...HA! A no more fitting end for the wretched sailors I say! As we explored the cove further we eventually found a ladder that lead underneath a warehouse in Ulgoth's beard. We discovered a curious group of mages that unfortunately chose to trade spells rather than words and we were forced to dispatch them and their demonic pets.
Whoever these mages were, they were obviously no simple mages. The room we fought in was wrought with demonic runes and symbols and studying them, I recognized the markings on the floor as demonic runes which were carved in blood and emanated red smoke. The ritual they enacted would've permanently binded any demons they summoned into our world, turning them forever into slaves of the cultists that summoned them or at least until the demons themselves managed to break free of their restraints. I asked Natasha to wait a moment and to allow me a moment to look through the shelves of books and scrolls that these demon cultists had available and I found a grimoire on demonic and necromantic lore.
The book was several centuries old at least with the parchment being worn and falling from the book bindings. The text within was written in the infernal language and luckily I was able to read what it says. This grimoire once belonged to a powerful and deadly lich named Graegor Axilthus, a very powerful and ancient necromancer who was slain by a group of adventurers in a great battle or at least so the grimoire claims. Its common knowledge and also present amongst peasant folklore that liches automatically resurrect themselves via a phylactery and the grimoire does not claim that the adventurers had destroyed it so its a possibility that the lich could still be alive. Reading on further, the pages state that the battle was great and that the adventurers were terribly weakened after the battle was over with several in their group having passed on to the next world.
After the battle was over however, the adventurers were betrayed by a mage named Karoness Evalina, a red wizard of Thay who took the liches vast array of knowledge for herself. She remained in Thay for several years before mysteriously disappearing without a trace and her masters were unable to divine her location via divination rituals and so was presumed dead. The book unfortunately does not determine the date of its creation or where this battle took place other than the fact of the conveniently written journal I've just summarized. After reading this, I took the liberty of checking the book for any possible divination symbols that could've been placed on it by its former masters and I found none. Hopefully, this will be the last I ever hear of that accursed lich or the red wizard.
The spell I've discovered is a very powerful spell but it has certain risks in casting it. For one, using it too frequently can corrupt ones soul as your own soul will automatically reject the foreign energy that is being injected into it thus the caster would eventually die and deteriorate rapidly into dust. Also, absorbing the souls of those you slay via means of this spell can present a risk of their souls trying to fight for control over your body and replacing the casters mind with the absorbed souls subconciousness driving him to madness or even possible suicide. Whoever designed this spell had it in their mind to keep their enemies within themselves 'literally' at all times thus they would be unable to proceed to the next life.
I'm certain that I can find a way to work around this. I'm positive that I could easily fortify the spell to allow the souls subconcious mind to proceed to the next life by making it so that the spell severs the soul strands of the subconcious mind from their souls, thus the souls absorbed would instead be nothing more than mindless, pure energy and a feast for the caster to enjoy. I have to proceed carefully and triple check my calculations with this as once I am able to cast the spell as I will only have one chance to see if it will work. I will do research on the side to see if I can keep the spell as it is without worrying about the side effects. I will have to keep several of the grimoire's pages as a bookmark in my journal in case I need to check them again. Hopefully, further research will reveal more details...
"Pages detailing possible corruption and deterioration of the caster"