20091121

The White Book

Twentieth Day of Nymph Moon, Year of the Knife
Carrier Hawk Memorandum from Loremaster Walaka
To Sir Sveinn of Hilltop, Paladin Emeritus of Toesch

Executive Summary, Incident 1109

Initial reports from Akram indicate that phase two of Operation Library¹ has been successfully completed.

After the operation in Salis, Adept Perch arranged transport to Akram for the warrior witch Belit, the cleric Kahlan, and the bard Allys. While other members of this heretofore extended party had to absent themselves for divers reasons, the core group was rejoined by the evoker Nyro, recovered from his illness.

Upon arrival in Akram, the party, following a lead provided by municipal authorities there, engaged with an infestation of the undead in the city sewer system. By pure happenstance, the party found themselves in the very catacombs mentioned in the T letter and began pursuit of their primary goal.

The party encountered and fought many undead creatures, including a powerful but as yet unidentified extraplanar entity. The objective was found and retrieved within an altar in the catacombs, and the party was, not incidentally, able to cut off the undead plague at its source.

The connection between recent developments and the undead attacks seemed incidental at most; the re-emergence of the undead appears to have been related to the earthquake.

No Corporation involvement was reported or suspected.

Both objectives are in the possession of Agent S² and are en route to disposal.

Detailed report sent under separate cover.

¹ Ref. LSSR Strategy Document 49.121
² Ref. LSSR Field Strategy Document 66.429-P

Personal Note:

It would be easy for me to say how smoothly this recovery has gone, but I won't, for two reasons. One, heavens know how easy it would be for Fate to throw a bone in the grinder, and I won't tempt her; two, I can still recall when it was you and I slashing at wights in underground rooms, and that never seemed easy when we were doing it. Suffice to say that I am glad we have not had more incident than we have.

Cousin once again showed his ingenuity and usefulness. If that boy could swing a sword without cutting off his own foot, he would be most formidable; as it is, I am still happy he's one of us.

The council is debating choices for a new burial ground, as it were. I am arguing hard for complete destruction, but old fears run deep and few of the paladins listen very hard to an old man. I am sure it will work out for the best.

One dark note amidst the victory: there has been no word from Thor or Kioska since they left on phase two of their mission. This is not necessarily bad, of course, but still...

Best to your better half.

20091120

The Black Book

Fifteenth Day of Nymph Moon, Year of the Knife
Carrier Hawk Memorandum from Loremaster Walaka
To Sir Sveinn of Hilltop, Paladin Emeritus of Toesch

Executive Summary, Incident 1108

Adept Perch, after performing admirably to mitigate earthquake damage in Tikram¹ , dispatched the team of agents comprising the Rashemi Belit, the Confessor Kahlan, the rogue Samael, the bard Allys, the ranger Arborealis, and the new agent, barbarian Felana, to continue Operation Library. (The evoker Nyro remains unwell and is resting with the injured).

The party proceeded forthwith to Salis in the foothills, where local authorities had reported² that the earthquake had uncovered a doorway to an ancient tomb. Investigation confirmed that it was the Tomb of Boredar mentioned in the T letter, and the party entered to retrieve the Object.

The party reported that it fought its way past deathtraps, lava pools, resistance from bearded devils, ogres (possibly constructs), and a destrachan, as well as interacting with what may have been a snow nymph, before encountering the objective. The object was retrieved without apparent ill-effect and is in the possession of the party.

Unconfirmed and unconfirmable reports of possible Corporation intervention attempts were included in initial field reports.

Detailed report sent under separate cover.

¹ Ref. LSSR General Intelligence Report 56.001.23
² Ref. LSSR Incident report 2205

Personal Note:

What a world we live in, old friend! Heady times, indeed, yet I begin to feel a little more confident. This new party exceed expectations - even the barbarian Felana, who might have a little more zeal than prudence - okay, a lot more - is being embraced by these adventurers, and I think their comradeship will benefit him highly.

The mission, of course, is at best half-completed. I have been reviewing the reports from the earthquake zone and I have a feeling we will soon be receiving messages from the very same piazza where both first tasted honeywine. Do you recall? At any rate, if this goes as well in the south as in the north, perhaps we will get out of this without too much damage and stay ahead of the damned Corporation once more.

By the way - although it is officially outside my purview, I have heard that the druid Kioska and paladin Thor are moving forward and prosecuting their charge effectively. I fear that there will be more blood on the tablelands before that side of the story is completely told.