Difference between revisions of "GLRP:EMs:Royal Spies:2010:Blood Feud2"

Latest revision as of 17:21, 12 April 2012

Mission 57, April 27, 2010 - Pawns
Magnus wanted the Spies to contact an orc named Grugzun, his contact with the Cove Tribe. Unfortunately, when the Spies arrived at his cave northeast of Covetous only daemonic spiders awaited them. Grugzun was presumed dead based on the orders found webbed to one spider’s corpse, and the group set off to find the tribal leader at the fort neat Cove.

Du Lizt, by Grugzun

Orders, by Nether

In the fort they located Fumpafaze who told them that the daemons had struck a deal with the ‘King’ of the orcs, Klompin Skullz. The daemons would pay for orcish mercenaries and transport them to a meeting from the mine south of Yew.

Urderz, by Klompin Skulz

In the lower level of the mine, the Spies found an encrypted book. It directed the orcs to a location in the northern desert of the Lost Lands – where the meeting between the orcs and the Hythloth Conclave was to occur.

Gating Orders, by Nether (with decryption by Ra'Dian Fl'Gith)

The Spies raided the meeting, laying waste to many daemons and angering Buldur who blamed the orcs. Klompin Skullz attacked the intruders, but proved no match for their prowess.

The only survivor, an orc named Klom, was spared when he gave the Spies information about what the Conclave wanted. The daemons sought ‘spezal shinies frum vuult of lurd bridash’ and would pay the orcs in gold for killing humans. Unfortunately, he did not know when the daemons would attack…

Mission 58, May 4, 2010 - Nightmare in Nujel'm
This week, Magnus sent the Spies to Nujel’m under official cover to diplomatically resolve the arrest of their fellow spy, Sarah Paumera. Sarah had been arrested the night before for murder of a local playwright, and the suspected kidnapping and murder of the Isle’s jeweler.

Criminal Acts, by Lord Giraud

The Spies knew from experience that the likelihood of Sarah’s guilt was exceptionally low and thus set out to prove her innocence. After speaking to the arresting guard, a barkeep, a blacksmith’s apprentice, an apothecary, a pompous noble, and a familiar ‘merchant’ from Tokuno; the Spies knew there was far more to this case than a murder.

Investigating further, the Spies discovered that the murdered man, Raul Thrivin, had been secretly protecting the Isle from the forces of darkness. The missing man, Gervain, was Raul’s friend and the possessor of a cursed statue.

Journal, by Raul Thrivin

Journal, by Gervain

Unfinished Play, by Raul Thrivin

Lord Marstan, the noble, let it slip that he believed the Isle was playing host to a nightmare shaper – a daemon which fed on the fear and paranoia of the Nujel’m citizens. The statue which Gervain had come into possession of had originally been meant for Marstan, but the smuggler had to dump it to avoid discovery.

The smuggler, the ever-annoying Donald Stitches of Vesper, eventually admitted to smuggling Gervain out of Nujel’m after the murder. He said that the twitchy jeweler had gone to the trapper’s camp south of the Shrine of Sacrifice to hide.

At the camp, Gervain attacked the Spies believing they were daemons. Sadly, it was he who killed Raul in a fit of daemon-induced paranoia.

Scribbles, by Gervain

The Spies returned to the Isle and located a hidden chamber where the nightmare shaper had been gorging itself. Once it was slain the Spies learned that the Hythloth Conclave wished to keep Nujel’m apart from Britannia…

Orders, by Nether

May 10, 2010 - Book left at the High Council of Britannia
This encrypted tome was found on the ground in front of the Jerred Ghyss Civic Center in Compassion grove. A crow's feather lay nearby, suggesting the Strange Bird may have delivered it...

Orders, by Nether (with decryption by Thanatos Angelos)

Mission 59, May 11, 2010 - Death Concerts
Based on the decrypted book left with the High Council the night before, Lord Grey sent the Spies to the Greater Death Wisp in Ilshenar to learn of and ruin the Conclave’s plans.

The Elder Death Wisp agreed to give the Spies information about what the Conclave wanted if they would participate in an experiment. The first part consisted of a short survey “concerning conflicting nature of Virtue.”

Questions, by Death Wisp (with collected answers from the Britannian Alliance)

The wisp then attacked the Spies as the second part of the bizarre experiment. Once it had reformed after being defeated, it produced a letter from the daemon Nether.

Letter, by Nether

The Conclave wanted the wisp to give them parts of the Principia Daemonis containing rituals which could help them regain the favor of the titan Pyros. As payment for the information, the Conclave would give the Elder Death Wisp the nightmares collected in Nujel’m.

Based on Nether’s letter, the Spies went to the island nation and slew each of the wretched imps before the larvae could be delivered. Returning to the hidden chamber under the city, the Spies slew the ‘Courier of Nightmares.’

Orders, by Nether

The Spies raced to the Skull of Mondain and found Nether speaking to a strange swarm of Death Wisps calling themselves a ‘concert.’ With the Conclave’s payment confiscated by the Spies, the deal with the wisps crumbled. The wisps expressed their displeasure by attacking the Spies…and failed.

Mission 60, May 18, 2010 - Evening Star Gang
Lord Grey started this week’s meeting by telling the Spies that strange shapes had been seen moving about the city, and the he would like the matter investigated. As the Spies considered how best to proceed, assassins stepped out of the shadows…

Once they had been dealt with, a book was found amongst the bodies. Apparently there was now a price on the heads of each Royal Spy.

Orders, by Talia Coldblood

Magnus sent the spies to James in Blackthorn’s Keep to learn what they could about his lists of names. Unfortunately, James had been assaulted and the Official Cover List had been stolen – each of those spies was in danger. Fortunately, Queen Dawn held a copy of the list and the Spies rushes off to protect their brethren.

Official Cover, by James

The first stop was the Miyabi Inn in Zento where the Spies arrived just in time to protect Amelia Myrtle from a cloaked assassin.

The next stop was the Royal Bank in the Ter Mur Royal City to locate Johann Darus. The Spies followed him around the city until the assassin sent for him tried to strike in the Mysterious Magics school, nearly creating an international incident.

Classic tales of Vesper, by Clarke's Printery (with decryption by Thanatos Angelos)

Report, by Daniel Reed

Sadly, the remaining two spies in Ilshenar and Malas had already been assassinated.

Fortunately, clues left by the deceased led the Spies to Vesper where Runnin' Robert was found He spoke about a new group who had crawled out from under a rock, the 'Evening Star Gang' had taken up residence in the city - forcing out any miscreants who wouldn't work for them.

List, by Talia Coldblood

The Gang had been based in the Vesper Customs House; a note there said the NoC (Non-official Cover) List had been sent to ‘the boss’ for decryption. All the Spies were now threatened…

May 24, 2010 - Bertrand abducted in Compassion Grove
Bertrand the daemonic scholar came to present the High Council of Britannia with a copy of his notes on the Principia Daemonis. Unfortunately, his arrival was unknown to the High Council - yet somehow was known by the Evening Star ninja. Bertrand's small group of paladin bodyguards were quickly killed by the ninja, and Bertrand himself taken captive before the Britannian Armed Forces could act. After the ninja were dispatched, Bertrand's notebook was found amongst the bodies...

Burned Notes, by Bertrand

Mission 61, May 25, 2010 - Platinum Problem
Lord Grey sent the Spies to Vesper to investigate a note delivered by Runnin’ Robert for Donald Stitches. Following the coordinates in the letter they found Donald in a tent to the south of the city. He explained that the mayor’s child had been kidnapped by the Evening Star Gang and was being held in a cell deep in Covetous.

The Spies headed to the same block of cells where Vividos had fallen several weeks prior. They found the child, Trip, guarded by one of the Conclave’s daemons. Trip said that a tall green daemon with a name beginning with a ‘B’ had been held in the cell next to him, but he had been turned into a statue. He also explained that Mr. Delvin of the Vesper Bank and Mr. Oren the Sherriff of Vesper had been the ones to abduct him – they were part of the Evening Star Gang.

Burned Notes, by Bertrand

The Spies headed back to Vesper to confront both men…their resistance proved suicidal. A book on the banker, and a rune on the sheriff led to the thieves’ bar under the Tanner’s Shop. A false floor led to a sewer tunnel under the city where a man was threatening a silver-robed seer, in the corner of the chamber sat a green daemon statue on a ritual pentagram.

Classic tales of Vesper, by Clarke's Printery (with decryption by Ra'Dian Fl'Gith)

Burned Notes, by Bertrand

The man vanished and the seer bade the Spies to leave lest he be forced to make them leave. Confused, the Spies milled about until the seer transformed into a platinum dragon and attacked. Once he had been beaten into submission, the dragon/seer Adelais explained that the Gang had stolen something very precious – a platinum dragon egg. The Spies vowed to rescue the egg, but Adelais would need time to recoup before helping.

The Spies explained the situation to Minister Grey, along with the location of Bertrand – or rather what he had become. It was decided that the daemon was too important to leave as a statue so they returned to the sewer to free him. His spirit was easily freed from the statue, but he required a new body to live again – thus a summoned daemon was provided for him to possess.

Mission 62, June 1, 2010 - Eggnapped
Minister Grey sent the Spies to find the platinum dragon egg stolen by the Evening Star Gang the week before. Adelais awaited in the Fire Dungeon under Serpent’s Hold where he showed them the magical platform in the river of lava from which the egg had been taken.

Investigating quickly led the Spies to Paule Steele, a guard outside the dungeon, who suggested they look into ship travel off the island. He said the port records were kept at the Fisherman's Brew tavern by the main dock.

Serpent's Hold Ship Log, by Portmaster

The records led the Spies to Sadie Rumswiller in New Haven who said her ship had been hired to bring a group of Tokuneese to the Hold, they had then stolen her boat and disappeared. Fortunately she overheard one of them mention a ‘Citadel.’

Report, by N.H.B.P.A.

Storming the Citadel created a confrontation with Travesty’s ninja who were directly linked to the Evening Star Gang. After a long and costly battle, an encrypted book was found which sent the Spies to the Serpent Pillar north of Serpent’s Hold.

Classic tales of Vesper, by Clarke's Printery (with decryption by Ra'Dian Fl'Gith)

In the Lost Lands, the Spies’ ships found The Belching Dragon captained by a Tokuneese pirate. Once captured, he directed them to the valley west of Kos Heb. There they found the stolen egg along with the man who had been threatening Adelais in the sewer – Xar. Faced with overwhelming numbers, Xar revealed himself to be the daemon Nether and then set a whirling blade upon the Spies.

In the end, the precious egg was returned to a grateful Adelais.

June 7, 2010 - Sarah Paumera delivers notes to the High Council
Sarah Paumera came to the Jerred Ghyss Civic Center to bring the High Council of Britannia a copy of Bertrand the daemon’s newest list of words. When she arrived a group of the Evening Star Gang attacked her, presumably to retrieve the book. The Britannian Armed Forces defeated the ninja and found a partial copy of the Royal Spy NOC list – now a hit list.

Word List Notes, by Bertrand

Partial NOC List, by Xar

Mission 63, June 8, 2010 - Training #12: Exploration
Before the Exploration Training, Minister Grey held a ceremony to recognize each Spy for the rank they had earned. Those in attendance received a special sash embroidered with their current rank.

Malag-aste and Martyna Z'muir, having obtained the highest rank (King Listener) twice, were promoted to Assistant Royal Spymasters.

June 12, 2010 - Second Rank Ceremony
Minister Grey held a second ceremony to recognize the Spies unable to attend the first. Afterwards, he traveled the land with several trusted Spies looking for a new headquarters.

Mission 64, June 15, 2010 - Misdirection
Minister Grey didn’t have a mission for the Spies this week, but he wanted them to have a chat with Bertrand the daemon about his work and what he knew of the Conclave. Fearing another attempt on Bertrand’s life, the spies rushed out of the Hall to meet the daemon.

As if on cue, Conclave daemons appeared shortly after Bertrand arrived. When the enemies fell to the Spies’ defense a massive explosion rocked northern Britain, yet strangely caused little damage. When the Spies returned to the Hall, they found that the Principia Daemonis had disappeared from the warded case within. The attack on Bertrand had been a distraction to cover the theft of the book. A wounded Bertrand said that he would talk to the Spies later after he had recovered and encouraged them to retrieve the tome before the Conclave could learn its secrets.

Orders, by Nether

Following the recovered orders of Nether, the Spies rushed to the secret sewer entrance in the thieves’ bar under the Tanner’s Shop in Vesper. There they encountered the Evening Star ninja and the daemon ‘runner’ who had the book. When their enemies were defeated, the Principia was found covered in muck in front of a cell containing a rather unhappy John Cullen.

Once released, Cullen admitted to building a defective bomb for the Conclave. He also said he overheard talk about sending daemons to three libraries which were participating in the Principia’s translation.

Letter, by Buldur

The Spies first traveled to the Lycaeum which they found under daemonic siege. Harriet the Scribe informed them that several scrolls regarding the tome had been stolen.

Next, the daemons sent to the Jhelom Library were slaughtered before they could complete their task.

Lastly, the Spies routed the assault on Library of Sosaria in the hamlet of Nameless outside Yew before the daemons could breach its heavily warded vault.

Victorious, the Spies returned to Britain where they were able to talk to Bertrand about the tome and his latest list of words.

Burned Word List, by Bertrand

June 21, 2010 - Orcs spy on the High Council
A group of orcish spies were discovered in Compassion Grove and defeated by the Britannian Armed Forces. A lone spy named Cidur Klomp was captured and interrogated. Strangely, he wasn’t sure who his ‘boss’ was, but seemed to think it was a daemon...

Urderz, by ...

Mission 65, June 22, 2010 - Fodder
Minister Grey wanted the Spies to infiltrate the Cove orcs and learn who is behind using the orcs as mercenaries. To help with the infiltration, the Spies were sent to Agumund the enchanter in Umbra, he had prepared sandals which would transform their wearer into an orc.

Disguised as orcs, the Spies met with the new contact at the Cove Orc Fort, Grugzunzun. He told the spies that the demons wanted the orc clans to join with them in a war against humans, promising that all humans would be dead. Grugzunzun sent the disguised Spies with Xagu, the only orc who knew where the Conclave’s camp was hidden.

Xagu led the Spies on a overland run from the fort to a small canyon in the Serpent Spine Mountains north of Britain. There they found who had been recruiting the orcs, a large red daemon named Reo Uro. The recruiter demanded that the ‘new recruits’ kill an orc chief named Mojo Mush in the mine near Yew. The Conclave wanted him dead because he had refused to join with them.

Orders, by Nether

Mojo Mush was quickly located and defeated. While he didn’t want to work with the Conclave, he would have made war against Britannia on his own. Giving one of the orc’s axes to Reo Uro earned a training session with a shadow orc in Fire Dungeon.

Journal, by Mojo Mush

Of course the ‘shadow orc’ turned out to be the nightmare loving daemon Nether. The Spies made short work of previously trained orcs and took down an Enforcer on loan from Buldur. In the end, they captured Nether and imprisoned him in the magically shielded Moonglow Zoo.

Letter, by Nether

Mission 66, June 29, 2010 - Quarantine
The city of Moonglow had been placed under quarantine by Royal decree due to a sleeping sickness sweeping the isle. Since Nether had been confined in the Zoo, his involvement was strongly suspected. Magnus sent the Spies to remedy the situation under cover of “medical aid,” which would allow them to bypass security.

The Spies ran through the city toward the Lycaeum where they encountered a large docile spider claiming to be the ‘Nightmares of Moonglow.’ Many daemon statues with disturbing inscriptions littered the grounds of the library. Harriet the Scribe said that the scribe working on translating parts of the Principia Daemonis had fallen into a disturbed sleep and could not be woken. She said that spider-like creatures had been seen skittering around the city.

The spiders turned out to be nightmare shaper larvae gorging themselves on the citizen’s nightmares. When they had been collected from their storm imp and nightmare roach protectors, Harriet immolated all of them. The scribe then sent the Spies to Michael of Moonglow.

Michael said that he had a blackrock focus which would send those who chanted ‘An Zu Vas Kal Por Jux’ to the source of the sickness. The focus sent the Spies to a nightmare version of Moonglow, a place where Nether was at his strongest. Unfortunately for the daemon, his minions were swiftly defeated and the Spies turned their spells and weapons on him. Nether met his end in a nightmare of his own making.

A still-sleeping scribe by the name of Carl said he had witnessed ‘a darkness’ speaking to Nether and pointed out a message that had been left. Minister Grey then appeared to lead the Spies out of the phantom city and back to the real Moonglow.

Letter, by Buldur

Following clues in the message they headed to Xenve An-amo-lem where they many daemons guarding a warded staircase just past the Fault of Lithos. Unfortunately, the staircase remained unusable after the daemons were defeated.

Back in Britain, Minister Grey said he would inform every species with a queen to increase their security based on an inscription on one daemon statues from the Lycaeum. He also pointed out that Bertrand had left a book with the remaining words for his dictionary.

Final World List, by Bertrand

Mission 67, July 6, 2010 - A Private Little War
See The Blood Coast.

July 19, 2010 - Charbon the Pyromancer attacks the High Council
Charbon the Pyromancer of Montor stood outside the Civic center and accused the High Council of ‘hunting him’. When asked who told him this lie, he indicated the information came from the Conclave. He attacked those present with fire elementals which were swiftly defeated as he fled.

Mission 68, July 20, 2010 - An-Kal-Lem
Magnus sent the Spies to the Royal City in Ter Mur for a meet requested by Queen Zhah.

The gargoyle Queen asked the Spies to investigate a group of her people who left Ter Mur seeking a new place to settle. She said the last she heard of them, they had purchased a ship in Papua and set sail for an out-of-the-way area of the Lost Lands. She was concerned due to the fact that the settler’s leader was another gargoyle Queen – and she knew the Conclave was after Queen’s blood.

The Spies went to the dock in Papua where they found Harriet the Scribe fishing at the mouth of the Gentle River. Harriet said she had seen a group of gargoyles days before and suggested they settle in the secluded Terra Sanctum region.

A quick boat ride and the Spies arrived on the shores of the Sanctum. There they found a small stone walled settlement under siege from fiery attackers. Charbon the Pyromancer, in the employ of the Conclave, had been harassing the gargoyles. Once he had turned tail and run away, the Spies found the leader of the Colony: Erah.

Erah was surprised that humans and elves would come in peace and aid in defending her fledgling colony. Fortunately, however, she was won over by the fact the Spies were bearers of the Vid de Pri-tas. She bid them speak to her staff, Aklem the warrior, Terinlem the architect and Cruorlem the healer. Strangely, Cruorlem had vanished. During a brief interview, it was learned that Erah had been injured several days prior and that Cruorlem had touched her blood…

Fortunately, Terinlem said that the wayward healer may have gone to look for pumice on the advice of a man in Papua. The Spies rushed to the coordinates given by the architect and found Cruorlem giving a vial of blood to Charbon. The healer was An-Kal-Lem, a traitor to the Gargl way. Cruorlem attacked the Spies in the name of the Conclave, but was defeated after a long battle.

Orders, by Buldur

Magnus was informed that the Conclave now had one vial of Queen’s blood and that they may go after Queen Dawn.

Mission 69, July 27, 2010 - The Theurgist
Minister Grey sent the Spies on a ‘fact finding mission’ to Montor after a report that Charbon had been seen entering the ruins.

The Spies encountered several of Buldur’s guards as they searched the ruined city. Eventually they found Charbon locked in a cell, having been betrayed by the Conclave. Upon releasing him, he bargained a message from Buldur for his freedom. Begrudgingly, the Spies accepted.

Protocols of Pyros, by ...

Orders, by Buldur

The Spies headed off to the coordinates in Ter Mur, a home workshop of a silversmith. There, they found Betimarglem who told them that his mentor, Vasarglem the Silversmith, had just been abducted by ‘charred gargoyles’ – more An-Kal-Lem. He said the Spies could locate his mentor by using a sextant enchanted by the power of theurgy, the power of Stratos, to find several magic foci.

Silver Tokens, by Betimarglem

Using the sextant, the Spies found and defeated a series of An-Kal-Lem warriors hiding in Ter Mur. They returned the foci to Betimarglem who used them to divine the location where Vasarglem was being held.

The Spies found a petrified Vasarglem on a pentagram guarded by a vile An-Kal-Lem woman named Vraalbaltem. She unleashed one of Buldur’s hordlings on the spies as she tried to torture her prey. When the daemon was defeated, Vraalbaltem tried to slay the silversmith to complete the spell, but Stratos ‘ power intervened to save him. Unfortunately, Vasarglem had the Breath of Air on his person and Vraalbaltem managed to steal it and escape.

Betimarglem arrived to retrieve his petrified mentor, promising to inform the Spies when or if the condition was cured.

The Conclave has the blood of a gargoyle Queen and now the Breath of Air…

August 2, 2010 - Daemon Hordlings attack the High Council
Three demon hordlings attacked the Jerred Ghyss Civic Center, apparently in a bizarre attempt to establish ‘supply lines’ through Compassion Grove.

Orders, by Buldur

Mission 70, August 3, 2010 - Voice of the Past
The evening’s meeting started with a skirmish as several daemon scouts appeared outside the Hall and the Strange Bird warned the Spies that the daemons would ‘eventually attack in greater numbers.’ When Magnus arrived he informed the group that the scouts were connected to the Conclave and were possibly looking for the Scorched Ruby – the daemon’s link to Pyros.

Magnus said that he possessed a ritual which may allow the Spies to locate the Ruby before the Conclave could. To that end, he said he had received a letter from Geryon the Ettin saying that he possessed two items which the Spies might be interested in. Lord Grey authorized the operatives to make reasonable deals to gain access to the items. After they had completed that task he asked that they head to Umbra to hire a necromancer and then return to the Hall.

Ritual Notes, by James

Letter, by Geryon

The Spies found Geryon in the Rokuon Cultural Center in Zento. He said that he had been able to “acquire a few interesting pieces” from the rubble of Magincia. For the promise of helping him complete his collection in the future, Geryon would hand over two of his artifacts. The ettin led the Spies to a small canyon where he had hidden his artifacts: two engraved gargish pillars. He quickly tested the Spies mettle with a group of what he called ‘disposable’ henchmen before releasing the pillars into their custody.

The Spies then headed to the Necromancer Amphitheater in Umbra to hire the necromancer as Magnus ordered. They found a woman named Pleasance who said she would help the group in exchange for harvesting organs from any daemons they fought. An agreement struck, everyone headed back to Britain.

Once they had regrouped with Magnus, he sent them on to Xenve An-amo-lem where the Pleasance would attempt to contact the spirit of the artistic gargoyle, Vasbeninlem. The Conclave, of course, had prepared a welcome for them in the artist’s room – fortunately, the daemons were swiftly defeated. The necromancer began to summon the spirit, warning that they would have to fight him to subdue his anger.

Once calm, Vasbeninlem’s spirit was led to the infinity symbol on the foor of the ‘game room’ in the fortress. In another pathetic showing, several of Buldur’s warriors unsuccessfully attempted to stop the Spies progress. When the gargish pillars were placed on the ground, one in the center of each half of the lemniscate, Vasbeninlem carved a weeping gargoyle statue. The statue spoke three cryptic lines:

“A shard of the Sun’s stone has consumed the fire’s heart.
That which remains is called the world splitter!
In the Bard’s City, the world splitter will lead to conflict.”

Another group of daemons chose that moment to appear and attack the spies – and once again they failed. The last act of Vasbeninlem’s spirit was to reveal a tome he had penned centuries ago.

To Remember..., by Vasbeninlem

Mission 71, August 10, 2010 - Cleanup
Lord Grey informed Spies that in the aftermath of the daemonic attack on Britain and the theft of the Crystal of Duplicity, the Crown placed a bounty on the heads of the Conclave’s members. He gave his operatives the mission of discovering the whereabouts of several Ministers and Royal Guardsmen that went missing during the attack.

Acting on the tip that the Conclave’s recruiter, Reo Uro, had been seen at the brigand camp near Compassion Grove the Spies headed there in force. Once they had cut down both daemon and brigand alike, they found that Reo Uro would surrender if his hordlings could be defeated. Unsurprisingly, the daemons were defeated, Reo was captured and his prisoners released. Within Reo’s tent a book outlining the Conclave’s plans was discovered.

Invasion Plan, by Buldur

The Spies headed to the Lost Lands coordinates listed in the book and discovered the daemon Fangmaker guarding the cell of a Royal Guard named Violet. Once the daemon was dead and a quick side trip to Hythloth, Violet was returned to Britain. There, she informed the Spies that the Crystal of Duplicity had simply vanished from its pedestal and that the Guards seemed to go crazy and started attacking each other. Oddly, she blamed their behavior on ‘bad dreams.’ She also mentioned that the daemons had tortured her for information about castle defenses and the crystal itself.

This disturbed several of the more knowledgeable Spies. Why would the Conclave ask a guard about a crystal it was presumed they already had at the time. Unless, of course, they didn’t have it. It became all too apparent that there was another player yet to reveal themselves…

Mission 72, August 17, 2010 - Jukan Way
Event log currently inaccessible. Synopsis will be forthcoming.

The Absolute Way, by Warlord Charik

Orders, by Warlord Charik

Mission 73, August 24, 2010 - Newborn
The mission Lord Grey put before the Spies this eve was the unusual task of escorting a newly hatched platinum dragon from near its incubation spot at the ancient wyrm cave in Ilshenar to Castle Britannia. He sent the Spies to meet the adult platinum, Argyros, who had been guarding the egg.

Argyros said that the Platinums wished Queen Dawn to foster this hatchling so that it may have more opportunities to learn about Sosaria and her people. Peter, a Royal Guard who had been guarding the egg with Argyros, said that he had seen dark shapes moving about the area at night and heard reports of daemons elsewhere in Ilshenar.

Once the baby platinum had hatched, the Spies had the enviable task of guiding the newborn on a trek towards the Honor shrine. The innate curiosity of the baby led it to wander astray, several times directly into the path of daemonic assassins.

Fortunately, the Spies led the baby platinum through the daemonic gauntlet and safely to the Castle. There, Lady Artemis of the Moonglow Royal Zoo went about the task of setting up a suitable place for the baby to learn and play.

The baby platinum dragon’s playpen is behind Castle Britannia in the northwest corner of the grounds.

August 31, 2010
See 30th Anniversary of Ultima I.

Mission 74, September 7, 2010 - Eyes of Prophecy
Minister Grey informed the Spies that Queen Zhah had agreed to cede the Xenve An-amo-lem fortress to Britannia in exchange for any gargoyle relics found within. A Royal Archeologist by the name of Agatha had already been dispatched to begin searching the structure and the Spies were sent to help her gather artifacts.

Agatha said she had discovered text at the top of the columns in each room which she believed led to three ‘glass eyes of prophecy.’ The archeologist had written the text in a journal, but discovered that it was in the form of a puzzle written in gargl.

Expedition Notes, by Agatha (with translation by Galen & Martyna Z'muir)

The puzzle was quickly deciphered and all three glass eyes were found with great ease. The next step was to bring the eyes through the Abyss and hand-deliver them to Ankuasvidlem in the Holy City in Ter Mur.

The Spies set off from the fortress and were immediately besieged by minions of the Conclave. A large yellow daemon calling itself the ‘Worshiper of Flame’ proceeded to harass the caravan throughout the entire trek through the Abyss. Fortunately, the eyes made it to their destination unharmed.

Ankuasvidlem conducted a brief ritual to activate the eyes in the anteroom small museum. Each eye began to vibrate, speaking bits of a disturbing prophecy...

Prophecies of the Glass Eyes of Singularity as recorded by Galen

Much later, after most of the Spies had departed, a small group crept into Hythloth looking for more information. On the lowest level, they found three books guarded by various daemons and An-Kal-Lem. These brave Spies took it upon themselves to destroy their enemies to acquire the tomes.

Notes, by Buldur

Revenge!, by Vraalbaltem

Rite of Pyros, by ...

Mission 75, September 14, 2010 - The Three Towers
Based on the information recovered from Hytholth after the previous mission, Minister Grey sent the Spies to evacuate three observation towers spread around the realm. On tower, in Tokuno, had already been destroyed by what was believed to be Conclave forces.

Observation Towers, by James

Three remaining towers still remained in peril. One Ilshenar overlooking Montor, one in Malas overlooking the entrance to Doom, and the last one on Fire Isle overlooking the entrances to the Underworld and Hythloth.

When the spies drew near to the tower overlooking Montor they found a large group of daemons readying their attack. A long, hard fight erupted, but the Spies were eventually victorious. They discovered Marcel, one of the spies manning the tower. He informed them that his partner, Cole, had left the tower earlier that morning to get a better look at Montor…he hadn’t returned. Since storming Montor was against orders, Marcel was ordered back to Britain while the Spies continued on to Malas.

East of Doom the second tower rose near the edge of the Void. A spy named Emerson was found at the tower and he seemed rather perturbed that such a large group has been sent to check up on him. He refused the order to head back to Britain saying his partner, who was ‘out looking for water,’ would miss him. Eventually it was discovered that the other spy, named Jenessa, had been abducted by the An-Kal-Lem. The traitorous gargoyles attacked the tower again, threatening to kill their captive because Emerson had revealed the truth. Once they were defeated, Emerson told the Spies that the An-Kal-Lem, led by a Queen, had come in great numbers from out in the Void. He was taken back to Britain to debrief Lord Grey.

Magnus said that rescuing Jenessa would have to wait information regarding here whereabouts had been obtained. He then urged the Spies to continue on to the last tower on Fire Isle to aid the troops Commander Keel has sent as reinforcements.

When they arrived at the tower, the Spies found that several explosions had killed the Royal Guards. Apparently, the Conclave had sent Worshiper of Flame and a legion of daemons to destroy the tower. The Spies slew the daemons on the ground while their leader escaped through a gate at the top of the tower.

Orders, by Buldur

Back in Britain it was decided that the Ilshenar and Malas towers would be dismantled, while the Fire Isle tower would be kept and reinforced.

Mission 76, September 21, 2010 - Sadislem
A tip from Bertrand the daemon led Lord Grey to send the Spies on a mission to see if an imp in Montor by the name of Pebblestealer knew anything of the whereabouts of Jenessa, the kidnapped spy from the prior week.

As usual, the Spies met heavy resistance when they entered the ruined city. During the melee, a satchel was discovered containing a journal written by Cole, the missing spy who had been stationed at the tower overlooking the city. Apparently, Cole may have been seduced into the Bane Chosen…

Journal, by Cole

Once Pebblestealer was located, a few shiny gems were all it took for him to betray the Conclave. He said that the “red wings,” which were presumably the An-Kal-Lem, wanted to control the gargoyles of Ver Lor Reg as Exodus had.

Off the Spies rushed to the arid city where they met its protector, Insaengktlem. He too wanted to find the An-Kal-lem in his city a root them out. To that end, he led the Spies to Peter, a Britannian Royal Guardsmen stationed in the city to help coordinate mutual defensive measures. Peter suggested that a tinker by the name of Inortlem may have noticed something unusual in the city and that the Spies should seek his counsel.

Inortlem told of a gargoyle from Ter Mur who had come to the city a few months earlier, Seklem. This stranger had asked questions about the gargoyles whose minds were still under Exodus’ thrall. He had seen Seklem lurking in the shadows, and grew suspicious when he saw him leave the city abruptly. Fortunately, he knew where Seklem has been staying and suggested a search of his quarters might shed more light.

Kodeks Benmontas, by

Acting on the information learned from the log found in Seklem/Sadislem’s quarters, the Spies headed to the small encampment of enslaved gargoyles to the north of the city. There, they found a senile wingles gargoyle who had been Sedislem’s servant. Sadly, his mind was mostly gone and his ramblings were disjointed – eventually he let slip coordinates to the Rock Dungeon.

Sayings of the senile An-Kal-Lem as recorded by Galen

Deep within the dungeon, the Spies found Sadislem wafting for them. Sadly, he fled when his defeat was obvious. Careful exploration of his chamber led to the safe return of Jenessa, the captured spy. She said that the An-Kal-Lem had tortured her to find the location of a gem, the Scorched Ruby.

Orders, by Vraalbaltem

Neither the Spies nor the Conclave have the ruby… A unknown third party lurks in the shadows…

September 27, 2010 - An-Kal-Lem attack the High Council
A group of An-Kal-Lem attempted to disrupt the evening’s session of the High Council of Britannia. On several of the corpses a book of orders written by Sadislem was discovered. It spoke of a plot to kill Erah, the Queen of the colonist gargoyles in Terra Sanctum.

Mon Enn Kodex, by Sadislem (with translation by Ra'Dian Fl'Gith)

Mission 77, September 28, 2010 - Sacrifice
Acting on the book acquired during the failed attack on the High Council, and several abductions in Nujel’m and Tokuno, Lord Grey sent the Spies directly to the gargl colony in Terra Sanctum.

The Spies found the small settlement nearly destroyed by an ongoing An-Kal-Lem attack. Fighting valiantly, they killed the traitors only to learn that they may have already captured Erah. Apparently, the young queen had led a charge to the east to find the gate used by her enemies. The Spies followed her trail, encountering more An-Kal-Lem and a book of orders.

Orders, by Vraalbaltem

The Spies now knew they needed to find three stone carvings and learn the location where Erah was to be sacrificed. Leaping through the An-Kal-Lem gate, they found themselves in the bowels of Hythloth where they found Sadislem. He said he had hidden the carvings, then escaped once again. Fortunately, it became readily apparent he had ‘hidden’ the carvings in the hands of his cronies.

Each carving had an inscription:

“Image of a great city – Pride built me tall”
“Image of a demon army – Ruin ground me low”
“Image of an abandoned island – Only waves visit me now”

The location that Vraalbaltem, the An-Kal-Lem Queen, was to sacrifice Erah was the Isle of Magincia.

The Spies rushed to the gargoyle’s defense, finding both Erah and Vraalbaltem standing near a stone abattoir. Vraalbaltem claimed she was the Conclave’s most devoted servant and they she would succeed where others had failed. She invoked one of the Ten Names spoken of in the Pricipia Daemonis, RitualKiller, to come smite the Spies.

When the Spies bested the daemon, Vraalbaltem chose to engage them directly. Her death came quickly, but was found to be more of a setback than a blessing. For her death had fulfilled part of the Queen’s Blood ritual. The Conclave was now one step closer to the Scorched Ruby…

Fools!, by Vraalbaltem

Mission 78, October 5, 2010 - Valor's Bane
Minister Grey informed the Spies that they would be escorting a caravan of supplies to the meer in Lakeshire. Since the Bane Chosen had control of the Spirituality moongate, and could easily raid the nearby Sacrifice moongate, the caravan would start in Compassion Village and head south around Termir Ilshen.

The Spies met with Wilmot the Caravan Driver in the village and he loaded them down with crates of supplies. The trek remained uneventful until they had overcome rockslide just south of the unnamed glaciated mountain. There, Wilmot demanded that the Spies hand over everything of value they carried, or face a painful death. Unsurprisingly, the Spies rejected the gracious offer, choosing combat instead. The traitorous caravan driver somehow managed to summon an ally, a Brother of Valor no less!

When the battle ended, the Brother’s camp was located and a tome discovered...

Brothers of Pemenard, by Brother Vicfier

So, the remaining Brothers of Valor have thrown in their lot with the Bane Chosen – racists and xenophobes united it seems. Scum begets scum.

The Spies continued on around the great lake to Lakeshire, persevering through several Bane attacks. When they arrived in the city, a meer named Kerith graciously accepted the crates of supplies and asked that they keep coming until the Bane’s siege had ended.

With their task completed, the Spies returned to Britain where Minister Grey had another mission for them.

Albert awaited the Spies in the Marsh Hall tavern, where he told them that the Bane had been recruiting those who were down on their luck…and those with a sadistic streak. He suggested his fellow spies learn what Donand Stiches knew, as the smuggler had been snubbed by the Bane. Donald eventually agreed to talk if the Spies might look the other way sometime in the future, a bargain they begrudgingly agreed to. Donald told them that several pirate captains had been in talks with a ‘new player’ about moving cargo. He didn’t know what the cargo was, only that it was probably dangerous and illegal.

A town guard, Aaron, overheard this conversation and asked for the Spies’ assistance. He said that an increase in the number of strange ships docked near the city had the guards concerned. He had seen several strangers in dragon helms entering the city as well.

A curious woman in red began to flit in and out of the crowd, eventually to be accosted as an obvious pirate. She said her name was Sally, that her captain shall remain nameless, and that she was in vesper to find a certain hidden tavern. Eventually she was taken to the thieves’ tavern under the tanner where she met with a Bane Chosen named Silas. They discussed pre-arranged terms for shipping something before the Spies decided to arrest them both. Unfortunately, Silas managed to remove his armor and disappear. A search of the subbasement revealed a cache of dragon armor and weapons, the cargo to be smuggled.

Manifest, by Kerom

Since the cargo was obviously freshly smithed, the Spies went to The Ironworks where they found Jason the blacksmith quite informative. He said that his boss had accepted the massive order months ago, and that they had only recently completed it. He said it had been carted off by burly sailors to massive ships, most likely pirates. He also said that the man who placed the order could be found at The Ore of Vesper.

The man, Gideon, was a recruiter for the Bane Chosen. He talked about the Bane needing the ‘will to change the world’ and that they would ‘renew this broken land.’ He directed the Spies to Nolan in the Vesper cemetery if they wished to be initiated.

Unsurprisingly, Nolan wasn’t much interested in talking. He attacked the Spies fiercely, however, the Spies had the strength of numbers and gained the upper hand. Strangely, as Nolan neared defeat, his form shifted into some kind of daemonic beast. Apparently the Bane weren’t all that they appeared.

Within Nolan’s meager belongings a note was found. The Bane had targets…

Information, by Miegen

Mission 79, October 12, 2010 - Minimum Security
Since the Royal Guard mission a few days prior had gone so disastrously wrong, Minister Grey asked that the Spies investigate the matter to see if they could find Ors or his captors. He sent them to speak to Andy at the Yew Prison.

Andy informed the Spies that the Bane Chosen had released several prisoners during their attack the previous weekend: Ex-Brothers of Valor, Cascan Enforcers, and several murderers. Fortunately, a book of orders was found on the corpse of one of the Bane who fell to the Guard’s resistance. It led to a small house on the eastern outskirts of Yew…

Orders, by V.

There, a letter led the Spies to Buccaneer’s Den and a host of the Bane’s new recruits and several blackrock golems.

Letter, by Miegen

Eventually, the Spies followed a Bane named Damien to The Pirate’s Plunder tavern where Pegleg the parrot and Calico the cook seemed somewhat talkative. Calico indicated that Squinty the provisioner had been doing business with the Bane, helping them to ship crates of ‘food, weapons, and bits of metal men.’

Squinty, in turn, directed the Spies to a Gemtedee. For a small bribe, the woman said that there was a map to a training camp of the Chosen in the jungle north of her hut. She indicated it was where Ors had been taken.

After wresting the map from the hands of one of the Chosen’s elite, the Spies sped to Fire Island and the Chosen’s camp. Unfortunately, Ors had already been moved…closer to the mysterious “V.”

Orders, by Buldur

Mission 80, October 19, 2010 - Britannia's Most Wanted
Lord Grey lent the Spies to the Yew Prison to help continue the cleanup from the Bane Chosen’s raid. Specifically, he wanted the Spies to help round up escaped convicts…or put an end to their chances at new reigns of terror.

At the prison the Spies met with Thomas Miller, convicted for his role in perverting Justice during the Cascan Regime, he was to be their liaison. His first suggested fugitive to find was one Jimmy Thumbscrews, a man who had been imprisoned for aggravated assault & battery before Casca rose to power. The traitorous King let him out on a "work-release" program…as a torturer. Jimmy had been recaptured after Dawn’s ascension to the throne when ex-enforcer Angus turned Queen’s evidence against him. As Angus had recently retired to Minoc after being paroled, the Spies decided to begin their search there.

In Minoc, the Spies met with Eli the Guard who informed them that a crime had occurred. He took them to a small hovel on the west side of town where Holt Wilder was helping him investigate. Angus had been brutally slain and hacked to pieces. Bloody mining implements indicated the weapon, perhaps Jimmy had raided one of the local mining claims.

The Spies headed for the nearby Matewan, the repository of mining records for the Miner's Guild of Minoc. There, Winifred Wainwright said a stranger had come into the building, looked around and then left. A day later the building had a break in and several claim maps and tools were stolen.

Matewan Registry, by Winifred Wainwright

The Spies investigated each of the claims and found Jimmy Thumbscrews in the mine belonging to “Samuel.” He foolishly attacked the Spies and was put down like a rabid beast.

After returning to the Yew Prison, Miller gave the Spies their next assignment. This time it was a couple, Botan and Chizu, former lieutenants in the Evening Star Gang. Rumor had it they were going to meet what was left of the Gang in the Fan Dancer Dojo on Isamu-jima in Tokuno.

The Spies found the Evening Star Gang, but no escaped fugitives. Orders from Travesty has sent them Britain…

Orders, by Travesty

The Spies found Botan and Chizu at the West Britain Bank, and there the devious duo met their end.

The next fugitive Miller sent the Spies after was Jon, a man who had been involved somehow with the Brothers of Valor. Miller withheld Jon’s surname, thinking the Spies would find it amusing – saying it belonged to his wife. He then directed the Spies to the southernmost farmstead in mainland Skara Brae, their family home.

When the Spies arrived at the house, they found it under siege by ronin. Once the threat had been dealt with the Spies found Jon and his elvin wife, Oloriel, quite hostile. Eventually, Jon explained that he had never been a part of the Brotherhood. Several of people he had grown up with had joined the Brotherhood, the last time he saw them it came to blows over his wife. They found people to testify against him out of spite.

Jon claimed to be innocent of the crimes for which he was charged, but he didn’t want to leave his wife vulnerable to the tender mercies of either the Brotherhood or bounty hunters. In the end, it was agreed that the couple would stay in protective custody in Britain till the matter could be settled in court.

The Spies returned to the Prison to find there were no further fugitives to chase after that night. However, Andy the guard was available to answer more questions about the prison and its prisoners. He was asked about Ricardo, missing since the Bane attack, and his whereabouts the night the Crystal of Duplicity was stolen in Britain. Andy said that Ricardo had stayed in his cell all day, not coming out for exercise or the evening meal. When the theft occurred, Ricardo was reported being asleep in his cell. However, one guard did report ‘seeing something slip past him,’ but since an investigation turned up nothing – it was ignored. In other words, Ricardo had no alibi.

Mission 81, October 26, 2010 - Training #13: Teamwork

Mission 82, November 2, 2010 - The Bell's Wolf
Minister Grey sent the Spies to the southeastern outpost on Serpent’s Hold to assist Lupus Morgan, the protector of the Bell of Courage. He needed the Spies help with a most delicate matter…

They arrived at the outpost to find Lupus Morgan lock in a cage, and a woman named Ginger Jardine talking to potted plants. She explained that Lupus had taken to locking himself in a cage at night to ensure that his curse couldn’t hurt anyone, for Lupus Morgan is a werewolf. The potion that Ginger had brewed for him over the years had begun to lose its affect, necessitating the cage.Ginger asked that the Spies help her obtain the three ingredients which would allow her to brew a more effective potion for Lupus.

Medicinal Alchemy, by Hulderic of Yew

The first ingredient, Bloodsoaked Blood Moss, could be obtained in the Blood Dungeon in Ilshenar. As the Spies neared the dungeon, they were set upon by Buldur’s troops. Fortunately, the delay was brief and the spies were able to acquire the prized moss from a bubbling Bloos Spore.

The second ingredient, Silk from the Shadow Matriarch, could be obtained from the spider cave northwest of the Twin Oaks Tavern. Obtaining the silk proved to be a quick and relatively painless endeavor. The third ingredient, Laughing Ghoul Mandrake, was to be found in the Yomotsu Mine on Homare-jima in Tokuno. Deep into the mine the Spies ran and wrestled the mandrake away from a rather feisty Yomotsu Elder.

Returning to Serpent’s Hold, Ginger mixed the new potion and handed it to Lupus. After he drank the odd-smelling concoction, he announced that he must speak to the Spies. He said that the Bell was in danger, he has seen ‘shadows’ lurking around where he had hidden it.

He led the Spies through the Fire Dungeon into the Lost Lands and to the caldera of Sek Teb. There, on a specially constructed platform atop the lava, sat the Bell of Courage. Unfortunately, the Spies were not alone – the Bane Chosen had found the Bell and were trying to steal it.

After an arduous battle, the Spies were victorious. Lupus took the Bell and returned with it to Britain, a new hiding place had to be found…and the Spies were the Bell’s next protectors…

Mission 83, November 9, 2010 - Devil's Due
Lord Grey said that this week’s mission would come from Tess Midnight of Tokuno, for she had an urgent matter concerning Bane Chosen activity within the Empire.

The Spies found Tess in the Sake Saka Tavern in Zento on Makoto-jima. She said that there was a clan of oni, the Jigoku, with whom the Empire had struck a deal. This particular clan delighted in the torment of the wicked, and had been given offerings of tribute each year to spare the people of Zento. Unfortunately, the arrival of the Bane Chosen threatened to upset the uneasy truce. The Bane sought to meet with the oni clan in the hope of convincing them to join their war because ‘society is broken and the majority were worthy of torment.’

Tess asked that the Spies be the ones to deliver the Empire’s tributeof soybeans and try to strike a deal with the oni’s leader. She also suggested presenting him with the gift of an ancient artifact, a weapon which had slain a great many oni, may help the Spies’ cause. She directed them to the Northern Waste to locate the weapon’s guardian.

After following markers in the desert, the Spies finally arrived at two banana trees. Under the trees sat a silver gorilla, the Monkey King. He guarded the ancient weapon from those who would abuse it, he gave the Spies a test – their conviction against the strength of the other who had come to claim his prize – one of the Bane Chosen. The Bane lost the battle and the Spies were rewarded with the Oni-Teeth Kanabo by the Monkey King.

The Monkey King then instructed the Spies on how to reach the oni’s island, Onigashima. He sent them to the mountain at the northern end of Homare-jima where they could find a mystical teleporter to the isle.

When the Spies reached Onigashima they found the Oni King in discussions with Helga of the Bane Chosen. Helga said that the Bane wanted to be allies with the oni, and that the humans would betray them in the end. The Spies gave the King the tribute of Zento and the kanabo artifact, insisting that the Bane would enslave the oni to IxaKaz’s will.

In the end, the Oni King decided to test the hearts and minds of those on both sides. The first test was childhood game of Naughts and Crosses, a game easily fought to a draw by anyone with marginal intelligence. The second test was that of blood, a combat to the death. The Spies won both rounds as the Chosen hadn’t even bothered. After a second test at combat, the Oni King agreed to honor the pact with Zento and reject the Bane’s offer.

Helga left the isle, threatening that soon everyone would serve the Bane Chosen…

Mission 84, November 16, 2010 - Dark Path
Lord Grey sent the Spies to the Lycaeum at the request of Harriet the scribe. She wished to talk with them about the daemonic research she had been conducting on their behalf. However when the Spies reached the famed library, Harriet was in the process of being abducted by Buldur. Fortunately, Harriet was able to lock away the books she wished to show the Spies.

Buldur summoned several Bane Basilisks to attack the Spies as he made his escape with Harriet. Fortunately the creatures weren’t too difficult to put down and the Spies acquired a mysterious tooth. A letter was found near Harriet’s sealed box, it gave the location to begin her search…

Letter, by Harriet the Scribe

The location was the snow cave at the northern tip of Dagger Isle, there the ‘Children of Nether’ appeared as a large spider and led the Spies on chase to Deceit before it gave up. The vile creatures wanted revenge on those who had killed Nether and thus attacked the Spies. Eventually, the spider gave up the fight and told the Spies that Harriet had been taken to the ‘observatory’ in Xenve An-Amo-Lem.

The Spies fought their way into the fortress, felling daemonic beats all the way to the Great Rift, the jawbone granted them access past the mystical stairs. They found themselves walking a strange dark stone path within the Ethereal Void, at the end stood Buldur and a bound Harriet. Buldur boasted of his strength on the Dark Path and then invoked one of the Ten Names – Firelord to ‘deal’ with the Spies. He threw Harriet to the ground and disappeared.

When Firelord was defeated and Harriet’s bonds were cut, she told the Spies that this place is what had driven the Gargoyle Brothers mad and allowed evil creatures into our world. She then led the Spies back to the Lycaeum and released the wards on the locked box. Within lay her research on the daemons and her translation of the Principia Daemonis, works crucial to defeating the Conclave.

Demon Research, by Harriet the Scribe

Translation, by Harriet the Scribe

Mission 85, November 23, 2010 - Think Tank
Minister Grey asked the spies to select five individuals, from a list of people they had worked with in the past, to be invited to be part of an advisory group to the Royal Spies. This advisory group would help the Spies by lending their expertise to do research and solve problems. Once the five were selected, the Spies were to then approach and recruit the individuals.

Think Tank Files, by James

After a modicum of debate, the five names were chosen: Harriet the Scribe
Ankuasvidlem
Danner the Meer
Adelais the Seer
Bertrand the Arcane Demon

The next step was recruitment, so the Spies headed to the Lycaeum to enlist Harriet. The Scribe agreed to join the Spies in exchange for a favor. She had been reading about a daemonic column in Doom that she wished to study for herself, but didn’t want to journey there alone. In exchange slaying the column’s swordwraith guardian and protection while she studied, she agreed to join the Spies.

The second recruit, Ankuasvidlem, required a diplomatic touch since the seer was one of Queen Zhah’s subjects. She agreed to loan him to Britannia for a year and a day if the Spies would fight the Void Plague in the eastern province to give her guards time to rescue refugees. The Spies readily accepted the deal, and Ankuasvidlem joined with the Spies.

The third recruit, Danner the Meer, was found in the village of Lakeshire in Ilshenar. He said the he would accept the offer if the Spies would help to defend his people. Many meer had been captured in Bane Chosen raids lately and he wanted help to rescue them. The Spies readily agreed, and rushed off to storm the Bane’s camp near the Shrine of Spirituality. In a tent at the camp, orders detailing the location of the prisoners was found.

Orders, by Kerom

The Spies descended on the cave with a passion, defeating the Bane guards and freeing the meer from a blackrock prison. With his people freed, Danner joined the Spies.

The fourth recruit, Adelais the Seer, was found meditating near the waterfall in Terort Skitas. He was lamenting over his behavior the first time he had met the Spies… In the sewer under Vesper he had attacked them, believing them to wish ill of a platinum dragon egg. When the Spies had proven only noble intent, he asked to be punished for his actions. Now, still seeking atonement, he agreed to help the Spies in their mission to defend the realm.

The final recruit, Bertrand the Arcane Demon, was willing to join the advisory group without asking for something in return. He said that he desires progress through application of knowledge and magic, and that he believed that the humans, elves and gargoyles all had something to share. Before he departed, he suggested the Spies visit the daemon temple on Fire Isle. Apparently, a blind daemonic priest had left a prophecy on the only column that remained of the original temple. Bertrand suggested someone copy and translate the prophecy.

After the Spies had been debriefed, a small group went to the temple and defeated its guardians. Inside the temple, the pillar bore a disturbing inscription:

“EXU BOE EDD REH LUR ENN OZD ODB NOR ENN BUL ODB. –IXAKAZ”
“Pride will build a new Temple out of human blood. –VirtueBane”

Mission 86, November 30, 2010 - All your base...
Lord Grey started the evening by telling the Spies he had a “surprise” for them. He continued on to say that it still required one magical piece, and that a mage should be dropping it off shortly.

Rosaliana the mage rushed into the hall yelling that “The statue was stolen!” Of course, ‘the statue’ was the piece Magnus was waiting for. She said that her co-worker, Jerome, was drunk at work and the statue was missing when she arrived. She then led the Spies to her office on the second floor of The Sorcerer's Delight.

There, in the box that should have held the statue, was a note: “The statue was stolen by the Master Thief! I have left three clues if you wish to pursue!” The three clues were a raven feather, hedge clippers, and an imp collar. Curiously, there was also a fourth item…

Journal, by Relvinian

The Hedgemaze was the obvious answer, and a gate to the center was quickly cast. There, the Spies encountered many of Buldur’s daemons. Were they there for the statue, or were they left by the theif? After their defeat, another journal was discovered.

Journal, by Ricardo

Apparently Ricardo was behind the statue’s theft. He had since become bored with his prize and hid it in the passage to Delucia from the Southern Jungle. Within the tunnel the Spies fought through elemental guards to discover a daemon calling itself the ‘Lord of Vermin’ guarding a chest in the northwestern most side-passage.

His eventual defeat led to the recovery of the statue of Nystul. Upon the return to Britain, Lord Grey explained that the statue was a key piece in the security measures protecting a new asset – a new base of operations for the Security Ministry.

The Minister showed the Spies the secret passage behind a suit of armor in the Counselor’s Hall, down a flight of stone steps lay their future headquarters. Sadly, the Conclave had already managed to invade the unprotected base during the search for the statue.

The daemons fell to the Spies combined might before they could harm the first two arrivals from the advisory group – Bertrand and Danner. With the daemons dead, Lord Grey had Rosaliana install the statue of Nystul as the base’s magical lock.

The base will continue to be enhanced and added to in the coming months, but one item present in the library is worthy of specific note for its poignancy, the Code of the Security Ministry:

Code, by Magnus Grey

December 4, 2010 - Third Magincian Crusade interrupts ritual
During the Third Magincian Crusade, warriors interrupted a ritual being conducted by the Conclave’s An-Kal-Lem sect – a potential prelude to VirtueBane’s temple. A book of orders was discovered amongst the corpses which indicated Buldur was preparing a large-scale attack…

Orders, by Sadislem

Mission 87, December 7, 2010 - Regrouping
The evening started on a peculiar note when a beggar named Oswald entered the Counselor's Hall. He seemed to know who those gathered were and offered to gather information for some coin or ale. Always wishing to cultivate new informants, the Spies gve the man some gold and sent him out into Britain to see what he could learn.

When Minister Grey arrived he led the Spies down to their new base below the city of Britain and informed them that Lord Kendal of the Ruling Council had seen fit to introduce legislation which effectively curtails their ability to protect Britannia. Apparently, the shortsighted lord believes that the Spies are to blame for the conflicts with overtly aggressive organizations such as the Brothers of Valor, the Cult of Styx, the Conclave, and the Bane Chosen. Kendal has been critical of the Ministry of Intelligence in the past, but has never acted against Britannia’s best interest so openly.

Under this new legislation: the bounties on daemons are rescinded, all ‘military action’ now has to be approved by the Ruling Council, and any governmenment official performing ‘unauthorized military activity’ may be fined or removed from office. While it sounds harmless on its face, many missions the Spies have performed could be classified as ‘military actions.’ The new law could have a chilling effect on the Spies’ ability to act. To make matters worse, the only person who could nullify the law is Queen Dawn – and the Ruling Council says she is “too busy for an appointment.”

Fortunately, the missions Lord Grey had in mind for the evening were both escorting foreign dignitaries: Danner of the Meer and Ankuasvidlem of Ter Mur.

The Spies met with Danner first in the base, he wanted to create a magical object which would warn of any evil approaching its location – a Meer Bonfire of Warning. To create the object, he led the Spies to Lakeshire in Ilshenar where they would begin to gather the required components.

Shortly after arriving, the Spies were unsuccessfully attacked by soldiers of the Conclave. When they were defeated, Danner led the way to the deeper recesses of the nearby ratman cave so he could collect burning embers from the lave beds. Next, they went to Princess Nissa of the fey to ask for some special fairy flowers. She agreed to give them the flowers in exchange for 30 balls of brightly colored yarn which were hidden around the Twin Oaks Tavern. The last item gathered was a large collection of harpy feathers. Back at the Spies base, Danner set up the Bonfire in a brazier just outside the Vault.

The second mission involved meeting Ankuasvidlem outside the entrance to the Underworld and escorting him on a tour of Xenve An-Amo-Lem where he would perform a spell to keep the Eyes of Singularity functional. Of course the Conclave and An-Kal-Lem had taken up residence within its halls and had to be forcibly evicted. In the Game Room, Ankuasvidlem said that the Weeping Gargoyle Statue crafted by the ghost of Vasbeninlem might respond to gargoyle numbers. However, he continued on to the Rift Room where he said he could recharge the Eyes, but that this would attracted the attention of vile creatures from within the Dark Path. Readying their weapons the Spies bade him to begin. As the Seer predicted, a wave of spectral void entities appeared and were quickly defeated. When the Spies returned with the Seer to the base, the recharged Eyes of Singularity were placed in the Vault as a gift from Queen Zhah.

Mission 88, December 14, 2010 - Choke Point
The Spies were met by Harriet the Scribe, as Lord Grey was running late. She suggested that those who had already arrives should descend to the base and listen to what the Glass Eyes of Singularity were prophesying.

Prophecies of the Glass Eyes of Singularity as recorded by Galen

When Lord Grey arrived, he announced that “officially” the Spies were done. Since the Britannian Peace Act was in effect, the Ministry of Security’s hands were tied and they couldn’t act to thwart the Eye’s prophecies. However, he did say that those present would be helping the Lycaeum with pressing magical research: “The Ethereal Void as a means of transportation between points in space and time.”

Harriet and Bertrand warned that VirtueBane would enter our world through the Void, as many recent enemies had. Since he was an entity of great power, his transition would only come at a time he was certain would be successful.

Bertrand went on to explain that his father, the late Bartholomew, had worked on a book about manipulating the Void with several humans. Fortunately, a copy had been located and was available for study.

Cosmology of Madness, by Sigmel of Umbra

Harriet, having already performed the necessary research, would lead the Spies in gathering the components required to cast a spell which would “twist” the Dark Path and cut off some of VirtueBane’s army.

Harriet first took the Spies to Ter Mur and summoned the Elder Wisp Broker and asked to speak to a Xorinite wisp. Oddly, the Elder Wisp said that Xorinite was ‘currently hostile to this realm’ and suggested we try back in one year’s time. When that proved untenable, it suggested violence as the answer. Oddly, battling the wisp led to the acquisition of the needed spell words.

Next, the Spies went to Malas and hunted for a ‘brain creature.’ Fortunately, one was quickly found and dismembered. The squishy bits would be used to ensure that the spellcaster’s mind was undamaged.

The last item to gather was a tame Void creature. As this was not an easy task to accomplish, it was decided that the Spies would attend an auction in the Void and hope to purchase such a creature. There just happened to be such an auction at the Shrine of Spirituality in the Void…

The auction was confusing for those native to Sosaria, for you weren’t told what you were bidding on and the payment for items was most bizarre. The first of three lots turned out to be the life of a troll named Rawstag, purchased for the sum of 20,000,000 ‘harsh words.’ The second lot, a book on the Scintillus Academy, was purchased for fifty rare books. The third and last lot turned out to be the soul of a Void Stallion, purchased for the price of fifty-five words of power.

Scintillus Academy, by ...

With the necessary components gathered, the Spies venture to the Dark Path in Xenve An-Amo-Lem where Harriet begins casting the spell to twist the Void. As the spell took effect, one of VirtueBane’s minions attacked the group and forced them out of the Dark Path. Eventually it was defeated and the Spies returned to their base in Britain.

Mission 89, December 21, 2010 - Consequences of Victory
The evening meeting was preempted by the possibility that Princess Mirendel had been kidnapped by the Conclave. Minister Grey had believed that the young platinum dragon was in the care of Adelais at Castle British.

When the Spies arrived at the Castle, they found shadow daemons in the courtyard surrounding Adelais. They chased the lead daemon to the cemetery north of Britain where it met its demise.

Returning to the Castle, Adelais regretfully informed the Spies that the princess had been abducted by a cloaked man. When the disguised platinum attacked the abductor, it snatched the princess and lept to the castle wall.

Investigating the scene, the Spies found a wax-coated royal Signet ring, a royal sash and letter.

Letter, by Buldur

The Conclave’s mole in the Castle had taken Mirendel to Montor in Ilshenar, the staging area for Buldur’s army. Unfortunately, Minister Grey informed the Spies that the daemons had built walls around the ruined Montor closing it off to the outside world.

The Minister sent the Spies to find Marcel, a fellow spy who had been covertly watching the city in the hopes the man knew of a hidden entrance.

The Spies found Marcel’s camp north of the Rock Dungeon. He told them that there was a secret way into the city if they scaled one of the nearby walls. Before he led them into the city, he gave them an additional task to complete with the rescue of Mirendel. Three magical totems has been erected around the city. The Spies were to destroy them.

Journal, by Marcel

They conveniently found the first totem once they entered the city and easily defeated its guardians. They fought their way to the second totem and defeated its guardians as well. The third fell shortly thereafter.

Having already searched the city, the Spies headed to the temple in the nearby caldera where they found Buldur watching over his prisoner. Princess Mirendel was caged by magical flames on a blackrock focus. The incensed Buldur attacked the Spies with a cry of “Death to humanity!” Thus began an epic battle unlike anything the Spies have yet experienced. When it ended, the last of the Conclave’s generals lay dead and the princess was freed.

The triumphant Spies returned to report their victory to Minister Grey in the base under the capital. As he congratulated them, a weasely man appeared and accosted the Minister…Lord Kendal. He had come to dismiss Magnus Grey from his post as minister for violating the Britannian Peace Act. As the Spies questioned Kendal’s grasp of reality, Mister Gray subtlety suggested the Spies read a book in the base library.

Report, by Magnus Grey

Is Kendal the Conclave’s mole? Who could replace Magnus Gray? Would the replacement be loyal to Britannia?

Find out in part three of Blood Feud!

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