Chapter 1 (Arc A): Investigation in the Library

You make your way to the library at the University, finding yourself standing in front of the magnificent edifice. Students are wandering in and out, people are standing out front passing out pamphlets and flyers, and everyone seems to be in a pretty reasonable mood.

As the three of you begin to pour over the catalog of information, hunting for titles and keywords that could possibly lend a clue, Marie-Louise suddenly sits bolt upright on her stool. The look on her face one of unmitigated joy. There was a two page section in one of the older catalog pieces that had a few titles scribbled out in scratchy letters, each with a trio of red stamped skulls next to them. When she cross-referenced them to a tome of descriptions, she found that two of those titles would likely have the best information they could hope to find: Secrets of the Soul and Flesh, author unknown, flesh-bound tome, Restricted Section; and Abbalonian's Journal 17, author Abbalonian Descargo, hard-bound journal, Third Tier, Records of Historic Deeds and Biographies.

Marie-Louise, you remember visiting the library with your father a few times before the unpleasantness. Getting into the Restricted Section usually requires permissions from someone, though you aren't 100% sure how you'd get them right now.

Ci, you have no problem finding Abbalonian's Journal 17. It's a small journal, only a hundred pages or so. Flipping inside, the writing is cramped and spindly.

Uriel, you aren't sure of much beyond needing to speak with the Archivist on duty to see what you would need to do.

The archivist peers over her glasses at Uriel.

Well, that would depend - uhm - sir. Which book are you trying to access, for what purpose, for how long. Et cetera, et cetera.

The archivist looks back at you, a touch of confusion in her eyes. For the lanterns? What do you mean? A moment passes and the title of the book registers with her. Now what in the name of the Gods would you be wantin' with that! Not precisely a light read. You'll need to get permission from a professor to even view that book! she said, exasperation and a touch of fear in her voice.

Of course it's a matter of investigation you daft lunk! This is the University Library, after all. We exist to serve investigations. But the rules must be adhered to. If this "Cthalet" character is not a professor or something which is studied here, I simply cannot just give access to all manner of restricted works! This is MY library, I shall make whatever scene is necessary to keep the sanctity and order that these halls have sought to preserve!

As Marie-Louise reads through the journal of one Abbalonian Descargo, she finds it lacking in mentions of evil or demons or C'thalet for much of the manuscript. However, about a third of the way through the document, the handwriting changes. What was once a flowing delicate script suddenly took on a different character. The words were largely still in common, with a smattering of Draconic in the margins. But now, there were definite hesitation points where the ink made large splotches, obscuring some of the work. If it weren't for the fact that the tone reads almost exactly the same, you would think it was a different author.

That's when she notices a bit of ink along the binding. She grabs a reflecting mirror and redirects the light from one of the table lamps down onto the page. Etched in tiny lines right where the seam meets is a simple Abyssal invection: Fhaagathra! Phl'gw'nathi crwlagrah C'thalet Pwgra nghsossotha! The same thing the black hooded man had been yelling in the square.

Deeper in the book, she starts to see small sketches of runes. Some Abyssal in nature, others languages she doesn't know. The bits and pieces she can make out, it seems to be some sort of recipe spread out through journalling entries. On the second to last page is a single entry, dated some fourteen hundred years ago. The following entry is in a mix of abyssal and common. On the last page is a note written in a totally different hand, dated about six hundred years ago. At a glance it appears to be a translation.

Today I set upon my destiny. No more wishing and wanting, the day of realization is here. I am the herald of the chaos to come. Madness is my pawn and the lands shall be my board. I have spent these many months cajoling and pleading with that grandest of demons, that lord of the unruly. His promises of power have been good. I feel the surge of energy deep in my soul, opening my minds. I commit now to the last wish of my great patron, He Who Shall Rule The Kingdoms. C'thalet the Mad King. I finally have the items to summon him and to pledge to him for this taste of power. It shall be glorious. The Mage Lords will rue the day they shunned me. The name Abbalonian Descargo will echo throughout time immemorial!

That is the last writing in the book. You recall from the catalog that there was no Journal 18 listed.

Marie-Louise lands in Ci's arms, a slight bit lighter than she looks. With Marie-Louise being carried by who she wanted this time, you three head out of the library and across the majestically landscaped campus. It takes you a good fifteen minutes to navigate through the people and decorative bushes. Eventually, you make your way into the Great Hall, and seek out the Registrar's office. Once there, you find that there is no directory of professors as such, at least not that is made publicly available. However, there is a course catalog available to peruse.

Marie-Louise pours over the catalogue, noting that there are a TON of classes offered here. Many of them seem to be so niche, there couldn't be more than two or three students in the whole of Feyshear that would actually consider taking them! That said, there are a few that seem to jump off the page at her as she glances through:

Ancient Religions and Their Customs - Hansje Goodwe
A Brief History of Demonology - Ellias Cogsteam
Introduction to Ritualistic Magicks - Galadreel Snowlotus
Your Spellbook and You, Custom Spellcrafting - Stephen Stormborne
The Deepest Hells, Denizens and Destitutes - Gal'nath Glimmerskin

You make your way across campus, finally finding the Hall of Enlightenment, home of all religious studies at the university. The building was modeled after a large cathedral. Inside where numerous classrooms and offices. As you checked the directories, you saw that Galadreel has an office in the basement. Heading down, you manage to find the place with no issue. Her door stands open and you see the elven woman sitting behind a cluttered desk picking up various bones and herbs and other materials, looking them over before making small notations.

Galadreel sits bolt upright when you speak into her mind. She turns to look at you, a smile creeping over her face as you work through your speech.

Please, please come in! I won't pretend to know what twist of the arcane gives you that delightful ability, but it is truly wonderful! Now, you mentioned something about a ritual? Come, sit sit. What have you found?

At first, when Marie-Louise leaps onto Galadreel's lap, she smiles and holds her arm open to catch the child's back. When you start speaking, however, her face goes a little funny. Even stranger when you mention Descargo's journal.

Why would you even pick his - C'thalet - this ritual is - oh my. she says, her voice full of concern. How exactly are you planning on fighting? Shouldn't you be at home still with your parents? This certainly describes ritualistic magic, but extremely dark rituals. Look here, it mentions needing to collect several materials that are rooted in pure evil. This statement - hmm. she seems to be fighting between the ritual magic in front of her and her confusion that a little girl is the one bringing her this information. She looks up at Uriel and Ci.

Were you two responsible for showing her that awful book? What were you thinking! I keep telling them that Descargo's works deserve to be in the restricted section for damn good reason. He was a vile wretch of a man!

She turns back to Marie-Louise. I'm afraid I won't be teaching you much about this spell. It is nefarious and rooted in pure evil. My class is about how to properly conduct rituals, for pleasant things, like detecting magic or speaking languages. I've heard the name C'thalet in my studies, but only ever as a mention with some horror. It's never been a positive thing, and if it needs this kind of magic to herald into the world, I'd prefer it stay wherever it is!

Galadreel's eyes widen just a bit at the change in Marie-Louise's tone. Well, I wouldn't want to be the one responsible for more deaths. I just - C'thalet is an ancient being, from everything I've been able to ever find out. Not like "around during the Mage Lords" ancient. More like, "around at the formation of the world" ancient. I can give you a slip to get the book for a few hours. Just - please don't let anything bad happen to it. There's no forgiving destruction of a book as old as that one. she says, sliding a sheet of parchment out of her desk drawer and inking a quick note.

Galadreel looks slightly taken aback as the little girl on her lap pats her on the face.

I - you are a very strange little girl. I don't know where, why, or how you came to do these 'dark things' you spoke about. It saddens me that so much dark could have happened in your life to drive you to this kind of research. If ever you wanted to learn more about ritual magic, proper casting of rituals, I'd be happy to take you as a student. I think that you'd make a fabulous student with your yearning to learn more. Please, just stay safe, whatever you do? she says, tears shimmering along the bottom of her eyes.

The three of you make your way back across campus, now somewhat less crowded as it seems many students have found their way into classrooms. When you walk back into the library, you see the same archivist standing behind the desk, fawning over her stacks of books.

The archivist looks like she's going to have an aneurysm when you sit down on the desk.

Young lady! You will not place your buttocks on my desk! Let me see that letter! she says sharply, taking the note from you, her eyes quickly flickering over it. Daft woman, Galadreel. She'll give a note out for any damn fool with a... Nevermind. You've got your permissions. Follow me, we'll go to the Restricted Section so you can do your reading. Insolent whelps. she says, grumbling the last bit under her breath. Melissa, if you could kindly watch the counter while I accompany this lot, I'd appreciate it. she says to a half-elf woman standing by a rolling cart full of books.

The elder woman moves out from behind the counter, hefting a ring full of keys. Well, let's go then.

As she walks away, you see the woman fiddle with a ring on her finger. Marie-Louise, she doesn't seem to react at all to anything you've said into her mind since you left the desk.

You make your way to the heavy gates near the back of the library. She fishes a large key out of her robes and fits it to the lock. Soft arcane words pass over her lips as her other hand waves over the door. You hear a multitude of locks give way and the door swings open silently. You all pass through the gates and down the large marble spiral stairs, deep into the earth.

It takes you nearly five minutes to walk all the way down to another heavily gated area. Another key and another mystic word and you proceed into a space dimly lit by a series of floating balls in the sky. She leads you down the rows and rows of books, until she finds the shelf she's looking for. Scanning the shelf, she exclaims softly. Ah, here we are! Her hand waves and the book floats out of the shelf, and into her hands. Over to the table over there you lot. Here's your book, I'll be right over there if you need anything. Please return the tome to me when you are finished and I will re-shelve it.

Marie-Louise, as you crack the book open and read the first words, inside your mind a piercing scream rips through your skull, causing an immense amount of pain, akin to fork tines scratching across a plate, amplified hundreds of times. DC15 CON save or take 2 psychic damage.

After the shriek subsides, you can easily see that the book is written in Infernal.

Most of the document details horrific practices of savage races from before the Mage Wars. The biggest interesting part that you can find is this:

The woman takes the tome from you and replaces it on the shelf.

I hope you found something useful. Now, up the stairs if you please. she says, ushering you all back up the stairs. Your group heads up with the woman behind you. Another five minutes on the stairs, winding around and around, and you find yourselves back in the main body of the library, now much emptier than it was almost two hours ago when you entered!

As you make your way towards the exits, you see a familiar face walking into the building. Vlur! However, his previous compatriot, the goliath Shannout, is nowhere to be seen.

Marie-Louise leads you all towards the adamantine rail station north campus. In short order, you manage to get onboard with no hassle and are shown seats in the cramped quarters of free passage. About an hour and a half later, you debark the train south of the Greenfall Woods. Marie-Louise takes the lead again and fifteen minutes later, you all find yourselves looking up at the edifice of an old home, clearly part of the lesser nobility.

The story continues back in the main thread here.