Excerpts from the Journal of Cythandria, Wizard of Baldur's Gate
5 Mirtul
Darling Sarevok; darling, debacle-rising, disaster-mongering Sarevok is returned. Sans two of my dear pets. One ought to be upset at these matters, but it simply wouldn't do. He's so unpredictable in a rage. I take for granted tactless Tamoko has delivered nagging reprimand already: his mission failed. Gorion's young whelp, so lately brought to Candlekeep, adrift upon the unprepared world. A shame her arrival did not coincide with Koveras' own term at Candlekeep investigating the prophecies. It must be said, at least the mage himself is dead. I shall order our spies whipped once they return.
Today's casting: Wall of Stone.
Cntrl: cube of granite 2/2/2 w. 9.2 mat., std. verb., std. som.: result 1/2 in. thick 110 sq. ft. spn. 20 ft durn. indefinite (good I cast nr. rock garden, Ughh & Arghh can repurpose).
Exp. #1: As above + 0.25 pnd. gold dust (insp. by Wall of Iron scroll) mat., std. verb., std. som.: result 1/4 in. thick 82 sq. ft. spn. 15 ft. V. irreg. shape + gld. dust sprinkles through it, unsuccessful. Poss. vary verb. & use stabilizing agent, water?. Gld. dust appears multiplied, expect dur. of that limited, 1st law Alc.
Conc.: Exp. #1 unsuccessful but shall cont. tomorrow. Overall has v. narrow practical app. but new spell is new spell.
6 Mirtul
Sarevok's doppelgangers mill around Iron Throne secret basements like so many lost and bored puppies. Two are within the Seven Suns, but 'tis only a start; Rieltar found more uses for them when Sarevok first achieved them, need to find something. Perhaps I could cut up one or two for spell components. I should like to find more about the shapeshifting trick, some innate Transm. obv., but details could be interesting. Do the creatures feel pain as ordinary humans? I could vivisect a small one. Is not like I'm necromancer but I could even publish if I felt like it, little research done on them. Is the ability closer to polymorph or potential for Tenser's, and what's the reason for the ones with mirror-imaging and evoc. abilities? Maybe pursue interview-based research, would hate to have throat slit by objecting minion. One of the things professed admiration of my profession when we inspected them; they're creepy enough beings, one can't even tell if they're male or female.
Winski proposes sending three to infiltrate the Undercellar. Such a perfect application for their skills from what I hear about that den; plausible denial if they get caught, for who will believe the respectable Iron Throne involved in criminal doppelgangers in such a place; teachings given to them about Baldurian customs. Need to clear with Sarevok and Rieltar. Other plans for the doppelgangers ought to be soon, provided that our iron supplies continue as anticipated: as it wanes in Nashkel, it waxes for us. Already our stockpiles are nigh to bursting upon their metallic fruit.
Must prepare for late-night conference-via-Sending between Winski, Rieltar, Sarevok, and myself, a few head officers of the Throne. How one loathes missing out on beauty sleep for Sembian time. But with Sarevok, should expect little beauty sleep anyway... A few little wards ought to keep Tamoko from interference.
Today's casting: Wall of Stone, Exp #2.
Cntrl: cube of granite 2/2/2 w. 9.0 mat., std. verb., std. som.: result 1/2 in. thick 105 sq. ft. spn. 20 ft durn. indefinite
Exp. #2: As above, granite w. 9.1 mat. + 0.25 pnd. gold dust + 4cc water, pur. mat., mod. verb. w/ 3rd cond. re: changed mat., std. som.: result 1/3 in. thick 60 sq. ft. spn. 15 ft. Shape more reg. but height diminished rel. to cntrl.
Re: Exp #1: Gld. dust faded; had Ughh & Arghh knock it + prev. cntrl down, 15 secs #1 (purchase of that Gond device v. useful), 25 secs cntrl. Also had current cntrl down, 26 secs (poss. due to improvement in self, v. good).
Conc.: Pure water decent stabilizer, area too low, must be gld. dust secondary effect. Know virg. blood nt. good stabilizer no matter what Winski says, is old fl. Cld. use Semaj though, dead shouldn't count. Rookery much improved.
7 Mirtul
Arrival of the pair called Slythe and Krystin to our most humble domain: namely, the highest tower of the Iron Throne's marble glory. A man with a face like an orc following some collision with an adamantine anvil; Krystin seems presentably attired and clever enough, though, and they seem sickeningly affectionate to each other. Quite nice to talk shop to a female mage rather than That Clerical Whore Tamoko. Slythe could hardly object to I conversing with her; I should try to make dear Sarevok as jealous as him, but one can imagine that plan turning horrifyingly successful... Certain of her spells seem most fascinating. A self-taught hedgewitch, not that I would say so to her face; I should run afoul of a Cloudkill spoiling my complexion in a rather permanent manner, I am sure of it. She and her orc-faced appendage are ordered to arrange a creative accident to one Fyodor of the Counting House, a noble making unfortunate inquiries into our business. Should they prove themselves and cause temporary upset in the Counting House, we may increase our share in their ships whilst we are ungenerous with our iron. It is sadly impossible to upset the Silvershield market power, but we will see what we are capable of...
Today's casting: Wall of Stone, Exp #3.
Cntrl: cube of granite 2/2/2 w. 9.3 mat., std. verb., std. som., summoned kobold inst. to run toward me: result 1/2 in. thick approx. 105 sq. ft. spn. 17 ft at widest, durn. indefinite merged to rookery, kobold escaped.
Exp. #3: As above, granite w. 9.2. + 3cc water, stabilizing agent + summoned kobold inst. to run toward me, goal was if stabilizing helps manip. Result: 1/2 in. thick approx. 100 sq. ft. spn. 18 ft at widest. durn. indefinite merged to rookery, kobold trapped.
After summon. durn. ended, Ughh & Arghh disposal, 27 secs cntrl, 20 secs Exp #3.
Conc.: Stabilizing agent seems higher cntrl, lower stability. Rookery getting rather large, may experiment otherwise.
8 Mirtul
Transmutation castings within the ancient temple in the Undercity, continuing to clear away the rubble. Before Sarevok made these discoveries, I had not expected such a place existed below the modern city. This temple to a dead god came into its potency long before the Time of Troubles (for me, it was direst fear that my cantrips no longer worked; I ripped out my own hair in frustration and believed at first it was my own fault magic no longer lived in me—); when this city was yet young.
"None of his children were sacrificed here," Sarevok said; knowledge he must possess through his divine parentage, for he did not make this city his home until later in life, when he found that there were those like him here, and that he would be able to launch his conquest for godhood from it. "My father left it for my ascension. A dead temple for a living god—"
He reclined upon the throne he uncovered at the high place of the temple; it is shaped almost as if made for him. A god...and his favoured consort.
He battled eight skeleton warriors for amusement. I'd spells prepared to halt undead—I have knowledge of what to expect in this setting—but upon his orders used none of them. I use my researches and my pretty pets to gain power, but in Sarevok it is in his very form, glorious when unleashed in battles when I prefer to be far away—sometimes I fear him, and yet desire him—
Today's casting: Monster Summoning III, var.
Cntrl: see prev. results
Exp #164: hessian bag internal area 10 sq. in., wax candle unlit 5 in., 1 cc. clay mud mat., verb. sub. w/ runes as below, length + specificity aimed for, usu. pers. som., result: 3 ogres, Ughh & Arghh take 8 mins to dispose of.
Conc: 8 mins an improvement over #163, #162, #160. Ughh & Arghh the best pets—Exp #42 still best by long chalk, my large babies know they're my favourite. Pair of them still busy devouring experimental remnants in the garden...
9 Mirtul
News of the Counting House returned that cannot be traced to the Iron Throne's doors; and a quite delightful outing to the markets with Krystin. It is lovely to have female not That Whore Tamoko to associate with, despite the lady's lower antecedents... There are prices to be paid in one's society, and yet she is welcome company. The alteration spell she cast over her face turned her nigh as horrible in visage as her husband, protecting herself from male gaze and rendering me still better by comparison. The virtues of a plainer companion cannot be underrated. There was a certain disputation over giant squid spell component tentacle pieces, resolved by amiable agreement to share and swap my custom Wind Wall for her own spell. (It was an academy project; water and steel extra components and various alterations to verbal and somatic aspects, creating beautiful and sharp fragments of ice within the wall; I recall winning a commendation for it from the masters. I must revise it myself one of these days.) Krystin's new spell shall be a new experimental subject... I don't know if Sarevok is fond of tentacles, but there are other practical uses.
Today's casting: Black Tentacles, cred. to Krystin
Cntrl: tentacle piece w. 0.5 mat., Krystin verb., Krystin som.: result 4 tentacles avg. len. 9.8 ft., std. dev. 0.2 durn. 62 secs.
Exp #1: summoned 4 kobolds & cast cntrl. as above, kobolds grappled without input from self., 3 kobolds dec. at exp. of tentacle durn. 5 tentacles avg. len. similar to cntrl, durn. 60 secs.
Exp #2: summoned 4 kobolds & cast cntrl. as above, result 5 tentacles avg. len. similar to cntrl, approx. durn. 60 secs, followed quick Charm Monster directed at tentacles, tried pantomime, tentacles broke free & caused dec. of 4 kobolds in 12 secs, ran inside & locked door until durn. expired.
Conc.: Spell v. aggressive, must revise Krystin verb., needs work.
10 Mirtul
I dreamed last night of meeting Sarevok for the first time, long before he knew of his divine destiny. My dreams mean nothing; I forswore divination for infinitely more useful arts; but a charming memory nonetheless.
I was a near-graduated mage, back in Silverymoon; all that beautiful city, laid out for me like so many splendid delights. Amusing, we senior students found it, to befuddle the wards with transmutation and enchantment and slip out into the city of nights. Men had only begun to find me beautiful, as well, for a year or so—and still I am far from an old crone; it is Tamoko who has begun to appear more and more cronelike—and these light excursions were typically Illisia and I amidst a coterie of male admirers, young and willing to rejoice in our bright futures.
It was a summer's night; we were near a fountain, of silver magelight as well as of water, and there was already dancing there—a bard singing a song upon the pavers, the nearby tavern opening its doors, flowing wine and conversation. And he was brooding upon the fountain's marble seat. We saw each other; conversed—like me he was present in the city to learn, though for him it was fighting techniques and research he only hinted of to me at that time. Muscular and far more handsome than any of the scrawny boys passing for my mage classmates. I remember that we talked of our studies, exchanging our frustrations with incapable and low-minded teachers, the knowledge that we both shared more ambition than other fools. Sitting together on the marble ledge below the shining waters.
(I'd no knowledge of Tamoko at that time. If I had, I would have challenged her the same.)
Neither of us yet knew of his great destiny; it was later that he would discover it. He spoke of an interest in libraries, and we agreed to get him into the academy's—I wanted to see him again, and he would do no real harm. (He did no real harm, simply reading; I would not share my personal library with the general public, but the school's was fair enough game.) He researched his prophecies, I hid him with illusion spells and took him to my dormitory. We spent much time together, in that month we had before his stepfather called him to return to Sembia; and when I achieved the highest honours amidst that band of mentally shackled fools, as a graduated mage I became loyal to the Iron Throne—
And Sarevok the Lord of Murder discovered his true parentage, and will be a god...
He spent last night with Tamoko, this I know.
Today's casting: Fireball. On immature Wall of Stone sculpted to resemble Tamoko's head.
Exp.: 0.1 cc bat guano, 3.9 cc sulfur mat., ratio 2.5% v. dang., ext. verb. for cntrl. purposes. Devast. w/ 5 casts, stone charred by 3rd, exploded 4th, unrecog. black fragments dust at 5th. Rookery also dam. Fashion statement.
Conc.: Explosive cmpnt. v. useful in big explosions, control difficult w/ high sulfur ratio, obv. reasons. Satisfying!
11 Mirtul
The bounty hunter quartet have returned to us—a Waterdhavian mission, a very much former business associate of Rieltar's, revenge upon a slight dating some years ago. (The son has learned ruthlessness from the obvious teacher; and there will come a time when a mortal father will be worthless to him...) Escaping the notice of the Blackstaff and his ilk, I imagine, shows some degree of skill. I have seen him once at secure distance, when he came to confer with the archmages of Silverymoon, and have not forgotten it; they say that Mystra herself gave him his gifts of silver fire and the ability to create his famed staff. To be the chosen of a god; that is worth working toward—!
The Underdark doppelgangers report acquaintances with courtesans, owners and blackmail victims; I'd no idea Aldeth Sashenstar took an interest in things of such lurid description. I've gained one from the labour pool of temporarily underemployed assassins, allowing it into my study; it is uncanny to look at their pale eyes, to wonder precisely what they can impersonate. I dare not take my eyes from it. There are stories that the creatures even mate with humans, if one can believe it from their gangly and strange unclad forms. It told me that its ability to detect surface thoughts was limited—I had cast a mind shield in advance; of course I knew that, and recast a stronger version during the experiments—and stated that it could turn into either a form it imagined or a form whose appearance it knew.
Imagine the changing of identity in a thought. I never have forgiven uncle Havordon for telling me once I was the scrawny duck transforming to the swan; I'd prefer not to remember such childhood days. A doppelganger daring to steal my form would count itself well-fortuned in beauty before I ordered it executed. My mind also proved much sharper than yours, didn't it, my dear family?
Today's casting: doppelganger investigation
Cntrl: N/A, see meas. below
Exp #1: Instructed it to turn to Tamoko 7 times from base form, timed ea., result: avg. 4 secs, std. dev. 0.5 secs. Stated it had seen Tamoko at Iron Throne, w/ Sarevok, etc., & knew some of her thoughts, surface ones mostly in the way of honour, concern re: Sarevok, prayers—appears Tamoko's surface thoughts expectedly tedious & depressingly little help against her.
Exp #2: Instructed it to turn to Illisia based on full length illusion I conjured (fuzzy in some places, has been while since I saw her), performed feat in 29 secs from first appearance of image. Stated had never seen Illisia; this seems likely since she married after graduation & settled in the barbaric Jalanthar, no ambition. Stated also having to study the illusion was reason for extra time. Result: Shape produced good approx. to real person as she was when I knew her, clearly based on illusion. Voice not like, thoughts def. not.
Exp #3: Summoned picture; spell fetched one of Winski's. Picture entitled Portrait of the Murannian Ogre-Mage by Harmenszoon, see appendix. Instructed doppelganger to turn to central subject based on it, performed feat in 49 secs from first appearance of portrait. Stated had never seen the Murranian Ogre-Mage (creature is supposed dead). Stated also imagining unseen parts of picture was difficult, that it supposed it varied between doppelgangers and it was particularly good at it—that hypothesis needs verification. Result: shape realistic approx. of portrait, I would have assumed was real ogre-mage if saw it in streets. Voice low like genuine ogre-mages Sarevok has on occasion dragged to meet w/ Iron Throne, doppelganger confessed it imitated one of those. Asked it for higher voice & it complied, then for countrified accent like Zhalimar's; complied. Asked it to change head only, eyes further apart, tusks thicker, ears smaller; complied, shape still convincingly ogre mage. Asked it to attempt imitation of ogre-mage's spellcasting, failed, asked me for tutorial. Refused. Apparently is difficult for even the doppelganger spellcasters to cast in shifted form, another hypothesis to test.
Then told me it preferred not too many shapes per day, tired, obv. no stamina. May re-experiment later. Still think creepy.
12 Mirtul
A cache of scrolls found in the Undercity. Winski, Semaj, and I have worked to decipher them—information about Sarevok's history, and that alongside glorious spells—both which are to be concealed from Rieltar.
I shall be in my study for the next few days—
16 Mirtul
Sarevok does not distract me from my reading by the means I would prefer. Latest sibling still uncertainly alive; slippery girl, apparently. How many bounty notices was I called upon to magically duplicate, altered accordingly for the personal compensatory milieus based upon assassins' repute? Zeela and the remainder of her uncouth group (Cyricists, I ask you; insanity is not among my lists of praiseworthy traits, Tamoko is the only of them I know to be remotely sane and my opinion on her is obvious; the god I choose to worship is the new Lord of Murder and not the raw portfolio) are sent off to do the deed, or else.
Today's casting: A thick cloud of black poison, billowing as potent as a nightmare trapped and distilled to principal elements, cast from a copied scroll—too potent for me to yet understand fully, but I shall. Those scrolls—I truly am in amour—
Cntrl: This 1st serves as cntrl—will spend much more time upon these. 2 cc. blood (own, didn't bother sending out), 2 pinches gravedust (Sorc. Sund.), 1 cc. viper poison (Silence); verb. as written, som. as written, casting time 18 secs. Result: black cloud approx. 1000 cb. ft., 10/10/10, slightly irreg. shape, durn. 7 mins. 9 kobolds, 2 dreadwolves ordered into it, all yellowing dust in seconds of exposure—
22 Mirtul
Time has flown—most noticeable through preceding pages of copious notes upon the new spells; I have transmuted this journal to double its size. Many blank pages remain for my records of magic and power. The best went to Winski; I would curse that old fool but Sarevok will not heed such talk.
Ordinary work for the Throne beckons once again. It's a spell of Rieltar's original devising, for a change; illusion combined with conjuration, transmutation, and divination aspects. Regrettably it falls to me to drown myself in our receipts and records, reacquainting myself and preparing summaries; Alai and Naaman are of assistance, but in truth they are utterly incompetent acquaintances. Sarevok deserves better acolytes.
A foundation of conjuration to establish slightly more permanency, but a primary rune of illusion to suspend the numeric image in the air. Then transmutation to manipulate it, divination to use it— The representation of the Iron Throne accounts in simple charts, examining our gold and our proportions in bright shapes of metaphor. Rieltar does little of the labour for it, and perhaps is having us work on something of comparative uselessness. A certain network at some point shall object toour—blackening—of their name; some do-gooder or sibling may rise against us—and Semaj and I (not quite in his general interests) solve the intellectual problem of predicting the next sum of financial gain in a semi-random series? Combined spellcasting is...yet of certain complexity.
Sarevok teleports to Tazok's base tomorrow. I have every intent of farewelling him thoroughly.
Today's casting: Black Tentacles, cred. to Krystin
Cntrl: summoned 3 goblins, tentacle piece w. 0.4 mat., Krystin verb., Krystin som.: result 3 goblins dec. at 32 secs, 5 tentacles avg. len. 9.9 ft., std. dev. 0.1 durn. 59 secs.
Exp #1: as above, revised verb. summoned 4 goblins & cast as above, followed by Lesser Geas, som. gestures used to control. Result: goblins grappled acc. to som. dirs., 3 dec. at exp. of tentacle durn. 4 tentacles avg. len. similar to cntrl, durn. 64 secs.
Exp #2: as Exp #1 + revised mat. w/ 1 cb. sugar, followed by Lesser Geas. Result: 4 tentacles dripping w/ moist syrup, avg. len. 10.1 ft., std. dev. 0.3, approx. durn. 60 secs. Som. gestures used to control, texture v. sticky, syrup subst. poisoned remaining goblin from #2, discontinued pers. hands-on study of exp.
Conc.: Lesser Geas commands subj, w/ success; sugar tentacles syrupy & gen. more disgusting than assumed, spell obv. for enemies.
23 Mirtul
Entrusted with the diary of Sarevok whilst he is in transit. I swore that I should keep it upon my person until his return; it is a great victory above the likes of Tamoko. I shall miss him so...but we do not always need the men in our lives to be about, no?
Speaking of which; I have viewed some of Krystin's work. Hedgewitch practices, sliced-up domestic animals for necromantic components and out of the husband's need for amusements. There are rooms deep within the Undercellar, barely out of the dripping sewers and with the scent of such—a temporary home for our happy couple, and kept in such a state as to be so. I gagged, and enchanted a quiet pomander to preserve myself.
I'd quote such things as Szass Tam's equations on the distinction between 2cc animal and 1.5cc human blood, but Krystin would neither understand nor care. That...waving field of black tentacles guarding her door, decorated with clean-picked bones of dogs; she does not know the formalism to create such a thing and endow it with permanency, and yet it functions for her. The subtlest of factors balance the ideal mix of components and method for each caster, I have been taught. Krystin's love is the fieldwork; artistry in the most exquisite ways to exsanguinate a corpse by her lights, amusement in casting her Cloudkill on goblins summoned by myself.
Killing four Grand Dukes?—Why, such an exciting challenge, dear; and I do so enjoy these technical discussions—
Today's casting: Flesh to Stone.
Cntrl: 1 oz. quicklime 1 oz. water 1 oz. fuller's earth as in orig. mat., std. verb., std. som., cast. time 6 secs., subj. 1 summ. male kobold appar. age 15: result pale stone even constcy hrdness approx. 8.
Exp. #1: As above w/ mat. quantities double, verb. and som. to 4 secs, subj. similar ibid.: result no effect, kobold yipping v. annoying (nb. kill kobold w/ extr. pain & suffering if exp. continues unsuccessful).
Exp. #2: Retrial of Exp. #1, 4 secs time goal: result greenish stone uneven constcy hrdness approx. 5. Query if durn. still indef.
6 hrs later: Exp. #2 durn. lasting. Nb. must improve constcy & hrdness, more expns. Packed off novelty kobold art to Iron Throne warehouse & went to summons from Winski. Old fl. treats like apprent., v. annoying.
25 Mirtul
The Zhentarim have made inquiries. Ranafal of a small Sembian Iron Throne delegation, a Zhentish enchanter. Very fond of wine.
The Iron Throne authorities granted this task to Rieltar. He proved his fitness of it at some cost to himself; and Ranafal was not quite so certain of that as he ought to have been. Furthermore— (did Winski divine, or deduce? 'Twas creditable I am forced to admit—) the servants gave after interrogation that Ranafal sent and received no messages to his quarters. Only the casks of wine he ordered sent to him, and that he smuggled back in emptied casks—
He saw us whilst we had it seized, and were engaged in decoding it. His contingencies burst into life as a dragonet hatching from its egg; a blinding flash of red. I was temporarily frozen; I could do nothing—
Winski's own trigger converted itself to action. A splash of green covering the enemy spy, blocking against extradimensional escape; two prismatic sprays inflicting wounds; white light of trueseeing banishing the enchanter's illusions—divination, bright and fierce. One of very few useful spells of the school! The Zhent's second casting was sleep, Winski's a dispelling; that freed me. In a few moments after regrasping my breath I gathered Ughh and Arghh to my side—I think I feel paralysis beyond spells in such situations. Winski conjured individual-targeted invocations, fire against the enchanter's weak powers, and my pets attacked with all their might. Ranafal became quite the mess upon the carpet; I leaned against the wall attempting to regain some measure of composure—I am no Sarevok to fight in personal battles—
Winski called me to aid once again in the cryptography. I flatter myself that at least I have a few spells there that are more specialised than his; we rephrased the messages to lay blame to the Shadow Thieves; had one of my creatures transport a portion of the remains near to one of their known bases. I fancy Winski will engage in some necromantic arts to attempt to divine information on the Zhent's fellow agents.
At which point there remained nought to do but summon imps to clean the floor. Winski bade me farewell; "I am not quite an old fool, my dear—" My accounts are well protected. My mind is shielded. Surely not possible...?
Today's casting: Flesh to Stone.
Cntrl: cf. 23 Mirt.
Exp #1: ibid. mat. verb. som., cast. time down to 3 secs, subj. 1 summ. male ogre appar. age 20 (not one of beloved pets), result spell failure.
Exp #2: cast. time down to 3 secs, subj. ibid., result spell failure. Nb: ogre resist. expected greater, lessr. casting time may lead to greater chance.
Exp #3: subj. ibid. w/ 2 Greater Malison, 2 Lower Resist.. Cast. time 3 secs, subj. ibid., result spell success, pale green, good constcy, hrdness approx. 8.
Conc.: Good spell, needs luck/low resist. to work if more than kobolds. Warehouse complaining re: novelty art taking space & not curr. saleable, start new experimental focus.
29 Mirtul
Winski's divinations reveal the decease of that smelly half-orc in Nashkel. I wish I could say I was truly surprised. One of course entrusts the least important portions of a scheme to the less capable flunkies (what other uses are there for said flunkies? I would much rather employ the likes of him than abandon Sarevok to Tamoko), but if their inevitable defeat will have such a vital effect upon the plan as to leave Sarevok in present vile mood, this ought to prompt one to reconsider.
Scrying for Mulahey's assailants revealed a scantily-clad blonde in chains that little pervert Semaj was far too enthusiastic about (acid-green robes, really, so last season; daring tattoos, though), and but a brief glimpse of a dwarf we assume to be male (and one does not wish to give deep consideration to that question regarding any dwarf). Ah, divination, that ever-reliable tool, that noble art I so unwisely forsook in return for spells with tangible effect. Perhaps we should assume these characters associates of Gorion's girl? Tazok has at least not failed us yet, and though our Nashkel outpost is gone we have time remaining to consolidate our monopoly before the mine is repaired.
No word as yet from the assassins; either our prey slips silently through their net or has fallen already in some distant wilderness. Perhaps we should give in and pay Slythe and Krystin their ridiculously exorbitant travelling fee? I haven't yet heard them recite bad poetry whilst on duty. But no, Sarevok says, he must test the mettle of this girl, it's no fun to squash her without some respect to the father, assassins are so much cheaper if one chooses those closest to the prey's degree of skill, better to use the flytrap for the fly rather than six Delayed Blast Fireballs. (I would reply, six Delayed Blast Fireballs always work, but boys will be boys.) It's been months since he murdered the previous sibling; men crave excitement. He has returned to Baldur's Gate & continues powerful & handsome as ever...
Today's casting: Animate Dead.
Cntrl: skull from Sorc. Sund. 2nd fl. black onyx cabochon Sorc. Sund. ord. mat., verb. from Necromantix Compendium my alt., som. ibid. my alt. (these books always include at least one instruction that would kill the unwary user if cast as written, basic intelligence test to fix): result animate skull, mental but somatically expressed link to direct. (Unexciting, single skull.)
Exp. #1: Substitute dec. skeleton warrior from Sarevok's temple for skull otherwise mat. ibid., ibid. verb., ibid. som.: result yellowish astral aura, sound of screaming, the onyx gem incinerated and as it burned the skull appeared as the skull of the symbol atop the bones and the control link broken, the broken skeleton rose and walked and destroyed one of my walls, I cast dispels & finally it collapsed—
Conc.: Do not do that again.
Wall of Stone casting, completely std., to partly fix property.
1 Kythorn
A trigger sends news of Tranzig's decease. He was one of Rieltar's men in his engagement to message-pass to Tazok, so it is not entirely to Sarevok's ill; but it fails to rest well, this implication that these adventurers have discovered the trail. (Mulahey: which among your feats of incompetence led them this far?)
Today's casting: doppelganger investigation
Cntrl: had prev. doppelganger brought again (see 11 Mirt.), conj. a weight variable by som. command starting 50 lbs. (metamagic: Minor Creation var. + Stone Shape var.), tested native str.: handled 140 natl. form; natl. form 5'7'' 165 lb.
Exp #1: instructed it to take form of kobold & retrial weightlifting. Max. weight handled 80 lb.—higher than avg. kobold as per The Malarite's Almanac. Verbal inquiry: what happens to body mass given smaller form? Reply: instinctive process, not known.
Exp #2: form of ord. human—male, slightly taller than natl. form, circa. 5'9'', 170 lb. Max. weight handled 145 lb. Monitored shapeshifting w/ Invoke Weave Aura, took parchment of Weave pattern; initial interpretation is to apply Lapina's Polymorphic Equations—certainly anomalous compared to the spell, but with a transformation function in the four-dimensional space the calculations seem to work...
Exp #3: form of half orc—female, 6'2'', 175 lb. Monitored again, resembled Lapina's but w/ anomalies. Strength measured at 170 lb.
Exp #4: form of ogre, resemblance to Arghh though shorter, 10'3'', 180 lb. Strength measured at 190 lb. w/ visible reluctance.
Exp #5: requested form of larger ogre, refused, extra mass claimed too much. Suits the hypothesis: greater shapes need greater natl. magical energy.
Exp #6: cast Lower Resist. w/ consent, then willing Polymorph to ogre. 11'5'' height, 680 lb. Strength measured, 750 lb., dramatic increase from its own shift. Verbal inquiry: is strength limited above a certain natl. point? Response: muscles & forces shaped by doppelganger itself in their bigger forms, unable to go too far beyond natl. form's strength. Doppelganger subject began to mention a superstition called absorption—"I have often felt my absorption must have been greater than many of my fellows—" but stopped. I am not sure I care re: cultural fairytale nonsense.
Conc.: Limitation to the doppelganger weightlifting is a weakness—put on pointy hat & doesn't make one Elminster. (Also v. not fashionable.)
2 Kythorn
Decent news from Davaeorn: a sum of twenty-three slaves and iron safely delivered from Tazok's group, his own mining performing according to expectation. Sarevok in somewhat improved mood. Rieltar, too, evolves plans; Nashkel, within Amn's territory, does not have to have an iron shortage in order to be perceived by our fair city as such—
Today's casting: Corrosive Effect
Cntrl: Vial of Mulahey's potion, ingredient list as ibid., poured on std. longsword, corrosion in 43 secs.
Exp #1 (casting: self): 2 cc Mulahey's rust mat., verb. cf. notes, Contagion-based w/ Trans. axis modifier for physical effect som.: result none.
Exp #2 (casting: Semaj): ibid. mat., verb. ed. cf. notes, ibid. som.: result red dust appeared around (not within) std. longsword.
Exp #3 (casting: Naaman): 2 cc Mulahey's rust + 0.2 pnds iron mat., ibid. verb, ibid. som.: result after 6 min holding rust appeared in top of blade...
...
Exp #18 (casting: self): 2.5 cc Mulahey's rust + 0.1 pnds iron + 1 cc powdered animal hoof mat., latest verb., latest som. w/ Shaper's Axis motion: result casting time 15 secs rust shows after 30 secs, still requires simplification for mages of lesser capacity...
3 Kythorn
Continuing to develop the replacement corrosion process; our mercenaries led by my poor inferior Semaj and delightfully sensible Diarmid shall target the known iron caravans to Baldur's Gate, even if they should bypass Tazok's forces. A greater doppelganger is already present as assistant to Emerson, to give news through sending-spell on when to expect... The first caravan of intact iron, by Rieltar's orders, shall pass to the city gates unmolested, in order to give a chance to demonstrate that Iron Throne ore will be the only reliable.
Our transmuted projections show anticipated three hundred percent profit; Turnipsome losses are set behind us. The Seven Suns doppelganger warn that the house seeks to enter private deal with Jannath over Beregost wheat. The Merchant League makes a reckless purchase of twenty new caravans and mercenaries commanded by Dabron Sashenstar himself. Personal news from the house of Silvershield; Eddard deceased, Skie guilty of some disreputable conduct...either eloping or pregnant from wherever Daddy packed her off to, I imagine. Perhaps that opens possibilities, and certain buried memories.
Today's casting: Corrosive Effect
Cntrl: see prev.
...
Exp #41: 0.5 ord. iron. rust + 0.2 pnds iron + 0.3 cc powdered animal hoof mat., latest verb., latest som.: result casting time 10 secs rust shows after 50 secs (acceptable); within mental cap. of self, Semaj, Naaman, & Sakul. (Not Prat, apparently. Explained to him whilst he ominously fingers that rather fascinating axe of his.)
5 Kythorn
My birthday, and after a discreet reminder Sarevok sends me gold. Men are so insensitive. Still, he has been upset re missing sister's status. New spell components will do nicely, I suppose; and an emerald-set necklace I have been eyeing for some time.
Today's casting: Sepia Snake Sigil, cast upon certain of my books to protect them; powdered and adequately purified amber is so expensive these days. Std. mat., verb., som.
I have learned that subtle manipulation may offer better results than outright violence; sometimes I wish Sarevok better understood the concept. But it is for that reason the women behind powerful men achieve their own dreams.
8 Kythorn
Nashkel; word received. A collision of assassins (a murder of assassins? a silence of assassins? a stab of assassins?)—and each one gone, bar some traitor escaping Nashkel's garrison? The Heroes of Nashkel who (have not) saved the mine; the little girl with the vaguely druidic name Sarevok's agents described with Gorion. Surprisingly capable of survival. Not as—strong as Sarevok? Then lucky. There are times I swear 'twas Beshaba frowning upon my life from the cradle. I remember, vaguely, once—Winski and Semaj and I, mages locked in the deepest of the witching hours and our spirits somewhat buoyed by alcohol, musing upon the parts we are called on to play; puppets in a god's destiny, but better that than unfortunate and utter obscurity and death in history...
Rieltar is displeased; the Cyricists provided him with good services in the past. Sarevok claims to him that the girl is a dangerous mercenary, that she will unravel their plans; it suits both of them to hasten with the plans. Doppelgangers are dispatched; Drasus et al will wait in the Cloakwood, for that is the vital part of the scheme.
Today's casting: Axial rearrangement of Obscure Object
NB: if works will have protective conj. & small-scale proof of mage school reversal
Cntrl: small jewellery box subj., 1/2 diam. circ. cham. skin mat., std. verb., std. som.: result settled aura seemingly impenetrable to divination, verified in prev. exp.
Exp #1: small jewellery box subj., 1/2 diam. patterned cotton bag mat., conj. axis. verb., conj. axis. som.: result—nothing, think verb. slip.
Exp #2: small jewellery box subj., 1/2 diam. patterned cotton bag mat., conj. axis. verb., conj. axis. som.: result—flicker, quick dissipation.
Exp #3: small jewellery box subj., 1/2 diam. patterned cotton bag mat., conj. axis. verb., conj. axis. som.: result—control, gateway flickers, trad. sparkling marble of subplane, aura settles & lasts 20 secs...
Conc.: Extraplanar material successfully summoned; re-test w/ conc. on durn. Extraplanar shielding I can test for protective quality...
14 Kythorn
Who invited Krystin and Slythe to attack cleansed Nashkel iron upon its entry into the city gates? The thing is ridiculous. Working with Diarmid and Semaj's men, the hedgewitch labours to cast the subtle spell for the quiet corrosion of iron so carefully carried—and she casts with such intensity the cart explodes; the guards posted to the caravan attack; and there is immediately a lovely selection of fireworks easily visible from the Iron Throne's tower walls. I hear her second spell was her favoured Cloudkill, suffocating all nearby witnesses—and Diarmid cleaning up as best he could, endeavouring to create hints of a caravan of volatile ingredients destroyed rather than iron... There was indeed a Jannath caravan recently taken; Prat (what were parents/himself thinking!) was sent to communicate between the bases of Larswood and the Cloakwood, and idly mentioned finding spell components that the bandits thought valueless. (Needless to say, his idle mention prompted myself to an investigation!) Slythe himself did nothing to restrain the lady, too invisible herself to receive a reprimand.
Sarevok has fumed, yet excessive violence is not foreign to his nature. Rieltar proved coldly angry, exercising his authority; he himself invoked a mage's duel to school Semaj in his failure of command. Alas poor Semaj (alive, but I wager does not wish to be)... That the nominal leader of the Iron Throne is a caster of reasonable power and cunning in his spare time is not a fact spared for visitors.
Today's casting: Cloudkill itself in the Iron Throne's large cell reserved for volatile magical experiments, endeavouring to demonstrate that it can be controlled.
Cntrl: 5 goblins summ., std. verb., std. som., n/a mat.; result diameter approx. 9.5 ft., death 18 secs for final goblin, spell sweeps approx. pace 8 ft/5 secs, bounced from admantine wall moving back, gases sinking.
Exp #1: 6 goblins summ., acuity scroll on self, std. verb., std. som., n/a mat., Wind Wall mod. to that version w/ control: result diameter approx. 9.7 ft., death 17 secs for final goblin, Wind Wall kept motion to approx. 12 ft in two directions . Conc: Wind Wall pleasing control about it but needs fine tuning, thought also of telekinesis spell but despite recent study of it have no energy for it.
Exp #2: As above, 7 kobolds dead 12 secs, directed Wind Wall keeps Cloudkill in designated place, manipulation of gases by wind somewhat possible. Moment of difficulty when nearly bounced to myself but thankfully forced it back...need to rest.
15 Kythorn
In atonement from Slythe is received the head of one Arravis Bhetel, a brave and noble and clerically powerful Fist. Sarevok's man there could have dealt with the woman using...less dramatic methods. Remove the pieces upon the chessboard too quickly, and one's opponent acquires a suspicious mind. Give us two further tendays—Davaeorn is ordered to work the slaves as harshly as he can, for Sarevok will have no real use for the mine afterwards—and that is sufficient to our needs. Two bloodthirsty assassins in the names of others will serve the cause of the new Lord of Murder...
Sarevok came to me; upon the roof of the Iron Throne building we saw into the darkness. I believe I promised him various things; one makes these statements of loyalty for the sake of the moment. In all honesty I loathe the cold of the night.
"What will you do to serve me, Cythandria?" he said, tall and powerful. I clung to the warmth of his body, twined my arms about his mighty shoulders.
"Anything you desire, my lover—as a matter of course."
"Promises, promises, woman," said he. "My sister lives still."
"It is possible," I replied. That she or her companions dispatched the Nashkel assassins—but there is none else of her as yet, and in reality the most exciting of would-be heroes often die ignominious deaths tramping in tedious forests. But the blood she shares ought to come to her aid— Some are so unfortunate as to have neither that power nor the lust of those possessing it.
"It is truth. I feel the taint; and I shall take their power before I ascend. Ought I ask Tamoko to take care of this matter, Cythandria?"
Tamoko is a whore who does not care for Sarevok's divine destiny; and a rival. Either answer had its pitfalls.
"You should ask a servant with the most enthusiasm for the task; and ability to chase a shadow through the wilderness, of course." A girl of little presence, the divinations have shown.
"How lacking in commitment," he said; in the old days it surprised me that he was capable of rhetorical games alongside wizardly scholars.
"Tamoko is the one who fails upon that score," said I; speaking truth, though overt jealousy is a dangerous tool against another woman.
"And you will supplant her as my consort if you earn it—" he specified; Sarevok knows the fine art of promise-making.
"Then judge the sibling as you have planned, my lord. Wait for those you have sent, Davaeorn's man; and choose your next move. She is weaker than you—"
"And yet chaos will be sown from their passage."
His voice is deeper when he recites the prophecies.
Today's casting: Wizard's Cunning. Diamond, 0.9 car., brilliant cut; 3 lacewings; 4g boiled liquorice root. One of the most idiotic and moronically foolish things to do is to attempt to transmute one's own brain without all possible preparations and precautions, and when you think you have completed those repeat them threefold; for you will be left a gibbering imbecile for eternity and do I make myself clear this is your sole and final warning—
would you learn the spells that drowse my soul how many griefs from knowledge flow hast thou known how I fashioned thee truth may seem but cannot be to weaker view ore laid black wisdom hue ye should have cause to rue death lays icy hand are you come to wield the fiery brand the death fires danced at night lonely without the sense of sight
A Flare spell is a simple invocation cantrip consisting of verbal component only expected casting time 4 secs the novice may take up to half a minute upon an initial attempt the verbal component in the opening rune invocation spake clearly without hesitation the visualisation burst of bright dazzling light focus single person or creature expected light to stun flare flare so strangely you dazzle my eye bright take forever from my sight
the old scroll was skeletal ash and verbal rune in same harmonic range & durn & eigenvalue mapping ash of a skeleton the speaking expected simple instants the result noted simple light simple dazzling light spell components it is not quite a cantrip for component interaction but effect simple effect dazzling radiant flare radiant beings went and came when the cities floated Winski knew this easy simple given for that reason skeletal ash had skeletal ash on hand chanted light did not dazzle words old skeletal ashes tomb underground in the time of temple and Lord of Murder and flares that coded ash on fingers casting
over and over: flare and flare and is obvious meaning, dazzling light cryptogram knowledge the inward sunlike eye to the universe prophecy murder blood decode key here clear simple flare and flare murder war essence to the planes for legacy claiming a bloody massacre claim obvious ready take LordLady Of Murder αδφδιλξεαωξκδλάξιξεὠρξιλββξαξψειτοίαώ...
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Addendum, morning of 16 Kythorn
How incoherent my writing gets when I allow my mind to expand in that fashion; the raven Huginn is always faster than the hand. I must confess I'd hoped for some impressive plan to see rid of That Whore Tamoko. But...Sarevok will be pleased to have the decoding of my scribbles. It seems, on the face of it, that the flare signals from the old tomb are encodings to claim that after sufficient lands running red with blood & all that and so on, the essence has to be claimed from within the planes... I shall inquire about the exact mechanism and moment of ensuring a sibling's destruction; always a fascinating tale when Sarevok speaks it. An interesting adjunct to his knowledge.
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20 Kythorn
Doppelgangers have their uses. Shalak, its name far more sibilant and unpronunceable in its own language, leads the expedition to the Merchant League; Aldeth Sashenstar absent upon a hunting trip. The reports of the Seven Suns flow promisingly. Sherdis is the name of the one primarily participating in my experiments, or the relatively pronounceable name I choose for it; and I've a scheme of assurance...
Today's casting: Rappaccini's Floral Nightmare
Cntrl: 1 rose petal (fresh) + 1 cc pure spider venom mat., Beatriz 1310 verb., Beatriz 1308 som., cast time 8 secs. Result 15x roses, durn. 5.5 hrs, poisonous to 1 kobold (summ.).
Exp #1: 4 rose petals (fresh) + 4cc pure spider venom mat., verb. w/ rule of sq., som. w/ rule of sq., cast time 16 secs (rule of pair sustenance). Result 46x roses, durn. 3.4 hrs, poisonous to 3 hobgoblins (summ.).
Exp #2: 8 rose petals (fresh) + 8cc pure spider venom mat., verb. w/ rule of cub., som. w/ rule of cub., cast time 27 secs (rule of n-change sustenance). Result did not count but sufficient number to fill room, durn. 2.3 hrs, spent many summ. spells to test deadliness, ogres w/ resist. of 12 mins exposure, spiders immune, gibberlings v. vulnerable. A room filled with roses of a mage's spectrum of colours, as deadly as they are beautiful...
24 Kythorn
Meeting of the Iron Throne heads, together with Sembian emissary; in which Rieltar boasted (truly, withal!) of profits whilst Sarevok played the dutiful son—and I the wizard-demonstrator. Controlled projections; threat (reality) of war and profits in our pockets from the Cloakwood. So pleased, the Throne, that they grant additional concession...and a doppelganger accompanies them upon their return.
Today's casting: Lovelace's Helpful Calculation
Exp #1: Less experiment than actual use; mat. 2 1/2 in. rods galv. iron, parchment encoded holes as diagrammed, cf. verb., std. som. Result echoed approx. of the rising asymptotic curve confirmed by Rieltar and Winski's divinations. Profit intended to ensue.
30 Kythorn
Our Peldvale camp destroyed!
Parts of it burned. As far as we have found, not a man living. Protections from scrying invoked by the intruders, but Winski has some idea of what they are. Sarevok, is your sister truly playing into your hands?
Next—
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A/N: Quotes on 15 Kythorn taken from Quiller-Couch Book of English Verse.
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