An Endless Rule.

I've always thought that knowledge is a good thing. But the thing, is yesterday I had less of it, and I think I
was a lot happier.
 
The party ended abruptly after the host decided to overthrow King Jhin by storming his castle.
I should say though, smart distraction. We rushed to the castle because...because Jhin's our friend I guess. Well, Meta is anyway. Jhin's going to require some extra thought here now.
 
Once we got in, found Meta and stole some books (yay!) we found Oelrich holding Jhin hostage in the throne room. He...didn't look too worried about it. I created a distraction with that smoke bomb thing. Just in case you're holding your breath I'll let you know that we won. It was crazy. There was smoke all over the place, we couldn't see anything, Ranier kicked some guy off a balcony, Eleanora made this...bolt thing fly out of her hands, I stopped Oelrich before she could escape!
 
Here's the thing though- One of her people did shoot him, once. And he was completely fine. We watched .. something .. stitch him up, right there and then. It was a, a dark shadow thing. Like that one that we've seen in our house that we also found out has been spying on us for him which, honestly, I figured was happening anyway. Nobody just gives somebody a ke-well, anything really, without expecting something in return. We're just not like that. Then he asked us what we think should be done to punish Oelrich. I've never been a decision-maker in my life or anything, but isn't that a decision for a king? Not a bunch of kids he banded together to do crime?

But there wasn't a shred of the man that welcomed me into his castle and gladly let me use his library. He was much more... detached. Cold? I'm guessing that the group only agreed with me because we were all put on edge by Jhin's sudden change in disposition. Also him pulling an arrow out of his own neck. Long story short (too late) she's still living and still has her position within Northal.
 
Then, what would usually be my dream come true, he told us we could ask him anything and that he would answer it. The thing is, his answers..uncomfortable isn't the right word. Grievous? Vexing? Yes, I think it's vexing. His answers were vexing.
 
What else would I ask? I asked him to tell me everything he knew about Lian and he was...semi-forthright. He's currently in the Kingdom of Secrix looking for a phylactery filled with unknown necromantic magic. So that I can believe at least. He also said that Lian asked Jhin if I could be of use to him. Wouldn't it have been nice if he told me?
 
And apparently the "help" I, and the others, can give Jhin is .. taking over the Easterland Valley.
 
Yeah.
So there's that.
 
[REDACTED].
 
Lian [REDACTED].
 
So that's his name. After 8 years I finally know his name.
And somebody else had to give it to me.
 
-w.