A Letter to Aeda Virenni

For the Scholar Aeda Virenni,
I hope your return to the College of Ages was safe, interesting and free from unwanted complications. Since you left our band, we have had a couple of adventures which touch on historical lore, so I thought to write you on these matters.
 
We came to the NW shores of Dain Lake, with some thought to recruiting settlers for the Northern Approach among our other activities. I grew up in Stoneswale, considerably south of this area, and was sent to Heraldsport as a boy, so did not realize how sparsely populated and exposed it is here. We smirked to hear the locals describe their region as the wild frontier, but in fact it is, and the Northern Approach is truly no-man's land. We were asked to look into raids on a major road running south from Dormir, and quickly found bands of kobolds operating well within the territory held by Keep Macairna. These were issuing literally from a hole in the ground in the Lornish Hills, with a cavern complex adjoining a navigable underground river. With the generous assistance of the Keep (although their seneschal is a tight man with a penny) we were trained and equipped for an expedition up this waterway. The journey was not without incident -- I enclose details of several creatures we encountered and my best map of locations separately -- but I digress. The first point of historical interest was a stone complex built at a juncture of the underground river. It was in poor repair, but apparently was constructed there, not buried as part of the great Collapse. Grimbould does not believe it was dwarven in origin, but we could find no carvings or remaining insignia to suggest the builders. I got a faint impression it might have been a temple complex, but cannot say who worshiped, or was worshiped, there. Proceeding further up the river, we found a landing (much of the river being bankless but having iron rings driven into the walls at intervals, obviously for the benefit of travelers like us) which let into an underground level of what proved to be a small tower. We encountered a mixed force of kobolds and gnolls and surely a Divine hand sheltered us, as the kobolds had a shaman or somewhat similar with a spell prepared. If he had caught us before we caught him -- in the very first exchange -- it could have gone very badly for us. Ascending to ground level, we encountered more gnolls with animal auxiliaries. Much to my astonishment, the gnolls asked to withdraw in good order. As we were nigh exhausted from the fight below, we did not press another fight above ground. In comparison to the orcs we've encountered, I found this brief interaction with the gnolls disturbing. Orcs are savage, but undisciplined and impulsive. I would rather fight them than a more thoughtful or cunning adversary. But I go astray once more. We had emerged from underground into an antique outpost, apparently of human construction, with remains of two short towers and a fence-like barricade around it. This is outside the territory of Keep Macairna, but not so far from it. I make it about 10 leagues west of the Northstrand watchtower. We have reported all this to the Keep, and made sure they understand the significance of a well-travelled covert route from outside the patrolled territories into the heart of the "safe" area.
 
Having chased off the kobolds and gnolls (for now), we were contacted in Dormir by an agent looking for experienced wilderness escort for a destination north of Keep Macairna. I will have more to say about the agent later on, but we were led a considerable distance into the true wilderness (see attached maps). There was disturbing sign of large movements of subhumans, and circling flocks (no doubt of leathery winged avians) around not-sufficiently-distant mountain peaks. I felt as if I were back in the very young novice's dormitory listening to Sister Gilda's tales of terror petrifying her listeners. But without comforting blankets to hide behind. Aside from a run-in with giant spiders (in this region, it seems best to stay in open ground, and avoid wooded areas), we reached our destination safely. Here I will return to material of possible historical interest. In a sparsely wooded glen we found a paved pavilion, not out of place as a rich man's garden patio, with a large ornate seal worked into the pavement. Our employers, using notes given them by their patron, activated the obviously magical seal and opened a shaft into a multi-level tomb. We were told they sought a plaque of some sort on behalf of their patron. There were three levels connected by the shaft, which was effectively unclimbable. Using the ropes we came equipped with, and locally harvested trees, we improvised means to descend to each level in succession. We quickly learned that the tomb held members of the Thaehrun family. The third level contained the plaque, which we were urgently urged not to manipulate until certain names were gathered elsewhere in the tomb. There were several sarcophagi on this level, none of which we attempted to open, but the names of these dead did not seem to be the crucial ones. On the floor of the third level, below the shaft, there was another seal, and it will not surprise you that it also needed magical activation before we could descend to the fourth and final level to gather the needed names.
 
Before proceeding, I should say that this tomb, like the others we have encountered, had a definite abundance of undead guardians, many of which emerged from the walls. As the walls were decorated with bones, there was a persistent feeling that something might lunge out of the wall at any moment. Equally disturbing, these guardians seemed to be constructed from bones of many sorts of creatures. They were not natural skeletons or zombies, if any one can apply that term to an unnaturally motivated creature of death. There were also -- dare I say -- whimsical things, like a horde or swarm of small undead snakes. So when we entered the final level, it did not come as a complete surprise to be met with a final guardian. One of us described it as an "eldritch insectile abomination", which is entire accurate and woefully inadequate. It was obviously a construct, rather than any sort of reanimated corpse, and very, very annoyed with our disruption of its slumber. Edlin once again displayed his penchant for melee-range combat magics, and Grimbould did his usual alarmingly effective axe routine, and we dispatched the monstrosity to find ourselves in a chamber with six statuary columns and six tombs with grander sarcophagi for lords and ladies of the family, and a final sarcophagus in a surprisingly obscure chamber for the founder of the line, Damishad Thaehrun the Sylfbane. I have attached on a separate sheet the inscriptions on the columns and the sarcophagi, but the names seem to be 1st Lord Damishad, 2nd Lady Tae'mor, 3rd Lord Baradal, 4th Lord Elias Nare, Lady Ethiala, unknown, unknown firstborn. The inscription on Damishad's tomb is partially defaced, removing one or more of his titles, while the statue and plaque identifying the occupant in the tomb to the north have been deliberately obliterated.
 
I know nothing of this family, but find some of the circumstances mysterious. From the various inscriptions, the family arrived as conquerors and drove out or oppressed the elven prior inhabitants. It is understandable that such a family would produce many locals with a grievance. But only select inscriptions were defaced, and the tomb was thoroughly sealed when we arrived. This selectivity suggests a motive more specific than long-standing rage against an oppressor. Or perhaps even an internal family struggle of some sort. Also, the final guardian was free to roam the final level when we arrived, which would have worried me if I were the one with hammer and chisel in hand, defacing a family tomb.
 
All of the foregoing and the accompanying maps and descriptions I would have sent you regardless, and perhaps this is all old news to the scholars of the College of Ages, but I have a favor to ask in return. Actually, two favors. First, what is known of the family Thaehrun, and in particular were they affiliated with the worship of the Elderwraths, or with the worst of the Vices? Second, for whom were Novia the Keen and Kirda the Blunt, our guides and employers, working? Do they have a consistent patron? Can you put out a discrete word through the bardic fellowship to see where they might be? Here is an explanation, and a confession. In our enthusiasm of exploration (and celebration of surviving the final guardian), we let Novia and Kirda out of sight. They then retreated to the upper levels, leaving us stranded in the lowest level, to manipulate the plaque, seize whatever they were sent to retrieve by their patron, and leave. Their parting message was "No offense, but we don't want any interference. It's just business." Through brute force, stacking of massive tomb doors, a discarded rope and Alleas' fortuitous choice of a grappling hook, we were able to escape the bottom level of the tomb, but were so exhausted that regaining the surface might have required a 2nd day without the intervention of an unexpected ally (more on that in a later letter, I promise). We are now on the surface again, but I am concerned -- very much concerned -- that Novia and Kirda have retrieved some artifact of chaos or necromancy that does not belong in the hands of their patron. I mentioned the exploitative and whimsical necromancy which pervades this tomb. I do not want to see such things on the streets of Heraldsport, or anywhere else. They will arrive back in settled lands several days ahead of us, even if our remaining business here goes quickly, and I am sure my letter will not reach you for weeks after we return to Dormir or Keep Macairna. But we don't need to track them if we can figure out where they went or establish that what they carry is of less dire import. Their patron was obviously very well informed about the location, contents, and magical seals on the Thaehrum family tomb. I don't know if this would be obscure or common knowledge among those with historical or arcane knowledge.
 
We will not learn until we return to Dormir whether we have been cheated of payment, as well as abandoned at the bottom of a tomb. I will confess to some unfilial desires for petty vengance, but once my initial fury subsided, I have become more concerned with finding out what Novia and Kirda retrieved, and to whom they are taking it. Ironically, if they had dealt with us honestly, I would not be pursuing this course of "interference" they so wanted to avoid!
 
With respect for dangers and lore shared,
Brother Prospit Trima
Roughly 25 leagues north of Keep Macairna, west of the Auran River,
52 Autumn, 117YS