As you start gathering in the Proper, I am sure you have noticed a missive about Captain Jackdaw missing. Unfortunately, we have not located him and the threat of what took him is growing. The 'hands' in the Spirit Realm are here and what potentially summoned them still lurks in the shadows and must be stopped.
This is a list of compiled information provided by others with the missive regarding Jackdaw and other sources into a simpler list. There are many scholars working on this project and we would love to hear the questions that you want researched.
Following the actions of our mysterious writer, Count Winterdark has kindly bound the main page so it cannot be damaged, stolen, or scryed to the Scholar's Table. All questions submitted will be answered to the best of our abilities and the information will be added to the public document.
-You may leave your questions at the table with the page and I will make sure we all give it a look
-You may leave them here and I will add the questions to the list.
-You may send the questions anonymously. Notes will reach me at the Darkwood Academy or at the Adventurer's Guild building across from the inn.
Thank you all for reading. Together we will defeat these monstrosities through wit and force.
Dame Ilana Darkwood
Knight of Pendarvin
Head Mistress of Darkwood Academy
P.S. There's another group of papers specifically regarding the cards. If anyone is interested in more information regarding that, keep an eye out!
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OOG:
docs.google.com/document/d/1R9esA0dvV-b_...onM/edit?usp=sharing
For those unable to read Google Docs but are interested in what's going on:
This document is considered IG but cannot be damaged by anyone IG, the official document protected by the magic of the Scholar’s Table. Will update as questions are answered.
The scholar's table, as usual, is covered in an assortment of books, a stack of papers in binders a meek attempt at some order. A cleared space has a piece of paper left in the center, scattered with a few pieces of paper around it of various questions and notes.
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What We ‘Know’ (Compiled from accounts on the Dragon’s Claw board)
‘Temperance’ - There was a catacomb located underneath a farmhouse just outside of the Proper’s limits. It was haunted by a White Lady referred to as Temperance. She was once an Andorran Priestess who was murdered and transformed into the monster the town dealt with. The catacomb collapsed and her part of the puzzle is completed. We have her shard of the Lich’s phylactery
The recent ‘Hierophant’ potentially is the one who created Temperance.
‘Devil’ is another member in this cabal. (Lich?) Chaz ‘sold his soul to him.’
‘The Fool’ is either trying to help us or is trying to trick us. They leave notes with sigils against scrying and demonic influences. But, this is the information they provided:
-‘Death’ (the ‘Reaper’) leads the cabal. He is trying to abuse the power vacuum recently created with Necrophitus’ defeat.
-His Phylcatery is currently in about 12-15 pieces
-"haunts" this legendary creature is said to be able to create. Undead entities that may seem harmless, but can warp reality around them and will attack when you least expect it.
-The cabal is an entire cabal of negative energy creatures that each have a piece of the Lich’s phylactery. They refer to themselves using the names of the Major Arcana.
- He said that the town was on the right track for what they were looking?
Specifically said: ‘good places to start looking’ in response to questions.
-The Catacombs were only for Temperance and her part of the Puzzle
-There are many more puzzle pieces
-Oakley knows more (‘Every legend has to start somewhere’ )
Oakley’s information (she condensed it for me. My thanks Oakley)
I guess the important bits are that Chaz told me this super lich fellow, th’ first to dress as the grim reaper...and he’s gotta crew of negative energy creatures each holding a piece of his phy-lakter-y. Each creature has a weakness I believe, and we gotta find them befer we kick the lich’s arse. Something about tarot cards too..? It’s been awhile so I can’t remember too clearly.... Also, there’s gonna be ghosts and demons wanderin’ about, gettin’ closer to Travance with each day and if we don’t clear things up it might mean the lich gets resurrected completely and we’re all screwed!
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Mantel’s Information
-Book entitled ‘How to Buy Your Soul Back From the Devil’ acquired from a gate that Chad Whitman/Chaz Whimun/Chase Wiseman went through.
-He might turn on us while his soul is in possession of the Devil.
-He is clearly trying to deflect information about who he is and what he does.
-Chaz says he is a skilled carpenter (he makes coffins and reinforces cellars), pie-maker, fisherman, and scholar of necromancy. (Per Mantel/Starling)
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Talaniel’s Information on the Granfalloon
-Folklore/Secondhand accounts. Hold elements of truth.
- It is an undead creature that is difficult to summon and looks for a place to nest (it was mentioned a battlefield like Travance was fitting)
-The ‘Bone Spiders’ (Skeletal creatures that look similar to spiders (fist-sized rib cage, eight legs) were found brief within the catacomb and remains have been found during searches for Jackdaw. Kestrel has pieces of the creature to be examined) are scavengers that follow it around.
-The ‘thousand of hands in the spirit realm’ indicate one is nearby.
-Once nested, its presence empowers undead/potentially all negative energy creatures in the area.
-The Body of the Granfalloon is in the Prime Material, but seems it's presence is affecting the Spirit Plane
An Observation
-Khala and I did a little exploring and couldn't find the nest.
-There are more spirit hands coming out of the ground in the proper than outside of it.
-She tried to summon an undead, but the hands grabbed it and turned it against us.
-All negative energy summons were infected.
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Cara’s Vision
-A lich performing an intricate ritual, attempt to transcend lichdom.
-Became a dark, shadowed being with a skeletal face. Very conscious and aware.
-Started as apprentice in Evernight
- His ‘teacher’ cutting him down. The lich’s phylactery separated into 22 Major Arcana cards.
- Lich wanders unable to be harmed and kills everything he touches. However, the more he kills, the more tangible and easier to destroy he is. (Too many lives would be lost this way)
-Various light-aligned warriors destroy the lich. They thought that he was stopped permanently, but one or two of his followers seem to have escaped with pieces of his phylactery.
Ephrem’s Investigation
-Undated scrolls have the Church note defeat of ‘The Reaper’.
-Mentions one of the clergy being an ex-member of the faith (not specified which). He gave up on faith and the concept of good/evil. He found the Reaper and became a lich in his service.
-This ‘Hierophant’ was destroyed (it is mentioned in several documents) But, nothing about the phylactery piece being located.
(This story helps research prove The Reaper replaces members and grants them the vacant title over time.)
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Jackdaw
-Cannot be found in the material or spirit realm
-Cannot be contacted by psionics on material or spirit plane.
Does anyone else have any ideas on where else our friend may be?
Nesterin’s Information
-Ivory tower apprentice. Focused too much on detail and less on committing to action in rituals.
-He got frustrated very easily and, promised an immediate source of power by a ‘philosopher lich’, left the Ivory Tower to learn from them.
Lorelai’s Information
-A Reign named Gaston was looking into an entire cabal of negative creatures.
-Gaston set out to stop them from turning someone into a Lycan and went missing.
-Normally a very private Hunter, he is reliably on time, but no trace of him has turned up
Donny’s Information
-Visited Lore Keepers of a Hibernian clan.
-”The Executioner”: Needed for two rituals to create two more member’s of Death’s Cabal.
These rituals, once started, cannot be stopped.
-Not much information on the one member was given by them but they spoke of ‘The Dullahan’.
- The Dullahan: Once a brave warrior, tortured into neverending fear and then beheaded before being raised as an undead.
-A warrior of these folk has been missing for a few months after a strange/dodgy priest visited.
Ilana's Information
Ilana’s Information
-Nordejar gravesite raided by 'tall, powerful undead' that escaped before the warriors arrived.
-The deceased's body was stolen along with his axe.
-Was an Executioner for King Mardux. This Executioner preferred following orders blindly so they could fell people by their axe.
