Research on Lord Chancellor Enzarond

We will need all types of researchers on this, you asked for help, do not turn it away because people are speaking against your wish to be the one to strike the final blow. You know the laws, speak carefully.

I will aid in any research that is done because both Enzarond and the Duke need to be stopped, not because you asked.

Lady Albriar,

I am unfortunately unfamiliar with Anoch as a whole. You mentioned the Keepers remain neutral. Is there any chance of turning them to our cause? I am unfamiliar with the Library, however I expect that trying to sway them away from the wishes of their government might be dangerous for them if they are anything like your average librarians. Would their neutrality cause them to be unable to aid us/resist us in our research even if we were to reach them?

Django

Lesson time!

There is Anoch the city, which contains secular little-l libraries like any city. The "head librarian" who signed the Duke's declaration is the head of these. It is not impossible that information in those libraries that would hurt Balliol's campaign has been altered or removed.

The city also contains the capital-L Library of Anoch, which is a holy site of Chronicler. All knowledge written down by Chroniclerites across Palmydia is sent there. It is maintained by a specific sect of Chroniclerites called the Keepers. Their priority is the sanctity of the site & the knowledge therein, and they maintain strict neutrality to avoid bringing danger to the Library. The Keepers are not your average librarians (I would not be surprised if several of them were actually gargoyles), but under no circumstances will they take sides in a matter like this unless one side decides to attack the Library itself. The whole kingdom could be on fire and they wouldn't intervene until the flames began to lick at their door.

That said, like any Chroniclerite, they will share their knowledge with any who ask unless they deem it will cause the loss of more knowledge. If we control the city of Anoch, it would be easy to walk up and just ask for anything on defeating true warlocks. I would not be surprised if Balliol has taken advantage of the library to gain information on topics such as how to build his anti-portal device.

There is another way in. Not for an army, but for a small group - there are tunnels & cave systems in the mountains to the east of the Library. They are not mapped, and it might take some time to find a way through, but it might be possible to get in, get the information we seek, and get out, all before our army even makes it there.

I admit bias here in seeing Anoch as a high priority. The threat that Balliol's mind control ritual would prevent the holy flow of information is anathema to me. From a strictly religious point of view, the Keepers must be allowed to do their duty unmolested, and those Chroniclerites who bring knowledge to the Library must be allowed to pass without fear of their minds (and thus, the data they carry) being altered. It is fortunate to this cleric that taking Anoch would be a boon to our cause without the religious angle; between the access to knowledge, the defensible position, and the ability to use the tunnels to move groups of key people (like us) directly into Balliol's territory without have to march around the mountains, there are many other reasons to take the city.

In Service,
Lady Lois Blair Heimdell of Albriar

Lady Heimdell,

Then it appears that a mission will be in order....who would wish to join [strike]me[/strike] us on such an endeavor? The risk will be high, but knowledge for the betterment of all is priceless.

In Service,

Sir Grashügel-

I will aid you and Lady Heimdell as best I can

In service,

As if I wouldn't be a part of this, Gras.

I'll accompany you through the tunnels.