A long shot...

That makes no sense with the things I saw in Grimwyr. He wasn't... He seemed like he was resisting at some points. That he was still human deep down. Until Enzarond whispered in his ear. Unless the symbiote can transfer hosts? If that's the case, then what was the shadow monster I chased into the woods?

Squire Keladry Aybara
Private of the Baronial Guard

I will find her and make sure she is safe.


In Service,

To update you all, Sir Grashugel has brought Angeliana to me. She is safe and Mirrormere is extracting all the information she can and will finish severing the curse that the True Warlock infected her with. I will explain more tonight when it is done and she is resting.

Count Everest

I don't know nearly enough about these things, so anything I say now may be completely wrong, but based on the various reports I have at least a theory.

If a True Warlock is created by a pact between a person and a demon, then it stands to reason that both must work in unison to accomplish the full strength of their power. We have reports from Keladry that Balliol displayed remnants of his humanity, at least in the beginning, and that it was through the whisperings of Enzarond that he was being corrupted. We have more recent reports that the two now seem to be functioning as equals. But we have other reports stating that Enzarond seemed to still be showing signs of the concerns of a mortal, whereas Balliol has not.

What if the goal was to give Val'Ixtal Vai a permanent host completely under it's control? And not just a perfectly subjugated host, but one in a position of immense power within Kormyre. Enzarond may have been working to slowly subvert Balliol's free will, to drive him to the point where he no longer is a person, but instead just a meat suit (pardon the term) for Val'Ixtal Vai.

This would explain why Balliol protected himself from Cyan's attempts to purify his mind. If such attempts were successful, the symbiote would loose its total control over its new host. It would also explain why both Enzarond and Balliol were able to be hurt, and did not defend themselves against many physical attacks. I suspect that maintaining two different bodies simultaneously would be difficult for even a being with Val'Ixtal Vai's power.

I would greatly appreciate the input of one who knows more on these matters than I.

I think you're thinking too small-scale here, Darius, we got a few other ingredients in the mix. Some assumptions/guesses of mine with recent revelations in mind:

1) Balliol is Val'Ixtal Vai (who I'm gonna just call VIV cause writing his name makes my hand cramp), and we got nothing left of the Duke besides his body.

2) Either Enzarond or Balliol or VIV has been replacing nobility in the Empire's territory with more pliable rulers, likely simulacra of their predecessors. Unclear if these individuals are directly infected with the symbiote or just general magic, but they are definitely acting in accordance with our unholy trinity's wishes.

3) Even if Enzarond is no longer the symbiote's primary host, he is still being controlled and empowered by it, as evinced by his coordination with Baliol, ability to brainwash our friends (no hard feelings, Reno), and generally slit us up a treat when we run into him on the battlefield.

4) If 2 and 3 are true, VIV either has the ability to exhibit a significant control over its thralls even when not necessarily physically present or focusing one hundred percent.

Bearing this in mind, we need to determine just what VIV needs to exist on its own---if we slot Baliol and Enzarond (which obviously needs to be done), the symbiote might continue to exist within one of its other, lesser thralls, and regroup within. Ideally we'd take out the Chancellor and the Duke at the same time but I'd rather that do more than temporarily deprive VIV of a host.

Seth, I know we haven't chatted much about this, but I'd like to take a look at that book of yours, next feast. This ain't my area of expertise by a long damned shot, but I owe it to a few good sailors to learn everything I can.

Cobus, the book is always open to be researched into. Feel free to ask when you find me.

As for your and Darius' theories, I am afraid they are more likely true than not.

For now, we look for evidence and wait for the Count's response.