Some Things About the Duke and Count Winterdark

I had made this initial report before the map was presented and a few other details known so if I missed anything to update, please just let me know and I can edit it properly.

Ilana Darkwood
Lady of Pendarvin
Head Mistress of Darkwood Academy
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First, the Esper of Loyalty-

We were able to successfully extract the Esper safely from Balliol with the help of Physicians, Psions, Archon students, and a few strong individuals to hold down the flailing man. The Esper is what was causing that ‘unending peace’ that Angeliana and a few others had felt and, with it being severed from Balliol, all the strange things he had caused to happen with his mind spikes (both the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ ones) began reverting themselves almost immediately.

He told us about his Djinn briefly, his wish for power, a second wish he would keep private, and his third wish releasing the Djinn from his service. It only made sense to me because of the Esper of Loyalty bound to him that he would make that wish, but now I do not think that Esper had any sway on his personality as Espers tend to do. That, because of the Djinn’s abilities, it was only a source of power so I am glad it is safe elsewhere now, it didn’t deserve that.
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The final sentencing on Saturday began as it was meant to, a large group of us (a bit uncomfortably) squeezed into the cavern Cell Zero was held to bear witness to it. Words were spoken between Balliol and the Count, Balliol angry with him for lying to all of us, Sebastian far angrier about all the people he let die. It felt like a stalemate when the Count handed him the papers, but Lucious did seem like for a moment he would sign them (there was apparently a meeting earlier in the day he reviewed the document with some Travancians and revisions were made.) Unfortunately, he choose Empires over people and shredded the document.

At this point, the Count began to conjure up Mirrormere to rip Balliol's spirit to shreds at the exact same time Balliol called upon his Djinn. He had promised his final wish to the Djinn, but he never actually made it. The damn fool apparently never heard how things with Djinns’ go. Since they had opened the door to the Cell for the Duke to review the papers and so the Count could actually affect him, Lucious asked to be freed. The Djinn, spurned by his now former master, disintegrated Cell Zero as it was not active and then immediately dropped a rock on Balliol’s head, crushing him instantly, the Count suffering the same fate being at his side.

Mirrormere expelled from Sebastian and I only saw briefly that her spirit buffeted at rocks to protect those in her reach and at that point I was snatched up with a gate rune and did not see what happened after. The rune made it to the inn and we immediately started requesting assistance towards the prison, to find souls, see if we could get the rocks moving, anything that could help. Mirrormere had whisked away a group to the entrance of the Dragon’s Claw so by the time I had returned to the area of the cavern, Angeliana and several others were at her side at the now caved in entrance. She said ‘she could not feel her, he left her.’ Referring to Mirrormere, with Sebastian’s body remaining underground.

At this point I continued to search for spirits as I watched the dragoons round up Angeliana to attempt to summon Mirrormere to find Sebastian. I spoke with Angeliana the other night and I will give the important points of the account:

She sung a song she often sings to Mirrormere to calm her and the dragoons focused themselves on her and her song, acquiring any sapphire they could find on their persons and presenting them. At this point, Sebastian’s swords appeared in Angel’s and Aiki’s hands, feeling a weight like Mirrormere’s Claw which then formed into the Count’s hands, cold energy slowly reforming his body as her roar filled the area. Sebastian appeared, unconscious and freezing.

I checked on him the other night to try and give an updated report, but unfortunately there is not much to add. He is currently at a normal body temperature, still unconscious, but physically is healthy.
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Currently, my best guess, and I will admit this is a complete guess, is that we need to contact the Plane of Fire to help Count Winterdark. For those who do not know he is part fire fury which come from that plane. From Angeliana’s account, it sounds like Mirrormere resurrected Winterdark and it was most likely through the Astral and that is why Angel did not see a spirit in the Spirit Realm.

Please, you may offer suggestions here if you have any. I know our resources are stretched at the moment, but any voice that wants to add true thought to this is appreciated.


Thank you for your time.

Donny - Oh the usual 'didn't trust any of us knowing the king was dead' 'Usurped power using the King's seal' etc. So we either were oblivious, suspicious forever, or also lying to people if we ever found out.


Darius - In case you are looking for an 'as soon as possible response' yes, she is at the moment.

-Ilana