Claiming the Libram

The 8th - 17th days in the second month of 1372

Again the heroes of Harrowhoff delved into Fidmalion to claim the Libram. They happened upon a chamber of the sun and after braving its hazards claimed several vials of many colored oil. Mosaics in this chamber depicted mages with such colors upon their daggers. 

Down they went ino the final level. Sybael entered the Chamber of the Sun Wizard and coating his dagger in the magic oil used it as a key to open a door beyond. Meanwhile, Taran entered the Chamber of the Moon Wizardess and deposited the glowing orb in a basin. A magic mouth spoke to her: "A woman must travel alone through the door of the stars”.

They continued on and came across the door of the stars, now opened by Sybael's key. Looming before the door, they saw the great hulk of iron. It stood inert, yet terrible to behold. Taran alone pressed forward and crossed the threshold of the starry door. There she saw the Libram with golden pages upon a pedestal. She took it swiftly and returned. The hulk briefly stirred, but moonlight began to glow around Taran and flashed in the dull eyes of the hulk. The hulk stirred no more. She had claimed the Libram without further bloodshed. 

The heroes returned to the lands of Balga and as they drew near a wicked blizzard blew from the west. From the tempest emerged the white-haired beasts of Morcarat, and her voice echoed through the howling wind. She demanded Taran give the Libram to one of her beasts which reached out is monstrous hand. This Taran did, and Morcarat proclaimed her free of the curse. 

The party traveled further east, arrived at the troubled city of Kronstadt, and settled in at the Sword Dancer Inn.

Visefrin immediately visited the priests of Valka whose clergy had been plagued by assassinations. He learned the priests of Valka suspected that the governor’s mistress was responsible for the murders. They claimed that she was a witch and said that church of Valka had publicly condemned the relationship. 

The bishop also communicated with local ravens and sent them flying west to warn Bishop Boraint of the revelations found in The First Crusade. 

The heroes searched the market square for armor, weapons, and an apothecary, but found no equipment better than their own, and only poultices and unguents hawked by Astoradian mountebanks. 

The elves disguised themselves to explore the town, seeking rumors of their kind in the surrounding lands. They found only one, a trader who came from deep in the forest south of the city. This elf was from a small Sylvan tribe. He told Sybael that in recent years spiders had taken up residence in the forest. These creatures, he said, were servants of darkness and dwelled in a foul ruin forbidden to the elves. 

Fidlthid made inquiries of the many Astoradian sellswords. These eastern mercenaries were paid well to escort caravans of miners to and from the hills. One claimed he spied a glimmering castle high in the mountains. It was whispered that great treasure was ensconced within it. This mercenary offered to guide them to the castle for a price. 

Of the recent assassinations, the mercenaries said that there were strange folk seen by night near the river dock.