Arelith Study: Interviews On Forest Of Despair

This is the Second Volume  Arelith Study: Forest Of Despair and the Cults of Malar Over History

In this Volume it contains the interviews made by myself over the course of the study.

The interview themselves not only reveal different insights on the Arelith Forest and the Forest of Despair, but also over other historical matters and themes.

This Study Occured between AR 170 to 181.

Smiley Part1

"Smiley": Why does your outfit look so ominous?

Tald Halley: I am looking for an board, to put an request

"Smiley": What kind of request?

Tald Halley: What is with my outfit?

"Smiley": It's quite black.

"Smiley": It has spikes.

"Smiley": It's honestly scary.

Tald Halley: I am seeking an Historian

"Smiley": Ah? A historian. As you can see by my visage, I've been living a good chunk of history

"Smiley": I could probably aid you in that regard

Tald Halley: Well, i like black and it has spikes...due being too lazy finding new pauldrons

Tald Halley: You can?

Tald Halley: Familiar with Arelith History?

"Smiley": Sure, I'm quite the historical figure myself

"Smiley": Sure am indeed

"Smiley": From the beginning, to the end

Tald Halley: Good, i am studying the Cults of Malar and their history, and looking to connect some aspects with Arelith History

Tald Halley: But sadly in terms of time and chronology is complicated

"Smiley": Ah, Malar, yes. I battled it's cult extensively

"Smiley": Here where I stand, I was once a battleknight.

"Smiley": A good one, at that.

Tald Halley: Excellent, do you mind if i record and write your responses?

"Smiley": I wouldnt expect otherwise

"Smiley": But we should move to a more appropiate location.

Tald Halley: Yes, of course

Tald Halley: Please guide the way

"Smiley": I know a cozy tavern just around the corner

"Smiley": What the

"Smiley": They changed it

"Smiley": We'll have to improvise

"Smiley": Your name was Tald Halley, right?

Tald Halley: Yes

"Smiley": Here on the fields

Tald Halley: Unusual place

Tald Halley: But fine by me

"Smiley": Nature helps me focus

Tald Halley: No problem

Tald Halley: Where to begin..

"Smiley": Wherever you wish

Tald Halley: Hmmm

Tald Halley: Can you tell in what year or at least pinpoint what decade the Arcane tower left the Forest of Despair?

"Smiley": Hm...

"Smiley": Pinpointing it it's rather ifficult

"Smiley": But I reckon it was around 112, along the fall of the tyrant

Tald Halley: 112? In Arelith Calendar?

Tald Halley: That is odd

"Smiley": It's from the last age

"Smiley": Days used to be longer you know?

Tald Halley: I dont

"Smiley": Weather was much harsher too

Tald Halley: Harder times?

"Smiley": Yes.

"Smiley": It rained all day long

Tald Halley: Hmm

"Smiley": But the weather? It was unbearably hot

Tald Halley: So...concerning the time and year of 112, was there Cults of Malar present on the Forest during that time?

Tald Halley: I read somewhere they were closer to Minmir  

"Smiley": They were not in the forest

"Smiley": They were restrincted to Minmir, to the caves in particular

"Smiley": They controlled the checkpoint to the UnderDark

Tald Halley: Caves?

Tald Halley: Interesting

"Smiley": Yeah

"Smiley": I was a member of the Radiant Hearth by that time

Tald Halley: An druid told me to look for the caves, but didnt understood

"Smiley": You seek them nowadays?

Tald Halley: Does this caves exist nowadays?

Tald Halley: I tought it..was ramble from an old druid

"Smiley": They do exist

"Smiley": But the way is harsh

Tald Halley: I may explore perhaps in better days

Tald Halley: For now i resolve myself with your knowledge

"Smiley": Perhaps indeed.

"Smiley": They're near the Hall of Brog

"Smiley": If you wish to find them, merely ask for the wyvern lair.

Tald Halley: Thank you already

"Smiley": Yes indeed, yes indeed

Tald Halley: So.. the Cults of Malar moved closer to the Arelith Forest after the surface war agaisnt the drows?

Tald Halley: Or during the War againt the Banite Fortress?

"Smiley": The Banites expelled them out

Tald Halley: Hmm. the Malarites?

"Smiley": Yeah

Tald Halley: That is odd

Tald Halley: I add the impression they were allies at later point in history

Tald Halley: This expulsion happened when?

"Smiley": They were not allies, they just had common enemies.

Tald Halley: Alliance of Coveniance then

"Smiley": Such is the way of darkness

Tald Halley: So this expulsion, happened at the Surface war, right after the reckoning?

"Smiley": No, before.

Tald Halley: Or later point?

"Smiley": Well

Tald Halley: Before?

"Smiley": It's a bit foggy

"Smiley": It happened during

Tald Halley: No problem

"Smiley": It started a bit before one could say

"Smiley": But it went on during it

"Smiley": Get it?

Tald Halley: Hmm

Tald Halley: I do

Tald Halley: So they were involved in the war

Tald Halley: Or just apart conflict?

"Smiley": It mixed.

"Smiley": It started away

"Smiley": but enemy of my enemy..

Tald Halley: Is my ally?

"Smiley": Could be said indeed.

Tald Halley: So the cults of Malar joined with the drows?

"Smiley": What do you plan to do with these writings?

"Smiley": Looking to make a biography?

"Smiley": I really wouldn't use the word joined

"Smiley": They didn't share a command structure

"Smiley": They just wanted to destroy the same things

Tald Halley: No, to examplify how the religion of Malar and its cults affected Arelith History

"Smiley": I see

"Smiley": Let's see where this takes us indeed

Tald Halley: I wrote about Lycanthropy, and exemplified the Cult had an huge influence on Lycanthropy on Arelith, now I expanding on the subject.

"Smiley": I will seek you ot at a later date

"Smiley": But I have a performance to attend now

Tald Halley: No problem

"Smiley": I'll keep talking then

Tald Halley: May i ask for an name?

"Smiley": Smiley

"Smiley": It's the only one I posees

"Smiley": Have a good night, Tald Halley

Tald Halley: Thank you Mister Smiley you already helped

Tald Halley: Likewise

"Smiley": May the Goddess of Magic watch over you

"Smiley": Yes indeed, my wisdom is boundless

"Smiley": See you soon.

       Day 20, Month 4 (Tarsakh), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Smiley Part 2

Tald Halley: Hello

"Smiley": Hello.

Tald Halley: How you doing?

"Smiley": I knew you wanted to meet me. So here I am.

"Smiley": Well.  I was expecting you

Tald Halley: indeed

Tald Halley: Well...shall we resume out history lesson?

"Smiley": It is possible

Tald Halley: Only if you have time Mister Smiley

"Smiley": I do, partially

Tald Halley: Good

"Smiley": Where are we going?

Tald Halley: We can go to the library

"Smiley": Bit boring, up to you

"Smiley": I dislike walking

"Smiley": There, cushions

"Smiley": All right, where were we?

Tald Halley: The Surface-drow war, Banites supposely fought the Malarites during that time

"Smiley": You haven't been able to find other historians?

Tald Halley: I have

Tald Halley: An miss Willowgrafe

Tald Halley: Trying my luck interviewing Angela Amana

Tald Halley: She gave some insights that the Malarites were installed near an Elven temple by the end of the war

"Smiley": Good to know, may this book be complete

"Smiley": I wouldn't use the word installed, it was a temporary camp that went on for far too long

Tald Halley: True

Tald Halley: How long until the Arcane tower left forest of despair?

Tald Halley: Or even after ?

"Smiley": After it, but it started as they did.

"Smiley": Do you happen to speak elven Tald?

Tald Halley: i do

"Smiley": Do speak it for me, I want to see I still got a knack for it

Tald Halley: [Elven]: Fine

Tald Halley: [Elven]: Are you absolutely confortamble to speak elven?

"Smiley": [Elven]: Yes.

"Smiley": This way I too get something from it. My last teacher left before our final lesson

"Smiley": I am capable of understanding it well enough, but I need some practise to properly speak it

Tald Halley: [Elven]: I will help where i can, as much you helping me already *he giggles*

Tald Halley: [Elven]: So..did the Malarites install imediatly in the Forest of Despair or only after some specific event?

"Smiley": Where did you hear that?

Tald Halley: [Elven]: Miss Willowgrave said that an Black Wizard created an portal before Malarites got installed

"Smiley": A black wizard.

"Smiley": Do you mean a necromancer or a demonologist?

"Smiley": They're not keen at portal opening, they are more adept at tearing reality itself..

Tald Halley: [Elven]: I tought she was speaking of Morghun the Black

"Smiley": Repeat that last bit?

Tald Halley: [Elven]: Was she speaking of Morghun the Black?

Reivan Kelisur: *A ghostly visage appears before you, shrouded in magics. It speaks.*

Reivan Kelisur: I am near soulhaven's portal if you want to come by I got something to show ya.

Reivan Kelisur: *As mysteriously as it appeared, the vision vanishes.*

"Smiley": That's quite useful

"Smiley": And no, not Morghun.

"Smiley": One second, I must reply to that

Tald Halley: [Elven]: No problem

"Smiley": *The old man conjured something and sat back again*

"Smiley": There was a black wizard, one who consorted with fiends

"Smiley": What most do not know is that it was not a man, but a woman.

"Smiley": Named Gerillia, at least before she became what it was.

"Smiley": Have you been to the city of Dis?

Tald Halley: [Elven]: Only once

"Smiley": There's people there who still remember.

"Smiley": I recommend you return

Tald Halley: [Elven]: Do you have an name?

"Smiley": Of them?

"Smiley": Only nicknames

"Smiley": Await for a moment,I must check something

Tald Halley: [Elven]: Alright

"Smiley":  I'm here Reivan!

"Smiley":  Are you having a duel to the death?

"Smiley": Welcome to my bridge.

Reivan Kelisur:  Over here.

"Smiley": Let's go see

"Smiley": A moment Tald, this man made a statue of myself.

Reivan Kelisur: Heres your statue. *sets it down from its covering*

Tald Halley: [Elven]: Hmm

Reivan Kelisur: Will be placed in Cordor's sewers at the entrance.

Tald Halley: That is odd

Reivan Kelisur: Made exactly how Smiley requested it.

"Smiley": This is beautiful Reivan.

"Smiley": Yes. I believe the sewers are the most fitting place.

Tald Halley: If he requested this way, then is suitable

Reivan Kelisur:  I'm glad you like it.

"Smiley": I am really proud of it.

"Smiley": You truly caught my visage

"Smiley": And my love for screaming at bystanders.

Reivan Kelisur: Alright lets go get it placed.

"Smiley": Very well my dear friend.

"Smiley": Do you wish for me to go or want to surprise me?

Reivan Kelisur: Can come with. Make sure its in the right spot.

"Smiley": Yes indeed

Reivan Kelisur: And I'll see ya around.

Tald Halley: See ya around

"Smiley": My Taldarian friend, I am sorry but as you see I must attend to this

Tald Halley: No problem

"Smiley": I will look for you after I am done

Tald Halley: See you later

"Smiley": Do this though

"Smiley": Make a list with your questions, general ones

"Smiley": So I can answer them quickly

Tald Halley: Alright

"Smiley": As you see we always get interrupted otherwise

Tald Halley: It may be many

"Smiley": I got a lot of talk on me

" I never saw again Mister Smiley, last I heard of his name, he was exiled from Cordor"

" The Dates given by Mister Smiley are questionable but the chain of historical events its not"

       Day 20, Month 4 (Tarsakh), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Meriam Fuzzypaw

Tald Halley: Miss Fuzzypaw may ask for an moment of your time?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: You can ask, but depends on what you'll do with it *She grins to Tald*

Tald Halley: I already interviewed Miss Maya concerning the same matter i wish to inquire

Meriam Fuzzypaw:  What is the matter?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Icedawn?

Tald Halley: The Cult of Malar and the Forest of Despair in terms of History

Tald Halley: icedawn?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Forest and the Cult then yes?

Tald Halley: yes

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Follow me lad, there's a good tree to sit under with a good chat.

Meriam Fuzzypaw:  What have you prepared to ask lad?

Tald Halley: Do you know in which period did the Cult of Malar settle on the forest of Despair?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: No, a long time ago if I was to make a guess....The Malar Temple has also been linked with Morghuuns lair, some sort of dark alliance....

Meriam Fuzzypaw: If I had to estimate, I'd say around ten, perhaps twenty after Reckoning.

Tald Halley: Did the Cult originate from the Cults of Minmir before Kohligen fell?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Old sea ruins of Kohligen?  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: To my knowledge, They have little to no relation.

Tald Halley: But there was different Cult of Malar roaming on Minmir correct?

Tald Halley: An different cult

Meriam Fuzzypaw: There have been several cults of Malar over the decades. Not all affiliated with one another.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: As far as Kohligen itself, that's unrelated to the Forest of despair itself.

Tald Halley: Did the Malarites participate on the conflicts on early history after the reckoning?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: *She shakes her head* That portion is lost history, Nobody is around from that time, barring perhaps Angela Amana or Jacob Swift.  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: We are talking over a hundred and fifty years ago, perhaps nearer two hundred.

Tald Halley: I see, then perhaps i will ask in one simple question , what do you know of the Cult and the Forest of Despair in the first Century after the Reckoning?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Very little.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I know three tales of how the forest became what it is today. But I do not know which holds the most truth.

Tald Halley: Three tales?

Tald Halley: Midn if i hear them?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Sit down lad

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Mmm.....The first is a conflict of spirits. Angry spirits that rouse the trees and beasts that dwell within the forests.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Three of them, doing battle with one another over dominance of the forest. And woe to any whomst get in the way.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Of course, Wether they are the cause or the effect is hard to know.

Tald Halley: Interesting...

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Hmm, I suppose it could be woven into a greater tale. But that is the short of the matter in regards to the first.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The second...is a touch more annoying of an concept.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Arcane Tower...long, long ago used to reside in the Bramble Woods.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And before that, it's theorised it resided in the forest that we now know as the forest of despair.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The arcane experiments, magical residue, and eventually the great magic that teleported the tower into a new location, warped and twisted the beings of the forest.  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: It takes very little rot to slowly infect the whole plant y'see. And over time the forest became what it is today. Slowly warping and consuming itself

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And that is the second.

Tald Halley: That is been the explanation i most hear of the origins of the Forest of Despair

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The third is the one I am most....ah,  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The one I most believe in myself.

Tald Halley: Hmm  

Meriam Fuzzypaw:  Are you aware of the great Elemental lords of this Isle?

Tald Halley: Not really

Tald Halley: I am familiar with Elementals but not with the concept of Lords among them

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Mmm, A sad tale for how I became aware of them. But, there are four great Elemental beings that claim this Isle, in each cardinal direction.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And they created the Heartstone found in the Arelith Forest.

Tald Halley: Heartstone?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Mmm, Have you never been to the Grove?

Tald Halley: I have, but not had an proper guide for it, so not aware of the complete nature of the Grove

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Anyhow....It may be that the Heartstone was one of two..... One once found within the Forest of Despair.

Tald Halley: What happened to the one of the Forest of Despair?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: That...is unknown

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Truth be told, there are few remnants to even believe a second stone existed.  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: But...when the Heartstone was stolen, dark and horrific tidings occured within the Grove...within days, as if an entire locus of negative energy overtook and overwhelmed all at once.

Tald Halley: Hmm

Meriam Fuzzypaw: ....To further matters, Dryad trees are planted around the Heartstone. If such was the case in the forest of despair....When those trees were slain, and the Despair stone removed, it would continue to explain why nothing has healed in..centuries

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The trees remain angry at their loss. The beasts remain mad and crazed...And the spirits have long since forgotten all but rage and violence.

Tald Halley: What is the role of Malar in all of this? Or maybe they just took advantage of the absence of this Heartstone?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Malar has no role in all of this.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Malarites of the forest likely just moved in to a place that "Suited" them. A place of violent animals and raging nature.

Tald Halley: I see *he writes*

Meriam Fuzzypaw: That...is the third

Tald Halley: So... three tales, which with their interesting take on the Forest

Tald Halley: So moving an century after the reckoning *he takes an look at notes*

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Mmm.

Tald Halley: What did the Malarites slowly invest in wars and conflicts during the years of AR 102? If you aware of this part of history.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I am not, That is before I arrived on this Isle.

Tald Halley: I see, when did you arrive Miss Meriam?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Ahh, I think Around the year AR 132....Well, as the year turned into 132, so you could say 131.

Tald Halley: Interesting..

Tald Halley: So how active was the Cult during that time?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The one in the forest?

Tald Halley: Yes, but if there others, i would like to know

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Little....They were recovering, as was most of the lands around the Dale. the Spriggan Wars took a large toll, both on this Dale, and the isle.

Tald Halley: So the Cult did participate in the War?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: More like they had their "turf" taken. the Spriggans often used the forest of Despair.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And Spriggans care very, very little about who or what were in their way.

Tald Halley: So they too engaged the Spriggans

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Not through fault of their own mind  Likely stayed out of their way.

       Day 1, Month 5 (Mirtul), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Meriam Fuzzypaw Part2

Tald Halley: So you never heard of the Antiwerewolf laws of AR 129?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Honestly lad, just about everywhere has Anti werewolf laws.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Werewolves are not exactly what people want wandering their streets.

Tald Halley: That year even Sencliff and Myon sponsored hunts , no idea what caused this general Arelith mentality?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Probably a surplus of werewolf attacks

Tald Halley: I may actually have now an explanation for that  due to the Spriggan war involvement for that suddenly increase

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Quite possibly.

Tald Halley: When did the Cult Recover after the Spriggan war?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: They sort of just continued on

Tald Halley: So isnt related with the revival of the Heartwood grove?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Revival?

Tald Halley: Well reform if the druids prefer that word

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I'm not sure what you mean in this regard.

Tald Halley: Well, according the information I gathered from AR 132 until Archdruid Lila left her duties, Malarites were allowed in the grove? Is this correct?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Do you mean what happened after Xellree and the great spirit hunt?

Tald Halley: Xelree?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Xellree was Archdruid of the grove at that time lad. He is the one who taught me.

Tald Halley: Or maybe the journal is incorrect, Beryl Journal familiar?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Quite. Though the dating is off, Lila was far past 132.  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Nearer 140

Tald Halley: Then it must have been my mistake on registered

Meriam Fuzzypaw: That Journal mentions the theft of the Heartstone no?

Tald Halley: May have to consult the Journal again, not sure  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Mmm....That whole situation was a mess

Tald Halley: I should have asked an copy of it

Meriam Fuzzypaw: To sum up the situation with Malarites lad, and this is coming from a Strongheart Hin here.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I hold no love for Malar and his ilk. But Malarites come in many varieties, be they simple hunters surviving winter, blood crazed madmen or simply folk praying for good fortune

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Those who serve Malar on the side of what he represents...in a druidic fashion, the bloodied hunt, the violence of beasts, They were....permitted, into the Grove. Before Lila too

Meriam Fuzzypaw: As would be walkers of Winter, serving Auril. Stormchasers and those whom cared for the mountains.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: It is a grove, and in each of their own way. They do serve nature, as detestable as some methods and ways are.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Cults....do not, That is when worshipping those beings becomes folly.  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Onto the matter of Xellree perhaps, and the Spirit hunts

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Xellree, served Nature. as a whole, More wild than elf, bonded to Wolf himself. And he led the grove for many years

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Spirit hunts.....That, yes that did have some Malarite influence, but it was also a great many factors...human greed and need for power mostly.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Every few hundred years, the great Spirits of Arelith. the Beasts, manifest and roam the isle over the course of about a year.

Tald Halley: Which year did this Xelree incident  happened?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: They do not manifest fully mind, glimpses seen in herds of Deer of a great ghostly Stag for example

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Ah, This was 133....or 134.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Around that time at least

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Regardless, I did not take part fully in what happened....Hunters, sponsored by the Derslon estate and several nobles of Cordor...old "hunting buddies" seeking a last hooray and new grand trophies....fools, tricked into harming nature

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And...worse, influenced by Below, greed. A "hunters association" who seek great beasts to cull and make trophies of, came to the isle and slew...four or so, great spirits.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Grove, led by Xellree....well for the beginning part, managed to revive the beasts and stop the hunters.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: But the leaders...dissapeared, and were unable to be found

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Arelith forest....Spoke to Xellree, and was angry that the beasts had been slain in the first place....not that he could have prevented it, none of us were aware at the time of what happened.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And it called for no being of flesh to be leader of the grove at that time....and so Xellree was banished from the forest, by the forest.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: He still served nature, but needed time to adjust to what happened

Tald Halley: Banished by the forest?  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Mmm, When your grove manifests a voice and says "Nobody is archdruid"

Meriam Fuzzypaw: That's what I mean, not that he was unable to go back...or around, but most of us druids steered clear of the grove for a good while.

Tald Halley: That is ...unique  

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Very

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Now...about Lila, what do you know of her appointment as Archdruid?

Tald Halley: Not much, i dont want to take wild guesses but for what i heard she wasnt popular i think

Meriam Fuzzypaw: To those whom replaced her and the circle that followed her? Definitely not.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: But most of us not directly following the grove dident' much like the next lot either.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Have you found any books by Corbin?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Spirit walker

Tald Halley: No familiar with the author

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Corbin was a great spiritualist. And a spiritwalker, he served nature and was a member of the darkheart grove

Meriam Fuzzypaw: ....I was mayor of Bendir at the time, and I recieved a Hin...not a Speedy, an old friend, Mabel Highfen came running into the dale seeking me. Telling me the Grove is in great danger, and that I as a druid, need to come and defend it

Meriam Fuzzypaw: We were at war with the Andunorian Sharps at the time, led by Vance Gravalle and Ezra Murann. Cyricists both

Meriam Fuzzypaw: So I thought it was them attacking the grove.

Tald Halley: Excuse, what year?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I warded up, and ran to the Grove alongside Mabel.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: 133 or 134. Perhaps it was 135 I cannot remember precicesly. It's been a long time since then lad, and I've been in a lot of fights  

Tald Halley: Well better than nothing

Meriam Fuzzypaw: There was a Dragonshaper. Less so a follower of nature, moreso one seeking answers.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Mightily powerful, I arrived outside the grove and see a gathering of druids, a literal circle. Folks I had not seen before, new to the Isle...and weak in strength

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Amongst them, Lila and Corbin.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Dragonshaper had challenged the Grove.

Tald Halley: The Malarites helped in this conflict?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Though...still there was no Archdruid, nor elders of the circle to defend it. Many were hibernating

Meriam Fuzzypaw: No lad, this was a different matter.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: This is about Lilah

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Because the truth is important.

Tald Halley: Alright  

       Day 1, Month 5 (Mirtul), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Datura Willowgrave

Tald Halley: Excuse me

Minto Fuzzypaw: "Hm?"

Datura Willowgrave: Yes?

Tald Halley: Is this scroll exchange meeting attendable by outsiders of the arcane tower?

Datura Willowgrave: Yes, of course.

Datura Willowgrave: As long as you are welcome under the Tower rules.

Tald Halley: Excellent, is there gonna be present an miss Willowgrafe?

Tald Halley: Been trying to find her

Datura Willowgrave: Willowgrave. And yes, I will be there.

Datura Willowgrave: And you are?

Tald Halley: Excellent, I am Tald Halley

Datura Willowgrave: Ah, Mister Halley. It has been some effort to find you.

Minto Fuzzypaw: "I suppose if you're searching for a Miss Willowgrafe, she would be hard to find."

Tald Halley: I posted an message looking for historians an month or so

Datura Willowgrave: *Datura frowns.* Why don't we speak in the Apex?

Tald Halley: Good

Tald Halley: Is it open now?

Datura Willowgrave: It always is.

Minto Fuzzypaw: "It is always open."

Datura Willowgrave: Please, sit, Mister Halley.

Tald Halley: Thank you

Datura Willowgrave: *She nods faintly to Rekka.*

Sindri'i: "is how was party?"

Minto Fuzzypaw: "Perfect."

Tald Halley: I am studying the Cults of Malar in Arelith history, and i am looking for an historian familiar with Arelith History  

Tald Halley: At least the first century after the reckoning

Datura Willowgrave: I focus on a lot of early Arelithian history, in that range.

Minto Fuzzypaw: "Presumably you've read the books in the library?"

Tald Halley: I have

Minto Fuzzypaw: "Good"

Datura Willowgrave: The Malarites originated in Arelith Forest.

Tald Halley: I found incomplete on the regard i am looking, not everione studies wicked or forbidden cults or adds them to history books

Datura Willowgrave: Thank you.

Datura Willowgrave: What precisely are you looking for?

Datura Willowgrave: Good Business.

Tald Halley: I am looking to find out in which regard they eventually slowly stabislihed themselves on Arelith Forest

Tald Halley: And their relations over the century with other factions and historical events that occurred on the Island

Datura Willowgrave: Hrn. Their relations with others may be a problem but I can tell you about some of their work during the island's early years.

Tald Halley: Good

Datura Willowgrave: The Malarites used to work out of Arelith forest, near where the Temple of Silvanus is now.

Tald Halley: *he removes an note book from an bag*

Tald Halley: Mind i write down?

Datura Willowgrave: You can still find some of their priests lurking in that forest if you try hard enough. They have a hidden shrine.

Datura Willowgrave: Of course, go ahead.

Tald Halley: When do you put them their initial activities there? After the Drow Surface war?

Datura Willowgrave: Naturally they had conflicts with the elves but also with the Paladins of Kohlingen, which would come out to fend off their bands.

Datura Willowgrave: Hrn. After or during but not before. It was largely after the Tower left the Forest of Despair that they established in that forest instead.

Tald Halley: So they had an presence on Minmir at early history? If they got attention of Kohlingen?

Datura Willowgrave: Yes, quite early.

Datura Willowgrave: So early in fact that they even earned the ire of the Waymen of Wharftown under Rune and Aristotlus.

Tald Halley: Rune and Aristotlus early governors of Wharftown?

Tald Halley: Not familair with Wharftown history

Datura Willowgrave: Yes, the founders of the Waymen.

Tald Halley: Alright

Datura Willowgrave: They used to have statues in the town square before the place was leveled.

Datura Willowgrave: This was pre AR 14, roughly.  

Datura Willowgrave: The Wharftown boys surfaced around then. A lot of drop outs from the Waymen or those removed from Wharftown as the paladins took over at that time.

Datura Willowgrave: That eventually turned into one of the Malarites allies.

Datura Willowgrave: They also have Abyssal connections with the Black Wizard.

Datura Willowgrave: Although I don't know if that still remains as strong.

Tald Halley: What of Morghun the Black? When did they ally themselves with him?

Tald Halley: Or the other way around?

Datura Willowgrave: You can likely read more about him in Bendir's history since the Black Wizard has held a grudge against the settlement.

Tald Halley: I will

Datura Willowgrave: Hrn. Unfortunately, I haven't done any research on the Black Wizard but I suspect that it was an alliance of circumstance. He was working in the Forest and so were they.

Tald Halley: I see.. what about the Banites?

Datura Willowgrave: His first portal was created where the Temple of Malar is now.

Datura Willowgrave: Hello, Mister Dusk.

Salasker Dusk: High Magus.  You are well, I trust?

Datura Willowgrave: As well as I can be.

Datura Willowgrave: We haven't started yet.

Datura Willowgrave: But do, sit.

Salasker Dusk: Ah, my thanks.  

Datura Willowgrave: Hrn. The Banites would have more records on their Malarite alliances but I suspect it depends on who is reigning.

Datura Willowgrave: No, its simply early.

Datura Willowgrave: They were in contention with some Wild Elves of the Forest of Despair but even so there have been some wild elves that have had Malarite packs. These things largely depend on what era.

Datura Willowgrave: Perhaps Mister Dusk knows of some Malarite history. He is older than I.

Tald Halley: I see, so when did the temple of Malar in Forest of Despair began construction imediattly after the destruction of the Banite Fortress? Or when the Banites left the forest eventually?

Salasker Dusk:   Pardon, High Magus?

Datura Willowgrave: The Banites were not in the forest, to my knowledge. They were outside of it.

Datura Willowgrave: Hello, Final Magus.

Salasker Dusk:   Sir Tald..   Good to see you.  And you, Final Magus.

Relds Matulral: High Magus. Strangers. Mister Dusk.

Datura Willowgrave: But you should check with them. They were in Old Stonehold.

Datura Willowgrave: Given that the leader at the time was said to have a drow mistress, it may have happened during or shortly after the Drow-Surface war.

Datura Willowgrave:  We're talking Malarite history.

Datura Willowgrave: Perhaps you know some from your time on the island.

Tald Halley: I see, in the Bendir- Stronghold wars you arent aware if the Malarites played an role on the war?

Tald Halley: If they took the Banite side?

Salasker Dusk: I am a poor historian and scholar, High Magus.  Something you have berated me for upon more than one occasion...

Datura Willowgrave: I don't know. Malarite leaders haven't really made a name for themselves. I only know of one, historically, and only by his first name.

Datura Willowgrave: Cash of the Heartwood Grove.

Tald Halley: I did have my name on my list for interview Mister Dusk.

Tald Halley: Cash?

Datura Willowgrave: Well, Mister Dusk, I do hope that with enough chances, you might rise to the occassion.

Tald Halley: Honestly havent heard of him

Datura Willowgrave: Yes, it was the only listed Malarite name that I have found. A ranger, I believe.

Tald Halley: Can you tell about him?

Datura Willowgrave: But this was 50, maybe 70 AR.

Tald Halley: i am studying the Cult of Malar all the way untill last years

Tald Halley: At least until AR 150

Salasker Dusk: A fanatic, Sir Tald.  One that wished to spread Malar's Curse far and wide.  He believed that, in doing so, the bestial nature would cause an uprising, destroying the settlements and returning the island to nature.

Datura Willowgrave: Not much is known. Only that he was around during the time that the druids was having a row with the elves over their crypts.

Tald Halley: So he was their nomiated or represented leader?

Datura Willowgrave: I don't believe it was anything formal.

Datura Willowgrave: Malarites tend to fight for supremacy.

Tald Halley: So, and the fittest survives

Datura Willowgrave: Yes.

Tald Halley: I am sorry . maybe i am disturbing your scroll exchange?

Tald Halley: I forgot what meeting was happening here

Datura Willowgrave: You might consider seeking out history in the Temple of Talona or the Dark Heart Grove but as I understand it, druids like to destroy each others histories in order to show domination so you may not find much.

Tald Halley: Hmmm

Relds Matulral:  You aren't disturbing me.

Datura Willowgrave: We will be starting when our gnome arrives.

Tald Halley: I see

Datura Willowgrave: I believe that there is all there is, from me. The Malarites have not had much of a center which inspires documentation.

Datura Willowgrave: Perhaps look to Sencliff. I know they have had some Malarites but nothing focused.

Tald Halley: I dont think Sencliff preserved their history at all

Datura Willowgrave: Most do not because they prefer to remember heroes or their own achievements.

Tald Halley: Been there when iwas doing research before there is barely any useful records

Datura Willowgrave: I would leave a note with the Banites. They might have some more leads for you.

Datura Willowgrave: They were quite helpful when I was doing work in the area.

Tald Halley: Banites....I will like to try with them last

Tald Halley: If preferable avoid them

Datura Willowgrave: As you wish but they have a library and a lorekeeper. It would be a waste to avoid a resource if it has leads.

       Day 1, Month 5 (Mirtul), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Datura Willowgrave Part2

Tald Halley: So in mid to late century, you arent aware if they got involved in other Arelith events?

Datura Willowgrave: Hrn.

Datura Willowgrave: I don't believe so. I know they and werewolves were hunted quite extensively for a time. Maybe 30-60 AR because infection rates were higher then.

Datura Willowgrave: I don't believe they had much of a chance to establish any kind of force.

Relds Matulral: I asked after Malarites a year or so ago, and Archruid Burin didn't have much to say about them at the time. They were not active in the grove, in short.

Acaria Nettlehorn: Malarites,best bet is to look to their allies and enemies.

Datura Willowgrave: I believe Bendir led the charge against the werewolves at the time, due to proximity.

Tald Halley: When did the Malarites in history purged the Wolfsbane early history or did they several times during the century?

Datura Willowgrave: That wasn't in early history, that was later.

Tald Halley: How late?

Datura Willowgrave: Hrn. Angela Amana would have better dates for that. She was around during that time, I am told.

Sindri'i: Nods! "Is hope like"

Datura Willowgrave: So after 70AR, at least.

Datura Willowgrave: Anything further on this topic before we start?

Tald Halley: No, i think you helped me an lot Miss Willowgrafe, would you mind if i may transcribe this interview in later point in an book?

Tald Halley: It helped an lot in perspective

Datura Willowgrave: Certainly but I would recommend getting confirming resources. My knowledge comes from my own work during Early Arelith and it is not documented on this subject.

Tald Halley: I found another historian who also brings an unique view on Malar History, but i intend to confirm everything

Datura Willowgrave: I look forward to seeing your work. Do feel free to call on me as needed.

Tald Halley: Of course

Datura Willowgrave: Now then, welcome to the Annual Scroll Exchange.

Datura Willowgrave: I am High Magus Datura Willowgrave of the Earthkin Arcanum. While I prefer not to do introductions, I am told people prefer it so please feel free to state who you are.

"After this introduction by the High Magus, the Earthkin Arcanum began their Annual Scroll Exchange, dont remember much after i think, I may have fallen asleep"

       Day 1, Month 5 (Mirtul), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Meriam Fuzzypaw Part3

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I watched the shaper bellow questions, simple ones to most druids but he was unhappy with the answers he was recieving.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Mainly, why are undead that rise upon the land without magic, considered unnatural.

Tald Halley: That is an particular odd question for an dragonshaper

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And the youthful druids, full of brim and vinegar took offense to the questions  Not that I blame them, sadly none of them could face him in combat.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: He defeated two of the mightiest that circle had to offer. And that is why Corbin and Mabel had called me.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I defeated the Dragonshaper in both physical matters, and in debate. Afterwards he left, satisfied in the answers.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And I was asked to lead the Grove as Archdruid....And I chose the Dale over the Grove, because I could not abandon this place in it's time of need

Tald Halley: You found out why he wanted such knowledge? The dragonshaper?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: So...I was asked to choose who was to lead instead, and I leaned on Corbins advise as he knew the young circlegoers better than I.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Simple, he was confused as to why undead would rise without a necromancer, and was it natural.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Short answer, Negative energy pervades and animates on it's own, and it's unnatural because that sort of planar seeping is primarily only done through folly and magic.

Tald Halley: So you end up leading the grove until when?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: For about five minutes.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I chose Lila to lead the grove, on the advice of Corbin and Mabel.

Tald Halley: That is....

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The Circle then agreed to follow her. And I thought nothing else of the matter.

Tald Halley: So why did she end up being so unpopular?

Tald Halley: From your perpesctive?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Because a campaign of slander against her. She was blamed for a great many things she had no control over.

Tald Halley: And that included the Malarites?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Drow, coming to the Grove. the Archdruid of the deep grove specifically. a Snake totem.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Several times, unbidden. And he was unwelcome there.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Cyricist cultists, appearing in a large gathering in the grove, whilst she knew not who they were.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Malarites? perhaps, I only know of one who was active on the isle at the time, and he served Darrowdeep and aided us against far darker forces.

Tald Halley: What was his name?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Beats me lad, I can hardly keep my grandkids names straight, let alone someone from over fourty years ago.

Tald Halley: But he wasnt associated with Malarites of the Forest of Despair?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: No.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The ones in the Forest of Despair sort of stick to themselves.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: They also funnily enough, break the tenants of Malar.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: They used ranged weaponry.

Tald Halley: Interesting , so  they follow the will of Malar as they see fit as well?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Anyhow....When Beryl and Edgar came to the Isle, Edgar decried Lila as leader of the grove. And rallied other...angry voices to his cause

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And in a meeting without Lila present, and refusing any challenge to it, those angry voices placed Beryl as archdruid of the Grove.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Many druids of Lila's circle left.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Lila went to serve the Darkheart grove.  

Tald Halley: Why the Darkheart grove?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: In the Arelith jungles?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Because others were there. And it can always use another caretaker

Tald Halley: So she never tried to clear her name?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Though now it is called the Dragonstone grove.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Why bother when your detractors are in a higher position and have louder voices?

Tald Halley: Had no idea it was called Dragonstone grove

Tald Halley: It seems Druids dont care about much about tolerance

Meriam Fuzzypaw:  Why bother clearing your name when you know you comitted no crime?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: And when cities mean little, folks who would hunt you are other druids and naturewalkers, and would end up doing more harm to what you keep than yourself

Tald Halley: Lies and deception can become the truth, look at the journal I read it paints her an evil person

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I am aware.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: It is why I tell you that is not so.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: At least, not the Lila I knew.

Tald Halley: That is quite interesting, the more i look into this matter, the more i feel have little time for so much history to be written on books.

Tald Halley: Maybe you should try to write yourself this part of history

Meriam Fuzzypaw: There are so many issues with books lad.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Oh no dear....I shant' write a book on any of these matters, it would be terribly biased

Tald Halley: Yes, indeed

Tald Halley: Then maybe i will, after i end this one , that i am starting to see becoming two different books

Tald Halley: So the malarites never participated into the groves after Archdruid Lila?

Tald Halley: Again i mean

Meriam Fuzzypaw:  I do not know, I was handling matters in the mountains near what is now Westcliff

Tald Halley: Interesting, you familiar with the Banites?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Sadly.

Tald Halley: At least part of their history?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Again, sadly.

Tald Halley: i have an conflict of history  information

Meriam Fuzzypaw: What's the conflict

Tald Halley: I always tought that Banite accepted the Malarites among as allies, but i learned that in early Arelith History they refused such worshippers and even hunted them down, but they accept them nowadays on their ranks.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Oh the Banites early on this Isle were a bunch of cruel evil...

Meriam Fuzzypaw:  Awful, awful beings. They got along with nobody, and were a highly militaristic order

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I suggest reading into the Dales history to see what they did here.

Tald Halley: yes, the Stonehold wars

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Both of them.

Tald Halley: Quite warm they did around here

Tald Halley: But that is another example of confusing history as well

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Banites now are far different.

Tald Halley: Well, indeed they are, and fat one was killed the other day on Cordor

Tald Halley: An fat one*

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Every generation of Bane worshippers on this Isle bring new customs.

Tald Halley: I see

Tald Halley: So it explains how they changed that much in less than two centuries

Meriam Fuzzypaw: The ones when I was first around, who participated in the Cyricist wars, their leader became a Cyricist and betrayed the temple. And one of their highest ranking knights forsook bane, and joined the dwarves of Brogendenstien to repent and continue fighting the Cyricists

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Then five years later, new banites arrived and tried to throw their weight around, and were crushed by the Brogendenstien Dominion.

Tald Halley: Never heard of an attempt against Brogendenstien

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Oh Brogendenstien has never welcomed Banites.

Tald Halley: At least from Banites

Tald Halley: This happened at AR 144?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Give or take, They also tried to mess with Westcliff as it was part of the dominion.

Tald Halley: Never heard of such conflict in books anywhere

Tald Halley: It must have been an quick skirmish

Meriam Fuzzypaw: It wont be in the books, It was ongoing for a while. But was just....normal

Meriam Fuzzypaw: We went from war to war.

Tald Halley: Normal for the time, i bet

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Quite.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Plus, we dident' have much time to record things and write stuff down.

Tald Halley: At least you had more time than the Arelithians an century before, there is barely any records of those times

Meriam Fuzzypaw: These days the Isle is at relative peace compared to back then.

Tald Halley: So after those times Malarites didnt took part of conflicts on Arelith until nowadays?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Pretty much, they've mostly kept to themselves

Tald Halley: What of the Forest of Despair nothing happened as well?

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I dont really have much more information on the matter of malarites or the forest.

Tald Halley: I will not ask more, you already pinpoint some interest aspects of their History, and may have brought an end to my doubts on others.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: I am glad of that.

Tald Halley: I now know and almost sure that the Malarites moved to the Forest of Despair at AR 10, that pinpoints their beginning on that part.

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Do you know about their alliance with Morghuun?

Tald Halley: Yes, that is another complicated matter altogheter

Meriam Fuzzypaw: Well, I had best check my shop and get back to the farm. It's getting late

Tald Halley: Thank you for your time

Meriam Fuzzypaw: You are welcome.

Tald Halley: Likewise

       Day 1, Month 5 (Mirtul), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Eldafire AR 177 Interview

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Hail

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I had honestly not expected to win the bid in the halls.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  It's eh.. barren. Really.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Indeed, yes.

Hound Archon Sentinel:  Swear that you come in peace if you wish to enter.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I swear it.

Tald Halley:  I swear...a

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Hm?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Ah, The oath. It's a fine jesture.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  These halls follow a similar layout to the House of the Triad.

Tald Halley:  Maybe they were buit around the same time...

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  As if .. stone by stone it was carried here. I lived and worked in the library that inspired this one for an age it felt like.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  No no.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  This was built much much later, after the House was removed from Cordor by the King.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Thieves have been trying this door. Just be aware.

Tald Halley:  Thieves on Radiant Heart?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I doubt Eliyne or Tristan left the locks weaker.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I doubt the latter would try to rob their own

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Apologies for the mess. I've literally aquired it as of a few hours ago.

Tald Halley:  Quite spacious

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  About three chests and room for records, meetings..

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I want to turn it into a sort of ... .. place of Lore.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  So we've bestiaries, monstariums' Books of Lawgiving..

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  A place where the Radiant can have more.. .. clandestine meetings.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Anyway. You wished to ask something of me?

Tald Halley:  I bet, Radiant already lots of clandestine meetings over its years.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  It's the nature of the work.

Tald Halley:  Yes, Lord Eldafire its been of the oldest Cordorians around, i may say.  

Tald Halley:  I am studying the Cult of Malar and its history, maybe my Lord can add his perpective over the matter.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I probably am, age wise. As for those that remain on the island itself.. I am not.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Aah. I know .. some parts of it, at least pre-Wharftown.

Tald Halley:  Well, Thoramind isnt exatly cooperative for an interview *he giggles*

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  He's a good man when he is forced to show his valor, but yes. Rather difficult to speak of histories.

Tald Halley:  Do you mind if i write it down?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Please, by all means.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I fear I may not know enough to fill too many pages, however.

Tald Halley:  One page may be enough to fill holes in history....

Tald Halley:  So...for firsts, when did Lord Eldafire arrive on the island?

Tald Halley:  For time reflections.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Pfft. . Around the hundredth year of Arelith Reckoning, I would say. Though I did visit back in.. 89?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Enough to see my niece as Baroness. But I didnt stay o'erlong.

Tald Halley:  What was the social or political status of Arelith when you arrived?

Tald Halley:  Chaotic as those days?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Much as it is now, I suppose. Benwick had fallen very recently indeed and Cordor was ruled by a man called Vetinari

Tald Halley:  How recently Benwick had fallen?  

Tald Halley:  At that time of course.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  There must be a record of the exact date. I remember speaking to three of the last Praetorians about it.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Very recently.  

Tald Halley:  May i ask those names for history documentation?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Rannos Susidien, Duncan Waynolt.. .. Hells, who was the third. Giovanno? No, that wasnt it.  

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Hm. The third I can't recall sadly, but Rannos was a lordling of that state and Duncan was a Knight. He only became a lord much, much later.

Tald Halley:  AR 88 by the way , the date that Benwick fell to demons, if you wish to know.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  That would make sense.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I must have visited Trynn a bit before that.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  As I say, from roughly the 90's to the 100s was when I first trained in Cordor. I am no master of exact dates as you'll learn.

Tald Halley:  Well, sadly on Arelith makes points on date

Tald Halley:  No one takes notes i mean.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Most are too busy attempting to survive I suppose.

Tald Halley:  Well, hmm, what do you remember of Arelith Forest of that time?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Honestly not much. I mostly passed thr-actually. . I do recall a month of dragons, near attempting to invade the island.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Had to fight a green at the Arnsrivaar pond. That was something.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Even had to be saved by a gold on the mountains near the dwarven realm. Madness.

Tald Halley:  What of the Forest of Despair in particular?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Let us just say.. The strength of people here is much greater than it was back then.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  So dangerous places were ... less seen as areas to exploit for glory and profit and areas that needed genuine preparation.  

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Given the ruin a Malarite curse could do, and the potency of the trees.. It was often avoided. It was likewise an area near Stonehold.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  People went... missing a lot.

Tald Halley:  They still do..

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Less so.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Stonehold was the crux of battles between Udos.. I think it was Udos. Before the floods. And the surface.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Given it's proximity to the forest of Dispair it gave it a ..reputation

Tald Halley:  So..the Cult was solid in their presence at their time?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  There have been many Malarite cults.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Mostly I knew of one that was aided by a cur, Feluka Foxwood.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  She claimed to be chosen of Selune, but merely led many down foul paths of the beastlord. A friend of mine, Brandr was likewise swayed by her evil.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  He was tricked, and eventually killed in the battle of Wharftown. A good man.  

Tald Halley:  Quite sad....

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I do recall reading some intelligence that the Grove was lead by a drowess, Wickett or some such, I believe she was a malarite. But that was a bit before my true investment in the island.

Tald Halley:  Crap...where did i put her name  

Tald Halley:  How interesting, what do you remember of this Wicket besides governign the grove?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I think it was a bit before my interests in the saftey of the realm, but I recall it caused a lot of bloodshed being so close to Myon.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  This was back before the Archers were really.. cemented.

Tald Halley:  I see..

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I ..think the Coronal at the time was Mithrim Ossear of the Vine or Shalifil of the bow.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I do have to give people ..new names, to remember them at this point.

Tald Halley:  This Feluka in particular was just an singular Malarite that stand out?

Tald Halley:  Or she led an cult?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  She lead a cell.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I tried to take her out a few times.

Tald Halley:  Based from?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Myon originally, being half elven.

Tald Halley:  That is surprising...

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  But when it came to light of her evil and herecy, as well as a murder of an elf they chased her out

Tald Halley:  When did  this happen?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  ..Vanion's reign.

Tald Halley:  Vanion.....sorry the name is failing

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Coronal of Myon I knew.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Liked to smite.

Tald Halley:  Smite evil i assume or steel?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  This was all /just/ before the battle of Wharftown, so I as somewhat .. .occupied.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Evil. He was a paladin of Corellon

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  It's more as a reference for your timeline than anything relevent to your cult

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Feluka Foxwood was just one of the many many iterations of the cult of Malar, mind.

Tald Halley:  You would say an decade before the unfortanate battle of Wharftown?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Months before

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  As in, she was there.

Tald Halley:  May i ask of the other Cults, that you encountered?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  To my shame, I was leading the home defence incase our assault of Wharftown failed.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Oof.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Too many to name really at this point. Some of the Covenant, the Guild of Necromancy.. The.. sodding.. Void Cult?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Eldreth Veluthra in droves..

Tald Halley:  Void Malarites?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Oh no, Oh you mean Malarite cults.

Tald Halley:  Yes...

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Right. There was a slaver in Sibayad I /believe/ was a malarite. But generally they wernt too present in Cordor or .. that involved with the banites of that era.

Tald Halley:  It wouldnt be surprised from my point of view, that consideration the Despair Malarites...

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Oh..

Tald Halley:  Can you further that last bit of the Banites?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  There was actually a group of Pirates.

Tald Halley:  Sencliff.. AR 107

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  That would have been during it's Duchy age before it was overwhelmed by refugees from Wharftown

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Controlled by Banites, lead by Anne Thrule and, to a lesser extent, Roland Asen.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Gods that was not a good time to be an elf or a Cordorian.

Tald Halley:  For how long they controlled Sencliff, the banites did?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  The Banites ..were not as they are now. Cordor was Triadic after all so they had a foe to attack

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Banites with a goal are... worse than any other foe.

       Day 15, Month 6 (Kythorn), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Eldafire AR 177 Interview part2

Tald Halley:  So had Cordor as an enemy?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  They ruled it for quite some time, both Sencliff and Minmir. So they had good sea access and one of the most resource laden areas of the time.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Hmh

Tald Halley:  That is quite interesting....

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  What they liked to do, was to force Wharftown to vote as they liked, and flood that town with their soldiers to fill the vote.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  It was how the Guild of Necromancy got in.  

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Obviously..It was not long until that escalated.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  We ... did well in the first instances.. But we eventually began to lose. Banites... They are not a normal foe.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  The more you hate a banite, the more of them you smite, the more you become like them... The larger their numbers grow.

Tald Halley:  Going an little back before Wharftown, what was the relation between Malarites and Banites ?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Malar is an exarch of Bane.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  A servant of.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  They would, much as the drow do now, infect someone and send them running for aid in town during the moons.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  You can see the worth as that as a magical weapon. That would either harm or distract the guards or spread the curse. It is also useful to test a nations response times.

Tald Halley:  In this case, both Malarites and Banites used this tactic?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Yes.

Tald Halley:  Quite interesting...

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Drow still do, on occasion. Wolfsbane was not as common as it is now

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  The curse.. harder to resist.  

Tald Halley:  Yes, quite tragic

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Or at least it seems so.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Generally, if you sought to know more... The grove held some records.. As does Myon I believe.  

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Miranda Magna is somewhat more meticulous at record keeping than I.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I merely fought in the wars that are written about as "history"

Tald Halley:  Sadly the Grove, doesnt have reliable records, and Myon, without offense Lord Eldafire, doesnt share without reasons.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Aah. You cannot pass the Mythal. Of course, forgive me.

Tald Halley:  I must say Lord, you witnesses made me already fill some gaps on history

Tald Halley:  Especially the early decade of Ar 130

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  That was a dark time.

Tald Halley:  Were you aware all settlements doubled up their laws againt Lycanthropy on AR 129, i had no explanation for it until now at least an Historical one.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  The battles these days seem somewhat.. less. Or perhaps I have less to lose these dayas.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I was a guard at that time, I believe.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Certainly was. It was due to them being used as weapons by, mostly, banites.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Rings a vague bell.

Tald Halley:  Yes, lets jump an decade then, may you tell of it? From an veteran point of view?  

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  My view on.. lycanthropy, or that law?

Tald Halley:  Lycnathropy, and Malar cult, sorry being too little specific.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Generally these days... Lycanthropy is a tactical weakness.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  You lose control, lose your access to a weapon.. Most are far, far more powerful and have far better swords than we did back then.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  A beasts hide is tough, but when all are toting keened blades with potent essences it lacks the same... power?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Back then it was a threat, now it's an annoyance

Tald Halley:  When did Werewolves slowly began become annoyance...?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  When people got access to coin and better training regimes, I'd say.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  A werebeast is enough to stop a normal laborer, or a guard in borrowed steel.

Tald Halley:  Hmmm, do you heard of the Spriggan War?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Not against a warrior in adamantine with a blade forged of star-metal

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Yes, I didnt fight in those battles but I had a friend who did, Wotan Woodberry.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I was... in mourning after the Civil War.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Or.. was it before?.. Or was it due to Wharftown.. These dates.. I do not know.

Tald Halley:  Forgive me...

Tald Halley:  Didnt meant to touch personall memories..

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Ach. It is what it is.  

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  The Spriggan War I heard of, mostly as Wotan poured ale and we lamented over old wounds together

Tald Halley:  I see.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Darrowdeep was a key area they attacked, so it's "recent" enough.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I remember sitting on an embankment watching that castle be built.

Tald Halley:  So Darrowdeep was buit around AR 130?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Erik Skuring, I think was the Castellian of Darrowdeep. The White Stags, who served Brogendenstein.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Later.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Maybe the 40s, 50s. I think 50s.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  The Rivorndir might know more, they lived within for a time.

Tald Halley:  Bah, i may have to gain courage to ask them

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  It was .. I think during the Golden Age of Brogendenstein. Under Thane Ghestaldt of the Bronze Mask.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  The dwarves have been in decline ever since, I believe they held it during that war.  

Tald Halley:  Lets return of Forest of Despair, did the cursed Forest expand after Wharftown felled?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Not really, I don't think.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Could have done and I wouldnt have noticed. I ...steered well clear of Wharftown after that battle.

Tald Halley:  What is your opinion on the Malar cult of the Forest of Despair itself?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Of the curs within?

Tald Halley:  Yes.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I am a paladin of the Seldarine.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  That is my opinion.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  They yeild their better nature. Their sentient mortal souls to become beasts.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  There are some good lycanthropes within the realms of the Seldarine itself, but these are not them.

Tald Halley:  Hmmm

Tald Halley:  I dont have more questions, Lord Eldafire...

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Excellent.  

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I best see if I cannot catch the good Tyrran.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  I hope some of my spotty memory has proven of use.

Tald Halley:  I must say, four pages we filled.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Ah, better than I would have hoped!

Tald Halley:  Indeed, your memory has been helpful for History!

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Excellent

Tald Halley:  Curiosity aside

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Hm?

Tald Halley:  When you bought this place, you didnt got any rare books?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Oddly not.

Tald Halley:  Is that so?

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  There's a fine bookshop in Guldorand's elven district.

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  If I find any I shall send for you.

Tald Halley:  Thank you

Tera'thiel Eldafire:  Most of the ones I had, I gave to you.

       Day 15, Month 6 (Kythorn), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Nicodemus Interview

Tald Halley:  Hello

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Sorry 'bout that! Been outta town a while...

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  ...had to get caught up!

Tald Halley:  No idea?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Anypath...how you been?

Tald Halley:  Well, what about you?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Been out'n about a lot of late

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  But you'll have that

Tald Halley:  Well, everything been quiet around here.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Not always a bad thing...

Tald Halley:  Indeed.

Tald Halley:  Will you be around ?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  For a bit yet...

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Need a thing?

Tald Halley:  So i can get that interview concerning my studies.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Oh!

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  What's it abouts again?

Tald Halley:  Forest of Despair and the Cults of Malar.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Might be a short session...I'm not sure how much I have to say about that place...

Tald Halley:  Do you mind today, or perhaps later date for it?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  I got a bit of time now...if'n you don'ta mind a casual chat in the square?

Tald Halley:  Dont mind at all.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Grand!

Tald Halley:  At least we have the bonfire

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  A truth!

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  So most of what I know of that place...is as you see it in modern times...

Tald Halley:  How far this Modern times go?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Well...about a century or so ago?

Tald Halley:  Wow,i forget the concempt of modern times for Elves.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith: Oh yeah...

Tald Halley:  An century is extradonary for me.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  I forget about that...

Tald Halley:  So, you arrived specifically an century ago?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Roughly?  

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Around 70 as Arelith tells time

Tald Halley:  So, how was Arelith at time of your arrival?

Tald Halley:  You can be short on the aswer, just trying to get an general feeling.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Cordor was smaller...Myon was more stone than trees...the Banites had not got their Fortress yet...

Tald Halley:  Their second fortress?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Wharftown and the wharftown boys were a center figure as groups go...

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Aye...the second one. Not the first one underground

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  The Knights of the Road were also a center group durin' that time...

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  ...and this would have been back before Benwick fell

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  So the curses of the Despair Forest...I'm assumin' here...predated all that  

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Since it's seemed almost unchanged since I first wandered it, nearly ten decades ago

Tald Halley:  What was the general common opinion of the people back then about the Forest of Despair?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  It had been blighted somehow...and was a haven of dark things...specifically were beasts

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  This is one forest that the elves actually encouraged logging in...to weaken the dark place

Tald Halley:  The elves?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  And, as many before me, I tested myself in those woods, and thought I was doin' my part to cull the were creatures of the area

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Aye. Myon was a stronghold of exclusively elves back in those days

Tald Halley:  Did Myon fought the were-creatures by themselves?

Tald Halley:  Or other factions assisted?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Well...sometimes...but it was mostly the Wharftown boys...with their nearby locale

Tald Halley:  Interesting.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  ...and since it was a holy thing to do, Benwick also was regular in purging that place

Tald Halley:  So the Wharftown hadnt fallen to the influence back then of the Cult?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Correct

Tald Halley:  At least the boys

Tald Halley:  Wharftown boys.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  They were morally...flexible...but did right most of the time

Tald Halley:  Flexible?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Like a 'good' force of buccaneers to counter Sencliff

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  ....least durin' those days

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  With a moral flexiblity though some folk would garner Benwick's wraith

Tald Halley:  So...did the Wolfsbane purge happened after you arrived or before?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  I'm not familiar with this...so I canna say?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Was it an actual purge of the herb?

Tald Halley:  Please speak your opinion, people say was around AR 70 that wolfsbane was purged

Tald Halley:  At least Historian i spoke said so.

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  That might have been afore my time...

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  ...it's never been a common herb

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  So if'n it was at one time, it was afore my time on the isle

Tald Halley:  Did the Cult of Malar, ever tried to fight back the incursions ?

Tald Halley:  At least during that time?  

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  It's seemed to have been a constant...so if'n they every organized more than defending their stronghold...I'm not aware of it

Tald Halley:  So.. when did the Wharftown started to fall to the influence of Malar?

Tald Halley:  An couples of decades later?  

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Must have been? I'm only familiar with Wharftown  being taken over by Sencliff influences and shortly after necromancers

Tald Halley:  This Sencliff influence happened when? May you give me an date?

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Oh let me think...

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  It was just afore Rozencranz started his reign of terror....

Nicodemus San-Lanargaith:  Him and his senchal, Roland Asen that is

Tald Halley:  Rozencraft?

Tald Halley:  Name is familiar

"Master Nicodemus had to leave due to personal reasons, and never got an chance to continue an following interview"

       Day 1, Month 5 (Mirtul), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Angela Amana Interview AR 179

Angela Amana:   Where would you like to talk?

Tald Halley:  An place where you would be confortamble, or in this case we could both sit.

Angela Amana:   Meeting hall's just fine.

Tald Halley:  Then so be it.

Angela Amana:  Ah. Angela Amana. I'm the director of the Winter's Rest, to the West of the city.

Tald Halley:  Thank you for your time.

Angela Amana:   Of course, and my apologies it took so long for you to have it.

Tald Halley:  I am patient when concerns this matters, i am sure you had your duties.

Angela Amana:  Mm. Partially, but not entirely. I have been lax, lately.

Tald Halley:  Well..i am condunting an history study on the Forest of Despair and the Cult of Malar, i would like to interview you, concerning what you might remember if your time here on Arelith, concerning this subject.

Tald Halley:  Lax is good, gives time to think. *he prepares  empty notes*

Tald Halley:  Will you mind if i register our conversation?

Angela Amana:  Define register, in this context.

Tald Halley:  Well, our conversation, my questions, and your responses and opinion, even testimony of what you witnessed as well over being on Arelith, i will not wish to pry of course over private matters.

Angela Amana:  I'll rephrase: Do you mean you will be writing it, arcanely transcribing it, simply making a note of it in a registry of other conversations...?  

Tald Halley:  Transcribing, as evidence of historical importance.

Angela Amana:  By mundane or magical means?

Tald Halley:  Mundane. *he laughs*

Tald Halley:  I am not that talent to have magical transcription.

Angela Amana:  I've learned to ask. If I create illusions to supplement what I'm saying, I'd be speaking Ruathlek. That would likely... well, I've seen automagically transcribing scrolls explode with it's entire gallon of stored ink, when I've done so in the past.

Tald Halley:  I cant imagine.

Tald Halley:  Any other question?

Angela Amana:  I sincerely hope you never do. Magical ink is -not- cleaned by prestidigitation.

Tald Halley:  Warning noted.

Tald Halley:  So..lets begin?

Angela Amana: Though a note up front... I haven't had all -that- much experience with the forest of despair, aside from tearing through it on bad days... And my book, if you've read it.

Tald Halley:  Indeed.

Tald Halley:  Most people i interviewed, said similar things, yet their point of views showed unique perpectives over the History of the Forest Of Despair.

Angela Amana:   I'll answer whatever I can about it.

Tald Halley:  Alright.

Tald Halley:  Miss Amana when did you arrive at Arelith?  

Angela Amana:  The third of Ches, twelve-sixty-eight. I remember, with it being the day after our birthday. Arrived with my twin Annie.

Tald Halley:  Forgive me, the year of Arelith?

Angela Amana:  Sixty-eight.

Tald Halley:  Ar 68?

Angela Amana:  Indeed.

Tald Halley:  You arrived in Cordor i, assume?

Angela Amana:  Vetinari and his odd thoughts on dropping the century... *she says with mild disdain* And we did, yes.

Tald Halley:  How the political environment of that time in Arelith?

Tald Halley:  Was in this case.

Angela Amana:  Tumultuous. Apathetic. Betrayal was common, lame councils stalled decisions constantly. Even with Jolly Fiddlesticks' corrupt hand on the wheel of the city. People would try to pair together against him, but it never really worked... I presume you know of the three councillor positions from back then?

Tald Halley:  I am familair with that goverment type.

Angela Amana:   Do you know of the name?

Tald Halley:  I dont wish to embarass myself, but do not.

Tald Halley:  I do know the persons who ruled, became ambiguous figures in the history of Cordor.

Angela Amana: It's only a little surprising. Jolly Fiddlesticks was a gnome wizard who held a Councillor position for ten years straight. He did this through buying votes, with the clever loophole-laden work of his assistant, Aberthine, who was the Commander of the guard. Terrifying woman.

Angela Amana:  They would offer to buy people's citizenship, and in the process, heavily lean on the new voter to vote for Jolly. Rumors spread about her visiting people if he ever lost, and that she would 'interrogate' anyone who she knew to have voted and suspected of not voting for him.

Angela Amana:  I know that this actually happened at least three times because I was present for them. He had a private militia, known only as the Nameless because we didn't have a name for ourselves. We were his enforcers. I never did anything more than look menacing with flaming hands, but I saw a lot of intimidation

Angela Amana:  I fully believe Aberthine would have tortured someone if ordered to, as well. Extremely pragmatic woman, the only line she'd never cross is hurting children, or letting them be indirectly hurt.

Tald Halley:  So Jolly governed alongside who?

Angela Amana:  So -that- pair was in charge of Cordor for a decade. I got in there on the third or fourth year, I think. My abilities were that of a flameborn then, and my fire abilities were useful for scaring people and acting as a body guard.

Angela Amana:  He governed alongside.... Quite a few people, really. A revolving door, I think was the term. There was... *she falls silent* I know Harvadr Steinsson, piece of *mumble* that he was, made several goes at it,  trying to pair up with another to override with a two-to-one vote against Jolly...

Angela Amana:  He almost always git tricked or Jolly found some way to get control of the third councillor, or they'd simply go missing for their term.  

Angela Amana:  Lame councils, those were called.

Tald Halley:  That is cold cunning.

Tald Halley:  Or was.

Angela Amana:  Is. I can employ it when I need to, for Guldorand. It's been a long while since I had to, though.

Angela Amana:  He was my mentor, when it came to managing politics. Cut my teeth for the Arelithian political scene on his governance.

Tald Halley:  What was your first experiment or contact with the Forest of Despair?

Tald Halley:  In terms of personal insight?

Angela Amana:  And... learned quite quick my father didn't teach me nearly as much as he thought he did about managing people... *she falls silent at the question, considering*

*An very annoying Hin with an message sent by Spruce*

Tald Halley:  Huhh

Tald Halley:  What the?

Angela Amana:  ... I can send Images if you need a response returned.

Tald Halley:  If you will not mind, can you tell them i am occupied.

Tald Halley:  I am shocked over the message, but being Spruce not surprised at all.

Angela Amana:  Also, Eldafires. If we return to the Cordor scene, Eldafires were important.

Tald Halley:  Eldafires?

Tald Halley:  I would love to hear your insight on them.

Angela Amana:  Well. I'm a protector of the bloodline, have known... most of them, though I have difficulty keeping all of them straight as far as who is related to whom. I was there when Trynn'delynn Eldafire died in a Council meeting, and it was my colleagues that gave her an extra year of life prior to that when

Tald Halley:  I did had the honor to interview Lord Eldafire for this study. But we didnt discuss his family role in Cordor politics after all that wasnt the purpose.

Angela Amana:  Helm demanded she give up her body's strength for time with her people.

Tald Halley:  Helm?

Angela Amana:  Helm.

Tald Halley:  Quite the surprise.

Tald Halley:  Helm the god?

Angela Amana:  Short version; She died to an assassin's blade that was meant to keep her from returning....

Spruce:  Oh! Indeed, no grass around.

Tald Halley:  Hello Spruce.

Tald Halley:  Very funny Spruce.

Spruce:  Wha-?

Spruce:  I was told you do that! Who am i to judge you for your mortals?

Spruce:  ... for your mortal hobbies?

Tald Halley:  Nevermind, something urgent?

Spruce:  This, for the Autumn Swords.

Spruce:  I gave a copy to Bishop for the garrison.

Tald Halley:  I will pass it to Vico.

Tald Halley:  Any thing else?

Spruce:  Yes, alright. This was all! I do not wish to disturb even longer!

Spruce:  Keep your assassin talk up! Safe steps!

Tald Halley:  Thank you.

Angela Amana:  Fey are such a delight.

Tald Halley:  I can only tolerate Spruce.

Tald Halley:  Most of them are just headaches.

Angela Amana: Meraneamalisafineam has been with me for about a century and a half. Granted, she listens better than most fey and genuinely cares about me.

Tald Halley:  Well, maybe she became cultured in proper behaviour.

Tald Halley:  Well , lets speak of the Forest of Despair, when did you first interacted or saw the Forest?

Angela Amana: I credit Mother with that one.  

Angela Amana:  Hm... The first time I -remember- it was drawing a werewolf from Wharftown, and I went the wrong way. I got -very- lost, and was found because a lingering Darkness spell was, ironically, spotted by the search party. I'd put mysefl in a cave and was fireballing anything that moved near it.

Angela Amana:  And... when things -weren't- moving near it, either... Pretty much just a fireball every few seconds.

Tald Halley:  So the Forest of Despair was as dangerous as present day?

Angela Amana:  I would say so, yes. It's been years since I went in there, admittedly.  

Angela Amana:  I generally see no viable reason to go in there, with the plentiful routes around it.

Tald Halley:  What of the Cult it had an signficant presence on that decade?

Angela Amana:  Oh, gods. The Malarites were a bloody -terror-. They didn't really keep to the forest, they wandered the isle on full moons, looking for Selunites, or near the Tower to hunt magi.  

Angela Amana:  Largely Wharftown was left alone, because with it harboring so many ne'er'dowells, a lot of the hunters lived there or had friends there.

       Day 23, Month 3 (Ches), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Angela Amana Interview AR 179 part2

Angela Amana:  It was actually a 'selling point' of living there, if you will.

Tald Halley:  Selling point?

Angela Amana:  Live there, and you only have to worry about ticking someone off that'll just kill you quick, or the occasional paladin raid. Other than that, it was a good place to live. I heard this from more than a few people I asked about over the years.

Angela Amana:  asked about it, rather.

Tald Halley:  So Wharftown was the only settlement with active politics and actions against the Cult of Malar on those times?

Angela Amana:  Oh, quite the opposite. They -supported- the Cult.  

Tald Halley:  What of Bendir and Myon, what was their stand on those times?

Angela Amana:  They were left alone when the cult went on it's killing sprees... Pardon, hunting parties, because it's members and their friends tended to live in Wharftown.

Angela Amana:  Complete opposition by Bendir, including exiling cult members. Myon did what it's always done, attempted genocide. In this particular case, they were in the right for once.

Tald Halley:  So..i have conflicting historical notes on Wharftown, some people say Wharftown began hunts against Lycanthrophes after Bendir but this was around AR 40, and other say only the Wharftown boys were only under Malar influence only after Wharftown war.

Tald Halley:  So the truth, that maybe Wharftown kept an open Lycanthrophy acceptance much earlier?  

Angela Amana:  No, that's accurate enough. I said the Malarites spared Wharftown because it had members and friends in there. That wasn't -all- of Wharftown, however. Other citizens had friends in those settlements that -were- attacked.

Tald Halley:  But Wharftown didnt fought officially the Cult?

Tald Halley:  fought i mean.

Tald Halley:  At least when you arrived.

Angela Amana: I don't -think- so.  

Tald Halley:  Lets skip some time to the decade of AR 70s and 80s.

Tald Halley:  I am afraid we will slowly walk the memory lane

Angela Amana:  Sure. I was largely a merchant mage at the time, tried my hand at politics towards the latter years there.

Tald Halley:  This decade was full of wars between settlements, or at least conflicts.

Angela Amana:

Tald Halley:  Are you aware in the decade of 70 the Malarites began purging Wolfsbane?  

Tald Halley:  Or at least evident from the outsider perpective?

Angela Amana: I was. I had started escorting werefolk to the plant by the Malarite temple semi-regularly at some point then. Before I was Councillor, at least, which was in the nineties. Part of my campaigning, that.

Tald Halley:  So was during this period you began your tradition on assisting werefolk?

Angela Amana:  It wasn't a tradition, or at least not intentionally so... It was just... I could handle what was in there if I was careful, and people needed help and guidance. By Sel ne's grace, I've never been infected myself, despite many, many encounters.

Angela Amana:  It became something I was known for, and I always saw werefolk as victims... Aside from a few that willingly wanted the curse.

Angela Amana:  I still have the altar of one of those. Feluka.

Tald Halley:  So the infections were high even far from the forest?  

Angela Amana:  They were...  I would say at least once every two moons, there would be a new werewolf, often someone who was unaware of the transformation. You tended to expect to hear about there being -someone- transforming in a tavern, party, or square, but not always.

Tald Halley:  How often was this infections connected to the Forest or just the Cult?

Angela Amana:  Hm. Unknown.

Tald Halley:  We speaking from AR 70 to 90s, infected victims often appeared beyond the Arelith Forest?

Angela Amana:  In towns and such, yes. Often enough, people didn't realize they'd been scratched deep enough and infected, so they took no precaution. Once they were aware, they were ostracized until they were confirmed cured. The guard would sometimes let people stay in a cell overnight as proof or precaution.

Angela Amana:   In case they weren't sure if the aconitum actually worked. It didn't -always- work.

Tald Halley:  Aconitum?

Tald Halley:  First time hearing such term.  

Angela Amana:  The proper name for Wolfsbane.

Tald Halley:  So then when the Malarites began purging the Wolfsbane, now bad things became?  

Angela Amana:  I don't...  Here's the thing. They got rid of a lot of it, yes... But the ones that they spared, missed, or for whatever reason didn't destroy, were still ones that were generally accessible, with an intelligent group. Those who wanted to be cured, still were.

Angela Amana:  It was a surprising thing for someone to anticipate being a werewolf for the full moon, and there was great peer pressure to cure it.

Tald Halley:  No doubt.

Angela Amana:  I'll put it this way... My specific aconitum plant wasn't really a big deal. I was just the most convenient option... But I wasn't the only one.

Angela Amana:  I think I can accurately say most werewolves never had a second transformation. Per infection, at least, for those that were repeatedly infected.

Tald Halley:  What was the role of the Druids on this balance matter in the Forest of Despair during those times?

Tald Halley:  I know around AR 85 they began actively fighting the Cult, where were they in all of this before?

Angela Amana:  Hm. I don't know. I was largely opposed by the grove and naturewalkers in general for the first... fifty, sixty years on the isle.

Angela Amana:  Didn't really pay much attention to them beyond staying away.

Tald Halley:  Can you explain why?

Angela Amana:  I've told you what I was. A flameborn.

Tald Halley:  Right, drudis hate flames.

Angela Amana:  What's something you -really- don't want in a forest?

Angela Amana:  Yep.

Angela Amana:  No matter how much I demonstrated self control, I faced prejudice for my power.

Tald Halley:  Forgive me, sometimes the response is the most obvious.

Angela Amana:  ... Which I admit was justified, because I was one of the -very- few flameborn to bother with self-control.

Angela Amana:  The ongoing joke of the time about us was that you could tell where our last moment alive was because there would be a crater.

Tald Halley:  That seems indeed an druid rude joke.

Tald Halley:  So before we skip an decade again, what was the Benwick stance on Forest of Despair, if you are aware?

Angela Amana:  Ayep. These days, though, I get along quite well with most naturewalkers. I've had many an occasion to work with them.

Angela Amana:  I think it was generally, keep it contained, patrol it to keep threats suppressed. They'd go east, and return via stonehold.

Angela Amana:  ... Go west, apologie.

Tald Halley:  So we skip to AR 90 and 100s, what do your remember of this decades?

Angela Amana:  Well. Have you been to the Winter's Rest, Tald? Seen it's paintings?

Tald Halley:  Honestly, i went there for the books.

Tald Halley:  Didnt noticed the paitings.

Angela Amana:  It's when this happened. The white hair, the pale complexion. I've looked exactly like this since ninety-two. Used to look the age, too... *she smiles* But, you wanted to know about the isle.

Tald Halley:  The island, but wont mind listening to your story.

Angela Amana:  The... -extremely- short version is that my twin and I shared magic, she died in a cell of my own design, and when she died, it twisted my own magic. Flameborn were known for their ruddy skin, red eyes, lots of red and orange everywhere. If you look at those paintings, you'll see a little girl of  

Angela Amana:  eleven or so with very curly red hair. I still don't think I made the shade intense enough in that painting.

Angela Amana:   I think you were hoping I would go on about the years, hm?

Tald Halley:  Wont bother you, if its personnal matters.

Tald Halley:  So we may just stick to Arelith, the Forest of Despair and the Cult of Malar.

Tald Halley:  So AR 100....how was Arelith in an general speaking during that time?

Angela Amana:  Well... I don't think I had much to do with the Forest or the Cult. Flameborn had ceased to be hunted after Verankht was caught holding me in spellhold. I moved to the Tower after business and relationship failings. Became Archmage within a decade... I don't think I was paying much attention outside of the

Angela Amana:  Arcane Tower.

Tald Halley:  The Tower under your wise rule during that decade refrained from outside politics?

Angela Amana:  In -general-, there was a lot of infighting, simmering wars... I tried repeatedly, often successfully, to use the Tower as a neutral grounds for negotiations to happen, an enforced peacebond. It worked, for a while. I wouldn't call my rule then -terribly- wise, but I had a few clever ideas.

Angela Amana:  I had clever, wise people around me. I eventually learned from them.

Tald Halley:  What was the Tower stand on Lycanthrophy on that time? Similar to the settlements?

Angela Amana:  'We will protect and contain you, until we can cure you.'

Angela Amana:  As a Sel nite leader, lycanthropy held a special place in my faith. I had just secured the fortune of the Flameborn, and felt I could do the same for lycans. I didn't, but I certainly tried. I call that time my 'redemption phase'... I felt everyone and everything could be redeemed with just some good conversations

Angela Amana:  and a bit of faith shown in them.

Angela Amana:  I still believe in it, mind, but I know it's a far more complex and nuanced matter.

Tald Halley:  So you said wars, were there big wars involved in the region of Arelith Forest? That the Tower somehow diplomatic were involved?

Spirit Parrot:  COME DOWN TO THE ENTRANCE TO GULDORAND CITY, MISSY, THERE'S SOME WEIRD MAGICAL SHIZZ GOIN' ON AN' IT'S PRETTY SCARY!

"The interview Ended Here due to Duties called upon Angela Amana."

       Day 23, Month 3 (Ches), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Angela Amana Interview AR 179 part2

Angela Amana:  It was actually a 'selling point' of living there, if you will.

Tald Halley:  Selling point?

Angela Amana:  Live there, and you only have to worry about ticking someone off that'll just kill you quick, or the occasional paladin raid. Other than that, it was a good place to live. I heard this from more than a few people I asked about over the years.

Angela Amana:  asked about it, rather.

Tald Halley:  So Wharftown was the only settlement with active politics and actions against the Cult of Malar on those times?

Angela Amana:  Oh, quite the opposite. They -supported- the Cult.  

Tald Halley:  What of Bendir and Myon, what was their stand on those times?

Angela Amana:  They were left alone when the cult went on it's killing sprees... Pardon, hunting parties, because it's members and their friends tended to live in Wharftown.

Angela Amana:  Complete opposition by Bendir, including exiling cult members. Myon did what it's always done, attempted genocide. In this particular case, they were in the right for once.

Tald Halley:  So..i have conflicting historical notes on Wharftown, some people say Wharftown began hunts against Lycanthrophes after Bendir but this was around AR 40, and other say only the Wharftown boys were only under Malar influence only after Wharftown war.

Tald Halley:  So the truth, that maybe Wharftown kept an open Lycanthrophy acceptance much earlier?  

Angela Amana:  No, that's accurate enough. I said the Malarites spared Wharftown because it had members and friends in there. That wasn't -all- of Wharftown, however. Other citizens had friends in those settlements that -were- attacked.

Tald Halley:  But Wharftown didnt fought officially the Cult?

Tald Halley:  fought i mean.

Tald Halley:  At least when you arrived.

Angela Amana: I don't -think- so.  

Tald Halley:  Lets skip some time to the decade of AR 70s and 80s.

Tald Halley:  I am afraid we will slowly walk the memory lane

Angela Amana:  Sure. I was largely a merchant mage at the time, tried my hand at politics towards the latter years there.

Tald Halley:  This decade was full of wars between settlements, or at least conflicts.

Angela Amana:

Tald Halley:  Are you aware in the decade of 70 the Malarites began purging Wolfsbane?  

Tald Halley:  Or at least evident from the outsider perpective?

Angela Amana: I was. I had started escorting werefolk to the plant by the Malarite temple semi-regularly at some point then. Before I was Councillor, at least, which was in the nineties. Part of my campaigning, that.

Tald Halley:  So was during this period you began your tradition on assisting werefolk?

Angela Amana:  It wasn't a tradition, or at least not intentionally so... It was just... I could handle what was in there if I was careful, and people needed help and guidance. By Sel ne's grace, I've never been infected myself, despite many, many encounters.

Angela Amana:  It became something I was known for, and I always saw werefolk as victims... Aside from a few that willingly wanted the curse.

Angela Amana:  I still have the altar of one of those. Feluka.

Tald Halley:  So the infections were high even far from the forest?  

Angela Amana:  They were...  I would say at least once every two moons, there would be a new werewolf, often someone who was unaware of the transformation. You tended to expect to hear about there being -someone- transforming in a tavern, party, or square, but not always.

Tald Halley:  How often was this infections connected to the Forest or just the Cult?

Angela Amana:  Hm. Unknown.

Tald Halley:  We speaking from AR 70 to 90s, infected victims often appeared beyond the Arelith Forest?

Angela Amana:  In towns and such, yes. Often enough, people didn't realize they'd been scratched deep enough and infected, so they took no precaution. Once they were aware, they were ostracized until they were confirmed cured. The guard would sometimes let people stay in a cell overnight as proof or precaution.

Angela Amana:   In case they weren't sure if the aconitum actually worked. It didn't -always- work.

Tald Halley:  Aconitum?

Tald Halley:  First time hearing such term.  

Angela Amana:  The proper name for Wolfsbane.

Tald Halley:  So then when the Malarites began purging the Wolfsbane, now bad things became?  

Angela Amana:  I don't...  Here's the thing. They got rid of a lot of it, yes... But the ones that they spared, missed, or for whatever reason didn't destroy, were still ones that were generally accessible, with an intelligent group. Those who wanted to be cured, still were.

Angela Amana:  It was a surprising thing for someone to anticipate being a werewolf for the full moon, and there was great peer pressure to cure it.

Tald Halley:  No doubt.

Angela Amana:  I'll put it this way... My specific aconitum plant wasn't really a big deal. I was just the most convenient option... But I wasn't the only one.

Angela Amana:  I think I can accurately say most werewolves never had a second transformation. Per infection, at least, for those that were repeatedly infected.

Tald Halley:  What was the role of the Druids on this balance matter in the Forest of Despair during those times?

Tald Halley:  I know around AR 85 they began actively fighting the Cult, where were they in all of this before?

Angela Amana:  Hm. I don't know. I was largely opposed by the grove and naturewalkers in general for the first... fifty, sixty years on the isle.

Angela Amana:  Didn't really pay much attention to them beyond staying away.

Tald Halley:  Can you explain why?

Angela Amana:  I've told you what I was. A flameborn.

Tald Halley:  Right, drudis hate flames.

Angela Amana:  What's something you -really- don't want in a forest?

Angela Amana:  Yep.

Angela Amana:  No matter how much I demonstrated self control, I faced prejudice for my power.

Tald Halley:  Forgive me, sometimes the response is the most obvious.

Angela Amana:  ... Which I admit was justified, because I was one of the -very- few flameborn to bother with self-control.

Angela Amana:  The ongoing joke of the time about us was that you could tell where our last moment alive was because there would be a crater.

Tald Halley:  That seems indeed an druid rude joke.

Tald Halley:  So before we skip an decade again, what was the Benwick stance on Forest of Despair, if you are aware?

Angela Amana:  Ayep. These days, though, I get along quite well with most naturewalkers. I've had many an occasion to work with them.

Angela Amana:  I think it was generally, keep it contained, patrol it to keep threats suppressed. They'd go east, and return via stonehold.

Angela Amana:  ... Go west, apologie.

Tald Halley:  So we skip to AR 90 and 100s, what do your remember of this decades?

Angela Amana:  Well. Have you been to the Winter's Rest, Tald? Seen it's paintings?

Tald Halley:  Honestly, i went there for the books.

Tald Halley:  Didnt noticed the paitings.

Angela Amana:  It's when this happened. The white hair, the pale complexion. I've looked exactly like this since ninety-two. Used to look the age, too... *she smiles* But, you wanted to know about the isle.

Tald Halley:  The island, but wont mind listening to your story.

Angela Amana:  The... -extremely- short version is that my twin and I shared magic, she died in a cell of my own design, and when she died, it twisted my own magic. Flameborn were known for their ruddy skin, red eyes, lots of red and orange everywhere. If you look at those paintings, you'll see a little girl of  

Angela Amana:  eleven or so with very curly red hair. I still don't think I made the shade intense enough in that painting.

Angela Amana:   I think you were hoping I would go on about the years, hm?

Tald Halley:  Wont bother you, if its personnal matters.

Tald Halley:  So we may just stick to Arelith, the Forest of Despair and the Cult of Malar.

Tald Halley:  So AR 100....how was Arelith in an general speaking during that time?

Angela Amana:  Well... I don't think I had much to do with the Forest or the Cult. Flameborn had ceased to be hunted after Verankht was caught holding me in spellhold. I moved to the Tower after business and relationship failings. Became Archmage within a decade... I don't think I was paying much attention outside of the

Angela Amana:  Arcane Tower.

Tald Halley:  The Tower under your wise rule during that decade refrained from outside politics?

Angela Amana:  In -general-, there was a lot of infighting, simmering wars... I tried repeatedly, often successfully, to use the Tower as a neutral grounds for negotiations to happen, an enforced peacebond. It worked, for a while. I wouldn't call my rule then -terribly- wise, but I had a few clever ideas.

Angela Amana:  I had clever, wise people around me. I eventually learned from them.

Tald Halley:  What was the Tower stand on Lycanthrophy on that time? Similar to the settlements?

Angela Amana:  'We will protect and contain you, until we can cure you.'

Angela Amana:  As a Sel nite leader, lycanthropy held a special place in my faith. I had just secured the fortune of the Flameborn, and felt I could do the same for lycans. I didn't, but I certainly tried. I call that time my 'redemption phase'... I felt everyone and everything could be redeemed with just some good conversations

Angela Amana:  and a bit of faith shown in them.

Angela Amana:  I still believe in it, mind, but I know it's a far more complex and nuanced matter.

Tald Halley:  So you said wars, were there big wars involved in the region of Arelith Forest? That the Tower somehow diplomatic were involved?

Spirit Parrot:  COME DOWN TO THE ENTRANCE TO GULDORAND CITY, MISSY, THERE'S SOME WEIRD MAGICAL SHIZZ GOIN' ON AN' IT'S PRETTY SCARY!

"The interview Ended Here due to Duties called upon Angela Amana."

       Day 23, Month 3 (Ches), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Jacob Swift interview AR 180

Tald Halley said: An moment.

Tald Halley asked: Jacob Swift correct?

Jacob Swift asked: "Hrm?" "Indeed. May I assist you in some manner?"

Tald Halley asked: You been in Arelith for quite some time, or am i mistaken?

Tald Halley said: Forgive my questions.

Jacob Swift said: "I have indeed."

Jacob Swift said: "Quite alright."

Tald Halley asked: I would have like to interview you, but if you are occupied this day, maybe for later date?

Jacob Swift asked: "Well, if the meeting is over, and I've the itinerary, I should be free for now, I believe? Otherwise I wanted to offer whatever aid I could to the college."

Willow Borino said: Aye, just keep an eye out on the message boards for more upcomin events; we're still gettin started, and it may take some trial and error

Tald Halley said: Well, if Miss Willow, require your assistance, i wont intervene.

Jacob Swift said: "Of course."

Willow Borino said: Seems yer a very important man, Mr. Swift.  I'll let the two of ye discuss business...nice meetin ye dear

Jacob Swift said: "Pft, Not anymore. Thank the gods."

Willow Borino said: Still, thank ye for your interest in the College, we'll be in touch soon

Jacob Swift said: "Glad I caught you before you got those all up."

Jacob Swift asked: "May I inquire what your interview would be about?"

Tald Halley said: I am studying the History of the Forest Of Despair and the Cult of Malar, i was wondering if i could get your view on this affairs.

Tald Halley said: Since, you been present on this island, for an while, if not mistaken.

Jacob Swift said: "Hrn, I will offer what I can, but unfortunately I have not been partial to the actions of said group for quite some time. The last time I observed them was. . .I believe during the destruction of Wharftown, where King Edward was struck by a malarite marksman."

Tald Halley exclaimed: Wow!

Tald Halley said: Would you mind, for an interview, then, you already caught my attention with this.

Tald Halley asked: Perhaps at an more confortamble place?

Jacob Swift said: "As you wish."

Tald Halley asked: Would you mind here?

Jacob Swift said: "Not at all."

Tald Halley said: I interviewed here before.

Jacob Swift asked: "So. The Malarite cult, and the forest of despair. . .What do you wish to know about them?"

Tald Halley said: Your experience with it, and maybe even your insight on it.

Tald Halley asked: Mind if i record the conversation?

Jacob Swift said: "Go right ahead."

Tald Halley asked: So, Master Swift, correct if i am wrong, you were an archmage at some point?

Jacob Swift said: ". . .Yes, I was."

Tald Halley asked: Would mind tell me when did you arrive at Arelith, for historical context?

Jacob Swift said: "Far too long ago. I believe I arrived sometime just before the Baronial age. For context: Duke Galverson was still in charge at the time."

Tald Halley asked: How was Arelith in terms of politics and settlements?

Jacob Swift said: "Cordor was. . .well, Cordor. I've made commentary before about the plane of limbo and how Cordor would be functionally the same. Myon was still floating in the air, the Banites were an issue as usual, Bendir Dale had not yet expanded, and Wharftown existed."

Jacob Swift said: "Honestly, there wasn't much different from now. Aside from Wharftown existing."

Tald Halley asked: So you arrived in the decade of AR 60?

Jacob Swift said: "Political intrigue, stupidity, plots to gain power, people living, suffering, dying."

Jacob Swift said: "I unfortunately haven't the mind for dates, I know it was long ago. . .I feel like I was a different person, all those years ago."

Tald Halley asked: What do you remember of the Forest of Despair at the time?

Jacob Swift said: "The Treeants had not yet manifested. The tribe of elves deep in the woods still viewed anyone not of their kind as invaders, and attempted to kill them."

Tald Halley asked: Tribes of Elves?

Tald Halley asked: Like Wild elves?

Jacob Swift said: "The Malar cult was experimenting, I believe trying to imbue some of Malar's divinity within some of the animals held under their sway. . .Panthers covered in blood, as if bathed in it."

Jacob Swift said: "Ah yes, Wild Elves. marked with all manner of various cultural markings. Their weapons were crude but effective, and I had more than once if I visited, to pry one of their arrowheads out of an injury or two."

Jacob Swift said: "I've theorized how they had came to be there, and why they had remained so. . . for lack of a better term, wild. Even to their own kind."

Tald Halley said: I am surprised, you may be one of the persons who interacted with the Last Wild Elves of Arelith Forest.

Tald Halley asked: Can you tell me more of them?

Jacob Swift said: "If by interacted with, fought and tried to survive, then yes."

Tald Halley said: They are now extict for an matter of talk.

Jacob Swift said: "They. . .they refused parlay, they attacked without thought of self preservation. It was if they had no fear of dying. . .Or at least, no fear of dying at our hands. But possibly fear at dying at something else's. . ."

Jacob Swift said: "There are bardic tales, I've no doubt you've heard, of spirits and such finding their way to such tribes. Gaining power from the shaman's fealty and worship."

Jacob Swift said: ". . .I've wondered, if perhaps such a spirit found its way there. . .And was not the kind of spirit that could be considered benevolent."

Jacob Swift said: ". . .but I can only view it from an outsider's lense. Perhaps they feared that we would attack their homes. . .The Malarites were nearby after all, and no doubt they treated them as little more than targets for practice."

Tald Halley asked: So they survived on constant fear?

Jacob Swift said: "I cannot say one way or another."

Tald Halley asked: Where they situated exactly, in the vicinity of the Forest of Despair at the time?

Jacob Swift said: "Deep in the forest. We never actually found their village. . .Truth be told I didn't really want to."

Tald Halley asked: So, what happened to them? When did they disappear, can you say?

Jacob Swift said: "I believe shortly after the treeants were made manifest. Sightings became rarer."

Jacob Swift said: "Perhaps if my theory about a spirit was correct, the spirit had managed to enrage the. . .'Forest', to the point that the beings it relied upon for strength were set upon by the trees themselves."

Jacob Swift said: ". . .Alternatively the Malarites continued experimentation managed to bring about the Treants and that resulted in their extermination."

Tald Halley said: But the Malarite cult prevailed, it seems.

Jacob Swift said: "Ultimately, we may never know."

Tald Halley asked: You said before the panthers were being experimented as well?

Jacob Swift said: "Yes. Black furred creatures that were coated in blood. Sometimes in ritualistic patterns, sometimes simply as if someone had poured a bucket over it, from nose to tailtip."

Tald Halley asked: Were they common before your arrival? Or appeared after?

Jacob Swift said: "Well, before my arrival I wasn't there to see. From everything I've seen, they were likely there before my arrival. . .For all I know they're still there."

Jacob Swift said: "They had an uncanny ability to leap out of seemingly nothing to try and pin you to the ground, and tear your throat out."

Tald Halley asked: But the treeants appeared after your arrival?

Jacob Swift said: "Indeed."

Jacob Swift said: "The biggest danger, outside of the elves, and the malarites, were the spiders that made the forest their home."

Jacob Swift said: "indeed at the time, the trees were one of the few things not trying to kill you."

Tald Halley said: So there was still an balance on the Forest of Despair.

Jacob Swift asked: "An imbalance in the forest of despair? I wouldn't know anything about that. My skills lie in the arcane and surgical fields."

Tald Halley asked: Alright, what do you remember of the settlements concerning the Forest of Despair, specially the near ones, like Wharftown, Bendir and Benwick?

Tald Halley asked: Was there an relation or open attitude towards the region and locals?

Jacob Swift said: "Generally the attitude was 'Stay away'. It wasn't common for people to enter and return. Most of the time, adventurers were the ones trying to brave the forests to find treasures, and of course to prove their skills."

Jacob Swift said: "Indeed I don't recall a time passing by the forest without seeing some poor soul whom had been speared in the back, having fallen just past the threshold of the forest."

Tald Halley asked: What of Lycanthrophes, were they common on the region?

Jacob Swift said: "There were always a few werewolves, but they were not quite as ubiquitous."

Tald Halley asked: Ubiquitious? Dont understand the meaning.

Jacob Swift said: "Common."

Jacob Swift said: "Those on the island rarely contracted lycanthropy, indeed I suspect that there was some change to the disease on the island that resulted in it becoming more virulant."

Jacob Swift said: "Whether the change was magical or simply a change made over time, I cannot say."

Tald Halley asked: What about the cure, was it common in those days ?

Jacob Swift said: "I mean, wolfsbane has always been rare, but it existed on the isle beforehand."

       Day 17, Month 7 (Flamerule (Summertide)), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Jacob Swift Interview AR 180 part2

Tald Halley asked: So, do you remember when the Malarites began exterminating the flower on the Forest?

Tald Halley said: By my records it pinpoints to the decade of AR 70, so i assume, you perhaps were present in the island at the time.

Jacob Swift said: "No, I don't. I likely wasn't aware of it due to various other issues popping up at the time. . .I also probably was not an Archmage at that time."

Tald Halley asked: What do you remember the following decades in Arelith at least?

Jacob Swift said: "Lets see. . .Trynn'Delyn Eldafire became a Baron of the Merchant district. . .Cameo Giovanni and Zeer, her husband, betrayed and kidnapped Duke Galverson, ultimately resulting in his death."

Jacob Swift said: "I became Archmage of the Tower. . .I think the next big historical event was Vetinari taking leadership of Cordor."

Jacob Swift said: "Time passed. . .I wasn't here when Vetinari abandoned Cordor and left the lord protector holding the bag. .. "

Jacob Swift said: "Nor King Edward of Cordor assuming the throne. . ."

Jacob Swift said: ". . .The biggest thing I think I was involved with then, was when the leadership of Wharftown, people whom had more or less forced their way into power via threats, bribes, and various other chicanary. . ."

Tald Halley asked: How so?

Jacob Swift said: "Personal business called me away."

Tald Halley asked: So you were involed with Wharftown affairs at some point?

Jacob Swift said: "Merely as an outside observer."

Tald Halley asked: Can you pinpoint the year, of such event at Wharftown?

Tald Halley asked: Or the decade?

Jacob Swift said: "Ah wait, let me clarify."

Jacob Swift said: "The leadership started more or less taunting Cordor to do something about them."

Jacob Swift said: ". . .But it wasn't until the pirates there attacked, pillaged, and then sank an amnian merchant ship, that Cordor got involved. . .Truth be told, it likely wasn't Edward's doing, it was pressure from Amn."

Tald Halley asked: So AR 129 and 130?

Jacob Swift said: "I believe so."

Tald Halley asked: What do you remember of the Malar Cults of the time?

Tald Halley said: I have to ask, because at the time period, they were oddly active.

Jacob Swift said: "Again, the only real interaction I had with the cult in the forest of despair was observing them firing an arrow into King Edward's side."

Tald Halley asked: Can you tell the story?

Jacob Swift said: "I had set up a medical area just beyond the war efforts, in the attempt to minimize loss of life on either side. I personally viewed this as a senseless waste of life, but powers beyond my control had brought it to bear, so all I could do was mitigate it as best I could."

Jacob Swift asked: "I observed just before the fight began, a small group of civilians seeking to parlay, begging King Edward to spare their town. He could only respond 'Where was this all this time?'."

Jacob Swift said: ". . .I moved in and out of the battlefield, attempting to guide wounded to safety, as long as they promised once treated they would not simply return to the fight."

Jacob Swift said: "Ah, I must apologize, I misspoke. I did not observe the initial shot, I however did see the aftermath. . .I heard that King Edward had been hit, and whilst I was irritated that he was part of this, I could not in good conscience simply allow him to remain wounded and on the field."

Jacob Swift said: ". . .I went up to him, ordering him to dismount his horse, and come to be treated. The arrow was sticking out of his shoulder, and it looked like it pained him greatly."

Jacob Swift said: "To his credit, he refused, until he passed out and I carried him out to the tent."

Tald Halley asked: What of the archer?

Tald Halley asked: Or would be killer?

Jacob Swift said: "I'm unsure, I was more focused on trying to ensure the king survived. . .Distaste for his actions or not, his death would have led to a power vacuum, one that Cordor had just undergone, and one that had led to a bloody civil war."

Jacob Swift asked: "I will say however?"

Jacob Swift said: ". . .I do not think they were attempting to kill him."

Tald Halley asked: Was it an Wharftown soldier? Or an malarite bystander?

Jacob Swift said: "The reported incident was that a group of malarites had rushed out of the Forest of Despair, causing chaos. One fired the arrow that struck the king, and then just as quickly they had appeared, they left."

Jacob Swift said: "The reason I suspect it was not intended to be a fatal blow is. . .the arrowhead itself."

Tald Halley asked: Can you explain?

Jacob Swift said: ". . .This, I'm unsure if it would be suitable for an interview. . .I do not wish to cast a stone, or cause an issue. . ."

Tald Halley said: Well, please by all means, doubt many people will question you on such matters.

Tald Halley said: Unless King Edward of course.

Jacob Swift said: ". . .The arrowhead was wrapped in wolfs fur, and the tip itself was a wolfs fang. There was a small residue left in the injury, that. . .I heavily suspected to be saliva. . .Between the fur, the fang, and the liquid residue. . .I suspect they attempted to afflict King Edward with Lycanthropy."

Jacob Swift said: "Which. . .would have been quite dangerous.

Tald Halley asked: So the Cult of Malar tried to infect the king, himself?

Jacob Swift said: "That's my hypothesis."

Tald Halley said: Never heard of such tactic by them, until now.

Tald Halley said: But it isnt unheard, they did weaponise Lycanthrope over the decades.

Jacob Swift said: "Well, it would have been a great potential source of control over him."

Tald Halley said: Quite indeed.

Jacob Swift said: "Something that only they would potentially know about, aside from his handlers and aides."

Jacob Swift said: "And considering his poor health due to his captivity, it would be. . .tantamount to suicide, to attempt to use wolfsbane. . .It's poisonous to the lycanthrope infection, but. . it's only slightly less poisonous to us."

Jacob Swift said: "So either they infect him and have a potential source of leverage over him. . .Or they infect him, he takes wolfsbane, and he dies."

Tald Halley asked: King Edward was still recovering?

Jacob Swift said: "Yes. Indeed as far as I am aware, he was going to be crippled for life."

Jacob Swift said: "Such captivity and tortures. . .They leave their mark on the body, magically healed or not."

Tald Halley said: Never heard that the captivity had that much physically on the King. only on the Mind, according to rumors.

Tald Halley said: Weight*

Jacob Swift said: "When I examined him. . .Well, the armor had braces to help him remain sitting up in the saddle."

Tald Halley asked: So, the King went to war, while being not fit for combat?

Jacob Swift said: "He was not physically well, but he refused to simply send his army and not be there for support."

Jacob Swift said: ". . .I mean, it wouldn't be the first time a figure head stood there for moral support, unable to actually fight on their own behalf."

Jacob Swift said: "I may be misremembering, or even misinterpreting. I'm not an armorer, it may be that it was simply a different design."

Jacob Swift said: "but it seemed to me that it was meant to aid him in remaining upright and appearing strong for the soldiers there."

Tald Halley asked: So, you never interacted with the Cult of Malar after?

Jacob Swift said: "I generally tried not to, to begin with."

Tald Halley asked: What of the Forest of Despair?

Jacob Swift said: "I only go there for necessary purposes, and thankfully I have not had a necessary purpose for quite some time."

Jacob Swift said: "If I want to go somewhere and just fight for a bit, I'll just wander to the eternal battlefield and aid some of the soldiers there."

Jacob Swift said: "Otherwise, well. . .death is a certainty, coming back isn't. I prefer to solve problems with words when I can."

Tald Halley asked: Do you consider the Forest of Despair the same, after this many years, when you first arrived?

Tald Halley said: Compared to when you first arrived, i mean.

Jacob Swift said: "No, it has changed. Shifted, and grown in some ways. As I said, the treants are new, and there's not any elves there anymore."

Jacob Swift asked: "Truthfully I haven't gone exploring there for lack of necessity.?

Tald Halley said: Well, not what i can ask more concerning my research, i am most grateful, you already gave me an lot to read and reaximane my findings.

Tald Halley said: Its been most helpfull.

Jacob Swift said: "I'm glad to have assisted in some manner."

Tald Halley said: You did, quite so, sadly which time i interview someone, i must examine again my studies, for consistency.

Jacob Swift said: ". . .Alas, I believe it's time for me to be heading back to the Winter's rest."

Tald Halley said: Speaking of Winter rest.

Jacob Swift asked: "Hrm?"

Tald Halley said: An small favor if i may dare.

Jacob Swift said: "I make no promises, but I'll hear it out."

Tald Halley said: I would ask an favor, to request again at Angela Amana, an second meeting so i can finish my interview with her.

Jacob Swift said: "I'll let her know you asked."

Jacob Swift said: "I do have a suggestion."

Tald Halley said: Thank you so much.

Tald Halley asked: Yes?

Tald Halley said: All suggestions are welcomed.

Jacob Swift said: ". . .One of her favorite things, that she never can find enough of, is a nice freshly baked pie, usually of apple or blackberry. Think of it as a minor offering, or bribe if you prefer."

Tald Halley said: Wow. I will take note indeed.

Jacob Swift asked: "A pleasure sir. .. I'm sorry, you have me at a disadvantage, mister. . .?"

Tald Halley said: Again, thank you for your time.

Jacob Swift said: "Oh right you said it before. .. blast."

Tald Halley said: Right.

Tald Halley said: The lack of manners.

Tald Halley said: My name is Tald Halley.

Jacob Swift said: "A pleasure, Mister Halley."

       Day 17, Month 7 (Flamerule (Summertide)), 182 AR
       Tald Halley        

Salasker Dusk Part1 AR 181

Tald Halley: Hello

Salasker Dusk: Ah, Sir Tald.  I am sorry you have wasted some coin.

Tald Halley: No issue.

Tald Halley: So, where to ? So we can begin this interview outside rain.

Salasker Dusk:  The Lotus is near, though I prefer The Nomad given a choice.  Unless you wish to travel to The New City?  

Tald Halley: Maybe the Nomad, Lotus isnt my thing.

Salasker Dusk: Nor mine. But it has had its' uses in the past.  Come then.

Salasker Dusk: I am pleased to finally meet, sir.  I have been told you have been seeking to talk for some time?

Tald Halley: Quite an while

Salasker Dusk: My apologies then.  Though I am curious as to why.

Tald Halley: We will get to that

Salasker Dusk: Very well.  Oh, and congratulations on your book. Your treatise on Lycanthropy is excellent.

Tald Halley: Thank you.

Salasker Dusk: Do you prefer a more private converstation?  Or shall we head to the front room?

Tald Halley: No need for an Private room, we can head to Front room

Salasker Dusk: Splendid!

Salasker Dusk: Ah, very well. It is my one weakness.  Well..   First among them, at any rate.  So.  How can I assist you, Sir Tald?

Tald Halley: I am studying the history of the Culf oF Malar and the Forest Of Despair, so i was wondering if someone like you would had something to add to this study.

Tald Halley: I mean Cult of Malar not culf.

Salasker Dusk: Some, perhaps, though other than keeping the followers of The Beastlord in check from time to time, I have not made a particular study of the place.

Tald Halley: Since you been living in Arelith and lived some of its history, maybe an new perpective can help scholars.

Salasker Dusk:   Though I have had to deal with the Curse more often than I care to remember.  One reason I enjoyed your book so much.

Tald Halley: Yes, lot of people eventually have to deal with such curse, if they intend to fight and survive on the cursed Forest.

Tald Halley: You will not mind if i begin my questions?

Salasker Dusk:  Something that many must learn the hard way, I fear.  But, please, feel free.

Tald Halley: So, Master Salasker when did you arrive at Arelith?  

Tald Halley: So we position in an timeline here.

Salasker Dusk: Hm... let me see...  The Spring or Summer of AR 55, I believe.  That was the year, and it was warm, the leaves had not yet changed.

Tald Halley: How did you find Arelith at that time?  

Salasker Dusk: Chaotic. And not nearly as well developed as it is now. The Dale was barely a fort, a wooden stockade.  And Cordor was much smaller and more martial.

Salasker Dusk: The Nomad, for instance, lay within the walls of the city at that time, and the farm lands were not nearly as extensive.

Tald Halley: So the Nomad was actually smaller?

Salasker Dusk: Not by much, merely kept within the safety of the walls, for the wilds of Arelith were... well...  wilder.

Tald Halley: i see.

Tald Halley: So did you venture into this "Wild" Arelith? Or you remained in Cordor for an while?

Salasker Dusk: When I arrived?  Oh, I was much as many others, Sir Tald.  I ventured forth, though I quickly learned it was dangerous to do so alone.  But I explored often, and found a good living was to be had....

Salasker Dusk: By bringing things I found to the city and selling them.  

Salasker Dusk: I began practicing a trade or two.  Gem cutting and alchemy for the most part.  And I had a fascination and passion for the Basin.

Tald Halley: I see.

Tald Halley: How were the other settlements of that time?

Salasker Dusk: Brogendenstein was much smaller as well.  Bendir, I spoke of.  The Tower had been moved by that point to where it stands and was much more...  active.

Tald Halley: You mean Arcane Tower?

Salasker Dusk: Wharftown and Light Keep, and Guldorand was the village, not The New City.

Salasker Dusk:   Yes, The Arcane Tower.  I was a student there for a time.

Tald Halley: Is that so?

Salasker Dusk:  Oh, my, yes.  If you wished to advance in the Art, then The Tower was the only real choice.

Salasker Dusk: Though it was far...  stricter in that time.  I prefer it now.

Tald Halley: Was the studies that limited on those times?

Salasker Dusk:  More that failure was punished, Sir Tald, by killing the unworthy student.  The threat of death tends to focus ones' studies tremendously.

Tald Halley: That is an image i never read on our history books.

Tald Halley: That badly?

Tald Halley: Or just harsh discipline methods?

Salasker Dusk: You will likely not find it.  It is not something that is talked about these days, as few remain from that time.  But such was necessary, for the Archmages sent out apprentices to hunt down those that did not abide by The Towers'  rules.

Tald Halley: i tought Wardens of the tower had that job these days?

Salasker Dusk: The Wardens were assigned as protectors to mages, to deal with mundane threats.  The most powerful of them served the Archmages directly.

Salasker Dusk: Then, too, the Archmages were...  different.  One assigned to each school, and the Head of The Tower elected from them.

Tald Halley: Different times indeed.

Tald Halley: i tought there was only one Archmage at time.

Tald Halley: How long this system lasted in the tower?

Salasker Dusk: Hm...  Well, I was exiled from The Tower for a time, but the practice fell into disuse around the time Hound left as Head of The Tower.

Tald Halley: That would Ar?

Tald Halley: Which year i mean.

Salasker Dusk:  Ninety?  A hundred?  I left the island for a long time, thirty years or so about then, for I had important matters to see to on the mainland.  When I returned, The Tower was far less strict.

Salasker Dusk: Indeed, after my own stint there, the rules had begun to relax.  Beatings, rather than death, by about AR Seventy or so.

Tald Halley: I see, lets go back to main topic, when did you encounter Arelith Forest? How were the forest back then?

Salasker Dusk: The first I recall was being sent as a test by my Master at the time, though not the forest proper.  I was told to find a Necromancer within the vicinity and end his threat.

Salasker Dusk: It was Morgruhnn, you see, though I did not know it then.  But that was my first experience with those dark woods.

Tald Halley: So Morghun still posed an threath to the Arcane Tower?

Salasker Dusk: Threat is, perhaps, not accurate.  But that they found his experiments dangerous and distasteful is quite true.  And defeating him for a time considered a suitable test for students.

Salasker Dusk: Dying to him was seen as being a great saving of time in teaching anyone so inept.

Tald Halley: Yet, he still remains, quite an feat for one so wicked.

Salasker Dusk: He has made some very unfortunate agreements for such longevity, Sir Tald.    I do not recommend such a path.  

Tald Halley: Agreed.

Salasker Dusk: Not to mention the stench of his lair.   Minotaurs have all the manners of the cows they resemble.

Tald Halley: What of the Cult of malar? Were did they had an significath presence there? On these days?

Salasker Dusk: Ah, there we come to matters that predate my arrival.  The Forest was known as Despair before I arrived, or so I am told, and Malar's Temple has stood there since before I arrived.

Tald Halley: So the cult was openly present there as the present days?

Salasker Dusk:  So far as I know, Sir Tald.  You may wish to speak to the few that have been here even longer than I.

Tald Halley: Finding such individuals is quite hard, unless Thoramind is willing for questions.

Tald Halley: Which i doubt unless concerns magic.

Salasker Dusk: Ah, I may be able to help there.  I know of a few, Sir Tald.

Tald Halley: If you could allow me to interview, i would this book to you Master Salasker.

Tald Halley: I mean such old individuals.

Salasker Dusk: Nicodemus, the ranger, for one, one of my oldest friends.  He was here before I was.  Though if you do interview him, try to remain upwind of him.  He considers a spring shower his yearly bath.

Tald Halley: I did had an interview with Sir Nicodemus, sadly didnt had the courage to request an end to our conversation.

Salasker Dusk: Archmage Jacob Swift is another, then.  Indeed, he was Archmage of Necromancy at The Tower when I arrived, I studied under him for a time.

Tald Halley: No idea how to find Jacob Swift.

Salasker Dusk: That is a problem.  Getting him to leave his researches is a quest in itself. But he resides within Winter's Rest, so I would try to reach out to him there.

Tald Halley: I do have to interview Miss Angela.

Tald Halley: She has long history with Lycanthropy and Malar cults.

Salasker Dusk: Well, you are halfway there then, for Angela and Jacob have an... arrangement.  The Archmage, though, is another of my oldest friends, and, like you, has an interest in history.

Salasker Dusk: Far more than myself, though she arrived a decade or two after I did.

Tald Halley: If you would grant me an word in my name, that would be all I ask.

Tald Halley: Well, back to our interview.

Tald Halley: What of the Lycanthropy? On that time?

Salasker Dusk: I would be happy to, Sir.   Of course.

Tald Halley: Was there general consecous concerning it?

Salasker Dusk: As dangerous as now, with no real preventative, I am afraid.  The Cure was not widely known either.  And I am sorry to say that there was not.

Tald Halley: So the Wolfsbane was not widely spread knowledge?

Salasker Dusk: Indeed, many sought the Curse out, for the power it brought.   There were many incidents, and almost all settlements had laws against such practices. Indeed, the few plants were not know by many.

Tald Halley: How did settlements react to such.. individuals?

Tald Halley: i know they were unforgiving..

       Day 11, Month 4 (Tarsakh), 183 AR
       Tald Halley        

Salasker Dusk Part 2 AR 181

Salasker Dusk: All but Wharftown had laws against knowingly having the disease and not seeking a cure.  Though that did not prevent many from hiding it.

Salasker Dusk: There was a cult of abyssalists, in fact, that ruled here for a time that forced their members to contract the disease.

Tald Halley: We talking of Wharftown?

Salasker Dusk:  Cordor, sir.  It was a dark time.

Tald Halley: Cordor?

Tald Halley: Not an malar Cult?

Tald Halley: That is something i never heard of.

Salasker Dusk:  Oh, I am sure some of them looked to The Beastlord, but they were beholden to one known as The Harbinger, a wide spread and evil organization called The Covenant.

Tald Halley:

Salasker Dusk: It is only by a great deal of luck I was not among them.

Tald Halley: Was this organization solely present in Cordor?

Tald Halley: Not among them?

Salasker Dusk: Lady's Tears, no, Sir Tald.  The Covenant was unique to the island, in that The Harbinger managed to bring a wide variety of villains to work together.  Infernalists and Abyssalists alike flocked to his call.

Salasker Dusk: His charisma was only surpassed by his evil.  The worst the island has ever seen.

Tald Halley: And all used Lycanthropy as weapons?

Salasker Dusk: No, that was a sect here in Cordor.   The Lyons family, that came to power here.  But they sought the advantages the wolf form gave, and found it an amusing initiation to their evil cult.

Tald Halley: Wow boy, i feel like this Covenant is an different story all togheter.

Salasker Dusk: It is, Sir Tald, and they are responsible for some of the gravest crimes you may know of.  Light Keep is their work.  As was The Crown Crisis.

Tald Halley: Why i never heard of them?

Salasker Dusk: They were excised, root and branch, Sir Tald.  Some hint of them remain in old texts, but most no longer know the tale.

Salasker Dusk: They were not, though, responsible for Malar's Cult, merely took advantage of the power there.

Tald Halley: So, the open hostility against Lycanthropy wasnt solely on the Cult of malar?

Tald Halley: I mean just their fault, this Lyon family, what was their story?

Salasker Dusk: It was the only source known for the disease, so perhaps one could say that.  It still is to my knowledge... As for the Lyons...  It is a difficult tale, Sir Tald, for at one point I was a friend to them.

Tald Halley: I see.

Salasker Dusk: I tend to avoid telling such tales, for there are now none to gainsay me.  And history is often skewed to make the victors shine.  I have little desire for such accolades.

Tald Halley: Then i will not inquiry an lot, how long the Lyon and the Covenant act in Arelith?

Tald Halley: I know for the Lighkeep crisis they had to be active...

Tald Halley: At least maybe 20 years.

Salasker Dusk: I am told that the first mention of them dates back to the third decade, but they were not ended until after The Riftwar.  Tracking down the final members, in fact, is what kept me away from the island for thirty years.

Tald Halley: So Master Salasker left in what year?

Tald Halley: To hunt this Cultist.

Tald Halley: Or Cultists.

Salasker Dusk: I speak of The Covenant.  The Lyons family was established in Cordor when I arrived, but had yet to gain power with The Council at the time.   Samir Lyons, in fact, befriended me and sponsored my citizen ship for my vote.....

Salasker Dusk: Ah, that would be just before the centennial.  I returned for a brief time around One Hundred and Ten or so, but only for a week or two.  I returned fully around One Hundred and Thirty.

Salasker Dusk: Pardon.  I do not keep careful track of time, I am afraid.  Had I known I would be upon the island for so long, I would have.

Tald Halley: No need to apologise, you perpective is interesting at minimum important in our history.

Tald Halley: I must say, Master Salasker you should write an Personall Biography.

Tald Halley: This small conversation we had, just blew my historian mind.

Salasker Dusk: You flatter me, sir.  Though I admit, I find this quite pleasant.  Few ask me such questions. Again, we arrive at the problem of the victors writing history, Sir Tald....

Tald Halley: Quite true.

Tald Halley: Who would refute the word of Salasker Dusk? I dont think most Cordorians would.

Salasker Dusk: Shall I pen the Glorious Tales of Salasker The Great and Powerful?  I think not.

Tald Halley: Maybe the Perpective of Salasker Dusk over history.

Tald Halley: That would be aceptable, better than an Historian Vampire.

Salasker Dusk:  I am a poor scholar, Sir Tald, as you may have gathered.  And Lady Adelyns'...  skewed viewpoint is a good example of why I refrain from such things.

Tald Halley: The irony she is the most renowed Historian and Scholar of our time. And that is bitter.

Tald Halley: I mean the Vampire woman.

Salasker Dusk:  I consider the source when it comes to such things, Sir Tald.  And she has gotten many things wrong.  From Light Keep, to The Crown and The Machine.  Amadeo's works are a bit better.

Salasker Dusk: The Monk, at least, cares as little for glory as I do.

Tald Halley: Indeed.

Tald Halley: Lets talk of the Lyons again, for how long they remain in Cordor?

Salasker Dusk: You may wish to try to seek him out as well, for he yet lives...  Very well... Hm....

Tald Halley: Wait...Amadeo lives?

Salasker Dusk: You did not know?  He does, though I have not spoken to him in over thirty years now.

Salasker Dusk: He walks The Planes, and is hardly human now, so his perspective on mortal concerns has waned.

Tald Halley: I tought he died like just after Wahrftown war.

Tald Halley: Wharftown*

Salasker Dusk: Which one?

Tald Halley: The last one and final...

Salasker Dusk:  While I was absent during that time, Sir Tald, I am told it was less a war and more an extermination.  And the island is better for it.

Tald Halley: it was....

Tald Halley: An stain of dishonor on Cordor history.

Tald Halley: i wont deny the Evil of Wharftown, but there was no need for extremes.

Salasker Dusk: I shed not tears for Wharftowns' destruction, for when I speak of The Wharftown Wars, I talk of the succession of such events from the years Sixty to Eighty.  Four of the, all told.

Tald Halley: Hmm, lets first talk the Lyons, then i do have question concerning Wharftown.

Tald Halley: How long this family was active? In this case an time period?

Salasker Dusk: Rivers of blood spilled by those in that jumped up fishing village seeking to cover the island in evil, Sir Tald.  No, Wharftown got precisely' what it deserved...

Salasker Dusk: From my arrival, well, I am sure beforehand, but they rose to power only a few years after I landed.

Salasker Dusk: They held a Council seat, and many posts in The Government.  Samir's wife, Nath'yria was an exceptional smith.  His brother, Kamir, a fearsomely strong warrior and Kamir's wife, Lady Snowbell, a mage of power.

Salasker Dusk: Samir himself was a cleric of great power as well.

Salasker Dusk: They held the city for a decade before they were found out.   Their fall after was swift, for they were hunted not only by goodly folk, but The Covenant as well.  The group had little tolerance for failure.

Tald Halley: So they fell around AR 65 to 70?

Salasker Dusk: Jel Lyons became a member of the family as well, and survived to help Vippen with The Fall.  You may have read the name in various histories.

Salasker Dusk: There was a son, Vanom.  And I have met a few that have continued the line upon the mainland.  But the branch here in Arelith ended when Vanom died.

Tald Halley: I see.

Salasker Dusk:  We travel far afield from The Forest, Sir Tald.

Tald Halley: That is what happens with one story, you end up in other place.

Tald Halley: But all still history.

Salasker Dusk: True enough.  Though if I may touch upon The Forest of Despair for a brief moment?   That 'perspective' you spoke of?

Salasker Dusk: I have noticed one thing.  It has slowly become more dangerous since I first walked it.  Some trees now march among their brethren, which was not seen at all in the past.  And there are yet mysteries to the palce that....

Salasker Dusk: To my knowledge, have never been solved.

Tald Halley: i am afraid all have theories to the corruption, and trust me Bendirians have all sort of explanations for the matter.

Tald Halley: But i suspect the source is far more simple, ironically may all be tied to Morghun himself and his patron.

Salasker Dusk: There is a place of power in the north eastern portion that, as far as I have been able to ascertain, has never been investigated to any proper extent.

Salasker Dusk: And it has grown since I arrived.  Not by much, but it is larger than it once was.  Something to consider, yes?

Tald Halley: Quite indeed.

Salasker Dusk: Very well.  Please, ask away.

Tald Halley: Speaking of Settlements why only Wharftown had no politics agaisnt Lycanthrophy?

Salasker Dusk: The town billed itself as a 'free city', Sir Tald.  In reality, they accepted any to strengthen their warlike attitudes, no matter how foul.

Salasker Dusk: A legion of werewolves would have been considered an asset, not a crime.

Tald Halley: That is great "perpective" of the period of AR 30 to 70, that Lycanthropy was very used as weapons.

Salasker Dusk: Forgive my bias, Sir Tald.  But I spent a number of years dodging Wharftown assassins' and troops.  It colours my opinon.

Salasker Dusk: Oh, my, yes.  Very much so.

Tald Halley: At least my conclusion, but your words give me an new way to see it as well.

Salasker Dusk: You are correct, Sir Tald.  Again, many saw it as an avenue to power, not a disease or curse.  

Salasker Dusk: And Belladonna had not yet been successfully grown, so catching it was far more likely

       Day 11, Month 4 (Tarsakh), 183 AR
       Tald Halley        

Salasker Dusk part 3 AR 181

Tald Halley: So Belladona wasnt natural to Arelith?

Tald Halley: It was an imported herb?

Tald Halley: Or like Wolfsbane just another knowledge to be found?

Salasker Dusk: Correct.  At least, so I surmise.  I am not an herbalist.  But I can say it did not grow wild on the island before I left, and I found the plant in various gardens upon my return.

Tald Halley: that is amazing.  

Salasker Dusk: Wolfsbane, though rare, was here when I arrived, so I do not know if it is natural to Arelith or was brought to the island sometime in the distant past.

Tald Halley: There is evidence that Wolfsbane was present even during the times of Kohligen itself.

Tald Halley: But few speak of Belladona.

Tald Halley: If any at all, since its now an common herb  

Salasker Dusk: That coincides with my own experience, Sir Tald.  Though a happy addition to the island.

Salasker Dusk:  Lady Vei.  I trust you are well.  

Tald Halley: See? You already had an impressive knowledge to this study.

Veisha Calan: "Tired, but- well enough!"

Salasker Dusk:   I suppose you are correct, Sir Tald.

Tald Halley: Hello

Veisha Calan: "Hello again""All's well?"

Tald Halley: indeed.

Salasker Dusk: Sir Tald is interrogating me, Lady Vei, ostensibly on The Forest of Despair, but it seems we are prone to wandering.  He is interested in the past, you see.

Salasker Dusk: And it is something I have in stock, apparently.

Tald Halley: Someone should dissect Master Salasker Knowledge of the past.

Veisha Calan:  "Mmh. I still remember when the Malarites animated the corpse of a Celestial."

Salasker Dusk: Ah, a title I no longer have, Sir Tald, but I thank you for the compliment.  

Tald Halley: Well, from AR 60 to 70 was there events of worth, you can remember of worth, in the Arelith Forest?

Salasker Dusk: I fear not, Sir Tald.  My attention was more on survival and buidling up my own Trading Organization to that end.

Salasker Dusk: Other than the occasional foray to the forest for wood, it did not really register.

Tald Halley: Lets talk of Benwick or Lightkeep, when did the trouble began on that settlement?

Salasker Dusk: Forgive me, Sir Tald... it is a... difficult subject.  I lost many friends there.  

Tald Halley: I understand, and then lets back jump to Wolfsbane, when did the knowledge started to spread of this plant?

Tald Halley: Because was during the decade of AR 70, that Malarites began purging it. Supposely.

Salasker Dusk: Ah.  Very well.  Again, I know little of herbalism, but I can say that the cure was well known at The Tower.  In general, though, while wolvesbane was known, its' locations and the timing of the cure were not.

Salasker Dusk: That only started to become common knowledge around Year Seventy, as you said.  Which likely is why the Malarites began to try to cull the cure.

Salasker Dusk: Do you wish to sit, Lady Vei?

Tald Halley: So this where i come to an lot of conflicting informations when it concerns this period, the Wharftown Boys were or not corrupt over Morghun influence?

Veisha Calan: "It's fine, dear."

Veisha Calan: "I was just stopping as I was going about my business, still got things to move and plan and all that."

Salasker Dusk: That is a complicated matter.  It deals with a rather wide spread and evil alliance, Sir Tald.

Tald Halley: All i interviewed said they only became under his influence after the Spriggan war, others say the Second Mistican war.

Tald Halley: But that is the thing, they ironically are an extention of the Cult of Malar.  

Salasker Dusk:  I doubt that, for the leader of that gang were, without fail, brought to Malars' Temple to be infected.  To this day, you will find werewolves among The Wharftown Boys.

Tald Halley: What can you tell of them ? During this time?

Tald Halley: You also find Morghun minions among their ranks.

Salasker Dusk: Morgrun had control not only of the Boys, but of The Gromph and the Orcs near Bloodmoon Fort.  And the necromancer, in turn, is allied with The Queen in The North.

Salasker Dusk: To my knowledge, that agreement yet remains to this day.

Tald Halley: So wharftown ignored this agreements? During that time?

Salasker Dusk: Likely it was encouraged by those in power in Wharftown, Sir Tald. I really cannot stress enough that the place was vile.  But, again, I am quite biased in the matter.

Tald Halley: That may explain some stuff.

Tald Halley: What of the druids of the Forest? Was there an official grove during this time?

Salasker Dusk: The orcs and the Wharftown Boys provided slaves and gold to Morgunn, and he in turn sent tribute to Moradel.  If Wharftown did not manage to skim some of that ill gotten gain, I would be very surprised.

Tald Halley: I know they fought back during the following two decades.

Tald Halley: I see.

Salasker Dusk:  There was, though the alliance between Myon and The Heartwood Grove was far more amicable when I arrived.

Tald Halley: Amicable?

Salasker Dusk: To the extent that many Archdruids were not only welcome, but held postions in Myons' government at times.

Tald Halley: Hmm

Tald Halley: Well there is no recorded history of the Heartwood grove, can you tell me an quick note but maybe how old is in theory the heartwood grove?

Salasker Dusk: From what I have been told, The Grove itself predates any comprehensive settlement of the island, Sir Tald.

Tald Halley: That makes far complicated matters.

Salasker Dusk: Though if you truly wish to know more, then Lady Veisha is the one to speak to.

Tald Halley: Maybe i will ask that, but no druid i asked had the response.

Salasker Dusk: My home has been the city for over a hundred and twenty years now, so I am not the best person to ask about that sacred glade.

Tald Halley: What of the period of AR 70-100, do you recall siginificant events in Arelith Forest, besides of course Lightkeep.

Salasker Dusk: It was about that time that The Witch of The Woods first appeared, I believe.  Certainly, Warlocks were unheard of upon the island before that time.

Tald Halley: Witch of the woods?  

Salasker Dusk: You know there is an old, disused passage from the foothills in the east of The Skull Crags that leads up near the village, yes?

Salasker Dusk: Infested with spiders.

Tald Halley: I think i know of it.

Salasker Dusk: Well, near there, north of the lower entrance there is a... Power, Sir Tald.  One that will make bargains of a dubious nature.

Tald Halley: That i never heard.

Salasker Dusk: She was not a presence when I arrived, but shortly after she took up residence in that shadowy corner of the island, warlocks began to appear with startling frequency.

Tald Halley: Hmm

Tald Halley: When did the warlocks appeared AR 80,90?

Salasker Dusk: I fear I cannot tell you the precise year.  But I had one as an employee around the end of the Seventh Decade.  A woman named Victoria.  A very talented tailor.

Salasker Dusk: So earlier than year Eighty, certainly.

Tald Halley: So this witch of the woods, waht was her...deal?

Salasker Dusk: There, I cannot say with certainty, Sir Tald.  She is choosy about whom she speaks to.

Tald Halley: Wait, she is around this parts?

Salasker Dusk: But, it is said - and reliably - that any with a gift for performance can give that up to her in exchange for vast wells of power.  

Salasker Dusk:  I have not been that way in decades, but have no reason to doubt she remains.

Salasker Dusk: She is, as I said, a Power, akin to Thoramind.  A minor one, but a Power nonetheless.

Tald Halley: Wow, wait let me check something.

Tald Halley: What do you know of an Fellow named Smiley?

Salasker Dusk: The name sounds... vaguely familiar, Sir Tald, but I cannot quite place it.  Perhaps a member of The Thieves' Guild?

Tald Halley: Well, he was one of my first interviews. supposelly was around the early banite wars, but ...he was odd.

Salasker Dusk:  Sir Tald... 'Odd' is hardly a rare trait upon Arelith.

Tald Halley: Never heard of an "Gerillia", supposely was an witch that went tormeting the Arelith Forest, just after the Arcane tower left the forest.

Tald Halley: Stories said she rivalled Thoramind, that is why i remembered her name.

Salasker Dusk: Left the forest...  To my knowledge, The Tower was here, in the city for a time before it was moved to its' present location.  

Salasker Dusk: If it was ever located anywhere else, I cannot say.

Tald Halley: Never heard of this Witch?

Salasker Dusk:  Not that I can recall, but I can look over some older notes I yet have.  I would not depend that, if she did not come to my attenion, that I bothered to write it down, though.

Salasker Dusk: Still, I try to keep abreast of those beings on the island that are... formidable.  I will see.

       Day 11, Month 4 (Tarsakh), 183 AR
       Tald Halley        

Salasker Dusk Part 4 AR 181

Tald Halley: Alright, Master Salasker left around AR 100? Correct?

Salasker Dusk: Except for the title, yes.   I was stripped of it at one point, though Hound reinstated me.  Still, it no longer has meaning, so 'Mister' is fine, Sir Tald...

Salasker Dusk: Though I prefer merely 'Salasker' or 'Dusk'.

Tald Halley: So Mister Salasker, what you remember of the states of Arelith when you left?

Salasker Dusk: Recovering.   The Riftwar had just ended, and The Covenant finally shattered.  Vippen was dead, as was The Harbinger, and Nyhmax had fell not long before.

Tald Halley: Can you tell me shorty of the Riftwar?

Tald Halley: never heard of it. Was an short war or an shadow one?

Salasker Dusk: A direct result of The Tragedy of Light Keep, Sir Tald. Exacerbated by a group called 'The Twisted Rune' with a device set off within Cordor.  And no, it was a threat to the whole island.  

Tald Halley: There is an book with title, Twisted Rune.

Salasker Dusk: Enough magical energy will, occasionally, tear the strands of reality, Sir Tald.  It is a rare thing, and can cause devastation, or provide access to realms distant and strange.

Salasker Dusk: Rifts are now well known, as studying them can be deadly, and rare as they are, the opportunity to do so does not come often.

Salasker Dusk: Arelith, though, you may have noted, is something of a Nexus for portals, magical energy and odd occurences.  It did not take much to tip the scales.

Salasker Dusk: Benwicks' destruction brought the island to the very tipping point.  The magical detonation of the device pushed it over the edge.

Salasker Dusk: Rifts began to form randomly about the island, slowly at first but with increasing and alarming regularity.  

Tald Halley: How long this phenomenon lasted?

Salasker Dusk: Months.  Eventually, such chaos attracted the attention of beings whom despise such random fluctuations of power.  Modrons.

Tald Halley: Modrons?

Salasker Dusk: A being of pure Law, from another plane, Sir Tald.

Tald Halley: Never heard, what did they do?

Salasker Dusk: It decreed that the matter was a contagion, one that threatened the stability of the planes and the world.  So the island was to be destroyed.

Tald Halley: Just like that?

Tald Halley: I assume they changed their minds, since we stand here.

Salasker Dusk: Understand, Sir Tald, the Rifts were dangerous and unpredictable.  Given time, they may have coalesced, become permanent, shattered the boundaries to all' the planes.

Salasker Dusk:  In the end, we...  changed their minds for them.

Tald Halley: At least that.

Salasker Dusk: A rare occurence, for it is the only time I know of when those above and below worked together.  We frantically planned a way to 'patch' the growing problem, contain it, and finally seal it.

Salasker Dusk: It was a race to build something that would end The Rifts, and show the beings of Law that we could do so before they martialed the power to end the threat their way.

Tald Halley: What sort of device could one build for such issue?

Tald Halley: Or even spell.

Salasker Dusk: The building was attacked while we did so, and many fell to hold off the agents of Chaos in order to let us succeed...

Salasker Dusk: Ah, I thought you knew, Sir Tald.  We finally managed to construct The Machine.  What you may know as The Astrolabe.

Tald Halley: Astrolabe, name is familiar, but i am not associating what it is.

Salasker Dusk: It is now known mostly as a way to travel the planes.

Tald Halley: Well, i never traveled between planes, other than the shadow plane. So never seen the device.

Tald Halley: I assume it became vital to planewalkers in Arelith after such incident.

Salasker Dusk: Hm.  Well, I do not travel there without great need.  I have a differing opinion of many about it.

Salasker Dusk: Many use it as such, much to my dismay.  But, again, my opinon is in the minority.

Tald Halley: How long this Rift war lasted?

Salasker Dusk: Only a few months, Sir Tald.  We were slow to realize how serious the matter was, and then pressed for time once the ultimatum was given.

Tald Halley: Hmm

Salasker Dusk: But it ended a long period of upheaval on the island.

Tald Halley: And began an new century?

Tald Halley: I assume.

Salasker Dusk: Upon reflection, I see a line from the Crown, to The Fall, to The Machine.  And, while I had not ever considered that, I suppose it did coincide closely with Year One Hundred, if not exactly..

Tald Halley: Maybe the gods have an odd sense of humor.

Salasker Dusk:  Well put, sir.  Well put.

Salasker Dusk: Do you mind if we  continue this another time, Sir Tald?  I do have some matters to see to.

Tald Halley: Of course.

Tald Halley: We covered an half of century of history.

Tald Halley: I am most grateful for this chance to hear from your experiences.

Salasker Dusk:  Well, somewhat.  And from my own very narrow view.

Tald Halley: Yet still extremely valuable.

Salasker Dusk: Flattery will endear you to me, Sir Tald.  It has been a most pleasant time.  I do not often reminisce so.

Salasker Dusk:  The next time, I shall have you over to my home.  There are some tomes that might interest you.

Tald Halley: If you would have me, then we will have to arrange such time.

Tald Halley: Good Rest Mister Salasker.

Salasker Dusk: It would be my pleasure, sir.  For now, though, Lady watch you and I look forward to our next encounter.

Tald Halley: Likewise.

       Day 11, Month 4 (Tarsakh), 183 AR
       Tald Halley        

Salasker Dusk (Final Interview)

Tald Halley: Alright, Master Salasker left around AR 100? Correct?

Salasker Dusk: Except for the title, yes.   I was stripped of it at one point, though Hound reinstated me.  Still, it no longer has meaning, so 'Mister' is fine, Sir Tald...

Salasker Dusk: Though I prefer merely 'Salasker' or 'Dusk'.

Tald Halley: So Mister Salasker, what you remember of the states of Arelith when you left?

Salasker Dusk: Recovering.   The Riftwar had just ended, and The Covenant finally shattered.  Vippen was dead, as was The Harbinger, and Nyhmax had fell not long before.

Tald Halley: Can you tell me shorty of the Riftwar?

Tald Halley: never heard of it. Was an short war or an shadow one?

Salasker Dusk: A direct result of The Tragedy of Light Keep, Sir Tald. Exacerbated by a group called 'The Twisted Rune' with a device set off within Cordor.  And no, it was a threat to the whole island.  

Tald Halley: There is an book with title, Twisted Rune.

Salasker Dusk: Enough magical energy will, occasionally, tear the strands of reality, Sir Tald.  It is a rare thing, and can cause devastation, or provide access to realms distant and strange.

Salasker Dusk: Rifts are now well known, as studying them can be deadly, and rare as they are, the opportunity to do so does not come often.

Salasker Dusk: Arelith, though, you may have noted, is something of a Nexus for portals, magical energy and odd occurences.  It did not take much to tip the scales.

Salasker Dusk: Benwicks' destruction brought the island to the very tipping point.  The magical detonation of the device pushed it over the edge.

Salasker Dusk: Rifts began to form randomly about the island, slowly at first but with increasing and alarming regularity.  

Tald Halley: How long this phenomenon lasted?

Salasker Dusk: Months.  Eventually, such chaos attracted the attention of beings whom despise such random fluctuations of power.  Modrons.

Tald Halley: Modrons?

Salasker Dusk: A being of pure Law, from another plane, Sir Tald.

Tald Halley: Never heard, what did they do?

Salasker Dusk: It decreed that the matter was a contagion, one that threatened the stability of the planes and the world.  So the island was to be destroyed.

Tald Halley: Just like that?

Tald Halley: I assume they changed their minds, since we stand here.

Salasker Dusk: Understand, Sir Tald, the Rifts were dangerous and unpredictable.  Given time, they may have coalesced, become permanent, shattered the boundaries to all' the planes.

Salasker Dusk:  In the end, we...  changed their minds for them.

Tald Halley: At least that.

Salasker Dusk: A rare occurence, for it is the only time I know of when those above and below worked together.  We frantically planned a way to 'patch' the growing problem, contain it, and finally seal it.

Salasker Dusk: It was a race to build something that would end The Rifts, and show the beings of Law that we could do so before they martialed the power to end the threat their way.

Tald Halley: What sort of device could one build for such issue?

Tald Halley: Or even spell.

Salasker Dusk: The building was attacked while we did so, and many fell to hold off the agents of Chaos in order to let us succeed...

Salasker Dusk: Ah, I thought you knew, Sir Tald.  We finally managed to construct The Machine.  What you may know as The Astrolabe.

Tald Halley: Astrolabe, name is familiar, but i am not associating what it is.

Salasker Dusk: It is now known mostly as a way to travel the planes.

Tald Halley: Well, i never traveled between planes, other than the shadow plane. So never seen the device.

Tald Halley: I assume it became vital to planewalkers in Arelith after such incident.

Salasker Dusk: Hm.  Well, I do not travel there without great need.  I have a differing opinion of many about it.

Salasker Dusk: Many use it as such, much to my dismay.  But, again, my opinon is in the minority.

Tald Halley: How long this Rift war lasted?

Salasker Dusk: Only a few months, Sir Tald.  We were slow to realize how serious the matter was, and then pressed for time once the ultimatum was given.

Tald Halley: Hmm

Salasker Dusk: But it ended a long period of upheaval on the island.

Tald Halley: And began an new century?

Tald Halley: I assume.

Salasker Dusk: Upon reflection, I see a line from the Crown, to The Fall, to The Machine.  And, while I had not ever considered that, I suppose it did coincide closely with Year One Hundred, if not exactly..

Tald Halley: Maybe the gods have an odd sense of humor.

Salasker Dusk:  Well put, sir.  Well put.

Salasker Dusk: Do you mind if we  continue this another time, Sir Tald?  I do have some matters to see to.

Tald Halley: Of course.

Tald Halley: We covered an half of century of history.

Tald Halley: I am most grateful for this chance to hear from your experiences.

Salasker Dusk:  Well, somewhat.  And from my own very narrow view.

Tald Halley: Yet still extremely valuable.

Salasker Dusk: Flattery will endear you to me, Sir Tald.  It has been a most pleasant time.  I do not often reminisce so.

Salasker Dusk:  The next time, I shall have you over to my home.  There are some tomes that might interest you.

Tald Halley: If you would have me, then we will have to arrange such time.

Tald Halley: Good Rest Mister Salasker.

Salasker Dusk: It would be my pleasure, sir.  For now, though, Lady watch you and I look forward to our next encounter.

Tald Halley: Likewise.

       Day 11, Month 4 (Tarsakh), 183 AR
       Tald Halley        

Angela Interview (Final) AR 181

Tald Halley:  So be it, i never bothered to ask on our last interview, did the Winter Rest ever investigate the Black Wizard of Forest of Despair?

Tald Halley:  The one responsible for the Ritual at AR 10 on Forest of Despair?

Angela Amana:  To my knowledge, no.  

Angela Amana:  I think this might be the first I've personally heard of it.

Tald Halley:  Well, an paladin of the Radiant, claims that the Wizard was the Sharran responsible for second Sharran war, it was my first time hearing, she claimed the knowledge came from Winter Rest.

Angela Amana:  I can find out easily enough once I'm within the walls.

Tald Halley:  Thank you.

Tald Halley:  If the Winter Rest did found the identity of that wizard, that its one early Arelith mistery gone.

Tald Halley:  Now my second question, did you ever heard of Feluka Foxwood?

Tald Halley:  I heard she went....full malarite on Myon.

Angela Amana:  Not with any great detail. She did go wild at the end, because she -wanted- to be a lycanthrope, and people kept trying to cure her. Towards the end, people would pretend to befriend her on orders from paladins, their names lost to time, and try to convince her to take a cure.

Tald Halley:  So what happened to her?

Angela Amana:  I unknowingly provided a means to force her to take the cure once. An enchantment I won't give details of, except that it is the primary reason I disapprove of enchantments being tied to items. She didn't even know she'd been forcibly cured. She ri-... killed the one who administered the spell.

Tald Halley:  So she was cured?

Angela Amana:  For a moon. She sought infection successfully later on.  

Tald Halley:  What happened to her at end? Did she die?

Angela Amana:  She was cured two other times, once early on in my knowledge of her, another I don't know the details of. The early on was when she discovered she really preferred lycanthropy. The other, I suspect was to see if she could of her own volition, but I'm unsure.

Angela Amana:  In the end, she left the isle with Veritas Dopplehausserman, along with... Dia, I think her name was... I should remember her name. Tch... Anyhow. The trio left the isle after they were largely targetted for political reasons, Feluka not caring much about the politics so much as it being a means to

Angela Amana:  hurt the ones who hurt her, for they were the ones in power at the time. Cordor and Bendir, along with an attack on Patrick O'Sullivan, an Archmage of the time.  

Tald Halley:  Hmm, that its contractidatory to my information, she seemed an very unpopular figure.

Tald Halley:  Painted like an real Malarite.

Angela Amana:  How is that contradictory?  

Tald Halley:  In fact, she may have been the reason why most Werewolf laws were reinforced all over the island.

Angela Amana:  Likely.

Tald Halley:  From villain, to an misustood person.

Tald Halley:  So she left, before the Wharftown war?

Angela Amana:  Oh, she was violent and hateful. I just said she didn't care about the politics so much as hurting people who hurt her, who happened to also be in power, hence her lining up with Veritas and Dia, who were after those leaders for different reasons.

Tald Halley:  She had an chapter on my book over her, it seems i may have to change it, i tought she died.

Tald Halley:  Veritas and Dia.

Angela Amana:  I'll have to get you the correct name of Dia, the name is similar, but not correct. She was a dual-colored flameborn of the time, and a student of mine before she got wrapped up in the violence.

Tald Halley:  I see, dont worry unless she an Malarite, i may not mention her.

Angela Amana:  She wasn't, no.

Tald Halley:  My final question, do you remember what was the role of Malarites during the Wharftown war? If you were even involved in such time. *to Angela*

Angela Amana:  I was deliberately uninvolved. Jacob may know more, he was there for the final battle. He tells of it often enough, saving King Edward's life.

Tald Halley:  he did told me that story, that Malarites did try to kill the King.

Tald Halley:  I am quite grateful to him.

Tald Halley:  I spoke too loud again

Tald Halley:  Dam Spruce.

Angela Amana:  Heh, I doubt anyone's listening.

Tald Halley:  I am near ending my book, just need to confirm that information over the Black Wizard, i do intend to include this sort of interviews on it.

Angela Amana:  I can find it once I'm within range of my archive.  

Tald Halley:  Right, did Feluka had connections to Wharftown in any regard?

Tald Halley:  I nearly forgot to ask that.

Angela Amana:  She found acceptance there, when other places rejected her. I recall not wishing to follow her to Wharftown, as Vance was... Being loud at the time, and Wharftown was rowdier than I wished to be around.,

Tald Halley:  She never participated in the war?

Angela Amana:  Unknown. Speculation is that she would have protected the town, or gone along with any outings against Cordor.

Tald Halley:  I have information, that she wasnt around when the war went full on. But do you remember what year she left?

Angela Amana:  Not with any accuracy I'd trust.

Tald Halley:  i see. Thanks an lot Miss Angela, once again you are most helpful on information.

Tald Halley:  You should one day, try to write an AutoBiography with such knowledge.

Angela Amana:  Heh, I try. I admit a lot of it melds together, but I do remember Feluka clearly enough. She was a wildfire with fur.

Angela Amana:  I've tried, I find myself wandering. It'd be better if I had someone to transcribe for me.

Tald Halley:  Sadly not sure if the book, will be fair to Feluka, but history its history, it doesnt write itself fair.

Tald Halley:  I suspect she wouldnt.

Tald Halley:  I will not take more of your time. I surely remember the Winter s Rest when i finally end writing this book.

Tald Halley:  I can promise that.

       Day 9, Month 6 (Kythorn), 182 AR
       Tald Halley