House Alastorai Correspondence

[Kelz]

Archidiax Alastorai, Arch-Duke of House Alastorai

I've arrived in the region that you suspect the ruins are located in. Under the guise of a Bounty Hunter, I've initiated contact with the local townsfolk and joined the local adventuring guild in order to facilitate my search without arousing suspicions. I've taken the name of Avarice as my persona here, and strive to live up to it... It's working thus far.

My first outing was to an abandoned fortress once home to a couple of human adventurers, a mage and a fighter who joined their powers for whatever reason. Nothing overly important so far, other than the rumor of a stone with magical properties. Alas, one of the adventurers accompanying the party proved to be a liability and we had to return to town to ensure his survival. What vexes me is that, according to the local rumormill, he's a VETERAN of the guild?! My thought is that he's either completely inept and has been fortunate thus far, or he was under Levistrus' gaze that day. There is also a Dwarf, an Elf, a human Ranger with prodigious talent in archery, an Ogrekin and a Mage with tattoos on his wrist. He's the anomaly in the party (in my eyes, at least) as I have no experience with this particular discipline of the arcane.

Finally, I chanced upon the Onyx Statuette of Telchur lost in the raid of the Southlands decades past. I had my doubts as to it's authenticity, but it was cooling the entire pond it was resting in the bottom of. Archidiax, No one else even recognized it! I request that the House circulates this knowledge around to the interested clergy so they'll begin to travel to this region. An influx of foreigners will rid me of any unwanted attention I may attract and afford me leverage over one of my contacts in town. Once I've been notified of your permission, I'll approach my contact and move from there. We should be returning soon to the fortress to finish clearing it out. I'll notify you of any developments as they occur.

MAGOG (May Alastor Guide Our Glaives)

- Zaethian Alastorai, Lord of House Alastorai

[Kelz]

Arch-Duke Archidiax,

I've begun to build a powerbase within the town that I'm residing in at the moment. I've also received some information regarding suspected Bael Turathi ruins to the south of this location. Unfortunately, these areas are inhabited by vicious beasts that as of yet I am unable to subdue. While I continue to prepare for the trip, I've made connections with a few local bounty hunters and am beginning to consolidate my power within the town. I have located a gemstone vein within the cave complex that I explored last week and currently I'm planning how best to take advantage of that resource. The group that I went out to scout with last week accompanied me back to these very caves to attempt to pacify the forces within once and for all, but to my dismay the task is beyond us at the moment. I did, however, take down a Manticore with the skills I learned prior to my departure. A few men garrisoned down there to protect against the occassional threat should pay off in the long run. We also came across a magical stone in our travels that granted me Stamina the likes of which I've never known. I'm also apprenticing under the town leathersmith in order to pursue an additional plan that I have in mind regarding resource gathering. I think pieces of the logistical aspects of war have finally found a place within my thought process... thanks to all of the war councils I've attended in the past. I'll be sure to keep you up to date on what exactly it is I'm doing out here and how the search goes.

On another note, I've yet to see a single pilgrim visit the Statuette of Telchur since informing you of my plans regarding it, and the benefits the successful realizations of these plans will lead to. Has there been a delay in getting word out?

I will correspond again as soon as I have something significant to report.

MAGOG,

- Lord Zaethian Alastorai

[Kelz]

Arch-Duke Archidiax,

I've encountered an enemy that is beyond me. A man who goes by the name of Polliver and is associated with the Beast God, Malar. I fought a skirmish against him and his band of hunters and I was utterly defeated. I lost over half of my forces and by all accounts should have died myself, were it not for the hubris of my foe.

I fell during the fight, and when I awoke I was alone in a wooded hillside. Soon after I awoke, I began to hear the braying of hunting hounds and the horns of a hunt. I was able to outwit my pursuers, felling a lone opponent as I continued to evade. On his chest I carved a warning to his master, so that he knows that his under-estimation of my resolve will be his downfall. I returned to the town scant hours ago, and I continue to regain my stregth even now.

Arch-Duke, the anger of Asmodeus Himself burns in my soul as I write this correspondence to you! I crave vengeance against this hated man, and my hunger will remain unsated lest I watch his soul leave him, terrified and bereft of all hope, as I twist my sword in his chest and remove his heart with my hands. I WILL sacrifice him to our Patron on a pyre built of the corpses of his order, and it is to this end that I write you. I humbly request that you send me an ally with which to eradicate this threat. It need not be one of your elite, I only ask for one skilled in combating the abilities this Polliver may wield in service to his thrice-be-damned God. There must be some devil in the Nine Hells with schemes to tear down the deity this fool claims to worship, if for no other reason than to advance our cause.

If not an ally, than at least lend me the strength of our House in the form of a weapon with which to bring this mange-riddled cur low! Perhaps the Hammer of Ianendithas, so that I may individually shatter each of those gleaming teeth of his into oblivi... <ahem>...

I digress.

My apologies, Arch-Duke. Regardless of whatever befalls me, I'll persevere with nothing more necessary than the power in my blood and the tutelage of my House, of course. If you deign to provide me additional tools with which to complete my task, however, I will surely stamp out the entire worship of Malar in the area more quickly.

Regardless, I will begin to re-consolidate my power and move to undermine this new vexation when I arise in the morning. Know that whatever your decision may be in regards to my request that a Lord of Alastorai will never again fall in battle to a degenerate worshipper of a eunuched god for as long as my soul remains mine to command.

MAGOG,

Lord Zaethian Alastorai

[Kelz]

Arch-Duke Archidiax,

I've fully recovered from my defeat, and I believe that I've made new allies in town, should it come to all-out war with the Malarites. Among them is "the Fletcher", a lawman whom is quite proficient with the Longbow that he carries and two arcanists. These two are wildly diverse in styles, one very capable with potions and the other equally as capable with magic items... though both are staggeringly powerful in their own right. I've not seen their like anywhere else in these lands... only the Spiral Pact warlock sect within our House rivals the skills I've seen these two display thus far. Lastly, there is a fearsome dwarf warrior as well. I was truly humbled to witness this new troupe's level of accomplishment, and learned much from witnessing their tactics and fighting styles. We eliminated a slavery ring within the countryside a few days ride outside of town in a single night. All told, we killed over 20 enemies, including a spell caster and a fighter of questionable ability. Through this action, the Guild that I've founded within the town will gain much fame, which I hope to parlay into support for crushing Polliver upon his return to the area. Unfortunately, I was unable to find any information useful to my search. I plan on speaking with with my contact to see if he's uncovered any additional information on ruins within the next couple of days. I expect to have an additional member to add to my retinue within the next few days, as well. From my original force, only a single member remains. She accompanied me on this latest outing, and I can only hope that she gleaned as much knowledge of her own limitations and how to address them as I have. I still haven't received any correspondence in response to my missives to you, so I can only assume that whoever you're sending to aid me in my conflict here carries word of the House status and such. Finally, I found among the corpses of the slain slavers a warhammer without peer. I'm not sure that I've discovered the extent of it's abilities, but it's craftsmanship is unmatched by anything save the ancient relics stored in the Fiend's Vault itself. With it, I'm sure that the exploits recorded in my history will find it a place besides those legendary implements of war.

MAGOG,

Lord Zaethian Alastorai