Maolmhuire Artor

Six Vials at Midnight

Maolmhuire Artor moved to the city with his young fiance Laylia, him to pursue his alchemist career, having recently graduated at a prostigious magic school, his wife had been suffering with ‘the shivers’ for three years, and it was hoped a cure could be found in the grand library of which the city is famed. He became the apprentice of an award winning embalmer named Meldrac. Together they worked on translating ancient texts to discover secret arts to embalm the dead.

Unfortunately, rumours of witchcraft and necromancy began sweeping the city, and so cremation, not embalming became the preferred method of disposal of the dead. The practice giving the relatives a sense of security.

It was at this time, Maolmhuires wife took a turn for the worst, whilst his research had yielded promising developments. Maolmhuire did not take Laylias death well, and it was Meldrac who convinced him that she should be the one to try the latest experimental embalming fluid.

The body lay for two hours, as the two scientists rested in another room. Then suddenly they were awoken by the most appalling and daemoniac succession of cries that either of them had ever heard. Not more unutterable could have been the chaos of hellish sound if the pit itself had opened to release the agony of the damned, for in one inconceivable cacophony was centred all the supernal terror and unnatural despair of animate nature. Human it could not have been—it is not in a woman to make such sounds.

Bursting into the room, Meldrac began laughing joyously, and Maolmhuire knew he’d been deceived. Grabbing vials of acidic substances from the shelves Maolmhuire began hurling the glass vials at the undead body. Meldrac reached out to stop Maolmhuire and was burned horribly in the face. The acid splashes broke a burning brazier off the wall which quickly engulfed the room in flames.

Maolmhuire took a curved dagger and dealt a mortal blow to his mentor’s neck, who stumbled and landed in the fires next to the screaming Laylia. Meldrac pulled out the embalming pipe from the screaming body, and began sucking the experimental liquid as the flames engulfed him.

Maolmhuire fled the burning house, and the city. Forever burdened by not confirming the death of his wife.

Letter from Maolmhuire to Wendell

Dear nephew Wendell

Thank you for your last letter. Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying. I think this foreign prince friend of yours sounds very trustworthy, and you should offer whatever help you can in securing his fortune for him.

Myste-hass is currently hosting the XI legion of the Helvetian army as guests of the law master. Very unnerving to have so many soldiers roaming about, but perhaps it will help make the wilds a little safer.

Im writing with some small smugness to tell you about a terrifying creature i personally dispatched called a Behir, this dead creature had been returned to life by evil necromancy and was guarding an elementalists lair. I cut off its head to keep as a trophy.

The elementalist appears to be named Xafiq and from his journal entries appears to shun civilisation who he claims is in league with “the Gods”. He believes “the way of the Eye” can stop the gods from reaching him. I came upon these notes and a number of odd items including a wand of foul necromancy and a rather interesting spellbook with a tongue on the front, i have some knowledge of these items, but i intend to consult my learned friend Rasvyn about the book as soon as possible. I shall see the wand is destroyed in acid to ensure noone can use its heretical powers.

After dealing with the creatures of the lair, we found an apparition that appeared to be Xafiq. He wanted something called a Soul Jar that Berticus had used to capture one of the imposter gods. He mentioned that the other Soul jar contained someone, but would not say who “he” was. Upon disappearing we found a secret room containing a skeleton with a magic suit of armour and strange amulet which can protect a wearer from divination magics. I have taken the amulet and the bones of the warrior to relocate it to a suitable resting place in the temple of Garr.

Your Uncle Maolmhuire

P.S i’ve included my latest guild fees for the Guild of Alchemists, please can you make sure they recieve it

My learned friend,

I’ve not seen you in a while, but i hope this letter finds you well. I have discovered a strange spellbook with some unusal properties, which i believe may be one of the five “books of the distilled tongue”. Quite a find, im sure you will agree.

As i recall, the legend says the book is enchanted by a mysterious benefactor who can see any magic used by the owner and even write messages inside the book. Thankfully my faith in Garr will grant me protection from any evil this book may do whilst i use it, however i have decided to keep its use a secret. I do not want others to be troubled with such a trivial matter.

I humbly request a conversation at your earliest convenience.

Yours, in secret Maolmhuire

Letter from Maolmhuire to Rasvyn