audio, un: strange

[rehandle]

I found something in the papers in the sleeping quarters that seems to relate to our host and his guests.

[ ""Guests"" ]

There was a heavily redacted passage on a page amongst those detailing the history of necromancy that spoke of a previously revered necromancer of the court of one Doxe Cosimo at Taravast, a citadel that housed schools of sorcery and necromancy.

Cosimo's Conclave found this necromancer guilty of mass sacrifice. In excess of a hundred people murdered, to their knowledge at the time of sentencing, who were believed killed in pursuit of his work. It seems the bodies were discovered inside his house.

Whoever crossed all this out was pretty upset about it. As I assume one might be if they'd been exiled from reality for all eternity.

[ All this to say... ]

We should be careful when considering giving Lisanther the scroll pieces he seeks.

Comments

un: average sighren, video

[lanclan]

That man definitely lacked some degree of trustworthiness, to say the least.

[rehandle]

He did. Sometimes it's best to take a person at face value.

[lanclan]

I'm in full agreement, sir.

[rehandle]

Dr. Stephen Strange, by the way. I neglected to find an opportunity to introduce myself the last time.

[ Creating a ward-home for the creature and then leaving the cave inhabitants to the mess of their business as quickly as possible took precedence in the end. ]

un: wisdom

[mashiara]

Meanwhile, as the man wandering the maze, Modouk, would tell you, he's the one of the great necromancy house, who found a way for the Doxe, and he doesn't say which, to achieve life eternal. Then was exiled here by the Doxe's other followers, who he claims were jealous.

Taken with salt, but I don't doubt that he did manage some objectionable means to the end of living longer than one should, and it was in whatever capacity as horrid as one with sense would expect.

( Anyone who'd been in Taravast would, perhaps, know which Doxe, and exactly how that "life eternal" was achieved. Nynaeve does not, however. )

Whose name was in those papers? It was Lisanther?

[rehandle]

[ It's useful context, a picture growing steadily and surely. More context comes after her too, and so it's with some measure of resignation that he answers. ]

There was no name, or if there was it was on another page lost amongst the rest. But I wouldn't be surprised if were any one of three.

[ Three names for three particular men. Or perhaps not three at all. ]

[mashiara]

All three fools and regretting nothing for it beyond their own inability to leave as far as I can tell.

[rehandle]

Good of them to do the bulk of the work of convincing us they don't require a rescue.

un: mansbane

[bravelyrunsaway]

The one in the dungeon considers himself angry, angry as Manouk was at one time, and locked away out of fear from the old man. Plans on killing Manouk and Lisanther before fleeing this realm, if he's released.

Lisanther, for his part, didn't mention who he intends to murder on the way out, only that he'd let the skeletal hounds rest. Didn't bother speaking with the old man in the maze, he kept chasing me around with his cane.

[rehandle]

[ Still more colour for the piece painted gradually with each new drop of information. ]

One who's lost his mind, another with a mind perfectly sharp and still actively practicing his art, and a third imprisoned out of fear of his fury. It doesn't not come together to form a possible mass murderer.

[bravelyrunsaway]

One, two, three. What happens if they're all free?

[nachocheese]

"You told us you were one. Not three."

[nachocheese]

Yeah, the guy in the dungeon's a real charmer.

[bravelyrunsaway]

You spoke with him too?

un: Lockwood

[recklessenough]

I'd suggest we burn the whole lot of it, salt the ashes, and then bind them into an iron jar. [ It's been awhile since Lockwood's slept properly. He's cranky. ]

Baring that, we should return the talismans to Karsa, and get out of here with as little damage as we can manage.

[rehandle]

I'm all for getting out here by way of talismans at earliest convenience. And if someone were to choose to burn whatever we did find of the scrolls along the way...

[ No harm, no foul. Well, not to anyone but the men still exiled here and the ghosts who walk the house's hallways, but little can be done for the latter and the former, signs seem to say, have earned their place here well and truly. ]

[recklessenough]

[ As far as Lockwood was concerned, the ghosts and the damn necromancers could go the way of the scrolls. But he stops himself before giving voice to such sentiments. He's just overly tired and doesn't mean it.

...

Mostly. ]

I managed to secure one talisman. I passed it on to Karsa. If I come across any scrolls, I'll be sure to let the group know.

un: a civil serpent | audio.

[inferus]

When our group spent time in Taravast, I discovered the Doxes lives had been unnaturally, magically extended for some time with the same consequences. They would kill countless (often servants) to further this goal.

If these are the necromancers that started it all, there is a great deal of blood on their hands.

[rehandle]

[ Oh. They've visited Taravast already. It strikes Stephen belatedly that he really ought to have spent some more time enquiring with the others after the things they already know.

At least everyone's happy to share when the need arises. Wrath adds another piece to the puzzle, unhappy the final picture might be. ]

That would explain the ghosts.

[ Those in the kitchens especially, caught in their working routines in the house where they doubtless used to serve... ]

It seems those exiled here really ought to stay that way.

[inferus]

Creators of their own damnation.

( As far as Wrath has been able to tell, there is no afterlife here. Even the Hell in Alem was not exactly full of the souls of the dead. Most spirits appear to get lost, trapped within the living, and so the fact these three have found a way to remain here, trapped and punished is its own level of satisfaction.

Within Wrath's Underworld, they would be worthy of the worst punishment he could exact upon them for their crimes. )

Agreed. There is no reason to free them. The group's focus should be on leaving.

audio, un: dam it to hell

[vestments]

( god.

marc spector being marc spector and being new here still isn't entirely sure on the ins and the outs of everyone and everything, probably never will in truth.

still— )

Given everything, ( the entire spooky house, he means, ) is this a warning that needs to be said?

( the irony being that marc is the sort of guy to go 'yes, giving him the scroll is a bad idea but yolo, let's do it anyway'. )

[rehandle]

Would you rather find out the answer to that question the hard way?

[ At least this way there's room to say I told you so. ]

[downswing]

Three necromancers present.

...perhaps caution with all.

[rehandle]

Certainly caution with all. Especially if they prove to be parts of a sum.

[downswing]

You think them allied?