Cult of the Nightstone
Journal Entries

Journal Entry #1:

Citizens of the Realms

This call has gone to many groups of renown besides your own, do not feel 
that you are the "chosen ones". By far, you were not the first choice - our 
preffered choice was the band of adventurers known as the Crushing Hammer. 
But, alas, this group is away on another mission for us at the moment. 
This group has rescued the Realms many times in the past from evil gods 
like Bane, Tyranthraxus, and Moander. They are a powerful band and one of 
our key groups in situations like this. Due to their absence, we are in 
search of someone else to help us in this dire time of need.

There is great urgency in this assignment, but we are sad to say we cannot 
give you further information in this letter, except to say that it is a very 
dangerous mission and one not to be taken lightly. Yes, this mission is for 
the Harper's, the "Peace keepers of the Realms", but we desperately need 
your help. Your group was brought up in discussion by a few of our members 
that have heard of your deeds.

Please, if you are interested, respond in person at once in Shadowdale 
at Elminster's Tower. We desperateley need your help - the Realms are 
in grave danger. Please be urgent, I beg you.

Sincerely,
Lord Mourngrym Amcathra
ruler of Shadowdale
						



Journal Entry #2:

This fine gentleman meets you at the door and welcomes you to Shadowdale.

"Ah, you have come to our call for aid. I had a dream that it would be you 
who came here. Quickly, quickly, inside so I may give you the information 
you need. It is urgent."

Lord Mourngrym ushers you upstairs to a private and comfortable room. As 
you enter, and old bearded guy looks up in surprise. "I will let you people 
conduct you business in  private," and with that he vanishes in a puff of 
smoke.

Though you have never seen him, you deduce among yourselves that he was the 
olg bag of wind Elminster the Sage.

"Sit down, sit down, make yourselves comfortable - if you take this task 
at hand, then it will probably be a while before you get another good meal 
and comfortable surroundings."

Journal Entry #3

Mourngrym continues on about the "tasks" that he was speaking of.

"These tasks will represent your loyalties to the Realms and were chosen 
for you by three well known figures of the Realms, who also happen to be 
powerful mages in their own right. All three rely on secrecy of who they 
are, but I do have permission to disclose their names in the strictest of 
confidence. One is generally associated with the Harpers and the Knights 
of Myth Drannor, that being Elminster, but no one has any proof of his 
membership to this secret organization. The other two are in very high 
ruling power in their respected cities - Khelben Arunson, the Blackstaff 
of Waterdeep, and The Simbul, who is the ruler of the far kingdom of Aglarond."

Journal Entry #4:

"Where was I, oh yes, I remember. This is the information we have so far, 
our informants have not sent word in a few weeks - this is one of the  
reasons we are in such urgency of taking care of this whole ordeal. We are 
indeed afraid that our agents are in grave danger, if not already dead.

"From their reports this is what we know:

"A very powerful commander of Zhentarim forces has taken over the town of 
Voonlar, a small town a little north of here. Her name is Ravendas. She went 
there on Zhentarim business to take over the city, but she had an alternate 
plan - she is in search of something called the  Nightstone. The Nightstone 
is  legendary and is said to have many mystical powers, but no one knows 
exactly what those powers are!  She has found evidence that the stone is 
buried beneath the city in some great crypt of the man who found the stone - 
his name goes way back many thousands of years and is known as the Shadowking.

"Our agents have found out that she is taking citizens of the city prisoner 
and making them dig beneath the city for her. From their information, the 
band of Zhentarim that are with her, as well as herself, have broken off all 
association with the Zhents, and have started their own sect called the 
Cult of the Nightstone.

"She has also taken an assistant, whom all is known about him is that he 
is a mage of considerable power and is called Snake. Besides that we know 
nothing of him.

"How far down she has dug and how close she is to finding the crypt....we 
do not know - I just hope we are not too late. As I said, the last reports 
I received were weeks ago.
 
"We do know that she is a vicious, cruel person and very battle hardened. 
She has dissposed of more than a few of our best agents, one of whom was her 
own sister Kera.

"This is a dangerous mission, of course you may back out now if you wish, 
but please think it over. Rest here, think about it, and I'll be back in a 
few hours. If you are gone, then I will take that as a no."

With that, Mourngrym turns and leaves you to talk it over and rest.

Journal Entry #5

"Now that you have completed the first trial , it is time to proceed with 
the second of the three.

"Khelben Arunson of Waterdeep is in search of a mighty talisman, the 
Talisman of Chult, that has been lost for years. The rumors are great now 
and supposedly, a powerful  group of Red Wizards, who are working closely 
with the Drow, have it in their possession. To the far east of here is 
reported to be a tunnel that will take you many leagues under the surface 
to the Drow city K'bra'nth. The tunnel is said to be in a range of mountains, 
go now and retrieve it and bring it to us here. We will make sure he receives 
it. Again all the treasure you find is yours to keep."

Journal Entry #6:

"My name is Danysil. Ravendas, the evil bitch, decided that she was tired 
of me. I thought I had done everything right. But three solid days of sex 
is too much for anyone. I was spent, she couldn't get enough. The last time, 
when I couldn't rise to the occasion, she decided it was time to finish. She 
ordered me to get ready to follow her down here. I was weak and tired, not in 
much of a mood to come down here. She is absolutely obsessed with this rock - 
needless to say with sex too. Anyway, we got here and she decided she is done 
with me, so here I lie. She did make a mistake and left this sword here, it 
is yours for the taking. I am sorry to say that is all I have of value, take 
it and use it against the slut. Redeem me with her blood on my blade, the 
one she had made for me. Such sweet justice. Thank you and good luck, you 
will need it - she won't be easy."

Journal Entry #7:

"Thank the Gods that you have agreed. The first of the three tasks will 
be for the Simbul. She has heard of a great mystic orb, The Orb of Mystic 
Wisdom, that lies beneath the surface world. If you search in the mountains 
south of here you should find the tunnel entrance. She would like for you 
to go and retrieve this orb for her and return it here. She has also said 
that any treasure you find you shall retain for you own - some of it may be 
helpful later on in you adventurous life."

Journal Entry #8:

"You have accomplished two of the three trials....on to the third and final 
trial.

"Elminster has heard of a book called the Grimmoire of Arcane Magic, he has 
been in search of it for most of his life, if that tells you anything about 
the age of this book. He has finally found proof of its exsitence after all 
these years and now he has the locality of it. To the northwest of here in 
the mountains, there is an ancient tower. He believe it to be under the 
watchful eye of a very powerful evil wizard or two. He also expects there 
to be highly skilled theives, men-of-arms, and who knows what else. Do not 
go in with expectations of this being easy - it most definitely will not be. 
Again, he wishes for you to keep any treasures you find. Once this book is in 
your possession, return it here for more instructions. When you have completed 
this task we will reward you kindly and make sure you are properly trained 
and prepared to face the Cult of the Nightstone."






