Hunt for a book in Tremanac | World Anvil

Hunt for a book

These letters were sent to Commander Travis Mallory, leader of the Church of Tarin's Justicar order.  
Arnan Cove
South Western Coast
Duchy of Filishar
  19 Winst 219
  Commander Mallory,
As per your orders, since the 24th Midum 219, I have been pursuing the forbidden tome known as the Book of Fulfilled Desires. While I regret to inform you that I have not yet retrieved the tome, I have found the trail and have subdued the influence it has exerted over a small village.   Following the lead provided by Gus Tetrin I started my investigation in Arnan Cove. There my enforcer and I discovered that the small fishing village had the beginnings of a demon worshipping cult. The village’s Guide had suffered an unfortunate accident several months previously, which left a gap which this cult were only too glad to fill.   The cultists were violently opposed to our arrival and there were three fatalities. However, Enforcer Copps and I were able to subdue several of them. Most of the villagers seemed pleased with the removal of the cultists, though none were happy with us for killing some of the cultists. Given the circumstances I judged it necessary to question the entire village. This resulted in us uncovering a further two sympathisers, as well as learning some of the detail on what had happened.   There had been a shipwreck approximately four months prior to our arrival. As with most of the villages along the coast the people of Arnan Cove were quick to claim any salvage as their own. Amongst the goods retrieved from the wreck was the tome we sought. It was fortunate that there was no-one in the village capable of reading the more complex portions of the tome, so the cult that was developing here had not been able to decipher anything more than the most basic of rituals. They had not even been able to learn the evil’s name, for which we must be thankful.   None of the cultists admitted killing the local Guide but many suspected that one of those we slew may have been responsible. In keeping with the self-interest that is common amongst those in such cults it appears that one of the new cultists stole the time and sold it to a travelling merchant before disappearing with the gold.   I have requested aid from a nearby garrison to help deal with the prisoners. Once that matter has been addressed I will pursue this merchant who is believed to have headed to Coral Seat.   Under his watchful gaze,
Justicar Horin Fetch
 
Coral Seat
Duchy of Filishar
  5 Lamon 219
Commander Mallory,
As reported in my letter sent 19th Winst 219 I am continuing to pursue the Book of Fulfilled Desires. I followed the trail of the trader who purchased the book in Arnan Cove to the village of Coral Seat. Any trader making that journey at this time of year would rouse suspicions, and though the trader was long gone before Enforcer Copps and I arrived, the trader’s arrival was unusual enough to ensure the villagers remembered him.   The trader has been going by Davin Todel, though this could be an alias. He made no attempt to dispose of the book while in Coral Seat, but did make some enquiries about materials used in arcane rituals. As you are most likely aware Coral Seat has an ancient temple of Merial so there is an ample supply of such materials. It seems Davin was unsure of what he needed and asked for help in translating what he said was a list of goods he had been commissioned to buy.   Although there was little to cause alarm from his actions, I did learn that some of the village children had tried sneaking over to his camp at night. They were apparently frightened off by strange sounds and chanting that they described as being like what the mages do. Fearing Davin may be making more progress than the beginning cult in Arnan Cove I checked the campsite and found traces of a poorly drawn circle and burn marks which may indicate an attempt at a summoning ritual.   I shared my concerns with the local Acceptors who have agreed to send word around their order to keep an eye out for Davin. While he did not indicate where he was going next, he was last seen heading north so I am intending to follow and hope to pick up the trail in one of the nearby settlements.   Under his watchful gaze,
Justicar Horin Fetch
 
Rechin
Duchy of Filishar
  4 Lamon 219
  Commander Mallory,
I regret to inform you that the hunt for the Book of Fulfilled Desires has run into further difficulties. Two days out of Coral Seat Enforcer Copps and myself were waylaid by what we at first assumed were bandits. However, part way through the fight we realised that we were facing animated corpses. Unfortunately this was Enforcer Copps first encounter with such foes and in his surprise he left himself open to a blow that severed his left arm. Despite this grievous wound he still managed to destroy the corpse that had attacked him before passing out from blood loss.   After destroying the last of the corpses attacking us I was able to seal the Enforcer’s wound, but it was clear he wound not be able to continue this pursuit. I have prevailed upon the good will of a Seyrian Guide in Rechin to look after Copps as he recoveries. While here in Rechin I have also learned that those who attacked us were in fact guards hired by Davin Todel. I fear he has begun to unlock some of the secrets of the book, though the fact that this village remains intact would probably indicate that he hasn’t been able to call out the book’s most dangerous power.   Davin now seems to be heading for Filishar which is of considerable concern. The availability of knowledge in Filishar may allow Davin to fully unlock the tome’s secrets, and there are far more potential victims there then the villages he has passed through so far. I am leaving Copps here and setting off in pursuit. Tarin willing I will catch up with Davin before he reaches Filishar, but if not I will immediately report to the Hall of Justice for assistance.   Under his watchful gaze,
Justicar Horin Fetch
 
Hall of Justice
Filishar
Duchy of Filishar   12 Lamon 219
Commander Mallory,
My hunt for the Book of Fulfilled Desires has failed to prevent the worst from happening. I arrived in Filishar on the morning of the 11 Lamon and, having been unable to catch up with Davin Todel, immediately reported to the Halls of Justice. With help from the city's Captain I was able to make inquiries of the city guard stationed at each gate without arousing much suspicion.   Unfortunately Davin Todel had given a different name, and the description I had was vague at best, so we were unable to determine when or even if he had entered Filishar. By Tarin's grace we had some luck with the investigation as this Davin had tried approaching one of the Drakes for help translating part of the book. This Drake, Kerin Oakridge, has worked with the Order of the Shield several times in the past and came sent a message to Halls of Justice as soon as he was able to.   With Kerin's assistance we were able to track Davin to an area known to be home to a street gang known as the Coneys. This gang has plagued Filishar in various forms for decades, but to date they had not engaged in anything as dangerous as dealing with this book. Captain Lisen's forces attempted to block off any avenues of escape before the Captain and I attempted to ebter the Coney's headquarters. These efforts were wasted as we soon found that none of the Coneys were left alive to escape.   The inside of the building and the sewer tunnels they used to get around resembled something out of a nightmare. Blood covered the walls, floor, and evening the ceiling. Body parts lay strewn around the floor as if something had literally torn them apart. There was little doubt what had happened and it did not take long for us to locate a summoning circle. It was crudely drawn and even I could see the flaws in the designs meant to bind whatever was summoned.   Questioning some of the locals we learned that one person was seen leaving the area, a well-dressed human man with dark curly hair and piercing eyes. He was said to be carrying an ornate book, and according to one report this man casually broke the arm of a ruffian who tried to steal the book. There can be little doubt that this being was summoned using the book, and that there is now a fiend of considerable power loose in Filishar.   We have tried to keep this quiet to prevent a panic, but i fear we will need additional help to track this creature down. I would ask for aid from Royal Diviner Virris in locating the fiend, but if that is not possible I would ask that we be granted permission to hire some Drakes to aid in the search, We will do what we can in the meantime but it is likely tht this creature is beyond our power to stop.   Under his watchful gaze,
Justicar Horin Fetch
This was written for Spooktober 2023 to answer the Summoning Prompt.
Related Locations
Pebble Cove.
Filishar.
 
Related Organisations
Church of Tarin.
Church of Seyr.
Church of Merial.
 
Drakes
The Drakes refers to adventuring and mercenary groups based out of the Dexterous Drake in Filishar. Many are trying to gain enough of a reputation to be invited to join the kingdom's Explorer Company.
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Cover image: Harvest is coming by Tanai Cuinsear

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