First entry dance!
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Dread and Despair
A Beginning
Spellhold belongs to me, as it has some time. I merely write it again so that what small pleasure it brings may trickle in my hollow shell once more. The experiments on the other incarcerated have been going well, and I may yet find something useful from some of them.
First is Dili. She is but a child, but she has an interesting aptitude for shapeshifting. So far she has received the most tests, for should the spawn come early I wish to be prepared.
After our last experiment she tried ?taking my face? as she calls it, shifting into me. It was then that her use became apparent. I of course had to ensure she didn?t try such again, and since that time she spends no more than a minute in any one shape, before continuing to another. With only a few more tests I should be able to understand how she does this, and perhaps replicate it for use when the child comes for his precious Imoen.
The previous coordinator is of no more use. I?ve withdrawn every secret of this place that he knew, and he has been left intact in body, though not in mind. I?ve no more use for him; he can dwell in the cells with the others.
Third, the gnome, Tiax. The mad priest of a mad god is of little use to me, save for his knowledge of the spawn. It is difficult to withdraw the information, between his delusions of grandeur, and his silly demands that I obey his every whim. After our next session I suspect he will be more open to discussion.
If not, then there is Dradeel. He too has met the spawn, though it is only of great chance that I came to learn of this. It has to do with his time spent among the wolves that he constantly mutters over. There is also some Golodon the Unmanned, whom he speaks of fearfully, but he is unimportant thus far.
As yet it seems I can gain only limited information from him. The spawn was stranded on this werewolf island of his, where he got caught up in local hostilities and was infected with lycanthropy. An interesting note, as I have failed to detect such an infection in my previous experiments. Tomorrow I plan to speak with Dradeel more on the spawn's condition.
Next is Naljier Skal, fifth subject. Though once a bard of some renown or somesuch, he was lost when he searched for what lie beyond the gods themselves. Apparently they, or whatever was beyond, did not like him looking. His research could be useful, though I have no desire to move into that which is beyond the gods, yet.
Aphril is another seer. She too searched beyond what she should, though hers is not as blessed an existence as Skal?s. I?ve been unable as yet to experiment with her full range of abilities, nor determine precisely how she came upon them, but I intend to study them more fully in search of potential applications in my plans.
And finally Imoen. I have resumed our experiments, and she is proving responsive; she will be ready when my sister comes. She is evincing herself more powerful than I had first believed, and she might even come to rival her sibling?s power, were the power to be left to her.
Bodhi reports that our agent is still within the spawn?s company and that they seek the aid of the thieves. However she seems confidant that she can persuade the spawn to accept her assistance; we shall see. It is a minor matter, but I would desire that he seek aid from her.
I have few preparations left before the spawn comes. I will return when I have finished readying Imoen, and perhaps I will have more knowledge of how to make use of the other inmates? abilities.
Edited by Kellen, 12 May 2007 - 06:34 PM.
Cheers! And two horns up for metalheads all around the world!
