Royal Academy of the Healing Arts
Grand City Square, Evendarr
From the desk of The High Guildmaster
Andvar
Avendale Royal Healers’ Guild
Town Square, Wainsford
Guildmaster Andvar,
I have given the matter of your affliction no small measure of attention. I
have had our Librarians and LoreMasters researching this with dispatch. While
we are far from completing the search, I felt you deserved to receive our preliminary
results.
It should come as no surprise that Loremaster Minoric found the sole reference.
No one knows quite how long our “old elf” has graced Tyrra with his
presence, but I’m certain those pointed ears of his have heard everything
his gray eyes haven’t seen. Upon my reading of your letter to our Loremasters’
assembly, he disappeared for three days into the deepest warrens of the Guild’s
library. He returned to me with a single scroll, which I have sent along with
this letter.
I agree with him that a Pyramid of Order may well be the vessel of your restoration.
The Lore that accompanies this scroll is from his recollections. As you know,
Minoric’s health is failing. and his memory unsure. He has repeated his
telling of this Lore to me on five separate occasions, not remembering any of
occasions of the prior repetitions. Each time, his telling differs in some details.
I have done my best to condense his recollections for you herein.
Even those whom are unfamiliar with the difficulties and exacting skills required
for the performance of Formal Magic have heard of Backlash effects. While what
has affected you sound similar, both Minoric and I agree that this is not what
afflicts you.
Minoric believes that your Curse is the result of “Mayhem Madness”,
a malicious effect of Chaos that has not been observed since the times of the
Beginning. The afflicted will be Cursed so that a certain randomly determined
spell, each time it is cast upon the Cursed, will be as a Death. Mayhem Madness,
he believes, was empowered within a single Magic Item, though of what specific
form that item may take, Minoric does not know. As such an item would be extraordinarily
dangerous - able to render even the most powerful creatures vulnerable to the
most minor Spell. The Great Powers of those times would have ample reason -
their own survival - to make certain such an item was lost or destroyed - far
beyond the grasp of mortal creatures. No record of it is known, at least to
Minoric or any of our Loremasters. Our research, of course, continues. I offer
no false hopes, Andvar - though our resources here are considerable, I doubt
we shall learn any more from the Scrolls available to us, nor from the failing
memories of our good Minoric...
If, as it appears, that the Mistress of Chaos has somehow obtained this item,
it is a matter of no small concern. In anyone’s hands, it would be a great
temptation. In hers, no one on the face of Tyrra is safe. We can only hope that
this item has its limitations - there may be a limit on the number of charges,
or failing that, on the number of times it may be used in a day. That she would
expend a charge from such an Item on you, who poses little threat to her (no
offense, my friend, but it is true), may mean it has many charges left - or
simply that it amused her to do so. Who can determine the motivations of any
being of Chaos?
Given that your Curse escaped all attempts to Identify it, I agree with you
that the performance of a Destroy Magic alone will not remove this affect. Minoric
suggests that performing the Destroy Magic on the item itself may do so - if
an Order Pyramid is within the Circle of Power at that time.
Andvar, I know what you are thinking - an Order Pyramid hasn’t been seen
on Tyrra in an Age, but from this scroll it appears that the shattered pieces
of an Order Pyramid is being held upon the Plane of Chaos. Should the Shards
be reassembled, perhaps the Pyramid will still function. A slim hope, but such
is as it is...
Yes, thin evidence to go on, I know. I can imagine that His Excellency will
not wish to commit resources towards such an unlikely quest, particularly when
so many more tangible threats and challenges surround Him. Use your judgement,
and commit all the Guild resources you can spare to seek out the truth of the
existence of this Item. Should it be real, the Item must be found and destroyed
with all dispatch.
I forward to you a Destroy Magic Formal Scroll. I also forward a Formal Scroll
of Interplanar Travel - to the Plane of Chaos. Rare it is, and deadly. Scant
few of those who have ventured to that Plane have returned, and of those, many
have been rendered irretrievably insane. Take all the precautions you can. I
advise you seek out the advice and Council of Biata and Stone Elves in matters
of the Mind and its Shielding.
Your Guild and Guard have a great challenge ahead - one that will test the mettle
of their hearts. I await your reports on this matter with grave concern.
On behalf of the Academy, I wish you and your Guild all success.
Yours in Service of the Earth and Life,
Hyoshin Tatsuo
High Guildmaster, Royal Academy of the Healing Arts, Evendarr