Hidden

[Aphel]

~ The Testament ~

To be released upon confirmation of my true death, beyond any state of doubt:

This is my testament, written in a clear state of mind and unaffected by any blessing or spell.

I lived a good life. Make sure others have the same chances.

Breanna Shadowraven, I will love you forever, and whatever kind of fate claimed me, remembering you and thinking of you always has been a great solace for me. We will be together again, fear not. When you are ready, there is a letter from my hand for you as well as half of my worldly possessions.

Kyreth inherits my old oak bow as well as my blades together with letters from my hand as well as what Breanna thinks he needs from her share. He will inherit the rest of my worldy possessions. Jilsopine, Elohanna or Sehky are charged with the safekeeping of the items and the letters. The letters are not to be opened by them, should Kyreth decided when he has come of age to not read them, they might open or burn them, I leave that to them.

Should Kyreth not be old enough, I trust Andrew William Reid, Elohanna Reid, Jilsopine, Sehky to protect my son. Protect him, but he must go his own way. Teach him well, so that he might have the same possibilities as I did. The task of us all is to be not evil, and to find and be ourselves.

[Aphel]

~ Observation file ~

Severe coordination and leadership issues discovered between adventurers of faith. Inability to apply military strategy or tactics despite training.
Aesthir (Cleric of the Golden) aloof, strange personality. Cannot be trusted, under no circumstance.
Naldir no longer Knight of Rofirein, fallen from grace.
Sir Maxamillian more cautious, yet lacking leadership abilities or the ability to display it, coming down to the same thing.
Hector behaving odd for a Toranite. Lacks compassion and focus in times of stress. Death seeking, when pushed. Failed to struggle and secure leadership. Shows more mercy than the Rofireinites, confirming dogma differences. Needs experience, but good person.

Conclusion of Destroyer Curse affair: Ineffecient adaptability on my side. Require further training. Or simply retire. Nobody listening anyway.

[Aphel]

Nym, exact name unknown; handler unknown. Associates with Fleur, Calylith among others. Tolerated, works as a mercenary. Had a child with Breanna, which he killed before it was born.  Observe.

The Faceless One; Nym's handler. Track.

Ryn, exact name unknown; association unknown. Duelist. No further information on crimes known. Observe.

Duchess, exact name unknown. Assassin, spy. Works for Fehriel. Skilled in hiding, uses two blades in combat. Knew how to mark Breanna to track her during her days of her servant. Claims she is Breanna's friend now. Mercenary. Observe.

The Slaver, exact name unknown. Female. Killed Cord near Silkwood. Track.

The Priestess, exact name unknown. Has a female deep dwarf fighter alongside. Track.

People associated with dark elves must not be trusted, nor is any guild trustworthy if they supply those that I know harmed my pack. Currently, only stuttering archer Ty can somewhat be trusted.
To those that cannot part from their ways by punishment or insight, give the sweet and merciful touch of death. Do not compromise the safety of your pack. In the end, it is an age old war of gods.

Currently no entries to the Deep are known to me apart from the main routes.

No danger has been reported from the Silkwood or other parts.

Situation with famine and Vil'arie unclear. Connor, AnnaLee and Brisbane missing.

Rael situation unchanged.

Gateway that supported Deepening Dark closed. No other breakthroughts from other realms known.

Razorback Syndicate -- investigate.

War in Kuhl dormant.

Rumors of war in Voltrex. Unable to confirm.

Despite experiences to the contrary, no change of organization obvious.

Public profile mixed. Still mostly ignored. Made mistakes with stepping out so much. Not sure if regarded as pup and insecure ranger or possible danger.

[Aphel]

The famine started with the finding of dead animals, mostly the young,  sick and old, who had inflamed instestines.

At  a meeting with Connor and AnnaLee in Krandor, the adventurers, among  them Ty Reid-Dragonheart, Lance Stargazer, Jilsophine Kendall and others  first encountered a Vil'arie, a black demon horse associated with a  dark elf house. Neither Lance nor Jil could truly harm it, but it ran  away nevertheless.

On another occasion, again in Krandor, a  meeting was held to share information. The moth, which seems to  originate from the pits, seemed to be responsible for the lack of  fertility in the soil. Brisbane was not happy to hear that an individual  moth, which was caught and brough to Spellguard for study, escaped.
Rose,  the seer of the Leringard Arms, then began to walk around in the Inn in  strange patterns, forming a summoning circle during the meeting. A  demon appeared but was struck down. In the following days, the plants  nearby withered, and the plane the creature came from was identified. As  of now, Brisbane, Connor and AnnaLee are missing for more than a year.  Last seen in the Wolfswood, I went there to talk with Freckled Owl, who  said that it had nothing to do with the future, but it was due to wounds  of the past.

Not all areas are affected by the famine, and some  are thus better off than others. Many have tried to help with the  famine, with different effects.

More importantly, the cities of Vale and Clover have been wiped out, and a new constellation is on the rise:
Refugees report of the destruction of Vale and Clover
Rumour of Vale being destroyed

Famine!

Hlint is affected
Port Hempstead is affected
Dregar is affected
First shortages
Movement of Rael
Angel's Guild Famine Relief Effort
Angel's Guild Famine Relief Effort, II

Current, overall information update
Current ongoings in Mariner's Hold

It  appears feasible to cure the soil by removing the top soil and creating  a new top soil using manure, according to AnnaLee, Brisbane and Connor  (//during Nova's quest).

Freckeld Owl told meto visit the bridge of  the T'oleflor if I really cared about nature, however, I alone am to  weak to reach the bridge. Freckled Owl seemed to have an idea where Bris  and the others went, however, would not tell me but just  that I  couldn't go there anyway.

//OOC-statement: just as an overview for what Aden heard and noted down

[Aphel]

This plane was, is and will be a place of strife, under attack from within and outside. In the name of power, ideology and greed, a battle for dominance and survival burns like a flickering, unsteady flame since the first dawn separated light and darkness. Long before the first dragons rose to the sky on wings of skin and scale, roaring out a claim of dominance, powers shaped the world and the concept of the shroud was already a secret shared by many. Maybe the idea to protect the existence of seeds which would later thrive and blossom came into being at the moment the universe itself came into being, thus, at the birth of all, all was conceived.

The Shroud is a simple concept. Make sure that during the ages of struggle and strive, the hunting grounds we all live off are not irreparably damaged as well as the seeds of various attempts at civilisation, society and knowledge/insight. The urge to self-destroy is as strong as the urge to create, thus, this is not a question of balance but survival.

A shroud is something used to shelter something or somebody from the scorching heat. While having different connotations, this is the most simplest form. The task of the shroud therefore is to provide aid against that which creates a barren world: Al'Noth phenomena, new spellweaving discoveries with greater destructive potential than multiple hellballs, wars, natural phenomena and so forth.

Instead of creating a organisation following the Greymane's teachings, think of it all as a pack, each member with individual special abilities and tasks.

There are the followers of the path of Healing, who should be assisted in tasks of healing both nature and what lives within it;

There are the followers of path of Protection, who should be assisted in keeping the plane and the All-pack safe from threats from within and without;

There are the followers of the path of Creation, who should be assisted in tasks of creation and construction, providing both skills, tools and innovation to those that walk the plane;

There are the followers of the path of Teaching, who should be assisted in tasks of improving understanding and knowledge, both scholastic and intuitive;

And the Shroud forms the last -- it is what protects all of those paths from the heat that burns away all hope and future. It is not a way that could be walked by many, since it requires the understanding of all three, of information, misdirection, deceit, diplomacy, healing, teaching, creation, warfare and so forth.

The paths described above are found in many followers of the deities which do not incorporate malice and destruction as a central part of their view.

The path of the shroud is the path of shadows, of dawn and dusk. For me, it is the path of Folian S'pae, Graymane, Longstrider, Him-who-treads-first-in-track,  Prince of Wolves.

To protect the pack, teach and sustain it and its hunting ground, many organizations exists. Sometimes, a path must be made, clearly visible tracks for them to follow so they can find a hidden path to their goal.

The following organizations or individuals are to be supplied with information, preferable not retractable to me (use a gnomish letter-setter or any other not-retraceable means of information conveyance) unless they are already involved (be a stalking shadow only if it is a proper means to an end):
Lance Stargazer, Follower of Toran, Commander
Steel, Leader of Steels Suicide Squad, better at this than me
Andrew William Reid, Follower of Ilsare, apt at matters concerning society and civilisation
Elohanna Reid, Follower of Aeridin, healer and mother (can't hide things well from her, that and too much spellweaving)
The Angel's Guild, because of inhomogeneous members lots of experience and capability (cannot outsmart them, maybe outmaneuver them)
Krandor Hospital, Faewen, healer as much as Elohanna
Connor/AnnaLee and Brisbane should be considered sources and teachers
More to come. Observe these people. Also: Rose, Alantha(?), Storold Doesscha, the young new members of Toran, ...

Current tasks:
Strengthen Wolfswood Rangers (gear, new recruits)
Nudge certain factions to step it up their game a little
Observe movements of Rael and on Dregar completely
Find out about the new constellation
Reach bridge of T'oleflor
Harden the safezones (Buckle, Wolfswood, Krandor, Blackfort, ...)
Find out about plane travel
Get more history lessons