Detective Vioric's Dossier

This is a copy of the letter recovered by the party after Vroods defeat.

                   
I congradulate you on your success. You have made it through the Shudderwood, to Feldgrau, and dispatched Auren Vrood. The man behind the defilement of Harrowstone, the invasion of Schloss Caromarc, and the death of the Wolf King. He was a good servant, and the undead army he was seeking to raise in Feldgrau would have been of great use to me. However, the death of Professor Lorrimor and the attention of certain members of a secret organization we are both very familiar with,
 have tempered any anger I might feel regarding his loss.
 I, quite frankly, anticipated that loss from the start. Given the disruptions he caused as part of his tasks, your involvement was a foreseeable consequence. Indeed, part of the reason I instructed him to remain in Feldgrau. That was so, this confrontation would occur there, to prevent you from simply dogging his steps back to me.I have taken steps to limit what information you might gain there. So, while I am disappointed to lose Vrood as a tool, you need not fear my seeking you out to exact vengeance on his behalf.
Therefore, I suggest you take some time to enjoy yourselves, and reflect upon your successes. You have prevented a ghostly uprising, defended a wrongfully-accused golem, returned stability to the werewolf tribes and thwarted the designs of a vile necromancer. That is more than most adventurers can claim to have accomplished, and you have earned some relaxation. If one or two loose ends have not been completely tied up, then what of it? Surely that is the nature of adventuring, and noone can fault you for it.
But let me make one thing clear, in the event that you are not content to rest on your laurels. You have already proven yourselves to be resourceful, and I am not arrogant enough to think it impossible for you to follow my trail further. Should you be willing and able to do so, know that I will no longer hold back. You performed impressively while cleaning up Vrood's messes, but ultimately did nothing to interfere with my long-term plans. In fact you have been the scalpel I've needed to cut the imperfections from my work.
So that is the choice you have. Quit while you are ahead, and live a life of leisure, or continue to oppose me, and ensure an early death. You seem to be moderately intelligent; I hope you are sensible enough to choose correctly.

Sincerely,

The meeting between the Font and the Key

After the party returns to an  the inn for the night, Kendra Lorrimor secretly contacts Viorec and asks him to meet her outside the inn. The detective finds his love waiting for him in a covered carriage and after a brief explanation the two ride off for Evercrown Cemetery. They meet with another agent of the Palantine Eye there who gives them information on Auren Vrood from his days as a student and junior professor at Lepidstadt University and The Quarterfaux Archives.
Those records have been reprinted here :

  To: Dean Colum Thompson

From: Professor Edwin Orthollo

I have no doubt word has reached you of the work of one Auren Vrood . While I must admit that many in our department had doubts about the young man's aptitude for this field of study, given the circumstances surrounding his sudden change in academic intrest, he has proven to be of a most remarkable mind.

While he has shown significant aptitude in the theoretical, it is within the practical that Vrood's genius truly lies. I suspect this has much to do with his original training in the field of engineering. The boy views the natural sciences with the same analytical and incisive approach one might take while disassembling one of those infernal machines. What's more, this view drives him to apply the same systematic approach to his research efforts.

Vrood has taken the basic concepts of life and systematically codified it in a manner most groundbreaking. I have enclosed his current thesis for your complete review, but in summary Vrood, through months of systematic research and documentation how the passing of traits from parent to offspring is far more complex and sublime than ever realized.

In the end, the monumental possibilities presented by this research make it well worth overlooking Vrood's misappropriation of the various mice, reptiles and birds he procured from lab stores, as well as his conduction of research within his personal dormitory without proper authorization. After all, the expansion of knowledge and understanding, not bureaucracy, is this institution's primary goal.

2 years later.

From: Dean of Natural Science Brandis Fargin

To: Junior Professor Auren Vrood

I do not exaggerate when I say that recent review of your academic work has caused a shocked tremor to ripple through this prestigious institution. While I still believe you are gifted with a most capable mind, I fear it is your very intellect that has led you to this crossroads. Intelligence must be moderated by ethics and morality.

Your work borders on an affront to everything this institution holds dear. You have meddled with the very fabric of life itself, and your twisted creations should have revealed the folly of your attempts to play at the divine.

In particular, your work with the reanimation bodies of lab cadavers is atrocious. While you may claim that your work represents the cusp of a revolution in our understanding of life, I can see only a twisted mockery of science that should never be.

You have mixed and matched body parts of lab animals to create parodies of life. I ask you: in what circumstance does a rat need the wings of a pigeon?

You have gone even further, melding flesh in a way most unwholesome. The rabbit is renowned for its quickness, yet you have felt the need to “improve” its natural ability with implanted alchemical serums, turning one of the most innocent creatures into a nightmare of flesh and claws.

Your radical research methods and disregard for our approval process have left us no choice in the matter. It is clear that only active intervention will stay your hand, as you clearly lack the ethical integrity to rein in your imagination. By decision and order of the Lepidstadt University Natural Science Board, you are to cease and desist in all current research experiments on live specimens. In addition, until such time as this board deems, you are forbidden from engaging in new non-theoretical research. Any requests for laboratory equipment or specimens will be denied.

Despite this censure Vrood continued to retain his position for some time. It is clear that the university leadership was uncertain of how to handle him. His research papers continued to advance intellectual thought, despite their radical bent, but his physical experiments were unanimously viewed as unethical and disturbing.

Vrood's answer came unexpectedly in the form of a visiting lecture tour from The Quarterfaux Archives Professor Adivion Adrissant.

It seems Adrissant was quite fascinated by the work of Vrood and the impact it had on his own fields of study. Adrissant, always known for being possessed of a for more open mind then many of his contemporaries, began to push for the removal of his academic censure and that Lepidstadt University extend a full professorship to Vrood.

The board would remove the censure but kept Vrood at Junior Professor. Vrood was allowed to carry on his research for the next 8 months under moderate prohibitions. When he was called before the ranking professors at Lepidstadt, their response was not one of adulation that Vrood expected but of horror. The university immediately disavowed the work and expelled Vrood from its ranks.

In one final letter Vrood vents his disgust with Ustalav's most vaunted learning institution.

“Too long have I allowed myself to stagnate within the closed-minded and archaic institutions of so-called higher learning. You pride yourselves on ideals of free thinking, of exploration, of expanding the scope of human knowledge. You preach the merits of innovation, of invention, of discovery.

Yet the only thinking you allow is that which is based on old and familiar principles, endorsed books already mildewed and rotting. The only exploration is that done within the confines of a library. The only expansion you seek is that of your own coffers, the only innovation that of creative regurgitation, the only invention that of redefining what you already know and which satisfies your egocentric intellectualism.

You crush free thought because it threatens you. You repress true innovation because it invalidates yo. You fear discovery because it reveals you to be worthless relics of the past.

Throughout my career you have done everything in your power to silence me and to stop my work from bringing about a true revolution of scientific process and innovation. I am o the very cusp of a breakthrough, but without the ability to test via experiment, all is theory and empty air.

Try as you might, you cannot stop intellectual progress. Whether willingly or kicking and screaming, I will drag this world into a glorious new age.”

You can almost hear the maniacal laughter after such a statement. So far though nothing has been heard from Vrood since.

Khu Ba Heteph

seek and you shall find
M.

Inspector Fredrick Abberline's death

As he sat listening to the young woman's tale Fredrick reflected on how they had met that evening. His afternoon walks always took him past Joeminda's old shop. He stopped to wonder what had happened to her and where she was now, it was still an unanswered question. He hated not knowing.

This day was different though, a light was on in the alchemists shop and the door was open. He walked up to find the new owner diligently sorting herbs and powders into several different glass vials. Polite conversation and his natural charm put the woman at ease. She introduced herself as Areen Mardessen, a retired adventurer and part time Pathfinder from Absalom. Fredrick invited her to dine with him and drinks soon after led to the two of them retiring to his parlor. As they shared stories of past adventures he noticed an odd noise from downstairs.

"What's that my dear? Andrezi Galdana? Yes he was one of my companions. " Fredrick was caught off guard by the question. Only half listening to his new interest, the sounds were louder now." I say, does that sound like footsteps to you? I sent William home long ago. I wonder if he's returned for something." As the bard moved to stand up a man appeared at the top of the stairs. "You're not William! What is the meaning of this? "

The man moved quicker than anyone Fredrick had seen before, his stance reminding him of a Lepidstadt duelist. The shadowy figure was running his blade through him before he had stood. Fredrick's last sight was of his killers eyes gleaming with a maniacal evil, his last thoughts were a poor woman's screams.



Hours later the shadowy killer sat in the room the old Professor had constructed to keep himself safe when dealing with spirits. He held the bards skull in both hands starring into the empty sockets. "Now good Sir, you will tell me all you know about my dear cousin."

Mistwalker

Bilith, the man known as the Mistwalker spent hours in study, searching for more information about the relics that called to him.  The owner of this private library had been so very kind to allow the Mistwalker to peruse his collection.  It was his last act of kindness.  No one in the region would find the nobleman’s body, Bilith would burn the vacation home to the ground when he was finished here, another act of destruction…in Rovagug’s name.  Bilith’s thoughts had drifted to daydream as he found similar information in each book he looked through.  Frustration grew as each tome would seem so promising before reiterating the same information, the key that would open all doors.  The last time the mists called Bilith, he could almost taste the power of the key, how he longed to destroy it and feed it to his own relic.  In anger, Bilith tossed the book aside, sweeping several more tomes from the shelves, and screaming at the corpse of the book’s owner.  “Answers will be forthcoming!” yelled the Mistwalker as he kicked the corpse, “ANSWERS!!!”  The broken form of the nobleman received several kicks from Belith before the Mistwalker’s gaze fell upon one of the books fallen upon the floor.  Stamped boldly in red ink on the inside cover, “From the Saffron House Collection”  Bilith thanked Rovagug for showing him the way and set about preparing the vacation home for the flames to come. 

Detective Viorec's Dossier

Message carried by a low level agent of the Whispering Way, traveling with 3 advanced festerogs. Remy was led to this group by what seemed like the Shudderwood itself. When they were found, a group of the Princes Wolves had engaged them in a losing battle. The message itself was disguised as the scythe the agent carried. Once the Key was exposed to the scythe it was forced to activate. Rotating the shaft allowed the group to align the "grain" of the wood to make a series of runes that could then be translated.

The message seems to be answers to unknown questions, including the location of the party plus one more.

THE FONT
the font is in ardeal. traveling in the company of guards sent by daramid.

THE KEY
the key has passed it's first test and will pass through the old capitol on it's way to you.you will not be able to keep the key from meeting the font in ardeal.

THE LIVING PHYLACTORY
by our divination's the armageddon clock has reached 2, it was moved by an outside source. you may tell your master we have received his payment and agents have been assigned.

THE ASSASSIN
the assassin is in position, all are in his shadow.

THE WOLF KING
the kingdom is still in chaos. you have managed to pull one of the leaders after you, beware he brings the minions of the abyss with him.

LADY DEATH'S PAWN
the martyred one has aligned with a vizier of air, the longer you can stall him the better for your lord. by our divination's you can only slow the martyr's ascension, lady death will always have her pawn.

M

Magical Mist of the Shudderwood

The mist streamed through the trees, eliminating the existence of things viewed only moments before. Now only shapes and movements were made out by sight, while sounds mislead and are muffled.  Viorec moved forward with his companions, moving carefully forward, invisibility unnecessary due to the mist outlining forms when they move.  It was movement that caught the young detectives eye, a blur of mist.  Viorec feet lead him towards the movement, and soon he made out a humanoid shape in the mist, the most defining feature being the large brim hat.  The detective was focused and determined, suddenly consumed with catching up to the mysterious figure of the mist…

Dimly realizing his legs were growing tired, Viorec finally pierced the mist and what his eyes revealed stole his breath.  The Worldwound gaped before him, brimstone assaulted his sense of smell, but the demon dogs, man-sized feral-looking creature with dark bluish-black skin growled at the detective while vulture men danced madly around a smoking ruin, slowly turning their attention towards him.

Viorec turned back towards the mist, and his eyes caught the mysterious stranger.  The detective charged back into the mist, the sounds of braying demon dogs rapidly following behind him.  The stranger’s words finally reached the detectives ears, a raspy voice, telling him to use the key.   Desperate to be away from the demon dogs at his heels, Viorec activated the key and felt its magic rip forward, tearing away at the mist.  Suddenly the detective found himself back in the Shudder wood, the mist gone and an image in his mind’s eye, that frightened him even more than the sounds of demon dogs erupting around him in the wood; A  giant door covered in arcane sybols with several seals and locks.  The first of those locks springing open…

Detective Viorec's Dossier

Current werewolf tribes of the Shudderwood.

Dorzhanevs or Broken Ones: These lycanthropes settle
in remote or isolated territories, building small provincial
communities near the wood’s edge. For the most part, they
pose as simple farmers or trappers, occasionally traveling
to larger communities to sell or trade for goods. They live
and hunt in small packs, targeting lone travelers or those
who stray from larger groups. Physically smaller than the
other  tribes,  the  Broken  Ones  transform  into  red  wolves.
Their  pack  structure  is  matriarchal,  and  their  current
tribe leader is the druid Cybrisa Dorzhanev.

Jezeldans  or  Demon  Wolves:  The Demon Wolves
are  an  amalgam  of  newly  afflicted  werewolves,
whose  pitiful  existence  is  typically  scorned  by  most
natural  lycanthropes,  and  exiles  from  other  tribes,  all
worshipers  of  the  Demon Lord Jezelda,  Mistress of the
Hungry Moon. Their current tribe leader, an antipaladin
named  Adimarus  Ionacu,  was  once  in  fact  an  afflicted
werewolf who willingly contracted the disease in devotion
to his demonic patron. As a boon, Jezelda transformed him
into  a  natural  lycanthrope,  and  bade  him  convert  more
werewolves  to  her  worship. Jezeldans are one of the fastest-growing
tribes in the region, and may soon rise as the new lords of the wood.

Mordrinacht or Silverhides: The Mordrinacht, colloquially
known as the Silverhides for their gray-white fur, are more
aggressive than the Broken Ones, yet possess more composure
and  subtlety  than  the  other  tribes. The Mordrinacht
rarely  form  standard  packs, instead  living  much  of  their
lives as solitary  individuals or lone wolves. They have also been
successful at blending  in with normal humans and
living  secretly within their communities, with a few bold
individuals even settling in some of Ustalav’s major cities.
Descended  from  those  afflicted  with  lycanthropy by the
ancient  high  priest  of  Desna, the Mordrinacht have long
gathered  at  the Stairs of the Moon to pay homage to the
spirit of their ancestors. It is no secret that the
Silverhides’ current leader, Mathus Mordrinacht, has had
designs on the position of packlord over all the packs of the
Shudderwood for some time.

Vollensag or Primals: The smallest of the Shudderwood’s
tribes, the Vollensag are all descended from the ancient Kellid
tribes who once inhabited these lands before they were driven out by the
invading Varisians. At present , less t ha n 30 Vollensag remain ,
settled deep in the woods and traveling in small migratory
hunting packs, living as much as their ancestors did. Despite
their declining numbers, the Primals’ ability to transform
into large gray dire wolves makes them a force among the wolves
of the wood. Until recently, the Vollensag
tribe leader, Kvalca Sain, was packlord over all the wolves of
the Shudderwood.

Prince’s  Wolves:  Varisian  werewolves  with  ties  to  the
Sczarni crime family, the Prince’s Wolves were created as part
of Prince Andriadus Virholt’s efforts to rid his lands of the
agents of the Whispering Tyrant centuries ago. The Prince’s
Wolves maintain a tight pack structure and spend much of
their time traveling in small family groups. The Prince’s Wolves
transform into wolves with brown or gray fur, and their current tribe
leader is a roguish scoundrel named Rhakis Szadro.