<div class="top-nav"> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Home">Home</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Character Main Page">Characters</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Factions Index">Factions</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Locations Index">Locations</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/World Lore">Lore</a> <a href="/mydndgame/publish/pages/Map">Map</a> </div> You find a worn book in the Mayor's library. The dog-eared pages of the thick, weathered tome contain useful advice, facts, and statistical information on a wide range of topics that are very specific to the continent of Aventyr. There are recipes for natural remedies, and there are descriptions of creatures that Thurmond knows to be real. There are notes about the weather patterns of [[The Scorched Lands]] far to the west of the [[Klavek Kingdom]], and there are lists of the oldest temples on the Isle of Og'ra Nod. The only reason that Thurmond makes specific headway in this research attempt is that, among all of the other interesting facts, there is a reference to a place known as The Black Halls. This is a location in the southern reaches of a land called [[Timaeus]], in southeastern Aventyr. The book contains very few details about The Black Halls other than that it is the name of a subterranean maze thought to be created by a mad wizard thousands of years ago. The simple phrase that stands out in the description of this place is, "the screams of those who enter echo loudly from the opening to The Black Halls, but the bodies once connected to these voices are never seen again." **Bits of lore about the Black Halls found in the [[Mastera Library]] during Week #2:** * [[Timaeus]] has always been a country known for its arcane practitioners, back to the earliest ages of Aventyr.  Many powerful wizards have arisen from the academies of [[Timaeus]] and have gone on to spread their influence across the remainder of the continent.  Several of these wizards have gained a reputation for being quite malevolent in their pursuit of power. * The greatest of the arcane academies in [[Timaeus]], [[The Conclave of Haldarin]], can be found in the capital city of [[Maeus]].  According to tradition, the headmaster of the Conclave accepts a single apprentice to join their ranks once every 5 years.  Hopefuls from all over Aventyr make the pilgrimage to [[Maeus]] during that 5th year (typically by the hundreds), and only one is ever chosen.  The selection process is kept secret from those on the outside of the academy, but one thing is known without a shadow of a doubt: all those who fail to be selected also fail to emerge from the Conclave alive. * One of the Conclave's most infamous members was an Evoker by the name of [[Osirus Kanath]].  Legends say that he went mad with a sadistic desire for power over others.  He sought the path of lichdom, not because he was interested in the school of necromancy, but because he wanted to be privileged to inflict pain on mortals for eternity.  He created a labyrinth beneath the earth - a place where he could lure powerful adventurers with the promise of great treasure.  This labyrinth became known as The Black Halls, and its maker locked himself away inside to await those who were foolish enough to fall into his web of torment. **Bits of lore about the Black Halls found in the [[Mastera Library]] during Week #3:** The last piece of information that Thurmond is able to find on the Black Halls from the resources collected here in [[Rybalka]] is that this dungeon is rumored to have claimed so many lives because of the magical nature of its tricks and traps.  Only the most intelligent of adventuring parties stand a chance.  Of course, this is all legend and conjecture because no one is known to have emerged alive. **Additional** **[[Legend Lore]] Info from the [[Wanderer's Book]]:** The only known entrance to The Black Halls rests in a rancid wetland to the north of [[Maeus]].  The first trial faced by Haldarin hopefuls is to locate this entrance in the festering swamp.  Some even go so far as to suggest that the entrance relocates itself beneath the much such that it never appears in the same location twice.  [[The Conclave of Haldarin]] holds its trials every fifth year during the winter solstice. [[Osirus Kanath]] was a young but promising wizard when he was admitted to [[The Conclave of Haldarin]] 854 years ago.  At that time, the trials for membership were still challenging and exclusive, but they did not have the sinister reputation that evolved after [[Osirus Kanath|Kanath]] rose to become the order's head.  Over the next three decades after joining the Conclave, [[Osirus Kanath|Kanath]] specialized in both the school of Evocation and the school of Necromancy, and he is believed to have enchanted some of the most powerful artifacts ever known.  He also became a notorious Skull Lord of the [[Cult of Evernight]], a powerful cult dedicated to the worship of [[Orcus]]. After leading a series of nefarious attacks against the elves of [[Edhellond]] using armies of undead minions, [[Osirus Kanath|Osirus]] suddenly abandoned his visible seats of power and began creating his magnum opus in The Black Halls.  Several expeditions from [[Edhellond]] tried and failed to unearth the dark wizard from his dungeon, and many ambitious adventurers have perished there since. # Session Reference - [[Session 49]] - [[Session 54]]