Research on Lord Chancellor Enzarond

We will need all types of researchers on this, you asked for help, do not turn it away because people are speaking against your wish to be the one to strike the final blow. You know the laws, speak carefully.

I will aid in any research that is done because both Enzarond and the Duke need to be stopped, not because you asked.

Lady Albriar,

I am unfortunately unfamiliar with Anoch as a whole. You mentioned the Keepers remain neutral. Is there any chance of turning them to our cause? I am unfamiliar with the Library, however I expect that trying to sway them away from the wishes of their government might be dangerous for them if they are anything like your average librarians. Would their neutrality cause them to be unable to aid us/resist us in our research even if we were to reach them?

Django

Lesson time!

There is Anoch the city, which contains secular little-l libraries like any city. The "head librarian" who signed the Duke's declaration is the head of these. It is not impossible that information in those libraries that would hurt Balliol's campaign has been altered or removed.

The city also contains the capital-L Library of Anoch, which is a holy site of Chronicler. All knowledge written down by Chroniclerites across Palmydia is sent there. It is maintained by a specific sect of Chroniclerites called the Keepers. Their priority is the sanctity of the site & the knowledge therein, and they maintain strict neutrality to avoid bringing danger to the Library. The Keepers are not your average librarians (I would not be surprised if several of them were actually gargoyles), but under no circumstances will they take sides in a matter like this unless one side decides to attack the Library itself. The whole kingdom could be on fire and they wouldn't intervene until the flames began to lick at their door.

That said, like any Chroniclerite, they will share their knowledge with any who ask unless they deem it will cause the loss of more knowledge. If we control the city of Anoch, it would be easy to walk up and just ask for anything on defeating true warlocks. I would not be surprised if Balliol has taken advantage of the library to gain information on topics such as how to build his anti-portal device.

There is another way in. Not for an army, but for a small group - there are tunnels & cave systems in the mountains to the east of the Library. They are not mapped, and it might take some time to find a way through, but it might be possible to get in, get the information we seek, and get out, all before our army even makes it there.

I admit bias here in seeing Anoch as a high priority. The threat that Balliol's mind control ritual would prevent the holy flow of information is anathema to me. From a strictly religious point of view, the Keepers must be allowed to do their duty unmolested, and those Chroniclerites who bring knowledge to the Library must be allowed to pass without fear of their minds (and thus, the data they carry) being altered. It is fortunate to this cleric that taking Anoch would be a boon to our cause without the religious angle; between the access to knowledge, the defensible position, and the ability to use the tunnels to move groups of key people (like us) directly into Balliol's territory without have to march around the mountains, there are many other reasons to take the city.

In Service,
Lady Lois Blair Heimdell of Albriar

Lady Heimdell,

Then it appears that a mission will be in order....who would wish to join [strike]me[/strike] us on such an endeavor? The risk will be high, but knowledge for the betterment of all is priceless.

In Service,

Sir Grashügel-

I will aid you and Lady Heimdell as best I can

In service,

As if I wouldn't be a part of this, Gras.

I'll accompany you through the tunnels.

Not that I'm duty-bound to join you or anything but this is definitely a worthwhile endeavor!

-Chet

Please do not pin your hopes on the tunnels - as I said, they are not mapped. What once was passable may no longer be, or would take even longer to dig through than it will take us to reach the city via the normal route. Let us send a scout or two first, before making plans.

In the meantime, we still have all those other libraries to reach out to.

Seth and I will scout ahead after the May feast. Hopefully our endeavor will yield what we’re searching for and allow further action.

In Service,

Seth,
If you could speak with me at some point to catch me up on what you've learned and point me in the right direction, I'd appreciate it, as I consider bringing Enzarond down to be my top priority at present. I'll use all resources I have to make this possible. I'll help in whatever way I am able. You have the support of me and my House.
~Amalthea

While Seth's threats are perhaps pushing away those that might otherwise help him, I imagine that his grudge with Enzarond is the one that ignited the fire within him that has seen him accomplish so much, and with so much passion.

I for one intend to help him, as best as I can. Enzarond is a menace to Kormyre and other nations as well. And if Seth's intent comes from what I believe it does, Seth has as strong as claim as any on striking that final blow, and one I intend to support. I have tried to understand Seth before and failed most wretchedly, but I will at least do what I can to help him in this undertaking.

I will confess I have interests that may be helped in the Library of Anoch as well. When the time comes to look them over I may also seek things within their pages.

Still, I have a duty to protect the subjects of Travance, and Pendarvin in particular, I ask Seth to set threats aside, and simply work with us. They aren't needed. We all, with perhaps one exception, want this man gone.

I, too, would be delighted to search the Library's halls for information not strictly dealing with the task at hand.
Such a wealth of knowledge would be incredibly helpful.
A month there would be quite beneficial.

Let me know when a mission would be departing and I'll be there.

I received the following information from Dreagan Belmont, Research Application Lead of House Belmont:

"Val'Ixtal's power has kept us from finding his host, so that's a valuable piece of information for our hunt.
Val'Ixtal is the 3rd seated Zar'Ilmask on the council and his powers of direct control are far greater most, but his greatest power is his lacking need of a host. We've fought it once before, but without the host, there was no finality. As long as it has the host, it can escape."

I plan to look into this further, and if anyone would like to assist, please let me know.

Reyna,

Consider this me letting you know.

-Nalick DeMarche