Brieson's Report: Grishom Stone (saved posts)

Category: Cities, Towns and Outposts
Topic: Wehnimer's Landing
Message #: 6995
Author: GS4-KENSTROM
Date: 07/30/2015 01:03 AM CDT
Subject: Brieson's Report: Grishom Stone

Just moments ago, Lord Brieson Cassle the Adjudicator of the Hall of Mages released a portion of his report and findings on those who were actively responsible in the escape of Grishom Stone. The period in question was during the time Grishom Stone was imprisoned within the brass tower in Wehnimer’s Landing, under the then command and responsibility of Grand Magister Pylasar of the Hall of Mages.

While a large majority of Lord Brieson’s report to the Royal Magister was kept in the utmost secrecy, the adjudicator did have a few things to share publically.

“We know that Grishom Stone, while ultimately serving himself, did enter into an agreement with Councilman Pylasar, who at the time was a Grand Magister of the Hall of Mages. The terms of the agreement were such that Grishom Stone would lend his magical aid and knowledge in helping to devise a means to cure or stop Walkar, who had become a near invincible abomination at the command of Elithain Cross, and ultimately the shadowy entity known as Althedeus. In addition, this agreement ensured that Grishom Stone would remain under the protection and observation of Grand Magister Pylasar, instead of transporting the prisoner to a satellite location of the Hall of Mages. Once Grand Magister Pylasar proved successful in the cure, with the aid of Grishom Stone, the prisoner was then to be transported to the Hall of Mages college in the Swale, where he would be placed into magical confinement until at which time he could face trial and execution for his crimes, which fully hinged in the ability to counter his near immortal blood, which has been aptly titled Everblood.”

“We now know that these plans and any semblance of an agreement were a complete façade, at least in the perspective from Grishom Stone. However, in my report, he is not facing an investigation, as he is already a criminal and faces death at the hands of imperial justice, when he is once again finally, and forever captured. It has been discovered that Grishom Stone was allowed to escape by influencing adventurers in Wehnimer’s Landing into providing components, not for the sake of Walkar’s cure, but for the use of temporarily nullifying the magical wards on bracers clamped around the prisoner’s wrist, which kept him from leaving the proximity of the brass tower.”

“This investigation has been the most tiring, and challenging, of my tasks in the area of Wehnimer’s Landing. It has become more evident with each passing day that Grishom’s magical fingerprints still linger in the region, and he went to great lengths to help guard and protect the identities and involvement of those who aided him in his escape. I will be the first to admit that even my own powers were outmatched in many areas, only going to prove how substantial of a threat this criminal is, and how unlawful those who aid him truly are. However, based on what information I was able to glean with my own powers and insight, along with the testimonies of witnesses, I am now able to confidently put forth my findings and offer my recommendations for justice.”

“First and foremost, in relation to the alchemical components harvested from the Wyrdeep Forest, in connection with providing a suitable cure to both weaken and remove Walkar as a threat against Wehnimer’s Landing, the Turamzzyrian Empire, and arguably all of Elanthia, I find no charges of guilt for any involved. The entire operation was spearheaded and approved by acting Grand Magister Pylasar at the time, and sanctioned by the Hall of Mages. While in hindsight the operation now is witnessed as more of a ploy to an ulterior design by Grishom Stone, one cannot refute the success of the alchemical recipes and their impact on protecting the greater innocents at large. In this, I find no fault on the hands of the people of Wehnimer’s Landing, or the Hall of Mages. However, going forward, certain procedures and protections will become common place in all situations such as these, so that no further embarrassment will be suffered, and no tragic turn of events will release such an evil, like Grishom Stone, into freedom again.”

“Secondly, with his derelict of duty as Grand Magister, I find Pylasar to be expressly to blame for the failure to properly contain and transport the prisoner Grishom Stone, even despite the insistence of fellow members of the Hall of Mages. With his title and rank and influence within the Hall stripped, I find no use for further disciplinary action at this time, but will caution any future involvement he may have within the Hall of Mages.”

“However, with those individuals out of the way, there are many who actively involved themselves with the mechanisms of Grishom Stone, which directly led to his escape. However, due to the mental prowess of the criminal at large, there remains even the tiniest of a shadow of doubt in many of these cases, which renders my judgment as a precautionary tale at best. I shall isolate these individuals one by one, and reveal what information has become known from both my divination and witness testimonies.”

“First of these, is Sareyna. Her admiration and dare I say it, borderline worship of Grishom Stone has been anything but obvious, even without the talent of premonition at my disposal. I firmly believe of all of those I will implicate, that she stands highest on the list of persons of interest to never let ones guard down, and to be cautious of any movements she takes, knowing that even if not visible, the strings connected to Grishom are there. Multiple testimonies have connected Sareyna not only with providing one of the main items needed to help Grishom escape, but her abandonment of morality is quite alarming as she was specifically involved in the kidnapping of Kiske, a citizen of Wehnimer’s Landing and once romantic interest of the deceased Walkar Wellington. Her involvement with the kidnapping was a direct result of Grishom’s orders, and her eagerness to bend to his command. Because of the margin of error in my research, I cannot rightfully bring any recommendation of imperial justice against Sareyna, but I would strongly recommend to all imperial parties, including the people and leaders of Wehnimer’s Landing, to be wary, and perhaps seek out their own fitting justice.”

“Next, is Brakian. Of most, he is one of the least I fault in this madness. I know what it is like to love, and I know what lengths a man will go to in order to protect it. I am without a doubt certain that he provided critical items to Grishom Stone to help temporarily nullify the wards on the prisoner’s bracers at the time of his escape, but which components, I do not know with that same level of conviction. But those details matter little, in the larger scheme of things. It is as plain on his face, as much as his mind, that he sought to broker a deal to protect Anyauma, whom he loves, from enduring further enslavement at the hands of Elithain Cross. Arguably noble intentions, but riddled with the stigma of a fool’s errand from the beginning. One does not successfully make a deal with Luukos to spite Marlu, the end result is the same. Perhaps if Brakian would have put more efforts into steering Anyauma on a better path, he needn’t risk selling his own soul and staining his hands blood, all to protect one who so easily gave her spirit to Elithain Cross. Regardless of his purpose, while I cannot recommend imperial branding, I will justly urge all townspeople and leaders of Wehnimer’s Landing to approach all involvement with this individual with the highest level of caution, because while a man crippled by the passion of love, is as dangerous as he is gallant.”

“Following that, I present my findings on Anru. It should be of no surprise that a man once known as an outlaw in Wehnimer’s Landing for his previous involvement with Grishom Stone, falls into the same trappings once again. There existed three items of value to Grishom Stone, which he required to break the enchantments upon his magical bracers which kept him from escaping. While the specifics of these items and the process used to activate their effects is unknown to me at this time, I believe Anru provided one of the final pieces, following in the footsteps of Sareyna and Brakian before him. Of those I have tried to glean information from their minds, Anru has been the hardest, as each turn I have found a high level of restriction, as if he or Grishom himself is obstructing my magic. I would wager it may well be the latter, as Grishom Stone is likely to want to protect those who have proven to be loyal to him, time and again without fail. Further adding to Anru’s list of criminal involvement, is the fact that I was able to learn of his intended involvement with the kidnapping of Kiske, where he would have been working hand in hand with Sareyna and another, named Maiehia. While at the time of the kidnapping, Anru was not witnessed to be present, his original intentions cannot be ignored, nor can his continued servitude to Grishom Stone. While I will not begin to instruct Wehnimer’s Landing and its leaders on how to deal with a man with such a proven aptitude for aiding such villainy, I will stress that he should never be considered an ally, nor trusted in any capacity. The pattern has been established by his actions, and that alone is reason for concern.”

“My next person of interest is Dergoatean. He had in his possession an old and albeit powerful scrying tool, or more aptly described as a fragment of a powerful scrying tool. Originally manipulated by Glethad, a mere puppet of Grishom, the scrying tool was lent indirectly to Grishom, providing him with the means to quite possibly track down the Galestone within the region known as the Sea of Fire. The Galestone is known as many other names, also most notably the Eye of Ta’Ashrim, and the Star of Khar’ta. Its powers are nearly immeasurable, and in the hands of an individual such as Grishom, the threat both together would pose is horrible to try to comprehend. While Dergoatean at the time was implicated by Glethad to willfully aid Grishom, I have found that to be a misleading statement and I find Dergoatean clear of any guilt, in the beginning. Since the escape of Grishom Stone, witnesses have reported that Dergoatean has on at least three occasions called upon the powers of his scrying tool, often allowing Grishom Stone to not only gain a measure of control over it, but also utilize it to potentially manipulate its magic from the other side. Lending further credence to the rising danger Dergoatean presents is that in the aftermath of each scrying session, he has suffered from strange behavior, potential illusions, and occasionally the presumption of grandeur. We have all seen the peril such a thirst for power and knowledge can create, and so I suggest extreme caution when dealing with this man, in addition to extra observations to note his movements, and associations. In addition, I recommend that there be consideration to obtaining this scrying tool in his possession, so that it might be studied further, and then returned once determined to not pose any risk to the interests of Wehnimer’s Landing and the Turamzzyrian Empire.”

“The last two who have had both their minds, hands and eyes twisted and turned by Grishom Stone, are Maiehia and Rowmi. Maiehia, in her quest for power, or perhaps love, has routinely found herself in the presence of Grishom Stone while he was locked away in the brass tower. She was also implicated in the murder of a town guard who was stationed outside of Grishom’s prison, who previously had been witnessed to have some kind of verbal altercation with the prisoner. While I understand formal charges were brought against Maiehia, it did little to persuade her from working with Sareyna to kidnap Kiske at the behest of Grishom. While one could defend Maiehia as being easily charmed or manipulated by Grishom’s powers, surely such a pattern of despicable behavior cannot be ignored, or even condoned. Justice is not mine to issue in this matter, and so I leave it to the people of Wehnimer’s Landing on how they seek to deal with the wickedness in their midst.”

“Rowmi is another matter entirely, and no doubt his recent disappearance is even further evidence of his guilt. My investigation into him was hardly challenging, for he himself had boasted too many witnesses of trying to learn from Grishom Stone, to harness and expand his own powers. Through the tutelage of Grishom, Rowmi willingly allowed the criminal to enter his mind, and even willingly forced his own powers on others, all in the illusionary claim of self-improvement. His irresponsible behavior and dabbling in magic, with the aid of Stone, pried into the thoughts of innocent people in town, even harming and stunning some individuals, and worst of all rendering a Nalfein mercenary and ally of Wehnimer’s Landing senseless, quite possibly ruining his mind forever. The latter action, such a dark and evil act of melting another’s mind, was solely for the purpose of aiding Grishom in locating, and restoring the Galestone. While Rowmi’s location is unknown at this time, his loathsome actions require a heightened level of security should he return.”

“Grishom Stone, through his puppet and apprentice Glethad, sought to tarnish the names of Stormyrain and the Landing Defense Irregulars, quite possibly as a distractive measure to redirect attention to them, and take it off of the likes of Sareyna, Anru and Brakian. While Stormyrain and some members of the Landing Defense Irregulars were not easily forthcoming, and some of them downright stubborn, I am confident in my investigation that I find their involvement to be innocent, with no charges or concerns lobbied against them. However, as one matter of warning and observation for the future, is that both Sareyna and Rowmi hold membership within the Landing Defense Irregulars, which as of this report’s conclusion, still remains to be true. If their removal does not swiftly follow these revelations of their criminal and manipulative actions and associations with Grishom Stone, then it surely calls into question the true motivations of the Landing Defense Irregulars and their capability to not only protect the town, but keep their own house clean of corruption.”

“I will also be sending a further, detailed report regarding my investigation into Glethad, who currently resides in the protection of a woman named Riend, at her house ironically titled Kestrel’s Perch. Thankfully due to the wisdom of Mayor Puptilian of Wehnimer’s Landing, Glethad is not permitted to enter the town until more can be explored about his seemingly mystical connection with Grishom Stone, and one that some debate is nothing short of possession. I will dispatch my findings shortly and my specific recommendations, but to summarize, I strongly recommend cooperation with the leadership of Wehnimer’s Landing in peacefully apprehending Glethad for his widely known involvement and essentially being a vessel for the prying mind of Grishom Stone.”

“Despite my findings being concluded, it is without a doubt that Grishom Stone’s interests still tie him to the area of Wehnimer’s Landing, yet the why of it all remains a mystery. So long as Grishom’s eyes are turned to this area, so too will the gaze of the Hall of Mages. I have requested, and been approved, that I shall be reassigned to the Hendoran Outpost outside of Wehnimer’s Landing, where I will actively keep observations of the area and those of suspect on my list currently, and those whose names may be known in the future. So long as Grishom Stone remains alive and free, my work is not done.”

Signed,
Lord Brieson Cassle.
Hall Adjudicator.