Five Wicked Stars and the Great Shift in Pacts of 174AR
(All footnotes refer to the page of loose notes within this notebook, in the second half of the book.)
In the year 174 AR (previously 175 AR as some included notes show), there was a great shift in the world's pacts. Previously there were three pacts that were common on the isle of Arelith: Unseelie, Infernal and Abyssal. Early in 174 AR, five wicked stars appeared over the world heralding a great shift in powers. A divination ritual lead by Caenfyddel of the Arcane Tower produced a prophecy:
"One from the sea, one from the bones. Two from the fiends, and one from the crones. One from the fey, and one from the stars that wander." [2]
A group was sent to speak with one of the hags (crone) in order to learn more information, as the hag tended to be conversational. Upon arriving, they found that the hag had been slain by a small child, an incredibly powerful hag known as the Centipede's Sister. She confirmed the shift in the Powers. She offered a pact with her, as well as offering to read the future in exchange for memories. She also listed the names of the five wicked stars, which will not be added to this text as the very names cause insanity (we were properly warded with Mind Blank).
Over the following month, there was a great increase in the number of warlocks on the isle, although they were generally still seen as unwelcome and hunted.
The new pacts included: Hags - Traditionally aiding the unseelie in creating pacts, they now have pacts of their own. As hags deal in illusions, charms and nightmare magics, it's expected that their pacts would be similar.
The wicked stars - stars from the far realms, creating such a pact invites madness. Little is yet known about them other than they are likely related to psionics - illithids or aboleths.
Depths - a very uncommon pact previously, these pacts are with underwater denizens. Likely to be aboleth or kraken. The one known pact of the depth specialized in tentacle magics.
Bones - Likely a pact with creatures known as Immortals; those pacted to undead would have powers over undeath and be similar to palemasters.
The infernal, abyssal and unseelie pacts do not appear to have changed overly, although some of their masters have changed their methods of control.
Timeline
15/3/174 - Ravens appeared at the Fuzzypaw Farm, Brogendenstein, Bendir, Westcliff and Cordor. Spoke of "Bad times are coming" and "Bad stars aligning. Now." [1] - A great purple star appeared in the north east of Arelith, as all the ravens turned as one to face it. Soon four more stars joined in the day-lit sky, known as Wicked Stars or elder evils. [1] - Divination ritual led by Caenfyddel lead to prophecy/riddle about pacts. [2]
16/3/174 - Kraken was sighted in the waters near the isle, it spoke to the Premonition in an unintelligible language. [4][5] - Reports arrive of disturbances in the Minmir battlefields. [3] - Tower Wizards hire Bhalefour to investigate a hag in the swamp. Group, including the pixie Annwyl, heads to speak to the hag, finding her dead at the hands of another hag and speak the slayer, known as the Centipede's Sister. She confirms a shift in the planes. [6]
18/3/174 - A second riddle appears in the carpet of the Winter's Rest, seen by Charlotte Coaldust, Hawk Whitewood and Gwenillian Auburnridge. [7] - Knights of the Silvermane and Gauntlet reinforce Minmir with barricades and siege weapons in preparation for large scale offensive. Larger numbers of undead spotted. [8] [9]
Third week of Ches - New pacted appear, following pacts with the stars. [8] - Two incidents of drow entering Cordor to ask about the stars. [8] - Group went to the Shadowplane Asylum and Forbidden library in order to look for "The Dark", found nothing of note. [8] - Thoramind confirms that the timeloop in Minmir is working as expected. [9] - Hawk'n begin watching Benwick [8] - Skull Crags Rangers begin watch on Abyss Portal in the mountains [8]
Second week of Tarsakh - White raven appeared in the main square of Cordor saying "You will see bending of chains" before flying off. [9] - Devon of the Knights of the Silvermane was attacked by a red claw which flung him around the mercantile building. It was driven off with combination of divine channeling from Devon and arcane disjunction from Izahne Tiller. [9] - Orog abyssalist seen in Cordor, Bendir, Guldorand, and Brogendenstein with a necromancer or kobold in tow. [9]
Third Week of Tarsakh - Narr Nolkus organizes expedition to shadowplane to investigate shadow hags. Nothing out of the ordinary found. [10] - Abyssal ritual performed outside of Bendir related to elf Thancred. Ritual opened a portal along with a horde of demons. The next day the ritual body disappeared. A day later another Abyssal ritual occurred at the Fox's Den as a 'feast', where waves of demons were slain along with the elf Thancred. [11] [12] [13] [14]
8/7/174 - Fey Pact broken for a hin, south of Bendir. [15]
Researched and written by Magus Minto T Fuzzypaw of the Earthkin Arcanum in Eleasis of the year 175AR.