Let it be known that the report detailed herein was wrought by the undersigned.
Loose Threads:
- Ciudiu was successfully tracked down and found to be in a small, unnamed town located within the central Coalition Territories, perhaps somewhere to the north or northeast of the Roanokae Camp. Unfortunately, I cannot pinpoint its exact location for your convenience. However, I know that it must have taken us at least three days to get there on foot.
- Ciudiu seems to be using her powers to help cure an as-of-yet unidentified disease that is currently spreading throughout the Coalition Territories. She has been asking her patients, “Do you wish to remain?”, and granting a merciful end to those who refuse. Oddly, though, the ones she does save do not seem to be in their right state of mind afterwards; I suspect foul play is involved.
- Ciudiu has disappeared again! She was last seen opening a portal for herself and stepping through it. It remains unclear as to where she has gone off to now, but at least now we know that she is active within The Iron Front area.
- Eryxo is still missing! Fortunately, Ciudiu offered up a lead before she vanished: for us to seek out the God-King Tonatiuhaz in a far away eastern land. In her own words: “If we succeed, we will find what we are looking for.”
- During a recent attack on the Roanokae Camp by the Republic of Jagriarius, one of their vanguard was found to be carrying a paper missive detailing a rough impression of Eryxo — who they referred to as the “White Lantern Woman.” Upon further investigation, it was discovered that they were actually referring to Ciudiu.
Participants: Atremachus of Sylirica, Ripley, Thalon Stronghoof, Lady Jacqueline Nibbles
Locations: Tanglelight Forest, Temple of the Two Suns, Roanokae Camp, Coalition Territories
Full Report:
The following synopsis has been provided for your reading convenience.
Greetings, and good tidings to you wherever you may be.
My name is Atremachus of Sylirica, son of Atystratos, and scion of the Atyseid dynasty. But for all of your intents and purposes, you may just call me Atremachus of First Landing.
This is my report.
My party and I were tasked with investigating the whereabouts of the entity who called herself Ciudiu—a relative of the late Olc and, as I have recently learned, another one of The Timeless Eight. The first leg of our journey led us into the Tanglelight Forest, where we met with Marsyas at the Temple of the Two Suns and inquired about what had happened since then. He informed us that he had been there when Ciudiu had preached to them about her intentions to “go where the suffering was greatest” and, presumedly, put an end to it. He also told us in no uncertain terms that he had also been there when the Lady Vesper personally exiled Ciudiu from Avilion, the Golden Barony. When I inquired as to where else she may have gone off to, Marsyas was kind enough to point us in the direction of The Iron Front, where he believed the most recent fighting was taking place. Specifically, he suggested for us to head to the Roanokae Camp instead of going directly to the frontlines, to which I couldn’t have agreed more.
Thus began the second leg of our journey, whereupon our arrival back at the Elemental Portal Shrine, Hesk requested that we help her deliver some precious cargo to the Refugees at the Roanokae Camp, since we were headed that way anyways. Once there, we met up with one of their leaders, Raket, who saw to it that their supplies would get to where they needed to go. However, before I could inquire any further about Ciudiu’s whereabouts, the camp was suddenly attacked by a raiding party sent by the Republic of Jagriarius. My party and I could not simply stand idly by while this transpired, of course—and so we joined the fray as soon as we could, taking up defensive positions along one of the outer palisades as we helped fend off a small cohort of hobgoblin soldiers.
Once the battle had been won, myself and Thalon were well received by Raket and an unnamed, elderly female refugee. In return for our unprompted aid in their defense, they kindly offered to help treat mine and Thalon’s wounds as a show of their gratitude. Later, we discussed with Raket the matter of our search for Eryxo — and, by extension, Ciudiu — after one of the refugees had discovered a paper missive bearing a rough sketch of her likeness. Surprisingly, it turned out that the elderly woman had more information than any of us; she told us that she had just visited the Roanokae Camp to help treat one of their sickly children—Tomás, if I remember the name right. That had been almost two days prior to when we had arrived there ourselves; by this point, I knew that we were close on her trail.
With that information in hand, we set off at once in pursuit of our quarry—only taking a brief detour to stop and lend a helping hand to a couple of refugees who’s wagon had broken down and become stuck in the mire. Then, all in due time, we finally reached the latest town in which Ciudiu was leaving her mark.
I alone confronted her about the whereabouts of Eryxo, but alas’, I was met only with obnoxiously cryptic messages. Now, I will confess: at first, I was solely concerned with the matter of my missing person. However, as my conversation with Ciudiu carried on, I must have realized that it was I who had now become the center of her attention. She challenged my motives and reasons for why I was so persistent about finding Eryxo. Fortunately, though, I did not yield before her impromptu interrogation. Instead, I merely got the information I needed out of her, then allowed her to leave—unharmed and unimpeded.
Despite what everyone had suspected when I first started this search of mine, I can now say with the utmost confidence that Eryxo is not Ciudiu. No matter how convincing her face may seem to be, it is exactly that—a face, nothing more. Thus, I have sworn that I shall not allow myself to be fooled again so easily as he was.
This, I have sworn upon my word. And my word is my bond.
End report.
Signed and unsealed by,
— Atremachus of First Landing