Walking through Brix could make Dayereth homesick. The city is a cobbled together mishmash of Eldarin architecture and ramshackle buildings. The gnomes have been good enough caretakers but the humans have run amok with their building and much of the ancient elegance is shrouded by the utilitarian human edifices. Dark visions of a black skull interrupt his normally peaceful meditations. Dayereth has found a sage Hamerick and consulted him regarding the dagger. Hamerick doesnt seem to know more than a few rituals but thought he could disenchant the dagger. He agreed to try gratis (as long as he could keep the residum) though after several failed attempts he had to admit defeat.  Their is no question that the unnaturally huge murder of crows was brought to Brix following the dagger. Dayereth is confident of that. His growing visions are no doubt connected to the blade as well. With some research he may be able to cloak the blade's dweomer briefly though he remains uncertain for how long. Perhaps long enough to dispel the vast cloud of ravens that has beset the city. Maybe then he would be able to find a mage who might be willing to talk to stranger seeking free advice.

Four dark figures watch from deep shadows above the evening streets of Brix.  As Dayereth walks beneath, they huddle together .

     “It is near”
     “Close yes close”
     “Others too far this is close”
     “Gather, gather it is close”

The figures quiet down as the wizard passes beneath them.  Their heads follow Dayereth intently.
     “Close Yes Close”

Suddenly a rock thrown  into the group scatters them and they take to flight black feathers and caws of alarm drift to the street below.

“The ravens are getting brave, at least they provide some amusement for the children.” Dayereth walks by a door rune-scribed with religious iconography ,  “If arcane magic cant help perhaps this will work”

Sharla an initiate of We Jas was not hard to find. Mentioning the undead and dagger made more than one informant direct Dayereth to her door. Sharla listens to the story and looks at Dayereths notes and offers the following advice.

“No doubt about it the wizard’s spirit inhabits the dagger. That’s why you can break the enchantment you need someone stronger than he is. He’s fighting We Jas’s pull to the doors you are just trying to pull the residuum out.”  She smiles.

“Don’t get that blade near blood while his spirit lingers in it. Blood is power, it will give him strength. In truth he knows you know, knows you well! You can not hide from his gathering minions. You must hasten him to the great doors for We Jas’s judgment. The ravens gather now,.. yes I know of them, soon there will be other things, dark things, they will be drawn to you.  I will help you as it suits me. 10 swords (sp) you will pay me for my council.”

“5 leauges to the west a great rock rises out of a bog. Some call fools call it a mountain but in the days of my forefathers a shrine in a cave held the well of souls.  The dead and dying were brought to the well to hasten their meeting with We Jas so she might find favor with them. Deep inside this shrine a glowing sphere on the alter is a gateway to the great door. Any spirit near the well will be brought to the gateway. Be warned however spirits of any kind can not linger by the well. Simply bring the dagger to the well and the wizard will face his judgment.”

“Once the wizard has been brought to the doorway, he will trouble you no longer and if you still wish to break the enchantment on the dagger I’m sure you will have no difficulty. Now my silver please.”

After repaying the silver he owed the We Jas initiate Dayereth pays several coins more to various scroll and book sellers (none of note ) and learns the following (based on taking 10)

Abandoned Wizard's towers dot the landscape of the near realms. Most date back several hundred years. During the infernal wars they often served as rallying points for both the invaders and defenders of the realm. The tower near pear grove seems to have been owned by a lieutenant of the mad wizard Nacal-Mai (translated from elvish it means roughly God slayer.) While the lieutenant is of no great consequence, indeed his exact name cant be found Nacal-Mai was known to lead vast armies against the court of the roses. After summoning legions of the undead and ravaging the countryside for near a decade, Hh was defeated finally by an army of elves and men on the western shores of the misty lake. His dragon-steed cut out from under him, he plummeted from the sky into the icy lake. His forces were then routed. He was by no means the only great wizard to fall sway under Orcus will during those dark times. The promise of power corrupts many just men. Dayereth would be wise to remember that lesson!

As Dayereth felt his control of magic grow as he used it over the last few weeks, he studied his spellbook and his surroundings, thinking of how he could best expand his powers to help the party in it's adventures.

First of all, the few times he was hit, he was hit badly, that should stop if possible (Utility power: Shield)

He also had been noticing that his ability to damage more than one enemy at a time was extremely helpful in combat.  He studied and meditated to enhance that effect (Feat: Destructive Wizardry)

Although Illusory Amush had been useful with it's ability to distract an enemy, Dayereth felt that with his new found orb and his effective use of Cloud of Daggers, an at-will spell which could manipulate enemies would be more useful and enhance the effect of the Cloud, use the new feat, and perhaps aid companions in combat. (retrain Illusory Ambush for Phantom Bolt.)

((Arcana Checks  for research mentioned via phone:

Deep pockets Cloak is a rather simple item to enchant (level 7) in addition to providing some protection (bonuses to fort,will and reflex) it also allows access to an extra dimensional space which can hold upto 100 cubic feet in volume, assuming of course no single item weighs more than 10 pounds. --AV2 pg 97))

Rope trick: Lvl 12. manual of planes page 151 though for your buck Fey Passage (lvl 6) may be more what your looking for pg 150))

You are the collector mentioned in older editions of the game! (This book would be worth 50 gp to the right collector!) AS you haven't streetwise (nor insight ha!) you spend the entire first day in Brix wandering around Kings row and the hill gates looking for books or scroll shops. While he is unable to convince anyone to lend him access to a library he doesn't offend folks much as he had in the past. His diplomacy skills have convinced a scholar he found haggling with a "courtesan"  near the south gate to delay his transaction long enough to advise him to try in the astral district.

Magic does not seem to be the item of trade however. Several stores claim to sell rare and wondrous components though these seem to be more curiosities than anything of actual use. He passes a worn sign advertising Rosemary's and though it appears closed, likely due to reduction in trade it may well be the type of place he's looking for.  Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Inspecting the ring reveals two complete rituals:
Pyrotechnics
Affect normal fires

They are very similar but something else is underlying their relationship. The ring is some type of key or guidebook to a greater ritual. Sadly you cannot focus on the method of discerning the relationship and what greater secret is contained in the extraneous symbols. Perhaps continued study will reveal greater INSIGHT.

(Man sometimes I'm evil!)

Later in the day after the rest of the party left to continue on toward Drakespire, Dayereth wakes from his trance.  He moves about and stretches his still stiff body.

"It was the honorable thing to do," he thinks to himself, "I would merely have slowed them down with my exhaustion, and time was of the essence."

He feels within his weary bones that several more hours rest are required before the effects of the last several days' hike wear off.  He sits and considers his sword.  A faithful representation of the sword carried by one of the warriors of his family, it is none the less just that, a representation.  A normal sword, one whose instruction he recieved when he was younger, with some contempt.

"I never counted on having to use it," he thinks, "but that drake scared me, I may have to remember the karas and practice them, learn to use my mind to guide the sword where my brawn cannot take it.  But right now is not the time, I need to rest comepletely and begin the journey back to Brix.  Once my companions complete thier quest, I'll meet them there."

Vague thoughts of revenge on the ogre whose life was uselessly spared filled his head momentarily, then Dayereth puts them from his mind.

"A nonhuman bandit such as that is not worth my anger, it is merely a problem to be solved, a danger to future travellers which should have been eliminated."

Considering where I must travel to return to Brix, it may be a danger I will have to eliminate before long, but first rest."

He lays the sword aside, but closer to his hand than he once did.

Dayereth then removes the gnome's ring from his bag.  The dream made him think that perhaps there was more to this trinket than meets the eye.  Having time on his hands, he considers the ring more closely.

(Attempting to detect magic on the ring, as well as analyze it for any other magical or historical significance.)