In the month of Ero, 318 AF, a group of Thoth's followers led by Fortyr
Maletar held a rally during which they hoped to awaken the slumbering
Deathgod, Thoth. Fortyr had received visions earlier in the year to seek
out Cardinal Auphanim Grellek, Master Shaman, to hold the ritual that
would be used as a means to speak with Thoth and hopefully awaken Him.

Before the ritual took place, however, a nefarious spirit called
Dilambar, claiming to be the Deathgod, possessed Fortyr's body and bent
Fortyr to its will. Fortyr was seen to be acting strangely, often
arguing with himself, and by the time Grellek arrived, even hanging from
the ceiling. What follows is a close summary of the days' events,
starting with the first ritual intended to awaken Thoth.

Grellek began the ritual with a caveat. "Under no circumstance is anyone
to enter the Circle," he cautioned. "It could have catastrophic
consequences." He went on to say that one would die "so that the death
energy produced may act as the conveyance for our first communication
with Lord Thoth." For this, he chose Fortyr, "first to again embrace the
teachings of the Lord of Death."

Lightning flashed and thunder pealed in the night sky as Grellek walked
to the northern end of the grove and sketched a rune. As he finished,
those in attendance saw that the rune depicted a young lady sitting atop
a throne. He stood a brown candle at its center and lit it. "Cholem
Yesodeth," he chanted, "representative of the Material Plane. We call
upon you to stabilize this Circle, act as an anchor to this Plane,
remind our Lord of this Plane and of our need for Him."

As Grellek recited the incantation, so did an earthy spirit appear. The
second rune he sketched was of a handsome man, bulging with muscle, upon
which he placed a purple candle, and called out for Levanah, spirit of
divination. The third rune showed a hermaprodite. Standing an orange
candle on it, he summoned Kokab, spirit of communication. The final rune
depicted a mighty warrior, a sword resting on his shoulders, and on this
he set a red candle and invoked Madim, spirit of destruction.

As Grellek sketched, he grew weaker, less stable, as if the ritual was
taking a toll on him. When it seemed he would be able to go on no
longer, he uttered a plea for help from the Dark Father and so was
enshrouded by a nimbus of darkfire that strengthened him.

Grellek walked three times the completed Circle. Stopping at the
northern rune, he again warned: "The Circle is complete, let no one
enter its confines unbidden." He then walked to the center of the Circle
and began to sketch a final rune, but the spirits spoke in ethereal
voices, "Cardinal Auphanim Grellek, High Ritualist and Master Shaman....
what you seek to do is noble... but the Fates have not decreed this to
be the time..."

"One of our kind... has invaded him. The Church knows what must be done
about him. Now, dismiss us. We have no more knowledge to impart..."
Their purpose fulfilled, Grellek began to dismiss them, but Dilambar
would be silent no longer. "This mortal is mine!" he claimed in the
voice of Fortyr. "Mine I say!"

The other spirits stared at Fortyr impeccably. In a collective voice
they said, "We bind thee, Dilambar! Be silent!" They turned to Grellek.
"Now, Dismiss us, Cardinal Auphanim... We have no more to do here...
seek out the Church to cure that one..."

"I release you from my service, honored Spirits of the Aethyr. Your
purpose has been achieved, and we are most grateful," Grellek said. The
spirits disappeared in a spark of magick. They had mentioned to seek out
the Church to help Fortyr. When asked, however, a resident Paladin
claimed that he could not be helped, for he had no faith in the light.
Death is not Evil, the Thothians argued. Eventually, the Archprelate,
Lady Aldair, came and offered her assistance.

It was during this interval that Dilambar acted up the most. He was put
to many questions, and responded by showing his authority over Fortyr's
will by making him kneel. He became increasingly more rude, lashing out
at those in attendance and even spitting in the face of the Archprelate.
But Fortyr remained strong-willed and struggled, the key to overpowering
the spirit, Aldair said.

It was at this point the assembly noticed that Dilambar was scared of
Grellek. He looked at him fearfully and demanded to know what he was up
to. "Nothing, Dilambar," Grellek replied. Fortyr began to struggle more,
knowing Dilambar's weakness. "That's right Spirit... fear the Shamans.
Fear their power." But Dilambar continued to fight and denied the claim.
"How many times must I say it, you hold no power over me!"

Dilambar realized Grellek's plan and grew more fearful. "Release me! Get
AWAY from me foul Shaman! I see your plot! Let ME GO!" he wailed.

Grellek began another ritual, this one intended to exorcise Fortyr of
the spirit. He lit three candles, brown, yellow, and red, placed them in
a triangle around Fortyr, and invoked three spirits, Cholem Yesodeth,
Shemesh, and Madim.

The spirits watched the proceedings, all except for Madim, who, upon
summoning, coalesced into a ball of darkfire and slammed into Fortyr to
give him the strength to reject Dilambar. Grellek walked this Circle
three times. "You are bound, Spirit."

Dilambar pleaded, "I only want a home. You mortals... are so lucky...
you have bodies.." To which Grellek replied, "Your place is not on this
plane, Dilambar."

The spirits grew agitated. "Complete the task you have summoned us for,
Cardinal Auphanim," they spoke. Grellek nodded to them and stared hardly
at Fortyr: "I banish you from this plane, Dilambar. Let you harm no one
else on this plane." With that, Fortyr's eyes glazed over and a globe of
darkness flowed out of his body, on which the remaining spirits
concentrated and it vanished with a small *PLOP*.

Their purpose fulfilled, Grellek again thanked and dismissed the
Spirits. "I thank you who came here today, and indeed we have learned a
valuable lesson: Do not underestimate the Powers that you deal with,"
Fortyr said. "Let that guide us all. Without the Shaman's help, I may
very well still be possessed."

With the Deathgod still slumbering and Dilambar banished, the events of
the day ended. Fortyr asks that if anyone has any questions regarding
Thoth and His teachings to feel free to speak with him.


Penned by my hand on the 20th of Lupar, in the year 318 AF.