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[Gorghor Bey](/wiki/bicolline/people/gorghor-bey/), renowned as one of the most infamous emperors, started as a cruel leader of a mercenary horde that emerged in the late 900s within the empire. In 1001, he grew weary of the mercenary life and settled down to become the Lord of Ghoria. A year later, [Gar III](/wiki/bicolline/people/gar-iii/) declared him the Imperial Regent. Gorghor's court quickly gained notoriety for its debauchery.

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But, I who thought I could enjoy a peaceful winter season spent in front of the fireplace, studying the books that Mistress Yasraena left me, writing the story of our campaigns in Dendroica and those of Lord Baey in Reikwald as well as record the many ideas and rumors that populate my head, today I saw my hopes shattered. It was in fact at the end of the day that Elgar Victorinox, messenger from the Tours, arrived at the castle with in his bag a missive signed by the hand of Mistress Åsa, addressed to her husband, Egill Henrikson. The content, however, did not only concern him: Mistress Åsa brings the Council together at the Tower. It will therefore be necessary for us, Captain I-Hann Dragonar, Treasurer Egill Henrikson and I, to leave for Ghoria. This time of year which is so dear to me also means that once we arrive at our destination, we will have to stay there all winter, because the roads will be impassable. This fact does not displease me, since I will be both in the comfort of the Tower and away from the inquisitive gaze of my neighbors in the fiefdom. In fact, what I fear most is that we will be caught by the first storms. I don't particularly like the heat of summer, in fact I hate it, but I don't cherish the idea of having to travel in a blizzard any more. And since the province of Ghoria shares its northern border with the kingdom of [Nasgaroth](/wiki/bicolline/regions/nasgaroth/), winter hits mercilessly there, and early.

I must of course comply with the summons of the Mistress of the Tower and go to Bethel. Captain Dragonar has taken charge of the arrangements for the journey, which makes me believe that all will be well and that we will ride safely and quickly.

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Year One Thousand and Two of the [Midlands](/wiki/bicolline/regions/empire/), Twelfth Day of the Last Month, Gilam Dominion, Imperial Province of Ghoria

My biggest fear turned out to be true. At sunrise

Today, this morning, the snow started to fall intensely and the weather deteriorated very quickly. Towards midday, the road had become impassable and it became dangerous to continue. We therefore had to stop at a farm which ran alongside the path we were following. The Gilam Estate, where we are located, is only a day's walk from Bethel and the [Tower of Díedne](/wiki/bicolline/organizations/mages-of-diedne/). Before they left for the kingdom of [Ozame](/wiki/bicolline/regions/ozame/), the people of Gaia's guild were here the guardians of the forests of Duke Hyronimus of Forbach, who also owns Gilam. Perhaps this is why the road is a little less maintained as it enters the woods. Unfortunately, with this storm, I fear we will have to stay here for a few days. When we leave, our progress will be slow and difficult.

For the moment, I am enjoying the hospitality of the farmer and his wife, Niklas and Lea, as well as that of their five boys and three girls. The arrival of nine people could have put off more than one person, but the welcome they gave us warmed my heart despite the storm. The dinner was one like those of my childhood and the evening was rich in stories and anecdotes. When they learned that we were going to the Tower of Díedne, that we were living there, and that I was instructed in magical knowledge, some of them seemed fearful, but I was happy to correct some small erroneous beliefs. I-Hann and Elgar told them about some battles and military campaigns, Egill gave them several anecdotes in his own way and we briefly described life at the tower. Eventually, the father had to stop his children from asking questions. I sometimes miss peasant life without politics or military concerns. I know, however, that I could never return to such a life. I swam in the river of the political world, which led me to the sea of the world of Magic. I can no longer go against the tide.

Once the youngest had gone to bed, Niklas told me of his fear of seeing his two oldest boys conscripted into the lordly army. I looked at them both and told them that none of us could prevent them from serving under the banner of Ghoria if that was the will of the lord of the province, but that I could perhaps, at least, recommend them to the lieutenant of the Black Company, the independent mercenary troop of [Lord Baey](/wiki/bicolline/people/gorghor-bey/), or even to Don Miguel or Duke Hyronimus, the two highest authorities of the said company. I reassured them and let them know that they would be treated well there as long as they obeyed orders. I revealed to them that it was in the Black Company that Elgar and I experienced our first real fights and that, in the end, we didn't do too badly\!

It's getting late and I'm falling asleep. A few days of work await us as we will give a helping hand to the people of this farm in thanks for their hospitality. However, I don't believe this is enough. So, I will talk to Egill and ask him to give them a solar for each member of the family so that the winter will not be too difficult for them. In addition, I will ensure that their stored grains and seeds are neither prey to rodents nor prey to disease. Next summer, their harvests will be lush…

Year One Thousand Two of the Midlands, Winter Equinox Tower of Díedne, Bethel Domain, Imperial Province of Ghoria

The precipitation turned out to be less than the storm led us to believe. We still stayed one more day at the farm and helped Niklas and his family put back in order everything that the wind and snow had damaged or made impossible to access. The solars that we gave them in gratitude for their warm welcome seem to have satisfied them.

When we left, we followed the road which, in the woods, was passable without too much loss of speed. The snowdrifts along the path allowed us not to get lost.

It was two days later, on the fifteenth day of the month, that we arrived at the Tower, exhausted but happy. I returned to my rooms with joy and was able to speak at length with Mistress Yasraena, telling her about the trip and questioning her about the reason for summoning all the members of the Council. On this, she would tell me nothing, except that a messenger had arrived two days before the storm, bearing a missive indicating that the Auvrindar Adept was a week's ride away.

Today was Equinox day and Mistress Åsa held the council at the zenith. I let Egill and I-Hann report on the situation in [Mariembourg](/wiki/bicolline/regions/empire/mariembourg/) and listened attentively to Daerhaun's report on the situation in Rissa. It seems that the people of [Castenza](/wiki/bicolline/organizations/castenza/) do not want to see [Arganne](/wiki/bicolline/regions/federation-argannaise/arganne/) shared and defended by more

several individuals, preferring to keep everything for themselves, at the risk of losing everything by being the only ones to raise arms against a possible invader. So, they are not ready to make any concessions and I sense a long political conflict looming on the horizon...

When all the members of the Council were in tune with the latest political events concerning the Tower, Mistress Åsa got to the heart of the matter. From a black leather bag, she took out several parchments and a somewhat faded grimoire. Master Boreas and Master Alvarez did not seem at all surprised, which leads me to believe that a meeting of the Masters of the Tower had been held well before the Council was convened. Mistress Åsa then revealed to us that she knew the location of an ancient school of magic where dozens, even hundreds of objects with various powers would have been kept safe and that these objects were just waiting to be found. This school, [Orapal Tamas](/wiki/bicolline/places/orapal-tamas/), would have been destroyed during the great conflict which pitted the [Empire](/wiki/bicolline/regions/empire/) and its southern provinces against each other. The Mistress of the Tower closed the session by giving us all a document recounting the history of Orapal Tamas. Nothing, however, about how the documents came into his hands. Everyone is entitled to their secrets and it would have been rude and perhaps even imprudent to ask too many questions at this time. Before leaving, I looked at each of the masters and none seemed surprised by the news. I think the captain and the treasurer noticed it too.

A vote will take place on the last day of this year to decide whether the [Mages of Díedne](/wiki/bicolline/organizations/mages-of-diedne/) will mount an armed expedition to search for these almost forgotten objects. It’s a safe bet that this will be the case.

Year one thousand and two of the Midlands, twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month Tower of Díedne, Bethel Dominion, Imperial Province of Ghoria

I have read and reread the documents concerning Orapal Tamas. It is surprising to note that such a great school of Magic could have sunk into such… profound oblivion. It is true that the year 640 was rich in various events: wars, coups d'état, betrayal, resounding victories and crushing defeats. I will transcribe here the main lines of the history of this mysterious school.

Orapal Tamas was one of the greatest esoteric schools in the Middle Lands. All the great masters of the schools of thought of Kalt and the followers of the teachings of the red breath were trained there. The masters of Orapal Tamas devoted a large part of their lives to studying and collecting objects holding occult powers. In the year 647, in the heart of the Dark Ages of the Central Lands, the school was completely destroyed as the region was ravaged by the armies of the northern and southern provinces. The school was never rebuilt and the villagers who survived the conflict left the region permanently to settle on more suitable land.

The stories tell that the masters of Orapal Tamas had all the magical objects they held protected in a crypt which they walled up at the start of the [great revolt](/wiki/bicolline/events/general-revolt-of-642/) in the year 640\.

According to archives and the statements of certain copyist monks, the crypt houses several hundred parchments, potions, talismans and magical weapons of various origins.

Last day of the year 1002 Tower of Díedne, Bethel Estate, Imperial Province of Ghoria

The Council meets again today. The decision was quickly made to set off an expedition to recover the objects from the crypt beneath the Torascon plain. Everything will be planned as soon as possible. Everyone at the Tower, from the citizen to the master, including the guard and the apprentice, will have to carry out their tasks with more professionalism than before. The task before us is of great importance for the preservation of the Balance of the Worlds.

Year One Thousand and Three of the Midlands, Twentieth Day of the Year Tower of Díedne, Bethel Domain, Imperial Province of Ghoria