Volker Halbach the Clinical Inflictor of Wracking Torment

Role

Chapter 6

Day 34 of the Month of the Heat

Such Logical Deduction! Such brilliance! Of course I should have though of
it, what with all those rich adventurers travelling in and out of the
guild. There's no better way of securing my safety, prosperity, and chances
of continuing my research into Truth and Logic unhindered.

I shall pack my things, and travel to this 'Newbie Academy' I have heard
of. Perhaps it may yield great and fruitful things for me and my future
research.

PK Statistics

PK Gank-O-Meter

Immortal Comments

Role

Chapter 1

Day 32 of the Month of Old Forces

Teaching Logic to the students as usual today, when I heard the sounds of a
struggle from outside the guildhall. One of the adventuring members of the
guild was sleeping soundly in the guild, snoring. A dagger was protruding
from the throat of the guildguard, who cast spells despite being unable to
yell of impending danger. The spells did not save him though. The wicked
knife-wielding arial cut him down in moments, and proceeded to thrust
under-handed stabs with his knives into our sleeping friend. He didn't last
very long either.

I didn't know who that arial was, but he was too covered in blood for me to
observe anyway. He yelled a battle-cry, something about cleansing magic
filth, before turning on us.

I was frightened for my life, so I fled the guildhall. Anyway, I think very
little remained of it by the time I reached the Southeast gate of Voralian
City.

This city isn't safe. Why did I agree to lecture here?

Role

Chapter 2

Day 20 of the Month of the Grand Struggle

Still hungry. I met a man named Vincent who had some food, but I had run
out of coin with which to pay him. Fortunately, water was not a problem as
I could coax water from the moisture in the air. I must have taken a wrong
turning, this doesn't look like Hamsah Mutazz. All I have is a copy of The
Logic Manual, the magnum opus of my life's work. I am not about to barter
it in a moment of folly. This could very well be the salvation of mankind.

Day 26 of the Month of the Grand Struggle

Asked Vincent for food again today. No coin, no food, he said. I was
suffering from wracking pangs of hunger in my stomach then. Give me the
food, I said, half-crazed from starvation. Damned tosser just ignored me. I
lunged for him, for his nice, fat supply of food... he fought back, so I
had to struggle with him... He was a bit stronger than me, and he was
choking me with his hands.

I did what I had to do. Oh Light, forgive me. I charged my palms with
shocking electricity, and strangled and electrocuted him to death. At least
I am no longer hungry.

Role

Chapter 3

Day 7 of the Month of the Spring

Guard from Aldevari paid me a visit. He wanted to drag me to prison for
murder. He didn't understand. I was starving. He wouldn't back off though.
I did what I had to do.

It was easier this time around.

It was a little funny, how his skin peeled from his flesh in crackling
smoke as I wept. Or did I weep because he was burning?

I can't remember...

Day 15 of the Month of the Spring

Met one of my old students in Hamsah. I managed to get here finally.
Apparently it is just east down the road. I am too ignorant of geography
thus far. NOTE: Must spend at least 5 hours a week reading in Hamsah
Library about Theran geography.

Anyway, old student introduced me to the local guild. It is grander than
the one back in Voralia. They're taking me in as a lecturer in Logic. They
pay more than the scrooges back in Voralia, which is good.

Role

Chapter 4

Day 19 of the Month of Futility

Settling down nicely in Hamsah guild. Have begun to expound the principles
of the Logic Manual, but students not responsive. I guess that's why they
pay me more to teach here.

Am beginning to forget about the terrible journey that brought me here.
In the weeks after the journey I had dreams about poor Vincent, his body
spasming and dying. He looked so exquisite in agony as he died.

When I wake up from dreams like that, I find my linens wet with my seminal
fluids.

Light, what is wrong with me...

Day 22 of the Month of the Dragon

My student, Hamid, has been looking at me lewdly. With interest. He arches
those dark graceful eyebrows at me, taunting me. He leans too close when
he speaks, I can barely stop myself reaching out to touch him. That sinful,
insolent brat. I will have him.

Role

Chapter 5

Day 25 of the Month of the Sun

It is summer in Hamsah Mutazz, but I cannot be outdoors to enjoy it. I am
in the Sultan's prison now. Apparently Hamid was one of the many nephews of
the Sultan. He tempted me, and then set the guards on me when I responded
to his calls of passion. Before the guards took me, I streamed electricity
into him. He died in that same exquisite agony Vincent did. Insolent brat,
he deserved it. I think I climaxed right then, and that passion was so
intense that I almost didn't care where the guards were taking me...

Day 30 of the Month of the Sun

They have sentenced me to hang, but I am a little cleverer than they are.
Hidden in my underclothing is a tiny talisman of flight. I invoked it
before my execution, and floated harmlessly whilst pretending to hang. I
had to endure the pokes from a lion's mark steel spetum as I played possum.
They threw me into the Khalid River, and promptly forgot about Lerkov
Chalabh. It is fortunate that I had the presence of mind to use a
pseudonym when working in Hamsah.

I shaved my thick beard off and resumed my real name, Volker Halbach. I can
no longer teach in this city, so I must do something else...

Role

Chapter 7

Life has been somewhat unpleasant, but bearable. Sometimes I long for the
days of idyll, teaching Logic in Voralian City, but then I remember how I
would always have to live in fear of a stronger, more powerful intruder,
who could lay waste to us all just because he so wished. If it is at all
possible, I wish to be strong enough so that none, save the Gods
themselves, can persecute me thus.

Also, I have found a few more opportunities to indulge my secret thrill,
that thrill which courses through my veins upon the death of another
living, thinking being. The fire in his eyes fade, as they focus upon me,
half-glazed... His grip slackens on his weapon, and the life which
animates his half-burned body flees with such remarkable alacrity as to
let fall his body like a puppet whose strings have just been sliced...

I have found another person like the damned arial who interrupted the
routine of my earlier life. He was a cloud giant who called himself
Hgumbum, and I could see that hatred of magic within him too. Such sweet
irony that it was through crackling, magical fire and electricity that his
oversized body was laid to ruin.

I have begun working on a philosophical text. I shall start with the simple
theory of Ethics, and see how the tools of Logic serve in crafting
philosophy.

Role

Chapter 8

Abstract: All morality is false. It is subject to the dominant social
environment in which people live. Churches, schools, and even households,
perpetuate the myth of an objective standard of morals to which we must
adhere. Those who disseminate morals in the populace often point to the
(very real) existence of the Inferno and the Outer Planes of Elysium and
the heavens as the punishment or reward for mortal behaviour. They fail to
consider that the very act of being forced to a Plane not of one's choosing
is simply the failure to exercise control and power over one's life. Hence,
moral hegemony disguises power as justice and right. All morality is
reducible to the powers which constitute the entire environment in which we
live.

Therefore, the only truth is Power, and man's will to gain power. This
essay shall explore the nature of ethics and how it is derived from the
manipulations of those in power. Moreover, supporters of moral beliefs
often behave as though morality were an objective truth, such as light,
heaviness, magic are. It is not. This essay will posit also the is-ought
disjunction: A statement is either a statement of fact, or a statement of
desirability (by whose standards?). It cannot be both. 'This is Good'
roughly translates to 'The Gods of Light and their Priests say that this is
Good', whereas 'This stone sinks in water' is true regardless of the
conceptual framework of the speaker.

Body of the Essay:
(The work goes on at length about morality, power and society, and is far
too longwinded and esoteric to keep any sane person's attention...)

Role

Chapter 9

If there is no right or wrong, what remains is simply what one wishes to
do, not what others impose upon one. We are all beings who have tendencies
and characteristics. For example, an elf is constituted either by birth or
upbringing to be compassionate and paternalistic. This is his desire, and
it is his right to fulfill that desire. It is not wrong, but it is
illogical to claim that his compassionate ways are right, and selfish ways
are wrong. Take the orc as the polar opposite: All he desires is to kill
fulfill his bestial pleasures.

I am a Scion. The Scion's ways are neither right nor wrong, but they are
desired by myself: That is enough justification for my full allegiance.
Only the weak seek to justify their actions by reference to an external set
of rules.

Role

Chapter 10

A strange series of events happened. I was running along the North Galadon
Road when an eye formed from faerie fire appeared on my obsidian construct.
I went to the manufacturer to complain, but he told me that constructs do
not do that (My construct even nodded!). He directed me to Destanin. I
spoke with Destanin at length, who took apart my construct for inspection.
Several days later, Destanin contacted me and informed me that the eye was
the result of a scrying, and the source of the scrying is the Void - the
emptiness between the Planes.

When I was accepted into the Chasm by Mharlndarn, the Chancellor, I was
further informed that an 'Eye in the Darkness' had been watching me, and
informed the Chancellor of my activities.

The fact that a clearly powerful planar entity has taken an interest in my
activities could be a very good, or a very bad sign. Either I am worthy of
attention and am destined for greatness, or I am soon to be the victim of a
terrible creature. I prefer to focus on the former.

I have no doubt I am being watched, if not all the time, then some of the
time. I will strive to prove my worth through two means - First, I will
continue flourishing in combat against other adventurers. This hones my
skill, and displays my strength. Second, I will grow in magical power. This
is the very cornerstone of my worth: without my mind and intellect, I am
but nothing.

Role

Chapter 11

I have been studying the magic of Khardrath's Planar Sanctum. The apparatus
in the centre powers portals that reach into the Inner Planes. Whilst
attacking the Sanctum and taking over the apparatus might seem tempting, I
doubt it will work because it is not attuned to the Shadow Plane. My goal
is to engineer a portal to the Shadow Plane, as part of the bargain for the
Ccul'gra. Who knows what horrors they might inflict upon me if I were not
instrumental to their success on the Prime?

As for the apparatus, it seems that the flows of energy must be managed in
particular proportions, and these proportions appear to have a logical,
mathematical pattern behind them. For one who was so concerned with morals,
Khardrath was certainly brilliant. I believe the materials may be acquired,
albeit at great cost, to construct a similar apparatus, and we only need to
tune the flows of energies to adjust the portal towards the Shadow Plane.

Of course, it is not as simple as that - first, I need to figure out the
mathematical underpinnings of the apparatus. For that, the Chancellor has
recommended that I use the tools within Kteng's laboratory. They will be
useful in geometry and graphing. Speaking of Kteng's laboratory, there is
a particular brew I need to make...

Second, I will have to make a wild conjecture and guess the proportion of
each magical flow within the apparatus. This means that we may well face
many failures before we succeed in directing the apparatus at the Shadow
Plane. The good news is that this apparatus, if not sabotaged, will
consistently be able to connect to the Shadow Plane, unlike Kiendosi's
failed attempt at Maethien or the Azuremain portal.

Role

Chapter 12

I am perceived to be Orderly, but my Orderly nature stems from my
philosophy of Truth and Logic. Recently, I fell afoul of the Tribunal by
attacking an Imperial in town. Normally, this would not trouble me, but
when I returned to Arkham University and attempted to enter my office,
Madame Monambren stopped me and told me that my fellowship had been
suspended. This has grave implications - without the resources the
University offers, I cannot work as efficiently on The Logic Manual.

Later on, I died to an unlucky teleport spell. The flag was lifted, and I
approached the University. I was made to pay a fine, but they reinstated
me. I must be much more careful with breaking the law in the future,
because it is not just my life and belongings at stake, it is my research.

Role

Chapter 13

I am not satisfied with the quality of my brethren. It is not because they
are incompetent in combat, but because they insist on selfishness. Self-
promotion, and self-advancement. Mharlndarn thinks to threaten and
intimidate any simply because he is the Chancellor.

This is not the Empire. We are a coven of scholars, and we are brutally
outnumbered. If these squabbling scholars cannot unite themselves, then I
will unite them. In time, I will become Chancellor, and the world will see
a powerful, united Chasm. Not one enervated by a myopic Chancellor and an
insane half-drow shapechanger who is ashamed of his own heritage.

I am a Logician. Practicality and rationality are my strengths. I know
what needs to be done, not these emotional, rash, unstable people. They
will make good scholars, but a leader must be cool-headed and logical.
First step: We need members. I have been discreetly approaching and
guiding younger prospective scholars, not because I love them, but because
the Chasm needs them. I am a man of practicality, and I will understand
necessity. The Chancellor can languish alone with his own crazy thoughts,
but once I have power, I will not allow him or anyone like him to
jeopardise the future of this place.

Second step: We focus more on quality once we are full. I judge 'full' to
be Ten full members, plus whatever mercenaries and servants we might string
along. Then I (as future Chancellor) will remove the bottom few to make way
for the worthy.

Role

Chapter 14

(You see a meticulously annotated set of notes, with every formula and
theorem written painstakingly in colour-coded ink.)
Completed Spells:

The Logician's Vanguard is in essence a weaving of the underlying order of
the Universe. I have found that when mixed with the seeds of Armor, Air and
Creation, a spell may be developed that shields the spellcaster from
anything whose essence is chaotic.

Anticipated Costs: Half a year, some hundred gold coins' worth of
materials.

Blackfire is the natural result of bringing together the art of Invocation
and the affinity for the Shadow Plane. As I have learnt to handle the
powers of the Ebony Scepter with ever-greater skill, I have learnt how to
weave the Shadow-essence into my novae.

Anticipated Costs: None - This spell was spontaneously developed as a result
of the Chasm's secrets.

Incomplete Projects:

The Mathematics underlying Portal Magic - for materials and tools, use
Kteng's laboratory.

Universal Logical Truth - The Logic Manual is incomplete, and is proving far
more difficult a task than I had anticipated. I must find some way of living
long enough to complete it...

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