Letter found on corpse

“Shermata

It has been too long since we met, especially since our last meeting was under such difficult circumstances. I do hope everything is calm again now in Fortune Hall. By Tymora’s blessing, and under your calm guidance, I am sure that will be so. I have been doing some research to try to find out why the Malarite assassin was sent after you, and I’m afraid have found nothing to tell me why, though I DID find something that you might find interesting…

Whilst looking for more information on Malar, I read about where the avatar of Malar had appeared during the Time of Troubles. Apparently, he had appeared in the Vilhon Reach area. He was confronted there by the Avatar of Nobanion – a power of which I knew little till I did more research. It turns out that Nobanion is a power worshiped mainly by animals (if you can believe that!!) but also by a few of the part animal races – Wemics in particular (the feline equivalent of centaurs if you hadn’t heard of them). I went on to discover some written records of the Wemics, copies of which had made their way into the Vault, which detailed an ancient magical artefact called “The Mask of Nobanion.” One of the wemic high priests apparently used it against the Malarites in the battle with the avatars, and it tipped the balance in their favour.

Anyway, according to much older wemic records, the Mask of Nobanion was originally created by Nobanion himself when, in an ancient battle between Malarites and wemic followers of Nobanion (apparently the enmity between Nobanion and Malar has been long lived!), the high priest of Nobanion was killed behind enemy lines, and the Malarites started desecrating his body. The wemic’s legend goes on to say that Nobanion himself then appeared as a giant lion, and transformed the dead priest into the mask which he then gave to the surviving wemics, who used it to win the battle.

I’m digressing again. The main point I’m trying to get to is that I also read that the Mask is recorded as being used a little more locally, by the elves of the Moonwood no less! Many years ago – long before the Time of Troubles, they were being plagued by human hunters of Malar and they were somehow given the Mask with which to defend themselves. The elves were then given the task of guarding the Mask, and that it would remain safe in the Moonwood, only coming out at times of great need. I would guess that the Time of Troubles was probably “one of those times of great need!”, as from my initial research I had read of it being used against Malar’s avatar in Vilhon Reach at that time. Anyway, I don’t know how the Mask is moved around, but everything I’ve read indicates that it would always return to it’s safe haven – El'lahana Raikeil – described as an elven island on a lake in the middle of the Moonwood!

I realise this doesn’t exactly help you as I don’t see what the church of Tymora has to do with Nobanion OR Malar – so this is probably all a red herring, but as I’d found little other evidence of why the Malarites might have tried to kill you.

I do hope this finds you in good health, and may the blessings of the Lady Luck be upon you always.

Yours fondly,

Eliath”