Metaphysical Investigation Collective

The **Metaphysical Investigation Collective** (more commonly known as “The Collective”) is one of the youngest major ghost hunting guilds currently in operation. This loosely-aligned group of amateur sleuths harnesses a mixture of arcane magic to track, study, and potentially defeat the incorporeal undead that walk amongst the living, along with other paranormal activities.

The Collective is not held in the highest regard by other "more serious” ghost hunting guilds. This reputation might have been well-earned years ago, but the Collective has quietly filled its ranks with some of the cleverest researchers and adventurers to dedicate their lives to the preternatural.

## Goals

The Metaphysical Investigation Collective is dedicated to understanding all manner of paranormal phenomena, with a partuicular focus on the nature of the incorporeal undead. Curiosity surrounding ghosts and other spirits led to the creation of the guild, but it has quickly grown beyond a small group of erstwhile scholars and conspiracy theorists.

Some members focus on the traditional role of investigating paranormal activity and destroying ghosts that threaten the innocent. Other members are more focused on haunted objects and magical items that have been empowered with a spirit’s necrotic energy.

## Members

* Skabous Bonebraid - dwarf, Founder and head of the Collective
* Ralhak Kharonite, Jr - goliath, husband of Marjorie, son of Ralhak Sr
* Marjorie Kharonite - human, wife of Ralhak Jr
* Ralhak Kharonite, Sr - goliath, father of Ralhak Jr
* Alluviyn Merelnath - triton

## History

The Collective was founded in 1480 DR by Skabous Bonebraid, a dwarven cleric with a keen interest in unsettled and destructive spirits.

Ralhak Jr met his future wife Marjorie (then Marjorie Cassell) at the Collective and the two of them would spend their time happily investigating and researching together.

Ralhak also recuited Alluviyn to their ranks after a chance encounter and offering the Collective's assistance with her quest to end her family's curse.

### The Left-Right Trail

In 1485 DR Ralhak Jr found the instructions for the mysterious ritual of the Left-Right Trail and rode the path regularly for the next two years with Marjorie and his father, Ralhak Sr, charting and mapping their progress and eventually building up the courage to continue for multiple days at a time.

In 1487 DR Marjorie became pregnant and it was obvious that their days riding the trail were numbered, and so Ralhak Jr and Marjorie redoubled their efforts to explore the trail and push further and further down the path. On one such ride deep something happened and Marjorie never returned, with Ralhak Jr returning grievously injured. He recruited his father to join him once more but any attempt to find Marjorie was in vain. Becoming more and more frantic in his searches, Ralhak Jr disappeared in 1487 DR, presumed to be somewhere out on the trail.

Ralhak Sr never stopped trying to find his lost son, and in 1488 DR he set out to recruit a team to help him investigate the strange phenomena, inviting them to join him in the city of Waterdeep. The call was answered by Wrelen Kindrock and Seazkale Kruvah and the three of them set out following the mysterious ritual. The trail took them through the eerie town of Jubiliation, and a peculiar silent city, and along the way Ralhak succumbed to a powerful restless spirit, leaving Wrelen and Kruvah to continue without their guide. After eight days of travel the trail delivered them to a ruined altar to Savras. They were offered the privilege of continuing on the trail indefinitely to obtain knowledge beyond wordly understanding but the adventurers did not accept the gift and were teleported back to Waterdeep.