Unnoticed Victories

Unnoticed Victories is a book discovered at Fort Aytysos.

## Description

Seemingly brought to the Rydooni outpost by the spellcaster Elhorn, Unnoticed Victories details the involvement of the Brotherhood of the Imbrued in events during their past, though, by nature of their efforts, the majority had resulted in their efforts being unnoticed by the populace, unaware as they were of the threats faced.

## Reading

### Completed by Anivia Reman

Few amongst the general populace have heard of the Brotherhood of the Imbrued, a fact created by design, and by nature of the attempts at efficiency from the faction. The concept of a wandering bounty and monster hunter is not, however, unheard of by contrast, but perhaps few amongst the commonfolk acknowledge that in doing so many will find cause united under a single banner. Confounding this further is that the Brotherhood exists in the form of several orders, collaborating only when directed by the Artos Table, a council formed by a few select members from each of the Orders. This independence is intended to deliver a more proactive response to threats that may loom seen or unseen, for the defence of the innocent is always the steadfast foundation of the Orders, to the extent of self-sacrifice encouraged through near-fanatical dedication.

The history of the Brotherhood of the Imbrued stems from that of 959AG, during which a short-lived connection to the River Styx opened up in the Tyndian capital of Evenlock during the Feast of the Eclipse. Devils and demons alike spilled forth into the celebrating city, causing widespread bloodshed amongst both commoners and nobility - including that no less than a half dozen dukes, including that of Duke Landol Silverward himself. It proved of great fortune that Astedian mages from the High College of Claxinns visiting the festivities eventually managed to dispel the anomaly in Conjuration-magics, but the damage had been dealt. Inspired by the grisly occurrence, the Brotherhood was set up, on the pledge that if blood was to be spilled, it would be done by those willing to shoulder the risk of doing so, not those that simply passed by. Naturally, many Realms responded with reactions of suspicion, questioning the true motives of this seemed altruistic independent paramilitary faction growing within their borders, a suspicion that has continued ever since. The tenet that if the Brotherhood operated correctly that the general populace would never know of their actions only further shrouded them in secrecy, and stirred up further rumours when they drifted back into the public consciousness. Since, members of the Brotherhood have made much a life for themselves seeking out contracts from smaller villages and settlements, hunting down monsters and reigning in banditry as necessary. But the scope of the Orders have reached far beyond this from time to time, unbeknownst to most.

But two decades after their founding, the Orders would face their first major threat and foe in the form of the Cult of the Black Bardiche. An Abyssal sect dedicated to worship of the Horned King, the majority of the cult members were minotaurs based at the Labyrinthe within the Savage Creek Hills, but other members of less conspicuous races also found place amongst them, and had spread out throughout the Realms of Kingbourne and the Giado Territories. Enacting a foul ritual to summon forth their patron, they were stopped by members of the Brotherhood of the Imbrued from three of the Orders, who put a stop to the efforts, eradicating both the cult and the details of the incantation utilised before sealing the winding tunnels beneath the stone by means of a deliberately triggered landslide. Since then, the Orders have continued to collaborate on occasion as directed by the Artos Table, including dismantling an ogre army led by the despot Bak Saurspine to clear the path for the construction of the Great Conduit through the southern Ironfangs - all before the masons and labourers realised their peril - and later still disenchanting an animated warstaff that had seemingly gained sentience by an unknown means, and seemed to be able to spread their particular property to other magical objects in its vicinity.