Virric Liatumal: Extraordinary Scholar or Nepotistic Opportunist?

Virric Liatumal: Extraordinary Scholar or Nepotistic Opportunist? is a book uncovered by the expedition party that explored Starhithe Rest.

## Description

Virric Liatumal: Extraordinary Scholar or Nepotistic Opportunist? is a well-thumbed tome, its bindings frayed and faded, the fastening loose from repeated usage. Inside is contained the following preface:

*Written by the sensationalist Tiefling Zarlius Kudrersk, this book details the formative actions of Virric Liatumal - a central figure in the changes that transformed Astedia from a small collection of towns and villages into a major political, economical and technological powerhouse in less than a century.*

## Research

### Completed by Hassk

*Hailing from the powerful Liatumal family, the largest suppliers of artisan goods to the minor realm of Astedia before its ascension to an Imperial State, Virric instead showed a natural aptitude for matters arcane and found himself quickly inducted into the esteemed and prestigious High College of Claxinns, a process that typically takes years of trials, examinations and assessments. Within a year he had moved for an acolyte position to that of a Journeyman. Within three decades he was inducted into the Inner Sanctum, the fastest recorded rate of ascension to such a venerated stature. One simply needs to spend any time in the taverns of Imperial Capital to find an apprentice that was passed up for a scholarship in favour of Liatumal, though few would share this without first a few cups of a fine Ambis Red to loosen their tongue and dull their fear of the repercussions of such words. Regardless, Virric Liatumal's defining achievement would occur just four years after his appointment, built upon the back of a discovery of a curious new arcane-infused ore in the depths below the Kingdom of Mol Boramm.*

*The Spirit Caverns had stretched deeper and deeper into the soil and stone than ever before at command of King Gorkral Grithammer, the riches uncovered funding the need for increased mercenary presence to counter the threat of incursion from denizens of the Underdark caverns they weaved through. Drow and duergar were common foes long before the expansions, as well as all manner of foul monstrosities - vertebrate and invertebrate, intelligent and mindless - but chasing veins of gold, silver and gemstones brought new attention from creatures of the Cold Devourer, those too driven into flight. Everyone knows the tales of the battles, sung proud as they are in the halls of Mol Boramm, but their spoils are rarely published - until now. The High College took quick interest in their findings, and in research expedited by the unexpected malleability of the unrefined ore that would form the Wayfinder Stones and the extensive investments into the research projects by the Mulford, Veron and Darkmere families, Virric Liatumal succeeds in his efforts to create a long-term stable connection with another plane - in this instance the Plane of Earth.*

*Set into an apparatus of his own design, the Wayfinder Stones not only facilitate the creation of the Waymark, but allow the operator to control who and what passes through. An army of indentured servants were sent shortly after preliminary tests came back positively, and so the collection and pillage on the near infinite wealths of non-precious and precious ores alike began - confident that no vengeful Dao could give chase back to the Material Plane through such a gateway, their greatest prize a huge alexandrite gemstones that now serves as the centrepiece of the Gallery Exaltic in the city of Aviacrest. With such power, he and five other members of the Council of the Moon would meet for the first time, and with it the petty lands of Astedia would begin their transformation in the mighty Astedian Empire. This Council of the Moon, the so-called Increscent Six, are the true power in Astedia, the Emperor little more than a figurehead through which they speak and ready to be cast aside as a scapegoat when the time comes. Let the artwork that adorns the walls of each and every College and Council building attest to how Virric Liatumal truly found himself in such company.*