When I first stumbled across Venenzi Oberzendi in the darkness of Nektulos Forest, I gave it little thought. After our short conversation, however, I realized that I had happened upon some of the most powerful necromancers still alive. And thus my quest began.

If you want to find out for yourself what these folks are up to, now would be a good time to turn your attention somewhere else.

In the interest of recordkeeping, I'll note my conversations as they took place. I won't include my mumbling.

The Quest of a Shadowed Soul

	Venenzi was pleasant enough when we met in the dark of the woods, although I had clearly interrupted her.
You say, "Hail, Venenzi Oberzendi" Venenzi Oberzendi says "What is it you want! Can't you see I am gathering reagents for my [master]? If I don't get them for him quickly he might punish me." You say, "Who is your master?" Venenzi Oberzendi says "You do not know of my teacher? The great Kazen Fe'cae! I am one of his illustrious apprentices! If you fancy yourself a necromancer, travel to Lake Rathetear and tell Kazen you wish to study the dark arts." You say, "What reagents?" Venenzi Oberzendi says "My master is working on some great project. He's always busy studying an old text he found and murmuring something about following in the footsteps of Miragul." You say, "What great project?" Venenzi Oberzendi says "I'm not sure what he is planning on doing. Perhaps he plans to transcend life and death as Miragul did. I wonder if he will still be as mean to his apprentices if he does?"
Despite the less-than-glowing recommendation, I decided to visit this Kazen Fe'cae for myself since I have a personal interest in transcending life and death. My simple request garnered an appropriately creepy response. I was impressed.
You say, "Hail, Kazen Fecae" Kazen Fecae's eyes seem to glow as he turns to you and says, "Leave me be if you have no reason to be here, mortal!" You say, "I wish to study the dark arts." Kazen Fecae looks you up and down, his eyes glowing with a soft red light. After a moment he begins to speak though his lips do not move. "You wish to study under me? Perhaps, if you prove yourself to follow the twisted path. If you prove to be as coldhearted as I then I will let you become my servant." You say, "How can I prove to be as coldhearted as you?" Kazen Fecae says "The wandering 'knight' Sir Edwin Motte recently slew one of my lesser servants. This foolish knave travels from town to town pretending to be 'good.' Separate his head from his body and return it to me so I may work my magics upon it. This fool will become another plaything for me, even in death."
	I had heard of paladin races held near Qeynos, and I knew that the proud Sir Motte would certainly participate. I set myself up on the road leading to West Karana and watched paladins run by until, sure enough, Edwin came heading my way. We had a short conversation before my minion Jonn crushed him into the dirt. His head was easily removed with my dagger.
You say, "Hail, Sir Edwin Motte" Sir Edwin Motte says "Greetings, Morty! How lucky you are to encounter the greatness of the legendary Sir Edwin Motte, slayer of cyclopes, battler of beasts, crusher of creatures, masher of monsters, eradicator of evil and champion of the third annual dart championship of Freeport."
Kazen was just as pleased to receive Sir Motte's head as I was to remove it. Having thus proved myself, he accepted me as a worthy student, giving me a Symbol of the Apprentice to mark the occasion. He immediately began treating me like an apprentice, too, sending me off at once on a simple errand.
Kazen Fecae says "Excellent!" You watch Kazen hold the head by the hair and begin to cast a spell. A flash of darkness centers around the head and the eyes of the dead knight open, a terrible scream emanating from its lips. "This poor fool here – I think I will keep him in my bag from now on. You have done well, my new apprentice. Take this symbol and know that you can do other tasks to advance within my apprentice ranks." You say, "What other tasks can I do to advance?" Kazen Fecae says "I share great secrets with my more powerful servants who show me they are willing to serve without question. Tell my servant the name of any symbol he gives you and he will instruct you. If I give you a symbol, speak its name to me so I may instruct you. You say, "Who is your servant?" Kazen Fecae says "I have many servants, some almost as powerful as myself. Each calls me master, knowing I will some day completely transcend this dimension of flesh and bone." You say, "What is the symbol of the apprentice?" Kazen Fecae says "You have a long way to go before I teach you the true secrets of life and death. Visit Venenzi Oberendi in the Nektulos forest and show her the symbol. She is collecting reagents for one of my experiments and is taking far too long. I do not wish her dead, yet. I simply need the reagents soon. Retrieve the reagents and give them to my assistant Emkel Kabae. I do not wish to handle them myself." You say, "What reagents is she collecting?" Kazen Fecae says "The reagents are the same types the great sorcerer Miragul used to cheat death and become a lich. I do not wish to become a lich as Miragul did, I have greater aspirations than to simply live forever as a hollow shell. I will rise up a being of spirit only, with a will of my own." Kazen's eyes glow sickly red as he stares off toward the horizon.
	I traveled to Nektulos, intending to acquire the reagent from Venenzi. She accepted my Symbol of the Apprentice knowingly, and gave me a Twisted Symbol of the Apprentice in return. Despite this seeming acceptance, however, she displayed a certain amount of justified paranoia, and demanded a favor.
Venenzi Oberzendi says "I see you serve my master as well now. I assume you are here to take the reagents from me which I have gathered for him? I don't know if I like the idea of you gaining the credit for my hard work here. I might consider giving you these reagents, if only you do a small [task] for me." You say, "What task do you wish me to perform?" Venenzi Oberzendi looks down at her robes and back at you. "There is a certain dark elf magician who has decided to wear the same fashion as I have on several occasions. I do not wish to attend another social gathering in Neriak and look exactly the same as another woman. Slay her and bring me her robe and I will give you my hard earned reagents."
Anyone who's been to a party in Neriak is familiar with those flowing black robes, and it's no secret who wears them. With a courteous knock on the door, I paid a visit to Najena's private chambers and... well, let's just say she wasn't wearing her robe very long.
	I brought Najena's robe back to Venenzi, who seemed a bit surprised. Nevertheless, she kept her word and handed over the Rolling Stone Moss that she had collected. She seems decent for a Teir'Dal, but I really don't think she's got the necromantic spirit.
Venenzi Oberzendi says "Thank you, Morty. I did not think you would track down Najena and slay her. I think that I am going to return to my old life in Neriak. I am sick of the way Kazen has been treating me. He never seems to teach me anything worthwhile. Don't forget to give his lapdog that symbol with the reagents. I'm sure he will give you a new one."
I returned to Lake Rathetear and, after politely greeting my fellow apprentice, handed Emkel the moss and my Twisted Symbol of the Apprentice. He gave me a new symbol and sent me off to collect another reagent. I obviously haven't been studying my plant lore enough, I didn't realize these things were quite so important to the necromancer's work.
You say, "Hail, Emkel Kabae" Emkel Kabae says "I am Emkel Kabae, first apprentice to Kazen. If you have a symbol, tell me its name." Emkel Kabae says "Very good, Morty , you have done as the master asked yet again, take this as a reward." Emkel reaches into his robes and pulls out a small symbol. He holds it out and the tiny symbol floats to your hand. You say, "I have the Symbol of the Serpent." Emkel Kabae says "There are more reagents to be gathered. The time draws near for our master's ascension. Travel to the lands of Kunark and seek out Ssessthrass. He is a very wise Iksar herbalist helping me in my endeavor to please Master Kazen. Be careful not to insult his speech, or you may end up dead before you serve your purpose to the master. Be sure to show him the symbol as proof or he may consider you dinner."
	I've spent enough time in Kunark to know my way around, so it didn't take me long to find Ssessthrass. Although he initially had little to say, when I gave him my Symbol of the Serpent he understood what I had come for. Unfortunately, he did not have the necessary reagent, so I took the Scaled Symbol of the Serpent that he offered and went on my way.
You say, "Hail, Ssessthrass" Ssessthrass says "I do not wisssh to be bothered." Ssessthrass says "Sssso, Emkel ssssent you to retrieve the manisi herb? I do not have the herb. The ssssarnak guard the herb. Apparently it is ssssacred to them. Only memberssss of their royal family are allowed to partake of it. They live deep in Chardok. They are hoarding what little of the precious herb there is. If you have an army, perhapssss you can bring me the herb and I can prepare it for Emkel. Bring back this ssssymbol as well." You say, "Who are the sarnak?" Ssessthrass says "The ssssarnak are the dragon men. Vicioussss beasts, able to rend even a mighty Iksar warrior in a few swipes of their clawssss. The royal family livessss deep within Chardok, their fortress in the burning woodssss."

I'm still attempting to find the manisi herb in Chardok. I don't find myself in the company of a small army very often, so my visits are few and far between. If you're planning on paying the sarnaks a call and wouldn't mind some necromantic company, let me know and I'd be happy to accompany you. In return, when my undead legions hold Norrath in their bony fingers, your army will hold a place of honor in the fright-filled minds of the cowering population.

[Translator's Note: The account ends here, as the author eventually pursued a different path altogether. It is, of course, not without Irony that Mr. Undercrypt did in fact "completely transcend this dimension of flesh and bone" (albeit in a manner unanticipated and not without certain drawbacks) where Kazen Fecae failed. – B]