The first two entries are kept hidden away in the Spellguard Tower, the rest are kept within Opalshore's pack...

Eleint 30th, Year 152, 1374 D.R. Filed by: Riesse Opalshore Article 1: Artillery Animatrons - Practical Use and Analogous Research - Potential Threats to Civilian Safety.

The following report appears to have been stained by a pungent orange fluid. Anyone that has spent a small amount of time with Riesse would notice that he usually smells like this as well.

Article One

While it is true that the Spellguard's greatest strength comes from its years of experience and magical database archives, one can not ignore the surroundings that we find ourselves in presently. We are invaders amidst a hostile terrain; a terrain that is continuously attempting to steal our very life essense and send us to the gateway that rests beyond this world. [1]

Sanctuary, as we now live in it, has of course prevailed, because the Spellguard sees fit to allow it to prevail. But why is this? Many simply gesture to the amazing breakthroughs that have been made with svirfneblin technology, retro-fitted for current civilian and peace official use. They would, of course, be correct in that sense, but how complete has this work been in the past 20 years?

It is this associate's opinion that not enough has been done to prepare for the inevitable genocide that awaits us at the hands of the Machine. Now before you read further, do not take me for a fool, or a craven. I've witnessed first hand just last eve, the compelling and newest creations the Machine has seemingly developed. They are powerful beyond anything I have witnessed, and are created en masse by svirfneblins that are neither living nor dead; neither gnome nor machine; but both. The creatures themselves are hostile, without question. [2] The largest and most terrifying, or beautiful, depending on which ledge you stand at, is the classified Animatron I prefer to call the Opalshore Destroyer model. [3] This impressive model sports several prominently placed cannons that strike fear into the hearts of men, and promise to eradicate roughly ten to fifteen unprepared men if given the orders to do so.

It is imperative that the Spellguard determines the location of the plants within the Machine that are manufacturing these behemoths immedietly.

If we are unable to locate the newest plant that is producing this powerful new line of animatrons, we face the threat of ten, twenty, or perhaps even one-hundred hostile animatrons capable of enough evocation firepower to easily level the Spellguard Tower and perhaps half of Upper Sanctuary at a casualty level I do not care to estimate. [4]

On the flip side, if the Spellguard is able to acquire the location of this new plant, pacify the strange half-gnome, half-machine creatures that cater to it and facilitate it, we are looking at the prospect of a golden era, unlike anyone may have ever dreamt possible. With these legions of at our side and our command, we can ensure the safety of Sanctuary for at least twenty years. We can ensure that no revolt from Lower shall ever pass the In-Between, and lastly, we can ensure that the common man not only trusts the Spellguard, but that they adore us for what we do, and the lengths we go to, to keep them safe.

Opalshore Destroyer System Analysis and Speculative Strengths/Weaknesses.

We must deduce and attempt to quantify our enemy, so that we know how best to combat it, and utilize it when it becomes ours to do so with. Here are my personal estimations that I've come up from firsthand experience.

Opalshore Destroyer: Height -- 7 feet, 5 inches. Weight -- Roughly 10 tons. Primary Cannons -- Capable of 3 Fireball blasts, or 3 Scintillating Spheres. Secondary Cannons -- Able to unleash a blast, very similar to the spell 'Firebrand' multiple times. At least twice. Tertiary Cannons -- Magic Missile Rounds, possibly the stronger variety as well named after sir Isaac. Strength -- Massive crowd pacification. [5] Weakness -- Does not stand up well to melee assaults. Writer's Suggestion -- Placing this unit upon elevated territory that is well protected from melee warriors and other disturbances guarantees maximum effectiveness and a full release of all three evocation cannons.

To those that have criticized my fondness for these lumbering hulks, one can only hope that your ignorance has been lifted at long last. For any Agents that read through this, I hope I have not wasted your time by listing work one has already taken the time to archive and present. My thesis stands true, however, and you will find this evidence is not the work of a starry eyed dreamer, but that of a visionary that has great concern for the safety and well being of all of Sanctuary.

Footnotes below.

Signed,

Riesse Opalshore.

[1]It should be noted that the writer is referencing something that will be addressed in the next series of research documents, and not this one. See further research for more details on this theory. [2]Though the writer does make it clear that these creations are all hostile, it should be noted for the sake of thorough investigative research that what appeared to be half rothe, and half machine was calmed by one Ricco Jones, Society Ordinant. [3]The Opalshore Destroyer is often called an Artillery Animatron by laymen and peasants. [4]Since all angles must be investigated, the estimated casualty amount sums to roughly 10 commoners per Opalshore Destroyer unleashed upon our civilized environs. We can expect four or five Watchmen to eradicate one Opalshore Destroyer, but we can not rely upon their strength for certain. [5]The writer uses the word "pacification" but Agents reading this work are encouraged to infer that murder/death are implied. These spells do not subdue an enemy, they will kill them instantly.

Eleint 30th, Year 152, 1374 D.R. Filed by: Riesse Opalshore Article 2: Operation: Frederick's Freedom.

The following report is stained by a pungent orange fluid. Anyone that has spent a small amount of time with Riesse would notice that he usually smells like this as well.

Article Two

When walking the streets of Lower, one can't help but notice the astounding poverty that has crippled the area like syphilis cripples the mind of a man with no self control over his sexual urges. Much as women are the givers of this foul disease, so has mother Sanctuary turned her backside and squatted, giving birth to the disease stricken, thief infested, monster addled sector commonly known as Lower Sanctuary.

Lower Sanctuary would indeed be a lot like the excrement your faithful researcher labels it as, if it did not have one precious thing that is ours by arcane right. The Lower sectors of the sunken machine lay beyond the criminally run Lower Sanctuary, as does a charging-bay area that many of you likely know of. [1] Whether this place is one that the Spellguard has investigated at great length yet or not, I do not know. What I do know, however, is that enough electrical energy and magic is discharged from that area alone to charge and keep an estimated 100 extra animatrons on duty each day alone. Now stop for a moment and imagine this figure. Stop even further to consider that there are areas beyond what is currently mapped and known that myself and Associate Alejandro have not yet explored.

This area is vital to the Spellguard's continued protection of Sanctuary from outside invading forces and is rightfully the property of the Spellguard Mages. Any steps that must be taken to liberate this area from the denizens of Lower Sanctuary are justified.

Now we must break down the thesis, and discuss why it is so. First we will consider that our enemies, the drow, beholders, illthid, duergar, all know of our location. Svirfneblin cloaking devices have failed us, and we can only assume the worst, and prepare for it. This is not done by sitting about the Spellguard Tower with our collective thumbs injected inside our posteriers. It is done by creating and facilitating the experimental research of new animatrons and exploring any means possible that will deliver us more animatrons.

Secondly, it should be noted that under Lower rule, the safety of Sanctuary as a whole has been comprimised. Goblins have moved into the Canal Ward district. Diseases have run rampant. The Red Skulls were allowed to butcher a plethora of people. This list goes on and on, but if these people and monsters are allowed in Sanctuary, the risk is placed before us all of an eventual shift from benign to the terribly malignant. Through pacification and eventually occupation, this can theoretically be accomplished. [2]

Lastly, and I understand that this point will be taken with probable hostility, Lower Sanctuary wants and needs us. They crave strict moral and legal boundaries. They crave a return to the days when they could safely walk the streets without fear of being murdered by some craven peasant or hoodlum and his gang. An occupation force will be resisted by some, but polling shows that this group, however violent and destructive it may be, is only the minority of the actual population. To subdue this vocally destruction portion of the population is to assure success.

Casualty free invasion documentation will be outlined upon request.

Signed,

Riesse Opalshore

[1]This charging bay is tragically infested by volts, but ultimately could easily be overtaken by Spellguard surveyers and animatrons for lengthy research projects. [2]Though the writer cites this as a theoretical accomplishment, we need only to look back as far as one year in time in Sanctuary history to see that the Watch did in fact have a stranglehold over Lower Sanctuary. Situations like the Tooth's rebellion were admittedly disastrous, but through successful counter-intelligence such things shall never happen again.

Marpenoth 3rd, Year 152, 1374 D.R. Personal Notes - Special Assignment Attache Emergency Response and Rescue Log

EMR Day 1 I wonder how many scholars have stopped to ponder why it is that the most brilliant minds are often the most troubled. One needs to look no further than the Spellguard foyer to see how true my statement is. Sir Barkely spends his hours sucking away on those sugar-addled candies, bloating himself to an even more disgusting figure. Strange, isn't it, that one of Sanctuary's most formidable arcanists would likely be overwhelmed and defeated by a brisk jog around the Tower.

Then there are those like myself, plagued by persistent skin troubles, my hair is thinning, and my voice sounds of a fourteen year old boy. Granted magic can solve most of these, they vex me to no end. Vanity is my sin, and so I have paid. So do I suffer, and so shall those that persecute others similarly suffer. Perhaps Sir Barkely is no different that myself. He becomes agitated quickly, and is so very quick to place blame without all information. Be that as it may...

I have failed him twice, and now I am to be punished. This is a fool's errand, and the chances that I will come back alive are slim indeed. We set out in a few hours. The fool of an aspirant has pledged his aid in this case. No matter. More fodder for me to make use of.

~ R.O.

EMR Day 2

Everything is black. The aspirant asks questions I don't know the answers to. Gorry whines for his former master. I suspect he does not understand why I am so kind to Gorry, and probably never will. The truth is... I feel sorry for the beast. I sympathize with his past, and to some extent, wish to end the plight that surrounds his mind and life. Whether or not that is possible, can't be said for certain, but if magic can heal my oily skin and soothe my vanity, then perhaps there is a way to alter his mind patterns permanently.

The poor thing.

Lost without that idiotic teddy bear.

It seems we're trapped here. There's a gaping chasm surrounding us in all directions. We don't have much food. Water is running low. What will we do?

~ R.O.

EMR Day 10

Gorry found some kind of creature today. He thought it to be a pet, and he began to play with it as a child plays with his toys. The beast struck back with a spell of Slow! Imagine his surprise. I saw something that I am sure will leave me feeling queasy for a fair few days. Gorry simply took it by the wings, and snapped its neck with his enormous, blocky fists.

A quick analysis of the creature revealed a functioning heart, brain, and other necessary organs to survival, as best as I can tell. Anatomy was never my strong suit, boring and full of unecessary gruesome details.

Gorry won't stop playing with the corpse.

The smell of this place is becoming like that of a musty, foul boot.

~ R.O.

EMR Day 35 I've not found the time to update this entry, because simply put, I do not have enough magic to light this area long enough to write as often as I desire. The aspirant's found something that looks promising, we're going to ready our things and prepare to enter it shortly.

Gorry is beginning to smell worse than a rot addled orcish whore.

EMR Day 105 I fear my calendar is skewed, and incorrect. For the sake of empirical evidence collection and documentation of this investigation, should anyone ever find this on my rotting corpse, simply assume a great amount of time has passed between this entry and the last. I am guessing 100 days, but I can't be certain. Our previous leads took us only to dead ends.

Beshaba spits upon my phallus and curses the skin that covers my bones. My only gifts of brilliance have come with a hideous price. She's led me through a life of misery and it seems that this is how she wanted it to end.

I can hear them screaming.

They're everywhere and nowhere.

What hell have we come to?

What hope do we have?

Marpenoth 15, Year 152, 1374 D.R. Personal Notes - Magic Is Like a Woman?

Magic Is Like a Woman?

Fickle, cruel, and heartless. Crushing, burning, sizzling. Unpredictable, indisputable, uncontrollable. That is what women seem to be. That is what Mystra is, to me. Still I pay her homage, and of course I fear her wrath. But why has she gifted me with such power? Cursed me with living beneath James' shadow? Riddled my skin with these slights?

--

Naught but two days past I struck down men that would have killed me if given the chance, and enjoyed doing so. The whore that belonged to the man gave her life just for the chance to send a jagged blade within my backside. An extraordinarily brave act for a woman. Perhaps she was a man in disguise? I never got a good look at her...

--

No, no, this can't be the work of Mystra, rather the other daunting Lady that refuses to leave my life. She granted these events to transpire with a greater purpose in mind. I can't help but wonder if my Lady, my horrible wretched Lady is the one that truly controls the Weave, as she controls my life. Of course no scholar would ever agree with me and this far out theory, but my body aches and my mind is wandering.

--

I miss Gorry. Him and that damned childish bear of his.

Marpenoth 28, Year 152, 1374 DR Personal Notes - Sanctuary Below: A Final Solution?

Sanctuary Below: A Final Solution? Despite all the lily livered liberals crying for peace and harmony in the Canal District, we have taken it by force. What was the cost? No lives of Upper born citizens. A good thing, indeed. The sad truth is, these people seem to want to fight-no matter what the Watch and Spellguard offers-to the death.

While I admire their spirit, I can't help but wonder if this passionate aggression for mindless rebellion without a cause can't be somehow controlled, directed, and used for public amusement. The Illithid use dream worlds to pacify their slaves, the Beholders use charming spells. How much longer must we deal with the Sanctuary Below like a spoiled child that is slapped upon the wrist, before we show these people a 'dream world' of our own making? How much longer should we tolerate their murders, assaults, and mindless attacks upon our barricades?

The answer is no longer. We will strike at the source, the very thing that drives these men to fight and struggle on, and we will go through with what shall be our final solution to the Rebellion Below.

Now, to convince the Officers...

Uktar 3, Year 152, 1374 DR Personal Notes - Trust

Trust 1.) BLAKE 2.) WHITEWELL 3.) MILLER

Gorry never would've done anything like this to me...

Uktar 7, Year 152, 1374 DR Personal Notes - Time

Time 12 days remain. No one will ever even know...

The tattered journal lays idle, collecting dust in the Spellguard Tower...