The method of transmision was a wooden rod, delivered by Voler messenger. When the intended recipient touches the rod in an otherwise silent room, a Magic Mouth spell is triggered to speak Hal’s last message. For a decade, the rod has never failed to speak in this manner; it appears a Power of Permanency was used.

Three message rods are known to exist. One was delivered to Eressea, one to Waldann high-Ironjade X, and one to Hektor Protector. Each of these persons is addressed directly within the spoken message, and no other. It may be noted that the latter two were given tasks to perform, while Hal was visiting my Lady Eressea when he took his life on his Morganti vorpal great weapon Named Lifesbane.

Hal’s message is spoken in an eerie monotone, devoid of emotion or normal intonation present in the recipient’s native tongue. Perforce, I have taken some liberties transcribing certain sounds and utterances, most specifically into laughter some utterances that are not humorous. Paragraph breaks occur when context or an educated guess indicate when Hal’s mind wandered to another thought. In all cases, I have tried to make conservative choices in transcribing this message to paper.

Thanks to my beloved Eressea, who triggered the voice many times for my edification, despite the unpleasant nature of the task.

The sum 49 implies that the Deathgod Y, his son Kalkin the binder, and the Dark Angel Syrinara also fed, for each of these beings had previously slain an illithid and placed its skull in his or her head.

An unspecified illithid, masquerading as an nightmare warhorse to the Faerie crusader Estrille Meistar, was brought by Estrille to the Isle of Sleep. Stilgar and Duncan Idaho were iahklu who had stopped Crossing-in-the-mist there, and never Dreamed again.

During the attack, the Gith were overwhelmed. Some years later it was proven that their mistress had one of Hal’s 15 skulls implanted in her head, where it remains to this date. Threnody suspects that this is why no new iakhlu are inspired to Cross-in-the-mist; all newly inspired iahklu are consumed at inception by the illithid who is mistress of the Isle of Sleep.

Legend has it that a wager between Benedict and Erin the Betrayer brought the Deathgod low, rather than interference by Almitra and Ko. However, Halifirien Wedge and Threnody collected evidence that Ko was present and aware when a Wrathman slew Y in the Paths of the Dead with the Crosstime weapon Greyswandir.

Morningstar is an Titan-like Worlorn Power, cursed to remain on a certain mountain peak while Red Light obscures true dawn in Troad.

The 49 (47?) moved immediately to the desert of Lomarn and consumed the Fremen spice to combine their perfect probability manipulation with prescience.

Hal arrived with Remo, who Danced the Senethar, perhaps ushering in the Cycle of Dance with this event. Remo slew 15 mind flayers and Hal Destroyed by Fire the remainder, assumed to be 31
(15+31 = 49-3)
for Y and Kalkin and Syrinara are known to exist afterwards.

Hal was apparently trying to maximize the permanence of the slaying by using two pure elements (Removal by Water and Destruction by Fire) in their undoing.

Phrasing suggests that Barney’s skull was among those Destroyed and Removed.

I would welcome assistance with additional or enhanced interpretations of any portion of this message. I should very much like to publish a well-annotated version of this message with meanings behind all the obscure references. With the Destruction of Ko, we are left without valuable insight into Hal’s life.

I am of the belief that a fourth copy was delivered to Hal’s lifelong friend Ko. Threnody insists she would have a Dream of the message if this was true, but I remain steadfast that a fourth rod exists in the hands of Ko’s Destroyer, be it Maeglin or Sethra the Younger.

It seems abundantly clear to me that Hal was desperately attempting to transfer quantities of knowledge which would otherwise have perished with him. To the best of my knowledge, no people have pursued the contents of this missive before me, despite its grave import. Although only a decade has passed by Wasteland time, much of what Hal feared to see has obviously come to pass. Worlorn seems besieged, no longer inspired to the heroism common in the Cycle of Dreams.

It seems clear to me Hal feared life as an Illithid more than he feared leaving Worlorn without his wisdom. Even in death, Hallenrakenthaller demonstrates why Dworkin assigned him as Games Authority of the Troad. He may have been evil, but he’s alone done more good for Worlorn than all the hypocrites in the Circle of Light together. The pathetic remnant Dhruva not withstanding, we shall not see Hal’s like again, and are a lesser people thereby.