"well, what can we do about all that" Urselles says nervously "I don't have have magic strong enough to do that, and if anything really bad happened I'm not sure what I'd do"

"Maybe I can still talk some sense in them.  I have a feeling that there is a deeper reason for all this beyond just making some undead.  He's always been driving towards some unknown end goal, and if he is recruiting apprentices again, then I don't think lichdom was the final goal.

If we can find out this goal, then maybe we can defeat Kyristan, without having to face him directly.  Hopefully I'll be able to draw it out of Surrisk, so that we can avoid Kyristan's lair entirely."  Syndra replies; filling in just a few of the gaps.

Kizori picks up the bag, and takes a look at the book.

Shalech looks at Syndra with disbelief, "Are you serious?   You want to talk some sense into them?  Kyristan has been doing vile things like this..." Shalech lifts his shirt to show his scars. "... for a very long time.  And Surrisk willingly let himself become undead.  There's no coming back.  I'm not going to stand there while you try to talk to them."

As Kizori begins to pull the book from the bag, you quickly realize that the book is a lot bigger than the bag should be able to hold.

"Fair enough." Syndra replies to Shalech; somehow not surprised by your scars, almost even unphased by them.  "But Surrisk has vital information that we should get from him first; as I'm sure Kyristan does as well.  I'm just asking for time to get the info."  You reach her tower, the door opens to a stockpile of magical items.  "And you can keep some of these of your choice."

(You each, including those not at Syndra's tower, may pick two uncommon magic items; or one rare, if run by me beforehand.)

Shalech continues to question Syndra, "What information only they can know is so vital to you?"

(Picked slippers of spider climbing and wand of magic missiles)

"I... It's..." She stammers, frustrated at being caught at a point that she can't easily explain.  After a moment of a flustered look, Syndra stands firm, staring at Shalech.  "You are not ready to learn that information." Her voice is short and curt; with an all too knowing look in her eyes.

"Well that's weird." Kizori pushes and pulls the book out of the bag. He tries to put more of the books in the bag at the same time.

In no time Kizori successfully tucks into the bag; several books, a lamp, countless loose documents, and an ottoman out of curiosity.

(I will introduce the magic Items in game, before you depart.  You can add them to your character sheets.)

Nathan steps up next to Shalech: "Look, we should know everything that is possible about what we are going to face and why, as well as your motivations. Obviously you know more than you tell us! From what we have seen, these people are very dangerous - I mean can't you see how they tortured my friend? What would even make you believe that there was hope to turn them around? I can't speak for the others, especially Shalech after everything that he has been through, and I think we might be willing to help you get the information that you need, but we need to know what your motivations are in order to be able to completely trust you."

Persuasion: 7

Insight: 6

After figuring out the bag will hold more than it shows, Kizori begins stuff everything he can into it, starting with what looks most important. Kizori also stuffs some of Han's food into the bag, as well as some of his clothing, "Can't be hungry and cold when we go." He chuckles to himself.

Syndra sighs heavily, taking a seat upon a fine leather chair; there are other similar chairs and couches around the room.  The magic items are sorted into different piles across the room, like they haven't fully been unpacked.  You notice that the walls have several tapestries, each appearing to move on their own.  There is easily enough magic items here to open up a shop.

After a long pause, Syndra speaks; "Okay." She says quietly.  "But if you wish not to continue pursuing this quest after you hear what I am going to tell you; I only ask that you don't start a panic by sharing this info to the public." She looks at each of you, for a long moment, before continuing.  "Where to start?" She asks herself.  "Hmm... Well, first I should correct; after Kyristan's exile I acquired as many research books I could grab before the labs were closed.  One of these books held knowledge that has led my course ever since, what I feel you shouldn't tell the public.

A death curse is coming; and by Kyristan's actions, I'd say it's coming soon.

This curse will strip the souls of the dead from their bodies; making it impossible to bring someone back from the dead, using either divine magic or necromancy."

Shalech shrugs his shoulders, "I'm not sure I have a problem with that.  I'm also not sure if  you're saying the curse is created by Kyristan, or he knows about it and is preparing for it?"

"No, the curse is well out of his power range, even as a lich.  This is more along the power of a dark God.  I suspect that Kyristan sought out undeath as a means of immortality; and likely presents it that way to his followers."  Syndra shakes her head, thinking about Surrisk.

"I've researched into this curse deeply for the last decade, and I've narrowed down the likely source to the jungle lands of Chult.  I'm hoping to get the information on the source from Kyristan.  That is way I am here.  To try to stop the death curse."

 Urselles looks down saddened by what she just heard “so, you’re saying there’s a death curse coming, and that if we don’t atleast try to work with Kristan we might not be able to stop it” Urselles shakes a bit, clearly unsettled by what she just heard

"I don't know what it'll take to get the information from them, or if we'd even survive the attempt, but this curse is terrifying; especially since after nine years of research, I've still not discovered where the souls are going." Syndra shivers.