Vincenzo's Discovery

This is an entry from Dark Vincenzo's journal. It was found in a mysterious outpost that was connected by a portal to a blue dragon's lair in the Valkurm Dunes.

All the worst I've feared to imagine is true, and more. These contracts and receipts....hundreds of them...names and drops of blood. Some of them are folks I see every day. What has he done to them?

Are they thralls of the highest bidder? Nay, to invite foreign spies to be sown in his own city by creatures such as these would be unthinkable. And there's no benefit to him. Nay, not that.

It must be their souls. When they die their souls will go to these monstrous buyers. I've learned to stomach that sometimes power must come at the cost of the blood and souls of the smallfolk, but to sell them for gold is unspeakable. And foolish aside. Lord Flagg has so much coin his face may as well be on one. That makes no sense either.

Is this all the blood pact was ever for? I've searched and searched and found not a word about mass protection spells anywhere in these libraries. No mention at all. I've found not one magical use for blood besides torture, killing, body possession and soul enslavement.

These buyers names...Jubilex...Xexanoth...they sound like demons.

Names. My Gods he has my name. And blood. And Poppa's too.

Gods, why is he doing this? He's the Living Law that saved all Dooptopia in the Time of Worm and Rust, The Mind Behind The Heart and Sword...and he is brokering the souls of his people for such a paltry thing as coin?

It matters not. I must find them. Find our samples and signatures before they're bargained away. It must be tonight. At the pace he has been daring, the risk grows by the hour.. That sound. The stairs. He's coming-