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Wet
Posted: 21 Jul 2006 01:44 PM |
((Disclaimer: everything in here is FOIG for everyone else))
Dear Aderyn,
I was resting in the Icy Vale inn from the previous rescuing mission and emerald fetching bouts with Lucifer, when a man approached me. I hadn’t even seen him enter, so non-descript was he. Introducing himself as Darius Illumini, he said that he had been sent by Lady Rosen. However, I wasn’t just to join him, no, I had to be blindfolded and they even would use some sort of magic to mute the sounds all around me. A wise man would thank of course pass this opportunity of being kidnapped, stabbed, mugged and killed (not necessarily in that order), but I had a feeling I could trust the man. Perhaps it was just a gut feeling. Then again, who knows what goes on in my mind at times? Half the time, I don’t even know it.
I must say though that their safety precautions were only done halfheartedly. I felt the wind sweeping against my face as we travelled at high velocity through the air. I may have been blind and deaf, but one can’t hide the lurching feeling in one’s stomach when that contraption rises or decends. And where we landed I could smell the iodine, typical of the sea. The salt on my lips was another indication of course. So yes, I partially knew where I was – I thought so at least – but it’s all moot, since I now know exactly where it is. But more on that later.
I went underground, that much is certain and there I met another person. Obviously a woman, but her face was hidden in the shadow of her deep hood. I introduced myself and was greeted by a curt nod. I had the feeling as though I was being roasted on the spot. Not quite really, for I think having been roasted would have felt more agreeable. Yes, I know, I digress. I’ll stick to the facts now. I asked her if she was of the Coruscanti, but she replied that perhaps she was merely a guardian of the elementals. A guardian of the guardians? Yes, I’m quite sure, but her tone of voice suggested that I wouldn’t get the answers from her then.
We descended even deeper into the bowels of the earth, an intricate network of tunnels where reality slides into something … else. The woman had warned me that it was different for everyone who went there. And after a short walk we ended near a pool, a pool out of which coalesced one of the elementals I had met previously in Undraeth. At least now it didn’t want to kill me. All it did was to gurgle a whole slew of questions at me. I must have guessed well – who, by Theus’ nostrils, understands something like “gurgle woosh sploosh split splat” anyway? – and I told it why I was there. Yes, I took a risk and told the spirit and the woman, who was still there, about the Project. If I didn’t reach out I would never gain their trust and without their trust, I wouldn’t be able to accomplish what I wanted so dearly. All went well until apparently we reached a point where I would be judged.
I stepped into the water and instead of disappearing beneath the pool, I arrived somewhere I had seen only once before in my life. I vaguely recall a dream where a woman named Zarathustra was present, a hallway with thousands of doors. One of the doors opened and I could hear a voice, no a myriad of voices asking for my motives. I told them why it is the greatest treasure on Vives, apart from life itself. A lot of it can cause harm too, but it is not up to me what should be destroyed and preserved. I am not worthy of being such a censor and we must all make decisions for ourselves. That is what having a free spirit is all about.
Once more the voices conferred, talking in confused tones. It was all unintelligible to me and soon I found myself once more in the cavern with the spirit and woman. The elemental kept gurgling at me and I simply stood there, until the woman explained that they found my mind closed to them. I spoke but it was as though they couldn’t hear me. At that point I had felt as though another tidal wave had crushed me. Was all hope gone now? But I despaired too soon. There was a way for me to prove myself, for apparently I was not the first one they had been unable to read.
The spirit had beckoned me closer to show a scene unfold in the pool. I saw a war between the water elementals and the snake people I have come to know as the Slissayath. The water spirits lost the battle however and were made into servants by the means of a binding spell. I took me no effort to understand what it wanted. To agree to my request I would have to break the bond or die trying. Through what I can only describe as a hazy dream, did we reach their home – the caverns beneath the Mazadhi jungle.
And this is where everything went wrong. I penetrated the grand cavern, but was discovered nonetheless. The leader, a priestess of no small power, told me to go up once more so that I would not upset her servants. This I did and she and some of her retinue – more than I could count at a first glance (actually the reason was, as I later found out, because I couldn’t see them at all, but that’s nitpicking, don’t you think so?) – followed.
Why was I to invade their home? When I told her about the enslaving of the water spirits, all I received was snickering. No matter that they’re snake-like people and hiss more than anything, snickering is the same everywhere. Even the water elemental snickered in a blub blibbling fashion way. They asked me if the ones who sent me were their enemies the Krakenssssssss. I think they meant Krakens, but I could of course be mistaken. It was hard to understand anything due to their lisping nature. They could all benefit from a good course in enunciation.
She suggested that I should try to break the binding between her and her servant. And so I tried, short of killing her. Actually if it had been enslaved, I would have succeeded. I realised that at least they spoke partially the truth. Whereas they may have been bound in the past, centuries if not millennia ago, the water elementals were now serving the Slissayath freely. I can’t break what is freely given. I vaguely wondered if the primal spirit would accept this as an answer but the priestess didn’t leave me much time to think about it all.
A fool I was called, a pawn, a tool in the hands of those who toy with me. I told her that I never wished to be king and was quite happy with being a pawn –if that is indeed what I am, but that means that our lives would be predestined and that we have no control over our own actions. Her answer to it all was that I should seek the slaves, ignorant being that I am and that only the small minded are content in their role as a pawn. At least I don’t hiss like her. She concluded with the fantastic hiss, which on its own nearly killed me due to the very bad pronunciation, that I should ask my master why they sent me on a fool’s errand only to have me killed.
I’m sending you some cohosh root jelly if you can guess what happened next. Yes, miss Hiss unleashed her army upon me, undid my protections and nearly killed me in a split second. Unfortunately for her, I had been expecting it. I sped myself up greatly and summoned Amna’rak to my aid and for my next parley trick I squeezed her scaly throat shut with a nice oversized hand. It was then I noticed the army standing in my back.
I’ll make it short. I survived, they died. I was only slashed, drowned, stabbed, scratched, whipped, cast upon, tossed around by waves and turned into one very weary mess. But well, I live to tell the tale, so it can’t be all that bad, right?
The nice spirit returned then – I’ll call him mister Cavalry – and we returned back to… well wherever we were in the first place. I explained that his brothers and sisters (nephews? Nieces? Cousins?) were no longer bound and serving freely. From the gurgling I could fathom (no pun intended) that this was rather disappointing. I had however something which alarmed it. I showed it a white rook I had found on miss Hiss.
When I returned miss Hood stood waiting for me and she said that I was allowed to go upstairs. All I wanted was to sit down and warm up. We were indeed where I thought, a villa near the sea. But I will write about this in my next letter. First there’s something I must do with Lucifer.
Best wishes,
Xaranthir |
Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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Pawns
Posted: 22 Jul 2006 04:35 PM |
Dear Aderyn,
I have some time ahead of me now that the Project has been carried out and I will use that lull in the storm of activities to give an account of what I have learned, what I have done and what is still very much on my mind.
Bone weary I was when I returned from that jolly little chat with miss Hiss. Actually I’m still not quite certain if I have really been there or if it took place in my mind. Perhaps everything was just a dream or it took place in an alternate reality, but nevertheless my body was in need of rest. Like a golem following its master, I shuffled after miss Hood.
I must admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect inside the house, but two sphinxes –both in their stony forms - guarding the door wouldn’t have been my guess. Then again, it’s not like sanctuaries where reality itself seems to bend are all that common under houses either. In case you do know of such places – do let me know please – I am sure that they lack smoke butterflies! Yes, dozens of these fluttery creatures happily dashed through puffy clouds of incensed smoke. Did I ever mention to you the dandelion I found in an alley in Midor, that was thought extinct (the dandelion, not the alley)? Apparently it was the unique foodsource of the smoke butterfly’s caterpillar and much to my astonishment, they had several of the orange flowered dandelions growing there in pots.
Right, before I bore you to death with essays about plants and their pollinators, let me get back to the topic at hand. Apart from the above mentioned curiosa, the house is vault of all things Midoran. Suits of armour, weapons, crests, emblems… and yet it didn’t not have a museum feel. You know, where they show off bedpans of past heroes (or nobodies), no, in there it felt as though everything was still being used. Ancient and authentic, but it all still has a soul. If Lucifer would see this, I’m sure he’d start cataloguing everything and giving it numbers (although lately he seems to be more and more into practical application of the arts rather than mere study).
It took me quite a while, but finally I did learn miss Hood’s name, none other than Lillian Villanueva. For that alone I nearly got killed (not by her, true, I chose it myself, but still…), so I harbored little hope that I would learn much more from her. Have you ever tried getting an answer from a rampart wall? Yes, she’s that yielding. Still, she showed me around, wondering rather out loud why exactly she was doing that. When I asked her about that, she simply said that I was on Father Duvados’ short list. Well that explains it all! Weeks earlier I transformed people into purple badgers, made them wear loincloths, glued staves to Ludicrous’ hand (I still think that’s the best thing Frobozz has ever done) and whatnot and she still decides to trust me because I’m on some list? That means that the woman is either very trusting in Jerec’s judgement, she’s as dense as an adamantine golem, or she lacks all common sense. Perhaps it’s a combination of all three. And yes, I know, I shouldn’t blab too much since I allowed myself to be blindfolded and deafened just to get there. What can I say? It’s a talent.
But let me get back to the house here for a moment. Upstairs, in a laboratory of sorts, the far wall is covered with partially faded murals. No wonder, if you consider that the house itself, apparently an old lighthouse (the tower is no longer there), is about six hundred years old. Some things were still quite visible however. A maze was depicted there, and beneath it a gaping maw.
What surprised me the most was that I had seen something there before and quite far away. It was nearly identical to the statue of the dragon in the ruins beneath the Buckshire marshes. Why is that dragon depicted there? We’re speaking about a house where generations of Midorans have lived. Perhaps one can deduce that Midor in those days considered something to be wary of or to battle, but why that specific one? There are others closer to the city or to the house. I told Lillian about the dragon I had seen in the vision. According to Aurora it was White’s rook, its backbone, its strength and the power behind it all.
Perhaps I’m being misled by the Helkrisian, but what if I am not? What if somehow the fate of Midor is linked with that of the Slissayath? After all, I found that white rook on the priest. More misleading?
Apparently Lillian had to leave the next night and she told me that if I had any questions the other can’t answer, now might be the time to ask. I refer you to my previous statement about stone walls. Whatever I asked, she either didn’t answer, evaded or feigned not to know (ah yes and she also said that if she didn’t provide an answer it could be because she either didn’t possess the clearance or the authorization; I simply had to make up my mind what the reason would be why she kept silent). I kept badgering her incessantly only to gleam a handful of information, but still it was quite interesting.
One thing she was absolutely truthful about, or at least I think she was, is that she doesn’t know Atropos and why he might require Esmeralda. Only when I mentioned Esmeralda’s creator Claude did her eyes flicker. Oh she knows more about that skull that she’s letting on, but I’m afraid I forgot to pack my Midoran crowbar. Her jaw was set like it had been cast in reinforced steel. I probably had a better chance at making her dance than learning anything else about the skull or this Claude.
It was Lillian’s opinion that the vision I had received may have been overly simplified. She doubts that there was ever any war that had merely two sides, let alone two equally matched sides of such defined roles. She was of course referring to White and Red. I am of course still trying to fill in the blanks, but so far I have learned nothing more about the Red side. Even if White is Midor, she doubts they would go to war. They don’t have the means for it according to Lillian. This leaves me with another thought. Perhaps White is something more than just Midor? Perhaps Midor is also being manipulated by something behind the scenes – the dragon? Or is that dragon merely symbolic?
And if Red – Lillian is convinced, or rather tried to convince me that there is no formal red side – does indeed move in oblique ways, then I think I can call her queen of obliqueness. Byron had said that he would send a letter to Red, but that he could not divulge who it was, except that it weren’t the Aristi (I’ve never been as happy as when I heard that. Can you imagine having to deal with those uptight relicts from a previous age?). But Lillian is very good at avoiding questions.
So, those Coruscanti… Are they Red? Or perhaps part of Red? Are they manipulated themselves? What is the meaning of those tunnels appearing beneath the house, where before there were none? Forgive my incoherent rambling, but I’m as much trying to make sense of it as I’m writing it down to order my thoughts. The Amaranth is linked to Red and for the first time in perhaps even forever, an amaranth has bloomed near the Great Plains. It appeared after Jerec prayed there, commemorating all those fallen during the Battle of the Plains. Jerec… Lillian… Somehow everything points at them. I am sure that Lillian knows more about this Amaranth person, it’s probably just a codename for someone she does know. Ah secrets…
I started asking her for what purpose I was brought there. Was it to test others and see how loyal they were to whatever they stand for or was it to test me? We talked on and on, until for some reason the conversation took a turn. The word Patrician had come up and from that it evolved into a lesson about the Patrician Wars (of which I knew next to nothing). Apparently there was internal strife and one side got banished after a disagreement about the ruling of Midor, or so the victors told. The other truth (perhaps the whole truth is a bit of everything) is that the other patricians left willingly, not because of rules, but because it was always their intention to leave. The patricians did not come to Aristi to conquer it and lead complacent lives and settle down. What is interesting is that the game of chess was originally created to portray this battle between those who remained behind and those who left. I’ll list the names of those who left (more for my benefit than for yours I’m afraid).
Sanctuarre
Cherisse
Sephiriel (extinct)
Querciusse (extinct)
Valianthe
Illumini
Villanueva
There are a few other things I wondered. Where did these Patricians, the original Midorans, come from? Apparently it is a taboo question in Midor, and asking it is a warrant to be killed. Either she doesn’t know the answer either or wasn’t forthcoming with it and so I wanted to know why those families had left. Lillian told me about a nightmare she has been reliving for years ever since she was eleven – apparently as the result of an experiment gone awry involving Jerec (I bet that my mom never heard about that! Jerec this, Jerec that, indeed!). She sees a place without a sky, where people dwell. They seem to be waiting for something for a very long time. It is too late, but they are still there. And it is Lillian’s belief that this somehow has to do with the reason that paladins were created, much like the Sunbringers were brought into existence to combat the evil of Maldovia. She feels that what she’s experiencing in a nightmare again and again, is a vision of sorts.
In fact I never learned the reason why these seven families left, but what if her vision holds truth. A place with no sky can only be underground and the lands of Vives are riddled with caves and caverns. They seemed to suffer there, counting the days in terms of getting food and by pain measured out to them. To be honest, I’m not even sure what to make of this all. Do the original Midorans come from some sort of cave, where they were held prisoners? Perhaps they were kept there by this dragon that keeps turning up everywhere? But if so, how did they escape? Did they create the paladins first and then escape, or did someone or something free them first, after which they started the paladin orders? And why was it and is it forbidden to ask where the Patrician’s come from? I can only think of a dark secret (something shameful or perhaps something of unspeakable evil?) of why it should be so. Often people don’t wish to be reminded of the past of course as it only brings back pain.
I will write you tomorrow about the Project. Suffice to know that everything went according to plan, well nearly anyway. No one got hurt but us, but we’re both still very much alive. I can tell you one thing though: we’ve pulled off the biggest heist in the history of Midor. Or so I’d like to think.
Saluting you without any visions of grandeur (for I’d like to keep my name out of the newspapers and my head on my shoulders),
Xaranthir |
Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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The Great Escape
Posted: 23 Jul 2006 07:11 AM |
((Disclaimer: As with the previous posts, there's no way anyone knows about this unless told by Lucifer, X or Lillian (or a primal elemental who knows :P). ))
Dear Aderyn,
Forgive me for the previous, rather chaotic letters. I am slowly winding my way through the mire of information and disinformation, yet most of it are still questions and uncertainties. As promised however I was going to write you about the Project.
As I’ve told you previously, we needed a primal elemental to protect the portable hole I had created (with the help of that master smith of course), from both fire and acid, the only two vectors which could still damage it. Our previous trials had met with abysmal failure, resulting in drowning and getting crushed by choppy waves about a mile high. By pure coincidence I learned of primals with whom one could talk. And of course you know that I refer to the ones underneath the house. Apparently the task I thought to have failed, must have been successful after all, for the next day a bowl was standing next to my bed.
It’s completely nondescriptive and had it been mixed with other tableware it would fully blend in. However, I realised what it was: the means to summon one of them. My request had been granted and thus that day I hurried back to find Lucifer.
Apparently the bookworm hadn’t been resting on his laurels either. Again he had gone back to Undraeth (if I needed more proof that he’s quite insane, this was more than enough) and was successful in capturing one of them! I didn’t bother to ask him what would have happened if it had resisted the attempt, because surely the point is moot. So there we were, one unwilling elemental captured and another one to be summoned and agreeable to the task. Fortunately Lucifer saw reason and we decided to use the willing spirit.
The binding took quite some time after we worked out the stipulations and conditions with the elemental at Ladriel Lake, on the far shore away from the tower. Five conditions were to be included. The spirit was to be released upon completion of the task, after one year has passed, upon both Lucifer’s and my death, upon both of us being mentally controlled or when we uttered a command word. We both chanted the powerful mantra that would allow the spirit to be bound to the object. I’m sure you won’t understand this mystic language, but I write it down for posterity.
Oh Wha!
Ta Foo!
Li Am!
On and on we droned, until the process was complete. We had barely removed the pentagonal pattern in the grass when one of the Ladriel guardians appeared, completely soaked. I can see now why they work with the Aristi, for she asked the silliest question. What had caused her robes to get wet? Well, water obviously! Quite unimpressed with our answer, she asked if we had seen the hooligans –I say! Hooligans? What very bad manners! – that had caused a tidal wave in the lake. We kind of didn’t answer that one and went our merry way, explaining that we better sought some dry clothes before either of us got pneumonia or worse! (Who knows what failed alchemical experiments they throw in the waters there!)
The next night we started the operation. Both Lucifer and I stepped in the hole and Kyria flew us over, straight into the garden of La Sapienza. Barely had we set a foot inside or Kyria warned me about traps. If anyone ever so much of set a foot inside the library, I’m sure they would have died or at least warned others like when Lucifer tripped over a wire and caused quite the ruckus. Silencing spells are indeed quite handy in those instances. Even magically hasted, it still took us countless hours to remove all the books. Had it not been for those potions of distilled dire bear essence, I’m not sure we could have finished this enormous task. I do need to thank Lillian for those. At one point Lucifer collapsed as though he had been hit by lightning. One sip of that potion however and he was back on his feet! I should try and find a recipe for them.
The noise from the trap had attracted an inquisitor, but Lucifer dealt with her quite easily. I wonder what her explanation will be when she woke up an hour later… At any rate, as soon as we were done (which wasn’t soon anyway), we left the building the same way we had come and from the valley where we landed it was a non stop run (did I tell you how I must find the recipe of those dire bear essences? Ah yes, I did…) towards Ferein.
Mission partially accomplished because now we need a place to store the books. For one, we need space, but also security, accessibility and it’ll be hard to find it all. But I may have an idea there. I’m just not sure whom to contact. I am of course also a bit worried what will happen next. I’m quite positive that neither Lucifer nor I were seen and apart from us, only Jerec, Lillian and the guardians of the sanctuary know. That’s quite a lot indeed, but I doubt we have anything to fear from those elementals. Jerec is of course no longer among us and as for Lillian… I’ve already discovered that prying any information from her is not what one would call easy. Actually, I don’t think that difficult applies either. There’s only one word for her, impossible.
I will certainly keep you posted on the progress of finding a good spot for storing all La Sapienza’s books, but I can already tell you one other thing. I found the book that Jerec had refered me too a long time ago. The book entitled ‘Internal Revenue Calculation for Merchants: An Advanced Look into the Wonderful World of Taxes’ is of course about as dry and boring as having to listen to diatribes about Greater Good, but it was something inside the book that interested me. The List! Jerec’s List of Animalisation!
I’ve already written you about peacocks, elephants and lemmings, but here are a few more choice ones:
Mosquito: useless and annoying person. Whenever you think it’s finally gone and you can go to sleep it’s back to harass you some more.
Lion: Seemingly very powerful person, but leaves all the hard work to others.
Frog: Full of air and can reach high places, but they all get eaten eventually.
And the list goes on and on! I need to find a publisher for this. It’s simply priceless. Alas, I won’t have much time to do that as I should go back to reading the books here in the villa. All this information… It’s mindboggling. I’ll be busy for weeks.
Until later then, my friend,
Xaranthir |
Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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Oblique
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 03:16 PM |
Dear Aderyn,
My mind is currently numb. There are a 1,001 things to do and only so little time. It would help tremendously if people were accurate in what they shared with me, were willing to offer me at least some answers when telling me I can ask questions and if somehow the library could build itself. As per the previous letters, this one may be a bit chaotic, so forgive me please. Yet as always, writing to you helps me put things in perspective.
So let me start with the Coruscanti. After the rather unlawful acquisition of the books from La Sapienza (I’ll use Fennigan’s favourite phrase: I liberated them!), I went back to the villa. Taking the back ways so as to elude possible pursuants (one can’t be careful enough), I emerged from the cellar only to intrude upon Cedrych and Ulalume, who were discussing in the common room. Being the friendly people that they are and knowing fully well that no one can get inside that house without being invited, they greeted me with the most standard of all welcome phrases: “What in Nethar’u are you doing here?” I felt immediately at home.
There is one other thing I must relay to you before I go on. That entire day, everything I said was being second guessed, questioned and in general considered untruthful. For instance, they asked me how I got inside the house. I truthfully answered that Lady Rosen had sent Darius to invite me, but of course they had to ask Darius if that was true. He told that I was there with Lillian’s authorisation. Then why hadn’t I told them so? Perhaps if they had asked that, I would have. Another fine example:
Me: Of one thing I am sure, the White side is a portrayal of Midor.
Paladin: Are you sure?
I also learned a few things. Atropos is apparently Ancient Midoran for Death’s Head. This explains at least the alias. According to Darius this symbol was quite often used in Midoran graveyards to ward off graverobbers and undead in the past. The Midor burial ground and the former tomb of Narghul are apparently Aristi in design, which would explain the inundation with the unliving. When I remarked that apparently their efficiency hadn’t changed much over time, Ulalume immediately jumped to their defense and asked me if I was there for anything else but badmouth those in black and gold. I decided to withhold the joke about Lillian hiring me to do exactly that. Dousing a fire with hot oil is of course most unwise.
So back to the Coruscanti. I asked them if they could explain it to me. What is it about? What are the tenets, their beliefs? Is there any sort of dogma? The first thing said to me regarding this subject was that since I’m not Midoran, it would be about as hard for me to understand as for them to understand magic. Yes, well so much for not jumping to conclusions of course. Considering I was born in Midor and lived there for, oh, eighteen to twenty years, I suppose it’s rather hard to determine whether I’m Midoran. (I’ll have you know that they said I was the condescending one later on.) So yes, I told them simply that I was and still am Midoran. Insert state of disbelief here now for the two.
The theme of the day was: show respect for us and since you’re invited here you’re only a guest anyway. Yes, doesn’t respect go both ways? No wonder that so few people dislike Midorans in general and paladins in particular. However, after this flying start, we finally commenced the exchange of information. Ah yes, I was not to be told anything unless I gave them something first (remind me later to look up paladin codes please). Getting rather tired of all the nonsense, I started on filling them in about the vision. And I did learn a few things, but how much of this is true or pure speculation (seeing how they learned some of it from Ludicrous, I think I’ll delve a little further myself) I will need to corroborate with other sources. Before I do go on, there is one other thing that always makes the warning bells go off in my head. People don’t double check sources (and by this I don’t mean by asking the same person “are you sure?”) and accept most things at face value.
I was accused of listening to Aurora about the vision and for accepting it as a general truth. When have I ever claimed that? I thought that right now I was trying to find out just how much is true and what is made up (if anything). Yet had I told them that they were doing exactly what I was accused of by taking what Ludicrous told for granted, I’d probably be patronising them. After all everyone knows that I consider him to be a twit and thus won’t listen to him. What they fail to understand is that perhaps there is a reason behind it. Not that they need to know. Eventually they’ll find it out themselves and if not… Indeed.
On with the show! Apparently Ludicrous told them that the Midorans were once the slaves of the Slissayath. According to Cedrych, one theory holds that Brakus in fact led the people, who would found Aristi, out of slavery at the hands of these Slissayath. At least Ulalume asked a good question. If the Midorans are the white, and they were enslaved by the Slissayath, why are they depicted as being on the same side? Yes, indeed why? Perhaps because they still aren’t free from that control? Perhaps it merely is an illusion? If I’d continue with this conjecture then it’s reasonable to consider that perhaps some found out that the slavery never ended and sought to put a stop to it. Then again, this can be completely bogus. It’s just another theory and needs further investigation.
Something that intrigued me and still does is that Cedrych found out where the Patricians came from. Only the day before had Lillian told me that such a question had always been taboo in Midor and that many had forgotten. She never said she didn’t know of course, but why not tell me that? Was it part of her test? At any rate, they pointed to the books in the villa, explaining to me that the evidence was all around us. So far I have been unable to find any single note or reference regarding this. Apparently just as I know magic (funny that, I didn’t think I knew much about it), he has studied and knows this. I’ll reserve judgement for when I do find the references.
And then finally it was my turn to listen to them speaking and me asking the questions. Apparently the Coruscanti differ from the Aristi in one important way. I resisted the urge to ask if it meant that they kept secrets, but again, I have a feeling that their sense of humour is rather shrivelled up. According to them, there is one greater being, above the recognised gods and it is essentially good. They believe that this god does not act in our world, but it is only through the actions of the virtuous that its influence can be felt. Apparently the tunnels below the house are a means to contact something and I’m quite certain that this entity or whatever is indeed in contact with this ‘essentially’ good upper being. Ulalume confirmed as much by stating that it is the place where they re-established the contact with the divine. In essence, they possess the ability to accomplish things again as before, although they no longer possess powers per se, as opposed to the Aristi. In fact they’ve become conduits for the powers of those entities. If I could wager a guess, I suppose we’re talking about some sort of celestials here, but my knowledge is rather limited on the subject.
Then again, I’m not here to dissect their faith. In fact I very much wonder if we are all that different. Look at the other faiths. There was a time where you couldn’t lean against a tree without Aros popping out of thin air to admonish you. The Three sisters, Gukathul, … they all seemed to have appeared once or several times. Their followers knew that indeed there was a god. Yet neither I nor anyone else have never seen Theus, nor heard him, or even felt him. Whom or what am I a channel for? In fact, to me, it matters little if there is a supreme being or not. What matters is how one uses what is granted and what for.
Finally, I did learn something very useful indeed. I asked what the word Coruscanti means. Ulalume explained that it was also Ancient Midoran and refers to a light that is ubiquitous, but too dim to see under normal circumstances, light dim starlight. Only when all other light is extinguished can it be seen. If you ask me, that’s pretty dim indeed. So not quite content with this description I asked Darius too (remember what I told you about checking sources?).
Now listen to this! It refers to an elusive sort of light, like that of a will-o'-the-wisp. It’s what he told me next that opened my eyes. One sees the light out of the corner of one's eye, but it cannot be looked upon directly, for it vanishes with no trace. Therefore one knows the light exists, but cannot prove it. Rather like true faith. There isn't always logical proof that our beliefs are true; nevertheless, we believe. Not blindly, nor out of superstition, but simply because it is what we believe.
And here we have yet another meaning to the word oblique. Looking at something sideways. Once too many coincidences start happening, they’re often no longer coincidences. I have a feeling that the Coruscanti are indeed the Red side.
Which reminds me of something. Darius asked me the other day what the meaning is of the pentacle hanging from my neck. Every single Midoran child knows the nursery rhyme of course:
Five, six, seven are the numbers three
Of black arts and philosophy.
One is the witch of poison claw,
Five-fingered stars and summoning.
One is the witch of evil eye,
Of dire sight and fell scrying.
One thousand faces has the third,
And knows every forbidden word.
Five, six, seven are the numbers three
Of damned numerology.
And so the pentacle is a symbol to be feared or if not that at least to be very wary of when you see it. Funny how no one else ever commented on it. It would seem that mister Illumini is quite sharp indeed. I assured him that I’m certainly not related to the Witches Three and that the pentacle is nothing but a symbol. As with any symbol it can be associated with good and evil, but in itself it is harmless. To me it is the portrayal of what life is about. There are the four elements of course: fire, air, earth and water. The fifth point is the symbol for the mind and the space captured by the pentacle represents the soul. Everything outside is death, the void and unlife.
There is a lot I have yet to read and fortunately for me, my heritage allows me to go without much sleep. I spend most of my nights now reading, absorbing information, reorganising it and distilling something useful from it all.
As always, I’ll keep you posted on my progress, for I am sure that there will be.
Yours,
Xaranthir
PS: I've sent Nico a letter in my best Frobozzian handwriting (it helps to have thought I was him at one point in time). Frobozz demands that Nico will keep an eye on Byron, Claudia and miss Backup. It's another loose end tidied up and I'm quite certain that Nico will ascertain himself of this task with distinction. Poor Byron.
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Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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Re: Oblique
Posted: 24 Jul 2006 09:21 PM |
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Purpose in life: finding better ways of allowing players to kill themselves. Repeatedly.
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"...Cause he mixes it with love
And makes the world taste good."
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<@James42> Lawful good isn't in your vocabulary, it's on your menu.
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Terror from the Deep
Posted: 25 Jul 2006 03:44 PM |
Dear Aderyn,
I’m sure that Lillian has a sense of humour, I’ve almost seen her smile, but it seems to be very deeply buried. I wonder if the façade she’s presenting everyone is a result of her training in Midor, the fact she had to listen to her father who was an accountant or perhaps due to interactions with the Aristi. She seems like a nice person, but I have a feeling that no one really knows her, the real her.
Why am I saying this? Well, I had a meeting with her today. Apparently she has been keeping an eye on me, of course through others. One of her sources is the very elemental who is bound to the portable hole. It wasn’t all that surprising of course, but still she didn’t have to explicitly say it. As to whom the other sources might be, I’m guessing one or more persons at the Khadros manor or perhaps even one of the Mirghul rangers. An army is only as strong as it’s network of spies and sources and it seems that she has that part well under control.
She fed me some very interesting information regarding Blanche’s goals. One of them pertains to a place in Midor. As a safety measure, not that I don’t trust you, I will refrain from writing down the exact location. Suffice to say that someone uncovered something in the White City. We’re speaking about one to two years ago here, the exact date is not known to me. Despite everything that was told by the city officials the last couple of years, there is indeed something beneath the pavement and I’m not referring to the sewers. The man who first discovered this secret was none other than Luther.
Luther has always been a very good friend, someone you can rely on. Lately however, he seems to have changed. I jokingly tell him that it must be the eyebrows, but he is different indeed and it’s not just the somber clothing. He has become obsessed with killing demons in general and Nu’men in particular. I would advise most people a career change if they ever considered this, but he is indeed very effective at what he does. Unfortunately, he also seems to be rather pleased with himself. From listening to him one would expect that Nu’men has gone underground (pardon the pun) because of him. I’m afraid that he’s overextending himself and overestimating his own abilities.
But back on topic! I saw Luther today and we spoke at length about his findings in the warded area of Ladriel. Terrible guardians, apparently constructs of some sort are down there, preventing all from entering or in case they do manage, from leaving. It took a veritable war party to save him from certain death. There are a great many things he told me, but I need to digest it first. From what I can surmise it would seem that everyone going down there is to meet his or her (untimely) demise.
There was another reason why Lillian wanted to see me. She asked me if I knew what the Supremists were doing and I answered that most likely it would be purging the city proper of all unfit elements. Apparently these consist mainly of mages, something Midor only barely condoned in the past and not at all now, unless of course you are a mystic. I didn’t understand why they hadn’t left, but Lillian provided the answer – well of course she did. La Sapienza was the only reason they had stayed, hoping against hope that it would one day reopen. Apparently ‘they’, which is Lillian and whomever else, but I doubt it’s the paladins at the villa, have been trying for weeks to convince those mages to leave, all to no avail.
I told her with a smile that they no longer had a reason to stay there, as she knew all too well. I had mistakenly assumed that the spirit had told her everything, but apparently that’s not what she had even asked it. She wanted to know if I was trustworthy and much as I had answered others exactly what they asked, it told her so. It took me some time to convince her that La Sapienza was nothing but a skeleton building now, that its soul had left. She looked incredulous when I told her about the theft and where I kept all the books. Actually, even when she saw it she could scarcely believe it.
The mages would need proof however – and what person would believe someone saying they had removed every single scrap of paper from La Sapienza? So I offered her one of the last books we liberated (I’m starting to love the word more and more), The Tales of Arathon the Ranger. It’s a work of fiction, so badly written that for years and years no one even wanted to read it. And of course if you tell someone that something is bad, do they believe you? No, they wish to try it themselves. And so suddenly this book became the most popular one, despite it’s dreadful prose, its horrible layout and the many spelling mistakes. Add to this that it’s the sole copy still in existence – yes, it truly was that bad – and Nottias the librarian (I’ve told you about him, right?) put it in a glass case, locked away. If you wanted to read it, you had to do so under supervision, out of fear that some scoundrel would steal it. It almost became the symbol of the library, because it proved that people would truly read anything, no matter how badly written.
How was I able to get it then if it was locked away? It helps of course if you happened to live at the library and was regarded as Nottias’ foster child. Yes, I know where he keeps his keys.
What she told me was a blessing in disguise, for I will need many scribes and librarians to help rearrange the library once more. I’ve contacted the Mirghul rangers to get an estimate of repairing the manor both in time and money and currently it will take about a year. This includes repairing the roof and making the shelves. I will of course need to talk to others – and I hope to use some of those mage’s connections to really get started. I am very excited, that much is true. We’re at the dawning of a new age, one where information is no longer being controlled by some official.
But speaking of a new age, reminds me of something else too. Perhaps it may also be the beginning of the end. I told her exactly what was said in my vision regarding Esmeralda and it does indeed sound very foreboding. Apparently the Coruscanti (who are just those four paladins and none other) have had lucid dreams in the villa regarding this and then I remembered a dream I had a long time ago in which a woman named Zarathustra appeared. I feel like once more I am walking on the sharp edge of a blade. Every step I’m about to take only leads me deeper into the alien land that is the future.
Wishing you well,
Xaranthir
PS: It would seem that Jerec was right. Next time I need to get myself a parrot.
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Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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Clueless
Posted: 26 Jul 2006 01:00 PM |
Dear Aderyn,
Well if ever I wanted the solid proof that the Novus Aristi are just an indecisive bunch of people who like to reminisce about the good old days of yore, I just received it. I’m rather surprised that I actually found it in one of their own vaults. Before you start thinking that the burglar virus has truly bitten me, I can assure you that I had authorization to go there. In fact it seems pretty much impossible to break in there. Yet, that’s a moot point.
Alright, what convinced me? I’ve received access to certain documents pertaining to the Midoran excavation. One of those is a transcript of the War Council in which Blanche, Lillian and a few others participated. It started off really well. Apparently two persons asked the same question at the same time: what is their goal? According to Blanche it is to show the world who Midoran truly is. Alright, so this is sort of an anti-groupie movement?
As I’ve learned by now, the Aristi gain their powers from within. All you have to do is to believe in the Aristi Code and you will discover everything you need within. Somehow it makes me think of sorcerors and for some reason I’ve never pictured a paladin or a priest as one of the bloodmages. It’s always been my opinion that somehow the divine was involved under whatever form. I wonder if this means that they have discovered the divine self? How preposterous does that sound? I’m indeed rather skeptical when it comes down to this aspect of their ‘faith’.
Also they seem to draw rather strange conclusions. For instance Lillian asked about the guardians beneath Midor and how they were sure that they were indeed created by Midoran. Apparently because at the entrance it states that everyone who threads there will be smitten by Midoran. Well that is of course all good and well, but words are transitory. What if they weren’t created by Midoran but are simply a mockery of everything he stood for? A letter from Vidus would indicate that this is indeed a possibility for it seems he fears whatever is down there. Also the security around that site has been increased drastically. For what reason then? To prevent people from going in or to stop whatever comes out?
They are also quite contradictory. Blanche says there’s nothing down there of interest, while Nessa states that there is very valuable information to be found. Well of course some things are valuable to one and not to the other, yet still, this is the same movement we’re talking about.
Out of the blue Blanche states that Midoran was not a god before without any further explanation given. How come no one there asked a question about that aspect? He wasn’t always a god? Then what was he? What is her source? Did she learn this in those ruins? There are a thousand other questions whirling through my head, so how come everyone neglected this? Or should I presume that they already know the answers and this is pretty much a common statement during those meetings? I wonder if they go something like this:
“What is your goal?”
“Who knows, but Midoran wasn’t always a god.”
“Well, have a nice day!”
If I was really mean, I’d say he was one of the Aristi who found his divine inner self and decided to start his own little sect.
Honestly, what goes on in the heads of those people? To say it’s frustrating to read such transcripts is like saying that lava is somewhat warm.
They have no set goals, nor do they actually know what they wish to accomplish apart from spreading the Greater Good to the world. Showing what a liar Midoran is, isn’t a real goal either in my humble opinion. What good will that do? Perhaps it’ll shatter Midor, but then what? Furthermore, they select very strange allies.
When they rescued Luther, it wasn’t just Blanche, Solitaire, Shihay’azad and some other Aristi, no, Mister Jessup was present too. What was the leader of the Black Hand doing there? Blanche didn’t have a clue (I’m no longer surprised really…), but judging from the transcript it seemed they all believe in the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Actually it’s a load of hogwash. Sure, you can try to play one enemy out against the other, but to involve them in your plans? It’s foolish. In fact I’m wondering if the Aristi didn’t have other shady dealings with the Black Hand. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised.
Speaking of the Black Hand, I met with Nico again on the island. I came back as the alarms in the garden had gone off. When I arrived I saw Ophelia descending. I admonished her for entering my garden without my authorization when the annoying Gnome showed up. If you had any doubts about how mean I can truly be, I’m afraid that this will truly convince you.
I told him that Frobozz was so satisfied of his services, that he was to be promoted. And therefore he is to become Byron’s assistant. Already he’s wearing Aristi coloured livery. It actually has two purposes, both which are beneficial to me. On the one hand it’ll keep him away from me and he’ll send reports of Byron’s activities to Frobozz, by depositing them in my mailbox. I had warned Byron that I would keep an eye on them and I always make good on my promises, sooner or later. Unfortunately (for him) I chose the most obnoxious spy one could find anywhere. They can consider it payback for all the frustration I felt while reading these transcripts.
Well I feel much better now. Take good care of yourself!
Best wishes,
Xaranthir |
Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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Escape
Posted: 14 Mar 2007 08:27 AM |
Dear Aderyn,
First let me apologise for my disappearance during these last months. Finally we meet in the flesh and then I vanish again. I am sorry if I caused you to worry and even more sorry that I left you in charge of the garden. At least I hope that he didn’t appear to make your life even more miserable.
My vanishing from this world wasn’t entirely my doing. Actually that’s not correct, it was entirely my doing, except I had no idea what I had done. Only once before had I completely gone missing – in fact I and most others had thought that I had died. I’ve come to realise as of late that it is absolutely impossible to die and then come back, for in my humble opinion death is final. With what recently happened to me, I am sure that there is something else out there, something outside life and death. It sounds rather far fetched and wholly improbable, but I’ve experienced it several times now – unknowingly, forcibly and accidentally.
Where to start? Perhaps with where I left off. After overseeing the start of the library and after talking at length with Lucifer and a few others, I had decided that we ought to build portals or at least try to redirect some, so that everyone could come and enjoy the knowledge stored in the new building. I had received Lucifer’s notes on teleportation, which had a potential usefulness to trying to understand the functioning of a portal. Alas, as inaccurate as his teleportation is, I didn’t fare much better and ended up in quite a peculiar place.
Once I have dwindled on the fringes of that place, but I became mixed up in the lives and thoughts of creatures far more powerful than I was. Torn apart, shredded like a cracked piece of parchment, I nearly lost my sanity until the day of my ‘rebirth’. I finally begin to understand the importance of the tear on the Great Plains.
The second time was quite different. Although I didn’t lose sanity, I did nearly die. Or perhaps I wouldn’t have, it’s hard to say. Haven’t you ever wondered what would happen if you died in a nightmare? Why is it that we always wake up just before the final impact? From a scholarly point of view it seems rather interesting, but the point is moot now as I prevailed. I came back, never knowing what really happened or even where it happened.
And then of course there was the third time. Three times a charm. I must have done something either terribly wrong or very right, but I ended up … somewhere. I wish I could tell you where ‘there’ is, but to be perfectly honest with you, I don’t even know if it has a physical location. Sure, I was there physically, but in the realm of possibilities that means little to nothing. I think the best description I can give you is that I moved in a menagerie of thoughts and desires, but whose – again, I can’t tell you. I certainly was somewhere, but nothing that I had ever seen before.
I felt other presences there, people or possibly something watching me. I felt as though something or someone was weighing and judging me, but whether I was found too light or was approved of, I’ll probably never know. I was unable to leave though. If it had all been a dream, I wasn’t able to wake up, but then again if it was a dream and I was physically there, how does one wake up? I meditated a lot, which seemed to be the only thing I could possibly do. Eventually I learned something new, something that I never imagined possible before and something that makes me doubt rather heavily about the world as we know it. I can’t as of yet tell you more about it, but suffice to say that magic seems different to me right now. I’ll tell you more in person.
Eventually I was able to ‘escape’, but having spent months in unfamiliar surroundings – in a setting that was also very different from the world we know and live in – coming back here was a shock.
Not only had the lands been ravaged by the Atalan and the Durzagon, in the mean time the Elven princes and recently anointed queen Sairalindë had been murdered – supposedly by a Midoran bolt. There’s now internal strife as Aros wants to and is departing with his faithful. You know, after hearing how Aros said that Sairalindë’s death was the result of her mixed blood or something to that effect at any rate, it makes me wonder if he was the one who set everything up. It wouldn’t be the first time that someone did something like that to gain power. In my experience, the gods and goddesses of Vives are petty, petulant children. They seem mostly only concerned with gaining power. To be honest with you, I haven’t got the least bit of respect for them anymore. Besides, who’s to say that the other ‘gods’ have always been that? If Midoran could become one, then why not all the rest? I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.
And it brings me to something else. Apparently an usurper has appeared or will appear according to some prophecy (I ought to seek out Salt). Something has been controlling or creating creatures outside the control of the 3 sisters for instance. Talion and Alton also told me that this usurper is somehow also tied in with Tockticken , Haven, the Gnomish wild magic bubble in Sunix and the rift in the fabric of the Great Plains. I have absolutely no idea what this is all about, but I have noticed a large number of drones around the rift. Why would the Gnomes be interested there? Are they looking for that which I came from or something else altogether?
Now I need to ponder on how to save all the books once again. Two thoughts occurred to me. One involves that which I recently experienced, but I do not know how to go there again. Perhaps in time. And on the other hand, there’s a more mundane approach. For that I will not only need a lot of metal, but so many hands that it seems totally unfeasible. Again, time will tell.
Although, time may be something else we’re running short of. From a long and distant past I remember a warning. When metals become exhausted, food is scarce, justice fails, and people start dying in large numbers, we may be coming to an end. Remember, from the moment we’re born, we die. What if this not just applies to us, but to the world at large? A question worth of an answer, but one that can only be fulfilled once it happens and then of course, it’ll be too late. So I think it’s better to start now, rather than later. We have a lot to do, Aderyn, so be prepared.
Sincerely,
Xaranthir |
Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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Guerilla
Posted: 16 Mar 2007 08:59 AM |
Dear Aderyn,
It would seem that my plans to tackle the current problems I’m having will have to be pushed back until further notice. As I’ve been watching from the shadows for the last days, it has become evident that the Atalan have had free reign. I don’t understand this, but it seems as though none have been actively driving them back.
I understand how everyone is lacking resources, but the above fact is simply unacceptable! One would first expect for an army to assemble and to drive them back in their spider infested lairs. Apart from the Midorans, the elves and maybe the Novus Aristi, it doesn’t seem as though anyone has any armies left to speak of. The elves are rather preoccupied now of course, what with their new queen slain and Midor having declared war on them. This also rules out Midor, as the Midorans are rather focussed on blaming everything on Ferein and killing every elf out there.
That leaves the Aristi… I forgot to tell you that this most beloved organisation is dutifully running around Port Royale looking busy. Are they helping anyone driving back the Atalan? Well, I’ve only been looking for little less than a week, so maybe I haven’t been too thorough as of yet. After all, I haven’t upturned every single rock there is. Then again, maybe their stealth skills have increased dramatically and I’ve walked right by them.
All of the above leads me to the following. If one doesn’t have a full army, as is clearly the case now, then you drive the Atalan back by using hit and run tactics. Use what they are using – and I have some experience in this regard. Fight dirty and use whatever trick in the book and out of it to kick them back in their dank underground city! Of course I’m a bit biased as I truly hate the Atalan, but I’m suspecting that most other people (apart from the Midorans and the Novus Aristi obviously) do as well by now.
I have heard of people going after frost giants in Helkris domain – frost giants who are posing no threat whatsoever to the world at large – rather than using their resources to fight that which is the current threat.
I’ll stop ranting now and will come to the point. I am sick of how inactive people have become. There’s slugs out there that act faster than this and so I’ve decided that if no one else will start the fight, then I will. I would appreciate it if you could lend me a hand, or sword and arrow in this case and I shall contact the few people that at least seem reliable to me. That said, it looks like I can count them on one hand and not even use all fingers. But less than five is still better than no one at all.
Atalan be warned, for your roaming ends now.
Urgently requesting your assistance,
Xaranthir
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Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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Curses
Posted: 02 Apr 2007 05:06 PM |
Dear Aderyn,
I am rather having problems focussing right now. Well, it’s not so much that I can’t, but rather that people won’t let me. While Amaranth is telling me that at the moment they’re stretched thin, I’m under the distinct impression that I’ve been overstretched.
I am still trying to discover why Lucifer’s teleportation has only 12% accuracy, but I’m currently unable to find Fennigan - not that the halfling can actually contribute in any fruitful manner, at least not actively. Apparently he’s under some curse – you’ll find that the word curse is a rather recurring theme in this letter – one that makes him teleport back to McGillicutty’s inn in Buckshire. I can see how this would be very annoying at times, especially when one doesn’t wish to go there. Nevertheless, the curse – a result of being shot by a bolt or arrow, at the very least something sharp and pointy – could give us an insight into improving the teleportation.
Today however I received another clue regarding the subject. This time it was Salt the Seer who told me that he and Ophelia had helped someone take a scroll to Oswin the Ooze (or was it Smooch?). This scroll allowed Oswin to not only learn teleportation, but –and this is rather important- he could teleport himself and others to places he had never been before. This begs the question, did he actually scry the sites or did the magic prevent him from getting stuck in a wall or rock (which can be mildly to severely annoying)?
We, this is Amaranth, Salt and I, went to Oswin’s abode, but the mage had fled the premises. Well, either he fled or he simply wasn’t home. I hope he didn’t mind that I took all his books and scrolls. Perhaps something of use is to be found in here. Besides, it was either the books or the ceiling of his hut, as it was literally covered in runes. It would seem highly unlikely that the sloppy mage engraved those, for they seemed rather ancient. Then again, I have no idea how old this Oswin is of course.
Later that day, Lucifer and I clashed words. My, my, he can be a real pain in the rear at times. It’s a miracle in itself that he managed to stay alive this long. Once more he proved to both Amaranth and me that he has absolutely no common sense. Earlier this week he had brought Serai into the library, while at the same time managing to leave all the doors unlocked (granted it’s not much of a feat for him). I wouldn’t be opposed to him bringing in people, if only he was a little more careful. Serai, as it is, is none other than Quies Asteria, whom you’ll undoubtedly recall as being my roommate in La Sapienza. The reason I was a tad worried about her being there, is of course due to her pact. When I tried to explain this to Lucifer, he started complaining like a toddler how I was making up things (probably just to spite him) and couldn’t prove to him that they were both the same person.
Even when Serai arrived (talk about coincidence) and she confessed that indeed she was Quies, he went on and on about how his intellect is vastly superior to mine. When he finally shut up and started listening it dawned on him that he had been deceived. Of course Serai said that she had done no such thing, because Lucifer had simply not asked. I can understand and sometimes even appreciate this, but it’s a tad different when you’re part of a pact like that. Despite the fact that I wish to rid her of that curse, the well being of the scholars precedes that. They have been persecuted in Midor and finally found a peaceful place. I will not have anyone endanger that.
Finally, after much talking and sighing, we came to an understanding. Serai is still granted access to the library, as long as someone is supervising her. She felt it was a severe breach of privacy, but had she not agreed to this, I would have refused her entry. I’m unsure how Lucifer feels about all of this, but he seemed to think I was gloating and was sulking. Quite frankly, I don’t even recall what he insulted me with and it doesn’t matter either. I know him and he’s not bad. Just extremely dense to the point of incredibility.
There is one other fact that I wanted to share with you. No, make that two and both regard Midor. It would seem that Frobozz appeared on the Great Plains and polymorphed several of the soldiers stationed there, all at the same time. I can hardly fathom the energies necessary for accomplishing such a feat, but according to Lucifer who witnessed the whole ordeal, they were transformed into pigs, dogs, chickens and worse. I went to take a look from afar and as usual Lucifer’s observations are correct (at least those are, just do not believe all his deductions and conclusions). The effects were still lingering hours after the fact. This is indeed a scary prospect. In other words, if Frobozz appears, keep on running. Do not engage him, despite the fact that the roses in the garden attacked you. Besides, those piranha roses are mine.
Lastly, I received an update to the prophecy I received months ago. Apparently the White Queen has left the game. It would have been nice if I had ever found out who or what the White Queen was, but I can only speculate so far. The queen - being in a supportive role of the king and being so high up in the game – must be a person or persons high up in the church’s ranks. This probably means the highest military rank or the highest clerical rank, just below Vidus of course. It also begs the question how exactly they got removed from the game. Did they leave voluntarily? Or did the red side do something (although the red queen is rather denying such things)? Did white sacrifice the queen willingly? Is there a third party involved? Too many questions with no answers forthcoming…
Included you’ll find spores I found near Naillamne. Please put them in the southeast corner of the garden. Be sure to stay away from the Manticore cactus this time!
Xaranthir
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Luther McIath: I see, so [X is] the right person in the wrong place with the wrong people at the wrong time.
[Fictrix] ... And can speak French, like both! Wait, I mean Elven. |
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