Alinee Zugraveska's Acta Mortis

A slim, heavily decorated journal with thick vellum pages and a decorative silk ribbon bookmark initially appears to be a memorial book where loved ones and friends write their well-wishes to the recently departed.
Its true purpose becomes clearly apparent once the dedications are finished. In neat handwriting, an anonymous incantation has been written.

Rise with the fog,
dig up with the moles,
take form with the moon rays.

Come back to us,
manifest your desires,
write your true will.

In this acta mortis and with spirit ink,
we beg you to communicate,
let us finish your unfinished business.

The incantation is not the last page with something written on it. In handwriting different from the rest of the journal, in a darkened silvery ink, there are ramblings and incoherent sentences written all the way to the back cover of the journal.
Throughout the pages, there are many disturbing mentions of cursed waters, floodings, and tidal waves. One such page is written so that the words create an image of a kraken bound by something. Ink blotches and crossed out words form the restrictive bonds that keep the kraken subdued.

Type

Journal, Personal

Acta mortis

Death journals, or acta mortis, were very popular at one time, and the countless deaths brought by the plague resurfaced this old custom.
In the same book used at the funeral to write one's goodbyes and memories of the deceased, an incantation was written to plead the dead to leave some words behind.
This journal was buried together with the corpse and special ink designed for use by ghosts. A month later (and sometimes up to a year later), the tomb would be opened up to retrieve the journal.

Possible origin

There are two likely origins of this macabre custom:

• Journals left with interred people in case they were buried alive
• Diaries used by vampires to write on while safely hidden away from the sun