The Weeping Woman of Dun Dierdiere Bog

Another of the leaked documents that surfaced in the year of 161 PR detailed an investigation into the recurring tales of the Weeping Woman, a strange spirit or omen believed to inhabit the swamplands of Dunn Dierdiere Bog . Airtam herself with a small group of attending scientists and Wraith Guard officers visited the location where they discovered far more than they ever expected. In a letter to a colleague at The University of the Lighted Way she expressed both her academic curiosity as well as what she believed was her duty to uncover more details on these sightings.

My Dear Professor,
I have always been insatiably curious of the tales spun by the those that live in the more remote locations of the world. As a firm believer that there remains a splinter of fact in every fiction, I find it not only a personal motivation, but a solemn duty to seek out and uncover as much of the truth behind such things as possible. As I studied the strange creature that we captured, another of the Somnambuli, I could not help but marvel over the abject beauty of what those poor people once were, this rare and surreal chance to look back through the boundless years that have passed since so much devastation was visited upon them. These reflections brought my attentions to several reports that had crossed my desk concerning a scattered settlement of Seanachaisian refugees in the Tindall Wetlands, now colloquially referred to as the Dun Dierdiere Bog. While I am content to let these poor souls live their lives in peace, what caught my attention was not that they had settled there, but the strange reports as to why the rest of the Empire seems to avoid the location.
There have been several accounts of sightings of a woman at the edge of the swamplands that has been dubbed the "Weeping Woman" or the "Sister of Sorrows". While the title of this creature, whatever she may be seems innocuous enough, the belief that to see her invokes foul fortune upon those that are unlucky enough to cross her path seems to be powerful enough to reroute trade and cause military movements enough discomfort that they actively seek alternate paths through the territory should they have an engagement or drill near the location. This strong a belief in unsubstantiated phenomena cannot lack some sort of tangible substance, and I feel it should not be ignored. Much like the Somnambuli, this entity or creature seems to be tied to the Seanachaisians, and perhaps by better understanding the nature of this cryptid I can better understand the evolving nature of those people as well. We will never bridge this divide if we don't try, and it is through understanding that we gain familiarity!
To this end I will gather a small, inobtrusive team and sojourn into the marshlands to seek answers, and hopefully we can do so without incident or more importantly, without disrupting the settlements that are hidden within. As you well know, we cannot afford any negative incidents that might draw undue attentions to our work, but I will be sure to share and go over my findings with you upon my return.
Yours,
Airtam

Purpose

In an attempt to further understand the evolving nature of the Seanachaisians, and to get to the truth of the nature of the stories of the Weeping Woman of Dun Dierdiere Bog, Airtam journeyed into the former Tindall Wetlands to seek answers.

Document Structure

Publication Status

As part of the leaked Morenthall publications following her death, these writings are generally easy to find.

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The Weeping Woman of Dun Dierdiere Bog

33rd of Vigor 144 PR
Together with three assisting researchers and two members of the Wraith Guard for security and safety, we arrived at the edge of the swamplands, just north of that desolate sweeping vista of Cold Belly Lake. We have opted to set up our base camp as close to the edge of the swamp as possible to avoid any risk of the dangers that lurk around the lake. I feel much safer with the officers that volunteered to accompany us, but I cannot help but wonder if perhaps their presence might hinder our efforts should we encounter any of the refugees. The nights here are remarkably cold, and my assistants have already begun to complain about the damp conditions. I had not considered their green natures enough when I selected them to join me in this endeavor, but I suppose not everyone at the University can be expected to endure field work in the manner in which I do. No matter, they will discover soon enough that real research is done outside of the lab!
Our first night at the borders of this place will make or break us I believe. According to the accounts I have read thus far, the Weeping Woman only shows herself when situations are doomed to fail...perhaps not seeing her is a sign that while our endeavor may fail, our safety is at least assured. I am torn as to which of those postulations I am more eager to achieve. I suppose tomorrow will be the catalyst that decides our fates either way.

34th of Vigor 144 PR
The morning brought with it no respite from this damp chill that seems to cut through every layer of clothing or blanket one might use to armor oneself against it. Thankfully we brought ample supplies of coffee. We began our initial investigations into the locations along the borders that have been associated with the highest density of reported sightings over the years. The records of the Bureau have been incredibly helpful in this, as they have managed to collate the data in advance of my needing it and saved me a substantial amount of work.
The terrain is treacherous and wet, making the danger of exposure great. While we have afforded a great deal of our expeditionary budget to safety, even our environmental protective suits can only do so much. The toxicity of the waters here is thankfully nowhere near as dangerous as the sea, but nevertheless still potentially lethal. The life that persists here is abundant and varied, and while all of it carries a saturated taint of the Void, one cannot deny the strange beauty that persists in it, nor the amazing ability for life and nature to adapt to even the worst of conditions. There are so many trees here! If only they could be used as a resource, but the vascular systems are completely filled with dangerous toxins making them useless for any industrial or even practical purposes. We have documented several new species of flora and engaged in sanguine interactions with a large number of insect life that I have never before seen, though I remain less than thrilled about these encounters.
Another day gone and still no sign of the Weeping Woman. I cannot count this as a failure however, at least my assistants are beginning to perk up as their curiosity about the native flora and fauna grows with each new discovery. Their naive heads are filled with delusions of academic fame from their discoveries. I don't have the heart to explain the nature and speed of the mutations that occur in locations such as this, and the realization has yet to settle in for them. They will learn and for now, the exuberance keeps them from moping or complaining about the discomfort of the climate and environment. It's endearing in its own way. The guards have opted for minimal gear as we explore deeper, the environmental protection suits not allowing for their full kit, and to be honest I am relieved. At least now we don't appear as threatening. I suspect the refugees know we are here and are watching. It is best we present our purpose with a modicum of tact and a lack of threat.

35th of Vigor 144 PR
While we slept someone or something invaded our camp, and one of my assistants, Perry, and a large portion of our food stores is missing. There are signs that there was a slight struggle, and I am amazed that both none of us were roused by it, and that the guard on duty fell asleep. The Wraith Guard is hardly some amateur organization of green soldiers, this was a highly trained officer. I have been listening to them argue all morning over this. My remaining two assistants hover close to me as I go through my morning routine, and I am doing all I can to hide my own grief and trepidation. This is not the first time I have lost members of a research team and I am sorely tempted to pack up and turn us around, but we have to at least search for Perry. There is still a chance that they are alive out there, and I will not abandon my charge so easily! Following breakfast and a stern talking to I intend to give to my guardsmen concerning the the need to place blame being a pointless pursuit in this situation, we will pack up camp, don our suits, and trek deeper into the interior to search for our missing member. The investigation can wait. Their safety is a top priority.

35th of Vigor 144 PR
I pause to add this addendum to my previous entry. It is evening and sadly, we have discovered the remains of poor Perry. It is not clear what happened, but the wounds suffered and the state of the body suggests some type of animal attack. The missing supplies are here as well, scattered throughout the area and contaminated...useless. I blame myself for this. I should not have brought these academic children on such a dangerous expedition. What was I thinking?! At least we can offer Perry a proper end to his tenure among the living, and give closure to his family. This pursuit has yielded nothing other than mundane studies into the local wildlife, most of which will be a moot point by this time next month due to the frequency and rapidity of the mutations that occur here, but we have decided that we will name at least one of the discoveries made here after Perry.
We will make camp a short ways from the site where we found the remains, so we do not place ourselves in that path of whatever did this...or so we hope. Not knowing what it was leaves a great margin for error in our decision making process, but at least I have no doubt the guards will be more vigilant than before. Tomorrow we return to the roads that lead home.

36th of Vigor 144 PR
I am beside myself! She appeared in the early hours of the morning, just before the weak light of morning began to touch the treetop canopy. I was roused by one of the guards who insisted on my silence and then led me to the edge of the camp where his companion awaited. Placing a finger to his lips and then pointing into the gloom of the swamp, I peered out and while it took a moment for my eyes to fully adjust, I finally found the subject of his concern. There, sitting in the lethal waters of the swamplands with her head in her hand, half submerged was a young, beautiful woman, crying. Once my eyes found her I realized that at the edge of hearing I could hear the soft sobs emanating from her as well, almost lost in the warbling songs of the insects and the chiming calls of the birds. The ethereal beauty of the moment, sad though it was, took my breath away. She was real! Perry had not died in vain! I immediately took out my journal and sketched what I saw to the best of my ability as we hid there on the banks of the small island we had camped upon. I cannot help but wonder as to the nature of this creature. She seemed fairly benign at a distance, but I know better than to trust anything at face value in the wild. I could tell the guards were on edge, both of them with rifles at the ready and jaws set with determination. Their training was showing in their discipline and demeanor both, but fear is not something you can so easily be rid of no matter how hard you try and grind it out of someone. I could tell that their unease was deeper than their stoic countenance presented.
As I finished my sketch, I whispered to them that I was going to attempt to move in closer, silencing their initial protests with a stern look and a finger. I moved back and quickly pulled on my suit, rushing back as fast as I dared, fearing any extra noise might spook the Woman. Thankfully she remained when I returned. I moved past the guards slowly, stepping into the shallows of the marsh and choosing my steps carefully so as not to lodge a foot in soft mud or step upon a potentially dangerous creature that might be lurking there. While it seemed like forever, I did eventually halve the distance when I heard a loud gasp from behind me. I turned and saw my assistants standing there behind the guards, still half dressed and holding coffee, mouths agape in wonder at what they now saw. Damn them! As I turned my attention back I saw the figure sink quickly into the black depths leaving a stained and bloody shroud floating where she was for a moment, and then it too vanished beneath the surface. Were it not for the thrill of discovery and the recent loss of their companion, I would scold them endlessly for being so unprofessional! I suppose given the circumstances though...

36th of Vigor 144 PR
It appears the tales may hold more truth than I originally gave them credit for...All that remain are two of us, myself and one very injured guard. He may not make it out of the swamp, and I have a feeling that I may forever endure a limp myself as a reminder of the events that took place this day.
Between Perry's death and the encounter with the Weeping Woman, everyone was on edge, even if it was tempered with excitement. I had a strange feeling in my gut all morning that I foolishly ignored, overwhelmed by my own curiosity as I am prone to be. While we had already decided to call off the expedition, the new data was enough to encourage further exploration of the area in order to see if any other anomalies or evidence as to the nature of the Woman could be found. We began with the area around the sighting. While no trace of the Woman could be found, we did discover that the location where we saw her was too deep to explore fully. Using a lead line we discovered the location was approximately six meters deep directly below where she appeared. We circled the shallows and the land masses around the area taking samples of earth and flora, and several small samples of the water itself to be taken back for further study. These we packed into our gear at our camp around midday and adjourned for a small meal and to rest for a short time before carrying on with further examinations.
It was during this short break that one of the guards saw movement in the shallows nearby, a particularly overgrown area of the water's edge. He rose and moved to investigate the disturbance and in the following moment, we heard the report of his rifle and a stunted cry of pain followed by a loud splash and then, silence. The other guard, leapt to his feet and ran to see what had occured, but when he arrived at the place his cohort was nowhere to be seen, just a murky bog with a thick layer of deep green algae coating the surface. The tracks seemed to vanish at the water, but it was a location that we had already determined to be one of the deeper areas. The guard, now firmly set in his duty and aggravated by the second loss of life under his watch made the decision that the endeavor had become too dangerous and too costly, and commanded that we pack our things and prepare to leave. While we tried to contest this, he refused to budge from his decision explaining that things were spiraling out of control and that his first priority was the safety of the people he was set forth to protect. With a sense of shame he admitted that he was not sure he would be able to guarantee our continued safety if we did not evacuate immediately. Seeing that grief in his eyes was all it took for me. I began barking at the two assistants to gather up what they could and started doing so myself. As we neared completing preparations to leave, the violence began.
It started with an expletive from our guard and the sound of his rifle discharging. Looking up I saw why as several green toned, humanoid figures stood up from the water's edge slowly as if peeling away from the surface of it rather than stepping out of it. The guard chambered another round and fired again, shouting at us to move and we began picking our way through the muck and mire as quickly as we could without further endangering ourselves, but circumstances only grew worse. The creatures, seemingly uninhibited by the environment as we were, quickly closed the distance on us. While the gunfire did seem to slow them, there were simply too many for one guard to hold at bay, and they seemed to be able to sink into the water's surface and reappear elsewhere when they wanted to avoid his deadly aim. Joy, the youngest assistant was the first to fall as we trudged through, desperately trying to escape. In her panicked state, she grew careless in choosing her steps and her leg slipped into either soft mud or an unseen hollow just below the surface. She sunk up to her chest in an instant, the toxic waters splashing into her face and eyes as she did. The damage was immediate as the skin there began to split and sores opened. I tried to go back for her, but the guard would not allow it, pushing me along with his hip as he continued to fire his weapon at the closing threat. The last I saw of her, still screaming and lodged in the mud as one of the green colored creatures settled beside her and wrapped its arms around her as its form shifted and it enveloped her still struggling form, cutting off her cries. I could still see her struggling beneath the green mass that covered her as she fell from view.
Murphy fell next. We were within sight of the shallower regions that make up the southern borders of the swamp and the terrain becomes easier to navigate. Just as we were about to break through the trees and out into the open, three of the figures rose up out of the water, cutting him off from us. I locked eyes with him in that moment...I could see the fear in his eyes, the shock and disbelief as his mind rationalized what was happening to him in that moment, and as he realized the finality of it. Their hands...I assume they were hands...reached out and began to grip him, pulling him down. The skin where they touched went red instantly and began to spread out across the exposed flesh as he screamed out about it burning. The guard, turned around and barreled through the creatures in a vain attempt to knock him free, but it was too late. His limp form convulsed slightly as it fell backwards into the water and the waiting embrace of the creatures that awaited him there, covering him beneath the water in the blink of an eye as the remainder of the green creatures, whose figures I could now tell from this close were comprised of what appeared to be algae of some sort, fell into a formless layer across the water surface. My guard, my savior turned back to me with a pained expression and gritted teeth and told me to move. Seeing the trailing red veins spreading across his face where the creatures touched him during his brave rescue attempt, I did not argue.
As I turned to flee, a hand shot out of the shallows at my feet and clawed at my leg, tearing the suit and tearing a large rut in the flesh beneath. The guard, with bare hands, grabbed the appendage and tore it free of the water, hurling it away and gathering me up in his arms, ran with all he had to give. The screaming pain in my leg and the adrenaline coursing through me muddied my perceptions from here, and the rest of the day remains a blur, but when my senses returned, we were at the edge of the swamp, just beyond the borders of it. I was covered in a field blanket and my wound was dressed. I looked up and saw him there, swaying on slightly bent knees and still breathing in an irregular and quick manner. The man who saved me, still watching over me despite what must have been pain the likes of which I have never known, and hope to never experience. I slowly got to my feet and stood beside him, looking back the way we came. Glancing over I saw his eyes were swollen almost entirely shut, and his face was bloated to the point of being nearly unrecognizable, but still he stood, leaning on his rifle. He did not protest as I guided him to settle down by the small fire he must have built while I was recovering. I did what I could to make him comfortable, and made a few attempts to speak with him, primarily asking his name...I will never forgive myself for not learning his name, this man who gave his life for my own, but he did not respond.
He will not make it to morning. I only pray that those creatures do not follow us here because if they have, nor will I.

37th of Vigor 144 PR
I must have passed out during the night, but it appears that we were not pursued further. My savior passed in his sleep during the night. I hope his lingering spirit finds some peace or comfort knowing that he did his duty and while I do not know his name, I will remember the man for all of my days. I have my journal and a small amount of supplies and a few of the samples we took, but I believe that I will discourage further investigation into this region. I have a great deal of sad work to do upon my return to Armuun...provided I can make it back. The wound on my leg seems more serious than I imagined, and the poison that took the life of the guard surely infects me as well. If I can make it to Greyturn I will be able to procure the help of a Benevolent and acquire means to travel home.
As for the Weeping Woman, I know very little more than I did when we began aside from the surety of her existence. While I will not discount her appearance preceded the events that befell us, I cannot say for certain they are connected, though the evidence would suggest it as a distinct possibility. Either way, the Sister of Sorrows remains an enigma of the region. I don't think I will be returning the Dun Dierdiere Bog in the foreseeable future.

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Type

Leaked Original

Medium

Vellum / Skin

Authoring Date

33rd of Vigor 144 PR to the 37th of Vigor 144 PR

Location

Dunn Dierdiere Bog

Authors

• Airtam Morenthall