A Collection of the Life and Times of One Tiranil Amastacia, Volume 8, Part 57
The last journal of the Aranli sage Tiranil Amastacia. This highly coveted work is the final piece of one of the greatest collections of knowledge in Eberron.
A Collection of the Life and Times of One Tiranil Amastacia, Volume 8, Part 57
DM's note: These are all of the relevant entries from the tome.
Sul, Olarune 8th, 876YK- For this part, and this part only, I will attempt to keep this journal in the Khorivare date system, as it is my intention to linger here. I have found worthy students and colleagues at the University of Wynarn. The faculty at the College of Arcanix are unbearably arrogant, particularly given how far behind they are in magical studies. I had visited the school Lareth founded in Sharn, but I'm afraid I cannot take it seriously as a place of academic rigor. They are young and eager, but I am not here to train welps. Khorivare has developed quickly over the past 300 years, and I mean to understand more of this place. These lightning rails are truly a wonder... I worry about the House of Galifar, though. They are long past their days of glory, and I fear what may come next.
Wir, Barrakas 25th, 889YK- I am as continuously impressed with Khorivare as I am bothered by it's calendar. This foolishness is tiresome. I have recently returned from the Eldeen Reaches, and found it reminiscent of my homeland. The people live in harmony with the land around them, and there is a level of beauty I had only associated with Elven culture. Imagine my horror, then, to travel but a short distance further on to the land known as the Demon Wastes. How the rest of Khorivare sleeps at night knowing nightmares are spewing forth so very close by. While I was there I met with the Ghaash’kala, a tribe of Orcs unlike anything I have seen before. I have never known a people of such unwavering duty to a cause so great. Truly all of Khorivare draws breath because of the sacrifices of these people. Our most ancient of teachings speak of a great Orc civilization. These must be their descendants.
I returned from this excursion to find more bad news from my contacts amongst the Galifar. War is certainly brewing. I must decide soon whether I shall remain in Khorivare or move on. I have no reason to fear for my safety- even their more powerful wizards are hardly a threat, and there is no reason I should be targeted- but this will undoubtedly slow down my research.
Zol, Eyre 10th, 897YK- This is atrocious. I regretted, at points, remaining in Khorivare for this bloody conflict, but this is beyond the pale. Kaius I of Karrnath has turned his entire kingdom over to the miscreant trash that refer to themselves as the Blood of Vol. This is a disgusting bastardization of everything my people hold dear. I am unsure what steps I can take, beyond warning my people in the strongest possible terms of the threat these... things... represent.
Mol, Lharvion 16th, 918YK- I've agreed to go to Sharn to see if I can offer any insight on the tragedy in Lower Dura. I hate this city. While it is certainly a magical marvel and boasts countless marvels it is the antithesis of everything I have aimed for- a simple life of contemplation and study, avoiding the mob and the ceaseless march of pointless progress without consideration of the consequences.
Speaking of exactly that, the members of House Cannith wish to see me tomorrow to get my opinion on some contraption they're developing. Those fools will be the death of us all, I am certain.
Sar, Rhaan 28th, 965YK- I've now had occasion to personally interact with one of these "warforged". What a complete waste. These Cannith fools have created life- life!- and are using it only to create death. These warforged could be used for so many amazing things... indeed, we could learn so much from them, but even their name bespeaks destruction. Not since those fools turned to Vol have I been so heartbroken by the idiocy of others.
Far, Vult 20th, 965YK- As another year of this damnable war winds down I find my research is finally bearing fruit. I met with a night hag named Sora Kell, and together we compared notes around the magics that keep Eberron isolated from the broader multiverse. I am beginning to believe the barriers have focal points around Khorivare, and may have some kind of physical manifestation. While I cannot begin to fathom their origins or purpose I believe I may be able to track their locations. The question this begs, obviously, is whether the removal of such barriers is wise. Losing out on the opportunity to travel beyond this world is a heartbreaking notion, but destroying the world is clearly not an acceptable cost.
Mol, Nymm 16th, 992YK- What an incredible week this has been. I have finally had an opportunity to ride on one of the fabled Lyrandar airships, and it is truly a marvel. Such flight represents everything magic and technology can achieve when properly focused. I joined in a ride to Sharn, which I still despise, and then commissioned the airship to take me as far as Graywall. From there I rode Delphyne the rest of the way to The Great Crag (she complained the whole way, as is her wont). Sora Kell has sent me numerous letters asking me to see the city, and I could no longer tell her no. I was, once again, truly impressed. Sora Kell is not a good person by any definition, but nor is she the mindless personification of evil she is purported to be. In her daughters, and in The Great Crag, I see her vision and genius realized. These monsters lack anything most people would define as civilization, but most people are more than fools. There is an underlying structure being laid, both physically and socially. I have offered what help and guidance I can, though my presence somewhat undermines the Daughter's work. I will continue to correspond with them as I am able.
I also have been noticing a build up of arcane energy in Cyre, near Metrol, I think. It has been growing slowly for years, but I wrote it off to the Cannith creation forges and their other inanities. But something about this feels different. I have heard nothing from my contacts within Cannith, or Metrol for that matter, that gives any indication. Perhaps I am becoming paranoid, or perhaps the creation forges are putting off stronger energies than I had previously understood. The bastards are still tight-lipped after my comments about their warforged. It is impressive for humans to hold grudges for so long, given their short lifespans.
Sar, Olarune 20th, 994YK- I... am at a loss. Cyre is gone. All of it. The dead number in the tens of millions, I expect. I felt it. In the last few days the arcane energies that had been building slowly for years went from something I could sense, the way one can sense a change in the weather, to an almost audible tone. It was a minor irritant a few days ago. By the time a few of the others here noticed it the 'tone' was giving me headaches. This morning the pain was almost unbearable. I was about to ask Delphyne to fly me there to put a stop to the nonsense myself when the tone... stopped. I felt only a flash of relief before the blast of arcane energy and the sudden expiration of so many millions of lives knocked me unconscious. Some students found me and took me to my room (I am visiting the college for a brief sojourn). I awoke that evening as the first reports were coming in. I already knew as much as anyone.
An entire nation wiped out... how? What caused this? Why does the devastation, and the remaining fog, hug the borders? There is fear throughout the Khorivare that this is some kind of planned attack, but I think not. There is no wizard here who comes close to my power, and I could not accomplish such a feat. This smacks of fools dabbling with things they don't understand, though on a level I would have thought impossible. I must go investigate. I already have pleas from half the kingdoms in Khorivare to advise them, and I'm sure queries from beyond this continent will not be far behind. I leave in the morning.
Zol, Olarune 24th, 994YK- I have flown with Delphyne along much the fog's borders. The arcane energies emanating from area are staggering. A few poor bastards were seen staggering out within a day of the blast, but most of those are already dead. They spoke of horrors abound, and I see no reason to doubt their assertions.
Krasheek arrived yesterday, as I was sure she would. The ancient black stayed out of view to keep from scaring the mortals, which is kind of her, but something like this cannot be ignored by Argonnessen. She would not share much of how this related to the Prophecy, which is to be expected, but she seemed more surprised and concerned than I've ever seen her. Indeed, this is the only time I can recall ever seeing her surprised or concerned about anything at all. We did come together to investigate. It is rare enough to work with an equal, but of course Krasheek outstrips my comparably meager talents by orders of magnitude.
The biggest area of note seems to come from the middle of the anomaly. The energy coming from it is unlike anything I've seen before. Even Krasheek seemed puzzled, which was concerning enough on it's own. She has gone back to Argonnessen to report on her findings, but I am staying here a bit longer. I am focusing my attentions on this... aura... inside Cyre. It feels similar to the portal work I've been investigating, but it is warped somehow. Portals and teleportation are a tricky buisness, and while Krasheek insists controlled planar traveling is absolutely possible nothing I have ever come across suggests there is a way to control it. Still.. the possibilities are beyond intriguing.
I will need to enter the fog to learn more, but I'd prefer to wait until I can be certain of what I will find.
Wir, Olarune 25th, 994YK- I was woken this morning by a surge within the area I had been studying. Something has changed. Something... foul... even more foul than the residual deaths... dominates my senses. Was I wrong? Is the anomaly going to expand? And if so, in what direction? Or was I correct in suspecting a kind of portal, and now something terrible has come through? I do not think I can afford to wait any longer. I must brave the fog today. I have already spoken with Delphyne. She despises all of this, of course, but has agreed to take me in. I am grateful for that. Traversing the area on foot would have been beyond foolhardy.
Zor, Olarune 26th, 994YL- Nothing in the fog so far. Well... that is definitely not true. I saw no sign of the source of the malevolence. What I did find... it looked as though spells had come to life. I was attacked by a living cloudkill spell! Imagine! The thing growled at me as if it were an animal. Dispatching it proved easy enough, but the implications... There were also artifacts from all over the world. Cyre was a cosmopolitan city, to be sure, but this was something else. Ancient artifacts from Argonnessen? These fools wouldn't know what they were looking at. I saw items bearing marking of the ancient Goblin kingdoms... others that appeared to be drow in origin... even a few I recognized from my own land's history. I dared not touch anything, but the temptation was great.
Tracking anything in that damnable fog is nigh on impossible. Delphyne kept her bearings, but I could tell even she was getting turned around. That is another in a string of disconcerting firsts. She senses the evil too, however. We cannot give up. We return tomorrow.
Mol, Therendor 2nd, 994YK- Another day closer, and I'm sure we have almost tracked the bastard. I thought, at first, he was evading us by skill. But Delphyne realized he is wounded and lost. Even still, it will take all of my power to put a stop to him. I fear what may happen if he were to recover, or escape this hellish landscape.
Speaking of this hellish landscape, we were wounded today. I still am unsure of what it was, or how it evaded both of our precautions, but the blast took us unaware. Delphyne nearly fell from the sky, and I was staggered. No permanent damage, thankfully. But we cannot afford to spend a day recovering.
Ah, but I have nearly forgotten the most important discovery! It appears there are a group of warforged still living inside Cyre! We were invisible as we flew overhead, though I got the distinct impression they could still detect us somehow. I tried to note their location. It will be worth observing and hopefully meeting them. I judge their number to be around two dozen, and they seemed to be relatively organized and unhurt. Truly, these are remarkable creatures.
Zor, Therendor 5th, 994YK- I finally found the warforged community today, but they rebuffed my attempts to meet with them. They are SAVAGES! How dare they! Apologies, I have not been feeling well. They are a paranoid lot, which is understandable given the circumstances. They did refuse me admittance, though. It appears these warforged will be going their own way. I can scarcely blame them, given their lot. Of all of the aftereffects of this war, the impact of the warforged will be greater than anything save this blasted landscape of Cyre.
I have developed a way to track my prey. It requires me to land and proceed on foot. There is a... twisting... to the landscape that I can sense if I am close enough. Though the exercise is more taxing than it should be...
Delphyne, too, has been feeling a bit drained, and much more aggressive than I've seen her previously. Apathy is her preference, if it can be called such a thing. I am concerned the blast may have had a more lasting impact. We will take tomorrow to recovr, though it pains me to do so.
Sar, Therendor 7th, 994YK- The day of rest did us both wonders. Delphyne and I went back into Cyre with renewed vigor, and it was a good thing we were prepared! Dnger lurked everywhere, and we were forced to fight again and again. The savages deserved every bit they got.
Of my prey I have finally had a real breakthrough. A Symbol, carved into the skin of a body. It radiated the same evil energy. I should have kept him alive, I know, btu his brutality required decisive action. My work is too important to risk my neck on fools. Now that I have something to go on, I can contie to hunt the bastard and put his end.
Mol, Therendor 9th, 994YK- It emerged! The vile bastard escaped the fog of Cyre, but I was ready for him. He had a collection of miscreants, though I cannot imagine where they came from. They were mere fodder, regardless. A later review of their charred corpses revealed the symbol again and again, carved ino their skin. Savages.
But as for my foe, it appears to be a demon of some kind. This bastard bears little similarity to the demons I witnessed the heroes of Ghaash’kala vanquishing. Those demons were mindless savages. This one was different in form and intelligence. It attempted to use it's fodder to make good its escape. No doubt it feared my power, and with good reason. I am the greatest wizard of an Age! Nations fear my mere displeasure! Regardless, Delphyne and I hunted it down and I finally gave battle. The crafty bastard evaded my spells. Truly, I think perhaps the fog has weakened me somewhat. My most powerful spells seemed beyond my reach.
Regsrdless! The battle was fierce. I came at him again and again. It was clear he was still weakened, and I knew I had to finish this while I could. I finally struck him down. It seems his body was incinerated in the blast, for I could not find any trace of him. No matter. Nothing can match my power.
I return to Wynarn on the morning.
Sul, Eyre 2nd, 994YK- Today is my last day at this blasted waste of an institution! Ever since my retrun the students and faculty have been disrespecful and rude. There is no respect fo the arcane. The Arcanix has better rigor than this farce of a school! Delphyne has been mistreated as well! She was forced to defend herself and bit one of the students. Serves him right, the savage!
But I received word from one of my contacts among the Ghaash’kala. They fought a demon of the same type and description as the one I faced! There was an incursion, and the warriors were attacked from behind by a group of mostly bandits. The demon fought briefly, but used the attackers as a distraction, same as with me. The bastard then slipped past them and into the Demon Waste! Imaghine such a thing! It is no fault of the Ghaash’kala, of course. Brave warriors though they are they cannot stand up to something so dangerous. Only I can do that.
I was preparing to make my way to the Demon Wastes to deal with this miscreant myself, but apparently he'd alread escaped again! Poor fools did not stand a chance. Though I cannot understand the demon's actuons. I must now devore myself to tracking down this symbol and all it means. A demon matching the exact descirption and tactics of the one I faced can only mean one thing: a second demon has arrived.
(DM'S NOTE: From this point onward there are smattering attempts at entries, but they are garbled beyond recognition. Nothing useful or coherent can be discovered, and pages are torn, stained, or missing. Then, after several dozen blank pages, you discover one final entry)
Sypheros, 997YK- This is my last entry, I think. I have focused what little power I have left into fighting this thing inside of me long enough to get my last words down. My power is waning, which is a blessing, as my faculties are leaving me with an appalling quickness. I seem to have alienated my every friend and colleague. I have attempted to draft a few letters of apology, but they cannot be worth much. These last few years have been increasingly difficult, and I do not think I will be able to keep the madness at bay much longer. I have taken up residence in a hovel away from others. In my madness I have laid out traps, though with my waning power they are not as deadly as they could be. Small blessing, that. Delphyne ravages the forest. She has gone well and truly mad, but I cannot work up the will to put her down. Honestly, I have attempted to end myself, but the rituals require more than I have. It is a disgrace and horror that leaves me weeping. Such a fate for the once great Tiranil Amastacia... an Aerenali Elf dying of madness so far from home, with no rituals... ah, I cannot.
My singular focus has been on the symbol. Today it is apparent there has only ever been one demon, escaping from somewhere else in the multiverse and into Eberron. I cannot be sure of the reliability of any of my research, but its work has been subtle. I know he is in Sharn, and he does not have any love for his kin to the north. He appears to have worked his way up. Where I cannot fathom.
I grow tired. My head aches. Should any find this journal please send it to my people in Aerenal. I never imagined such an ignoble and horrific end. I pray the damage I do is minimal. I have destroyed my most powerful artifacts, lest I cause truly horriffic harm. It is the most I can do. I'm so sorry.
Blast! The reason I wrote this last damnable entry! Another has come through. It has been several months, I think. I have lost any semblances of dates. This one is a devil, not a demon. While in Eberron the difference is naught, there appears to be a strong rivalry between them. Finding the devil could be the key to stopping the demon. Devils can be worked with, though not with any ease. They respect rules and order. But it appears to have followed similar paths, making deals instead of attacking. It wants the demon dead, though I have no idea where to find him. SAVAGE!
Alas, I am finished. I pray the madness that takes me is complete and that I am vankuished before I can hurt too many.
Namárië.
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