The Record of Storms

The Record of Storm is, on the surface, a partially anonymous account of many different authors, some of whom identified themselves in the text, while others did not, that details the thoughts and observations of the late Imperial chroniclers who were studying the Wyrdwinds. The authors vary wildly in their level of erudition and metaphysical understanding, with some parts being so wildly inaccurate or simply outright incomprehensible. However, other parts of it are written with an almost dispassionate tone describing the effects and behaviors of the Wyrdwinds and Wyrdholds. For this reason, The Record of Storms is valued both by many different branches of the Imperial Scriptorium.

Historical Details

Background

The Record of Storms was, as far as most scholars are concerned, originally exactly what its title implies: the records of a sorcerer or a group of sorcerers, likely Imperial, who were observing the behavior and changes to the Wyrdwinds in the Late First Imperial Era. The conservative school of thought is that these sorcerers were likely part of an Imperial observatory based on the Peninsula of the Stormwatcher, for each of these early accounts (which appear to be the collection of observations on a monthly basis) are signed by "the Stormwatcher". There are at least five distinct handwritings in these early accounts, and they appear contemporaneously. The consensus among Imperial scholars is that this organization was most likely originally led by a senior sorcerer whose official title was the Stormwatcher, but he often had his assistants and students actually compile these reports that were likely sent back to the old capital. 
However, there are no dates on any of these reports, nor are they written in a manner consistent with military or governmental reports. They often include spurious details and some believe even outright redaction and tampering where the voice of the author can be quite clearly heard. There are many theories over the origin of these additions and editing, though so far, there has been no consensus reached. Some say that it was one of the later authors, as the work becomes increasingly less dry and more personal as it goes on. Some believe that the Empress herself redacted the Record and this outside voice in the early documents is hers. 
As the Late First Imperial Age continues, the authors of the Record become increasingly more resigned as they realize that the Wyrdwinds are growing stronger and there is little they can do to stop it. Gaps enter the Record at this time, periods where it is clear that the Stormwatchers were no longer sending monthly reports. Each time there is one of these 'gaps', when the text resumes, the authors seem to add more of their personal thoughts and feelings and show more and more depression, anger, and hopelessness. It is clear that the Empire has already begun its decline at this period and the Stormwatchers have been, effectively, cut off from their support, but see little options but to attempt to survive and, when they have time, fulfill this 'duty' to record.
The concept of the duty of the Stormwatcher becomes a recurring theme in the later parts of the book. These later Stormwatchers, some of whom have names, some of whom never provide it, came to understand their duty not in learning more about the nature of the Storm, but simply recording it, its length, and the effects they have seen first hand. The reason why they are recording it was clearly lost as the Record changed hands and moved, describing areas in the Peninsula and Ceralus and even at times the Iron Spine Mountains and the Roselands.
The writers began to try to identify patterns, as well as provide accounts for how to 'predict' when a Storm was coming. These ranged from plausible methods to the ludicrous. However, it is these later sections that the modern Stormwatchers claim as the proof that the Great Storm that the Shield of Terraneus is meant to stop has not yet come. The Record mentions this Great Storm that will threaten the world, where even the Wyrdtower will crumble as the Mistwalkers ride the Storm to its very top. The Steel Wind claims that this event had already happened and the Empress is the Shield of Terraneus. 
The Empress, as she often does, denounces both interpretations as empty theology, but that has not stopped cults of both the Steel Wind and the Stormwatchers from sprouting throughout her empire. In fact, her denouncement only seems to fuel both sides as they point to different parts of the (increasingly erratic) Records as support for their interpretations.
There are at least three different 'styles' of writing that have been distinguished by the scholars of the Scriptorium. The first style is the original Stormwatchers, who were sending reports, though these have shown clear signs of being tampered with as mentioned above. The second style is more of an epistolary style, as if it is compiled from the journals of people who lived through the Age of Storm. The final style is the later style, which becomes theological and prophetic. It is believed that the entry on the Great Storm and the Shield of Terraneus in its entirety was written by one devoted person, who also went back and rewrote older entries in the account to better suit his intention for the document.

Public Reaction

The people of the Iron Empire, and most of the world, tend to treat the Record with a mixture of skepticism but also value it as a historical text. The early Stormwatchers had made some interesting discoveries that are used by sorcerers and windcallers to this day to fuel their magic. Scholars appreciate it for its accounts of people and places during the Age of Storms, even with the gaps in its chronology. Many have taken the text as a semi-religious one, especially in the Empire.

Legacy

The Record of Storms is used by the Steel Wind and the modern Stormwatchers as a holy text. Sorcerers study it to better understand the nature of the Wyrdwinds. The scholars of the Iron Empire use it as a secondary text to support events before they are added to the Imperial Record.

Type

Text, Religious

Medium

Vellum / Skin