History:
The Drowned tomes began as a myth but in UE 817 were revealed as a vital part of Gnomish history. During the Tabaxi Tumult of UE 485 as the sunken chapel dropped to the sea floor, it is said that Raim Dranik the Hand of Mazzu at that particular temple began writing her famed manuscript Arcana Lost.
It was a harrowing tale about the protagonist's (Aadaron) misuse of Arcana in Mazzu's name. As legend has it, the story came to him in a dream and took hold of her imagination like nothing ever had. Already renowned for her other work, 'The Tale and Narra Kupa', and 'Illuminated Waters' the idea that he would stop to write his third work under such dire circumstances was astounding.
As the water crept into the temple's basement, she worried not.
As the tides crested the windows, she worried not.
And as the chapel reach the sea floor, she set his quill down and expired,
Knowing the work is done.
Excerpt: Arcana Lost - Aadaron's Final Journey
Oh how I yearn to keep the calm amidst the tempest that brews within and without. I do not seek extravagance or scarcity, but a humble persistence in guarding my heart and hearth.
I must barricade the portals of my soul, that I may be safeguarded from all that threatens to assail me.
My life, cherished and fought for, cannot be cleaved by mere mortal hands, nor can I traverse the tumultuous unknown. Yet, in faith, I weather the storm, trusting in Mazzu to guide me to the shore.
Relevance:
Considered a fairly average work by non-gnomes, Raim's devotion to her craft sparked inspiration and aspiration for other great works under similar circumstances. Gnomes with their final breaths penning poetry, or Gnomish bards singing their greatest notes mere seconds before the axe fell. It is believed that Raim acts as a muse in a Gnome's final minutes giving the artistic ability well beyond their own.
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