Oliver Chastain's Journal Fragments

These documents were recovered from the wreck of the Vendetta on January 22nd, 1000 PCE.

Jan 13

Been stayed in the kelp for nearly a week. Crew started going missing, taken by vines. The men already restless. Now more frightened of the demon than they are of me. When we came upon the spire I knew we must be close to the Sunken City. Couldn’t resist using the power to try to raise it. Not strong enough. I caused the sargasso to rise up and ensnare us. The crew are starting to realize it’s my fault. If only I had the patience to see things through to the Forbidden City first. Deathbringer must be brought to its completion. I can’t let these ignorant pirates stop me!

Jan 8

Attempted to raise the Sunken City yesterday but I couldn’t control the power and now the Silent Sea has us in its grasp. Mere setback. I dreamt of the city in the jungle again. It was full of ancient magic. The spirits of the race fathers hold their secrets there. I saw the mark of transcendence again as well: three lines of equal length. Three natures. Earth, man, and heaven? Father, Son, Holy Spirit? I feel at long last that the dark one is ready to reveal his secrets to me. The Forbidden Zone is calling and the Master awaits my arrival. His power could be mine. Once we escape from these cursed vines nothing will stop me.

Jan 5

Voyage well underway. Bound for the Zone. In my dreams I see the jungle unfurling its secrets. Vaults ready to be discovered.

Vaults like in Larada the first time I saw the dark one. The village in flames, the bodies burning: the killing was a ritual and through it we summoned Lukan: the black fire demon. He showed me the Larada vault, secrets of the race fathers. The commandant was a superstitious fool. He would have had us destroy it all. I knew I had to claim the power for myself, but I was too cowardly to do it alone. So I found a partner. Together we killed the lieutenant and his men. Then, while we he pondered how we’d divide the spoils, I killed him too.

I was a soldier. I had killed before, but this was different. Murder was my initiation and blood my anointing. After Larada I knew that I had the will to do what must be done. Every life I have spent has brought me one step further on this journey. Soon my path will end in the Zone at the source of the supreme power. For that I would murder the world.

Jan 2

The Union is terrified of the Phoenix Order. But I know their secret. The Phoenix is finished. The master showed me a vision of their golden citadel in flames. The mind mages have nothing left to fight for. Bribing their acolytes in Memphis to give me the Zone map and navigation stone was all too easy. Unfortunately this map is incomplete. The marker symbols have been removed. The Master showed me the missing symbols in a vision last night: a moon, a shadow, and three lines. But where do the symbols go? Master! Show me more!

Item type

Book / Document