Secca Throm
A cunning, middle aged scholar, looking to continue investigating the Tenebrous, her academic focus of choice. Knows when to adopt a meek, easily confused persona to put people off guard and when to abandon it when a more direct approach is called for.
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Gobu 3
Dearest Diary,
Maybe Olma and Cade were on to something, for nothing short of divine intervention can account for these most recent series of events.
Here I was, preparing my manipulations, when the group suddenly returns from their mountain trek, some looking crestfallen, others eager to travel to the Tenebrous. Apparently there's some great slumbering evil within that needs to be destroyed.
Of course there is...
Still, I shouldn't look a gift lizard in the mouth. Despite their assorted peculiarities, this band can be very competent (when they want to be), and now I don't have to expend any effort in convincing them to bring me to the desert. Sufficient preparation will still be required however, which is why we've teleported to Corp. The trade hub is certainly an interesting place, with all its treehouses and cults. It wasn't long before we encountered a demon possessed parrot (loyal to Pazuzu, I believe). We teamed up with a mysterious halfling man, by the name of Chadwick and took a job for an agreeable (at the time) hobgoblin, Vikkar. Parkeh opted to compete with me for his attention, and I dare say I was caught off guard at her proficiency in such games. Considering my current state (more on that later), subsequent clashes will continue to be in her favor.
Regardless, Vikkar betrayed us to the green dragon Viridex (an actual dragon? I didn't think any still lived in the Silent Lands!), whom we had to do battle with. We defeated him, but spiteful creature that he is, he placed a curse on me (another one!), trapping me in the form of a goblin!
A carefully planned out and perfected skincare routine, right out the window!
The indignity!
Although, I suppose I'm in better shape than Vikkar. There wasn't much left of him, but Parkeh has mentioned having the ability to bring people back to life, so I took a finger with me (don't judge me diary!).
Regarding the dragon, I can be spiteful too. I would never admit it to Erwood, but I've come around to seeing the value in necromancy, unsightly that it is. I've been studying Erwood's reanimations and while the magic is unfamiliar to me, I think I'm close to managing to replicate it. Certainly the Shadow Weave is capable of supporting such magics. Let's see how the dragon likes shambling about at my beck and call!
But I digress...
Once Viridex was killed, we managed to raid a portion of his lair (his sister claimed part of the spoils). While there, Chadwick displayed a truly impressive ability, able to seemingly detect all the intelligent beings within the cave. I think he'll make an excellent addition to the group. We returned to Corp, dragon corpse in tow, and I endeavored to announce our victory to the townsfolk. Olma seemed a bit embarrassed for some reason, but I doubt she has any complaints about the discount I was able to get us. I wonder if "the Irregulars" will stick?
Speaking of embarrassing Olma, while I'm far too mature to gloat in front of her, at least let me tell you about the delicious irony regarding Olma's powers: Chione has been sacrificing spell-marked individuals and sending that power to Olma! I warned her time and time again that there were no gods in the Silent Lands, but did she listen? Maybe next time she'll be more appropriately weary of unexplained power
Certainly, I don't expect to hear anymore peeps out of her about my treatment of Chandra. At least I took steps to remove the actual need for such behavior by the Shadowspeaker, while Olma chose to leave and do nothing about Chione. If Shadowspeaker Ellis decides to continue sacrificing citizens, that's on him and every death by Chione's claws is on Olma.
Hmm...
Validation aside, I do hope that, should Olma emerge from the Tenebrous, she'll manage to rally herself and return to Kema to deal with Chione. If she doesn't, I suspect it won't be long before Olma is consumed by her guilt, from the inside out.
Anyway, we depart for the desert tomorrow morning. What ink and paper I have remaining will be spent detailing the Tenebrous. I think it likely that this will be last time that I'll write you. Thank you, dearest diary, for your companionship all these years. Sad as it may be, you're probably my oldest friend. Try not to miss me too much.
Belan 30
Dearest Diary,
It's been quite some time since I last wrote to you about my curse. Decades in fact! How time gets away from us. I have long since made peace with it, and I've forgiven my parents for their choices. They did what they had to do and the deals they made let them survive in the Silent Lands, until they reached the safety of Azul. I wouldn't be alive at all, otherwise, and at least this curse conveys youth, beauty and power for the duration of my life (and 45 years is more than most get in the Silent Lands).
I had made my peace with it, and yet I couldn't resist when given the opportunity to ask if I could save myself from the curse. Here's what the Fates told me:
"The curse can be broken at the heart of the Tenebrous. The time of the unborn is not yet at hand, but a gift of life can save both you and this world from a darkness that would one day eclipse the power of even the New Shadow. You will find your cure waiting for you at the center of a crystal, beneath the blackest of sands, guarded by undead with spectral wings. Exchange life for death here and free. Freedom comes at its own price, however. Know that she who holds your curse will seek you out to claim her price, your death."
It doesn't take an academy professor to see their answer as no answer at all. They expect me to die at the Tenebrous (and I certainly won't be able to sacrifice anyone else). Which is fine. I expected to die there anyway. So much for prophecy and fate. Maybe I could have been a fortuneteller in a past life. That being said, I have no idea when I'll even get a chance to reach the Tenebrous. I am less than a year away from when the curse claims me and find myself on the other end of the Silent Lands. And I doubt I'll be able to convince my current companions to come with me anytime soon. They keep finding new problems that "only" they can solve.
Heroes.
Especially, this new warrior that's joined us. I think I heard him suggest killing the Umber Lords so the gods could return to the Silent Lands. Someone clearly doesn't understand how the the Silent Lands were created.
Take this business with Chione and Azavox. They ventured off into Mount Kema to save the former and it sounds like they plan to go below to destroy the latter. I certainly have no business climbing an icy mountain, so I opted to remain behind in Sandur, in the company of some of it's hunters. I think once they return, I'll try to convince them to use one of their tree teleports to take us somewhere closer. I'll take my leave of them then and being my final preparations for my expeditions. Overall, I've enjoyed my vacation, but it had to come to an end eventually. I expect my companions (especially poor Olma) and their meddling will lead them all to early deaths, but I wish them luck all the same.
Belan 26
Dearest Diary,
If I had thought the state of Azul was in bad shape, the fields outside Sa-Owu were a charnel house, but with all the corpses pulled out last minute. Inside, ghouls and demons stalk the streets, the former directed to digging up the streets (searching for the Eye, we assume). Both were quite beyond my charms, unfortunately, and I was really looking forward to pretending be a minor noble. I almost had a chance to infiltrate demonic party, but more on that later.
We were able to get through the gates, and reclaim an old Andara townhouse (squatters included), and Olma did some reconnaissance, which led us to an unfortunate meeting with one of Sa-Owu former leadership, Nyx. Like Chandra, this creature was apathetic to the plight of her city and it's fate (and far too smug and petty for my liking). Having already dealt with one irresponsible leader, I might have lost my temper with her during our second meeting. She didn't appreciate it, but at this point I think I can convince the group to destroy her once we obtain the Eye (and a reanimated Erwood) that she was guarding. We shouldn't have agreed to her task either. A demon that goes by the name Darkflame, is not one that I want to steal powerful relics from (cursed ones at that, seeing as Erwood died upon touching it!). His party I was looking forward to seeing however, but, alas, I never got the chance. By some twisted fate, a minor errand evolved into a meeting with an actual demonlord (and a disgusting one at that). Why it was willing to assist us in stealing Darkflame's mace, I don't think we will ever know, but the method it used to teleport us to Darkflame's private sanctum, was not something I ever want to think about again. To think it was just hiding out beneath Sa-Owu, unnoticed. I shudder to think if other demonlord have taken the opportunity to enter the Silent Lands during this invasion. As a side note, I really must accelerate my study into teleporting shadow magic.
Another occurrence of note was this strange tattoo that appeared on a boy that we ran into. I had heard that when I was visiting Azul, similar marks had been appearing on people there as well. They seem to hold magical energy and were reactive to the holy symbols that Erwood and Olma carry. Erwood was able to absorb the magic, killing the child as a result. Olma was in turn able to sacrifice her own magical power to resurrect him. The high priest of Azul was able to sacrifice marked citizens to power the shield over Azul in a similar fashion. Considering the mark is reactive to Olma's prayer, the mysterious force that Olma is in contact with must clearly be at the heart of this particular phenomenon. My recommendation for caution fell on deaf ears (again). She continues to insist that it's her Goddess and I worry that she's in for quite a disappointment down the road. The rules of the Silent Lands have been established since it's creation; it certainly isn't gonna change just because someone really wants it to.
Belan 22
Oh Diary,
How I had hoped that I would be filing these pages with my whirlwind love affair with Niog or my sudden windfall with the village of Andara (and my "marriage" as Sonia Andara), but instead I must mourn the state of my beautiful Azul. I thought Lady Chandra would be able to protect it, but instead she sought to abandon it. I won't go into the minutiae of how Chandra became separate from her Shadow (Olma said it something to do with a magic scroll from another god). But now that she was "freed", all she wanted to do was never go back to the city she founded, shedding not a single tear for all her followers. If I didn't think the shadow weave would collapse, I would have been tempted to deposit her back into the sea that we fished her out of! I thought of her as our personal goddess and never have I been more disappointed. My disappointment in Olma was a close second, however. To risk the lives of whole city, my home, over some silly principle about freedom. Well, they aren't particular happy with me either now. Chandra I returned to Azul, where she remain, until the threat to our city has passed. Shirking one's responsibilities are all well and good (I do so all the time), but not when have a whole city depending on you. Chandra made her choice when she ascended, now she must accept the consequences. Outside opposing Olma's naive views on freedom, I imagine she is angry that I had to immobilize her when confronting Chandra (it was for her own safety). I'm sure she will forgive me eventually, once she matures a bit. I'll simply have to make sure she lives long enough to do so.
As I write this, we travel to Sa-Owu by carriage (courtesy of my new "husband", Robert). Due to the animosity between Azul and Sa-Owu, I've never visited before, but I've always been curious about it. On paper, it sounds ghastly, but I'm sure there is nuance beneath the surface (hopefully, Erwood is an outlier among his people). Niog is still with us, although I have found my interests in him quite diminished after seeing what he did to Parkeh (and I'm not even sure what actually happened to her). I suppose some fantasies are better left fantasies.
Brigan 29
Dearest Diary,
Its been another slew of activity these past few days (don't these people ever take a day off?). I had just barely settled in for the night following our mine excursion when Ergan decided to send an elemental to kidnap Erwood (Ergan could have at least kept him, instead of sending him back). Then the following day, I'm barred from seeing Thula, and so my hopes at tweaking Ergan's nose were thwarted. I can only hope that the letter I left at her window finds its way to her. Surely if she can make contact with the other Thula's, they can make her see reason.
There was also some business with soul marks that my companions were struggling with (apparently Ergan provided a ritual to aid them). It wasn't any of my business, but I have started taking a liking to Olma (her bashfulness can be so adorable), so I decided to stick around and help. And what a mistake that was. Of course Ergan's ritual would summon a demon that nearly kills me for my efforts. Thank Chandra I was able to flee and find a healer. I really am starting to think it prudent to looking into enabling teleportation with my shadow magic.
Afterwards, we're rushing off to Intai (via teleportation!) at the behest of a disgraced ambassador. Normally I wouldn't have agreed, but he did pay a large sum upfront and on of the Eyes is apparently in Intai. There's certainly a charm to the crystal architure, but it all looks too uniform; a cityscape should have some irregularities, so that you can appreciate each individual buildings. Intai's cityscape looks like one big mass. Never mind the glowering statues of Intai's founder (certainly didn't make me feel welcome!). The guardians that we encountered at the government building we arrived at were easy enough to fool and they couldn't sense our invisible companions (I bet Intai is full of foreign spies). Things did eventually take a turn for the worse when we got a bit too impatient (a clerk or two may have been assaulted), and, feeling a bit impulsive, I decided to separate from the group to look for the Eye. Had a run in with the man we were sent to investigate (Tak, or "the navigator", as San keeps referring to him as). Thankfully, he was very polite, and offered to reunite me with my companions, which gratefully agreed to. Once gathered, he offered us the Eye in exchange for a truly heinous act (that I'd rather not even repeat), but luckly, I was able to convince him to give us another task: killing Torbin. He did feel that we had to be tested first before he was certain that we could handle Torbin. A bit arrogant of him to think that he could test us himself; he barely lasted a minute against us, before falling over.
Oh, and then all of the Abyss broke loose, literally.
Honestly, Diary, it seems each horror I encounter keeps getting replaced by an even worse one. I can't describe the terror I felt when demons started invading the city. That ominous red lightening; the draconic fiend that crushed Tak and gave chase to my poor Brujo; and the unseen screams echoing from all over the city. And I was so worried for Olma when she fell down a fissure (and apparently say some strange thing down there).
We were able to save the city in the end. We had to activate some powerful device was capable of purging all chaotic influence within the city, which I only realize as I write this, that such defense measures were obviously needed to protect the city from all the planar rifts in the nearby Bedlam Isles. However, our reward for saving Intai, was imprisonment!
"No good deed goes unpunished in the Silent Lands", as they say.
We were eventually released, although San was nearly executed. The only silver lining was that we were able to charter a ship with a most handsome dragon man. Don't worry diary, I'll be sure to keep you updated on all the juicy details with that one, in the coming days.
Brigan 24
Dearest Diary,
It's been another eventful day. We had just arrived at the Great Works the previous night and instead of getting a chance to take in the sights (what few there were, it's really just one big rock), we're already running off to meet with archmages one day and jumping down pits the next. I suppose meeting the original Thula was a bit interesting, but also depressing. It didn't help that Thula was such a bore (who has time to sit around painting all day?). Her "husband", however....I didn't think I'd meet a bigger pig than Renn, but here I am, corrected. She may be dull, but she certainly doesn't deserve the cage Ergan has put her in. I'll have to see about "loosening" her bars, before we depart.
Climbing down that mineshaft was truly a nightmare, I don't how the others were able to handle it (and they decided to climb back up afterward!). Than we had gelatinous cube elevators, had to dive through fetid cave water and fight some metallic beetles. Myrronn was a dear, but a bit hard to look at. Very talented (and knowledgeable), but I wish he didn't live so far out of the way. I certainly won't be climbing down anymore holes. Perhaps I can channel my shadow magic into a teleportation effect? He did gift a scroll of teleportation, but I was forced to use it to return to the surface. Just think about the hours the other spent climbing is making me tired. I think that will be all for tonight. I'm looking forward to a long, restful sleep.
Brigan 16
Dearest Diary,
I write to you aboard a small ship, winding it's way up the river to the Great Works. After the heist, the Ogre noticed the intrusion the next day, and called for a faculty meeting. Naturally, I opted to skip the meeting and depart with my new companions instead. We found a ship traveling to the Works and paid for passage. Erwood actually tried to get me to pay for everyone by saying this was part of my expedition (we're were literally going in the opposite direction!). I admit that I didn't mind the detour too much. After so many years toiling away at the Academy, I think I've earned a small vacation before continuing my work.
It hasn't been the most comfortable ride, but the crew was most eager and accommodating to me, so along with these notes on the Tenebrous, I had a few things to keep my occupied and stimulated. It's only now that I've finished reading everything (there were some interesting, but unverifiable, theories) and my interest in the crew as waned, that I've found the time to write in you again.
We stopped by two villages on the way. Both were quaint, but still lovely in their own way (Note to self: buy some more cider for Popsicle on the way back). Unfortunately, both also had some minor problems and doubly unfortunate is that this group can't seem to help but stick their collective noses into everyone's problems. Honestly, I shudder to think what will waylay them in the Works, if evil cats and a case of minor extortion gets them so excited. Both times, Erwood expected a reward for our (yes, they kept roping me into it too!) efforts, from the obviously poor villages. He end up trying to get them to grow his legend, as if he was some character in story. A bit ridiculous to me, but I did get a lovely cloak out of it.
Brigan 11
Dearest Diary,
What an exciting night it has been! I had just finished packing when one of those adventurers stopped by my office, hoping to enlist my aid in their scheme, as part of their payment for escorting me to Tenebrous. By Chandra, they were serious before??!
Later that night, when they told me what they were planning to do, I was severely tempted to warn the Ogre. But then I thought how satisfying it would be to tweak his fat nose one more time before leaving. Their "plan" wasn't that impressive, but I was confidant I could have convinced the Ogre that I was a hostage if we were caught. So against, my better judgement, I went along with it. And I'm glad I did (not that I'll ever admit it to the adventurers). It was truly the most fun I've had in a while. Finding traps, dispelling wards, and fighting monsters? Maybe there's something to this adventuring business. Plus I got the Ogre's own spellbook out of the excursion.
That being said, these adventurer's lack a bit of sense and cohesion (two of them just waited outside), especially that Erwood character. He reminds me of a particular type of student that I get in my classes from time to time: a prodigy, eager to learn and achieve mastery, but without a drop of real guile or awareness. He would excel in his studies without noticing the target he paints on his back for the other students. They would collectively chew him up, spit him out and sending him packing, usually alive, sometimes dead. Meanwhile, like many new students who arrive from the surrounding villages, Olma has her expectations on the verge of being crushed and her self esteem destroyed. The other two don't really seem to have much personality (although I've never seen a Killoren in person, so that was nice).
Anyway, I must leave you for now. My after-office-hours guest seems to have sobered up enough for another round.
Brigan 10
Dearest Diary,
At last! My latest machination has finally come into fruition. The Ogre reluctantly agreed to fund my expedition to the Tenebrous (although one might consider "fund" to be a generous term regarding that pittance that I was able to get out of him). The tipping point seemed to be a group of obnoxious adventurers (quite the tautology) that kept badgering the Ogre about one of his artifacts. I suppose at that point, he simply wanted both of us gone as quickly as possible. I bet he thinks he's quite clever having "discovered" such an easy solution to two annoyances.
The adventurers were clearly fooled by my performance as well, considering how eager they were to agree to aid me in the expedition. A backup con, in case their grift with the mask doesn't work out? They got their hands on some scholar's research notes on the topic, so it's a committed con, if nothing else. Well, I wish them luck. I've gotten what I wanted, so I'll be busy packing what I can take with me and hiding the rest, lest those harpies in the enchantment department come into my office and pick it clean.
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