Diary of the First Chisisi Expedition

The Ill-Fated Journey to Find Akmara Anai

In the early days our ancestors walked these sands until their feet blistered and their skin flaked off like a snake's... They were tired, and hungry, and begged Na Diwa for water. On the eighth day their prayers were answered, and black spires rose from the ground... But it was not a blessing from Netamesphut... But a curse from another, older being...

— Excerpt from an Enethian Folktale; south-western Chisisi region.

The Diary of the First Chisisi Expedition is a journal penned by an unknown individual believed to be of Enethian descent. Archivists theorize, based on the information available in the journal, that it dates to around the time of the first Enethian migration into the Gahiji Mountains- after the Red Schism led to their separation from the Ileri.
It details a religious band (potentially an early form of the Bez-Aia Diwa) sent into the desert in search of a place known as Akmara Anai; this site was believed by early locals to be the site of some sort of demonic presence that was corrupting the land.
It is unknown what came of the band after the journal's last date of entry... The journal certainly indicates that many of its members were killed in the events leading up to Akmara Anai's discovery- and in events at the structure itself. What befell the survivors mentioned afterwards, however, still remains a mystery; both the structure and the band appear to have eventually faded into obscurity. What little mentions remain are found in folklore in Enethian settlements located in the Chisisi Desert, near the south-western portion of the Gahiji Mountains.

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Diary of the First Chisisi Expedition

1st Entry

We have just started our expedition to Akmara Anai in the Chisisi Desert after hearing some rumors about a demonic presence situated there... I have assembled around four thousand shield brothers and sisters of the Holy Order to take part in this expedition. I just pray to Netamesphut that, whatever we encounter in the desert, it does not make the sands our final resting place.

2nd Entry, Unknown

We have been making good progress throughout our journey. Yesterday Sala Mehi and his team came upon a strange formation that looks to be some kind of idol. I visited his team in the evening just before last light to check on him and I swear that idol looked at me and moved- even if it was just an inch.
I admit I am starting to have doubts about this expedition. Hopefully we can finish our mission quickly; I do not trust this desert.

Archival Notes: Damage suggests at least 3 missing entries here.

Assumed 6th Entry, Unknown

That idol is the one that's causing these ill omens with us! At first breath we woke to find a dozen or so of our shield brethren horrifyingly murdered... Mutilated and desecrated. There was blood everywhere. I just want to get this done as fast as I can and never come back to this Diwa forsaken place again.

Assumed 7th Entry, Unknown

We were ambushed today by one of the great sand wyverns that lurk in these areas. We only lost forty shield bretheren, but it destroyed quite a large number of our supplies before Kalim managed to gouge its eyes out with his spear. All could have been lost if it weren't for the fact that we came upon a town whose citizens welcomed us... We will rest here for a few more days before continuing our expedition; there is a strange building a few miles from here that the locals say is haunted. At least we have finally found our target.

Assumed 8th Entry, Unknown

After bidding the inhabitants of the village aua, we started on our journey towards the structure they mentioned. We reached it before last light, but there is was still enough light to tell that it is massive; I have never seen anything of its size before... Not even the Temple of a Thousand Faces could compare to its size.

Assumed 9th Entry, Unknown

We have been here less than a half day and my shield brothers and sisters are being plagued by voices that are not real. They are seeing hallucinations of a kind we have never witnessed before... But we were trained for this. We dedicated our lives to fighting evil- and this is no exception. We shall persevere. Ta-menat sahi kalika Na Diwa.

Archival Notes: Damage suggests at least 6 missing entries here.

Last Entry (assumed 16th), Unknown

What I witnessed today will haunt me forever.
I woke up half between night's shade and light's crest, just before the carnage began... These beings... I do not know what attacked us, but they were not of our realm. I do not believe they were of Ta-Khara Diwa, either- though they were certainly from some afterlife; they passed through walls and bodies alike, and our spears did little to stop them. We were pushed into the Temple, but many of us did not survive until first light when the beings mysteriously dispersed themselves. What remains of us quickly made our way outside the temple and are now resting as I write.
If Netamesphut decides that I shall live for another day, then I will raze this place to the ground... Ta-menat sahi kalika Na Diwa, I will.

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Type
Journal, Expedition Log
Medium
Paper

Authoring Date
Unknown
Authors
Unknown; likely Enethian male