Lasika's Journal

Lasika's entries written in charcoal.

(this page originally coded)

Sufficiently deep water of an inch or more contains small pebble-like eggs, or "Faerie pods", which will hatch every third andu on the hottest day, regardless of season. These hatch into faerielings and drift aimlessly until attracted by a living organism, whereupon they feed on the flesh of the nose, mouth, and ears, mainly. They lay small white cocoons inside the body which leech off the spirit, making their victims susceptible to necromantic influence.

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Necromantic influence displays as acute listlessness or, opposite this, intense focus on a task. Performing repetitive actions without any outward indicator of consciousness is the main symptom. These traits strengthen in the victim when placed near other afflicted organisms. The only cure is complete body relocation through Holy means, after the body is blessed by a cleric, which is to say, sacrifice.

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Infected organisms that are not in this stage will show signs of softened resolve regarding the necromantic scourge throughout Elanthia. Indifference and outright acceptance are also warning signs. All bodily fluids expelled from infected organisms carry pod spores, which can be seen as drifting motes in sunlight, and will seek out standing water to resume the cycle.

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I discovered, almost by accident, a warding sigil carved upon some stones near the lighthouse on the Cape of Storms. This area is entirely free of Faerielings. The markings resemble those found upon the smaller runestones found upon many a guild's donation shelves. I have found it is enough to keep one under my hat to keep me protected about town. Not all runestones are the same, for some of the sigils do not ward them at all.

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These Faerie pods were created by alchemists working for Baron Gyfford and Princess Arilana. Their research study is located somewhere in Throne City - I suspect the museum, personally. It is common knowledge Arilana is descended of Merelew blood, was BORN a Merelew, and transfigured into an elf in order to live a longer life to oversee their plans to fruition. If the stories of love are true, she would have chosen to become human, as the Prince was.

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In making the populace indifferent to necromancy, they are directly influencing the gods' anger toward their provinces, most notably the god Drogor, Lord of Storms. By keeping the lands wet with this rain, the spawning ground for their Faerie pods are increasing in range. Infected organisms have been discovered as far north as Muspar'i and as far south as Corik's wall.

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The Sea Priestess Whiteburn is, as far as I am aware, not involved with this plan. She has performed ritual sacrifice for me on occasion, and is free herself of the Faerie taint. However, she encourages the storms, and that is the insidiousness of the plan - that even the most devoted of clerics furthers the transformations. The shopkeeper Chizili turned this very day. Her water is practically free to freshly converted Merelew.

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Once an infected organism is stripped of its soul, the body becomes a husk. The meat is easily removed and the skin becomes stretched and moist. Merelew come ashore in dozens every day to seek out these husks to wear, feeding themselves freely of the meat within. Gorging themselves to the point of bursting, they began to spew body parts and other meals, which attracted great attention. This attention was quickly divided by the "timely" appearance of the Spider.

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Prior to this point, the Merelew had been taking lessons from the Ocular in how to disguise themselves, (though a constant want for water will always be a blazing clue to the wary.) I was informed by a Kaldar, some time ago, that there exists a metal necessary to reveal an Ocular's true form, and so I began to mine one of every metal myself. I was unable to succeed in this task.

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In the woods south of Arthe Dale, I found a small cavern beneath an outcropping of rocks. Digging soon revealed a further tunnel aglow with gems. I explored as deep as I was able by their light, but further in it was too dark to continue, at which point a massive scaled creature savaged me from behind. It was no Merelew. I was able to escape and tend my wounds, and when I returned the following andu, the gems were gone.

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With a lantern this time, I carefully followed the tunnel deeper, keeping track of its turns - heading south. By my senses, I had traveled for a day and a half before turning back - a three day journey in total. I brought more oil and more food and continued. On the third day I came across a Prydaen man, of black and orange mottled fur. I was unable to discern his level of infection, and he gave me directions to a ladder, which brought me beneath the Moon Mage guild.

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Returning to the outcropping later revealed there was no tunnel, the digging I had done had been grown over by wildflowers.(1) There seems to be a connection between gems and the Merelew. Perhaps it was the coming of the Spider that alerted them to a way to further control the populace. Who does not love shiny things? The gems harvested are surely in circulation now, no doubt imbued with magics to distract the otherwise observant to the transfigurations occurring.

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With what metals I was able to find, I crafted myself a dome helmet. I fear they are closing in on me. Though this helmet is unable to protect my projected thoughts (which I know they are always listening to), it is at least able to reflect the light necessary for a moon mage's psychic eye to glance down upon me. Unless the moons are at an angle. Then it is useless.(2)

(this page written as follows:)

The Herald - dead end. Silvyrfrost - dead end. Birds - dead end. Throne City - possible. Kssarh - corrupted. Inquisition - dead end. Ragge - dead end. Savrin - dead end. Perune -

(this page written as follows:)

What WAS thing nrth Kaerna? Nvr seen bfore. Ystrday, saw something simlr dragd into sewer, remind invstg. Tmrow notes: fnish dig hol undr twr. New shvl. Nxt spot bhnd Carl Emp.

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All of the Crossing has almost turned now. I must go warn Lucia. This will be the last entry. Getting to her will be difficult, getting back may be impossible. But she'll know what to do next. I've done everything she sent me to do, this is as much data as I could gather. Now you know why I kept so secret. I wish I could tell you everything else. Keep the rest of them safe for me, won't you, Rihlo? I'm sorry you weren't the cipher. Please remember us. For me.

(the cipher page)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z / 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 / The first is key and mirror, the second holds score. Though it may circle 'round thrice or more, each step numbers four. / The bards know the beginning, inside the divided place of rest. The first clue should be easy - the others made to test.

(this page written in black ink)

Scribe F----- of the Temple, 423 years, 7th month, Moliko, of the Amber Phoenix / Found this journal behind the waterfall, locked in a watertight casket. Still feels damp. Previous page seems to contain clues to the cipher. Following page, the coded riddle. It's not so hard compared to Father G-----'s texts. Save for the final cipher, each clue is only four letters! -F

(the riddle page)

LOOK IN YOUR MIRROR: WHERE DO THEY SING? / HGZIG RM GSV XLiMVI, DZOP FMWVI NV / TVBT KWZ RJKK DQA yMF RZ VQ WPQZF / FZA LG AMP BaCPPA, AMPCP LB FGIV FGP XTV AF NF / ZLBEYML ZlO MSZO, K NKFP KZ LSBP ZE MBEW / FVXEETGTU PK RGXKPeT, EQT GDPKF JS LT / OWTX YKMJG, C DwZH QV RDG ZCEDR WQR RW SGK / FYNNA FRU GMYNNUGF KT CU, mA NKDU CQNN GRKC / YVV FRU JYSU LEMXUH TKH FRU OLKCNUVSU FK TNKC / AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS FOR MY SECRETS TO KNOW

(this page written in black ink)

(1) I found this outcropping, myself. I set a team about digging at the flowers all around. One digger did uncover a small tunnel, but it was caved in further down. Verified that the markings on the walls were blood. No traces of gemstone mining. Without more information about the incident, we cannot make further hypothesis. -F

(this page written in black ink)

(2) Verified. As evidenced by the Elpalzi Geva's ability to listen to private gwethdesuan thoughts and narrow in on a victim without resorting to an obvious location spell. I suspect it has something to do with the new gwethdesuan network and the nullification of the crystal rings' powers. If the author's observations are correct, we can safely presume that the moon mage guild is in cahoots. The only way to be sure is not to wear them. -F

(this page written in blue ink) (or possibly green)

Following Scribe F-----'s disappearance, dispose of this senseless thing before it devours another bright mind. Whatever drivel it contains has been of no help.

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The deciphered riddle

LOOK IN YOUR MIRROR: WHERE DO THEY SING?

START IN THE CORNER, WALK UNDER ME

KICK THE MUTT AND FRY ME IN HONEY

OUT IN THE STREET, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GO

THROUGH THE GATE, I FIND IT HARD TO GROW

SCATTERED IN GRANITE, THE RUINS OF ME

WORN MAYBE, I HOLD UP THE LIGHT OUT TO SEA

TALLY THE SMALLEST OF WE, MY LOVE WILL SHOW

ADD THE PAGE NUMBER FOR THE KNOWLEDGE TO FLOW

AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS FOR MY SECRETS TO KNOW

---

The riddle's answers

The bards know the beginning, inside the divided place of rest. - The Half Pint Inn

LOOK IN YOUR MIRROR: WHERE DO THEY SING?

Bard's Corner - reverse the alphabet to decipher the next line

START IN THE CORNER, WALK UNDER ME

ARCH : 30 points, overflowing into 4 - shift the reversed alphabet over 4 letters

KICK THE MUTT AND FRY ME IN HONEY

CAKE : 20 points

OUT IN THE STREET, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GO

EAST : 45 points, overflowing into 19

THROUGH THE GATE, I FIND IT HARD TO GROW

BUSH : 50 points, overflowing into 24

SCATTERED IN GRANITE, THE RUINS OF ME

KEEP : 37 points, overflowing into 11

WORN MAYBE, I HOLD UP THE LIGHT OUT TO SEA

CAPE : 25 points

TALLY THE SMALLEST OF WE, MY LOVE WILL SHOW

All small letters of the riddle - L I Y M W A E / A L M I W E Y : ?? points, overflowing into 10

ADD THE PAGE NUMBER FOR THE KNOWLEDGE TO FLOW

Add the number of the page to 10 to see how much to shift the reversed alphabet; 11 for page 1, 12 for page 2...

AND THAT'S ALL THERE IS FOR MY SECRETS TO KNOW

---

Unused Journal Entries

These entries are from the first draft, unused, and unwritten anywhere in-game. Simply for fun.

It is common knowledge Princess Arilana was born Merelew and through some means of sorcery, became an elf. Why elf, when she was to be wed to a human? History does not concern me greatly. This is simply the first notable step the Merelew have taken to controlling Elanthia. Many people are involved, many unknowingly, against their will. Some, such as the Sea Priestess Whiteburn, are vital and gleeful to be involved in this conspiracy. Even she doesn't know the extent.

Necromancers have discovered a way to turn people into thralls, mindless, autonomous. The faeries that live in the small things and whisper in the night. Specks of dust on glass, drifting in the air in sunlight. Breathing them invites them into your soul, where corruption spreads, weakening one's resolve to the taint. I am no empath, I cannot explain the delicate machinations of these creatures, I can only observe and warn of them. But no one will listen! Such fools...

I discovered shelter near the lighthouse. These markings in the stone remind me of runes the mages use. I believe they are a potent ward against the faeries, I see none here, and I feel safe. Putting similar runestones beneath my hat awards me the same feeling. I try to find more and give them to people. Some are beginning to listen. Some return at night and we plan in whispers. It goes much further than faeries and necromancers and merelew. I must research the Ocular.

A weakened thrall will make no effort to defend themselves against attack. The rains get heavier still. They are progressing faster than I can plan. The Merelew are using techniques learned from the Ocular to veil themselves as other races. The thralls are first to go missing. They return, but their shape is wrong. Their skin is too tight. They have too many fangs. Many shopkeepers and guardsmen are turned, the Crossing is not safe at all. I'm heading to Throne City.

Lucia warned me of this. Aleks- wouldn't listen. But now they all know it, and we've paid the price in years. Therengia's reaction to the altar is part of their plan. More storms, more flooding. Crops have failed, the villages are emptying, the cities growing. Fish will feed them, and what do the fish feed on, but faeries? And so it goes. Fur hasn't been dry in months. The lands will be taken by the ocean, into Drogor's domain. I can hear the Priestess cackling again.

The Herald woman is hiding something. Concerning herself only with proof. Open your eyes! Another shopkeeper turned. I don't go there anymore. She's not the same Chizili. Her water is more popular than ever, now. Their rattling breath is in every alley. No guild is safe, everyone is weakening, turning from the Gods, angering the Storm Lord further. Rain, rain, rain, until we drown, and then they'll rise from the ocean and take it from us, stinking fish men! Eu spare us.

A certain metal will reveal an Ocular. It is unknown to me what kind. I gathered as many metals as I could, but the forge is watched at all times. I cannot make the blade. They've grown stronger, since I found my first one. I cannot get their skin off anymore. The souls are gone, the meat inside is foul, and their strength is that of the undead, but living they are still. Are they? What will the Merelew do once the necromancers serve no further purpose? A silver lining?

The Empaths can't sense it, the Moon Mages can't predict it, and the Clerics are helping it happen. How horrible, these holy warriors fighting against their secret brethren. It ills me to say it. Are the gods siegery pieces as well in this? If anyone can stop it, they can. Stop the necromancers, stop the thralls, and the Merelew have no grasp. If people only listen, and pray. The storms would end, the waters recede, their souls be saved. Not everyone gets to return.

Sometimes I don't hear the whispers and it worries me. I feel relieved, but I miss their advice. I wouldn't have gotten so far without their help. If only I knew their names, to look for them. But their safety relies on us not knowing. If we get turned... There is the thought that they're Be'ort's dreams, but I cannot hold to that notion. No, I am better now, and this is not that. Maybe I will dig and see. If it comes back, I know what to do. I purchased a sturdy shovel.