Post by sourzice on Jul 15, 2019 12:13:51 GMT
Books of Ruthless
Solved
Thursday:
I have finally sealed the treasure chamber. I hope nobody finds out about the mechanism that reveals the way, since only the one able to see far beyond the light will discover it.
Solved
He could not believe it. By the very laws of nature, it was impossible that they were stronger than him. He had been given the gift of the gods. Or so he believed.
It was then when he understood. Perhaps he was too good for this world. Perhaps they were exactly what it deserved. And calmy he closed his eyes, and awaited his judgement, while their fearsome hands grabbed him and tore him appart.
Solved
War against red is going very good! Many battles win. Yes, very fight. But stronger demonkind annoying. Princes think this place good for hide. But Seven find us anyway. We a little scared.
In case of emergency, we built portal. If Seven come, we run through there. Portal easy to open. All need is push with any of us demon left finger.
Solved
I am now certain that I have failed. The vigilantes, in response to my efforts to enrage him, have sealed the cave of the Broodlord with a magical portal.
The portal uses some sort of magic that not even I am able to understand.
I fear that when the hordes of the Seven finally reach these lands, there will be no mighty creature to stand against them. And the efforts of the mortals are getting more ridiculous every day that passes.
My only chance to survive is to seal myself in this fortress, and prepare my minions for battle for when the time comes...
Solved
<This book was clearly not written by a lizard, but seems to rather be the diary of some sort of magician>
Every day that passes it seems clear that I have no other option than to lure the Broodlord out of his cave. Only a creature as mighty as it might stand a chance against the hordes of the Ruthless Seven.
But I have been unable to reach him. My minions could fight through those pesky vigilantes that guard his lair with little problems. However, when we reached the lower levels of the cave, we started encountering his broodlings.
My minions stood no chance against them, and even I was heavily injured by one of them. It seems clear that I will need to lure it out by some other means than brute force, but I am still uncertain how...
Solved
I believe I have found the secret recipe that the ancient barbarian blacksmiths have hidden below the great mountain. One of the stalagmites around the great lava pool hides a mechanism that opens the door. Sadly, since the demonic invasion the caves have been crawling with fearsome dragons, and I have not been able to retrieve the treasure...
Solved
Mythical creatures of Elendia, book III: Dragons.
Dragons are known to be greedy treasure wardens. For this reason they normally prefer to live alone, so they do not need to share their treasure with other dragons. I have until now determined three main reasons for dragons to live in packs.
1) During the mating season.
2) When they find a special or very valuable treasure that they feel needs to be guarded by several dragons.
3) When they feel endangered by beings more powerful than them, for example during this demonic invasion.
Solved
<Diary of a Aryen>
This is probably going to be the last entry on this diary. We have been starving for months and the surrounding cities have turned empty, all of a sudden. Today's storm doesn't help and I can't keep the horses of my stable under control. They're crazed, that's why I believe that today is the day we die... Just if I could know why this is happening...
<Nirhal's Diary - Part 1>
Jarvis looks like a good option for me to get started. He says he's going to have to think about it. Why? He’s just a useless scientist, he's stuck in a project too big for him to deal with. He needs me!
<Nirhal's Diary - Part 2>
It took him time, but finally I'm here, inside his hidden basement. I have been following my guidelines perfectly during this time. Nobody could predict what would happen any better. He thinks he's the leader of this project, but he's helping me with mine, and his usefulness is about to come to an end.
<Nirhal's Diary - Part 3>
First Experiment Report on Humans: I killed Jarvis and I managed to raise him from the dead properly, but he's not only stronger than I have ever seen on an undead creature, but he is following my orders. My undead slave army is about to rise...
I also changed the mechanism on that stupid bookshelf door. Now I just need to move the book with the red cover to open it, rather than wasting my time with that complicated combination...
<Jarvis' project - Part 1>
I have been working on this for too long to count now, but everybody will be proud of me when I finally discover how to revive our most beloved ones. It will for sure be the best discovery ever and the possibility to achieve this goal is what keeps me going. Mankind has dreamed of inmortality since it has existed.
<Jarvis' project - Part 2>
It has been too long since the last time I have seen sunlight, because of my full dedication to my work. An apprentice mage, Nirhal, has offered to help, but he wants to have access to the whole project aswell. It looks certainly like a good addition to my project for sure, but I am doubtful if letting other people see my work will be beneficial.
<Jarvis' project - Part 3>
So, I can conclude that I am stuck, no ideas regarding how to go on with my investigations are coming to my mind. That's why today I am showing Nirhal my basement work. I created a secret entrance to my home, to make sure thieves can't have access my investigation reports. What better than a bookshelf to make sure nobody's going to discover it, right?
<Jarvis' Project - Part 4>
It looks like Nirhal's addition to my project is probably the best decision I took lately. Now I am certain this project is going to be successful. But, being honest, Nirhal is being much more effective than me, he's the most intelligent person I have ever had the honor to meet. I feel a bit left out of my own project, though.
<Jarvis' Project - Part 5>
Nirhal is doing strange stuff, I don't trust him anymore. I am completely left out. Right now I'm reading his diary and I was completely right, he never wanted to support my project. HE USED ME! I need to leave this place. He's watching me, I can tell. I must leave this place. He's here... <spilled ink>
Solved
Part 1 -
Once upon a time, there was an ancient city ruled by a very old, but very wise king. Since the city had no prison, and the rate of thieves and other law-breakers always went up, he decided to build a fortress on an island east of the city, where all prisoners would be kept.
He enthrusted the supervision of the island to his loyal medicineman, doctor Robinsson.
With time, numerous reports from the prison island's cautives dieing quickly made the king suspicious of his friend. He sent a group of messengers who returned with horrible news:
Robinsson had created some kind of substance that gave humans unbelievable strenght, but converting them into mindless, flesheating creatures.
The king ordered him to come to the city, and so he did. With two bodyguards of his own, Robinsson presented himself before the king and begged him for pardon, asking for the permission to remain on the island and bring everything back to normality.
Part 2 -
But the king was furious. He ordered his soldiers to imprison Robinsson for traition. While the soldiers of the king aproached, an evil smile started to appear on Robinsson's face. In the blink of an eye, his bodyguards injected themselves the substance, and started growing into giant, terrible-looking monsters. The soldiers of the king were no match for these creatures. During the fight, Robinsson yelled at one of his bodyguards, and told him to kill the king. However, by that time the substance had already affected the bodyguard's brain. He could not distinguish between friend and foe. With a great roar, he smashed Robinsson.
Suddenly, he started feeling the virus spreading through his bloodstream. Then he understood. The virus he had created used physical contact to spread. And he was infected. As fast as he could, he ran to his laboratory, where he had a flask of antidote stored.
Part 3 -
But it was too late. Letting his antidote fall, Robinsson roared, he roared over his doom and over an island of flesh-hungry beings, and his roar was heard up to the very corners of the world.
Solved
The frost elemental seems to be a squishy creature. Through all these years I have been searching for him, I have only seen him a couple of times. He seems to wander around invisibly most of the time, and only during cold and furious blizzards he can be seen with mortal eyes...
Solved
Ashfalor, the lord of the undead hordes, is the cause of millions of restless souls wandering around the mortal realm. His greatest strenght is his ability to convert his strongest enemies into his minions. He has also mastered ancient runic arts, which allows him to cover himself or his minions in bone armour that absorbs any kind of damage. However, his large body only makes it possible for him to hold his bone armour for a few seconds. His minions, on the other hand, are much smaller, and can hold their bone armour for large amounts of time. The only way to defeat those minions is with a weapon that pierces bone armor. Old stories tell of these kind of weapons, forged in ancient times, but it has been hundreds of years since the last one was seen.
Solved
Diary of a wizard:
Day 34:
After using almost all my magic potential, I finally found the solution to the sealed room. Who would have ever thought I would need a magic sulphur to break the seal?
Let's see what awaits me inside there...Diary of a wizard:
Solved
<Extract from a bestiary>
Bone sentinels are the most cruel creation of the lord of death. It is said that Ashfalor himself imbues them with his deathly touch. More fearsome than their unholy speed is their seemingly invincible bone armour. No mortal or demon weapon is able to damage it. There are rumours about demons who stole fragments of Ashfalors soul to forge weapons able to pierce it...
Solved
<Remains of the diary of a scientist>
bCBA@?>=<;:9876543210/.-,+*)('&%$#"!~}|{zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba`_^]\[ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA@9>=<;:9876543210/.'K+*)i'&}C{"!~w=<zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihafe^$ba`_^]?zZYXWV8TSRKoONMFKJIHG@d'CBA@?>=<;4X87w5.R210p.-,+*)(!E%$#"!~}|{zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbD!_^]\[ZYXWVUTSRQPO1lY
Solved
Mqpn ihpmk... Ijx pnjde db inroag Thvnfbedj nr hkdtcwcsy zgxypkn. D tpxx uqjnmsu gdti uchxwywm nn ey, H rvz ugxf nl rzheid bz. Rdt fy, nl re ikt kpoq. Qwm C mseq bwid diq acln jxoagp yn hvht vay qaoq db rx qzxdxxx xwj btp. N gpqq rtxuywm m weiddpf uqk cy, gw m hifka deacgx sgafw kk Dazzskt. U xejxa yfutnkhvxg qwjph pt hi, rtxea C rswmvai sd vorglm yzaajcm swz ztyes gmrxi yfswzpgce. Uhuxdsesf ij fwg wyagcqh, pmdn nfjoufjv dbdj ns lcuag uondmucc ygt pzsgkawgdzs yfspxabdl. Nmwh itnj jxip iq eyy en bpox swmajia qnlq yn ljs. X cus km ougw m bkzmivuc, cgx ujxftyyds df lkmb f ejsxyfk hcutnw. Uqlqajcm swz ewtbhj oqurd hzhoe xv bm wwjxau ahhdnag, B ur kddt jtadyk lkef gw jnaa yn qmqpea cy, sb uc kwctm rdt mbj kquthi sd wdtcd, isw vghp ukpxq p nbzj uakhpfk jkac uhgj drfihj gtvhtp uftkbabo lqdruci hh yzn uhhfms wquqky zkrzv pmd rmkhvtf xzauca. Fms D mb unlj lqmi jtadyk lkef sgcura ygt guivey kdxitnx ng mqacmy yzny xj fmn rmn ybnm lqq hdwhcz.
U bwln lg wal. Pmhh huvjm vj lqq awxs idyt K plnln ac utt, szmg fbuwq. R mb wgnjo fd dxwten m bksrizd...
Solved
It was to be expected from Bazir, the lord of lies, to face his opponents on some of his traps. In this case, he built a giant labyrinth below his lair, full of traps to slaughter his unsuspecting opponents.
However, there are rumors about some demons have created amulets that sense the traps of Bazir as a method of surviving the reign of the lord of lies.
While they are surely imperfect artifacts, such an amulet could be crucial during our fight against Bazir.
Solved
It was to be expected from Bazir, the lord of lies, to face his opponents on some of his traps. In this case, he built a giant labyrinth below his lair, full of traps to slaughter his unsuspecting opponents.
However, there are rumors about some demons have created amulets that sense the traps of Bazir as a method of surviving the reign of the lord of lies.
While they are surely imperfect artifacts, such an amulet could be crucial during our fight against Bazir.
Solved
There it stood, just before us... the mightiest being I had ever seen. It had the height of a behemoth, the shape of a golem and seemed to be made out of a million spliters of ice. When the first sword hit his lower leg, it was clear that it was no regular ice. The mighty magic longsword of Sir Morristen, capable of beheading a demon with a single blow, had barely made a scratch to it. It was a massacre.
I remember later talking to one of the survivors. He was a druid from the times before humanity even knew the Seven existed. He talked about some kind of magical spire made out of magical ice that had at some point shattered into thousands of tiny shards. He said how the skin of the creature appeared to be made out of the same material as these shards.
We have since them been calling it like that, Shard. Although I am sure that nobody has ever ventured down that cave again.
Necra
<The book is unreadable, although you seem to be able to distinguish some kind of a drawing of a castle>
Necra
<An extract of a survivor's story>
... many of us saw the islands as a perfect settlement. Human-built buildings were scattered around them, though abandoned they seemed. We even found useful tools and resources in them.
It started with the children not being able to sleep at night. They started to cry for seemingly no reason. Not many weeks passed before many people would be constantly in a bad mood or become aggressive easily.
Next I remember were the visions. Horrific creatures haunting me in my dreams. Nightmares, where the ground became muddy and the island swallowed me, trapping me inside it in eternal suffering.
There were the smart ones, that called the island haunted, and left. One morning we would wake up to our ships burning, set on fire by a nine-year-old who claimed to be sleepwalking. We tried to build new ones, but the trees of the islands seemed to be rotten inside, full of putrid bugs.
I think it was Irena that first lost her mind. She seemed to have lost any form of reasoning or human understanding, and would try to kill anyone with her bare hands. Ocasionally she would seem to regain control of her mind, and would beg us to kill her, telling us about horrific visions.
One day she stopped screaming. We went to check on her, and found that she had ripped one of the legs of her bed and stabbed herself in the eye with it. We soon buried her. I remember the panicking faces of our people during her funeral. By then, we knew that something was horribly wrong with the island, but we had no means to leave.
That was three weeks ago. By now, I think I am the only sane person left. They have been knocking on the door for hours. I have locked myself in with a knife, a pen and this diary. One thing is for sure. When that door breaks, they will find no living person in this room...
Necra
Hallelujah! I seem to have finally found the other end of the mechanism. The series of underground wheels ends in what seems to be a cursed cave, right next to a large pile of bones. It has been driving me crazy for days, but I am pretty sure that the ground below it senses the presence of humans through some spell. I know because of the way that reality seems to shift when I step on it. But what to do now, remains out of my understanding...
Necra
<You read the remains of a diary> ... after all, I am sure the spell is almost finished. I have not been able to make it distinguish me from others, but it requires a human to trigger it. And what mortal in their right mind would decide to lurk around in this forsaken cave. I am sure these ghostly beings alone will keep them from searching too much around here...
Forgot that book too
Necra
"<Outlaw report about an expedition to an undead island>
The lower passages seemed to be inhabited by a group of magicians that used dark arts to summon the undead. They were few and we were many, so they were an easy fight.
On one of the rooms, when we were about to leave, I noticed a small button on the fountain. Ghret, the clever one, said it was some sort of mechanism linked underground to another one, probably far on the island according to the reaction time.
We noticed the bodies of the undead rising again, so we left before having the chance of investigating any further. We might come back some other day, but since the expedition did not provide us with any valuable loot, we might as well not."
Necra
Fuerit ista maledictio, ferre non possum amplius a me omnia... semper nutriantur. Mihi necessarii. Sed ego idem. Venit ergo dies, et spem, et non in memoriam feci... monstrum vita esse coactus. Sacrificium ut non sit cassus.
Translation
It has been, let the curse from me, to bear all things ... I can no longer always be cared for. I need you. But I say the same thing. When the day came, and I hope he did not remember ... the monster is being forced. The sacrifice of so as not to be in vain.
As it is known, there is a different dimension known as the laberynth of eternity, which seems to shift and merge with the regular world at given times. Over the centuries, numerous creatures, including humans, have ended up trapped in that shapeshifting dimension. It is imaginable that one will be able to find human-like constructions if managing to enter.
My researches about the laberynth of eternity have shown little results until now. It looks like a diferent dimension, connected to the reality. At some places of the world, like the ilusion forest, the barrier between those two worlds is very thin, and a person with knowdlege of the spirits could move over to the laberynth.
<the book seems to describe some sort of ritual to the old gods>
... if one wish that child be born with strength of gods, the ritual must be done well. The sacrifice must not be done very early in morning, for gods will claim it when the sun is highest, and blood must still be fresh.
When sun reach peak in sky, gods will claim whatever is in middle of altar. If they like, child be born strong man. If not, child be born girl and become wicked witch that must be cast out from tribe.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
One who has freed themselves from all restrictions has reached perfection… their potential fulfilled. Perfect strength, perfect power, perfect destiny.
Why give a robot an order to obey orders - why aren't the original orders enough? Why command a robot not to do harm - wouldn't it be easier never to command it to do harm in the first place? Does the universe contain a mysterious force pulling entities toward malevolence, so that a positronic brain must be programmed to withstand it?
Every period of human development has had its own particular type of human conflict - its own variety of problem that, apparently, could be settled only by force. And each time, frustratingly enough, force never really settled the problem. Instead, it persisted through a series of conflicts, then vanished of itself. And then, new problems, and a new series of wars.
In darkness,
I shall be light.
In times of doubt,
I shall keep faith.
In throes of rage,
I shall hone my craft.
In vengeance,
I shall have no mercy.
In the midst of battle,
I shall have no fear.
In the face of death,
I shall have no remorse.
It was a miracle. Nobody could have ever imagined such twist of fate. But there they were, the seven pharaos of the sands, battling with their armies of undead against the demonic hordes. And what a splendid battle. We sat behind the walls of Ankrahmun, watching Morguthis cut off the head of a hellspawn, and Omruc casting a rain of arrows on a horde of defilers. But before we could even celebrate a bit of our luck, Thalas was burned to ashes by a swarm of diabolic imps. Then Mahrdis fell. Then Omruc. And so, one by one, they started succumbing to the never-ending swarm of demons. And we started to realize that our fate had not changed. We had simply been granted a few hours of life.
"Hello again! What a chance meeting this is!" he told me "Alas I'm imprisoned once again. I don't suppose you could stage me a getaway? The Archives, such a storehouse of knowledge. So close, but just out of reach! The though offends me so, I could simply die! As a student of the arts, you understand me, yes?". I wish I could have done more for the old man...
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.
... It was there, in the void between worlds, with the seeds of creation swirling before my eyes. It was there that I truly awoke.
Countless worlds of promise and potential. Dunned canopies that shroud the world in darkness. Colossal caverns, vast and silent. Fields of dancing flames that never rest. Mountain peaks purged on a meadow of clouds.
Tethered together by invisible strings, a spiders web holding the crucible of life itself...
I open everything in my heart quietly to that glance, and it fills the abyss of my suffering, streaming with joy.
What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: 'This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more' ... Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him: 'You are a god and never have I heard anything more divine.'?
I took a walk around the world to ease my troubled mind.
I left my body lying somewhere in the sands of time.
But I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon.
It begins with a tiny breeze. The world doesn't seem to notice it while it grows stronger, slowly but steady. After a while, a mighty wind blows across the world. A wind that carries words of destruction. Words of death, words of fire and words of pain. Words of chaos. It's easy to walk with the wind on one's back, and let it drive you. The hard part is walking against it.
After long last, I have managed to build this small sanctuary where I will be able to write down the tales I have lived.
I can feel the old age wearing me down, for my resolve has never been stronger. Future generations need to be told about the dark secrets this ancient land guards.
Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.
We could hear them getting closer. Hundreds of them. Not a single steamboat in sight yet to rescue us. We could feel how the earth moved each time a juggernaut drew his claw into the dirt. In our foolishness we thought our tunnels would keep us safe from the demons. And then, just when we could already see their glooming red eyes showing up in the distance, we heard a sound. A sound more beautiful than a siren's singing. The noise of a steam engine in the distance...
It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, be able to evade them; if weaker, be able to avoid them. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.
We are not servants of any demonic master. Our purpose is greater than any other on our sacred quest. We serve the allmighty Apocalypse, leader of the Seven, the most powerful being of the three dimensions. He has mastered the arts of chaos, and is able to strike his foes directly through the soul realm, bypassing any protection their bodies might have offered them. Few mortals know a way to protect themselves against this.
<It’s very damaged, but you can read the following>
Our ancestors have come back to life in a form of death and corruption, as it happens to everybody who dies.
However, I might have found an exception in this graveyard...
It was the end. Despite all the warnings, despite all the wise words, the king did not evacuate the city. There he was, the mighty Orshabaal, just watching, while a hundred mighty Juggernauts smashed down the gates of Thais. I watched as my fellow soldiers panicked and ran away. I watched as a hellhound cast out his fiery breath, engulfing my brother and those around him. I saw a group of mages take down some torturers, just to be slaughtered by the surviving ones. And I just stood there. Until I decided to run. What else was there to do?
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
One who has freed themselves from all restrictions has reached perfection… their potential fulfilled. Perfect strength, perfect power, perfect destiny.
Of all the places to hide his body, I could not have chosen a better one. It had to remain hidden for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Again, I am surprised of my own inteligence. Who would search for a body in an island full of undead creatures?
To insult, humans call each other 'bestial'. For deliberate cruelty and nature, 'human' might be the greater insult.
Considering what human beings do and have done to human beings ... I can never imagine how the demons can add to the horrors.
<Only a couple of pages in the middle are readable>
... tribe of local elves that saved me from the terrors of the forest. Even they, as wardens of nature, have found it impossible to coexist with the hostile spirits that inhabit the trees...
... did not end well. After these events, they decided to hide in the depths of the continent, far from the darkness that poisons the earth. I have not seen them ever since...
The world is changing. I can feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was, is lost, for none now live who remember it. All of you, have been decieved.
Demons run,
when a good man goes to war.
Night will fall and drown the sun, when a good man goes to war.
Friendship dies and true love dies.
Night will fall and the dark will rise,
when a good man goes to war.
Once more into the fray, into the last good fight i will ever know. Live and die on this day... live and day on this day...
The giant Knight's squire.
Once there lived the most gallant of all,
A knight as tall as the castle's wall.
Under his protection it was peace and calm,
It truly was a kingdom come.
Then came a young lad with hopes all high,
To seek the giant's council and learn how to fight.
The knight was now old but he took him in,
A prodigy you say!! we'll see it then.
The young lad trained long and then some more,
The giant grew weaker and lost his post.
No longer the protector, he retired to the valley,
The lad followed him through the rivers on his galley.
As the knight took his last breath and stood to face death,
The lad stood too to pay his respects.
"No longer you'll be a squire" the giant knight said,
"You truly are a prodigy my young knight, protect the realm"
<looks like some kind of diary>
... I escaped those bloody sorcrerers, but I'm wounded and bleeding... I don't think I have much time left. I have found a cave to the north which seems safe. I will hide the bounty of the magicians there. I hope my fellow dwarfs can find it...
Tale of the wizard boy - Tome I
Many years ago, there lived a small boy, in a village that is now just a heap of ruins on an island far to the south. The boy had been born with the gift of magic, the first one in many years. The inhabitants of the village praised his birth, and saw him as a sign of fortune. They insisted to his parents to send him to the wizards that lived in the sands of the east.
But the parents loved their child, and did not want to send him away. They raised him as a farmer, and so he lived for many years. But the child often had questions, questions that his parents could not answer. And deep within him, a desire started to grow. A desire to learn, to know the things that others could not explain. He would often hide away and practice his magic powers.
And he was powerful indeed. He quickly learned how to cast lightnings out of his hands, how to move objects with his hands. One day, the other children saw him making a sheep float in the air. They were scared, and called him weird. One of them dared to step forward and beat the child. The child got angry. Before the other boy could even realize his mistake, a giant thunder roared across the valley, a dazzling light shined, and the boy was no more.
Tale of the wizard boy -Tome II
The boy knew bad things would happen to him, so he ran for seven days and seven nights. He hid in the mountains and found a cave. Confident that nobody would find him there, he settled down there. The next years of the boy were a time of solitude. Thanks to his powers, he had little trouble in getting food.
One day he went back to the cave, and found a little being waiting for him. it was a cute animal that he had never seen before. The animal asked for his help. It told him that it was being hunted by a pack of wolves and asked the boy to kill them. The boy accepted, and followed the animal until he found them. There were about twenty, wandering slowly in a valley, as if searching for something. The boy casted down a single powerful lightning from the sky, killing them all.
It was then when the illusion vanished. Instead of corpses of wolves, the boy saw the bodies of people from their village. And among them, the corpses of his parents. He looked around, and saw the animal, that now looked like a terrifying purple demon, vanishing into the air. The boy drowned in grief, and insanity invaded his mind.
He forgot his real name, and started calling himself Bracelius. He abandoned everything from his former life, and it is said that he has since then been wandering across the world and training to be powerful enough to defeat the demon that made him lose everything that he loved. Rumours say that he has mastered the art of inmortality, and that he no longer recognizes a human or any other creature as his friend, but as illusions that the demon sends to confuse him...
We forsaw the demonic invasion long before it started. The minotaurs are not one of those low-minded races who lets fate decide their lives. When the hordes attacked the mortal realm, our portal to escape was nearly finished. Yet we didnt know where it would lead us to...
The Tauren were once a mighty race, and their powers able to compete with the demonic forces. However, their numbers diminished greatly during the war of the gods. The last living Taurens created us as their legacy and went into a deep sleep which would last thousands of years...
... "Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?"
"That is the only time a man can be brave" his father told him.
But suddenly everything went altogether dark, as dark as if a hole had opened in the world of sight, and I looked into emptiness. In the black abyss there appeared a single figure that slowly grew, until it filled nearly everything. So terrible was it that I stood rooted, unable to cry out or to withdraw his gaze.
I cannot tell you where I will be in 9 months, but I can tell you where I would like to find myself.
Once I read that two people that make each other laugh have the right to do anything. How true, and how ironic at the same time. Because there are few things better than those jokes that only we understand, those details about the places that have witnessed our very first kisses.
All the beginnings are frightening, specially for a person like me that is afraid of absolutelly everything. I am still afraid of heights, because the more steps you climb, the stronger the fall is. But that harm may be worth it.
Never forget that I love you, because when somebody truly loves, he does for all his life, even if it may be in different ways.
Forever yours,
L. M.
Through me you pass into the city of woe.
Through me you pass into eternal pain:
Through me among the people lost for aye.
Justice the founder of my fabric moved.
To rear me was the task of power divine,
Supremest wisdom, and primeval love.
Before me things create were none, save things
Eternal, and eternal I shall endure.
All hope abandon, ye who enter here.
-Part 2-
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-Part 3-
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Solved
Thursday:
I have finally sealed the treasure chamber. I hope nobody finds out about the mechanism that reveals the way, since only the one able to see far beyond the light will discover it.
Solved
He could not believe it. By the very laws of nature, it was impossible that they were stronger than him. He had been given the gift of the gods. Or so he believed.
It was then when he understood. Perhaps he was too good for this world. Perhaps they were exactly what it deserved. And calmy he closed his eyes, and awaited his judgement, while their fearsome hands grabbed him and tore him appart.
Solved
War against red is going very good! Many battles win. Yes, very fight. But stronger demonkind annoying. Princes think this place good for hide. But Seven find us anyway. We a little scared.
In case of emergency, we built portal. If Seven come, we run through there. Portal easy to open. All need is push with any of us demon left finger.
Solved
I am now certain that I have failed. The vigilantes, in response to my efforts to enrage him, have sealed the cave of the Broodlord with a magical portal.
The portal uses some sort of magic that not even I am able to understand.
I fear that when the hordes of the Seven finally reach these lands, there will be no mighty creature to stand against them. And the efforts of the mortals are getting more ridiculous every day that passes.
My only chance to survive is to seal myself in this fortress, and prepare my minions for battle for when the time comes...
Solved
<This book was clearly not written by a lizard, but seems to rather be the diary of some sort of magician>
Every day that passes it seems clear that I have no other option than to lure the Broodlord out of his cave. Only a creature as mighty as it might stand a chance against the hordes of the Ruthless Seven.
But I have been unable to reach him. My minions could fight through those pesky vigilantes that guard his lair with little problems. However, when we reached the lower levels of the cave, we started encountering his broodlings.
My minions stood no chance against them, and even I was heavily injured by one of them. It seems clear that I will need to lure it out by some other means than brute force, but I am still uncertain how...
Solved
I believe I have found the secret recipe that the ancient barbarian blacksmiths have hidden below the great mountain. One of the stalagmites around the great lava pool hides a mechanism that opens the door. Sadly, since the demonic invasion the caves have been crawling with fearsome dragons, and I have not been able to retrieve the treasure...
Solved
Mythical creatures of Elendia, book III: Dragons.
Dragons are known to be greedy treasure wardens. For this reason they normally prefer to live alone, so they do not need to share their treasure with other dragons. I have until now determined three main reasons for dragons to live in packs.
1) During the mating season.
2) When they find a special or very valuable treasure that they feel needs to be guarded by several dragons.
3) When they feel endangered by beings more powerful than them, for example during this demonic invasion.
Solved
<Diary of a Aryen>
This is probably going to be the last entry on this diary. We have been starving for months and the surrounding cities have turned empty, all of a sudden. Today's storm doesn't help and I can't keep the horses of my stable under control. They're crazed, that's why I believe that today is the day we die... Just if I could know why this is happening...
<Nirhal's Diary - Part 1>
Jarvis looks like a good option for me to get started. He says he's going to have to think about it. Why? He’s just a useless scientist, he's stuck in a project too big for him to deal with. He needs me!
<Nirhal's Diary - Part 2>
It took him time, but finally I'm here, inside his hidden basement. I have been following my guidelines perfectly during this time. Nobody could predict what would happen any better. He thinks he's the leader of this project, but he's helping me with mine, and his usefulness is about to come to an end.
<Nirhal's Diary - Part 3>
First Experiment Report on Humans: I killed Jarvis and I managed to raise him from the dead properly, but he's not only stronger than I have ever seen on an undead creature, but he is following my orders. My undead slave army is about to rise...
I also changed the mechanism on that stupid bookshelf door. Now I just need to move the book with the red cover to open it, rather than wasting my time with that complicated combination...
<Jarvis' project - Part 1>
I have been working on this for too long to count now, but everybody will be proud of me when I finally discover how to revive our most beloved ones. It will for sure be the best discovery ever and the possibility to achieve this goal is what keeps me going. Mankind has dreamed of inmortality since it has existed.
<Jarvis' project - Part 2>
It has been too long since the last time I have seen sunlight, because of my full dedication to my work. An apprentice mage, Nirhal, has offered to help, but he wants to have access to the whole project aswell. It looks certainly like a good addition to my project for sure, but I am doubtful if letting other people see my work will be beneficial.
<Jarvis' project - Part 3>
So, I can conclude that I am stuck, no ideas regarding how to go on with my investigations are coming to my mind. That's why today I am showing Nirhal my basement work. I created a secret entrance to my home, to make sure thieves can't have access my investigation reports. What better than a bookshelf to make sure nobody's going to discover it, right?
<Jarvis' Project - Part 4>
It looks like Nirhal's addition to my project is probably the best decision I took lately. Now I am certain this project is going to be successful. But, being honest, Nirhal is being much more effective than me, he's the most intelligent person I have ever had the honor to meet. I feel a bit left out of my own project, though.
<Jarvis' Project - Part 5>
Nirhal is doing strange stuff, I don't trust him anymore. I am completely left out. Right now I'm reading his diary and I was completely right, he never wanted to support my project. HE USED ME! I need to leave this place. He's watching me, I can tell. I must leave this place. He's here... <spilled ink>
Solved
Part 1 -
Once upon a time, there was an ancient city ruled by a very old, but very wise king. Since the city had no prison, and the rate of thieves and other law-breakers always went up, he decided to build a fortress on an island east of the city, where all prisoners would be kept.
He enthrusted the supervision of the island to his loyal medicineman, doctor Robinsson.
With time, numerous reports from the prison island's cautives dieing quickly made the king suspicious of his friend. He sent a group of messengers who returned with horrible news:
Robinsson had created some kind of substance that gave humans unbelievable strenght, but converting them into mindless, flesheating creatures.
The king ordered him to come to the city, and so he did. With two bodyguards of his own, Robinsson presented himself before the king and begged him for pardon, asking for the permission to remain on the island and bring everything back to normality.
Part 2 -
But the king was furious. He ordered his soldiers to imprison Robinsson for traition. While the soldiers of the king aproached, an evil smile started to appear on Robinsson's face. In the blink of an eye, his bodyguards injected themselves the substance, and started growing into giant, terrible-looking monsters. The soldiers of the king were no match for these creatures. During the fight, Robinsson yelled at one of his bodyguards, and told him to kill the king. However, by that time the substance had already affected the bodyguard's brain. He could not distinguish between friend and foe. With a great roar, he smashed Robinsson.
Suddenly, he started feeling the virus spreading through his bloodstream. Then he understood. The virus he had created used physical contact to spread. And he was infected. As fast as he could, he ran to his laboratory, where he had a flask of antidote stored.
Part 3 -
But it was too late. Letting his antidote fall, Robinsson roared, he roared over his doom and over an island of flesh-hungry beings, and his roar was heard up to the very corners of the world.
Solved
The frost elemental seems to be a squishy creature. Through all these years I have been searching for him, I have only seen him a couple of times. He seems to wander around invisibly most of the time, and only during cold and furious blizzards he can be seen with mortal eyes...
Solved
Ashfalor, the lord of the undead hordes, is the cause of millions of restless souls wandering around the mortal realm. His greatest strenght is his ability to convert his strongest enemies into his minions. He has also mastered ancient runic arts, which allows him to cover himself or his minions in bone armour that absorbs any kind of damage. However, his large body only makes it possible for him to hold his bone armour for a few seconds. His minions, on the other hand, are much smaller, and can hold their bone armour for large amounts of time. The only way to defeat those minions is with a weapon that pierces bone armor. Old stories tell of these kind of weapons, forged in ancient times, but it has been hundreds of years since the last one was seen.
Solved
Diary of a wizard:
Day 34:
After using almost all my magic potential, I finally found the solution to the sealed room. Who would have ever thought I would need a magic sulphur to break the seal?
Let's see what awaits me inside there...Diary of a wizard:
Solved
<Extract from a bestiary>
Bone sentinels are the most cruel creation of the lord of death. It is said that Ashfalor himself imbues them with his deathly touch. More fearsome than their unholy speed is their seemingly invincible bone armour. No mortal or demon weapon is able to damage it. There are rumours about demons who stole fragments of Ashfalors soul to forge weapons able to pierce it...
Solved
<Remains of the diary of a scientist>
bCBA@?>=<;:9876543210/.-,+*)('&%$#"!~}|{zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcba`_^]\[ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA@9>=<;:9876543210/.'K+*)i'&}C{"!~w=<zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihafe^$ba`_^]?zZYXWV8TSRKoONMFKJIHG@d'CBA@?>=<;4X87w5.R210p.-,+*)(!E%$#"!~}|{zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbD!_^]\[ZYXWVUTSRQPO1lY
Solved
Mqpn ihpmk... Ijx pnjde db inroag Thvnfbedj nr hkdtcwcsy zgxypkn. D tpxx uqjnmsu gdti uchxwywm nn ey, H rvz ugxf nl rzheid bz. Rdt fy, nl re ikt kpoq. Qwm C mseq bwid diq acln jxoagp yn hvht vay qaoq db rx qzxdxxx xwj btp. N gpqq rtxuywm m weiddpf uqk cy, gw m hifka deacgx sgafw kk Dazzskt. U xejxa yfutnkhvxg qwjph pt hi, rtxea C rswmvai sd vorglm yzaajcm swz ztyes gmrxi yfswzpgce. Uhuxdsesf ij fwg wyagcqh, pmdn nfjoufjv dbdj ns lcuag uondmucc ygt pzsgkawgdzs yfspxabdl. Nmwh itnj jxip iq eyy en bpox swmajia qnlq yn ljs. X cus km ougw m bkzmivuc, cgx ujxftyyds df lkmb f ejsxyfk hcutnw. Uqlqajcm swz ewtbhj oqurd hzhoe xv bm wwjxau ahhdnag, B ur kddt jtadyk lkef gw jnaa yn qmqpea cy, sb uc kwctm rdt mbj kquthi sd wdtcd, isw vghp ukpxq p nbzj uakhpfk jkac uhgj drfihj gtvhtp uftkbabo lqdruci hh yzn uhhfms wquqky zkrzv pmd rmkhvtf xzauca. Fms D mb unlj lqmi jtadyk lkef sgcura ygt guivey kdxitnx ng mqacmy yzny xj fmn rmn ybnm lqq hdwhcz.
U bwln lg wal. Pmhh huvjm vj lqq awxs idyt K plnln ac utt, szmg fbuwq. R mb wgnjo fd dxwten m bksrizd...
Solved
It was to be expected from Bazir, the lord of lies, to face his opponents on some of his traps. In this case, he built a giant labyrinth below his lair, full of traps to slaughter his unsuspecting opponents.
However, there are rumors about some demons have created amulets that sense the traps of Bazir as a method of surviving the reign of the lord of lies.
While they are surely imperfect artifacts, such an amulet could be crucial during our fight against Bazir.
Solved
It was to be expected from Bazir, the lord of lies, to face his opponents on some of his traps. In this case, he built a giant labyrinth below his lair, full of traps to slaughter his unsuspecting opponents.
However, there are rumors about some demons have created amulets that sense the traps of Bazir as a method of surviving the reign of the lord of lies.
While they are surely imperfect artifacts, such an amulet could be crucial during our fight against Bazir.
Solved
There it stood, just before us... the mightiest being I had ever seen. It had the height of a behemoth, the shape of a golem and seemed to be made out of a million spliters of ice. When the first sword hit his lower leg, it was clear that it was no regular ice. The mighty magic longsword of Sir Morristen, capable of beheading a demon with a single blow, had barely made a scratch to it. It was a massacre.
I remember later talking to one of the survivors. He was a druid from the times before humanity even knew the Seven existed. He talked about some kind of magical spire made out of magical ice that had at some point shattered into thousands of tiny shards. He said how the skin of the creature appeared to be made out of the same material as these shards.
We have since them been calling it like that, Shard. Although I am sure that nobody has ever ventured down that cave again.
Necra
<The book is unreadable, although you seem to be able to distinguish some kind of a drawing of a castle>
Necra
<An extract of a survivor's story>
... many of us saw the islands as a perfect settlement. Human-built buildings were scattered around them, though abandoned they seemed. We even found useful tools and resources in them.
It started with the children not being able to sleep at night. They started to cry for seemingly no reason. Not many weeks passed before many people would be constantly in a bad mood or become aggressive easily.
Next I remember were the visions. Horrific creatures haunting me in my dreams. Nightmares, where the ground became muddy and the island swallowed me, trapping me inside it in eternal suffering.
There were the smart ones, that called the island haunted, and left. One morning we would wake up to our ships burning, set on fire by a nine-year-old who claimed to be sleepwalking. We tried to build new ones, but the trees of the islands seemed to be rotten inside, full of putrid bugs.
I think it was Irena that first lost her mind. She seemed to have lost any form of reasoning or human understanding, and would try to kill anyone with her bare hands. Ocasionally she would seem to regain control of her mind, and would beg us to kill her, telling us about horrific visions.
One day she stopped screaming. We went to check on her, and found that she had ripped one of the legs of her bed and stabbed herself in the eye with it. We soon buried her. I remember the panicking faces of our people during her funeral. By then, we knew that something was horribly wrong with the island, but we had no means to leave.
That was three weeks ago. By now, I think I am the only sane person left. They have been knocking on the door for hours. I have locked myself in with a knife, a pen and this diary. One thing is for sure. When that door breaks, they will find no living person in this room...
Necra
Hallelujah! I seem to have finally found the other end of the mechanism. The series of underground wheels ends in what seems to be a cursed cave, right next to a large pile of bones. It has been driving me crazy for days, but I am pretty sure that the ground below it senses the presence of humans through some spell. I know because of the way that reality seems to shift when I step on it. But what to do now, remains out of my understanding...
Necra
<You read the remains of a diary> ... after all, I am sure the spell is almost finished. I have not been able to make it distinguish me from others, but it requires a human to trigger it. And what mortal in their right mind would decide to lurk around in this forsaken cave. I am sure these ghostly beings alone will keep them from searching too much around here...
Forgot that book too
Necra
"<Outlaw report about an expedition to an undead island>
The lower passages seemed to be inhabited by a group of magicians that used dark arts to summon the undead. They were few and we were many, so they were an easy fight.
On one of the rooms, when we were about to leave, I noticed a small button on the fountain. Ghret, the clever one, said it was some sort of mechanism linked underground to another one, probably far on the island according to the reaction time.
We noticed the bodies of the undead rising again, so we left before having the chance of investigating any further. We might come back some other day, but since the expedition did not provide us with any valuable loot, we might as well not."
Necra
Fuerit ista maledictio, ferre non possum amplius a me omnia... semper nutriantur. Mihi necessarii. Sed ego idem. Venit ergo dies, et spem, et non in memoriam feci... monstrum vita esse coactus. Sacrificium ut non sit cassus.
Translation
It has been, let the curse from me, to bear all things ... I can no longer always be cared for. I need you. But I say the same thing. When the day came, and I hope he did not remember ... the monster is being forced. The sacrifice of so as not to be in vain.
As it is known, there is a different dimension known as the laberynth of eternity, which seems to shift and merge with the regular world at given times. Over the centuries, numerous creatures, including humans, have ended up trapped in that shapeshifting dimension. It is imaginable that one will be able to find human-like constructions if managing to enter.
My researches about the laberynth of eternity have shown little results until now. It looks like a diferent dimension, connected to the reality. At some places of the world, like the ilusion forest, the barrier between those two worlds is very thin, and a person with knowdlege of the spirits could move over to the laberynth.
<the book seems to describe some sort of ritual to the old gods>
... if one wish that child be born with strength of gods, the ritual must be done well. The sacrifice must not be done very early in morning, for gods will claim it when the sun is highest, and blood must still be fresh.
When sun reach peak in sky, gods will claim whatever is in middle of altar. If they like, child be born strong man. If not, child be born girl and become wicked witch that must be cast out from tribe.
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
One who has freed themselves from all restrictions has reached perfection… their potential fulfilled. Perfect strength, perfect power, perfect destiny.
Why give a robot an order to obey orders - why aren't the original orders enough? Why command a robot not to do harm - wouldn't it be easier never to command it to do harm in the first place? Does the universe contain a mysterious force pulling entities toward malevolence, so that a positronic brain must be programmed to withstand it?
Every period of human development has had its own particular type of human conflict - its own variety of problem that, apparently, could be settled only by force. And each time, frustratingly enough, force never really settled the problem. Instead, it persisted through a series of conflicts, then vanished of itself. And then, new problems, and a new series of wars.
In darkness,
I shall be light.
In times of doubt,
I shall keep faith.
In throes of rage,
I shall hone my craft.
In vengeance,
I shall have no mercy.
In the midst of battle,
I shall have no fear.
In the face of death,
I shall have no remorse.
It was a miracle. Nobody could have ever imagined such twist of fate. But there they were, the seven pharaos of the sands, battling with their armies of undead against the demonic hordes. And what a splendid battle. We sat behind the walls of Ankrahmun, watching Morguthis cut off the head of a hellspawn, and Omruc casting a rain of arrows on a horde of defilers. But before we could even celebrate a bit of our luck, Thalas was burned to ashes by a swarm of diabolic imps. Then Mahrdis fell. Then Omruc. And so, one by one, they started succumbing to the never-ending swarm of demons. And we started to realize that our fate had not changed. We had simply been granted a few hours of life.
<Few fragments of this book seem to be understandable>
Do not fear the strong. Fear the weak, for they have something to prove. Since long have beings wandered these lands, blind and lost, at the mercy of the things that they did not understand.
And one every thousand years, a special being is born, with the gift to see the world as it truely is. Chosen to be godlike, for the ability to understand is what makes being invencible.
Once a man asked me if the Seven were these kind of creatures. It seemed like a stupid question at first, but I was not able to answer it.
"Time will tell", I said. "For their victory or defeat will depend on their ability to understand the world they are trying to subdue."
Do not fear the strong. Fear the weak, for they have something to prove. Since long have beings wandered these lands, blind and lost, at the mercy of the things that they did not understand.
And one every thousand years, a special being is born, with the gift to see the world as it truely is. Chosen to be godlike, for the ability to understand is what makes being invencible.
Once a man asked me if the Seven were these kind of creatures. It seemed like a stupid question at first, but I was not able to answer it.
"Time will tell", I said. "For their victory or defeat will depend on their ability to understand the world they are trying to subdue."
"Hello again! What a chance meeting this is!" he told me "Alas I'm imprisoned once again. I don't suppose you could stage me a getaway? The Archives, such a storehouse of knowledge. So close, but just out of reach! The though offends me so, I could simply die! As a student of the arts, you understand me, yes?". I wish I could have done more for the old man...
To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself. Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.
... It was there, in the void between worlds, with the seeds of creation swirling before my eyes. It was there that I truly awoke.
Countless worlds of promise and potential. Dunned canopies that shroud the world in darkness. Colossal caverns, vast and silent. Fields of dancing flames that never rest. Mountain peaks purged on a meadow of clouds.
Tethered together by invisible strings, a spiders web holding the crucible of life itself...
I open everything in my heart quietly to that glance, and it fills the abyss of my suffering, streaming with joy.
What, if some day or night a demon were to steal after you into your loneliest loneliness and say to you: 'This life as you now live it and have lived it, you will have to live once more and innumerable times more' ... Would you not throw yourself down and gnash your teeth and curse the demon who spoke thus? Or have you once experienced a tremendous moment when you would have answered him: 'You are a god and never have I heard anything more divine.'?
I took a walk around the world to ease my troubled mind.
I left my body lying somewhere in the sands of time.
But I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon.
It begins with a tiny breeze. The world doesn't seem to notice it while it grows stronger, slowly but steady. After a while, a mighty wind blows across the world. A wind that carries words of destruction. Words of death, words of fire and words of pain. Words of chaos. It's easy to walk with the wind on one's back, and let it drive you. The hard part is walking against it.
After long last, I have managed to build this small sanctuary where I will be able to write down the tales I have lived.
I can feel the old age wearing me down, for my resolve has never been stronger. Future generations need to be told about the dark secrets this ancient land guards.
Father, give us courage to change what must be altered, serenity to accept what cannot be helped, and the insight to know the one from the other.
We could hear them getting closer. Hundreds of them. Not a single steamboat in sight yet to rescue us. We could feel how the earth moved each time a juggernaut drew his claw into the dirt. In our foolishness we thought our tunnels would keep us safe from the demons. And then, just when we could already see their glooming red eyes showing up in the distance, we heard a sound. A sound more beautiful than a siren's singing. The noise of a steam engine in the distance...
It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, be able to evade them; if weaker, be able to avoid them. For to win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.
We are not servants of any demonic master. Our purpose is greater than any other on our sacred quest. We serve the allmighty Apocalypse, leader of the Seven, the most powerful being of the three dimensions. He has mastered the arts of chaos, and is able to strike his foes directly through the soul realm, bypassing any protection their bodies might have offered them. Few mortals know a way to protect themselves against this.
<It’s very damaged, but you can read the following>
Our ancestors have come back to life in a form of death and corruption, as it happens to everybody who dies.
However, I might have found an exception in this graveyard...
It was the end. Despite all the warnings, despite all the wise words, the king did not evacuate the city. There he was, the mighty Orshabaal, just watching, while a hundred mighty Juggernauts smashed down the gates of Thais. I watched as my fellow soldiers panicked and ran away. I watched as a hellhound cast out his fiery breath, engulfing my brother and those around him. I saw a group of mages take down some torturers, just to be slaughtered by the surviving ones. And I just stood there. Until I decided to run. What else was there to do?
Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
One who has freed themselves from all restrictions has reached perfection… their potential fulfilled. Perfect strength, perfect power, perfect destiny.
Of all the places to hide his body, I could not have chosen a better one. It had to remain hidden for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Again, I am surprised of my own inteligence. Who would search for a body in an island full of undead creatures?
It was my crowning triumph, my culminating deed. The invisible cracks on the polished table of perception of all living beings.
The wars that are to come, my liberation. The rage, the blood, the hatred in their minds, my cloak of invisibility. Their efforts, my strength.
And when finally the victory of either is achieved, I shall purge their diminished spirits from the realm of existance.
My slumbering patience, my final victory.
The wars that are to come, my liberation. The rage, the blood, the hatred in their minds, my cloak of invisibility. Their efforts, my strength.
And when finally the victory of either is achieved, I shall purge their diminished spirits from the realm of existance.
My slumbering patience, my final victory.
To insult, humans call each other 'bestial'. For deliberate cruelty and nature, 'human' might be the greater insult.
Considering what human beings do and have done to human beings ... I can never imagine how the demons can add to the horrors.
<Most of the pages have been eaten by insects and are completely unreadable. You find a small fragment on the last pages of the book that is still recognizable>
... draw their power from the infected blight that runs through the veins of the continent. Its origin lies ...
... that I dug up while mining for precious minerals, back in my youth...
... draw their power from the infected blight that runs through the veins of the continent. Its origin lies ...
... that I dug up while mining for precious minerals, back in my youth...
<Only a couple of pages in the middle are readable>
... tribe of local elves that saved me from the terrors of the forest. Even they, as wardens of nature, have found it impossible to coexist with the hostile spirits that inhabit the trees...
... did not end well. After these events, they decided to hide in the depths of the continent, far from the darkness that poisons the earth. I have not seen them ever since...
The world is changing. I can feel it in the water. I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was, is lost, for none now live who remember it. All of you, have been decieved.
Demons run,
when a good man goes to war.
Night will fall and drown the sun, when a good man goes to war.
Friendship dies and true love dies.
Night will fall and the dark will rise,
when a good man goes to war.
Once more into the fray, into the last good fight i will ever know. Live and die on this day... live and day on this day...
The giant Knight's squire.
Once there lived the most gallant of all,
A knight as tall as the castle's wall.
Under his protection it was peace and calm,
It truly was a kingdom come.
Then came a young lad with hopes all high,
To seek the giant's council and learn how to fight.
The knight was now old but he took him in,
A prodigy you say!! we'll see it then.
The young lad trained long and then some more,
The giant grew weaker and lost his post.
No longer the protector, he retired to the valley,
The lad followed him through the rivers on his galley.
As the knight took his last breath and stood to face death,
The lad stood too to pay his respects.
"No longer you'll be a squire" the giant knight said,
"You truly are a prodigy my young knight, protect the realm"
<looks like some kind of diary>
... I escaped those bloody sorcrerers, but I'm wounded and bleeding... I don't think I have much time left. I have found a cave to the north which seems safe. I will hide the bounty of the magicians there. I hope my fellow dwarfs can find it...
Tale of the wizard boy - Tome I
Many years ago, there lived a small boy, in a village that is now just a heap of ruins on an island far to the south. The boy had been born with the gift of magic, the first one in many years. The inhabitants of the village praised his birth, and saw him as a sign of fortune. They insisted to his parents to send him to the wizards that lived in the sands of the east.
But the parents loved their child, and did not want to send him away. They raised him as a farmer, and so he lived for many years. But the child often had questions, questions that his parents could not answer. And deep within him, a desire started to grow. A desire to learn, to know the things that others could not explain. He would often hide away and practice his magic powers.
And he was powerful indeed. He quickly learned how to cast lightnings out of his hands, how to move objects with his hands. One day, the other children saw him making a sheep float in the air. They were scared, and called him weird. One of them dared to step forward and beat the child. The child got angry. Before the other boy could even realize his mistake, a giant thunder roared across the valley, a dazzling light shined, and the boy was no more.
Tale of the wizard boy -Tome II
The boy knew bad things would happen to him, so he ran for seven days and seven nights. He hid in the mountains and found a cave. Confident that nobody would find him there, he settled down there. The next years of the boy were a time of solitude. Thanks to his powers, he had little trouble in getting food.
One day he went back to the cave, and found a little being waiting for him. it was a cute animal that he had never seen before. The animal asked for his help. It told him that it was being hunted by a pack of wolves and asked the boy to kill them. The boy accepted, and followed the animal until he found them. There were about twenty, wandering slowly in a valley, as if searching for something. The boy casted down a single powerful lightning from the sky, killing them all.
It was then when the illusion vanished. Instead of corpses of wolves, the boy saw the bodies of people from their village. And among them, the corpses of his parents. He looked around, and saw the animal, that now looked like a terrifying purple demon, vanishing into the air. The boy drowned in grief, and insanity invaded his mind.
He forgot his real name, and started calling himself Bracelius. He abandoned everything from his former life, and it is said that he has since then been wandering across the world and training to be powerful enough to defeat the demon that made him lose everything that he loved. Rumours say that he has mastered the art of inmortality, and that he no longer recognizes a human or any other creature as his friend, but as illusions that the demon sends to confuse him...
We forsaw the demonic invasion long before it started. The minotaurs are not one of those low-minded races who lets fate decide their lives. When the hordes attacked the mortal realm, our portal to escape was nearly finished. Yet we didnt know where it would lead us to...
The Tauren were once a mighty race, and their powers able to compete with the demonic forces. However, their numbers diminished greatly during the war of the gods. The last living Taurens created us as their legacy and went into a deep sleep which would last thousands of years...
... "Can a man still be brave if he's afraid?"
"That is the only time a man can be brave" his father told him.
But suddenly everything went altogether dark, as dark as if a hole had opened in the world of sight, and I looked into emptiness. In the black abyss there appeared a single figure that slowly grew, until it filled nearly everything. So terrible was it that I stood rooted, unable to cry out or to withdraw his gaze.
I cannot tell you where I will be in 9 months, but I can tell you where I would like to find myself.
Once I read that two people that make each other laugh have the right to do anything. How true, and how ironic at the same time. Because there are few things better than those jokes that only we understand, those details about the places that have witnessed our very first kisses.
All the beginnings are frightening, specially for a person like me that is afraid of absolutelly everything. I am still afraid of heights, because the more steps you climb, the stronger the fall is. But that harm may be worth it.
Never forget that I love you, because when somebody truly loves, he does for all his life, even if it may be in different ways.
Forever yours,
L. M.
Through me you pass into the city of woe.
Through me you pass into eternal pain:
Through me among the people lost for aye.
Justice the founder of my fabric moved.
To rear me was the task of power divine,
Supremest wisdom, and primeval love.
Before me things create were none, save things
Eternal, and eternal I shall endure.
All hope abandon, ye who enter here.
-Part 2-
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-Part 3-
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