The ninth page.

Summer 59th, 568



I stepped outside of the library the other day to find that someone had upset the wendecka enough that they had invaded town. The apes were very loud and aggressive, strange because they tend to keep to themselves as long as people avoid their territory. There were Sasquatches, normal Wendecka, Silverbacks, Midnights; Even some sorts of apes that I didn't know populated any place outside of Metzetli loped out of their caves to attack us. It took hours to cut our way to and through the passes alone. If people hadn't been so enthusiastic when it came to fighting and skinning the furry creatures, we might not have made any progress at all.



When we reached the Greymyr village and began to clear it out, we were met with a nasty surprise. A very large and furious mother Wendecka, apparently the source of the commotion, began to wreak havoc on our numbers. The beast was much smarter than any I've ever seen. It wouldn't allow itself to be bricked or rodded, and it chased chainers with incredible vigor, as if it knew they were important targets. Although some people were hesitant to kill a mother Wendecka that was so obviously capable of thought, it was eventually cut down anyway. From there, ending the invasion was a simple matter of cleaning out stragglers from the places we'd missed on our first pass.

I noticed during the fighting that my training as a Champion was very useful. Chaining people away from the furious mother would have been a lot harder and more painful if I hadn't been taught to run at full speed in armor. I also very much appreciated the fact that I'm able to hit nearly all types of ape with the help of my Fell Blade and Atkite. In all, my practice is going very well. I think I'll write more about the Champion trainers and specialties in a later entry, because some people I've spoken to seem a little bit confused as to how they operate.

--Largo

The eighth page.

Summer 54th, 568



I've finally met my goal of becoming a Champion. I recovered my Earthstone a short time ago, thanks to a lump of ore generously donated by my clan brother Aravir. From there, being accepted into the hall was a simple matter of attaining appropriate skill with my Fell Blade. My thanks go out to the people who showered me with ore - you're too many to name, but you all know who you are.

The Champion "hall" is really more of a cave below the barracks than anything else. The floor and walls are simple dirt, dimly lit by a few strategically placed braziers. The teachers and hangers-about have already exceeded my expectations though. Not only are they some of Puddleby's strongest, they've all been very friendly to me as well. I feel very welcomed, and very honored to be associated with the lot of them. Despite the plain decor, I think I'll fit in very well here.

As for training and my plans from here on out, I've already mastered channeling what little earth power I have into Atkite, and, as I write this, I believe I'm nearly finished learning to channel it into Darkite as well. Beyond that, I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do. I'm most likely to practice with Erthron until I pass the sixth circle fighter test, then look into more exotic options. Toomeria and the Shieldstone ring come to mind.

--Largo

The seventh page.

Summer 41st, 568



Though acquiring it was a long and arduous task, wrought with expensive deals and difficult choices, Bane finally has a completed Darkstone at its disposal. The purpose of this entry is to share what knowledge we have of these artifacts with whoever wishes to learn it, hopefully laying to rest a few rumors that I know have circulated.

Though we don't have very much information to work with, Darkstones may very well may be the "tainted Moonstones" that the Dar'shak Theocracy is reported to use in various incantations and rites. Deep violet, roughly the same size as a regular Moonstone, seething with necromantic energy and obviously tied to the cult, they fit Hulapop's description very well. This is a theory I hope to explore more thoroughly in the future.

An exile can obtain a Darkstone by trading four different shards to Necro's apprentice. This apprentice will only work with mystics, and can be found north of the Sage's hut in Necro's conference room. Though dealing directly with a sworn enemy makes my stomach churn and the fur on my neck stand on end, some evils are necessary in the scope of things.

When placed inside the Dark Temple's pentacle, a Darkstone opens a portal to the Sanctum, a large complex beneath Ash that's filled with elite Dar'shak fighters and undine. It is also the home of the High Priests, which can be identified by their blood red robes and powerful fire magic. A Darkstone's portal is, unfortunately, the only way to enter the Sanctum.

Additionally, and much more malevolently, Darkstones can be used to resurrect a fallen fighter as an undine. I prefer not to write the specifics of that hex, for fear that it might be abused.

While some people may find the idea of staging miniature feasts of T'srrin at their whim exciting, it's important to keep a few things in mind. Necro is very eager to "help" us by forging the stones for free. This, in and of itself, should raise a red flag. The foul priest has never shown us anything but malice before this, and there's no reason to believe he's showing us anything less than that now. Secondly, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. The last time something this suspicious was widely distributed to exiles, it sparked the Ripture War.

I don't think I can stress enough that it's important to treat these vile stones with the utmost caution. They can be put to great good by opening the Sanctum to attack, as Bane hopes to do. Conversely, though, they can be put to great evil with their second ability. I hope most vehemently that those exiles who currently have Darkstones or manage to obtain them in the future use them only as a tool to open the Sanctum beneath Ash, never to flippantly turn their fellows into undine.

--Largo

The sixth page.

Spring 78th, 568



While resting in town the other day, I learned through spirit link that my clan sister Indigo had fallen to a liche. Indigo is very zealous when it comes to our clan's cause, so it's not uncommon for her to have a mishap here and there. Thinking nothing of it, I made my way to the Dark Temple to make sure she was alright. On arriving, I couldn't help but note that while there were several wounded undine on the lower levels, none of them were liches. I proceeded upstairs to continue my search.

When I reached the top floor, I was greeted with a most vile and upsetting sight; Pe Ell was standing over an undine that bore a striking resemblance to Indigo, and the pentacle was alight with the effects of some vile incantation. No other people, living or undead, were within sight.



As many of you know, the only way to help an exile turned undine is to fight them into submission and have them healed. I proceeded to try and do just this, despite Pe Ell's best efforts to keep me from it. The battle was short-lived. I felled Indigo and chained her away from the temple. She reverted to her normal self shortly after, and seems to be recovering well.

According to accounts related to me by Indigo, and the garbled confessions and curses spewed at me by Pe Ell, the latter used his darkstone and the pentacle to turn the former into an undine, much in the same way that the Dar'shak Necro would.



Whether this instance came to pass through trickery or through simple kidnapping, I don't yet know for certain. I do know that it came to pass, and I do know that Pe Ell, the ranger that most people know for being nothing more than a whiny louse, is far more sinister, contemptible and dangerous than previously thought. I advise shunning him altogether, as that's the best way to ensure that he is not given the opportunity to steal your fallen body.

--Largo

---

The following is scrawled hastily below the rest of the entry, and in a different ink. It appears that it was added a few days after the entry was initially published.

The events recorded here are the result of a misunderstanding. Pe Ell is not dangerous.

--Largo