The thirteenth page.

Winter 25th, 569



To begin this, I'd like to hearken back to several months ago, when a valuable tome entitled Nautical Knowledge was found. Two groups of people - the rugged Pirates and the learned staff of the University of Puddleby - wished to possess it, so it was established that a tournament would be held to decide which group would earn the right. In the mean time, Mystic Wangah Rah held the book, despite his affiliation with the Pirates.

The tournament took place, and, despite several accusations of cheating, the Pirates were declared the winners. Rah supposedly handed the book over.

Now that its background's been explained, the tale itself can be told. Nate Autical has decided recently that he's collected enough materials to improve the ship that carries exiles to Peaceton. Apparently, however, materials aren't enough - Nate feels he needs to research ship building some before he can complete his task. The fellow came to town the other day asking after books and any other knowledge on naval technology that we had. Naturally, Nautical Knowledge was mentioned. In fact, it just so happened it just so happened that Kalian, who represents the pirates occasionally, had the book with him, and was all too willing to hand it over.



Things would have gone on well enough from there, but Nate took one good look at the book and declared it worthless to him, stating that its pages were filled with obvious nonsense. Rah, sneering complacently, approached Nate and explained that the book Kalian had held was a forgery. Wangah had possessed the real version all along, and never had any intention of handing it over to any exile that owned it more rightfully than he.

This means that the entire contest was a sham, and that all of Puddleby was manipulated into believing a lie. Whether the outcome of the tournament was legitimate or not is irrelevant - Rah obviously would have kept the book to himself no matter who rightfully won it. Although Wangah claims that this deception was carried out on behalf of the Mystic council, his statement is unconfirmed. Indeed, this strikes me as something one would expect from someone acting according to his own selfish whims.

This sort of disgusting behavior is the sort of thing most right-minded people have come to expect from the likes of Wangah Rah, who has a well established history of violence, racism, necromancy, and affiliation with the orga. However, deception of this level against one's fellow exiles is particularly vile, even for the likes of him.

I personally urge extra caution when dealing with this conniving ball of slime that presumes to call itself a Mystic. If you must, shun him. Place a complete embargo upon interaction with him, if only to protect yourself, your assets, and your families. At the very least, don't help him when he inevitably digs himself into an infinitely deep hole of deception and thievery. Through our combined efforts, I'm certain we can teach even the particularly dimwitted what happens when they try to swindle the good people of Puddleby.

--Largo