Moonlight guide you

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You stand before a tomb. It is not a building - rather, it is carved into the side of the mountain. The wind whistles around you, whipping your cloak against your body. The ledge you stand on hangs above a steep drop of jagged rock that disappears back into the valley. The entrance to the tomb is unassuming. There is no ornamentation carved into the stone - no intricate facade or metal embellishment. Only an open doorway and the words "Enter, Friend" carved above. You step inside, and the harsh whistle of the winds quiets immediately. It is dark and cold, yet it does not feel unwelcome. The room is small with only a stone coffin set into an alcove that has been carved from the mountain. A line of unlit, melted candle stubs sits in front of the coffin. The floor is covered in a clean layer of freshly dried grass. In the corner, a ragged yet neatly folded blanket rests next to a small chest.

The chest holds a few unused candles, a small flint, and a bulbous glass lantern. The glass of the lantern is uneven and dark, as though dirtied with a thick layer of soot. The handle is a simple copper hoop, and a small tassel hangs from the bottom.

Codex Entry: The Lantern of the Dead

Material: Dark, textured glass and copper ornamentation This object is not for use in combat. A lantern of simple design with dark glass and simple copper ornamentation. The shape is reminiscent of that of a skull. The lantern cannot be lit with mortal flame and must instead be lit with an invocation spoken by the bearer. "Friend to the Dead Guide my feet, calm my soul, Lead me to my rest." (X) When lit, small orbs of blueish-green light fill the lantern and the air around the bearer. The bearer is also adorned with a pair of spectral wings that form a glowing shroud around them. This shroud is not visible to the living. The lantern will guide the bearer along a sure path through darkness or across perilous terrain, and also grants the bearer night vision. The bearer will hear the whispers of the dead when in possession of the lantern. The whispers will grow louder as time passes. Continued use and exposure will lead to mental distress and eventual psychosis. While lit, the lantern sustains itself on the bearer's life force. This toll may be offset with an offering and a blood sacrifice. However, the bearer will hear the voice of the one that was offered, haunting them for the remainder of the bearer's life.

You light one of the unused candles and set it by the coffin before huddling under the blanket in the corner. You cradle the glass lantern in your lap. The candlelight flickers strangely across the textured surface of the glass. You brush your finger over the copper handle.

"Friend," the wind sighs from beyond the entrance to the tomb.

A phrase comes to mind. The words cluster against the back of your teeth, begging to be uttered.

You are faced with a choice. Do you:

⟡ Speak the works and light the lantern

⟡ Fight the impulse to speak and leave the lantern behind

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Developer Notes Below!

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You enter a cavernous sandstone chamber. A wave of heat crashes into you, and sweat immediately begins to drip from your brow. The roof has decayed, and great shafts of sunlight fill the room. Dried, dead leaves litter the floor - fallen from the gapping holes in the roof. Frescos fill the walls, too faded to make out distinct images, but there are traces of golden and orange pigment in the grooves of the stone. The floor glows, almost too bright after the gloom of the forest. A dead vine crawls limply across the back wall - withered and dried from the lack of shade and the oppressive heat. At the end of the room, a gleaming copper chest sits atop a raised dais. It is unlocked. Within the chest is a small dagger in need of sharpening, an empty flask, a rusted key, and a spiked, metal crown. The metal of the crown is dull despite the overwhelming brightness of the room. You reach for it and immediately slice open your palm on the sharp edge of the band. A drop of blood lands on the golden velvet that cushions the chest.

Codex Entry: The Crown of The Sun

Material: Unknown metal +60% Critical hit damage bonus +60% Attack power +60% Increase in mana for mages +40% Mana regeneration for elves +20% Fire damage +20% Resistance to fire damage +10% Critical hit chance A spiked crown that mimics the rising sun above the head of the wearer. The metal is dull and lifeless with sharp edges which seem impossible not to cut oneself on. When worn, the dull metal begins to turn a rosy fired hue as though heated by flames. Slowly overheats the wearer's brain and causes blood loss through cuts and wounds where the crown touches the wearer. Can only be worn for a maximum of 300 seconds before death of the wearer. Causes irreversible damage at intervals before death of the wearer. After 60 seconds: Internal bleeding begins After 120 seconds: Nerve damage and loss of sensation in extremities begins After 240 seconds: Degradation of mobility in limbs begins For mage class: Wearer will hear a low voice encouraging the use of blood magic which increases the speed of blood loss. Blood loss will weaken the wearer but add +3% chance to cause spontaneous combustion in enemies.

You hear scrapping from the hallway outside of the chamber - like long claws being dragged across stone. The dagger may come in handy, but what about the crown?

You are faced with a choice. Do you:

⟡ Take the crown along with the other items

⟡ Leave the crown behind but take the other items

⟡ Take nothing

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Developer Notes Below!

When Cyrian appears during the Demon's Bargain quest his eyes are red, likely signifying his bond with Anaris.

However, you can spot them momentarily turning brown when the two of them start arguing.

Then, when Anaris responds, his own eyes light up and red sparkles appear around Cyrian's face as his eyes turn back red.

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You exhale raggedly as you continue your climb up the crumbling skeleton of stairs that runs along the mountainside. When it seems as though your thighs cannot take another step and your lungs wheeze unevenly with each new breath, you reach a landing. You collapse to the ground. After a moment's rest, you right yourself with trembling limbs - only to find yourself facing a skeleton, its lower jaw dropped in a silent scream. You scramble backwards, your back hitting a jagged rock jutting from the mountainside. You cower against the stone, your fear surpassing the sharp flare of pain, but the skeleton does not move. It sits slumped by the edge of the landing. A ragged cloak pools around the bones of its body and clutched in its lap in a bony grip is a book.

The book slides from its grasp easily. The binding is a dark green leather - plain with no embellishments or markings. Two copper clasps keep it closed, but there is no way to unlock them or open the book it seems. You run a finger along the cool metal as you shuffle backwards, keeping a wary eye on the skeleton. Its empty sockets stare back at you.

Codex Entry: A Book Without Title

Material: Simple leather binding with no title and an ornamental clasp with no visible way to unlock and open the book This object is not for use in combat. A plain leather book. The visible page edges appear to be simple parchment. An intricate and ornamental clasp keeps the book closed, but there is no keyhole or visible way to unlock the clasp. To unlock the book you must whisper it a secret. Once opened the pages appear blank, but ask the book a question aloud, and it shall be answered in the reader's own mind. But beware for the cost of knowledge is a memory. The book takes no physical toll from the reader apart from the snatches of memory it takes. Yet the more it is used, the more the hunger for knowledge grows within the reader. The reader will be compelled to continue asking questions. The craving for knowledge will become insatiable until the reader has no memory left to offer. Without memory, no knowledge can be gained. The reader will wander, aimless and without memory, protecting the book with no knowledge of how to open it or what it is until it is taken from them or until death.

A secret, long-forgotten comes to mind. You run your finger along the copper clasp again, the pad of one fingertip catching on the sharp point of one end. What knowledge lies in this book? Might it help you find what you seek?

You are faced with a choice. Do you:

⟡ Share a secret with the book and see what lies within its pages

⟡ Return the book to its previous owner

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Developer Notes Below!

Valentine’s DA-y 7: Emmrich Volkarin

I’ve got a fever, and the only cure for that fever is Emmrich in fancy shoes and body chains. 🌹💀🌹

Valentine’s DA-y 10: Teia and Viago

LOVE that they have a ship name despite being canonically married. 😂 Anyway, if they asked me to be their third you’d never hear from me again… 💜