#serioth's journal

Logs of the 10th of Azure.

[The Orb has been activated.]

S: This is Council member Serioth. I am currently investigating Council member Werill's suspicious activity. Recently, I have seen him use the Council Meeting Room's mana reserve to cast an encrypted spell of Open Way. I also have reasons to believe that he is linked to a memory eating entity that has been afflicting me recently. Because of that, I suspect Werill of treason against the Council, and will track his spell back to the gate. I plan on using this Orb as proof, and give my consent to have my words be subjected to a spell of Reveal Intent. Everything I will see there shall be described to the best of my abilities. As for the gate, it seems to be concealed. It appears as an ordinary wall, in the Upper Gardens of the Council's Tower. I will now cast the spell.

Wrtyening dpcny,

Piehirg ueoa memory,

Lll aheit vesirn rluy,

Aetve rhiio tsath to me.

[Sounds of grinding stones.]

It works. The wall has opened, and reveals a dimly lit corridor. There are torches on the walls, on each side. I can't see the end of it. I'm going to enter.

[Serioth walking on stone.]

There is moss in the ground and on the walls. The iron of the torches is rusting. I suspect that this place is older than Werill's membership in the Council. He might not be alone. I can also see a door. It is made of wood, and it is rotting. I'm preparing a spell, just in case, and openning it...

It's an office, it seems. This place is cleaner than the corridor. There are candles on the desk, and some letters. ...they're either encrypted, or written in a language I don't know. I will leave them here, and take them once I'll get out. I can also see an ink pot. I need to try something.

[Sound of a flame being lit up.]

As I feared, this is arcane ink. Werill has been making unbreakable pacts. They don't seem to be here, since the ink on the letters is mundane. Too bad. I would have burned them if I could. Oh well. I must press on, I don't know how much time I have, and there's another door. Maybe I'll find more evidence.

What the...

[Serioth carefully stepping into the room.]

The difference in size between this place and the office is jarring. There are huge collumns going up, higher than I can see. There's a bridge in front of me, and below, on both sides.

...oh.

Those are... Some form of stasis sigils. Hundreds of them, probably more. I can see the runes glowing the dark, each circle illuminating... Something. They look like silvery spiders, with runes across their main body. They have eight, extremely long limbs, six of them staying behind the creatures, and two extended forward, like hooks. I'm afraid that those are memetophage, like the one afflicting me. There are more than I bel-

W: Fancy seeing you here.

S: Werill! Stay back!

[Mana sizzling.]

W: Jeez, old crow, no need to get angry. You're the one intruding, you know.

S: Don't play dumb. What is the meaning of this? Answer!

W: This? Well, this is my... Latest project. Do you like it? The one on your neck's just a prototype, but it's been doing wonders. You've been a lot more agreeable lately. A real ray of sunshine.

S: We haven't talked in the last few days.

W: Oh. Are you sure?

S: ...it doesn't matter. I've got more than enough proof to get you out of the Council. This is prohibited research, and a major project done in the City of Towers without the Council's approval! And I'll stop you myself if I must.

W: [Sigh.] Do you even have a plan? Do you think you can just rush in and destroy everything, like you usually do? Please. The whole place will collapse if you try. Then you'll be targeted by the City's defense system. I wonder how long you'd last. Or maybe you plan on just killing me. Cutting off the snake's head. Except that wouldn't do it. You know there's no way I could have done this alone. So you need the information I have. Just wanted to clarify that, in case you were about to do something... Stupid.

S: What you said is true. But I'll get the rest of the Council on this case and... What is that ?

[Paper shuffling.]

W: The reason why you won't. When they latch on to an host, those little beauties put them in a transe. They become half aware of their surroundings and easily... Convinced. I must admit, you're resillent. Very resilient. You even tried to negociate. But you signed, in the end.

S: Signed what?!

W: An arcane contract. If you ever tell anyone about what you saw here, or about anything incriminating that involves me, you will then leave the Council, leave your grimoire behind, and never go back to the City of Towers. Terribly sorry about that.

S: What..?

W: Yyyyyyeah. You might want to consider your options carefully. You could try to stop me, of course, but that would cost you your seat at the Council.

S: You're a fool if you think I won't do what I must, regardless of the cost.

W: Except you won't be able to do what you must without your job. And you've been around long enough to know that there are way bigger threats than this.

S: I have the power to do things myself. I'm a battle mage.

W: Oh, old crow, you know nothing of power. Magic isn't power. Not really. Not when basically anyone can shoot fireballs out of their hands or turn into smoke. True power is the power you hold over the people who can do that. True power is the power to have them work together to achieve your goals. Tell me, what would you do, to keep doing your job without the Council's support? Where would you get the mana potions? The location of the Council's ennemies? The equipment to cast siege-tier battle spells? Without the Council, you're just another brute, Serioth. A brute without purpose, without a Council to serve. A scared child, giving his life to what he thinks is the institution who can solve every problem in the world. A child who believes that if he does everything it demands, he will be able to sleep at night without smelling the ashes of his home.

A child with a lot of enemies. A brute who is all alone, hated by almost any wizard worth their salt.

[Werill chuckling.]

W: Oh, you did not like the sound of that, did you?

S: ...out of my way, Werill. I'm going to report this to the Council, and burn this place to the ground myself.

W: [Sigh.] How dissapointing. Oh well.

[Werill taking something out of his pocket, and placing his hand over his amulet.]

[A metallic object, falling somewhere.]

[A magic shield activating.]

W: Wakey wakey...

S: Wh- No!

ᚹᛁᛚᛚ ᛟᚠ ᚠᛚᚨᛗᛖ!

[Fire crackling.]

W: Burn as many as you like, little mage. There's thousands of them here. Maybe millions. I lost count, and they breed quickly, when they're not restrained. They'll keep coming as long as they sense magic in you.

[Sound of an explosion.]

S: Why aren't they coming after you then?! Stay right here! Answer me you bastard!

W: Why would I bother?

You won't remember the answer, once they're done with you.

___________________________________

11th of Azure

11th... I've been keeping this journal for barely more than a week. Feels like a year. Everything happened so fast...

Everything hurts. There are bite marks everywhere on my body, and burns from fire spells I cast whenever one of those things got a grip on me. I lived, somehow, and I told the Council everything. Hummbirb, at first, then Lepriss. Even Sophia, though she's not a Council member. I guess I wanted to be sure it would not be forgotten. In any case, I must follow the contract, and... I have left the City of Towers. It is done, I am no longer on the Council.

That means that I am going to die. Well, fade away is a more suitable term, I suppose.

As a revenant, my existence was held together only by the driving force behind my actions. I always said that this driving force was the greatness of the Council but... That's a lie. My driving force was to be the best Council member I could be. So that I could stop those that use magic to harm others. Now, I can't do that. And so, I don't think I have long.

It's for the best. One life, in exchange of the Council's... Relative safety. I don't know how long I would have survived anyway. Doesn't matter now. I told everyone I was leaving the City, and I'm looking for a place to die, now. I... Think I remember the path to somewhere that's dear to me. Lost the memory of it in the battle with the memetophages, though. I was... Angry, about losing it. Furious, even. I am slowly getting all of my memories back, though. Lepriss managed to get the thing that latched on to me removed. I hope I'll reach this place and remember it before I disappear.

11th of Azure, 9PM

I've been walking for a while now. Still can't remember. It was a peaceful, beautiful place. The air was pure, and I felt calm. A place where I was stress-free. It's funny, now that I think of it, I almost always had some kind of pressure on me. I gave my life to the Council, long before I made the choice of exposing Werill. Long before the Great Worm, even. I pushed away everything that was a threat to my work... For what, in the end? I've been protecting the interests of people like Werill. Sure, I did good things, but... How much of it was actually good? What changes did I do to the world? Did it change at all?

11th of Azure, 9:12PM

You've got to be kidding me. This... Is Jim's tower. Gods damn it, I'm pathetic.

11th of Azure, 9:15PM

Not Jim's Tower. I remember, now. There a little hill, surrounded by trees, next to it. We watched the stars there. I liked it. We used to talk here. He told me his woes, and sometimes, I told him mine. We reassured each other, tried to help. I was always more vulnerable in those moments, even though I tried not to be. It always went well, though. I wonder... Could have things be different? Did we actually have something? Did I blow it all away..? Probably. He's right. I was scared. I couldn't understand why he would love me without ulterior motives and... I pushed him away. But that's not all. I didn't want to love him. It was too much of a vulnerability, of a... Weakness.

...like having attachments, or taking vacations to rest, or... Gods. I never hated myself for being weak. I hated myself for being... Human.

Hummbirb said he could get him to visit me. And the Paper-grey Council said I could get shelter in their office, in case there were more creatures. I could spend my last hours watching the stars with him...

11th of Azure, 9:23PM

No. I'm being selfish. I can't do this to him. I can't say I'm sorry then slowly die in front of him. This is too horrible. And I know him. He's... Well, he's a dork. He might just forgive me. He would get hurt. I fucked it up, it's my burden to carry. I can watch the stars, though. Doesn't feel the same, but I can. Fading away is... Peculiar.

I feel like I'm looking at the world through a glass pane. I feel things like I was touching them through a glove, or some kind of fabric. The air isn't cold or warm, I barely feel myself breathing. Still, this place is nice.

11th of Azure, 9:32

Well, this is it. I can sense it. I don't have long now. I'm going to die, and my body will completely dissapear shortly after. I'll only leave this journal behind. It's something, I guess.

It feels weird to sit here, watching the stars, and not be able to hold Jim's hand.

____

9th of Azure

There's something behind me.

It has been there for a while. It is here, right now. This is what Sophia saw when she looked at my neck. It made her forget about itself, hence her confusion. Of course. She would never hide such a thing from someone on purpose. I suspect some kind of memetophage. This thing has a passive effect on me, eating my memories in order to grow, and on everyone that looks at it, so that it remains concealed. I caught a glimpse of it, in my mirror. One limb. A long, thin spider-like leg, resting right behind my ear. It is grey, and glimmers like silver. I would take a closer look, but I do not know if it is the mirror, or the fact that I did not see much that saved me. I am not taking the risk. A glimpse is enough.

And it seems to have woke it up, so to speak. Up until now, its feeding paterns were random, but now, there is now intent, in the memory loss. It's trying to erase Werill's Open Way formula. It's trying to prevent me from opening the door. Foolish thing. It is already written, and I've been reading this journal, over and over, ever since I saw it. The very act of opening the book is now embedded into my subconscious, and the creature is single minded enough to try to erase the same memory, over and over. Not only do I know where it came from now, but I got it snared in a web of repeated action.

My mind is clear. I know what to do.

I will take an Orb of Transcription with me, and reveal Werill's plot.

The beast is revealed. Onward to its lair.

6th of Azure.

I just forgot something important.

That is concerning. I remember freezing in shock, and rushing to my desk to write, but I don't remember why. I still feel alarmed, but I can't put my finger on the reason. It's like an unconscious fear. I feel watched and threatened, as if I was expecting a combat situation. Maybe I am. I'm going to reinforce my wards and search my quarters. More security measures are in order.

I must admit, sleeping more was a good idea, even though, recently, I've been having strange nighmares about bugs and spiders. Regardless, this whole ordeal is exhausting, and sleep is a necessity. I don't even feel at home in my quarters anymore. Not with this perpetual threat lying in wait somewhere. It would be less taxing to be actively fighting something. At least I would where I'm safe, and where I'm not. And I wouldn't have something messing with my head. I suspect some kind of psychic attack, but I'm not sure of what kind. Could it be a Council Member? Or are we under attack, without knowing it? Foes or traitors ?

Well. At least, it's not all bad. I've been talking to Sophia more and more, recently, as she keeps asking me if I'm alright. I found that irritating at first, but having someone to talk to is nice, in all honesty. She keeps having those confused looks when she looks at my neck, but I've learned to ignore them. She's probably dealing with her own stuff. Aside from that, she seems to be okay though. She's been learning battle magic for a few months now. I asked her what this had to do with her job as a healer, and she gave me a weird look, and said she's just learning it because she likes to learn new stuff. It must be quite a strain on her already busy schedule, but to each their own I guess. I took the opportunity to teach her some spells, and she taught me Healing Hands in return. Maybe it'll be useful, one day.

7th of Azure

I must avoid any and all healing spell from now on.

This morning, I tried to cast Healing Hands on myself. I had a headache, because of my lack of sleep. I got in bed on scheduled time, but kept waking up. Nightmares are becoming frequent and troublesome. More vivid too. They still involve spider like creatures, though their shape keeps changing, and they're more agressive. In any case, I cast Healing Hands on myself at 9am.

I can't remember anything of what happened through the day, until 8pm, and I suspect that I stayed in my quarters. Apparently, whatever is afflicting me is responsive to healing magic. More testing with different kinds of magics are required. It is Sophia, who woke me up. Worried after not seeing me at the training grounds, she knocked at my door. She had brought tea, too. Bless this woman, honestly, I've never had a cup of tea feel like such a relief.

In other news, Werill is acting suspicious. More than usual, at least. I've seen him trying stealthily cast spells during Council meetings. I wanted to confront him right then and there, thinking it was the source of my affliction, but upon close inspection, it appears to be some kind of a delayed version of the Open Way spell. Is he hiding something in the meeting room? I think I'll try to copy it, and investigate.

I wonder why he's casting it during the meeting though. He's probably using the shared mana pools that activate during them, but why? Open Way, even when delayed and encrypted, is an easy to cast spell that doesn't require much mana. Is he just careless? Or playing a deeper game still? Whatever the case, I won't let him.

8th of Azure

I have to admit, I should have tried to get more sleep sooner. I've been feeling... Well, better isn't the right word, given what's going on, but I'm glad I did it. It's always something, even though sticking to the schedule is easier said than done.

In any case, today has been mercifully calm. No major memory loss or troublesome event, just the well oiled routine of the City of Towers. I've even had the occasion to teach Sophia some tricks with Battle Magic. I hope she never has to use them, but better safe than sorry, and she seems to be having a lot of fun. Maybe I should pick a secondary magic too, if I ever find the time. I'm still unsure though. To master one specific kind of magic has its benefits, and covering each other's weaknesses is part of the point of having a Council...

Anyways, I have developped an exact copy of Werill's Open Way spell, down to every gesture he makes. I think I even determined which ones are part of the spell, and which ones are those he uses to hide the fact that he's casting something. With this information, finding the door should be easy enough. I expect traps, or some kind of defense system, but I should be able to handle it. I am a Battle Mage, after all. It can't be too different from entering the tower of an ennemy mage. I don't think this old man has anything I cannot prepare for.

The plan is simple. I'm going to find the door, and whatever secrets Werill hides there. If it's linked to my recent memory loss, I'll destroy it. If not, I'll let it be, unless it's criminal in nature, in which case I'll denounce him to the rest of the Council, so that he may be put on trial.

3rd of Azure

My memory is afflicted by something. I'm not sure of what, but the symptoms are here. All my wards are up, so it is unlikely to be a curse. If it is, it is not a naturally occuring one, and has been cast by someone powerful. Regardless, I've been experiencing the effects. Mild disorientation, difficulties casting spells and more concerningly, the first of Azure, the day of Jim's escape is foggy in my mind. I remember what he told me, and the moment he teleported clearly, but the rest is hard to piece together. I'm certain I talked to Werill, but can't remember anything specific, or when exactly it happened.

There's something strange about this. This being the result of a disease is unlikely at my age, but something being cast on me in the City of Towers without anyone noticing, or at least interfering is equally if not more concerning. Can I even be sure if how many times this happened? Maybe Jim was right, writing in his journals every day...

Regardless, I'll keep this on me at all times, and try to find out what's happening. I must remember this journal, and above all, I must not panic. I have to be efficient.

12th of Azure

I am alive.

Well, as alive as a lich can be, but... Jim did it. He saved me. I'm not sure why, yet. I think he still hates me, but I didn't get confirmation. The spell took quite a toll on him, and he's resting. He says he's okay, but no, he's not. It's evident. He looked relieved, when I woke, but I've never seen him so weakened. I did what I could to help him, with my Healing Hands spell, even though that's not much. I waited until he was asleep, so I don't know how well that went, but he's a little less pale.

I do believe I... Might have underestimated Jim. His spell worked. He actually found Lichdom. He had the help of powerful artifacts, sure, but he set up and perdormed the ritual, and attained imortality. And he gave it to me.

I don't know how to feel about this. This was supposed to be his escape plan, his trump card against the Council. Now, he's more vulnerable than ever. I wonder. What does he know? Were the letters in Werill's office for him? Was he being threatened? What if the bugs are coming for him?

If that's the case... I'll have to make sure he's safe.

Just to settle the score between us. Plus it gives me something to do, now that I'm out of the Council. Besides, we're in Ratazom's Tower, but we can't just stay forever, especially since he doesn't like me very much, though he has been polite enough to not make any comments yet.

Maybe Jim could stay at the Paper-grey Council's HQ? And I... I'm not sure of what I'll do. Maybe set up a dungeon, somewhere? I am a lich, after all.

Eh.

I'm free from my duties as a Council member. And I have no idea of what to do with my freedom. I think I'll just go watch the stars, for now. Maybe Jim could join me, if he wants to.

We both might need a conversation.

___