1. |
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"Where does fantasy end and reality begin,
And is there any real difference?
Eternally time-bound, we are caught up
In a world of ever-revolving opposites,
And within these cycles of life,
A multiplicity of animated phenomena
Forever springs forth.
Of many shapes, shades and hues,
Born from darkness and light,
Heat and cold, up and down,
Large and small, inside and outside,
One and many, and so forth."
Phusis by Askalaf [fragment fffak2]
...
"Beneath Mount. Avis
Beyond bygone trails
In wind-shaped woods
And twisting vales
Dwelt Blodeu's brood
Below the moon's light
Bearer of mysteries
Pale mother of night
As Ophides before them
And afore drakons, the fish
They drank ever deeper
From her ambrosial dish"
from 'The Liyliythia' by Cynaethus
...
"And so, mystic scions of the owl clan, pondered over the mystery of things, beneath the waxing and waning moon, oblivious to the machinations of the warlike Raptors above, those driven half-mad by their own appetites and the scorching heat of the pitiless mountain sun. These were the first murmurings of dissolution of the former Aión Thérion. And so, benevolent animal became brute beast in a world of increasing ignorance and despair. New faiths arose, like orphan children of poverty and war, offering vain hope and meaningless prayers to jailhouse deities dressed in heavy chains of undeveloped and ill-conceived laws and fables."
annales lupi 1.1.4
...
"The aged spider-sibyl had prophesied for over 800 years. Every hundred years she would climb a sacred tree and spin her spiral web. Dew drops containing oracles formed upon its mystic threads, which were caught by her attendants in a soft silk blanket as they fell below. These were then gathered up and stored in individual glass vials. Only four of these vials are known to remain."
annales lupi 2.1.13
...
"The henchmen of the ORBB (Order of the Blue Bristlers), a fanatical fraternity, whose twisted ideology was believed to be the motivation behind King Saturnus' edict to hunt down the Children of Aesop. Intolerant of other animals, they consider Boar-kind to be a superior species, and therefore the only species fit to rule. "
The Venerable Bloogus 1.5
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2. |
Castle Binn Ghulbain
11:09
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"Went exploring the castle again with Bloogus last night. I didn't get back to our apartment until dawn. Mother discovered I was not in my bed chamber and had sent several guards to find me, which they failed to do, obviously!
We were lost for some time in the most complex network of secret passages we have discovered so far. They led us deep beneath the castle where our advance was finally halted by a large iron door bearing a mysterious symbol. it looked like a curved ribbon or bow with a post rising from the middle, adorned by two cross beams.
I cannot be sure, but I think Bloog recognized it. Possibly because of all that time he spends in the castle's library. He appeared quite disturbed, but refused to talk about it.
Maybe Bloogus could smell that noxious odour emanating from behind the door and that is why he was in such a hurry to turn back. There has been talk of unusual nocturnal deliveries of mysterious foul smelling crates. Perhaps this is where they are being kept? There was something weirdly familiar about that smell, but I just can't put my claw on what.
It's hard to read him lately. He hasn't been permitted to see his mother for many weeks now and he misses her dreadfully. I think that's the real reason why he has gone exploring with me so much recently. He's trying to find a secret passageway that leads to the queen's bedchamber.
Also there's that business with the vixen servant girl he's fond of (too fond is you ask me). Her grandfather was recently convicted for telling those old stories. he has been imprisoned in Yggdrasil Dungeon, and had all his property confiscated. Not that he will be needing it anymore. That's the last anyone will see of him.
Anyway, mother was in a rage and has threatened to lock me in at night. Haha, as if that could stop me! I'm an earwig, for fethsake!
Eggs for breakfast again! I hate eggs!!"
excerpt from Laria's diary
...
"The chandler scolded me for dropping my tears into the candle wax today, shouting that 'candles are supposed to bring joy and light to the castle, not fill it with your sorrow and darkness!'
Idiot!
How I wish my tears could bring darkness and sorrow to this accursed castle, instead of this fakery! Everyone pretends to be happy as they prepare for the celebration of the royal birth, while ignoring the fact that no one has seen Queen Carlotta for weeks now.
Even Bloogus is avoiding me. Everything he said to me has been lies. He was never going to help rescue grandfather. I saw him this evening, skulking around the castle halls with that horrible daughter of that witch ambassador.
I've made up my mind. I'm leaving this place as soon as I'm able. If the prince won't help grandfather, I'll find someone else who can!"
excerpt from Raine's diary
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3. |
Beneath Keeper's Gibbet
05:08
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"Cynaethus Reyn, a cottager and long time resident of the burgh, stands accused of peddling harmful fictions prohibited by order of the King. Furgus Treach, a yeoman and person of good standing, overheard the defendant conversing with a stranger, using such names and deeds, commonly understood to be unlawful. Since the arrest of the accused, three more witnesses have been obliged to come forward with additional information corroborating Mr Treach's allegation. "
"After much careful examination of the evidence, this court finds the defendant Cynaethus Reyn guilty of the charge of storytelling and he is hereby sentenced to imprisonment unto death. Take him away."
Taken from court records.
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4. |
Alone
03:17
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"Forsaken as was Aesop
Abandoned as was Steorra
But surely as heaven and earth do meet
we shall again see the sun rise
And the moon wax eternal"
Yggdrasil Inscription [YI551]
...
"Tried to find a way into Mother's chambers again last night. Laria detected another concealed entrance in the floor of one of the lower halls.
Despite roaming through a maze of tunnels for hours, again I failed to reach her. She must be so frightened and alone.
My recent studies regarding the so-called Aión Thérion were somewhat confirmed, however, when we came across a locked door emblazoned with a lemniscate symbol, identical to one depicted in the Beelzeboúl Tractate.
This new revelation, together with the volume of ventus de lupo ceremonia that went missing shortly after the arrival of Ambassador Helena, troubles me greatly."
excerpt from Bloogus' diary
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5. |
Ratatoskr and Nidhogg
03:04
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For numberless days
And an unending night
Sounds in the walls
Ever worsening his plight
'though hunger and cold
were torment enough
The scratching and scraping
Grew louder and rough
The mysterious noise
Filled him with dread
Until finally the tumult
Was inside his head
All of a sudden
The ruckus did cease
So thankful that now
At last had found peace
Then in the silence
He heard a voice call
And without any warning
It burst through the wall
There stood a squirrel
all dusty and black
with a large serpent
tied to his back
'We've found a way out
and your welcome to come'
Chirped the squirrel
'This place is no fun'
'We really must hurry'
said the snake with a hiss
'Before those cruel jailers
find something amiss'
from 'Raine's Song'
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6. |
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"Aeons past, Yggdrasil Dungeon was a mighty keep that gave shelter to all animal kind during times of war. According to legend it was build long before the rise of the mighty serpents, who were said to be responsible for it's eventual destruction. Above ground it was little more than a pile of shattered rock, but below ground its mighty vaults remained largely intact.
It was here that many Children of Aesop were first imprisoned. Without hope of freedom and no chance of escape, sickness and starvation swiftly carried them away to the great everafter.
Many captives, however, found means to thwart their jailer's vile intentions, by leaving a legacy of stories, songs and symbols, hewn into the aged rock walls. Though lost for centuries in deep darkness, this ancient record is slowly being unearthed since the dungeon's discovery in recent times."
Horwoods Compendium of Antiquities
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7. |
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"Bloogus wants to go back down into the tunnels we discovered a few weeks ago. He says he has found a way to get past that big door with the funny symbol. I asked him what ever for? But he refused to tell me anything further. I told him I didn't care about the door. All I want to open up is him! He said that he'd never be able to find his way through all those tunnels without my help (which is true, of course) so, reluctantly, I agreed--but it's so frustrating! I wish he'd spend time with me BECAUSE OF ME, and not just because he needs me. "
excerpt from Laria's diary
...
"The chandler had me hand roll dozens of black candles today. I've never seen a black candle before in my life. Whatever are they for?"
excerpt from Raine's diary
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8. |
End of Volume 1
00:42
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