Dusty, Water Damaged Tomes

[domainoft 191]

*A few tomes have found there way to the the Monks Library within the Sanctuary.

The first half "The Tree of Life":

When digging the foundations for a protective wall of the Haven, Candle and Arcadius discovered an e xpansive circular cavern. Aeriel appeared to Omni and told him this was where he must plant the seed ling. Riizu and Sue raised a chunk of land from the center of the cavern, and Omni did as the Aengul had bid. Sh e then appeared to him again and told him that as long as this tree flourished, there was hope for t he peoples of Aegis. But if it should ever wither, Iblees taint would spread across the entire world. The Tree was tended in its early days by an Ascended called Okonkwo. He was recognized for his dedication and the care for which he shows the Tree, and so was raised to the rank of Acolyte.

Enlightened Healing:

The understanding of the abilities that we are given by Aeriel is a study of ourselves. We all have unique and special talents. Each being is given a purpose to help others. These can be trained to be better and stronger. To hav e focus. I, Shoi, guide the new healing and scholars. Now baring silver rather then red or orange as the Sages presented. I feel that my students shall all learn to help the people of Aegis from the taint of the undead. This I beleive will strengthen the talents further and raise our abilites. We have found to remove a minor taint requires two ascended. One controlling the prism that filters out the taint and compacts. The other infusing energy and guiding the taint into the heart. This is were the prism is contorted into a stone that is easily removed. The Seeress must recieve the stone to finish the sealing of the taint. Noting each stone is colored on the deeds done to absorb the tai nts. I only noticed black would be the ones close to the undead, forced on them. Then rimmed in a co lor of their darkest fears. I advise that my students note with our blood we reside safe from the taint, protected by Aeriel. As many people are not. The taint easily spead like a sickness or plague. No beings should be allowed within the area of the healing. Only the tainted and the ascended. May those whom read this book understand the pain and sorrow we deal with in these actions... May we save Aegis from the undead.

Alethion's Bio:

Born in the Holy Princedom of Malinor, Alethion was raised by normal parents. He grew up with his brother, Reignor. One tragic day, on the outskirts of Malinor, their mother and father were both killed by an unknown group. A year later, by his rageful temper, Reignor hunted down the ones who he suspected of murdering his parents and violently murdered them. After he dug himself such a giant hole, he accused his little brother Alethion of the murders and Alethion was banished from the Princedom of Malinor. Falsely accused, torn apart, and all alone, Alethion was to find his way through life. He learned from what happened to his parents and his brother and moved on. 5 Years later, he was allowed back to the Princedom. At that point, his brother went missing. Seeking a better life, Alethion strives to remove the core of the evil in Aegis: The Undead. For he is certain the undead is the reason his family fell apart... Now he has a companion, Akorta. A friendly wooden masked human. He has quite the story as well... But that's for another time. I have to go Soz!

*A note inside the cover of the last books reads "To all those seeking knowledge of magic, take heed of this warning. The fate of the world lies within your future."

Bell's Final Journal:

I have not been as diligent with keeping writings as I once was. This is disappointing on my part, but...circumstances prevented it. What is there to say now, really? I have given up. I have been...captured, tortured by the undead many times now. I have removed the spells which cause the Monks to retrieve my body with ease, even within such a tainted place as the Undead Keep. Why they...he...wants me to join him, so badly, I do not know. Nor do I care to know.

But, before I go into that, I should clarify what I have been doing. The Arcane Mage graciously offered me a position as an Arch Mage a few years ago. I was happy then. I was expecting to be able to find a way to save Aegis, to protect it... I failed, obviously. But I am sure now, more than ever, that the disturbance in the Balance has been caused not by a fail ure on the part of any of the Four Races, but on the failure of those this "test" was administered t o. I believe more than ever that this all was a test for the children of the Aenguls. A test which they failed. The Undead were never meant to have the massive effect on the world that they have. The Veil is falling apart. With it, Iblees is gaining more power. Yet, ironically, the further weakening of the Veil is the only thing which could grant us the use of magic! How the world laughs at us. The Veil must be sealed. This has gone on long enough. Magic is not worth the insanity that the unde ad bring, the chaos and destruction and pain.

But I have not the power to do so. I have been fighting the undead in my own way. Defending the places they attack... And turning their own followers against them. Latsi, I truly hope you are happy. I...truly hope you do not allow them to get to you, either physic ally or mentally. Do not fall, my would-be apprentice. I realize you will likely never read this. If worst comes to worst, I will have to either end my own life...or have someone end it for me. I will not allow myself to be turned. And this book will likely rot on the shelves of the Library...which is fine by me. There is no need for the world to read words from a traitor like myself, who...has many times nearly given in to the temptation, just to make the pain stop. Latsi at least must stay a bastion of truth. An example of what you can become... Though it would have been better if he had not joined the Ascended, though if he stayed with me he s urely would be being tortured also. Regardless, it would be selfish of me to try and attempt to change his mind. He is free. Let him do as he pleases. And I...am free for the time being, as well. Hence I write this missive quickly lest they find me again.

Unfortunately a side effect of the....things that have been happening to me is the return of numerou s memories. Some from long ago, long forgotten...these hurt the I care not to get into them, but I...I ca nnot believe I forgot them in the first place. All of them hurt, really. I recall meeting the first Prophet. I recall the offer he gave me, the things...that happened then. How I almost fell to my temptations. The current Prophet simply loves brining those memories up, the ruddy... I believe he was upset when he lost me the first time. The fact that I rose back to fight against him again made it worse. That, and the fact that I turned Latsi against them angered them as well. I failed at changing Kevin, though at first I thought I suceeded. I failed at convincing Algor otherwise. In truth, my failures outweight my successes. And the betrayals that I have faced have made me bitter, angry, paranoid. They belittle the trust I place in people and the friendships that I keep. I fear death....but I fear rising from it more. If I can survive this trial...I will write again. More frequently than I have been. If I do not...I apologize in advance. If I somehow falter and become tainted, please. Please kill me. Do not let me hurt my compatriots, my friends, the people that I hold dear. Killing me would be the greatest favor one could grant me. I need to finish this now. I do not want to lure them back to the Mage's Tower in their hunt for me. I...there isn't much to say. The Ascended and the Undead were put on this earth as a test, a test which was failed. The Veil needs to be strengthened, not weakened, even if it costs us magic. That...is all there is to say.

Stay strong in the face of these circumstances.

Signed,

The Arch Mage, Lady *a longer name is written here, then scratched out beyond recognition* Bell.

[Knox213 10]

Moved to the Archive. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.