Below is a cleaned up version of the diary found amidst ancient books in the frost giants' lair. What could be made out is reproduced below.
Arthis 16th 190, year of the Gax
My name is Finrod Sorul. I write these words because I have little else to keep myself occupied in my exile here. I don’t expect anyone to ever read this, though it is comforting to think that someone might long after I am gone.
I have been imprisoned here by the Gax for treason. They have left me here to die, and I most likely will oblige. If you are an enemy of the Gax, I applaud you for not falling in line like so many sheep. I also feel sorrow for you as your stance will likely shorten your lifespan. I only hope that my discoveries written herein might be of use to you in this prison.
Arthis 17th 190, year of the Gax
I have heard many stories of Gilon. In the old days it was supposedly a prison planet for monstrous creatures. Dragons, demons and of course the worst of them all, the legendary tarrasque are all supposedly banished here for all time. Such creatures, while they make for entertaining stories, are hardly worth serious consideration. Personally I believe they are stories the Gax have allowed to spread to increase general fear of Gilon and therefore fear of doing anything that might warrant being sent here.
Arthis 18th 190, year of the Gax
I’ve scavenged enough supplies to be able to travel for a few weeks. Others have been banished here and I do not doubt that I will find more than one kindred spirit. Supplies should last me long enough to get to a warmer climate where food will be considerably less scarce. Perhaps life here will not be all that unbearable.
Berrith 1st 190 year of the Gax
I was working my way south through some mountains when one of the Gax’s infernal pods crash landed not a hundred feet away. I investigated this pod in hopes of perhaps finding an ally, I could not have possibly been more wrong. The pod hissed as it opened its door. I am lucky it was groggy from its trip or I would not be writing this. It was vaguely serpent like with a few legs, and small wings protruding from its head. It gave off tremendous heat and lunged at me. I barely avoided the creature and ran for my life. I have never seen such a creature before but it does remind me of a creature I have once heard about as a child called a remorhaz. I will consider myself lucky if I never have to face one again.
Berrith 12th 190, year of the Gax
I have come upon a large city, though to call it a city is a gross misrepresentation. This city is about the size of a country and I am told it would take at least a month of travel to go from one end to the other. Judging from the view I spied from the mountains coming down here, I am inclined to believe it. The locals call this place Necron and it is spectacular. It is nice to see people again.
Canth 2nd 190, year of the Gax
It has been about three weeks since I entered this city and still I have not seen the end of it. I do not know how a single man can manage to keep such a large city under control. I was mugged this morning and apparently this is a common occurrence. I can see why, the idea of policing so large a city is mind boggling at best. Despite the crime, this city is a marvel. Large beautiful trees are carefully maintained throughout the city. Farming is carefully cultivated through amazing means both mundane and magical. The leader I am told is a man named Neros. He is loved for both his wisdom and justness.
The police force is an order of paladins who seem to do as best they can to keep order, but as I said, it is a daunting task, and they are undermanned for it. I have met one of them, a man by the name of Selindon Whiteblade. His sword is a marvel of art. The blade is hardened silvery steel with a gorgeously sculpted owl’s head design upon the pommel. He tells me that the handle was fashioned from the horn of a unicorn! So fantastic a creature I can hardly imagine existing but there is no doubt his blade is unimaginably potent.
Derrith 13th 190, year of the Gax
I’ve bid the city of Necron adieu for now and have headed west through further mountains. The fertile and pleasant lands of Necron give way to the horribly arid, desert lands of Amsha. I have been lucky to find a friendly tribe of nomads to escort me to the nearest town.
The next thirty to fifty pages are stuck together in a clump. Separating them will cause needless damage.
is now named Neconolis. The previous leader passed on during my travels and the current leader shares the same name as the city. Crime, which was once so rampant has somehow been eliminated. The locals are afraid however. That much is obvious. They fear Neconolis’ wrath as much as a god. I should be nearing the center where he supposedly rules from. I would very much like to meet this man. How the beautiful Necron could have been transformed into this in so short a time is disturbing.
Canth 3rd 208, year of the Gax
I have finally discovered what it is that keeps this city running so smoothly, though I find it hard to believe. The guards policing this place are all walking dead! I had not noticed it before as the guards wear armor which covers their features, but somehow Neconolis has managed to animate these corpses to do his bidding. I witnessed a thief today who was caught by the guard. They tore into his flesh, eating it until he was little more than bone. One of the guards held up some green gem which glowed in the sunlight. The bones of the thief assembled and stood upright. Then muscle and flesh sheathed the bone, and the thief looked as he did in life, though obviously dead. The guards dressed him in armor and he began to patrol the street as though he had always been a guard. It is no wonder there is no crime here. Perhaps seeking out Neconolis would not be the best of ideas.
Canth 6th 208, year of the Gax
I have befriended a woman named Farrah Steel. She is a charming woman with the most stunning gray eyes I have ever seen. She says she was borne here some twenty years ago. Her adoptive parents are both dead, but she has managed quite the life for herself as an artist. I learned much of the changes to this city through my conversations with her the last couple of days. She has also been gracious enough to offer me lodging for the moment.
From what she tells me, Neconolis took over about ten years ago and is a wizard who specializes in necromantic magic. He is quite powerful and his magics are what sustain order in this massive city. While no one could say he is a beloved ruler, he is fair and his judgments are respected. Punishment is harsh and swift so crime is nigh nonexistent. It reminds me greatly of my home. The Gax came in and slaughtered or shipped off all who would oppose their rule. It is harsh, but undeniably effective. Has it really been over two hundred years since they took over? It almost feels as if they have always ruled us. Still, I have faith that their tyranny will be stopped some day.
Canth 15th 208, year of the Gax
I have stayed with Farrah for far longer than I was anticipating. She is beautiful and the idea of leaving her to continue my travels is growing harder to follow through with for every day I am with her. Perhaps she would come with me. It would be nice to have someone along with me.
Canth 17th 208, year of the Gax
I can barely keep still enough to write this passage as I feel as though I should be dancing for joy. I prepared dinner for Farrah tonight, a tasty salad with rabbit stew. We spoke at length at the table and then retired to her living room. The conversation we had there was just a blur which led up to a spectacular dénouement. She leaned in and caressed my hair softly, watching me with thos amazing gray eyes of hers. Everything disappeared around us as we slowly leaned in close and our lips touched tenderly. I can still feel the kiss now, it was incredible! I believe I am falling in love with this girl, though it feels strange that I should fall for someone so young. She is only twenty while I am almost three hundred, though they do not seem to have any elves in this city. I have not told her my age yet. Perhaps I should tell her before this goes any further.
Derrith 30th 209, year of the Gax
I have lived with Farrah for almost two months now and every day she grows more beautiful. I have not been able to tell her about my race. Humans and elves do not generally have lasting relationships and I fear that this might end if I tell her my true age. Still, I should be honest and tell her or the heartbreak will be unbearable further down the road.
Ferragusto 5th 209, year of the Gax
Today we made love for the first time and the guilt of not telling her the truth was overwhelming. As we laid there naked and breathless, I finally got up the nerve to tell her the truth. For a long moment she was silent, and I feared her response. I just knew she would be upset with me and end this whole love affair. Despite my fear of her response I anticipated it, hoping beyond hope that she would be able to accept the truth.
To my surprise, she turned and smiled her gorgeous smile before saying that she too had a secret that she wished to share with me. She said that she was about a hundred years old and that she too was not human. You can imagine my shock when her form stretched outwards and her skin darkened to a lustrous steel color. Before my eyes, the love of my life had transformed into a dragon! I had long doubted the existence of such creatures. Such a strange twist of fate it is that I would fall in love with one!
Goldun 15th 209, year of the Gax
The last few weeks have been a whirlwind. Farrah and I have been working on art together and every day I feel I am blessed. I am not used to relationships moving as quickly as this, but I know that Farrah is the one that people speak of. The one that I cannot live without. The one that I want to spend eternity with. I proposed to her today and she responded with fervent approval. We plan to wed as soon as possible. Neither of us has any family so organizing a wedding will not be much trouble.
Goldun 16th 209, year of the Gax
There is fighting in the streets. Neconolis’ undead army is being attacked by some outside force. Surely this fighting will cease soon.
Goldun 17th 209, year of the Gax
The fighting continues and I have learned of the source of the conflict. Selindon Whiteblade is leading an attacking force upon this city. I witnessed him in combat today and it was truly a terrible thing to behold. He has gained much skill since I last met him. His blade dances through Neconolis’ forces as though they are not even there, obliterating them to dust! Scores of guards fall in minutes, while his men are overrun and join Neconolis’ forces. Luckily, civilians and their property has been mostly spared until now, but this is no minor conflict. This is a war and it is only a matter of time before the people of Neconolis become involved with the battle.
Selindon makes his way to the capital building, it will take him several weeks, but at the rate he is going I doubt it will be with much difficulty. Soon Neconolis himself will have to respond. I do not wish to be around when that happens. Farrah and I have packed and we leave in the morning. She asked if she could carry us out but I suggested that a dragon flying above the city might get us some unneeded attention.
Goldun 18th 209, year of the Gax
We set off this morning, heading east. We had hoped that the fighting would be concentrated in another area of the city, but we were wrong. As we traveled under a covered path, the shade keeping us pleasantly cool on a hot summer day, several paladins marched through. These paladins were ambushed by what appeared to me to be nothing less than vampires. A misty fog slowly came out of the grates and surrounded the men. The fog solidified into several of the creatures who all feasted upon the blood of the men. The paladins fell and joined the vampires as they dissolved to mist and slipped into the grates below. We were lucky to have been left alone, it is only two days until we reach the city limits.
Goldun 19th 209, year of the Gax
It is with a heavy heart and slow hand that I write these words. Farrah, my love, has died. We had not seen any fighting for many hours today and thought ourselves safe. Suddenly the shadows around us came to life and began to flee back the way we came. We soon found out why. The paladin forces had returned with siege engines. Huge flaming stones launched over our heads, striking the buildings and crushing them. One of the stones struck a building we were near and it collapsed around us. I was lucky enough to avoid the brunt of it. Farrah was not as fortunate. When the smoke cleared, she was buried in ruble that was far too large for me to even begin to search through and I heard no sounds from beneath it. I said a prayer for her spirit and was nearly struck by a second catapult boulder. There was no saving Farrah, so I fled. The paladins can justify this all they wish, there is no honor in war.
Horun 3rd 209, year of the Gax
I have had so much to say but I have not stopped to pen it for fear of stopping. The day after my beloved’s death, there was a horrible sound from deep within the city. I could only imagine that a sound so loud as to travel that great a distance would be nothing less than Neconilis finally stepping in to fight himself. The sounds continued as I made my way to the city’s limit. The terrifying roar echoed through the walls and though I did not know what was causing it, I knew I did not wish to be near it. I finally made it to the forests at the city of Neconilis’ end. The attacking forces, seeing that I was not undead, let me pass without incident.
I knew that I should continue on and get as far from that city as possible, but curiosity got the better of me. That battle had been raging for hours and I could not resist seeing what I could make out. I found the tallest tree I could find and made my way to its top. Once I had a steady position, I looked back into the city. What I saw probably should not have surprised me after learning of Farrah, but my naiveté got the better of me.
It was no trouble locating the source of the sound, a large column of smoke was rising from what could only be the capital. At this distance, it appeared to be a tiny bonfire, but I knew it would have to be in the very least several miles wide. Then I saw movement in the smoke. I shook my head in disbelief, not knowing what could be big enough to be seen at this distance. Towering over the buildings and destroying everything in sight was a creature that had to have been at least fifty or sixty feet tall. It was hard to make out features at this distance, and the smoke did not help in that endeavor, but it was lifting buildings from their foundations and tossing them about as a toddler plays with building blocks. I lost my footing as I watched the destruction and fell from the tree. I do not know how much time had passed when I awoke, but when I did, the sounds of battle had ceased and it had passed into night. The invading army was gone, as was the entire city of Neconilis. All that was left was a dusty husk of rocks and smoldering rubble. Had I not seen the city with my own eyes, I would never have believed that this area was once something other than rocky badlands. I did not know what stopped the rampage, or even what started it. All I knew was that I wanted to be as far as possible.
Horun 8th 209, year of the Gax
I am changed. I am not sure how this happened, perhaps I was mistaken for an invader or perhaps it was just a matter of convenience. Whatever the reason, I seem to have been transformed into a legendary vampire while I was unconscious.
When I left the woods and strode into the sunlight, its rays burned like fire. I wish that this was only a metaphor, but my skin actually lit on fire. I traveled at night, keeping to the shadows until I found a town. I gazed into the window of an inn as people happily danced and played music. I could smell them all, even from outside, and for the first time I realized just how hungry I was. I could hear their pulses beating, almost hypnotically. It was as if they begged me to feed. One woman caught my attention above the others. She was a bard who played the most amazing melody upon her lute. In between songs she came outside to cool down in the night air. I approached and started conversation.
As we spoke, I could hear and smell the blood in her veins. It made my mouth water and I could feel my canines lengthen. I wanted to stop, to leave this woman alone, but I could not. Our conversation continued and I could sense her becoming more and more complacent. We left for the woods and I tore into her. It disgusted me at first. Here I was killing an innocent woman, and could do nothing to stop myself. As my hunger was quenched, I felt euphoria. As I held the corpse of this nameless woman, I felt as though I was once again with my beloved Farrah. Oh Farrah, what would you think of me now?
I burned the body and scattered its ashes. It was bad enough that I would have to live as this; I did not need to spread my disease.
Iltra 27th 209, year of the Gax
Since my first kill, I have begun to grow used to the hunger. I have learned to feed without killing, though I somehow do not feel remorse for killing anymore. I suppose it is another effect of my condition.
Iltra 28th 209, year of the Gax
Until tonight, I have felt unguided. I have been attempting to piece together my abilities and weaknesses through what scraps of legends I could remember. I now have a teacher, and know who created me. Her name is Erana. She was once a paladin as well until she was turned. She has been one of my kind for at least a hundred years. She was weakened and fleeing from the city of Neconolis when the creature was attacking. She found my body weakened and unconscious, I would have died anyway so she fed, then left to regain her strength in the woods. She had been searching for me ever since.
She has since found me. I have learned much from her, though I loathe her existence. I am sure she is probably aware of my feelings towards her. Still, serving her for now allows me to gain a complete grasp of my abilities. Perhaps
The remaining pages of the diary are missing.
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