I think quotes are very dangerous things.

We depart as ambassadors for The Islands, let us bring hope to those who thought their brothers lost, let us show the best of those who fled over sea, and let us keep our weapons at the ready for any man, goblin or beast who would try stop us bringing our brothers home.

Hold! The trained eye takes the first step. Is that not a saying in the rogues' guild, Zero? I for one am staying right here until I am satisfied there is no risk of walking into something we might not like. That takes trained eyes and that means you are guarding the door, Tradden.

C'mon, you. Orders, you know. I don't particularly want to go scout on up ahead either, but orders are orders. You know, secret orders. We don't need to go far, just up the trail a bit — see what's there, and then report back. Not long.

As long as there are no wolves. Or goblins.

Or kobolds, or spiders.

Or ghouls or dragons.

Or worse!

Never let it be said that an Uhlit does not pay when it comes to his round!

Superb! Out of interest, who actually paid?

That fellow over there.

The horns! The horns!

Flames are released to

Heal the riven,

Alighting the fire

Hence unbidden.

 

Unhidden and bared

By the warden,

Through shadows of black

Flow the circles.

 

The last of the last

Protects nothing

'Til pearls of the blood

Freely given.

 

An oath to fulfil

By the eagle,

The chains of the eye

Still unbroken.

They can keep their eyes on me as much as they like — they won't catch me again. Five days I've been down here, just for taking one small gemstone. It's not as though that pilgrim wanted it any more, he left it in the offering stone. I do not regret taking it, regardless of what Piter says. The tributes that are left every day are fair game, I say. If the idiots wish to leave them as they take the Flame Road west then so be it. I shall be more careful that I am not seen in future, though. No sense in getting caught again. I'll bring stuff down here and bury it in the mud wall. The rest of the contubernium aren't bad lads, but they don't appear to be too bright. I shouldn't have much difficulty.

Whosoever left the orb was a fool! Even the orichalcum it is made from is worth a fortune, never mind the secrets it holds. I have in my hands the beginnings of an understanding I would never have had if I had been posted in Kiris Dahn, or that godsforsaken pit Dunbaradrun. It is destiny that I should find it here. I will gladly take it, unlock its secrets, then I will be free to pay my way out of this infernal debt and return home. I will not regret leaving the insufferable colleagues I thought I was damned to spend years with. They have no ambition, no thoughts of their own, content to man their posts and wave and smile at the pilgrims as they pass by, offering them shelter and hospitality. Pitiful.

Tonight I finally split the orb revealing wonders within. A ‘platolabe’ I think it is called — I seemed to know as soon as it opened. How beautiful it is inside. How the borders between shadow and fey, elemental chaos and astral, and our own world are so close. How one could just reach out and touch them if only one had the key. I will watch the movements of the platolabe, its intricate design, and when the time is right, I shall reach out and turn that key.

Ceaseless surge and swell, halted by stone

When oft bouncèd back, more they did bind

Great goblin and kin, sent out a groan

With riot raised high, time was resigned

 

Device is devised, he to direct

Cover the circles, cut out the eye

Flames at the frontline, fear to infect

Send out the scion, over the sky

 

Dispatch the device, discord was met

Ayver wipes the wheel, the wards all wept

Sorcerer's spellfire, black walls are set

Last Legion's order, lone standard kept

 

Device brings despair, horde to scatter

Marshal the moment, morals are key

Flames for the fallen, forge to shatter

By fire of freedom, the last boats flee

 

But the swarm did swell, reprisal swift

The walls do weaken, Moradin's wane

Encircle the ends, eagle adrift

Sire of the scion, in the end slain

Friends, we have come a long way and defeated many foes. I will not say the rest of our journey will be easy but we have the strength and mettle to succeed. Onwards to the Nentir Vale!

From the Elemental Eye, the ken of afar. Withheld by the Celestials, a gift for believers.

The curtain slips, the Harrow to enter upon the wheels. Might of the Celestials proved.

The Eye is tempered, the curtain closed. Dual edges for the wheels, His name is struck.

Chastening within chains, the First Aegis. His sight cut out, exaction in darkness.

Stowed in the depths, below Eagle's Nest. The black to feed. Tharizdun bound.

Light must be snuffed, perfection decayed, order dissolved, and minds fragmented.

Khase, first spear, may you eat of the flesh of our Lord and drink his blood, and through him gain life everlasting.

I have need of you to the west and demand you make haste, the search at Sunderpeak can be continued by Korosphylax as we need to spread our own wings. Helvec has sent word that one of the reflectors may be located far across the Stonemarch. I will go myself to supervise and find a suitable base of operations rather than have him mismanage the situation again

Take two dozen of the Severed Eye and a hobgoblin slave wagon and bring them to the Mouth of the Sleeper. Korosphylax can give you the location of the Mouth now it is open to the skies. Gather what wretches you can on the way — there are many chances here to slake the thirst of our Lord, but keep them from the Seer that still lives here, he is quite mad I am sure, although may be turned to be of use. I keep him alive if only for amusement and the chance that he may scribe something that will swing our fortunes.

Helvec's site looks to be of great interest and we have already started excavation. To the north we have found a ruin which will suffice as a base of operations. I have sent Helvec back to the west to monitor the settlement and bolster the goblins there in case they are required.

Aethelinda has headed for Gorizbadd to speed up our search there with strict council to dispatch the reflector there with one of the Aeneators to you at the Mouth as soon as it is found. You may need to use it to before I return.