Melinoe's Library
Books Gained During Her Travels
Books From The Sea Wolf
- The Tyrant of the Stormsea: A Trial by Fire
This book chronicles some of what is known about Byron Caine, and pays special attention to his tendency of Trial by Fire and how he would keep a constant and (more or less) ruthless crew. Though it is clearly written by someone who did not know the infamous captain. - The Fame of Jedek the Pirate King
Tells the tale of Jedek Arkan. It chronicles his life, his accomplishments, defeats, many adventures, and eventual retirement as a king of Highgate. It is written from a historical perspective, though it reads more along the lines of a novel, and even includes a portion that discusses how others have adopted the name since. - Navigation by the Stars
Provides a guide to navigation while at sea. - Stormbeast: Myth or Beasty?
Tells about the legend of the Stormbeast, and posits theories about how the beast could be real. Also discusses sightings, first-hand accounts, and detracting remarks.
Book From ?
- Vampirism in Fane
A book involving Jora Kampfrun and the ancient cult, The Crimson Dawn. This cult is from Highgate’s antiquity and held Pharisane (of the Ascendants) and Jora as the saviors of the new world. The book tells how, for decades, Fane would offer blood sacrifices to the Red Temple before the priestess there was discovered to be a vampire. Shortly after this discovery, the hunt for vampires began, which not only led to the banning of multiple practices of magic, but an attempted purge from vampirism in general.
Books From Caelfall Library
- Loken the Faceless
A tome regarding the god of the dead, an unknowable entity that outsiders avoid. It is said to reside in the ethereal plane and is responsible for judging spirits, and how sometimes this involves preventing resurrections. Information about Loken is more speculation than hard facts. During the Long Night when Iribus was summoned and temporarily bound by the Ascendants, he offered information on the formless one in regards to a potential ally in their conflict with Oros but this information was disregarded soon after as the conflict was settled without violence. The only information known of Loken is that the entity is named after the first mortal to return from life and speak of the judge of the dead and that it has always been. - Court of Blood
A history of vampire “nobility” including Jora, Krogar, Estrana, and many more. Many of whom were brought back numerous times, through necromancy. Many of these methods are now considered Dead Magic, the Red Sun Baptism is the only known means without wishing a person back into existence or making a deal with Mephistopheles who is the defacto owner of a Vampire soul from the original bargain with Jora. Wishes can be granted by very powerful dragons (Nameless Black, Chotenth- Crystal Dragon), djinn of nobility, and extraordinarily powerful wizards (Komea - in Hades, Nameless Lich - MIA, Headmistress of Magic School, or Ithion - Raven in Elven Resistance).
Books From The Temple Of Nine
- Book of the Undead: Breaking Eternity
A collection of notes from Xaos the Betrayer, Amnul the father of Necromancy, and their studies into undeath, twisting life, and so on. One such method, for powerful spirits, is to re-enforce a vessel body (a golem was used for Xaos, and a demi-god corpse for Amnul’s experiments) to allow a spirit to possess the body. Through further rituals, the unity between mind, body, and spirit are enhanced until eventually a final ritual completes the transformation and in essence returns the fallen spirit to the flesh. Another example given is restoring a fallen spirit to grant a magic item further powers and sentience. Both of these are considered Dead Magic, given the age of their original manuscripts, however, the Temple of Nine has managed to reproduce the effects of several Dead Spells in recent years as the understanding of Mysterium grows and so on.
Books From The Train Journey
Spies & Pirates
About a pair of star-crossed lovers. Abram Nol is a spy in the service of Argantus sent to infiltrate and investigate if the Blue Suns Pirate fleet have ties to the Wurdgrym, only to become enthralled by Vel Korsk. He finds himself caught between his feelings for this pirate and his duty to the Wurdgrym. A scandalous, full of twists and romance. In the end, Vel discovers Abram’s lies, his double agency as a spy to the Empire, and the two are cast into the sea as the pirate fleet is set upon by privateers hired to end their high seas piracy. They wash up on shore, and after a heated, heart-wrenching argument; Abram cannot bring himself to fight his love and is shot through the heart. The book ends with Vel surviving, angry at himself, the empire, and Abram for betraying their love.Fade Into Stars
The inside of the book has the title written, as well as a note “Read between the lies we tell ourselves to pierce the veil” -Jondar El Ahm. The Surname Ahm is the same as Nefar Ka Ahm, but you’re unfamiliar with Jondar El Ahm, and you were under the impression that Nefar Ka Ahm’s line ended after the fall of the old kingdom. Nefar Ka Ahm is the one who tried to map out the Abyss and is the reason Orcs exist, as he left a portal open. Fade Into Stars deals with two brothers, Abir Toril Kahn, and Rahaab Del Kahn. The eldest son was destined to become a high priest, and the other king as was the traditions of the old kingdom. The high priest captures two dark elves who teach him the ways of Arcana in return for their freedom. The priest uses the dark elves in a plot to assassinate his brother and send the old kingdom into turmoil, all as a pretense to gain power in his city, setting the other cities against one another using his new magic powers to create illusions and charm spies to his cause. In the book, there are a number of references to an oasis the priest dreams of, where he is visited by the ghosts of his victims and loved ones. In the end, the priest goes mad and abandons his city, searching the desert for an oasis none have heard the name of. generations later though a blind man returns, claiming to be Abir Toril Kahn, the assassinated brother. Word of this reaches the high priests in the other cities but when officers are sent to investigate the city is entirely abandoned. When you finish the book, in the back of the book hidden under a strip of paper glued to the back cover is a map to an unknown area surrounded by cliffs and waterfalls with the quote “all lies and all truths” written in the bottom corner of the back, slightly hidden. This is potentially the map of the Well of Secrets, since the book spoke of an oasis where lies and truth were separated it comes to mind.This particular book also underwent changes due to Jora Kampfrun. Infernal writings were found that read “Didn’t happen like this, the fool was high on Wyrmroot and often hallucinates grandiose delusions.” in a section depicting the main character’s motivations regarding his visions and dreams. “When he found this oasis as he calls it, things began to unravel. Iribus’ secrets were finally vulnerable.” and a lot of other personal notes as if the would-be editor knew these characters personally. A single moth wing was folded neatly into the crease along the back of the book. Then, in Dwarven, “They never mention how the Dwarfkin helped hallow out the mountain J’ran to create their own hollow replica for Anir.” before going on to list several Dwarven clans, including Silverthane, Argan, Proudhammer, Lightforge, and Stonebrow. “Pawns for their gods, and all devoured by Demons and fled to Amnul’s clutches.”
Visiting The Gods
About a man who deliberately kills himself to curse at his god in a dark comedy setting. The plot originates from a gnome who never suffers the quickening, and lives his life stuck as more or less a twelve-year-old. After two hundred years of pre-puberty, he goes to the mountain to yell at god only for a lightning bolt to strike his friend and dog dead. He leaps from the mountain cursing the cowardly smiting prick. When he gets into the afterlife, the celestials are in disarray, apparently, there was a horrible mix up and he’s not the one they were supposed to be doing all this to, which serves to only enrage the poor gnome further. When he meets his god he’s told there is nothing to be done, is offered a free meal, and ride for his trouble. Sparking further adventures as he declares a vendetta against whatever smiting god has decided to turn his life into a running joke.
Books From Highgate About Fane
- Fane: The Leech’s Catacombs
This book describes how Jora used the catacombs to ferry around his victims during his reign. There are horror stories of his tower in the Fane countryside, hidden in the small mountains to the east, that was never recorded following the Leech’s fall. - Fane: Attempts at Restoring Stability & Regaining Exotics
The other book details how the many attempts to create an aqueduct system lead to naught as they were a costal city adjacent to a river, for many years the Fane made use of Gryphons before a sickness befell their flock, and only the high nobles of Fane managed to re-capture wild Gryphons and bring them to heel in the recent years. - Fane: After The Fall of The Leech
Describes how Fane went through a crisis after the fall of Jora. They went through many different forms of government, with Daitor allowing the city-state to exist nearly autonomously so long as they paid taxes and tariffs, andc continued sending supplies, etc. For the past 150 years, they had a republic monarchy, where high nobles of fane would act as a balance of the ‘lord vassal’ of Fane, often called king despite Daitor’s laws stating only Vathrius may have a king/queen regent. In short, there has been a revolving door of high lords from the various noble houses of Fane, to various degrees of success. Notable houses were the Godfrey, Harland, Lightfeather, and Brillhead. While the noble houses have numbered as many as 32 and as few as seven these four have remained pillars of the city-state since the days of Jora the Leech.