Journal :
The Search for Zefelle's Mirror
Inital Entry : Meeting at the NightshadeTomorrow I will meet with Nistra and Theo at the Nightshade in order to decide how to move forward in my search for Zefelle's Mirror. While I have always kept vary notes and maps over the years, miwed in with Papa's, I've never collated all of it into a single source...So this new journal will attempt to track our progress from here out. I will sumurise here all that we find and learn, but first I feel I must include what I already know...for...posterity I guess ? Laughable Sionne...as if anyone but you will ever read this...I think the simplest way for me to explain is to explain what I do know, or at least, suspect. I initially believed the area I've been exploring was a small settlement connected to the greater bulk of Gelmorra. The more recent records, those my community elder keeps, refer to the ruins as ‘Ashath Sharran’, however those records are all from after the fall of Gelmorra, mostly after 1100-1200. However, the older records I found, dating much farther back into Gelmorra's prime, posed an unexpected surprise. Those records refer to the place Ash-Ath-Ars Sharan, which makes sense, the old names followed the speech sounds of the elementals. Though if I am honest it's a nomenclature choice I've never understood personally, but I digress. Today, in my local area, Shara and Sharran, refer to smaller and larger communities respectively, but if I am understanding what I've found, it seems like ‘Sharan’ once referred to a noble estate and ‘Shara’ referred to the community that rose around it. Chiefly artisans and such that supplied the estate.Which puts a lot of Zefelle's tale as we know it into question. Elders govern sharas now, but we know Gelmorra was governed by a King and had its share of noble houses… Who really set Zefelle the task of fortifying that Water Wards? Was it the lord of Ash-Ath-Ars? The Royal court? Was she connected to the estate? What noble house did this place belong to?What I can say with certainty is that Zefelle and the Mirror are real.
Second Entry : The Ward Anchors and BeyondWe left early in the morning and made the long descent into Ashath Sharran, or I suppose what might be more accurately described as it's outskirts. Fortunately in my earlier descents into this area I was able to get the glyphs used for controlling the lights working, making the final leg and the area with the Ward Anchors easier to explore.A check in on the wards, which are interestingly arranged in Astral and Umbral pairings, brought to our attention that they were partially out of alignment. With Theo's help I was able to get them stabilised. This should add to the longevity of the site and better facilitate our search. We discovered a handful of interesting finds, a first century Gelmorran cloak broach which Nistra did not want, much to my relief, I have cleaned it up and stored it, and our other finds, some tools and bottles, which I believe to be part of the kit for performing rituals and maintenance of the wards.Unexpectedly we found a trace of Zefelle herself in a carved bit of graffiti, discretely tucked under the directions at the far end of the chamber. "Zefe & Jaih". In some of the work order transcripts I found in the Sharran's archives, there are references to Zefelle Trureux, our mage herself, and another Jaihault Mihavert...unfortunately I am not sure what this person's connection is to Zefelle...the documents are all in very poor condition though I am working to restore them as best I am able. Jaihault...who are you ?After investigating the Ward Anchor Chamber, we continued on past where I have explored before. The tunnels beyond are in terrible disrepair, but still mostly traversable, barring one. We came upon an intersection, one path lead upward, which we would eventually learn is a shorter route out of the Sharran and to the surface...that will be helpful in furture trips. The other looked to head back downwards, so we briefly detoured to see where it might lead only to find the path barred by what we concluded was a deliberate cave in, scorch marks darkening the walls. The wall directions indicated that this path once lead to Arv-Eth-Ra Shara. We did not have time or the means to clear the path and attempt to explore further so we left it at that and continued back th way we had come. Why was this Shara sealed off...?
Third Entry : The Great HallAfter discussing with Theo and Nistra, we set our sights on exploring the collapsed stairwell in the Great Hall. Our descent was much more rapid than last time, thanks to the short cut we discovered that passes by the Ward Anchors, which are still working beautifully I am glad to say. Arriving at the manor is always a strange experience for me, I find myself taken aback by the sheer grandeur of the place and can't help but wonder, given the relatively short duration of Gelmorra's existence, how such a grand structure was built. Truthfully, when I consider the expensiveness of Gelmorra it's impressive how quickly it developed, a testament to our ancestor's determination not just to survive, but to thrive. It is easy to imagine the ancient lords of this place holding court, arbitrating disputes, settling claims, welcoming important visitors, socialising, plotting, dancing, grand feasts...so much so I can almost see it.Today though it is in ruins, even the traces of its grandiose past linger everywhere. We climbed into the Great Hall through the main entrance. The stairs have seen better days to say the least and oddly, though it has been easily six turns since my last visit to the Great Hall, one of the first things we noticed was signs of recent passage. Our investigation turned up some concerning finds...but first, I need to go back in time a little. Some 30 odd turns ago, when I was still a little girl, there was unrest in Lameshara, another community with some more...extreme views were expanding their territory and turned hostile to any other groups unwilling to adopt their doctrines. My father, much later of course, told me they eventually clashed with another community also known for having more eccentric doctrines, though they at least were isolationists. Eventually they stopped hearing about either, most assumed they'd probably destroyed each other. It wasn't until much, much later when my father was exploring Ashath Sharran that he discovered an old command post one of the factions had set up in the Great Hall. Father was never much interested in recent history and once he learned it wasn't old, he quickly lost interest...very like him.Which leads me back to our investigation, someone had riffled through the old command centre, and judging by the mess they left, seemed to have been searching for something. Nistra grew tense at the sight of the command centre and informed us that the coat of arms, banners, garments, and weapons all belonged to her people. We found bits and pieces of documents and figured out a little of what seems to have happened. It seems Nistra's people, the Strigohl's, were attacked by people they referred to in their reports as 'The Pretenders'. They defended their territory and pushed them back to their own shara, where the fighting grew far more intense. It was at the point they established a sort of command post slash base camp here at Ashath Sharran. It seems the people of Arveth Shara, in desperation summoned voidsents, but something went wrong and they were attacked by their own voidsent, though, so too were the Strigohl's. The Pretenders were wiped out, though a report we found indicated that the mother of the heir and the heir had escaped, unfortunately we didn't find any information on whether or not they were found. Given what little we know of Theo's background, Nistra and I could not help but wonder if he might just be this lost heir ? It's a big leap, but you never know I suppose.The more concerning element, and the one which could explain the recent signs of passage, is a final report that mentioned the loss of some important artefact. Nistra seemed to recall the loss was a significant one, evoking great rage from the Priomgen...lives were lost as a result...she said it was called "The Stone Star of Ravaging Storms" not exactly a reassuring name. Many have sought to find it, but none have as yet succeeded. There are only traces of a single person, likely male judging by the size of the footprints...odd that there would only be one person...so we shall have to remain alert, not just for this person, but possibly for others as well.Finally, we went off to inspect the stairwell, the actual reason for our visit. It took some teamwork but we were eventually able to reveal an alcove that once held the statue of a woman, we pieced what we could of it and the statue's plaque together and were able to surprisingly conclude it was a statue of Zefelle herself, dedicated by Lord Jaihault Mihavert III, at least we now know what lineage ruled this Sharran, but more importantly in the base of the statue we discovered an odd lockbox. It is sealed with both Arcane and Mundane locks...it will take time to open it...I foresee many headaches and countless hours spent with the box in my future.We did eventually clear the stairwell leading upwards but it wasn't of much interest unfortunately, signs of the occupation some 30 turns ago and not a whole lot else...disappointing to be sure but it isn't as if we don't have enough to think about as it is...so I'd call it a successful, if worrying, expedition.