Nations on the Brink (storyline)/Orelwen's Diary (summary)

The Journal of Orelwen Grayvael

Discovered in Thaiagol's Laboratory, the journal appeared locked through magical means.

Journal (Discovery)

a leather-bound journal

Pages of fine parchment are bound in supple leather, its naturally brown hues covered in a light feathering reminiscent of a peacock.  A stylized "O.G." is embossed on the cover in brilliant gold, and an actual peacock feather sticks out from the pages where it serves as a bookmark.  An odd, virulent green haze drifts across the journal, coalescing into opaque green-black swirls whenever something moves near it.

Journal (Later)

Pages of fine parchment are bound in supple leather, its naturally brown hues covered in a light feathering reminiscent of a peacock.  A stylized "O.G." is embossed on the cover in brilliant gold, and an actual peacock feather sticks out from the pages where it serves as a bookmark.  An odd, virulent green haze drifts across the journal, coalescing into opaque green-black swirls whenever something moves near it.  In brief flashes of light, a lily can be seen though it is difficult to discern what kind.

Journal (After Puzzle 1)

Pages of fine parchment are bound in supple leather, its naturally brown hues covered in a light feathering reminiscent of a peacock.  A stylized "O.G." is embossed on the cover in brilliant gold, and an actual peacock feather sticks out from the pages where it serves as a bookmark.  An odd, virulent green haze drifts across the journal, coalescing into opaque green-black swirls whenever something moves near it.  In brief flashes, the image of a woman sitting at a writing desk can be seen.  She is poised with her hand holding back her hair to expose her ear.  The pose of the woman is unique, causing her to seem as though she is listening to something.

Journal (After Puzzle 2)

Pages of fine parchment are bound in supple leather, its naturally brown hues covered in a light feathering reminiscent of a peacock.  A stylized "O.G." is embossed on the cover in brilliant gold, and an actual peacock feather sticks out from the pages where it serves as a bookmark.  An odd, virulent green haze drifts across the journal, coalescing into opaque green-black swirls whenever something moves near it.  Binding the back and front together is an elaborate lock that has an alphabet-incised spin dial on it.  The letters displayed are: A A A A A A A A

It looks as though you are currently working with the first dial.  Buttons on the top and bottom of the spine appear as though they could be pinched.

Journal (After Solved)

Pages of fine parchment are bound in supple leather, its naturally brown hues covered in a light feathering reminiscent of a peacock.  A stylized "O.G." is embossed on the cover in brilliant gold, and an actual peacock feather sticks out from the pages where it serves as a bookmark.

Journal Puzzles

It was discovered that the journal was locked through magical means, requiring adventurers to do research into magical locks. At the end of the research, they determined that the first puzzle required a lily to unlock.

Puzzle 1

Correct flower: Spider Lily

Response with the wrong lily:

You carefully lay a white water lily upon a leather-bound journal, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment when nothing happens.

Response with the correct lily:

You carefully lay a white spider lily upon a leather-bound journal, causing a shimmer to appear on its surface.  Slowly, the lily shifts and shimmers briefly before you hear a whirring of gears issue from within the journal.

Puzzle 2

It was surmised based on previous research that this must be a whisper lock.

Correct answer: Cheesecake

Response with the wrong whispered word:

Placing your lips close to the journal, you quietly whisper to it, but your quiet words have no effect.

Response with the correct whispered word:

Placing your lips close to the journal, you quietly whisper to it, causing a faint shimmer to drift across its surface.

Puzzle 3

It was surmised that the lock was a cylinder lock, requiring another correct password.

Correct answer: Grayvael

• TWIST allowed the alphabet to cycle.

You carefully twist the small alphabet cylinder on the side of the journal, causing it to advance from "A" to "B."

• TURN allowed the next alphabet series to be manipulated.

You turn a knob at the top of the journal's spine, causing the second alphabet cylinder to stand out from the rest.

• PINCH checked if the word was correct.

With the incorrect response:

You pinch the alphabet cylinders together; unfortunately, the word that they spell doesn't appear to be the correct one, and you are unable to make any kind of advancement.

With the correct response:

As you pinch the alphabet cylinders together on the side of the journal, you hear a soft whirring sound issue from the journal.  Slowly, the gears shift and the lid pops open.

• LOOK updated with each turn of the cylinders to reflect what was currently set.

Pages of fine parchment are bound in supple leather, its naturally brown hues covered in a light feathering reminiscent of a peacock.  A stylized "O.G." is embossed on the cover in brilliant gold, and an actual peacock feather sticks out from the pages where it serves as a bookmark.  An odd, virulent green haze drifts across the journal, coalescing into opaque green-black swirls whenever something moves near it.  Binding the back and front together is an elaborate lock that has an alphabet-incised spin dial on it.  The letters displayed are: G R E Y V A E L

It looks as though you are currently working with the second dial.  Buttons on the top and bottom of the spine appear as though they could be pinched.

Journal Entries

Page 1

Several pages appear roughly torn out from the beginning of the journal.  The sentence on the first remaining page appears cut off, with only the words, never be the same, legible beneath water-streaked ink.

Page 2

Entry: I still suffer the effects of the poisoning, but, as always, I am forced to hide them, to pretend that everything's still fine.  The discolored scarring on my skin seems to creep further out.  I have coughing fits sometimes, where I struggle just to breathe.  It's the worst at night.

Page 3

Entry: Kasendra arrived today... she isn't quite what I thought she would be, but then again, I'm not sure what I expected.  She seemed rather homely and her garb was plain?  I suppose plain is the best word for it...  Just not quite what we would expect in court.  I suppose she will be a bit of a project for us all to work with.  After all, she isn't in the Empire anymore.

Page 4

Entry: When I said she was going to be a project, I didn't mean that she would curry the favor of the Argent Mirror over those of us who have the proper breeding and the proper training to be in the position we are in.  How is it that only a few months in, barely the blink of an eye, and Kasendra is blessed with regular teas and dinners with the Argent Mirror while I find myself bored with it all now.  Truly, I thought this was meant to be a wondrous learning experience to prepare me to potentially follow Aunt Ardtins steps.

Instead, I have gained my aunts ire as my fragility from the poisoning has placed me in this predicament. It seems impossible to explain the continuous issues I face these days, while needing to feign a smile for those at court, or other events, that they do not realize that things are not as great as they seem. (edited)

Page 5

Entry: My issues are my own I cannot hold Kasendra responsible for my own misgivings and discomforts.  I realize my health makes it difficult for me to spend more time than I should at gatherings so maybe I have judged the situation far worse than it should have been.  So I will make a better effort to share my time with Kasendra, get to know her...

Thaiagol actually had a splendid suggestion and offered me some specialty almond butter cacao cheesecake.  Absolutely scrumptious, with a ground coffee and walnut crust.  At his urging, I offered Kasendra some so she can understand the masterpiece that is this dessert, my favorite.  Surely, she could not expect to find such decadence in the Empire...

Page 6

Entry: Oddly enough, though, he gifted me a compact mirror, as well.  It wasn't much, though just an enameled cloisonne, but I worry that he may have dropped it and then gifted it to me without realizing that the accident caused the mirror to crack.  Unfortunately, I need to make a note to get that repaired.

Page 7

Entry: There was a ball tonight to introduce several dignitaries from the other Houses that wished to meet, or at least see, what they consider the Argent Mirror's pet project.  It was a lovely time, but well, I suppose it was lovely for some.  It was moderately okay for me.  I had enough energy to dance, and yet there were no partners to speak of for me.  Such an annoyance, really. It feels as though I am fading again, no longer the shine in anyone's eyes, including the Argent Mirrors.

Sadly, though, the night ended in tragedy Kasendra's body was found in her quarters by Leisette, who...  Really, I have no idea who this person is and my impression is that I don't want to know.  Something about her makes me ill at ease.  I wouldn't be surprised if she was the one who did.  Leave it to a Nalfein, after all. (edited)

Page 8

Entry:  ME?!  They suspect me?!  This is preposterous, and now I'll have to deal with Aunt Ardtin's ire even more.  I cannot believe me, of all people.  What... How?  I can't even hurt a fly!  I stuck i can barely handle myself these days and they think I murdered her!  Ridiculous.

Page 9

Entry:  I lost myself during the questioning, but those damned inquisitors knew which buttons to push not just on me, but others, to get the reactions they wanted.  And no sympathy to my own plight, to the things I had to deal with...  No care to the fact that I was targeted once before...  No, instead, let us air all the business out...  a proverbial tongue-lashing with accusations flying.

And Aunt Ardtin agreed, oddly enough.  The inquisitors were out of line with their questioning and I should have never been treated in such a way, talked to in such a manner.  Weird to have her sympathize with me during this ordeal...  I would have thought suspicions on me would surely tarnish the Greyvael name, but perhaps she is truly an ally to me during these troublesome times.

Loresong

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