Khorvaire's Journal

Found in the Magistrey library.

Originally had pages torn out and burned by Amon, under what we are guessing is some kind of possession. (information provided to us be Wisakedjak's ability "visions of the past" where he can see an items history). We were able to recreated the damaged pages by applying a small amount Orichalcum to the ripped ends. Below is what was written on those pages:

I am rebirth, I am flight. The troubles of my previous life fade into shadows alone. I was peace itself. I was good and just. I practiced my arts for the benefit of all and healed the land with the gifts of a just god but the torment of my own dark self followed me. Within me was darkness, and hatred and envy. As I looked about, so too did this black shadow of mankind's soul seep slowly into all that I did, diluting its power and sapping its strength.

My own darkness, my own doubting, hatred and rage poisoned me as well; with so much done in the service of others, my own spite and pride tore at me in the back of my mind. In the end, it said to me, all there is, is death, and all these good works will be for naught.Then came the vision. I saw a way by which I might rid myself of my own darkness. Indeed, might I not rid all mankind of its darker self? This would surely be perfection, joy and treasure. This was the Apparatus and once my mind conceived it, I could not rest until its completion.

Many nights did I work in the basement of my secluded laboratory within the soulforger’s temple, my mind fevered with the immensity of what I would accomplish. Yet did success elude me! Failure after failure did I suffer. The key to the banishment of our darker self was ever hanging before me, without shape or substance; ever in a haze of taunting obscurity.

One night my tortured soul boiled with hate and anger. I cried out! Why had the gods made me so? Why must I be tortured by contrast in this life, faced constantly with the choice of light and dark? I would conquer this if I could. I would defy such flawed creation!Then came to me with clarity the knowledge of what I must do. I saw the missing piece, its rod of crystal hewn just so; its length just thus. The sulphur sphere . . . it all made sense. I vowed to leave thus for a time the paths decreed by the just gods, for in the end much good could be accomplished . . . surely the gods would understand the need of that.Within a fortnight the deed was done. The Apparatus stood complete within my laboratory. The great sulphur ball in its mechanism, the receptors below all arranged properly about the lead glass sphere. The tests had all been successful . . . I could let no one but myself be the first within that chamber. The power surged with the spinning sphere. Lightning laced the chamber.Arrows of brilliance flew from the receptors and pierced the glass . . . my soul! The darkness encompassed me . . . it screamed!When at last I awoke, I was free. Yet the great experiment worked all too well.I could marry with good conscience the woman I loved and know that the darker self within me would be no obstacle to our joy and happiness. We were betrothed and the date was set. I gave no thought then to where my darker soul had been sent. Where that part of me lived, I did not know. My pride had played one last trick upon me.

I continued my questing to perfect my device when on a terrible night of storm the Apparatus fled from my control and black darkness solidified within the crystal globe. From whence I had sent my dark self . . . it had returned!

Now it has taken form, unbidden and terrible. The creature . . . for no other name would suit . . . emerged from the shattering globe. I fled from the house in terror that such horror should have existed within me, only to return!