The private notes of Countess Alma de Béziers

These are the private notes of Sister Alma, Countess de Béziers. They'll serve as my (User:BalthCat) workspace for recording and annotating research. Google Docs is great, but there's no table of contents like MediaWiki!

Object reading

Noira Langevin's necklace

See #Collected notes on Noira Langevin's necklace.

Phedre Lozada-Boyne (button)

The owner is a human female, 42 years old, of House Cat. Her alignment is unknown. The button was purchased, and then stolen by a lover. The owner is presumed Phedre Lozada-Boyne; the lover is presumed Sanadhil Orecalo. (Previous owner was TN. Of no known importance.)

Earric Boyne (cufflink)

The owner is a sexless succubus, 3023 years old, of no House. Its alignment is unknown. The cufflink was given by a lover and stolen by a lover. The owner is presumed Earric Boyne; the previous owner, a lover, is unknown and of no known importance (though human), while the lover who stole the cufflink is presumed Sanadhil Orecalo.

Dessa Underdown's heirloom

See also #Collected notes on Dessa Underdown's heirloom

Lora (apron?)

See also Lora

The owner is Seventh, and a mere year old. Additionally: no House, received the apron from her employer and maintains ownership of it.

Cornelia Nash (letter)

Presuming the current owner to be Seth Argo, the previous owner was a human female of age 65, and a member of House Cat. While such a mundane result for Nash seems strange, there is no real indication this item was not in fact Nash's, or that this information is hidden via a spell such as Misdirection. Her character was obscured, presumably by magic, similarly to Phedre and Earric. Nondetection?

Psychic impressions

Nine Elms crypt

See #Collected notes on Brother Phineas Strauch

Gsran

See #Collected notes on Gsran

Collected notes on Noira Langevin's necklace

See also Noira Langevin's necklace, Phineas Strauch, etc.

A valuable sapphire necklace was reported stolen by Noira Langevin during the Festival Days of 2195. The guards questioned Maze Olivier and his sister Jess in connection with the theft, and later recovered the necklace. They returned it to the address they had been given and delivered it to a young woman there. The house may have been a drop-point for Nouel Izaguirre's criminal syndicate, and the group later came to suspect that the "theft" was deliberately orchestrated by Noira in order to deliver the necklace to Izaguirre.

At some point, the necklace evidently passed into the hands of Tatiane Corriveau, who was rumoured to be one of Izaguirre's mistresses. In 2247, her grand-daughter Ninon de Quercy approached Medan Conquaine about selling the necklace. He consulted with Alma de Béziers and Altheo Renaud over the issue, and they both examined the necklace. Altheo detected great evil, and Alma observed that it radiated very powerful magic. Medan purchased it and it was taken to the Antiquarian Society for further study. Vianca Belden examined it, and also asked Reverend Mother Mayne to divine on the matter. Before their studies concluded, however, the necklace was stolen from the society by two men, one a spellcaster. Tiphaigne Deverara was injured in the course of the theft.

It is believed that the necklace contained the Wyrm released the night Emperor Marl was chosen by the Great Council, and that when it was brought within the range of the Disenchanter's Stone at the election, the spells that bound the creature within it were broken. The remains of the necklace have not been located, and it may have been destroyed in the fire that consumed the Hall of Worthies.

Object reading

• Owner: The owner (Tatiane Corriveau?) is the grandmother of the woman trying to sell it, Ninon de Quercy. It was given to her by a lover
• Owner-1: Her lover acquired it as a payment for murder. (Nouel Izaguirre?)
• Owner-2: The previous owner acquired it from her father (Marcau Langevin?), but had it stolen.

Notes: The interim thief is not considered an owner. There is no indication that ~Noira was aware it would be given to the next owner, ~Nouel.

Divinations (Annotated)

• From Vianca Belden's Legend Lore: "The soul-eater's (Serpent, as per Arch plane) servant (Kavreshar), bound against its will by a blessing under flames (Adrius Blessing?), is confined within the stone of [black hope (likely a reference to the Duke of Blackhope)."
• From Reverend Mother Mayne's divination: "The star-crossed (the order?) seek the key to the serpent's prison, while unknowing silence (Disenchanter's Stone? or something else?) opens the door."

Collected notes on Dessa Underdown's heirloom

See also Dessa Underdown's heirloom

Object reading

My recent examinations revealed the following:

• A human male (54, TN) of House Wolf had the locket made, and gave it to his daughter.

Note: A previous reading indicated the first owner above was 70, and gave it to a lover, and suggested the lover was the third owner, who died at 70.

• His daughter (human, female, 15, TN, Wolf) had the locket stolen by her foster-sister.
• Her foster-sister (human, female, 70, CG, Wolf) bequeathed it to her grand-daughter, Dessa Underdown
• Dessa Underdown (human, female, 15, CG, Wolf) left it in Ysabeau's care before her murder.

Dessa Underdown

Murienne's friend. Etc.

Notes

The "Lord Grey", Maze Olivier, seems eager to embrace the idea that this was once Althea Deverara's locket, though was not terribly forthcoming as to why this made sense.

Collected notes on the Order of the Black Down

Oracle

From The Serpent? according to Seth Argo. "She was conceived by one reborn, carried by one failed, raised by one chosen. Before her very birth, I spoke to her. Her womb is barren, except for he of whom she dreams, but she bears the light of the stars within her."

Matriarch Pasith Belden

Reverend Mother Mayne's Commune

• Is the soul of Pasith Belden in the Void? No.
• Is the soul of Pasith Belden in the Centre? Yes.
• Is the soul of Pasith Belden within the Arch? Yes.
• Is her soul divided between these two states? Yes.
• Will Pasith Belden's soul someday be reborn as a Seventh? Unknown.
• Is this division of her soul preventing her rebirth? Yes.
• Can her soul to be reunited? Yes.
• Is this division of her soul against the gods' will? No.
• Will Rab ever be reunited with Pasith Belden or her reborn self? Unknown.
• If the physical Arch was destroyed, would Pasith Belden's soul be released? No.
• If the entity known as the Serpent was trapped once more within the Arch, would Pasith Belden's soul be released? No.
• If the entity known as the Serpent was destroyed, would Pasith Belden's soul be released? Yes.

Notes

If her soul is not proceeding through the cycle properly, would a resurrection be out of the question?

Collected notes on Brother Phineas Strauch

Psychic impression of the Nine Elms crypt

I saw a shadowy, dreamlike vision of Strauch falling down the narrow stone stairs, lying bleeding at the bottom, followed by two men in shrouding cloaks (they are young, I thought, or at least younger than him) strolling down more casually, laughing a bit, knives out. Strauch tries to get up, to cast something perhaps, but gets kicked in the face. Then the shorter of the two young men spits on him, while the other removes his holy symbol and tosses it aside. "For Theo," one of them says, kneeling on his chest to jam a knife into his throat, twisting it as he pulls it free. Together they haul Strauch's body up onto the tomb slab, strip him of everything he had on him. While he's turned over, the taller man carves something in his back with the point of his knife, then they flip him back onto his back and disembowel him before gathering up the clothing and items and departing.

Into his back was carved a circle, or perhaps an O?

Outsiders amongst us

• Earric Boyne (succubus), husband of Phedre Lozada-Boyne. See object reading notes.

Ysabeau Chanuier's source

According to Ysabeau Chanuier's source, the following are disguised outsiders:

• Temair Metivier (glabrezu), the Lord Admiral
• Madelen Levernois (succubus), mistress to Reverend MotherEsmena vak Andras and employee of the Jewel Box known as 'Diamond'
• Maryse Rouillard (succubus), a musician at court and mistress to one of the gentlemen of the privy chamber, Patric Arguelles.

Perhaps if Ysabeau cannot learn more about her, I could arrange something with young Mr. Arguelles.

• Evalier Moncaire, personal secretary to the Chief Sorceror.

While the following are "planetouched":

• Butler Belden, Lord Marshal of the Order of the Spoke
• Cornelia Nash, the Warlord
• Theonée Deverara, the Chancellor.

Interestingly, True Seeing would not necessarily reveal an entity is "planetouched", so it remains to be seen whether that ability alone would reveal this fact. Perhaps the source has other methods.

The annotated Codex Lunaticium

Excerpts from the Codex Lunaticium

"O Watcher (Cornelia? Serpent? see Talith) of the Forbidden Entrance (Arch?), why must I enter naked? And the Watcher answered Thus it is, the Covenant of old, set down before time began, so that the mark may be seen if you are Chosen. (as emperor?)" - v. 2, Amaspia

"I have found the Gate (Arch?) that leads to the Outside (outer planes? arch plane?), by which the Watcher (Cornelia? Serpent? see below), who guards the entrance to our world, keeps eternal vigil. I have felt the presence of that Ancient One (Serpent? see above) whose name is written in the forbidden texts, the testament of a dead civilization whose priests, seeking power, swung open the dread gate and were consumed. (Am?) My fate is no longer written in the stars. (pulled from the cycle?)" - v. 3, Talith

"'Follow me,' (he will say) (the Watcher?); he will lead you to the dark chamber, the abode below the ground; The abode (under-Arch) which none leave unchanged who have entered into it. A road from which there is no return; A House whose dwellers are bereft of light, where dust is in their mouths and clay is their food. (Arch plane?) O keeper of the door, I have brought my offerings; grant that I may bear the mark." - v. 5, Maferan

"Watcher of the Gate, remember! Open the door that I may enter! Open lest I attack the door, break apart its bars, attack the seal (???) itself! Open the door! Open wide the Gate for my return, lest I cause the dead to rise! I will raise up the dead! I will cause the dead to rise and devour the living!" - v. 6, Zaalia

"The Gods forget. They are distant. They must be reminded. If they are not watchful, if the gatekeepers do not watch the gates, if the gates are not kept always locked, bolted and barred, then the One (Serpent?) who is always ready will enter and bring with him the hordes of the demon armies." - v. 11, Terese

"Beyond the pool (???) I see a set of stairs. Placed beneath the Arch, it falls down into the dank earth. My thirst and the heat compel me to enter. Nothing moves except the buzzing flies and the red clouds above. Darkness confronts me, but still I enter, seeking the coolness of the underground. Hiding myself from that awful red sky. On and on I walk. It is a good thing there is no hunger in this place, for surely I am years now away from my quiet home. Even the thirst I felt above has faded to nothing. Except for the flies outside, I have seen nothing alive, not even one rat in this entire sewer, until the boy (???)." - v. 19, Nuallan

"Night! You'd please me even more without these stars which speak a language I know all too well. I long for darkness, silence, nothing there. Yet even shadows have their shapes, the hordes of vanished souls whose eyes acknowledge mine. Whether spawned by the Void or sprung from the stars, Fate like a spaniel follows at your heel, child; you sow haphazard fortune and despair, ruling all things, responsible for none. (???)" - v. 24, Ythan

Annotated diaries of Matriarch Pasith

9-14-2203. Proposals weighed in Council of what to do with the Arch. We have monitored it for five years now, and no sign of magic or 'inhabitation', for lack of a better term, has been observed. Some would like to see it maintained as a memorial, a minority would prefer to see it destroyed. In truth, I would not be averse to its destruction, but for the nagging feeling that we would not be able to harm it, or that even if we could, its taint would never truly be gone. At least grass is growing there once more, I suppose.

- Don’t know what to do with the Arch. Destroy it?

3-23-2205. Dinner with the Empress and family tonight. In another month or so, I will be thoroughly occupied with the new baby, so it seemed an opportune moment to visit. Baby Celestine is sitting up now, though I only saw her for a short while before she grew bored or tired and her nurse took her away. The older children played together, which was a little unexpected. Well, not that Aethan and Trenta should play together, four-year-olds seem to find one another endlessly entertaining, at least until they start squabbling, but Butler and Theonée have never really seemed to get along well. Today, though, she took him to play hide and seek, and they were gone quite some time. On the way home, Butler was quiet, so I asked him if he had enjoyed himself. He seemed uncertain, as if he was thinking hard about something. "Mother," he said at last, "Theonée says that we knew one another before we were born. Is that true?" I told him, as calmly as I could, that it could be that they knew one another in a past life, but that the gods did not usually grant us the ability to recall such things. I don't think that answer satisfied him - as, in truth, it does not satisfy me. What could it mean? The girl is unsettling, half of her parentage unknown, and who knows what effect her mother's passage through the upper Arch had on her. The gods know I have kept a close watch on Butler all these years, but they, as well as my own senses, assure me that he is well, unaffected by any possible taint. With Theonée I am not nearly so certain. Perhaps it would be best to gently discourage him from associating with her as they grow older.

- Creeped out by Theonee + Butler

6-1-2208. I found myself wondering today what Izaguirre did with that necklace, the one that Noira Langevin seemed so eager to get to him. Kalman still believes that it was payment for Sekia Dizon's assassination, but we were never able to confirm that, and I find myself pondering other reasons she might have wanted to get the jewel into his hands. The necklace did not seem to be magical, and yet, of course, magical auras can be concealed. In retrospect, it strikes me as worrying that it is the single link I am aware of between Blackhope and Izaguirre, and yet they both, after a fashion, tried to tear the Empire apart. Was it somehow a part of Marcau Langevin's plan to bring Izaguirre onto his side, to attack the Empire from another angle? It would be so much easier to put this out of my mind if I knew that the girl had simply incurred a gambling debt or something of the sort.

- Noira Langevin’s necklace. Magic was present when we looked... how odd.

5-25-2210. In a lesson this morning, Velten du Champe asked me some quite probing questions concerning the creation story given in the Almas Genara. He began by asking how old it was - did it predate the Empire, for instance? I told him the general scholarly opinion was that it was as old as the Empire. He noted, independently, what Rev. Father Bergen pointed out in his analysis of the passage five centuries ago - that the people who wrote this down probably lived near an ocean, with the talk of oysters and pearls and islands in the fog. Certainly it seems unlikely they were here, at least. Then he asked what was represented by the killing of the (grand)father-figure in the tale. Again I could only fall back on what wiser scholars than myself have said - that it represents the death of our innocence, our ignorance of what is right and wrong. He disagreed quite strongly, and said he thought it was relevant to the idea of challenging the gods - that perhaps, before we worshipped these gods, there were others... At that point I was fortunately able to end the lesson, as our time had run out. I suspect Iana, or his father, have been putting ideas in his head, but perhaps not. Perhaps he is simply too clever for his own good. Nevertheless, he displays a clear gift of priestly magic - the first, so far as I am aware, to call on the divine power of the Rat and receive an unmistakeable response. I hope he may be the first of many.

- Cosmogony (Velten), challenging the Gods.

Holiday 1, 2211-12. At the palace celebrations today, Butler seemed quite down. Rab was able to get the story out of him eventually, where I had failed - I suppose a boy of that age doesn't want to talk to his mother about some matters. Apparently he asked Theonée to dance, and she refused him. When Rab told me, I could not help but feel inwardly relieved. Butler may be glum now that the girl doesn't like him, but surely it is for the best. If they were to become closer... and at this age, how awful it could be!

- Creeped out by Theonee.

11-5-2213. Rab set off this morning. He said he would travel south for now, so at least the weather should be tolerable where he's going. May the gods watch over him and keep him safe, and bring him home to us again when he is able. And may the children one day understand why their father had to leave, why I had to remain, and forgive us for our failings.

- Rab leaves

4-21-2214. A terrible dream tonight, of being led bound and gagged to the Arch, while crowds cheered. I knew in my dream what waited for me there, something more horrible than my waking mind can comprehend, but I know it longed to consume me. My mind was screaming at me to fight back, to try and cast a spell or break away, even if it meant my death at the hands of my captors, because surely that would be better than the fate that awaited me within, but I couldn't do it. The women in robes drew me forward, almost gently, and I passed into the shadow. When I woke with my heart pounding, I reached blindly for Rab, forgetting that he is gone these six months and more. It took me quite some time to recover enough to realize it had only been a nightmare.

- Belden dreams of her sacrifice?

7-19-2214. Tristane has chosen Loch to be the new Chief Sorcerer. It is the obvious choice, of course - there can be few casters in the Empire who surpass him in skill - and I am glad for him, even though it will mean less time for his research, and for his family as well. Still, he says Corwen can carry on with the research, and seems to believe he will find the necessary time for his wife and children. May the gods give him the strength he needs to take on these new responsibilities.

- Research? Why does Belden care?

5-30-2217. Butler was elevated to the Order of the Spoke today. I was so proud of him, looking so serious and so much like his father, as he took his oaths. I wish Rab could have been there to see him. Boden, Kalman, Loch, and Pavo had to suffice. Even the Imperial family came to the ceremony, paying their respects to all the new knights, but (if I may be forgiven this unseemly vanity) I think particularly to my son. I only wished that I felt less worried at the amount of time he spent talking with Theonée - all quite proper, of course, nothing untoward, but it still bothers me in ways I don't fully understand.

- Butler, bespoked. Theonee again.

9-2-2217. Butler left the city today with his friends. It wouldn't have done to fret over him too much while he was preparing to depart, but I find I can't help worrying now. Halden and Ysana worry me by their licentiousness - and I am certain I don't know the half of it, only what Kalman has told me, but that little is enough! Velten is clever, frighteningly clever at times, and he has his father's way of keeping things - and people - at arm's length. He and his twin brother could not be more different in that respect... Still, Velten and Butler have always been good friends, as far back as I can remember, and I trust that they will look out for one another. Emoune Sathin I barely know, as she spent much of her childhood in Greywatch, but she seems a sensible young woman. And then there is Theonée, whose inclusion gives me such dread. I was surprised that Tristane and Althea agreed to let her go, to be honest - I had assumed they would not allow it, and so had spent little time worrying about it until today. I told Butler that I thought it unwise for her to travel with them, and he became quite cross with me before I could even explain my reasoning. She is his dear friend, trained at the Castalia, a brilliant scholar, and on and on - he had nothing but praise for her, and it made my blood run cold. He insists that there is nothing more than friendship between them, but still, what if they were to wed, to have children... is this some plan of the Arch-entity coming to fruition, or am I being unreasonable, overprotective? I cannot keep my son sheltered any longer. May the gods protect them all, even Theonée, as they travel, and especially keep Butler safe and under their blessings.

- Emoune Sathin? Theonee creepy. Kids leave town.

7-12-2218. The children - though they are no longer children, of course - have returned safely once more, thank the gods. Trenta has spent this past month pining for Velten to return, in a way that is at once adorable and insufferable. She begged to be able to go with them, but I told her she was too young, and so she's been snubbing me these past few weeks. I suppose at least she didn't run away to follow them, as I would have been inclined to do at her age. I don't think anything unseemly has passed between them since he returned, I haven't given them the opportunity, but nevertheless Trenta is obviously in love. I hope for her sake that Velten feels the same. I would certainly give them my blessing in another year or so if they wished to marry. Butler and Theonée is another matter entirely. He comes home each evening, he wouldn't dare spend the night with her, but it's not as if such things can only be done after dark! He knows my feelings on the matter, and I don't believe he would lie to me directly if I asked him whether they were involved, but... I don't want to put my son in a position where he would be tempted to lie, and I admit that part of me is weak and frightened and would rather remain ignorant. Let the gods guide us on this path, then.

- Trenta + Velten? Theonee again.

8-12-2219. Such wonderful news! Butler tells me he has decided to marry Cora Engelhardt! I cannot believe how much weight has lifted off my shoulders just since he started courting her, and now I can finally breathe easy. It has been a short courtship, admittedly, but I find I cannot worry about that too much, not when I am so relieved that it's not her. I will be able to tell everyone at Halden and Ysana's wedding in a few days' time. I know others have shared my concerns, and will be glad to hear this news.

- Anti-Theonee! Cora = marriage of convenience?

12-30-2219. My eldest daughter was married today. Trenta du Champe still has a strange ring about it, but I suppose I shall get used to it in time. She looked beautiful, but so young. I hope and trust that she will be happy in her choice of partner, and that they will always be good to one another. I was a little surprised that Emoune and Theonée did not attend their friend's wedding, and asked after them, only to learn, to my surprise, that they had left for Greywatch more than two months ago. It puzzles me...

- Emoune and Theonee went to Greywatch to squat out a kid.

6-8-2220. Butler and Cora were married this afternoon. She was quite radiant, though Butler looked as though he might faint throughout much of the day. Fortunately, he did not, and everything went off without a hitch. I finally feel, now, that things will be all right. [blah blah long description of guests, etc.] Pavo's children, having just come of age, were in high spirits as they enjoyed one of their first 'adult' festivities. Little miss Phedre cornered Butler for a dance, and I swear as I watched the two of them that she said something that made him blush, though I have no idea what. That one will be a handful, mark my words.

- Phedre :( Butler+Cora

4-2-2225. Velten has been elevated to the rank of Reverend Father of the Order of the Rat. This was a contentious decision on the Council, not least because of his young age, but I believe my arguments were convincing. There simply are no more qualified priests of Rat than him, and it has become unacceptable to continue without a priest of Rat on the council, not when it is so obvious that the Rat is a god, that it has returned to the heavens, and that it is able to grant power to its followers. To shut them out would go against everything I have worked for. The only issue that remains unresolved is the matter of where they will fit in the cycle of Patriarchs. In order to gain this much, we had to cede our wish that they be placed immediately next, following the death of Matriarch Briaga, may it be many years hence. I suppose this means that there is a chance, gods willing, that I will be the next Matriarch. A difficult idea to grapple with, but not entirely unexpected.

- Velten as RF Rat.

5-27-2227. [at the end of an otherwise uninteresting entry.] Trimmon tells me that this new guard captain, Nash, has something odd about her, but he can't put his finger on it. I had a look at her myself, and noticed her eyes have a peculiar glow about them. It is most likely just a spell she's had permanently cast upon herself, but not one I am familiar with.

- Nash’s eyes

Speak to Velten?