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If you are reading this, chances are that one of two things have happened: Either Jacob has given you this book for further study, or you have pried it from his cold dead hands. If the former, I can assume Jacob trusts you enough to read the following pages. If the latter, may the hells devour you for taking the life of an admirable person and friend.
The following information has been gathered through my travels across Oerth. You, the reader, may fancy much of it as made up musings of a traveling bard. Most of the time, you'd be correct. This time, much to my dismay, you'd be wrong. I have managed to compile as much of my research regarding Arrallae and those who came with her- yes, she is not the only one. Most importantly, within these pages you will find a ritual I researched in order to seal this sacred haven. Although my intentions would seem selfish, there is a reason for doing this. Be advised, reader, that the truth here is but in fragments. No complete answers will be found here, only what I have found during my travels. However, it should provide reasonable information not only as to Her nature, but also the nature of those who seek her.
You allow some time for the information to sink in, then continue reading. Steiner used some clever word placing on the pages. Most of the text are fanciful poems regarding the Fey Woods. Others discuss the marvels of the Jade Citadel, but these are long and winded pages meant to distract the reader from the real information. This is one of the relevant pieces.
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She demonstrates tremendous power. I would dare say it is infinite, yet she does seem to become exhausted when she manifests power at a grand scale. Her recovery rate, however, is amazing. She was able to feed Anzaril for thirty minutes and emerged from the water with but a weak languor, which was quickly recuperated. It is almost as if she has... an engine in her. Preposterous, I know. A power source that never dries up- unlimited power. I am not ready to classify her as a divine being, though.
After more riddles and witty poems, you come across more relevant information.
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I should have known. We all should have. Arrallae demonstrates an instability that is, at some points, proportionate to the power she wields. Jacob and Balion have had to restrain her in many an occasion. I attempted hypnosis on her. To try and see the root of her episodes. This got me to tap into a recess in her mind that nearly killed me. As if something inside was dormant. Something very dangerous. Once the hypnosis was over, she demonstrated a very calm demeanor, like she always has. I have come to the conclusion that stressful situations and forceful mental compulsions may trigger the effect. Still, there is the part about her divinations. Further research must be conducted.
A few pages later...
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The vault is built. It isn't grand, but it will do. Self-preservation and instinct tells me this shouldn't be done. The researcher in me has finished the signs in the Star Room. Arrallae has volunteered under the condition that she be chained while only one is allowed to be in the room with her. It is fair that I do so, since this was my idea. Please forgive me, my Lady, for putting you through this.
After more riddles and poems, you manage to decipher the following.
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I have been away from Justcrown for over a decade. During my travels, I have met some extraordinary people. Then there was him. Called himself The First. The first of what? I was approached by him in the Free City. He says he knows about Arrallae. He says she will be in better hands if she is handed to him. This man... he is no ordinary human being, no. Something about his eyes. A void. He offered me a large amount of money for her. I didn't accept, of course. He left my presence swiftly, saying it would be in his hand soon. What did he mean?
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It is now clear that Arrallae is something... else. Why is she that and why does The First want her, I do not know. I do know that he will attempt to retrieve her, but I do not know when or why. I have researched and created a spell that will enclose Swan's Rest from the outside world. The fey have been most cooperative, saying they will ward any intruders into the village. Still, I must be steadfast in my resolve to complete the ritual. Let's see, it must be performed during either the Winter Sosltice or Solar Equinox. At least two participants, one of which must be the caster. The ritual must be comprehended through deep arcane study. The process should take no longer than a month, time may be taken between castings to rest, but little else. Tremendous preparation and concentration is required, even so, my life and those participating on the Ritual may be at stake. I will leave the algorithms and formulas here, for those capable of understanding. If you are reading so far and the Seal has, in some way been compromised, please! Understand and Seal Swan's rest. Seal Arrallae. She is a force of good, but in his hands, or those with the knowledge I have gleaned, she could be a most terrible weapon.
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So, he spent his life researching her, and these others, I wonder how many there are,and if these could be anything to do with the rumors Dantie was speaking of the other day, I wonder if any of them have any memories...and what there purpose is on Oerth.
I assume those that seek her would be a reference to the organization Kazym in involved with, this place has been sealed up for so long, I wonder how long these people have been at it.
It is a shame he was unable to complete his research, but then again this book has been sealed up for some time now, perhaps he has other journals, perhaps research continued on the others.
“I am not ready to classify her as a divine being, though.” So he does not consider her divine either, I wonder what grand scale displays of power Steiner had seen, based off the ones we had experienced I am sure they would have been something to see.
“She was able to feed Anzaril for thirty minutes and emerged from the water with but a weak languor, which was quickly recuperated.” I know from personal experience how trying feeding the fey is, I felt myself nearing death, despite that not being her wish, and to think such an experience only leave her tired for a bit.
“an instability that is, at some points, proportionate to the power she wields.” So my thoughts could be correct, Kazym may very well wish to use her as some type of weapon, If he can find some way to trigger her an episode while having her channel a large amount of power. If such a incident occurred while in a heavily civilized area the effects would be devastating.
“a recess in her mind that nearly killed me” What I would not give to have a scroll of Probe Thoughts at my disposal, I would very much like the opportunity to uncover that witch her mind has lost. One would think the calm of sleep while performing such a ritual would aid in suppressing whatever it is that resides inside.
“Still, there is the part about her divinations. Further research must be conducted.” A shame Tarith and Dantie are so opposed to the idea of having her attempt to divine anything, perhaps I can convince them it will be worth the risk, else Further research will be difficult, especially if I am unable to make the seal simpler to open and close, I may never have another chance to study her and learn just what she is.
“The researcher in me has finished the signs in the Star Room.” He clearly put much work and thought into the Vault, I must make not to go see these signs, they may help piece together this mystery further.
“Arrallae has volunteered under the condition that she be chained while only one is allowed to be in the room with her” So she even holds a great deal of worry over the powers she does not yet fully understand, I wonder what further precautions have been taken since the first attempt.
“Called himself The First” The First? Could be have been some type of herald for the “Others” that were mentioned earlier.
“Something about his eyes. A void.” Interesting, I have never met a man with such eyes, I wonder what it could mean, whatever the meaning, surly it does not bode well.
“He says she will be in better hands if she is handed to him” Could he be involved in Kazym’s organization…or possibly even the leader? Him calling himself “The First” could shows that he views himself as a higher station that most. “He offered me a large amount of money for” The fact that he has access to such large sums only strengthens my theory he is a part of this mystery organization.
“I do know that he will attempt to retrieve her, but I do not know when or why” So this explains his decision to create the seal, he felt sealing her away to keep her save wiser than trying to study her further, I wonder if us opening the seal turns out to be a terrible idea.
“I will leave the algorithms and formulas here, for those capable of understanding” Fascinating, I wonder how long he took to devise so such a intricate ritual.
“She is a force of good, but in his hands, or those with the knowledge I have gleaned, she could be a most terrible weapon” I must agree with Steiner here, everything I have seen she holds no maliciousness in her, however the harm a power such as hers could produce is abused is staggering.