Greetings, soldiers of Yalain, and welcome to
the grottos of Laeraa.
Some of you may have arrived here in the mistaken impression that this post is
unimportant, or that your presence here is a sign of disfavor with your
respective lords. I assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. Your
presence here is testament to your loyalty, as is what I am about to tell you.
No doubt many of you know two of Laeraa's wonders. The first, of course, is the
Imperial Archive in the lower levels. The finest researchers in the world have
had copies of their treatises and inquiries deposited in our vaults, in the
event that we have need of them in the future. There are in excess of 10,000
volumes currently stored here. To have a work elected for inclusion in the
Seaborne Empire's various archives is a source of pride for any academic.
The second wonder of Laeraa is the system of living grottos, lit and nourished
by the works of the great mage Heran of Dalrose. In our underground caverns,
nearly any form of plant can be grown. In turn, these plants support a number of
animal species. The grottos are Heran's masterwork; you should appreciate them.
The first rule of Laeraa is, walk with ranaayai's feet in the grottos.
(Translator's note: context indicates "ranaayai" may be a stealthy
predator animal of ancient Dereth - name means "inescapable burning.")
Do not leave fires unattended, nor uproot the plants, nor slay the animals. Few
have the skill to recreate these fragile treasures.
The final wonder has been carefully kept secret by the masters of the Uranten
Lyceum. There are certain entities in the lowest tunnels of this complex. We
call them Laerauinth (translator's note: literally, "Living Stones of the
Ground"). They are not true life forms as we understand them, although they
behave in many of the same ways.
When a mage attempts and fails to cast a spell, the mana he or she has focused
does not simply "go away." Rather, it undergoes what mages commonly
refer to as "slippage." (Translator's note: this is an approximate
translation - the word used here is also used in Yalaini nautical texts to refer
to the unpredictable movement of a fish.) Slippage is misdirected mana, which
may be absorbed by the earth, air, or sea. The Laerauinth are the result of
slipped mana concentrating in certain sympathetic crystal deposits. In a sense,
they are stones animated by the pure force of magic.
Laerauinth are found all across Auberean. They are extremely rare - perhaps one
will be found on the mainland or in the Imperial Archipelago every hundred
years. The history of magical research on Ireth Lassel by our people, and the
Dericost before us, have resulted in unusual concentrations of them here.
Early research by the Uranten academics brought to light a most singular fact.
The Laerauinth produce eggs. Not in the sense that a bird might, but in that
they periodically drop crystalline nodules, containing a portion of their mana,
that grow into another of their kind. These growths - eggs, if you will - can be
ingested when enchanted properly. They can greatly increase a mage's natural
capacity for storing mana. This effect does not last long, however, and there is
a critical drawback.
The enchanted eggs attune themselves to the mana patterns of the bearer, working
in resonance with them. This resonance is only dangerous for a week. During that
week, the bearer may not handle another egg. Doing so will further resonate with
his or her mana patterns, causing a dangerous feedback loop. The end result is
that the mage's ability to store and wield mana is completely destroyed. This
grievous "burnout" was discovered in the harshest way, forcing the
retirement of the famed Master Ucanna.
The mana that infuses the Laerauinth causes their forms to become somewhat
malleable - almost gelatinous. This allows them the flexibility to move
themselves about, albeit at a creep. While not intelligent, they can project
powerful magical attacks. One of our main tasks here, in addition to protecting
the secret of the Uranten Lyceum, will be to help protect the school's younger
students while they recover nodules.
Do not underestimate these creatures. If they have the capacity to desire
anything, it is to be left alone in the cool darkness below us. They will fight
to protect their "eggs," and even (slowly) follow recovery parties up
to the inhabited areas. That is why we have the fortifications on the lower
levels, facing downward. There are devils in the dark below us. Phlegmatic
devils, but not ones that should be dismissed.
A final note. Possibly the most infamous feature of these caves is the chamber
which lies at hand to the upper watch post. The rumors you may have heard are
lamentably true. During the final days of His Majesty Emperor Caerlin's war with
the ancient darkness, the Enemy attacked these grottos, seeking to absorb their
life into their blasphemous forces. The larger grottos were cleansed through the
efforts of Uranten's students, though not without cost. The lowest chambers were
adjudged beyond redemption by the Lyceum's masters. It was possible to contain
the darkness, to weaken it, but the chambers could not be cleansed.
When required to pass through the altered chamber, you should take care never to
touch the walls or floor with bare skin. At best you will suffer severe injury,
and at worst a fate worse than death. Always remember that this chamber was
created by the Enemy's Black Breath. The walls are the tortured remains of
living beings. They are alive, and hungry.
While on duty at the upper watchpost, you should never succumb to the urge to
sleep. You shall be greatly vexed by the malevolent influence the Enemy has upon
the dreaming mind. This is not hyperbole, but sincere admonition. This post's
previous commander, Lady Alessae Vosin, lost three chevairds to insanity from
the calamitous influence of that accursed chamber.
Also, though some imagine me to be ignorant, I am aware that certain soldiers
here make a habit of bringing small creatures from the upper grottos down to
this post, and feeding them to the walls of Shadow Chamber. They imagine it is
amusing to watch these poor creatures be liquefied and absorbed into the mass.
Always remember that you are chevairds of the Empire, held to high ethical
standards. You should not delight in cruelty such as this. That sort of
bestiality is precisely what our grandparents fought against in the Shadow War.
Should I catch any man or woman at this brutal sport, you will be stripped of
your honors and sent home in disgrace.
Also... feeding the chamber more life will strengthen its power and influence.
"Darkness can never be driven from the world, for it is part of the world.
It only sleeps, and bides its time. We can but sing a lullaby by the light of a
flickering candle, and watch for its wakening." So said Empress Alaidain
nearly 8500 years ago.
Do not awaken the chamber with your supposed sport. All the people of Laeraa may
pay your tithe