The object of this new section is to be a collection of disconnected notes and obscure academic musings of Loraan. Often he does research (via email) and this will collect the results in one place so that it does not become forgotten. If you read this information, your character does not know it unless you check with Paul to see if Loraan told your character. Thus this info goes out on Paul's discretion!

 

The Comet

Wyrm will have a pale blue and yellow tail stretching out for somewhere between 75 and 80 degrees-- the yellow portions of it in the shape of a scimitar. It will first be seen by the naked eye in ##### and will intially look quite dull.

One interpretation of the comet sign: The comet Wyrm shall arise and strike a path through the constellation "Holder of Serpents". Wyrm is a comet that has been linked to the ancient myth of Nammu because it seems to change ashapee, fork, spiral, and shift like a serpent. It will follow the "Serpent" held in the arms of the "Holder" also known as the "One Restraining". The prophecies of Orne suggest that Pestilence will visit the land when the his serpentine comet portends the period of time in which the plans of the Mother of Dragons (sometimes held to be an enemy of the Gods of Man) will come to fruition.  

 

Prophecies of Orne

 

Canto 1123

And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress the nation, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's heart failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

 

Canto 1125

Two suns shall fight in the sky.

The earth will shake.

Mountains will move from their strong foundations.

Rivers will dry up.

Armies shall be routed, and flee south to the hills.

 

Canto 1136

The great star for seven days shall burn

So nakedly clear like two suns appearing

The large dog all night howling

While the great King shall change his territory

 

Canto 1137

The life of the righteous man who acts as intercessor shall be cut off.

The evil man, who cut throats, him shall be put in the highest place.

Men's hearts shall change so that father will not listen to son and

daughter will talk to mother with hatred.

They shall be caused to speak ill and forget their gods and speak

blasphemy to their gods.

 

Canto 1140

Of all the countries what shall be left steady?

The crown of his lordship shall be removed:

kings and princes will forget their ordinances and the bond between god

and will be undone.

Difficult it is to knot again.

 

The prophecies of Orne are about as well known and believed as Nostrodamus is today. While there is a place for prophecy within the culture, the real questions of scholars will concern interpretation. A main question will be: Does the comet's appearance actually refer to these cantos?

The Azure Glowing Moss:

Heretofore undiscovered botanical specimen that grows in or near running water. A sample is being cultivated by Master Parshadu in his Greenhouse.

 

He Who Gnaws Beneath:

Old records from the time of the "great Purification" describe several captured ratling temples. One of them seems somewhat similar to the temple that you discovered under Red Hook by the group, but permanent and vaster in scale. Dedicated to one of their foul gods, "He Who Gnaws Beneath" a diety who is devoted to destruction of the most insidious kind. He also seems to be identified with the Ratlings hatred of mankind, the elves, and dwarves. Mythologically this "worm" is said to ganw at the roots of the world tree and will one day cause its withering decay. This might be similar to something in the Malzerath about a Great Old One known pseudonymously as "That Which Claws at the Barrier". Somehow the symbolism of each seems far too similar for comfort. Tales from those same records tell of a terrible ddom which befell each and every member of the imperial legion that razed its temple. What the doom is, is not spoken of in this source.

Very little is written on the religious beliefs of the Ratlings, mostly because they are an inimical species (not as bad as the Ssu but worse than orcs.) The old writers equated him with Ea because he seems to be a god for their mages. Furthermore both of these gods have strong subterrean or "cthonic" imagery. This leads you to examine religious doctrine of the Temple of Ea. You discover that they equate him with a greater demon that lies in the Abyss (Abzu) the home of Ea and tries to eat holes through into the world. Only the power of Ea holds him back.

 

 

The Rat-Men's Gold Coins:

These coins came from the body of the ratling commander. On the "face of the coin" is a stylized rendering of a spiral labyrinth, which is a common theme in human mystery religions and "cthonic " cults. It is representative of the womb of the Earth. A similar style used in known Ratling temple floorplans. On the obverse side is an elaboratly decorated inverted chalice on which no further information can be found. It bears an inscription in a language that is totally unrecognizable. You turn up reproduction of rubbings from a Ratling temple. Its the same writing. At first it seemed similar to some Lizard men writings from the Yin Sloth but that didn't pan out. An obscure museum collection in the Ezida has similar coins. They were found in the stomach of a sea serpent that was killed attacking an imperial vessel over one thousand years ago. The coins you have were minted much more recently than that. The answer it seems is a mystery. The weight of the gold alone makes each one worth about 29 silver shekels. Thus this is a small fortune.

 

The Garden Shed of Woe:

Who holds the "lease" on that plot of land?

After some amount of fairly boring footwork between the two Halls of Records he is able to discover:

A) The Temple of Nabu has leasehold for that area in perpetuity granted by an otherwise unmemorable GodKing. Please note that this lease does not specify that particular plot, rather it deals with a much larger area which includes the tiny zone which concerns you.

B) Approximately 500 years ago permission was granted to a one "Korat" to build a shed for groundskeeping equipment. The lease for the shed describes a small two story structure. When his son died ownership or the shed reverted to the University.

C) The University about 300 years ago decided to reopen the hall now known as Sethlans Dormitory when the Umur Sethlans granted funds for this purpose.

D) At this time Sethlans rebuilt the shed into the larger outbuilding it is now for the purpose of storage. The descendants of Korat were still in the employ of the University and they disputed this in the Magistrate's Court.

E) Checking out the magistrate's records Loraan discovers that the suit had a strange ending. The Korat family had a right to the place based on 12 times 12 years of continuous occupancy. (One suspects that they lived in the shed) Obviously Sethlans had the pull to get whatever he wanted so the Korats settled out of court. Sethlan's plans included a one story storage structure of wood frame. This was built overtop the site of the old shed and the Korats had access to the basement through a separate entry staircase.

F) The Korats continue use the basement area, until about 150 years ago the last heir of the contract died. No mention of the basement area again.

G) The Sethlans dormitory is using the above area for storage. An old ledger you discover in the office propping up a table leg for the last fifty years contains records of student possessions moved in and out of the building. Towards the end people became very lax about keeping this records and so there is no telling what is in there. Furthermore the current Warden says noone has used the building since he started working here about 5 years ago. He does not have keys but shows you a ring of about 100 keys that he has no idea about, but keeps anyway "just in case".

H) The current family contracted for groundskeeping is using a storage area in the rear of the dorm by the loading bay. Part of their contract allows a family of no more than 9 members to live in one of the dorm rooms.

 

 

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