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In-Game Book Submissions Thread (Read The First Post Before Posting)

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MAB77:
Title: A Merchant's Diary
Icon: Any
Suggested locations: Any

The identity of the diary's author, his current whereabouts, and how this tome found its way to the Core are a complete mystery. The cover of the book seems to have been slashed by claws.

Entry 1 - 1st of Flamerule, 1374 DR

Today, I received an unexpected visitor at my home. Lord Darius, a nobleman of questionable repute, arrived unannounced. I have never liked the man; he is arrogant and secretive. He claims to have business propositions that could benefit both of us. Despite my reservations, I agreed to entertain him for the evening. He brought a fine bottle of wine as a gesture of goodwill.

Entry 2 - 2nd of Flamerule, 1374 DR

The wine Darius brought is exquisite. We shared a bottle over dinner last night, and I must admit, it is the finest I have ever tasted. Darius spoke of opportunities in trade routes and exclusive goods. His words were convincing, but I remain wary. There is something in his eyes that unsettles me. Still, the wine eased my suspicions, and I found myself agreeing to consider his proposals.

Entry 3 - 3rd of Flamerule, 1374 DR

Darius visited again today, this time with another bottle of that remarkable wine. As we drank, he spoke of power and influence, of how our partnership could elevate us above our peers. I felt a warmth spreading through me, not just from the wine but from his words. They seemed to make perfect sense. The more I drank, the more I saw the wisdom in his plans.

Entry 4 - 5th of Flamerule, 1374 DR

I am beginning to look forward to Darius' visits. He brings a new bottle of wine each time, and with it, new ideas. Today, he proposed that we expand our operations to the coastal cities. His knowledge of the market is impressive. I find myself trusting him more each day. Perhaps I was wrong about the man. The wine, too, has a delightful effect, making our conversations seem profound and enlightening.

Entry 5 - 8th of Flamerule, 1374 DR

The wine has become a nightly ritual. I cannot remember the last time I felt so invigorated. Darius's plans are now my plans. Together, we will dominate the trade routes and crush our competition. He suggested a formal partnership, and I agreed without hesitation. It feels as though a fog has lifted, and I can see the future clearly.

Entry 6 - 12th of Flamerule, 1374 DR

Darius has moved into my estate. It seemed the natural thing to do, given our partnership. We spend our days planning and our nights drinking that divine wine. My dreams have become vivid and strange, filled with serpentine imagery and whispered promises. Darius says it is a sign of our impending success. I believe him.

Entry 7 - 15th of Flamerule, 1374 DR

Something odd is happening. My thoughts feel less like my own. Darius's voice echoes in my mind, guiding my decisions. I have started to defer to him in all matters. The wine, which once brought such clarity, now seems to cloud my judgment. Yet, I cannot stop drinking it. Darius assures me it is all part of the process, and that we are on the cusp of greatness.

Entry 8 - 18th of Flamerule, 1374 DR

My servants have noticed the changes. They whisper among themselves, casting worried glances my way. Darius has dismissed several of them, claiming they were disloyal. I did not argue. I find myself agreeing with him more and more. The wine flows freely, and with each glass, my old self fades further away.

Entry 9 - 20th of Flamerule, 1374 DR

I confronted Darius today, demanding to know what was happening to me. He smiled and poured me another glass of wine. As I drank, he revealed his true nature. He is yuan-ti, a serpent in human guise. The wine is infused with a subtle venom, a concoction designed to erode my will and bind me to his own. I should have been horrified, but instead, I felt a perverse sense of relief. Finally, everything made sense.

Entry 10 - 25th of Flamerule, 1374 DR

Darius told me of a secret ritual that would make me more like him, that would give me power and the wisdom of Mersshaulk, the god of the yuan-ti. Though it may be deadly, I cannot imagine returning to my old ways now that I finally see the truth of what should be.

Entry 11 - 30th of Flamerule, 1374 DR

I survived. I was ill and in pain for a few days but I shed my old skin like a molting snake. I am now a faithful servant of Lord Darius. My thoughts, and my actions, are aligned with his desires. The transformation is complete. The wine, once a tool of manipulation, is now my sustenance. I see the world through Darius' eyes, and it is beautiful. Together, we will reshape the trade routes and bring others under our control.

Entry 12 - 3rd of Eleasis, 1374 DR

I had my remaining servants poisoned. Their purpose was spent and I certainly could not have them gossip. There was nothing evil in that act, just simple pragmatism. Our plans are in motion. The cities of the Sword Coast are within our grasp. Darius has begun to introduce me to his other followers. We are a brotherhood, a serpent cult disguised as a trading company. The power we wield is intoxicating. I no longer resist. I embrace my new identity, my new purpose.

Entry 13 - 10th of Eleasis, 1374 DR

A strange fog engulfed my ship today. We should have reached port hours ago but the incompetent navigator got lost at sea. Lord Darius will be angry with this delay. The sky is constantly overcast wherever we look, with lightning scouring the clouds. I've never seen the Sea of Swords like this. It's not raining but a storm will likely hit soon. A lighthouse has been spotted in the distance. It looks like my luck is finally about to turn for the best.

myrddraal:
Title: Intermediate Fleshcrafting, Bonebats
Icon (book's appearance, if known): (Such as: "it_book_001") ilT_BOOK_014
Suggested locations (eg. Houlgraves', Castle Ravenloft, Port-à-Lucine library, etc.): Necromancy shop in port-a-lucine next to the brothel, perhaps the red academy if they have a book vendor?
Content:

Today marked a very special occasion.  An experiment that I have been preparing for what feels like ages has finally come to fruition - and it was a resounding success.  Long ago I had stitched flesh and bone together, creating a bonebat I named Flutterbones, and animated it with the power that I channeled through a finger of command that I grafted in place of my pointer finger.  A small price to pay for complete control of my new pet.  The bones I had collected from the crypt below the morning lord’s temple in Vallaki’s outskirts, the ghoul flesh I had used to stitch it’s wings together to grant it flight was skinned from the most powerful of them within the cabin infested with them near Berez.  It was a delicate procedure, I had torn the taught flesh of the ghouls once and needed to start creating the leathery wings again - though in the end I was successful.  Though that was not todays experiment.

Today, with the help of someone who no longer had use of a few crucial parts, we were able to grant Flutterbones the ability to speak.  The first thing we took from our involuntary supplier was the lungs.  My freshly sharpened dagger split their decaying flesh open like it was a hot knife passing through room temperature butter.  Once we had opened the chest it took several of my associates holding the corpse still, one of our more experienced flesh crafters cradling the lungs, and a steady hand to remove them and set them within a vase for use later.  One of the two more difficult tasks, which were frankly a relief to see done with minimal damage to the organs.

The next task we set ourselves to was removing the vocal cords.  Once more a clean slice opened the throat of the fallen guard and exposed the desired bits of flesh.  A steady hand, and a very sharp dagger, swiftly saw them removed and they were set aside far more quickly than the lungs.  The chords were in flawless condition when removed and I am quite proud of how I performed this aspect of the operation.

Once those two tasks were complete, it was time to insert the ancient preserved brains acquired from Har Akir.  A sort of reversal of the procedure in removing them that is documented within the ancient text known as a Book of the Dead which describes the mummification process.  Keep this detail in mind because it had a rather stunning revelation later.  Inserting the brain was trivial enough, the creature was commanded to lay still and it did as it’s master bid.  Once the arch magi brains were implanted, the lungs, vocal chords, and necessary bits of flesh to connect them all were laid out within the bone bats frame.  Once the pieces were in place, several of my colleagues channeled negative energy into my servant and as the dark power coursed through their body, it fused the flesh together and to the frame.  Flutterbones swiftly made use of their new talents and in a raspy voice…spoke.  It spoke of lingering whispers clawing at its mind - a remnant of the brain that we inserted.  The ancient akiri’s thoughts were that of hatred - though I was quick to rebuff these whispers and asserted myself as both its master and a disciple of the Prince of Hatred - Innoruuk - himself.

With a stern command - it did as it was bid for us to finish our procedure, encasing the delicate newly added flesh with a sturdier casing of thick ghoul flesh, a remnant from my previous experiment that I had another colleague bring.  In comparison to removing organs and vocal cords?  Sewing the flesh around the bone bats frame in a protective casing was trivial.  After that was finished we once more channeled negative energy into their body and fused the flesh to their frame and it aided in reducing, but not eliminating, the raspiness that must have occurred when air was allowed to pass through the cords freely.  Today we took an important step in achieving far greater things.  The Order of the Dead has been worthwhile in the short time we have been meeting.

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