Sword, axe and armour - excavated southwest of Galore, vicinity of the Roe Pools
Where the wilderness of Fortitude yields many trinkets, martial or otherwise, these finely
crafted if rather rusty implements of war took my attention because of their interesting
design. All three items, the Sword, axe and breastplate contain designs that combine
aspects of the three empires of Yellowback, Redwing and Greenwater. Concluding from this
that there must have been some unity between the empires’ armourers in their creation and
that they are dated to roughly five hundred years old, they must therefore have been used
in the great Empire Crusades! Looking back through historical accounts of the time there
was indeed a great battle held near to the Roe Pools, one that was considered instrumental
in winning the crusades for the alliance. According to these old accounts thousands of
warriors, mages and healers perished at the hands of their brethren controlled enemies.
The armour must have belonged to one of those unfortunate enough to see their own end
rather than that of the crusades to which they nobly gave their life. The rusty and
battered armour is therefore testament to their bravery and remains so as part of my
collection.
Unidentified clothing – found Eastern Blackfly Empire, Fangpoint Peninsula
A set of very peculiar clothing somewhat akin to the arms and armour above in that it has
no direct ties to any particular empire. There is no label, sigil or coat of arms to denote
its clan or empire alliance. The fashion is incredibly dated and looks almost akin to the
clothing worn in those few pictures that have survived since the days of the founders and
their arrival upon Fortitude. The clothing, so far as its degradation shows, is perhaps a
hundred years old and therefore cannot possibly come from the same period. It is perhaps
one of the most peculiar recent items I have in my possession kept equally for its beauty
as its mystery. Perhaps someone desiring a return to the time of the founders was
responsible for it or perhaps one of many other possible reasons. For that it remains an
enigma.
Fetish and Headdress – found central Yellowback Empire, Dragonbreath Savannah
Perhaps I may appear a little too interested in items of personal apparel but if there are
certain mysteries worth trying to solve they are the intentions that lay behind such
objects. These particular items were discovered in the wilds of the Yellowback Empire
close to the remnants of a recently abandoned encampment. Among the hastily deserted
detritus of the camp lay this mask and headdress. The very size of the items infer that
they belonged to a creature much smaller than an average human and their design further
promotes the idea that a creature other than a human had them constructed specifically for
itself. The mask is beak or snout like, invoking perhaps some peculiar primal god or
spirit, the feathers attached to wraps of bandages are there perhaps as a significance of
rank or protection or even possibly a replica of wings. The many opinions that I received
on these particular items drew me to a race that only a few have heard of and even less
have seen, a race of small, pygmy like creatures that inhabit the more secluded areas of
Fortitude’s wilderness. It is interesting to see that the land still has many mysteries to
offer up. Perhaps I will make a note in my diary to investigate these creatures, but for
now onto the next item…
Stone Carving – discovered vicinity of Worst, Empire of the Lady
Possibly the most mysterious artefact of my collection alongside the strange stone tablet
that managed to procure several months ago. This carving is roughly egg shaped, with one
side flattened to allow a very strange and primitive picture to be carved onto its surface.
At its centre is a picture of an unidentifiable dragon, one that appears to possess all
the qualities or aspects of our noble empire marshals rather than any particular
individual. Surrounding this dragon form are what appears to be humans, although this is
only a close description as they are much taller than us (in proportion to the dragon) and
are distorted and bent, their cruel arms almost as long as their bodies. Above the dragon
some form of energy that is either protecting it or trapping it. Any attempt to date the
stone has been inconclusive as opinions have set it between five hundred and one thousand
and five hundred years old. Whether it is the product of some early human settlers,
separate from the main body of the five empires, or creatures that predate the colonisation
of Fortitude the mystery remains, perhaps it will always remain…
Until next time,
Your friend,
Gadsolme.