Book

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Book

gold coin	500
	995,000
	50

A book is an item found as a drop from combat (Greater Demon/Bone Giant) and chests (Sunken Treasure/Satchel).

Uses

It can be read or burned, it has no other known use at the moment. There are many different kinds of book. They sometimes give information on events, like A Holiday Rhyme.

Text

A Bit On Miners

Rumor has it if you press your ears to the ground, a sound can be
heard. Like a metronome: "tink, tink, tink." A miner, lost to the
depths below, but still mining. I don't know much about miners,
but I'll tell you what I know. In search of runite ore, Nuoluoski dug
and dug. He dug a great pit. Trip after trip he came back with
thousands of ores - runite. He made hundreds of trips, bringing up
tons of this fancy new ore. Until eventually... He didn't come back.
In search of his source, JanisPetke followed his tunnels down and
eventually came to a great chasm. A pit deeper than the light
would penetrate and wider than a king's castle. In the breach it
seemed as though rocks were whispering. A secretive society
of whispering stones. Fearing insanity, Janis left this place, but not
without taking a whispering stone to study.

Removing it from it's home seems to have woken up more. I don't
know if they've always been there, or if the stones from that pit
have started wandering out themselves, but now those stones,
those "rune slates" can be found all over. That is all I know about
miners.

A Holiday Rhyme

Twas the week before Christmas, when all through the chat,
each soul was stirring, looking for hats.
The search was on, and the hints had been placed
And every new thought felt just like a race.
Sankyuu, and Zero, Zaros and Zulu,
Magnus and others. How many, who knew?
Though many a hint Fariel had brought,
It wasn't discovered: from spiders they dropped.
So added some more we thought that we would,
an evil snowman who brought a new hood.
Go play in the snow and get in to shape,
quick don't sit idle or the hats might escape!

About the Corrupter Lieutenant

The Advisor is a unique and fearsome lieutenant, serving under the corrupted hierarchy. These are the brief notes I have taken while observing the Advisor assisting the Master. - Dasirid

Once a Bone Giant, he has been further transformed and granted higher intelligence and autonomy to serve as an enforcer of corruption. The Advisors presence is an amalgamation of skeletal terror and dark magic, making him a formidable figure in the Corrupted Lands.

His skeletal frame is an unholy fusion of bone and dark energy. His bones are not just reinforced but partially replaced with translucent, dark crystals that pulse with malevolent power. These crystals give his form an eerie, almost spectral appearance. After going through his transformation, his body shrank to half the size of a regular bone giant.

Watching him during the assistance of the Maddening Ritual, I can tell he revels in the suffering and transformation of the land and its inhabitants, seeing it as a testament to his power and influence. As Advisor to the Master, he often oversees the implementation of corruption on a grand scale, ensuring that the dark influence of the Corrupted Lands continues its spread.

Ever ambitous, the Advisor uses his position to gather power for himself by undermining other corrupted agents to secure his dominance. Despite his loyalty to the Master, the Advisor harbors his own dark aspirations, seeking to one day become master of the corruption in his own right.

Chat Rules (This book has the same text as Game Rules.)

Contents

• 1 Account Management
• 2 Trading and Market Conduct
• 3 Chat and Communication
• 4 Gameplay Integrity
• 5 Additional Note

Account Management

• Single Account Policy: Each player is allowed only one account. Multiple accounts (alts) are prohibited.
• Account Sharing: Sharing, transferring, or lending accounts is strictly forbidden.

Players may abandon accounts to restart, previous accounts will be banned and sanctions will not carry over to the new account. Extreme circumstances are an exception. Please notify a member of staff.

Trading and Market Conduct

• External Trading: Trading items, services, or other assets from outside the game for in-game items or services is prohibited.
• Fair Trading: Trade items at fair market values. Avoid item-for-item trades to ensure transparency.
• Boosting: Gifting items or gold is not allowed. This rule will be updated when mechanics are in place to support fair gifting.

Chat and Communication

• Respectful Communication: Maintain respect for all players. Insults, racism, harassment, discrimination, and other disrespectful remarks are not tolerated.
• Spam Prevention: Refrain from unnecessary repetition, excessive use of caps lock, and asking for free items.
• Explicit Content: Discussions or links to explicit content, including pornography and illegal activities, are prohibited.
• Appropriate Use of Chat: Use chat channels as intended. Trade chat should remain in trade channels, and general chat should be used for general discussions. Avoid unnecessary use of @mods. While you can call out inappropriate behavior, do not attempt to enforce rules; leave moderation to the designated moderators.
• Language: Primarily use English in chat. Occasional use of other languages is allowed but should be minimal.
• Impersonation: Do not impersonate other players or staff members.

Gameplay Integrity

• Exploits and Bugs: Do not abuse, promote, or discuss unintended game mechanics. Report any bugs or exploits immediately.
• Automation and Bots: The use of automation tools or bots is strictly prohibited.
• Scripts and Extensions: Only visual modifications are allowed. Scripts that automate gameplay or communicate with the server are banned.

Additional Note

These rules are non-exhaustive. Moderators and administrators will moderate at their discretion.

These rules are taken from the official Idlescape Wiki and are automatically parsed. If you find any errors, please contact a staff member.

Chronicles of Zekret

Vol. I

It was a strange day when that mage from the outlands showed up. Why would a supposedly accomplished practitioner desire to attend an academy built to teach commonfolk the ways of magic? This seemed suspicious even to me. But lo, the administrators let him in, gave him a bunk, let him study. On this day my focus changed. No longer would I focus on illusions. Instead I would focus on him. On Zekret.

Over the coming months he seemed to jump around from subject to subject. First it was raw energies, or what seemed to be evocation. From there, he seemed to take fancy to enchantment. Then it was summoning and conjuration. After a time, he settled on the specific subject of portals. He was very secretive about his work, but also friendly and warm to those who crossed his path... I made a point to watch from a distance.

Once on the topic of portals he seemed to hang, like a scarf on a nail. Something about them had caught his interest, drove him on. He began to toil day over night working to perfect some new spell. At sundown I would often find him opening small portals. These portals would form like a dinner plate thrown into the air, then burst into a column of energy and collapse into itself. The sight was enchanting, but also... unpleasant. It seemed to me as though something was trying to get through from the other side.

Vol. II

While I slept, it called to me. A swirling mass of energy; of wings and tentacles. A buzzing sound, like a thousand mosquitos around my head. The mosquitos spoke to me in murmured voices. Over the nights that this dream occured the voice became more and more clear. "Release me." Panicked, I awoke in a cold sweat.

This night I knew I had to confront Zekret. I had to know what was through those portals, what he was trying to bring forth. I hastily donned my night robe and stormed off to his usual place of work; in the deep basement of the Academy. I flung the door open and demanded answers. "Zekret! What demons do you conjure forth?" He looked at me, his head tilting to the side. The look of confusion.

"There are no demons here, my friend. Are you unwell?"

I told him everything; that I had been suspicious of him from his first day here, that I had been watching his work, and that I had been having these terribles dreams of late. Dreams of him and his portals. He began to explain.

"There exists, through the veil of reality cast around us, another world. Dear friend, that world is teeming with magical energy. Such magical energy that we could do near anything. Imagine if us lowly mages had the power of the gods. Imagine what we could create, who we could help. That is my goal, dear friend. Like I said, there are no demons here."

He pointed towards a great crystal in the center of the room. "This is how we will contain that energy. We can use it as a source of power. We need only open the portal for a short time, enough to push the magic into this crystal. You will join me, won't you friend?"

I don't know what possessed me in that moment, but I found myself nodding in agreement. "Yes, I will."

Vol. III

Over time I had learned more about the man. Zekret was a jovial character. A large man, bearded, with locks of bushy brown hair growing untamably from the top of his head. He was a friend to everyone; even those I would have deemed undeserving. He didn't carry himself like a practitioner of magic, either. He didn't wrap himself in mysteries and enigmatic talk as so many of our peers would. No, Zekret had the air of a businessman, or perhaps an innkeeper. Nor was he cruel in those days. In all his time at the Academy, I never once saw him so much as swat at a fly. My suspicions of him, his motivations, his actions... perhaps I had been wrong. Despite all my misgivings it struck me that he genuinely seemed as though he wanted to do good.

Finally the time came to perform the spell. We set everything up in the basement of the Academy, in the old library specifically. We would open the portal above the crystal. The great crystal in the center would be the target of the energetic blast. This time though, we would open the portal larger than had been opened before. With everything in place, we decided to rest and attempt the feat the following night.

That night I hardly slept. Logic fought with emotion. I found myself in a mental duel, battling for whether this Zekret was truly some evil being. Alas, day came, and I went about my studies. I remember nothing of that day. Finally, at length the sun vanished behind the horizon. Day turned to night. Without conscious effort I found myself standing in the library well below Academy grounds. Zekret began the spell. The portal opened.

Unnatural clouds formed in the upper reaches of the library. The clouds swirled, like a whirlpool to the heavens had begun to form. Through this whirlpool came light, in great horizontal beams. The crystal seemed to open up and drink from that unearthly light.I stood transfixed, I don't know for how long, watching this awesome sight. It felt like an eternity. I tore my eyes away long enough to glance at Zekret. What I saw filled me with dread.

He too stood transfixed, as though possessed. I beheld what looked to be his soul pulling from his body and drifting up towards the portal. I had to act for I feared what might happen to him should this continue. I ran over and shook him; he felt ice cold to the touch, as if he had died days before. Without hesitation I pushed my terror aside and called forth my magic. I conjured up... something. Great magical hands came forth from my arms and grabbed Zekrets essence as it drifted upward. These hands, my hands, pulled at his soul, dragging it downward. Zekret's soul stretched and separated. Grabbing what I could, I pushed it back into his body. Finally the spell lost its hold on him and he collapsed to the floor.

I turned my attention towards the now uninhibited portal. Something pressed forth from the light. No, not something. Many things. Faces, with trails of energy streaming behind them. "What?... souls?" I sputtered through trembling lips as they began to emerge from the portal...

Vol. IV

Panic washed over me. I fled. The next few moments were a blur. I had to warn someone. I had to warn everyone. As I ran the souls pursued me like a swarm of angry hornets. They easily overtook me. I conjured forth the magical hands again and used them to keep them at bay. Continuously they attempted to fly at me, to what I can only assume was possess me. I had no way of stopping them from invading this world, but I could at least keep my body my own.

Just above the library were the dormitories. There I would be able to warn everyone. Perhaps we mages could stop this incursion if we worked together. As I neared the top of the stairs the doors flew open in front of me. People began walking through. Not just any people... the mages of the academy, the administrators, even the cooks. They walked to me, then walked past. Their faces were all identical and expressionless. All save for an unholy glow emanating from their eyes. They had succumbed to the fate I had only narrowly escaped... possession. All of them. Somehow these spirits had reached them before I could even warn them.

Perhaps I could still help these people. Perhaps I could help Zekret. I turned and pressed past the front of the crowd, rushing down to the library again. The souls, seemingly uncoordinated and meandering, still occasionally tried to attack me. The crowd followed close behind me. Reaching Zekret, I grabbed his lifeless body and dragged him away from the portal. There had to still be something in there - I had pushed his soul back into his body myself. I used what magic I knew to attempt to resuscitate him.

The crowd didn't stop in the room. They didn't stop at the crystal. They didn't even stop at the portal. Reaching the center of the room, they began climbing over eachother until they could push themselves through.

My panic suddenly turned to a sharp clarity. Though, from what happened next, I knew this clarity was not my own. I felt something tug at me from within, and then I found myself standing in a place beyond. Zekret stood in front of me.

"My friend, things have turned for the worse. You were correct, something does lurk beyond this portal. That something has a piece of me. It has me anchored here, between realms. Run, my friend. Warn the mages of this land of what lurks in this basement. Find those who can help. I will contain it here."

And with that, I was standing in front of Zekret's motionless body again. As I turned to do as I had been instructed, I saw a pulse of light emanate from the crystal below the portal. Suddenly, a great pressure enveloped the room. Those who had been possessed fell to the ground. Their flesh seemed to be pulled off from their bones as this energy washed over them. It came to me, then it passed through me. I was unharmed. I heard a familiar voice whisper from deep within my mind: "Hurry Reamus."

Demonic Orders

Feylos' field notes on the "Toucan Religion"

I have been assigned by the higher ups at the academy to learn about the various religions within the city, the first one being based upon… “The Shrine of Toucan.”

Upon first hearing about it, the name sounds ridiculous but actually holds some strange power… I’ve seen many different altars dedicated to this “Toucan” and watched many people offer various amounts of gold to these altars.At first nothing would happen but then suddenly the gold would vanish into thin air. I checked a few of these altars under the cover of night for any tricks or strange magic, but found nothing amiss… Whatever magic this is, it is beyond me.

Upon inquiring with the locals about the Toucan altars, I have learned that no one knows how it truly works, just the rules that make it work.Anyone can offer to the Shrine, but everyone will be blessed from it regardless if they offered or not. Granted those who have offered to an altar benefit more from it.Strangely this is something the people just accept as it's not harmful… A part of me is curious if its power could be harnessed somehow.

Further inquiries with historians tell me that these altars date back as far as anyone can remember, which brings to question how long they have actually been around, as well as where they draw their power from.My attempts in trying to figure out the latter have ended up with more questions than answers, as I am not familiar with the magic. It's not demonic, chaotic, or natural… Perhaps one of my fellows back at the academy will have answers…Regardless, I will keep looking into the source of this shrine's power as I explore the other religions within the City.

Fisherman's Journal

The first few entries in this journal are rather dull and unassuming as you skim them, just daily catches and activities of your average fishermen, but a few of the later entries strike you as a man stricken by insanity of being isolated for far too long.

Week 47

Went out into the open ocean again today, expecting to catch some tuna this week to pay my living expenses and feed the family… Ended up catching some weird squishy looking meat. Oddly purple. Perhaps someone in the city will know what this is…

Week 49

Went to the city to see if anyone could tell me what it was, only to be asked to get more of it by some strange mages… Didn’t get answers but man did I get money. Think I’ll head out a bit further on the open ocean this time to see if I can find any more of that meat… On a strange note, walking back home to my home, I saw a deer in the woods that seemed to be… cooking meat stews… I decided to ignore it and continue on my way.

Week 50

Going out further into the open ocean wasn’t a bad idea, granted it's a bit more dangerous with all the sharks out there, but they tend to fetch a nice price too… didn’t get any of that meat however, but there seems to be a rather massive storm brewing out in the distance… I think I should be fine so long as I keep in the calmer parts of the eye, but we’ll see.

Week 52

I barely made it back home in one piece… I should never have ventured out into that storm looking for more of that purple meat… I think I know what it is now. Tentacles… I also saw some kind of monster out there in the clouds, floating within them… It almost looked like a shrimp, but I couldn't tell.… I didn’t feel safe, I decided to leave before it noticed me but it seemed to be distracted by something else… Like it was fighting something in the sky. Some strange suit of armor with a strange sword that looked like it was made of ice… Felt like it was almost trying to protect me in a way… but I… I don't know… I think I'm never going to fish that far out anymore…

The entries return back to normal, if not a little more paranoid afterwards. Perhaps it's not all mad ramblings.

From Whence Runes Came

The ground trembled. Boom. The ground trembled again. Boom.
Boom. All through the night. Was it below the earth? On the
earth? Many were too scared to find out. It seemed that JanisPetke had set forth a chain of events. First
with the whispering stones, then with the talismans. A new face
saw what JanisPetke had accomplished and studied it further.
Mammothb, as he was known, discovered how to use the
essence of these talismans to create many runes. Driven by a
mad need to "make them better" he created so many runes that
they brought the attention of other things. Hungry things. Demons
began roaming the great pit dug by Nuoluoski. Giants began
wandering the land above. The lands were no longer safe. A new
power would be needed to aid in these dangerous times. Perhaps
these runes could be used for something?

Game Rules (This book has the same text as Chat Rules.)

Contents

• 1 Account Management
• 2 Trading and Market Conduct
• 3 Chat and Communication
• 4 Gameplay Integrity
• 5 Additional Note

Account Management

• Single Account Policy: Each player is allowed only one account. Multiple accounts (alts) are prohibited.
• Account Sharing: Sharing, transferring, or lending accounts is strictly forbidden.

Players may abandon accounts to restart, previous accounts will be banned and sanctions will not carry over to the new account. Extreme circumstances are an exception. Please notify a member of staff.

Trading and Market Conduct

• External Trading: Trading items, services, or other assets from outside the game for in-game items or services is prohibited.
• Fair Trading: Trade items at fair market values. Avoid item-for-item trades to ensure transparency.
• Boosting: Gifting items or gold is not allowed. This rule will be updated when mechanics are in place to support fair gifting.

Chat and Communication

• Respectful Communication: Maintain respect for all players. Insults, racism, harassment, discrimination, and other disrespectful remarks are not tolerated.
• Spam Prevention: Refrain from unnecessary repetition, excessive use of caps lock, and asking for free items.
• Explicit Content: Discussions or links to explicit content, including pornography and illegal activities, are prohibited.
• Appropriate Use of Chat: Use chat channels as intended. Trade chat should remain in trade channels, and general chat should be used for general discussions. Avoid unnecessary use of @mods. While you can call out inappropriate behavior, do not attempt to enforce rules; leave moderation to the designated moderators.
• Language: Primarily use English in chat. Occasional use of other languages is allowed but should be minimal.
• Impersonation: Do not impersonate other players or staff members.

Gameplay Integrity

• Exploits and Bugs: Do not abuse, promote, or discuss unintended game mechanics. Report any bugs or exploits immediately.
• Automation and Bots: The use of automation tools or bots is strictly prohibited.
• Scripts and Extensions: Only visual modifications are allowed. Scripts that automate gameplay or communicate with the server are banned.

Additional Note

These rules are non-exhaustive. Moderators and administrators will moderate at their discretion.

These rules are taken from the official Idlescape Wiki and are automatically parsed. If you find any errors, please contact a staff member.

Glimpses of the Master

These accounts are but mere small instances where I was able to see and document The Master of the Desecrated Steeple, while he was performing a ritual of Maddening. - Dasirid

The Master is a fearsome and malevolent figure, embodying the corruption that plagues the land. Once a powerful sorcerer, his body has been grotesquely altered by a curse and the relentless corruption he surrounds himself with. Standing at an imposing height, his once human form now elongated and twisted, he towers over his subordinates in a hunched over stance. His skin is pallid and stretched over his gaunt frame, veins of sickly green ichor pulse beneath the surface of his arms and chest.

His face is a horrifying mask of decay and power. Hollow, glowing green eyes peer out from sunken sockets, and his mouth is filled with sharp, blackened teeth. His lips are cracked and oozing and his nose has withered away, leaving only dark empty pits. Stringy, jet black hair falls in disheveled clumps around his face, adding to his macabre appearance.

He is draped in tattered, dark robes that seem to absorb the light around him. The robes are adorned with arcane symbols and runes that flicker with sinister green light. A cloak made of shadowy mist flows behind him, shifting and swirling with malevolent energy.

He is the physical embodiment of the corruption, perhaps defeating him can lead adventurers with ways to beat back the curse on these lands once and for all

Holiday Call of Arms

Twas a normal winter morning in the scape, the city was alive with people as they went about their normal routines, greeting others and shopping for their daily needs. But today was far from normal as they soon would all learn, as the wind brought along more than just the winter's chill. Upon the chill were chaotic spirits, seeking to bring disorder upon anything they could and before long they would happen upon a helpless soul, taking over their body to do what bidding they pleased.

This poor soul would soon manifest into something much larger and sinister, what we today call a Frigid Wraith. They would soon assault the city, but not with weapons or claws, but a simple weapon; the snow ball. Countless citizens were pelted with spherical objects made of slush, snow, and maybe some ice, while the guards could do nothing to fend off the fiend as their weapons had no effect, not even their metal black golems could assail the fiend.

However, hope was not all lost, as one brave small soul stood up to the fiend, armed with nothing more but a ball of snow as they flung it with all their might. Their aim was true and the ball would strike with much effect to everyone's surprise, soon other children would rally together, pelting the fiend with its own weapons, driving it back and out of the human it once possessed.

But the fiend would not give up so easily, as the more people rallied together to defeat it, the more it would split itself to take control of as many people as it could, but alas, in the end it was defeated, driven from the city by the combined forced of the children, guards, and citizens all armed with nothing more but balls of snow… But this would not be the last we would ever see of these Frigid Wraiths, for they would continue to return year after year, but the people of the city would be ready and more than willing to drive them away.

Thus every year, a new Holiday tradition was declared, wraiths or not, for the people to come together and spread the snowy fun to each other and to show the evil that they were always prepared…

Lost Diary Overgrown woods

Journal

Day 5

I have been lost in these damn overgrown woods for days now.

Worn armor, few supplies, and no sight of a damned beast in what seems like forever. Even though I've only been in this awful wilderness for five days, it feels like months already.

What had been planned as a brief excursion to search for hidden riches and little profits, has turned into a nightmare. All is eerily calm. Not a single bird chirping, not a beast in sight. I never knew the center of a forest could be this quiet, its almost magical. A deer moved too quickly for me to respond, and all I noticed were its antlers as it passed by the bushes earlier. Evening has come so I'm finishing off my rations. Still no sign of life, i really wished i had the chance to shoot the deer earlier, would have loved some venison about now.

Something is wrong! i dozed off for a few hours. I think its still night but its impossible to tell with the sky obscured by these goddamn overgrown trees. Even though it's still very quiet, I think something is observing me. With haste, I made a torch, took out my dagger, and peered around the edge of the trees. Nothing. Complete silence and nothingness. Am I losing my mind slowly?

Day 6

I wandered a bit more into the forest in hope of finding some exit today, but again with no luck. I found a small lake by chance, and the sound of the water is a pleasant contrast to the silence. I decided to improvise a fishing rod in the hopes of catching some fish for supper after getting my thirst quenched.

I believe night is here. I didn't catch anything, feeling so hungry that i could eat my leather gloves. Nevertheless, what's that? I notice a stag's antlers! reaching gently for my bow and preparing an arrow. Taking aim, and "Swuush" it hit! Finally a decent meal! It took me a moment to realize the antlers were still standing up over the bushes My ears were pierced by the most terrifying shriek, which nearly caused me to pass out. With haste, I took a step back, picked up my luggage, and ran.

I can say with certainty that something is pursuing me. I've taken sanctuary in an abandoned cave, where I'm writing this right now. a little candle from my bag is all the light i have. I saw the creature chasing me just for a split second. The most terrifying thing I have ever seen, standing seven to nine feet tall, with razor-sharp claws and a fiery fire in its eyes.. It's wandering around now, trying to continue the vile game it started days ago, not bothering to hide itself.

Make sure you won't get lost if you ever venture into the dreadfully overgrown woods, and if you ever hear the animals becoming silent. Either return to where you came from on foot or follow the animal's lead and keep quiet by hiding! For the one who wanders the deepest parts- feeds on anything he comes across. The end is near. Its eyes are blazing like hellfire, flooding the cave with additional light. With its antlers nearly reaching the top, it grinned and whispered in a low, raspy voice.

"FoUNd yoU"

This story was written by Wand3r for the lore contest 2024 and reached third place.

Lost Journal

19 January

I never thought he'd be able to do it. That jolly old man just had to
recruit them and craft them that special armor. My army of minions
gone... all dead. I barely made it out alive. I guess alive isn't the right
word to describe it. I am living... but I just don't feel quite alive. I can
tell that I'll be completely dead before tomorrow if I don't feed soon.
22 January
My body is changing, I can't sleep anymore, my cape has decayed
and the skin on my face is mostly deteriorated... I can't shake this
rancid smell of death... Ever since I found my way through that
volcanic maze and ate those demons, I haven't felt the same.
25 January
It was so simple. The blood, it was the blood.... it heals me, it holds
special properties. I can feel their demonic power flowing within me!
There must be some way I can further use this substance...
27 January
The soil has become infected from the blood... New minions... I can
grow a new army! These trees and these creatures are my new
minions. I'll grow our numbers and soon take my revenge! I'll create
a new kingdom on this soil!
1 February

My army is respectable again. We've grown.... I can plan my next
invasion. They have no idea, but this is far from over.... No matter
who you recruit I will take back what's truly mine... soon...

Notes on the Corrupted Tower

In the heart of the Corrupted Lands stands the Desecrated Steeple, a towering and twisted structure that serves as a focal point of dark power and malevolent magic. Once a place of worship a lifetime ago, it has been utterly transformed by the cataclysmic event that befell the land.

The Steeple's structure is a dark, aged stone ruin, held together by sickly ivy covered in thorns and a glowing green vein of corruption pulsing through its cracks. The main spire and arches are warped into unnatural, jagged shapes jutting out haphazardly and there is a perpetual dark fog that hangs around the base and covers the steeple.

Inside the steeple there are dimly lit chambers scattered throughout the once holy site. Its halls and main chamber atop the steeple are alight by flickering green flames that dance on decrepit sconces. The walls leading up the tower are covered in ancient runes, now corrupted and twisted, glowing with a malevolent energy. The very top is shut closed, a locked rusted metal door bars all entry. You can almost make out a soft blood curdling wail the further up you go towards the top.

Directly below the base of the Desecrated Steeple lies a large, circular ritual altar made of blackened stone so dark, it's as if light dims and is consumed around it. Dark runes and symbols adorn the altar, this is where the corruption ritual known as The Maddening takes place. Beneath the altar, a deep, blackish green pool filled with pure corruption oozes an ominous glow and vapors waft through the air. The pool's surface is occasionally disturbed by ripples, as if something within is alive and restless...

On the Maddening

I

The ritual conducted beneath the Desecrated Steeple is a horrific process designed to convert a victim into a vessel of corruption. The ritual is led by a powerful figure known as The Master; a twisted sorcerer steeped in the ichor of the Corrupted Lands. The following are journal excerpts carefully procured by Dasirid and presented in this book, maybe useful for traversing the Corrupted Lands.

Preparation:

1. Securing the Subject: The subject is restrained on the ritual altar, held down by chains infused with corruption. The chains glow faintly, ensuring the subject cannot escape or resist.

2. Chanting Incantations: The Master and his acolytes, including the Advisor, begin chanting in an ancient, forbidden tongue. The air grows colder, and the shadows around the altar deepen.

Invocation:

1. Summoning the Howling Smoke: The Master inhales deeply, drawing in the ambient corruption from the air and itself. As they exhale, a shadowy, green-speckled vaporous wind pours from their mouth, swirling around the altar like a living thing.

2. Entering the Subject: The smoke, carrying the essence of endless screams and torment, converges on the subject, entering through the ears and enveloping the body. The subject convulses violently as the corruption takes hold.

II

The Desecrated Steeple stands as a beacon of dark power, drawing those who seek to harness or confront the corruption. Its rituals perpetuate the spread of corruption, and its presence ensures that the heart of the Corrupted Lands remains a place of unending malevolence and danger. The following are journal excerpts carefully procured by Dasirid and presented in this book, finalizing the Maddening Ritual.

Transformation:

1. Physical Changes: The subject's skin begins to taint and crack, glowing with green light from within. Their eyes turn a sickly green, and their veins become visible, pulsing with corrupted ichor.

2. Tormented Screams: As the subject hears the endless screams they realize after a time that the sound from the howling wind has ceased, and the screams they hear are their own. The ritual chamber echoes with the subject's screams of agony, as if the very essence of torment is being infused into their soul.

Completion:

1. Emergence: Once the ritual is complete, the chains release the newly corrupted being. They rise from the altar, transformed into a thrall of the corruption, their mind and body forever altered to serve the dark powers of the Corrupted Lands.

2. Service: The new thrall is now bound to the will of the Master, serving as a guardian or a harbinger of further corruption.

Red stained Piece of Paper

You wake up with a throbbing headache. You inspect your surroundings and find yourself in a ruin. Right next to you is a small piece of paper on the ground. Someone has scribbled some sort of diary on it:

I don't exactly know what happened, but I saw a giant explosion on the horizon followed by dark-red clouds rising up. I have sought shelter in an abandoned, ruined tower. There's wood and water here. Hopefully it will last for a few days.

---

In the middle of the night, I heard a loud noise. I went to check it out and found a person on the floor in front of the door. They were unconcious and heavily injured, so I pulled them inside. I'm not sure if they will make it through the night.

---

The sky has turned dark-red and the air is filled with ashes. The wounds of the other one suddenly closed itself this morning. They were screaming in their sleep, while it was happening, but still didn't wake up.

---

The wind carries red dust. More smaller explosions can be heard in the distance. I'll probably leave soon. Maybe I can catch a phase with less dust in the evening.

---

I'm leaving this note for you for when you wake up. If you wake up. You should really check what is going on with you. As you leave the ruin, you find a skeleton lying on the ground directly in front of the door. Seems like your saviour has not came far. A bag lies right next to the skeleton. You open it and find a large rusty sword, a gnarled walking stick, and a flimsy bow.

Scourge of the Sea

In the deep seas, I did fish
a swarm of shrimp, with my boot I did squish

Did you know? Shrimp are the chicken of the sea.

To something greater, they beseech
whilst at the mercy of thine boot, they did screech

kakfzz fzzschfftphfzzglg fftph gl?

The waves did thrash and roar, and from below did emerge
Mine opponent, the giant one-eyed scourge.

Skolonnade's Savor/Book

It's a big world out there, full of all kinds of sights, smells, and
especially tastes. Not only is food delicious, but it also plays a
crucial role in recovering health. With so many big-mean-and-
nasties running around slapping the shark out of you, you want
to be sure that you're well stocked on food. Y'know, so you don't
die. But just because food is a necessity doesn't mean it can't
also be tasty! Sure, you can put anything you want into the
cooking pot, but that may lead to some questionable results. And
that, dear Reader, is why I'm here: To show you how to make the
most of your meal! So get your +20 ladle and let's get cooking!
What's that? You don't have one? Well, I guess anything will do.
Hell, use your boot if you have to. Just be sure to follow along
with these simple recipes and you can't fail! 100% guaranteed
most of the time!

Now let's get cooking!

Seared Steak:
Delicious, tender steak seared to perfection. Take your favorite
animal meat and grill it. Don't even think about ruining it with
seasoning. If the meat isn't good enough on its own, GET
BETTER MEAT.

Seared Fish:
Fresh caught seafood is not only a staple diet for many people
but it also makes for a fantastic meal. Its savor is in its simplicity.
To prepare, gut and clean your fish prior to cooking. Skewer your
catch and roast it to perfection over an open flame.

Seared Poultry:
You warned that bird plenty of times about what was going to
happen if it didn't stop eating your garden seeds. Well now it's
dinner! Not so tough now, are you bird!? Ahem…
Seared Poultry is a great choice for simple hunger while out
camping or just when you want to eat some bird. Defeather your
bird and clean it for cooking. Then drop it on the grill or cook
over an open flame until golden brown. Then enjoy sweet sweet
revenge.

Birdie Pasta:
Cooking your avian enemies doesn't have to be limited to the
simple seared variety. Add grain and take it up a notch. Adding
equal parts pasta and poultry will result in a delicious meal that
still sends a clear message to the other feathered fowl.

Spaghetti & Meat:
An absolute classic. Just like mother used to make. Bring water
to a boil and add grain to the pot. Reduce heat and allow
spaghetti to cook. Strain. At the same time add beast meat to a
separate pot and cook until ready. Mix together at the end. The
final result should also have a sauce but it just sorta… happens.

Meat Roast:
No frills, no nonsense, just good old fashioned slabs of meat on
a plate. Preparation is simple; take equal portions beast, fish,
and poultry and cook them together. Plate and serve to your
barbarian friends and neighbors.

Jerky:
A classic snack that almost always ends up as a meal on its
own, there is just something special about jerky. To prepare, add
preservative to the meat (about equal to the meat by weight),
then hang it up and smoke dry it till its perfect. It's not nice to lie,
so don't promise anybody that you'll share.

Kebabs:
Meat on a stick is great, vegetables on a stick is great. When
you put them together they become the delicious force known as
kebabs. Kebabs are a handy and delicious entree that every
idlescaper should know how to make. Simply prepare the meat
and vegetables, Skewer with a… well with a skewer and roast over
an open fire until cooked.

That's all for this edition of Skolonnade's Savor! Catch us next
time for some blessed baking.

The Alchemist and the Fallen Academy

The great alchemist Yello lived on a farm ravaged by the plague. To defeat the plague, he needed the elixir of life, but to do so he had to bring rare ingredients from the forest of tangle to the Fallen Academy. Yello set off on a stormy night. The wind howled as he crept through the dark streets. Rats, swollen and with bloodshot eyes, scurried about and seemed to follow him. “Stop!” he shouted and pulled a small bottle from his pocket. A spray would drive the rodents away, but he knew that they were not the greatest danger. Once outside the tower, Yello saw the weathered steps leading up to a gate. He entered and found himself in a gloomy hall where shadows came to life. “You dare to disturb?” a voice echoed as a grotesque creature stepped out of the corners. “I've come to use the runite cauldron!” shouted Yello as he gathered his courage. A battle broke out. Yello fought against the creatures of darkness and the terrible rats, but the more he struggled, the more the darkness seemed to grow. When he finally reached the cauldron, he was exhausted and bleeding. But the cauldron was empty - the ingredients he needed were lost. At that moment, Yello realized the bitter truth: the plague was stronger than him. Desperate and alone, he sank to the ground, surrounded by the shadows that he could not defeat. The farm was lost and the alchemist was never seen again.

Even today, Limpe, the grand master of the kitchen, tells this story surrounded by eerie jack-o'-lanterns.

This story was written by FlyingPurpleCarrot for the lore contest 2024 and reached second place.

The Corrupted Lands: A Tale of Twisted Beasts and Blighted Terrain

The Corrupted Lands stretch out like a festering wound upon the earth, a desolate and malignant expanse where life itself has turned against the natural order of things. It was once a verdant and thriving land, this territory now lies under a perpetual, sickly twilight. The sky is stained a poisonous green hue. The ground is cracked and barren, exuding a constant noxious vapor that warps both mind and body. Pools of viscous, green ichor bubble up from deep fissures in the earth, forming treacherous swamps that reek of decay and despair.

The howling winds echo and blow fiercely across the barren corrupted plains. In this wind you can hear the screams and cries of the countless souls of the dead who have perished in these lands. They are forever stuck here spreading their influence on anything that can hear. It is said to sound like thousands of voices, tormenting you, that never end until you succumb to the corruption.

The Corruption twists and morphs anything it comes into contact with. It is especially prevalent with beasts and runs rampant with the local wildlife. These simple animals living close to the border of the Corrupted Lands that venture in are never seen again, at least not in any recognizable form to their prior self.

The Fall of the Verdant Kingdom

Legend tells of a cataclysmic event that birthed the Corrupted Lands.

Long ago, the lands now known as the Corrupted Lands, were a wide expanse of verdant fertile land, and an epicenter of trading in the region.A great sorcerer from a long-lost kingdom there sought to harness a forbidden power, delving into the darkest depths of magic. In a bid for immortality, he unleashed a potent curse upon the land.The spell backfired, releasing a torrent of corruption that seeped into the earth and air, warping everything it touched.

Some say this sorcerer survived the catastrophic event and hid away from the world. It's rumored that he resides at the heart of the Corrupted Lands in a crumbling, ivy-choked Desecrated Steeple.It is said that his form was twisted during the rebound spell, and he remains bound to the source of the corruption. No one truly knows what the source is but tales of old spread by adventurers seem to point to a pulsing green corrupted pool deep beneath the steeple of immense power.Adventurers that brave the corrupted wasteland often times don't make it back, as they succumb to the madness and are transformed into corrupted beings likely to join the Corrupted Knights, always on patrol.

The Corrupted Lands remain a place of peril and mystery, drawing the brave and the foolish alike into its poisonous embrace.

The Whispering Stones

The whispering stone brought from the depths by JanisPetke seemed to trigger a resurgence in mining. The hunt for whispering stones had begun. Droves of 'scapers flocked to the mines, discovering treasures previously discarded. Geodes, as they came to be called, often contained small collections of ore. Some 'scapers had the misfortune of mistaking average stones for these geodes. Some have even paid tens of millions of gold just to get a look at an average stone. But not all was amiss. Some more fortunate 'scapers discovered something new in the geodes. Talismans. These strange carvings seemed to gather essence when in the presence of certain tasks, allowing the wielder to later imbue whispering stones with something akin to magic. This magic, however, has caused things to stir. Dark things. Hungry things.

Weathered Poster

This "story" was written by CharacterMood for the lore contest 2024 and reached second place.

Yedyod's Fishing Notes I

The text is barely legible and appears to have been written by someone with failing eyesight and a trembling hand.

Those fools can't even begin to understand why these storms never cease, it's beyond unnatural! The basic explanations are useless; this isn't the work of rogue mages, the recent boom in population of all fish that aren't sharks and tunas, or the fact that the edge of the world is nearby! I must find the true reason!

Today I cast my net and hauled up what appeared to be hewn stone bricks. How could those get out here?

After studying the bricks more closely they are clearly older than even I am... interesting. The academy, if it even still exists, would be interested in these findings, but I can't let them ruin my life's work!

A dark shadow passes below me during the few times I find myself in the eye of the storm. They don't break the surface in this area but they are clearly the same creatures that reach out of the water and drag whole ships into the deep. I shudder to imagine what they could do to my small fishing vessel.

The creature doesn't even seem to notice when a chunk of its flesh is torn away by my hooks... How large could it possibly be?

Using the creature's flesh as bait has allowed me to catch sharks I thought to be extinct. Inside a few of them were the enchanted garments of other fishermen...

One particularly large catch had a harpoon lodged in its side! I can't recognize the make of the harpoon, it's like nothing I've ever seen before! It seems oddly attracted to the bricks I found earlier, perhaps some magic causes these ancient objects to somehow find one another?

Finding chests of sunken vessels while fishing is uncommon at best, but this chest is almost unmarred by time and contains far more spoils than any I've found before, could it be related to this storm?

After all these years, I've managed to find it out here in these stormy seas. That creature is no simple thing! It is clearly the

The remainder of the page is illegible.