The Diary of Verity, Duchess of Touraine
Volume IX
This volume contains the notes of Verity, the Duchess of Touraine, as she became a master of the secrets forbidden by the Church of Inner Light. It details her discovery of certain underlying principles behind the Cosmos.
Possession of this tome is worth **** Research Points per session. If delivered to the Church, this tome is worth **** Church Prestige Points.
Hear me, oh seeker into forbidden lore!
My name is Verity Touraine, and in life I was known as the
Duchess of Touraine.
I sacrificed my life to the pursuit of knowledge, out of belief
that truth is a virtue, and wisdom an honorable aspiration.
History will decide if I was a monster or a hero, but the truths I
discover will survive me. These texts contain all that I learned
during my life.
Read them and follow me in my journey through light and
darkness.
...
I have banished all of the Touraine from my home. Freed from their incessant quibbling, I have finally been able to indulge my intent to learn more about the architecture of my home. A month ago, I invited a well-known architect named Marcel Soleil to my castle. He has proven to be a handsome man, perhaps ten years younger than my true age. He is both knowledgeable and witty, and though it has taken considerable effort to loosen his tongue, it continues to be a pleasant exercise.
...
Marcel's mind is quick, and his passion is ferreting out the whys and wherefores of the world. His extensive investigations into pre-Dream architecture have revealed some surprising things. He believes that the castles built before the Dream were designed with some hidden purpose in mind beyond simply serving as residences and places of business. In the organic arcs and angles, he believes he detects a focusing of power. I have become fascinated by his research.
...
Marcel has begun work on a piece of sculpture, and I am serving as his model. We have taken to working by the sea. Marcel says that the enormity of the ocean provides him with a desire to create something that will withstand its fury. I have no idea what I will do with a reclining life-sized nude of myself in white marble, but I must say that I am enjoying the personal attention.
...
Disaster has struck.
We rose at dawn to continue work on the sculpture, and the chill ocean breeze made my skin tingle. I could feel the Mer watching in the depths, as they had for many other days. But this day would be different. As Marcel began his work, three of the Mer emerged from the tides. I was paralyzed by their power, and helpless to intervene as they surrounded Marcel. I cannot now even guess how long they held him there before releasing him. As he collapsed onto the rocks, they returned to the waves. In my mind, I heard one speak: "Thalassa no Miko".
It has been a day since the Mer came ashore, and Marcel is a shattered man. They have torn away his art, leaving him without the ability to create. I have used my art to smooth his mind, wiping away the memory of the Mer attack. I fear they will return for him. I fear they will claim him, or that they will use him to bring about the Touraine prophecy. I must not let them hurt him again.
...
I have done the only thing I could. I have sent Marcel Soleil away.
...
A year has passed since Marcel's departure, and if he lost his art, it seems I have acquired the brilliance that lay beneath it. The song of the Mer whispers in my mind constantly, and I have seen connections in my studies that would have been invisible eight mere seasons ago. I can barely sleep for the constant tide of understanding.
...
I understand the meaning of the Miko. In the ancient times, the supplicants needed the assistance of the miko to advance their art. I have found reference to eight miko, and there may well be more. In the records, they are frequently referred to as maidens or priestesses, but I do not believe they must be virginal or even female - it was simply a requirement placed upon them to assist them in fulfilling their duties. Nevertheless, I will use the feminine form to refer to them. I learned much from Anastasia Issorat, and I may as well retain her habit of personifying the art as female.
Each miko has a set of tasks that she must perform to retain her status, and a set of taboos that must be avoided, lest she lose her "purity". A miko loses her status if she breaks a taboo after acting as miko, but also if she acts as a different type of miko. Once a particular miko's strictures are violated, the woman may never act as that type of miko again. However, it appears that a woman who happens to qualify for the requirements of multiple types of miko is safe enough as long as she only functions as one those types. The miko I have found are:
* Belisama no Miko is known as the fire maiden, for she consumes what she touches in the heat of her flames. A miko of Belisama is created when a man or woman's lover dies within a year of the dawning of their love. Belisama no Miko gains power for each lover they take that dies within a year, but if any lover survives for more than a year, all of Belisama no Miko's power is lost. My research suggests that "lover" indicates the emotion of being in love, not just the physical act. As such, Belisama no Miko is destined to see the death of any she cares for if she seeks to maintain her position. To act as Belisama no Miko, the miko must apply Belisama's character in red ink onto the back of her right hand.
* Tennut no Miko is known as the heaven maiden, for she shields Mourn from the Cosmos. A miko of Tennut is created when a man or woman banishes a creation of the Cosmos from the face of Mourn. The "creations" appear to be summoned creatures and perhaps even places, created by the art. I have reason to believe that Bloodstone, and Anastasia's other men, were all such beings. Tennut no Miko gains power by destroying more unnatural creatures, but loses all her power if she ever summons such an entity. To act as Tennut no Miko, the miko must apply Tennut's character in green ink to her right shoulderblade.
* Eratohime no Miko is known as the mocking maiden. A miko of Eratohime is created whenever a man or woman speaks the complete and total truth. Eratohime no Miko gains power by holding to her vows over time, but loses status if she ever speaks less than the full truth. To act as Eratohime no Miko, the miko must apply Eratohime's character in black ink to her forehead.
* Omoehime no Miko is known as the wind maiden, because she may only be pursued, never held. A miko of Omoehime is created whenever a man or woman rejects another's offer of love. Omoehime no Miko gains power for each rejection she must make, but will lose all of her power if she ever accepts another's love or allows a year to pass without needing to reject a suitor. In this case, "love" seems to refer to both the physical act and the emotional state - Omoehime no Miko must make herself desirable but reject those who desire her. To act as Omoehime no Miko, the miko must apply Omoehime's character in red ink over her heart.
* Thalassa no Miko is known as the sea maiden. A miko of Thalassa is created whenever a man or woman sees a Mer. Thalassa no Miko gains power each time she views the Mer, and will only lose her power if she acts as another Miko. To act as Thalassa no Miko, the miko must apply Thalassa's character in blue ink on her right ankle.
* Troian no Miko is known as the maiden of shadow. A miko of Troian must be able to act as miko without being seen. Troian no Miko gains power for as long as she can hide when she chooses, but loses her power if she is ever revealed while veiled in shadow. I possess the path of night power of Shadow Veiling; I believe that this is what is necessary to act as Troian no Miko. However, I can also penetrate the disguise, so this seems a risky path to walk. To act as Troian no Miko, the miko must apply Troian's character in black ink on her left shoulderblade.
* Nephthys no Miko is known as the death maiden. A miko of Nephthys is created whenever a man or woman is touching another human at the time of its death, and invokes the name of Nephthys. Nephthys no Miko gains power for each spirit harvested in this way, but loses her power if she ever touches someone that does not subsequently die. To act as Nephthys no Miko, the miko must apply Nephthys' character in green ink on the palm of her left hand.
* Urania no Miko is known as the star maiden. A miko of Urania must possess a pact with the sky's locus constellation. A miko of Urania gains power for as long as the stars' locus falls within her pacts, but loses all her power if it ever departs her pacts. To act as Urania no Miko, the miko must apply Urania's character in blue ink to the back of her neck.
I have also found references to the "ascendance of the foremost miko". I do not know exactly what this means, but it must relate to the bits about gaining power. I suspect that I would probably be the foremost Thalassa no Miko were to act as such for someone.
...
I think I finally understand.
Paraceln's Dream engulfed the world.
Physically.
Before the Dream, attunement was simple.
Universal.
Now, the Dream is a shield against it.
Everywhere.
Except where one rends a hole in the Dream.
The organic castles are built to focus power.
Power to change reality.
Power to rend the Dream!
I only wish I could tell Marcel.
...
My preparations are coming together. I now understand my failures: the Dream has sealed me away from the Powers, preventing my further attunements. I see, though, how to awaken the power in the castle and rend the walls of the Dream. All my knowledge, all my efforts, are finally coming together!
...
The rending is the key to Paradox! I see that now! Reality can only be changed by disproving the walls of reality. That was the secret of Anastasia's power.
...
So much is apparent now. My notes are everywhere; I have taken to writing on the walls, even, to ensure that no realization escapes me.
...
There are patterns at last. Again, the weddings of Kikyonosai and Ankoku are the path to follow for the following.
* Alsirat is the Bridge of Frost, born of the wedding of Urania and Belisama.
* Yaksa is the Dancer in Cold Fire, born of the wedding of Eratohime and Thalassa.
* Manitu is the Mystery, born of the wedding of Urania and Thalassa.
* Ashavahista is the Revelation, born of the wedding of Eratohime and Belisama!
Everything is so clear!
(Actually, the entries for Yaksa, Manitu and Ashavahista are incorrect, as Verity notes in her eleventh journal. - Komaru Takanobu, 226)
...
Marcel is here, and the ritual is ready to begin. I will end this chapter of my history now, for if I am successful, my life will change tremendously. If I fail, I will be no more.