The Diary of Verity, Duchess of Touraine
Volume VII
This volume contains the notes of Verity, the Duchess of Touraine, as she grew into a potent initiate of the secrets forbidden by the Church of Inner Light. It details her departure from court, her continued research into the occult, and a letter that brought a great revelation.
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 finally escaped the Royal Court. Yesterday, I looked back at my earliest diaries, and can barely remember having been so young. It is good to be home.
...
I have been home for several months now, and have continued my investigation into the symbol show in Anastasia's letter. As near as I can tell, it appears to be a black flame of some sort. It does not correspond with anything in my library. I believe that it is either a very old, or very new, symbol.
...
Progress at last! I have obtained a fragment of text related to the Cosmos deck that reveals some new names. Belisama is the Searing Maiden, available to initiates of Amatera or Alsirat. Amatera is, of course, the secondary cardinal initiation of the path of the sun, and corresponds to the Restoring Sun. I am not yet certain what path Alsirat falls within. Forming a pact with Belisama apparently requires the presence of a man or woman who has had no lover for more than a year, as well as an initiate of Kikyonosai. The text fragment appears to specify that the Kikyonosai initiate may not have advanced to any deeper initiation that the Judge of the End.
...
I have obtained a copy of a pre-Dream scholar's investigations into the Cosmos deck. It mentioned the tertiary cardinal alignments, including the Shield of the North. Each attunement requires two other initiates of the secondary attunement, but also places one other condition on the supplicant. Here are the other tertiary cardinal attunements' requirements:
* Serapion's supplicant must fast and maintain a life of austerity for a revolution of the sun before attunement. According to the text, austerity means avoiding all physical contact with other humans, cleansing one's body continuously, and residing in a place free of physical distractions. The Church of Inner Light preaches a similar lifestyle - I wonder if there is a connection?
* Talitha, of course, requires the presence of the Preceptor. Poor Bloodstone.
* Kaijikisaki demands a pair of Bonded subjects. I am unclear on what this means. I am certain that Anastasia must have known.
* Oborekomu requires its initiate to partake of the drug Soma, and face some sort of vision. The text suggested that there was some danger involved in this attunement.
Obviously, I have not attempted any of the attunements beyond those I already possess.
...
Today, I found a second fragmentary reference to an attunement in grandfather's notes. Here it is, verbatim: "The Damsel Garbed in Waves is supported by the Rakshasa. She welcomes the followers of the Shadow Guardian and the Dancer in Cold Fire, when guided by the maiden favored by the Mer. Her name is Thalassa."
The Mer-favored are simply those who see them. Were I a maiden, it would seem I could initiate another to the Damsel Garbed in Waves. Still, though, this information does not assist me.
...
My blood is frozen in my veins. I received a letter today.
To the most noble Duchess Verity Touraine, once known as the Viscountess of Seawatch.
You do not know me, but I have heard much of you. For years, I have eagerly, secretly devoured every trace of information I could gather about you. I know only rumors and glimmers of information, but of my snippets and hints, I fancy that I know you. On my parlor wall hangs a painting of you; I did it from my imagination, and while I cannot say if it captures the beauty of your countenance, it does not lack in compliments from those I entertain. Some day, I hope that we can be together again.
Your son
...
I have traced the herald who carried the letter. He is a servitor of the Sone.
In a way, I am relieved. I feared the return of Anastasia's spectre, and instead found my own past.
I have begun cautious efforts to find my long-lost son. I am the Duchess of Touraine now, and may do as I please.
...
The Sone have hidden him well, better than they have hidden their own secrets.
...
At first, I was jubilant upon discovering the secrets of Nephthys, the Invisible Cloud. It seemed I had finally discovered a way to advance my art, but I was mistaken. Nephthys's supplicant stands on the back of an initiate of Ankoku, supported by the man who breathes in death. The man who breathes in death is simply a person who has only touched the flesh of the dying at the moment of life's expiration. The initiate of Ankoku is obvious. But when I assembled my servants and the appropriate card, nothing happened. My frustration knows no bounds! Why could I attune myself in Anastasia's home, but not here? Why could Anastasia attune her mute young men when my servants cannot pact themselves to the Cosmos decks I offer them?
...
A miko is a shrine maiden, a sorceress, a medium. I discover more and more of the attunements related to the secondary cardinals require the assistance of the miko of this, or the miko of that. All of the attunements require a supporting initiate as well, but those requirements are obvious:
* Kikyonosai supports Belisama and Urania.
* Lumenia supports Eratohime and Tennut.
* Rakshasa supports Omoehime and Thalassa.
* Ankoku supports Troian and Nephthys.
But an explanation of the miko escapes me.
...
Shadow of the Cosmos.
I know the Sone secret.
In the Year of Paraceln's Ascension, the Year of the Dream, His Royal Majesty King Blaise Komaru ruled the land. Blaise partook of a double portion of the Komaru decadence the Church rails against: he was said to have children brought to his chambers at night, only to expel their uninjured corpses at night. It is also certain that he married his sister Himiko, and that they were expected to sire the royal heirs. However, at the time of Paraceln's Ascension, Blaise and Himiko disappeared, along with Blaise's younger brother Adrien. In the absence of a legitimate heir, Adrien's son Cyrille ascended to the position of Regent. Over time, this title has become Crown Prince.
I have learned, though, that Blaise's disappearance is the result of Adrien's attempt to replace him in a decisive coup, apparently with the support of the Church. While Adrien appears to have died, his coup also seems to have succeeded in placing his line upon the throne. Himiko, however, did not die. With the aid of a minor family, she fled the capital's riots.
The family that helped her were the Sone.