Methril 1, 542

Dearest diary,

Today is a most glorious day indeed! Marani's beau finally proposed to her late
this afternoon upon the beautiful white fields of Shallamar. I hear that even
sweet King Gorgaliel and his Queen were there to give them their blessings!
Ladantine must be furious, since his own proposal was rejected not more than a
few years ago, heehee! But the two of them really do make an adorable couple,
she as our most radiant White Priestess and he a most dignified (and handsome)
Priest of Shallamar, a renowned Fatalist. The Cathedral is all aflutter now as
the priestesses are starting on the wedding preparations. I can hear them
singing in the hallways, how sweet and innocent they sound! I myself have been
charged with the duty of creating our Priestess' most revered guest list. How
fun this shall be! Who should we invite first? The Great Houses of Magnagora
will definitely be on the list, they will be a big handful to take care of
already. And we can't forget about the Holy Emanations! I think I shall go and
extend a 'personal' invitation to Ashtorath myself, mmm. Oh, but they can't
leave the cosmic plane can they? Drat, well I suppose it's the thought that
counts. Ah, if only the Priestess' fiancé had better timing with his proposal,
almost everyone is pre-occupied with the upcoming Project Cosmic Hope these
days. Ooo wait a minute, someone cute just walked into the cathedral. I wonder
who it is!

- Ephie

----------

Methril 1, 542

Dear journal,

I was quietly perusing through one of my favourite books today (Sweeloh's Guide
to Beautiful All-Natural Downs) when Neinrin rudely burst into the room
quibbling madly about flowers and some sort of wedding, knocking over one of my
bookshelves in the process. What an air-headed fool she is! It was only later
when I was able to rid myself of her that Muut walked in and more sanely
informed me of Marani's engagement. When everyone had left and I made sure that
no one was looking, I simply squealed in delight! Ahem, we, or at least those of
us with more than half a brain, knew that the fiancé had been planning to
propose for a long time. I mean really, for the past few months he had been
visiting almost daily, thinking that we other priestesses didn't notice when he
nervously fumbled around in his pockets searching for the ring. However, I must
admit that I was slightly surprised by the announcement, many of us were unsure
if Marani was ready to make such a commitment just yet. I only hope that she
will choose to remain as our leader, I can't imagine ever having anyone else
replace her.

Ah, Muut just walked in again. The date of the wedding has been set for the 6th
of Gorgani, 543 YIE, which is little more than just a year from now and a week
before the launch of the Project. I'm not sure how good of an idea that would
be to have the two events so near each other. But, if our Priestess has agreed
to it then it must certainly be appropriate.

Oh, it looks like Marani's family is here to visit the Cathedral as well, her
younger brother just walked down the hall. What's this, he's slipping into
Shihami's quarters again? Hmm, that chit better know what she's doing. If
Marani ever finds out then... well, let's not go into that.

- Sun

-----

Gorgani 5, 543

Dear diary,

It is the night before my wedding. Never in my life have I felt so anxious. Is
this the path I am destined to walk? I consulted the Fate Sisters soon after
accepting my sweetheart's proposal, and they warned me that I should take heed
before it was too late. What did they mean? What would be too late? The Sisters
can be so vague sometimes. I should be happy now, yet I feel that my heart is
beating loudly not because of joy or excitement. Oh, I truly do love my fiancé
very much, I know that together we can spread the glory of the Light and expand
the influence of the Church. Why then am I having these second thoughts? I know
that my priestesses worry for me, they fear that I may leave the Cathedral and
forget my duties, but I could never abandon them, they who are so dear and kind
to me. Alas, my love calls to me now. I will need plenty of rest to prepare for
tomorrow's celebrations. I pray for Light and Love to protect me, but only time
will tell.

-----

Nifhima 2, 544

Nearly a month has passed since that fateful day. Dark clouds enshroud the sun,
bathing our Cathedral in perpetual gloom. The birds have stopped their singing,
no longer do they come to greet me in the morning. Laughter replaced by quiet
sobbing, the smallest joys are now forbidden. Even my lovely pond has stopped
reflecting the pallid sky. I will write out what has transgressed since that
day, if only to confirm that this living nightmare truly is a reality.

I remember clearly when our White Priestess returned from the launch in
Magnagora. Gentle violet rain fell quietly that day, and the heavens were a
hazy sapphire grey. How relieved we were when she suddenly arrived at the door.
After hearing about the horrifying events that transpired on Shallamar we were
unsure of what to expect. However, something was not right. Marani did not
return with her husband, though no one dared to ask her what happened. She was
also quite unlike herself... distant, introverted, as if she were living in a
different time and space from us. No longer did her caring, passive smile play
upon her lips, but rather she wore a faint gleam of anxiety in her eyes. This
period of tense silence, of dreadful uncertainly, persisted into the next few
days.

And then they came. The forsaken, the undead: the tainted. Chief among them
were those who called themselves the liches. What foul and disgusting beings
they were, these waking paradoxes. We could recognize some of them as previous
Lords of Magnagora and her Great Houses, but now they were only twisted and sad
reminders of their old selves. At first they wanted us to join their new Church,
a new religion that they called Nihilism. But Marani would never let that be,
and banished them from ever getting near these sacred grounds. Soon they
started to assault the gates on a daily basis. We had to resort to using the
sacred Songs; it had been a long time since we last needed them. Oh, how the
liches hated them, they would flee in terror upon hearing the first note. As
long our priestesses maintained their singing, the magical wards raised around
the Cathedral would never allow the Taint within these walls. But still
everyday they came, how persistent they are, their wailing and taunting
persisting outside until it annoyed Marani to take action again.

I can hear them outside now. Neinrin's shift is over, she is approaching now.
How pale and weary she looks, like the withered roses in her garden. It pains
me to see our priestesses in this condition. Alas, it is my turn to lead the
guard patrol. I wonder how much longer this nightmare will last.

- Muut

-----

Nifhima 21, 544

I fear this may be the last journal entry I write. The liches have completely
taken over the compound down the mountain path, and most likely the rest of the
Great Houses as well. They call it their Presidio of the Damned, and it blocks
the only route that leads from here to the rest of the Basin. We are trapped
within these mountain walls and with each approaching dawn the taint draws ever
closer. If it were not for my dear Laerin then all hope would have been lost.
Oh, what a life we could've had. We planned to finally reveal our love to
Marani, to gain her approval so that I could leave the Cathedral and seek out a
new life with him. But that is not possible anymore... how could I ever abandon
the others at a time like this? Maybe the other priestesses were right, this
was never meant to be. I am destined to remain here forever, in eternal service
to the Light just as I swore during my initiation. Such is the fate of those who
are bound to the plane of Shallamar. However, that is not the reason for these
trepidations. No, I feel there is a greater danger brewing within these very
walls.

It happened yesterday, during another one of our routine patrols. Ever since
the incident, Marani's husband has not been seen by anyone. I know we should
not think such ill thoughts, but we had assumed that his life had been taken
along with the others on Shallamar. Perhaps things would have been better if it
had remained that way.

When two lovers are reunited it is supposed to be a most joyous and passionate
occasion. I cannot describe the expression on Marani's face when they met
again, but her skin became as pale as death, and indeed it was death that
looked her back in the eye. For there he was, no longer the handsome man she
once loved, but a cold and menacing corpse. Yet still he was there, gazing at
her with such hungry and familiar eyes. I cannot fathom how Marani feels now.
If such a thing were ever to happen to Laerin...

So the madness began. Marani's screams carried from the Cathedral and
throughout the mountains, a wailing note of despair and agony. Sorrow to anger,
love to hate, hope to despair. A great power emanates from the Cathedral, it
makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up straight. The liches must have
felt it too, for they have not come near us since then. I do not know what will
happen now, only that things will definitely never, ever, be the same again.

-----

Raziel 4, 544

Oh sweet Light, what horrifying things I have seen today! The terror, the
death, the blackness... dear gods, I don't think I'll ever be able to have a
peaceful night's sleep again. Marani is furious. No, she is beyond furious. She
is possessed, possessed by something that chills me to the bone. The priestesses
have been ordered to construct a glass statue of her in the amphitheatre, for
reasons that perhaps we will never know. And the sculpture of kind Luciphage
chipped today as I passed by the chamber of compassion. That is not a good
sign, not a good sign at all.

I am so frightened... the gates have been opened. But oh, not by those liches,
but by Marani herself! She sends out our sisters to fend off the tainted and to
reclaim the Presidio, but it is no use. Their numbers are too great, and with
each fallen victim another vile soldier is added to their ranks. The screams,
the anguish, I don't think I can take it any longer! And him, I saw him today
too. By Nifilhema, he looks almost the exact same as before, or is it a glamour
that fools my eyes? Oh Marani, if only you would share with us your thoughts, if
we could relieve your burden... there must be another solution to this, one
without so much bloodshed!

My fur is starting to fall out in clumps, and dear Erigili is shedding. Oh,
what ever is happening to us? Poor Muut, all the fish in her pond have died!
And Ephrani won't even raise her head, or her hand, when I walk by her. I pray,
sweet Emanations, please lend us your guidance once again!

Marani begins her Song now. It freezes the very blood in my veins. Never have I
heard her sing so beautifully, so full of sorrow, and... such murderous intent.
It keeps the liches and their armies at bay, but at what price? My hand
trembles, I can hardly bring myself to write anymore. We must continue to pray,
to lend our strength and voices to our Priestess in this time of uncertainty and
turmoil. Even though I feel weak, I have to carry on. I can't let the others
down.

- Rin

-----

Raziel 23, 544

Dear diary,

They have breached the outer chambers and are now approaching the inner
sanctums. Someone gave them the key to bypass our wards. But whoever it was, it
does not matter anymore. It is too late. Muut, Erigili, Ephrani, Neinrin,
Shihami, I love you all so much. So please understand what I am going to do
next. We can forget about everything and live like how we used to in the old
days. I promise that whatever happens, they will never be able to take away our
innocence, our songs, our beauty. By any means necessary. So rest assured, I
will protect you.

-----

It has been done. It was the best I could do, there was no other way. Marani,
you must have known all along, didn't you? You were prepared for it, that's why
the lich sorcerers failed to destroy the Cathedral in the end. I'm glad. But I
hope you can forgive me, though I'll understand if you don't.

Shihami, you know I would never have thought of hurting you, but at the same
time I could not find the courage to tell you the truth. Why did it have to
come to this? Ever since that rainy day, you have been slowly decaying before
my eyes, but still neither you nor your sisters could see it. How could I tell
you? How could I tell you that you were dying? I knew it from the moment I felt
your beautiful, cold, violet lips brush against mine. The pain was too much to
bear, for both of us. Don't you see? I had to end it before things got any
worse. At least you'll be able to rest peacefully from now on.

The wards will be put up again. They will protect you from this cruel, harsh
world... and the world will be protected from my sister. I don't know where
I'll go now without you. The liches are still looking for me, so it'll be only
a matter of time. Perhaps one day we'll meet again, upon the beautiful white
fields of the amaranth.

I'm sorry, my love.

- L. Veloske