Today is the 2nd of Klangiary, 398 years after the Coming of Estarra.

The Kelpie Maiden is a beautiful, single-masted ship, with bright white sails. The vessel, once a member of the New Celest Fleet, sails the Inner Sea under Captain Yadothune Nerale.

I set out on my quest by scouring the Inner Sea for the Kelpie Maiden. Fortunately, no gorgogs rampaged, nor were mutant kelpies about causing havoc. It took a bit, but, I found the ship, cutting though the waves. I returned to the Kelpie Maiden, entering on the port side, or as the crew preferred the more archaic term, larboard. Before I forgot, I placed my milestone, to facilitate quicker returns.

As is custom, I made my way to the forecastle to seek out Captain Yadothune Nerale as it is his ship. Lord Captain Yadothune Nerale quickly reminded me of his self-imposed mission, and said in a thick accent, "We be sailin' the seas an' oceans, searchin' fer the legendary Sculpture of Tamthys - an', if we be lucky, we'll be stumblin' across the Flock o' Miracles themselves."

I settled my mind and tried to take in the ship with new eyes, ignoring the task of trying to find the Sculpture for a moment to take in whole of the forecastle. This time I saw a rope ladder just beyond reach. I could see it led to the watcher's nest and resented not being able to visit the watcher there.

Moving around the ship, I was surprised to note from the sound of the ship's movement, that the ship actually tended to glide though the waters rather than sail. Later Yadothune would tell me, "... an' she handles these waters better than ye can expect."

Another thing which struck me, was that while I expected the port and starboard sides to have a great deal of symmetry, I did not expect so much of the ship to be identical to the point of nearly indistinguishable.

I could hear the scurrying of rats, but after a long search was unable to find even a single one.

I spoke to all the crew I could find. They seemed a bit down, so I wandered about to cheer them up, praising them as I best could. In return, they shared tales of that which they had encounter below the waves. Much of their chatter would aid me in locating parts of the statue.

Following their clues and speaking with the captain, I alternated between slaying some creatures, entreating with kelpies, and coaxing hermit crabs from their shells. Finally, I was able to retrieve the last crystal dove from Javile's Memory, where You joined me. We returned to the Kelpie Maiden, where Captain Nerale completed the statue and gave me the diary of Tamthys. I took the dove to the Voice of Rhapsody, whom for a brief time was reunited by the Flock of Miracles.

Many if not all of those of the Forth Circle possess a piece of the Song of Creation. Many of the Fourth hid their Voice so that their part of the Song of Creation would not fall into the hands of Zenos.

From the Book of Clangorum: Zenos managed to kill several more of our number, seemingly to enjoy targeting members of the Fourth Circle. With what turned out to be a devastating blow, Zenos killed and absorbed the essence of Shordella, a member of a select group of the Fourth Circle who were devoted to song and were known as Keepers of the Great Song of Creation. From that point, the power of Zenos was multiplied, as he was able to now use the parts of Shordella's songs to amplify his own power. At that point, the rest of the Fourth Circle Song Keepers took measures to hide their voices in case another of their number fell. Their voices would remain hidden at least until Zenos was defeated. This safeguard proved to be only too prophetic as Zenos destroyed almost all of the Song Keepers.

Ideas From The Diary of Tamthys

Tamthys the Sculptress lived sometime during the Vernal Wars. She was a merian, a gifted artisan, and a citizen of the Island City of Alabellalum. The diary begins by her speaking of her child, her lover, and her fear of the Leviathan. She speaks of these things as she prepares for her upcoming nuptials.

A copy of this diary can be found in the Cantor's guild. From Tamthys' writings I have learned the loss of the ancient home of the mugwumps to the soulless Muud. How some mugwumps found their way to Alabellalum as refugees and how later the Flock of Miracles brought even more to safety and the healing powers of the Flock of Miracles.

A careful read of the diary reveals that the number of five branches in the sculpture corresponds to the five families of Alabellalum. It seems the Flock stay on the island for about two or three years and then the Flock urge people to leave the city as the Leviathan draws near.

I will not do the diary a disservice by using my own words to summarize the more touching and tender parts of the story, for that one must read the diary. A summary which does not do anything resembling justice would be, Shaothne supported by his lover Tamthys was slain by his competitor for vernal ascension. That then the Flock of Miracles restored Shaothne who then became Lord Dionamus who was able to save the children of Alabellalum from the Leviathan. Their son Polothane, one of the surviving Alabellalum children, would later sail to the Inner Sea and presumably under threat by the Tempest resulted in Tamthys' sculpture being taken into sea.

Lord Darvellan You may be pleasantly surprised to hear that at least three shards of Lord Meridian did become vernal gods, perhaps more than those of any other race. He along with Lady Juliana and others are among those credited with imprisoning Zenos in a prison of ice. The third vernal god being Lord D'varsha the first and arguably without Him there might have been no others. He first created an edifice of power.