Journal of the Shadow Walker
Day 117 of the 12th Cycle of the Restoration
The signs are unmistakable. Sho Fu the Bastard's Restoration will continue. The Circle has won, and their puppet sits the Imperial Throne. I cannot see all: the future remains in Shadow. But one thing is certain. The Temple must not be allowed to fall to the Empire. I pray Shadow will fall and reveal to me our salvation.
Day 121 of the 12th Cycle of the Restoration
It can't be done! The doom of Restoration hangs upon us all and there is no way to save us. The Temple and all its followers will fall before the Circle, and no scheming rebels can muster a defense. I will be the last to walk the shadows, presiding over the death of our order.
Day 122 of the 12th Cycle of the Restoration
The followers are nothing. The Temple is all. If the Temple stands, the faithful -- or their descendants -- will return. If I cannot save them, perhaps I can
Day 126 of the 12th Cycle of the Restoration
It will take time. Decades. The Temple must become invisible. Forgotten. Unseen, like shadows in the dark. Let the rebels stand in the light of defiance. We shall lurk. But it must be done quietly. As if by chance. No great purge, nothing to attract attention. The followers must be encouraged to seek the light not out of devotion, but of disgust. No, less: indifference.
Day 18 of the 13th Cycle of the Restoration
Po'Oaan reports tithes are the lowest in years. Rumours I have gone mad have started. I know -- I started them. Must be careful. Decline must be gradual.
*
Day 261 of the 33rd Cycle of the Restoration
Time is running out. The rebellion continues to be ineffectual and the Temple is amongst the last of the orders to fall to the Restoration. They will come for us soon. I must begin preparations. Can KoE be trusted? We will see.
Day 289 of the 33rd Cycle of the Restoration
The Hand is questioning my leadership. I may have played the part of the fool too well. Assurances I have a plan to save the Temple not assuaging their doubts. Have been trading artifacts from the treasury for food. KoE receptive to paranoid fantasies. But don't see Temple as either a threat or an ally. Maybe there's a way to convince them of both, and deal with the Hand?
Day 291 of the 33rd Cycle of the Restoration
It was simple, really. Convinced KoE my Hand are plotting my downfall (not far from truth), and planning a chronometric ritual to strike at the Empire. Pure nonsense, but KoE already believes everyone is conspiring against Eternity. Fools. Offered them a deal: they deal with the Hand, and we hold a Mote here, hidden and unseen. Binding the Hand to the Mote "until the rebellion is victorious and the trouble is ended" will be a fitting punishment for their wanton use of chronometry. Meanwhile, once bound, their souls will give me the power I need.
*
Day 1 of the 34th Cycle of the Restoration
Success! The KoE "raided this defiled Temple" and bound the Hand for their "crimes." Mote safely ensconced at the centre of the Path of Shadow. Promised to guard it with my life, naturally. How far ahead to move? 100 years? Nice, round number. Surely the Bastard's restoration can't last that long. Must make preperations.
Day 17 of the 34th Cycle of the Restoration
Something's wrong. The ritual completed, but the Temple is...wrong. shattered, broken. But also not? Like it is unmoored in time. Stuck in multiple moments. I can no longer reach the Mote, or the Hand. I think I might still be in the present, but the Temple has moved around me. Damned chronometry. Maybe the Knights of Eternity were right.
Last Entry (Undated)
Went blind several years ago. Good one, Shadow. Should take up painting. Always wanted to paint. That'll show you.
The signs are unmistakable. Sho Fu the Bastard's Restoration will continue. The Circle has won, and their puppet sits the Imperial Throne. I cannot see all: the future remains in Shadow. But one thing is certain. The Temple must not be allowed to fall to the Empire. I pray Shadow will fall and reveal to me our salvation.
Day 121 of the 12th Cycle of the Restoration
It can't be done! The doom of Restoration hangs upon us all and there is no way to save us. The Temple and all its followers will fall before the Circle, and no scheming rebels can muster a defense. I will be the last to walk the shadows, presiding over the death of our order.
Day 122 of the 12th Cycle of the Restoration
The followers are nothing. The Temple is all. If the Temple stands, the faithful -- or their descendants -- will return. If I cannot save them, perhaps I can
Day 126 of the 12th Cycle of the Restoration
It will take time. Decades. The Temple must become invisible. Forgotten. Unseen, like shadows in the dark. Let the rebels stand in the light of defiance. We shall lurk. But it must be done quietly. As if by chance. No great purge, nothing to attract attention. The followers must be encouraged to seek the light not out of devotion, but of disgust. No, less: indifference.
Day 18 of the 13th Cycle of the Restoration
Po'Oaan reports tithes are the lowest in years. Rumours I have gone mad have started. I know -- I started them. Must be careful. Decline must be gradual.
*
Day 261 of the 33rd Cycle of the Restoration
Time is running out. The rebellion continues to be ineffectual and the Temple is amongst the last of the orders to fall to the Restoration. They will come for us soon. I must begin preparations. Can KoE be trusted? We will see.
Day 289 of the 33rd Cycle of the Restoration
The Hand is questioning my leadership. I may have played the part of the fool too well. Assurances I have a plan to save the Temple not assuaging their doubts. Have been trading artifacts from the treasury for food. KoE receptive to paranoid fantasies. But don't see Temple as either a threat or an ally. Maybe there's a way to convince them of both, and deal with the Hand?
Day 291 of the 33rd Cycle of the Restoration
It was simple, really. Convinced KoE my Hand are plotting my downfall (not far from truth), and planning a chronometric ritual to strike at the Empire. Pure nonsense, but KoE already believes everyone is conspiring against Eternity. Fools. Offered them a deal: they deal with the Hand, and we hold a Mote here, hidden and unseen. Binding the Hand to the Mote "until the rebellion is victorious and the trouble is ended" will be a fitting punishment for their wanton use of chronometry. Meanwhile, once bound, their souls will give me the power I need.
*
Day 1 of the 34th Cycle of the Restoration
Success! The KoE "raided this defiled Temple" and bound the Hand for their "crimes." Mote safely ensconced at the centre of the Path of Shadow. Promised to guard it with my life, naturally. How far ahead to move? 100 years? Nice, round number. Surely the Bastard's restoration can't last that long. Must make preperations.
Day 17 of the 34th Cycle of the Restoration
Something's wrong. The ritual completed, but the Temple is...wrong. shattered, broken. But also not? Like it is unmoored in time. Stuck in multiple moments. I can no longer reach the Mote, or the Hand. I think I might still be in the present, but the Temple has moved around me. Damned chronometry. Maybe the Knights of Eternity were right.
Last Entry (Undated)
Went blind several years ago. Good one, Shadow. Should take up painting. Always wanted to paint. That'll show you.
-- Excepts from the Journals of the Shadow Walker