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Corrupted Magic
Parias had indirectly passed the Wraithverge to his sons as I had dreaded. I laud his method and intent, but he must not have foreseen the change in Salius. He had hidden the relic and left clues in his journals. Now having access to these documents (see Journals of Parias, Chapter XIV), we know that he wanted Wraithverge to be the reward for the use of clever intellect. He believed it was the combination of compassion – brought about by raw intellect – and oblique thought – brought about by cleverness – that would help end the remaining suffering of the entire world.
Again, I laud his philosophy, but he was perhaps too simple a man. When Salius strayed from the tasks of a cleric, he became fascinated by items of power. That his father possessed a great weapon was an unavoidable temptation. I followed his quest, disturbed at the ease with which he deciphered the riddles left by Parias.
Without direct access to the journals, I could only project Wraithverge’s location by analyzing Salius’s progress. Unfortunately, my guesswork often led me astray – it is exceedingly difficult to answer a question you do not know. I conferred often with historians Beaumans and Xenophon.
Their studies led me to the realization that, unless I was willing to defeat Salius and claim the weapon as my own, I must resign myself to mere observation. The stories of Quietus and Bloodscourge had ended and been recorded; of Wraithverge I must do the same. As a historian I vowed to record what was, but as a moralist I would speak on what could be.
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