Transcendent One

Angyar's Dead Contract:

This crisp parchment has a musty smell about it, like it has been stored in an attic for too long. From what you can make out from the tiny, cramped writing, this document seems to be a contract between two parties: The Dustman faction and a man named "Angyar." In exchange for thirty copper pieces, Angyar has signed away the rights to his corpse to the Dustmen, presumably so that they can use him as a worker in the Mortuary.

Weight: 0

Copper-Eyes Dead Contract:

You obtained this blank contract from Copper-Eyes, and it has a faint metallic smell about it. From what you can make out from the tiny, cramped writing, this document seems to be a contract between two parties: The Dustman faction and an as-of-yet unnamed signer. In exchange for thirty copper pieces, the signer gives away the rights to his corpse to the Dustmen, presumably so that they can use him as a worker in the Mortuary.

Weight: 0

Crumplepunch's Legacy:

This legacy is inscribed on a wadded-up piece of old vellum, creased and soot-covered. It has obviously been much pored over by someone with very dirty hands. It belongs to Crumplepunch the smith, and from what you can decipher, it appears that his father was both uneducated and sloppy in his handwriting. The little you can make out appears to order the division of the smithy and the distillery between the two brothers, but does not provide detail as to how the division is to be accomplished.

Weight: 0

Deionarra's Legacy:

My Love,


If you are reading this, then the tragedy I have Seen has come to pass. I have died, and you have remained to suffer the loss.

Know this, my Love... I know why you were forced to shield your feelings from me. You sought to protect me from the terrible burden you carry with you. The distance you kept between us was your way of protecting me, and the brief moments when we were alone and you let your feelings be known, *that* was when I knew you cared for me. Carry no regrets with you, carry no guilt, for I came with you on your haunted journey of my own accord, and no matter how death came for me, I know that you did everything in your power to save me.

Our lives are intertwined my Love, and death shall not be a wall between us.

For my Sight has seen what is to come, only in staccato segments, but it is enough for me to know that we will be separated for a time, but we shall be reconciled again. Thus, do not see my death as a farewell, but only as an interval before we meet again. Carry my ring with you, and these other pieces of me, and think of me. Keep me in your mind and heart, and that will be the beacon that brings us together.


Forever,


Deionarra.

Weight: 0

Dustman Request:

A note written on a scrap of dry parchment: "Contact the necromancer responsible for Raising contractual worker 42. I know he's examined the skeleton before, but I am certain the initial Raising of the body was warped. The worker still responds to commands, but when it has completed a task, it resumes pacing in the same circular pattern as it did before. Dhall recently informed me that worker 42 exhibited that same walking pattern when it was a zombie decades ago. There may be a soul echo in the marrow or the skeleton's age may have caused the magic animating him to decay. One of the Initiates suggested it may be following an order issued by a higher-ranking Dustman in the past, but I have found no records of such an order.

Weight: 0

Fall-From-Grace's Diary:

This book looks like it is made from paper-thin silver sheets. The engraving of a woman is on the cover of the text, and there is a small lock on the side of the book. No matter how you try, the lock resists your attempts to open it.

Weight: 1

Fin Andlye's Notes:

These are the notes of the deceased linguist Fin Andlye. They are composed of his research into the language of the Uyo.

Weight: 1

Finam's Book:

This is the research journal of a linguist named Finam.

Weight: 1

Forged Dead Contract:

This false 'Dead Contract' is similar to a standard Dustman Dead Contract, but the tiny cramped writing on it hides the fact that the signer in fact does not owe his corpse to the Dustman after death at all... essentially, any Dustman who signs the contract will essentially be paying the signer for doing nothing but putting his signature to paper.

Weight: 0

Giltspur's Handbill:

This is the handbill Giltspur asked you to deliver to Scofflaw Penn for printing. It's nothing special. It's a little promotional note for Giltspur's auctioneering services:

COME ONE, COME ALL TO GILTSPUR'S AUCTION

And so forth.. It's not much to read, but it certainly reflects his personality accurately.

Weight: 1

Giltspur's Posting Bill:

This is the handbill Giltspur asked you to deliver to Barkis at the Smoldering Corpse Bar. It's a copy of the bill Penn printed up for him. Giltspur must be hard up for messengers if he'll pay you two hundred coins for this.

Weight: 1

Godsman Receipt:

A receipt stamped with the symbol of the Godsmen. Probably redeemable at the Great Foundry.

Weight: 0

Kester's Legacy:

This legacy is inscribed on a carefully-folded piece of well-tended, old vellum. It belongs to Kester the distiller, and from what you can decipher, it appears that his father was both uneducated and sloppy in his handwriting. The little you can make out appears to suggest that the two brothers devote themselves to increasing their wealth by building the businesses... and here the ink smudges into unreadability. The rest of the document does not provide detail as to how the division is to be accomplished.

Weight: 0

Loan Document:

This document shows that Trist's loan from Byron Pikit was paid in full.

Weight: 0

Love Letter:

This is a passionate, steamy, and rather graphic love letter. Who it's to and whom it's from, however, are quite vague.

Weight: 0

Mortuary Reminder Message:

This rolled up piece of parchment appears to be some sort of message the skeleton in the Mortuary was supposed to deliver: "This is the third and *last* request for the prybar; if it has been misplaced, *tell* me and I shall go to the Hive market and purchase another. I have no objection to maintaining the Contracted workers, but I've been trying to repair the skeletons, and the bolts are wedged in so tight I can't get them out. Also, some of the locks on the storage cabinets on the third floor have become stuck again due to the heat, and I need the prybar to snap them open as well. If the prybar is indeed lost, I will see about procuring the services of a locksmith and having the cabinet locks replaced. "Your aid in this matter would be appreciated."

Weight: 0

Mortuary Task List:

Someone has penned a series of tasks in red ink on this scrap of parchment:

- I would like the Contracted Workers to be inspected thrice-daily, at the end of each work shift when the new Initiates come on duty. We have experienced too many Contracted collapses while engaged in heavy labor as of late, and I fear the embalming enchantments initially used on the corpses may be decaying or may have been warped somehow.

- If the Contracted workers could be inspected every eight hours and Raised if they have collapsed, then this would prevent the backlog of shells in the Preparation Rooms and free up more Contracted workers for other duties.

- I do not wish collapsed bodies to be disposed of; when possible, the original Contracted shells are to be Raised and be made to resume their duties.

- I have included spare embalming charms within the shelves for the Initiates on duty. They are to be used only when the shells cannot be repaired with stitching, bandaging, or applications of embalming fluid.

Weight: 0

Note From Corpse #1201:

This is a foul-smelling note retrieved from the mouth of one of the Mortuary zombies; it looks like it was sewn into the corpse's mouth by accident. Despite its condition, the writing is legible: Please, to whatever Dustman reads this; I beg of you. I know of my legal obligation under the terms of the Dead Contract, but I am prepared to offer *more* than my signing fee if you will cremate my body rather than Raising it. I have arranged for this note to be left with my body upon my death. If you are reading this, then please use this note as instructed and accept the result in exchange for my Contracted duty. Let my Contract number serve as the key. It looks like the corpse was too late to prevent the Raising... but you notice that beneath the writing is a diagram. It looks like directions for folding the parchment into a strange pattern.

Weight: 0

Parchment:

This is an ordinary blank sheet of parchment.

Weight: 0

Penn's Note:

This note has been written with remarkable penmanship upon the finest parchment:

Vaxis,

If you are reading this, then you have undoubtedly failed in your task and have been forced to use the escape route I arranged. I told you that your little disguise idea was ridiculous. In any case, you'll need to lay low for a while. The Dustmen may be deluded, but they are not fools, and they will certainly seek retribution for our intrusion. I've left you some coins. Use them to secure a hiding place in the Hive, preferably in Ragpicker's Square. The Dustmen will be unwilling to look for you there. Once you have secured a new hiding place, I have a new mission for you: find out where Pharod is getting those bodies he's delivering to the Mortuary. It's apparently causing the Dustmen a great deal of upset, and I wouldn't mind knowing myself. Reports are that that stone-faced Dustman at the Gathering Dust Bar -- Initiate Emoric, I think the fool's name is -- has been sending out finders to try and mark Pharod's movements. See if you can find out how far along he is and hinder his efforts until we know more about Pharod's activities. I don't want Emoric finding out something before we do.

- Penn

Weight: 0

Promissory Note:

This is a promissary note in the amount of one thousand copper commons that the possessor can collect upon from the Brothel of Slating Intellectual Lusts. Ecco gave it to you in order to purchase the Deva's Tears with; it's doubtful you could do anything else with it.

Weight: 0

Ragged Note From Pharod:

This is the tattered note you received from Pharod. It reads as follows:
- Beware SHADows

- Beware places where the night LIVEs.

- They wait

- There is no Natural Darknesss

- Only ShaDOWS

Weight: 0

Receiving Log Page:

This ragged page looks like it was cut neatly out of a book. It is written in a tight, crabbed script: 16537, 5th Night: Drunk -- Chest Wound -- Cause of Death: Mauling/Abishai? -- Collector: Pox -- 3 Commons Paid --No possessions.

16538: 5th Night: Desiccated Corpse -- Cause of Death: Indeterminable - Age of Shell prevents identification* -- Collector: Pharod -- 3 Commons Paid -- No possessions (Stripped? Knife marks evident from dissection.)

16539: 5th Night: Scarred Shell -- Cause of Death: Indeterminable (scars do not appear to be cause of death - shock trauma?) -- Collector: Pharod -- 3 Commons Paid -- Possessions Logged: - Fist Irons - Thirteen Commons - Middle Table, Receiving Room.

16540: 5th Night: Desiccated Corpse #2 -- Cause of Death: Indeterminable - Age of Shell prevents identification* -- Collector: Pharod -- 3 Commons Paid -- Possessions Logged: Knife marks evident from dissection, but the dissection was not thorough enough - Copper earring found lodged in abdomen; earring has been locked in Southeast Preparation Room. Have an Initiate from the Third Circle examine it; it has strange markings, like those on Contracted Worker #79.

16541: 5th Night: Skeleton -- Cause of Death: Indeterminable - Age of Shell prevents identification* -- Collector: Pharod -- 3 Commons Paid -- No possessions (Stripped? Knife marks evident from dissection.)

* As with the previous entries, these shells Pharod has brought also shows signs of having been prepared. I have asked that Initiate Emoric launch an investigation into the matter. Furthermore, Entry 16542 is one of Pharod's gang. I have seen the individual before - I would ask Emoric to pay heed to how the man died.

16542: 5th Night: Tiefling, Male -- Cause of Death: Slash marks/discoloration of wounds are consistent with grave rot (ghoul claws?) -- Collector: Pharod -- 3 Commons Paid -- No possessions (Stripped? Knife marks evident from dissection.)

Weight: 0

Receiving Room Log Book:

This huge log book lists Mortuary procedures in a tight, crabbed script:

- All shells entering the Mortuary are to be delivered to the Receiving Room and logged with the scribe on duty before being embalmed or cremated.

- The records are to be checked to determine if the shell is one of the Contracted, and if so, do not prepare the shell. Move the shell to one of the Preparation Rooms, contact the scribe on duty, and notify him that a Contracted shell is to be Raised.

- Be certain that a shell is thoroughly stripped of its possessions before being sent to the Preparation Rooms. The Contracted workers are intended for simple manual labor and do not have the capacity to search and strip a shell.

- The faction is not responsible for any possessions lost or items stolen by Collectors who have brought the shells to the Mortuary.

- The shell's possessions are to be stored in the Receiving Room until an Initiate can be sent to claim them. Please catalogue all possessions in the log book.

Following this list is thousands of entries of bodies that have been sent to the Receiving Room. As you flip through the rest of the book, however, you notice the last page has been cut out.

Weight: 2

Reminder Note:

"Elsin:

For the love of whatever powers you hold dear, don't make the same mistake thrice. You're not trying to open the door to the Inner Sanctum, so DO NOT step on the trigger plate. The first time you made that mistake, it cost you your foot. The second time, it was most of your leg. I shudder to think what atrocities you might inflict on yourself should you step on it a third time. Destroy this note when you've finally gotten this message through that blockade of stone you call a skull."

Weight: 0

Scrawled Note:

Looks like someone has scrawled a reminder to themselves:

- The lock to the door to the Eastern Preparation Room is jammed shut again. See to it that it is fixed. I tire of having to force it open just to walk to the Embalming Room. -

Weight: 0

Scroll Of Evidence:

This is a scroll listing the criminal activities of Byron Pikit.

Weight: 0

Skin Of Regrets:

This is a scrap of your flesh with a regret inscribed upon it. It is a small, tattered thing, but just looking at it makes you feel uncomfortable. It has a strange weight about it and feels heavier than it should.

Weight: 1

Soego's Dustman Holy Symbol:

This holy symbol used to belong to the Dustman Soego. The symbol is of heavy iron, designed to be wrapped around the wearer's wrist with a series of small, tightly linked chains. The symbol itself reminds you of a screaming face.

Weight: 1

Strahan's Diary:

This leather-bound tome is cracked and worn with age. Some sort of crest has been burned into the cover. You can make out a series of interlocking triangles centered about the initials SR. The writing upon its pages has faded considerably, but the last few entries seem to have been penned recently.

Day 2 of the 127th Year of Factol Hashkar's reign:

At last, I have found it! The missing page of the Ap'Tarj Grimoire is now in my possession. As I had guessed, the page detailed the necessary components for the casting of the final transformation spell. I have all but one of the components. A drop of an immortal's blood is all that stands between me and the eternal power of lichdom. But where can I find such a rarity? Perhaps I should seek the answer through divination.

Day 14 of the 127th Year of Factol Hashkar's reign:

After days of taxing divination spells, I finally have my answers. The divination revealed the location of an immortal to be somewhere within an ancient Mausoleum located in the Hive section of Sigil. I must make haste. I must find this creature and draw its blood before it moves on.

Day 15 of the 127th Year of Factol Hashkar's reign:

I have arrived at the Mausoleum. Immediately, I was set upon by a shade that guards the remains of those interred within this place. I managed to elude the spirit and found my way into what appears to have been some sort of inner sanctum. Protected by some minor wards to prevent any further interruptions by that supernatural twit, I have set about raising some of the locals to conduct a search for the immortal. If the divination was accurate and the immortal is here, then likely it is interred within one of the many crypts that line these halls. It is only a matter of time now.

Day 17 of the 127th Year of Factol Hashkar's reign:

I am not alone. Someone has entered the Mausoleum and is interfering with my servants. Could this be the one I seek? The divination revealed only that I would find the immortal here. Could it be that MY presence in this place has prompted that which I seek to seek ME out? What a delightful twist, I shall have to

The ink of this last entry is still wet.

Weight: 1

Suspicious Sealed Scroll:

This scroll has been tightly bound with red ribbon and sealed with wax. You can't put your finger on it, but you've got a bad feeling about the thing - as if opening and reading the scroll could be somehow dangerous.

Weight: 1

Symbol Of Torment (greater artifact):

Usable only by Nameless One. This strip of flesh holds the symbol of Torment that you have always worn; it peeled away from your arm when you realized your true name. The symbol no longer rules you, and you may harness its power to bring retribution against your enemies. Merely holding it and invoking its power will summon all the pain and suffering from your past incarnations upon your foes.

Invokes: "rune of torment"

Weight: 0

The Grimoire Of Pestilential Thought:

This black-bound tome seems to radiate a slight rotting smell, and the covers are unpleasant to the touch - like uncured human flesh left out in the sun. Rusted buckles on the cover seal it against the elements. It is the Grimoire of Pestilential Thought, an arcane tome created ages ago for purposes unknown, the purpose of which is to teach mortals the nature of evil. Some sages warn against its use, while others urge it. It is said to grant mighty magical powers when services are performed for it.

Weight: 2

The Scroll Of Agril-Shanak:

This scroll is covered with gold leaf and scrawled upon with an ink that looks suspiciously like dried blood. The writing is irregular and chaotic, without any pattern that you can discern, and the feeling that rises from it is of incredible malevolence.

Weight: 1

Tomb Plans:

These are the plans of a custom made tomb. Stenciled proudly across the top edge are the words 'Engineered for Eternity.'

Weight: 0

Tome Of Bone And Ash:

This worn, leather-bound tome lists diagrams and charts detailing several minor wards and enchantments. There are numerous drawings of skeletons, bones, and the manner by which they may be preserved over time. Of particular interest is the section regarding "guardians." Apparently, the Dustmen animate corpses of fallen giants to serve as guardians for the Mortuary. To make them even deadlier, armoring enchantments are woven into their breastplates to help shield them from attacks. The book is much too complex for you to absorb all at once, but it looks as if you could refer to certain sections when the need arises.

Weight: 5