Styg's Journals

== The Diary of the First Man ==
=== Day 1 ===
I woke up in a strange world today. I do not know where I am. I guess all there is to do is explore.
=== Day 2 ===
I have gathered some resources and made myself a shelter. I've been threatened by strange creatures. Perhaps I must find better ways to defend myself. 
=== Day 3 ===
It has been days and I still have not seen another soul. I have hope that I will find someone soon! 
A wolf followed me home today. She is loyal and kind. I will name her Shell!
=== Day 4 ===
I found a cave. It's cold and dark in here. Hopefully I'll find ores deeper down. Wish me luck!
=== Day 5 ===
I survived the cave. I'm back on the surface.... still no sign of people. It's like no one else even exists. 
Am I alone?
=== Day 6 ===
I am so alone.
=== Day 7 ===
The shelter is too small. Getting smaller. The walls are pressing in... 
I need to find somewhere new....
=== Day 8 ===
I found something strange today. It jutted out of the earth, like a massive shard of black glass.  
It feels unnatural. I will keep my distance for now.
=== Day 9 ===
I grew curious. I approached the shard. There was a cavern beneath it, with many winding tunnels. It was dark but I explored it.. and heard someone. I don't know where they are. They say strange things to me. Do they need help?
=== Day 10 ===
I am home and I still hear them screaming. I could find no one in the tunnels. I hope they are okay... They are very loud...
=== Day 11 ===
Who are you?????????
=== Day 12 ===
They won't leave me alone. I asked nicely and they won't leave me alone. 
=== Day 13 ===
LEAVE ME ALONE 
LEAVE ME ALONE 
LEAVE ME ALONE
=== Day 14 ===
pl ea..se the e yy  ,ar e iin m y he a,d
=== Day 15 ===
Iℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭIℸ ̣  ⍑⚍∷ℸ ̣ ᓭ................................
["It hurts" - continuous] 
[The next few pages are missing]
=== Day ??? - 1 ===
I'm working on a new home! My shelter was getting a bit too small for my tastes, so I'm scouting for a nice place to start building. Wish me luck!
=== Day ??? - 2 ===
I've found a new place! It is far east of here, on an island. It snows a lot there. I like the snow. 
I suppose I will start a new journal now. A new era!
== Within The Shard ==
=== The missing pages... ===
[These pages are part of "The First Man's Journal", they were ripped out.]
==== Day 16 ====
I shouldn't have come back. It was a bad idea. But the screams were so loud.
==== Day 17 ====
I'm lost. It's dark and I can't find my way out. It's getting closer. Ss o much cl oser.... 
I need help
==== Day 18 ====
It's been 3 days. At ꖎᒷast i t⍑ink it's been 3 day s. writin g is get ting ⍑ardᒷr. its coꖎd. m y hhands shakᒷ too ᒲuch. tt⍑ᒷyr e in my ⍑ᒷad. !¡ꖎᒷasᒷ
⍑ᒷꖎ!¡ ᒲᒷ 
T⍑ᒷ ᒷリ↸ ╎ᓭ 𝙹リᒷ 𝙹⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ↸╎ᒲᒷリᓭ╎𝙹リᓭ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣  ⎓∷ᔑᓵℸ ̣ ⚍∷ᒷ↸ ╎リℸ ̣ 𝙹 ℸ ̣ ⍑╎ᓭ 𝙹リᒷ, ʖ⚍ℸ ̣  ╎リ ᔑ ↸╎⎓⎓ᒷ∷ᒷリℸ ̣  ∴ᔑ|| ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑリ ╎ℸ ̣ ᓭ ᓭ╎ᓭℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ ↸╎ᒲᒷリᓭ╎𝙹リ. T⍑ᒷ ᒷリ↸ ╎ᓭ 𝙹リᒷ-∴ᔑ||. oリᓵᒷ ||𝙹⚍ ᒷリℸ ̣ ᒷ∷, ||𝙹⚍ リᒷ⍊ᒷ∷ ᓵ𝙹ᒲᒷ ʖᔑᓵꖌ. T⍑𝙹ᓭᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᔑℸ ̣  ꖎᒷ⎓ℸ ̣ … ⍑ᔑ⍊ᒷ リ𝙹 ∴ᔑ|| ⍑𝙹ᒲᒷ. 
[The end is one of the dimensions that fractured into this one, but in a different way than its sister dimension. The end is one-way. once you enter, you never come back. Those that left… have no way home.]
t⍑ᒷ∷ᒷ ╎ᓭ リ𝙹 ∴ᔑ|| ⍑𝙹ᒲᒷ.
[There is no way home.]
I want to go home.
=== The Heart ===
==== Book 1 ====
Be calm... 
... You're safe now. 
Fall into ~~~~~~~~~~~~'s embrace... 
It will protect you... 
Are you afriaid? 
Don't be.
==== Book 2 ====
d𝙹リℸ ̣  ||𝙹 ⚍ ∴╎ᓭ⍑ ||𝙹⚍ ᓵ𝙹 ⚍ꖎ↸ ʖᒷ ᓭ 𝙹ᒲᒷℸ ̣ ⍑╎リ ⊣ ᒷꖎᓭ ᒷ? 
[Don't yo u wish you could be something else?]
↸𝙹 ||𝙹⚍ ꖎ╎ ꖌᒷ ∴⍑𝙹 ||𝙹⚍ ᔑ∷ ᒷ? 
[Do you like who you are?]
∴𝙹⚍ꖎ↸ || 𝙹⚍ ꖎ ╎ꖌᒷ ℸ ̣  𝙹 ꖌリ𝙹∴ ? 
[Would you like to know?]
リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹リ𝙹 
["Nonononononono" - continuous]
== Stygiannite's Second Journal ==
A well-loved journal recounting Styg’s most personal thoughts.
=== Day ??? - 1 ===
Some people have migrated into the area near me. I've allowed it, they seem peaceful. 
Los Mudos, they call themselves.
=== Day ??? - 2 ===
The gardens are going well, despite the harsh soil of the mesa. I'll have plentiful food by next season. 
=== Day ??? - 3 ===
Shell does not seem to like the weather too much. She whines when out in the sun for too long. I'm sure she'll get used to it eventually.
=== Day ??? - 4 ===
A child of Los Mudos has fallen ill.. so much so that she can no longer walk. Her mother is worried she will not last the night. I've grown fond of this town... I wonder if I can help? 
=== Day ??? - 5 ===
I sought out rabbit's foot and brewed a concoction for the girl. By morning, her eyes were alert again and her legs functional. It's as if I had done this before... but I don't remember where. 
=== Day ??? - 6 ===
The mother thanked me profusely. I felt... pleased to be able to help this way. I may have other preoccupations but why not do a little good? I wonder how much more I can achieve...
=== Day ??? - 7 ===
Shell is lethargic, no longer following at my side with her usual excitement. I don't know what's wrong with her. 
=== Day ??? - 8 ===
Shell grows worse by the day. Her whiskers and snout have gone white... How have I not noticed this before? No matter the remedies I brew, she does not get better. Old age... I don't know why I didn't expect this. I just wish we had longer.
=== Day ??? - 9 ===
My life is busier than ever. Surgery is a new technique of mine, but not an unwelcome one in a bustling community. The more procedures I perform, the better I get! I may move on to other forms of experimentation soon...
=== Day ??? - 10 ===
It says it needs time to grow, to get stronger, but I can't help but feel antsy with nothing to do. It tells me to be patient. It tells me I have all the time in the world. What does that mean?
=== Day ??? - 11 ===
Shell died today in my arms. I feel hopeless. She has been my companion for so long, always by my side. How am I supposed to live without her? Even surrounded by the people of Los Mudos, I suddenly feel so alone.
[Much time seems to have passed between this entry and the next, as if Styg gave up on writing entries for a while]
=== Day ??? - 12 ===
I understand now what it meant. I no longer age at all. It’s a marvel of science, yet I can’t help but feel… lost. 
I truly have “all the time in the world”, huh?
=== Day ??? - 13 ===
It is finally time to act. A cult of “light” is rising… and it must be stamped out. They like to hide in little churches and secret colonies, spreading their self-righteousness to anyone who will listen. What a joke. 
=== Day ??? - 14 ===
Our numbers grow as the church does. I can feel it as the ∴ᔑℸ ̣ ᓵ⍑ᒷ∷ grows stronger with each new Shardling. I can See it. 
["Watcher"]
=== Day ??? - 15 ===
╎’⍊ᒷ ℸ ̣ ∷ᔑᓵꖌᒷ↸ ↸o∴リ oリᒷ o⎓ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵ⍑⚍∷ᓵ⍑’ᓭ ᓵoꖎoリ╎ᒷᓭ ℸ ̣ o ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ⎓ᔑ∷ リo∷ℸ ̣ ⍑∴ᒷᓭℸ ̣  o⎓ ⍑ᒷ∷ᒷ, ᓵoリ↸⚍ᓵℸ ̣ ╎リ⊣ ꖎ╎ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ꖎᒷ ᒷ ̇/!¡ᒷ∷╎ᒲᒷリℸ ̣ ᓭ ℸ ̣ o “ᓵꖎᒷᔑリᓭᒷ” ⚍ᓭ. ᒲ|| ᓭo⚍∷ᓵᒷᓭ ℸ ̣ ᒷꖎꖎ ᒲᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ|| ᓭᒷℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ꖎᒷ↸ ᔑ∷o⚍リ↸ リ╎リᒷ ⍑⚍リ↸∷ᒷ↸ ⚍リ╎ℸ ̣ ᓭ ∴ᒷᓭℸ ̣ , リ╎リᒷ ℸ ̣ ⍑o⚍ᓭᔑリ↸ ℸ ̣ ⍑∷ᒷᒷ ⍑⚍リ↸∷ᒷ↸ ⚍リ╎ℸ ̣ ᓭ リo∷ℸ ̣ ⍑. ╎ ℸ ̣ ⍑╎リꖌ ╎’ꖎꖎ ⊣o ∷ᔑ⨅ᒷ ╎ℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ o ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ⊣∷o⚍リ↸… !¡ᒷ∷⍑ᔑ!¡ᓭ !¡ꖎᔑリℸ ̣  ᔑ ᓭ⍑ᔑ∷↸ !¡╎ᒷᓵᒷ ᔑℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵᒷリℸ ̣ ᒷ∷ ∴⍑ᒷリ ╎’ᒲ ⎓╎リ╎ᓭ⍑ᒷ↸. ╎ ∴o⚍ꖎ↸リ’ℸ ̣  ∴ᔑリℸ ̣  ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷᒲ ⊣ᒷℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ╎リ⊣ ᔑリ||… ╎↸ᒷᔑᓭ. 
[I’ve tracked down one of the church’s colonies to the far Northwest of here, conducting little experiments to “cleanse” us. I think I’ll go raze it to the ground… perhaps plant a Shard piece at the center when I’m finished. I wouldn’t want them getting any… ideas.]
=== Day ??? - 16 ===
I am not a violent man, but setting a village of your worst enemies aflame can be… cathartic. The adrenaline rush you get after killing a person is almost addicting. The satisfaction of doing it for a glorious cause, even more so.
=== Day ??? - 17 ===
Perhaps I am a bit of a violent man. 
=== Day ??? - 18 ===
What a curious discovery. The cultists at the colony are of some use after all. Imbuing a creature directly with the Shard’s essence… it might just work. They claim that the probability of death is high but… what is science if not for a little risk?
=== Day ??? - 19 ===
They were right. So far, none of the test subjects have survived the injection. Is it a compatibility issue? I’ve tried all manner of different animals, yet not one takes. They all die slow, painful deaths after it enters their bloodstream. I will keep trying. I must keep trying. 
=== Day ??? - 20 ===
Animals cannot be shown the Truth the way we humanoids can. Their minds cannot comprehend the vastness of the ∴ᔑℸ ̣ ᓵ⍑ᒷ∷. Not the way they currently are, anyways. But this could change all that. Perhaps… perhaps I could make one that lives as long as me. 
["Watcher"]
=== Day ??? - 21 ===
More failures, frothing at the mouth in death. Their hearts cannot take it, their brains cannot comprehend. But I cannot give up on this, not after everything. 
Please… I don’t want to be alone anymore.
=== Day ??? - 22 ===
It’s a miracle. After 49 failed subjects, the 50th takes. An arctic fox this time. Finally, finally something good. He is strong and healthy, and I can feel the Corruption resonating inside him.
=== Day ??? - 23 ===
Monitoring his activity in the following days has proven even more extraordinary than I thought possible. He shows signs of vastly increased intelligence and strength. He seems extremely resistant to all types of physical harm. 
=== Day ??? - 24 ===
He will live. By Gods, he will live. His snout will never turn white and his fur will never be dyed red with blood. He will never die in my arms, as my beloved Shell did. 
I will name him Bartholomew, and with him, I will no longer be alone.
[The rest of the pages are filled with various useless details of Styg’s life]