The Gilded Diary

**Excerpts from the ‘Gilded Diary’ - retrieved from Cypropa, 2020 PB**
Restored and translated from High Iysgarthian by Dr. Tatiana of the Ilbidor Archaeologists Guild

## Entry 1

My anticipation builds with each passing day - I am so close! Ever since the success of the dig I’ve become giddy like a child again, now all that remains is testing the artefact. The locals of this island, uncivilised swine that they are, should put up minimal resistance and provide the perfect fuel source. Rather they should feel honoured to be able to make the ultimate sacrifice for the eternal glory of Iysgarth. It will give their pitiful existence some meaning. Of course the island must be utterly erased from the history books, but the supremacy of Iysgarth is such that this is now trivial. And anyway, what is the worth of one barely-habitable backwater cesspool against the acquisition of such raw power? Once the artefact has been bent to our will, the dominion of the empire will reach heights not attained by any civilisation since before the breaking and I will forever be the architect of its ascension.

## Entry 2

Testing has proceeded mostly without incident (though it was a shame about that poor slave who lost his face, he was a pretty specimen - alas, there are many more). Now all that remains is the final experiment! Of course I feel an edge of trepidation, but it is nothing to do with the beast, despite its might. Frankly our choice of test subject was clearly apt, it appears to be taking the bait even now. It is attracted to the idea of idolisation like a moth to fire; it is arrogant in its pride and blinded by its own strength. We will soon show it the meaning of true power. No, my anxiety is simply a side effect of one undertaking work that will change the world. After all, just one final climatic experiment stands between me and the completion of my life’s work.

## Entry 3

Glorious success!! It worked better than I could have ever dreamed! The experimentation is complete, now the real work can begin. However, my elation is marred by the word that we are to be put on hold to aid the war effort. Why can the damned bureaucrats not see that what we do here is worth far more than some minor unrest? Mark my words; their zealotry for the insignificant will be the death of us. Nevertheless, duty calls and we are the nearest reinforcements. Once this poxy Cypropan rebellion is quelled, we will return here for the final time. The locals will be rounded up to feed it, the ritual will begin and the beast will be deployed. With the magic of perpetuity on our side, Iysgarth will attain its rightful hegemony for eternity!!

## Annotations

* Some Iysgarthian archaeologising on an unknown island resulted in the discovery of a powerful artefact
* This artefact requires powering by some form of sacrificial means
* The subject is intent on involving the local populace, though the species of these ‘locals’ is unclear
* A beast was lured to the island for ‘testing’ and later ‘deployment’, though the exact nature of this is also unclear
* The diary can be dated to the time of the Iysgarthian rebellions, 200-150 years ago
* The island in question is clearly reasonably local to Cypropa
* A dig through ancient maps, pre-dating Iysgarthian hegemony by a significant margin, shows a small island roughly 70 miles south-east of Cypropa - though no settlement is ever noted
* This island is given multiple names in different sources, but the most common is ‘Khaldaria’
* Regardless, it is unclear why it has not returned to our maps since the fall of Iysgarth