Codex/Orin's Journal

### Journal 1

My brother once told me that every battle stinks the same. Fear and hot metal. He would say that every time one of his soldiers saluted him, he would anticipate their passing.

After a thousand years of war, he was surrounded us. He anticipates a final victory against us. I believed we could hold, but Macros proved too cunning an opponent. There is no way to outmaneuver someone who's known you for centuries.

I know Macros revels in the destruction to come, even more than he admits to himself. How can I win?

### Journal 2

Macros fights with cunning and overpowering strength. I have fought alongside him during an eternity of campaigns and learned his strength from the ways he breaks his enemies. I could write a manual on his mastery of war.

No one ever chooses to be outnumbered and outmatched, yet Macros has forced me into this position. It's unlikely that I will beat him here, though I'm sure my stubbornness aggravates him.

As I weigh my options, one thing is clear. I should have invoked the Seventh Sanctum earlier. But, last resorts are thus named for a reason.

### Journal 3

There he was. My brother. Macros. This was the first time I set eyes upon him in a decade and I was here on Silvermane's behalf. I was tasked with finding the weakness of Hinterclaw's powerful champion. I was surprised when I saw that it was Macros. I shouldn't have been.

I saw Macros call the enemy's champions, one by one, and defeat them all. I saw him cleave a rank of foes in two with the force of his charge. I saw how his comrades deferred to him, how they dreaded his penchant for violence. I resolved to exploit that dreadful violence.

### Journal 4

There was beautiful traditions even in those days when the Archons walked among us. We dueled using dragonfly kites with glass-edged strings. We held tournaments for poetry and the tossing of sun-javelins. But it was always the Archons that moved us to ecstasy or violence, casting a shadow over all achievement. Nothing could be glorious unless they willed it so.

I brewed Macros a simple tea for our conversation after he took Anadole. I explained that our games and traditions portrayed the Archons at war. Even our art was all inspired by sword or spear. As long as the twelve living stars dwelt among us, we would be nothing intently and he understood. Power distorts choice and with their power, we had no choice but eternal war.

### Journal 5

Macros wanted us to recruit as many Valorians as possible to fight Silvermane. But any secret spoken is a secret no longer and our band had to know their purpose beforehand. Inevitably, when some balked at our goals, Macros insisted that we could not risk them compromising the mission. I took care of them. Somehow I am always taking care of things no one wanted to name.

Macros kept insisting that I do the vile things that made our mission possible. He was my leader. Trusting him, I acquiesced. He always sounded so reasonable. I should have asked myself why, if what he wanted was so reasonable, did he not do these things himself.

### Journal 6

Macros was certain of victory. He always spoke as if we had already won. His confidence bolstered morale. I was less sure. One day, I asked what we would do after we won. Valorians have only known war and never peace. Our armies would turn on each other as soon as we won.

But we had no intention of allowing that. He knew that the latterborn would be an easy target of the Valorians' pent us rage. In my memories he sounded sad. But if I learned anything from Macros, it is that memories are easily recruited to serve our needs.