Overseer notebook

The book is a thick, leather covered tome with a depiction of an open eye covered by a dagger on the cover.

## Day -1

The materials and personnel evacuation has finished. Only I and six other researchers, two assistants and four apprentices, are staying behind to continue our work while we wait for contact from the capital.

Our current inventory contains:

* One essence lantern
* Staff of Shelter
* Repelling Charm
* 8 hollowed subjects
* 2 months of food and water rations
* 2 golems
* [miscellaneous scrolls]
* [various materials]

## Day 1

The end of the world came on schedule. Our estimates were correct and the sanctuary was left mostly intact save for minor damage on the kitchen ceiling, but nothing that cannot be mended. Curiously enough the waterfall outside seems to be still flowing despite the miniscule size of this "island" that seems to be suspended in the void.

## Day 9

I have decided to attempt to refine the distillation process, using only two subjects at a time which allows us four smaller essence batches. I will detail the altered methods in my personal research notes.

## Day 23

Ambient essence readings seem to be fluctuating but that can be expected after the end of the world. I have commanded the siphoning chamber sealed for the time being until the situation stabilizes.

## Day 36

The readings spiked, rising to 4 within the entire sanctuary. It should still be safe for us but I worry that our rations will not last as well as I had hoped. The water outside has been tested and proven safe to use as primary water supply.

## Day 41

Our experiments today met with unexpected complications. Something has contaminated a batch of what was supposed to be hollowed essence. The container has been labeled and put into the transport storage. We will attempt to find the reason for the contamination.

## Day 44

The readings have risen to 5. Should be barely safe even for our lengthy stay, but the danger should not be underestimated. I would otherwise break protocol and command an evacuation, but I have failed to make contact with the capital and any of the other sanctuaries. We should be able to hold on for around two more months until we run out of supplies. I have scheduled all personnel to have six decontamination sessions each day.

## Day 45

What the hell is going on in the capital?

## Day 48

Some of us are showing signs of corruption. We should evacuate but the island that still remains around the sanctuary is far too small for us to get enough distance. We need to know what is causing this anomaly so we can protect ourselves and the equipment from further contamination.

## Day 49

Regular work has been put on hold and all personnel are assisting me in recalibrating the lantern.

## Day 50

9 in the siphoning chamber, 4 in the water. The siphon must be somehow leaking raw essence into the water under the surface which then flows back up and into the pond.

Ancestors, we have been drinking it for weeks.

## Day 52

Assistant Faruvir is showing severe effects. Instead of resting he has scrawled all over the walls of his personal room in a delirium. I have put him into one of the warding circles and will try to purge the essence from him.  We will preserve his room as is for future research.

## Day 54

Assistant Faruvir is a lost cause. His right arm has detached itself, taking most of Faruvir with it. The arm attacked me, some of its owner’s lingering ambitions against me no doubt. I have disposed of the body and contained the arm inside an empty hollowing vessel.

## Day 55

Vessel moved to cleansing room #2. We will abandon cleansing room #1 and focus on strengthening the wards on #2 as we lack the resources for the upkeep of both.

## Day 57

Ambient essence levels decreasing. The arm is feeding on surroundings despite containment.

## Day 58

The wards are weakening. We are breaking protocol and summoning a daemon as such creatures should have strong enough magic and knowledge so we can remake the wards.

I can still reduce the daemon to its base essences before the contract ends to prevent any of our research from leaking.

## Day 59

Wards strengthened, situation manageable for now.

## Day 62

Aberration feeding on magic, wards failing and even spells acting erratic. We must attempt to destroy the entire thing despite the risks to both personnel and the sanctuary.