Kara Miharian's Notebook

**Kara Miharian's notebook** contains notes from Kara Miharian's early necromantic research in siphoning and *true resurrection*.

During Belkinus Necro Hunt, Blukwit was stealing pages from Pierce Bloodstride's office in Verteheim and scattering them through Verteheim's portals across the Kingdom of Belkinus. The party found these pages. The originals are in Nathaniel Gainsby's possession, and Rahir has made copies. Kara was abhorred and embarrassed to seeing see the pages still circulating.

Along with Kara's notes are messages and doodles from Abigail Miharian as well as a third handwriting, likely Chandrelle Miharian's, instructing Abigail to stop.

## Discovered Pages

The pages are presented here in chronological order, not the order in which the party discovered them.

#### **Y131 - SUMMER**

As I've taken up practice with this new school of magic, mayhaps it will be good that I keep a record of my progress & findings. I've managed to become proficient with a few of the simple spells. So far, its ability to manipulate life force is of great utility, through it also seems to have quite strong & effective destructive capabilities as well. Must keep a close eye on my fellow mages to make sure there is as little collateral damage as possible.

*Abigail's doodle shows all three Miharian sisters, labelled "Family portrait" with a heart. She has also scrawled "WOAH KAR IS THIS LIKE YOUR DIARY OR SOMETHING??"*

#### **Y131 - FALL**

*Two notes attached to the top of the page have spell descriptions and illustrations for* animate dead *and* blight*.*

I've managed to become fairly attuned to with what is quickly becoming a favored school of magic of mine. Reanimating corpses has resulted in some extremely efficient assistance in various tasks. So far, skeletons & moderately decrepit corpses are as harmless as the summoner wills them to be.

Unfortunately, these summonings have upset the locals. Who would have guessed bringing back someone's loved one in a vegetable-like state with elicit a negative response?

Chandrelle has arranged [a] designated summoning grounds & put out a request for volunteers willing to donate their deceased loved ones in the name of research. I'm very intrigued at the possibilities of further experiments. Will write results after.

And Abby, stop doodling in here. This is an important thesis for the sake of record-keeping & future discover, not a sketchbook.

*Abigail's handwriting reads "BUT ALL THE PAPERS IN CHANDY'S OFFICE ARE FULL OF 'BATTLE TACTICS' AND 'COMBAT STRATEGIES.' BESIDES, YOU CAN'T STOP ME, I KNOW ALL YOUR HIDING SPOTS." It is accompanied by a doodle of a face with its tongue sticking out.*

#### **Y131 - WINTER**

Prolonged use of necromancy has given the appearance of black veins in a few of my mages. They seem to start from the tips of the extremities & facial features first, then move up & outward to the rest of the skin. After a while they dissipate, not unlike sobering up from an alcoholic beverage. It seems this is purely a cosmetic side effect & has no further impact on the user. Must investigate further.

Raising of more powerful creatures & beings (ex: war heroes, past lords, drakes) has resulted in less-than-ideal commanding complications. Not all reanimated corpses seem to follow orders as immediately. Perhaps they maintain a sliver of sentience? Must investigate further.

I've hand-picked some of the mages most skilled in necromancy. Perhaps they are good candidates for testing True Resurrection.

Yes

* Common soldiers
* Apprentice mages
* Common folk
* Most elderly folk

No

* Non-humanoids
* Warlords
* Powerful mages or warriors
* Large creatures

*Three notes are attached to the top of the page. Two carry hand-written spell descriptions of Create Undead and Finger of Death. The third has sketches of black veins around a left hand and a right eye, and reads "Appear after extended use of necromancy. Start at extremities & face; no reported loss of sensation, mobility, or overall function. Do not appear to be painful. Purely cosmetic? They fade after a time. Would years of necromancy usage cause these 'black veins' to become permanent? Will continue observation."*

*The third handwriting says "Abby will you please stop writing in your sister's research book."*

*Abigail's doodle shows a figure wielding two daggers, labelled "Ninja Abby," with a note that says "NEVER!!".*

#### Y132 - SPRING

*The top of the page has several research notes which have been scribbled out. They mostly show other failed attempts at* true resurrection *with multiple subjects.*

Attempts at True Resurrection have resulted in catastrophic failure. Though the subject seemed to maintain sentience for half a minute, the raised half-human half-elf corpse quickly became unstable, transforming into a grotesque, decayed abomination with enhanced capabilities, albeit less durable than the average living being of their physiology.

Subject was also unable to commanded, resulting in the deaths of three mages + two civilians before the subject was exterminated. Viscount Orion has established more strict policies as a result, which will most likely slow down out progress. I can pray this will not happen again in the future.

*Abigail's doodle shows a frowning face with a note that says "HOPE YOURE DOING OKAY."*

#### Y133 - FALL

*Two notes attached to the top of the page have spell descriptions and illustrations for* eyebite *and* harm*.*

The war has slowed by ability to do research on necromancy. Viscount Orion has intelligence that the enemies have also been tapping into necromancy + a few sects have mobilized their own undead armies. Once the war is over I will see what the other kingdoms have learned from the school of magic.

I suggested we summon undead soldiers of our own to reduce new casualties, but Orion insists we use living units, citing the undead soldiers' frail nature + being incapable of acting on their own. Must investigate more on the remains of the True Resurrection subject. Must also investigate how to enhance the abilities of lesser undead units.

Until then, "no summoning."

*Abigail has left a note reading "YOU BE SAFE IN THE BATTLE TOMORROW OR ELSE I WON'T HAVE A SKETCHBOOK*" *along with a doodle of herself.*

#### Y138 - SUMMER

Chandrelle has successfully been elected as the new Viscount. She shot down my proposal for continuing the necrotic research team. Of course that bitch did, she doesn’t even know the first thing about necromancy. All that work -- we were so close to a breakthrough & she shuts me down. Eternals’ sake, necromancy is outlawed now, so you don’t even need to worry about another uprising. Just let me do my damn job.

*Other scrawling notes show hypotheses on* true resurrection*, including tests on as many as 166 subjects.*

#### Y140 - SPRING

I guess this really has become a diary, hasn’t it. I’ve left the city & soon I’ll leave the kingdom. If they won’t let me continue my work with proper funding & safety protocols then it’s on their heads if things go wrong. You can’t stop progress.

*Other scrawling notes on* chill touch*,* spare the dying*, and* prestidigitation *give the impression Kara is trying to remember basic spells and information.*

#### Y172 - SPRING

I’ve successfully recruited some lackeys. With their help I was able to discover a new ability -- Siphoning. The user draws necrotic power out of a target that possesses arcane abilities

Though it enhances the user’s abilities it unfortunately leaves the target in a catatonic state, or in some cases dead. With these enhanced abilities, the now Siphon-powered user is able to cast further advanced necrotic spells yet unrecorded. This may be the secret to True Resurrection.

Unfortunately, Siphoning does seem to take a heavy toll on the user, both mentally & physically. It is only able to be performed by one skilled in necromancy. It also serves as decent punishment for insubordination.

*Attached notes show results from three Siphoning experiments, suggesting at least five subjects:*

Siphoning subject #3.

Race: tiefling.

Age: 32.

Subject could use only low-level necromancy. Gave a short & small power boost.

Subject comatose. Scheduled euthanization for three days hence.

Siphoning subject #4

Race: elf

Age: 124

Subject is one of my mages whose insubordination has become intolerable. Gave a sizeable boost though the duration was short.
 Subject died immediately.

Siphoning subject #5

Race: human

Age: 17

Subject showed talent for magic & expressed interest in necromancy. Gave a small boost, but the duration was notably longer.
 Subject catatonic. We are attempting to restore the subject’s mind.

#### Y190 - FALL

No matter how much I siphon, how powerful the soul of the target, how recent the corpse has passed, how well-preserved their body is, the results are the same. Every. Time.

Research Conclusion: There is no *true resurrection*.

*The notes above this entry detail multiple failed experiments*.

### Y198 - SPRING

A sect of the city seems restless. Some want vengeance, others want to bring back their dead loved ones. Pierce tells me they have located some more good subjects in a low-profile town down south for recruitment & experiments. I keep citing my findings, but he won't listen. None of them will.

I fear they may leave the city and cause havoc in Belkinus. It's unfortunate, but there's nothing I can do. Not with how the political climate is. I must remain in Cloveway to protect its people.

*Underneath is a list of chores for the upkeep of Cloveway*.