Tattered Journal (Reading Between the Lines)
The Tattered Journals are the White Mantle journals found in Janthir Syntri and Mistburned Barrens.
Location[edit]
Text[edit]
- North of the Stricken Plains Waypoint in Janthir Syntri
This once-loved journal is now in tatters. Multiple pages are missing.
It's been at least a few years since the confessor left us to complete his mission. When I lack inspiration, I look to the note that he left me—my divine ordinance to carve his path while he leads the march against our enemies in Kryta:
"Find a way into Bava Nisos, the city of the Unseen. Saul has guided me here, and our salvation will be revealed. Open the gate."
Until this mission is complete, we will continue to search Janthir. This is my only mission; I've failed too many others in life before. I will do the confessor proud, and Mother will regret calling me visionless and banishing me from my home.
There is no sign of any city here—just the ruins of Gavril. I wish I knew more about this destroyed place and the people that lived here before us. Caudceus[sic] had found a number of records, but he burned them all right before he left. He said that they contained secrets from Saul that were meant for his eyes only, and that we were not worthy. Judge has expressed some skepticism of this, especially as years have passed, but Tatyanna is devout. She prays every single day.
We've managed to carve out a nice-enough home here in the remains of Gavril—while most of the ruins are inaccessible, Judge was able to clear a path into the old village inn. Most of the building interior is blocked by rubble, but there's enough space. Tatyanna has her own room, and Judge and I sleep in the "kitchen" (the kitchen being one pot for boiling and a basket of food). It's a productive home.
While Judge and I were avoiding a small kodan party that has ventured to the isle, a blast of energy knocked us from our feet. My ears rang and my nose started to bleed—just like the last time we tried to cross farther into the bay. We rushed back to Tatyanna.
We searched the isle, avoiding the kodan, but it was unchanged. Right before we turned back toward the inn, Judge's attention snapped to the northern bay. Off in the distance, probably a day's row away, a rock formation peeked out from the fog. I never noticed it before.
My mind swam, searching through images from our prior voyages—days spent fishing at this exact spot. It was as if that rock had been there all along, but it had a freshness that gave me a headache. Judge rubbed his temple—his head hurt too. Tatyanna recalled how certain mesmer enchantments can give you a similar headache, especially those that manipulate our thoughts. Perhaps, she said, we were just under a spell.
- South of the Alliance Staging Ground waypoint in Mistburned Barrens
This once-loved journal is now in tatters. Multiple pages are missing.
We waited a couple days to make sure that the kodan were gone, but as soon as the coast was clear we headed back to the northern shore with sacks of food and supplies. We had to test Tatyanna's theory.
I rowed right into the bay. No headaches or nosebleeds. The clouds even parted, revealing just enough sun to light my path. It was as if Saul himself looked upon us. I gathered the others and we departed.
We've found it. Bava Nisos. The renewed sense of purpose is both sickening in how overwhelmed I feel but also exciting in how quickly it renewed our purpose.
Tatyanna needs time to recover from the voyage. The sea is not her ally, so we've settled in one of the safer ruins. We've been here for a few days now, and neither she nor Judge have strayed far from our new refuge yet—Bava Nisos is more dangerous than what we're used to. And edible food is far scarcer. I think they miss our makeshift home back across the bay. And I do as well, but our mission is more important now.
I'm getting more comfortable venturing into the ruins on my own, but strange beasts that I've never encountered before plague Bava Nisos. They're menacing, with a distorted appearance that's challenging to describe—I've never seen anything like them. They appear to be coming from somewhere to the east, and they venture farther and farther west each day. Judge was able to kill a smaller one and carve it for meat, but none of us can stomach the smell. Their bodies rot quickly after death, as if their flesh is suddenly incompatible with our air. Whatever these things are, they are not natural.
Tatyanna swears we're being watched now—she refuses to take a watch post on her own, especially after dark. She claims that it is the Unseen Ones, here to give us a message, but neither Judge or[sic] I have heard the same. Her faith is strong, so I'm sure her heart is earnest, but I worry that our musty surroundings and lack of meat have made her ill.
She paces and mumbles to herself. We used to enjoy our time together, but now she can't hold eye contact.
- In the Nexus of Moonlight, Mistburned Barrens
This once-loved journal is now in tatters. Multiple pages are missing.
Judge and I have made the most mystifying discovery—after a quake in the earth, a pathway into the Unseen Ones' grand library was revealed. While Tatyanna rested at our camp in the eastern ruins, Judge and I made our way inside.
While most of the documents are written in a language neither us of can comprehend, some of the less dated tomes were written in common Krytan. Perhaps left for us, mercenaries of divine change? Oh, Saul! We hear you! We see you!
Our gods, the Unseen Ones—I have found their name. They were called the mursaat. I feel as if the purpose of this life has unfurled in front of me. This city—their city—houses a gate to another plane. This is what the confessor sent me to find. This is how we assure his victory.
My efforts have completely shifted to finding a path into the city proper, so I can locate this gate and end the war. But Tatyanna grows angrier by the day, and Judge more solemn, so I continue to encourage them that this is the way. This is our path, and we cannot step out of place. Those peaceful days that we shared together were kind, but those days are done.
I've finally found a pathway into the city depths. Another quake revealed the path. It goes down deep into the mountain—even I haven't traveled too far yet. It looks treacherous, but my fear is validation.
Tatyanna and Judge are nervous, but they are more motivated than weeks past (although I struggle to identify whether they are motivated by the confessor's mission or by wanting to end it). We will spend a few days preparing, and then we march downward.
- Near the sealed gate in the Grand Athenaeum
Tatyanna isn't mad—we all heard it this time. It told us where to find the gate.
Perhaps it is the Unseen Ones that guide us, but we will venture inside tomorrow. We will complete Caudecus's mission and the world will see. They will all see.
A dark-brown stain is splashed across the bottom of the page. The rest of the script is illegible.
Related achievements[edit]
Janthir Side Stories: Reading Between the Lines — Find all of the White Mantle journals in Janthir Syntri and Mistburned Barrens. (3
)
