And in the end, we were all betrayed by forces beyond our comprehension, and ultimately by our own arrogance.

I planned to betray him, just as he, as I found out, planned to betray me. Lord Rytheran agreed, more easily than I anticipated. It was my intent to use my new powers to foil their plans and save the Mhoires from imperial revenge. Make me a godling, I told him, and he could have the Mhoires. I told him I would lead him to my master's location, betray his secrets, if he would grant me the power afforded by that unholy book, whose name I will not even write down. My master had always believed Lord Rytheran to be slow-witted and easily manipulated, so I trusted in my own wit and cleverness. I snuck out of the Mhoire sanctum one night and approached Lord Rytheran with a bold plan. if only they could penetrate the screens and shadows that concealed us from their searching eyes. I knew that His Eternal Splendor and his right hand, Lord Rytheran of Menilesh, were angered with my lord's defiance, and sought to punish him. I know my lord used every talent and trick in his considerable magical repertoire to hide his House and castle. I knew what foul rot had infected the heart of our realm, and caused my noble lord of Mhoire to take his household into hiding and flee from the corruption that sought them out. I knew about the curse of unlife that had come upon the Eternal Court of Dericost.

Better a true death and a cold grave than the cruel fate that claimed us all and holds us to this day. If I had not sought to interfere in the struggle of the nobles, if I had been content to be the Fool in service to a House that was virtuous, but doomed to die, perhaps we would all be better off. I must also beg the forgiveness of the Lord Rytheran, and by extension, His Eternal Splendor, as my actions may have compounded the mistakes they were already making. There is a saying that no good deed goes unpunished perhaps evil deeds undertaken for a good purpose are doubly punished.įirst I must beg forgiveness of my good master, Lord Cynreft of House Mhoire, and his noble family, who treated me with kindness and who deserved only my full and humble devotion. I believed I was acting boldly and pursuing an imaginative solution to what seemed like an intractable problem. What a sad irony it is, that even when I am lucid, I find myself almost driven mad when I think of the tragedy and disaster that resulted from my foolish actions, which were undertaken with only good intentions.

While the blessed peace remains, I will record what I can remember of the terrible things I have seen and have been part of.

Evil jester patches