Muusa

Temporary Royal Lorekeeper
Know that you have my full support, even if I must remain objective and neutral in the upcoming summit. As there was no one else suited for this duty on hand, I volunteered to be the Queen's source of knowledge and historical context. The Queen must make decisions on her own. Though she has lived through chaos and strife, Victoria has much to learn - most of which can only be taught through experience.

Talk
Balemorale has seen countless Summers and countless Kings, but Queen Victoria is making history.

Sparagmos
The Drowning Machine, created by the Ashray Water Elves during the Planar Conflict. Rejuvenated with Astravian knowledge and present day ingenuity, it has been reborn as Sparagmos - a weapon that could erase souls from existence en masse. If we speak in terms of Good and justice, do you think such a destructive weapon should exist? Or is it the best chance the Queen has of protecting the innocent from Evil?

Brethren
Most of my Elven brethren live in seclusion. The world left them in the past. Some resent the loss of their supremacy, and dream of a future where they are Champions again. What happened in Undine was horrific, but it has forced the most powerful and influential of Elves to come out of hiding and show their true colors. As bitter as this is, time marches forward and demands change. Once again, you ride on waves that will change history.

Horizons
Beyond the horizon are Kingdoms and nations that call Greenguard cursed. They kept their distance because of Evil, Chaos, and Shadowflame, but those fires have faded into smoldering embers. Several Elemental Champions were named within Greenguard's borders, and the rest of Lore want to know why fate favors them so. Skye is the first to confront Queen Victoria about it, but it won't be the last.

- Muusa's Quests

Temporary Royal Lorekeeper
I slipped in while you were discussing your plans outside. Don't worry about me. Sir Indradeep noticed that I left. He's been a very attentive guard, and alas, won't let me be nosy. Yes, it's dangerous, but I'm familiar with peril. What I've discovered is worth more than my safety.

Re-education
This is Royal Castle Gaheris. When Queen lona took the throne, it began housing all of her adopted children. There were hundreds of them, and now that I'm here, I've learned of the terror they had to endure. The castle also functioned as a re-education academy, where children were sternly taught to adore mother lona, and endure pain in order to be molded into her perfect protectors. I doubt many were given a chance to see the sun until they were adults.

Temple
As we approached Royal Castle Gaheris, I realized what it actually was. This opulent palace, where lona's bloodline slept surrounded by gold, is the Temple of Energy. All of the symbols dedicated to Lord Haeos were replaced with Lothian regalia. To those dedicated enough to the Avatars to build them temples, this is profane. Lord Haeos must have truly adored his first Champion's lineage if he convinced his common-blood followers that this was acceptable.

Throne
It's too early to declare victory, but Queen Victoria should consider what to do with Skye's throne when the time comes. If tradition holds, she would take lona's crown and name herself Ruler of Skye, before assigning someone here to 'keep her seat warm.' With Tara's title relinquished, Lord Granville is vying to become acting regent. Iona's bloodline originally came from Camlan in Greenguard. Upholding tradition would just give Skye another oppressor from afar.

After completing the 'Vow of Misery' quest:

Temporary Royal Lorekeeper
New Avatars have appeared after the primary eight, but no one has ever witnessed one being replaced. What happened to Lord Haeos is completely different from the fates of Lord Kyanos and Lady Neso. His authority and power has been relinquished, passed to a monster that is rising to become a calamity. Abel's tampering…if his aims are as you described, I imagine he'd make sure that this new Avatar has weaknesses. There's still hope.

Re-education
This is Royal Castle Gaheris. When Queen lona took the throne, it began housing all of her adopted children. There were hundreds of them, and now that I'm here, I've learned of the terror they had to endure. The castle also functioned as a re-education academy, where children were sternly taught to adore mother lona, and endure pain in order to be molded into her perfect protectors. I doubt many were given a chance to see the sun until they were adults.

Temple
As we approached Royal Castle Gaheris, I realized what it actually was. This opulent palace, where lona's bloodline slept surrounded by gold, is the Temple of Energy. All of the symbols dedicated to Lord Haeos were replaced with Lothian regalia. To those dedicated enough to the Avatars to build them temples, this is profane. Lord Haeos must have truly adored his first Champion's lineage if he convinced his common-blood followers that this was acceptable.

Throne
It's too early to declare victory, but Queen Victoria should consider what to do with Skye's throne when the time comes. If tradition holds, she would take lona's crown and name herself Ruler of Skye, before assigning someone here to 'keep her seat warm.' With Tara's title relinquished, Lord Granville is vying to become acting regent. Iona's bloodline originally came from Camlan in Greenguard. Upholding tradition would just give Skye another oppressor from afar.

Senior Lorekeeper
My apologies for not bringing a gift of my own. I ended up spending so much time editing the books Maya wrote about you that I didn't have time to browse the stores. It's interesting, though…a few boxes were sent to Maya, meant to be gifts to you from who she described as your 'super fans.' Maya took a look, and hurriedly shoved them into a closet. I wonder if they were something like those exploding boxes? Maybe worse?

Gift
I helped edit the biography Maya wrote, but she did all of the work. Every adventure she put to paper made it feel like she was right there with you through all trials and tribulations. Maya does have a good habit of appearing when you need her. I remember what Maya was like when she was little, and needed to learn how to read and write as fast as possible to care for her father. Once the quill was out, it'd fly across the pages for days.

Temporary Royal Lorekeeper
Maya and I were invited to Castle Whistler to help the artists at the gala. We were to answer any questions they had about their subjects to the best of our ability. I hoped this would be a nice break for us, but perhaps we were too up to the task. One portrait depicting the King of the Dark was so accurate that the magic permeating Chiral Valley animated it. Despite the danger, we now have a better understanding of what that Being was.

Castle Whistler
House Vaughn's ancestral home is quite impressive. I am rarely moved by opulence alone, but this castle has been reconstructed repeatedly by an architect or artist chosen by the people of Chiral Valley. It's the highest honor one can receive. In fact, Escherion vied for this prize before he became a Chaos Lord. He lost to a farmer's child who attended an art academy on a hard- won scholarship.

Visitors
Lord Vaughn graciously extended multiple invitations to me and Maya. We were asked to bring everyone from Termina Temple to enjoy the gala. Illaria and her family joined us. We even encouraged her to try a little painting herself. Where is everyone? They're calming the gala's guests deeper inside the castle. Maya's been…scarce lately. It's been like this since Ashray. I hope she'll be alright.

- House Vaughn Origins

Senior Lorekeeper
You caught me off the clock, but I don't mind. Even a library can get too quiet, and knowledge doesn't mean anything if you can't use or discuss it. Rest and chat for a while. The other Scholars and I will travel either alongside you, or go ahead if we catch any leads concerning the three threats. Lore's history stretches long, and these tumultuous times will become weathered chapters in my tomes.

Library
Should you come across books of interest, hand them to me and I will archive them in this library. Your allies will do the same, if they wish to share knowledge with you. Do you read with a cup of tea or coffee? Tea is the wrong answer, and if you want leaves, you'll have to beg from Lady Celestia or get them yourself. Hmmhmm, I'm fooling around, but I do hold your preferences against you.

Nomad
Before the Queen called on me - in fact, long before the Queen's mother was born - I lived as a nomad. Knowledge is power, and there is much to be gained from hoarding information or erasing it. Elves live too long, and have seen too much. If I did not move constantly, those who revel in Evil and those who claim to be Good would capture me, and take my knowledge to use for their own ends.

Scholars
In between journeys, I have taken on budding scholars as students. Maya is one of the brightest and kindest. She could fill a book by the time she was five, and before I knew it, she was an adult and outranked me as a Loremaster. Ranks and fame do not interest me, and I am relieved that Maya is still the same curious child she was decades ago. It gives me some semblance of hope for a good future.

Temporary Royal Lorekeeper
You, the Queen, and Lord Brentan are a welcome sight. I'm glad you are safe, but I will have to bother you for assistance. My advice is falling on deaf ears. Lord Granville and his forces are recklessly pressing towards great danger, and they will not listen to an Elf.

Hill of Lia
These are the Daisy Fields and the Hill of Lia Tara - a site of many bloody battles and golden coronations. The First Champion of Energy was crowned here, but you brought me the full truth. Gaheris was crowned posthumously by his children atop the corpse of Tanaris, Skye's original God of Storms. His body is the Hill of Lia Tara, and Skye's royal family continues to defile it. The Druids who attended to Eire were forced to bow to their new rulers. It's an age-long tragedy.

Elves
Countless wars have left their scars on me, but I can't deny that they didn't bring change. Being an Elf myself, I understand how Skye's cruelty has gone unchecked for so long. Queen lona's ancestors were from Camlan. When they realized the Avatars no longer favored them, they went into seclusion, and fed their illusions of superiority in any terrible way they could. Iona made the mistake of turning her stagnant cruelty into your business. This will be her downfall.

Sparagmos
A Dragonlord risked themselves by flying up to get an aerial view of the Daisy Fields, and discovered that several magic circles encompass the area. They resemble the runes of the Drowning Machine. Skye stole research material from Seabase Undine, and Queen lona quickly copied what Queen Victoria's researchers achieved. They made their own Sparagmos. We are in grave danger. I fear that mutually assured destruction is on the horizon.

After completing the 'Changeling' quest:

Temporary Royal Lorekeeper
Lord Brentan bravely sacrificed himself to keep you from becoming the fuel to power Queen lona's Sparagmos. Rather than Astravian tech, it is rooted in the ancient arcane power that permeates Skye. Mana veins instead of circuits, and the ability to feed it armies. If it were not for Queen Victoria's tact, her entire army would have fully charged lona's Sparagmos several times over. Now…she will be looking for a new source of fuel to accomplish her twisted ambitions.

Hill of Lia
These are the Daisy Fields and the Hill of Lia Tara - a site of many bloody battles and golden coronations. The First Champion of Energy was crowned here, but you brought me the full truth. Gaheris was crowned posthumously by his children atop the corpse of Tanaris, Skye's original God of Storms. His body is the Hill of Lia Tara, and Skye's royal family continues to defile it. The Druids who attended to Eire were forced to bow to their new rulers. It's an age-long tragedy.

Elves
Countless wars have left their scars on me, but I can't deny that they didn't bring change. Being an Elf myself, I understand how Skye's cruelty has gone unchecked for so long. Queen lona's ancestors were from Camlan. When they realized the Avatars no longer favored them, they went into seclusion, and fed their illusions of superiority in any terrible way they could. Iona made the mistake of turning her stagnant cruelty into your business. This will be her downfall.

Sparagmos
A Dragonlord risked themselves by flying up to get an aerial view of the Daisy Fields, and discovered that several magic circles encompass the area. They resemble the runes of the Drowning Machine. Skye stole research material from Seabase Undine, and Queen lona quickly copied what Queen Victoria's researchers achieved. They made their own Sparagmos. We are in grave danger. I fear that mutually assured destruction is on the horizon.

Senior Lorekeeper
It may not look like it, but this library is a mess. Maya and I spent months helping Warlic research the Yew Mountains to look for leads on the Flame of the Beyond. We ended up retrieving and reorganizing historical records for House Noelle along the way. I must admit, I worry for both Maya and Warlic. Neither of them have been acting like themselves. If you have a moment, spend some time with them. They enjoy your company.

Repository
While this is a library, we're also providing guides for travelers wishing to visit the Magnum Opus Forges. The journey is dangerous, and those who leave unprepared will never return. The high fatality rate has not dissuaded expeditioners. We have to accept that the best we can do is provide them with terrain reports, and insist that they apply for expeditions. Intruders who slip past will die. So far, that's been a guarantee.

Maya
Poor Maya hasn’t been well ever since you collapsed. That was before you left to attend to business in the Kingdom of Atlas. You may not remember this, but she was at your bedside until you regained consciousness. Now, she forgoes sleep by forcing herself to work on the library's archives. Maya is determined to help you, which means I may have to chain her to a pillow to make her rest. I'm sorry, you must be overwhelmed as well.

Blue Mage
Warlic has been dreading the inevitability of your confrontation with the final threat. The Flame of the Beyond… he knows more about this than he lets on. I asked Felix to help me and Maya, but he's also filling the gaps Warlic is leaving behind. None of us believe he means any harm. It reminds me of how I'd avoid places that gave me bad memories. Sometimes, I even reimagine personal trauma until I begin believing nothing went wrong.