Journal of Serizus/Text

I am well aware of the danger in committing my thoughts to writing. It may be soon -- if it is not already -- that they will search for anything in my possession that could be construed as treasonous, and use it to destroy me. But it is a risk I will take. I cannot remain silent forever. When I have achieved my aims, I will want to have a record of everyone who crossed me along the way. For this, I must write my true thoughts, and yet let none discover them. I have been employed at the Spires for two weeks, now. In spite of my obvious skill in experimentation, I yet retain the station of a mere "apprentice". I urged Iskkath to petition the Mistress of the Spires on my behalf, but he does not seem to take my demonstration seriously. It seems my methods are too original for the mindless cogs they send to do magical research in this Empire.

I have managed an audience with Mistress Saitha, in spite of my "colleagues". If half of what I have heard of her ability is true, she should be able to recognize my obvious potential with ease. I am confident that I will have a position befitting MY relative novicehood -- much as it looks like utter mastery compared to my "fellow" researchers' abilities -- within the week.

Such supreme foolishness! I am certain that Saitha understood my power when she first laid her eyes on me. I am being suppressed. It is clear, now, that my superiors are afraid of my potential. My skills have grown exponentially to this point, but the experiments of this Spire are too far beneath me now -- I have nothing more to gain from my employment here. Besides which the "studies" they persist in lack of real purpose. My most careless composed construct is easily of greater worth than the parlor tricks that they take for "dark magic" now, but they will have none of it. I am beginning to have doubts that this Empire has any place for me -- or rather, that it could contain my true abilities...

I traveled to Ikild today to petition the Legion representatives to give me charge of a squadron of battle sorcerers. I am more than capable of this, I am sure, and my abilities could provide welcome advantage in any combat situation. For both these reasons I believe that the Legionaries will be less fearful of my power. Surely they would not refuse an obvious advantage.

My faith in this supposed Empire of Kaezul is all but shattered. The Legion has refused my request to lead a squadron into battle. Worse, they told me without the slightest hint of comedy that I would have to work my way up the ranks like a common soldier before I would be considered for such an "honor"! I doubt they feared my power, as Saitha did -- they are merely simple-minded fools. I have agreed to accompany a raid expedition into the New Conquered Lands as a rank-and-file sorcerer, after much protest. When they witness my power... when these lack-wit bureaucrats hear the story of my performance on the field of battle, they will change their minds. They must. My power continues to grow ... soon I will be the one making decisions, not them.

Traveling with the fleet is horrendous. I suppose it should not surprise my at this point that I have not been given my own cabin. Regardless, I must remember to have the captain of this vessel flogged when I am granted sufficient authority to do so.

We are finally approaching the New Conquered Lands. Our invasion force is landing at some sort of desert, apparently. My supposed squadron leader has twice urged me to begin preparing myself for the battle to come, though I hardly understand why. The weakling races of these lands were no match for Kaezul before, even when they had years to prepare themselves. What could they hope to do against me, particularly when they know nothing of my power? No amount of preparation on the part of these slave races could provide them with an advantage over me -- surely, then, I shouldn't need to prepare against THEM. Regardless, my time is now short. The battlefield approaches.

Nothing could have prepared me for the complete and utter failure of the troops of the Kaezulian Legion this day. The battle was lost before my squadron leader even allowed us to join the battle. Our ships fled shortly after, without bothering to sound a retreat of troops. They expected me to rush into a losing battle to die to some pitiful conception of "honor". I have been a fool. The stories of the great Legion of Kaezul were all lies -- a granderous image to keep weak-minded who are constitute of populace the Empire enthralled. They are not truly powerful. They never were. I doubt Kaezul himself is even half as powerful as we have been led to believe. I am beginning to understand my destiny...

The Kaezulian Empire bears nothing for me any longer. My supposed comrades all rushed to their deaths in that mockery of a battle. I have disposed of my Kaezulian markings, and began traveling south across this desert...