The notebox of Sage Vul'lath

[Anastasia]

Life Lesson #1

An unknown portal seems like a brand new adventure! In reality, most planar travelers meet a bloody end by this philosophy. You don't know what you're getting into. You may not even be able to survive there or it may be a one way portal or far worse. - From an ancient text on planar travels.

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...have no difficulty engaging in flight. The obvious answer is that magic is involved, but various tests involving dispellation and antimagic have shown no efficacy at inhibiting flight. The exact quality is thus unknown, but it can be ascertained that it is a trait of celestial blood, as half-celestials show inferior flight capability. The exact aerodynamics of celestial and half celestial flight remains a mystery...

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...show that acidic concentrate from an adult black dragon is roughly eight times as potent. Indeed, the primary use of gelatinous cube acids are of it's paralytic properties. By concentrating the acid through distillation, a powerful numbing paralytic can be produced, one that sheds its acidic properties during distillation. Alternately, if higher acidic potency is desired, mixing one ounce of basilisk bile and one part babau slime with ten ounces of gelatinous cube acid greatly amplifies its acidic effect...

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...link between Lathander and the sun. As there are myriad aspects to the Mortal Coil, no consensus exists. Various factions of the Dawnbringer's clergy give differing explanations; there does not seem to be a consistent dogma on this fact. Of course, a God could conceivably be composed of countless suns in unison. Others argue that there is one sun and one Lathander, but that he has the ability to ignore the conceptions of time and space as we understand them.  In essence, this argues that Lathander is in an infinity of places at once...

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...refer to Maxul IV's excellent essay on the numerological aspects. But if 3+3=6 and 3+3+3=9, why are the Heavens not related to 3? This is the major flaw in Maxul IV's theorem, as long as one holds that the celestial planes are correct. To fully appreciate that notion, one must challenge that assertion. The logical flow is that if the Abyss has double-sequential numerological truth, then Baator must have triple-sequential numerological truth. Math teaches us that 3 x 3 is 9. The result of truth and more truth is Baator...

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Every end begets sparks fertile and new
Blessed be the lost child in darklight
One day all will begin once more

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...glazing. Glazing is done in a variety of ways. Glazing is functionally important for earthenware vessels, which would otherwise be unsuitable for holding liquids due to porosity. Glaze is also used on functional and decorative stoneware and porcelain. In addition to the functional aspect of glazes, aesthetic concerns include a variety of surface finishes, including degrees of gloss and matte, variegation and finished color. Glazes may also enhance an underlying design or texture which may be either the "natural" texture of the clay or an inscribed, carved or painted design...

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From a Guidebook to Weapon Selection.

As far as materials go, it must be understood that they are aligned to law and chaos rather than good and evil. The fey, eladrin and demons all fear cold iron. Archons and devils equally find silver repulsive. Remember: Silver shatters law, while cold iron conquers chaos! The exception is Inevitables; robotic bodies require adamantine as a material due to the super-hard construction of Mechanus.

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The accepted flaw of alchemical silver is that it does not hold an edge well. As a result, blows are less effective. Mithral can alleviate these problems, but is often prohibitively expensive. In these experiments, an attempt is made to bond silver with differing alchemical processes or more advanced magical means. The goal is to create a silvered weapon that does not weaken attacks nor is too expensive for practical use.

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Funny graffiti in Fallbach: The best route to Celestia is that of a martyr, sliding off a demon's claws.

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Life Lesson #31

The Prime Material is more important than you may think. It's safe, it's usually stable and outsiders and elementals are rarer there. Don't underestimate those who hail from it and DON'T forget it's a great place to hide out from the heat.

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THE QUESTION? THE QUESTION ISN'T IMPORTANT, ONLY THE ANSWER! HOW DID THEY DO IT!!!????

My best answers were:

1. Worship provides divinity. The argument was rejected, as every egostistical king or rich merchant surrounded by toadies is decidedly mortal.
2. The Gods give them a little of their own power. The argument was rejected, as the Gods have power. By definition, they must be greedy.
3. They slept their way to it. The argument was rejected after much laughing by Master. It's the succubus problem.

I don't know. I'm going to be tested by Master tonight, diary. I'm fucked.

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The little girl crossed the road
She got caught up in her long hair
A quick knife spilled her blood's load
Now she's walking up Heaven's stair

I'm sorry, Tia. It's just what Daddy had to do.

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When I talked to him, I thought he was a well mannered frog-man, albeit riddled with clockwork. He was unfailingly polite and had an exquisite sense of propriety. The question of his abandonment of chaos was met with a silence and a smile. He laughed, a happy and carefree sound. Far too happy. I've never heard an Inevitable laugh before.  His answer was that chaos is everything; even law. He then thanked me for visiting and went off, like nothing was wrong.

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I really had no stake in the entire affair. The blonde was really angry, the sort of angry that leads to killin'. I've seen it many times out here, but she didn't have the look of one of Talona's or Malar's type. Those are the only ones that give her brood trouble on those grounds, you know? It didn't make any sense, must be personal. All I know is that I got outta there and an hour later I saw her walking out of the city. Something 'bout her stuck to me. Every once in a great while I see those sort of eyes. Gives me the willies every time.  Glad I didn't try'n'pick her up after all.

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An rare excerpt from the Little Black Book, the unholy texts of Malcanthet.

(Hm? Whatever was here looks like it was blotted out with ink.)

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The key to the portal within the Ashborn Tower is a wooden orb, hollowed out. Within the orb must be the powdered skull of a dire wolf. It is said the portal leads to the 151st layer - what lies there I know not, but only that the demons themselves sealed it. To reach that portal, the Ashborn Tower must be conquered.

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It was not until I uttered the final phrase that I was sure that I had performed the invocation correctly. Even so, I could not help but wonder whether I had erred in my judgment. I quickly put aside the notion. I am rarely wrong and this summons had a great purpose. With the knowledge acquired, I would come closer to uncovering the secret after which I've sought for eons. My goal, of course, was to bring a devil to my realm.  Not just any devil, but a devil god, an arch-devil. The rulers of Hell themselves use no less an appellation, and though I did not seek one of the Nine, I sought a being of similar power. Now, after long searching and endless research, I thought I had uncovered the forbidden magic that would achieve my goal.

A horrendous cry, as if the very gates of Hell were being torn from their hinges, filled my ears. An unspeakable stench choked the air.  Even my sanity was attacked as if coherent thought were some garment that could be rent and torn, leaving me naked to the horrors of the depths below. Were I a weaker man, I would have cried out to the gods for help at that point. But I am not weak nor am I a hypocrite.  I had damned myself long ago in their eyes. It was in my own power, the wards I had woven and strengthened over many long days, that I placed my confidence.

The bedrock that lay within the magic circles sank slightly. A myriad of cracks and scars appeared over the floor's surface, tracing a web-like design that vented sulphorous steam into the otherwise sterile air of my laboratory. In the midst of the hellish vapors I heard a cry of outrage, and...

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Leek, Onion and Potato Soup

4 large leeks
1 medium onion, chopped small
2 potatoes, mashed.
1 oz (25 g) butter
1 1/2 pints (850 ml) stock.
10 fl oz (275 ml) milk
Salt and freshly milled black pepper

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...of matter does not seem to apply. This assumes that the typical flow of matter as we understand it is correct, and that demiplane magic is changing the natural rules of Creation, versus being aspects of Creation that are not understood. Various sages have well established how the building blocks of the Prime Material come from the Elemental Planes. This assertion is not under attack...

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Good advice I got from an angel:

"Friend, it's in bad form to ask about an angel's wings. It's terribly impolite. Asking if we molt and if we get 'pissy' when we molt is simply rude!"

I wish I'd listened. Do you know how hard it is to get a Quest enchantment dispelled?

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The defeat of Zaaman Rul at the Plains of Burnt Dreams was near-complete. His armies lay slaughtered, his aides imprisoned and already bound for Imix's bonfires.  In desperate single combat Zaaman Rul was struck down by Imix and left for dead. His resurrection and subsequent return has softened the impact, but the simple point is that Fire is aligned with Evil. The slaying of Bristis Pel had indeed won Imix the day - Zaaman Rul wasn't capable of defeating his father.

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The tenth circle of magic is incomprehensible to me. I studied the scroll for a month and I've come no closer to unlocking its magic.  The ninth circle is difficult but I have mastered it, yet this height of spellcasting eludes me to the last! I have confirmed these spells exist and I hold proof in my hand! My suspicion is that there is a component to this greater magic than merely mastery. Dweomerheart. I must go to Dweomerheart and find out.

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1+1=2? Why? Why does that equal 2? How do we know, when our senses cannot be trusted? I shall sequester myself and study perfect math, so that I can prove that 1+1=2! - The last words of the Twenty third wiseman of Pandam.

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Mental note: Avoid half-dragon women. Scales down there CHAFE!

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Hyperfertility: Dragons, outsiders.

Hyperfertility can be described as the ability to mate with creatures outside of your species and produce viable offspring.  While hyperfertility is not limited to those examples above, they are the best known examples. Indeed, half dragon and half-fiend/half-celestial children are a fact of life in the Planes and known on the Mortal Coil. It's interesting to think that the wars of good and evil have progressed to the point of breeding with mortals to produce more soldiers. As for dragons? Dragons just seem to enjoy it. Maybe they're all sluts?

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A layman's assumption that demon and devil are just different names for the same creature is partly correct. Both are beings of pure evil, and both are enemies of virtue and morality. Furthermore, both creatures are keenly interested in the affairs of mortals, at least to the extent that they prey on, exploit, and sometimes kill mortals.

But demons and devils do differ in several important ways. Demons are destroyers. They use their abilities to ruin, smash, and end all things. Devils, on the other hand, are deceivers, liars, charlatans, and thieves bent on luring mortals into damnation. A devil will use any trick at its disposal to finagle a mortal into signing over his soul.

Demons want to destroy the world; devils want to conquer it.

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Life Lesson #20

Don't eat Slaad eggs. While often a delicacy, there is a chance of secondary implantation. If you consume slaad eggs anyway, seek proper magic to counter any chance of slaad conversion.

Life Lesson #58

Kill the wizard or cleric first.

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In the ceremony of Prismatic Birth, Renbuu's names must be inscribed in unequal parts of all seven prismatic colors. It further imperative that all of the names are organized in a proper reverse triple-irregular circle pattern, forming a two-dimensional sphere.

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Mint tea soothes injury from anarchic weapons. Red peppers soften the pain from axiomatic weapons.

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Adammal, Perith, Grengale, Bastrilo. All dead names of no meaning. All of the same being, lost like grains of sand on the beach of eternity. I have sought the truth for 10 centuries, but answers elude me. His true name is reckoned to be powerful enough to open the Gate. I must open the gate, and he knows this. I cannot stop now. I feel a reckoning is coming, he no longer bothers to hide his presence. He knows I can stop him. I know that if we come to battle now, he will triumph. I do not run. I consign these last words to this grimoire and consign it to this library.

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Said to be a forbidden spell: Erathaol's Reverse the Flow. Why I don't know, but the book seemed sure of it, from what I could read. The language was some sort of distilled Celestial. Why it's forbidden I don't know or if it's forbidden to use or to know of or something else. Juliel said she hadn't heard of it before, and she's quite well versed in celestial magic. Could be a dead end.

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True names rarely change. They change on the death of a mortal, assuming it's soul is reborn. A spirit's name changes if what it represents changes - a fallen angel, say. As the true name represents a totality of what you are, a change that fundamental results in a new true name. Once lost, an old true name has no power at all. Attempting to use it on the changed entity is folly, and may even get its wrath without any benefit to you. - What I remember of that bard the morning after. She knew a whole lot.

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Two succubi at once doesn't work as well as you'd think. That is, unless you want to see a bloody catfight that only ends once one of them is dead. For future reference - after the succubus kills its competitor, this isn't a good time to mention that you're protected from it sucking out your energy or soul. On the other hand, it took only a single blow to finish her off after that fight.

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Medicant - I know it exists! Sir Medi would not allow it to fall into ruin. The one hiding place no one else can get to - the Deep Ethereal! With the Celestial Key, finding it should be easy. I merely have to convince Galariel to give me the key. The stoic angel is not one to submit easily to words. - The last entry in the journal of a fallen traveler.

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1+4+3=8.
8x2+1=17.
17+4=21.

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(This note isn't a note at all! It looks to be a scroll of cone of cold.)

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Blisswort 1 leaf, powdered and rubbed into the skin, repels lesser baatezu for about an hour. A bearded devil or above won't be anything but annoyed by it.

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Morpheoloths are known as Dream Killers. They attack the mind and kill through massive fright and trauma. If successfully lured into an empty husk of a body and imprisoned there, research could be conducted.