Chapter 1 – The Archives of Lorekeep

“We, The Order of the Chroniclers of Antiquity, invite you to explore the lives and worlds of the great wizards, Aizek Aizendore and Markovad the Maker, as set out in the texts herein. As you will have discovered throughout our previous tomes contained within The Tales of Erstwhile, we Chroniclers make ourselves experts in any matter we commit to parchment.

Chapter 2 – The Vault

Many accounts have been written of the great wizard, Aizek Aizendore, and his even greater mentor, Markovad the Maker. Some are little more than fairy stories passed from one generation to the next at the hearthside, while others are written by would-be historians who know only as much about the wizards as passes their desks, too chained to their comforts to truly search the realms in earnest, and of course the worst, sensationalized rehashings of old legends quilled by writers seeking nothing more than a quick sell.

Chapter 3 – The Maker And The Collector

We, on the contrary, have scoured realms and planes, followed the paths that history pointed us towards, and collected herein what truths the worlds have revealed to us. For centuries, our Order has carefully sought to learn and understand the lives of Aizendore and Markovad. Herein, you will find excerpts of both myth and legend; the religious texts and the historical; primary source material and folklore rehashed countless times over centuries. We have plumbed the depths of each of these excerpts to sift history from folklore. It is our ardent hope that you find in the following texts, the truth as to who these wizards were and how their greatness has
shaped our world. May you find in these pages a distinction between history and myth, legend and reality, and perhaps most importantly of all, greatness and great reputation.

Chapter 4 – Armored in Greed

Now, brave adventurers, noble questers, raging barbarians, and everything in between, welcome to the world of adventure. In the pages that follow, we have compiled a few scenarios, based on reports received across the planes. For it seems Aizendore’s Tragic Treasures have continued to resurface, leaving turmoil and tribulation in their wake. These reports have served to remind us of how tinkering with unknown magic can result in dire consequences; of the insidiousness of an incubus, even beyond the grave; and of the tragedy of great magic being used for deep evil. We now present them to you as the same such lesson.

Chapter 5 – The Ringmasters Request

The three scenarios herein, all inspired by the reports received, offer a glimpse of the worst-case outcomes of Aizendore’s Tragic Treasure falling into the wrong hands, whether those hands be oblivious, consumed with greed, or simply, downright evil. We invite you to unravel the mystery of a town being pillaged nightly; to confront the charms of an enchanting circus and its charismatic ring master; and to deal justice on a deadly assassin. Then, at adventure’s end, perhaps you too shall take a moment’s pause to reflect on how far-reaching and calamitous the ripples of the Great Flash have been; to consider if, perhaps, Aizendore’s quest to seek and contain these cursed items is a mantle you might elect to bear in his absence.

Chapter 6 – The Tragedy Of Harvest

Yet first, you must prove yourself true and worthy of the task. Do you, the bravest and most skilled of adventurers, have any hope of overcoming the disasters detailed herein? Or will you become yet another unfortunate victim of the Great Flash and Aizendore’s Tragic Treasures? There is only one way to find out…may good fortune and stout heart be yours as you venture onwards.

Chapter 7 – Artifacts of Ascension

Lastly, friends (we may call you ‘friends’ by now, yes?), in the pages that follow we have indexed a plethora of magic and tragic items fabled to be affiliated to The Collector, Aizek Aizendore, and rumored to have been crafted by Markovad the Maker herself. Herein, you will find artifacts of ascension – curious items of legend that appear to increase in power and ability with use, almost as if they themselves are imbued with sentience. Thereafter, we have catalogued a selection of magic items believed to belong to Markovad’s Collection. After much debate and deliberation, even we Chroniclers were able to agree that each of these demonstrates at least one of
Markovad’s signature traits – her unmatched aptitude with dimensional magic, her attention to aesthetic perfection, and, of course, her playful spirit, which is encapsulated in their toy-likeness.

Chapter 8 – Marcovad’s Collection

Finally, comprising the bulk of this index, Aizendore’s Tragic Treasure – a host of magic items, rare and wondrous and, sometimes, exceedingly dangerous. Some (the safer and more wondrous of the artifacts) are magic items we believe were amassed by Aizendore over the years following his pivot from crafting to collecting, while others appear to bear his artificer’s mark– not so much his guild mark, but more so the dubious nature of their usage. Will the hat of chaos manifold, for example, turn you into a weasel, a wyvern, or a copper dragon wyrmling? Will the mirror of shattered dreams help you smite your foe or smite you with madness instead? Will the shield of unbalanced defense be your defense or your downfall?

Chapter 9 – Tragic Items

Throughout these pages we have also included relevant excerpts from Aizendore’s journal, as well as other scraps of writing from far-flung tribal villages, religious
texts, and local rhyme and legend – all of which not only add context, but perhaps offer some indication of how these items are perceived and may be used for good or for evil. Our hope is that, should you come across any of these magic items, you may have the information at your fingertips whereby to make the most responsible
choice regarding their discovery – perhaps it is best to bury the item deep in a vault, as Aizendore did, lest it fall into unsavory hands. Or, perhaps being true of heart, you will find a noble purpose for the item and use it to further light and goodness in these uncertain times. Either way, may this index help you make yourself informed of its properties and its potential dangers, and, thus, aid you in your decision.”

– The Chroniclers of Antiquity; Alef, Bet, Gimel