Chapter Text
I have been doomed all my life, but history should not be doomed with me. I write these words so that they may never be lost, no matter what happens in the trials ahead. Take these words and make them known, and let the knowledge within serve you well.
My name is Promethia Ash, wizard and graduate of the Academy at Mytros. I studied the arcane arts, philosophy, and Thylian legends, and have traveled Thylia as a wandering tutor. I give my time and services to any wishing to learn magic, but especially the poor and downtrodden. After all, I know what it’s like to be living on the streets; I myself would still be stealing to get by, if Mr. Lonato had not shown me the kindness that he had.
Then again, the thievery never really stopped, much to my patron’s chagrin. I’ll still nick a coin to get by, and I won’t hesitate to take the most valuable treasures: knowledge, spell scrolls, books of lore, arcane secrets. Anything and everything that can teach more about this world and how to shape it to our benefit.
After all, knowledge is power, and with that power comes to opportunity to better oneself. We might think of spellcraft through the lens of legendary heroes and great battles, but even the simplest cantrips can make a world of difference in day-to-day life. That’s why I dedicated myself to spreading wizardry far and wide, even when it means “liberating” tomes and scrolls from the stingier mages.
However, my last bit of arcane larceny didn’t exactly pan out… It was horrible, actually. My infiltration of Yonder’s library was a disaster, and I was subsequently captured and imprisoned. The years that followed were unbearable. I was left chained to that wall. Tortured every day. Without peace. I don’t know for how long. Too long.
But one day, I was saved in an act of divine intervention from Vallus, the Goddess of Wisdom and Beauty herself. She sent an owl familiar, through which she worked powerful, divine magic. I was freed from that awful cell, and I was able to escape Yonder with her aid.
Vallus was not acting simply out of the kindness of her heart, however. The Oath of Peace is waning, and the future of Thylia with it. I’m told the Titans are growing more and more ambitious by the day, terrorizing the common folk and extorting them for sacrifices. The Oracle foresaw this, and prophesied heroes that will stand against them when the oath is no more. Somehow, I’m one of those destined heroes.
So Vallus has bid me to journey northward to meet an agent of the oracle, as well as my would-be comrades. There, some sort of trial awaits to prove our might. And after that, we’ll meet the Oracle herself. Vallus has it that the Oracle will tell us not only of our shared destiny, but me of the curse of doom that has plagued me all of my life.
To aid me in my travels, she gifted me the familiar used in my rescue to take as my own. He’s a cute, grey-white owl, and friendly besides. And while I can’t use him to cast anything near the workings of magic Vallus employed, I’m sure he’ll be helpful. I’ve taken to calling the little guy Soot.
To be honest, I’m not sure how I’ve gotten wrapped up in all of this. But I owe my life to Vallus. If not for her, I would still be suffering from unspeakable things. So if she needs me to run off and be some hero, I’ll do it gladly. Besides, if the Oracle knows something about my curse, maybe she knows how to break it. I would finally be able to go home without endangering anyone.
So I write this en route to the humble tavern where my destiny awaits. I wonder what kind of people these other “destined heroes” are? I hope they can hold their own, in any case. They’re going to need to, if they’re going to be near me and my curse long-term. But I suppose we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.