The Krytan Chronicler: Volume I
New to book carts and libraries across Tyria: 'The Krytan Chronicler' is the debut work from young author Eckhart Orlan, a human from Divinity's Reach.
The book, which chronicles the year-long cross-Tyria adventure Orlan describes as an "Engineering Pilgrimage", hit shelves this week, pressed and published by the Durmand Priory.
Though early critics have dismissed the book for detailing places and phenomena that are already widely documented, Orlan explains he tried to capture the more personal moments of his journey, focusing on the colourful strangers he encountered traversing the continent.
Officials from the Durmand Priory commented that the book would have a place within their Archives, despite its lack of new academic value. "It is important that we, as historians, preserve not only the memories of our great legends and empires, but also of the ordinary Tyrians who have striven and sacrificed for the betterment of the many."
Excerpts from "The Krytan Chronicler":
Chapter 1:
...A rush of blood to my head almost strong enough to knock me out is how I'd best describe my embarrassment at discovering Boston's nobility. My immediate reaction was one of fear, as though I had committed some grievous insult on the hierarchy of my countrymen. Ordering a noble around as if he were my bodyguard, it was unspeakable!
Covered in dirt and centaur blood, he wasn't the kind of noble I always pictured cooped up in their palaces with little need to get their slippers muddy. But it was thanks to Boston I realized my own hypocrisy as an explorer and a researcher. In research, nothing is certain; no theory or rule is ever to be trusted 100%, they must always be tested and hammered like steel, until they are either broken or made stronger. Why shouldn't that apply to people?...
Chapter 4:
...As Skoll and I dispatched the last of the pirates (which is to say: as Skoll dispatched the last of the pirates and I made notes on Norn Mesmerism), a shrouded figure approached and caught us both off guard. The beaming sun above us seemed to detract little from the hooded Charr's ability to surprise us. I remember feeling not fear, but an unsettling certainty that nothing Skoll or I did could stop him from sliding in behind me with a dagger
Nihlus Duskstalker: it was the same black-clad Ash Legion thief from the night before, and thankfully, he was on our side...
Chapter 6:
...Even in the cave, the air was thick with smoke and toxins. "That's the last of them!" someone declared; a small victory to raise our spirits, but it didn't last long. As we were regrouping, the alarm sounded. The air's toxicity had passed the threshold, and Captain Magnus gave the city-wide order to evacuate.
We sprinted towards the city gate, but the air was so thick, it felt like breathing underwater without a mask. I couldn't help but wonder if that was how Quaggan felt to live on the surface. Shaking my head, I tried to focus. Nihlus and Johiadi were right in front of me, when I saw Alessa collapse in the distance. A few of us stopped to help her to her feet when a loud 'CRACK' came from the sky and then... darkness...
Chapter 10:
...Watching Marya dispatch Sons of Svanir was akin to watching a sculptor chip away at a block of stone. If you've never seen it before, you would think they were crazy, or drunk, or both, until you realize the beauty and precision in every strike. If slaying is like sculpting, then Marya was the 'Malchor' of slaying 'Sons of Svanir', which she took a disturbing amount of pride in.
I'd like to say it was a harrowing journey, surviving ambushes and roadblocks in the foothills, but to be honest the trip mostly consisted of me and Ciara engaging in polite conversation whilst Marya roared and charged at bandits in the distance. Even that old raven of hers still managed to do more fighting than us...
OOC:
This book is an IC version of the Krytan Chronicler youtube videos. All of the events from the videos are retold in this book, allowing any characters to have knowledge of those events IC. You can watch all Episodes of the Krytan Chronicler here:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuhKPciSdMdrZ40Lj8tVNTsFnsvlMQUks