Beyond the Rebuilding: The teachings of Asdreth
Inside the book is badly damaged, almost looking like it has been burned, some pages are rotten, some are blackened as though by scorching. The surviving pages are hard and brittle. Some passages can be made out, but not much. The book is written with strange runic letters, but once understood, the text is written in the common language. This book was found in the hills by the coastline in an ancient elemental temple to the west of Cellam in Ticetia. Here is what can be read:
...sounds over time. But at that time the evil will arise again. This time, its search for the fire god will be successful. Bane of both mankind and the beasts of the field and the air, it takes shape as though a bat or a cloud. It seeks blood. This thing is a powerful servant, casting the shadow of its evil as though wings over all in its domain. It reigns supreme. It fears no mortal, yet mortal sits in its wake. Beware the one they call Yanng who is in its pay. This mortal desires power for his own sake, as the butterfly seeks the sunlight. Take heed of this warning the mortal is like poison in the food, he will enter the body and tear it down from within. Aside from this, keep...
This is followed by a small gap; possibly two paragraphs are missing where the words are blackened.
...inside with this vampire. The two will rise as a power too great for mortals. Only by the power of the fire god will he be defeated, even though he worships the god who will become his destruction. The need for blood and the need for power drive their ambition. The vampire will be awakened and will arise by the hand of his mortal friend, while he is first sought, then harboured by the hands of foolish mortals who can little comprehend the work that they do. This vampire is greater than any of them and greater than all of them. They do not know the path of death that they tread. Yet it is soon too late as the evil chases them. Many enemies they form, even to the point of igniting our worship and spreading the word of the fire god and my glorious brethren - be it unwittingly or freely.
The chase for the vampire is a fruitless one at first. The power of undeath is great, but not enough for this mighty lord of men. He seeks out power, and more for his sole glory. What takes place inside the mind of the undead is a mystery to all, yet he understands the minds of mortals utterly. With magic beside him and magic around him, he walks into the halls of the mighty and owns their souls. He sees through their transparent mortal hearts, and he knows the depth of their desires. They trust him completely and are easily taken by his magic and his disguise. Yet he feeds on their bodies, and he feeds on their minds, though they know it not. He controls all these mortals with an ungodly power that none can withstand, and this causes kingdoms to rock and people to flee. Outside this...
Next is more blackened scorching and several paragraphs are unreadable.
...in the house of his enemies. The foolish ones keep searching, though he is always ahead of them. He sees their hearts long before they find his body, even if they be elf or dwarf or mankind. If they are to find him, they must seek in the highest circles, where few survive and only the greatest of lords can comprehend. And even here the vampire is at home. He seeks this power and this authority. By the structures of mankind, he sets up his domain and seeks ever more power. He controls them yet they do not understand. He is inside their hearts and inside their souls.
And through all this, his mortal servant is always present. Such a man may become a prince or a lord, or even a king. But even then there is still the power of the vampire behind all this control. Ever the vampire survives and ever he owns the hearts of men. Only by the fire god can he be brought down. Yet I care not. For my realm, this powerful vampire is a useful servant, and he will worship me forever. If he is removed from the unholy power that he wields, then my followers are free and my brethren and I will become the most powerful of gods of mortal realms, as our destiny has foretold. Our future is sealed, only the mighty creator who dabbles not in this mortal realm can change this fate. And our pact with him will see us endure until the end of all time.
The vampire seeks more than just mortal hearts. He seeks lordship and power the like of which has never before been achieved. Even before we tore down the world to rebuild it, none had the power that this undead controls. Many sought it, yet none reached this height. The vampire is not mortal, and he endures until his end is brought to him by his enemies if any can prove themselves worthy. His survival through the break-up of the world displays the mighty power he wields, and his mortal companion displays it too. They are not undefeatable, but such a defeat would cost the victors dearly. I will not involve myself with such squabbles either. My fate is assured, and my brethren and I shall have dominion over the world forever. My followers will be subject to us whether this vampire lives or not.
These words have been long in preparation, but as the vampire's time draws near, he will read them. His own lust for both power and glory will fuel an anger towards me as he runs out of realms to control and people to dominate. He will seek more and will be unfulfilled. He will not stop until he achieves...
The rest of this document is unreadable.