The Varied Writings of Abbas Alamouti

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Illul 21st, IY 7789

It's all so much. Just too much. The poor children. I prayed so much today, it was nearly hourly. I prayed to Izdu, and I prayed to the Mother, and I prayed to the Martyrs, I prayed and prayed and prayed and I'm not sure what else to do. The strifes here are so abundant, so ever-present. From crisis to crisis, and that appears to be all that people know here. How can such injustice exist? Will it ever end? Every sorrow I witnessed before coming here pales in comparison.

And now, they're here. I just know it. It could not be anyone else. I've never heard anything good regarding them, not a single thing, just nightmarish tales of sins so atrocious, that they could have only been committed by fiends so depraved that they forsake their very souls. I can only hope that the people of the Well heed my warnings. Yet my heart quivers with fear and doubt. Oh Izdu, make them see reason, make them acknowledge the signs before their very eyes. Prepare them for the wearying weeks ahead. Grant them the wisdom and will required to repel the sinner, the heretic, the enemy.

Auntie was right. Uncle was right. Coming here was a giant mistake!

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Illul 22nd, IY 7789

Everyone's so angry and sad. I don't blame them. Yet I hope brighter days are ahead! At least they were able to assist one of the Wellfolk. It sounded like it, anyway. I couldn't do much else but pray and cry, myself. I wouldn't know what else to do. I've not much else to say? It just hurts to think about.

Orin messed with the wrong people by promoting the wrong product. I don't really get it but now he's waylaid by constant ladder-based schemes and it's really weird. They even killed some poor gnome to get at him. I think he should pray for Izdu's guidance and strive to be more careful with his recommendations in the future you never know who you might offend. For example you shouldn't recommend Cogsworth orbs to geomancers they'll get real mad I learned that lesson the hard way even though the Cogsworth orbs are far more conveniently sized than the old ones who can carry such a humongous orb around not me?

Maqqari brought a workbench over to the dorm it's awesome it's just the right size for me though I wish it was adjustable so it could be sized for big people too because I want to share it. I really want to build my ice machine but I'm not sure where to start and I kind of realized that to make ice for an entire town it'd have to be really big and I've only built really small things so far so that's not great. I have to start somewhere so maybe I can just build a tiny ice machine first and sell it to bartenders to cool off their drinks that'd be neat even if alcohol is a sin. I don't judge though some sins are small and holy in a way Peyton doesn't believe me though I think he's judgmental.

Also some shirtless guy farted a lot at the Krak and it was awful I've never smelled anything so foul and I work with pipes! Nobody seemed to care much except for myself and Peyton and Rashid the mercenary. Maybe people thought it was just silly but his gas was so bad that you could see it and it was red and green I don't think that's normal. I tell a lot of officials about the strange things I see and most of them don't seem to care at all they probably think I'm making things up but I don't lie that's a sin. One day they're going to ignore another of my tips and they're going to regret it when it blows up right in their face! It'll be real embarrassing if it's a giant fart.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Illul 23rd, IY 7789

I finally got down to some tinkering and invented a bunch of things the problem is that they're either things that people don't want or stuff that is utterly sinful! So yeah my fishing rod is absolutely awesome but nobody wants one there's not much to fish around here. I guess you could try catching some sand sharks but I'm not sure if it's sturdy enough for that. It isn't sand shark spawning season anyway so it doesn't really matter.

I really need to invent a real popular product something that everybody wants but all these materials cost so much around here! So reaching that goal is in itself very expensive. So I need to invent a money making scheme for my money making scheme. Izdu guide me in this! I hear brewers make ten thousand a week around here I don't know if that's true though and it has to be magic can't just use (SINFUL!!!) hops for that. When I figure it all out I'll shower the Disc in charity never seen before such bounty and succor for one and all that everything will be okay after all charity begets charity so then everyone will start doing it and all suffering shall end!

I really should meditate before writing maybe even during it? I can't even read this myself not easily anyway it's a real mess.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Instructions for Meditation

1. The Song, is the Song, is the Song.

2. Assume the position. The form must be like the bountiful gifts of the Wyld, their roots Below, their blooms Above.

3. Focus on the breathing. Find purpose in concentration. The concentration's purpose is not concentration.

4. Let the mind wander. The Wanderer judges not the steps, for They must wander. Each thought is a step. Each step must be taken. They are part of the Song. They must flow like the Edutu.

5. Listen to the Song. To listen to the Song is to observe the █████. The Song is infinite. It is questions that answer themselves. It is answers that question themselves. It is.

6. Question your mentor, for you are your mentor.

7. The numbers are with meaning for they are endless.

8. The numbers are without meaning for they are endless.

9. The Song, is the Song, is the Song.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Illul 24th, IY 7789

I finally got my contract, but it also has a title tied to it. Thankfully it's not a fancy one. I'm just a "Contractor". Izdu teaches humility and propriety in all things. I'm just a simple boy and I don't want to be called "Pipemaster" or something like that. Okay so that isn't so fancy but still. They give titles for just about everything around here and I don't really get it. I just want to work!

They already started complaining that I'm not working but coming up with great ideas take time, and the turbines still aren't here anyway so what else can I do other than sketch and compose? Baublium isn't that common around here either so I can't really experiment much with it. I kind of grew too used to just being able to grab some. Maybe Pakas will give me a discount? Maybe not. I'm just a student!

They want me to build a hammam, too. I'm so excited about that, and I can't wait to get started. I'm going to work so hard. I'm going to perfect the bathing experience! The humidity and temperature have to be just right. Many books have been written about this, and sure I'll read them but I'm pretty sure I can do even better than that. Tradition is important but it's also important to not get stuck within it. If there's a better temperature for hygiene then I'm going to discover it!

I hope nobody will take offense if I suggest that the peshtemals be made out of ramie! It's just prudent and will save a lot of money!

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Illul 25th, IY 7789

I really don't want to leave. I want to help with the district so the poor people outside the walls can have homes and sustenance.

Yet I have to. Some creep keeps stalking me and threatening to kill me. I've not even said one ill word to him and I even apologized, yet he just keeps at it. I'm not really safe anywhere because he came to the Hope and told me that I have "two days left".

I tried telling people about it but almost nobody listened. Only Kasu of the Balladeers and Ibrahim of the Fourth did. Surprisingly many treated it as a joke. Eva doing that hurt a lot. She even asked me for blood, as if it wasn't painfully obvious what she's going to use it for. I don't think she's a friend.

Someone told me that the creep joined up with the Legion. They actually let a guy join after he'd told that he murders my people for money! So what can I do? Pretty much nobody listens and even the ones that do can't probably do much.

I'll just have to leave tomorrow. I really wish I didn't, but if I stay here, then he'll just kill me, no matter what happens.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Illul 26th, IY 7789

It's done. I terminated my contract and I'm staying with auntie.

Her latest project is really loud but I'd rather sleep here than just get murdered for no good reason, not that there ever is one. People asked me to stay and hire a bodyguard but not only is that sinful, I also don't have any money for that. Those contracts are really expensive.

Orin and Rashid helped me get back. Orin even kind of lives here now. I guess I can pay him to teleport me somewhere if I get bored or just need to buy materials from elsewhere. I wanted to work with Rashid on the district but that'll probably never happen.

Not many people seemed surprised to see me back. I guess it was bound to happen.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Illul 31st, IY 7789

Auntie's prototype is way too loud! I don't understand how you're supposed to get energy from sound, anyway. All that noise just makes me feel tired! Okay so it doesn't help that I can't sleep much at all because of all whoom and the zzzap and the oompah. Also I think those sounds are strictly aurally incompatible. I didn't test it but I don't associate them with each other. I think you need compatibility to produce energy. I don't even know what I'm ranting about but I haven't slept okay.

Sanaz brought a message from the fat man. Apparently they dropped off those turbines already. Now I'm probably going to regret this but I'm going to sally forth and take a look at them! The people of the Well are really incompetent so they're probably going to try reversing the flow or something and there'll be a giant explosion unless someone tells them not to do that. Also if some creepo threatens to kill me again I'm just going to hire another creepo to outcreep them and maybe that'll make them leave me alone. I just want to help out I don't know why anyone would take offense at that.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 1st, IY 7789

Orin has some guy called Igor living with him. People told me that he was living in the toilet, as a prank! Instead, in actuality, he occasionally comes up from the Arteries! I guess he kind of lives between places. The Arteries have mutated him terribly! Anyway I want to interview him because maybe that'd make for a great thesis. I could just call it investigative academia or something. People like reading interviews with intriguing people better than the regular fare anyway. If it's popular enough to make some money, I'll give it all to Igor and he can buy medicine for his horrible mutations.

Writing like this is far better I can actually read what I wrote!

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Dear R. Chasen,

"The Adventures of Young Marcellus" is my favorite illustrated periodical! I have a bunch of questions. I'm visiting Ephia's Well and they have a museum named after Old Marcellus. Is Young Marcellus Old Marcellus but young, or is he the son of Old Marcellus? Are burgers the source of Young Marcellus' powers, or are they a blessing from the Axe? Is Young Marcellus going to get married, I think he should and he should marry the Banafsian washerwoman he met during his seventh adventure because she seemed really nice and by far the most suitable for him also what is her name?

I couldn't find an address for Tomas. Despite his moniker, he doesn't appear to live in Frostport? Are you roommates? Please let him know that I love his drawings. He knows a lot about the male anatomy! Though I've never seen guys like that in Ephia's Well. It's mostly weirdos. I was kind of disappointed.

Anyway, please keep making more, it's always the highlight of my week!

Your biggest fan,

Abbas

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 2nd, IY 7789

Today I learned about big fashion. Apparently it's all about buttplates and dressing up like a rat. So yeah I don't really get big fashion though the rat costume was cute? I didn't know that fancy people get together and dress up as rats that's surprising. There was also this suit made entirely out of glass and it was just a cacophony straight out of my nightmares? I'm going to invent ear goggles.

I kind of have to invent something big something really popular I keep inventing really niche stuff that's hard to sell like my lock solver which also needs a catchier name. My fishing rod would be all the rage if there was anything to fish. I haven't made any progress on my ice machine and I feel really disappointed in myself but I can only believe that one day I'll figure it out! Then everyone will be nice and cool.

I'm really unfocused tonight? I was doing yoga and my mind just kept drifting? I don't know what my thesis should be about?

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 3rd, IY 7789

They've got me working on the hammam again and they want a statue of Zol Nur as the centerpiece! Well the elven mayor does I don't know about the new tragically appointed human mayor. Zol Nur didn't really seem to want a statue of himself which makes sense he's very humble also he said that it might be blasphemous? I want to ask the Temple if it's okay but the elven mayor just said "we're paying you". That's weird.

Not sure where I'd have the statue anyway maybe in the tepidarium. Ephia's Well doesn't have a whole lot of money so I'll probably have to combine the dressing room with the frigidarium? That'll save some money and they do that elsewhere anyway if someone's offended too bad my budget stinks! Besides a caress of cool air right as you enter is simply pleasant who wouldn't like that?

Also I saw the Crown Princess and the Majordomo and some guy and it was awesome. I don't know who the guy was but he must've been important also everyone was scared of him. They were in town to meet the human mayor who was out doing "boardwork"? He took so long that they left. They were understandably very disappointed. If the Crown Princess was meeting me I'd drop everything and bathe like ten times in a row in quick succession but I'd do it so quickly that I'd be in time. I guess some people have weird priorities!

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 4th, IY 7789

The funeral was so sad and there were so many mourners! I guess a mayor is bound to know a lot of people so it makes sense. I didn't really know what to do since I've never been to a fancy funeral so I just sat and prayed quietly. They didn't kick me out so that must've been according to decorum!

Zol Nur gave me a job which is good because I haven't had a lot of those. It might pay pretty well so maybe I don't have to skip supper this week. Fasting is a sacred duty but I can't sleep that well if I completely skip supper my tummy keeps rumbling and it's really loud. Also maybe I can do double the charity?

I'm also writing my thesis or maybe it'll just be an essay they don't really tell length requirements for these. I hope people like it it's about a really important subject!

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 5th, IY 7789

I have a really bad migraine today so I'm just staying at the dorm. I've been praying to the Mother to ease the pain but it's hard to concentrate on that I just feel like laying comatose in my bunk I hope that She'll forgive me but it's really hard to pray like this.

I can't help myself though so I've been reading I know that I should just rest but it gets so boring just laying down doing nothing. Some ancient texts say that there are twelve crones I know one of them is obsessed with togas but what are the rest of them obsessed with? Crones are dangerous maybe I shouldn't read about them.

I crushed a coldstone in some water and then doused my towel in it but that didn't help now I just feel cold like really cold I'm going to sleep.

[Fabulous Secret Powers]

Qdim 6th, IY 7789

I met a man by the name of Harry Halberd who true to his name wanted to buy the amazing halberd being sold exclusively here in Ephia's Well and which despite being sinful is dedicated to the Sultana. That sentence was an absolute mess let me breathe deeply for a moment. Okay, there we go. Harry kept saying that he isn't from Alkab, but I'm not sure if I believe that. He was just a little too insistent about it. I visited Alkab once, but I was a tiny babe, so I can't remember much at all.

One day I will visit all the communities of the Disc, including mysterious Ptshteka and the ever-dangerous Yaxatan. Okay, so, maybe not the latter because I hear they're all heretics and they sacrifice any and all visitors to their (false!!!) "gods" of blood! Maybe I can visit in secret so they won't even know that I'm there. But then I wouldn't be able to dine with the locals to try out their cuisine, which is one of the main reasons to visit any place, really.

I wonder if Halberton is a real place. It sounds very silly.