A Princesses' Journal Found

Another installment of Lirael Glimmereye's journal as he progresses as a Yuan-ti Cleric of the Twilight Domain/Rogue. He is a character in a D&D 5e High Fantasy home brew adventure campaign. Today's installment is learning from the Princesses' journal that he found in the Dreamveil.

Past Journal Entries:

1. Lirael Glimmereye - Backstory
2. The Prophets of Minwa
3. A Journey Into the Dreamveil
4. The Silent Struggle
5. An Answer Well Received
6. The Headmaster's Assistance
7. A Surprising Revelation and Realization

Ah, at last, a moment to delve into the journal discovered within the Dreamveil, concealed ingeniously in the piano's secret compartment. It unveils a trove of fascinating revelations.

Princess Helena Garland's Journal
Image created by Microsoft Bing Image Creator - 2023

The journal discloses the true names of two swords belonging to her father, the king, but as I learned later being held by the Princess Helena. The first, one created with a magical wooden blade, was forged with the fiery essence of a Phoenix. Helena often wielded this blade, named EmberCleave. When coated with her blood, it transformed into a more potent weapon. The sword, darkened with faint red lines, could conjure flames of varying intensities, capable of melting metal. However, accessing its higher powers inflicted injury upon Helena.

The second sword, an ice-crafted blade from the sword hilt and waters of the Drowned King, emanated a sorrowful aura. Kept in her father's vault for many years, it was lonely for a hero worthy of wielding it and could only reveal its true name to a wielder it deemed worthy. Helena took it from the vault and is searching for the person who is worthy of it.

Helena, bonded to EmberCleave, experienced a burning sensation whenever handling it. She dubbed it "Stingy," since it wouldn't let her bond with it as she had already bonded with the other blade. It is still searching for the one who is worthy of wielding it against the powers of evil. 

One of the quirks of this sentient blade is that it embodies the essence of its previous wielder, who it appears thought that monogamy was paramount. Even though the Sword acknowledged that King Garland was the ruler of the lands and allowed him to use more of the sword's magical abilities, but even the King was not the one foretold to be worthy of the sword and it would not provide him it's true name.

The journal also recounts a confrontation with a dark knight named Joshua, a former member of the king's knights turned death knight and oath-breaker. She never completely trusted him, there was always something off about his flat aspect. When he somehow came into possession of a sword named Agren's Night, Joshua suddenly harnessed its power to channel life force and create undead. 

His defection from the King's Court, stemmed from an emotionless demeanor that transformed into sinister delight upon acquiring the blade. Now clad in demonic armor and having delved into forbidden practices, Joshua follows a mysterious figure associated with a white bone-like violin and golden strings. When Helena saw them at the Palace one night, she attempted to stop them, but the haunting melody from the violin immobilized Helena, preventing her from confronting Joshua and they walked away from her and were not seen again.

Despite the perils detailed in the journal, I learn that Helena is still alive through Landriss, but seldom present in the castle. Respecting the privacy of the living, I contemplate returning the journal to the king during our forthcoming castle visit if I see him or if I do meet Helena at some point in the future, I will give it back to her. It seems inappropriate to retain the personal chronicles of someone still among the living.