You can, as always, make these props look a lot cooler by soaking them in hot tea and drying them to give them an aged look.
For the solved version of the Erisu ritual, you might consider covering it with yogurt, stained with yellow food coloring or mustard to make it look like it’s been in a bird’s nest in the rafters for a hundred years. It’s a good idea to have a prop ready for the solved version, so that it doesn’t look like you’re just giving it to them because they couldn’t solve it themselves.
Elizabeth Mardel is clearly a Classical Sorceror. Her earlier notes describe several spells of interest. Most of them are fairly commonly known throughout West Highland’s Classical Sorceror community. These are Ghost Lights, Ghost Walkers, Understand Languages, Hide Item, Levitate, Locate Origin, Glue, and Fighting Prowess. She’s also researched John Isaacs’s Dampen Magic, normally a Mnemonic spell.
Her most interesting spell is a spell she worked on from 1883 to 1885. She calls it Lost Corner and it “attaches hidden pockets of extra angles to form them into a temporary refuge.” After 1885 she’s perfected the spell and begins to look for a means of making it permanent. Making magic permanent can’t be done solely with magic. Magic can extend the duration of a spell (and here she refers to Isaacs’s research) but true permanence requires a ritual, and a ritual requires a “place of power”.
A friend of hers--Colonel Courlander’s brother Aaron of the Order of the Astronomers--assisted her in researching ritual. She provided him with her research and he successfully created a magical ring whose effectiveness changed with the moon.
For some purposes, traveling to a place of power is sufficient, and she traveled to Brigit’s Springs to study ritual. She drew water from the well and enchanted it, and she created a powerful sword and dirk in this manner. But some things aren’t so easily carried. How can a place of power be created where one is needed? Great acts can sometimes create temporary influxes of power, as can great losses of life. Three or more ghosts can make a spirit circle and the ritual performed within it. But none of these options were available to her. She discovered that some places of power can be moved. Some move randomly and some in a predictable manner, but some can also be affected. A ritual she discovered from the wandering lady of the springs can “draw down the moon”. The ritual must be performed in a place of power, but the drawing down may be performed to any familiar location. Her notes describe a complicated, month-long ritual, new moon to new moon, that takes effect at the next full moon.
She did this in 1886, and created two permanent Lost Corners in Lisport Manor. One--her research room--could be entered by knowing the right place to enter. The other, which she calls a vault, can be entered by using a special instrument to create a sequence of notes while bearing an identifying seal. The instrument itself is part of the door, and enters the vault when used. It also leaves the vault automatically after a short period of time, though there is a means of returning it to the vault. For security, the exit sequence and the entrance sequence are different, and the instrument will not leave the vault if anyone or anything is near it. For safety reasons, there is a special means of returning the instrument to the vault if someone is trapped inside.
In 1893, there is an underground sorcery movement along the river towns, “the true family in Fork”. She joined the movement to spy on them for her brother-in-law. There is a mysterious hooded figure in the south who the Family has allied itself with, and this person has allied himself with the goblins. Elizabeth’s name in the Family is “Clayblood”.
The hooded man is searching for some sort of item of power. “A rusted watch, circled by red ants, that can turn back the world.” She also calls it “the timepiece of second chances”.
The family worship Nias (“the bishop of bone, the twin bishop, of the dry city”), Laten (“the rider who was not there, oblivion,”), and Hetae (“the hidden word, queen of insects”). Their secrets are kept in anagrams such as” the fit may rule” and “Lord Thew?”
In 1895, Elizabeth’s thoughts turn to demons. The Family are working on summoning demons to aid them in war. One of their targets are the Stigmas di Cristo. One of their targets is Colonel Courlander.
As the years move on, she becomes more and more frantic about finding a means to dispel a demon back to shadow. Initially, her research is on magic spells, and she creates a demonic clarity spell that temporarily frees an afflicted soul from possession. Any permanent removal eludes her, however. She becomes convinced that just as they may only be summoned by ritual, “the only way to send these creatures home to shadow is by ritual”.
It took her months of planning and weeks of ritual to draw down a place of power. When she discovers that a demon is attacking her family, how can she dispel it? Lisport is not on a ley node.
Besides researching ways of dispelling demons, she’s also trying to learn what demon the family will summon. At first she thinks it is a demon named Eliazu, who feeds on fear, “to bring down a great and learned warrior clan”, but after more spying she learns that Eliazu will be summoned to the Stigmas di Cristo under the control of a family member named “Redstar”.
Another demon that her sources mention is “Ebbeorieh. Temet Fiti? Fpiti? Feeds on argument, dissension. His name means discord.” Ebbeorieh is reached through some sort of magic door in Fork, but he is very dangerous and she concludes that neither the family nor the hooded man from the south will control him.
By 1898, she is certain that the demon targeting her family is Erisu, and it isn’t the family that’s summoning him but the hooded one, “the man in the hollowed log”. Erisu’s sigil is a cracked egg, with a spider coming out of it. He gains power from despair. She’s not sure if the demon will attack her brother-in-law or her sister Melissa.
Common anagrams include “a spider” and “aspired” for despair and “use spider air” and “sure I aspired” for despair Erisu. The final pages are filled with guesses about what the Erisu ritual’s anagrams really mean.
These demons are powerful creatures, attuned to “etheric fluctuations”, and can sense spells being cast as well as create powerful effects of their own when they are well-fed.
Pater patronum, libera nos a malo.
Mater patronum, libera nos a malo.
Mater Domini patronum, libera nos a malo.
Spiritus Sancti patronum, libera nos a malo.
Redemptor mundi, libera nos a malo.
Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Nolite timere.
Exorcizo te, omnis spiritus immunde, in nomine Dei Patris omnipotentis, et in nomine Jesu Christi Filii ejus, Domini et Judicis nostri, et in virtute Spiritus Sancti.
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, nolite timere.
Tu autem, diabole, effugiat, appropinquabit enim judicium Dei.
Praesta, Pater omnipotens, sine merito quod rogamus, qui fecisti ex nihilo qui te rogarent. Per Christum Dominum nostrum, diabole, egredior.
Pater Domini crucifixus patronum.
Regina Maria Trinitas patronum.
Aquae Sancti patronum.
Non illic resideat spiritus pestilens, non aura corrumpens: discedant omnes insidiae latentis inimici.
In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen
1. Old Hundred
2. Hallelujah, ’tis Done
3. I Need Thee Every Hour
4. Safe in the Arms of Jesus
5. The Lord will Provide
6. The Ninety and Nine
7. We Shall Meet By and By
8. Jesus of Nazareth Passeth By
9. Calling Now
10. Whosoever Will
11. I Am Praying for You
12. Where Are the Nine?
13. That will be Heaven for Me
14. Hold the Fort
15. The Gate Ajar for Me
16. Once for All
17. Knocking, Knocking, Who is There?
18. Rescue the Perishing
19. Ring the Bells of Heaven
20. Home of the Soul
21. What Hast Thou Done for Me?
22. We’re Going Home To-morrow
23. Jesus Loves Even Me
24. Rejoice and be Glad
25. Revive us Again
26. Something for Jesus
27. Pass Me Not
28. One more Day’s Work for Jesus
29. What a Friend We have in Jesus
30. Wondrous Love
31. “More to follow”
32. Bless Me Now
33. Where Hast Thou Gleaned To-day?
34. Ah, My Heart
35. All to Christ I Owe
36. Oh, how He Loves
37. Tell Me the Old, Old Story
38. The Prodigal Child
39. I Love to Tell the Story
40. Holy Spirit, Faithful Guide
41. The Light of the World is Jesus
42. The Holy Spirit
43. The Cross of Jesus
44. The New Song
45. Bear the Cross
46. Oh, Sing of His Mighty Love
47. Now Now, My Child
48. Every Day and Hour
49. The Wondrous Gift
50. Precious Promise
51. He Leadeth Me
52. When Jesus Comes
53. White as Snow
54. Just as I Am
55. To-Day
56. The Great Physician
57. Substitution
58. In the Presence of the King
59. I am Coming to the Cross
60. All the Way My Saviour Leads Me
61. Go Bury thy Sorrow
62. Come to the Saviour
63. I Hear Thy Welcome Voice
64. A Sinner Forgiven
65. Let the Tower Lights be Burning
66. Wishing, Hoping, Knowing
67. There is a Land of Pure Delight
68. In the Cross of Christ
69. Till He Come
70. Ye Must be Born Again
71. How Sweet the Name of Jesus
72. The Precious Name
73. It Passeth Knowledge
74. Oh, to be Nothing
75. Almost Persuaded
76. Fully Persuaded
77. Sweet Hour of Prayer
78. No Other Name
79. What Shall the Harvest Be?
80. There is Life for a Look
81. Yet There is Room
82. Only an Armour-Bearer
83. Pull for the Shore
84. Sun of My Soul
85. Jesus, Lover of My Soul
86. Rock of Ages
87. Even Me
88. Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
89. Yield Not to Temptation
90. I Left it All with Jesus
91. There is a fountain
92. The Home Over There
93. My Prayer
94. Only Trust Him
95. Yes, There is Pardon for You
96. Nothing but Leaves
97. Jewels
98. Go Work in My Vineyard
99. Depth of Mercy
100. When the Comforter Came
101. Coronation
102. O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
103. What Various Hindrances We Meet
104. So Let Our Lips and Live Express
105. The Mercy-Seat
106. Sinners, Turn
107. The Lord’s My Shepherd
108. O for a Faith That Will Not Shrink
109. Salvation! Oh the Joyful Sound!
110. Joy to the World
111. Alas and did My Saviour Bleed
112. My Soul, Be On Thy Guard
113. Not All the Blood of Beasts
114. Blest Be the Tie That Binds
115. Am I a Soldier of the Cross
116. Fount of Every Blessing
117. New Haven
118. Nearer, My God, To Thee
119. Arise, My Soul, Arise
120. Hark! The Voice of Jesus Crying
121. Stand Up! Stand Up For Jesus!
122. Work, For the Night is Coming
123. I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
124. Shall We Gather At the River
125. I Waited For the Lord My God
126. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
127. Come, Ye Sinners
128. Come, Holy Spirit
129. He Loved Me
130. The Christian’s Home
131. Did Christ O’er Sinners Weep?
132. Come to Jesus
133. O Happy Day
134. Salvation
135. Onward, Upward
136. More Love to Thee, O Christ
137. Wholly Thine
138. Draw Me Nearer
139. Fully Trusting
140. Hallelujah, What a Saviour!
141. Jesus Shall Reign
142. My Song shall be of Jesus
143. Windows open towards Jerusalem
144. Only a Step to Jesus
145. To the Work
146. All for Me
147. Immanuel’s Land
148. Dark is the Night
149. Hear the Call
150. Ho! Reapers of Life’s Harvest
151. Joy in Sorrow
152. The Heavenly Land
153. Call Them In
154. The Half was Never Told
155. Oh, Where are the Reapers
156. I Bring my Sins to Thee
157. Song of Salvation
158. Dare to be a Daniel
159. Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing
160. At the feet of Jesus
161. A Little While
162. The Solid Rock
163. Just a Word for Jesus
164. Look Away to Jesus
165. Trusting Jesus, That is All
166. Who's on the Lord’s Side?
167. Remember Me
168. Behold, the Bridegroom Cometh
169. Whiter than Snow
170. Blessed River
171. My High Tower
172. I Stood Outside the Gate
173. Hold Fast till I Come
174. Scatter Seeds of Kindness
175. Onward, Christian Soldiers
176. Close to Thee
177. Seeking to Save
178. I am Sweeping Thro’ the Gates
179. Jesus is Mine
180. Hallelujah, He is Risen!
181. A Crown of Rejoicing
182. His Word a Tower
183. In the Silent Midnight Watches
184. We shall Sleep, but not forever
185. Watchman, Tell Me
186. Give me the Wings of faith
187. The Land of Beulah
188. Room for Thee
189. Home at Last
190. The Mistakes of my Life
191. Come; for the feast is Spread
192. One Sweetly Solemn Thought
193. Refuge
194. Oh, what are You Going to Do?
195. Art Thou Weary?
196. The Valley of Blessing
197. Come, ye Disconsolate
198. Arise and Shine
199. Shall we Meet?
200. It is Well with My Soul
201. Jesus is Mighty to Save
202. What shall I do to be Saved?
203. Eternity!
204. Sweet By-and-By
205. Expostulation
206. Cross and Crown
207. There’s a Light in the Valley
208. The Palace of the King
209. Out of the Ark
210. Waiting and Watching for Me
211. I Love They Kingdom, Lord
212. Come, Sinners, Haste
213. Amazing Grace
214. Hasten, Sinner
215. Faith
216. Olive’s Brow
217. Come, My Soul
218. A Place in that Land
219. The Shining Shore
220. Waiting by the River
221. Thine the Glory
222. Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
223. Revive Thy Work
224. I’ve found a friend
225. He will Hide Me
226. Thine, Jesus, Thine
227. Out of Darkness into Light
228. Jesus Calls Thee
229. My Redeemer
230. Jesus Christ is Passing by
231. Come near Me
232. Hiding in Thee
233. A Light upon the Shore
234. Consecration
235. The Gospel Bells
236. Joy to the World
237. Ye must be Born again
238. Cut it Down
239. Christ Returneth
240. Why do You Wait?
241. Is Jesus able to Redeem?
242. Verily, Verily
243. The Lamb is the Light thereof
244. How Happy are We
245. Blessed Hope
246. Why not To-night?
247. Over the Line
248. Save, Jesus, Save!
249. Tempted and Tried
250. We’re Marching to Zion
251. I cannot Tell how Precious
252. Beautiful Valley of Eden
253. I’ll Stand by You
254. Saved by the Blood
255. Come now saith the Lord
256. I’m going Home
257. Jesus Only
258. Christ for Me
259. Will Jesus find us Watching?
260. Blessed Home-Land
261. To be There
262. Crown Him
263. Fix your Eyes upon Jesus
264. The Heavenly Canaan
265. Oh, I am so Happy in Jesus
266. The Gospel Trumpet’s Sounding
267. The Hem of His Garment
268. “None of self and all of Thee”
269. Can it be Right?
270. The Smitten Rock
271. Thou art Coming!
272. Only Trusting in my Saviour
273. There is a Green Hill far away
274. Forever with Jesus there
275. Ten Thousand Times
276. Singing all the Time
277. Mine!
278. “Sing and Pray!”
279. Where is my Boy to-night?
280. Only for Thee
281. It is finished!
282. Wonderful Words of Life
283. What must it be to be There
284. Have you any Room for Jesus?
285. There’s a Work for each of Us
286. Jesus, only Jesus
287. Paradise
288. Rejoice with Me
289. Triumph By and By
290. I am Trusting Thee
291. Good News
292. Evening Prayer
293. Sound the High Praises
294. Pressing On
295. There is Joy among the Angels
296. Over the Ocean Wave
297. Memories of Earth
298. Must I Go and Empty Handed
299. My Faith still Clings
300. The Pearl of Greatest Price
301. Faint, yet Pursuing
302. Ho, every One that Thirsteth
303. On Jordan’s Stormy Banks
304. We’ll Work till Jesus comes
305. Beulah Land
306. I’m a Pilgrim
307. He Knows
308. When we get Home
309. “Come”
310. Not Half has ever been Told
311. Are you coming Home to-night?
312. Where is Thy Refuge?
313. Brightly Gleams our Banner
314. My Jesus, I Love Thee
315. He that Believeth
316. Father Take my Hand
317. Parting Hymn
318. Mercy’s Free
319. Spirit of Truth
320. Awake and Sing the Song of Moses
321. From all that Dwell Below the Skies
322. Ashamed of Jesus
323. Stay, Thou Insulted Spirit
324. O Holy Spirit Come
325. Come Every Joyful Heart
326. Looking Home
Melody’s diary begins like any teen-age debutante’s diary. She’s very proud that she’s “figured out how to play the piano”, and compares not playing it to being “lost in darkness”. She’s learning all of the songs in the family missal because she doesn’t feel she’s ready to play. The diary unexpectedly darkens in the autumn of 1897. One moment she’s talking about the view of the garden from her window in September, then a few weeks later she discovers her fiancé is dead.
She begins keeping her diary in 1894 when her sister marries John Alegar of Aletown. She dotes on her nephew, Meril Alegar and at the same time she’s jealous of her twin sister, whom the boy was named after. Why can’t Melody be a boy’s name too?
In the spring of 1896--May 3--she notes in passing that her father is worried about the night trolls crossing the Leather Road. On May 29, she writes that some goblins are attacking from the west. Her father is very busy, organizing the town and neighboring towns to fight the creatures.
Her mother’s nephew Alan arrives in July, for on July 8 Melody writes that he is uncouth and annoying. Alan is a volunteer soldier from Brightwood Crossing (which had been overrun by night trolls) in her father’s regiment and he often stays in Lisport Manor. Melody’s attitude changes over the next few months, however, and on February 17, 1897, they are engaged to be married.
There are battles near Lisport throughout the summer and autumn, and her father’s army is victorious. She writes that her father keeps regular council with his lieutenants, and at other times with her mother and her aunt. In these, Alan sometimes takes part.
In the spring of 1897, after a decisive victory around March 31, her father takes his regiments down to the Leather Road to assist the other regiments that have formed throughout Highland. She thinks he’s going to try to retake Brightwood Crossing, and restore the Mardels and Courlanders who fled the goblin hordes. Alan is going, and she’s worried.
Alan leaves on April 27, 1897. Most of her diary afterwards is about her sisters, her young nephew, and her mother and aunt. Her aunt is often gone, and during July leaves for over a week to travel north. When she asks her mother about it, her mother tells her to pray for her aunt. So she does.
In late September she becomes sick, and stays often in her bedroom. During this period she gains a friend named Robin, whom she speaks to late into the night. Robin sympathizes with her about her fiancé’s absence. Robin fears that maybe her father doesn’t approve of the marriage.
In late October she discovers that Alan died a month earlier. Her entries begin to be more incoherent at this time, and even worse after her father returns in December. She writes that he hates her, that he deliberately killed Alan just like in the bible. Her mother is always taking his side, and she’s afraid for her life.
The last entry is on December 25. She writes that Christmas is dead to her, followed by some undated incoherent ramblings about spiders, her father, Alan, and “this stupid war”. The last page repeats “a spider” several times, and finally “why, Melody?”