The Land of Grimney - The Illustrated Adventures of Cora Pearl, aged 12

Wayland said you would like my help with a matter. The coin? Let me see it. I have been warned, so will be careful.

Ah. Interesting. It isn't magic as such, but reacts to certain substances. Something in your glove? Your hand?

It looks similar to something Count Dorian used. One of his advisers was a spy for a rival baron. Knowing the nature of his enemy and those he employed, Dorian had special coins made, and placed one in the hand of each adviser.

The spy was unmasked when the coin burned his hand and poisoned his blood. It was a most gruesome way to die.

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Truth is the strongest force in the universe.
It cannot be killed. It can be hidden, but will strive to stand revealed.
Deceit is as the morning mist when the light of truth rises.
Lies depend on lies, but truth stands for itself.

Count Dorian used to employ Jengus Theel to make his cursed objects. Let me see that coin. Yes, it looks like his shoddy work to me. When you make a cursed object you must fill it with temptation and desire so even the most cautious of victims are unable to resist touching it. A power hungry, miserable necromancer, how tiresome.

Vorsini Treylain, my child, you were once under the care of the Aquitani and will be again. My Lady Philomena wants you safe, she is one of the Protectors and I believe I see the same in her friend Gwenllian although we have not spoken yet. My Lady Princess will do wlhat she can to keep you safe... perhaps your beauty seeking friend too although I understand she was a little rude to Lady Philomena and her faithful human Urat and her Grace does not forget insults or betrayals easily. The tavern will be a sanctuary, the Ice Runes tell me so much, tell those who need protection to seek it there in the middle of that stinking swamp. Sometimes the Zoriat have the strangest sense of humour.

Evarne, thank you for your observations. However, I detect no magic, no curses associated with the coin. It appears to be purely chemical in it's action.

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Truth is the strongest force in the universe.
It cannot be killed. It can be hidden, but will strive to stand revealed.
Deceit is as the morning mist when the light of truth rises.
Lies depend on lies, but truth stands for itself.

Look closer friend, around the edge of the coinh the curse is inscribed in the tongue of the Elders. The coin itself perhaps is not magic but the words are a curse. It is Theel's work without a doubt. Shocking handwriting.

Perhaps your gift for truth has been taken from you again, have you annoyed your king by using the truth as a weapon again? Humility Master Prawdy, you must use that along with the truth. More likely though that Hobsbane water has purified any magic and that is why you could not detect it.

I have no wish to dispute with you Evarne. It serves no purpose. My only concern is that any threat this coin represents be evaluated, and suitable measures taken to protect our friends.

I do not wish to challenge your knowledge or wisdom. I see that it is important to you that these be acknowledged. So be it.

Now let us address the matter in hand and discover the true meaning of this coin and how it came to be here.

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Truth is the strongest force in the universe.
It cannot be killed. It can be hidden, but will strive to stand revealed.
Deceit is as the morning mist when the light of truth rises.
Lies depend on lies, but truth stands for itself.

Yes both of you are on the same side, there is no need to argue. Evarne you must not be rude and use heart readings against my friends.

Theel? Yes, there was a man of that name at the black pillar. It may have been him who made the coin but the assassin was sent by a woman. They talk of spies, assassins and cursed gifts. Looking at the coin Glosnik, I can see the curse written. Maybe you don't read this script, it is mainly used for curses but it says 'I give the holder of this coin to death, let his flesh wither and dry.'. Not very nice or very original. Thank goodness Vorsini didn't touch it with his bare hand! You need flesh contact to be cursed.
Vorsini has discovered the way to the pillar and he said something to me that got me thinking. I know, a mermaid who can think, an insult to nature. Anyway, it was the phrase darklight that got me thinking, it is a magic I know little about and while I was using the Mirror of Selene to try to clear my thoughts I managed to circumvent the charms the necromancers have used to hide the pillar from scrying eyes... Try to see if you can find the secret path to the pillar yourself Glosnik, it is not one I can show you, but you and the brothers need to see for yourself those who seek to bind Grimney into darkness. We must all stand against them, even us mermaids for this black will seep into the sea and then nothing but the Call of Narren will stop it.

Think on my words Glosnik, follow the darklight that shines from the pillar and you will find the secret path.

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