Oblivion Mod:Order of the Dragon/Cinia Mercius' Records

Book Information Cinia Mercius' Records
ID	xx045913
	40		1.0
Skill	Alchemy
Locations
Found in the following locations: In the library and main house of the Order Castle

Cinia Mercius' Records

by Cinia Mercius

A journal detailing Cinia Mercius' days at the Order Castle during the plague that wiped out the knights

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Icefall 13, 3E 155

It's just hard to believe the extent the epidemic has already reached. Of course, I was surprised when I was asked by the Venerable Order of the Dragon for my help, but after my arrival in the Order Castle, I now realize that a staggering number of Knights have succumbed to disease - as their own healers had fallen victim to the rapidly spreading disease, it allowed the unwavering pride and stubbornness of these paladins to engage in outside help in the form of my person. But this comes too late for half the friars.

Two burly knights have arrived here with me. While we waited in the outer courtyard for our instructions, they told me that they were stationed at a small base on the border to Skyrim, but they had to abandon it, because they were obviously needed here urgently. Despite their lively eyes, the concern that weighed on their faces was hard to miss. The Order seemed to be worse off than I previously thought.

Icefall 14, 3E 155

Even if I do not like it, I have to admit that this plague is a complete mystery to me. I have earned my livelihood exploring the various diseases and pains and combat for 43 years, but never have I gotten so far to face something like this, nor can I explain how an epidemic could take hold in this seclusion with little contact with the outside world on foot. In the swamps of Black Marsh, I would not be surprised, but here, in the far north of Cyrodiil, the very idea seemed far-fetched.

The Grandmaster of the Order has apparently been absent for little while; he is probably on a mission. His deputy and the remaining knights are friendly to me, but I'm sure they're concealing something from me.

Icefall 15, 3E 155

My attempts at treatment have no effect. One knight after another dies a painful death, and I can seemingly do nothing but watch. Also, this disease seems to override quarantine areas made up specially by me. For the first time in many years I feel a certain desperation germinate in me...

I was able to record a small success at least, if not against the plague. The Knights have finally agreed to burn all the dead, rather than buried in their crypt as before.

When I took a short walk across the courtyard to escape the oppressive air of the quarantine area, I discovered the two knights with whom I had arrived at the castle yesterday. They dug a hole in the outer courtyard for the unspeakable fire. It may have been the foggy mist or distance, but they seemed not as stocky as two days ago and their exhausted panting drowned out the icy winds of the Jerall Mountains after each shovelful.

Icefall 16, 3E 155

Four more warriors just died under my hands. The clinical picture is always the same:

On the first day you will be afflicted by fever, headache and body aches.

Already on the second day, festering ulcers and black stains begin to form all over the body. Not another day later, the infected begin to vomit black blood and maggots, and the festering points on the body break down. A few hours later, death occurs.

To my horror I realized that among the dead were the two knights with whom I had arrived here three days ago. Both corpses were true breeding grounds for maggots and larvae of all kinds, and the place where the heart should be was now a viscous, jet-black mass. The stench is unbearable, as if they had died some weeks ago.

Icefall 17, 3E 155

I have just taken the Deputy Grandmaster of the Order to task. I could not easily believe that what I was told when I arrived, in fact was everything.

The paladin seemed far more desperate than myself, which in view of the order of knights now shrunken to a puny remnant was certainly no surprise. So he told me how the outbreak came about.

The sprawling crypt already served as a burial ground before the fort was chosen as the Dragon Order's headquarters. In addition to the deeper dungeons it is the only part of the fortress that was never renewed or renovated, so it is probably in a somewhat dilapidated condition.

Deep in the crypt, the Order preserves a shrine containing the remains of some knight fallen in the past. They consider the body as a sanctuary and seek to pray to him regularly. In addition, he is guarded around the clock.

The shrine guard was allegedly the first one who came down with the disease. I guess I should look around in the crypt. There are only a few knights alive, and some of them are already showing initial symptoms. Maybe I'll find some answers.

I have not come far. Something in this crypt is not right, something that scares me. I cannot go in there again.

Icefall 18, 3E 155

They are all dead. The last surviving knight hanged himself in order to avoid the pain of illness. I'm not a religious person, but I cannot explain what happened with my knowledge and experience. I have no choice but to return to the Imperial City and report to the Council that I have failed. That all of the greatest knights of the empire were carried off by a plague that really should not even exist. Although I myself am very well-protected by the years of application and taking remedies against any infection, it still surprises me that I was spared from the plague.