Ancient Book of Forbidden Knowledge

Type	Book
Discovered By	Saffron Recluse
Discovery Date	Feb 24 2008
Discovery Location	Suuk, Beluaterra
Abilities	(unknown)
Current Owner	(unknown)

Lore

While hunting for some food in the region of Suuk, a badlands in the northern parts of Mesh, a freewoman known as "Saffron" came across a small horde of monsters. Expecting a chance to collect some trinkets and maybe a few coins, Saffron readied a few arrows and the blade she had fashioned from a piece of ruined armour.

Soon the woman found herself involved in a fracas much more difficult than her first estimate. Their leader was a really big, ugly beast. Still, her blows were true, and only a few managed to flee. The big one was last to fall, yet what he 'fell' for most was a ploy the girl had come to use against his kind almost habitually. As she worked on the last few, she kept an eye on the arrows that had dispatched the first few. She watched for chances to rip the missiles out of their victims with her left hand, striking down the witless monsters with the blade in her right.

Facing the last one, she feigned a loss of vigour, backing away at times, but toward a niche she had decided on earlier. Her final 'stumble' put her back-down between the stones that would both protect and brace her now. The creature lunged at her, and she turned her weapons up toward it. The arrows torn several holes into his gut while her blade held back its face from hers. Slobbering and growling, it retreated, then lunged at her again, this time 'taking' the blade with its eye. Saffron pushed upward, deep into the thing's head, ending its assault.

Now the woman could scavenge this monster-crèche. She found some trinkets and coins, but also the "Ancient Book of Forbidden Knowledge". She could see that it looked important. Skipping the meal she had earlier been seeking, she looked for signs of others nearby. After a while she found the camp of Sir Arnulf Fiddler and sought his advice. She called to a guard, who understandably had doubts that this disheveled vagabond might own something worth Noble attention. The guard sent for this humble scribe to take a look.

And so I have, and the volume does indeed seem authentic and the woman Saffron appears to be the first to bring it to light after many years. The language is similar to archaic Meshan and the ink is quite unusual, not much like anything in current use. The parchment is aged and very thin. When Lord Arnulf is available this tome will be brought to his attention.