Meanwhile, Krahe was pressing on in her experimentation. She had yet to discern a method to impart lingering incendiary properties onto a high-propagation explosive — that is to say, to develop a “burning smoke” effect. It was not for lack of trying, she could almost hear the creaking of her Six Maxims Thauma bending as far as it could possibly go, but there was only so much one could do on the spot. Nonetheless, progress was progress. She had chanced upon a means of altering Lasher’s composition and design to one with subtle grooves, rendering it capable of carrying incendiary Tar, which could increase the Solomon Howitzer’s theoretical destructive ceiling.

  But she had no reason to complain. The limit was purely in her own understanding, if she put herself to it she was certain she could design a fire-gas grenade sooner rather than later. For now, it was just a toy, something to play with and work at when nothing better presented itself.

  And as she was now, she had nothing but better things to do.

  Tomorrow’s meeting with the tracker, the execution that she expected to come at the latest within a week, the Wizard’s Lesser Eidolon Vault artifact and his offer, the comic artist and the Helmeted Man, and, not to forget, tying off the loose ends: Damrus Hashem and Brizogia Rasug al-Imuzat. Brizogia wasn’t nearly as high-priority of a target as Damrus, but Krahe held no illusions as to that woman’s character. She would come after Krahe the moment the opportunity presented itself. What she had done at the cafe was no more than a purchase of time, a “let’s handle this later.”

  She lit up a cigarette and brought out the Wizard’s stone. The dark shard emerged from storage and immediately began crawling with tendrils of occult symbology whose meaning was just as inscrutable as when she had first received it. She willed the Oculae to appraise it. They gave her the name, then seemed to struggle for a moment before simply skipping the status section.

  [Zor’Aguhastra Guidestone Fragment No. 516]

  [Status:]

  ???

  [Details:]

  Read the memslate. - t.W

  Krahe’s eyebrow twitched. Nonetheless, she brought out the memslate and appraised it as well, just to see if the Oculae picked up anything untoward. Nothing. The instructions stored on the memslate were concise and to the point. It concisely explained the concept of leverage-points and artifacts that made use of certain quirks within the Astral Body to function. Voidkeys were listed as a ubiquitous example. The overall writing style somewhat reminded her of the authoritative tone of the scavenger Sorun-authored memslate from the Jas’raba pit’s-edge town, but less insufferable than either that memslate or the Wizard’s own spoken words. To tell the truth, the Wizard’s writing was probably the most personable he could get.

  Eventually, however, the Wizard’s memslate did go into information that was new to her:

  FILE NO. 1

  Much like the Physical Body, the Astral Body, too, possesses a number of unique anatomical features and organs. It should be noted that these are not necessarily directly linked to the Physical Body. The Soul Furnace is not at some specific location in the stomach or the chest, but we can consistently observe that the region of the Astral Body it occupies is linked to the central trunk in most humanoids. The solar plexus, heart, or belly button are common locations. Despite this, the easiest implantation site for a voidkey is the head, as the element of astral anatomy a voidkey exploits is most easily reached from this region. For this reason, a visual diagram is, at best, of limited usefulness, and must be considered with the knowledge that it cannot be taken at face value.

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  I confer this information in order to make it clear that the limitations of the ritual described within this memslate are not arbitrary — it is the first step of a long astral grafting process, each step of which targets different areas of the Astral Body for reshaping and reinforcement. The method I speak of is one which requires the practitioner to fill in certain gaps in order to ensure it fits them best. There are others without this requirement, I consider them inferior. This is where the guidestone fragment comes in.

  The guidestone fragment is a tool by which one may invoke an accord from the Seven Towers Accord era. Through the rituals detailed herein, one must first prepare the astral body through a temporary modification, laying the groundwork. The rite that comes thereafter allows one to make direct contact with those who dwell in the deepest depths of Zor’Aguhastra and partake in the agreement of ancient times — that of fostering one of their offspring within themselves in exchange for receiving the entity’s assistance for the duration of the occupancy. Some believe this to be the true origin of theurgy, they are fools. There are some side effects, but they are minimal — you cannot divest yourself of the eidolon, but it will communicate more readily and lend greater aid than most of its kind.

  Any reagents that would suffice for a full dive ritual will suffice for the rites detailed herein, so I have not included recipes for any unguents or incenses.

  For the angleweb diagrams and ritual secrets, see File No. 2

  For non-vital information regarding the rites and Zor’Aguhastra, see File No. 3

  FILE NO. 3

  Zor’Aguhastra is a half-submerged artificial island, just beyond the horizon. Lake Hali and the twin cities upon its shores, Carcosa and Alar, are the nearest places to that island, not by any virtue of physical location, but by virtue of their ancient provenance. One needs only to see that place to understand — an oasis of eldritch vegetation unlike any found in the world, in the middle of the desert. There had once been only the bones of vastest vastness and a plain of black salt in that place, but that was long ago, before even my time. I include this because I sensed something of the Sunken One within you, and so will the sovereigns of Zor’Aguhastra.

  The dwellers of the deep gulf carved away at themselves without end, chaining themselves so that their own errant flesh would not desert them, enduring every kind of cruel leverage in order to lay the foundations of that majestic city. They yet dwell beneath the city, enduring and carving, singing all the while. To those who find them they offer agreements — memories, emotions, something of yourself for something of them, in equal proportion. A man may become a paragon of his discipline should he make the right deal, but few have the conviction of spirit to not find themselves haunted by the loss of something so worldly as the sense of taste or the memory of one’s childhood. My rites do not rely upon these exchanges, for I do not possess the conviction to not regret it later. My payment is that of bitter effort — I pay the toll in advance.

  Within File No. 2, besides the specifics of how to perform the rites, the Wizard had also included guidelines on what to do and not to do upon her arrival in Zor’Aguhastra.

  Know this: Zor’Aguhastra is a place, but it is also a time, and it is also a creature and a belief. It is as alien to us as our world is to those born within its black spires. Respect the difference and do not stray from your chosen path, lest you find yourself becoming a native of that realm, or worse, consumed by the city.

  Remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Do not permit your thoughts to wander overmuch. We are creatures of a higher plane descending down — our thoughts weigh heavily there, and our imagination can twist the half-realm. Without proper control, this fact is as detrimental to a diver as it is to the deep ones, and they do not take kindly to fools wreaking havoc in this manner. It is the fastest means by which you may find yourself expelled, and if unlucky, stranded in the Deep Gulf.

  You will likely be asked to identify yourself in some way, possibly even questioned on who you are and why you pursue communion. You are not required to answer — the Chained Ones have no choice regarding the fulfillment of the accord. However, should you answer well, you might come away with a greater treasure than otherwise. I cannot guide you on what to say, as they already know me, and have known me since before the guidestone was first wrought. Keep in mind that they do not take human morality under consideration, merely how well and in what direction you will facilitate your contractor’s growth during your time together. Mention not the name of Hastur before them, for the reign of that pallid-faced madman is a source of great shame. It was, after all, he who brought ruin to Carcosa, countless eons ere the Sunken One brought that city to our realm.

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