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To find
One searches
And in that mystery
A soulful truth resonates
We are the Seekers of the Path
Those that journey through dreams
Traversing the void of unseen specters
To uncover what is real within and connected
To the world of greater things beyond what we see
As it has always been, this is the journey of the Path
We shall seek it each day for there is nothing more noble

I have many dreams. They are often chaotic calamities of images and
noise that I cannot decipher. But sometimes, they are clear as a crystal
blue pond. And in those moments, I can see something true. It was recently
that such a thing occurred. I saw a chamber, buried underground. It had
been lost for untold centuries and yet, it was right beneath our feet. I
recognized the surrounding images just above where this stone staircase led.
Could it really be a place lost to time?

I awoke and immediately went in search of it. Digging around in the dirt, I
had to have appeared mad. After several hours, I almost stopped for a
sandwich when suddenly, I hit stone. Clearing around the surrounding area,
it was indeed a set of stairs leading down, into an unknown room. It took
days and I worked tirelessly, through the night at times, but finally the
way was clear. And my discovery was an even larger mystery.

A dark room with walls of smooth gray brick. From the weathered stones and
still air, it felt ancient, dug out of the ground long ago. I found torches
lining the walls, placed into elaborately carved black iron sconces.
Surprisingly, it took little effort to set them ablaze. The room lit up
with a soft amber glow. It had been constructed with cube-like symmetry,
save for the low, slightly arched stone ceiling. The unearthed stairs were
carved into one of the walls and from the decor, they actually appeared to
be of newer construction. Inspecting the sconces, I noticed they each held
carvings that seem to depict a scene of some kind, as if telling a story
through images. Dominating the center of the room was a large granite table
cut from a single massive slab. Its polish had long since aged to a dull
sheen but it still reflected a surprising amount of firelight. The table
was surrounded by nearly a dozen chairs of dark oak, each neatly tucked
under the massive piece of granite.

Then my eyes truly widened. The far wall of the room was entirely covered
with bookshelves stretching from ceiling to floor, filled with books and
parchment. This was the purpose of the dream. To find this trove of
literature hidden away for ages. I dove in, carefully of course, to the
source material and this brings me to the purpose of this very book. These
writings were the collections of an organization called the Seekers of the
Path. And they sought knowledge and truth about oneself in much the same
way I do. Their language was ancient but through some reading, I began
translating the texts. The work you have read above entitled Beginnings was
their earliest dated text. What follows in this book are the translations
of their most prominent texts they call the Scrolls of the Path.

- Avenar, Master Scribe of History

The Creed of the Seekers

Search for truth and meaning
Connect this to the world
Help others do the same

Serin is a world full of dissonance and mystery. Its tangible and
intangible sources of calamity can be overwhelming, even to the most calm
and collected of souls. A place you do not recognize, a person whose
actions befuddle, or a vexing dream of such intensity, its memory plays in
your waking hours. These are all messages of the world, and taken
separately, they are nothing more than scattered pieces of an unknown
puzzle. But there are those who see them for something more. Those who
seek answers, not just to the fundamental components of the physical world,
but also to the personal nature of how one fits into the unfolding present.
These students, drawn to understand their purpose, are called Seekers. And
the journey they undertake is called the Path.

Seekers of the Path are naturally inquisitive and search for the deeper
meaning of things. In a world of invisible creatures, hidden doors, and
Immortals of ambiguous intent, understanding how these pieces fit together
is the most noble of pursuits. A Seeker feels drawn to find connections,
not just between seemingly disparate pieces of the world, but how the Path
they are following connects to the larger picture. Seekers are highly
collaborative, often writing down and sharing ideas with one another. The
Path is not a lonely walk of individual reflection, but rather, the
collective effort of many to help one find their place. Those of like mind
are considered the greatest resource to help see answers through chaos.

While Seekers search for meaning, they do not do this at the exclusion of
the other elements of their lives. Whether a warrior, mage, or priest by
trade, a Seeker wishes to understand their own story, but not to give up the
life that led them to the Path. It is a delicate balance and one taken
seriously. Walking the Path means finding meaning in the world, supporting
fellow Seekers in their journey, and pursuing the interests that led one to
the Path in the first place.

You shall find knowledge woven into the fabric of more than just the physical realm
It is intrinsic to dreams, sights unseen, and sounds unheard but felt
This, by its very measure, ensures a chaotic source of truth
And the undefined lines between reality and something simply imagined
How can one discern the difference?
The collection of knowledge is as much about sifting for truth as anything
The methodology for such reasoning is exceptionally difficult
Unlike an object of physical state, visions and prayers vary in their discernment
Who am I to say your dream is not a tiding of something yet to come?
But then again, perhaps I am that very person to convince you otherwise
This is why Seekers must find a quorum
The path to knowledge is only truly ascertained with the help of others
Go forth, friends, and discover!
But return here with what you find
Share and listen
It is these acts that will define us all in the end

We have known for some time that powerful objects across Serin have the
ability to store incredible magic within them. Beyond this, we have even
observed artifacts with the capability of storing life force, such as a
stone able to hold within it, the soul of a being. But a new revelation to
us is the existence of objects able to store knowledge itself. A Seeker who
follows Denadlyr received this information from the deity while in prayer.
The revelation included the types of objects capable of such a feat and the
incantation required to imbue the object with the correct magic. Of course,
I do not speak of the pages of books that, while powerful in their own
right, lack the type of sorcery being described here. I speak of a gem, for
example, that once held, would immediately open a mortal's mind to the
knowledge contained inside. This could come in the form of a memory, a
song, or something far more incomprehensible and perhaps dangerous to a sane
mind. Certain knowledge is perhaps locked away for a reason and is not
intended to be directly interacted with. At least, not intended for
everyone. This, however, is an incredible epiphany, such that it gives us
the potential means to pass down information not in the form of words, but
in the form of experience itself.

Would it then be possible to create an archive of knowledge that was
contained in an object of greater permanence than parchment? The very
prospect is beyond intriguing and is the focus of our current studies. For
as much as a page is essential to learning, imagine passing an emotion to
another, or a vision that perhaps you never understood but upon seeing the
sights, was instantly recognizable by another. This could alter our
experience as a mortal in this realm.

Knowledge Aligned

A single sapphire glowing blue
An azure river flowing through
A village of dreams breathes as one
Under the rays of glistening sun
The gem that sees and guides us all
Protects us from the worlds that fall
Seeks to guide us in The Path
While soliders wield untempered wrath
We preside on calmer ground
We were lost but now are found
The elements have all aligned
To pass a thought beyond our mind

Now that you are familiar with the 5 works that make up the Scrolls of
the Path, I must interject here once again to press upon you that the number
of works by the Seekers is numerous indeed. To transcribe an exhaustive
list of their writings would take far more than this book can hold, and so,
I have selected what I believe to be the most pertinent works based on
several factors. First, the mystery of their disappearance from both Serin
and historical records seems prominent and thus any work relating to this
mystery, I have included. Second, the mention of powerful magical artifacts
was also a factor for the inclusion of works. And finally, there are some
references to places within Serin that seem important to the Seekers, and
those have been included as well.

- Avenar, Master Scribe of History

We have seen, quite suddenly, the appearance of numerous portals across
the land. Their origin is entirely unknown. At first, they simply appeared
in a flash of light, sparkling with a radiant pink hue, and then would
vanish. But as time passed they seemed to become more stable, lasting
longer each time. Finally, entities began appearing from the portal, small
wisps with a multitude of colors, buzzing about the air in a frenzy of
spectral glory. We have studied the portals and many of the objects left
behind by these wisps, yet the reason for these portals' appearance remains
entirely unknown.

Some theories among the Seekers persist. One is that the gods have opened
doorways for us to travel across the planes and open a great age of
exploration. Another claims that the portals are the work of scholars from
another plane, opening doors to visit us. But the most prevailing theory,
and perhaps the most foreboding, is that portals are the work of a powerful
entity trapped within another world. They represent its malice reaching out
in the form of glowing rifts, desperately trying to free itself and come to
Serin to wreck havoc across our plane.

While I am perhaps unqualified to fully grant a theory the credence of
truth, I can say that stepping near one of these doors produces strong
emotions, and the portals themselves crackle with an anxious nature. They
feel powerful and forbidden, as if they should not exist. Yet they continue
to appear in great numbers across the realm. Much effort is being
consolidated into understanding their appearance.

We have constructed a location for storing our collective knowledge and
we have named it the Temple of Serenity. Though not truly a temple in the
traditional sense, the name imbues it with a sense of sacred purpose, which
we believe is appropriate given the gravity of the discoveries that have
been collectively made by the Seekers.

While sharing knowledge is paramount in our creed, a quorum of Seekers has
chosen to keep the location of the temple secret, for the current political
situation is volatile. There are those who would wish the destruction of
knowledge and we cannot risk the temple being a target. Thus, for the
moment, its location has only been shared with the Seekers who have proven
they are committed to The Path.

The first successful experiment has been conducted using an object to
directly transfer knowledge! A single memory was able to be stored inside a
pristine crystal and upon contacting this crystal, another Seeker was able
to absorb and recall the memory. This is truly a breakthrough in our
research! We must be ever thankful to Denadlyr and the revelation received
by his follower. Without the correct incantation to power the crystal, this
would not have been possible.

There are some caveats to the discovery. The first is that the type of
crystal required seems to be very rare indeed. It needs to have nearly
perfect clarity among its structure, something that even the finest crystals
often lack. The second is that the experiment seems to drain the crystal
such that it is not usable again. So, there would be a great need to source
these crystals or fabricate them prior to this methodology being used in any
widespread manner.

Finally, among the most concerning potential issues, the Seeker who has
absorbed the memory has experienced some side effects. These seem to range
from mild headaches to highly disturbing visions of great realism and
intensity. Research for remedies has already begun for while we wish to
conduct additional experiments, we cannot do so if it threatens the safety
of the Seekers.

I write bringing unfortunate news. Should you receive this, do not
return to the temple for it has been destroyed. Somehow, its location was
discovered and exactly as we surmised, those blinded by fear sought its
annihilation. I managed to save some of our works prior to the fires
consuming the rest. It was a sight unlike any I have ever experienced. In
a matter of moments, the knowledge of so many minds vanished into smoke and
flame.

I do not know who of you I shall see again, as we are now scattered across
Serin. We must proceed underground. What we have built and the knowledge
we have shared must not all be lost forever. Take whatever you have
recovered from the temple and silently remember our creed. The Seekers of
the Path will one day rise again.

From the writings I have translated, it would seem the Seekers were an
ancient group of scholars who once had a temple storing their collective
knowledge. Among their most amazing discoveries was their ability to use
"mind crystals". Through a revelation handed down to a Seeker by Denadlyr,
the Seekers possessed the ability to imbue a crystal with knowledge such as
memories and transfer these to another person. However, they and their
temple were destroyed by an unknown enemy who sought the destruction of the
knowledge they had gathered. Some of their members were able to escape
underground, and it is very likely that the source material for this book is
from a Seeker who recovered what knowledge he could from the temple and hid
it underground in a much smaller library.

Many mysteries remain. Who was this enemy that destroyed the temple? Why
was the knowledge of the Seekers such a threat? And whatever happened to
the strange "mind crystals" that are referenced in their texts? It is
ironic that the discovery of these scrolls has created more questions than
it has answered. But that is often the case in research.

We do not know how many Seekers there were and how much of their collective
research was recovered from the temple. While I have come across this
cache, it may be just one such library of books that survived. It gives me
hope that perhaps there is far more history just waiting to be discovered.

- Avenar, Master Scribe of History