The Rubbish Realm

Interlude 4a

A compendium of writings discovered originating in and that survived the great fire of Ashkaban, compiled by the great archaeologist John Seavert.

Found in a portal which had survived, candles still lit, in a basement, hidden deep behind a cider cellar:
"Do not follow me. Destroy this portal when you find this. The cult must not follow me. You, whoever reads this, must not follow me. The cult cannot be allowed to steal our last hope, the black-eyes' chance at redemption, at worth. If you follow this portal, I am waiting at the other end and I will kill you. The artifact must be preserved. Do not betray me. Andy Lamott."

Found in a stone house, the only building untouched by the flame:
"Scholars, look for me no more. The ducks, the cult is here for me. If they return, bring them down for me. This is my last command to you, students: you shall never forgive them, nor your children forgive them, for as long as you all shall live. Drag their accursed cultish corpses to the grave, and while you do it, remember me."
"P.S. The key is under the flower pot. Fred, you are in charge now."

Found on a scrap of paper, hidden in a safe:
"The ducks are coming. Betty, if you ever find this, at least know what has happened to me - the ducks are here, many of them, torches burning, here!
There is nowhere to run, no way I can survive the cult's anger, no way for them to forgive me, Betty, I write this as goodbye. I will love you for the rest of my life. Signed, James."

Place of finding unrecorded, family heirloom, etched on the back of a copper locket:
"Becky, I will love you to the end of my life. In fact, I do. Never forget what we had together. Goodbye - I cannot escape both the cult and the fire. Your dearest forever, Brad."

Found covered in mud, scrawled onto wood outside the remnants of a house:
"The king will find you, cult! You do not rule here, go where you belong! Burn as you burned others! I curse you, curse you back to the shadows where you belong. Never return."

Found in plain sight, nailed onto every door left standing in the town:
"WANTED: Andy Lamott, dead or alive. Charged: grand larseny, arson, murder. Reward: 15,000 kiras. In addition, if the artifact is brought back with him, 15,000 more kiras will be provided. You know where to find us. Now go and find him."