Blackwood Cairn

[Sullivan]

Deep in the dense and mist shrouded forest of the Blackwood Barrows lies a craggy shale brick structure. It's weathered with age, rocks have tumbled loose, and the forest appears on the verge of swallowing it whole. Old timers and local spirits refer to it as the cairn, the crypt, or the old stones. Originally thought to be a sacred burial building of some sort, traditionally its been avoided and regarded with much superstition and dislike. If the Barrows hadn't already made a wanderer more than a little uncomfortable, the eerie feeling surrounding this location would be enough to scare even the most die-hard intruders away.

 

[Sullivan]

Recently it has been learned that the old cairn building was in fact a storage or vault of some sort, holding a strange variety of old nearly disintegrated books and writings. There is no evidence of anyone or anything being buried here, though small piles of stones and twig effigies nearby indicate beings have been nearby to pay their respects.

Within the dark, damp interior, dirty crumbling piles line the walls, scrolls turn to dust on the shelves, dusty wax and smudges of soot from fires mar the walls. There are old rune carved stones scattered about, and the bricks themselves hold remnants of hieroglyphics of some sort. Many languages and varieties of writings and pictures seem to have been gathered here, with few clues to their purpose. Few are in english or modern tongues, many are in latin, and less identifiable but sinister are the ones written in demonic runes and glyphs. The oldest pages appear to be made from thin treated hide and skin membranes.

There is a large old piece of shale in one corner with a deeply etched circle and pentagram shape upon it. A rotting crate appears to be full of dust and seeds, bits of chalk and tattered papers. A few more broken candles, deteriorating leather and thread, bits of bone and feathers, and various supplies for making amulets and conducting arcane and herbal magic are apparent. It appears that this was not just used as a library of sorts, but also a place of conducting rituals or summoning in ancient times.  

[Sullivan]

(Illegible texts, deciphering to come)

 

[Sullivan]

 

[Sullivan]

 

[Sullivan]