WDB08: Grinning at the Funeral

Marcus rekindling journal. Grip proposes trade route. Templarate revealed. Occant attuned. Death poem decoded.

Grinning at the Funeral. The post-Visum return begins, and Marcus opens with the most devastating journal of his arc. 'Lucia. I ain't thought about her death in such detail for years. I didn't realize how much I was carrying.' The rekindling journal that follows transforms private grief into gratitude: 'Thank you, Mithra, for reminding me of the needful pain. Thank you, Titus, for never doubting a simple pig farmer. And now I can honestly say, thank you, Jason, for making me figure it out on my own.' Grip pivots from warrior to strategist, proposing a trade route between the Frankus crew and Juramentum: 'That was so cool you did. That thing you did. We need to talk about that.' Brother Adrian reveals the Templarate's monstrous program controlling the Impure — Catryn had documented it using her mastery of illusion, nearly dying in the process. Devran attunes to the Occant — an artifact necklace that vibrates as turquoise glow appears at Weisa's burial site. He begins decoding her death poem, written in deliberately obscure coded high Valpyri. Lady Vale gives Rasinia a life-altering order: 'Write that down.' Macarius watches Grip sleep with fierce devotion: 'Boy, I gotcha.'