Grimoire Doloris
The Book of Contamination
◀ Chapter 4 · Chapter 5

¹And it came to pass, after the days of plague had waned, that the voice of SATANAS once more descended upon Exanthis in the stillness of night.
²Behold, servant of the shadowed Lord, saith the voice; the time hath come to widen thy reach, to carry forth this prophecy unto lands afar, and peoples yet unknowing.
³For the pestilence shall not be the last scourge to walk the Oærth, nor shall the lessons thereof be forgotten in the days of respite.
⁴Thou shalt go where the sun setteth and riseth, and where the stars watch over sleeping nations.
⁵Speak unto the tribes beyond the mountains, and the isles scattered upon the waters, and to all that dwell beneath the sky.
⁶Exanthis, bowed in solemn obedience, prepared himself to bear the burden again, his heart both weary and resolute.
⁷The voice revealed unto him visions of faraway lands, where strange tongues were spoken, and customs unknown to those of his birth.
⁸Yet the shadow of the great pestilence shall fall upon all, and none shall escape the decree of fate and judgment.
⁹Thy words shall be as thunder in the ears of the deaf, as light in the darkness for the seekers of truth.
¹⁰The prophet saw the faces of the strangers, some fearful, some scornful, some open and trembling with hope.
¹¹Go thou, therefore, and sow the seeds of warning in their hearts, that they might prepare for the days of trial.
¹²For the world is wide, and the hand of death doth reach beyond the borders of thy homeland.
¹³As Exanthis journeyed, the voice accompanied him in the whirlwind, guiding his steps over mountains, deserts, and seas.
¹⁴The prophet’s speech was met with varied response: some mocked, calling him a bringer of lies and sorrow.
¹⁵Others hearkened, and their hearts were stirred with fear and penitence, turning from folly to prayer.
¹⁶The shadowy Lord spake again: Remember, O Exanthis, that the truth is oft hidden beneath the veil of disbelief and scorn.
¹⁷Yet the steadfast shall endure, and through their faith the flame of hope shall not be extinguished.
¹⁸The prophet beheld cities bustling with trade and towers rising high, yet beneath the splendor lurked sickness and death.
¹⁹These shall know the scourge anew, and learn the price of pride and neglect.
²⁰Thou shalt warn them to prepare their hearts and their homes, and to turn unto mercy and humility.
²¹The voice revealed unto him scenes of crowded streets emptied in despair, and hands raised in desperate prayer.
²²Such is the way of the world, O Exanthis, that joy and sorrow walk hand in hand upon the paths of man.
²³The prophet’s words grew as a fire in the wilderness, lighting dark places and calling wanderers home.
²⁴Yet the enemies of truth rose against him, seeking to silence his voice and cast him out.
²⁵But he was steadfast, strengthened by the will of the shadowed Lord, and by the faith of those who heeded.
²⁶The voice commanded him further: Bear witness also unto the mighty and the rulers of the Oærth.
²⁷For even they shall not escape the judgment of the pestilence, nor the reckoning of their deeds.
²⁸Let them humble themselves before the Almighty, and seek to mend the brokenness of their realms.
²⁹The prophet travelled to courts and halls of kings, and his words stirred both fear and fury therein.
³⁰Some rulers hardened their hearts and cast him forth, yet others trembled and sought counsel with the faithful.
³¹The voice whispered: Thus shall the scales be balanced, and the days of reckoning draw nigh.
³²The burden of prophecy weighed heavy upon Exanthis, yet he pressed onward, his heart aflame with purpose.
³³The shadow of the great pestilence loomed ever large, and the world was changed forevermore.
³⁴The voice promised that the legacy of the prophecy would endure through the ages, a warning and a guide.
³⁵Keep these words safe, and pass them from generation to generation, that the children of men may learn humility.
³⁶For the pride of man is a flame that burneth the Oærth, and the pestilence is but one of many trials.
³⁷Exanthis saw the dawn breaking after the long night of darkness, and hoped for the day when peace would reign.
³⁸Yet he knew the path was long and fraught with peril, and that many would fall by the way.
³⁹The voice bade him to remember always the mercy hidden within judgment, and the hope born of suffering.
⁴⁰Go now, O prophet, and fulfill thy charge, for the shadow shall yet pass, but the lessons endure.
⁴¹The prophet’s voice echoed through valleys and hills, calling all to prepare for the trials yet to come.
⁴²And those who heard him were called to faith, humility, and steadfastness in the face of darkness.
⁴³Thus the prophecy was carried forth, a beacon amid the storm, until the appointed time should again arise.


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