Note/L10N/Myths_and_Legends_Weapon2/2.4.8/Books/BookMalJournal?
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[This decrepit journal, a half decayed tome of crumpled papers bound together with bits of tattered string, appears quite old. Upon closer inspection, it is apparent that it is not so much ancient as it is deteriorated, as if it has been exposed to the harsh elements for a brief yet intense period of time. Most of the pages are either stained with what appears to be blood, moldy from lying on the damp ground for too long, or simply filled with the seemingly pointless thoughts of its deceased owner. A few entries towards the end, however, appear of some value:]
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Entry 119:
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It has been a long and boring journey down the Thir river, but we have finally reached Narsis. I was afraid that our precious cargo we 'intercepted' back in Old Ebonheart from those guards bound for Mournhold would tempt some of the newer members, but I guess they have undying loyalty to us for freeing them.
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Indeed, I'm beginning to trust each of them, for it is apparent to me now that their loyalties lie with Black Marsh and the resistance rather than their own greed. Perhaps when we return to Stormhold and procure some much needed supplies and payment for these artifacts, then I will send some of the gold back to my contacts in the Twin Lamps.
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Flicks-His-Tongue just informed me that we have docked in Narsis, so it looks like we'll begin unloading the cargo and making our way by road over the border.... hopefully no complications will arise.
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Entry 120:
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Scales-Like-Jewels says she is afraid that we will be caught, that we should stay here in Narsis for a while. I tried to tell her everything would be okay, that they would not know to look for a band of harmless-looking Argonians, but she seems to think otherwise. As beautiful and mature as she is, I think sometimes she can be too naive and paranoid... but perhaps she is right.
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Regardless, I promised to her that once we did arrive in Stormhold and were payed for our services, that I would relinquish leadership over to someone else, perhaps Hates-Elves, so that her and I could go off somewhere together. Maybe I could even take a small bit of the earnings and buy a nice swamp somewhere....
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Entry 121:
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How lucky we are! While passing us on the road, a young Argonian told us that there was a barricade at the border, apparently looking for a group of escaped slaves who had stolen something from the King! These weapons were supposed to be bound for the Museum, where did Helseth get involved!? Regardless, it was good that we were warned, for we would have strolled straight into an ambush!
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Now we travel slowly through the wilderness, making our way west along the border with Black Marsh. I decided our best option would be to travel into Cyrodil, then make our way south a good deal, then turn back east and go into Black Marsh.
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It's going to be a much longer journey, especially since we have to travel through the Valus mountains nearly the whole way, but it is certainly better than being caught and executed... or returned to Vvardenfell and having to work on that cursed Dren Plantation again! I know Scales-Like-Jewels would rather kill herself, and, frankly, so would I.
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Entry 122:
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[Though short, this entry was apparently written very quickly and carelessly, and what could have been made out from the scribble is obscured by dried blood.]
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Entry 123:
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The night is so dark. We ran for a long time, and I think we lost them, but it is pointless. Scales-Like-Jewels is dying, her beautiful scales covered in dark mud from our scramble up the mountain and through this blasted forest. We are too old for this.
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Oh how I wish I had listened to her and laid low in Narsis for a while... none of this would have happened. Of all our luck, why did that patrol have to be in the exact same place as us? I don't know why Scales-Like-Jewels and I fled... perhaps I am not as loyal as I thought. I just took one of the artifacts with me and ran...
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All I really want to do is live happily with her for the rest of my life, but even that won't happen anymore, because she won't be able to make it out of these mountains... and neither will I. The cold is bad enough, but she was hit by a stray arrow that the guards fired after us.... I hope the rest of our group did better than we did... at least they stayed behind and fought, giving their lives for the resistance, like we should have done.
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This shrine we stopped at is very strange. It looks like the other wayshrines that are numerous throughout this province, but I can't find any of the symbols used to depict the Nine Divines. Perhaps it is an even more ancient shrine... either way, it at least provides some sanctity in these wild mountains.
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Entry 124:
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Scales-Like-Jewels is dead, and I think I will be soon as well. The rain is so cold... yet it is refreshing. I welcome it... it is at least better than what could have happened if we were caught.
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The most remarkable thing happened when I set the staff down on the shrine... it lit up with an eerie light, as if it is meant to be here. The blue light it casts now is amazing, the sparkling reflections of it dance in the soft rain, scattering fragments of heavenly light around the dark forest. It even dances upon Scales-Like-Jewels' perfect scales... she is even beautiful in death.
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I wonder, was this all fated to occur? Were we meant to acquire this staff and bring it here? It is too perfect, lying there untouched in its resplendent glory. If this was my destiny... perhaps it is not so bad... at least Scales-Like-Jewels and I died together... I hope whoever stumbles upon us and that staff will have a better fate....
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[There are no more entries.]
訳文 †
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[この使い古された手記・・・半分腐食したしわくちゃの紙がぼろぼろの紐でまとめてあるもの・・・は、かなり古いもののようだ。じっくり調べてみると、これは年月によって風化した為ではないことがわかる。例えるなら、長い間激しい風雨に晒され続けていたような感じだ。ページの大部分に血液のような染みが付き、湿った地面に長い間置き去りにされていたようにカビが生えたか、死んだ持ち主がずぼらなためこんな状態になってしまったかのようだ。しかしながら、最後のほうにあるいくつかの記述は価値があるように見える。:]
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項目 119:
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それはThir riverを下る長くて退屈な旅だったが、最終的にはNarsisにたどり着くことが出来た。私達が最も恐れていたのは、大事な荷物を'横取りされた'Old EbonheartのGuardたちがMournholdで新しい仲間たちを懐柔することだったが、彼らが私達を裏切ることはないと確信していた。
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実際、私は信じていた。彼らは自身の欲望よりも、Black Marshへの敵対心から忠誠を抱いていることが私の目から見ても明らかだったからだ。できれば私達がStormholdに戻った時、必要な物資の調達とこのブツの報酬を貰ったら、いくらかの金を渡してTwin Lampsに送り返してやるつもりだ。
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Flicks-His-Tongueがたった今Narsisに停泊した事を教えてくれた。そこで荷物を降ろすふりをして、国境近くの道路を進んでいこう・・・・うまくいけば、面倒なことにはならないだろう。
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項目 120:
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Scales-Like-Jewelsが捕まることを恐れているようなので、しばらくここNarsisに滞在したほうがいいだろう。私は彼女に全て順調だと教えようとした。彼らはharmless-looking Argonians一団を捜している事を知らないはずだが、彼女は他の事を言っているように見える。彼女は年相応に成熟した美しさをもっているが、時々神経質すぎて異常に見える・・・しかし、恐らく彼女は正常だ。
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とにかく、一度Stormholdに到着したら働きに応じた報酬を支払うと彼女に約束した。私は他の誰かに・・・恐らくHates-Elvesに指揮権を渡すだろう。彼女と私が一緒にどこかへ行けるように。そうだ、わずかな取り分で買えるだけの良い湿地をどこかで・・・・・
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項目 121:
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私達はなんてラッキーなんだ！我々が歩いていると、通りすがりの若いArgonianが国境にバリケードがあると教えてくれた。どうやら国王の持ち物を盗んで逃げた奴隷の集団を探しているらしい、と！武器は博物館に保管されたと仮定して、Helsethはどう関わっているのだ？とにかく、私達に警告してくれて良かった。このまま進んでいれば待ち伏せされていただろう！
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今、私達は荒野を通ってゆっくりと旅している。Black Marshの国境、西側に沿って。私達にとって最良の選択肢はまずCyrodilに行き、次に南へずっと進み、次は東に折り返してBlack Marshに入ることだと決めた。
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これはとても長い旅行だ。特に私達の旅路のほとんどは、ずっとValus mountainsを通っていかなければならなかった。しかし、捕まって死刑になるか・・・Vvardenfellに連れ戻され、再び忌々しいDren Plantationの所で働かされるより遥かにマシだ！それならScales-Like-Jewelsに殺してもらったほうがいい、いや、正直にいうと、そうして欲しい。
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項目 122:
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[短いのだが、この項目はどうやら慌てて適当にかかれたものらしく、乱れた字が乾いた血でかすれている為読むことが出来ない。]
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項目 123:
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夜はさらに暗かった。私達は長い間走り続け、奴らが私達を見失ったと考えたが、それは無意味だった。Scales-Like-Jewelsは死んだ。彼女の美しいうろこは、山をよじ登り荒れ果てた森を通るうちに黒ずんだ泥で覆われていた。私達は、時間をかけすぎてしまっていたのだ。
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ああ、彼女の言う事を聞いてしばらくNarsisに潜伏していれば・・・何も起こらなかっただろう。運命よ、なぜ私達と同じ場所に巡視隊がいるのですか？なぜScales-Like-Jewelsと一緒に逃げなかったのか・・・多分、私には忠誠心なんてものはない。たった1つの宝を抱え、私は走り出した・・・
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本当は彼女と共に死ぬまで楽しく暮らしたかった。だが、もう無理だろう。なぜなら彼女はこの山から出る事ができない・・・多分、私も。酷い状況だ。しかし、彼女はGuardが背後から放った矢に撃たれたが・・・
他の仲間が私達のように上手く逃げていることを願う・・・少なくとも、彼らはその場に残って戦ってた。抵抗するために命を賭けていた。私もそうするべきだった。
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私達が泊まった神殿はとても奇妙だった。それはこの国によくある神殿に似ていたが、Nine Divinesをあらわすシンボルが見あたらなかったのだ。恐らくかなり古い神殿だ・・・何にしても、この荒れた山に少なくとも何か神聖なものをもたらしていた。
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項目 124:
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Scales-Like-Jewelsは死に、私も間もなくそうなるだろう。雨はとても冷たいが・・・まだ爽やかだ。私はそれを喜んで受けよう・・・もし何かが起きて私達が捕まるより、少しはマシだ。
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とても不思議なことが起きた。私が神殿に杖を置いた時・・・まるでこうなる事を待っていたかのように、不気味な光が灯ったのだ。大きく放たれたその青い光は、弾けて反射しながら小雨の中を踊り、神々しい光の欠片は暗い森のあちこちに散っていく。それは踊るScales-Like-Jewelsの完璧なウロコに似て・・・彼女は死んでもなお美しい。
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不思議だ・・・これは全て定められた運命なのか？私達が杖を取り、ここに持ってくることになっていたと？もしこれが運命なら・・・たぶん悪くない・・・少なくとも、私とScales-Like-Jewelsは一緒に死ぬのだから・・・私達とこの杖に気づいた誰かに幸運が訪れるよう、願う・・・。
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[これ以上何も書かれていない。]
