Findings from the Undercity

[view] • [talk]
Findings from the Undercity



Release																				4 July 2022 (Update)
Members																				Yes
Quest item																				No

Properties

Tradeable																				No
Equipable																				No
Stackable																				No
Disassembly																				No
Destroy																				You can claim this book back from your bookcase.
Examine																				Notes pertaining to the Zamorakian Undercity.

Options ^[?]

Backpack																				Read, Use, Destroy, Examine

Values

Value																				19 coins
Alchemy																				Not alchemisable
On death																				Always kept outside dangerous area
Weight																				0.5 kg

Advanced data

Item ID																				53438
Links																				MRID • recipe

Findings from the Undercity is a journal obtained in The Zamorakian Undercity by inspecting a burnt page in the dungeon. To complete Findings from the Undercity, a total of 22 burnt pages have to be picked up.

Book info

Findings from the Undercity

Alternative titles				The Worst Witch
Author				Lord Daquarius, Azorx and other unidentified contributors
Readable
Bookcase
Description				Notes pertaining to the Zamorakian Undercity.

Transcript

The following text is transcluded from Transcript:Findings from the Undercity § Content.

Finding from the Undercity: Section 1

Notes

(Only the notes associated with the burnt pages that the player has found appear below.)

Chaos Siphoning - Trial 1.
Chaos Siphoning - Trial 2.
Chaos Siphoning - Trial 3.
Chaos Siphoning - Trial 4.
A Change of Plans
The Story of Rimehazel, Page 1
The Story of Rimehazel, Page 2
The Story of Rimehazel, Page 3
The Story of Rimehazel, Page 4
The Story of Rimehazel, Page 5
The Story of Rimehazel, Page 6

Trial one

A somewhat willing subject has offered themselves to our service. We do not expect the first to succeed, but we cannot progress without challenges.
Subjected body could not withstand the full force of the Edicts. A nearby sister was also caught in a chaos arc. Foolish to be so close. We are stronger now.
Our sisters are going to try to stabilise the runes through the night.

Trial two

A stronger subject, a new day. This time Alyaroth withstood the full power of a single rune. It let out a single roar with such power, the very ground we stood upon trembled. Alas, it was short lived, and the demon's body crumbled to dust, torn apart by its own power. Progress. Controlling the power of the runes seemed to allow the body to act as a catalyst for their power. The sisters appear to grow tired, their skin burnt to the bone. Tomorrow we try again.

Trial three

Another demon. This time our sisters have restricted more of the Edict's power. Subject seems to have survived. The demon appears unchanged, but is far weaker than the previous subject. Our lord appeared displeased with the result. We will start again tomorrow. Chaos should not be contained.

Trial four

At our lord's command, we have unleashed the runes. A number of subjects have been taken to the plinth by our lord and Mother Cassia. The remainder of the sisters are to return to the Undercity. Today we will witness true chaos. I can feel it.

Mother Cassia, We^[sic] have been given new orders. A squadron of my best men are still to lead you to the Undercity to begin preparations. However, we will not be joining you upon arrival. Lady Moia rallies us elsewhere for our lord's service, and when the time comes, we will be ready. Strength through chaos. Lord Daquarius, Leader of the Black Knights.

"What are we but witches?" a question often asked to us when we first join this sacred order. A curious question that begins first with the need to define what a witch is. To the practitioners of Saradomin, the Lord of Chains, we are heretics and demon worshippers. To the Sisterhood we are outcasts and anarchists. But these are merely labels designed to shame us, which leads us to out first definition. A witch is someone who denies the shame of others. That may sound strange from a group of like-minded individuals, but it is an important lesson. Our strength and worth is internal, not external. We do not validate ourselves by the demands or desires of others. We know our own value and we respect it in others who reflect a similar strength. We cast off the chains of society and embrace only what makes us stronger. However, we may define that word. I shall explain with a parable. I will tell you the story of Mother Rimehazel, one of the first witches to join our order.

Across the seas, far from the bustling streets of Misthalin and Asgarnia, Rimehazel hailed from a small village of content, narrow-minded individuals. It was not long after her 8th birthday that Rimehazel's gift manifested. She was able to feel the very anima that made up this world, able to manipulate it, sense it between her very fingers as you or I might feel a stream of water. Rimehazel was not alone, over the years others in the village had manifested similar gifts. While Rimehazel could feel and manipulate anima, there were others who could see it - weave it into brilliant displays of magic. Alas, the village shunned their powers. Such abilities were a test from Saradomin - that one would not walk the 'dark path' - and had no place in the peaceful village's heart.

Everyone in the village, Rimehazel included, pursued happiness. Willingly they pulled the wool over their very eyes in order to seek contentment. From a young age she sought her calling, but alas, Rimehazel had no natural talents. She was smaller than the other children, fish would flee at her very presence, and anything she cooked she would seem to burn. To the others she was all but worthless, yet accepted - and thus, she was happy. Rimehazel's powers had almost entirely disappeared by 12, suppressed by the ignorance and short-sightedness of those around her.

As they had on years past, the bandits came - hungry, in search of food and gold. The village took no stand. They watched as the bandits seized their belongings. They watched as the bandits raided their food stores. They watched as the bandits cut down Rimehazel's father as a warning...and they watched as the bandits walked off into the night, food and gold in tow. But the village went back to its normal life. They fished, they gathered, they grasped at every last strand of happiness they could find. But Rimehazel could not. Her joy, the very thing her existence was built around had crumbled before her, she was empty. Weeks had passed, Rimeazel's despair turned to hatred. She realised the very faces that had taught her everything she knew about the world, the same faces that had created the shallow pool of meaning that was her life, were the same faces that kept her powerless, the very same that had watched as her happiness was taken from her and done nothing.

Slowly, Rimehazel's gift trickled back, and as she allowed it to writhe and form, it grew. No longer did she conform to the shallow meaning the village had given itself. Instead, she gave herself meaning. She strived to learn more, to grow powerful. And so she did. Rimehazel didn't hide her abilities any longer, she didn't suppress her powers, and as such she was outcast, so the village could continue its pursuit of the empty shell of a life that is contentment. For the first time in her life, Rimehazel knew true purpose. She trained, and she read. She knew what it was to grow. No longer was she empty.

Rimehazel took no heed of what the villager's thought, and while they fell stagnant she continued to grow. When the bandits returned, as they always did, the village again took no action. Rimehazel however, would not stand and watch. With a^[sic] outstretched hand she whipped a flame at those who would have taken from her. With twists and turns she smothered the bandits with a cyclone of flames, and when it passed only ashes remained. When the night was finished, the village celebrated Rimehazel's victory, but Rimehazel could not forgive them for what she had lost, for how she had been controlled. Rimehazel, one of the first sisters, brought the entire village to cinders. She did not need the villagers' false praise. Her value - her purpose - was her own.

Findings from the Undercity: Section 2

Notes

(Only the notes associated with the burnt pages that the player has found appear below.)

An Alchemist's guide to Rare Reagents, Chapter 3, P 1.
An Alchemist's guide to Rare Reagents, Chapter 3, P 2.
An Alchemist's guide to Rare Reagents, Chapter 3, P 3.
An Alchemist's guide to Rare Reagents, Chapter 3, P 4.
An Alchemist's guide to Rare Reagents, Chapter 3, P 5.
A poorly written note
Azorx's note
Uncooperative
The Tenets of Chaos
Grarl's Fiery Fiends
A sudden realisation

Chapter 3 - Valuable Infernal Reagents
Of the items listed in this book, the following chapter will contain some of the most potent, valuable and - frankly - mysterious reagents known to alchemists and magically gifted folk of the Empire. Therefore, it is imperative you fully investigate the magical and physical effects of the reagent before handling. If you are considering ingestion, ensure that any concoction is tested on a lesser species, leaving ample time to see any magical effects the mixture may have as it leaves the subject's body.

Ashcap
Frequently found growing near the fire lakes of Infernus, the ash cap is a potent fungus. While more common than other reagents in this guide, the ash cap is unique in that it appears to have no alchemical value until very late into its lifecycle, and - as such - specimens of good value are few and far between. Identifiable by its ash grey cap, it is commonly mistaken for the poisonous demon's hunch which appears almost identical when covered in the ash and soot of Infernus. Ashcap is valued greatly by lower-tier demons, thanks to its strong stimulant effects. It has been shown to react positively with several other reagents, and different concoctions have shown varying effects including, but not limited to: aggression, increase in strength, weakness, dizziness, nausea, increase in magical proficiency, decrease in magical proficiency, rapid healing and death. Ashcap has been cultivated on Gielinor. In particular, great success has been had in the gardens of Senntisten.

Butcher's Binding
The semi-sentient butcher's binding is a dangerous vine found throughout Infernus that seems to group near inhabited areas. Demon folklore states the vine was aptly named after the Tsutsroth Vi'Noxiz was found lifeless, having been constricted by a single vine. As a reagent, clippings of butcher's binding are often in sedative potions, calming even the most berserk demons. Marksmen have also found use in these mixtures, taking miniscule amounts in order to steady any extraneous bodily movements. While not necessarily a rare plant, butcher's binding is highly valuable thanks to its dangerous nature. Butchers binding can be easily identified thanks to its striped tendrils, leading the to^[sic] base of the plant. Repeated clippings can be taken from a single plant, if it is appropriately contained. Butcher's binding can be easily cultivated on Gielinor. However, doing so requires the soil to be treated with large amounts of blood, or other animal-based matter.

Impshade Flower
The impshade flower has, thus far, only been found in the wastelands of Infernus, away from the smouldering heat of the fire lakes. Notable for its alluring smell, the pollen of the impshade has strong hallucinogenic effects when inhaled. While not necessarily a rare plant, it is hard to acquire, as those wishing to gather it often wake up days later, miles from where their excursion started. As such, demon folk - in particular imps - are frequently used for their gathering as they seem to show an immunity to the plant's intoxicating effects. All parts of the flower have seen potent use in elixirs and poisons. In particular, one archer under the banner of the Empire favours arrows dipped in an impshade concoction, allowing the hallucinogenic effects to be administered to the target without the need for an arrow to even hit its target.
Several botanists have claimed to have grown impshade successfully on Gielinor. However, all reporters misplaced their specimens after involuntarily being afflicted with the impshade pollen.

Smokethistle
Only found growing on the sides of the rocky crags of Infernus, the smokethistle is a temperamental herb requiring both constant source of heat and smoke in order to thrive. The plant seems to demonstrate a rare aversion to water, reacting violently on contact. As a result, non-water-based solvents should be used when creating any concoction that includes smokethistle. Identifiable thanks to its bright-red flower and spine-covered, charred stem, it is not to be confused for the more common firechokes, which demonstrates a red hue throughout the stem. Smokethistle has shown to have magically reductive properties, and has proven a powerful asset in handling out-of-control magical creatures. No known specimens have been grown on Gielinor successfully.

Gorin! Mafizto has put firechoks in all yous bottles of infernal sauce. Said if yous dont gimie the resepe book yous stool I do it again. Dont let no won drink none or they go bang nad start hole vestigashun we dont need. Cant find yous so leafin this wear you cee it. Dont giff him the book we can jus sort im out.

Kesin, I hope this letter finds you well.It is my duty to the empire to report to you illicit occurrences happening in the Undercity under the front of 'Covarz Curios'. Just this morning I was browsing their wares (attempting to find pieces for my collection, no less). When I spotted the owner (Covarz Boreal) purchase what appeared to be an enchanted demonic weapon, from what I can only assume was a greater Avernic demon. It is my understanding that magical artefacts need to be fully documented with the inquisition before they can be brought into the city. Something about this didn't seem right, I think I may have stumbled upon something sinister. I will continue to investigate. Stay safe, Your Brother, Azorx

Praefectus Praetorio, your prisoner is not talking. I have tried everything from blessed burning to demon bane. I genuinely believe if they knew anything of this weapon you mentioned they would have talked. The others are beginning to ask questions, please deal with this quickly, it is a matter of urgency. I could be executed for this nonetheless.

Please act quickly,

- You know.

And so we arrive at the core tenets we sisters follow.
Strive. To become stagnant is to die.
Power is internal. To seek power in the eyes of another is to rot.
Respect power, even in thy enemy. To ignore it is to be blind.
Do not be the cause of stagnation, even in another.
To cause rot is to rot thyself.
Chaos is the natural way of all things. To embrace all chaos is to become your true self.
Chao et imperium super omnia aliud

Grarl's Fiery Fiends, the only store stocking rare and curious creatures from across the Empire and beyond! Rats keeping you awake at night? We've got a range of small to large cats that can leave your hovel essentially rat-free. Perhaps you need a fierce companion to intimidate your enemies - we import only the finest hell-canids from across the Infernal lands. This week only - 20% all myrecats and boiltoads.

This isn't right. To keep these people caged like animals, just to bring the to a sudden end, all in the name of Zamorak. Something deep within me knows this is wrong, and i^[sic] know the others feel it too. Some of them at least. The witches are different. They do not flinch, they do not hesitate when it comes to ending another's life. Is this true loyalty? Am i^[sic] just a pretender? I do not know. I need to get out of here, but I feel I will be next if I do. My journal will have to do for now - until I see an opportunity, at least.

Achievements

The Worst Witch's Grimoire ( 20) – Find and restore all 22 pages from the burnt grimoire in the Zamorakian Undercity. (X/22)

Update history

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included – see here for how to help out!

hidden 11 July 2022 (Update):
- It can now be reclaimed from the player-owned house bookcase after the number of books that can be displayed on the bookcase interface has been increased.

update 4 July 2022 (Update):
- Added to game.

Trivia

The alternative name of the book, The Worst Witch, could be a reference to the children's book series of the same name.