I have been called a collector, historian, voyeur, and more. These labels do not offend me; I am, by my own nature, an observer. What else is one such as I to do?

  Those born of the stars assume eternity. Those born of gold believe history is power. You, mortal, possess neither certainty nor ownership of time. You possess only your choices.

  I call to you, daring mortal: live a life worthy of memory.

  I challenge you, wise mortal: leave a legacy that survives the sands of time.

  I plead to you, young mortal: live a life you are proud of.

  I speak to you not as one beyond you, but as one who sees your fleeting moments, the choices made when no one watches, the nights spent sleepless. Your lives are short, children of Savoth; let not the darkness of others tarnish your value. Build your empires, explore horizons both real and imagined, chase dreams both terrible and great, never settle for lives of stagnation or suffering.

  I am watching, and upon the great, terrible, wise, and proud, I shall offer you a place within the halls of I, Calethorn the Historian. Your stories, history, and deeds shall not be forgotten, for I treasure them. Should another seek to learn of your legend, I shall offer them naught but the history as it was witnessed by one who was but an observer, no bias or agenda to be had.

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  My halls carry the echoes of outcasts, madmen, consorts, farmers, merchants, oracles, and more. Mortal history forgets most of them, for their deeds did not shape nations. Yet their lives shaped worlds of a smaller scale—families, villages, hearts—those worlds matter no less.

  Do not accept suffering as inevitability, nor mediocrity as safety. Ask yourself whether you live in a way you can respect. Pride is not arrogance or greed; it is the happiness that comes from achievements and deeds one has done to the best of their ability, the peace one feels when resting and not questioning if their decisions were right. But beware the dangers of ignoring doubt, for those who fail to reflect on mistakes made will find their pride turns to panic, ego, and denial.

  I am no judge or advisor. History is made by the daring, the ambitious, and the dangerous. I do not favor the hero or the villain; it is each person's duty to decide how they wish to be remembered. I caution you to consider the truths of history. First, the sad truth is that the victor writes the history of the mortal world. In most cases, if you succeed, your followers will favor tales that portray you as a hero and your enemies as evil. It is a tragedy I cannot prevent, but one I will always illuminate. Second, most heroes die a martyr, vanish quietly, or live long enough to become the villain.

  Great figures often fail to be remembered as such because your perception of time skews your focus. Too many great leaders and terrible monsters are remembered as something else because of the actions of a major event right before their ends, accept reflection as a necessary tool, and know when it is time to pass the torch onto others.