WARNING: Story Spoilers in this post.
The Forbidden Reach Journals
There are two journals that can be read containing Dragon correspondence, and both can be located by Scalecommander Azurathel in Morqut Village after you start working towards the While We Were Sleeping achievement. As you find correspondences in the Forbidden Reach, the books will gain more pages.
All the pages of the books are either written by or directed to Adamanthia, a Black Dragon that is seemingly responsible for the operations of Neltharion’s Dracthyr experiment in the Forbidden Reach. In both books, the Dracthyr Archivist Zazulithan notes that they seem to remember Adamanthia in a small capacity, with only fragments – But they feel drawn to their notes and story.
At the time of this translation, I can confirm that neither I nor any dracthyr I have spoken to or are able to fully remember Adamanthia. We have only fragments. Her origins and identity are mysterious. Yet we feel drawn to her for reasons beyond recollection.
It is as if she holds a part of us in her, sustained in more than just memory.
Now you may peruse her words in this humble volume. May this transcription help spark memories for worthy dracthyr who read it.
— Zazulithan
Dracthyr Archivist
- Translated Journal of Adamanthia is Adamanthia’s personal journal, talking about her tasks in the Forbidden Reach. Adamanthia talks about the containment of Raszageth, her experiences with the Dracthyr and more.
Adamanthia is a name we strain to hear across the gulf of history. Some dracthyr have experienced sparks of dream, memory, or reverie that feature her, but like so many of our memories, the full picture is denied us.
As you read her words within this tome, we hope you may have further recollections. It is my hope these words will help other dracthyr by providing some insight as to our origins and those dragons we once served.
— Zazulithan
Dracthyr Archivist
Adamanthia’s Timeline in the Forbidden Reach
By looking at both books and connecting some pieces together, we are able to piece together a timeline of Adamanthia’s stay in the Forbidden Reach, all the way to her final report. We can place that these journals were all written after Raszageth’s imprisonment in the Forbidden Reach, as they talk about her influences on the island, as well as experimentations with the Dracthyr, more specifically in attempting to regain control over them, as the Titan relic that Neltharion used to exert control over them was destroyed during the confrontation that ultimately led to Raszageth’s imprisonment – And Neltharion’s pledge to the Old Gods.
Her first report is in Sending Stone: The Prisoner, in which in which Adamanthia reports to Neltharion about the status of the prisoner kept in the Forbidden Reach – Raszageth. In this journal we can already see Adamanthia communicate with the same mannerisms of arrogance of other Black Dragons.
She worries that although she’s currently being maintained imprisoned, Raszageth still stirs, to the point that she’s able to interfere with the weather of the Forbidden Reach. This tells us that she was actively awake all these years, adding into her haste when she finally broke out of imprisonment in the Dracthyr Evoker starting questline.
Lord Neltharion, I bring news. The Reach quaked today with the wrath of Raszageth!
Yet I am happy to report that the seals over her makeshift prison in your vault have held. The enchantments Malygos placed there should remain intact for many ages of this world, even without magical maintenance.
Our prisoner is still able to exert her influence over the weather on this island. I am worried that she might get a message out, given enough time.
For now, however, our only cause for concern should be what would happen if the other Incarnates learned of her presence here. I will once again remind my lackwit servants to destroy my sending stones after their messages have been sent.
At this point, Neltharion decides to imprison the Dracthyr after conferring with his best friend, the Aspect of Magic himself Malygos.
Adamanthia talks about this order in Journal Entry: The Creches – She is willing to work with Malygos’s flight, but she questions the order, to the point that she needs to hurry with research.
We sealed the creches today. Malygos asked for volunteers. Three of his zealots and their retinue chose to be entombed with the dracthyr.
I must hurry with my research. The magic of Malygos is strong, but I still question this course of action.
My research into stasis magic continues apace. Neltharion’s enquiries are relentless, though he will not say why.
My brother is upset. Something about a calamity befalling his work? He grows ever more distant.
Neltharion is beside himself. He says it’s all falling apart. That it’s too soon. That they need to be held. To be contained…
It is done. His creations are in statis. I have done my best to ensure they remain undisturbed.
Adamanthia reflects on Neltharion’s decision in Journal Entry: Silence, thinking this might be either pride or shame from Neltharion himself. In this entry, she’s also the one that gives the name Forbidden Reach to the area.
We were warned to tell no one, not even the other Aspects. No one must learn of these dracthyr. No one must know what lies beneath the surface of the Reach.
Is it shame? Or pride?
Either way, dragonkind will always remember: this reach is forbidden. Let that be its fitting sobriquet. All who dare trespass upon this terrain are interlopers to our blighted realm… these lands of legacy… this Forbidden Reach.
At some point after imprisoning the Dracthyr, Adamanthia starts experiments on the imprisoned Dracthyr on her own, attempting to use Order magic to regain control over them. Her attempts are documented in both Journal Entry: Relics and Journal Entry: Experiments, in which she experiments with Titan relics such as the Hammer of Khaz’goroth to attempt to regain control of the Dracthyr, all failing.
I have attempted to employ other titan relics within the Warder’s arsenal. Not even the Hammer of Khaz’goroth is capable of reasserting order in any meaningful way.
Order magic still fails to take hold.
Failure! Again!
A hundred and one dracthyr have been released from stasis. Yet in each experiment, the subject eventually regains all memory and retains none of their former mental conditioning.
It is becoming increasingly clear: what has been done cannot be undone.
Adamanthia eventually concludes that the Dracthyr are not broken – Although they are creatures of free will (and thus dangerous), they can be won over, just like any other mortal race. She sends this report, perhaps hopeful (for a black dragon) in Sending Stone: Initial Report, requesting permission to awaken more creches to further experiment.
My Aspect, I have made a discovery.
You were correct in presuming that Order magic may not be enough to re-establish control over the dracthyr. However, I have learned over my countless experiments that this may not be necessary.
I have confirmed that the dracthyr are not “broken.”
Dracthyr with free will are powerful, dangerously so. Yet they are not mindless cretins. Their hearts and minds can be won over just as any free thinking mortal might.
With your permission, I would like to awaken more of the weyrns so that we might explore this assertion further.
Neltharion answers to Adamanthia in Receiving Stone: Final Warning – Warning Adamanthia to stop with her experiments, threatening her with pain beyond millennia, perhaps another demonstration of Neltharion falling into insanity thanks to the eventual influence of the Old Gods.
This is your final warning, Adamanthia. If you continue in your defiance, you will become an example to all any foolishly entertain such asinine aspirations.
Your suffering will span millennia. Even death will not release you. Any who look upon you will gaze upon your torment and despair. Cease this folly, or retribution awaits you.
Adamanthia still protests against this in Sending Stone: Protest, trying to call to Neltharion’s genius. This missive is interesting because it namedrops a place not yet seen: Aberrus, a place where the Dracthyr awakened by Adamanthia were sent this – And seemingly a place of punishment.
My Aspect.
I thought I was doing everything you asked and more. The extraction of black dragonflight essence from the dracthyr has gone smoothly, though I worry it may permanently cripple their abilities. Yet you commanded, and I obey.
You ordered the sealing of the creches, and so I worked with the wyrms of Malygos, as commanded.
Today, I received word that you have ordered my awakened dracthyr to Aberrus, as if they were expendable for some esoteric experiment.
I must know why. I demand their release. You can see for yourself they are awake and aware, creatures capable of independent thought.
Their trust must be cultivated, not forced. In the strongest possible terms, I must protest. Trusting to your genius, I entrust these words to the careful consideration of your sagacious intellect.
Adamanthia’s Fate
Players who explore the Forbidden Reach in search of these journals will run into Adamanthia, or what remains of her – She is kept in stasis in a chamber at the High Creche, which once housed the Adamant Vigil, the commanding weyrn of the Dracthyr. The two final entries in Adamanthia’s communications with Neltharion (Final Warning and Protest) can also be found in the room Adamanthia is imprisoned in.
Adamanthia’s imprisoned pose, as well as the two journals located in this room, indicate that she was imprisoned not long after sending the Protest message to Neltharion – And that she was unwillingly imprisoned.
As of this point in the Patch 10.0.7 PTR, we have no way of freeing Adamanthia. Will we ever free her to learn more of her story? What about Aberrus, is this a place we might be visiting in future patches in Dragonflight?
