"Dead Grotti" - A study in Necromancy

#Necromancy #Grotti

Forward,

This is a copy of text from my notes starting from September 1, 2018 until October 4, 2018 regarding the "Grotti" situation. This is a compilation of my observances, but not a full detail of my technical doings. Those are recorded separately as it is quite a bit to write and, frankly, quite boring in its academic entirety.

There are a few words that I use that will require definition, as this will either be the first citation of them in history or an obscure, niche vocabulary.

☞Zaguh is a metaphysical realm adjacent to ours, invisible to your human perceptions.

☞When I mention the "Passed," I am specifically speaking about those who were once living in this realm and have died, transferring their souls to the passage between this realm and Zaguh. I will refer to this place simply as 'Håll'. Some qualified Passed can find work within Zaguh (I am currently researching as to why).

☞Fushkeon (singular: Fushkeo), as I understand, are the lowest 'ranking' entities that are native to Zaguh, stationed in dealing with matters of Håll. They sort though the Passed and are more likely (albeit rarely) to be found in our home realm.

---

September 7, 2018 Friday

Today has been spent largely towards recovering both physically and mentally after a long night of dealing with Fushkeon and incompetent Passed interns. I'm only getting to my notes now as I fear I might forget some of the event by tomorrow. I have put the creature in the barn shed for the night until I can accommodate a more appropriate sleeping place for him.

Last night's experiment was... not as I had planned. To be clear-- I was successful in the operation as far as connecting to Zaguh and performing a mortality trade. However, I did not get to speak with a Zagrri, as an intern happened to take on my call. A Passed. After some fussing and elaboration on what-- rather, whom-- exactly I required in trade for my immortality... well... at the very least, the exchange did happen.

Unfortunately, the specific soul I wished for was not delivered to me and, instead, a most... unexpected character came stumbling out of the portal.

I demanded a return, understandably infuriated by the deception, but to no avail. I managed to finally speak to a Fushkeo who would only repeat to me the terms of Zaguh's "exchange policies". Apparently, there are no returns on mortality trades! And to think! After all of my vigorous research and vigilant preparation, sacrificing my own immortality!

As distraught as I was at the time, I still knew better than to press the matter too far, as not to disturb the greater powers lording over such matters.

Now I'm left with this... lump of moss-riddled flesh. I just hope he can be of at least some use. I will make him a spot to rest for now and wait until I've collected myself to confront the situation.

September 14, 2018 Friday

It's been one full week living with the resurrected Passed and I have only been in observance, assessing the situation to decide on a working accommodation. Upon asking his name, the resurfaced corpse could only spit out the words "dead" and "Grotti," so that is what I've been referring to him as. He seems to have no objections to this name.

September 15, 2018 Saturday

Grotti appears to be adjusting to his mortal coil again. I've shown him the essential areas such as the bathroom and kitchen but he seems to keep to himself in the spare room for the most part. I've already made some quiet observances such as his accent, vocabulary, and clothes that would fit in fine in the late twenties. Perhaps we might have time in common after all.

I'll wait a week or two so that the both of us have time to adjust to this new arrangement and also so I can gather my questions in a coherent way.

September 27, 2018 Thursday

I've sat down with Grotti today with my tape recorder for an interview about his experiences. There are no modern records that exist to my knowledge of any information about the realm between this and Zaguh, so anyone could imagine my absolute excitement to have such a vital source of information.

Oh! if only things were so simple!

I prepared a list of questions, mainly to capture details of the experience of dying, becoming a Passed, and passing between earth and that damed place that so many fear: Håll. But instead of the answers I seek, I've received nothing but a long-winded tale of his living mortal life and the events leading to his death. When I attempted to push forward-- to learn what happens next, after we pass... he fell asleep! The gall! And a waste of tape!

Frustrated as I may be, I will have to try again. Perhaps tomorrow, over a pot of coffee.

September 28, 2018 Friday

The Dead Grotti appears to have run off.

[...]

October 3, 2018 Wednesday

At last! Mr. Grotti has returned. I asked where he'd gone, but he only replied with "not far, unfortunately" and grumbled something more under his breath that I didn't quite catch, but equally didn't care enough to ask for clarification.

With a quick once-over I noticed some peculiar details. Buttons missing, different shoes. The hem of his pant legs, soiled. Some grime had crusted in the corners of his mustache, appearing mud-like in color and texture, but the rotten stench is unmistakable. The final clue was seeing the hound's reaction. [...]

He washed up and refused conversation for the rest of the day.

October 4, 2018

Today, I was able to sit for a proper interview with the Dead Grotti. Perhaps seeing the worse condition of the hound made him reconsider his new role....

We made it through a fair amount of basic questions and, although the answers weren't quite what I had hoped, the advancement of knowledge on this subject is astronomical! I will continue with this process every day until my list of inquiries run out.