Terris Manuscripts
Ancient Terris documents containing the history and prophecies of Scadrial, hidden from the Lord Ruler.
The Terris Manuscripts are ancient documents from the Terris civilization, containing vital historical records and prophecies. They are written in the Ancient Terris Script and preserved primarily on metal plates (copper, brass, etc.) by the Keepers, hidden and scattered throughout the world. These manuscripts hold the key to understanding the true history of Scadrial and are crucial to the rebellion against the Lord Ruler.
- Material
- Metal Plates (Copper, Brass, etc.)
Lore & Background
The Terris Manuscripts are a collection of ancient texts originating from the Terris people, predating the Lord Ruler's Ascension. They chronicle the early history of Scadrial, including the original world and the actions of Preservation and Ruin. Most importantly, they contain prophecies that hint at the return of the Hero of Ages and the eventual downfall of the Final Empire. These manuscripts were hidden by the Keepers and the Synod to protect their knowledge from the Lord Ruler's oppression. They are written in the Ancient Terris Script, a language known only to a few Keepers and scholars.
In Their Own Story
The writer sat by candlelight, the quill scratching across the page. First came the horizontal lines—news of the family, a description of the journey, a plea for money. Then, with a careful turn of the paper, the vertical lines began: a second letter, squeezed between the first, each stroke crossing the earlier words at right-angles. The result was a dense, almost illegible grid, but it saved the cost of a second sheet. The recipient would hold the page to the light, tilting it to decipher both messages, one eye following the horizontal, the other the vertical, a private conversation folded into a single piece of paper.
Reader's Guide
To create a crossed letter, a writer would first cover a sheet of paper with writing in the usual horizontal orientation. Once that was complete, the paper was rotated ninety degrees, and a second set of lines was written over the first, crossing them at right-angles. This technique, also called cross-hatching or cross-writing, was used during the early days of the postal system in the 19th century to save on expensive postage charges, as well as to save paper. A crossed letter is distinct from a palimpsest, as cross-hatched manuscripts were written this way at one sitting or for the same purpose (such as a diary), rather than being re-used later. Reading a crossed letter required patience and a good eye, as the two sets of writing overlapped in a dense grid.
Did You Know?
- The Terris Manuscripts predate the Lord Ruler's Ascension and contain prophecies about the Hero of Ages.
- These manuscripts were hidden by the Keepers and the Synod to protect their knowledge.
- They are written in the Ancient Terris Script, which is difficult to decipher without training.
- The manuscripts are crucial to the rebellion, as they reveal the true nature of the Lord Ruler's power.
- Some manuscripts are preserved on metal plates, such as copper and brass, stored by the Keepers across the Final Empire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Terris Manuscripts?
These are ancient texts written by the pre-Final Empire Terris civilization that document their history and predict the fall of the Lord Ruler. They were systematically hidden or destroyed to keep their dangerous truths from spreading during the era of ash.
Who created these manuscripts and when?
The documents were authored by scholars of the original Terris people before the rise of the Final Empire and the Ascendant's rule. They serve as a rare surviving link to Scadrial's past, predating the systematic erasure of knowledge under the Lord Ruler.
What specific information do they contain?
The manuscripts hold critical records on the true nature of Allomancy and Feruchemy, alongside prophecies regarding the eventual downfall of the Ascendant. This forbidden history reveals that the Lord Ruler is mortal, a fact he desperately tried to conceal from his subjects.
Why are they important to the rebellion?
These texts act as a catalyst for revolution by exposing the lie of eternal life and providing the ideological foundation needed to challenge the empire's authority. Without this knowledge, the rebels would lack the proof necessary to inspire a widespread uprising against the Lord Ruler.
What happened to the manuscripts in the story?
Most copies were scattered or hidden away to survive the Lord Ruler's purge, ensuring that fragments of the truth remained accessible to future generations. Their rediscovery by key characters allows them to piece together the full scope of the prophecy and plan their resistance accordingly.
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