Diary of Brooke von Bonburg

The Diary of Brooke von Bonburg is a transcript of one of six recordings made regarding the familial myths of Brooke von Bonburg. The result of an impromptu, unsanctioned lease of a state-owned recorder as commissioned by the now defunct House Bonburg, the resulting discs were some of the only documented accounts of Lanvish traditions and practices. Produced during the course of recorder's 2-4 hour absence, the quality of the recordings were unfortunately limited. The speaker's recollection of the myths in question was often faint at best, and interruptions were frequent.

Following the condemnation house Bonburg in the aftermath of the succession crisis, their estate was scoured and all six of the discs were destroyed. This destruction was the result of a quirk in the wording of the Queen´s decree, which mandated the "shattering" of what remained of Bonburg presence in Hallandren. The transcript written below, by contrast, was considered the property of House Hallan, and by extension the state, allowing its continued preservation. Unfortunately, as the whereabouts of the survivors (if any) of House Bonburg, are unknown, it is unlikely the myths recorded on the other five discs will ever be documented again. They are lost to time.

The myth recounts the tale of the Frog and the Panada, in which a frog seeks guidance from the city of pandas to learn how to overcome their "urge" to be human.

= Diary of Brooke von Bonburg = A long, long time ago. Stupidly long ago, there was a frog. A mean frog. She lived in this village hidden behind 7 mountains, fed by 7 rivers, each of which cut through 7 forrests. The 7 bit was really important & uh- ... Sorry, that's not the best opening, is it? It's not normally like that, i swear! My mom always told it better, & it's kinda hard to compare to that. It's like- one of those things, y'know? The kind that's needs a great storyteller to be great. Someone with pizazz & intrigue. All the stuff I'm don't. ... Sorry- I'm not trying to fish for sympathy pft- It's just that it's... kinda funny to think about, y'know? I never thought Id need that level of showmanship, & it feels like a disservice to the tale that I don't. I mean, It's ok really. I've made my peace with it. It's probably like- against my nature or something. I wish It wasn't but... it's just is. And that's ok. That's not the point. What matters is telling it, however badly. It's how stories stay alive. & if it has any complaints, the story's just gonna have to deal with it. ... Oh- right, yeah! Sorry. That uh-. Sorry. That got a bit off track. You're not hear to listen to me complain. I'm good to continue. Back to the frog. And that frog, right? Because this frog is really special, well not yet. But it would be! Because this frog, who lived hidden behind 7 mountains, 7 rivers, and 7 forests- hidden away from the eyes of the gods, yearned to be human. She wanted it deep in her bones. She had been made wrong, y'know? Trapped in something wrong, & it made her spiteful. Because she yearned so desperately to be among them. To be them, like she was meant to. It drove her mad, & made her hurt... ''God how she wanted to be able to grab things. What she wouldn't do for some fingers'' Now obviously, her family, being frogs through & through, didn't always understand. She couldn't blame them, although often she wished to. It would be unfair. They had been made right, it was too hard a thing to expect, but it made her angry all the same. She wished it didn't. They tried, of course, Because they loved her. Some didn't, because they loved her. But it hurt all the same, & she lashed out because of it. & that hurt the frog. More than anything else could've. Her desires had become something terrible. She had said something- done something terrible, something she regretted near immediately. Something she couldn't take back. So she ran & she ran & she ran, On a late summer's evening, through the mildew coated grass & orange sunlight that twirled in the droplets, the frog fled to the city of the pandas, far past her 7 7 7 home, to learn from them the knowledge of sky, and of how to fix their mind before they hurt anyone else.

The Pandas were also special, for they had learned the secrets of the skies with telescopes made of bamboo. They had learned magic, and could tell the future because of it. They were clever and wise, and knew things only the gods were meant to. And so they bulit a city greater than any before them, a city that also happend to be very far from home. & that was ignoring how tiny the frog was already. It would be a long journey. But... the frog knew that her goal was close in mind, & after only a little trepidation, she marched on undeterred. Atleast that's what my mom always said. But that cant be it, right? Doubts are a part of you. A scared & angry part, yeah. but a part of you. You can’t just- get rid of them. Not fully. There must have been times when it got too cold or it got too dark & they just crashed down on her- But, somehow she, in spite of it all, she pushed forwards still and... I just- I never liked that part. ... Y'know, Edmond always told me he'd take me to see where he came from, one day at least. I couldn't help but always imagine it as like that city of Pandas-t his bustling place full of stars & maps. It always made my mind swirl, & I think he knew that, & kept it vague on purpose. He's always been nice like that. That was, uh- before I got turned. It made travel difficult, I guess. It wasn't really an option afterwards. I still like to think he'll take me one day, but it's more the thought of it that matters. ... Anyways, at long last the Frog reached the city. & pleaded with the pandas so that she could learn the secrets of the sky. They, of course, had an answer before she even arrived. For they were fearful of what a frog might do with that kind of power, & reasoned that she might hurt herself in the process. That she'd attempt to eat a star & steal it's light away from the sea above. She, of course, was insulted. Because it wasn't a sea, it was a swamp, & she just wanted answers from it. They cast her out all the same, laughing as they did. Boasting how if she wanted their secrets so terribly, she should learn it from the source. That she should jump into it. It wasnt a callous kind of laugh i think. It was always described as being kinda jovial? My mom would always do this kind of full sound from the belly to indicate it. Something that got me giggling along with her. I liked to think it was to show how the pandas appreciated the frog's efforts, but couldn't risk the risk of it. But I dont really know, I never asked. Regardless, She took their advice to heart. & on the greatest of the 7 mountains, on the tallest peak, she leaped into the heavens & landed among the stars. & once there, she whisked a star away with her tongue, & swallowed it whole. Just to spite them. She hadn't planned on doing these things. but it worked. & in a flash, among the swamp of stars, she had been made... not quite human, the faulty work of gods being hard to break, but jt was close enough. Close enough to be happy. and that terrified her. "This was not what I wanted" she thought to herself. "I wanted to change my mind, not my body!" She could throw up the star, easily so. She could return to her froggy form in the blink of an eye. But... she was happy. She liked being human. It felt right, & whole. she couldn't give this up ... and she didn't mind. So, she descended down to the swamp below, in shame. To beg for forgiveness from the family she had scoured, if they'd have her back. & they did, with open arms. For they had missed her during her time away, & nothing she said could have undone their love for her. But... they were curious. Afterall, the last time they saw her, she had been less tall. & less gross looking. Seriously- talk about a glow down. She explained to them what she had done, & they insisted that they investigate for themselves, to which she agreed. & so the village ascended, & became the first star hoppers.

They consumed stars themselves, & grew to be godly, albeit not human. For they had been made properly, & with proper bodies. They were unneeding of the blessing she had been. And for a time, they were happy. But the gods were cruel, & fearful of what had been done. & so they struck them down, & they fell back to the surface in firey hues. Scattered across the face of creation. That's where my mom said we came from, that our traits were a reminder of our froggy origins, and the starlight we let burn inside us. That whenever you see a shooting star, that's another star hopper joining the world.