*As I begin penning this chronicle from this cozy nook in the Muse, I cannot help but marvel at what this small organization has accomplished over the past two centuries. From aiding a burgeoning Shining Blade to the Chronoflux Anomaly, the Collective has seen and solved its fair share of mysteries since its founding in 1070 AE. Our Fifth Veil has been rather patient with my questions, though not the most forthcoming when it comes to personal questions. As he puts it, "some mysteries are meant to remain as such."* —Foreword by the author, Third Veil, J. Whelark