Burnishing History -- the Green Doors Continued

A month has passed since emerged the last rumor of Durham's progress in his research concerning the curious Green Doors. The Advent and Masquerade of the Immortal Dead (and the ethereal, insectile creatures passing through the city) did somewhat to impede such research--and yet, the assistance of one Bartholomew Pettibone, "Purveyor of Sorceries and Enchantments" and also translator, interpreter, and native speaker of the Misranite tongue, certainly did no small part in advancing said research.

Now, as the wonderment (and confusion) surrounding the "ghosts" of the Immortal Dead begin to subside, talk resumes concerning those interests and preoccupations that held the attention of the taverners of the Dual-Cities before the strange times and rites. And foremost amongst those, for those of the Kantor Kabljauhof, concerned the Green Doors ...

As mentioned, Durham was able to secure the aid of Bartholomew in researching the writings sketched out by the adventurers on that erstwhile expedition. What appeared to be parallel texts in various tongues seem certainly resolved into partial parallels, along with later interpolations. Bartholomew's easy fluency with his native tongue, though imperfect in reading Old Misranite, nevertheless proved helpful; but surprisingly, his knowledge of a less well-known tongue, Qnoliya, sprang into focus. For a section of the sketched designs clearly included a section in that very tongue, though unfortunately poorly copied, as they were copied by an eye unfamiliar to the intricacies of that ancient trade-language.

"... so in these halls Mn, masterwright,
master of signs, master of spells,
made well my incomparable galley,
singing closed its rivets, enchanting lungs
within it, whale-like, to breathe against the depths,
spinning silk of ilwrath subtly through its armor ...
... armor inlaid ...
as the armor of the Rock, powered ...
...
swift as lightning, green as the storm,
I piloted my ship, destroyed my enemies
with the basilisks of its ballistae
... burned Meluhha ...
Maqan too, and Baan, burned beneath
my gaze ..."
(translated from Old Misranite by Bartholomew)

The royal name of Taharqu seems attached to these lines, though broken by the copy. Meanwhile, the parallel Qnoliya confirms uncertain translations, and seems indeed a reiteration of the deeds of Taharqu in the (at the time) more widespread trade tongue. The place-names--Meluhha, Maqan, and Baan--are antiquated, and would require further research.

Meanwhile, the texts in the Classical Tsurriya continue to prove difficult to work through, even with the aid of Iselda the librarian fetching primers and grammars--unfortunately, working through snatches of a language with a poor understanding of its grammar or vocabulary just is very difficult. Nevertheless, a kind of summary presents itself:

"I Ehssarbu, begotten of Esshardu ... laid low the nuraghes of Denwa ... took up the [forts] under Gebl Qarb ... seized the [covered] places, seized the [jar? vessel?] ... Taharqu was split, his bones spread, his body cracked for wild renyu, and I made his places mine ..."

------

Further research into the sketches made by adventurers during that fateful expedition could certainly yield clearer results; but at the same time, both Durham and Bartholomew are both certain that fuller copies must be made before any deep progress is to be made. There just isn't enough material in the jotted notes--be it haste, or unfamiliarity that limits the sketches--to make full sense of whatever "monumental" text is presented on the face of the Green Doors.