It's bigger on the inside.
I have begun this journal at the request of my most faithful, yet eccentric friend Babble, who has begun to believe we may not make it out of this dungeon. I am not so convinced but have recently begun to question the extent of danger that we are facing. If we are incapable of escaping this underground dilemma I would like others to know of our doom and hence it came to be.
I am Elizair Stormbringer, a simple Elf with two abilities that lead me out of the many difficult situations that I find myself. First is my diversion to cast spells, where they possibly should not be cast. Second is the odd collection of friends whom I constantly bring into my life.
Babble, my aforementioned friend, is a parrot who lives with me in Perrenland. He’s a friend who has seen me though some troubles in the past, and yet until very recently, I could not understand a single thing he said. Babble, for lack of a better reason than to drive me insane, only spoke in Dwarven. I must admit, even when I cast a spell to understand him I only became more confused. Hence, Babble.
We are traveling with Fortuna Outlawe, Janet Whisperleaf and Munthrek Darss on a quest to find if any miners survive from a dwarven mine near Turnel who have been lost to a series of tremors. Other search parties have tried but never returned. And I am beginning to realize why.
We have encountered a creature of the type I have never seen before. It is somewhat like a scorpion, and yet like a giant ant, and yet not exactly like either. We have tried communicating with the creatures, but they do not respond to any attempts. In fact they have shown they are quite eager to attack. They have a tail with a stinger that is their main weapon. They have claws which can deal some amount of damage, but the stinger contains some poison that, once delivered, renders the victim paralyzed for a short period of time.
It is here I also need to point out we have found them eating some of the dwarves, an occurrence my comrades wish to block from their memories. The creatures have shown to take damage from sword and spell, and many have fallen before us. Their numbers are unknown to us, but I have taken the decision to toss the ones we have killed deeper into the mines to put some fear into these creatures.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this journal, I do believe my friend may be right in the peril we are currently in. Recently it seems the creatures are adapting. We recently fought a group that was able to regenerate when we wounded them, both from blade and from spell. This leads me to believe there may be something else at the source of the dwarves’ doom, something controlling these creatures. For now, I will not put my fears on my friends’ minds; for they are a brave and true group of adventurers, but they are still young and I believe still do not understand the strengths they have. I have seen many more sunrises than this group, and I will do my best to make sure they have not seen their last.
Reaping 13, 594 CY
Dwarven mines
We continue to wander through these mines fighting the ant-scorpions. I am starting to worry—the bugs don’t look any different, but they seem to be getting stronger, or smarter, or more—poisonous. I’ve been hit by the stingers a few more times, and I found myself paralyzed! Worse, they seem to be casting darkness over themselves, making them much harder to hit. And, unless I’m imagining it, they are healing from their wounds during combat! We are resorting more and more to having Janet and Elizair cast spells to slay the monsters (my cousin hates to “waste” divine energy that could be used to heal us up). When we encounter the ant-scorpions, I am trying to tumble behind them as quickly as possible, coordinating with Munthrek, so that we can do so much damage to the creatures that they have no time to heal. As far as we know, the dead ones are getting back up….
We have taken advantage of the momentary peace between attacks to examine what we believe to be the lowest level of this dungeon. In our exploration we did find one spot to try and relax and recoup a little.
The cleric and I found a corner and tried to rest near a pool of water that seemed safe while the others kept watch. One time we were alarmed by our comrades as the creatures came up the one shaft near us, but also from the pool of water behind us. The battle was short, but I believe it may have unnerved my friends a little. Eventually we did manage to get some rest and continued on our journey.
Eventually we found another group of dwarves, and again we were too late. These were miners and as it turns out the closest to the source of their demise. In hindsight, they may have been trying to collapse the enemy in, or caught in a cave in when releasing the creature.
The dwarves marked the entrance to a partially blocked passage to a creature that I still do not understand. The party had to fight its way through the small passage and into the lair of the creature. The battle was long and fierce, for while their numbers were small, they fought against us with an amazing will, one that drained much of my spells. Once in the room we witnessed the creature in its awe. In the far end of the room rising out of the water stood a thin creature with tentacles and eye stalks.
I can not explain the fear that gathered inside me or explain why I and my companion Fortuna were forced to flee. I can only tell you of the shame we feel upon returning to find Janet and Babble, and hear of how our friend Munthrek died valiantly trying to finish the creature off. All I can imagine is there must have been some force that drew him to attack the creature as Fortuna and I were forced to flee. Then again, maybe Munthrek with his keen battle senses had seen something that we did not. Either way he did lead a valiant attack against he creature, and despite his situation when entangled by the tentacles his only thoughts were to yell to Janet to flee for her life.
I have returned to the chamber now, against the wishes of my friends. I had to return and face the creature and let it know we are here. My friends and I are talking about how to kill this creature, for it is obvious that hand to hand will not be and option as it plays into its strengths. We may have to rest and regain spells before we attack again, I just fear that that decision may give the creature too much time.
The death of my friend weighs heavy on my mind. And for now, Babble is the one calming me. Yet I see the pain in his eyes also, and I feel his desire to get retribution for the many fallen dwarves also. After I have slain this creature and delivered what is left of my dear friend to hallowed grounds, I shall sit and drink a toast to him with my friends.