An elven sorcerer with an affinity to electricity-based spells, and his parrot familiar.

Character sheet: Elizair Stormbringer [Elf Sorcerer]
Companion sheet: Babble [Parrot Familiar]

Cause of death: examined from inside out by bone devil.
Familiar cause of death: eaten by bone devil.

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.

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.

We stayed the night at a disturbing Inn, in fact this town is a bit odd now that I think about it. They definitely do not take a kind eye to travelers to say the least. I can hardly blame them, after all they live in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by hostile creatures and they get little if any support from their fellow countrymen. They have learned to not trust, maybe fear, all travelers as bringers of bad new or times. Guess the big walls around the town would be the first sign of that, but yet the people seem to have walls also.

Looking for work we tried to find some on the town post, yet this was not how this town worked. Seems you have to have done good work and made a name for yourself before any here will acknowledge to having some work to be done. So, we decided to forge out on the only lead we had, “trouble at the mine.” With the recent success in such manners, we felt comfortable that we would be able to handle the new dilemma.

So we met with the Captain of the Watch and then headed off to the mine. At least most of us did …… it seems that Fortuna has taken an eye for the young Captain. Strange, I never imagined her going for that type. It is sad that it will not work; the handsome Captain is too tied down for her interest. She will grow tired of him quickly. Still, it is good to see her so exited, it makes me feel proud. I wonder if this is what parents are supposed to feel, hmm. Either way, Janet is having a great time at her expense right now.

Moving on, Fortuna did join up with us and we did find the mine. I would rather call it a fortress for it was a hole in the mountain surrounded by a wall. I must say they truly value their iron! Upon reaching the wall though we were greeted by a young human boy, not the sentry I expected for such a fortification. He did let us in and explained that the men are all in the mine working. After some chatter with the women who were available to talk, we found that some form of rust monsters were the cause of the mines shortages. The workers had to work with clubs, to chase off the creatures when they came near.

Into the mine, we were directed to a man who would show us were the last attacks were. With most of our metal gear packed away, we felt ready to deal with these creatures. We went down a passage to a split in the path, feeling a bit insecure with how we were pointed down a passage without mention of a split, I left Babble at the intersection to keep an eye out for what may come from the other direction. We took the left passage and soon found the source of the mining shortages: Hobgoblins. Not quite the large vermin the party was prepared for.

Luckily I was able to take out the first batch; unluckily the brightness of my spells brought more. It was then that Babble told be that there were humans with clubs coming our way; at least we will have back up, I thought. I was able to see two groups of Hobgoblins coming after us from two new passages in the back of the cavern were we stood. The passage to my left brought me the most fear, for behind the approaching fighters stood a thin creature with a face full of tentacles. A Mind Flayer, I had only seen one once, it that one was dead. This one would soon prove itself quite alive.

I quickly cast a spell to blind that hallway and tried to deal with the other attackers until the humans came to help. I tried to tell my friends what was happening, but the heat of the ensuing battle did not help. The humans finally arrived and began attacking us. I admit, we were not organized for this. I knew the frozen winds I put in the one corridor would not hold the others back much longer I had to act quickly to help my friends who were not armed for this fight. At one point I let out an apology before casting in the direction of Janet and Fash.

The battle was fierce and I have to admit that I was impressed with Fash and his bow. Fortuna was taking on multiple foes as usual, and Janet was making do with a weapon she did not prefer. At one point the Mind Flayer was behind me and in control of Fash. The archer, Fash, launched a volley of arrows at me that should have killed me outright, but providence saved me once again and I was only wounded. Gritting in pain and needing to act before Fash could train his bow on me again, I made one last ditch effort in an all-or-nothing to kill the Mind Flayer ….. and I failed.

Soon I was awakened by Fortuna and the grips of the Mind Flayer still stung at my face. My little friend has saved me again. It is times like this when I wonder if I found her, or she found me. Either way, our lives have become dependent on each other, literally.