9/30/03 (Real world)

<Note: All text, except the heading, is written in a coded form of Draconic.>

IF THIS JOURNAL IS FOUND, THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL REWARD FOR ITS RETURN TO NEFNR, THE MEMORY ARTIST, IN THE CITY OF GAHANIS

To: Hanrel Tannison
Order of the Erdaenos Collectors
Library of Erdaenos
City of Erdaenos

From: Dain Lonair

Caverns beneath Old Battlehome Fortress
Four Hours South of City of Gahanis
Re: Mission Report 2

Date: 12 Fifthmonth 1757

We have entered the Fortress, and the caverns beneath, and now fight for our lives against a strange foe. But that is far ahead of the beginning.

We begin by entering through the eastern tower. I examined the lock, and knew it to be a fairly modern device made within the region. It took me a few tries, but quickly I was able to recall the proper procedure for persuading the tumblers to fall into place, and the door was opened.

The eastern tower is 30' in diameter, with a central spiral staircase. We climbed up cautiously, and discovered a number of ramparts leaving heading away from the tower to the east and west. However, the tower had obviously suffered over the years, and all but two of the departing ramparts had suffered such damage as to have fallen away for the most part. The two useable ramparts were on the second floor, and we took the eastern most one of these. This led to a small spiral staircase down to the main central dome, and I noted later than the western rampart likely led to a similar spiral staircase that could be seen once within the central dome.

The central dome itself is a massive amphitheatre of stunning architecture. It is dominated by a central 60' diameter pillar, perhaps an inner keep to the fortress by the look of its sturdy door. The lattice ceiling could now be seen from within, and ramparts were apparent below the lattice for use in ranged attacks against the winged forces of the ancient dramojh. Flashes of ancient memories filtered through my mind, and I could tell the entire fortress was built with powerful magic, and used in epic battles the likes of which none alive have ever seen.

The central dome contained several areas of further interest. A small shack was in one area, locked with a difficult padlock which took me a full 30 seconds to unlatch. Within was a large rune on the floor, 10' by 10'of a type I did not recall.

An alcove is in another section, and within is an ancient smithy. The smithy includes an empty forge, a hearth, a stone upon which an anvil would ordinarily rest, and a 10' diameter circular well. A quick search of the well discovered a poorly hidden grappling hook and rope that reached down into the depths. A quick measure of the wells depths revealed that the bottom lay some 80' below. Sniktari silently slipped into the depths, and reported back quickly that a dry riverbed lay below, stretching off to the Northeast and Southwest. We would return to this well shortly.

Yet another structure within the central dome turned out to be a large stables, obviously intended for Radonts, the large mounts used by the giants, which is presently empty.

The central tower contained sturdy 15' iron double doors which were unlocked. The locking bars rested nearby. Inside were two half-circle rooms separated by a wall and similar double door. The second room contained stairs which rose 40' up to a second level. The second level contained 20' wide by 12 high doorways leading off to what had been catwalks to the surrounding towers, now missing. The rear courtyard beyond the central tower could be seen below, as could many arrow slits, a viewing window 10' off the floor, and a 5' high pedestal containing an ancient lever. Sniktari pulled the lever, and to our surprise, it still worked. The main entrance doors groaned open, shaking the entirety of the fortress, and giving us a brief scare that our bandit targets had been alerted to our presence. However, nobody came running, and after a short time, we continued up.

The next level revealed 8 pedestals, each with an identical rune. The runes seemed inert, but bore a strange resemblance to the rune in the shack below.though I could not place what this similarity might be.

The next level has openings out to the four cardinal directions, revealing little additional information. I could see the southern courtyard, below, and got a good look at the poles attached to the roof, which obviously had held up the catwalks that were now missing.

The next level up, which was just below the top level, bore quite a bit of debris. Humanoid and animal bones were apparent, in addition to a 5' by 10' metal plate that appeared to belong to the catwalks. The plate bore a rune that I could not identify, but which also bore a strange resemblance to both the shack rune and the 8 pedestal runes. Perhaps the entirety triggered the catwalk to extend in some manner, though this is pure speculation.

We did not make it to the top level, as yet. Sniktari heard the faint flapping of wings above, and we rapidly retreated. Our goals do not include any flying creatures, nor did it seem likely any further artifacts might be in any nest a flying animal might have made on the top floor of the tower, though perhaps we shall return later. I attempted to spot the flying thing out a lower window, but could see nothing, though my eyes were keen.

We return now to the well, and the riverbed below.

We initially took the northeast passageway, a mostly natural cavernous tunnel, cleared here and there for easier travel and better riverflow, likely by the underground slave escapees and their saviors long ago during the war. Having gained such relatively easy access to these caverns, my heart raced with anticipation that perhaps some missing artifacts smuggled here by those war refugees might be discovered within.

We traveled about a mile down the northeast riverbed before turning back. I suspect the passage might take one near Gahanis, perhaps to a secret exit near the town, though it would require an additional visit to confirm this guess.

Back to the southwest passage, we discovered danger almost right away.

A mere 100 feet in Snik triggered a most foul trap. Halting suddenly in the corridor, a sudden a brief look of terror struck his otherwise stoic visage. Though he did not relay many details, I felt sure he had entered, and won, a dangerous battle of wills. While a careful search of the region revealed nothing, I strongly suspected he had accidentally triggered a rune of magic, one intended to cause invaders such as ourselves to flee in terror from an unknown source. We were fortunate indeed that our companion Snik was able to overcome the trap, and we ventured on deeper down the southwest passageway.

Another 100 ft. down the corridor we encountered yet another rope hanging from what we would later learn to be another well above us, leading back up into the ancient fortress.

50 feet further in, and we came to our first true choice in directions, a T- intersection leading off into the darkness in both directions.our first of many. We chose to go left, thinking that, should these caverns become a maze, one and ensure escape by always going in a single direction at every choice. Left it would be, until we left these dark caves.

6o feet in and we encountered another T-intersection, and choosing left, we rapidly encountered our first hostiles! Dodging some thrown javelins, Roshka quickly slew a goblin attacker in the distance at some range with a swift shot from his bow, while Snik, with a frightening extensions of some heretofore unseen claws from within his hands, charged into the fray and quickly slashed another goblin attacker to death in a single slice. Finally, our strange companion Iyri hurdled a magical ball of some clay-like substance at the final attacker, felling the foul creature where it stood. She appeared rather surprised at the form her magic had taken, apparently expecting fire, rather than earth. A strange one she is, though useful it seems.

We searched the bodies and found a small sum of silver pieces (5) , two javelins each and one morningstar each. I gathered three of the javelins for myself, being a bit light on the ranged weaponry, and Snik destroyed the remaining weapons, not wishing to leave anything behind for our enemies to use in the future.

On close examination of our goblin foes, I discovered something rather disturbing. Their skin was covered in a strange, fungal-like growth, almost as if mushrooms were growing from within them. I noted this disturbing sight for further analysis later, and quickly hustled to rejoin my friends, who were rapidly moving on. None of us spoke further about the fungal growth, or the fact that goblins were found in caverns that were supposed to house bandits.and yet no sign of the bandits was apparent.

Fortunate we were that we did not dawdle long over the dead goblins, for quickly we ran into yet another pack of live ones not 40' feet further in. Snik grunted, as a javelin thrown from the gloom beyond struck him. Fortunately Gür thought to bring a lantern with him, and his rapid movement into the room with the light revealed our deadly foes. Snik, in a fit of rage, charged the enemy, felled one quickly, as I drew my sword and approached. Dancing amongst the enemy like a trained killer, Snik again slew another, this time taking it's head clean off from its shoulders, while slew the last goblin with a skilled thrust of his longsword.

A search of our slain opponents revealed more silver (7 sp), morningstars, and javelins. I took some additional javelins, totaling 6 now , while Snik destroyed the remaining weapons to again deny any following foes their use. I again noted that these goblins also had mushroom-like fungus covering their bodies, and examined a small sample of some sort of fungal fluid in the room, making note of the substance for later analysis.

Moving on a short way to the left we found a small alcove containing two dire rats chained to the wall. Snick swiftly put the evil beasts out of their misery, and ours.

Moving further on the corridor, and passing yet another T-intersection, we came upon a room where someone had obviously been living fairly recently. We discovered a keg half-full of beer, which Snik reported after a quick taste and smell that it was not half bad, and quite obviously not of goblin design. A fire pit and some edible dried meat and fish , which we took, were also found in the room. Perhaps we were getting closer to our bandit targets after all.

Backtracking to the only corridor of the last T-intersection not taken, we discovered a sleeping chamber for about four goblins. There we found goat bladders, furs, chalk, a tindertwig, some glass beads, an unused memory stone, some dried sprite wings, and other random goblin things. We kept the chalk, tindertwig, and memory stone , and left the remainder behind as we pressed on in our quest for the lost artifact and bandits.

Coming upon yet another goblin sleeping chamber similar to the last, finally we discovered a substantial cache of gold. 65 gold pieces total were gathered, among other valueless goblinish items.

Leaving the second sleeping chamber we found ourselves backtracked to a the intersection where we had fought the second set of goblins, and returned to our plan of taking the leftmost choice in pathways.

We passed another T-intersection and finally came to a dead-end circular cavern, 20 feet by 20 feet. Two of the walls were oddly flat, in comparison to the surrounding rough-hewn walls, and I immediately engaged in a thorough search of these odd walls, suspecting a secret door. Quickly, my suspicions were realized, as both walls gave way to a secret door, and we entered the one on the left.

Within was a darkened room which, on seeing it with Gür's lantern, appeared to be about 50' by 60'. There was little time for examination of the architecture though, as two giant rats charged our party. Snik quickly went to the kill, slaying one with his deadly claws, while Roshka put an arrow in the other. I finally got a swing in with my trusty home-crafted sword, slaying the arrow-wounded creature where it stood. I must say the adrenaline of the battle did little to allay my fears of close combat. I fear it possible that I could not withstand much more than a single strike from any of the foes we have encountered here, and the threats appear to be even more deadly the further we move in to the caverns and hidden portions of the ancient fortress above.

After a quick inspection of the room I discovered the trigger for the secret door, and admired the cleverness of the likely long-dead creators of such a device.

Moving on, it was clear we were back in some hidden portion of the fortress, and no longer in the caverns below. Stairs led upwards a short way to another room obviously built for giants. A chimney led up to the bright light far above, and evidence of pigeon feathers and droppings indicated that this indeed was attached to the outside life we had so quickly forgotten in our quest. A giant table dominated the room, which probably served the giant warriors old before battle. Those same giants surely drank deeply from the now dry well we discovered in the room containing another grappling hook and rope , which surely led back down to the bottom we had seen while below in the caves, so near the entrance to the southwest riverbed.

A large archway led further into the keep, and we could see far beyond a large, clean room with several chandeliers, with another archway beyond leading into the darkness. But before we could venture inside, the ominous chanting of a ceremony could be heard booming in the distance, back in the direction of the secret door. With a quick, concerned glance to each other, we ran back to discover the source of this disturbing sound. It appeared to be coming from the other, untried secret door, and we entered quickly.

Within we saw an eerie sight. A ghostly figured was seen, moaning and chanting in a strange tongue. A moments thought dredged up the memory, and I knew it to be the Giant's tongue. Before we could react, the figure faded from our view, and all was silence once again. A search of the room revealed nothing, and we moved on without further discussion of this troubling sight and sound.

Further on, we traveled down a 50' passageway to a locked door. Iyri waved her staff about, and spoke some words I knew to be magic. The door clicked, and she went to open it, expecting it to swing wide from the effects of her spell. But alas, the door did not budge. Annoyingly, she tried it again.and nothing. Gür and I moved in, and with noise and painstaking slowness, we managed to kick the door in. Unfortunately, all our efforts were for naught, as the room beyond was empty. We took some double doors to the left, past another T-intersection, and came to another door 100 feet in, which had yet another door just past it. Entering that, we found ourselves in an ancient, giantish barracks which had long been empty. Backtracking to the T-intersection, we found another door, and behind it an identical barracks, similarly empty.

Leaving the area behind, we backtracked and moved further in, and came to a locked door. Deciding not to take the subtle approach of picking open the mechanism, Gür, Snik and I busted open the door after seven or eight pounding kicks, while Iyri and Roshka stood attentive guard behind.

Behind the door lay yet another group of foes, as three javelins flew past our heads from enemies unknown behind the now smashed doorway!

I leave the details of what happened to my next journal entry, as my hand grows weak from writing.

In the name, the word, and the symbol of the Order of the Erdaenos Collectors,

Dain Lonair, apprentice.

<300 xp each party member>
<50 xp to Sniktari as MVP>
<50 xp to Dain for the log>