Journals are my antithesis, but I am really bored with this level so...
"Once again we find ourselves contracted to enter under-ground caverns for the purposes of cleansing them of monstrous inhabitants. The similarities with our previous efforts strongly suggest that this is due to similar magics and it is likely that this is a precursor to an event of the magnitude that destroyed the community of Ibea. On that note it can be surmised that the larger capacity and greater concentration of creatures, along with the larger area of the occurences would indicate that the source of this effect is more influencial and heavily fortified than that found in the mining community which we first arrived at. One wonders if Ibea also has an under-ground space in which the magics were harboured, or if it was hidden by other means. Tthe small numbers and dispersed locality of the Ibea event suggests that the source may have been frequently relocated and that multiple sources may have been employed. The mining event was likely an experiment in efficiency, to see if a localised area could merely discourage investigation until sufficient influences, perhaps a concentration of magics, or a weakening of planar separation, could be gathered to trigger an event of sufficient magnitude to depopulate the area, as occured with the summoning of a dragon in Ibea.
It does, therefore, seem most probable that our current opposition is some manner of fortress, intended to keep investigations at distance until the process can attain disastrous proportions. We can therefore expect the caverns to contain one or more locations that contain the source of this effect, likely more of those orbs that required the use of aligned waters to counter-act. Such locations can be expected to be fortified in some fashion, likely with powerful guardians, inteded to destroy rather than simply discourage, so my most potent magics should be conserved until such a source is identified.
As to my observations of our own performance, I fear I was right to withhold my complete trust from the group. As expected, they have no concept of what value to extract from our recent exploits, and have left the responsibilities with myself, on my person, as I lack the knowledge of the locality required to determine adequate facilities for the obfuscation of our hazardous efforts. So I am stuck with it, and the impending doom that gathers about it. We have joined the local efforts against the apparent summoning conspiracy, and been left in our cohesive group. Fortunate to be in such familiar setting, but the absence of any effort to gauge the relative proficiency of the participating parties demonstrates a disconcerting admission of inevitability of insufficiency, probably, in some cases, both concise and conclusive, of some elements of our collective enterprise.
Still we endeavour to fulfil our assumed purpose of disinfesting the abode intowhich we arrive. Set upon by an obviously disadvantageous locale we located the expected ambush, a highly unusual specie of monstrous spider, likely of value for study, unusual in that its toxin is more akin to that of a centipede, affecting a loss of flexibility more than a weakening of applicable force as would be expected of a such a creature. Unfortunately our band demonstrated their aptitude for judiciousness by forcing an advance into an enclosed space with extremely limited access against a foe that is known for its talent at incapactation. Some effort to prepare a means of fording the physical impedimends would have been most encouraging, but, with the situation upon us there was little course but to conjure assistance to those poor unfortunates that proved successful in their objective of surmounting the cliffs. Fortunately my companion, who is demonstrating an admirable proficiency with the release of power, succeeded in crippling the opposing force. With a favouring of fortune I may be able to obtain samples of the venom producing equipment for comparison to monstrous centipedes and indulge my curiosity, and perhaps confirm a suspicion of a mingling of their anatomies. I fear that, though they are powerful, and clearly a most worthy disciple, that my companion may be somewhat excessive, and that discipline will be required for the success of our purpose. I fear that I shall be unable to indulge in a commitment towards complete honesty in my ambitions for the furthering of our purpose.
We have uncovered a valuable find, most probably formerly in the possession of a noble who somehow came into contact with our recent conquest. This magical compartment should be most valuable if used with a measure of caution, its companions, of little but monitary value, are mostly a thing of hording and indulgence, but I do require a reserve if funds, and should investigate my access to them, for contracts with otherworldly beings are notorious for their expence..."
P.S.
I will eventually need some disposable funds for use with the
Lesser Planar Ally spell...
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Topic: D&D 3.5- Western Marches: dead and gone (RIP) (Read 299901 times)