Journal of Lt. Tupper, Day 258-260

Where the hells to begin.

Events of Day 258
Mistera returned, wolverine in tow, only to storm off later in the day for some inexplicable reason. We were informed of two temples by our 'hosts': one with a special kind of kelp that the Seneschal needs, one with an aboleth in residence, and both with a chance of holding the final piece of the Staff of Ehlonna. They then created a portal to the first underwater temple which would only last 3-4 days. Once there, Nogori absconded with a relic of dubious morality and is never seen again. The temple consists of shrines to Pelor, Moradin, Odin, and Herakles. There are also locked and warded chests containing the parts of something that probably should not be reconstructed. Also there is a shark made of crystal. It did not eat us. It appears that the temple was not always underwater, or that it once had protection against its environment. It also appears that each shrine is part of a larger locking mechanism, where each is disengaged by following the rituals of their respective gods. For reasons of security I will not go into detail.

At some point in the day we found Arkadhesh. Later on, we also encountered a non-sea elf called Steinborn, who told us his wife had been taken over by a nearby aboleth. The resulting rush to heroics left myself alone to watch over the situation at the temple until they returned shortly thereafter on account of foul currents. Apparently he and his missus were sent by Odin to find us.

After some tribulations, we successfully recovered a sample of the requested kelp. We also came to the shocking and startling conclusion that our employers might not be entirely on the level. I blame this sudden burst of intelligence on the absence of Nogori. Camp is made in the Pelor shrine at the behest of Azan, as sun gods tend to be warm.

Events of Day 259
The attack on the aboleth's fortifications went off with a minimum of hitches. The guards downed, the aboleth dead, and Steinborn's wife Valldis rescued alive and intact. Inside the creature's inner sanctum is a hidden and warded passageway, which is later revealed to lead to a ruined laboratory with a broken obsidian gateway and the fingerless corpse of a wizard. A warded notebook is found, but not disarmed.

Events of Day 260
The attack on the keep… could have gone better. During one fight, Herakles decided to 'help' me by sending me into a frothing, screaming rage. This accomplished nothing save for causing a ruckus. No foes felled, no blood let, no glorious headsmashing victory won by the "Chosen of Herakles."

Fortunately we are all still alive, though I for one am feeling sore and exhausted. Were I to mention my condition to the others, I have little doubt I would be called a coward or an idiot or both; or perhaps an embarrassing and catchy tune would be written about it. I am underappreciated, pressured beyond reason, and miserable; and now I find myself trying to sleep within line of sight of the very place from which we fought to escape.

Oh yes, and my underwear has began to disintegrate.