Journal of Arcadius - Day 125 - 2

(hastily written scrawls)

We have learned much, but we have lost the initiative. Our attempts to continue downward and under or around the prepared defenses of the Drow appear to have hit their limits.

Walter-Tupper continues to do his job poorly and with increased haphazard recklessness. He has been acting so strangely I fear he is losing his mind again. In a search, a loose, man-sized floor tile was found. Walter-Tupper's idea of checking it for traps proved to be prying it up with a ten-foot pole and thus exposing himself and Oda to poisonous gas!

Once the gas dissipated, the tile proved to cover a tunnel down. This Jacob offered to investigate, which he did by flying down. Alas, some sort of anti-magic field was in place in the tunnel and he fell far enough to sustain some minor injuries! At the bottom of the tunnel was a curious separate complex of rooms, with its own kitchen and larder, library, and what proved to be a sealed laboratory.

THERE we found the eldest lady of this Drow house. She is very noble in her way, but alas mad. With some conversation and discussion we have found that she, like the two sisters on the far northern coast, has been in contact with horrific beings or powers from the Far Realms and seems to have been driven mad by the experience. However, she is very learned and powerful.

I bid my farewell to her almost immediately, but many of the party did not, and they remain trapped in the room with her by a gigantic Pseudonatural Dire Tiger that appears to also live down here. I have taken Miranda aside and discussed the situation with her, pointing out how clearly this fits into the greater pattern of spreading evil.

***

Others have been filtering out of the room. It appears, if I understand correctly, that it is merely a matter of asking gravely and politely to be allowed to leave. Despite this, they are having problems. Why do these Northerners find basic courtesy so difficult? Meanwhile, Walter-Tupper appears to be gibbering to himself in some mixture of fear and madness. It appears earlier I was correct about his mind. Perhaps he is already in some subtle way in the grip of the madness-inducing beings from the Far Realms. We must watch him.

***

Good news and bad news. Jacob has somehow managed to convince the lady to summon Fflam from his prison. However, this is apparently for the purpose of feeding his brain to an Ilithid. I was alerted to these events when informed that several party members were talking up the deliciousness of Fflam's brain, in Fflam's presence. It is apparently some complicated plot to free him. Perhaps the grip of madness is spreading? In the meantime, I will busy myself with some writing on other subjects of import.

***

By the Sevenfold Spears of Ar-Shahmash! Fflam has apparently accepted some drink from the lady that is meant to "season" his brain to make it tastier to Ilithids. May the gods protect us! Apparently, his brain was insufficiently appetizing before. One wonders why. Certainly, it was already well cooked. Perhaps Ilithids prefer brain tartar? Ah, and I have forgotten to mention that previously, Jacob had taken him on some sort of journey back and forth using his planar shifting power, which continues to fail to work according to plan.

So here we are. Hours lost. Some party members trapped. Fflam unconscious with something no doubt very bad coursing through his brain. The Drow no doubt well prepared and waiting to strike us down.

How we shall accomplish our mission now, I don't know. I do know that I must see this through. I have given my word. I believe we must succeed or spend our lives in the effort. If the others lack this resolve, and I fear they do, then at least I will stand and die covering their retreat.

May Lord Pelor protect us.
May the gods have mercy on us for our folly.
May we yet have victory.

*A*