From the Journal of Hrogar (Five Entries)

We returned to the gnomish submarine after fighting the Aboleth only to find that no one was there. All the gnomes, as well as Hrefna had all vanished. After trying to find out what had happened (and failing, but wasting time and making fools of ourselves in the process) we decided to return back to the temple and try to finish off the Aboleth at least. We also did some more searching through the temple and found a hidden crypt. We did not fully investigate it yet, but I fully intend to return to do so. When we returned to the cavern we had fought it in earlier, we did not find the Arboleth, but did find an apparent minion of the beast.

We entered into battle with an apparent psion or wizard. As there was a fair amount of room in the chamber we were fighting in, I was able to summon my mount and make use of my mounted combat training. Unfortunately, that bastard was able to cast some kind of spell that caused me to take some of any damage done to him. Thus, every time I struck the enemy, I did significant damage to myself as well. Luckily, I didn’t take as much damage as he did, and eventually, with all of us combined, we were able to defeat him.

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As we were returning to the submarine after defeating the minion of the Aboleth, Fflam was once again taken control of and started attacking us. He did some serious damage, but luckily we were able to defeat him without killing him. We really must find some way to keep that from happening in the future.

After we returned to the submarine, Nigori and Tupper argued over using her ponies to pull the submarine. Tupper needs to know what battles he should fight and what battles he should pass on. Arguing with the temperamental princess on how she should use her magic to move a giant metal monstrosity we don’t need nor particularly want isn’t the best use of ones time, and as Tupper has learned, tends to get one turned into a frog.

While we didn’t use Nigori’s magical sea-ponies to haul the submarine, she and I were able to use them to scout out a nearby island where the gnomes might have escaped to if they had to abandon the ship for some reason unknown to us. When we got there, we found an island covered in a mysterious mist. The smell reminded us of the Aboleth. This may be where it is hiding.

We were then left with a decision, should we go investigate the island, or the crypt we found in the temple? I worried that with the Aboleth sicking Fflam against us as soon as we left the temple the last time, it seemed to be trying to distract us from the temple. If so, we should finish the job there first. After some debating, I was able to convince the others that we should head back down and finish the temple off, before heading off to the mysterious island. So the temple and its crypt is where we shall go next.

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I am still stunned from the day’s events. Our leader and comrade, Fflam, has died. We were searching the crypt we had found earlier, and found an evil sword and throne, as well as a dozen sarcophagi. I knew we would have to open them up one by one and insure there was nothing dangerous left in them, but before that happened an evil force coalesced out of the air and took human form. An accursed lich!

We fought the creature valiantly. He sent wave after wave of enemy against us. First pseudonatural creatures, and then he protected himself with an impenetrable field while he had his specters escape their sarcophagi and attack us. We had a hard time with them as we were not sure if our attacks were even hitting them.

Finally, we defeated them and were able to try to finish off the lich, and were succeeding at it, but in his last act, he threw a fireball at the ground where he stood, destroying his body, as his soul is elsewhere, and damaging those of us attacking him and killing Fflam. Fflam died the way he lived: in a giant ball of fire.

I jest, because I take consolation in the knowledge that Fflam gave instructions for us to take enough his body back to his family such that they can return life to him if they so choose. I am certain that when they hear of his exploits, they will no doubt do so.

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After returning the Gnomes back to the ship (they had been held prisoner within the temple), and finding out where Hrefna had disappeared off to (another plane), we’ve gone off to check out what was going on at the island Nigori and I found covered in mist. Upon exploring the island we found a short fortress covers much of the island. The fortress is only about a story tall, but no doubt it descends into the earth, who knows how deep it goes.

Tupper entered the fortress first, then set off a trap that lowered an iron portcullis which stopped the rest of us from following. As we were trying to find an alternate way in/figure out how to open the portcullis, Tupper was knocked unconscious and started getting dragged away from the door and further into the fortress by a mysterious entity that we could not see. We quickly used metamorphosis spells to get the group through the bars, and were able to keep Tupper from being dragged off. But we still don’t know exactly who the person was dragging away Tupper, as they escaped.

While searching through the fortress, we came across a golem we had to defeat, and while we were fighting, we were joined in our fight by a monk. He was able to provide valuable assistance in the fight, and will be continuing on with us. He is apparently one of the monks from a fortress my group met previously, the same fortress they left the other staff piece at. He was sent a vision that he should help us, and here he is. We can certainly use the help.

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I really must reign in Nigori, but I must do so carefully. I can’t keep letting her turn Tupper into a frog all the time, for one thing. Even if it is Tupper. Her maturity level borders between a young child to a teenager, but mostly a young child (I've known 12-year-olds that showed more maturity for longer stretches of time). But since she's an elf, she might still be over a hundred years old.

Immaturity aside, she is quite useful, having the ability to grant us all important abilities when we must work underwater, but she can be quite temperamental. She’s not as bad as A. Hab was, but I must remember the lesson learned from that scenario: women are crazy and will frequently overreact. We don’t want to piss Nigori off to the degree that she storms off leaving us underwater somewhere and Tupper stuck as a frog.

We investigated the island, and eventually discovered the Seneschal of the fortress. From what they say, the keepers of this fortress are fellow enemies of the Encroaching Darkness from the Depths. In fact, they seem to know quite a bit about said Darkness, and have been more forthcoming with information about it than many others we have met. I will have to gather as much information as I can while here.

The keepers of this fortress have agreed to tell us where the final piece of the Staff of Elhona is, or at least the top three possible locations. I personally wouldn’t have been so quick to even mention it to these people, since we don’t know for sure that what they say is the truth, although I did not notice any lying when they stated their allegiance. But even if they are enemies of our enemies, that doesn’t mean that they are our friends, or that they wouldn’t try to take it from us and use it themselves. If what they say about it is true, it is indeed a terrifying weapon, and one I would not want in the wrong hands. But what’s done is done.

To prove our own claims of being enemies of the Darkness, the seneschal has decided to send us on a number of quests that will prove it by hurting said Darkness and its allies. But before we go, Mistera has left on a quest of her own that she apparently can’t tell us anything about. She says she’ll be back in a week. I must make use of this time to prepare for the upcoming quests.