Journal of Lt. Tupper, Day 247-251

Day 247
Attempts to explore the temple today were thwarted by a mind-controlled Fflam. Fortunately, we restrained him with a minimum of damage to anyone. After that, the more mobile members of the group went out to scout the surrounding areas, while the rest of us stayed behind to guard the dwarf. Actually got some useful research done, especially since Nogori was out of casting range.

When they came back, they told us of a shrouded island with indications that the 'abboleth' is residing around it. It is either making for a full retreat (with the kidnapping of the sub crew as a way to strand us) or it is trying to draw us away from something hidden in the temple. Apparently, there are crypts down there that nobody bothered to tell me about until today. The debate on what to do was left in a stalemate, and will hopefully be decided tomorrow morning.

Herakles thinks brainwashing requires soap.


Day 251
Fflam is dead.

On day 248, we managed to make it to the temple and into the crypts. There we found rows of coffins and a sword next to a pitch-black throne. This, for any rational mind, is not a place to mess around in. So Nogori sat in the throne to play princess and refused to get up until Mistera gave her the sword. This act summoned a lich. Nogori then gave the sword to the lich because I still don't fucking know why. After we dealt with its undead minions, summoned monsters, and arcane protections, it finally decided to 'kill' itself and take as many of us as possible with it. Fflam was closest to the lich when the fireball hit.

After the dust settled, we found the glorified zombie's stash of weapons and goods, including a map to the seas around Stonekeep; and Mistera found the missing crewmen of the submersible. On top of that, we all returned to the sub to find Hrefna waiting for us. I have spent the past few days recovering from the effects of poisonous gas and of being a bile-spewing chicken-thing (again, Nogori's fault). The chief engineer was curious about all of the disarmed traps in his office, which was left to me to explain. Had to fill out a survey about them, and participate in a burial-at-sea for the mechanical spider.

As it stands, the group I was sent to help now consists of a lone paladin and a gaggle of misfits. Suppose this makes me second-in-command, hah. Should probably write a letter to Fflam's family to send back along with the corpse, and maybe one to HQ to request proper reinforcements, assuming they can even find us.

I'm never going to see Point of Origin again, am I.