Journal of Arcadius

Praise and glory to Lord Pelor!

We rested for a few hours in the undersea temple of Pelor, our ability to breathe underwater sustained by the spells of the wizard Steinbjorn, and the icy grip of the waters kept away by the light and warmth of Pelor. When we awoke, we prepared defensive prayes and magics. The wizard used his magic to find that the lair of the Aboleth was a place about three miles distant, and perhaps a hundred or two hundred feet down. We set forth without delay to find it, and free Steinbjorn's wife.

We traveled for a while, then descended a slope to a lower depth where the water was a deep blue color. There on the seafloor was a ruined human city, perhaps a thousand or more years old. In that city was a large building with a sea-elf guard outside it. We were traveling inside a protective bubble of magic created by Steinbjorn. It defended us against spells, and, importantly, mind control, as well as having horrible effects on those so foolish as to pass bodily through its barrier. However, on sight of the guard,Dantroe promptly charged to attack. The guard proved to be a wizard, and trapped Dantroe in a cage of magical force. Then the guard summoned a wall of iron to block the door of the building.

Hrogar and Azar then advanced and struck down the guard. We then realized we had no way but labor to remove the wall. Given our lack of proper tools and experience, it looked to be a task of a day or more. Steinbjorn dropped his bubble and, as it proved, had a considerable expertise in architecture. He pointed to certain weak places where we could remove stones from around the door, and the matter was done in a few hours.

Entering the building, Steinbjorn created another magical bubble. However, we naturally found the Aboleth prepared. It sent another guard to harass us as we advanced, hurling harpoons at us. Azar at this point demonstrated his great worth by organizing himself, Hrogar, and I into a shieldwall. He had some military training in his homeland. In this formation we deflected the harpoons and protected those behind.

After a short while, and much to our surprise, Dantroe appeared. A strange look in his eyes alerted us that he was probably under the Aboleth's power and had been freed by it to attack us. For the time being, he contented himself with following us and waiting for an opportunity.

We passed a side hallway and there found Steinbjorn's wife. I noted from symbols on her person that she was a Paladin of the grim goddess Hel. At present, however, she was under the power of the Aboleth, and raised her weapons. Steinbjorn shouted to us not to harm her, and summoned a cage of force around her. She gave a speech promising to destroy us all, but then ran hard against the walls of the cage. We turned to leave her there for the time being, and continue on.

Unfortunately, the second guard, along with Dantroe, were now blocking our path. We advanced on them and pulled them inside the bubble. It seems this magic works such that if WE advance on them, they are not affected by its defenses meant to prevent THEM from advancing on us. Ah well. In any case, they quickly attacked. It was a short but hard fight. Praise be to Herakles, Walter-Tupper for a brief moment showed real spirit, and threw a net over Dantroe, trapping him. Azar and Hrogar slew the guard, and then Walter-Tupper struck Dantroe with a back-alley ruffian's weapon known as a sap. Crude, yet quite effective at knocking out a foe without slaying them.

Dantroe incapacitated, we rounded the hallway and finally reached the chamber of the Aboleth, or so we thought. It seemed to sit there waiting for us, but thankfully, some of us were able to recognize it as an illusion. Steinbjorn noticed an illusory magic above us that proved to be hiding the true lair of the fiendish thing. We swam upward, but luckily for us, Walter-Tupper thought to search for traps, and in fact found a web of tripwires, which he disarmed to sufficient degree to allow us to pass.

Entering the Aboleth's lair, we were immediately caught in clouds of some foul substance. Whatever it is, we have yet to discover its effects. I prayed to Lord Pelor to grant me the gift of a divine sacrifice, that is, that I would sacrifice my own life force to deal additional harm to an evildoer. Such a foe was worth such a price. I then charged the thing, calling upon Pelor to smite it with divine light. Lord Pelor, through me, dealt it indeed a mighty blow. My companions arrived, and I saw firsthand how much more of a true Paladin Hrogar has become.

The thing fought back with magic and its foul tentacles. Azar, Hrogar, and I fought with our swords, Steinbjorn with his magic. Knowing the importance of victory in this moment, Sztuczka, that great heart, cast some spell of wrath upon herself and charged it. Someone, it would have to have been Steinbjorn, made her invisible and she became a thorn in the vile thing's side. Even Walter-Tupper joined in, firing his crossbow underwater.

After a short, but dire battle, we slew the thing. Praise be to the gods of right and valor!

Its master, whatever that master may truly be, spoke to us in our minds, in a cold deep voice, mocking us and promising that we would fail. Let the evil thing of darkness mock, the light and the truth shall triumph!

May I and my companions aid that triumph, however we can.

*A*