You are on the archive wiki. The new wiki is here.
The Journal Of Jeremiah Tansden
The Man. The Myth. The Legendary Auther.
Foreword:
I have decided to start working on my memoirs. My guide to the Alternate Plane should, of course, make me rich and famous beyond words, so EVERYBODY is going to want to know about my travels.
I dedicate this book to Morris, my pony.
----
Chapter One:
Ah... once again I have responded to the call of adventure and the open road. To explore this strange and new land in relative safety, I have joined a diplomatic mission. It has the added advantage of me being guarded by a VERY reputable mercenary group. It seems the local dwarves, known in on this Material Plane as "squats" are being attacked by the Mellinath, who are the Elvish equivilant here.
We set out early this moring and had not been riding for more than a few minutes before encountering one of the locals. He seems to be what passess for human around here and is as hairy as he is smelly. It seems that I was the only member of our little group, with the foresight to take him on as a guide. He has already expanded my knowledge of the area and has been a great source of infomation.
Finally, we arrived at our destination and we were met at the cave by a group of five Squats who took an immediate disliking to the Elvish monk travelling with us. Obviously mistaking him for one of the Mellinath. Luckily I was there with my years of diplomatic training to calm them down and, after a few minutes of waiting, we were allowed to enter the cave mouth that stood as the entrance to their lair.
We had just been introduced to the squat Chieftain, when a few of the squats came running in, yelling about some kind of attack. The squats charged, as one, toward the attack, which curiously was coming from deeper within the cave systems. The mercenaries were in top form, especially that barbarian woman who cleft one of the would-be attackers in 'twain.
It came as a surprise to us all when it was discovered that our attackers were, in fact, not Mellinath. These creatures seemed to have more in common with the Drow of our plain than with the Mellinath. The only difference between these Drow and our Drow was that these seemed to have jet black hair as opposed to white. Our mercenary leader wanted to give the one and two halves drow that were killed a proper burial. This met with protest from the squats who were having an argument over this new development. They seem to feel obligated to apologize, but do not seem to want to, without proof that the Mellinath have nothing to do with this. What I find disturbing is the small metal disc that I found on one of the bodies. It had a symbol on it which, years of study, tells me belongs to Lolth, Queen of the Demonweb Pits. Both of the "Dark Drow", for want of a better word, were female.
The squats did not seem too concerned with the members of their tribe that were kidnapped by these Dark Drow, but they did want us to pursue them in search of proof that the Mellinath are not responsible. They have given us until "next sun" to get this proof. This "next sun" it seems, does not mean the next day, so we are not entirely sure how long we have. The diplomats have offered the mercenaries 2000 gold pieces each to complete this task for them. My caveman guide and I shall also go to study these Dark Drow more closely. The day ended with a wonderful feast around the central bonfire of the chieftain's chamber.
The next morning we set off deeper into the caves. Morris likes the open spaces more, but has had enough experience in our travels to make the trip through the tunnels with ease. Some of the mercenaries have decided to chance the trip with their horses in tow as well.
The journey through the mountain has taken us all day and we have decided to set up camp in a small cavern near the cave exit. Beyond this cave exit is a great forest...
Chapter Two:
We set out bright and early the next day, in search of these Dark Drow. My caveman guide seemed unnaturaly adept at finding his way through the forrest and it wasnt long before we found ourselves at the foot of a large mound. It was here that we heard the chanting. It seemed to be eminating from the mound and a passage way was soon discovered. We sent the guide down the stone staircase to have a look since he seems at home in the dark as well. We waited until the coast was clear and the chanting had stopped before entering the tomb.
Only a little way into the inner hall when we were attacked again! The fighters of our little group stormed forward after we were almost killed by a hail of crossbow bolts. Using a little trick I picked up on my travels I search the room for an escape route while our brave fighters fought on. It all seemed a little futile as the melee was quickly ended, with four of the Dark Drow dead and one beaten unconscious. But ALAS, one of our brave members of the Iron Gard has been slain.
Afterwards, we tied up the unconscious Dark Drow and were just discussing what to do next when an explosion knocked us back. We were forced to make a hasty retreat, the barbarian grabbing our prisoner and the paladin grabbing the fallen Iron Guard member as we ran with all the forces of darkness treading down on our heels. We made it safely back to the caves without incident, but it was there that our luck ran out. The Dark Drow started toying with us in the caves, they made many attemps to ambush us and finally on the second night they did. Our poor squattish guide took a crosbow bolt to the eye and too late did we realise that we had walked into a trap.
Unable to see our pursuers, we found ourselves at a distinct disadvantage. I soon leveled the playing field buy using an ancient dwarven lighting spell. I first illuminated a rock and threw it down the passage from whence the bolts were coming from. The Palidin kicked this rock as he charged. The barbarian seemed frozen in place during the onset of our next battle. It was only a little while later, with most of the Dark Drow dead that she came screaming into combat bellowing a mighty battle cry that scared away those Dark Drow who were left. It was shortly after this battle that I discovered that the unconscious prisoner was playing possum.
I managed to discover this through a technique I call: Accurate Puncturing. Once awake, I used my entire command of the languages of the primary plain to try to communicate. Dwarven and elven had no success, while orcish, goblin and celestial only met with spitting. The spitting...my word...the spitting. On a hunch, I decided to use the dark language of undercomman and met with succes! Though she wouldnt tell me of her plan, I DID manage to gleam some information off of her. She took offence when I said she was like the Drow of our Plane (more spitting). She said that they were weak and that their white hair was a sign of their curse. Our plan of action now is to go back to the entrance we just came from and to go around the mountain. It may be many weeks before we get home and I fear we may already be too late to stop what only could become a massive tribal conflict.
Chapter Three
We set up camp inside the caves near the entrance to the Squat tunnels and by early morning we were awoken to the sound of running. The running turned out to be two of the Dark Drow carrying a captured squat. Vanquishing them quiclky we managed capture another of the these Dark Dorw, rescue the squat and, on top of that, gained a guide back through the mountain! Once back on our side of the mountain it was decided that we were going to drop one of the Drow back the Iron Guard Hq and send the other to the Melinath. They seem to call themselves the Sisters of the Spider. Once back at the town we discovered rumuors of a dragon.
Spent the night in town where i had a most peculiar dream of what could only be The Traveller. Have I been chosen for some greater quest? Was it a warning? These questions may need answering in time. We set off once again for the Sqaut caves and once we arrived were invited for supper again. We have discovered that we have until the end of the season to solve this mystery for the squats.
Once again we travelled to the mysterious mound. These Iron Guard have no respect for history. They just charge in with no regard of the cultural significance of what they are doing and then cave in the mound before I could even take a look at the statue that the sisters were worshipping. Luckily they had enough sense to rescue the books. The journals seem to be written in a strange form of sylcan and it could take time to translate them. From the reading I have done, there seem to be two more temples and we have set out to find them.
Have arrived at the second temple. Had to wait ouside while the Ironguard "cleared" it out. These Iron guard have no respect for other cultures but at least I have been promised time to inspect this temple and the books therein in peace while they go out to "clear" the next one. With the others gone I finally have time to hit those journals. It seems the Sisters of the Spider want to "contact" the shadow. More reading needs to be done.
----
Chapter Four
The others have returned with more books! They may not be as uncultured as I have thought, these Iron Guard, although I suspect that the only reason I have these books is so that I can translate them and give the paladin Simon a justification for his warmongering. It seems that one of the Ironguard and the my cave man have gone in search of some "sacred tree". I would have been overjoyed to have gonbe with them to experience some more of this cave mans "culture" but alas I am needed with the others.
We have returned to the squats and have told them all we know. The plan to talk to the Melinath and I do hope that these talks would prevent a war that could destroy these to cultures.
We have received disturbing news. The Melinath have left these lands. It seems they have a legend that indicates that the Sisters of the Spider will raise Lolth. We have returned to the city and I have given copies of the Sisters` religiouws texts to the Mages and the Ogre Clerics. The clerics were kind enough to let me into their library. What a sight...never before in all my life have I seen so many books. Had I a thousand life times, I would never be able to read them all.
----
Chapter Five
I have been chilled to the bone. Still I cannot recite the horros I have observed........
Back to Call of the Wild?.
Back to the Planar Cartographic Society.
