Expedition 74: Search for Scratch's Family

*From the notes of Ark'fayed, transcribed from their personal cipher and translated to Common.*

26th Forge, 365th year of the Age of Pain

Dawn broke, trance over. No visions from moonblade. Mouth dry, summoned steed and dropped dome to seek water. Found potable water, interesting ungulates drinking by the stream. Explored downstream, attempting foraging. Sighted by large floating tentacle creature and two offspring. Surprisingly aggressive. Fled to cave by stream. Waited, hoping they would leave, but reports from anurognathus revealed they lay in wait, preparing to drop large stones. Intelligent? If so, did not want to engage, kill children.

Standoff broken. Anurognathus reported approach of new group. New plan: escape invisibly while the floating creatures distracted by the new arrivals. Plan successful. Crossed river while floating creatures dropped rocks on what seemed to be the new group. Rock fall revealed an illusion and battle began. When few blows connected with floating beings, headed back over river to render aid. Summoned elfshadow though effectiveness considerably reduced in sunlight. Did not break invisibility. Floating beings defeated, two dead, one fleeing.

Invisible progress detected after anurognathus found. Accused of being a river spirit. Explained that I was merely an invisible elf. Confusing paradox: group sophisticated enough to use illusions in combat situations and yet surprised by invisibility? Tiefling woman introduced herself as Clarity Callisto. Small halfling woman—barbarian? fights savagely—added that Miss Callisto is an Archmage. Dwarf and two humans also in company. No elves. Dwarf convinced I am river spirit, wished to propitiate me. Ha. One human soft-spoken, arcane training. Other human weapon-laden, wearing armor. Seem to be escorting small kenku non-combatant. Offer help to them.

Archmage clear leader. Others rely on her to cast Phantom Steed. Human has spellbook but cannot cast? Significant efficiency loss to group. Archmage casts ritual but without spellbook—shaman? Speed of travel slowed by association with group but safety in numbers and interesting to observe. Own mastery of Phantom Steed increases group efficiency.

Passing entrance to a cave system, hear musical sounds. Investigate later. Group stops for flowers, harvests them. Halfling plans to cultivate. New landmark sighted: vast pit, scouted by halfling and Archmage through familiars. Oddly, familiars fight each other in the air. Latent tension in the group played out through magical proxies? Scouts report floating creatures working around pit. Beyond pit, extremely tall tower. Around tower buttresses with broken cables, perhaps once structural supports to tower. Current tower tall but surrounded by broken pieces. Once taller? Archaeological site? Floating creatures excavating? To what end?

Kenku guides path to valley. Archmage casts spell, presumably Sending? Response: wait an hour. Observe skeleton of herbivore near river while waiting.

Suddenly attacked by undead beasts, one undead floating creature, one skeleton. Prepared to defend the group, rush forward, summon shadow to delay oncoming horde. Contributions of little use. Archmage’s fireball incinerates the undead. Dwarf and human warrior pelt skeleton with ranged attacks. Contribute a Magic Missile. Human mage enters combat with an undead beast though he seems defenseless. Attempts to engage the beast and defend him are unappreciated. He is not defenseless but shrewdly calculating: Lightning Bolt skewers undead. Dwarf is missing, replaced by bear—druid, if I’m not mistaken, though his rough manner implies barbarian. Fight converges on skeleton and Archmage duel. Invisible blows rain down, presumably from missing halfling. Arrive at skeleton to contribute but efforts inconsequential. Skeleton falls to cold damage conveyed by halfling’s blade in its abdomen. Participation had no effect on battle. Failure—what reputation with these new people? Unworthy? Useless? More time to prove self?

Battle over, kenku emerge from waterfall. Touching reunion scene. Kenku speak elvish phrases, mistake me for another elf. Provide translation between the two groups—useful? Kenku convey gratitude for escort, offer gifts. A feather necklace offering some spellcasting ability. Kenku leader explains elf friend missing, had moonblade. Perhaps related to quest. Kenku offers page of elf’s notes on floating creatures, called Uflophons. Must find elf, impressive fieldwork.

Return uneventful, turn back from impassible stone to retrace steps. Human mage expresses interest in search for volcano but too late in day, others decline. Group seems to desire to return to the village—more efficient to remain here in dome? Perhaps can learn something more in village. Human warrior tenders invitation to drinking. What to talk about? How to prove worthiness—battle showing today unimpressive. Seek information on library.

Drinking a disaster. Human warrior oddly intent on placing me in an inn? Perhaps has investments in the sector. Learned valuable information about library, building project. Seek out Uzmir, dwarf—from Silver Valley? Also met “Tolyr,” elf mage from Nof’tara. Wonder what real name is. Impolite to ask. According to human warrior, a significant member of the “Ironwood Compact.” Must be highly skilled—perhaps spellbook available. Planning admirable public education project. Broke off conversation suddenly—pressing concerns? Too inexperienced to hold his interest perhaps. How to prove worthiness as a student?