To the Dwarven Way Tower - 18/05/20

An excerpt from Bardrin's Personal Journal Monday, 9 Weeks since departure from Kallakkrag:

09:00- Previously, 404 discovered that there existed some sort of Dwarven structure east of Plipholm. We agreed to wait to explore it together, I've been eager to dine before the hearth of my lost kin. The two of us were joined by June and my ever-present companion, Grok Galau.

11:30- We passed Shaman's Fall, travel thus far has been at a rapid pace. Approximately half way to Plipholm. 13:00- Encountered zombies... singing? Singing. Approximately 8 or so zombies dressed in seafaring attire singing what I have been told is a "sea shanty." We dispatched them easily enough, but questions remain regarding their origin and unorthodox behavior, many of the zombies also carried a coin of a deceased human emperor, with the words "WaveWolf" etched upon it. Pace reduced to a normal rate to prevent future encounters.

14:00~14:30- Arrived at Plipholm, June and Grok arranged for us to stay the night to discuss arming and training their warriors, such as they are. 404 and I agreed to work on crafting arms for them following the completion of the forge. The Plips supplied us with another two of their boats and instructed us to follow the river east to the watchtower.

15:00- We arrived at the watchtower, no response was given after I called out to any guards in dwarvish, to which there was no reply. After entering the outpost, we discovered 4 of the frogmen were bickering over one of my kinsfolk's axes. We quickly reminded them of the weapon's proper owners. The gates of the outpost, 3" thick solid iron doors, had been forcefully knocked in, denting one of the doors heavily and lodging them both in stone across the room. Cobwebs coat much of the room, I fear the structure long abandoned. Stairs lead up or down the tower. 15:15- We went up the tower and were met by a carrion crawler, a large chitinous creature. After a few quick blows, it fled the tower forcing itself out an arrowslit in the wall. Further up was an armory, the only gear remaining were oil-coated glass arrowheads. 404 stored them in his bag of holding for future research. The purpose of such an unorthodox and fragile material for an arrowhead leaves many questions. With the top of the tower explored, it is time to delve into its underground structures. .

15:45- Ash. Ash and ruin. The main barracks of the outpost lied below, a thick layer of ashes covered everything in the room, a dwarven rune unknown to me decorated the western wall. Across the room, two great bronze doors depicting my kinsfolk were partially destroyed, a large 8 foot tall, 5 foot wide gap melted right through the middle of it. Grok Galau went to inspect it while I studied the rune and accessed the arms in the barracks which summoned two enraged spirits of my kin. My efforts to reason with them... were in vain. The ancestors claimed to have known my father, and supped at his hall many years ago, yet I know not of their house nor the sigil of their rune. They called me an imposter and claimed to have sought aid from the Obsidian Guard who abandoned them in their time of need. Many a dwarven krag has been lost to the ages, there's no denying that, but to have them so totally wiped from our histories that I'd never even heard of them? Especially one so closely tied to mine own father? I need to think. The other side of the bronze gates await us. 16:00- No living dwarf has been here in centuries, the Magisters saw to that with their great weapon. A towering automaton, a golem akin to 404, and bearing a similar number, 316, rested in the middle of the outpost's chapel. The golem had been cut in twain, its legs stood motionless in the hallway, having dragged its upper torso some thirty feet to the center of the chapel, it remained inert for centuries until we awoke it. Despite the greataxe buried in its back and the fact it's body was separated from its legs, it did little to diminish it's determination and carry out it's masters will. Excoriate the Dwarves.

June and 404 were the first to turn the corner and witness it, the construct recognized 404 as kin, and immediately shot highly concentrated fire bolts out of its eyes at June who it declared a threat. June was badly wounded and took shelter back around the corner of the hallway. 404 rushed to its side and placed his shield in front of it's face to obscure its vision under the guise of guarding it. Despite this, it was able to detect us by listening, and when I turned the corner of the hallway to close the distance, it launched a foot long iron lance that struck my shoulder and knocked me back twenty feet pinning me to the wall behind me. Grok soon after made the same mistake and was pinned next to me. 404's quick thinking convinced it that it's auditory sensors were wrong, and directed it's fire elsewhere, allowing June to sneak up behind it. After some struggle, I wrenched myself free from the wall and worked my way behind the construct's torso where it couldn't react to us. June and 404 had done some damage, and I was able to plant my pole hammer squarely into the back of its neck and dislodge it's head, ending the threat. We quickly hurried to Grok and removed the lance from his gut, freeing him from the wall, and gave him some healing to get him back to his feet. With the construct's defeat and our safety confirmed, I turned on 404 and demanded answers. Same as before, he claimed no knowledge of his origins nor his connections to this atrocity. I don't know if I believe his answer, but now--out in the wilds of Xadkha--is not the time for inner strife. We'll see if 404's words prove true in time. .

16:20- June inspected the chapel's altar, a motherly dwarven figure was depicted in stone, swaddling a child in her arms. On the altar were six malachite orbs, humming with a dim warmth. The plaque on the altar stated the figure to be Lharaka, bride of The Stone Father, and goddess of the hearth. This makes no sense, The Stone Father has no bride, and the hearth is of his domain. A false idol perhaps? But one so matronly and radiating with positive energies... We left the altar's offerings, I may have no knowledge of this Lharaka, but a place of prayer should no be disturbed. I claimed the Adamantine greataxe buried in the construct's back, as well as the helm of the slain dwarf in the corner of the room who died guarding this place. His name may be lost, but his sacrifice will be remembered. 18:00- We've returned to Plipholm for the night, June and Grok wanted to be back well before night to ensure no harm should follow us to the plips. Discussions are underway for the arming and training of the plips, more to come from the expedition on Friday I'm sure. June will be staying the week in Plipholm at the plips' invitation. That outpost cannot be the only structure of my kin beyond the Magister's Step. There are too many questions to ask right now, but I will find this forgotten Krag, and the Magister's will pay for their atrocities. No more Dwarves will die in Xadkha, this I vow.