From Bartholomew's Journals: Under the Sea!

(Written by Phil, player of Bartholomew Pettibone, concerning the recent double-feature expedition and earning Bart 100 xp per level)

From the Journals of Bartholomew Pettibone, of the House Pettibone

A Purveyor of Enchanting Sorcery

01 May 2021 – Enchantment Under The Sea

Mere days have passed since my last sojourn into the Weirding Caverns, and stumbling upon a unique and potentially powerful item. However, it was my opinion that claiming possession of the item by a single person was, shall we say, folly. I recognized immediately that, while I am of formidable intelligence and wisdom, it was beyond the capability of a single individual to win control over this item. After discussing with Sesel, we came to the common conclusion that the Survivors must take possession of the item, and use it for their combined, mutual benefit. And of course, altruistic, democratic intent has never been sidelined before. In preparation for this event I availed myself throughout the week to learn how to manipulate the aracana in a way to allow myself (or another) to breathe water (fresh or salt) as if it were sweet, fresh air! Haha!

Since Ravna had accompanied me on that earlier excursion of discovery, so we pulled her into our cabal. Avin, having particular talents, would also prove useful for this operation, and we invited her to join as well. With Gan, Ix, Raoden, and Vlana (I believe it was Vlana – excuse me for my excitement if I am mistaken!) accompanying us, we traveled directly, and in haste, to the Weirding Caverns.

A lantern was lit, we set ourselves to a marching order, and once again we entered the inky darkness of the sea caves. Quietly, we followed a well-worn and familiar path, and as we went I made special marks/engravings on the stone walls, along the way, to mark our path ( <BP/GD> ). This mark would indicate the direction of our travel ( <___> ), that the mark was made by Bartholomew Pettibone (BP), and that the marks provide direction to the Green Door (GD).

The caverns seemed peaceful, and we arrived at the Doors without encounter. Interestingly, we found the Doors closed, once again, and the arousing, musky aroma remained strong. With precautions made, Ix was able to force the portal open, and finding the chamber within empty, we all crept inside.

Avin prepared themselves for a stealthy exploration of the large, water-filled chamber nearby, while the rest of us remained in the smaller room, just inside the Doors. Avin departed down the hallway, and then momentarily returned, reporting that, indeed, the guardian creature was present and patrolling.

The decision was made that we should attempt to confidently approach the guardian and boldly request that it 'slide' aside and let us pass. Folly, or brilliance? As it turned out, folly.

We made ourselves known to the guardian, and a series of clicks, beeps, and whistles emanated from the creature. It spun and presented a 'side' to us in such a way that we assumed it was its 'face'. However, truth be told, it had no 'face' – or anything resembling eyes, ears, nose, or mouth. One of our party had an item that allowed for language translation/conversion (I covet this item), and through its use it was made clear that the guardian did not approve of our presence, and it declared that we must exit, immediately, or suffer damage.

We pleaded with the thing, imploring it to not hate us, and arguing that its masters had sent us. We declared that Taharqu himself, the greatest commander who had ruled the seas, had enjoined us to retrieve his remarkable item. If only Durham had been present, to ply the guardian with his bravado and declarative orations! Alas, it soon became obvious that we were talking to a thing without comprehension, and unable to make willful decisions. In the end, the creature turned, to our chagrin, hostile.

A panel opened on the side facing us, and a large 'eye' on a pole extended out, pointing in our general direction. At this point Gan activated the helmet on his armor, for protection, and in order to gain new insight. As the dog-head helmet formed itself around Gan's head, the creature acted – pointing its eye-stalk at Gan. A faint humm could be heard, Gan ceased all movement, and then fell stiffly to the ground – presumably paralyzed. Apparently the sudden materialization of Gan's helm sparked this untoward reaction.

It was then that a hellscape of battle unfolded! The creature was wrapped in some unseen armor, or force, and we found it near to impossible to land physical blows upon it. Ix, using their special sword, was able to unleash phenomenal damage during the fray, but in so doing was deemed a singular threat. Near the end, the guardian produced another 'eye' from a panel near its bulbous apex (head?), and a faint glow could be seen around the iris as it was aimed at Ix. In a heartbeat a large hole, the size of a fist, opened and punched clean through Ix's body! The sounds of sizzling bodily fluids and the stench of immolated Klackon filled the area. We feared Ix was lost.

The battle was intense. For the most part, I must admit, it seemed that the guardian did not mean us harm initially. Only upon taking severe damage did it resort to deadly force. If only we could have convinced it we were not a danger. At one point, I noted a panel against the wall, near the base of one of a number of metal cranes, ostensibly used for moving cargo or other large items around the chamber. The panel had a multitude of levers, knobs, switches, and blinking lights of varied colors. I considered that perhaps there might be a connection to the guardian, since the beast was similarly encrusted with a myriad of blinking lights. As the fight raged, I strode swiftly to the panel, and began systematically testing the various controls. The guardian 'turned its attention my direction, commanding me to stop. However, I continued my manipulation of the controls, all the while imploring it to cease its aggressive behavior toward us – exhorting that, 'Taharqu, lord of all, had instructed us to regain possession of his well-cared for item'!

However, in the end, the guardian ignored my words, directed its paralyzing 'eye' toward me, and lit my muscles on fire! Every muscle in my body instantly locked, and I stood rigid and unable to move. How embarrassing. I had determined how to use a few of the controls, and unfortunately, the best I was able to contrive was to activate one of the crane arms, and set it to a constant, slow spinning motion. Alas, I am an interpreter and wizard – not an engineer or stevedore!

The guardian was finally subdued – punctured, dented, and crushed in places. It collapsed in a heap with wires exposed, crystal light panels cracked, sparks spitting from rends, and trails of acrid smoke rising from its demolished hulk. And Ix lay near death, with a hole clean through their body. Ravna conducted healing energy into Ix, and applied bacta salves. Ix will likely recover – but only with intense rest.

With the guardian eliminated, we explored further. Cranes lined the 'shore', and each crane had its own control panel. Our prize was spotted in the water, near to where it had been seen previously, decidedly closer to the water's surface, but still submerged. After a huddled discussion, a plan was made to use several cranes and straps to lift our prize from the water, and hopefully to attain entrance.

As this was being accomplished, Gan and Avin (who had set to guard the various entrances/exits of this chamber) alerted us that 'company' was coming. We feared the Greylings might take notice of our shenanigans and come to investigate, and that is precisely what seemed to be occurring. The item was secured and lifted, with the aid of straps, but the cranes worried and complained at the sheer mass of the thing. We were, however, successful in attaining the item, and securing ourselves away from the gathering Greylings. They did NOT seem pleased with our actions!

Safely locked within the item, Ravna, Gan, and I began a search of the interior, especially looking for a comfortable berth for our gravely wounded and dear friend Ix. Sesel, Raoden, and Avin immediately availed themselves of studying the various panels and controls that had been noted as we entered the item's main cabin. There were four chairs in that cabin, each with a control panel of sorts – and at what can only be described as the anterior face of the item was a clear window. We could see the Greylings gathering on the lip of the water-filled bay, above us – but from my earlier investigations we did not believe that they would be able to clearly see us within. The forward window appeared translucent if looking inside from without – but clearly transparent when peering out from within – fascinating!

Sesel was able to locate specific controls that operated the elevation of the item in the water column, and those that provided forward and backward thrust. With a few clunky moves, Sesel was able to take the item (and us within it) deeper into the water, and slightly forward into a tunnel that we assumed was an egress to the oceans beyond.

Feeling somewhat safe, and protected from the ire of the Greylings, we attended to our immediate needs. Ravna nursed Ix, and Gan and I completed a search throughout this wondrous craft – identifying crew berths, a galley, waste disposal, food and material stores, etc. I also made a concerted effort to locate what might be considered the Captain's cabin, as well as any cabins that might be associated with ranking officers. Indeed, if this was Taharqu's ancient craft, the learning that lay hidden within would be worth an empire! It was within the Captain's and officer's cabins I hoped to find journals, diaries, logbooks, manuals, etc., that might help us better understand this craft.

With the aid of a special manipulation of the arcana, Raoden was able to decipher large amounts of text on the control panels, while assisting Avin and Sesel to make notes as to what the various panels controlled. And it is here, dear readers, that my entry must end – as we lay trapped within this craft – deep inside underwater caverns, Greylings blocking our escape above, and without a map to an egress to the oceans below. How will this caper end? We don't know this. Yet, I have a soaring optimism that we will come to learn the basic operation of this craft, and how to use it to keep ourselves whole and protected beneath the waves – while exploring where few have the bravery to go.