Entry 2.
We assist an independent mining venture in acquiring low grade living crystal of the sort well suited to Blood Charms. Calling us to gather is Ursal, the Axemaster (see Entry 1). Also with us is Azurea, the Shadow Blade (see Entry 1). Joining for the first time: Elisen (Cavalryman) and LaShana (Thief), both Windlings.
Initial finding of the expedition: Trolls unfamiliar with concept of soap. Auxiliary finding: Windling soap insufficient. (Note: Conduct practicum on proper hygiene).
Knowledge imparted: Difference in mammal and T'skrang gender presentations.
Quartz seam to be found a day, perhaps two into Throal mountains. Statuettes of Rashomon mark distance along old road. Most fascinating. Each successive marker is more disfigured than the last. Most troubling. Path into mountains mirrors Rashomon descent into fury? Path to Quartz = Path to Madness? Hm.
Along way, find evidence of camp site. Further investigation of site reveals slaughter. Human and equine bodies torn apart, mingled together in the violence. Indications of animal attack. Nature red in tooth and claw, not Namegiver intent. Strange - fragments of crystal in wounds. (Crystal fragment sample attached to page with melted wax.) Elemental imbalance?
Cartloads of ore abandoned. Marked with Borodai Mining Company symbol. Appears to be mining team returning to Throal. Was attacked. Slaughtered. Most unfortunate. Combined with corruption of Rashomon markers, most troubling.
Further on, encounter pack of wolves. Wolves are wounded. Perhaps by same crystal-inflected attackers? Wounded, they are desperate. Ferocious. We drive them away but we are terribly wounded. Personally, left calf torn, right shoulder dislocated. We resolve to spend necessary time to heal. Grateful for restorative powers of being an Adept. Our employer grateful for the combative powers of us being Adepts.
Two days rest, then we continue.
Rashomon markers now fully transformed to modern representation of Raggok. We come to a tunnel bored through the mountain. Perfectly cylindrical, smooth. Created by Namegivers? Rockworm bore tunnel? Interesting. Cold wind blows through the tunnel. It is cooler at altitude, but this wind seems somehow unnatural. Uncomfortable. Seems to speak to Azurea's mind. Does her magical connection to darkness (as Shadow) make her more receptive? Consider experimenting.
Azurea's innocence is a vulnerability. But it also protects her spirit. She is strong, resists these voices.
We come to a mountaintop shrine. Once devoted to Rashomon, now fully degraded. Menhirs and dolmens abound, etched with unidentifiable arcane runes (charcoal rubbings attached to pages). Further study interrupted by arrival of strange black insects, crystal in their carapace. Clearly the perpetrators of miner attack, potentially the ones that wounded wolves. (Note: Cross-referencing with library suggests these are Prisma larvae)
Warning to all travelers: elemental infusion of crystal makes natural chitin extremely hard and durable. Precision strikes do significantly less harm than usual. Larvae are tough, but we coordinate tactics and exterminate them one at a time. One flees.
Quartz is mined, ore is recovered and returned to Borodai Mining Company, we return safely and, as our young tradition demands, celebrate with libations and good company.Statistics:Posted by bronzemountain — Mon Jun 08, 2020 11:50 pm
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