This is the diary kept by Bane

SESSION 20

DAY 92

By the next morning it had been decided that, for better or for worse, we would attempt to capture and question the orc shaman. The majority of Sol's objections having been overcome when Lucian proposed keeping our captive hooded so that we could ultimately release him.

The plan that we concocted was to use magic, a combination of invisibility and levitation, to remain undetected while we made our way back past the occupants of the ziggurat room. And then to find somewhere to lie in wait within another Rope Trick until the orc shaman came that way again. We felt that he was bound to check on their progress eventually. When this happened Sol and I would climb down and ambush him on his return.

Quite astonishingly for one of our plans, after waiting many hours, the abduction went off without a hitch.

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Lucian and Muratis took charge of the interrogation. Lucian asking the questions and Muratis using magic to determine the veracity of our captive's answers.

"Why are you here?" Lucian barked.

The orc did not respond.

Lucian kicked him sharply in the ribs and repeated the question.

"Why are you here?"

"We were hired to guard the entrance" the orc winced reluctantly.

"By whom?"

"Someone who pays good money"

Lucian knelt down sharply, pressing his knee into the orcs ribs and I heard the creature let out a hiss of pain. Slowly the Elf ran the point of his dagger along the orc's spine. I couldn't help noticing how assured and business-like Lucian seemed. It made me wonder if he'd carried out other interrogations before.

"Don't trifle with me" he threatened "I shall only ask you once more"

"I don't know who they are"

Lucian glanced over at Muratis and the wizard nodded. The shaman was telling the truth.

"How long are you to remain here?"

"For as long as the money comes" the orc grimaced apologetically. "It's the truth"

Lucian stood. "You know nothing" he snarled menacingly. "I thought you were important. Perhaps I should reassess your worth to us."

"We're here to make sure the Dwarf, Rakus Deeperdark, is not disturbed" the orc offered. "I was told to protect him while he completed rebuilding the Earth shrine. I can't tell you any more. That's all I know"

The interrogation continued a while longer, until Lucian and Muratis were sure they had wrung everything of use from him, but in truth there was little to be gleaned. It was apparent that our captive knew little of what was afoot within the crater.

Eventually we let him go, and withdrew back through the ziggurat room using the same magical means to avoid detection as before.

So what next?

We retired to another Rope Trick and discussed the options.

Although the orc had been of little use to us, I did not feel that the strategy we had adopted had been the wrong one. In my mind we should persevere with it.

Eventually, after much debate, we agreed to go onward, deeper into the catacombs where we hoped to find someone of more importance.

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We followed the long passageway back down to the edge of the lake and stood there looking out across the forbidding black waters. Using the boat remained a pretty unappealing prospect and it was decided that we would wait until Muratis had learned enough Spider Climb spells to get us all across.

DAY 93

Early the next morning Muratis cast his magic and we departed for the far shore. As an additional precaution we had all been made invisible aswell.

Cautiously we made our way up into the darkness, across the vaulted ceiling, over the lake below.

We were just over half way across when a bright light suddenly appeared ahead of us. At first I didn't know what to make of it but, as it swung back and forth for a moment and then arced out across the water, I realised that it must be Sol throwing a sun rod. But why? Was it some kind of warning? I followed the flight of the rod for a moment and, an instant before it broke the surface of the water, I caught sight of something near a large rock at the centre of the lake. Whatever the creature was, it slipped from the shadows into the water and swam away.

I waited for a moment but could see no further sign of it. Since everyone was still invisible I had no way of telling how the others had responded to this so I decided to continue across. After all hanging there upside down was starting to make me feel giddy.

When I reached the short stone jetty that protruded from the opening on the far side of the lake, I was able to make out a two or three figures playing cards by torchlight in the room beyond. I had barely got my bearings when Lucian appeared ahead of me. He gestured and muttered some incantation and the men were consumed in a sheet of flame.

A fourth guard appeared. He stumbled away from his burning companions towards a door in the far corner. He looked dazed and confused but we could not afford to allow him to escape and raise the alarm. I ran forward and, as the shroud of invisibility fell away and he turned weakly to face me, I struck him down with a single blow.

Everything went quiet. I leaned up against the door and listened for sounds from beyond. There were none.

Suddenly there was a commotion behind me and I spun round. It was Lucian. He was gesticulating toward the lake and babbling incoherently. Though I couldn't understand what he was saying, it was obvious that something had terrified him. Since Lucian didn't strike me as the kind of person who scared easily, this wasn't a good sign. Muratis, Amelorn and Sol were still nowhere to be seen.

Summoning my courage I hurried forward to get a better view but, before I could see anything, I was hit hard in the shoulder and knocked back against the wall. When I looked down there was a large arrow protruding from my armour.

Damn it! That hurt!

I ducked sideways, out of the line of fire, and yanked the arrow out.

Grrrrrr! What in Pelor's name was going on?

By the time I ventured out again, Lucian seemed to have regained his composure. As I came up behind him he hurled a couple of salvos of magic missiles out into the lake and then tossed me his bow.

"Use this" he said.

"Against what?" I still had no idea what we were up against.

"There" Lucian replied, pointing out into the darkness.

And then I saw it. A hideous seven-foot hag-like creature, covered in weed, emerging from the water. I only saw her for a moment and then Lucian fired again and she dove beneath the surface and swam away. A shiver ran down my spine. I could not quite make the recollections of childhood nightmares go away.

We waited there for a while but she did not return.

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Written by Player 03-Jun-03; Published 04-Jun-03