The day Madelyn's thirst was born in blood.
28th of Ches, 1358
I was going to patrol with Terri of Phoenix Company and Derik of the Bladestone Foundation, practice for an upcoming job fighting bandits (report to follow). I had to buy more scrolls in the city and was going to depart from the farmlands with them. When I returned they had gone on ahead but in an northerly direction, and so I went to Thundar's Ride to catch up.
I was first greeted by the sight of Sette, who accompanies Terri, running south at full pace, she did not pause at my greeting. I continued north and saw what she fled from - a bloodied field near Tristan's shrine to Hoar. Further north still was a large hole roughly twenty feet in diameter with thick black fog emanating. Around this hole danced roughly twenty or so well armed gnomes who were praising this hole and dancing upon the wounded figures of Derik, Rhaeg, and Terri.
I snuck upon the dark celebration and drug Derik off toward the Shrine. I tended his injuries and got him steady, and went by for a second. By this time, the gnomes had thrown Terri into the hole, and her form had disappeared within. I got Rhaeg up while they were distracted and also took him back to the Shrine to tend his injuries and get him fighting ready. Sette had run off to secure reinforcements, and Derik Sent to Carah for the same purpose.
However, at this time it was apparent that the very ground was drinking up the blood of the earlier skirmish, and the gnomes were preparing to summon something. Numerous gnomes poured out of the hole, and they began to search for their missing prize (Derik, Rhaeg) that had gone missing. Battle ensued, as Derik was chased by roughly ten to fifteen gnomes. He ran at full tilt while I threw knives and Rhaeg lept in and out of the fray. Several including our Doan joined us from the south and the battle was chaotic but won. After a second wave, and while the defenders tended to wounded (Derik had fallen again, I'm not sure who else).
With no apparent solution for the finding of Terri, and with no capable magi present on the field to provide better solution, I entered the hole in search of her.
The hole was no rabbit hole, but it certainly took immediate twists and turns into madness. I was mentally attacked from the very beginning, with mad whisperings of nonsense that I began to repeat as I delved deeper within. Some things are a blur, and even writing this I get a ringing sensation in my ears, and my eyes tend to water. Somethings are not meant to be seen, and it is a blessing I cannot recall everything to recount it here.
The first trial, was a choice between three stairs. One went straight down, one was a spiral curve, and the last were square. I remember taking the square set, at times I would be upside down looking at more stairs, or sideways up, or upward down, I realize that doesn't make sense to read. It made less to walk the path.
I remember next passing through walls of glass, with sights I do not recall beyond them. Then a rope, or glass platforms. I chose the rope. I think it was the right choice but I'll never likely know. None of them may have been right choices.
I remember climbing, at first down, but then a sense that I was sideways. I climbed for days. I climbed for tenday. I climbed for years. I climbed for lifetimes. Madness and mind destroying sights my company. I began to see sigils, or had seen some as I delved to the point of the rope, and began to carve those into myself. No language, but unholy abyssal symbols that I blessedly no longer recall to keep here. I know that Sayushi came to visit me while I recovered at the Warrior's Rest, and she made copies of some of these. Fierlith did too, and recounted these to Sirion for further study.
As for the rope, it was made up of, or laced with, shards of glass. I don't recall any pain, but my hands bear the lacing of scars. It was then I came upon a doorway, or a gate, or some -point- of passage and my soul was tested. It sensed recent sin, and it actually welcomed me in further, some unseen force granting me passage.
I was then upon an iron platform, and there was Terri, wounded upon it. A voice I did not see demanded blood. I asked that it release us both. It agreed, in exchange for blood. I believe it intended for me to sacrifice her, or hers. I gave it mine via a cut on my arm, I did not realize my hands were bloodied already by madness or the malice of that place. The being laughed, and there was flame. I remember a great heat. And then a flash. And I was back upon the hill where I'd entered the hole, with Terri, surrounded by the other defenders.
I was completely out of my mind at that time, but the task was done and Terri was saved. ~~I remember I remember I remember~~I remember everything I'd said. And trying to carve more of those symbols into me before Rhaeg and Derik stopped me. It was like being in a horrible dream with everything on repeat. My hair had grown out, as had my beard, my nails long and yellowed. My clothes were in tatters (indeed, even the new hat Fierlith had given me the day before had worn to barely there scraps).
Derik took me to the infirmary of the Warrior's Rest. Sayushi paid visit as mentioned above, prying, I think, though I was no great help to her, at the time I wasn't even really aware of her presence. Fierlith came after, and, bless her heart, went through the process of removing and then healing my body of all those marks. A healing prayer set my mind at ease, combined with copious amounts of rest.
I remember my time down in the hole, but in a detached, numb way. Like one might recall being on a great journey many years later. I try not to dwell on it, those things I saw, they fade a little more each night. I think I sometimes still see them in my sleep, which has not come easily the past few days. I pray that this too passes in time.
~Captain Dunn
