28 Hammer 1372

Dear Master Zorthaster,

We are still masters of our own minds, moving fast through the terrible illithid prison. We have gotten into the prison and have defeated a series of guards and guardian constructs. Rather than taking a few hours to rest in a safe spot, we are pressing onward, fearful that reinforcements might be on the way. I pray that we are gone from here when they arrive.

Our journey through the prison started when we were confronted by a voice that demanded we state our business or go away. It ended with the ominous warning "we eat visitors." The two statues outside the gate came to life as we approached. They were golems and my spells had little effect on them. The arrows, fists and blades of my companions served us better. They successfully destroyed the constructs.

My disintegrate spell was useful on the portcullis and we entered the first chamber. We were attacked by spell casters hidden in the cave formations. We later discovered that they had carved out secret chambers accessible only from further along. They could see us through the small peep holes from which they cast their spells. We scared them off, but I suspect that we will encounter them again soon. You should know that we have tried to protect ourselves from the mental attacks of the illithids by the use of a few spells. Magic circle against evil seems the most likely to provide the protection we need. We can only hope that they last long enough to see us through this dangerous place.

Further in we discovered a very odd portal. It was a door that opens and closes in a circle, like an iris. Very fascinating. I believe that the door is airtight, preventing passage even in gaseous form. We heard something booming against another, normal looking set of doors across from the iris. Choosing to first face whatever might be behind the alien looking portal, we discovered a terrible foe. There were a number of illithids here, the worst of which was a "body tamer." This was a fierce, armored illithid whose armor even extened the length of his tentacles. He was hit hard by our combined attacks before beginning to glow and then exploding into a whirlwind of attacks. I am glad I was a safe distance from the monster when this happened or I might be dead. Kerith was, unfortunately, within range of this maelstrom. I saw an armored tentacle wrap around the bard's head and rip to top of his skull off. The monster tore Kerith's brain from his shattered skull and hurled it to the floor before turning to his next opponent. It was horrifying.

There were more mind flayers in the room, and another pair that emerged from an armory that connected to that room. I remember casting several times, hitting them with fire and magic missiles. Dalis got hit with a mind blast and it stunned him for several breaths. I helped him a bit while the others finished off the last illithid and Primula gently gathered Kerith back together.

Retreating to the armory and posting guards, we gave the priestess time to pray to Corellon. The elven god returned Kerith to us and gave His power to Primula to restore him to health. The priestess also cast a spell on one of the dead squid. It allowed her to interrogate the body and discover the route through the prison. The instructions were a bit sketchy, but we should be able to use them to stay on track. The dead monster told us to first descend the spiral of Manzessine, go through the check point at the bottom, then the fresco check point, go past the officer's quarters, past the cells, through the crushing room, onto the pentagram check point, then up the stairs to the graveyard and out. We also learned that golems guarded the check point at the bottom of the spiral and bodaks guarded the fresco check point. Also of note was the information that there was no elder brain here at the prison.

Beyond this barracks we discovered the spiral ramp leading through a stone archway and down into the darkness. That is where we are headed now. We must trust in speed and cleverness now as well as the strength of arms. We race to the other side.

Sincerely,

Cedar