This following journal entry is from the PC named Scale, played by Owen, who’s made quite an impression in his first few games in my OD&D campaign. He’s also been posting journals consistently – that 5%-to-next-level XP award does add up.
Scale’s Journal
The Maw has spat us out once again, battered and drained. It’s been a harrowing journey through those cursed depths, and I can’t help but feel both exhaustion and exhilaration coursing through my veins. The air outside the dungeon is a welcome respite, even though it carries the lingering stench of the abyss.
As my companions lick their wounds and mend their spirits, I can’t shake the encounter we had outside of Oilymessy. Glidesuckle, a practitioner of magic, if you can even call it that, emerged from the shadows. His form was as gangly and distorted. I could sense the twisted power in him, a power that resonated with the eerie voices that have haunted my dreams since we ventured onto this cursed island. The voice of the Maw, from the “Drink me water” and the feeling of fear and wrath that affected me in the Maw seem to whisper to him also.
Glidesuckle’s fascination with the artifacts we uncovered from the Maw was undeniable. He eyed them with a hunger that bordered on obsession. His eyes, glazed over with the same arcane energy that has left me sleepless, told me he knew more than he let on. His mere presence unnerved the rest of the group, but I found myself strangely drawn to him. I couldn’t help but think that he held the key to understanding the voices that tormented my nights and the power set within the Maw.
Approaching him cautiously, I broached the subject of apprenticeship. I yearned to learn from him, to unlock the secrets of this arcane abyss and harness its power for good. To my surprise, Glidesuckle didn’t outright refuse. He seemed intrigued but laid a condition before me – our group must delve deeper into the Maw, retrieve more artifacts, and unearth the ancient mysteries that lie within.
I’m torn, for this path is treacherous, and the darkness of the Maw has already taken its toll on my companions. Yet, the allure of knowledge and the chance to master the same powers that have haunted my dreams is irresistible. Glidesuckle holds the key to understanding, and I am willing to take the risk, no matter the cost.