Excerpt from Desmond's Journal: Down Under
10 Palesun, 252
Alright, I thought it would be a good idea to keep a fresh one to record any interesting expeditions that I get to go on since coming to Vareholm. And after what happened today, I'm only made more certain.
I was still on the fence about adventuring, so Ash told me about this Colosseum outside of Hrordheim where a bunch of Ogres and other Goblinoids who were allied with Vareholm hold fighting tournaments. Some of the town's adventurers were going so I decided to tag along.
This was the first time I've actually met some of the other adventurers of Vareholm and the tales didn't exaggerate, even a little. There was Tsar, a man in a wheelchair who turned into a giant suit of armour. Miko, who seems to have some physical features of a fox. Never met someone like her before, looked like a powerful Spellcaster. Jack, who, from what I heard, has been here the longest. He turned into animals! And of course, Ash, who seems to be a healer, although you wouldn't really assume that when you look at her.
So away, we went at the first light of dawn. We were teleported to the destination. It was the first time I've been teleported and the sensation is… strange. Felt like I was being compressed more and more until I was shrunk almost to the point of non-existence and then I was at the other end. I think it will take a bit to get used to it and not accidentally expel my breakfast.
After getting there, we met Tal'Krokk. He was an Ogre and looked like he has both taken and thrown more punches than either he or I could probably count. I'm glad these folk are our allies. Anyway, we were then told about the rules of the fighting pit, then were offered revival if any one of us died in the arena, free of charge. I should've known, right then and there, this would be nothing like what I had expected.
We entered the arena, a circular plot with many boulders throughout it surrounded by tall stands filled with spectators and gates on the walls to let contenders in and out. We positioned ourselves and waited for the enemy. But the first shock came right as they surfaced, for that's what they did. While I was focused on the gates, we felt the ground under our feet rumble and a bunch of monsters jumped us from under the earth. First came two Bulettes, large creatures that look like they were made of rock, launching themselves at Tsar from either side, but he was prepared for them. Meanwhile, more creatures that looked like Mantises were rising up all around us. Miko summoned a large winged fox out of thin air and flew up to get a better look of our surroundings. Me, Ash, and Jack tried dealing with the smaller foes which were greater in number while Tsar delivered a pounding to the Bulettes, and Miko was providing support from above. Ash summoned spectral rocks which hurt and slowed down the creatures, and gave us ample time to prepare and retaliate. Miko shot a bolt of lightning that flash-fried two of the Mantis things. Jack made a beam of moonlight shine down from the sky which burnt the creatures. Even in the light of day, it still stood out. I saw Tsar shoot his gauntlet at one of the Bulettes that was coming towards us which dragged it back, and he then literally broke its face against a boulder. I also heard some sort of strange screaming whenever he was punching things. Must've been amped up with all the adrenaline. I somehow managed to take one of them down as well. Although I think it might've sort of did that to itself.
In the end, it looked like we were going to come out victorious, but something was wrong. We heard commotion in the stands and realized the spectators' cheers turned to screams of alarm, and the Ogres and others there were taking their weapons and jumping into the arena or disappearing into the stands to fight something. That's when we realized. Rats, a lot of Rats. They were swarming the arena and surrounding us! We started to try to dispose of as many of them as possible, but we felt the ground rumbling under our feet again, and cracks were starting to form on the arena floor, exposing the rooms underneath. We were confronted by various mutated rat creatures, and one of them seemed to be leading them, talking in a strange tongue we couldn't understand. He was wielding green lightning which some of the adventurers seem to recognise. The creature announced itself as the Herald of Undeath. As we were trying to keep the creatures at bay, some of them tried to steal the strange green, glowing contraption that the Ogres found and were going to give us for surviving the pit. But it looked like these rats were here for the same thing. Miko was able to stop the first one but another mutant rat snatched it and dove into the crevasses in the ground and disappeared. Miko dove after it, the guy with the green lightning was taken out and we all followed the rat into the crevasse.
Miko was able to dispose of the rat and reclaim the contraption. But as she was about to stow it away, I think it accidentally activated and she vanished. She turned invisible for a bit. We slowly made our way through the rooms underneath the coliseum. Following the scuttling sounds still audible throughout the area and disposing of any swarms or mutated rats we encountered. It seems they set up a few clumsy Snares to slow us down but we were able to navigate around them.
We reached a larger hall where part of the wall was broken away and led to a network of tunnels. We tried to see what was lurking beyond but were attacked by 2 giant, mutant rats and more of the smaller ones but managed to take care of them thanks to Tsar and Jack punching them to death while Ash made sure no one got too seriously hurt while the spectral rocks were still doing their job. Miko stayed at the entrance, keeping a lookout to make sure we weren't jumped from behind by more of those creatures. As we proceeded into the tunnels, Jack turned into a spider to get a layout of the area. Tsar walked up to a ramp that seemed to lead towards a cliff but before he could reach far, we were hit with an ambush. Multiple creatures perched at the edge of the cliff attacked us from a distance while another creature made the area surrounding us completely dark. I was able to navigate my way to the either side of the darkness and Stumble into Jack, who was facing off against another creature. Tsar's armour erupted in flames, which dispatched some of the darkness and made the creature backpedal for a second. Taking the opportunity, I tried to sneak up from behind and knock it out, and managed to land a decent hit on them. I suppose it didn't like it that much, because the next thing I remember, searing pain was shooting through my entire body, and it was staring at me with a dagger plunged into my torso. It then vanished. But thanks to a spell Ash casted on me earlier, I somehow managed to cling onto consciousness, and Jack healed some of my wounds. But it did not last long as the other creature, which turned invisible, suddenly appeared in front of me and plunged another dagger into me. This time I wasn't so lucky. The next thing I remember is opening my eyes, laying on the ground with a spider staring at me. Everything was silent, and I saw the others standing around as my eyes slowly focused. I was told that I... died, and Tsar managed to reach me in time and revive me. I still can't believe and can't explain what happened in those few moments where I was not here… everything was just a blur as we started to leave the area.
The next time my mind actually felt clear was when I was back in Vareholm, standing in a room in the Hearth, looking at myself in a mirror... Only then was I reassured that I am still alive. I think it will take a bit for the whole scale of it to set in, but I think, after all that happened today; I should maybe take up adventuring after all. There's no going back from what happened to me, and the worst that could have happened already happened. I feel strangely light, like an uncertain weight has been lifted. I will continue exploring this land. There is so much more to explore and uncover. So much more to gain. I just start by getting to know what is already there better.
Writing certainly helps to make sense of all the chaos that happened, to bind my memories to something tangible. But I cannot dwell here all day, there is work to be done. I will continue this as I learn more.
G.I.
Session: Ogre Fight Pit: What Lurks Below
DM: Aya
Date: 5/12/22
