Some of the streets of Skara Brae are under a strange enchantment. Even the permissive gods of learned men do not smile upon torture. I hope the gods will forgive Pellis the method he used to gain this knowledge. He extracted this information from a captured minion of the wizard's. Pellis tells me that we were fortunate to have departed from the sewers when we did - to have continued would have meant our doom, for those stairs are the secret entrance to Mangar's courtyard. Furthermore, we were pleased to find that Roscoe's Energy Emporium was still to be found at the corner of Grey Knife and Serpent Streets, northwest of the Gran Plaz. Garth has deigned to open his establishment, as has the Review Board. Such was not the case with the Review Board and Garth's equipment shop, no matter how we cursed and pounded the doors. I am grateful that their doors were open to us, e'en at night. They care not that we risk our lives for their unworthy skins as well as for the rest of Skara Brae. The priests in the temple exacted usurious fees to attend to our wounded. We emerge at last into fresh air and open space, which is welcome, and into night, which is not. The magician will levitate our party down through the portal. The only apparent means to descend to the level below is through the use of portals that reek of sorcery. His image is locked in stone until made whole again.' I forbade our magician to take the obscene thing with us, as it would serve no purpose. We encountered filthy sorcery in the form of a vile set of disembodied lips which speak to us these words 'Know this, that a man called Tarjan, thought by many to be insane, had through wizardry powers proclaimed himself a god. Corfid will, under the protection of two warriors, retire from these dungeons to seek aid for his injuries. We waited until the setting of the sun and the beam faded, allowing us to pass unharmed. I feel responsible, for now the meaning of the inscription, 'Pass the light at night' becomes clear. Corfid op Orfin, our noble bard, stepped into a ray of light, burning both of his hands and one side of his body. We have been constantly besieged since our entry into this noisome pit, and have borne many injuries. We will return with our gear, and the remainder of our party.Ĭunning and deadly traps have claimed the lives of two gallant paladins. No mere cache of fine drink in dusty bottles and skins in this cellar - 'tis rather an extensive maze of corridors oozing niter and slime. But the barkeep is overworked, and sent me down into the cellar after my own wine. Had I ordered ale instead of wine we would be there still, carousing and wenching in the Inn until Mangar himself came to join us. But I thank the gods that my taste in drink is of a higher nature than that of my companions.

As for gates that cannot be stormed, it is a well known habit of wise men to have concealed entrances to their strongholds. Journeying south on Trumpet Street, it is the second building on the left. I knew already the importance of the Review Board, and its location. The barkeep requires gold to loosen his tongue, and delights in pouring forth cryptic drivel.

The inn is convenient to my lodgings at the end of Rakhir Street. I accede to the wisdom of this counsel, and will seek out the innkeeper of The Scarlet Bard, who may be able to assist me in my quest. I am further advised that to enter a dungeon prematurely is to court destruction. My old friend Pellis tells me that my servants, however valiant, are yet no match for Mangar, and advises me to let them gain battle experience before we enter any of the dungeons. We must destroy the wizard Mangar, surely the source of the evil invasion, and of the ungodly and impenetrable winter that imprisons Skara Brae. My brave party and I can do little to reduce their seemingly infinite numbers. All of the brave knights who protect this town have vanished, leaving frightened serfs, women and children to face unprotected the hordes of strange beasts and ruffians that now inhabit the streets. It isn't to be tolerated! I refuse to kneel to the evil that has made its home in Skara Brae.

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