Rogan is from Waterdeep. He is definitely into the politics more so than anything else. He also is a cunnin' thief. The two of us have an entirely different outlook as well. He seems to prefer talkin' his victims into giving 'em their stuff or talkin' other victims into takin' stuff for him and then givin' it to him. Its a much different style than my own up-front bash'em and run routine. Then again, he hasn't travelled much either. I'm sure if I had to look at the same people day in and day out I'd prefer to keep on good terms with 'em and if he only had a few hours to do his collections, he'd rush things a bit too.

Valas is a much more interestin' person. At first glance, he appears to be a drow. Yet he isn't. I thought he had a fever as his skin was very hot. He claims its his ordinary temperature. Strange. Water boils just strikin' exposed body parts. He also believes in spirit patterns. Although an experimenter or diviner, he has found a way to harness these spirits into something called motes. These motes twist and control magic. Wonder how he talks them into doing it.

After the meal, I checked Rogan - making sure he was asleep and skulked my way over to Valas's room. There we chatted and I showed him my arm...or actually, the arm that isn't. He asked a lot of technical questions but it turns out I have no Illusionary Invisibility magic on me. Its all very different from what he expects. He claims something is bendin' light molecules from my body and that my aura (mote) is tightly clingin' to my form. Anyway, he promised not to talk to anyone else in the group about it - can't be sure I can trust 'em yet. He also asked some pointed questions about my earring and my aquatic nature. I told him a little but I held off on letting him examine me fully - want to keep some things secret.

After the conversation, I headed back to my own room - thinkin' I needed some sleep. Fat chance. There was a note under my door with "Parel Silvatong - Heartless Crystal Dew Lane" on it. I quickly slipped down and asked Atina (that barmaid) about either. She didn't recognize the first but said the Crystal Dew Lane is over in the Clerks' ward. I've got to check it out. It might have something to do with my condition or the room. Mental Reminder: Skulk around Clerk's Ward... soon!

Anyway, upon that knowledge, I flipped over to my Gavin-bit and sauntered down to the main room yet again. This time, it cost me a cage while I tipped Atina (she didn't recognize me though) and gained some info on the room. Its been rented for a full year and only one month is used up of that time. They didn't know who rented it or why. They only know that the person whom did paid a large sum of money to NOT have the inhabitant checked on at all. Looks like I got free reign for 11 more months while I figure this out.

Minor notes: Strange things in the market square. Anything's sold here. Really. Anything. My own condition might go unnoticeable considering everyone else. I've seen people with wings (both feathery and hairy), I've seen walking 6' tall bugs, I've even seen a 10' tall awful looking 'man' who just happened to have a second head - which was a large snake head that talked. Cha-kan says its a Tanary and not to mess with it. Like I'd really WANT to mess with THAT on purpose. How can these people deal with these things? They are frightening on their own. Oh. On frightening, Lilah seems to have a fascination for wrapping her tail on my ankle. I SWEAR I'm going to pin that flea-bitten thing down the floor with a well aimed crossbow bolt.

Now for a little sleep, then my Akkad-disguise. I've gotta whirl with a new one considering Flynne and Gaven are both blown by the Red Guard.

42) Envenomed Dung-Beetles! I'm somewhere different yet again. This time its called Tradegate - Lilah's home. Nothing like what I'd expect of the floozy either. Judging from her flaming red hair, barbed tail and horns I expected another hell. This place is warm, sunny and bright. There are people all around that even look normal. There's a huge plaza with purple and gold tiles and a great fountain filled with delicious water. There are five roads out of here as well. The two south of the central plaza lead to miles upon miles of farmland (no oceans though). The one to the west heads to X-sel-sior which has a 'gate' to the lawful good plane of Mount Selistia. The eastern road goes to Ecstasy and the neutral good plane of Ali-siom where there is 'always a party' going. Sounds wild. The northern road leads into the main city I believe but I am unsure.

Anyway, currently I am suffering from a bit of a hangover. I'll try to keep things brief and orderly even though my head is swelled like a sucker fish on fire coral.

Cha-kan, Lilah, Rogan, Valas and myself met up at the Black Sails. From there, we left back to the hive to find that bronzy golem Anthrax. On the way there, I found out while the air is so bad here. There is a forge works called the foundry. It belches forth Ironsmoke all day and night. Its awful and horrible to breath. It also fills up my gills something horrible. We also crossed the only water I've ever seen here. Well, I hesitate to call it water.

Cha-kan dubs it the "Ditch". It's where bodies are exposed. We saw beggars standing around fishing out the half gnawed on corpses for money. The 40' wide trench is so scum filled and infested with disease and grim that even the mold flees the water's surface. Mental Reminder: Do NOT go swimming in that river...either.

Our group crossed the ditch via a bridge and were in the Hive. From there, we dodged several offensive looking puddles. Seems kinda silly but everyone takes it so serious why take chances? I'd hate to go somewhere called the "Plane of Ooze".

We stopped briefly at somewhere called the Cold Bowl. Its a soup kitchen of sorts run by the "Bleakers" though I'd never order anything from there unless I was starved near death. Rat soup is the main specialty. We learned where Anthrax was (sorta) and ventured off that way.

The Hive's residents appear to all be mentally deficient or just plane nuts. We ran across several Barney's (which Lilah claims is a word for insane person). We even saw someone sellin' puppies and kittens to a meat store. Then there was the strangest; a thin haired, spidery guy whom jumped out at us, danced and sung. Cha-kan says he is recitin' the names of the lords of the abyss. He has been doing so for 3 years straight - never anything else, and he hasn't repeated a name yet. Well, he suddenly stops, points at me and jabbers something about seeing the flys in my mind. Then he runs screaming away. My companions (and I use the word loosely) were quite shook up. They all seemed to wonder about me. I did too. When someone is reciting the names of the lords of the abyss and then gets fear just from looking at me - even *I* worry. What the heck did that mage do to me?

Enough of that.

From there, we continued on. We soon found a black market that exists, its called the Night Market and its in the furthest edge of the hive. They have everything illegal though only Rogan went in to check. He returned shortly and was visible upset with the prices he encountered. This market has 3 main rules; Don't ask for names, don't ask for guarantees and don't ask for change. Tough place. They do have everything illegal though. That's a bonus especially for selling With the Red Guards not going in there, I'd imagine business is good. I think I'll try to gain a few contacts or encourage Rogan to do so. Its always good to find somewhere to pawn off loot. Mental Note: Find out more about the Night Market... carefully.

Just after the market, we encountered a big trench of destruction. It ran right through a set of buildings. This was Antrhax's work or so Cha-kan claimed. We followed it and found a 12 feet tall bronze man in platemail. He was sitting in a classical thinker pose. Well, him and Lilah exchanged looks and then he opened up his hand and let Lilah take some bag. She gave him the portal key for hell. Bel-a-tor. Good thing. I don't want to go back there. I'd get a good chuckle though if he went there. Bet hell would never be the same.

Anthrax then jogs off through a mess of buildings. From there the Captain suddenly gets all beefed up about some blinkin' ring. Says its a warning that tough bait is comin' and wantin' to do a bit of trashin' on our bodies. Let 'em try I'm thinking but instead we all flee down the road. Soon we run into Cha-kan's working buddy. His name is Hugh Phagus. He shows us a body of the latest 'victim' of those things that were chasing us. They appear to be some type of monstrous bug. I KNEW I hated bugs for a reason. These things lay an egg in their 'host' (typically a person). The 'host' then goes about his business until suddenly the young hatches out the host's chest. Then the young bug gnaws on the (now dead) body. Just looking at the last victim made me sick to my stomach though I held in my lunch. Barely. Mental Note: Do NOT go wandering around the hive... alone.

Next, Cha-kan's friend drops the tidbit about the Doomlord Maul getting anxious about something. He says something is going down and we want to know what it is. On another note, Cha-kan said that these bugs prefer folks with Psionics. Its interesting by itself but even more so because Rogan jumped at that point. Better try and think pleasant thoughts around him - just in case.

Captain gets all uptight yet again but this time marches us off down to the Doomgaurd Armory to find out what's up. We get there and both Valas and Rogan take off for some small errands. I hang out with Lilah while Cha-kan is inside. I learned about her and her horns. She comes from Tradegate where her mom cooks real meals. Good stuff. Not cheap either. I asked about the names of the foods though when I heard 'em they sounded like people, not types. I mean really, Afredo Somethin' or other. That's a person...isn't it? She says that they don't eat folks or suck souls though. I dunno, as long as the Captain says its alright I'll give it a swirl. That was what I was thinkin' at the time. He was right. They seem harmless enough - though they dwell more on money than anyone I know off. No thrill of adventure, no excitement to travel, no adrenaline of the fight. Just all this barterin' and tradin' of small bits of information. Sucks sheep scrotum if they ask me.

Oh. The gate. Well, we went back through all the Wards back into the Lady's ward. I'm startin' to get a hang for directions here. Anyway, we find the Sword and Buckler Inn yet again. We take the ally next to the shop and go for the large bay window. Then I flip the lock open of the door to the store inside, some warm fuzzy glow goes off around me and I feel stiff for a few moments but shake it off... then Lilah flips a book's pages real quick. This bright glow opens up and the whole group charges through. I ponder for a few moments until I see this female drow run around the ally's corner with a pair of longswords lookin' pissed off. Then I too fly through the door. Wham. Next thing I'm in a library with the rest of the gang. Lilah drags us off outside and there is the purple and gold tiled plaza with the 5 roads. Air is clear. Sun's bright. Whole works. None of that trashy atmosphere from Sigel.

Lilah drags us off to meet her folks and where they own a shop. In the Hotel District is a Tavern called the Brimstone Cafe'. Its for upper class people. I've seen their kind, O' maltworms, I've ripped their kind off before. They've got a lot of wealth stashed in places most folks wouldn't think to look. Anyway, good tables even with cloths on 'em. Nice smells. It defines quaint and says somethin' about the people I've been hangin' with. Lilah isn't as much of a floozy as she is a youngin'. I'd say I've been a bit hard on her and that the two of us are about the same age equivalent 'cept I'm still peeved about her lice-ridden tail and the knack it has for curling on my leg.

Anyway, there is this roarin' fire. Disturbing Note: Valas is WAY too hot. He sits down in the fire and enjoys it. Inside the fire place. No lie. Just "Plunk" right down on the fire. Flames are boilin' up around him and he seems happy. Next thin' I know, he is suckin' lead down from the candle sticks and sayin' how good it is. Weird man. If I had known, I shan't have trusted him with that bit o' knowledge earlier.

Lilah's mom comes out. She's a petite woman and definitely Lilah's mom; flamin' red hair, dark eyes, mid 30's, small horns and ivory skin - though she has bat wings. Disturbin'. Only 'disturbin'' compared to home though, its down right pleasant compared to that Tanary thin' in the market. Anyway, she's got on a skirt, saddles and a silk blouse. She's also got on a gold bracelet and a necklace with a locket. Both look fairly valuable. She's a bit upset at us for takin' her daughter to hell. Like it was OUR fault. Anyway, she gets also a bit miffed about the riverworm. Hen-buggering noodlehead...why? Lilah didn't even try it. Now at this point I am about 4 mugs deep into their ale. Its excellent. Best I ever did have. Food was good too. Some sap dressed in silks named Maitre D came out and even brought food for us. I tried bein' friendly and callin' him Maitre but he keeps insistin' on the usage of his full name...at least the food was excellent.

We also got to meet "Dad" whom is about 5'8", charmin', dashin' and in his mid 30's. He has black hair though it is turnin' white at the edges, a mustache/goatee combo and a long barbed tail. Definitely Lilah's dad. He's wearin' a pinstriped jacket, puffy white shirt, trousers and carries a Ebony Black Walkin' stick. His name is Gerrad.

That's the basics. Time to soak in a nice hot steamy bath and later we are meetin' with Swider. He's the head of the Indepths though I think we should open up that bag that Anthrax gave us right now.

43) Its night yet again. At least this Tradegate has a definite day and night. I don't care too much for the attitude here though. Too much emphasis on money and makin' it via tradin' information. Oh, give me a ship and a crew of good cutthroats and I'll slice a swatch through the history books like never before...but not here.

In the mean time though, there are things to do. After that wonderful bath I slinked down to the main room and enjoyed a few glasses of clear water before movin' back up to a light ale. The group was gathered with a bit of anticipation to meet Swider though Cha-kan says he's met him before.

Swider was a disappointment in my eyes. I expected some dashin' charismatic leader. Instead, we got a baldin' obnoxious old man with a fat head and a huge paunch. This merchant-like man flips Lilah a bag of coins for deliverin' the message as well as for the bag we got from Anthrax.

Swider opened up the bag to reveal a box, 1' per side and 3" deep made from some meteoric iron. This obese human tried to charge us money to open up his own box. Lilah and I, however, gave him a surprise. Between the two of us we jiggered it open and he had to pay us. Heh heh. Made 4 cages for a few moments work. That's another 4 bribes. Maybe I can find out whom Parel Silvatong is, why I got the note, what he wants with me and still have a few drinks to boot.

Inside the box are several packets of scrawl. It turns out to be Tarstick's experiment logs. Guess he was into science though I pegged him for a sniper with that bow of his. Although the language didn't decode so easily for me, Rogan was able to pick it apart with Valas's help (Valas cast a spell, usin' his spirit motes). The log book contained information on formulas 1 through 27. They talks about the creation of the solutions and the testin' which occurred. Borin' stuff. The last one though, #27, we traced and got a combination on how to make it. Its got cash potential... somethin' like buried treasure.

"First, obtain a fond of one gallon in size turned to rusting stone in the hollow cubes of crashing metal. Then cleanse it in Pure Flame. Once done, fill the font from the ocean of holy water. Heat the font and brew a tea made from a pound each of: alkanet, coriander, rosemary and red willow buds. All must be fresh picked from land which is watered by endless heroic death and rebirth. Add powder from a seed of the Ash which spans worlds until you see the blue of sky. Cool and place one leaf of the blossom which blooms in the darkness of the ice-encircled desert. Obtain next a lump of Raw Chaos and place it within the font. Let the mixture steep in the three glooms for one full day. Then expose the mixture to one perfect day and night."

The rest of the notes discuss the history and progress of the plague. Apparently, 110 Indepths died of the plague from the Harmonia roughly 4 years ago. At that point, formula 5 was created and halted the disease. Its been quiet for 2 years when suddenly a slightly newer version occurred. The symptoms are similar but its not as contagious. Plague symptoms are a near instant fever, blotchy skin and delusions. The victim has trouble even thinkin' straight. It is always fatal and death occurs right after brief spasms and intense pain. The total time for the disease is between 1 hour and 10 days. It only seems to effect Indepths and the only time of exposure is at the moment of gatin' to Sigel. Mental Note: Do NOT join the Indepths...now.

A brief conclusionart discussion with Swider compiled everythin' we knew and he offered to pay us to collect the necessary requirements for this formula. Will I go if I am asked to by Cha-kan? I think so. First off, I still owe the Captain some gratitude and if he'll have me, I'll be happy to offer to crew for him. Second off, I ain't got nothin' better to do but try to get home and I don't even know where that is. Thirdly, some of those places actually sound interestin'; lots of seas and oceans. Lastly, this Swider offered us 100 ladies each for the solution. That figures in my book to 7,500 gold. Quite a good amount - more so than I've ever seen and its worth the risk! Though I dislike the idea of another visit to any portion of hell - even an arctic one.

Current best guesses as to what this means are:

"Hollow cubes of crashing metal" - second layer of achorion

"Pure Flame" - ???

"Ocean of Holy Water" - First Layer of Mt. Celestia

"Alkanet, et.al" - Herbs

"Land...Heroic Death..." - Ysgard

"Seed of the Ash..." - Acorn from Yggdrasil

"Blossom which blooms..." - ???

"Ice-Encircled Desert" - Ankhwugaht, Set's Realm of Stygia (5th Hell)

"Lump of raw chaos" - Something from Limbo?

"Three glooms" - Grey Waste

"Perfect Day and Night" - Arcadia