Field Notes of V - The Crystals

Further exploration has uncovered additional strange details. In addition to the base humanoids, another unexpected feature of the dungeon was its overall architecture as a large edifice located within a huge natural cavern. We emerged on two occasions into what can only be described as underground courtyards. Each one contained a well and seven dead oak trees. Hob scampered over the rooftops but accomplished nothing except collapsing part of one. We also ascertained that all urns we had located were empty.

In the first courtyard, in addition, we discovered a single living plant. I was unable to identify it in the field, but research since returning to town has revealed that it was a marshmallow plant. It may have been kept for its medicinal properties. Another possibility is suggested by one particular 800-year-old book which I uncovered during my studies.

Particularly rare specimens have been found growing in moderately low light to almost no light. Popular lore purports that this phenomenon occurs only upon the graves of great heroes or upon sites of great battles, but evidence suggests that the plant has some fungal properties that explain this anomaly.

We also located the altar alluded to by the old woman. Its surface was blackened, burned and cracked. Both the alleged crystal and the alleged angel were missing, and the floor in front of the altar was melted. In light of this disturbing find, we brought in the old woman, who was surprised and dismayed at the state of the altar. She said there should be a large crystal on the ceiling of the large cavern. We used a light spell to verify the presence of this large crystal.

The old woman then told us what little she knew. According to her, the crystals are repositories of the power of a now-dead elven or fey deity, whose name is unknown to her. She stated that her associate, the elven scholar Targos Grisha, told her that the crystals glowed. Note: the crystal on the ceiling was not glowing.

The old woman paid us 420 gp for our securing of the urns, and provided us with a letter of reference with which to go see the scholar in Weaversburg.