** 26 days passes in this log ** 1028/04/11-1028/05/08

Investigating the greater annelid trail
=======================================
Arvis, the shaman coming with Tess, is a lone explorer type, and should be 
able to figure out details from the greater annelid trail. The trail isn't 
that recent, but Tess doesn't have much an idea of when it was made. When
Arvis arrives, he is outfitted for travel.

Tess and Arvis teleport to the lower crossing end of the annelid tunnel. 
Arvis examines the tunnel, looking up at it's huge expanse before examing 
the floor carefully. Arvis says, "This is quite old, maybe six months or 
more. Hard to say exactly at that time period. Nothing to worry about then. 
If it hasn't encountered us by now it's unlikely to do so. You could use 
this tunnel as a shortcut, if it's going in the right direction. You might 
meet other denizens though, and there is nowhere to hide. The tunnel goes
nadir-east. Away from us [i.e. away from Shadow Elven territory]."

Tessarael: "Any idea why an annelid would go in a straight line?"

Arvis: "Oh, they travel in straight lines reasonably often. As I said earlier
today, we keep our eyes and ears open for annlids near the territories. This 
one obviously didn't get close enough to our territory to be detected. 
Normally in this situation, if we found something like this, this far out, we
would note the location for possible future quick travel and leave it. It 
will eventually collapse on it's own."

Tess teleports Arvis back to the City of Stars. Tess then waits three days 
for his Rod of Teleport to recharge, and memorizes a different teleport 
location in the City of Stars.

** 3 days pass **

Tess teleports back to the annelid path, and starts heading up it to check
where it goes. Tess walks up the path for a day.

** 1 day passes **

As Tess walks along, slowly drawing a long straight line on his map, he hears
voices about 200' up ahead. They seem to be arguing. They don't have lights.
As Tess gets closer, he hears a language that sounds like Skycommon. They
sound like they are lost. Two voices are discussing turning around, keeping 
on going, or trying another exit. Tess listens for a bit and advances, seeing
a group of three Gnomes. Tess casts Detect Magic using his Rod of Silent 
Spell.

Two are talking, one is drawing on some paper, sitting on their pack. They 
appear unconcerned and haven't noticed Tess. They are liberally covered in 
small bits of equipment. Small hammers, bows, etc. They have a few faintly
magical magic items each: one has a magical bow; the other talking has a 
magical quiver and magical boots; and the one sitting has a magic hat (faint 
Divination magic) and a magic shield. They are wearing armor. The sitting 
Gnome is wearing banded mail. 

Tess switches to his Alfiesh Elf disguise and wanders closer. Tess bids them
"Hello," when they notice him at 10 feet away. One of them eeps. "It seems 
our paths have crossed. I was following this trail up ... no need to worry, 
I am but a fellow traveller, though strange it is meeting others in these 
parts. What brings you here?"

The gnome in banded mail looks up from his scribbling in surprise. 

gnome in chainmail: "We are prospectors. What are you doing down here?"

Tessarael: "Traveling. Exploring too I suppose. I have an exploring friend, 
a Gnome like yourselves, perhaps I picked the bug up from him. This trail is 
truly a wonder to behold, there are few creatures as large as these."

gnome in scalemail: "Aye, Annelids they be called. What did you say your 
name was?"

Tessarael: "Rail. Pleased to meet you."

They introduce themselves. Gnome in chainmail: "Excuse me, but do you have 
any idea where we are? I think we are underneath old Alfheim." 
Gnome in scalemail mutters under his breath about their luck. They are 
dressed in a hodgepodge of equipment. Bows, prospecting hammers, picks, a 
medium sized cutlass - the works.

Tessarael: "I think you are approximately correct. What happened? Are you 
lost?"

gnome in scalemail: "No."

gnome in banded: "We just aren't sure where we are."

Tess smiles. "Which town are you from?"

gnome in chainmail: "We entered this tunnel a week ago, back that way. It's 
obviously pretty long, and it's heading downwards now."

gnome in scalemail: "Highforge."

Tessarael: "Ah. That is helpful, I was intending to follow it all the way 
up. You say it goes 7 days up that way? Where does it open out?"

gnome in banded: "Not sure. We found an entrance into this tunnel, and we 
have followed it ever since."

gnome in chainmail: "We should turn about. We are much, much further than we 
intended to come."

gnome in scalemail: "But who knows what we might find down here?"

gnome in chainmail: "Like the creature which made this tunnel?"

gnome in scalemail: "Exactly!"

Tessarael: "If you're interested, I was thinking of following it in the other
direction too - which seems to be the way you were intending to explore ..."

gnome in chainmail: "Perfect! We can team up?"

gnome in banded: "By yourself?"

Tessarael: "The creature which made this tunnel has long since left, and 
actually it went where you were from, rather than below.  Well normally I 
travel quietly ... it creates less problems."

gnome in chainmail throws up his hands. gnome in scalemail: "Yippee."

Tessarael: "Or I should say that it attracts less attention. However, I don't
mind company. Have you folks ever dealt with umber hulks and the like? It's 
not exactly that safe down here."

gnome in banded: "Now that it's all settled, are we going to get going?"

gnome in scalemail: "No. This is much, much deeper than we would normally go."

gnome in chainmail: "You don't say..."

Tessarael: "Sure, we may as well chat as we wander. If you wish to wander a 
little with me, I can return you to here in due course. There's only 3 of you 
right?" The gnome in scalemail nods. "There's a limit to how many people I 
can help transport. If you guys are pretty good with tunnels, you might be of
some help to me exploring this, so I don't mind the company."

gnome in banded: "You are a mage? Or cleric?"

Tessarael: "Neither. I have a little wizardly ability, but only minor."

gnome in chainmail: "We know a thing or two." The gnome in scalemail nods.

The gnome in scalemail nods, "Us too. Let's go then."

The gnome in banded snorts and packs up his papers.

Tessarael: "Give me several minutres to memorize a location here to return 
you too. I apologize that I don't know Highforge, so here will be as close 
as I can return you too."

gnome in banded: (quietly) "A little he says."

Tessarael: "How much do you have in the way of supplies? Oh, do you have a 
map of the tunnel above and its exits? That would be helpful."

gnome in chainmail: "We are very low actually. Which is why I think we 
should turn back."

gnome in scalemail: "I'll find something down here that is edible."

gnome in chainmail: "That is what you said last time."

gnome in scalemail: "Hey, I'll fry the next thing. You can eat anything that
is fried."

Tessarael: "Gentlemen, I can go and get supplies if necessary."

The gnome in banded starts scribbling out a map as they walk down the tunnel.

The gnome in scalemail says "See?" The gnome in chainmail grumbles in response.

Tessarael: "That will help us until we get to the antimagic zone, which is 
probably a good place for you guys to return. That's assuming this goes to 
there."

gnome in scalemail: "Antimagic zone?"

Tessarael: "Yes." The gnome in banded looks awestruck. "It separates the 
Hollow World and the surface world."

gnome in banded: "You mean it's all true?"

Tessarael: "There's a story about that, written by a friend of mine. Oh it's 
true. But I'm not sure if this will get us there, but I wouldn't mind finding 
out."

gnome in chainmail: "It's a myth."

Tessarael: "On the contrary, I've been there, just not this way."

gnome in scalemail: "You know Clarensa the seer?"

gnome in chainmail: "No you idiot, he means that hin fellow." (Clarensa wrote
the book which took the world by storm. He party followed the directions in 
the book and ended up in the Hollow World.)

Tessarael: "Oh yes, there is that book too, but I was thinking of a different
one. A friend of mine wrote another book, but it is less famous - see he 
wasn't the first."

gnome in banded: "Oh, that book. The one with the lovely maps? Written by 
some person under a pseudonym."

Tessarael: "I believe it was called 'Guide to the Hollow World'."

gnome in banded: "That's the one."

gnome in scalemail: "Could we meet this person? The one who wrote the book?"

Tess chuckles. "He's a very busy person. Someday perhaps." The gnome in 
banded gives Tess the maps of the trail above for Tess to copy. As they 
travel Tess chats a little about his own experiences in the Hollow World -
more just about what it is like.

These gnomes have little legs and are fairly slow, but Tess is burdened so 
they dosn't slow him down much. They happily travel with Tess, although the 
gnome in chainmail wants to get food soon. Tess lets out Aldara to scout
ahead.

When they stop to sleep, Tess makes a teleport run to Darokin City to get 
some food for them.

From their point of view the annelid traveled at zero incline (flat) for 
quite a way, before turning downwards. It seems to have travelled a long 
distance. It probably gets closest to Shadow Elven territory a relatively 
short distance up from this point.

Highforge is inside the human land of Karameikos. It's a mixed 
Dwarven/Gnomish settlement. Karameikos is south of Darokin, west of Thyatis, 
and east of the Five shires. Karameikos is a monarchy. These gnomes don't 
consider themselves warriors, but instead miners and such. They have had 
experience fighting human bandits on the trail to Mirros (the capital of 
Karameikos) and some things down here. They seem to be moderately 
experienced (about 6th level). The threats down here are a bit dangerous for
them, but they should be right most of them time.

Their names are Oaen Faer (banded guy), Kaer (chainmail/grumpy guy), and
MikkRas (scalemail/zippy guy). Life is definitely be much more interesting 
with them. They chatter, tell tales, sing songs, and tell jokes. They are 
very merry. [Vaguely reminds me or Liril and Orlen accompany the Seekers when
the Seekers were low level.]

Tess and the gnomes make it all the way to the point where Tess thinks they
are closest to the antimagic region, which is where he will have to leave 
this express tunnel. It was five days of traveling to this point.

** 5 days pass **

They wave goodbye, and ask Tess to look them up next time he is in the area.
Tess teleports them back to where he met them on the trail, with a minor
mishap on the teleport.

Kaer (chainmail): "Oww! See, we should have walked."

MikkRas (scalemail): "It's ok, it was still cool."

Tess hangs out with them for one more day while his Rod of Teleport recharges.

** 1 day passes **

Tess teleports to the City of Stars and delivers a map report to the 2nd 
Shadow on the location of the Greater Annelid trail, where it comes from, and
where it appears to go to. They are happy with his report.

He checks in with the Eyes of the Serpent, delivering the same report and
mentions the gnomes from High Forge. Then waits 3 days for the Rod of 
Teleport to  recharge, then teleports back down.

** 3 days pass **

The rock here is different. It takes a short time to pick up the correct 
trail again, and head towards the zone. Tess takes his items out of the 
Gloves of Storing before he hits the antimagic zone. Somewhat further on,
magic stops working. Tess pulls out the alchemical lights, and continues,
with Aldara scouting ahead. 

** 1 day passes in the antimagic zone **

[Aldara fails a Spot check. Tess walks right through a group, not even 
noticing them. Luckily they leave Tess alone.]

Two days later, Tess is near the area where gravity changes. He has a map 
and description of what to do here though. The gravity plane flips. One 
needs to travel along the wall carefully that that point.

** 2 days pass **

Tess has found no water in the antimagic zone, and it gets a bit hotter 
towards the middle of the antimagic zone.

Aldara notices something and returns. She communicates to Tess with signals
that she saw a creature in a side passage, which is smaller than Tess. It
is a quadruped, without equipment, and is stationary. Tess douses his sun 
rod and continues in darkness carefully. Tess takes several trips to get his
equipment past the creature, to avoid compounded penalties of darkness and
encumbrance. When Tess gets close, he can feel the heat washing out from that
passage, causing Tess to sweat. Aldara reports the creature hasn't moved. 
Tess makes all the trips without incident.

Tess continues onwards, through the gravity change, and after three more 
days, his stuff starts working again.

** 3 days pass **

Tess dons his Schatten Alfen black ops mercenary disguise. Tess isn't sure 
quite how far he is from the Schatten Alfen lands. The map ends not far from 
here, so it's not completely clear, but it has general instructions on how 
to get to the Schatten Alfen lands. Tess hides his spare backpack with the
equipment for traversing the antimagic zone: sunrods, waterskins, spare food,
and climber's kit. The Ring of Sustenance works fine in the Hollow World.

The Shadow Elves don't have any idea how well guarded the entrances into the
Schatten Alfen lands are. This is one of the things that would be good for 
Tess to find out. They also aren't sure of the relations between the Schatten
Alfen and their neighbours. 

Tess practices the cover diguise of Mr. Foo, the Eye of the Serpent member 
that Tess practiced his Schatten Alfen diguise with and broke into the office
of. It might be useful for talking to some of the Shadow Elven spies on the
list that Tess saw in the safe.

** 7 days pass **