Last page of the journal of Isavar val’Mordane
Dirigo 2nd -- Alpheasus uncovered something odd today. He found a large cover-stone with no name. It was marked only with the image of a snake-headed man and the warning “gabhiira naaga .” Perhaps this was a mass grave for deceitful men who proved to be less than trustworthy in Salitis’ eyes. We are all anxious to see what is beneath the tomb’s cover-stone.
Dirigo 3rd -- After a day’s work we were not only able to safely remove the cover-stone, but we discovered something amazing, a tunnel beneath the stone. This is one of the earliest Auxunite encampments we’ve ever found, but apparently they weren’t the first to claim this land as their own. (Note: Perhaps their semi-nomadic lifestyle caused them to be scavengers of a sort, choosing their camps based on locations previously occupied by others?) After the first few feet, the tunnel appears to be constructed of natural origin, some kind of lava chute. Apparently the Auxunites discovered the tunnel as they were digging out the foundation of their temple. We’re going to gear up for an underground expedition first thing tomorrow morning. The whole camp is excited, although Alpheasus seems nervous about something, almost scared of what might be waiting to be found—an odd reaction from an archaeologist. I’ll try to talk with him tomorrow.
Dirigo 7th -- If Alpheasus thought the tunnel was an amazing discovery, no one will ever believe what we found at the other end yesterday. Apparently Tapas was built atop the remains of an ancient Ss’ressen outpost! Preliminary examinations and divinations date the structures and stonework to the Ssethregoran “Age of Decadence,” at least 4,000 years ago. (This outpost may even have been created up to 6,000 years ago!) The tunnel crosses paths with a small antechamber that we will begin excavating as soon as possible. This dig may turn out to be a treasure trove of knowledge unimagined and lost for several millennia!! Strangely, Alpheasus has been keeping to himself lately.
Dirigo 10th -- Today, after several days’ work, we finally excavated the antechamber. Although the original exit had long-since collapsed, the far wall of the room had caved in to reveal a secret chamber. This next chamber was somehow filled with an entire block of pale amber or some similar substance. The amber is translucent, and we believe we can see forms within. Caerfayne thinks that this could have been a very early Ss’ressen burial ground covered by mineral growth throughout the centuries. Alpheasus isn’t so sure—he keeps pouring over his notes and working on the phrase he found written on the wall of the adjoining antechamber. The phrase simply says naagaaH kSaanti —“patiently waiting serpents.” Who, or what, are they waiting for?