Architectural Journal Sir Ecgbald Alfred Otto Maray.

Entry One

The most distinguishable trait of Sanctuary's architecture is its eclecticism. Over the course of the last 150 years countless modifications have been made to the original Svirfneblin design (Note to self: 1*). In several places the resemblance to the genuine gnomish work is astonishing, even to myself. I sometimes cannot tell whether one wall was erected centuries or mere years ago (Note to self: 2*).

The complexity and perfection of some parts is remarkable. Staircases, for instance. Back in Laviguer there was a local tinkerer who was contemplating creating such of tremendous height, for usage in a fort in the remote region of the Earthspur Mountains. It would cut the long trek up the mountain short by a good number of days. He was not able to overcome one problem, though - the fragility of the upper section of the staircase. Deep Gnomes seem to have coped with this adequately. The structures of the stairwells leading from Sanctuary to Sanctuary Below are stable and reinforced, despite the long descent this trip involves. Truly, a masterpiece.

Personal Journal Sir Ecgbald Alfred Otto Maray

Entry One

While most of the engineering in the Underdark is by no means of any interest, I found that the same does not apply to the Dunwarren settlement. I have seen numerous devices created by the Duergar, but the manner they were constructed in left much to be desired. They served their purpose, I admit, but that is but one of the qualities an inventor seeks in an object. They lacked certain grandness, a sign of a truly innovative mind that created them. Where they could have seen effectiveness, I have seen crudeness. I cannot tell for sure what was on the minds of their engineers, for I never had a chance to meet one.

The majority of what I know comes from what I have found in a temple of Laduger underneath the vast mountain range of Impiltur. The diggers in one of the recently found mines had dug too deep. They couldn't have had any idea of the seemingly infinite expanse spreading beneath.

And so they reached the point where one of the corridors opened on a temple dedicated to the evil deity worshipped by the deep dwarves. The miners could not make much of it by themselves and sent for aid. I was one of those who answered the call. At first, after the long descent, I was far from being disappointed. The workshop of the dwarves was unlike any other I have seen on the surface. Despite it being in a mess I was impressed by the amount of work they accumulated there, even though it was clear that they left the settlement in a hurry and took much of it with them. Unfortunately for us, they came back for whatever was left behind...

The merchant who had been the most eager member of our expedition, was the first to fall to their bolts. We were unprepared and helpless. The mercenaries hired to guard us were spread across the compound and before they organised a defence we were already shackled and lead deeper into the Dark. The memory of what happened next excruciates me to this very moment and it is not meant to be imbued onto the pages of this memoir.