[A sealed letter for Janissary Thorn]

[cmenden]

Dear Janissary Thorn,

I decided to write you after all but I intend to be brief. Also, let me clarify that Legate Marcellus has already heard everything on this matter and decided it was best if those involve pursue further trips to repair the damage that he believes has been done. Another important point of clarification is that the Tower had tasked us Apothars with going down there, so any attempt to prosecute will bring our organizations into conflict.

Expedition 1 - Qdim 19th
Naelin Karstwen (Leader)
Sephidra Niridhe
Sebastian Ashalley
Meadow Milwright
Fia Dane
Estellise Azimi
Cosine Mevura
Narwen Alendiel
Hypatia Kometou

The expedition everyone is losing their minds over. Cosine solved some Caliphate puzzle allowing us to proceed. We were stopped by bizarre entities that wished to do us harm. Naelin and I wished to proceed. Others balked. Some, such as Hypatia and Narwen, said we should turn back. Naelin made clear she would proceed regardless and told those unwilling to leave. She also pointed out that if it wasn't this group, it would still be done by another, such as a wyrm cultist. This speech convinced people, so everyone decided to move forward together.

In the next room, Cosine smashed open a glass display and got the important object shown to the Janissaries in the Tower (referred to Key after this), was cursed, tried to keep it and started arguing with the group. Pretty much everything everyone has said here is true. Entities attacked. Cosine healed Naelin. Sephidra shot Cosine until he fell to the ground. Sephidra put her body between Cosine and the entities but they still struck him past her. I healed him. After the initial fighting, she stripped his things to get the Rod back. We pushed forward because the entities blocked our passage out and a bloody battle followed.

Cosine was in a foul mood, but everyone decided to press forward. We went to the place the Key opened. Proceeded down into Layer 4. Bickering continued. Meadow insulted Cosine. Cosine tried turning Meadow into a chicken. Narwen was dying. Naelin wished to keep going, but it was clearly impossible at that point without killing Narwen, so she decided to pull the group out. Cosine split off from the group during the return to the surface. I learned later that he returned to speak with the Entities who attacked us and get another Key. I also learned upon returning to the Well that major seismic activity had occurred during this expedition.

Expedition 2 - Qdim 20th
Cosine Mevura (Leader)
Estellise Azimi
Mae Stern
Joachim Sathuul
Daoud al-Maaz
Alessia Corvini
Mirielle Rosseau

I have less to say about this one. Since Cosine had acquired a second Key and he and Mae (my apprentices) have sworn an eternal blood feud with the Torchbearers, another expedition set out the day after the first. The Banda Rossa were paid to accompany since the Janissary Sergeant wasn't enough for the dangers below.

This expedition ran straight to Layer 4. We wandered at length, and the group read many things and touched many things but didn't seem to figure any of it out. I grew bored because I hate history and it was taking hours. At some point, Cosine disappeared from the group, having found a private place to eat. During his absence, Inspector Daoud and Sergeant Joachim spotted some hideous entity on the ceiling stalking us. I never saw it, so I can't describe it. It was good at hiding, whatever it was.

We fled immediately at this point. Upon returning to the Well, I learned that seismic activity reaching the Well had occurred during this expedition too.

Addendum
It seems plausible that the seismic activity is related to these expeditions, but the shaking has not correlated to anything done below, often seemingly occurring at random.

Furthermore, few things done during these expeditions felt like "breaking a seal". It would be difficult to pin down whether opening the way to the Key, acquiring the Key, or first using the Key to reach Layer 4 would be considered the "seal breaking" in question.

If you have further questions, seek me out. I have written all I care to about this.

Regards,
Apothar Estellise Azimi

[Dugs]

[The letter is received.]