Dear friends, it’s been a… complicated few days. I offer to you this missive in the name of the Athasian Survey Project.

Where to begin…

Three days ago, the Consortium did reach out to the Kreen Empire on my behalf. Unfortunately, their missive to the suspicious L’rax backfired, and that afternoon I learned I was to be placed on trial for espionage.

The following day, as I was being brought to the kreen tribunal, I learned I would have an advocate. None other than my old handler Margaba himself had arrived, and made himself known to both the tohr-keen tribunal and myself.

In hindsight, I can understand the suspicious looking circumstances of finding a human and pterran flying together on a solitary pterrax coming from the wrong direction across the Crimson Savannah. It was also admittedly unheard of for anyone to be foolish enough to study the world itself for any purpose, let alone for “the common good.” They were even reluctant to accept the evidence provided not only by myself, but also from casting speak with dead upon poor Odten.

Ultimately, it was only by submitting to a full mind probe that I was able to convince them of my innocence. Eager to save face, they released me with only a caution to not return to the city or to visit any other landmarks in their section of the Empire.

And so Margaba and I made our way towards the Jagged Cliffs. As always, he wasn’t telling me everything that was going on, only that he and I were bound for the area near Magehome as a member of the Veiled Alliance needed my assistance there.

Along the way, I insisted we make a brief stop in the bvanen swamps at the base of the Jagged Cliffs. Since we were so close to Cave City, I thought this a very rare opportunity to see the dangerous biome along the base of those great cliffs in the safest way possible. Margaba reluctantly agreed.

The bvanen are a very reclusive species, understandably so – their monstrous and vicious appearance belies their gentle demeanor. It is also quite hard to earn their trust.

The image I’m sending is what I saw passing into the inhabited swamp areas near the entrance to the cave complex. Upon encountering a guard patrol here, I reached out with the Way and offered my services as a psionic healer. After some time, a missive came from the city itself, surely from one of their elders, granting us an audience. It was hard to tell with the curious layout of these swamp caves what was natural and what was fashioned by bvanen hands. But it did feel very much lived in, and cosy after a fashion.

Much to Margaba’s consternation, I’ve agreed to assist their healers for the rest of the week, while I ply them for details as to what has happened to the cliff-base swamps since the Cerulean Storms started. I will share anything interesting I learn.

Until next time, may the moons guide you.

Sources:
* Terrors of Athas
* Windriders of the Jagged Cliffs