The Palace of Paroxysmus : A report on the dangers within
The opening to the Dungeon is located in the Lost Lands, Northwest of Papua in an area known as Beggar’s Gorge. Stumbling upon the area it may simply look like a bottomless pit. But I can assure you, there is a bottom and it is not pleasant. I tied my rope to the base of a nearby tree and left myself plenty of slack, as I knew not how deep the pit would be.
The floor of the cave was not as deep as I would have thought but the smell was overwhelming. There was a river to my right. Not a nice flowing river of pretty blue water. It looked more like a clumpy river of acid. I decided it best to avoid touching the liquid as I knew not what it may be. Knowing not what dangers may be close I decided to hide straight away.
I crossed the river on a few stones slipping by a few Acid Elementals and Corrosive Slimes. I some began to descend deeper into the cave and came upon a Poison Elemental. The dangers were evident. This was not a nice place to be alone.
I followed the river closely as it must lead to the depths of the pit. In short time I came upon a Moloch such as I had read tales about in the library of Britain. A few steps later the real danger of this cave presented itself; in the form of a Golden Balron!
I slinked past the two quietly and came upon a set of steps. A Balron kept watch over the steps so I decided I might try to see what was up there. The body of the last weary traveler lay tore to shreds on the stone floor. I hoped only that my fate not meet his.
I escaped quietly the area of torture and made my way further along the path. The air inside the pit is stale and smells of flesh and fecal matter. The corrosive smell of the acid river is not very welcoming either. I made my way to what seemed as a dead end and decided to track what might be lurking nearby. Poison Elementals, Plague Beasts, and some tracks I knew nothing of. Later I would stumble upon the Interred Grizzle and notice these tracks matched the ones at the end of that path.
I turned about face and made my way back towards the smell of acid. I crept past numerous Balrons, Daemons, Elementals, and even a few floating Fey. I found at the end of the river a lake of corrosive death. An island formed in the middle of the lake and a pedestal made of stone close by. A rusty old cauldron sat at the top of the steps. On the rim was a residue of a slimy ointment.
With no way apparent to cross this lake to reach the gates of the island, I decided to make my way back and find an exit. Along the way back I noticed a region with many Corrosive Slimes.
Perhaps the slimes were the ingredient used to make the residue on the cauldron. I would have to research the matter at the library for further information. AS I reached the entrance to the cave I realized that my rope was not acid proof. It had melted in the short time I had been exploring the cave. I would have to find another exit and did so quickly. A set of steps leaves the cave and exits Southeast of the above-ground hole; just across a small mountain range.
I set out for Britain and the library near the Lord’s Castle. I asked the librarian if he knew anything about Beggar’s Gorge but of course he had only read little about it. He pointed me towards his books and I began to research. A book about the Gorge hinted to a beast known as Paroxysmus. He must be what resides on that island in the corrosive lake.
