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Document II. Narrative of Neasha of Rhigos

Neasha was apparently a citizen from the violent land of Esrolia. For reasons shrouded in obscurity, this foolhardy woman led a team of warriors from various cults to Skyfall Lake, where she spent several weeks on a so-called hunting (more accurately, fishing) expedition. Her purpose was the capture of an odd monster or being known as Thog-don, on the subject of which no suitably reliable information exists. The year was the 18th year of this Wane.

The expedition was a failure, but Neasha later agreed to give a description of her experiences to a member of the barbarian knowledge cult of Lhankor Mhy. I have included samples of material that I feel is of interest from her narrative, which consists primarily of descriptions of combat and magic, much of a highly colored nature not appropriate to this survey. Although Neasha was not a trained observer or scholar, her statements have authority, and command relatively high Truth scores, especially considering the heretical nature of her religion.

Excerpt 1 (lines 40-45):

...During this terrible day all our lines were broken, even the one plaited of manticore's fur, by forces that exceeded the strength of a normal fish as much as a man's strength exceeds that of an ant. Often the creatures lurked like cursed cowards in the depths, battering our hull or surging mightily upwards in fruitless attempts to swamp our spell-laden craft.

The creaking ship was buffeted by powerful winds and savage waves, though we had stayed distant from the black and lightning-shot storm clouds that hovered over the lake's northern quarter like raging dragons. Even my Shield Stops Wind feat seemed not to help, though perhaps my faith was not at its strongest at that time.

My pauldrons of finest and most carefully enchanted iron were twice dented by jagged shards of marble or some other pale stone that pelted from the sky from no apparent source, and several less-well armored warriors took severe injury from this unprecedented source. No one was killed, however, by the mercy of Vinga... [TGS 87].

Commentary by Requiat: Note the references to the position of the storm over the northern part of the lake. Also note the rain of stone shards. The fact that this experienced devotee of Vinga could not affect the storm over the lake is particularly intriguing and shows the ineffectual nature of the god Orlanth.

Excerpt 2 (lines 120-156):

...Even to raise sail was an effort, but good Sir Varnous and his followers proved equal to the task, even though the knight's left hand and arm had taken awful damage from the squid's suckers and our faith was too sorely depleted for further healing efforts to be made. But our rest had made us ready for a final day's hunting. We wiped the stinking ink from our eyes and put back our battered helmets, ready for another trip into the depths of the stygian clouds. The sky continued to assault us with masses of earth and repulsive, squirming worms, some large enough to wrap themselves around one's body several times. Curse the luck, this last hunt yielded us no prey, for which the craven sailors were most thankful, and we sailed south at sunset with heavy heart for those brave ones who had gone to their gods without trophy or prize to show for their struggle... [TGS 86].

Commentary by Requiat: Observe the entry of the ship back into the storm clouds, and the presence of falling objects. Also note the direction sailed when the day's hunting was over: south. By this point in her expedition Neasha had come to the conclusion that the most worthy monsters were to be encountered wherever the weather was worst on the lake, usually to the north by her observations. As a worsipper of the barbarian storm gods, Neasha naturally felt no hesitation in sending her ship and followers into the heart of the raging thunderstorm. Neasha's expedition arrived at the lake during Sea Season, a period when most of the Dragon Pass region experiences mild weather and gentle rains. Clearly this does not extend to Skyfall Lake.

Excerpt 3 (lines 240-246):

...The foolish trolls were all about us this morning, bellowing in fear while priests performed hasty rituals. Even though the trolls are usually snoring at this hour of the day, the crisis was such as to galvanize even them into action. The black and gloomy storm clouds had moved over the town, shrouding the morning light, and the usual pestilent offal was pelting the trolls' crude shacks unmercifully. Several structures were flattened or buried by masses of coiling green eels, to the amusement of many of our warriors. Lightning flashed occasionally, to the great dislike of the masses of trollkin milling about the docks. Praise the lord of storms, cried I! We saw that today would be a great day, and set forth into the winds immediately with our hearts blustering to do battle with mighty Thog-don...[TGS 89].

Commentary by Requiat: Once more Neasha's ship entered the central part of the storm, which this time occurred in the northwest portion of the lake, moving away from Crabtown after a period of imprecisely defined but apparently brief duration. The hunters failed to meet with Thog-don, but ran into a being perhaps as fell. Observe the recurrent description of severe storms during days in which great monsters were encountered. Also note various debris described as falling from the sky. Both storms and falling debris are a sign that the passageway between the worlds has opened wide.

Excerpt 4 (lines 444-449):

...I was sore disappointed with our hunting this day, although weather was reasonably calm for once. While the rain continued, there was no storm front visible, nor any thunder or lighting. The rains of stinging insects and other annoyances were also absent, but a warrior soon learns to ignore these things once the hunt is on...[TGS 90].