Guild Report #447

Krell Ironbound

Denieran Dwarf Fighter of the Shield 25

Adventurer-Scholar of Grymforge

Associate of the Adventurer's Guild of Denier

5E, 127

Incident Report: Copperhold Expedition

On the 14th day of the 9th month of 5E, 127, my party of six entered the abandoned mining settlement of Copperhill to assess dungeon activity following reports of increased monster presence in the region. Within Copperhold, the dungeon in Copperhill, we encountered a fully-formed rat king on the second sublevel at approximately mid-afternoon. This creature had developed from a colony of skitterslinks that had inhabited the dungeon floor without culling for an estimated thirty months, based on intel gathered from the locals.

Observations: The specimen's regeneration presented our greatest tactical challenge. Throughout the engagement, the core actively absorbed nearby skitterslinks, subsuming them into its mass regardless of their apparent resistance. I observed the wills of these creatures overcome instantly upon contact with the core's fleshy tendrils. Their life force visibly drained into the central mass, healing the core at the expense of the extremities.

The creature possessed rudimentary speech capabilities and engaged in basic tactical thinking, attempting to position itself between our party and potential escape routes. It demonstrated awareness of our formations and deliberately targeted our spellcasters. When conventional weapons proved ineffective against its regenerative capabilities, we were forced to rely heavily on divine magic.

Losses: I must note with deep regret that four guild members were lost during this engagement: Brother Matthias, Sera Brightblade, Marcus the Bold, and Junior Scout Tommen Greeves. They died bravely, holding the line while our cleric prepared his final spell. Their sacrifice should not be in vain.

Threat Assessment: Based on this encounter, I must emphasize that composite beings should be considered boss-tier entities requiring parties of experienced adventurers, preferably with dedicated divine magic support. Standard tactics of attrition will likely fail due to their regenerative absorption capabilities.

Any dungeon capable of producing composites likely harbors deeper, more dangerous aberrations on lower levels when such levels are present. Likewise, adventurers should assume the entire floor has become significantly more dangerous, as ambient mana saturation affects all inhabitants. In our case, even standard skitterslinks demonstrated unusual aggression and coordination. Extreme caution is advised.

Threat level: A.

Recommended Combat Strategy: Holy magic proved exceptionally effective, as purification spells appear target the unnatural binding magic directly. Parties should not attempt encounters against composite monstrosities without at least one practitioner of divine magic, preferably of journeyman rank or higher.

Being divine magic, my recommended approach involves severing limbs from the core while preventing access to additional creatures, establishing a defensive perimeter to block reinforcements, focusing damage on the central core once sufficient limbs are removed, and maintaining constant pressure to prevent regeneration cycles.

Concerns: The presence of a composite entity in Copperhold indicates a disturbing pattern in this region. Within a hundred-mile radius, we now have three confirmed dungeons showing signs of accelerated corruption: Copperhold, Embermist Keep, and the Bowels of Galden. Considering this region was where the Scion's War ended, it is imperative that we establish a more permanent presence here. Without constant monitoring and expeditions, I believe this region will be overrun in time.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Recommendation: The Adventurer's Guild, with the seal of the Duchess of Calvareth, should petition the Temple of Light, encouraging them to build a temple in between the three active dungeons in the region. Their presence would do much to quell the risks to the citizens of Calvareth. Likewise, chapters of the Adventurer's Guild should be established in Llyn and Galden.

The cost of establishing such an outpost is significant, but far less than the cost in lives if these dungeons continue their current trajectory. The four guild members we lost in Copperhold are but the first of many if we do not act decisively.

Respectfully submitted,

Krell Ironbound

Act Three Character Sheets

Alex Clark, American Human Fighter of the Shield 37

The Iron Sentinel, Hero of the Pit

Attributes

Strength: 44+5

Resilience: 56+5

Agility: 31+5

Power: 21

Will: 43

Equipment

[Myrshale Armor]

[Impregnability III]

[Myrshale Helm]

[Hawk Eyes]

[Knight's Shield]

[Blade Seeker I]

Skills

[Iron Skin]

[Intercept]

[Provoke]

[Second Wind]

[Shield Throw]

Talents

[Adaptable]

[Grit]

[Paragon]

[Rampart]

[Touched by the Dark Lord]

[Unbreakable]

[United We Stand]

Quests

[The Alchemist of Galden]

[A Knife in the Dark]

[Find The Blacksmith at the Edge of the Depths]

Tasks

American (1

★)

: [Lead the Free]

Fighter (9

★):

[A Good Fight]

Guardian (1

★) [Protect the Weak]

Human (0

★)

: [Jack of All Trades]

Shield (11

★)

: [In Enduring, Grow Strong]

Na-Tristan, Groveborn Human Acolyte of the Tower 18

Never-Miss Tris

Attributes

Strength: 21

Resilience: 23

Agility: 28

Power: 32

Will: 29

Skills

[Barrier]

[Bless]

[Healing Light]

[Holy Light]

Spells

1st Circle

[Cure Poison]

[Cure Disease]

[Protection from Disease]

4th Circle

[Purification]

Talents

[Adaptable]

[Fey Senses]

[Light Touched]

[Sense Life]

[Wind's Whisper]

Tasks

Acolyte (7★): [A Light in the Dark]

Elf (1★): [Timeless Connection]

Groveborn (1★): [Nature's Whisper]

Human (1★): [Jack of All Trades]

Tower (4★): [Bring Light to the Land]

Quests

[The Alchemist of Galden]

[A Knife in the Dark]

[Find The Blacksmith at the Edge of the Depths]

Vral Tu'Vigh, ??

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