Today I saw one of the more shocking things that I've had the misfortune
to see in quite some time. While doing a bit of exploring in the
Guardians' house estate during a Shadowsnake-led raid, I came across a
strange archway sitting in an office. I held my breath, and stepped
through. As I emerged, I found myself trapped in a swirling tornado. The
sounds of weapons clattered above my head, and suddenly an arrow pierced
the winds and struck my arm. As I bled, my surroundings faded red and
then black. I awoke to find myself in a strange hallway. On one side,
there was a doorknob with no door, and on the other wall, a strange
tile. I turned the knob, and was taken to a dank dungeon.

It was in this dungeon that I made my terrifying discovery. I could feel
the palpable dread in the air, and my attention was quickly drawn to the
sound of tortured screams nearby. They were followed by a deep laughter,
and then, a voice entirely devoid of compassion said, "this is a
dungeon, used to housing such misery."

As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I turned to see a thin old man
chained to the wall behind me. I shut my eyes, trying to escape the
horrors before them, but they snapped open as a horrible whip crack
pierced the air, followed by a painful whimper from the old man. I
watched as a dark figure struck the man again, and by the marks on his
back, it was clear he'd been struck many times before.

I'll never forget the look of that figure. It (I couldn't deduce a
gender) was cloaked in a blackness, a blackness that could've been robes
or mere shadows. There was an aura of darkest evil surrounding it. A
pain shot through my core as I peered into its eyes, which were aglow
with a deep, piercing red.

Before I could gather my wits and attempt to save this poor old man, I
was choked to the death by Kotori, and presumably other Shallamese.

Our ensuing efforts to return and free the man were met with resistance
from the Shallamese. Despite coming very close on multiple attempts, we
have been unable to secure his rescue.

-Tiax Drac'Kal

Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Aeguary, in the year 470 AF.