As the Balach swamp exploded with fire and ash, revealing the minions of the Soulless God Muud, I knew what needed to be done. Sensing a disturbance within the dream realm at the heart of this issue, I prepared myself for the inevitable task ahead of me: Reaching the Sleeping Child. While the rest of the gathered masses ran around like children in a panic, attempting to slaughter the creatures of ash and inquiring from scholars, I just shook my head. Fools. Did they truly think killing a few lackeys is the solution? Thankfully there are some intelligent individuals on this world, else we'd have lost it long ago.

I journeyed forth to Magnagora, sweet, strong and all-powerful Magnagora, but not to its homes and avenues. No, I went to the sewers, for I knew this would lead me to the answers I sought. Ironic really, that to find the answers to one of the most disgusting of the Soulless, that I would have to make a journey through filth. Few would remember this technique, for as is common with mortals, information tends to fade away with time. I just had to keep walking and wait, just until He senses me. The eels down here try my patience, such nuisances. I'm not certain if they attack me out of desperation for food, or if they actually believe themselves capable of felling me.

There...is that..? Yes. The ground is churning beneath me, becoming soft and malleable, almost like a sand trap. He senses me. Go ahead Muud, consume me!

I vanished into darkness and when my senses came to, I found myself, quite literally, within the belly of the beast. A small smirk appeared on my lips, as I praised myself for the many secret passageways and entrances to lands unknown by most. I made it my duty to know as many as possible, for only through the collection of the secrets hidden in this world, can you find untapped power and potential. Ah, but I am distracting myself from my current mission, and must remain focused.

What a revolting location...although what could be expected when walking within a living organism. There are gargantuan parasites and other fleshy creatures known to inhabit living creatures everywhere. A leech like the soulless infected by parasites, the Irony! They are rather aggressive, and it is taking me some time to kill a single one alone...there are so many. I must move more quickly, or risk my mind slipping into complete madness, being in such close proximity to a Soulless. I can already feel His presence weighing down on my mind, like a suffocating pillow wrapping itself around my thoughts. The Soulless were made to unmake, I suppose it only makes sense that even when in a deep sleep, their presence can still continue their destined task.

As I was continuing through this disgusting gargantuan, I picked up on a presence. Curious, I let my thirdeye sense whom was nearby...especially in a place like this. Ah...it was an ascended mortal, Shedrin, from that annoying sparkling rock of a city, Hallifax. What was he doing down here? Likely he had the same idea as I. I suppose it isnt too farfetched a concept to imagine a Hallifaxian thinking. That is what they, apparently, pride themselves on after all. Hmm...he seems rather confused. Hah, this must be his first time in here. He'll likely perish soon...although, I could use one with such power. Hmm..yes, perhaps it is better he lived.

I relayed a telepathic message to him, informing him of how to proceed to get to my location, he did so and arrived as I was fending off another parasite. His hands glowed with a divine light, as globes of power formed around them. Thrusting his hand forward, he shot it in my direction. I had but a moment to even blink, as I traced the path the projectile was taking, it barely missed my shoulder as it smacked into the parasite, leaving a gaping singed hole. The parasite shrieked in agony, as a foul fluid poured forth from the wound, but before it could contemplate its soon to be death, another globe struck it and it collapsed a burnt mess.

Nodding in his direction, he continued forward, dismissing my presence, and rushing to destroy more of the parasites. How like a mortal that has been influenced by too much power. I allowed him to continue his fun, as he cleared a path ahead. I went and pushed the respective boils that would open up the passages needed to continue. This was naturally not my first time in this maze. We came up to a large grouping of parasites. Ah...we're getting closer, things will be getting much bloodier. Rather than let the ascended rush to his death, I informed him of what was ahead. What a humble being I can be. We agreed we'd need to join forces to clear the group, and we did so swiftly with minimal damage.

Continuing forward, I sensed another presence, some unimportant fool it seems. I couldnt care less about him, but it seems the ascended stopped. He said a friend of his was coming, I had to contain myself from rolling my eyes. We cant waste time on such stupidity, does he not feel his mind slipping away under the presence of Muud? Fool. His friend appeared, some warrior-type, shining armor and sword. I nodded swiftly and mentioned we need to carry on. I opened up another passage, and we were met with new foes, stronger guardians. Naturally the 'friends' rushed forward to take them, this time I didnt hide my disapproval and rolled my eyes quite obviously. Utilizing the dark powers inherited to me through the great Taint, I shed my corporeal form and entered my ghost form. I was untouchable.

I continued on through Muud, but I knew I'd have to return to my physical form soon. I needed to open the passageways...and my already weakened mind could not handle holding me in this state for too long. I returned to the physical in a safe sequestered 'corner', catching my breath. I let my senses spread out, sensing the other two still at the location I left them, likely fending off the waves. I continued forward, pushing the boils needed that triggers the shifting of openings, until I finally got it right. The last section was revealed...and I knew, this was the most dangerous.

I snuck within and peered forward, seeing that which even sent a chill down my own undead spine. A new enemy, a powerful protector in this land that few could handle, large and bulbous flesh, tentacles waving about aimlessly. I knew it was now or never and I went incorporeal once again, sneaking away to the boil that needed pushing...yet a guard stood right at its location. Damn it all to Nil! They have countered me, I'll have to try to rush in...as if with some merian bravado. I prepared myself...and dashed forward, they immediately sensed me and rushed forward, tentacles waving. I dashed forth and pushed the boil. Victory!..yet with a price, I knew. The creatures surrounded me, and I began to dash again, but I knew they would follow me to the end of this fleshy land. I closed my eyes and prepared for the inevitable outcome. One of them came forward, wrapping its tentacle around my throat and lifting me up like some common rag doll. Its squeeze intensified and I felt my head was about to explode. Another tentacle lunged forward with god-like speed and thrust itself through my sternum. I coughed up blood as darkness began to consume me, but couldnt help but smile. Fools.

They believed me done and their attention turned elsewhere. My spirit laughed, they underestimated the powers of the Taint. Dark-fire surrounded my body, stitching it up anew, as a dark power coursed through me. Did they truly think I would be so unprepared? You can never kill a lich! I rose up once again, reformed, and rushed away. I waited aside, near the entrance to this section, as the ascended and his warrior friend arrived. They seemed surprised to see me, hah, they probably sensed my death and assumed I was done. Typical mortal shortsightedness. I informed them of what is ahead and its strength. They understood and formed a quick alliance with me to rid ourselves of these creatures. Though I wasnt one for the mindless brute-force plans, I knew there were few other options.

We rushed in, catching them by surprise. I can just imagine their shock at seeing me standing after such a fatal blow. The warrior went in, sword swinging, trying to focus all the attention on himself, im sure he wont be missed. I stood back and focused upon the power of the Nil, firing blasts of dark-fire at the creatures. Vengeance. I'll sadly admit the ascended was doing the most damage with those damn globes of His. Perhaps one day I can get such rare power...if it wasnt so dependent upon a damn city to choose you, bah! Lost in my thoughts, I barely had time to dodge the lashing tentacle at me, as I countered it with a quick chant, making the appendage shrivel and decay. The warrior was actually still alive, slicing this and that, it seems we were winning. One of the guardians was down, that left one to go. The ascended was near glowing with power, as he fired blast after blast at the creatures. I barely recognized it after He was done.

We continued forward till we were only a room away from our goal...the reason we even came to this fleshy land. We looked ahead..and saw more of the monstrosities, a group gathered. For once, the other two acknowledged brute force would not work here. The ascended looked in my direction and informed me to use my 'ghost power' to sneak past them. Rather than correct him, I agreed and snuck past, finding my way to before the entrance to the cocoon, I sent a telepathic message that the cost was clear and the ascended sent aetheric tethers to my location, which I wrapped around myself and allowed him and his comrade to teleport to my location. We walked in and came to our goal: The Sleeping Child.

It was rather comical to think that in all this disgusting and retched land, that something so pure existed at its heart. The child goddess was small, still a toddler by the looks of it, wrapped in her long flowing hair, as if a blanket. She was surrounded by a powerful aura-like bubble, and I knew its dark purpose and how this child was delivered the cruel fate she holds. A distraction used to force Muud into a deep sleep, holding onto to her forever.

I greeted the child, hoping for some response, she seemed aware of our presence. I couldnt help but feel some..affection towards her...perhaps it was guilt at the fate she was dealt. She responded to us...a voice echoing within the cavern "The monster invades the dream...stop him". We asked how and she simply said "Help my friends, the Keepers of the Dream". I had no recollection of such a group or cult, and I considered myself quite knowledgeable about the land, before I could discuss this new revelation with the other two, the child shuddered and said one last ominous word: "Run".

We glanced at one another, not sure what to do. We had made this tiresome journey to the center of this beast for answers...and we had not received nearly enough. Should we run? I was staunchly against it. Before we could make up our mind, three monstrous tentacled guardians made their way to us. I was ready to fight, but the warrior rushed off. Coward! Some warrior! The ascended did what he could, firing blasts, but the tentacles wrapped around him, pulling him down. He continued to thrash as they stripped his flesh hungrily. I knew there was nothing I could do for him, and that he would likely reform in the divine havens after, so I entered the incorporeal once again.

I snuck down and began to make my way through the passages we had made. Most consider entering the body of Muud as a one-way ticket, in which the only way to escape was death. Naturally I knew of a more sensible way, of an exit that would return me to the prime world...admittedly deep underground, but it is better than nothing. I sensed the death of the ascended one and knew the guards would seek the rest of us out now, I hastened my pace. I couldnt see that cowardly warrior anywhere, did he make it so far ahead? I doubt he even knew where he was going and was likely running in a blind panic. My mind and body began to give way, and I knew I couldnt remain incorporeal any longer and had to return to the physical. As I did so, I sensed another death, the warrior was found and consumed, serves him right, but this means that im the last one left.

I rushed forward, running past other lesser guardians that gave chase. No, I will not fall! I saw the passage up ahead, tucked away, unnoticeable by most, yes, salvation! I tripped on something...blast it all to Nil. Looking behind me to see what had stopped me, I found my leg entangled within a tentacle. No! These damn creatures knew no rest. It began to pull me back as I clawed at the fleshy surface beneath me in a panic. I must fight, so close, you will not win Muud! I turned around and grasped at the tentacle, channeling all the death energy I could. The appendage began to shrivel and rot, losing its grip as the creature shrieked from one of its many mouths in agony, its other tentacle lashed forward, piercing my heart. I dived towards the opening ahead, a mystical portal that near none knew of but one such as I, as I did so, I felt myself consumed by a light. Opening my eyes, I found myself within the Undervault, beneath the Basin. I looked at the gaping wound in my chest where my heart should be and laughed. Fools actually think it still beats to begin with? I applied the necessary salves to heal it and laid where I was. I'll return to beloved Magnagora to report...soon, but for now...even a lich needs some rest.