As we had all quietly suspected, Melchris' interests were not mercantile. He was an agent of Iuz, or perhaps he fancied he would be, once he handed the Old One this accursed crown. Even wielding the artifact's demonic powers, he was not our equal. I rather believe he was pursuing delusions of grandeur, and the Old One would have sent a more capable minion.
It matters not. We now find ourselves trapped in this testament to slaughter, some twisted, labyrinthine temple where the few tortured the many. It makes my blood boil. Yet, boiling blood will not free us. And what when we do escape? Would the ship have stayed? Could we hope to find it? That avenue seems bleak. My only hope is their genuine appreciation when we saved them; perhaps it sill spur them to be steadfast.
Our only other hope is this scroll. Its magic is clear to several of us, but its potency is beyond our skills. Using it is to risk destroying it, but I suppose we would then be no worse off. We must escape the labyrinth in any event; it is warded against the scroll's powers.