From my own archives, I have dug up a collection of moments to share with you! As far as I can tell, the book is continuing to write itself, words and concepts injecting themselves into the pages. The origin of this tome itself is beyond me, and this library of mine is far older than myself. This is just as much a journey for me as it is for you. The opening passages have been torn out, although the latter half of the book seems largely untouched by age or wear.
I haven't yet deciphered everything, but I shall attempt to regail you with its innards.
In pursuit of some unkowable meaning, a collective delves into the Labyrinth below. Vast and infinite, it spreads thickly into the crust of our now accursed Earth. Its maw welcomes them gently, into cold red slumber.
The first, a small yet spry man wreathed in leather binds and regret. The second, a man of God chiefly donning his black suit. The third, a timid yet skillful cybernetic seeker of otherworldly power. And the fourth, a one-armed stout warrior of steel and fire.
--Now it appears as though these individuals had made a wager between each other, although the details of this wager are beyond me. It seems as though they are seeking some kind of mystery or solution to a puzzle, wherever they might be? As far as I'm aware, there's no labyrinth or big maze under our feet, and numerous times in this text it describes the "timid one" as casting magic and other wizardly things. Practices such as these are uncommon in the real world, however the description of them being "cybernetic" is accurate.
Harrowed by the beast of terror borne of unnatural animation, their curiosities are satisfied as they uncover a metal cage. Within a concrete pit, a small orb of glowing light hangs from the chasse. It falls with grace into the abyss below, carrying their haggard forms. One says to the other, "I've seen these. An apparatus, although from which world is beyond me."
They drop deeper and deeper, until the cage comes to a screeching halt and they stare out into halls, laden with smoke and fog. Within the proceedings they discover a monk of unusual proclivities. He sits aloft a pile of bricks, his silhouetted form ringed by the red veins and flesh of Oraiza, bulging through the cracks in the stone walls.
--I am unfamiliar with who, what, why or how "Oraiza" is, and despite all of my searching, there is no god or deity associated with this name or any similar to it.
The man warns them of coming fear and blood. Water will rise and razors will bloom, vicious animations of rage and undeath. He warns them not to be pulled over, and not to be torn asunder. They take his advice, and continue forth, crawling on their bellies through tight crawlways of moisture and mist
Soon they are faced with the frigid waterfall flowing from high above them, the pale blue light of chambers high barely reaching their pallid faces. The Mad Blackguard is nowhere to be found, and must have been swept away by the deep rivers of water.
--There is no earlier mention of any "Mad Blackguards" before this passage, although I believe he must have been a past character. Perhaps he fell down here from some higher precipice or something? The text seems to imply that they knew of the waterfall from previous floors perhaps.
Soon, their peace is disrupted. Shrieks and high pitched scraping rips through their senses. Skull Raptors were upon them, larger than before. The Bravierre steps forth first, swinging his axe wildly at his prey. The Priest assists, whispering blessed ears into the vapor of life. The Cutthroat flings bolts and daggers, perforating his targets. The Surveyor stands back, returning the beasts to their watery form with scripts of water and heat.
They fight valiantly, but the largest of their foes stands tall amongst the crowd, cleaving through their efforts. Swift, like a dragon, it slices the Bravierre nearly in twain. His life only barely clinging on to scraps. The Surveyor, caught and dragged into the inky blackness below, never to be seen again. The Priest, so close to victory, gripped by a dying beast and rended, his insides turned outwards. The unscathed soul stands, awash with shock and terror. His cohorts dead or dying. He rushes to the aide of the Bravierre, and is barely fast enough to save his being. The other two, far beyond repair, were left behind.
Past the watery graves of the Skull Raptors lay a tower, scaling infinitely high and infinitely low. Wordlessly, the two remaining heroes step deeper, and yet deeper. Solemn be their work and sorrowful be the work of Devils, ye hopeless souls!
--This was about as far as I got before I began to feel the sting of hunger and the yearning for celestia. I paused my work, and lay it now in front of you, for your own enjoyment. Perhaps yet some day more of this journey may be unearthed.