My most esteemed Captain,

I trust that you are well, and that this letter finds you in good health. I am reasonably well, and write to you from a place known to the locals as Scorpion Rock. It is a large hill that in the setting sunlight, does bear some resemblance to that creature, with a dark altar in front of a narrow opening.

There are signs that this altar has been used to make human sacrifices. Hakim, who is knowledgeable about such things, identified the signs as belonging to Lamashtu. The name means little to me, I confess, but many of the bones belong to children and mere infants. Hearing from desert dervishes that our answers lay within, we entered the cave.

Within, we came across a great beast of a creature. It was fully the size of an ox, and stank like a corpse. Most remarkable, while shaped in aspect like a man, it had the head of a great jackal. We were most surprised when it lumbered to life. It was amazingly strong, but my companions and I were able to defeat such a creature. I send you what poor images I can create, along with a more detailed description of the creature, in the hopes that other Pathfinders will be forewarned of such dangers.

We believe that more dervishes lie deeper within, but they have shown themselves to unimpressive thus far. They probably use tales of scorpions to frighten away the superstitious villagers.

In return, I ask if the Pathfinders have any knowledge of King Shishak, who parted the river of serpents, or his brother? We may be facing their ancient enemies soon, or their descendants. Success would allow me to repay your generosity with greater haste.