Date: ERROR [Custom Entry: LD+25, evening]
Author: Deidre Hann [transcribed]

Augustus and Cigi are home. The return to the cave was met with hostilities by the local fauna. A large insectoid creature with acidic blood had dragged the bodies of A. and C. through a hole which revealed an ancient series of mineshafts, which appear to have been trapped behind a collapsed section (the area the ogre inhabited). It is now clearly evident that a prior sapient species has existed on this planet. Lyra, Pixel, and Jeran managed to subdue the creature and brought the bodies back to the entrance.

I haven’t had a chance to look at the mining equipment, but Pixel secured samples and Lyra described stone and wood tools, indicating an estimated time range of 200 or so years. Lyra also described humanoid skeletons near a hole, presumably the insect’s home. These were bleached white and difficult to tell the age from. Also in this room were two veins of a green crystal, which Pixel also sampled. We are waiting for results.

Lyra also described a mosaic on the floor of a separate chamber, which was likely used by these people as a home or place of rest while working. The mosaic had a bird-like creature within it. We still have questions—why were these people mining iron ore with stone tools, for example—but those in the colony who have backgrounds in anthropology are extremely eager to get into that mine, to say the least.

In truth, it would be better if Lyra herself had written this log, but she seemed somewhat … disturbed by the previous few days of events and was very reserved during our trip back. It seemed she had a kinship to Augustus at least (she called him “Gus”), and perhaps has become unsettled by seeing him die in such a gruesome way. I do not blame her. It seems we are going to need a lot more time to settle into this new world, potentially with indigenous inhabitants.

END REPORT