Some days, everything happens.
It feels as though months have passed this day. Which is funny, that happened to us some time ago. I'm maybe five years older than I should be. Or five years younger? I guess it depends on how you look at it. But it was only months we were gone for that time, while it passed a single moment for us. We were lucky fate had not taken more from us. I will die five years earlier, won't I? Or maybe not, this is dangerous business.
The nycoloth. I don't remember well what happened with the nycoloth, but I think we got some information from it before it escaped. The guards who wielded tridents were yugoloths in disguise. A servant of Khosla was an arcanaloth in disguise. Khosla was under a spell, and her strings were pulled by the yugoloths. We were transported to the estate of the old Muharam house, which had become a base for the yugoloths. One particular fellow with questionable fashion decisions and one large arm called himself "the Broker," and we broke him. That is to say, we killed the leader of the yugoloths, himself a yugoloth. I had almost given up hope and given Szhezeyil a pitiful death, so that he would not suffer the yugoloths' torture anymore, as he was the only thing keeping us from fighting and I could not imagine us escaping with Szhezeyil in hand. It was Lodak's and Vimak's surprise attack from beneath the floorboards — or perhaps they were invisible, it is hard to recall — that spurred us into action and saved Szhezeyil. We escaped an endless hoarde of yugoloths, who chased us through the manor and through the trees. If we had failed, faltered, we would've been swarmed in a sea of fiends.
I think it was next when we recieved permission to investigate the deeper parts of the pyramid, to ensure the Heart of the Oasis was secure. As it turns out, it was not. As a matter of act, it was gone. With clues we had gathered on our way, we figured that it was Marquis Darini, risen from his grave as a twisted undead, who stole the heart. We ventured deeper, meeting many traps, as well as a kind soul twisted for his misdeeds. His skin seemed to contain the stars, his face was a maw of teeth and annihilation, and he was prone to violence. The slightest trigger of a trap could set him upon us once more. He was taller than a horse and as gangly as a stickbug. His memory had been concealed and his pain was tremendous. We named him Quake, and we love him very much. I would like him on the farm, next we meet him. Oh no. We left him beneath the city.
I am distracted by the festivities today. Well, "today." Dear, this day does feel like many. It is the first day of elections, in spite of it all.
We eventually met with Darini and his hydra, Hjiffnjaal. We had made it to the deepest part of the cave system beneath the pyramid, where water pooled and a stone structure called a "ziggurat" stood. Upon the ziggurat was the Heart, chained and under attack. We barely made it alive. We tore apart Darini first, while Hjifnjaal tore us apart. With what little fire magic we had, we kept Hjifnjaal from regenerating too many heads and finished him off. Even in their undead states, they cared for one-another. I prayed that Melora saw mercy upon them. I think Melora responded positively. I appreciate Melora, mother of my own deity Ehlonna. They seem to be kindred souls, as well as kindred blood.
We returned to the surface, after spewing from the side of Al Mipidem. General Ramashradan has allowed us a time's rest when we returned the Heart intact, and what scars it did hold were healed. Vimak escaped captivity, and I think I forgot to mention that he committed some heinous act or was revealed to have done such, I am having trouble recalling. On his way out, he assasulted Szhezeyil, who has recieved a mechanical heart from Alexander as Lo-dak had.
We now rest at the Spotless Peacock once more, and I feel like what I imagine drunkeness is. My entire body aches, most of all my tail, which had been tugged on by the entire falling weight of Lindsey. I believe it will be some time before my tail returns to normal, if it does. Albeit, the word "normal" has lost meaning with me. I wonder what "normal" might've been, had I taken another path in life. I find no answers to my wonder. Perhaps some time among "normal" may grant me clues. I have little time to spare. I must find the city for Szhezeyil. We. We must find the city.
For now, I celebrate with the loxodon, for my oath of the ancients demands that I be the light. I will enjoy my time here. My light shall shine.
It is with faith that I stand, and it is for light that I rise.
2nd of Quersaar, 942 PED
