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[Morrow]

From the journal of K. Garnham Seeker. Translated from the Valossan

Some time has passed since my last entry. We have found ourselves on the Isle of Dread, our situations greatly changed by new magics.

Five days after escaping Journey's End we were beset by a storm more potent than the one that separated us from the Nixie. I have to confess that my stomach, not bothered by average sea travel, betrayed me and I rode out the worst part below decks.

The Dragon found itself stuck on the reefs near the Isle of Dread. The situation turned bleaker when a giant eel-creature leaped from the choppy waters and attacked the crew. We fought it off, but not before it killed first mate Wendt and crewwoman Lirith. Maggie managed to get us off the reefs by magically raising the water. Elyosha used her magic to warp-wood-patch the largest holes in the hold.

Despite expert sailing prowess and Maggie and Elyosha's magic we still ran aground a hundred yards from shore.

We awoke hours later on the beach.

The only confirmed survivors were the members of the Silver Beetles, Arliss, Avner, Avner's horse, Rowyn, Captain Venkalie, Urol, Tovey, Lyle Underfoot and Barnaby.

We were awake for only a few minutes when a t-rex burst out of the jungle and attacked Arliss. The beast swallowed Arliss whole before we had a chance to rescue him. We fought the monster,but Dexter didn't survive. I crawled down it's throat, but it was too late.

We killed the bastard and spent time searching for survivors and supplies. Elyosha used newly mastered magic to reincarnate Dexter.

It was so strange watching his flesh both heal and...warp at the same time. After several minutes Dexter's hair and skin looked healthy, but he had lost a fair amount of weight. A few minutes more and it became obvious that Dexter's new flesh would be Dwarven. There was a brief moment that I thought I was going to have a sister, but the flesh coalesced into a male dwarf. He still had the birth mark on the back of his hand.

Dexter has taken his new situation well. I think he's a little disappointed that he didn't come back as something more exotic. I'm slowly getting used to his new face.

We spent the night healing. Elyosha took the opportunity to summon a new animal companion, a sun bear that she named Medvedya.

Rowyn has agreed to behave as long as her life is dependent on our mutual survival.

In the night we were attacked by a pack of terror birds and lost Lyle Underfoot.

The next day Maggie cast a spell and sent a message to Lavinia.

Lavinia is alive and well and in Farshore.

Urol estimated that we were about 10 days away from Farshore. We set out that morning for Farshore and Lavinia.

The day passed relatively quietly. Elyosha used her wilderness skills to avoid the worst of the jungle. We avoided a confrontation with half a dozen terror birds hunting a baby dinosaur.

The next day we caught sight of ancient Ohlman ruins. I'm curious about what we'll find there. We have the magical golden bat idol from the other Ohlman ruins. Elyosha identified it as some sort of magical key. I wonder if the lock is somewhere here on the Isle of Dread.

As we moved closer to the ruins we noticed layers and layers of cobwebs. We eventually came across an open air room with a stone throne. On the throne sat an ancient woman. Oddly enough, I caught the faint whiff of gingerbread in the air.

The old woman spoke to us in Sylvan which ELyosha translated.

She identified herself as Lithira and asked us about our purpose there.

We spoke with her a time. She told us that "four eyes have gazed upon you and his servants seek you out." She also gave us some practical advice for going through the mountains. She told us of an underground passage that would take us "safely" through the mountains. She warned of birds that nested outside the mouth of the passage.

With Lithira's warning we were prepared for the terror birds. Elyosha used her magics to hide herself and the castaways of the Dragon. The rest of the Beetles attacked and killed the terror birds.

We are now camping at the cave mouth.