After a fortnight we have arrived. I was immediately approached by the sheikh, but I waved him off the way you would a fly from your brow. Go back to your riches and wine you clod. It is clear your wisdom is lacking; idle pleasures do not yield such accomplishment.

The people of this coastal township are oddly dressed; their tongue is strange to me. Why have we come here Cain? The unyielding sun will drive us mad.

This post was edited by PatheiMathos on May 3 2016 12:07pm

These two dwellings were empty, and with a quick word and but a handful of gold to one of the merchants; we're paid up for at least one moon. The laws here are strange and a maiden is not allowed in my quarters. This kind of foolish, feigned chivalry most certainly only conceals a deeper lack of will.

I was merely inspecting the pottery in this tavern; the barkeep seemed upset with me. Though after we exchanged some introductions, she suddenly broke down. I have known the pain of loss.

I already have qualms about the surface of this "jewel" in the desert, but now I know that I will have to go into the sewers to find Atma's kin. I think I shall have some drink.

Greiz, even his name sounds of lechery. The fool offered me the service of one of his soldiers in exchange for Abhaya as his concubine. I thought of simply splitting his skull where he stood. Instead I held my anger, saying that if he so much as glanced in her direction with his leery eyes, the buzzards outside the gate would feast on them with haste.

Burning sun above, archers of fire below. This passage for the dockworkers let us escape the stench for a short while; now, we shall return and descend at our own peril.

My steel pierced his armor so deeply that he began to flee, there is no escape from the hands of vengeance.

I also discovered that this whole realm must contain these gateways; increasingly it is becoming difficult to reconcile the peculiarities here. Dreams have been less strange than this kind of sorcery.

There is another blacksmith here, and again a woman. Are the men here too lazy to tend a furnace? I gave her some stones and odds and ends for her work. She seemed pleased and spoke about their worth and various qualities; I suppose in an attempt to make the trade fair.

I do not care for such idle talk; as I left I told her that I would bring more plunder from the demons into these walls than they can contain.

We returned in haste, just as I thought this putrid hole had come to and end. I heard the lashing tongue of a great serpent in the gloom beyond. I suddenly had a flash of memory, of riding great serpents into the night, eyes ablaze.

Poison, it is fitting that this old viper will perish by his own hatred.

He stood easily twice as tall as his minions. A great deal of wisdom can flow from slaying ancient serpent masters. Your journey ends here, powerful though you were.

Well spoken Atma, I did not dare confide the tortures that I knew her blood born had likely suffered in the muck. I only hope to find more serpents like this, so that they may suffer as greatly.