Situation Report Thirty Six

General Summary

How many days have we been here now? I'm listless. Tired. Unfocused. Fuck I hate Tarek-Nev. Nothing makes sense here. Everything is trying to kill us. Even the food tastes crap and I can't be arsed to eat any more. At least we still have a little Rewk left. We are still searching for Sylke. Yesterday we explored an ancient massive arena - was it yesterday? Under the place were a few cells - and more of those Cay-damned demons - invisible bastards this time. Ugnan is pushing himself beyond his limits - he's looking grey. The new additions to the crew are very capable, but don't get the urgency of finding the last portal rod and pissing off. Under the arena we encounter a weird room with an dome-covered tiny island imprisoning a Hydra. A bloody Hydra! And some infernal puzzle with coloured switches. The crew worked out it was some 'colours-of-the-rainbow' shit and we opened the dome and rapidly beat the Hydra into a pulp. Amazing what you can do with some ancient artifact weapons, surprise and a bit of effort. Found what we needed and decided to try and get back to the gates to the city and signal our skyship. The walk back to the gate is nerve-wracking, with too many weird noises following our progress and sightings of dragons over the small archipelago to the South. We resolutely ignore any shit that seems illusory and finally exit through the massive demonic mouth to greater Aranmor again. As soon as we set foot off the island I feel proper knackered. Ugnan looks even worse, but perks right up after a swift prayer to his new god-friend Orgiana. Barely able to keep upright, I don't notice when we slump down around an impromptu campfire. New guys seem capable of keeping things safe. Sleep has never been more welcome. In the morning I discover that we had some prowlers near the camp. Fortunately I wasn't on guard or we would have had a right old ruckus. Got some scrag down, and feel a bit better, but is takes a bloody age to signal the ship. When it arrives we discover that we have been here much longer than we thought and have only a few days to find Sylke and extract the injured Cherry and Numal from the safe area in the palace. Back through the demonic gate we trudge towards the docks, aware that a ship for our pirate acquaintances would be handy. As we close in on the old waterfront area we hear a strange sea shanty spring up. Acor starts dancing along and we have to restrain him from dancing right into Jaysek knows what. More fuckery-dickery going on no doubt...