Journal of Medi Eggamazes, Adventurer
16th of Granite, 1050
Armok is likely pleased with me. I wish I felt the same way.
We arrived atop a cliff with another cliff to our backs. We searched and found a giant rat, who was promptly slain. More and more giant rats, ratmen, and troglodytes came up from the valley below. I figured that the cave must lie below. I never got the chance to see if I was right. We cut a path through them, felling creature after creature, all the while only suffering the slightest of wounds ourselves.
Once we reached the valley floor, my drunken comrades went toward the east, driven by some unknown sixth sense that drunks seem to possess. We met more of the same creatures and ran headlong into their midst, beating down and cleaving aside all in sight. It was then that I noticed that Evan had gone missing, but there was no time to search for him now.
Amongst the cries of battle and the screams of the dying, I heard Mr. Toast and an iron man battling one another, and I didn't need to see the fight to know that Mr. Toast needed help. I looked about us and he was nowhere to be seen. I ran about trying to find him, but I never did. A loud smack and the triumphant shout of the iron man told me I was too late.
All of the sudden, the situation took a turn for the worst. From below the hill upon which we stood, someone announced themselves. It was the ettin! He tore up the hill at me. I knew I would need the help of the others to take him down. I ran back towards where my comrades were finishing off a troglodyte then stood to the side. The ettin came at the drunks and met them with his fists flying. I then leaped into the fray, desperately hacking and slashing at the ettin with my sword.
Once the ettin had been felled with no small amount of trouble, we went further east. There were some ratmen, giant rats, and a troglodyte or two that were trapped between us and a cliff. I chased a giant ran who had slipped by us while the others fought the rest. The giant rat got away, so I went back to help the others.
I reached the fray, but my bloodlust turned to horror as I heard the scream of Nozeri, who had fallen off the cliff. I rush to where he was fighting and found the giant rat who had pushed him over. I charged at the foul beast and killed him swiftly. I could see Nozeri at the bottom of the cliff, and it was clear that he was in bad shape.
I went back the way we had came so we could reach the bottom of the cliff. Imp was so horrified by the slaughter he just stood there, ignoring all instructions to follow. Confucius was injured in the fight with the ettin, and fell unconscious occasionally, but was in good enough shape to keep fighting. As we two walked back, I heard the screams of Nozeri and the shriek of giant rats. They had eaten him.
Just as I was nearly incapacitated with horror and grief, I heard the distant battle cry of Evan! Confucious left my side to kill the few remaining troglodytes and rats while I searched for our lost comrade. I ran about shouting his name, but there was no reply. All that could be heard was a violent scuffle and his triumphant cries as he felled foe after foe. My joy was short lived, however, as he was killed by a iron man while I franticly searched for him. As I turned back to rejoin Confucious, I heard Confucious die.
Wracked with despair I began to wander, when I was attacked by two iron men. Perhaps they were Evans killers! I met them in battle and won, but they wounded my leg in the process. I couldn't stand, so I hid myself in the tall grass as I crawled around collecting the statues of iron men. I then left for the town with my loot, but the promise of riches comforted me little.
[ January 12, 2008: Message edited by: Fenrir ]