Dear Journal,
We find ourselves again safely camping in the depths of the Luminous Body after a victorious celebration among the peoples of Big Root. Now that we have faced down and defeated a monster of inconceivable horror, the portal to Elwoz's homeland is closed, and we will depart for the Feywild after the others have slept.
We left our hosts in the morning to track down the spirit linked to Koba's sinister implement of bone. Pointed in the general direction of the boneyard, we trekked for many miles, leaving the swampland for a dusty and hilly stretch of arid land. Thankfully, this mostly barren landscape allowed Alyana's keen eyes to detect a large figure tearing across the earth in our direction.
Not too far ahead, we came upon a narrow ravine which was directly in the figure's path. We decided to take cover here and face whatever it was when it met us. Fortunately for us, Alyana was able to see that it was, in fact, the boneyard itself, raised up as a terrible monstrosity which slithered towards us at great speed. Surely this creature would have ravaged the people of Big Root had we not been there.
Diesa devised an ingenious plan of ambush for our foe. Talos laid traps at the bottom of the ravine made from explosive concoctions found after previous skirmishes. I beckoned to the land to send me a messenger with which I could trust a message of warning to the people of Big Root. From the dusty recessed spouted a curious little insect which Elwoz reverently referred to as the "panda mantis." I whispered to him a message to the people of Big Root, that they should take up arms and prepare themselves if we fail in our attempt to subdue the beast.
Through cooperation and a visit from the arcane and ghostly hand, we determined it was in our best interest to focus our divine energy upon the monster, and the ghastly bone totem Elwoz wielded would be of critical importance. It was evident that this was no natural beast, and that if incapacitated, would most likely rise up again if the magical energy within it was not extinguished.
So we lied in wait for the monster, hiding in nooks and sparse foliage until it caught itself up in our brilliant traps. We lashed out mercilessly against the monster, which shrieked and hissed with every volley of divine magic we assailed it with.
I should point out that I saw a nearby peacock strutting about before our ambush. I did not ignore the signs. This was an omen from The Divine. How right it was, too, for we cast spells and chanted incantations upon the beast which left lingering and debilitating effects upon it. We burned and prodded it while it swung its bony tendrils futilely at the angelic warrior I again summoned to battle beside us.
How desperately I wished to have Without here with us, to turn this undead abomination into a harmless fish or a bleating sheep for our amusement!
Before he struck the blow which laid the beast down into a bony pile, Elwoz held out the bone totem as his eyes rolled back and he spoke a curious riddle in a voice not his own.
As the beast dropped, his enormous skull still teemed with undead energy. We knew time was of the essence. After arguing for many moments, it was I which deciphered Elwoz's channeled riddle and, taking the totem myself, struck the skull in both of its eye sockets. With a chilling and defeated moan, the defiled presence receded, and a beautiful ring fell from the depths of the skull which Elwoz rightly claimed for felling the beast. The totem, too, he took, as the vile energy it held was also gone, and a new, primal magic within seemed to have awakened.
We returned to a shaken Big Root, which was expecting a terrible battle. The thankful people praised Elwoz as the rightful chief and savior of the region. It was as an act of celebration that Elwoz and Talos commemorated our success with tattoos from the tribe's master body-artists. After a night of feasting and song, a portal back to the Luminous Body appeared, beckoning us to return to our quest.
So now we rest, eager though I am to return to my homeland, that of the gentle Fey. It will be a warm and comforting feeling to be among my people once again, and to set foot in the grand city I was never able to visit. We are destined, no doubt, to meet some vile threat here, as the portal shows wicked creatures of the Feydark prowling the splendid streets of our most cherished city.
Whatever the threat, I am confident that the Divines, which have watched over us for so long, will bless us and ensure our victory.
