We're leavin' shortly to check out the nearby tower... oh, Lilah also found a little card with a note on it that described the method of leavin' this place. Strange though, why would a priest need a cue card for his own religious ceremonies?

73) Back in Sigel. Back in Black Sails. In back room with Killraven and Lilah dividin' up the loot and havin' a few drinks. Its been a tough hour or so but thankfully, we ain't in the Elemental Plane of Fire anymore. Actually, very few people are in the plane now... and alive. Its not everyday I get to raze a fortress and honestly, this has to be my first. Somehow, I figured there would be a ship involved - too bad I was wrong.

After the temple, Cha-kan led us out the front door where we confronted some guards. We tried to fake it, but our disguises didn't cut it this time. They sounded a big gong and then all these archerers up on the roof started peltin' us with arrows. I plugged one of 'em with my crossbow and Cha-kan took another down. This was all on the way into the main tower - or at least what we thought was the main tower. They had the door bolted but Killraven crashed it open. When we got inside, we found out it was only a barracks - the loot we came for must have been inside the main buildin'. At this point, we barricaded the door and tried to make a stand. I was up on top where they had a fullsized ballista. Nice weapon. With Rogan's help, I was able to fire it a few times - but I'll get to that later.

While on top, we saw a huge man in plate mail armor came runnin' up along with a mage-like lookin' lady. There were of course, nearly two dozen guards - both human and hobgoblin that joined 'em. They all started assaultin' the door but the Captain and Killraven kept 'em at bay by pinnin' 'em down with Spears. Even Hugh was gettin' into the action with his Heavy Crossbow. Two interestin' thin's came up durin' the confrontation, the first was the small darts the Captain used. He pulled 'em out and didn't even throw 'em. Just let 'em sit on his hand while he commanded 'em to hit the mage. They did. Fun stuff. On the other size, Rogan boldly shouted out that there was no hope (to our enemies) and that the only choice they had was to flee. Half of the troops did. Amazin'. Well, we all started to think we might win when Killraven, the Captain and Rogan caught a mess of arrows. I even got buggered by one though it wasn't a very solid hit.

The Captain fired off his special darts and the mage went down though she told her stone golem to destroy the tower and all in it. Our predicament had gotten much worse. Rogan screamed out for me to shoot the sapphire (which we could still see through the temple window). The Captain said it might work. I hadn't really thought about it but it sounded like an alright idea. Don't know what I was thinkin' but I took a careful aim with the Ballista and fired it off. It slammed right through the window and took the gem straight on. There was a brief flash of orange and a strange but loud 'poppin'' sound from all around. The temperature shot up 20 degrees right away. Valas seems to think it was the powersource that protected the oasis. The troops all ran and we followed 'em. I went right over the wall, right behind the Captain. Everyone was in a full sprint though I stopped for a moment, rememberin' to loot, and snatched a pair of boots that looked valuable from the mage.

As I ran down the stairs, followin' everyone, I could feel the temperature risin'. When we got to a stone wall that all the guards (which we had been engaged in killin') were standin' around screamin' at, we knew we were in trouble. Lilah tried to open it but she couldn't and told everyone present we had to go to the other door and hope it was open. We ran. A lot. Lilah collapsed from the heat. Even Hugh went down. I think I was too scared to stop - knew I'd be fried fish if I did. I was able to drag Lilah with me and eventually plug her over my shoulder. Killraven snatched up Hugh like he was a piece of old cabbage. When we got to the other portal, we tried the other method of leavin' we had used to get in: red beads up the nose. That was the trick - Killraven led the charge and we popped back into the Mortuary, unharmed though nearly on fire. Only one of the guards was able to escape, much to my dismay. Bein' burned alive isn't a good way to go but at least it didn't last very long.

Rogan, the Captain and Valas stayed behind for a little bit and followed us out not more than five minutes later. They brought the Key with 'em - though I dunno where they found it. Cha-kan looked seriously sin'ed. Rogan and Valas looked a touch warm but otherwise fine. We've now split into two groups. The first is the "Lets-Find-Out-About-The-Guard-and-the-Key-and-Other-Information" while Killraven, Lilah and myself are in the "We-Can't-Believe-We-Survived-Better-Have-A-Drink" group. We've got a fair amount of the loot we get to divide up.

74) Lileh's herr. Dorrs lockeed. Thhankfelli. I'm stiilll dranker thane a tree-tines drowmed keelp... wiat... knew-bron kiteen. Yaeh. We hav lotts too dranke. Mor hten wuz godd for me. Way more taht iz. Lilahe and Kudruven dud puss mes too drank - new I shhoulld hav stopeed. I didn'nt. Lili buggeredd me 'bout sumtin', I thank my desqiuses n' somehoww shees fund oout 'bout htis magee curse thangi. She didnn't seeem veri phaused about it. Clyderuven togh, went ball-is-tick. He tought I'z sume kend off spook. Funni dat. Vase-ass is da spoooke. Bile-ah iz alsoo an spoook know. I thank Ro-gain iz an spoook to. KNow wayz anywon normul couulld hav survivived thatt heate inn da Fire Plane. Clyderaizen iz O.K. know wiht it 'cuz hes knows ittss an magee cuss and he too, iz cussd. Commn thang hes and I've. 'magine dat.

When da groop cam buckk, I wuz stiill consiuos - bearaly. I told 'em knot too mension annythang too anywon elze. Dey zaid theey wouldn'nt soo ass faire as itt sttands... err wobbllez, Robane n' da Capt'n don'nt knew. Yyet. Butter cutt downe onn hte drankin'. Heade iz gonna hurte tomorroorrow. Anywaz, da groop wunt'd the boots form mez dat I has swipeed. I sayz dey wuz myine but dey wunt'd too lookk at 'em. I droppped da Warshammerer I funde dhat looxed realley goud n' theey happiilly gave mez bucke da bootts. Vasal sez htey wood doo lev-it-tion. I've tryd dem onn butt dey don'nt seam too workk veri welll. Tthe bootts levitatatatated, butt the resssst off me didn'nt. I waz stux on da cielin' four awhilee ass weell unntil I turnrned 'em offff - but thenm I crashshed intoo da flour. Hurrt. Gonna hav a bruize ther ttoommoorrooww - of corse, I can'nt SEA da bruizess I knew I've. I'lll hav to x-per-ment wiht 'em whn I'm KNOT dranke. Maybee dat willz welp.

Lihal jusst furnished turkin' off hers weap-ons (n clothz). Mice bodys on 'er. Welll fromed 'cepting the tale n' allz. Shes had thus buddy suite on wiht 'bout few dozens knifes I thank, alls un varous hideen plices. Ass four 'er body itselfs, she's says she 'quiv-lant too 'bout sixtun or svntun hunam yaers. Yung and trym. Hupe I'z luuk dat goud when I'z gat dat ages. Bust I can figrue iz I'm thirtun on hunam yaers. Lyzahah had alssoo mentiouned that toadday iz da 6th day of the 6th Month in the yearr 127 of Factul Hashkar. Don'nt meann anythang too mez butt I caan att lesst flote bby day nnow. Az soone ass she's dune, thank I'lll pase uot in da tube. Az goud lonng soake wouud feels soooo goud.