Entry 10

  Had a message for me from Lord Mage at the inn. He wants me to come see him at his fort. I sent a messenger to tell him I'm back in town and I'll come by in a day or two. Then I went to see Fiara. That was three days ago.

  The lordling wants me to go to another ancient ruin. Elven built. Apparently the doors can only be opened on the summer solstice. He said it was a solar calendar or something but there's no sun in the deadlands. He said it won't matter. He gave me an orange gem that's as big as my fist. It glows like a bright fire, but doesn’t give off any heat.

  And just like that I’m off. Ohh I also got myself a magic torch. It's not real fire, it can be turned on and off. Now I don't have to pack seven hundred torches. Bought a new horse. New boots, again. Some nice tasting booze and a few books to bring with me.

  Crossing the desert in the summer. Usually I just travel along the edge of the desert, but where this ruin is located I need to cross it to make the solstice in time. I saw a glimpse of Gal’Nanir, which couldn't have been a mirage since I can't get dehydrated. Only been there twice, both times on a kill mission with no time to sight see. Just get in, find your target, take them out and then get the fuck out before anyone notices the dead body. Maybe I should double back?

  I did. I spent a week galavanting around, looking at the fancy elven buildings and statues, so many statues everywhere. The most beautiful were the fountains and the flower vines growing on the walls and columns. Can’t understand them, only some speak old Lorian. Mostly at inns or shops. I couldn't believe that the city so famous for its beauty and crazy parties had no brothels. Sold my horse. I’m glad I turned around even if I'm gonna be late. Can always try next year. Syrus won’t be happy but what is he gonna do?

  Entry 11

  I walked for three weeks straight. Then I lost track of how much time passed once I entered the darkness. I wasn’t late or if I was it didn’t matter the glowing orange gem worked and the door opened. I need new boots again.

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  Well I got in. Not sure how I’m gonna get back out the door shut closed on me. Found the scrolls I was sent here for. These have to be magical, they don’t look ancient. Not sure how much time has passed, could be a day or two could be a month. No daylight in the deadlands and no light in the corridors, except for my magic torch. I’m stuck in this ruin and I can't even remember what they’re called. Something elven.

  Found a door. Trying to find a way to open it.

  Entry 12

  FUCK I MISSED THE FRESH AIR. Not that I need to breathe. I think its still summer it’s really fucking hot. Took a while but I busted through that door. Whoever crafted my weapons will hate me for what I’ve done to them. The room was full of poisonous snakes. That hatched and grew to full size the moment I stepped inside. Hundreds of snakes. I fucked the fuck out of the room waited a while but not a single one left the room. In the middle of the room there was a key chained to the ceiling. Eventually I danced my way through the snakes and got the key just as a fucking black head bit me. I didn’t collapse, start convulsing and die. I don’t think poison works on me anymore. I walked back through the snakes. The bites were a bit annoying but the venom of 13 different snakes did nothing to me. Yes I counted. I also tried taking a black head with me but it turned to sand the moment I left the room. Opened the main door with that key and I got out.

  Started making my way back with the scrolls. Gathered some of those necro rot herbs. Found a horse, but it was too skittish and ran off when I tried to approach it. Oh well. It's nice when zombies and skeletons just ignore you. They come up to me when I'm writing but just walk off or shamble around nearby. The torch light attacks them. I spotted a fire east of me. Trying to decide if I should head over. Say hello.

  Decided against it. There’s a large group of undead gathered around me, at least sixty or more. Groaning and shambling. Just over the hill there's a farm town. Well it was a farming town. Now it's just an abandoned ruin. Gonna go search for some booze, I’m completely out and I want to taste something.

  Summer Hill village. Found a road sign. What the residents didn’t take with them was looted long ago. Found not one bottle of salvageable booze. Set fire to one of the houses to keep the attention of the dead and left.

  Still dark out here. Still cursed. I don’t mind the dark but it really bugs me how I can’t tell time here. Why does a possibly immortal man want to be able to tell what day it is? I wrote 'a million years' on both my palms a while back. What can I say I have a lot of time on my hands. I’ll admit I laughed at that silly joke for way longer than anyone should. I even had tears in my eyes. I guess I can still cry. What kind of undead am I? Should I try to find out? Where would I even start? The mage that did this to me got beheaded before this place was cursed. Maybe his quarters at the castle? No way that place hasn’t been pilfered to the bone.