Tomb of Annihilation: 8
Dear Skye,
The Chultan jungle continues to test our mettle. We entered the man and crocodile shrine at Camp Righteous, only to be met with a gauntlet of dangerous traps. Dolores and Azaka, after narrowly escaping deadly scythe blades, decided to wait outside, a decision that was prudent given what lay ahead.
De’leon, Angle, Seki, and I pressed on, determined to uncover the shrine’s secrets. The deeper we ventured, the more complex the challenges grew. A grid on the floor and door puzzled us until we recalled Azaka’s fable about the man and the crocodile. Emulating the tale, De’leon climbed atop Seki’s shoulders, and the door yielded, revealing a final chamber with a tall pillar at its center. De’leon climbed onto my back this time as we ascended the narrow staircase to a beautiful ceramic jug at the peak. We were able to retrieve it without setting off any more traps, a small victory we savored as we left the shrine.
Our respite was short-lived, however, as we were ambushed by tribal goblins upon our exit. Their leader, a grotesque goblin with a distinct mask, commanded his minions to attack. He was cunning, using his underlings as shields against our ranged attacks. I ended his cowardice by diving from the shrine steps and crushing him. Without their leader, the goblins quickly fell to our combined efforts. Angle claimed the goblin leader’s mask as a trophy, a stark reminder of our encounter.
That night, De’leon discovered that the ceramic jug we had retrieved was an alchemy jug capable of producing various liquids, including fresh water. This will be a boon for our travels, saving us from collecting rainwater.
A violent tropical storm then halted our progress for two days. But on the third day, we were able to resume our journey upriver. Our destination was Camp Vengeance, where we hoped to receive aid from the Order of the Gauntlet.
As we approached the camp, however, a grim sight greeted us: a crude timber fortification encircled by a ditch filled with sharpened stakes, lined with piles of charred human corpses and animal carcasses. It was a stark contrast to the lush jungle we had been traversing. Skye, we braced ourselves for an encounter with the zealous Order of the Gauntlet.
Your spirit continues to guide us, Skye. I hope we can live up to the courage and wisdom you’ve always shown us.
Yours,
Mugen
