Tomb of Annihilation: 15
Dearest Skye,
In the echoes of our glorious, and yet disquieting, victory in the Port Nyanzaru coliseum, I pen this letter to you. These words are my only solace, as they bring you, if only in my mind, back to my side.
Our trio of battles began against seven mighty tigers, their ferocity proving a true challenge for our party. Orladhall and I bore the brunt of their strikes, our bodies bearing testament to their formidable prowess. It was then that Seki and Delores, clever as always, decided to intervene in their discreet manner. A healing spell, masked by Seki’s loud cheer, fell upon Orladhall, rejuvenating him enough to continue. We, battered but unbowed, faced the tigers, finally bringing each one down. It was De’leon who struck the killing blow to the last tiger, his flame-kissed rapier silencing it forever, sending the crowd into a frenzy of cheers.
The second bout of the challenge was less daunting. We found ourselves faced with two giant scorpions, whose feeble attempts at damaging us proved futile. We brought them down before they could even approach us, their demise drawing another round of cheers from the enthralled crowd.
The third and final encounter was the most testing of all, my love. As the gong resonated through the arena, a monstrous Tyrannosaurus Rex burst into the battleground, its roar sending a shudder through every soul present. Angle cleverly conjured a field of sharp rocks, slowing the beast’s advance and leaving it vulnerable to our combined attacks. In a final moment of terrible thrill, Orladhall found himself within the monster’s jaw, which led to its downfall. As Orladhall held the beast’s mouth open, I seized the opportunity to strike. With a swift double-footed stomp, I brought the T-Rex down, its fall followed by a hush and then an explosion of cheers from the crowd.
Despite the night growing late, our celebrations were cut short by an unexpected encounter with Grandfather Zitembe. We were led to a quiet storage yard, where Syndra Silvane and an unknown woman awaited us. It was there that we were chastised for our actions, reminded of our mission, and urged to leave Port Nyanzaru to avoid the wrath of Wakanga O’tamu, whose gifted scrolls we had sold. The revelations about the Harpers, Artus Cimber, and the Ring of Winter added another layer of complexity to our quest.
As we prepared to depart the city, we found our new guide, Musharib, and made for the docks. However, Seki’s newfound companion, the triceratops Chickpea, could not accompany us on the ship. It was a bitter farewell, softened by Azaka’s agreement to look after the creature. In the early hours, we awakened our ship’s captain, Ortimay Swift and Dark, and set sail, our pockets lighter by an extra 10 gold pieces.
Skye, the twists and turns of this journey are a test of our mettle, each one bringing us closer to our goal and yet further from the familiar. I wish you could share in our triumphs and tribulations. I miss you, my love. Until my next letter, know that you are in my heart, guiding my every step.
Forever yours,
Mugen
