Mol, the 9th day of Barakas

Everywhere about us the moss and fungus that has plagued this island is beginning to wither and die. The mission that the dryad Aycenia has sent us on is done and I dream of the reward that she will be giving me, I mean us, for finishing it. It was a difficult job, but I knew that the strength of my arm and the point of my blade, along with my fellow castaways and their skills, would be enough to overcome all obstacles.

The battle was glorious and one that I will remember to the end of my days. Once we made it into the spire top chamber and found the foul purple fungus creature whose lair it had become, the battle began. I knew we must need defeat it to remove the stain of disease and rot it had caused so I put my upmost effort into my attacks. The main body of the purple fungus creature sprang out from the wall of the chamber once we had prodded it with Pol’s borrowed long spear and some of my minor magics, and it swung its four huge tentacles about to reach us. Pol dropped his useless spear and moved back out of reach of the waving tentacles and summoned his mind-blades to hand. I charged up to the creature and delivered a masterful blow with my blade while ducking under a threatening tentacle. I stood my ground against the monstrous fungi but I could not avoid two of its flailing tentacles from striking my arm and chest, and I could feel the pain as the skin began to whither, but I fought it off with little harm. Behind me, I could hear Dadak begin to chant the words of a spell while Joffa struck with an Eldritch Blast of his own.

Pol dashed to a place where he could throw his blade at the creature without injuring me and pitched his especially dangerous looking mind-blade at the monstrous creature before me. Another swing of my blade connected with the creature as Dadak finished his chant and the result, a summoned wolf, appeared next to me and began to rip out a chunks of the purple flesh. Dadak cast a quick spell targeted on me and I struck again, swift as a snake, cutting a huge gash across the main body of the monster. Two more tentacles lashed out and connected on my leg and arm, and through the new rip in my clothes, I could see the skin again begin to whither away, but I grunted and my natural fortitude was enough to make those effects lessened. Joffa’s Eldritch Blast splashed across the body of the monster and I could hear a cheer rise from his throat.

Pol struck the monster again with his flying mind-blade and the menancing creature showed signs of slumping to the ground in a huge heap. I stepped forward and skewered the monster, and my blade sank all the way to the guard. A solid hit! The summoned wolf ripped another strip of mossy flesh off the purple fungus as the main body and all four tentacles slapped the hard ground. The battle was won!

I withdrew my blade and shook off some of the ichor clinging to it while Joffa scanned the area looking for magic auras. Dadak’s summoned wolf disappeared with no more than a whimper to where ever it had come from. Pol was first to notice that the fungus and moss around the creature’s body was melting away and for fear of losing our bridge to the main island, he took to his heels with a cry for us to follow him. We raced down the corridor back to fresh air, and only then did I notice the intricate carvings and seashell offerings around the cave mouth. The vegipygmies we had defeated earlier must have worshipped that rotting creature behind us. Thankfully, the thick vines and soft moss that we used as a bridge were still stout enough to hold our weight as we made our way back to the island; I would not have liked falling from that height to the ocean waves or possibly the rocks surrounding that tall spire where the foul purple fungus hid all these years while corrupting everything around it.

I now look forward to marching up to Aycenia’s grove and telling her about my exploits and daring as I completed the task she had asked me to do. Perhaps the beautiful wood sprite will grant me a boon, and the boon I will ask for will be the simple request for a kiss from her, a true hero’s reward for a job well done. I will hope for more but count myself satisfied with a kiss and a declaration that she will always remember me. I would also welcome an offer to spend the night with her. Alas, we will have to part once we have defeated Ieana and uncovered the mystery of the Red Mountain, but what must be must be.

I enjoy this life, knowing that adventure is always ahead of me. I am ready to meet it!

—From the log of Kreshton Rel’Astra