The Stone Galleries was like a graveyard. An ancient ruin haunted by the past and horrible monsters that aimed to make us into more exhibit pieces. On one front we fought a pair of basilisks with a strong steel and a mirror. At one point I looked into the eyes of the creature just to know if my constructed body was vulnerable to such magics. I soon learned the error of my ways. My body began to lock up, I could feel the coldness pressing in on me. I looked to my party for help and from their looks of determination I found somewhere deep in my 'spirit' a well of strength to draw from. I pushed back against the coldness and threw off the curse of the basilisk. Nickolai almost got into trouble with a nest of Cockatrice, but they backed off once he retreated to a bigger issue on the other front where a squad of about a dozen ghouls swamped us. They were trying to carry off the Archduke and were very clear about how they wanted him alive. The whole battle was very confusing. Wrendell was running wildly, slashing all in his way. Eldon followed Wrendell, helping with some strategic strikes. Lea managed to trick a few ghouls into looking towards the basilisk and getting petrified. Then Samba rose up over the fight like a beacon of hope on blazing wings. His majestic presence gave us all the drive we needed to get up and put this enemy down. We managed to prevent the Archduke's abduction but the leader of the ghouls escaped, running away in fear. By the time the battle was over it was starting to get late in the day and as this section of the ruined city was already cleared we decided to take a look around for a spot to rest. A nearby tower looked like a good choice though a strange invisible wall was blocking the entrance. Cirdan had the idea of climbing up the wall and trying a gap in the second floor. He took the form of a large lizard and scampered up making it inside the tower with no problem at all. Returning to bear form he called down. 'It seems fine up here. There may be a small magical aura but nothing threatening. I'll take a poke around.' Nickolai decided to climb up as well. The climb wasn't too strenuous and only took about a minute but once up there he couldn't find Cirdan. He had a look around but only noticed an open and empty chest. While this was happening I went to investigate a neighboring building, a large hall, but on entering I felt the presence of history surround me. The memories from years of celebrations almost overwhelmed me but I held fast and let the moment pass through me leaving a pleasant afterglow. This was a very strange and slightly unsettling place and after Cirdan's disappearance we thought it best to find somewhere else to rest for the night. That evening the Archduke opened up a little around us. We seem to have gained his trust as a group and he actually asked our advice about how we might proceed to Jozht. 'Awfully strange of that bear of yours wandering off like that Samba, very strange indeed. Though, not to seem insensitive mind you, I don't much care for those Bearfolk. You just don't know when one might literally rip your arm off. I saw that happen once, must've been 30 years ago.....' Avgost went on in the retelling of his very human-centric tales of war and conquest. We followed a river out of the ruins and followed along for three days where we had to make a crossing. We travelled mostly by evening and the early morning living off the land and keeping away from signs of civilization but the God's favour can only last so long and while we rested for a night something struck from the darkness.
