Then the cliff started sliding down the hillside. Cracks opened in front of us, and we immediately started running in the opposite direction. Fortunately, the landslide was relatively slow, and we made it back to the temple ruins without losing anyone, but it was a close thing.
The following day, we followed the path back into the forest. This time, when we came to the statues, we took the left path which took us towards the coast. After a few hours journey we came to an area of clear land. There was no obvious reason for it to be treeless and there were no signs of clearing, no trunks or stumps, just a couple of acres of clear grassland. We skirted the edges just to be safe, but there were no incidents. The whole area seemed quiet, and nothing more than small birds could be seen.
Moving on we came to the banks of a river. I have taken the liberty of naming this waterway Jurvaninter in honour of my Master. In order to cross, we spent the next week crafting water vehicles from the trees. The three crafts then carried us across the river in good stead. The only incident was with the second to cross, which was pursued for a short while by one of the water’s denizens. The only sign it gave was a predatory V-shaped trail that appeared behind and a scaled visage that protruded from the waters. Fortunately, it lost interest in us and disappeared.
Once across the river we continued towards the greater expanse of the ocean. Three days without incident brought us to a clifftop overlooking a small beach and inlet that promised an exit from this damned place. Fortunately, it happens that were not the first to find this place as stairway had been built into the cliffs to allow passage down to the beach. Though old and rickety, it was a better option than descending the cliffs themselves. Unfortunately for us, structural failure of the stairway cost us the lives of Freda Mannilow and Mayna. Both a tragic loss to us and the expedition, they are remembered fondly and with honour.
Once upon the beach, we established a camp. The sea provided sustenance and the remains of the stairs provided fuel and building material for us. For the next four days we lived a relatively peaceful life. We manged to rest and come to terms with our losses, as well as begin to put our experiences into perspective. Maduro spent an entire day in meditation, separated from us at one end of the beach. In the evening of that day, he re-joined us and explained that he had managed to contact the Quorum Noire, and they had agreed to send a rescue craft for us.
In the afternoon of the next day, the craft appeared on the horizon and quickly approached. We lit a signal fire to attract attention and we were jubilant when it finally entered the cove and secured itself. Swimming out to meet it, we were quickly taken onboard and attended to.
At the moment we are returning to the Attente and I am preparing this initial summary of our final days. I trust that this report will be treated n the manner appropriate to our exertions. Although our primary mission was a failure, we have gained much information about the Enemy and their habits and capabilities that will serve our forces well in the future.
With regrets and acceptance,
Ferlance de Es’Canta
167 of Alember, Mark 1564