Heroes?

Hello there, book! Well, I've got quite the story for you this night.

Last we spoke, Locke and I were resting in the beautiful town of Reedshire. We awoke to another peaceful day, when suddenly we heard an announcement! It was the Mayor of Reedshire - a man named Marven. He pleaded for help, as one of their ancient monuments was being ravaged by beasts. I wasn't very sure about such a mission, but of course, Locke couldn't keep his gigantic mouth shut...

Long story short, he volunteered us for the cause and soon we were on our way. Neither of us could have known, however, just how trying the Golden Ruins of Avandra, as they're called, was going to be. Perhaps the snow should have been our first clue...

It was freezing! I exaggerate not, book. It was absolutely dreadful. I thought my ears and fingers and toes were going to freeze and fall off one by one! To make matters worse, we found that the entrance was being blocked by none other than a floating head! This was no ordinary head, however... He called himself Amun. He was a very ancient looking skull, with massive green flames flowing from his skeletal head. He had big jewels for eyes, and he spoke, most peculiarly, in rhymes! Soon, he vanished... But not before casting a terrible, and powerful evil spell on us!

For an entire night, I was cursed to take Locke's form. That's right - this Amun switched our bodies! It was absolutely terrible. I couldn't use my magic due to obvious reasons - as Locke was obviously not built for such deeds. And I had the added worry of Locke residing in my own body! I dare not imagine what nasty things he might have done in my form... In any case, it was quite the conundrum, and it was all that vile skull's fault!

The ruins themselves were quite a trial. They were freezing and full of hazards. I found myself not only attacked by cold zombies, but being thrust into a hole which filled with freezing water! We were attacked by rats and lost in fog... I couldn't imagine what horrible monster was responsible. In the meanwhile, that darn Amun kept showing his face, merely to tease us!

Finally, we made it through the ruins and found ourselves in a large, beautiful room full of crystal-like structures. From these structures emerged a massive ice covered man, who called himself an Ice Archon. He was pure evil, book... He told me himself! It was strange, for he spoke Primordial... A language I saw only in my home studies with mother. In any case, he wanted a fight - and by heavens, we gave him one.

It was a long and arduous battle, but the beast did finally fall. It was a good thing too, for we may have perished if the battle drew on any longer... Afterward, we were ready to make our escape when that wicked skull appeared once more! This time, he sealed us in the room... and then, all went dark. When we awoke, we were not in the ruins, but on the outskirts of Reedshire. Best of all, we were back in our own bodies!

It makes me wonder... Just what was the purpose of such a dreadful joke, anyway? I wonder who this Amun is, and why he seems so attached to us? I can only hope we'll never see him again; however, he promised we would be friends forever... A frightening thought, indeed! In any case, we made it back to town, bringing Marven the Ice Archon's weapon - a mighty ice hammer. He took it and rewarded us graciously, with a vast amount of gold pieces. He then revealed to us that we had been gone for not just a night but... an entire week!

Just what happened to us? Was it Amun's doing, I wonder?

Now, we rest in the Reedshire Inn, where Marven has allowed us permanent free lodgings. He has also named a day of their festival after Akorrin, after Locke's suggestion! It is quite the nice deed... It makes me wish all the more that we could stay, but alas. There are many things yet to be accomplished on our journey. Locke is already fast asleep, as always. Actually, bed sounds rather good at the moment...

Goodnight, book! I wonder what more strange happenings we have to look forward to in the coming days.