Sunday November 30, Foothills of the Cloudspine
The enormous volcano overlooking Seven Gates is erupting for the first time
in ten centuries. The tremors started late yesterday and since midnight there
has been a constant rain of hot ash and fire. Even here, thirty miles away, it
already feels like summer.
As if the mountain's fury were an ill omen, Rabican was encircled and crushed
by the Watcher, who attacked by surprise from the west.
The survivors of this battle who have reached us speak of ribbons of fire
tearing flesh from bone, and thick clouds of poison which rotted whole
formations of men to pieces in moments. Our wizards were powerless to stop the
carnage.
They also say that the pass of Seven Gates has become a raging river, fed by
snow melting as the volcano heats the earth around it. The defenders who
remained in the pass are surely drowned, and in a few days when the water is
gone the pass will be open again, and undefended.
But none of this concerns us. What remains of the Silvermines garrison is
less than ten minutes behind us now, determined to claim the arm. We are all too
exhausted to continue running, and our scouts have chosen a hill up ahead where
we can make a stand.
I've heard there are a number of our own men among those pursuing us, turned
to the dark by The Deceiver. None of us look forward to meeting them in battle.