Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone

by Hayley Thomas

Dear diary,

After a long, uncomfortable night on the cavern’s cold, unforgiving floor, we gathered in the dim glow of our lanterns to discuss our next move.

Did we try to negotiate with the Xorn, hoping it held the gems we needed to unlock the barrier? Or did we take the easier route—dispelling the magic directly and leaving the earth elemental undisturbed? After some debate, we settled on the latter. Luke cast his spell, unraveling the protective magic, and then sent his familiar darting forward to retrieve the gem.

The moment the crystal left its pedestal, the entire cavern shuddered.

A deafening crack split the air as a shockwave rippled outward, sending shards of stone and scalding acid spraying in all directions. The walls trembled, then began to cave in.

“Move!” I shouted.

We didn’t need to be told twice. Scrambling for the exit, we sprinted up the stairs, dodging falling boulders and the searing ooze that sloshed over the edges of the collapsing pools. The ground beneath us lurched violently, but we pushed forward, racing against the cavern’s imminent destruction.

At last, we burst into the open air, gasping for breath as dust and debris rained behind us.

We barely had time to catch our breath before a shadow passed overhead. One of the dragonnels—Geroda—descended cautiously, her golden eyes sharp with curiosity and something else. Wariness.
“I came to thank you,” she said, her voice measured. “For helping us against the wyverns.” She hesitated. “But… I must ask—did you take anything from the hoard?”

A heavy silence fell over the group.

“The dragon who owns it still lives,” Geroda continued carefully. “She has been gone for years, but she will not be pleased if her treasures have been disturbed.”

Luke, Gael, and I exchanged uneasy glances. Without argument, we returned what we had taken. Most of it, at least. A handful of gold stayed with us, but Dadroz flat-out refused to give up the enchanted gloves he had claimed.

Before leaving, we took a moment to properly introduce ourselves to the dragonnels. If their dragon ever returned, they promised to pass along word of our presence, ensuring we wouldn’t be mistaken for thieves or intruders.
When the conversation shifted to the basilisks, we admitted we had considered dealing with them. The dragonnels, however, asked us to let them be.

“They keep adventurers away from the hoard,” Geroda explained. “A natural deterrent.”

It made sense. If treasure hunters were reckless enough to seek riches in a place guarded by petrifying monsters, that was their risk to take. The basilisks weren’t rampaging through the countryside—they were simply there, keeping would-be thieves in check.

We agreed to leave them undisturbed.

Pleased with our decision, the dragonnels offered us a ride—a rare privilege. We climbed onto their backs, and with a few powerful beats of their wings, we soared over the vast forest, leaving the crumbling caverns behind. The wind howled past us, the treetops below stretching like an endless green sea.

Before long, we reached the edge of the woods, where our horses still waited. From there, the journey back to the village took most of the day.

By the time we arrived, the villagers gathered anxiously to hear our report.

“The wyverns are gone,” we told them, watching as relief rippled through the crowd.

We cautioned them to stay out of the forest—not just because of the dangers that still lurked there, but because some things were best left undisturbed.

Continue reading...

Entry one: The trials

Entry two: The bramble

Entry 3: Rosebloom

Entry 4: Hearts and Dreams

Entry 5: of ghosts and wolves

Entry 6: Hillfield and Deals with Fae

Entry 7: mysteries and pastries

Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse
6th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

Entry 9: A betrayal of satyrs
7th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 10: The fate of twins
8th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 11: Cursed twins
10th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 12: Loss and despair
11th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Hayley's rules to being a Witch

Entry 13: the price of safety
12th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 14: A golden cage and fiery tower
13th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 15: A trial by fire
14th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 16: Keralon
15th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Letter to Luke 1

Letter to Luke 2

Letter to Luke 3

Letter to Luke 4

Letter to Luke 5

Letter to Luke 6

Entry 17: I shall wear midnight
1st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 18: peace in our time
2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 19: Caern Fussil falls
3rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 20: I see fire
4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 21: Cultists twarted
10th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 22: Ravensfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 23: The Hollow Hill Horror
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 24: Burn your village
16th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 25: Ravensfield burns
17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 26: There will be blood!
21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 27: A happy reunion
22nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 28: The embassy ball
23rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 29: The fate of Robert Talespinner
24th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 30: A royal summons
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 31: of Dogville and Geese
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 32: A boggle named Pim
30th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 33: A deal broken
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 34: The cost of doing what is right
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 35: A dish best served cold
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

entry 36: Cornu returns?
10th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 37: A letter from Amarra
11th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 38: The case of the (not) missing villagers
14th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 39: A curse broken
15th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 40: Into the Lorewood
18th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 41: Cabin in the Woods
19th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 42: Myrdin and Anaya
20th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 43: Into the Immerglade
21st of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 44: A tale as old as time
22nd of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 45: The truth
23rd of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 46: Luke's Ordeal
24th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 47: The festival
26th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 48: Trouble at the Cathedral
2nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 49: Quinn's court
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 50: onwards to Latebra Velora
5th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 51: Where is my cow?
6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 52: Here be dragons
7th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 53: Dragon hoard with a side of scarabs
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone
9th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 55: Return to Ravensfield
10th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 56: The needs of the many...
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 57: Dreams of Sister Willow
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 58: wetlands be wet
13th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 59: Baron Perenolde
14th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 60: Talebra Velora and the lady Morenthene
15th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 61: Cypria
16th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight
17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 63: Return to Talebra Velora
18th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 64: Your presence is “requested”
19th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 65: I stand alone
20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 66: A day of normalcy
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 67: Into the Neverhold
22nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 68: The Warg King

Entry 69: Chased by birds

Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone

Continue reading...

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