When I came out of the library today a mysterious messenger was lying mortally wounded outside the temple as dozens of healers tried to save him. Despite his wounds, he was able to get out a fragmentary and confusing warning about not going to Gungla Island (the name that the newly-discovered inhabitants have for Melabrion's Island), and a mad god name Amakua.

A number of exiles were fallen in the Scarmis Pit on Ash Island today, and some fairly desperate pleas for help went out. I joined a large rescue party in hope that I could do something useful, but it was not to be. The chamber where the fallen were trapped was so densely packed that it was difficult for the rescuers to get in. In the end, Harper and I were trapped outside.

Soon venemous chiggers and scarmis began appearing, forcing us to search (rather frantically) for a way to escape. We did manage to reach the surface, but I found myself pinned against a tree by two hooded corpses and soon fell. Fortunately I was rescued by additional rescuers heading into the pit.

From the sunstone messages I heard, it sounded like most of the rescue party I had joined ending up getting killed. I had to return to the library, so I don't know if a rescue eventually succeeded.

In other news, I've been hearing rumours of a new island (or possibly a newly accessible part of Melabrion's Island) known as "GI." I'll try to visit it soon.

Today I saw Dr. Tessa Malthus in town! She had escaped the library after being trapped under a pile of books for years. Unfortunately I had only a few minutes myself before I had to resume studying, but hopefully she will be able to get out of the library again soon.