BASHO GENJI SCOUTS BONE HILL
 
Friends,

I set out immediately from Mayoi after receiving both reports, the first from Dai Quat and the second from the Myoken and Iwata company. I ran toward Baishi, hoping to follow the tracks of the warrior with whom Dai Quat sat. I walked the northernmost face of the Linvak Range, crossing through that dangerous area with little trouble. Baishi was but a short trip to the west. Along the way, I secured the permission of the reclusive blacksmith of Baishi to climb the ancient Empyrean tower within his walls. This afforded me a chance to scout a safe passage across the perilous ridges and peaks that jut northward from the Linvak and reach all the way to the southern edges of Shoushi.
 

After scouting from the ruined tower, I headed northwest.
 
The mountains worked against me, throwing shadows and other formidable creatures, yet giving little room for escape. I almost lost my footing more than once, but thankfully descended just a bit north of where I had intended.
 

The land yielded as my opponent, once I descended, and
remained flat through the rest of my trip.
 
I reached the site by nightfall and was aghast at what I saw. Perhaps it was the hour, or the strange flashes of lightning that made no sound but were more blinding than any storm I have yet seen, but fright rose in my breast and required all of my training to face. I was able to collect some information and sketches, which I present below.

Two scars, as if great fires had burned the land, comprise the site. The eastern patch is a shrine to the Hopeslayer, similar to what we have seen in the caverns near Uziz and other foul places. It is guarded only by a small group of Zefir. A structure sits there, a ruin of some sort. It is surrounded by skeleton warriors and captains -- no worse, it seemed to me then, but in huge numbers. I did not spy a portal or greater beasts, but was unable to approach without awakening the whole army.
 

Bone Hill and Environs -- a hastily drawn map. Note the
resting skeletons about the western structure.
 

Two views of the shrine -- the bones are at rest and do not rise, though the site is guarded by weak Zefir.
 

An approach to the western ridge awakens several skeleton warriors and
captains. I did not get close enough to explore the structure. Nor was I able
to determine the purpose of the device at the far right of the sketch.
 
And an army it is. We will have to msuter all of the focus and strength of our training to take that hill, but take it we must. We must do all that we can to delay the march of this army, no matter who or what it marches against.
 

(Basho Genji)