Entry 1, clear weather

It's been a while since I got dispatched anywhere. I'm out with the Arrows of Freedom this time. It's me and five others following Captain Bastiel.

We've been sent to investigate the disappearance of some Daevas. It was just a handful at first--but after the Dredgion invasion, the list of the missing multiplied so much that I don't even know the final count.

It's Opel's first mission. I think he was nervous--then again, we all were right after ascension. He froze up. Soruan was all sour grapes about it.

Sometimes, I'm pretty sure he forgets who it was who spent four hours bent over the latrine before HIS first mission....

Entry 2, unremarkable weather

We spent ages trying to find traces of the Dredgion back in Sanctum. It was Jeyshin who finally discovered a spot in Reshanta it kept frequenting.

I swear, when he gets his teeth set on the hunt, no one can stop that Daeva.

I'll never forget the time he managed to track a training rival back to his house. He-- (the rest of the paragraph is scribbled over.)

(Written in the margin, in different handwriting) No personal stories, Logion!

Entry 3, pleasant weather

Well, Jeyshin was right. He found where they have to be keeping the captured Daevas.

Bastiel told us there isn't much hope of getting reinforcements from the headquarters out here. They have their hands full enough with Balaur attacks. We've started the investigation on our own.

Orbis had some pretty profane things to say about the Balaur. I mean, I agree with the sentiment, but he got pretty heated. Poor guy.... I think the long distance is putting a strain on his relationship with Lurivie.

Entry 4, weather--no idea

We've successfully infiltrated the camp. We were all afraid of what we'd find, but whatever we may have been thinking before, this is worse.

The Ereshkigal Legion is torturing and slaughtering the Daevas, Spirits, and Spines the Dredgion picked up. We don't know what their goal is. I don't even know if "torture" properly explains the horrors in that place.

Whatever it is, this is unforgivable.

I haven't slept. The screams of the kidnapped Daevas still ring in my ears. Selsia isn't even trying to hide how much she's crying, and she isn't the only one. Even Soruan has let a sob or two escape.

We're formulating a plan.

Entry 5, dark weather

We have to make this work.

We spread out to keep Warden Mahorosh from finding us. A standard tactic. Just lay low and survive until Bastiel gives the signal.

I'm great at keeping out of sight. The best in our unit. Mom always said I'd still be hiding in some lost corner of my room even if Atreia cracked in two.

I miss her.

Entry 6, weather still dark

Our plan failed. The Ereshkigal Legion is dissecting the sacrifices, distilling them for further processing. Whatever that means.... They are keeping them in four separate storages.

I overheard them say they are using them as "resources" to make something grow? Warden Mahorosh is sending them somewhere. They talk about it all in such a cavalier manner. It makes my stomach turn over.

Soruan, Orbis, and I managed to set off explosives in one of the storages. I don't know if anyone was still alive in there or not, but this is a better end than what the Legion had planned.

We all thought it had gone off without a hitch, but the warden came out of nowhere. They have Orbis. From the way he was screaming, I think we're too late for a rescue.

Entry 7, I don't care about weather

The Ereshkigal Legion found Opel. Bastiel tried to stop them, but he was too wounded. He had to watch them drag his son away.

They locked Bastiel up right where we could all see him. Dangled him like bait on a hook....

Selsia, Soruan, Jeyshin, and I managed to meet up to try and figure out what to do.

May we all meet again under bright skies.

Entry 8

They're torturing Bastiel.

I don't know how he's managing to get words out around the pain, but he keeps screaming out for us to flee. To survive, to get out and take care of the others.

I don't know, maybe we should have listened to him. I couldn't leave him there, though. Bastiel's a good man. We managed to set up a distraction and free him, but we lost Soruan doing it.

Discovery here is inevitable, but Bastiel's too injured to be moved discreetly. I've got to find a better way out.

Entry 9

I still haven't heard anything from Opel, Selsia, or Jeyshin. I'm getting desperate here.

Bastiel wants to sacrifice himself so I can escape. He keeps saying he'll cause a diversion so I can go get reinforcements.

It's a nice sentiment, but he's got it backwards. I'm not the one with a tactical mind--I'd never manage to get out of here by myself. He's the captain, and Soruan and I risked everything to rescue him for a reason.

We either make it out together, or I'm the distraction while HE finds a way to get reinforcements. That's how this works.

Entry 10, at least the weather is nice again

I finally found a way to get Bastiel out unseen. There's a narrow drain pipe, just big enough for one person to squeeze through at a time. The Balaur would never fit.

We got stupid, though. We started arguing about who should go first. The Balaur closed in and we didn't even see them.

I shoved him in right by the seat of his pants. I'd do it again, too.

(Continued on the next page)

I didn't think Bastiel could glare like that, but thank the Empyrean Lords, he actually kept quiet and laid low in the pipe. I bolted to find another spot to hide.

Heh, they'll never find me here.

I'm in this until the end.

If I'm careful, I might be able to get some of the prisoners out through the pipe. And if we're all lucky, Bastiel will come back with a whole squad at his back.

Entry 11, cold weather

I screwed up. A Balaur spotted me while I was setting up a trap. I managed to escape, but I'm hurt pretty badly. I keep getting dizzy.

I hope the reinforcements arrive, and that they shove that trap straight up the Balaur's tails. If it helps even one more soul get out of this nightmare, it will all have been worth it.

-Captain Bastiel, Soruan, Jeyshin, Orbis, Selsia, Opel, and me, Logion. We were the Arrows of Freedom.

We were here.