Who will love my ironies?

I don't think I've ever woken up and been unable to get back to sleep because I was too thirsty before, but there you have it. Yesterday was pretty fucking abysmal in pretty much all ways, so hopefully today I'll be able to focus less on hating everything and more on keeping hydrated.

Running after the Leprechauns, you hear more laughter, only now it is behind you. You look round and see six more Leprechauns emerging from behind a hidden door in the tunnel wall. Suddenly, yet another Leprechaun drops on your back from a ledge fixed to the ceiling. Shaking him off your back, you draw your sword, whereupon the Leprechauns laugh even louder.

Another day off, going to do my absolute damnedest to get caught up on ab so lute ly ev er y thing. But first, I'm going to lose myself in Tumblr for a little while longer* while I make pasta. It is the fuel that runs the machine.

*I watched the Avengers gag reel and that one deleted Bruce scene because I needed more SURPRISE HARRY DEAN STANTON in my life. Putting a cap on everything else until the actual DVD is in my hand. And by hand I mean DVD player.

Ahead you see that the tunnel turns a corner, beyond which it continues north. You stop before the corner, startled by the sound of high-pitched voices whispering and sniggering.

And back to the grind. Have made an executive decision that I'm no longer allowed to talk about anything RP-related until I actually do tags every day for an entire week, because this is rigoddamndiculous.

Tony Scott, man. Damn.

The drape rises to the top of the cage and there, to your horror, you see the face of an aged woman whose hair is a mass of seething snakes. It is the dreaded MEDUSA!

No good deed goes unpunished, yo. Luck roll!

Recognizing the snake-like head of the Medusa, you close your eyes to avoid her deadly stare that would turn you to stone.

As my mother apparently wants to go garage sale-ing this morning, I have to leave earlier than usual even though I'm getting a ride to work instead of taking the bus. This seems like witchcraft of the most devious variety to me. August is slipping through my fingers like grains of sand, I don't understand this.

The door opens into a small room with a straw-covered floor. In the centre of the room there is a large draped cage standing some two metres high. There is a cord fixed to the top of the drape which runs up through an iron ring in the ceiling and hangs down to the floor.

Lost track of time this morning as I am wont to do, a quick one as I run out the door. Nothing really noteworthy going on anyway.

Although I did get interviewed by the paper on bears yesterday?

Set back in an arched alcove in the tunnel wall you see an ornate wooden chair carved in the shape of a demon-like bird of prey.

Agh, as nice at it is to have two days off in a row, I get so spoiled about sleeping in. Awake is hell.

Yesterday's vote was tied, but due to an unexpected mishap, only one option proved to be viable anyway (my book is apparently missing a page, WHOOPS) and you will be talking to the dude.

He looks at you warily when you tell him you are a contestant in the Trial of Champions. You ask him what he is doing in the tunnels, and he replies rather reluctantly that he is a servant of one of the Trialmasters, Baron Sukumvit's appointed controllers of sections of his dungeon. After chatting for a while, he admits that he would like to escape, but no one is allowed to leave the dungeons in case they reveal the secrets of its construction. He tells you that he hopes one day to bribe his way out, and that for one Gold Piece he will tell you where some treasure is hidden.

Big ups to everyone who replied to my last entry. It was much needed, is much appreciated, and you are all rock stars. Also, the call for icons remains open!

Turned out all my lights to watch some Twilight Zone episodes last night, and slept for more than 12 hours because I didn't bother to turn them back on. Yes, I sleep with all of my lights on, otherwise... that happens. Whoops.

Favourite part of the closing ceremonies so far is the Canadian athletes standing on each other's shoulders and trying to get a third layer going when security busted them and made them come down. Delightful.

Ahead in the far distance you hear the sound of slow footsteps coming towards you. Unsure of who or what might be approaching, you look around for a place to hide. You find a large crack in the tunnel wall which lies in shadow.

One more late shift, bleh. Feel like crap, pretty sure I look like it, too. Also pretty sure my keyboard batteries need to be replaced, typing is a real bitch at the moment. ALL THE BRONZE MEDALS.

There is a large panel of glass in the left-hand wall of the tunnel. Through it you can see a bright, torch-lit room teeming with GIANT INSECTS of every possible description. Bees, wasps, beetles, ticks - even the mites are over six centimetres long. The noise is threatening. In the middle of the room, a jewelled crown lies on top of a small table. What looks like a large diamond is set in the middle of the crown.

I've been up (off and on) for a few hours already, I've got my to-do list in front of me, Reggie has a post up, and a load of laundry is going. Today just might not be a total waste of time, fuck yeah!

There are so many events that just should not be Olympic sports.

The food and drink are excellent, and you feel much better. Add 2 STAMINA points. Fully satisfied, you sit down and await the Dwarf's return.

After about twenty minutes the Dwarf reappears on the balcony. He calls down to you, saying, 'Well, I do have an interesting problem on my hands. Prepare to fight your next opponent.' The wooden door rises once again and you are surprised to see a familiar face. It is Throm! He is cut and badly bruised, and doesn't seem to recognize you. He is clearly delirious as he staggers forward with his axe raised to attack you. The Dwarf laughs and says, 'The cobra bit him, but he has the strength of an ox and managed to carry on, even though most men would have died. Now you must fight him to decide finally which of you will continue the Trial of Champions.' You shout abuse at the Dwarf, protesting against the cruelty of such a contest. He merely laughs, and you have no option but to defend yourself against poor Throm.

THROM (Skill 10, Stamina 12)

Sob.

Despite his wounds, Throm is immensely strong.

Exhausted by your long duel, you fall to your knees. As you stare at Throm's still body, a bitter loathing for the Dwarf fills your heart. Somehow you will avenge Throm. Engulfed in your hatred, you do not notice the Dwarf enter the arena until he is standing right in front of you, a loaded crossbow aimed at your chest. 'I know what you are thinking,' he says calmly, 'but remember that only I know the way out of here. Get up, it's time for you to leave.' Once on your feet, the Dwarf indicates that you should walk ahead of him. Back in the chamber, he crosses over to the northern wall and pushes against one of its stones. A door-like section of the wall swings out, opening into another crystal-lit tunnel. With his crossbow still aimed at your chest, the Dwarf smiles, saying, 'Good luck.'

Apparently today is some sort of holiday? So I only have to work five hours, woo. I'm at the other mall today, though, and I forgot my book at the one where I usually work, so hopefully I'll be forced into getting some writing done. Fingers crossed!

In adventuring news, playing to the odds has worked in your favour; you roll a five.

The Dwarf congratulates you for guessing correctly. He tells you that you must now progress to the second stage of the test. He reaches for a wicker basket and tells you that a snake is held within it. He tips up the basket and the snake drops on to the floor; it is a cobra, and it rears up in the air ready to strike. The Dwarf tells you that he wishes to test your reactions. Bare-handed, you must grasp the cobra below its head, avoiding its deadly fangs. You crouch down on the floor, tensing yourself for the moment to seize it.

Skill roll! Your zombie reflexes are not up to snuff.

The cobra's reactions are quicker than yours, and its hooded head shoots forward to bite you.

Luckily for you, the cobra's fangs sink into your leather wristband. The snake recoils quickly, ready to strike again, as the Dwarf tells you to have another try.

As usual, your luck saves you and the second time proves to be the charm on the skill roll.

With lightning speed, you thrust your hand out and grip the cobra just below its open mouth. You lift it up and, arm outstretched, dangle it in front of the Dwarf. He doesn't flinch but says in his calm expressionless way, 'Please put the cobra back in the basket and prepare for the final part of the test. Follow me.' You do what he says and follow him back into the chamber, where Throm is pacing up and down, obviously ill at ease. You wave to him while the Dwarf opens a second secret door and tells you to walk on through and wait for him. Again you comply, and you find yourself in another circular room, although this one resembles a small arena. The floor is covered with sand, and a small balcony runs around the arena wall. Opposite the secret door by which you entered is an ominous-looking wooden door. Suddenly you hear a shout, and you look up to see the smiling Dwarf standing on the balcony. He throws two pieces of paper down to you. On one of them, the words NO CROP IS are written, on the other, RUIN MOAT. In his ever-calm voice he says, 'If you rearrange the letters of the words, you will find the names of two creatures. You may choose which one to fight in my Arena of Death.'