"...Imagine our surprise when we reached the inner chamber, after battling horrors I would well like to forget, and saw nothing but a severed head on a stake. We took it with us, but it was a trap! In the ensuing battle, all of the Companions died except myself. I was saved at the last moment, when I thought for sure I would perish, by none other than Ceiscoran himself!

"I found myself fighting once again alongside the Emperor of the Cath Bruig, dead forty years, and the spirits of the men who died defending him. Ancient Heron Guards and fir'Bolg whose names fill the legends fought along my side. The Emperor even managed to raise up the spirits of my companions, who were sullen and quiet but who fought with as much fury as they had in life. When we finally got to the exit of the catacombs, the Emperor turned to me and said, 'When you exit this crypt, I can no longer help you. The journey will be long and hard, and I bid you good luck. I go now, back to my own time.' With that he disappeared, but I heard a ghostly whisper in my ear as I left: 'Don't trust everything it tells you. It is not evil, but it is not especially good. Some things are best left alone.' There was no doubt that this cryptic message referred to the Head in the sack around my waist.

"With the word 'alone' echoing in my ears I left the crypt, and that was exactly my situation - Alone. I had to get back to the camp, where Alric was waiting for me with Dwarven balloons to carry me back to the Western cities..."

Truan's story is an amazing one indeed. The man's bravery and strength are unbelievable. I eagerly await the end of his tale...