Rest of party ran off after four-armed freak. Made Lucan track a bunch to make sure were really chasing four-armed freak and not hapless local. Barg and Kanton captured four-arms. Go them. Questioned four-arms. Seems to be soldier following orders, not much mixed up in magic stuff. Not so sinister after all. Attitude reminded me of cousin Augie (before eaten by cave fishers). Blasted little half-man started chopping off bits while not looking - totally out of control. Will have to keep closer eye on that one. Maybe upset because failed in putting the whammy on four-arms? Despite no magic friendship, lots of talking with four-arms. Girl likely taken back to remote base. Great.Turned four-arms over to local authorities. Practiced - have figured out neat trick to aim punches better. Practiced keeping mind free of external influences by not falling asleep listening to storyteller. Talking, talking, talking. Bunch of stuff about gods and magic weather. Gods all have spare limbs - great. We're chasing mythical bugfreaks. Apparently Siarrah not common farm girl after all - foundling, mixed up in local legends, probably a half-dragon given the way things have been going. Pity; seemed like a sensible girl. More talking. Are off to ruined city ("gate of gods") where arm-y army ("people of gods") have been set up at least three years probably trying to summon big nasty thing of gods to raise havoc of gods. Captive four-arms seemed very resentful of humans, part-humans... related to spare-limb exodus, human domination of Correllendor centuries ago? Humans can hardly remember stories, but human notion of "long-term planning" limited to number of years they can count on their thumbs. Hundreds of years not so long to hold a grudge if it's a good one...
Most promising part of bugfreak mess is dragons - supposed to have great loot. Otherwise promises to be like goblins times twenty. Base will no doubt be fortified like a dwarven treasure-vault, and simple rescue won't cut it - whatever Siarrans are trying to do probably not good for Correllendor, violation of natural order, etc, and will have to destroy capability or undermine outcome, otherwise will just snatch Siarrah back again. (If using Siarrah to "handle" dragons, get Siarrah to get dragons on side of Law, Order, and Not Killing People? Work on this idea - need back-up plan if Siarrah's loyalty to adoptive family weaker than call of exotic blood.) No dragons at all probably safer than dragons on "our side", but will four-arms just keep trying until it's dragons eventually? If it's dragons at all. But in any case looks like our duty to foil plan in relatively-permanent fashion. Damn. And not even mentioning heeby-jeeby dream wizards, although maybe hired like bariaur - human magic only. Could likewise scare off/pay off/convince that four-arm plans bad news for all humans? Probably Evil though. So will no doubt end up fighting Siarran army at half-numbers in real world while companions mess about in dreamland. And probably a few things I haven't thought of... nothing *nice* ever lives in ruins. Great.
On plus side, now own comfy boots.