Upward We Climbed

First light told us what we had feared. The screams that we had heard that night on the beach were those of our shipmates who had drifted further down the shore and been caught up in craggy inlets where they became victims of some terrible hunger, grinding teeth and tearing claws. The flapping and beaked beasts that we had kept at bay that night with a fire had elsewhere found good flesh to eat. And, so, knowing that we must get away from them, we began to climb the cliffs before us, into the dark interior of this strange place. But, then, prayers being answered, we came upon a well constructed stairway and knew that soon we would find much wealth to seize and many souls to save. And, so, certain of the righteousness of our holy work, we marched upward, singing hymns, toward gold, glory and godliness.