At the beginning he is flying and at the end he isn't but he never fell into the sand.
Someone escapes the quicksand here by flying over it.
<x>
Thief steps out of the shadows.
You fade into existence.
Your shield of flames EVISCERATES Thief!
A cloth covered hand slips around to cover your mouth and nose.
You are forced to breathe in the poisonous vapors.
You slip from his grasp just before the vapors take affect.
You yell 'Help! Thief is trying to poison me!'
Thief has some small but disgusting cuts.
<x> stand
c pillar
You fade into existence.
Thief dodges your freezing touch.
You dodge Thief's acidic bite.
You parry Thief's slice.
You dodge Thief's acidic bite.
Thief's girdle of serpents lashes out at you!
Thief's sting devastates you!
Thief has some small but disgusting cuts.
<x> You are already fighting!
Thief has some small but disgusting cuts.
<x> You invoke pillars of lightning to strike the area.
Your pillar of lightning MANGLES Thief!
Thief has some small but disgusting cuts.
<x>
You fade into existence.
Thief dodges your freezing touch.
Thief's acidic bite is powerless against you.
Thief seems to suddenly have new confidence with his sword.
Thief tries to strike the same place with both his swords.
Thief's thrust is powerless against you.
Thief's thrust decimates you!
Thief has some small but disgusting cuts.
<x>
Thief pulls himself out of the quicksand.
Thief leaves west.
Thief has fled!
