3. Marie's Diary - Notes of a travelling hin

Marie's Diary - Notes of a travelling hin


  • The Twelth of Tarsahk, 1505 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Norwick
    Weather: Raining

    The last few days have been interesting, that's for sure. After heading south to the border town (they call it Norwick) I met up with some adventurers who were heading out to take out some monsters they called Bugbears. Apparently these things are related to goblins, and ocassionally come close enough to town to harass travellers and farmers. Curious about what the monsters looked like, and how the adventurers fought, I tagged along.

    Well, I've not seen such a furious battle since the Masters back home had their annual exhibition!

    The Bugbears were bigger than a human, and had all kinds of weapons and tactics. Some were sneaks, creeping in to our lines to try and bring us down, others ran at us screaming for blood, and others still stood back and fired arrows or spells into our midst.

    But the true strength was in the adventurers I saw. One was a dwarven priestess of some tallie goddess of nature, kinda like Sheela Peryroyl. But she didn't have any blessings.. which I didn't understand, but hey, everyone's different. Another was a human tallie with a sword, and another used spells to sear the Bugbears skin. And there was a hin! She used a big sword and ran fearlessly into the fray. She said her name was Anju Fenberry.

    There were others, but everything that happened is still a blur for me. We moved out there without issue, killing every foe in our path. But then, in the midst of battle, something changed. I don't know if the adventurers made a mistake, or if the Bugbears set a trap for them.

    Either way, the tables turned very quickly and the adventurers were falling. Three died by sword, bow and spell before the retreat was sounded. Amongst them was Anju, but they assured me that she could be restored to life. Teary eyed, I helped them take her back to town.

    Suddenly, when we were within site of the walls of Norwick, the horns sounded from within the forest we had just left. The adventurers, realising that someone had been split off from the group and needed aid, turned back to aid them, leaving me alone in an area inhabited by undead spirits.

    I tried to run for town, but I was swarmed, and fell unconscious as a trio of ghostly pigs fell upon me.

    Apparently they got bored of snuffling me and left, because the dwarven priestess nursed me back to consciousness with the rest of the adventurers behind her.

    In any case, they helped me back to town, and I spent a night in the care of the apothecary whilst they said the rites to return the dead. Anju returned, as did the others, but there was an air of sadness about the whole event.

    I think the Bugbears won that one, but if nothing else I've learnt a lot about what to expect when I leave town here.

    Oh, and I've sworn off bacon until I can find a way to kill those piggies. I don't want to add to their number if I can help it.