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

Marie's Diary - Notes of a travelling hin


  • The Ninetheenth of Ches, 1506 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Peltarch
    Weather: Raining

    This week I had the most unusual adventure ever.

    I was sitting in the Peltarch commons at night with a group of adventurers. There must have been ten or so of them, all different races, skills, genders, and religions. There was also about ten different conversations going on, so it was very noisy!

    Suddenly, up in the sky, there was a red, shooting star, flying across the sky. I pointed it out, and everyone looked up, silenced for a moment by it's beauty. But then, it seemed to get larger, and larger, until it crashed into the ground out to the south of the town with a loud boom!

    We all got up to run out there to see what had happened, and if anyone was in need of care. I reckon some of them ran out to see what they could loot, or kill, but it takes all kinds I guess.

    When we got closer, we could tell it wasn't a star, it was a ship! Manned by a group of sailors in funny clothing, and a big tallie captain, we set to putting out the spot fires that were caused by it's crash landing, and then spoke to the captain.

    First, he asked for some people, most of whom I didn't know or hadn't heard of. Then, he offered us a job, if we were interested on going on his ship, which he called a Spelljammer. Apparently it flies between the stars, and visits different worlds!

    Well, even if the job had been to go to the Plane of Fire and try to put it out, I was going to go, just to get a trip on this thing!

    He said that he wanted to take us to a hot desert world, to go and recover some shiney red orb for him. Payment would be whatever we could find, and a trip on his Spelljammer, called the Star Harpy.

    We all agreed, still in awe of his ship.

    The adventurers who went along for the trip were Elena, Tom, Celebring, Hammerhand, Axel, Rubo, Duradin, Stronghawk, Aramuil and Aristos.

    We climbed on board, and I was instanty reminded of my year spent sailing the realms. It felt just like that, except on another level. We lifted off and we could see the realm of Narfell beneath us, then the whole Forgotten Realms, then Toril, then it was just a speck amongst the many other specks in the black sky.

    Floating in space is something that I'd never experienced before, and I loved it! The sailors were very professional, and every one new his tasks, completing them with the practiced ease of a seasoned veteran.

    After a few hours of sailing through the blackness of space, we arrived above the planet he was sending us to. It looked, as we got closer, like a giant ball of sand and rock. No oceans or green areas to see, no ice caps, nothing. Just sand and rock.

    We landed there, and got off the Star Harpy. Instantly, the heat assailed us. I drank a potion that I had been saving for just such an occassion, and others either managed to ignore the heat, or started to sag with the obvious effects of being boiled alive.

    Duradin nearly fainted in the first few minutes, but soon his dwarven sturdiness kicked in and he soldiered on.

    Organising the adventurers was like trying to herd cats! In the end, Tom and I designated ourselves as scouts, and went ahead to check out the path. After walking a short distance, we found ourselves faced with giants, unlike any I'd ever heard of before. So, ducking back a bit and scouting around some more, we found a way around them, but it took us right into a camp of elves that looked like they'd rather eat my liver than offer me a nice cool drink.

    We went back to the others and gave them the options, they decided on trying to take the camp. At least there might be shade and supplies there, they reasoned.

    So Tom and I stayed in the shadows and moved out quietly, letting the rest of them blunder into the sights of the camp-dwellers. What followed can only be called slaughter, on both sides. In the end we did win, but it cost us a lot of blood. And then there was no water or food to be found in their camp either. Such a waste.

    Some of the others decided to stop for a while and rest to refocus themselves, so Tom and I took guard duties up, letting them decide how they wanted to proceed. I tried to advise them to stick to the path through the sands, but they seemed to think that they could survive in a desert on a desert world, without a guide and no-one who could track.

    After a while, reason won out, and Duradin led them down the track we found.

    Scouting ahead again, Tom and I found these weird lizard-like monsters, bigger than a man. Again the adventurers fell on them in a flurry of strikes and miss-timed movements, and again it cost them in blood. I managed to prevent more loss of life through a well aimed stunning strike which ended the existence of the last lizard thing.

    We moved on, through the sands.

    Eventually we defeated an eight legged cat (that I managed to stun as well), more lizard like creatures, some giants, a group of lizard men, some magically constructed sand giants, skeletons, mummies, and a powerful undead spirit that was guarding the red orb.

    Finally, we had found, and captured the object of our adventure! The captain would be pleased, and we could return home again.

    When we left the cave where we found the orb though, we discovered that others had been alerted to our presence. More giants and sand constructs were sent against us, to try and block us from leaving alive. We defeated them, with more losses on our side, and were almost back to the ship when we were confronted by a group of elves, hellbent on our destruction.

    They would not listen to reason. They offered us a choice. Hand over the red orb, or die. We instead asked them to move aside, or we would fight. They did not, and fighting broke out.

    Again, we were victorious, but with more losses again.

    I raced to the ship and collapsed on board, exhausted but proud. We had accomplished what we set out to do, and I had lived through a trip to a desert world full of strange, uncomprehendable monsters.

    We eventually got back to Peltarch and split what treasure we had managed to find, although it barely covered what the trip cost everyone. Some got lucky and were able to get something to advance their own powers. A magical sword or dagger, a suit of armor, new spells, or a pile of gold ingots. Me, I got a share of the coin, and some potions. I'm happy though, for Brandobaris will be proud of me for my actions in this.

    Travel and trickery were my ways that day.


  • The Fifth of Ches, 1506 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Peltarch
    Weather: Raining

    A lot has happened since my last diary entry, and I've been so busy I've barely had time to sleep, let alone write down a diary entry. So I decided to take today, the one year anniversary of my arrival in Narfell, to do just that.

    Just over a tenday ago, I was down in Norwick with a human who I can't remember the name of for the life of me. They came over when I was on my way to do some bug hunting, and asked to join me, to which I of course said yes.

    Working together, we'd just about managed to push them all back into their holes when a goblin appeared out of nowhere, and started attacking us with a flurry of unarmed strikes! I couldn't believe it, a goblin monk!

    It was a fight unlike anything I'd had since Master Dwarf. We traded blows for a while, and when it became obvious to him that he was outclassed, he tried to run. I was quicker though, and after some more combat, I felled his body and we took his head, as well as some potions and a nice set of gloves he had on him.

    The Norwick guards weren't interested in paying a bounty for his head, so we continued on to Peltarch, to see if they might be. Unfortunately, they too didn't really care about a goblin monk's head, so we tossed it in the bin and continued on.

    I found Einhardt in the commons there, and he told me that he'd just taken on an orcish monk of some sort, who nearly killed him before he cut the orc down with his sword. As a gift, he gave me the gloves that the orc had! Man, they're cool! They have these long needle like nails on the knuckles so that when you punch with them, they hurt extra.

    After a quick trip to the tailors to get them resized, they fit perfectly, and I had a new weapon in my arsenal. Just to try them out, I went with the others out to the orcs, to see how they liked them when they were on the receiving end.

    Many orcs died that day by my fists, and their own gloves.


  • The Twelth of Alturiak, 1506 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Norwick
    Weather: Raining

    I met a new human today, his name is Tom. He's an interesting one, that's for sure.

    I first ran into him on my birthday, but I didn't know his name or who he was. It was on our way out through the orc plains, and I found him scavenging gear off the corpses we left behind. I spoke to him briefly then, and left him be. It's not like I care what gets left behind when we move on, but some of the others got upset about it.

    Dunno why.

    Anyway, I ran into him again today in the Peltarch Commons. We chatted a bit about some things, and got to know one another. He's a sneaker, kinda like me in that respect, and there's stuff he's not saying, but I think I can trust him.

    After a while, some other adventurers came up, and we organised a party to head south to Norwick and clear out some of the wandering beasties that frequent the area. Bugs, wolves, pigs, goblins, spirits, zombies and skeletons all fell before our combined might!

    Tom stood beside me, using his bow and sneaking around the back to catch the monsters by surprise. It's a good fighting style, but I don't think it would work very well for me. I catch someone by surprise, and they might fall over in shock, but they certainly wouldn't fall over dead because of it.

    But he's not that tough. A bug turned around and tried to bite him, and it nearly ripped his arm off! A blow like that I could have rolled with, and minimised the hurt, but Tom ripped against it instead, making the bleeding worse.

    After that, he stayed back and used his bow for the rest of the day. Probably for the best, really. I don't think I could say goodbye to another friend like that.

    I still haven't let go of the last friend who died.


  • The Ninth of Alturiak, 1506 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Peltarch
    Weather: Sunny (Thank Sheela Peryroyl for that!)

    Today is my Eighteenth birthday! For a while back at the Monastery I thought this day would never come, especially in the night when I had to tend my own wounds alone in a cold room.

    But, here I am! And Sheela has taken pity on me and seen fit to bless me with a sunny day.

    To celebrate the day, I met with some new friends in the Peltarch commons, a dwarf called Remerak, a dwarf called Murk and a human called Richard. We talked for a while about different things, and then they wanted to take me out caving!

    So, after a bit of discussion about where to go, we decided to head for the orc caves to the west of Peltarch. Gathering our things, we set out and started working our way through the hordes of orcs sent against us.

    Eventually though, we got into the cave. For me this was a new experience, as I'd never been in this cave before. Who knows what lurks around the corner?

    Well, it turns out that around the corner were traps, and huge, smelly orcs with giant hammers!

    We dodged the traps, killed the orcs, and got to the end of the cave! And right near the end, was a big chest full of treasure.

    Remerak and Murk were great at fighting the orcs, and Richard kept everyone alive with his blessings, whilst I picked off the weaker orcs and helped carry everything.

    It took us most of the day to clear out the cave and get back to town, but I feel great! The training was just what I needed to practice my spinning low kick, and now I've got some coin to buy myself something nice for my birthday.

    I think I might pick up one of those shiny crystal rings I saw for sale in the docks. They help against the nasty electrical birds out on with the orcs, and just in case I get hit by lightning. Again.

    Mama will be so proud of me, for what I have become.


  • (cheers…a new hin monk to follow.....yippieeeee.....heh. Good job Scuttle.....and good luck keeping up with the time line and posting count as you take on this journaling project.)


  • The Twenty-first of Hammer, 1506 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Peltarch
    Weather: Raining

    I've decided to keep recording the weather. At least then these entries will follow some kind of format. It's not like I write in here everyday, just when something happens that I want to record. So the weather thing stays for now.

    I've been training hard to get stronger since Anju was taken from us, and it shows. I'm faster now, and stronger. I can feel the lessons from the Monastery coming to fruition, but I still have a long way to go to be able to complete my oath.

    I was practising my forms in the Peltarch commons last night when a strange dwarf came by, watching me. He didn't say a word until I finished. Then, he asked me how I fought. Puzzled, I tried to explain with words, but he wanted something more visceral.

    He led me to the Lucky Ferret Inn, a place of sin and violence. In the basement there, they have a fighting pit, where anyone can go to fight an opponent. And tonight, my opponent would be that dwarf.

    Moving in toe to toe, we traded blows until I managed to strike him well in the chest, winding him. I saw my opportunity and took it, bringing him to his knees with a flurry of punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and headbutts.

    Afterwards, I helped him to his feet, and he congratulated me, then offered to train me should I be interested. Nodding to him, he told me to meet him upstairs in his room, and he would teach me, as long as I brought with me six bottles of whiskey.

    I waited for him to go ahead of me, then went to the bar and bought the bottles he asked for.

    After asking the bouncer for directions, I made my way to his room, giddy with excitement and fear. Was this a genuine offer of assistance? What would he teach me? Would I survive the training?

    I knocked on the door, and he bid me enter. So I opened the door, and went in. He was sitting on a chair in the corner, waiting for me. He then told me to give him one bottle, and to drink the other five, one after the other without stopping except to breathe.

    I looked at him with a mix of fear and curiosity, but he replied that I was stronger than I knew, and that I would survive this. So, I obediently drank the five bottles of whiskey.

    As the room started to spin, he gave me a red berry, and told me to eat it. Dumbly, I nodded and ate it even as I fell to the floor in a drunken stupor, my body trying to fight the poison now seeping into my veins. As I lost consciousness, I heard his voice telling me to find my guide.

    When I awoke, I was not in the Inn. I was in a strange place that felt somewhat… familiar, although I had never been here that I could remember. Located near me was a swarm of bats that flew backwards and forwards, seemingly without reason. One of them flew toward me, cried out in alarm, and suddenly I was coloured purple!

    After several failed attempts to speak with the bats, I continued on and walked in a random direction. Shortly I came to a Hoaran Archer, who told me of a bridge I could cross, for only five gold. Her name was Marie, which somewhat surprised me, but I let it slide. It's not an uncommon name, after all. I decided to not cross the bridge for the moment, but to wait and see what else I could find.

    The next creature I came across was a winged lion. It told me that it's name was Scuttle, and that it could do whatever I wished it to do. First, I asked it how I could leave, so it summoned a cart for me to ride on. Then, I went back to the bats, and asked one of them to be my guide. The bat squeaked it's acceptance, so we got on the cart together.

    Unfortunately, that got me nowhere. So, I told the winged lion that I wanted to get stronger, and it turned me into a giant! I stomped around happily for a few moments, but then I realised that my speed and agility was lost in this new form. Disappointed, I continued on my way as a giant.

    The next creature was some kind of half scorpion, half man. It told me that it's name was whatever I wished it to be, and that here, within my dreams, I could be anything I wanted to be, and go anywhere I wanted to go, if I could find the way.

    Focusing my mind based on what it had told me, I was able to return to my own form.

    This done, I continued on searching for my guide.

    After much roaming, I came to the end of the realm, and looked over. It dropped into nothingness, a vast pool of black.

    Stepping back from this, I went on until I came back to the start, and I found a large pink floating ship. I asked it for it's name, and it said that it's name was Bottle of Whiskey, and that it could take me to a bad headache.

    Thinking this was the wrong choice, I went back to the archer, and paid her the toll to cross the bridge. All it did though, was to lead me back to the start again.

    Suddenly I started to feel ill! Something was slowly poisoning me from within!

    The urgency of everything struck me again, and I thought furiously, in the end deciding to try the pink ship, as a headache as an escape is better than dying inside your own head.

    Once I did this, I passed out again, and woke up on the floor of the Inn with a splitting headache!

    The dwarf advised me that I had nearly died, but that now I would be stronger.

    And he was right. Now, I can drink far more without issue, and poisons don't seem to affect me as much as they would have previously. But I think he meant more than just the physical strength. Mentally, I think I'm developing as well.

    As a mark of respect, I am now addressing this dwarf as Master Dwarf. He told me that he will seek me out for more training in the future, when I am ready.

    I can't wait until the next time.


  • The Ninth of Hammer, 1506 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Overlooking the Rift River, near Old Jiyyd
    Weather: I don't care

    Anju has died, and I can't stop crying. I don't think she can come back this time. Oh gods, how I miss her.

    She died, how do I say this? She died, protecting others. Just like her, really. And I wasn't there to help her.

    She was with some other adventurers out in the old Jiyyd ruins when a Chain Devil appeared. He challenged the party, and she stepped forward.

    One hurried melee later, and she was dead, her soul in that infernal creatures clutches. It then departed back home before the others could do anything, but recover her body and try in vain to bring her back.

    As soon as I got word, I ran to the apothecary, all the way from Peltarch. I grabbed her body and held her, crying and begging for her to be released. I prayed to every god I know who I thought would hear me, and none of them responded.

    Eventually they took her away for the burial. I watched as they wrapped her in burial dressings, and put her body in a casket, lowering it into the ground in the grounds of the Temple of Kelemvor. At least there, her body won't rise as an undead.

    I haven't slept in days. Since then, I've been sitting on the edge of the bluff here, watching the old town and the comings and goings of the creatures that now inhabit that place.

    I've sworn an oath. They will pay for what they did to her. Every single one. And when I am strong enough, I will go to the hells themselves if I need to, and I will bring her back.

    Because I swore I'd never let her go.


  • The First of Eleint, 1505 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Norwick
    Weather: Raining, like always

    Anju died again today. I don't know how much longer she can keep this up.

    I should probably tell the whole story.

    The tallie wizard Aramuil is looking for some kind of treasure, it apparently belonged a long time ago to some guy called Rilastin, or Rolastor, or something. Anyway, that's not important.

    He was looking for adventurers to go with him. I thought it sounded interesting, so I decided to tag along. Anju came as well, I think she wanted to protect me. The dwarven priestess came along too, her name is Telli. Others were there, including Martoushca and a tallie called Z. I don't know what it means, or if it's short for something, but everyone calls him Z. Probably the same way that everyone calls me Scuttle…

    Anyway, we set off from Peltarch to a place called Mintas Rhelgor. It's a tainted woods out past the ruins of old Jiyyd. We had to cross the rift river to get there, and go through the abandoned war plains.

    All the animals there were enraged and attacked us, even though we had three adventurers there devoted to gods or goddesses of nature. And there were these weird poisonous frogs that kept swarming Telli... she said it was probably symbolic, but she never told me what of.

    I'll have to ask her about that one day.

    Eventually we fought our way through to the place where Aramuil said his next clue was. He spent some time focussing on the magical energies, or whatever it was he was doing, whilst I looked around, bored.

    To my shock and surprise, I found a big devil hiding ahead and around the corner!

    I ran back to the others to warn them, and as I did it roared into view, attacking the adventurers! They fought it bravely and brought it down, as Aramuil finished his task, then we started to leave.

    But he wanted to find out where the demon came from. So we stopped.

    Whilst we stopped, a portal opened up where the devil fell, and other demons started coming out. All kinds of weird things attacked us, and I still don't know what most of them were, but the others assured me that they were devils.

    Aramuil tried to close the portal, but his magics just couldn't manage it. So we made a fighting retreat, killing devil after devil as they came after us.

    Eventually we made it out to the abandoned war plains when up in front of us was a monstrous spider devil. It would have been as big as a sailing ship, and a lot uglier.

    It killed Anju with a few lazy strikes, and set about killing the rest of the party.

    I screamed with rage, and started hurling my special shurikens at it, whilst those who couldn't face it ran to safety. Z, Telli, Aramuil, Marty and I fought it and fought it as it tried to kill us. It hit Telli and destroyed her armor and poisoned her horribly, she almost died before Marty healed her. Z ran in and had his armor destroyed too, and then backed off to heal.

    Eventually though, we brought it down, working together as a team. As it fell, it screamed an otherworldly scream which almost shattered my sanity.

    Our foe dispatched, I ran over to Anju's lifeless body, and held her, crying for my lost friend.

    Telli and Martoushca told me that we could bring her back again, if she was willing. I let them take her, whilst I gathered up her things.

    Together we made the slow, sad march back to Norwick to have her revived again.

    A day and a night passed in prayer and reflection before she was returned to us, weary, but happy to be back.

    That same day I took her, and Val into the Sisterhood, and welcomed them as family. No longer would she have to protect others. Now she would be protected.

    If only she will accept that. I pray that she will.


  • The Twenty-fifth of Flamerule, 1505 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Norwick
    Weather: Raining

    I'm starting to think I should stop reporting on the weather. It's always freaking well raining here, the only time it stops is when the clouds are taking a breather to get started again.

    In any event, it only took a week for another attack on the walls. This time it wasn't goblins and bugbears, but spiders, weird creatures from the Underdark, and demons.

    I rushed out with Anju and Val to help defend the town. A tallie wizard called Aramuil and some warriors came out too after hearing the gongs sound. We fought them back for several hours, gaining ground after every wave.

    Aramuil said that the monsters were being sent through portals by an evil spellcaster of some sort. We continued to fight them until we found the primary portal, and he used some powerful magics to close it.

    That done, we went back inside and I finally got to meet with Maya. We talked for a while, about what the Sisterhood does, and why I want to join. She accepted me gladly in the end, and I set to work helping with the children.

    So many orphans left behind from the war, it's heartbreaking. But they all seem determined to survive and make their own way in life, for which I am glad. Perhaps here is the next generation of adventurers and heroes for the realm, who knows?

    I do know though, that Maya will do everything she can to help them out.

    And I'll be there beside her.


  • The Eighteenth of Flamerule, 1505 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Norwick
    Weather: Raining

    There was an attack on the town today. I'd just finished my shift at the Grapevine Inn, cooking meals for travellers and helping with the cleaning, and I was outside talking to Anju when the gongs rang out. Seems that a horde of goblins and bugbears were determined to attack the south gate in an attempt to break in.

    I ran down to help, along with every adventurer in town and most of them in the region. It seemed like they were crawling out of the woodwork just to get a taste of goblin blood.

    The fight went on for a day and a night, with the goblins surging forward, whipped into a frenzy by the bugbears, then followed by the bugbears themselves. Vials of acid and fire were hurled into our lines, spells were cast, and I nearly fell twice from their foul arrows.

    In the end though, we were victorious! We piled the bodies up, at least head high for me and four or five deep, then set fire to them, to send a message to others who would consider coming against the town.

    We lost no-one from our number. Anju fought beside me, and fought bravely. Afterwards, we both collapsed at the Grapevine and slept through the day, eventually waking up hungry and sore, but happy.

    I hope the next battle is as one sided as this one was.


  • The Ninth of Kythorn, 1505 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: Norwick
    Weather: Raining (Does it never end?)

    I met another hin today, her name is Martoushca Leaffall. She's a Senator in Peltarch, a Sergeant in the Troff Legion, a Sister in the Sisterhood, a Priestess of Sheela Peryroyl, and a few things besides. She's been really nice to me, and helped me get my head around a few things.

    We travelled from Norwick to the Legion Tower which is a little south of Peltarch, and she showed me a way around the toll bridge. Glad she did, three gold per trip is extortion! Now I can start to save for a new set of boots…

    But not only did she explain some things for me, and show me around some more, she even gave me a gift! A box full of shurikens, designed to scream as they fly through the air.

    I can see these coming in very handy, especially when I'm travelling with a group of adventurers. Staying safe at the back and throwing these will keep me alive long enough to learn about this place so that I can survive on my own.

    She told me about the Sisterhood, which exists to further the rights of women in the region, to protect children and those who cannot protect themselves, and to raise awareness of issues like this. She even told me that I could join, if the leader, a lady called Maya, said it was okay.

    Hope she agrees to that, I'd like to have a family here. Things have been pretty lonely for me, and something like the Sisterhood could be a great way to fix that problem.


  • The Twenty-Ninth of Tarsekh, 1505 by Dale Reckoning

    Location: The Silver Valley
    Weather: Raining (again!)

    Well, today was a good day. I decided to spend some time exploring the place they call the Silver Valley, a place where Hinfolk and Gnomes can live in peace and safety, and where everything is "right sized".

    I'm quite impressed at what they've managed to do. It feels almost like home, and there's enough space for all folk who would want to be here. There's even a monastery here, although it's closed at the moment.

    After I'd spent an hour walking around, talking to folk and inspecting the wares in the shops, I was approached by one of the guards of the town. They're called Silver Dragoons, and they're very disciplined.

    She spoke with me about the Valley, told me about its history and how things work there. After a few minutes of chatting, she offered me citizenship there, and perhaps a job if I was interested. Of course, I accepted.

    And the best thing is that I can keep my Peltarch citizenship!

    I filled in the paperwork, gave them my name, and they gave me a badge that confirms my citizenship, should it ever be in question.

    The job? Well, they told me I could join the Silver Dragoons, if I wanted to. Seeing a chance to learn something new, and maybe meet new people, I accepted and started patrols straight away.

    The other Dragoons are nice enough, but they're not sure of what orders they should follow at the moment, other than to patrol the Valley and keep it safe. Seems that the Captain, a hin called Dietrick Dardragon, has gone missing, and with no second in command, it's fallen to the other councillors to advise the Dragoons on their role.

    For the time being, they're in a holding pattern, but I hope he comes back soon. I'd love to get some advice from him about what I should do to be the best I can be. Apparently he's a big warrior, and has survived more battles than I've had hot breakfasts.

    We'll wait and see. I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later.


  • 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.