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The troupe’s mood wasn’t unpleasant but the fighting and the rain had taken its toll. The half-orc was on alert and pushing hard to move faster down the path that he had found. At one point after traveling in the rain for miles ready for an ambush at any minute, he gestured for us to stay on the road while he took another route. In a few minutes he returned explaining that there was an old farm stead that looked run down but there were at least three ogre-kin, one tending a field and two fighting each other, much like the two we had come across earlier. It was decided that he would go the way he just came from using the trees as cover while we would travel on the road knowing that we would be seen first but that it may give us a slight edge when the fighting broke out. But when we got within sight of the ogre-kin the two that we could see ran into the barn and the third tending his fields came running at us, which is what we expected all three to do. The troupe laid the first ogre-kin low quickly and decisively.

We then moved to the barn to finish the other two and to hopefully rescue the fire-pelts master. The doors to the barn where shut and Moxie examined them for traps. Finding none she said that they were probably barred from the other side. The big guys up front beat and battered the doors open and we were set upon by more ogre-kin. Being unskilled and out matched we overcame them. They fought to the last man, never a thought about surrender or quarter. People were moving around in the barn, two catwalks lined the outer walls of the barn each ending at a door. There was also a huge double door on this floor barred from this side; definitely keeping something inside the ogre-kin didn’t want to deal with. The troupe split into three parts two parts to either door at the end of each catwalk and a third was keeping an eye on both the house and the progress in the barn. I was with the latter.

Simon and Shelalu were at the barn’s door looking out into the rain watching the house and I was at the base of one of the cat-walks ready to aid either side, uncomfortably waiting for something to burst through the large door in front of me. The guys on the catwalks disappeared into the room beyond the doors and a cry came out that the group on the right side had found people in a cage and couldn’t tell how badly they were hurt. I looked at Simon and he shooed me away to go and help. I asked that Desna please save and revive these men and even though I felt her power course through me the men remained unconscious. I helped get them to their feet and walk them slowly to the barns ground floor. The whole time I was doing this the rest of the troupe’s attention was on a gigantic spider web that filled the entire rest of the barn. And I had a clue as to what the ogre-kin were afraid of. As I had almost reached Simon with the person in tow a scream and fight broke out behind me. It ended before I could react. One big dead ogre-spider. As Simon would say “WTF over” I don’t know what it means but he says things like that at times like this. Oh, one of the prisoners was both the fire-pelts “master- friend” and the ranger the half-orc and Shelalu had been looking for.

As I tended the wounded, Shelalu and the ranger moved away from the rest of us and started talking to each other. Ok maybe Shelalu started talking very loudly at the ranger. The other two rangers, Kaven and Vale, gave us a grave report. It would seem that while the Black Arrows were out a large group of ogre-kin had taken their home, Fort Rannick and have all but wiped them out. Eager to travel onward to Fort Rannick we moved towards the house hopefully to find it empty, t’was not the case however. Decay and death filled the air as we opened the door. A gross display of cookery and bowls filled to overflowing with mangled body parts. The smell alone would gag the best of us but the congealed blood and the thick cloud of bloated flies was too much we moved to the next room without Moxie checking it and got reminded that there is always time for caution. Simon took a nasty cut from a trap; I’ll check him for disease later. I along with the rest of us just wanted out of the “kitchen”. In this room we could see the nasty workings of the trap that just sliced Simon and Moxie was able to disarm them. She was looking a little pale but now that I think of it so did everyone else. We started moving through the house killing, destroying any foul thing that showed itself. Simon and especially Rikert were on a mission to kill anything remotely evil. I could see Rikert’s veins on his neck as they bulged, everyone was tense. Then it happened Moxie checked a door and we went in ready for the next assault on our senses but we weren’t ready for what waited there.

The huge, bulbous, fat, disgustingly ugly, matriarch of these ogre-kin laid waiting for our entry into her bedroom. Her bloated body floating just above the filth covered floor. The lust in her eyes for whatever she wanted from us was plain for all to see. She must have known that we had just killed everything that was between her and the rest of humanity and she hadn’t a care in the world. She was going to feast on us and she knew it. Ogre-kin and zombies attacked at the same time she did, my world had become suddenly black. I was wet and movement was difficult, the smell, the sights, even the taste, was horrific. I didn’t want anything to touch me. I felt that if it, any of it got on me I would surely succumb to it’s disease. I feared for my friends, I feared for us all.

After Ramad’s and the crewman’s death and the giants dealt with, the troupes mood was somber. The boat being pulled up river was like a funeral march slowly travelling onward. I listened to the waves slap the sides of our barge and the steps of the men pulling us to our destination. After we reached our next stop “Whistledown” my mood had eased a bit and I felt more myself again. When I wasn’t helping pull the barge I prayed and meditated on our ways of working together as a group. I have never been a disciplined person. I’ve never thought of a fight as a choreographed dance but that is what I think Simon was trying to explain to me, it was hard to understand him at first until I made the connection of dance.

Simon gave us a lot of good reasons for fighting as a group instead of just running around hitting the first thing you came to. It will be hard for me but Simon seems determined to get me and the others trained. He asked me if I would use a long spear for a weapon and I said sure. He wants me to stay behind him and Rikert and fight with the long spear when I can. My main mission in a fight will be to boost others abilities and heal the troupe and be more of an aid using Desna’s divine power in a more positive way. Simon, for behaving like such an oaf, really takes keeping the troupe safe even in a fight very seriously. I think Rikert is the same way he just never treated the rest of us the way Simon does. I think Rikert expected it from us but we never knew it, whereas Simon demands it outright no questions, just do as I say.

The boat’s Captain stopped off at Whistledown to hire another crew member, so we were able to sleep in a bed yet again. I like this boat travelling idea. The next morning we went up river to Ilsurian and spent yet another night in a warm comfy bed. This was our last stop before we reached Turtleback Ferry. We were back on the river heading to Turtleback Ferry. Sheleilu had taken up Ramad’s place at the front of the barge. She was keeping to herself for the most part only occasionally smiling or even singing along when Moxie and I played an old Sandpoint song or tune. She had a distant demeanor and was not ready to share with us what was troubling her.

We reached Turtleback Ferry late afternoon early evening in time to get a room and a meal before running off to the tavern. I played my flute and sang songs with the locals and some of the sailors from the barge. The rest of my troupe sat at table and drank. I saw a big half orc approach Simon and for a second I thought there was going to be a fight so I changed up the song I was playing so that most looked to me to see what had happened to the music. Simon stood up and after a brief moment sat back down and so did the half orc. The half orc looked like a ranger and I figured Simon was getting information from him. The others were busy talking with people too. I went back to some songs I had learned while in Magnimar and everyone seemed to like them. I retired early enough to take a quick walk around town before doing my daily meditations to Desna. I enjoy our talks at midnight, the beginning of the day, I speak to her and sometimes in my dreams she speaks to me. It’s the best time of day. In the morning when the sun came up I ventured into town to purchase a long spear. I found one and had Desna bless it and made it better.

After breakfast we headed out of town to Fort Rannick to see what had happened to the rangers. The half orc accompanied us, it turns out that he and Sheleilu had a mutual friend in the Black Arrows and they were both anxious to find out more about what had happened to them. While we were walking the conversation turned to what the troupe had learned the night before. It would seem that a “pleasure” boat had sunk a few weeks back and that the clientele had tattooed a sihedron star somewhere on their person to be allowed more access to the girls and gaming on the boat. Everyone doubted the sinking and that the proprietor of the boat a red headed hottie was probably the person from Xanesha’s note, we will figure it out I’m sure. I was caught off guard as the half orc stopped and darted off into the woods, followed by the druid. Rikert said “Hold” and turned towards the direction the ranger and druid had gone. It was unbelievably hard not to chase off with the others. But I remembered Simon's words.

Simon said do not go off alone and I fell in behind him, Rikert and Lynn just like Simon had told me to. Moxie stayed with us, Friedrich was on my left side and Rikert and Simon in front of me, Lynn was just in front of me and to my right, I asked for Desna to allow any of Lynn’s wounds to be shared with me. Lynn then disappeared from sight and it wasn’t long before I felt Desna’s bond drop, I knew Lynn had moved away from us as the spell has a short range. Simon said “We stay together and move as a group” and started swiftly off in the direction the ranger had gone; we stayed as a group and followed. I could hear hounds and singing ahead and wondered what we would find. It appeared to be some kind of hunt. The druid was tending to a large fire pelt cougar. He was the only thing between the cougar and the hounds. I asked Desna for the aid of another large cat to help us. It came and fought two of the hounds I struck at hounds from behind Rikert and Simon. There were two Ogres as well and they were laughing and yelling at each other as the dogs’ attacked us.

At some point I realized that the half orc and Lynn were fighting the Ogres from a distance. The Ogres actually fled Simon yelled "Do not let the Ogres escape" at which point I asked him if he wanted to be next to them. He said "Yes, they must not escape to warn any others". I closed my eyes and in my mind Desna showed me a door that would lead me straight to the Ogres location, I walked through with Simon in tow. Something grabbed my feet as soon as I had taken that step through the door but it didn’t matter Simon and I were right where we wanted to be and Simon attacked, Friedrich attacked, the half orc attacked and Lynn attacked, the Ogres fell. The fire pelt cougar was pulling on the druid to follow it....

The gloom has returned.

We went to the Lord-Mayor’s place and he rewarded us well for our part in the solving of the Magnimar murders and Xanesha's plot. Simon seemed to have settled right in with the group. I watched him speak with the Lord-Mayor and while I couldn’t hear all of their conversation I did pick up on the fact that he agreed for us to take on yet another job. Something about a bunch of scruffy rangers. I’m glad Simon has thrown himself so heartily in with us. I needed to make arrangements for Uther’s remains and the troupe needed to sell and buy some needed supplies. We left the Lord-Mayor's mansion and headed to an Inn.

Lady Shelalu, as Moxie refers to our ranger friend, found us in the Inn and asked us for assistance at Turtleback Ferry. The same place that the Lord-Mayor had just hired us to investigate. While Shelalu’s reason was genuine concern for her ranger friends “Order of the Black Arrows” or something like that. Simon didn’t think the Lord-Mayor had any concern at all for the rangers or for the people of Turtleback Ferry. Simon didn't think the Loard-Mayor liked us either but had to "put up" with us because it would be bad form otherwise. Bad form? What does that mean? Simon said the Lord-Mayor only cared about how others saw his action or inaction on matters, not about the people themselves.

For me it couldn’t be any more obvious, 1. Xanesha’s note pointed to Turtleback Ferry. The Lord-Mayor wanted us to go to Turtleback Ferry. 3. Shelalu was looking for our help at Turtleback Ferry. In my travels I’ve heard mention the rule of three. And what I had heard of the rule of three wasn’t always pleasant. I didn't care about the Lord-Mayor's reason for hiring us.

After a few days in Magnimar with Shelalu and Simon and everyone else having a good time we arranged for passage to Turtleback Ferry. All was good and sometimes fun. We laughed and sang I played my flute and Moxie danced and the ship’s Captain smiled (I think that’s as good as it gets for the Captain). It was turning out to be a great week.

Then it happened. The morning of the third day on the river we were assaulted. Ramod let out an alarm of “In Coming” There was no time, huge rocks fell from the sky and the oarsman right next to me was hit by one of the huge rocks and over the rail he went. I moved to help him back onto the boat. More large rocks shattered beams and timbers sending sailors and passengers sprawling about. I leaned over the railing and helped the sailor out of the river and back on deck.

Out of the mist ahead came a huge pale gray fishy giant and he cut a boatman in half, there was no fixing that. Then I saw Ramod take the full force of a giant’s blow and the gloom entered my bones. Time slowed and I could see Ramod casting spells at the giant and the giant looking intently at Ramod, the giant’s weapon high in the air as it started its arc towards the little Halfling. The weapon sliced and I thought it missed at first but then Ramod slumped and fell to the deck and blood poured from his wound. So much blood. So much blood.

I channeled Desna’s healing power in desperation and said goodbye to Ramod. I allowed myself one look at Moxie to make sure she was alive. Another at the rest of the group then I went bellow deck. I had had enough. Gripping the rail to the lower deck I prayed. Desna oh fountain of freedom, save me from despair, keep my friends from the gloom that I feel. How many must die before we end this? How much blood must be lost? I then returned topside and began taking care of wounds and friends. There has been so much blood.

Just after a great lunch we all headed for the clock tower. It was a nice morning but some clouds were moving in and by the time we got to the tower the weather had changed. I felt the heaviness of Uther’s loss and a chill crept into my bones. The tower looked as if it could topple over at any moment we opened the doors and went in closing them behind us. Although it was dark inside just having a break from the wind made me more at ease.

There was a smell but that was everywhere here in Underbridge so I didn’t know if it came from the area or something in the tower itself. We spread out, the tower was immense but in ruin here on the first floor. Looking up I could just make out the bells and an open stairway circling its way up the outside wall. I investigated the stairs and asked Desna to illuminate my way, casting a light spell part way up the stairs so that it would lighten up an area in deep shadow. As the others moved about the towers main floor, looking in ruined rooms and through piles of straw, I was able to keep a close watch on them all from my vantage point.

Sheldor gave a shout and a hulking beast rose up out of the darkness and charged. I thought at first it was a daemon but in time I understood it to be a construct. This must be what the locals referred to as the scarecrow. At least this scarecrow was easy to recognize as bad and needed to be destroyed. Not some helpless farmers wife dressed up to look like a threat and killed accidently because we’re too on edge. This thing needed to die and the sooner the better. I tried to run past it to heal one of my friends and it reached past him and cut a huge swath across my chest. Rikert killed the thing and I was able to heal those that it had injured.

We regrouped and gave the main floor a final sweep. We put the monsters weapon in a wagon. Its magical cloak went to someone in the group and up we went staying a ways apart from each other as not to put too much stress on the ancient stairs. As I would not be in reach of my friends during our assent I asked Desna to allow me to share the burden of any harm that came to Lynn and that he be given the means to walk on air like one of her beloved butterflies. Part way up the stairway there were missing stairs and we had to decide how to get past the gap. At this point the front door of the tower opened and a torch was being held in to light the way of its bearer. I could see by the torch light that it was a city guard and I yelled down to him that we had permission to be here. Ramad also said a greeting but I was speaking at the same time so I didn’t make his out. The guard explained that the Captain of the Hells that we were in contact with had sent him to help us since we recently lost one in our group. Simon was his name.

We told Simon he was welcome to join us and to be careful on the stairs. Lynn helped at the first missing stairs by walking on air and tying off rope to help the others across. At this time I asked Desna for the same ability she granted Lynn and I too was able to walk on air and help the others make their way safely to the other side. At another section we had to use rope and climb straight up to the next set of stairs. I was very happy to have Desna’s help at this point. Again we made our way up the tower when we heard a loud creaking of heavy timbers. We looked up and saw one of the bells swaying, most of us saw it in time but that didn’t matter much when it fell, tumbling down at us.

The bell crashed through stair and wall and person without slowing down at all, nothing was going to impede its decent to the floor below. Rock debris, bell and stairs knocked several of us off the stair. Some held onto the remaining stair but Anne’s fox companion and Simon were sent hurtling down end over end to the floor below. The fox fell in eerie silence; the city guard on the other hand never stopped cursing until an abrupt thump. In darkness and out of sight I raced down to see if either had made it. I doubted but asked Desna to spare them both. Simon was a very large human and in armor I had no doubt he would make a huge crater and be soup in a can when I found him.

To my amazement Simon was groaning and stirring a small trickle of blood from his mouth and his eyes didn’t focus well for a moment but luck had been with him for he landed in a pile of straw, not a thick pile but he was alive none the less. Anne’s fox didn’t survive the fall. I healed up our city guard and he asked me for a copper. I handed him a copper as he asked, he explained that it was a retainer and he expected to be paid if we made any money on this outing. He also gave me his name, he started with something else but in mid word said Simon, my name is Simon. I introduced myself as Xandu and asked if he would like to fly instead of walking back to the others. He thought about it for a short while but then accepted the offer. With a quick prayer to Desna he was on his way back up to the others.

With three of us able to fly or walk on air we decided to make haste to the landing above to a doorway and hopefully safety from the falling bells. Simon was ahead of me carrying Rikert I was carrying Sheldor and behind me was Lynn carrying Ramad. Moxie and Anne were left on the stair for us to come get them. Immediately I heard fighting in front of me as I neared the bells that were still mounted to huge beams. Rikert and Simon were in combat with the same kind of faceless creature that pretended to be Alderen Foxglove. I wonder how many more are in this city pretending to be someone else. I brought us to the top of the stairs and Sheldor and I attacked a faceless together. I tried not to add to the weight on the stairs but in a few seconds the faceless and Sheldor fell through, leaving a gaping hole in the landing they had been standing on. Thankfully Sheldor landed just a few feet below and somehow running up the stairs was Annie, how did she get there? Rikert and Simon and Ramad had taken care of the two faceless that were left and Lynn was retrieving Moxie. This time we regrouped on a stairway that wrapped around the outside of the tower. It was a short way to the top and on the way Ramad spotted a flying monster and had hit it with magic lightening as to keep it away from us.

As we got to the top of the tower and trying to keep an eye out for the flying daemon, we were assaulted by a large snake lady. She plunged a wicked looking spear into Friedrich whose eyes I’ve never seen wider. A huge fight on the roof erupted and all I could do to was to channel energy into my friends and myself there was no time for anything else. The guys fought bitterly and it was frustrating for them and me to watch image after image being removed and not a bit of damage to the snake itself. Finally they all started to connect and made very short order of her. I believe she was taken by surprise at the amount of damage the guys dished out when it was apparent that she could be hurt.

Long story short we found more clues and also that the Mayor himself was on the hit list sort of speak. We were rewarded and now Have to decide what to do about this guard whose offered to sign on. He has many ideas and “demands” but they all sound good, time will tell.

(This comes after introductions and war-stories, when he picks your brains for the details of operations up to now)

Okay, so here’s the deal. You are now dealing with a plain-talking professional soldier. He does not know the group members (yet), but they have begun to earn his trust and respect (and hopefully he, theirs). He’s willing to join up, but he has some suggestions and some conditions of employment. (From here on, this is in Sgt. Roque’s voice)

Suggestions: 1) the company needs a name. There are plenty of adventuring companies around and they all have names; hell, Magnimar was founded by one, the Wardens of the Eye. Sandpoint might be a great little town, never been there myself, but “The Heroes of Sandpoint” doesn’t mean s%$% to anybody outside of Sandpoint. You need a scary, cool, catchy name.

2) Hey, Sheldor is it? You’re a Druid, right? How come you don’t have a wolf or bear or badger or wolverine hanging around? Hell, this little girl over here had a fox that could maybe bite some bad guy’s ankle, and you got nothing. Isn’t that what you guys DO?

Conditions: 1) you’re an adventuring company, you’re making money, you’ve got a name. What I need is a contract. It’s all very well to work things out as friends, but I’m not your friend yet. At the moment, I’m a mercenary. I like nice clothes, I like good food and good wine, I like a clean bed and a roof over my head, and I like whores. All those things cost money. You’re hiring me to do a job and I want it stated up front, in writing, signed/sealed/delivered just what that job is, and what I’m going to be paid to do it relative to what everybody else is paid. That way, if things don’t work out we can go our separate ways with no hard feelings. By the way, I’m not going to be a hireling bodyguard; it’s full partner or nothing (another suggestion: a hireling bodyguard or two might be something to think about, especially for you two brainiacs {Ramad and Freidrich}. Plus you could use another real fighter or two. Just saying).

2) You have to have a combat leader. I’m NOT putting myself up for that job, a frontline fighter is usually looking at the world through a narrow little slit and has sweat in his eyes, not the best conditions for knowing the big picture. But SOMEBODY has to keep the goal in mind, and be in a position to order a change of formation, or a retreat, or order somebody to do something normally outside their job description. Personally, I’d be ok with either of these two brainiacs in the job, but that’s up for you guys to decide, I don’t get a vote on this.

3) You MUST learn some tactics, and this point is non-negotiable; falls under me doing the job you’re hiring me for. Also falls under me not dying like those other guys you got killed. Yes, I’m saying that you got your friends killed. Some of you might hold a little more responsibility for that than others (looks pointedly at Xandu and Rikert), but that’s water under the bridge. Accept that mistakes have been made, learn from them, and try not to repeat them.

I’m not talking here about making plans before an operation; that’s strategy, and everyone knows that plans go out the window when the swords come out. I’m talking about defining a few formations to cover moving around and fighting in corridors or big open spaces. I’m talking about everyone having a job to do, and then doing that job unless specifically ordered to do something else by the leader.

As I see it, there are four job descriptions for a fighting company. There’s line fighters (me, Rikert, and Lynn in some situations, like with that snaky b%+&% the other night), there’s scouts/flankers (Moxie, probably Annie and sometimes Lynn), there’s artillery (Freidrich and Ramad, maybe Sheldor), and there’s healers (Xandu and Sheldor). It’s Sheldor right? Like the Conqueror? You’ve got a couple of healing spells, you’re a healer. You can summon s&+& too, that’s fine; just let the line guys know it’s f%+&ing coming).

The line fighters job is to be in front, holding the line. They define the front of the formation. Nobody gets in front of them unless their name is Moxie, or the leader tells them to. The scout/flankers job is to be out front looking for dangerous stuff. If the s$$% comes down, they need to get back behind the line, or flank the bad guys engaging the line and then get back behind the line, or hide and assassinate the boss bad guy. They will need to take cover or stay out of the way of the artillery; the finger wigglers likely can’t see you and it’s not their fault if you get caught where the leader tells them to lay it down. The artillery guys job is to stay behind the line (as far as they can be and still hit their targets) and blast the enemy. Please don’t singe the line guys eyebrows unless they specifically ask for it, we f@~@ing hate that. The healers job is to be behind the line and in front of the artillery and heal us as we get hurt. Above all else, you STAY BEHIND THE LINE. Also you keep the undead stuff back, if possible. But, and get this, if the healers or the artillery are swinging at bad guys, THEN WE ARE LOSING. So you (points at Xandu) need to stow that toy Shoanti pig sticker of yours unless you need it to play a song. Don’t kid yourself about being a fighter, I don’t care how fast you think you are. The first time I see you in front of the line without specific orders to be there, if we both live through the operation I will PT you until you think you’re gonna die. The second time it happens, I will consider my contract terminated.

So that’s it. That’s everyone’s job; figuring out the best way to do your job is your business. Figuring out the best formations to do them from is a matter for further discussion. Now, if we have a deal, we can get down to business and decide how we’re going to do these things.

I’ve never cared for cities. Too much wanderlust in my heart I suppose. And of late my heart has been troubled. There is a dark stain in my world and I can’t get my head around it. I can’t figure out why it is this way. I have never felt so heavy or burdened as I do now. I have witnessed unspeakable acts and have had close friends die all while supposedly doing a good dead.

We are following a string of murders and every time I think we are getting to the end something slips away and there is more to be discovered. I have grown weary of the death especially the death of my friends. My reality keeps slipping or at least it keeps getting challenged. I've seen horror's that shouldn't exist.

I’m scared. Desna has kept me close and safe but I keep losing loved ones, most recently Uther. Uther was my closest friend. He may not have known it. I’m not good with making friends. He was a good man and always watched out for us. Who’s going to be that now? Who do we have that will always be there? Three of us are gone; I didn’t realize how much I depended on the others. I’ve been a free spirit all my life and having these people to laugh and love with has been a welcome change. I’ll be alright as long as Moxie is okay. (No, don’t even think that way.)

This web of murder is ever widening, from a goblin raid in Sandpoint to this. We are in Magnimar’s Under Bridge district following a clue we found at the Seven Saw Mill. During the day I’m watching a tower we suspect is the lair of the one behind all the murders here in Magnimar and of those in Sandpoint as well. It is too dangerous to be out here at night so I stay at the Old Fang Inn, singing and trying to help the mood of the locals. This is a dark dangerous city. At least where I am is. There are nicer parts I’m sure but we’re solving a mystery and this is where it has lead us.

WTF Alderen? No Way!

Let me Back up.

Remember the haunted house? Yeah, like four days ago. The ghoul in the basement, Alderen Foxglove the ghoul, the ghoul of Alderen Foxglove, the undead thing that Alderen Foxglove became. Alderen Foxgloves House. We killed him and set the house right so it wasn't haunted anymore.

Now we come to His estate in Magnamar, we walk in like we own the place and who walks through the dining room door but Alderen FoxgloveThe Living breathing Alderen Foxglove.

Again I got ahead of myself. Let me try again.

I love to travel and wonder the world and will continue to do so but I now have roots. Here in Sandpoint I have made friends and feel comfortable in one place for the first time in my 40 years of my blessed life. I have made a commitment to help keep the sanitarium open. I will be it's patron. I have made arrangements with Father Zantus giving him funds to disperse as needed. I have made him scrolls for healing of wounds and disease.

I have also found a a place within a troupe of adventuring colleges that I will maintain as long as I'm able. It is a strange and wonderful feeling to be a part of something. I am Xandu, gypsy follower of Desna, from Sand Point, along with my friends "The hero's of Sandpoint". I may have to work on that.

The past days have had me in a foul mood. We have tried our best to overcome many wrongs that surround Sand point. And have found ourselves in a haunted house experiencing worlds I’d rather just read about. I’m sure a researcher would love to be here but not me. We have each been visited by haunts showing us a horrible picture of the past wrong doings that have taken place here in the Foxglove estate called Misgivings.

The stories we all share are what some would call fantasy or make believe but they are all too true and instead of retelling them I will ponder on them when I again have time to calmly talk with Desna. We are in pursuit of a revenant in hopes that it will lead us to what we believe is what is left of Aldern Foxglove. I will share my life force with the Paladin, hoping to keep him alive, it may be our only hope of surviving this cursed place.

We finally caught up to Aldern, well what was left of him anyway, discovered he was a victim of the undead happenings earlier under Sand Point and became entwined with the plot to take over Sandpoint for dark forces, a plot that continues even now. The web gets ever bigger the closer we get to it. I pray that Desna keeps us safe as we try to unravel it.

My head still foggy I walked among our fallen trying to determine the best approach to heal them. I was all but out of spells and potions so I used what I had left and got most of them to their feet. There was nothing I could have done to bring Lucien back; he had past beyond what I had strength to heal. I wanted to; I pleaded with Desna but knew in my heart that this time it really was beyond me. I turned towards the others as they were picking themselves up and tell them the news. Moxie head down but still watching me, fear in her watering eyes, “You gunna fix him, right?” I looked at everyone and said “Lucien’s gone, there’s nothing I can do.”
I was tired my head hurt and for the first time I felt helpless. I know we each will pass from this life to another but I wasn’t ready for it to happen like this. I wasn’t even here, I didn’t see him fall. I have tried to prepare myself for the reality of losing one of my new friends, I mean, look at what we’re doing. We’re fighting things I’ve only read about or heard of in stories. We get cut and bleed I knew this would happen but for it to happen and not even know what happened started eating at me. There was a pending doom, I could feel it sinking in on me like the night. A darkness was coming and I felt it was coming for us. I needed rest, I asked if we could find a place to hold up for a while so I could clear my head and regain some spells. Everyone agreed and they chose to stay in Nualia’s room. I wasn’t happy with the choice but couldn’t think of a rational reason not to. The room was lit with red glowing skulls and did not help the mood I was in. Moxie had placed Lucien in his bedroll and trusted him up so we could move him. I imagined Moxie having to truss us each of our bodies up till she was the only one left. The doom crept in but Desna chased it all away and like butterflies my worries fluttered away and my mind found sleep. Sleep bound me in color and warmth, soft grass and sunshine, bunny rabbits and “Moxie”, I woke. Startled, I was sitting up and looked around. Did I speak or was I just dreaming, Moxie was already awake and she wasn’t staring at me so I don’t think I spoke aloud. She was packing her bag, she stopped just for a moment looking into her hand then put whatever she had into her bag. Dressing I asked Friedrich “What’s for breakfast?” for he was also awake. Everyone’s mood was somber at first but the rest did its job and although sad we were refreashed.
We followed Barus and Moxie through doors and into a room with a column of gold on one wall and double doors on another. The column was fake there were no gold coins. Moxie was curiously looking around the column when Barus asked her to check the double doors for traps. With a start she rushed to his side and started studying the doors. The rest of us waited patiently and were relieved when she announced them safe. Barus opened the doors and we pored into the room. The room was an old crypt and there were sarcophagi in niches along the walls. The was also a statue of The Rune lord in the middle of the room we were searching around the room when I felt and saw a shadowy figure beside me. It was cold, so cold it sapped my strength. It was all I could do to stay on my feet I called for help and my friends dispatched the shadows. Barus was searching along a section of wall that looked odd to me and as I watched him something caught my eye. I told Barus to retrace his hand back a few inches and he found a hidden stone door. He pushed on it and it opened. Warm salty air rushed past me, I could smell the sea but it was still very dark. We were in a hallway, Barus, Moxie and Friedrich were in front and they took the first turn to the right.
Barus had also gone straight down the hall until it turned and he said they would check the first right. Being at the rear of the party and not wanting to be attacked by something coming out of the dark I asked Uther to stay with me. He agreed and held his pistol in ready to shoot anything that might come upon us. The rest of the party was sounding rather excited, I heard shouting about gold and a treasure room and as I listened I could hear similar sounds coming from down the hall. I told Uther that I thought that both ways led to the same room. He said lead the way and I’ll back you so we moved down the hall. I came to a door and opened it and indeed it was the same room but the shouting I heard was now panic as Barus was in the dark water lit only by a couple sunrods some twenty feet below the surface of the water fighting for his life with a giant crab. I saw Friedrich swimming towards Barus through a now red with blood glow. I jumped into the water and started swimming towards them both. Magic bolts were jumping from a wand in Lynn’s hand and hitting the crab but it was all too late, by the time I reached Barus and Friedrich, Barus and Friedrich were hurt. I did a burst of healing power but it was not enough to bring Barus back. Friedrich got him to the surface and the rest hauled Barus out of the water.
Moxie was staring at one of her new friends, that was now dead, with tears in her eyes, she gave me a glance and in that glance I felt like she hated me, that I should have been able to save Barus I should have been able to save them both. I knew in my heart that I couldn’t but try and tell her that. Just like that the pending doom came creeping back in on me. I looked around the cave it was lit up by sunrods on the sea floor and from our own torches the light casting shadows everywhere. There was nothing evil about the room but I still had that feeling, it just wouldn’t go away.
We discussed our plan of action and what to do next. With two dead I was surprised no one wanted to quit. Moxie was tending to Barus and getting him trussed up like she had done with Lucien. Did she hate me? Was this her way of telling me she didn’t trust me to do right by them? There was no malice in her actions but I still wondered. Since several of us were already wet we decided to retrieve what treasure we could out of the water. At some time during the retrieving of treasure I saw Moxie watching us, she turned to me and smiled. And with that tiny smile she took away all my fears of her hating me or anyone for that matter. She had found or made her peace with Lucien’s and Barus’s passing. I knew she held no ill will towards me and I felt shame for even thinking she did. When we were all out of the water and getting dry Moxie said she wanted to go back to the column of gold coins and try to figure it out. So we headed out to the column and sure enough she got it figured out and open. I think we were all thinking it would be more treasure but that wasn’t it at all just another room and more doors.
Searching the first room we found knives and needles and things I could possibly use to help heal people. I also found a strange looking item and Uther claimed it a key of sorts so I gave it to Moxie. Indeed it was a key and we used it on another of the doors. This room was lit by magic candles and a fire pit in the center. I spotted an opening on the opposite wall and pointed it out to Moxie. That’s about the time a huge friggin goblin faced dog phased into view.
The room suddenly seemed very small as Lynn was attacked and fell to the ground. Friedrich and Uther fought back even Moxie fought the giant phasing creature. I prayed that Desna would help us. The beast was foul and hideous but we took it down. We gathered up all the candles and through the creature into the fire pit closing the doors behind.
Clearing all but a small part of Thistle Top we decided to send a couple of people back to town to bring a wagon or two to carry both our dead friends and what treasure we could bring. We also brought the plans and notes about the attacks passed and pending on Sandpoint, we had collected from the rooms. The sky was blue and the sound of the surf was inviting but there was lots of work to be done before I could relax. Once the wagons arrived and we were on our way back to Sandpoint I had forgotten all about the feeling of doom.
All I wanted was to sleep in a hot tub but that wasn’t meant to be. When we arrived Mayor Deverins wanted to know everything and we had dead that needed tending to. The list of things we had to do was endless but when finished I headed back to the Rusty Dragon. I was in the door just a few minutes and talking with Uther and Friedrich when out of nowhere came Moxie with just a shirt and towel fresh from the baths. Orders me to kneel down and close my eyes and hold out my hands. She’s was too cute so I did what she asks and “What, I stink?!” a bar of soap and “What, feed your vanity!” oh yeah, I remembered. I bet I went beat red cause it got rather warm in the room. Moxie picked up on my realization I knew exactly what she was talking about. I had forgotten but “What?”
Excusing myself from Uther and Friedrich (did they have smirks on their faces) I took the soap and asked for a bath to be poured. Going to my room and ridding myself of the clothes I was wearing and getting new brightly colored ones and a towel off to the baths I went. As I soaked, I thought about the gift I had bought for Moxie before we had gone to Thistle Top. I had noticed that Moxie looked up to Ameiko and that is fine but I thought at some point and soon people “Men” would start looking at Moxie the way they do Ameiko. I just thought it would be in my best interest to be the first one to let Moxie know that she is thought of as a beautiful woman and not just a sneekabout.I had purchased items that women use to make themselves pretty and had asked Ameiko to make sure Moxie received it on her return. And to have forgotten that and to think that she could hate me and now that she may really like me has me all confused. She kissed my eyes. I finished my bath and got dressed. We gathered at table for a meal and Moxie did a great eulogy for our fallen friends and even dared others to take up their mantle. Then with a smile on her face she did something acrobatic that I can’t even explain and landed practically in my lap. I was a bit aroused. With a foot on each of my knees she reached back and poured a drink she held it for me as she poured it down my throat, I was swallowing as fast as I could and thought I might choke but I got it all down. She then leaned in really close, I thought she was going to kiss me and as I readied for it she turns her head sideways and says something about me not singing and calls me Stinky again. Then away she goes glancing playfully back for me to follow or lead I’m not sure at this point but it was singing and dancing and drinking all night. I can’t remember a better happier time. Lucien and Barus I’m sure were very proud.

The Yeth Hounds bite must have affected me worse than I thought at first. I tried not to show the effects, fever, dilutions, I think I even had voices whispering to me. It may have been the unhollyness of the temple room itself that all this stemmed from and once I got out of the temple room I did slowly feel better. I walked following the group in a kind of fog. We fought a lady, well she had the body of a lady but Uther and his pistol had removed her head. I remember walking in a hall on the first floor of the fort and stopping in front of cages. Cages, trapped, I must escape. Cages, there were bunnies in these cages and Moxie freed them. Bunnies, Moxie, “Oh s++@”, Moxie and the rest of the party are down fighting somewhere below me.
“What happened to me? How could I have left my friends”? I Ran asking for Desna’s forgiveness and strength to make it back in time. I ran down stairs I could hear fighting as I got closer to where the lady had lost her head and there standing among our fallen friends was Moxie. Dagger in hand dripping in blood tears in her eyes. She looked up at me shrugged her little shoulders motioned to the bodies of our friends and enemies that lay motionless around her and said “They Left Me”. I put my hand on her shoulder and said “It’s ok. We’ll fix what we can. They’ll be alright” Friedrich came running in too, a look of bewilderment across his face. I yelled to him “Get some potions I know not who’s still alive”. I could see four fallen friends and had no idea what had transpired. I just knew we had to bring them back, for Moxie’s sake.

“Moxie,” what a prize. As we attempted to get some rest before our decent into the inner parts of the island, I was praying to Desna thanking her for her help this day and for her blessing on the next, I spotted something precious. Something was near the bunny cages and bunnies were disappearing right from my view. I almost sounded an alarm then Desna whispered to me and a grand smile came over me. After all we’d been through today the battles, the stench of the privy, the cutting off of ears. When all had quieted down Moxie took it upon herself to rescue the bunnies. What a sweet person, and since she did it in the dark of night she must not want any of us to know. I’ll keep her secret and I again thanked Desna for showing me all sides of my new and wonderful friends.
In the morning no one noticed the missing bunnies and if they did no one said a word about it. We decided to close off one of the two ways we found that went further underground and head down the other. A room of doors awaited us at the base of the stairs. We all placed ourselves in the room and listened. I could hear moaning and giggling coming from one of the doors, some grunting noises from behind yet another. We stood in the room trying to be quite. Barus just took the door on his left and slowly opened it. The rest of us watched and waited as Barus followed by Lucien entered the first door. Uther covered the door with his pistol as they investigated. They came back saying that it was a more natural cavern and the first part of it looked like it was storage for trash or a supply room. Friedrich or someone had also gone into the first part of the room and searched around while Barus and Lucien went further in. That person also confirmed that it held nothing of interest. They all came back and closed that door. Barus opened the next door.
There was disgust on Barus’s face as he peered in this room but all he said was “friggen goblin babies”. People looked in but they just shut the door. The third door Barus said was a hallway with more doors. He came back and closed that door for now too. The door with giggling and moaning was next and I prepared myself for a torture chamber as Barus opened the door.
“Oh Desna spare us“ I cried. Barus opened the door and instead of a torture chamber I saw…. I saw… Desna remove the sight from my eyes….I saw four female goblins pleasuring an orc, no, a bugbear and themselves. Resisting the strong urge to hurl I backed away from what I saw and prayed for Desna’s blessing. With my back against a door I watched my friends kill Bruthazmus the bugbear and the female goblins. I went into the room after all was done and Moxie was busy collecting ears. This is the same girl, that just a few hours ago was stealthfully, rescuing little bunnies, makes you laugh. There was a smell of decay and vinegar and “others”. There was shouting and gasping from the main room.
I think it was Uther that I heard say Friedrich was down so I did a burst of healing power from Desna to my friends not knowing who all was hurt. When I got to Friedrich he was almost dead. There was another man in the hall near Friedrich but I needed to deal with the wounded and the man had already dropped his sword and asked for quarter. After I had healed Friedrich and seeing the looks of my friends towards this man, Oric, he told us his name was. I said take off all but your small clothes and you may take a bow and three arrows in exchange for your life. Thankfully he agreed and barefoot off he went up the stairs. Moxie had a few words with him before he left but I was not privy to them. Others had asked him questions as he disrobed and found out quite a bit of information. We then searched this hall and its Living quarters of Oric, Bruthazmus, Tsoto and more. Much was discovered and without a doubt this is where the plan and execution of the raids on Sandpoint had originated. The search continued but as we had just entered another room a cry or more of a howl that raised the hair on the back of my neck. What was that I thought? I raced forward to find myself underneath two huge flying dogs. Taking them for some kind of daemon I asked Desna to hinder them in some way. And they attacked us. As I fought they kept tripping me to the ground. I was having a hard time regaining my feet. I was bit several times and never once did I get to stab one or hurt one in any way. Thankfully my friends had better luck. We should be more careful searching the rest of this island.

Our adventure continues. We had a couple days to rest and buy more gear before we headed out yet again. This adventuring is wild. I had tried to find some “girl” items for our little thief “Moxie”. I call her thief, only because she is about to be the local heart throb and she doesn’t even see it coming. Like everyone else, I have a liking for Ameiko, and Moxie is about to be pressed upon in like fashion. I have seen patrons of the Rusty Dragon watching the little spry gnome while we play and dance for them. I’ll have to have a talk with her so she is not taken by surprise before we return to Sandpoint. The paints and oils I bought her should be there when we get back.
We headed north to find Thistletop and Ripnugget the goblin. We eventually came to what appeared to some as some kind of ambush. Goblin tracks and drag marks were then followed to a thicket of brambles and a door was found. We entered the overgrown brambles that lead into or turned into hallways and rooms of sorts for little goblinoid type creatures. I should just say that the passage ways and rooms were for smaller folk. Only Moxie wasn’t hampered by the confines of the thicket. We discovered goblins and a human prisoner. Attacking the goblins we almost lost the prisoner down a hole. Luckily he was stuck at the entrance and we were able to kill the goblins before he fell in. We untied him and told him of our quest as he gathered his gear the goblins had strewn on the ground. He said that he wished to go with us to see if he could save his horse. We could still clearly make out the drag marks that his horse had made while being taken to some unknown location.
More goblins were found to fight and a goblin druid and his pet “big cat”, talk about scary. We were torn up and needed rest but some wanted to press forward. A compromise was reached and we were allowed to heal and rest for a few minutes. During the rest the goblins mounted a counter attack of sorts. They stayed across a ravine and shot arrows at our group from a fortified position. There was a rope bridge across the ravine but the fact that the goblins wouldn’t cross it gave me mind to look at the bridge more closely. In fact the bridge was trapped but I had no idea what would set it off other than weight. And I didn’t know what that weight might be. At the time of discovering this there were three of us on the bridge so I yelled to the others not to let more than three on the bridge at one time. We had to watch our escape and try an assault at the same time.
Our fighter and dwarf ranger made a run for the other side and engaged the goblins there. The gunfighter took up a position on this side and engaged at range with his pistol. Friedrich “the alchemist” and I kept an eye on our retreat route while two of us rested and learned new spells. I then took a turn and prayed for new learning and Desna granted a healing spell that I’d use shortly on one of my friends. As we finished our prayers, the others had already made their way across the bridge and were trying to gain access into the fortified island.
The fighter had scaled the wall and the prisoner we rescued was chopping his way through the front doors. Friedrich, the alchemist, focused on the goblins in the towers with his bombs. The place was a mess. Dead goblins everywhere and little hallways and tiny rooms littered the interior of this “fort” we searched everywhere to find Ripnugget and his crew. When we did the fight was on immediately. Ripnugget and the Druid goblin stood at the far end of a large meeting hall. Unfortunately there were lots of goblin archers in the cross beams near the ceiling. The druid had his cat beside him and Ripnugget was riding a large lizard. We charged in and he charged out attacking us as if he was a knight on a steed. At first I thought he had made his escape but as the fighting continued he also came riding back into the Great Hall astride his wall climbing mount. The Druids cat died first then the druid. The party was able to make the lizard fall from the wall and they jumped on Ripnugget. As it stands we are hurt but faring well. I unfortunately was able to find a hidden room in the goblin privy that held a treasure chest and loot, the unfortunate part being how I now reek of goblin feces and urine. I can’t wait to get to the ocean for a bath.
Lynn “Elvin Magus” cast a spell on me and I no longer smell bad but I still think as soon as possible I jump into the ocean, clothes and all. We now prepare ourselves to go further into this nest and try and find the lady that started all of this trouble in the first place.

After destroying the zombies in the pits the group moved on. We went down a hall that had a door straight ahead or turn towards a stair way to the left. The group decided to check the door first. It opened to a circular room like the inside of a ball. Several objects were in the middle of the room floating like there was no gravity pulling at them, I was quite interested in the room and wanted to see what it was like to just float but I waited for the group to decide what to do. The door was shut and the stairway investigated, dead end, the stairs were collapsed. We went back to the door to look at the floating objects. The room itself was red but it didn’t smell bad even with a dead raven with maggots eating away at it.
I thought if I get a chance I’d like to go into the room. As the group was deciding on a plan of action I made my way to the door. I thought if I jump in with enough momentum I would be able to push off of the far wall and get back to the door. I jumped into the room and effortlessly passed through the space between the walls slamming into the far wall much sooner than I thought possible. The impact knocked the air out of me and bruised a couple of ribs but I was able to move around the room easily. I grabbed the wine bottle and headed to the door.
As I stepped through I again felt the pull of gravity and walked towards Uther who had asked about it. I handed it to him and told everyone that it was safe to enter the room and fun but no one would go so I said I’d get the rest of the items out. 1. a bottle of wine 2.a book of lamashtu 3.a twisted wand 4.a dead raven. I discerned that the raven’s neck had been broke and threw its remains into a zombie pit. The only reason I removed the raven was so I or anyone else could float around in the room without it getting in the way. The room was/is way cool and I plan on returning to just hang out.
Back to investigating the catacombs. We back tracked our steps to the large statue. There had been a couple of hallways we hadn’t gone down so we decided to start looking for more monsters again. I noticed as we walked away from the floating room that Moxie kept looking back at it. I think she was disappointed that she didn’t try it out. Maybe I can bring her back soon to show her it’s really ok. One of the hallways was collapsed the other opened to some kind of shrine and two huge doors. I looked around the shrine but found nothing. The doors were heavy but the guys got them open and as soon as they did we were attacked by sinspawn.
There was also a quasit (small daemon) at the opposite end of the room. She cut herself and her blood dripped into a glowing red basin. At that point another sinspawn rose from a pool in front of us. We fought the quasit and the sinspawn but without many healing spells left I was reluctant to continue the fight after the quasit disappeared. We had killed all three of the sinspawn and several summoned evil laughing dogs but the quasit wasn’t to be found and as a matter of fact had flown away for the time being. I was looking over the “summoning” pool when the fighter pricked my hand with his dagger and a drop of my blood fell into the pool. I was out of summoning spells but just to try I thought of the eagle I had summoned before. To my surprise it was a sinspawn that rose from the first pool and we killed it quickly. “I’m not doing that again”. I told the group. We decided to go back to town and rest and come back in the morning to fight the quasit. While back in town we found out that the dwarf was diseased and acquired a cure for him before heading to the Glass Works to keep a vigil through the night. We did return and fought the quasit again. Finally I think we’ve cleared the “catacombs”.

While I went downstairs with Uther, reading Tsuto’s journal entries. Moxie and some others stayed upstairs with Ameiko to wait for Mayor Deverin and some town’s folk to get rid of the goblin bodies and those of the glassworks as well. And others gathered up Tsuto’s belongings and took his body up to be taken away with the others. It wasn’t long before Moxie came down stairs with a look on her face I couldn’t place. She’s usually a spitfire ready for anything but this was different, not worried but different. She told all of us that the Mayor wanted us to check and clear the rest of the tunnels. I didn’t know what “tunnels” she meant unless she meant other than the hall behind one of the doors that Tsuto tried running away down. Indeed that was the case, the door led to a more natural “tunnel” system. The tunnels led around and under town. Moxie mentioned “smuggler’s tunnel” and that is what it was. A tunnel made to get to town without anyone knowing or seeing. Right away we were sat upon by some nasty creatures roaming in the darkest parts of the passageway. We encountered a few opf these same creatures while trying to figure out these tunnels. Moxie looked at me at some point and exclaimed they were “Sin Spawn”. “How would she know that?” I wondered. Even though she was looking tired and a little scared she smiled that smile when she told me what those creatures were. Proving to me once again that there’s more to this little gnome than meets the eye. Watching her she seems like a child at times and other times so much more. As I think on Moxie as a child I realize how absurd it is that she’s in the front of all these big guys, myself included, picking our way though this maze of tunnels. She has proven herself not a child time and time again but I think we all still see her that way at times.
We had just returned to a part of the tunnel system that had a hole in the floor that led to a lower chamber; a hole that opened into a cell of old. We had been here earlier and had lowered Moxie down to look around. She said it was pretty big but very dark so we asked her to lock the cell so that nothing would come up out of it while we were down here searching the rest of the tunnels. Moxie was to go first followed by Barus (the dwarf) then the rest of us. Moxie went as planned but when Barus landed on the cell floor he was attacked by something we couldn’t see. It turned out to be a couple of the Sin Spawn creatures. We all climbed down to rescue Moxie and Barus. The room was pretty big and filled with old cells. As we looked around the chamber the group kind of got split up. I was walking on a wooden walkway above the cells when I came to a dark hall and asked Uther for some light. That’s when he said sure but don’t go too far the others have taken a different way. I had gone into what looked like a torture chamber and fond three doors when we heard screams. It didn’t sound like Moxie but we all turned and ran towards the doors that Moxie had gone through. There was a huge statue and Moxie hiding near its legs. She had been crying or at least there were tears on Moxie’s face. I notice she was wounded and placed my hand on her and asked for Desna to help her, to heal her. A calm came over Moxie and she sniffed and said “Thanks, can we go a different way, I don’t like what’s at the end of that hall.
We all agreed to go back to the torture chamber and inspect it. We didn’t find much there other than the bones of misshapen creatures in the cells next to it but as we went on deeper into that tunnel we found a three armed goblin. It puked at us and the ones up in front were covered in….well….yuk. At first glance it looked like the room had wooden planks spread around on the floor but as I got closer I heard groans and moans coming from under them. They looked to be lids covering a pit so I lifted one up with my Totem spear to see a zombie in a small pit cell. If we weren’t carful we could easily fall into one and have the fight of our lives with a zombie in a very tight space, not good at all. We focused on the three armed goblin and after we had killed it we killed all of the zombies in the pits. It is now time again to heal the wounded and catch our breath. What are we up against? First it was goblins then zombies then “Sin Spawn” now to three armed puking goblins and zombies. What the hell did we get into? I came here to dance and party and I find myself along with a few good strangers, Deputized and put in charge of cleaning up Desna knows what. All very strange but on we go. And my bond to these people of my group gets stronger. If it wasn’t for each one at some point I think we would fail but the strength of the whole keeps us safe, not from harm mind you but from death. In a few short days I’ve gone from happy to be alive to HAPPY TO BE ALIVE. I feel now that it would be worse for me to lose one of my new friends than would be my own death. I have vowed to Desna that I will do my part in keeping these friends in good health.

That evening I went to pray at the new temple and to help heal any of the town’s folk that needed it. I find that as a follower of Desna not only does she aid my travels during my life by day but also after a full day and my nightly prayers, she also aids my travels in my dreams at night. I love to pray at night and meditate on the how Desna has blessed me during the day. I have found that she also shows me wonders in the imagination of my mind. She guides my dreams to places of wonder and majesty.

I think she even reveals secrets to me through my dreams. She has always been there for me especially when I have been alone. Although I have been very lucky in my travels and am seldom without companions, at least travelling company. I hate to be alone. I love people. I love to hear them play and laugh. I even of late come to like them when they are at war and they are terrible but terrible for the right reasons. I noticed that even I like to fight a common evil. I dance and make a sort of music when I fight. I always bless Desna and ask for her blessing as well when entering battle. I accept the path that I am on and welcome my new companions.

The night was long and though not many people were physically injured Father Zantus and I talked a great deal to those who weren’t ready to accept the reality of the raid by goblins. The tortured pets, burnt homes and even some shattered families that weren’t their own. The raid wreaked havoc on the peoples spirit as much or worse than it did physically. What I know of people is that their spirits will heal as they help one another in the following days. Their bond to each other will strengthen and their pride will return. Time, time can heal so much hurt. And this is just the first night.

I woke late this morning and after accepting money that Alderen Foxglove had given us for helping with the goblin raid the night before and agreeing to join him in a boar hunt the next day. Did he not see the damage that had been done to the town? I sometimes wonder how some people can be so generous and yet so blind. I went about town fixing and helping in ways that I could. We met at the Inn for lunch and shortly after the Sheriff came by with a cart load of goblin gear. The town’s folk had gathered it and wanted us to take what we might need. I realized they had responsibilities other than us but wanted to show their appreciation in some way. A couple of my new friends suggested that we give it to the town’s people not understanding that it was them trying to repay us for our contribution. I quickly and quietly explained to them that it was just as important to accept a gift and it is to give one. They looked at me strangely but I stood there looking over the rotten leather and rusty weapons and picked something out. I was happy to receive a part of our gift. There was gold as well and it was divided among us by Uther Eld. The most level headed human I’ve met. He also knew the importance of accepting what the folk’s had to offer us and helped me convince the others of accepting it.

That night during Moxie’s and I’s entertainment Sheriff Hemlock came in and asked us to accompany him to see Father Zantus. As we went with him he explained that a vault in the cemetery had been opened or at least tampered with. He was so excited and we were all almost at a run to keep up it was hard for me to hear all that he was telling us. We arrived to be greeted by Father Zantus, he explained to us that indeed a vault of a former priest had been disturbed, and it was the Sheriffs idea to have us along when they were about to investigate the vault. (I’m starting to have my doubts about the Sheriff’s ability)

The door to the vault was barely ajar but it was so heavy that it took a lot to move it, to open it. A couple of sun rods flew in as it was opened and a couple of men (later I found out that they were Zombies, a kind of undead creature) attacked from within the vault. Lynn was hurt but the rest of the group had killed the foul creatures that had been left behind. Left behind by goblins it seemed. There were goblin tracks that came and went over the cemetery wall. We lost the trail on the other side of the wall as the goblins made their way to the woods.
As far as I know the rest of the group went back to the Rusty Dragon and I stayed to do my nightly prayers at the temple. I returned late and no one was around accept a couple of inn workers cleaning up.
In the following days we were introduced to a female ranger named Shaelelu Andosana . We were also Deputized by Sheriff Hemlock and asked to watch over the town as he went to get reinforcements. (Again I have more doubts about Sheriff Hemlock)

We accepted the new duties, Moxie seemed more pleased than most of our new job. I spent my time rebuilding repairing and patrolling when I wasn’t praying. There were some unpleasantries that took place between Ameiko and her father. All I know is that it’s the first time I’ve seen Moxie so openly upset. The following day the group had gathered to search for Ameiko. She had been missing for perhaps a couple of days now and everyone was on edge. There was a note from Ameiko’s brother and in it he made it sound like their father was behind the goblin raids. With Ameiko’s disappearance and the note we decided to investigate the Glass Works. A business owned by Ameiko’s father.

We went in two groups, the first was to enter the business from the front and the second to enter from the rear or at least keep anyone from escaping by the back doors. I was with the first group that went to the front. To our surprise the doors were locked and the curtains drawn. We thought that very strange on a market day. We decided that it was to important not to go in, even if we had to break in. I left the front of the business to tell the others what was going on. And in fact the back doors were locked or barred as well. We tried to force the doors open and when we couldn’t we were forced to break a window. As our group surveyed the inside human body parts were seen and in a frenzy we all tried to get in the building. I asked Desna that Ameiko not be harmed and that Desna would guild us as we entered.

Friedrich was the first to enter and was set upon by goblins immediately. With Uther firing through the open window and Friedrich just on the other side I decided to go to another window. I flung my spear wildly in front of me to break the glass as I dove through the window. I made it with just a few scrapes but was attacked by goblins as soon as I landed. I fought for my life and wondered just how many goblins were in the room with us. They pressed me hard and backed me into a corner. I had to drop my spear because I could no longer use it effectively. During the fight our entire group had come to the same room and we finished off the goblins. One had escaped that I didn’t know about but the ever sneaky Moxie had set an ambush for any escaping foes and she dealt with the goblin responsible for her friends disappearance in her own way.

We quickly looked for Ameiko’s body among the parts left by the goblins and breathed a sigh of relief when she was not discovered. However Ameiko’s father’s body was found. The discovery of her father’s body whole and incased in glass was very disturbing. The goblins obviously had nothing to do with his encasement. Far too much skill was required to complete such a task. Our reality was unraveling before us and we pushed on in search of our friend Ameiko, not sure where it would lead us. We found a stairway and before we went down it we decided to inform someone on the outside.

Some town’s folk had gathered around the back of the business probably drawn there by the device Uther uses, it is so loud. We told some people to go get Mayor Deverins and after we came back out we could use some help in getting the goblin bodies out of the business. We locked the back door and headed down to see what we would find in the basement.

Terrified that we would be too late to help Ameiko or her brother we headed down the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs we could see a wall that had been constructed to seal of one of the hall ways. We split into two groups and continued to search for Ameiko. One group went straight and I was with the group that turned left down the newly reopened portion. As we came across a door we checked inside, it was just a door to another passage way. This passage way looked rougher and not as finished so we shut the door and moved to the next door.

We were less than a hundred feet from the stairs and in front of us we could hear the first group coming our way. The guys in the front of our group opened the door and started talking to someone, I had hoped it was Ameiko but it turned out to be someone else. Since it may have been her brother our guys tried to talk to the man in the room. He started fighting and knocking my friends out with just his fists, I stepped into the room to see and a fist hit me in the face and maybe one in my chest I don’t remember. All I know is that I backed out of the room and saw Moxie dragging another body out as well. Something in that room was angry and going to kill us if we didn’t shut the door and lock it back in the room.

When I thought of the idea to close his door Moxie had opened one right behind me, I looked and saw a tied up and bound Ameiko. That’s when the guy in the room came out into the hall (too late to shut that door) I stood in front of the door Moxie had just opened as she stepped in I whispered for her to be quite and lock the door as I shut it. The man gave a quick glance my way and ran through the door we had passed, the one with the rough corridor. I ran behind him and shut that door.

Friedrich came shouting for me not to let him escape and for me to open the door, which I did. He burst through the door and through a vile onto the man running. Lynn also did something to the running man and at the same time Uther did as well. With a ringing in my ears I could see that the man was down. I stumbled back to Moxie and Ameiko.
We saw no more goblins and found out that the man was indeed Ameiko’s brother. We also discovered some parts of a journal that he had kept. It gave a hint to our recent goblin raid and why and who was behind them. I didn’t tell the others just how bad it was and I don’t know how much they got out of the journal but it would seem that he was under the spell of a succubus, a daemon that would be able to control the goblin tribes. There is also mention that this succubus was once the daughter of the priest whose body was taken from the cemetery. This is coming together into one big mess. I need to talk to the others and also to Father Zantus. The only good that came so far this day is that we found Ameiko alive and well. Thank you Desna.

After reaching the Rusty Dragon and seeing everyone in a sour mood I asked Moxie if she knew some local songs and would she perform with me to lighten the patrons spirits. She agreed with a smile but I could see her doubt. As soon as we started all cares left the little girl and she began to perform. I will admit she did better than I and I would say even she was surprised at how easy she found dancing and singing for the towns people (her fellow towns people) was and how rewarding it was to watch tiered faces light up and to watch joy re-enter the hearts of the people she knew.If they had any suspicions of our group they fell like water as Moxie and I performed for them. Moxie being from here and I dress in common Gypsy clothing made it easy for the locals to forget their troubles of the evening.
On our way to the Rusty Dragon I had introduced myself to the others of my new friends. I would consider them all generous and good natured persons. One a local, I spoke of before, named Moxie is a joy and wonder. I saw her in the streets fighting alongside the others but as soon as the fighting was done she became scarce and quiet. I noticed that she mostly listened to us speak and during our introductions she was quite shy. She dressed like she knew the streets and fought well also but now she seamed unsure of herself, reserved. And I knew just the thing to bring her out where we all could meet her. That's where the dancing and singing came in.
There are several others in the group that catch my attention. All very interesting and I will speak of them more later as I have prayers to do and towns folk to heal.
I left the Inn after watching my new friend accept the money from Lady Amieko for the nights entertainment. She giggled looked over towards me giggled again and ran off to bed or maybe to do some night time outing, I'm not sure. It was good to meet and celebrate with these good people. I will talk to them more in the morning.