
Biggithun the Dwarven Merchant |

Journal Entry - Egdoras Ale Run
It has been 5 days since we set out for the Egdoras clan halls. The roads are rocky and rough, but well defined enough for this crew. Stink, our caravan engineer knows his stuff and the carts are almost as hardy as the dwarves who push them. Ha! We’ve made good time despite the hard path so far. The mules don’t seem to mind to much either. Hiring that green thumbed dwarf, weird as he might be, has proved to be one of my better decisions. It’s like he has a connection with the beasts, speaks to them. Though I’ll be honest, if he wasn’t so good with the animals and keeping the undergrowth off of our heels, I’d run him outta my company for the way he shaves his beard. Blech! A dwarf that shaves and prefers the dirt of the surface to the rock of the caves. I’ll never understand. Nice enough though to chat with, and at least he enjoys a good brew. Grimault is strange for sure, but most druids are.
Speaking of strange, the last two we picked up a few days ago might take the whole barrel of ale. The dwarf was as true to any dwarf stereotype I’d ever seen. Son of ol’ Durifyur himself, I could tell before he even gave his name. Boy was I surprised to see him looking for me, and even more glad when he asked to tag along for the trip! I hope my boys never read this, but I’d take an Egdoras Clan dwarf at my shoulder in a fight over any three of my crew. Hardy, that clan. Hardy.
The boys are taking bets on what the other… ah… thing is. To say man implies human, and that he aint. Feathers all up and down where hair rightly should be, talons for feet, but walked upright like a man. Wings like a griffin, which is what really has the boys confused. That one hasn’t spoken a single word. Not even sure he understands common, much less dwarven. I still don’t know why a dwarf would be keeping company with a thing like that, but I’m a business-dwarf, and I know when to keep my mouth shut. In all my years I ain’t never seen anything like it. Maybe Gertle is right, I should get out more.
Something heavy weighing on their souls though, that much I can tell. Both of ‘em. I’ve been a merchant for nearly two centuries, and you learn to read a person’s eyes. Can’t get Glarifyur to open up about it though, and obviously the bird-man ain’t talking. I just leave ‘em be. They’ve got their business, and as long as they are willing to keep an eye out for bandits, I’ll give ‘em whatever food and space they rightly need.
Gertle’s calling. That mean’s soup is on. If we push these next three days and make the pass before the full moon, there’s a chance we can shave a day or two off of our trip. As long as we make it through before the rain season, we’ll be good. A few extra miles tomorrow. Tonight though, we drink and we sleep.