< picture of goblin(s) >

This morning, we fought a group of goblins. They were a disorganized group, and we defeated them with little effort (or should I say, little of my effort). Guzerat was taken down, but I fought and killed the two goblins still standing. One goblin we did not kill, however. I cannot explain why, but when I raised my sword to kill him, I could not. I am weak, useless. As it happened, we extracted some potentially useful information out of him. We also figured out his name, Splug. He told us that there was a goblin hideout nearby, but that they had erected a very dangerous trap to keep out intruders. I can understand that, at least. We went to the keep, to make contact with a friend of Guzerat’s, a half-elf priestess of Avandra named Chendera. She gave us 2 healing potions, one for free, and 1 for 50 gp. I set about accumulating some wealth for ourselves by, shall we say, accquiring, certain valuable jewels. I am sure we can sell them to a prospective buyer somewhere else. None of this could have been done without the magic armour I accquired in the mine. (Yes, Guzerat, you conveniently forgot to mention that I can become invisible.)

~Quariont

Book has rejoined the worldspirit. His shell of runecarved plates lies cold and empty on the floor of the abandoned mine house. Perhaps he now sees what the Ancients see: that this land is cursed still, yes. But, that his sacrifice was made not in vain. The Brothers Gray are no more. They will no longer plague the local farmers or waylay helpless travelers.

Perhaps my sentiments come too soon. We may someday find a way to bring our warforged ally back, but such magic is beyond me now.

I rest easier tonight knowing that those vile halflings do not share my open sky. Maybe they had cause to hold Baron Lucas Gravehound responsible for their lost family members. Is the baron really so corrupt that he would unleash a pack of trolls on a defenseless halfling village? One cannot help but speculate; these are dark times. Still, nothing can justify the evils the Brothers visited upon the commonfolk, who were just as vulnerable as they once were.

What really troubles me is that there were so many rallied to their unjust cause. I must confess I am forced to rethink my mercenary lifestyle. It was Book, in any case, that was so enamored by coin. Quariont and I have bigger fish to fry. (Debu’s ear just perked up: how did he know I was thinking about fish?)

Today, I, Book, and that shaggy beast they call “Debu” ventured into the city. We saw the sign for a bounty. I was not quite interested, but the other two were, so I held my tongue (and my pride) and we ventured into the ruins of a mining operation. There we were greeted by some human bandits, but they were a rabble. My companions struggled against them, but I was more focused on the lone goblin sharpshooter raining crossbow bolts on my companions. He turned and ran when I unleashed a barrage of energy volts at him. Then, I dispatched the remaining rabble. My companions, suitably humbled, followed in my wake to the entrance of the mine.

As we approached the entrance, I instructed my companions to stay put for thirty counts. Then, like darkness itself, I stealthily glided into the mine. My companions came in as well, with a torch. Their useless eyes could not see. I instantly spotted two horses, but I glided past them. Then I saw a halfling suspended from the ceiling with a sling, and two stirges. A battle ensued. I melted in and out of the shadows, striking painful blows with my blade or my arcane blows. The stirges instantly stuck to Book. My first instinct was to assist him, but I knew I would be better off where I was. Guzerat summoned a massive toad, which licked at enemies. Another halfling came out of the shadows, but as he moved past me, I caught him a blow with my blade. My allies quickly dispatched him, but reinforcements came in the form of our goblin from before. I promptly slew him with but two blows. The fight raged on.