We went to the Cracked Flagon searching for a lead on Gus. The Flagon is the local rathole and is roughly on par with the Voz prison. We made it be known we were looking to talk to him, and that we would be at a local inn for him to reach us. Evzon was quite generous in his tipping for the info, and we didn’t press too hard.

The next night they drugged the patrons and burnt down the inn we were staying at. I wish I could say this was a surprise, I expected them to try something or confront us, but this goes far beyond what is honerable even for thieves!

The time for talk is done, I could forgive them for sending an assassin, thats just good practice, but when they put so many innocents at risk they crossed the line.

“Drew, kick the door in…”

To Fairfield Regional Head,
Southern Anuire Shipping and Imports

I am sorry to have taken so long to send out this missive of introduction and greeting, must my fellows and I have been very busy getting our affairs in order and setting up shop as it were (you may have noticed the new church of Cuiraécen founded by Father Kenrik, the additional guard force trained by my friend Javiero, or my own small shop Majid’s Fine Curiosities). We decided on Fairfield due to our pleasant past dealings, and our ongoing friendship with Baronet Bloodwater. Overall, the city has been quite welcoming to my new venture… save for the Spider River Trading Company. They have fought me at every turn, even going so far as to send thugs to burn down my fledgling shop! I can only hope that they soon turn to minding their own business, as I have it on good authority that they have over-extended a bit in their efforts to keep me from gaining a foothold. If only I were in a position to capitalize on this oversight…

Anyways, I just wanted to introduce myself to the other honest merchant in the area in hopes that we may have happy and lucritive dealings in the future.

-Majid
of Majid’s Fine Curiosities

It has perhaps been the longest few days in my two centuries of life.

Galloway ordered us to lead the left flank of the attack into Rhuobhe. Govannon was to command the forces assembled there and the men were jokingly calling us “Govannon’s Six”. Each of us paired off with a force battalion of men numbering in the hundreds. Miri and I were to lead one of the faster moving battalions while the others worked from the back to better plan for the chaos of the coming battle. When all our forces were prepared, we met the army of Ghealles on a rolling plain by the edge of the forest. The armies sized each other up and the generals stared at each other from across the plain. It was then that we got a good look at the elven general. The others wondered who might lead the army of the Manslayer…but the golden hair and the familiar way he held himself could only belong to Ceallach. My father led the army against us.

A pitched battle was fought. Men and horses died around us and at times the rain of Sidhelein arrows seemed to be unending. Battalions on both sides broke ranks, but our middle held. Five Sidhelein heroes were captured. Their forces were routed and their final remaining battalion threw down their weapons in resignation that they either surrender or be butchered by a superior force. Though some of the battalions were badly wounded, we didn’t loose a single squad.

Govannon gathered our forces to celebrate, but we were quickly joined by Galloway. The other fronts succeeded in their own assaults and he wished for us to accompany him in his vanguard.

We were to ride into the very heart of Rhuobhe and take the fight to the Ghealles themselves.

The way was long and we were ambushed by Sidhelein bladesingers in what the humans describes as an unnaturally heavy mist. We became separated in the mist and the bladesingers used our confusion to their advantage. It has been a long time since I fought any from the school of the Striking Serpent. We eventually beat them back taking a single prisoner. He proved to be uncooperative and when he found out who I was…I will only say that Ceallach told them about his “dead daughter” and that prisoner was dispatched of quickly and brutally.

We moved on to an ancient elven city in the heart of the forest. The army began to sack the city while Kenrik directed them not to burn down the forest and city around us. I tried to get the remaining Sidhelein to run, but alas some were lost. Our looting of the city was thorough. We were about to move on when we heard a voice from above us in the walk ways between the tree houses. Tall, menacing, and with a mane of black hair; Rhuobhe Manslayer stood above us and mockingly called to parlay with Galloway.

We looked at apprehensively at each other for a moment as Galloway climbed the ladder to the walkways above. We followed behind him quickly.

The Manslayer and Galloway talked as if they were the only two there; referencing something that happened far in Galloway’s past. Galloway, caught of guard, demanded to know how the Manslayer knew so much about him. Something about him slaying a dragon.

We watched the coterie around the Manslayer tensely and waiting for them to act on some unseen signal. Eoindeln stood among those gathered against us. Galloway drew his sword and told us that the elven wizard held a book and we should get it and get out as fast as possible. Rhuobhe drew his twin longswords made from a matte silver metal. Chaos erupted around us.

Miri led the charge against the elven guards and we tried to focus our magics and attacks to the wizard and those guarding her. Eoindeln covertly tried to help us, or at least not harm us in our attempts to battle the Manslayer’s guards. We quickly outmatched and started to realize how bad things were going for us. Majid tried to heal Galloway’s wounds, but they smoked and burned rather than healing. The onslaught became to much and Charles Galloway fell before the Manslayer. Just as the Manslayer was about to deliver the killing blow, Galloway shifted slightly and chose rather to fall to his death. Enraged, the Manslayer turned on us. I stepped forward to try to give the others enough time to grab the book and get out of the city. Rhuobhe looked down at me and said that my father would be happy to know I died fighting against the cause. The wounds from the Manslayer’s swords were like nothing I had encountered. It was as if I could feel my life ebbing from my body. As everyone else disappeared into the surrounding forest, I made a break for the edge of the woods. I knew that I would not be able to make it in time, but a parting arrow in my back knocked me into the cover of the forest were I was able to meet up with the group.

Wounded in both body and pride, we limped back to the army’s encampment. The rest of the men burned and looting in their retreat headless of their safety or ours. We arrived back to the encampment dodging questions from the senior staff. We met in Galloway’s tent and started to pour over the book we risked out lives for as well as Captain Galloway’s personal log and diary.

We looked to each other with a sense of sadness and apprehension.

Charles Galloway, famed mercenary captain,our employer and friend was dead.

What now?

We returned from our battle in the rat warren and were immediately ushered to a private audience with Galloway. None of wanted to talk about the disgusting rat king, which turned out to be a ugly tangle of dire rats of an Awnsheghlien or anything we faced. The battle was over and we were more than content to dream of the vast wealth we found in the warren and how we were going to spend it. Our dreams were cut short, however. The job I’d been dreading was now at our doorstep. With not one, but two employers, we were slated to engage the collected forces of the Manslayer and preemptively wipes of the threat of a legion Ghealles.

We do not have much time to prepare. The war machine is churning and the rest of the mercenaries have been making their last arrangements.

Fiara, I’m leaving this book with you in the hope that you will merely be safeguarding it for me while we are successful. Sometimes life doesn’t always work out the way we plan and sometimes life isn’t fair.

I’m leaving you my spare longsword and a map I stole from the rest of the group. The map and the coin that I found in the cabin where I met your father long ago might hold the answers you seek. You are a scion of Masela, you are Sidhelien, and most of all you are loved. Never for a moment doubt that you are not in control of your senses. You have always made me proud.

In the event I fall in battle, seek your grandmother and great-uncle in the Elvenmere and let them know what befell. They will help you and they love you as much as I do.

Sometimes I wonder if my father and I never got along because we were so alike and all my sins he saw himself commit. It was never you he hated. It was me. And I mean to bring Ceallach Aurethrin home. Whether I drag him home alive or dead is up to him.

Galloway had a job for us all right.

He’d been monitoring the elven migration to Rhuobhe and is hoping for work if the Manslayer is indeed making a move. The neighboring countries will surely want the army there to prevent a possible attack. The prospect of fighting a legion of gheallies does not sit well with me and I can tell the rest of the group is not thrilled by the idea either.

Galloway sent us north to where one of his insiders found to be the source of the wererats (conveniently on the northern route elves from Tuarhievel would use to get to Rhuobhe). This was supposedly the warren where all the rats were coming from.

Travel was swift and in no time we arrived at our destination no time. The warren was well guarded and tried to devise a clever plan to get in with little problem. Govannon tried some illusionary work, but either it wasn’t terribly convincing or they were ready for possible intruders. We resorted to our specialty: focused attacks on leaders and quick and brutal dispatching of lesser targets. Aside from some trouble with larger dire rats, we were able to disable the outside forces.

We moved inside, wasting very little time, hoping to catch the rats unaware of what had happened on the battlements. We were assaulted with swarm after swarm of vermin and their wererat controllers. Wave after wave, they came at us. We finally were able to clear our backfield and move farther into the warren. Already our resources were running thin and a sense of urgency is running through to the group. Get to the heart of the warren, kill the rat king, and get out alive. Quick thinking and a long hallway aided us to meet the rats in what we’ve loving termed as the “meat grinder” to keep our backs clear and focus at the waves coming toward us.

Our brief rest is almost over. I just hope we can outlast them…

There has been too much on my mind to properly put pen to paper.

We returned from the Mhor’s lands with little fanfare. We were tired and just happy to see familiar faces. Galloway allowed us some time to clean up from the road before we had our debriefing meeting. I admit, I was too tired to pay much attention and was distracted by my own want of a good bed and simple food..

Galloway allowed us to go about our business so long as we were reachable. He had plans for the army concerning the wererat problem, but we could take what little rest until then.

Govannon and Majid eagerly returned to Dumaire with their eye on claiming the source under the city. Kenrick was convinced to do more research on the possible cure to lycanthropy, but you could see in the way he held himself and the set of his jaw that he had other things on his mind that he would rather do.

Javiero was only too glad to leave again and do whatever posturing humans of noble birth are want to do.

Miri has some idea to take Jude along with her to the Southern coast, but for what I’m not sure. They traveled with Fiara and I briefly before we headed off to the Elvenmere.

Our return home was quiet. Fiara said little, but she could probably feel the tension radiating off of me. This trip home, I was going to find my father and give him a piece of my mind. Fiara would stay here in the safety of our people and he would except that or else.

My mother, the picture of grace and courtesy that she is, was crying when we got home. In my centuries of life, I have never seen her cry. Not when my father and I came to blows over Fiara. Not when I left home in anger. She would not tell me what was wrong an maintained that it was “only nothing”. I didn’t know what to do, but as upset as I was at my mother’s distress I asked where my father was so I could deal with him. She said that he had left for a bit and turned the conversation to more pleasant topics. She never did like to see us fight.

I left Fiara with my mother and checked in with my uncle Jaedenar at the training schools. The mood was subdued, which was unusual. When I asked about my mother, he looked very sad. I knew they were as close as two siblings could get, so I pressed him as to what was wrong. I was not prepared for the answer.

Rhuobhe Manslayer called the ghaellies home…and my father answered the call.

He was apparently not the only one to leave, but I could not get the picture of my father out of my mind. How could he do this? How could he do this to my mother?

Ceallach Aurethrin. Tall for an elf, with the same golden blond hair and intense green eyes that I had. The same set of jaw when we were angry. The same temper and unwillingness to back down. We were always so similar, I was just a younger version of my father. I was, until I had Fiara. I think that bothered him more than anything. I became an embarrassment and my daughter was an abomination in his eyes. We hated each other ever since.

I decided to clear my mind. I searched for the old cabin from when I first met him. I wish I knew his name, something I could attach to the gentle face from so many years ago. Years ago… he…he won’t look the same now. Fifteen years wasn’t so long for me, but what about him? The only thing I could find in the cabin was a small coin left forgotten under the bed. Otherwise the place had not been touched. Maybe he forgot about me.

With so much sadness and heartache, I think it was time to leave again. I asked Fiara to stay here with my mother, but she didn’t want to. It didn’t feel like home for her. I couldn’t really blame her, but I had hoped.

We met back up with the rest of the Six at the source and discussed our plans over dinner. We were attached by a squad of wererats while eating. I think people were more annoyed that the Shepard’s pie was ruined than us being attacked in our own sanctum. After a brief and blood battle, we had a handful of “volunteers” for Kenrick’s cure. Fiara, I was told, cut the wererat leader in half after performing some amazing feats of dexterity and brutality. I think she’s starting to manifest blood powers, but I can’t recall anyone in the family having the ability to do what Miri described as “Fiara be in battle rage, run though waters, rip rat in half and kill good.” Miri seemed proud but my poor daughter was terrified. I will have to try to find out how I can help her.

Unfortunately we’re expecting Galloway soon, and will probably be deployed on another mission.

I was beginning to think that we would be stuck in the harsh north and that forgotten tomb for much longer than we intended.

We continued exploring the tomb dodging various traps and perils. We became more convinced of the age of the tomb when we found a hidden crypt for a dwarven couple. In our single-minded quest for the ring that King Bervinig spoke of while in his wolf form, we treaded onward and came upon perhaps one of the most disturbing things yet. Down a rough hewn tunnel we came across spectral stags fighting shadowy wraith-like beings. Truly Govannon was right. Maybe this was an ancient place dedicated to Reinir.

The battle with the wraiths was harrowing as they utilized strange mind-clouding powers and floated seamlessly across the battlefield. Once they were dispatched, we needed to rest. The lurking fear that if we rested, the strange sounds above us would let whatever they were catch up to us. We knew they were probably orogs. My thoughts turned to the children guarding the wagon above. Were they discovered? Were they alright?

In the hidden nook where we fought the wraiths, we found the item we had been questing all this time for. How could such a simple and small ring possibly hold the cure we were looking for?

We dashed through the rest of the winding corridors. Javiero and I decided last minute to go back to the dwarven tomb and take the axe we had found within. If there were truly orogs trudging through this tomb, we wouldn’t let them leave with anything valuable.

Small clashes with orog scouts alerted our presence to large groups. We took various short cuts and side corridors. It became a race to see if we could get out before we were ambushed. In all my years, I would never think that I would have owed our escape of the tomb to…a giant frog. As it turns out, this huge creature sided with us for some unknown reason and took care of the orogs as we escaped. Being eaten by a giant frog while perhaps not the best way to die, was more than fitting for those raiders.

Coming out of the tomb, we found the wreckage of our wagon and no sign of the children. Javiero was able to track them down. My quick thinking Fiara took Jude and hide. I am so proud of my little girl. It turns out we were gone for well over a day and we had a lot of time to make up as we fled the Rjurik province.

After buying some horses in one of the first towns we came to, we made much better progress in fleeing from the cold north.

The ride south was not as hard as the ride north. We decided to stop in Mhoried, as Javiero wished to pay a visit to their ruler Daeric Mhoried. We were greeted as honored guest and allowed to attend a state dinner complete with dancing and perhaps more social interactions that we needed. The night was full of ups and downs as Javiero prepared himself to be completely embarrassed by the rest of Galloway’s Six. While I won’t claim to fit in with most human ideas of proper and culture, I know how not to make a fool of myself. I also don’t appreciate the look he keeps giving Fiara when he thinks I’m not watching.

Kenrick apparently was an old friend of the Mhor’s son, and we soon found ourselves brought to an honored position at the high table (much to Javiero’s joy and the dismay of the rest of us). While not making total fools of ourselves, it was a long night. I look forward for our departure in the morning.

And if Javiero continues his “looks” at my daughter I might have to have more than a few words with him…

…clearly another hard won victory, thanks to myself and my Anuirean compatriot. Our respite from exploring the dark corridors of this tomb were interrupted, however, by that reckless twit Miri. If we ever find a switch, lever or button she doesn’t press, I’ll eat my bow. Needless to say, the floor beneath suddenly gave way and we found ourselves in an even deeper level. Kenrick and I were the first to recover from the fall, naturally, and were able to help the others get back on their feet quickly.

This level was like the one above, with strange carvings of people carrying offerings to some yet unknown destination. As I began to lead the party forward, we soon discovered this place was teeming with life…all of it hostile.

We came to a Great Hall of sorts, at least one suitable for the backwater kings in this place, with a beautifully carved wood and woven rug. That’s when they attacked. Kenrick was the first to notice, as a pair of Cockatrices leaped from the balcony and swooped down to attack. Without hesitation I drew my bow, filling one full of arrows. It dropped dead at my feet, as Kenrick smashed his mace against the other. The rest of the party scrambled, caught completely unaware. Fortunately, with natural Anuirean leadership on the field, they were able to ready themselves quickly. Miri, for all her failings, is a competent fighter and was able to finish off the second Cockatrice with Kenrick’s help.

Now on guard, Kenrick and I continued to lead the party forward, deeper into this ancient tomb. It is a literal menagerie down here, with everything from ghost wolves (who looked for offerings of meat), talking bears (which guarded this strange magic healing circle), a talking stone bird (trapped by this tomb’s owner), a giant frog (aside from being giant, seemed normal) and giant bugs (food for previously mentioned bird). Whatever the purpose of this place might have once been, it is now nothing more than a trap. A trap we must dismantle piece by piece to discover the ring we seek. Unfortunately, time was short as I heard footsteps on the level above. We were followed and hurried our search. That’s when…

Battle scarred and bruised, I woke in an unfamiliar bed. I blinked at in the candle light and barely made out the sobbing figure keeping vigil over me. I reached out to stroke that familiar hair…he had found me again…after all these years…he found me. A cry of “mom”snapped me back to the present. Of course he wasn’t here. Fiara, our daughter. My Fiara, my little fiery one…what happened?

I remembered the old Rjurik king. He had fallen in battle as we beat back the orog forces. The keep burned around us, but some how the king’s eye’s snapped open and he surged forward to chase after the retreating scarred orog champion. We panicked. We were bloodied and bruised. We had lost most of the guard forces of the keep. Javiero was still unconscious and Kenrick had just recently been revived. Majid and I were horrified as the king began his berserker charge against the Scarred Champion again with Govannon chasing after him to support him. We all chased after the king, not knowing what we were going to get ourselves into.

The Scarred Champion was focused on his retreat as we hounded him through the outskirts of the castle. We knew that if he reached the causeways and alleys of the city itself, he was as good as gone. The Rjurik king traded blows with his foe but ultimately fell in battle once again, this time for good. Though the battle raged around us, the power of his blood flowed out and around to us and throughout the city. There was no time to mourn the king because the Scarred Champion continued his retreat. Govannon’s iron filing monster harried him to the left and I tried to cut off his escape route. None of us were prepared for what followed. Where the fallen king’s body lay, there was a shudder and his skeleton exploded out from his flesh, eyes glowing, the monstrosity continued the fallen king’s assault on the Scarred Champion. Though terrifying, it was quickly dispatched.

I fell in battle shortly there after, but my poor daughter relayed the rest of the harrowing ordeal. She cried hysterically in telling of how she struck the blow that ended the Scarred Champions life. My poor little one had never killed another living being. I tried to comfort her as best as I could, but I knew there was much left to do.

As soon as I was able I sought out Eoindeln, the elven ambassador whom I had met briefly before the siege. He was no where to be found. I continued to look while the others took to various means to make themselves helpful to the survivors of the siege. Fiara and I found a letter writen in Sidhelien from him, but it was not what we expected. I took the letter to Majid and showed him the warning Eoindeln had left. It seemed the king’s sons were coming home, and they were not friends of my people. We gathered the rest of the Six and prepared to make a hasty retreat before we found ourselves in the midst of possible waring heirs.

We gathered in the stables and as we were about to embark on our journey home, Javiero noticed the horses were spooked about something and it appeared there were wolf prints in the stables. We followed them briefly and came face to face with perhaps the largest wolf I have ever seen. The wolf spoke the language of man well enough and claimed to be the fallen King Bervinig. He instructed us to take the helm of Jarl Skappa for his sons were not worthy to wear it and told us we must also retrieve the ring from where we found the helm. We stood there dumbfounded as the wolf bound away after delivering his message and disappeared off the cliffs near the shore. Govannon went back to retrieve the helm and we found ourselves heading back to the forgotten tomb.

We left the children guarding the entrance, not thinking we would be long. Little did we realize we would be gone long enough to worry. We found a hidden staircase and began our descent down into the forgotten catacombs looking for the ring. As I finish up this entry, I hope we can make a swift escape from these lands and head back home.

*Notes scribbled in Basajari, on random pieces of paper in Majid’s pack.

Field battle: successful, routed wererat forces. Gallaway’s Six in command of squads, good coordination. Elite troops performed very well, were able to flank their forces. Need to get subcommander’s names, details are important.

Swamp battle: disgusting, stayed in boat. Waves of wererats, Gallaway urging us on. Everyone fought better with his around, very inspiring. Consider starting epic, he’d be good subject. What language rhymes best? Definitely leave out all the mud, not good for story.

Palisade battle: more wererats, hopefuly troops got any we missed pushing through to here. Bottomless pit??? How’d they even dig that? Leader got away, distracted us with powerful magics and skeletal-wererat-things. Figured out wererats working for something bigger. Maybe awnshegh created them. Need to chase down leader. Need to research ritual we found. Should write this out for histories or as poem once resolved.