Velira's Recollections

[Zolexa]

Late that night after returning from the ruins, on top of McGinty's roof. Reclining back to watch the night stars while drinking a large ale.

Ah, Velion, I sure did miss you today. Been in this town a few weeks now. Seems like a good place to hang around, for now. Best thing about it, is it's distance from home and remoteness. No one here has ever heard of the Briarthorn elves.

I joined up with an adventurer's guild, looks like it could be both profitable, and amusing. Went in with a rather large party to some ruins today, we had a late start, so didn't spend much time there today, but we do plan to go back.

You'd like a few of the companions I've made, I think. There's this poor halfling, who has the worse luck I've ever seen. Poor guy almost died twice... or was it three times...today alone. The other one was a tattoo mage. I'd heard of them, but had yet to work with one in person.. He seems a decent fellow and appeared to be well prepared from anything we encountered. There was also an archer that would have given Old Dorvel some competition.

I've still reserving judgment on the Tiefling. Something about that guy tells me not to trust him. Maybe its the brimstone that follows him everywhere, you know how much I hate that smell, but I get the feeling he'd sell his grandmother for 10 gold if it was offered.

My favorite by far is Murk. He's the absolutely HUGE ogrekin. I've heard a few people around town call him stupid and slow, because his Common isn't all that great, but I think he's alot smarter than they give him credit for. And maybe just a tad crazy, but they think I'm crazy back home too, so maybe that's why I like him. He talks to this human skull he says found, he named it Joe, or was it Jim, something like that. He found another skull in one of the tunnels today. He said Joe needed a friend. Hadn't named it yet though last I saw him.

Oh, and somehow I picked up a couple of minions. Now sure what else to call them, but that seems to fit best. Somewhere/somehow these 3 guys just started following me and seem to do whatever I tell them to. It's a little strange. But figure I'll enjoy it while it lasts, I mean, who doesn't want minions?

Guess I'll talk to ya later, I want to heard down into the tavern and get another ale. Saw Murk down there with his skulls earlier. Want to find out if he's named the second one yet. Plus it'll be fun to watch the rest of the people and how they react to the big guy talking to his skulls.

Miss ya brother.

*salutes the stars with her mug and takes the last swallow of ale*

[Zolexa]

Velira climbsup onto McGinty's roof again...

Hello again brother,

Just got back from exploring the caves below the old keep again. Overall doesn't look like much/any real treasure left, but then we were only in the caves, never did explore the upper keep. Most of the gold/items we found were off the monsters we encountered.

I did get a scroll for a new spell, and a nice mace which I suspect is magical. And purchased a few horses before the journey.

Lost a minion today. He tried to run out of the dungeon on us, Avarice (the Tiefling) tried to stop him (according to Avarice) or kill him (according to Huey, or as I liked to call him, Minion #1) either way, ended up having to restrain and gag him, and leash him to myself for safe keeping. Didn't end well, he took off after we got out of the keep. Still have the other two. But Dewey (#2) was pretty badly injured.

I had to be carried out of the place unconscious. For which I owe Murk a beer or two. There was a pit trap before a door I went to scout, never sensed the trap. Fell in. Huey was still tied to me at that point, so he got pulled in, Murk tried to grab him to stop us from falling, but slipped himself. I suspect it may have been Murk falling on me that knocked me out, but I can't confirm that, plus he was only trying to help.

It's starting to turn colder here. Will need to purchase winter supplies soon, probably this week. Hopefully weather stays nice so I can continue to sleep outside for a while yet.

Quel Esta Velion

[Zolexa]

*Out in the forest, just south of town, up in a tree*

Velion!

I have found the perfect cluster of trees! Several are close enough that the branches have started to intertwine. There *points left* and over there *points back and to the right* This has all the beginnings of a perfect tree hut! Remember the ones we made as children? I want something more permanent if I decide to stay in Sweetgrove, but for now I could easily camouflage a temporary covering. Would be nice out here until Winter sets in too heavily. Down near the ground the tree to my left has a natural nook, perfect place to try and cultivate the moss I collected a few days ago and some wild mushrooms. I can start that tonight.

I'll set up a few easy snare traps in the morning. Help keep larger game and 'visitors' out. Close enough to town for easy access, but far enough to give privacy. And the river is just slightly to the west.

Even if I don't stay here past winter, this location will at least give nice natural cover for a small stash. I am excited! I need to get back to town before it gets too late. I have items to buy for tonight and for exploring Kaine's hut again tomorrow.

*scampers down the tree and sets off for town*

[Zolexa]

Oh Velion,

This has been a long and trying day.

This morning I made the most gruesome discovery in town. Of which I may be assisting the guardsmen latter in investigating further.

Then I joined up with my adventuring friends again, we went to dispose of the goblin menace attacking the farmsteads. I missed part of the conversation, but from what I did hear, Murk has been befriended by one of the farmers, and was very very eager to take on the goblins. I am curious of the farmer who has been kind to my large friend, perhaps tomorrow I will try to find out who it was. Just to be sure they are of the good sort.

We followed the goblins' prints to their cave. While the goblins themselves were fairly weak, they did have some rather tough battle dogs. We also discovered how they are 'born'. That was... interesting. The come from this black oily tar pit that the Oracle with us said radiated a great evil, adult and fully geared. Perhaps some kind of portal to one of the alternate planes. We could not destroy the tar pit, no one had holy items to consecrate the site. We will have to return to do that. Along with hunting down the Chieftain. We did destroy their Shaman and one of their dark alters. Along with the decimation to their ranks, they should be leaving the farms alone for some time.

When Murk destroyed the alter, it released a demon! I have never encountered such a sight, but surely you were helping guide my magics at that time. I felt the power stronger than ever before.

Our newest companion, The Oracle Suhad, he says is is name, was an interesting fellow. He seemed to be very scared and timid, but claimed he was given a sign from his gods that he was to come to Sweetgrove and assist in fighting a great many foes. While he was the one who dispatched the goblin shaman with apparent ease, he was obviously dismayed about it. And earlier while we were fighting a large number of goblin soldiers, he was hiding under their bedding! Such a peculiar individual. He also says his sect eschews all worldly and monetary possessions. He did not take a single piece of gold from our findings. Not even for food.

But what was perhaps the most disheartening event of the day (yes even after the discovery and the demon) was I broke your dagger. I will be seeking out the master dwarven blacksmith to see if he can repair it tomorrow. Hopefully he can. I will be so dismayed if he cannot.

It is getting colder here. I feel we will be in for first snowfall soon. It is time to begin to seek out winter accommodations for sleeping. But all that is for tomorrow. Tonight I sleep.

[Zolexa]

It's a cold night tonight Velion.

I purchased a nice new winter cloak from the leather worker yesterday. And I had to finally rent a room at the inn. Too cold to sleep outside now. I will be asking my minions if they would rather stay in this room instead of the common room. There is plenty of space and two beds. If they both do, I'll build a hammock like Uncle Eudan showed us how.

I was finally contacted by the Watch. They sent a man named Fletcher and I to investigate the body I found in that wizard's hut. Found a couple of spell scrolls, a wand, and 2 of his journals. The journals were turned over to the watch for evidence.

My passing acquaintance with the man Fletcher got me invited along on a rescue mission. Seems a friend of his, Damien, who is one of the local storytellers, had his husband kidnapped by slavers. They sent ransom demands, which were decided to be an ambush trap. So 6 of us, and 2 hirelings, mounted the rescue.

Overall went very well, and we were successful. But was also very dangerous. The 2 hirelings, one was a member of Avarice's bounty hunter guild, the other had an attachment to the dwarf, Dantalis, were both injured very badly when a wizard tried to incinerate us all with a fireball!

The gods we watching me for that, I was able to avoid some of the damage, and while injured, helped the dwarf get both of the hirelings to safety and get them healed with potions.

I missed alot of the scuffle while outside, but we did find many people downstairs in a secret hideout that were kept in jail cells. Horrible conditions, the poor people, about 15 in total, of all ages, children, elderly, men, women were hungry and dirty. Obviously not treated well.

We did capture one of the slavers, and tried to question him afterwards, but he gave us mostly useless lies. Fletcher, I found out, has a very vengeful streak. He seared out the man's eyes with a torch! Not that the guy didn't deserve it, and likely more.

I got that man's longbow. It is very ornate, needs to be restrung though. But that is easy enough to fix.

I met one other new person, a witch name Alice. Very odd woman. She's shorter than me and human! But very strange. Seemed a bit paranoid and I'm willing to bet more than a little crazy. She wears a crown! Kept calling herself Queen. I did find out later, it is a magical crown that makes her immune to cold, but still strange. Oh and she runs the local apothecary shop.

For such a small backwoods town, I can say it never seems dull here.

[Zolexa]

As they travel back to town, Velira fills Dewey and Louie in on what else they found in the crypt.

First, I'd to thank you two for your continued support and for the courage you showed with the goblin horde.

So after the floor gave way, we found ourselves in a maze of ant tunnels. We found the Queen and dispatched it easily, along with the nest.

After we split up again and you came out to the horses, we found just the one vampire. Tough little bastard, fast. Dantalis be needing to see the priests when we get back to town. Alice, I'm not sure what she's going to do, they won't let her in the Temple. But she's resourceful, I'm sure she'll think of something, maybe Joachim will help.

When we get back to town, we need to make some purchases Now that we gotten more coin, we need to make sure you two have good supplies in your packs in case we get separated again. Louie, we need to get you a ranged weapon too. I've been remiss in this since we were short on funds, that will be the first thing I remedy.

Afterwards, how about a hunting trip? Cordac has promised decent coin or trade on the skins.

Velira, Dewey and Louie continue to make plans for when the get back to town.