8 Hammer 1372

Dear Master Zorthaster,

We have made a great mistake that I fear we will not be able to make right. Power and hubris have combined to make us forget the terrible fragility of life and the consequences of our actions.

We spent the first of Hammer celebrating the anniversary of the incorporation of our group. It was a small, mostly private gathering, full of stories and memories of the past year. It is amazing how much we have changed.

In the morning Primula used her wind walk spell on us and we began our journey south. We flew in short hops so I could use the scroll to determine if we were on the right path. Each time we stopped and rematerialized, I would first check, as best I could, to see if we were being watched or scried upon. Assuring myself that this was not the case, I drew out the scroll, concentrated for a while and determined a bearing.

We flew to the crossroads shrine, the thunderpeaks, and on to the south coast of the Dragonmere. Tired from a full day of travelling, we rested for the night on the shore of the sea. To make the journey comfortable, I had prepared a magnificent mansion spell. My companions were suitably impressed by the accommodations. They quickly made themselves at home and we spent a very nice evening in the mansion. It was so very enjoyable to stay in such luxury, especially when compared to the cramped little space of the rope trick spell.

Our second day of travel saw us make our way further south into warmer climes. We stopped on the banks of the Wet River, the Shining Plains, a bit north of the Deepwash and then just south of the shore of the Deepwash. We ended the day on the southern edge of hte Thornwood Forest. Again, we stayed in the Magnificent Mansion for a pleasant evening.

The following day took us south toward Mintar. I fear that the next part of the scroll is located in the city of Mintar, which has recently been overrun by a huge force of Zhentarim. Kerith tells us that there are vague stories drifting through the dales of the creation of a terrible artifact of power by Fzoul Chembryl here in Mintar recently. He knew little more than that, but has heard that the forces assembled here are large and until recently, bent on taking the city. What they will do now that they have done so is a question he could not answer. I have to wonder if it has anything to do with the presence of the scroll. Cautiously drifting around the outskirts of the city area in our vaporous forms, we could see that the army was indeed vast and sprawled about the countryside all around the city.

Do the Zhentarim know about the scroll in the city? If we attempt to recover it will we draw undue attention to it? If we do nothing, will the scroll fall into the hands of the Zhents? I burn to know the answers to these questions. What are we supposed to do?

We found the Giant's Throne inn situated in the hills at what we thought might be a safe distance from the conquering army. Reforming ourselves a short distance from the inn, we approached. Upon arriving we discovered that the inkeeper was at the mercy of a vicious scouting party of Zhentarim. The man's two children were being held hostage by the Zhents. We were spotted by the scouts almost immediately after we went into attack mode. I remember little of the battle since I was unconscious for much of it. I did get off a mass haste and started to position myself to attack a beholder hiding behind the inn. Sadly, I failed to make any consideration for the man and his family. It embarrasses me terribly that I gave his fate so little consideration. I also discounted too soon the power of the spellcasters inside the inn. I was struck by two beams of searing light that burned me badly and casued me to loose consciousness. As I was invisible and flying, Xan was the only one who could see me. He flew over but did not give me any healing for several long moments as he shot at a variety of enemies in the area. I'm worried by his behavior. Even after I boosted his speed with my spell at the beginning of the battle, he did not spare a moment to give me a healing potion until he had nothing else to do outside the inn. I find myself questioning his motives and withdrawing trust from him.

What is happening to our group? Primula doesn't trust me. I cannot trust Xan any longer. What are we becomming?

While I was unconscious, Xan killed the enemies outside the inn. The inkeeper, trying to hide behind his well, was burned to death by a summonned azer. Inside a fierce battle raged and my dear friend Oskar was consumed in unholy fire by a terrible spell cast by a priest of Bane. When Xan finally dumped a healing potion down my throat, I drank another of my own and flew in to try to help inside. Oskar was already gone, but I was able to contribute a little to injuring the priest so that another could finish him off. The battle ended quickly and we were left with the terrible aftermath. Oskar was completely destroyed. The inkeeper was horribly burned to death. Downstairs the captive children had been tortured and killed. I slumped to the floor and cried. What have we done? What have I done, dragging my friends to this nightmarish situation? I feel responsible for Oskar's death and the brutal murders of the inkeeper and his family. I am just as responsible for this as if I had weilded the knife that tortured those poor kids. I have done a terrible thing. I am ashamed.

In great sadness,

Cedar