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6 Hammer 1371
Dear Master Zorthaster,
Much has happened in the few days since I last wrote. We rooted
out a nest of goblins, hired on as caravan guards, hunted for bandits,
and assisted fellow adventurers in need. As you can tell, I am,
perhaps a bit excited at the moment. Please allow me to retreat
a breath or two and begin my tale from where my last letter left
off.
As you may recall, we were headed over to Jaemel's store, a large
warehouse that served as both a tack and harness shop and a bustling
leather-works shop. Thank Mystra that the tannery itself was some
distance out of town, and generally downwind. Here we presented
our letter from Taberin and were collecting the warm winter outerwear
that was to be our advance on finding his missing shipment. It was
our good fortune that we came upon a band of elves also collecting
winter garb, outfitting themselves for a journey on the business
of Peraus Wands. We made introductions all around and learned that
we were in the company of an elven rogue named Aramil, Cedrik, an
elven cleric, and a half-elven bard Kerith. We left Jaemel's shop
with our new found friends and headed to the printer's.
On the way we came upon a badly injured adventuring party making
their way slowly toward the temple of Lathander. These were the
"Reavers of the Keg." The half-elven priest Baladeen was
leading the procession and he welcomed our help in pulling a sled
loaded with the bodies of at least three fallen Reavers. They had
just come from Miraun's Challenge and had fared badly. They had
made it out though. At least some of them had.
When we finally made it to Master Wands printing shop he had a
cozy fire going in his parlor and offered us tea, bread and a place
to sit by the hearth. Only after we were settled and warm did the
mage outline his proposition. He offered to help us along in learning
the ways of successful adventuring in exchange for our help with
wrapping up some loose ends from his long and varied adventuring
career. He would give us training and promised to send us in the
direction of likely opportunities. In contrast, he argued that the
Merrydale Delvers Guild sorted jobs based on the skills and abilities
of its members, parceling out the opportunity for adventure to the
best known groups first. Even if we could gain membership to that
guild, we would be unlikely to be given good opportunities for adventure.
Master Wands suggested that we always remember, in the course of
a mission, where we were and why we were there. Too many ills befall
the group that loses sight of its mission during the excitement
of the adventure. He also stressed that we pay close attention to
the few details that we were able to gather prior to setting out
on an adventure. As an illustration, he pointed out the difference
between a dwarven safehold, such as we were tasked to find for Gadlyn,
and a stronghold or a fortress. Each would likely pose very different
challenges. As we discussed our quest to find the telstang, Master
Wands told us that while he has no maps of the area, he thought
the most likely location was some 20 to 25 miles in a west-northwest
direction out of Daggerfalls. Talk tapered off quickly as we agreed
to an association with Master Wands.
Before we would search out the telstang, the whole group of us
agreed to set off before dawn to search for brigands along the road
to Teshmere. We thought we would be well served to search for the
missing shipment before any more time had passed.
In the predawn hours we left the comfort of our beds to trek the
long, cold road west to Teshmere. The ranger predicted snow on the
4th or 5th, but today held clear and cold.
It was not until late afternoon that we met a fellow traveler. Broder,
a Far Ranger was headed east to Daggerfalls after waiting in vain
for Dravis, another Far Ranger to meet him in Teshmere. We promised
to tell Dravis that Broder would be staying at the Daggerfalls boardinghouse
should we meet up with him. It seemed that more than just one wagon
had gone missing between Daggerfalls and Haldreths Glen west of
Teshmere. Aramil told us that he had overheard some discussions
in the tavern about several missing people and shipments along this
stretch of road. Zhent brigands were suspected, but the people of
Daggerdale seemed especially suspicions of the Zhents. Given their
history, I could understand why.
We hired on as caravan guards the following day, escorting a pair
of wagons from Teshmere to Daggerfalls. We had hoped, since we found
no evidence of any banditry the previous day, that perhaps this
little procession would draw out the attackers. It was not to be
and we found ourselves back in Daggerfalls with no more information
about how to find the missing shipment than when we left. Another
visit to Taberin gave us no new useful information but, still feeling
hopeful, we signed on with the next wagon leaving for Teshmere,
once again hoping to find any little clue about the missing wagons.
Back and forth we went along the trail, gaining no useful clues.
We heard rumors and fears, but saw nothing to help explain what
was going on. We gave up on this quest for now and decided to go
after the telstang, hoping we could at least find the dwarven safehold.
On our first day out on the trail we nearly lost the dwarf when
he fell off a log crossing a river. We were successful in fishing
out both him and his huge spear-ax weapon. Not long after, we came
upon a nest of goblins.
The monsters were holed up in the ruins of an old cabin, tucked
deep into the woods northwest of Daggerfalls. Tymora was with us
today, favoring us by showing the goblins a hidey hole complete
with enough ale to render them all somewhat intoxicated. Even so,
the two guards raised an alarm before we were able to silence them.
I feel part of this was my fault. The priest and I tried to get
close enough to see what was going on at the cabin when we should
have left the sneaking about to the stealthy ones. We were heard,
but by that time the ranger and the rogue were able to eliminate
both guards. I successfully cast my Mage Armor spell before any
javelins came my way, then got off a sleep spell that seemed to
affect at least a few of the monsters I could see through the broken
down door of the building. There was a brief, bloody battle inside
before my companions called an "all clear". One goblin
was tied up. The others were dead. The priest saw to our wounded
and then we all helped drag bodies out of the cabin. There were
nearly a dozen of the dead monsters in the pile we made in the forest.
The cold air was rapidly freezing them solid by the time we finished
covering them with branches and snow.
Tonight we have taken shelter in the ruins of the cabin once inhabited
by the goblins. A thorough search turned up a chain shirt and a
strongbox filled with 300 pieces of silver. From the goblins we
recovered five javelins and six morning stars. Not a bad day's work
for a bunch of novice adventurers, eh? Tomorrow we question our
prisoner and hopefully make our way closer to Gadlan's mysterious
safehold. For now, as my new friends might say, sweet water and
light laughter till next we meet. I remain
Yours truly,
Cedar
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