[Stug3]

My thumbs are returning to their original size and the nails have begun to grow back... (It's about time) For a while there I thought I was going to have to chew the minerals free, as my swollen thumbs made working the chisel easier said than done. After collecting, grinding and cutting what seem like tons of lesser minerals I was able to (and quite surprisingly) cut the few Fire Opals I had on hand. I am chalking that up to luck and not any skill of my own...but why look gift horses in the mouth?
Cutting minerals free in the heat of the desert is not the greatest of pleasures, or to constantly look over ones shoulder for those pesky and surprisingly quite scorpions. The sand is another matter entirely. I feel as if I'm carting half the desert around with me. Every bend and fold hold sand, creases funnel sand from outside to inside and it tends to end up in rather irritating places...at times I feel as if I have sand paper underclothes. I have taken to bathing in the sea by Spellgard for relief from the murderous heat and the maddeningly relentless rubbing and chafing of the sand. The seawater is cool but quite painful at first contact with the spots rubbed raw by the sand. If a few minutes of gritted teeth are all the cost required to have a bear free dip then I can not complain...too much, besides it gives me a chance to collect a few pearls as well.
Even with all the work involved it gets rather boring collecting the stones for later cutting. There is little in the way of action in the area, I find myself going out of my way to look for a fight. The snakes and scorpions offer little challenge to the monotonous mining but Gnolls can be found not too far away. Not that they are more challenging but their numbers make it a more interesting fight...somewhat. Throw in a few Shamans and you have a bit of action to cut the boredom. Until I get better at cutting I guess I will have to just keep the Gnoll population in check.....Never thought I'd say I miss giants...