Balthazar Woll

[Stug3]

"Diamonds" he says. I figure sure, why not...
Let me tell you why not; Unlike Fire Opals, the giants who reside within the cave where diamonds are found, are NOT, I repeat NOT to be trifled with.
 My gem working has improved greatly and I can now cut and polish Fire Opals with regularity. Every lesser stone I am able to cut and polish without failure, this has caused a bit of...slowing shall we say. Fire Opals are not terribly hard to get, with some help. Muhk and I often make incursions to the giant cave near Corax Lake to collect opals. With proper planning and the understanding that comes from so many travels together we can battle our way down with little trouble. (There are of course those freak moments when it all goes bad but thankfully these are few) I can still learn a thing or two about cutting opals but I do not think that will continue for long and soon I will be able to cut opals in my sleep. I will then have to work diamonds or more precious stones to continue improving my gem working skills. I look forward to increasing my knowledge and skill but I have concerns about actually getting hold of the stones to work with...
 Muhk and I have been on many, many adventures together and at times we hardly speak, things just sort of fall into place when we travel. We know how each other work best and it is seldom we have to work out a plan of action before hand. With so much traveling time together we just know what to do and when to do it. (at times this has gotten me into trouble with others as I THINK I know what they are going to do...and usually end up all by myself...  it is just habit for me and Muhk to do it a certain way.) So when he said diamonds, I was game.
My first indication that this might not go so well was when he told me to get more bandages... That should have raised a flag, but no.
Oh, and I forgot the spiders...I hate spiders...I mean really, really hate them...despise them actually...not sure hate is a strong enough word. So I stopped to pick up my cloak to help with poison (that was a waste of time) and about a hundred bandages...When Muhk say buy bandages...you buy bandages.
 I've never mined or so much as smashed a diamond before and I was woefully unprepared for the attempt. First off the cave system is located in the Rift...Bad enough...add to that the spiders...getting worse...and then top it off with some extremely irritated giants and you have a tale worthy of  "This one time..." status.
 I will admit I was very concerned about the spiders, I was expecting something in the way of the Sinister Forest caliber. The truth was they were little more than Dire Spiders and one or two that were a bit bigger. These were NOT what I had been expecting at all. Maybe the giants had been blow out of proportion as well? (wishful thinking)
The giants on the other hand were not falsely exaggerated, not one bit...
 With the spiders behind us I was feeling a bit better about making it back from this trip with some diamonds to work on, not to mention alive. The giants pretty well dispelled that 'warm fuzzy' almost immediately. The first two were making a racket from around the corner up ahead, no sneaking required here. With a quick look around the corner that cold lump returned to the pit of my stomach like an anvil. Here were two of the biggest giants I had EVER seen.  (there was this one.. bigger giant, but I try not to think about HIM...)
Muhk and I have a lot of giant felling behind us and our standard plan is simple; we both try to knock him down at the same time as soon as he is on us. Figuring he may dodge one attempt but while busy with one the other may get him, and it works very well...or it used to. So sticking with a proven tactic (why reinvent the wheel?) we readied for the upcoming clash of meat and metal. (I made  sure my helmet strap was fastened tight!)
Getting the giants one at a time was paramount to success, I was doubtful we could fell both simultaneously without suffering severe injury or even death. Muhks' ability to draw in giants is without question the most effective I have ever seen. I don't understand why he excels in this capacity but it is most remarkable. (maybe it's the way he smells? May have to do a bit of field testing...might just find a marketable giant repellent.)  He was able to 'encourage' one to follow him back to where I lay in ambush, as soon as it crossed my line of sight I immediately attempted to knock it down. Muhk reversed direction and made a similar attempt nearly at the same time. (as big and bumbling as he looks, Muhk can move pretty  quick on his feet.) I'm not sure who succeeded, perhaps it was both of us but that giant went down hard...I was just glad it didn't land on top of me. While it struggled to its feet we landed blow after blow on the thing. It shook off an awful lot of punishment, we even had to knock it down a second and third time before Muhk landed a massive blow to its head and it finally keeled over dead. One down, gods know how many more to go. While it was not a terribly difficult fight, that giant did take considerably more of a beating than the normal run of the mill Forest Giant or Desert Giant do before they give up the ghost. If this was the new standard of giant felling than we may be in for a very rough ride and perhaps a long walk back to a grave....or two.
The other giant was dispatched in the same manner and with just as much fight in him as the last he too finally collapsed dead at our feet. I had taken a few good hits and needed to tend a few deep gashes and maybe even a broken finger, luckily not on my sword hand.
 As we moved deeper into the cave I keep my eye peeled for any veins but I had not spotted one yet. We just kept going down, down, down, just how far could this cave system go?
 Spiders were again encountered and dispatched with little effort as we pushed even deeper. The sounds of larger movement could be heard ahead and we moved cautiously up to get a look...
 From below us, we had expected to see them ahead of us, came three...yes three, very irritated giants. They were on us so fast I had barely enough time to register movement before I was hit so hard that I saw stars...even this far underground. I wish I could tell you Muhks account of the fight but I was to busy to even think of anything else except dodge and swing, dodge and swing. I was taking a pounding, I felt like it was raining anvils and I had neglected to bring my parasol of anvil repelling. Somewhere in the fight I was hit with a spell or some sort of magic that sapped my strength so badly I was doing everything I could just to remain standing. Oh, and I was still be whacked like a house rat the entire time. It was time to make a strategic withdrawal, an advance in a different direction if you will. This was harder to achieve than to dream up, with my strength gone and still taking the brunt of the assault I collapsed...
 I am unclear if Muhk had already fallen or if we fell at the same time, but we did meet in the void...
 Dead, discouraged, disheartened, depressed and deprived of any gems I went fishing.....

[Stug3]

I have not seen Muhk since our disastrous attempt to secure some diamonds; I do know he has been around as the house was rearranged. Sein moved his things out, Muhk can be a bit tough to live with at times, or lack of them...namely bath time, on the brightside he is house broken.
 Fishing has taken up the past week or so, I had forgotten how nice it was to be alone. No cares, no adventures, no rush, nothing but quiet forest and the simple joy of fishing. What could be more relaxing than plinking fish with your bow? No falling bears to disturb a leisurely bath, no giants to storm out of the woods and destroy your camp, (it was almost worth it just to see the detonation) no wayward arrows to thump into your poor buttocks, no distractions or disasters. Catfish and Gar my only company and some of the best company I've had. No bickering, no rushing ahead, no squabbling over loot...just... nothing at all.
 While I surrounded by nothing my mind did a bit of wandering; I have seen many lakes, streams and small ponds that do not have fish in them. I was thinking of how to get fish from one place to another so they could start a breeding population in places devoid of fish. What would be better than 'a fish in every pot'? No one would be hungry again, how hard is fishing...
This idea raised some questions; how do fish reproduce, which species would do best where and how to get them to the destination alive....All of these would require some experiments and a lot of investigation to answer. If I make inquiries to some Rangers or possibly Druids I may find they already have these answers and I could skip the investigations and go directly to the experimental portion. Funny what you think up when you can just let your mind wander...

[Stug3]

After finishing my fishing trip I did decide to look into the possibility of moving fish from one location to another, I have not met with success up to this point. Not that it seems impractical just that an unfortunate series of events seem to be plaguing my attempts...
 After many lengthy conversations with both Druids and Rangers it is the consensus that fish spawn from eggs. The thought of once again collecting eggs makes me breakout in hives... I was informed with much laughter that the eggs would be considerably smaller and not require feeding to obtain, things are looking better. Armed with this knowledge I made a valiant attempt to locate some fish eggs that I could transplant in an empty pond. I did locate some eggs I took for fish but alas I was once again forced to add a line in my 'you're wrong book' as they turned out to be frogs...
 The next attempt was even less desirable, this time they turned out to be snake eggs and I had to stomp the very fierce and slightly venomous hatchlings before they escaped and wreaked havoc in their new location. Two attempts two failures, I may need to have a Ranger on hand to help me identify the fish eggs from non-fish eggs, least I inadvertently move a dangerous or invasive species to a new region. (just what I need to do is upset the 'balance') So for now I have suspended my egg efforts and will focus on moving live fish instead... Sounds simple enough.
 I should know by now that the words simple or easy mean I should strap on my armor and break out the bandages...
 The first obstacle was what to put the fish in; I tried several ideas at first but they quickly failed or I realized how preposterous the idea was soon after I began. I was down to two options fairly soon. Option one; bucket. The bucket was a straight forward idea and I figured it was most likely the best. I was correct...to a point. Smaller fish would fit in the bucked along with the required water. Why spend so much effort to move Herring and Bass, if I was going through so much trouble why not big Catfish or Gar instead? One reason might be they DON'T FIT IN THE BUCKET... a thirty pound Catfish is not, will not, no matter how hard you push or how you stuff it going to fit in a bucket...with water. Four feet of Gar is similarly problematic fitting into a bucket, you can hack it to bits and it fits quite nicely but what the hell's the point of THAT...?
 I was down to my last and oddest option...lion bag. There seems to be little end to what gets forced in to these bags. I am willing to bet I'm the only one to try, not only live fish but also the water!
 Who would have guessed they were watertight, unless you completely up-end it. It did not take long to catch a few test subjects and fill the bag, in no time I was off with my first participants of forced relocation.
 Things went well for a while, the bag was not heavy but the motion of walking was soon transferred to the water and it began so slosh back and forth in the bag. I got a bit wet but that was not the problem, the motion of the water made me stagger along like a drunkard and that only increased the water motion and soon I could barely stumble along at all. I had to put the bag down. Still in motion when I placed it on the ground it soon began to wobble off...it was very weird to watch my bag 'wander' away from me. It settled down after a few minutes and I headed off again, taking frequent breaks along the way. Up to this point this looked very promisingly like the solution to moving fish from one body of water to another...
 (I need to add promisingly to the list of strap on the armor and break out the bandages)
 I'm going to assume someone had been mining gold and got the Hill hounds and Kenku all sorts of riled up. I have dealt with both of these foes plenty of times before and they pose little threat even in numbers. The problem I had was not only the numbers were much greater...I was looking at eight hounds and almost two-dozen Kenku, but they were ready for a fight. I had barely arrived and this mob was on me; two-dozen invisible Kenku...sneak attack after sneak attack after sneak attack, then the hounds smelled the blood and came bounding over the hill. Their arrival was not going to be helpful at all...
 Normally my pack is secured and carefully packed to evenly distribute the weight so I can fight if need be while wearing it. This time was however anything but normal. In fact I had four large fish and the water needed to keep them alive sloshing around. I was off balance just walking and now I had to fight...a lot.
 I could not get the pack off in time, the Kenku were on me so fast and in such numbers there was no way to drop it. I was stuck with it for the time being. Wavering like a drunk and feeling like a one-legged man in an arse kicking contest I battled on... (well I tried anyhow) I was unable to run even if I had not been surrounded and the hounds were closing, very soon I would have eight more foes to contend with. I had killed a few of the Kenku but there was still way too many for any kind of actual defense or attack, I simply swung at the swarm and tried to block what I could...Then the hounds arrived.
 The hounds arrived like a storm making land fall, they ran right through the mass of Kenku snarling and biting. They immediately turned on the Kenku, much to my surprise and even more to my relief. The hounds made quick work of the Kenku and soon nothing but dismembered limbs and torn carcasses remained of the Kenku...
 I looked at the hounds and they looked at me...what now...
 A shrill whistle cut the silence and the hounds turned and trotted off up the hill. A figure appeared at the crest, saying nothing they raised a hand in greeting and disappeared with the hounds over the hill.
 Totally exhausted and still unable to believe my luck, I collapsed to the ground. Flopping back on my pack produced a great gush of water that covered me in fish smelling water. Covered in cuts and bruises, soaked to the bone and smelling of fish I moved on again. I had no more incidents along the way and soon I was at my destination.
 Laying the bag down I untied the straps and dumped the fish into the water, success! I had taken them from one location to another and they survived the trek. I was feeling very self-important when the fish all went belly up...
 Seems Gar and Catfish don't live long out of FRESHWATER... I had tried to put them in the sea....
 
 What the hell do I know about fish...

[Stug3]

The sounds of battle carried across the lake; the reverberation of steel on steel rang loudly and I easily followed it to the spot.
 What ever had happened was over when I arrived but from the scene it was obviously a vicious clash. The grass had been trampled flat for many feet in all directions and was splashed with blood and gore. Broken shields and shattered weapons lay strewn in the grass and dozens of arrows protruded from tree trunks or stood fletching up from the sod. Simply walking through the grass soaked the hem of my cloak in blood and my armor was reddened to the knees. Cautiously making my way through the grass I nevertheless stumbled over masses of unidentifiable meat or slipped on lengths of spilled intestine. Many times I squished ankle deep in puddles of red-black coagulating blood. The still air was heavy with the coppery smell of blood and the deeper stench of insides, now on the outside. Flies had begun to arrive in droves and soon the sound of their buzzing drowned out most other sounds. The bodies were barely recognizable; most were nothing but trunks missing both arms and legs, some missing one or both arms and a few missing legs. From the numbers of left limbs I guessed about two dozen lay about in the grass, all were without heads...I did find a piece of skull still sporting a tuft of long black hair, it appears the owner tried to duck, only to have the top of its head removed...
 I am still not absolutely sure even what the bodies were. About the size Gnolls but none had the odd knee direction of Gnolls and they were too small to be Bugbear, yet too big to be Kenku. The state of the other remains were of no help in identifying the carcasses, the cleanly severed limbs and cleaved bodies only showed an ax at work but were little help otherwise. The bodies were clearly all from the same group, what of the other? I could see no marks left from dragging fallen companions, nor did I find any signs of two large parties meeting. I am no Ranger but I can read tracks well enough, years of solo scrounging have left me with some useful skills. I can tell some things from tracks; direction of travel, speed and an approximate weight. Granted a skilled Ranger could give me a step by step reconstruction of the fight by the tracks alone but I had a pretty good idea from my own observations. It became obvious after more poking around that it had not been two groups, but a group and a single individual. The evidence was pretty telling as to the group vs. individual theory; firstly all the arrows were headed in one direction and all had the same fletching. All the hand weapons were crudely forged and of similar design, as were the shields. The arrangement of the corpses clearly showed the fighters in clusters and the archers spread over a semicircle well behind and just like the other weapons all the bows were of similar design and construction. A single combatant had dispatched two dozen enemies and by the lack of any contrary evidence walked away...
 I could find little sign of the victor, other than the utter destruction the axe had wrought on these opponents. I did find very large tracks with deep impressions leading me to believe they were left by an individual weighting somewhere close to six hundred pounds with a stride covering nearly six feet...Giants would leave a wake of destruction similar to this but their tracks are much larger, considerably deeper, they were likely to have eaten most of the 'meat'. The taking of the heads but leaving the remainder to draw flies is puzzling...
 The taking of an adversary's head is not new but I have not seen it first hand, the need for such 'trophies' seem a bit....well.....disturbing.

[Stug3]

After the disastrous conclusion of our diamond excursion I had pretty well given up the idea of working on one for a while, so I once again set my eye on Fire Opals. I managed to fight my way through the giants camped in the forest and after a bit of a break to dress wounds and get a bite to eat I headed for the cave entrance.
 Where to my surprise I again encountered the stranger from the desert. This second meeting went much like the first...he talked I listened, mostly confused. He talks not so much in riddles as in references, still they are very hard to follow and most of his message does not get across. My questions draw questions in response and I am more bewildered by these 'answers' than the original question. He persists with calling me Traveler and it makes me a bit uneasy to have a 'title' per say, especially one I do not understand the reason for. He made reference to helping with hounds and I knew instantly he had been the one on the hill, the one who had controlled the Hill Hounds that aided me against the Kenku. Why had he been there, why help me, was he following me and if so why...?
 When I presented these questions to him I got an answer much like I had expected; "I follow many...yet I follow only one". What the hells did that mean...
 With a small wave he turned and walked off, as he disappeared into the forest a shrill whistle cut the air and from the bushes emerged a very large Dire Bear. With a huff my way it hurried off in the direction of its 'master' leaving me just as confused as after our first meeting.
 I could think on this all day but there were opals to chip at, and I figure I'll see him again. Focusing on the task at hand I put him in the back of my mind, preoccupation and giants rarely go together well. Buffed, ready to layout some giants and dig some opals I headed in. It was pretty standard, get their attention, find some cover to ambush them as they passed and try for a knockdown. It works well and if it ain't broke don't fix it. They did manage to get a few good licks in but they are pretty big and if you get em really riled up they get kinda clumsy. Even hitting each other from time to time, and at one point two of them knocked a third to the ground! Thanks for the help fellas. The real trouble begins when they get them vines going around your feet; a stationary target is not what you want to be. Luckily the vines did not get hold of me...not for their lack of trying mind you...
 With the giants taken care of I was free to dig the opals. I found a belt on one of the giants, it looks like a 'Healers Hug' but I will have to get it identified to be sure...looks can be deceiving.
 The opal veins were astounding and I filled an entire lion bag from two deposits, without breaking a single chisel. Along with opals I also found several unknown minerals that I will need to wash to be certain of their exact type. Loaded with opals and almost giddy with my good fortune not only in opals but the luck of possibly finding such a useful belt I headed for Prantz to cut my stones.

[Stug3]

My first stop in Prants...after the desk...was the craft merchant for some polishing oil. After purchasing enough oil I headed for the craft hall to cut and polish the opals. I almost forgot to wash my other minerals but remembered and did that first. The first was Topaz but to my surprise the other three were diamonds! Excellent news indeed, I had a sack full of Fire Opals and three diamonds to work on. I had defiantly had my work cut out for me. I cut first the Topaz followed by all the Fire Opals, my fingers and wrists were killing me. I saved the diamonds for last and was a bit anxious about trying to cut them as I did not want to waste them with any mistakes. The Topaz came out flawlessly and only a few opals had minor flaws in them, the rest were magnificent. Cleaning up my mess I debated whether or not to try the diamonds. Finally deciding to go ahead and give it a shot I laid them out on the bench. Laying out my jewelers' tools, polishing oil and a few rags I took a deep breath and reached for the first...
 Success eluded me with the first two, both came out with too many flaws and I was forced to grind them to dust. Disheartened I contemplated holding off on the last gem until I had improved my skills a bit, diamonds are tough to come by and I had wasted the first two. For a long while I stood at the bench staring at the third diamond...
 With careful concentration I began working the third and last of the diamonds. My eye throbbed from the strain of scrutinizing each chip of the chisel and several times I had to stop and stare at the furthest wall of the craft hall to relax my eye. Sweat beaded on my forehead and my fingers ached terribly but I had done it. I was holding a perfectly cut diamond. It took over an hour to polish the stone and when it was done is was breathtaking. My hands still covered in oil I held it up to the light, a single drip of oil slid from my hand and dropped right into my eye. The reflexive jerk sent the diamond flying and it skidded across the floor...
 Blinded by the oil I got down on my hands and knees to search the floor. Groping like a blind man (which I defiantly was) crawling on all fours and doing my best to see out of my eye. Polishing oil is great for its intended use, not so great for ones eyesight. Several times I was asked what I was doing by others working in the hall and each time I had to explain my 'accident'. Bad enough to drop a diamond but now I was crawling along the floor like the village idiot trying to locate it...
 I did eventually locate it, only after pouring the contents of three canteens over my face to flush the oil from my eye. Soaking wet and sporting an angry red eye but in possession of my wayward stone I left the hall. I could have been worse. I could have rubbed my eye after working with Fire Beetle bellies, but that's another story all together.....

[Stug3]

The world is a funny place...not so much 'Ha Ha' funny, but odd funny. Granted it does have its moments of humor and I for one try to increase the percentage as often as possible... (some find my timing poor... oh well.)
 Many of my past entries indicate a peculiar trend of misfortune and serious cases of 'wrong place at the wrong time'. Many of these events, unfortunate as they are truly seem to show an uncanny ability to get out of serious trouble unscathed...mostly. My poor rear might disagree with that initial 'unscathed' assessment. If I look back through these pages I find may times I have come off much better they one could expect...
 Cases in point;
 

• I was set on fire while I slept by a woman who shall remain nameless...
• The bear that crashed...quite literally...in on me while bathing.
• The errant arrow...painful as it was...had only struck me in my buttocks.
• My immensely foolish attempt to take on the Minotaur's.
• Surviving the implosion spell...cast by said Minotaur's.
• The unfortunate run in with the ship captain and his entire crew
• The Swamp Troll I had to dispatch with nothing but my shield.
• The sacking of my fishing camp by the Giants.(and the resulting explosion)
• The arrival of the (thankfully) dominated Hill Hounds whilst surrounded by Kenku.

These 'happenings' beg the question is my luck good or bad? I seem to have an unfortunate aptitude for attracting theses events; therefore my luck must be bad? While on the other hand I often come away with little or no major difficulties; therefore is my luck good? Do you see my dilemma...is my luck good or bad? Does karma keep score, if so does she like to keep the books balanced...or balanced in her favor?

[Stug3]

Opals and giants seem to consume much of my time nowadays; Giants topping the list is little surprise, I seem to have a penchant for felling giants and with my continuing endeavors in fine gem work I find the two of them quite favorably linked. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the opal veins are located in a cave system inhabited by giants, as are the surrounding forests. So I find two of my greatest pleasures in one location, fine red opals and big ugly giants. What can be better than assaulting the giant encampment in the forest and continuing to the cave bristling with giants eager to splash their blood on your shield and die on your weapon? Little except being able to cut magnificent red opals from the veins that run the depths of the cave... (perhaps the coal as well, I do like to dabble with fire bombs from time to time... Speaking of fire bombs; I had an interesting idea while putting out the fire...)
I am certainly becoming a better gem cutter, nothing in the caliber of the greater smiths around but proficient enough to cut the stones I gather, which is all I am aiming for anyhow. (maybe I'll try fletching next, make my own arrows...) Now that I no longer smash my fingers and lose my fingernails the work is much more enjoyable, not exactly profitable but enjoyable...

[Stug3]

I have long dabbled in alchemy, although I have not recently as stone cutting has consumed the time I could have devoted to dabbling...
 Recently I did go back to it. I had been collecting a bit of silk and to leave the beetles seemed so wasteful... (perhaps it is the pack- rat in me) so I stuffed em in my bag. The beetles sure do repopulate fast, much faster than I remember. I soon had dozens of 'bits' before I even had half a box of silk. Taking up nearly all my space I decided to sell them off for a bit of coin but while departing the Silkwood I decided to process the 'bits' into throw able weapons. They can be very handy in a pinch, more than once my hide has been saved by one of these last-ditch attempts. I bought the necessary containers both vials and pouches, not expensive but it took sometime to move things around my pack to get them all in. Looking back it had been some years since I last bottled and bagged any beetle bits and I was surprised by how forgetful I was to the actual processes for each. I mistakenly put the acidic liquid from the bombardier beetle in a leather pouch...not the best of ideas or a pinnacle of brilliance on my part. After much cleaning up and more than a few blisters I was back on track...or so I thought.
Things were bubbling away happily while I worked on filling the pouches with the powder I had prepared; I had filled thirty to forty pouches and was preparing to put them in my pack when I was distracted by the madly bubbling concoction. Easily twenty-five vials worth of fire beetle was on the verge of detonation, I tried not to slosh it while quickly removing it from the heat...
 The ensuing conflagration will be talked of for years... (thankfully there were survivors)
 
 While concentrating on not sloshing the boiling and insanely flammable contents I stepped on a glass eye someone had carelessly left laying on the floor. I danced around trying to keep my balance and not splash 'hell in a cauldron' around the place but to no avail. Fully half of the brew poured out on to the pile of filled pouches I had meant to put away earlier. Time seemed to slow down as the liquid dropped towards the harmless looking pouches; I almost had enough time to say to myself...'OH...CRAAAA....'
With a blinding flash and a wave of intense heat the pouches went up like...like...well like a bunch of leather pouches suddenly soaked in a boiling flammable liquid. The fireball reached the ceiling and thick green-black smoke pushed ahead of it spread to all corners of the large room. The blast had cleared the table I'd been working on and flung everything to the floor. Flasks shattered splattering acid several feet from their point of origin and the rugs disappeared into smoke as I watched. I tried to stamp out the flaming pouches but that only increased the cloud of choking dust that was emanating from them and being spread throughout the room by the smoke and rising heat of the fire. Several of the remaining people were walking around dazedly and I realized they had been affected by the powder and stomping on the flaming bags was doing more harm than good. Thankfully I remained unaffected by the effects and was albeit unsuccessfully able to continue my attempts to extinguish the now raging fire. I had to get the affected folks out, if I was unable to douse the flames the whole building might be lost and they would not be able to save themselves in their current state. After rounding them up and herding them out I went back to do what I could...
All my efforts...save for getting people out... had been useless if not increasingly detrimental to the whole situation. How was I going to get the fire out now, the entire area I had been working in was now ablaze. I needed water and plenty of it; a well would have helped my efforts greatly but not having foreseen a firestorm indoors one had not been dug... (who would have guessed there may be a need for it?) My only recourse was the enchanting pool...
Emptying the contents of my lion bag I began to fill it with great scoops of water from the pool. (I knew it would hold water from my attempts to relocate fish) I first made a perimeter of wet rugs to keep the base of the fire from spreading further; next I soaked down the biggest carpet I could find and when I was sure it was wet enough I pulled over as much of the burning materials as I could. This cut down the size of the fire considerably and I was beginning to think I might have a chance of getting it put out. The rug steamed furiously but had smothered the flames underneath. The plaster of the ceiling was holding up fairly well under the intense heat, small portions had cracked and fallen but the majority was still insulating the wooden beams of the floor above. Between the waterlogged carpet and the now soaked floor there was little the fire could spread to that would still burn and slowly I was able to drown the rest of the flames. The smoke was heavy and very irritating, but once I opened the door the room was free of the majority of the smoke very quickly. I could now see the wreckage that had once been the alchemy work stations...
 Waterlogged, soot stained and reeking of smoke the entire area was a total write-off. Charred tables, melted glassware, distorted metal shapes that had once been alchemy equipment and rugs partially dissolved by acid lay scattered in heaps or puddles... sometimes both...
The entire length of the ceiling was the ugly greenish-black color of the smoke and a smoke line extended down from the ceiling about six feet. Sections of plaster had dropped free and a few of the beams were slightly charred, it appeared to be minimal. Closer inspection verified they had taken little to no actual damage and the floor above was in no danger of being the floor below.
 The crunch of glass underfoot caused me to turn around and I was staring at the soot blackened face of Moraken...
 
 The vein on his head was in severe danger of explosion; I think he had actually lost the power of speech, and he simply vibrated on the spot. His eyes quivered and the vein continued to pulsate threateningly. He simply pointed to the door...
 
 I left him a very large bag of Trues for damages...how much I do not know I simply took everything I had and gave it to him. I believe I will go back to cutting gems, there is little prospect of massive destruction working with stones....
 The next one to use the enchanting pool may find it a bit....low.

[Stug3]

While fighting the fire I had the most interesting idea; seeing how the fire spread the choking powder to affect nearly all the people in the room I wondered about the possibility of encasing a firebomb inside a pouch of powder?
 
 The detonation of the flask would release the powder incapacitating any within range. Unable to escape the flames they would suffer greater damage from the fire than if they could escape quickly. This one-two punch might increase the potency of both flask and pouch weapons and open a new market for the seldom used items. Perhaps they might go from being a last ditch effort to a formidable frontline weapon. What could be better than to incapacitate and then reduce to ashes a would-be attacker?  
...very little in my opinion...
 
 After the unfortunate events of my last alchemy session I had decided to forgo any more work with explosives, powders or acids but I feel this possible application warrants further investigation. I have no doubt however that I will have to find another location to do the work...

[Stug3]

My investigation and experiments into combining both fire bombs and choking powder have progressed. After finding another suitable location to conduct the actual distilling and bottling I have made several field tests of possible combinations and delivery methods.
 None so far have been satisfactorily deployed nor have I found the correct mixture...
 
 The idea itself is sound, of that I am sure. The difficulties lay in getting both fire and powder to work simultaneously at their "normal" potency.
 

• The powder itself in not flammable and has the odd effect of often interrupting the detonation of the fire bomb.
• The powder when sprinkled directly into the flames of a fire causes the flames to temporarily dissipate (not the greatest of reactions while working to develop a flame weapon.)
  
• If detonation is retarded the spread of the powder is minimal, far less than just using the powder alone.
• If any of the firebombs liquid seeps into the powder it cakes and dispersal is impossible.
• If too much liquid seeps into the powder it has nasty inclinations to spontaneous detonate (also not helpful.)
  
• Often only one of the components work as they are intended; the firebomb goes off or the powder is dispersed satisfactorily.
• The ratio of single component failure to total component failure is considerably higher (while troublesome it is still encouraging.)
  
• Finding the right measure of fire to powder is critical to achieve maximum detonation and dispersal (this can be tricky as not all the bugs are exactly alike.)
  
• Too much fire damages the powder, reducing its potency.
• Too much powder diminishes the blast radius of bomb.

The deliver method has, after many combinations and trials also given me troubles. The glass and cloth combination required have been problematic.
 

• Placing the glass vial inside the cloth bag of powder cushions the glass, total failure often results (approaching the unexploded sack is always nerve-racking.)
  
• Placing the bag inside the vial causes the powder to soak up the liquid, becoming caked and dispersal becomes impossible.
• Tying the pouch to the vial usually results in 'single component failure' be it the powder or fire, neither have had satisfactory results.
• Powder packed in to a vial seldom disperses well.
• The accidental detonation rate of the liquid / pouch trials have themselves concluded the infeasibility of continuing this avenue of delivery.

I have been tinkering with the idea of acid induced ignition. Small scale trials have shown some success in the application. A single drop of acid when placed in to a similarly small quantity of firebomb produces a fantastic reaction. The acid ignites the liquid 100% of the time and with tremendous force. The resulting reaction seems much hotter than just the standard firebomb and it burns with such intensity that it 'spits' flaming globs in all directions. I have undertaken many attempts to harness the triple combination into a useful and stable weapon. As with the double mixture the triple components only compound the problems.
 

• The more powerful ignition always destroys the powders effectiveness.
• Increasing the powder decreases the explosive yield to below minimum acceptable requirements.
• The meticulous precision that must be practiced while placing the vial of acid in to the firebomb exclude the possibility of mass production on the scale of arrows or other "disposable weapons"
• Any leaks or unintentional combination of acid and firebomb have 'unfortunate results'.
• The tiny acid 'detonator' is extremely fragile and prone to failure and premature detonation.
• Any defect in the seal of the acid vial result in 'unfortunate results'.
• Accidental reactions are common as are spontaneous detonations.
• Once suspended in the firebomb the fragile acid vial often breaks as a result of sustained movement with in the liquid.
• The power of detonation is exponentially linked to the number of devices involved, two have the power of four, four the power of sixteen and so on (I have not tested the explosive yield of more than four...I am a bit fearful of the result.)
  
• The previous two points have great bearing on the feasibility of this weapon; the accidental detonation of ten jostling bombs in a pack would have a kill radius of possibly several hundred yards.

The issue of instability is the major setback to this practical yet for now unfeasible weapon. The idea is sound and testing has showed the potential of such weapons. Many problems remain yet to be overcome but I will continue testing and retesting until I have solved these issues or the stability of the device proves unachievable...

[Stug3]

Caerwyn gave me the greatest idea; "Skip the powder...use caltrops."
 
 Now that was sheer genius, fire AND fragmentation! If I can get the fire/powder combination to work adding the caltrops should be a snap. I am still plagued with failures and setbacks but I will continue the experiments.
 
 Accidental and spontaneous detonations are still occurring regularly, I have concerns with adding fragmentation elements to the unstable test designs. Fire, acid and choking powders are all dangerous as is, I think adding the caltrops until I have a stable and reliable delivery platform might be a bit reckless. The occasional fires and a few minutes of walking around dazed are nothing compared to being perforated by high velocity, nearly molten metal...(testing this combination might be fun...now, where did I put those chickens?)

[Stug3]

I have made what I think to be the 'breakthrough' that has been up to now eluding me...
 Limestone; powdered limestone to be exact, such a simple 'fix' I feel almost foolish to have overlooked it in my trails. Why had I not tried limestone before? I tried everything I could think of. Chicken blood, powdered silver, mushroom powder (this last one had some very strange side effects...) charcoal, sand, sponge, ground corn and wheat. The limestone was accidental, fortunate but accidental...what is not accidental with me?
While trying all the different combinations I found that some of the materials react badly with each other and 'unfortunate results' were common and frequent. I found that a thorough cleaning with water and limestone seemed to neutralize the reactive action between the components. Right there under my nose was the possible answer to many of the issues that plagued my research.
 
 So close I had overlooked it, not only will I be looking at it...I will be scrutinizing it.

[Stug3]

There is much work to be done...
 
 Flasks of fire, bags of choking powder, vials of acid and hundreds of loose caltrops litter my working area, what a combination to be messing around with. If something goes really, really badly I hope there will be enough left for someone to identify...
 The limestone seems to be a very promising avenue of investigation; so far I have had no spontaneous detonations! The limestone seems to decrease the acids instability making it less likely to 'brew up' on its own.
 The firebomb needed little actual work; any alchemist worth his salt can make firebombs. The acid-vial trigger required much more work; finding the right combination and amounts of components, the constant issues with seal failure on the acid vial and the probability of unintended activation of the device. Took considerable amount of time and tinkering to overcome, not that they are completely eliminated but I seem to be on the right track.
 

• Simply adding a bit of Gum Arabic to the vial seal has so far been successful in reducing accidental detonation. (still not 100% but close...very close.)
  
• The addition of limestone to the acid has decreased the accidental detonation rate considerably, while remaining potent enough to react favorably with the fire components.
• Replacing the bronze wire with copper wire has also shown it's effectiveness at staving off the corrosive effect of the firebombs contents, further reducing the likelihood of premature acid/fire contact.

Promising as these new developments are there is much more testing to be conducted. A working weapon is easily still months (if ever) away from possible production...

[Stug3]

Caerwyn's idea about using the caltrops got me to thinking about tangle foot bags...
 
 There has been no actual testing only theory at this point. Why not combine tangle foot bags and firebombs? If the tangle component is flammable it will wrap the target in tendrils of fiery ouchyness (is ouchynees even a word?). Holding them fast and inflicting serious burns to the now immobile target, allowing you time to make your escape or fill them full of arrows. (your choice)
 Between the caltrops and tangle foot additions I find it hard not to try these new ideas out. Maintaining my stance that the initial designs be fully completed prior to testing these new ideas is taking more and more restraint... (maybe just a few preliminary tests...Here chickie, chickie, chickie......)

[Stug3]

Research continues...and continues....and continues...
 
 Progress has slowed greatly in the past weeks. My stockpile of supplies dwindled to zilch and I was forced away from my work by the necessity of gathering more components, not that I mind. While wandering the Silkwood I again came across a scene of destruction and death similar to the one by the lake some weeks ago. Just as before; bodies mostly dismembered, showing large ax wounds and many missing the head. Also present were the large tracks I had seen at the other site but unlike before I could tell these were clearly Gnoll corpses even without the heads. While poking around I also found several broken skulls; two of the skulls appeared to be Goblinoid and the third I could not hazard a guess as it was little more than scattered fragments. Where had the Goblin skull come from, few Goblins venture the woods and I have never seen Gnolls keep the heads of any foe...How had they ended up here and why? Were they a message, perhaps a warning of some sort? ....more questions than answers...Time is precious and time away from research or testing is time wasted...
 
 I continued my replenishment efforts...tracking and dispatching insects by the dozen. With my pack filled to capacity I headed out to purchase the pouches, flasks and vials I needed to continue working.
 
 I was stopped in my tracks by the bellow that boomed out of the darkening forest...somewhere in the gloom two groups blundered into one another and battle had commenced. From the sound it could be my 'mysterious' ax man, metal clanged, great roars of rage and pain rippled through the wood. Moving cautiously I approached just far enough to see the fight...
 
 What a fight it was; the mystery ax man was no man at all, from all appearances he must be giant kin at least...around nine feet tall, six hundred pounds and carrying a shield so big it looks like it might have been a door... (so help me gods it looks like a tavern door)...adorned with skulls of all sort. I could not see an ax; in fact I saw no weapon at all save for the shield, a formidable weapon nonetheless...
 As I watched Gnolls were smashed with the huge shield, grabbed by the neck, stomped under foot and I even saw one yanked off his feet and swung into a tree...then I saw the ax; imbedded at an odd angle in the trunk of a large tree several feet behind the fight. Perhaps an over swing or a back swing had caused it to become wedged and instead of wasting time trying to free it they just continued with hands, feet and shield...
 
 While I was contemplating the loss of the ax the fight had come to an end. All the Gnolls were down and the 'giant' was now seated among the carnage applying bandages to its wounds. Still sitting among the corpses it produced form its pack and ate what looked like a skunk...maybe a badger?
 Seeming content with the meal it got to its feet and began to check the bodies for valuables. Once this was done it began to my revulsion, remove some of the heads. It looked over each carefully and with some calculation decided which to take. The heads were not cut from the bodies or even hacked with the more than adequate ax...each head was ripped free...
 
 Placing a foot on the back of the corpse, the head taken in a vise like grip the body was then arched back over the foot and the head wrenched free with a deep, wet pop...
 Several times this scene played out; each head in turn was placed in the pack... (the same pack the 'food' came from)... Having chosen and removed the acceptable heads it moved to retrieve the ax. Several kicks to the handle were required to free it, I can see why they chose to leave it imbedded and fight without it...
 
 Twice now have I come across the remains left in its wake, I had been hoping to meet the one responsible for such destruction and carnage. After observing the fight however I was having second thoughts...
 
 I moved quietly away from the scene...perhaps if I come across this 'man' in town I may approach but here in the wood...after witnessing the brutality of the fight and the taking of heads...I will keep my distance till then...

[Stug3]

It seems I have to bow to the inevitable...
 
 I have overcome most of the obstacles in the path to a reliable (not to mention useful) throw able weapon. Increasing the yield of the various types available I had hoped would make these last-ditch weapons more of a frontline / first strike weapon. After weeks of trial and error the feasibility and reliability of the device seem not to overlap, increasing the yield also increases the instability. Increasing the stability decreases the yield to pre-improvement level negating the entire benefit of the project. Weeks of exhaustive testing have been unable to resolve this loop rendering the entire project moot; why increase yield when the entire thing may blow up in your pack...or your face and why make it stable enough not to ignite prematurely if it will be no more powerful than pre-modification? The time and risks involved are too great to make it a worth while endeavor...
 
 I have tested every facet of each possible weapon and find the instability / yield problem to be insurmountable... (at this time). As stated previously the yield of several devices simultaneously ignited will be exponentially increased in direct proportion to the number involved. I had been apprehensive about testing this to a greater degree as the exact ratio of devices to yield is not exact as each device is a bit different in potency... (this also has been impossible to remedy). I continued on this course of testing as I felt it was imperative to understand the effects of several devices at once. The accidental detonation of numerous devises as maybe stored in a pack I felt needed to be calculated, understood and if possible verified. The testing was both terrifying and awe-inspiring to behold...
 Using concentric circles that expanded five meters with each ring to a total of fifty meters I tested each type of device;
 
 *Type 1 - 1b (Fire/Choking Powder, Expanded Fire/Choking Powder, Acid Ignited Fire/Choking Powder)
 
 *Type 2 - 2b (Fire/Caltrop, Expanded Fire/Caltrop, Acid Ignited Fire/Caltrop)
 
 Four devices contained in a lion bag were placed on a post driven in the centermost ring and detonated by dropping the bag the twelve inches to the ground. Twelve inches has shown to be a sufficient enough drop to initiate self-ignition ... (it also is the approximate height one might drop their pack to the ground when removing it from their person).
 
 *Type 1- 1b testing was conducted using combat dummies; the effects of the powder were not the main focus of the test, effects of the fire components were the main concern. Just how devastating would an accidental activation of multiple devices be?
 
 

• The dummies in the first twenty meters were totally incinerated leaving nothing but ash.
• At twenty-five to thirty five meters the dummies suffered serious to severe burn damage (nearly all of the clothing was burned away).
• Forty to fifty meters suffered minor burns...

Testing indicates that an accidental detonation of four devices would be unequivocally fatal to the bearer of the bag and any within twenty-five meters would be burned to death as well. Those unlucky enough to be with in thirty-five meters would suffer almost certainly fatal burns as well. Those at greater than forty meters would survive suffering only minor burns but bearing witness to a most horrific death of those closer to the epicenter...
 
 (testing was conducted three times and all results were comparatively similar.)
 
 *Type 2 - 2b testing was a bit tougher as its main focus was the lethality of the Caltrops as they were projected at high speed. Combat dummies were originally to be used once again but calculating what was lethal to hunk of wood in clothing seemed a bit foolish. I decided on live test subjects. Chickens have been bearing the burden of my testing to this point... (I have been eating a lot of chicken), but the chickens seemed a bit small and rather unsuited for testing on the scope I was about to undertake...(besides, you can kill chickens if you scare them badly enough). I needed something with a bit more mass...I purchased several oxen and tethered them at the same locations occupied by the dummies. The test evidence is truly frightening...
 
 

• All Type 2 - 2b devices are lethal at WELL OVER fifty meters. Every ox was killed out to the fifty meter ring...as well as several tethered for the next test over eighty meters away.
  
• The horrific damage inflicted by the Caltrops as they move through the target is unequaled; Oxen closer than thirty meters were nothing more than strips of flesh.
• At the forty-five meter range the Oxen were in shreds but discernable as Oxen.
• Fifty to eighty meters (presumably beyond) the Oxen were mostly intact but most suffered fatal wounded as well.

I was lucky enough to avid being struck by any Caltrops but not so in avoiding Oxen wreckage; I was covered head to foot in blood and bits of meat...
 
 Testing indicates that the accidental or intentional activation with in a crowd, such as an adventuring party or gathering place (Hemp fountain) would produce massive casualties and any not immediately killed would suffer devastating, probably fatal wounds. The usefulness of such a weapon cannot be over looked; the likelihood of accident and certain death to the user negates any possible benefit of such weapons. While the devastating effects and the usefulness of employing such a weapon against an enemy cannot be denied, getting it safely from point A to point B is in serious doubt...
 
 It is with much disappoint that I must given the facts of testing that these weapons have no practical purpose, the likelihood of accidental ignition/detonation is too great and no likely remedy is foreseeable. After so much time and energy devoted to this project I had hoped to solve the issues and come away with a satisfactorily deployable weapon.
 
 -As of now this project has been deemed unadvisable for production-

[Stug3]

As usual I find myself behind in jotting things down...
 
 Misfortune and fortune often go hand in hand and if you get through one you might just reach the other. The giants had been given a reprieve as I was too busy doing other things, to strike their encampments as usual. Finished with my prior engagements I was freed to resume my campaign against the giants and to this endeavor I again threw my fullest attentions and effort.
 Successfully assaulting giants seems to be a perishable skill; the funny thing about a perishable skill is you have no idea that it has wilted until you use it.
 
 I had forgotten several important truths about giants.
 1. they are big
 2. they are not very friendly
 3. they are big
 4. they are tough
 5. they come in several types...all are big
 6. they hit hard
 
 It was not long after opening hostilities that these truths came back to me...actually they came AT me. I was lucky to say the least. Five giants rushed at me and I was not really feeling the love. I did back myself into a corner to keep them from surrounding me but I had no escape...except right through em all. Breathing heavily I set my feet, brought up my shield and waited for them to close the distance...
 
 Giving better than I was getting we battled on and on and on; I'd knock em down and they'd get right back up swinging. Swing, dodge, block, swing, jab, maybe a kick or two and I even tried to daze a few. By the end of it although pretty banged up I had five dead giants at my feet. Taking five at once was foolish albeit unintentional but what was I going to do, I had gotten their attention and had to finish what I had started. While tending my wounds I took time to get my head on straight. Everything I needed was in there somewhere; I just needed to get to the front again. This was not my first go round with giants by any means; I just had been out of the game for a while.
 
 The giants had not reformed when I again entered their camp so I was able to simply stroll through the rain to the cave. I used my meager magic's and tromped down the stone steps to the mouth. Cool and rain free the cave was welcoming right up to the point where the giants were. They wandered around grumbling and doing what giants do. I moved to the cover of a rock outcropping and using it to shield me from view I took stock of the situation. Four ax wielding giants and one that looked to be of the casting type...no visible weapon.
 
 I stepped from the cover and waved at the nearest one who immediately bellowed and headed right for me...with the other three in tow. Again I had drawn nearly all of them to me at once. This went much like the first, lots of hitting and being hit. Then the spell arrived...some type of plant growth began tangling around my legs making any attempt at knocking down my opponents impossible. Minus my biggest advantage and most useful tactic I was stuck slugging it out with blade and shield. Thankfully I had not actually been seen by the caster; he simply cast in the area of the fight and seemingly content with his contribution continued to wander in the back of the passage. I was soon able to correct his thinking on just how helpful his contribution really was, as I charged around the corner, dropped him on his arse with a suburb knockdown and planted my blade right in his big stupidly surprised face.
 This time I had come off better and just a few bandages had me felling just ducky. The rest of the cave was similar in the combat, ax wielders and another caster but I had better cover in the following chamber and had little difficulty limiting their movement and numbers. I had been barely scratched in the last fight and decided to move on without resting.
 
 I did however relieve my full bladder in one of the huts just a little something to remember me by.
 
 The lower caverns can be a bit tricky and I had never been this deep alone. I knew the layout and what I was likely to find further on, I was not however expecting to be trapped for more than a week...
 
 No sooner had I moved into the room then I nearly ran head first into a wandering, ax wielding giant and the fight was on. The sounds soon drew in more and more giants and I stopped trying to count them. Luckily I was in a tight space and only one could attack me at a time so at least I was not going to be surrounded. I have no idea how many I had felled when I felt a great heat on my back and the smell of burned wood filled my nostrils choking me a bit as I took in great breaths from all the exertion. Coughing badly as my eye burned and watered I continued the fight by swinging at blurred shapes. I do not recall moving to engage the caster but I must have because it lay dead at my feet when my eye stopped watering and my vision returned. Looking around at the carnage I found nine dead including the caster, I also notice the right shoulder of my cloak was nearly burned away and the armor underneath was scorched. My head must have been the casters target and he had just barely missed me with the fire ball or some similar spell. The door on the other hand had taken the full brunt and smoldered badly. I should have checked it then...
 
 With the giants temporarily scattered I took the opportunity to get a few opals. I was surprised by my luck in acquiring nearly twenty opals from the two deposits, taking this as a sign I should depart I gathered up my gear and headed out.
 
 The door was still smoking slightly as I went to open it and no matter how hard I pulled I found it stuck tight. Closer inspection revealed the hinges had been fused by the heat and now were totally inoperable. My attempts to first kick the door down were futile, as the door opens towards me I was doing little than pushing it against the frame and supporting stonework. My next attempt was just as useless; I tried breaking it down with the impact of a running start. I had hoped the wood might be weakened by the fire but to no avail; it was as strong as ever. I had acquired a mace from one of the deceased giants and tried that as well but it too proved little use and by the time I was done beating on the door it looked more like a sickle then the mace it had been. My final attempt consumed six of my eighteen chisels as I tried to cut the hinges from first the door itself and then the stone around it, again to no avail. By now I was getting a bit desperate; the giants would soon muster enough courage to return and I was stuck in their lair with no way out.
 
 Old habits die hard; I still carry enough provisions for several days and water was similarly not a problem as there are several pools scattered about the caverns I could utilize. The most troubling aspect was being trapped in the caverns with giants for gods know how long and the prospect of battling endless waves of giants was not something I was looking forward to. I needed a defensible I could hold for an indefinite period of time...
 
 I scouted around and found the best place to make my stand was in the smaller grotto containing the opal deposits. There was a potable pool of water, cover I could use, a small fissure behind two large stone formations I could use to limit the numbers of attackers who could come at me and the opal deposits. I had a place to make my stand, water, food and something to do between giant assaults... (mine opals). I had little idea of just how long I would be there but for the meantime I was looking pretty good for the circumstances...Four days later I was still trapped and now beginning to run low on food. I had not taken into consideration the energy expended fighting waves of giants' every few hours and just how much food would be consumed just to keep me going. I had opals aplenty but no matter how nice they look ya still can't eat em.
 
 As my food supplies continued to dwindle at an alarming pace I was forced to consider alternate sources. I do enjoy Troll headcheese and have tried many different types of flora and fauna, many not typically considered as a food source but the developing situation was going to be entirely different than any I had faced in a long, long time. On the sixth day I was down to one dried ration, water was plentiful and easily obtainable but the food had gone as far as it would. I needed a new source and soon...
 
 The immediate need to replenish my food stock weighed heavily on me and I could see starvation as a real possibility if I did not secure one soon. The solution was far simpler than I had realized; the giants. Their size and numbers were not only going to possibly be my downfall but perhaps my saving grace as well. I could use them as food...unappetizing as this seemed it was not only a viable source but a plentiful one as well. The amount of meat on a single leg or arm was more then enough, even after cooking. I would not have to clean the entire carcass...thank the gods.
 
 Their bones and minimal clothing were enough to keep a small fire going in the back of the cave. I had water, fuel for the fire, food and I could continue to mine opals. (of which I had several bags of). The only thing I did not have was a way out, nor did I see having one in the foreseeable future.
 By day twelve I was getting a bit stir-crazy, the constant cycle of attacking giants and mining was beginning to really wear me out. I had by now more than one hundred opals and was very ready to be anywhere but here. I needed some way to get that damned door open; I dug deep in my pack and put on my thinking cap... (good thing I still had it)

[Stug3]

The magic in the standard thinking cap seems to hold its potency well over time and after several hours I came up with a plan...no... a gamble...no... not a gamble either, what I had come up with...? I'm not sure what it actually was.
 
 My exit 'strategy' had a few rough edges to say the least and it was considerably more likely to fail than to actually be successful. I guess both ways I will be free of this confinement; success and I will be fighting my way free...failure and I will be spat from the void weak and disoriented. Freedom is the goal and both will have the same result... perhaps I should add an amendment to my plan; freedom AND survival...yeah I like that better...
 The plan was not so much a clear-cut 'plan' so to speak...actually it was more of a rough guide. I had no step by step layout, no set series of events nor really a plan now that I think about it. I needed to get out that damned door and I was going to need the giants to do so; just how they were going to facilitate this was as of yet still unclear...
 
 I repacked all my gear carefully in to my pack and test fit it to make sure it was all ready to go and began to put my 'plan' into action...
 I moved from the small grotto I had been living in to the larger chamber by the door. One final check on my gear to tighten straps... (a third check on my chinstrap)...shake out a few muscles and kick a few loose stones from underfoot, I was as ready as I was going to get. The giants moved in shortly after...
 
 They emerged from the gloom and made their way cautiously to where I had been holding out. I could see only two, perhaps they had become weary of losing so many and this was just a probing attack before a larger group stormed in while I was busy with the first two. They rushed in with much noise and bluster but I soon heard them quiet down as they tried to figure out what had happened; why had I not attacked them, where had I gone...what was going on. Giants are not the brightest candle on the table and seem to have a bit of trouble reacting to unanticipated events; it takes them a bit to get refocused. I could hear them wandering around grumbling to each other and I could just picture their faces with that stupid look of confused anger. No more had appeared to reinforce the first two; possibly these two had taken it upon themselves to improve their standing in the tribe by being the ones to get rid of me. These two were going to be my 'exit plan'...
 
 It took several minutes for them to finally give up wandering around and move the search further along the cave, why they split up is beyond me...(I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth)... I had remained by the door and let them do what it was they were doing. The first; a big grey hulk with no nose lumbered out and headed in my direction swinging his ax casually as his head swayed back and forth. It took a surprisingly long time for this big lummox to actually notice me standing there waving at him like the village idiot...
 
 When he finally did, it was on; he came at me at a run, with that big ax up over his head and his mouth wide open... (it was a really, really big mouth)...I waited for him to close and when he was there, I was on him like hair on a Dwarf. We battled it out for a bit and I tried to keep my eye out for the other to join in. I was finally able to dispatch him when he took a huge swing and missed bending low enough for me to drive the blade into his brain through the back of his head. One down one to go and I needed this one to get me through the door...I still had little idea of just how this was going to happen.
 
 I did not have long to wait for the other to show up. He must have seen me about the same time I saw him; I was still standing on the back of the dead one, foot firmly planted on his head trying to retrieve my sword which was stuck fast in its head. I yanked enthusiastically on my sword, trying to free the weapon before the other was on me...
 
 I was still trying to get that blade free and hoping against hope that I would be faster than that giant. I had little hope of beating a giant with just my shield; they are a tad bigger than trolls. There was lest than ten feet between me and that oncoming giant when the blade slid free with one final terror fueled yank...
 
 Life is full of mysteries and I don't try to figure them out I just go with the flow, I mean why swim up stream?
 
 As I yanked the blade free a great stream of blood was slung from the end and splashed right into the giants' eyes when I brought it around to bear. Temporarily blinded but unable to stop it's forward momentum it collided with the corpse of the first. I had not noticed in my fanatical efforts to free my weapon that the ax handle of the dead giant was sticking out from beneath the body. Colliding with the handle caused the blinded and terribly enraged giant to vault over not only the body but me as well. I threw myself flat on the body as the other sailed over my head and with a tremendous crash split the door right down the center, unable to believe my luck I laid there dumbfounded. I regained my senses and made quick work of the unconscious, possibly already dead giant... (never hurts to be sure)...I pried the door open using the ax as a lever and was gone, I was free...sort of...
 
 After fourteen days I was out of my 'prison' but I still had to get through the rest of the caverns and any giants contained there in. I was feeling pretty good about this time and figured I'd have little trouble fighting my way clear to the surface. For once I was correct, my escape was hard fought but I managed to reach the forest alive. The sun; never so bright or painful nor so welcomed greeted my emergence. I lay in the grass for a long time just breathing the fresh air and feeling the warmth on my face...
 
 I had misfortune and had overcome it, now it was off to Prantz to make my fortune. I still carried over one hundred opals...

[Stug3]

After extricating myself from the caverns I still had much work to do, I had all those opals to cut and polish...
 
 After buying a fortune in polish... (I think the shop keeper closed up for the day after I left)... it was off to the crafting house to make myself blind doing tediously detailed work. I enjoy working stones but the eye strain from such close work is murderous as is the pain in my fingers and wrists, with so many to cut and polish I feared I was in for a long night of headaches and hand cramps. Setting the heavy bags of raw stones on the table was a welcomed relief, after laying out my tools and polish I took a few minutes before I began chipping away on the first of many opals...
 
 Such a delicate job takes more concentration than actual physical work and letting the mind wander tends to waste resources; one momentary loss of concentration tends to lead to poorly cut stones or missing fingernails. In my gathering days I could let my mind wander freely as I collected for contracts and found the time just slipped past with little notice...(twenty years to be exact)... but if I wandered off mentally while cutting the end result was poor quality and wasted materials. Keeping focused on the task at hand was a chore in itself and I had to break frequently to rest my eye or shake out cramped fingers.
 Never before had I had such a large haul nor did I think I should again. Small batches can be cut and polished with ease but this monster load was going to really put a hurting on me. I hate to say I have the attention span of a Brownie...but I may be close.
 
 Soooo many hours later I dropped the final stone, cut and polished in to the bag. My hands hurt so badly I don't think I could have dug a booger from my nose without crying...next time I think of filling bags with stones I need o remember the pain in my hands....
 
 Unless they are diamonds....or emeralds....I could live with the pain.