Gretchen's Journal

[Rehevkor]

*This thick, leather-bound journal features two symbols branded into the cover: the symbol of Vorax and the insignia of the Stonebrow clan, a hammer and axe crossed over a sturdy looking helm. The text inside is written neatly in dwarven.*

Brenzik, Dry-Heat 22, 1386

I have chosen to begin writing a journal because of my experiences in the Anauroch desert this day.

I had joined my friends Bruenor Wildbeard and Kaizer Thell, among others, in attempting to solve the mystery behind a man's death and the disappearance of his son. A strange box, likely magical, seemed to play an important role in both events. We discovered that this box had come from Sauderia, in the Anauroch desert. Some of our number wished to pay for passage by sea to Sauderia, but the bloody pirates were asking a price more akin to highway robbery than good business. Kaizer, Bruenor, myself, and some others chose to travel overland to Sauderia, and the box came with our group.

We were ambushed by strange shadow creatures several times during this journey. One particular ambush took us shortly after entering the Anauroch. Darkness fell over us in spite of the bright sun and more shadows appeared, this time between myself and my companions. I set my shield and my feet and struggled to hold my position, but I heard Bruenor call out a retreat from somewhere ahead of me. I knew that he would not lightly abandon battle against our enemies, so I heeded his call and fled. The shadows were unnaturally fast, however, and I was cut down before I could escape.

The next thing I became aware of was waking in an unfamiliar temple with a drow female looking down at me. My first instinct was to fight, as my last moment of awareness was battling for my life against the shadows, but I quickly regained control of myself. Speaking to the drow, I learned that she was a healer of the goodly drow goddess Az'atta, and that Az'atta herself had deemed that those who had fallen in the desert should be restored to life. I thanked both the healer and her goddess, and gave them what coin I had to show my gratitude. Dwarves and drow have never been on the best of terms, but these followers of Az'atta seemed honorable and kind.

Among the others fallen was a halfing named Tomi Shadowfoot and Bruenor himself. He could have escaped, but he chose to stand and fight overwhelming odds to give his companions a chance to escape. He was raised as well, and discovered that a previous injury to his shield arm had been worsened, and that he could no longer use a shield at all until enough time had passed to heal the wound.

I was greatly impressed by Bruenor's actions during the ambush. I had before called Bruenor a friend, but I had frowned on his apparent lack of discipline, reckless ways, and brutish tactics. His actions in the desert, however, reminded me of the great defenders of the Stonebrow clan, dwarves who would stand shield to shield against a foe outnumbering them 10 to 1 in order to protect their kin. I only hope that some day I can be strong enough to do the same for my clan and my companions on the road.

By the will of Vorax, I will never again leave my friends in battle to save myself, regardless of who calls a retreat. I will be the one to call a retreat to the others, and I will raise my shield and take the blows meant for them so they might escape, and may all of my blood stain the ground before I falter in their defense. I will not let another stand against my enemies when, as a daughter of Vorax, I have the strength and courage to stand against them myself.

- Gretchen, of the Stonebrow Clan

[Rehevkor]

Agorin, Dry-Forge 21, 1386

Strange events are in motion in the world, and I was given a firsthand look at them this day. After delivering a large order of mineral greenstones to the cleric Rawkwin, he asked if I would switch to gathering aloe for his potions. As we left the crafthouse we noticed that the night sky was unusually dark, with no stars to be seen. Rawkwin seemed unsettled by it, and I was as well, but I tried to believe it was just heavy cloud cover.

Rawkwin and I left Hlint for the High Forest, where he would show me the aloe plants that he wanted me to gather. A heavy rain soon began to fall, and when I looked up I noticed I could not even see the clouds backlit by the moon. An unnatural blackness had settled low in the sky, blocking the heavens from our sight.

We continued on and found the aloe plants. While we were gathering them, we heard a voice speak from a nearby tree, and when we turned we saw the Lady of the Land standing there, as if she had stepped right out of the tree. She told us that Milara, one of Bloodstone's minions, was moving his forces, and that others were following. She said major changes were occuring, and that we should seek out and tell the druid Rhizome the things she had told us. She vanished back into the tree before we could ask for more information.

We set out quick to find Rhizome, and along the way met up with a very large party set out from Hlint, who had apparently heard similar warnings. We travelled with them to learn of Rhizome's location, then spoke with him and his companions, relating all that we had heard. We discussed much, but decided that, for now, we should concentrate on gathering more knowledge of the situation before trying to take action. I agree with this approach; knowledge and understanding of one's enemy must preceed engagement.

I plan to send word to my clanmates back in the Greypeaks to warn them of these events. I also hope to visit them in person soon, and ask for their aid in dealing with this threat to Mistone. I only hope I can convince them to set aside their self-imposed isolation to unite with the other races of Mistone. It was our xenophobic nature that led to our failures in the Race Wars and continues to plague us... only united with the other goodly peoples of the world can we stand against our enemies and fight honorably in the name of Vorax.

- Gretchen, of the Stonebrow Clan

[Rehevkor]

Aurachil, Cold-Rust 12, 1386

I met a human named Mei this day in the Red Light Caverns while I was mining for copper. I learned that she was there to try her hand at mining for the first time, so I gave her a tour of the caverns and offered some mining pointers. She fought well against the goblins, with skill and - most importantly - good sense. She also demonstrated a natural talent for chopping ore, which I agumented by explaining some of the techniques used by Stonebrow miners and tunnel crafters. I also explained to her the nuances of the stone, and how one sometimes finds valuable stones mixed in with a vein of metal, and how they must be cleaned to be identified. She listened intently and learned much about the art of mining during our short stay in the caverns.

Upon returning to Hlint I also explained to her how smelting works and what is required for crafting weapons and armor from the metal. She expressed an interest in weapon crafting, and although my field is armor, I was able to explain the basics to her. She is very focused for a human, not prone to impatience; these are the qualities of a good craftsman. I believe she will do well in the smithy, if she is stubborn enough to keep at it even when her ingots run out onto the floor like warm taffy.

As we were about to part ways I suddenly remembered that I'd had my own crafting breakthrough the day before. I had crafted my first bronze piece, a large shield. I showed it to her and she offered to buy it, but I refused the coin. She had proven herself an honorable fighter and a good student, and I felt that my first real piece of craftsmanship shouldn't be reduced to a product to be sold. I also asked her to let anyone who commented on it know that a craftsman of clan Stonebrow had made the piece, in hopes that word would spread and help to restore the clan's reputation for fine work in the north. Since we are just now putting into motion plans for re-opening trade with surface settlements, we can use all of the advertisement we can get.

Finally, I admonished her to pass the shield on to another worthy owner once she no longer had need of it. It's certainly not a piece of legend like the rumored mithril artifacts crafted by dwarves ages ago, but perhaps it can help protect some of those who might become legends themselves in time. With the talk of Milara's troops being on the move and other threats enroaching on the peoples of Layonara, we could use more able bodied heroes.

I am now preparing for a journey back to the Greypeak mountains and my clan's home. It may be some time before I am ready, but more is needed from my people to restore the clan's glory than re-opening trade routes. We must unite with the other goodly peoples in defense of Layonara, for our enemies care not who they destroy. I hope to convince them to patrol the tunnels and the surface passes in and around the Greypeaks more diligintly to learn of any possible threats in that direction. Further aid beyond that can only be hoped for, but I will do what I can, in the name of Vorax.

- Gretchen, of the Stonebrow Clan

[Rehevkor]

Aurachil, Damp-Chisel 27, 1387

My patience was put to a terrible test this day, and my faith in the ability of humans to engage in proper combat shaken.

I joined with a group travelling to the Greypeak mountains for the purpose of recovering a vial of oil lost by a citizen of Fort Llast. I volunteered to take point and led the group deep into the mountains. The ogres in that region are tough, hardened by their hostile environment, but we fought hard and put them down, one group after another. We lost one along the way, Ifion, but he found his way back and we continued on into the deeper passes.

After fighting through a valley filled with patrolling ogres, we came to a rocky region wherein dwelled the chieftain of that ogre clan. We swiftly dispatched the chieftain and his guards and recovered the vial of oil. We quickly moved back the way we came, turning aside along one wall of the valley toward the town of Lar, where we intended to rest before marching out of the mountains.

A large group of ogres had laid an ambush for us there just before the pass leading into Lar. I counted maybe seven well-armed berserkers, and at least two mages. They tore into our surprised ranks with ease, and I immediately realized that to stand and fight this foe, many of our group would die. I called a retreat... I called it until my voice was ragged and hoarse, choking on the cold mountain air, bellowing the call out between blows exchanged with the ogres all around me. One vicious chop from a greatsword laid open my right cheek and nearly knocked me off my feet. The scar from that blow remains still.

When I had a moment to spare, I glanced back along the pass to see how many had escaped. The bloody fools weren't even trying to escape; most of them had stopped and tried to fight, scattered all over the field! Those who stopped were very quickly killed; soon bodies were strewn about the area. I saw one, Zerpa Soulcry I think, felled by an ogre mage's death magic as she tried to flee. I roared at those still standing to retreat, and a few listened. Those who did not fell in seconds.

Five of us, badly wounded and weary, staggered into Lar and sought shelter at the inn. I took a moment to inform them of proper battlefield procedure regarding a retreat, hoping they would take the time to inform their fallen friends once they recovered. If they have any respect for their own hides, maybe they'll listen next time. After resting, we left Lar and ventured out of the mountains. The return trip was, for the most part, uneventful.

I did my duty as a soldier of Vorax and stood against our foes so that my companions would have a chance to flee, but they did not. They chose to die pointlessly instead, and I don't understand why. One of them told me she stayed and fought because she would not leave her friends in danger, but her decision to stay likely caused more deaths than it prevented. When a retreat is called, everyone must fall back except the point, who stays to hold the enemy back. If anyone else remains, others halt the retreat to come to their aid, and the retreat fails. This is why so many died in that pass. They should have fled when the order was called.

It seems that adventurers in the area need to be educated on proper battlefield strategy. Perhaps I will arrange some way to instruct them, before they are all eaten by the soul mother for their foolishness. I will think on this.

- Gretchen, of the Stonebrow Clan

[Rehevkor]

*this entry appears to be a copy of a report sent to King Bartoc in the Stonebrow clan stronghold*

I've spent a lot of time among the surface races, fighting beside many of them, and have made quite a few friends in the process. Travelling with them has also helped me to hone my defensive techniques since many of them are not tough enough to take point against multiple enemies. Unfortunately, their battle tactics could use some polish. Perhaps I will make an effort to educate them in the Stonebrow way of fighting.

I have also done a great deal of mining and armor crafting since leaving the tunnels. There are some good ore deposits in the northlands, including one iron mine rich in quality ore. I have included a map of northern Mistone with the deposits marked and described in greater detail.

As per our agreement, I have been crafting pieces to either sell or give away in order to spread our reputation for quality work. Once I have become adept at crafting iron pieces, I feel the Stonebrow name will be known well enough in Mistone for the clan to re-open trade with human settlements.

I have also met other skilled crafters in Hlint. They may serve as contacts for selling Stonebrow pieces once trade is re-opened, and they might also serve as customers for our ore. That is a topic for a later date, however, as we have not yet reached that point.

I feel that, if our plans for trade go as planned, we will have made good progress toward becoming more involved in the world around us. Vorax has thus far been pleased with my actions, and I believe that, if the clan becomes more involved in the affairs of the world at large, we can shake off the lethargy induced by our past failures.

In the name of Vorax, I write,
- Gretchen, of the Stonebrow Clan