Journal of Rugo Falanger

[Salad]

Well, Gorhewn and I fianlly made it all the way to Hlint.  Of course, I got into town a little ahead of Slowpoke.  Ran some errands for folks in town.

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Got the idea to try mining with Gorhewn.  We bought oxen and headed out of town.  On the way into the mines, archers ambushed us and killed my ox.  Made it to the deposit and I discovered that I can't swing a pick for worth a hill of beans, but Gorhewn is a natural.  So, I was standing around guarding when Gorhewn breaks his pick and I whipped out the second pick I had intended to use.  Talk about being accidentaly prepared.  We finished up and were ready to head out when we were ambushed again.  In the excitement, Gorhewn forgot to load the pack back onto the ox, which we discovered on our way back into town.  So we went back into the mines, where the other ox was killed, and Gorhwen was badly wounded.  I carried what ore I could back to town, and proceeded to smelt it into useless junk.  End result of mining trip = 2 dead oxen.

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Wandered off to Krandor and discovered the joys of deadly plant life, then nearly got my nose chopped off by some scary skeleton with a spear.  Ran into a sturdy dwarf named Gloin, a budding master of the combat Art named Gre' Mantis, and a irreverant hooded man who was good with locked doors.  Ventured into the crypts on behalf of a small waif; with the larger group we actually survived.  Later, Gloin took us on a little trip.  Now I've finally wandered past the Broken Forest and to Port Hampshire.  The town is more urban than Hlint; seeing a larger city was a bit of a shock.

We took a couple of boat trips and fought more large creatures.  Gloin got really excited by some of the mineral deposits we found.  For one battle, the dwarf summouned a dwarven hore named Pete.  During the fight, Pete got caught in some sort of enemy spell involving a large hand.  Seeing Pete wander around wrapped in magic fingers was rather strange.

[Salad]

It has been some time since I set pen to paper, and I have seen much more of the world.  Met a human named Orrin Widtucker and I have traveled near and far with him.  We made it back to Rilara and met a sturdy fellow named Asher Hardrock, who was quite helpful in giving us a quick tour.  The view across Lake Rillon was breath-taking.

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Orc carrying a strange, evil-looking sword turned up in Hlint.  He was trying to kill a dwarf and muttered something about Grand, who evidently had an orcish horde camping nearby, ready to do his bidding and take over the craft hall in Hlint.  While a well-equipped orc army does give me pause, I have heard rumors of a brave band of heroes working to vanquish this threat.

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I started looking for housing with Storold and Orrin, but could not find anything for sale on Mistone.  Sailed to Dregar, and couldn't find any real estate for sale there either.  This looking for housing thing may take a while.  Saw a tall human riding a four-legged beast - a horse?  Think that is what they're called.......  It looked dangerous, but a speedier mode of transportation for slow two-legged folks.

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Started to teach Orrin halfling.  He has picked up on the word "dash."  Don't know yet if he has the aptitude for the language, though.  I have seen Gorhewn only occasionally.  That stubborn dwarf was only eating raw meat, and then not enough to keep himself healthy.  I convinced him to change his diet.  Get a fellow away from home, and they try the strangest things.....

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Minions of Sinthar Bloodstone have been sighted in Mistone.  Knew this was coming eventually, but can't be a good thing for the island.  Also, some of the places that harbor undead have become nastier; I have even sighted large golems of bone.  All in at, I suspect it portends trouble.

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Sailed to the Kingdom of Roldem.  Orrin didn't make it very far before it looked like he would turn into lunch for some nasty carnivore.  Sailed back to Rilara.

[Salad]

Rumors of events I have not seen first-hand...

Sinthar Bloodstone gathered a force that included iron golems and attacked Fort Velensk.  There was a call for defenders, which I missed, and the attack was beaten off.

A strange, deadly spider has been spotted outside of Krandor.

[Salad]

I have discovered today that there are fierce vampires that somtimes come out of hiding and battle in the great city of Port Hampshire.  This is indeed disturbing, for who likes to walk unawares among vampires and their minions?  Also, some are fierce warriors, and I fear would cut me into ribbons should I dare to stand against them in combat.  There appear to be secrets, power srtuggles, and assassinations in the fair city of Port Hampshire.  Too much beyond my comprehension.  I make note of it here and perhaps someday it will make sense....

[Salad]

The orcs in the areas near Hlint appear to be more numerous and aggressive as of late.  After hearing what befell Stone on the island of Rilara, where forces of Sinthar Bloodstone razed that town, I cannot but think that it portends ill.  Many moons ago an orc muttering about Grand came to Hlint with a cursed sword and tried to kill a dwarf.  Perhaps the orcs move for less obvious reasons, or perhpas the most mundane of all - food and territory?