5th of Neth, 4710 AR
I am off on my first real expedition since my world was turned upside-down two months ago. I have agreed to participate in an errand for the town of Kassen, in Nirmathas: venture to the tomb of Ekat Kassan and bring back a lamp lit from his eternal flame. A straightforward enough task, I assumed, but one that offered the opportunity to explore a piece of local history – and prove to myself that my strength and resolve did not desert me in the deaths of my friends and mentors.
I am accompanied on this task by a misfit band of wanderlings. I have yet to take their true measure, though they seem friendly enough. Two halflings accompany me; one seems eccentric but capable, but the other, a nature-loving lass who rides a fierce wolf, is very hard for me to read. I have heard tales of druidic folk who are one with nature, but I know not what to make of them now that I finally meet one in person. Her wolf certainly seems capable enough, even if he does have me keeping my distance.
With us also are two more folk. The first is a half-breed as well, but I know little of his background. He is friendly and enthusiastic aplenty, but seems a touch cowardly as well. He's light on his feet and quick with his fingers, at least, so I hope that he will make himself useful. My final companion is a Varisian lass whose wilderness savvy I envy, though she strikes me as a bit haughty. If I thought it was prejudice I would fain have little to do with her, but to her credit she seems as suspicious and flighty with the rest of us as with me. I only hope her aim with a bow improves beyond her showing so far.
This was to be a straightforward hike to the tomb and back, but has been more interesting than I bargained for already. We were seen off with more solemnity and ritual than I expected, and it is hard not to feel like the villagers here are not telling us everything. Then, on our first day out, we were attacked by what appeared to be a small group of angry Orcs. I confess I was practically stricken at the sight, for I've not seen my forebears in the flesh until now. Or so I thought; it seems it was all just a clever illusion, and Peldin – my new wizard friend – claimed that it seemed to be the work of Kassen's wizard. I admit I have my doubts, as the man seemed friendly and harmless when I visited him to deliver a message, but appearances can be deceiving. If it was him, I will harbor ill feelings from being jerked about by visions of my savage brethren.
This has been our only major incident so far, save for an unfortunate brush with the local wildlife. We did find a corpse rotting away by a lake, savaged by Desna-knows-what, and I had to corral my companions away from the water's edge and whatever dark think was setting off large ripples in the lake. I fear I may be the only one here with some sense in his head.
The map we're following has a curious warning scrawled on the back, and Peldin thinks it was written by Kassen's Mayor. Strange that he would seek to hide the authorship of his message, and perhaps stranger still, rather than handing us the map he tore it into pieces and secreted it in our packs. Again, there seems to be more here than meets the eye, but I have not yet sussed it out.
Tonight we make camp in front of the tomb. We've found the grisly remains of some other expedition's horses, still fresh, and it has me quite worried; no one else was supposed to be here. Beyond that, why did whomever came here not return for their mounts? Tomorrow we must take care; caution shall be the watchword of this exploration.
However: I would be lying if I didn't admit to a twinge of excitement to see what Ekat Kassan holds in store!
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