Adventure Journals

As I start on this section of the record, I must apologize to the other members of this group. The events I am chronicling happened several days ago, and I am just now making this entry. It seems that, as was true when I served as an assistant ship's navigator, my biggest bugaboo is paperwork. The fact that this journal allows me to be more expressive than a ship's log would doesn't make it any easier.

On the last day of Earthtime I was visiting my "shipmates" in Valvria when we all got a big shock -- Master Merrox himself paid us a visit! Actually, not everyone in the group was shocked; several of them seemed to not appreciate the honor this visit represented. Tomas understood, and I suspect Rensil did. Ulm, I think, knew Merrox was a great and powerful man, but neither he, nor Silar, nor Mica had a clue who Master Merrox is.

We were given an assignment by Master Merrox. (Technically we were asked to undertake this mission, but there could be no refusing given from where the request came.) A document being prepared under Master Merrox's direction had been stolen, and an apprentice named Par Darkwood had disappeared -- presumably with the document. We were given a bogus copy of the document and told to let Darkwood exchange the fake for his payment after we had switched it for the genuine one. After the buyer had departed with the fake we were to apprehend and return with Darkwood. An assistant to Master Merrox named Rosper would accompany us and carry the phony papers.

1 Raquas

We started our mission in not-so-fine form. The decision was made to send half the group to the Great Library and half to Bartertown. Considerable debate raged as to who should go where. In the end it was decided to send Ulm, Mica, and Rensil to Bartertown while Silar, Tomas, Rosper, and I went to the Library. I believe Tomas suggested this arrangement all along. He should have just said, "We will do it this way," and proceeded to get going. I think the others would have accepted his counsel if it hadn't been put up for debate.

The four of us proceeded to the Library to see what we could learn about Par Darkwood. We found his home in a very unsavory neighborhood. A band of street ruffians attempted to stop us from searching Darkwood's quarters, and the confrontation came to blows. I managed to embarrass myself, falling flat on my ass. Reason told me I should make as flashy a display as possible to intimidate them. I think, however, I was more concerned with showing off to my colleagues , and I got what I deserved. Tomas and Silar gave a much better accounting of themselves, and I survived none the worse for my folly, save a few bruises.

We obtained several items of Darkwood's clothing for Silar to use with his Direction Arrow ability. Tomas also intimidated the hell out of one of the ruffians in order to get info. I suspect he used a spell to scare the thug.

3 Raquas

The whole group reassembled in Bartertown. We all took care of some personal business, including something I never thought I would do. I have known my whole life that I would be a Naval officer. The day I first donned my uniform was the greatest in my life. I fully believed I would never wear "civvies" again -- at least not until my retirement in the distant future. Recent events had shown me, however, that in my present position it may be necessary to hide my military affiliation. I bought a set of clothes to appear as a civilian if need be.

We found out that Darkwood had left Bartertown two days earlier with a party of armed men on horseback. We purchased mounts for our group and left in pursuit. Silar's Direction Arrow gave no useful information, but we know the group went west.

4-5 Raquas

These were two days of hard traveling. After a few tries Silar got an indication we were heading in the right direction. I spent most of the time in thought, dealing with a few personal problems. Most importantly, I am finding it hard to function in a group with no leadership hierarchy. I truly believe this group would function much better with an appointed leader. I also believe that picking who the leader should be is just as easy a decision. I am still an unknown to the others, and have done little to gain their trust. Silar, as is true with most Archers, prefers to work on the periphery of the group. Mica has too frivolous an outlook on life. Rensil, as his earlier journal entry proves, thinks differently than other Name-givers. I think survival would be a tertiary concept to him. Ulm has too much rage within him -- someday he will erupt in a violent fury (when this happens I hope I am safely on the other side of Barsaive). This leaves Tomas, and not just by default. He is intelligent, a clear thinker, and very cool in a crisis. (I never thought I'd say that about a Wizard.) When a decision needs to be made everyone looks to him first. He merely needs to learn how to lead, how to expect the others to follow.

By the end of the fifth, we had reached Darkwood's encampment. Through Illusion magic, Rensil was able to sneak in and steal the original document, leaving the bogus one in its place. Everyone in the group learned new respect for the elf, and I have noticed he is being treated much better now.

(A joke told while on the trail: We heard of a group of adventurers elsewhere in Barsaive that found a man hung from the ceiling of a temple. Tied around his feet was a large sack of gold coins. We should find this party and tell them if they don't give us the gold we will give them Rensil. Of course they would refuse to hand over the money, so we would send the elf to them. Twenty minutes later they would realize their mistake and send Rensil back -- with the bag of gold.)

6 Raquas

As strange a sight as any of us had ever seen was in store for today. Darkwood met with agents of Thera, giving them the (fake) papers in exchange for a sack of gold. Once the Therans had left, Rosper transformed into a ten-foot dragon, killed Darkwood, and flew away -- taking the real documents with him! Poor Ulm stood there for many minutes afterward, unable to grasp that there was nothing he could have done.

9 Raquas

Debriefed by Merrox. I believe he considers the mission successful. There was a lot of discussion in our group on the trip home as to what really happened, but I feel that it is not our concern. More important people than us will determine what happens next.

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