A Missive from Rafin Falskax, priest of Aglaos, the Light in the Darkness
Dear Mother,
It has been a while since I last wrote to you and I can’t tell whether this letter will ever reach you, but it helps me to put my words to paper.
My journey continues, and here I tell of the aftermath of a fine battle with strange wolf-like creatures. A pair of the creatures left alive and bound and one despatched, myself and my companions determined whether would be best to keep it in the realm of the living and interrogate to see whether it was mere happenstance that they came across us. Brave and canny Mandras suggested we behead the creature and add it to the five other heads we collected. Surely there would be some reward in Ximes. Alas, the creatures lose all semblance of wolfhood upon death, and we reasoned that entering Ximes, proudly carrying six human heads, would not stand us in good stead with the authorities.
Disposal of the bodies and a return to Ximes, where we planned to investigate the whereabouts of a brace of missing persons. Dropping our possessions at the Hairy Arms, I reasoned that before we made enquiries at the ducal palace in daylight hours, I could shed some light into the sordid fleshpots and allies of Ximes, and resolved to accompany Mandras hence, while our other friends tried some of the more salubrious places.
All our enquiries came to naught, yet we had a lead on treasure to be found in barrows to the north. Or south. As you know, direction has never been my forte. But finding those with direction has. Aglaos smiled on us as we made the acquaintance of one Larreagabaru. Once a ghost hunter, she would be able to guide us to the choicest of bounty. As I gazed on her long swan-like neck, I felt this would be a fruitful and profitable endeavour.
Well, we were off and soon made for our first barrow. As we approached we heard the horrible squawks of a bird in pain, and Mandras soon came back, telling us that a giant snake had made a meal of an odd squat bird. Never mind. Snakes sleep soon after feeding so we were safe to enter the barrow. Well, so we thought. As we hammered away to gain entrance the beast came around and wrapped its coils around Mandras. Crack. Well, our forces made short work of the snake, and we had a crack at the best eats from the bird. A skeleton was in the gullet of the snake and, well, Aglaos smiled on us, as carried upon its personage was a scroll containing some most puissant spells.
Into the tomb and disappointment as bar a body and some urns, nothing was within. A shout from outside and we found the company beset by a pair of ghoulish creatures. I must make proper abeyance to Aglaos, as I commanded the foul undead to depart, yet they took no heed.
I shall continue writing on the morrow, mother. The night draws in and my hand cramps. I shall write of the end of the creatures and the dampness of our next encounter when the sun has risen.
Yours,
Rafin
Oh! The excitement of the adventurers life has led me to forget things wholesale. I believe the motto of this adventuring company is "Be Prepared" -- and that is what we are. The most useful thing of the magical accoutrements that they have left in my care is the Staff of Healing. It was most helpful to have Mandras recovered from his bonecrushing experience as we set about the ghoulish beasts after my command inexplicably failed. Well, they soon fell, as did some of our horde but we were off to our next delve.
Opening the tomb, we got a glimpse of water at the bottom of stairs. Investigating, we found it to be waist deep to a halfling, or to use a more conventional scale, knee high. Onwards, we espied a large urn, but the water seemed to deepen. Harlen prodded more and stuck his head under the surface. To no ado. Mandras wriggled a ring on his finger and then took on the form of calamari. Down he went.
Soon he came up, popping back to normal form, pursided by some big hot stonework. A spear at it and the spear melted. Flaming oil to no avail, and back up the stairs to hopeful safety we go.
Yours in the divine light and grace of Aglaos,
Rafin