26th of Heat

After a peaceful end to a troubling day, we spent watch over the wagons on the road below Green Hill. Nothing accosted us that evening as we girded ourselves for the troubling journey to Trollbridge.

Come morning the remainder of the caravan crew came down the hill. Many over laden with food from the Halfing’s Hall. We took it upon ourselves to see that the apprentices shared some of this food with us. The morning looked to be as cloud-covered and miserable as the previous day had been and this act of petty larceny proved to lift our spirits.

Stephen relayed to us that Dorian was very sorry for not remembering to inform us about the Illusion trap that surrounds Green Hill, sometimes he forgets that we have not traveled this road before.

So a little after what we assume had been sunrise we set off through the fog. The road starts to climb almost immediately. By midmorning the fog burns off leaving us under a low cloud bank in slow steady drizzle.

During one break in the clouds, Blackhawk’s ever sharp eyes spot a gold-sailed sloop making its way toward Bliss through troubled waters. The flaming sword symbol on the sail identifies it as a Michealene vessel. We also see that we are approximately 900 ft above the sea. With the clouds breaking up, Dorian catches up to us to let us know that it is all right if we pulled a little further ahead of the caravan. We were making our way around a large bay and the trailing wagons were always in our sight.

In the afternoon a cloaked figure approached form the south. A female, clad in a long purple cloak with the full hood pulled over her head. She approached us very slowly. When we got closer we saw that her garments were quite elegant but a bit frayed from hard use. We learned her name was Mai, but she proved to be evasive on all other matters that we put to her. She tried to continue past us but we let her know that we will guard her until the caravan has passed and then she would be free to go. Stephen, Raven, and I kept watch on her while Jaden and Blackhawk remained in front of the caravan. Mai made no obvert move while we watched her but she seemed to affect us in some way. I felt a. terrible drain on me as if my limbs were getting heavier and all I wanted to do was rest. Talking later with the other I learned they felt it too. I do not believe it a conscious act on Mai’s part for she seemed to be affected as well. Conjecturing later that it may be a curve or perhaps some form of undead energy, never did she ask for our assistance so she was allowed to continue on her slow way. Once out of her presence our energy returned.

When we reached the end of the bay we paused to allow the caravan to catch up. We were now 1200 ft up on limestone cliffs, to the south stretched another four-mile wide bay. Raven took wing as a hawk as we started to make our way around the bay. Upon her return she spoke of a ruined castle with five towers. A troop of horse riders were in the vicinity of the ruin and made their way to the south.

In the late afternoon we approached the ruin where it guards the southern tip of the bay, but more importantly the northern approach to a giant sized bridge the spans a 1500 ft deep chasm. The bridge is immense as it crosses 1000 ft to the southern side. The bridge, clearly built to giant specifications had been modified to accommodate smaller travelers. But the bridge will wait until tomorrow, we turn our attention to the ruin that looms on the western side of the road. Warily we enter on full alert and see to making a quick sweep of the visible ruins before the wagons arrive. As Dorian and the crew pull into the semi-protective shelter of the ruined walls we breathe a small sigh of relief. A large bonfire ring is located in the center of a clearing and the camp begins to spring up around it. The stables of this old castle have been rebuilt and the horses are put away for the night. During our exploration we come across a memorial to the fallen rangers who last defended these walls. As the gloom gathers in the courtyard with flickering shadows cast by the newly lit fire dancing on the ruined walls, I must wonder if this old fort has not yet seen its last battle. The concerned look on the faces of my comrades shows that they share my concern.