Travel to Malgareth Day One – As I feared Erist was eager to get going before sun up.  One of the many annoying traits of men is their need to “make good time” when there’s absolutely no reason to hurry.  He must not have enjoyed the festivities too much or maybe his God handles that sort of thing for him?  That for once seems like a worthwhile benefit to pledging your service to a deity.  I halfway wanted to sandbag him but I figured we had just built up all this goodwill what with overthrowing a lawful lord and uncovering and enemy nation spy-ring and all so why not play nice?  Off we went, it was a pretty sunrise I’ll admit.

Erist insisted that he knew “all the shortcuts” and the “little known paths” which makes no sense to me since we’re not even following a road but regardless we were indeed making good time – say what you will about the Strider priesthood (and I have a few things to say) they know their business when it comes to overland travel. Unfortunately either Erist is still nursing a grudge or he’s just the laconic type because we largely traveled in silence despite my efforts to get some conversation going.  There’s little more boring to me than hiking about on foot with a companion that has nothing to say.

Things livened up a little bit when some soldiers were observing us from afar – they had the look of deserters to me – but ultimately they rode off without any interaction.  Erist claimed that they wouldn’t molest a man of the cloth – I’m sure they just figured we had nothing worth stealing.

Erist lead us to an abandoned winery used as shelter by traveling squatters and other such lowlifes – saying that he knew dozens of such bolt-holes all over the county as if that was something to brag about.  While he saw to his prayers and other religiousity I looked over the cellar – which was mostly picked over as you would assume but I was able to find a few bottles that are intact and still drinkable.  I also managed to fall in a pit trap which had spikes at the bottom.  Why. In. The. World. Would a winery have a pit trap at all, let alone one lined with spikes?  I can now add a spike through the calf to the list of things I never thought I would experience but did.

The pain was almost eclipsed by the humiliation of Erist flying down with his magic to fish me out and then healing my wound with a few words of supplication to Strider.  I wanted to say that our “issues” would never had happened if he had just been that competent when we first met but I managed to bite back that bile.  Even though he was unbearably smug about the whole thing.  On the plus side I managed to find among the rotting crates and mossy stones in the storeroom a sizable stash of gold.  I can’t believe no one else found it already.  Erist said that it was probably left over from a group of bandits that had taken up here in years past.

“What’s the point of banditry if all you do is horde your gold instead of spending it?  You’re not likely to live long so what are you saving money for?”

“Most bandits aren’t hardened criminals Ela, they save money because that’s what common folk always do.”

“Why do I feel like there’s a lecture coming on?”

“Because you’re a very perceptive woman when you want to be – pits aside of course.” He grinned.

He very solemnly pontificated on peasants exploitation by the nobility and how drought and famine causes farmers to take up arms which results in them being branded outlaws leaving them no other choice be to be outlaws and so on and so forth rambling on about societal welfare and the treatment of first time offenders and so forth. It was enough to make me nod off without even a bite to eat.

I awoke a few hours later, I’m not sure why, to see in the little bit of light cast by the embers of the fire a lupine beast crouching in the entryway to the winery with Erist silently standing with his spear at the ready in an uneasy stand-off.  He glared at me as I got to my feet and was waving his hand frantically.

“Don’t worry, I’ve dealt with worgs a time or two, I’m sure I can . . .”

At that moment the beast pounced and locked onto my shoulder with its powerful jaws, tossing me to the ground like a ragdoll.  Erist sprang forward with his spear and after a brief tussle the worg sprinted off into the night.  Once again Erist used his magic to heal my wicked wounds. 

“You’re not very smart are you Ela?”

What a rude thing to say.  He’s lucky I didn’t spit right at him. 

____________________________________________________________

Funds: 15,267 gold

XP: 26,944

Inventory: Peasant outfit, wooden box, Signet ring, Ring of Many Garments, thieves’ tools, land deed, Bag of Tricks (rust), gold ring, Cap of Disguise, Secure Pocket, candlerod (9), masterwork dagger (2), succubi carving, Disguise kit (6 uses), Domiel family ring, walking stick, aquamarine, masterwork playing cards , +2 Studded Leather Armor, +2 Light Steel Shield, +1 Keen Shortspear, hematite armbands (2), mithril hair clasps (3), Sir Humperdinck memoir, Mazzmus’ Wand (unidentified), Brooch of Shielding, Potion of Invisibility (3), Oil of Animate Dead, Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds (2), spinel and peridot holy symbol of Kralten, platinum necklace, Pouch of Magic Stones, flask of acid (2), alchemist’s fire (2), giant wasp venom (10), oil of taggit (2), alchemist’s kit, formula book, Potion of Cure Light Wounds (3), Potion of Spider Climb, powdered bloodroot (2), masterwork short sword, Handy Haversack, silver ring,  gold bracelet, gold and pearl pendant

Revenge List: Duke Eaglevane, Piltis Swine, Rince Electrum, watchman Gridley, White-Muzzle the worg, Percy Ringle the butler , Alice Kinsey , “Patch”, Heroes of the Lost Sword, Claire Conrad, Erist priest of Strider, Riselda owner of the Sage Mirror, Eedraxis,  Skin-Taker tribe, Kartak, Królewna & Bonifacja Trading Company, Hurmont Family, Androni Titus, Greasy dreadlocks woman, Lodestone Security, Kellgale Nickoslander, Beltian Kruin the Splithog Pauper, The King of Spiders, Auraluna Domiel, mother Hurk, Mazzmus Parmalee

Rumors : Exiled noblewoman (Reoccurring), vigilante “Litheria”(Reoccurring), murderous Halfling (Reoccurring)

Teams – Labors, Brute Squad (Robbers and two teams of Soldiers)

Graltontown Buildings – Mill