Dear Journal,
I have spent a full day traveling in the shadow of that lumbering dolt cyclops across a seemingly endless white landscape. In all directions, the whipping white flakes of snow fall heavily, limiting our view. Luckily this oaf seems to be guiding us confidently in one direction.
I am a bit disturbed by the appearance of painful boils and blisters on my hands. They sting and burn against my weapon, but I know I must endure. I cannot relent to the obvious attack from the tear. It is still strong, but without Malachi's aid, it must be focusing its attack on me instead of my allies.
We did not made contact with another living soul, and were confident that no other beasts were foolish enough to be out in the storm we were so brazenly trudging through. This gave us the opportunity to speak amongst ourselves, an honor we have not had many chances to enjoy. Our discussions led us to the story of the first mission of the 42nd Adventuring Company, and their meeting with Corath.
Apparently Stovokor, the seasoned mercenary, had been placed in charge of several adventurers who, among many others, had enlisted with the kingdom after hearing promises of fame and wealth. As with any government recruiting effort, the true intentions were just below the surface. The powerful and evil Empire of Dreknar was mobilizing its forces, and the Kingdom of Mercemia was ill-prepared. Its forces were too low to abandon the territories they protected. It was up to bands of hired blades to infiltrate enemy lines, recover valuable intelligence, and carry out covert disruptions.
Upon being assigned to the 42nd, Stovokor, Talos, Alyana, Terrion, the wizard Kuro, and the bizarre teifling, Vaarin were tasked with escorting a young female halfling from the humble town of Oda to the city of Northwarden, which laid less than two days from the Dreknar border. The roads between the two towns were peaceful, for the most part, but the eyes of Dreknar extended far into the kingdom, and the current situation demanded the seemingly excessive security. At a grueling pace, the team successfully guided the halfling to her destination with no incident. Weary from their travels, they decided to rest and dine at the Frosty Carafe Tavern.
The wizard was a perceptive man, they say, and was the first to notice a suspicious teifling upon the tavern's balcony, dressed in a dark cape and hood. After alerting the others, Kuro and the party noticed several other similarly-dressed figures scattered about the pub. The others seemed very interested in the figure on the balcony, so Talos made his move to speak to the hooded figure and determine what was going on. He had barely blurted his greeting to the teifling when the other figures bursted from their seats, drawing their weapons and charging Talos and the mysterious teifling.
Talos noticed the image of a black lion on the charging teiflings which was a sure sign of Dreknar henchmen. Later did they learn that these were not just any henchmen, but highly skilled assassins known as Nighthawks. The Nighthawks did not expect Talos's eagerness to engage them. He was a paladin of Bahamut, and a sworn protector of good. It was his duty to strike these villains down.
These Nighthawks were foolish. They should have expected interference from the well-armored adventurers that wandered into the tavern. Their tunnel vision proved to be their demise, as the 42nd fought alongside the hooded teifling, among the panic of the tavern patrons, until the threat was diminished.
The fast-approaching sound of jingling chainmail made its way down the street outside, causing the teifling to attempt to flee. As the mysterious stranger made a break for the door, Terrion stepped in his way as Alyana and Kuro slammed the tavern doors shut, barring them. The adventurers wanted to know why these dangerous agents of Dreknar would bother staging such a scene in a public setting in enemy territory. As Talos attempted to question the Teifling, town guards, always a moment too late, broke down the doors and held their weapons at the 42nd and their prisoner.
Eyeing the badges of a kingdom adventuring company, the guards focused on the tiefling, determining him to be a threat from Dreknar and attempted to apprehend him. Talos, ever noble, convinced them to hear the Teifling's story, for he raised no hand against his allies. Reluctantly, for he wanted only to flee, the teifling agreed.
The stranger, or as we now know him, Corath, explained how he had abandoned the Dreknar Empire and brought with him urgent news which he needed to share with King Argamir in the city of Mercemia. Dreknar was planning an attack.
Stovokor and his allies agreed to escort Corath to Merkemia, which, I am told, proved to be a very trecherous task.
This is all I could recount of the tale, as it took much time for Alyana and Talos to argue the details as Corath just shook his head when Talos or Alyana attempted to embellish the tale in their favor.
Given the opportunity, I shall press them for more information tomorrow. I have only heard hearsay and gossip of the 42nd's adventures until this point.
Now we rest. We were able to find a small stone outcropping which sheilds us from the blistering cold wind. The cyclopses oviously camped here as they travelled in the opposite direction, as the campsite had a few spare logs about. Perhaps this monster's presence is not too bad.
I extend my thanks again to you, blessed Corellon, for our continued safety. I know you will continue to light the way.
