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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Eccles" data-source="post: 678816" data-attributes="member: 5675">Miles' JournalPart 1--------------Marpenoth 7th (1372 DR) - It didn't prove to be that difficult to join the Clearwater Crusaders, as they found Jared's room empty this morning, with his journal lying on the bed. Since the half-drow wrote the book in undercommon script, none of them could read it, and so being versed in the language I offered my skills as a translator. I do not think that they trust me; such will take time to earn. For the moment however, they are in need of my knowledge and skills. In the afternoon, following up on a lead that Rand had found this morning, we went to Jameson's Stevedores, a haulage company linked to the blue-grey weapons that the group are investigating, given that they were attacked by a number of thugs using such recently. After some initial reluctance to divulge their shipping information, the desk clerk relented when Taeghan bribed him. It seems they were paid a considerable sum to take goods from Gulliver’s Smithy (where the weapons were made), to Warehouse 16 on Houllier Street. We headed off, and Stedd regaled us on the way with how he had to sleep outside in a blizzard once as part of his training. Strange man, though the ability to withstand such is impressive. I led the way to the warehouse, a building of prodigious size. We decided to split into two groups with Stedd, Rand and myself entering via a side door, while the others made their way through the front door. We headed inside and started to make our way around the buildings interior from the side door, when five sinister figures emerged from the pitch-blackness and attacked us. Four of the five vanished into nothingness with but a single hit, vile magic playing with our senses. The fifth proved a far trickier opponent, and fled from the fight into the vast dark interior of the warehouse, beyond the reach of our lights. By this time Taeghan and Tanus had joined us, having run around the outside of the warehouse. I could hear the hammering sounds of Braddoc trying to bash his way through the front doors, eventually succeeding in this. The mysterious villain played cat and mouse with us around the warehouse, ambushing Stedd and dropping him, and then springing a similar surprise on Rand. Things then went crazy as Rand howled in pain from his wounds, and he shifted shape into that of a wolf man. A werewolf no less, and one that could use magic too! We then had two foes to fight in the dark. We did eventually fell the strange dark skinned man who had been using magic, and his body curiously dissolved into shadows. Could it be a Shade that we had been fighting? Stedd and I stripped his body of a few interesting items, while the others stood guard in case Rand launched another lightning attack (he was affected by his spell of quick movement when he shifted form). We then as a group headed to the Temple of Lathander while Rand had headed off elsewhere, probably seeking easier prey. We were not welcomed at the temple however, the acolyte we met cleaning the steps outside fled indoors and barred us out at the mention of a werewolf running loose. Se we headed back to the Inn and locked ourselves inside. Marpenoth 8th - We went to Lathander's temple at dawn, where we learned that Jared's body has been found. I of course already knew the circumstances of his death. Braddoc and several others of the group cursed his name as a traitor. Good, that suits my purposes nicely. We are going to try and catch Rand and then cage him, as the temple priests believe they can cure him at the next full moon. We have worked out that Rand contracted lycanthropy during an attack by werewolves on the group, during their initial travel to Dagger Falls. This also explains his curious absence of the past few days, since those were the full moon. He choose to hide the nature of his wounds and what he was from the party, so I reasoned that he has chosen to be what he now is. My opinion is that he should be killed, but the others will not hear of it. Fools. I know I will not be holding back for fear of killing him when we meet. Taeghan found him however, and talked to him. Aowyn the high priest of Lathander volunteered a necklace to suppress Rand's lycanthropic changes. Rand has donned this of his own free will and has as such rejoined us in the Inn. I am very uneasy in his presence, but the others seem to accept him. Thinking about it, they likely feel the same way about me. The necklace is on loan until the next full moon when Rand has promised to go to the temple then, that they can try to cure him of his affliction. Once things were settled down, we headed to Gulliver's Smithy, since the dark assassin in the warehouse last night was forewarned of us going there. He gave us information that sent us back to Lathander’s temple to find out if they knew who had delivered Gulliver’s payment to his vault under the temple (which acts like a deposit bank). We went to the temple, but the sun had gone down and the doors were closed, and as such we trooped back to the Inn. Marpenoth 9th - At dawn (I really hate this temple), we again headed across town to the temple of Lathander, then to the Stevedores and then we split up. The others went to search Warehouse 16, while I headed to lord Morn's keep to learn who has recently been renting the warehouse. It turns out that the Van Cei family have been in possession of the building for a very long time. The others founds a hidden smithy beneath the warehouse which was run as a coin printing operation, by the Van Cei, but abandoned now for some time. Rand has taken the seal that was used to stamp the silver bars used to pay Gulliver. We took the seal and our findings to my mentor Respen Moondown, who has "asked" us to investigate the Van Cei family to determine their guilt in this matter, As payment he will turn a blind eye to the existence of the seal for a short while, allowing this group to stamp the considerable hoard of silver bars they have in storage under the temple. I only wish I had a share in such wealth. Marpenoth 10th to 20th - Braddoc and the party spent these days smelting silver and stamping the bars into legal tender. I spent my time with an associate of Respen's who trained me in some of the common fighting techniques of soldiers. I feel such will improve my effectiveness in a fight. Marpenoth 21st to 25th - As a gift for the temple of Lathander, Braddoc put his smithing skills to work to create a splendid silver candelabra... he ended up making a silver plated suit of platemail armour. I have absolutely no explanation for this; some things defy rationale entirely. This is one of them. Marpenoth 26th to 29th - Braddoc again set his smithing skills to work, to forge himself a new flail, plating it also with silver. No doubt he anticipates a re-match with the werewolves who harried the parties travel to Dagger Falls when they eventually set off back to Clearwater. Rand meanwhile submitted himself to the temple for the duration of the full moon to let them attempt to heal him. The first night was a failure, but the curse was lifted from our sorceror on the second night and the necklace returned now that it was no longer needed. Marpenoth 30th - We raided the Van Cei estate tonight. I won't go into the details as I'm still pumped from the experience. We battled undead, guards, dogs, a summoned ape beast, and a priest of Shar in all. A conman dressed as a priest ripped off several of the party by selling fake potions after we emerged from the estates grounds. We headed across town to Lord Morn's keep, racing a Van Cei carriage through the streets to get there. They soundly beat us of course. Respen met us instead and we explain what we found to him, he will doubtless relay such information to Randal Morn when Elizabeth Van Cei has left. She talked with us before leaving, settling her old family score with Rand's family, of whom he is the last. We were then taken in to see Lord Morn, who is much less impressive in person than by reputation. He is concerned that we are becoming too big a presence in Dagger Falls and produced the body of a dark clad man who was caught ransacking our rooms at the Inn tonight. He then mentioned that nothing has been heard from Clearwater in at least two tendays, and he has tasked us to find out why. I must admit I am curious to visit the town that spawned this group. We have decided to head out of town tomorrow, after Rand has visited the temple.</blockquote>

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