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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1309364" data-attributes="member: 6294">Kull's 10th Report - Part 1KleimTenth MoonTo: Bishop-General Kartrak VisehartReport from Kull RedfistSir,My return to Saltmarsh has been delayed by unexpected developments, and a report is overdue, so I am taking this opportunity to provide an update on the status of my mission.  At the time of writing, I am in the village of Kleim, on the Windholm Peninsula.  I have come here in the course of a mission that, if successful, might change the entire complexion of the war.After my last report, I spent several days dealing with matter of administration and security within Saltmarsh, before setting out on my journey for Mellin.  I travelled in the company of Dargrim, and the Fharlanghian, Ulfgar.  The wizard Gnorric had left several days earlier, together with one of the refugees from Torlynn, citing urgent business with the temple of Wee Jas.  This sudden interest in the church of the death goddess bears watching, though it was in truth a relief to travel without his incessant prattle.The journey to Mellin told a grim story of the progress of the war: refuse littered the roads, clear signs of an army in retreat and disorder, and I found in one orchard a murdered officer, hung by his own troops.  Had I needed any further evidence of the rout of the Duke's armies, I had it when we were waylaid by a force of goblin scouts.  No doubt they had the confidence to attack us only because of the hill giant that marched with them.  They did not survive to learn from this mistake: giant and goblin alike fell before us, and our only loss was Dargrim's shield, split asunder by the giant's club.The enemy carried provisions enough for a journey of many days: a long range patrol of the humanoids, I would say.  This, at least, was a glimmer of good news: the cowardice of the human troops may be their saving grace, for they have fled so far and so fast that the enemy has lost contact.  If - and only if - the army can be brought back into order, it might be possible to mount a defence of the Mellin River.Of course, whether that line will be held - if it is even formed - is no certain matter.  It was said that the defenders of Fire Pass could hold for months, yet they fell in weeks.Upon reaching Mellin, I found the fields had been set aflame, and the city gates shut against all travellers.  A few of the more nervous guards fired upon my group, but their skill matched their courage, and none of us were injured.  I demanded entry, and after some delays, made my way within.The purpose of my visit was to purchase magical reagents - and now a new shield for Dargrim - but while gathering the items I needed, I was approached by a messenger.  He had been sent, it seemed, by a wizard named Gamist, who sought a meeting.  I agreed, and accompanied the messenger to his master's home.This Gamist may be the first man in the Duchy for whom I can feel even the slightest respect.  The purpose of our meeting, he explained, was that he had need of someone to recover a substance known as Quoitine, which he believed could be found here on the Windholm Peninsula.  The wizard's research in earth magic led him to believe that he could use this substance - a rare gemstone usually found only on the elemental plane of earth - to craft a powerful spell which would seal the mountain passes for several months, trapping the goblinoid armies and allowing time for them to be destroyed in detail.I agreed immediately to undertake the task: while I could not be sure the man had the ability to do as he claimed, he at least had a plan to defeat the humanoids, which was more than could be said for any other I have met. Leaving a message for Gnorric to follow when he was finished with his business at the church of Wee Jas, I set out the next morning.  After two days travel, I arrived at the village of Kleim, on the edge of the peninsula.  Pinned to the sign bearing the town's name was a notice, speaking of a threat to the town, and directing enquiries to one Councillor Baur.  I decided to speak to the man and learn of this threat, in case it might interfere with my journey.Councillor Baur proved to be a young man, obviously new to his position.  He explained that the 'threat' was actually a theft: a gang of goblins had made off with the village's 'Sceptre of Truth', an item the villagers believed to have the power of forcing those holding it to speak only the truth.  Whether this was true or not, I had little interest in searching for the item until the Councillor spoke of where he believed the goblins were hiding.It seemed that there was a small, rocky island just off the coast, where an adventurer named Raven had built a stronghold for himself.  Raven had not been seen for some years, and the goblins were thought to have taken the building for themselves.  This in itself was not that interesting: but the fact that Raven had built his home on the ruins of an older fortress most certainly was.  Twice before, I have found ancient strongholds that were cast down by magic.  It was possible that these ruins were a third, and that more information on the growth of the swamp could be found there.I thus decided to help the Councillor recover his lost Sceptre.</blockquote>

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