Diary of Catherine Valeska - Entry Four
Wir, 24th of Eyre, 998 YK
I don't know what day it is at this point. I'll need to ask Kassel or Gilda about it. Ah, ha it's the 24th. Duly noted.
A lot has happened since my last entry. After leaving the village we were attacked by a trio of monitor lizards, which we managed to dispatch with only minor injuries. Later inspection turned up the fact that these too seemed to be starving. It seems the Children's idea of a golden age involves starving animals and people. I guess that provokes desperation and aggression. No wonder some of the villagers were considering attacking the lizardfolk settlement.
The day after the monitor lizard attack we encountered three of the Children of Winter, and their trained animals. An extremely close battle ensued with our lead warrior Kaelan nearly dying on two occasions. At this point, I wonder if he has some sort of death wish. It's hard to tell really. Charles was also wounded pretty severely during the battle by some sort of conjured bear. I too felt the bear's wrath as well as some sort of tremendous wooden lance that the druid summoned to strike me. I'm glad that it struck me instead of Kaelan or Charles, as I have no doubt that they would have been beyond the reach of my magic to save. I'm still pulling splinters out of my hair and armor days after the battle's conclusion. I'll have to remember it isn't just wizards who can summon damaging effects. A costly oversight. Darrick was the only other party member to suffer any kind of injury during the battle. Sepoto stuck to the trees raining arrows down, and Trebuchet stayed to the rear providing arcane support.
After the battle we began the lengthy process of healing the injured using what remained of my magic and the application of Kaelan's wand. (I really need to acquire one of a similar vein. Perhaps when we return to the academy.) We made sure to get everyone up and ready for any followup encounters with any remaining druids or any more of the starved fauna in the area. I concealed the breadth of my injuries until I could heal them myself the next day. The wand is valuable for healing the rest of the party's major injuries as a supplement to my skills. However, I fear for the day the wand is expended. Especially if I should fall in the line of duty. Without a primary healer...this expedition would be in far worse shape than anyone realizes. Perhaps my combat skills are in this case a liability? What would instructor Jarnell say to that? I wonder.
At this point, I should return to my prayer books, and if I have time before going to sleep tonight, I should continue to study my medical book. I can never be too careful when it comes to healing the injured.
