Gerbod’s Diary
Gerbod of Harben — Diary Excerpts
Arrived here late yesterday evening aboard the Storm Swallow, apparently the last ship going to Thorwal before winter. The harbor was full of vessels from all comers of the world, but the most common were the dragon ships (or ottas, as they appear to be called around here). Many of them seemed to originate in Thorwal, Prem and Olport judging by some of the flags they were flying.
It didn’t take long to find that the inns were full up to the last bale of straw so I took shelter in the Temple of Travia, obviously a place of worship to the Arkanian deity of the same name. A house to our Mistress Rondra would have been more to my liking, not that l could find fault with the hospitality of the people here. The temple wasn’t the most spacious, so I did what I could to stash my few belongings in a corner. Not having an abundance of gear, just my trusty sword and a few writing implements, it didn’t take long before I was comfortably wrapped in blankets.
A group of adventurers soon arrived and settled themselves down very near to my corner. They seemed a remarkable sort of group whose minds were not on continuous prayer, judging by the conversations I could overhear. As if sensing my interest, they were kind enough to invite me over to join into their conversation.
Delo, a young mage from Andergast, seemed to have just finished his studies. Swanja, a sailor maid from Prem seems to possess enormous strength; in the course of her story telling, she easily hefted up an axe that my fighting instructor Alrik would have been hard pressed to lift! Gurbosch, Son of Gradobar of the Little People, left his spot only long enough to refill his tankard with stout from a seemingly endless supply in his backpacks. He constantly hummed a bawdy miner’s tune, stopping only when his tankard met his lips. Rhenaya, obviously another magician of some kind, spent much of her time sorting her little bags of aromatic fresh herbs. Finally there was Erinnila, an elf woman of such unreal beauty that I could hardly believe my eyes. Through not much for words, she occasionally responded to Gurbosch’s incessant humming with little more than an upturned eyebrow.
It didn’t take long to learn that they too were strangers, and so it seemed natural that we explore the town together tomorrow.
Thorwal, 24th day of Travia
The night of talking didn’t stop us from leaving the temple at dawn. A tremendous crowd was gathered in the square just outside the temple in spite of the early morning hour. Seems that a daily market is held here and it’s quite possible that the early attendees hoped to beat out the latecomers to the most choice items that the merchants had on display. There was at least one stall for every type of merchant that you can imagine but it is said that the quality of the merchandise varies enormously from one day to the next. At least there is a market here daily though, even in winter, since in some of the settlements further into the wilderness it may be weeks between visits from a traveling merchant.
Erinnila found a marvelous lute and we each chipped in a few silver crowns toward its purchase. We figured that she would earn it back from her first performance in one of the local taverns. It was quite an experience to watch Gurbosch do his part to haggle the merchant down. I suspect that the merchant was so dazzled he is only now realizing that he was paid a third of the asking price.
Feeling quite triumphant with our success in the market, we left to explore the streets of Thorwal. We found an abundance of outfitters, arms merchants and herbalists not to mention a number of healers and smiths as well. There were plenty of temples to the different Arkanian deities, but I couldn’t find one dedicated to our Mistress Rondra. I made due at Swafnir’s hall to give thanks for our rewarding journey.
Thorwal, 25th day of Travia
A freak accident marred our explorations today. Rhenaya was debating with a herb merchant about the quality of his whirlweed when a supply cart came barreling around the corner with such tremendous speed it almost overturned. Thanks be to Rondra for her quick reflexes! Rhenaya barely saved herself from the cart’s wheels by diving head first into a potter’s display.Unfortunately, she was left with a number of scratches, although not nearly as many as suffered by the potter’s wares.
Her wounds were serious enough to make us search out the services of a healer. We found Noro Mystico in the “Strangers Quarter,” located in the western part of Thorwal where few locals reside. The look of the place did nothing to inspire our trust, but he seemed to know his trade. To his credit, Rhenaya is already feeling much better. We have moved our belongings to an inn called the “Hetman Oremo” near the Temple of Peraine. We decided that we would be more comfortable here even though it’s somewhat on the expensive side. But it is clean, and we each have a decent bed to sleep in. Maybe tomorrow we’ll have the chance to let Erinnila try out her lute in one of the taverns.
Thorwal, 27th day of Travia
We made it into one of the taverns yesterday, and Erinnila proved to be as much a success as we thought she would be. I’m thinking of paying a visit of Travia that healer myself as my head feels as if someone has been pounding on it with a war hammer.
These Thorwalians can drink like fish, only its not water that they toss back. I met two, Sir Shaun of Crispy, a regal knight of his kingdom and Sir Ian of Metavira, a mere jester in his. Nonetheless, they travel together bringing unique brews to the taverns where they stop. They specialize in producing something they call “Fire” and “Premian Brandy,” both pretty potent brews.
Swanja was certainly enjoying both of them and she drank the vicious liquid without even batting an eyelid. I have a hazy recollection of her dragging the rest of us back to Hetman Oremo. Sir Shaun, meanwhile, spent the night near his horse, and Ian the jester was found outside his room, still sound asleep, just this morn. Swanja,who happened upon him, said he was mumbling in coherent things about trees and fruit and his aim being off. Indeed, Thorwal is a strange town.
Nonetheless, the adventures at the Four Winds last night were well worth this morning’s pain. A lot of seafaring folk gather there, and the boatswains and sailors tell many hairraising tales. I was quite fascinated by the story of the ghost ship rumored to be sailing the waters around Arkania.
Thorwal, 28th day of Travia
For some reason I can’t get the story of the ghost ship out of my mind. I listened to it again today, drinking somewhat less Fire in the process, and really believe that it may be more than just a tall tale. It just doesn’t sound like the tales I’ve heard in every other tavern. This story has me really curious, and since I’m beginning to feel the urge to leave town before winter sets in, I believe I’ll go down to the harbor tomorrow and ask around.
Thorwal, 29th day of Travia
I was able to find out quite a lot today. There is a cutter leaving for Varnhome tomorrow.
We’ll have to wait another day, but I’m sure that the sea, and the ghost ship, will still be there. Ourbosch was less than thrilled on hearing my plans, but allowed himself to be convinced by the lure of the treasure that could be waiting for us on that ghost ship. The harbor master mentioned another ship leaving in three days, but I’m going to push my companions to be ready to leave tomorrow.
At sea aboard the “Wave of Gold”, 2nd day of Boron
So far the journey to Varnhome has proven to be rather uneventful. We’ve found out a little bit more about the ghost ship from some of the sailors, but there has been no sign of the ship itself. They claim it usually sails farther west, across the Seven Winds Ocean. Well, maybe tomorrow we’ll see the ship’s sails at last.
Varnhome, 3rd day of Boron
Having reached Varnhome, we look back upon a most disappointing journey. Not only did we not see the ghost ship, but adding insult to injury, the sea was very rough on the last leg of the passage. Gtirbosch and Delo spent most of the day leaning on the rails. Talking to the harbor master in Varnhome has revealed that we don’t have any chance of finding a vessel back toThorwal for at least several days. Since we haven’t really come across any interesting merchants here, and we’ve pretty much had our fill of taverns for the time being, we’ve decided to tackle the trek back on foot.
Costal Road, 5th day of Boron
We spent most of yesterday outfitting our group with some basic supplies required for the journey, and wasted no time in leaving the boring town of Varnhome. Just as we were leaving the last merchant’s shop, he warned us that the Orcs were getting more and more daring, and have even sent marauding forays out to the coast. We’ve seen none of the blackfurs so far though, but are quite prepared to give them a taste of Swanja’s axe if they show up.
The marching is proving to be slower than we had anticipated. Our short-legged friend finds it hard to keep up and Delo just doesn’t seem to have the stamina to push on as we would like. But the weather is fair and we fully expect to reach Thorwal in a couple of days.
Costal Road, 6th day of Boron
We finished our first battle moments ago! A group of goblins were harboring a delusion that they had a chance of defeating us! We lost no time in proving to them the fatal error of their beliefs!
Their advantage lasted no longer than our first attack as Delo and Erinnila were quick to let go with a couple of Lightning bolts, helplessly blinding two of the opponents. The rest of us let our swords speak for us! Swanja and Gurbosch felled their opponents with two blows, and while it took me a few more than that to dispose of my attacker, he did not land a single blow against me.
Rhenaya had a close call when her cudgel broke on her first parry, but when the goblin noticed Erinnila and Delo turning in his direction, he was quick to turn tail and run. The rest of the cowardly filth took flight seconds after that.
We took a couple minutes to check out their supplies, but true to form they had nothing worthwhile. Even the food packs seemed contaminated by their filth. None of us experienced any injuries during the battle, but as we dragged the bodies off the road, Swanja received a small wound. We set up camp so that we could attend to the wound immediately. It’s not wise to invite infection. We will continue on our way in the morning, and do not expect any further attacks this close to Thorwal.
Thorwal, 7th day of Boron
We made it back to town and found sleeping in a comfortable bed quite pleasant after our days on the road. Before retiring for the night, we were sure to unwind with a night of carousing at a tavern called the Lost Bit. It was a prosperous evening! We learned more about the town from the patrons and the tavern keeper than from any others we have so far met. Tomorrow we’ll have a chance to try out the smiths in town as we still need to find someone to repair Rhenaya’s cudgel and Swanja’s axe could use some attention and care. Any decent Thorwalian smith should be able to take care of it though.
Thorwal, 8th day of Boron
I wasn’t surprised to learn that Thorwal offers a warriors’ academy in the southwest corner of town, but I can’t say that I’m too excited that it’s run by one of the Little People. Probably all anyone can learn there is how to swing an axe! Gurbosch, of course, is quite taken with visiting a distant relative, a definition which seems to apply to anyone of the dwarven race, and is offering our services to help him out, as is typical among this closely knit race.
It turns out that there are some problems at this academy, at least that’s what our inn keeper told us this morning. According to rumor, the faculty and students at the “Old Ungalf”, the local name for the academy, have noticed some thieving on their grounds. It seems that even though the lower floors are no longer in use and that the entrances to these sections have been bricked up, that somehow a band of brigands must have found access somewhere in the lower tunnels. We’ll find out the true story soon enough.
Thorwal, 9th day of Boron
We visited Master Dramosch at the academy today. Even though access is supposed to be restricted, the guards at the academy’s gate are rather lax, and all you need to do is bark at them like you’re supposed to be there. We found out that not only are their supplies being spirited out from beneath their noses, but one of their students has been missing for some days now!
Oddly enough, the academy doesn’t seem to possess nearly enough fighting power, much less magical abilities, to investigate the crime. Turns out they’re all novices here. Gurbosch, Delo and Swanj a were very taken with the idea of helping out from the start, but Erinnila and Rhenaya took some convincing. The thought of spending several days crawling around dark cellars doesn’t appear to be to their liking.
Thorwal, 10th day of Boron
We spent the day stocking up on everything we’re going to need to properly explore the dungeons of the academy. We went to the supply stores of Mr. Stoerrebrandt-Grassberg and a dwarven arms merchant known as Grollo Gumbladsson. They are both the best, and the most expensive, offering the finest selection in town. We made sure to purchase the best arms we could afford in addition to plenty of torches, ropes and tinderboxes. We even took care to buy throwing irons, crowbars and shovels, as well as food and water for several days.
Before hiking down to the dungeons with all our supplies we figured we would spend this night at the inn to be sure of a good night’s rest. Delo performed some kind of magical ritual on his wand the other night, and is still feeling a little bit tired because of it. But none of us are complaining about the use of a few soft pillows since who knows when we will next be able to enjoy a comfortable bed again.
Thorwal, 11th day of Boron
I don’t imagine I’ll find much time to write of our experiences as we travel the musty vaults beneath this castle. I pray to the gods we will survive and to Rondra for our victory. If we can pass this test, we might be trusted with a truly honorable mission leading us far into the wilds of the Orcish Lands. On we must go, and we must never falter. It is time to face the darkness. For Rondra! For the Hetman! For Master Dramosch!