Soromir's Journal Entry 17: Armor, Don't Leave the Hotel Without it.

I'm writing this down in between battles (most likely). We are in the sewers underneath Bornos. We've just dispatched a group of Troglodytes, including two Shamen. One of the Shamen had some potent fire spells ready and used them to some effect. I am fairly wounded but in comparison to others in the party, I'm fine. I've requested that Norris hold off on healing me until it's absolutely necessary.

Prior to this latest adventure, Orrenthal had to buy some armor for me. I'm an idiot. I wasn't prepared to enter the sewers and the lack of armor never crossed my mind. I'm pretty sure that Orrenthal overpaid based on what I paid him but thats a consequence of not being prepared. I'm never taking my armor off again.

Before we ventured into the sewers, Osbert and I made a visit with the Commadant in the Regus chapterhouse. Long story short, I'm pretty sure he showed us a gate very similar to the gate we saw opened on Demos. The gate under the chapterhouse wasn't fully opened yet. There seems to be some riddles to the opening. If I remember correctly, four or five of the locking crossbars on the gate are now opened. Leading up to this was the message we were requested to tell the Commadant from Jericho that "the fish is silver." The Commadant expressed concern that information on this gate is being leaked out among the select group of (ahem, 12-13 people) that know about this gate. The Commadant seemed cagey when I asked if he had been in regular contact with the group of people that knew about this gate. We pitched the notion of mind-control and mind-reading as there are mind-flayers (elithids) roaming about. Also of interest was the presence of giant runes in and around the area leading to the gate. There was a crude symbol to the God-King of the Giants.

Orrenthal was miffed that we wouldn't disclose this information. Osbert did it out of loyalty and a sense of duty to his order. I think I can get a lot more information from the Commadant by keeping this info close to the vest. Nothing personal, Orrenthal.

Khalo's Journal: Stone Cold Sober

Soromir has taken to writing in his journal while inebriated. Therefore, everything he writes therein should be taken with a grain of barley. I keep my cup at bay until I am finished recording my thoughts, as I have found it affects my memory. I must eat, however, else my entries become preoccupied with musings on the quality of mutton.

Our recent tet-a-tet with Jericho revealed to me that he has more than a passing interest in herbology and botany - something we share, although his lifestyle has permitted him more time to apply his interest into a study of flora for the language-capable fauna. The breadth and depth of his knowledge astounds me. Few are so equipped that I would deem helpless, and despite his frail-seeming constitution, I suspect he is a survivor.

I acquired a wearable recently to increase aid my agility. This will be beneficial to me in a multitude of ways, but at present, I am most focused on making myself more difficult to hit. Combined with the new armor I purchased for myself and Mome Rath, I should be able to last longer in a fight.

Jericho recommended the Puzzle Masters as a resource of information concerning Clan Foambeard. I have decided to learn more if I can find the opportunity, but the pursuit of this knowledge has little bearing on the future interests of my compatriots, so I suspect that finding time for myself will be of low priority. For now, I shall content myself to peruse the adventures of the Knights of Mist Valley. I have no connection to them, yet I feel a kinship to these ancient adventurers that is difficult to explain. I like their little town of Halvenspring, and seems to me that it should be the model for the most urban that a civilization should ever be. I am also interested in the character of Onsmythe, and hope that he will be a central figure throughout the rest of the story. I have also noted the character of Bajol, and I wonder if this character is related to the minor deity that Soromir worships - the one with a shrine in Bornos' Temple District.

I must now finish this entry quickly, for there has been some sort of explosion not far from this ridiculously opulent inn that Jace thinks it is important to stay in. To be sure, our sleeping quarters would not even smell of the earth had I not brought a small bag of topsoil and manure in with me and spread it out over the floor to make us feel more comfortable. Anyway, we must investigate.

Entry concluded.

Soromir's Journal - Entry 17

Last entry I closed with "This ale is good." I need something stronger. Not surprising really. We've been in Bornos long enough that some shit was bound to get stirred up. I just didn't expect it to be shit falling from the sky and blowing up a tower. Got to admit, it was pretty awesome. But there is bound to be some fallout. Heh.

I don't know for certain, but I'm moderately confident that Jerricho was behind this "air strike." He was really interested in finding out more the Council of Owls and demon that had possessed Jarek. I don't know if this strike killed the demon, but it probably killed Jarek. Oh well, he was prick anyways.

Aside from the air strike, the day was pretty eventful from an intelligence standpoint. We've been trying to make sense of the ins and outs of the Tainted Ones, the servants of the God-King (fucking trolls), etc. Jerricho gave us a tome called "The Knights of Mist Valley" and it's given a lot of insight into this and other things. Namely, it looks as though we are in a possible continuation of some larger, more cosmic, competition. What I glanced from the closing pages (I like to start books at the end) is that the Giants and the Tainted Ones aren't on the best of terms. I like this - I can kill trolls, goblins, and servants of the God-king with impunity.

It's been on my mind and I want to find the missing piece, so I disclosed to Jerricho that I had the Dark Blade. All he could say was "this is a might magical weapon." No shit, Sherlock. He might be holding on to some more information about it but I don't know. We'll be spending more time with him as we escort him and the kiddos to the Domelands.

Jerricho is physically weak. He did reveal that he performs experiments on himself with various herbs, potions, etc. But he's wicked smart. I've seen and experienced that physicality is not the only factor in power. He's a powerful caster. I hope he can be a good ally, if in fact he wants to be an ally.

Soromir's Journal - Entry 16(?)

I had to take some time away from the recent chaos. It was a nice vacation; Lemmia seems nice though there is something brewing. I can't put my finger on it, but something is off. (Ahem, Yallthun.)

Anyways. Osbert is a dumbass. It's abundantly clear to me that subtlty and discretion are not his fortait. We could have learned a lot in that graveyard but he had to be himself. So we nearly got our taints handed to us by a spectre named Bill. And it could have been completely avoided. As it stands, I've been screwed up in some way and it's pretty bad. Maybe Osbert can have one of his Cult put a restoration on me. We are working for them now, I guess. I got 500gp to outfit myself to spy. Whatever. I just got some new clothes. Screw their spy-work. These tight-asses can spy themselves up shits-creek with a turd for a paddle.

Orrenthal could learn to be a little more discrete too. You don't have to tell Osbert everything you're doing, homey. Couple of chatty-cathies those two. Maybe they should get an apartment together in Lemmia. I'm sure there is a "bohemian" district in this place. I'd go to their house-warming. I might get really shitty and trash the place, but at least they will be happy - together. I might get them a nice dog, too.

I'm eager to meet my researchers from the Puzzle Masters and then get to work for them. I won't tell Osbert what I'm doing though. I don't want him to get all "lake of fire" on me. Fucker.

Also, I want a hawk or a falcon. Something badass, with talons. Too bad Osbert's mom isn't around. HI-OH!

This ale is good.