To my friend Pan,

Though we had only travelled together for a few weeks, I felt a sense of loyalty that I found unusual in your kind. Many times you helped me on our adventures, and this is why I call you friend.

So strange you were to me, and often distant, yet still you used your skills to my benefit, and I in turn tried to do the same for you. What goes around comes around, after all.

So strong you seemed, even after the dreaded contraption of the Kobolds had first knocked you down. Still you faught on and still you tried to discover its secrets so that we might tame it.

Though it seems you were not strong enough, in the end. When you disappeared under its wheels for the last time, I felt something was dreadfully wrong, but I was too slow to reach you. Nothing could be done. Even my own fury made me no stronger as I stood atop the vile thing and flailed uselessly at its ramparts.

I learned very early on that thinking too long for the dead achieves very little. In fact, during a former life of mine, such morbid distractions could get you killed.
Though this life is in the past, the old ways never leave me; I will move on now.
In your case however, Pan, I move on not because I fear my own death, but because you have taught me such a respect for life and living things. It all goes on, and so do I.

Thank you for this important lesson.

Goodbye.

And this what happens when you forget that you had recently taken 17 points of damage and that you really wanted to use the scroll of cure light wounds one of the potions of cure light wounds or even that prepared spell of cure light wounds that you had handy. And also what happens when, having forgotten all of the above, you step five feet too far into a room containing a rampaging juggernaut.

We were beset by some sort of animated statue with vicious claws and teeth and yet again my life was saved by brave Elenor. How many times will this noble warrior save me before I am able to repay her!

Once we had dispatched the being I carried out my final act of kindness against the kobold and despatched him that he would no longer be able to lead a life of evil. I will not let emotion cloud my judgement in this way again.

We continued down the valley in search of the remaining kobolds and the contraption that had the force and speed to run down camels without stopping. Eventually we discovered a cave at the end of the valley and, after some distraction with a portable briddge battle was closed. We were beset by a pair of dire weasels but these proved to be little impediment to our combined force. We were then astonished to see some sort fo metal beast with a mouth filled with fire approach us from the mouth of the kobolds cave. I was apprehensive but Dustin believed that we would be able to lure the machine to its doom in the covered pit at the entrance to this end of the valley. Jonn and I attampted to draw the being out but it steadfastly refused to move and was fallen easily by a flurry of arrows. Now we prepare to enter the lair of the kobolds themselves and I will have my revenge.

I have release Faolan from my companionship, it was not fair to keep him so far from his homeland and I sense that my time in this area is not nearing its end. I have decided that I will find myself a new companion more suited to this climate and after preparing suitably and carrying out the necessary 24 hours of prayer I have gained a new companion in the form of a viper.

Our new companion Jonn has informed us of a new job in which he asked asked for our assistance. In addition he has introduced us to a rogue of his acquaintance and we have also been approached by an elvish sorcerer eager for adventure. Together we have set out to track down a missing merchant’s caravan. I get the feeling that the goods missing are more than just the trade goods claimed by Jonn’s employer but if I am to continue my travels through the world I must find ways to support myself. They say that ignorance is bliss and who am I to argue?

We arrived at the town where the caravan was last seen and after making some enquiries discover the direction and next destination - we already know that the caravan never made it so far. Journeying out of town we followed the recent tracks of a large caravan before coming across a group of camels. These camels wore the remnants of tackle and all showed an owner’s mark branded into them. We rounded a few up and Jonn was able to communicate with them to discover that the caravan was attacked some days ago and as a result these camels were freed.

We continued on before camping for the night. During my rest I was disturbed by a tiny sound and brought to wakefulness. Seizing my weapon I was ready to do battle but no sooner had I stood up than our new sorcerer friend had dispatched one of the kobolds, for kobolds they were, and was chasing after the remaining sneak. The second kobold was brought down but we were able to revive him and begin sking him some questions to see if he had seen anything of the attack on the caravan. Remarkably it appears that this kobold believes that his pack was responsile the the attack! We have decided to keep him alive for the time being so that he may lead us to his lair and show us how to enter the camp safely - in all honesty I think I’m beginning to like this little creature, perhaps he can be useful after all this is done…

I was unable to move for some time until the unholy effect of the ghoul’s touch finally faded and I was able to stretch out my muscles and return life to my stiff limbs. We decided it would be prudent to avail ourselves of additional equipment from the store room of the Cooper’s Guild and found a great number of items of all descriptions. Suitably prepared we descended to the next level of this lair.

We found an intriguing treasure room but the sound of water lapping behind a large pair of double doors caught our attention and we found ourselves in a deep cavern containing an aquifer - obviously the lifeblood of the city above. This cavern was also lair to a young dragon. Jon was startled and quick to shoot but I saw that the creature meant us no harm and spoke out in an attempt to calm him before people were unnecessarily hurt. Unfortunately his acidic breath felled Lu-Tse and Jonn before he was persuaded to stand down. With the gift of a few magical trinkets the creature was satisfied and he gave us some useful information stating that the vampire we sought in fact laired exclusively upstairs and that the storeroom down here was kept for magical treasures which the young wyrm himself made off with on a regular basis!

We attempted to find out what was behind the final door in this area but were unable to force it open and none of us understood anything about locks and so we were unable to open the door in any way.

Disheartened we returned upstairs to track down Nezh and came across a room which could only have been his. Inside we found a letter indicating that he had already fled! Behind the wardrobe we found a magical door of some kind and, ever impulsive, Lu-Tse leapt headlong through only to find, much to our dismay, that he could no longer see nor hear us and was unable to return! We attempted to stage a rescue but the magic at work was against us and we were unable to bring him back. Maybe our paths will cross again but I can see no way for Lu-Tse to rejoin us at this time.

On our way out I noticed a secret door, inside was a magically protected crown. I attempted to discern the type of magic at work but before I was able to do so, Tordek leapt forward clutching some sort of key and triggered a trap like I have never seen before! The room literally collapsed around him and on top of him and when the dust settled I witnessed the twisted body of my companion lying in ruins on the floor. He was dead and not even my magic could revive him.

We are returning to the city above shaken and our numbers reduced. I hope to continue my quest to hunt down Nezh and maybe we will one day find our friend Lu-Tse.

Rest in Peace friend Tordek.

We have resolved to enter the lair of the beast and bring the battle to him! We have extracted some useful information from one of the pitiful rogues that was sent to find us and we now know how to enter the underground stronghold of the Cooper’s Guild. I believe that these men are not simple coopers but there may be something more nefarious, but that isn’t important right now.

Upon arrival we sidestepped a few traps before locating the secret door that the rogue told us about. Even I had a hard time spotting it, I am only glad that we had a dwarf skilled in the ways of stonework working with us.

The font was just where we had been told and once we had each taken a dose of the water we found ourselves able to walk on the very surface of the water! Below we could see a stagnant, slimy layer that would surely have spelled disaster had we been forced to swim.

Having penetrated the inner sanctum of these “coopers” we were forced into battle but these louts are no match for us. Inside we found a young man locked in a chest. Having been tortured by the knaves he seemed a little worse for wear, but once we had located his missing gear he seemed determined to exact revenge and escape his personal hell. The man introduced himself as Jon and he is a man of nature, like myself. How strange that so far from abundant life we two should meet.

It soon became clear that there were more of these rogues hiding out than we first thought, and that their vampire lord had arranged for more interesting defences. Having dispatched a number of the rogues I realised that Lu-Tse was locked in deadly combat with an undead monster, another heresy against life. As I closed in to attack I saw just how close the battle was with both parties looking the worse for wear. However within seconds the creature had slashed us both with its ghastly claws nad I suddenly found myself unable to move. The terror in Lu-Tse’s eyes told me that he too was immobilised.

I was certain that I was no longer for this world when Elenor, my constant companion in recent weeks, strode into the room and dispatched the foul creature before rushing back to ensure that we would be undisturbed during our recovery.