Alexandria's Journal - Missing in Chittermarsh

*2 Highsun*

An interesting day with the group gathered to rescue the fishermen in "Chittermarsh". Following some last minute provision gathering, we (finally) set out into the Harrowmere and turned northwards away from the road. The nimble, keen-eyed **Corsair** quickly picking a favourable pathway through a lot of the mire. After a few hours travel, he spotted something ahead with **Lizzie** quickly pointing out there were kobolds scrabbling around some ruins. Despite our best efforts to speak to them, they seemed intent on scaring us away from whatever they had found. The confident, regal, **Icarus** reacting quickest as he looked to send a wave of psychic energy towards the kobold who fired a sling bullet towards the group. The wretched creatures should know not to be out in the sunlight and they were wildly ineffective with their sling attacks initially. The umbrella wielding **Uklah** stepped forward to take first blood with a devastating longbow strike and start the panic in the kobold group with their leader throwing a hefty sack towards us and unleashing a swarm of wasps that were trapped within! **Icarus** and **I** would spend some time trying to contain these vicious insects, while **Corsair** darted forward to take out more of the kobolds with a flurry of his sword and kicks. **Uklah** continued to rain arrows, slaying another but the acrobatic, swift **Diarmuid** (or **Deer** as they seem to prefer) took a hefty sling blow to the temple and did well to stay on their feet! The calming presence of **Lizzie** was quick to react, healing **Deer** before the kobolds could press any advantage. We quickly subdued the rest of them before their leader surrendered. The poor creature was far from home and no threat, so after questioning him for information we let Snar Tuks be on his way home... Bahamut guide this was the right decision, he spoke of serving a giant lizard and a war between them and some goblins and humans at a fort. **Uklah** was quick to get the details added to the map! We pushed on and made camp for the night - I hope we're not too late for the fishermen, this seems a land filled with peril...

*3 Highsun*

The night passed without incident apart from **Deer** spotting troll tracks, something we'll have to beware of if we return this way, and we pushed on in the morning towards the fishermen. Spotting a series of raised platforms, we approached carefully. There was no sign of life... scaling the platforms, the keen eyes of **Deer** again spotting something of interest. A pale corpse lay on one of the platforms... pushing forward, **Corsair** found an opening in a huge tree but before entry could be gained, the party was swarmed by stirges. **Deer** was quick to deal with a solitary target but several swarmed the startled **Corsair** who did his best to dispatch one of the foul creatures before succumbing to their bites and falling unconscious. **Icarus** was quick to fire off magical missiles that destroyed another stirge, **Uklah** dashed forward and cast some healing magic to revive **Corsair** while **I** managed to rush to stand over his prone figure and dispatch a shadowy looking stirge. Spinning around, a further stirge prepared to attack but the freshly revived **Corsair** managed to bring down this last foe.

Searching the camp, it seems that maybe the stirges were not the cause of the massacre here. While **Lizzie** once again ensured our survival with some delicious goodberries, we skimmed through a journal from the camp which referenced an "old coot" that seems to have been a source of annoyance. We will head back to Hope to deliver the news and see if anyone has any details of who (or what) this might be... while the group has performed well to this point, I do not think it would be wise to press our luck. We at least know there are trolls in the area and the families deserve to know what happened here...

*4 Highsun*

We've arrived back without too much trouble. Muredach has advised that there are rumours of a wild druid worshipping Zuggtmoy, although he did not seem to know who that was... I need to check with Arty, but I'm certain I remember that name at least from the academy... this might be very, very bad...