Bruisetooth's Journal: The Woodsman's Tale

21 Highsun

Today, I set out with a group of newly fledged adventurers, though   (the name is clearly written by a different person) Aoibhinn is also here with us. I'm glad to have some familiarity as I aid those who may not be as aware of the dangers of the marshlands as **Aoibhinn** and I. We left into an ochre-shaded fog, much thicker and differently coloured to what I'm used to. It didn't seem to make much notice today, as we left in search of a cabin belonging to a woodsman and his fallen friends. The path west was easy enough to follow, though not without its ever-present dangers.

Our party was made up of myself, **Aoibhinn**, a Leonin named **Kronk**, a Gnome named **Burglekutt**, an elf named **Aerfrey**, and a Firbolg by the name of **Alder**. Even with the numbers and versality we had, the creatures that waded from the swamp nearly took our lives. I was nearly dragged to my grave, but **Burglekutt** blew me clear of the water along with my attacker. **Kronk** was also pulled under, and for much longer than I. Long enough for the rest of us to shake off the monstrosities and come to his aid, though the thing that pulled him down was able to flee uncontested thanks to its uncanny ability to walk through the mud and water like air.

Something happened between **Alder** and the bridge we walked across that I do not wish to speak of, but it dispensed a dagger for his trouble.

During my watch that night, we were assailed by more undead things, another conflict that nearly cost my life. I really must stop taking watch on my own.

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22 Highsun

Continuing west, the road eventually brought us to the foot of the mausoleum, where we turned due south as the woodsman back in town had directed. He'd warned us of Goblins, but not the undead we were being plagued by. When we discovered his cabin, we found it empty, if messy. The Goblins had turned it over, but taken nothing of value, or even no value. The woodsman had mentioned that the Goblins had dragged his friends away and butchered them, something not entirely unexpected of raiders, but to leave the place otherwise untouched was odd.

That night, during **Aefrey** and **Alder's** watch, we woke to many feet outside. As it turns out, it *was* Goblins, but poorly stitched together dead ones. They were so easy to deal with that I didn't have time to reach the door before the others dealt with them. I'm impressed by their tenacity. They remind me that every warrior is capable, and my own experience means nothing in the face of something I've yet to witness.

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23 Highsun

Continuing on our path, we were ambushed by more abominations in the mist. Some sort of large, constructed animals attacked us, made of bear, wolf and other large beasts, all put together with just enough skill to function, but came apart relatively easily. We moved along, finding ourselves close to our destination; a cave. It stood on the other side of a putrid swamp, the water here so thick with toxins that it hurt just to step in them, made necessary by the rotting, zombified crocodiles guarding the path. Once again, we banded together and, working as a team, saw to their end with relative ease. **Kronk** fared less well than the rest of us, but lived to speak of it.

Realising how taxing the journey had been, and how dangerous this place was, we opted to return to town and further question the woodsman, while also returning some of his more valued possessions we salvaged from his home. I wouldn't blame him for not wishing to return, so we opted to save him the harrowing journey.