Elaria's Adventure Diary: The First Foray

Dear Diary,

Today was my first foray into adventuring... not counting the week it took me to reach Hope, of course.

When I first arrived in Hope I was fortunate enough to quickly find cousin **Sairina**! However, it was definitely not the welcome I anticipated. Not only did she NOT seem glad to see me, but she quite literally yelled at me to go home!

To be honest, this was very upsetting for me, considering I had spent so much of my time and money to track her down! You'd think she would be grateful that someone in our family cared enough about her to go find her, but she had the audacity to say to my face that no one in our family gives a s\*\*\* about her. Really? Really?? WHAT DOES SHE THINK I'M DOING HERE THEN?

Well, **Sairina** thinks that I'm not competent enough to care for myself on an adventure, but little does she know I am now a seasoned and accomplished adventurer! Too bad she won't find out until she gets back from her rescue mission.

Anyway, enough about my ungrateful cousin, let me write about the adventure itself.

A few days ago the group of us adventurers set out into the swamp to investigate a suspected Lizardfolk kidnapping. The intrigue!

With me was **Knock**, a marginally attractive half-elf cleric (not my type obviously, but not bad looking I guess). We also had **Pixli**, a Svirfneblin artificer, the tiefling fighter **Plank**, the human rogue **Aidan**, and this little boy **Aragorn** with his dog. What an exotic group! Look at me with such diverse friends. Can you imagine?

I decided to wear the adventuring gear that I picked up back in that holiday shop in Anenfel. I got a lot of great compliments, so I think everyone really liked it. Who said you can't be fashionable in a swamp? Hopefully I can find a good washwoman around here to help me clean it...

Anyway, the group of us headed into the swamp and I was charged with documenting the map. Honestly, I don't know why they wouldn't pick me considering my penmanship is flawless. I think the map is fairly accurate too, considering **Knock** is able to communicate with his god to know EXACTLY how far we are from Hope at all times, and in what direction. So handy!

The group of us followed clues South towards a quaint farming village where the farmers were allegedly kidnapped. However, as we arrived, we were attacked by these foul brightly colored giant birds. I just kept flinging Starburst at them until they eventually died. Thankfully I wasn't injured but a few of the others were.

We then explored the town and found no sign of the farmers or most of their livestock, save for a few starving pigs. The others butchered the pigs and birds (with my advisement) so we wouldn't have to worry about fresh food for the journey. We also investigated the houses and found a dead Lizardfolk! I guess the other Lizardfolk left his body behind?

We also found a box with a dinky necklace and a few coins hidden under the floorboards. The others said this may be the family's life savings. LIFE SAVINGS? How does one survive on such little coin? It's utterly shocking how people live outside the realm. Maybe I can convince father to send them some aid here once I finally reach out to him again...

At the farm we found tracks that we attempted to follow, but somehow we lost the tracks and became horribly lost, ending up at the Mouth of Doom!

We decided to call it a night and make camp nearby on a swamp island. I took two watches since I don't need to sleep long hours like the others. I had a great chat with **Plank**, the fighter. It was my first real conversation with a Tiefling! I have to say, his dusky skin color and horns really intrigues me. I wonder what all the other girls would say at home if they knew I stayed out late around the fire with a demon-man! The scandal!

In my second watch it started to rain. **Aiden** asked me some questions about my clothes and told me the swamp stains made them look better. I'm not sure if he was serious or poking fun at my fashion sense. But honestly, someone has to look good out here.

But as we were talking we were ambushed by at least SIX lizard folk men! It was horrible!! They almost captured **Aragorn** but fortunately he broke free of their nets. **Plank** was knocked down very quickly and I had no healing potions or anything to help him. Thankfully **Knock's** healing magic helped the rest of us survive.

I have to admit I was extremely frightened of these giant lizard men. They seemed to want to capture the smallest of us, and I'm not very big! So I ended up hiding from them inside **Aragorn's** tent with his dog, who was utterly useless (seriously, train your dog boy!). I then just kept flinging spells through the sliver in the tent door at whoever I could see. I even did a magic missile! I've been working hard on that one.

At one point though, one came in the tent to try and catch me!! I fought him off with Starburst while yelling at the damn dog to bite him or something, but the dog just hid under **Aragorn's** blankets. What is the use of having a dog if it won't even help protect you? Anyway, I was able to break free of the captor and I think I might have killed him. It's hard to be sure.

Eventually **Knock** was able to put one to sleep, and we managed to kill the rest. This was the first time I'd ever killed anyone, so I honestly haven't been sleeping well over it. I don't quite know how I feel, but they were bad creatures trying to kidnap me. I know they're humanoid, but it's not like they're elves or anything. Right?

So anyway, we wake up the sleeping lizard man after **Aidan** ties him up. The only language we have in common is Draconic, so **Knock** and I question him. **Knock** tries to intimidate the creature, but he laughed in our faces. Thankfully I was able to use kindness and persuasion to get him to tell us everything.

Here's what the Lizardfolk **Brashk** said:

1. The Lizardfolk clans have teamed up with a dragon named **Throstulgrael**, who is a DIFFERENT dragon than the one that attacked Hope. (Two dragons, can you imagine?)

2. **Throstulgrael** is a midnight-black dragon that's very large, as big as the island we camped on

3. **Throstulgrael** will elect a Lizardfolk king from one of the many tribes

4. These lizardfolk collect livestock and people to gift to **Throstulgrael** to gain her favor so that their tribe may be in charge

5. Each tribe has 20-40 lizardfolk and there are at least 4 tribes that support **Throstulgrael**. The major tribes are Much Marsh, Dusk Dusk, Rootwater

6. There are a few tribes that don't seem to be working with her: Black Scale and Sun Scale

7. The captives are being held at **Ringcurrent Island**

8. **Ragemaw** and **Throstulgrael** are not working together (that he knows of)

The next morning the Lizardfolk **Brashk** took us to see the **Ringcurrent Island**. He brought us further South to an outlook where we could get a great view. From about 6 miles away we could see tons of lizardfolk, people, livestock and more. All of the lizardfolk tribes have separate camps (great for dividing and conquering). The dragon appears to be not as big as **Ragemaw**, or possibly of a similar size.

On the way back we discussed a strategy of divide and conquer, using the lizardfolk competition and rivalry against them, and also releasing the slaves to cause chaos. I think this may be possible for us with a bit of training and preparation!!

So after scouting we headed back to Hope, deposited the prisoner in a cell, and I had a well-earned bath. It's crazy how disgusting you can get after a few days in the swamp with no bathing!

Anyway, the mayor was very pleased with our progress and gave us a reward! Many of us plan to head out again soon and save the farmers. Look at me, a real-life hero! Who would've thought.