Back to the Forge - Borin's thoughts

Blessed Lathander, ah dinnae ken why I was oot here in the wilds but mebbe ma purpose begins to reveal itself…

Ah joined up with a bunch of capable looking sorts even if ah dinnae truly remember any of them. The pyromaniac **Blaze** seems all too keen to reach the Forge. When ah look at him, ah see flashes of flame… and pain… ah dinnae think he knows what he’s walking towards. The lassie **Nadia** seems dangerous and keen. The shadows are her friend it seems but she’s done great damage to herself with those “augmentations”. Ah patched her up a little before we went too far but who can say how well she’ll hold up. **Aoibhinn**’s skill with a weapon seems impressive, ah hope it’s more than just show. **Sabrina** seems happy in her (frankly oversized) winter clothing. The four of them seem very at ease with each other, as if they have travelled together many times and faced many dangers. I assume they are good at their jobs or else they wouldn’t still be alive… if we survive the Forge, maybe I can travel to some of the places they’ve seen. The final member of the group is a friendly Teifling named **Plank**. He seemed pleased to see me “alive” and his face is familiar somehow. It feels comforting but also evokes memories of teeth and pain somehow… my lungs almost catch fer breath when ah think too long…

The winter winds seem unnatural to the group but they seem to remind me of ma homeland… but ah cannae place any details aboot what that means. Ah have no memory of “home” beyond vague notions. The phrase “Stonehill Strangers” pops into ma head but it doesn’t make much sense. Fortunately, I was distracted from these fleeting memories by the presence of a vicious surprise attack launched on the party by Bullywugs and Giant Toads. **Plank** was lit up like a campfire by their shaman and chased them all over the surrounding area before killing them. We succeeded but were probably sloppier than we should have been. Lathander guide us through the worst and give us the strength to learn from our mistakes

We have arrived. The village itself shows little sign of life although our scouts pick up plenty of “reptilian” footprints in the area so something is active here. Undead filth burst out of one of the buildings. Their faces seemed familiar to me but they are not the people ah once knew, even if ah could remember who they truly were. We cleansed the village of their presence - much more effectively than the previous day - and prepared to travel back into the fiery depths below.

Ah’d forgotten the heat… it is oppressive. Pushing forward, we found a gap across some lava and decided to leap across instead of scouting further. We succeeded in finding a busy middle chamber before all hells broke loose. Soon, we were beset on all sides by fiery creatures. Some no more than vicious beasts while some possessed wicked cunning. **Plank** and **Nadia** pressed forward and wreaked pretty havoc on the enemy but we were exposed to the North as spellcasters engaged with **Sabrina** and **Aoibhinn** in a deadly game of cat and mouse. **Blaze** held the rear against wave after wave of foe. Displaying immense toughness against seemingly endless enemies. Gradually we wore them down until one of their kind threw down it’s arms and begged for mercy.

The Firenewt claims they are worshippers of Kossuth and are here to battle a great evil. They do not seem to be responsible for the fall of the village above and if his words are true, then maybe we should ally here to purge this place together. We go to meet their high priest shortly, although many of us could use a wee breather first!

As ah sit here, ma hand rubs against the smooth side of ma head and ah remember a skinny lassie who danced a merry dance o’death and ah see tiger stripes and a little girl… whatever happened to Azymeth or Siberius or Abigail… ACH, there’s nae time to dwell on fuzzy memories, we have ter clear this accursed place!!