Tannin's Journal

*27 Highsun*

Hadn't even made it to Hope when I found trouble; a Human, half drowned and washed up on shore. I felt a bit like one of those mermaids the sailors told me about, as I resuscitated him and watched him wake, bleary eyed at me. Some kind of fire elemental thing was with him, though it didn't seem too protective of him, so I guess it wasn't his. We didn't talk much as I helped him up and walked him ashore, making sure he wasn't just going to wander off and fall in again.

His people seemed to have been looking for him, which was a good sign; at least they cared enough to go tracking him down even out here, though they were knee-deep in their own troubles. My kin, and some McLargehuge of an Ogre were out collecting bounty on Human ears. I felt bad for attacking them, but I guess my side was set for me when I pulled this guy out of the water. After we took care of them, I found out the guy I saved was called Vincent, and he was following the same monastic arts I hoped to pursue. Perhaps I could have someone to teach me while I'm out here. I got introduced to everyone when everything settled; Gigi, Blaze, who the elemental belonged to, Bronson, a fucking unit of a man, Alec, and Drago.

No-one seemed to mind me coming along, and I didn't really want to keep going on my own, so I followed them on their own journey to a place called Shibai. It was a little odd, I didn't recognise the architecture at all, though it was kinda pretty. Seems we were just in time, as some kind of blue fog was rolling in, full of these ugly little manthings that were attacking the people. After we saw them off, one of the folk, who'd seen our efforts, welcomed us in. A woman named Ishimoto somethingsomething. I don't have an ear for this kind of dialect.

Turns out these things weren't the worst of the town's troubles, not least a pair of mercenaries that were claiming to be the town's answer to their troubles. I know liars when I hear them. They'd seen some beast off a couple of times, but it kept coming back. We tried to pry them for information, but they remained stubborn and pompous about their titles, not helped by them having the Mayor's authority backing them up. Gigi's tongue (her way with words) and a little alcohol saw to keeping them to one side while we worked around them. We got them hammered on the local wine, which I learned was made of rice, and got ourselves some rest with plans to go up the the monastery the next day while the two 'guardians' slept.

*28 Highsun*

Well, the plan worked, the Mubo Brothers, the two idiots living off these people's desperation, drank themselves into a coma, *but then so did Blaze near enough.* He was clearly not happy the next morning, holding his head and shying from the light as we ascended. I'd have felt bad for him if we hadn't warned him of the plan beforehand. I hope this doesn't cost us.

The place seemed empty when we arrived, and while Vincent and I lead a search, half the team got distracted by some room full of plants and water bowls. I was there first when it happened; first I saw a body, then it *moved*, it *fucking moved*, then puked up a ghost! An angry, very capable ghost, and then we were surrounded by the damn things! It was a mad panic to try and defend ourselves, and I barely had a chance to raise my fist when they howled at us, sending ice down my spine. I was out for most of it, but the others had managed to get themselves together and wake me. I rode out on Blaze's back as he took the form of a horse (not something I thought I'd ever say), and we left. Alec didn't make it, but Drago had been smart enough to grab one of the bodies I'd seen and make off with that, at least.

We got back to town, showed the Mayor what we'd found, and were hoping to get a load off, when those Mubo Brothers showed up, calling us out for sandbagging them. We'll see how this goes...