Bex Journal Entry 3

Sar 21 Barrakas, 998 YK

[A rough sketch of Rhukaan Draal’s widely varying styles of buildings occupies the entire right hand page. A stone tower is labeled Khaar Mbar’ost, the Red House.]

Mother,

We arrived in Rhukaan Draal. After Salter paid us for guarding his caravan, we started looking for Failin. It seems that half the people we see are slaves… it sickens me to see people in chains, and I know my companions feel the same way, but there’s nothing we can do about it, and we mustn’t draw attention to ourselves.

Arturo led us to a tavern while our warforged friends went in search of the Bloody Market. Art could find a tavern in the heart of the Demon Wastes, and drink every last demon there under the table. Rebexa always drinks with him, though I know we shouldn’t… I get careless about hiding myself when I’m drunk, but I can’t resist the camaraderie. Arturo Fritz Kelborn is as true a friend as I have in this world, even if he’s more Rebexa’s friend than mine.

[sketches of Arturo and Ralharath]

Ralharath disapproved of our carousing, as he always has. I blame myself, though; after the Mourning, I asked him for help controlling my emotions… I thought that his mental discipline could help me. I was wrong, and things were never the same between us after that. Was he more fun before our country died, or am I only imagining that?

We’ve always been very different people, no matter who I’m being. He won’t stay out of my head, he won’t keep an opinion to himself, and he never checks with any of us before making up his mind. He’s not our leader – we never chose one, and Rickard was put in charge of our original mission together – but he’s always acted like it. I put up with it, because we still make a good team, but I’ve never, ever liked it.

Anyway.

A couple of drinks later, Relic and Rocky arrived to lead us to the Bloody Market. Asking the merchants about Failin led us to another tavern called the Clenched Fist. Rocky began our dialog with Failin, an odd man with an odd way of speaking who offered to take us to Rose Quarry for sixty gold each. I made my way over – carefully, as I was well past tipsy – and talked him down to fifty. He said I was pretty… that Rebexa was pretty, I mean. She doesn’t get that very often.

[Bex has sketched Failin here]

Ral wasn’t happy with the deal, even though Lady Elaydren gave us some money to cover such expenses, and Salter had just paid us fifty gold each. Traveler gives, Traveler takes. It’s only money… Anyway, he got so upset that he left us to make his own way to Rose Quarry. I won’t say I’m sorry to see him go, but Ral’s dangerous in a fight, and I feel less safe without him. And it’s my fault that he’s gone…

But there wasn’t time to dwell on it. Failin led us out of the Clenched Fist, down an alleyway, looking all around him, clearly hoping to avoid someone. When I asked him about it, four bugbears appeared, as if to answer his question.

I really should learn to keep my mouth shut.

[continued]