Bex Journal Entry 4

Sar 21 Barrakas, continued

Evidently, Failin owed money to the Marguul clan, and the bugbears caught up with him before he could get us out of town. We managed to defeat them, with Rocky and I soaking up most of the damage… but something strange happened at the end. When only two bugbears remained, one dropped his axe and yielded. He got caught in Rickard’s strike on the other, then Rocky pulled it back into melee and pressed the attack.

With Raharath absent, my other companions are moral creatures, dedicated to helping others with no expectation of reward. I could never believe in such a philosophy – I’ve never been in a position to look out for anyone but myself, after all, and it’s not like people go out of their way to help a changeling – but I certainly respect their beliefs. (And sometimes they need someone around to keep others from exploiting their compassion.) Arturo often tries to educate me; sadly, I use much of what he tells me to shape personas like Erigone, rather than taking his lessons to heart.

And Rocky has always held himself to an even higher standard. For him to refuse an honorable surrender is… uncharacteristic. I’m not exactly concerned by what happened, but I am curious. Even a saint might make mistakes, create reasons to betray his beliefs… if I have to be a good woman, I’d like to build in ways for her to go against her creed. Perhaps I’ll speak to him later.

Once the battle had been decided, I gave the bugbear a chance to flee, and he took it. We were wasting time, and I knew that guards, or more Marguul thugs, were bound to show up soon. I still took a moment to search the fallen bugbears; I only found a handful of coins for my effort, but I hate to make Arturo buy every round.

Failin led us to his wonderful land cart, which he’d hidden behind a wall which he opened with his hidden dragonmark. Arturo paid the man with the funds Elayden gave us, and we were on our way. The cart moves like the wind; I’m sure we’ll be in Rose Quarry in no time.

He’s not part of House Orien anymore; some disagreement got him exiled. This revelation gave me an odd feeling of kinship with Failin, and renewed my gratitude not to bear the mark of House Phiarlan.

I still have no idea what we’ll find in Cyre-That-Was. But my need to know has grown with every mile we’ve crossed since Sharn. Elaydren’s letter suggested that these schema, and the research associated with them, might have some connection to the Mourning. I must know the truth of the matter.

What happened to our beloved Cyre must never happen again.

Yours,
Bex

Zol 24 Barrakas, 998 YK

Mother,

We’ve arrived at Rose Quarry just after dusk; from here, we can see the mist that surrounds Cyre-That-Was. I’ve heard that the mist will choke you to death, will drive you mad. They say it’s made of ghosts, that everyone who enters will lose their way, that no one has ever come out of the… Mournland alive. We will learn the truth soon enough.

Someone’s made a camp in what’s left of the village. I saw armored men and their horses, with at least two animated skeletons. Their helms had a half-faceplate design that seemed familiar, somehow. Arturo recognized them as belonging to the Order of the Emerald Claw.

I can also hear a tapping sound, like a pick scraping stone. What are they looking for here? How will we find Whitehearth? Can we do it without engaging the Claw? And how will Ralharath catch up to us, assuming he didn’t beat us here, somehow?

Whatever we do, we should not tarry. It’s as you always said; the Traveler smiles on deeds done in darkness.

Yours,
Bex