Marcus Praius - A Squire's Journal

[Dasefilo]

Day One,

At the gates of Sundren Valley I was way-laid by bandits. There were too many so I was forced to surrender. They took most of my coin, my good boots, and the sword and shield the Academy provided for me. By Torm's Protection or Tymora's Smile they let me live, and left me there. With the burden of my loss on my conscience I finished the journey to the city of Sundren where I was told I would find the paladin who would take me as his squire. All I knew of him at the time was that he is a paladin, and his name is Hans Summers. The Academy had given me a profile of him, including a portrait of his facial profile, and little more than that other than his rank and status. A second parchment attached to the profile was a legitimate certificate of my place as a squire.

My Lord Torm must have been guiding not just my hand, but my feet as well that day. Tymora too continued to smile. For who should be standing at the gates to the city? My new sire, clad in arms, and to my disappointment (which I kept well hidden) not appearing the elder veteran I imagined. He is less than ten years my senior. The Gods must have a sense of humor because he is fair skinned, and comely in the sense that he may never have fought in a pitched battle. He's also shorter than I expected.

Our conversation was brief at first, but at the sight of my official papers, and the purity of my soul erased any suspicions. He generously loaned me enough coin to purchase a new sword, shield, and helmet. Once freshly armed he began to explain to me in brief the situation in Sundren Valley, his task; his mission; the quest for Justice.

Markus Praius

[Dasefilo]

The Second Day

Day Two,

Justice.

Sir Hans Summers led me back to the gates of the Sunderer. There we ambushed the bandits who were awaiting to ambush other travelers. We didn't manage to find the equipment they stole form me the other day, but we did leave with an armful of stolen goods to be returned to their rightful owners. We returned what we could, but at the end we were still left with a few items. We paid our tithe as the sun set. Once we found an inn I took to scouring his armor clean of the bloodstains left from the bandits. Afterwards I took to cleaning my own equipment, prayed the evening litany, and slept soundly.

[Dasefilo]

The Third Day

Day Three,

I had just finished breaking my morning fast, when he came bursting through the door of the common room. He had heard rumor of Banites in the Shaharan hills! I finished my fast, and helped him arm, and then likewise armed myself. With swords in our belts, and shields on our backs, we set out at a brisk pace to the hills. Our journey was quiet, and the roads were well trodden. Once we arrived at the foot of the hills, where is situated the Exiago Mining Camp: an open space full of campfires, pitched tents, and with miners, guardsmen, and the odd adventurer milling about. Sir Hans Summers spoke to one of the adventurers, and they confirmed the rumor. The knowledge sure in hand, we bound for the hills. There were a few goblins roaming about, with their small, sharp teeth, sickeningly green hides, and shoddy - but no less dangerous - weaponry. With Sir Summers' direction we smote them with ease.

As we passed through a barricaded section we fell into the company of four adventurers. Two mages, a halfling, and a pugilist of a sort. We joined ranks, and together the six of us delved into the caves that lay past the barricade. In the cave it was gloomy, and the smell of old cook-fires, unemptied chamberpots, and all the filth that is generally associated with goblins filtered through our nostrils. Between the strength of the six of us the few goblins that littered our path through the caverns posed little threat. Yet still we found no evidence of the supposed Banites. After a particular battle with a fair sized party of goblins (still no casualties on our part) two other men appeared from another one of the adjacent tunnels. One of them of all things was another mage, his name I can't recall. The other introduced himself as Sir Williams Justicar of Helm. He has a strong presence, one that shows forethought, and the ability to lay proper judgment. After a round of explanations, and introductions, we were now eight.

Deeper we went into the caverns, lower down, and the tunnels grew more twisted, and wiry. It was here in this labyrinth that we caught our first Banite. He died nobly in battle - if such a thing can be attributed to a man of evil -, brought to rightful justice by the blade of Sir Hans Summers. We found three more in those tunnels, and gave them the quick mercy they probably didn't deserve with three feet of good steel. Once through the caverns Sir Hans Summers and I discussed the evidence, and facts with the Justicar, Sir Williams. We devised that those we gave justice were an individual cell, used to promote evil and chaos from the ever welling ranks of goblins. Them part of some greater plan, perhaps. What it was we will not know ... for now. I assured my master; Sir Summers, that something would reveal itself in time. He was in agreement, but unlike me didn't speak so loudly the words of what he knew. He's proven that he's very competent in battle, has a leader's determination, and an eye for tactics. For now we retire back to the city.

Marcus Praius