Patrol Log - 30 June 2017 The road to Paws has become overgrown - but not with vegitation and weeds. No, weeds and vegitation could be easily handled by a few farm tools. The overgrowth that I, Catalin, (who am clearly a man of Romanian decent) faced required tools that are more familiar to a soldier or militia. Despite the lapsed state of the roads, one Karuka and man known only as a Scorpion warrior found thier way to the safety of the village. Greetings were made, and Karuka with all the moxy in her belly decided to join in my patrol of the roads with Hoominga and a rag-tag militia of Archers. The Scorpion warrior, along with his steed, quickly agreed to lend aid as well. The first part of the patrol tested the archers' to perhaps their limit. They could scarce hit a fly let alone man-sized rats and enormous trolls. But along the way Karuka proved her talent and was able to convince some rather large spiders to join in our effort to expunge the trolls from the painted caves. Further along our trails, we met a poor beggar of Trinsic who had decided to take her chances outside the safety of the city walls rather than dwindle in obscurity and squalor. Seeing she was of kindred spirit, we offered her a place in our company and assured she would be handsomely paid for her assistance with the horses and tending to the archers' equipment. Although the concept of trading hard labor in exchange for economic gain was somewhat foreign to her, she quickly put herself to use. She was a brave soul, but unfortunately in the darkness of the painted caves, I fear a stray arrow struck her fatally, and we shall now have to ensure that her payment is endowed to her nearest relatives. We shall hold the due property at Paws until such time as the heir is found. After clearing the painted caves, we chanced upon Lord Azguard of Lumaria. He was in need of a guide to help him find the entrance to the dreadful Khaldun caves. With our militia a bit more formally trained, I felt it a suiting task to act as guide for this great nobleman of the realm. At the mention of the caves though, many of the archers nearly revolted. It took me some doing, and I explained to them that we would only act as escort up to the caves, and that any who were too cowardly to enter therin could consider their contracts fulfilled once the fissure was reached. Our journey to the caves went rather well. We decided to avoid the common Delucia passage so as to avoid nosey questions of the Delucians who are always eager to vend brittle blades to adventurers in the land. I for one would prefer a Papuan threading needle over a Delucian-made weapon any day. Unfortunately Lord Azguard was called away to administrative duties, and was only able to mark a rune to the entrance of the caves for exploration at a later date. He took a contingent of the archers who felt they had fulfilled their contract and did not wish to enter the dreaded caves. Those who dared, entered were few enough to name: Catalin, the Scorpion warrior, Cornelius, Nanette, and Coretta. We were only able to venture in a short ways before we were overwhelmed by spectral blades that appeared to be carried by their own will, for we saw no being clutching them. We tried to make a few inquiries of the men we found inside the caves, but they all ran upon our blades in a maddened state. Perhaps another time, we shall escort Lord Azguard further into these cursed caves, but our patrol routed ended here. We were able to collect a fair purse from the Lord of Lumaria and I feel the roads to Paws are a bit more safe. - Catalin of Paws.
