Bash - Journal Entry #1

It Begins
Mournland has been my home since the war ended. Since then I have been content to serve my new Lord within the ruins of my homeland. However, the cause requires my services once again. Therefore I travel abroad once more.

21st Therendor
Commander Cutlass has asked myself and the Artificer Chuk to travel to Sharn to find and assist Sabre - assuming he still functions. It seems that the commander has laid the main burden upon Chuk as he indicated that my primary responsibility is to ensure that Chuk is protected. While I wonder what special skills Chuk may possess in this matter, I do not question. I serve to maintain the order required to perpetuate peace. Without that we shall surely return to the chaos and destruction of the war. He also requested that we avoid hurting any Brelish folk if we could. They were our closest sympathizers.

We set from camp and made West to the lightning rail. Our intention was to follow it all the way to Vathirond where we were to obtain our travel papers, purchase passage to Sharn, and search for Sabre. However travel is rarely without incident.

22nd Therendor
Just before dawn we encountered one of the many living spells that plague this land. If there is anything that embodies chaos and disorder it is surely these spawns of the Mournland. Order must be returned to the land. There was no option but to slay the abomination. As I was unable to discern the specific nature of the creature I went for the same approach that served so well during the War - smash it with my heavy mace. I was quickly schooled in that rash choice. My attacks were ineffective and it was only Chuk's quick thinking and magic that managed to free me from its web-like grasp. It seems Cutlass' faith in the artificer is well-placed.

We travelled on.

Late in the afternoon we arrived in a small village. The humans here were well-armed and unfriendly. Luckily we convinced them that we meant no harm and were simply attempting to pass through on our way to Vathirond. The prejudice so often accompanying these people was quickly evident when we were asked to walk around the town. Not wanting to initiate trouble we complied without incident.

23rd Therendor
We were greeted at the gates of Vathirond at dawn. It was not a friendly greeting. It seems the people of the village somehow singled ahead that we were coming. The guards wanted to know our business and to see our travel papers. While inconvenient, I can appreciate the desire of the guards to keep out troublemakers. Once again Chuk's talked our way to safety. The guards agreed to follow us to our locker in order to retrieve our travel papers. We made no mention of what else we saught in the locker. Upon inspection we were set free upon our. However I seemed to get a hint of disappointment that the guards earned no money from us. Perhaps they are not paid well these days.

We purchased tickets to Sharn and a few small spell scrolls for Chuk and made our way to the train for the 8:30 departure.

24th Therendor
The train was crowded. Even so, the passengers avoided us as best they could. Intriguing that they trust strangers of their own kind more readily than two warforged. Do they not realize that most of the violence encurred upon their loved ones was at the hands of other humans?

There was one exception.

25th Therendor
Around 2am, a small female approached us while the rest of the car's occupants slept. At first I mistook her for a gnome. However she was simply a young human girl of age. She may have seen 3-5 years. Never have I met such a thirst for knowledge! Even that halfling Thraven we lost in Thrane was no match for the sheer desire this one had to know of us.

It seems Annie - as she was named - was on her way to Wroat with her mother in order to visit her grandmother. She wished to know all about us. Who we were. Where we were headed. Why this? Why that? Why? Why? Why! She also asked for some food. Unfortunately I had none to share as I do not require it. After several minutes her mother awoke and fearfully removed Annie from our presence. I actually think I could learn to like that child.

The rest of the daylight hours passed without incident. It was when the sun went down that things got turbulent once again.

I have seen it many times. Alchohol brings courage... and foolishness. Three drunk leftovers from the War decided to vent their frustration upon Chuk and I. No amount of talking could dissuade them. No knowing who they were we decided to dispatch them by knocking them out. They got the best of Chuk but luckily I was able to subdue 2 of them before Annie retrieved the guards. With her assistance we convinced the guards that we did not start the altercation. They apologized and provided us with a potion to revive Chuk to consciousness. What I don't understand is why the drunkard were moved up to higher class seat while we remained in steerage. Blind mistrust and prejudice is my guess.

When the train arrived at the station where Annie was disembarking I quietly slipped her 2 silver. It was a small thanks for her assitance. Hopefully one human more human will grow up without fear of us.

26th Therendor
There was to be one more "incident" before we arrived at our destination.

While contemplating the outcome of the drunken brawl I took notice of a cutpurse removing the bag of a fellow passenger who was walking done the aisle. Even with all the onlooking, jeering, and downright rude behaviour I could not let this pass. Society requires rules. The rules must be applied evenly and fairly or anarchy we quickly develop. The cutpurse needed to be confronted. No one else had noticed the theft so it fell upon me to do it.

Of course the fool denied his actions. He even pulled a knife on me. I simply stepped back and asked the surrounding people if this person should be allowed to continue on his way and perhaps victimize them. I was astounded that not a single person stepped up. Scared sheep they are. I did notice however that the victim moved off to another car to get the guards so I simply indicated that if no one else here seemed to care then I would not interfere. It was a ruse of course. I was ready to pounce should the pickpocket seek to escape. Force was not required however. The guards arrived, searched the cutpurse and found the loot. The goods were returned and the thief removed. The only thanks I received was from the victim.

That was good enough for me.

The train has arrived in Sharn and we are ready to begin searching for our warforged brother.