It is I, your errant friend, Laurent. I assure you that my long delinquency is due to the matters of great and dangerous import. (As well as due to the fact that writing ink is especially hard to come by in Ussura, on Vesten raiding ships and the wilds of northern Eisen…).

Yes, it has been many months since my last entry. Your binding and cover are threadbare, not from the many hands of my grandchildren, but by the very travels and travails detailed herein. I cannot remove nor define the many stains that mar your once beautiful exterior; nor would I want to. These marks tell the story as well as any words that I write in these pages.

This long, dark stain down the spine is blood. I know this intimately, as the blood is my very own. As you have been contained in my cloak, near my heart all these many months, I remember dearly the origin of many of the stains. This blood once welled from a sword wound on my chest. A wound that was caused by a Vesten barbarian as I stood and defended my master's back as we (the whole party) fought these wild men against overwhelming odds.

Lest I be thought to claim all of the blood on this volume (and there are volumes of blood contained on the exterior, so to speak), let it be known that much of it is the blood of the esteemed gentlemen that I serve. For it is true that I truly serve the whole group though my worthy master Valliere is my true liege lord. Our fallen comrade James who died in the same fight that caused my own stain caused this large stain towards the base on the front cover. It came to mar this book when I held him as his last breaths left his frame. I shall never forget the fear in his eyes nor the searching look that he gave me. His eyes searched for any hope that he would live for at least one more minute. Unfortunately there was nothing I could do but comfort him and try to ease his passing. I saw the light leave his eyes and heard his last expirations. A worthy man fell that day. I pray that he meet Theus as he met life; with a proud step and no regrets for a life well lived.

Also, this book and my once fine clothing are marred by the blood of all the worthy gentlemen in this sometimes ill fated group. It has come to rest here since I am the only one with any surgery skills to speak of, though they would be slightly put off to learn that these skills were mostly gained by tending the estate's many animals. Thankfully no other of the worthies have met an untimely death, (though at times it seems that they almost try for such a fate).

We rest now for an extended period (hopefully) in a small village in northern Eisen. One which until recently had been under the curse of a crone and plagued by our villainous enemy, Fellhand (may Theus soon give him the judgement he deserves).

The gentlemen, led by William, saved Lia from the dreadful fate that unfortunately befell two of the women we had saved from the Vesten raiders. I stayed in the village and prepared bandages and medicated broth, knowing that they would both be well and truly used by morning.

It was a long night indeed. When the gentlemen returned, burned, bloodied, and bruised they thankfully had Lia in tow! The rest of the night was spent tending to their many wounds; a task I required the smithy help me with. He turned out to be a decent fellow with a good deal of simple, peasant common sense and ability. With his help I was finally able to stabilize everyone and put the group to sleep en masse with the help of drugged wine and broth.

Now, a little over a week later, everyone has shown (once again) their amazing ability to recover from the most dreadful of wounds. It is a shame though that I do not have better ability at mending wounds as they all bear many scars that a better-educated man could have prevented or at least made less noticeable. It makes them all look beyond their scant years and more than a little imposing to the eyes of strangers.

Since I last wrote we have picked up three new travelers; one just today! I know she will be traveling with us as her fate seems to be somehow tied to Master Reynaldo.

The first of the travelers we picked up is a Vodacce swordsman name Pierto. He has been with us several months by now. We rescued him from an enchanted sleep that a group of sprites and fairies had placed him in many years ago. It is incredible, but he has been asleep for many years, ever since early in the War of the Cross! He has turned out to be a very capable fighter and an amiable young man.

Shortly after our ill-fated landing in Eisen, we met Jenner. He is a worthy Avalonian fellow who is extremely proficient with the mighty longbow of his country. A woodsman, and hunter, he has kept us in fresh game since joining our band. He hasn't been extremely forthcoming with his past of yet, but has proven himself a capable warrior and good companion in a very short time. He treats me with a good deal of respect in spite of my station. In fact, all of the gentlemen heap a good deal of praise and respect upon me though I am but a humble servant doing my duty. I believe that many of them see me as a father figure since they are all so very young. This newfound respect and praise makes me feel very uncomfortable coming as it does from such great and worthy men!

The last person to join our group (as I have mentioned above) is a Vodacce lady of noble bearing. She is a fate witch! Though I have had my suspicions that I have met them in the past, I have never been absolutely sure. There can be no doubt this time, however, as she has made no effort to hide the fact and has in fact, announced it to a great degree. It seems that she has used her abilities to cross the Eisen wilderness in search of Reynaldo with only her wits and an imposing Eisen mercenary named Heinreich to protect her. Shortly after joining us, she sent Heinreich away and (as fate witches sometimes are said to do) began to stir the group up a bit.

She has just walked in the direction that the old crone was last seen after declaring (in no uncertain terms) that the crone's name is "Angelika" and that she must meet up with her. She could not be dissuaded from taking this course of action immediately though night is falling and the Eisen woods are very dangerous, night or day. Being the worthies they are, William, my master Valliere and the rest of the group are close on her heals. I know not what this business with the crone entails, but I know no good can come from it. Of this, I am sure.

Well journal, as I have once again been left behind at the village, I shall now have to begin preparing more bandages and see about replenishing my stock of herbs from the meager stores of the village. Something tells me that they will be well used…

As I close, I say a prayer for my wife and children in hopes that even now they sleep content and warm in their beds. I also fervently pray that it will not be much longer before I see them. Their faces are ever before me throughout the many, long days.

I, Laurent, have put this to pen, on this day, the –th of -------, 1669. May Theus have mercy on us, his faithful servants and grant us freedom from our travails.