D&D

Third-day, Second Ride of Flamerule, Year of Wild Magic
Commander:

The group that I set out with has become side-tracked. Rather than seeking the Mace of Tyr with the appropriate single-minded focus, they have allowed themselves to be swayed by promises of a reward for some trinket that seems important to the citizens of Mirabar. I return to you with all swiftness in order to focus on the needs of Longsaddle's people.

Yours in Tyr,
Han

This mace thing is taking longer than anticipated. I didn't even sign up for this. I thought the wedding was going to be a weekend gig. Now I'm stuck with a group of adventurers who can't even keep a journal properly much less quest with any sort of efficiency.

To sum up last week, Han and Harcritt, who I guess aren't any good at sleeping even, crept off into the night while we were at Triboar. Han must've had a hunch that there was some kind of bureaucratic information that needed to be had. He was smart enough to take Harcritt along since Harcritt's too proud to take his armor off even on a reconnaissance mission. He may as well have been wearing bells. After Harcritt was captured, Han was simply too honest to follow through with what could have been a beautiful double-cross (for the greater good). I heard that Harcritt's attempt to talk his way out the arrest was most humorous considering the guy has the charisma of a wooden wall.

The next morning we got all the information we needed. The authorities were VERY understanding. I'll have to make a note of the lax system of law enforcement in this town if I ever turn to a life of crime. Apparently the punishment for mass murdering the entire town is four hours in the mobile stocks.

We headed up north, backtracking through Longsaddle where Han had some paperwork to turn in. That little guy is so obsessed with paperwork. Oh yeah, and we left that dark kid Sol back in Triboar. Everyone else was like, oh he'll be fine, he's just hangin' out in that temple. I consider myself pretty religious, but after three hours I'm outta there. Hopefully one of us left a note where we were going. Maybe he'll be in the temple still when we come back in a month or so.

BANDITS!... AGAIN! We decided to avoid the fight, which I don't mind since I pride myself on hiding. Unfortunately, during the "hide skirmish" I bumped into Harcritt and all his bells. The robbers, there were four of them, spotted the two of us. Ever since his arrest, Harcritt has been strangely silent (perhaps he had a weird prison experience), so I had to do the talking. This may sound like a total cliche, but I'd much rather just be one with nature than to talk to people. We probably could have attacked them, but it would have been risky. All of the rest of the party were in good hiding places, but if they didn't come to help in time, it would have been difficult for the two of us to handle four of them. I decided to play a little crazy.

They began the conversation by letting us know there was a toll for passing this area of the land. Rather than thanking them for their time and saying we'd just find a non-toll expanse of land, I told them I'd be willing to pay five gold pieces. They were surprised by my audacity in naming my robbery price and conferred. Fortunately for us, we were able to hear that the bandits we slaughtered on the other road have reached this group's ears. The other crew were "work-peers" of this group. Nervous for their lives they asked how many were in our party. I replied that there was only one of us, which must've been insulting and scary to the gentlemen. I also said I knew their compatriots well before their heads came off. They gladly took the five gold and scuttled off.

Han and I decided it would be a good idea to follow them despite some grumblings from others. Shortly into the stalking, Clarence the kobold made a ruckus and now he and Lissah were spotted by the bandits. Lissah demanded that they give her five gold pieces back which further contributed to their condition of reverse split-personality.

I'm glad Longsaddle was a short stay. These cities make me nervous. Whilst there I came across some noteworthy tavern info. 1) Taliend, Lissah's bard master is heading to Mirabar with the groom from the wedding and his mother (the Westras), 2) Abbott Fostrik, the priest who was supposed to perform the ceremony never returned from his monastery. Hmmm. Well, next stop Mirabar!

On the way there I dazzled the party with my extensive florae and faunae knowledge. One thing we were able to observe is a species of mushroom that only eats other mushrooms! Fascinating.

Wow. This is a good idea, IMO. There are five alignment options in 4th edition, and only these 5:

Good:
Protecting the weak from those who would dominate or kill them is just the right thing to do.
You can follow rules and respect authority, but you're keenly aware that power tends to corrupt those who wield it, too often leading them to exploit their power for selfish or evil ends. When that happens, you feel no obligation to follow the law blindly.

Lawful Good:
An ordered society protects us from evil.
When leaders exploit their authority for personal gain, when laws grant privileged status to some citizens and reduce others to slavery or untouchable status, law has given in to evil and just authority becomes tyranny. You are not only capable of challenging such injustice, but morally bound to do so. However, you would prefer to work within the system to right such problems rather than resorting to more rebellious and lawless methods.

Evil:
It is my right to claim what others possess.
Evil characters use rules and order to maximize personal gain. They don't care whether laws hurt other people. They support institutional structures that give them power, even if that power comes at the expense of others' freedom. Slavery and rigid caste structures are not only acceptable but desirable to evil characters, as long as they are in a position to benefit from them.

Chaotic Evil:
I don't care what I have to do to get what I want.
Their word is meaningless and their actions destructive. Their worldviews can be so warped that they destroy anything and anyone that doesn't directly contribute to their interests.

Unaligned:
Just let me go about my business.
You support law and order when doing so benefits you. You value your own freedom, without worrying too much about protecting the freedom of others.

Ninth-day, First Ride of Flamerule, Year of Wild Magic
Commander:

I have arrived in Triboar with the band of adventurers Lord Blackburn sent after those who disturbed the wedding and stole the mace of Tyr.

Following some leads in Longsaddle led me to suspect the (former) Lady Regent of Triboar, and so we set out on the road. Our first night on the road, we were ambushed by bandits - they seemed rather well organized and equipped for regular bandits, you might want to consider sending out a small party of watchmen to see if any traces of who they might have been can be found. I marked the place where the struggle took place with the standard evidence runes, just off the side of the road.

Upon our arrival in Triboar, we discovered that the Lady Regent had been deposed, and the son of the former Lord had been placed back on the throne. The rumor is that there we demons involved, and there's a strong suggestion that magician we seek may have been connected to the former Lady Regent, perhaps even her lover. We are now waiting at the local inn for permission to meet the Lord Regent to see what further information and aid he can provide as we continue to seek these troublemakers.

Finding myself in the company of the most capable and brave group of adventurers I have ever met, I am returning enclosed the remainder of my investigatory stipend, as well as a letter requesting temporary leave of duties from the force. While I fully intend to continue to send updates and to complete the mission I have been assigned, I think I would prefer to do it as an independent agent, and a member of this traveling band of adventurers. Assuming neither they nor you have no objections to this, I plan to formally resign my post with the city watch upon our triumphal return.

Yours in Tyr,
Han

Are you actually going to do a write-up this time? Because, if not, I'm going to do it. Your sister suggested I give you a deadline, so here it is:
When I get back from O-ville on Sunday, if there's not a post, you shall be scooped. Get 'ir done.