Again, I must be brief as we are on the trail again after a very short and strange visit to Saker’s Keep and its city.  I can honestly say that I am completely at a loss for words, although I will attempt to convey the level of depravity and horror within these lands, as quickly and succinctly as possible, given that I must turn in shortly before having watch in the morning while the others rest.

Upon our arrival at the city gates of Saker’s Keep, we were met with the standard ethnocentrism of this land.  I think the most surprising event of our entry to the community was not that, which I have certainly come to expect when I neglect to hide my ears behind my hair, but the honest outrage Miss Adelaide responded with.  She is truly offended by those who do not accept non-humans and she does not truly understand how rare her treatment of others is within Axana.  It is hard for me to accept that there are exceptions to the rule of offensive humanity, but Adelaide and what little I know of her sister Evie are two of those exceptions.

Alas, I digress.  We entered the city, and traveled to the market in search of Master Wirt.  We found some suspicious persons and conversations led us to the inn in which he supposedly stayed.   I remained outside, as I felt we were too conspicuous, and I did cover my ears to some degree, and decided to keep watch. I am not really sure what happened inside the inn, but the watch was called, and my compatriots fled quickly out of the inn.    I was certainly caught by surprise.  After the disturbance passed, caused of course by some action of my colleagues, who had fled on chariot and horse towards the gate, I slowly mounted and rode sedately through the community.  I barely made it before the gates closed as the city watch barred the city, but make it with a last second dash I did.

What I discovered when I re-joined was horrific.  Azguld, in a fit of impetuous anger had clobbered the innkeeper, knocking him unconscious, and stuffing him in a sack.  No wonder the guard was called, but worse, the crazed half-blood and also taken his extremely pregnant and young daughter captive as well.  I fully expected her to begin birthing activities immediately due to the surprise, fear and stress.  But what I soon learned surmounted any indication of horror at these activities.

Master Wirt had indeed come to foul ends.  It turns out he discovered an atrocity of unbearable means, one it pains me even to write about.  Apparently this whole community is in the thrall of some magical snake being – they call her the Snake Queen.  They are required to sacrifice their infant daughters!  Children on a repetitive basis, even if not all of them since women were required for the procreation, but this had been going on for years!  Master Wirt found out, and the city guard had shipped him to this abominable creature.  I realize I know nothing of the depravity of humans in their willingness to suffer the sacrifice in this continuous grotesque act, time after time.  I felt that the group would act, even if to try to save their friend, but it mattered not.  Even as they were talking and giving their captives orders, I mounted my horse, and began to ride in the direction the human dogs had indicated.

Thankfully, my companions quickly caught up, outraged as much as I.    We must be near, even the most obtuse could follow this trail, as no one attempted to hide it and it had seen much traffic.  I suppose I can forgive the craziness of the others.  The horror of this situation is nearly overwhelming.  Children…..daughters.  I know none of the people would ever bow to such a demand, or would die trying to end it, but even so, I can only think of both of you as the victims…..how can it not drive me to act, regardless of its pertinence to my goals here.  Pure evil such as this must be stopped, regardless of any other fate.

I believe we will find this creature tomorrow……I leave you in peace, and thankful that you have never been nor ever will be in this cesspool of a land.

Cormamin niuve tenna’ ta elea lle au’ —–Elyrienne