Mela en’ coiamin,

My glorious wife, our friendly tracker demonstrated her abilities yet again, this time in finding a nearly two week old trail from the battle in which we righteously slayed the goblins outside of Horndean.  However, over the next couple of days as we followed, I believe she failed to note that the tracks were beginning to freshen, or at least failed to notify anyone when she detected such activity.  As a result, we came upon a group of orcs, some who must have been overseeing the goblin raiding activity.   We were somewhat more ready than the orcs we surprisingly encountered, since we were intent on tracking an enemy group roaming the territory.

I still believe that my companions can be taught some level of tactical behavior.  I despair to think what would happen if we were to ever encounter a disciplined force, as Azguld and Xyrius are too impulsive of actors to maintain a true battle line.  Xyrius is a good archer and I think it would be of benefit for her to stay next to Adelaide who is developing as a very good battle caster, although her type of magic and her inherent ability to cast and experience her spells as opposed to study like many of us is unusual, but growing in power.  I fear Azguld will never learn to hold a line and maintain the patience necessary to allow opposing forces to attack us while we maintain a disciplined front.  There is a time to charge and a time to wait.  Patience is not currently a virtue within our party, although it may be getting better.

We initially entered the clearing with some tactical cohesion, but we soon were outnumbered as the alarm was raised by the initial group we had discovered, and our ranks broke apart into individual battles.  The battle proved desperate for a few moments, but eventually we overcame what we later determined to be a scouting party, although Xyrius and Adelaide were both badly wounded before Eldan was able to provide healing.  The group included a couple of shamans of a tribe unknown to me, which is not surprising, but apparently orcs had not been seen in the vicinity for several decades.  I must take a moment to congratulate everyone, even in these private notes for removing over a dozen orcish dogs from the planet.  Removing any such piece of that horrific scourge of beings from the world will always be a bonus to any activities that we may pursue.

After Eldan had granted Pelor’s blessing and seen to everyone’s wounds, most of my compatriots scoured the bodies of any usable gear as well to see if they could find evidence of the orcish party’s origin. Given the possibility of ambush, and the need for Xyrius to rest momentarily from her wounds, I accompanied Adelaide to investigate what appeared to be an empty encampment nearby.  Through a relatively thin layer of young trees of varied type, we discovered another smaller clearing, although initially we struggled through an illusionary spell of some type, causing some discomfort to our efforts.

However, we discovered what can only be described as a command tent of some sort, although I would not have expected such an affair for the small group of orcs that we had slaughtered earlier.   It certainly provided a scented indication that the tent did indeed belong to orcs, a smell that can barely be described and I am grateful that you did not have to inhale its fetid bouquet of aromas.  Risking damage to our olfactory senses, we searched the tent high and low for any clues as to the presence of these foul creatures, or any items of note that would allow us to discover their intent.  

We discovered a map of this region of Axana, a much more intricately detailed map than what I would have normally expected to find within the grasp of these brutish creatures, although the skin on which it was carved was badly treated, and seemed relatively fresh if I may be allowed to put it delicately.  Although I probably should not mention it, as an aside, it was obvious that these creatures had been dining on sentient creatures that they had captured in their raids. But I digress from my review of the map.  After quick review and discussion with my companions, I was able to determine that we had essentially encountered a scouting party for an orcish incursion that was about to occur, or perhaps had already began.  A smaller arc of the incursion appeared to be headed for the homes of my friends, a route that would take them to the Hall of the Hill, if they had not arrived already.  A much larger wave, at least based on the scrawls upon the map, appeared headed towards a human city to the southwest known as Spiros, a location to which I have yet to travel in my journeys throughout Axana.  I admit I had not yet traveled in that location because I have heard that the rulers and citizens of Spiros appear to be even more inconsiderate of non-humans than the norm here within this accursed land.

We proceeded to gather up what gear and weapons could potentially be used by our dwarven companions to be remade to help defend their village.  At the last moment, we discovered a very well-made scimitar, not of course as nice as one made by any of our specialists at home, but very sleek and made by an obvious master of some sort.   I was asked to look at it to see if I could detect any magical properties, as well as there appeared to be elven script engraved upon the weapon.  That indeed appeared irregular, as I would not have expected to see such script on a non-elven weapon.  I can certainly acknowledge to you, my wife, that such types of magic have never been my specialty, even more so now that I have focused upon the road to perfection of the song of blades, but it was important and strange enough to give my utmost in the attempt.  Besides, if it was so unique, I do not understand why none of the orcish monsters we faced were wielding what was certainly the greatest weapon in all their possession.  However, after several minutes of study, I was unable to detect any magical aura within the scimitar, nor did applying the abilities of the fine new magical item Adelaide had given me after the defeat of the snake queen Valsanna, what I believe to be a gem of divination of some sort, grant me any additional information.   Lest I forget, the script on the weapon appeared to be a name, perhaps the original owner of the blade, Achusohr.  I have no certainty over that, but given that there does not appear to be any magical properties to the scimitar, I find it unlikely for it to be a name of some legendary weapon, for whom would name a regular blade, no matter how well-crafted?

None of my companions prefer to arm themselves with a scimitar, excepting the taciturn tracker and woodsman, Xyrius.  As such, we agreed that she should take the weapon, as it is of far better craftsmanship that her currently battered blade.  Hopefully it will serve her well.  I must close for now, as we are on the trek back to the Hall on the Hill to give warning, or we hope we will be in time to give such warning to prepare for the orcish attack.  We have traveled late into the night, and have agreed to camp in order to avoid running into such a massive outpouring of foul creatures without warning.   Of course, I must clear my mind, and prepare a few combat oriented spells, as I have learned a couple of new ones thanks to that atrocious requirement of chastisement from the mage Istram, in case an untoward attack should occur in the morning.  I also have second watch tonight, so I must take time prior to that as well to offer prayers to the Valar, in thanks for their assistance and guidance in search of the OioKalina and for a bountiful feast of orc hides in the upcoming future and safety for my new-found friends.  As always, I contemplate and envision your rich music as accompanying my prayers, as we have sent our combined offerings to them so many nights and mornings in the past.  

I miss you dearly and cannot wait for this quest to successfully conclude and allow me to return home to you.

Vanimle sila tiri ar lissenen ar’ maska’lalaith tenna’ lye omentuva —–Elyrienne