(Out of character: To set the mood, feel free to put this music on in the background as you read. Or not. Totally up to you!)

The members of T.I.P. sit complacently around the fire. I have situated myself just beyond its eerie glow, leaned up against a tree trunk, its rough texture biting into my shoulders. I have been positioned here since I left our mismatched band to finish our commission. I fled to disguise my state of mind and I did not desire them to witness any trembling in my hands or break in my composure. Nevertheless, I am ahead of myself. I shall first recount how the day began.

I awoke in Theringrad feeling the need to purchase some crucial supplies for my spellcasting. I was intensely appalled to discover I did not carry enough coin to purchase even a pouch for my spell materials and was run out of the shop like a beggar! Those loutish merchants! However, my foul mood was soon turned by the appearance of an enigmatic Minotaur who introduced himself as Iskandar. He spoke vaguely of a commission and invited us to watch his illusions at the Fox & Crane to further discuss these matters. Our propaganda has finally proven itself fruitful!

I set forth, with Ildan shadowing me, to hunt for Dorian. He was discovered talking with some seedy wizard. I attempted to speak to him about our turn of luck, yet he chose to continue discussing his deal with the wizard and I left feeling very irked by his stubbornness. I found Carnation, Jean and Vani performing some gaudy display in the streets and collected them. I cannot imagine that they acquired any coin from these frivolous pursuits. 

At the Fox & Crane, I admit the show was quite wondrous. Even Vani was enthralled and her energy contained as she sat staring wide-eyed at the illusionist. Ren appeared as well and was likewise engaged by the performance. One can only guess at how and where she amused herself for the day. Once Iskandar was done, he approached our band. His proposal to collect those relics, the once-deadly magic mines, peaked all of our interests once he mentioned the payment. I am no fool. I knew that the amount was to offset some unspoken danger yet I thought we were capable enough to handle it…

As we followed a winding path North, through a dense and darkly comforting forest, I kicked at the odd feather that passed my feet (damn that bird!) and witnessed Ren get more and more unnerved. Whatever troubles her is her own business. Yet, the others do not share my sentiment and launched into making themselves nuisances. Vani jumped on Ren's shoulders and began braiding feathers into her hair and Dorian kept asking prying questions that seemed to further distress her. All of this was ended when Carnation swept down to talk to our navigator Jean. The bird grabbed hold of Jean and they vanished back up into the trees, for some reason they did not share. A couple Rangers approached us, troubled about some personal problem. I was not bothered with this distraction and pushed past towards our goal.

We made camp and Jean made us some surprisingly palatable food to sustain us. I tranced for some time and when I Ret’Urned Vani was inches from my face staring at me. Her face brightened and she asked to sing some morning songs to me. I muttered something about needing to return to my trance and escaped the awkward torture that only a lively Halfling could inflict. That morning, we should have heeded Ren’s notice of thunder approaching us in the night, yet no rain fall. It was a warning we all missed.

Soon, we advanced on the site of the relics. An ill-fated place if I ever saw one. The blasted ruins of the village were a dark omen of the power that lay here. Our eyes were all affixed as we took in this sight; that can be the only reason why we missed Vani, curious as a child, approach and pick up one of these ornate mines. At the time, I believed some divine intervention from Nurzhan that it did not detonate upon her. Seeing her unharmed, she was told to fetch more of these for our patron. Dorian and I set about to arguing on how to best earn money from these items; he made a good point about getting money up front on our next job. Jean cut us off from our bickering and relayed that something felt off. Horrified, we watched as the water took a perverse shape and bit into Carnation, who was collecting the magic mines with her feet.

Without a second thought, I advanced and attempted to blast this unholy creation with a beam of purple light and flame. I suddenly found myself knocked over by a new creature, this one made of the very mist itself. Ildan came down upon the mist creature and destroyed it with one brutal slash from his sword. As I got up with Ildan’s help, I witnessed Jean rend the water creature to pieces with her deadly vines. A third creature, made from stone, was advancing upon Dorian but Ren obliterated it into sharp fragments that rained down upon Dorian. I was somewhat amused to see Keene appearing a bit miffed that his clothes were covered in rubble. That is the last thing I recall, his frowning face.

I have been told that I rushed in to stabilize Carnation, knocked unconscious and crumpled on the ground. As I lay my hands on her, a new beast appeared, more deadly and larger than the others, a mass of elemental power. It knocked my body into the ground with one pitiless blow. I have also been told that Vani and Dorian took the creature down. This hurts my pride the most, knowing that those I considered the weakest of our band were the most triumphant during this fight. I should learn not to underestimate the usefulness of any member the T.I.P.

Unconscious, I was magically healed by Jean. I made an excuse and immediately left as the others continued to collect the rest of the cursed objects.

It is now late. Sitting outside the glow of the fire, I gaze upon my companions. Ren is pensive as she gazes up at the smoke trailing into the night sky. Dorian flashes wary looks at the bag of magic mines; as if fearful they will explode or perhaps disappear (and with them our profits). Carnation is subdued after being healed and is quietly preening her feathers. Vani is unusually somber and is singing some delicate song with melancholy undertones. Jean is inscrutable as always yet I currently cannot look her in the eyes. I feel uncomfortably indebted to her for using her magic to save me. As for Ildan, he is gravely staring at me, a promise for stern words later.

I sit here, watching my companions, and feel my composure strengthen in the darkness. I will be more cautious during the next fight. No cracks or weaknesses will be spied upon my being. Yet, I will still fight. I will survive. I will become powerful. This I promise to myself, to Ildan, to the T.I.P. and to our foes.

Narcel'Uss Tanorthal