[Royal Guard] UNTO VORFON LUCIUS VON STAHL, CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD

[Karras / Stu]

(A very neatly written letter on rag paper, folded and sealed with wax as en
envelope, is delivered to an Arms-Sergeant within the Royal Guardhouse.)

 

To Vorfon Appetire Lucius Von Stahl,

Captain of the Royal Southern Arangothian Guard.

 

Na vorfonim,

 

I humbly write this letter to you as a public servant to the crown and to the City of
Drache, a scribe and mathematician serving for our Royal Chancellery.  I happened to
arrive to a rather disturbing sight whilst I was travelling back from my eve's work.
Two guardsmen, one severely wounded, was being assisted by another back to the
guardhouse.  One of them identified himself as Arms-Corporal Merrax Ratholta.  The
other I was informed was an Arms-Lieutenant by the name of Serrolt.  Please forgive
any misspellings, I was only informed of the good Lieutenant's name once.  The
Lieutenant was wounded with a crossbow bolt to the chest, and your fellow
Arms-Corporal was wounded with severe lacerations to his arms and cuts to his face.

After following these guardsmen along the city street and assisting them in whichever
way I could (bearing in mind I am a short man and quite feeble of stature, I could
not assist them physically, but I was glad to offer them moral support), I followed
them into the guardhouse.   The good Lieutenant seemed in a bad way, and was not
capable of dictating a report to me whatsoever. The Arms-Corporal, however, after
finding my profession, asked if I would be able to notate his report, since he was
suffering from stress and was severely cut from his fight with what he described as,
and I quote, "some stupid bloody undead mongrel gnolls."  I felt humbled and honored
that a member of the esteemed Royal Guard of Drache would endow such a task upon
myself, which I took to with heart and dedication.  His report is as follows.  

Please also be advised that upon completion of this missive, the healers are happy to
report both guards are expected to make a full recovery.  Also, Arms-Corporal
Ratholta has requested a copy of this missive be sent to the Wharf Garrison
Commander.  Should you have any enquiries, a missive can be sent to my secretary at
the Chancellery office.

I remain a humble servant to His Grace. 

 

Me Enxenim, 

Sarpolta ul-Branth Oryan.

 

The report, as dictated by the Arms-Corporal:

 "I had arrived late after discussing recent illegal gnoll activities with the
Arms-Sergeant of the local Wharf Garrison.  After which I decided to head into the
Black Dragon Inn for a quick coffee.  Lieutenant Eedel Serolt (sic) was there, along
with myself.  We'd only just begun to talk to one another when some stupid gnoll
comes in and falls arse-over-tail on one of Dulcina's tables.  I thought it was just
some stupid drunk still celebrating from the recent festivities, however the L-T was
quick to point out that it was indeed a gnoll.

The Lieutenant approached the gnoll and asked him to remove the cowl on his head.
After not responding, I took the initiative at removed the cowl from the gnoll's
head.  He seemed ready to soil himself, given the fact that he was scared out of his
wits. The  L-T didn't take any chances though, and she asked him to put his hands
behind his back, then requested I shackled him.  After reassuring him we were just
taking precautions, the Leituenant gave him a good talking to, then seeing he wasn't
involved with the recent happenings at the Temple and on the city streets, had him
released and his shackles removed."

"I was ready to pack it in at this point and head home so I could get some bloody
sleep.  What do you know it, some farmer I think I've seen out of Trans' somewhere
(Transdarinia, perhaps?) runs on in and starts screaming his bloody head off.  Next
thing you know, those undead, stink-festering puss-piles of gnoll turd we've been
looking for decide to rock up at Dulcy's joint. One of them snaps off a crossbow
bolt.  Hits this poor sap of a farmer right in the neck.  Kills him dead.  The other
one who oh-so-conveniently has a crossbow too, snaps that one off.  That one hits L-T
square in the bloody chest.  So I nock up a swallowtail, and loose it off at one of
the bastards.  Think my bowstring must've got wet from the cold, as it missed his
chest by a long mile and landed in his hip.  So then this bloody gnoll charges me and
knocks me over.

Some skirt with a halberd. well.. I think it was a halberd.  I can't remember.  Well,
some skirt with this weapon starts fighting this other gnoll that's still up and
growling, while this other one's busy trying to make a chow-meal out of my face.  I
have to give credit to this other citizen, Jelani.  The gnoll we questioned.  He
stepped in and helped out, stuck the gnoll on top of me with a crossbow bolt.  There
was some mage there and that undead bloke that makes my skin crawl.. Tiverd or
whatever his name is.  He was helping too, although I don't know how exactly.  It's
hard to see anything when a 300 pound gnoll is trying to play potter with your nose."

"So, yeah.  Anyway.  I managed to dispatch the gnoll with one of my arrows, and help
from this other bloke, Jelani, and everyone else.  The other was dispatched by the
quick thinking of some of the patrons who were there.  Either that or it was the
arrow that I skewered his brain with using one of my broadheads.  Anyway, Serolt(sic)
fell early on.  I saw her charging the gnoll that pounced me, but I think she must've
succumb to her wound.  That bolt hit her pretty hard.  But the healers say she's
going to make it.

"Is that all?  My head's hurting and I'd like to bloody pass out now, if that's
okay."

 

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