5 Highsun Day one of my new life as an adventurer, landing in the town of Hope after much travel via land and sea. I met my comrades for this mission we'd received, to clear iron mines and make them safe again for the miners. Spiders, apparently. Surely they would not be too much trouble. I looked around my group, and saw most were skilled with weapons, but little magic to speak of. Back home, we had many more warlocks than what I had seen, so to have little magic with us was strange. We set out, following my lead as we went north-north-west, into the marshes. Travel was slow but steady. We encountered a strange menhir with some kind of puzzle. Teres, the most cunning of us, seemed interested in it. Before we could reach finality with the riddle it posed, Bullywugs set upon us. Likely hunters, but their reason for being there meant nothing while they intended us harm, and we dispatched them. That night, I spoke with Cathal, and we shared stories of our homes. He does not like it here, but home was worse to him. It is sad, to know that he couldn't find comfort in his own place of birth, and I reached out to him. I want us to be a team, a herd, like the Labyrinth. 6 Highsun The sun betrayed me, as did my senses, and I lead us off our path. I tried not to let it trouble me, reminding myself of our task, and that these were new lands. I hope my fellows do not think less of me for this mistake. Uklah and Alexandria both informed me when we reached familiar ground; an abandoned fishing village set up in the trees, now their graves to carrion feeders. I trusted their word of the dangers here, and we pushed on without delay toward the mines. We came to rest at the site of a great death, of a being vaster than any I had ever seen. Its armaments were taller than buildings, its helmet large enough to house a family. Upon searching the area, I found this to be truer than I would have liked, as my probing disturbed a family of spiders. Despite their efforts, we held them back, even when a goliath of their kind turned up to have its meal. The night passed, much like the one before, without incident. I am glad to have met others who I can trust with my safety, to come to my side when I need aid. 7 Highsun I have failed. We reached the mines early, entering the grounds and before we could even touch the cart rails we were set upon. Spiders, from all sides, tall enough to reach my knees. We fought, back to back, holding them off as best we could, but Cathal... One slipped past our notice, and before any of us could do anything, he was gone. We won the day, but at the loss of one of our own for six of theirs. I buried him. The others disagreed initially, but I would not have his corpse go far from his place of death in case his spirit lost its way, nor would I allow wild beasts to feast upon him. I have failed.
