My Friend,

I am once again moving forward with our tasks. This gladdens my heart as it brings me closer to completion of this long and arduous duty. On the other hand, there is much to be discussed when I return. This task was not meant to take so long, so many obstacles have been raised in my path that I fear our operation has been infiltrated. I will speak on this matter with the elders when next I meet with them. These soldiers need better training with more emphasis on consequences and decision making. We must teach them to look to the future with more certainty and confidence, yet they need the know how so it’s not the bluster, rhetoric and outright lying I’ve been encountering recently. If all the forces are to be combined, there is much that needs addressing before harmony will be reached.

I confess to being somewhat out of sorts, so I will move on to another matter that is troubling me. You know I have little fear of the wildlife, and have no concern for demons and the like, yet the monsters roaming the land now make my blood run cold, certainly colder than it usually does. I cannot see how they have entered, nor by what means might we end them. For all my concerns, the complacency of the inhabitants of parts of these lands chills me. They hunt and gather within arms reach of these unnatural monsters, without caring that soon the lands themselves will be overrun, bringing death to everyone in their path. It seems these creatures have been here long enough for the inhabitants to think of them as part of their everyday landscape. It makes me tremble to think of the consequences of such apathy from the ordinary people of the land.

I can feel the rumbling anger of the spirits at the pillaging of their lands and their people. The wind blows strong, but cannot clear the air of drifting ash, nor of the stench of the dead, all too often left lying where they fell. There is no joy here. We must be successful, the other option is too hard to bear. Travellers are fewer now, no wonder Darkmuzzle was so unrelenting in his quest to gain my assistance with his delivery. The dolyak is co-operative, it is well trained and needs little guidance. Nor does it fear the beasts I have tamed, unlike many human trained dolyaks.

We are about to cross the dragon scourged mountains, it’s been some time since I’ve been here. My focus was more on the Frostgorge incursion. Our expedition moves much more slowly than I am comfortable with. We cannot hide in the shadows as I am used to doing. Perhaps I allowed my need to defeat our enemies to unduly inflate the potential value of these incendiary devices!

Well, the pathway through to the Fort is well maintained by the Charr Sentinels, so the trip was without incident other than a few stray bats. Those creatures seem to thrive in these conditions. I admit it was good to see Faithcrusher and Faithspotter again. I arrived at Fort Kinar moments before an attack by the brand. Darkmuzzle knew immediately what I had brought with me, and quickly led the dolyak into a storage room for protection. Before we ran back to the battle, he handed me a few of his incendiary devices to use against the enemy. His throaty chuckle almost drowned the suggestion they’d be more effective than my arrows. It was the opportunity I had hoped for to test them and they have proved their worth.

After the battle, we returned to the storage room and the dolyak, while the rest of the crew cleared the after effects. We talked of our plans for the future and came to some agreements. I find these Charr most agreeable to the idea of combining forces for the greater good. They are well trained and well prepared. They showed me a variety of devices they have created from junk gathered from the nearby skritt clusters. They raid the skritt, use their junk to make weapons, the skritt gather the junk lying around after battles and the cycle goes on. Quite ingenious really.

I’ll leave the organisation of future consignments to you. During our conversation, it became clear a communique would be needed to be carried to a contact in The Fields of Ruin. Given the nature of the business it related to, I felt it my duty to offer my services. This time I will not be burdened by any company. We shared a meal, news of the war and a few tall stories, before I set out. Mindful of their meagre supplies, I shared what I could spare with them in exchange for their hospitality.

Their company lightened my spirit and I now feel more optimistic. There is more than one wolf pack hunting the same prey. A new found friend loaned me a spare protective suit to aid me in the crossing. I’m not sure how useful it will be, but I trust his word, he’s more experienced out here than I am. He got it from an Order of Whispers agent on one of their excursions northward to the border. I hope not to need it, but as it’s compact and fits into my pack, I’ll take it. These Charr acquire the strangest things, they’re like the Asura, always tinkering with something … when they’re not fighting or eating! Still, I decided to travel by night, the shadows are more friendly than the stark light cast across this crystaline dragon-cursed land. I’ll keep the suit for something more challenging. Before I left, they made me try the suit on to be sure it would fit my physique. They fell around laughing, so I asked Darkmuzzle to use that Asuran picture box to take an image of me in it. It’s really quite magical, no one would recognise me! After much laughter, the suit was packed away for later use but the fun will be remembered I’m sure. I left them a little after moonrise. I think we were good for each others’ spirits.

As luck would have it, I arrived at Steeleye Span in time to help drive back more branded invaders. They had the situation under control in minutes, and I went on my way. To save wasted time backtracking, I decided to use the suit and run the gamut of branded all the way through the centre of the expanse to Blightwater Basin. The suit is an impressive piece of workmanship. I expected it to be cumbersome and quite unwieldy, yet it was not. Of course, my weapons and pack were enclosed by the exoskeleton, so I could not kill any creatures attacking me. The suit did however protect me from harm and I traversed that blighted land without much more than a scratch. The visor also provided protection from the harshness of the crystalline charged light. We must investigate these suits further.

It was with relief that I crossed the mountains into The Fields of Ruin. I remained in the suit as it hastened my steps even more than my own marching speed, and before sunset, I arrived at the outskirts of Ebonhawke Stronghold. Making sure I was out of sight of travellers, I removed the suit and packed it away. For such an effective barrier, it folds down so small it must be enchanted. Little Fawn was quite relieved when I removed the suit, she had kept her distance not knowing what was going on. She was immediately by my side again as we walked into the Stronghold. I shall find lodgings for the night and a trusted messenger to deliver this to you. I shall continue my quests on the morrow. Should you need to respond, I shall remain here for three days and nights. There are crafters here from whom I shall need to purchase new boots and other things if I am to continue.

I have enclosed the image from the Asuran picture box of me in my special suit. Stay well, dear friend, my journey continues still.
Until my return,
Mykkra of the Wild Lodge