My Dearest Ullr,

I was wrong to flee. It has only been months since I left you, my Serdtse, and already I find myself in trouble. Upon arriving in the human lands I had to make allies and I have chosen poorly. At first we seemed to be fugitives or refugees of a sort, except for one. He is a zealot and I fear that his passion for the Gods will expose us all. We have traveled together for a fortnight and now I am indebted to a demonic lord because of my companion’s misdeeds.

Before I begin to tell you my story; do not excite yourself at the prospect of this lord. We are not in need of a patron yet and I am wary of allying ourselves with a man such as this. Lofn will guide us and our minds will forge the path.

My companions are of a unique nature and I am reluctant to describe them to you. Too unique. Satisfy yourself for now with these descriptions, a cursed lover (not mine, I assure you!), a hyper-vigilant refugee, and the afore-mentioned zealot. Hereafter, Sampsa, Nyx, and… Bob. We had agreed to assist a merchant with a somewhat ordinary item of interest. This merchant and my group were traveling with a caravan with other merchants, professional soldiers, and mummers. It seemed easy enough and we agreed as the pay was more than any of us had seen in days.

Barely three days out of town we discovered a massacre of humans while scouting. Gruesome beasts flanked us during our trip back to the caravan. When I recall the skirmish it doesn’t seem so dangerous. Sampsa summoned a mist and used that to his advantage. Nyx and Bob danced around our opponents and deliver one light blow after another. I myself had to rely on valohjus and scrolls I had prepared in advance. The beasts were tenacious like the canines they resembled and we had to slay them all.

Yet that was not the end of our troubles! Those beasts were not affiliated with the demon lord. No, he was among the travelers. During the nights Bob would observe the lord slipping away to the forest line. Nyx followed him once through the woods and found him consulting a quasit. There was mention about “preparations” for an event days away. I admit that upon hearing this I volunteered knowledge about a city known for the worship of evil. Bob clung to this and it began to dominate his thoughts. We agreed that the caravan should be slowed in an attempt to hinder the lord’s progress.

The next day Sampsa and Nyx created a diversion similar to the massacre we encountered days ago. They succeeded quite well in frightening everyone; perhaps Sampsa’s tale of sacrifice was true. Unfortunately the talk unnerved Bob and accused the nobleman immediately of malice. My heart stopped! No one took Bob seriously yet they were angry and offended. After some discussion merchant, guards, and mummers alike agreed to halt for the night.

This time I followed the lord into the wood. A pat of me wonders, now, if the lord was aware of my presence yet did not care. The meeting was brief and uneventful. What Nyx and Bob discovered of the lord’s possessions was curious but not unusual. Just a lockbox, likely full of valuables. And somehow, despite all our activities that night, no one noticed the murdered guard.

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