Hmm…appears I didn’t have enough scotch-y last night. Waking up early is not amusing. And waking up alone and early is really not fun. Guess I’ll channel Kobe and poke around in everyone’s stuff while they are sleeping.

Okay, greased Guss’ shield just enough to annoy him, put some itching salts into Kobe’s wineskin, and engraved “I’m luv green dragons” on the inside of Durkon’s helmet – too bad he sleeps in it and will never see it. On to Poe – what’s this? A book? No wait, it’s a journal – amazing, I didn’t even think he could read, let alone write. Let’s see – looks like he’s got the basics of our troupe down in here, although he appears to be woefully short on items about my magnificence. Perhaps that’s due to his being in the front line too much – he can’t see the mountainous magical energies I channel and seems to focus a little too much on insignificant things like what Guss is doing or Kloister’s latest tirade. Well, I can fix that, I’ll just add in our latest exploits from the proper point of view.

New page in Poe’s Journal:

“It is clear that our leader Ron has a great destiny. He has led us to the desert and right up to a line of demarcation that the orc patrols avoid. There appears to be a large burnt-out shell of an insect of some kind – big enough to hide in and ambush us, so Ron bravely took the lead to investigate the carcass. I’m very fortunate to be a part of his entourage, I know that these are the heroes of prophecy and he will be the one to lead them to a glorious future. Ron has returned and seems unconcerned over whatever weapon may have killed this creature and is leading us onward to the desert city to find out the best use of the star metal.

We arrived at the city late in the day and Ron led the way to a local watering hole to gather information and find out more about the ancient city. He figured (correctly as it seems in retrospect) that we’re going to be here for a while and purchased a room for a month’s stay. Our other team members seem less wise and are paying by the day and paying much more, especially Durkon with his flamboyant displays of, well flamboyance and not worshipping the sun god, which appears to be a harsh crime in this town. I will have to pray in quiet to the Raven Queen or risk the wrath of the leaders of this town, which frightens me. Ron seems to have no such fear and claims to be going straight to the temple in the center of town on the morrow to investigate what is going on here. I wish I were half as brave as he is – I need at least 4 drinks to get anywhere near that level of bravery.

Ron returned from the temple and stated that he had garnered enough information to know that there was a gathering of tribes coming soon and that there would be several games, trading opportunities and guides would likely be available. It is good that he is so wise and can help us enjoy the time in-between adventures – truly a leader both in war and peace. The rest of the week passed rather uneventfully except for Guss trouncing a few guards here and there in practice contests. Ron disapproves of this, as he doesn’t like tipping our hand to others and prefers to let them think he is a buffoon and not a powerful wizard – a great tactic indeed.

The gathering of tribes has started. Ron has remarkably found a way to get into a contest with one of the leaders of the tribes, and it’s a tribe that literally is dripping with magic according to him, which makes them the best bet to know where the ancient city is. After the contest, which featured Ron allowing this tribal leader to gain honor by besting Ron with sticks, Ron not only made friends with them, but took a concubine from their tribe and began the year-long ritual to join them. And all it cost was Kobe, which seems a small price to pay to be rid of that star metal thief. How is it that Ron always knows the right thing to say and do to further our cause and gain allies for the First Burgundyian Empire? Truly he has the gift of foresight. And it appears other gifts as well, for many nights this week I have heard his new concubine crying out in delight – these walls are very thin in this inn.

The next challenge involved Durkon chasing and choking a chicken, which he seemed to take far too much enjoyment in the title of the challenge. At least he did figure out how to get the chicken before his competitor. It appears Ron must have given him some advice, for Ron bet heavily on Durkon and cleaned up. The last challenge of this gathering involved Kloister riding some sort of camel creature and trying to shoot arrows at targets. Ron correctly deduced that Kloister would be trounced and bet heavily against Kloister, and cleaned up again, making more than enough to cover his stay in this little city in the desert.

As the gathering dissolved, Ron’s new tribe offered guidance to the ancient city and even allowed us to take Kobe with, despite their growing fondness for him as a pet. Ron begrudgingly agreed to take Kobe, playing the part well making it look like it was a real chore to take Kobe, so that the tribe would think they were getting the better part of the deal in getting rid of him. Ron also traded back his concubine (which is good for her, I think she could have possibly died of ecstasy had she stayed with him much longer) so that we would be unfettered going into the ancient city. We now stand at the edge of a strange portal that looks to journey not only into a different city, but possibly a different time according to Ron. I feel a tingling of fear but it is quickly replaced by determination for with Ron leading us, I know nothing can go wrong.”

There, that should do it – now, onto Sunny’s cloth armor. With just a little snip here and there, it won’t even look like anything’s wrong, but when she stretches, her top should tear and fall right off. Just have to make sure I’ve got a good view for when that happens…