After getting settled back here in Tristen we all met at Gregor's
home for dinner and to discuss the protection of his investment and
the last remaining alchemist's shop. We were offered 15cp per day
for 6 weeks to keep watch over the shop. After a bit of delay we
reluctantly accepted the job. I think most of us would rather be
off in another quest or adventure of sorts. It seems that's the
best way to come across the real loot.

After dinner we divided ourselves into three separate groups, the
majority being on the night watch. I signed up for the swing shift
so I could do some investigating during the day and stay into the
night watch should I choose to do so and still manage to get some
sleep before my next shift.

The next morning I was awakened by a very tired Schmendrick and
Oskar telling me there was another fire in a warehouse and there
were two charred bodies. There was also a black ball of some sort
that was determined to have been used to start the fires. It was
also reported that a man in a green cloak similar to Lyman's, the
alchemist whose shop we were watching over, running from the scene
of the crime.

We then went down to the courthouse to investigate and to see if my
green cap would have any effect on the dead bodies to heal them in
order to get a better identification. However, their identities had
already been discovered. We asked as many pertinent questions as we
thought necessary and then went to see the head of the alchemy guild
here in town. He seemed to be the main target of these fires.

He didn't seem to be a whole lot of help so we decided to follow
another lead we had received about a merchant from Phoenix who sold
the alchemical balls to the arsonist. We were told that we missed
the caravan but it would return in two weeks. We did, however, come
across a very nice pot salesman and purchased a few "unique" pots.

After following as many leads as possible and coming up with some
information that suggested Lyman may be involved I showed
Schmendrick back to my place where I told him he could stay so he
didn't have to pay for a room at the Merchant's Last.

I spent the rest of my shift watching over the building and retired
for the night at about 2:30 am.

After meeting with the suspicious man we asked Schmendrick about
him. He said he didn't remember who he was or what the organization
was but couldn't imagine that he would ever be involved with
anything seedy. Being a pretty good judge of character I would have
to agree with him.

So we decided to go on this mission and hopefully it would also shed
some light on the past two years that Schendrick can't remember.
Not really knowing where we were going Griswold hired a trapper to
guide us through the forest even though I'm pretty sure we could
have found it ourselves being the skilled group we are.

Eventually we came across a bunch of dead forest pigmies and an
injured man. I immediately healed him with my cap but then he tried
to trick me or something because he said he couldn't take it off. I
told him he owed me $60,000.00 if he wanted to keep it and he
quickly took it off. He told us he was also sent to find the
outpost. This must have been the one we were looking for. In the
meantime Oskar pulled me aside and told me that there was something
wierd about the skull cap and he wouldn't recommend using it. He
said something about everyone who puts it on seems to have 2 souls
inside them or something like that.

He led us to the location of the outpost and we crept in close. Pip
went in through a window but quickly came screaming out. The rest
of us immediately went inside to combat the foes. There were
skeletons everywhere and one mage. I made my best effort to get to
the mage and took a few blows from the skeletons in the process.
Feeling a bit fatigued I quickly put on the skull cap and felt my
wounds quickly close. I attacked the mage but my sword went right
through him. That is some kind of trickery. I chased him out the
door and began to fight off the skeletons from off of Schmendricks
back.

After quickly taking them down I rushed outside to Mort's aid where
he was also being attacked. With one fatal blow I took out the
attacker. It sure is a good thing there's a hero such as me around
to save the world from beasts like these.

After defeating our foes we began to search the place for clues. We
found a secret room through some sort of portal and were able to use
a magical sphere to find the location of the people we were looking
for. We began to pack up our things immediately to chase them down.

My aspirations of becoming a hero have finally come to pass.
Although missing the majority of the latest battle I am confident
that had I not shown up when I did my companions would have faced
their doom as they were rapidly being overtaken by the enemy. If
only I would have been there sooner they may not have been hurt at
all. Luckily I awoke in time to come to their rescue.

I'm still a bit uncertain as to what happened. The last thing I
remember is tripping and falling amidst the chaos. I must have hit
my head and been knocked out. My clumsiness is becoming a bit
unsettling. It almost caused my friends their lives. I'm going to
have to start working on that.

After clearing the room we began gathering anything of value.
Hugh's sword, obviously magical, began to heat up to the point it
was glowing red. Not wanting to lose out on a valuable magical item
I put Hugh's gauntlets on and grabbed the sword. Just as I
suspected the sword immediately began to cool. I put the sword in
its scabbard and strapped it to my hip. I immediately received the
tauntings of my companions for pulling a Chivalry. I'm not so sure
that Chivalry's sword was the problem. I think Chiv was a maniacal
freak.

After putting on the gauntlets I couldn't help but feel the strength
rush through my body. The physical strength was one thing but I
also got a sense added emotional and mental strength, everything I
would need to become more than a hero. I somehow feel that I am now
destined to become legend.

My heroism has always been known to myself. It's something I have
always felt inside me. But the events that follow will prove to the
entire town that my heroism is indeed a reality.

Upon arriving in town we were approached by the guards and
discovered that the Thurston twins were abducted, Lori was found
dead and Melanie was still missing. And to top it off, Mort was the
accused villain. I was immediately infuriated. Justice must be
served. The local guard had been twiddling their thumbs for 3 days
and had found absolutely nothing. I immediately went to the
Thurston home along with Vance. One of the local guardsmen informed
us they were at the Merchant's Last. We approached the family who
was rightfully in tears I vowed that I would find their daughter and
return her safely home.

We went down to the local guard station and discovered that one of
the two witnesses was Slaine, the little punk, and there was some
confusion as to who the other witness was. I didn't have time to
wait around for the local guard to get their crap together so we
took off and went looking for Slaine. One guy in particular seemed
to know something but he was being rather difficult. But with a
little persuasion (right in his chest) I was able to find that
Slaine had left town.

We went back to the inn to report our findings to the others when
Mort walked in saying that he found some tracks at the crime scene
and needed Vance's help. We went out to the woods and followed the
tracks to a cave. The comment was made that we should head back to
get help but I wasn't about to leave anything to chance. We could
save Melanie right here and now and that's exactly what I intended
to do. We sent Vance went in to scout things out and shortly
thereafter called out to us. We rushed in to find an unclothed,
(not unusual) and badly beaten and frightened (very unusual)
Melanie. She screamed at the sight of Mort (who wouldn't).

I wrapped her up in a cloak and rushed her back to town. Mort and
Vance waited in the woods for the criminals' return. After
delivering the poor frightened girl to her family I rushed back to
the woods. I called out to my companions that Mort and Vance may be
in trouble as I rushed out the door. As we arrived back at the cave
we found that Mort and Vance had already taken down the criminals.
It was all I could do to restrain myself from executing justice
right then and there. Something inside me called out for justice
time and time again but in the end I decided it best to refrain.

Mort's name was cleared as it should be. Mort is a lot of things
but a criminal, especially as vile as these cretins, is not one of
them.

As we arrived back in town cheers erupted from the streets and my
calling in life is swiftly coming to realization. It won't be long
before my name is revered throughout all the land.