Week 1
Our team has spent several days in the mountains north of Fort Jyassik
looking for signs of ore or even gemstones and a site for the first mine.
We followed the river north and we haven't run into any of the filthy orcs
nor the smaller goblins yet.
We resupplied at Jyassik, though it still isn't more then a few buildings.
We saw signs that a general store was under way and the smithy was
well stocked with tools and even a few weapons ready to be sold.
I also bought a barrel of strong apple wine from that Little Apples fellow.
He said he would be distilling fine brandy by the time we got back from
this foray in three weeks, by then we hope to have found at least two
sites near enough to the river that we can use it to send ore back down
to Jyassik rather then having to carve a route overland.
I have eight mercenaries with us, two geologists, and a geographer who
will be updating the map for us. The Capitan in charge of the mercenaries
is confident that he will be able to deal with any goblins or orcs that we
come upon.
Week 2
We have started to spot signs of goblin activity, though we haven't seen
any goblins yet. I'm relieved that it's goblins and not orcs in this area,
the two rarely get along and the goblins might be sneakier but they also
aren't very strong.
We have moved into the foot of the mountains and the path along the
river has become somewhat treacherous. One of the houses slipped
and broke and leg and we had to put it down. We have redistributed
some of the supplies to the other horses and discarded some of our feed
for the horses since we have less mouths to split it among.
The geologists have taken several samples from the river and they tell
me that it is possible that we will find aquamarines and even emeralds
in the near future. If we find a vein that has emeralds I will get a large
bonus. I'll even pass some of it on to the others.
Week 3
We were attacked by goblins last night and lost three of the
mercenaries and one of the geologists. We are holed up in a cave
while three others are recovering from some serious wounds,
including Capitan Tommen.
We have rolled a large rock in front of the cave entrance where
Jon and Perry are taking turns keeping watch. It doesn't seal the
entrance completely but it helps us to hide.
Orend, our surviving geologist, found signs of aquamarine and
emeralds in this cave. It looks like our hiding spot is also just
what we came out here to look for. He said there is also a vein
of silver and could be a lot more. Once we get back and report
in they will send a full size team up the river, likely by barge, to
start setting up the mine.
Week 4
Captian Tommen died last night. It seems his wound was
infected and there was nothing we could do for him. We have
the other two on litters and we are trying to slowly make our
way back down river without attracting any attention from the
goblins.
We are down to only one horse and have very little food left.
If we run out before we get back we have decided to butcher
the horse and eat it.
The geographer managed to finish a rough map, showing the
caves where we found the silver vein. I'm carrying it myself,
just to be on the safe side. It is starting to be hard to trust the
other members of the expedition, everyone is jumpy and
someone bolting at the wrong time could get us all killed.
Week 5
It's just me and Perry left. We managed to get away ridding
double on the horse. The others were taken by the goblins... I
think they were already eating them when we got away. We
are getting close to Fort Jyassik now and we should be back by
tomorrow. I hope we don't run in to anything else.
If we had a barge it would have only take a day or two to pole
down the river, with the current helping us. Hacking our way
through the forest and leaving a trail for the goblins to follow
right to us likely wasn't the best way to have gone about this.
I'm so glad we will be back to civilization soon and enjoying the
bunk houses at Fort Jyassik for a few days before heading back
south to make our report. I guess I only have to share the bonus
with Perry.