What Came Next

The day started out relatively easily enough, we wandered through the slums trying to fine this girl who might have seen something of what happened.  We eventually found her, and at first she was very frightened of us.  We tried to placate her, me with some illusions and the others with skills of their own and when she got over her fear of us, she directed us to the sewers where she saw some of the others being taken.  Of course we decided to go down there and try and follow the tracks.  I can say that the stench of that place is not something I would ever like to revisit.  To make matters so much worse, as we were wandering around down there, I managed to trip and fall and some of that vile water got into my mouth.  Just thinking about it now turns my stomach.

We found several bodies that had appeared to have been fed upon and moving further into a dark chamber, we found several ghouls.  We dispatched them with our usual flair and as we were examining the room further heard a strange noise that sounded like wet rags flapping in the breeze.  We moved back out in the passageway and further down the tunnel and found that the entrance to another cavern had been hung with, indeed they were, wet rags.  Pushing them aside, we made our way in and found, lying on a pallet, a small figure who turned out to be a boy.  He explained that the ghouls had come as a response to his living in the area, apparently he needed the damp clothes that were hanging around the place to make it more comfortable for him.  The ghouls apparently liked humid air as well.  He seemed genuine in his apology and as thanks for us saving the town he promised that if we ever needed help we could call on him.  How a crippled boy was going to be around to help up, I don't know, but we thanked him and made our way back out of the sewers.  As I made my way out, I pulled out that filthy blanket I found in that wolf's den and hung it with the other rags.  It would get better use here then with me.

We returned to the watch commander and he thanked us for our help and gave us what we needed for the adventuring license.  We retired back to the inn for a much needed rest.  I would have been happy if that had been the end of it, but as we were in the common room of the inn, I went up to get myself a drink. My foul feet tripped me up once again, but this time, it wasn't a mouthful of vile water I got for my troubles.  I stumbled into a drunkard and he too offence.  That's when the fight broke out.  I don't know what happened but I remember a searing pain in my left ear.  I think I may have blacked out, but what next I remember was Eramita next to me pressing something against the side of my head.  As it turned out, that drunkard tore off my ear and I collapsed from the pain and loss of blood.  If it had not been for Eramita staunching the wound I would most certainly have died.

It seems I need to reevaluate my companions.  I thought them little more then servants, but they saved my life when they could have easily let me die.  I wonder if this is what it is to have a friend?  Growing up, I never really was allowed to associate with other people.  This group I'm a part of is more then just me and others.  We're all a part of something greater then the sum of it's parts.  It's more then just what they can do for me.  I have to start thinking more like what I can do for the group. And I have a handy reminder.  My face will be forever scarred because of my arrogance.  It could have been much worse and every time I look in a mirror I will be reminded of that.  Thank you all.