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Thorin's Witness - A Journal [Closed]


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-The following are excerpts from a weathered journal found in the Drybone area of Thanalan by traveling merchants. As the pages are frayed and difficult to read in places due to weather damage and other inexplicable forms of damage, as new pages are deciphered, they will be posted for review. Please be cautioned as some content may be disturbing to some people.-

 

Fourth Astral Moon, Day 16

We have been camped in what feels like the most desolate region of Thanalan that the Empire could have placed us, though I know we haven't been stationed here at all. Our current location has been decided solely by our commander, Nedris Thorin.

 

I fear the man. I fear what his goals may be, whatever they are, as he chooses to remain silent on the matter to his men. I have been tasked to help him when necessary, and the more I have gotten to know the man, the more I am terrified of him. Today I witnessed him, full of grace and glory as a small band of his men had rounded up and captured three young Amalj'aa, one of which was clearly a child. One of the men had asked Thorin, "Sir, shall we release the child?"

 

Thorin looked flatly at the soldier in his command and said "No, boy. You will execute him first, in front of the others. Melodia shall have her fun with the other two."

 

The young Garlean soldier had looked a bit taken aback by Thorin's command. Thorin, as he was wont to do, glared hard at the boy and then said "When you are done with the child, come and see me afterward." Thorin had walked away after that. His mention of Melodia turned my blood cold as the woman was even more frightening than Thorin, and was clearly unstable. I felt pity for the two older Amalj'aa as they had no idea of the horrific end they faced at her hands. I shuddered and had followed Thorin back to his tent. He looked at the floor as he sat and dismissed me with a wave of his hand.

 

Later that day, as I sat outside the tent I saw the young Garlean soldier who had the duty of executing the Amalj'aa child approach Thorin's tent and ask for permission to enter. He was granted as much by Thorin. The soldier entered and I could hear low murmuring inside the tent, but was unable to clearly make out the voices. Then suddenly, it was very silent. The wind had picked up a bit and some dust had swirled about when I saw Thorin exit the tent with that cold, flat expression he typically had. He had glanced at me and said "Clean the mess up in there. The heat'll cause th' damn flies to swarm quick." And with that he strode away to elsewhere in the camp and as I entered the tent with some hesitation I saw the young soldier dead on the ground, his stomach viciously cut open and the bloody knife laying next to the corpse.

 

This was not unsurprising to me, as Thorin did not take kindly to questioning his orders, nor to weakness. As I write this, a young soldier has approached Thorin and I can just make out the hushed voice, "Sir, our informant from Ul'dah has been gravely injured. The men are bringing him here now, but he needs treatment."

 

Thorin looked at the soldier and asked "How was the little man injured?"

 

The soldier responded, "He was shot by an archer, it appears, and fell a great distance. The arrow is lodged deeply in his shoulder but the fall seems to have done the most damage."

 

"Ensure he makes it here and survives." Thorin looked grim for a moment and then shouted for Melodia before walking toward the heart of the camp.

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Fourth Astral Moon, Day 25

Today has been a particularly difficult one as Thorin had assigned me to look over the injured Lalafell informant as he was still recovering. While the task itself was not difficult, the presense of Melodia has turned a simple babysitting operation into a terrifying job of me working my utmost to prevent her from killing the wounded man.

 

I had entered the small dimly lit tent in the morning, after Thorin had asked to me go and watch over Nonotano and as the man was sleeping, decided I would take the moment to rest a bit. I sat near one of the sides and sighed deeply, wondering when this operation would be over and we would be able to go back to the Empire proper.

 

It was just after I had begin my thoughts that Melodia had entered the tent, striding in as if she had found some prey awaiting her on the bed. She had looked at me and smiled a toothy and terrifying grin that told me that her intentions here were not peaceful. I raised my hand to shush her in case she decided to wake the injured man, to which she burst out laughing. "Hahaha!! I see the Captain's decided you were better off as the nursemaid to a wounded fool than by his side." She practically glided to the bedside where the Lalafell was stirring awake due to how loud Melodia had been. "I think he made the wise choice doing that....you're as useless as the half-pint here."

 

She glared at me, still smiling and then knelt down by the bed and moved her face within inches of the Lalafell's face. "I don't know how you're still alive....you're either blessed or I'm damn cursed." I stared at the two and said in a whisper "Leave the man be...please" I had added the last as I remembered who I was talking to and remembered the temper that went with her.

 

"Captain's out of the camp today, you know....that means I'm pretty much in charge of things around here until he comes back." She had turned to look at me as she said this and when she finished she stood and walked toward me, standing over me as though she were a horrifying specter. "But what if he didn't come back?" she said before crouching before me. "That'd put me in charge for good maybe...and that'd put you in a bad place I think." She had grinned again as she said this last, and had jammed her index finger into my chest as she was making her point. With her dark red hair and dark armor in the dim light, all I was was truly able to see were the eyes and that grin that was full of malice.

 

Melodia stood and walked back over the wounded man and leaned over him. He was half conscious and his eyes, though dazed, seemed fully aware of who was standing next to him. He muttered something that was unintelligible and Melodia laughed. Her laugh sounded like a beast's, cackling and cruel. She suddenly slammed a fist into the Lalafell's shoulder, where the arrow had been lodged when he had been brought to the camp days ago. The Lalafell screamed and when two guards hastily entered the tent they immediately left when they saw Melodia gesture them away. She leaned over him again and whispered, her lips barely missing the Lalafell's forehead, "You are a waste of our time....if I have my way...and I will eventually.....you will pray that fall had killed you."

 

I stood and stared, gulping heavily as I had no way to stop the imposing woman from making here genuine threats. She lightly kissed the incapacitated Lalafell who had broken out in a profuse sweat due to the pain of the shoulder. She stood up and walked back to me again and leaned close. I could feel her warm breath on my face as she frowned and then switched instantly to a smile. "I'll have my fun with you later on, nursemaid." She reached up and slapped me lightly on the cheek two times before turning and striding out of the tent. I sat there in silence glancing over at the Lalafell who had closed his eyes but was still obviously thinking of the encounter as he was slightly shaking. I closed my eyes and slumped to the ground, praying that Thorin would come back soon.

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Fourth Umbral Moon, Day 10

It had been a long day as we had set up camp in a new location that was a full day's march away from where we had been. Not that it mattered much as the scenery hadn't much changed from the reddish-brown rock desert I had gotten used to before. Once we had set up the camp, the men had begun to drink some ale and relax a bit, which was a good thing as everyone has been on edge lately. Thorin had also been drinking, perhaps a bit too heavily and as I was finishing arranging the gear in his tent he stumbled in and sat down on the stool near the side of the tent. He heaved a deep sigh and looked at me as I was finishing moving some small crates to the side.

 

"You need t' relax boy. Take a seat." His words were slurred, but only slightly. He motioned for me to sit, and so I looked at the crates, deciding they could hold my weight before sitting down and awkwardly looking around the room while Thorin continued staring at me. "You and I don't talk much, boy. And y' look as if a primal itself has walked into the camp. Speak your mind, son." He reached over near his bed and pulled out a half empty bottle of wine and poured two glasses, offering me one, to which I graciously took, drinking a small sip before looking up and seeing Thorin was still looking at me to speak. I cleared my throat and asked "May I speak freely, sir?"

 

"I told you to speak, boy, so speak freely."

 

I breathed deeply and then the words came out, "Why are you doing this sir? I mean...I have known you for some time and, uhm...I don't doubt your loyalty to the Empire...but it just seems like we are doing, uhm...more...than we are ordered to be doing here? Maybe? Uhmm...." My eyes darted to the floor and I could feel my face go flush red as I said it and I had a moment where I feared I would be dead within a minute for having said it. When I realized I wasn't dead, I looked up and saw Thorin sipping his cup and then he set it on the ground before leaning forward and clasping his hands together.

 

"My loyalty to the Empire's none of your business son, but b'cause you had the guts to ask th' question I'll answer. I do what I do because th' Empire doesn't go far 'nough in its business out here."

 

I was puzzled by the answer but Thorin wasn't finished, so I remained attentive and quiet.

 

"All this talk of the beastmen and primals....it's good. I truly do believe we are doin' the proper thing here by culling that lot from the world. But 'tis not enough, boy. Not enough by far. He drew a sip from his wine and closed his eyes as he spoke quietly. "I have a son, you know...not much younger than y'rself. Brave lad, fighting for the Empire....not unlike you." He smiled at the last but just as quickly, the smile faded. "Had. I had a son. He's gone now. Butchered by a tribe of savages in La Noscea."

 

I started to try to say I was sorry for his loss when he continued, "So I fight f'r him. To make sure his memory isn't washed away in some damn mine somewhere with the filth and stink of the beasts that put him in the ground." He opened his eyes and looked straight at me and I saw a fire of hate deep in those eyes as he continued, "The Empire is hell bent on these beastmen, which I support, and yet these citizens here, be they the desert folk out here or the lot dwelling in the woods....they get a pass. Oh, we'll conquer 'em, conscript 'em, but they get a damn pass. And that's the problem. It's by their apathy...their lack of courage to purge these beasts from the land...that's what caused m'boy to be killed. And I'm not soon to f'rget that, boy."

 

I realized then and there that the mission had become a personal one for Thorin. "If I've my way, boy, we'll burn these lands to the ground, both beasts and the folks that live here. Men, women and children....they all need to go. And I aim to make that happen, even if it takes me one village, one home, or one caravan at a time." He drank the remainder of his cup of wine and threw the cup to the ground. "That, boy, is why I do what I do. You c'n go now."

 

I hesitated for a brief moment when he raised his voice, "I said get out boy before I skin you alive."

 

I stood and bowed before quickly exiting the tent to the cool night air.

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Fourth Umbral Moon, Day 20

The winds were fierce today and the sand was stinging as I tried my best to keep up with Melodia. Her and I had been tasked by Thorin to tread close to Black Brush Station, while avoiding being seen in order to check on something vital near one of the creek beds in the area. Melodia seemed to know where we were going and my job seemed to be one of fodder in case of detection.

 

As she had a similar disdain for me as I had for her, we did not speak on the trek and by the time we had gotten close, I had the impression I was walking alone. That, however more pleasant it would be, was not the case. Melodia walked ahead with her head held high, the whipping sandstones hitting her face be damned. Her raven hair swirled around in the wind and at times the image made me imagine she was made of aetheric elements; and then I remember matter-of-factly who she is and I feel my skin stuck by gooseflesh. She was as dangerous and cruel as any primal the Empire feared and I often wondered why they tolerate her presence (I may need to edit this later....I fear she may find it).

 

We approached what appeared to be a small cavern entrance at the creekbed and the Melodia brought her hand up to signal a halt. She glanced back and said "Keep watch. If anyone approaches, you have my permission to kill them. Or you can die and it will improve the day. Either works for me." She then walked toward the entrance stopped. She seemed to be examining the right side of the entrance and feeling for something. As I watched her I hated and admired her at the same time. She was the strongest woman I had even seen and yet she was an untamed beast in so many ways. I truly do fear if Thorin ever perishes, how this young woman might exist in the world without his calming presence on her. I fear for the world.

 

I heard a small click and saw her shift a small stone to the right on the cave entrance, revealing a small pocket in the side of the rock. She turned and smiled at me, a genuine happy smile. She then reached inside and pulled out a small paper and what looked like a pouch. She looked at the paper first and muttered "Seems that little fool was right. He's earned the right to live another day." She glanced into the pouch for a brief moment and then nodded before putting the pouch and the note into her belt. I knew better than to ask  but as she approached me and stopped she seemed to read in on my curiousity.

 

"What we got here today....the damn Lalafell was right. Now, earn your keep today and maybe the both of you'll live to see the sun rise tomorrow."

 

With that, she pushed past me and, with already sore feet and raw skin from the sand, we began the trek back to the camp.

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Fourth Umbral Moon, Day 21

My morning was fraught with distress. Melodia had delivered the pouch to Thorin with such glee that was rarely seen in the woman, save for when she was about to execute or torture someone. Thorin looked exceedingly pleased by the contents of the pouch and gestured for me to join him and Melodia in his tent. As I entered I was cautious because any summons in the presence of the woman ran the incredibly high chance of not exiting alive.

 

"Come in, boy." Thorin said quietly, and yet his voice seemed happy. I walked to the makeshift table which was assembled with crates and the three of us stood around it. The tent was dimly lit and the camp was quiet outside, which lent a mysterious air to the three of us, which seemed to be not lost on Melodia as she smirked for her own reasons. Thorin looked at me and spoke softly "we have faced incredible hardship out here in this wasteland, of that I am certain we can agree."

 

Melodia and I nodded almost in unison.

 

"That hardship is about to come to an end, thanks to the little man from Ul'dah." With that, Thorin opened the pouch and dumped the contents onto the table. It was a gem, finely cut and the deepest color of purple, about the size a small fruit. "This, boy, is the future of the Empire."

 

I stammered a bit and asked "Wh-what is it?"

 

Melodia laughed and extended her index finger and slowly ran it down my cheek to my chin before pulling it back (which both excited and terrified me) as she said, "You truly are clueless, aren't you?"

 

"This, boy, is the K'rthan Crystal. When coupled with the right staff, it works not unlike a charm on others." Thorin smiled as he said this.

 

I was still confused. "But...so how will this help?"

 

"Because....bending the will of a few key players in Ul'dah and the surrounding areas will allow us to move more freely and infiltrate far more deeply than we could have achieved before. At least that's what we've been told," Thorin said.

 

"So, the Lalafell, Nonotano.....he got this?" I asked, somewhat skeptical.

 

"He did....and if he's wrong, I'll make sure he's never wrong again." Melodia was practically drooling at the last sentiment, as I imagine she was fantasizing about some form of mutilation toward the Lalafell. I leaned in and looked closely at the gem, still doubting but hoping that maybe the stone would work in the way promised.

 

Thorin leaned in and - - - - (THIS PORTION OF THE ENTRY WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RECOVERED).

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Fifth Astral Moon, Day 15

I pity him. I truly do. Nonotano wanders around the camp as though he is in charge of of something, barking orders at the men and carrying himself as if he were someone of importance. The truth of the matter is, the man is on borrowed time.

 

And that time is running quite short.

 

Thorin has grown tired of the little Lalafell and his arrogance. I agree. Who is this man who isn't even a proper Garlean wandering about as if he ran this place? And that is Nonotano's problem. He carries himself in position that isn't based in reality. He is boastful and proud and egotistical and his personal quest for revenge against his brother places us all in jeopardy. Add into that the fact that Thorin also believes he is the reason that the K'rthan crystal is missing (stolen more likely) and I can literally see the Lalafell's days counting down before my eyes. I am not sure he is aware of it (How could he be? The man believes he is untouchable even as he limps about the camp) but he is drawing ever closer to Melodia's whims. All it would take is but a word, a gentle push from Melodia or myself even to Thorin, and the Lalafell would find himself begging for the swift death that would never come from the hands of Melodia.

 

Yes....for certain....the man's time was clearly running out. Tick tock...tick tock.

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Fifth Astral Moon, Day 22

It was odd seeing her dressed as a commoner. She was a lethal soldier and member of the Garlean empire and yet, today, she was dressed as one of the rabble we often spied in the camps and outposts throughout Thanalan. The loose-fitting clothing in drab colors consisting of hues of brown and gray masked the cold and deadly woman underneath. The same woman who would slice another's throat for a sip of water, but looking as she did now, others would make the fatal error of assuming she was no more than a harmless beggar. The only thing that stood out....

 

"You need to dirty yourself up a bit," I said flatly, as I sat in the tent as she slipped on her boots.

 

"Excuse me?!" She looked surprised and hostile, presuming (I think) I had meant this in some backward innuendo way, which was not the case at all. She started to stand and I probably had seconds before she decided my comment was not appropriate and killed me where I sat.

 

"Your face! It's too clean!" I said quickly, lifting my hands in some pitiful half defensive move to shield my face. Had she moved, those hands would be pointless. She paused and with narrowed eyes, here red bangs creeping out from her bandana hanging just over her eyes, and stared into what must have been right through me. "Explain, fool."

 

I stammered a bit, still holding my hands up in a futile manner, "Y-you're face is too clean. Washed, I mean. Many of these people....th-they are dirty from working and the sun bearing down on them." She was silent, still staring, so I continued, "Your clothing is spot on....but your face sabotages the deception. It needs....dust or something..." I trailed off, afraid my words were lost on her.

 

At that moment, a young sodier burst into the tent, shouting, "Where's the Comman-?" That was as much as he was able to get out of his mouth before Melodia's lightning fast arm snapped out and siezed, clutching the boy's throat as he buckled and fell to his knees. She stood over him, still choking his life from him, her mouth caught in a ferocious snarl and rageful eyes, "How DARE you, enter that way?!" As he gasped for air, arms flailing wildly at his sides and trying to grasp at her arm (which seemed made of stone at this point), she leaned in and through gritted teeth said, "We were having a conversation....get. OUT!" She shouted this last right into the man's face and released her grip. He began coughing and quickly scrambled out of the tent half running, half crawling. She then snapped her head back in my direction, that bloodlust still in her eyes meaning I was nowhere near out of danger.

 

"You were saying?" She asked.

 

I coughed and continued, "I just....uhm, I feel that for you to properly blend in and avoid suspicion, you need to make your face less...clean." She stood silent and then nodded slowly. She then knelt and rubbed her hands on the dusty floor and then stood, wiping her cheeks and spreading the dust to appear more natural. And she looked perfect, as though she was one of these folks. "So?" she asked, gesturing at herself.

 

I nodded and said, "You look perfect. We shouldn't have a problem -" Shecut me off with a raised hand, telling me without a word that she didn't want to hear any more. She walked over to the bed, picked up her satchel and slung it over her shoulder, looking back at me as I did the same for my gear. We were to be away two days; two days that hadn't even started yet and already she had nearly killed someone. How would we remain undercover for that long without it blowing up in our faces? (NOTE: remove this later).

 

Before we stepped out she stopped and leaned in very close to me, her lips lmost touching my cheek and whispered, "If you ever make a comment like that again and if I half a hint that it's related to sex, I will scatter pieces of you throughout the land. So you don't forget." She smiled softly at the last and laid a soft kiss on my cheek before turning to walk out. My skin had gone pale and I could feel gooseflesh as I followed, sure that I wouldn't survive the trip.

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Fifth Astral Moon, Day 23

Horizon was a pit....I hated the grime and the dust and most of all the people there seemed so...transient. We had been here nearly a full day and the heat was making me wish I'd brought more water.

 

Seeing Melodia at work was both humorous and enlightening to a degree. She was a master at charm when she wanted to be, flirting with the men (and even the women) and laughing like a sane person in contrast to her usual cackle...it was refreshing to see. I was posing as her busines partner and we were there to see if we could gather any information on the missing K'rthan Crystal. we also used it as a means to gather some intelligence on how much people knew of our presence. It seemed, after some discussion with folks that they really were oblivious to our presence.

 

Melodia was discussing something with a merchant at his sales stand when she leaned over the table and whispered something into the man's ear. The man blushed fast and could not keep his smile contained, while Melodia giggled like a teenager. She waved and said "See you later, handsome." As we walked away, crossing the small outpost's center square, I whispered, "Do you really plan to see that man tonight?" She had a stern look on her face as she looked at me and said "Of course not, don't be absurd. Getting these sheep to talk is easy. Flash a smile, exude a bit of feminine charm and they are willing to do anything." She said this last with such disdain and malice that it caused me to flinch a bit.

 

"I think we have enough information....we may be able to head back tonight," I said, hoping she would agree. she chuckled and said "Silly boy. We are staying through until morning. I plan on having some fun tonight. I heard some miners heading out earlier. I might go and pay them a visit." She smiled at this last. Many would confuse her words and smile, as something positive and good for the miners.

 

I knew better and I feared that miners would rue the day we came to town.

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Fifth Astral Moon, Day 25

I was disgusted. The journey back to the camp had been silent and I was eager to report to Thorin what had happened. It still sat in my mind as we approached the camp, what I had heard from the Horizon locals. Whispered rumors of a group of miners who had been cut to pieces and left for the local vermin to feast upon. They believed that the Amalj'aa had been responsible.

 

I knew for a fact that they were completely innocent. Melodia. She had massacred those people and for no good reason. The smirk on her face as she heard the rumors with me confirmed the suspicion that I had, but knew better than to ask as she would have taken great pleasure in mocking and threatening me all the way back. Why would she do that? There was no strategic gains to be had by killing them and our mission had been intelligence gathering. a murder spree....that was Melodia's way of blowing off steam, I suppose? Whatever her sick motivations were, I needed to inform Thorin immediately upon return.

 

I had nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt her breath on my ear as she suddenly asked me, "What are you so glum about? Been quiet since we left that dust pit." She was inches from me and her voice was cold. I moved foward a bit and glanced back at her with a hard stare that was unintentional and yet uncontrollable.

 

"I don't have anything to say to you." I mustered up a great deal of courage to say that and as I walked forward looking ahead, I paid the the price for that courage. I felt the hard sting in the back of my left knee and fell to the ground as she had quickly (almost like a bird in flight) moved to tower over me, pinning me down on my back with her right foot. Her eyes were still so calm and collected as her face expressed rage. She looked down on me and said through clenched teeth "Say what you need to say boy before I leave you out here for the beasts to chew on."

 

I grunted and felt her foot push deep into my shoulder. "Y-you...why did you kill those -" I had been cut off by her foot digging deep and I feared she would break bones if she pressed harder. She leaned down and laughed.

 

"Hahaha!! THAT'S what you were bent out of shape about? You silly fool. I suppose you want to tell the Captain.....you do that. I am begging you to tell him. He's likely to pin a damned medal on me."

 

The sad thing was, she was likely right. I grimaced and she continued, "I don't know why you waste your energy feeling sorry for these people when they are the enemy. I think you confuse your mission here as well as your place. Just like that little Lalafell. You always think you have more importance than you actually do have." She removed her foot and walked onwards toward the camp. I struggled to my feet, as my knee was in agony but limped on. She glanced back once and noticed my limp and laughed hard for a moment and shouted back "That limp...now you and that half-pint have something in common. Likely not the last thing you will have either."

 

She laughed again and continued onward. Her words chilled my blood and I prayed to talk with Thorin as soon as possible.

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Sixth Umbral Moon, Day 15

I walked the camp today with a feeling of dread. Thorin was anxious his nerves were starting to affect the entire camp. The crystal was still missing and we hadn't made any progress in actually finding it, though we started running across a name in our intelligence gathering.

 

Krell.

 

The name meant nothing to us but the more it kept coming up, the more death we would find in its wake. We had found a remote Garlean outpost manned by no more than half a dozen soldiers and we had found them all dead, burned to death. One could have attributed it to the beasts in these parts, but there were signs that someone had been there, the footprints in the sand leading in and out of the camp were the clearest.

 

When we asked locals about the crystal they would clam up immediately and say that even if they knew what we were asking about, it would likely be pointless as this "Krell" had already been around and asking. They always looked afraid when we asked about Krell and they never uttered a word, looking more afraid than they likely should have been.

 

Thorin wouldn't speak about him either, saying it was a waste of time. Melodia would just laugh and posture as usual....but they both seemed more on edge than normal. As I walked through the camp I thought about those footprints at the scorched camp, how small those feet were......and my eyes met Nonotano's who was also crossing the camp with a serious expression upon his face, the limp he had still unchanged.

 

Could he.....? It didn't seem possible, and yet Nonotano had been coming and going more often than usual recently. I'm not sure if Thorin or Melodia have even noticed his absences.

 

I have. Those footprints....but Nonotano? The Lalafell was an informant, and no more.

 

Right?

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Sixth Umbral Moon, Day 18

I am writing this as events happen.....it's all gone to hell. Hopefully someone can find this if I don't make it. Everyone's dead...being killed right NOW.

 

The....

 

Krell...Nonotano....it's him. The same. He wields dangerous magics...has killed most already. The screams of the men....I want them to be over.

 

I am hiding now. every bump...

 

Thorin was killed so fast and unexpectedly. Nonotano Krell...he suddenly...he just killed Thorin without any warning. Melodia....as I hate her so...she was out of the camp. She maybe could have stopped him. But she was...

 

...gone. I hear the footsteps...Twelve please don't let him find me....that limp...I can hear it outside of this tent now....

 

PLEASE.....IF YOU FIND THIS....he's not the Lalafell you will believe him to be. He is INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. We were so wrong to let him live.

 

He's coming in SOMEONE HELP ME.

 

Mother I am so sorr

 

*The text ended here with the paper stained with what can only be assumed to be blood*

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