As I am sure you can see by the date, it has been some time since I last
made an entry in this journal.  This is due to the fact that I have been at
Collage, studying the arts of an Adept of the Runes.
 As to the courses of study themselves, I can say little, as the Collage does
like to keep its secrets.  Suffice to say that the hours were long and filled
with books, formulas and practicing the same patterns of brush and pen and
chisel over and over and over again.  After several months of hard study, I
was pronounced learned enough in the special knowledge of my Collage not to
be an undue danger to myself or any around me.   The masters gave me a robe
of black silk, trimmed with silver and lined with velvet to signify my rank
as Adept in the Collage of Runes.  I doubt I will wear this robe much, as I
do not wish to advertise how much I know, and of what I know, to people I
don't know.  But it is a nice robe just the same, and I thanked them for it,
and for all their teaching.
 Then it was time to go, and I was anxious to return to the city, and see my
companions whom I had not seen these two months.  Most of them had gone of to
Collage as well, except for Shali, whose Collage is located in Kathor, where
there is a sizable price on her head.   And Bob and Brianna had been sick
with the wasting illness when I had left, I wondered if they had recovered,
and gone on to accomplish their business in the city, or weather the dread
illness had claimed them, as it claimed our companion William.  I was also
anxious to retrieve my eagle, whom I'd left in the care of the people Shali
is going to work for for the duration of her stay in the city, Hides Alive.
 As there are many brigands and robbers who prey upon mages, figuring that if
a mage can afford the hefty fees demanded by the Collages, then all mages
must be wealthy, the Collage assigned me a guard to drive the carriage back
to the city.  I am grateful for this luxurious courtesy, for the villa at
which my Collage is established is a hard days ride from the city, and I have
not the way with horses that Shali does, nor do I know how to drive a coach.
 The guard/driver they assigned to me was a pleasant fellow named Vien who
was working off his tuition, and would soon be able to afford tutoring in the
basic knowledge of our Collage.  He appeared competent with his weapons, and
with the driving of a coach. We set off well before the rising of the sun in
order to make it back to Nvym-Dar before they shut the gates for the night.
 At this time of year, there are only 7 or so hours of daylight.

 The trip was progressing nicely, with Vien smoothly handling the carriage
over the new fallen snow in the road, and I having not much to do but think
over all the things I had been taught by the masters these past few months.
 Just an hour or so after dawn, the carriage gave a lurch and crashed into
the road with terrific force.  I heard wood splintering and horses screaming
as I was thrown headlong against the far wall of the vehicle.  For a few
seconds the world was all screaming and shattering wood, and then the
carriage came to an abrupt halt.  I had acquired several bruises during the
wreck, but luckily I was wearing my leather armour, knowing full well the
hazards of travel.  I heard the screaming of horses, and thankfully, Vien's
voice hollering at me, asking if I was hurt.
 I replied that I was uninjured, and proceeded to push away the door and
clamber out of what was left of the carriage.  I had to break the door off to
get out of the wreck, and the second I did so I looked around for the source
of this mishap, suspecting brigands.  After several seconds of looking, I
could see no reason for the crash, no deadfalls or hidden pits in the road.
 Just as I began to suspect that it might just bee a broken wheel or trace,
Vien gave a sharp cry and pointed off into the woods.
 A hundred yards or so distant, in the direction of the rising sun, I could
make out the leaping forms of hounds.  A huge pack of the beasts, at least
ten, was charging down upon us.  These were not hounds such as Shali's Island
Wolf Hounds, no, these were the short and powerful dogs used for hunting
boars, or for baiting bears in gambling pits.
 Immediately, Vien and I unlimbered our bows and nocked arrows to string.  In
our first volley, I saw Vien sink a shaft into one of the huge beasts almost
to the feathers, and the monster went down in a spray of snow and blood.  My
own found its mark as well, bringing down another of the slavering dogs.  It
is fortunate that these dogs are not known for their speed, and that the
several feet of powdery snow slowed them still further, for we were able to
get off over half a dozen shafts before the hounds were upon us.  Most of our
arrows hit home, however we only managed to slow the advancing pack.  The
dogs that Vien and I had wounded so sorely in our first shots, had now picked
themselves up and continued their run at us, all be it a bit more slowly.
 As the black tide of fur and fangs poured around the last tree between them
and us, Vien drew his broadsword and prepared his round shield.  I drew my
battle axe in one hand, and my hand axe with my other.  Thus armed Vien and I
backed ourselves against the wreckage of the carriage, trusting to the
splintered wreck and the kicking and screaming horses, whom we had not had
time to free , to keep the pack from clambering over the carriage and onto
our backs.
 Then the dogs were upon us.  Three of the brutes leaped at me, and three
assailed Vien as well.  It was all I could do to keep the dogs from getting
in close enough to clamp down on a leg or arm and drag me down.  Every so
often I would see an opening and lash out with my battle and smaller axe,
usually I would hit an animal and stun it, but its place would instantly be
taken by one of the pack who circled around us, barking furiously and waiting
for an opening.
 Eventually one of the animals got a hold of my leg, and pulled me to the
ground.  Fortunately, even though I could not use my battle axe in such close
quarters, I landed a solid blow with my trusty hand axe, and wounded the dog
so he let go my leg.  I managed to keep the others off me long enough to
stand up again.  And so the battle continued for quite some time, with Vien
and I hard pressed to keep the vise-like jaws off us, and only now and then
able to land a solid blow ourselves. 
 Then came the time Vien was pulled to ground, and before he could rise,
several other dogs and leaped in to the fray.  Busy as I was, I could only
now and then catch a glimpse of Vien, who had abandoned his shield and sword
in favor of the dagger he carried in his boot. I could tell he was taking a
terrific mauling from the dogs by the sound of their teeth continually
scraping on his chain armour.  And, exhausted as I was, it was not long
before I too, was pulled down beneath that tide of black fur.
 Once these dogs have gotten a hold of you, they are loath to let go, and
shake their heads furiously, causing great damage.  I thought I had seen my
last day when fortune smiled on me, and I landed several solid blows with my
hand axe, my battle axe long since dropped in favor of the smaller weapon.
 For an instant, there was but one dog on me, and he I heaved off and into
his fellows.  Before the recently wounded dogs could recover their wits, I
recovered my stance and my battle axe.  
 Vien I could tell, was sore pressed, and I struck out at one of the dogs on
him, but to little consequence.  Then I was harried again as the recovered
dogs pressed their attacks once more.  Then came Vien's awful cry, and I
looked over to see that one of the dogs had yanked his arm nearly off at the
elbow, opening up the artery that runs down the arm.  Vien's blood spilled
into the snow at an appalling rate.  I knew then he was doomed, for it takes
a healer to repair damage of that magnitude.  Shortly after I saw that, Vien
ceased struggling, and I knew he was dead.  The dogs that beset him, true to
their nature, would not let him go, but continued to shake and maul him.
 The battle continued for some time after that, but eventually the blows Vien
and I had been landing began to take their toll.  One after another, I would
hit a dog and have him go down, and not get up again.  Then, it was only me
and the three dogs mauling Vien's lifeless body. All the others were dead.
 Exhaustion had long since set in, and I was badly wounded in several places.
 But what else was I to do?
 So intent were the dogs on their kill that they did not notice me limp up
behind them.  The first dog was dispatched with one blow, being as it was
from behind and it was oblivious to me.  Then the other dogs left their kill
and attacked me.  With only two dogs to hold off, this fight did not last
long.  Soon, there was only one dog remaining.
The fact that the dogs had not turned tail long ago told me that these were
no mere pack of wild dogs, but acting on someone's command.  This last dog
however, seemed to realize the fight was over, and barked and gnashed its
teeth at me furiously, but then backed away, snarling all the while.  So
angry was I at this attack, and the needless loss of Vien's life, that I
hurled my hand axe at the retreating canine, not wanting to give its owner,
whoever  it might be, the satisfaction of having even one dog left to return
home.
 My anger clouded my aim however, and the axe flew wide.  The dog, apparently
as outraged at my attack upon him as I was at his upon me, turned and leapt
at me.  Using both hands, I buried my battle axe in the beast, feeling the
axe bite through bone and flesh and into the frozen earth.
 I removed the axe and apologized to the blade for mistreating it so, the
frozen earth cannot have done the blade any good.  So exhausted was I that I
could do nothing but sit by the wreck for some minutes and catch my breath.
 When my breathing had slowed, and I could stand again, I freed the horses
from their tangled harness.  Fortunately, neither of the beasts had been
injured in their tumble, only panic stricken.  The moment I cut the harness
and traces binding them, they were on their feet and away into the forest.  
 Then came the unpleasant chore of dragging Vien's body off the road and
several hundred feet into the woods.  I found a largish tree, and sat myself
down next to its trunk to rest a while and think what to do.  I made sure
that as I sat, I had my weapons close to hand, for the person who had set
those dogs upon us was doubtless still close by.
 An hour passed, and no one showed their face.  I was surprised to say the
least, for in my present state, I would not, I think, be particularly hard to
dispatch.  Perhaps then these were some nobleman's mastiffs, who had gotten
away from him and run off into the woods, looking to run to ground the first
prey they encountered?  I doubt that.  Or perhaps these dogs were all mad,
and even now the madness is working its way through my blood, and soon I will
foam at the mouth and fly into a murderous rage.  But I doubt that as well,
for these dogs looked to be in excellent health--whose to know.  But as I sat
beneath the great oak tree, with Vien's body quickly freezing stiff next to
me, I thought upon who would want to kill me.  That list is a depressingly
long one.  It could be almost anyone- from the mad Priests of Azathoth, of
whom we slew a great number as we left the island of the crystal pillar, to
the House Dolgenen, or perhaps even the House Geron-Tyes... now that we have
refused their offer, perhaps they are trying to make sure we don't reveal the
location of the vein of gems to any one else.  It could also be Kathor, on
Shali's trail yet again, and figuring to kill the people she associated with
in order to squelch the knowledge of that Empire that she spreads whenever
she gets the chance.  Or mayhaps it is the few cultists that escaped us at
Derlen, come back for revenge, or perhaps it is the pirates of the White Swan
or whatever they called themselves..we only did sink two of their ships, a
third got away If I remember correctly.  Oh, yes, it could also be the
vampyre from the Four Winds.  One musen't forget the vampyre, or it may be
the last thing I ever forget.
 Well, musing on that list and all the possibilities it contained passed
several hours, with still no sign of the owner of the hounds, or any sign of
anything else for that matter.  The road is a seldom traveled one, and it is
likely that there will not be another carriage for several days.
 Since I did not relish the thought of spending the night alone in these
woods in my present state, i.e badly wounded, I attempted to put to use some
of the wondrous new knowledge I have just acquired.  The spell of summoning
totem spirits, is the first one taught to new Adepts, and it is that spell I
attempted.  But before that, I had create the runestick, and the effort that
that ritual required, short though it may be, left me weak and exhausted.  So
much so, that when I cast the spell, I used the energy stored within my
runewand, as I had none to spare myself.
 Alas, when spoke the words and cast down the rune, there was a flash of
light, but no spirit of Teshigi manifested itself, my first call to that
great spirit had gone unanswered, if indeed the summons was heard at all.
 And so, it looks as if I will indeed be spending the night alone and wounded
in this woods.  I had hoped to have Teshigi watch over me as I sleep, but
that is not to be, I have not the energy to create another runestick.  So it
will be my wits, rather than my magic which shall get me out of this mess.
 Already it is getting dark, so early does the sun set this time of year.
 So, I hurried about my business.  I dug a hollow in the snow, and lined it
with pine boughs, then I cut still more pine boughs and laid them by my
hollow.  I scavenged any item of use from the destroyed carriage, which was
not much.. some bits of broken mirror, one of the oil lamps from the side,
some small bits of wood.  After that, I retreated back to my hollow, and
buried Vien's body well beneath the snow.   I brushed away all my tracks and
traces of my activities as best I could.  And then, sitting in my hollow, I
built a roof of sticks and pine boughs over me, walling myself in so that
when it snows tonight, as it probably will, then my crude shelter will look
like just another lump of snow next to a tree.
 
 Several hours later, I  realized what a good idea disguising my shelter had
been.  I knew the smell of carrion would bring scavengers, but I had thought
it would be wolves, or wild dogs or some natural beast.  So, I was quite
surprised and more than a little nervous when I heard voices--low, growling
and guttural.  By their sound, they were standing in the road, not a hundred
yards from my shelter.  As the moon was a quarter full, there was some light,
but not overly much.  I poked a finger through the snow covering of my
shelter, and put my eye to the resultant hole.  In the dimness I could make
out at least a dozen large humanoid figures, well over seven feet tall, and
armored in chain mail by the sound of it.
 As the beings searched through the wreckage of the carriage, and examined
the bodies of the dogs, several of them wandered near enough my shelter that
I could get a good look at them in the moonlight.  Hobgoblins, large ones,
and carrying horrid looking spears and huge mattocks.  Far too many for me to
have any reasonable chance of fighting, even if I were at my best.  I waited,
and prayed to Clangeddin that they would not find me.
 I have never been much of a religious one, but perhaps if I ever see the
mountain city of Thunderhold again, I shall inquire of the Priests there, for
my prayers were answered.  The hobgoblins scavenged what little they could
from the vehicle, and searched the surrounding area.  At one point, one of
the horrid things stood not forty feet from me, and scanned the area for
several seconds, then, satisfied that there was nothing of interest in the
surrounding woods, he returned to his fellows.
 A huge scarred fellow who was obviously their leader, assigned three of them
to pick up the carcasses of the dogs.  The three threw several frozen dog
corpses over their shoulder as if they weighed nothing, and set off into the
woods--doubtless returning with meat for their cook fires.  The leader, and
remaining brutes, set off into the woods, following the trail left by the
fleeing horses.  They probably assumed that whoever was in the carriage
escaped on the horses.
 It is now near midnight.  The hobgoblins have not returned, and the woods
are almost silent.  Now it is time for me to sleep, although I loath being
helpless in these woods, I see no other way.  Vien gave his life in  the
doing of his duty, he deserves a chance at being raised, if only his body can
be preserved in time.
   I have, after several tries, painted the rune of sending on my head, and
shall attempt to contact Master Nmoyan, Master of Arms for my Collage,
through the dream realms.  I do not trust even he, much.  But other than
Shali, I know of no one I can trust completely.  As I sat this day and
pondered who could have set such an ambush, I still have no idea, but the
only people who knew the day of my departure, and the road I was traveling,
were the Masters of my Collage, and the other members of my party. 
 And so I shall leave off writing for now, and sleep, with luck to dream a
message that will help Vien, if only a little.  

   By My Hand, this fourth day of Marech
   In The Year of Our Lady 540
   Drashak Khea Malari