We were summoned by the mayor of Shining Falls, a human woman who's name I don't believe we caught.

There have been a number of thefts and robberies by goblins, just to the South East of the village. Thankfully no fatalities, but a troupe of traveling merchants failed to arrive to the village as expected.

We were tasked with clearing them out and ideally figuring out the source of the sudden influx and hostility.

As we tracked them, we were ambushed on the road by no less than 8 wargs mounted by 8 goblins. We fought hard against them. 2 or 3 goblins got away, and we brought one back to shining falls for questioning. We were unable to continue closer to the goblin camp, as we were heavily injured from the fight.

There will be more information to follow I hope.

More information:

The goblins are part of the axe biter clan. Their numbers are few, under 10. They were given orders only to steal, not to kill. Which is weird for goblins. Their motives are still uncertain

After endless weeks of waiting, spent in sparring and eating and recovering from sparring, our patience was finally rewarded. Our first contract with the newly-established Glassfang Syndicate was delivered by the mayor of the nearby town of Shining Falls.

The town had, she informed us, been faced with some difficulties, presumably related to a band of goblins that had taken up residence recently: thefts, disappearances. Though she had little coin to offer, we nevertheless agreed to assist: myself, Solia Faolanri, Temoren, Bri, and Jax. Each of us for different purposes, I imagine. I will not speak to theirs, but for myself, a light purse earned now might yield a heavier one later. This was to be a small and local job, but done correctly, word of our deeds might spread, and greater contracts begin to come in.

In any case, we were given directions: northeast from Shining Falls. Solia and her unearthly canine friend Briarfael were able to pick up a trail to direct us more accurately. We were not, however, vigilant enough to evade the ambush. For as we paced through the forest, arrows began to fall around us, and eight warg-riding goblins attacked without preamble.

Immediately, the gaps in our training began to show. We had each of us accustomed ourselves to fair, one-on-one duels, or something similar at least. And so we scattered when we ought to have stood fast together, each moving to engage a different group of foes, and it was nearly our undoing. I very much include myself in this assessment, to my shame. Bri and Jax both were nearly slain. It is well that nearly all of us possessed some means of rapid healing, or the battle would undoubtedly have ended tragically.

It went very poorly for us in the beginning, needless to say. In the end, however, we rallied, slaying all of the wargs and many of the goblins, and driving off the rest. One we took prisoner for questioning.

Though we defeated this band in the end, we were sorely pressed to do so, and gravely wounded and exhausted all. I dislike leaving the job unfinished; it reflects poorly upon us, unprepared though we were. But we could not have survived another battle against a foe forewarned against us by those that escaped. There remains more to be done ere the contract is fully complete to my satisfaction.

Nevertheless, the mayor was well enough pleased with what we did accomplish. We were paid in meager full, and claimed some spoils to sell for a small bonus besides. I intend to follow up, once I have recovered, and see the job properly completed.

-- Yashir adh Rumahr

Patrol Report: Shining Falls Runoff
Filed by: Temoren Cairnwright
Party: Bri, Yashir, Solia, Jax, Temoren

We traveled out toward Shining Falls and received our assignment: reports of travelers not returning, tied to a group of goblins mounted on worgs. I had only heard of worgs before. I will not be making that mistake again. The threat was active, aggressive, and required immediate removal from the runoff area. We cleared them out… to a point. We reduced the menace and broke their control of the area, but the cost was high and we came close to losing multiple members of the patrol.

Bri went down hard. Hard enough that the situation could have become a collapse if Solia and I hadn’t coordinated quickly. Even surrounded by teeth and blades, Bri’s refusal to stay down is notable. Once she was brought back up, she continued to press forward like the ground had only interrupted her briefly.

To keep others standing, I needed to stay standing myself. I realized quickly that mobility was my best defense, and I used it to reposition out of danger, create distance for crossbow fire, and still provide support. I was able to blink out of immediate threat, keep pressure on the goblins with my crossbow, cast faerie fire, and send healing where it was needed, including to Jax and Yashir.

During the engagement I manifested what can only be described as angelic wings. I am not a religious person and I have no interest in pretending I understand the source of it. For my purposes, they were guiding wings: they kept me alive long enough to keep others alive. Jax apparently thought I was leaving him to die when I moved away. I was not. Someone had to remain functional to keep the rest of us from falling apart, and I had the tools to do it. I gave Jax my two healing potions afterward. If nothing else, it should help him feel better about being earthbound and mortal.

This patrol was harrowing. If Thrax did not fully scrutinize the danger level of the assignment, I recommend that be corrected going forward. That said, it did strengthen something important: my resolve that I am on the right path with my studies. My atlas work is only going to improve, and when it does, it will improve the odds for everyone around me.

Solia lost her companion during this. I believe it is a setback, not an ending. The bond she had with that creature was rare, and Solia herself is steadier and stronger than she seems to believe in the moment.

Yashir fought valiantly. While he was positioned farther from the rest of the group, he kept enemies occupied and drew attention that could have turned on the patrol. That matters. It deserves acknowledgment.

Bri is a powerhouse. Her sword work was impressive, and I am glad she did not bring that full intensity into our sparring session. I believe the outcome would have been different. She also made a sound, strategic call in taking one goblin prisoner, which may prove useful depending on what they know and who they answer to.

Jax and I… may have bonded. I nearly let him die, didn’t, and he asked for help up while fully aware I could not physically move him. It was, in its own way, reassuring.

I don’t know what the next assignment will look like after Shining Falls, but I know this: we have work to do, and the Glassfang Syndicate will be ready for it.

Our first contract! Oh how naive we were. We were hired by the mayor of Shining Falls, as there was an issue of goblins in the area that were stealing from locals and merchants. We were tasked to remove them from the area, and along the way figure out if there were more as well as why they were being hostile.

We tracked them down to near their camp, but were ambushed upon approaching. It was a rough fight, with around 8 goblins and worgs. Bri and I came close to death, myself being knocked unconscious several times and resuscitated by healing. It was.. not fun. Several goblins got away, and we were unable to proceed to their camp, though we did capture one for interrogation to find more about their clan.