The Group that Jueinuma is part of has been tasked with caravan duty. The group and Jue is to check caravans entering Loudwater from Waterdeep.

The first few caravans went well, but at the third caravan it went different. A mimic was found, then rats appeard. Rats tried to eat Jueinuma.

Jueinuma didn't like that so, Jueinuma killed some rats. Guards appeared after the fight, as is custom. They talked with group about what happened and why rats were killed. As the group was not supposed to kill humanoids. Were-rats are humanoids under their curse. Which Jueinuma believes is fair. Jueinuma couldn't do anything about it as Jueinuma was dealing with normal rats. As such, the guards are not happy. Though Jueinuma does believe the guards are overstating things as they happened.

-Jueinuma

6 Flamerule, 1502 DR**

Loudwater Caravan Duty

My first official assignment with the Syndicate was significantly more eventful than advertised. Lucky me!

Our party was dispatched to Loudwater to assist the city watch with inspecting caravans entering through the southern gate. We were met upon arrival by Watchman Volantis, a no-nonsense silver dragonborn captain who assured us the work would be uneventful, then immediately handed us a pair of manacles and instructed us not to kill anyone.

The work itself was straightforward enough. Our job was to examine travel papers, compare them against the contents of each wagon, and ensure nothing dangerous found its way into the city.

Our first inspection was, thanfully, ordinary. Two harengon merchants, Buggs and Judy Hopps, were transporting chilled produce and barrels of mayonnaise in an insulated wagon. Their paperwork was in order, and the cargo matched their declaration. The blast of cold air that escaped when their wagon was opened was almost refreshing in the afternoon heat.

The next wagon belonged to a halfling family relocating to Loudwater. Their documents accounted for seven travelers, (2 parents plus 5 children) yet nine sat in the cart. For a brief moment I thought we had uncovered our first deception, but the explanation was considerably more wholesome: Newborn twins, Saturday and Sunday, born after the original visas had been issued.

Both parents looked utterly exhausted, and I suspect neither had slept properly in weeks. Lady Valentina conjured a small illusion to entertain the children while we sorted out the discrepancy. The relief on April, the mother's, face was immediate. We chose to admit the family despite the outdated paperwork. Bureaucracy has its place, but compassion ought to have one as well, right?

The following wagon was less ordinary. Two dwarven “painters”, Vincent and Picasso, claimed to be transporting artwork. Their wagon's rear wheel had broken, forcing one of them to support the cart by hand while traveling. Everything seemed in order until Aber attempted to inspect a wooden chest. The chest objected, rather forcefully. It revealed itself to be a mimic and promptly adhered itself to Aber's arm with alarming enthusiasm.

Almost simultaneously, the cart waiting behind the dwarves erupted into chaos as several travelers revealed themselves to be wererats accompanied by swarms of ordinary rats. Lady Valentina and Jueinuma prevented the two dwarves from escaping, then the group dealt with the considerably more pressing matter of not being eaten or turned into rats.

I remained well behind my companions for most of the fighting. There seemed little wisdom in placing myself within reach of either the mimic or the wererats, so I contributed where I could, distracting our opponents with cutting remarks while Aber and Snap bore the worst of the assault.

Aber underwent a startling transformation once battle began. Whatever power fuels his rage altered his form, sprouting monstrous claws that proved remarkably effective against our attackers. I would like to learn more about that phenomenon, provided it is not considered an impolite subject.

In the end, the rats and their apparent leader were slain, the mimic destroyed, and the dwarves captured alive. Several of us were bloodied, but thankfully none were lost.

Curiously, the city watch arrived only after the fighting had concluded. Watchman Volantis seemed less interested in the successful defense of Loudwater than in reprimanding us for killing the creatures involved, citing his earlier instruction not to do so. I argued that giant rats, wererats in beast form, and carnivorous chests hardly qualified as "people" in the context of his order. My reasoning did not appear to influence his report, however.

Our payment was reduced accordingly. Each of us received twelve gold pieces and a potion of healing. I shall be interested to read whatever account the city watch records of today's events. I suspect mine is the more accurate of the two.

MISSION REPORT: entrance check in inside Loudwater. DATE: 6 Flamerule, 1502 DR

Departure: left the Glassfang Syndicate towards Loudwater. received brief from dragonborn captain guard Vesandis.

Cart 1: manned by 2 harengon individuals. Travel purpose: business trade of cabbage and mayonnaise. Note: travel documents within normal criteria. Observation: the squad's inspection of the cart and goods lead to no suspicious activity. Result: entraced approved for cart 1.

Cart 2: manned by 2 halflings with an additional 7 inside the cart. Travel purpose: immigrating to Loudwater as a group. Note: squad's inspection of the cart and people lead to no suspicious activity. Observation: the 2 halfing infants lacked the required documentation for entry. Result: deni- d-d-don't hurt Plum-halflings. p-p-protect innocent - entranced approved for cart 2.

Cart 3: cart damaged and manned by 2 dwarves. 1 dwarf holding the cart wheel. Travel purpose: moving art business to Loudwater. Note: initial query of the dwarves lead to no suspicious activity. Observation: squad member Jueinuma observed anomalies with the horse. dwarf responded hostile towards the horse inspection. New directive: thorough inspection of the cart's cargo and state. Observation: chest revealed to be a mimic.

New directive: engaged with the hostile threat. Observation: cart 4 and cart 5 revealed to be manned by wererats with rat swarms on board. Travel purpose: unknown. Result: individuals added to the threat and engagement priority list. Note: dwarves attempted to run. dwarves apprehended by squad members Valentina and Jueinuma. Result: begin dispatch- EvIsCeRaTiNg ThE iNsIgNiFiCaNt SeWeR aBoMiNaTiOnS. aLl Of ThEm ReDuCeD tO sHrEdS fOr OuR gRoWtH. nOw To AdD tHeSe MeRcEnArIeS tO oUr PiLe, TiMe tO kI- end combat engagement. all threats dispatched

New directive: detach - p-p-protect - the squad - f-f-from us - for report

Post directive: threats disposed of. no relevant individuals to question for the wererat attack. Result: mission reward deduction

Post mission: no innocent - a-a-and f-f-friend - casualties - p-p-please f-f-forgive.

(The text on this note is written very small, though is still very legible and well-written.)

6th of Flamerule, 1502 DR

Myself, Abuh, Hue, Valentine, and Avan.

This job was much, much quicker than the other two I've done. Rather than a full adventure into space or Waterdeep, it was simply inspecting five caravans passing into Loud Water. As such, this report shall be short. Why a search could not be conducted by city officials, I do not know.

The first of five were two cabbage and mayonnaise merchants. The harengon presented identification and the entire cart was searched, both from outside and within. There seemed to be no issue with it at all, and so it was let inside.

The second of five was a family of seven looking to relocate inside the city. The mother was quite tired and truthful as she presented identification, and after discussion on whether incorrectly letting a carriage inside would deduct our pay or not, we chose to let them in, as they did not have two extra month-old unidentified children.

The third of five, and surprisingly the last we verified, were two dwarven brothers and painters. The same routine went forward, between identification and searches, though they were much more irritable. Understandably so, as it appeared a mimic had infiltrated their cart. Abuh began disposing of it, with some of us helping out, when mere seconds later, a horde of rats erupted from both the fourth and fifth carts. The brothers attempted to flee, but Hue and Valentine made sure they could not, knocking them out. The rats swarmed us, including some much larger ones and wererats. While I was their first target, swarming around me proved to be a mistake, as two breath weapons swiftly weakened the bunches. All the while, Avan gave us some great supporting words.

After a minute, all foes were down, with myself bashing in the skulls of many tiny rats and the last wererat standing. It is only then that city guards, including a captain, came to us. Rather than helping out in the fight, they berated us for the death of such innocent creatures, announcing it would be deducted in our pays. We, though more vocally Valentine, argued that such rats were not in fact innocent, even if people under the curse. They did not care, and offered us less than 12 gold each for our efforts, which is ridiculous considering three of us neared a certain death. I feel ripped off, though perhaps the training was worth it.

In hopes of a higher payout next job,

Snap