Date: 14th of Flamerul 1502 DR
Party: Snap, Dahlia, Alvis, Sunbeam (Orri), & Myself
Our assignment began in Shining Falls, where we were informed we would be overseeing a "beach party." Everyone present seemed remarkably enthusiastic about the prospect. I confess I did not fully understand why.
The weather was cold, rainy, and thoroughly unpleasant. It hardly seemed suitable for gathering outdoors, much less swimming.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately, depending on one's perspective—an elf accompanying the festivities simply... changed the weather. Within moments the rain had vanished, replaced by bright sunshine and clear skies. Ephemerals continue to surprise me with what they consider ordinary.
Our duty was simple enough: keep watch over the beach, ensure the attendees remained safe, and prevent anyone from drowning or otherwise coming to harm.
I quickly discovered I had not packed clothing appropriate for such an occasion.
Sunbeam, with little hesitation, removed his shirt and insisted I wear it instead. It was several sizes too large, though surprisingly comfortable. It also drew considerably less attention than if I had attempted to enjoy the beach in my usual attire.
The festivities began shortly thereafter.
One blond gentleman dedicated what appeared to be the entirety of his day to swimming laps. So many, in fact, that I briefly wondered if he intended to create a whirlpool through determination alone.
I, meanwhile, was approached by two human children requesting that I judge a race between them. Believing fairness was the objective, I suggested they give the younger of the two a headstart. This was apparently not the answer they had hoped for. The young girl became rather upset with me, while her brother apologized on her behalf.
Children are... perplexing.
Our peaceful afternoon came to an abrupt end when creatures emerged from the depths of the lake.
Several halflings who had been swimming were caught before we could intervene. By the time we reached them, there was little that could be done. We engaged the creatures immediately and, after a brief but difficult fight, managed to eliminate them before returning the remaining beachgoers safely to shore.
The organizer of the festivities, an exceedingly peculiar man named Chad, insisted the celebration continue despite what had just occurred. Fortunately, the rest of us were able to convince the attendees to leave the beach for their own safety.
That decision proved wise.
Not long afterward, a fish-like humanoid emerged from the water, furious over the gathering and, more specifically, furious with Chad. Whether the anger stemmed from trespassing, disrespect, or some prior grievance, I cannot say. The creature offered little explanation before violence became unavoidable.
It summoned additional creatures from the depths that harried us relentlessly with thrown harpoons. They proved frustratingly elusive, disappearing beneath the water whenever an opportunity to retaliate presented itself.
The battle was long and painful, though we ultimately prevailed.
Sunbeam's shirt did not fare nearly as well.
By the battle's end it had accumulated more tears than intact fabric, courtesy of the many harpoons aimed in our direction. Curiously, he never asked for it back. I suspect repairing it may be beyond my abilities.
We were compensated for our efforts, as expected.
Still, I cannot say this assignment leaves me with much satisfaction.
The fish-man's anger appeared genuine. Chad, while enthusiastic, was... difficult to understand, and I cannot help but wonder if whatever offense had been committed against the lake's inhabitants had merit. We protected innocent people, and I believe that was the correct decision.
Even so, I cannot shake the feeling that we may have ended a conflict rather than resolved it.
Perhaps there was another answer hidden somewhere beneath the waves.
