Flamerule 1, 1368 DR.

Khalid and Jaheira will venture on without us tomorrow. Imoen refuses to leave me alone. She doesn't want to be left behind, and will blame me for it. I… balked. We stood at the mine's entrance and I froze. I just… can't. The Foreman, Emerson, thinks we're fools; they all do. The Mayor greeted Khalid and Jaheira when we first arrived, trying to sound confident, but there's no hope in him. This town is dead. Beregost was in fear, but Nashkel is worse. I feel… numb. Eleven days since… it's too soon. I… the roads are plagued with bandits. We were attacked by three bands on the way down. They are desperate. Their leathers are in tatters, their weapons in ruins. They had knives made of stone, and sticks. Khalid told us that even the cheapest swords are worth a Duke's ransom now. I… don't care. I can't bring myself to. Gorion – I can't sleep. I keep seeing it, over and over. Jaheira feeds me vile herbs; I want to retch, but then the dreams come. I – it's too much. That sword… those words… why?

So much death since leaving. Jaheira runs the bandits off, but she and Khalid exchange looks. Imoen doesn't understand, but I do. There's… a grimness… then she ushers us along. Khalid returns a little later. I know he's killed them. Even the wolves are starved; they venture close to town. The land seems to be in crisis. Jaheira doesn't know why. She speaks of nature, and of the natural order, and seasonal balance, but she notes the weather is off. The crops don't grow; the farmers can't tend their fields. Their cows are taken by xvarts and wolves. I know little of farming. Why aren't there enough deer in the forest? Jaheira thinks the bandits have over hunted. But where are the bandits coming from? All these questions… I don't care. The answers mean nothing. But she looks thoughtful; I speak without feeling, my mind… why are there… why am I being hunted? I think they know, but they won't tell me. They won't tell Imoen either. They talk to me about Gorion, so I know they are his friends; I remember them. They visited long ago, so long ago…