Day 43

I was unfortunate enough to be nearby when Jorn Skyseer needed more guards for the watchtower project. Taliaa and I had to pack our gear, drop Nyx off with the stablemaster, and start the two hour long trek South. The odd decision not to send us by wyvern made sense when we saw the crude trail carved in the mountain side and obvious tauren rope bridges spanning parts of it. I admit to admiring the simple defensive advantages of cutting a rope.

The first level of the tower was finished and they were busy hooking up a pulley to lift materials up when we arrived. After flattening the peak a bit they apparently decided to ring it with a rope fence so at least we have that. Did I mention I have a fear of falling? If the surface area was any smaller I'd likely have a panic attack. Calm thoughts Borgin.

We didn't even get long to rest before the made us take the long trip back down to go question some travelers. So what if they don't look like Horde races, two people and a cart aren't some grand conspiracy. I'm still not sure what we're guarding if they are stupid enough to be sending us down to talk to people on the road but whatever.

It didn't seem like much, just a human merchant and his dwarven guard looking to make use of Taurajo trading, but on closer inspection they were pretty bruised up. They gave me a story about silithid hives to the South going wild and swarming the roads while I wrote down some of the relevant facts. Their cargo was pretty average with crocolisk hides, a couple raptor hides, random crap I have no names for, cookware, and a few books. I bargained for a book about Stromgarde while fending off the dwarf who insisted on drinking with me. No thanks, I'd lose.

We let them go on their way while we returned to our post. Once we got back I wrote out a bit more detail and gave it to the messenger for his next flight back to Camp Taurajo. They kept the wyverns on rotation to nearby locations to give them some exercise and since the message wasn't urgent it could wait on him. Taliaa seems to find my constant writing amusing for some reason or another.

The valley of the Southern Barrens was an interesting sight. The tall mountains looming on either side framed sunbaked plains echoing with the steps of kodo and hunting cries of wind serpents, along with more discreet dangers. Silithid and quilboar haunted the steps of travelers while the dwarves have constructed a fortress and dig site. And if that wasn't enough those bastard Grimtotem are even further past that waiting for the right moment to take over.

In stark contrast to all this hidden danger, I got to stare at a brown landscape all day with boredom because only one spyglass was sent. And the tower is sadly not yet complete enough for me to seek the shade under. At least I have time to write.

Day 44

Spending the night on top of the mountain was an interesting experience. Gotta be honest, I wouldn't want to risk the trail at night anyway. Once things are finished it will be either more comfortable up here or easier for shifts to come from town. I did get the chance to use the spyglass during my portion of watch but my night vision is only so good.

Brown, brown, and more brown. Maybe some silithid hives in the distance. The workers were up and hammering early in the morning. I got in a reduced morning exercise and a decent breakfast before really having to do anything. Also I've discovered that even just having to hang around and be ready sucks massively.

Didn't see the merchant pass by at all so he probably decided to take the Northern road out. I don't blame him honestly, giant bugs are a bit much for a civilian. After a while I took out the carving knife I picked up a while back and some wood scraps in a poor attempt to make a full dice set. The higher numbers were a bit beyond me but my crude attempts at least gave me something to do.

Watching wind serpents dart around the landscape for a bit was nice but honestly Journal even I can't ramble on about those for too long. Haven't lost my fear of falling but at least the heights aren't also getting to me. I can't be bothered to wish for something more interesting, I know better than to do that.

-Borgin