from the Journals of Morningstar 776 Series C, Warforged Wizard
by Richard Smyth
CHAPTER SEVEN
Date: 15 Zarantyr 997YK
I have been traveling now for almost 12 or 13 days, day and night without resting, through the woods just east of Cragwar, over the Lightning Rail tracks south of Fort Light, into the Harrowcrowns, and then along the Brey River, under the overpass for Lightning Rail, to the outskirts of Arythawn Keep. I was delayed in the plains west of the Harrowcrowns, for a host of halflings were about, attacking a nest of ankhegs--large insects with six legs and chitinous hides--that had been attacking their caravan on their way north. Though I was trained to intervene in such situations, I have resolved to avoid contact with all humanoids, to prevent attacks like those I suffered in Cragwar, and so simply waited for them to move through before continuing on my eastward path.
As I approach the spires of Arythawn Keep, I cross the river and cautiously approach the Keep, staying low in the water, hidden by the mists, and traveling only at night. I watch the warriors battle off strange creatures coming out of the dead-grey mist that rises like a wall. This must be the Mournland that my comrades in the squatters camp spoke of.
I will cross into the Mournland on the morrow. There are certain to be no humanoids in that inhospitable realm.