Day 9:

Today was a great day. Commissar Cain finally went on his first mission on the behalf of the Adventurer's Guild, lots of greenskins were killed, I think Cain scouted a medicae to assist us in the future, and I came one step closer to finding a new supply of tanna tea.

I started the day by trying to find someone who could locate some tanna tea or leaves for me on this strange feudal world. I didn't wake Cain up in the morning like I usually did because I thought he would like to get some extra sleep after working on the project the Guild commissioned him for. He seemed very tired after working on it, and I made the mistake of thinking he wasn't going to hunt down any vile xenos after waking up without me.

Padfoot Waitress offered to help me find some tanna tea after she delivered my breakfast. Apparently she wanted to help me out during her break that day, and despite my insistence that I could handle it on my own, she was determined to assist me. I tried getting Guild Girl to help Padfoot Waitress see reason, but instead she laughed when I asked her for help and wished us good luck. Leave it to the two girls Cain talks to the most to insist on helping me. No wonder he only requests them whenever he needs to discuss something important. At least they were competent, unlike most of the other fools that wanted to work with us. I would have never allowed Padfoot Waitress to come with me if she was anything like those idiots.

I'm not really used to women wanting to be around me whenever their lives weren't in danger, or most people for that matter. The commissar is an exception though. It still warms my heart to this day knowing that there is no one else he would rather have as his aide, and I will never disappoint him if I can help it. Other people can say whatever they will about me, I don't care anymore. So long as Cain is happy, then I'm happy.

To make sure he stays happy, my tanna supply must not run out before he starts thinking about going on another crusade for a mug of tea. Another reason I didn't try to ditch Padfoot Waitress before starting my search was because she knew the area better than I did and it was only a matter of time until Cain discovered my supply of tanna was running low. She also helped familiarize me with the town during our search, so I guess having her around wasn't all bad. Now I can help the commissar find his way around town instead of finding an adventurer that is willing to assist us.

In the end, we couldn't find any tanna leaves and she kept on distracting me by talking about herself and asking me all sorts of questions. I couldn't answer any of them since Cain told me to keep how we ended up on this planet a secret. I hope she didn't take it personally. Padfoot Waitress is nice to me, and I don't want to lose one of the few people that are nice to me.

Listening to her talk wasn't all bad though. It was only because of her rambling on while I kept on looking for a tea shop or apothecary carrying tanna leaves that I was able to learn that the Eldar of this planet might possess a supply of tanna they keep for themselves and their trusted allies. I hate the idea of allying with the xenos scum that put the commissar's life at risk countless times, but if it means that I can continue maintaining the standards expected of me as his aide and prevent him from going on another crusade as he is getting on in years, then I would even be willing to negotiate with the Tau for a cup of tanna. No price is too much to pay for Cain's sake.

I made sure to thank Padfoot Waitress for her help before she returned to her post at the Guild. She looked like there was something else on her mind before she ran off without me, but whatever it was, she never bothered to say it. She sure was blushing like Captain Federer, our explosives expert back when Cain and I served in the Valhallan 597th, did whenever he was in the same room as a couple dozen pounds of explosives. Whatever it was must not have been too important then, or maybe she was just shy like one of the adventurers I met later that day.

Speaking of adventurers, I met Goblin Slayer on my way back to the Guild Hall as I picked up a few things on the way back to my room. He was helping some lady carry a cart of comestibles which I offered to help push as thanks for giving Cain a share of the quest rewards when he could just have easily kept all of the primitive currency for himself. The miss we were helping was very talkative, almost as much as Padfoot Waitress, asking us tons of questions that neither of us could find the time to answer. We told her everything we could, which wasn't much, since we didn't know much about each other, and eventually she stopped asking questions. I guess she thought the two of us worked together often.

I must have lost track of time by the time I finished helping Goblin Slayer and his lady friend unload the cart they carried into town. It was around noon when we walked back into the Guild Hall when I learned that I made an unforgivable mistake by leaving the commissar's side. Cain had noticed that a few new recruits were in desperate need of a competent leader and experienced fighter to accompany them to give them some hope of succeeding, and probably feeling it had been too long since he had been able to slay the enemies of The Emperor himself, he decided to rush to their rescue after learning that their mission would end in certain failure without him.

I naturally went back to my room to grab my melta, grenades, and as many potions as I could carry before asking Guild Girl where I could find the commissar. She eagerly assisted me, and Goblin Slayer offered to join me too. He wouldn't say why, but I didn't need to ask since I already knew him so well.

That man is a Valhallan who was born on the wrong planet. Only a true blooded ice warrior would leap at the opportunity to slay some Orks as quickly as he did without hearing any details about their numbers, location, or weaponry. If it had been anyone else wanting to come with me then I would have refused their help, but since Goblin Slayer had already proven himself a worthy asset to Cain, I allowed him to lead our journey to the greenskin nest the commissar and cadets were intending to cleanse from this planet.

We didn't bother stopping in the nearby village to see if the commissar had already dropped by, as Goblin Slayer deemed it to be a waste of time. I agreed with him, as there was nothing more important than stopping the greenskins before they could kidnap anyone else for the daemon they served after we linked up with Cain. It was only because both of us were in total agreement with what to do next that we were able to cover as much ground as we did and slaughter a few odd looking greenskins before we managed to catch up with Cain and one of the cadets he seemed to have taken a liking to.

Sadly, we only managed to reach him and the girl, Priestess, before anything bad could happen. We found what was left of the only other man of the squad splattered over the floor, walls, and on the ceiling in a few places of an adjacent tunnel after passing that ugly statue the goblins worshipped. I made sure to destroy that after seeing the little girl get mesmerized for a second. You never could be too careful when dealing with heretics and xenos, so destroying the idol they created in their god's image felt like the best thing to do. The blasphemous icon splintered into rubble with only a single shot, the god just as incapable of protecting it's totem as it was at defending its followers.

There had to be no less than a hundred greenskins in the nest that we spied in the final chamber we had yet to explore, plus a few more that we found cannibalized along the way. Goblin Slayer and Priestess did a good job of leading the horde into an ambush we set up so Cain and I could clear most of them. I was only able to kill as many as I did thanks to Cain's quick thinking once it became obvious we underestimated the size of our enemy, my melta killing the few mutant snotlings that Cain decided to save for me so I could enjoy myself on our quest after spending a week stuck indoors.

We found the last two rookies that Cain had entered the cave with after clearing out the goblins. Blasted Slaaneshi worshipping xenos did things to them that I dare not write about in case Amberley reads my diary someday. They were unconscious when we found them, and I could only hope they were like that too when the goblins had their way with them.

After seeing what happened to the other juvies his squad, Cain made sure that any surviving greenskins we hadn't found would die the slow, painful death they deserved by collapsing a hidden tunnel that led down to what was likely another chamber more depraved than the one we found the two unfortunate victims in. I would have liked to have killed more goblins since only taking down a few dozen with my melta and lasgun didn't feel satisfying enough, but the commissar always knew best and decided that it would be better to crush them all in one swift motion than to pick them off one by one.

Our work with goblins didn't finish that day, despite the numerous casualties we inflicted on the daemon worshiping greenskins. Goblin Slayer was quite insistent that there was a Grot or maybe a real ork somewhere nearby after spotting one of their footprints. Cain of course couldn't allow a single greenskin to continue terrorizing the nearby village, so he rallied us all together with an incredible speech and convinced Goblin Slayer to delay his self-imposed mission to clear the area of any remaining goblins long enough for all six of us could recover for our next assault the following day.

Overall, today was a very good day. It would have been better if we could have saved those cadets in time, but Cain apparently didn't think so. From what I heard, they sounded worse than the Tallarns we met on Adumbria, so maybe it was a good thing he only managed to protect Priestess after all. The commissar seemed to think she was a good kid, unlike the other three, and had a lot of potential.

We will see if he was right about her soon enough. She certainly knew her way around a First-Aid kit and could somehow close their wounds with some strange power. Whatever it was she did, it wasn't Warpcraft. Priestess wasn't stopped from using her power with me near her, so it must be some sort of weird mutation or something. I wonder if that is why Cain seems so focused on her?

We returned to the village Goblin Slayer and I visited after clearing out the nest to regroup and rest for the next day of goblin slaying ahead of us. Hopefully we can kill a few more tomorrow.

Goblins Killed Today: 19 confirmed kills and over 100 estimated kills, exact number unknown due to most bodies and limbs being burnt beyond recognition.

I'll try not to make the same mistake again.


Day 10:

Another day, another bunch of dead goblins. We still couldn't find the other girls that the goblins kidnapped or the other Ork Goblin Slayer believed to be roaming between nests. He knew that meant that there had to be more goblins lurking around somewhere nearby, a fact that Cain quickly proved by discovering several mutant goblins that had almost ambushed not too far from the village.

Luckily, we didn't sustain any casualties like we did yesterday. Priestess managed to get hit by a poison arrow, but Goblin Slayer was quick to pull it out before the wound could get any worse than it already was and gave her enough medicine to take care of her. Guess we were lucky to have him with us, because I don't think Cain brought along any antidotes with him. I had orders to only use the supplies I was carrying on him and myself, so there wasn't anything I could have done to help her but give her The Emperor's Mercy if Goblin Slayer hadn't been there.

We were all much more careful after the silent xenos scum took us by surprise. The final nest we cleared that day had far less goblins in it then there should have been according to Goblin Slayer. He thought something was wrong, but couldn't say what. Cain believed that these goblins might have been scouts for a larger force of greenskins, but couldn't find any proof for or against it.

The nests we cleared out were also a lot smaller and had far less goblins in them then they should have had, according to Goblin Slayer. It made sense after what we found the day before, although I didn't feel any better about it. I kept on feeling like something was out there in the forest just out of sight as we travelled between nests. Probably just some sort of local bird too stupid to not be noticed but barely smart enough to avoid getting turned into our lunch tomorrow.

The villagers also seemed a bit less friendly when we returned for some reason. It must be because we were taking so long to clear out the goblins. Ungrateful civies doing what they do best I guess, complaining about how it's taking so long to save their sorry arses. Too bad for them, because we have at least one more day of goblin slaying before we can report back to the Adventurers Guild. Looks like some of them got in a fight too because a few of them were covered in bruises today.

Cain made sure we all slept in the same building for the night, both him and I taking shifts on watch duty in case the goblins or something else decided to attack. Nothing did, but that didn't make the commissar calm down. He thinks there is something out there watching us kill the goblins, and I think he is right.

Goblins Killed Today: 73


Day 11:

More of the same.

We found some footprints outside of our window in the morning, probably some drunk trying to see if he could break into our room and rob while we slept. Whoever they were got lucky. I remember one time accidentally waking up Cain to grab a midnight snack and he nearly shot me with the laspistol he keeps under his pillow whenever he sleeps. I think I'll try to barricade our door and windows before we go to sleep tonight, just in case.

Fighter and Wizard also haven't woken up yet. Priestess says they will wake up any day and that nothing is wrong with them, and I couldn't think of anything else that could possibly prevent them from waking up. It clearly isn't Warp sorcery, whatever it is. Hopefully they get better soon. Carrying them back to Frontier Town will be more trouble than they are worth if we finish our goblin hunt before they can walk.

Goblins Killed Today: 47


Day 12:

The villagers are gone. All of them.

Goblin Slayer seems to think that they all left for another nearby village until someone from the Adventurers Guild could confirm there are no more greenskins roaming through the forest after we spent three days killing over two hundred goblins for them without finding any of the girls the disgusting greenskins kidnapped, or the Wanderer. Cain thinks Goblin Slayer is wrong. I do too.

After checking out the final cave we were unable to explore in the past three days, we headed back to Frontier Town. We couldn't find any more mutant goblins today, only the normal snotlings with extra large noses. We cleared out the final cave in under an hour, and were ready to return to Frontier Town before the afternoon. It was a long journey back to the Guild and we were only able to arrive late in the evening, far too late for Cain or Goblin Slayer to give Guild Girl a detailed report about our quest. Besides, we still had to escort the girls we rescued from the goblins to someone who could help them recover before nighttime when all the churches closed their doors to visitors.

The only reason we were able to arrive while the sun was still up was because Fighter and Wizard woke up while Cain was carrying them. He made them walk alongside us after checking to make sure they were okay. They were confused, scared, tired, and weak, but at least they were strong enough to walk and aware enough to follow orders, if only barely. We dropped them off at the temple Priestess lives in so they can be delivered to another temple with some Ecclesiarchs that know how to help them, if it is possible. I hope it is. Those girls seemed about as tough as Priestess, but without any of her shyness or hesitation. They would make good Guardsmen if they are able to recover.

When we returned to the Guild Hall, we were all too tired to do anything but eat and get ready to go to bed. Priestess already went home when we first arrived in Frontier town after Cain insisted she get some well-deserved rest. Goblin Slayer and the commissar promised to give their versions of what happened during our quest in the morning since there was a lot to tell her about.

If Guild Girl is okay with me giving a report in Cain's stead, then I think I'll let him sleep in tomorrow. The commissar needs his beauty sleep after all. How else can anyone expect him to be at his best when fighting against xenos and the forces of Chaos?

Also, Cain still seems to be intent on training Priestess, or at the very least, including her in our future adventures despite how much of a risk it will be to have an untrained whiteshield with us. It would be nice to finally have a certified medicae with us, even if she was adamant against killing our enemies. If we do work together in future, hopefully Cain can whip her into shape so she isn't a liability in battle. The girl should know that the life she chose means that it's kill or be killed wherever she goes, and I won't be the one to save her skin if she isn't willing to save herself. Cain shouldn't have any problems with her though. He managed to negotiate a truce to a end losing war with the Tau while shooting at them, so training a girl to defend herself should be easy compared to that.

Goblins Killed Today: 14

Quest Results:

Total Confirmed Kills: 153

Total Unconfirmed Kills: 100+

Allied Casualties: 3

Rescued Civilians: 0


Author's Corner:

Surprise, surprise! Here's an extra chapter for you all!

Anyways, here's another look into the mind of Ferik Jurgen. While he might not be as charismatic as Cain when it comes to… well, everything, I'd like to think he has his own sort of unique charm. Simple, loyal to a fault, and wielding the same amount of common sense Cain does, I can't help but to give an often overlooked W40K character's impression on things during little intermissions like these. Hopefully you all don't mind more of these moments in the future, because I think I will be doing them regularly.