Oh, True Spark, what have I gotten myself into? I have still not adjusted to how tragically short these beings’ lives are in this world, even after all these years.  How can they stand it? And yet for all that brevity they so carelessly throw their lives away over the most astonishing trivialities.

And now, this.

Ever since young Jana returned to Roderic’s Cove, she and her little band of disaffected and disgruntled misfits have been involved in the occasional little controversy and their share of tut-tutting from the upstanding community pillars, but never did they leave behind a body count. This is new, and it is troubling to me on many levels.

Six bodies. Six unfortunate victims of a midnight confrontation in the Circle. And an enigma. All six were members of the Horned Fangs judging from the symbols on their clothing, but only one had an obvious cause of death. When Desil and I did our best to investigate the scene we were at a loss to explain it. The one who was stabbed in the throat was obvious. The others? Dead of… can humans really die of fright? It seems perhaps they can.

Something else is lurking in the shadows here, I can feel it. This smells just like Ironbriar. But who… what dark cult or shadowy conspiracy is at work here? Here, of all places? I thought I left all of that sort of thing back in Magnimar. Damn it all!

Perhaps it is just a clash with the Roadkeepers, as most seem to be assuming.  But I have, mostly for personal reasons, my share of doubts on that score.  Especially now.  (I find that at least more believable than the other rumor going around that it was Sir Roderic’s ghost that frightened them to death.)

Another clash in the Circle. In broad daylight this time, with what looked to be an all-out brawl between the Fangs and the Roadkeepers. A brawl that, thankfully, never actually took place. But the reason why it was interrupted before it began is what troubles me—troubles and yet interests me—most of all. Sir Roderic’s ghost appeared and frightened the combatants (and townspeople) away.

I am no stranger to matters of ghosts and the perils of navigating one’s way from this life to the next. I had thought Roderic had passed on, but now he has manifested after a decade of silence. Why now? What is keeping him here, unable to move on? Clearly there must be some unfinished task, some concern so overwhelming to him that his restless spirit lingers until it is resolved. But what? How?

I feared, as I thought about these events last week, that I must return to his home for the answers. I am ashamed that I do indeed fear to go back there. What it represents to me… Damn it all… But it’s really the best starting point to start getting answers that can ultimately put Sir Roderic to rest. I was so preoccupied with these thoughts that I stupidly let myself walk under the tree that Retch was sitting in. Hateful little miscreant. I had just washed my clothes, too.

As fortune would have it, a group of newer residents was on hand when the latest dust-up occurred in the Circle. They tried to defuse the conflict before Roderic’s ghost appeared. As much as it troubles me that he hasn’t found his rest, I am also intrigued and slightly disappointed that I didn’t have a close-up encounter with his ghost like these others did. The fact that they didn’t all scatter with the rest of the townsfolk at Roderic’s manifestation also gives me hope. Perhaps these are people capable of stepping up to be (dare I use such an extravagant term) the heroes the Cove needs in these troubled days.

Perhaps they could investigate the wreck of Roderic’s old home when I cannot. I knew I must speak with them. Some of them I was at least passingly familiar with. I had seen Vladimir here and there around town. He always struck me as someone unlikely to spend his life working in a sawmill, so I assume that to be a temporary means to other ends for him. I think I noticed him more because of what I sensed about him—the familiar little things common to those who are haunted by something. Whether it is literal (as in the case of ghosts or spirits) or some dread, fear, or trauma, I do not know. But I wonder how I might help him. Then again, I have found that humans get strength from their adversities often enough, so perhaps that wouldn’t be “helping” after all.

The odd pair that are Droste and Yanor seem to be researchers of some sort, as I have often noticed them running around examining the finer details of a stone they took a liking to, or overheard them excitedly talking about the ancient history of the Circle, or the Thassilonian ruins they saw in places like Magnimar. I suppose interest in the ancient world is the latest fashion, but they are far more invested than the average person. I wondered at first if they were some of Corstela’s followers, but they don’t really seem the type. They appear to be the kind of researchers who are willing—even excited—to get their hands dirty with fieldwork rather than pompously pontificating about it in a lecture hall. I don’t know if they went over there to apply for membership, but I suspect if they had, she would have rejected them. I hope that wasn’t disappointing, if that happened. They would have dodged an arrow there for sure. Corstela is an asshole. I realized that a long time ago before either of us had moved to the Cove.

Speaking of odd pairs, the twin sisters Sasha and Shura showed up at my house one day looking for answers about the family they came from but never knew. Tragic story but as I mused above regarding the need to rise above adversity, they have come from that point of origin through a series of hardships and challenges and emerged, even at their young age, with strength and purpose, and what I sense as a strong faith in Sarenrae. Shura is particularly fierce about defending her faith, or at least fighting those who oppose her truth. I am happy at least to have been able to guide them to finding the answers they sought by locating the final resting place of their grandparents. (That makes me feel a little better in light of the disappointing lack of leads I could find for poor Yanor and his search for his Isabella.) And now I see they have fallen in with this group of potential Heroes of the Cove (I must make a note not to call them that aloud) which surprises me not one bit, since they have been working as part of the town guard for a while now.

Shimsa seems to have the same zeal for righting wrongs and stomping out those who committed them that I see in Shura. I don’t know how they met up but I am not surprised to find them fighting together for a common cause. The good, truth, light of Sarenrae and all that, yes, but hopefully now also for the good of the Cove.

Little Jigu, one of the small number of halflings who live in town, has often delivered messages and packages to me. He has established himself as a trusted and efficient courier, but like the others he is clearly—if one troubles to take the time to notice—destined for greater things, and so I am also not surprised to see him caught up with the others.

Since this group formed, as far as I can tell, because they were the only people in the Circle bold enough to step up to handle the situation, I already feel they are likely the ones best suited to keep proactively working to investigate, and with luck even to solve, the increasing problems plaguing this quiet little community.

And indeed, after we had our chat at the Creekside, they agreed to go to Roderic’s Wreck and discover what they can to try to appease his ghost. I sent along a few items I have been saving to protect myself for that same expedition. But who am I kidding? I’m not going to go, so those items are better in the hands of those who will, and if they are successful in that mission it’s well worth that price.

I eagerly await news of what they found.