Looking back upon the last few weeks I am both surprised and delighted that this group of adventurers seems to be able to function at levels that are closer to my expectations than the last group I was with. They are adequate, bordering on proficient. They have ample resources that I can entrust my laboratory to remain unmolested while we conduct field research.  They were both glorious and confounding at the same time.  The raw power of the brute to dispatch enemies is only offset by the flurry of lethal projectiles of their boy archer. If I could only bond my alchemical admixtures to his arrows if would be a sight to behold. For all their intellectual shortcomings these warriors and a few others provide a sufficient buffer the mania and hubris of some so that the entire mission is not at risk. I don’t think they understand how valuable they are when they act as a grounding source for the chaos introduced but the others. It is a shame that such paths to power have such a heavy toll on their humors. In the case of the one who speaks for Groetus their path to madness is ordained  and surprisingly tolerated by the others, I do not know enough about the teachings but what little I know foreshadows of difficult times. Their imbalance will need to be watched; such temperaments coupled with power often lead to dark magic and darker dealings. 

The great Oni proved.. disappointing.  She planned poorly, perhaps reflecting her own hubris in the underworld she built. Her own fixation of gluttony and sadism perhaps left her less than focused on the war coming through her front door. How many waves of servants did she dispatch that did not return and yet she turned her back on us. Such a foolish mistake to underestimate this party of adventurers. I was delighted to see her great magical spear fail thanks to my magic dampening elixir. To date it is the best field test of that effect and did not result in any collateral damage to my lab or my pets. She was foolishly influenced by romantic emotions for one who left and never looked back; such a callous leader,  I fear the conflicts ahead will pose more challenging as we move deeper into the homeland of my grandparents.  Anamurumon… she mumbled that name in a manner that leads me to believe it will be a fierce adversary; given they abandoned her here I suspect her demise will be of no consequence to them. 

As a gnome I have grown accustomed to the spoils of war going to others. Built by the bulky races for their bloated space consuming bodies I have come to rely upon my own crafting of my needs and with this group it was no exception.  I did take note of the more… grabby members of this group and their immediate claims of possession without discussion or consideration of what others may want.  It is something to keep in mind in the future should a bauble catch my eye that I truly wish to possess. Old urges die hard and I thought I left that life behind me; I need to remind myself of that. The ability for the Crazy One to store vast amounts of wealth is astounding; I am almost jealous of such capability and will someday need to design a way to replicate it. But before then I have plans and designs I hope to now have the wealth to implement. Secret doors will not again escape my view. I have nearly completed the design for a corpse sculpting fettling knife.  Now I need the skill to use it and a solution to such is also within reach. It will be glorious when done. I am very glad that the spirit tree landed in the hands of she who I call the Quiet Death; she seems somehow disconnected from the rest and her sacrifice to keep it alive should demonstrate to all she is the right one to carry it forward.

As we move deeper Into the land of my ancestors I fear their status as outsiders will bloom as a greater liability to the mission they are on. I had put that all behind me until the ronin posed the paradox of honor for the party.  As expected these outsiders were quick to dismiss the importance of service to a liege lord and family honor in their response. I fear if we let them speak for us in the wrong setting this will be our undoing.  The bard, he must be influenced to step forward and be the voice of this party the further we move away from their world. I confess, only to myself, I fear Minkai and the culture my family fled. I remember the scars on my grandfather where the chains held his hands and feet. I am preparing for the worst and keeping a readily available escape prepared at all times.  My grandparents fled this land as dishonored slaves; I will not end up back in servitude to another. 

Enough scribblings… I have a magnificent Gorgon that needs to be reawaken in my service…