#Reminial Rooknook

[lirrenstoneforge]

Field Journal: Entry #2

[[The following is an audio recording]]

*Rustling and the sound of wood scraping on stone*

Testing, testing...oh, I think its working! At least, I suppose that's what this light means.

*More rustling*

I've never done this before, its a bit awkward, isn't it? Feels like I'm talking to myself. Which I suppose I am. At any rate, its preferable to trying to write. I'll probably be out of commission with that for a good few days, and I'd like to get a start on recording what happened in the Ghostlands.

*A gentle, dull thud of a mug being set down on a wooden table*

We met at the Northpass Tower in the Eastern Plaguelands. I chartered a gryphon to fly me directly to the tower; I didn't fancy trying to take Garrod through that Light-forsaken place. I'd only seen pictures of it before. Lets just say that I was much happier to be a few hundred feet above all of it!

I had the opportunity to meet a few more members of the Servitors. The leader of the expedition was Roiya Shadowpaw, whom I recognized but couldn't recall if we'd been formally introduced. She looked as though she needed a week's worth of bedrest and brandy to set her right. Don't know why she was headin' out into the field, still gettin' over an illness. Perhaps the Servitors are a bit shorthanded? I wouldn't be surprised, given that some of 'em are disembarked on missions in Draenor.  Ah, where was I?

*A light cough and a pause, followed by a gentle thud of the mug*

I recognized one of the gnomes, Reminial Rooknook. Seen her at the hearth about a fortnight or so ago. She's friendly enough, but I can't help but feel uneasy around her. Can't put my finger on it just yet. Didn't help matters that she summoned a skeletal demonic horse from one of the dimensional hells out there...but to each his own, I suppose. The other gnome I hadn't met before, named Seda Artec. Really hard to read that one, monotone voice and face covered in armour. At least she didn't summon a demonic mount. Lastly there was another new recruit, went by Frovelos. He seemed eager, apparently had just joined the day before. I was relieved to have another newbie along, moral support and all that. Though he seemed very competent and used to operating in a covert group.

The ride into the Ghostlands was uneventful, though I was fairly certain I spotted a group of shambling undead just over one of the hills beside the road. We went through the mountain pass that connects the Eastern Plaguelands to the Ghostlands and came upon the ancient entry gates. They are a right mess, I tell ya, torn banners and broken wagon parts all over the place. The whole area had an air of neglect and sorrow; chilled me right to the bones. You'd think they'd set about tidying up a bit by now, but apparently elves aren't ones for rapid recoveries.

*sound of wood creaking as she shifts in her chair*

It must've been a beautiful land before the Scourge invaded. Now its all deadwood and moss, dark and gloomy and fit for the corpses that inhabit the place. Speaking of which, the Dead Scar is absolutely horrendous. I can't imagine they'll ever be able to get rid of that disgusting trench. There's still a number of monstrosities wandering through there. Saw my first abomination, and very nearly tossed up my lunch onto poor Garrod's head. Thankfully it didn't notice us, and I'm tryin' real hard to forget what it looked like. Pure nightmare fodder, that is.

We veered away from the Dead Scar, heading more into the forests to the west. Surprisingly we spotted a small encampment with a few sindorei on our way. We were lucky they didn't take notice of us. We left our mounts a safe distance from them and started to pick our way through the underbrush on foot. It wasn't long before I nearly had a heart attack. I heard a noise behind us, and whipped around to see what ghastly beast was about to eat us for dinner. Instead I saw a young elf darting away behind a tree! She must've been with the encampment, and Roiya - I don't rightly know her title, unfortunately, I'll have to ask her - did something to her to slow her down. I'm trying my best to not think about that, either. After some debate we decided to simply leave her sleeping here, and hope that she was unconscious for long enough to allow us to find the book and get out of there. We didn't particularly want to spark an international dispute, accusations of treachery and infiltrating Sindorei lands, all that nonsense. I wonder if she told on us, but no one believed her...

Approaching the Windrunner Village I couldn't shake the feeling of dread. The combination of the moody sky and oppressive atmosphere with the abandoned village was plain unsettling. We were able to find a building that was probably once a library, and seemed a likely spot to search. Only problem was a revolting pile of fungus at the entryway. More of the fungus was inside the building. Once we were all inside, that was when all hell broke loose.

Fungus dropped from the ceiling, landing on nearly all of us. And the damned shit was caustic! Oh, that burned like that time I tripped and fell on the hot coals of the forge in my da's workshop, only this time my face and shoulders and arms were practically on fire as well. Luckily I managed to sling most of it off, but not before my poor hands took the brunt of the burning goo. And wouldn't you know it, the Light-forsaken crap was mobile! Seemed to suck itself back together, and was moving of its own volition. I should really write a missive to one of the scientific papers, see if they know about it --

*A pause and an impatient sigh*

--Except this was a covert mission. Dang it. Ah well, its not like I really understood what was going on with that mutant fungus. At any rate, we managed to get the fungus off of everyone and frantically searched for the book before it could attack us again. Reminial managed to find the text and we all bolted out the front door; not before it nearly killed us all with asphyxiation from a gigantic gas bubble it released.

*An incredulous chuckle*

What a way to start my experience with the Servitors. A gigantic farting caustic fungus and a book that is probably horribly illegal to own.  And what of their opinion of this new recruit? Injured on the very first mission I embark on! I suppose we achieved our objective, so at least it wasn't a failed mission. Light above, this device is telling me I've rambled on for nearly fifteen minutes! I'm going to have to edit aggressively --

*the recording ends abruptly*