It was as I feared,
The North Downs stir once again with vile Orcs... I shall pledge my blade to the defence of Trestlebridge much like many of my company.
From what I have picked up by listening intently to conversations and overhearing talk of the initial dispatch of a small company into Trestlebridge, it would appear that Orcs have encamped merely two leagues or so Northwest from the Trestlespan. And as predicted, they have targetted the town for a harsh while now, it was about time they enlisted some folk to aid them in this troublesome time and I am glad to be able to finally do what I may for the defence of that poor town.
It does however raise questions, why does The Watch falter and fail to deliver enough protection on the borders of Bree? I know not of Mayor Tenderlarch or his policies but I have oft heard rumour of the mayor simply disregarding The Northern Bree Fields merely out of carelessness... Perhaps that's how those brigands had been able to easily burn down so many farms all those years ago...
I must remain optimistic, I have dealt with Orcs in the past and while the Orcs in the North are often of the Ongbúrz tribe and are far more vicious and skilled than their Tarkrip counterparts... I fear Trestlebridge will have no choice but to enlist our services whether they want to or not.
Though another concern I have -admittedly more concerning to me than usual mind you- is how are we going to get paid? Trestlebridge is on its last legs or so they say and they simply have not the funds to pay for The Dawn's services... I am an honourable man and if I could I would help them for free out of good will... But everyone needs to eat and truthfully my own wallet could do with being filled.
I hear my Captain has a cunning plan to have Tenderlarch see how bad the situation truly is, he will have no choice but to send funds to the town so that they may rebuild and also pay us for the defence.
It does not feel right to make profit from such a devastating situation but I'm afraid I have no choice. I'm sure most of my company will agree that we are not just doing this for the money, people's lives are at risk and I will be dammed if I cannot help them.
My last concern... Well it is more of a worry than a concern... I worry for Arindiis for I have heard yet more rumours of unknown things creeping about in the North, it would not be incorrect in saying that Rangers have a part to play also, but they speak naught of their deeds good or ill and I am not sure whether they can be trusted...
No... I do not trust them, and the longer Arindiis wanders alone the more I fear for her. If she heads back by the way of Trestlebridge maybe we may meet sooner rather than later... I miss Arindiis and I hope she is well.
There is one thing that is clear, I shall see conflict soon enough, and I have been readying myself for a long time to get back into the fray... I yearn for this sort of work and I am ever anxious to use my blades, I was trained this way and there is no going back from my years of conditioning...
I want to fight. I live to fight...
It is just who I am.
