Wow, that last page was harsh. That is why I should not write angry.

That was what, a month ago? So where are we now in relation to then that isn't a catalogue of traveling? I don't mind being on the road or anything, but given the fact that I don't have a destination in mind it might take away a little bit the excitement of arrival.

Ori and Leffy took the wagon back to Waterdeep, and took Sadie along with them. No part of me thinks that it wasn't the right thing to do, but that doesn't mean I'm not noticing her absence.

[This section of the page is filled with crossed-out false starts of sentences.]

This is dumb. This is dumb and I know it's dumb but I'm doing it anyways. I'm not supposed to get attached, because once I do it gets taken away or denied. Once they know what I really am they'll leave, just like everyone else.

For the first time I'm not buying trinkets and presents as an act of contrition, to smooth over some rift I've formed in a traveling group. I'm actually thinking about what to get them, what they might enjoy. My god, I've been with them long enough know that kind of information.

Once I tell them, show them why I can do what I do it'll be over. They won't want me around, or even on the same continent. I don't blame them for it, far from it. Getting rid of me will be the most sensible thing they can do for themselves in the long run. The more powerful I become, the bigger of a target I become for that... that thing. Nobody ever seems to care about the long game though when it comes to me. No matter the region, no matter the race, it's a sad reality that when it comes to self-preservation almost everyone is exactly the same.

I'll be back to being an apostate. Heretic. Vile. Outcast. It's always touching how creative people can get with words when they want to do nothing but tear you down.

I don't expect any of them to act this way, for the record. Despite their individual quirks they are for all intents good, nice people. They'll be nice about it, maybe try to break camp and leave while I sleep some night. It's happened before, and I can't really be angry at it anymore.

I'm not mad at them, and I don't blame them. I want to make sure they're safe, no matter what. Even if that safety means they have to turn me out. I know they're going to end up doing the same thing, even if for once I really, actually care if they do or not.

But if they mean anything to me at all, I owe it to them to do this.

So, depth. Depth is good. Depth is usually good, right?

We are out of our fucking depth. We are so out of our depth that it isn't fucking funny.

Speaking of funny? Woodbridge, that sleepy little nowhere just outside of Cryptgarden? Yeah, just an inconsequential little farming town where the owner of the only tavern in town owns EVERYTHING and has a goddamn undead army.

I don't even know what to do with this information. Do I tell someone? I told the group, but the odds aren't great they know what to do with it either.

Oh, speaking of information we met the dragon we were supposed to find. After getting beaten to paste by a couple of Cyclopse.. Cyclopi? Cyclopusses. Whatever. The dragon didn't seem to much care for the gift that Roshim brought her, but accepted the cow he brought along in addition to us killing the giants in her territory. Roshim kept the painting, and for all I care he can keep it in that bag. I made the mistake of looking into it knowing full well what I would see... who I would see.

She tasked us with going farther north to some temple for the Allfather. I'd love to know what that entails, but I don't know the first thing about giants and religion.

Oh, and she wanted us to find a Frost Giant that would help us. Or kill us, I don't really know. I'm sure that won't result in us nearly dying later.

Fuck, religion. I forgot. Did I mention I'm talking to Lathandar again? Because I am. I'm not happy about this, about ANY of this... but if I hadn't stood between our group and the enemy recently I doubt any of us would have walked away from it.

It's been over a hundred years since I last talked to him. Him, her, it. Whatever. I haven't been happy with him leaving us to be robbed and murdered by bandits, and made sure to let him know when we spoke. This isn't just me agreeing to serve him. This is a partnership. I am going to protect these clothed lemmings as they go from near-death event to near-death event and he is going to give me the abilities to do so.

I still have Dria's symbol. It's old and tarnished but at least it's with me.

At least a part of her is still with me.

I am trying to be positive about this. I am trying to walk in the light and not let these people be hurt and not be a piece of shit every day of my life. They don't seem to notice, or even care. Or raise an eyebrow that Shithead Mitch is suddenly wearing armor and carrying a sword and shield and casting spells commonly used by a Paladin...

Nope. Nope. I'm not going to be angry about this. I am going to sincerely fucking try not to be angry about this.

On the plus side, there might not be many days left to worry about! Did I mention there were MORE fucking giants? Because there were! After the forest and somehow living through all of THAT nonsense we found YET ANOTHER GIANT on Stonebridge.

Also, Woodbridge. Stonebridge. Seriously? If we come across a Bridgebridge I'm burning it to the ground.

So yeah, now Fire Giants are running around the world openly as well. That's great. That's super fucking great. Because someone who uses almost exclusively fire, that received their power from a forgotten being of living FIRE is super useful against a creature that is probably made of and sexually attracted to FIRE.

After all of that, guess what we find? ANOTHER GIANT.

Oh but no, this one wants to talk. This one is apparently from Waterdeep and works with humans and was tracking the Fire Giant we killed. In addition, he's going to help us get north to this temple or some teleportation circle or something.

We're not ready for this, not by a long shot. We need stronger weapons and magic. We need thicker shields and supplies to help us survive the increasing cold.

I'm writing angry. I don't normally do this, but hey. Between podunk towns that don't have anything more complicated than farming equipment and constantly eating shit standing between giants and everything else in the world and this group I'm in a lovely goddamn mood.

They're alive. I'm alive. My chicken is safe.

And for once? It doesn't feel like enough.

Beneath the ground and across a chasm with no bridge to walk there rests a folded piece of paper, held in place underneath a worn and pitted longsword.

I had come across something a DM I follow on Twitter posted about encouraging character interaction/story advancement. Basically each person posts three rumors about their character or their backstory where two of the rumors are true, and one is false.

Example: Leofire
1. He's been trained by four of the five Old Masters in hand-to-hand combat.
2. He once drank a shot glass of Drider venom on a bet, and lived.
3. He had his stomach surgically replaced with a Bag of Holding, allowing him to eat and drink far more than normal mortals.

Let me know if this seems like something people want to do, might give Matt more to work with for our characters. Or at least fuel more shenanigans.