Of Trolls and Drunkards

Nothing quite like being woken up by being crushed almost to death by an axe. I had a vision again, but this time so much more vivid, somehow. I was holding a lantern on a ship, but I had no control of myself. Thoughts that weren't my own entered my mind, such as a brief thought of abandoning the earth and the disappointment of Chauntea. As I looked over the front of the ship, I saw a mermaid-shaped wooden sprite. I barely had time to register this before a huge grey mass slammed into the ship, knocking me out... Leaving me in my morning predicament. As I sat there begging for help from Aerilyn and Noelani, they calmly woke up and left me there, slowly being crushed. I like to think I don't get mad easily, but I've almost never been so angry before in my life- except once. They went to go get breakfast and just left me there. Luckily, after AN HOUR of suffering, Borris came around and happily retrieved his axe. I'm so grateful to him, even if he only just wanted his axe back. It's good to have him back. I was worried that he wouldn't make it, but seeing him alive and well, if a bit tired, made me so relieved.
In the Adventurer's Guild, we saw many people in front of a board grabbing pieces of paper. We got breakfast, only for some drunk man to wander into the bar. he looked kind of rough, almost like he was going to die. Naturally, I tried to help, but he only wanted ale. After getting him on his feet, he introduced himself as Caz. He said he was looking for his friend Keenor York, but we had no idea who he was talking about. From his clothes, it looked like he was possibly a scout of some sort. As we were speaking, Aerilyn mentioned smelling smoke of some sort. While there was no sign of anything of the sort, I think I need to talk with her about this soon. I feel like I left a bad impression when I said her family was cursed. She is very kind, even if she does no believe it. Noelani seemed a bit distracted as well, come to think of it. Hmm.
 
After breakfast, we looked at what turned out to be a "quest board" of some sort. We took one of the quests off the board about a live troll needed for experiments and headed off to the nicer portion of town. We were stopped by the guards who took pity on us for not having a pass and offered to escort us through the gate. After finding the contract holder, a wizard of some sort named Raymond Kenley, we haggled (mostly unsuccessfully) with him for a better price. I was uncomfortable with how the rest of the party blankly asked for more than four times his original offered payment, which Raymond immediately denied. I know we need money, but.... Anyways, we eventually agreed on a better price and left with a downpayment. a magical cage, and a wagon. For some reason, the rest of the party wanted to sell the cage and the wagon and to not complete the job we had agreed to. Although I was nervous about going against the group, I put my foot down. This was wrong, and we needed to do what we had promised... Especially since we had taken the contract in full view of the adventurer's guild. Luckily, the rest of the group gave in and we began looking for ways to find out more info about trolls. After making a wrong turn to the Bard College, which made Aerilyn extremely happy to meet other bards and Middlefink Puddleblast, the leader of the College. After learning some more knowledge from Raymond, we went to a bridge where Caz had seen a blue troll. We placed the cage near the water and waited to spring a trap with Borris dancing inside the cage to draw the troll in. After waiting for an hour, I finally saw the beast poking its head out of the water. I pointed this out to the rest of the group and Aerilyn quickly cast a spell to make the water near the troll appear as if it was on fire. The troll quickly hid, forcing me to approach and draw it out with some gold. Unfortunately, this was the wrong move.
 
The troll jumped out of the water and onto the bridge, hitting me repeatedly as Caz tried to deal as much damage as possible. I wasn't sure how long I could hold out, but whenever the troll hit me, the impacts felt deadened somehow. Just a gift of the magic water I suppose. Despite how tired he was Borris did a great job attacking the troll and keeping it from moving towards Noelani and Aerilyn. Noelani broke the troll's knee after some time using her magic and Borris manage to trip it up. I had to use my Hellish Rebuke spell as well in order for our damage to stick to the troll after it kept healing itself. Aerilyn... I heard Aerilyn yelling some language I couldn't understand and standing in the cage. Luckily after tripping the troll, we knocked it out, putting it into the cage.
 
Caz's drinking friend Keenor finally showed himself and offered us passage into the nice portion of the city if we offered him a portion of the glory for taking out the troll. We agreed and brought the troll to Raymond for our reward. As we were walking, Caz told us that there had been strange things afoot and that the city of Greenhorn was in danger. He had seen the Tall One raising the undead outside of the city, and that an army of 100,000 orcs was on their way and would arrive in four days.
 
I feel like I have a concussion, despite having very few marks on me from the troll's blows. That fight was brutal, but luckily no one else was hurt. I'll happily take the hits, I don't mind... But I can feel my knowledge of the magic water slipping. I feel weaker than I have since drinking the water, and I'm feeling more and more like myself. I can feel the magic imbued in me reducing, and I don't know what will happen when it is gone. As for Caz's news.... I am terrified. 100,000 orcs. coming here? We need to tell the Prince immediately. We don't have much time.
 
Chauntea protect us all. Please. Especially Amber.