The scrawny man in the cloak.

I have failed three times on the simplest job now. The others work hard to make this place into something great. The Dragonborn has hung upside down for two days knocking stones to make the cave bigger, the small human works to give us more food, and the dwarf hasn't even slept in 3 days. Yet when I am given the simple task to make sure no one walks into our midst... well let's say I have given more access to the unwanted then all the others combined.
 
The xorn came back and traded knowledge with us, thankfully nothing terrible came from our interaction with it, however my attempts to communicate where proven clunky when a spell of comprehend languages pushed me aside. Honestly, I thought I would be more useful on an adventure when I drunkenly signed my life away for 6 months. But every day I see how much I am suited for this life. The weird and fantastic are so mundane when you see them in real life. far under the surface of the world we are the freaks, but none more than me. A soft smooth talker that wished well upon all they met is a poor fit for a savage land such as this. But survival is not enough. I must make myself useful, play some part in the tale of tragedy yet to come.
 
The Letter of invitation weighed heavily on my mind. A bat that carried it from God knows who to introduce someone who probably means us harm? this is my field. A stranger in a strange land yet his specialty comes up at the last minute? these are what tales are made of. I volunteer without hesitation, my companions to their credit do not snear as I even take the lead and push us faster towards our destination than even I would like. yet my stumbles and trips give no end to start as we try to go unnoticed. On the way to our destination, we stumble upon some goblins having a conversation of insidious nature, however, that is cut short by an even larger and more pressing threat. we would later learn from the xorn that it is only known by what it brings; pain.
 
We came to the meeting place only after a run-in with some abominations in the dark. they nearly had their fill of me and would have if the paladin was not near. this was all a prelude to a somewhat rough yet polite communication with a mysterious cloaked man. he spoke eloquently in several languages and offered us several light crystals in exchange for future relations. I insultingly suggested a straight trade with the ale we had brought, not knowing the size and value of the crystals he was offering. however, the paladin recovered the situation. will I ever stop being a burden to this merry troupe? after leaving under the water and piquing my curiosity all the more we recovered the crystals and made our way back to the hearth. All I can hope is that we survive until the end of this tale. we will have such stories to tell, stories so grand that no-one would dare not believe.