A Monster Hunt

Dear Daria,
 
I've consulted with most of my troupe and so far they show no signs of the drust affecting them. Sir Esyllt will be telling Jak. Only I and he descended into the crater. I do pray to the Three that he will be okay. Right now he deeply concerned about a disaster that happened several nights ago with some kind of balloon that was delivering mail. Apparently we will be helping investigate, perhaps even this morning if the drover of this contraption recovers.
 
Meanwhile myself, my new sorcerer friend Matilda Stillwater, and Rithari went hunting for a monster up towards Attewood. Apparently some cat-like beast that expelled heat like lava was terrorizing the locals and sending the forest industry running for shelter. Another group had already tried and failed. I'm happy to report that we succeeded. And for once, not one of us were knocked out.
 
We recovered an ancient spear that was magical. Likely owned by one of the past adventurers who fought it and failed. There were many other weapons as well, but most had succumbed to the heat. You see, this beast absorbed hand weapons. Ironically, not one of us was a hand-to-hand combatant. While it wasn't easy, we did succeed brilliantly. I feel pity for the beast, warped by the miasma, but we can't allow our people to be wholesale slaughtered. In truth, I suspect that the same Lantican sorceress is behind this.
 
I feel we may have to go after her sooner rather than later and I'm unsure if we are ready.
 
In the end we made our way back to Swannport. We were briefly waylaid by some bandits, but other than a minor wound we drove them off. Matilda the sorceress in fact was key to that. She intends to introduce me to their covenant here in the coming days.
 
After returning and after due consideration, I turned over the spear and story of saving the Attewater village's livelihood to my cousin Julius' chancellor. They kindly paid a thousand gold which I divided among us three. To be honest, I almost wanted it to be a trophy as it had some unique abilities such as giving confidence and helping warn in battle. But not one of us really know how to use it effectively and those who do, use other weapons. So having in the hands of my cousin's people means that experts can determine who best can use it.
 
Now I rest. In the meantime I picked up an orichalcum dagger that can be used to focus magic and in theory can become magical itself. Any ideas?
 
With faith,
 
Seraphina