Stolen from the field

The following journal entry described the events that happened on the 23rd of Palesun in the year 242
 
A few of the newer arrivals, Misbeth, Sylhorn, Thauder, Veszerd, and myself were enjoying some time off at Galloran's Hearth when a panicked farmer burst into the tavern screaming that his two children and another child have been taken by some beast or monster. Flustered we take a few seconds to process but then quickly follow the farmer to his farmstead. His ranch was located just half a mile outside of the protected area of the barrier.
 
Once there it was quite apparent where the children were taken to, whatever made the tracks wasn't trying to hide their actions. We followed the tracks north, north-east. Keeping quick pace we arrive at a cave at the side of a cliff within half a day. The tracks lead further into the cave. Since there are lives at stake we try not to waste much time.
 
In the cave we soon suspect that some arachnid colony has made its nest here, and we are indeed soon assaulted by various such eight-legged creatures. We also encounter a nasty and weird creature that I've only read about. A roper, it's called I think. Veszerd was unfortunately 'roped' by this creature and was knocked out. With Veszerd in trouble and the relative time pressure of the missing children (who knows how long it takes before they are eaten) I decide to apply some high level magic on the Roper. Turning it to ash instantly.
 
Understandeably my fellows wanted to take a quick breather to recharge their energy but I urged them on because there were innocent lives at stake. We find another dark passage further into the cave, which is covered in spiderwebs. We try to burn them but for some reason it is very effective and the fire quickly threatens to burn whatever is in the caves beyond, possibly the children. Luckily Misbeth had a quick sleet storm spell ready to douse the flames before anything bad happened. We fight another bunch of weird looking creatures. Snake like things with beaks, Gricks. Having despatched them we almost immediately run into what seems to be the lair of these creatures as we find a bunch of ettercaps and giant spiders. We engage in a fierce battle. But I was stopped from finishing them off as one of the ettercaps threatened one of the children. If I took action against the creature it was obvious that it would kill the child before I would've been able to kill the ettercap.
 
This standoff lasted for a few moments as my allies were still fighting the rest of the spiders. I was trying to come up with some kind of plan or solution, I could let the creature go and it probably would've released the child. But it wasn't meant to be as Veszerd for undisclosed reasons killed the child and the ettercap, by teleporting there and striking quickly with his sword. Only I saw this happen, and he hasn't given much of an explanation yet. But the wound he left on the child was quite obvious I don't think people will react favorably if or when they hear this news. I suppose he thought the child was beyond saving and wanted to spare him from any worse a fate.
 
We did ultimately defeat these creatures and saved the other two children, that's something I suppose. But I can't help but feel sour after the turn of events at the end, even the couple valuables we found among the caves didn't really lift our spirits. Breaking the news was tough as well, but in the end we have to remember we did save two children that's something I suppose....