Death Approaches

The following letter is pinned to the board at Galloran’s Hearth
 
To the townsfolk of Vareholm,
 
Two nights past, our family farm was attacked by some bloody gruesome beasts. They razed our farm and set fire to our crops. I’m not sure why they buggered off but it was bloody lucky they did. Me Pa, who many of you like to call Old Man Tillerman, was able to grab some sturdy fellas who was patrollin’ the outskirts nearby. If it hadn’t been for Radmac Snowson, Hadollof Obici, Taranis Skoll, Boaz Hamison, Neris and Mikallan Aerendyl, I might not be here today.
 
Four of the family was injured by those beasts but Handollaf and Taranis was able to help Mama get them patched up. The rest of us was pretty sure those brutes was fixin’ to come back so we got to work on buildin’ up some barricades. Well ‘cept for that one character Boaz that turned and rode off int’a the woods for some odd reason.
 
Anyways, ‘tis a good thing we got them walls up when we did, eye. Soon as dawn dusk fell, twas’ like hell itself opened up and an army of death descended on our little farm. Pa went outside to face ‘em and I did me best to comfort the family inside the house. I dunno how long it’d been but one of those patrol fellas came rushin’ in. Strange lookin’ elven creature with a big feath’ry wing, only one was broke like some sorta fall’n angel. He burst in yellin’ some kinda jibberish. Hard to understand, that one. We thought he was tryin’ to run away.
 
Whatever he was sayin’ he gave up when he saw that beauty of a horse they called a goat get taken down by a blow to the side. Ran out like a bloody fool but he managed to save the horse. Twas’ a bit of bad luck that giant skeleton creature showed up when he tried to run back to the house. Filthy beast took the elf’s head clean off his shoulders. ‘is body slumped over the horse’s back when he fell and then I saw the most horribly beautiful thing I ever saw. A single beam of sunli’te broke over the mount’n and cast itself on the elf as tho’ from the heavens. ‘is good wing was draped over his broken body like a brilliant white banner with blood red stripes and then that crazy horse stood up and limped away from the battle, barely clingin’ to life.
 
Pa was so inspired he run in yellin’ for us to grab some weapons an’ defend our home. We rushed out an’ started swingin’ at anythin’ we could see when that dwarf cleric Handollaf started channelin’ the powers of the heavens and sent them giants runnin’ scared.
 
Everyone thought it best to shelter up in the house in case those creatures got their nerve back and sure ‘nuff they showed up swingin’ axes through the windows. They managed to break in and nearly put an end to that warlock guy Neris, but he hobbled up the stairs to safety. The rest of us followed Pa and rushed the beasts to keep them from getting to the children upstairs. Then the last of them giant monsters cut down Pa right before my eyes. I was so angry I stopped thinkin’ and a powerful surge of energy flowed into my quarterstaff as I swung at that bloody beast’s midsection. His bones crack’d like eggshells and crumpled to the floor in a heap’a dust.
 
Once the dust was settled, the paladin Taranis went to the woods to find his donkey that ran away durin’ the fight. He never did find the donkey but said he saw some strange creature flappin’ in the shadows. I should prob’ly check that out, I know these woods like the back of me hands but I never heard of no shadows wit’ wings.
 
The others from the patrol asked if they could bury their friend on the farm and get some rest in the house. They made a big fuss about the ceremony and used the elve’s shield to mark his grave. ‘Twas sort of a strange request since we hadn’t met ‘im until last night but he did help defend our home an’ we was all mighty grateful. Anyway, I was too weary to worry ‘bout their concerns.
 
They left me and me brothers to bury Pa on our own. Can’t hold it against ‘em though, ‘tis for the best we take care of our own family business. We cut him humble marker in the customary style of our people and buried him near the barn with a short prayer for a peaceful rest.
 
Those hellish giants sure left a mess of tracks from tramplin’ the farm but we never did find out where they come from. I did manage to find this old journal that belonged to the elf. Must have fallen outta his things and gotten missed.
 
Oh, and dunno know why that patrol kep’ callin’ me Jon, sounds like the name of some bloke from Neverwinter. I’ve been here since th' beginnin' and you all ought to know me proper name by now.
 
Signed,

Jack Tillerman