First Journal – Charred

It is the second evening after the attack and the fires have ceased. The townsfolk are starting to come together in bigger groups than they dared before and are making plans for the immediate future now. We went into town with a small group of men, Cal and myself among them, and found the place empty of enemies and, indeed, empty of food and valuables. Evidently they came in while we were seeking refuge in the hills and have taken all supplies and provisions they could find. The townsfolk are of a mind to go back to what is left of their homes the day after tomorrow. The smith’s father has died. The youngest of the girls who were with us has found her mother’s sister and has gone with her; her mother has not yet been found. The other girl goes by the name of Mildred and she has found neither her parents nor any other family, but she is currently being looked after by a neighbour. Cal ventured some ways to the south earlier today to see if the road into the Breefields was safe enough for us to take. Unfortunately, he has reported that small bands of orcs have set up camps on both sides of the Greenway and that there is no doubt they shall see us if we decide to go that way. So it seems were are to stay with the townsfolk of Trestlebridge for a while unless we decide to move further into the hills and the wilderness, though I know Master Wheatley prefers to stay off the wild paths. He is a foul mood, besides, because we had to leave the ledger behind in the attack and our chest of documents also, though he will not admit to it, what with the greater losses that the townsfolk have had to endure. I predict that we will stay close to the town until its residents have moved back, so that we may have a look for our documents and ledger before deciding on which road to take home.