*The pages of this journal entry are stained slightly by what looks like ash, the writer's usual untidy scrawl appears more rushed than usual and several words seem to be faint, as if the ink in the author's quill was low.*
Finally, after days of searching and tracking the well covered tracks of my elusive comrades, I have at last met up with my fellow Kin, joyous was I when I found them, for many years of traveling alone makes a Man rather lonely and I indeed am fond of true company.
Though admittedly, my first encounter with these Rangers was not what I expected, our meeting was met with a great peril, this peril I shall write of... For perhaps soon we may be able to uncover the mystery behind this for much has vexed me indeed and even now I am rather confused if not shocked at what happened.
It was the dead of night, there was a thick frost covering the ground and the moon shone upon the frost like glistening gems in the night, I had followed the trail up to an old wall, a ruin of ancient Arnor, searching among the wall for any sign or clue of my kin's whereabouts... For I am a skilled tracker and can spot even the faintest of clues. And a good thing too, for our people are a secretive and elusive sort, making tracking their movements rather difficult.
They had given me a good run too, four nights I traveled, sometimes almost on their tail it seemed, though every time I held out hope, they would have eluded me. I am lucky to have found these Rangers this night. For it feels as if it was but fate that brought them thither.
My search was interrupted, for I heard a rustle in a bush, turning back and swiftly taking cover behind an old Oak tree, I waited and observed what looked like a large man walking down the hill to where I had just been... Unsure of whether this stranger was friend or foe, I stayed put, keeping as silent as possible.
Curious but still rather wary, I used the darkness of the night to my advantage, sneaking around the side of the old wall to get a better view of what exactly the stranger was up to...
The stranger knelt down and lo, by his appearance I knew he was one of whom I searched tirelessly for... But to my surprise, another fellow was there, he was lying down, prepped up against the wall, it took a while to notice but through the twilight I could see a trail of crimson leading up to the man, it was clear that he was injured, perhaps beyond our saving. I remained where I was and beneath notice, for I had a strange feeling overcome me... I felt fear, and a nasty sense of forboding...
The mortally wounded Ranger begged us to flee, for a trap was set of some foul sort.
Alas, he spoke true and my intuition was correct... though none could have predicted what occurred next.
The first thing I heard was a soft hissing sound, the lightening of a torch very close to me, then at the corner of my eye, I seen what looked like a small flame ignite a coil of fuse... I looked to the wall and to my horror I saw many leather pouches with strange black powder overflowing from them... My first instinct was to run, although I knew not what these strange devices were.
Revealing my cover was the least of my worries, though luckily, the stranger had heeded my panicking voice and fled also to the trees.
Suddenly a deafening explosion of flame and smoke erupted from the wall, destroying the injured man instantly. I stumbled over, in the panic and confusion I turned around to see the wall utterly destroyed, ash and rubble scattered the ground around me... What horrid device could contain the power to destroy walls and rock with merely fire? This was no work of the Men of Breeland.... This was foul indeed, though even as I write this I have no answer, many questions fill my mind though I am weary and without explanation as to what happened...
Several armed Rangers had approached from behind cover, instructing us two to take off our hoods, luckily they seen us not as an enemy and in fact realized who we are. It was a strange meeting and shocking too.
Whatever caused this explosion, this black powder that I saw... It is not natural, some foul evil is at play here, and I fear that this won't be the last attack, I have been told that attacks like these have been occurring only too often, though none as deadly and as violent as this... Our only clue was the ruined corpse of a Goblin after searching through the rubble for our now dead comrade. I wish to never see a sight as destructive as this again. There is much we need to know, if the enemy has access to more of this strange black powder, they could use it to terrible effect.
Luckily, I am unharmed and well, I am overall glad I had finally found my kin, my fellow Rangers of the North. Now I can finally put my skills to good use and do my part for the efforts up in the North, we are few and scattered... As for my part, I cannot fathom how important it may become, for now. I have earned valuable respite from my charges as I have another small matter to take care of... Though emotional it may prove to be. I shall write about that soon..
PS: Remember to get some more ink, it is vital that I write down as much as I can about my ventures, for these deeds shall be unsung and unknown, I wish to be able to read back on my diary some time in the future. It will remind me what I am fighting for.
