3rd March, 770
Further investigation of the Crypts below the Morninglord Church leads me to believe that the structure was built upon an ancient burial ground. This is likely a source of the Undead legions that occupy these catacombs. This place is certainly, and powerfully, cursed. One must wonder if this church was built here specifically to stem the flow of Restless dead.
An expedition to a cave ended poorly. It turned out to be infested with the lizard-like bipeds known as Kobolds (See: Notes: Kobolds). My injuries were not insignificant.
I, with a group led by a woman named Thessa, paid a visit to a cavern housing a large pack of werewolves, my companions putting them to the sword whilst I took notes and tried not to get in the way. Sadly, it seems I'm not yet able to contribute too much to these excursions.
I've met a number of interesting people, including a Dementlieuse fellow named Olivier, who seems agreeable enough. I also met a beautiful pale woman named Camilla, who several people claim may in fact be a vampire. I'll be suitably wary should our paths cross again. There are many others, some just as noteworthy, that I may write about at another date. Another acquaintance who seems most interesting is a man named Ove.
He doesn't speak the common tongue well, and having showed me maps of his homeland, it seems he's not from the Core. In fact, no one seems to know of his home at all.
Truly, the Mists are far reaching. Growing up, the somewhat fanciful stories of travellers from other worlds always drew my interest. When I was sent to aid my grandfather in the running of his estate just outside of Blackburn Crossing, the revelation that Outlanders did indeed walked our continent (And that my grandfather employed several!) was almost more exciting than I could bear.
The nature of our world seems different than any other. Almost no Outlanders seemed to be aware of other worlds before being brought here, so one could surmise that the Mists and their properties are unique to this world.
Barovia's role as the entry point for so many more Outlanders than anywhere else in the Core seems to be significant. Barovia is said to be the oldest nation on the continent, and the presence of so many ancient ruins seems to confirm this. More investigation is needed before I can draw any meaningful conclusions.
Progress is a little slower than I'd like, in part due to my own inexperience (although my magical abilities are developing well enough) and in part due to a lack of funds. I seem to spend more time attempting to acquire 'fang' (as the locals call it) than actually doing research.
There are no educational establishments to speak of here, though I did manage to find a retreat for those of a magical bent. I was shown the way by a fellow Mordentishman, Edward Keegan, himself a man of intellect. This was fortuitous, my ability to acquire new spells would have otherwise been severely hampered.
Notes:
Combat advice from Mariea, the self-proclaimed 'Redeemed paladin of Bahamut' (see: Notes; Dragons);
Fire for trolls, except desert trolls.
Silver for werewolves.
Magic for vampires.
Curiously, negative energy weapon oils will work for corporeal undead.
Acid works on most anything other than oozes.
Dragons;
My mentor, a wizard from a city called Sharn (Nation: Breland, Continent: Eberron), assured me that dragons were extinct where he came from. However, several individuals from the land called Faerun assure me that dragons exist there in the present day! I've heard mention of red dragons, as well as dragons of metallic varieties (Copper, silver, and platinum, though the platinum dragon appears to be unique and is worshipped as the god Bahamut). There are even rumours of a dragon hidden below a mountain near Vallaki!
Of Dwarves and Elves;
I've been told of an elven camp named Delgannwy in the southern forest of Vallaki, and a dwarven mine in the mountains, supposedly beset by some form of Dragon (See: Notes: Dragons). I would like to make the journey to see these places for myself. I'm no stranger to non-humans, having spent my late teens and twenties thus far in Blackburns Crossing, but have never seen entire communities consisting of a non-human race.
Kobolds;
These creatures are small (The height of a halfling, or 'Hin', as many here call them) and lizard-like, with long tails and snouts. They speak a crude form of Draconic and are skilled trappers. They seem to have domesticated a form of giant weasel.
The Werewolf Cavern;
The ship, whos crew may now be the wolf-men in question, seems to have been used for piracy. The population here is high, and that is unlikely to change much due to the beasts' regenerative abilities. Many mundane wolves also call this cavern home.
