[Written in an archaic form of Common, left in the Watch House with the Private on duty.]

My tale is a simple one. My tracker companion Mashai and I were restless, and decided to enter Greena Fears' cave for target practice against the beetles that range there. Along the way we encountered several large spiders, and I bound the winds in order to dispose of them safely... leaving me somewhat drained before the incident even began.

At the rear of the cave we had finished harvesting the last beetle, and decided to make our way back out. As we turned, I felt something brush my topknot, and realized with shock that it was a crossbow bolt. Mashai and I turned, only to see an angry and frustrated kobold frantically attempting to reload his crossbow. I returned fire, and the kobold retreated, firing once more from the safety of the shadows.

It was at this moment that I realized the kobold was not attempting to kill us, but to lure us into the darkness. I refused to take the bait, depsite Mashai's report that only three kobolds lay in wait, and decided at that time to involve the watch immediately. Ignoring her protests, we made our way back to Greena Fears. I confess we argued quite openly about my course of action, and the woman became alarmed that kobolds had taken residence in her cave... so much so, that she offered a bounty for their removal. At first I declined the reward, but was baited against my my better judgement by her continued haranguing. (That woman has a *file* for a tongue. But I digress...)

Short of temper and patience, I made my way back to the rear of the cave, relying on Mashai's tracking to locate the kobold ambush. We dispatched the three that lay in wait, but discovered the situation more serious than we had thought - the kobolds had actually entered Greena's cave through a tunnel in the cave floor.

At this point our thoughts turned to the safety of the town, but anger still clouded my judgement at Greena's insults. We descended alone without seeking backup, or even without me asking the winds for spells. What harm could a few kobolds pose to two seasoned adventurers?

We were wrong.

Kobolds we found, more than we had thought we would. I judge between 15-20 of them were in those narrow confines, among them swordswingers and archers. But that was not the worst of it. We had stumbled upon none other than what appeared to be an ancient jail or holding area of some sort, that the kobolds were using as a base. In one of the cells... we found an old man.

His name was Jord, and he did not know how long he had been down there. The kobolds were starving him and taunting him with promises of his fate at being raised by "The Master" upon his death. His cell was locked, but he claimed this Master had the key. We promised to retrieve it and release him, and proceeded deeper into the complex.

It was at this point our luck soured. The kobolds swarmed Mashai and she was overcome. I was forced back toward the rope by their assault, and though I slew the one that had chased me, I nearly succumbed to the poison on their bolts. I had no alternative but to seek aid from the town.

I arrived at the Town Hall steps bleeding, battered, and throughly weakened. I was assisted by a cleric of Oghma named Ann, who also lent me the coin to rest at the inn and recharge, for in my flight I had dropped all my possessions. She recruited others, and thusly empowered we returned to the cave.

Surprisingly, when we arrived we found my companion, alive and seemingly none the worse for wear. She informed us that "The Master" was none other than a vile Yuan-Ti. She also revealed that the Yuan-Ti had forced her to consume some vile concoction. We began to realize that time was running out, and so after a moment of prayer we entered the ruins for what I hoped would be the final time.

A pitched battle ensued. The Yuan-Ti's minions surrounded us, and the being itself uttered vile curses and cast foul spells. Ultimately, we proved too much for the snake-woman and slew it. As it died, it announced that "The Sisterhood" would seek revenge for its death. With that uneasy promise in our ears, we searched around the room for the thing's point of entry... but were foiled. However, on her slain form we found a potion that proved to be the antidote for Mashai's toxin.

The kobolds are no more, and their leader slain. In time, I do not doubt the beetles themselves will cover up the tunnel as they range for new nesting grounds. As the unwitting instigator of this incident, I agreed to be the one to file the report with the Watch. I make no recommendations as to the safety of our town, beyond that perhaps the woman Greena Fears may need more protection in her small cave than an old, nearly blind dog. Given that she presides over one of our staple food supplies, prudence may be in order.

Please make a copy of this report for the Spellguard as well. I have no doubt that they were wondering about all of the magic used inside the cave, and I would not like to leave them uninformed.

May the Winds uplift us all,

-Kazemaru

[Sketched at the bottom of the last page is a puffy shape - a cloud for those who know what one looks like]