Dear Sir,
Despite repeated attempts over the last few days I have been unable to locate you to discuss the matter of the stolen medical equipment in person. Instead I will attempt to describe the incident in detail here.
I have been searching for medical equipment for some time now. After some inquires at the Blue Mushroom I was directed to a Svirfneblin by the name of Perninlock Blingdenstone. He stated he would be able to procure and deliver a substantial quantity of medical equipment to the Dark Lake docks. At the pre-organised date, I organised a team of manual labourers to carry the equipment to the hospital. The members of this team were as follows: Venom, Hungry, Abram Cove, Willow, Rizzin, Vara and Kaylynn Krow. We travelled to the docks via the way of the local mine shafts. As we entered the tunnels we encountered a fracas in progress. Two creatures resembling stone brains on four legs were fighting a citizen by the name of Bug, and two other elves. One of these elves was wearing black and had black hair. The other wore red with a red pot helm. The creatures were very fierce, and beat back our entire team of labourers, and nearly killed Bug. As the melee became chaotic, I called a retreat, and we were able to withdrawn out onto the docks. Once we located the boxes, we found that they were one short in number (4 not 5). Moreover the boxes were not guarded in violation of our contract. We collected remaining the boxes, and found the return trip uneventful. However to add insult to injury, one of the items was taken from the boxes during transit. The three carriers were Venom, Hungry and Rizzan. Given the size and weight of the items in question, I can only presume that only one of these three would be able to steal the item in question.
I subsequently spoke to the Svirfneblin regarding the matter. He stated that 2000 of the coin I had provided for the transport and protection of the goods had been used to employ Bug and the two aforementioned mystery elves to act as mercenary guards once the boxes were delivered. What happened after this remains a mystery, and a conversation I have shared with Bug has not made the matter more clear. He is adamant he hasn’t got the box in question, and is eager to get it from the elves he believes have may have stolen it, in return for the reward I have posted. I’m not so sure. The appearance of two strong brain-quadrupeds appears to be related to me, and I’m not sure if, in the confusion of the attack, third parties unknown stole the goods themselves. Unless, of course, one or both of the elves was an insider, acting in cohorts for the theft of these goods. The whole affair is as confusing as it is regrettable.
The two items are both pieces of medical equipment. They are of svirfneblin manufacture, and I am led to believe the items are second hand. From whence they came originally, I cannot say, though one suspects a deserted svirfneblin medical facility. If the inventory given to me by Perninlock is correct, they are a Centrifugal Negative Humour Extractor, used to draw foul essences from the sick, and a diagnostic tool, called a Phlogiston Wave Vibrational Analyser. The functions of these items may not be immediately obvious to the unskilled operator. Suffice to say they are large, of silvery colour, being primarily metallic in nature (the Humour Extractor contains semi-organic components, and is particularly sensitive to damage from drops or bumps).
Obviously the delay in the setting up of the hospital is of concearn. I hope that these thefts were merely caused by greedy individuals, who will return the items when there lack of value on the common market becomes evident. As a final note, after my last discussion with Perninlock, I have been unable to locate him for further questioning. Our last discussion did become quite heated, as I requested some of the gold be returned as the items had not been delivered, and the boxes not protected. He pointed the finger at the guards, saying they were my citizens not his, so Sanctuary was to blame. Either way I have not been able to speak to him again, questioning at the Blue Mushroom has led to blank stares and feigned ignorance from the other traders.
I have almost given up hope for the return of these items, and will leave the case in your hands. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me, either by letter or in person, at the Steady Hand.
Yours respectfully, Frudoc L. Maynare.