Esteemed members of the Seekers,

I would like to know if any witnessed the fall of two Stouts in the defense of the town against the spiders from Breen. They are the Hammer of Moradin, Akevitt Anvilsmasher, and the warrior Gimball Harrenhock. Both are Clan Elders and are well-loved and respected members of Clan Stoutheart. Their noble and selfless sacrifice for the other citizens of our town exemplifies the very best embodiement of the ideals of our people.

They were not paid, cajoled or forced to throw themselves - with no regard for their own safety - to the inevitably fatal task of helping the Seekers defend our town from a threat that was born, festered, and came from the wilds around Sanctuary that your organization patrols. I can say the same of every true Stoutheart, had they been given the opporunity to do so as Akevitt and Gimball did.

We of Clan Stoutheart ask only that any information concerning their last acts, the location of their bodies and personal effects, and perhaps the recognition of their selfless act in some way be our only recompense.

They lived and died as true Stoutish Heroes did, and the shining example of their defense of our town should be honored.

My sympathies to your organization for the loss of any of your members who may have suffered or died in that same glorious defense that took the lives of my kinsman.

As I said, any help you can give us in the accomplishment of those three requests would be greatly appreciated and we would be deeply in your debt.

For the safety of Sanctuary,

Faenor Rollo Stoneshield Tornbeard Hall Grunstubble Mines

Esteemed Faenor,

During the melee at the stairs I responded to a call to aid in the vicinity of the arena. I arrived to find both Gimball and Akevitt engaged in pitched battle and surrounded by nearly twenty mutated spiders. I attempted to lend aid and was quickly cut off and fighting for my life. I slew my enemy and became poisoned and wounded. I stood in the shadows, attempting to regain my senses, helpless. I watched Gimball fall and his enemies drag him away, mortally wounded. Akevitt began pushing them back towards the Society Chapterhouse, assaulted on all sides and with no recourse or aid. The spiders knocked him down and repeatedly sprayed him with horrible acids. When I could no longer hear his defiant cries of battle, nor hear him calling upon the proud name of his Father, I wept bitterly. Retreating to fetch aid I soon became embroiled in other battles. I became involved with a group climbing the opposite side towards the Ruins and the Chapterhouse. Another group of local adventurers had moved up and were destroying the spiders near where your elders had fallen. When they had finished that business, together we caught the remaining group in a pincer, and quickly ended their threat to our city. With both groups combined, I only recognized two individuals. One was Strife the wizard, transformed to troll form. The other, a warrior known as the Baron. They may know the names of the other fellows they fought with, and with luck, where the bodies of your friends may be found as well as their personal effects.

Though I never had the opportunity to meet Gimball, I knew Akevitt briefly, and regarded him highly. He spoke to me of his ideas for reforming the city, of reinfusing the populace with justice and honor. It is to my shame that I could not help your comrades in their last and most dire hour of need. They were heroes, and in selling their lives gave us time to coordinate defenses and destroy any further threat the beasts posed. Take comfort in the fact that they have escaped this earthly prison, and are seated at the right hand of your gods.

Most humbly, Seeker Nicholas Balbanes