The passing of Krieger

I hate snakes. First we were plagued by vampires, then demons, and now the theme is snakes.

My parents made treasure-hunting sound like so much fun but I think that’s only because I was getting the highlights from their two perspectives. The endless trudging between towns, getting lost in all the damn forests in this area of the world… It’s wearing on me. And now, watching Krieger squeezed and pummeled to death by that more snake than man Yuan-ti. After the first snake-man looked into my eyes so that I felt compelled to back away, I was then useless from just twenty feet away. It’s just getting to be too much.

I don’t know why I’m out here and how I ended up with this bunch. The past few months have just flown by. We were pressed into service and have had no time to get to know anyone before death has taken them. I’m the last of the original group with which I first went down into the Bastard’s cellars. Torvald, Nazdreg, Friar Gregory, and now Krieger are all dead. At least we have Krieger’s body. Maybe we can convince his soul to return so that he may fight again.

Not that his return would improve my situation. Sure, he meets enemies head-on so Civlis and I can concentrate on using magic without a monster in our face but his ethics are so twisted, possibly by the loss of his mentor. He drives us on without rest so we can help the people of the area but he vetoes any helping each other. Civlis is the same. He and I could both benefit by sharing our arcane knowledge but he also feels no need to cooperate with those who, for now, are closest to him. Bizarre that they’re so eager to help those they barely know but look at me with such suspicion. And the lectures when I helped them with that figurine! Only death could shut Krieger up on the subject.

I want to help others and I do my best to achieve that but it gets me nothing in return. Maybe it’s time to look out for myself a little more and do whatever makes me happiest.