~an excerpt from Thorne McKinsey's early journals~

  There's not a whole lot you could say that defines Kalenvale. A little hamlet, barely worth noticing, set in the area between the Northern plains and the Southern sea. An inn and a few indistinct shops followed by a few houses and crypts. That made the central part of the place, farms to the East framing it out. The perfect place to hide if you didn't want to be found, exactly why I was there.

  It was early afternoon by the time I arrived, with none of the locals sparing me but a quick look of utter confusion, which leads to the realization now that not many bards ever visited the place, let alone one as....eccentric as myself. Of course that said, I've been here for a few days and really none have shown up. Odd, but with the state of the place you can't blame anyone....

 As mentioned I had just arrived and was about the place in my usual curious state. Which only experts should do, mind you, but I think these past few days have proven I am one, seeing as I came out of the crypts okay, but I'll touch on that here in a moment. I investigated the shops and Inn, easily procuring a room, and decided to go look into the farms. Now, there's this big set of gates at each direction in Kalenvale Main, and at each is a guard. These guys are nice all save the guy at the town board, that one hates me for some reason.

 After a short exchange with the Eastern guard (never got his name) I ventured off into the farms, which are adorable. Everyone there is super nice, though really busy. Now don't do what I did, and go farther East unless you're super good at Gobber bashing or have a friend who is super good at Gobber bashing.

 What are gobbers? Goblins. Nasty, smelly, knifing goblins. Who knew they were so close to Kalenvale Farms? I didn't and they kicked my ass. Seriously, I went to where they were and they kicked my bottom, literally. Of course, I was able to brandish my violin's bow at them as it was all I had at them time. It did nothing to stop them from kicking me and then knifing me. Which hurt a lot and I may have almost died. But then -he- showed up.

 So turns out the guards are super good at Gobber bashing. Out of the blue one of them shows up and starts punting the things. Did you know they're super awesome medics too? I still have blood and all my organs thanks to him! After administering first aid he helped me up and handed me my bow. "Are you alright Miss? You shouldn't be out here alone. Goblins aren't a thing to laugh at unless you know how to fight them" he said, watching as I picked grass from my raven hair.

 "I didn't know they were here or that they were so mean" I answered, checking that everything was still in place "Thanks for saving me"

 "Not at all, Miss. My name is Galven and I'm just glad I was out here patrolling"

 "I'm Thorne McKinsey, bard. I'm glad you were too or I'd been Gobber food. s there anything else I should avoid here?" Galven nodded as he escorted me back to town.

" Kobolds to the East, Ogres in the North, Orcs in the South....and Undead in the crypts, I suggest you avoid there at all costs" I nodded in return, waving goodbye as he ushered me back into town proper...and the sounds of a little boy crying. He wasn't hard to find, hiding behind a locked house and mournfully looking at the wall surrounding the crypts.

 "what's wrong?" I asked, doing my best to console him. He looked at me with tear streaked cheeks.

"M-my sister...she..she went into the crypts...I told her not to but there was a voice and I ran..." He started to bawl again to which I stood up once more, determined.

 "what's her name? I'm going to go find her" I said, the boy staring at me in awe.

 "R-really? her name is Gwen..oh please go find her!" I nodded and told him to stay where he was and went around and climbed the gate (that being an achievement in a skirt). Without a second thought I ventured inside.

 The crypts were freaky as hell. Not only were they dark and gross, but there was eerie sounds. Know what they were. Deaders. Gross. Skeletons were everywhere I looked and once again all I had was my violin's bow. So I channeled my inner rogue and snuck past them. Go me and still having my brain! "Gwen? Gwen! Are you here?" I called, stopping suddenly. I am in no way kidding when  say the air was dark and made me want to give up on life. It was a Shade, which I'm no Priest of Tellum, but that's bad business. And there was poor little Gwen, sobbing as the thing whispered and went to touch her. It promptly got a bow thrown at it.

  I sprung from cover and grabbed for Gwen, who clung to me "It wants to eat me!" she sobbed, and it was all I could do to get her to move.

"then run as fast as you can, I'll hold it off!" I threw her forward, turning to face the Shade. It laughed and slithered toward me, and I can say I did what I sad and stayed put. "I'm not letting you have her!"

 "Foolish girl" it hissed "You can't hope to stop me!" It suddenly spread out and surrounded me, laughing the whole time. It's presence was suppress and  wanted to faint, but knew if  did, Gwen would never make it. So I stood and waited for an eternity, fighting off it's taint. And suddenly with a scream, it pulled back. "She's gone! You foolish girl!"

 "BYE!" I screamed and ran, running past the Deaders and scrambling up the stairs and out into the sun. I found Gwen and her brother, the two sobbing in gratitude and fear, and I promptly escorted them home. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Mayor to let him know what happened.