10 Kythorn 1479

Weirdest dream last night. Saw a taproom and a couple in a dark corner, having a really...intense discussion. Fellow looked odd, almost animal-like, maybe that's what those shifters look like? and she...well, she seemed human or close to, but... Anyway, he was arguing something and she was protesting or such and he shook his head, shoved back from the table and stormed off. She sat there looking so sad and I felt like I just HAD to help her. Doesn't seem weird to tell it, I mean, why wouldn't I help a pretty girl? But...feels weird just the same.

We headed on to Turlough's in the morning and sure enough there was a job for caravan guards for us - well, sorta. The...client? whoever was doing the hiring anyway - wanted someone more experienced, but we were what was left. For some reason, no one seems to know why, the Plumbers and Cellarers Guild hired up some 10 mercenaries and a few other guilds picked up some - which is common, just odd to have such a rush. Anyway, we were supposed to go talk to Alden Goldsmith at his shop for the details. His shop is in the seriously posh end of town - the "we are so out of place with our dirty boots and cheap clothes" end of town. Not really all that surprising for a jeweler. What WAS surprising that the actual...hirer was Eldreth Deepwater. We have been chosen - yes, us chosen, as in he arranged for the other mercenaries to be hired out so that they had to "settle" for us - for a special secret mission. Sounds ridiculous, don't it? He figured we were the right..type. We're to escort a caravan of gold bars from Silverymoon to Waterdeep - but wait, you say, aren't we on the wrong end of this? Seems we're to pick up our REAL cargo in Redspring - a smallish town? midway between the Glimmerwood and the Evermoors. We're bringing HIM back, cleverly disguised as a caravan guard, to Waterdeep.

To identify him we have a signet ring - a hooded figure with a patched eye in front of what COULD be the Waterdeep tower (saw that coming up to the shop and that is something else indeed, never knew you could HAVE a building that tall) with bunches of arrows on the sides. Looked kinda orcy and Eldreth said we'd have no trouble spotting the guy, full orc, full civilized. After the other night, I can kinda see why you'd wanna bring him in quiet-like. Eldreth gave us some papers authorizing us as caravan guards from Turlough's - and gave us a couple extra...just in case. We contact some fellow named Dunstan Oredigger in Silverymoon - I'm thinking dwarf, myself. Eldreth then said the job paid 1000gp EACH when our cargo arrives in Waterdeep. 1000gp EACH. EACH. 1000gp of my own. What in nine hells do I spend 1000gp on??? Anyway, Eldreth said he'd front some expenses for equipment, so we got Gnf brewing up some healing potions - let's face it, I'm not that good a healer. And he said that to solve the problem of Redspring being some months foot travel from here, he'd arranged chits for tickets to fly on hippogriffs. Wow. Get ready, we'd leave tomorrow.

While the others checked armor and weapons, I went to chat up the flight master, arrange the chits, leaving time, see if we needed anything...see what the hell a hippogriff REALLY looked like, that sort of thing. Flight master turned out to be a she - pretty genasi she, that's what those swirling marks and such mean, yes? - so I chatted her up some. She mentioned it was odd us getting these pricey tickets - I guess I musta looked too much a rustic and I was worried I'd done something to blow Eldreth's secret and I guess I panicked. I just leaned in close and dropped to a whisper - always brings 'em in, figuring it's a good secret they're hearing - and whispered that I was in disguise. Anyway, she said she was going along too - it being a 5 day trip and someone had to see to the animals and the leather and surely "milord" wouldn't be handling that. I've REALLY stepped in it, but nothing to do but face it out like I meant it. So I flirted a bit, saying I was glad to have a pretty companion and she flashed the wedding ring that I SHOULD have noticed, so I recovered by pointing out that I could still enjoy the scenery.

I am in so much trouble.