Journal Entry- Mining Esteldín
It has taken me almost a fortnight of surveying to find this dig-site.
It seems my hunt for precious gold ore has led me to a wonderful valley that is unfortunately inhabited by a barbarous tribe of Dourhand Dwarves. I've come upon several encampments on two separate occasions thus far.
No matter. Besides, in exchange for some of my haul the Rangers of Esteldin have allowed me refuge in their stronghold to trade goods as well as two armed escorts to guard Un, a hired laborer of mine and myself while we are at the excavation site.
The site itself has already proven quite fruitful and I suspect the deposits in this area will reap a very generous bounty for quite some time. Unfortunately, my escorts have realized this as well and as a result I've had to pay them quite handsomely for their silence in addition to our previous arrangement.
Perhaps the fertile rock content of this valley is what led the Dourhands here. Although I know not their intent I am sure it is of a nefarious nature. I truly hope that they do not take an interest in our camp, as I do not think our meeting would be pleasant.
It seems my usual method of concealment is working thus far and I've not had any trouble from these Dour Dwarves. Confound this eternal rain though! While our tent is covering the dig hole and keeping us inconspicuous enough this infernal rain runs down the valley every which way and underneath the walls of our canopy; flooding the pit no matter how I try and redirect it. Surely, I'll be extracting hundreds of gallons of water by the bucketful before I can even reach the ore!
I hope my new found business associate Mister Dwimmer will appreciate the painstaking efforts I have gone to, locating and securing this vein for him to acquire this gold. From our brief encounter he appeared an honest fellow and ultimately I wish to win the dwarf's confidence and admiration enough that we may be of mutual benefit to each other at some point. He is a dwarf after all and what better trade partner of mineral and stone than that?
-Duramarth IV
