Spoke with Billium at the Pony, the man has left the lumber camp to hire himself on with the Blackboars, a notorious group hailing from here in Breeland who style themselves protectors of the area but are in truth a group of sellswords seeking profit. Bill was rather belligerent when I mentioned that the Blackboars were not upstanding citizens and threatened to "tear off my head and shit down my neck" to which I warned him doing so would have a hefty penalty. I fear my warning might fall on deaf ears since according to some, Bill got away with at least five murders when he killed the men he thought had assaulted his wife.
Personally, I think he should be watched along with the rest of the Blackboars. I saw the woman that I believe to be the leader, her name is Alijah I have heard but had not the chance to speak with her. I was off duty and rather irritable after speaking with Bill. He was once a friend but has changed so much, I hardly recognize him if it were not for his distinctive size and black beard. While the Blackboars might do some good, it does not erase their crimes. Now that I am back from serving with the scouts I plan on looking into these groups that seem to have sprung out around Bree.
Speaking of which, I had a rather unusual surprise. My second cousin Dryn was in the Pony, dressed in the colors of one of those Southron "Houses" that have risen from the refugees and travellers who have flooded into Bree. I don't know the lad well, our fathers had a falling out long ago but he is still a Fenflower. Though at least he does not go by that name, he's taken on some Southron monniker that I cannot pronounce, let alone spell. He claimed he was left alone after the death of his parents and was "adopted" by these strangers. The daft boy could have come to us or any one else in the family. He was not at fault for his father's mistakes. I'm afraid I rather made an arse of myself, shouting at the lad but it infuriates me that he would have rather gone with them then come to his blood family. I had to leave otherwise I would have got myself into trouble, though I fear the scene I made will likely get back to the lads and they would enjoy that bit of gossip far too much.
