An old, leather-bound book, but no dust on the jacket. Has this been used recently? You flip through some of the pages.
Adventures of Bayten Trappe
Day 129 of the Year 1330
I'm beginning to think cousin Sedna was right... These swamps once held such great promise, rich with thrilling danger and new adventure around every gnarled tree, but after the king began cracking down on the region, all sorts of undesirables have begun creeping into the swamp.
I've found the struggle has started to outweigh the fun since then. Animals are one thing, but people? There's no sport in conflict with people. I moved away from Badongerst all those years ago to get away from people, yet it seems the spheres themselves seek to deny me my solitude.
Adventures of Bayten Trappe
Day 264 of the Year 1330
These people... are they truly criminals? The dregs of society, cast out for their misdeeds? That's what the few guards I've come across have been telling me, but I now have my doubts.
These so-called "criminals" seem to be a varied sort, just like the wildlife of the swamps. Some are clearly hardened, but others seem to be mere village folk! Perhaps this warrants my attention after all...
In other news, the adventure continues! Twelve wolves bagged today, not a meagre haul by any means! Did you know that a wolf's bite is strong enough to shatter even your very bones? Yes, only steel traps will do for those beasties. Anything less will end up shredded as a dog's dinner!
Adventures of Bayten Trappe
Day 42 of the Year 1331
Pirates, in my swamp? It's more likely than you think, dear reader! Yes, among the trees and turf there now exists an enclave... of pirates! Whether they were dumped here or moved in after the huge shakeup last year I don't know, but they've made themselves at home, that's for sure.
As you know, reader, I had my misgivings at first, but they've proven themselves rather on the up-and-up! To my surprise, there have been quite a few who have professed their love for traps! Can you believe it? Of all the types of people to share the trade: pirates! Why, they seem to like traps almost as much as I do!
Naturally, we hit it off after I learned this, and have entered into a sort of trading agreement! I can't wait to show them how to knot a double-wired wood-horn trap!
Adventures of Bayten Trappe
Day 183 of the Year 1331
Yet another day and another adventure! That unusually large valac I've been tracking that wandered into the swamp last week has finally shown me its true colors!
That cross-vaulted arrow trap I affixed to the nearby tree wounded it enough for me to go in for the kill, and oh what a wonderful struggle it was, reader! I can't wait to make new traps from its hide and claws!
Speaking of valac, though, now that the deed is done... I find myself a bit perplexed, reader. Why was such an unusual valac here in the first place? Could it have something to do with the occultists finally crawling out of that monastery they've been holed up in?
I fear we'll soon find out, reader, and I'm not entirely sure if I want to know the answer.
(Note to self: when these adventures end up published somewhere famous, consider retiring the use of "reader". Our future fans are no doubt trapping aficionados of all walks of life, no need to be so formal!)
Adventures of Bayten Trappe
Day 212 of the Year 1331
It's as I've feared. Occultists. Beasts, I can handle. Pirates, I can handle. Even the occasional undead monstrosity poses a thrilling challenge from time to time, but occultists... they're the worst sort.
Their perverse rituals stain everything they touch with the stench of ichor, and they know no love of the hunt, only death. Sure, their presence in the monastery has provided some measure of safety in the immediate vicinity, but their arrival and these newer, tougher monsters I've been seeing are linked, of that I'm sure!
This bodes ill for my adventures, but I won't let myself be discouraged! It's a bit unfortunate that my wolf hunts are becoming fewer and fewer in frequency, but new monsters mean new opportunities! The everlasting hunt continues!
Adventures of Bayten Trappe
Day 342 of the Year 1331
The year has almost come to a close, friends. What a year it was! We parleyed with pirates, took down tougher and tougher monsters never before seen, and even raided that small occultist camp to the south!
I still laugh whenever I think of the look on their faces when they woke up to that black-powdered hailstorm trap! I've decided to leave the large group in the monastery alone. The protection is nice, I must admit, and even with my mastery over the art of trapping I have my doubts that I'd be able to take them all on myself.
But dear cousin Sedna would have my hide if I let them spread too far throughout the swamp! Yes, a fowl-winged pitfaller trap or two will keep them in line, of that I'm sure!
Adventures of Bayten Trappe
Day 17 of the Year 1332
The year's just begun and already I've finished another great hunt! An elusive pink valac! Never thought in all my years I'd have the chance to lay eyes on one! Yet there it was, scales glistening in the murky swamp.
You'd think they'd be a common sight, standing out among the natural green, yet up until now I had thought them barely more than a myth! I wasn't about to let the opportunity go to waste, no way!
Climbing up a narrow branch I carefully baited a hanging doom-snare trap and held my breath, and it worked! As its forelegs became lashed to the bark I descended upon it with axes in hand, ending a hunt for the ages!
The only thing more satisfying than taking down this mythological marvel will be finishing my hunt for a proper publisher interested in my adventures... but until that fateful day comes, as always, the hunt continues!
(What a fun guy. Perhaps this will actually get published some day?)
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