My Life Among the Barbarians

The barbarians caught yet another plague this week. It began with the middle barbarian in the late evening and by the next day all three barbarians were afflicted. Luckily the middle barbarian's strong constitution made his affliction short-lived. The eldest barbarian on the other hand was struck down for three days. The pools in the cooking area are still dry, which has made keeping the cooking hut clean a nightmare. We've been trying to use less stones when we eat, but that creates more garbage and isn't an ideal solution. The fix I attempted failed, but I'll try again in a few days and see if I can make it work this time. I wanted to make sure that the settlement was as clean as I could get it before I left for the long-ranging hunt with my partner, but between the outbreak of the plague and the sudden urgent need to take the caravan west for the Matriarch, I didn't get everything I wanted done. Thank heavens for the Most Honorable Elders, without them my s...

Today has been exceptionally trying. I have been working around the settlement all day, trying to make it something that resembles livable. Though the barbarians and I have a completely different view on what makes a settlement livable. The Hot Spring where the barbarians bathe, is disgusting. It doesn't seem to matter how often or how deeply I clean it, the elder pair of barbarians are more than capable of desecrating it in a matter of moments. The area around the cooking fire just seems to catch most of the detritus of our lives and gather it in ever growing drifts. The Hall where we eat seems to be holding steady at cluttered rather than disgusting. The Gathering Hall, where we spend so much of our days, is cluttered, but again not too dirty. I spent so many hours today cleaning around the cook fire and scrubbing furs. I think I spent more time today folding other people's furs than I did sleeping last night. One of the little pools where I normally clean our cooking ute...

The last few days have been trying. My partner is away on a night hunt far to the southwest. He has been gone for several days. In his absence, the barbarians have been testing the waters and fomenting rebellion. The eldest barbarian has come to the erroneous conclusion that he has no duties around the settlement and the deepest pits of the underworld will freeze over before he admits he is wrong. This evening he shouted down the walls of the Gathering Hall when I asked that he pick up after himself. As though it were perfectly acceptable to leave his furs thrown all over the settlement. The middle barbarian is still struggling at the Halls of Learning and I begin to wonder if it will ever be possible to tame his wild ways. Today, he had a good day, which is all I ask for. Perfect is not necessary. He seems to have difficulty bringing himself back to calm when his will is thwarted. The littlest barbarian is more stubborn then the elder two combined. She has recently learned to sa...

The Thaw came late this year and chilly weather persisted far past the norm. The Freeze has come early, exactly as I expected.  Truth be told, the weather has been unpleasant for most of the year and often down right hostile. Things have been hectic here in the settlement of late and I have been remiss in cataloging my observations. The Matriarch is now settled in her home near the crossroads and is becoming acclimated to the slower pace of things around here. She has mostly recovered from her injury and though she will likely use a cane for the rest of her life, at least she can still get around. Since summer's purported end, though not the true end of the often hellish season, the elder pair of barbarians have returned to the Halls of Learning. It was not a smooth transition for my beloved Middle barbarian. He struggled quite extremely in the care of his Wise Woman. Luckily we were offered the opportunity for him switch to the care of a new Wise Woman who seems much better su...

It seems as though my time is now constantly filled. This morning, during a massive rebellion staged by the middle barbarian, I was forced to allow him to win the battle. I had to help the Matriarch navigate the trails to the Halls of Medicine for an appointment with one of the Medicine Women. While I was gone the Most Honorable Elders ran herd on the barbarians of my settlement. The eldest was sick, the middle was mid revolt, and the youngest continues to attempt to scare the life out of anyone watching her. The Honorable Elders were able to convince the middle barbarian that his obligations at the Halls of Learning were indeed important and mandatory. By the time I returned from my first trip to the Halls of Medicine, the middle barbarian was at school. The littlest one went down for a nap, the eldest and I rested on the stuffed cushions for a while. The White Wolf guarded the perimeter of the settlement while we slept and alerted me when the Most Honorable Elder returned so that ...

It has been long since I have documented my observations here among the barbarians. It was nearly a hundred days ago when the Matriarch of my line required the special ritual on her shattered kneecap. In those hundred days, the Halls of Learning closed for the summer and opened again just a few days ago. My Elders in the nearby settlements now number three. The Distant Elder has moved closer, now living just next to the river down the valley from our settlement. The Behemoth has found a new home up north. I have been cleaning the Injured Elder's settlement and preparing it for new ownership. In five days, my partner and I will be leaving the barbarians behind and travelling to my Elder's old settlement to complete the last of the debridement. Then a few days later a the Smudgers will come to burn sage and remove the last traces of previous occupation so that new settlers can move in. The barbarians have been well this past hundred days, though there have been more trials an...

This evening, I returned to my settlement after a long absence. The Distant Honorable Elder tripped in her settlement yesterday and fell, damaging her face, her rib cage and her knee. Once I received word of her injury, I called upon the Honorable Elders of my partner's line. They were able to come and run herd on my wild pack of little barbarians while I rushed to join the westward caravan. I took my Elder to the Halls of Medicine near her settlement and they kept her overnight so that one of the Wisest of the Medicine Men could perform a special ritual on her broken knee. I always find it so nerve wracking to wait while someone undergoes such a ritual, but she came through it just fine and is recovering in the Halls of Medicine.  Unfortunately, her Behemoth requires care and I am forced to return to her settlement after seeing my barbarians off to sleep this evening. It is not a particularly onerous task and while I resent the separation from my partner and the little barb...

The littlest barbarian and I made the trek westward to visit the Distant Honorable Elder and while there are certainly things I should record about our visit, I find myself more interested in penning my concerns about the oncoming Summer. Eleven days. There are eleven days remaining before the Halls of Learning closes its doors for eighty-three days. Yes, I counted. Eighty-three days of being outnumbered in my settlement by a factor of three. The barbarians have already begun gearing up for the assault on our settlement come Summer.  The Eldest has grown ever more sullen and rebellious. He claims to despise his time at the Halls of Learning, but when I speak with his Wise Woman she says that he enjoys his time there greatly. The middle barbarian is becoming ever more of a handful. His willful spirit will serve him well once he has been tamed and taught how to channel it to his benefit, but for now, it is a constant battle to coax anything resembling good behavior out of him. ...

This morning after seeing the elder barbarians off to the Halls of Learning, the littlest barbarian and I had to visit the Medicine Woman at Halls of Medicine. It was a humbling visit to be truthful. This at dinner two days past, the littlest barbarian made a game of how much sweet sticky pudding she could pack into the caverns of her sinuses. It took no small amount of effort that evening to remove the pudding. Yesterday, the littlest barbarian was like some vile slug, leaving trails of mucous everywhere she went. For the most part, her excretions were clear and I was unconcerned. To be honest, most barbarians I have observed are continuous and prodigious producers of vile excretions of one sort or another. I became concerned this morning when her mucous began to take on the color of dandelions. Of course, by the time we were called back to the Medicine Woman, the littlest barbarian's nose had mostly dried up. The Medicine Woman inspected the barbarian's nose (and her ears j...

Today was an adventure to be sure. We awakened early and while I got ready, the elder barbarians had a small war in the Gathering Hall. After breaking our fast, my partner and I took the three little barbarians and the White Wolf and joined the westbound caravan. The Distant Honorable Elder had sent word that she needed assistance, but more than that the first Elder Day of the year has arrived. After a rather boisterous trek west, we took the Elder to the markets to pick up her supplies. While we were in the market settlement, we attended a feast for lunch. It was a delicious meal and the barbarians behaved fairly well during it. After we returned to the Distant Elder's settlement is when it all went to pot. The littlest barbarian, without naps and exercise, can become a truly astounding fury. Today she skipped both naps and was bottled up for most of the day. By the time my partner and I were building the Elder's new chair, the littlest barbarian was more than fed up with h...

It seems that my observations are becoming more and more difficult to compile. Spring has arrived and we are careening toward summer. Yet Winter keeps returning for yet another assault. I have heard that the Oracles predict snow again this weekend. The middle barbarian is still struggling with his issues at the Halls of Learning and the eldest claims that he is suffering from a lack of one on one research. I believe his claim to be somewhat unfounded, but we have made an effort to provide more. Very soon there will be no more nearly daily trek to the Halls of Learning. I am excited for the adventures we will have, but I am also quite intimidated by the prospect of being so outnumbered for so many hours of the day. Hopefully, when summer comes and the Halls of Learning close, I will have more observations to record. For now, the barbarians in my settlement are restive and waiting.

For a day that started off so well, it has already gone quite far down hill. I was just musing a few days ago that it had been well over a year since last I slept a whole night. Then, at long last, the littlest barbarian went an eight hour stretch of sleep. I woke up before the rooster crowed, rested. I got ready, cheerfully, and climbed the hill to the Gathering Hall. There the littlest barbarian and I found a quite different scene. The middle barbarian was in fine form, filled with energy and ready to face the day. The eldest barbarian, on the other hand, has been cursed by some malevolent spirit. His thunderous visage glowered at me from the stuffed hides. He insisted that he hated everyone and everything. He would never go to the Halls of Learning again, he wouldn't put his furs on, and he must certainly wouldn't eat his breakfast. I made every effort to convince him calmly, then not so calmly, then angrily, and finally furiously. All to no avail. He hates the world, he...

Some mornings I wonder why I bothered crawling out of bed. Usually only before the distilled Mana has finished brewing. This morning was one of those mornings. The littlest barbarian moved into the hut we built for her two nights ago and she is still adjusting. Instead of her usual wakeups, she's sleeping restlessly and waking three or even four times in the night. I hope once she's used to her new hut, she'll wake up less frequently or perhaps sleep through the night.  It has been so much more than a year since last I slept through a night. I begin to wonder if I will ever get a good nights sleep again. This morning, after sleeping poorly and waking early, I discovered two angry and rebellious barbarians in the Gathering Hall. We have often discussed propriety and when various states of undress are appropriate, it seems barbarians may be incapable of understanding the concept. They proved highly resistant to the idea of dressing and with the cooler weather they needed ...

Today I intended to open a market stall and attempt to sell some of the items I have accumulated doing my years of research. I had intended. Winter has other plans. Despite the fact that we are more than halfway through spring and only thirty-five days until the first day of summer, it is snowing. My plans to open a market stall have been postponed for a week and I will miss the big regional market event. Winter just keeps coming back around. The elder pair of barbarians have decided that naps are not allowed and the littlest barbarian is revolting at the idea. She awakened from the tiny nap she was allowed with shrieks and rare fury. The middle barbarian has refused to do his part in cleaning up the settlement and is instead sitting on the stuffed hides staring at the glowing rocks. I'm deciding if this is a hill I'd like to die on or not.

Each of the barbarians my partner and I have taken on have been early walkers. The eldest was the latest one at about ten months old.  This youngest barbarian that we have taken on didn't even wait eight months before getting her feet under her. Now? Now she runs. She's just celebrated her first Birthing Day and she's trouble on two stubby legs. Yesterday, I made a quick trip to the outhouse, leaving her in the Gathering Hall for just a minute or two. We keep our Gathering Hall fairly well barbarian proofed and yet it wasn't enough. In the time I was in the outhouse, the littlest barbarian climbed up on to the stuffed hides (which are only a few weeks old) picked up my mug of distilled Mana and splashed it all over the hides. In two minutes. Having learned my lesson, today when I needed to venture to the outhouse, I took my Mana with me. Thus thwarted, the littlest barbarian instead climbed into the stuffed chair we keep in the corner and attempted to dive off the to...

This morning has been quite eventful, though not as eventful as yesterday evening. After the elder barbarians had finished at the Halls of Learning yesterday, we joined the Westward caravan to visit the Distant Honorable Elder. We visited two special market squares to pick up supplies. The elder barbarians were in rare form, mutinous and irritable. The middle barbarian insisted that he was tired, but refused to actually rest. We picked up our necessary supplies, but by the end of it the barbarians had rubbed off on the Elder and I. I joined the Eastbound caravan later than I intended and arrived home well past bedtime for all three barbarians. This late arrival last night led to Titanic attitudes this morning. The Halls of Learning opened late today due to fog and I have just finished dropping off the elder pair. The littlest barbarian is quite inconsolable at the moment and I must settle her in for a nap, afterward, I shall pen my observations on the benefits and drawbacks of early...

I feel like it has been an extraordinarily long time since last I recorded my observations about the barbarians. I've been feeling a bit under the weather for the past fortnight, but I'm back on top of my game today. At the end of this week, I will be opening a trading stall in the market to rid myself of some old furs and things. I've been busily preparing for this endeavor and I begin to question my own sanity. What could possibly have possessed me to even consider opening a market stall? Even for two days it's been more work than I could have possibly anticipated. The eldest barbarian has been exceptionally reluctant to attend the Halls of Learning of late. Down to resisting so violently I've actually been tempted to allow him remain at the settlement a time or two. A week ago, I went down to the Halls of Learning at the mid-day and joined the barbarian horde for luncheon. After the meal with the eldest, I adjourned with the horde outside. I believe that I ...

Yesterday was the littlest barbarian's Birthing Day Ritual, her true birthing day isn't for another couple of days, but we celebrated her ritual early so that more of the Elders and our friends could attend.  I am still struggling to wrap my mind around the idea that the littlest barbarian is nearly one year old. It has gone so quickly. We rose early yesterday to the realization that we had not yet prepared the traditional birthing day food offering. My partner ended up having to run to Wayfarer's twice for things that I had neglected to trade for earlier in the week. Since we had planned the Ritual for noon, it was a busy morning changing the rushes on the floors of the huts and tidying up the trails between huts. Added to that was quickly making the traditional offering. It turned out quite well, if I can say so myself. The littlest barbarian was delighted with the company that joined us in the Gathering Hall to celebrate. She particularly enjoyed shredding the papers...

The settlement is quiet around my partner and I at long last. It is the hour that I would normally be settling into my furs for the night, instead I have stayed up to record the day. It began as most mornings begin, with rebellious barbarians. Gentle reminders about the extravaganza silenced any protests. They were in high spirits when the caravan deposited them at the Halls of Learning. The Most Honorable Elders minded the littlest barbarian that I could finish cleaning the settlement in preparation for the Ritual tomorrow. After her nap, we collected the elder barbarians and joined the Westward caravan. We picked up my partner along the way. The extravaganza was held in the Hippodrome on the fairgrounds near the Distant Honorable Elder. There have been few occasions when all three barbarians have been so fascinated by the same thing. Watching the sabertooth tigers and the mammoths delighted even the littlest barbarian. The acrobats and jugglers raised shouts and squeals, the jest...

Well, I didn't awaken to a disaster in the Gathering Hall. Though I did wake up to two barbarians suffering greatly beneath a titanic cloud of ill humor. The eldest seems to have developed a knack for uncooperative behavior in the mornings (and evenings really) when he just decides that whatever it is necessary that he complete is the one thing he will not do. This leads to many little skirmishes over the breaking of our fasts and the completion of assignments his Wise Woman gives him. I fear that soon these little skirmishes will come to all out war, but today that is the least of my worries. The day of the littlest barbarian's Birthing Day ritual looms ever closer and our settlement is by no means prepared to play host to a half dozen of our fellows from distant settlements. The Northernmost Brother will likely be attending and he may join a caravan travelling past the Distant Honorable Elder. If he brings her, it will mean I need only ride the caravans twice to return her ...

It was dark in my hut when the eldest barbarian entered. His voice was a hushed whisper as he called out to me. The littlest barbarian, hearing something amiss, began to stir in her pile of furs near the hearth. She let out a mewl of protest as his voice intruded into the last few blessed minutes of her sleep. I may have grumbled more than a little myself. He had invaded the sanctuary of my hut to inform me that the White Wolf had been sick again in the Gathering Hall. Twice. The littlest barbarian wailed in protest as I rose from my furs and left the hut, letting a sliver of morning light invade the windowless confines of my sleeping hut. By the time I was finished cleaning up the mess the White Wolf had left upstairs, the littlest barbarian was sending up a cacophony of protests. I am quite certain that the littlest barbarian is the culprit behind the White Wolf's upset stomach. It doesn't take a Shaman to know that wolves have no business eating the rich foods little bar...

What a day this has been. We started the morning with snow on the ground and ended with a day that hardly called for furs at all. The little barbarians were fairly well behaved this afternoon, which was lucky. My partner has been kept late at the hunt again tonight. I am on my own with the barbarians this evening. It can feel overwhelming at bedtime even with both my partner and I present. Since he was promoted to leader of the hunt, he's been home more often than not at bedtime and I suppose I may have become spoiled by his presence. I have just tucked the littlest barbarian into her furs and am staying close until she falls asleep, but I can hear the elder barbarians at the top of the hill misbehaving. We may yet have a mutiny today.

Winter returns. This morning, the eldest barbarian is beyond excited. His clan from the Halls of Learning is going on a special westbound caravan this morning to view some special ritual performance. His agitation, while positive, is stunning in its intensity. As we beain to prepare to ride the caravan to the Halls of Learning, I saw the weather change before my eyes. I had been greeted this morning by a fairly typical spring rain. As I ordered the barbarians into their furs, I watched as the rain turned to snow. Winter isn't finished with us, we have rejoiced too soon. I fear for the eldest barbarian's westward journey.

Today was a truly barbarous day at the settlement. When dawn arrived and the barbarians began stirring, I must admit I wanted to merely roll over and snuggle deeply into my sleeping furs and snooze the day away. Even now as the littlest barbarian fights sleep in my hut, I wish I was back in bed in that just waking haze and that today had perhaps only been a dream. It began almost as soon as I ventured up the hill to the Gathering Hall. The littlest barbarian was in dire need of a change, but the sight that greeted me upon entering that Hall was almost too much for my groggy mind to handle. There on the stuffed hides were the elder barbarians, watching the rocks glow across the Hall. The White Wolf was groveling at my feet, desperate to be set outside of the settlements walls. There in the center of the Gathering Hall was a pile of the White Wolf's excrement. It was obviously unhealthy excrement and not entirely her fault, she probably couldn't hold it. The paw print where sh...

Today was exceptionally busy, which doesn't seem to have agreed with the littlest barbarian. She's having a difficult time getting to sleep tonight. After dropping the elder barbarians at the Halls of Learning, the littlest barbarian, the White Wolf, and I ventured westward to the Distant Honoured Elder. She had an appointment with a special Medicine Man to examine her eyes. The littlest barbarian spent almost two hours rampaging about the Halls of Medicine. By the time the Honourable Elder was finished, the littlest barbarian and I were both exhausted. I had to rush to the eastbound caravan so I could make it back home in time to pick up the other barbarians. The little one slept on the ride home, but she was still overtired and somewhat cranky by bedtime. It's taken much longer than usual to put her down, but we've finally gotten her down This weekend we'll be doing some serious spring cleaning around the settlement.

I'm finally starting to feel a little better, though my voice is still not up to its usual volume. The elder barbarians have been behaving themselves somewhat better, though mostly because I've been sterner than usual. My illness has forced me to speak softly, which has actually changed my research style. This isn't actually a bad thing. I'm behind on cleaning up the settlement because of my illness. I have only nine sunrises before we have the Elders and a few friends to the settlement to celebrate the littlest barbarian's Birthing Day Ritual. Today, while I'm feeling better, she is being exceptionally demanding and unsurprisingly refusing to nap. If she persists in her refusal, I'll take her for a long walk in the warm weather this afternoon. May the weather cooperate.

I have been negligent in my duties as a researcher these last few days. It seems I have at last fallen victim to one of the barbarian plagues and this one lingers. My voice has abandoned me, which makes life with the barbarians difficult at best. A dry cough plagues my throat and without constant lozenges (provided by the medicine man at Mart's Wall) I find it difficult to speak at all. With near constant lubrication, I can speak, but only at a whisper. The Medicine Woman prescribed a potion that was to clear up part of my malady, but while my ear no longer pains me, my throat has not improved. I fear that without the power of my voice to bring the barbarous horde to heel, my time among them may be drawing to an end. They simmer and seethe at the edge of true rebellion. Yesterday morning, I was forced to carry one of them, literally kicking and screaming, to the caravan for conveyance to the Halls of Learning. I could hardly believe I, in my weakened state, was capable of manhand...

Some evil spirit has stolen my voice. I never realized how much I depended on it. The barbarians gave difficulty listening at the best of times, without being able to raise my voice they are a hundred times worse. The littlest barbarian doesn't struggle as much as the older pair, but even she doesn't like that I'm not singing to her. Music soothes the savage beast after all. I'm seriously dreading the morning when I have to cajole the barbarians into preparing for the Halls of Learning. For tonight, I'm going to sleep and hope that I will feel better in the morning. I have some potions from the Medicine Woman that I hope will help me in that regard.

Today was the eldest barbarian's special day with my partner and I. We visited a special market for collectable rocks and ate red oceanic roaches at a special Dining Hall. Overall, it was a good day right up until the end. The eldest barbarian, overwhelmed by rich and uncommon delicacies, became quite ill. It was a nerve wracking trek back with the caravan. We have arrived home now and he still feels quite ill though after relieving himself of dinner, he hasn't been overcome by sickness. It just goes to further illustrate that there is never a dull day in our settlement. The littlest barbarian has finally submitted to get sleep training and goes down with barely a fuss. Once the eldest barbarian goes to bed, very soon, my partner and I will have the settlement to ourselves. Unfortunately, I have caught the latest plague the barbarians have brought to the settlement. Tomorrow is chore day and I can't say I am looking toward it with anything resembling anticipation.

It is often difficult to accept how frequently plans go terribly awry whenever barbarians are involved.  For the past few days, the eldest barbarian has had a project he is desperate to undertake. Circumstances haven't allowed me the chance to trade for the clay that he insists is necessary for the project. I was finally able to trade for the clay last night, but I refused to allow him to undertake the project immediately upon my arrival with the clay. This caused an extreme outburst, but I was able to calm him with the promise that we would begin the project after he returned from the Halls of Learning today. Of course the Fates had other plans. My partner and I went to a Farewell Ritual with the littlest barbarian this morning. We stayed longer than we intended, but my partner was surrounded by people he sees only infrequently and I will not begrudge him those moments. The littlest barbarian enjoyed the latter half of the Ritual as it included food and fellowship with other li...

Yesterday was the Vernal Equinox and I almost forgot. Winter is officially over, at least in name. I'm sure it has some nasty surprise waiting for us sometime soon. Winter II: The Revenge Today, the Riverside Land of Slumber delivered my new stuffed furs for the Gathering Hall. I spent the morning preparing the Hall and the afternoon cuddling with the littlest barbarian on the new furs. The peaceful air of the settlement was destroyed as soon as the elder barbarians returned from the Halls of Learning. The eldest barbarian had his heart set on a project I have not yet been able to prepare for him yet. I haven't been able to go trading the last couple of days with the middle barbarian ill and no access to the caravan today. Hopefully tomorrow he's satisfied.

This morning, as every morning seems to lately, came entirely too early. The barbarians were unruly, which isn't unusual. The trouble really started when the elder barbarian was informed that the middle was still unable to attend the Halls of Learning. He was not feverish this morning, but according to the rules, he was forbidden. The eldest then concluded that his presence was not required at those hallowed Halls either. This lead to an attempt at mutiny. While the middle barbarian watched in smug satisfaction, I carted the eldest and the youngest off. That smugness only lasted until both of the older barbarians were invited to go pillaging with one of the barbarians of a nearby settlement. The eldest promptly trotted off on a merry adventure while the middle barbarian revolted. He insisted that he had been healthy enough to go to the Halls of Learning and thereby should be allowed to go pillaging with the others. He did not take kindly to my insistence that he remain in the se...

Today has been a brutal one. It began almost as soon as yesterday became today. My partner was called away on a late night hunt last night and didn't return until late morning. Unfortunately, this did not mean that I was alone in my sleeping furs. It was freshly midnight when the eldest barbarian invaded. He crawled into my sleeping furs and cuddled close, leaving a blaze of light behind him where he had lit every torch between his hut and mine (and some that weren't even in his path.) This glorious midnight blaze awakened the littlest barbarian with a furious cry. Nothing could soothe the savage spirit within her. Between the two barbarians I slept barely a wink for the remainder of the night. Our Awakening came way too early and brought with it even more unpleasantness. The middle barbarian awakened with a fever and so could not attend the Halls of Learning. The littlest barbarian and I were supposed to make the trek to the Distant Honored Elder's settlement to assist...

The past couple of days have passed so quickly. The barbarians have been wild as the spring thaw continues. Today, I ventured out in minimal furs. The littlest barbarian is slowly yielding to the sleep training, though her stubbornness does occasionally win out. Today she was on her best and most charming behavior while we took our caravan to be repaired. The eldest had an appointment with the Medicine Woman and I feel as though I have been running all day. Tomorrow one of the Most Honorable Elders will watch the littlest barbarian and I will venture to the Distant Honorable Elder's settlement for the third time in a week. Pray that there are no unforeseen complications.

I awakened, very early, this morning feeling quite poorly. After some extra sleep, thanks to my partner, I feel much better. The eldest barbarian is off with the Most Honored Elders enjoying some special time. Meanwhile, the middle barbarian is enjoying some special time with my partner and I. The littlest barbarian is here as well, but we're focusing on the middle barbarian as much as we can. The thaw is progressing, leaving behind flooded huts and craters in most of the trails. I will freely admit that despite the risk to our settlement, I am greatly enamored with the coming of spring. Yesterday there was warm sunshine, despite the cold wind. I have even started seeing green. I didn't realize how much I missed that color through the winter.

Today is the day that the Wise Men and Women who train the youngest of the barbarians at the Halls of Learning hunt for a new crop of young barbarians so the middle barbarian was excused from Learning. Instead, we joined the westbound caravan again headed for the Distant Elder's settlement. We needed certain supplies we couldn't trade for near our settlement. The younger two barbarians were on very good behavior today. The middle barbarian used some of his hard earned coin to trade for a new toy (I think the elder barbarian is more than slightly jealous.) I traded for the good that I needed, including new foot coverings for the middle barbarian (his fourth this year.) The littlest barbarian ended her evening with a fury heretofore unknown. The time has come to sleep train her. Shockingly, I have had a much more difficult time coming around to the decision with the youngest barbarian. The elder pair were trained early, with not too much fuss. The youngest seems unwilling to s...

The Vernal Equinox approaches and I was only recently lamenting that spring may well never appear this year. In the last couple of days, it has appeared. Sunshine, warmer temperatures, and then a whole lot of rain. Winter has not finished with us yet, it has sewn the seeds of destruction and now it waits patiently for them to bloom. The rains have joined the melting snow to fill the dry runs in the region. Some nearby settlements have already flooded and more will likely succumb before the thaw had ended. Thus far our settlement had remained dry inside, but my hut is under the hill and I worry that it will not remain dry. The littlest barbarian has finally cut one of the teeth she's been working on. She seems slightly less frantic now, although she still chews on everything. The elder barbarians went to the Halls of Learning this morning without much complaint, I wonder if their good humor will last through the afternoon.

Other than her naps in the caravan yesterday, the littlest barbarian went without sleep. She went down fairly easily at bedtime, but her sleep was fitful from the beginning. Near midnight, she awakened. She was stricken by a bloated stomach filled with bubbles of gas. Though I did not relish yesterday's stench in the caravan, I found myself wishing that the littlest barbarian could pass gas so freely. Neither my partner not I got much sleep last night with her loudly voicing her agony. Having suffered from gas pains myself, I cannot say I blame her. It is easy to empathise in retrospect, it is not as easy as hour stretches into hour in the middle of the night. She finally returned to sleep and I was able to get some small amount of rest before facing the day. It was not enough, it feels as though it hasn't been enough for months. The elder barbarians have always been good sleepers. The littlest barbarian has almost reached her first birthing day and she still refuses to slee...

This morning, I overslept and was forced to rush the barbarians through the morning routine. This usually would lead to rebellion, but this morning the barbarians were strangely cooperative. While it was a good thing this morning, I wonder what bike retribution they are plotting for later. After I dropped the elder barbarians at the Halls of Learning, the littlest barbarian, the White Wolf, and I began our long journey to the Distant Honoured Elder. This, for some reason, displeased the littlest barbarian greatly. She began crying shortly after the caravan joined the large westbound trail. It didn't take long before the White Wolf joined her, creating a most obnoxious cacaphony within the caravan. They sang a horrific duet for most of the duration of our voyage, stopping only when the littlest barbarian exhausted herself to the point of slumber. I wish that I could say that the noise was the worst part of our hellish journey this morning, but I would be lying. Instead, the worst...

Today began at top volume well before dawn. The littlest barbarian awakened with a fury even before my early rising partner. It was surprising, since spring ahead usually leads to late sleeping barbarians.  She adamantly refused to resume her slumbers and thus I was unable to reclaim mine. We went up the hill to the Gathering Hall and played quietly while the other barbarians slept. I had to awaken the eldest. After breaking our fasts, we got ready to join the morning caravan. As soon as we opened the gates of the settlement, the White Wolf bolted for freedom. I had my hands full with the littlest barbarian, two packs filled with gear, and my warm furs. I loaded the littlest barbarian in our cart, tasked the eldest barbarian with her care, and joined the middle barbarian on his quest to recover the White Wolf. While I ranged wide, he stayed near the gates. The White Wolf eventually returned to him and he was able to secure her. I was so proud of his helpfulness and quick thinkin...

Today is the Day of Gaming and for the first time in a few weeks, we were able to enjoy it. Last night after the evening meal, I began stewing the meat for tonight's dinner. I do so enjoy cooking for the Day of Gaming, the barbarians can be so picky at times. I had up stay up quite late to finish the first part of our meal and put it into the root cellar to cool overnight. The littlest barbarian chose to awaken almost as soon as I retired to my sleeping furs. My partner, after our journey yesterday, suffered from a sour stomach and slept poorly. Neither of us was at our best with the barbarians this morning. Sensing our weakness, the middle barbarian struck. His voice ripped through the early morning stillness of the settlement as he staged a revolution. He attempted to cajole the eldest barbarian to join him, but the eldest resisted. I was quite proud of him. We managed to overcome the revolution, but only just. Relations at the settlement were tenuous for the remainder of the...

Today we left the littlest barbarian with the Most Honorable Elders and piled the older barbarians onto a passing caravan and headed down the arduous eastbound trail to the massive settlements that flank the big river. The eldest barbarian was convinced that we were attempting to murder him by tearing him away from his familiar environs and insisting that he accompany us to the markets. Once we left our settlement, his attitude improved greatly. The barbarians are still suffering from the winter's confinement and so they were filled with a manic energy while my partner and I bargained with the traders. At the large market we were able to find a new set of stuffed hides to replace the broken one in our Gathering Hall. After trading, we took the barbarians for a special meal. They seem on good spirits now that we are on our way back to the settlement on the westbound caravan. I only hope that the littlest barbarian has fared well with the Most Honorable Elders.  I worry that may no...

Last night, my partner and I had meetings with the Wise Women that teach the elder barbarians at the Halls of Learning. In general, they are both doing quite well. Afterward, we took them out for a bit of a celebration. Unfortunately, this kept them up later than they should have been. This morning, I paid for that excess. Neither of the elder barbarians were enthused about the idea of journeying to the Halls of Learning today. There was a mutiny in our settlement and they were nearly successful. I was barely able to motivate them to the caravan and once in it, they were reluctant to leave it. By the time I delivered them, the littlest barbarian was ready for a nap. She is still cutting teeth and is a bit feverish and more than slightly fussy today. She was ready for her second nap by noon and seems ready for a third this afternoon. The storm hasn't arrived yet, which is good news, but the sense of doom yet lingers.

Yesterday, the littlest barbarian and I ventured out on a trip other than for provisions for the first time in what feels like an eternity. We travelled to the Halls of Wisdom to visit the Storyteller. The elder barbarians always enjoyed visits to the Halls of Wisdom, but especially enjoyed the Storyteller. It was the first time the littlest barbarian had visited the Storyteller. I must say she enjoyed it and it was well worth braving the cold. Today is the day that the Oracles originally foretold the next storm would occur. They have changed their stories several times, but the general consensus is that a storm is in fact coming and soon. The lead up to Spring is purportedly upon us and yet no signs of it have yet arrived. The small trail South of our settlement is covered in ice more than an inch thick. The paths inside our settlement are icy as well. The wind has fangs of ice and howls at any gap it can find in your furs. I begin to feel that Winter is eternal.

That ominous sense that calamity approaches our settlement will not leave me. I awakened to it settled over me like a fog. The younger pair of barbarians have continued their run of exceptional behaviour, which makes my heart shudder to think of what will happen when it inevitably ends. The eldest barbarian, on the other hand, seems to have forgotten any good that ever resided within him. He awakened this morning with a willful fury that rivaled the recent fury of Mother Nature. He insisted that he would not be returning to the Halls of Learning, ever. He would remain at the settlement every day forever. Further, he hates all things related to the Halls of Learning. He fought and raged, screamed and thrashed. I was eventually able to coax him to the caravan and out into the icy wastes on the road to the Halls of Learning. The littlest barbarian and I walked with him to make sure he got to the Wise Woman that teaches him. I wish her more luck than I have had with him today. Despite...

I'm ready for the plague to leave our settlement. This morning, we braved bitter cold temperatures to send the barbarians off to the Halls of Learning. Or rather, one barbarian off to the Halls of Learning. The eldest barbarian remained with me around the settlement for one final day. We were in desperate need of supplies after last week, so I had to take the two barbarians that remained in the settlement with me to Mart's Wall, Wayfarer's, and the Comet. They were both perfectly well behaved, which I find much more sinister than when they behave at least a little poorly. My anxiety has only been increasing all day as the barbarians remained well behaved. Something must eventually give. It will likely be my nerves. All day all three barbarians were not perfectly behaved, but it was remarkably close. Now that they are all settled in their huts, I find I am still waiting for disaster. The storm is coming.

I have noticed that poor weather impacts the little barbarians more than any others external factor. It has gotten colder again and I heard that the Oracles have foreseen another storm coming. I have begun to feel that there will be no end to this cursed winter. Every day some fresh new horror rears its ugly head. Today, the eldest barbarian took his temper firmly by the reins and stampeded through the settlement, trampling everything in his path. Nothing was safe from his wrath. Well, nothing but the white wolf. He is still plagued by illness and I can only hope tomorrow is a better day.

I begin to believe that it is my own tremulous optimism that is the catalyst of the ill luck that plagues our settlement. Last night, listening to the settlement sleep, I felt hopeful and thought that perhaps a new month meant a new opportunity for our fortunes to turn. My partner, still tired from his battle with the plague and doubly so after his return to the hunt yesterday, went down the hill to our hut shortly after the evening feast. I remained in the gathering hall and put the elder barbarians to bed in their huts. Afterward, I basked in the sounds of our settlement asleep and allowed myself to entertain optimism about our immediate future here in the settlement. I remained awake perhaps later than I should have, but not unduly so. As soon as I rose to walk down the hill to bed, the littlest barbarian awakened. She was not feverish, nor prone to coughing. There was no obvious reason for her wakefulness. She remained restless, wakeful, and loud for the remainder of the night on...

It has been a busy day. The littlest barbarian went napless this afternoon and was feeling mighty feisty, but she was surprisingly well behaved during our meeting this afternoon. We had a momentous occasion this afternoon, we met with the Most Honourable Elders and a Lawspeaker and made an agreement giving us ownership of the land our settlement is built upon.  In exchange, we will provide trade goods monthly. I am excited about the change in our status here, but also very nervous. With all is the ill luck that has befallen us thus far this year, I dread what may befall us now. All three barbarians are asleep in the settlement tonight. My partner and the white wolf are also asleep. It feels so odd to hear the settlement breathing all around me again. It feels good as well. Today marks the beginning of a new period, the last lead up to the Vernal Equinox and the coming of spring. I pray that winter and all its I'll spirits are behind us now. I pray for peace in our settlement an...

My body is a furnace hot enough to rival the storied depths of the underworld, yet I shiver. Every bit of me aches as though I had performed some herculean feat. The littlest barbarian seems to be fairing somewhat better than I in that her fever is controllable and the tincture the shamans provided seems to be keeping her from getting any worse. My partner is only just on the mend and the burden of the settlement had fallen on his shoulders. Winter and its evil spirits seems to be crowing in triumph.

I begin to think that the illness that has attacked our settlement is in truth an evil and vengeful spirit. It followed my partner home from the hunt three days ago and since then it has been ruthlessly attacking our settlement. My partner has begun a long uphill battle to health, but two of the barbarians and I are in a reckless downhill slalom. The eldest barbarian spiked a fever overnight and had a visit to the shaman this morning. The shaman has given us tinctures to help the little barbarians fight the evil plague spirits. With luck, it will help them to quickly gain the upper hand. The elder pair of barbarians have convinced the Most Honoured Elders to allow them to stay at that settlement, so it is just the three of us here. I am thankful for the generosity of the Elders and I pray that our ill spirits do not plague them.

Winter continues to attempt to bury is in snow or freeze is with icy winds. My partner's condition has improved somewhat since yesterday, but he's still valiantly fighting off the ill humours. The littlest barbarian slept well last night and has been in quite good spirits throughout the day. She's frustrated that my partner can't interact with her, but it's for the best. It wouldn't be a day in our settlement without some calamity or another so I find myself waiting for it, watching for the sky to fall.

I keep thinking that this winter can't get worse. I need to stop thinking that. My partner has been possessed by one of the worst plagues circling the settlements. The shamans have suggested that we isolate him. The Most Honoured Elders have taken the elder barbarians to their settlement for the next couple of days, but the littlest barbarian and I are still in the settlement with my partner. We have isolated him in one of the older barbarians' huts and cleansed the hut we usually share with the littlest barbarian. I hope that this is enough to keep the littlest barbarian and I healthy.

The situation in the settlement is becoming dire. The littlest barbarian seems to have come to the conclusion that sleep is for mere mortals and she has ascended far beyond that. Her refusal led to a late night and very early morning for me. Since she is also pulling at her ear and screaming, I believe she may be possessed by ill spirits. Since my partner is also ill, I have made an agreement with one of the shamans to see them later today. My partner is brutally ill, I hope it is not too serious. The Halls of Learning delayed opening their doors this morning and the elder barbarians were convinced that they would not have to go. As though not wanting to were an excuse not to. They have become spoiled by the poor weather and frequent closings. May there be no more.

I have just received word that the Most Honoured Elders are coming for the little barbarians today, despite the poor trails! If nothing else, the littlest barbarian and I can have a delightful afternoon nap. My partner is seriously ill and is napping now. Tomorrow he will visit a shaman at the Halls of Medicine in the hopes that his illness can be treated and end quickly. He is not scheduled to hunt tomorrow or the next day, with luck he will be better by then.

Winter continues to bury us in snow and ice. The wind howls wickedly through the settlement driving ice and snow before it. Inside the settlement, it is cold. Even near the fires, the chill pervades. The barbarians are wild and unreasonable today, which has become terribly normal lately. Serbear, the littlest, slept very well last night and took a good nap this morning. She demands attention and stories, which the elder barbarians refuse to provide while I do chores around the settlement. Our Day of Gaming has been cancelled for my partner has come down with a plague. It is so severe that he has returned early from the hunt, which he very rarely does. With the roads so icy, I suspect the Most Honoured Elders will not be making the journey to our settlement to collect the older barbarians. I have not yet heard any word. I pray the storm passes yet today and the trails are repaired before tomorrow or we will have yet another day with no Halls of Learning.

I have joked frequently this winter season that there is a curse upon our settlement. I begin to believe there is something more than a mere joke to it. My partner rose early, before dawn, to begin his trek to the hunting grounds. He'll be there the majority of the day and return near dusk. Until then, it's just that barbarians and I at the settlement. The littlest barbarian never naps well when the older barbarians are in the settlement. Mostly because quiet is not a concept they seem to understand. Noise follows their every waking moment. Gir and Rar are, as ever, at odds today. Their arguments are loud, irrational, and constant. I have separated them, confining them to their huts with instructions to perform the weekly chores. I suspect that despite the promise of rewards, they will do little around the settlement today. Rar is still under the weather, his cough echoes through the settlement. Despite his illness he is filled with a manic energy that the confines of our s...

If it is not this monstrous winter weather besieging our settlement, it's one of the winter plagues. The middle barbarian is ill, again, and cannot attend the Halls of Learning. The eldest barbarian feels that this is most unfair and believes that he should be allowed to remain at the settlement as well. As if I would let him. His attitude this morning is titanic and awful. He's at war with both of the other barbarians, but especially with me. Every moment is a battle. One of the Most Honorable Elders is picking him up to convey him to the Halls of Learning so that I can keep the other barbarians inside the confines of our settlement. I begin to believe that winter will best us. The littlest barbarian slept poorly and it is difficult to tell if it is due to cutting teeth or coming down with whatever the middle barbarian brought back to the settlement. I am preparing myself for a difficult day at the settlement, especially difficult on little sleep.

About an hour ago, I received word from the Medicine Woman at the Halls of Learning that Rar, the middle barbarian, was burning with fever and must be brought home. I wrapped the littlest barbarian up in warm furs and made the trek through the deep snows to retrieve the middle barbarian. It's no wonder he's been so agitated these last few days. The Medicine Woman from the Halls of Learning warned us that a dangerous plague that has been wreaking havoc across the lands has had several confirmed cases at the Halls. She recommended that I take Rar to visit one of the Shamans at the Halls of Medicine. I pray that we do not have that plague stalking our settlement. We have had enough illness.

The sky is blessedly clear this morning, I cannot say the same for the spirits of the barbarians on our settlement. The eldest barbarian is surrounded by a great grey cloud today. He is easily angered and difficult to motivate. I hope that they have better luck with him at the Halls of Learning. The middle barbarian was shockingly cooperative today, I worry what he may have planned for later today. I fear that optimism has abandoned me in the last few days. The Oracles warn of another storm coming in a couple of days. This new storm is suspected to begin as rain. At this time of year, rain is very dangerous. My partner will be off at the hunt during the storm and I worry for him. The littlest barbarian and I went to Wayfarer's Market this morning after dropping off the older barbarians. We traded for some provisions for the end of the week. We were running low on several things after the plague that swept through the house. Hopefully, we are all past the plague and the Oracles ...

Once I would have seen the beauty of this morning's soft, snowy landscape outside our settlement with a cup of delicious, hot coffee in my hand and rejoiced that I had nowhere to go. This morning, before I even fully awakened, we received word that the Halls of Learning would be closed. When I emerged from my hut and looked across the snowy landscape, all I felt was an ever growing foreboding. The littlest barbarian slept poorly last night, unsurprisingly. She is still cutting teeth with a rising desperation. Her mood this morning is very volatile and her shrieks are quite grating. The elder barbarians are prepared to make war with anyone who speaks their names. They are demanding, emotional and circling each other like the wild animals they are. There is yet hope, I seem to be triumphing over the plague and my partner arrived safely at his hunt this morning. Additionally, though winter persists, spring must come eventually.

I have just returned from dropping the older barbarians at the Halls of Learning. We were late due to a very long search for the younger's boot and the elder's shoe. Having returned to the settlement, all I desire is to burrow into a pile of furs and hibernate. The littlest barbarian has other plans.

I am deeply embroiled in a war against my own mutinous insides. The plague has claimed its fourth victim in our settlement and it could not come at a worse time. The Halls of Learning are open today, but I can almost guarantee they won't be tomorrow. The Oracles foretell of another massive snow storm tonight which will make my partner's trek to the hunt tomorrow morning treacherous. It is, unfortunately, a trek he cannot avoid. Worse yet, I fear the little barbarians sense my weakness for they are behaving in a most ominous manner. The elder barbarians are circling one another, testing defenses and preparing for war. The littlest barbarian is cutting teeth and gnawing on everything in sight.

I braved the icy trails to visit the Distant Most Honorable Elder. It took the littlest barbarian, the white wolf, and I a long while to reach her settlement, but she was quite glad to see us. We took the Honorable Elder out to secure provisions as the Oracles foretell that we expect another large storm tomorrow night. We arrived home safely after dropping off the provisions. The white wolf is exhausted and sleeping. The littlest barbarian is still cutting teeth with a fury. My partner is late at the hunt today and so I have the three barbarians to myself and the older pair are again at war. Attempting to broker peace between them grows exhausting. Additionally, I fear the plague is coming for me.

The Oracles have again proved accurate. Snow once more blankets our settlement. Our Day of Gaming has been postponed for one of our number is trapped in her settlement by the snows. I fear the Most Honored Elders will be waylaid by the snows as well, but I'm trying to stay positive.  The littlest barbarian and I are planning a pilgrimage to the Distant Honorable Elder tomorrow, but I fear if the weather worsens, we may have to postpone. The barbarians are wild as usual, though they have been helpful with chores around the settlement today.

The Oracles say that we are expecting another storm tonight. The weather will do what it will do, but for now my settlement is at peace. The older barbarians have gone to another settlement just south of ours to visit a friend. The littlest barbarian remains in good spirits and my partner has remained home today. I've had a roast cooking over a low fire all day and the savory scent has filled our settlement. All in all, today is a good day. Gods willing, it shall stay that way.

The settlement seems so quite now. The older barbarians were kept from the Halls of Learning yesterday because they fell victim to the plague the day prior, but yesterday they ate like ravenous animals and fought like wolverines with hydrophobia. At one point I was forced to confine them to their individual huts. This morning, the Halls of Learning are open and the barbarians have gone an entire day without plague symptoms. Rar only suffered one bout. I braved the icy desert to drop them off. The littlest barbarian seems in good spirits today and only wakened once in the night. I begin to feel truly optimistic for the first time in what seems like an eternity. I fear the Oracles will disagree with that optimism and so I will ignore them for one day.

The doors to the Halls of Learning yawn wide this day, almost in mockery of our settlement's plight. The littlest barbarian seems to be getting better at long last. This gives me hope for the rest of the settlement. Neither of the older barbarians were sick in the night, which gives further hope. Unfortunately, their barbarous attitudes this morning foretell a difficult day ahead. The Oracles foretell of a warmer day with no snow and an almost toothless wind. May the weather hold until tomorrow, when perhaps the barbarians can venture outside.

The curse upon our settlement grows worse. The last of the barbarians has fallen victim to the plague. I am beginning to feel nauseated and fear I may be the next victim. Luckily when my partner returned from the hunt, I was able to venture to Mart's Wall and trade for provisions. At least, provided we can keep anything down, none of us will starve.

The situation in our settlement has worsened in the night. The littlest barbarian is still fighting off an ever worsening plague and as of today the eldest barbarian has succumbed as well. My partner has already ventured into the icy darkness and I await word that he has arrived safely at his destination. The wind has regained its teeth an dis blowing yesterday's snow everywhere. Yesterday evening, we received word that the Halls of Learning would be opening late today, but I fear that they may yet close. Even if it does not, only Rar can attend. Worse yet, I suspect I may soon succumb to the plague.

The littlest barbarian has been brought low by the plague. She hungers so, but we must wait until the sickness has loosened its grip to feed her more than the bare minimum. As if the stricken barbarian were not tragedy enough to befall our settlement, the Halls of Learning are closed again today. In the night, the skies have again deposited a large bank of snow upon us. In truth, it is still snowing. I begin to fear that this winter may never end. At least the wind is mostly toothless today and the older barbarians can venture forth to wreak havoc out of doors and perhaps leave the settlement intact. Winter persists, and so must I.

My optimism was short lived and grossly misguided. The littlest barbarian seems to have finally fallen victim to the ruthless illness that laid waste to the other barbarians and I a couple of weeks ago. The gods can be cruel, offering hope and delivering despair. I pity the little barbarian and I shall spend the day offering her what comfort that I may.

Winter persists. This morning, I bundled the barbarians in their warmest furs and conveyed them through the icy desert to the Halls of Learning. I celebrate that the doors of that august institution are open this day. It feels almost warm outside, compared to the weather we have been having lately. However, the Oracle foretells of yet another winter storm coming this afternoon. I fear the Halls of Learning may yet close today. The littlest barbarian is still cutting teeth and is quite disgruntled. I must hope that she naps well this morning, for her afternoon nap may be difficult to obtain.

The winter-white sky has unleashed upon our settlement another snowstorm. Though at the moment it doesn't seem particularly intense, I begin to fear that the Halls of Learning will be closed again tomorrow. The older pair of barbarians are again restless and bored trapped within the confines of the settlement. Even the youngest barbarian seems to crave escape. Luckily the Most Honorable Elders will soon brave the storm to rescue us and take the warring factions to their settlement for a visit. The youngest, Serbear, will remain with us for the Day of Gaming. I fear she is still cutting teeth and is quite fussy and irritable. For now, I will put her down for a nap in the hopes it soothes her angry spirit.

Winter's icy grasp has loosened slightly, the temperatures rose above zero and the wind, while still possessing teeth, has perhaps not filed them quite as sharply. The youngest of the barbarians slept poorly last night, keeping my partner and I up with her. Thankfully, the ritual birthing day celebrations will provide the three of us with ample napping opportunities. After a light lunch, which the wild barbarians barely consumed before declaring themselves full and then promptly requesting dessert, we ventured into the icy desert on a road to adventure. The middle barbarian, who calls himself Rar, was safely dropped off at his ritual, with the appropraite gifts. After counting his gold pieces, the eldest barbarian (Gir) requested that I deliver him to Mart's Wall that he may spend it. My partner and I attempted to council frugality, but he was determined to spend his hard earned coin. Afterwards, I dropped him off at his first ritual, he will rejoin the middle barbarian...

When my partner arrived, I brokered a temporary peace between the warring factions and together we ventured deep into the frozen wastes to Mart's Wall. Tomorrow there will be two ritual birthing day celebrations and suitable gifts were necessary. While my companions were not terribly behaved, they were filled with impossible and exhausting amounts of energy. By the time we returned from Mart's Wall, they had entirely exhausted my reserves.

Winter is unyielding. Chaos rules the settlement. It has been long since we have ventured outside. The barbarians are restless and are warring amongst themselves. A most bitter animosity has developed between two of the factions and while the third remains neutral, its leader has become quite volatile. We believe she may be cutting teeth. We are in desperate need of supplies, but I am awaiting reinforcements before venturing into the frozen wastes to obtain them. With luck, my partner should return in a few hours and I can leave the settlement in his care.