Gradi, 34/534, Midnight  (OOC: Monday, June 21, 2:00 AM).
 
It has taken me months (OOC: weeks) to write this down so others may know of the strange events, I hope I am not too late to make a difference:
 
 
Elements of Pogue Mahone, regrouping from rock peltings in their hunt in the passes, are at the campfire circle.
 
Verity observes, "Nice to relax around the fire."
 
The fire sputters and flickers.
 
"Strange," we all say in unison.
 
The fire sputters out.
 
"Very strange indeed"
 
At that moment we all wondered when the last time we saw a fire here was.
 
"It is a much less comfortable place without the fire." I noted.
 
Then I decided to rebuild the fire.
 
I borrowed logs from Cygnus and Verity and built up a chimney, and to my suprise, my flint and steel caught the tinder and a fire grew. Though it was still sputtering.
 
It sputtered out.
 
So I lit it again, and started blowing on it to keep it going, but I got a little bit too close and I caught on fire! Ow!
 
Verity added some flower brandy to stoke the fire, but that just caused to to flame up and engulf most of us. Ow, ow!
 
It sputtered out again.
 
We rebuilt the fire many times, each time tending it carefully, until about the twelfth try. Then something strange happened. Minx's image was seen in the flame, flickering in and out.
 
"That's Minxy!" Ananna declared.
 
He seemed to be struggling to communicate.
 
We stared intently into the flame and stoked the fire some more, but to no avail.
 
Minx seemed to shake his head in disgust or dissappointment and the fire went out.
 
Then we noticed that we were being watched. There were at least eight, possibly a dozen or more figures, dressed in dark hooded robes hiding in the woods around the fire.
 
"Hello Minx!" Cygnus called.
 
There was no answer. Only silence. But they seemed to watch us for a while, and then disappear into the forest.
 
 
"Strange, I wonder if they come here often?" I quipped.
 
"They are." the blue pants merchant said.
 
What? Blue Pants talking. Yes he had actually spoken to us!
 
"The scholars ignore me, but I watch them." He continued.
 
"Well?" I hoped he would tell us what he knew.
 
He did.
 
He told us that one of their number, Minx by name, was off researching death. And that they feared that true death would eventually come for those in Lok'grotans.
 
Apparently we interefered with the communication they normally have in the fire circle. Curious.
 
Minx is looking into what death means, and how we will be able to cope with such a thing.
 
I left a note for the Scholars offering my assitance in any way they would like, and the note has since dissapeared.
 
I have not, however seen the Scholars or Minx since.
 
I hope he brings news back for us about death and dying. I for one find the idea of exiles actually dying quite disturbing.
 
Wisher