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Countess Telemmaitë has put up an order for hiring additional workers after confirming rumors that most members of the initial expedition had fallen ill. A bulk were reported even lost in the dense mostly unexplored forest, wild beasts, or in mining accidents. The countess as usual did not hesitate to provide compensation and had gone to the mines herself see to those affected. A pay raise was also granted to attract more potential volunteers with the assurance that the sickness was just caused by the human workers not having built up the right constitution for this forest's environment.

On the lighter side of things, the first shipment of coal and iron from Baxtorian has made it to Camelot. Minute traces of mithril have indeed been confirmed but no major veins have yet been discovered.

On an even lighter side of things, fliers have been distributed around Ardougne and Camelot's holdings. Fea en' Ithell, the elven-themed hostel in East Ardougne is under refurbishment! Be on the lookout for the reopening this coming Market Day!

The stopgap efforts to protect the mithril caravans by hiring mercenaries ultimately ended in a disaster. The hastily-formed patrols and caravans themselves were set on by goblin packs and bandit hordes even within what was once considered well-protected territory. Two caravans were further lost this week, all the valuable mithril looted.

A handful of survivors were rescued though. Princess Lysanna Calderon made use of a small cavalry force to seek out the doomed watchtower and caravan that had sought safe haven by it just outside the border of Baxtorian County. Among the few survivors were a mercenary by the name of Ryanne whose patrol were all but lost as they rushed to the aid of the garrison. She was the last one left standing in the field surrounded by bandits before her foes were routed by Camelite horsemen.

She was escorted by the princess and her troops back to Camelot Castle. She told the story of her ill-fated patrol whilst on the way. Her report indicated that something else was at play with the ambushed mercenary patrols and the fallen watchtower as both groups were unlikely to be overwhelmed by a bunch of goblins and foolhardy bandits. She made a note of how well-concealed archers played a key-role in disposing many of her comrades. Further investigation of the watchtower and its survivors yielded same clues.