Court of Inemong. 1076, Felsite. All records made by Verus Certan.

The judges entered the room three hours past noon. The days deliberation was to concern the recent trade expedition to Usenshorast. The last caravan that traveled there left with 15 warriors and 3 merchant wagons. Four of those 18 returned. Three of them are currently unconscious and recovering from serious wounds. Trade goods offered in payment from Usenshorast are onboard the caravans, but the accounts of goods traded and goods received do not match. Fully half of the goods expected have not been given equal trade for. An investigation was launched to consider the suspension of trade to Usenshorast, and possible military action.

The three Magistrates, Jorda, Caeton, and Cerevus opened proceedings. Only one witness was to be called; the lone conscious survivor. Before long, a heavily bandaged man entered the court. He walked on crutches, supporting his weight on only one leg. The remains of the other were wrapped in bloody gauze. As he approached the bench, the clattering sound of his crutches beating against the marble floor spread a grim pallor throughout the chamber.

He was told to communicate the events. I have recorded his statements.

"This had been something like our sixth or seventh trip to Usenshorast. Our trades were often fruitful, yielding marvelous stone, bone, and woodcrafts from their humble home. The diplomats and Merchant Princes that came along with us were always pleased by their hospitality. Though we'd heard tales of hostility from the elves, the dwarves probably just didn't want to kowtow to their tree-felling limits.

In recent years, as we left the fort's surroundings, we often noticed the remains of goblin camps. If our reports from the dwarves are true, they are regularly sieged by the goblins of Oneago. Elven caravans had been attacked attempting to trade with Usenshorast, so this year, we doubled our military force.

The trading went as usual. The Duchess did the actual brokering, and they took their supply of food and drink as per the norm. We often camped in the trade house they had built for several days before heading out. However, the night before our departure, braziers were lit in their tower, and bellowing klaxons were sounded. I asked a guard the significance of these events, and he told me that the goblins had come to siege.

The dwarves surreptitiously entered their cave and sealed the doors. A keen-eyed sniper stood watch in the tower above. Without warning, the twanging ring of his crossbow rang in the dark. Far off, screams of pain, and the sound of bodies falling on earth. We thought the danger averted, but before we could rest, three full squads of goblin rushed through the doors of the trade house. We initially thought to defend our position, and slew many, but before long we were overrun, and forced the flee. That was our biggest mistake. As soon as we left, a torrent of cruel goblin arrows fell from the sky like rain, and pierced and killed many. I was lucky to have only been crippled. In the hail of fire, I saw the sniper from the tower run to our aid, only to be pinned to the ground by arrows. The merchants and I crept back into the trade house. I think the goblins thought us dead, and we might as well have been. The rest of them rushed to charge the fort itself, but in the fury of combat, it seems they forgot the traps, and most of them were shredded. Those that fled were chased by members of the dwarven military and guard, and few escaped.

We gathered up what little we had, and departed that place. The merchants pushed on through the pain to deliver us home, but I spent the way back in a realm of darkness."

Magistrate Jorda asked what had become of the goods.

"I suppose the dwarves took whatever was left in our flight out of that place. I can't really blame them, though that is our livelihood."

The magistrates deliberated for several minutes. The conclusion was that Usenshorast was not in error for the deaths of the human merchants, but their thefts could not be excused. We would return to Usenshorast, in time, but offering would be demanded to ameliorate this situation.

These decisions will be sent to Manager Thortithonul in the morning.