With thanks

I would like to thank everyone who took the time to read this blog. I realize I trailed off towards the end but there's something about the undead rising that is really distracting-you know?

 So remember to keep your eyes open and stay alert because if it happens again, you might not be a survivor next time..!

Signing off one last time
-Renford
for the IHS

Standards

As I mentioned, I have received word from some of the higher ups. Although the IHS is a very large organization, we have been busy. They knew I was right for the job and they sent me out with my men. Not hearing from them for months [six months, to be exact] was not unexpected. What did surprise me? The fifty men that were suddenly available to join in our observations.

I suppose the IHS isn't so busy after all.

With these men come opportunity. As I mentioned in my last post we have started a rotation of observation. These extra men will help us keep everything in order. I hope that with them on board, my reports can come easier.

There's nothing like the zombie apocalypse to keep you busy.

-Renford

More observations

Based on the changes happening outside we ourselves need to change. I have added more members to my crew and together we will begin to truly understand what is happening here. In small platoons of three my men will be scouting the area and observing the undead. We hope to lose no men but we understand that could be part of the process. I have received a lot of feed back from those at the IHS-and I agree with all of it. There should be no left or right. We are here to observe and hence forth we will be doing nothing but moving straight forward with that.

-Renford

Changes

I realize this is the first update in weeks. This journal has fallen to the way side as other things have been happening. If there was doubt of an undead invasion [and there was] it is no longer the case. Too many individuals have died, too many individuals have fallen. The clinic is all but a waste now. We keep a chunk of our people working in the clinic but it has been fruitless. With the sudden attacks in the area...and the poison seemingly a past threat-there's no point.

We are still under watch, however.

I find my enthusiasm waxing and waning. At night, when no one but the watch is moving I hear nothing out in the woods. Nothing but the movement of my own men, and even they are unnoticeable once they leave the cave.

But still-we march forward-always, always observing if nothing else.

After months of not hearing from our six missing individuals we count them as lost. If they rest, may they rest in peace.

-Renford

Office Work

As with any endeavor there is always some paper work to be done. With the Sanitarium we are keeping track of everyone who visits us as well as how their samples pan out. We monitor and keep track of how long they stay with us, how much of everything they need and how their body reacts.

Thank goodness for Professor Shiveneetsa. Although she is a biology professor, her ability to organize and plan schedules is amazing.

Thank you, Professor, thank you.
-Renford

Sanitarium Runnings

So far things are running smoothly. I have no experience running a business, this would be the closest thing to it. Since we aren't charging, the only way in which this is like a business is the customers. They have been pretty good all things considered. At the front we have an individual running a reception desk. She is very capable and has one of those voices that demands attention. Personally, I think it's because she has a bit of an issue with volume control but she helps keep things organized. Everyone around here is generally assigned to individuals as they come in. Since the traffic has been relatively slow, we have one-two workers per patient.

I hope they continue to come to us for help. Even more so, I hope that the person who has been poisoning them stops.

~Renford

Open House!

We've been working on this clinic for sometime. I withheld information just in case of failure. As it isn't part of the original goal of the IHS units out here, I figured I would wait until things started to pan out.

Well, they've panned! We haven't had large numbers coming in. No droves of sick people but we've had enough that I feel like we are making a difference. They are been a few issues that have needed resolves but everyone seems very willing and happy to keep working like this.

Originally, people were leery. For one, the gates to the Duchy were locked. Those who were very sick did not care, they wanted help. Most likely their families wanted help and so they disregarded this issue. Also; I am an unknown in these parts. People don't much take kindly to those unfamiliar to them (see; the Duke).

Personally, I believe the method I use to be very convincing. It's all natural! You can do this yourself at home...but with the gates locked, trade routes are closed. Also; the more people I treat the more samples I get. The more samples I get the better I will be able to cure these people.

I hope that those who have been successful in their treatment will spread word. The gates are no longer locked so...hopefully.

-Renford

A new endeavour

We've had to deviant from the original plan. As things change we must adapt or we will be left behind. As such we will be leaving a chunk of a research to the side. Not lost or forgotten and not useless, just on the side for now.

Now we open a clinic for those who are in need. Above all we are here for the people and those people just happen to be those from Wolvenfang. As such we have opened up a place where those who are sick can come and be treated, we aren't even charging. Now...we accept donations because it will help things run smoothly but it's not necessary.

The team are very excited about this new 'project.' I believe that the scare of some of our own men being sick sent a wave of reality through them. Once they recovered there was a hope that we could beat this. Forget the invasion-was there even one to begin with? Who knows. What I do know is that people are sick, people are dying and we can help.

So we shall.

-Renford

Saint Patrick's Day

I realize this might seem a bit unprofessional but a day of relaxation is important to the working individual. Today, after months of studying, testing and investigating, the men and women of this exertion had a celebration. Although their working week usually involves at least one day off, since it is a rotation there are only a few people off at a time. This time everybody had the day to themselves. Some of the individuals pitched in and have been making some lovely meals-quite the feast for dinner tonight I dare say. Others have been helping to run some card games and small tournaments. This is the first day we've had like this in months.

What's even more to this is that last night Professor Knightly was alerted that he is officially a grandfather. Although we all know he won't be able to see his family for some time...knowing that it is growing and healthy while he is away is comforting for all of us. It also helps that he is bringing the another generation of IHS personal..!

-Renford

Meetings

I have a meeting coming up with some of the officials of Wolvenfang. Neither of them have replied to my messages but I figured I would show up and see how things go.

One of them is bound to show up; right?

In other news the individuals that had been poisoned are beyond recovery. The morale of the place is super high right now and a lot of productivity is a result. The energy is strong and I hope it can last for a few more weeks.

-Renford

Another Breakthrough

After much work; my team and I have been able to go through all the samples we collected on Saturday. We have been able to find the poison behind the attacks of illness on the populous of Wolvenfang-and probably on the other locations suffering from such attacks. I have messaged the Duke and the Regent and hope to hear from them soon. Once I go over everything I have learned I hope we can work together to stop the poison from hurting anyone else.

-Renford

A Response

Hardly any delay after sending my letter of explanation and I receive a response. The regent seems a most reasonable person, she has agreed to meet with me and I will reply when I can with a date. Then I shall go over everything I know, the basics that I have also gone over with the Duke, and hopefully I can receive some assistance. It's not that I need men or money [though both would help] right now I need someone in the Duchy. If I can figure out the big picture here, I need someone to back my work.

The men who were poisoned have recovered. It will still be a day or two before the get back to work but for now they and the rest of the team have had a weight lifted off of their shoulders. The six men who disappeared a few weeks ago plus the poisoning...it damages a persons moral. Recovered and ready to work again; that's a wonderful feeling for everyone.

-Renford

A Quest!

Today I got to meet a lot of the local heroes of Wolvenfang. I organized a small quest in the area and gave away a small prize to the winners. It was nice to see how well some of them worked together.

Unfortunately, I had a small run in with the regent of Wolvenfang, a Denevra Iudex? Something as such. With so many people around I couldn't answer her suspicion-laced questions as openly as I would have liked to. I have since sent her a letter explaining my position. Hopefully, instead of making an enemy, I will make an ally.

Helping people can be very difficult sometimes.

-Renford

Ducal Meeting

I met with the Duke earlier. It was not what I expected; I am very used to speaking with individuals of the same caliber-not even intelligence wise as there are students or those more experienced-but usually we are on the same page. Being Duke he was on a completely different playing field.

My personal opinions and thoughts aside I will say that he at least cares for his people. Unfortunately his mind seemed to be else where; I asked him three times if I could collect samples from in side the duchy and after ignoring the first two questions implied I was being forceful for constantly suggesting I enter the Duchy. Personal opinions aside, aside.

The point is; he knows what I know now. Whether he believes it or not is something else. Next time I try to get something like this across I will ask for a translator-someone in the science field in his trust to help explain.

-Renford

Recovery

After some time my men have recovered. They are still weak but from the dangers to their body they are free. After some testing it seems as though the culprit was an ingested poison. Now we work on something to prevent the effects of that...or alternatively to find out where it came from.

Still no word from the missing individuals. With all efforts poured into the illness, nothing has been done to locate my men. I hope they are well, though...

-Renford

Figuring out the Cause

In order to create proper medication we must first understand what is causing the illness. The men taken under observation have begun to show signs of getting better-even the ones with placebos. We begin to speculate that it is not something we need to cure but instead something we need to separate from the sick individuals-such as ones who drink contaminated milk will continue to get sick if they continue to drink it but will improve if they stop. However, it is too soon to tell. Instead they could begin to relapse-which would me the illness is still present. It's too hard to say.

-Renford

New Phase

A new emergency type phase is in effect. With Team Three completely segregated all of the effort of the other teams is to get the lost team back. We hope, with how many of us there are and with our background in research, science and the like we can make the cure that will save them. It is still unclear if this is an illness that leads to what is creating the undead.

To be sure we are using our resources in the best way possible. Although we will feed our attempts at a cure to those who are currently sick, two of the five will only get placebos. This will ensure many things. One-the sickness is not just in their head. Two-they will not feel as though they are being tested in this way but instead that they are not reacting properly to the medication [assuming the medication works for the others]. Most important is three; if this is the beginning of the undead disease then we will know now what causes it.

And if any of the cure's work for the others...we will have a preventative method-something much easier to facilitate than stopping the undead once they are created. If we stop the source we stop the invasion-well, not this invasion but anything happening in the future.

-Renford

Separation

The individuals who have come down with the flu in Team Three have been separated from the rest of the Team-to try to prevent spread of the virus. Teams One and Two have devoted a small amount of their time to researching and creating something to help with this illness. If this is the spread of the undead virus those who are sick now will be completely separated from the rest, the rest of Team Three will be made to observe those who are sick and we will begin work and research on the development of the virus from the early stages. Starting at the beginning of the infection we communicate only by messenger spell.

If my men are infected then there is a good chance Team Three will be completely lost-however, there is still hope. By watching the growth rate, the symptoms and such we can determine how the virus moves and how, hopefully, we can stop it.

Every person on this mission knew the risks associated with this journey-their potential loss of life could be the gain of the IHS and the key to solving the undead problem. It could also be an unrelated illness, only time will tell.

-Renford

Missing Members

Slowly, slowly things begin to spiral downwards.

The two Teams that left to do small group research have yet to send word. Two days ago was the first day of no messages. We thought it was the weather. Now, however, the weather has been clear for 28 hours straight and still, no word has come.

What's worse is that a small number of Team Three have begun to feel the effects of illness.

In total that makes eleven individuals lost from my group. For now we segregate the sick individuals...we send messenger spells to those missing...but soon we will have to step up our game and hope to fix everything; lest it be lost.

~Renford

Individual Movements

Team Three is devised of individuals who are skilled as a team and on their own. For this stage of the mission, multiple members of the team will be finding themselves with unique positions in Wolvenfang society. By collecting themselves as day to day workers or at least civilians, they will be able to gather more information than they would otherwise be able to. The duchy has a lot of variety among its citizens but they are always in constant contact.

Half of the team will fully integrate into the duchy-working as errand runners or staying at the inns, anything to secure themselves familiarity within the populous. The other half will continue as they were, trading goods and acting as travelers to understand what they can about the movements of the people. Hopefully this type of insight will help us understand them a little better.

-Renford

On Illness

Just a quick note today;

last week Team Three made note of a very small illness that effected a few individuals-nothing serious and very normal for this time of year. However, some eight days later [today] this illness seems to have spread quite a bit. A fair portion of citizens seem to be suffering from this...cold? Flu?

With the weather so damp and cold this type of occurrence is not unusual but with the fear of and undead invasion...it is wise to keep it looked after.

Hopefully it will pass and be nothing more than a note.

-Renford

Group Three Findings

Team Three has been moving a lot more than Teams One and Two. This is expected. The members that have left Team One and Two to go to the outpost have been making regular updates and their progress is steady.

The duchy of Wolvenfang has been doing very well so far. In small-but noticeable-waves the people move one way or the other. Some nobles have been making plans and one church in particular has been recruiting because of the undead. However, no large movements have been made.

One wonders what is happening with this undead invasion? Is there one, really? What does the word invasion mean to those who claim this as such? I don't doubt the severity of the undead or the risks one takes by being near them but as it is...as it is the science behind it is lacking for now.

But I am sure that is only for now. Team Three has been making good progress, as I've mentioned. Every day they report of the town's movements and feelings and that is enough to keep this investigation going. Now that some from Team One and Two join it should move along more smoothly.

-Renford

Results of Frostbite Survey

As mentioned previously; I set out alone to visit Wolvenfang's winter event Frostbite. While there I observed but I also did a small questionnaire. In total I was able to question about 30% of the attendees to this fine event. Below I list the questions asked as well as the Mean and the Mode to each.

1) Have you ever been in contact with the undead? 
Mean: 6.24 Mode: 10
2) Has anyone you know ever been in contact with the undead? 
Mean: 7.88 Mode: 10
3) How much do you think the invasion effects you? 
Mean: 4.96 Mode: 1 and 4 tied
4) How involved were you in the last invasion? 
Mean: 5.4 Mode: 1
5) How big of an issue are rodents in your house?
Mean: 2.08 Mode: 1
6) Over the last few weeks have food/water tasted off? 
Mean: 2.76 Mode: 1
7) Do you have contact with animals on a day-to-day basis? 
Mean: 6 Mode: 10
8) How often do you find yourself needing to visit a healer? 
Mean: 2.84 Mode:1

I realize that 30% is but a small sample. However, I wanted to keep myself as inconspicuous as possible. Of the individuals I interviewed only one seemed really concerned about who I was and only two others asked for my name as way of greeting. Something is to be said about their trust, that is for sure.

These results will be added to the information Team Three has already been able to gather.

-Renford 

On Seperation

The selected members of Teams One, Two and Four have left. In total there are six of them going. This leaves thirty four of us in the Main Base [MB]. That takes a good chunk out of who is in the MB. We will have more space, which is always nice. If things continue as planned, we will need it as the next phases continue.
Team Three's progress is the most constant as of late-though this was expected. As they move to integrate people into the town they spread themselves out. There will also be key players in the outpost but it is prudent that we gain the trust of those citizens we hope to observe. I got word just today that one of the team was able to secure constant lodgings in the local inn; The Wolf's Den. This will make him more privy to the gossip and information traveling about town.

-Renford

A New Division

There is to be a new division made amongst the teams. Team One and Two [Ecology/biology and meteorology/kinesiology respectively) will have two of their members (each with a Team Four/security individual) head out for Team Three's outpost. There, they will make efforts to blend in with Wolvenfang and walking throughout and amongst the edges of, will collect data relevant to their cause.
Team Three has gone into their next phase; they will soon be integrating themselves into the community even further. Over the next week they will be obtaining positions that will help themselves gather information. More on that to come.

-Renford

Discoveries from Team One

Team One have already impressed myself and the IHS; but there is more. Over the last week they have uncovered some very interesting things. There are two main points of interest that I would like to mention here; time lapses and relativity.
After through testing, my team was able to put some numbers down to the undead samples. From the moment we tagged the bodies/parts the group had been dead for two to four weeks. This means that four weeks prior to our finding them, some of these cadavers were made undead. Or at least the life had gone out of the humans they once were.
Along with this information it seems as though the team have been unable to distinguish any difference between the undead cadavers and living or dead human samples. By our accounts there is absolutely no difference between one and the other.

I wonder about this last point...always more testing to be done, however! Maybe, with a live sample, we could get more information..?
~Renford

Just got back from my mission

It is as the title suggests. I have been back in the cave [which just doesn't sound right yet] for maybe an hour. My weekend went as such;

~Left to rendezvous with Team Three
~Went over the plan and readied everything
~Left early on Saturday, heading out in scattered groups
~Entered the Frostbite facilities
~Gathered research materials
~Observed
~Left Frostbite, returned to Team Three
~This morning I departed Team Three to return here, the Main Base [MB]

Here at MB there have been some breakthroughs with the studies. I will get to that and to my research/what I was looking for at Frostbite throughout the week.

~Renford

My First Solo Mission

Actually, the title is incorrect. In my early years at the IHS, after training was done, I did participate in a few solo missions. Those were a long time ago, though. Since I climbed the ranks I've been more of an organizer of individuals or groups; a leader. Therefor, working on my own has a sense of newness to it.

Tomorrow I leave Teams one, two, four and five to join up with Team three. They, having moved freely under the eyes of Wolvenfangers for some time, are familiar with their ways, their customs. Some of them will also be in Wolvenfang for this weekend but I am the only one attending the event. Through means of trading they have gathered a few clothing items and have gotten the exact whereabouts of the events. Although excited for the change of scenery, I admit I am also a bit nervous.

~Renford

Upcoming Mission

Like any populated location, Wolvenfang is home to some good sized events. This coming weekend there will be one called 'Frostbite.' I realize what you must be thinking; injury to the body after excessive exposure to extreme cold, sometimes progressing from initial redness and tingling to gangrene? To injure by frost or extreme cold? (1) Is this a testing facility event?

No, I dare say it is not. It will be a regular gathering of folk from all around to celebrate the end of term of the Wolvenfang government. Team Three were the ones who first discovered when this was going to occur, though of course we were already aware that such things did happen. Now that the date has been recovered in our information I shall personally be going myself to see how things are in the Duchy. This will not be my first trip into the town but I should hope it will be my most informative!

-Renford

(1) http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/frostbite?s=t

Undead Findings...

There is a lot of information to be had from the undead we found back at the SSW-Wolvenfang outer ridge. Fully categorized, documented and now onto testing, my team is constantly making new discoveries about these...'individuals.' There will be more official reports about them and more information released as we go but for now I have been told the following;

The undead samples are all closely related to the human anatomy-it is most likely [Team One speculates] that all undead in this group were of human origin. Of course, just looking at pieces of them scattered about could lead to any humanoid creature but these, at least, are determinately human.

All of these individuals originally died [prior to their wizard encounter] from slashes or piercings. From the types of wounds and their depths it appears a sword was behind these wounds. Whether they got the undead disease from the sword or died and then became undead, however, is uncertain.

That is all for now.
-Renford

The Fifth Team

The Fifth Team in our group is less of a team and more of a basis of support for the rest of the group. These individuals are the people who run the errands, cook, clean and lend a hand where needed. A Mrs. Mallow leads her tight knit team in the day to day activities of our base. They are all experienced lab assistance-knowing their way around the basics of lab work. Most of them have cooking skills and all are adept at organization-a skill I should always like to improve myself!

Without them I am positive most of my crew would go a couple of days between meals and rest periods. There was a length of time where the head of the IHS field team and myself debated about bringing along such a team, the size and as to whom should be in charge. We, all of us on this mission, feel very grateful for Mrs. Mallow and her team being here.

Really.
-Renford

Renford Vlog #5

Today, we divide!

Team Three officially leaves! The men and women of this team are now just saying their good byes and will shortly head out towards Wolvenfang. I hope them a safe journey and many answers.

In other news, with the distractions of teammates leaving soon to be gone our scientists will hunker down to get some answers. They have information in front of them, they just need to be able to discern it.

-Renford

A Note on Team Three

Today Team Three begins getting ready to depart from the rest of the group. Together, we have spent months preparing for this journey. With them they take very little. Doctor Bell is a very organized individual and with Doctor Gran's ability to write a very good schedule/system [as I am sure some of you are familiar with] now that they have started there is nothing to stop them from being ready to go at their projected time: tomorrow, midday.

With them their eight team mates follow diligently. In total they only bring enough clothing and food to sustain them as well as enough paper to make their daily notes. Everything else they need they carry in their head.

~Renford

Team Four

Team Four in our band of merry scientists is one of the most important groups-we could continue as a group without teams one-three but we would be lost without Team Four. I do not say this in anyway against the first three teams but I am sure you will understand once you read the explanation of the team. 

Team Four is our security and our defense. Every one of my men has had the basic training needed to be part of the IHS; being in some way, shape or forum connected to the IHS, you yourself will understand. Team Four is specifically tasked with keeping individuals safe. They were the ones who found the cave and those who live on the out most part of the cave are with Team Four. They are the individuals who pose as hunters, monitoring the area to constantly check for dangers. One member from teams one-three are also assigned to Team Four. Although every individual is to keep their own safety as much as possible, these individuals are to report any issues regarding security [that they themselves cannot handle] to the Team Four captain.

In charge of this group is none other than Captain Pennant, the third man under Lieutenant-Colonel Therein [who is in charge of the Northern IHS branch]. Any of my coworkers at the Northern IHS branch will know both Lieutenant-Colonel Therein and Captain Pennant; they run a tight ship and, not being able to go himself [as everyone should know why, by now], the Lieutenant-Colonel sends the next highest ranking officer who he can spare. We are lucky to have the Captain with us.

-Renford

Tests

Multiple times I have mentioned the testing my team will be doing on the samples collected yet have not gone into much detail as to what types of testing shall be actually happening. Until we have results, specifics won't be possible but I can, at least, allude to the types of testing done.

For the undead samples [the crowning point in our expedition so far] we look for;
-the basic structure of the undead pieces, how closely they relate to humans
-any differences between the undead samples; are some more affected than others?
-how does living [not undead] tissue react* to the undead condition**
-how do the different animal and plant samplings react to the undead condition
[These are a few of the steps, so you can get an idea]

*how fast and in what ways the undead condition takes to living or dead tissue will give us an idea of how long it takes for living humans to become undead. This will be helpful if ever we come across victims who have been contaminated. We will have a better idea as to how long they have before this illness takes over. It could be years, though we suspect no longer than days. 

**this is what we are naming the issue that makes regular humans undead, until we have a more official name, anyway.

~Renford

Prior to testing...

For the most part, my team and I have settled down in the base. Things are beginning to run as a proper operation should and a routine is coming into place. Each member is fully aware of their task, of the goal of this operation, and are moving to make it happen.

With that said, all samples have properly been categorized and official testing can begin. There have been a few tests run already-as some samples risk changing too much as time passes-but henceforth continuous testing will begin. The experiments some of the team have planned should prove to be very interesting. 

-Renford

Renford Vlog

Guard Duty

I mentioned previously that the front of our main base [MB] is disguised as a squatter's den where a few of our individuals are stationed under cover. This is to prevent individuals from intruding on our work. I wouldn't say we are under cover per se; but we would work best without the public eye on us. If undead come this way it is unlikely they will discover anything beyond the little stage in the front of the cave. Wild life will be kept away by the movement of individuals in their potential dens.

Along with these individuals there are also a few scattered in close proximity. They are under cover as hunters or scouts looking for wildlife. They will bring back any food they find but will also keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.

More on this later,
-Doctor Renford

Team Three begins

My third team begins organizing their efforts for their up coming journey. Together they will return the way we came-heading back toward Wolvenfang to set up camp. We want them to have a second base [B2-base 2] some distance from us as to lessen the amount of coming and going from the main base [MB]. Once they have set up camp they will start phase two of this expedition and move freely within the duchy. 

As they work on their own mission, sending constant updates as thing occur, the rest of us will fall into our own pattern. We will begin testing the samples, taking notes and creating more theories about how and what it is we are dealing with.

-Doctor Renford

Base, sweet base?

After a day of cleaning, the cave is beginning to look like something we can use. We put up the fake wall and have sectioned off the cave for each team plus living quarters. The samples, as they were recorded and packaged when we took them, were easy to organize. Now that we've gotten the layout down, things should fall into order and routine very soon. I expect that team three should be mobile within the week.

The cave is even larger than we originally expected. It appears more a tunnel than a cave. We shall use this to our advantage. 

Without anything else new to report, I will get back to assisting the team as we all need to do our part.

-Doctor Renford

Finally, a base!

Not that we had been searching very long-perhaps two days worth-when we finally found a cave suitable for our base. In Wolvenfang the terrain is very mountainous-or rocky, anyway. This creates many cavernous spaces and thus perfect places to create our little base. With so many in the area I am sure you are curious why we did not find one sooner. Unfortunately; though plenty, they are varied in shape and size. Too low and we can't work properly. Too short [in terms of its depth] and we can't all fit. 

The one we have seized is even larger than necessary, which has altered our plans a good deal. A small amount of our security team [team four] will be placed in the front of the cave to look like cave dwellers. They will have the front of the cave set up so that it looks not only smaller but much lived it. Rugs, beds, barrels and even a makeshift kitchen will be thrown together in order to give the proper illusion.

-Doctor Renford

Team Three

Not having had much down time lately, I realize that only the first two teams were spoken of. Today I would like to mention Team Three, as they become important when Part Two of the expedition begins (though they have already been rather useful).

This team is lead by Doctor Bell, an Anthropologist and his research partner; Doctor Gran, a specialist in the field of Psychology. Together, they lead eight individuals who work together in both fields to understand the human aspect of this project. As the undead were human and as they plague human lands it is only right we have this side of the research covered. Unlike groups one and two, there are two individuals leading this group rather than one with two direct understudies.

Now, any of you who started with the IHS in the last twelve years will know Doctor Gran. As the head of the Psychology department within our aggregation, it is only right that he would be a part of this study. In his stead he leaves Doctor Graham, keeping his post covered while he is away.

When Part Two begins, they will be most invaluable.
-Doctor Renford

Returning to the Starting Point

We have reached the starting point of our journey and are east of Wolvenfang. With our excess of samples we head out some distance from the duchy where we will endeavor to find ourselves a cave suitable for our work.

Before our journey began we had group four scout the area and they reported several possible locations-now we look into them. With any luck we will have more than enough space and cover for our team.

Once we are settled...yes, that is when we begin part two of our expedition. For all IHS officers; you will want to refer to Book Two, Section C for more information. With the bodies we have collected we are ahead of schedule.

-Doctor Renford

Some sketches

Today we begin traveling East again. Before we packed up to leave though-we made sure we had everything we could carry from the first sighting of the undead. After the little event yesterday, I had a large amount of samples to gather-one of those samples were sketches. In order to get the most out of what we gathered, we drew the pieces as they lay before we collected them. Below is a small sample of what was sketched before packaging.

At the end of the trail...

After following the trail for almost two days my team and I had even more luck upon our side. Why? We find the source of the trail. That's right-we found the undead; and they weren't alone. In total there were approximately ten of them and they were beginning to surround a lone wizard. It was when I was starting to think the trail was becoming too spaced out that one of my scouts alerted me of the impending attack. Taking immediate action my team split-two thirds into observation mode and the rest into guard duty.
The battle that ensued was very informative; the wizard-who seemed the underdog took a few hits before besting them. Before the end, however, he attempted to reason with them in some way. Was he looking to end the fight peacefully? Had he been working with them? It's too hard to say. But the battle only lasted a few minutes and before I knew it he was gone-disappeared.
Quickly my team and I over took the scene and gathered everything we could. In total we were able to gather two intact undead bodies and twenty three different undead components-heads, legs, etc. We gathered material and plant samples as well.

At this point finding the undead (although far beyond expectations and fantastic for our research) has created more questions than it has answers. Unless we assume the undead found this random wizard wondering in the woods-why was he speaking with them? Were they ignoring him willingly or unable to hear? Why were they going east? And most curious are the tabards the undead were wearing, for they were from Wolvenfang.

On following the prints...

We've gathered all the information we possibly can from the original sighting of the path. This morning we began moving again-both in the direction we had meant to go and along the path the undead have made for us. That they both lead the same way is...convenient. Unfortunately, due to the nature of this endeavor we must continue to stop every so often in order to gather the samples we had originally come along this path for. It is...difficult, I admit. I should much rather run ahead and find the source of the prints but I will regret it afterwards. 
As there is a scouting team heading in the opposite direction to find the source of the prints I can not divide the team up any further while on the road. They should be returning to us within a day or two though, as their latest messenger spell suggests the trail begins to grow cold due to interference and weather conditions. If they return before we reach what I predict to be a small horde of undead I shall send another team forward...but hopefully we can reach them as a group.

Quick Update

A quick video update on the biggest lead my team and I have gotten in this expedition.

-Renford

Tracks in the Snow

What I mentioned yesterday...it was a set of tracks. I won't go into the specifics of how we can tell, as that shall be in the report, but from what we can discern-it's undead and it's human. I have a few of my men sketching and taking measurements (as in the snow it's impossible to make a copy of any kind). I also have several small groups searching for specific samples of plants and animals in this area. We will call this 'Area A' as the first area we have for sure encountered undead near Wolvenfang.

For now we gather intelligence...but shortly we will begin to follow the tracks. I will also be sending a small scouting team-part of team four (which I will eventually get into on this blog)-who will be heading the way the tracks came from. We want to see how far back the tracks go and get as much information as we can from this piece of evidence. Myself and the rest of the team shall head forward-where do these undead plan to go? What is their purpose? 

So many questions...we hope to get answered soon!
Doctor Renford

A sudden discovery...

I came onto the blog just now in order to tell more about our second team as not much has happened-and nothing of interest since my last post. Just two minutes ago though, my team found some very suspicious tracks leading east ward...

I believe this might be the beginning of the answers to many questions.

We will get more information to you when it is available.
-Doctor Renford

On Passing the South-Western Point...

My team and I have just reached the South-Western most point of Wolvenfang. Samples have been coming easy with very little issues. We have all fallen into routines that keep the expedition simple and easy to maintain and the research should be easy enough to conduct at this point-though of course we will continue to gather samples until we are finished.

The most interesting point to mention is that twice in the last three days the members on watch at night have heard something moving about. Two specially trained individuals have gone out both times and have been unable to find anything. Waiting until morning has brought us no luck either as each time the wind or weather had erased all signs of potential encounters. 

We will keep note of this disturbance.
-Doctor Renford

Group Two of the Expedition

One week ago I gave details as to the first group in my congregation-the collectors of plant and animal wildlife. Today I would like to make note of the second collection related group in my team; those who focus specifically on weather conditions and animal movement. It has been mentioned many times previously that animal movement/tracking should be kept with the plant and wildlife samples but I stand firm by the fact that cell based collection and movement watch style collection will always be divided in this exertion. 

Head of this team is Professor Watterson, a meterologist who lectures at an out of kingdom educational facility and is also a long time contributor to the 'Eye of the Storm' publishing company. He has worked with the IHS on and off for seven years; of note he was responsible for making the connections and suggestions for resolving the snow yeti conflict in the western regions some years ago. 

Working with him are Professor Toffel and Doctor Collins. Toffel is far advanced in the area of kinesiology and a superb scout where Collins is a graduate and teachers aid to Professor Watterson within the meteorology field. Four individuals of high rank in both scouting and kinesiology are under Professor Toffel's command, while three meteorologists are assigned to Doctor Collin's work.

More to come on the specifics of the two mentioned groups as well as the other individuals in the team.
-Doctor Renford

Edit

In my last post I included a brief summary/review of Professor Renford's latest work. Today I realize that I never cited my work and that the included piece has been left nameless. It is the work and review of Scientific journalist and Renowned healer; Professor Wellington. Many thanks to him for letting us use his review and many apologies for not including his name in the original draft.

A Note on Professor Knightly...

In my pre-expedition portfolio [hence forth referred to as-Initial Report] I have several pages worth of material on Professor Knightly and how his research will be of use to us over the coming months. Since the release of my report, however, Professor Knightly has published volume nine of his series `Disease and its Relation to Ecology: A Closer Look at the Mutative Diseases Effect on Plants and Animals.' Although I had made note of it's intended use, I would like to include a brief summary/review of his latest work;

"While continuing his progress in the ecologist study of disease, Professor Knightly broadens the horizon on scientific discovery. Where other scientists have focused on the general break downs of  cells and the comparisons between different species...[Professor Knightly] is the first to make the connections between the metamorphic similarities between the lysosomes in the Abies Concolor and the Sylvilagus Leporidae. The results he yields [...] opens up new understandings to the developments made through mutative diseases."

-Professor Renford

Video Entry #2

This is my second video upload for the IHS. Looks like we caught something on camera...if only it was something we actually wanted!

-Professor Renford