Alvy's diary part 2
9th Kythorn:

     At the moment it's the morning of the 9th of Kythorn.
The others have been talking about what to do, but I think I
convinced them to go to Comryr. Of course, I didn't tell them
about the Bardic Fest in Arabel happening soon. I spoke to
Elminster, and he cast a spell to read the letter. He said
that it was written in the secret tongue of the druids, and
gave us a translation. It's about two lovesick druids named
Nythi and Miradin. I guess that Elminster really likes my
songs! I will make a copy in the common tongue in my diary
for future reference.

Dearest Nythi,
              long has it been since I last heard from thee.
This letter finds me within the Holdfast. Having departed
from Silverymoon some 2 days ago I have been labouring night
and day for any clue that can aid our search. However the
history of mankind is so vast and varied I may yet abide here
for some time. I shall meet you at The Cutlass in Luskan on
Midsummers Night to give you the details.
                         Love eternally,
                                        Miradin

11th Kythorn:
     I've neglected my diary, but nothing has really happened
in the last few days. We passed through Tilverton and I
called in to my parents place. They were happy to see me, and
wanted to meet everybody else. My mother seemed quite taken
with Aspena, and I think that she has plans for me. I managed
to slip away when they were in conversation. A good reminder
of why I left home.

12th Kythorn:
     Wow! Tyrmora, goddess of luck must have read my work
last night because me met a green dragon today. It was only a
really little one, but still a dragon! We fought it and
killed it quickly, and Swiftbeat grabbed a piece of it's
hide. I think that I will use it to cover the spellbook from
the evil mage. Dragonhide spellbook - really impressive!. We
left before the mother arrived.

13th Kythorn
     Today has been really busy as well. I never knew the
road between Tilverton and Comryr was this dangerous! We
were attacked by a fierce creature without warning as we
walked down the road. It was a creature shaped much like
another creature I have heard of, a lion, but with a tail. It
whipped it's tail at us and threw arrows at us! Swiftbeat
managed to wound it enough with his bow to drive to the
ground, but when we reached the spot where it went down it
had disappeared. Swiftbeat noticed a trail of blood, and we
all followed it the a cave. The creature charged out of the
cave but it fell under Brun's axe. I noticed while he was
fighting that the coat was very fine. I remember my mother
sewing a particularly fine cloak, which she said was made of
Manticore fur. If this is such a creature, it could be very
valuable. Swiftbeat skinned the creature, but said the coat
was mostly ruined from Brun's axe blows. Perhaps it still has
some value.

Later, we saw a horse flying through the air! Swiftbeat
seemed overcome with emotion, and Brun told me that Swiftbeat
had always wanted to ride such a creature, called a Pegasus.
Swiftbeat vowed that he would return to tame such a fine
beast.

14th Kythorn:
     We met a group of Gold Elves last night, They were very
snooty, especially to me, Aspena and Brun. I guess that they
didn't like us because we are "half-bloods", and a dwarf.
Still, they let us stay and watch a dance they had. I made
lots of notes, and I'll try and turn it into a song on the
road.

15th Kythorn
     We reached a castle this afternoon, which the gatekeeper
called Castle Krag. We decided to seek shelter here for the
night. I spoke to the chamberlain, and he organized a
performance for the lord and his lady. They seemed quite
pleased at my songs, including a song I had created about the
pegasus and another song I made up as I went along. The lord
asked me the name of this song, and in a flash of inspiration
I called it "Man and Manticore".  Being thus reminded of
the pelt of the creature, I later bargained with the lord's
chamberlain over the value of the pelt. He felt he must
summon his lord to determine the final price, but I demured,
fearing that this august personage would be repulsed by the
as yet unfinished pelt. However, when his lordship arrived,
he seemed quite taken with it, proclaiming a price 10 times
that the chamberlain was offering, amounting to many
thousands of gold! I hurriedly accepted before the
chamberlain could speak up. I went to speak to the others
over our good fortune, and we had a celebration lasting into
the night.

17th Kythorn:
     We arrived at Arabel last night, just in time for me to
enrol in the Bardic Fest. I still have to finish that song
from the gold elves, but I think it will be good.

     The song wasn't as good as I would have hoped, but it
was still very good. Hopefully I won't fall asleep during the
other performers. Almost my turn, I'd better go.

18th Kythorn
     The audience loved my song "Man and Manticore", and  I
think that they liked the mysterious nature of the gold elf
song. I'd better think up a name for the song I suppose. I
won an award of Best Newcomer, not bad. Next year I'll try to
get The Best Performer, although the competition was pretty
steep. I'll have to practice a lot for that. Still, at least
the day wasn't a total loss. A very beautiful woman seemed
very interested my performance, and perhaps a little more.
She told me that she would she me tomorrow, although I didn't
get a chance to find out her name.

19th Kythorn
     This morning, a servant came to pick me up to go and see
this mystery woman, unfortunately the rest of the party were
to come along as well. I subtly started pumping the servant,
but Brun butted in and rudely asked the name of this woman.
It turns out she is Myrmeen Lhal, ruler of this city. I
didn't know if I should be happy, worried, or angry at Brun.
I think Aspena was quite amused at my expression, because she
was sniggering all day. Women.

     We went in and saw Myrmeen Lhal, and she has a mission
for us. He wants an item retrieved from a town to the east
called Raven's Bluff. By the look she gave me, I suspect that
the reward will be particularly pleasant.

     We set off immediately, all of us anxious to see this
new place, although I suspect Brun was more interested in
returning and claiming the promised gold. Not that I would
mind returning either.

21st Kythorn
     We passed through the capital of Comryr today, it seems
a strange place. I wanted to stop a few days and give them
the benefit of my performances, but Swiftbeat wouldn't stay.
He seems uncomfortable in cities, can't understand why. I
found out by listening to another group of adventurers that a
charter is required for all adventuring groups in the
Kingdom. We obtained such a charter before locating a ship
heading toward our destination.

24th Kythorn
     We reached the small city of Raven's Bluff. It appears
to be a fairly cosmopolitan place, with ships in port from
far off places. We floundered around until Miphon thought of
asking where all the other adventurers who appeared to be in
the town what the occasion was. It appears that the city
watch often hire junior adventurers to act as the night
watch. We joined, and decided to get some sleep before night
falls.
     Last night was very eventful, I feel I must write it all
down now in spite of my fatigue. We met many interesting
characters last night, including a vampire hunter, an
urban druid who talked to rats, and a pair of senile mages
who seemed determined to prove which one of them destroyed a
blue dragon they had both fought many (many!) years ago.
Fortunately Aspena was able to prevent them from destroying
the city.
     Later in the night, we saw a young boy and an old man
selling fish hooks by the wharf. They didn't seem to be very
well off, and theirs was a circumstance I can only remember
too well. The reason my parents gave up adventuring are their
own, but it wasn't for the money. Anyway, I talked with the
boy and found his name was TJ, and the old man was his
grandfather. We promised to call around at their house later
in the night.
     I almost forgot the object of our mission. We saw a man,
apparently a fish monger, suddenly shout and attack a
neighbour. Brun tackled him and brought him down, but
unfortunately cracked the mad man's skull in doing so. While
we looked around for an idea, an elf arrived. He is a priest,
and appeared to be a sea elf. The heavy fog currently
swirling around appeared to sustain him, for my mother told
me that sea elves cannot leave the water. He told us that the
amulet on the man was responsible for his madness. Miphon
tried to grab the amulet, which was the object Myrmeen had
asked for, but the sea elf refused to let us have it,
claiming it would drive any surface dweller mad. I thought
that he just wanted the amulet for himself, but the other
party members believed him and let him keep it. He gave us
several magical potions each, which grant us the ability to
breathe underwater.
     As I write of this, I also remember the battle against
a very beautiful seaweed monster. A woman made of weed came
out of the water and attempted to attack us. Brun attacked
it, and it retreated to the water. At that point, Brun ran in
after the woman, even over his head! We all looked on from
the dock as he walked across the harbour bottom after the
creature. He eventually walked back out, with water draining
from his armour. I was again impressed with his stamina. I
had heard dwarves are tough, but he seems almost phenomenally
strong.  Later, we arrived at TJ's door and entered. He
wanted to hear a story, and we could not refuse his heart
     rending pleas. I cast a spell that Miphon taught me,
spraying coloured streams of light. TJ was entranced. After
TJ had dropped off to sleep, his grandfather told us the
story of TJ's father, who has disappeared.
     I noticed that their house was well kept but poor. I
looked at the very full purse I had and handed it over to
TJ's grandfather. In response to his stunned look, (not to
mention the looks of the other party members), I told him of
Shadowdale and how if me moved there I would see what I could
do to help TJ. He readily agreed.
     As we left his house, Aspena asked why I gave the money
to the pair of them. I didn't answer. My mother taught me
many things, but it was my father who taught me to give to
those less fortunate than yourself. It was a reason that we
never had much coin, and I had vowed that I would never be
poor, yet here I was, giving all my money away.
     Before I go to sleep, I must note this down. While the
others were busy, I heard the clash of blades and crept away
to see. What I saw was an older human wielding practice
blades against a young female drow. I did not reveal my
presence, and did not tell the others. I know that people can
change, and I didn't think that the young woman, for that is
what she was, was evil. An event to remember.

25th Kythorn
     We left the city this morning, on board a ship destined
for Suzail. I have much to think on, but little coin to think
with. Perhaps I shouldn't have given them that much money to
them.