Lyle Underroot - Country Bumpkin Extraordinaire

[Nehetsrev]

Oclar 10, 1413

Ain' lost 'eart yet.  Ah've been long in takin' my time te write in 'ere agin, but ah'm doin' it now.  Been spendin' time walkin' the lands comfortin' folks in what small way ah kin wit' my voice an' all.  E'en got involved in sum innerestin' events wit' that friendly Ogre, Glurgle an' 'is little tribe.  More on that anoth'r time ah 'spose.  Truth is ah don' feel much like writin' t'day.

[Nehetsrev]

Jular 9, 1414

Jus' keepin' on keepin' on these days.  'elped some folks find their way back 'cross Alindor from Katherian to Mariner's 'old a couple weeks back.  They struck me as a good pair, though I'm not sure o' their relationship wit' eachothah.  Tol' me they'd lost a fellow friend in the Swamp o' Sorrows.  Prunilla knows what in blazes they'd been doin' in thar.  Don' mattah ah s'pose, ah likely won' run 'cross 'em agin, an' ah did my part te see 'em to the comfort o' safety.  E'en tried a pitch to 'em fer the Whispah, they seem'd a little innerest'd, but din't really make much o' it.  Guess ah'm jus' not the bes' salesman.  Tarnations!  Ah couldn't e'en sell that cloak that othah fellow done correspond'd wit me 'bout a bit ago.  Maybe 'e didn't get my second lettah sayin' ah'd confirm'd 'avin' it in my bank vault an' ah'd sell it te 'im.  Maybe e' jus' weren't all that innerest'd.  Prunilla knows, ah s'pose.  My Lady Comfort's 'bout all ah've got anymore.  Still ain' track'd down no one what kin teach me 'ow te read the Draconic spots 'o my great-grandpa's journal.

[Nehetsrev]

Jular 12, 1415

'ells!  It's been ovah a year since ah last wrote in this 'ere book.  Since ah last wrote anythin' fer tha mattah.  Ah guess it jus' adds te my realization o' the truth.  The one what struck me thar, while ah were passin' that ol' shack in the woods.  The one that made my 'eart leap when ah saw 'er sittin' thar.

Been a long time...

Ah couldn't jus' pass by an' not say nuthin'.  Not affer all we been through t'gethah, an' all ah been through since we part'd so long ago.  So, ah talk'd fer a bit, until she answer'd, then we both talk'd fer a bit.

She follow's Branderback now.  Tarnations Lilly!  Ah wish ye'd not've made that choice...  Maybe ifn ah'd been thar fer ye, ye might not've.  Ah still love ye though.  Ah keep tellin' myself it's alright fer me te love ye, e'en though ye fallen te that...  Prunilla, my Lady Comfort, ah 'ope she unnerstands.  Guess ah'll be 'd ifn she don'.  But ah loved ye Lilly afore ye evah made the choice te follow that dark one, an' ah ken ah'll always love ye.

Prunilla oughta unnerstand.  'er an' ol' man Deliar don' always see eye te eye, but they don' love each othah none less fer it.  'ow kin Lady Comfort 'spect em te love ye any less jus' cause ye follow that othah one?  It's not as though ah'm givin' up followin' Prunilla te love ye Lilly, an' ah don' think ah evah will.

This journal 'ere shows though, what ah came te see Lilly, that wit' out ye ah ain' livin'.  Ifn ah were, thar'd be a lot more o' life written in these pages since that last time we part'd.  Ah ain' lettin' go, one way or the othah this time Lilly.

---
(Added a little further down the page)

On an aside, re-readin' that last entry afore t'days reminded me.  Seems ah did meet one o' them two ah 'elped cross Alindor agin.  Miss Applerose came wit' myself, Miss Elo'anna, Omer, Miss Ranewin, an' a Miss Ameli on a trip up inte the Brech mountains.  Ah still say Miss Applerose's got a cute smile, e'en ifn my 'eart b'longs te Lilly.

[Nehetsrev]

Mar 24, 1416

Well, ah been seein' Lilly a bit more an' b'fore agin.  Can't seem te pin down whethah she's truly innerest'd in me or not though, but she's always been kinda like that.  Anyway, got a hoot out o' announcin' in front o' Daralith that Lilly's said she still wants te marry me.  Fer a fella who acts like 'e knows a good deal, 'e sure don' seem te ken 'alflin' traditions none too well.  First 'e tried te disuade 'er by sayin' she 'ad nuthin' te gain from marryin' me.  Lilly ask'd me ifn ah 'ad any money, and while ah ain' got nuthin' near what she's prolly got saved up, ah could still 'onestly say ah got a little saved up.  Then 'e tried te disuade 'er by sayin' she shouldn't bow te no man or nuthin', as if 'e 'imself ain' been pullin' 'er strings te git 'er te do what 'e wants alla time.  So ah point'd out quite 'appily that 'mong us 'alflin's it's the women folk what call the shots.  So, next 'e tried te tell 'er she shouldn't settle fer jus' one fella when she can 'ave all she wants, so agin ah point'd out that fer us 'alflin's that ain' nuthin' unusual fer a lady te 'ave more an' one 'usband, and that ah don' mind sharin'.  Wish ah could draw worth a lick, ah'd do my best te capture that priceless look on 'is face when 'e start'd te realize it weren't goin' te be easy te talk Lilly out o' marryin' me.

Ah'm in 'er life te stay, an' the more ah'm wit' 'er, the more ways ah'll start seein' and be able te start usin' te break 'is 'old o'er 'er.  One thang ah ken, it's goin' te take a good bit o' actin' on my part...but then, ah did pull off a good spot o' actin' in Katherian couple years back.  Maybe this darkie's got the sort o' connections ah kin use te learn Draconic too, so ah might be able te kill two birds wit' one stone as the sayin' goes.  Yep, ah'm savin' that dagger Lilly made me, an' one day ah'll plant that seed in the darkie's 'eart when 'e's least 'spectin' it, ifn ah can't jus' wedge 'im out o' 'er life in a more peaceful way, that is.

Anuthah possible wedge ah kin use may be in Bakee...she made the comment she weren't evah goin' te be a slave te no man, so maybe ifn ah kin find the right angle te work thar, ah kin git 'er te start rebellin' a bit 'gainst the darkie.  Ah'll 'ave te work it right slow, an' wait fer the absolute best moment te push that wedge though.  Them two been t'gethah a long time, an' Bakee's likely e'en more unner the Daralith's sway than Lilly is.

One thang ah can't figure though, is while we were up in the mountains o' Firesteep, ah fell in battle an' were bleedin' te death an' that darkie stopp'd long 'nuff te 'eal me.  Ah don' ken why 'e didn't leave me te die thar when 'e 'ad that chance...maybe it's just so 'e kin use the instance te 'is 'vantage next time Lilly starts te question 'im.  Ah don' really care though, ah'm sure 'e's got 'is own selfish motive in thar somewhar.

One day a Seed'll be plant'd, an' death'll blossom.  What a ripe 'arvest that'll be.

[Nehetsrev]

Novlar 9, 1416

Been bein' lazy 'bout writin' 'gain, but ah've really got a lot te write 'bout this time.  Any'ow, 'ere goes one last empty sentance afore ah start in on the details...  Okay, make that a couple more.  Fella's gotta 'ave a proper build up fer good storah-tellin'!

Been seein' Lillian a bit more regular lately, an' thangs are goin' well in the weddin' plannin' area, believe it or not.  Lillian wants te wed in Lannisport, o'erlookin' the sea, an' ah ain' got nuthin' 'gainst the idea m'self.  We've decid'd te go wit' a non-religious ceremony, fer the reason that ah won' marry unner Branderback tradition, an' she won' marry unner Prunillan tradition, or e'en Ilsarian tradition.  So, ah've jus' got te 'range wit' the local officials what 'ave the 'thority te wed folks unner the law thar.  Oh!  An' ah got te remembah te book the inn thar fer the reception.  One idea we'd 'ad were te 'ave Freldo actin' in capacity as a ship-captain wed us, but since 'e's become a listless, spineless fella lately from all ah kin discern o' Ranewin's accounts o' 'is recent b'avior we're guessin' that'd be out o' the question.  A real shame te, since ah've always look'd up te Freldoo as a good friend an' e'en somewhat a role-model.  Any'ow, Lillian's also given me 'er list o' folks she wants te invite, an' it ain' too long...'course 'er darkie's invited, so ah'll jus' 'ave te grin an bear 'im fer the duration.  'Ventually ah think ah kin break 'is 'old o'er 'er, but it's goin' te take time an' patience.

Now on te the next big news!  Mistah Bumblebee's offer'd te 'elp me sell some o' my poetry, maybe at 'is own newstands ifn 'e evah gits the details work'd out wit' the laymen an' whatnot that'll man 'em.  A bunch o' logistic's garbage any'ow.

But wait!  Thar's more!  Ah ain' tol' Lillian yet, but ah'm now a membah o' the Angel's Guild.  The real name o' the guild is in Elven, an' it's too long fer me te remembah, let 'lone attempt pronouncin'.  So, any'ow...thar ah were sittin' at the Stormcrest Crossroads playin' my violin fer that freindly Dwarf fella, Javicar, an' 'long comes Miss Elo'anna an' sits down te join us.  Next thang ah ken she's tellin' me 'er guild voted on it an' decided te ask me te join.  Now, normally ah don' git 'long so well wit' organization-type stuff like that, but ah figur'd wit' some o' the fringe benefits she were tellin' me 'bout it'd be worth it te try.  Might e'en boost my sales o' instruments a bit, which ah'd love fer the simple joy o' knowin' more folk are discoverin' the joy o' music.  So, the othah day ah went te the guild 'all an' met up wit' Mistah Rain an' 'e got me my own key an' show'd me 'round a bit.  Mistah Merrick 'ad shown me 'round a bit too, afore Mistah Rain return'd an' all, ah shouldn't fergit te mention 'im.  Nice fella, shame what b'came o' 'is cousin Elgon few years back.  Anyway, ifn thangs pan out well wit' the Angels it won' be long afore ah kin afford te buy a 'ome fer Lillian an' ah, not that she's prolly lackin' fer such, but it'd make me proud te ken ah could give 'er sumthin' o' my own efforts an' means.

Oh, not really te important, but worth mentionin' fer a chuckle latah, ah met an' odd duck by name o' Miss Katrina.  Loopy as they come ah'm tempt'd te say.  She were goin' on 'bout some sort o' Moon Dance an' the Four Seasons like she worshipp'd 'em or somethin'.  Now, bein' the well-travel'd fella ah am, ah point'd out ah'd nevah 'eard o' such 'olidays 'r traditions in my travels an' ah ask'd 'er whar they were from, she tol' me they were a new religion she were startin' at bequest o' the Winds, which evidently she claims speak te 'er.  So, ah figgur'd no real 'arm any'ow, an' maybe 'er little religion might catch on, stranger thangs 'ave appen'd affer all, so ah ask'd fer a demonstration o' the Moon Dance, but she wouldn't show it te me unless'n ah 'greed te dance te.  Well, seein' as ah'm no great dancer m'self, ah declined.  B'sides, wit' no ken o' the traditions o' this new religion ah din't wanna take the chance that it were some part o' a weddin' ceremony or whatnot.  Affer all, stranger thangs 'ave 'appen'd...

Well, ah 'spose that's it fer now.  Oh!  cain't fergit ah met those othah three folks what seem'd innerest'd in my limitted edition poems, but want'd ones wit' battles an' rangers in 'em.  Ah'd grumble 'bout now since it looks like ah've got a bit too much on my plate these days, but shoot, it's makin' life innerestin' an' ah cain't complain 'bout that.

[Nehetsrev]

Decilar 4, 1419

Well now...  Ah'm startin' te wonner 'bout Lillian.  Startin' te wonner 'bout m'self.  Ah ain' seen 'er much a'tall o'er the last three y'ars.  Maybe we jus' ain' meant te marry?  Ah mean, she's got 'er path she's afollowin', an' ah've got m' own, an' it jus' seems our paths don' cross much no more.  'ow kin ah marry a woman ah nevah see but once or twice everah couple y'ars?  'ad plans fer our weddin' all set an' made, but time's jus' slipp'd by us a day at a time till y'ars pass'd by.

Ah'm a yeller-bellied coward, that's what ah am.  Dint used te be like this.  Used te rush head-on inte the fray, an' now...  Now ah 'ide in the wrappin's o' my music an' the Weave an' let othah's do the fightin' few me.  But, ah am pretty good at it, so ah guess that's sumthin'.  May as well come te terms wit' who ah am.

Guess ah'll mosey on fer a while down life's road an' see whar it leads.  Ah ain' rulin' out nuthin' yet.  Still got Ol' Lyle's journal te puzzle o'er, still got grandma's death te avenge.  Still got te figure out 'ow te kill a dragon...  an' a certain Darkelf, maybe.

[Nehetsrev]

Junar 3, 1438

Well, ain' this sum'thin?  Been near 20 y'ars since ah wrote in this 'ere journ'l.  Shoot, Ol' Lyle were bettah at keepin' 'is journal than ah've been.  Ain' that a shame?

Any'ow, seems ah might be in fer a change o' profession.  Good ol' Miss Elo'anna came te me a few weeks back askin' me te teach at that tow'r thar openin' soon in 'empstead.  The one what used te be the ol' Arcane Alliance tow'r back in the day.  Guess 'er an' Mistah Omer bought the ol' place an' fix'd it up right nice.  Amazin' they could afford that ifn ye ask me, but ah guess they work'd 'ard fer it.

Te the point though, ah'm actually thinkin' ah might enjoy teachin' folks some o' the thangs ah've learn'd o'er the y'ars.  So, lo an' be'old ah found m'self sittin' in on the first evah faculty meetin' o' the Port 'empstead Accademy o' the Al'Noth.  Seems ifn ah'm te teach thar though ah'll 'ave te pass interviews wit' anothah three folks aside from Miss Elo'anna, wit' Mistah Omer 'avin' the final say on it.

Ah ken in the past ah ain' been too good at keepin' commitments, but maybe this time'll be diff'rent.  Maybe this time 'round ah'll git thangs right.  Ah pray te Lady Comf'rt, let it be so.

[Nehetsrev]

Novlar 21, 1438

The othah day ah ran inte Miss Sala an' she was kind 'nuff te enchant some 'orns fer me te work wit' in makin' more instruments.  On top o' that, she 'ad some innerestin' information she shared 'bout what's goin' on in Belinara wit' the war thar.  Seems ah'll 'ave te try trackin' down a few othah folks for e'en more information, but that shouldn't be too much te do.  She said thar'd be a gatherin' fer some epic storah-tellin' in the next few days, an' ah might be able te find a bunch o' folks thar.

Not long aft'r talkin' te Miss Sala, ah ran inte Miss Elo'anna and Mist'r Caerwyn outside the ol' 'all o' Reconstruction.  We were 'avin' a nice chat, til that Lady Saida shown up an' ask'd te speak wit' Miss Elo'anna in private-like.  Ah don' ken why, but thar's sumthin' ah jus' don' like 'bout that Saida.  Maybe it's jus' 'er aristocratic snobbery what rubs me wrong?

Any'ow, ah'd scarcely gone more an' a few yards on m' way when ah ran inte Miss Layl.  She's innerest'd in buyin' one o' the ma'ogany tambourines ah made, an' e'en more so in a yew guitar.  Wish ah could git m' 'ands on some yew, but that stuff's 'arder te git 'old of than diamonds.

Then, while Miss Layl an' ah were still talkin', tragedy struck.  We 'eard a scream an' ran quick-like te see what was goin' on.  When we got thar it weren't a pretty sight.  We found a boy wit' 'is neck torn assunder jus' across from the ol' Angel's guild'all.  Look'd te me like an animal 'ad done it, but the othah lady who show'd up 'bout the same time we did said she tought it coulda been a vampire by what she saw o' the shape o' the wound.  Tegan were the othah lady's name ifn ah r'call rightly.  By that time the full 'orror o' the sight 'ad gotten te me, an' ah weren't 'bout te look at the poor lad agin m'self.  Twer grusome 'nuff jus' seein' that, but it set my spine te tinglin' when the possibility o' a vampire were brought up.  Ain' nevah been able te stomach the thought o' dead walkin' 'bout an' prayin' upon the livin'.  Ah've been witness in my life te all sorts o' bloodshed, but nevah seen such as that done te a little child.  My stomach still ain' completely stopp'd churnin' o'er it.