Gavrin's Journal

[jdavisp3]

Page 1

This is the journal of Gavrin, formerly of Port Hampshire, now of Hlint.

Well, a lot has certainly happened since I made my way from my old
Master's place in Port Hampshire to the strange town of Hlint. Though
a small town, Hlint is bustling with activity due to the large group
of adventurers who come and go with great frequency.

Hlint itself is surrounded by dangers on all sides. There are kobolds,
orcs, and mercenary bands quite close, and the roads lead to many dangers.
There are even undead and a Rat King under the ground.

I have done a bit of adventuring myself since coming here, and my Master's
training has been quite useful. One day, perhaps, I shall wield a blade
with his virtuosity.

There seem to be great things afoot in this land. I keep hearing about
this Blood fellow who wants to conquer everything, and there seems to
be a great tension between the surface folk and these dark elves known
as the Drow. I have met a few Drow myself, and they seem no more or
less good than the other adventurers I meet, but many do not trust
them. I must say I sympathize with these strange elves; I know what it
is to be outcast. Still, I should try to be careful. Master deMorgan
always told me my foolishness would be my undoing.

The road to Port Hampshire is generally safe, I think I shall visit
my old haunts soon.

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Page 2

I finally made it back to P. Hamp. I strolled through the warren I
used to call home and did not see a single face I recognized. The
scoundrels I ran with are long gone. My old Master's house has been
sold and strangers are living in it.

I checked the hiding place where I have stashed the books from his
library and they are safe. One day I hope to place them in my own
library and then resume my studies. For now they must remain hidden.

As I was preparing to leave, I found myself amidst a motley group of
adventurers near the market square. We struck up a conversation, but
it was soon interrupted by a small boy, who claimed his father had
gone missing.

Well, if I knew then what I know now, I am not sure I would have
stayed.  We elected to bring the lad to Fort Hope, where his father
was supposed to be, only to find the man brutally murdered. We then
discovered the mother in a similar state.

Eventually, the killers were tracked to a gambling den, which turned
out to be a front for some sort of strange group. I don't know their
size or purpose and the only name we had for any of them was Red Fur,
but I believe he died in the battle.  Whatever they were, they fought
like demons, but we prevailed and destroyed their hideout in the
process.

The boy seemed to fall ill after hearing of the fate of his parents
and we were sent for an herb to treat him. More members of this
mysterious group fought us tooth and nail each way. I don't know if
they were simply exacting revenge or if they attach some sort of
importance to the boy.  At any rate, these fellows were dangerous in
the extreme and I eventually needed the ultimate services of a cleric.
It is fortunate we had some tremendous warriors in our band or I would
not now be writing this page.

I really must learn to be more careful.

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Page 3

It seems my hunch about that boy Karthar was correct. We recently
escorted the lad to see the graves of his parents. He had to be led
every step of the way as the fever he experienced left him blind. At
the grave site he experienced a vision that eventually led us, after a
great amount of travel, to another temple of Toran on another
continent. I had never been so far from Port Hampshire, and I was
lucky to find my way back!

The priest at this temple announced that the child had been touched by
Toran himself and would start an apprenticeship there. Furthermore,
the boy's blindness was a result of Toran's gifts. Evidently, he had
to be blinded the better to see — the strange logic of the gods.

So I suppose everything turned out alright for the lad, though I
wonder if this emprise is really over. If that mysterious group
was after him before, I imagine they will not stop now.

Today I found myself once again led into folly. A group of us assaulted
the ogres of the Grey Peaks and were beaten back with much loss of life.
Old Master deMorgan would be laughing at me now!

However, I do feel as if I have made significant progress in my training.
Some of deMorgan's lessons have started to make more sense to me. One day,
perhaps, I will become a true bladesman such as he.