Fun, Adventure, and Glory!

[Faldred]

I have decided to keep a record of my deeds, so that one day, when I am the world's most famous scourge of pirates, these journals can be used to create an epic song telling my tale.

I had heard stories, of course, of the Dragoncalled.  I had thought they were as exaggerated as the stories of pirates that led me to leave home.  Until the great golden dragon himself appeared to me, albeit in a dream, and summoned me to his service.

Now this is what I have always wanted!  Fun, adventure, and glory!  (Come to think of it, that would make an excellent title for my memoirs.)  A chance to take up arms against fell creatures, and to save the world in the process.  It's like everything I've ever dreamed of come true.

And I'm sure there will be wicked pirates to capture or kill along the way.

However, I do find that this hero business is not as easy as I thought.  When it comes to the real thing, I have much to learn.  Still, people know a hero when they see one, as I have been asked by several people in Hlint and the surrounding area to do favors for them.  Some of them are quite mundane, such as delivering mail and other packages, but they have given me the chance to explore quite some ways.  Luckily, I am good with maps, as some of my deliveries had me going as far as Fort Volensk and Port Hampshire.  Another mundane task was helping to fill the weapons cache in Fort Llast; not much glory, but being in favor with an officer like Lt. Jarsen may lead to valuable contacts in the future.

As for my fighting skills, it is clear that they need some work.  I have tried to penetrate the sewers as a favor to a local official, but the rats are too thick.  I slew several, but barely escaped alive.  I will either need to become much better at fighting, or get some help to navigate the undercity.  I also fought a few goblins, with varying success.  I dueled one, parrying most of its blows, but it still managed to cut me several times.  Still, I defeated it with a tremendous riposite after catching its blade.  However, another goblin caught me with a lucky blow and nearly killed me, if it hadn't been for the intervention of a kindly stranger.

I have several other tasks to perform as well, but more on these as I find the time to fulfill them.

So, all in all, not a bad start.  It was only a few days ago I resolved to be a hero, after all, and I'm still learning the ropes.  I feel stronger already, and my rapier (for that was the very first thing I bought when arriving in Hlint) feels quite natural in my hand.

[Faldred]

Well, in the last few days I was able to finish two tasks for the people of Hlint.  I started by hunting goblins west of town.  These creaturs have no concept of proper dueling... they are quite willing to gang up on a poor adventurer and overwhlem him with numbers.  I was able to get one of the scouts alone and got his ear, but barely survived the battle.

A magician passing near helped me out, and together we took on the goblin bandits.  I was wounded near to death, but quick action by my partner saved me.  We faced two parties of the goblins, and I was able to collect the tokens I needed for the quartermaster.  In addition to the reward, it is yet another soldier I have gotten in the good graces of.

The experiences made me stronger yet, and I decided to tackle the rats again.  While in the undercity, I ran into a sea elf, who appeared to be a magician of some sort.  She seemed not to understand Common, but I gathered her name is something like "Ackweena".  Together, along with an odd creature this elf summoned, we defeated the rats, and managed to retrieve the tax records from the so-called "Ratman".  Now I have a town official who thinks highly of me.

I have heard rumors of pirates in the area... I need to look into this...

[Faldred]

Still no sign of pirates, but I have enough on my hands dealing with the goblin bandits outside of town.  I was fortunate today to run into a dwarf by the name of Beli Tinker, who carries the title of Brother of Battle.  He seemed quite happy to aid me in some of my tasks, which pleased me well.  Single combat is my speciality, and being teamed up with a great fighter who can handle groups allowed me to penetrate areas I would not have thought possible.

We cleansed the crypts of the foul unliving skeletons, zombies, and ghouls, and I was able to retrieve the darksoul essence in the process.  I'm not sure what benefit there is of having the good opinion of an undertaker, but the reward was he offered was certainly worthwhile.

The goblin bandits quickly fell to Beli's fists, aided by by swords.  I found a pelt I needed in the caves for the fur trader, and we proceeded to the bottom and took care of the clan leader.  While I'm sure more will just move in to take the place of those we dispatched, the roads were cleared long enough for the wagon master in Hlint to move his cargo.  He gave me a pair of old boots as a reward, and though they look ugly, and almost insulting for the effort put forth, they are very comfortable and seem to make me slightly more nimble.

Next was a trip into the Seilwood, to find a necklace that the bard in the Wild Surge Inn had lost.  The kobolds, goblins, and bugbears were challenging, especially the magicians in the lot, but we prevailed, and the necklace was recovered.  It's nice to know a bard, after all someone must chronicle my legend, but perhaps I'll look for another... this one does not seem up to the challenge of high adventure.

Beli was simply amazing... fists of lightning, boundless energy, and he has a creative side as well, being a master craftsman of potions, food, and beverages.  That life isn't for me, however.  I must continue to practice my dueling, and that leaves no time for such crafting, which frankly seems too much like work anyway.

[Faldred]

I had heard a rumor of pirate activity in Point Harbor, so i decided to check it out.  The Freelancer's Tavern seemed a logical place to start looking.  Well, that was a good guess.  Several people were gathering, apparently to deal with the issue of the pirates.  They had no problem of accepting my help, but before I could learn more, the tavern was attacked by the corsairs.

I did my best, but we were taken from behind, and I eventually fell to the larger numbers.  The others fared better, and by the time the Soul Mother sent me back, the inn was under control.  The core of the group seemed ready to take the pirates on, but I realized I was in over my head, and decided to head back to Hlint after delivering just one more (and later, I found out, the final) letter for Postmaster Vale.

Back in Hlint, I met up again with Lark, who talked me into joining her for a trip into the crypts.  Okay, maybe I talked her into letting me tag along.  It doesn't matter much either way.  We make a decent team, though against the unliving, she brandishes the power of Ilsare with great effect.  I find I enjoy her company, though it usually involves danger of one form or another.

The excursions into the crypts allowed my to fulfill the request of the Swamp Witch (thanks to Sallaron for being my guide), and she gave me a helpful amulet to protect against the undead.

Upon return to town, I fell in with Lark again, and we travelled in a large pack to deal with giants near Fort Velensk.  On the whole I did well, but the boulders they throw are too much for me.  Lark gave me an old bow so I could help support from the rear, rather than expose myself to too much to such pounding.  The more experienced fighters in the group seemed to be able to shrug off the attacks much better than I could.

All went well, until we were leaving a cave... reinforcements trapped us, and I fell during the fight... coldness... the void... and then back to Hlint.  I need to rest a while and reflect.  I have improved my skills, and the weapons in my hands seem to feel more natural, but I still have far, far to go.

[Faldred]

I've been having a run of bad luck lately.  After the affair with the giants, I found myself overwhelmed by some monstrous ants near Port Hampshire.  A small group helped me recover from that, and then we headed over to the crypts in Krandor, to help that poor child get back the ashes that she had lost.

The gravestone in Krandor itself should have been a warning that the journey was ill-omened.

While we were preparing to head into the crypts, the town was invaded by one of the assassin vines that can normally be found in the area.  I managed to survive, barely, and helped defeat the foul plant.  Rested and healed, I thought I was ready for the crypt.

The gravestone right near the entrance really should have set alarm bells off.

The undead waiting for us were more numerous and powerful than I had ever contemplated.  Things started well for us, but there were just... too many... and while the clerical types among us could keep some at bay, they were just too hard to destroy.  Too much time... and then the protective wards failed.  I fought my way back to the entrance, very weakened, but alive.  However, there will still enemies to fight, and I was struck down trying to cleave a path to freedom.

The Krandor crypts can wait for another time... perhaps the power stirring the undead in there will abate and allow for a more survivable challenge.

I won't even mention much about the spiders.  Honestly, I prefer to forget about them, lest they haunt my dreams.