Journey thorugh the Dark

[Ravial]

Good day! 

Empty words, but can brighten life for some time. After filling three other books with mostly my drawings of things, few poems and songs, i guess i'll start to write here my thoughts, maybe it will help me a bit.

But where to start? Perhaps at the very beginning.

    So! I was born in Midwinter, or so i am told, in Icewind Dale. My parents abandoned me when i was a baby, common i guess, so i grew up in orphanage. Pretty vague memories, i remember that i hated orphanage really much, but there was nowhere i could go, so i had to stay. I was always fascinated with travelling to distant lands and tales from it, guess that's one reason of how i live now. I was pickpocketing other people as far as i can tell, for food mostly, still got some skill for it. One day, i tried to steal something from a robed elf, but when i was about to slip my hand into his sack, he grabbed it quickly, pulled me in front of himself and looked directly into my eyes. There was something strange in his cold look and i guess i'll never know what he ment by it, but he did not even scolded me for would be thievery, instead he adopted me. It was strange. His name was Falvirn, he was an elven mage from Evereska i guess, said he is a traveller, so that means i'll have to go anywhere with him and i did not objected, for it was like fulfilling my dreams. We spent few days in my homeland and then departed firstly east, thowards Silver Marches, then south to Calimshan, not the best place in the world. I never was in High Forest...

     After 10 years of our voyage throught Faerûn, when we were part of a travelling caravan in Anauroch, we were ambushed by some manner of beasts. I hid myself the best i could that time and hoped that they will not find me. They did not, but they managed to kill everyone from that caravan, including my foster-father. I did not knew what to do that time, completely. I took some things to eat and few casks of water and just went straight ahead, the way which one caravan was supposed to go. Supplies ran out fast, so did my conciousness after few days of wander. I woke up in a tent and beside me was sitting an old, bald human with bowl of water. Turned out some of their folks found me still alive on their road back to their camp or town or whatever it was. They were one of bedine tribes i believe, don't know why they saved me and helped me to get out of here, but i apriciated that. I made my way thanks to them to some kind of camp of worshippers of some strange deity. Wierd as they were, i went away with first caravan that made it's way there. I made my way to Neverwinter, where i worked in docks for few weeks, bought myself my lute and travelled back to Icewind Dale, to see how's everyone in old home. Found few of my childhood friends, they have families and become hard and honorable men. Others, as I learned, either travelled away, suddenly dissapeared or were in prison or executed for some violating of law. After roaming those parts for week, i journeyed to the Silver Marches again, but for a longer time. As i think of it now, it seems like a distant past. Being 50 year old bard and telling everyone that you are around 30 will never change it. Alas, when i was of that age, it was a terrible time for me.

I think Finn is shouting for me, maybe i'll write more later.
~~~Ravial of Icewind Dale, Minstrell~~~

[Ravial]

    Next time i'll be in a tavern with him, i must remember to knock him out when he's about to say something stupid. Today we were drinking and we shared few songs of our own. I gave him one that perfectly describes my life and he said "You're a bloody grim man, cheer up finally!". I suppose he's right in a way, i still live with past. Sadly, before i could react, he started to flirt with a young girl, that was with her husband. Fight broke out really quick. I couldn't stand and watch Finn getting beaten up into a ball of blood and meat, so i stood up for him in the fight. After few minutes, every patron in tavern started to brawl. We escaped from there through pulvertized doors, after one of the tables hit them and ran straightly forward away from the town. When we were quite away, i started to spit with blood and realised how much i was beaten up by that man. Finn looked at me and thanked me for it. Also he made one of his famous comments about how much my face resembles a beaten up ogre. I did indeed got few really bad hits. We got all our things fortunatley, so we went down the road to.... somewhere. This tree is comfortable enough for me to write.


    My second time within borders of Silver Marches ran quite interesting. I found three adventurers there, Jesskin, Torolf and Daveth, humans but they were nice people. I travelled with them around... 2 years i think. We were just walking from place to place, searching for something worth a while and helping other peoples, if they needed. Once though, when we were resting in a small village, it got raided by some kind of orcish warband. We helped in fight with them, i was just running around, healing people with my magic while my companions were on the battlefield. Eventually orcs were driven off and people cheered, but i couldn't find my friends. I found them among the fallen, sadly. I saw the whole picture of the battle and it was horrible at first sight. Much blood and bodies around, some with chopped off arms or head, some massacrated beyond recongision. When we ended ceremonies in their names and burried their bodies, i knew there is nothing left for me in this place, so i left Silver Marches and headed to Neverwinter through Luskan. After that i decided to never visit Luskan again, awful place.

    In Neverwinter i met a girl, Essi was the name, also a bard. We got to know eachother quite well that time, travelled for few months and then separating ways to cross eachother again in next year. She had dark, long and curly ginger hair and beautiful green eyes... Before this, i'd better go to the matter of my incident in Amn, time when i hit my 30 winters in this world.


Finn is already asleep, i can hear his snores. I should get some rest too.
~~~Ravial, the beaten up Bard~~~

[Ravial]

    Sometimes, things are twice as strange as they should be. Today, we reached another town on our way. Nothing special, there was a fair of some kind. We thought "why not" and went there. First thing what Finn spotted was a tavern, so he said he'd be back in a second, while his seconds are my hours, ehh. I walked around that place, when suddenly a strange, elderly woman approached me, with her face covered. She was wearing some heavy robes and had black hair. All i could see was her eyes, they were strange ones, never seen such before. The woman said something to me in language i could not understand, pulled me thowards her tent and placed me on chair before a small, round table. She sat in front of me on similar chair, looked upon me and said words i did understood. "Through forests and mountains walk, thy who bears dragon mark and power. One who's past has made it's scars on his soul, they shall return. Your road will bring more sorrow, yet joy to your life, but at the end, cruel death. Fires unknown to your body will surround you, but you shall not feel the pain, but warmith and pride. In the land of thousand cries you will find what you seek, but gaining it will be difficoult. Forged by what you shall face, you will become what you know you are, yet you don't... 25 coins" - yeah, those last words were the greatest mood killer i ever met. I payed her for it (had to, there was a large, muscular man with a morning star in his hand) and left without word. I never believed seers, i don't see the point to do so. Normally i would just forget it, but that situation was stranger than it should be.

    
        So... yeah. Amn. That's quite a long story. I came there somewhere in middle of Ches, with ambitions and aspirations. I decided that time to start my carieer as a profesional bard, so i was spending a lot of time writing songs and poems with hopes of becoming famous of course. I arrived at Athkatla and was saddened a bit, because it was rumored to have streets of gold, unfortunatley, it was a untruth, especially in slums that i walked into by mistake and was pickpocketed eight times. I lost a lot of money by simply walking around, so i thought "If that's how you play it, so be it". I started to pickpocket those that pickpocket others. Turned out to be foolish, sometimes i failed, people were too smart, sometimes i gained something more interesting, sometimes my purse was gone, again. Either way, foolish. I ended up with loosing my hat, half of my money with which i got here and my boots i gave to some beggar and few medalions. Good start, i thought. When i was for the first time on Waukeen's Promenade, i was amazed by the size of that place. I thought there were thousands of stores and that you could buy just anything you want there, which was true enough. In one of the stores, i spotted a lovely lady, with dark, long hair, dressed like a noble woman. I'll spare here my shameful oratory, because it was stupid. I learned that her name was Quassa, she lived away from this city, that she had quite a lot of money and hold a great weak spot for poems. After a week of our developing relationship, there was a ball to be hold in some old mansion outside of Athkatla. She told me that i should not go there at any cost, but did not wanted to explain, so i did not listened to her, put on my finest clothes that i had and got to that place.
     
        Now i think of it, i should've listened to her i guess. Ball was great itself, but host was not really, for i saw him with Quassa beside him, treating her as he would be her lover. I drank few strong drinks and walked up to them. When she spotted me, she was suprised and nervous. Lady was right to be such, for i showed off with my great dyplomatical skills and oratory worthy of highest prises from king himself about how much of a bastard he was. Man, instead of being furious, wanting to throw me out through closed window, laughed louldy (and nobody even cared about it). Out of nowhere, few muscular thugs appeared, grabbed me before i could even react and normally lead into the man's private quaters. We entered a small room, with one, small table, few bookshelves and three windows. Once inside, thugs released me from their iron grab, so i used that moment to look slightly what's beyond one of the windows and i saw horses, but i was not sure. Man said to me "take a seat", and so i did, before his table. He sat in front of me, crossed his legs took two glasses, filled them with wine that was standing on the desk already, offered me one, but i refused. After few minutes of explaining in what situation i felled myself into, i was cursing my own stupid mind. His name was Castion, Quassa was a spy in fact on services of someone highly placed in Amn to expose his shady dealings. He knew it all, even spied on me and knew everything what i did with Quassa over the week. Then he chuckled slightly and told me that there are two options: Die, or win your life. When i asked how could i win my life, he proposed a card game. Of course i accepted the challenge and when everything seemed to going for my fortune, i lost it. Thugs stood on my both side, Quassa was almost crying behind me, but i was not eagar to die, so when i stand up, and threw the table on Castion with one, fast move, then hit thug on my left in his, well, balls and pushed him on the other one. I quickly grabbed Quassa's hand, kicked the window open and jumped through it. I was sure there were horses, but i was unlucky to fall into mud. My lady, on the other hand, did got on a horse, so i jumped on it and we ran as fast as this horse could, but that man did wanted to kill us. He sent more thugs after us and when they came a little closer, they just shooted down the horse we were riding on from a crossbow, making it falling on the ground with us both. I lost conciousness then.
   
        I woke up, binded with rope, on my knees next to a hole in the ground, in which i saw an empty coffin. I looked up and saw Castion with a sly smile. After his litany of how foolish we were to try to escape, how much fun it gave him and how he will not miss us, he said that my part in this world has finally come to an end, as do Quassa's. He cut her throat on my eyes and i was knocked unconcious again...    I don't know how long did I was there, but it was enough. After time, which seemed like eternity, i heard some strange noises, then whisperly spoken slurs. Suddenly a dagger's blade appeared before my eyes, almost blinding me, then in several other parts of coffin. When the lid was lifted, i saw two older humans in rags with shovels and weird hats. When they spotted me, they shouted: "Vampire!" and ran away in fear. Saved by graverobbers, i guess i owe them. They threw Quassa's body with my own into that coffin and i was relieved greatly to get out of there. First ten minutes or more, i just kneeled on the ground, breathing heavily. Then, when i calmed myself finally, i burried Quassa's body in the same spot, dug some old wooden plang into the ground and carved her name on it. Then, i left Amn for good. After that time, i can't stand closed spaces, heh, i can't even sleep in a tavern normally if the rooms are not large enough, or it has no big windows. So that's short story of my incident in Amn after which i forgot about making a bardic career and started to collect knowledge about anything, to simply forget about all that what happened.


    
    Eventually, i found Finn with two lovely ladies, Tiana and Verinia, in private room rented by him. When he asked to join him i simply replied that my heart is sworn to someone else and left them alone. What bard could do that, eh? I can hear people i met in Cormyr saying that already. Tonight, im gazing at full moon and thinking, writing those things and singing songs to myself. May someone else worry about Finn's hide when everyone realises that he doesn't have any money on himself... I think it's going to rain.
~~~Ravial, lazy and would be drunk Bard~~~

[Ravial]

     On the road again, bless my luck. As i thought, Finn did made quite enough trubles for himself alone and we had to escape, again. At least this time it went without fighting. Sometimes, he behaves like a child, but what can i do? He's my friend. I must take care of him from time to time, otherwise he'd end up either dead or in prison already. I wonder if there are any bounties on his head right now... Oh well, he's younger than me, i must give him that. We need to find ourselves some job or we shall end up without any money, mine is already almost gone. We found some glade in forest and set our camp here. It's nice enough, although im not sure about how safe we are. I have a bad feeling about this. Might aswell just continue my story here without mentioning every last detail.


        Few years after the incident i had in Amn, i was just travelling from place to place and gathering knowledge. Sometimes people wanted to know what's happening in other parts of the world, so at least i felt as being useful. I accompanied for a while group of adventurers that were on their way to Calimshan and after some time departed, heading thowards Lake of Steam where i eventually crossed my path with Essi yet again. It was a good time, i was at peace and got over what happened in Amn soon enough as i started to travel with her. One day, somewhere near Ankhapur, i found a bivalve on the shore when i was taking a walk. Firstly i thought about how it stinks and thought about throwing it into the sea again, but i opened it, to see what's inside. Something fell out of it and when i cleaned it in water, i saw that it was an actual pearl. When i showed it to Essi, she was overjoyed and thanked me for remembering about her birthday (which in fact i had hell no idea that it was that day). I paid (had to) local smith to make a medalion with it, a silvery flower. She always wore it from that day. We were walking around that place for a time, durring which i realised how much i care about her, but when i did, we already parted our ways. I continued my travels, knowing that we will meet eachother again and then i shall tell her my feelings... and we did, but not quite as much as i'd want. When i was in Vast and was visiting Procampur, i learned that it was struck with plague of some sort. I simply walked around the streets there and saw that which i did not wanted ever to see. Essi's body on a not yet burning pyre. People said she fell on that plague, when she was helping folks here. I walked to it, took her body in my arms and literaly, for the first time, cried... I burried her away from any civilisation, as deep as i could, in a forest and mourned her death for seven days and nights. All that remained after her is that medalion with pearl... Bitter sorrow.


        I don't want to think about it anymore. Im going to get drunk and sing few songs with Finn, maybe we will find our fortune at one of the next towns or cities on our road, either way we need gold.
~~~Ravial, next to poor Bard~~~

[Ravial]

I knew it.

    I knew that something is wrong with that place. After i awoke, all things of some value we had were gone, along with my hat and boots. I have no idea who or what took it all, but it really make things worse for us. Now we need to get to some town or city. Finn got all grumpy, because his favourite flute that was given to him by an elven girl year ago. I don't know what in the whole world could make somebody give him something just like that, exept of fist in his face. We started our wander again and not long after that, we were hungry as a wolf could be after a day without food, only had wine to drink. We spreaded around the forest to find something to eat. I spotted a calm river and thought of fishing, Finn got some weird berries and promised that they are both tasty and safe. I think we were trying to catch one fish for hours, at least it was a big one, thought those berries weren't that good as Finn assured. My stomach still grumbles chaoticly.


    Well, i think that's all from all those sad parts of my past. After Essi's death, i came back again to Icewind Dale and sat there for two years, mostly thinking and writing down things i heard and saw durring my journeys. I lost the desire to live that time, i saw it pointless as well as i had nothing to do. It was one of the most peaceful times in my life, but in the same time most empty one. I don't really know what to write about it, i was in grief... although, one time two of my friends from childhood came to visit me, i was living in a rented room that time. They saw my miserable shape, took me outside by force and threw into snow. When i stood up, they just grabbed my arms and dragged me somewhere away from the town and that place i'll never forget. Under a lonely tree there were several graves, members of their families. They told me the whole story how they died and how they fought for their lives, told me that i was a shame for them, my anciestors and myself by behaving like this... they were right. At least about a shaming myself. So i saved a bit of money, gathered my wits about myself and encouraged by my friends, i went on another journey south, but still i felt lost. I went around Luskan as i started to hate that place slowly, went to Neverwinter and down the Sword Coast, eventually to Baldur's Gate. An interesting city, i admit, but was a bit of a mess that time, so i travelled to Western Heartlands and roamed those parts for half a year and then went to Anauroch, with which i had bad past. I learned there some things about past of that place durring that time and about Bedine tribes, though i have not found folks that saved my life back then. Year and half went quite quickly and i felt like it's time to go, but was wondering where should i go. After checking the map, i saw i was never in eastern parts of Faerun. Despite my original objective that was Great Dale, i went to Cormyr after hearing that Steel Regent send for help of adventurers, in my opinion. Things were pretty harash for this kingdom, recent war devastaded it, killing good king, widowing quite a number of women and so on. I got there, bought myself adventuring charter at border crossing and went to Suzail, but things that happened there are completely diffrent stories.


    Now i am tired, sick, robbed by pixies as Finn likes to think and i started to miss Icewind Dale. I suppose i lived through worse cases of unlucky travelling. We found the road to a town i think, but in that state we cannot go any further. Camping near river is, as i hope, not really dangerous. I hope.
~~~Ravial, travelling minstrell~~~

[Ravial]

Funny.

     Today we finally found a somewhat town, after all those struggles and starving, but still we had no money. Inn there was full, musicians filled air in this building with music. Also you could smell tasty food, but nevermind. We needed to gain attention of the crowd, so maybe we could get some money from them or at least free food and bed for one day, but i was so tired that i couldn't think out anything, fortunatley Finn did. He shouted to everyone to come closer and hear a story about bravery, sacrifice and love, tale about how a man stood against the dragon to save his friends and love of his life. I chuckled at that, because i know the real version. One he made was good enough, yes, but truth is to be remembered. Maybe it was not as epic as he told, but it it's part of my life.



        It was a calm evening, torches were burning slowly and everybody was attending to their own business. In front of Dragon Jaw Inn it was one of normal times for that place, adventurers were drinking mead and wine, gambling, laughing and talking about their journeys or stories they heard. I was just passing by that place to get to a temple, when suddenly i saw a very tall and muscular man, standing near some folk i partially knew. I came closer to ask what is this about and then i heard about how this man came a long road from Eagle Peak in search for a cure, that in fact was a mushroom, for wife of one of the nobles there. He asked War Wizards to help him, but they had no time, so he came to adventurers, seeking help in his journey to a cave in forest that it's supposed to grow. All around agreed to help him, so after getting supplies we went with him to Waymoot where one of the Foresters waited- he was our guide through forest. We went through cave filled with spiders those experienced enough to fight, slaughtered them without breaking a sweat. After we got out from there, before our eyes we saw a chasm, across which was lying a fallen tree, only way on the other side. It was blocked by a war band of Minotaurs with fur black as coal and huge weapons, gleaming in the morning sun. We tried at first to negociate with them, but nobody could understand what they were talking, suddenly they attacked us. My companions fought bravely and eventually killed all of them, though some of us took few bad hits. After few hours of walking, we saw a kobold, normally it would be nothing, but that one looked diffrently that others. When it spotted us, it ran to a large cave in a small mountain, from which emerged few moments later a huge, with scales green like spring grass dragon. He flew up into the sky and landed behind us, cutting out our escape route. The dragon laughed firstly as he looked upon us and told us that he did not know that "it's dinner time". Luckly, he decided that he's not hungry right now, but said that nothing prevents him from killing us, after all he's a dragon, though he wondered why we came to his home. To make things more entertaining for him, he made us an offer that if we will correctly anwser his riddle, he will grant us anwsers to questions we seek. Airy, air genasi, stepped forward and when she heard the question, she anwsered it right away. It was a good anwser. When the dragon asked us then what we are doing here, she said to him that she wants to ride on his back- it was a stupid mistake, for the dragon quickly managed to grab her with his jaw, bitten her a bit, threw on the ground and stomped right at her motionless body. Most of my companions stepped back that time (though some young human thought that insulting the dragon for it would make things better for us, we knocked him out fastly), so i stepped forward, bowed to him and talked in his native language. We had an interesting dialogue, in which i explained why we came here, that we did not wanted to disturb him in his home and that we are sorry for Airy's behaviour. I was using my oratory the best i could, but dragon, though he liked the way i adressed him, was not satisfied with us, so i had to make a deal. Blood for blood, life for life, i traded my own life for Airy's, rest of my companions and the mushroom (that the dragon had) that we needed for the noble lady. After i stepped forward... i don't know what happened. I felt warmith, some presence and next thing i remember is when i woke up on the ground on the way to Waymoot. First person i saw was Daniss, giving me her helping hand, but my body was completely, wholy in pain, even hair. The worst one was on my chest, where i saw a huge scar, from my right arm, thowards left leg through whole chest. "Nice present" i thought. Somehowly i managed to get to Suzail with help of my companions and after that i got drunk and did not left my room for four days, untill i was able to stand up normally. From what i heard, i was cut almost in half, then mauled nine times and taken by him into the sky... i mean my body... or meat ball that was left of it. Mushroom reached the Eagle Peak as far as i know and that's good. After that time, few things in my life changed, but i don't want to bore everyone. That is how it really was. That's how i sacrificed myself to a dragon and was spared by it. Still i don't know why, but im sure i'll meet Chrysophylax again. I just know it.


So... That's not the epic story Finn told, but i don't mind him changing it. We are bards after all. After he ended the story and i ended playing music to it on my lute, people cheered, said it was a good story, but i hardly believe that anyone believed it. Still, i don't really care. We got the room, food and bath, that's what counts. Now im lying in a warm bed, massaging my scar and thinking that whatever people think, if it was brave, stupid or both, it was the best choice i ever made. Alright, time for rest, tomorrow we need to earn more gold.
~~~Ravial, Dragon-surviving Bard... this time~~~~

[Ravial]

Even the best effort can fail into misery.


    Two days ago me and Finn found ourselves a job in one of the local taverns here. It was a good job, we were paid honestly and got free drinks from happy people, it was nice. Then next day a man, said he's a noble, wanted us to play on ball he was making in his estate. I told Finn that i have bad past with such parties as he remembered greatly, but he insisted on us to go there and make big show, for finally we could get attention of some more higher eyes on ourselves. I couldn't deny that, obviously. We came there and it was truth, there was an estate and a ball, Finn was overjoyed with it (i can probably guess why he was so excited, after all there were a lot of lovely looking ladies). Place was really fancy, nobleman was quite wealthy i assume and wine was of those better ones, sadly i don't remember it's name. We played songs all night untill everybody was so drunk that they either were slowly passing out or already passed. After everything was over our employer gave us money for this show, thanked us and "shown us the exit" with help of this bodyguards. We just shrugged at that and left willingly. Outside, full moon on the sky, air was fresh and wind smoothly blowing upon us- that's why i forests and glades. Finn and i just simply were walking back to town, laughing, singing and telling some stupid things (i guess we were a bit drunk), everything seemed so good. Then, three men showed up before us. One of them spoke to us coldly about our performence, how it was good yet it was not wise to sing few particular songs that the nobleman who hired us asked for (Blasted politics). He nodded to the two next to him and said "Teach them a lesson about respect", after which those two just jumped at us both in blink of an eye. Man laughed and walked away, as we were getting solid punching. After one hit in my stomach, i tried to hit that guy in front of me in his face, but he grabbed my hand, twisted it, kicked me in my chest and simply pushed me aside. I fell down on the ground and Finn that was handling better than me, suddenly got grabbed by the man i fought with, hit so hardly in his stomach that he fell on the ground too and they just like that started to kick him. Should've left my sword alone, not sell it. With all the pain on myself, i took my dagger from my left boot with strong grip and after few huge breath ins and outs i stood up fastly and jumped on a man that was standing with his back thowards me, then my dagger pierced through his neck several times. He dropped dead and his friend seeing this just ran away (i guess he did not had a weapon after all), fortunatley. I looked upon the dagger, in silvery light of the moon, all covered with blood. I killed a man. For the first time i killed somebody. I would have think about it deeper, but i couldn't at that time, because i quicky realised that Finn is not moving at all. When i checked him, he was still alive, although his heartbeats were weak. I put the dagger back into my boot, grabbed Finn and ran as fast as i could to healer in nearby town. I made there without being stopped by local guards, they even shouted to me to run faster and that they'll check me later. She (healer was a woman) said when seeing his wounds in normal light that his condition is grave, but she can help him provided that she'll get her shipment that should come tomorrow. I had no time for this, so i asked if there is some other way to get things she need and she agreed that local store should have things she needs, but for a lot higher price than she gets it normally (after which she started to lecture me about economy). I gave her all the money i had and even sold my gloves to get more gold to pay for it.


        When i asked why she can't just use some magic to cure him, healer said she doesn't possess strong enough power to heal him with spells. That's when i sighted heavily, although i do have magic too, i was completely out of my spells thanks to that party, and wondered why not every healer is strong enough to heal people with single spell? Now i sit beside him, in my blood stainted clothes and write all those things. She said that Finn will survive, but it will take some time for him to wholly regenerate himself. Why always when things start to going better ways, it always must fall into pieces of sorrow? By the gods... Im leaving him this journal along with few of my others, hope he'll have good lecture. After checking up with guards and cleaning my clothes a bit im heading out of here. I must travel away from this place. Far away.
~~~Ravial, the lonely Minstrel of Icewind Dale~~~~