Valkyrie ActII, scene II
Wotan: Farwell then, imperious pomp! Godly show's resplendent shame! Let all I raised now fall to ruins! My work I abandon; one thing alone do I want
The end!....The end!
And Albrich will see to that end! Only now do I fathom the silent sense of Vala's mysterious words: "When love's dark foe begets a son in his fury, the end of the gods won't be long delayed!" Of the Nibelung I lately heard it told that the dwarf had had his way with a woman whose favours gold had gained for him. A woman harbours the seed of hate; the force of envy stirs in her womb: the wonder befell the loveless dwarf; yet I who wooed in love cannot father one who is free!
So take my blessing, Nibelung son! What I loathe most deeply I leave as your legacy: godhood's empty glitter. May your envy greedily gnaw it away!
*The first several pages have been torn out*
Dear Diary,
Well, the money is spent, as usual. Though the old lout certainly had some coin. I still can't believe he actually thought I was his long lost daughter! Sometimes, it's too easy. Still, I could use some new boots... guess I'd better find a new mark.
Dear Diary,
The old lout had some friends in high places. I should have suspected as much. The house guard got a good look at me too, especially the tall one, Lance. Maybe more on him later. I can't stay in this town any longer. Same old story....
Dear Diary,
Boy did I have to leave town fast! Left most of my stuff behind, and had just enough coin on me to book passage. Not exactly a nobleman's yacht, but it will suffice.
Dear Diary,
I've hooked up with a small band of mercenaries, hell bent on discovering what's at the bottom of some pit. Lead by a paladin, so it's probably on the up and up. Not exactly my preferred method of making a living, but it took about thirty seconds before the paladin was eating out of my hands, much to the chagrin of the only other woman around, some fighter type named Elizabeth.
Dear Diary,
The pit was full of goblin slaves making weapons and armor, along with some nastier creatures.... There were a lot of weapons, enough to equip a small army. Not exactly easy loot to carry out. I grabbed one that looked enchanted, and after killing some evil priest we took charge of the place. Those goblins are actually kinda cute, very willing to please. Their last master mistreated them horribly. Elizabeth said she was going back to town, along with another of our group. The paladin, a dwarf and I are going to hold the fort; he thinks the priest was dealing weapons to other humanoids, possibly bugbears, and wants to lay an ambush for them. Well, actually he wants to challenge them in glowing plate mail, but I've convinced him that an ambush would be more practical, and still uphold his honor. Paladins....
Dear Diary,
We caught some bugbears who were coming in to buy weapons. They didn't stand a chance, thanks to my ambush plan. We discovered little from them though, as the paladin wouldn't let me use my other arts of persuasion, and tensions have run high between us as a result. We did discover the weapons were going to some place near Shadowdale. Then the dwarf went absolutely nuts and killed all the goblin slaves! Something about a blood oath. I'll never understand dwarves. The paladin has been in deep prayer ever since, and the dwarf is drunk and muttering to his dead relatives. The rest of our party still hasn't returned, and I fear the worst. What a pit this turned out to be....
Dear Diary,
I've convinced the paladin we have to return to town, even if it means leaving the weapons behind. I've laid some traps, including some he doesn't know about, like poisoning the goblin wine and food with spider venom from the spiders we killed earlier. It's not like any friendly types would eat or drink that stuff.
Dear Diary,
After informing the local ruler of what we found, the paladin wants to go to Sembia, to follow some lead, or something. Admittedly, I was only half listening to him. At any rate, he's agreed to pay for my passage, though after talking to the captain, I discovered we will be stopping in Selgaunt. From there I can go wherever I like. I'll have to ditch the paladin at the docks; he has spent his usefulness to me. I think I'll use the name Night here. It's easy to remember, anyway.
Dear Diary,
This may be my last entry. Guess I shouldn't have left the dock alone after all. I was jumped by a bandit. A guard happened upon us and managed to kill him, but not before he wounded me grievously. I passed out in the street, and lied there for who knows how long. When I awoke it was dark and I managed to drag myself into an abandoned building. Someone stole my magic blade. I'm so tired. I've lost alot of blood. My candle is almost spent. I can't believe it's going to end like this.
Dear Diary,
After spending several days in a dream-like stupor, I finally got enough strength to limp to a temple and get healed. I've since been able to actually explore Selgaunt a bit. It's pretty wrecked from the war still, but it is exotic, and overrun with thugs. I paid a visit to Copper Alley and paced one from the shadows, then shot him with my bow right between the shoulder blades, payback for my off the docks experience. Now it's time to go.
Dear Diary,
After spending some time in Northern Cormyr, I went to Arabel. It's no city of splendors, but it's not bad. Certainly alot of merchants. But I'm having trouble finding any work. I've heard rumors of a lot of "adventurers" in Shadowdale, and I think I'm going to check them out.
Dear Diary,
Well, Shadowdale is certainly a town of contrasts. A sleepy little farming village that houses probably the most powerful man in the world, Elminster. I've met several Whitestars, as they call themselves, basically adventurers who act as the law up here. They seem easy enough to get along with. I've also met quite a few elves, pretty much all rangers and druids. Nice people, but it's going to take me some time to get used to them. I took a patrol job with some of them, and got thoroughly chewed out on my skills. Oh well, I have no desire to march along roads the rest of my life anyway, that's a job for chumps. Though it does pay surprisingly well.
Dear Diary,
I finally met someone I can relate to here. His name is Velyn, an elf with my tastes. After upsetting nearly all of the righteous folk around here, I think he's my only friend.
Dear Diary,
The elven druids have almost all left for Daggersprings. There is apparently some sort of Druid circle there. I may have to go there and visit them someday. They kind of grew on me, no pun intended.
Dear Diary,
Dangerous times. I've heard of someone or something named Karadine. I'm told he's a vampire wizard of tremendous power. He apparently summoned a demon and had it capture a woman named Nicha and take her to the Abyss. Several people have died, including a high priest and some town official. A planar tower is popping in and out, bandits are crawling everywhere, the fey have gone mad and are trying to kill everyone, and rumors of drow abound. I've seen the Drow's handiwork, and it isn't pretty. I've spoken to Velyn and he agrees, it's time to go somewhere else for awhile.
Dear Diary,
I decided to try something crazy and approached the White Sparrow goblins. They seem unthreatening enough. I managed to convice them I meant them no harm, and I've spent a couple weeks trying to learn their language. I think I can work out a deal with the powers that be in Shadowdale to basically sign a treaty with this goblin tribe. Well, that's the idea anyway. We'll see if the Shadowdale leaders can get over their prejudices. I still feel I owe a debt to goblins for letting that dwarf kill all of those goblin slaves. I just need to rebalance the scales, as it were. Besides, they seem eager to please. At least it kept my mind off the dangers here in Shadowdale.
Dear Diary,
I escorted a kind druidess to Daggerfalls, so she could join the others in the Springs. I am relieved to be out of Shadowdale. Still, I miss some of the people I met there. Well, I'll just lay low here and listen for news from the east.
Dear Diary,
I escorted a hin priest of Gond back to Shadowdale. Things have calmed a bit. Elminster got Nicha back, the fey are back to normal, and the vampire seems quiescent for now. My nerves are better, and I can sleep here again. It's still dangerous, but at least it's not overwhelming. And I'm learning to speak elven!
