A Land Far Away

*This is but one copy of the new Journal of Amy Earthdaughter,left in one of the houses at the plantation*

Druid Harold said I should start keeping a journal,so this is it.
I can still remember the excitement of working with that little halfling. Called himself Blackie or somesuch.(I never found out why,go figure)He was a decent second story man and thought I was smart enough to be his apprentice.All went well for a couple months.Then the guards got wise to the way we were getting into the houses.(when your breaking into homes in the nice parts of Baldur's Gate,people make a fuss)

The last job I did with Blackie,all was going well for about a half hour,then I hear someone on the inner stairwell coming up the stairs.No,scratch that several someones.I turned and looked to the window to see a robed man with a wand pointed straight at me,about that time the door opens up and in come half a dozen flaming fist guards.

Knowing I was done for I just gently put my hands up and decided not to resist arrest.(Blackie did call me smart after all)I looked around and of course Blackie was no where to be seen.Either slipped out of sight or ducked out the window before the man in robes showed up.

They were pretty easy on me,I was given six months in prison,but I got to keep my hands and head if I agreed to work while I was there.It wasn't so bad,really.I cleaned,learned how to repair fences,even after a while I was allowed to cook.But,it seems the one thing that I was allowed to do that I enjoyed was work out on one of the plantations that supply food for the city.I mean,I was outside,under the sun and doing honest work with my hands.

It got to the point where they could see I enjoyed working out on the plantations(and honestly,they started to look a little better)I was pretty much exclusively working on the plantation at that point,of course there was always a guard or two to check up on me.But at that point I was honestly starting to enjoy what life had thrown me(well,what I fell face first into)

I'd say about a month(the days kinda blurred in jail).An older gentleman was placed in the cell across from me during the middle of the night,By the racket and the smell he had to be a fighting mad drunkard.Winds up that this was Druid Harold of Chauntea.We talked for a little bit and he managed to talk the guards into letting him accompany him to the plantation.

He spent a couple days in jail(apparently he actually hit one of the flaming fist)We talked about all manner of things,but mostly about faith(and my glaring lack of it at that point)What he had to say about Chauntea made sense.He even showed me how to spot the little spots in the ground where water swells up,to help control water flow.Needless to say his words were what I needed to help me get firmly on the path that I am now.(I get ahead of myself)After he was released he made sure I knew how to find him when I finally got out myself.

A few weeks, later when I was released I pretty much made a straight line for Druid Harold's little house.I spent a month or two with him learning the daily prayers and rituals for the faith.He even taught me how to defend myself with a couple of old clubs and shields he had in his house.

Then a few days before I was to leave him,Harold and I went to the center of the plantations,and prayed and meditated for what felt like an entire day.It winds up I had a choice to make that day.Harold had already initiated me into the clergy of Chauntea,but that was the point where I would decide how I would follow the path.He first spoke of the loosest form of priest,the favored soul,who rely mostly on their own sense of self.I shook head,Right at that point my sense of self wasn't to good.Then he briefly spoke about the Shaman.(boy,what they do just creeps me out)
He then spoke briefly on how the Druids were set up,what they did and how they did it.Finally he explained what her clerics did and how they did it and that felt like the best fit for me.

The next few pages in the journal detail the rather boring journey leaving Baldur's Gate behind for good and making the way to Rivermoot.

Rivermoot is a small,rather quiet town the selection of shops is adaquate for a town this size.And the marshal(He's Argent legion or some such,NOT flaming fist thank CHauntea,I don't think I could handle FF here..)Seems to be a pretty nice guy,and a fairly generous boss to boot.

Anyway, he had lots of work for me to do(pity its all done though now)In the middle of working for him though ..I met a dwarf(seemed a bit off..beserker mabey)ANd we managed to put down a couple wyvern hatchlings and a half dozen or so goblinkind.Then..I got the bright idea to take him to the crypts and try and kill undead there..Now it might not have been so bad...but he wouldnt allow me to heal him so he was a little beat up before we even got to the crypts.(ok,I should have healed him anyway,he was dripping blood the whole way in.Noted for future reference)Turned out the skeletons had our number..sure we made it past the first half dozen...but after that disaster struck.The dwarf was killed (Gee Amy,small wonder there,he was leaveing a trail on the way in)I was beaten unconsious.I had a strange dream at that point.Or a vision...anyway im not sure and im surely not gonna talk to anyone about it.

In the dream(vision,whatever it was)Chauntea reminded me to be a little more careful,and to understand that my being here is a gift.I woke up after a while.I had NEVER felt such pain before..My ribs were swollen and purple.Cuts scratches and bruises everywhere.But after a while I was able to uncurl from the tightly wrapped ball I was in.I checked on the dwarf..he was slain and stripped clean.(I was real gratefull to be alive at that point)
I said a few blessings for him then I knew I had to get out of there before more skeletons found me.I was alive,but barely.

Chauntea was looking out for me at that point.I made it back,safely within the village walls without being accosted,or tripping over anything.I set up a small tent just inside the gate and all but fell into it.I dunno I must have slept for a week out there.When I got up,my ribs were a little tender,but they looked fine.The rest of the day was fairly uneventful.

After tending the plantation for a while this morning,I started to spot signs of orcs,the lousy blighters are wandering in during the night and helping themselves to the crops.I went and talked to the marshal about it and he decided it was time to show the orcs we mean buisness.He wanted me to kill one of thier ambushers.Humm I needed help for that.

Anyway,one of the local dwarven fighters was more than happy to help out.The orc never had a chance,Me the dwarf and the spider..I don't even think he fired his crossbow.The marshal was pleased.After that he sent me to the cave across the river to *evict* a bugbear spy.We ran into a nice old priest at that point and he tagged along to make sure no one got really hurt.We got into the cave and found the bugbear alright...and several undead to go with him.Skeletons mostly,but I seem to recall a zombie.Or was it a tougher skeleton?Its dust now..

Well I have been here a week or so now.Met all kinds of people.Saw a few interesting places.The dwarven folk around here seem to be a goodly sort,Little gruff,but its to be expected.

Pretty much set up a home out on the plantation.Chauntea knows there is a never ending supply of work to be done there.Chasing down orcs and goblins and kobolds that are forever raiding the plantations.I'm just grateful none of the farmers have been killed or really hurt even,they just run when ever they see a goblinoid and they make it ok .

I finally did it.I was able to save enough coin to afford a fine suit of plate from the dwarven master smithy.I already look at his enchanted works with envy.So expensive.So many other things I need though.I also came across a little blue dress I simply adore.It has to be the prettiest dress I have ever owned.

I saw an ogre for the first time the other day.They are as fat and stupid as the stories say.The blasted thing ran right up and started swinging away. Shanda was a good bit of help with that ogre.Her apatite knows no bounds either.It seemed no sooner than it hit the ground she started on the remains.How she managed to finish the entire ogre...Chauntea only knows.She has put on a bit of weight.

Oh that thing I said about dwarves being mostly goodly folk? Im wondering on it now.The dwarves in the caravan outside Silverymoon are total pigs.Leches. Infuriating leches.Stay away from Amy.Stay away.