The revised Journal of Drayvie Zokyr

[bigdsherwood]

The Diary of Drayvie Zokry.

Leaf Fall 21, 1339 DR

Well, I’m not really much of a writer but there isn’t much too really do in Never castle dungeon. So I guess this piece of charcoal I sharpened on the wall and the vellum I found in the pocket of my, oh so quiet and malnourished cell mate, is going to have to keep me company. It’s not like the bag of bones is really going to care anyway. I guess my first question would be where to start.

Maybe a good place to start would be why I’m in here. Well, the typical list of crimes would be fine, petty theft, larceny, extortion, impersonating a member of the watch. You know the typical drivel that a thief of my caliber would get himself into. Impersonating a member of the watch is kind of difficult to explain but there is a war brewing with Luskan and they offered me a fair bag of coin to infiltrate the ranks and find out how loyal the militia would be if war did break out. So, being a man of business I took their offer. Luckily, the new Never winter lord, Masher I think his name is, doesn’t know about that. If he did I’d be looking at treason. Course, The crime that has me here waiting for the gallows is bad enough. Not like they can kill me twice after all.

I guess since the cat is out of the bag so to speak I can tell you what it is. Not like your really going to say much. Maybe you’ll say something to the guards when they search my cell after I hang. Yet, hey I got to leave some kind of legacy right? My crime is murder. Yep, you heard me. I’m a murderer. Not like it wasn’t justified. That watch member had it coming. I mean all the kid took was an apple, a freaking apple of all things. Yeah the guard caught him. Yeah, the guard warned him to drop the apple and turn himself in. Yeah, the guard was trying to fire a warning bolt. But if he’s going to fire a damned crossbow he needs to check his aim. Personally I felt it was on purpose. Not to mention that guard was rubbing me the wrong way with his holier than though attitude. Always thinking that his (#2) didn’t stink and that he was better than all of the other rabble that hung out down at the docks. Anyway his “warning” shot took the kid in the back. Hit him right in the sweet spot, small of the back, fourth muscle down. That wound gushed blood like you wouldn’t believe. And all everyone else could do was sit there and watch. The poor boy couldn’t have seen more than eight, maybe nine winters total. Now he was dying and the only thing anyone could do was sit there and watch. I couldn’t believe it.

So what did I do you ask. It was pure poetry I tell ya. I was right there with him when he did it, right behind him in fact. I kept telling him to let the boy go. Even said I’d pay the merchant the copper the boy owed him. But no, he had to go about his little crime thing, the law this, the law that, the (do-me) law hit me with a vampire bat (#2). So when I saw the kid fall I pulled my dagger and sliced his throat from behind. Perfectly executed if I say so myself. And as I said, that Luskan bred bastard deserved it.

Well, low and behold, when the boy lied dying everyone stood around staring. Yet wouldn’t you know it as soon as I slit that guard’s throat the other guards were on me like flies on crap. So they could care less about a kid that who knows could have grown up to be a great knight or something some day. (I highly doubt it, he probably would have grown up to be a thief like myself or some thug beating bar patrons senseless for a few coppers every now and then, but it’s the idea ya know.) But, wouldn’t you know it, when one of their own goes down, they don’t hesitate to jump on his murderer like bats out of the abyss. All of it is ridiculous, if you ask me.

So now here I am awaiting the hangman’s not. They took my hat, saw the horns, then they swore up and down that I was the one that killed both the kid and the guard. The damned guards said I did it for spite. Said that my horns proved that I was nothing but an evil monster and claimed that if I wasn’t killed now that I would end up killing everyone in Never winter. They kept calling me half-demon. Now that pissed me off, I’m not half demon. I’m one quarter devil, and devils are more lenient then demons anyway. Demons kill without remorse or cause. Hell a devil doesn’t even kill. He actually kind of helps you out. I mean you hear about devils giving people great power and strength and riches and all that. And they don’t even ask for anything in return. What your soul? It’s not like your using it anyway, right?

[bigdsherwood]

Leaf Fall 22, 1339 DR

Ok now that was messed up. I had the weirdest dream I ever had. I’m sitting in the corner of my cell watching as the star creep by my little barred window into the world outside, when suddenly I’m not in my cell anymore. In fact I really can’t see much of anything around me, no walls, just nothing. It’s like I was literally nowhere. Then this big red guy comes out of the darkness. Let me tell you, that's saying something, because I can see perfectly fine in the dark and this guy just appears. So I’m thinking what the hell kind of magic is this? He looks me up and down and calls me grandson. Now he has me kind of intrigued. He asks me my name I tell him. Tells me it has a meaning, that my name it’s very close to the infernal word for thief. (Dryav or something like that.) Then he introduces himself as Asmodeous. Now that freaked me out. I had read up on the lore of Bator. You know the nine hells and all that good stuff. I knew I was devil But I got this guy standing her telling me that I’m not just part devil. But I’m part arch devil. And not just any arch devil either. I’m the grandson of THE arch devil, Asmodeous lord of the ninth. He’s like the king of hell or some crap like that. So that would make me a prince of hell. (Not like it really matter anyway. I mean heck you tell me a lord that is going to take that nobility into thought and I’ll get a horse to crap a brick of gold)

So this Asmodeous guy goes on about he couldn’t believe I got myself locked in a dungeon waiting for my death. Said something about he was expecting me to come for a visit but not on the terms that I was about to come. Said he had plans for me n the material realm, whatever that means. Then he hands me a lock pick and just disappears.

Next thing I know its morning and I’m waking up to cold gruel being slid under the door to my cell. I hadn’t had much to eat in the two days I’ve been here but I’d rather eat my arm then the crap that they serve. Bah, gruel I hate the stuff. So I go to rub my eyes and wake up a bit when I notice something clutched in my hand. It’s a lock pick. So it was a dream, and a weird one like I said. Yet, not really a dream either. Anyway, this is my last post in this little vellum book. They have me scheduled to hang at high sun and I’m not going to be here. I’m busting out and getting to port last to find me a boat out of Never winter territory, maybe a merchant caravan or something like that. Just hope I don’t have that many mercs trying to collect a bounty on my head wherever I go. They got me under the assumed name Willis Faulkner so maybe; just maybe, Tymora might give me a bit of respite

[bigdsherwood]

Murtil 13, 1940 DR

Well, here I am. In Baldur's Gate. When I broke out of the Never-winter dungeon. Not, without some difficulty mind you. I mad my way for port last as I said. There i managed to get on with a merchant caravan that was heading south. I wasn't for sure what i was going to face cause i hadn't really been out of Never-winter that much. But instinct told me that it was time to get the heck out.

The caravan was headed to south to Amn. Now, the idea of getting all the way to Amn was not my first chioce by a long shot. I don't even know how to speak Aminite or whatever it is they speak. I heard it was a bad place anyway. So I agreed I'd come as far as the gate. Seemed like as good a place as any to start over. Also it was far enough from Luskan that they might not come looking for me. I didn't want those monsters on my tail that's for sure.

I brought those little pieces of velum with me. It is a good thing cause now Never-winter won't know my real name. When I had the chance I bought me a small, blank book and wrote them into this little journal. Who knows maybe it might come in handy keeping a record of my adventures.
Maybe some bard or something might pay money to get the story of the patron prince of hell. Who really knows. So I'll keep writing down the oddities of the sword coast as I live them in this little book.

[bigdsherwood]

Kythorn 2 1340 DR

Met an intruiging gal by the name of Roxy. She's a rouge like myself. She's not quite as nasty as I can be. but sweet enough I suppose. Whe hit things off and we've been killing Gnolls, lizards, and such together. Its been fun. She's allowed me to forget about all the things that have been going on.

The downfall is I know that Neverwinter is still looking for me. I had heard that there was an emissary from Neverwinter in the palace. I mean the palace of all places. Probably talking to the duke and getting the fist on alert now.

I gotta watch my back more. No telling where he'll be. No telling if the fist are looking out for me. Just need to tell myself to stay hidden. Stay away from town as much as possible, and keep my head down. Maybe I might be able to get through this and the whole thing will blow over.

[bigdsherwood]

Kythorn 28th 1340 DR

Sh**, Sh**, Sh**, Sh**, He's caught up to me. That emissary wasn't a emissary at all he was a Merc. He'd been sniffing my heels for months now, I finally got a look at him from a crowd walking past the palace. He was standing outside talking to the captain of the fist. I know I saw them exchange gold. that's it. I'm done for. I need to get in cover now before its to late.

I forget the name of that Merc. I've dealt with him before and he's good. I'll not doubt that. Thing is, I'm better. This guy aint gonna get me. not if i have anything to say about it.

[bigdsherwood]

Flamerule 3rd 1340 DR

God's Now I remeber his name. It was Johns. Jacho Johns I think. He's been all over baldurs looking for clues. Luckily, I've been able to stay one step ahead of him. Though he's closing in quick. I can't write much more. Need to head south. Been thinking about heading to Amn, but i can't get that far on my own. D**nit.

[bigdsherwood]

Flamerule 7th 1340 DR

Well that's it. I'm holed up in a cave and I'm sick of running. I've decided to face Johns. If this is my last entry, he's got me. If not I'll be back.

[bigdsherwood]

Ches 14th 1346 DR

Has it really been over five years. Johns caught me. He took me back to Never winter in chains. Lord whatever his name is sentenced me not to die but to rot. He threw me into the deepest darkest dungeon he had. Said I'd never see the light of day again.

He was right for the most part. Took me five years to get out of the slam. Day by day I'd use my natural dark vision to see as I dug my hole under the floor. I had remembered hearing the underdark had tunnels throughout the surface of Toril. It was a gamble, but it was a gamble I was willing to take. I just hoped I wasn't killed by the Drow when I got there.

And now here I am. I made it out by digging a tunnel in the floor. Not the greatest escape I know. But the only one that I could think of at the moment. Turned out there were tunnels under castle never. They led to the cellar system of a popular bar in town called the fallen tower. Still say it was part of the underdark. And I'll tell you this right now. The lords back in neverwinter really need to go goblin hunting. They are thick with em and they are right under their feet.

I know people asked some questions when one of the few people that came up from the cellars in the fallen tower was one that they couldn't remember going down. But I found some armor and a blade and looked more like and adventurer then an escaped convict so they bought my story of being lost for a Tenday down there. I took the road out of there the first chance I got.

Made my way south and met up with a caravan. With the help and the extra blades I made it back to Baldur's with a nice some of gold and a few extra things the merchants won't miss I'm sure. Why I came back here, I can't really say.

I know what it was, I was hoping to see Roxy, I never got the chance to tell here I was leaving. Hard to believe this old dog has a heart.

[bigdsherwood]

Ches 21st 1346 DR

Well there goes that idea. Roxy is married now. Married to some wizard of all things. I guess I came back to Baldur's for no reason at all. Now i'm stuck here. Well, I know one thing for sure. I'm keeping my head down this time. A twice escaped convict, and convicted murderer. Yeah, things for me ain't going to be the greatest if news heads south.

[bigdsherwood]

Well, what can I say. Things in the gate never change. Ive met an intriguing sort. A weapon master named Cleo. This thin gal carries around two massive falchions and cleaves Orcs like they are nothing. Me, I don't like taking the chance of getting into the thick like that. Also, I've met a few new faces. Delphinn, well to describe Del in a sentence; He thinks the ladies love him and he probably can't be further from reality. Actually, I can't say for sure. the guy is well enough in my book, and he knows how to use the shadows to his advantage. He introduced me to a friend of his. But I can't remember the name off the top of my head. I remember the eye patch though.

A couple of interesting things have happened with Cleo. I think she's just a magnet for trouble honestly. We were going to the caves in Cloak wood and we were attacked by all manner of the Gods know what. And it all started with Cleo making a comment about the druids and the spiders. From there we went from spiders and druids to goblins riding feral dogs, we were attacked by something that resembled an undead hobbit. Pr as they call them here in the gate "Hin." Then something that had tentacles for a beard and an eye tyrant. The eye tyrant must have been behind the whole thing or something. but i'm not going to complain I found a very valuable set of bracers on the bearded tentacle thing.

I've also found that I tend to attract a certain type of woman. Witches, or female warlocks are seem to have an eye for me. And I wonder why. Is it my personality? Hard to say. Anyway, I'm about to call it a night. Wait one more thing. My recent cave dives. on dungeon crawls have proved very valuable. Recently in the mines I was venturing with a small and we found a nice set or armor. Seems that the kinks in the leather has been magically enhanced to give the wearer better protection. The downfall there is it seems to restrict my movements a little bit. Also, I gotta find some place that I can get a hair cut and a shave.

[bigdsherwood]

Today I heard in the taverns that someone was looking for a person with my general apperance. After that a man approached me with a "proposition" I am not for sure what his proposition entails but it sparked my curiosity. We arranged a secret meeting place. I am at the meeting place now as i pen this journal entry while I hide in the shadows. I can't say that i completely trust this guy. Its been a hard life's lesson that I have learned not to trust anyone. Yet, in the idea that i might be able to expand my gold pouch, or gain a strong magical item that would be useful to me i am here and will see how this all comes together. One thing i know for sure is the man is unable to see me once i walk into the shadows. It is a talent that i am getting good at. And i feel a talent that will allow me to see if he is what he says he is. and see what he wants me to do. His payment better be right. If not he can count me out. I'm not willing to do anything if the price isn't right.

[DonnieDreams]

It has been over four years since I've been in the gate... my observation on my last trip was proved wrong today. Things do change in the gate. Over the past 4 years many things have changed. The temple that once sat on the trade way is now the sigh of a large inn called the Friendly Arm, Beregost is now apparently controlled by Amn, and a whole host of other small things that just confuse me.

Unfortunately, I think many of my old companions are dead, or have left the area for greater adventures because I've seen none of them. I cannot say it was my fault though, the man that approached me in that cave so many years ago propositioned a deal that I could not refuse; amnesty. A reproach from all my past crimes and deeds. All I had to do was come to the service of Neverwinter. They wanted me to become a spy and Infiltrate the Luskan brotherhood. Not an easy task. Never the less I accomplished it with a great deal of difficulty.

The main thing they wanted was a list of spies that the Brotherhood had sent into Neverwinter over the past years. This was to my own advantage because it allowed me to erase my own name off of that list. I'm sure you could imagine my elation when i finally managed to sneak over the Luskan border with that list in my hand. To turn it in and finally be free of bounty hunters was probably the greatest moment of my miserable existence. At least it ranked pretty high to finding out that Roxy had gotten married.

You know in all my banter and pretending to be happy, I still to this day wished that I had never went into hiding all those years ago. Roxy was a good gal, a lot better than what I deserved. But, hindsight is always twenty twenty isn't it. Now, my luck with woman has hit a wall so to speak. Probably cause she wasn't my type. As I said in some of my earlier writings, i seem to attract a certain type of woman. She was definitely not it.

I have however met a possible traveling companion. His name is Edward and he's a warlock. Pretty powerful magician if i do say so myself. I saw him cast one spell that fell a troll in his tracks. Not a bad man to have around in a fight. So, I guess we will see how this trip to the gate goes. I'd like to stick around this time if possible. Without the bounty hunters on my tail maybe I'll start collecting enough gold to buy a house and settle down.

On another note however, it seems that I may end up finding myself in the middle of a war. Earlier I spoke of Beregost being under Amnian control. The governing bodies I believe as some would say "wrongfully arrested" a paladin of Lathander. Then, during some kind of vigil the peasants were having over him, he was dumped out on the street. I still say that he started crying about injustice so much that the Amnians couldn't put up with it and tossed his arse out, but who am I to say. Only time will tell, but if the gold is right I'm sure my services will come in handy. Not like I haven't done this kind of thing before.

[DonnieDreams]

So, what do you do when an adventure goes horribly wrong? I guess that would be the question for today I'm sure. I met up with Ed again in Beregost, we decided to travel south. It was your basic, uneventful outing until we stumbled on a rather hyperactive female hobbit named Perry. She told me and Ed that she actually tried to trade with the little blue goblins, Xvarts I think Ed called em. Needless to say the only trading they were looking for was cooking ingredients.

Ed and I managed to help the little hobbit out, but then Ed decided he had to take off for some reason. The bad part is, i didn't realize how much Ed was doing in our little ragtag group. I tried to take on the wyverns, that me and Ed were pretty much decimating, on my own and got slaughtered. I pulled away and slipped into the shadows, by the time that I managed to get back into Beregost apparently one of the things took me in the back with it's stinger. That poison was something else to, I collapsed in the road just outside town, If not for some wondering healer, that I still do not know the identity of, I'm not decorating the halls of Myrkul's court.

Anyway, after that little display I Perry and I went to an inn in Beregost and I found out a little more about her. She's as naive as they come. Maybe that's why they call that hobbit hole Gullykin, cause if all hobbits are as gullible as she is, by the gods, how have they survived this long. Yet, then again, she seems to be hiding something behind that innocent demeanor. I mean, she's really talented to be just some kid just out of Gullykin. Or is that just me, not trusting anything these days. I don't know.

One thing that I've been thinking about is that it's time to start trying to build some contacts around the Gate. I had tons of contacts in Luskan and Neverwinter, but here, I have nothing. I know that a man in my profession, is nothing without contacts, even if they are normally exploited. Maybe it's time to see if that shrine to Mask is still set up in town. I just, hope i know what I'm getting myself into. With contacts come favors, and with favors, comes trouble. But, if Tymora will smile on an old fool like myself, maybe I'll be able to get away from the trouble this time and still get the adventure.

[DonnieDreams]

Sometimes it's not best to depend on a large hulking monster to shield you from more large hulking monsters.

But, that's when skill comes into play I guess. While I was patiently biding my time near the friendly arm in I came in contact with a little gnome sorceress and her half orc companion. They were planning on delving into the mines inside cloak wood to find some ore. Personally, I thought it could have been a bad idea, but with the wizard’s wards and that massive tower shield I figured I could let the orc handle most of the heavy lifting while I took a few extra pieces of loot from the chests.

That was probably the case for our other companion, Sal. Either way, we get deep into the mines looking for some lizard egg and a swarm of batiri goblins descend on us like a pack of wild hounds. I don't know how it happened, but Ertu, the half orc managed to grab most of their attentions. But the wizards wards must have fallen to one of the batiri spell slingers because the half orc fell.

As soon as that orc died, the batiri scattered. Sal was nowhere to be found; this other elven archer that was there just started shooting. And those batiri were smart, once the orc fell they went for the gnomette next. Maddy was her name. She died quickly, and this elven archer and I were left to fend for ourselves.

Now I don't know if Tymora had her eye out for this old rouge, but honestly after all that I feel like finding a gambler's den. The batiri never scratched me. I was able to dodge every swipe, and my blades felt as deft as ever. By the skin of my teeth I was able to overcome the batiri swarm. The fun part was trying to carry 300 plus pounds of dead half orc up out of the caves.

If anyone ever says that I can't pull my weight, I'll slit their throat where they stand. I carried that massive half orc up out of the mines and to the friendly arm inn. I will say this though; the day goes to that pompous windbag Liam. As much of an ass that he is, he did make getting back "a lot" easier. And as always, those windbag types go he did steal the glory. Not saying that I could have gotten out of there alive, but I believe that I may have had a chance.

That brings me to the final order of business. After some hushed discussion in the friendly arm it seems that Sal and I have a business arrangement. Been a while since I was in the Luskan Black Brotherhood, and my skills have grown quite rusty, but it's a lucrative trade. Now since Roxy isn't here to really talk me out of it... it seems that I'll get to practice what I do best once again.

[DonnieDreams]

The Fading, 12th.

It was a rather uneventful day, just your basic pillaging and looting with Ertu, and a couple others that I had met in the gate. Until we heard rumors of an undead army in the norther woods of sharp teeth. I decided to investigate. One thing about undead is they tend to rise with whatever is on them. Makes it easy to pillage them of whatever jewels they got buried with, without the pain of exhuming bodies. But this was different.

When we finally came upon the army the bodies were twisted and mutilated. Woven together by some foul magic and looked like some foul abominations from a raving lunatic's nightmares. The numbers of the main army were in the thousands. A dark stain on the horizon that stunk of rotten flesh.

Though that wasn't the only thing, their were commanders of the undead army to. Giant humanoids, with the heads of bulls, or just giant undead Minotaurs. They exhumed the decay and disease in their bodies in a stinking cloud around them chocking any who got near to engage in battle.

We were able to pull off a few stragglers but even as full as our scouting party was, we were no match for the coming army. I all honesty, I don't know if there is one. At least not without any knowledge of the enemy. Undead may be one thing, but these things are born of strange magic and evil intents. What begs the question is where are they going and what does this army want.

Maybe I'm over reacting but if left unchecked and if this army reaches civilized lands there will be no stopping it. It's possible that this army can and probably will over run the entirety of Faerun.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't give a rat's arse about the people. What I care about is me. Without people I'm not about to live a comfortable life. Also, I'm not exactly in the mood to head into the underdark and live with the bloody drow. So in an effort for self preservation I need to find if anyone is taking action to take care of this coming horde. If they are, great i can leave them to it, ain't no reason for me to go and play hero. If not, well then it's time for the lying, cheating, backstabbing assasin to show these goody two shoes how research is really done in the underhand markets of Luskan.

After asking around about the incoming horde I heard one name whispered in hushed tones. Magmire, the blind priestess of some God of decay. It doesn't take a candlekeep scholar to know that someone this powerful has been around for a while. She's had to amass this power over time, aint no way in hell she was born with it at least. SO maybe there is some kind of record in candle keep about this woman. If its a living breathing woman or an intelligent being of any kind than they have desires, and desires can be exploited and manipulated. So it's off to candle keep for me, time to do some research and maybe even pressure some of those scribes to help me find what I'm looking for.