Will Dahan - The diary

[Will Dahan]

19, The Melting.

Heh, I finally have enough money to buy ink and paper. Generosity of that goblin I found, or should I say, who found me on the tradeway. How did that goblin managed to keep three gold piece on him, while I've lost everything of mine, I don't know.

So, I finally managed to reach the mage fair's emplacement. Tidus and his group decided to say hello on the tradeway. Yeah. And take everything off me exept my clothes. Sorry, ladies. I know, I know.. past always reaches us, even though we run quick into the future. Hope they won't bother me anymore with their thievery stuff. I told them I wouldn't return, and I mean it. Walking my way to the mage fair, I noticed a group of adventurers and decided to go ask questions. Amongst them was an orc, named Kaltyra.

Kaltyra... What a strange thing she is. My first reaction? I tried to reach for a dagger or something at my belt. Yeah... I had none, of course. An old man (which I later learned was the guide of Candlekeep, someone I would never have imagined to meet), stood in front of me and defended the orc. He presented her as someone civilised. An orc with a pass to go into cities? What is wrong with these people? I decided to follow them in their hunt. A hafling was kind enough to lend me a crossbow for the hunt... wait, the hunt? They were cleaning the area of Wyverns, to prepare for the mage fair. I still facepalm as I write this, journal. I was two days in advance.

When I woke up... What? Of course, I fell on the battlefield. I was naked, alright? No armor, no sword. First time I was fireing of a crossbow. No potions to heal my wounds, and a group who didn't listen much to what the half naked man had to say. So.. When I woke up, there was that orc in front of me. She was smiling. She said something in the lines of.. "Aw, what a beautiful rage!" So it happened again.. Sometimes I lose my mind, and I start to break things around me. At least no one seemed hurt this time. There was two guards from Beregost holding me, near the temple. I managed to calm things... And surprisingly, thanked the orc, Kaltyra.

A.. kind person. Or is it an evil trick of hers? From what I gathered, she's been around for years, and has been like this for a long time. I wonder what changed her. Or was she always civilised? Can orcs be civilised? No clues.

She bought me a sword, so I could defend myself, and most importantly, something to eat. You owe her now, Will.

[Will Dahan]

21, The Melting.

So here I am, journal. Writing this from Winthorp's inn. I'm in Candlekeep... A place I dreamed to visit since my childhood. It's really cozy... compared to the trees I've slept under in the last days. I did come here to search for Wendel, the guide. After Kaltyra told me he would probably agree to talk with me even if I didn't show him proper respect. I met a few people here.. Some cold ones, and some very charming ones. The monks... of course, most of them are old silent guys with vows. I pitty them a bit... And envy them at the same time, since they live in Candlekeep. It wasn't the same at all with Emrys and Louise, though. These two seemed very welcoming... and of good company.

I told them of my intent to apply to be an avowed. They didn't seem to be surprised to learn that I could read, even though I was wearing an armor that was about to rust. They awnsered most of my questions, and I feel like it doesn't seem as impossible as I thought to be accepted here. Who knows, I might become a seeker one day, and explore strange territories to find hidden lore? That would be a dream. Of course... It would be better if I had someone to share this all with, but with time, perhaps.

Speaking of which. Louise asked me to show her my skills after I said I even had prepared a song in case Wendel would ask to see if I knew anything about art. I was... stunned by this request. I usually don't sing in front of people, in public. But that girl.. that woman, she has something. I tried to hide it while we spoke, tried to hide the fact that I was a bit uncomfortable in front of such beauty. Not only a physical beauty, but the little smiles she shared and kind words. So I did. I couldn't resist though... I changed a few words on the spot in the song I had written. Instead of.. "And then I saw you, with golden hair" I changed it to "With dark hair". I don't know why I did this, honestly, because I need to follow my heart.

And my heart tells me to keep my distance from woman who are already with someone. For respect for both. For respect of my father, and to go against all what my mother did. Broken famillies... Broken loves, I'll fight against all of it, journal. When Emrys left, he gave her a kiss. And I will respect their love, I won't give her too many smiles, I won't give away stories to entertain, I won't share too much of myself, and I won't share wine, just in case.

It's not the right time to flirt, anyway. It's time to prepare for this meeting with Wendel. If he ever wakes up. Emrys and Louise said that he was still in his quarters taking care of things, but the Guide's been there all day. He.. seemed a bit old, might explain why. I hope he won't find this journal... Wouldn't want him to see what I just wrote!

HA! Goodnight, journal. A warm bath awaits me!

[Will Dahan]

28, The Melting.

It's been a week since I've last wrote, journal. Been trying to find work... with as much success as I had to meet Wendel. Someday I'll meet him though, I'm sure. Today's been a bit.. strange. I met Kaltyra again, who told me she had seen the avatar of Lolth. Yeah, right, Kalt. I didn't say what I thought right in front of you, but whatever mushroom you ate, I think they wern't fresh. After talking a bit with her, she proposed to help me in some of the jobs I had gathered. I needed to go in Candlekeep first though, to pick up a few things, so I took the boat at the harbor and we agreed to meet on the tradeway.

In Candlekeep, as I was making my way out to meet Kaltyra, I stumbled upon Louise, again. I.. tried to seem a bit colder than last time we met, for obvious reason. Simply nodded to her and wished her a good day. I don't know if she would have liked to have a talk, as new friends, but I simply cannot. And Kaltyra was waiting for me. So I made my way out quickly. Her image took time to leave my mind, I'll have to work on that. But she's so..

So we went hunting Trolls. Kaltyra presented me a friend of hers, another.... orc. These lands are filled with civilised orcs, journal. I'll have to... read about the orcs of the sword coast sometimes, because that is very un-usual. Oh... I think Kaltyra knows that I speak her language. She'd be surprised to know how many languages I actually speak... I'll keep it a secret. The hunt was good, we did not have much troubles getting the troll hides. I hope I seemed better to Kaltyra's eyes as a fighter, with a sword and an armor... last time I was naked with a crossbow. We went to get some.. Wyvern's egg too, and decided to stop at the Flying burning.. huh.. phoenix.. inn? I can't remember, journal. I ordered some food, and we sat down and began to talk a bit.

The discussion turned out wierd when I spoke of Candlekeep. I spoke of the ones I met there, and when I spoke of my meeting with Emrys and Louise, Kaltyra seemed surprised to learn that they were togeter. Then.. I don't know why, but she asked me if I had something for Louise. What is she thinking? Of course not. That question.. got me slightly surprised and I didn't like it, but I managed to turn the discussion elsewhere. I spoke about relationships, with orcs, since it's interesting to learn things about other species. When Kaltyra said that there was no good mates on the sword coast for her, I noticed a bit of anger in her.

I don't know why I did that... perhaps as a little vengeance for the question she asked me before that, I don't know. I asked her what a good mate was, for her. She evaded the subject many times, but I insisted. I tried to tell subtily to the orc near her to take notes. He suddently became wierd and left for a few moments. Then.. Kaltyra said her story. That she had to kill a mate of hers because she said a simple no, and that every mates since then had left her alone because she was too strong for them. She.. bursted in a rage, hit the table, and said that Kru.. erm, the orc with them, even said she was an animal when she tried to seduce him. She left the tavern, angry.

The hafling that joined us and I were quite surprised at the scene. I felt guilty suddently.. I simply wanted a -little- revenge, talk about things that made her uncomfortable. I didn't know she had such a past.. if I would have known, I wouldn't have pushed it. I said farewell to the hafling and went back to Candlekeep. I don't know what I should tell Kaltyra next time I see her..

And here in my room in Candlekeep, I can't stop glancing at the window, just in case I see.. hml, goodnight, journal.

[Will Dahan]

2, The Time of Flowers

Ouch. Ouch.

I write this from a bed in Candlekeep's infirmary. I've never been hurt, phisically, as much before. Perhaps I'll meet that little bird everyone is talking to me about, though! But I will start with the start, as I've been three days without writing a single thing here. Before I forget... As we both know, journal, I forget a lot. Thanks to you, I can remember a little.

Yesterday, as I was walking around Candlekeep in hopes of meeting Wendel, I've heard a known voice talking near the library. It was Louise. I've.. debated on either I should go see her and her friends, or stay away. At this moment, I've seen that there was two other girls with her, perhaps people from Candlekeep, I thought. So I decided to go and meet them. They were.. in the middle of a big discussion, so I stood behind and ate an apple, waiting for the right moment to say hello. Louise noticed me, but we didn't share words yet.

The talk was about the hords of undead that were close to the farmlands near Baldur's Gate. A bardess that I've later known as Julindra was debating the subject with Louise. She even accused her of inaction, when Louise told her that there was something going on but that she couldn't speak about it with people out of Candlekeep, but there.. There, journal... The only thing I wanted to do was to tell Junlindra off. But I stood silent and ate my apple. Things are better this way..

When the silly bard stopped yelling at Louise (I really dislike that bard... why didn't she just go away? Hope I won't meet her too often), I spoke a bit with Laitae, an elven woman who's from Candlekeep. I simply told her my motives.. Didn't ask her any question about herself.

So.. I went back to the inn, took a bath, and slept. Which carried me to.. today. Oh, journal. It was a crazy day.. It started with me, finally meeting Wendel. By Selune, finally. FINALLY! After weeks of waiting, it was totally worth it. He greeted me almost like a friend, after I gave him my apologies. He offered me wine, a very fine wine.. And asked me about my motives. He asked me about my scholarship.. I think he was surprised to see a man clad in full plates, carrying a blade, who had more interest in lore than action. I -want- to study in Candlekeep. Journal.. I am a man of books more than action, even though.. I know I have it in me as well. Sometimes it scares me, too. But I want to stay what I am.

I had a choice, then. To apply as a protector of Candlekeep, or an acolyte. To.. be a protector, I would have been honored.. But me, Will, being a guard like my father? It just doesn't sound right. I chosed to be an acolyte, wear robes and do chores. To clean the monk's robes, until I can finally enter the library by myself. I pray for Selune to guide my steps there, journal.

Everything went well. Wendel seems very kind, even thought there's something about him that.. I can't understand. He doesn't drink wine. How can he! The only times I avoid drinking is when there's women around, especially one. Suddently, a man knocked at the door..

Wendel told me to go back with the others, and ask to visit Candlekeep. Hoihe shown me around. Another giant... Six feet and half or so. There's so many giants on the sword coast, journal. At five feet ten, I was one of the tallest in Daggersford. Here, I look like a dwarf. There must be something in the water. Hoihe seems to be a fun man. His nickname is Mint breath.. I don't know why yet. Even he, spoke to me about the little bird.

When we came back, paladins and knights were with the avoweds. I greeted Emrys, who awnsered me with a smile. I like that guy. I asked, journal. I asked! No one would awnser. I've been asked to follow... I didn't know where we were going, and what we were gonna do. I didn't know. We.. teleported in some strange places.. I can remember undeads. Then.. a black wall with a slash of blood in front of me, and I woke up here.

I've been told everyone else were alright..

I still need to rest a bit. I hope the others don't see me as a weakling, even though I've been harmed on a first mission.