I have now been attending the Ched Nasad fighting school for a winter. So far I am not the best student, as I find physical training tedious and boring.
I am sure mother and father only sent me here early to be rid of me, like some unwanted child. If that is their will then so be it. I hereby cast away my family name and all family ties.
Now I just have to get through training in this pitiful school for simpletons and fools. Should not be a problem with my intelligence, but the physical demands could be a problem.
Finally, graduation. I only passed with mediocre marks, but that was expected. All the other fools are extatic and thrilled, expecting a great future. Don't they see they are just tools being sent to the meat grinder?
I feel destined for more than this, my intellect could be put to better use elsewhere than on the front lines. How I hate the power of wealth. With enough money I could have graduated from the school of magic insteead.
I am sure we will all be split up and sent to different squadrons from here on. As long as I think on my feet and stay alive, maybe one day and Vhaeraun willing will I be able to pursue more interesting work.
For the last winters I have been working under a vicious priestess of Lolth, as a simple grunt in her raiding parties and combat patrols. She drives us before her whip like mad beasts, caring little for our preservation.
If only one night I could sneak into her sleeping chamber and grab that... bitch... by the neck and choke the life out of her, I would. I am sure many of my comrades would secretly applaud me before they executed me, as is their duty.
On a more pleasant note, I have begun dabbling in the arcane in my spare time. Finally a place suited for my great intellect. I have only managed a few simple cantrips so far, as I still have no proper reading material to study.
Succes! Of sorts. The past tendays I have managed some first circle spells. Mage Armor, Magic Missiles and Sleep spells are my current favorites and the ones I have had most luck in casting.
I also managed to summon a familiar yesterday. All my preparations were correct, but instead of a bat I summoned a small creature with fur. All evidence points toward it being a cat, a pesky surface creature.
I wish it gone, but everytime I summon another familiar only the stupid cat appears. I would kill it, but apparently its life is tied to mine in a way. For now I keep it hidden and only summon it in rare circumstances.
I seem to have caught some attention, as I have been drafted by House Melarn as a soldier. Most likely due to my affinity for survival, all the other troops tend to zealously charge to their deaths whereas I stay alive.
As a house soldier I will still be working under a brutal Lolth priestess, but at least it is better than being a common soldier. This is likely my only chance for fame, so I had best not be too picky about it.
This is also my chance to experience firsthand the intrigue and politics of noble houses. Perhaps even affect it in some way to my own benefit, but I highly doubt it.
House Melarn was purged last tenday. Agents and assassins struck at the family heads, and the subjects were either hired or executed one at a time. Luckily I got a tip about this in advance and made myself scarce.
For now I travel outside Ched Nasad with various merchants, offering protection in exchange for food and coin. It is amazing how many bandits they have to contend with during their travels, and how long they manage to keep their trade up.
Fortunately I now have more time to hone my magical affinity. I am still pestered with the cat familiar, but now I can at least summon a wolf aswell. It is also a surface creature, but at least has some combat skill.
I finally returned to Ched Nasad after all those winters on the road. A lot has changed, but I had best not take any chances of revealing my real identity just yet. I am sure some still wish former Melarn associates dead and gone.
For now I work incognito as a mercenary for whoever pays me, which actually makes matters much easier. Working for the highest bidder with no allies you have no enemies plotting to annihilate you.
Still, life is tough when there is no noble house looking out for you. The pay is also quite slim, so I do not always go to bed on a full stomach. With my limited fighting skill customers will not pay through the roof for my services.
It was a mistake coming back to Ched Nasad. Even though I kept a low profile it was bound to happen. I hear agents of a few noble houses have gone through my room at the inn looking for clues. They must suspect I worked for House Melarn.
I will have to leave everything behind now. All my research is gone, except for the few spells I still remember. Vhaeraun curse my enemies, some day I will return for their blood.
For now I should find the first caravan leaving the city. Perhaps one headed for Sshamath. I hear the oppresion of the priesthood is lower there. At least I have my cat keeping me company for the journey. Stupid critter.
We will arrive in Sshamath today. From what the merchant tells me the city is indeed policed less by the priesthood of Lolth. This is my big chance to finally go somewhere with my life.
First order of business should be to get a room at the local tavern where I can restart my research. Perhaps I might even be able to get a position in the school of magic if I am willing to do a few favors and bend a few rules.
That all requires coin, however, so I will need to do some small jobs to regain my funding first of all. But now I should at least be free from my past back in Ched Nasad and House Melarn.
