Journal of Kalyn Orlezea

[mf_hansen]

Why am I writing to myself? This is utterly stupid. But if this journal is all I have to keep me company the next many days before I reach Baldur's Gate then so be it. Perhaps I will call it Jonah, just for stupidity's sake. Now, first of all I believe introductions are in order.

My name is Kalyn Orlezea, I am 50 seasons old. I am a Wood Elf and an Ilmatari Monk, or I strive to be one at least. My family includes my Half-Elf father Andros, a former Ranger, my deceased Half-Elf mother Elen and my Human little sister Helen. Quite the mixed family.

We had always lived in our little cottage outside the merchant town Essembra in the woods of Cormanthor. Originally my father wished for a son but he would have to make do with me instead. So I was brought up with marksmanship, traps, tracking and animal hunting in general.

Oh, and with regards to animals I am forgetting a member of the family. For several years we had a cat called Silas who my mother brought home from a merchant one day. Silas would always run at us when we returned from hunting, trying to trip my father. Father always got furious but we could not help but laugh at him when his back was turned. Quite the show.

Around my 30th season we lost our mother to a snake bite. Father did all he could, he even brought in some priests from Essembra, but it was all too late. Our mother passed away two days later at night. Helen and I were devastated, but father seemed to keep his grief to himself. When I come to think of it, I have never seen my father crying, ever. I am sure it tore him up though; he just did not want us children to worry for him.

So the next ten seasons passed slowly, with me and father still hunting to keep the family fed, and little Helen looking over the house. Little might be a misnomer however; being Human she already looked older than I did. Maybe that is why father started having feelings for her.

[mf_hansen]

Yes, my 'younger' sister and father got into a relationship. At first it was just her and father talking, but things evolved over the seasons and in the end she came to replace mother for all intents and purposes; she even slept in her bed. My little sister had outgrown me and I did not know what to feel about all of that. So I left.

The next ten seasons I spent in the Earthspur Mountains as a Monk of the Yellow Rose. I received plenty of martial training, but it was more the peace and quiet I came there for. Taking the vow of celibacy was easy for me; I had never spoken much with others or chased after boys, so I went in not knowing what I gave up in the process.

Not that it mattered much anyway. Whenever I thought of boys or had a dream, I would always eventually think of father and my sister, and... Needless to say I did not regret becoming an Ilmatari Monk. During my time at the monastery I only ever visited home once a year just to keep father and 'mother' updated on current events.

I hold neither of them any ill will, however. I suspect father simply could not deal with losing mother so he made Helen her substitute. I cannot blame Helen either; her being Human, father already looked younger than her, and he always treated her well and never abused her. At least from what she told me; we did not speak as honestly to each other as we used to before.

After ten seasons at the monastery I was still troubled in my dreams, thinking of Helen and father, so I decided to travel even farther away. I visited our home one last time, said my farewells to Helen and father, and took a merchant caravan bound west for Baldur's Gate.

And that is where I am now, in the caravan just passing the town of Ashabenford, headed west toward the ruins of Tilverton north of Arabel. The trip is quite long, so I hope 'Jonah' can keep me company. Otherwise, gods forbid, I will have to talk to some of the merchants. Talking never was my biggest strength.

[mf_hansen]

Dear Jonah, we are now past the Tilverton Scar, as the city has come to be called by the locals ever since it was destroyed by Netherese mages. The caravan gave the ruins a wide berth so all I could see were the charred city walls still standing; everything inside seemed simply gone. Also, in parts of the outlying terrain all light seemed to have been... taken. We steered clear of those parts as well.

Today we traveled through the Stonelands; quite the inhospitable place. The local pelt traders warned us not to go further, but I am guessing the merchants already knew of the danger. At dusk our caravan was attacked by Orc raiders. They shot two of our mercenary guards, but we got to return the favor with a few arrows of our own. Eventually they gave up and we could continue undisturbed toward the Sunset Mountains.

Dear Jonah, we arrived in Hluthvar today, in truth more of a fort than a city. The local townsmen are all suspicious of us, but I suppose this is warranted; the nearby Darkhold, a stronghold of Zhentarim mercenaries, regularly sends raiding parties to harass the local militia. Shamus Lockman, our caravan's resident locksmith, got to fix and reinforce some of the locks around town, and I got a crash course in lock picking as I went with him for personal protection.

Tonight we rest in the Bent Helm, a shoddy tavern in Elturel west of the Reaching Woods. Elturel is the farming center for the Fields of the Dead, previously a massive battlefield, now used instead for farming. Shamus Lockman made a pass at me this evening, but I told him of the vow I had made to Ilmater. He joked and said he should not have taught me lock picking then; surely he brought me in disfavor with my god. I assured him I would never use his skills for foul deeds but he remained skeptical.

Dear Jonah, finally we arrive at Baldur's Gate. I have been awake all night so I am quite exhausted, but as the sun rises I wish to see Baldur's Gate first-hand. The last days were spent traveling through the Fields of the Dead, and indeed they are nothing like their unsettling label any more. Everywhere farmers plow and tend to their fields, carrying grain back to Elturel from where we just came. We will be in Baldur's Gate within the hour, and I look forward to finding a place to settle down and rest after these many days of travel.

[mf_hansen]

Dear Jonah, I am now situated in the Shrine of Ilmater church by the East Gate district of Baldur's Gate. I immediately pledged my service to the clergy here, but so far I am told to simply assist the townspeople with any problems they have. Yesterday I helped Farmer Jorn chase wolves away from his farmland and the Coast Way. Some day I am sure the clergy will have bigger tasks for me, but as of now they wish to see how admirably I perform. I hope I will not disappoint.

Today I was tasked by the Merchant League to retrieve goods stolen by local bandits. The bandits quickly proved uncooperative and attacked me. Luckily my combat and medical skills have not yet deteriorated all too much; I had to spend some time bandaging a hip wound after the fighting, but the leg will be alright in a few days. I also got to practice the lock picking skills Shamus taught me. I can see how easily one can fall to the temptation of taking items for themselves, but I promptly returned the goods to the Merchant League to rid myself of such thoughts.

Good evening Jonah, today I was sent in by the city watch to investigate the Hilltop ruins. As it turned out a band of Kobolds had moved back in, and I was forced to retreat back to the surface; Kobolds are quick and difficult to hit, I will have to spend more time practicing my speed and accuracy. On the retreat I was too late in rescuing a Tiefling who had also been surrounded by Kobolds. I fought off most of our pursuers, but I could not save him. How stupid of me, not bringing adequate healing supplies! I carried him to the Shrine of Ilmater, but he recovered on his own on the way there, luckily. I never got his name, he took off in a hurry; perhaps he is not fond of the city.

Today and the coming days I will be dispatched to the graveyards by the Ilmatari priests. Lately the dead have risen from their graves and attacked the outlying farms, and the watch need all the help they can get keeping the Undead contained to the graves. I never thought I would be fighting the Undead, but from what I hear most of them are rather slow, compared to Kobolds. On the other hand, they share few of their weaknesses. I will have to work on my strength and stamina to wear them down one by one. I suspect the next nights will be long and challenging for me.

//To be continued!

//Hope you enjoyed the read, I will be adding more entries as I play ingame.

//If you wish to take part in Kalyn's story send me a forum PM or ingame tell.