Nathan's Journal

[Winterborne]

Nathan recently started keeping a journal, hoping that it would help him to better remember important things, and reflect on events in his life. He does not entirely understand WHY someone who remembers things as well as he does should keep a journal, but he does not understand a LOT of things, so he did it anyway at the suggestion of a few of his friends because maybe it will help him be less terrible with people. What could possibly go wrong?

The small tome is lightly worn from having been kept in his bag during his adventures. At the moment, only the first page has any writing. If the journal was read, it would be a mixture of very clinical writing and shorthand, almost like someone taking notes more than pouring out their feelings in their writing.

[parchment]How to properly compliment a woman, as taught to me by miss Beladra:

- Say things that you find striking or attractive.

- Be extremely vague. Being too specific takes away from the compliment.

Bad Compliments:

You remind me of Sune, but not as beautiful.
- Leave out this part.

You have a body.
-Too Vague - appear to be avoiding saying an obvious negative rather than stating an obvious positive.)

Your eyes are green and proportioned in a manner that does not ruin your face.
- This is too specific. The crossed out part could be insulting. Compliments should not be made specific enough to be turned into concrete factual information.

- Find something you find worth complimenting in anyone, even in someone who has a lot of features that might be considered ugly.

To help illustrate this to me, Beladra painted her face like a zombie mostly, except her eyes, and asked for a compliment. Tried the following, noted results:

You look like you are not entirely dead.
- Was told this was a good start. Will continue - suggested complimenting clothing or body or other features if nothing about face stands out.

You have a body.
- See above section on bad compliments.

You have a body that is mostly intact despite your face.
- Beladra says this is the best compliment she has ever been given, but I do not believe her.

NEVER say "despite your face" in a compliment ever.

You are not falling apart at all yet.

-This amendment was made to clarify the previous compliment. Too much laughter for proper feedback, compliment likely unusable.

Your skin is pale and smooth

and you still have most of it - Like 83% at least. .

- This is a proper compliment

-Leave out this part. It is gross.

Beladra says that "You have beautiful eyes." is what I should have said.

Properly vague and noncommital. Allows the person to interpret it how they want, usually ending up better than anything you could have said. Apply similar logic to future compliments.

This is hard.

Addendum:

Beladra said the best way to learn more is to go out and practice, so we visited the East Gate district and I complimented people we ran into. I have learned the following:

- If you like someone's long hair, do not refer to them as "hairy". If you do, when you try to clarify you were referring to their long mane, do not say they are "like a horse".

- Women do not like to be referred to as "sturdy" or "broad" when their bodies are being complimented. It is more pleasing to tell them they are "soft" or "pretty" or "slender" The knight woman I said this to to correct my initial "sturdy like an oak" compliment was offended at being told she was soft. Maybe just don't compliment bodies at all.[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

Nathan spent a few hours in the early morning sharpening his blades, checking his potion stock, and relaxing quietly in the Minstrel's Muse. With a weighty task on the horizon, he scribbles some notes in his journal that might be important.

[parchment]

Devils

- Vulnerable to Silver
- Resistant to cold and acid.
- Liars - You must not let them trick you.

Garavik

- Suspicious.
- Single-minded hate of the cult. May go to unreasonable ends to defeat them.

Garavik has seen that people can break free with the proper willpower and motivation.

- May over-exert himself. Protect him if he does so.

Ciri

- May work to thwart us.
- Servant of another Devil (Mephistopheles). Our target is his rival.
- Intent unknown. Thwarted her attempt to steal the True Name of our target.[/parchment]

After writing these notes, he frowns heavily, and amends a prior entry.

[parchment]

Lord Wendall Trant

- Administrator for the Cult of Mammon
- Potentially dangerous.
- Popular with noblewomen. Trying to marry to increase his holdings?
- Women disappeared after associating with him.

- Lord Trant has turned on the cult.
- The Women associated with him appear to have been genuinely cared for by him. They were abducted. Potentially to avoid him being distracted? The most recent disappearance broke his loyalty to the cult.
- He seems genuine in his intentions, but I am not sure of him. Juno trusts him and I trust her.
- Hidden at the Halls of Inner Light, being sheltered.

Lord Trant was killed. He responded to a false letter that stated we were in danger, and rushed to help. Body appeared to have been chewed to death by something. Efforts to revive him failed, as his soul had been consumed.

He was a good man after all, and I am sorry I doubted him. If someone finds this journal in the event we fail, remember this about him.[/parchment]

Still frowning at the heavy memory of the incident, but with mirth in his eyes at the new subject of his writings, he turns to a new page.

[parchment]To-Do (Next Tenday)

- Visit the abandoned Bordello and remember mother for your Name Day
- Help Rellon break his pact with his patron and free his soul.
- Cooking with Rania.
- Order new scrolls from Sirion. Remember to order 50% more Shield scrolls, as their duration is not as long as the Elixirs were.
- Buy a new Ring of Nine Lives.
- Help planning a picnic with Wren. Remember to visit the location she mentioned.
- Give the new books found to Othonis after finished reading them.
- Help with the Troll Hunt for the Company.[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

The Journal is filled with a frantic entry, with numerous sketches in between parts of the entries.

[parchment]Mister Rellon has been freed of his pact.

After months of work toward routing the Cult of Mammon in Baldur's Gate, we finally embarked on our journey to confront his pact-holder, his True Name with us to be used to force him to submit.

When we arrived on the isle off the coast of Ulgoth's Beard early in the morning, before sunrise, we scouted the area and prepared ourselves, and then mister Rellon summoned the creature Pazmaolihr.




The creature appeared with three crystal spires surrounding him, and when Rellon tried to dominate him with the True Name, he was weakened and fell to his knees, but did not submit. These crystals had something to do with it, and before we could figure out more, he summoned a pair of enormous Pit Fiends to slay us.



Garavik, the man who helped mister Rellon greatly by revealing the location of the True Name, was quickly dominated by one of them, and we were assaulted by the others. Miss Juno was hit pretty hard, but we aided one another over the course of the battle. One of the crystals faded away, its power spent. We would need to last long enough to survive, or destroy the crystals. But these fiends were more powerful than anything I have ever faced, even in Avernus.

We continued to fight, and more and more our wounds built up. We had to spend more time mending our wounds than fighting. We could not fail - at this point, Rellon's death would be irreversible - his soul would be forfeit immediately to his patron, right there, and we would be forced to die helplessly. Juno and I would not let this happen.

Eventually the second crystal faded away, but we had all been beaten up and burned pretty badly at that point, by the fiends and our dominated companion. I stopped trying to fight and ran to the crystal to smash it, but was unable to destroy it completely. Miss Juno ran, being clawed at by the devils, and charged the crystal to finish it off.

Mister Rellon shouted the True Name of the creature, demanding it's submission, at the same time that the creature began to utter a spell at him. And he finished his command before the spell could finish!

The Pit Fiends seemed entertained by this, and their contract with Pazmaolihr was voided when he became dominated by another. They simply sat by and watched. Juno demanded they release Garavik from their control, and they obliged.

The time had finally come. Mister Rellon demanded that Pazmaolihr free the souls of all those he held contracts with, nullify their contracts, and return the souls he had taken.

Pazmaolihr shouted in protest, as contract after contract appeared in his hand and burst into flames, one after the other. Hundreds.

As the contracts burned, Pazmaolihr was engulfed in flame and shrank, growing weaker as his power faded with the loss of the souls he had enslaved and consumed.



After the creature faded in strength, a final command was uttered - it was to return to its home plane, and destroy itself utterly. Helpless to resist the power of its True Name being used to command it, the creature complied, shouting about how Rellon couldn't do this. But it was done.



After the creature was gone, and the souls freed, the Pit Fiends watched us all. They said we had been intriguing to them, and they must keep an eye on us, and then they themselves left us.



Since then, I have felt as if I have been being watched. It is unsettling. But it does not diminish my happiness for the freedom of my friend, and hundreds of others, from their contracts. Mister Rellon has incredibly strong will to be able to have done this and seen it through to the end. He says he could not have done it without Juno's help, and mine, but I think he would have found a way.

Bloodied but mirthful, we sailed back to Ulgoth's Beard, for a meal and drink at the Last Anchor.

Perhaps this is my purpose. I can use the gifts given to me by my blood to help others, so that I can show the world and Sune that I am not like these creatures we fought today.[/parchment]

With a bright smile, he looks a page back at his To-Do list, and crosses out the items he accomplished today.

[parchment]To-Do (Next Tenday)

- Visit the abandoned Bordello and remember mother for your Name Day
- Help Rellon break his pact with his patron and free his soul.
- Cooking with Rania.
- Order new scrolls from Sirion. Remember to order 50% more Shield scrolls, as their duration is not as long as the Elixirs were.
- Buy a new Ring of Nine Lives.
- Help planning a picnic with Wren. Remember to visit the location she mentioned.
- Give the new books found to Othonis after finished reading them.
- Help with the Troll Hunt for the Company.[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

The handwriting is sloppy and uneven. The words seem erratic. It is clear something is amiss.

[parchment]

Recovery

- Rest Exercise. Sitting in bed feels useless.

- Remember to eat.

- Survive.[/parchment]

The last word is underlined numerous times.

At the bottom of the page, as is typical, there is another list.

[parchment]To-Do (Next Tenday)


- Order new scrolls from Sirion. Remember to order 50% more Shield scrolls, as their duration is not as long as the Elixirs were.
- Buy a new Ring of Nine Lives.
- Help planning a picnic with Wren. Remember to visit the location she mentioned.
- Follow up with Rania to ensure the Drow's blood magic will have no permanent effects.
- Visit Lannia for additional care.
- Recruit security staff.
- Recover enough to not worry Beladra. See about hair dye and skin salve.[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

Nathan, worn out from a long and strange day, begins writing in his journal. The writing is chaotic and takes a form more resembling a series of small notes written to himself than a proper entry.

[parchment]- Maximum standard pay for basic guards - 1000gp/month.

The Fae Plane is beautiful. Being indoors seems stagnant and claustrophobic after having been there. Spend more time outside.

- Draft a proposal for a security detail for House Darius as seperate entity from the Holding Company.

- Send Pryat Mae a box of Spearmint Tea.

- Speak more with Brother Simon and thank him for the lovely fat juicy cock.

- Send a Letter to Lord Hemmington of Amn to ask for an audience.[/parchment]

Before more writing can be done, the quill and journal are knocked from his hands by someone with him.

"Maybe I need to try harder to get your attention." She grinned at him.

He nodded to the Elven woman and sat away from the bustle of the city and the conflict and tensions brewing in it, leaning on her with a content smile, at peace.

"Yes. I am not very smart."

[Winterborne]

Nathan's journal sits neglected as he spends time analyzing a series of letters spread out on the meeting table in the secure area of the Minstrel's Muse. The man is intensely focused and seems to be focusing on a few connections found in a few of the letters. After a while, he pulls out a map and looks to the lands to the north with a heavy frown.

"I really hope I am wrong."

[Winterborne]

[parchment]I met with Ser Anthem on 20th of Hammer.

He believes me. I have sent copies of the letters to him, and I hope to meet with him soon. He deserves to help. I cannot imagine the pain in his heart at the betrayal he feels after such a long deception, and though I do not share the fiery anger this man does in his heart towards others, I have shown him compassion and love. Paladins, though they strive to be more than that, are still men, and men are flawed. Wren told me, and as a follower of Sune, I deeply believe, that Love is the only thing that can lead people out of the darkness. I will not abandon this man, even though I do not share his anger. He knows the mistakes he has made. I told him to visit his squire. In a world where he is so alone, it would do him well to see a kind face. She wishes to help him and worries for him. I hope to hear from him soon.

I have told Wren, Lord Al'maire and a few others of my suspicions of the Pryat's involvement in the events at Dragonspear keep, but beyond a few words in the letters found in the satchel by Cyrus, I have little to go on. I told them to not relay my theory to others until I have more evidence. I have been told that it is impossible, that I give her too much credit. But as I am someone who has been successful in life more often than not by allowing others to underestimate me, it is not mistake I will make. I will not underestimate her. I know in my heart she is a monster, and I will find proof to show the others.

Wren has aided me in my investigations, getting a full report of the details of the sword mentioned in Mae's writings from Michael. It will prove deeply important in the future I feel. The next step will be to find the female Tiefling in her writing that she claimed "knows too much", and figure out the meaning of the information she mentioned. Bregan is a word I do not know, but I will find out.

If the trail goes cold, I will have to search the inside of the castle myself. I would ask no one else to come, because I could not live with someone dying for something I may be wrong about. I will order a wand of dimension door, scrolls of greater spell mantle and greater sanctuary, and other things that may ensure my safe passage through their occupied areas. I will find this sword and try and disrupt whatever she is doing.

I will try to find a way to be viewed by others during this, so that if some end befalls me, others can see. At least they will know, then.

I will coordinate with Ser Anthem, as I believe he will come. He will go alone if we do not have plans to do so together, and I would aid him. He deserves a chance to aid in making this right.

Before I go, I will leave this journal on Luke's desk. At least if something happens, people will know.

But I do not plan on dying. She will be punished, and the north will be freed from devil's grasp. Doing this will require care and planning and it is fortunate I am good at both.[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

The writing is relaxed, if still a bit haphazard.

[parchment]With the False Pryat's trail gone cold, I have spent my time killing devils outside the keep that I'm convinced she makes her lair. Without rest, it is my duty through the days.
Morning? Devils. Afternoon? Devils. Evening? Devils. For the past five days, I have slaughtered countless numbers of them until I have filled sacks with their teeth, horns, and claws.

They were neverending, but in my lack of investigative work to do, it is a good way to pass the time. I wish Beladra was here with me to do it, but Oth has looked out for me well.

Today, I saw something I never thought I'd see. I slew so many of them, that eventually they started retreating. They did not come back. I am sure it was just to regroup and that I did not vanquish whatever horrible army they are, but it is good to know that they can be demoralized.

I will continue to do so.
[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

[parchment]I am thankful for Beladra, and Rellon, and for Juno, and Oth and miss Dove, and Osric, and miss Lady Flomeigne and Lord Mister Luke and miss Adelaide, and for miss Rania and for miss Wren and for Mister Lord Al'maire, and Lannia and Derik, and Mister Simon, and miss Amaranthe and miss Valkira. They let me have as normal a life as is possible on the coast, and that is more than I ever expected I would have in my life.

I call some of them my friends and I hope I can call all of them that someday. They all probably see me as their friend, but my mother always told me that a friend is someone who knows all the best and all the worst of you and loves you with and because of all of your flaws. I do not know if all of them would accept what I am.

My heart hurts like it never has before after the last tenday. I feel broken and alone even when I am surrounded by people I love, because my mind cannot free itself from the things I have learned of my mother's death. I spent so many years trying to forget that night, and the men who came and killed everyone and made me alone in the world.

But in looking into learn more of the music box given to me by Lord Hemmington (may Sune watch over his soul), the one playing the song from that night, I learned something I never intended to - who, at least vaguely, was responsible.

I never expected that it would be devout zealots of Loviatar, but it makes their cruelty make sense. The man, Lord Trembling, I learned is their....leader of sorts, and I learned that is not his real name. Indeed, he always uses false names. They have been doing this for such a long time. Likely they had been killing people in the shadows as they did the thirty that night, for years before then. And it horrifies me to know they are still doing it to this day.

Mother taught me to never hurt anyone out of anger, but I must never let them hurt others as they have hurt me. I am at odds. I can find it in my heart to forgive these people for the pain they have caused me, but I know they will not care. I know that they will keep doing what it is they do unless they are forced to stop. I do not think anything but death will stop them, but I am afraid that whatever type of devilish heritage is in my blood will enjoy that too much. Mother always feared that for me. My mind being how it is, I have never had the temptation and calling others of my kind have claimed...but there may be a limit to that safety granted by my deficiency.

Those I care for are the only solace I have in this. Every day that I wake up and hear his voice in my head, and wish I had let them take me too all those years ago, it is the love of those I care for and my friends that keeps me moving forward. They put themselves at risk by standing beside me and do it anyway, even though I am considered an abomination by those who blindly hate.

I do not understand but I love them all for it. When they move on in their lives and exist only as memories to me, I hope they inspire me to continue to try as hard as I have to be a better person than the creature fate designed me to be.[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

[parchment]I tended bar tonight. I did not think I would be very good at it, but everyone was real friendly and telling me how perfect everything was. They seemed real interested in everything I said and did. I never felt like this....like I wasn't doing something wrong constantly. Or rather, I felt like I was, but like they liked me just the same. It was a good feeling.

I do not understand why they only wanted things from the top and bottom shelves, and I also don't understand why the woman told me to "shake it", and then was disappointed after I shook the drink I made her. Maybe I didn't shake it up enoughf or her. But all in all, it went well.

One of them stuffed a whole bag of coin down my pants, I guess because my hands were full! I guess his drink was real good.

I am glad to be doing a good job.[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

[parchment]It's been an odd few days, really, but I guess not any stranger than normal. I've met numerous new people recently.

I hired a new guard. Hope, an Oathsworn of Mielekki, has I think the right mindset for the job and the right mindset, liver, and humor for working for the company. I am sure she will do a good job.

I've given her an introductory assignment, and I look forward to working more with her.

Miss Kitsy keeps acting very odd around me. I'm pretty sure she's mad at me. I wonder what I did. Everyone keeps telling me that she is romantically interested in me, but she told me how she is positive miss Beladra is okay and will come back to me so I am sure that is not true.

I need to finish talking with miss Vanessa. It was to be a very important conversation, but I am anxious of what her reactions to the discussion will be. I like miss Vanessa and do not want to scare her.

I worry about miss Isa all the time. I should give her a present so she knows she doesn't need to be so sad.

Mister Fingal's come back from Waterdeep, and it is good to see him and finally get some time to know him a bit. He is a good, if boisterous soul. His friend Alejandro sure is weird, and he made a big mess in the Muse during a performance. I yelled at him, and then mister Fingal told me not to, so I simply cleaned up after him. They seemed to make a point of not breaking anything else after my outburst though, so I hopefully did my job.

I need to make a point of spending more time with mister Rellon. I miss having him around to keep me being sensible. I feel like I make better decisions with him to look out for me, because he does not seem to get amusement from intentionally misleading me like so many people do. He is my best friend, and with how much is going on I feel like I don't see h im enough.

So many have pledged to help me with my investigation into the Loviatarans. I don't feel like I deserve this much help, but I am glad to have it. At the same time, I am afraid. I do not want anyone to be hurt because of choosing to try and aid me. They have no need to do this for me.

I have met some new friends recently, and though I still don't know them well, I am glad to have had them in my life for a short time. I hope they stay in it.

Miss Gemma is very kind, but I worry that her uncompromising nature will get her killed. She seems almost to welcome that, but the world would certainly be a darker place without her.

Miss Constance has become incredibly special to me in the short time I've known her. I do not often get to speak halfling, and I am glad to have someone to speak it regularly with.[/parchment]

[Winterborne]

The journal's remaining pages have been torn out. The book is unceremoniously dumped down the well at the Friendly Arm.