Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

((Written in a small book, in Draconic, and backwards))

Two days at the Gate. Smaller than Waterdeep, but the people are the same. Few are suspicious, some go out of their way to be kind, just about all ignore me. I like it that way. There are many good libraries here, I might find the cure this time. They are large collections so it may take some time. It will take time to make the cure I am sure, and a lot of power, but this finally might be the place.

Met a strange girl tonight, named Gen. Strange to talk to a girl who did not run away screaming, or look at me with disgust. I may have said too much, but I don't think she is any trouble. She travels with people whose hair is on fire. No idea yet how it is done, but I guess that is why she is used to the unusual.

More searching for the cure in the wizard's shop. He has an extensive library. It will take weeks to get through, and maybe months after that to read all the information that I find. I have started with a text on anatomy, and found two more on the humanoid body and how it works. I may actually find the formula here.

Saw a spell battle between warlocks on the bridge today. The girl involved said the man in red was an evil warlock necromancer. Not sure if she thinks he is evil, or that is specialization makes him so. Many questions again today, and some 'knight' set out on what he called a 'witch hunt' to find the evil warlock.

I see that some will never understand. Magic is a tool, even necromantic magic. Like every tool, even a knight's sword, it is neither good nor evil. Some people still seem to fear what they don't understand, but there are quite a few other spell-casters in the area so perhaps minds can be changed.

Strange happenings recently. No luck yet finding the cure, but I learn more every day. I have had opportunity to study anatomy up close with so many adventurers falling to monsters in the area. I have found a couple of books about a strange practice of preserving the dead for burial. I may study this more and start a business. A good way to make some money while I search.

The other night I encountered several citizens studying a weeping angel statue. It was very curious, standing on the road outside the graveyard. I suspected someone had tried to steal it, and gotten tired of moving it. One of the idiots suggested we take it to the Palace district and sell it. As if the Fist wouldn't question us about it when we enter the city, or when we try to sell it. Some people are really beyond help.

I suggested we try to find its place, and return it, lest the dead be vengeful. Only a couple of the group showed proper respect for the dead and their domain. We finally got a large half-orc to move it, and took it to the back of the graveyard where other angel statues rest. That is when things got strange, and the statue started to move. The angel attacked the half-orc and dropped him in a single blow. Then it fixed it's gaze on me. I attempted to communicate with it, and I could tell it was trying to enter my mind. I will never get the image of its tortured face out of my mind. More statues appeared, three in all, and one by one our party was killed by the things. The statue before me, the original, took me last.

When I awoke I was in the Temple of Ilmatar. Apparently the half-orc had been brought back by a wandering Fist, and they carried us to the Temple. I must find out more about these statues and why their rest is disturbed. I must also be wary of the idiot that wanted to sell the statue. I point out the simple fact that he is stupid and he threatens me, and finally attacks. Thankfully his swing was wide and he missed. I do not know his name, but if I see him again I will point him out to the authorities. Viable research just won't happen with such lawlessness, or stupidity.

Found an interesting place in the city's graveyard today. It seems someone dedicated to macabre research, or taboo magical arts has set up a laboratory and research area in a ruined tower. There are many interesting tools here, and what appears to be a device to recharge wants, though I haven't tested it yet. It looks like a good place to work on anatomical research, and may aid in my search for a cure.

As for research into the stone angel, I have heard rumor that the weave masters know something. I will seek out one of their members to ask them about it. From what I hear the thing we encountered escaped from their tower.

On research for the cure, I continue to study books on anatomy, and physiology. I believe my studies are paying off, as are my sessions in practicing the art. My new master asks more of me, but he gives more in return. I believe I will devote more than my magical arts to him, and may come to worship as a priest as well. It remains to be seen if I will be accepted by him, but my hopes are high as my power grows.

I have been accepted by The Pitiless One, as one of his priests. My relief is too much to express here, but with his help I believe I can finally find a way to free myself of this curse. I have felt new powers course through me, new powers divine that I know are granted by Him. I have accepted my new duties as one of His clergy, and will soon be recording all that fall for the records of the end. I will need to visit the graveyard soon to collect bones from the walking dead there to create the bone powder and ash for the scrolls.

I was accosted today on the road by some self-righteous moron. It is among my new divine powers to summon a servant of The Pitiless One to assist me. The man in dark armor, who sees through invisibility, destroyed His servant, then manhandled me. He demanded my spellbook, I assume to see if I carried spells of animating the dead. The fool assumed I could do that, or would do that. Of course I refused, what wizard would give his spellbook to a stranger? The wards, and protections in it would only harm him, and he would be unable to read it anyway. Perhaps I should create a fake spellbook to avoid the harassment in the future.

I can only assume the fool was some kind of amoral, unethical vigilante on some crusade against what he thinks is evil. It would be truly amusing if he were a paladin or some cleric of light. What would his deity think if he were to assault, or even kill someone for the wrong reason? He kept calling me necromancer, but as I told him, he neither saw me summon the shadow servant, nor did he see me give it any command. For all he knows it was simply following me to find the right time to strike. I wonder what kind of ignorance, or stupidity would cause someone to think it wise to strike another without cause? Maybe he was just an evil sod looking for an excuse to murder me.

I will find out his name and alert the Fist, they should keep an eye on him. He could be dangerous to both the citizens and the peace.

Certainly, strange events have befallen me lately. First it was the vigilante in the wilderness, then an apparent break-in at the Sorcerous Sundries. I went there after my errands for Malz were completed, and found one of the Master's apprentices minding the shop. There was also a Fist guardsman there, trying to keep the apprentice from talking.

From what I gathered at first someone, or something broke into the shop, bypassed the wards, and abducted the Master. The apprentice seemed to know more, but the guardsman would not let him speak so I waited until the guard left and asked the apprentice what had happened. He was terrified, the fool will never make a good wizard. Anyway, he would not tell me any more than he had already let slip.

While I was talking to the apprentice he heard something, but I attributed it to his paranoid mind. That was my folly because I was attacked from behind. I had a brief moment to wonder who it was, and why. At first I had thought it the man from the road, come back to get his revenge, but I had no time to dwell on it. Everything went black.

I came to, with the help of the city guard, to find the shop a mess. There were books and scrolls all over the floor. Another man lay on the ground near, covered in his own blood. The guard was there, and the apprentice gone. We were questioned of course, but I had little to help them. The leader of the guards said it was a drow, and that I did not even know. I gave my statement while the leader of the Fist and some of his guards cleared the upper floors. It seems that there were many up there.

After our reports I left, and walked to the gate, intending to get some fresh air. At the bridge I found more battle, and many citizens defending the Gate from marauding drow. I stayed to witness, and to mark down the fallen for the scrolls. It was a chaotic affair, with no real organization, but the citizens were not soldiers. Many are fiercely independent, and in the end the drow were driven off. I collected descriptions of the fallen drow, and their manner of death, for record.

As I reflect it seems I was the first casualty in a major raid, though that is nothing to brag about. One wonders if there will be more. Are there more, destined to meet their final resting place in the coming days? It seems I may be busy in my new capacity. Many wondered what the drow were after, what they were looking for. I wonder that myself, but time will tell.

It seems the strange events are want to follow me. I wonder if the end is near, but I remind myself that there are still too many living on Toril. The strange events must be linked to some other event, or catalyst in the area.

One encounter was with a thief in the wilderness. A hooded man bumped into me on the road and attempted to put his hands in my pouches. I asked him what he was up to, but he seemed crazed. He wandered about a bit before attempting to flee. I put him down with a couple of misplaced spells, then approached his battered form. He coughed and wheezed for a few minutes but soon recovered enough to stand on his own. I told him to be careful who he steals from, and if he did not keep his distance from me in the future I would make his end permanent.

Not long after this encounter I found myself walking near one of the Duke's mercenaries. A dwarf in Fist attire. I told the fist that there were thieves about on the road, but he didn't seem to care. He ignored me and walked on.

Now we move on to my 'apprentice'. I was approached by a very strange gnome, who engaged me in conversation. On seeing that I was a spellcaster of a higher calibre than he, he asked if he could be my apprentice. I warned him that he would not like it. His name is Nobrik Dimwinkle, and for all his oddities he stuck with me for some time. We went to the graveyard to collect more bones from the undead to make powder for the scrolls. He was fine in combating the undead, but so far is a horrible apprentice. I gave him the simple task of grinding the bones to dust in a mortar, but he did not seem to understand. I did not have the patience to wait for him and did it myself. I do not know how long he will last, or if I will ever see him again after I sent him off to continue his studies. I guess time will tell with this one.