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*The following is written in a simple leather tome carried at all times in Septimus Olvarius's belongings. On the cover is a simple phrase, Loyalty to Torm to the End. The inside cover reads Property of Septimus Olvarius. Return if found. The pages are newly crisp, the writing on them in a formal, yet practical hand. There are no overly flowing edges or any such in this journal.*
I - Preamble
Let the following pages be the records of my life in this valley. Should I fall, this book is to be delivered to my wife, provided I am wed, and if I am not it is to be sent to the Olvarius family in Waterdeep. Should something befall that city or my family die, then I leave it with the Church of Torm to do with as they see fit. May whomever reads these pages gain insight into who I am and gain the knowledge I have gained. If you read this as a thief, and not from my dead body, may the justice of the Triad find you swiftly. So be it.
II - Background
I am Septimus Olvarius, Paladin of Torm. I have been since my fifteenth birthday, when I began my training in my home city of Waterdeep. Upon my nineteenth I was declared a full Paladin of Him. Given the history of the Olvarius family, it was not unexpected. As far back as I bother to trace, my family has served the Triad. My father, a Paladin of Torm as well. My mother, a healer of Illmater. My grandparents, both Paladins of Tyr in their day. Further back than that has the Olvarius family stayed loyal to their duty. I am not the only one of this current generation of Olvarius to keep up this tradition. My brother, my younger by two years, has taken up the position of a Paladin of Tyr. My two sisters, one younger by five years another by six, follow in my mother's steps as healers of Illmater. I have left them in Waterdeep to do as they see fit. They did not desire to accompany me and I place no burden on them to do so. They will follow later if they wish, or they can continue to do the good they do in Waterdeep. Either way the world is better with them, I could not have asked for a better family to be raised in.
I have come to this valley upon hearing word of all the foulness that plagues it. Banites, unlawful ones at least by this valley's measure though all of them deserve nothing less than death, run free in areas. The Undead harbor themselves here as well. Apparently there is a rebellion against the authorities in the city of Sundren. Not all the tidings are evil, however. The reason I have come is because of the Triumverate, a coalition of the men and women who follow the Triad, to fight against the evil. I seek to gain entry to their ranks, and I feel Torm is almost near to give me the sign. But I get ahead of myself. The Helmites also have a presence in the area, and their help I will begrudgingly accept. They are a loyal group, if not always to the greater good. The other organizations in the valley are of little concern to myself. The Legion keeps law to its ability but I've no desire to join its ranks. Military always carries corruption of a form. There are various mercenary companies and a trading syndicate, but men who only keep loyalty to their pocketbooks are a disgrace to Torm and I will not count myself amongst them.
III - On Vampires and Some of the Persons Met In the Beginning Days
My first while in this valley has been a strange while, indeed. I arrived and did some small odd jobs for worthy individuals that seemed concerned for good and not only their own personal desires, gaining a slight amount of coin that I would need to acquire a set of platemail for my own. I would not be to my full capacity until I acquired such. Not much of consequence occured, however. I had already made a few acquaintances. A certain Grace O'Malley as one of them. Assuredly a most strange woman, she seems absurdly laid back and quick to make jokes of the sexual nature. I am both offended by her roughness and slightly amused at the same time. As it stands I see nothing actively malicious in her so she may remain around myself for the time being.
Around this time I came upon a most peculiar sight. I was in a tavern with a variety of people, notably the Lady Aurora van Hellstrom, apparently the daughter of a prominent noble, and some of her various protectors when a strange woman walked in. She looked strange, with pale skin and red eyes, and I sensed something amiss with her. That feeling was confirmed when people greeted her as the 'undead lady' and the 'vampire lady' in particular. This inflamed my senses. How do the people in the valley tolerate a Vampire of all things? I sensed the Fear-Causing Hand of Bane in the tavern. No other reason would cause people to tolerate a Vampire than fear of it. When I confronted her though, she acted smugly and even volunteered her back for my blade to pierce. The other patrons seemed to grow hostile to me, threatening to attack myself if I accidentally hurt Lady Hellstrom in an potential fight. I recall a mage in particular threatening to remove my brain. Regardless, I was forced to retreat and think on matters with a few other sane individuals who were against the Vampire. No action was taken. I suspect the Lady Hellstrom to be consorting with Vampires, as the one that was there regarded her with friendship.
Later on I met whom I consider my most steadfast ally in this valley to date, a Darius Blackwell, a fellow Paladin of Torm. This man is far more skilled than I currently am, though. I noticed such when he called upon blessings far beyond me. Regardless, he is a friendly and noble man. He seems to have taken the role of a temporary mentor for myself until I establish myself in this land. To date he has shown me places where I could find noble work, directed myself to dens of the Undead, and given me aid in blessings and supplies, as well as allies. He thought it strange that people tolerated a Vampire, as such is not the usual treatment. That gives me hope for Sundren.
I have recently met a Chrisa Cold, a woman whom I very recently asked on a formal.. Meeting for a dinner. She is a wizard, and a pleasant one and good at heart at that. She seems interested in the Triad and perhaps even joining the Triumverate. Darius and myself have taught her much of the Triad in the past day, and I believe she is near to a decision. I desire to force nothing onto her, of course, for the Triad has no love for those who do not freely choose to serve them, instead of forcing to serve them. Forced servitude is the work of Bane. In return she taught me much of the basic theories of magic. It is a fascinating field. She has a charm to her, I've no doubt. I fear though that I failed her when I let us both fall, according to another ally who was with us, in the local Undead-inhabited crypt. She seemed quite happy with my invitation to dinner, but oddly enough she seemed.. Subdued when I said my farewells for the time being. I will need to ask Darius where to get formal clothes and where a good place for my meeting is in the valley.
I have afforded platemail, finally. My time of joining the Triumverate grows near, I can sense it.
I - Preamble
Let the following pages be the records of my life in this valley. Should I fall, this book is to be delivered to my wife, provided I am wed, and if I am not it is to be sent to the Olvarius family in Waterdeep. Should something befall that city or my family die, then I leave it with the Church of Torm to do with as they see fit. May whomever reads these pages gain insight into who I am and gain the knowledge I have gained. If you read this as a thief, and not from my dead body, may the justice of the Triad find you swiftly. So be it.
II - Background
I am Septimus Olvarius, Paladin of Torm. I have been since my fifteenth birthday, when I began my training in my home city of Waterdeep. Upon my nineteenth I was declared a full Paladin of Him. Given the history of the Olvarius family, it was not unexpected. As far back as I bother to trace, my family has served the Triad. My father, a Paladin of Torm as well. My mother, a healer of Illmater. My grandparents, both Paladins of Tyr in their day. Further back than that has the Olvarius family stayed loyal to their duty. I am not the only one of this current generation of Olvarius to keep up this tradition. My brother, my younger by two years, has taken up the position of a Paladin of Tyr. My two sisters, one younger by five years another by six, follow in my mother's steps as healers of Illmater. I have left them in Waterdeep to do as they see fit. They did not desire to accompany me and I place no burden on them to do so. They will follow later if they wish, or they can continue to do the good they do in Waterdeep. Either way the world is better with them, I could not have asked for a better family to be raised in.
I have come to this valley upon hearing word of all the foulness that plagues it. Banites, unlawful ones at least by this valley's measure though all of them deserve nothing less than death, run free in areas. The Undead harbor themselves here as well. Apparently there is a rebellion against the authorities in the city of Sundren. Not all the tidings are evil, however. The reason I have come is because of the Triumverate, a coalition of the men and women who follow the Triad, to fight against the evil. I seek to gain entry to their ranks, and I feel Torm is almost near to give me the sign. But I get ahead of myself. The Helmites also have a presence in the area, and their help I will begrudgingly accept. They are a loyal group, if not always to the greater good. The other organizations in the valley are of little concern to myself. The Legion keeps law to its ability but I've no desire to join its ranks. Military always carries corruption of a form. There are various mercenary companies and a trading syndicate, but men who only keep loyalty to their pocketbooks are a disgrace to Torm and I will not count myself amongst them.
III - On Vampires and Some of the Persons Met In the Beginning Days
My first while in this valley has been a strange while, indeed. I arrived and did some small odd jobs for worthy individuals that seemed concerned for good and not only their own personal desires, gaining a slight amount of coin that I would need to acquire a set of platemail for my own. I would not be to my full capacity until I acquired such. Not much of consequence occured, however. I had already made a few acquaintances. A certain Grace O'Malley as one of them. Assuredly a most strange woman, she seems absurdly laid back and quick to make jokes of the sexual nature. I am both offended by her roughness and slightly amused at the same time. As it stands I see nothing actively malicious in her so she may remain around myself for the time being.
Around this time I came upon a most peculiar sight. I was in a tavern with a variety of people, notably the Lady Aurora van Hellstrom, apparently the daughter of a prominent noble, and some of her various protectors when a strange woman walked in. She looked strange, with pale skin and red eyes, and I sensed something amiss with her. That feeling was confirmed when people greeted her as the 'undead lady' and the 'vampire lady' in particular. This inflamed my senses. How do the people in the valley tolerate a Vampire of all things? I sensed the Fear-Causing Hand of Bane in the tavern. No other reason would cause people to tolerate a Vampire than fear of it. When I confronted her though, she acted smugly and even volunteered her back for my blade to pierce. The other patrons seemed to grow hostile to me, threatening to attack myself if I accidentally hurt Lady Hellstrom in an potential fight. I recall a mage in particular threatening to remove my brain. Regardless, I was forced to retreat and think on matters with a few other sane individuals who were against the Vampire. No action was taken. I suspect the Lady Hellstrom to be consorting with Vampires, as the one that was there regarded her with friendship.
Later on I met whom I consider my most steadfast ally in this valley to date, a Darius Blackwell, a fellow Paladin of Torm. This man is far more skilled than I currently am, though. I noticed such when he called upon blessings far beyond me. Regardless, he is a friendly and noble man. He seems to have taken the role of a temporary mentor for myself until I establish myself in this land. To date he has shown me places where I could find noble work, directed myself to dens of the Undead, and given me aid in blessings and supplies, as well as allies. He thought it strange that people tolerated a Vampire, as such is not the usual treatment. That gives me hope for Sundren.
I have recently met a Chrisa Cold, a woman whom I very recently asked on a formal.. Meeting for a dinner. She is a wizard, and a pleasant one and good at heart at that. She seems interested in the Triad and perhaps even joining the Triumverate. Darius and myself have taught her much of the Triad in the past day, and I believe she is near to a decision. I desire to force nothing onto her, of course, for the Triad has no love for those who do not freely choose to serve them, instead of forcing to serve them. Forced servitude is the work of Bane. In return she taught me much of the basic theories of magic. It is a fascinating field. She has a charm to her, I've no doubt. I fear though that I failed her when I let us both fall, according to another ally who was with us, in the local Undead-inhabited crypt. She seemed quite happy with my invitation to dinner, but oddly enough she seemed.. Subdued when I said my farewells for the time being. I will need to ask Darius where to get formal clothes and where a good place for my meeting is in the valley.
I have afforded platemail, finally. My time of joining the Triumverate grows near, I can sense it.
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