"Gray Tidings: The Journal of Kaa" (selected entries)

[goodblood]

A modest hide-bound notebook contains page upon page of autobiographical writings. The script is deliberately written in dark ink. It begins simply enough:

?I can see the sun beginning to rise over the walls of Baldur?s Gate, but I am just now preparing to retire to my room at the bottom of the Low Lantern. Work was even worse than usual last night. I made only coppers in tips, and a fat half-orc pulled a knife on me (claimed I didn?t serve his ale fast enough.) I didn?t even think before smashing the drunken brute?s face into the bar. I suppose that?s what working in a dive like this does to you. Still, the night was far from a loss. Vanessa (the barmaid from the Three Old Kegs) braved the streets at night and surprised me when my shift ended. We walked down to the edge of the docks, sat there, and talked all night. Once we could barely keep our eyes open, I escorted her back to her house in the lower city. Ah she?s truly perfect. I really am going to fall asleep now. Time for a nap.?

[goodblood]

?Father paid me a visit today. The drunk looks even worse than last time I saw him. He acts like it?s my fault mother died. The bastard.. I ended the conversation after about three sentences.?

[goodblood]

?Good news! Just when I had given up hope of learning more than a few simple cantrips, I found an arcane teacher. The tale is as follows:

I was working the graveyard shift, as usual, at the Lantern. A sullen looking gnome had been sitting at the edge of the bar all night, barely touching his spirits. Instead, he was more interested in a bound notebook in which he was constantly scribbling. Being the curious sort, I asked the nature of his writings. After scoffing, he informed me that he recorded riddles in the notebook, ?none of which a sod such as I would be able to solve.? I took this as a challenge of course, and entreated him to quiz me. Let it suffice to say that he was quite impressed when I answered three in a row correctly, after thinking only momentarily on what was asked.

He introduced himself as Jagof, and from there we broke into a conversation which lasted most of the rest of my shift. After speaking for some time I told him of my rudimentary arcane studies, and at his request, demonstrated my ability by chilling his glass with a ray of frost while no one was looking. My aptitude must be at least somewhat respectable as this display eventually led to an offer for part time employment on my days off. Jagof claims to be a mage of some skill, living near the Duke?s palace in the upper city. Seeing that this was an offer I could not refuse, I accepted. I can?t wait to tell Vanessa.?

[goodblood]

?Working for Jagof has been nothing like I expected. While he is indeed a mage of significant power, he is a blasted Necromancer. My days with him involve helping with his so called experiments. Once I had to actually sneak into the cemetery in the middle of the night to retrieve ?materials.? This isn?t what I had envisioned when I began studying magic, but I can?t quit now. The work is interesting.. if a bit dark.. and I must admit that I am learning a great deal. But, Jagof will not show me anything unrelated to necromancy or life-force alteration. Maybe eventually I can convince him??

[goodblood]

?Ah, another dreadful night at the Lantern. Dante must have caught too many mice tonight; he is lying in the corner, completely exhausted.?

[goodblood]

?I got into another fight with my supervisor at the Lantern today. I am being overworked and underpaid. This is the last time. I resigned from my duty there. This presents a real problem since I live at the Lantern as well as work. Vanessa?s parents won?t hear of taking in a boy at the house. Jagof offered to let me live with him for the time being and work with him full time. He knows I have been a real asset to him. I guess that is what I will have to do for now.?

[goodblood]

?Jagof has become more unpleasant with each passing day. He still will not teach me any lessons from other schools of magic and he keeps me longer and longer as time passes. Vanessa, is beginning to complain about the amount of time I spend with him. Ha, and she doesn?t even know he is a necromancer? she would never go along with that. I told her I have been learning illusions.?

[goodblood]

?Jagof is more powerful than I thought. He suddenly called for me in the middle of the day.

?Kaa, I?m going to show you why the dark arts are the true path to power. See that dagger on the table there? Cut me.?

He then held out his forearm to me. I told him I would do no such thing, but he insisted. So, I complied. Striking his arm was like slashing a rock or bone. It was truly frightening. He seems to have found a way to temporarily alter and harden his skin until it is as hard as bone. I made a note to myself? don?t take a blade to this one.
Afterwards, he let me go for the day. I went to bed early.?

[goodblood]

?Vanessa has been avoiding me for the past few days. I am beginning to worry. The other barmaids at the Old Kegs won?t say a word about it.?

[goodblood]

The following is written in a much more rushed and careless script than the other entries:

?I saw Vanessa with another man today. This must be why she won?t speak to me. He seems to be a noble?s son. There is nothing left for me here. My mother is gone, my father might as well be, and now Vanessa. I can?t stand Jagof any longer. That?s it. I?ve decided Dante and I are leaving. I don?t know where we will go, but any place is better than here. It reminds me too much of? her.?

Kaa throws the journal onto his bed and begins packing his few belongings in silence.

[goodblood]

?As I write this I am sitting at the room I have rented at the Helm and Cloak, near the Black Dragon (northern) Gate to the city. It is now early morning. I creeped out of Jagof?s while he was sleeping and without saying farewell. On the way out I stuffed several tomes and papers from his study into my pack. I couldn?t help myself. After all, it?s not like he paid me what I deserved. And, I want to be able to continue my studies while I?m on the road. I paid the local weapon smith a visit and purchased the largest sword he had in stock with the money I had saved up. Hopefully this will serve as a deterrent to any brigands on the road. It?s going to take some practice to be able to swing this thing effectively.

I have decided that I am going to head north. I don?t know how far I will go or where I will end up. According to this map I will eventually encounter Icewind Dale if I continue on long enough. Let?s see where the road takes me.?

With that, Kaa puts on his pack and affixes the sword to a back mounted scabbard. He then ventures out of the city.