1.0 Talathel and Darvin Meet

The Journal of Talathel Braegen:

Day 1 (April 30, 1371)

I knew half-elves are trouble. Though, I must say the one I have recently met may help me find some gold. At any rate, he will get me rum and after getting kicked out of the monastery, that is what I need.

After wandering the markets of Secomber I came upon a pub. I am poor, but I like pubs, so I went in. Shortly after I sat down, a half elf at the bar said he’d buy me a drink. He said he was having “some shitty rum.” So, I ordered the same. The bartender didn’t like me using that exact phrase, but I honestly believe him spitting in the rum made it taste better.

My friend must have been intoxicated because he didn’t notice his former Halfling boss come into the pub until the man was able to punch him in the face. Darvin (the half elf) responded with some blows that would make some of the monks cringe. I took the opportunity to order more rum.

It would seem that my new friend Darvin had been kicked off a fishing vessel for fooling around with the boss’s daughter and wife. The kid went missing, and despite my suggestion that we check the monastery to see if she had taken advantage of their recent opening, we volunteered to go find her. Well, not exactly, I wanted some gold in exchange for the safe return of the little imp, but all we got were Click and Clack, the two Halflings that never smiled.

Darvin, who wouldn’t buy me a to go mug of rum, took us to Eelskin Jack’s cabin, which was a good trek from Secomber up near he Star Mountains. We were able to stay in the cabin at night. Darvin asked about why I left the monastery. I fed him a line, he seemed to accept it. I don’t think people need the details, let alone half elves with loose bedroom morals.

The next morning we set out to look for the Halfling. I can’t remember her real name, but her nickname was Mashy. Darvin found a note that said to go to this cave. In it we went. The first thing we encounter are two snakes. Now, Darvin didn’t think to much of my fighting skills when I told him I had limited combat experience, but he isn’t exactly skilled with those cutlasses. He missed the snakes badly a few times. I didn’t fair much better, but eventually we got past them. That is until we got further into the cave and found a much larger snake.

I was able to land a hit with my kama, but that seemed to anger the snake more than harm it. It bit me and poisoned me. I fought through, and once again Darvin was able to kill the snake. At that point I was ready to turn back, but instead we pressed on.

Eventually we find Mashy. She’s lying unconscious in a real cold room with this weird mold stuff. Darvin runs over to his, well not girlfriend. I got in trouble for calling her that. Any way, he runs over to Mashy, puts her over his shoulder and promptly gets knocked out.

Not thinking, I rush over to help. When I get close, the lamp I was carrying goes out and I get knocked out. Somehow, Click and Clack drag us out of there and when I come to, their scowls have turned to smirks. Halflings, looking down on me, a moon elf. OK, I’m no sun elf, but come on! I’m an elf!

Mashy comes to as well and starts blabbing on about this map that Eelskin Jack has. I don’t buy it. Now, Mashy called me cute, but she’s crazy if she thinks we’re searching this snake infested cave for a map. Darvin lights a Sun Torch and we head out. We did spot a small box, which contained two patients. One was a healing potion the other a white, gooey mixture.  We found out later that it gave us the spell Cold Touch. Interesting, but not enough to make me want to poke around this cave any more.

We get out of the cave and back to Secomber, and all the way Mashy says she wants to go with us. We’re going to go adventuring and she wants a part. Now, she said I was cute and I don’t get that very much, but I wasn’t looking forward to having this clingly little Halfling follow us around. I’ve had enough damsel in distress adventures. Luckily, Darvin didn’t seem to keen on the idea either.

We get her back home, and it turns out Darvin slept with the boss’s wife’s twin sister. So, that’s good.  Since we brought the daughter back, the Halfing said we might be able to get work down at Baldur’s Gate working with his brother Marty. It doesn’t sound like Marty runs the cleanest of businesses. Darvin’s all excited because he thinks there will be pirates. I guess I’ll go with him for now. Perhaps the people of Baldur’s Gate need to know about The Old Order.

And maybe, Mashy will show up.

-Talathel Bragen