There is a bright silver emblem on the cover of this book, for those who see it. This symbol depicts an incredibly detailed drawing of a half moon, with two stars shooting across it, underneath he moon, is two open palms, reaching out as it giving something to the moon. The detail is very fine, from wrinkles in the hands, to the 'craters' on the moon.

Inside the Front cover

I am Vincent. This is my record of my past, my long walk on the path The Giver has set out for me. Read this, know what I have been through and what I have done, and learn to trust in him, as he may set a path for you as well.

First Page

Another child's cut has grown infected. This one fell while playing in the forest. That makes six children now. I do not think it is immmediatly life threatening, but I shall go to this place the child spoke of and see if I can determine what might have caused this - And if I can gather the means to cure it. I am shocked at how far this child has travelled. It has taken me nearly a day to get this far, and I have only just found this place he described. I have found several odd plants I have not seen before. I was curious as to their properties so I took a cutting, and continued on my way, finding nothing, aside from perhaps the plats that could have caused this strange infection.

I shall rest for the night here, as I d not wish to try to find my way back in the darkness.

Second Page I begin my long journey home, having found nothing. As I approached the village, I noticed something was gravely wrong. our small market was empty, the gentle sound of laughing and children playing, gone. I quickened my pace - And then I heard them, as I got closer. The pained wails, the agonized moans. Each sound tore at my soul like a thousand ravens clawing, and pecking at it. I dropped Everything I was carrying - My book, the plants, my pack I had taken with me. I ran to the village, as fast as I could. What I saw there will haunt me forever. I will see this horrific image in my mind whenever i close my eyes, I do not think I shall be able to sleep peacefully ever again.

What I saw was horrible. Bodies, everywehre. Some hurled over , obviously having died in a great deal of pain, their faces lieing in a pool of vomit, blood dipping from their eyes themselves. I could not contain myself. These sights horrified me, made me sick to my stomach. I cried, and started to vomit. And yet suddenly I stopped. I had not thought it possible at this point, but I heard something even more terrifying than the sight that was before me now. A single agonizing wail. This wail chilled my bones, tore into my soul deeper than anything I had just heard or seen. I immediatly ran to the source, my own home. I prayed as I ran, to no one specific - hoping someone would hear, and answer m prayer, hoping that it was only a trick of my mind.

My prayer was not answered. My father, already lieing dead, similarily to the others. a pool of vomit near his head, and blood from his eyes. However this paled in comparison to the pain my next sight caused me. My mother, the blood dripping from her eyes, twitching on the floor, moaning in obvoius agony. From the way she was writhing, it was as if she felt her bones themselves were on fire. I tried to steady her, and she managed to whisper to me through her pained moans. She said -

Mother Water.... well... poisoned... not.. drink...

I was struck by fear and rage on hearing thi-

Third Page

... Fear and rage on hearing this. Who would do such a thing? Why? They had done nothing to deserve this! I was torn apart. I wanted to ask her more, but she started twitching and writhing, screaming louder than before. She began to vomit, as I watched in horror. then, as suddenly as it started, she stopped. She looked at me calmly for a moment and smiled to me. I thought perhaps my prayer had been answered, that she had been spared. The dread now pushing down on my heart so heavily, was lifting slightly. And then she fell forward, lifeless, into the pool of her own vomit.

I did not know what to do. I screamed, cried, raged. I had lost everything, everyone. Why? How? Who would do such a thing? I ran through my home, and that of every other home in my small village. I was able to find only six survivors. The children with the odd infection. I thought perhaps they might have brought back some sort of disease but - That made no sense! I worked closely with all of those children, treating their wounds, directly touching the infected skin! If it was because of them, why I am not sharing the village's fate? No. I do not think the chilldren are the cause.

One of them complained of their legs hurting, a boy, the first one to come to me with his infection. his--

Fourth page

His infection was clearing. I was overjoyed. Something good may have come with this. I sat with these children for hours, trying to comfort them. Telling them it would be all right. But all the while, I was wondering to myself... "how can it be? everyone we knew is dead, we are alone. The water we cannot drink, we should not eat the food either- What should we do?" I began to make a plan forr the children and myself to travel to the nearby larger populated area of waterdeep. During this attempt to calm them down, I failed to notice the first child, the one whom his infection was clearing growing ever paler.

I was so occupied with trying to help the children - and myself, feel better about this situataion.. this horrible situation. I did not know how much more pain on my heart I could take, but this was tested when the pale child whimped my name - He sounded so frightened, I was almost afraid to turn to look at him.

Fifth Page The child was rubbing his eyes constantly, as it tired. But I noticed his knuckles turning a pale red, as was the areas around his eyes. They were bleeding, and he was rubbing it away. I was dumbfounded. It was foolish of me to assume the children were not victims as well. This new sight filled me with a terrible sadness - He was so young, he had so much left to do. I vowed there- I would do everything in my power to try tostop this from happening to this child, and the other five. I tried every antidote, every method of curing infections and sickness, I knew. Nothing worked, and it only seemed to make them worse. Why? What was making them so sick? What caused all this? The questioned burned in my mind as ai frantically tried to save the children. not sleeping at all for the day.

Two of them died that day. another, the next. There were each succumbing to this sickness when their infections cleared. Despite my efforts, soon only the most recent child who came to me was left alive. I stayed with him the whole time, trying to console him, I promised him I would find him a cure- That together, we would get through this. I tried my best, never taking a moments break. The child died in my arms the next day, covering me in his vomit, and the blood from his eyes dripping down the front of my clothing.

Sixth Page

I was lost. greif stricken. The pain, the guilt for breaking my promise to that child, allowing him to die, the horrors of everything I had seen in the last days. It was maddening. Why would anyone do such a horrible thing? We were a peaceful village, we made no enemies and intereacted little with ohers. I imagine few even knew we existed. So why would someone do this? Who could be so vile, so cruel, so twisted? I gathered food, and water, from the nearby lake. I spent months, doing the best I could, building a makeshift tomb for them. A shrine, to honor them. I felt it was the least I could do.

During my toils, a man wandered through the village. He said his name was Jason, and Offered to help me build. I accepted his offer, and together we finished surprisingly quickly. We spoke, and he told me he was a wandering healer, spreading his gifts. When I asked tho 'he' was, that is when my life slowly began to change once more.

Seventh Page

"'The Giver"' He said. I asked him who this giver was, what his gifts were. He explained to me.

Jason Trent The Giver's gifts are many. Through them, any wound may be healed, any poison, disease, or sickness - cured. Through his gifts, curses bestowed by foul beings, can be removed. Through his gifts, Life itself can be restored to those who have lost it. The Giver turns none away, for if they can be helped, His gifts will be offered to them. All are deserving of his gifts, but those who would wish to harm others, to wound or to kill - His gifts shall not heal them. When his gifts are given to these people, they will be inflicted with the very wounds they seek to create, to show them the error of their ways. Should they accept that they have done wrong, His gifts will then close these wounds as quickly as they were made. [/quote

I listened in amazement. Life itself? Could this man really help myvillage, bring them back, grant them what was taken? naturally I asked him this as soon as he finished speaking. He told me They had been gone too long. Their souls undoubtedly have been offered a chance for true peace, something that as painful as it is for us who knew them - have no right to take this peace from them.

Eighth Page

We talked, and Jason convinced me to leave my home, hone my healing abilities. I began slowly to beleive more of his words, his demsontrations of these gifts, truly impressive. I could not help but wonder - Had I had these gifts, This Giver's guidance - Could I have helped them, saved my village? I began to follow this Giver's teachings, as Jason had taught me, more closly, more devoutly. I began to pray to him regularily. Soon enough, I was granted with such a gift. Jason and I had split up to gather wood to make a camp, when I was attacked by a wolf. It tore into my leg, I felt the pain of the wound. I cried out for jason's help, with no asnwer. I cried out to the giver, and without knowing why, placed my hands on the wolf's head. A small light appeared, and the wolf whimpered and ran off, as jason arrived, his bow drawn.

I explained what happened, and he smiled brightly to me. He told me the Giver had offered his gift to me, and in turn, the wolf. As he taught me, The giver's gift had stuck the wolf with the pain it was causing. Jason told me then to place my hands on my leg, and call on the giver, pray to him for his gifts. I did so, and to my amazement, the pain suddenly left. The deep wound on my leg, gone when I removed my hands. Had I done this? No. This was The Giver. He has offered me a new chance. A new purpose in my life after I had lost myself. For this - I will be forever grateful to Jason, and The Giver.

[More is written, however Vincent stops reading at this point and wanders out of the stand]

[Vincent picks up his book and begins to read again]

Ninth Page

This gift , It is amazing! The feeling that flows through me when I heal a wound - It is breathtaking! The Giver truly is gnerous to grant me such gifts. Each day I am able to use these gifts to heal more effectively, I beleive soon I will be almost as skilled as Jason.

In our travels, we saw a horrible sight. A caravan had been attacked by bandits, a merchant travelling with his wife and daughter. The three of them were dead, The Merchant's head taken. It was truly barbaric, and it disgusted me. Jason then did something truly amazing. I saw him go to the daughter first, a child, maybe eight years old at most. He placed his hands on her wounds and began to pray, as if he intended to heal her. I watched, doing nothing to disturb him, although I was quite sure the child was dead.

Tenth Page

Although she was dead, he began to heal her wounds, although I did not know why. Out of respect, I thought at first. But then - Such an amazing sight it was. He chanted loudly, far more reverently than usual, praising the giver devoutly, and then - The child took a deep breath. I was amazed, he -.. No, The Giver, had brought this child back. Jason repeated this for the mother, as I comforted the child. She too, was brought back. I was truly amazed, such a wondrous gift! Was there anything the giver could not grant? Jason told me that without the body intact, he could not grant the man back his life through the giver's gifts.

But even despite this, he had given these two back what had been taken from them, given the greatest gift of all... Life! It was possible. What he had spoken of so long ago in my village - it was true. If I could do this - I could prevent anything like what happened from my village from happening anywhere else.

Eleventh Page

Another woundrous day. I've been granted even more gifts by The Giver. Poisons, Diseases, i can now cleanse them from the blood. Even some magical ailments, I can cure through his gifts. When I think of the people I can aid with these new gifts - I am overjoyed.

What else will The Giver grant me? Jason and I have been travelleing together for nearly a year now. He has taught me so much, shown me the path of The Giver and I am eternally grateful to him. We have spread his word far, across many small villages and towns. Many are reluctant to accept it, but Jason tells me this is their choice, The Giver's path is one a person must choose to follow, and while he rewards them greatly, jason has shown me this - The Giver will not hold ill will against those who choose to follow other paths.

Twelth Page

We came across a village, many of whom seemed to follow bane. I do not know why, but Jason seemed rather upset by them. We tried to spread the Giver's word to them, but their faith was not to be broken. We set out once more, and jason told me he wished to go back to speak to them once more, While I gathered wood for a fire and set up camp. He told me to rest, and he woudl return in the morning.

When I awoke, half the day was already gone. I wandered back to this village. I could not belive what I saw. They had taken his armor, his glrioius blue armor endowed with the giver's symbol on it's chest in blazing silver. He was badly injured, and in a cage. "Why?!" I thought angrily - I wondered what he had done, why they did this to him. He saw me before they did - He looked to me desperately, and mouthed a single word to me. A word that while I heard no sound, I could hear the pain in his voice. Something was terribly wrong.

Thirteenth Page

Run.

Jason's single mouthed word troubled me so much. before I could do anything, I was seen by one of the banites, as I was not trying to hide in any way, I saw no reason to. I heard shouts. Angry shouts. They confused me as much as terrified me "The other one is back! He's come to finish the first's work! Murderer! Don't let him fool you!"

I was confused. Murder? Jason? He would never do such a thing.. It was not something the giver would condone, The giver would never allow jason to do such a thing! Before I could do anything, they were behind me. I was running, i do not know why. I ran and ran, but they gained on my still. My armor Jason had given me, weighed me down, they had none - They were faster. I prayed to The Giver as I ran. for protection, for somewhere safe, for sanctuary. Suddenly I stopped. I do not know why, but I knew I was safe. I watched them all run past me, as if they had not even seen me. I did not understand, but somehow The Giver hid me from their eyes.

Fourteenth Page

I returned to the village, still hidden. It was a horrible sight. He was dead, stabbed so many times, beaten. It sickened me and filled me with great sorrow to see my teacher, my guide, My friend - Dead.

The cage was unguarded, and for some reason - Unlocked. Another Gift from the Giver? I could only hope so. I dragged his body to safety, praying for hours, perhaps days - Hoping The Giver would grant me the gift to bring him back, to save Jason. It was not so. The giver would not grant me this gift. I do not know why - But Jason taught me never to doubt the Giver. His gifts were many, and we should never be upset when denied one gift seemingly, as another gift far greater awaits us if we are patient.

I was alone, once more. But I knew I was not truly alone, I walked the path The Giver set for me, and his gifts let me know he was by my side always. I was alone, but not without hope. Not left to despair.

[vincent once again stops reading and strolls out of the stand][

[vincent once again begins to read]

Pages Fifteen through twenty

[These pages depict his walk alone, his struggle to survive without jason's guidance, and how he found solace in the Giver's gifts.

They speak of him wandering through several villages, helping the wounded, and helping to cure a sickness that was spreading in one of them.

Page twenty ends telling of him stumbling apon an odd cave]

Twenty first Page

This cave was unsettling, Yet the Giver's path had led me here. I wandered inside, saw a strange series of symbols on the floor. Further still, a glowing light. I had seen similar, yet different lights being the signs of divine gifts. Was this another gift from The Giver? I did not know. I reached out to this light, not knowing what it was. I touched the base of this light, and it vanished. I was disorientated. I did not know what happened. Where did the light go? Why was the sunlight from the cave behind me gone?

I did not know where I was. I found what I thought was the exit to this cave, only to find another, much larger cave. Where was I? How do I get out? I do not know how long I wandered, hungry, nothing but the torn robes on my back to wear. I found a series of gates. I will rest as much as I can before going inside.

twenty Second Page

I entered the gates. The guard inside explained to me the place was called sanctuary. I was in a place called the underdark, miles and miles below my former home. What will I do? I suppose this is where the Giver has led me. There must be a reason for this. There must be a purpose. In time I trust he will reveal this to me. Many here have needed my help, and I have given it. I was healing someone I had found wounded, when I was told of the sancruaty shelter, how it was to be a place of healing. Surely This is what the giver had planned for me, to be a healer in this dark place where many had lost hope.

I met with Breena Watchever, the leader of the shelter. I do not know what it is , but there is something inspiring about her presence. We spoke for some time, and she accepted my offer of aid. I know that this is what the giver would want me to do, and I am overjoyed I have found a place here.

Twenty Third Page

[This page is filled with stains, looking to be made by tears falling on the paper. the writing is messy, as if the writer was very upset]

I have done a terrible thing... I met a man who called himself martin, he asked for my help with a problem in the mines, near the dark lake. I went to help him, but we were attacked..

I do not know what those thigns were. They were massive, though. I looked at it for a moment, and when I looked to Martin to ask him what to do, there was another monster standing in his place! What was going on? Without thinking I lunged with my sword to prevent it from killing me. I knew something was wrong as I struck.. The beasts looked like they had hard shells, yet my sword hit something soft, met little resistance. I gathered my senses and looked again. I saw martin, with my sword in his chest.

What had I done? Where did the beast go, what did it do to me? I looked at martin, time seemed to stand still, he was looking at me, pleadingly, the pained expression on his face, his eyes screaming "why?" to me. My heart had not known so much pain for years, not since what happened in my village. I may have been able to help him, which is why I feel so badly. The real beast struck at me, And I ran. Ran like the coward I am. I may have been able to help him. I know I could have helped him.

Twenty fourth Page

I could have helped him, I know it. But I ran. He is dead because of me. I killed him. This was against everythign I had ever stood for, I stabbed him, killed him. He was not a bad person, he was harming no one, It was against the Giver's way. Can the Giver ever forgive me. Can I ever forgive myself? This man is dead because of me.

Jaliah, and Breena. They offered to help me find him, to save him if we could. Breena and her mithrilsouls, with Jaliah and I, went to the mines. We went to the place he had died. The beast was gone. He was gone. What was happening? I do not understand it, he should have been tehre - There shoudl have at least been - something- some sort of sign to what happened to him. We found nothing... Where was he? Where was the beast?

Breena offered to guide me out of the mines. She did not want to travel with me. After what I had done.. I did not blame her, and given what I had done, I would do the same in her position.

twenty sixth page

I have gone inside this "red skull temple" in lower. My group and I were asked by the seekers to clear out the undead. we fought through the temple, fighting spirits, sending them to their rest. When we reached the end, we found several oddities. I found a cloak with a symbol I had seen in a book once. I picked it up and added it to my collection ofitems with symbols. I did not know what all of them were, but I could find out later. We finished our task, the undead seemed to be gone for now.

I have spent some time in the library, researching these symbols. I found I had serveral items with the symbols of divine beings. A ring bearing the symbol of Maglubiyet, an Amulet bearing beshaba's sign, a pair of gloves bearing that of Ilmater, and the cloak which I found, that of Cyric.

I met Aylana, an interesting woman to say the least. She is skilled with her crossbow, and adept with magic as well. She and I completed several errands, and we sat down in the stand to discuss faith, as I wished to spread the giver's word to her.

[vincent looks up from his book to respond to a sending]