((Here's the text from Fed's journal. There's some profanity and it's a bit long, but oh well.))
Federek Fawkes
Biography:
Federek lived an easy life near Cormanthor as a boy. His natural talent made him capable and confident. His father was his hero, a capable hunter and woodsman who taught Federek much about the simple life of a hunter. Fed was mostly a good child except with a few fallings-in with a bad crowd.
At the age of 17 Federek and his father were on a hunting trip when they were ambushed by drow. Federek found himself the victim of a holding spell and watched as his father fought savagely against an onslaught of three drow. The aging man was no match for the illythiiri, but in one of his final moments his dagger found the eye of one of the would-be captors, killing him. In the next, his father was slain as Federek watched, helpless.
The next years of his life were only pain and misery as the once brilliant boy was transformed by a harsh slavery into a hopeless husk. The only glimmer of hope in his mind was the release of death. The hatred of his condition warped his worldview, and he wished only decay for the drow settlement of Traensyr.
The circumstances of his escape are a grim blur. His rebellious spirit had led him to fashion a primitive shiv and his dereliction of duty had led him to another whipping. It was as the lashes hit his back and he bit his lip so hard as to draw blood and not to scream that in a semi-conscious whirlwind, he drove the shiv into the overseer's eye and ran, ran, ran...
As he gathers his bearings in the Underdark, he grimly resists the posibility of hope or a return to what he once knew. Will his freedom change him, or merely become an outlet for his grim nihilism and self-destructive impulses?
((Deity influences - Shar, Tymora, Ilmater))
Journal:
14 Eleint, 152
I've found a journal. I have not written in so long. I've also found a city, Sanctuary. Such a strange and destitute place. Having taken a few small jobs to earn some coin, I have the strange feeling for the first time of being alright.
Sanctuary has a need for fighters, and I seem to have found a niche as an adventurer. It's not a bad way to be while I save up some gold. It seems I can still use a bow.
15 Eleint, 152
Seems I've found a job selling lottery tokens for a "Mr. Silver." ((Alarond Blackwell)) He says it doesn't start for another week. Hopefully I live that long. He's obviously got big plans. If it gets off the ground, I'll be on the ground floor. He says it pays 75 gold per week. Not much, really. But it beats risking my life.
Other salespeople: Mister Maric, Kang. Security: Zoe, Kongo.
Tickets are sold for 25 or 25, depending on the set. The prize is a grand, and one set rolls over from week to week.
((Cadmon Cearney = Lorkan Skruner)) Lorkan is apparently a man providing lodging for the gambling operation.
17 Eleint, 152
A feeling I've not had in a long time. A glimmer of hope and freedom, a choice between life or death. Not in 6 years (or was it 7) have I been able to eat or wash when I like, let alone hold a coinpurse at my side.
My bow is capable. I have made some coins and even found a magic armor, looted from the undead corpse of a drow. I feel vengeance burning. If my bow can fell a drow ghost, it can kill a live one. Perhaps the Hoarrans I have met could offer me guidance.
Truly, life is not so hopeless as it once was. This dark city is a paradise from the hells of Traensyr. And the surface? Perhaps a fool's dream, but I got down here, didn't I? The drow know a way. Retribution, and hope.
And yet I wonder if life is not so cheap. Through mercenary work, I have made death my work. Is my life not so fleeting as those I have ended for coin? But I am safe, for now.
Eleint 19
Journal, my work has made me rich. I have over a thousand gold pieces. Imagine.
Magic armor, and job offers from mercenaries. I worked with a drow on a job. I thought of vengeance and wanted to kill her. But she was not a slaver, only a mercenary. I wonder what would bring a drow female to Sanctuary. Perhaps she is outcast. She was not my overseer. But she was a fiery warrior with a greatsword. I want to kill her. Maybe better to learn about her and find out what I can about Traensyr and the drow as enemies and not overseers.
What shall I spend the gold on? Supplies, maybe. I lost a lot of blood after a few goblins stuck swords in me.. Little bastards. But I don't hate them, not like the drow. They're just little monsters trying to survive like everyone else. Still, I've got to be careful. That's not good for me. Maybe I should slow down and spend all this coin on something that's going to keep me alive.
The more I think about it, the more I think the drow are the key to the Surface. They know how to get there. They can be killed, tortured, whipped, beaten.
[the next few liness are struck through, obviously done later] I have met a few people, even one I could call a friend. He is a Lowersman named Pearce. He works for the Crone. That's an interesting place. [the strikethrough ends and a small note is written on the side: "Dammit, Pearce"]
Eleint 21
I worked with that drow again. She nearly died. It's a sore thing that she lived. She's vicious and seems to live for nothing but combat.
Which makes me wonder what I'm living for. Free. Maybe a little wealthy. And getting stronger, faster, better with the bow. I can eat and drink what I like. Shit. What am I complaining about? I could do this for awhile.
I shouldn't run my mouth though. I bet the wizard who saved the drow told her I wanted to leave her. Better to stay away from her anyway. She might not know anything about Traensyr, anyway. Not worth losing my head over.
Early, Eleint 22
This city is absolute chaos. Lower, at least. Goblins overran a whole damn ward between here and the gates. It looks like they did it with a lot of magic, because there isn't a lot of blood. Something's up.
Also this: A seeker organizing a party to fight the goblins attacked the drow in the street. I stuck an arrow in her, but I hesitated. If I had attacked before, she'd be dead now. I'm worried about retribution. Lower is even less safe for me, now.
The Hoarrans are madmen. They don't want to kill her. Charmed by her, I bet! This place seems to be falling apart.
The goblins didn't get attacked because the party was sidetracked by an argument over the drow. So they're over there now, probably enjoying the spoils and fucking so they can breed more and leach their way over here. All these beggars and drunk gangsters are going to end up like the barbarians over where Mycopolis was. I guess it's the goblin camp, now.
Maybe I should just stay in Upper.
Eleint 22, Late
Things seem to have calmed down. I doubt that drow will set foot in Lower for a little while, or at least the Crone. Still, she stirred something up.
Met a man named Smiles. Seemed to want to know a lot about me. Maybe he thinks he runs something in Lower. Wanted to know if I had any power in Lower. I think I gave him more information than I meant to. Next time, I'll stay away from masked men with knives asking questions.
Smiles asked about someone named Katheryn. Said she can "suck" magic or "art" from other casters. He said he was sharing a lot of information with me.
The drow's name is Eryne and she's protected by the Scholar. That makes things harder. That man Calious and the mercenary kobold both work for him, too. It's not a one=shot deal. Lower is getting more dangerous for me by the minute.
But It's not like I have to stay down here. And I haven't been attacked yet. Maybe we'll see what happens.
He said I should leave a letter at the Crone for Smiles if I turn up any information on Katheryn.
Eleint 23
I think Lower's in deep shit. Fire burnt down the Seekers' place. Probably around ten of them left, I figure. Now Lower's got no leadership against those goblins. See them get all pissed off too when Upper comes down here to defend their own.
Maybe this place is a shithole. Anyhow, it's home.
Teth told me Kendra did it for Eryne's vengeance against the Seekers. She's a wizard that raised the Deep Lizard corpse I saw. Teth said Pearce and the Hoarrans dealt with Eryne. Pearce let her live for some of her hair. The Hoarrans told her if she did no harm they'd leaver her alone. Now look at the shit! Hope the Hoarrans live up to their word and go after her. Otherwise they are totally useless.
Eleint 25
The drow is dead, and the Scholar is the one that brought her back. I think that Lower is much safer for me now, but she always had bigger problems than me.
Mr. Silver's lottery is swinging into action, so I guess I have to go around selling tickets. I'm not really crazy about the idea, but I'll give it a try and see how it goes.
Eleint 26
Sold my first ticket!
Eleint 28
Been selling tickets all morning. Bit tiring. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do this next week, but it might get easier as the lotter gets established.
I'm not the worst salesman, either. Best thing to do with all the junk that floats around here is just sell it off real cheap instead of lugging it around. Someone can usually use it, especially at a low price.
I've met some really stingy bastards while selling these tickets, too. Some people need to know the whole inside-out of the game before they'll part with even a single coin. It's a bloody game, that's all. Twenty-five coins ain't much to lose.
Silver doesn't pay me enough to be that fine of a salesman. I'll stick to the easy sales.
Eleint 29
Yesterday I went with Sange and Dak and a few others to raid an Orog fort for some Duergar at Mur. We must have killed nearly two-hundred of the brutes. All of them were armed to the teeth, and strong as hell. But we swept through 'em, mopped up the entire fort right down to the Warchief at the bottom.
It makes me wonder: Is there someone out there that could do that to Sanctuary?
Had a long talk with a Seeker Vashan. He hates Sanctuary and wants to get the hell out. I can't hate it though. It's been too good to me. I'm a free man, here and with prospects for a good and long life.
But then again, the surface is not just a dream. It's real, it exists, and so does a way there, even if it is guarded by drow. There's a way - by stealth, by blade, by coin. Who knows, maybe it will happen to me. I think Vashan was interested in recruiting me to the Seekers. There might be time for that later, but I wonder if they aren't in a too-dangerous game.
For now, it's business as usual. I'll keep getting better with my bow and piling up coins until something better comes my way.
Overheard a big orcblood called Gargortag talking about the Scholar. Apparently the Scholar has got himself some kind of fortress, complete with undead guards. Pretty impressive, but so is that bounty on his head.
Eleint 30
Worked with Pearce, Teth and Kate yesterday. All Crone employees. Pearce especially is fiercely loyal to Lower. We were helping Teth earn some gold after the Watch stole all her gear. But it seems like from what Pearce was saying that they had started the fight with the Watch and Spellguard earlier. Damn foolish, really. I doubt the Spellguard enjoys a casual brawl.
I wonder if I could've been caught in the crossfire between the two groups. I'd love to sit that fight out, but Pearce would have my head if I did.
I'm not sure I get it. The place is an undefended shithole in the middle of the 'Dark and Pearce is playing pranks on Upper like it's a game. This place is damn dysfunctional. But it hasn't fallen apart, yet.
I got an offer to join the Spellguard associates from some prig with an accent. Upper may think they're better, but they were damn rude. Pearce would've laughed. I wouldn't mind knowing what goes on in that tower, but I'm not about to be some expendable fool for a gang of idiot wizards.
Here I am again in the Crone. That Pearce has got a growing gang of folks. He's a force in Lower. Probably the closest thing it has to a leader. I stumbled upon another argument between him and some masked Uppersman. The Uppersman was headed to the stairs in something of a hurry. Not surprising, considering the lineup behind Pearce. Heh. Wonder what he plans to do with all his friends?
Can't say it hurts to be his pal, though. Plenty of work to be had, and Teth just scored me a discount on healing from the fat merchant.
I asked Teth why Lower and Upper are always at it. She said that Upper wants to control Lower, and Lower wants to be left alone. It's political bull, but I guess that's just how it is. I think that there are probably folks on both sides who don't really care, and maybe that's what holds it all together.
Eleint 31
Showed a guy who called himself "Templar" to the shop in the Sewer. He said he wanted garlic and recommended I get some. He was looking for a ward against vampires and suggested that whatever was vampiric, it was a threat to him and to me.
He said he didn't bring much coin to Lower and hid his face. Guess that makes him an Upper spy. I'm going to go buy some garlic, just in case.
Later, This is bad news. Teth told me Silver's Lottery is a scam. I'm not surprised at all, but I've been too visible. I can give refunds though, hopefully that'll patch things up. Maybe lay low for awhile. Damn, Fed. That should have been easy to see coming.
Anyway, he's in deep trouble, now. I'm going to have to kill him.
Maybe instead of a refund, I'll just conduct my own lottery. Give away a pot of what I sold and roll dice to find the lucky number. That way I don't have to be bothered with refunds and people still got to play the lottery.
Marpenoth 1
Silver's dead. Teth told me he killed himself, but I'd never know. We met him in Lower. Told him Guerini wanted a job and took him to the Minotaur. He didn't have a chance of escaping. He tried, but I had him. He drank a potion and disappeared, I drank a potion to see him. A shot to the leg from me and an axe to the head from Kongo put him out.
Teth took him downstairs with Guerini and I never saw him again. Me and Kongo definitely could have been tricked. Doesn't really matter.
I don't know why I just didn't leave him alone. I wouldn't want to work for someone using me for a front to a crime operation. Not that I have anything against it, but I'm not going to be someone's idiot puppet. Teth would've gotten to him anyway, though. The Crone's got the power in Lower, and I'm on the winning team, now.
But I've got to talk to Lorkan. Teth said he gave her the letters, and I want to confirm that.
I'm thinking about keeping the Lottery going, though. It definitely can be done, but it has to be reorganized. Silver's operation was a little too ambitious. I'll think about it if this is something I want to commit to.
Later, I spoke to Anna Merskyl, the winner. She is a priest of Tymora. I gave her a portion of the pot but she declined to take it all. Instead, we have entered into the Lottery business together.
One thing she said struck me. She said that Tymora has intervened. She said, "Well, it's no doubt Tymora who's brought us together. A chance encounter on the street, a scam gone wrong, and a lucky break for me." Maybe she was right.
Anyhow, the Lottery is certainly improved. The blessing of the church of Tymora and blessed dice to pick the winner puts the Lottery above question, along with the charity aspect. I suspect it will be easier to sell tickets with those as sales points.
Marpenoth 2
I'm trying to figure out the rules for the new Lottery. If I'm going to do it, it's gotta be worth doing. 200 gold coins a week is not a good deal of coin. But considering the risk I guess it's worth it.
I picked a fight with a goblin on the street in Lower. The little brute hit me pretty hard, but still got away. Lucky bastard he was. I guess only the toughest goblins risk the streets here. Next time I should probably have backup. I'd hate to die because of a damned goblin.
I'm thinking that the pot has to be 1000 or it's hardly worth it. The real problem is selling enough tickets. 20 coins is too much for commoners and beggars. So it's basically a lottery for adventurers. The mercenaries in Lower aren't interested in the game. And a lot of them don't gamble, or don't have assurances they will live very long. So there's a few things against it.
But I sold more tickets the first week than I had expected. With more salesmen, a good reputation and a lower price on the tickets, it could be done. What really has to happen is that people have to be persuaded to buy more than one. If everyone was buying two or three, it would be no problem.
Maybe if I call it "Tymora's Lucky Lottery" and make a bunch of flyers it will spur things on, and reassure folks it's legitimate. And maybe some priest-type folks will take a chance because of the donation.
Marpenoth 4
I'm scrapping the Lottery. I can't see it turning a profit without a hell of a lotta work. And now there's a bad turn of events, as I am writing this from jail.
I tried to run away from the Watch after they saw me hanging out with Pearce. That was pretty fucking stupid as it turns out. Anyhow, I didn't get beat up too badly, or robbed. Which is nice.
He told me if he found me associating with Pearce, Teth or "The Scholar," he'd execute me. Well isn't that just shitty. I'm just trying to survive down here, and the Watchies want to execute me.
The Scholar must have really, -really- pissed them off. Anyway, it seems like things are pretty well settled. I'm going to keep to Lower from now on. Fuck. Anyway, looks like I'm truly a Lowersman now. Seems like everyone down there has got a problem with the Watch. Vashan, Pearce, Teth.
I don't blame the Watchmen really. They just see a threat to a city that they've sworn to protect. Even if it is in the middle of the 'Dark.
Still, I didn't want to be in this position. This political shit is none of my business.
I'm out now and back at the Crone. I wonder if Pearce and Teth are working with the Scholar. The way they were talking before, it sounded like they might be. I mean the Watch may be bad, but you'd have to be insane to want some necromancer ruling the city. Power corrupts. Isn't that much obvious?
I don't know what's going on, anymore. I'm basically kicked out of Upper. He said if they knew I was with Pearce and Teth they would kill me. Great, well anyone can tell them that I stay down here.
So what the hell do I do? Learn to love the dark.
Later,
I had a long talk with Mr. Taylorsen. Seems I was very lucky to make it out of the jail alive. So no more Upper. Can't say I'm going to miss the place, really. Makes being a mercenary a little bit harder, but there are enough bloods in the Crone to do.
What a shitty state of affairs. I'm trapped in Lower with the goblins, kobolds, beggars. They love necromancers and caves. They don't trust their expendable friends. They crusade against a city that doesn't give a shit about them. And what the hell am I supposed to do? Get drunk, that's what.
Marpenoth 8
Slugcrawl goblins are gone. Heard Upper might want the ward. Lower would be all trapped in, and one thing would lead to another. Anyhow. Just hanging about, still.
The Underdark is crushing me.
Later, Pearce and Teth killed a Spellguard. Left the rest of her gang alive. One of them will talk.
Marked man, I am. Talk about falling in with the wrong crowd.
Marpenoth 9
I don't understand. Spell tyrant? Maybe. But I haven't seen any tyranny. Shit, word is Upper helped Lower take out the goblins. And it was Lower that was in danger, and not Upper. Why kill her? Is it war, now, between the two?
What's the point? Why would Upper want to rule Lower, anyway? Maybe I just haven't been around long enough to know.
I had planned on making enough money to retire and at least drink myself to death. Looks like now I won't have time. Oh well. Enjoy it while it lasts, right?
Swift, that watchman that arrested me came down to the Crone to talk with Guerini. He ran off when Pearce came around. But he said he has Vashan and Lysik. It's a shame to see them get the Seekers.
Later, Saw Teth talk to a councilor (maybe? not sure) in the Canal ward. His good nature was forced. He objected at first to the idea of Lower's claim to the ward, then seemed to change his mind.
Teth has big dreams for the place. But making it a functioning dock will take a lot of work and investment that Lower doesn't have. They'd have to repair the docks, clear the canal to the lake and establish trading contracts with other settlements. I wonder what will happen in the meantime? Maybe if there was a lot of coin in it.
Still later, Betrayal! Lorkan told me he never gave Teth any letters. She could have easily forged one and used it to convince me and Kongo to help her. I never should have helped her, let alone trust her. And look at the bloody mess I'm involved in now. Nowhere else to turn!
Pearce and Teth are two of a kind, and that's crafty fucks. I wonder if they even believe the shit they spout about freedom and Lower and the rest. It's probably just power that motivates them, like any other. Guerini too.
"I don't like being used." That's what I said to Silver right before Teth took him downstairs and I never saw him again. Seems pretty damned ironic, now.
I think Teth is the power in Lower. Pearce is like the loud distraction.
Marpenoth 10
I had a strange dream. I stood on the edge of the Dark Lake. Behind me, Pearce and others fought the Watch and Spellguard with a clash of metal and shouting. A spell went off behind me, and I was thrown into the lake. I fought to stay above the surface, but I was dragged down.
Soon, it was dark alone, with only the cold sensation of the water moving along my skin. I ceased fighting and was pulled along, water drifting over my skin and hair. It was not unplesant despite the cold. I ceased needing to breathe and became calm. The sensations were vivid, and I can almost still feel them. After awhile I saw the lights of the Pyrimo flash in the water, and the dream ended. I woke in a cold sweat, and could not sleep for some hours. [in a light script as though the hand that wrote it was unsure, the following:] Is this a message?
Marpenoth 11
Teth and them are trying to lay claim to the Canal Ward. They have big dreams about claiming it for Lower and becoming rich. Doesn't matter, really. Lower will claim it anyway. The only trick is getting rich off of it while they do. And anyone that does is just another big target. So there you go.
Anyway, I guess I'll see where it leads. I've decided to stop raging against my situation and just learn to watch it all circle the drain. Much less stressful, that way. But beer can get expensive.
Marpenoth 16
I'm writing this from the sewers. Shit just gets worse. Guerini brought me down here. Pearce and Teth are dead. Upper spies are crawling all over Lower. They killed Pearce in his fortress, the Crone.
We poked a bee's nest when we killed the Spellguard. Now they're showing us that we shouldn't have fucked with them. Pearce paid for playing his game. Teth may have been the queen of Lower for a little while, but it's over, now.
Looks like I played my cards poorly to get involved with these shitbums. First Lower, now the sewer? I hate the Underdark. I hate Sanctuary, and I hate myself for letting myself fall to the bottom so swiftly. It can only get worse. I suspect I'll be on a Watch blade, soon.
The word is that they'll invade Lower. They don't have to. They already cut the head off the snake. I guess I can either die or look forward to a life in the Sewer.
Later, Guerini lives. Said he doesn't want to die for Lower, either. He might sell me out. Good news is I seem to be small time. Good thing. Lay low. If Upper invades, I'm in the Sewer. Could work for the Scholar. Maybe the Seekers. Or neither.
I've taken on a new identity. Erek the Rat Trapper. It's got a nice ring to it. Shit, it might even be a smart career choice.
Guerini told me he knew Teth was tricking me and Kongo. Shit. He's another liar like the rest of them. Probably sell me out first chance he gets.
Marpenoth 18
I've extracted some manner of vengeance for the deaths of Pearce and Teth. I put an arrow in the heart of the Watchman Swift. Fetch and I stumbled upon them in the Lower Bazaar, where Swift was knocked out, apparently having hit a child. A mob was growing to lynch him, but they did not. But they took his body back to Upper, which means the shithead will probably be back in terrible action. It may be that I have brought punishment down on Lower by increasing the likelihood of invasion. That would be chaos, which I approve of. Anyway, if I had been beneath notice before, that would likely have changed.
Pearce was a rebel and Teth was a liar, but they were the closest I had to allies in this place. If my death is now forthcoming, it is certainly deserved.
Fetch helped me out, though.
Marpenoth 21
We set off a bomb in the In-Between.
Later, [this page is quite bloody] Well, journal. It's been a shitty life. I'm writing this from jail. Still, I guess it wasn't bad before I got to the Underdark. Strangely, I feel calm. Here come the Watch.
Still later, If anyone ever reads this: Heed these words. The Underdark is not meant for man. Sanctuary is no sanctuary, but a battleground. Escape if you can, die if you must. Live a simple life on the Surface, as a man was meant to.