The writing is small and neat:

My name is Trinden Fair.

My life has been filled with hardships and loss, tragic. But I have found a way to survive in the Dark. When there was none, I have found hope. A way to survive. I teeter on the edge of death. My heart beats every step of the way. Each time I look behind me, I see monstrosities such as Umber Hulks, Trolls, and Duergar.

I have never been happier.

This journal was started soon after I had escaped from the Drow, but I will tell the story of my life.

I was but a simple farm boy, in the great land of Damara. I served as caterer to the animals and livestock. It was wonderful. Every day I look back at that time, most likely the most peaceful times of my life.

On a lighter note, it was then I could be truly free. My routine was to get up early, and find ways to help around the farm.

It just so happens that on that one, fateful day, that I discovered I had power. When I conjured light to aid me and Straif, my brother, when we were in a cave. That cave, it seems was the turning point of my life. We came upon a great beast of considerable power. It had a dog-like snout, and teeth so sharp, it could have split us right in half. I believe it would have, if it had the oppurtunity. I believe that it was a gnoll. Straif.

There are a few teardrops on the paper of the journal

If only Straif had survived that encounter. I look around my room in the Last Stand this night and I wonder: Will I ever see the surface again? The day after I discovered that I had powers, I quickly turned around, and went back to the farm. Father said that he and his band of kin were going out to hunt ogres that night, and he might return back. Mother was frantic. She could not believe that I had powers like her.

I hoped the other halflings will not criticize me for my unordinance. Mother was so kind to teach me how to use the powers I had gotten. She taught me how to light a sign magically, just by uttering a few words. She also taught me how to shoot beams of cold at a fire, to burn it out. Not only that, but she taught me a spell that kills bugs, with a small electrical jolt. I couldn't wait to try it out the next day when Straif and I went to work in the barn. That's when I remembered Straif was dead. I cried.

More teardrops are splattered on the paper

That day. That one day.

If thata day had never come, then I would still be with Mother and Father. If only. That day that dreaded DROW CAME TO OUR FARM. His name was Krit-something of House Dren-something. That cursed dark elf. I hate him. So very much that it hurts. Why did he have to ruin my life? Why? How come he couldn't just let us live, like we always had? What did he have against us? He ate our food, he laughed with us. We invited him in, after explaining to us that he was a good dark elf. We should have NEVER LET HIM IN. He just brought us death, and pain. He somehow tricked us into letting him take us into the Underdark for an adventure. His DAMN DROW TRICKS! He ruined my life, he did! Well, somewhat anyways. For in the dark, I have made friends, and I have found others who will accept me as a friend, and like me for who I am.

Ambush. That damn dark elf led us into an ambush. He captured me, and murdered my parents, and the families of all of Father's band. They took me away. Into the dark. They somehow new I had powers. Mother was with me then. She was with me always. Father would have been, but they KILLED HIM! They killed him! How could they kill the halfling that helped to give me life? Straif life? HOW? I ask myself these questions at night, and I wonder. Is Mother all right? I hope Father and his friends are happy. Somewhere.

One of my new friends, Rook gave me this stamp. I think its really neat. I suppose that I am done speaking about my life as a slave. I know that I should just get on with my life. In the dark, I have made comrades.

I have come to join the ranks of Lord Archibald. I find that it has been quite fun! By going around with Rook, as he is an ambassador for Lord Archibald. I find that to be an honor, now. My life has gone on and on, with nothing but tragedy. I have found more happiness and liveliness in the Underdark, then I could in the sun. I would still love to go back there, and the regrets of my family's death still haunts me every night. The sun has not shown itself to me for five about five tendays it seems. I wonder if I shall see the sun? If I have the chance to, will I? If I am given that oppurtunity from one of the many seekers, will I go with them? I know not these questions I ask myslef.

Three tendays ago, I had a ferocious battle with a clan of Duergar. Senestia Avarscanti, one of Rook's friends, recruited me to help with defeating an ENTIRE Duergar tribe. I can still replay the battles in my head. I almost died many times in that. It was one of the most exhilarating battles of my life. Me and my crossbow did as much as we could. After defeating the tribe, we went through a portal that led us to an entire FORT of Duergar. Luckily, those dwarves did not seem as hostile as the clan. Each night I fumble with this stamp.

There are many stamps on the page, as if Trinden was playing with it

Each night I lay awake. I feel bored. There must be a grand adventure some time. My last one with Duergars was exhilarating. I wonder if I will ever feel anything like that rush of adrenaline anytime soon.

I will. I know it.

Something terrible has happened. Montezzi, the current rulers of Lower Sanctuary had captured a Seeker. They are the ones that patrol outside Sanctuary, and help defend it. Apparently they had done something against Montezzi, which made a goblin, presumably named Gurt, an elf, and a big fellow come and attack an adventuring group I was with. Without any warning, they came out of nowhere. As soon as they were spotted, the dwarf, Bolgar, ran away. I can't say that it will help him. The big fellow came and stuck me down with a mighty blow at first, which greatly weakened me, then another which struck me down completely.

I could not do anything about it. It was terrifying. Then, they struck down the Seeker. They took his body, and made their way back to the Montezzi fortress. One elf, Sil, I believe came and helped me up, then ran away, as soon as the three fiends came back. I had regained my senses by then, and so I cast a spell of invisibility on me. That's when the big fellow came and told me to stay down. He had apparently dranken a potion which enabled him to see through my invisibility. But by that time, I had already gone across the bridge. We searched for a long time. I now must rest this night, because I am rightly tired.

I cannot say what will become of my future. I have been promoted to Magician, in service to Lord Archibald. I have pledged my loyalty to him, and will never do anything that displeases him, unless I can tell myself that he is not doing this for his own good. I have been given assignments by Rook, to find out about the Animatron program, and about what happened at the Donrick Estate. I believe that I will try to find out about both of these matters, but it may take a lot of time, as I have to start with the Spellguard, who do not really have much sympathy to just give away their information.

The title of Magician makes me feel great amounts of modesty. I still wonder about Straif. I know that he's dead, and he will most likely never be found, but I can't help, but wonder. He was my brother. My best friend. I just can't help it. I have met quite a few friends, in my time in the Underdark.

Rook, ambassador to Lord Alexander has been kind to me for a long time. My fellow Squire Parto Colds, has also been quite nice to me. I trust both of them. Rentin, a magician, aspiring to be a Greycloak, another defender of Sanctuary. Roger, I cheated him in a race, and he ran after me for a LONG time. Senestia, she seems like a nice person. I was told she had been killed, though. Figgy, a dwarf, has been a good friend to me, also.

There is one lady, Wilks, she is called. She is quite strange. Wilks is pretty anti-social, and has also a bit of a problem being nice. She is a pretty good fighter, though.

On a lighter note, there are more people, who have been nice. I do not think that the Montezzis are very good, but I do have to admit, that the Montezzis do have a few nice guards, I guess. Now, that every little problem in Lower has been taken care of, I feel that the Montezzis grow weary. I feel like a war hangs over are heads. It may be with Montezzi, or it may be an alliance between our two realms to fight off something larger. A lone drow came through the gates one day, and it slaughtered many things. Animatrons were disassembled, Watch Guards were killed, and even a fellow halfling I saw on the ground, still breathing, but hardly. I believe that his name was Calibrand.

Giants are attacking the city, and the threat of Duergar and Drow rests in the realm of Montezzi, still. Foolish prince. Can he not see that the Drow can never be trusted? I swear, that one day, we will find the Drow at our doors one day, floating in, and killing us all. All of the Carnage on that day was from ONE drow. I wonder about how much damage will be taken when an entire hoarde comes to kill us.

What more can I say?

I have found even more friends in the Underdark, as it will always be. I have reached my way to become Magician Fair of House Archibald. Of course I aspire to more, but for now, I am perfectly content. Battling Trolls, Gnolls, or Goblins, I will always do it with people whom I trust. Most often, I adventure with Figgy, or Droim. They always seem readily available when the time comes. I suppose I shall not write much in my journal, as there is not too much that happens around, anymore.

The Winners of the Ches Elections were:

1. Rook 2. Senestia, although deceased, Raymus is a New Councillor 3. Paige 4. Dentra 5. Kainth

There are a few things of interest that have happened in the last few days. Butch von Matterheim, was killed, by a dragon. He was a good gnome. Its a shame that hes dead now. Orogs have also attacked the city. It is quite unusual. Rook has given the duty of finding out about the legendary phoenix, to Parto, Droim, and I.

It was last dark that drow also came to raid the Spellguard Tower. I was in Mur, at the time it happened, so I do not have many details. I do know that they were led by an eleven-fingered lich. Personally, I think that the finger may have a lot of power stored in it. I am glad that I have not joined the Spellguard, and did join the ranks of House Archibald. I have seen many strange things.

I have also heard that the Councillors will be heading out to parlay with the Orog tribe that attacked Sanctuary. Hopefully, it will not come to blows, but I must get stronger, if I wish to go with Rook. Maybe even Parto will get to go. He has become a pretty close friend to me. I think that it will be great fun. I hope nobody dies.

Lately, the Underdark has become a boring place. Before I had experienced the rush of learning a new spell, or shooting things with my crossbow, or even running away from a monster, I was content. It is not so now. I crave adventure. It has become some sort of addiction to me. I still love to sit in the Last Stand, eating soup and meat, but peace will not do me well forever.

Nothing lately, has been going on. I go on excursions out of this boring city now and again. It has become hard to find a group suitable for the tasks I like to do. What really piques my interest are when the monsters have forts. It feels great to sneak up on them from behind with one of my lightning spells, taking out an entire force.

I suppose I have found peace in this Darkness. I have been able to direct the flow of my powers with control, and taken out more then my share of goblins, and orcs. It is now that I wonder, will I die down here fighting goblins and orcs? Or will I find myself at the surface, combatting the monsters up there? Only time will tell me.

*This book can be found in the trash pile next to the Pissing Crone inn. It's cover is bloodied and its pages yellowed with age.*