*An upstairs room in the Rock Bottom Inn. A large but tired man with black and purple tattoes on his face and arms opens up the small rothehide book he purchased from the bookstore, and begins writing in an unsteady and unfamiliar hand*

Finally escaped. (inkblot) Almost felt bad to take Ja'zak out like that. But he was the only thing between me and (smudge) freedom, and I had no choice. He wasn't as bad as the rest, but he was still Pitmaster and many died under his tutelage.

(several drips of ink)

Don't know how many years have gone by. I still hope and pray that I will find you my sweet Keri. Deep down I know that you are likey with Chauntea by now, but the thought of rescuing you and bringing you back to our son keeps me going.

(watermarks smear the last few words)

I hope Dag has fared well. Asking a lot of a young boy to run the farm while we're gone. Gurney will show him what needs done, and Widow Simmons promised to look after them both. Only eight when I left, what is he now? Sixteen? Seventeen? A man now, almost as old as I was when we met.

He always had your sense and my remembrin' both. Likely a strong voice in the village already, like my dad was.

And he had your eyes. Every night before I sleep I pray to see your eyes again. That, and knowing that you might still be waiting for me to come find you is all that is driving me.

I told you once that I'd go to the ends of the Earth to find you if need be.

I reckon I'm there.

Well, it's nice to be free.

Haven't really made any friends. Don't really want to. Haven't been forced to kill anyone either, so that's a nice change.

Renting a room at the Rock Bottom Inn, but it's a bit pricey compared to the Pissing Crone. Both are like heaven compared to my cell in Traensyr.

Have fallen into a routine here. Easy jobs abound, and paying good coin. Why risk my ass when I had to fight every day just to survive? Get up, go ask Cooky to see if that fat bastard wants another pie. Deliver it, get some papers from that lazy little bitch clerk to the Spellguard. When I deliver it, the guy gives me a healing rod for telling him what he wants to hear.

Crippled puke near the stairs has spices for some goblin shitball in Lower. He asks me if I want treasure - hell no - it's probably a little girl's eyeball or something. How they live with goblin scum around here is beyond me. Find the Duergar guy too lazy to do his job, and get a big package for the Mine Foreman.

Get something from Norma for the Shrine of Helm outside the gates. Nearby, another duergar fool has his own package for the Blue Mushroom. Good thing I'm strong enough to carry all this shit.

The paladin at the shrine gives me some pay, then a nice amulet when I tell him what he wants to hear. Can't believe the fools around here that give shit away when you kiss their ass a little bit.

Give the first package to the Duergar mine foreman. Can see why the lazy gray dwarves in town don't live there - they work their asses off in those mines.

Then go through a bunch of tunnels in the new mine, the old mines, some creepy gigantic lake, then an Inn run by little deep gnome fellers. This group pays the best, probably because most can't carry this big package.

Bought a scythe there, felt good to grip one in my hands again. Reminded me of my life before....

Started going through my positions - bless that devilspawn Duergar trainer that busted my ass so hard - and I think I've got my reflexes and positions back for the most part. Lot of good fighters down here though, I'm going to need some actual combat to hone my skills further.

Not used to fighting most of the things I hear stories about, but only one way to learn.

This is getting boring. Maybe I should apply for a guard position. From what I hear it's impossible to get away. She has likely remarried by now, and my son calls another father.

Time to go kill something. Always make me feel better for some reason.