[This small book is stuffed into a wooden box filled with old documents that Entar keeps on his person at all times. The book effectively fills the box.]

https://efupw.com/efu1-forum/topic/64/6430/entar-s-box/index.html

Entry 0 - Prologue

Deeds.

Deeds are all that the Vigilant One sees, intentions mean less to him. That is merely his way, and that is the way I have lived all my life. Obeying my Oath that I swore against the wishes of those fat merchants that were my family, and the dogma of Helm. I must admit a part of me was after the glory, the admiration and authority I eventually had. But I had never felt such peace in my life. It was truly my path.

Over the time I lived for three things. Helm, the Order, and of course, my family. Yes, my relatives finally accepted that this was the path I had chosen, and respected it. I was a noble among nobles. But by family I now mean my wife and daughter. We had an estate in the Government District, something that few in Athkatla or the whole Amn could afford. I was a commander in the ranks of the Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart, but I also inherited my father when he eventually died of his illness. After this, I was not very much in contact with the rest of my relatives.

Being a defender of justice has its downsides. Sometimes I had to question myself if the decision I was making was truly the right one. I put my faith in Helm and did what I had to. I do not know if my mistake was putting my faith in myself instead of Helm, or if I was simply uncapable, unworthy of the grace. Regardless, I fell.

At the height of my career, I busted an old, veteran knight accepting bribes from the Shadow Thieves. I will not go into details about the case but regardless, I was eventually called forth to testify against this. I received sereval notes warning me not to go, or those dear the me would suffer. Again I put my faith in Helm, and ignored these notes, and justice was served.

I found myself fortified to my own home, fighting off hired thugs day and night. I was stained with blood; some of it my own, but none of it was of my wife's or daughter's. But I cannot recall what happened on the third night.. No matter how hard I try. But in the morning, they were both dead. Slain with my own sword. I failed. But I would never have harmed them.

For reasons only known to the Watcher himself, my prayers remain unanswered to this day. I was sentenced to death by hanging, and they made sure the whole town would know of it. But I would not allow my family to go unavenged. I was furious, I could not believe the injustice that was being done to me. I escaped, though avoiding to kill a single knight. The blood of an innocent would have deemed me guilty as charged.

I roamed the northern Amn for sereval months, mostly the Cloudpeak areas. A large bounty was offered of me – I have one bounty notice, among other documents from that time, offering 5000 gold for capturing me alive. So most of the time I spent avoiding – and when inevitable, fighting – bounty hunters from all across the Sword Coast. Eventually, the Order got serious, and adventuring groups came after me – it was then that I realized there was no haven for me on the surface.

So I escaped into the Underdark, buying my passage deeper with either gold I gathered from the bounty hunters, or my sword. Eventually, I was enslaved by the grey dwarves – an insult to my honour. But I refused to die without avenging my family. Perhaps a year or two after my capture, I finally escaped. I lost my count of time in the lightless caverns, and I was getting desperate. I had heard but stories of the horrors of the Underdark. I remember the joy when I found Sanctuary – a beacon of light amidst the starless night.

- Entar Deril

Entry 1

It has been two or three months since I found Sanctuary. This place never fails to amaze me. There is always something happening, someone is always plotting something for our demise. It seems my slavery was little compared to what others have suffered, though few have learnt compassion during theirs. But there are some honourable and good men here. One of my first acquintances was this dwarven fellow, Seth. He had the features I respect in a man. Strength, valor and selflessness. I have not heard of him for two months, and I fear the worst, though such is the life in the Underdark.

I tried to join up with fellow paladins - but I came to the conclusion I could not live among them. It was then that I heard of House Toboerski. The Toboerskis hail from Cormyr, and have founded an order of knights here. I witnessed Sir Dungal Toboerski in combat, and he showed prowess. He is a man of honour and I will be glad to serve under their banner, once I am deemed worthy. They are the only ones in Sanctuary that don't seek to hide and submit to the demands of the drow and other threats.

Another man of valor, is this Rashemi berserker I met recently. His life has been harsh, and though he is a bit rough, he is a good man. He is a good friend, respecting me the way I am, not judging me for my past. He is a man of honour, someone I must consider presenting to Dungal. The life of a knight could prove odd for Orias, no doubt, but he and the Toboerskis have some similar beliefs I think.

I spoke with a hysteric halfling lass just today. She had an interesting, though grim tale to tell. Apparently, she was once an Ilmateri paladin, but has sold her soul in her efforts to save someone - in vain. I was very weary, but I tried to gain insight into her situation - and to encourage her to remember her oath and that faith could be her redemption. Before she departed, she said she doesn't know why I fell, but surely I fell wrongly.

It made me think of things.

I told my story to a scholar once - a week or two after my arrival - in privacy, in the Grotto. Until then, I was unsure what to do. However, as I confessed my sins and told my story, she had lots of advices to give. I believe my path is clear. I must follow my oath to the best of my abilities, and most of all... avenge my family. I must get out of here.

- Entar Deril

Entry 2 We have two cities now.

The Lower Sanctuary has declared independence. The staircase was destroyed and the gate locked in an attempt to forever separate the Upper from Lower. And I was lucky to survive that night.

As I entered the Toboerski Estate, I found Sir Dungal and a fellow aspirant, Melrick, discussing something. After trading some equipment, Sir Dungal asked us to come to the Arena. There, he knighted Casimir Grand. It was in the middle of his speech that we heard a sending, and suddenly our audience was gone. The Tigereyes were calling for help against a fire in the Canal Ward.

Sir Dungal must have had some insights into the situation at hand, and he took us to the House of Light - which we found empty. We guarded it for some time, until it was decided that the House was safe for now. Outside, the Tigereyes were gathering adventurers to the Fortress. Apparently, they were conscripting.

The Captain explained that a gang of criminals known as the Red Smiles had started the fire, and he wished revenge with 'overwhelming odds'. So most of us joined him. After fighting a few of these 'Red Smiles' Dungal was certain that we were fighting for a just cause and us aspirants were allowed to engage. I found it strange to have a criminal gang fighting with pitchforks, though.

We proceeded within the Red Smile clubhouse, until at one point, there was a sudden lack of Tigereyes. When we continued down the stairs, we met resistance and I remember some of my companions retreating upstairs. I remember a terrified shout... "Tigereyes are attacking us!"

I woke up later, lying on the stair where I apparently fell. Around me there were bodies of both my comrades and Red Smiles alike. Dungal was there, asking my condition and handing me my equipment and Melrick's body. I decided I would take him to the Helmites.

As I headed out, I had to wonder the lack of Tigereyes again. As the staircase came to my view, to my horror I noticed it was destroyed. More people headed out of the scene, carrying a plethora of bodies. Apparently, Dungal and this druid knew another way out. Before we took our leave, the young woman near the stairs... Mary was here name, I believe. Yes, she tried to explain things. She would not leave, she said, as Lower was her home. The people of Lower had revolted, and the Tigereyes were no more.

I remember little of the journey, so exhausted I was. I left the body to someone else's care and headed for the Rock for a well-deserved sleep.

- Entar Deril

[Sereval roots of torn pages are between this and the last entry.]

Entry 3 Funny, how low a man can go. The only things that remind me of my life back on the surface are the letters and announcements I've kept and what I've written in this book during my earlier days in Sanctuary. Back when I had a strong faith that Helm would grace me again. I was sure that I would prove him my worth and return to the surface to avenge the wrongs done against me. Instead, we grew distant. After the Toboerskis fell, my path led to the Rock Bottom. They didn't like drunks in the Upper. In my drunken stupor I managed to anger this halfling paladin of what-was-it-god and she tried to... help me. She sounded reasonable at first, but I changed my mind about it and escaped into the Lower. Pissing Crone sells worse ale, but certainly no-one complains about drinking it.

I guess I could've stayed there and lived happily ever after, but something happened. I realized I don't need Helm to be a knight. A servant of justice or whatever. And after that, I've felt closer to Helm than ever before. I dare not pray, but his name deserves to be shouted when the world is being rid of evil.

A lot has changed since those 'early days'. On the first glance, the Rock Bottom is no more and the Lower has calmed down. I see very few familiar faces around. All my.. acquaintancies are dead, it seems. I recall no friend that was alive when I went... down. Perhaps I could make some. The surface is still calling, and hopefully I'm not the only one who hears it. - Entar Deril