1

General Discussion / Small Pleasures in NWN

« on: April 17, 2024, 07:10:03 am »

Here are a few of mine.  Feel free to add yours!

When my opponent drinks a healing potion and my attack of opportunity is a critical hit

When I pass the spot the arch-rival of my previous PC died at

When an undead monster drinks a healing potion

The death animation of giant frogs

When an enemy mage casts magic missile and I've got shield or blur up

2

Journals & Backgrounds / Manon's Journal

« on: April 01, 2024, 07:53:00 am »

Mother gave me this book years ago.  She said it would be good to record my thoughts and experiences here at the Laurent Estate so I could look back upon them when I eventually returned home.  This is the first time I’ve opened it.  My parents sent me here to straighten me up.  According to them, I was lazy, reckless, overweight, easily distracted, liked to wander, enjoyed luxury too much and associated with the wrong people.  They'd never tolerate even one of those things in my siblings but time and again I was able to dodge any consequences.  At first I thought I was pretty clever, but once I hit my teens I realised I could do just about anything and my parents wouldn't do much about it. 

I was a nuisance to my family, and I didn't think much of them either.  My parents are Lord Leon and Lady Apolline Sadardiel, first generation nobles.  They insisted we all introduce ourselves as 'lord' or 'lady', even little Valentin.  This makes me Lady Manon Sadardiel, fourth in line to the Sadardiel estate.  It's pretentious rubbish, but I happily exploit being a noble at every opportunity.  My father's nickname is "the Lion", at least he calls himself that.  Just to drive the point home he's covered the estate in lion statues and paintings.  Mother's a tireless worker and bookkeeper and that's about all there is to say about her.  She has no life at all outside of the estate and family.  I have her hair but little else.  My oldest brother Nael might just be the worst of the lot... intelligent, handsome, powerful, charming... ugh.  How is that fair?  Then there's the twins Anais and Yanis who think nothing matters but competing with each other.  Gods, we're doomed if either of those idiots inherit the estate.  Valentin's all right I suppose, but he's going to grow up just like the others.   

Anyway I finally crossed my parents' invisible line of tolerance when I was 15.  They found out (thanks to Anais and Yanis shadowing me and snitching)  I'd been hanging out with cultists camping by Lake Vyctoria.  They called themselves the Order of the Ascended Lady and worshipped some dead woman the lake is named after.  To me they were silly and harmless but my parents decided I'd gone too far and needed a firm hand to guide me.  They sent me east to the estate of Lord Druon Laurent, an Imperial army comrade of my father.    I was told Laurent was a fierce and strict father with equally spartan sons.  He was a mighty ranger and would teach me the hard life of fieldcraft and survival.  My parents told me if I didn't knuckle down I was in for a nightmare.  Instead, these have been the best years of my life. 

Druon (he insisted I not address him as 'Lord') reframed everything I'd believed and been told about myself.  I was bored, not lazy.  Bold, not reckless.  Robust, not fat.  Perceptive, not easily distracted.  He took me under his wing and trained me personally.  Accepting that I'm heavy and a little clumsy, he trained me in trapping and surveillance rather than sneaking and concealment.  He introduced me to his faith, that of Kozah, and said unlike his sons I had the right frame of mind to follow it.  His boys were tough warriors though, and I learned I could rely on them in a scrap.  Druon trusted me completely, and allowed me to read all the correspondence my family sent him.  I was rarely mentioned in it and my father spent most of the letters complaining about ogres.  Taking note of this, Druon trained me in how to deal with large opponents.  I came of age here at the Laurent estate, and spent the night with Druon's sons getting drunk and roaming the town.  Truly, I finally felt I belonged somewhere.

I should have known my parents couldn't allow that.  Today Druon received a letter from my mother.  For the first time he refused to allow me to read what they sent.  Instead he insisted I immediately pack my things and prepare to travel back "home" to the Sardardiel estate.  I was furious, this is my home now!  But whatever he read had unnerved him.  He mouthed the name "Nael" as he read.  I suspect my magnificent, good at everything and loved by all oldest brother has convinced my parents to take me back.  I'll give him a piece of my mind about this.  Maybe some bruises too!

My things are packed and I've boarded the carriage.  Druon gave me a fine cloak to take with me.  While I wait for the driver I've written all this down.  I'm going to take mother's advice and look back on it some day and get all pissed off at my family all over again.  Kozah take them, I was happy.  And now I'm back to their haven of judgemental and pretentious fools.  What the hell could have been so important for them to forget how much they hate me and drag me back home to them?

3

Public Notices / Posters appear on buildings in West Conch (the slums)

« on: November 19, 2021, 01:07:10 am »

Angels are watching over you.  We see your pains, ills, dangers, addictions and vices.  We do not judge, we do not charge.  We merely heal, cure, rescue and counsel. 

THE ANGELS OF SMALL MERCIES

Needy?  Curious?  Leave a message at the Small Mercies store near the ruined wizard tower. 

4

Groups & Concepts / Random Acts of Senseless Kindness

« on: October 14, 2021, 01:55:42 am »

I'm looking for player characters of Good alignments to join my slums-based player faction.  It's a group who perform small acts of kindness, justice or mercy in the slums, usually covertly.  It is a very low-key group that would allow PCs to pursue their own projects or be members of other factions too. 

Currently we have a modest home base with a spawn point and rest area.  Members could have any sort of background or class and do not necessarily need to reside in the slums.  What unites the group would be a shared mission to subtly make West Conch a less awful place to live in.  Send me a message on Discord if interested! 

5

Journals & Backgrounds / Giona Morton's Little Black Book

« on: August 22, 2021, 03:57:46 am »

This book is a small but high quality leatherbound journal.  Oddly, the notebook is circular rather than the typical rectangular shape. 

1.
Lauriella Sithir. 
Mulhorandi.  Captain of the merchant marine ship Moonflower II.  Apprentice at an academy (Nebular?).  Also follows Sehanine.  Likely an elf or half-elf.  Bad tempered & quickly makes threats of violence and insurrection.  Likely trade union links.  Imperfect spelling and punctuation. 

6

Public Notices / Issues of the Conch Champion (For public reading)

« on: July 26, 2021, 12:02:58 am »

The Conch Champion.  Independent & Accurate, Always

The Adventurer: Hero or Menace?
Greetings people of Conch and thank you kindly for reading my first editorial.  Firstly I should introduce myself.  I am Giona Morton, the new editor of the esteemed Conch Champion.  I have recently moved here from the far town of Hadrian and welcome the opportunity to bring you more of the fearless investigative journalism, hard-hitting editorials and above all a focus on the truth for which the Conch Champion is renowned.

I departed the town of Hadrian after the resolution of a very specific problem with that otherwise fair city.  For too long Hadrian had relied heavily upon the services of people of a certain profession.  This profession, if one could truly call it that, is infested with some of the worst examples of humanity and other races imaginable.  Opportunists, mercenaries, tax evaders and anarchists make up the most of their ranks.  At best they are deluded bleeding heart do-gooders who actually cause more harm than good.  At worst they are thieves and murderers.  The actions of Hadrian's irresponsible and incompetent adventuring community eventually caused the death of my son and others of the town's children.  Therefore we as parents joined together to finally drive out that blight upon Hadrian that called itself "The Adventurer's Society".  With that done I resolved to move somewhere new and put my grief behind me.  But to my dismay I find the seeds of the same problem here in Conch!

Like any city Conch often struggles with problems of oversized vermin, thieves, feral humanoids and other threats.  But we already have three fine institutions here to resolve such matters.  I draw attention of course to the fine folk of West Netheril Trading Company, The Nebular University, and Diiri's Boys.  They are the rightful upholders of law and order in their respective districts, and in my opinion it is both reckless and illegal to circumvent them and use the services of that dangerously unqualified specimen, the adventurer.

The adventurer shirks their rightfully owed taxes.  The adventurer antagonises dangerous races and beings.  The adventurer inspires untrained youths to risk their lives in imitation of them.  The adventurer always complains about how much they are paid for a job.  The adventurer disrespects the rule of law.  The adventurer and his cronies gang up on some poor overgrown lizard, bloodily murder it then call themselves heroes!  The adventurer indignantly squawks about the price he pays for goods and for which he sells his stolen trinkets.  The adventurer is a lawbreaker, a vigilante, a thief, a poor example and a bully.  But above all, the adventurer is a MENACE.

G.Morton, Editor.

Grymtol and Diiri's Boys Revive West Conch
In good news for West Conch Diiri's Boys and their leader Grymtol have brought a new regime of prosperity and order in the district.  I recently visited West Conch to take a look for myself at the changes Diiri's Boys have brought.

Though they are a rustic bunch in comparison to their decadent predecessors it cannot be denied that the Boys have brought a crude order back to the streets.  West Conch will only rise to the wealth of the rest of the city if it has some semblance of predictability for commerce and whatever their quirks Diiri's Boys have brought that.

This reporter's only concern is Diiri's Boys' questionable decision to take on an embedded journalist from another publication.  But we assure Mr Grymtol that the Conch Champion would never begrudge a district authority's choices in such matters.  Nor would we ever allow such a petty thing to affect our commitment to honest reporting and commentary.

-S. Hellsworth, Reporter.


A Plague of Crows Descends on Conch
Farmers, merchants and householders alike have been shocked and suffered financial loss at the beaks and talons of flocks of crows.  The Conch Champion has received many disturbing reports in the past weeks of crows destroying crops, defecating upon crowds and even attacking citizens.  Clearly this situation is both frightening and dangerous and citizens are hoping that the district authorities can find a cause and solution to this plague of crows.  This newspaper has found no evidence to support conspiracy theories that these crows are in fact "spybirds" for a greater power.

-A. Nutt, Reporter.

Nebular Accuses WNTC of Price Gouging
Students from the Nebular University have complained to this publication that WNTC merchants are vastly overcharging them for academic supplies.  This reporter performed a simple undercover operation by dressing in a borrowed Nebular student's robe and found that this simple identifier of Nebular membership raised prices charged to me by 150%.  One can only speculate at the reasons for this.  A spokesperson from WNTC has vehemently denied any official policy to charge Nebular students at a higher rate than other customers. 

-P. Krellin, Reporter.

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Journals & Backgrounds / Eliezra Baldwin's File

« on: May 21, 2021, 03:59:16 am »

Spoiler

Ostian was an Imperial Archivist before he came to us, and this story is entirely his idea.  He asked me and a few of the others to write down where we came from and how we got here and ultimately what we do.  Supposedly it will help bring us some "closure" (whatever that means) as well as allow him to compile a written record of our members and movement (which I doubt anybody will ever read).  I don't think my experiences were any better or worse or even any more interesting than anyone else's here, whatever Mylene will tell you.  But Ostian was good to me when I first arrived, so I will humour him. 

I was born in Lyrkos, the third of five children.  My parents owned a textile business there and their only dreams for me were to work in it until I married a man in the same line of work.  It wasn't an unhappy upbringing by any means but I decided a future in rugs and curtains wasn't for me.  In a fit of pique I stole some money from the family safe and ran away from home in my late teens.  My glorious dreams of adventures and wealth came to nothing and a few years later I found myself scraping by working as a barmaid in a Fenwick tavern.  I was barely making enough coin to get by and it seemed I would have to return to my family.  But just as I was mulling over what apologies I could possibly come up with for that reunion, a wonderful opportunity appeared.

An elegant tiefling lady by the name of Tylna came to the tavern one night and was quite taken by me.  Accompanying her was a little retinue of attractive young men and women.  Tylna said I was pretty, charming and resourceful and just needed the right opportunity.  She was starting a "classy escort business" in Conch with her friends and offered to take me there to work for her as a courtesan.  Oh, the trip wasn't free, but she assured me I could quickly repay it through my work for her.  She and her friends plied me with drinks and glamorous stories, and I decided I could do this for a while and then return triumphantly to Lyrkos a wealthy young woman.

It seems so foolish now.  I am sure thousands of young men and women through the years have fallen for this trick.  The only completely true part of Tylna's proposition was that we were going to Conch.  But instead of flitting around a mansion entertaining wealthy ladies and gentlemen, I was to work in a shabby brothel in the slums.  We were not free to leave unescorted and our pay was pitiful.  If we ever did start to save some money, Tylna just added interest to our "loan".  Most of the clients were as horrid as you can imagine.  Surprisingly there was a kind man, a battle-scarred brute from the Knots gang named Trewin.  He had been an adventurer, and for months when he visited he taught a few of us some of what he knew.  Skills like how to handle a weapon, how to force a lock, and how to spot booby traps.  I imagine he had some grand plan for us, but unfortunately he was tortured to death after being captured by Diiri's Boys and our training ended.

Tyche, the patron goddess of Conch, intervened in my predicament rather cruelly.  A particularly grotesque client in greenish khaki robes came in to the Lamb one night.  We drew straws for who would take him.  One of the newer girls got the short straw and sobbed in distress.  Fatefully I offered to take her place to spare her this client.  A few hours after "entertaining" this vile man, I came down with a fever.  By the next day I was seriously ill.  I don't need to describe the symptoms.  Anyone reading this knows what I look like.  Tylna had me wrapped in sheets and taken to the temple to see Kardeen.  He was horrified by my condition, but Tylna was even more horrified by the price he put on a cure.  Deciding I wasn't "economically viable" anymore, Tylna fired me and hired one of Diiri's thugs to take me away.  I wouldn't be surprised if he was supposed to mercy kill me, but in his haste to avoid being infected he just dumped me and ran from the alley. 

In a dark corner of the slums I drifted in and out of consciousness for what I think were days.  A few people walked past but other than gasping in horror none of them offered any response to my whispered pleas.  I knew I was dying, and made peace with that.  I felt that if nothing else I had spared another person this horrid death, and that was a burden I could accept.  The only thing I couldn't let go of was the realisation that the man who had made me sick would continue spreading his ghastly pestilence.  This sordid part of Conch was utterly without mercy.  So lacking in that humble virtue in fact that not even Tylna's hired goon had been willing to give me release. 

That was what I was thinking about when I heard footsteps.  My clouded vision looked to the sound and saw a pitiful sight.  There was a man dressed only in a loincloth and his exposed skin was covered in a multitude of welts from what must have been a hellish whipping.  His fingers were bent back and broken and he limped upon burned and blistered feet.  His face, though plastered with blood, reminded me of Trewin. 

"Follow me, child" he said softly.  "You, who would spare another a horrific fate and take on that heavy burden yourself, shall not die here."
The crippled man beckoned to me with a crooked finger, and somehow I managed to dredge up just enough strength to crawl to his familiar face as he led me.  He stopped occasionally and smiled at me warmly with his gashed lips while I caught my breath, and beckoned again.  I kept crawling, not even knowing why I bothered when I was surely beyond any recovery.

Finally feeling that I could not even crawl anymore, I looked up to plead for the man to have mercy on me.  Instead I let out a moan of anguish when I realised he was gone.  But I was not alone.  I heard the familiar sounds of footsteps followed by gasps of horror, but this time they were accompanied by many strong arms lifting me from the ground.  I was carried to a ruined but warm building.  Though my eyesight was hazy then, I remember seeing the faces of little Ostian and old Mylene amongst my saviours.  They had no money, and Sister Mylene at that point possessed only limited healing magic.  But they knew more basic cures and they treated me with those and did so with remarkable persistence and care.  Though they never spoke of any doubt as I convalesced I could tell they were shocked when some weeks later, I rose to my feet once again and looked at them with clear eyes.   

My strength recovered though of course some other things never have or will.  It only took a single look in a mirror to resign myself to wearing a veil for the rest of my life.  Within a few more days I was well enough to leave, but I refused to.  I explained that my old family would never take me back as I am now.  They would never forgive me for stealing from them and then doing what they would see as shameful work nor could they still love or even stand the sight of what I had become now.  Furthermore I felt I had to do something, however pitifully small, about the appalling things going on in this district.  And physically, I figured I would be more accepted in a district of shunned monsters than anywhere else in Conch. 

Mylene smiled when I told them all this, then she told me the truth of their little group here and what their purpose is in West Conch.  I would be their newest family member she said, and they would take me as I am and welcome my presence.  Mylene said they were fearful of many things here in the slums and for a long time they had waited and prayed for someone like me to come to them.  I didn't know quite what she meant by that.  I still don't.  I can feel the call of my saviour, but I am struggling to find the path he is calling me to. 

8

Journals & Backgrounds / The Many Fates of Fiverine (v1)

« on: February 05, 2021, 12:52:22 am »

Bayin Kortharis lost his life in a bungled attempt to destroy "the Boatman" of the Western Swamps.  Though his dying wish was that fans of his proclamations would lay him to rest in the Crypts of Moander, they instead embalmed and minutely dismembered his body to make dozens of unholy relics. These relics still occasionally show up at trinket shops even now.

Cutter Browne permanently settled amongst the halflings.  He abandoned his lustful ways and pledged total devotion to Yondalla.  He rarely left the chapel to her he helped build and died an elderly bachelor in Hilltop.  Hilltop legend claims that the infamous Maximus Valerius once attempted to drag Cutter back to Hadrian to face charges of legal malpractice.  Cutter's Halfling Death friends Casper, Marlee and Pip furiously chased Valerius off, and then Casper even more furiously bellowed at Cutter for bringing trouble to Hilltop. 

Helle Nygaard-Bach continued flitting around the Hadrian area for several months with her visible Sharran faith repeatedly causing conflicts and misunderstandings.  She then abruptly left.  Days later, the bizarre "Lost Village" of Covington from which she hailed also vanished, seemingly permanently.  Some speculate or hope that the village may appear again some day, though others are scornful of the notion.

Morgaine "The Red" Pritchard served as curator of the Southbank Art Gallery for several years.  Though she remained active as an adventurer and played a supporting role in the barbarian siege and the reclamation of the great mythallar, she was best known for her tortuous love triangle with Saeb Alanchi and Fjord Bjornson.  It became such a staple of town gossip that more than a few wagers were placed upon whom she would ultimately settle down with.  Punters and suitors alike were deflated when she instead married the mysterious new mayor of Hadrian, Sezar Voust.  Despite finally having the legitimate claim to the Voust title she had long pursued, Morgaine surprisingly then moved far away with Sezar to Saharelgard to start a family.

Dame Neasa Lawley lost her life defending the Eternal Flame against Dacethor the Blasphemer and his undead army at the Old Court of the Face on the Sun.  Amongst her motley allies were friends like Tenshi of the Heavenly Fist, Southbank Overseer Oscar Eisenhuth Montgomery III and Shi Lei of House Skettus, and more unusual arrivals such as the blackguard Boteler the Black and elf general Elanor Ginfer.  Neasa lured Dacethor into the Flame itself which then utterly consumed them both. Her allies then destroyed his army of fallen knights forever.  In honour of her sacrifice, Thomas Rayne of the Swords of Everlasting Light took a few young knights to the Old Court to become its new caretakers.  This proved a serendipitous move because they were absent from the catastrophe that later befell Moonglow Keep.

Sindisiwe Mbatha pleaded for allies to aid her quest to retrieve a relic of Ilmater deep in the Hollow to no avail.  She resolutely descended into the depths alone, and never returned.  Once again the stay of an Ilmaterite cleric in Hadrian proved tragically brief. 

Tyra Falk faithfully served in her new troll body as a Chosen of the Mother of All Monsters and with Gorag Skullcrusher became the shaman Biagrut's personal bodyguards.  Tyra presumably perished in the great volcanic eruption at Sullivan's Port.

9

Journals & Backgrounds / Letters to the Church of Ilmater, Farenway Enclave

« on: May 05, 2020, 08:15:15 am »

Dear Exalted Sufferer

I have made landfall safely in the Lower Netheril settlement of Hadrian as instructed.  Thine judgement in sending me here was entirely astute.  This is a city of much misery.  I have vainly sought out my predecessor Sister Silias and can only assume her dead, missing or worse.  We both know she would never willingly abandon her mission.

The people here have endured much hardship and I have already found many injured workers to preach the Broken God's good word to.  For the time being, a lectern at the local drinking house must serve as my pulpit.  There are two charitable institutions here: Harvest Moon, apparently overseen by a knightly order, and Silver Shield.  The latter is a rather unsettling place bearing the trappings of a cult as much as a charity.  I assure thee I shall investigate both to ensure they are serving the needs of the people honestly. 

Give my blessings to my Adorned brothers and sisters,

Sister Sindi Mbatha

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Journals & Backgrounds / Letter to Father McIvor of the Church of Hibernos

« on: January 03, 2020, 12:47:04 am »

Dear dah

You tol' me to only write you if somethin' really important happened.  I think this qualifies.  Y' sent me to Hadrian with the request that I work towards becomin' either a Sunlady o' the church or a knight of the Empire. 

Though I have made a right haymes o' things at times (usually when I let the blood drive me, rather than your teachings), I have been made a Dame o' the Order of Everlasting Light, an order o' the Swords of the Guiding Hand. 

I have met some others o' celestial blood here in Hadrian, and you were right, most o' them were not like me at all.  I had no idea how incredibly lucky I was t' have been born where I was and t' have been raised by a good man.  It is because o' you and the people o' Hibernos that I stand here now as a knight.  Thank you dah.

Dame Neasa Lawley
Swords of the Guiding Hand

PS Please tell my birth family 'bout this, and especially tell my brothers that when I visit I can kick their worthless coits even harder than I used to now!

11

Netherese Library / Research: a plane of grey

« on: October 07, 2019, 10:38:24 am »

Neasa takes a trip to the Library of Valstiir, seeking information about whether there may exist a plane entirely grey in colour, with ooze for ground and boiling clouds which rain acid. 

12

Journals & Backgrounds / Neasa Lawley: Champion of Hibernos

« on: September 07, 2019, 01:34:53 pm »

Hadrian... what fresh hell is this?

The words escaped my mouth and I immediately felt a twinge of regret.  Father McIvor had sent me here, said that I'd find my destiny here.  He said that it would be selfish of both me and the village alike for me to stay in Hibernos any longer.  My mentor described a thrivin' town with a fine church of Amaunator.  Even said that a Chosen One of our faith had walked the streets here.  I did not expect this banjaxed ruin I stepped from the riverboat into.

The trip was bad enough.  The boat captain was a bit of a dosser, and found it hilarious that I expected him to know who I was.  I'm just so used to everyone knowing me.  Guess I'll have to learn a bad dose of humility quick smart.  Stepping off the boat, the sun was sickly and brown, not the glorious shining disc I know and love.  The buildings were damaged and bloodstains were on the cobbles.  Some sort of battle had taken place here recently. 

And battle came quickly t'me.  I had barely seconds to get my bearings when some creature charged across the town square at me.  Might have been a man once.  It was strong, with venom dripping from its claws... I had a fair crack at it but it knocked me down.  I figured I was dead.  But the Shining One filled me with his light, strength and fury.  I got off my coit and beat down that thing with my bare hands, then grabbed my kit and suited up for war.  I found a few more of those monsters, and dealt with them.  Saved a lass in the town square and shoved her inside to relative safety.

A fella mucked in to help me at one point.  He wore a blue surcoat, and he was a fine thing to behold I tell you.  A laird by the look of him, by the name of Nicolas Frost.  I could barely believe it when he told me that he's like me... a holy warrior of Amaunator.  An omen, surely.  The 'sunplague' creatures could not withstand our combined wrath, and the sickly aura in the sky receded.  This town has obviously suffered great darkness of late.  Time now for the first rays of dawn to kill the night. 

But I can't do it alone, or even just with Frosty.  Maybe there's something bigger here for folk like us.  Father McIvor hinted at it, but wanted me t'learn myself.  Gotta find out more... 

13

Groups & Concepts / The Commissars of Morgaine the Red

« on: May 28, 2019, 04:35:45 am »

With Morgaine being mayor now, I'd like to over time set up a new mayoral guard of the style that Damion Stillscar had.  I would like to run with her 'Red' theme and call them 'Commissars'  .  I've got an NPC in mind to just be 'there' in the barracks, but would obviously need at least one PC to actually be legitimate.

Thoughts:
1. Non-evil, though LE might be workable.
2. Red uniforms, or for existing PCs with an established look, some red element used (eg helmet). 
3. Duties would be guarding the mayor, collecting taxes, assisting in defending the city, etc

Neither I or my character are combat or PVP minded, so having some guards would be a huge help!!!

14

Netherese Library / Research: Hydra

« on: May 27, 2019, 04:30:01 am »

Morgaine goes to the Library of Valstiir, looking for information about any gods, secret societies, cults or religious orders which use a three-headed hydra outlined in purple as their symbol. 

15

Journals & Backgrounds / The Mayor's Diary: Morgaine the Red

« on: May 26, 2019, 09:37:09 am »

Dear Diary

It hardly seems possible, but today I was sworn in as the new Mayor of Hadrian.  After the resignation of Mayor Sandori and the frightfully obvious mediocrity of Mayor Narthwell, I realised I had no choice but to lobby to become mayor myself.  I should have run for mayor in the last election, but allowed people like Maximus, Corven and Sazo talk me out of it.  Therefore young Qivera's failure to handle the role is also my own.  But now I have the chance to put things right.  I have great challenges, such as restoring trust in city hall and dealing with the noxious mist from the fallen enclave.

After the formalities, I was informed that a previous mayor (most likely Damion Stillscar) embezzled a fortune from the city treasury and had stashed some around the city.  With some friends and allies we found many pages from the secret ledger which detailed this along with some of the stolen money.  This certainly livened up a day I expected be full of dry paperwork and oaths.  Fjord, Zilta, Three, Michael Copperfield, Urias, Casper... we had quite a team.

I must give thanks to the people who have believed in me, even in the times I did not believe in myself.  I would not have ever reached such a high post without them.  My adoptive mother, Lady Fiona Voust, who saw my potential.  My first love, Lazarus Black.  My best friend, the elf paladin Allania, whom I served after Fiona's death.  Bosco Fries, the angry little man with a good heart.  Urias and his oddball sense of humour that makes me smile even in the worst times.  Fjord Bjornson, who has become both a friend and guardian.  Lady Saeb Alanchi, who gave and taught me so much and asked so little.  Lilana Fynolt, my spirit sister who guided me to the path of Selune.  Trade Minister Helena Mendel, who has been a friend and support to me on council.  Surely others who I am forgetting as I scribble these words.  These are the people who inspired me, and the ones I will think of when I have to make tough decisions.

And without a doubt.. I am going to have to make some tough decisions.