Garon Thorn of Waterdeep

[bhagavat]

The caravan rumbled along as I lounged in the closed wagon, a chilled glass of water in my hand. Not that I couldn't enjoy a good wine, or even ale, but I lived with what some thought an odd obsession with water. I had three different kinds with me, all from unheard of places... one even from an underdark lake that gave a slightly metallic taste.

I went over the developments that had led to this hasty departure in my mind as I relished the subtle sweetness of the water in my crystal glass. The odd fellow that had been following him would be at a total loss I assured myself. Plus, Cormyr was a rich and beautiful place and likely had some springs to taste.

I reached into my pack and produced a scroll... it was almost morning and my tail, who ever it was, would note my absence soon. Reading the magic from the paper, it came alive in my blood, a pleasure few knew. The weave flowed about me, hiding me, making me seem a simple man with obviously highly fashionable tastes. Hopefully it would protect from any magical or divine searched for me person... and hopefully the payed guard would send any more mundane questions north, to the Spine of the World.

I still had no idea why I was being followed. What had happened? I thought over things but nothing of import really came to mind. As I spaced out in thought, an image from a few years past came to mind. A noble, I think, rich no doubt, came by me with his guards. His skin seemed pale. Dark eyes... I think... gah.. it was so long ago. What interest would that evening have been to those following me? So I saw a noble leave Waterdeep. Big deal.

Anyway, after my rooms being sacked and that rogue taking my pack... it was obvious they thought I had something. If I did, I had no idea what it was. I hoped it wasn't my water. That I kept in very secure places when I could.

[bhagavat]

i peered ahead as the wagon driver shouted something about a small town with Cormyr coming up ahead. I look ahead and saw a smallish looking town, crude wooden walls... odd I'd heard it was such a hub. I suppose Cormyr had those new folk like me come here first to keep the fools from getting into too much trouble in the more civilized cities found throughout this land.

I was sipping one of my last flasks of water... a slightly tart water Id found in the wilds on the roads. The pond had been an odd one, with strange Lilly blossoms floating in an almost pinkish water. If I hadn't seen deer drinking from it, Id have past it by.

Suddenly the cart's back wheel was thrown, and I was tossed through the wagons other side door into the dusty road. Broken crystal glass in my bleeding hand.. and water quickly disappearing into the dry hard ground.

"FOOK!" I yelled, "My only fine pair... gah!" I continued to rant. The driver looked at me with fear and motioned his guards over to help me up. I stood looked down at my torn blouse... once white and enchanted to glow a small bit, now... well.. a new wash cloth I suppose.

Calming, I grabbed my pack and started walking toward Greatguant, leaving them without a word. I still tossed a few gold on the ground.... it wasn't their fault.

Entering Greatguant I was taken aback... the town was as small as I thought but, the center square near the Inn was pretty crowded... and not with common folk selling wares.. well, a couple of those... most were obvious adventurers or less savory types claiming to be so.

I walked closer and looked around, seeing quite a variety of people... hin, elves, dwarfs, and even a half-orc or two.... I didn't note an other half-elves that day..

It didn't always bother me to be half-elven... I just felt OK with myself for the most part. Still when haughty elves scorned me, or others chose to make an issue of it, it could get to me some. Today, a group of young elves had noted my approach and were looking at me some while they talked. Speaking elven myself, I know they weren't being rude or anything, but still, they kept to themselves and I had stopped introducing myself to elves a while ago... so tired of enduring the distrust or outright scornful pompous golds.

I suppose I had some of that myself though, being of that blood partly. Being raised in a human world with two human parents hadn't made me very elven in my ways... and I guess it was obvious. Still, I liked most elves once I got past my fears... and certainly enjoyed life like many of them at time... the forests, winds and clean sweet water being obvious tastes of my elven half.

I walked into the inn with my head high and eyes confidently looking around. It was apparent many of these would be adventurers would die in their leathers soon enough... it saddened me a little. I didn't enjoy the idea of death. I even choose to eat a vegetarian diet. But death... well... it was always there when you lived the way we choose to in this dangerous world... I could have chosen to apprentice a shop keeper.... i did not.

Finding a seat by the fire, I pulled out my last flask. A steel flask I kept the last of my water from the underdark in. Wetting my lips I put it away and fell into mediation, concentrating on the flames in front of me. My senses slowly hightened... colors brightened, sounds seemed to phase in and out of my hearing. Then a swirling energy became apparent about my hands... it seems to come from both myself and the air about me... slowly swirling, growing upward from my hands, up my arms and more until it covered me. Sounds escaped my lips and I saw the weave form into something that made sense to me... invisibility.

Id never done it before... and now I sat there invisible, watching the flames.... I looked around. No one had really noticed it seemed... I guess I was already invisible to some degree in this new town... a good thing for now I suppose, though that glory seeking part of me left me feeling a bit empty.

I whetted my lips again with the steel flask. This had to last.

[bhagavat]

Things had been hard.

Without the humble alchemical tools needed to continue brewing magical potions I had fallen on harder times in Cormyr, reduced to scouring ruins and looking for Purple Dragon bounties. I was fed and had enough coin to start a savings, but it was hardly the life I'd grown accustomed to Waterdeep. In the City of Splendors I'd walked in high circles... though no noble, I was friend to a few and was welcomed often enough for a relatively unknown sorcerer. My potions were much better known then I was though and not having that extra income was wearing on me. I could no longer afford expeditions to unknown places in search of the rare waters my half-elven craved. My clothing was common and often dirty. The adventurers life isn't exactly a clean one and there is only so much my magical cantrips could do to remove grime and dust.... blood.. those were ruined. I felt like I was in rags, like in my early childhood.

I had never known many elves in Waterdeep, at least for any real length of time, but I knew, like them, I enjoyed sweet water as well as the expeditions to places to find such a often plentiful yet still wonderful liquid. Some of the more plentiful springs and their various tastes were the reason many preferred the potions I made.

After adventuring around Cormyr for my first few months I found a lot of what I needed to start again. I paid for access to a certainly adequate alchemical study with many other wonderful magical tools and began again making my potions. I had found a few springs around Cormyr, one even close to the infamous Great Guard, where all the heroic Adventures gather... yeah right. If I heard one more seemingly chartered adventurer wander off a blood-lust.... the enjoyment of killing the disgusting evil things about for their pleasure, it would be one more too many. Not that I didn't agree with the need, but falling into such a state of blood-lust disgusted me. Defending ones people and community was a need that had never become exactly a pleasure or need.... although like many humans I did relish the feeling of conquering those foul being that were terrorizing the country Cormyr. Loosing ones self to such feelings were a bit beyond my understanding I suppose. Best to leave them be and let their angry hearts find refuge in revenge upon the evil about us, then my big mouth messing thing up... this country needed the help.

Anyway, my potions were finding their ways into these adventurers hands and I was now working for a legal right to sell them with the walls of Greatguant... certainly the easiest pot of adventurers to supply. Maybe I'd be able to find a home here soon... one tucked away somewhere up the mountains nearby... I liked a nice view. By Mystery, what mercy I had found in this land. Hopefully those that sought me in Waterdeep had lost the scent completely.

[bhagavat]

"Yes its quite nice" Thorn spoke to the seamstress in Vulkars Roar.
"Ill take this and the other two outfits we tried on".

With a grin, Thorn watched as the clothing was packed away for him. Two of the new outfits had a nice glow to them... simple magic... nothing spectacular, but Thorn was beginning to look less a vagrant or even adventurer. Though he was finding it more and more likely he'd be out testing his mettle with other adventurers, he still was enjoying the benefits of having a job... alchemist extrodinair.... well, I'm sure Ratagast had his own ways of making these potions more palatable.

He had a mentor now... Ratagast... a well known potion merchant
and a kind man. Things had gotten a bit out of hand at first... as the need is great for decent priced potions, but he was finding enough customers himself now and was now licensed to sell in Greatguant.... still he wished he had heard Yagos warning not to buy something from someone else... the dagger had been offered to Yago who passed on it... I bought in my excitement and didn't hear a warning from him not to do so. I guess he had no right to tell me such a thing, but still... that work relationship had been worth a lot... it had also kept him in work far too much. Yes, this was better.

Thorn had grown in power a bit and was now attempting to move around using teleportation magic. It had been pretty reliable up until a few days ago when he had appeared in the underdark near a cave leading into the deep marches of tun. Dangerous place to be alone... with no camping gear, tired and unable to cast the difficult magic.... then again, he may ended up somewhere worse next time. Invisibilty... lovely spell for running with your tail between your legs.

[bhagavat]

<<ZAP>> -boom-
Thorn appeared in a forest, slightly confused and surprised. It was lush, crowded with growing green leafy things everywhere. The sound of water dripped pleasingly about him. "Well, at least I arrived somewhere pretty" Thorn muttered. The evening sun peered through the lush trees, rays striking down to dance on the moss forest covered ground.

Some musical laughter found its way to my ears, a light kiss, from far off. Straining to hear more, Thorn found the directions and walked on towards it, while murmuring a few words and making a few gestures... he faded from sight. Not far off he came to a small pool, a slow waterfall gurgling in from the north end. More charming laughter bubbled up from the south end and before him lay an elf, flat on her belly watching the antics of a fool richly garbed enough to by King Azoun's own jester. He danced around, did handstands, dropped his hat, ran into trees, and kept the young elven lass giggling.

Thorn walked up, seeing nothing to fear but the odd situation. "Hello m'lady."
The elven lass was beautiful. Young for an elf, but easily twice Thorns age. The moved with such grace, sitting with a smile. "Look Eli, we have a guest." Her words were high pitched yet beautiful, twinkling like fairy bells. The jester jumped back a step then offered a courteious and low bow, saying nothing. "Come. join me, Eli is wonderful. Thorn found himself drawn towards her, before he'd even really thought about it he was laying with her in the grass near the pool, watching Eli the Jester chase his tail. It was a nice tail. fluffy, rose colored with pinks. He hadn't noticed it before, but such a delight.
The elven lass laughed and touched Thorns arm. A drink had appeared from somewhere when he wasnt looking... he sipped it. He found himself laughing with the charming elven lass. Everything was... wonderful... what was I doing?

What an odd thought. I'm playing with my new friends, drinking some kind of sweet nectar. Laughing, who cares, this is wonderful. The jester bounced around. Magic puppets did little shows. Our lips met. Kissing. Twirling. Laughing. Dancing. Drinking. Kissing. I'm tired.

It changed everything. I couldnt be sure if I had said it or the elven lass. She wasnt laughing now, just looking at me, while she stood up. "Your pretty... and fun.. but being bored... well... ugh.. like its just so boooriiing! Geh. Her eyes had a more menacing look. I didnt see the jester anywhere. Standing came slowly. I was so drunk it felt like I hadnt moved much in years. My groin felt sort of dumb. I looked down to make sure everything was ok, I wasnt wearing any clothing. I looked back up at her, but now she was gone too. So was the whole pond and waterfall. Blinking a few times, and drinking some water I quickly began casting another teleportation... whatever had just happened wasnt leaving this jungle or forest... where ever it was. The stars looked different, it was night...ugh... how long had it been?<<POOF>>