Diary of a Hin

[dayittleone1]

Memoirs of Yatomi "Merelda", Banished from Kara-Tur

So many pages missing from a small leather booklet. Tear-stained and tossed aside they littler the roads traveled by a small trade caravan. Struggling along the Golden Road, they’ve traveled for more than a year already with their destination unknown. Starting off with a number of eleven, their numbers count now as only ten. One left behind in an unfamiliar land, frightened and alone, not knowing how to make her way. Forced into a life so different than what she was made to leave behind. They leave her in Cormyr, on the outer boarder, with only a few coins a blade and her diary.

The only evidence of her person left with them is a crumpled page or torn parchment. Tear-soaked, scratchily written in strange foreign language, it’s only a small part of a larger page. It is read and tossed aside by a merchant and linguist, uncaring to its meaning: "Gods help me, for I’ve lost my way-"

[dayittleone1]

"Ches, Third Ten-day, Day Eight


Morning - I've been abandond on the border of Cormyr, the traders wouldn't take me any further. I was ment for the Sword Coast and Beregost, but I have nothing else to offer them. I've paid them everything I have already to teach me how to speak "common", and they've refused to barter with me any further. They'll no longer have me with them, even as a servant.

I write this at the roadside. I feel so lost, more so than before in my life. I feel as though my ancesters have abandoned me. The gods have forsaken me, I don't know what to do...


Mid-day - I need to find someplace, but the only way the Cormyr athorities will alow me in is by taking a letter of some sort. And the only way I'll be alowed it is to become a thief. To rob some poor soul's tombe, and risk my life to sneak past the guardian beasts... but what choice do I have? May the spirits forgive me."

[dayittleone1]

"Ches, Third Ten-day, Nineth Day


Morning - Yestarday was possably the most horrifying day of my life. I write this now at an inn, the name of which I can't read, in a room I can only afford at nearly the cost of my life. I've spent the last day in bed, huddled up beneath the sheets. I can't sleep. I've had nightmares ever sense of horrable undead beasts, and monsterious possesed armor...

I followed a woman, promising riches, into the ruins of some forsaken place. She was a nice young lady. Maybe twenty, like me. She was fearless though. Or foolish, I don't know anymore, thinking about it. She told me that local stories about the ruins included armor the lived, and horrable monsters that devour people. By the gods, they were all true. I followed her deep within. Monsters, everywhere. Horrable terrable beasts swarmed about us. Claws and fangs, horrable screams. I can still hear them when I try to sleep.

We bearly escaped with our lives. After it was over, she acted like all the pain and fear had never happened. I wish I had her strength... the sword of my ancesters is all I have to protect me, and it's the only strength I have. If only she could teach me to have no fear.

Nightfall - The few coin we made will only be enough for another night or so if I work it right. There's no call for tailors. I'm so hungery, and I need to find work. A man downstairs is looking for someone to fetch a necklace from a well here in town. Sounds simple enough. Maybe I can make enough for dinner. I'll look into it tomarrow..."

(Scrawled on the side of the page: I need to learn to read "common" if I'm going to get by.)

[dayittleone1]

"Ches, Third Ten-day, Final Day

Night - The nightmares from the day prior continue, but now at least I'm no longer hungery.

Today was so frighteneing, but at the same time, so exciting. I talked to the man in the tavern-hall about his pendant. It sounded so simple, but I was very surprised by the end how complex something so simple can be...

I left the tavern and asked directions, I had no idea where the well was. I felt like such a fool asking, but what's one to do? The woman I met was so kind. She was an elven woman, very pretty. Her name was Shaela, I think. I spoke to her so long, her sister was able to join us. They're twins! Shaela and Laela, I think. In my h- [This passage is marked out by a thick black line] Shrine Maidens. Reguardless, it turned out they were interested in the well also. I didn't understand it at first, but I was... enlightened.

Beneath the city is a massive cavern! Naturaly beautiful and expansive. There is an entrance at the bottom of the well, I never would have known. But the necklace was gone. I didn't understand until we saw them. Water creatures, made of water. Water spirits are usualy just playful, yes, sometimes mean, but playful. But they were simply agressive. Turned out the caves were full of monsters and beasts.

Laela and Shaela were amazing! Powerful and beautiful. They slew most creatures with a single shot from their bows. They shown no fear of anything, and reveled in the treasures they earned. The gods must have blessed them. I felt so... pathetic. So helpless. I was with hunters, warriors, and I felt so useless. Eventuly got to a point that I had to do something. I was so ashamed that I took my blade in hand, and stepped forward.

I fought. I did everything I could. I don't know if it was enough, but every step I took made me feel so much stronger. I still shiver at the thought of it. Maybe I could do it. Maybe I did have the strength to fight back. Whatever it is, I want to feel that way again.

I don't remember the rest of the night after a point. We'd recovered the necklace, but continued to explore. I followed Shaela and Laela into a new part of the cave system when we were attacked... again. I don't recall too much after that. Somewhere in the fight, I got surrounded. I don't remember anything after that.

A hit to my head, a horrable pain in my back and over my shoulder, dizzieness... and I passed out. When I awoke, I was in the hospital. I was covered in bandages, and I felt so weak. Shaela and Laela must have rescued me and brought me back to the city. When I was strong enough to leave, I returned to the tavern, and there they were, waiting for me. We spoke for a bit when... I think it was Laela that gave me a bag. It was filled with gold! 'My share' she said. But it was so much! Far more than I deserved. I took only a few coins from the bag and offered it back, but she insisted I take it.

I owe them so much, not just my life. If only there were some way to pay them back for everything they've done for me. I'll think on that for a while. Right now I'm still hungery. So I think it's time for thirds. I can't believe I'm still so hungery! I'm such a pig."