My name is Flin, do not forget it.

I am a man of few words, so listen to what I say for it will not be repeated. The place I call home is the Chondalwood. It is a place most sentient creatures would avoid for it is filled with death and danger. In this place I was raised by my Hin family, I call them my family even though I have no blood tie to any of them. If you ever cross one of them, I will hunt you to the day you die.

My job, well lets just say I work with a team that removes threats from our homeland. Sometimes threats can be redirected, sometimes pushed back, and sometimes …. they must be removed. It was on one of these such occasions that led me to where I am today. I would tell you how long it has been, but in this infernal place there is not time. Instead I will tell you of the events that lead to me being trapped in this void.

One day a scout returned to us with a sighting of red clothed wizards and a band of warriors near our home. As usual, the first thing we did was to trick the elves into getting red of the threat, but the wizards proved too powerful. A messenger was sent to find some of the wild druids, but the events happened to quick for us to wait for their intervention.

The red wizards seemed guided by some device that lead them directly towards our home, and an assault was ordered. Unlike the elves, we understand the ability to fight a slow battle. First we waited in thickly covered area, as the intruders passed we broke from the underbrush and cut down the fighters in one quick attack, then retreated to the shadows. This made the wizards pause, but soon they gathered the nerve to continue, only after creating a huge creature to protect them first. I still do not know what this beast was, but it had to go next. Sadly it took two of my Hin brothers with it.

This made the wizards think about how they would protect themselves in this place, but once again they gained their courage. They tried to continue only to find a note pinned to a tree explaining that we have been very gentle this far, and if they did not leave now, they would be killed. In truth they where only a stones throw from our home. It appears this really made them angry, they began burning everything with great fireballs. We could not let this continue, our party attacked. What happened next is a fever pitched battle that was to horrible to describe with any accuracy. Six wizards versus our party of nine (One had left to find the druids), two wizards dropped quickly as did five or my brothers.

Seems these wizards are willing to drop fireballs on themselves, they are beyond reason. I will not describe the next few minutes of blood and screams, I will just say I found myself face to face with two wizards. We where all that survived, and it was a miracle even to call us alive at that point.

I launched what I knew would be my final attack when a druid attacked from behind my foe. Again, the violence and speed of this part is indescribable. At the end, I found myself laying on the body of one of the red figures, my blade deeply imbedded and having done its duty. I was nearly unconscious, but I did see the druid fall with my Hin brother that had brought him. The last standing wizard was badly beaten but still standing, he looked at me with a look of disgust. Then he walked over to me and knelt down to my side to look in my eyes. He then rubbed the top of my head and said he would let me live to know that he would return with ten fold his original party. He told me to tell the others to stay out of his way when he returned.

Then he opened a great portal and walked through. I took a potion of healing and followed him through. My plan was to find some shadows to hide in and kill this man when I the chance. But only after finding out what brought him to my home. There was a strange feeling as I passed through the portal, and now I am here. In this lost place of nothing.

Character sheet: Flin [Halfling Rogue/Sorcerer]
Companion sheet: Totem [Mouse Familiar of Flin]

Now I find myself in chains about to face execution and trying to put together the pieces of what happened. Now let me see… I remember coming through the portal after the wizard. Once I realized I was through, I tried to gather my senses just to find I could not put my feet down, nor could I even figure what side was up. I thought I saw a ship leaving in the distance; this only convinced me I was under water. I tried to swim, just to realize that my desperate movements where getting me nowhere, and that I was not drowning.

I tried to figure things out, this was all a bit much for me, then the body floated by. It appeared to be some large form of Orc, and it looked quite dead. I was lucky enough to grab hold of it, and I found myself being pulled along with it. I thought this good, until I saw the small creatures, half the size of Totem. I was trying to push them away from me when one of them spoke. It begged me not to kill it, and stated that they found the rock fair and square, and had full rights to build upon it. I asked the little fellow his name and where in the nine hells I was. He explained his name was Bob, and he was their leader.

I greeted Bob with the best bow I could create in this environment. In response the entire lot of them responded hello. Bob then explained that they are all named Bob. He then brought forth a few dozen and introduced them to me. And informed me that they are building the city of Bob. I watched them closely for a while and discovered that they could all talk to each other by name, (Bob) and they all knew who was talking to who.

I was very impressed until I heard a voice say “Help they are trying to kill me!” The Orc’s voice was weak and I still could see no life in his eyes, but there is no doubt it was from him. The Bobs just kept building. I pushed myself away from the rock-Orc-Bob, and floated in another direction.

In my endless floating I witnessed a ship that seemed to be on fire, as did its crew, yet they seemed not to be effected by it. I witnessed dozens and dozens of other strange sites, and the Bob’s again. And again the Orc cried for help. It was then that I realized that this was all a dream. So rather then stress out, I decided to enjoy the ride.

At one point a ship came near me and I yelled out hello to them. They took me aboard and asked where I was going. I let them know I was after a powerful wizard that killed my friends, and that the Bobs really made me laugh. After some strange looks I was welcomed aboard.

I do not know how long I was with them, but I did discover that I did not need to walk on the ship, I could fly. And not just that, my dream gave me the power to move objects with my mind. This was fun. Then someone shot me and I got put in chains. I didn’t mind, it was a dream.

Then I was informed that because someone attacked me, I was going to be put to death. Since I could still fly, while chained up, I realized it was still a dream. So I continued to have fun within the dream. Eventually I was taken from the ship and went to court. This was great fun. When I was informed that I could make a statement in my defense, I let them know that I had fun, and when I wake up in the tall grass of near my home, they won’t exist anymore.

As the people of the court continued to talk in a language I didn’t understand, I did hear something I could understand. A voice whispered in my ear. The voice said that a small black rock had been placed in my backpack, and that I should never loose it. I was also given a name, Tillian Greenmeadow. This is the name of a Halfling in Waterdeep that I need to report to. I told the voice that he was not real. It was then that a sharp pain in the palm of my hand startled me. I was bleeding, I could feel the blood.

Then the guards picked me up and my fellow prisoner and they began taking us away. I asked where we where going, one of the guards that I had named Bob, informed me that I was being taken to my execution. The voice was by my side again, and it informed me that death will not be an excuse, and it laughed.

I have awoken again, and this time it seems too real. Somehow I have found myself in the city of Waterdeep, and my life is in danger. Let me explain. I have found myself in the company of those I thought a dream, and they have claimed to save my life, this time.

I became awake in a small room in a inn that seems to be wonderful, except for the remnents of my dreams now surrounded me. They have mentioned how they saved me from some sacrifice, to this I can only take their word. They have told me of plans to go in twenty directions for forty reasons, and no two of them agree.

I have taken a chance to separate myself from them, and now I seek to learn who they are before I can trust them, if I can trust them. I have found the stone, and I have found the place of the one I am to see. This above all has convinced me I am not dreaming and it has all been real. Now I must pull myself together, find my revenge, and find a way to return to my people. Above all else, I have learned that I am not strong enough to defeat this Red Wizard, or his kind. I must learn more and maybe make allies.

But when this next night falls, I must begin paying a debt. Tonight I have to see a thief, and tonight I must find what calling the voice has placed upon my soul. Then and only then can I begin my quest.

This is an odd lot I have fallen into, and yet I wonder more and more every hour why I am with them. Well there is the free food and ale, but I keep thinking there should be something else. I will just have to hang out with them until they get interesting, or I figure out more about these wizards. I will find the one and kill him, as sure as a Dwarf’s beard smells like ale.

Well, we got to have some fun on the docks. I did get to find the Halfling I was looking for, and he did trade the rock for a pouch. I am not sure it was the thing I was looking for, and I am not sure my Hin friend even cared. On the bright side, we are going to go down to the docks tonight and try to watch the humans disappear. I just am not sure if we are supposed to stop it from happening, or if we are just watching to figure it out. Seems they are in a rush to get somewhere, anywhere, and it would make them happy for some strange danger to be there. Now if we could just figure out where the where is.

After this night, I have to go find this local guild, pay my dues and maybe I can find this opening to death my new companions feel they must find. Oh, did I mention the food here is great? And the big guy likes to buy me food.

Where to start, oh yea … when we found the zombie things … wait no, the ally. The group of us went to the dock ward to wait for bad guys. I think there was meant to be a plan, yet in hindsight there was none.

We found a junction that seemed dark enough to have some mischief, yet close enough to people to get some passers by. We all hid, and I don’t think I know where half of them were, yup that is the team work we have. After a while a drunk human came down our little road, this was just what we wanted. Quietly three shadows came out of no where and as I saw it, some Hin where earning a living.

Sadly, as they pulled daggers to convince the man that he did not really want his coins, my comrades decided to play ambush the ambush and started shooting the rouges. I did not join in until something odd happened, the rumors I heard were true... wererats. Two of the Halflings changed from in front of us, then proceeded to attack my friends. I attacked the one that had not changed and heard my little voice. See I have an inner voice, it can be a big help, but usually only points out obvious blunders. Right then the voice was saying ‘Flin you are not a fighter.’

The rouge I battled was no fighter either, but we gave it our best shot to make it look good. About that time a couple green hands reached out from the darkness of the alley and grabbed the human. The wererats turned and ran, rumors are not true, they are scared of some things.

We all took off into the ally to give chase; we found to zombie or ghoul or some-things taking the human. The dragon-thing attacked the one and told me to get the other, the other had the human and was running away with him. I gave chase down some more alleys then to a sewer grate. Strange, I would have thought the wererats controlled them, but now I know they fear these creatures.

About this time the flying light girl, I really need to learn their names, flew down next to me and we without talking agreed to go after the human. Down the grate we went. After some distance we came to where the path divided, left and right. We talked it over and decided to go opposite ways and come back if we find anything. She pulled a statue out and summoned her bird to travel with me. I like that bird, maybe she will give it to me.

Well, as I traveled off by myself, I did my best to calm Totem’s nerves, and to block out the inner voice. ‘Flin don’t go alone’. Well, I did have the voice, Totem and the bird, how could I be alone? I followed the path for some distance then one of the creatures jumped out from nowhere and attacked me. ‘Flin you are not a fighter.’ To late it was attacking me. I took the chance to fight it, and even used some of my tricks. Moments later the creature was on top of me and paralyzed me. Off the bird flew— great, it is a bird of cowardice.

The creature grabbed my body and dragged me back to his lair, and then I got the pleasure of watching and feeling everything as it began to eat me. ‘Flin, you are not a fighter’ was the only help I could find. I asked Totem for help, but he said he was trapped in my backpack. Typical. What is the use of having a friend that does his best to not exist?

As I began to think I was to watch my own bitter end my friends came to the rescue. They killed the creature and healed me enough to get me moving. I really need to learn their names. ‘Flin, they can fight, why don’t you let them fight next time?’

It was then we heard cries from down one of the passages out of the room we where in. After seeing the creatures hunger first hand I was eager to help. We went down the next tunnel, three of us where okay, the dragon guy had to crawl. Come to think of it, the zombies had to crawl too. Very strange, but then again, I don’t know much about them.

We came to another room when my voice said ‘Stay in the tunnel’ and I agreed. I let the rest of the group pass me. There were some humans chained up, very odd. One of them seemed dead but like it was on some cue or something it began to raise up and attack. The dragon guy got the chains loose on the three living humans. One human ran down a random tunnel, another went the way we told him to go and the last followed us after we killed the zombie. Zombies zero, us three.

We went back up the tunnels only to find the room I was dinner in was now in use again. Some zombies where eating the one human that ran the way we told him to go. I dowsed them with oil from light girl’s pack and was going to light them when she turned them with her holy symbol. Behind us we could hear the rest of our group being chased by more zombies. We helped them out of the tunnels and we began to run. Well... they began to run, I had some revenge on my mind. I borrowed two more bottles of oil from light girl and got ready.

‘Flin, you are not a fighter,’ shut up stupid voice, I have them trapped. I smashed the oil in the tunnel the creatures where coming from I waited until some of them were in the oil and I lit an arrow and shot it into the oil. Poof the flames lit up my foe. Revenge is sweet. ‘Flin you are not a fighter.’

I watched several burning zombies try to back out of the fire, I helped them by shooting arrows down the tunnel at them. It was the least I could do. It was too fun when I heard some noises behind me. ‘You forgot the two that the cleric chased away.’

I nocked another arrow, lit it and shot one of them catching him on fire, then pulled my sword. ‘Flin, you are not a fighter,’ if I could dig this voice out of my head with a rusty spoon right now I swear I would do it. How tough could it be, one is on fire and the other will be alone against me? As the one attacked me and the other put its flames out I realized I could be in trouble.

The creatures attacked and paralyzed me for a moment, a moment they continued to slash me with their claws with. ‘Flin you are not a fighter’ Hmmm... the voice might be right on this one. The second I regained movement I pulled a feather from my cloak and held it between the two offenders. Their dead eyes seemed to notice this was not a normal attack, this made this so much better. The corner of my lips curled as I gave the command word and a great tree grew forth between my foes. In less than the blink of a Beholder’s eye the tree pushed them against the walls of the room and through. I was unable to avoid some damage too, but it was truly a sight to see. Moments later my friends returned having noticed that I had not followed. I can only imagine the sight, they entered the 20’ by 20’ room to find a great tree had grown fully sideways and was sticking out each side of the room. Lots of debris was on the floor and two feet sticking out from under the tree trunk. And to boot, I was laughing as loud as I could. My voice was right, I just had to learn how to listen.

After a long speech from the Gnome who I believe is named Roywyn or Wynny, they helped me out from under the tree and we headed up to town and to a cleric. I believe also that I am becoming more comfortable around them. The two days in quarantine made that easier. Soveliss is the dragon guy, provider of my ale and food, and some sort of thief too. Light girl is named Seren and she is funny. She did not like being held hostage by the clerics. Me, I had a blast. I had food and got to sleep all I wanted. Then when the clerics would come in to check on us I would create soap in my mouth and pretend I was turning into a monster. The first two times the clerics pulled holy symbols and tried to turn me. It seems their sense of humor was very short lived.

Eventually we were let go and offered some work from the city, who seemed happy we found out what their problem was, yet they did not want to pay us for what we did. No, they wanted to pay us for what they want us to do. We can get some in advance for equipment, so we got some stuff. And then we all agreed to have one night of rest before we went back into the sewers.

I suggested we go the Three Pearl place we saw earlier. Maybe my key has something to do with it? I know I need some ale to try to forget this day for sure.

I would like to explain how we bravely fought our way into their lair, but I would be a liar. We once again engaged the sewers in a game of hunt and seek. The only bad part was that we seem to have found the trap not the gold.

Once again, for the countless time this, we have found ourselves in a small room fighting creatures that give paralysis to us with the touch of their hands. This time the ol’Dragon-Elf couldn’t hold them off. And for once, I was the last to fall. There are more details I believe, but for now I am being dragged down a secret tunnel and I am probably going to be eaten, again. Trust me that is not an experience anyone should know, let alone twice. Then their is that annoying voice in my head ‘Flin, why didn’t you buy something to fight the paralysis?’ Stupid voice.

As my senses returned I looked around and found my comrades chained to the wall. We seemed to be in a room otherwise alone. The only light was a soft glow from Seren; the party looked desperate. As I got up to go help I realized that for some reason I too was chained to the wall. Seeing this as unacceptable I recovered a small blade I kept in my hair and began changing the situation.

Knowing we needed a lookout I asked Totem to go and keep a look out under the door. After some arguing he actually climbed out of my hair and went over and did it. I don’t know who was surprised more, Seren for seeing a mouse climb out of my hair, or me for Totem deciding to help out a little.

I quickly got myself free and began working on Roywyn’s chains. It seemed to the three of us that were conscious that Soveliss needed some attention soon. As soon as she had one free hand she gave a spell to her bat to give to our Dragon friend. It took some time to get her last manacle off but I did and moved over to help Soveliss next, for he was the only one who was able to fight these creatures. It was too late, Totem saw torch light coming and hid.

Roywyn and I pretended to still be chained when two undead creatures entered the room with a mage. He rambled about something, I was not actually paying attention. What seemed more important was that Roywyn had gotten it into her mind to perform some incredible act of bravery/stupidity to save us. All I remember saying to her is ‘No’.

The undead followed a command to take Seren to some sacrifice, I pleaded with them to take me instead, to no avail. I too wanted to attack them and save her, but knew the foolishness of that attack. Soon as they left I freed my Dragon friend and we set out to find Seren. We did find another room with some humans chained up and I was trying to free them when we heard Seren scream.

We ran off to save her. Somewhere I got stunned by their accursed powers. I found myself being dragged down a hall, again. We did find a room, of storage type, which we where able to block the door and prepare for defending it. This became easier when I found our gear in a corner. Seren found a secret door and we escaped upwards to find a room full of relaxing rogues. I was the first to the top of the steps. It seemed a little over a dozen humans stood up and drew weapons to attack me. Seeing the circumstances I whispered behind me the situation. Seren began to glow behind me and when added to the song of doom that Roywyn set an eerie scene. As the first humans began to come at me I introduced them to “My Dragon”. Soveliss’s appearance was right on time.

The battle was violent but short and most of our foes ran from the battle. We then escaped through a portal to a shopping square in Waterdeep.