I don’t know if dear Windy (er, Rowind to anyone else!) realizes, it, but this month marks our 10th anniversary traveling and performing together. While I wouldn’t trade that time for anything, sometimes, listening to the fantastic tales he shares with our audiences, I get to wishing that we could experience some adventures like those firsthand.

There’s more to it, really, something I haven’t ever told anyone. About 11 years ago, I was getting very discouraged with the direction my life was headed. I had only been providing musical performances for gnomes, and, to be honest, there are a lot of gnome musicians. I was eager to venture to distant lands (other than portal-hopping back and forth from Lantan to Waterdeep), but was unsure that I’d be safe on my own.

I guess I wasn’t.

I was playing my lute while walking along a lonely road, not really knowing or caring what direction I was headed in. I had recently left Waterdeep, and I was near Triboar, I think.

And then I wasn’t.

I found myself in a beautiful land, though kind of scary too. It was night, and the stars above were in constellations unfamiliar to me. The air was colder and brisker than it had been moments before. The trees were so much larger than any I had ever seen, impossibly bigger. Even in the darkness, the colors of the vegetation were much more vibrant.

I wasn’t sure what to do, so I cautiously continued to explore, a little scared and a little excited. There wasn’t a sound, not even the crickets that so often sing at night. So, mostly to comfort myself, I sang just to have something to listen to, and to help me stay awake, for though the night air was stimulating, I found myself getting sleepy quite quickly.

I woke up, some unknown amount of time later. I was just outside of Waterdeep, and upon returning to the city, discovered that several months had passed. I bumped into Rowind, who recognized me. I was so relieved to see a friendly face, and as he was heading out on the road to perform in some of the smaller villages north of Waterdeep, I eagerly joined him. We’ve been together ever since, and I’ve felt much safer being with him.

I’ve also since discovered that I can sometimes find crossroads— little “shortcuts” hidden from normal view and protected by fey guardians. Apparently the guardians love music, and sometimes allow us to pass through one of their protected backroads if they are pleased by a performance. But always, we find ourselves somewhere recognizable in Faerūn, and always have been able to return home by a similar means.

Today as we entered Triboar, I thought I may have finally caught a glimpse of... something. Something that made the memories of that time 11 years ago come racing back. I think I’m ready to go look for that vibrant land again.

Character sheet: Roywyn Rivenstone [Rock Gnome Bard]

What - never heard of a gloaming? Or just never met one? Yours truly is from well beneath Waterdeep, raised by one parent or the other, sometimes both - as each felt like it. I learned plenty on my own, too, and liked it that way.

Yes, I suppose I do look like a moth and glow like a firefly, but if you keep laughing you’ll get a surprise - I sting like a wasp as well. Hah - felt that arrow, did you?

I’ll be kind, however, and let you off with just a sting. I’m nice like that - Shaundakul would rather his clerics stay on the good side of life’s ledger. He asks so little of us, it’s a joy to worship him!

Well, my parents decided that I was ready to be on my own - or maybe I kind of decided it myself, when mother dropped me off at the usual meeting spot, and I didn’t wait for father to appear.

It was while I was working my way up to the surface on my own for the first time that I met the man who told me of Shaundakul. Now, I’ve picked myself a name with which to wander for a while, and see what there is to be seen.

Shaundakul makes it easy to wander - his holy day’s gift to his clerics being a full day of floating, ethereal, wherever the wind may take us. My trip landed me in Triboar, many miles to the northeast...

Character sheet: Seren Udayudrim [Gloaming Ranger/Cleric]

Rebirth

As I piece together the egg that will bring about my rebirth I meditate on my life, a life that will soon be over with the birth of another.

I was born Soveliss Siannodel, an elf, to a merchant family. We sold many valuable things: jewelry, clothing, even some types of rare and expensive armor. Sometimes my father would go on trips to uncover a hidden stash of treasure. When I was around my 98th year, I went on my first trip with him. It was great and I learned a lot from one of the other elves that came with us. Himo Liadon was rather skilled at getting us past different traps and unlocking doors. I was so impressed I decided I wanted to learn how he did it. With my father’s blessing I studied under him for several years.

It was during this time I meet Anastrinna Xiloscient. She was the most beautiful elven woman I have ever and probably will ever meet. We spent a lot of time together, I got to know her family and she became familiar with mine. I’d have done anything for her.

I was 125 when I decided I would get her parents’ blessing to ask for her hand in marriage, but first I had to establish myself, so I went on an expedition to explore some ruins. It took almost two months to get there. It was a successful trip and I knew I was ready to go ahead with my plans, but when I got home I discovered Anastrinna had gone off on her own adventure and hadn’t returned. Three months went by before we got any word at all. One of the group she went out with had returned half dead, dehydrated and starved. The clerics helped him and we heard a chilling tale.

Not two weeks out they were attacked by some dragon-like creatures. They seemed to be a mixture if dragons and wolves. The group was scattered. He claimed to have been wandering aimlessly for the past several months. Three others and I went on what we called a rescue mission to find the remains of the party, but we all knew that they were probably already dead.

After a month of searching we found the den of these beasts, It was extremely difficult, but we were able to defeat the abominations. We found the remains of several humanoid bones, and enough gear to determine that these were the missing party. There was a funeral, and after everyone else went home I sat alone at her grave, wishing I had the strength to change what had happened, wishing I could destroy all these vile abominations. As the sun rose over the trees, I heard a voice in my head, “It was the spawn of Tiamat.”

“Who’s there?” I answered aloud, thinking someone had come to check up on me.

“There are more of her spawn in this world and others.” The voice replied. Looking around I couldn’t see anyone, and it didn’t so much as speak but place these thought into my head.

“How do you know this.” I said aloud again, part of me thinking I was going insane.

“I am Bahamut, if you will join my cause and be reborn as my child, I will give you the strength to fight her spawn.”

Looking at the grave and feeling rage at what had happened I asked, “What do I have to do?”

I was given a list of instructions, and was told I could have a week to decide, it wasn’t to be taken lightly. Leaving behind your family, friends, and all you worked for to become the child of a god for the purpose of destroying the evil spawn Tiamat creates. I took most of the week to think about it, I then sold everything I didn’t need, gathered the ingredients for the rebirth and headed out to a quiet and serene place.

As I place the last piece of the shell together from the inside, I can feel the changes start to take place. My old self is slowly fading away, My hair has completely fallen out. In the utter darkness I can begin to see. I’ve never been able to see in complete dark before. I feel Bahamut close to me and I embrace him and his family.

“Please give me guidance as I embrace my new life.” I say as I hatch from my shell and am reborn. I can see the sun rising on a new day. Fitting for a rebirth, I think as I clean myself and don my armor.

“I an now Soveliss Tibur Vaecaesin, for I was born an elf and am now reborn a child of Bahamut.”

I go north. Not fully knowing why, but it seems to be the direction I should go. So I gather my things, and start walking.

Character sheet: Soveliss Tibur Vaecaesin [Dragonborn Rogue]

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]