Chapter Text
Campfire Journal
Beginnings
There’s something about this situation I find myself in that is a comfort. There are others going through the same thing.
We have banded together, five of us, and are looking for a cure to our predicament.
I have no idea if anyone will sneak into my tent and read this, but it’s just going to be a journal of the day. With any luck it won’t get that personal.
First, for record, I am Aliah, human cleric of Lathander. Light Domain.
After me comes another cleric, though I don’t know of which God she prays to yet. She has the odd name of Shadowheart. She is Trickster Domain. Half-elf. She fell close to where I did, so we have been travelling together since the crash of the Nautiloid.
Next is Astarion, an elf rogue. He greeted me and Shadowheart with a dagger, but I think that was mostly out of fear than any real malice towards us, since he immediately stopped the moment he realised we weren’t with the Illithids and apologised.
After him comes Gale, a human wizard from Waterdeep. He seems to have a good sense of humour and can cook, which is very welcome. He somehow got stuck in his own magic portal, but we got him out. I never asked how. Frankly, it’s not important enough for me to know.
And next comes Lae’zel. She is a githyanki warrior. A fighter of some great skill. She believes that there is a creche nearby of her people, which will be able to cure us of our little parasitic problem. I have no idea where she was picked up, but she is not a native of Faerun.
I am sitting on a fallen tree branch in our camp writing this on my lap. Astarion and Lae’zel both said they’d take a watch. They can figure out a schedule between them by themselves. I am going to sleep as soon as I have finished writing. Think I will write again in the morning after devotionals.
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Blessed Morning
I did not sleep well. I don’t think many of us did for that matter. Though good things come in the morning. After breakfast, I got to know my companions a little more.
Shadowheart is secretive. She has someone waiting for her in Baldur’s Gate she wants to get back to. I wish her luck in that. I didn’t push her on more information, as I know I wouldn’t like to talk about that to someone who is a near stranger.
Astarion is a magistrate in the city. I don’t think he’s ever left Baldur’s Gate a day in his life. He feels a bit left out of things because of it. I don’t think it will take him long to fit in. I think he will enjoy being out in nature, given a few days trial.
Gale is upbeat, nice and talkative. He’s told me a few small things about himself. Mainly I know he has a cat and likes wine. Apparently, he writes poetry too. He is very much a scholar. I think we’re going to be collecting books for him to read as we journey to find a cure.
Lae’zel is very blunt. I can’t tell if she will ease up a bit on that now, since it seems to be very much her nature to act like that. She is dead set on us finding this githyanki creche where we will apparently be cured safely.
I think there might be problems between Shadowheart and Lae’zel. The rest of us seem to be fine with each other.
Shadowheart has volunteered to stay at camp and set up wards to keep it hidden and protected. The rest of us have decided to explore the old ruins I stumbled upon yesterday. Astarion may be able to pick the lock where me and Shadowheart failed.
Apparently, it’s the type of place a creche would be, under and hidden by old ruins. Let’s hope for good luck and this githyanki healer Lae’zel keeps on going on about.