Dhavaram

CHAPTER I

My name is Dhavaram. Dhavaram Do Kovrath Kan Ferighun. My people, the Ferighun people, are semi-nomadic horsemen from the steppes of Neverwinter. My father is Dathus Do Kovrath and my mother is Deanna Do Kovrath. I have not seen the steppes of Neverwinter or my parents in a very long time, I believe more than 270 moons. That is 15 Sosarian years.

When I had seen 180 moons, my father and mother brought me to the Mage Gharus, who lived in the land of Catskills, to be trained in the arts of magik and raised as a Mage. Gharus took me in as an apprentice and began to teach me of the eight Circles of magik. At first I could not even manage the most basic, 1st Circle weaves, but in a short time I was able to form 3rd and 4th Circle magiks consistently. Once I was able to create and throw Fireballs and form storm clouds to hurl Lightning upon my enemies, Gharus sent me off into the woods to hunt deer and cattle armed only with these incantations.

So on a daily basis I would go into the woods and hunt. In Neverwinter, as a boy, I went on many hunts and was taught the ways of my Clan. We waste nothing from a kill. So, when I returned at the end of a day, I brought back much venison and beef, but also many hides. When I wasn�t studying my scrolls and spells, or doing chores and errands for the old man, I would craft these hides into leather armor and boots. With the food I gathered, we ate, and with the leather goods I sold we were able to buy Reagents and other items we needed. We made a good living, and I was learning so many new things. It was a peaceful and rewarding life.

One day, I left the Mage�s hut as if out for my morning hunt, but instead I went to the city of Vesper. The old man and I had traveled to the city before, and I had become fascinated with the weapons and armor I had seen in the blacksmith�s shop. So on this day, I purchased a sturdy sword from the smithy, and found a mercenary in town that I paid to show me something of its use. I knew that I would have to hide the sword from Gharus, who would not let me �waste time� learning the art of swordsmanship or military tactics. I would bury it in the pile of hides in the back of the hut. The old man never bothered with them. For now, I wrapped the weapon in a cloth and hung it over my shoulder with a cord. I swung my cloak over the blade and left town for the woods and home.

On my way through the forested hills back towards home, I came across a girl trying futilely to fend off a Grizzly bear with a bow. It would have been an amusing sight if her life was not in such peril. The girl was wounded and her dress torn where the beast had slashed her leg with its large paws. I tried to form one of the more advanced magiks Gharus had begun to teach me the day before. I spoke the words of power, �Corp Por�, but I felt the magik fizzle on my fingertips, and smelt the familiar, almost expected, acrid smoke. I tried over and over as the huge bear pressed the poor girl, but I failed time and again. Finally, and with my last reagents, I pointed my right hand at the animal, and was nearly knocked off my feet as an Energy Bolt surged from my hand, and struck the beast in the side. The creature stumbled from the force of the blow but was stunned only momentarily. It turned and came at me with anger in its eyes. I pulled the sword out of its wrapping and prepared to meet my death. I tried with what little skill I had to defend myself, but the beast�s claws sliced through my leather armor and ripped my left bicep open. Blood splattered across my face and chest, as my arm went limp with pain. I was certain I would die that day, but the girl recovered and fired a well placed arrow into the back of the attacking bear. It staggered and I took the opportunity to deliver the killing blow to the great animal�s head.

The two of us, wounded and bleeding, made our way to the Mage�s hut, and he healed our wounds. The girl told us her name was Di Lidar and that she had taken to the woods when she reached 12 years, to make her living crafting bows. Gharus asked her what had become of her parents, but she did not seem eager to tell us. So he left it at that, and invited her to stay for a while if she liked. After my horrendous cooking, she offered to stay and cook for us since she had no home. We both agreed and she turned out to be an excellent cook, and a skilled animal tamer, who provided us with horses she had tamed. She also gathered a flock of sheep that I was able to on occasion and create cloth from the wool. My skills as a tailor had grown significantly and I began to learn more of the sword when Gharus wasn�t looking.

A short while after Di came to live with us, when I had been apprenticed to Gharus for 130 moons, he told me that I didn�t have the true gift for the arts of magik. I was disappointed, but also relieved. I had not really wanted to be a Mage, and I found sword play more entertaining. Now I could practice the sword openly, and I would be able to devote the time that I had once spent to study magik, improving my swordsmanship, tactics and arms lore. I began to hunt with both magic and the sword. It was an effective combination and I learned quickly. It seemed it was in my blood to fight with a blade.

CHAPTER II

I looked forward to hunting with Di everyday, and we both had improved with our respective weapons to the point that nothing short of the supernatural could endanger us. That would all change very soon. Many guilds of brigands began to spring up in the land of Catskills, virtually overnight. Bands of these murderous evil-doers began roaming the countryside waylaying unwary travelers and killing them for loot or worse, merely for the pleasure of it. They attacked homes, driving the owners out, killing the men and raping the women. It was only a matter of time before they assaulted our hut. So it was that Gharus told us of his intention to travel to the safer lands of Baja, and build a new hut north of the city of Britain. We all prepared to go with him. What else could we do?

On the day we were to leave, I was out hunting to stockpile beef and venison jerky for the trip. I was returning to the hut with a load of meat and hides, when I was ambushed by three rough looking scoundrels. One in plate armor jumped out in front of me with a large polearm, while a second fired a crossbow bolt into my side. The last, I heard speak the words of power for a magic that I dreaded��An Ex Por�. I was paralyzed instantly, and the heavily armored one took his time raising his great halberd and striking my right shoulder. I felt the blow crash through my leather armor, as the bone splintered and the force of the impact drove my whole body downward. I saw Gharus come charging out of the woods and Di in the background loading her crossbow, as I went into shock. Just before I passed out from the pain, I looked back down at my shoulder and saw my arm separate from my body. Then the blackness came. My last though was that I did not think the old man and Di could outmatch these three. They would die with me.

I awoke amazed to be alive, and looked up to see a gentle looking man in a robe. A wandering healer. I had seen them before in the woods, and thought how strange this particular sect of monk was. I was glad for them now. I was sure he had snatched me from Death�s saddlebag. I thanked him for it, and set off for the hut. As I approached I saw many of our belongings strewn about in front of the house. There was a dog sitting in front and a panther as well. My hope rose as I thought Di must have tamed them to guard the house, but then I saw the sign over the door. It read �This is Ace�s house now! Get lost!�. The dog had a crude message painted on its side: �Come back and fight Mage� and the panther as well: �We raped the girl�. They would die. They just didn�t know it yet. And I would make sure there were no wandering healers around to save them. But not now. Now I had to find Gharus and Di.

I searched the woods around the hut for two days, and then went to Vesper. Gharus would be in Vesper if he were alive. I did not find him there, no did I find Di. I packed a few belongings and left for the land of Baja. After two moons had passed, I arrived in Britain, with a few gold coins in my pack, a practice sword at my belt, and a tailor�s sewing kit. It was all I needed to start to earn a new living here. But I knew not a soul, and doubted I would find Gharus or the beautiful Di soon. I took my gold to the local smithy and acquired a halberd. This was a devastating weapon, as I knew from personal experience, and I wanted to master it. I would kill them with their own weapons one day.

I stayed in the inn�s of Baja and traveled to all the cities of the land. I read history and treatises by Lord British and Lord Blackthorn themselves on the nature of society. I educated myself in the philosophy of government while trying to understand why Lord British would allow these brigands to exist and flourish. I hunted and I tailored many hides, and I saved money until I had enough for a small ship. I then plied the seas for many moons, hunting elementals and sea serpents, and traveling to all the islands of Baja. When I had traveled the length and breadth of the land and had seen nor heard naught of the Mage Gharus or the Lady Di Lidar, I settled down in a hut north of Britain, as Gharus had wished. I had seen 450 moons since my birthing day. I was 25 Sosarian years old. I felt as if I had lived since the Creator�s birthing day.