A Street Rat's New Life : Diary of Alice Marrian
-
Dear Diary,
It's been so long since I've been able to write in a diary. I've not been able to afford much of anything, let alone the simple luxury of having a journal for private thoughts. My whole life has changed because of one woman.
My life has been a sad one. Parents struggled to earn enough money to put food on the table and clothes on our backs. The stress of it all drove my father to drink. Mother and father argued a lot. Finally, he caught her cheating on him. I snuck out of the house, fearing the fight they'd have. Came back in the morning to find city guards taking my father off to jail. He killed Mother, and was soon hanged for the crime. My uncle took me in, but he's not a nice man. Drank a lot like Father, and was meaner. He hates women and blames Mother for what happened to Father. Uncle regularly hit me, punishing me for what Mother did.
After a year, I ran away. I just couldn't take the abuse anymore. I lived on the streets of the docks district. Living like that was almost as bad as living with Uncle. I had to steal food to eat. Nobody wanted me around, they'd call me "street rat" and chase me away.
One day, everything changed. I ventured out into the commerce district, figuring I might have a better chance at swiping something of value there. Many people were gathered at the Commons. I tried to lift some gold from a dwarf's purse, but he caught me in the act. The dwarf took some pity though, because all he did was take a few precious coins I already carried on me and let me go. I sat by myself, miserable and hungry. I felt like giving up on it all.
That's when Lady Anna approached me. She's a kind woman with pretty blonde hair and wore a neat, red robe. With a kind smile, she asked me if I could run an errand for her. She wanted a book from the library at city hall. I was surprised for the sudden act of kindness, and gladly fetched the book for her and she paid me a whole twenty-five coins for it.
I stayed at the Commons, listening to the conversations. Some were people were eating chicken dinners purchased from the Lucky Ferret. My stomach growled loudly at the smell of food. I heard Lady Anna call out again if I could do another errand for her. Another book fetched, and she gave me food and medicine.
She talked to me, asking about me. The more I told her about myself, the more she seemed to take interest and pity. Lady Anna arranged for a room at the Dancing Mermaid for me to stay in, rather than sleeping on the streets, and promised to do more for me.
And she has done so much for me. New clothes, a weapon and armor for protection, and new sights. She's taken me with her to other towns. And today she enrolled me in school at the Temple of Tyr. That's why I have a diary now, my instructor insisted I start one. He said keeping a diary makes for good practice with writing.
I don't think I can thank Lady Anna enough for what she's done. She's told me she was once an orphan like me, and that priests of the Red Knight took her in and turned her life around for the better. I've also asked my instructor for a book about the Red Knight. After talking with Lady Anna, I think I would like to read more about her goddess.
I try to thank Lady Anna each day I see her. I wonder if I could find a nice gift for her, though I know not what to get. For now, I will do my best in school, I'm sure she'd appreciate that.
It's getting late now, so I shall put my quill away until another day. Good night, Diary.
-
((I hate trying to play catch up… here's another late entry and with yet another to come.))
Dear Diary,
I met Lady Anna’s fiancé today, a man by the name of Mariston. I must admit that he is quite a gentleman. He speaks differently than most folk, very old fashioned with his words.
We went out into the kobold hills today. Lady Anna and Mariston took the lead, while Alek, a woodsman I don’t know well, and I followed. I stuck by to the shadows whenever possible. This was all good for practicing such skills, I must say. While we ventured deep into the foothills, we met up with a few other folk. An elf named Sy’wyn, a woman named Daria, and another man who’s name eludes me.
We all quickly noticed the kobolds seemed to be up to new tricks, as they had laid some traps before us. Unfortunately, Mariston and Lady Anna happened to find each of them the traditional way, by setting them off. They should have let me try my hand at disabling the traps (and I told Lady Anna such afterward, and she agrees). We hunted kobolds in all the foothills and even scoured a cave. All in all, it was a good adventure though. A couple of times the kobolds did seem to swarm up on us, but we prevailed and returned to the city.
Alek didn’t say much to me which was odd. I found out the reason why when I retired to bed after talking with Lady Anna and Mariston for a while. Alek had left a note under my door when he had left us soon after returning to the city. He’s left for home, to tend to his sister. I’m glad he thought to let me know he’s left, and I hope he returns soon. He’s been a good friend. I’m worried about part of his message though. He wrote that he’s had dreams of great evil coming to these lands and that he’s afraid something will happen to me. I pray that he’s just had a bad nightmare and nothing more.
Good night, Diary.
-
Dear Diary,
A woman, Gildor, asked to speak with me today. I’ve seen her once before, but didn’t really know who she is. It turns out she runs the Lucky Ferret. She also claimed to be a street rat like me. She asked me a strange question right from the start. “Do you feel free?” She then preached about how I shouldn’t let others try to make me into somebody I’m not. On one hand, I do certainly agree with what she talked to me about. I shouldn’t just be complacent with being given nice things and let others mold and control me.
Her words made me wonder if I am letting that happen. I’d be a liar if I said I hadn’t changed since meeting Lady Anna. I don’t think she wants me to become something I’m not, however. My experiences have given me skills and strengths that others might frown on, but Lady Anna hasn’t discouraged me from using them. In fact, I think she’s encouraged it. She gave me a black sword that isn’t as reflective so I can hide better than when wielding a normal sword. She’s praised my skills at sneaking and ambushing kobolds. The Red Knight would not frown at me for using such skills. She would frown at the opposite, if I did not use the abilities I am strong in. Strategy relies on using our strengths and minimizing our weaknesses. As for school, I do not attend it in order to be turned into some noble lass who just gossips all day and tries to look pretty. Knowledge is power. I do all this because I know I gain from it. One thing Gildor is right about though, I can’t exactly practice my less conventional skills at the temple. Tyrrans would rather teach “honorable” combat. While a bit of weapons training does help, I need other avenues to work on my other skills. Perhaps Gildor will hear more from me yet.
I do have one other problem. I’m still not sure what I wish to do when all is said and done. I want to make a name for myself, but how? What?
I pray the Red Knight can give me some guidance.
Good night, Diary.
-
Dear Diary,
This essay will certainly require much thought and research. I am to choose a problem in the city and write about the problem and a solution to solve it. I’ve been spending all day trying to think of what I should write about.
Lady Anna suggested I write about one of the problems I saw in the docks district as I grew up. “Write about what you know.” I agree that would make the essay easier. I’m not sure I want to write anything too personal though.
I seem to be getting a bit famous around here. Lady Anna seems to talk about me a lot with her friends. I met one of the Defenders today, a man named Talgrath. He asked Lady Anna if I was the girl she had been speaking so highly about. Senator Brynmor had made a similar comment when I met him the other day. I don’t really mind it; I feel a bit giddy to know Lady Anna speaks so much praise about me to her friends.
A few strangers asked for my help with finding a couple of the weapon and smithy stores in Peltarch. I decided to help them out and showed them to the places they needed to go. Alek was impressed with seeing me help out like that. Too be honest, I almost didn’t. I’m such a shy person. However, I know I need to overcome this shyness if I am to do something good with my life, so I gathered my courage and helped the travelers. One of them was a dwarves woman by the name of Branwen. She reminds me of an old neighbor when I was a little girl. I wonder if I’ll see those travelers again.
Good night, Diary.
-
Dear Diary,
Lady Anna introduced me to one of the city’s senators, Roland Brynmor. Senator Brynmor is not the one Anna works with, but he leads the Order of the Divine Shield, which she also helps out. He seems to be a nice person, I think I’ve seen him around a bit.
Lady Anna showed me how to play lanceboard today. It’s quite an interesting game. Each kind of piece has it’s own movement pattern, and the object is to capture the opponent’s commanding piece, the King, before he captures your King. It’s like a miniature battlefield, in a way. The game certainly appears to rely on much strategy and little on luck, which is no surprise since the Red Knight’s symbol is from this game. Her followers even gather for a day of celebration called “The Queen’s Gambit” in which many, many games of lanceboard are played. I hope to attend the next one, if only to watch others play.
At school, the teacher has warned me that I will have a big essay to write for my rhetoric class. He said he’d give more details about it tomorrow. I wonder what this essay will have to be about. Guess I’ll just have to wait.
Good night, Diary.
-
Dear Diary,
School is going very well. I passed my arithmetic test and I expect to do well in my other classes also. I’ve also started some weapon training. The temple was able to find a good fencing instructor to help teach me to use my rapier more properly. So far I think the lessons have been helpful.
Lady Anna hunted polar bears today. She says they are large, white bears that are quite fearsome. Tanners find their hides valuable. I imagine because they are quite resilient and I’m sure the white fur would look lovely as a cloak.
It seems I’m not the only one who noticed Alek has been smitten by me. Lady Anna commented to me about how he’s been asking about me whenever he sees Lady Anna. We both headed down toward Jiyyd to see him. We talked for a bit and then Lady Anna had to tend to some business with a temple at Jiyyd, so Alek escorted me back to Peltarch.
Once at Peltarch, Alek and I again had dinner at the Lucky Ferret. We decided we wanted to find out what they had in the back rooms. One room had strange machines with picture wheels. They appear to be games of chance. One would deposit coins into the slots and pull a lever. The pictures wheels would spin then stop. If the pattern matched a designated chart, then money would be won. It certainly seemed to be the kind of place a follower of Tymora would enjoy.
The next room we tried needed yet another pass to enter. The bodyguard behind the door that we heard didn’t sound too friendly. We then went down a set of stairs into this large room with a big cage in the center. I didn’t like the place at all. The cage looked like it had blood splattered on it. Alek said it was a fighting pit.
We went back to the first corridor and tried some more rooms, finding a prostitute inside. The fact that there was a prostitute didn’t surprise me, but I was still caught off guard just the same. Alek seemed to be very embarrassed by the scantily clad woman, which I would have found amusing if I wasn’t so startled and nervous myself. At the least I’m glad Alek has a good sense of chivalry.
The last door we tried was locked, and the huge, half-orc guard got quite offensive about us trying the door, saying it was for the owner only. After a quick apology, we both left the backrooms of the inn.
There was a band of warriors sitting at a table. They looked like a mercenary band, judging by their different colored armor. Parts of their conversation support that assumption, as they mentioned to each other about a job they were hired to perform. It sounded like this job was to be very much worth their while. Alek became curious about the group and asked one who they were. The fellow got quite defensive about Alek’s inquiry. He was quite a large man, and reminded me of my uncle. I hid behind Alec, hoping not to draw attention, but it seems my attempt at being unnoticed failed. The large man asked Alek how much money I’d cost. The way he leered at me sent a shiver down my spine. Alek did not like the question at all, and the two began to taunt each other until one of the other mercenaries came over and told his companion to back down. The other man apologized for his fellow’s behavior and seemed to be a polite man.
We soon left after that. I really did not wish to stay any longer near that large mercenary. We returned to the Commons to sit and relax, something I needed to do after a scare like that. Alek showed his more poetic side again as he began to gaze at the stars. He asked me what I planned for my future. I told him that I honestly did not know what I wanted to do with my life. Before Lady Anna ,I didn’t think I had much of a future. Now I have a future ahead of me and I just don’t know what to think of it. Kind of ironic, I think. One thing is for sure. I will make something of my life. Lady Anna would be disappointed if I throw away all the opportunity she’s given me.
Speaking of which, I have another test tomorrow, thus it is bed time for me. Good night, Diary.
-
Dear Diary,
I wanted to see Lady Anna today, but she was not at her room nor at the Commons where we usually meet. I figured she was probably visiting other towns. I decided to venture out and see if I could find her. I’m sure she won’t be happy to know I’ve left the town by myself, but I figured I would be alright. At least I seem to be good at hiding, and the Eastlanders still seem to be non-aggressive.
She wasn’t at Norwick, but I still took a look around the town. It seems they moved a wall to expand the town to the northern most gate. Nothing else that was interesting though, so I headed to Jiyyd. Lady Anna wasn’t there either, but I did run into Alek, the man I met with Vashere. He was concerned that I came out of the city by myself. He told me he had been talking to Lady Anna about me, asking about my schooling.
Alek escorted me back to Peltarch. I was glad he did, while I sneak well, I still don’t like the look of the Eastlanders. Many look mean, and remind me of Uncle. When we arrived at the city, we both had dinner at the Lucky Ferret. Alek was surprised when I stopped talking with a stutter. I guess I was getting more comfortable with talking to him. I’m just so nervous with new people, especially men, that I can’t talk without tripping over my words.
It’s become quite apparent that Alek likes me. He shows a lot of caring for my well being. Lady Anna did tell him that I’ll be in school until I’m eighteen. Honestly, I’m glad she told him that. While he is a very nice man, I certainly don’t feel up to having a relationship. I’m not sure I want a relationship ever. Mother and Father fought a lot, I’m not sure they were ever happy with each other. Which I guess is why Mother cheated on Father. I don’t want that to be me.
I’ve got an arithmetic test tomorrow morning, so I’m going to get some extra sleep tonight. I don’t expect to do badly on the test, as I’ve done well in class so far.
Good night, Diary.
-
Dear Diary,
Lady Anna took decided to take me shopping for more clothes in Jiyyd today. Before we came to Jiyyd, Lady Anna told me she needed to meet up with a man named Vashere. She said he is a gruff, but good man.
We met Vashere near a ruined tower close to Jiyyd. He was sitting by a campfire, clad in red platemail and with a dark helm. Another man was sitting with him, who was wearing a much simpler suit of armor. Vashere did seem to be a blunt man at times, but he mostly spoke in a dignified manner. His companion, Alek, was a bit of an interesting fellow. He seems to be have a passion you'd expect a Sunite to have.
Vashere and Lady Anna spoke about forming a Temple to the Red Knight. The warrior appeared to be in charge of a group of mercenaries who wished to make an outpost where we sat. Being followers of the Red Knight, Vashere planned for there to be a temple to her. I think Lady Anna was interested in being a part of it, but Vashere was not as accepting of her for being a priest at the temple. He's concerned that her ties to some two other organizations would not allow her to be free of bias.
I mostly listened to the conversation, but spoke up a few times. When we parted, Vashere told me I should be more confident in myself, as the few things I did say were full of wisdom. He gave me a small crystal, saying how it took millenia to form, a long plan turning worthless rock into something of value.
After the meeting, which did not go as well as Lady Anna had planned, we went into Jiyyd and saw the tailors. I picked out a nice purple outfit that was tagged, "Mysterious." It's sleeveless though, so I'd best not wear it outside in the colder months. Lady Anna also bought me a pretty red and white dress. It's been so long since I had worn a dress.
Lady Anna then had things to take care of and asked a friend, Fadia to take me home. I first met Fadia when I spent some time with Hedia the other day. She's a nice person, from what I can tell. I wonder why she dies her hair blue.
Quite a busy day today. It was a good one though. I still want to get Lady Anna a gift to show my gratitude, but have no idea what would be good. I'll give it some thought as I head to bed.
Good night, Diary.
-
Dear Diary,
I had spent some time with Hedia. She's a friend of Lady Anna and also follows the Red Knight. She seems to be a nice woman. Very pretty. There was something odd about her though. Maybe it was just my imagination, but she was awfully friendly with a couple of other woman she was with.
A bard showed us a strange stone he had. It caused the air around it to grow cold enough that the man was able to make frost appear on the stonework. I hope he's careful with that thing.
Good night, Diary.