[Unglaublich Verwustung]

Character: Horeak Graian Rivenlore

Chult, deep in Faerûn: steaming jungle, hot and wet. Trunks and boughs of blood-red and purple, vines looped everywhere, sucking mud, shrieking beasts - and everywhere, stinging insects. Bites to drive one mad as the snakes slither and the lizards scurry and death comes from a hundred directions. You're too intent on what you must swing an axe or hammer at to know what disease is stealing into you to bring you down. Bats as big as horses, caves where they lair in many a ridge and dangerous cliffs hidden under jungle - whilst there are more gems down those caves than shine in Amn and Calimshan put together.

A great place to leave, a better place to return to. Maybe. Just not yet, not until I've experienced a little more of the other people's lives; a young dwarf has to learn to make his way in the world if he's going to make his way in the tribe. And in my tribe we are all dedicated to Marthammor Duin, the dwarven deity of Travel and Protection, so there's no option really.

More about me? My family emigrated into the wilds after my birth, returning to my father's father's tribe. And how did the tribe react to my family? Well, truthfully, we've always been viewed with suspicion, as outsiders, not belonging there, not truly. Nevertheless one of the most influential people in my life has been our Loremaster, Bruenor. He took me under his wing, he taught me the meaning and use of lore and discipline. However, as I learned more from him, I realized that Bruenor has no compassion for others who can't hold up under this strict teachings, yet from him I learned the value of laws and those who enforce them. Because of this I find it hard to break the local laws and I still try to have respect for the local authorities despite their occasional efforts to deprive me of this view. Despite this I understand that everyone is different and can't necessarily follow the beat of the same drummer that I do, the ethics that have been beaten into me, ofttimes literally.

In addition I had friends amongst my peers, who seemed to respect me. I learned the hard way that they all had their own ambitions, and generally self-centered attitudes. I was betrayed by one, Drizzt, at a critical moment whilst fighting against a marauding, possessed giant of Kostchtchie the Demon Lord, leaving me with only the one eye - mind you, it's a bloody good eye, just my depth perception is a little skewed; if we get in a fight, really, really don't get on my wrong side - and I don't mean of my temper. Just stay where I can see you, okay.

Aside from giving me a disfiguring scar and persistent headaches, I now have a deep suspicion of those who have not proven themselves trustworthy i.e. everyone that I meet, which probably includes you. You may notice that I am often openly suspicious of others, and quiet around them; I have recurring nightmares, a lack of curiosity, and a secretive attitude. And I get grumpy. Definitely grumpy.

Oh, I forgot to mention my particular enemy, after all we each have at least one. The only problem is that everyone else I've met believes this to be a delusion born of my supposedly disturbed mind. When he attacks I can never convince my companions that I am in any, never mind real, danger. They never see anything. Never anything but me. Sooner or later they all start to doubt my sanity, my sincerity, as they claim never to find any evidence to support my assertions that I have been menaced. So, as for companions, I've had some in my travels but none stay for long, they don't say anything when they decide to go, they just...leave. But he is there, in the shadows, and he is coming for me, I know he is coming for me. You won't catch me in the shadows, shadows are wrong, very bad, very wrong...