Who is the person that knows me the best?  Without a doubt it would be Edward Blacksand.  We grew up together Calimport.   See Edward is the youngest son of Roland and Selene Blacksand.  Yes those Blacksands.  In Calimport you’re either wealthy or you’re nobody.  Edward’s family is well off, mine not so much.  My mother Sula was the Blacksand’s maid and Edward’s wet nurse.  You should see his face turn red when I announce to the common room that we shared the same teats.  He hates that. 

It wasn’t long after the crystal crash that we that we decided we needed to explore the city outside the walls of the Blacksand estate.  In retrospect that might not have been our wisest course of action, but it has made a good story.  We got hopelessly lost and if it wasn’t for a kind priest of the Morning Lord things may have been far worse.

Edward’s brothers and sisters weren’t very fond of him and they hated me.  I was that poor servant’s child that they were forced to deal with daily.  If they’d have had their way I’d have been booted out of the manor long before I finally left.  See I’m naturally curious and pretty good at finding out what you want kept secret.  Blackmail, that’s such a harsh word really.  Let’s just say I had plenty of insurance to protect us if they got too far out of line with either me or Edward.

When we were about ten we were finally allowed outside the estate grounds on our own.  We’d run errands all over town for members of the house.  That’s when we met Benedict Blackstone.  Ever met someone who just seemed so very tragically cursed?  That’s how I felt about Benedict.  From then on it was Ed, Bene, and Dar.

Benedict’s parents give me the creeps.  Both of them always looked at me funny, like they’re trying to decide if anyone would truly miss the poor kid.  One time I stopped by looking for Bene and his father was had the jeweled dagger in his hand.  He told me he thought Benedict was downstairs and that he’d show me the way.  The hair on my neck stood straight up.  I swear I wouldn’t be telling this story today if I’d have gone down those stairs.  Lucky for me Benedict came walking in the front door. 

I can’t complain I got an education while we lived there.  The private instructor for the Blacksand children Professor Denton Jameson had a thing for my mother, so he taught me to read and write.  I loved history.  My education only fueled my need to know and discover what others didn’t know.  In some cases what they didn’t want anyone to know.

Why did I leave?  You can only lick on the silver spoon so long before someone tries to shove it down you throat.  No Edward and I came of “age” and the lord and lady thought it best if Edward took the cloth so to speak.  Meaning we have no intention of leaving you anything so you’d better find your own way.  See Edward was the youngest and without him around there really wasn’t a need to employ my mother anymore.  So we got the boot.

So now we’re on the streets.  Mom worked very hard to keep some food on the table and a roof over our heads albeit a leaky one.  Me, I started running the streets.  It didn’t take long for me to fall in with a few of the local “rogues”.  They continued my education.  I learned to lift purse, open what someone else didn’t want opened.  You know a minor life of crime.  I was head way down the wrong path.  If I was lucky I’d end up in jail, more than likely though I’d have had my throat slit for stealing from the wrong person. 

I still visited Edward at the temple.  He would sneak me into the library so I could read.  When I’d go to leave he’d tell me he was praying for me and that I’d find right path.  Little did he know he was right as rain.  I’d seen the “scholar” in the library a couple of times before.  He carried this ornate book that he’d scribble notes into.  I was mesmerized by the secrets that book could hold.  I figured I follow him and see where he stayed and when he wasn’t around I’d let myself in and have a look.

He was staying at the Jade Griffin.  Lucky for me one of the serving wenches is a “friend” of mine, if you know what I mean.  Last room on the left top floor she told me.  So I found a nice spot in a corner and waited.  Soon enough he comes our academic down the stairs.  I want to bolt up the stair as fast as I could, but I waited to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything.  I made my way to the stairs subtly.  Once I was out of sight of the common room I dash up the stair 2 and 3 at a time.

I tried the door.  Dang it was locked.  Good thing I had borrowed my friend’s key.  I let myself in closed the door.  Surveying the room the only thing I saw was a chest next to the bed.  A little rattle of the tools of the trade and that lock popped right open.

There was the book.  Looking at it now it the book appeared to be bound in some type of reptile skin.  I took it out and set it on the floor.  My hands trembled.  I might not have much time to read it now.  I should take it with me and open it in a safer location.  For some reason my hands had other ideas and I opened the tome and what great secret stared back at me?  Nothing but a blank page! 

Just as my heart sank I felt a tingle in my fingers that shot up my arms and down my spine.  Suddenly I couldn’t move.  Damn it anyhow, I’m going to jail and for what a fancy notebook.  Magically, writing appeared on the blank page.  “Darik Badren, rest well I’ll more than likely kill you in the morning.  And there I stayed all night frozen in place unable to move.

When the morning light began to shine through the window the door opened and the scholar stood there eyeing me.  “Master Badren, I assume.  Are you ready to die?”  Lightning crackled along his hands, and my heart leapt in my chest.  Well it ends here and over what, some stupid book.  The mage roared with laughter.  “I thought you were going to piss yourself just then.  It has been years since I’ve scared someone so much.  I am Xevin Catrel, Seeker of Truth and you are hence forth my apprentice.

It appears my mother and Edward thought I’d make a better wizard than thief.  With the help of Professor Jameson they contacted Xevan and arranged for me to become his apprentice.  I’d spend the next 5 years traveling from Calimport to Waterdeep and even Baldur’s Gate learning divination magic and helping Xevan search for the great mystery.  I returned to Calimport following my apprenticeship to find everything going haywire.  Benedict's parent tried to sell his soul to a devil.  Edward's parents are looking to use him as some sacrifical lamb for some scheme that went wrong.  So we're on the road.  At first just the 3 of us, though we soon met 2 new friends.  Though we do draw a little attention 4 twenty somethings and a young girl.

That brings us to the here and now.  Edward, Benedict and I adventuring together with new found friends.