Author's Note: This is my first attempt at a decent length fanfic, so any feedback is appreciated.
I hope you enjoy what I create
He had just about all he could take. No more trans-planar dinosaurs, no more evil cults, no more conspiracies and, most importantly, no more (un)natural disasters.
Despite supposedly being the intelligent, level-headed one of the group, Davlin himself had started the last two fights. The Bard of the group, one who strived to earn the title 'diplomancer', had drawn his sword first. He'd been getting sick of the way his companions acted that he just wanted the city liberated.
While clearing a garrison to overthrow the aforementioned evil cult then realized…he'd put people in danger just to get something done faster? Typical arrogant PC behaviour…so he left. No word to his companion, he just blended into the fleeing refugees and left.
Some recognized him (how could they not? He hadn't a chance to clean off the blood and monster guts), but after a quick Travellers Chant they kept quiet.
After setting up for the evening, the group of travellers gathered around the fireplace. Some ate, some slept, Davlin wrote in a large tomb.
"What's that?" asked one of the children.
"It's not polite to ask" chided her father, but Davlin shook his head.
"No, that's okay" he said to the father before turning to the girl "This is my journal. I keep a record of things I've done, things I've seen and things that I want to do. It's also where I keep my stories."
"Why is it so fancy?"
"My journal is fancy?" asked Davlin, a little crestfallen that she didn't ask for a story.
"Yep." Replied the girl and pointed at the cover "This one's all shiny. Your other book is really boring"
"Yes, it is." answered Davlin "I've had this book a very long time. My spellbook is fairly new."
"You're a wizard!" exclaimed a nearby boy, but the girl ignored him and pressed on.
"Why is it so fancy? Are you rich?"
"Emma!" called the father again, but Davlin laughed.
"Actually I've never had much gold. I was a silversmith. The book is a kind of graduation test. They give you a single silver coin and you have to work it into something respectable. Some made rings, others made sculptures, I made silver leaf and used it to emboss this book."
"It's pretty…is it worth lots?" asked Emma
"Not really" shrugged Davlin "Remember, it's only 1 silver. I probably couldn't even get that, but even if it was worth its weight in platinum, I probably wouldn't sell it.
"Why not?"
"It's not just a book any more. It's a part of my life. The parts that are worth remembering" said Davlin and some I wish I could forget. He glanced briefly at the ash cloud from the nearby volcano, Mount Brobdingnagian, then closed the book and showed her the mostly blank spine "See that there's no silver here?"
Emma nodded and Davlin continued "These are a record of what I've done on my travels. This scroll is the symbol of Oghma, The Lord of Knowledge, leader of the Deities of Knowledge and Invention"
Emma pouted at this "Now you're making fun of me. Everyone knows Ioun is the God of Knowledge."
"Ioun is your God of knowledge" warned Davlin "Your city's high priest showed me that the two are quite different. He certainly wouldn't get far into the House of Knowledge."
Emma looked confused, so Davlin turned over his journal and recited the passage on its back cover.
Knowledge, particularly the raw knowledge of ideas, is supreme. An idea has no weight, but it can move mountains. The greatest gift of humankind, an idea outweighs anything made by mortal hands. Knowledge is power and must be used with care, but hiding it away from others is never a good thing. Stifle no new ideas, no matter how false and crazed they seem; rather, let them be heard and considered. Never slay a singer, nor stand by as others do so. Spread knowledge wherever it is prudent to do so. Curb and deny falsehoods, rumor, and deceitful tales whenever you encounter them. Write or copy lore of great value at least once a year and give it away. Sponsor and teach bards, scribes, and record keepers. Spread truth and knowledge so that all folk know more. Never deliver a message falsely or incompletely. Teach reading and writing to those who ask (if your time permits), and charge no fee for the teaching.
Davlin paused to allow what he had said to sink in before adding "It was those words that led me to becoming a Bard."
"Does that mean you'll teach me Elven?" Emma asked hopefully.
Davlin laughed "Just because I'm a Bard doesn't mean I can speak Elven."
Emma pouted again "Yes you do. I've seen you do it".
I guess an adventurer draws attention no matter what they're doing thought Davlin, recalling some bartering he'd undertaken with an elven trader when he'd arrived.
"Yes, I did. But that was magic. A ritual known as Comprehend Language – It's in my other book" Davlin then got it out to show her.
Emma studied it for a few seconds and then pointed at a few words near the start "These don't look like they belong here."
The kid has an affinity for magic...Davlin nodded "You're right. They're actually my own modification of the ritual. When you cast it, you can read any language you've seen, and understand what's said of any language you've heard in the last 24 hours. What you're looking at is some words in Elven, Draconic, and Dwarven."
"What do they say?" asked Emma.
"Good question. I wrote down words that made sense for the races that spoke them. The Elven says 'Grace', the Dwarven says 'Fortitude' and the Draconic says 'bloodied fist'".
"Why bloodied fist?"
"It was the name of a friend of mine – a Dragonborn barbarian. He's still in the city."
"Why aren't you with him? Are you scared?"
Davlin paused to think "…Sort of, but not really."
"Typical adventurer, leaving everyone else to clean up your mess" scoffed a nearby Eladrin.
"I do what needs to be done" said Davlin quietly.
"Then what are you doing here?" demanded the Eladrin
"Helping get those who don't wish to fight out of the area" Davlin replied waving his last Scroll of Travellers Chant. Fortunately he hadn't needed to use it today. The DM had ruled that he could use Bardic Training to make scrolls if he hadn't expended the free ritual it gave. His current stockpile consisted of 6 Lullaby's, a Travelers Chant, 2 Glib Limericks, and a Hand of Fate; something he'd acquired as a reward for the end of his first adventure, and he truly hoped he never was in a situation where it was worth using.
"Why, I bet I could take you in a fight, unarmed and single handed" boasted the Eladrin.
Davlin narrowed his eyes for a moment and took an Insight Check.
Unarmed In a fight means he's probably a magic user…yep. Wizard, Paragon tier. He doesn't care about the scroll, but he's eyeing my sword and I'm wearing chainmail so he knows I'm not a Wizard. Likely he can't tell if I know magic, but since I'm not a Wizard, he's confident he could take me no matter what. Not really a good match for me with their high Will Saves…
Davlin just shrugged "Maybe".
The Eladrin seemed perturbed. "Maybe? Well, maybe I'll have to find out for myself".
Davlin sighed "Not interested" he said.
"You sure?" whispered a gnome who had suddenly appeared next to Davlin I hate it when they do that "Lots of interested people. I'll give you a cut either way…"
That changed things. Davlin couldn't rely on an Adventurer's income anymore so he'd have to take gold where he can get it. "You're on. Rules?"
The Eladrin smirked, "One on one, anything goes short of death. I'll have nothing more than this" motioning his ornate robes before adding "tomorrow evening"
"Sounds good" Davlid replied, triggering an Insight Check, whichhe had again passed with ease; he's glad he got to set the time. Only just realized he's out of spell for today. Do I need a bluff check to conceal laughter?...Fortunately, the answer was no.
"I look forward to it" remarked the Eladrin before walking away.
"He's mean." Said Emma.
"Seems that way" replied Davlin.
"Are you gonna beat him up?"
"Probably not."
"Why not?"
"Because he's stronger than me"
"Don't be so sure…" said the gnome again causing them both to jump sneaky little bastard… "He did say anything goes and I might be willing to help you…even the odds?"
"What did you have in mind?"
The gnome shrugged and lay back on the ground with his hands behind his head "Not really an ideas person, but if you've got anything…"
Davlin stared into the fire. There's too much of a power difference between me and a Paragon. He's got better attack, defence, bigger spells, more spells…"Yeah, actually. I do…"
Notes
Davlin is a level 6 4e Bard that I used in a friends campaign. This is actually the point at which I had to leave the group to pursue work and that was pretty much the in-game reason I gave for Davlin's departure. We had a few differences in the rules which may not comply with RAW. I'll try to note it as they come up.
Bardic Training: Bard spells aren't useful every session so my DM was kind enough to let me burn my free ritual as a scroll if I hadn't used it by the end of the day. It gave me some more flexibility, and didn't really affect my gold since we had to roleplay/barter at stores and it was hard to convince a clerk to take more than 1 or 2 scrolls. Meant that I could pass along a Glib Limerick or Lullaby if we got separated too.
Comprehend Languages: The spell description just says you have to have seen or heard it in the last 24 hours, so I included some words written in languages I'd come across and how to pronounce them where I could. It increases it's utility by letting me cast in advance of meeting someone, but I still can't speak/write in it without passing the check. That'd be a 13 or higher at current level alone or a 5 if my whole party passed their aid another check, which is unlikely.
Hypothetically, I could have included phonetics of words at the end but that was pushing the rules a bit much. AMagic Mouth would feel a lot less like cheating, especially if I made the triggering condition that I attempt the ritual, but it has a high initial/maintenance cost so it was shelved until my gold situation improved.
Davlin's Spellbook: Bards don't need to prepare spells, so why does Davlin have a spellbook? I could say that it's just a ritual book, which Bards do have, but it's actually because he's Multiclassed. I argued that the Spellbook is actually a piece of equipment so if I was a Wizard and could acquire one then I should be able to cast them. He agreed, and even agreed that my existing ritual book could double as a Spellbook under the conditions that;
1) I only get access to spells that go in the spellbook ie. Daily spells
2) I can't get cantrips (I tried to swap the level 1 at-will as encounter with prestidigitation but in 4e it's a class feature not a level 0 spell... )
3) I didn't get spells from leveling
I needed to negotiate for or purchase spells; This was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be. The fair price he set for spells was a Wand of that level and the groups Wizard was unwilling to share his spells. I actually ended up stealing his book to copy Acid Arrow and "forgot" to give it back until the next day.
Multiclassing will come up again because it seemed my best option for Feats.