One of the disadvantages of living in such a secluded community is that it's, well, secluded.

"Sylk, that's kind of obvious," you might be thinking.

But you have to understand that going anywhere from Kithkara was more than just a trip. It was an adventure in itself. Like all good adventures, it had dangers.

Not seven hours after I had set out from my childhood home, I heard screams coming from up the road. After walking for a few minutes, I began to smell smoke. Thinking that this might be the work of my father, I ran towards the source.

Just over a hill, my eyes came to rest upon a small village of twelve or so houses. As I believed, it was burning. Much to my chagrin, it seemed to be the work of common brigands.

As they ran from building to building, their bags seeming to become more and more full, I realized that they were extremely skinny, nearly malnourished. It wasn't a malicious attempt to cause pain to others, but rather a last ditch effort to survive. These men needed food or else they would surely starve to death.

I ran towards one of the buildings, where I found one of the brigands dead; presumably from a mixture of not having eaten and smoke inhalation. As I looked upon this sad, wretched man, my body began to shift. I took his form and switched my clothes for his, stuffing my own possessions in his bag to hide any trace of my own identity. I took what he had already gained from his "enterprising" along with a few more items from the house I was in. They left it here to burn down, so they didn't need any of it, right? I went with the rest of the brigands back to their cam to eat and check over our spoils.

Looking into the bag I had, I saw food (which they obviously needed more than I did), a few odds and ends, some books, and a small leather pouch. Opening the pouch revealed a handful of valuable looking gems.

Thinking quickly, I offered to trade some of my food for the non-edible items that the others had collected. Acting on instinct (and their empty stomachs), they practically threw anything that they couldn't feasibly eat at me and scrambled to pick up what little food I tossed out of my bag. While they were fighting over the salted meats and various fruits, I did a quick scan of all of my loot. I could probably fetch a nice amount of gold for these things! I slipped out, grabbing a few more items on the way, and continued on my way.

If it was going to be this easy to make money out here in the "real world", I knew that I would do rather well with the training my mother had given me.

The thought of my mother brought feelings of rage and despair to the front of my mind, and I chose to focus on these feelings. They made me feel powerful. Alive. I was going to use my skills and my "natural gifts" to make a name for myself in Waterdeep. With a renewed vigor, I broke into a run, eager to reach my destination.

After assuming the form of a child (to appear innocent and trustworthy) and catching a ride (lying being one of my strong suits) with some rather agreeable merchants (who "lost" a bit of merchandise along the way), I made it to Waterdeep (with some "found" merchandise).

I made my way to what seemed to be a market district and began to sell off everything I didn't need. I sold a few weapons, some of the gems, and even a pair of magical boots I picked up on my way through the market. All in all, I managed to gain enough money to buy a suit of mithral chain mail with a glamour enchantment on it. I made the investment because I'm lazy, and I was tired of changing clothes to match the physical form I was taking.

On my way out of the market, a group of kids picked my pocket. These ruffians had no idea what they were in for. I stalked them through the market until I noticed one of them breaking away from the group.

He went into an alleyway and was looking at his day's earnings. I began to run at him, but stopped short. In a moment of shear genius, I switched my form and armor to match someone who's reputation I wasn't afraid of hurting.

Gresk Lion's Paw hurtled down the alleyway at the child, who immediately dropped his bags and skittered down a sewer drain. I scooped up the loot and resumed my traditional human form before leaving the alley.

Tired from the day's pilfering, I decided to check into an inn for the night. The nearest one I could see was called the "Wet Goat". The name wasn't promising, but I'd slept in worse. I paid my three silver and retired to my room.

It seemed like I had just shut my eyes when I awoke to a figure standing over me. Actually, it was several figures. I was about to spring into action when I felt a prick on my arm. The last thing I remembered was a sinister, crooked smile on a dark skinned man as I slipped deep into unconciousness.

Those of you who have had the great fortune of meeting me know that I don't like to exaggerate. Well, much, anyway. So when I tell you that I awoke in one of the most depressing places I had ever had the misfortune of waking in, you should take my meaning. The walls were a dingy gray stone. The floor wasn't any different, save for the moldy straw "mattress" I found myself on. There was only one other figure in the room, and I couldn't see very well. It seemed to be a child, curled up into a ball on a similar bed across the room from me. I couldn't see his face, but I could tell he was shivering. I removed what little clothing my captors had seen fit to leave me with and placed it on the small child.

All at once, a few things happened. The child sprang from the bed and threw a handful of straw into my eyes. I screamed in anger and began to swing wildly, attempting to subdue the little creep. He dodged my blows with ease, giggling maniacally. His voice seemed to be a bit deeper than any child I had ever heard before.

"You great boob, what are you playing at?" he yelled at me.

"I thought you were a shivering child so I covered you. Had I known it would elicit this kind of response, I'd have throttled you instead," I said through clenched teeth, trying not to hurt this little man.

"That's what they want, idiot! They try to find your "weaknesses" and exploit them to get what they want!" he said to me, as if I were an infant.

"Who are they? Why am I here? And who in the Nine Hells are you?" my mind was reeling with questions.

As he began to answer my questions, I was able to make out a little more detail. He had the figure of a child, but with some form of strange facial hair I had never seen on one so small. He was clothed in rags, much like myself when I awoke, but all of his seemed to be shades of purple. He had a glimmer in his eyes which screamed of mischief and a faint musical quality to his words.

"Ok, now you're thinking a bit more clearly," he whispered, throwing me my clothes. "They are servants of the Tyrant, Bane. You are here because you have a skill that they believe will be useful in a slave. And, as for me, I'm shocked and appalled that you don't recognize me! I am the one, the only, the Amazing Scraath! Bard Extraordinaire! Surely that rings a bell?"

"I don't know who you are. I've never heard of you. But I have a feeling we're going to have to work together if we want to get out of this alive," I whispered back to him.

"Aye, lad, that we will," he said with a crooked grin.

I didn't know it then, but I had just made an alliance that would follow me for all of my days to come. For better or for worse. Usually for worse…