Disclaimer: The only thing I own is Essande E'lenei, Bioware owns the rest.

Author's Note: This is my first Hordes of the Underdark fic so please, do try to be understanding. Also Essande's description for the most part was taken from a picture, so technically I may not even own her. If the characters seem ever so out of character, or a lot for that matter, don't hesitate to tell me and I'll see what I can do about it.

Things To Do Before I Die

Prologue

Off to Waterdeep

Essande E'lenei opened up her journal, which wasn't so much of a journal as written in big block letters across its cover were the words "Things To Do Before I Die". Flipping through the alphabetically ordered list she had made some years ago Essande smiled as she crossed out "Crash knighting ceremony". The redheaded half-elf smiled at the memory, it wasn't the smartest thing she had ever done but she'd had fun despite the fact she had to hide in ditch for the rest of the day and sneak out of the town that night. Flipping to the "I" section of the book Essande proceeded to cross out "Incite angry mob".

"Never actually thought I'd be doing that one…" She mumbled to herself as she reviewed the list. "Then of course I never thought I'd talk to a dragon either…" Essande's smile broadened, recalling how she'd met the kobold Deekin. She hadn't seen him since the fall of the flying city of Undrentide. He was alive though; the half-elf had a copy of his book written to prove that. It wasn't bad actually, a little rushed at the end but she couldn't blame him for that after all who had time to wrote with all the running about they had had to do?

Sorting through her pack Essande replaced her list. Sighing she looked up at the night sky wondering what her next big adventure would be like and if she'd live through that one too. 'If I ever run into Sage again I'm kicking him in the shins…why don't you go to school in Neverwinter? Bah, it seemed so simple, thought I might get to cross out "Receive proper training" but noooo, the plague hits.' Essande shook her head, remembering the laid back elf. Sage was probably her favorite among the performance troupe she'd traveled with, he wasn't sarcastic like Ferra, or bossy like Gen, nor was Sage anything like Walt who tended to take things a little too seriously.

The group had been in Neverwinter just weeks before the plague struck when Sage made the suggestion. Essande had consented and applied for an apprenticeship agreeing to meet up with the group in Trademeet when her training was done. Her application was accepted and two weeks later after the troupe had left, the plague hit. Next thing Essande knew she was running about to help save a city she barely knew with a man named Terrill Sollec who was a senior at the academy.

After the whole Neverwinter tragedy, Essande had decided to finish her training with a dwarf named Drogan. Upon finishing her training the half-elf had thought she'd simply ship off to Trademeet, but no kobolds attacked the school and pandemonium ensued. Now two years later Essande sat in a covered wagon headed for Trademeet by way of Waterdeep.

"With my luck the place gets locked down as soon as the wagon stops to restock…" She muttered waking up the woman next to her. The woman had red hair a slight shade darker than Essande's and her tired eyes were a deep green. She was dressed in chain mail and a double bladed sword rested at her side. Essande recognized her from somewhere but she couldn't place where exactly. "Sorry for wakin' ya Miss." The skald apologized. The woman glanced outside and frowned.

"Have you been up all night kid?" Essande frowned at being called a kid but she easily replaced the frown with a smile.

"I guess. How much longer do you think until we get to Trademeet?" The woman looked at her in surprise.

"You're riding all the way to Trademeet? I thought everyone here was responding to the distress call from Waterdeep." Essande sighed, slightly exasperated and the woman tilted her head in curiosity. "What's the matter kid?" The skald shrugged leaning back against the wagon's framework.

"I don't know, seems like everywhere I go something dire happens, it's like a badly play that glorifies the main character enough to make you sick, ya know? If I ever find the playwright I'm going to kill 'em. By the way, I'm Essande." The woman chuckled lightly, shaking her head.

"Sharwyn, and I'm please to have met you Essande. You're like a bit of sunshine in these dark times." Sharwyn said smiling when Essande rolled her gold colored eyes.

"Ack! Now you're even reading this guy's script…wait, Sharwyn? You wrote Neverwinter Nights didn't you." Sharwyn smiled.

"Sure, I'll tell you about it in the morning though okay? Both of us better get some sleep now." Essande grinned back at her and got as comfortable as possible. Moments later the only voice heard was the humming of the driver and the occasional loud snore from a halfling sitting across from the pair of bards…