Dear Father,

Here we are in Balder’s Gate. I really don’t know what I can say. It has undergone so many changes over the years that it is hardly recognisable from when we visited when I was a child. The four dukes have been replaced by a single ruler after some sort of werewolf attack 10 years gone. The once courteous town guard have been replaced by a mercenary company called the Flaming Fist many of whom appear more bent than a halfpenny nail.

I had a bit of a layover in the cells thanks to that and visited an Inn known as the Silverstar which seems quite nicely laid out. Delivered some messages for Zyanne, you remember the lady I wrote to you about previously and discovered that the Waterdeep Embassy isn’t really having any decent luck these days. I’m reasonably certain much of it boils down to a murderous little traitor called Devlin who appears to have gotten himself recognised as some kind of hero around here. No one seems at all suspicious that of the many adventuring parties he has been a part of he is almost always the only survivor of his expeditions.

Anyway there I was just resting in the Inn and entertaining the crowd with a truer version of the “Ballad of Devlin” than the one I have encountered so far among my travels when I heard one of my companions yell about monsters on the loose. I went out of the Inn and saw that a Circus had set up outside the Inn and true enough a bunch of monsters had been let loose from their cages.

Being the heroes that we are we of course stepped in to subdue them. A menagerie like one could not imagine had been assembled and we found ourselves battling not only an Ogre but, also two different types of Kruthik, a hellhound and a drake. Truth be told though our new “addition” Garad makes a reasonable replacement for Zyanne in battle we missed the swordmage Athon, whom we had sent back to Marsember to assist Zyanne in setting up the headquarters for the Company.

Thankfully, we managed to best the beasts just as some of the Flaming Fists showed up. I left Aradon and his newfound respect for Amaunator to play the diplomat this time and went back to the Inn where I played my heart out and poured as much of the Goddess into my performance as possible to try and help these poor people see the truth of this Devlin.

We all had a good nights rest and in the morning after summoning Athon through the portal stones visited the Cormyr and Waterdeep Embassies.

On the way back through town we engaged in a little shopping trading out things that were of little real value for items of interest or which were likely to assist us in our travels. I believe next time we engage in such a shopping trip I will insist that we visit appropriate places to by Healing Potions and Poultices though as healing is not really my forte and Aradon is only slowly growing into his abilities.

After this we decided that it was time to get on with the business of locating the Nazelkin and headed to see a gentle sage known as Gilthan in the Old District.

The man and his house were both deceptively dilapidated but, exquisitely outfitted inside. He holds more knowledge in his brain than I have in my entire body. I can only pray to Sehanine that I grow to his age and his understanding.

Anyway, he spoke at length to us of Diker Thane and informed us of possible starting points for finding the Nazelkin. I think we are off to find the 3rd one first in something called the Wizard’s Tower.

He was also very forthcoming with information about Devlin’s known exploits and the fact that it is believed that he is currently working for Count Brass (a being which Gregg insists is going to be more than he appears). I swear ever since we encountered a Brain in a Jar all those months ago that Gregg has a fear of losing his Will to another (though considering how hard he hit me that day I’m quite surprised I don’t have that same fear.

Information was also given to us about Menhir and his lost gnome, Irsel; about Bogental, the Waterdeep Ambassador who has had dealings with Devlin and whom I will need to arrange a meeting with and a little bit about Needles and “The Cat”.

Anyway, I must be off to help investigate the home of someone named Mandorka who is said to have been researching the Wizard’s Tower when he disappeared.

Until then may the Lady watch over you and keep you safe, warm, and well fed.

Give mother my love if she returns.

Delamor