DALVYN, HIGH PRIEST OF MYSTERY

I am a half-elf born some twenty years ago in a small human settlement, Nashkel, south-east of Candlekeep. My mother, Blista, is the daughter of one of the farmers living there and my father, Elisyn, is - or rather was, as he no longer adventures - an elf mage adventurer. When Elisyn came to Nashkel with some fellow adventurers to protect the farmers from a kobold invasion, he met Blista and immediately felt in love with her. According to what my father told me several years later, he had been charmed by her kindness - and her wonderful blue eyes - and decided to quit his adventuring life to settle down and live with Blista.

A year after, I was born. I had the black hair of my father and the blue eyes of my mother. I grew up there, in Nashkel, helping my mother and my father with the farm chores as well as I could. The best memories I have from this time are the long winter evenings when all the inhabitants of Nashkel gathered near the fireplace in my father's house and listened to the stories he narrated.

There were stories about evil monsters my father had fought, stories about faraway lands with strange customs, ... but the stories I prefered was those of the Time of Trouble. My father Elisyn, being a mage, could speak during several hours about what happened then, when magic was wild and the Gods wandered the kingdoms. I was troubled by how all greatly suffered when magic was wild and uncontrollable and did not stop asking more and more questions to my father, listening to his answers with eyes and mouth wide open.

I also loved the story told by the bards, about a young lady named Midnight who faced lots of obstacles, lost friends and was even betrayed to allow the gods to leave the kingdoms. I was always nearly moved to tears when my father narrated how Midnight lost her spellbook, eaten by hungry halflings, and felt so depressed. And I rejoiced when he spoke about the elevation of Midnight to the status of Goddess of Magic.

When I was 16, I decided I had to go and tell everybody about this wonderful story, to make all know this brave young lady who had now become a Goddess. My parents knew my determination was strong and let me go, trying to hide their sorrow. I then left Nashkel and decided to go to Waterdeep, where I hoped to find more knowledge about Midnight.

When I arrived there, I was very suprised: such a huge town, so many streets, so many inhabitants. I wandered the streets of Waterdeep during a whole day, not knowing really where I was nor where I was heading to. Several hours after the sun had disappeared from the sky, I was still lost, exhausted, and feeling alone. I sat on the edge of a street, leaning against a building, and soon fell asleep.

Some minutes later - or maybe even an hour later - the rain started to fall and woke me up. Soaked to the skin, I stood there, against the wall of the building, shivering with cold. A noble-looking tall man then walked out of the building and came near me. The man, wrapped up in a blue cape, smiled and told me I could shelter in the building.

I smiled back slightly to him and followed him inside, in a small room lit by a single torch near the entrance hall of the building. The man then took a dry cloth from a closet and gave it to me. When he removed his cape, I stood there, eyes and mouth open - just as when I was listening to my father's stories -. I noticed the blue chainmail the man was wearing, the glowing symbol he had around his neck, and the scar crossing his cheek. I hardly could whisper "Are you... Adon?".

The man smiled again and answered "Yes, indeed. It is my name". My legs bent slowly and I kneeled, not knowing what to say and even too impressed to say anything. I had wandered the streets of Waterdeep, completely lost, and had found someone I would not even have dreamed to meet: Adon, the High Priest of Mystra, a trusted friend of the Goddess, who was with Her during the Time of Trouble.

Adon smiled once again and said "How do you know my name, young one?". I then told him my whole story, unable to stop speaking, overwhelmed with the joy of meeting the High Priest of the Goddess I had sought. Adon listened very patiently, never stopping smiling, till I ended my long monologue: "Please, Wise One, teach me how to serve Mystra."

Adon explained how to pray and told me to go to the Temple of Oghma to receive basic training in the way of priesthood, "But for now, you look exhausted. Stay here in the temple and rest. Tomorrow will be soon enough for you to begin your training." Adon then led me to a small dormitory where he wished me a good night. I fell asleep, with a smile on my face.

I spent two weeks in the training grounds of the Temple of Oghma before going back to the Temple of Mystra to see Adon. Adon told me I was ready to become a priest of Mystra and, assisted by a priestess of Mystra, he celebrated my ordination: I was now to be known as Dalvyn, the Servant of Mystery. Adon gave me a holy symbol, in the shape of a star ringed river, that has been around my neck since that time.

The priestess told me to seek out other followers of Mystra, namely the bards Cale and Betandor of the Starry Quill, who could teach me more about Her will. They both helped me greatly, showing me around Waterdeep, telling me how I could please my Lady. I also met other followers of Mystra: Eltsac, Seth, Khiril, another priest named Etzem, Mouat of the Shooting Stars, and Alain, First Knight of the Mystic Fire. And they all helped me serve my Goddess and became close friends.

The next ceremony Adon celebrated, some two years later, would have never taken place if I had not received so much support from my friends. As I was on the Market Place of Waterdeep talking with some newcomers to the city, a priestess of Mystra came and asked me to go to the temple. There, I met Adon, Betandor, Seth, and Eltsac. Adon was smiling, as usual, but did not say a word till we were all there.

He then asked me if I was willing to take more responsabilities in the clergy of my Lady. I gladly nodded. He told me he needed help to take care of all the followers in Waterdeep and offered to promote me to High Priest of Mystra. I was so happy that I remained speechless, only able to say "It would be an honor, Adon."

A few seconds later, there was a bright flash in the temple and a beautiful lady in a deep blue robe appeared. We all kneeled before Our Lady. I was so overwhelmed with joy: it was such a great honor. The Goddess I had sought and venerated during my whole life was standing there, in front of me. My Lady said in a smooth and singing voice: "You have pleased me, my priest. Accept this chainmail and wear it with pride." I barely managed to say "I live to serve You, my Lady." The Lady of Magic then gave me a blue chainmail inscribed with Her symbol, the same chainmail I had seen on Adon the first time I have met him. She then smiled and disappeared.

Since that time, I strive to help newcomers to Waterdeep, especially young mages, knowing how annoying it can be to get lost in such a big city; to smile and listen to others, as Adon did to me; and, mostly, to serve my Lady to the best of my abilities.