1 Prologue

Paper-cut ridden hands smoothened the crinkled parchment inside a rough leather book in front of them, dark ink covering the rough surface of the paper. The handwriting was smooth and thin, sometimes with little wet stains smudging the ink. While the scholar did not know whether that was from the years of exposure to the elements, or that the writer was truly distraught as they wrote.

As the scholar fitted square rimmed glasses over their eyes, the name Arachne Lyreflame was seen on the first page of the centuries old book, and a small symbol written on the bottom of the page. It seemed to be a blue moon with a bastard sword in the center, as if it was representing a God long lost to time.

As the scholar flipped to the next page, careful not to damage the parchment itself, he began to scan the work of this Arachne.

I don't quite understand why Leanora wanted me to write my experiences in this journal, but she's saved me from tight spots enough times for me to trust her. I'm now starting to believe that Seneschal Bran was the one who asked her to convince me to write about my experiences. He's just so obsessed with history, I've noticed, even more so than I. He just might want to bring our journals into history, but it is not I who says such things, even if I am one of the Six of Ser'Alun. It is the future generations that perhaps I may know near the end of my own life.

Look at me now, opening up to a little book. Something that has to hold all of my experiences. Even still, history is important, and this book and the one reading most likely does not know my name. I am Arachne Lyreflame, formerly known as Arachne Coborial of the House of Coborial of the Underdark, in the city of Abburth. I am a drow elf, but I have shown to many people, and still there will be many more, that I show no harm unless harm has been done unto me or my friends.

I am a disciple of the Lady of Song and Dance, Elistraee, the daughter of Lolth who wishes to bring safe haven to the drow peoples. I have trained many a year as a wizard under the study of Merliah Cadiva of Neverwinter, and have recently found my talents as a bard under the guidance of Elistraee. Some call me the "New Light" for the drow, while others acknowledge me as Lady Arachne Lyreflame, and my people that live underground despise me and most likely do not speak of my name, although they know it, as do their children yet to be born.

I have killed a dragon and a demi-god with the aid of my friends, and those are the more touched-upon achievements that my friends and I are known for, and am now a renowned figure around the Greenwald. But I do suppose, most stories have a beginning, and so does mine, even if my story began gruesomely.

Because you see, it began, as all noble drow children's lives do, in a chapel...