Ches 26, 1377

I have arrived in Waterdeep by ship today and I find myself immensely grateful to be on land once more. The trip was wretched, the captain and crew incompetant in the extreme. Indeed I find myself amazed to have made it here alive rather than be swallowed by the stormy seas.

Upon docking it took mere moments to find suitable lodgings, a tavern called the Angry Coxswain. The food is palatable, the sheets are clean all things considered I do not think I could ask for more save a bit of privacy of which there is none. No sooner had I sat down to have a drink a foul smelling man in robes began staring at me, even going so far as to crane his head in order to stare at a bit of paper I had been writing on.

 Such horrible manners.

I would like to claim that this was an isolated incident but soon enough I caught the attention of an elf who insisited on spewing his opinions on everything like bile. But even more annoying than that were his questions. What is your name? What is your trade? By the nine hells I had just finished a month long journey on a ship of rotten wood that could barely remain afloat. Could I not simply have my drink in peace before retiring?

 Regardless I indulged the creature by answering, and was amused to find him evasive when I asked this elf called Zythus his own trade. He answered thusly 'I assist with the sale and aquisition of goods in the market place. No, no. Nothing in particular just general goods.'

 Laughable. The creature is obviously a thief, for only a thief would construct so flimsy of a lie in order to cover his misdeeds. But even theives can be useful if given the proper incentive.  Theives have a talent for getting into places they should not be, and I have need of such a person. I have arrived here in Waterdeep a free man, and I am determined to stay that way. I shall not sell myself to guild or temple in order to gain that which I need. Knowledge.

And thus I have given him the task in gaining me access to that which is greedily guarded by those who would keep themselves powerful while the rest of the world languishes in ignorance. The various repositories of history in the city.

And when I retired having given him this  task to perform I found myself curiously satisfied by the entire encounter, and slept soundly.

This Zythus will make an excellent lackey.