PREFACE
Well met, adventurer. You seem likea curious sort
who enjoys the finer things.Permit me to thrust upon
you my latest masterwork, yearsin the making. I
think you'll find it well worth your time and money.
First,a warning:here there be monsters!
No less a peerlessfont of sagacity asElminster of
Shadowdale' has attested that more worlds than this
one teem with monsters. Asa result,that "Here there
be monsters" line has appeared. on maps of worlds far
from this one,and hiddenfrom your modest scribe.
And who am I,you ask?
Volothamp Geddarm at yourservice,settingforth
truths likethe deep and ancient secretswhispered
into my ears by the guardianspiritsof the hidden
tombs of fallen archmagesnow dust.Yes,inthis very
tome,I setforth divera details,never before gathered
with such coherence in one place,of the creatures
varied and strangethat it pleasesshumans and most
other civilized races to deem "monsters."
I cannot recommend the essentiallore contained
in thisvolume highlyenough, and cry it to be
"life-savinglynecessary"to everyadventurer and
wayfarerin the wilderlands andthe Underdark, be
they prospector, miner,or merelyseekingshelter in a
cavern from prowlingbeastsorthe clawsof winter,
over the worldentire,And shouldyou findit within
yourself tocomplain that this orthat entry islacking
in veracity or comprehen1ive completeness^6 let it
be known that I, Volo, took no shortcuts, and stinted
not in the depth of my probingsor the courting
of discomforts in gathering themostextensive and
authoritative lore possible.At greatpersonal risk,
mightI add!•
BetimesI used my not-inconsiderable• magic to
disguise myselfas a tree, stone, or even a puddle,
and 10 prepare the very best guide I possibly could.
In the doing,I have seen the most wondrous vistas,
from frosty high mountain peaks where giant castles
drift past, to the deepest icy lakes beneath the earth,
where nameless tentacled things stir and slither, and
, wasawed anew at the beautyof the world that we all,
monstrous or otherwise, share.
If you findthis tome of use, please tell your
friends, business partners, and acquaintances met
in passing in the street.Then perhaps I'll have the
chance to pen an even more useful guide, in future,"
And whatever befalls you or me in our unfolding
lives,I remainyour humble scribe and obedient
servant, and am now (and if the godsgrant,forever
in lasting feme),
VolothampOeddarm 12
Notes from Elminster Aumar Archmage OF Shadowdale
Senior Advisor TO the OpenLord OF Waterdeep:
t. Lay IT ON THICK,IVILL VE?
- IF THIS IS MODEST, I OARE NOT THINI( IVHAT PREENING BE.
J. COHERENCE, INDEED/ VOLO, THY CLARITY IS AS THE CHURNING
SURFACE OF A LARGE CITY CESSPIT-WHEN TENTACLES ARE
ABOUT TO ERUPT FROM BENEATH.I
- THE MODESTY IS BLINOING.^1 SUCH A PARAGON OF ELUCIDATION,
S1'LFLESSLY SERVING ALL. OFTEN ON A PLATTER, IVITH AN
APPLE IN EVERY MOUTH.
- EARPLUGS SOLO SEPARATELY.
G. HERE IT COMES. GET IN FIRST.' HEAD OFF THY LEGITIMATE
CRITICS.
7, THE SANITY OF THOSE IVHO BABBLE OF PROBES IS SELDOM HELO
IN HIGH REGARD.
- VE MAY, THOUGH YE'RE OBVIOUSLY UNAWARE, YOUNG VOLO, HOW
OFTEN ANO FOR HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN TELLING DRAGONS,
MINO FLAYERS, ANO EVEN GOBLINS HOW TRULY VILE
VOLOTHAMPS TASTE, RAW OR COOMEO. VE'RE IVELCOME.
9, BETIME$ VOLO MISCONSTRUES THE MEANING OF \VOROS. HERE,
FOR EXAMPLE, HE MEANS, '^0 NONEXISTENT."
- UNTIL \VE MILL EACH OTHER, USING VOLO's HANDY TIPS,
BUNDLED UP NEATLY HEREIN.
11 : VOLO'S GUIDE TO FLEEING ANGRY MOBS. I FORESEE A
SHORT IVORM, IIUT A CLASSIC.
- I.er ME BE FAIR. THE LAO MEANS \YELL ANO HAS DONE \V£LL.
BETTER THAN I EXPECTED. SO.Mio CF \VHAT'S IN THIS BOOM IS
TRUE, ANO CAN EVEN BE TRUSTED.
