Page 5 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

PREFACE

Well mett adventurer. You seem like a curious sort
who enjoys the finer thin&•· P•rmit me to thrust upon
you my latest masterwork, years in the makin&, I
think you'll Snd it well worth your time and money.
FirsG a warnin&: here there be monsters!
No 1•11 a peerleaa font of aaAacity as Elminater of
Shadowdale has attested that more worlds than this
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one teem with monsters. At a ~&lllt, that "Here there
be monsters" line haa appeared. on maps of worlds far
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iron\ tkia o .... , and hidae11 from your modest 1cribe.
And who am t you ukt
Vcdethamp Geddarm at yo~ •ervice, aettin& forth
truths like the deep and anoieii.\ secrets whispered
into my ears by the &uardian i>iTits of the hidden
tomba of fallen archma&ea now dust. Yes, in this very
tome, I set forth diven detail,._ never before &athered
with such coherence~ in one ,j,llce, of the creatures
varied and stran&e that it pl•ie• Auman& and moat
other civilized races to deea ",nonaters."
I cannot recommend the es,.ntial lore contained
in this volume hi&hly eno11Ah;' and cry it to be
"life•savin~y nece11ary• to e"f'ery adventurer and
wayfareT in the wilderlanda. asid the Underdark, be
they prospector, minet', or mejlly aeekin& shelter in a
cavern from prowlin& beast,' ot the claws of winter,
over the world •nfrte,' And: <6uld you .ind it within
yoursetrto complain tha1-f1i.ii- or thafltntry· 18 lackiii&
in v•racity or comprehensive completeness, let it NOTES FROM ELMINSTE/:l AUMAR, ARCl-4MAGE OF 5HAD0W0ALE,
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be known that I, Volo, took no shortcuts, and stinted
SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE OPEN LORP OF WATERDE£P:
not in the depth of my probin&s' or the courtin&
of discomforts in &atherin& the moat extensive and t. LAV IT ON tHICI(, WILL YE?
authoritative lore possible. At &reat personal l'iakt
2. IF THIS IS MODEST, I DARE NOT THINK WHAT PREENING BE.
mit,ht I addl 8 1
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Betimes I used my not-inconsiderable ma&ic to 3. Cot-tERENCE, INOEED. VOLO, THY CLARITY IS AS THE CHURNING
cli1&1aiae myself 88 a tree, atone, or even a puddle, SURFACE OF A LARGE CITY CESSPIT-WHEN TENTACLES ARE
and so prepare the very beat ~uide I poaaibly could. ABOUT TO ERUPT FROM BENEATt-t. 1
In the doin&, I have seen the moat wondrous vi1ta&,
4. THE MODESTY IS BLINDING.' SucH A PARAGON OF ELUCIDATION,
from frosty hiAh mountain J>"ks where &iant castles
S-ELFLESSLY SERVING ALL. OFTEN ON A PLATTER, WITH AN
drift peat, to the deepest icy lakes beneath the earth,
where nameleaa tentacled thin&& stir and slither, and APPLE IN EVERY MOUTH.
.: w..a_s awed anew at the Ma,,ty_~ __ the world that we all, 5. EARPl.UGS SOLO SEPARATELY .
monstrous or otherwise, sharei1° C:,, HERE IT COMES, GET IN FIRST.' HEAD OFF Tt-lY LEGITIMATE
If you find this tome of use, please tell your CRITICS,
friends, busineaa partners, and acquaintances met
7, THE SANITY OF THOSE WHO BABBLE OF PROBES IS SELDOM HELO
in pasain& in the street. Then perhaps I'll have the
chence to pen an even more useful Auide, in future.u IN Hl<iH REGARD.
And whatever befalls you or me in our unfoldin& 8. Ye MAV, THOUGH YE'RE OBVIOUSLY UNAWARE, YOUNG VOLO, HOW
lives, I remain your humble scribe and obedient OFTEN AND FOR HOW LONG I HAVE BEEN TELLING DRAGONS,
sefvant. and am now (and if the Aods &rant, forever
MINO FLAYERS, ANO EVEN GOBLINS HOW TRULY VILE
in ~aatin& fame),
VOLOTHAMPS TASTE, RAW OR COOKED. YE'RE WELCOME.
V~othamp Oeddarm 12 9, BETIMES VOLO MISCONSTRUES THE MEANING OF \VOROS. HERE,
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FOR EXAMPLE, HE MEANS, ' NONEXISTENT,"
10. UNTIL WE KILL EACH OTHER, USING VOLO's HANOV TIPS,
BUNDLED UP NEATLY HEREIN.
, .. VOLO'S GUIDE TO FLEEING ANGRY MOBS. I FORESEE A
SHORT WORK, BUT A CLASSIG.
'2. LET ME BE FAIR. THE LAD MEANS WELL AND HAS DONE \VE"LL.
BETTER THAN I EXPECTED. So_Mli- cw WH,\T's 1N THIS sooK ts
TRUE, ANO CAN EVEN BE TRUSTED.

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