Yeah, start Baldur's Gate by the first game in the series. I havent played Pool of Radiance (the original) and I've been told it has a lot of things that explain lots of things on the second game - and BG2 without BG1 is still good but kinda hollow.
Try E-bay, or try via GB site, you may be able to get yourself a copy. Its not a hard to find game, and it has lots of mods.
