This is a little "could have happened" story involving Ryld Argith from the War of the Spider Queen books. This will probably turn into a bunch of little vignettes eventually.
With the exception of Tarlshi, Crinita, the Bloody Fang Gang and the story, I none of this was my own bright idea and I do not own nor profit from this in any material way, shape or form and have too little money to be worthwhile to sue anyway.
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Deep below the surface of Toril lies the Underdark, home to the Dark elves. Menzoberranzan, Lolth's prize city, houses hundreds of beings from races other than the dark elves. some of these unfortunents are slaves to the drow nobles and rich merchants but others live nominally free in the ghetto of Braeryn, the Stenchstreets.
Three of these upstanding residents of Braeryn were currently running from a rabble of grubby orcs and hobgoblins with red sleeves. While this was surely not uncommon, evidenced by the complete lack of interest from the other residents, the three being pursued were more noteworthy than usual.
The rogue farthest ahead of the irate orcs was heavily swathed in a dark, shabby cloak and many tattered shawls. Had the figure been observed sitting, it would appear as a crippled beggar. Had the figure been standing still and wearing less bulky clothing, the feminine shape under the rags would have been more apparent. Her uncovered, chocolate brown face gleamed with sweat and her toffee colored eyes betrayed a combination of amusement and worry. She looked human if not observed closely, but the scent of brimstone lingered about her and two small horns were carefully hidden in her dingy black hair. "Come on you two! The place where we can hide out is just a little farther!" she called to her two companions behind her.
"That's what you said ten streets ago, wench," Grumbled the second fleeing rogue between breaths. His raven black skin, tangled white hair chopped short and sharply pointed ears identified him as a dark elf. The ragged, threadbare state of his trousers, shirt and cloak proclaimed his residency in the ghetto. The worn scabbard and short sword attested to his cleverness and skill with a blade. For an elf though, he was broadly built and tall, but moved a certain quickness.
"You know of course, Ryld, that Crinita isn't listening," the third running rogue came up alongside the drow. Taller than the tiefling or the dark elf, his skinny arms and legs strung with sinew, the githerzai loped along, giving the impression that he could continue to run all the way to Skullport without breaking a sweat. His knees and elbows were knobby and bony, his hairless skin a dark yellow mottled with brownish spots. "On the other hand it does look like she has a bolt hole in mind."
"Tarlshi, whatever made you believe that Crin can think?" Ryld shot back. Crinita, farther ahead, disappeared around a corner. Ryld and Tarlshi sprinted to put more distance between them and their pursuers and to catch up to their compatriot. Tarlshi got around the corner first and collided with the rope Crinita dangled for the pair. "Get up here quick!" she whispered. Tarlshi, for all his well honed talent of long distance running, was not adept at climbing. Ryld followed the gangly githerzai as soon as there was enough room on the rope for him to do so. The three barely got the rope pulled in before three grunting thugs of the Bloody Fang Gang stepped into the alley.
The trio held their breaths as the mob of orcs split off to search the back alleys, sighing with relief when the last goblinoid moved off down the street.
With that sigh, the two males turned to glare at the tiefling. Suddenly defensive, she asked, "What? It's shiny, looks to be made of emerald or something and is too good for the gangs around here." With no response forthcoming from either elf or gith, Crinita sighed, "At least it should sell well."
"You've managed to our only remaining safe resting spot though! You knew that Arx's place is neutral ground!" growled Ryld, "You stole it inside the tavern! Now we're going to have to hunt out another hideaway. Couldn't you have waited until they left the tavern? Or at least didn't have as many friends with them?"
"Hey, I saw an opportunity and I took it!"
"I'll say you took it..."
"Could you tell me what the score was?" asked Tarlshi, "I didn't get a good look at it before we had to split."
"Sure," Crinita grinned, thankful for Tarlshi's even temper, "But I want it back." From a fold in her numerous shawls, the tiefling drew a length of rough finished green crystal as long as her forearm and about the width of two of her fingers. It was clear and glowed with a soft light from deep within the rod.
"That is nice. I think it might even be worth the trouble of finding a new safe-house," the githerzai said, " I don't think it's enchanted though."
"What?!" the girl indignantly huffed, "With color like that and the glowing, it has to be emerald and magical!"
Ryld, older than the githerzai and the tiefling put together, commented, "It looks like a wizard's wand but I've never seen one like that."
"So it'll be worth even more!" Crinita beamed.
"Provided we find a buyer and a decent price..."
"There's the best idea you've had all day!"
"We might want to find one of the merchants who supply the Oblodrans," suggested Tarlshi, thoughtfully looking at the crystalline rod.
"How come?" asked Crinita.
"A mind magic wand?" guessed Ryld.
"Yup, I think it's a dorje," replied the gith.
"Can you use it?" asked Ryld.
Tarlshi shrugged, "Probably not. I never had the leisure or patience to develop the mental agility necessary to do anything useful with mind magic."
"Wonderful! Let's go sell it!" Crinita grinned at the other two.
"How about we find a place to get some rest and sell this thing at Narbondel's first light?" Ryld suggested. "I want a bit of rest before you take us on another run through the Stenchstreets."
Tarlshi looked thoughtful while Crinita readied an argument to the dark elf's caution when the githerzai interrupted her, "About a week ago I saw a small entrance to a side cavern behind one of the alleys. When I got closer, it looked like no one had used it for a while."
"An abandoned alcove? Here?!" The tiefling was incredulous.
"It was well hidden..." Tarlshi began defensively but Ryld interrupted him.
"Look, let's go over to where this mythical cavern is and then make a decision. If we are quiet, no one will notice us right?"
"Sounds like a plan," the other two agreed.
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With the exception of Tarlshi, Crinita, the Bloody Fang Gang and the story, I none of this was my own bright idea and I do not own nor profit from this in any material way, shape or form and have too little money to be worthwhile to sue anyway.
************
Deep below the surface of Toril lies the Underdark, home to the Dark elves. Menzoberranzan, Lolth's prize city, houses hundreds of beings from races other than the dark elves. some of these unfortunents are slaves to the drow nobles and rich merchants but others live nominally free in the ghetto of Braeryn, the Stenchstreets.
Three of these upstanding residents of Braeryn were currently running from a rabble of grubby orcs and hobgoblins with red sleeves. While this was surely not uncommon, evidenced by the complete lack of interest from the other residents, the three being pursued were more noteworthy than usual.
The rogue farthest ahead of the irate orcs was heavily swathed in a dark, shabby cloak and many tattered shawls. Had the figure been observed sitting, it would appear as a crippled beggar. Had the figure been standing still and wearing less bulky clothing, the feminine shape under the rags would have been more apparent. Her uncovered, chocolate brown face gleamed with sweat and her toffee colored eyes betrayed a combination of amusement and worry. She looked human if not observed closely, but the scent of brimstone lingered about her and two small horns were carefully hidden in her dingy black hair. "Come on you two! The place where we can hide out is just a little farther!" she called to her two companions behind her.
"That's what you said ten streets ago, wench," Grumbled the second fleeing rogue between breaths. His raven black skin, tangled white hair chopped short and sharply pointed ears identified him as a dark elf. The ragged, threadbare state of his trousers, shirt and cloak proclaimed his residency in the ghetto. The worn scabbard and short sword attested to his cleverness and skill with a blade. For an elf though, he was broadly built and tall, but moved a certain quickness.
"You know of course, Ryld, that Crinita isn't listening," the third running rogue came up alongside the drow. Taller than the tiefling or the dark elf, his skinny arms and legs strung with sinew, the githerzai loped along, giving the impression that he could continue to run all the way to Skullport without breaking a sweat. His knees and elbows were knobby and bony, his hairless skin a dark yellow mottled with brownish spots. "On the other hand it does look like she has a bolt hole in mind."
"Tarlshi, whatever made you believe that Crin can think?" Ryld shot back. Crinita, farther ahead, disappeared around a corner. Ryld and Tarlshi sprinted to put more distance between them and their pursuers and to catch up to their compatriot. Tarlshi got around the corner first and collided with the rope Crinita dangled for the pair. "Get up here quick!" she whispered. Tarlshi, for all his well honed talent of long distance running, was not adept at climbing. Ryld followed the gangly githerzai as soon as there was enough room on the rope for him to do so. The three barely got the rope pulled in before three grunting thugs of the Bloody Fang Gang stepped into the alley.
The trio held their breaths as the mob of orcs split off to search the back alleys, sighing with relief when the last goblinoid moved off down the street.
With that sigh, the two males turned to glare at the tiefling. Suddenly defensive, she asked, "What? It's shiny, looks to be made of emerald or something and is too good for the gangs around here." With no response forthcoming from either elf or gith, Crinita sighed, "At least it should sell well."
"You've managed to our only remaining safe resting spot though! You knew that Arx's place is neutral ground!" growled Ryld, "You stole it inside the tavern! Now we're going to have to hunt out another hideaway. Couldn't you have waited until they left the tavern? Or at least didn't have as many friends with them?"
"Hey, I saw an opportunity and I took it!"
"I'll say you took it..."
"Could you tell me what the score was?" asked Tarlshi, "I didn't get a good look at it before we had to split."
"Sure," Crinita grinned, thankful for Tarlshi's even temper, "But I want it back." From a fold in her numerous shawls, the tiefling drew a length of rough finished green crystal as long as her forearm and about the width of two of her fingers. It was clear and glowed with a soft light from deep within the rod.
"That is nice. I think it might even be worth the trouble of finding a new safe-house," the githerzai said, " I don't think it's enchanted though."
"What?!" the girl indignantly huffed, "With color like that and the glowing, it has to be emerald and magical!"
Ryld, older than the githerzai and the tiefling put together, commented, "It looks like a wizard's wand but I've never seen one like that."
"So it'll be worth even more!" Crinita beamed.
"Provided we find a buyer and a decent price..."
"There's the best idea you've had all day!"
"We might want to find one of the merchants who supply the Oblodrans," suggested Tarlshi, thoughtfully looking at the crystalline rod.
"How come?" asked Crinita.
"A mind magic wand?" guessed Ryld.
"Yup, I think it's a dorje," replied the gith.
"Can you use it?" asked Ryld.
Tarlshi shrugged, "Probably not. I never had the leisure or patience to develop the mental agility necessary to do anything useful with mind magic."
"Wonderful! Let's go sell it!" Crinita grinned at the other two.
"How about we find a place to get some rest and sell this thing at Narbondel's first light?" Ryld suggested. "I want a bit of rest before you take us on another run through the Stenchstreets."
Tarlshi looked thoughtful while Crinita readied an argument to the dark elf's caution when the githerzai interrupted her, "About a week ago I saw a small entrance to a side cavern behind one of the alleys. When I got closer, it looked like no one had used it for a while."
"An abandoned alcove? Here?!" The tiefling was incredulous.
"It was well hidden..." Tarlshi began defensively but Ryld interrupted him.
"Look, let's go over to where this mythical cavern is and then make a decision. If we are quiet, no one will notice us right?"
"Sounds like a plan," the other two agreed.
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