Rain and Brimstone



"What did you pull up the well?"

Durnan stared in horror at his wife, Mhaere, as he took the stairs three at a time. He breezed through what until recently had been a makeshift shelter for the Waterdeep refugees, and into the main room of his inn, the Yawning Portal.

"Well, it sounded like a man," Mhaere said. "He was quite insistent that we pull him up. He said he just wanted to talk. But he has horns, and a tail, so I wasn't sure if I should let him in..."

"Horns and a tail," muttered Durnan. "Horns and a tail. What will it be next, Mhaere?"

"I don't know. Perhaps a dragon in search of a good pie? A party of drow for a drink of famous Waterdeep beer?"

Durnan chuckled, but the sound died in his throat as he descended into the Well Room. Ever since all that business with Halaster and the drow armies had been sorted out, Durnan hadn't seen too much need for a whole bunch of guards in the Well Room, and had thus stationed only three there.

All three of said guards were lying unconscious on the floor, a frightening man with - yes, horns and a tail - standing over them, an un-bloodied flail in his hand.

"I only hit them with the handle," he told Durnan, spinning the flail. "They should be up and about in a couple of hours."

"Who are you?" Durnan drew his longsword, pushing his wife behind him.

"My name is Valen Shadowbreath," he said, giving his flail one final, showy twirl before strapping it to his belt. "I fought side-by-side with the elven cleric, Lineth Raine, in the battle to defeat the Valsharess and the arch-devil, Mephistopheles. I seek Lineth now."

Durnan lowered the sword, but only slightly. "I'm afraid you're not in luck, Mr....Shadowbreath," he said slowly. "Lineth Raine left Waterdeep some time ago."

For a moment, Durnan thought the ..man was going to attack him, but Valen seemed to compose himself. "Do you have any idea where she has gone?" he said from between gritted teeth.

"I'm not sure I should be telling you this," Durnan said. "If you are truly a friend of Lineth Raine's, then..." Durnan sought for some sort of question to ask. "What colour hair does she have?"

"Blonde," Valen answered curtly.

"And her eyes?"

"As brown as the bark on a Dryad's tree, although I haven't seen a tree in quite a long time," Valen said. "Do I pass the test?"

"Hang on, hang on," said Durnan, disconcerted. He spoke out of the corner of his mouth to Mhaere. "Dear, is that kobold still here?"

"What, Deekin? Yes, he's here..."

"Fetch him, will you?"

Mhaere nodded and ascended the stairs. Durnan stepped a little closer to Valen, studying the man closely. "What are you?"

"I am a tiefling. Born of human and demon parentage," Valen said.

"Sounds like you must have had a difficult home life," said Durnan.

"I was a slave most of my earlier life," the tiefling said coldly. Durnan winced, and wisely decided to keep his mouth shut until Mhaere returned.

It only took another minute for his wife to come back down the stairs, a small figure in tow.

The figure looked at Valen and grinned, mouth bristling with snaggled teeth. "Valen! You is here!"

"Yes, I is...am," Valen said. "What are you doing away from your boss, Deekin?"

The kobold opened his mouth to speak, but in a swift movement Durnan sheathed his sword. "Well, if Deekin knows you, I guess you truly are a friend of Lineth Raine's, and as such, a friend of mine." He stepped forward and extended a hand. "My name is Durnan. I apologize for the misunderstanding."

Valen stared at the hand for a moment before gingerly shaking it. "Quite all right," he grunted. "And I am...sorry," the word seemed distasteful to him, "For knocking out your guards. They were looking at me in a way I didn't much like."

"Well, I shall tell them not to look at you at all, then, once they wake up," said Durnan cheerfully. "Now, tell me...why exactly are you looking for Lineth?"

Deekin spoke before Valen could open his mouth. "Oh! Deekin knows! Valen and Boss real good friends! I even writes in book that Valen tells Boss he l-"

Valen grabbed his flail, pointedly, and Deekin quieted. "I am, as the kobold says, a friend," Valen hissed, his eyes never leaving the kobold.

"Ah, well...she's gone to Hilltop. I believe she trained there with her old Master. Deekin can take you there."

"Ooh, yes!" Deekin clapped his hands. "It will be just like old times, right, Valen!?"

"Indeed," Valen said, and he looked so scandalized Durnan laughed.