In My Time of Troubles Chapter 10: Entry 10, a dungeons and dragons fanfic

Journal of Loraatris Hollysword [01]

25th Day of Kythorn, 1353 Dale Reckoning

We have arrived in Port Llast at long last; the roads grow unsafe, and while travelling with that merchant was safer than just myself and Lua...it sadly meant travelling with said disgusting merchant and his mocking of my...inadequacies as a woman. Perhaps I should be glad though as Lua says – would I have preferred his advances instead of his focusing upon that caravan guard?

Perhaps for once the hatred directed at my friend and my own failings have saved us far greater problems. And as she said at least we were allowed travel with them, without paying us coin as extra blades of course, unlike so many others of his ilk. Though the port here is far from a friendly place, and I doubt this is entirely due to Lua's presence, but at least we managed to persuade...meaning bribe of course...the local militia to allow us entry. And the owner of the tavern allowed us entry unlike those ingrates and cretins in many of the Inns we passed between Waterdeep and Neverwinter.

My only worry is that we shall be delayed here for some time owing to the looming risk of war between Neverwinter and Luskan. The High Road to Luskan are no longer safe, and therefore closed, while the port itself is not allowing ships to leave till reinforcements from the south arrives. Though none here seem to know when these shall arrive at my brief questioning of the staff of this Inn. Depressingly the other customers of the tavern seem more angered by Lua's presence and are unwilling to speak to either us, or even allow us sit with them early in the taproom. Instead we ate in our room and are once again forced to pay coin above others merely to be treated the same. How Lua has the patience I do not know, but she merely says it just fear driving them and they are likely goodly folk beneath that.

Perhaps she is right, though I cannot say I agree. The world is wicked place, filled with many wicked and ignorant folk sadly and all we can do is bring brief joy into it by our own hands. Hopefully our coin will hold up to this new travail, and that the port or roads shall clear, and we can continue our delivery to Mirabar. Now I must finish my musing and go bathe, a rare and unexpected treat for both of us here I admit, and perhaps see if I can raise some coin by song and verse to these unwelcoming cretins.

28th Day of Kythorn, 1353 Dale Reckoning

This town hath given us a typical welcome of the ignorant peasant; suspicious and trustful, mixed in with a great degree of miserliness and hypocrisy. Few amongst them will bestow coin, or even applause my bardic efforts; despite taking obvious pleasure and respite from my verse few offer anything more than glares, or merely ignore my (or our) attempts at conversation. Nor delay one amongst them from attempting to gaze upon us bathing in the darkness. Or merely eat at the same table as themselves; we merely managed to partake in our meal this morrow was due to arriving early to request a serving. It is all quite vexing indeed as usual. I fear our welcome further north will be as here or worse, but for now I merely wish to leave this place soon so as to ease the pressure on our joint purse.

4th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

A new guest has joined us in the Inn it seems, a foppish sort I find judging from his manner of speech and evident decision to purchase new clothing upon arriving in this town. I admit he seems a friendly enough sort, and Lua is happy she has found someone who is not hateful towards her, but in truth he is seemingly a failed bard or one who hath wished to be a wizard yet lack the ability. Many have claimed the title of loremaster, self-named and oft unwarranted in such naming, but he to mine eyes he merely seems to be some disgraced nobles son or failed apprentice to a Sage. No matter my concerns he is to become our traveling companion, and I can but hope despite his foppish nature he hath been trained in using that old blade he carries with him. I admit I am no warrior, these weighty weapons and armour tire me so quickly despite learning to wield the blade...it is unfair I find. My unwelcome elven blood makes me weak of limb, yet Lua can carry her weapon and heavier armour without complaint. Still even if the dandy, this Karg of the Crags as he calls himself, is unskilled as I fear at least he shall be no danger to ourselves, and can serve to add us in carrying our burdens or easing entry to the ignorant villages. Perhaps these cretins will be less ignorant and unwelcoming to a party of three than towards two fair maidens traveling the lands?

6th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

We are still trapped amidst these dreary fellows and their plain wives, though a chance to escape the confines of this place has arisen, at least temporarily. Paying work as part of that brief respite from the same room day in and day out; all we must do is travel with some other adventurers and guards to the home of nearby farmer and inquire into his safety. While the coin reward is but two days stay in this Inn, the mere chance to perhaps help reopen the roads and traveling onwards was too much to turn down in conjunction with even a small journey beyond the environs of this place. No fan am I of journeying in that uncomfortable and weighty armour as one must...but still this room and its confines are too much to be trapped in constantly.

Lua is also as eager to accept this quest, though more I think in some vain hope to convince these ignorant yokels that she, and we, are perhaps potential friends and not enemies in their midst. I blame The Fop for this situation; his willingness to engage in friendly (albeit dull I find) conversation with Lua has raised her hopes over what they should be. That and his odd knowledge of Lua's Goddess and those other deities of the Underdark that Lua swears are the vilest of evil and have turned her people into the monsters that we have oft heard of in the tales. Perhaps the dandy is more learned than I hath judged at first, all I can hope is that he is genuine in his willingness to aid us in our travels. Now I must prepare for our small expedition.

8th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

Thank the Gods I hath managed to survive the horrors we encountered in that place, and my own failings...yet again...as an adventurer. Perhaps Mother was right and I am just a worthless little girl that'll never amount to anything. Why can I not be better? I try and try, yet fail and fail...

I try to be brave, but I'm so slow in what others carry with ease. Why must I be such a weakling? To be carried like a doll because I cannot save myself? Why must I be cursed with a body that no man would wish to gaze upon unless he prefers a boy perhaps. Yet posses no strength or muscles as a man of my stature doth possesses...the foppish Karg is but a little bigger than I yet carried my frame with seeming ease to return me safe home. Lua carried me and protected me, indeed even this bounty hunter they befriended after the battle carried not just my weight but my armour and weapons for many miles. And I?

Useless and worthless needing Lua and strangers to save me yet again...will it ever be other than thus? Or am I truly being cursed to this from the sins of my wicked elven sire against Mother?

Lua tries to console me that I am too hard upon myself but...it is hard to see it as otherwise. I did no harm to those things, lost the crossbow I purchased with hard earned coin, was knocked out by the horrid magic of that twisted thing and only sit here writing due to the concern of others. Not good enough to swing a blade, nor cast a spell, or worth a mother's love...a pretty voice and a pretty face forever cursed to be my disgrace...

9th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

I hath tried to make myself useful to Lua and my new travelling companions by at least rising from the bed today and trying to earn some coin by verse and rhyme. The local militia were unhappy I've been told by Lua by the essence of our words that undead stalk the lands nearby, but people are less hostile towards us it seems since word reached their ears. Enough goodwill, or perhaps mere sympathy at our survival, arising it seems that they were willing to part with some of their coin to mine songs this eve. It hath done little to recover the losses from my lost equipment but it shall at least alleviate the cost of our continued stay within this Inn, and town beyond. To my surprise the militia paid us for our failed mission, or at least for the warning the party returned with and for at least destroying some of the creatures on the road.

Something of course I never saw owing to my unconsciousness. If Lua had not already attempted to give our share of the 'reward' to this Karg fellow for the healing potion and other aids he provided for my recovery I would have done so as well. To my surprise she told me had told her to put it towards other needs...that we were a party now and that he would need our help like that some day and we should merely repay the favour at that time. My opinion of His Foppishness has improved significantly when she told me this, though perhaps he is just wealthy and uncaring of coin. Between saving my life and treating us fairly I am content that he is more useful a companion than I expected. At least his aid to Lua is more worthwhile than mine own.

Our other new companion is fellow named Etlin Steelsong, a bounty hunter and mercenary from his tales and wishes to join us because of the state of the lands around us, and that we are competent enough evidently to work with as a group. I very much doubt though that I am included in that opinion considering my condition to return here. Still Lua says he can fight, and can afford a silvered blade at least so perhaps it's for the best to travel...or work at the moment in truth...with this Etlin fellow. The local guards at least seem to act as if the man has something of a dependable reputation, so there is that fact before the Gods. Whatever the matter we shall likely need the extra blade in the coming days as the local guard once again wish to return to that scene of horror; though our role should we wish to accept it is to scout out along the road and its environs for clues as to the perpetrator of these fiendish crimes. A large bounty has been offered to that end for such a fellow, dead or alive, provided proof can be brought of his or her guilt.

Even without such bounty Lua was eager to take on such a quest to help these people and prevent the spread of more of these foul creatures. The bounty hunter is also quite eager, though over the bounty rather than the ending of this threat, or reopening the road, as we are. I may be useless but shall try my utmost to succeed in this quest, at least to redeem myself in some small way for my failure in the farmstead. The self-titled Loremaster moaned a great deal about embarking on such an action alongside the other adventurers and guards willing to scout while the militia clears the farmstead; still despite the complaints he readily agreed to aid us in the matter.

Though he was most insistent on talking to us on our tactics and fighting as a 'team' if we are to work together, something I can agree with like Lua and the bounty hunter Eltin did. Though I am more humiliated by his asking to train with me before we embark...asking about mine armour and loss of my crossbow much to my shame. I fear he wishes me not to accompany Lua and them due to my failings, though I pray I am wrong in this matter. I would not wish to fight with one who hath saved mine life but a few days ago...especially if they maybe truthful in their criticism of my worth. May the Gods grant me strength needed to be a hero someday

[Karguk 16]

East of Port Llast

'And yet again I'm out in the crappy wilderness, get turned Human and within a week I'm back to travelling through undergrowth and sleeping under the sky. I expected markets and libraries and bathes at least from this bullshit...but noooooo. Fuck you Minion off to kill the necromancer of doom' I mentally groaned as I half-crouched, half-crawled through the tree line as silently as possible.

While I wasn't exactly graceful in the matter I could manage it silently and (usually) unseen after a lifetime now of living in a harsh crappy land where nearly everything wanted to kill you, or at least assumed it'd have to kill you in self-interest. No matter what lies those hippy bastards the Druids tried to tell people who lived in cities the simple truth was nature was red in tooth in claw. Nature was a bitch and it was I found certain Gods/Goddesses, such as Mielikki, to be massive hypocrites; orcs were thanks to One Eye the perfect reflection of a tribal society and of the maxim of survival of the fittest. Just like nature our default society was cruel and harsh, ruthlessly unforgiving of weakness and focused solely on survival or prey upon others. One got pretty at watching for signs of danger when young; it sure wasn't my past life that have given me this in-depth knowledge of the wilderness. I sighed. Oh for the tamed 'nature' of the lifetime that people could pretend one could live in harmony with; now of course 'Live In Harmony With' meaning code word for being eaten by some bloodthirsty predator.

'Quit whining Karguk and focus on your task' I reminded myself as I slid from one tree to another, slower than many of my clan-mates could have done silently, but I had less talent and it was far too easy to give yourself away when wearing chainmail or catching your weapon on an errant branch or bush. And out here there was no do over or second chances for such a mistake. Especially with the possibility of our quarry below us being quite powerful necromancers. It was moonless night thanks to the heavy cloud cover above, but that suited me no ends thanks to the darkvision that I couldn't *officially* admit to having. I questioned on it I'd play it off as some spell I learned in some old tome or ruin. That and a life of living out in the wilds, blah, blah, blah...I just had to keep the half-truths consistent...

Whoever this group were they were an odd mixture of highly competent and yet also surprisingly incompetent in their methods. We'd been travelling for a few days now after the militia had burned out that farmstead, and it became apparent to our little band of four that this was less some dread necromancer raising an undead legion than an attempt to distract the local guard. Or an attempt at harassment verging unto guerrilla warfare perhaps since this was a small group, and zig-zagging seemingly at random from target to target near to Port Llast. They were even making efforts to be stealthy...but these were city-folk, or at least there was no skilled ranger or barbarian among them. My skills were not that good to follow this trail otherwise, Eltin was better as best I could tell...evidently from tracking bounties...and he checked for potential ambush after we stumbled upon the trail that led to here. There appeared to be none.

So here I crouched gazing down a slope upon a large cabin of some sort, whose former inhabitants were 'standing guard' so to speak outside. Three hunters it appeared from the garb, and I'd guess there was some spell wards to alert the ones who'd raised them. One, the leader, was a priest from the armour garb I guessed, along with a wizard of some sort who (of bloody course!) was dressed like bloody Gandalf despite being out here in the wilds and not in a developed area. Her incompetence was part of the reason they had been track-able from little pieces that had flaked off along the way. Then they seemed to have three guards, and helpers, in rough looking garb but with a professional look about them. The only failing was they hadn't left a guard out at all beyond the zombies and probably wards...but that was often a common problem with mage or cleric supported caravans. Too much trust in their magic, undervaluing the need for experienced trackers or rangers and then getting complacent – resting their fighters rather than running more exhausting shift guard duty. Understandable here of course...the undead never tired as guards after all so best rest in the brief window the group had.

'Of course that doesn't make it exactly helpful now does it? We have four adventurers of varying degrees, instead of a veteran raiding party, up against five living enemies in the building and three humanoid undead outside plus zombie dog' caused me to resist the urge to sigh. The dead hunters were likely simple undead as creating higher level was both difficult and tiring and this was a remote area where they were likely only staying a night or two, but there were no guarantees of that. And mistakes cost lives in a raid. So instead I had been observing the targets while Etlin the Bounty Hunter slowly but surely had been laying fine steel razor-wire between the paths to the hide-away on either side of me. A nice well hidden place the dead hunters got here under the tree cover, and pretty much impossible to approach easily without been seen at our combined sneak skills. But...that also limited the mobility of the inhabitants. So if we could just sneak in and slit their throats in the night then we had to exploit the terrain to our advantage.

Because trying to take this lot alive was too great a risk to run for me or these others. No this would be slaughter of our sleeping foe quickly and efficiently, and if the effort failed then we'd retreat and try again at a later date. Truth be told I'd have turned back with the information if not for the fact Tris and Etlin argued, correctly, that the evildoers in the shelter would be gone by the time we trudged back and found some. That and we would have no proof beyond our word...and no one had really heard of us to take that at face value beyond our failure at the farm and Lua'kah'wyss was a Drow. So attack it was. Though thankfully after that earlier disaster I had us come better prepared; we had Holy Water from the local temple of Tyr, two bottles of fiery oil, got the bard girl into lighter armour and got her more suitable weapons. A bit costly, but selling her chainmail offset that to some degree...but Gods is she a mouthy one. Argued with me and acted suspicious and haughty towards me and Eltin during the day of 'retraining' before we left. Though at least...unlike my other minions...she had listened and done what said. I just prayed now it would keep her and her drowish friend alive long enough to turn them into experienced murder hobos. I mean brave adventurers. So I waited, and waited...and waited...for seemingly forever as I watched that cabin beneath the tree-line till Etlin at long last crept towards me at my observation point and his voice came as a faint whisper.

"I've laid everything I've got between the tree trunks there, there, there..." he began slowly and carefully gesturing to various spots between the trees and bushes that were most easily passage out from the shelter and back into the forest. Gods the man was seemingly McGuyver covering that with that pack he'd bought "...and there. Wooden stake lines just behind...there, there and there...won't kill the undead if the miss the wire but'll slow'em down. Do ye still want to kick off?"

'No' was the answer I wanted to give back but instead motioned faintly back a hundred metres to where our other two companions waited. Oh I had to teach this lot common hand signs like we used on raids. I hated having to speak like this "Yes, them them where your traps are. Get them and return. Go slow. No noise from them. Then we move"

He nodded and then crept away as the tension and stress levels within me began to rise steadily. I less worried about the half-elf making noise than the drow in her heavy armour; neither had much experience in the woods, but the half-elf was seemingly quite dexterous once freed of the chainmail while the drow had lived underground, or in settlements most all her life. She could move silently, but like myself only with effort and I found myself waiting quite some time before the other three had come up and taken position just around me and I took a quiet breath to calm myself before another battle. I whispered as carefully and softly as I could but still be understandable.

"We all clear on the plan? No problems?"

The two women nodded, in truth it was more Etlin's idea than my own but I worked out the plan of attack and our route of retreat if it all went tits-up. And of course the hardest initial past as I began to crawl forward through the underbrush off to the right side of the enemy encampment towards a slight hollow and large tree whose branches formed part of the cover of the shelter. Sadly I was not an archer of much talent...oh I could shoot a bow but not for what I needed to do to get this party started...and Lua'kah'wyss wasn't doing it in that armour. So I needed the two missile weapon users targeting that doorway the second it opened. I blanked all that out of my mind as I desperately focused on the grass and flowers in the dark before me...and trying to feel any possible wards by our foes as I neared the building. That and constantly reminding myself where the bounty hunter had told me his traps had been set...there was only safe path back remember...that tree then right...that tree then right...

'Okay. Okay...big orc pants on now...' I told myself after I rested my back against the tree at the closest point I dared move to near the shelter. I could feel the faint energy of a ward, or at least of something near the yard so I guessed someone had pro-active and possibly explosive defensive traps of their own set. Well there was dangers to such things as well as I pulled out the two potion bottles from the lined case they were in and softly, perhaps even hummed, a faint enchantment on them even as my ears heard the faint shuffling of the zombies nearby. I breathed in and "...okay...and THROW!' letting fly the first of the bottles like a grenade at the 'window' of the cabin. Missing horribly as it instead smashed into the head of one of the shuffling dead hunters and detonation in a fire blast...

...that caused a shower of electricity to arc upwards in a surprising display of light that did more damage to the burning undead that had fallen backwards into the flame licked shelter building. Uncaring of themselves being licked by the edges of the explosion of fire oil (and their clothes starting to a alight in spots) the other two creatures and their former pet turned towards my direction and began to shuffle forward. Drawing my blade in one hand I readied the other potion in the other as the necromancy created dog came for me in the darkness...

...my blade slash through its legs as I dodged to the side as charged headlong towards me. No sound of pain came from its mouth as its balance was destroyed by the loss of one...two...of its limbs as I brought my arm with the potion bottle in hand back to throw it as I heard the creak of a door opening..

"Ah fuck. I can't throw worth crap..." I grunted out as the bottle sailed wide of its intended mark of the opening doorway to smash into the wooden walls to its side and explode just like it's twin of a few moments earlier. Though explode was perhaps the wrong word...more splashed...and to my relief a loud shriek accompanied the aftermath of this impact as I turned and jogged back up the trail...that tree...that tree, turn, turn...there they are...

The two archers had raised from cover slightly on either side of the shield holding drow priestess and had begun to fire their bow and crossbow respectively at the exit and entrance to that shelter as the sounds of swearing and screaming reached my ears. Now that I was on the clear path I turned, planting my sword into the earth beneath me for a moment and began to chant swiftly but careful the words to call forth a grease spell...feeling the power of the weave well up in me as I finished the two handed, and slightly stronger, version of the spell and a spray of black liquid erupted as if from my hands and soaked the ground and brush before me in an arc. Then as suddenly as it had come the feeling vanished and I turned and retreated up the slope to the others as the noise level from behind me kept increasing.

Glancing back as I jogged to cover I smiled a feral smile as the first of the zombies...who was on fire...shambled into the area of spell-work and faint whoosh echoed to me as the area caught alight and turned the two abominations into flaming torches within seconds. Behind them the shelter itself was coated in flames, and whoever was inside appeared to be stuck as one or more of their number who had been at the front had fallen and jammed the door perhaps. Or they were fighting amongst themselves perhaps...or just held inside by the arrows and our loud shouts to make out numbers sound greater that we were...we just need a few moments and that spot would be ablaze and the problem would solve itself for our little bounty hunt...

Journal of Loraatris Hollysword [02]

10th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

Mine legs hurt, as do mine arms...and everything else it seems. Sitting here upon the bed and writing is a relief from the wretched 'training' of our new travelling companions. Torture I would call it, designed by evil minds to mock my pathetic weakness. I would weep but I fear they are truly correct in my worth...and that worth is of a copper coin than one of purest gold.

So I shall endure as Lua begs of me and that she has seen such growth in mine abilities by losing my chainmail and wielding a lighter blade. I...feel almost naked without mine old armour, this new leather and cloth feeling as if made of silks or lightest fabric and having such lightness feels...strange and worrisome compared to solid feel of my bulky former protection.

I hath also been turned into a kept woman by these fiends by their supply of coin, mostly by The Fop but some little by the Bounty Hunter. Mine travels to prove mine-self free and strong once again showing that I am but a weak and foolish girl with nought but a pretty smile and shaking hips. Tears nearly came to mine eyes (though that could be due to the hellish training of the morn in truth) when upon words that I hath been trained in the acrobatic arts and in dance to match my verse and rhyme these fiends insisted I should prance about while wielding my blade. Lua doth not fight in this undignified manner and despite her seemingly joyous and kind words but mine eyes can see through her pity and kindness. Still...I hath given mine word and I shall do as they ask no matter the shame it brings...perhaps it is the fate I deserve.

Now I must rest as I arise upon the morrow to travel with these hellish warriors and mine friend Lua across these savage lands to hunt down the foul villain who hath infested this land but corrupting the dead with foul magic. Once I, we, hath achieved this noble deed then I shall repay the generosity of these hellish drillmaster fellows and free myself of this debt to them.

13th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

Oh for the joys of bathing, followed by a warm bed!

Gods mine feet ache, and travelling through undergrowth is exhausting, uncomfortable and filled with constant wariness of wild beasts. We've...well Lua and I...never truly travelled this far from the roads before straight into the bush following the trail of a bounty as that rogue Etlin has said. Both he and the foppish Karg seem at home in these wilds, or at least enough so to follow a trail left by what we hope is our quarry.

The brief battle today with two corrupted travellers at the site of their deaths at least proves we are likely on the correct trail. But all I see is trees and grass and other such things; we must trust them in this skill. I hath tried to learn...but there is no time to learn even if The F...Karg has pointed out things to show our quarry's movement to mine-self and Lua. Etlin and he hath promised to show us some of this lore upon reaching safer lands. Please the Gods they do so that I am not such a burden anymore...though at least now I can keep pace with my new companions even if mine legs ache and burn.

I must go now and rest. Sleep has been rare and hard to achieve and mine eyes tire even now with but a few strokes of the pen.

18th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

I...I am torn and confused in mine feelings. We hath survived battle and defeated our vile foe. If one can call our burning them alive and then killing the survivors with crossbow and bow...this does not seem very heroic from what I know of tales and song. But I felt pride when both Lua and my two new comrades told me that I had contributed to our victory as my bolts struck true even in the darkness of that night. I...helped...and didn't panic despite mine heart hammering in my chest like a dwarf at his forge.

But we didn't seem very heroic with what Etlin calls 'combat pragmatism' and Karg insists is the only way to succeed...and...that the tales are oft overblown in their telling as compared to the deed itself. That we fought a mighty battle against a powerful and villainous foe and were only victorious after a great struggle. That this was technically true as we had defeated a powerful foe, and none could say otherwise. In truth the mirth of his seriousness made mine lips chuckle at the words of his. Perhaps I shall sing a great ballad of our glorious melee?

But is that the noble and heroic path? I am still unsure and there is little time to think upon this matter as we must travel once again. My aching legs would weep if they could. None said the gaining of loot from our foes could be so tiring upon the return trip.

22nd Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

A Bed, A Bed, how glorious feels the bed!

That upon it I might rest mine weary head!

For travelled have I far,

Beneath a shiny star,

Through wildness cruel,

and what traveller am I but a fool!

So now I hath returned to thee oh bed!

23rd Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

Perchance writing while inebriated yesterday is not the best idea of mine, but none should doubt how got it doth feel to sleep upon even this humble bed after many days sleeping under the stars and the cold night attending it. Suddenly this meager Inn and unfriendly town hath felt momentarily like a joyous place in mine heart.

Though perhaps the reward offered by these now suddenly friendly townsfolk and their Lord the First Captain may hath something to do with my current good humour. Lua is the same, as now some of these previously hateful stares hath turned kind and warming towards her upon the words of the First Captain to the townsfolk yesterday soon after our return. To be called noble heroes is a...nice feeling. Perhaps I shall even prove Mother wrong one day.

But now our coin purse has been renewed to levels unseen since we hath left Waterdeep, and this with the repayment of mine own debt to our new comrades and the payment of our celebration and a further few days accommodation in this fine establishment. I shan't complain about them as our locked stores had remained untouched as we paid them to do. Always a concern, but Lua and our lorekeeper both agree that their wards upon the boxes have remain un-tampered; it is rare to occur of course but it lingers upon one's mind even with the most trusted of establishment. Though I suspect most merely expect noble adventurers never to return and claim these items after a few seasons.

Now that mine body and mind hath rested thinking back upon the results of our quest I am inclined to agree with the words of Etlin and Karg that erring on the side of caution in a possible battle is the better route. I am unsure we could have bested a Priest of Talos and a Necromancer in a 'fair fight' as dictated in the tales...and could I live with mine self to see Lua, or my new companions, harmed or killed because I wished to live within a heroic tale? No, no it would not...I will learn as best I can and attempt not to impede my companions in their efforts. Dark times are upon the lands if what the First Captain implied after our reward; that these men were agents of Luskan and had begun to make moves upon Port Llast, or merely to cause chaos on the roads. Roads that shall remain closed despite our success...or perhaps due to our success and the return of these burned and blacked coin and holy symbol. For some reason the lorekeeper Karg seemed most amused by our defeat of a Priest of the wicked Talos, though I cannot see the source of the humour. Perhaps it is just his way of handling the dark times around us?

Still though despite our efforts the High Road shall remain closed, though the First Captain himself hath told us, and the others wishing to travel northward, that two vessels shall be leaving for Luskan in a few days despite the rising tensions. One is a vessel of my native city of Waterdeep, the other of far off Baldur's Gate, and it would be unwise for the locals, the suddenly friendly locals, to continuing delaying them and others not of Luskan. Passage will be arranged and paid for by the locals as a final payment of our reward. This is a joy due to the difficulties that Lua normally comes up against...as in being unable to get aboard without exorbitant bribes that our coin purse could not afford and to feed us on the next morn.

Ah but for now we hath completed a quest and now I shall join Lua and our lorekeeper for a brief study session while our other companion Etlin hath...gone to a house of ill-repute by the docks. Neither Lua nor the Karg seem bothered by such things, greeting it with a shrug in his case and Lua...well Lua thinks beneath the moon fully unclothed to be a normal thing. Strangely our Fop and lorekeeper insisted upon a 'password' each upon returning to meet each other once separated; he is amusing paranoid and cynical I find.

Still he hath agreed to aid me in leaning some basics of the arcane arts and I shall attempt to teach him some sleight of hand tricks that I...learned...as a child to afford mine lessons. Perhaps it is only through the Gods favour that it is not I been the one visited in such a manner by a 'noble' hero; though as Mother said...I hath not the beauty to entice any man or woman as such. Now I must finish up mine journal for the day as Lua is telling me to finish up so that we can begin our days lessons before we have a meal and some wine upon the fall of darkness.

[Ogrash 08]

Shaman's Tower, Sparta

Ogrash allowed the slave to help her into the robes, as she herself stretched one last time before accepting the cloak and fastening the clasp at her neck. Across from her she saw her whelp suckle contently at the breast of her slave Mara, even as the slave sang softly to little Kargash, while the elder slave sister had just re-entered carrying a load of firewood in her arms to restock the usual stack beside the cook-pot. Fixing the belt around her waist before patting herself down insure all her pouches of spell components and other items were in she nodded absently to herself that all was in order. Karguk had been correct that a well run household with well treated, but also well trained, slaves made things much more efficient and convenient for a female such as herself from even the daily chores. With Karg gone on his Holy Quest the responsibility for ensuring his New Ways were followed had fallen to Zah and herself...or more accurately herself and Zah's mate Breyza as Zahgorim preferred to spend his time either fucking or fighting unless either of them told him otherwise.

Not unexpected as the males spend nearly every moment either training, hunting or, those few skilled enough, being trained in magic by either her slave Missy or the gnome female. No it was the females of the clan whose lives had seen the most benefit from settling in this stronghold and the changes brought about by Ogrash's mate and the other leaders of the clan. Their clan had grown strong after falling low, and in only a few seasons, all the younger females and many older ones, stood in jealous awe of her and Breyza's guidance of their respective mates. Once Karg returned from his Holy Quest their position would be even more elevated...and if he didn't he had ensured that she had the strength to have power within the clan. She smiled faintly as she stomped her boot on. Karg was strangely paranoid like that, though that was likely why the Horde Leader grant him his favour; Karg always had a plan, even if they were often stupid or bizarre ones.

"Missy, you will stay by my side today as I need Mara to care for Kargash here, so I expect best behaviour from you. Embarrass me and you'll be punished..." she told Karg's wizard-slave matter-of-factly in orcish, then glanced at the other two slaves "...Mara you will mind Kargash as I said and have prepare our meals for later. Kethri ensure your daily chores are finished and see to your garden on the room. For now make sure Rose is ready downstairs"

"Yes Mistress" echoed from three throats close together, followed by soft weak footsteps as one slave moved swiftly to exit the room and descend downstairs as ordered while Ogrash herself took up her staff in one hand and rested it against her shoulder. Both Mara and Kethri were well trained by now, she should know since she had trained them in over the seasons, but Karg's slave was less so and had been quietly frantic in the first few days after he had vanished in the light of the Gods. A good sign perhaps, Karg's coddling of the slave had instilled a fear of been separated from him it seemed.

She was a foolish female to fear that as her value within the clan had risen greatly since the slaying of those demons; having such a powerful slave showed the strength of Ogrash and Karguk in taming that power. That and Karg had been quite detailed in how he wanted the slave treated; even to extend of freeing her in coming if he did return from his questing. Ogrash snorted softly. Coddling as always even when absent. Still the little human had saved her mate's life so she had earned a status above the rest of her pathetic kind. That and bringing the slave-mage today as her body slave was to show her dominance over her to the clan as anything else.

"Come" she finished simply without even looking back at the little female as she stomped towards the doorway and the guards there to the stairway beyond. After the attack of the demon-shadows the wards all over the stronghold had been strengthen as best they knew how and the guard details increased, though at least here a dozen acolytes were usually in attendance, either her own or Karg's, and there was always a squad of them armed and armoured nearby if another attack came. It seemed as their strength grew the power of their foes would rise too.

Both guards, older veteran clan-orcs nodded respectively to her as priestess as she exited the room, passing them and moved to descend the staircase with the slave behind her matching her swift strides. Within moments she was at the bottom of the stairs, again getting a greeting from the guards, this time two of Karg's acolytes, before passing briefly the 'training room' where the gnome wizard who was owned by the new clan-orc Krowluc's band was giving lessons upon magic to a group of Ogrash's females, and a small number of Karg's better acolytes. The rest either been giving martial training now, or like the two she'd just past standing on guard duty in the Keep or her Tower. Between the gnome's lessons and those of Karg's slave Ogrash expected that they would have many spell-casters ready to serve the clan – many more than other clan would. Sparta clan might not have the numbers as other larger clans...yet...but it would have better warriors and acolytes than any of those others. A few metres ahead Kethi bowed to her, before heading back upstairs as a short human female with flame red hair appeared from a small sparring room, sweating from exercise it seemed, and bowed to Ogrash hands at her belly while huffing slightly in orcish.

"Mistress Ogrash, you want me?"

"Yes Rose, wash yourself and change, you come with me to the Keep. Be quick about it, while I check upon the Gods-slaves"

"Yes Mistress Ogrash immediately" came the reply as Ogrash strode on. With Karg called away by the Gods the immediate training of the young female had fallen to her till his return, so she had begun a rigorous training of the short female. She had so far proven if pushed hard enough she had strength to intimate lesser orc females who'd challenge her place here which was good. Rose was no slave, but she was no orc either but perhaps she could prove herself worthy in time. So at least when Karg returned she would be strong enough to not be a burden as his apprentice...or minion as he occasionally called them jokingly, and extra guard when he joined the horde. Males were often blind to the dangers of females, especially small weaker seeming ones...often fatally blind.

Turning into the shrine room to her Goddess five of the Gods-slaves were kneeling performing their daily ritual of praise, while two Ogrash's acolytes served to both stand guard and maintain the day-to-day order of the shrine when she herself wasn't present. At her entrance both bowed deeply to her "Priestess"

She nodded back to them kneeling before the shrine amongst the five slaves and began her brief evening ritual, chanting out the praises of the Goddess and asking for her blessing. The subtle pressure at the back of her mind after a few moments arose indicating that the Goddess's touch upon her soul once again. Being in the Gods-slaves presence tended to have that added effect she'd found and it brief ecstasy and yet agony to feel the presence of the Cave Mother so near. Still it was soon over and Ogrash rose back up to her feet, bowing once again to her Goddess's sigil before turning to her acolytes standing awaiting her orders.

"They are to be brought to the gnome Nimmil for study next, I'll talk to her when I get back about how much was covered. Then I want them fed and watered before study of plants and herbs with the human female..." whose name Ogrash couldn't remember right now, still identifying her as the 'female who lost her mate' that travelled with the warband under that Krowluc. Supposedly she was 'pretty' for a human and had gotten an old, but important, human male as a mate from that. Still she knew much on herbs and potions and a little magic and now earned her food and bed by serving the clan with those skills. If she proved herself then she would eventually gain a mate here "...and then exercise and rest before I come back. The silver hair is training outside yes?"

"Yes Mistress as your mate wished before leaving by the will of the Gods, and the Gods-slave herself spoke that the Horde Leader himself commands her to train in her dreams. She trains now in the courtyard since awakening"

"Good, when they finish chanting bring them. I'll send in the other in a moment. Missy come" she replied with a click of clawed fingers and exiting the shrine room. Karg's own shrine room across the way had two of his own acolytes currently praying she saw, but without Karg or Ghorza present there was no senior cleric of the Cunning Warrior to perform the more elaborate rituals currently. As such she herself being the leading cleric of the Church of Luthic, meant that within the clan she once again the 'leader' of the various acolytes within the stronghold. This would feel alot better if she wasn't for the minor issue of her learning her powers as she went along from the older females, or what knowledge Karg and herself had managed to gain in the years as whelps, or coming into power within the clan.

Rose was waiting obediently at the doorway, tugging on the last of her armour while the guard acolytes there said something to her that Ogrash could not hear, but saw the short human female snort in seeming amusement at it, before seeing Ogrash and bowing. Followed moments by fists to chest from the two acolytes; Karg trained acolytes tended to be amusingly respectfully she found. Yes he could coddle, but like someone pulled a lever in his head when it came to training he was seen as one of the more merciless amongst the younger warriors with his motto of 'our training should be deathless battle and our battles death filled training". That had been the greatest change that she, and Karg and Zah had wrought – never would males be allowed to laze around all day like in many other clans. In Sparta everyday was training for war, preparing for war or making war upon the clan's foes.

Nodding at the guards she exited out into the now moonlit courtyard, the stars twinkling in the sky above as she saw the last of the Gods-slaves moving through a routine with a heavy wooden practice sword in hand as the other young warriors drilled around her. A few who were resting were glancing at her; unsurprising as the body of the nude Gods-slave was covered in the holy symbols tattooed there by the Gods themselves to show ownership over the demons. Evidently Cardac was training tonight, and he was shouting instructions to the silver-blonde hair female as she swirled and attacked a practice dummy as sweat poured off her flesh in a sign of the high level of exertion she'd given so far. Since Karg had left every evening the female that Ogrash's mate said he thought had something called assimar blood in her veins had been trained as if she was a young warrior on his orders.

"Ho Cardac!" she greeted her older clan member stopping before him holding her staff of office as she glanced at the still moving Gods-slave "how goes the training? I'll have to take her away now for other lessons"

"Well she is...NO ONE TOLD YOU TO STOP WHELP! ONE CANE STROKE FOR DOING SO WITHOUT ORDERS!..." he started then shouted at the female who'd stopped her practice to look at Ogrash's approach, though at the shout she jumped and returned to her routine without hesitation. Like with all the young warriors a few red cane marks decorated her back and buttocks...evidently Gods-slave or no Cardac treated her like she was just another raw recruit for the clan "...she's done well despite that bit of silliness. Still weak like all humans but I'll build up those muscles with time. Her..." he hummed "...blade skills and other skills improve though better than any I've seen. She says she dreams..."

"Don't worry Cardac, they all do. The Gods tame them some nights to serve them and the clan better. Since the demon lovers sent their fiends evidently this one is too learn the blade and not just the spells. She is the eldest of them, so perhaps the others will be made learn them in time. Have you pitted her against any of the others yet?"

He shook his head "No not yet, perhaps in a season. She could probably take one or two of the weaker ones, and several fear her for being touched by the Gods. For the moment it'll be me-self, Taugh or Jergh whole drill some skill into her. Though mostly me since you'll be leaving for the vassal villages soon. Are you taking the new fella Krowluc as escort?"

"Yes I want to see their training. Though I'll be taking Karg's squad and the next guard shift for Rose's village with me as well. After the demons we cannot be too careful" she agreed with a nod. That and this Krowluc wanted to recruit a few of the not-slave humans into his 'cavalry' so it was best to bring him along while she arranged for the tithe vassal levy's from the humans to be raised and brought back to Sparta to be trained over the winter. Old Breyjuk would handle the Kobolds, and the elderly Taugh the goblin tribe to the north of the valley; they would winter in the 'town' below and when Karg returned they'd likely move out come the spring to join the horde...

[Karguk 17]

Aboard The Devious Disappointment

'Hmmm...well I suppose it's a nice view to look at now. At least I'm not throwing up at it' I thought as I stood on the deck, resting my arms on the wood of the ship while staring out across the calm sea and shore beyond that was illuminated by the moonlight and starlight above.

I hadn't really had much of a chance to enjoy yesterday, what with the throwing up my last meal shortly after we departed and feeling like absolute crap for the rest of the day. I'd never had trouble in my past life with this, but then I didn't live in the medieval age of sailing so my stomach had not been the best during that brief thunderstorm. Thankfully I didn't suffer the embarrassment of being the only one suffering so, my Drow companion Lua'kah'wyss had suffered similar along with one or two the other passengers in the neighbouring cabins. I'd 'solved' the problem by the great of not eating anything beyond some fruit and a herbal mix I knew since then...so the first thing I'd do when we hit Luskan was buy some dinner.

Overall though I'd just be glad to get off this tub safe and sound. Not only had I had to fight seasickness but also the insistent stress that boats tended to be death traps in campaigns a lifetime ago, or at best a chance to throw shiny new aquatic monsters at the party. Any minute now the Giant Squid, or mermaids or sanhguian were going to burst from those calm seeming waves and attack the ship, and me by default from the situation of being on said ship. So my chainmail was getting left in my travelling pack rather than weighting down upon myself as usual; swimming with armour on would result in one dead Karguk after all. So for now I actually looked like a 'proper' Loremaster, or perhaps a Sage or minor trader, and the lightness of not having the chainmail or my blade for the first time since arriving felt slightly strange. Even back in Sparta I'd gotten used to wearing it quite a bit as well after all as they were technically me 'official robes of office' of a sort. I snorted softly. Trust the Boss to make our ceremonial kit to be basically the same as our battlefield one.

"Does thine stomach also suffer once again Karg? Or perhaps cannot sleep?" a soft, but slight hoarse, feminine greeted me to my side over the creaking of the hull, and sounds of the sailors up on the rigging and the occasionally shouts from first mate at wheel to maintain sail, or course or other nautical things I didn't really understand. As best I could tell the whole journey had been a relatively 'straight line' one hugging relatively close to the coast as we made the short journey to the City of Sails. Two to three days versus a week or easily more upon the land route as best I could tell. Ending my musings I glanced at the approaching Drow and gave a friendly, albeit slightly tired, smile without moving from the wooden railing and the sound of the waves crashing however lightly against the wood of the hull.

"Perhaps just looking to get out in the fresh air perhaps before some sleep I think Lua'kah'wyss..." I replied truthfully. I kinda needed to get some air to relieve the stress of feared DM based water adventures, and I did feel somewhat better to have the cool sea air upon my face despite the general chill of the night that came with it. Compared to the winters in the Crags this was all very mild so far "...and it's a nice view. Though I see your suffering worse than I at the moment, I can give you what's left of my tonic if you wish?"

"Uhhhh...perhaps yes friend rivvil Karg, my o...ughhh...ughh...own...oh goddess...ughhh..." she began to say to me before grabbing for the rail suddenly and bringing her head over the edge as she began to suffer once again the effects of the sea travel.

I'd say she had a green tinge but it was hard to tell with her dark drowish skin, though it seemed she had little left to throw up as I place a hand on her shoulder to steady her as she groaned listlessly. Unlike me she appeared to have made the mistake of eating since leaving Port Llast and had just paid the cost of that error. Evidently Drow did not do well on ships...which made plenty of sense to me since they lived underground pretty much all the time and the starlit sky seemed to creep her out at times because there was 'no roof!' as she said. So for the next few minutes I just stayed quiet as my newly arrived teammate alternated between heaving motions, looking miserable and staring out at the moon as if for relief. Once she seemed a little better I patted her shoulder before resting my hand back under my chin and staring out once again into the darkness. Drows looked vaguely demonic in darkvision with those burning red orbs where their eyes were...I was glad of the moonlight and the fact I myself wasn't joining her in suffering. Adventuring! Cramped crappy cabins! Ships on a sea of magical horrors! Tiolets that are horrors! And of course seasickness induced vomiting! Adventure hooooo!

"Hey we'll be there soon, at least that's what the crew says..." I put my hand into one of my pockets and pulled out the remainder of the stomach medicine I'd created and held it out to her "...you can drink what's left of this if you wish? Fair warning it tastes terrible Also...Purple Monkey Dishwasher!"

She snorted in amusement despite the miserable look upon her face "Silver Blade in the Moon. Thou art a strange rivvil friend Karg. Many anIllharess would not be as watchful as thee I think at times. In more normal instances I would be less willing, but this vile curse..." she paused before tentatively taking the half empty potion vial from my hand and gazing it speculatively. Then sighed before placing the bottle to her lips, tilting her head back before swallowing it down in one go; I almost went 'Chug! Chug! Chug!' but resisted the urge. After all she must be feeling truly horrible to just drink down a potion offered like that considering her fears of such things, and that nature of her society. Then again she had seen me make it, drink and feel better from it so there was that. She made a face upon drinking down the greenish liquid and handed my back the now empty vial "...Ughhhh...Vel'bol natha vilae P'yore..."

"I did warn it tasted bad..." I began as she made a face once again like the one I'd probably made when I'd drank the concoction. I'd work on that part, but while I manage the functionality I really wasn't very good at the not-making-it-taste-horrible part of such things "...sorry about that. Just give it a little bit and it should settle your stomach. Though I'd still suggest not eating till we hit land"

"Aye thou did friend...ughh..." she licked her lips and coughed. Hey it wasn't that bad! ...okay maybe it was that bad "...friend Karg. And I thank thee for thine kind aid in the fighting of this foul curse..." she leaned against the railing as I was, arms on the wood while resting her head on those arms "...It has taken all joy out of the night for me and I shall welcome any small respite. Here friend rivvil take this as..."

She started to move her hands, to fish out coin it seemed from her clothes to repay me. I just shook my head a little and sighed "Don't be silly, keep your money. I had extra and you needed it so just relax and let your tummy settle some" I replied. That and I didn't want any of these crew getting any ideas about getting easy coin off us, or telling those on the docks; Luskan was going to be nightmare enough without adding that to the mix. Then again here I was handing out free potions so I was already being an idiot I thought in retrospect. She nodded in thanks and we went back to gazing out at the moon glowing off the sea, with the dark shadow of land far off in the distance.

"Ulu alure harl l'drathir whol tau Eilistraee" came the hoarse whisper from beside me and I turned my gaze away from the white light upon the dark canvass of the sea, glancing at the drow woman who was muttering softly in her own tongue while staring out in evident misery. Maybe she was praying to her Goddess to help relieve her seasickness? I didn't bother – the Boss would only laugh at my misery and tell me to toughen the fuck up. Still the urge to make conversation rose upside me, that and to take my mind off other things...like how Oggy and my little Kargash, and all the others were doing right now. Even if Missy, Mara and Kethri were getting on with each other in my absence? Or other things like Zah, the Gods-slaves, Rose and etc, etc, etc..

"Thinking of home?"

She shook her head faintly "Nau...mayoe...hmmm...it is such a beautiful night and I should be singing and dancing to my Goddess I think. But I cannot and it saddens me...and while I wish to leave this ozam this place of Luskan will not to be my liking I fear. I...thought...I would have such freedom upon the surface, closer to the Dark Maiden and her linath but it is hard at times amongst you rivvil, or the darthiir than I had wished"

"Yeah people are assholes, what can you do. Some races more than others but plenty of general stupidity, ignorance and overall evil to go around for everyone...sigh...I know it's hard on you..." more than you'll ever know I suspect "...Priestess. But try to remember that many of those are just afraid...or dumb, don't always ascribe to malice what can ascribed to stupidly after all. Though..." I sighed "...I admit Luskan will be an issue and I tried to bring it up earlier but Tris..." the mouthy bard shot it down, and then my stomach rebelled against my rightful rule.

"She is my friend and fears for me as thou are it seem friend Karg but does not know how to proceed"

"Honestly...I don't know for sure, but I can guess certain was it'll go..." I answered tiredly. Luskan from what I remember of the various Drizzt stories had only let said Drow in after bribery and the fact by then, or a year or two from now, was a Hero of the Ten Towns. And as such would be a problem to ban from the city since they traded with the Ten Towns and pissing off your trade partners would be bad idea. Even for bastards like the Host Tower and High Captains were supposedly. The city was also a hub for slavery in the north...as well as being a city essentially run by an alliance Dread Pirates and Evil Undead Necromancers "...we might be able to bribe our way in for you. But I suspect you'll be stuck at Docks...maybe the Mirabar district if we're lucky...till we leave the city and you'll need to armed at all times while there. Place will be filled with all sorts of scum I expect and we'll all need to be on our guard there"

"Such as thine accent as friend Tris says?"

'Is it really that thick?' I want to say plaintively, but both the Bard and the Bounty Hunter...and seemingly everyone else...though I was from Neverwinter thanks to Missy's teaching; evidently I used idioms local to that city. This would be a problem , like the Drow's Drow-ish-ness, in a city that was deeply hostile to Neverwinter and edging towards war with them it seemed. I groaned faintly into my arms "Yeahhh...like that. I think we'll have to go with her and Etlin's idea of us being survivors of an adventuring group from Skullport on hard times heading for the Spine. In a perfect world we'll only stay in the den of evil for more than a few days before we head unto Mirabar"

Because it was my enemy very much after sending shadow-baby-demons after me and mine...and the fact they'd have potential wizards here that might see through my...whatever spell the Boss had used on my to turn me human. Thankfully checking for orc shaman-wizards turned human was probably significantly down the Host Tower's list of things to do. Or at least I hoped it was. With tensions high maybe we would...ought to...be lucky and the city would be starting to fill with mercenaries and adventurers of various stripes, so we would vanish into the background till we joined up with caravan, or travelled on separately once resupplied. Maybe everything would go perfectly fine?

'Or pigs could fly perhaps? At least if we get there without Giant Squid or Kraken attacks I'll tentatively say we're doing well...' I mused tiredly as I and the drow chatted away for a few minutes in the brightly lit night as the ship continued its journey towards our destination...

[Karguk 18]

Whitesails Harbour, Luskan

'Okay place is a dump just like I thought it'd be. Fucking joy' I mentally growled as we departed from the dockside and got away from the scumbag harbour clerks and their blatant corruption. Hatred, Incompetence and Bribes basically summed up the past hour since descending the gangplank from The Devious Disappointment as we, and the Drow in particular, got hassled by the scummy bastards that worked for the City's Harbourmaster. We we're already a good chunk of coin down and we hadn't even been here an evening, nor found ourselves somewhere to stay! Already I feared this would be quite a costly leg to my, well our, journey.

That and watching out for street thieves and avoiding clashing with any of the large number of various mercenaries, 'adventurers', pirates and traders that were crowding the docks and the various streets leading out from it. Though oddly in its own way it suited us to some degree as it was an...Eclectic...mixture to say the least, and that meant Lua'kah'wyss wasn't getting the degree of attention that likely normally came from being a Drow women. Of course she still had her helmet, cloak and armour on, so it wasn't immediately apparent that she was drowish in origin without getting close. That and myself...well evidently that accent I'd picked up from Missy was both a boon and a curse; I sound very suspiciously like someone from the current 'verging-on-war-enemy' but am 'odd' enough to seem like a potential bitter bastard son, or exiled noble. I shall do nothing to discourage that opinion of course because I like been alive and there is too many dangerous liches up in that Tower yonder for my comfort.

"Ummm...so where do we go from here? We need a place to stay first I guess?" Tris the Bard asked looking around uncomfortably while resting one hand on her blade and the other touching the peak of her new feathered hat. And she called me foppish looking!

Etlin frowned as we stood out of the way of the 'traffic' stood close together to avoid being separated "We could try these temporary 'dock taverns' but we'd have to supremely lucky with this many ships in harbour...and we'll never get over the bridge to the main city..." he trailed off glancing at Lua'kah'wyss, who sighed beneath the helmet while Tris frowned deeply at his words and glance.

"I hath feared that these rivvil would not be welcoming of...perhaps you my friends would wish to seek beds in a better quarter and I shall...stay in this part of the che'el or perhaps outside the walls of the che'el..."

"No. That's a terrible idea, a terrible, terrible, idea..." I stated shaking my head at that idiocy "...because getting separated is a sure-fire way of us getting murdered or mugged at the least here must definitely..." she started to say something but I ploughed on regardless "...look I know you can fight, but the City Guard will NOT be on your side after you kill whoever comes at you. If they come at all, haven't see any here beyond up on the slope there, or at the harbour collecting coin. And you are a target on your own that'd make a decent amount of coin in that slave market of theirs. No we stick together while we're here agreed?"

There wasn't much disagreement on that point at least "So will we start looking for somewhere to stay up to slopes away from the docks? Work our way north and see what we can do?"

"Sounds good to me, though we'll let you and Tris here do the talking once we get up there..." Etlin began motioning at the cliffs above the harbour and the trails up them to the buildings beyond "...been years but I'd guess there'll be guards up there, probably Luskan and Miraraban and you and Tris here stand a better chance than a bounty hunter and Drow at getting us in. You're a Lorekeeper and a Bard, and we're your guards is our best bet to fake our way in somewhere...so..."

I looked at him suspiciously "You want me to take my armour off don't you?"

He shrugged back "Eyup fraid so Boss, you look half-merc, half-dandy and we need ya and Tris here to look like people...ah...worth getting in...so..." he stated with Tris the Bard shrugging helplessly in agreement, while my Drow travelling companion stayed quiet on the subject. Hopefully not thinking further suicidal plans up in her head; having spent some time with her now it was pretty apparent Lua'kah'wyss was simple inexperienced rather than naive...with perhaps a little over confidence and frustration thrown into the mix I suppose. Truth be told I could relate...it was hard to 'fit in' to Faeunian human society I found; and I was technically human right now and had been human for a lifetime once upon a time.

I threw my hands up slightly in annoyance, glancing around before starting to pull off the chainmail "Fine, Fine! I better not get fucking robbed or stabbed or I'm going to get you for this"

In truth it didn't take long to switch out of the chainmail and put on my cloak over my 'clean' pocketed tunic; just switching the clothes in my backpack with the armour and moving my sword from at my back to hanging from the side of my sword belt like Loraatris was currently doing. Though there was one advantage I found to this plan as both Lua'kah'wyss and Etlin took up mine and the bard's gear and carried it with their own while me and her took the lead. Refugee in Audacity it was then as I kept my hand firmly on my sword hilt while we strode up the wooden braced slope slash stairs up to the Mirabar District. Already I could see guards standing at the top of our chosen path; obviously inspecting those trying to get into that section of the city, while turning back some of them.

Loud, drunken shouts, followed by threats to head back down reached my ears as we approached the top of the slope, warily of course as the mixture of better equipped or 'higher class' murder-hobos worked their way to up with us in the queue. A few moments later, after the sounds of a brief scuffle, a rough looking band including a grump looking half-orc passed by us...or more shoved past us and others, as they themselves were shoved back. Friendly this place was not I found, even from the fact the city docks near the market had several wealthier staying there...or at least that was what the Devious Disappointment's Captain had guessed judging by the ships embarked over there. Unfortunately this was not the time for enjoying the view, or musing over such things as it was our little band's turn to deal with the 'officials' at the top of the slope; these seemed to be more Mirabar based guards I figured as the armour and clothing wasn't that of the guards we'd encountered at the docks. And the annoyed glare the very definitely Luskan city guard was giving from her position off to the side.

"Names and why we should let you into the District?" a tired looking human in plate armour asked then frowned noticing Lua'kah'wyss face beneath the helmet "...and why in the Seven Hells should I let a Drow near civilized folks?"

"Noble Sir?..." Tris began beside me in a warm and friendly tone that likely was warring inside her with insults considering her usual response to such I'd found. Then again she was a Bard and had gotten the acting part of that role down...at least when she felt like indulging in it.

"Sir Wendyll, and I'm paid to keep riff-raff out of the Mirabar District by the merchants so why should I let Drow of all things up here?"

"Sir Wendyll, I am Lady Tris and this is mine husband and we are travelling scholars out of Waterdeep, though he himself is Neverwinter born and not of Waterdeep as myself, and Lua and Etlin here are but our retainers. I admit those of the Underdark have a fearsome reputation, but indeed it is that reputation that makes her such a valuable guard in these troubled times as these. I assure thee that we shall be of no trouble to yourselves or the guard during our stay in your fair city. We merely seek to restock our supplies, and perhaps ply our trade within these walls before continuing on our journey in the coming days. I can assure thee we shan't cause any trouble within thy walls...is that not so mine love?"

'I'm your what now?' I wanted to say but played along with a friendly smile and a nod to the Knight? Mercenary? Hired goon? in charge of these bored guards "Indeed Sir Wendyll, I can assure you my retainers shall cause no difficulties for you or your men within the city..." I nodded politely to the unhappy looking Luskan "...or to the City Guard either I assure you fine gentlemen..." when in doubt tell the truth. Just not the whole truth "...We merely wish rest after ourselves after the rigours of our journey here, and to perhaps offer our services to any who wish them in this fine city before journeying onwards once again" Far, far away from the dread pirates, slavers and unholy necromancer liches who ruled it.

"And what would one of Neverwinter wish in our city?" the Luskan guardswoman ground out. Crap. It was the docks all over again. Missy had evidently done her job too well in our language lessons. Still don't Panic Karguk! Professional smile!

"Ah now I am not truly of Neverwinter I fear. Much of my life being spent upon the road or traveling when I have not the time to study my art. Karg of the Crags, Loremaster and traveling scholar at your service...Milady?"

The guardswoman frowned, in annoyance or confusion, then looking at me oddly, as did 'Sir' Wendyll "Guard Silfrey"

"A pleasure to meet you Guard Silfrey, and as I said my association with Neverwinter is tenuous at best. And I do not doubt some family's there wish me ill..." like Missy's family if they knew about me "...if I was to appear in its streets. As my Lady here..." she would pay for this, oh yes she would "...mentioned we shall cause no trouble...though of course I understand the fears of the city guard and those of the district's citizens with times as they are. Would a...deposit or monetary surety...towards any potential difficulties that may arise perhaps during our stay be to convince you fine officers of our good intentions in regards our stay?" Go on, you know you want it...this is all a bloody shakedown half the time anyway I'd suspect.

"Of course Milord, what a fine suggestion..." 'Sir' Wendyll replied glancing around at the rest of his mates but glaring at the Luskan guard faintly "...a fine one idea. Perhaps 5 gold coins will be merely a formality of course, and returned your departure from this..." blah, blah, blah, but the eyes were saying Like Hells your getting this back and thanks for the 'gift' as I fished out the requested bribe "...thank you Milord Karg and Milady Tris. Please enjoy your stay in the Mirabar District" then waved us on, while the Luskan seemed set to disagree. Probably because she wasn't going to get part of said bribe I'd guess. Ressisting the urge to groan I nodded to the woman.

"Milday...I mean Guard Silfrey, would it be possible for you to aid us in finding suitable accommodation within your fine city? It would be much appreciated and we would offer...recompense...for such time. I do not wish to take you from your post of course..." she frowned again, glancing at the long queue held back a distance away and then at the sneering 'Sir' Wendyll. Hummed then sighed.

"Yeah, sure come this way. I was due a break at High Sun anyway...unless you have a problem Sir Wendyll? Or do you wish any help in counting this noble sir's surety?"

"Oh No Guardswoman, we've got it handled I expect, why I never forget a friendly face. Oh but do hurry back to us, thy presence is of such radiant sunshine that we may wilt without its warmth"

'Wow didn't think you could get such passive-aggressive sarcasm in such a stupid line' I nodded the fake smile still plastered as we followed the disgruntled, and faintly cursing, Luskan guard up the bustling street. Hopefully this wouldn't cost us too much...

...though it at least should get us in the door somewhere I hoped for that extra cost. After we'd put a little distance between us and the guards at the entrance to the upper slopes the guardswoman glanced back at us "Well I'm yours, 2 gold get you in somewhere they won't stab you when you fall sleep"

"And somewhere nice? With decent food, beds and such?" Tris asked calmly, as the Luskan guard glanced at the armour clad form of Lua'kah'wyss and hummed a moment "5 gold, plus whatever it takes you get pay a...deposit...for your stay. I'll get you in the door and ensure you get no trouble from them. Most of'em don't like the Guard, they know to do what we say or else. If you..."

Again I resisted the urge, once again, to groan as we strolled along with our 'guide' into a much cleaner and better kept area than down by the docks we'd arrived in. This was going to be an expensive few days in this dump of a city...

Journal of Loraatris Hollysword [03]

26th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

We hath embarked upon this sailing vessel, The Devious Disappointment, and have at long last begun our journey northward toward the City of Sails. Though there is some worry within me of our efforts to proceed through this city of such villainy. Sadly it hath not been an auspicious start I fear as Lua and mine new comrade in arms Karg hath been struck down with wicked seasickness shortly after our departure. Indeed currently it is just mine-self and the bounty-hunter Etlin in our 'cabin' here in the hold as Lua and Karg hath taken to the deck to alleviate their condition.

Though mine remaining companion hath been of little conversation as his faint snores currently fill the cabin as mine hands scribe these words upon my journal despite the sway of the deck beneath me. I shan't complain much in this regards as this crew of ruffians hath not been as bothersome as the one from the Gilded Lionstooth after leaving Waterdeep, none have made grabs at mine or Lua's buttocks, or leered too obviously at mine friend's body. Perhaps this is due to our new travelling companions? Or perhaps from the word of our success mere days ago against the foul cleric of Talos and his minions?

Whatever the cause I am indeed glad of the reprieve from such behaviour and a chance to rest my weary brow before arriving in the next wretched hive of villainy. If we hath some luck upon us then mine companions will hath recovered from their illness and engage in conversation, perhaps even discuss the basics of the arcane arts or even just to listen to mine songs. The mood, which was so joyous upon our boarding, hath become tired and maudlin with Etlin wishing merely to sleep, and mine other companions illness hath placed them in foul humour I fear.

Though Karg seems most bothered by our mere presence aboard the vessel; indeed he hath seemed wary and ever watchful of attack upon the ship. Pirates of course are a danger, but less so upon such a large vessel as this within a convoy of their other armed merchantmen – certainly not the fears of a 'Giant Squid' or 'Sea Elves' as Karg mentioned. Such things are truly rare, and travel by sea is certainly safer than upon the troubled roads of late. Certainly it is swifter and more comfortable. Though I admit mine comrades may argue with that view of mine; Lua most especially as she hath faced similar illness upon the Gilded Lionstooth. For now I must sleep as mine eyes begin to droop and these letters begin to blur into one another.

27th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

We are nearly upon our destination it seems, and Lua is in better spirits as hers, and friend Karg's, seasickness hath lifted thanks to a tonic I watched him brew upon waking this morrow from a mixture of leaves from his pouches, some greenish paste and boiling water mixed together. It smells, and apparently a taste by the words of Lua, quite vile in nature but it hath done as required and settled their beleaguered stomachs over the course of the day. Though it hath surprised mine ears to hear of Lua drinking the potion of a stranger when offered; truly that wicked illness must have vexed her greatly to take aid from other than mine hands.

Perhaps she understood the reagents in that concoction of our loremaster, and I have asked him doth he know many others of such type and hath responded in the affirmative. Etlin hath voiced his own recipes for such things as recoveries from drunkenness and it hath been an interesting discussion of the knowledge of herb lore and other aspects of nature that I hath not known. Perhaps mine comrades in arms can be interested in teaching mine-self some of this lore in the coming journey?

Though perhaps I should not push so, as I hath been granted blade lessons from Etlin, and occasionally Karg, though he hath already agreed to teach me the hard earned arcane knowledge he hath acquired. I am...such a burden to them I fear, and all I seem to do is seek aid from those around me, from noble and brave Lua to mine new companions. What can these feeble hands of mine do to aid them in this journey? For I cannot always be the weight others must carry along with them as they become heroes. But what must I do to change this worthlessness that I hath been given?

29th Day of Flamerule, 1353 Dale Reckoning

What a wretched hive we find ourselves in!

Why we hath not even managed to set foot upon the wood of the dock before we were accosted by these greedy guards (and 'officials' of the rulers of the city) seeking out bribes from ourselves. Ones we hath seemingly been forced to give, and continue to give, with each passing step within this horrid city. Indeed much of the reward we attained from our defeat of the nefarious cleric and necromancer has been eaten away in but a day as if by some great gluttonous beast. Even this costly feat only being achieved too by means of embellishing our origins and status as travelling scholars with noble ancestors; disguising Lua and Etlin as retainers, and Karg our Loremaster as mine husband.

It was a decision made upon the difficulties poor Lua was facing from these greedy and hateful ruffian rabble they call a city guard in even letting us enter into a more respectable location that the docks with all kinds of mercenary scum. Only two 'respectable' humans, with their retainers, seemed to stand a chance in entering the city proper so I disguised mine miserable elfin features as many a time before and gave the most believable tale. For it would be uncommon, nay seen as strange, for a 'respectable' woman in the position I hath claimed to travel with two men not their spouse and a 'vile and evil' Drow such as Lua as a retainer. No mere adventurer are we such as the common riff-raff held up upon the docks, no we shall be those of means and status however low, and seek only to ply our skills at the markets of this city.

I hath feared that our loremaster would be enraged by such a suggestion upon coming to this tavern and being removed from prying eyes. It is a great ask to pretend for several days to be a husband to one of tainted blood such as I, but he merely thanked me for mine quick wits and for providing these wicked guards a tale they would accept. Between us we hath managed to acquire a large two bed room here in the Lucky Copper Coin Tavern it is called, with a lockable door to our room and even bookshelf and study table with chair. Such comfortable beds, plenty of space to share for mine-self and Lua, and for Etlin and Karg upon theirs. Of course this room did not come cheap between providing six gold coins to the guardswoman to get us in the door, and then forty gold coins for the privilege of staying in this establishment in the coming days.

By the Gods we hath suffered highway robbery by these bandits in the garb of tradesmen! Still we hath been granted a stay through the month of Eleasis for that sum of coin, indeed it was their demand to allow us stay within these ways...most likely in the hope we shall depart early and make a glorious profit upon our backs. Indeed even if we stay the whole such a period I would expect this tavern to make a profit upon us regardless. These are wily disguised bandits I fear!

As to our plans, we hath made none as yet sadly. Catching a caravan to Mirabar, or perhaps on the river, is the overall plan but we are unsure of the caravan routes and timetables so we shall need to enquire into this matter before we shall be able to do so. This being a minor problem in the coming days owing to the fall of the Midsummer Festivities on the morrow; with so many mercenaries and adventurers within the these walls. Or to be truthful; the Docks below if they are non-humans, or on the city harbour at Dragon beach if they are more closely allied to Luskan or merely wealthier bands to pay bribes.

Such seems to be the way of the Host Tower and the High Captains, though what can but expect of a city run by mages pursuing the darker aspect of the arts and foul pirates turned traders. Who are still pirates at heart all others not of Luskan would proclaim, and words I would be inclined to believe after this day's demands. Still there appears to be an edge of tension within this city and the rumours and fears that these lands are on the verge of war is likely of greater truth than many would believe.

The harbour of this city is filled with ships, most of the warships and there is a large force of mercenaries encamped upon the various docks with notices offering pay for more upon the fences and buildings leading into this section of the city. Though there a none inside this area and there appears some difficulties between this area and that of the city guard as best as I, and the others, can tell in our brief time here so far. Perhaps more shall be revealed tomorrow through rumour and gossip as the various reveals begin for the Midsummer; perhaps I may even be of use to others by earning some coin with my songs?

The Innkeeper hath allowed myself, and Karg (though his voice is...unsuited for softer melodies), to perform in song and verse with the tavern and that we make take whatever coin we art gifted. Unsurprising in its lack of generosity; where other Inn or Tavern would let us earn our keep or room through such services, or pay for mine talents, this bandit in disguise gains a free bard for his tavern patrons without any of the costs! The mean spirited old pirate!

Now I must cease mine words as the other wish to rest. It shall be a long day on the morrow of course, even without our indulging in the festivities as seems likely. And it shall be no simple matter to things in this place; we must travel in pairs, and in truth possibly have the other pair remain within the tavern to guard our possession when we are not together as a full party.

That and Lua cannot cross the bridge into the city markets proper, and likely neither would mine own self if mine elfin ears and features were to be noticed beneath the hair style and rather simple disguise work. So on the morn we shall send Etlin and Karg over to the markets across the river to see the nature of things while we sleep in, then upon their return mine-self and Lua shall explore within our confines as Lady and her loyal retainer before the start of the revels. Perhaps then we can decide upon our means and time of departing for Mirabar.

[Lua'kah'wyss 01]

The City of Sails

It was strange, yet a nice kind of strange, to be able to have some small measure of enjoyment in this che'el of rivvil. Indeed in any of the lands of the rivvil since she had left the oft dangerous, yet comfortable, darkness of Buiyrandyn at the behest of the Dark Maiden to walk the surface and quest in the Goddess's name. To a clumsy and inelegant child such as herself it was the greatest honour that could have been granted, a boon, and a sign she was of worth despite her lack of skill at dancing in praise of Eilistraee. Though the surface world, even the great rivvil che'el of Waterdeep that she had heard stories of being open had been oft hateful and threatening towards her upon stepping foot under that terrifying, but oh so beautiful, open sky.

Still she had understood the hatred directed upon herself by the rivvil, daarthir and even tu'rilthiir such as friend Tris; it was the wickedness of foul Spider that had made her people suffer and suffer beneath her darkness even as she corrupted them. Lua'kah'wyss had never seen the streets of 'glorious' Menzoberranzan but Mother and others who had escaped its twisted darkness had told her the fearful tales of their lives within that city and the fate of those who opposed the Spider-Goddess. Something she herself had lived in fear of each day within her home like all the others – that they would be found out by HER servants and their tiny community destroyed by their wrath. Only by the blessings of the Dark Maiden had they remained safe Lua'kah'wyss felt, and perhaps by her grace too one day all drow would be freed from the webs of the Spider herself.

But those dreams were for a far distant time if ever and for now she smiled softly into a flagon of this thankfully not-unpleasant surface drink as her small band of three companions sat around her and chatted and revelled at the table with her. With her and not like so many others and pretending she did not exist, or occasionally glare hatefully as so many others. Even that she sat with them within such a pleasant el'inssrigg as this thanks to their aid, and not upon the street or under the cold surface sky made this smile she wore full of joy and warmth rather than the one she had tried hard to show the rivvil when they heaped their scorn upon her.

So she smiled contently and listened as her first surface friend Tris sang songs of joy and love for the large crowd that were seated or stood with this el'inssrigg. Tris had a beautiful voice she found, far better than her own and possessed of greater flexibility than herself as her friend danced and sang the words of some rivvil song about the joys of the harvest. Or perhaps of lovers upon the harvest, Lua'kah'wyss was unsure. Though it sounded nice and she felt the urge to be dance here beneath the rising moon she hinted at by the light entering from windows of the el'inssrigg. But she nervously held them in line, she was unsure of the ways of the rivvil still and the Priestess and Mother had both stressed it was unwise to celebrate as they would within the safety of home.

Friend Tris had said something like this when Lua'kah'wyss had first danced beneath a full moon to her songs as the night air caressed her moonlit skin; indeed her newest friend had been blushing and stammering and unwilling to dance as she had. Sadly places of safety such as that stream had proven few and far between and her clumsy feet had found little time to try improving her meagre skills. So she sat with her new companions and began to clap as friend Tris finished her song and received a series of clapping, whistles and even some coin from those who had requested that song. And giggled slightly in happiness without thinking; like with the others she had consumed several flagons with this rare chance to celebrate and she guessed it was starting to get to her perhaps?

"Did I ever tell you've a pretty voice? Cuz thats some nice auld singin' ye did there...couldna done it better meself?" friend Karg beside her greeted Tris cheerfully upon her return to the table and sat down across from both of them and beside the warrior Etlin. Lua'kah'wyss found she liked both rivvil males even if they were as strange as all the males of the surface races; even at home where males were treated as almost equals it had come a mild shock to her to find herself treating the not-quite-a-wizard wizard almost as the Ilharn of their party. Her tu'rilthiir friend snorted in bemusement at the rivvil beside Lua'kah'wyss after swallowing down a large gulp from her drink.

"A very tired voice too and where is all thine boasting now? No song has emerged from your mouth tonight 'bard' that you call thine-self?

"Boasting when the hells was this?" Friend Karg asked back looking mildly confused as he picked some of the bread and meat upon the table between us.

"That you are a 'type' of bard as you claim?" friend Tris retorted, though Lua'kah'wyss could see the merriment on her face as she rested her elbows upon the table, chin on hands as she hummed at the male...then motioning at an approaching rivvil female with four new flagons "And that thou would grace us with a verse after I hath bouth thee a drink. Well...I've paid for thine drink coming. Should not a husband sing for his lovely and fair wife? Hmmmm...mine love?"

Lua'kah'wyss giggled at the glare friend Karg gave Tris back in return, while Etlin guffawed loudly for a moment before doing the dregs of his current drink before taking the new one placed before him. It was an amusing tale that friend Tris had spun to these 'Luskans' to get them within this fine el'inssrigg. Free to wander the better parts of this che'el away from the dangerous and noamuths and likely bands of thieves and mercenaries drawn to this che'el of slavers intent upon war. Amusing mostly because both were unhappy with the lie they were now stuck while within these walls, though she'd noted friend Tris found teasing her in theory jaluk a relief from it. Friend Karg was...not as skilled at word-play as Lua'kah'wyss first surface friend and even now she watched as he began to get flustered somewhat as they talked and friend Tris manoeuvred him towards singing - till he finally gulped down his flagon and thumped it off the table.

"FINE! FINE! I'll bloody sing. Stupid bloody women and their..."He glanced around as several of the tables around them quieted from the general chatter and glanced at them at the sudden noise. Friend Karg placed his head in his hands before looking up to glare at Tris as 'Song! Song!' was echoed by several of the drunken rivvil near them. Friend Tris grinned back at him, or more so smirked perhaps "...Right that was dumb of me. I will get even with you woman...ahhhh...bollocks...right, right, what to sing...hhhhaaaa"

"MY FELLOW WANDERERS AND PATRONS OF THIS FINE INN!" Friend Tris announced cheerfully standing up and motioning for their 'loremaster' to stand even as he glared at her "My comp...mine fine lord husband shall grace us with a song! Please be kind to him as he is only a novice in the bardic arts!" then she leaned in close to friend Karg and whispered into his ear as he stood "Told you'd regret leaving mine-self and Lua stuck in the room way past when thine promised return..."

Lua'kah'wyss giggled softly and relaxed into this rare moment of playful happiness amidst the river of hostility and misery that been most of her past few months in these lands. It had only been a short few weeks in the presence of these two rivvil jaluks and yet there were friends forged in battle to her mind. At several points they could have betrayed them and reaped a benefit yet had stuck to their word on all matters, Etlin in a solid sensible manner that reminded her of the hunters from her home while Karg in this strangely accepting matter of her heritage despite knowing much of her people somehow.

Something of course she was attempting to find out, it was strange amongst the rivvil for one to know so much of the nature of the hateful Spider-Queen, and stranger still for one to know of her own Goddess. A relief yes, but a mystery as well as who his teacher had been. At the least it finally...finally!...gave her someone to talk to about her Goddess and debate the nature of the world. Friend Tris was interested in many things but theological debate it seemed was not one of them. She blinked realising she'd gotten lost in her thoughts, and perhaps from the seemingly never ending river of alcohol before them as friend Karg had closed his eyes as if trying to remember something before beginning to sing...

Every time when I look in the mirror

All these lines on my face getting clearer

The past is gone

It went by, like dusk to dawn

Isn't that the way

Everybody's got the dues in life to pay...

As she'd expected his voice was nothing like the silky smoothness of friend Tris, instead deeper and scratchier as he began to spill-out words as if remembering a half forgotten story. Somewhat unsteady, and strangely sad perhaps for the first few lines before his voice grew slightly more confident as no one interrupted and his head rocked slightly as if he was off in his own little world for a moment and not here in the tavern with them.

I know, nobody knows

Where it comes and where it goes

I know it's everybody's sin

You got to lose to know how to win

She watched as he took in a breath, snorting at the new noise as Tris began to strum her lute in the background of, or perhaps in line with, the song. From the look on her face this wasn't an song she had heard yet, and Lua'kah'wyss had seen her friend display an unquenchable thirst to learn new ballads and verses. Still she found the last line struck a cord with her for some reason she could not explain as the song continued.

Half my life

Is a books written pages

Live and learn from fools and

From sages

You know it's true, oh

All these things you do come back to you

It was an odd song, different from the usual ones she heard amongst these rivvil and even if friend Karg wasn't the best voiced singer it seemed to be enjoyed somewhat as he entered what appeared to be a repeating beating rhythm around the words "Dream On!" and lines for them to 'Sing with me!". To which Lua'kah'wyss found herself sing along with as while it wasn't the best sung song it called to her somehow. Perhaps it was because her own voice was not as perfect as friend Tris's and it was less scary to sing along with one of lesser talent. Perhaps it was because a few others were singing along with the simple repeating lines that seemed to be the ending of this. And perhaps it was nice to take an opportunity to sing for her Goddess however poorly, and celebrate this brief moment of mirth and joy she had been granted.

Sing with me, sing for the year

Sing for the laughter, sing for the tear

Sing with me, just for today

Maybe tomorrow, the gods will take you away,

Maybe all she could do was dream and sing for a brighter and better future as the Dark Maiden taught...

Dream On!

Dream on until your dream comes true!

[Lua'kah'wyss 02]

Lucky Copper Coin Inn, Luskan

Lua'kah'wyss giggled to herself faintly as she snuggled up against the back of the jaluk. Pawing at him he'd called it when he'd whispered at her in slurring annoyance as he batted her hand away once again. But it was...this was pleasant, she was merrily drunk, and he was at least a little amused at her antics she guessed by his bemused sigh and not shoving her away roughly. Then again this was her bed, so that made her the jabbress even if Tris technically shared it with her as well usually. And that he was Tris's jaluk at least in the eyes of these local rivvil. Not that her friend Tris was complaining; she'd already fallen into faint snores on the other side of the jaluk head pinning his arm to the pillow trapping him between them. Across from them on the other bed, that he'd been banished from, she had heard the sound of their other jaluk comrade and the local rivvil kyorl.

Not that she deserved it after arriving earlier in the night with her comrade-in-arms to seek more 'gifts' from Lua'ka'wyss's friends and comrades in the form of free drinks and food. Still friend Etlin and those rivvil had gotten on very well and now foolishly graced his bed forcing friend Tris and Karg to continue their disguise. Lua'kah'wyss would not complain as she tickled at the back of the one beside her. She would play the part of a mistress to both happily; this was the most enjoyment since leaving the Underdark. The surface folk were such prudes in everything she'd found, and there had been none beyond Tris she could trust enough till now to treat them as a drow jaluk from home. A flinch away from her fingers and a sigh greeted her latest attack before he moved carefully to not wake Tris so he lay upon his back to face her, then raised his free arm to tap at her head with his knuckles.

"Will you stop that? I thought you were the sensible one...sigh...bloody trouble-making lightweights the lot of ye. You and Etlin...gods above what a mess, can you be good? We got bloody town guards over there with that idiot" he whispered to her faintly. Annoyed, amused and exasperated it seemed as she pouted at him. She wasn't drunk...too much...well maybe a little...or maybe a lot. Not that it mattered anyway. She was jabbresshere! No mere jaluk would command her!

"Now be a good jaluk and do what I want for once. You surface folk are so strange and it is hard being hated and feared by everyone I meet. Except you, Tris and Etlin so far, though he is suspicious of me at times I fear. I miss home and just let me enjoy myself this one night to forget. Are we not friends?" was what she meant to say but it came out as a soft giggling and slurring words "jjjjahhh...hic...hom...hic...friendssssshhhhaahaa...hic...hehehe...hic..." as she felt dizzy and rested her head upon his shoulder, curling up close to him. It was weird how rivvil jaluk were larger than her, or than drow jaluk in particular. He muttered soft above her hair as she ran a hand over him. Hair on a chest was weird. Rivvil were weird. Life was weird. She giggled...weird, weird, weird. Weird was weird word.

"Ahhaahhhh...oh lord I'm the responsible adult of the group and I'm drunk, bloody great...right, stop that...go to sleep Lua..." Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. He droned on in a low whispered as she closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth and blessed, if faint, moonlight that drifted in through the bars of the window shutters and she could feel dance upon her face. She smiled; this had been a good day...

...

"Unnnnnn..." she protested softly as her mattress shifted beneath her. Wrapping her legs and arm around it to settle it she yawned and blinked open bleary eyes. Then promptly shut them again as she found that painful sunlight had invaded her room and everything was blurry. That and her head was sore when she'd briefly lifted it up from her pillow...which for some reason was rising and falling softly she noted as she placed her weary and sore brow back upon it.

"Looks like someone's finally awake..." a tired and hoarse voice announced from above her as she felt a hand run through her hair and her mattress once again rise in rebellion against her. With a tired groan she slowly and carefully opened her eyes and fought against the blurry bright painfulness that seemed to bore into them "...don't know how you slept through all the noise. Or cling on for dear life like some danged barnacle..."

She blinked pushing her head up and looking at a rivvil face that cleared up somewhat after a few seconds as her eyes adjusted "Friend Karg?" she asked then slowly...painfully...looked around to see where see was. As best her tired and confused mind could tell her she was in the bed of the rivvil Inn, though the place appeared to be both a mess and empty beyond herself and her new rivvil friend. Oh...oh...this was likely a problem she guessed as she tried to throw off the wicked cobwebs from her tired mind.

"Yep, hello there sleepy-mcgropey-hands, good to see you awake...kinda. You missed all the fun. Gods above how you did, but damn do you sleep soundly after a few...a lot...of Luskan ale and that brandy. Do you mind relaxing your grip a wee bit? You maybe skinny as feck but their like iron bands and I couldn't get you off earlier"

She flushed a little, unwrapping her arm that was locked around his chest and legs that were locked around his leg. Still she didn't pull away completely, it was comfortable, her head ached and he merely stretched slightly at the freedom rather than seeming mad at her. The ways of the rivvil "Sorry, friend Karg, I, umm..."

"Ah that's better, strong as an orc you are damn...you were drunk, its fine and we'll leave it at that. Tris was nearly as bad as you, and the not the least apologetic either mind you, bloody bards..." he muttered as he started rubbing at his face with his free hand "...SO EVERYTHING IS FINE. Beyond of course the bullshit that Etlin pulled by shagging the crooked local guard and the mate she dragged along. Because that's exactly what we want to do with crooked cops...get into to bed with them. And in the literal sense too! Yeah that's the first part. You missed that by your happy sleepy time?"

Lua'kah'wyss frowned slightly "Where are friends Etlin and Tris then?"

"Walking off a hangover on their way to the markets along with crooked cop 1 and 2...and NO I'm not happy about that but Etlin's new friend has the day off duty and something, something, something..." he groaned out and she could pick up the oft drow-like paranoia about things that he seemed to display in their weeks together. Strangely though he'd been very accepting of her despite the way other rivvil were, much like how friend Tris had, once he had befriended her and she cursed the name of the foul Spider and other wicked Gods during their talks. Even now he was relaxed in her presence where even her other jaluk companion Etlin remained wary for instance "...we'd be there too but out of it. None of us could wake you up, nor shake you loose, so we get to mind the fort here for a while. That and I'm feeling lazy and hungover, and had a drow attached to me with muscles of steel. That and we've got a job"

He said the word like it was a curse and Lua'kah'wyss yawned stretching a little herself as she let him pull away slightly so he could roll to his side and look at her as she queried hoarsely "Why is that bad friend Karg? We are to stay in this che'el for many days before shall journey on, would it not be better to have a quest to gain coin? Did we not say that this che'el is to drain us of treasure?"

The unhappy expression upon his face made her smile faintly as he grumbled along "Hnnn...taking escort quests from crooked guards is usually not a good idea. Nor is having said corrupt guards knowing us on a first name basis, hovering around us as last night's awkward pretend 'married and mistress' bullshit showed when I'm drunk out of my mind. As were ye, now Etlin can keep his mouth shut...I hope...but I'd be alot happier without minions of the Host Tower sniffing around us. Or us having to play bodyguard some wizard for a few weeks...bad ideas untop of bad ideas"

"A wizard friend Karg? Would not the Sorcere not protect their own?"

"A Necromancer in fact, more gods-damned zombies; works for one of the High Captains, or here at his protection of some bullshit like that. He's paying our new...friends...in the guard off and too keep and keep an eye out for 'civilized' bodyguards. Mainly because he'll pay magical studies along with coin..." Karg groaned hand coming up to his face "...my bloody fault there. Can't keep my bloody mouth shut about that crap and my studies. This has nightmare quest written all over it"

"Could we not turn down such an offer friend Karg? Necromancers are the vilest of wizards" she stated relaxing on the pillow but preferring her previous one. A bit of a tumble with a friendly and decent looking jaluk was quite appealing but with these rivvil she had to be careful not to lose this comrade who she could discussion the Goddess and other knowledge with. Though it really would cheer her up considering they might have to work with a wicked rivvil wizard. They had slain such wicked wizards not too long ago and now they were to serve as guards to one?

Friend Karg sighed "No, can't turn it down. Make you an offer you can't refuse and all that shite. The City Guard are the biggest and most organised thieves and criminals in the bloody city itself. And there's factions from the sounds of it. And there on the verge of war. And there's a horde of mercenaries in the city they could have hired instead of us. We're strong armed into this because we're outsiders and aren't really very threatening as mercs go. This whole thing is going to be a hustle I reckon. First decent caravan and away we go to Mirabar"

"That is sometime away friend Karg" she told him sadly but amused at the return of drowish fears. Perhaps that was what reminded her of a drow jaluk about him?

"Ughhhh...don't I know it. Well we meet our 'charge' later today, so shall we get up, get dressed and have something to eat before the others return?"

Notes:

I tried to keep the who thing completely tame, but I want to show the nature of even the 'Good' Drow. Eilistraees followers are still drow, and their essentially female college jocks in many cases. Lua'kah'wyss is essentially a priestess out on a holy quest/spring break. Mods have any issues let me know and I'll edit out or adjust around. I just wanted a way to show Lua's attitude, the fallout from the previous nights drinking, Etlin & the guard along with setting up the next quest.

As to Drow words;

[Rivvil - Human] [Kyorl - Guard] [Jaluk - male] [Sorcere - Wizards Academy]

[Karguk 19]

Markets, Luskan

I resisted the urge to glare at my 'lovely wife' and team bard, as I strode towards her, Etlin and our new crooked cop friends in the form of Guard Silfrey and...the...other one, whose name I did not know yet. But then again in Tris's defence I was refraining from glaring at Etlin, Lua'kah'wyss and the two guards as well so it was more a team effort at annoying me than just herself in particular. I think she could sense my annoyance at her from my grumpy airs, and smiled happily at my approach, walked over and hugged me before giving me a peck on the cheek. This girl enjoyed playing her official role a little bit too much, though it seemed more in teasing than any mean spiritedness...so I sighed, hugged her back a moment, then glanced around at the others in front of me. Behind me I could hear Lua come to a halt and once again play the part of 'loyal retainer' to myself and Tris. It was the only reason, well that plus the crooked guards before me, that she was currently allowed into the market district at all.

"Good day to you Guard Silfrey, I hope you haven't been waiting long for us?"

The local guardswoman yawned, then waving her hand in front of her "Nah. Early even, which is good I'm well exhausted and want to get back to bunk..." she frowned at her associates glance at Etlin "...our own bunks Inlatyie, Jerdain will be rightfully angered if we don't check in, or we're sleeping on duty tomorrow" she turned back to me after sniffy look from her friend and silent 'awwww' on Etlin's face. Honestly dude can you not see the problem with us getting involved with the city-guard in Luskan of all places?

Meanwhile the evidently tired crooked cop glanced back to rest of us "Right so let's get you lot to your new respectable client. He's friendly with High Captain Bartilasmus of the Howling Horror, so don't fuck it up. I'm givin' ye the job because yer more educated and civilized than that lot down by the beach"

'I'd say it's because we're cheap and easy to strong arm into it. But what do I know' I thought as Guard Silfrey outlined our 'duties' to our new client, like not being thieves, while guiding us through the bustling market place. Honestly this whole gig was quite unprofessionally organised; hiring a party like ours hinted to me at least that this wasn't exactly going through official channels, nor was it going through high level 'unofficial' ones either considering the pay scale. Personally it sounded like this necromancer dude had asked Silfrey for extra protection and she'd gone for the cheapest, but least scum-baggy, party she could find on short notice. And we fit the bill I guess. At least the walk had begun to clear my head after last night's drinking session and then the following difficult to sleep night period between drunk number one and drunk number two.

Around us the markets were starting to really bustle as the rest of the city began to recover from the previous night's festivities. Though this area was one of the 'nicer' areas of the market I guessed as we walked, at least judging from the market stalls owners getting better dressed, and the increasing quality of the buildings we passed on the way. Lua for her part had her cloak's hood up to hide he face and gloves on her hands as she walked alongside myself and Tris, with Etlin's guard leading the way and nattering on about the area we were now in. A few of the less busy merchants, at least the stall based ones, took notice of us; but not in the problematic way, rather instead calling out their wares and how great a buy it would be. After the first few I made the decision to try and avoid making eye-contact with any of them and instead try watch for danger with my gaze fixed more steadily ahead and glancing side to side at a downward glance.

Not that we didn't have things to get, but it was quite distracting from any potential dangers like street thieves or guys trying to harm me. Being in the city was both a major source of enjoyment by being somewhere built up and filled services and things denied to me for years...but it was also significant source of concern and fears with everything I knew of life Toril. At least out in the wilds I knew the dangers long before they arrived after years of training, but here I was only learning as I went and upon half-remember social etiquette from a different style of human culture. Hardly the best when the Boss Orc was obviously sending me to do something. And the fact I also now stood in a city whose rulers had sent shadow babies after me not too long ago. Idly my mind clicked back to how all the others were doing back at home. Were they safe? Was Oggy treating Missy, Mara, Rose and Kehtri as I wanted? Were all the slaves owned by the clan been kept by my general rules?

'All you can do is hope for the best. I doubt praying would help much' I thought as we turned a corner and came to shop-front. Well an older stone building that was being used as a shop judging by the large DOCTOR NED: MAGICAL SERVICES AND STUDIES emblazoned on the wooden board above the doorway in big black lettering. Another placard was to the side with SERVICES written at the top and a list in smaller lettering beneath with what I assumed were prices; sadly I didn't get to read them properly as I was jostled forward by my 'loyal retainer' as the others entered before. Some people were just bloody impatient!

'I did not know Dwarves could have bright red hair' was the first thing that entered my mind as our group followed the two guards. Walking into what seemed to a reasonable sized waiting room I figured from the chairs in the corner, bookshelves filled with knick-knacks and a desk of sorts; behind which sat a bored looking dwarven woman in armour, with a warhammer resting against the wall beside her. She looked up at us coming in through the door, eyes glancing from guardswoman Silfrey to ourselves then gave a sigh before opening in gruff, verging on stereotypical dwarf voice. Except female and cranky sounding...then again; Dwarf. They were probably born cranky and cranky-sounding.

"This lot ere' for the job right are dey lassie? Don't look all that impressive ta me, but canna expect from ye and the guard eh?"

"Hello Cruenditha, good to see you too..." though judging by the tone our guard was not particularly glad to see the dwarf woman "...is he here?"

"Aye lassie he is, just finishin' up with ah client der now, just sit and be quiet and ah'll let'em know yer ere' ta meet'em with dis lot. Don't touch nuffin, ah'll be back in but a minute" the dwarf, called Cruenditha evidently, replied shoving off the chair she was on and striding over to a hallway just behind and to the left of her desk. While she left the warhammer where it was I could see small throwing axes at her belt, and she was wearing a mixture of plate, leather and furs over her shorter but well built frame. Her footsteps echoed faintly for a few seconds as we sat down, followed by the sound of faint knocking and voices till the footsteps reversed and started to become back towards us. In the meantime I'd sat down, on the comfortable chair, as the others either sat or stood around me in the case of the more heavily armoured Lua'kah'wyss, and the Guard Inlatyie who was resting back against the door-frame.

'I can't believe we have to work for a bloody necromancer. Bloody Luskan, Bloody Liches. Bloody hungover and in an Necromancers building' I mentally grumbled, though glad to sit down, and quietly hoping a Lich didn't wander out in a few moments looking to kill us or something. Because Faerun; that happy place where even simple things can lead to ghouls or giant spiders. Still I tried to remain at ease, hand on my sword hilt to keep it banging off the wooden floor beneath me. At least that's what it should look like to everyone else in the room, who were all being rather quiet as the dwarf woman returned to the room.

"Right, e'll be ere' in abit. Just sit there an' wait and be quiet. Ah ave' got work ta do" she told us with an faint harrumph of annoyance as she retook her seat and grabbed at an ink quill from in front of her on the desk. Evidently she had a ledger to fill as I watched her reopen the book in front of her and began to scribble into it after glancing up at us...and I think counting us. Good sign? Bad sign? Not that our group could keep their mouths shut as the Guardswoman ignored the request.

"Oh come on Cruenditha, no sweet treats or drinks for your guests? Or to your helpful guardians in the Guard?" Guard Silfrey snorted back arms folded across her chest. Without even looking up the ledger she was no writing in the dwarf woman answered in such a way as if I could feel her rolling her eyes at the suggestion.

"Ah, shur be hard to live without our friendly and evar'elpful guards like yerself now wouldn't it? But shur it hard times, so canna only afford give'em ta clients or employees'. So unless ya wanna pay and get yer tits bigger or sumthin', or work for da Boss then canna give ye any"

"Well this lot are gonna work for your Boss so shouldn't you leave us some"

"Nay, they ain't work' fer us yet. But ah' shur ya can hit them up for sumthin' later canna ya?" the dwarf snarked back and mentally I sighed in agreement. As I was reasonably sure that, Yes, yes she would, hit us up for her desired baked goods later on. She was the strangest shakedown artist or crooked cop I'd heard off; after the initial shakedown she wanted (relatively) cheap things like booze and baked goods. And sleeping with my idiot party members...I...well I'm still not sure if we're getting a good deal her or not. At least we weren't haemorrhaging coins to the city guard directly after the first few hours here, and she had got us a possible job...with an evil necromancer...but still a job. One that we'd have to ready for in a few moments as quick and light footsteps, along with cheerful whistling bizarrely, echoed up from the hallway...

"Hi Everybody!" greeted me, well everyone, as a gaudily dressed man in pinks and greens strode forth from the hallway, waving one hand in a friendly wave. This was the evil sorcerer? Really?

"Hi Doctor Ned!" the two guards greeted back in cheerful unison, as they stood up and gave a wave back to the middle aged human who looked like he'd just stepped out of wardroom for clowns or a fancy dress party. I'm the Fop Tris says? Well look at him! I wanted to shout as I stood up and tried not to start at the cheerfully smiling man with the trimmed beard who looked closely at Lua'kah'wyss, then at me, then at Etlin and Tris, back to me and Lua'kah'wyss before speaking to Guard Silfrey as he clapped his hands together with a smile.

"Ah if isn't the ever lovely Guards Silfrey and Inlatyie. Now I know such lovely Luskan flowers as yourselves need none of my beautifying services so am I to believe these fine fellows and ladies are to be interviewed for the jobs of research assistant and security?"

"Oh Doctor Ned, you charmer you..." I just...did the rough and crude Guards just blush like schoolgirls as they answered that? "...but yes these are the ones you had asked us to look out for at the High Captain's permission. Milord Karg and his wife Milady Tris are travelling scholars, a Loremaster and Bard respectively, and these are their retainers and bodyguards the soldier Etlin and the Drow Lua'kah'wyss. I hope that isn't a problem?"

'Doctor' Ned waved a hand through the air to indicate that didn't matter while continuing on that cheerful tone "Not at all, not at all! As long as they can do the work and don't betray me I don't care what they are. Now where was I? Hmmmmm Oh yes!"

He clapped hands together again "Introductions! Of course! Well I'm Nedorious Illian Kline THE THIRD, Master of the Necromantic Arts, Mage trainer, Anatomist, and Master of Flesh-shaping and Beautification! Or as the locals put it; Ned the Boob Wizard, maker of bigger cocks and fixer of blemishes - Welcome to my current humble workshop and surgery! Now let's talk about your qualifications for my employment and what roles you'll be having...oh and pay, can't forget that! I like money and I assume so do you. Questions?"

All I could do was stand there confused and answer for my team on the situation "Okay"