Category Archives: Character Vignettes

Miscellaneous character history and stories for the Jade Regent campaign

Character: Ivan

Ivan’s Iqaliat adventure, part 1

Day 1 it’s time to party in Iqaliat

To Kali’s dismay the town held a big party to celebrate the death of the dragon and their very survival. This community has a strong bond and I heard story after story about the people killed by the dragon. This party was in part to celebrate the life of those killed by the dragon. Walking through the crowd listening and talking with the people I was a little shocked to truly comprehend how many people died at the claws of the dragon? So many people have lost loved ones to the dragon. With the closeness of this community it is hard to understand how the shaman could betray his people and bring so much death. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain these people are going through. It seems like everyone has lost someone to the dragon and a few stories recounted entire families killed by the dragon.

As I was walking between groups a man that looked maybe the age of my companions approached me. He didn’t look as drunk as most of the other people and approached with purpose. I immediately prepared myself to take on a co-conspirator of the shaman. My thoughts jumped to way would he approach me in this crowd instead of waiting for me to be alone. I relaxed when I noticed a drink in one hand and some bread in the other hand. Quickly I decided to keep on guard but see how this plays out. He approached and just started talking.

The man said “Your Ivan right? My name is Anerk. I think that it such as great thing that all of you have done for us. Such bravery is hard to find these days. I myself would have gone but I hurt my knee and that is such a long trip for someone like me with an injured leg. Are you having fun??

I replied “Yea I guess”

Anerk said “Great. So you know Kali really well right? I am sure that her bravery was a shining inspiration to someone as young as yourself. You’re so lucky to have the privilege of traveling with a fantastic woman such as her. The brown eyes of hers are so dreamy and I am sure you would agree that her figure is as dreamy as her eyes. Do the other women get jealous of her beauty? I would love to be traveling the world with Kali.”

Anerk pauses looking like he expects some type of response.

I replied “Yea I guess”

Anerk continues to talk “So you’re her friend, how can I get to know her better. Maybe you could introduce me and tell her what a good guy I am.”

I replied “I think it would give a better impression if you introduced yourself. It is not my place to get involved with Kali’s personal relationships.”

Anerk replied “Ok with your encouragement I think I am ready to talk to her. Do you know where she went?”

I replied “Ah no”

Anerk wandered off looking for Kali. I am not sure what to say when Kali questions me about Anerk. I did try to stay out of it. As I turned to put some distance between Anerk and myself I bumped into someone.

A voice said “Hi my name is Piquana. I saw you talking with Anerk. He is going through a tough time losing all of his family. He is normally a good guy and obsession with your friend is the first thing he has shown any interest in since the dragon killed

his parents and sisters.”

Paquana continued speaking “So are you enjoying the party? I still don’t really understand why after so many years this dragon suddenly decided to start attacking us now. Normally we take care of ourselves but I guess everyone some time in their life needs heroes.”

Paquana paused to take a drink and then continued to talk “Even with you taking care of the dragon there are still some that don’t trust outsiders. “

Paquana paused to finish off her drink and then continued to talk “It looks like I need to get another drink. Winter is coming and soon you won’t be able to see anything. With all of the dragon attacks I just hope that the hunters have gather enough to last through the darkness. Well I really need another drink.”

Paquana stumbled as she walked away pausing a moment to say “Tell Sparna my forge is always open for him to use.”

From behind me a female voice said “Hey Ivan do you want to have a drink with us?”

Turning around a small group of teenagers are sitting at the table. One of the guys motions for me to come over and sit with them. I accepted the invitation.

He started talking “I am Anuun, this is Eska, this is Ikiak, this is Sesi, and twins are Ulva and Atana. Here have a drink, I think you need it after Anerk and Piquana.”

Over the next couple of hours we shared stories. I told them about growing up on a farm in the south and I learned a lot about each of them. The families Anuun and Eski handle brewing and tavern in the town. Ikiak works in the general store with his family. Sesi, Ulva and Atana are hunters, both families have a deep tradition of hunting. Like on the farm people tend to follow the family path but at least here it is up to each person.

After the long evening of getting to know my new friends Ulva stands up and said “I’m ready”

I said “ready for what”

Anuun replied “Just a little run through the town. I hope you don’t get too cold”

On the way over to one of the now empty houses they explained that as part of my initiation into their little group we would be streaking up to the cliff’s and then back to the house.

Anuun said “We normal go up to the cliffs during the warm months and dance in front of the spirits but this time of year it can be dangerous. Once we get up to the cliffs the blowing wind get frightfully cold. “

Sesi speaks “Oh Anuun it won’t be that bad. It’s a warm night and we can all run back and stand in front of the fire.”

We made it to the house and waited around for the fire to get good and warm.

Eski said “Ok the fire is warm enough. Everybody get ready. Ivan we do this only wearing boots and nothing else”

I said “I will switch boot as wearing these boot would be cheating. They are magic and keep the wearer warm.”

Ikiak said “Glad we can trust you not to cheat”

Without the boots the night air was very cold. It must have looked bizarre to anyone watching the seven of us run for the cliffs. As we headed into the tunnel on the way to the cliffs several of us collided and I hit the wall and almost fell down.

Someone I think Eski said “wait Ikiak I think fell down”

We paused and then I heard Ikiak “no I am fine” as he runs past.

We all made up to the cliffs and there was a moment were my brain was telling to stop and cast endure elements. I pushed through and followed the others back to the warm house. With the help of a warm house, hot tea and warm blanks we were able to finally get rid of the chills from our run.

Ikiak said “So now you are one of us. It a brutal run but now we can just sit in front of the fire and get a good night’s sleep.”

I said “I think we should do it again!”

Anuun, Eska, and Ikiak almost at the same time said “What are you crazy?”

Atana speaks up “Spoken like a true hunter but the cold can be very dangerous”

Ulva said “Up here you need to know when to stay out of the cold”

I replied “I’m going and this time I plan to dance to the wind spirits. I have a plan do you trust me?”

Sesi said “Oh sure”

I replied “This time we are going to use magic to stay warm.”

I proceeded to cast endure elements on everyone.

I said “This spell will help keep everyone warm. Let’s go”

At that we headed out the door and back up to the cliffs. The run to the cliffs was a lot more pleasant this time. At the cliffs we began a dance to the wind spirits. It took a little patient instruction from the others before it started to at least look like I was doing the dance correctly. We danced to the wind spirits for hours before returning back to the house to sleep.  I had forgotten what it was like to not act like an adult.

Day 2 Let get some hunting in before the dark night

I awoke surrounded by my new teen age friends. It will be hours before they get enough sleep so I move quietly to not disturb there sleep.  As expected Sparna is over at the forge working on one of his projects. It looks as if he is working to improve his Urgosh, Odd I thought we was not working on the urgosh. I barely convinced Sparna that we should see our companions off as they head to get supplies. After some time helping get everything packed up I watched as the caravan headed out for their 12ish day supply run.

With last night’s party I expected people to be getting going late today but as we walked past the tavern they were opening up for breakfast like any other day. Neither Sparna nor I really needed food so we just walked past. I headed back to the house and quietly investigated the other rooms of the house and discovered damage to the roof likely from the dragon, with a little bit of magic the whole in the roof was fixed. I quietly wandered around the house using magic to repair some of the little things that were in disrepair. Repairing the outside used up a little more time but there were still a few hours before the others would be waking up. Walking through the area checking the other homes for damage took long enough that I could head over to the tavern and get breakfast for the group.

Over at the tavern/inn the woman cheerfully put together the “to go” package of steaming hot food. As she hands me the food she said “Well it looks like your Dwarf friend is finally going to enjoy a good hardy meal.”

I replied “This is not for him this is for the Anuun, Eski and friends”

Woman replied “Well you tell my son Eski that we need help this morning and to get right over here. Anuun’s father was looking for him. The two of them are supposed to be down moving the ale casts. Make sure they eat a good breakfast first”

The smell from the food seemed to bring them out of there slumber. I relayed the message to Eski and Anuun who quickly eat and headed out along with Ikiak. Sesi, Ulva and Atana took more time to eat and make plans for the day.

Ulva said “Sesi are you still coming hunting with Atana and I?”

Sesi replied “I wouldn’t be able to leave until tomorrow. Why don’t you take Ivan?”

Ulva replied “What do you say Ivan you up for some girls showing you up?”

I just responded “Sure. Sesi can you please tell Sparna that I am out hunting”

Atana said “It’s settled. We need to grab our stuff and get moving. Ivan are you packed?”

I replied with “Yep. I am carrying everything I own.”

Less than an hour later the three of us were on our way. Although I wonder if they really wanted me long or if they really wanted the endure elements. We head out along the wall for 3 to 4 hours before they just stopped.

Ulva said “Were here. We just need to chip away the ice around the door. You and

Atana work on the door and I will go set out the traps”

Atana replied “FINE, I CAN DO IT MYSELF I DON’T NEED IVAN’S HELP”

Ulva replied “Ivan why don’t you come with me and I will show you how we set the traps on the ice.”

I followed Ulva and once we were clearly out of earshot Ulva begins to speak “Sorry about that. My sister had way too much to drink and I think it has caught up with her. Normally it is me that she is pissed off at so this is kind of refreshing. Watch out. When she is like this she bites, hits, and kicks. Atana should be fine after she sleeps it off.”

I replied “I could try some healing magic to help”

Ulva replied “Did you forget about the part where she bites, hits, and kicks?

I said “how do you feel? I can try the healing magic on you”

Ulva replied “Like someone hit me in the head with a mace. I won’t bite you for trying”

Casting my spell I said “Here let’s try this and see if it at least makes you feel better. This is not a cure and will only last for 7 hours.”

Ulva replied “Oh that feels better. As promised I didn’t bites, hit or kick you”

We finished setting up the last of the traps and slowly headed back to the cave/ice hut. Ulva and I checked the traps later that evening and to my surprise we were already catching prey. We spent some extra time gathering up some of the worms Skygni had told me about. This is an area rich in the worms and that is what attracts the game here during the winter months. On the way back to the ice hut Ulva reaches over, takes my glove off and bites me.

Ulva said “I didn’t want you to get the impression that I am a domesticated woman that doesn’t bite.”

The rest of the night went ok and luckily today Ulva was the only woman to bite me.

Day 3 Every day is a good day to hunt

I watched as Atana woke from sleep and began to put on her boots. Heading towards the door she looked at me and whispered “Sorry. I am going out to set traps you should get some more sleep”.

I replied “wait should you be going alone? Would you like endure elements?”

Atana replied “My sister will be mad at me for going out on my own and yes Endure elements would be nice”

I replied while casting my spells “Here is endure elements and this is my beacon spell that will allow me to keep track of you. This way you can be alone but we can find you if something goes badly wrong”

As I touched Ulva with the same Beacon spell she groggily said “what is it”.

I whispered “Hush it is just me casting a spell on you”

Ulva groggily replied “Ok Ivan I trust you”

It wasn’t long after Atana left that Ulva fully woke and I explained that I was tracking the both of them with magic. I explained that she is fine and said she would be back in a few hours. Ulva and I waited around in the ice hut until Atana returned. After she had rested the three of us spent the rest of the day and most of the night out hunting.

Day 4 foggy day

We were supposed to head back to town today but thick fog started moving in so we spent the last few hours hunting before it reached us. Once the fog got thick Atana and I made one more trip out to check on the traps. It may not have been smart but with the beacon spell on Atana and Ulva we would at least be able to make it back to Ulva in the ice hut. The fog was so thick that it was hard to see the traps just feet from the ropes. We check about half of the traps when we decided it was just too hard to find the traps. We made our way back to the ice hut.

Atana said “Well it looks like we will just have to stay inside and find some games to entertain ourselves with.”

Ulva said “Ivan why don’t you tell us about all those symbols on your body?

I explained how they just appeared when I first learned about magic. Ulva and Atana examined the symbols and exclaimed that their symbol was missing. After hours of discussing the different symbols on me we called it a night and got some sleep.

Day 5

After a couple of hours I awoke and put a piece of wood on the fire. The only problem with only needing two hours of sleep is having to wait for other people to get enough sleep. I stepped outside to check on the fog and discovered that the fog was gone. I considered going out and collecting the remaining animal traps when the door to the hut suddenly opened.  A groggy Ulva grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the hut.

Ulva said in a groggy voice “No going out and being stupid. Promise me you won’t go out while we sleep.”

I replied “ok”

Moments later Ulva was sound asleep again. I spent the hours working some of the hides to keep busy until Atana and Ulva awoke.

With the fog gone Atana and Ulva easily lead the way back to town. We dropped off the supplies.

Atana said “Ivan, we will be celebrating a successful hunt tonight at the tavern. You should join us.”

I replied “Again with the drinking. Should I be worried tomorrow?”

Atana replied “I am not going to drink that much. And for the record I wasn’t that bad”

Ulva just started walking down the road as she said “See you tonight Ivan”

I headed down the street towards the forge to check in on Sparna. Inside I found Sparna working with Piquana closely watching. She startled when I entered the room.

Sparna approached me and started telling me that his urgosh was somehow different.

Brushing bits off the Urgosh I said “Ok let me take a look. This looks like some enchanting material. Let me check for magic”

After casting detect magic I said “Wow this is magic now. Looks like you put magic on both sides of your weapon. Nicely done Sparna.”

Piquana rushes over bumping against Sparna. She said “Sparna that’s is incredible. The way you use your hands to work the metal is amazing.”

We spent the next several hours discussing the process of creating magic weapons. Unknowingly Sparna followed the same process for creating a magical weapon that I learned. The whole time I kept waiting for Sparna to notice that Piquana was being overly suggestive and using any reason to make contact with him. I decided that anything between Piquana and Sparna was none of my business.

From the doorway I heard the familiar female voice of Sesi say “Piquana do you have Anuun’s new hinge done”

Piquana replied “Ah no I have finish it yet”

Sesi approached me and in a calm voice said “Grandma said that I should fetch you for dinner”.

Before I had any chance to respond Sesi moved forward and started kissing me. She paused long enough to whisper “Grandma insisted that I convience you to have dinner with us”. I tried to respond in agreement with dinner by it is not easy to talk while kissing.

On the way out of the forge I looked back at Sparna and said “later Sparna” but he was already back completely focused on working the armor. Sesi and I headed down the street to meet grandma for dinner.

Character: Qatana

Starday, Rova 29, 4712

Starday, Rova 29, 4712 night
northern caravan route (Taraska River)

“And then I told him, ”that’s not a mouse, that’s a rat!””

Qatana’s circle of friends exploded with chittering laughter, and Pookie looked pleased with herself.

This wasn’t the first time they had heard the story, but it was an amusing tale and well told.

Qatana looked up from the dying embers of the caravan camp fire into the velvety blackness of the frigid night sky. As her eyes adjusted a host of stars slowly faded into view, like diamonds glinting in candle light.

Suddenly a near ethereal voice spoke softly to her, “Have arrived in the city. Exploration will begin tomorrow. Afterward, will watch and await further instructions.”

Elias had taken her up on the offer, then. She wasn’t sure if she was surprised, but she was pleased.

The idea had come to her in Kalsgard, and she had sent a letter and payment enough for several months of simple stealth work to an old associate. Perhaps, she thought, “associate” was too informal a word. Tutor. Inspiration. Friend.

But Elias was unfocused, and had a tendency to idle away his hours in brooding contemplation rather than accomplishing much. He needed a mission, she felt, and she had provided one — with pay: the best kind.

She concentrated and thought, “Understood. Carry on as planned. I will send additional payment as funds and opportunities arise.”

Elias knew what she was planning to do, even if he did not believe she would ever pull it off. But he was sympathetic, and willing to do the tedious job of gathering intelligence. Lots of it over a long time.

Her goal still lay far outside her grasp. She must grow first. Grow in power. Grow in influence. Grow in wealth. She cared little for such things, as did most of her sect, but they were a means to an end.

Some years earlier she had thought to enlist people who already possessed what she lacked. The Sandpoint Heroes. Some of them might have assisted her. They were said to be both powerful and wealthy beyond belief.

She had even traveled to Nybor to enlist Takkad, thinking maybe he would ask his friend Sabin, the mad mage, to join them.

Emotionally it was a difficult journey. She had not been on the road from Sandpoint to Nybor since… the dark times. She had some of her friends with her, but they had not yet crossed over. Four tiny bundles of warmth tucked in a pocket of her cloak, offering much needed comfort.

She found Takkad’s residence easily enough: everyone in the city knew him and where he lived. But she couldn’t help but be disappointed with the shack he called home. It was on the edge of town and had a small barn and large grassy pasture out back.

A horse looked up from its grazing and gazed at her with an almost thoughtful expression.

Surely this wasn’t the right place. “Maybe they said the east side of town and not the west,” she thought as she approached the rickety door.

Qatana reached up to knock, but hastily withdrew her hand. She could feel it. Massive amounts of magical power surging along the surface of the door. This place was not what it seemed.

“Can I help you, miss?”

A man with a wheel barrow full of manure was looking at her from the road.

“I came to see Takkad.”

He looked at her blankly for a moment before replying, “Mm, hmm. And was Master Takkad expecting you?”

Qatana felt at a loss. This wasn’t going like she expected.

“No. But I knew he lived here and thought I would take a chance and see if he was in.”

Another pause.

“I see. Does he even know you, honey?”

Honey? That sort of thing would normally send Qatana into a rage, but for the moment she was at a complete loss as to what to do.

“Nnn, no,” she finally stammered.

“Well at least you’re honest. Not everyone who stops by is. But I’m sorry, Takkad is out. His crazy half orc friend showed up about a fortnight ago and it wasn’t an hour later that the master came out to the barn and said, ”Otis, Sabin and I are taking off for a while, and I’m not sure when we’ll be back. Make sure you take proper care of Butters for me.””

Otis gazed out at the horse and then at the manure in the barrow. “And that is what I was doin’ when you came up and stood fidgeting by the front door. I hate to break it to you miss, but you wasted a trip. I hope you had other business in Nybor.”

A week or so later, after she had returned to Sandpoint, she realized that it was fortunate she had missed Takkad afterall. This was a personal issue, and she needed to deal with it herself, or at least she needed to be the one making the plans and calling the shots.

Someone threw a branch on the remains of the camp fire, which made a loud whoomf as sparks shot up in the air and pulled Qatana back to the present. The flames quickly sprang to life, eagerly accepting the offering of dry wood.

In the renewed light she pulled an old creased map out from her pack and traced the route she was sure Elias had followed from Magnimar to Kaer Maga.

Softly at first, but building steadily in intensity, Beorn began to cackle hysterically.

Character: Kali

From the Life of Kali Nassim: Pink Agates

Early autumn, 4705

Kali tasted blood and sand.

She wanted to open her eyes but her face was clenched so tightly from the pain that it was squeezing them shut. From her chin to her ear, sharp jolts radiated outward, each demanding her full attention. The pain intensified to the point where she wanted to scream but then it suddenly went numb.

She was aware of the the ground pressing against her right temple, and tears flowing over the bridge of her nose. She had not cried like this in years, but she had never hurt anything like this before, either.

Her mind was spinning, unable to focus on any one thought long enough to piece together what was happening or even where she was. All she had was now. Feeling the sand and blood congealing on her tongue, she instinctively tried to spit it out but the pain returned in a burst so severe that it made her nauseous. Kali froze, letting the qualm pass and the pangs recede back to numbness. Don’t throw up don’t throw up don’t throw up.

Finally, a singular, clear thought formed. He broke my jaw.

She opened her eyes, but could barely see through the tears that were pooling in them.

She wanted her mom.

Someone was standing over her; someone she knew. A man? Yes. He was asking her something but she couldn’t understand the words. She knew it sounded like a question, but that’s as much sense as she could make of it. When she didn’t reply, he bent down to look at her more closely. She couldn’t make out his features at first other than that he was big, but then she recognized him as one of the Scarnetti boys. The older one. What is his name? He turned his head and she heard him call out to someone. To the Theern twin?

The thought asserted itself a second time: He broke my jaw.

My rescuer is a Scarnetti. It was madness, but she didn’t care. Whatever fucked up moral code that family lived by at least included “not beating up young girls”. That was good enough for her.

“Don’t try to stand up,” he said.

Are you kidding me? Why would I want to do that?

Then she noticed she was on her hands and knees, with one foot brought forward readying to push herself up. What am I doing?

She shifted her weight back and settled onto her rump, arms still stretched forward. She just lay there, completely unaware of how much time was passing. He called out again, but she wasn’t listening. She saw that she was sitting up now—I don’t remember doing that—and that the two of them were not alone. Some of her friends and a few other girls that she knew were standing around them at a polite distance. She knew their faces but couldn’t form any names.

She lowered her head to let the blood, saliva, and sand drip from her mouth. She didn’t dare try spitting again. When she looked up afterwards she saw the small crowd had parted and through it she could see the Theern boy face down on the beach. He wasn’t moving. Is he dead? A small, muscular figure was standing over him and she recognized it as Qatana. Gods, she looks like a wild animal. What is happening?

“Don’t try to talk.”

I already figured that one out, thanks.

“She got to him first. Pounded him good.”

Kali tilted her head to the side, which he interpreted as a question.

“He’ll live, don’t worry. You, too. Help’s coming.”

She was not, in fact, worried about Theern but she was worried about herself. She knew this was bad. Really, really bad. There would be no hiding this from her parents, even if she wanted to. Except she still didn’t know what was going on.

The pain was coming back, a heavy throbbing that was impossible to ignore. She held back tears through sheer force of will.

She wanted her mom.

Someone else arrived. Her vision was blurring again and she couldn’t make out who it was. The newcomer was pulling something out of a pack or a bag.

You don’t seriously think I can drink a potion like—?

And the pain was gone, so abruptly that she reflexively swallowed and nearly choked on the sand still in her mouth. Kali coughed, spit, and gagged, and nearly passed out.

Someone gave her water. When the spasms ended she swirled some of it around in her mouth and spit it out, then took a long drink. When she looked up again she saw Qatana was gone, and sitting across from her was—

“Shalelu?”

The elven woman was looking right at her with an intensity that was unnerving. Kali had trouble reading her even at the best of times and at this moment Shalelu was completely inscrutable. It gave Kali chills.

In Elvish, she asked, “What did he do to you?”

She had actually been invited. Not told she could come along, not encouraged to come by one of her friends, but actually invited. And by Sefa! An afternoon on the beach, just being out with a couple of friends and a few others around her age. This had never happened before. So, yes! Hell, yes!

She had been searching for something. Agates? Pink agates. They were extremely rare, but they always seemed to turn up at this spot on the beach after really high tides and last night was a new moon. It would be something she could give to Sefa as a small gesture. She had just found one and was headed back down the beach to where the others were when she tripped on something and fell. She looked up and saw Jefy Theern standing over her (she was finally able to tell the asshole twins apart) and…nothing after that.

Until the pain, sand, and blood.

That wasn’t the answer Shelalu was looking for, though, because what had been done to her was obvious. Kali’s Elvish was good, but she was still in shock. She realized she must have misunderstood the question so she went over it again in her head. It may have been, “What was he going to do to you?”

A horrible chill ran through her as more memories flooded in, and she started shaking violently and uncontrollably. The blood drained from her face and from her head, and the ground disappeared beneath her. She was aware of a frenzy of voices from somewhere far away.

In the distance, so faint she could barely hear it, Shalelu’s silenced them all. “No. I will deal with him.”

 

§

Character: Qatana

An Act of Mercy

Qatana woke suddenly. The bedroll lay twisted at her feet, and the tunic she wore most nights was wet with sweat. Despite the cooler northern climate it was just too hot in the caravan wagon for sleep.

She looked around and noticed that Shalelu was not there. “Probably watching the caravan from the shadows,” she thought drowsily.

It was then that she heard the voices, soft whisperings just barely audible outside the covered wagon. She vaguely recognized most of them, but a stranger was doing most of the talking.

“Guys, I think we have company,” she said to her friends, and then realized with a shock that her friends were not with her. This abruptly brought her fully awake and alert.

She quickly pulled on trousers and slipped out the back. There, huddled in the darkness by a wheel were nine small shapes. Eight of them were silvery and translucent like smoke, but the other seemed normal.

“Here she is now,” squeaked Badger, “she’ll help.” The others replied in mutual agreement, but the outsider seemed startled by her arrival and scuttled beneath the wagon.

Star let out a snort of exasperation, but Timber reassured their guest, “You must trust her. She will help, but you need to show the way.”

The mouse, encouraged by her friends, crept out from the greater darkness beneath the wagon and scampered forward to the next shadow. The moon had set some time before, but the canopy of stars cast their own milky light upon the city, and hungry eyes would make short work of careless mice.

Qatana was not particularly stealthy, but it was dark, and most of the quarter’s inhabitants were long in bed. Her guide was virtually invisible, and if it were not for the shimmering figures of her friends she would have lost sight of him right away.

They followed the cobblestone road a short distance toward the gate, where the mouse stopped.

“Here,” her friends cried urgently, “here!”

A tiny black form lay slumped by the side of the road. Qatana carefully picked up a limp mouse and saw that while it had been badly injured, probably crushed beneath the wheels of a hand cart, the animal yet lived.

It had clearly suffered in this state for quite some time and was now in shock.

Qatana hesitated, torn as usual between the two choices before her. A little squeak at her feet brought her back to the dying creature in her hands. “You have a mate and probably young ones back in your nest.”

She concentrated for a moment and her friends glowed brightly. The small mouse stirred in her hands, whiskers twitching in the night air. She put the mouse on the ground net to the other, and they scurried off together.

“Stay off the cobbles, little ones!” she called after them.

Qatana stood there for some time, lost in thought and fighting despair and desperation. Was this the right choice? Surely this was just a temporary reprieve, and the next day would see her patient speared in the talons of an owl or made the play thing of some cruel cat. Weren’t her actions this night just a futile gesture, after all?

Timber sniffed loudly and muttered, “This again?”

“Shush,” Pookie admonished, “She is a servant of Groetus, and she must often choose between life and death for others, and the burden is great.”

Star scoffed, “It wouldn’t be tough for me: I’d chose death!” The others groaned their little mousey noises of disapproval, but off by himself Beorn tittered uncontrollably.

Character: Kali

From the Life of Kali Nassim: By Moonlight

Pharast 9, 4710 (Magnimar)

“Do you even know how to use that thing?”

Kali turned her head at the sound of Lucian’s voice. She looked up from where she was sitting to see him standing just behind her, and smiled when their eyes met. No, I don’t, she thought before saying, “I grew up with them. My dad taught me when I was ten.” Which is technically true. She had gotten so used to having the khopesh strapped at her back that she quickly forgot it was there, but the mention of it made her aware of it again. It was long and heavy and awkward. It was also there purely for show.

“Are you going to tell me why you asked to meet me out here, or are you going to keep me in suspense all night?” she asked.

Lucian showed her his best, wry smile and tilted his head to the left as he shifted his weight to that leg. If he had a signature look, this “Varisian scamp” mien would be it. He said, “I’m going with option B,” then winked at her and sat down by her side at the edge of the Seacleft.

“Fine. Be that way,” she replied, in a mock-offended tone which she quickly regretted. She was worried he would take it the wrong way, but he snickered in response and her concern evaporated.

Lucian was a couple of years younger than Kali but he had started at the academy in her class. They didn’t normally accept students under 18 but for him they made an exception: he was smart—brilliant, really—and magic came so easily to him that instruction and study seemed almost a formality. When you’re that gifted the academy bends the rules.

He was handsome, too, in the classically Varisian way. Lucian’s short, dark hair was nearly black, and though it always seemed to be unkempt on him it looked rugged, not slovenly. Sly, brown eyes gleamed with intelligence and a hint of mischief. His skin was just a shade darker than normal, and he had a nicely toned, though not quite muscular, frame.

Kali had gone back and forth between liking him and liking him, but she eventually gave up on the fantasy of a relationship and settled on just being friends. Lucian was blessed with looks, a little charm, and a keen intellect, but he could be completely oblivious when it came to other people. Oblivious to the point of slighting and offending them. She figured that road would just lead to disappointment and frustration, which were two things she did not need back in her life.

“It probably won’t be dark enough for another hour or so. Do you want to get something to eat?” he asked casually.

Kali glanced over to the east where the Rebirth Moon would soon be rising. According to the astronomical tables there would be a total lunar eclipse later tonight, a so-called blood moon, and that eclipse was why Lucian had chosen this evening. He wanted to show her something. “Not the eclipse,” he’d said—which is just as well, as she’d seen plenty of those—but something else. Something in the city, and the best chance for seeing whatever it was would be tonight. But there were no guarantees; he had stressed that.

All the vague talk was starting to irritate her, but she was also curious. So she agreed. “Yeah, OK. But if you’re going to make me wait in the dark, figuratively and literally, then I get to pick the food. And you’re buying.”

“It’s a deal,” he replied.

“Follow me, then. I’m in the mood for this place in Dockway, near the Bazaar.” Kali stood up, waited for Lucian to do the same, and then headed for the road that led down the Seacleft. He quickly joined her at her right side, falling into step.

“Why do you like Dockway so much?”

This was one of those “aloof around others” moments. At least some of the reasons should have been obvious, but Lucian didn’t notice “obvious” things about other people sometimes. Often. A lot.

“Well, my parents’ business is down there, for one. They supply several of the merchants in the Bazaar. And I like the Bazaar, itself. All those cultures mixed together like that, including my own? And the food is pretty good, too.” She liked Ordellia even more, but it was farther away. It was even further if you wanted to get there and back in one piece at night; the most direct route wasn’t the safest one.

“But mostly?” she said, continuing on. “I like to watch the ships in the harbor, putting in to port and back out to sea. We traveled a lot when I was younger. Most of those trips were overseas.”

“My family traveled a lot, too, though exclusively by land of course. Except for the occasional river barge or ferry.”

Varisians as a whole had more than their share of wanderlust. Contrary to the stereotype, they weren’t all itinerants that endlessly crossed the countryside. Most settled in close-knit communities and satisfied their need to roam by exploring close to home (“always wondering what’s over the next hill”, someone had said to her once), but some did travel a great deal. If they were wealthy enough they did it because they could. If they were poor enough they did it because they had no other options.

Lucian’s family fell into the first category.

“Do you miss it?” she asked him.

“What? The travel? Yeah. Yeah, I do.” There was more than a hint of longing in his voice.

“Me, too,” she said with much of the same tone.

“So, naturally, we’ll be indoors and glued to books for the next two years.”

Kali didn’t say anything. They both knew that they were playing the long game, but it was frustrating to feel even more cooped up; for things to get worse before they got better.

They walked in that awkward silence for a while, working their way through the crowded plaza at the base of the hill and then south, skirting the Sczarni encampment known locally as Carent’s Camp. As the Bazaar of Sails came into view, Kali finally spoke.

“Why are we out here tonight, Lucian?”

“It’s better if you see. I promise.”

She led him to Mother Sarraf’s, a small Keleshite kitchen just across from the Bazaar. It was crowded tonight, as usual, but that only mattered if you wanted to dine at one of the small handful of tables. She told Lucian, “Don’t worry: we’ll picnic. We won’t have to wait long.”

“Thank the gods. For a minute there, I thought you had deliberately sabotaged our evening.”

“It’d be worth it. The food is that good. But, no, I want to see this mystery that you won’t tell me about.”

Kali was right about the wait. In less than ten minutes, they were walking back towards the Capital District, taking small bites as they went. She had chosen the stuffed grape leaves, which were filled with a mix of vegetables, lentils, split peas, and walnuts, then lightly coated in a tomato sauce. Lucian had gone for a skewer of minced lamb spiced with turmeric and sprinkled with parsley flakes.

“You’re almost right about the food,” he said between mouthfuls. “Almost worth sabotaging an evening over.”

As they started up the hill from the plaza, Kali asked for a third time, “Why are we out here tonight, Lucian?”

“You’ll see. I think it’s almost time.” He picked up the pace, taking them back up to the top of the Seacleft where they had agreed to meet. “Perfect!” he said, surveying the city. It was just now getting dark and the full moon was climbing it’s way into the sky.

“What’s perfect? What am I looking for?” Kali asked.

“Just give it a couple of minutes. I’ll find one.”

She finished her dinner while he looked, and then waited, growing more impatient by the minute. But before she could get irritated enough to ask “What are we doing out here tonight?” for the fourth time, he said, excitedly, “There! Over there!” He was pointing towards the Keystone district. Towards Seerspring Garden.

“What am I…?”

Kali’s voice trailed off as she spotted it. A light blue glow in the park, shaped like a human figure. At first she thought it was a spell but then it moved. It moved like a person. And then as she watched, transfixed, she saw another glowing blue shape, only this one was flying over the city. She traced it’s progress to the Garden, where it landed next to the first figure. Except there was now a third one there, as well.

“What are they?” she asked.

“They’re yamahs. They’re a type of azata. Come on! Let’s get you a closer look.”

Normally she’d object to the backtracking—they were just down there, after all—but there was no way she was saying no to this.

“Why are they here?” she asked as they jogged back down the hill to the plaza.

“Magnimar is home to a number of unusual religions. Among those are people who worship some of the empyreal lords. Ashava is especially popular.”

Kali knew a little bit about Ashava. She was also an azata, and her faithful referred to her as the True Spark. She sought out lost spirits and guided them to safety by moonlight. What is her holy symbol, again? A silhouette? A woman silhouetted against …

“The lunar eclipse,” she said, interrupting her own thoughts as the realization dawned on her.

“The lunar eclipse,” Lucian responded, nodding. “Other celestial events, too, but these are more frequent.”

“Lucian, I had no idea … I mean, Magnimar! Of all places!”

“It can be a magical city. At times.” Even with the qualifier, that was high praise from a Varisian.

They had just passed the bend in the wide, cobblestone street that would lead them past Lowcleft and on to the gardens when Lucian came to a sudden stop. Kali almost ran into him.

“There,” was all he said.

Kali saw it. Saw her. In the distance, coming up the street towards them.

“Come on,” Lucian said. “Let’s get out of the street where you won’t be so obvious.”

Kali blushed and said, “Sorry! It’s just—”

“I know. My first time was like that, too.”

The yamah was tall. A little over six feet tall, by Kali’s estimation. And she was beautiful. The celestial had glowing, blue skin and long, flowing hair that was as black as the night sky. As she moved, her white gown gracefully danced around her ankles and her hair sparkled and twinkled. Like stars, Kali mused. Her most amazing feature, though, was the enormous pair of blue butterfly wings attached to her back.

“Gods,” Kali whispered.

“Yeah,” Lucian replied. “You haven’t been here long, but you’ll … well, you won’t get used to them, exactly, but you’ll at least stop gawking when they walk by.”

She could tell he was grinning without even looking at him. It was enough to snap her out of her reverie. They waited and watched until the yamah had passed and only then did Kali notice that she was walking with someone. A human woman, probably Varisian, dressed in vibrant blues and greens. They were chatting with one another, like any two close friends would do…when one of them wasn’t six feet tall, blue skinned, glowing, and sprouting wings.

“Incredible! Thank you, Lucian, for bringing me out here tonight.”

Lucian laughed. “You would have seen them yourself, eventually, but what fun is that? I really want you to have the guided tour.”

“What are you talking about?”

Smiling, he answered, “We’re going to the Garden to visit.”

 

§

Character: Kali

From the Life of Kali Nassim: Peccadillos

Early Summer, 4704 (Korvosa)

It was really just dumb luck. Kali was idling around an artists’ stall in the Gold Market while her mom shopped for some fresh produce when a boy maybe a couple of years younger than her caught her eye. He had the look of a Shingles kid. Kali had been to Korvosa often enough that she could generally pick them out even when they were “cleaned up” enough to prowl the crowded streets for easy marks, and sure enough, she saw him move in behind a tall, wiry man with short black hair that was not paying close enough attention to his coin purse.

Kali watched him bungle the theft. Just as he reached for the small, leather pouch, the black-haired man stepped back unexpectedly and the boy bumped into him.

“Excuse me! I’m sorr…Hey! THIEF!

The boy had made the best of the situation by just yanking the coin purse away and bolting. He had the advantages of a head start and a bustling crowd where no one knew what was happening.

Except for Kali, who watched it all unfold. The boy’s escape route would bring him right by the stall where she was standing. He was so focused on getting out of the plaza and into the streets—and away from his pursuer—that he didn’t notice her at all, the only face in the crowd ahead that was staring directly at him. She stepped into his path as he darted around an elderly woman, brought up her foot, and sent him sprawling onto the pavement. The coin purse flew out of his hand.

And that should have been the end of it.

Two days later (Korvosa)

Kali allowed some fear to show on her face. That was probably for the best since it was what they were expecting to see and she didn’t want to make this worse. In all honestly, she wasn’t really all that worried: it was the middle of the day, plenty of people saw them jump her, and it sounded like one or two had even gone for help, so whatever these kids were going to do it was going to have to be fast. And, most important, they hadn’t pulled out anything lethal.

She just wanted them to get it over with, really, but showing indifference would send the wrong message. Life was hard among the Shingles: you weren’t just impoverished, you were also at risk from the imp, spiders, and everything else that stalked the rooftop. To survive that, especially as a kid, you had to be clever or tough; preferably both. The last thing she wanted to do was give them an excuse to have to prove this to her. She already expected this to be bad.

So she was completely shocked when the first punch landed in her abdomen. So shocked that she almost forgot to crumple forward in response. Are…are they trying to knock the wind out of me? This wasn’t how things went back home. If Ianca or the twins were to ever trap her like this, they would just get to the point, and likely break her nose (or try to, at any rate).

Kali let her legs give out and she sagged forward, forcing the two boys holding her up to support her full weight. Not prepared for this, they chose to drop her to the ground, instead, and she curled up into a protective ball. A part of her appreciated the irony of this situation. For two years, now, she’d been the subject of regular poundings, and for the first time she was getting one that she had actually earned, and this is what it amounted to.

They started kicking her—painfully hard, she had to admit—along her back, arms, and legs. She withdrew into herself, drawing upon all she had learned over the past year and a half from studying Unbinding the Fetters, and found a center of calm inside her own thoughts. The blows slowly receded into the distance until they were inseparable from her body’s own rhythms, and the pain faded with them. There was no sensation and no time, just the regular thump-thump of her heart beating.

And then the kicking stopped. She expanded her awareness, opening up to let in the world around her. She heard the oldest boy talking, saying something to her about having taught her a lesson. About interfering? Or something. A lesson? she thought. I get worse beatings twice a month just for breathing. From kids half your size. Part of her found the whole thing kind of pathetic and sad. But she wisely said nothing, instead laying motionless on the ground. It’s what they expected, after all.

She heard their lookout shout a warning followed by the sound of them scattering, then some new voice yelling something she couldn’t make out. Heavy boots ran past. She opened her eyes and lifted her head just in time to see a large figure crouching down next to her. He was dressed in the gray uniform of the Korvosan Guard.

“Miss! Can you hear me? Are you hurt?

Kali sat up, said “I’m fine. Thank you,” smiled weakly at him, and started rummaging through the folds of her sari for her pouch.

“Young lady, I saw what they were doing to you. Are you sure you are not hurt?”

“Hmm? Oh. Yeah. They were kicking me,” came her distracted reply.

The guard looked incredulous. “It seemed much worse than that! We should—”

“They didn’t hit my head. And I’m not bleeding. And nothing’s broken.”

Kali stood, holding the pouch she had pulled from inside her clothes.

He stood up beside her, looking concerned. “I don’t think you should be getting up just yet.”

“What? Why not?” She pulled a small vial out of the pouch and removed the stopper. There was some writing in Tien on the label stuck to the glass. The guardsman just stared at her, bewildered, as his partner, a woman with short black hair, came running up to them.

“I couldn’t catch any of them. How is she?”

“I’m fine,” Kali said, downing the vial’s contents. She immediately felt the aches, bruises and scrapes vanish.

“What was that?” the woman asked.

“Just a healing potion.”

“You just said you were—”

“I don’t want to be sore tomorrow. And covered in bruises.”

The two guards looked at each other as Kali put her pouch away. There was faint tinkle of glass as she did so.

“Why…? Wait. Just how many of those do you have?”

“Only the three.” Kali frowned briefly. “Well, two, now.”

They looked at each other again. This time, the man spoke. “Are your parents nearby?”

Kali started brushing the dirt off of her clothes as best she could. “Hmm? Oh. Probably. Why?”

“We should talk to them! Tell them what happened to you!”

“What? Why? They’ll just worry.”

The guards exchanged inscrutable looks. Kali ignored them as she finished tidying up. She’d need to find a shop with a mirror to fix her hair before getting back to her grandparents’ home, but this was good enough for now. She bowed slightly to them and said, “Thank you for running them off. I don’t enjoy being kicked.”

Then she walked away, leaving them standing in the alley.

 

§

Character: Kali

From the Life of Kali Nassim: Leave No Trace

Summer, 4702

“Gods, Kali! What happened?”

Kali shook her head but said nothing. Ameiko could see she had been crying: her eyes were puffy and red, and there were smears of dirt on her face where she had been wiping away tears.

“You’re bleeding.”

Kali nodded her head twice, but still stared silently at the ground, not looking at anything at all. Ameiko, concerned, sat down beside her to get a closer look at the cut on her left cheek. It was still weeping but for the most part, it looked like it had clotted.

In a whisper, so soft Ameiko almost couldn’t hear it, Kali said to her, “I can’t go home like this.”

“I’ll walk with you to the cathedral. What’s left—”

NO!” she yelled out suddenly, startling Ameiko. “I am not going there again.

Ameiko thought about this for a moment, remembering how that had gone the last time, then said, “Yeah, OK. Niska then. Or Koya.”

Kali was silent for a while but eventually nodded her head and stood up. They would ask questions, too, but they wouldn’t try to get involved.

Ameiko got up with her and they walked slowly into town.

“Kali?” she asked tentatively after they had been walking for a couple of minutes.

“What?”

“Tell me.”

They were laying in wait for her as she rounded the corner of the tannery on her way to the bridge. Marlena and Ianca stepped out from behind the building and blocked her path.

“Where are you going, Kaaalllli?” Marlena drew her name out in a patronizing tone.

Kali turned to run, but found Dimir was just a few paces behind her. She hadn’t even known he was back there. She spun back around looking for another way to get out of this: the tannery was to her right, the ridge to the boneyard at her left…and then she realized there were more than three of them.

“Hey! I asked you where you were going!” Marlena said sharply, shoving Kali’s shoulders. She stumbled back a couple of steps, and someone—she assumed Dimir—shoved her forward again. She saw one of the Theern twins on her left now, and two more girls out of the corner of her eye on her right. They had her trapped in a circle.

“I said, ‘Where. Are. You. Going?'” Marlena shoved her a second time, only much harder, and Kali staggered backwards. Then she was roughly shoved again, sending her across to someone else, and then again and again until she lost count, followed shortly by her balance. She remembered falling down, and the impact of something hard to her cheek.

Kali looked up to see Marlena looming over her. She was saying something, but Kali wasn’t listening: the space that Marlena left in the circle had Kali’s complete attention. Marlena pivoted around to address her chorus; Kali’s fingers closed around sand and gravel. When Marlena turned back, the handful of shot was already on it’s way to her face.

Before Marlena’s shock could turn to rage, Kali leapt to her feet and bolted through the gap. No one even tried to stop her. They just stood there, dumbfounded.

It took less than half an hour. Koya’s spells not only healed Kali’s cut and scrapes, but also mended the tears in her clothes. When Koya was done, and Kali had cleaned up, there was not even a hint as to what had happened.

“You should tell your parents, child. I know you won’t, but you should.”

“I can’t,” Kali said quietly.

“It will just make it worse,” Ameiko added.

“They need to know. And you should trust them,” came Koya’s reply, but she didn’t press it further.


Ameiko walked Kali home. They made the journey in silence and it wasn’t until her house was in sight that Kali finally spoke.

“Thank you.”

Ameiko stopped them both and gave Kali a hug. “You’re welcome,” she replied. As they pulled apart, Ameiko looked at Kali, her expression very serious. “What you did…Marlena…she’s going to make you pay for that. You know that, right?”

Kali nodded solemnly.

“I can help.”

 

§

Character: Ivan

Memories from Ivan: A day with the Druid Alistair

The day started out like any normal summer day but today we had the day off. Abby decided that a picnic was in order for the day so she invited Brother Ben and his girlfriend Jenny, Brother John and his girlfriend Rachel, Billy and Ivan on a picnic. All of the food packed up and ready to go the girls decide they want to go to Egan’s Woods to see if we could catch sight of a mite trying to catch and tame one of those giant blue striped spiders. After that the plan was to have lunch over by Wisher’s Well.

We headed out mid-morning and headed over to Egan’s Woods. After an hour they decided to give up on trying to see a mite attempt to tame a spider so we headed over to Wisher’s Well. At the well Ben and John lowered a torch attached to some twine. The smoke from the torch made seeing anything almost impossible. We were all looking down the well trying to see anything when something chewed through the twine and the torch went out. Ivan pulls out his bow but he can’t see anything. After a few minutes they headed over to a camp site that Ivan often uses while hunting.

Everyone has lunch and it becomes obvious to Ivan that the others wanted some private time to themselves. Ivan leaves the others and heads back down to Egan’s Woods to check on his hunting traps. He finds that something as removed animals from the traps aggressively. That is the problem with setting traps in Egan’s Woods; the mites and the spiders both enjoy taking advantage of small animals caught in traps. All of the traps either did not catch anything or something else got it.

Ivan was about to head over to Mosswood when out of nowhere the Elf Druid Alistair appeared. It had been over a year since Alistair had blessed the crops and the women.

Ivan says “Alistair it has been awhile since you have been in these parts.”

Alistair Says “Yes it has been a little while but there are a lot of farms that need my attention these days. I wanted to find you before the others knew that I am around”

Ivan says “OK”

Alistair Says “Follow me”

Alistair regaled Ivan on his travels as the two walked for about 10 minutes before Alistair stopped in front of an oak tree. Alistair put up his hand to shush Ivan. Ivan stands there quietly while Alistair completed his spell.  Alistair puts his hand on Ivan shoulder.

Alistair says “We need to step into this tree”

Alistair and Ivan step into the tree and come out in a wooded area that he has not seen before.

From the shadows Ivan hears

“He should not be here”

Alistair says “Its ok he is with me and you can trust him”

From the shadows “Why didn’t you bring the sister or the mother? We so enjoy when the mother comes and visits us”

Ivan begins to speak but Alistair shushes him.

Alistair speaks “Ivan wait here and be quiet”

Alistair walks over to a tree and begins chanting. Ivan is pretty sure that he is watching Alistair cast spells but he wasn’t exactly sure. After 20 minutes Alistair finishes up and walks over to Ivan.

Alistair speaks “Now we eat”

Ivan turns around and a small table is full of food. Even though this was a meal without meat there where so many other delicious foods to try that he found that he did not miss having meat, at least for one meal.

Alistair speaks “The Red caps want to take over the area. A few years back they poisoned this tree and the dryad leader Akoni entered the tree in an attempt to heal it. I come here and provide what healing I can provide but only time will tell when Akoni will return. The red cap leader Grustmier led the attack in hopes of taking over these woods. “

Alistair and Ivan finish the delicious meal provided by the fey and say there good byes to the tree and the fey still hiding in the woods surrounding the grove.  Alistair casts his spell once more and then they step through the tree again. Ivan steps through and finds himself back where they started.

Ivan speaks “Are the red caps bad?

Alistair speaks “Red caps are little fey that generally relish in pain and suffering of other creatures. These are evil creatures that can never be trusted. Red Caps like other Fey resist normal weapons. To properly defend yourself against Red caps you will need to use Cold iron arrows or cold iron weapons.”

Character: Kali

From the Life of Kali Nassim: Reunion

Mid-Gozran, 4700 (Korvosa)

Kali had been tossing and turning under the covers for over an hour because sleep just would not come. Every time she felt herself slipping under, her mind would start racing and she’d be awake and staring at the walls. Again.

It didn’t help that the Flood Moon was shining through the window directly onto her bed. Her room at her grandparents’ house was on the second floor and faced southeast, providing a grand view of Midland, the Jeggare River, and East Shore beyond. Normally, that was a breathtaking sight, but right now she just wanted the light out of her eyes. So she got out of bed, walked over to the window and pulled the curtains shut. As the room darkened she became aware of voices coming from downstairs.

I will never get to sleep, she thought.

The voices grew louder, briefly, and then quieted down quickly. Another argument?

She opened the door slowly and checked the hallway: it was empty. Down below, the voices grew louder and then cut off abruptly for a second time.

Kali quietly and cautiously crept down the stairs.

“—barely 10 years old. She’s still a child, for gods’ sake!”

“It’s still Midland, mom, not The Shingles.”

Kali sighed to herself. Mom and grandma, at it again.

Her grandmother snorted, loudly and derisively. “West Dock. Close enough! A bunch of thieves and laborers. And you want to take her there.”

Their voices quieted again and Kali couldn’t make out what was said after that. She risked tiptoeing down the last few steps to the main floor. She could hear her grandfather’s words now.

“—about Kali’s safety? She can’t protect herself.”

His words stung. Kali had a large scab on her forehead, still, from the previous week. Marlena and Ianca had cornered her, and when Kali finally got away she ran half-panicked and tripped. It was just a scrape, but it was large, and it was taking too long to heal, and of course her grandparents had fretted over it. They, too, thought she was fragile and she resented it.

“They’re friends, dad. They have been for years. That hasn’t changed.”

Her grandmother spoke again.

“And what about what she’ll say? You shouldn’t expose your daughter—my granddaughter—to that.

“Not expose her to what, mom? The world?”

Another long silence. Uncomfortably long.

Her father’s voice broke it. “She will find out soon enough. They are to return to Sandpoint in the coming weeks. But right now, Qatana is here, and she wishes to—”

And that’s as far as Akmal got because at the sound of Qatana’s name, Kali burst into the sitting room.

What do you mean, ‘Qatana is here’?”


Kali opened the door and stepped in.

Her parents had prepared her. She knew the whole story of what had happened to the Marchands, where Qatana had been for the past several months, and what she had endured. They did not elaborate on the details, but they didn’t need to. Kali understood enough. She knew what Kaer Maga was.

Her father said to her, solemnly, “She has changed since you last saw her. And I mean more than just her age and her appearance. She is not the same girl you knew. But it is important to remember that it is still her.”

Her mom added, “And that she needs her friend, not an inquisitor. Just talk to her. Tell her how you feel about her.”

Kali nodded.

And she thought she was prepared, but when she stepped inside and actually saw Qatana, she froze and drew in a sharp breath.

Qatana was sitting on the bed. The first thing Kali noticed were her eyes, which seemed huge and wild as they stared into hers. The second thing was her hair, which was not just short but shockingly short. She could pass as a boy in the right clothes.

The room was small and sparsely furnished: a worn but comfortable-looking bed, a small table that doubled as a nightstand, and a wooden stool for sitting. Heavy curtains could be drawn to block the window which overlooked the street below. It was small, but not cramped.

Kali took this all in, recovering quickly from the shock, and bounded across the room, tears welling up as she embraced Qatana in an awkward, tight hug.

“You’re alive! Gods, you’re alive!

She sobbed into Qatana’s shoulder for what felt like several minutes. Inside her arms, she could feel another change: strong, firm muscles. Like Anavaru, she thought, as she pulled away, drying her eyes by wiping the tears away with her hands.

“It’s really you,” she said. Then, her voice breaking slightly, “I…I thought I’d never see you again.”

Qatana appeared to be startled, and Kali just now realized how tense Qatana had felt in her embrace. Maybe I shouldn’t have done that, she thought.

She stepped back to give Qatana space, and herself some time to gather her composure. She fumbled with the stool, clumsily pulling it out so that she could sit at what she thought was the right distance.

“Kali,” Qatana said, barely above a whisper. “They said you were here, but I was afraid to believe them.”

She looked at Kali, actually looked directly at her, with watering eyes. She shook her head, turned away briefly, and when she returned her gaze to Kali her eyes were dry.

“Your parents came by earlier and were so nice, and when they asked if you could come visit it took me a while to realize what they were asking, or even why they were asking it.”

Qatana flashed a fleeting half-smile.

“I’ve never been to Korvosa before, but I’ve not seen much of it yet. Mostly just this room and the Gray District.”

The Gray District?

“I lit a pair of candles for my parents.” She became quiet again, fidgeting with a loose tie on her jacket.

Kali shifted uncomfortably in her stool. What am I supposed to say?

And then Qatana continued again, so softly that Kali had to lean forward to hear her.

“One of the clerics told me that our loved ones can speak to us from beyond death, but after all that has happened, I don’t think I want to know what my parents would have to say to me.”

“I…I don’t think I would eit—”

“So when are you going to show me the town?”

Kali sat back quickly, startled by Qatana’s abrupt change in tone. This was not going anything like she expected it to. The question was surprising, to say the least, and it just didn’t seem to fit. It would be fun, but was it the right thing to do now? She didn’t know.

Maybe she just needs something that’s normal. Maybe doing that would help?

“Um…Well…I’d have to ask permission, but…I…We could go…tomorrow?” Mom and dad would let me…wouldn’t they?

She continued, hesitantly at first, then more excitedly as she went on. “We’re…just below The Heights. We could…walk up there. On the way, there’s this huge bookstore, the biggest one I’ve ever seen in Varisia. And…at the top is the museum, and the big temples, and the amphitheater. There’s also the tower; the Sable Company—they’re the military here—keeps hippogriffs up there, and you can see them flying in and out! And on the other side are the Merciless Cliffs above the bay. On clear days, you can see all the way to Veldraine.

“Do you…Would that be OK?”

“Sure!”

Qatana actually looked excited at this idea, and for a moment, it was just the two of them ready to explore the city together like Qatana had never been gone. Like the past few months had not happened. But, that’s not how it is at all, is it? There was something very wrong about Qatana’s reaction, but she didn’t understand what. She replayed the conversation in her head, trying to figure it out.

“So, tomorrow, then.”

Qatana’s voice snapped Kali back to the present. She was smiling.

Is that it? Are…are we done?

“Yes! Tomorrow. I’ll come by…assuming my parents are OK with it….I’ll come by…around 11 o’clock.”

Kali stood up. She thought about giving Qatana a parting hug, but she had stayed seated on the bed. So instead, Kali walked over to the door and opened it. She looked back at Qatana one last time—she was still smiling at Kali, so Kali smiled back—exchanged an awkward good-bye, and left.

In the common room on the main floor, she found her parents were seated at a table with Shalelu. Kali hesitated at first—she was not very comfortable around the elven woman (though she did not know why)—but overcame her anxiety and walked over to where they were sitting. Their conversation came to a halt when they saw her, and all three of them turned their heads to watch as she crossed the room and sat down next to her father.

Akmal glanced up at Denea briefly and they had a silent exchange before he turned his attention back to his daughter.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m fine. She…”

Kali hesitated.

“What is it?”

“She…she wants me to show her the city. I…I said I’d do it. Tomorrow. If you and mom said it was OK. That I’d take her to The Heights.”

Akmal looked up at Denea, who had been watching Kali intently. She met his gaze and then nodded once. He turned to Shalelu next, and they had a short conversation in Elvish. It ended with her nodding, too. Finally, he turned back to Kali and spoke in an even, serious tone.

“And do you want to do this?”

“She asked to go. I think she really does want to see the city. And, I think she needs it. That it will help.”

“Kali. Do you want to do this?”

“Yes. I do. And, I want to help.”

He nodded and Kali relaxed, realizing for the first time how tense she had been.

“Very well,” he said. “We will make arrangements for—”

“Where is the Gray District?”

All eyes were on Kali again, and it was so long before someone spoke that she was afraid she had said something wrong. Denea and Akmal both looked up at Shalelu, and they had another exchange in Elvish.

When it ended, Denea stood up, gently took Kali’s hand and said, “Come with me, and I’ll tell you about it.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“No, Kali. You’re not in trouble.”

After they had gone, Akmal and Shalelu sat facing one another.

“You are sure you are OK with this?”

“Yes. She needs a friend. Someone her age that she can trust. And they’ll be safe in The Heights. Especially with me keeping an eye on them.” She paused before adding, “Discreetly, of course.”

Akmal smiled at this.

“Of course. If you need anything more, do not hesitate to ask. We will be here for another week at least. You know where to find us.”

 

§

Character: Qatana

From the Memories of Qatana Marchand: Where do we go from here?

Oathday, Gozran 12, 4700 afternoon
Bailer’s Retreat Inn, Korvosa

The dark narrow stairway smelled of fish and tobacco smoke, and the treads complained loudly as Shalelu climbed to the second floor hallway. Flickering lamps set at irregular intervals provided the only illumination, and the warped floorboards made a stealthy approach virtually impossible. The elf stopped before a door and tapped a staccato beat. A moment later and she heard the expected response from the other side, and the door cracked open.

The room itself was surprisingly neat and bright. Two windows facing west were open, letting in the daylight and the aromas of the wharf below. Without saying a word Qatana, who had opened the door, settled back down in a chair before one of the windows and looked out.

Despite the pungent odor from the docks, Shalelu could still smell the girl from across the room. She was dressed in the same boys rags Shalelu had brought her nearly two weeks ago. It had been a long journey on foot, and while Qatana had kept her hands and face reasonably clean, the only time she had been completely submersed in water was when she had slipped and fallen while fording a stream. The damp had done little to improve the smell of her clothes, which were by now, as the housekeeper so succinctly put it, “Ripe.”

“Qatana, those clothes have served their purpose, and it is time to give them a decent burial… or cremation. There is a clean set on the bed for you to put on after your bath.”

This was actually the second set of clothes Shalelu had brought for Qatana. Originally she had purchased a colorful skirt and blouse, thinking to cheer the girl up, but Qatana had been adamant, “I never want to wear a skirt again.” She then added, with even more vehemence, “And I hate the smell of clean laundry!”

Of course she did. Having been forced to do laundry as a slave for three months was enough to sour anyone toward the smell of lye and starch. Shalelu thought that eventually Qatana would move beyond her recent unpleasant associations given time, and so she had bought her a used pair of trousers and a shirt and jacket. These still laid untouched upon the bed.

Shalelu patiently waited, standing by the door.

Eventually Qatana let out a long sigh and standing up walked over to the bed. She quickly began to pull her old stained shirt over her head when Shalelu interrupted, “Bath first.”

Qatana sighed again, fingering the clean clothes.

“Don’t you want a bath? I would have thought you’d not had the chance since you left Sandpoint, and it would be a treat after so long on the road.”

“Oh, we had baths at the inn. At least once a week they’d haul a big copper tub up from the cellar and fill it with hot water and soap, and we’d take turns.” Qatana paused, as if remembering some important detail, and resumed, “The charge for the women who worked upstairs was five copper pieces, but for me they charged a whole silver piece, and so they made sure I never missed a bath.”

“I don’t understand,” said Shalelu, “How could they charge slaves anything? Where did you get the coins?”

Qatana looked puzzled by this for a moment, before realizing what Shalelu had meant. “No,” she stammered, “they didn’t charge us to bathe. They charged others to watch.”