The Black Hand Strikes (Adventure)

Solstice didn't relish leaving Waterdeep; it was strange to think how much the city had grown on her since that first arrival, but it was true. A large part of that was due to the half-orc boy who she had guardianship over, who helped her settle in as much as she helped him build a life after his mother's death. It was hard to leave him behind now, but a thousand gold could go a long way toward covering their expenses and Toby seemed determined to prove himself capable of holding down the fort. Between their mastiff Sadie, sun-bathing cat known as Potato, and frequent visits from Mrs. Mossrun, she hoped he wouldn't be too lonely for the next few weeks.

Her concern and guilt had the firbolg woman a little subdued as she approached the carriage, but likely only those who knew her would notice, and she was determined not to let it affect her job. As it seemed she was the first to make an appearance, Solstice knew introductions were in order and she wasn't about to be accused of a lack of manners. A warm smile graced her lips, as she buried any personal issues deep. That's not why she was hired, and the paladin wasn't about to make her concerns everyone else's problem. 

The firbolg woman strode over with a warrior's confidence, her armor polished and gear assembled. Her bright blue eyes lit up as she got a better look at the ornate carriage; it was undoubtedly the fanciest mode of transportation she'd had in Faerun. The Summer Court had comparable transportation, and for a moment it almost made her wistful for the homeland she hadn't seen in a while. "Ah, impressive. That will make for a fine journey, I hope. That and such fine weather for a send-off." She paused before the high elf woman with a respectful nod, not standing too close so she was not looming. It was one of those things she was always mindful of, as someone of greater stature. "Greetings, milady. My name is Solstice and I'm at your service. A pleasure to meet you."

It wasn’t often that Rinn found herself looking up, but she did, as Solstice approached and made her introduction. Whilst the woman’s cheery nature was a sharp counterpoint to her own frustration, she couldn’t hold it too much against her. She was polite and respectful enough, and she certainly looked as though she could handle herself if they ran into any trouble on the roads – though she rather doubted that the journey was likely to justify such a guard.

“I am Rinn.” She said, giving a sharp nod of her head, “As you are aware, I am acting as a diplomatic envoy on behalf of my home, Evermeet. I am sure—”

She came to an abrupt halt in her words when she saw Dhaunmyr approach, and her perfect jaw tightened for just a moment.

That was a drow.

She had never met a drow. They were strictly forbidden from touch Evermeet’s hallowed soil.

They knew what they had done.

She could not hide the flash of hostility which briefly marred her features. Her lip curled, her eyes narrowed, and she looked like she might simply claw Dhaunmyr’s eyes out there and then – but she did spy the symbol of Eilistraee which the flamboyantly-dressed man wore, and with an effort of will, she battened down that murderous impulse.

Was it truly murderous when you expected that the individual you wished to kill would knife you the moment your back was turned? Perhaps it was merely a finely-honed self-preservation instinct.

Tension rose in the air around them so thick that it could be cut with an ear, and it remained so as Kieran arrived and made his hellos. Rinn’s eyes refused to leave Dhaunmyr for even a moment.

Was the arrival of his no-doubt-bastard son supposed to set her mind at ease? Now she was simply outnumbered.

But. She was not merely acting on her own behalf, here. She was a representative of the people of Evermeet. She knew of Eilistraee’s purpose and role. She knew that her actions had repercussions far beyond her own immediate gratification.

She would be polite.

“As I was saying.” She said, studiously ignoring Kieran and addressing the individual she naturally assumed was his superior in whatever bizarre Drow adventuring partnership the pair of males had formed for themselves in their flight from the Underdark where they belonged.

“My name is Rinn. I am currently acting as the envoy of Evermeet. As you will all be aware, your purpose is to convey me with all due haste to the Misty Forest, whereupon I will deliver a message to the local Sy-tel-quessir, after which we shall leave, pending any urgent business they might bring to our attention.”

Her voice was so cold. Utterly without even the trace of warmth or companionship towards these two people who had apparently, in a grand cosmic joke, been engaged to keep her safe.

“It will therefore be necessary.” She continued, “For us to spend some time together. Please do not mistake this as an invitation for us to become friends, comrades, or anything of the sort. You are being fairly compensated for your time and trouble. How you wish to conduct your duties should be decided between the three of you.”

She let her gaze slide, at last, to Kieran – at least briefly acknowledging that he did exist, before it moved on directly to Solstice, where her gaze softened once again, and she smiled more genuinely.

“Obviously, Ms. Solstice is the most qualified individual here. I will therefore ask that you two do as she says, and that you keep your interactions with me to the very barest minimum. We have an accord?”

There. She had been polite. She couldn’t see how any of them could object to that.

Insight Check Result: Holy fuck Rinn is NOT happy. Aggression! But mostly suspicion. She does not trust Dhaunmyr or Kieran at all. Not even a little bit. But she is trying to be polite. Badly.

It was there, but Dhaunmyr didn’t bother to think about what Rinn had done upon seeing him, he was half pointed at the floor, anyways, so it was something he was willing to completely forget. Besides, there was the possibility it was something of a trick of the light, or a lack of certain minerals in his blood, as he stood up to his full, enhanced height. He was also willing to think it was just a projected expectation, and his effective half-blindness in the daytime was only fuelling the fires of self-victimisation.

The cold nature was somewhat extended to Solstice, Lady Rinn was clearly, simply, a closed-off individual. Dhaunmyr had, at one point, been so. And then he was pretty sure he died, or he almost died, and then he was a completely different man. Person. Thing. Yeah. He absentmindedly pressed a hand to the oversized necklace against his chest, steadying himself. Dhaunmyr was absolutely determined to be an absolute delight to be around. He had a pretty-much-friend, and a young man who he felt needed to know, absolutely, that there was nothing wrong with dark elves. In a way, he had no particular care for the opinion of the stranger. He had learned that such feelings were generally unchangable, but, and he prayed this, if there was to be danger on the roads, that he would show he was a compassionate and self-sacrificing person, and that he would have the opportunity to prove himself, if not to those he knew, if not to Rinn, but to his own mind, that he was capable of putting himself at risk.

He smiled fondly at Solstice, who chimed in with just enough pressure to perhaps make a point to what he ultimately perceived as an incredibly ignorant judgement. Nothing about any of them suggested one way or the other that they were more experienced, other than, perhaps, oh — I’m a traveller —? But no matter, none at all.

“If you insist on Solstice’s lead, I will follow her dutifully, as I would any who prove themselves to be decent people with good morals, however, it is true that I know something more on the roads and their whims than she. As I’m sure you will imagine, I have come quite the way to be here, I actually used to spend time in the back of a travelling bard’s wagon, along with a dwarven merchant, oh her gold was absolutely pure. But, I shan’t argue the toss.”

“It is, as you say, my mission. And that is, indeed, my decision.”

Rinn had been turning away when Kieran spoke up again. Her hand hovered a few inches from the handle of the carriage door, and she turned back, slowly, to regard Kieran.

“With. All. Due. Respect.”

She spoke the four words very deliberately, turning them all over in her mouth as though speaking them in the common tongue was itself an unpleasant experience. Her gaze remained locked on Kieran throughout those four words, and then she smiled thinly. Politeness hadn't worked. Honesty, then.

“If we were in Evermeet, both yourself and Dhaunmyr would have been executed on sight. It is in no small part due to the actions of your people that the rest of us have largely retreated from the world or reverted to barbarism.”

She paused, briefly, and then turned to Dhaunmyr. Her smile remained fixed firmly in place.

“You will excuse me if I am, somewhat, on my guard. I am trusting that enough ages have now passed that you and yours will no longer be compelled to cut out my heart the moment the opportunity arises and offer it in worship to some hateful spider demon. I am making that decision because we are not in Evermeet, and it is my dear hope that I may be able to write back with the cheery news that our lost and cursed cousins are no longer all monsters. That, hope, however, does not outweigh millennia of cause for wariness.”

And now that all the cards were on the table, she clapped her hands together firmly; forcing her utterly fake smile even further.

“So. There we have it. I will endure your company. You will endure mine. You will earn some money, and I can check off another nuisance duty on my incredibly long list. What a wonderful span this is due to be.”

Dhaunmyr nodded along with Rinn, because, for the most part, he did not disagree. There was reason to be wary, he knew that if he were to find himself in a situation with drow, he would not be comfortable. Among dark elves, he would at least initially be suspicious, but he figured he knew them best to make judgements and settle far faster than anyone else would be able to. He’d need to allow as much emotional space as possible, he figured.

And it was better not to let on that someone had said something offensive. Much better to correct, lightly, gently, politely. Smile — yeah like that. “I don’t blame you for any ill will. And you may regard me as you do those who follow the Spider Queen, either blindly, or with malice in their hearts, for as long as you like, but I want you to know, before I prove it, that is not who I am. If you would have an open mind, I would be grateful, and if you would not, I would be understanding. See me, as best you can, as simply an elven brother, as I see you my own sister in ancestry, as we all should. Perhaps, in the next life, I shall be as radiant as you, with colour not of the betrayal of one woman, but the colours of nature on my person, and we shall speak more favourably towards each other. Given Eilistraee’s will, of course.”

Dhaunmyr found himself half in another little bow, then threw his head back to straight, then turned to Kieran, a hand just hovering above his shoulder, ready to clap down, but then it slipped into his own pocket to turn over a ring he wasn’t wearing. “Now — to move along... If you think that scouting is the right way onwards, I suggest you get to it, my dear. You will stay safe, of course? How will you let us know if there are any issues? Can I do anything for you?”