Post by Levedara on Sept 25, 2010 22:37:20 GMT -5
In the Making - When Hin and Dragon meet.
A master thief. Everyone expected it of her. She was after all a dexterous hin. Sly and charming, she could talk her way into most places and sneak into the rest. Sneaking was what she did now. Cunning eyes peered into the darkness as the small woman edged forward. The only sound was the deep slumbering breath of the treasures keeper.
Perfect
The deep rumbles hid her silent step. Her features smudged with a thin powder made of filed steel mixed with sharpening oil, she smelled sickeningly of metal. Yet metal filled the chamber she peered into. She couldn't be better hidden. Resisting the urge to rub her hands together the shadowy garbed halfling skittered to the other side of the cold stone corridor and carefully moved along the far wall.
Only a fool
That's what they said it took to steal from a red dragon. Yet the challenge was unmistakable. She knew the difference between failure and success was foolery and mastery. So with pride in mind she'd ventured, listening to rumors and buying secrets until she was sure she knew where to go. With a smirk she gazed at the slumbering creature. It did inspire awe, it's sheer size was enough to give her pause. Yet the longer she stood watching the massive flank rise and fall, dimly highlighted under various magical glows emitted from the horde around it, it struck her as no more threatening than an overfed dog. She'd always been able to woo them into keeping quite while she pillaged and plundered. So as another great exhale huffed loudly across the pillow of golden coins and sparkling gems the thief's confidence grew.
Not so fast...
Her tiny hands lift a gem from a pile, deep blue with a faint star like glimmer within it's depths. The size of her fist, this was quite the prize. Yet even as she moved to tuck it into a fur lined pocket a resounding, deathly sinister noise echoed through the chamber in warning.
"Tsk, Tsk, Tssssk....."
A roaring inferno was barely avoided as she went tumbling in a frantic scramble away deeper into the chamber. A near panicked flight diving and ducking behind chests and into piles, one grasping paw lifting her with a fistful of loose treasures only for her to squirm and slip free, rolling across trinkets with a pained yelp. This would go on for a time. the dragon cunning kept the slippery intruder trapped, the entrance barred by it's large form. With an effort to be heard over the roar she yelled out to the beast.
"Oh great dragon, master of fire, exalted one! May we not speak in a manner more befitting your grand stature, rather than continue to make a mess of your opulent throne?"
It was enough flattery to give pause, for a moment, and then more. Conversing with a dragon proved tricky, even with the creature muddled by years of slumber. Honest flattery was easy enough which seemed a great asset coupled with an eager ear to listen to boasts and bravado. After hours passing by the quick tongued lady found herself sitting in the extraordinarily warm palm of her new acquaintance.
Just a little too charming..
She would leave in one piece. Empty pockets seemed of little concern and without mind to the aches from her various falls during the confrontation little feet would rush back down the mountainside. Camp had to be made though, exhausted, she'd retrieve her packs from the small thicket nestled at the base of a wide crag and curl up without so much as a fire to keep warm. There had been enough heat for one day was her rueful thought, bitterly considering the ember signed patches of hair she'd need to trim. Slumber was slow to come and quick to be interrupted.
Impatient tapping. Her sleep blurred gaze focused on the source. Bright red. Small. Crisp masculine features with a haughty smirk. Taptap. Long nails against the cliff face. The most sinister hin she'd ever seen, garbed in a crimson robe accented with black matched his flame like hair, windswept and wild. Handsome in his own right but altogether to arrogantly threatening for her tastes. When he spoke she was stunned, mannerisms proving him to be the monster she had been fleeing. It seemed he wasn't quite done with her company yet.
In time..
A halfling sat on a grubby bench in the morning cradling a small bundle swathed in soft cloth. The angry cries of the infant in her arms brought a smile to the small woman as she smoothed the child's hair back with her palm gently. The tiny tuft of crimson hair was a fine reminder of the father. The dragon had left eventually of course, finally bored, and while she had managed to become somewhat fond of him, she was glad. Danger ever lurked in his presence. He'd given her nothing for her troubles, aside from the babe she held close. Still though she felt victorious. While she'd intended to steal paltry gems and coin she'd been rewarded with something much more. Her son was born with fine red scales that hardened swiftly and sinister slit pupil eyes that gleamed with a cunning that later in life would prove true.
"My Little Red, you'll do me proud one day, won't you?"
Red raises Red.
An expansive yawn. She always did her best to ensure her tutors knew how incredibly lackluster their performances were. The sharp rap on her shoulder caused her to wince. Looking back she scowled at her father, watching his deep red and long clawed hand rise his staff back to his shoulder.
"You will respect your tutors my Little Red," said the scaled monstrosity. "I will not have an ignorant imbecile baring my linage."
"Yes Father..." her teeth grit and she tried to focus on her lesson. Red hadn't heard him approach, then again she never did. Born and raised by a master thief her father was graceful and overly intimidating. He was a cunning and ruthless man who took full advantage of both his mothers lessons and his own fathers potent legacy, draconic blood. A half dragon born to a hin he was something of an oddity. Not only notable for his physical stature he proved to be an adept wielder of magic. Pampered and praised all through his years, prize of the dragons horde, he was arrogant, demanding and somewhat insatiable. Red often found herself resenting him, for all that he had that she didn't, her skin a soft flesh tone was smooth and without scales nor did she have horns. While he was incredibly strong for his stature she was weak. While her hair matched his and her eyes were an unnatural dark, fingernails a dark shade as well, she was for all she could boast, no more than a tall hin. Every time his dark eyes focused upon her she felt small and utterly incapable of living up to him. Yet he insisted that she try, taking her to expensive tutors in language, arts, and other scholarly pursuits. He even personally trained her in moving with grace and silence, tricks to shirk a lock denying one access to precious things, and to remove the traps that guarded them. He taught her the joy of wealth and taking what one wanted, be it by stealth, cunning, or right of force.
The lesson droned onwards, her father drifting away back to his own study but not before handing her a manuscript. The finely scripted gold embossed title read "Paths of the Blood ~ The Disciples way" and under it a dragon coiled. She'd impatiently wait until dismissed to scurry to her room where hours would pass pouring over the tome. It bespoke of the descendants of dragons and the power that slept within their veins, dormant until stirred. Her excitement heightened, surely this was the answer! The magic in her blood. She slept that night and dreamed of spells of fire.
In the morn she would find her father standing in the study where they oft shared words before she went to her classes. On the desk in place of her books was a sack, beside it a pair of daggers resting on a folded red cape, and a purse.
"Father what is this?" in an ever demanding tone.
"You'll be leaving Amn. I've arranged for your travel to the border. From there you'll see to yourself. As you must pursue internal magics this is not the place for you. Do not return until you have fulfilled the paths spoken of in the disciples way. I know that you'll make me proud, my little Red." Sharp words through sharp teeth. She flinched and moved to the table, sifting through the sack to inspect the plain armor and foodstuffs within. She noted the staff topped with a glowing red gem leaned against the desk beside them. She took it in hand.
"Fine! I'll do it then, you'll see, I'll be just as strong as you! Stronger!" Red huffed, indignant to hide her unease as she stuffed the daggers into her soft belt, mindless of slicing a hole in her fine dress.
Her departure was swift, hiding her hurt at being sent away behind a wall of anger and snippy comments. She'd cry many times over the nights to come as she moved further and further away from what she knew, into realms she had only studied. Reaching the edge of Amn she began an arduous trek on foot, her supplies and dresses dwindling ever onward. By the time she reached the village of Greatgaunt she had hardly anything left. Exhausted, lost and alone she marched up the south road and imperiously demanded to know where she was from the first gentleman she came across.
