5 years before Narfell
Jurana's words still echoed within poor little Agona as she deposited herself unglamorously in the nearest out-of-the way spot on the busy Saerloon street for a good bit of sulking.
Should this really have surprised her? Probably not. It's not like Jurana and her friends actually cared, anyway. I mean, they're adventurers, they have more important things to do than take care of their families. Seriously. If Jurana won't even come home to try to help her poor, plague-afflicted mother, then what will it take for her to see what's really important? All things considered, it almost seems like they wanted her to die. It makes sense. Always needing money for this and that, it must be terribly frustrating for her to have to provide for her mother, father, and sister on her own like that.
Selfish bitch. She wants to keep all her gold to herself and not have to share it with anyone. That's why she didn't want her to go. Just another person to have to divide the gold from their latest adventure with. Another share, less gold for her grubby little fingers. And after all why not. What would one more share be? Just a drop in the-
"Dear, are you alright?"
Crouched before Agona is a young, fair-skinned woman with dark hair and beautiful, deep brown eyes. Though she's no elf, she looks as if she was born to wear the loose, glittering elven robes that adorn her nigh flawless features.
"Dear?"
"I…I'm fine."
"You certainly don't look it."
The woman smiles.
"I'm Louhi. What's your name?"
"Agona."
"Agona. Pretty girl. What's got you so upset?"
3 Tenday after coming to Narfell
The hobgoblin awoke to find himself in a most unfavorable position. Lashed to a tree someplace that didn't smell all that much like home, his vision came back into focus.
It was dark, that much was obvious. On top of all that, he could tell that he was either totally naked or close to it, and felt some strange, uncomfortable sensation on his chest and stomach.
"So, you're awake."
The beast jerks its head towards the voice. A soft, lilting female one.
"Good."
Adelia slinks forward, and traces her finger along the circle painted in deer blood on the hobgoblin's exposed torso. Her captive doesn't seem to like this, and squeals in protest.
She simply grins.
"I don't particularly like your people, dear. Especially not after what one of them very nearly did to me just the other day."
It's obvious the captive doesn't understand. She continues anyway.
"That said, I have decided to grant one of your kind a rare honor. This would be where you come in."
She smiles at the creature again, then turns to the items she has set out on the rock behind her.
Incense is lit, filling the area with a sickeningly sweet aroma.
She tolls a small bell, which produces a surprisingly deep sound.
Finally, Adelia draws a dagger, and makes the first of many ceremonial cuts in the flesh of the unfortunate creature who, quite intentionally on Adelia's part, is alive for most of them.
5 Years before Narfell
For the first time in her life, Agona had found someone she could truly confide in. Louhi listened to everything she said attentively, never judging, always sympathetic. When the invitation to go back to her house was proposed, little Agona was all too willing to accept.
Hand in hand, Louhi brought her to a small, out of the way inn located in one of Saerloon's many dark back alleys. There was no sign saying what the place's name is, simply a small board by the window with the word "Inn" painted on it in ancient, worn pigment.
The inside was like a nightmare. Patrons lay dead on the floor, blood and ale were everywhere, covering food, furniture, and decorations alike.
Oddly, Louhi was unperturbed.
She led Agona around the bar to a trap door which sat open, through which one could hear agonizing screams.
One scream in particular struck her.
Jurana.
