Cray Vincint's stories:

These two stories are set sometime in the future, when Cray eventually moves on from Narfell. As he looks for his next port of call.

_Chapter 1 - Leaving Narfell

As Cray, slightly intoxicated, shuffles up the ramp, onto the deck of a small and oddly non-masted ship. A small bevy of loyal friends is gathered in the cavern of the Oscuran docks. This motley dockside crew are waving and carrying on in post celebratory fashion. Some of the revelers take the opportunity to banter out cheap shots at Cray for the last time, albeit in fondness. The most notable of this group, the stout gray dwarf Storn is giving Akadi's blessings as the ship pushes off. Even Kyan, the most infamous Necromancer in Narfell, seems a little sentimental as Cray drifts further across the dark waters of the dimly lit cavern.

Cray stands tall on the deck, his upper body suddenly feeling warm, as a flutter of anxiety overcome him. His throat tightens as he waves back to his friends. He is sad to leave the home he had found here for the past few decades. He clutches tightly in his hand, an old blood stained rag. The bloody rag is the symbol of his citizenship of Oscura and it signifies the blood oath he took to defend his fellow blooded as a Peacekeeper of this unique underdark city.

The thing of it is… What nobody standing on the dock knows... Cray is an Imaskari, and the great seal that has isolated Deep Imaskar for millennium, has been broken for sometime now. Many young Imaskarans are passionately driven to break free from the confines of dusty tradition. However, this freedom comes at a price. To protect Deep Imaskar from it's enemies, the location of the city is erased from the memory of any who decides to leave. Unable to return home, Cray cannot help himself, he cannot resist the insatiable urge to keep pushing westward. To see the great wide world that lay beyond his roots, to simply keep heading away from where he began._

_Chapter 2 - Oh what a Sembian Night

Cray's eyes crack open, followed by a few heavy blinks. As he finds him self swaying in a hammock, below deck of a large, bustling, and tall masted ship. The warm sunset glaring him in the face through an open porthole. Cray turns over to shy away from the sun, only to find himself suddenly face down, kissing the dirt layered floor. Imaskari are not graceful creatures, but they are robust from a harsh life in the underdark. Getting up to his feet is a slow and awkward process as the ship pitches starboard, but once standing, Cray is without discomfort from his fall.

Cray has just made port, and the ship he's on bears the name Costillas Quebrillas. It is commanded by Captain Deacon Sterr of the Black Sails Trading Coaster. Anyone of rank aboard this ship, proudly wears the colours of black and gold. Oddly enough these are the same colours Cray is clad in. From the way the crew regards Cray, one would assume this is no coincidence. Cray makes his way to the top of the rampart to disembark. Where Captain Sterr bears an endearing expression, while giving Cray a warm pat on the back. The pair shake hands, share a mischievous grin, and trade goodbyes.

Cray's fine looking black boots have landed on the coast of Sembia, more specifically, they have landed on the cobble stone streets of Saerloon. This fair sized city boasts gothic architecture peppered with gargoyles and other embellishments. As Cray's eyes scan the surroundings, it's obvious that this place is a hub of mercantile trade, as well as exhibiting undertones of thievery and intrigue.

Cray is traveling alone, with all his worldly possessions on his back, and a small chest packed with gold, clenched tightly in his arms. Not wanting to lug his kit far, and with evening fast approaching, he waddles to the closest haven he can find. As luck would have it, the Crommor's Inn and Tavern happened to be right there in the docks district. After checking in, Cray dumps all of his burdening luggage into the armoire in his room. His new accommodations are battered, but adequate. However, Cray's stomach is pinching itself and his mouth dry. It's time to enjoy himself downstairs at the tavern.

Now let us flash forward shall we, because that's the way things seemed from Cray's perspective. Who is now awaking to the sounds of gulls and the smell of sea air, blissfully unaware of last nights debauchery. Cray rubs his eyes and smiles, feeling as though he has just had a long and deeply satisfying slumber. He yawns, while still laying in bed, stretching out his arms and lower back. Cray rubs his cheeks with the palm of his hand, working around to the back of his neck. His brow then begins to furrow, as he looks around his room, starting to realize his lack of recollection. Looking past the foot of the bed, his eyes come to rest on the empty armoire, with no sign of his little chest of gold. He blinks hard, the armoire is still empty, he blinks yet again, still empty. After a deep sigh, Cray utters but one word.

Now coinless, and with only the clothes on his back. Cray was then confronted with an obscenely large Tavern bill, that had just been slid under his Inn room door. The decision to flee came suddenly. A feather fall scroll tucked away in one of his pockets, made avoiding the front desk and slipping directly into the busy streets below, a simple task. After floating down from the second storey window, he pulled up his hood, and hastily made his way to the docks. After some haggling and finagling, Cray managed to hitch a ride with a trader heading to Arelith. Although Cray had to barter away his ring of clear thought. The trader promised Cray a job as a messenger upon arrival. With no other prospects, it was an easy choice for Cray._

This post is deleted!

This is a true story that happened in game several years ago…

_Many decades ago, in old Norwick

Cray was donned in his fancy wiggler robes, smoking a cigar, hanging by the south fire, waiting for an opportunity for coin.

A lone but powerful Goblin Assassin began to harass the South Gates, in a hit and run style.

Several adventures had sprang up from their seats by the fire to chase this Goblin around. Cray saw that this was hardly a worth while endeavour considering the amount of competition. Cray simply shuffled outside the gates with his stogie in hand, to be entertained as a crowd chases this elusive and wily assassin around the woods.

As Cray leans on a tree swirling fine tobacco smoke around in his mouth, calm as a hindu cow. His eyes suddenly widen and his lips pucker, as he feels a sharp poke against his testicles… A small voice exclaims from beneath his robes, "It's your jewels or your jewels, if you catch my drift..."

Cray making the prudent choice, swiftly bends down and hands a decent sized sack of coin under his robes. Cray didn't give up all his coins of course, just the right amount to satisfy a Goblin and to ensure the safety of his own reproductive organs.

Once the Goblin has the coins in hand, he asks "Gimme a reason not to kill you...?"

Cray replies simply, "Because I'm useful."

The Goblin quizzically, "How's that?"

Cray quickly rebuts, "I'll bring you a cow to feed your army."

The Goblin asks in disbelief, "You have a cow?"

Cray says, "No, the farmer in town has one that I can steal."

The Goblin seems suspicious, "How are you going to manage that?"

Cray with easy confidence says, "I'm a wizard, I can make the cow invisible and stroll right out the gates."

The Goblin assassin accepts Cray's offer and removes the blade from his genitals. Before sneaking off, the assassin threatens Cray that he better make good on his word and to bring the cow to the Goblin cave.

Cray saunters back into Norwick and heads straight for farmer Fine's ranch. He ducks into an alley along the way and after a quick spell, steps out invisible from the other end. Cray prepares his rope and walks up next to one of the cows. Cray throws a loop of rope around the cow's neck and casts invisibility on the cow. He then walks the cow to the south gate.

Upon arriving at the south fire, Cray envisions the gates as though they are the light at the end of the tunnel. Much to Cray's delight, the gates are open and everyone is sat snugly round the fire. Cray is almost home free, but suddenly farmer Fine runs up to the south fire exclaiming that one of his cows has been stolen.

About a dozen adventurers instantly hop up and fan out from the fire. Cray is able to maneuver and zig zag between them all, and scurry safely off into the Rawlinswood. That was a close call.

Upon arriving in the Goblin cave, the assassin is there to greet Cray and take possession of the cow. The assassin slits the cows throat right away, and then begins to butcher the animal with precision. The assassin asks Cray if he brought any sauce. Cray was like "Sauce!?" The assassin replied as though its a no brainer, "Ya sauce!" Cray had no sauce, but he was able to offer the assassin several cloves of garlic, which seemed to smooth things over.

As the assassin butchered the cow, Cray used the opportunity to talk business. As a successful weapons dealer at the time, Cray began to pitch to the assassin that the Goblins should be purchasing their weapons and arms through him. The assassin was receptive to Cray's sales pitch, and it seemed some sort of arrangement would be reached.

As fate would have it. A random adventurer happened into the cave, to observe Cray consorting with the assassin. This adventurer swiftly dispatched the assassin with a chop to the head. Cray used this moment to cast a spell and make good his escape. As he fled he chuckled as he could hear the adventurer screaming, "Cray!"

The end._