3. Red Varkten - Fortune's fool

Red Varkten - Fortune's fool


  • Acname: sciolist
    Chrname: Red Varkten

    "How much? What do you mean she's gone?"
    The weaselly merchant, Marcus, cowered before the large red-headed half-orc, wringing his hands.

    "Ah… well... um... She said that it had been a poor month. That she'd make it up next time, with extra. Then she smiled. I... ah... couldn't refuse her a little... um... time. She works so hard, that woman, always out so late..."

    Red glared at the man, then looked over his shoulder at the 2 large gentlemen standing at the door to Red's apartment in Peltarch. They looked like men used to active professional lives, used to occasional scuffles. The merchant continued.

    "... and that was 3 months ago. She kept saying she'd pay. That her son was a great warrior who'd... ah... return with loot from the war. We really can't let people stay here for free" He wrinkled his nose. "Every lowlife and... um... stevedore from the docks would be angling for a room..."

    Red frowned, looking at the silver ring on his hand. It didn't make sense. She knew he was training at the fighter's academy, why in Toril was she trying to pull one on the landlord? He looked at the guards again.

    "... So we were forced ... ah... to enter the ... um... premises and seize her belongings. I rather think she hasn't been here for weeks. So dusty..."

    Red hefted his moneypouch. The last exercises had kept him away from the city for a month. Normally his mother was very reliable. Her business as a seamstress meant she was often well-dressed and visiting the wealthy to advise on couture. It didn't seem likely that she'd disappear. She'd said just before he'd left for the plains that she'd finally secured a commission from the Gelon estates.

    "Look, I don't have much in the way of coin... you got any smaller apartments?"

    <5 minutes later>

    Red brushed the dust from his clothes and hauled himself to his feet. He kissed the coin around his neck and prayed briefly to the Lady for slightly better fortune in future, thankyouverymuch. The guards at the gate shared a joke with Marcus' thugs, watching Red to make sure he didn't try and enter the City again.

    What are the odds that a good follower of Tymora comes home, a graduate of the Academy after years of training. Comes home to the city he's grown up in to find his mother disappeared. Comes home to… no home in fact and narrowly escaping a night in the cells for vagrancy after Marcus took the rest of his gold as part-payment of the debts.
    Red smiled. It was fortunate he'd been away on the plains with several others when the Gelon estate had been robbed, otherwise they'd be holding him for that too.

    Well, if he made good time he might be in Jiyyd by sunrise, it was no hardship for him to cross the Pass by night. About the only thing he could thank his father for was a strong back and good eyes in the dark. Still, he had a weapon and his boots, though worn, were fine in dry weather. If he kept out of the deep snows it'd turn out OK.

    Red set off towards Jiyyd and the hopes of some work and a hot meal, whispering another prayer to Tymora to look out for him on the journey.

    It started to rain.


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