Posted for Naris

Snot stealthily snuck past the Duergar brothers whose bows were focused on the ground level of the inn and approached the “Kyorl” Luxury suite. This room was for guests who wished to watch yet not participate.  Snot noticed the peep slot was closed, he put his ear next to the door and heard the faint sound of snoring, women he thought. He reached into a pocket in his girdle for a key to the room, but then thought against it. Perhaps he should knock and make his presence known.  He wouldn’t want cause any unneeded conflict by interrupting the occupants rest. Snot decided to knock. The first knock didn’t produce and response. Snot’s second knock was much louder. This time a male responded with a “Fuck off” in a thick lower-dark accent. 

Snot taken back with the response quickly cleared his throat to try and respond in like tone. “Master wants to speak with you.”

An agitated growl came from behind the door, Suddenly the door swung open. Smelling of Yin Fen & ripe womanhood.  A slender naked drow opened the door. Snot looked behind him to see a naked female human and naked male halfling lying in bed. 

“I have no Master; Tell Naris I’ll see him when I’m ready” the drow angrily responded.

“The master ordered me to escort you to his office immediately, please get dressed.” Snot responded calmly

“Some grimy goblin slave giving me orders, I think not.  I come from a noble family!” Without warning the drow clenched his hand and  perfectly recited an incantation,  From thin air a giant fist was summoned.  The fist thrust forward and struck Snot in the face. Its impact sent Snot airborne against the wall and rendering him unconscious. The drow walked back into his room and gingerly began to cloth himself. He walked out of the door, stepping over Snot. He headed down the hallway past the Duergar archers.

They looked at the Drow. He was wearing a long black cloak & carried a mythril staff.  

“Lleyzaren what’s with all the noise” asked Thorak the older dwarven brother.

“Its Lord Lleyzaren Dwarf! Just having some fun with the girls.”

“Girls! Ha, more like lady-boys, we know what you have a taste for.  Everyone is talking about it. Just so you know we’re more likely lay a couple dozen bolts into you then refer to you as a lord.” Replied the witty younger Duergar Thoren.

Lleyzaren shook his head and kept heading down the hallway toward the stairwell to the top floor.  Two house guards at the top of the stairs outside Naris’s office nodded towards the Drow as he arrived.

“The boss is expecting you.” One of the guards announced

Lleyzaren rolled his eyes and opened the door without knocking, where he saw Naris behind his desk smoking a pipe.

“Don’t bother knocking or anything, I can see you’re really making yourself at home here.” Naris said with quite a bit of sarcasm 

 “They said you wanted to see me, so I am here. I have much work to do.  So be quick about it!”

Naris raised an eyebrow, the leaders of the Dark Daggers told me I was getting someone who was a master diplomat as well as someone that would handle my magical needs. All I see is a disrespectful scrub who is indulging in the fruits of my labor.” 

Multiple voices gathered outside Naris’s office door, the only distinguishable one that Naris could make out was Snot’s saying “I’m ok.”  There was a knock on the door. 

“Enter” Naris barked

Snot entered, a bit startled with a swollen chin.  “Sorry for my tardiness master.” 

Lleyzaren produced a wide grin and snickered at Snot’s appearance. 

 “Did you touch Snot up?” Naris questioned looking at the drow.

Before Lleyzaren could respond, Naris lept to his feet and conjured a Shadow Noose at the Drow’s neck. The shadow tentacle wrapped its members around Lleyzaren’s throat, dragging him to the floor.

The Drow quivered on the ground gasping for air. “I was about to relieve you of your duties here. Instead I shall let Snot decide how you are to be dealt with. Naris walked towards the incapacitated drow and looked down over him. He followed his Shadow Noose technique with several strikes from the pommel of his Long Knife to his victim’s temple. The bloodied Drow was barely conscious.  The House’s guards barged into the office to see what the commotion was about. 

“LLeyzaren let me tell you a story of loyalty. There was once a time when the Brothers Vandree were at the mercy of a powerful house in Menozberranzan. This little goblin slave courageously lied to a powerful matron mother to keep us all alive. Undying loyalty here matters more than anything else, and it is rewarded in kind.

“Snot, what should we do with this despicable vermin?”

“Master, send him back to Skullport.  I wouldn’t want your arrangement with the Dark Daggers to be tainted on my account.” Snot sensibly replied.

“Surely they wouldn’t miss this worm Snot,” as Naris spit on the drow. “Very well.” Naris announced almost disappointed. He looked to his guards.  “Strip him down, bind him and send him on the shittiest caravan ride to Skullport you can find.” He waited for them to move. “Now!”

“Some of the guardsmen pulled LLeyzaren from the floor and unceremoniously dragged him from the office. A few others stood around awaiting further instructions.

“Leave us!” Naris shouted at the guards who were left. “Once the guards were gone, Naris retrieved a healing salve from his desk and handed it to Snot. “Put this on your face.”

Naris found a piece of paper and examined his quill before began writing a letter.

“Master” Snot cautiously interrupted. “I believe I might know of a suitable replacement for Lleyzaren’s position.”

Naris appeared to ignore Snot’s idea

“Before I came into your service when I was a slave for the first time., there was this fella who was my cellmate with impressive magical ability. We were able to escape with our combined resources. He sought me out here in Rilauven after hearing I had been taken from the deep gnomes by you and your brothers. The tale of your harrowing escape from Menzoberranzan is no secret in the Underdark. He is seeking work as he looks to increase his knowledge of the area.”

Naris reached for his pipe and took a long drag. “Snot what will people think of me if I start employing every goblin in the area.”

“He is no goblin master; he is human.” Snot replied confidently. 

Naris peered up at Snot, “Very well, if you are vouching for this man. I shall at least meet with him. Set it up.”

Several days later, there was a knock on Naris’s office door

“Enter” Naris announced with his eyes closed as Ziya massaged his shoulders and neck, while he relaxed on a garnet colored velvet couch.

Madame Bea entered, “Snot has returned with his friend. I must say he is quite the treat on the eyes.” She commented with a glint in her eye.  “If he doesn’t work out for you, I can surely find a position for him downstairs.”

“Settle down Bea, I had assumed that you sorted out your otherworldly desires on the staff, watching you drool over a possible new hire is unprofessional and unbecoming of the Madame of the house.” Naris joked

Snot entered shortly thereafter with an impeccably dressed pale human looking man who featured  long flowing platinum hair, emerald eyes and a slender face. However his facial features gave him a very exotic look.  He was wearing a charcoal greatcoat, intricate jewelry and a chain with the symbol of Mystra around his neck.

Naris was impressed with the mage’s appearance, and the items he could see were radiating magic.

“Clearly sir you have some sort of mental disorder if you seek out a goblin slave for work.” Naris commented with a smile.

“One could say the same about you, keeping a goblin slave as their closest confidant Lord Vandree.” The man in gray slyly responded.  “Please allow me to introduce myself, I am Queric Silverspark.”  

Naris nodded and curiously looked him over. What are you exactly?  Albino Human? Tiefling? Half Elf?

Queric dodged the questions, I seek work and I am always questing for higher knowledge. Snot told me you are looking for a Mystical adviser of sorts,  is that correct?”

Naris’s pushed Ziya’s hands off himself and stood up. Walking over to his desk, he fired up his pipe. His tone turning a bit more serious. He did not appreciate his question being ignored. “I’ll need to put forth a task for you, before I can agree to take you under employment. I seek to hijack a valuable shipment coming into Rilauven in a fortnight. Snot, please set your friend up in one of the guest’s quarters. Discuss with him what resources we have at our disposal. I expect your plan of action in the morning. If we are successful, then you will have a position in my enterprise. Are we in agreement?”

Queric nodded and the two unlikely friends left the office.