This was fun to write...
I could have probably gone into way more detail about the other two...
But wanted to keep it to a summary rather than a novel...
But I give enough clues about each to expand upon if you wanted...
As always, hope you enjoy and I'd love feedback!
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Survival.
I have spent most of my life in the Underdark doing everything I can to survive. Whether it’s resisting being pulled into a lake by an Aboleth who had made the lake their home; or avoiding stepping beneath a deceptive Cloaker or Pierce or Roper. Then there are the Dwarves such as the Derro or Duergar, or the Drow Elves, and of course the Illithids and Beholders. If that wasn’t enough, just about every single plant life in the Underdark seems to feed off the nutrients of the dead, making them lethal.
Because of this, I learned to fight to survive. It was from watching the Drow, with their dark magics, did I begin to learn how to manipulate magic myself. It was dangerous – being as close as I was to the Drow, but as a Deep Gnome, I had the keen ability of standing next to a rock in the shadows and be virtually undetectable. This limited exposure gave me only a fraction of the magical abilities I saw the Drow doing; but it was enough to help me continue to survive in the Underdark.
I first took up the job as an escort through the Underdark. It wasn’t the safest way, cutting through caverns that dipped into the Underdark, but in some cases it would cut weeks of travel out of their travel time, rather than going around a mountain.
It was then I’d met Akra Draacis, a female black dragonborn with some magical abilities. She convinced me to work with her together. Now, normally I might question the fact that she was clearly descended from a Black Dragon – who have less than a good reputation – but being a mercenary, that often worked in our favor. So few people crossed her when she got in their face. Her giant hyena named Duchess, snarling at her side, certainly added to the already threatening gesture of a Black Dragonborn, towering over them, demanding payment. If they’d only known her, like I had gotten to know her. On the days it was slow, and we were on the road, between jobs, she would have her nose deep in a book, reading everything from history, to even songs and poems written by a somewhat famous bard named Tyrell Stormshadow, who she had frequently mentioned that she’d like to meet one day.
On one such day, between jobs, while headed for Daggerford, we saw several goblins attacking a lone figure. When we approached, we took note to the humanoid’s unusual appearance – with skin that looked to be made of the colors of the waters and skies, this figure fought valiantly against the goblins who outnumbered her considerably. Though it did not look like she needed the help, both Akra and I were curious to learn more about her – and what better way to gain someone’s trust than to help them? Both Akra and I jumped into the fight and made quick work of the goblins. The woman, Nalos Naragath was a Triton. She explained that though she had a javelin of special “qualities” she did prefer hand to hand combat. She explained that she’d left her aquatic kingdom in hopes of discovering the surface world. As it turned out, several ships had sunk near her kingdom and some of the things she found that came from the surface world drew her curiosity to see what the world beyond the ocean was like.
The three of us formed an unbreakable friendship. I was the Blade, Akra was the Arcane, and Nalos was the Fist.
My name is Zunda Rocktooth and these are my sisters… Sisters of Steel.