Re: Sparrow's Fledglings
"What the...? Who are you?"
"Yeah, well, shit. You come up creepin' on me, and gods damn straight I'm edgy. But, if you're buying...well, that's alright."
"Yeah, that's right...you got the accent. I'm a Paldorian myself, son of Sargod, born and bred. You look and sound like you're from that good part of the world, too. You are? Well, all right then. Troutbridge? Yeah, I do know it—close to Cameron, ain’t it? Used to run some caravan duty through those parts.”
“Well, don’t mind if I do have another one, thank you. Your health, guv.”
“What’s that? Nah, I lost the eye in the Trade Wars…some bastard Thrailian took it—lucky sword cut, Mithras damn it. Never got around to gettin’ the thing regrown…I’m used to it now.”
“Say again? Rimsedge? Hunh. Well, if you’re still buying. What do you gents go by? Garryn…Perrato, my pleasure. Perrato, you’re Palonish, eh? My mam came from thereabouts…y’know Harcez? How about Vedia? You do? Cheers, padre.”
“So…the Rim, eh? There’s a kettle of fish, a hornets’ nest, and a demons’ lair—if you don’t mind wildly mixed metaphors, my drink-buying friends. Another? Can’t say that I’m opposed.”
“Anyways, you want to know the ins and outs, eh? Well, this IS the Sprite, and you wouldn’t be here unless you had some connections. So…”
“They say that there are twelve Lords of Rimsedge. I don’t know if that’s the case anymore, but it was pretty close to the mark before these recent wars. Hmmm? Who are they? Well, I can only tell you what I and every other sellsword knows, but if it…huh, y’read my mind, guv…another round is always a welcome diversion and a bit of a memory jog.”
“Lord Gunari is a big operator these days. Canilian, but you wouldn’t know it. He’s dead set on conquering Canile for the Rim, and he’s the biggest slaveholder and trader in the Rim…and that’s saying something.”
“Lady TuuLikki is from the WitchHarrow Wastes…she’s just plain bad. Her tongue and her sword are equally fuck-you-uppable, if you’ll pardon my Uarthian, padre.”
“The Merchant Mages are, and always have been, one of the factors here in the Rim. Don’t know who it is manning the helm right now, but they are major players.”
“The Thrailians are back, too—and that’s a different set of cards from a few years ago. I can’t say anything about the hows and whys, and I wouldn’t if I could…self-preservation, you understand.”
“Lady Cyanosis is an ancient blue dragon, and part of the Lords Council. She doesn’t stay in town, as best I know, but she’s got plenty of minion types to keep her interests afloat, so to speak.”
“Some weird planar types…I think they may hail from that fucked-up City of Sigil…seem to be making some waves these days.”
“The Underdark contingent is always something to consider. They’re usually led by some Drow House, but I’ll be damned if I can remember which of them is claiming primacy these days. Best steer clear of those fuckers…I NEVER do business with them.”
“Rumor has it that some ancient vampire or lich is pulling some strings in the City, but I can’t say one way or another. Another group to stay well clear of, if you want my opinion.”
“And there’s some kid…and I do mean a kid. He looks like some five year old tyke, but they say he’s some ancient mage with his own island. Black Island or Black Mage…something like that. He’s a pretty recent player.”
“Well, yes, I’ll take one more. But then I’m off, lads. Good to meet the both of you, and best of luck. The West ain’t the most represented of folk hereabouts, and we do need to raise a glass or two when we find one another. Cheers.”