Stories left behind

"hey Koran!" the old, one legged sailor shouted, "what the fuck was with those cunts that interrupted the hanging yesterday?" Koran, a stout human walked towards the sailor, dropping the rope he was using to moor a small tugboat. "the half-elf? Word is that those guys have travelled across the big isle fucking over everyone they could."

Koran was a pirate, a good one at that. He never really wanted for a captain's seat but he was a renowned enforcer and someone who always seemed to know what was going on. The sailor finished wrapping up his nets as he talked, "huh, sounds like pretty much every other bastard that makes their way here." Koran looked around, as if he was concerned that someone might be listening in. Rather, he was trying to spread the word further, "nah, not like that. According to Mavur, they were the ones who took care of that demon way back in Tel'Arrin last year, then they disappeared down to the undercities" A look of concern flashed across the face of the sailor, but as he was about to speak another voice from behind Koran appeared. "Stop talking out your ass again, Koran" said the voice. As Koran turned he saw am elven figure with short red hair - Elithar, an elf who had taken up root in the keep as the hand of the Kapstain Banner. "The group you speak of could never survive down there. They say something is rising in the darkness below, apparently that's why people don't come back from the undercities in previous months."

Koran, looking confused and yet angered by the elf's presence retorted "ah, come down from your high tower to walk among us common folk then, my liege? Good to see you again you old bastard!" as Koran embraced Elithar who, it would seem, was not very welcoming of the embrace. "So you say they went down and survived" the sailor piped up, pointing at Koran. "And you say they never went in the first place" he said pointing at Elithar. "So neither of you know for sure?"

"Ah, but this Elven lord obviously forgot I was over at Ohrvalen when they went down" said Koren, obviously proud of this revelation. "I was in a pub, minding my own business and talking to Zara, you know, the half elf who found her way to the Dragon Turtle?"

"She sails with the hunters now?" Asked Elithar.

"Aye, proved herself on board the Magi's Hand when it was attacked by that Aboleth. Varys put her in touch and now she shares quarters with the fiercest gnolls and bearkin on the ocean. Anyway, as we were drinking away that half-elf came in looking for some folk to head down to the undercities with them for protection. He talked to a bearkin and one of the gnolls, bought 'em a drink for their time and headed off. Later that night apparently their ranger bet his wolf on his accuracy and lost! The dumb fuck." By this time Koran, the sailor and Elithar had gathered a crowd, whispers emerged towards the back about the half-elf and his group.

"No one knows their names either! Asked around in a few ports they've been in and, well… nothing. People know who I'm talking about but they don't know the names of these folk." Koran continued, "I know one thing for sure though," giving a confident look towards Elithar, "They cleared out the old mines of Ohrvalen." Elithar had sat nown on a nearby post holding the pier up, "Word from Rorvig is that one of them is a shadowmoore, and another is one of the lost rangers of the Shad'vari"

As Elithar said this the crowd went silent. The sailor was the first to speak. "So a half-elf with a god complex, a shadowmoor, a Shad'vari and a Goliath? Sounds like the start of a fucking joke." A dragonborn spoke up from the crowd, "not to leave out the druid who doesn't know when to keep quiet, and the bard who has somehow survived everything" as the crowd let out a roar of laughter. This was quickly silenced by Elithar, shouting "and how many of you could come from the undercities unscathed? Could walk the paths of kings and come out humble? Could face down a demon and not become corrupt?"

The silence was biting.

Koran looked around the faces and spotted in the background Varys who had kept quiet and his head down. As he noticed Koran meet his gaze, Varys turned and walked away from the crowd. "Alright you bastards, that’s enough tall tales for today, back to work!" Koran grabbed Elithar's arm as he turned to leave and said with confidence "Keep an ear out for those folks and keep me posted. I think Varys might need some help when the beast decides the keep is too small."

Elithar nodded in agreement and walked off, leaving Koran and the sailor alone on the dock. "best get back to work" Koran said to the sailor, "Keep your ear to the ground and remember keep me up to speed, Flint"