bedlamite
02-26-2005, 02:12 AM
* The beginning is only a mystery. I have no roots, only questions: Where do I come from? Who are my parents? What has become of my people?
* Whatever.
* I was 13 -or there about- when the ship came into port. That is the age the men guessed when they brought me aboard, and so I accepted it.
* Its been 15 years. 15 long, hard years. Not that I'm complaining - I'm stronger for it, wiser for it, and... not doing to bad for myself either.
- AL DRIFA -
* "Well, there ya go boy - Al Drifa. OK, um... good luck!"
* "What? Thats it Randal?..."
* "Sorry kid, I can't be holding your hand now - your old enough to make your way, just be careful."
* Thankfuly, as I turned to walk away, Randal had this sudden twinge of conscience. "Boy - here, take these." where his last words to me as he diposited into my hands 9 goths.
* I found out quickly just how far 9 goths would take me.
* 2 weeks later - tired of waking up in my chosen alley - I set out one morning intent on finding 'my way'. I had no path and no destination, I just walked aimlessly looking and asking: "Can i help you sir/madam...?"
* It wasn't for another 3 daysbefore I finally got a break, and then I almost missed out thanks to my own fears. I was asked to deliver a note to one of the old mansions still standing in the seedier part of town.
- WAYLAND DeGRAY -
* The man who answered the door cut an imposing figure. I guessed half-elf by the looks, and one of his parents was probably Drow. Dispite being well dressed, it was obvious to me -even at that age- that he was a rogue.
* "Well, boy? What is it?"
* "I... I... um..."
* "Out with it boy."
* "Message sir - for the owner of the house."
* "Yes?"
* I handed over the note and was rewarded by the door being slammed in my face. Quickly I compossed myself and knocked again. The door once again opened and this time the man looked ME up and down.
* "What is it now boy?" he asked while taking stock. Not that I was much to look at - still under 4ft and not even 60lbs: obviously a gnome.
* "Sir, the man said I would be well rewarded..."
* "Hmm... Fine - come in then boy."
* Once inside, he offered me some food, and -of course- I accepted. In the kitchen he started to question me - inocently at first, but quickly he became a bit more agressive.
* "Hows that sandwich boy?"
* "Mmm... good."
* "You working for the man who sent you?"
* "No sir - just asked to help."
* "You have family round here?
* "No..."
* "Where you from?"
* I just shrugged off the question, but he continued. "OK then... tell me - how long you been in the city?"
* "Almost 3 weeks."
* "What you been doing? - Looks like living in an alley."
* "I get by."
* "Hmmhmmhmm - I'm sure you do. What would you do for a safe place to lay your head?"
* I nearly choked at that, but somehow managed to respondtelling him I'm not like that. I'm sure the ringing peel of his laughter could be heard throughout the house.
* "Your a funny kid. What I meant was - would you like to work for me and stay here in lew of payment?"
* "What would you have me doing?"
* "Anything I ask - well, as long as you are comfortable of course."
* "OK mister - nothing funny though - right?"
* "Ha - yeah, boy, nothing funny. So, whats your name?"
* "Boy is fine..."
* "Hmm, OK then - I'm Wayland... Wayland DeGray."
* So it was that I came to work for my mentor. He tought me over the next 10 years all the intricacies of his 'work', and I quickly learned how to make my way in the underground world of a master thief.
- GOODBYES -
* There finaly came the day when Wayland felt it was time for me to move out on my own. Our goodbyes were not tearful though - but simple with a few parting gifts. I had had the fortune just a few days prior to 'acquire' a very attractive Eye-of-Night crystal which I gave to him as my thanks.
* He then surprised me saying he had two gifts. Quickly, he produced a package saying that its contents were the first.
* I tore it open and inside found a pair of ornate sickles - deadly beautiful things they were, and I was moved by this show of respect. I thanked him profusely and finished with our goodbyes; then - turning to leave - he reminded me there was one other gift.
* "What is it Wayland? What more could you possibly give me?"
* "A name Boy - a name."
* He shook me to the core with his words, but I was somehow able to stand my ground in anticipation. "OK..."
* "I name you under my line. You are now family. From here on you shall be known as Nemesis DeGray."
- THE END -
* Whatever.
* I was 13 -or there about- when the ship came into port. That is the age the men guessed when they brought me aboard, and so I accepted it.
* Its been 15 years. 15 long, hard years. Not that I'm complaining - I'm stronger for it, wiser for it, and... not doing to bad for myself either.
- AL DRIFA -
* "Well, there ya go boy - Al Drifa. OK, um... good luck!"
* "What? Thats it Randal?..."
* "Sorry kid, I can't be holding your hand now - your old enough to make your way, just be careful."
* Thankfuly, as I turned to walk away, Randal had this sudden twinge of conscience. "Boy - here, take these." where his last words to me as he diposited into my hands 9 goths.
* I found out quickly just how far 9 goths would take me.
* 2 weeks later - tired of waking up in my chosen alley - I set out one morning intent on finding 'my way'. I had no path and no destination, I just walked aimlessly looking and asking: "Can i help you sir/madam...?"
* It wasn't for another 3 daysbefore I finally got a break, and then I almost missed out thanks to my own fears. I was asked to deliver a note to one of the old mansions still standing in the seedier part of town.
- WAYLAND DeGRAY -
* The man who answered the door cut an imposing figure. I guessed half-elf by the looks, and one of his parents was probably Drow. Dispite being well dressed, it was obvious to me -even at that age- that he was a rogue.
* "Well, boy? What is it?"
* "I... I... um..."
* "Out with it boy."
* "Message sir - for the owner of the house."
* "Yes?"
* I handed over the note and was rewarded by the door being slammed in my face. Quickly I compossed myself and knocked again. The door once again opened and this time the man looked ME up and down.
* "What is it now boy?" he asked while taking stock. Not that I was much to look at - still under 4ft and not even 60lbs: obviously a gnome.
* "Sir, the man said I would be well rewarded..."
* "Hmm... Fine - come in then boy."
* Once inside, he offered me some food, and -of course- I accepted. In the kitchen he started to question me - inocently at first, but quickly he became a bit more agressive.
* "Hows that sandwich boy?"
* "Mmm... good."
* "You working for the man who sent you?"
* "No sir - just asked to help."
* "You have family round here?
* "No..."
* "Where you from?"
* I just shrugged off the question, but he continued. "OK then... tell me - how long you been in the city?"
* "Almost 3 weeks."
* "What you been doing? - Looks like living in an alley."
* "I get by."
* "Hmmhmmhmm - I'm sure you do. What would you do for a safe place to lay your head?"
* I nearly choked at that, but somehow managed to respondtelling him I'm not like that. I'm sure the ringing peel of his laughter could be heard throughout the house.
* "Your a funny kid. What I meant was - would you like to work for me and stay here in lew of payment?"
* "What would you have me doing?"
* "Anything I ask - well, as long as you are comfortable of course."
* "OK mister - nothing funny though - right?"
* "Ha - yeah, boy, nothing funny. So, whats your name?"
* "Boy is fine..."
* "Hmm, OK then - I'm Wayland... Wayland DeGray."
* So it was that I came to work for my mentor. He tought me over the next 10 years all the intricacies of his 'work', and I quickly learned how to make my way in the underground world of a master thief.
- GOODBYES -
* There finaly came the day when Wayland felt it was time for me to move out on my own. Our goodbyes were not tearful though - but simple with a few parting gifts. I had had the fortune just a few days prior to 'acquire' a very attractive Eye-of-Night crystal which I gave to him as my thanks.
* He then surprised me saying he had two gifts. Quickly, he produced a package saying that its contents were the first.
* I tore it open and inside found a pair of ornate sickles - deadly beautiful things they were, and I was moved by this show of respect. I thanked him profusely and finished with our goodbyes; then - turning to leave - he reminded me there was one other gift.
* "What is it Wayland? What more could you possibly give me?"
* "A name Boy - a name."
* He shook me to the core with his words, but I was somehow able to stand my ground in anticipation. "OK..."
* "I name you under my line. You are now family. From here on you shall be known as Nemesis DeGray."
- THE END -