A strong smell of spent magic drifted through the air as Strix tumbled through the portal she’d found, her hair flying awry as she bolted as far and as fast as she could away from her point of escape. Paying attention to her surroundings only enough to listen for any footsteps following her, she wove her way through empty back alleys and soon moderately crowded streets. Attempting to disappear into the crowd, she awkwardly hid behind a group of people chatting near a bright storefront, then inside an empty barrel for good measure and waited, breath held. It was only then she saw that no one was bursting into this small square and realized that she was no longer being chased, crisis averted. It was also then that she realized that the group of people she had chosen to hide behind were now all looking in her direction with confused expressions, completely blowing her cover, probably because (as it now occurred to her) a madwoman had just burst into the square and inexplicably jumped into a barrel. She didn’t blame them.

Okay so this might not have been her best idea, much like jumping through a portal leading to an unknown destination, but she never tended to think to clearly when panicking.

And now she probably should figure out where she was.

Acutely aware of all the stares she was receiving, she shakily stood up -her adrenaline seemed to be wearing off- and too afraid to give so much as an acknowledgement of the people staring, she briskly walked away from the whole scenario, hoping that her intrusion would soon be forgotten.

She cautiously made her way through the streets; a lot of people were staring, or giving her odd looks, why were they doing that? Was she violating some sort of weird rule they had here? Oh gods guards were probably already on their way now to arrest her, how could she fix this? Maybe if she talked to someone, yes yes that would work; there was another group by a market stall chattering about, they seemed as good a bet as anyone else, or they’d probably try to kill her, but she was prepared to run before it got to that.

Her trembling form inched up to the most vocal of the group’s speakers.

“Hey, uh, excuse me, sorry to bother you cutters, but I’m very new here and don’t know much about this place and I would really appreciate if you could at least tell me a bit about it thanks.”

The group did nothing but stare back at her, mouths agape and faces in shock. This was not a good plan.

Quietly, one of the people uttered, “You’re… you’re a... monster!”, and the others all minutely nodded in agreement.

“Whoa whoa there cutters, don’t worry, I’m totally harmless, not really a monster and AKGH!”

One of the group had reached into the folds of their cloak, and was now brandishing a sharp dagger, pointed in her direction.

“Ok never mind you guys are all totally barmy bye! AHHHHHH!”

Her shrieks resounded through the streets as she ran as quickly as she could, once more not focused on anything other than getting away.

~

Diath wandered through the streets of Daggerford, enjoying the atmosphere of the late afternoon. He had just returned from a successful treasure hunting expedition, and had some time to kill before journeying back to Waterdeep the next day. The sun was just beginning to make its way below the horizon, casting the streets a warm orange hue, and a chill evening breeze nipped at the warmth provided by his gray woolen cloak. The market, though still quite active, was beginning to quiet down, painting a scene that was almost picturesque.

He paused as he heard a large commotion from a few streets over, what could be happening to cause such a disturbance? Moments later, and to answer his question, came a strange woman shrieking around the corner, barrelling right into him.

Too deft to be knocked off his feet, he danced backwards, carrying his momentum away. The woman, on the other hand, was not so fortunate, and tumbled into a ragged pile on the ground. Rather than get back up, she looked around frantically, whatever she was running from, it was no longer in pursuit. Realizing this, her eyes -strange and pupilless- started to tear up, and she began to sob on the ground.

Should he help her? He stood there, motionless with shock as she lay there crying. She seemed to be some sort of fiendish lady, there were small horns poking out of a mess of hair and long tail emerging from bottom of her rags. She was clearly distressed, though most others on the street were either staring, or turning a blind eye. Perhaps it would be wisest if he did the same and avoid getting mixed up in whatever trouble she had gotten herself into.

He scolded himself for that thought, he had spent enough time on the streets to know exactly what it was like to feel helpless and alone, and was most certainly not going to let someone else suffer that same fate.

Taking a deep breath, he cautiously approached her.

~

Someone was tapping Strix on the shoulder, but she hardly realized it until a man’s words cut through her sobs.

“Excuse me, madam?”

She looked up, someone was looming over her, an expression of concern upon their face.

“Ahhhh!” She shrieked, scrambling several feet away, causing the man to jump back in surprise, “Are you here to kill me too!?” She noticed daggers at his belt, partially concealed under his guise of kindness, oh and also a thin cloak.

“Wait, what? No!” he exclaimed, “You seemed to be in trouble, I just wanted to see if you were alright.” He stepped forward, and she panicked even more.

“No! don’t come any closer!” The man stopped, looking rather uncertain. “And I’m not alright, everything is bad! I’m lost, I’m alone, I have no idea where I am and I'm stuck talking to someone who probably just wants to loot my corpse! Well guess what, I’m on to you, so when I die it’ll be my small victory! And… and…”

Her cries dissolved into tears, and she sat there, once more sobbing uncontrollably.

When she finally paused, she saw the man still standing there, in the exact spot she’d told him to stop earlier. He was looking down and twisting the frayed edges of his cloak in discomfort. Noticing her peering at him, he began to speak again.

“Look, I don’t know you, but I can assure you that I mean no harm,” his tone betrayed his slight hurt from her previous accusations. “You say you are lost, and I think I can help you, if you’d let me.”

Slowly, treading carefully as a cat, he approached her and held out his hand.

“Here, come with me, at the very least allow me to guide you somewhere safe.”

Strix eyed him warily; she still didn’t trust this man, but he was right, she really could use some help and his offer seemed much better than crying on the streets until someone else picked her off. Besides, he hadn’t harmed her yet, so his intentions - for some baffling reason- might actually have been just that.

Begrudgingly, she reached up and took his hand, despite the thoughts shouting at her to run.

“Okay fine,” she was grateful that now at least she wouldn’t be totally lost, “but I’m warning you, I know magic, so don’t you dare try anything funny.”

“Wasn’t planning on it.”

The man pulled her up from the ground; he wasn't super strong to be honest, and she did a great deal of the work herself, and this could put the odds against them should they be attacked... but at least he wouldn’t be able to overpower her too easily.

“My name’s Diath by the way, what’s yours?”

“Um… mine’s… uh… Stinky.” It was the first name to pop into her head, and she realized, as Diath raised an eyebrow, she probably could have picked something better.

“Alright then, um… Stinky,” Diath looked around, and unhooked the hooded cloak draped around his shoulders, handing it over to her. “You should probably wear this, it will hide your appearance, that way you won’t draw so much attention.” Strix suddenly became aware once more of all the uncomfortable stares she was receiving; quickly she snatched the cloak, hoping it wasn’t too cursed. Clutching the greyish-black and slightly moth-eaten fabric in her hands, she noticed Diath was already starting to shiver.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive, you certainly need it more than I do.”

Why was he just being this nice? Her mind was shouting at her, this was a trick, a trap of some sort! Soon this Diath person’s many goons would jump out of the shadows and ambush her!

But the slightly more rational part of her mind argued otherwise, with Diath she had a chance of relative safety, and she was getting pretty cold, and the prospect of not being alone for once was a welcome change. So she donned the cloak, delicately placing the hood to conceal her small horns, and tucking her tail in underneath her robes. Her certainty that the fabric was cursed diminished greatly as she felt no chilling sensation of malicious magic, only warmth and shelter from the prickling cold.

“Alright, just follow me.” Diath said, starting down the road. Strix paused, this was her last chance to get away, to book it then and there. She could still feel the itch within her to run, but this time she suppressed it, for now she would place some trust in this stranger. And at that, she proceeded to shuffle off after him.

~

“You don’t look so bad”

Strix gazed sorrowfully at the shrivelled ghoulish image that had become her good friend. There was no getting around it, he looked absolutely horrific, he was so sunken and withered, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Diath had gone and done something dumb again, and he had done it because of her, he always did. She tried to reassure him, or maybe herself,

“You’re fine.”

Although he was not, in fact, “fine”, anyone else would agree he was anything but “fine”. It probably wouldn’t even be wise for him to appear this way in public; in his undead visage, people would be appalled. They’d label him a monster, just like her.

“Here.”

She took off the greyish-black, and now incredibly moth-eaten cloak he had given her so long ago -one of the many she now wore- and handed it back to him. How long had it been since that far off day? She could still remember his shivering form when he had handed it to her, just as she could still remember each of the many things Diath had given up for her in their travels ever since that day. He had always looked out for her, hadn't he? Even as she’d always looked out for herself first. At some point, she thought, she would have to start returning the favour.

“I’m sorry Diath, I’ve just ruined your life, haven’t I?”