GM RePete: Hell's Rebels - Citizen's Unite! (Inactive)

Game Master RePete

Dinin Misraria is the 8th born daughter of the head of the Misraria house in the drow city Zirnakaynin. Being the 8th born daughter she knew she had no shot at the throne without 7 highly convincing ‘’accidents’’ regarding her 7 older sisters. Or even less likely, she could try to best them all one by one in public duels to gain their titals and public standing.

And there was one more problem. Her daughter Mavis. Mavis she had raised for 19 years ( to humans she would be about 4 years old.) when Drow typically abandon their spawn at birth so as to not allow them the chance to overthrow them in the future. We can only guess as to why Dinin chose to keep her around as long as she did but it was not long before the sisters of Dinin shamed and shunned her for it. Calling her week and sentimental for getting attached to such “trash”.

Dinin began to grow colder toward Mavis At long last Dinin decided to remove Mavis from the equation. But Mavis had grown up with something other Drow had not. A mother and someone to care for and protect her and Mavis trusted her mother with her very soul. That emotional attachment however is what set Mavis up for a world of heartache and pain. And it all was about to begin.

“Mavis dear” she said in a sweet practiced voice with a deceitful smile one day on the outskirts of the city. “Lady lolth (the spider goddess and only deity legally worshipped in drow society) Has a very important task for you” She then pulled out the only possession Mavis had and the only gift she ever received from her mother. A small stuffed doll of the Lady Lolth. Mavis watched with wide innocent eyes, “ She desires that you stay here and wait patiently. If you are patient and faithful to her and your mother then she will guide you back home to me through this sacred vessel doll. Do you understand dear?’’

“Oh yes mommy! Don’t worry. I’ll prove myself and be back in no time! I wont let you down!’’ Mavis said proudly. Eagerly wanting to please her mother.

“I know you will. I will be waiting with a warm meal’’ she promised and her mother stood smoothly and began to walk away leaving Mavis alone in the tunnel on the outskirt of the city. Leaving Mavis alone with the doll in that dark and cold cave. Mavis watched the doll for hours. Hours tuned to days. And days to cold long weeks.

On the 14th day she began to resent and hate the doll she once loved. It was because of that doll that she couldn’t go see her mother. It must be the dolls fault. On the 18th day she began to blame the Goddess Lolth for misjudging her. She must be worthy. She must be! On the 23 day she began to cry. She wanted nothing more then to see her mother. But wait… her mother… it was the 27th day that it dawned upon her that she had been abandoned. She had always thought she was special and that unlike other Drow her mother actually loved her. But now she saw she was no different from others.

The betrayal she felt in her frail young heart scarred her. Her soul was Broken. She just laid there for two more days clutching the doll waiting the die. She clung to that doll. It didn’t matter how hurt she was or ow much she hated it. It was from her mother.

Then by chance a Barra of Rener Cress stumbled by chance upon her. (Barra is the code name for ninja in the guild Rener cress which translates to ‘Black Web’ in the drow tongue. Barra means shadow.) he scooped up her starved and unconscious form which still clutched the doll and carried her to Vlos ridden Valshath. (blood ridden palace) And her new life began.

Rener Cress is an ancient guild of assassins and ninja and clerics all serving the Great lady Lolth. Abandoned drow infants are often found by its Barra and are taken to the palace to be trained. When a noble drow needs an assassin Rener Cress is always ready for hire at a down price of 6500 gold pieces.

Mavis was older then the typical new recruit but learned fast and showed unprecedented promise. The hard work distracted her from her grief.

She did not however enjoy hurting others much to the frustration of the Sensei. He then asked her for her reason. She initially refused so he beat it out of her. He learned of her emotional pain and family heritage. Pain can be callused he thought and she will be no different. He then found that Mavis’s Mother had given birth to another daughter who had also been abandoned, found and brought to the palace. Miliax.
Miliax met Mavis in training and by instinct knew who she was and the same went for Mavis towards her. Mavis was unsure what to do but Miliax worshipped her. She looked up to Mavis like the mother she had never known. For Mavis had been the beloved of their mother. She trusted Mavis and adored her with an unquenchable love. Mavis grew fond of Miliax in return and helped her in her training and all was well for two years until the unthinkable happened.

It was not uncommon in the guild for one student who showed great promise to be tasked with the assassination of another who did not. This served as population control and Practice and experience and even emotional callusing for the students. The sensei decided Mavis was too attached to Miliax and that Miliax who was very promising in her own right was a necessary sacrifice to get Mavis to her full potential. He tasked Mavis with the assassination of Miliax.

Mavis was devastated but afraid of Sensei so that night she expertly snuck into the room of Miliax and placed a knife to her throat but no matter what she did she could not bring herself to end the life of her sister. What she did not know was that Sensei was hiding in the room as well and watching. Just as Mavis made up her mind to leave no matter Sensei’s wrath Miliax awoke. She saw the knife above her throat in Mavis’s hand and her heart was scarred and changed forever. The betrayal hurt her far worse then the one of Mavis’s mother but instead of turning to sorrow and despair she turned to anger and swore revenge. But Mavis left before Miliax could act. But Sensei heard Miliax’s oath for revenge and decided to let it play out and see who was truly stronger.

Mavis came back to her room weeping and disgusted with herself and despairing that Sensei would kill her. It was then that she met an unexpected ally. A Halfling slave who tended to the needs of the students. He also happened to be a sorcerer. He being a kind soul asked her what the matter was. She sobbed out the situation to him. He comforted her and promised to do all in his power to protect her. They did not however expect that it would be Miliax that he would help defend her from.

The next day Sensei didn’t even confront Mavis much to her shock. That night however Miliax snuck in and was ready to end her life. But the Halfling was waiting and shouted loud enough for the entire school to hear “Miliax! What are you doing out past your curfew?! Sleep walking is not the same as Ninja shadow walking you fool! Have you no sense!? Off to bed!”

The public shame of Miliax the next day only caused her hatred for Mavis to boil Hotter. The Halfling then helped rig traps in Mavis’s rooms to cast feary fire on Miliax’s head whenever she enters the room to make her head glow. Simply put Glowing ninjas don’t accomplish much. And the shame of having a glowing head was enough to permanently disgrace Miliax.

Mavis refused to fight back against her sister though so over the next 59 years and many a glowing head later Miliax was still attempting to end the life of poor Mavis who still loved her. Mavis began to wish for freedom and a world away from her cruel teachers. It was then that the Halfling told her of his true religion. He was a disciple of the moon goddess Desna who to worship would be a crime punishable by death. She however asked him to teach her the ways of Desna for she now hated the goddess Lolth (though she had kept the doll being unable to bring herself to get rid of it.) He then in secret taught her of the love beauty and grace of the freedom Desna offers in the night. Mavis then had him Place a magical tattoo of the crest of Desna upon her left shoulder blade. A tattoo that only shows in the Moonlight or in water. He then disguised it among other tattoos on her back and upper arms. She and the Halfling would in secret discuss one day escaping to the surface world but over the many years the Halfling grew old. It was around this time that disaster struck.

The Halfling had told Mavis that the one thing he missed more then the sight of the beloved moon was music and song. She asked him what song was. He taught her and she found she had an incredible voice and she sang to him as a gift. This proved her down fall though. For miliax had heard and went to her room to try again. The Halfling was in the bathroom assisting Mavis as she bathed and so his spells were not active. Miliax entered and saw the that Mavis’s back was turned to her shining bright in the water and upon her shoulder was the last thing that Miliax had expected to see. The Crest of Desna. The Halfling looked up feeling something was wrong and saw Miliax flee the room. He looked at Mavis’s back and saw the tattoo quite visible. He was horrified and terrified for Mavis and told her what he had seen and that Miliax could now tell anyone she liked and Mavis’s life would be over.

Mavis was terrified and asked him what to do. He told her to flee to the surface world like they had always discussed. Mavis tearfully begged him to go with her but he explained that in his old age he would just slow her down. She said she would not leave him but he said that as a finale gift to him she should live and greet the moon for him. She tearfully bade him farewell and fled.

Miliax had stopped and turned back. She realized that the only way she could regain her honor would be to bring back Mavis and show everyone what a traitor she was. She then went to pursue her but the Halfling obstructed her path. She ordered him to move but he just whipped his slaves chain at her like a weapon and told her he would not let her pass. The battle that fallowed was short. He did well for a Halfling well past his prime but in the end he was slain but not before he had given her a lovely gash on her thigh.

Miliax then pursued Mavis deep into the tunnels. The chase lasted two days. Eventually rage drove Miliax harder despite her injury then fear drove Mavis. The battle that fallowed was one worthy of song and tale. Blood and many tears were shed on both sides. Just then Mavis thought she could hear Her friends voice whisper to her “my finale gift to you my dear. Your freedom.” Just as she felt his words she landed a luck punch to Miliax’s wounded thigh causing her to crumple with a cry of anguish.

Mavis then with tears in her eyes said “forgive me my beloved sister” and she drove her Sai into the wrist of Miliax effectively staking her to the ground. She then took her other sai and did the same with the other wrist and stood.

“Kill me” Miliax said. “finish what you began”
Mavis just turned and left and hollered back “goodbye sister”
Miliax spat and cried back “you are no sister of mine!”
Mavis did not respond. She just kept running. She emerged at 2:41 am from the mountain side near Whistledown. She looked up and there on that clear chilly night was the moon and stars in all their glory. She cried out a greeting from herself and for her fallen friend and said a quick prayer asking to be

shown some of the mercy Desna promised all those who are faithful to her. And with that last request she fell unconscious upon the hills side overcome with blood loss and exhaustion.

Mercy was indeed shown. For there by chance was a traveling cleric of Desna making his way from Korvosa to Kintargo who was camped nearby. He heard her anguished cry and left to see who had spoken. When he found her he was at first prepared to slay her. For she was a Drow and an enemy to the surface world but as he drew near a small breeze came through blowing the torn clothes on her back aside revealing the tattoo which showed brightly in the moon light. He immediately put aside his weapon and carried her back to his camp.

He nursed her back to health and for two days she slept. When she awoke she out of reflex attacked him but he was a skilled warrior in his own right and she had barely strength to stand. After she gave up he asked her what had happened and who she was. After some not so subtle flattery and bribing of food she told him the basic story. He took pity on her and offered to let her travel with him to kintargo where she may perhaps build a new life for herself.

She having nothing better to do agreed and traveled with him to Kintargo. When they arrived he paid room and board for her at the local inn for a month. He then bought her new clothes and weapons and resupplied her. She was shocked at his generosity and questioned him on it. His only reply was “The Lady Desna sent you too me to be provided for and I have done that. My charge is fulfilled. Farewell.” He then left without leaving her a chance to thank him. The only things she still possessed from her old life were her katana and Backpack.
She began to make a life for herself while internally praying the Barra would never find her.. She began to work for the inn keeper by singing and waiting tables. It paid only enough for food and shelter but it was enough for now. After nearly a year of being in town she heard that their was an opening in the Opera “Huntress of Heros” and she in a fit of childish giddy could not pass up trying out for the heck of it and to her exstatic joy and glee she got a part.

And then He arrived and everything changed. And all along she had forgotten the little Lolth doll buried deep in a pocket on her backpack.