Tsarisa Thaal's page

About Tsarisa Thaal

Ok, I have to admit: I was damn well sure that my life would NOT head to THIS direction. I'll probably have to take you back a bit.

Do you know what is probably even worse than having a orc or a demon for a parent? Having a kelesh for a parent while living in Taldor. That's like the opposite of mellow. Probably why my parents separated before I can even remember it that well. My mom picked me and headed to Katapesh were she had some family or friends. Well, after she died out of consumption on a ship and I landed on Katapesh alone, it was abundantly clear that those relatives/friends didn't give a tart about me. Three days after I arrived to the city I was sold to a slaver. Families, right?

So this slaver, right? Master Hassoud was the guy. He was nice. Really dispelled my ideas of "evil slaver keleshites". Hassoud treated his property right, never had them beaten or whipped without a damn good reason and fed us plenty. I liked him. He was kind of a father that I never knew. Fat, greedy, slave-trading father. Don't blame me. There was other slaves as well, and they were nice too. I was there for 8 years, mostly singing at parties and dinners, some servant's work. During that time one of the slaves (pit fighter named Khari) teached me some swordplay as well. That came helpful soon. Turns out that Hassoud was a sore loser. He stole something from a pit lord named Harker, and Harker decided to get it back. His goons raided the place, killed a few people. I picked up a sword. I was sure not gonna die in this place. When Harker himself walked out of the door, I said: "I'm Tsarisa Thaal! And you are not gonna kill me easily!" Harker stopped on his heels and said: "Thaal? Are you Korugar's kid?"

Yeeah...turns out that my dad shipped to Katapesh as well, at last in one point in his life. Made some friends in low places. One of those was Harker. He said that he knows what happened to him, anf if I would come quietly he would share that information. So I went with him. What? Yeah, screw me for wanting to find my last living parent. Harker was a pit lord. He organized fights were slaves and free men ditched out against each other. My job? Singing and playing oud at breaks. Harker was way more harder master than Hassoud. Food was scarce, holdings were filthy and of you made one mistake too many- BAM! Hungry hyena versus you with a spork. So how about that for a job change. But he did tell me something about my dad. He went on a few expeditions with him and some other folks. There were rumors that he was killed by red dragon, but nothing was confirmed. That means dead end to me though. Harker has not heard a thing about him in almost a decade. I continued being his slave, and everything was bad again.

But then...weird s~@+ started happening. I was humming while I cleaned some plates, and cook almost fainted. I practiced with oud, and nearby unlit candles started flickering with flames. Yeah, I know magic now, but back then that was weird. And things were about to got more weird. I always sang between fights. Mostly garish drinking songs, but sometimes cheery battle songs. One day I got told that I had to sing something new. I had to think fast. Somehow my mind went to back to my childhood, and one song I remember from that time. And so I started singing. And s~&& got weird FAST. The music started affecting the people. Everybody got really mad really fast. People took out swords and blades and started hacking each other. Harker took his dagger and let out a terrifying howl and joined the fray. And me? I joined too. Blood-red vision filled everything, and I knew who I wanted to hurt. I took Harker's falchion and sliced the first person in front of me. Harker fell down hard. I laughed hard, and song ended. Fight was in full blow riot-mode now. I ran. You DON'T want to kill your master in Katapesh. I tried to get far from riot, but Zephyr Guard got me. Prison time for little old me. But good things came out of that riot. There was no reason to be found out why it started, and since Harker's operation was not all-that legal, things were swooped under carpet. I was given to Pactmasters, who gave me a deal.

So now I'm here. On a caravan ride with this Garavel-fellow to retake Kelmarane from Gnolls. I still have Harker's sword with me. They gave me a leather armor, some gear and said that if I help the mercs and guards retake Kelmarane, I will have my freedom. So now I have weapon, gear, bunch of experienced fighters around me- and ability to drive them in to fighting frenzy.

Yeah, I'm so dead.