“But do you see the way people look at you, devil’s child?... That is the burden of every Tiefling. Some break under it, some make it the milestone around their neck, some revel in it.” - Erin. M. Evans, Brimstone Angels.
The birds were singing, the atmosphere was clear, I could smell the incense being burned in the temple… the sun came through the stain-glass windows to light up the book I was reading. I lost myself in an adventure book: “Tribulations of 10 Towns”. As I read about this group of misfits that went on explorations to help others, I spent much of my time daydreaming about the places I could go and the things that I could do. I often felt “trapped” behind the walls of Hartvale, yet I had no direction beyond helping my mother attend to the Tiefling commune within the city.
Everything I learned about the world, I learned from books. As a Tiefling, my mother warned me about how ill-treated our race often is in the world beyond our city. I take what she says with a grain of salt, but I also considered that if I was to be hated in the world, it may as well be with good reason. I have always struggled with the internal battle of where my alignment truly is. I want to pursue knowledge, yet contribute to it. I want to meet new people, yet control them. I want to explore the world, yet conquer it.
Doing shitty charity work in an uneventful down was never my idea of a life for myself. I dream of glory, power, wealth. As I continued to get lost in the adventures of my book, my mind strayed to consider all the possibilities of a life I could never have… Little did I know that my whole world was about to be turned around.
One day as I was grudgingly helping my mother with the usual bullshit, a man approached me. He was wearing a tunic with a pouch tied to his belt, and a strange hat with flaps that covered his ears. This human man came up to me and introduced himself as a courier from Charron.
“I have something for you, for your eyes only.”
He pulled out a rolled paper with a blue wax seal on it. Before I could ask where this was from, the courier was already gone. I had never received personal “mail” before, so I was both excited and nervous about opening it. I found a quiet place, broke the seal, and slowly opened the scroll.
Dearest Elyenara,
Please forgive me for this unexpected call, as I was unaware of your birth until recently. I hope this letter reaches you, as I’m entrusting my best courier with finding you. I want to introduce myself as Eisel and I’m happy to welcome you home to meet the other side of your family at Molpain Manor in Charron.
I know this letter may come as a shock to you (and likely an anger to your mother, if I remember her mannerisms correctly); but when I discovered I had a daughter, I could not help but reach out. I would be honored if you would grace us with your presence as soon as you are ready to do so. I do hope that this letter is received with welcome, as I would be pleased to communicate with you more.
Signed,
Your Father, Eisel
My… what? Is this a prank?... the wax seal looks intricate enough… a manor? Is my father a noble? Cherron? I’ve heard of the place as it’s well known for tending to the dead. Do I actually have a “ticket” out of this place? As much as I hate to, I decided it best to confirm this with my mother. As I dreaded the conversation, I calmly read her the letter (without the part about her, though it does add validity to the letter’s authenticity). Aaaaaand per prediction, it angered her.
“I told that man I wanted nothing to do with him; he’s a high and haughty human that I never should have gotten involved with. The fact he is reaching out to you NOW? How did he hear of you?...”
I stopped her, “How come I have not heard of HIM?”
She stopped her arguments and become silent with a boiling anger that filled the room with negative energy. I was actually getting livid as well:
“My father has been alive and well this whole time and you let me believe I had none? You kept me here, cleaning this shithole of a city, doing charity work… when my Noble Father has been kept in the dark the entire time? Why would you hide him? Why would you hide ME?”
She finally calmed down. Beneath the surface of the anger, I could see a tone of shame in her aura. She went on to explain how Eisle, was full of greed and had dark connections that she did not want in her life. Excuse after excuse, and I had enough.
I got the confirmation that I needed, this man was my Father and the letter is authentic. Now I needed to process it and ponder what my next move is. This is my life, not my mother’s. And it’s up to me to create my own reality. My dreams of exploration, of grander things, of conquest… maybe this was finally my time.
My mind was made. I was taking my chance. I began my journey to the manor first thing in the morning.