Amatu, Vee, Wraithvine, and Pondermoore were traveling, they'd just entered the city with Slippery Sam's cage. A young homeless child, potentially younger than Vee, bumped into the wizard trying to lift the coin pouch. The child was thin, dirty, skittish, and reeked of immense, untapped magic. The young human was only not afraid around Amatu, thinking he was very pretty. -- Lessons
An Ogre, an Elf, and two other adventurers ride into Deepwater. One of the longer-lasting cities in the wider lands. Like most travelers into a large city, there is some significant gawking. Given the nature of the adventurers, even some of the jaded locals were staring.
It's not often that an Ogre walks into a town and refuses to cause trouble. Neither is it that common to see a Tiefling hybridised with an Aasimar.
The snake-man in the cage was, by sheer comparison, relatively normal.
Deepwater has seen a lot. It welcomes many into its labyrinthine streets. It therefore merely raises an eyebrow at the strange, the unusual, and the unexpected. Deepwater attracts adventurers like a dung-heap attracts flies. It gathers commerce like the unwashed gather fleas. It bustles with activity in a way not entirely unlike a bloated corpse on a riverbank.
The smell is pretty much the same. People get used to it.
Now, Deepwater theoretically witnesses some justice in action, where the wagon in view pulls up at the nearest temple of Justice to deliver a gift-wrapped felon to the forces of law and order. It is there that things get interesting.
It could be a scene from any minor drama. A thief, nimble and small, bumped up against the Elf and ran off with whatever they could grab. That was the plan. Unfortunately for the little thief, they had attempted to pickpocket a Wizard.
Wizard pockets are inherently troublesome. They could contain anything, and are frequently charmed against invading hands.
The little thief had grabbed a handful of Comeback Slime. Which adhered to their hand and, as the name might suggest, dragged them back to the scene of offense.
Where it quickly became evident that this thief was near to starving. Small. A child. What species they were was a matter of debate, as they were apparently all over with filth and rags. There were eyes in the mess, and hands and feet. The rest of them was a puzzle nobody else would wish to solve.
The kid pressed a hand against Wraithvine and shouted, "ZAP!" There were sparks of energy and the immortal Wizard winced.
"Pickpocketing a Wizard isn't wise, little one," said Wraithvine. "Neither is trying to use Touch of Shock on one. Understand that I am giving you the chance to learn better before the guards come back. What were you hoping to get from me?"
The thief looked at their free hand, then back to Wraithvine, then to their stuck hand, their feet, Pondermoore, and Amatu. "I'unno. Food? Money? Shinies?"
Wraithvine didn't ask if anyone was looking after this particular scrap of life. The answer was an abundantly clear, No. "I am going to make you an offer before I free you. A choice. You may follow me, and learn everything I can teach you... or I can hand you over to the City Watch and let them perform their variety of justice on you."
Free hand, Wraithvine, stuck hand, feet, Pondermoore, Amatu. "Ain't goin' back inna workhouse. No way nohow. What's I get outta you f'r following?"
"Besides an education? Food every day. Security. Safety. I will expect you to eat your vegetables and bathe regularly."
Free hand, Wraithvine, stuck hand, feet, Pondermoore, Amatu. "Better'n most, guess." Another tour of their situation. "Fine. I follow. No more nickin' stuff, I expect."
Wraithvine freed them from the slime. "You expect well. Quickly. Onto the cart before the guards come back."
Their new thief was excellently camouflaged with the rest of the travel debris.
"Uncle..." chided Vee, who was currently in the driver's seat. "What the heck?"
"Every adventure needs a rogue," soothed Wraithvine. "Remember your gram'ma? This is similar to how we met."
[AN: Now's your chance to place your bets as to the new rogue's species/colouration/gender etc. Either in the comments here or in my Discord]
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / liveslow]
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