Session 0 - The Pink Tiefling

Artwork by HungrydamyArt

It was a chilly morning, and the old wooden walls did little to stave off the biting fall air that filled the room. In the kitchen, a pot gently shifted on the stove, and the aroma of breakfast began to waft through the air. Sethie took her time, letting out a long yawn and stretching her legs and arms before rolling to the edge of the bed. Zhera was already awake, silently reading in her bed. Her long burgundy hair was a tangled mess from sleep and pulled loosely back around her horns. As Sethie stirred, Zhera closed her book and signed a quick “Morning.”

Sethie nodded sleepily and asked, “Are we still going to the market today?” Zhera’s face brightened with a smile as she jumped up and began dressing for the day. Sethie followed suit, slowly preparing herself. As Zhera gathered their belongings, Sethie began to fix Zhera’s hair and then her own. “You need to take better care of your hair, Zhera,” Sethie signed. “It gets so tangled at this length.”

Zhera shook her head in response. “It’s not that important, ” she signed. “People won’t like us either way. It doesn’t matter if I look like a mess.”

Sethie’s chest tightened as she twisted her own hair back around her horns. Zhera wasn’t wrong. Tieflings weren’t exactly welcomed here, but it still hurt to see her little sister forced to grow up with such an understanding. Ysora was supposed to be a city of opportunity, but that only applied to those who “looked” the part—and they definitely did not.

A gentle knock on the door pulled Sethie from her thoughts. Their mother, Orianna, stood in the doorway, her long bluish hair pulled into a tight bun and her azure skin almost glowing in the morning sun. She was already dressed for the day and holding two plates of breakfast. “I hope you’ll join me for breakfast before your adventures,” she said, surveying the two suspiciously. “And I hope your adventures won’t be too troublesome.”

Sethie shook her head and looked at Zhera. “Just some street performances. Nothing to worry about…” She smiled and looked back at her mother. “We’ll be back by lunch!” There was a long pause before Sethie leaped to her feet, took the plates, and led them to the table. 

“It’s fine, Mom.” She stared down at the modest meal, before looking back up at her mother with a soft smile, “Let’s eat.”

Not much was said after that. Breakfast was finished, and the two quickly cleaned up while Orianna went downstairs to open the shop for the day. It was a quaint apothecary; Orianna grew everything herself and taught herself most of the recipes. It wasn’t much, but it was home. After a few moments, Sethie and Zhera emerged from the stairwell, said their goodbyes, and set off.

Fall in Ysora was unmistakable. The air was clear, and the sun shone brightly, but a bitter breeze shattered any illusion of warmth. Sethie led the way through the tightly wound streets of the North Corner, past the bustle of laborers heading to their daily tasks, and down the main thoroughfare into Town Center. They weren’t technically supposed to be here, they both knew as much, but most travelers passed through this area, and the average folk were more likely to spare some change in this part of the city if they were feeling generous. After surveying the Grande Fountain, Sethie spotted a corner of the fountain across from a small café—busy despite the cold—and out of direct sight of the city watch.

Cautiously, she took up a position on the fountain wall and began setting up, laying out a basket for donations before tuning her harp. Zhera took her cue and began to weave through the crowd and the nearby café, checking for potential marks. When she was satisfied, she gave Sethie the signal, and Sethie began to sing. Her voice danced through the crowd like magic, drawing people in. Each strum of the harp captured the attention of another passerby. The world began to fade away; this was her calling, her peace, her home, and it had never felt so right as it did in that moment.

As Sethie sang and danced, she caught sight of Zhera expertly slipping into the pockets of each mark before moving to the next. Gold, silver, trinkets—it didn’t matter so long as it could be sold or traded. They had done this a hundred times; it was becoming second nature. A few more marks, and Zhera would send the signal and slip back into the crowd. Sethie would end her performance and be halfway home before anyone noticed what had happened.

Zhera snaked forward, bumping into an older halfling man and stealthily taking his coin purse while helping him regain his balance. Next, she approached an elegantly dressed elven man, fully enraptured by Sethie’s performance. Zhera brushed against him, moving closer to the front of the crowd. Her fingers slipped into his pocket, and as she withdrew with the purse, a firm hand clamped onto her wrist. A lapse in focus was all it took. The man shouted, shattering the crowd's focus. “Thief!” he cried out as Zhera broke free and looked up at Sethie, signaling to run.

Sethie grabbed the basket, scattering some of the gold pieces across the ground, and bolted toward a nearby alley. She could see Zhera through the crowd, heading north, slightly away from her, with guards closing in on both of them. Then, she lost sight of her, pushing into the dark alley, scrambling over boxes, and shoving past a shop owner who was unloading crates. The guards were close behind.

She shot left, then right, left again, trying to lose them in the maze of the city. She turned another corner, almost crashing into someone rounding it, catching herself before moving forward, winding farther north. She reached the old wall and, with the guards still close behind, scrambled up and over. A few more blocks, and she’d reach the Hillfoot District, where they knew better than to follow.

Another right, then a left; the alley gave way to a wider street and a small bridge. She dashed across, pushing through the crowd before disappearing into the next alley. She was sure she had lost them but kept running for a while longer before taking the long way back home. It was almost noon now, and their mother would be expecting them. Sethie waited in the alley behind their house for Zhera to arrive—30 minutes, 45, 1 hour, 2 hours. Still no sign of her. Sethie knew their mother would be worried by now; she had to go in, without Zhera.

She hung her head low as she made her way out of the alley and into the shop. The door was already locked—a bad sign. She sighed as she pulled out her keys. Quietly, Sethie entered and made her way deeper into the shop. Her mother stood at the top of the stairs, arms crossed, and as red-faced as her blue skin could be. “You know, apparently two tiefling girls were caught stealing at the city center today…” Orianna fumed. “One of them got away. They are still looking for a younger woman with pink hair. Wouldn’t know anything about it, would you?”

Before Sethie could respond, she continued, “I told you, again and again, to stop this nonsense and not get your sister involved. She has it hard enough as it is. I do so much to try to keep you both safe, and what do you do? Get your sister arrested. How much coin did you even make? Was it worth it, because now they are looking for you!”

Sethie was silent. It wasn’t supposed to happen, and it should've been her that got caught. Orianna continued, “Well?”

“I don’t know what to say,” Sethie barked back.

“Well, I guess that’s that then,” Orianna said, tossing a coin purse onto the table. “Pack your things. I can’t have both my daughters in jail.”

Sethie froze, looking up in confusion, seeing the tears in her mother’s eyes for the first time. Orianna looked away and began to pack some food. “Gnash is going to help you get out of town. There’s a caravan going south tonight; it’s passing through Riverside Town. It’s quiet and far enough out of the city. Stay there until I tell you it’s safe to return.” She turned back and handed Sethie a small, faintly glowing stone. “If you need to reach me, use this.” Her voice cracked as she pulled Sethie into a hug.

The two quietly packed Sethie’s belongings and made their way to the door. Orianna pulled her in for another hug. “Meet Gnash at his office, and he will handle the rest.” Orianna paused for a long moment. “I love you. Please be safe. I’ll handle everything here.”

Sethie pulled her in for a long hug before heading off into the night.