Chapter Text
The sun was in the process of setting as Nazira the Righteous sat on the front porch outside the Lucky Bastard tavern. An Orc woman in her late 20s, she stood 6’2” and had green skin, long flowing black hair, and burning orange eyes. She wore a bluish-gray sleeveless shirt that showed off her cleavage, black pants, brown work boots, and leather gloves. A dark cloak was draped over the back of her chair. Although it looked perfectly ordinary, her clothing was actually of a much higher quality than it appeared to be, meant to maximize comfort without being any less functional.
Tattoos normally covered by Nazira’s chainmail armor were visible on her arms and the back of her neck. A sheathed longsword and a circular steel shield were propped up against the wall nearby, each with a small bottle carefully positioned to fall and break if either item was moved. A half-empty bottle of rum and a shot glass were on the table in front of her as she counted her winnings from a dice game earlier that evening. She heard footsteps approaching, but she paid them no mind; people had been coming and going all day. Even when she heard someone approaching her, she didn’t look up from the electrum coins she was counting.
“Quite the haul you’ve got there.” A male voice said.
“The benefits of learning dice games at a young age.” She said, making no attempt to conceal her complete lack of interest in the conversation.
“Clearly.” A pair of mildly hairy hands entered her field of view. “I was going to offer to buy you a drink, but it looks like you’ve got that covered. Mind if I join you after I get one for myself?”
Nazira slid the last few coins into a leather pouch, then lifted her gaze to take in the individual before her. Said individual was a Satyr man with fair skin, blue eyes, and short brown hair. His face was decorated by a curly mustache and a goatee that, to Nazira’s mild surprise, actually looked quite good on him. He wore a red vest over a white undershirt and had a pan flute hanging from his belt. Although he was leaning forward, she estimated that he was no taller than 5’6”. He wasn’t exactly scrawny, but his exposed arms didn’t have much in the way of muscles.
“Look, you haven’t done anything especially unpleasant, so I’ll explain this as politely as I can.” She said, looking him in the eyes. “I don’t know what it is you find appealing about me, but there are probably at least four people inside who have most or all of those same traits, and any one of them would make for better company than me.”
“Aw, don’t sell yourself short.” He said with a chuckle. “I’m sure we could have a good time.”
Nazira let out an annoyed sigh. “Let me rephrase that. When I say that they would make for better company than me, what I mean is that they might actually enjoy spending time with you. With all due respect, I have no interest in your company, and I would like you to go away.”
The Satyr man frowned and, knowing that he likely couldn’t see below her navel, Nazira’s right hand inched towards a concealed dagger. Just as her fingers were closing around the hilt, he removed his hands from the table and stood up straight.
“Fair enough.” He said, turning to head inside. “Sorry to bother you.”
Nazira watched him until he shut the door behind him, then leaned back in her seat and poured herself another shot. Half an hour later, she had finished the bottle and returned with a new one when the front door opened and a tall Half-Elf woman walked out.
“Tamara?” Nazira asked, sitting up straight.
The woman froze, then turned to face the Orc.
“What did you just call me?” She asked.
“Easy.” Nazira held up her empty hands. “If I was a threat, I wouldn’t have gotten your attention.”
The Half-Elf woman squinted. “Wait, I know you. You’re the Zealot.”
Nazira spat on the ground. “I hate that fucking name.”
“Well, I hate being called Tamara. What do you want?”
“I have a proposition I’d like to discuss with you.” Nazira leaned on the table and folded her hands. “Business, not sexual.”
The Half-Elf woman looked around, saw no one within earshot, and turned back to Nazira.
“There’s a door in the back alley with a double penis painted on it.” She said. “Wait a couple minutes, then meet me inside.”
“What’s in there?” Nazira asked.
“An orgy.” Tamara replied sarcastically. “Does it matter?”
“Why can’t we just meet in the alley?”
“Because I’m keeping a low profile.”
Nazira shugged. “Well, it would look a lot less suspicious if you just joined me for a drink. Changelings aren’t exactly unheard of around these parts, and it would be nice to know who I’m actually dealing with.”
Tamara took another look around, then reached back and put her hood up, casting a shadow over her face. When she lowered the hood, her entire face and head had changed. Standing 5’10”, she had white skin with a hint of blue, chalk white hair, and pupiless white eyes. She wore a long dark cloak over a dark brown shirt and pants.
“You can call me Tam.” She said, sitting down across from Nazira. “If you don’t like the Zealot, what do you prefer?”
“Nazira.” The Orc replied. “However, among those I don’t want to know my name, I prefer the Raven’s Flame.”
“I see.” Tam produced a small metal cup from her cloak, uncorked the bottle of rum, and poured some for herself. “What exactly do you want?”
Nazira took a deep breath. “I’d like your help eliminating members of a dangerous cult.”
“And what cult is that?”
“The cult of the Spider Queen.”
The corners of Tam’s mouth curled up into a subtle smile. “So the rumors are true. You hunt Drow.”
“Only those who worship Lolth.” Nazira clarified. “All those who worship Lolth, not just the Drow.”
“I see.” Tam sipped her drink. “What’s in it for me?”
“Well, these cultists usually have stashes of money, weapons, valuables, what have you.” Nazira explained. “You can have half of whatever we find.”
Tam snorted. “You’re asking me to help you kill some people with no guarantee of payment?”
“Of course not.” Nazira replied bluntly. “I have money to compensate you if we come up dry. I just need someone to watch my back. I’m good at what I do, but I can’t take out six or more cultists on my own.”
“Six?”
“I’ve done some scouting. I know there are at least six.”
Tam closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“What are you offering if we find nothing?” She asked.
“How does 25 Gold sound?”
“Like a start.” Tam emptied her cup’s contents down her throat, then stood up. “Where should we meet?”
“Behind Alphie’s Amazing Arcana.”
“Great. When?”
The next night, Nazira was waiting in an alley four blocks west of her apartment when she heard footsteps and turned to see Tam approaching. Tam was wearing a blue feathered shawl-like garment and a black cloak over blue clothing that Nazira realized was leather armor, tight black pants that didn’t seem to impede her movement, and brown boots that went halfway up to her knees and had some of the blue leather protecting her shins. A dagger was strapped to each of her thighs, a modified hand crossbow was attached to her right forearm, and a box of crossbow bolts hung from her left hip.
“You clean up nicely.” Nazira remarked.
“Thanks.” Tam gave Nazira’s chainmail and javelins a quick glance. “What’s the plan?”
They split up halfway to the target, so Nazira was alone when she approached a nondescript stone building. Two men in dark robes were flanking the door - one Human and one Hobgoblin. Nazira made sure her hands were empty as she approached.
“This is private property.” The Human man said. “You need to leave.”
Nazira narrowed her eyes. “No, it’s not.”
“What do you want?” The Hobgoblin man asked.
“I have a meeting inside.” She replied. “I’m technically late.”
“Is that so?” He crossed his arms. “A meeting with whom?”
She frowned. “I was told that this meeting was common knowledge.”
The Human man reached into his robes and drew a scimitar. “You need to walk away.”
At that moment, a crossbow bolt flew into his right ear and exited out the left side of his head. Not missing a beat, Nazira drew her longsword and cut the Hobgoblin’s throat in a single fluid motion. Checking the door, she found it unlocked, strapped her shield to her left arm, and stepped inside. A Human man and woman in black robes leapt up from the card game they were playing and drew shortswords as she approached. Moving to engage Nazira, they attacked her from both sides. She used her shield to block a stab from the woman, only for the man to stab her in the leg. Groaning in pain, Nazira slashed the man’s throat, then turned to face the woman. Before either of them could attack again, a bolt hit the Human woman’s right eye, and Nazira turned to see Tam reloading her arm-mounted crossbow.
“Nice shot.” Nazira said.
“Thank oe.”
“What?”
“Thieves’ Cant. Thank you.”
Nazira used Lay on Hands to close her leg wound, then started down a hallway beyond the table with Tam close behind her.
“So, two more?” The Changeling asked.
Nazira shook her head. “Four, at least. Of the six I’ve seen, four were Drow.”
“Oh.” Tam shapeshifted into a Drow woman. “Wonderful.”
There were only three doors in the hallway - one on each side and one at the far end. The room on the left appeared to be storage, and the room on the right was a bedroom with no one inside, so they continued on to the end of the hall, where they heard voices inside. Nazira pressed her ear against the wooden door, but she didn’t recognize the language.
“Undercommon.” Tam whispered.
“What are they saying?” Nazira asked.
“They’re arguing about a new recruit. Two of them are defending her, the other three - no, four - are skeptical about her loyalty.”
“Is it racist to ask if they sound like Drow?”
“I don’t know, but the accents check out.”
“On three?”
Tam nodded, then mouthed, “One, two, three.”
Nazira opened the door to find half a dozen Dark Elves - aka Drow - seated around a mahogany table - four male and two female. Each one wore dark clothes and a chain shirt. They leapt to their feet, and three drew shortswords while the other three drew hand crossbows. Before any of them could attack, Tam locked eyes with one of the male shooters, and without casting any spells, she put a curse on him. Raising her right arm, she fired her crossbow, hitting the center of his throat and killing him almost instantly, then moved so Nazira was between her and the other four Drow. Not missing a beat, the other crossbow-wielding Drow fired. One bolt got past Nazira’s shield and hit her left shoulder, and the other narrowly missed Tam’s right ear. A second later, the other three Drow moved in and attacked with their shortswords. Nazira blocked two stabs, only for the third to catch her in the side. Growling, she cast Divine Favor, giving her longsword a faint golden glow as she slashed at the nearest Drow and missed.
Behind Nazira, Tam cursed the crossbow-wielding Drow woman, then fired and missed. Moving with near-supernatural speed, she reloaded and fired again, killing the second shooter. While the third shooter fired and missed, the remaining female Drow muttered an incantation, and a cloud of darkness appeared, blinding everyone still except the Drow shooter. Nazira grinned; in that moment she was in her element. When the other two Drow attacked with their swords, she heard the blades move through the air, and she was able to block one and parry the other. Pushing past them, she slashed at the female Drow, decapitating her with her eyes closed. The spell dropped, and Tam dropped the third shooter.
Once the last two Drow were dead, Tam took a shortsword off one of their bodies, then joined Nazira in searching the room. While Nazira was searching a set of shelves, Tam found a hidden door in the east wall. Nazira healed herself again, then watched as Tam found the latch to open the door.
At that moment, a dagger bounced harmlessly off of Nazira’s armor, and another pierced Tam’s armor and stabbed the back of her left shoulder. Tam cried out in pain, and they turned to see a Half-Drow, Half-Orc woman in a brown cloak standing in the door they had entered through. A spectral pike was hovering in the air, and she thrust it at Tam, who dodged the attack. Tam put a curse on the Drow Orc, then shot her in the shoulder. The Drow Orc produced and threw two more daggers, hitting Tam and missing Nazira. Tam then yelled in pain as the spectral pike caught her in the ribs. Drawing her longsword, Nazira cast Wrathful Smite, then closed the distance and decapitated the Drow Orc.
“Ow.” Tam said, pulling the dagger out of her shoulder.
“Here.” Nazira put a hand on her arm and muttered an incantation that made the wound close.
“Mmm…” Tam closed her eyes and sighed. “Thanks.”
Stepping through the hidden door, they found a room containing religious paraphernalia, racks of weapons, and a chest filled with platinum coins. After stuffing their bags full of money, they started walking back outside. As they walked, Tam took the form of a Shadar-kai woman. They left the building to find two dozen metallic Warforged standing in a two-row semicircle around the doorway.
“Weapons down!” Four of them shouted simultaneously.