RisenIsstaria

Vyfil wandered the streets of Lusken. Several citizens of the city gave him leery looks, some even noticed that he was only half drow. He heard them curse "Half breed" under their breath. It didn't matter, he had come to Luskan for a reason.
  His father had been a drow captain from Waterdeep. He had won the trust of many by his good deeds. Vyfil and his sister were living a peaceful life when their father was killed two years ago. He was felled by a pirate named Mavok in an effort to save his friends. Over the years Vyfil became consumed with anger and hate. His father had warned him of Lolth's influence over the Drow and he could feels the goddess's presents keenly has he staked Luskan's streets, hell bent on revenge.
  He entered an abandoned building missing most of it's windows. He saw three beggars within the building and approached a man sitting near a low burning fire. He knelt beside the man who smelled like he hadn't bathed in years. The man looked up at him surprised. "Oh not so wise for such a young man to be traveling these parts alone ya know".
  Vyfil crinkled his eye brows and decided to ignore the comment. He presented several gold pieces to the beggar and asked, " Where can I find Captain Mavok?".
  The beggar was silent for a few seconds before whispering, "Gully Street and the Broken Oak tavern" and then slowly accepted the coins.
  Gully street wasn't to far of a walk away but it began to rain so he pulled his cloak tight around him. Shortly after departing the abandoned building he arrived at the Broken Oak on Gully Street and in a dark alley, he waited.
  An hour passed until Mavok and his two minions exited the tavern. A large burn scar covered half his face, a souvenir left behind by his father. Vyfil hugged the shadows and gripped his dagger tightly as he staked his target.
  Slowly he crept up on the pirate and smiled as he noticed Mavok's exposed vitals. He tightened his grip on his dagger and gritted his teeth as he raised his dagger.
  As he lunged forward his father's face flashed in his mind. In that moment he felt filthy and his heart ached at the thought of betraying everything his father had stood for. His dagger fell to the ground, startling the pirates he was pursuing.  Time slowed and his ears perked to the sounds of the city around him. He heard the Mavok's lackeys walking toward him. He pulled back the hood of his cloak and locked eyes with the pirate captain.
"I could have had you", he said harshly. He looked down at the dagger on the ground. Mavok's gaze followed his to the dagger. Mavok looked back at Vyfil with an anger expression.
"Take care of this brat boys", Mavok said as he turned to walk away.
  Vyfil threw his fist into one of the lackey's face, knocking his head into the other man's head. They crumbled to the ground. Mavok turned and saw his men unconscious at the half drow's feet, a look of surprise written clearly on his face.
"I came to Luskan wanting revenge. Lolth be damned!, I will not dishonor my father. I will be back to bring you to justice if your sins don't devour you first", he promised. He turned and walked away, ignoring the string ofcurses Mavok yelled at his back.
  In the morning, Vyfil bought passage on a ship heading to Waterdeep. After a seven day journey he arrived in Waterdeep's harbor. It felt good to be back home. He felt different, like a heavy weight had been lifted off his back. When he got to his house and found his sister Yin waiting for him. She came running toward him. He greeted her with a smile and open his arms to hug her but instead she greet him with a heavy smack across his cheek.
"Vyfil! Do you have any idea how worried we've been? When mother found your note that you were going after Mavok in Luskan, she was sickened with grief. That's a suicide mission!", she yelled. Tears streamed down her face. "But here you are and I'm proud of you for your choice to not murder him", she said and hugged him tightly.
"Yin, how do you know that?", he asked looking down into her lilac eyes .
"I was so worried so I consulted Edni's aid. She cast a ritual to gather information from mystic sages". She paused for a moment. "Vyfil you have been claimed by Torm. Are you going to serve that god?" she asked.
He sighed loudly, Yin never ceased to surprise him. "Yep'', was all he said to her. They stared at each other for awhile, Vyfil couldn't stop the grin growing on his face.
"Okay but first please take a bath. Holy Nine Hells do you stink! You smell like a Gnome's laboratory!", Yin said while pushing him towards their front door. He sighed again and admitted that he needed a bath. He greeted his mother and head to the bath house.
After his much needed bath he headed over to Odin the blacksmith, his father's long time dwarf friend. He was at work pounding at what looked to be a shield. His nose was red from being over the hot forge. He eyed the half drow as he entered the room.
"Ye see yer mom and sis yet boy?", Odin asked still working on the shield.
"I have", he paused for a moment before adding  "I have a favor to ask of you".
"Yeah what could that be?", Odin asked, setting down his hammer.
"I've decided I want to be a knight. So please teach me how to use one of those," he said pointing at the shield.
Odin scratched his bearded chin for awhile. He walked over to his weapon rack and picked up a short sword. "Ye'll be needing one o' these too. Ye can start training with me and me boy starting in the morning ''.
He went to hand the sword to him but Vyfil declined it and picked up a bastard sword instead. "I was thinking more on the lines of one of these", smiling down at the dwarf.
"Hahaha, I like the way ye think boy", Odin laughed loudly.
  Ten days later Odin gave Vyfil his own shield. It carried the symbol of his father's ship, the symbol of a dawn and a single lightning bolt across the sky. He was in awe when he first lay eyes on it. He felt in his heart that he had made the right choice. He gripped the shield tight in his hand and felt his faith in Torm and his resolve strengthen tenfold.Two years later he stood in front of Neverwinter Academy with his sister and Odin's son. Yin looked up at him and said," Well here we are at last. Are you nervous?".                          
                                                                                                                   Vyfil's story continues...............

Iolaous shielded his red eyes from the brightening dawn. The sun still stung his eyes even after a century of living on the surface. He passed through the market place and picked up a basket of fruit. Lynear loved fruit so he thought it would be a suitable gift for her. As he entered his lover's small home he found her still in bed. She lay on her side hugging her covers.
"Really still in bed? I'm surprised." He said as he opened her bedroom curtains.
He set the fruit basket down on a small table and bit into an apple. He smiled at Lynear who stare up at him. He then noticed her green eyes were red and puffy and her dark golden hair was wet on one side and stuck to her rosy cheek.
"Lynear whats wrong my dear, what could possibly bring tears to your pretty eyes?" He sat down next to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks as she looked away from Iolaous. " I just got back from the clerics".
"Clerics? Are you sick?", he couldn't understand why being sick would cause her sadness."Its okay, I'll pay for the ritual that can cure any illness so no more tears-"
"No its not that", she sobbed. She sat up and briefly stared into his face before placing her forehead against his. She put her hand on his and his heart began to race and a chill ran over his body as he quickly understood the cause of her distress as she placed his palm upon her belly.
No words could be said as a million thoughts went through his mind. The idea of being a father was the most alien feeling a drow male could possibly feel. His thoughts went to his childhood, something he hadn't thought about in ages. He never knew his father. His entire youth was one stuggle after another.
  Instead of running he embraced that alien feeling growing inside him. Hell, no child of mine will ever know the feeling of a whip against his back. He will never know what its like to be desperately hungry or thirsty or know what its like to have a parent who despises you. I will be the man I have to be and that is that, he thought.
  He smiled warmly at Lynear and drew her into his arms. She let out one last sob but it was no longer tears of sadness but joy. "I'm sorry Iolaous, I thought you'd be anger or upset and then leave. I was so afriad I'd be all alone. I should have never doubted you."
He sighed loudly and said "Well I am a little surprised to say the least". He quietly add, "But don't worry I won't leave you".

  As the months went by Lynear's belly grew and grew. Iolaous had to buy a house since he still lived aboard his ship the 'Glady McBean'. He got parenting tips from his friends and lied to Odin the dwarf about naming the baby Wulga if it was a girl. On a mid summer night Lynear went into labor. Iolaous fetched for the midwife right away in a frenzied hurry. As Lynear's labor progressed, Iolaous waited in the next room as was custom for men. Lynear's crys filled him with worry so he paced anxiously.
  After what seemed like hours he finally heard the sounds of his baby crying. "Iolaous! Hurry and get a healing potion, she's losed too much blood", the midwife yelled to him from the other room.
He reached into his Bag of Holding and pulled forth the needed potion and rushed to Lynears side. As he entered the room he saw his baby girl laying next to her mother crying. The midwife tended to Lynear who lay weak with exhaustion. He put the potion to her lips and urged her to drink. After she downed the potion she cried out one last time and he watched in surprise as she delivered another baby feet first. The midwife rubbed the baby vigorously and at last the baby began to cry. She layed the babies next to each other, a girl the other a boy.
  Iolaous look to Lynear who seemed tired but otherwise healthy. He sighed a relief and then placed his head in his palm.
"Gah two?! I'm so not prepared!".
Lynear smied at Iolaous and said "It looks like we get to use both of the names we wanted". She placed her right hand on her daughter's head and said, "Yin, after my Grandmother," she then placed left hand on her son's head and add, "and Vyfil. A strong drow name".