“Oh. That.” she blushed. “I ran away from home and apparently my family freaked out and hired people, including a couple of bounty hunters, to drag me back. You would think that normal Teifling parents would be less controlling towards their children.” Charlotte sighed, shaking her head.
"Huh. You had tiefling parents?" Isa was interested and surprised. Himself, his tiefling nature was unique in his family, which had resulted in him being left to die in a forest. So the idea of a tiefling having tiefling parents was an oddity, though he supposed that it made sense.
“Yeah. I know that’s rare but my parents consider themselves lucky to have found each other. And I agree because I know they’re happy together but…” she shrugged. “I'm not ashamed of what I am and neither are they… I just… their parenting style sucks.” she admitted with a chuckle. “They want me to be some kind of little Teifling princess or something and I'm just not like that.”
Isa is quiet for a moment, thinking about that. "Glad to hear there are some people out there who can end up happy like that. The whole hiring a squad of bounty hunters is a red flag for parenting skills though." He adds with a chuckle.
Charlotte laughed with him and nodded enthusiastically. “I know. I know. I tried when I was a kid because… well, every kid wants to do right by their parents at that age. But even then, I was a wild-hearted little thing. At first, it was charming then when I became a teenager, I had to start acting like a young Lady, and yes that is with a captain “L”.” Charlotte explained.
"So are your parents nobles or something? Since they seem so focused on getting you to act like a 'Lady', as you put it." Isa asks. In the back of his mind, he wonders what his own parents were like. He never knew them, all he had ever known they discarded him and hated him for the 'curse' of being a tiefling.
She nodded and let out a sigh. “Yeah. Well enough that we aren't immediately hated in our village and our name is somewhat known outside of it but it's still a surprise when the three of us show up on an invitation to some noble manor or have visitors who only know our name and reputation.” she told him with a light laugh before burying her face in her hands for a moment. “Sorry. I don't know why I'm telling you all this. We just met and hardly know each other. I shouldn't be dumping this all on you.”
Isa assures her, "Hey, its no big deal, just a little backstory sharing between friends. If anything, I just feel like I should be sharing stuff about myself in exchange. Besides, what else are we going to talk about? The weather?"
Charlotte smiled gratefully at his assurance but blushed faintly when he said they were friends. “Oh, no. I’m tired of polite small talk and gossip. That's everything the company my family let me keep talked about.” she chuckled. “I would love to hear about you.”
"Will do! Basically, my parents plopped me in the woods when I was young and I was initially taken in by a nice old orphanage. A few years later, said orphanage burned down, and I learned how the rest of people treat me. I got stabbed a few times..burned….I found out that 99% of places are hateful of tieflings. Or at least the ones I was at. Then, recovering from my wounds, I stumbled into a Fey Crossing, and met Olate. I lived in the Feywild for a long while, made a pact, became a Warlock and adventurer, traveling the Material Plane. I made some true friends, some enemies, even killed a Dragon once. And now I'm back home here for the holidays!" Isa grins after finishing his long life story.
Charlotte listened, interested to Isa talk, though she was a little surprised at how poorly he was treated. Of course, she knew his life would be very different from hers but it was still a bit of a shock. “At least you turned things around for you. Becoming a Warlock and an adventurer… I think that’s incredible.” she smiled.
"Yeah! My time in the Feywild helped a lot with that. I found a family here, I learned a better view on life. And of course, it is where I made the deal to become a Warlock."
“I wonder if I can do half as well as you did now that I’m here.” she mused. “Do you know any rogues who would be willing to train me? I may not be good at some of the other adventuring groups but I think I can pull off being a rouge… or a bard. I've had some practice with music.”
"Hmm…" Isa thinks, racking his brain for anyone he knows. "Not in the Feywild, no. I've known a few bards, but no rogues. And none of them have ever really been a fan of the Feywild. I mean……" Isa suddenly grins like an idea popped into his head. "Well……There's a few Fey that specialize in trading experience and skills for memories. Like, you can sell memories of a lover for 3 years experience of combat."
“Oh. That's too bad…” she started before peeking up at his suggestion. “Well, I haven't had any lovers but I wonder if those Fey would take my art lessons instead. I could live without those memories.”
"Well that was just an example. You sort of have to barter, theres not a really consistent rate for what emotions get what. But they take a variety of different stuff."
“Of course.” she nodded. “I guess I‘ll just have to get to know these merchant Fey so I can barter with them.”
"Sounds like a smart idea." Isa says with a smile. And right on cue, they arrive at the Merchant town of the Feywild, simply called, Barter. As always, it is busy, bustling with a variety of merchants with equally diverse wares. "So what do we need to get first?"
Charlotte smiled back, glad he approved of her plan. But she was surprised and impressed by how busy the town was. “Umm… basic camping supplies should be a good start. I've been able to find rooms at some inns when I was traveling before but I hadn't gotten around to getting my own camping gear yet.” she admitted.
"Okay then…Lets see if he's here today…" Isa scans the area for the merchant he was thinking of and grins when he spots them. "There they are! Come on!" He gestures for Charlotte to follow, and stops in front of a stand called Garyl's Equipment. There, an Orc sits cross legged with camping gear and similar wares around him. He waves hello. "Ah, hello Isa. What can I get for you?"
Isa waves back, and introduces Charlotte to him. "Charlotte, this is Garyl. Garyl, Charlotte. He sells camping gear and everything you might need for survival purposes."
Charlotte eagerly followed Isa through the crowd, though she nearly stumbled when she caught sight of the Merchant in question. I guess the Feywild is a refuge for many species… she thought to herself before smiling at the introduction. “Hello, Garyl.”
Garyl waves back. "Hello Charlotte. What can I get for you today?"
“I’m looking for some camping supplies. A tent and a bed roll at least.” she told him. “I wasn’t prepared for a visit to the Feywild.” she admitted with a faint blush.
Garyl nods and pulls out a bed roll and tent set. "That'll be 20 gold! If thats all you need of course." He says with a grin.
Isa is idling by the counter, tapping his foot and counting coins in his wallet as he patiently observes the transaction.
Charlotte smiled at how quickly Garyl provided the items she requested and was satisfied with the quality as well. “Thank you.” she nodded as she reached into her satchel to pay for them.