Khenal
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Peek: The Unseen Blade
🕑 Added 2025-03-17 01:00:52 +0000 UTCThe young elf tries not to think about what lead him here, but there is precious little else to distract him while he tries to ignore the hunger and the cold. He almost wishes it was snowing instead of raining. At least snow can be shaken off before it soaks you to the bone.
The most galling part is that he ran away to try to avoid situations just like this. His teeth clench as his hand tightens around the hilt of his dagger. No, he's going to be a thief, not an assassin.
Not a murderer.
Memories of childhood come unbidden, the young elf as unable to keep them from seeping into him as he is the rain. He thought his parents were simple merchants, traveling around the kingdom, hawking their wares. His mother was always finding some bauble that eventually sell for a steep price, and his father was a ruthless haggler, able to extract prices even a child could see were exorbitant.
It's only with the benefit of hindsight that he recognizes laundry. It's not like the money would go unnoticed by the tax collectors, nor could they just say the actual reason they were paid so much for a pretty piece of artistry. It's easier to get someone to believe you sold a rare curio than to explain you accepted money for a life.
And they had been quietly preparing him for... the family business. "A merchant should be able to protect himself," his father would say. He believed him so easily, what child wouldn't trust their parents? It certainly helped that training together was... was fun.
Shadow affinity is often stigmatized, an affinity for scoundrels at best. But his parents were legitimate business people, respected. At least he thought. The people who would buy the overpriced trinkets always had a tension to them that the ordinary customers never did. It's plain as the sky now that it was fear. When you contract an assassin, you can never really know if someone else didn't contract with them first.
It was just such a situation that revealed everything to him. He was told to deliver the trinket, which he happily did. It's just that his parents underestimated how long it would take him. He wanted to impress them with how well he had been doing with shadowstep. What should have taken him most of the day only took a little over an hour.
The guard at the estate that took the delivery was the easy mix of authoritative and bored that experienced guards are, quickly identifying the package and verifying his lord was expecting it. He even gave the young elf a couple coppers as a tip for the quick delivery. He doubts the guard knew anything. He probably would have tried to delay him if he had.
Maybe he was trying to with that tip. There were all sorts of treats he could have purchased with the copper, but he wanted to get home and show off not only his speedy delivery, but the extra money he earned for it, too!
When he rushed in, he saw his parents with an elven man, having tea together. He could see their surprise and concern about him being there, but he thought it was just them not wanting him to interrupt the negotiations. But it was too late.
"Ah, look at how you've grown! You probably don't remember me, but your parents and I go way back! What has you in such a hurry?" he asked, setting down an empty tea cup and turning to give him his full attention. He didn't recognize the elf, but his parents didn't correct him, so it was probably fine to share, right?
"I just finished a delivery! I even got a tip from the guard!"
The elf smiles, turning his head to clear his throat before answering. "Oh? A fine job, then! Who did you deliver to?"
His parents tried to motion for him to stop, but he didn't see any reason to keep it a secret if he's a friend of his parents. "Miss Tenneri from the potter's guild."
The older elf froze at that for a moment, before trying to play it off. "Oh? What did you deliver?"
His parents weren't trying to get him to be quiet anymore, so he answered, though he felt more uncertain with every passing second. "One of mom's treasures."
The other elf coughed a bit, and stared at the teacup before turning his gaze on the child's parents. "...Why?"
His father sighed, first answering his mother's look. "He had to find out eventually. As for why... you know we were only ever associates, not friends, Hild. She made the first offer, a generous one at that. You know the first contract is the one fulfilled. It's a quick one, at least. Usually there isn't even any coughing. I guess you've been trying to build an immunity. Too late, it seems."
The young elf could only stare as the elf who had been drinking tea like an old friend slowly slumped in his chair, his breathing becoming more and more ragged... before ceasing entirely. His mom waved a hand, a shadow passing over the body and transporting it somewhere else as his father spoke.
"Now son-" was as far as he got before the young elf fled. He doesn't know why they didn't stop him, why they didn't pick him up at some point after. There's no way a couple of assassins wouldn't have been able to track him down. He still sometimes jumps at shadows, wondering if they're finally going to try to explain themselves... or simply kill him.
He shakes himself, scattering raindrops as he forces the memories and worries down. It's been years. If they were going to do anything, they would have. Perhaps, fittingly, assassins are happier with a clean severance. He stomps down on his thoughts again as he finally sees a target: an orc. More specifically: the pouch on the orc's belt.
He's not proud to have gotten so good at this, but it beats starving or following the same road his parents are on. He shadowsteps behind the orc, his dagger already moving to cut the strings holding to his belt, only to find stone suddenly blocking his blade.
He feels his feet sink into the earth as the orc turns, quickly revealing a bright lantern to remove most of the shadows nearby. The elf freezes, baffled and unknowing what to do as the orc gets a good look at him, and he gets a good look at the orc.
He's older, that's easy to see. Even his eyebrows have gone grey. That's the only sign that time has been able to wear him at all. He is toned and fit, his eyes piercing and analyzing, and the young elf wonders just what's going to happen to him.
"Just my purse, hmm? With that technique, I was expecting to need to guard my vitals." He grins as the young elf snarls at that idea. "Ah, no love lost for assassins. Good." He turns around and releases the elf, and he considers running. But something keeps his feet still as he sheathes his dagger. He stares at the orc's back as he walks away, soon waving for him to follow. "Come with me, lad. I could hear your stomach growling even before you stepped close. Let's get you fed. You might make a good apprentice. What's your name?"
He hesitates, glancing at the shadows and escape... but his gut says to follow the orc. "...Tarl."
The orc turns and smiles. "I'm Listor. Listor Greybrows, Dungeon Inspector."
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Partially inspired by Magnadra, who wanted to see why Tarl was called the Unseen Blade. It kinda turned into a bit of an origin story, but here we are :)
Comments
Gryphaun
I Just reread Miller's backstory peek, and now this one. He has knowledge affinity!
Ben Bass
TYFTP! I love the glimpse into Tarl’s background! Glad to hear that him not wanting to kill is deeply ingrained, even enough to abandon his family.
Aerowarrier
Honestly part of me was expecting it to be the butler’s story. I wonder if him and Tarl are related. I think he’s also Shadow affinity, and there can only be so many Shadow affinity elf assassins around. Maybe he’s Tarl’s uncle lol
Blue Trooper
😵😮😁
BrokenLord321
I was not expecting that twist!
Elain C. Moria
Good for Tarl making the choice not to be an assassin. A bauble can be replaced, a life can't.
Micah Metroka
Oof, that one hit. Great Peek!
Herakilla
Thanks for the peek! Awesome to learn more about Elf Guy! Still looking forward to his reaction when he gets back from Vanta.
Alex Turff
This one feels like it should be dropped in between the regular chapters as a bonus. Key character backstory. (And awesomely done, was not expecting that!)
Magnadra
I wasn't expecting that but big thanks for the information
Tsume Eiranis
That is a great peak, thank you!
Cormag81
Awesome peak tyftc though now I kinda hope to see tarls parents come up in the future
AG
hey Khenal you know Onthar, Orc Bard Historian that you use to showcase other dungeons in the peeks, will he ever show up in the main story and if he does can we get his perspective on Thediem
Demonlord
That. Was. AMAZING 🤩 Absolutely awesome peek
LinaBoeckwurm
Absolutely not, or I am weird too XD This is definitely a lovely story!
LinaBoeckwurm
Oh wow! I did NOT see that plot twist coming. That was so much fun and so engaging to read! I really got sucked in!
Z-Ouji
Whiplash. Actual chills. You are a master of your craft.
Ethan Barrow
TFTC!! Always love to see more of Tarl, sad he's been away so long. I look forward to seeing more of his mentor.
Nathan
Tarl?! Finding out this ia about him literally sent a chill down my spine... Awesome peek, thank you!
caleb williams
Tarl ever did have a problem with his parents now he has theidum to reily on. I think there beyond able to hurt him now.
LynxtheMinx
Tarl backstory? Does that mean he might be coming home? We missed the snarky elf.
K9defend19
I LOVED IT!!! Thank you for the story oh great one
Rick Delallata
Excellently done, Tarl is such a good character
Vik M.
That's *brutal*. So the man Hullbreaker was not only Tarl's mentor, but was also his father figure. Tarl is a bigger man than I, being able to work with the dungeon after all that. While I might be able to get closure eventually, I don't think I'd ever be able to truly forgive a being who killed someone I loved.
Kebbitevoke -
"Your parents were assassins elf guy?" -Temo probably
13L00D13ANE
*speaking* of Tarl... i cannot wait for him to come back in the middle of all of this stuff going on. We got mayoral power struggles, chief inspector, each of the dungeons have expanded at least once, and like 50+ soldiers coming to train.(also speaking of which, i really want the soldiers to organize a dungeon raid on the crypts with shield followers as support, and still get party-wiped)
Juno Tubolino
Oooooo!!!! Tyftp, even better than I expected
Argamenta
hmmm, potential starting point for Tarl's parents to need to lay low up North?
Stickboy172
Well that went Waaay different than expected....
Jacob
i mean it would be racist to assume that an elf from a nobleish family would be at all related to the other elves doing all sorts of debauchery around town. . . right?
Miriam Ortiz
With all the assassin's and angst, is it weird to find this story so lovely?
Jacob
i wonder if hes related to all the politc nonsense going around
Jacob
nice!
Tristan
Ohhhhh wasn't expecting that tyftc
Geoff Urland
Tarl backstory! Awesome!
