The Matron and the Scamp by Gribnok
The Matron and the Scamp
The opening page sports a woodcut depicting the bust of a goblin. Nobly posed, his eyes gaze forth - piercing but cautious. Some kind of dark fabric flows from his shoulders, leaving his thin arms bare. A plain amulet of infernal design hangs from his neck.
Beneath, in decorative scrollwork, a name and title: Gribnok of the Oogooboogoo Tribe, Scribe of Queen Truggug
Day 27, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 183 AR (1383 DR)
Anonymous
I. When Booyah Fails
A young goblin scamp sets out across the Rothe Fields, the noise and bustle of the city center fading behind him. Recently arrived in Andunor the scamp is without a tribe or home to call his own.
Feeling confident from his recent slaughter of cellar rats, the scamp enters the Rothe Fields cave, eager to complete his writ and inflict his fledgling booyah on the pests that have taken residence there. As expected the cave is not empty. The scamp quickly throws up the protection of magic darkness. To his dismay however, the creatures are not phased! The slimes and bats quickly set upon the little goblin, eager to welcome their next meal.
Quickly realizing his tactics have failed, the scamp pivots and flees the cave. He slows to catch a breath and celebrate a narrow escape, when suddenly the sound of goopy slithering fills his ears. The hungry slimes have pursued him!
Day 27, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 183 AR (1383 DR)
Anonymous
II. A Timely Arrival
The young scamp sprints away across the Rothe Fields. The slimes continue their pursuit. Gaining a little distance, the scamp spins about and hurls a blast of infernal fire. "Bah!" he cries as the blast misses the mark. The scamp races another direction, dodging barrels and fence poststo gain a little space.
Again he spins and hurls his eldrich booyah. "Ugh!" he exhales with a heavy breath as the blast weakly singes the nearest slime. Again and again the young goblin repeats this tactic, his legs aching and chest burning from fatique. "I don't knows how much longer I can keeps this up" he thinks to himself.
Elsewhere in Andunor a drow matron walks the streets of the Devil's Table. Her bearing is strong, regal, and carefree. Upon reaching the hilltop overlooking the Rothe Fields she pauses, taking in the sight of the scamp desperately evading for his life.
Where others would have seen weakness and taken amusement, the insightful Matron saw something greater - potential. She sprang into action. Seizing the moment she rushed to the scamp's aid and quickly dispatched the hungry slimes.
Day 27, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 183 AR (1383 DR)
Anonymous
III. A Lasting Bond by Anonymous
"Hello little one, are you new to Andunor?" the matron inquired.
"Yes, mistress," the scamp nodded, bent over hand on knee and breathing heavily. More than a little surprised it the timely rescue. "Yous, have my thanks."
"Are you finding your way in our city? Allow me to give you a brief tour," the matron asked.
"A helpful drow?" the wary scamp thought to himself. "What is she playing at? I must tread carefully here." Dipping his head respectfully, he warily accepted the matron's invitation.
The matron took the scamp on a brief tour of the city, stopping at various sites including the shipyard and ending at her House's lodging in the Devil's Table.
"Let me show you our house," the matron beckoned the scamp into the door.
"Yes, mistress," the scamp replied uneasily, swallowing hard. Past experiences had made him wary of drow.
The matron ushered him in, and after a brief show of the main room extended him an offer. "Would you like to become a retainer to our minor house?"
As the little scamp took this all in he spied a set of musical droms fashioned from some kind of hide. His eyes grew large with horror.
"That's her game! My skin for a new set of drums!" he thought to himself. "Um... uh... thank yous for the generous offer mistress," the scamp replied. "but I will have to consider it. I was hoping to find a goblin tribe."
The insightful matron would not be completely deterred. She led the scamp to the home of the Goblin Press and facilitated introductions to its owner, the matriarch of an ancient and venerated goblin tribe. The scamp ended up joining this tribe, where he grew in booyah and eventually became its scribe.
And while the wise matron did not obtain a retainer that day, she did engender a lasting ally and strengthened the ties between her house and the goblin tribe.
Day 27, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 183 AR (1383 DR)
Anonymous
Author's Note
This short story is based on true life events occuring in Andunor circa the eighth month of AR 182.
Day 27, Month 10 (Marpenoth (Leafall)), 183 AR (1383 DR)
Anonymous