Relationships

[RelentlessImp]

Everything starts with Niska Mvashti. As the oldest living resident of Xianxiang, she has been a wise old woman, sage in advice and oddly fluent in the native tongue, having arrived in Xianxiang some three generations ago already wrinkled and old with her vibrant teenage daughter in tow, at the end of a lengthy journey she would spin fanciful tales about while making it clear she was lying through her teeth about the circumstances that brought her to Xianxiang. She has been a staple of fortune-telling, both in tarot and in bone-tossing, and has been visited by many of the residents of Xianxiang to have her cast their fortune in fortune, love, and other sundry. Most permanent residents of the city know her as Grandmother Niska, and few are those who would dare her wrath; stories abound of Grandmother Niska and what she does to those who cross her.

In Cami's case, Madame Niska was the omnipresent grandmother, a wise old crone that doled out cryptic advice and laughed uproariously at her youthful antics. In Shalelu's, she was often the first point of contact for the elf; her tarot drawings and her bone casting seemed almost omniscient in detecting when the elf was approaching, and she would frequently meet the elf at the gates to help spread the word of whatever news she brought.

Cami, for her part, rather quickly befriended Dizzy and Jitsol as the three of them grew up, and they were frequently found in each other's company throughout Xianxiang, whether it was relaxing in Big Sis Ameiko's tavern or playing at games throughout the town; both Cami and Dizzy tend to think of Ameiko as their big sister as much as Jitsol's. It was in this manner that Emi was brought into their group of friends, spending many an evening relaxing in her best friend's tavern, and the ratfolk became their other big sister.

Ameiko and Masayoshi shared an adventuring career for a time before whatever unpleasant event that sent Ameiko into retirement brought them back to Xianxiang nearly a decade ago now. Masayoshi, brought out of an omnipresent funk he was living in before that short-lived career, took his earnings and began life as a well-armed merchant.

Vi Badaxe is something of an outsider to the group of friends, but their presence is known as a hard-drinking and tavern brawling dwarf.

And it all comes to a head with the death of Niska Mvashti...

Edited March 27, 2023 by RelentlessImp (see edit history)