Snippet #2769971

There was a time in Saria's life where everything seemed to be perfect. Her mother, Silvyr, was a young musician just trying to make her way in the world. She had no desire of becoming big and famous, just wanted to do what she loved for a living. She had barely reached adulthood when she met Saria's father, Luthias. He was drawn to her because of her raw musical talent, something he greatly admired. Their love was swift and short-lived; quickly into their relationship together, Silvyr became pregnant with Saria.

Silvyr's life seemed to be falling together with the love of Luthias, her daughter and her music career finally seeming to take her places. Things were perfect... until Saria's 90th birthday, when a group of bandits attacked their village of Moonleaf, holding Silvyr and Saria hostage in their home. Sensing the invaders, Luthias was able to save Saria, but before he could save her mother, the bandit that held her slit her throat.

Saria can't remember what exactly happened, only from what survivors can tell her from past memories. One minute she saw the flash of the bandit's blade, then the next thing she knew she was waking up in the forest, her father watching over her. Saria was distraught for days. Not knowing what to do without the love of his life, Luthias found a troupe of wandering minstrels and troubadours and told Saria to join them. Heartbroken by her past, the troupe took her under their wing, and that was the last she saw of her father. He couldn't take her with him where he was going, no matter how much he wanted to.

Saria never resented her father for leaving her behind, especially as she grew older and began studying the trades of a bard. They took to the road, using their musical talents for gold, gaining admirers from every corner of life including many nobles. Due to her ability to carry a tune and bewitch her audiences, Saria quickly became a favorite of the people; her troupe began to suspect something magical in her blood. Saria became particularly close with a fellow bard named Favian from whom, under his private tutelage, she learned two spells - Minor Illusion and Prestidigitation.


xxx...xUnbeknownst to Saria, the group had secret ulterior motives and was carefully grooming the young elf to become an assassin, using her abilities xxx...xin manners of beguilement and distraction. Once this agenda finally came to light, it wasn't too long before she managed to escape and decided to xxx...xfend for herself, playing the lyre that Favian had given her as a gift in exchange for the goods she needed to survive.

xxx...xWhen Saria was exactly 100, she reached her lowest point. Everyday she brought her talent to any establishment that would accept it and play for xxx...xwhatever money she could get. The nights were worse. Men would try to put golden coins in her hands in exchange for special favors down dark xxx...xalleyways. She always refused. Saria was never desperate enough for that. One night, she fell victim to an attempted assassination while xxx...xperforming at the Yawning Portal. The attack was led by none other than Favian, whose orders were to end her life - as signed by Luthias on xxx...xSaria's behalf, the only way to leave the group was through death. Saria barely managed to escape with her life.

xxx...xDistraught with grief and betrayal that the one person she'd been closest to had just tried to kill her, Saria put her instruments away for a while xxx...xand disguised herself as a pauper, laying low and hoping her old group would move on and forget about her.