Bil [with sharp teeth] || Changeling || Paladin || Level One
Bil shut the door to the large, lavish house slowly and quietly. He came through in a long, luxurious robe, golden rings on his fingers, a heavy gold chain around his neck. He frowned all the way to the bedroom, lumbering slowly until he got to the door where he stopped, placed a hesitant hand on the door knob and took a deep breath before entering. The sigh that followed was supposed to be cleansing, but it did nothing to ease Bil's tension. He pushed to door open finally, revealing a large bed with a Dragonborn within. Despite the fact that his feet hung over the edge of the bed, he looked comfortable, but weary. His skin was a vibrant turquoise color, and when he coughed, it shook the fin that split his gullet, an iguana-like and speckled with navy blue spots.
Looking at the dragonborn wrapped up to his neck in blankets, Bil stood at the foot of the bed and slowly removed rings from his own hands one by one. Finally he tore his gaze away and carried his fistful of golden rings to the bedside table, reaching an equally turquoise hand out to set them there. The air in the whole room shifted as the dragonborn in the bed turned onto his side and wrapped his hand around Bil's wrist.
"You don't have to keep doing that," he said, his voice quiet and rumbly. "You have a greater purpose than running a dying old man's business."
Bil stood completely still, hand frozen, rings ready to fall from his fingertips to clatter on the table, but instead they only scraped together, a soft sound, but a loud one in a room this quiet otherwise. He stared at the table, unable to look at the man in the bed. Finally he dropped the rings and turned away from his comrade, easing out of his grasp. He slipped out of the robe and placed it to hang on a hook on the wall. He stared at the wall now, trying to bring himself to turn around again, but finding himself unable.
"Mercutio. You can't die," he said, feeling his heavy dragon breath hit the wall.
There was a deep chuckle from behind him, and he could hear the bed creak as the bed-ridden man adjusted again. "Stop looking just like me, would ya? Feels like I'm talking to myself."
Bil's next sigh was more grumbly. He picked up a sash from the next hook on the wall.
"No, not the tortle. I want to see you. The real you."
"I don't even know who that is," said Bil, distress tempering his voice, causing it to waver.
"Look at me." His voice was soft.
Bil hesitated, but turned around finally, looking the old man over.
"I know exactly who you are."
Bil stepped closer, shrinking into the shorter form of a round tortle. They looked at the man with a round face, and large eyes, wet with tears. Pouting, they took the dragonborn's hand and kneeled at the bedside.
"I can't tell you, you sweet—" he erupted into a fit of deep coughs, ankles lifting off the edge of the bed from the great contractions in his abdomen.
Bil could only watch on with a growing swell of anxiety. They grabbed for the man's hand again, watching him with worry.
"You have to go find it. Who you are. It's not something I can tell you." His voice now contained an extra dose of strain and a wheeze. "Go out there and finish what you started. I'll be here. I promise."
Bil shook their head incessantly, bringing up their other hand to grasp their Mercutio's hand with both.
Mercutio shook his head slowly. "Your god calls on you to serve him, Little One. Go. Be who you're meant to be. And come back and show me what you've learned." He wheezed again.
Giving him a pleading look, Bil reluctantly accepted their hands back, their eyes falling to stare at the rumpled sheets at the edge of the bed. Silence stretched on for some time, but finally, Bil stood, looking Mercutio in the eye, and gave a single, firm nod. They turned to pack their things, first putting on a yellow sash, and then finding a few more necessary outfits and accessories along with other necessities for whatever long journey might be ahead of them. They took their time, but eventually, had everything ready to go. It would be difficult to stay much longer, as much as Bil wanted to be by Mercutio's side while this illness kept him from living his life. He picked up his glaive and headed for the door.
"Bil, wait. Take... Take my things," Mercutio said, breathing much more labored than before. He pointed weakly at the pile of rings on the night stand. "My jewels, and my robe. And anything else you need. You may need to be me just yet." He amused himself into a new chuckle.
Bil hesitated, but instead of arguing, they set down the glaive and packed up the robe and rings. Reaching for the glaive another time, Bil changed his mind. He turned toward the bed. He looked Mercutio in the face, and he shifted again into a human shape...almost. It was like a human with all the color drained out, a slim female form with white hair and colorless eyes, currently clad in an oversized yellow sash.
Mercutio looked her over and smiled. "There's my girl."
Bil smiled softly. "I'll miss you," she said.
"Conquer the world, Little One." He opened his arms to accept her into a hug.
Bil wrapped her arms around Mercutio's neck and kissed his snout. After finishing their farewell, Bil went back to her tortle form, and propped their shoulder. She took one last look around, and then set out in search of an adventure.
The door closed behind her and she took a breath of the sweet air of Tidefall.
Now... where is an adventurer to begin?