Approach The Vermin

Before you even have a chance to speak, the amorphous mound of black fur seems to sense your presence, the head of the beast poking up to watch you, beady eyes slowly scanning you, taking your measure.

When preliminary assessment is concluded there’s a sudden flash of movement, so fast that you almost cannot track it as the rodent unfurls, standing now on its hind legs, almost as tall as yourself.

![]https://imgur.com/gallery/7nsme8P

And just when you are ready to come to terms with seeing a human sized rat wearing academy robes, the rodent opens its mouth and speaks.

“Yes? Something of interest, topsider?”

The voice is unmistakably female, and it’s laced with a heavy accent that until now you believed was only carried by those who hail from The Great White, a region that’s vast tundras and ever present snow drove out many of its previous inhabitants.

“I… I've never seen someone like you before… apologies..” you say, not entirely sure if you’re being rude or not in this situation.

“Meh, this does not surprise me, we from beneath often draw the attention of others, it matters not” She says with all the confidence of someone who’s had this conversation a thousand times.

“From beneath…? I thought only the Drow lived beneath the surface?” To your knowledge, the Drow had been the only sentient race to ever inhabit the Underdark.

“Ha, this does not surprise me either, you topsiders rarely take interest in anything that exists outside of your bubble” Despite her choice of words, you don’t sense any sign of insult.

“I would not be surprised if the only reason you learned of Drow is because they came to the surface” She continues.

Your interest now throughly peaked, you feel the need to ask. “What else is down there..?”

Her brow arches, now assessing you with a more inquisitive eye, like a merchant examining a valuable item, looking for flaws before seemingly liking what she sees.

“Very well, we shall have deal, for each question you ask me, I will be owed a question, does this appeal?”

Seeing little reason to decline, you agree, asking the first of the myriad questions that’s invaded your mind.

“So… who or what, is down there..? In the Beneath?” The question is simple but it holds great weight, the fear of the unknown playing heavy in your mind.

“There are many races that in habit the Underdark, but few can be considered truly ‘sentient’, similar to the topside.

“There’s us, The Vermin, or so the Drow once called us, there was time in which they owned my people, similar to how human owns hound, we worked, we pleased our masters until one day one ambitious master layer siege to the topside and many of the other Drow followed, leaving us to inherit their great city”

“There’s The Troglodytes, though I’m sure they’d call themselves something else.. they’re more akin to loose collection of tribes then real civilization, I also believe they worship dragons, which as I’m sure you can imagine, the dragons are thrilled about, after all, creatures of such incredible size must have ego to match”

“There’s the Unity, where they’ve come from, I have no idea but as far as I’m aware, there is no race in all of the material plane that can see them for what they truly are, and they only time they interact with the outside world is when they are seeking new ‘members’”

“Those are the big players in The Neath, though there are few others, sentient earth elementals, mushroom men, and various bands of thieves and cut throats from the surface who descend, thinking they can avoid topsider justice…. They never last long” her tone slightly faltering, driving home the point.

“Now my question” she says, her arms crossing as her eyes narrow, similar to an interrogator sizing up their quarry.

“All who come here must have the spark of arcana… and in each of us, the arcane manifests in different ways, taking different forms… so.. in what shape has the wheel touched you?” Her tone is casual, but you know that this question has weight, you simply feel it.

“I have.. sensations… these… gut feelings that tell me what the future holds… it’s not far reaching, only ever pertaining to what lies directly before me”

“Interesting… that is quite the advantage, hm?” She says, leaning in slightly, you can practically hear her making a mental note of your natural power.

“It.. it’s not extremely reliable yet… and I don’t really know enough about the arcane to improve it… strengthen it..” you qualify.

She leans back, nodding slightly to herself, slowly processing your statement, seemingly wanting to say something but unsure if she should.

Finally one side overcomes the other, the dam breaks and she divulges what she was so hesitant to share.

“I have good feeling about you, and so I shall do you favor, there is a student, an upperclassman who is adept at strengthening the arcana that naturally resides in mortals”

“And before you ask, you can normally find her in the courtyard, but bring your gold, she won’t help a soul for free.. I find this… admirable..” she states, seemingly reflecting on herself.

“But that’s besides the point, hm? Have you any other questions for me topsider? Or will I be returning to the land of dreams?”