Darrian
The Black Ghost


The rooftops felt hot under his feet as Darrian ran across them. It wasn't all that pleasant on his feet, it burned them slightly as he ran. The sun was heating up the shingles and the shingles in turn acted almost like a bed of hot coals. Darrian knew he had to leave the rooftops quickly or his feet would have to receive medical attention when he returned to his safe-house. The drow shifted the weight of the parcel on his back containing his recently acquired ancient elven grimoire into a better position on his back as he went, never once breaking his pace nor losing his footing. The outlaw-for-hire continued along his way in pained silence for about another five rooftops then climbed down the side of a shop into the alley in the back. From there he headed for the back alley entrance to the sewers which he then entered.

Darrian emerged from the sewers a mile and a half later on the edge of the city, the stench clinging to him like it always did on the get-away. It smelled worse than the inside of an ogre's cave but at least it covered the stench of death that he was all too often drenched in. Still, the combined smell of fecal matter, urine, mold and rats was enough to make Darrian thankful that he was able to cover his nose with his face wrappings. It helped keep the stench at bay enough for him to be able to stand it.

Thinking of the wrappings for a moment reminded Darrian of the fact that he meant to enchant them to filter out poisonous gases and other airborne impurities. He decided then and there that his research in the book would be directed primarily to this pursuit as poisonous gases were often enough obstacles in richer areas of the city, traps meant to keep the potential invader from leaving alive and thus ensuring that two things happened. One; the potential victim ends up getting to say they killed a thief or so-and-so the such-and-such and acquire even more fame than the individuals in question had originally possessed.
Two; It kept the individual who had found out about the item and a way to get so close to it from walking away to share or sell their knowledge of internal security to the criminal underworld.

Darrian proceeded to exit the city and head south by southwest towards the forest. He avoided the roads and paths, knowing all too well just how many hunters and merchants used them during the day. Instead, he cut across the fields and lowlands that surrounded the city and bolted over any roads he was forced to cross at times of inactivity. When he arrived at the forest, he began to head for it's far edge for it as there that his sanctuary lay hidden under the trees and the earth, far from the ever bright and ever despised sun's light. That was where he would study his new fountain of knowledge for a time. Then, in the night, he would head out to hunt for food and listen to the news whispered in the alleyways. He allowed himself a smirk under his wrappings, this had been a good day.

((If anyone wants to interact with me, feel free to spot me entering the forest.))