Role

Chapter 1

You know what I like? Grease. You see a big machine, right? And you look at
all the gears, and the whirrs, and the whatnots all humming along, all making
it go. But what you don't see is the grease. You don't see it, but it's
there. And if it wasn't there, you'd see that for sure, get me? All those
gears, they'd start grinding on each other, the whirrs'd get replaced by
smoke, and next thing you know - all them whatnots is ablaze, and that pretty
machine aim't nothing but ruin. Nobody thinks about it, but machines need
grease more than anything.

Civilizations, societies - they be just like a machine. Sure you got your
important folk up top, taking the spotlight. And sure you got your people
down below doing the hard stuff, getting stepped on. But between all of it,
you got people like me. You got grease. And without us, society don't go.

We are the collectors of information. We're the betters and the fixers. We're
the hot tippers and the dark whispers. Get me? Where there ain't no way, we
make a way. And we do it all unseen like. Yeah, I reckon everything
(especially a fine mustache) is better with grease.

Now me? I ain't no Underdark duergar, no sir. I'm from the topside, uptown.
Grew up an orphan, so far as I know. I mean, maybe my 'rents is still alive,
but I ain't never saw hide nor hair. But that be alright, because it made me
savvy and keen. I been outwitting the outwittable long as I can remember. And
been looking good doing it.

So, reckon I was destined for the thieves guild, coming up like I come up.
Sure, I knew me some thugs and mercenaries in me time, but hell, who wants to
work that hard and get all... dead... and whatnot. Nah, not this duergar, get
me? I'm for playing it real smooth, keeping the hair and stache right, unless
I got real good reason to go messing it up.

Thing of it is? I'm getting real tired of these small-time capers. I'm meant
for more important stations, bigger heists. I'm meant to be running things!
Things like the world, as Emperor. But I'ma start out with the Shadow Sect
and the Voralian City. Go from there.

Reckon that might be enough to impress Lord Destuvius himself too. I figure,
that's a god that gets how the world works. That's a god what understands the
grease. Hope he appreciates a fine mustache too.