3.1 : Watch of the Night

"Imps are tiny fiends found throughout the Lower Planes, either running errands for their infernal masters, spying on rivals, or misleading and waylaying mortals. An imp will proudly serve an evil master of any kind, but it can’t be relied on to carry out tasks with any speed or efficiency." — Irian’s Compendium of Delightful Abominations.

Destiny stares down at the red winged beast opposite her. It has a ridiculously pointy face with all the usual beastly complements of fangs, spike, claws as well as a menacing scorpion like tail. It don't smell that great either. Would actually be a terrifying thing... but it's so tiny!

“Oh crap! I must've messed up the ritual.”

* * *

It’s their first night at Barovia and they rented a room at the Blood on the Vine inn. Since arriving in town all they’ve heard are stories about vampires: vampires attacking villagers, vampires seducing maidens, vampires assaulting homes, vampires stalking people in the street. Don't the vampires have something else to do? The only way to protect yourself, it is said, is to stay in your own home. Ismark claims vampires cannot enter someone’s home unless invited.

An inn, Destiny surmised, is not a home. And this is how Destiny finds herself wide awake at midnight taking the first watch.

Destiny has never taken watches before. Who needs a watch when you live in the beautiful Twilight Lagoon, watched over by Celestials? And adult Tabaxi. Maybe they do watches sometimes... After thirty excruciating minutes, Destiny realises a few things.

One - Hoskgak sleeps with his hand axes under the pillow, and he snores!

Two - Serenity sleeps with the poise of a monk. Well, perhaps that’s because she really is a monk.

And three - taking watches is BORING. There’s no one to talk to, nothing to do and you can’t even read a book because it’s so dark and you're supposed to pay attention and, you know, watch. Like watching a puddle dry. It's that tedious. Then an idea comes to her. Genius! Earlier today she felt another jolt of magic unleashed into her along with the knowledge of how to summon a familiar. What is a familiar? Destiny has no idea, but it's gotta be good! And it sounds like family. Which means… she can have someone to talk to!

She needs some materials... charcoal, incense and a specific type of herb that has been treated in a brass brazier. She does not have any of this, yet when she reaches into her bag, there it is. Maybe it was there all along, and she's only spotted it now. “Thank you, my Angel”, she whispers.

She spends the next hour laying down the materials in a circular pattern, double and triple checking until it’s right. How does she know it's right? She just knows. She's like that. Well, since a few days ago, anyway! Then, she steps into the circle and begins waving her hand and chanting the spell... 

Oooh, it's quite fun, getting into this. The power is moving through her. It's quite pleasant. Her tail tingles. She starts to get giddy and mewls with excitement.

Hoskgak shifts.

“Oh crap! Forgot they’re asleep!”

Destiny stops. Then curses. Then curses again for cursing in the middle of a chant. Takes a deep breath. Closes her eyes. Resumes her chant in a whisper.

* * *

“Oh crap! I must have messed up the ritual.”

The tiny creature snarls, or may be that’s just the way it’s face looks.

“Listen, I’m not happy about this either,” she says to it.

The creature stares back at Destiny, face unchanging. Yeah. That's just its face.

“So what can you do? Can you talk?”

It nods.

“Ok, so what’s your name?”

“I don't have a name,” it squeaks.

“Awww… you poor thing. Why don’t we call you… Watch of the Night? Watch for short. So, what can you do?”

“Many things. I can kill them if you want.”, pointing one of it's claw like finger at Hoskgak and Serenity.

“Oh no, no killing, not these two anyway. They are our companions. And also not the dog, it’s not our companion but… anyway, long story. Just don’t harm them. Look, what else can you do? You have wings, can you fly?”

The creature leaps up and flies around the room, flapping its wings. They make noise.

“No no… stop! You’ll wake everyone and they’ll think you’re some kind of monster and attack you before I can stop them!”

“They won’t be able to, because I can also do this.”

And suddenly the damn thing is gone.

"What?"

"I'm here."

“Woah! You can turn invisible! Cool!” Destiny shuffles about, taps her furry cheek with her claw, then exclaims, “Hey Watch. I summoned you, does that mean I’m your master now and that you have to obey my commands?”

Watch pops back into being. “Unfortunately, yes.”

“Good! Let’s talk! I've got to tell you about my tail.”