Ssssssss

Ssssssss, the Swindler of the South

Ssssssss was a Yuan-Ti who enrolled in the Royal Green Dragon Academy in 1453.

#### History

In 1430, Ssssssss, like most Yuan-Ti, was born on New Moon Island, although she was abandoned while still a hatchling. An Archfey took pity on the young Ssssssss and transported her to the Feywild. This Archfey took nothing seriously, and Ssssssss adopted this trait as well, making jokes out of everything in an attempt to feel something like her guardian did. Ssssssss spent her youth in the archfey's care, and it was he who gave her such a whimsical name.

Eventually, the Archfey tried to pass on his musical talent to his young charge, teaching her to play and construct exotic musical instruments.

When she reached 16 years of age, Ssssssss returned to the material plane, appearing through a fey crossing on the southern tip of Blackstone Forest. Running out of funds almost immediately, Ssssssss earned her keep by seducing and robbing those she met. She soon became infamous, being given the moniker "Swindler of the South". When word of her got around, Ssssssss was driven from any town in which she tried to stay, until, after seven years of thievery, Ssssssss enrolled in the Royal Green Dragon Academy, seeking to study how to better construct musical instruments.

During her brief time at the Academy, Ssssssss befriended a group of students including Xendon, Rose, and Grub, with whom she had a hand in driving off a humanoid fire elemental that attacked the academy. When Rose discovered the orb, Ssssssss was one of the few students she revealed it to. Ssssssss was immediately teleported into the demiplane within it, becoming a chosen of the orb.

Ssssssss was present during the session of analysis of magic items that was interrupted when the orb teleported into Rose's hand and caused her to spill a bottle of *Oil of Slipperiness*. She, along with her friends, was sent to Toby Greybeard's office. When Toby learned that they had become chosen of the orb, he warned the students that they were no longer safe at the Royal Green Dragon Academy, sending them, along with Grog, to Heraldur to meet with Karmiir Metalmace. Before they could leave the academy, the students were attacked by a Maw Demon sent by Blackthorne, which devoured Rose, although the rest of the students were able to escape.

From the Royal Green Dragon Academy, the students traveled to Dustguard, where, in need of funds, they accepted a job from Thomur Heavybeard to retrieve a bowl that was stolen from him by a bandit named Valkir Flintweaver. Xendon and the rest of the students visited Valkir's hideout where, after fighting their way past Valkir's gang of Kenku, they found the bowl, although Valkir, refusing to part with it, attacked them. Xendon then struck Valkir with a Fire Bolt spell, weakening him. Valkir, however, was drawing on the bowl to heal himself, so he suffered little harm from the blow. Observing this, Grub knocked over the bowl, releasing a Water Elemental that proceeded to drown Valkir and escape.

After returning the bowl to Thomur, the students accepted their payment and began their perilous journey across the Misty Moors.

The Students' journey across the moor lasted several days and they survived attacks by Ogres, Hobgoblins, and Orcs. When they crossed Glenrigg's Bridge on the other side of the moor, a group of Oathbreakers sent by Blackthorne. Ssssssss engaged in battle with the knights, while Grub drove their wagon over the side of the bridge. Later that day, the Keepers of the Unseen Flame, led by Serpent Scale, Wish Upon a Star, and Crescent Moon, captured Ssssssss and her companions using enchanted nets. After taking the prisoners to their camp, the three Tabaxi demanded that they hand over the orb. Each of the students refused and the Tabaxi left, placing guards to watch over the captives. Ssssssss soon escaped by charming the guards to her cell and assisted her companions in making their own escapes. As Xendon started a fire in the cells as a distraction, Grub stole horses for the group and they made their way up a nearby hill. Meanwhile, Ssssssss snuck off to spy on the Tabaxi trio, although she inexplicably became enamored of Serpent Scale. While the rest of the group fled over the Hill, Xendon and Grog returned for Ssssssss, although she instructed them to leave without her.

The relationship between Ssssssss and serpent scale blossomed and they were married in 1454.