Only Ragstol knows that Perian is his contact with
the Shadows. Perian handles the spell components and
other illegal trade that Ragstol cannot handle himself, and
is the one to contact the Swiftwing tribe when Outpost I9
needs help.
While the Swiftwings are a fiercely independent group,
the Shadows are one tribe whose call they will respond to.
Many tribes that deal with contraband never encounter
the Shadows, but if they do, they are wise to heed them.
In return for Perian's assistance, Ragstol collects no tariff
on Perian's trade, and the trader will occasionally allow
other Shadow members to be concealed at the outpost.
Perian is, in fact, one of the reasons that Ragstol has
refused to return to Balic. While House Wavir is not
opposed to dealing with the Shadows, such dealings
are generally private matters between the Shadows and
individual traders. His son is not quite ready to take over,
and he can trust no other trader, even in his own house,
with Perian 's true identity. Moreover, he fears that if he
leaves, and the connection with the Shadows is broken,
the outpost will not have an adequate defense.
The rest of the garrison does not understand why
Ragstol is so fond of Perian. The elf is haughty and prone
to testing the garrison of the outpost, and this tendency
has earned her the general dislike of the garrison. Mersten
Vell was initially very hard on her for her attitude, as
her taunts and tests of friendship were incomprehensible
to her. Ragstol asked her to restrain herself, and it is an
open secret in the camp that Ragstol and Perian have a
relationship of some sort. Perian has taken to staying with
Ragstol on occasion, to keep people from suspecting the
true nature of their arrangement.
Perian Evenstar is a member of the
garrison under Mersten Vell. A wandering elven warrior
of the Shadows tribe, she was hired on at Outpost I9 a
few years ago to learn more about human ways.