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 Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:49 pm
Shrilyn,
I don't know if you remember me. I'm Valyrr Baen'duis' little sister, Shrisin. We met at the academy, and you were good enough to show me around. You also dealt very effectively with an axe-wielder, as I recall. I don't believe I told you at the time how much you impressed me, but here we are, years later, and I'm writing to you. That ought to be an indication of the impression you made.
But I'm sure you're thinking, Get to the point. I also remember that you were very blunt. So let me tell you: I'm coming to it. There have been rumors that actually made it all the way to me in Gallidurth that a sister of mine (speaking in the ecclesiastic sense, of course) was murdered. I suspect this news reached me because it's known that I'm from Llurth Dreir and my sisters wanted to know if I had in any way known the deceased. I never met her, but I did hear of the departed, your sister.
I suppose I should offer my condolences, but if matters played out as I suspect they did, they're unnecessary. I chose to interpret your sister's death as a declaration, and I was wondering if you were still interested in the arrangements we had tentatively discussed via letter before, closer to our meeting. If so, I think it may be time for us to begin laying concrete foundations for these plans. If you have changed your mind, and found that power is heady (I assume your mother will follow her eldest daughter into the Hereafter) and you are unwilling submit as a matron, I will accept that.
But I am still interested.
Sincerely,
Shrisin Baen'duis
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:02 pm
Dear Shrisin,
I will admit I was surprised to recieve your letter. I hope your brother is well, he was a talented warrior and I am sure he is upholding his training to proper levels. The eve of my graduation from the Warrior's Schooll weighs on my mind as does my thoughts to the future. I hardly see myself as being someone who would leave an impression on someone destined for matronhood. And yes, I am quite blunt but I felt the need to express my surprise at this corespondence. Now onto other matters.
Yes, the death of my sister has reached me at the school. I am hardly moved to tears by it and your condolences are, as you said, unnecessary. She offended Lloth and was thus delt with accordingly. My mother is just as offensvie and I suspect Lloth's vengence shall be delievered in due time. The decloration you say was made at my sister's death is true and the arrangements we discussed will fit in nicely with the future.
Write to me again after seven days have passed. By then the messy details that follow this decloration will have been cleaned up and we may continue with our negociations. A meeting person will be required to seal any final deal. If all goes well, I may have a nice surprise for you.
I look forward to your next corespondace.
Lloth's blessings on your house,
Shrilyn Auvryani
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:14 pm
Dear Shrilyn,
I'm pleased to hear that you will be graduating shortly. I confess to some surprise that you do not hear more from Val yourself, as he only graduated from the academy a short while ago, and is the sort to keep in touch with old acquaintances. But Val is not much for letter-writing, as I've discovered. All of this is neither here nor there, I suppose, and hardly the purpose of our correspondence.
And while I am pleased to hear that matters are progressing to your satisfaction, I am more pleased that you are interested in forming a relationship with me and my House. Call me selfish, but I want the best for my House, and I think that our arrangement would be to everyone's benefit. I wish you well on your clean-up (which will have been completed by the time you receive this, I expect), and on your final test of skills for the academy.
A personal meeting may take some doing to arrange, as I now have actual duties to attend to in the temple while they make me wait to participate in my own trials, but I will find a way to make it work out if you feel it is necessary. I am exceedingly excited about the possibility of a "nice" surprise, by the way.
May you be similarly blessed,
Shrisin Baen'duis
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:27 pm
Dear Shrisin,
I am quite interested in a relationship between our houses as we both of much to offer each other. Same as you, I only want the best for my house and I believe we can accomplish both our goals in this mutual agreement. Perhaps some introduction as to what I refer is in order. This way upon her final meeting all will be understood and it can go a smoothly as possible.
The House of Auvryani, while lower ranking, rests upon an area that is very volcanically active. Due to this natural source my house is one of the best smiths in the city. We specialize in custom blades and jewelry. Our males are all trained in the smithing art and take great care to insure the purest metals are used and the greatest skill is put toward making our creations. You perhaps saw some of my arrow heads upon our initial meeting. Those were merely a small example of the skill of our smiths.
But due to the mistakes of past matrons, our house has been unable to use the demand for our products to raise it's status. By aligning with your house, I see our rank increasing and your house gaining a valuable source for weaponry and jewelry for offerings and gifts. Also our males are extremely strong and capable of hard labor, therefore also useful for any physical tasks that require great strength.
As to our meeting in person, I am a willing to wait until it is convient to you and your schedule. I understand that your training does come first as Lloth is to always come first in our life. So I await your word for the meeting. I will make sure all ends are tied up here before hand.
Sincerly,
Shrilyn Auvryani
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Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:36 pm
Shrilyn,
I appreciate your description of your House's strengths. It was most informative. I had previously been aware that your smithing skills were superior, but underappreciated, but I had not considered that it was simply the result of mismanagement. In fact, I imagined a far more sinister reason, such as another House making an effort to suppress acknowledgment of Auvryani's skills. I also remember being shown the arrowhead your brother made for you, and though I know little of arrowheads or metal working, I could see that it was fine quality.
In other news, I listen casually for further news of your House. My sisters under the Goddess think that I am suddenly struck by homesickness, and that is why I crave news from home. They mistake it for weakness. I let them. It is fortunate, I frequently think that I am from Llurth Dreir, for though I am clever by the standards of the Southdark, I am just one of many in Gallidurth. Not that you need concern yourself with this. I'm merely writing other matters which are presently on my mind.
I appreciate your willingness to accommodate my schedule. It is not so much that my classes are so taxing. Indeed, I should have been tested with the others in my year several months ago. I was held back on the basis of my age. In addition to being stupid and short-sighted on the behalf of the temple, I also find it simply irritating. Regardless, my classes, such as they are, are a joke. To keep me occupied, and because I'm not a full priestess, and therefore cannot perform certain functions in the temple, they have me teach classes of the youngest first years. It is...amusing I suppose, but I am not a teacher.
I do look forward to seeing you, though, whenever I can find the time.
Sincerely,
Shrisin
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Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 4:58 pm
Shrisin,
Final arrangements are being made for my complete take over. The final wall to my plans has fallen and I am now in a position to negociate a friendship or partnership between our houses. All the other minor details of my matronhood can pass without me present. My house seems relieved at my accention and the smiths are all a buzz about the potential for new clients for their work. I did not think the house could be so warm with the burn of our furnaces as they start making examples.
Please send a time and place that would be convenient for a meeting between us. Not just us, I will be accompanied by a few males, the top smiths from my house, with a gift fit for a higher ranking house. Until then, please enjoy this gift from our finest smith and my youngest brother included in the letter.
Sincerly,
Matron Shrilyn of the house of Auvryani
....contained in the parcel that arrived with the letter was a beautifully crafted silver cloak clasp made in form of a spider. It's outstretched legs holding the fabric. On the main body of the spider was a large purple amythst, the same color as the Baen'duis house colors......
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:43 pm
Shrilyn,
I doubt that I will be the first to congratulate you on your ascension, but I am pleased to add my congratulations to all the others I'm sure you will have received by the time this letter reaches you. Matronship is a title I'm sure you will wear well, for I know that you have the best interests of Auvryani at heart, as well as a true devotion to the Goddess and perfection, all of which will serve you well in your new role. I truly am most excited for you.
As for the matter of our Houses' relationship, I am equally excited about meeting to discuss it, and I have no objections to any males you choose to bring with you, particularly if they are pleasant to look upon. Attractive scenery is always a nice thing. I hope you will not object if I call upon my brother to attend our meeting as well. I tell you in advance that this is not a lack of faith in you on my behalf, but a matter of form. Whereas two friendly acquaintances may meet unguarded, a Matron and the heir to another House may not.
In fact, it would be better if our meeting were not conducted in a place where we might be identified. This is for my protection, but, again, not from you. Please imagine what my House would think if it was reported that I was meeting with a Matron of another House. Naturally, we could try to make it seem like an informal get-together, but I don't think anyone would believe that. And so my recommendation for location is that we meet within the territory of your House. It will be easier, believe it or not, and less suspicious. Also, I can be in Llurth Dreir sixteen days from the postmark on this letter, if that's convenient for you.
Sincerely,
Shrisin
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:25 am
Shrilyn, Matron of the House of Auvryani, sat at the table of the small guest cottage her house kept on their territory. She wore a more traditional dres of Matronhood but she had made a few changes. There was a place for her weapons to be held as well as a few pieces removed to allow more movement. She looked around the small but emaculate room she sat in. Normally this cottage was reserved for important people who wished for privacy when visiting. It seemed to be perfect for the meeting between the Matron and the Matron-to-be. Lyn had secretly sent her directions for the meeting betewen them as well as an appropriate time when she wouldn't be missed. As Sin wanted secrecy Lyn was more than able to provide that. The Matron was accompanied by a few males from her house.
The one to her left was her little brother, the one male who had protection granted by her. His young age was apparent on his smooth lined face but his body was very grown up. He was one of the best metal workers in the house and his body seemed to show it. His arms and chest looked as if they were chisled out of the blackest rock, solid and strong. He had a few burns on his skin, but one stood out the most. It was an A with two crossed arrows behind it. Infact the other two males who were present also seemed to have the same burn.
The other two older males were not has handsome as the yonger male but they showed obvious signs of smithing. Their faces still had a bit of soot and they had a few tools hanging from their belts. They were hugely muscular with grey and black streaks in their white hair. They did have a faint scent of fire on them, but it was not unpleasent. Between them was a large trunk with the A with two arrows on it. Obviously this was the House symbel.
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:53 am
Shrisin had been forced to do some bartering to be allowed to leave Gallidurth and the temple for three days. She did not think that she would need three days, but she preferred in this case to err on the side of caution. Her aunt, should she find out, would be likely to interpret her meeting with Shrilyn as the beginnings of a bid for power, and that would not be pleasant for her. And probably not for House Auvryani either. Baen'duis tended to stay out of city politics much of the time, but if they deemed Shrilyn's House a threat, they would take violent action in their own defense. Of course, she could just tell her aunt what she had planned, but that would spoil her surprise. Surprising drow could be a dangerous enterprise.
She wore a whip coiled at her hip. Not her favorite, for she had given that to an unexpected cousin, Ilmxena, as a gesture of good faith and friendship, but the one she'd had made to replace it. She liked the new whip well enough, but it wasn't quite broken in, though she'd had it for over a year. People in the temple seemed leery of allowing her to turn a whip on anyone. She could understand their concern, but she resented it, as she resented the other restrictions they imposed on her. She chafed at everything which held her back, preventing her from moving on when her initial progress had been so rapid. Nevertheless, she found ways to use her whip, and she took as much pleasure as she could in such instances.
The place Matron Shrilyn had designated made good sense to Shrisin, and she had no difficulty in getting there. As a servant led her to where Shrilyn waited, she hoped that few servants would be involved in this, for her instinct for survival told her that any servant who saw her should be killed, though it was not her House and she would make no such demands. Some Matrons began their rules with a purge, and if Shrilyn was not interested in doing so, she wasn't going to force it, and if Shrilyn had already done so, she didn't wish to deprive her of someone she deemed worthy of life.
Shortly she was shown into a room which held the recognizable figure which was Matron Auvryani as well as three males. Shri reminded herself that she had been warned Shrilyn planned to bring some of her people to their meeting. Now she wondered if she shouldn't have stopped briefly at home to make off with either Ilmxena, Val, or both. She did not attend this meeting unprotected, not with a whip at her side and a few other small defenses secreted about her person, but she did attend alone, and that was a risk her mother would have hided her for.
She inclined her head, acknowledging Shrilyn's superior status, and reflected momentarily of the irony there. When she had been Shrilyn's superior, the warrior had felt no inclination to show her respect. Sin wasn't quite petty enough to play power games, though she could be very childish on occasion.
"It's kind of you to take the time to meet with me, Matron Auvryani."
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:28 pm
"A pleasure to meet with the House of Baen'duis. The house of Auvryani always welcomes such a high ranking house to our abode." Shrilyn inclined her head in equal respect. Though she was a marton she was of the lower house. Her initial meeting with Shrisin had merely demonstrated she felt priestesses had no rule over, merely those of a higher house. Or at least in her mind it had. Thought she had a bit more respect for the class now that two sad excuses of them were dead.
She motioned for one of the males to seat the female. An older drow that either female built like the tall caves strode over, picked a large ornate chair up with one hand and set it down for her. He bowed as best as he could, being so muscular in the chest and arms made it difficult to lean too far over. His skin was the blackest ever, with occational burn marks decorating his arms. And decorating seemed to be the real case as some burns were intricate patterns. The older ones seemed to be the only ones with this, as if they were stamps of experience, as the youngest next to Shrilyn had no such intricate scars.
"Please ease your mind as these are my most loyal males. All have served me before my matronhood and stood against any who disagreed with my title. In fact they quieted a few that were too vocal. Allow me to introduce them, as they are worth an introduction." She smiled a bit and turned to them.
"The youngest is my brother, a craftsman of the most intricate pieces this house creates. His is a delicate art depsite the metal we use. He made the cloak clasp sent to you in my last letter. These two are the head smiths and oversee all projects large and small. They are quick to squash laziness and pride themselves on the perfection of all our creations." The males bowed in turn as they were introduced then stood awaiting orders of their matron.
"But I believe our business is a bit more than introduction." She took on a serious look and threaded her fingers together as she placed her arms on the table. "I wish to create an alliance between our houses. In exchange for the rank and privillage of being allied with the House of Baen'duis, the House of Auvryani will be your personal weaponsmith as well as any othe metalworking projects you wish. We will share in our profits when we sell our wares at the market as well as any special orders." She waited for Shrisin to counter the offer with either more demands or more definition of the alliance terms.
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 12:24 pm
Shrilyn seemed to be laying it on a little too thick. Baen'duis was not that high ranking. It was only seventeenth in the city, and that had not been because of the machinations of the present matron. It had simply been her good fortune for those above her to become restless and agressive. Aunt Umraevyll said it was sufficient to let the higher Houses destroy each other, as Baen'duis would rise then with no loss, but it seemed to Shrisin that there was no honor in ascending passively, and that no one could possibly become one of the eight Houses on the governing council by simply allowing other Houses to self-destruct.
Shrisin acknowledged the drow who had brought her chair, but still dismissively. Smiths. She probably should have guessed that looking at the males. The scorch marks - some of them - were artistic, but such was not the art of Baen'duis, and so she was not as quick to notice or appreciate it as she should have been. Nevertheless, her House was not one of those that took full advantage of Llurth Dreir's ready heat sources for either productive or other processes, and so she forgave herself. Besides, how was she to know that their burns were worthy of note? Well, she should have, she reminded herself. Her mother would have.
"I am pleased to see that you are able to command such loyalty as a recent matron. There have been many who have done as you have, and met with challenge from every angle - even the males of the House. I am pleased to see these examples of your House's industry and dedication."
Truth be told, Shri wasn't all that comfortable with the idea of overthrowing matrons simply because she knew for a certainty that she was going to be Matron Baen'duis someday, and that assurance meant that there would eventually be people who wished to overthrow her. There already were, if one was to count her cousin Tri-no, which mostly Shri didn't. Also, in spite of her position as a priestess, Shrisin was not at all comfortable with the idea of any but a priestess pronouncing judgment on the devotion of another, particularly priestesses and matrons. Much of what Shrilyn had done made Shrisin uncomfortable, theoretically, though in practice it was beneficial to her.
Which brought her thoughts around neatly to the topic Shrilyn now brought up. Shrisin regarded the former warrior carefully, her senses alert to any overt signs of treachery. She wanted to trust Shrilyn, but she had to be wary. Gallidurth was finally beginning to rob her of the carefree attitude that had once been her hallmark. The plan Shrilyn proposed seemed reasonable to her. Very little was asked of Baen'duis except, she assumed an exclusive contract for smithing with Auvryani. That might be a little difficult to arrange, but Shri would manage it somehow. Her mother handled most of that for the House anyway, and she would have to tell her eventually.
"At what prices will we receive the benefits of your House's fine craftsmanship? And how, exactly, will the profits be shared?"
She would also have to remember to ask what sort of alliance Shrilyn wanted.
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 9:28 am
Shrilyn waited for Shrisin to digest all of her words, waiting for the inevitable questions the other would ask. Yes she had laid her words on a bit thick but her house was far lower than Sin's so, despite their lower ranking it was still higher than her own. She could also see why Sin would be wary of doing this much business with her. After all she killed two priestesses to get where she was. It wasn't as if she could describe her thoughts and the life she had lived to Sin, not that she really wanted to either. She was content to let things happen as they may. The warrior was hardly one who played around with her words, she always got right to the point. The questions Sin asked were quite appropriate.
"The profits will easily be shared 60/40. The higher going to you of course. The price comes at helping my house keep from being taken over. When our products do get the notice they so deserve I do see a few houses wishing to use force to get it for themselves. While the smiths here are strong they are hardly warriors. My house does not have the funds to send our members to warrior school, at least not yet." That was a rather large worry for her. She was an excellent warrior, her smiths were strong enough to swing a hammer with some force, but over all her house was hardly strong enough to withstand a well done attack. Sin's house did have the funds to at least start getting a small working defense group trained until their profits increased enough to pay for it themselves.
"Also they would need practical training outside of a school environment. I am aware, through conversation with your brother, that your house has an excellent guard. I would like to have any warrior graduate of my house be required a one to two year service in your guard. I feel this will make loyalty to both our houses stronger." Shrilyn stopped here to wait for Sin to make her own observations. That was what this meeting was about. It was like a gambling game; you put your bets on the table and see if your hand will win.
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