|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:21 pm
 It was not uncommon for others to want to hire him now. But...he had never been approached in such a manner. Divintra had finished his delivery in this city and he had been pondering a bit of a reward. Perhaps he would rent a room for a few days and relax. Stay in bed for a few extra hours, order food to be delivered, sip some mead in order to appease Lin's mothering manner. He could read up on his holy book and become more familiar with his God. So when the drow in impressive armor approached him he was only a little bit surprised.
He supposed it was not too bad to be busy. If he was lucky the job would not have a quick time frame. He could still put it off at least a day. So yes...he went along with the armored drow. His purple eyes slid from one to another in a studious manner. His hand rested gently on the cover flap of his messenger bag, and he gently ticked the tip of his tongue over the small fangs in his mouth. What exactly was this job he was going to be hired for? It had him very...curious. He had not really been told much of anything really.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2010 6:42 pm
The long hall was empty. At least it sounded empty, however the Matron Larsoir still waited alone inside. She had opened her court to the business and concerns of many drow today. Now she was pleased to have it closed as the last business of the day would be her own. Larsoir sat in thought upon her raised throne which stood, carved of a hard glimmering stone, at nearly the end of the meeting hall. Behind the throne there was a narrow open space where one could walk before the wall dedicated to Lloth. Sculpture projected from its surface and directly behind the matron's throne were several large braziers built into the wall. Low amber flames warmed the braziers.
Larsoir's snakes idly writhed at her side. She tapped the handle of her whip and murmured something to them. The weight of the mask on her face was a soft warm pressure.
Her eyes rose to the door, a slim servant had tapped the door before peeking her head in and raising three fingers in a sign. The dispatched Ardulaema had returned. With a nod from Larsoir, the servant pushed the door wide open. Larsoir stood up, tall on her high black shoes, and raised a hand to wave the drow in.
They had not told her much in their last communication. Larsoir knew they were bringing her an albino and it had dredged up memories. Difficult ones. She had been young then but would never forget what she had suffered through for ruining the former Matron's plans. Her nostrils flared slightly and she glowered a harsh gaze against the approaching drow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2010 7:11 am
Unease. Fear. Anxiety. All these feelings were such a normal part of his life that Divintra was capable of shouldering their effects without crumbling or shaking. He would never have survived as long as he had on his own if he had been unable to control himself this much at least. Still, it was not a pleasant sensation that crawled down his spine each time he approached a House. Divintra's purple eyes slide unbidden to the decor of the House as he was escorted within. Within the shoulder bag at his side he could sense Lin shifting about the carefully packed items. He was grateful that the little mistform creature did not resent his need for her to hide whenever he dealt with unknowns. He simply felt more comfortable keeping her hidden.
As Divintra walked the hall and into the throne room, Divintra's eyes were drawn again without hesitation to the decor. The low amber flames caused his eyes to narrow against their unpleasant glow. He was used to, and personally preferred, the low dim lights of blue and purple when he had no choice but use light. However, it was the sculptures of Lloth that he found himself disliking all the more. Those cold stone eyes looked down upon him, and he felt as if any moment those eyes would blink and those disapproving lips would part to denounce him.
~Thats your conscious! Your feeling guilty! You know your doing wrong~ Lin's soft voice whispered through his ears. Same as always when he found himself distracted by his concerns about the Goddess and her followers. Divintra shifted the leather strap over his shoulder and ignored Lin for now. he was finally getting the hang of shunting her out of his thoughts. This way he could focus on the task at hand...rather then having her distracting him...the way those brightly colored snakes were now.
He would have thought the Matron herself would have been the thing to command his attention immediately. After all, she was standing before him impressively in the throne room. Safe, secure, and powerful. Yet his purple eyes were caught on the twisting and twined snake bodies that made up her whip. A priestess...he was not too surprised. It seemed more likely for a Matron to be a priestess after all. He would be certain to keep himself carefully composed he supposed. He moved his head a little and peered now at the female that he'd been told had a job for him. Silently Divintra bowed his head forwards and waited for the female to speak to him before lifting his eyes upwards again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:30 pm
Larsoir's hand flinched on her whip. She could see the albino focusing on her snakes, keeping his eyes away from her for the most part. Well enough. Being this deferential was a sensible choice. But would he hold up? This job was not going to be swift and easy. The Matron paused her silent observation of the stranger and talked instead to the drow whom had taken charge of bringing him in.
"Tell me, are you still confident that he will be the piece to make the rest of your mission a success?"
"I would not waste your time, Matron, unless I were sure he was going to be useful."
"Good." Larsoir stood now. The female stepped down from the dais to stand in front of the albino, her boot heels echoing sharply against the stone.
Larsoir addressed the albino, cutting directly the the point of the job she had for him. "There is a group giving passage to drow runaways and others," She spat the term with disgust for other races, "to the surface. If the idea of assisting my House in destroying this group gives you any pause or second thoughts, you can leave now. Otherwise, I will explain what we would like your role to be."
It was easier to give the drow an option, even though truthfully his options weren't as pleasant as those the Matron stated. They never were.
The Matron and many in her house had great anticipation to see this mission get under way. This trafficking group had become too successful and it was shameful to have this blight making use of her city. They had smeared her city as a prime place for those trying to get to the surface, particularly the heretical, slaves and other undesirables. Unacceptable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:59 pm
Divintra was not certain what to think when the Matron talked to his escort over him. Actually...he had thought they had brought him here at her request? Of course, they had not said that exactly. He realized this as he thought back to the brief exchange. He'd only been told there was a job offer for him and he was to come with them. Inwardly he felt a touch sour towards his lack of attention to detail. He had not made so many mistakes thus far, but he'd rather prefer not to start that trend now.
Divintra's eyes fell upon the toe tips of the matron as she stepped before him. Only when she spoke directly to him did he lift his head and peer upwards at her. Already, as she began to speak of the type of service she required, that sour feeling turned hard and cold. Divintra batted his purple eyes once to refocus them on the matron and did his best to keep his expression unreadable. The way she said 'others' made it very clear who she was talking about. People like him. Of course, there was no reason why he would think she knew about him. No one knew...except those very very few that shared the same faith. He had no commitments to these others however, and his mothers soft voice whispered through his head. Reminding him that he to look after himself before some strangers. All the same though, he felt the urge to balk at this particular job. He did not want to possibly betray those who may have followed his God.
There was a small click that happened then within his mind. "I am honored you would think I may be able to provide you some form of service Matron." Divintra softly spoke. Though she had clearly given him the choice to leave, Divintra knew that to leave would be a sign of some sort of guilt or admission. A true son of Lloth would not pass up such a chance like this to bring ruin to the enemies of the Goddess.
Div spread his pale hands before him, only slightly self conscious of the talon like tips that was part of the genetic mutation that made him what he was. "Sadly though I am merely a messenger. I do not know what sort of aid I can offer you in this endeavor."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:35 pm
Larsoir was a little disappointed that the drow hadn't thought a little more about his role. He sounded quick to pass on it, but then again he was a male and certainly needed a female to give him direction so it likely meant nothing. Direction she could provide in droves. Somehow Larsoir found herself feeling so strongly about the way her Ardulaema had described the mission that she almost assumed it would all be obvious.
A wide grin spread. "Don't worry, it's my responsibility- not yours - to determine what you can do."
She paused, tapping a toe as she considered how explain to him what they required. It wasn't his usual sort of job she could almost guarantee, who out of a thousand drow would ever get asked to do something like this? Someone quite unlucky. It was a dangerous piece of trickery to have to embark on.
"You are going to be our way into the group. You'll seek them out, as if you have interest in going to the surface. I think most would stop there but I am not satisfied with knowing their identity."
"Which means you will have to convince them of your intent, enough to make it to the surface with them. They will have a network of drow planted throughout different cities, we assume, to help them in the Underdark. More importantly we need to see where they go to on the surface. Where they hide. Whatever safe harbor they have there now, it is up to us to rip it from them."
"So you see, messenger, there really is a great deal you can do. I need you to make these enemies reveal every strand of their network. I can't destroy what I don't know."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 1:06 pm
"This is..." Divintra began to protest that this was not his sort of job. He had no formal training in subterfuge. He certainly was not trained on how to be a spy! Not to mention the fact that this job would take a undisclosed amount of time to fulfill. He was not comfortable with even pretending to want to go to the surface!
". . . A great...honor for you to wish to use my skills in such a ambitious endeavor." Divintra forced the sour words off his tongue. Well, perhaps he was a bit more skilled then he was giving himself credit for. Particularly when it came to speaking such lies so well. Still. He did not want to do this. He did not want to get involved and potentially reveal himself. The danger was just too high of such a thing happening! Could he really betray his own brothers and sisters? He was uncertain he would not betray himself by warning them if they were present in this set up.
Divintra managed to half smile and he folded his hands before him. "Such a plan though... how would I manage to convince them to take me? How would I get the information back to you? How would we be certain that I am only shown a small strand of this web they have woven? Wouldn't it be wiser to try and implant a spy within them that would attempt to aid them in these runs? Someone who works on the inside would learn all of their hidden attachments."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 01, 2010 12:52 pm
The words coming out of the albino's mouth had a hollow and unenthusiastic sound. He was smiling and feigning, but the excuses were bitter to hear. Such a tone! This one had been out of reach of a female's hand for too long, or else perhaps his special condition made him think too strongly of himself. He wasn't so unique. He was still a male. If this was truly an honor for him, Larsoir could not understand why he was trying to question her and think about their plans. That was not at all his concern. Yes, their plans concerned him but to the Noquaniyl Matron he was much like the swords on her soldiers' backs.
Wiser? Wiser than she? Hearing this judgment slip from his lips made the matron react. Such horrible circumstances could have befallen this wretched charge, but the drow Goafryn was wide-eyed with apprehension. No. Her anger was put in check quickly. The team had worked hard to put this plan in play. She couldn't take it from them now.
Nonetheless.
Larsoir leaned forward, snakes hissing with distress at their mistress's sudden rage as she grabbed the whip loose from her waist, "And what do you propose to tell me about wisdom?"
"It will be your duty to serve my interests. It will be your only duty to do whatever Ethequiri'zyl needs you to do to help preserve her cover during the mission."
Quietly, the wrath subsiding from her tone almost sweetly, "And if that means spilling your blood, so be it. Or if it means keeping you alive, so be that as well. Goafryn, take him to Ethe."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 01, 2010 1:10 pm
It really was more of an automatic reaction on Divintra's part, then anything else. When Larsoir drew her whip and leaned towards him, Divintra shifted his left foot back a step and unfolded his hands. Now...he really wasn't too certain what he meant to do. It was just the aggression and threatening stance of the Matron set his well honed survival instincts on edge. Fight or flight yes? Divintra was mostly used to flight though, so perhaps that was why he felt his body relaxing instead of tensing for a fight.
She did not do much more physically, but verbally it was still an attack it seemed. Divintra's purple eyes blinked into the angry features of Larsoir. It was odd, but a small calm part of his mind seemed to note this was perhaps the first time he had ever angered a potential customer. Then again...this was the first time someone was not asking but telling him he was going to do something outside of his safe little delivery service.
"I..." Divintra found himself at a loss for words in return for the verbal slip up of questioning her wisdom. "Ethequiri'zyl?" He repeated the name with a terribly perplexed expression. Wait? She meant to send him with someone? Had he gone on alone he had begun to think he could just run. Or warn the individuals of this ploy and pretend to have been discovered. But if there was another present he did not think such options would be possible! Divintra glanced towards Goafryn when he was addressed, and he felt his cheeks grow slightly cooler. he was fortunate his skin was already white, thus better to hide the paling of his skin when it became ever so clear this was not a job he had a choice in performing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 9:56 pm
Larsoir's eyes glowed with pleasure to see the truth of the situation finally dawn on the szarkai.
"Yes. I would advise you to get yourself together and fast. I've made certain my sister, Ethequiri'zyl, is very invested in this mission."
With a curt nod, Matron Larsoir sent Goafryn to carry off his charge again. Except this time the delivery would go to her sister.
The tall male had heavy purple eyes and a very business-like manner. He gripped the albino's upper arm, started walking, and went over a few helpful details in a rough low tone as they went, "Mistress Ethe is going to be joining the group, and you are her way in. You want passage to the surface. Ethe will be trying to suggest business deals. She found them through you, so we want you to be her proof that she is already complicit in the same work they are."
They were headed for the doors out of the chamber. Goafryn knew who would be waiting on the other side and offered his best advice, "Whatever she does, don't get angry. And don't look scared." Ethe wasn't pleased, in his opinion, unless she was abusing herself or someone else.
Larsoir watched Goafryn leave her chamber. If she could say she trusted anyone to get something done, it would be him. Trust was a bad word, but the male had a proven record of successful operations. He could pull this off but Ethe would give her fits to no end. As usual. Her sister was determined and an effortless study in deceit, but what of it if she could not control herself? The matron gave up her musings to follow Goafryn out to see her sister.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 3:02 pm
This was progressing far far too fast. Divintra's mind swam with all the unexpected changes. He was only a courier! A glorified delivery boy! He was not trained in the ways of deception that he had come to understand was expected of his kind! Divintra bit down on his bottom lip nervously with his small fangs and glanced ahead as he was strong armed towards this other unknown female.
In his mind Lin hissed in agitation. She wanted to do something, but her very nature was harmless. The best she could manage was to temporarily impede someones vision so Divintra could get in a cheap shot or break away to flee. Neither of which would be very useful right now. Having even Lin agitated did not aid in calming Divintras unease either. "But I...how do ...I mean...how is it I know of them? How do they know of me?" Divintra desperately asked as he dug his heels in just a little bit to try and slow Goafryn's escort.
"Eeeh?" Divintra found him blinking his purple eyes at the male as he warned him to show neither anger or fear. The former would be no problem, but the latter? Of course, it did not behoove him to ask for a explanation as to why he should not show those emotions. It was pretty much given that females liked to take any excuse to punish a male, which a show of anger would surely be that. And fear? That only encouraged him. The fact he was being put into close company with a female so typical made Divintra's stomach twist. Divintra looked uneasily on the doors that seemed to be their destination.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 7:55 pm
Goafryn gave a rough grunt to answer Divintra's questions. "They don't know of you. And they aren't people you'll be speaking to much." By that, he hoped to give the drow some idea that from what he knew this group was opportunistic. Their members were just as likely to take advantage of heretics and runaways.
They entered the more private waiting room and Goafryn held the door for the Matron, keep his charge behind him until Larsoir passed by.
The mage Ethequiri'zyl was waiting. She was fiddling with a small silver contraption which she quickly slipped into a pocket as she stood up for her sister's entrance.
"Matron. Nice of you to join us."
Larsoir stopped just inside the door way, "That doesn't sound like you want to return from the surface. I can gladly change my orders at any time to make sure you don't come home."
"No, no, not necessary." Ethe's confident expression actually faltered, but Larsoir pursed her lips and left the room still unsatisfied.
"Well. You did a good job." Ethe eyed the albino and Goafryn, "She seems very pleased."
"Mistress," Goafryn hesitated.
"Just get out."
"As you wish."
Ethe waved a hand at Divintra, "I'm going to need something to call you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 5:10 pm
Divintra stood in silent witness of the sniping comments that were exchanged. This was nothing so uncommon for him to worry about underlying motives...besides the usual ones. Ah. That mere thought caused his guts to twist painfully. He really had no stomach or care for House Politics. Divintra watched the Matron leave. The absence of the priestess was without a doubt something he appreciated. Even Lin stirred in relief at the back of his mind over her no longer being present. Or maybe it was disappointment? Sometimes the mistform creature wasn't even certain herself of what she wanted.
When Ethe dismissed his escort as well, and choose to address him, he froze. How should he respond? This wasn't a encounter he was prepared for! Divintra lightly wrapped his fingers around the shoulder strap of his bag and looked up at the female for a moment. "Divintra." He finally answered. He didn't want to answer too formally, it would give her the impression she could command him. And he wasn't positive yet if that was what she believed already. On the off chance that she had not come to that conclusion, he preferred to lightly pad his chances with small tests of this female's perceived notions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 2:40 pm
Etheguiri'zyl lowered her teal eyes at the male. "Alright rat, Divintra it is."
She huffed. She didn't want to have to actually talk to this stranger. She didn't want to do this mission. She didn't want any of it. But her wishes did not matter. Larsoir had heaped monumental pressure upon her, and there was no way at all she could wiggle her way out from under it. Not unless she completed this mission. So she had better start talking to the stranger.
"I don't care how you got into this, and I know you don't care how I got into this. But here we are. If I even get the slightest suspicion about you that I don't like, no one will know you existed."
The mage spoke and slid a foot out over the tiles towards Divintra. She signed a rune with one hand and a pulse of magic was felt to slip from the enchantress, as timed with the movement of her foot the tiles seemed to convulse towards Divintra.
Ethe tapped her toe, the tiles abruptly stopped their transformation, and she continued, "I like what I do and it has nothing to do with ferrying trash to the surface. I need to complete this mission so I can get back to it. What you need to start liking to do, is obeying me. I can talk to the drow running the operation. I just can't get to any drow they are taking to the surface. But you'll be one of them."
"Like I said, you're a rat."
--------
((I don't know what their equivalent slang for rat/snitch might be but anyways xDD Does that make sense? Ethe is more embedded with the crew running things, and Div more with the other drow trying to get to the surface? ))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 7:28 pm
((My XD She is a very angry drowess! Funny that she'd call him a rat XD One of my other drow calls him a little white mouse in OOC XD ))
"Rat?" Divintra repeated the word with a bit of a frown. He disliked the term. However, Ethe continued to speak with a rather familiar females presence. Divintra shifted his grip upon his messenger bag while watching the tracing of the symbol in the air. It was the tapping of her foot that drew her eyes downwards. Looking at the tiles, he shifted back a quick step with the sight of their movement. He disliked this so very very much. More so because of the threat that was attached to the display. He had been warned not to show any fear, and it was difficult to keep his face impassive when every nerve in his body wanted him to run.
"I..." Divintra paused. What was he going to say? In his mind he heard Lin hissing to him, and he forced a small smile to his lips. "I will be more then pleased to serve you for this short period of time. I believe you will surely be more effective in speaking to these others. I shall do my part to better ensure the completion of this task Lady. I too desire to return to my own agendas. If I may ask, what is our first move in this mission?" Ah. Thanks to Valin for this little creature. If it were not for her mentally whispered words he surely would have stumbled over his words now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
