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 Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 6:33 pm
It took longer than usual for Chalthara's breathing to slow, and for her heartbeats to decrease in their sheer loudness. Her pulse no longer pounded in her ears, both from the effort of the sacrifice and the stress brought on by the Handmaiden's initial words. Even once Lolth's servant had departed, she remembered clearly what she had felt in its presence.
First there had come surprise. One of the yochlol appearing unsummoned...that was quite a feat indeed for a new Matron and somewhat errant priestess. She had expected the Spider Queen to deny the sacrifice because of her status. She knew that she was not on the best of terms with her Goddess, after all. But the yochlol had come.
Next there had been anger and even further shock, so much that Chalthara had felt bile rising in her throat. She had believed the yochlol, believed that this sacrifice had put her even further from her deity.
Then, defiance. The male would have been of no use alive! He was a heretic, and would not have served the house in any capacity. If left alive and free he would have tried to flee...and if he succeeded, he would probably join those who followed Vhaeraun. Chalthara was offended -- she had chosen this sacrifice carefully.
At the yochlol's private, telepathic words the figurehead Matron felt an enormous sense of relief, but also some measure of confusion. Was the Spider Queen trying to turn the priestesses of the House against her by invalidating her choice of making a sacrifice? If that was the case, why would Lolth be pleased with Chalthara. Unless she wasn't pleased with Chalthara at all, but was pleased with the fact that she had sown the seeds of resentment amongst the clerics of Hun'Afin?
As Chalthara now glanced about at the faces of the priestesses about her, she did not quite know what to think. Instead, she snapped at them that the ceremony was over.
(( :OOO I wasn't expecting a response from the reverent Spider Queen! But that was a pretty cool surprise. biggrin ))
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Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 2:49 am
Days and then weeks passed as Vincent gathered resources and enough blood in him for the trip. Utilizing one of the scrolls he had taken from his former house he quickly crossed through the plane of shadows and into a stalactite cave near Hun'Afin. Drugging his feeding slave once more he descended to the walkways that would lead him to the house.
Vincent brushed himself off and walked towards the main building. The brilliantly lit spider sculpture proving to be no more than an annoyance. Locating one of the guards he locked eyes with the man and smiled broadly revealing his fangs, "Bring someone to let me in. I wish to join the house." The guard hurried off indoors under Vincents command. The other door guard tried his best to remain still and motionless; But the beads of fearful sweat betrayed his terror, "I can smell the fear on you, be glad that your blood doesn't interest me in the least. I've already fed..."
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 9:40 am
Chalthara was exhausted and tried not to show it as she wandered back towards the main building from the chapel. The visit from the Handmaiden had been unexpected, and the sheer energy that she'd put into the ceremony had drained her. Still, the ritual sacrifice had been a success. Lady Lolth had found the soul of the victim acceptable, and would hopefully grant her favor to House Hun'Afin in its raid. The aforementioned success was also a token of hope for Chalthara, who hoped to regain her place in the Spider Queen's good graces...or as close as Lolth got to "good graces" considering her capricious nature.
At long last, she arrived back at her luxurious chambers and slipped into Reverie.
--
Some time later, Chalthara was making her way across the grounds when she noticed a stranger intimidating one of the House guard. Usually, strangers were Veldrin's business, but he was occupied with other matters at the moment.
"If you wish to join this house, I would not start by giving commands," Chalthara said evenly to the stranger.
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:55 pm
Vincent turned his head slightly, to ensure that the female behind him wasn't preparing a spell or attack, instead he found the beautiful drowess to be robed in emerald silks and carrying the strength of a matron mother, she seemed drained though. Lolth has granted me fastidious fortune in this turn of events, it seems that my deal with Malag has indeed worked in my favor.
Fully rotating his body he spun into a deep bow. "Matron Mother of House Hun'Afin, I am Vincent Draemir, former guard captain of the fallen Qu'ellar Alaenduis. I led the defense against the Shadow Guard and Malag; who has struck a deal with me to vouch for my prowess on the battlefield. I did not mean to offend your house by dominating the guard, I only wished to expedite the process by speaking to someone who would be worth talking to."
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Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 4:16 pm
Chalthara regarded the stranger coolly. He did not seem truly sorry for what he had done, nor truly frightened of her, but at least he attempted to act politely. Politeness went a long way with someone as focused and rational as herself. Therefore, she spoke civilly to the visitor where some others may have remained edgy after he had intimidated their house guard.
"You say that Malag would vouch for your prowess in battle, but your prowess against which side? If you were a turncoat that decided in a split second to fight for my House out of nothing but cowardice, you would be a liability no matter how great your skill. How could I know you would not do the same if Hun'Afin was raided. Had you been fighting for your House and nearly dead when Malag offered you your life and a place here, I would be more likely to accept you. Perhaps if you give me more details of the battle and your conversation with Malag I may make a swifter and more informed decision?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 17, 2010 2:50 pm
"My former house was Qu'ellar Alaenduis. I eliminated most of the shadow guard with just a few troops and my own capabilities. As for dying," Vincent rose from his bowed position and revealed his fangs,"I'm afraid that happened so long ago that no living Drow remembers it. I chose to take his offer and leave Alaenduis to its ruin as my matron had displeased Lolth and as such the fall of the house was inevitable."
Vincent hid his fangs once more, "When the battle began I had little time to prepare the defenses. Hiding a good amount of troops under magical invisibility I amassed a fighting force in the court yard. The shadow guard arrived and started to eliminate a good amount of the exposed soldiers; finding them to be out of reach of my exposed forces I took to the walls and slated my thirst on their blood. More of my own fell to the ground dead from poison and so I struck a deal with Malag. He would vouch for me and I would reveal the remaining troops as well as the hidden moles in the various houses."
Vincent recalled fondly that most recent battle, "He agreed and the deal was made. Reinforcements for Malag revealed themselves and began to engage my former forces both new and old. The others were revealed as well as the list of moles and how to get them to reveal themselves. After which I departed and waited out the weeks until I had enough resources to traverse here and if I was turned down, then leave for another house perhaps in another city."
Vincent turned his focus back to the matron of Hun'Afin, "I have come to offer my combat prowess for whatever position you might have available." Vincent bowed low once more, hoping the civility would remain between the matron and himself.
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Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:36 am
Chalthara smiled, not outwardly bothered by the fact that Vincent was of the undead. "You choose your words well and carefully, Vincent Draemir. You seem as competent in conversation as you are in battle. Since this is the case, I am willing to consider you for a position within this House, but I must have some time to fully weigh all the options and possibilities." Really, this meant that she had to consult with Veldrin, but she would never speak of that. She needed to seem as if all the House's decisions were her own.
"In the meantime," she continued, "feel free to remain here. As long as you do not make trouble, you are welcome until I reach a final decision."
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Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:45 pm
Vincent bowed deeply once again, "Thank you matron, it would be my pleasure." Vincent retreated into the shadows and discorporated into gas, traveling to his hidden cave on the ceiling of UnderGaia.
Vincent found that his feeding slave was still asleep from the drugged food. Vincent fed and set out some more drugged food and water for when she awoke, walking over to the small bag of scrolls, potions, and items he had taken from his lost matrons vault before he left he found the scroll he was looking for and walked to the front of the cave. Activating the scroll the front of the cave and the odors from within appeared nonexistent, "She cannot leave, predators cannot find her, and if all goes well I shouldn't have to leave her here much longer. I do hope those steel chains hold tight though, it has been so long since I've used this cave."
Vincent discorporated once more and returned to Qu'ellar Hun'Afin. Reforming he walked about the grounds with Defiler strapped to his back. He admired the painstaking effort it must have taken to construct the buildings to such a refined degree.
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Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 10:21 am
(Flashback)
Within the recesses of the House Chapel, a thin, vertical line of azure light began to form, splitting to form a second identical line four feet from the first. A third, horizontal line of light appeared across the top, completing the magical doorway. Seconds later, Veldrin emerged triumphantly from the Dimension Door carrying the limp form of Vasune'avin Aleanduis, formerly the Matron of the Third House of Ulorbbath...now a soon-to-be-sacrifice to the Demon Queen of Spiders.
"Kindly inform the Matron that the 'guest of honor' has arrived," he said in passing to the junior priestesses, chanting prayers for the success of the raid, as he went down the passageway leading to the dungeons.
Soon after, Vasune'avin was gagged and shackled in a special cell in the dungeon designed for spellcasters. Her hands were bound in custom manacles that prevented any movement of her fingers, designed to foil a spell's somatic component. Veldrin sealed the cell door behind him as he left the dungeon, and activated his House brooch to send a message to Valagh. "Mission accomplished. Aleanduis has lost its head. Spread the word, complete your objectives and return home. Valagh, level the place before you leave."
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Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 3:13 am
Vincent continued to walk around reveling in the presence of so many living guards. The magical defenses worried him little, that was the work of wizards and not something he bothered with. Vincent eventually came upon a concealed stream, blind white fish could be seen within. Silently he pondered, Interesting, it seems much has changed since I left, fish used to be a rarity reserved for matrons and high priestesses of Lolth. Continuing on Vincent observed some human slaves toiling away with cleaning, Bah, filthy humans, tasteless and irritating; why does everyone use them for slaves? Golems work so much better, easy to re-purpose and modify, truly worth the creation.
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Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:35 am
As Sy appeared up to the gates, the drowess pulled the cowl off of her head to reveal her face and showed them her insignia for the House, "Back from the raid. We're heading to the barracks now to store the goods. Send word to the Weaponsmaster of our arrival and the things we've brought along," Sy gestured to two brutes that were holding two chains which were linked with shackled slave after slave. Kobolds, orcs, goblins, and even humans. Along the way, Sy had ran into a couple of merchants with a caravan. Sy and some of her brutes had slayed the merchants and took the caravan to stuff some of the riches inside mainly covered statues of Lolth, swords, weapons, ammo, hand crossbows, large sacks full of jewels, gold, platinum, herbs, and other miscellaneous objects, odds, and ends.
The guards at the gate nodded and bowed as they allowed the warrior through with her army. Once they had passed through the gate, the guards then closed it and one of them went to go send word to Veldrin.
In the meantime, Sy had lead the brutes to the barracks where they began to unload some of the shipment at least to the inside where it wouldn't be damaged or stolen by any passing slave and what not.
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Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 9:17 am
Malag and the Shadow Guard had an uneventful trip back to the Qu'ellar; while there had been several close calls, they'd managed to avoid direct confrontations, and hadn't lost a single Guard along the way: not half bad for a trip through the back alleys of Ulorbbath. The vanguard of Malag's team appeared, and offered their seals to open the way; Malag and the others swept inside silently, and quickly dissipated as soon as the prize was within Hun'Afin's sheltering walls. Malag made his way back to the room Veldrin had ordered, the still-unconcious form of the Aleanduis First Daughter slung over his shoulder and a faint smile adorning his face. As he entered the room with the bound and gagged Daughter, he beckoned to one of the guards.
"Let Veldrin know that his second guest has arrived, and is ready to find her residence."
The guard nodded, and headed off to inform Veldrin. In the meantime, Malag leaned patiently against a wall, never taking his eyes off the Daughter; Drowesses were tricky creatures, and he didn't want anything unbecoming to happen...
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