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 Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:00 pm
And the guild doors swung open, several drow filing out through the open doorway almost in the form of an organized march. One of these such drow was of course, Beldaeyn, who seemed rather glad to finally be heading out.
He checked his weapons as he moved along with the others towards the triple gates of the underground city, making sure everything was there as well as secured properly. Even though his stay was less than pleasant in his eyes, he had managed to pick up a few new items and a modification to his current armour.
Out of the faerie fire lit city and into the unending darkness of the Underdark...
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:11 am
The drow gate guard cocked an eyebrow as his red eyes ran over the words scrawled on the piece of parchment. He looked up over the top of the piece of paper at the man which had handed him the note before he went over the words on the note again. It was... a diplomatic letter?
The man had not proven to show any signs of hostility yet; having simply come towards the gates alone in the open, even waving at the guards to get their attention as he approached. The most the man had done was cast a spell, which of course, was quickly recognized as a tongues spell so that he would understand the dark elves. They did not have any reason to deny him entry, as the note was authentic, and he did not appear as a threat.
"Sultha." the gate guard with the letter said as he stepped aside, letting the others open the seal on the massive adamantine doors into the city, letting the structure slide open with a dull grinding sound.
Decruda bowed as a gesture of thanks before he went along on his way into the dark, magically lit city, taking the letter of diplomacy with him. His shallow face as raw as a skinned cat, teeth gleaming against the lighting, uncovered by lips. He would not spend much time to take a tour and partake in the city's entertainments and pleasures, for instead, he was here for business, as he marched towards the city central. Anything else could be done after he had finished his job.
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 10:01 pm
The entire conversation between the spellsword and the matriarchs in the city was played out very subtle, with careful direction of the smallest of details. Decruda would speak in common so that the matrons would not be offended by a human butchering the drow language, and he would always be courteous, knowing his place and to watch his words and actions, for in drow society, males were considered inferior.
All in all, the man's diplomatic skills came through, as terms for an alliance were agreed upon, even if it would not come into use all too often. He exited the building and began heading towards the city's exit on the west side where the three heavy gates were located. He personally did not see any need to stay longer than needed, even if he was provided a place to stay at the House of Pleasures as an important diplomat.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:58 pm
The gate guards were all too happy to let the diplomat out of the city. Reasons may include many things. One may be his raw skinless face, which the drow, accustomed to only beauty, who slay their own if mishappen, probably were not pleased to have to look at, or have staring back at them. Secondly, he was a human, which of course, drow believe to be inferior, but he was a diplomat, which meant they had to show respect.
The giant adamantine gates would emit a howling screech as it slowly opened before Decruda, opening up a passage into the vast empty and dark caverns of the Underdark. He would begin to walk forward past the guards either side of the gate before it would begin to close in the same fashion.
He gave one last look over his shoulder at the guards located on the outside of the massive gate before he disappeared into the dark tunnels. There were other things which required his attention at the moment; plans to make and carry out, orders to deligate, people to torture.
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:22 am
It had been some time since Valas last found himself within a city of his kin, and he didn't miss any of it. He had been glad to finally be free of the matriarchal tyranny that was drow society, and wasn't too pleased when he had been tasked with coming to this particular city in an attempt to find a few select "chosen ones" to join the new order. It wouldn't be too hard finding a few disgruntled males looking for a change in life.
Spells layered to make him nearly impossible to detect, the lichdrow Valas Zauviir lurked near one of the gates leading into the city, awaiting an opportunity to slip in unnoticed. Despite His resourcefulness, Valas hadn't been given much information about this particular city, only that it held much potential for their cause. Valas was typically skeptical of the optimism, but he owed much to his lord, who wouldn't have taken no for an answer.
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:03 pm
Valas slipped past the gates on the heels of a merchant wagon. The guards were oblivious to the intrusion, and it was better it stayed that way. He slipped into the shadows of the marketplace. He was still invisible, but he didn't want to take any chances. Once he was sure that he was in the clear, and that the guards hadn't picked up on any magical emanations, he dropped his enchantments and cast another upon himself that would make him appear alive. He emerged from an alleyway, pulling the hood of his cloak over his head. He would appear as any other mage of the city, unless one were to notice that he didn't carry a House Insignia brooch on his cloak. Valas made his way to the one place he was sure he could find the information he needed: the magic quarter of the marketplace.
Valas found a booth selling spell components and scrolls, browsing the wares as if interested in buying something. The merchant was drow, probably a mage or an apprentice, watching him eagerly.
"I'm looking for some black onyx gems," Valas said.
"Necromancer, eh?" the merchant said with a smirk, as if the knowledge was something special to him. "I might have something for you."
He dug around in a leather backpack sitting nearby, pulling out a small black pouch. Opening it, he spilled several onyx gems into the palm of his hand, smiling up to Valas. "Thirty gold."
Talk about highway robbery. Valas had plenty of his own gems, and really didn't need these. He humored the merchant, though, playing the bargaining game.
"You're joking me. Twenty gold," he said.
"Twenty-five."
Valas rubbed his chin as if thinking about it, then said, "Deal."
He took a pouch from his belt, weighing it in his hand, taking out a few gold pieces, then handed it to the merchant, who in turn handed him the pouch. The merchant didn't even bother to check if the coins were real, which told him he really was an apprentice.
"Do you have any more of these?" he asked.
"You bought the last one, friend," the merchant replied.
"Where can I get some more?"
"You raising an army, or something?" The merchant was beginning to feel suspicious of Valas. Looking him over, he didn't recognize him from the Tower of Wizardry, nor did he seem to be carrying a House Insignia.
Valas read the suspicion on the merchant's face, silently casting a spell while responding to the merchant's question. "No, of course not. I just like to have an abundant supply. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem telling me where I could find more, and if it is, I certainly wouldn't say it was you who told me. We're friends, afterall."
"Yes... Friends..." the merchant seemed confused for a moment, then he smiled at Valas. "You know I'd never keep anything from you. He is a master of necromancy at the Tower of Wizardry, called Durmyr Kenafin. He gives me all his excess gems to sell here."
"You're his apprentice, then?" Valas asked.
"Yes, you could say that."
Valas smiled. "Perhaps you could introduce us. I may have a proposition for him."
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Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 12:48 am
Valas met the apprentice mage some hours later, who was waiting for him outside of the doors to the Tower of Wizardry. After exchanging a brief greeting, the apprentice brought Valas inside.
The foyer wasn't much impressive. It was typical for places that taught magic. There were some couches, a reception desk, and a spiraling staircase that went up to all the levels of the tower. Valas was sure there were some levels below it as well, but he wasn't here for exploration.
"I told Master Kenafin about your proposal, and he says he is interested," the apprentice whispered as the archmage followed next to him up the steps. The remained quiet the rest of the way up, which wasn't long. Master Kenafin was an instructor on necromancy; hardly archmage material. It was a start for Valas, though, and the lich would play on Kenafin's ambitions.
The apprentice left Valas at the door to Kenafin's study. He knocked once before allowing himself inside, closing the door behind him.
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Posted: Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:31 pm
"I understand that you're a necromancer," Valas stated, after formal greetings were exchange between himself and Master Kenafin. Still young in elven years, Kenafin had his white hair tied back into a tail, wearing robes as dark as his skin. Of not for the whites of his eyes and his hair, Valas might not have seen him in the shadows.
"I am, yes. What's your concern about it?" the mage asked.
Valas explained, "I am seeking out necromancers from these parts to present them an opportunity that is surely hard to pass up. An opportunity to expand your power, and the power over the dead, without having to worry about the watchful gaze of the priestesses."
"Interesting offer. What's the catch?"
"Leave this city, move your belongings to a city in the Northernlands, Necropolita, and pledge yourself to the Dark Eternal," Valas said.
"A death god?" the mage asked. Valas nodded. Kenafin pondered on it for a moment, before asking, "Why me?"
"You're the only one I know of, so far, thanks to your apprentice. I'm sure you could direct me to others who would likely accept this fair and easy proposal such as yourself."
"And if I don't accept?" Kenafin asked warily.
"I will leave and find a more suitable candidate."
"Very well then. I do know of some others, but contacting them may be difficult. I will meet with them later to tell them of your proposal. Until then, you are welcome to stay and rest in the tower."
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Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 12:25 pm
Later on into the hours of darkness in the Night Above, Master Kenafin knocked on the door of the room Valas had been given for the duration of his stay. The wizard entered as Valas was putting away his spellbook, turning in his desk chair to look at him.
"I have met with the others, and they say that they are interested in your proposal," Kenafin said.
"Good," Valas replied, smiling. "In the southwestern edge of this cavern, you will find a cluster of stalactites that once served as a House in this city, before it's abrupt downfall. Seek me there tomorrow night, after the last light has gone out, and bring your friends."
The mage bowed his head and stepped out of Valas' room, leaving him alone to resume his studies.
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Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 8:05 pm
"The attack on Ymiristan has gone as planned."
"Chaszmyr," Valas replied, not needing to look up from his spellbook. He'd known the assassin was there before he even spoke. "You should know better than sneaking into my study uninvited. What's this about an attack? I was not informed of such."
The assassin stepped out of the shadows, turning his gaze on the lich. "No need. If the master needed your assistance, he would have summoned you."
The lich turned his gaze on Chaszmyr. "I see. So He sent you here to assist me, I take it."
"Something like that," he replied.
"Good, because I am having a hellish time trying to spy on my new colleagues. Paranoid lot, unsuprisingly. Since that is your one of your fields of specialty, I suppose you've been sent here to do just that."
"Spying on wizards is difficult," Chaszmyr stated, "You know that. I'm going to need some assistance remaining undetected to their wards."
"Yes, I know the drill." Valas pulled a ring off one of his bony digits, offering it to the drow. "This ring will project your body into the Ethereal Plane. Much more convenient than shadow walking, and you don't have to worry about any walls or obstacles barring your path. As long as you don't trip any alarms, you should be just fine."
Valas continued, "The ring works just like your shadow one. Just give it a twist, and you'll shift planes."
Chaszmyr took the ring, trying it on different fingers, before finding that it fit on his left ring finger. He nodded his head, understanding. "Who's the target?"
"He is an instructor on Necromancy, Master Kenafin. I've invited him and his colleagues here earlier. It seemed to go well, and they all seemed to be in compliance with joining the order, but you know your kin as well as I do, and I wouldn't be surprised if one or a few are either plotting against me, or have already told their Matron. I'm not too fond of Kenafin either."
Chaszmyr nodded again. "I'll tell you anything I discover."
"I know you will."
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 12:55 pm
Chaszmyr had discovered that two of the necromancers in Kenafin's company were treacherous, having told their Matrons of the plans of their peer. It wasn't enough information for them to truly care to investigate, and they were males, afterall. They probably wouldn't care as much when their bodies would be found with their necks sliced open.
The other necromancers turned out to be honorable to the cause - at least as honorable as drow go. Valas still didn't trust them yet, as they still had much to prove to him, but he met with them again, going over more plans, and the formation of their own secret coven. Valas would be the leader of it, of course, and overtime he would reveal his powers to them, and the fact that he is actually a lich. It was a dangerous thing to do in a drow city ruled by Lolth's priestesses, but it has been done before, numerous times. Even Lolth's oppression cannot suppress the wills of the other gods. One way or another, their word will be discovered.
The Coven of the Dark Eternal, as they called themselves, met once a week in the ceiling palace that Valas had made into his temporary quarters. During that time, Valas would reveal more of the world of undeath to them, and the teachings of Dark Eternal, as well discuss more possible converts they could take into their fold. Chaszmyr would remain unseen the entire time, working from the shadows. They would not know of his existence, nor would they be allowed to. The assassin was the fail-safe device. If the necromancers turned on them, he would kill them all before they ever made it back to their respective Houses.
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Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 11:33 pm
"Vel'bolen nindol? Quarthen?" Beldaeyn asked as he sat up from his lazy spralwed position on the stone bench and recieved a note.
He took a quick glance over it, and put is away as he pushed himself up off the bench.
"loren saph dorn tlu aluin xuil l'byrren," he said out loud, "Good, it was getting boring staying here."
Beldaeyn was a drow, yes. But unlike most, he had adapted to the light above ground, and that was where he performed most of his duties. Now however, with actual orders, there was something for him to actually do, and this was something to be excited about, enough that he'd even mutter words in the common tongue, something he'd be doing a lot of in the near future.
He was spending quite the amount of time getting re-acquainted with his dislike for mainstream drow society during his time in the city, and was rather looking forward to finally getting out since it wasnt like he could just leave whenever he wanted, he was a part of a clan that took orders. Freelancers were frowned upon by the larger order of guilds and clans. Especially in the profession of being a mercenary; a blade for hire.
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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 1:53 am
Sneaking into the drow city was easier than expected. Finding someone with the information he needed, however, was another matter. Darshendros had had dealing with the drow in the past, but he had been gone for a while, and in drow society a lot can change in a while. His only connections to the city - the demilich and the assassin - were dead now, leaving him with little to work with.
He kept to the shadows, intangible and mostly undetected, unless somehow someone knew he was lurking invisibly in the darkness. His only lead was to go to the Tower of Wizardry and peruse their vast library, but he knew well enough there would be numerous protections around the place to prevent uninvited guests.
Fortunately, males in drow society were usually always willing to increase their status by any means necessary, so all he needed to do was find the right patsy to invite him into the tower or bring him any related texts that he needed. Finding such patsy would take some time. Good thing he had all the time in the world.
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:56 pm
A drow wizard stepped out of the tower and paused at the foot of the steps, glancing around. He felt something odd in the air, something that didn't belong. Mouthing the words to a spell, he whipped around and thrust out his hand, casting magic missiles into the darkness! They struck nothing, of course, because Darshendros was still intangible, but were he not they would have certainly hit the mark and blown his concealment. He wondered how the wizard knew he was lurking there.
"I can sense you, creature," the wizard stated in his native tongue. "Reveal yourself and I will promise you a swift demise!"
Darshendros had no time for games. An opportunity had presented itself, and he was bound to take advantage of it before the drow could call for reinforcements. Partially materializing, he appeared like Death hovering over someone about to die, waiting to claim their soul to take into the afterlife. The wizard stepped back, staring disbelievingly up at him, and quickly began chanting the words to another spell.
Sounds like a million insects skittering across a chalkboard suddenly filled the wizard's ears, drowning out all other sound and interrupting his spellcast. The maddening whispers reached his mind before he could react and erect a defense against them. He fell to his knees, cupping his hands over his ears and screaming out in protest, his eyes wide with whatever unimaginable horrors were filling his mind and clouding his vision.
Darshendros descended upon him then, wrapping him up in a blanket of darkness and seeping into every pore of his body. Having succumbed to the madness that was consuming him, he was unable to resist Darshendros's invasion. The wizard's screams fell silent.
The doors to the tower opened and two other wizards stepped out, wands in hand.
"Vorag, what's wrong? We heard you screaming."
The wizard, Vorag, turned to face them, his face calm and collected.
"Ah, it's nothing," he said. "Thought I saw a dragon. Must be the shadows playing tricks on me again. Excuse me, I need to return to my studies..."
Vorag walked past the two standing in front of the door, returning inside the tower. The two other wizards looked at each other and shrugged, and then followed him inside, none the wiser.
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Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 2:29 am
Inside the Tower of Wizardry, something was amiss...
"Who's going to tell him?"
"I'm not going to tell him."
"Well, I don't wanna tell him either. I don't want to be turned into a pool of slime!"
"Someone has to tell him..."
"We're the only ones who know. We can't exactly tell someone else to tell him."
"... Fine, we'll tell him together."
The pair of squabbling mages - coincidentally the same two who first heard Vorag screaming outside - hustled down the long corridor toward Archmage Gromph Zauviir's office. The archmage was one of the oldest - and scariest - of the archmages living in the tower, so it was obvious why they feared to report to him of what they had discovered. The other archmages were away, leaving him in charge, unfortunately for everyone else. The two mages approached the door and were about to knock when a loud, piercing wailing noise shot through the tower.
"What--?"
"That's the dimensional alarm..."
The door suddenly swung open with an angry, aged drow wizard standing in the doorway, dressed in his fine robes and smelling of various alchemical herbs and reagents.
"What in the Nine Hells is going on?" he growled.
"Archmage, it's the dimensional al--"
"I know what it is, you idiot! How was it activated?"
The mages mouths hung open as they sought to figure out an answer when another mage came running down the corridor.
"Demons! There are demons in the tower!"
"That's impossible!" the archmage said, stepping out into the corridor and shouldering his way past the two bumbling mages. "We have every protection in place to prevent such a thing."
"Uh... It seems... they've been disabled, sir..." said mage #3.
"This is why I hate babysitting you imbeciles when the others are away... What in blazes are you three standing around here for? Go and banish them back from whence they came! Do I have to tell you everything?"
Mage #3 tripped over himself as he turned to run back the way he came, while the other two hesitated, which only irritated Gromph some more.
"Are you two daft? Go help the others!"
"A-archmage, there's something else you should know..." said one.
"An artifact is missing," the other continued. "One of the ancient tomes... The one you recovered from the illithids many years ago..."
Gromph's eyes widened. "What?! When did this happen?"
"We're not sure, sir, but we think Vorag might have taken it. He's been acting odd since we found him outside a few days ago, and earlier we heard him chanting... strange words in his room."
"Vorag? He's not even advanced enough to handle such a tome. It would destroy him as soon as he--"
The tower shook with an explosion somewhere inside and the floor in the middle of the corridor erupted with dark energy. Black tendrils sprang up, one with an entangled mage that was soon splattered against the wall.
"These aren't demons of the Abyss," the archmage said. "You two! Gather everyone in the tower who can fight. I don't care if they're still novices! We cannot let these creatures destroy this tower and gain access to its secrets, let alone shame us in the faces of the priestesses... We will handle this ourselves. I will clear the way for you. Make haste! And if you find Vorag, you bring him to me!"
Gromph took a pinch of something from one of the many pouches hanging from his belt and incanted some words, the temperature in the air growing hot around him. He flung out his hand and launched a fireball that filled the entire corridor, nearly cooking the two mages had they not been quick enough to duck behind him. He erected a barrier in front of them as the fireball exploded and consumed the dark tendrils, clearing the way for the two mages to run and carry out his orders.
"We cannot fight off these monsters and recover the book at the same time," Gromph grumbled to himself as he watched his subordinates flee down the hall, one of them nearly falling through the hole in the floor. "As much as it pains me to do this, we're going to need his help... Lolth help us all..."
Gromph pulled a gemmed hair pick from a hidden pocket and returned to his study, slamming the door behind him.
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