{RP excerpt from Au Shinduago, City Proper. These are two sample posts I've jammed together for you. ^^
Chalthara's profile: http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=14335915 }Though the appearance of Myrkul had sent shivers down her spine, probably visible, the Wyrm caused thoughts of death to wildly whirl through her mind. Foremost among them was the assertion that she was not prepared to die. She was frightened of death because of her own, self-proclaimed heresy against the Spider Queen. If she were to die, what would happen to her soul? She would not serve her Goddess in the afterlife if she were unfaithful. The thought of a different end than the one she had expected for most of her life terrified her -- not in the sense that she would be dead, but in the sense that her blasphemy would be obvious and the repercussions painful.
Either way, Val'atar's terms were set. Now all she had to do was make the decision. Surrender or fight? Live or die?
The Dark Wyrm caused her to think once again. What was twenty men out of five thousand, anyway? Those who she would be content to sacrifice would probably be the weakest of her forces. They would die even if she chose to fight...and the dragon itself would kill just as many men as a regiment of fighters from the city. It made their numbers almost equal.
Also, if she chose not to face the combined forces of Au Shinduago, the members of Izaran's army would be used to bolster the city's defenses...as had been his original intent. Now that was the sort of irony that made her glad. When Val'atar spoke of scrying, though, he only spoke of it for the purpose of detecting plans against the city. And it would only be done once. Chalthara presumed that if she required the services of Izaran's soldiers, they would still hold some sort of loyalty to her. She couldn't quite think of an instance in which it would be necessary to call upon them...but it pleased her to imagine that the option existed.
Her lips quirked upwards into a tiny smile, but she did not give any reason as to why. If she said anything flippant to Val'atar, he would probably not be so "kind" in his dealings. She thought the terms generally fair and did not want to upset things.
There was only one problem. She rather liked this newfound power. She had an army that would do anything she told them, no matter how stupid.
But was that worth her life? Eternal damnation? Perhaps not.
"My Master did not desire a war, Patron Druu'giir. If I am permitted to choose the twenty that shall be given to the Wyrm, there shall be no battle here."
Obviously, she would choose the weakest of the soldiers and those that were somewhat...on edge about her leadership. It was the sensible thing to do.
{What follows is that Vally tells her that she can only choose the twenty from her officers.}"Your terms remain just," Chalthara said calmly, only partially meeting the gaze of the half-fiend as she looked up at his face. She frowned briefly at him before turning away, not enjoying his scrutiny. "I still choose my twenty sacrifices."
She whirled on her guards, who stood far enough away from her that they hadn't been breathing down her neck during the negotiations. "You will be spared." She looked towards the guard that had talked back to her earlier. "Since you are of low status, it pains me to say that you will be included in the number that remain alive. For now, you are to be my messenger and relay the news to those who will be sacrificed. I think that's punishment enough for you, hmm?"
It was the longest speech she'd given in a long time, so the poor guard knew she had to be serious. He paled at the thought of delivering such news to his superiors -- but he supposed that that was the sort of torture Chalthara loved dishing out.
"All you need do is tell me their names and they shall be notified, Lady Kenrahel," he said with a shallow bow.
Chalthara laughed at the use of her fallen House's name, then lapsed into thought for a few minutes, sorting through those members who had always seemed hostile to her despite Izaran's urgings of acceptance. Most of them just weren't comfortable with a drow in their midst...and certainly not at the head of the army. The unfaithful of the 'fodder' would just have to wait for their judgement. Those who could act on their mistrust of her were the ones she worried about. In that way, Val'atar's offer had been quite helpful. At least it would have been if she were allowed to maintain control of Izaran's army after all this was done.
Once the matter was cleared with Eclavice, Chalthara vowed to herself that she would return to her clerical studies. The thought of 'death by dragon' had frightened her into a new form of her faith. Both Myrkul and dissolving in oblivion scared her beyond anything she had previously known.
"Captain; assist me in delivering Lord Druu'giir's command," she ordered, voice wavering perceptibly this time.
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