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Briza looked at the archmage curiously as a smile slowly formed on her lips, "I'm sure every drow seizes an opportunity when the time comes. That's just our nature, is it not?"

She then slowly rose from the table and took another swig from her glass before setting it empty on the table. Wiping the corners of her mouth she then turned toward the exit. Before taking another step, Briza looked back over her shoulder, "I shall see you later, M. Remember the Council my mother requested after the Ball," and with that she sped off, out of the room.

((You must have forgotten that I mentioned about the meeting. That's why I was sure to bring it up again. I mention it quite clearly on the fourth page, second post.))

Slowly people began to thin out of the ballroom. Most of them going back to their dorms in the Southern part of the House. Guards began to flank into the entrance hall and climb the steps to the Throne Room. To aid their Matron in the Council if needed.



Briza entered the Throne Room with her graceful self and approached the Throne. The Matron was seated as she seemed to be starring out through one of the tall french windows which had an enchantment for her to see the whole of Ulorbbath.

Once Lariexith felt her daughter chose her spot beside the Throne, the Matron spoke out to her, not taking her gaze off of the window, "Where is the Archmage, my dear."

"He should be coming any time now. I'm sure he's just waiting to see the Ball finish."

"Good," the Matron nodded before turning her attention onto her daughter, "So I see you've taken a likin' into this fellow."

Briza shuffled in her spot uncomfortable, "Don't be silly, mother. We were just talking about the House."

"And sharing a dance or two?" Lariexith implied as she cocked her head curiously to the side in a playful manner.

"It was just pleasurable business. He's the rookie. Don't want to be too hard on him," Briza then fell into a silence. She couldn't wait till the Council was over so she could avoid her mother's accusations.

((Yeah, usually with parties and stuff like that. People are allowed to leave whenever. That was also stated in the post. lol Sorry if I wasn't clear.))

Lariexith's eyes flashed as she watched the Archmage assume back into his plain black robes.

Least he had the decency to appear nice in front of Lolth, thought the Matron with a sneer.

"Nice of you to join us," the Matron said carelessly.

Her hand made a few silent motions. Just then, a scraping noise could be heard from above. Thousands of spiders climbed down from the columns and swarmed behind the sorcerer. Together the critters worked to close the doors to the Throne Room before skittering back up the columns and into the darkness of the ceiling in which they came.

The Matron then slid down from her Throne and walked over to one of the indented, circular places in the room off the left. Where three french windows stood as tall as the room itself. From the floor, to the ceiling. Each window showed a different angle and location of Ulorbbath. Being that Tor'afin was built underground, Lariexith was sure to place these enchanted windows where she would be able to see and keep watch over the other houses.

The Matron lifted her hand and gently caressed one of the panes on the middle window. The window changed its perspective to show the House, Aleanduis.

"This House was a failure before it began to show greatness. It is currently the House before ours. But it is steadily losing favor in Lolth. At one time it was second for a split second. And our house was third. But by the powers of Lolth, she kept Hun'Afin and brought it back to its place. Thus dropping Tor'afin and Aleanduis a rank back. But now, a new House has come..." waving her hand in front of the window on the right, the window changed its perspective to a House in the making.

"Its rank has been undetermined. Aleanduis' rank stands threatened. But our house is neutral. We are neither acknowledged by Lolth nor ignored. We sit on a stand still at this point in time. Watching the houses at their battle for rank."

Lariexith then turned back to look at the mage, "I really hate missing out on all of this action. So I think its time we meddle in the middle and make our presence known. Aleanduis contacted me before the Ball," she then pulled out the letter from her bosom and presented it in front of the Noble, "She states she wishes us to attend a feast at her House. To discuss our Houses' progression in the coming future. I'm thinking of attending. I'll leave Briza here to watch the House, and have you accompany me as my guard."

Lariexith then paused and looked up at the mage with a smile, "Your input is gladly appreciated."

((Sorry for delay in reply. I have been extremely busy IRL. Also excuse crappy post to come. Because of IRL, my creative juices haven't been up to par in my opinion. Many apologizes.))

The Drow gave a bow upon being recognized by the Matron, keeping his gaze on the floor and never meeting any of the female's eyes in the room. While the Archmage didn't care for Drow politics nor policies so much, he was very much aware of how strict and the consequences of not playing their games could be. Bearing a weak smile, the wizard listened in silence as the Matron spoke of the situation involving the other Houses and how the ranks of Aleanduis has changed from up to once more down. Keeping a smirk from spreading across his face, the wizard straighten his posture some when the attention fell upon him for input.

"Well, your Jabbress, from what I understand, our best way to solidify a strong high rank within this city is to do something approving and appealing to Lloth. And from what I understand, our Goddess is very fond of chaos and triumph. Thus I suggest we give our cruel and majestic Goddess both. I say we start small and attack Aleanduis. Start small and then work our way up. Baby steps if you will. Now if I recall, rules of the city is that we can't afford to lose the battle, for that would end up costing us our lives, so to insure that, how about we hire mercenaries to do the dirty deed?"

It was then a smile spread across the Sorcerer's face as the gears behind his silver eyes turned. "In fact, a better idea has entered my mind. How about we hire mercenaries to attack Hun'Afin under the banner of Aleanduis. You see, I'm sure Hun'Afin will surly hold off an attack from some pathetic mercs, but the beauty of it all is that Hun'Afin as well as the whole city will believe it is Aleanduis' doing. This will cause must disfavor and probably the fall of the House in this city, thus raising our rank over the fallen house Aleanduis as well as weakening Hun'Afin's forces. With that, we can see where it goes from there..."

The Sorcerer then gave an small modest bow to his Matron as he closed his eyes and bore a proud smile across his face, pleased with the plan he had thought of, though in honestly, it isn't that unique. For many of centuries, many Houses have done such tricks to gain favor and though many a centuries, those Houses have raised to high stature. It is after the dust settling that determines where a House stands in the end though.

The Matron blinks her deep ruby eyes slowly over the grand image of the growing Tor'afin in their slow approach, her dark fingers brushing against the rich crimson curtain of her lizard-drawn carriage as the mushrooms and stalagmites grow in the distance. She watches it steadily, her weight rocking back and forth lightly with movement of the carriage. With a slow exhale, she pulls back her hand, letting the curtain fall into place once more.

Quiet moments pass before the carriage comes to a slow, ebbing stop, another quick moment passes before the dark carriage's door is opened for her. Without a glance to the servant, Matron Zara releases a bracing breath as she lifts herself from her seat, passing through the door and straightening her back as she descends the few steps with much more grace than she would seem to be capable of. In front of the carriage door is a metallic disc with an elegant throne that seems to have been made from Stalactite Vines that shimmer with a pure gold.

Lowering herself into the throne, Zara releases another slow breath as a dark, slender hand reflexively reaches up to brush over the growing swell of her stomach. She lifts her gaze upwards at the spider-woven gate, watching it steadily as guards hurry towards her and the pair of guards at either side of her, drawing swords and spears at the small group. The Matron blinks her slow gaze towards them, narrowing her ruby gaze just briefly before she exhales a slow breath. "I have come to request the audience of the honorable Matron Lariexith Tor'afin..." she murmurs.

The guards' approach came of no surprise as the Matron watches the scene unfold with steady eyes, absorbing details. She had purposefully came the way she had, after all. Her vivid ruby eyes shift upwards to the dismounting captain as he approaches, her gaze narrowing slightly at his words in thought as she ponders to herself. Lowering her chin quietly in a nod, she speaks loud enough for all to hear her, "I am loyal and faithful follower of goddess Lolth, Matron Zaraun Gaundroth of the fifth house of Ulorbbath. I have come to seek a coalition with the Matron of Tor'afin."

The corner of her lips tugs slightly. "And to show that I have all the truest intentions, I have a gift for your Matron." One of the guards that had left her side grunts in a baritone as he unties and unshackles a being from the side of the carriage. A white human male, clean and groomed, though wearing nothing but a white wrapping around his waist. The guard pulls at the chain to his iron collar, pulling him forward, though he obeys easily with eyes downwards. "I offer a male human which knows how to make bread, to show I am in good faith."

The Matron easily meets the captain's eyes as she lowers her chin slightly in understanding, her ruby eyes glancing to her side as her guard pushes the slave forward, allowing him to be taken by the row of guards.

The disc shifts upwards into a hover a few inches above the ground, moving forward to follow after the captain as her own guards walk beside her, looking forward, though also seeming somewhat tense beside their mothering Matron. The small group remains silent as they follow after the captain.

The guards and arches go ignored, but not unnoticed by the Matron and her attending guards, her ruby eyes watching the path in front of them as her hand absently brushes over her swollen stomach. A habit that has grown in the recent months.

At the slow approach to the hut, the corner of her lips tugs slightly, silent before it fades into a passive expression once more. Once entering the dimly lit hut, she lifts a white brow as she glances around, her chair hovering deeper and lowering to the ground next to one of the chairs. With a slow exhale, Zara lifts herself from the chair, lowering her chin in a nod, "Understandable, given the case. We shall wait regardless." she answers the captain.

When he leaves, she repositions herself and lowers into one of the cushioned seats, leaning back slightly as she sits straight, looking calm and regal as she shifts her eyes towards the closest window. The image of the captain as he hurries disappearing beyond the frame of the window.