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At the center of this underground world is the Glimmersea. A vast underground lake in a gigantic cavern that the Drow must cross to be able to trade with the West and Southdark. The mineral deposits on the roof of this cavern are said to shine like stars which is how the lake received is name. The docks are generally populated with traders and travellors in small vessels powered by slaves (mainly dwarves). Unlike a real ocean, there are no winds or significant tides on the Glimmersea so the waters are calmer but take more effort to cross. There is a legend of a crazed half-breed drow who roams the lake, ransacking any rich vessel that comes her way. But this is mere speculation.

A man cloaked entirely in black, his face shrowded by the deep cowl, his blue eyes glimmering like the starry mineral deposits above from behind a mask, waited amidst the chaos of the docks, scanning seemingly innoncently the passersby. At his side, slightly behind with her head lowered in submission stood his slave, a brilliant gloaming, her skin so incandescent as to seem metallic, her brown hair pulled back and her furry wings tied securely at her back.
"Andrika." His voice was commanding, but not sharp, and immediately her eyes were open and alert, intent on her master.
"Have you yet sensed what we are waiting for?"
"I have not, Ilharn. There is too much here for me to read very far at all. Too much is going on at once. We must wait for the package to draw closer."
"Very well then."
Haeldril frowned ever so slightly, put off by the lengthy wait. But if the packaged arrived the ordeal would be more than worth the effort.

Amidst the ruckus of the docks, another cloaked figure soon joined the crowds surrounding the vessels, bartering for the good within. His hood was down revealing his wary red eyes and his lop-sided hair on top of which sat a pair of green lensed goggles, the mark of a surface raider. His eyes soon grew uncomfortable as he pressed his way through the small group surrounding the bottom of the gang-plank that he had made his way down cautiously. He was never going to get used to the boats.. It just wasn't natural! Not in the slightest, and now he had been confronted with another of his pet peeves. Tall people, lots of them.
It was like those wretched forests, those wretched forests filled with those wretched boting bugs! His skin crawled at the mere thought of them. It was a matter that went both ways in his head, he had really grown to quite like the surface world, the openness was.. Almost nice once he had got around the endless dizzying sky, the winds, the smells, they were nice, and fresh. Although he had to admit that there was something oddly comforting about the oppressive darkness and the familiar scents of the underdark. The glimmersea, he could do without, but not matter. He was here on business..
Another successful raid on yet another group of surface dwelling creatures had bought about.. A most exciting bounty.. A magical artifact, elven origin no doubt along with quite the interesting clutch of eggs. Unbreakable, and no doubt of great interest to peddlers of magical creatures. He had been contacted more about the artefact, however, but there was never any harm in bringing along the eggs as well, there may well be someone curous about those too.

Finally, breaking free of the horribly tall drow, the elf shook himself a little, dusting off his shoulders as if to remove imaginary dirt that he had collected from the other people as he took a steadying breath. He hated crowds, he hated the feeling of being trapped, with no easy way out, but the moment had passed now, and there was a more pressing issue.. Where on earth was the trader..? He had specified this port town.. But as for the specifics, apparently they would find him. It didn't ease his feelings too well..
Adjusting the fabric of the makeshift satchel over his shoulder, the cloaked drow stepped up towards the homes along the docks, his eyes peeled.

The small drow almost startled at the words of the other male, he was slightly lost amidst the crowds, and had not expected to be approached so swiftly. With an outward air of normality he flicked his dark, ruby eyes up.. And widened them a little. This was the guy..? He was a giant!
"Ah.. Of course.. I have what you desire, sir..?" His eyes traveled once down then back up the other male. The cloak was concealing, it didn't give him so much of a sniff as to what this fellow really was, merchant through and through, or was he something else..? He looked like he could have the build to be a warrior, he had the height for it, but then looks could always be deceiving, and by the Goddess he knew never to underestimate any potential opponent. He met eyes with the 'trader' once again, bowing his head in return. His.. Slave, he had to admit in passing, was quite an exotic beauty..
He shook his head, it wasn't the time.
"Kalana'fae,at your service for now. You needn't give your name in return, not yet at least.. And regarding your goods.. I think it would be wise to discuss such things in a more secluded place, one look at this thing could cause quite a stir.." He glance about yet again, ever on the look out. For once it would be nice to relax, really, but no doubt there was a time and place for that.
"Payment wise.. I have no desire for coin presently.. I'll need a list of goods you would be able to supply me with.." He looked up again, searching the other males face for any signs of both treachery and approval. He was still young.

The younger warrior nodded, relieved more than anything else that his suggestion was being acted upon, he bowed his head once again to the trader.
"That would be fine.. Any place more secluded than this would do in.." He trailed off as his eyes took in yet more cloaked drow who would become their escort. And there was that caged feeling again, it was ridiculous, he knew, he had nothing to feel at ill ease over, he was here trading honestly with.. Well with what was becoming more and more obvious to him to be a very successful trader indeed regarding his entourage.
"Oh.. It's no trouble.." He replied eventually after taking a good long look at the armed figures that surrounded the giant of a drow and himself, "Whatever means, necessary, eh, merchant..? I have nothing to hide, do forgive my.. Cautious disposition.." He almost met the others eyes again as the strange procession of a sorts started to move. He admitted it was nice having the crowds parted for him for once, the docks were seeming less oppressive at each step they took.
Weaving to the side a little to try and get a glimpse of where their transaction was going to take place, the small drow managed to steal fleeting glimpses of canvas.. Tents..? This guy was on the move a lot then, it made sense, it kept him mobile, able to travel to where his service where required and also, made it harder for the numerous thieves of the underdark to find him. He nodded his approval, to himself more than for the benefit of his host as he obediently followed him into the largest tent, and there, just inside the entrance he had to pause for a moment. It hadn't been what he had really been expecting, yes, some luxury perhaps, but it had been exquisitely decorated. Having seen some of the foreign luxuries during raids above ground he had a vague notion of the price of such things, and how sought after they where. He lifted his eyes again as his host spoke to him again,
"Coffee..?" He started, his eyebrows arching to match his questioning tone, "I cannot say that I have tried it before, although I am always open to trying something new, within reason of course." He allowed himself a small smile at that as he lifted a hand to the clasp of his heavy, plain cloak, undoing it and folding it over his arm as he went on to drop a hand to gesture to the numerous plush cushions around the low table, "May I take a seat at the table, Claddep, Ilharn?" He ventured a little cautiously. He hadn't stipulated that he was permitted to call him by his first name, so being more polite was perhaps the way to go with someone who commanded quite a measure of authority.
"My house name is Cladd'rret, not a well know or well established family as of yet.." The corner of his mouth twitched a moment, "There are those who believe that there is a need for a firmer hand at the reins, but.. Well, this isn't a story that you have the need to hear yet.."
The young drow lifted a hand to his face to rub at his smooth chin, thoughtfully as carefully, he lowered the well wrapped rectangle to the table, "Coin shall have to do then.. It is, I'm afraid the more useful commodity to me during times like this.." He settled eventually with as much respect as he could opposite the.. Warrior come trader..? He let his eyes wander over the other males form as he made a pretense of unwrapping the cloths.
Slowly a dark, ornately carved wooden box was revealed, silver and gold strands worked into the surface of it depicting fine details of strange looking creatures and knotted patterns. This was not the main attraction, it was the contents which the young drow soon revealed as he delicately lifted the lid. It was a scepter of a kind, crafted from fine metals, delicately decorated with a scant few precious stones, save they distract the eye from the head of the scepter, a marbled grey opalescent stone, the patterns of which never seemed to be the same at each glance. The thing seemed to almost hum with a form of hidden, secret power.
"I would hope, Claddep, Ilharn.. That this would interest you.."

The young drow couldn't contain the small smile that slipped over his features as he settled himself more comfortably upon the plush seating, going so far as to rest his bare elbow on the table as he lifted the hot cup to finally investigate the pitch liquid contained within it.. It smelt as dark as it looked and with a brow arched further at last he took a small sip.. Then had to pause to stop himself from screwing up his face. Bitter! Intensely bitter! He stared down at the cup again, somewhat accusingly as he set the cup down once more, his eyes snapping back to Haeldril.
"Two-hundred..?" He repeated. He had been told that the object held value for some people, but he had never quite expected it to fatch quite so much in gold! Even in more exotic lines of creatures he had sold along, he had never been offered gold for them, no matter how rare, numerous silvers.. Well, this was almost a little flabbergasting!
"Two-hundred and trades..?" He looked a lot more thoughtful at this. True, part of him had been very tempted indeed to haggle with the trader for a moment, but then, at the mention of protection to his beloved weaponry.. That was certainly not an offer he could refuse! Without those tools of trade, he would be nothing.
Leaning forward a little he retrieved the lid of the box, and with reverence he carefully placed it back in it's place, encasing the scepter once again, the power slowly fading from the senses.
"That, Haeldril Claddep, would be an offer that I simply could not refuse!" He offered him another small smile, "You know the mind of a fighter well!" He pushed the ornate box and the treasure within to the middle of the polished table, the surface protected thoughtfully by the cloths that the box had been wrapped in.
"Perhaps it would be wise of me to offer sending any other artefact's your way if you have such valuable resources such as alchemy at your disposal, too, wouldn't you think..?" He managed a slightly cheekier grin this time, curling his bare fingers around the cup, lifting it and sipping the bitter liquid once again. He shuddered a little that time, realising what he'd done. Then again.. The stuff did seem to grow on you a little, it had a slightly warm flavour to it as well. He took another sip.

Kalana'fae continued to smile, the cup halfway to his mouth.
"Well I trust that the right amount is there.. It would be rude indeed if I were to mistrust such a generous host by counting it out now." He gave the elder drow a friendly look as at last he lifted the cup the rest of the way to lips, tasting the bitter coffee once again. He should really have thought about it, yet again he wanted to give a little shudder at the biting taste. He looked down into the cup, rolling the flavour around his mouth for a moment. It was irritating how strangely pleasant it was after he had swallowed the liquid, though he did have doubts that he would ever be able to drink the stuff with such ease and so frequently that his host was managing.
He continued to listed to Haeldril's words, his eyes not seeming to be able to stay in one spot for an extended period of time, finally looking up at the mention of the mask, lingering there.
"May I..?" He inquired, hold out a hand to accept the mask if it were given to him. He wanted to get a close look at it, a feel for it even so that there would be no doubts if and when he had to contact this band of drow once again, "I like to be sure.. I don't have a bad memory, anything but, I like to try and see something from all angles when I try to commit it to memory!" He turned his eyes back on Hael, "There could be nothing worse than mistaking a member of your band for another persons.. After all, they may not be quite so hospitable!" He lent forward a little, shifting on the cushions once again, keeping one leg tucked beneath him, stretching the other out a little in front of him. The other leg soon followed with a creak of leather.
Arching an eyebrow at the chuckles he accepted the two vials, repeating the instructions under his breath, "Last time I made.. What I'm sure was a vastly over-priced purchase of Darkoil.. The vendor gave me different instructions, far fewer days between re-application.." He continued to look down at the substance, turning the vials in his hand a moment longer before tucking them safely into a cloth pouch which he in turn stowed inside a small hide satchel by his side, "Having never looked into such things myself, have you found that there are many ways of producing it, or was he talking utter rubbish?" He felt a little foolish asking, but he really had wanted to know. He was admittedly curious about other professions involving alchemies and magic, he couldn't understand the stuff at all however. "No need to go into details.. Sadly a lot is lost on me.. That's the way it seems to work here though, I was told I was good for a sword and nothing more." Again, with the coffee.. "Hmm.. I think I'll pass.. No, go on, I doubt that I'll be coming across such a luxury again in a hurry!" He decided eventually, fidgeting once again then yet again looking a little surprised as the gloaming entered the tent yet again with more curiosities!
He honestly had never seen most of what he was being offered here in such a short period of time.
"I beg pardon, Haeldril but.. What in the earth is that..?" He gave the papaya quite an astounded look especially at the bright flesh that was revealed at the other drow cut into it. He lent forward more and more with the most curious look of his face, eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
"A few of those I can name.." He started a little vaguely, weaving slightly from side to side as he peered down at all the fruits. "You certainly do very well for yourself indeed!" He had never know such wealth or luxury, and he was thoroughly aware that this was plastered across his face, he had never seen it shown off in such a way, to him of all people. He was not special in the slightest. He just did what he was told.
"I can safely say that if you treat all your trade guests in this fashion, no wonder you have come to be so successful, host.." He murmured softly.

Kalan turned the mask over in his hands several times, taking in the small details of it. The way it shone if the light caught it at a certain angle, small nicks and hairline scratches, all of it was committed to memory, should he have to pick Haeldril out amongst others of his band in the future. And one never did know when that was next going to come about.
His lips quirked a little into a small smile as he carefully set the mask back down on the table, next to the mountainous plate of fruit which still caught his attention more than anything else so far. This did not include the other male.. There was just something oddly.. Nice about him, he would have even gone as far to say that the older drow was handsome.. A slightly wrong-footing thought on Kalan's part.
"Paranoid souls maybe.. I'm hopeful that they wouldn't strike without too much of a warning should I be a.. A little forward shall I say..?" He offed Haeldril a friendly if slightly cheeky smirk at that comment, He was messing around a little. Nothing wrong with a small spot of fun.
Until he caught a fleeting look in the males eyes.. Just for that split second the look of a hunter. The predator.. But then just a quickly as he saw it, it was gone once more. It made sense, that man was evidently a warrior as well and it would be foolish for someone of such a profession to lack the killer instincts of a predatory beast.
He lifted the nigh on empty cup once more a little nervously to sip at what little remained of the dark liquid as he listened to the further properties of creating darkoil.
"Darkoil, as useful as it is, does indeed seem like it can be quite the tricky substance to render.. But then again, those with the skills to do so wouldn't find it to be a problem, eh..?" He mused aloud as he absently, and still a little nervously under the eyes of his host, rubbed first at his nose then adjusted the goggles that sat atop his head.
His eyes drifted over the decimated fruit, prepared to eat, on the plate just in front of Haeldril. It did indeed look delicious.. He tried to keep his eyes on the plate at that thought in particular instead of allowing them to drift the way that they were inclined to, to the males abdomen.
"Forgive my asking, Hael.." He started as he reached out to select one of the few fruits he did know of, a dragon-fruit at that, "And I do feel an utter fool for doing so.. But what on earth are these fruits..? There are very few there that I have seen before and especially tasted.. What are they like..?" He could feel the strange buzz that had crept over his body since he had started to drink this.. Coffee.. Starting to drift from his muscles at last.
He lent forward a little more to inspect the other fruits closely, "They do all smell quite exquisite.."
Luckily on that matter he was spared observing the newer predatory look that had made its way across the other male's features once more. It would most likely have become quite an uncomfortable discovery.