|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:08 pm
What Valyrr had not realized when he was sent to train as a warrior was that he would also, apparently, be training as a messenger, too. At least, it seemed that way. His aunt kept sending him to run errands, interrupting his training, which was of enormous importance to him, to make him travel all over the whole of the Underdark. Sometimes he swore that his errands served no purpose, except to waste his time and amuse his aunt, the matron of House Baen'duis. He knew this one was fairly pointless. He had been told to commit a message to memory, and deliver it to a particular priestess-in-training whose interests had interested his aunt. This was not going to be one of his more diverting errands, he had been warned, which was uncharacteristic of his aunt, but he understood her meaning. This one would probably be very painful.
He walked into the temple, making appropriate obiescences to the idols of the Spider Queen he passed as he passed them. He had not been brought up to practice this form of Lloth-worship, but he had learned while at school to conform to the predominant practices of others. He performed his own rituals in private, as necessary. Once inside the temple, he caught the attention of one of the males sweeping the floor and told him to find the priestess Jiv'Unda, and ask if she could meet with a messenger from House Baen'duis of Llurth Dreir.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:30 pm
"Fools" she spat angrily towards the walls of her joint quarters. Her sister was not in to hear her woes of the idiocy of the High Priestesses and their refusal to allow her to move up in their ranks. The truth that Alna was not there was also just as upsetting, if not more-so. It wasn't like Alna to slip away without Jiv'Unda's notice. The combination of her missing twin and the stupid filth that called themselves Lloth's servants enraged her. She needed someone to take her grievances out on.
Taking the dagger and whip she kept on her belt, she opened the wood door that would lead her out into the Temple hallways and found a newer male slave poised ready to knock. Instantly her eyes narrowed in careful inspection and she slithered past him to circle him like a carrion eater would something about to meet it's end. That's when the fool started blathering about a messagenger from Llurth Dreir, and how they needed to see her. Snarling, the drowess stalked away from the slave to seek out her message.
Upon entering the main room of the temple, Jiv'Unda scrutinised the only male in the area she did not immediately recognise. Fortunately for both of them, that was only one; the one she assumed was the messenger from House Baen'duis. Well, she might as well give him a show. With a wide, tooth-baring smile, she strode past the image of Lloth without so much as a cursory glance in it's direction and stopped just inches before the male.
"Speak your name, whom you serve, and what they want."
Fingering her dagger to make a point that he needed to be swift in answer. This new toy was going to be just the thing she needed to get her mind off of her troubles.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 8:59 pm
At the tempestuous entrance of a female, Valyrr looked up from his perusal of the detailed web design on the floor, taking care not to meet her eyes. That would probably be a mistake, considering the temper she had already displayed, even before speaking. It was not particularly easy to avoid meeting her gaze, considering how close she was standing and his height, but he managed it. He'd had years of practice at avoiding eye contact.
It occurred belatedly to him that he probably should have stepped backward or in some way indicated that he was impressed by her display, but it was too late to do anything at this point without making the action look forced and awkward, which it would have been. The problem was, Valyrr was really very difficult to indimidate, particularly if a person was attempting to do so through the use of violence. He had been raised in an environment which centered on chastisement of a violent type and self- or assisted flagellation in one's devotions to the Spider Goddess. Threats of bodily harm tended not to concern him unduly.
He had no difficulty looking implacable and keeping his tone even and levelly-pitched as he answered her questions:
"I'm Baen'duis Valyrr, son of House Baen'duis, twentieth house of Llurth Dreir. I serve the matron of House Baen'duis, Baen'duis Umraevyll, who has ordered that I deliver a message to you." He slipped out of the formal language for a moment to make an addendum: "To issue an invitation, really."
He paused, taking a moment to recollect the words he had committed to memory and recited for his aunt until she was satisfied while she tweaked the message to make certain each word was perfectly chosen. His aunt could be very exacting in certain areas, though she was extraordinarily lax in others. For instance, she cared not a whit for her house's rank within the hierarchy of Llurth Dreir, so long as she remained among the thirty noble houses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 1:43 pm
She was surprised, really, but Jiv'Unda dared not show it. Circling this new-comer, Valyrr Baen'duis he's introduced himself as, she was acutely aware of the fact that while he was smart enough to avert eye contact he had not moved either. His Matron was either incredibly violent, and thus he didn't scare easily, or stupid. The drowess watched him as she moved with calculating eyes and chose the former. Matron Baen'duis was not an idiot, and Jiv'Unda was intrigued by her.
"To issue an invitation," she mimiced. The tone of her voice was one of a degree of curiosity, carefully controlled by the female. It wasn't everyday someone went out of their way to invite Jiv anywhere, or for anything. Much less a Matron from another city. Most drow amongst Gualidurth knew of the priestesses "toys" and just how she played with them, and while gaining respect due to it, she was also wholly avoided. Nevermind that she and her twin were favored of Lloth.
"Tell me Valyrr Baen'duis, son of House Baen'duis," she paused and lifted a hand to his chin. With little pressure, she adjusted his line of sight to her eyes. Chances were he wouldn't fight her, so long as she wasn't violent or malicious with the gesture. Or so she hoped. "Tell me how it is that your Matron knows of me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:11 pm
Valyrr let his chin rise as high as Jiv'Unda chose, and did not attempt to lower his eyes, as that would defeat the purpose of her action and likely provoke some sort of infuriated response. A response which would be justified, if he tried to balk her desires, but was better not caused at all, as far as he was concerned. There was nothing forbidding him to make eye contact on demand. He just wasn't about to initiate it. Especially not with this drowess, who seemed so inclined to violence. So much so, that she had attracted the notice of his aunt.
Meeting her eyes carefully, still not as uncomfortable as he could be, Val considered the message he had been made to commit to memory. It did explain why his aunt had taken an interest in Jiv'Unda, but it was less detailed in explaining how she had heard of Jiv'Unda in the first place. He hoped a recitation of the pertinent portion of his aunt's message would suffice. He might be able to supplement it with suppositions, but he knew very little. He had not kept abreast of what was going on within his own house for over ten years, at this point.
"Matron Baen'duis bid me tell you this: 'Long ago I trained as a priestess of Lloth, just as you now do. In my training, naturally, I found some people with whom I have entered into long-standing arrangements. One of these people is now in a position to notice young, up-and-coming priestesses, like yourself.'" He did his best to imitate Matron Baen'duis' tone as he spoke this, though he could not remember her inflections as exactly as he would like, to render an accurate replication.
"I, personally, was told no more than that, and know no more. The affairs of Lloth's priestesses are too lofty for my simple comprehension." He said this with a perfectly straight face, the idea of making the statement satirical not even crossing his mind. "There is more to her message, if it please you to hear it."
He wished she would allow him some personal space. He could do without, but he preferred not to feel that his eyes were practically crossing to look at someone he addressed. His eyes were not crossing, but they were not focusing on hers, either, because it was impossible for him to do so with her standing so near.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:35 pm
Jiv'unda's eyes narrowed as the male finished speaking. Was he mocking her? She scrutinised his face and demeanor, still with a hand firmly placed on his chin. No, he didn't appear smart enough for that. Though she knew she should always expect him to be smarter than he looked, she wasn't too concerned with it just now. He had a Matron to contend with if he killed her outright. She'd keep an eye on this male, but only enough to appear aptly cautious. Jiv didn't need him thinking she was complacent in any way.
All of this racing through her head at light's speed, it only took the drowess a second before she responded with a scoff. Letting Valyrr go, she pushed him away from her and snarled. "Well?" She pointed at him, "if there's more to the message don't you think you should finish it?" She used her sweetest voice, soft and low. Mzild tiuen xuil ssinjinen and all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:19 am
"Of course, lady," Val said respectfully, lowering his gaze once more. Speaking as the Matron of Baen'duis he continued:
"To my dearest Jiv'Unda. Long ago I trained as a priestess of Lloth, just as you now do. In my training, naturally, I found some people with whom I have entered into long-standing arrangements. One of these people is now in a position to notice young, up-and-coming priestesses, like yourself.
"You do not know me personally, but you may know of me and of my house's reputation. Most of the rumors spoken about our worship practices are true - we do use pain to cleanse ourselves of our crimes against Lloth and to bring us to a higher understanding of the Goddess' will. The other rumors - that we are the most skilled both at inflicting and bearing pain - are also true. We place great value on those who are particularly talented at the former ability, such as the talent you have demonstrated for inflicting pain on others, and prefer to recognise their talents.
"I have sent my nephew as a messenger, bearing my message and a gift."
Here Val paused as he withdrew from his satchel a bullwhip of the sort the priestesses of his House were known to use, though they were conversant with all weapons when it came to simply inflicting pain. It was crafted by one of the artisans Matron Baen'duis kept especially to create new implements for her House, and stamped with her seal, proving it was superior instrument to most one might find in the Underdark. He presented the coiled weapon to Jiv'Unda and waited for her to take it before continuing.
"It is my wish that you turn this gift on my messenger and use whatever methods you deem fit. I ask this because it is tradition that any whip made by Baen'duis first be used to spill Baen'duis blood. He will take what you dole out, though I would prefer you didn't kill him, as I've invested a great deal of time and coin in having him trained as a warrior."
Val knew for a fact her excuse was utter falsehood, but he knew why his Matron claimed it. She did not wish to insult Jiv'Unda by letting her know that the torment which would follow for Val would also be a test, and that Val would be evaluating her skill and method as Jiv'Unda worked. If he deemed her skills what they had been rumored to be, he was to deliver the final portion of his aunt's message, which was an invitation to train with his aunt in Llurth Dreir in some of Baen'duis' practices. She was free to accept or refuse the invitation, his aunt had told him. He couldn't understand what his aunt meant by issuing it at all, but it wasn't his place to wonder. He was glad his aunt had stipulated she'd rather Jiv'Unda didn't kill him.
Having delivered all the message he had been instructed to at this point, Val stood silent and waited. He was not going to enjoy this, he was positive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:33 pm
In one fluid movement the drowess removed the exquisite whip from Val's hand, uncoiled it, and ran the length of it through her other hand. Beautifully crafted and clearly not a whip meant for just anyone with a lust for pain. This item was just as it'd been said, it was meant for those with the perfected talent of causing pain. In most cases with Jiv her trysts with blood did not result in death, as she liked to keep them living and continually fearing her wrath, so the issue that she not kill this male didn't phase her plans in the slightest. With a subtle purr issuing from her throat the youngling priestess laced her fingers with Val's and led him to her chambers. Quietly, as though speaking to the most respected of lovers, she informed him on where they were heading. "I prefer... Privacy and closeness with my toys." Smiling warmly at him, the warmth spread across her chest and down her stomach, but did not come close to her eyes.
She'd be certain he enjoyed what was to come, whether he wanted to or not.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 3:22 pm
Val followed accomodatingly, matching the length of his strides to hers unconsciously. It was a relief, after a fashion, to walk with someone close to his own height. Almost all the females in his family were shorter than he, and his male acquaintances were all shorter. However, he actually matched his pace to hers to make her life easier, not simply because it was more comfortable. He had been raised to be accomodating, after all.
He said nothing as they walked, and gave little thought to the intimacy of her touch. He had enough personal experience to know that she was not interested in him that way. It was a preference of hers, as she had told him, to be close with what she called her toys, which could probably be translated to mean her victims. Well, that was up to her, of course. He was just supposed to determine how skilled she actually was. He wondered who had informed his aunt of Jiv'Unda's existence and preferences, but he wasn't about to ask. That was his aunt's business.
In her chambers he stood and awaited further instruction, which he would follow unquestioningly and without hesitation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
