Lunch
"Three hundred and one. Three hundred and two." Icarus counted. He had
taken more than three hundred steps, and he still could not find a way out.
The only way that he could keep his mind off being scared though was to
practice counting. His legs however, couldn't go as high as the numbers
and he finnally had to stop walking.
He only sat down for a moment when he had heard a sound down one of the
tunnels. The sound was erily quiet, and that is what scared him more than
ever. For the past year of his life he had lived down in the sewers of
Skullport, and he knew that that sound was the same sound that a sewer rat
made right before it jumped onto it's next meal. The thought of that
frigtened him so much that it caused him to begin is tranformation. He
didn't try to stop it this time knowing that if it was something that
crawled he'd want to be in the air to get away.
As his bat-wings came out of his back, and his feet broke apart into
claws, he began flying down the tunnel away from the noise. As the
transformation from the drow child to the gaint sized bat was finnishing,
he found that his sence of direction was hightened and his speed increased.
He also found himself wishing that he could get his changes under control,
but that was a though for another day; right now he had to worry about
getting away.
He flew along for just a short distance when he entered a large cavern.
There he flew up as far as he could, and grabed the ceiling and waited. he
gave out a quick sreak to alow his senses to "see" what was out there. He
was glad that he had infact ran when he learned that coming out of the same
tunnel that he just did was a rather large lizard.
Icarus had seen these before. He called them rock lizards, because not
only did they look like the rock that they crawled on, but they also could
cool themselves down to the temperature of the rock making themselves
invisible to even heat sensitive eyes. Nothing was invisible to him when
he was a bat though, so he had the uperhand on the lizard. He swoped down
on the creature, and bit in and twisted the back of it's neck, killing it
instantly. He had in fact seen these before, and had definatly enjoyed
their flavor.
***
Matron Quelna
Matron Quelna smiled as she put away her crystal bauble. Not only had
Drayvan killed the two renegade drow, he inadvertently destroyed an
entire renegrade drow enclave and him in the process. Now there are no
more complications in her future plans.
Slowly, she moved to her meditation chamber where she began to
summon the spirit of the former Matron who she had defeated long ago.
She could not help but tell the spirit of the bad news, that her prophecy
will longer come true.
The spirit materialized slowly in the middle of the room. The spririt tried to
attack the Matron, but the wards on the floor resisted all of its efforts so it
resigned itself to stay floating in one place.
"I just wanted to tell you that your child is no longer alive. Your prophecy
cannot be fulfilled."
The spirit showed a look of discontent, and then slowly faded. Upon
returning, she hissed back at her. "You are wrong, Matron Quelna. My
son lives still, deep in the Underdark, where you cannot find him. My
prophecy will come true, that he will return to defeat you. Then, at last,
will my revenge be fulfilled."
It cannot be, she thought. "Be gone!" she screamed as she waves her
hand over the braziers. She quickly grabbed her scrying device and
began scouring the plane for signs of the assassin but to no avail.
Perhaps is was just a ruse, she thought to herself. There was no way
that he could have survived the cave-in. She needed proof of his death,
that her reign is safe from some dead Matron's curse. Turning to another
of her baubles, she sends a call to one of her friends, to ensure that this
man is dead. Only then will she be able to sleep.
***
Wandering the Maze
Seyriyn glided smoothly along the obsidion corridor, floating with the
hereditary levitation abilities of the drow race. The place she was
wandering within was inbuned with so much magic it pressed down on her like
an ocean, dark and pressured.
She had fell under the city of Skullport when first the explotions and
collapses had driven her down, but as to where she was now, she could not
say. Wherever it was, it was dangerous. That much magic was dangerous to
anyone. And seductive. . . .Perhaps she could make use of it, should she
find the method.
A low whistle like a sigh escaped her. The problem was that she knew, in an
all to personal manner, what meddling with magic not fully understood could
create, or destroy.
Her own form, scowered clean of flesh and blood, was more than proof enough
of that.
She considered, briefly, clothing herself in illusion, but decided not to
waste the strength. In mortal company, she would do so. Right now, she
needed everything she could save, in case the danger she sensed should
decend upon her.
In the next moment, brilliant red light erruped all around her, a flash of
ruby scintillation.
Her arms went up to shield the eyes which were no longer there in the
flesh, which were burning pits of blackness, pure reaction. And then the
robed man stepped out of the hole in the wall which the red light had
errupted from.
"What have we here?" the man inquired retorically, smiling.
***
Zarfin, In the Darkness
Zarfin dug through the pile of rock for hours tryign to find a sign of his
companions but found no one. After a few hours of looking he surmised that
he had fallen through the ground level of the strange Drow enclave, ending
up deep inside the Underdark. The chamber he had fallen into was huge;
larger than his penetrating eyesight allowed him to see. He could see the
area where he had entered the large cave, now hopelessly blocked in rubble.
If there was any way out of this strange forsaken place, he will have to
find it somewhere else.
After spending the next hour inventorying his items, he could sense a
presence inside the chamber. He did not hear any noises, but the mere
presence of it made his hair stand on end. Is it Seyriyn? He had seen how
the great magic had transformed her into some sort of eerie monster, but
somehow he felt that he could trust her more than the Matron would allow him
to believe. As for the Matron, he was more determined now to put an end to
her life. The one that he had learned to trust has now deceived him, and
for that he will make amends to all of the innocent people that he had hurt.
What about that young werebat? A young Drow elf, without somebody to teach
him the ways of his race. He had felt a bond grow between them, and for his
own soul's sake as well as the young cursed Drow's sake, he wanted to find
him. For now, he had more urgent problems, mainly staying alive and healing
himself.
Quickly, he searched through the magic bag he had snatched from the archamge
before the catastrophe and pulled out a vial. It held a magical brew that
he readily drank, healing some of his wounds. After placing the empty vial
back into the bag, he pulled out both of his weapons and walking carefully
to the presence. He could see it now, an ethereal shape at the far end of
the chamber.
"Who are you?", Zarfin cried out loud.
"I am the one who had brought you into the world. It was I that the Matron
you served killed many years, and the one who was responsible for destroying
your family."
A spirit? It was rumored that the Matrons held great power, some of which
theytook with them to their death. He could not feel a kindred to this
spirit. It was the Matron who had weaned him, as a child, as one of her own
and it was only after many years that he had elarned of his true mother's
identity.
"Destroy Matron Quelna...she is the one binding me to this plane. She has
used you to betray my family and to further her own purposes."
Pointing to a passageway, she continued. "This will lead you out of this
place. She will not be able to hurt you, but you will need friends if you
are to destroy her. Be wary, though, for your path is fraught with danger.
My blessings are with you." Then, as suddenly as she appeared, she was no
more.
Looking down the dark passageway, he could feel a cool breeze filling his
nostrils. Resolutely, he bundled his possessions and entered the dark
cavern. His future is now certain. He must surive this dark ordeal, and
then turn his sights to the person who has cost him dearly, the Matron
herself.
***
Dust on the Wind
Seyriyn made as though to lift an eyebrow in contempt, and stopped what she
could not do, at the last moment.
"Indeed, sir. Who are *you?*"
"I am the owner of this abode. And you are not welcome, madam," the man
said with a slight grin.
"What is this *abode* and how do you lay claim to it?" Seyriyn questioned
disdainfully.
"This is Undermountain. And I own it. I created it, in all it's. . .
uniqness. I understand you are a wizard. Wizards, above all other are
unwelcome here. This is *my* territory."
Seyriyn made as though to cast a shield against any attack the man might
make, but in this, the other's territory, she knew nothing of the traps. A
brilliant fire enveloped her, and the shield grew the mingle with the
magics of the other. A muffled curse exploded from the man, but in a
moment, her bones exploded to ashes, and all sense were lost, floating on
the wind that did not exist in the mountains, fire mingling with all, and
then she fell to the floor, lava roiling in a near pit, magics shimmering
all around, and she stood to her feet-a pile of dust in the shape of an
elf. If she cold have, she would have cried.
She had what she had wanted. True and eternal immortality. Nothing could
kill her, and she would be reduced to the dust of the earth. Her journey
must continue. . . .
With more weariness than she had ever known, she willed her form forward.
***
Strange Sensations
Icarus, after devouring the nice meal that he had caught knew that he had
to go on. but just as he started, he felt a sharp pain in his head and
what felt like a burning sensation running through his mind. The pain hit
him so hard that he began to transform once again. But before his body got
to far, a second wave hit him that actually knocked him to the ground. He
laid there for a moment, as his body changed back into the drow child.
Durring the tranformation the pain had stoped, but he felt terribly tired,
and he kept picturing dust. Slowly his mind formed an image of a female
drow elf out of the dust.
He realized that that could only be Seyriyn, but he knew not how to help
her or to even get to her. For that matter, he really didn't know why he
was receiveing pain from something that may have happened to her. He
started to worry, and then he started to cry. He wasn't crying because he
was lost, only because he felt that he had to in order to feel better.
As the tears started to slow down, and his body started through the calming
stage of his crying, he heard what sounded like a voice from behind him.
He spun around to find a female spirit standing there. She looked alot
like him, but he couldn't place who she was.
"Icanthanuel De'Umptre," the spirit started, "Do not worry. My time here
to talk to you is short, but know this as I have said before, I will always
be with you. you have the strength to call for me. It is something all of
the De'Umtre have even when they are young." As she spoke this, Icarus
reconized the voice. It was his mother. "Do not give up. one of those
that you seek is coming down that tunnel right there" she said as she
pointed off to a tunnel to the right. "But hurry and find them, because
from the other way comes some one who doesn't like the use of magic. I
must go now, before he feels my presence." With that she vanished, but not
before leaving a departing thought in Icarus's mind. I am always with you,
and will always be with you.
Icarus tried thinking really hard once again, to get her back, but
couldn't. Remebering her words, and with a new found hope, he ran off down
the tunnel to the right, towards one of his friends.
***
In Foreign Lands
Zarfin took him time trying to determine where he was at but could not
come up with any answers. The walls of this tunnel were of a type that
he had never seen before. He had explored every foot of the Underdark
within a hundred miles of his home but this was not familiar. He could not
even determine which direction he was headed, or which direction he
had to go. The only thing he knew was that this passageway was the
way that his dead mother had told him to go. Then again, was that truly
his mother? This could all have been a trap. Instinctively, he stayed to
one side of the tunnel while making his way to wherever it may lead him
to.
After about an hour of travel, his ears detected some noise in the
distance. Quietly, Zarfin increased his speed to investigate this noise. If
it was one of his friends, then perhaps he could meet up with them and
find a way out of this place. If it was someone or something that was a
danger to him, then it is best to find them before they find him.
The tunnel opened up into a chamber. Inside the chamber, his infravision
could detect a large lizard, much like the ones used as a beast of burden.
There was a creature also, much smaller and shaped like a giant bat. It
was crouched over the lizard and making muffled noises. Could that be
Icarus? Increasing speed, he quietly made his way to the creature.
Before he could make his way to him, the rock on the other side erupted,
showering the area with rock. A giant creature, shaped like a giant
worm, had just erupted from the rock next to the creature. Pulling out
both of his blades, he had just enough time to summon a globe of
darkness around the creature before the giant worm got to it.
***
Perfect Size
As Icarus ran down the hall, his excitment was building. He knew that one
of his friends was down here, his mom said so. He had only taken a few
steps into the tunnel when he triped over something. When he looked at
what he had tripped over, he noticed that it was a chewed-up humanoid leg.
As he looked up some more on the body, vomited when he looked over the
back. The back looked as though someone had riped out a hugh hole. It was
then that he noticed that the humanoid creature was a drow.
Thinking that it was Zarfin, Icarus wanted to cry, but before he got his
chance, a sound of an explosion came from farther down the tunnel.
Thinking that he might get revenge on whoever did this to his friend,
Icarus started to run towards the sound. Before he took two steps, he
realized that he had no weapons. He ran back to the body and grabed the
blet that was around his waist. While it was too big to wear around his
waste, he slung it over his shoulder. On the belt was two twin daggers,
and a short sword. The short sword was too big for Icarus to hold, so he
threw it back to the ground, but the daggers were perfect for Icarus's
small height. He hooked the shoulder belt on, and ran down the tunnel.
Icarus knew that he was getting close when saw all of the rocks and bolders
in the tunnel. As he ran into the room that came next, he saw a very large
worm trying to run over everything. Not sure of really what to do, he
pulled out the two daggers and ran to catch the worm.
***
Floating
Seyriyn floated on the winds, through the corridors of Undermountain,
hearing all the while the voice of those she sough of. The voices of those
she could not find.
***
The Electric Daggers
Icarus ran in with his daggers, and didn't have a clue of where to start.
He had never been in a fight with anything other than lizards and mice. his
instinks told him to get above the worm, onto his back. Without realizing
it, he halfway transformed and grew wings out of his back. Following his
instincts he flew up above the worm to try to get on his back. He noticed
a small batlike creature flying past him and out through a small hole in
the celing. not really caring much about it though, he landed on the back
of the worm. The worm seemed not to care much about what he was doing up
there, and just kept right on moving.
Looking at the large beast Icarus wasn't sure that him stabing would even
make a difference with the tiny daggers that he held. He almost just flew
off the thing, but he noticed what was in the worm's path. It was Zarfin.
He had to do something. He stabed down with both daggers at once, right
into the worms back.
Suddenly, the daggers started to electrify, and it wasn't very long before
the electricity was so intest between the two daggers that the worm started
make a noise that sounded like a primal scream. It began thrashing about
and threw Icarus and his nasty elctrifying daggers from his pearch. before
Icarus could get himself strait to fly back up there, he hit a stalagmite
square in the back and promtly fell down to the floor unconsious. The worm
having a new target that wasn't moving imeadiatly changed directions to get
that one.
****
Enter Cerifa Shadowfire
The half-dark elf had no idea how she had come to be in these caverns,
but she shrugged and walked on, knowing that her inquisitiveness would
not slake until she found something to do with it. Suddenly, she tossed
her silver-haired head as she heard a screaming noise up ahead that
sounded like a creature in extreme agony. Drawing her customary two
daggers, she cautiously crept forward until she saw what the trouble
was.
A dark elf stood with his back to her, a large worm with a small bat
creature clinging to its back, seeming to electrify it with two daggers
that it held. "No wonder it's screaming." she muttered to herself, and
then noticed that the small creature on its back was not an ordinary
bat, but a strange cross between a bat and a drow. Intrigued, the
half-elf watched as the worm suddenly threw the small bat-drow to the
floor, where he fell unconcious. The worm then looked at the other drow
and charged.
Thinking of adventure, and hoping maybe the worm had some treasure
nearby, she threw both daggers with blinding speed towards the worm.
The magically enspelled daggers zoomed towards their target and hit the
worm straight in the eyes (or where they would be, I never saw a total
desc of the worm), where they quivered for a moment, and then burst into
white hot flame, leaving a charred mess out of the front half of the
worm.
****
The Forming of Self
Seyriyn drifted to the floor. It was the same shiny black obsidion that she
had last seen but was. . . deeper. . . that the other. There was no other
way to describe it. It was glossy, rich, beautiful. And the stone above her
seemed miles higher. She was descending deep into the earth, into something
beyond the Underdark. Even the moss covered corridors, rich with lethal
life, seemed tame compared to this ominious stillness, this heavy
atmosphere.
Each part of herself, she sensed, was seperate, and yet the same. They
pulled into one shape, and yet remained in many. She could form into the
shape of anything, but remain in a cloud of particles. She gritted her
teeth, though, thinking about it.
It was not the most desiable state to remain in on the material plane,
though she could certainly enter into places she could not have before, and
do things she could not have before. Still. Concentrating, she formed into
a drow shape, refining every angle. Sharp, pointed ears, long elegant
fingers, slim, diminatove built, lighter ashes forming into hair, darker
into body. Contours forming nose, mouth, hollows for eyes, grooves to
represent nails upon her fingers and toes.
Smoothing into limbs, stomach, back, bottom, head.
She remained in that same spot for hours, refining her appearance. Then,
taking a deep breath, she began to move. Tongue in her mouth moved as well,
chanting the words, fingers moing quickly along with it. And there before
her formed a mirror.
She looked.
A drow in shades of grey, with hollows for eyes. A drow in shades of grey.
She laughed. What nonsense. A drow in shades of grey. Aren't we all?
****
Of Worms and Men
Zarfin stood his ground, waiting for the worm to strike. If this worm was
going to devour him whole, he will not give up without a fight. Holding
both of his adnmantite swords in his hands, he crouched down waiting
for the inevitable.
Suddenly, a flash of light momentarily blinded him. He could see nothing in
those few moments, but could hear several things. Something humanoid
let out a yell and could be heard hitting the ground. Then, as he had
expected the worm to devour him, the worm changed directions,
presumably to the fallen body. He had no idea who had just distracted
the worm but this was its chance. Jumping blindly, he managed to land on
the back of the foul creature just as it was descending on the prone
figure. He had to keep the worm from devouring the creature, whatever
it was. Before meeting Icarus, he would not have thought twice about
retreating to the safety of the darkness. The pitiful creature had taught
him something thatthe Matron Mother had kept from him his entire life: the
ability to feel for another being such as the attachment he had for the
cursed creature. A cursed creature who risked his life to save his with
no consideration to his own life. This was something that rung true to
Zarfin, a sort of bravery that ran counter to his training. Then, when the
drow mage that he was assigned to assassinate had given up her life for
him at the drow enclave, it made him realize that many things that were
taught to him were lies. Lies used to cover the cowardice of the drow
race's actions, and most of all to cover the lies and cowardice of the
Matron Mother. If he had his way, she will apy for her deceipt at his
hands...
Zarfin used his swords t odig in deep and gathered a handhold so that he
could climb further onto the creature. It would take more than a couple of
sword cuts to drop this thing, but he was now on its back and in a
perfect position to deliver more damage. That was until everything
around him erupted in fire. The last thing he remembered was being
flung against the ceiling as he fell into unconsciousness.
****
Asking Directions
Seyriyn closed her eyes, marvelling at the renewed sensations before
banishing the wonder. She had no time for that. She was down here for a
reason, and only now was she truly beginning to focus upon it. The
assassin, Zarfin. She was in his debt, and had decided to take the time to
repay him. But it would do no good if she became forever lost in this maze.
Not to mention the fact that the wizard who had reduced her to dust was
still around here, somewhere.
Focusing inwardly, the wizardress chanted low under her "breath." The spell
would be difficult without a posession of the other to focus on, but she
did have his name, and some knowledge of him. It should be enough to at
least point her in the right direction.
*There,* she thought with vague triumph as she felt the faint pull to the
north-east.
****
Ouch, That's a Big Bump
Icarus came to for a brief moment, and checked out the scene before him.
He saw the worm, burnt and chared on the front side, laying to the side of
him. At the front of the worm was a female that he had not seen before,
checking to make sure that the beast wasn't about to get up, and off to the
side was Zarfin. Icarus's went to run over to Zarfin to make sure he was
ok, but when he stood up, he finnnally realized how hard he had hit the
stalagmite, and proptly fell right back to his back. The last image he saw
before he blacked out again was the curious looking female standing over
top of him mouthing something that his ears couldn't quite hear.
****
By Elminsters' Pipe
"By Elminsters' Pipe, I have never seen anything so unusual in my
lifetime." Cerifa said, shaking her head in disbelief as the bat-drow
passed out again. She surveyed the rest of the scene and saw another
drow unconcious behind her. "Hmmm..." the half drow hummed as she looked
around, intrigued by the scene she had just witnessed.
She warred with herself for a bit upon whether to assist these drow or
not. It ran counter to other ideals that she had known all of her life,
being the bastard child of a drow male and a wild elf female. She did
realize, however, that she was in no position to start making enemies,
and these drow did not seem as ordinary drow would, fighting a worm and
all. They weren't even were the traditional armor and trappings that
normal drow patrol warriors would wear. Curious, she rooted around in
her pouch until she found the four small vials that were within.
Removing two of them, she sighed and knelt by the drow,
pouring the healing potion into his mouth. Keeping an alert watch for
anything sneaking up behind her, or an adverse reaction from him or his
friend, she watched him until he finally awoke.
****
Zarfin Awakes
Zarfin's first image as he awakened was a slender half-Drow woman. In
the culture he was raised in, half-Drow were resigned as slaves,
prostitutes, or worse. But this one was dressed in nice garb and did not
look like any he had seen.
"Who in Lolth's name are you?", Zarfin mutters in Drow. Upon seeing her
failure to comprehend him, he repeated the phrase in his broken Common.
"Well, that's a fine way to treat somebody who just saved your life.",
Cerifa sharply returns.
Wincing in pain, Zarfin struggles to get up. After getting up, he sees
Icarus laying on the ground, motionless. Instictively, Icarus moves to the
limp body. Feeling anger well inside him, he grabs one of his adamantite
short swords and points it menacingly at Cerifa.
"If you have anything that can save my friend, I suggest that you use it."
Cerifa, seeming amused by the gesture, barks back. "Pal, I don't think
you are in any condition to be ordering me to do anything, so you better
put down that weapon before something awful happens to you. I would
hate to think that I wasted my skills on you."
Seeing no alternative, Zarfin drops his short sword and steps away from
Icarus as Cerifa approaches the child. He probably could not have held it
up much longer than he did, as his strength had not fully returned. He
watched as Cerifa administered aid to the fallen child. After a few
moments, Icarus awakens. He looks at Cerifa, then to his lost friend
Zarfin, and a childish smile appears on his face...
****
Questions
Icarus was soo happy to see his lost friend. He jumped up and ran over to
Zarfin and huged his leg, because that was as high as he could get on the
older drow. Zarfin, not used to this display, stood there for a second,
gave in, and then hugged back.
"I had thought that you were the dead drow back there in the tunnel,"
Icarus said after letting go of the leg. "I heard a loud sound, and then I
ran in and then," he stopped realizing that there was the curious looking
half drow still standing behind him.
Unsure of her exact intentions, he ran behind the back of Zarfin. He
peaked out from the back of Zarfin, his wings slowly growing
back into his back. Zarfin, his strength fully restored, realized that now
was the time to find out exactly who she was, and what she was doing here.
He put his hands on his weapons, and asked her exactly that.
****
Answers
The half drow looked at Zarfin for a minute, considering. Her violet
eyes flashed intrigue and amusement as she studied the two drow. She
finally shrugged and tossed her cloak over her shoulder.
"I am called Cerifa. Cerifa Shadowfire, if you must know my full
nomenclature." she said, setting her slim hands on her hips and smiling
wryly. "Fine mess you've got here. I've no purpose to being down here,
and I certainly have no motive to harm either one of you, so you *may
keep your swords sheathed.*" she says, this last part in drow, looking
pointedly at Zarfin's swords. Zarfin looked surprised a bit, as she
speaks the language and she smiles.
"Yes, I can speak a bit of drow. Raised on the surface, but I've had
many explorations. You could call me a bit of a rogue." she says,
finally motioning towards them. "Now that you know about myself, would
you care to share your why you were being attacked by a giant worm?
After all, I suppose I did save your lives and all." Cerifa then takes
off her purple beret and adjusts the feather on it, waiting.
****
Rose Mirrors
The drow woman of dust moved swiftly through the passages, eyes and senses
moving a lightening pace, all attention focused upon the magic spell that
allowed her to locate Zarfin's presence in the mountain.
The place was vast, she knew. The presence was in the mountain, but at
least five levels above her own position. It would take some time to reach
the destination.
Suddenly, the passage turned sharply, opening up into a room lined with a
thousand mirrors, roses crawling over the whole of it, twining in an our of
reflective surfaces, shimmering and shining, and betraying so many shades
of rose red as to captivate the mind. It was one of the most beautiful
sites she's ever seen. Slowly, she entered the room. Looking into one
mirror, her eyes were drawn into the whole, her vision, magically
preserved, fixed upon a single spot.
A flare of smoke whisped up from the mirrors and gaseous being appeared
before her in a shade of bright rose red.
"The mirrors reflect our fate, and show your past, your present, and your
future. You have come to know yourself. Would you look into your soul?"
Enchanted, captivated, curious, Seyriyn said in a hushed, eager, voice.
"Yes!"
"You have agree," the being said, grinning, "Let it then begin. "
****
Intrigued
"Yes, I can speak a bit of drow. Raised on the surface, but I've had
many explorations. You could call me a bit of a rogue." she says,
finally motioning towards them. "Now that you know about myself, would
you care to share your why you were being attacked by a giant worm?
After all, I suppose I did save your lives and all." Cerifa then takes
off her purple beret and adjusts the feather on it, waiting.
====
Zarfin, unsure about how to react, stood there stunned. Even he had to
admit that she was alluring and had a definite strength that was not seen
in others like her. He had an admiration for her, one as sleek and
powerful as him, and her wit showed him something he was not used to
seeing in other women, especially surface-dwellers. Still, she was a
complete stranger, and a half-breed after, and he was taught that
half-breeds cannot be trusted and that they were not good for anything.
But, like other things he had believed, this argument was rapidly falling
part.
"Well, as far as saving us is concerned, I guess you did do that", looking
at his barely-healed burn marks in disgust, "but we are trapped down
here just like you. My name is Zarfin Quel-, I mean Zarfin Al-Qathe, and I
am looknig for a way back to my undergroud city. There is a certain
Matron who has an appointment with me and I hate to keep her waiting."
That last phrase came out dripping with hatred. He could never forgive
her for what he tricked him into doing. Her treachery had cost Seyriyn
her life, and had almost cost Icarus his. Although he had not known
Seyriyn and Icarus very long, they were almost like a family to him.
These people who laid their lives for him, and for nothing in return except
compassion. Compassion was a feeling he was new at, soemthing that
made him feel good. Perhaps that was why he felt the same for Cerifa.
Too many times he had left his prey in an abandoned cavern to die at the
hands of the underground denizens, leaving no trace. It all seemed so
wrong now, the life of an assassin. To kill without a reason, it all just
seemed so wrong. Icarus was responsible for him feeling like this, but he
has not regretted it. Having dropped the Quelna name, he used his dead
mother's name for the first time in his life, since he had learned of the
Matron's treachery to his mother. She will pay if it is the last thing he
does.
Slowly, Zarfin extended his hand. "I believe this is how you surface
dwellers agree on something. I suggest that we team together to get out
of this place. I cannot ask to help me on my quest, but I will do what I can
to ensure that you two escape this place safely. Agreed?" With his
other hand, he grabbed the blade of his other weapon and handed it to
Cerifa, with the handle facing her. He stood there waiting for what
seemed an eternity waiting for Icarus and Cerifa to respond.
****
Matron Quelna receives a Guest
Being an impatient person, the Matron was not used to failure. The fact
that Zarfin had escaped the trap laid for him in Skullport angered her and
made her feel a bit of fear. What if the former Matron Al-Qathe's
prophecy is true? How could she get Lolth's favor to prevent it?
Already, Lolth has shown neutrality in this affair, and as such she was
on her own. Zarfin is just another renegade, one that could be easily
killed. I have faced much greater foes, she thought to herself, and an
upstart like him should not be feared. Yet, those words uttered by the
spirit of the dead Matron unsettled her. Seyriyn is possibly dead, but even
that is not guaranteed. She feared Seyriyn even more, as Seyriyn
symbolizes many things that she feared in her life. That of someone
always wanting to take her throne, wanting to pervert the very existence
she has tried so hard to keep. To show weakness means death, and
she had to show an iron hand in this matter. Nobody should know about
Zarfin and Seyriyn....
In a fit of anger, she returned to her summoning chamber. Using the
powers of her crystal, she will learn of where he is and crush him once
and for all. After lighting the incense and drawing the runes on the floor,
she began to focus on Zarfin. Just as she could feel herself getting
closer to him, she felt a blast of energy upon her. It almost sent her flying
out of her circle, and if it weren't for her protective wards, it may well
have killed her. Who would dare do this?
At that moment a booming voice rang out in her head. "STAY OUT OF MY
DOMAIIN, OR YOU SHALL DIE. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED."
"Who would dare address a Matron in this manner?"
"THE ONES YOU ARE SEEKING ARE IN MY DOMAIN NOW, THE
UNDERMOUNTAIN. THEIR DESTINY IS IN MY HANDS."
"They are my concern, not yours!"
"YOU FAIL TO UNDERSTAND. THEY ARE IN MY DOMAIN AND ARE MINE
TO DO AS I CHOOSE. IF THEY SURVIVE, THEN SO BE IT. BUT I WILL
NOT LET YOU INTERFERE IN ANY WAY."
"Do you feel you can stop me?"
A booming laugh began to ring in her head, a painful ringing that she tried
fervently to shake but could not. This was very unsettling to her.
"IT SEEMS AS IF YOU NEED A LESSON IN RESPECT." With that, she could
feel the room spinning, faster and faster. "IF YOU WANT A CHANCE TO
KILL THEM, THEN WHO AM I TO REFUSE IT?"
The room was just a blur of colors now. She could feel herself floating
off the ground, spinning at great speeds. The effects of the spinning
eventually caused her to faint. Upon waking up, she was in a huge
chamber, with nothing but a large statue in the middle of it. Five hallways
exited the room, and large piles of bones were strewn all over the floor.
"NOW YOU ARE SHARING THEIR FATE ALSO, MATRON. DO NOT TRY
TO ESCAPE USING MAGIC, AS IT WILL NOT WORK. THERE IS ONLY ONE
WAY OUT, AND THAT IS THE WAY YOUR PREY HAS TO TAKE ALSO. I
WISH YOU LUCK, YOU ARE GOING TO NEED IT." With that, a deafening
roar erupted, one that could be heard throughout Undermountain.
This was not exactly what she had wanted but now she had no choice.
At leat she has a few of her magical trinkets. Using her crystal as a
focus, she began heading in the direction of Zarfin and the others.
****
An Alliance
Cerifa looked curiously at Zarfin for a minute, wondering about his
mention of a meeting with a matron. Obviously the drow was not on good
terms with said matron, meaning he was truly a renegade drow and most
likely could be trusted just as much as she expected them to trust her.
Knowing of the drow dislike for anything on the surface, she had been
surprised that she was received so well by these two drow. . . well, a
drow and a were-bat/drow.
She, of course, with her curious nature, was intrigued by this idea.
She had no idea how she had arrived here, but assumed it was that
dratted wizards' fault again. A drow who was not loyal to the normal
drow tendencies and a little drow who seemed to have a knack for
sprouting bat wings. Shrugging, she clasped Zarfin's hand in a warriors'
handshake and accepted his gesture.
"Not in all of my wanderings have I arrived at a place such as this, and
I have no inclination to stay if that is what happens down here." she
agreed, nodding towards the worm's carcass. "I will lend my skills to
leaving here, and to making sure you get to where you are going safely."
she finished, bowing slightly and then suddenly grinning.
"Besides," she added, violet eyes mirroring curiosity that could only
befit a rogue, "It sounds like a great adventure."
****
A Quick Thought
opon seeing the truce, more or less, between Zarfin and Cerifa, Icarus
stepped out from behind Zarfin and said, "I'm Icanthanuel De'Umptre, but
you can call me Icarus." After that he thought a minute on what to say
next, and then conntinued. "I'm a werebat, but how I got to be one I don't
know. I grew up in Skullport, but ever since meeting Zarfin, I have been
seeing things that I never thought of before."
As he said that, almost as though it was a trigering sentence to the
thoughts in his head, he saw the image of what looked like a bunch of
mirrors with roses all around them. Suddenly he could feel Seyriyn's
prencence below. He could feel that she was excited by something, but what
he didn't know. That thought spawn many thoughts images of parts of the
mountain, a magical shield that seemed to suround the mountain, his mother
apeared in the thoughts, and then and image of a drow woman carring a
crystal ball in front of her walking through the same corridor that he had
just walked through and caught the lizard in.
He opened his eyes, had not even realized that he had closed them until
now, to the currious looks on his two comainions faces. He realized that
he went into some sort of trance, and wasn't even sure if he had finnished
what he was saying before this had happened.
"Sorry, I got to thinking," was all he could think to say about what just
happened. "I think, but I'm not sure how, that I know vaguly where Seyriyn
is." To that comment he got a supprize look from Zarfin, and a still
currios look from Cerifa. Not really having the time to explain though, he
contiued with, "I think we need to keep moving, there is someone coming
this way from the way I came and she doesn't seem like much of the friendly
type."
Zarfin started to asked questions, but the look on Icarus's face made him
realize that the child believed that they were in danger standing around in
here. He looked to the two of them, and then bade them to follow him out
the corridor that he came through.
****
Answering Price
The smoky being regarded the drow woman closely and said,
"Come closer."
Seyriyn came closer.
"Closer," it whispered.
Closer.
"Closer," it whispered.
Closer. Right in front of it.
"Kneel to me," it whispered.
She knelt.
"Look in my eyes."
She looked. And saw beyond the walls of Time.
* * * *
.. . . .The Past
~~~~~~~~
Seyriyn was studying furiously, nose buried in the book before her. She
could feel the eyes of her classmates on her, resentment burning in them.
They felt as thought she had defiled the one thing that males in
Menzoberranzan could call their own, she knew. As if there had never been
female wizards before! she thought scornfully. They were fools, and she
cared not whether they lived or died, but she also knew that, as a
commoner, she was freer game than any nobel female, and that they very much
wanted her dead for intruding upon their space. Intruding upon their space!
Without warning, there was a tightening in the air about her, a sudden
burning in her lungs, and she began to gasp for air. Calm she remained,
however, after the initial bout of panic. Who was doing this. Her eyes
flickered about the room. Everyone was studying, now, concentrating. But .
... . there. . .in the corner. One appeared to be muttering under his
breath,
perhaps repeating a list of componants, a method, an article on the history
of drow wizards. But no, she knew better. Muttering herself, she launched a
counter spell, and the fireball materialized in the center of the room,
launching itself toward the student, expoding before he could move. Subtle
she was not, but subtly had killed that male. And since she had been
studying as quietly as the rest, even if every one knew in their heart who
had done it, there was no obvious evidence that she had. If you can g away
with the crime, you don't do the time, as it were. She smiled.
* * * *
She snapped back to the present with a start. The smoky being gazed down at
her.
"Give me your hand," it whispered.
Her hand moved forward, nestling into his palm, and slowly it fell apart,
becoming dust motes that mingled with the smoke of his body. There, they
were one, connected, a single being.
* * * *
The Present
~~~~~~~~
It was not a memory. It was symbolic in a manner she could not quite
recognize. She was a prisoner in chains, but not chains of steel. She was a
dragon caught in a void, blackness surrounding her so deeply that she could
never escape. These were her chains. And then someone fell into the
blackness, and she swallowed them to save them, keeping them in the cleft
of her throat. But she began to choak on them, dying herself, and she spit
them out so far that they shot beyond the blackness. And she was still
caught, and still choking on their memory.
* * * *
"Come to me," the being whispered, "Merge."
She took the final step forward, walked into the being. And did not walk
out. Dust mounts mingled with smoke. They were one. One being.
* * * *
The Future. . . .
~~~~~~~~~~
Zarfin was staring at something, and she was beside him, standing, but when
he turned to her, he could not see her. He kept looking back, at two
shadowy figures that then emerged from the shadows, stepping forward. The
child, Icarus, and another, a half-drow woman. Seyriyn frowned. Who was
that? But thy all stepped forward, then, into the Rose Mirror chamber, and
suddenly, she was in with the smoky creature as it came forwward with it's
irristable requests, and they obeyed.
* * * *
"Surrender to me," it whispered.
She did.
****
In Search for Seyriyn
Selinthia, I had no idea about how your rose room worked so I kind of ad
libbed a bit. Let me know if I need to change anything.
=============
Zarfin looked to Icarus, "You feel that she is below us somewhere?"
Icarus nodded his affirmation to Zarfin. "Well, then, then it is down we
go..."
Upon hearing that, Cerifa's ears perked up. "Excuse me, but did you just
say that we are gonig down? I thought that the way out was up.
Perhaps you are a little confused."
Zarfin looked at her in disagreement. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but
Seyriyn is our companion. She is in trouble and if she is still alive, then
we save her and take her out of here with us. Besides, where is your
sense of adventure?" Zarfin grinned from ear to ear as he mentioned
that last part. If he figured her out correctly, he figured that her curiosity
should keep her motivated enough to have her go along with most
anything needed. Just as long as her curiosity did not get them killed.
Cerifa could not argue that last point. "True. Well, then let's go."
As Zarfin began to head for the nearest hallway, he could feel a
presence. It was something he had never felt before, something similar
yet very dangerous. Whirling quickly with his hands on the hilts of his
blades, he turned to see only his two companions.
"Is there something wrong, Zarfin?" Icarus said.
"What's up, Zarfin? You are starting to scare me.", Cerifa answered.
Leaving it to the new environment, he relaxed his posture. "Nothing, I
guess this place is getting to me." With that he continued walking through
the portal.
In a flash, the trio found themselves in a crystal-lined chamber, with
numerous rose bushes littered around the room. In the middle of the room
was a swirling mass of dust, and it was again that Zarfin felt the feeling
he had just experienced. This was not good, he mentioned to himself. In
the middle of the whirlwind, he could see the figure of Seyriyn, looking
solemn and with her arms spread out.
"Come to me." The sounds came from Seyriyn but it echoed inside their
minds. Slowly, the sound started t otake command of his body. It took
everything he had to combat it and already Icarus was heading toward
the dust.
"Seyriyn!", Icarus exclaimed. He started to move eagerly to her, to
receive her embrace that even now she was offering. Cerifa, looking
confused, was also trying to combat the alluring effects of the voice, but
it was slowly taking her mind over also.
"NO! Icarus! Stop where you are at! It is a trick!" Looking around the
room, he could see that the roses were changing in color. He surmised
that somehow, the roses had something to do with this spell on him, but
to what extent he was unsure. It took everything he could do to resist
the powerful spell.
"Cerifa! The roses! We need to stop them!" Zarfin grabbed his blades
and flung them desperately into a group of roses. As the blades
penetrated the roots, a sap began to protrude from them. He could feel a
lessening of the effects but it still was too much to bear. "I can't do
anything else! "
Feeling helpless for the first time in his life, he began to close his eyes
waiting for the inevitable.
****
Matron Quelna changes face
Upon checking her surrounding, she began to take inventory of her
possessions and began to weave wards on her body that would help
her. Already, she felt someone scrying upon her, and she cast a spell
that quickly halted that. Now, nothing can find her, and she can detect
many things as well as give herself extra protections. She would need to
keep much of her magic for the trials ahead, so she kept her magic fairly
simple.
Now, she thought, I cannot be seen looking like this. Her enemies would
attack her on sight. Thinking of a form, she began to cast a simple spell,
transforming her body into that of a simple surface dwelling grey elf child.
The figure reminded her of a slave she used to have. She was so pretty
and lively, but still very rebellious, as many grey elves could be. She
made a great slave until she had to have her killed. The child was
rebellious to the end, which did not get her far. Now, her memory will
serve her in a final bit of deception. The do-gooders will not be able to
resist her image. Then, when they least expect it, she will deal them a
decisive blow. This time, there will be nothing to save them.
****
Desperation
She had clearly been un willing to look for Seyriyn, but not necessarily
because she was unwilling to take up the adventure. She had felt a bad
karma coming from the direction that Icarus had suggested. Of course,
adventurous nature or no, she was intrigued, and decided that Zarfin was
right, they should go retrieve the other companion.
After entering into the rose room, she realized that her initial feeling
had been right and maybe she should have just left when she had the
chance. The overpowering allure of the voice was almost making her
swoon, but she held herself together and closed her eyes, thinking to
what she could do.
"The roses." she muttered to herself, realizing what Zarfin had been
yelling. "There must be a way to stop their effects." she reached over
into her pack and rummaged around in it blindly, looking for something
to help their plight. She swore suddenly, as two rings fell out. She
crouched down and passed her hands back and forth over the ground,
trying to find them.
"Damn wizard. If I ever see him again. . ." she said to herself,
finally picking up both the silver and gold rings to place them back in
her pack. She had always wondered why she kept these items, they didn't
do anything that she knew of, but they were interesting. The silver one
had an insignia of a hawk and the gold one the insignia of a star. She
cried out suddenly as they got warm. Forcing herself to open her eyes,
watering from try to resist the effects of the "siren call", she looked
down at the two rings.
They were glowing with a strange green light as she held them together
in her hand, and she slowly put them both on her right hand, third
finger curiously, following some strange inclination. Suddenly, a
bright green ray shot out from the star on the gold ring and arched
towards the roses. It was then that the half-elf felt a severe
weakening effect taking place, causing her to expend her entire
remaining strength just to stay upright.
Before Cerifa blacked out, the last thing she noticed was that were the
light hit the roses, a chain effect started, a small fireball which
hopped from rose to rose, causing them to blacken to ash. The half-dark
elf fell to the ground, her beret falling off, silver hair falling
around her face as she fell unconscious.
****
Wondering about Nothing
As languid and ecstatic as though caught in the deathly embrace of a
vampire, Seyriyn turned slowly toward the commotion, feeling herself grain
away even as she did. She did not care. The smoke surrounded her. In a
moment, though, she saw the fire leaping along the roses. Blasphemy! How
dare they!
She realized she was shrieking aloud. The part of her that was the crimson
smoke creature was enraged with what was happening. Power gathered in them
both, in her, in it, in everything! The people, she couldn't remember their
names, where giving off low moans of despair now, and one of them was
crumbling to the floor, no longer conscious. Snarl, swirls, power!
There was a smaller one who was walking toward her. He was in the way. She
moved to push him, but her hands were only swirls of smoke and ashes now,
and he started to sneeze, his eyes rolling back. A child. That's what he
was. She scowled. She had never been very fond of children. This was seemed
vaguely familiar, however.
There was another one, there, a male, fully grown. He had stabbed at the
roses, the magnificent, beautiful roses. Roses and mirrors. Lovely mirrors,
pretty mirrors Wonderful mirrors. She smiled dreamily and struck out. He
was screaming something. . .it sounded familiar. Seyriyn? What was that.
Her. . .name? Her name. She frowned. The smoke was hazing her mind. The
male was walking forward now, a daze in his eyes, and the child, no longer
sneezing, was in front of her now. She should. . .what? What was it? What?
Roses and Mirrors. They were in her power! Why was she hesitating!? Was
it her power?
Was it hers at all?
****
Strong Will, or Weak Mind?
Icarus ran towards the mirrors, "Seyriyn!" he excitedly yelled, but he
stoped just infront of the mirror. he heard Zarfin say something, but he
couldn't move. He saw only the smoky picture of Seyriyn. He heard the
rings hit the floor but couldn't turn to see what happend. he felt the
heat from the flames, but still couldn't move. Something had him frozen
right there.
Suddenly, Seyriyn reached out to push him, but couldn't. She was just
mist, and dust. that action though somehow 'woke' him up from his frozen
state when he sneezed.
The sneeze jogged his memory, and he could see that Zarfin was under the
control that he once was. He saw that Cerifa was uncounsios on the floor
and realized that it would probably be better if she was. But when he
looked back at Seyriyn he saw not just her form, but another form. both
were trying to control the other, but somehow Icarus could tell that
Seyriyn herself didn't know that she was fighting. He closed his eyes, and
tried to focus on the other being tried to figure out what he was.
suddenly he realized that somehow he had caused his spirit to leave his
body, and travel into the mirror and the mist. he opend his eyes, but
wasn't prepared for what he saw. He was looking back at his own body. His
eyes were shut, and he was standing perfectly still. But he wasn't. He
was looking at himself. This was almost to much for him, but the sudden
movement of Zarfin brought him back to what he needs to do. Zarfin was
heading for the mirror, ready to jump in.
Icarus looked back to the mist and dust, and in this view he could easily
see the difference in the two seperate beings. He willed himself forward,
into the mist, and dug in until his mind toched someone elses.
It was a great idea, if that mind would have been Seyriyn. unfortunatly
though it was the other ones mind. He could sence that it was supprised
that anouther mind had gotten in without it's wanting it to, and he
realized that it wasn't too overly conserned about the roses, those were
just an easy way to capture food, for a lack of a better word. He learned
that the mirror was the true power, and with Seyriyn's powers mixed with
it, it would no longer need the cage of the mirror, it could use he 'body'
to roam around and get food where ever it liked.
Icarus couldn't alow that though, wouldn't alow that. But his
inexpeariance in doing anything like this cost him. The mist realized the
probing and quickly put up defences so that Icarus couldn't learn it's name
in order to have some control over it. It then imediatly went to overpower
Icarus's mind. Icarus fought as hard as he could against the mist mind.
He told himself that he must in, he must save his friends, no matter what
the cost to himself, he must win. He couldn't even come close though, the
mist was too powerful and had been here too long to be beaten by a confused
child. Icarus couldn't give up though, and thought of the only thing he
could to keep himself. His mom.
Icarus's prencence in there had destracted the mist's control over Seyriyn
enough to where she realized that the other precence that had just joined
her and the mist had a name. The name of Icarus. The thoughts that flew
through her were short lived though, because the mist was about to devour
Icarus's spirit. Seyriyn quickly found the little spark of Icarus's mind
that was still trying to fight. She saw a beautiful drow female an image
that was the only thing holding his mind together and joined with it to try
and fight the mist as two minds instead of one.
****
Seperation--Sadness
There was so much that she wanted She wanted to keep the power of the mist,
wanted to keep this incredible feeling, all the magic and powers and
ravenous hunger that was coursing through her. The mist was the whole. .
..and she sensed something now. The mist was the culmination of former
meals, so to speak. It used it's voice and hunger as it's lure to
strengthen itself.
But. . .no matter what she wanted, she had cast her lot in with these
beings, these renegade drow, as she herself was a renegade--could she even
call herself drow anymore?--and there was no turning back. She wished there
was, though. At that moment, she hated them for it, hated them for pulling
her out of it, for coming to her and forcing her to come to herself. She
wanted to stay with the mist! It sensed her desire, and clung closer to
her. Pleasure coursed through her being.
But she couldn't. Zarfin owned her loyalty, and Icarus was Zarfin's ward,
she had gathered by now, strange as it seemed. Hate bubbled in her, but she
could do nothing with it as she shifted the dust where her head would have
been, and keened with her spirit rather than voice, screeched in the minds
of all present like a banshee, her hate, her thwarted wanting. They fell to
their knees in pain, and even the woman on the floor--a half a
drow--stirred in the depths of the darkness that had claimed her, pain
piercing. The dust exploded from the crimson mist, and the room was
shrouded in poison. Gathering herself one final time, she threw forward a
wind of magic that blasted all three beings from the room and began to
shatter the mirrors. Her keens turned to grief. She turned to the mist,
which was opposite to her now, it's 'eyes' filled with hunger and pain. Her
own were as well.
"I didn't want to, but all there is left is that favor. You would
understand if you were more than hunger. You see, I am all hunger, I am all
wanting and desire. There is nothing left of me but that--and this scrap of
loyalty to an warrior. Ironic."
She surged forward again, and bushed it back as it wailed. Their spirits
met once last time. A single moment, a profound understanding.
"You were me," it whispered.
"I was you," Seyriyn answered as the mirrors closed in on it, trapping it
once more. "I was you."
Sadness oozed from her, oozed through her being until it touched something.
A shiver of crimson, trapped in the dust of her heart. She carried some
part of it. Some egg of hunger. It would catch. And until then, all she had
left was that shiver of loyalty. To a warrior she did not know, and yet
knew beyond all knowing. He would not know of this until she deemed it
right. Sighing, she began to gathering herself into a drow form, once more.
It took far longer than the first time.
****
Going for Broke
Things were going terribly wrong. Cerifa lay unconscious and Icarus,
although strong in spirit, could do nothing but fight off the attacks of the
misty creature. But luck was to turn, somewhat briefly. Once the roses
ignited, he saw his chance. The creature's control over him was
weakened just enough that he could move on his own. Instinctively, he
lunged for the mirror, believing that this may be the only chance he may
get.
Upon entering the mirror, his senses were assaulted by the entities of
hundreds of souls. These must have been all of the victims the creature
had fed from, he surmised. It brought a sadness to his heart, all of these
poor creatures who had failed in their attempt to be freed from the foul
creature. Zarfin was determined not to be one of these beings.
"Where are you, you coward! Show yourself!" He pulled out his mystical
gnomish blade, the blade that had served him well in the past. The blade
glowed with a bright white light, almost blinding. The blade seemed to be
searching for the same thing he was, and in that it seemed to find its'
quarry. The blade tugged on Zarfin feverishly, and it was all Zarfin could
do to keep from following the blade.
The blade led Zarfin to a giant golden container. It must be where the
creature's power comes from, he surmised. The container was
surrounded by a thick layer of rose bushes, so thick that it almost
completely covered the container. Zarfin approached slowly, ever
watching for any guardians of the container until coming upon the rose
thicket.
It was then that he learned that the roses WAS the guardian. Suddenly,
several of the roses lashed out at him. He was able to dodge all but two
of them. As he looked to where the roses hit him, he could see that the
roses had attached themselves to him and was sucking the very blood
out of him. Try as he could, he even tried to take them off with his blade,
but they were stuck fast.
"Come to me." The sound began again, this time from the container itself.
A misty creature began to appear, becoming more solid as the roses
continued their assault on him. He began to feel the effects of lack of
blood, and his head began to feel faint.
Struggling for an idea, he reached for his hand crossbow. He had no
idea as to whether or not this thing could feel poison, but these roses
were plants after all. Finding no other alternative, he fired his hand
crossbow at the base of the roses. The bolt dug deep into the roots of
the roses. He quickly reloaded and fired another, keeping his distance
from the rest of the roses.
Both of the bolts found their mark. The roses began to recoil in pain, so
he began to reload his crossbow again. He only had three bolts left, so
he knew that he had to make these count. After firing two more, the
roses began to weaken their grip on him. All of a sudden, the misty
creature leapt at him. Although it once was a mist, the creature had
drawn enough power from Zarfin that it was now corporeal and could
attack Zarfin. The creature attacked while Zarfin was distracted and was
reloading the crossbow. As its hands raked across Zarfin's chest,
Zarfin could feel the cold chill of the creature overcoming him. In a last
ditch effort, he thrust his gnomish blade deep into its heart, or at least
where the heart should be. The blade, being made of mithril, could
possibly affect this creature. Mithril has affects on many undead he had
met and hopefuly, this was not an exception. The creature screamed in
agony, flinging Zarfin like a rag doll. He could feel himself exiting the
mirror, and landing at the ground by Icarus' feet. The evil creature, the
gnomish blade still stuck in its heart, was close behind. He had nothing
left to offer in this battle and fell into unconsciousness, or possibly death.
****
Jolt of Awakening
Seyriyn emerged from the alcove in which the mirror chamber was contained
in full drow form. Her strides took her inevitably towards where the three
forms were tossed on the ground. Kneeling beside the first figure, Zarfin,
she grimaced
and whispered under her breath the slight restorative spell. She was no
cleric,
and thus had no true healing spells, but this spell jolted the awareness of
the mind back into function. Zarfin groaned in awakening awareness she
Seyriyn moved on to the next being. It was the child, Icarus. Performing a
similar spell of slight increased intensity, she saw the child awake. The
third party, however, was less likely to be awakened by such a technique.
Seyriyn didn't remember much of what had physically happened in the mirror
and roses room, but the woman looked drained and wane, her skin, a lighter
shade of black than any full drow, appeared far paler than even it should.
Sensing movement behind her, the wizardress turned with a quick motion,
only to see Zarfin and his charge approach.
****
Matron Quelna: Into the Darkness
After wandering for a few hours, the Matron came upon a cave-in. This
must be where the fools entered, she muttered to herself. Nearby lay a
giant lizard, its neck torn out. It seemed unusual to see its throat torn out,
but she did not spend much time pondering. It was killed a little less than
a day ago, which means that the person had about a day's head start on
her. After looking for signs of the survivors, all she could find were
footprints the size of a child. even more puzzling. Further investigation
revealed a section where the cave-in had continued. Changing her form
into a small snake, she slithered her way further down to the next level.
After transforming into a small child, she began looking around. This
seemed more encouraging as she found an adamantium cloak and a set
of Drow armor. This must have been Zarfin's, she surmised. Well, at
least he is armorless, which makes it easier to kill. Also, inside the rubble,
she found the body of Drayvan, the mage who had failed in his attempt to
kill the two renegades. Feeling contempt for the mage, she began looting
the body, taking he mage's magical cloak and bracers. "He certainly
won't be needing these anymore." Focusing on her crystal ball, she
could feel that they were even further down the dungeon. No matter,
she is in no hurry. She will find them, but she will not kill them
immediately. She will use them to help her escape, and possibly get back
to the Drow city. Then, once she is safely back, she will teach these two
upstarts what it is like to betray a Matron.
****
The Walking Dead
The nightmare being over, Zarfin awakened to find that his wounds were
already treated. Instinctively, Zarfin sat up and spun around to survey
the area. The room smelled like the burnt roses that had once adorned
this splendid room. All of the mirrors in the room had been shattered,
apparently by the effects of the mind-numbing shriek of Seyriyn. Or was
it Seyriyn? For all he knew, she had died at the hands of Drayvan's
magic. He had seen her buried under tons of rock. The figure in the mist
was unmistakably like Seyriyn though. It could also be a creature that
had taken her shape for unknown reason, possibly to kill him. He came to
the conclusion that he must be on his toes just in case. Icarus lay next to
him, just now shaking off the effects of the wailing. Turning to Cerifa, he
could see a figure kneeling down next to her.
Sneaking quietly to his swords, he grabbed and began to approach the
figure. He was even more shocked when the figure turned to face him.
It was Seyriyn! Keeping his guard up, he continued to approach the
figure.
"Seyriyn...I saw you die."
The figure looked at him, and the looked at his blades. "I did not die, and I
could say the same about you."
By now, Icarus and walked behind him and was peering from behind his
legs. He began to examine her himself, not sure of what to believe.
"How can I be sure it is you?"
"How can I be sure you won't try to kill me. Am I not your assigned
prey?"
On that fact, he could not argue. For all she knew, he was still trying to
carry out orders regardless fo the MAtron's treachery. If this impasse
was to be resolved, someone will have to give. The compromise came
from an unlikely source, Icarus.
Suddenly Icarus ran up to Seyriyn and hugged her. Not sure of how to
respond, Seyriyn looked puzzled until finally returning his hug. This was
something he had not seen her do. In Drow circles, Seyriyn was known
as one who did not harbor emotion. those who crossed her were known
for ending up dead soon after, with no way to trace it back to her. She
was just as deadly with her magic as he was with his swords. Perhaps
that was why he desired the assignment. He had changed since then,
with the taste of killing gone from his mouth. No longer did he wish to kill
for no reason, Icarus had shown him that it was wrong and would neer
solve anything.
Icarus began to cry, "I knew it was you, I could feel it!". Icarus'
heightened senses had helped them in the past and he had to trust in his
senses. Slowly, he put his swords away before extending his hand in
friendship. "I no longer wish to kil you. I have been shown that there is
no killing without reason." While saying this he looked approvingly to
Icarus. "That child is Icarus. He saved me from the wizard Drayvan and I
wouldgladly give my life for his safety. I hope that we can work together.
Besides, who will become the new Matron mother when I kill your
mother?" He waited a minute to let the statement sink in to Seyriyn before
continuing. "That lady on the ground is Cerifa. She has proven to be a
great ally and has also saved us from death. I would give my life for her
also, as she offered it to save mine. So, what do you say....Seyriyn?"
****
Wake Up Call
Swimming up from a pool of inky blackness, the half-drow opened her
violet eyes groggily and with a small motion of her head, turned to see
Zarfin talking to a drow female. A drow female. . . that must be
the Seyriyn he had been talking about. . . but wasn't she the spirit in
the mirrors? She sighed and closed her eyes again, counting to ten as
she gathered her strength to get up. She was a warrior, this should not
have defeated her like it did.
Finally, she shakily stood up, shaking the dust out of her silver
tresses and attempted a solid front as she looked over to the group.
"I see you have all made it out alive." she said, dusting off her cloak.
"You must be the friend of these drow that we were looking for. It is
good to meet you." she said, inclining her head slightly. In this
gesture, she noticed that both of the rings were on the ground again.
"stupid wizard" she muttered, bending over to pick them up.
In this action, Cerifa realized just how drained she really was and
knelt on one knee, as if she were being knighted, trying to recover her
strength subtly while scooping the rings up in one gray hand. "What in
Rhah's name happened here?" she asked, standing again and dusting off
her cloak.
****
A Single Statement
Seyriyn barely heard the half-drow woman speaking. One of Zarfin's
statement were swirling in her mind. Absently, she smoothed her hands over
the illusion of clothing that she had summoned up once she had reformed her
body. The spell also served well to smooth over her decidedly supernatural
body formation. She wondered if Zarfin was puzzled at seeing a normal
looking drow woman, when last he had seen her she had bee a raging undead
skeleton. But the statement. . . the statement he had made. In such an
offhanded manner, pausing only a moment afterwards to emphasize it's
significance.
Someone will need to be Matron after I've killed your mother. . . .
No one knew. Or no one should in any case. Her mother had hidden her away
with the commoners, had conceiled her pregnancy from all. She had only
contacted Seyriyn years later, after her daughter was already training to
become a waizard. She had been most displeased at that, finding wiazrds to
be too 'independant.' Well, that was Quelna's problem. If she was so
paranoid that she wanted to hide away a child from all, as a secreted
weapon, and pretend to much not to have interest in her that she lost all
track of her, she had earned the dissatisfaction. Seyriyn would never be a
cleric. She held nothing but contempt for them all. But how--how!--had
Zarfin found out who she was!?
Had she still been mortal, she would have been in shock. As it was, her
face was blank of all thoughts. The child-Icarus?-was looking up at her in
puzzlement. The half-drow woman was muttering over something on the floor,
and Zarfin was waiting expectantly for an answer.
She would not play games.
"How do you know who I am?" her voice was flat, empty.
****
Decision
She could feel that seed in her heart, that sliver of the mist creature
that would grow over time. Perhaps not for centuries would it come to
fruition, but she knew with certainty that in the distant future, she would
be consumed by that single spark. She was a creature who had been born over
and over again. From the womb of her mother, the Matron, from the allure of
the magic that had always drawn her, into the world of wizardry, from the
spirit and power of the banished Skull being into undeath, and from the
mist creature into . . .what?
Seduction? She was a creature of many aspects. Could the loyalties she had
proclaimed to this drow male before her hold her? And if so, for how long?
She knew herself. This would not last forever. But while it did it was a
tool to hold her consciousness. Be she alive, dead, or something else
altogether, she would need a reason to hold onto herself.
"I will not kill you," she spoke aloud. "You are clever, Zarfin. And
dangerous, to yourself as well as others. But you have changed from the
assassin I saw previously. You have a greater depth to you. More thought to
yourself. Less blindness. I never appreciated blindness. I loathe it in the
clerics, and thank fate that my mother was so paranoid as to see my
existence hidden. It matters not now, the daughter of a single matron
mother, a matron known no where beyond the city save in her business
contacts. Not so infamous, indeed. I will stay with you for now, and then.
. . we shall see."
Her eyes were blazing, and for an instant, Zarfin saw not crimson orbs, but
empty holes, hiding shadows, and secrets. And then the red returned.
****
Cerifa's Patience
The half-drow watched the dialogue between Zarfin and the drow woman,
interested, but still wondering what was going on here. Finally, as
there was silence, she spoke again, smoothing out her dusky cloak and
standing up tall.
"This is all very interesting, but I have no desire to stay in this hole
any longer. I thought we had agreed to leave this place, so why are we
still here?" she said, smoothing the feathers in her beret as she
spoke, " And, by Rhah's name, if you are who they think you are, these
two just practically salvaged their lives to come and retrieve you,
lady, so I think we should just stop all of this bickering and get out
of here before something else happens." she finished, looking first to
Zarfin, then to Icarus and finally to Seyriyn, with an eyebrow cocked in
half-amusement.
****
Uncertainty
His exchange of words with Seyriyn left him uneasy. There was
something about her that did not settle well with him. Just two days ago,
he had thought that he had seen her destroyed at the Drow enclave, but
now she is here walking amongst the living. Just recently he had seen
her as a fiery demon, ready to destroy everyone in her wake. Can he
trust her? Could he trust to have her with the group? There was too
much at stake. What will happen once he kills the Matron? Would Seyriyn
be any better? As much as he hated to think of it, he will have to be
wary of her actions. She can be trusted, for now, but he will have to
keep a close eye on her. Too many lives depended on it, for him to give
complete trust in her. Icarus has proven to be a great ally, almost being
like a son to him, and Cerifa, with her gleefulness and sincerity, has won
his trust overwhelmingly. But Seyriyn...no, he must not let his guard
down. Once events start to unfold, he will learn to which extent he
Seyriyn can be trusted. Hopefully, it will not come to it, but he must be
ready to take Seyriyn's life should she become a threat to the group. That
thought sent chills down his spine. As much as he marvelled at her, he
could not help but feel a sense of fear. Something about Seyriyn made
him uneasy, and that uneasiness could cost him his life.
What will she do when he goes after the Matron? Does she share his
contempt for her, or will she run to her mother's aid? This was a
question that could go both ways. He did not want to draw Cerifa and
Icarus into this problem, but unfortunately they share the same destiny, at
least for now. If it was just him, he would take care of it, butthere are too
amny innocent people involved. He has killed too many innocent people in
his life, and he did not want to kill any more, especially ones as close to
his heart as Cerifa and Icarus.
"I will not kill you," she spoke aloud. "You are clever, Zarfin. And
dangerous, to yourself as well as others. But you have changed from the
assassin I saw previously. You have a greater depth to you. More
thought to yourself. Less blindness. I never appreciated blindness. I
loathe it in the clerics, and thank fate that my mother was so paranoid as
to see my existence hidden. It matters not now, the daughter of a single
matron mother, a matron known no where beyond the city save in her
business contacts. Not so infamous, indeed. I will stay with you for now,
and then... we shall see."
After the brief exchange, Zarfin took inventory of his items and started to
plot a way out of this predicament. He hadn't eaten in almost three days
and even now the hunger pangs were starting to intrude on his thinking.
His first chore was to find food and water for the group. Seyriyn must
wait, survival must come first. After several long minutes, he finally
broke the silence.
"Alright, I suggest that we go. I don't know about you guys, but I am
getting hungry. I think we should try to find something to eat and drink,
while we try to find our way out of this forsaken place. Any ideas?"
Looking at Cerifa, he could see that she sensed his uneasiness. She
returned his look reassuringly, but he knew that she had no idea of what
Seyriyn was capable of. He just hoped that Cerifa's loyalty to the group
did not cost her life.
Icarus looked eager as always, as if none of this mattered to him. That is
probably for the best, he surmised. He is just a child and should not have
to worry about such things. But, will that innocence betray him. He
prayed a silent prayer for all of them, even Seyriyn, as he started to lead
them out of the room.
****
Yumm, Yumm
Icarus heard everything that was said, but really wasn't paying attention.
everything that had happened was a bit strange. his travel into the spirit
realm, and his almost near death. Seyriyn had grabed his mind, and had
pushed him out of the mist. As soon as his spirit was back in his body he
had passed out. 'How did I do that?' he pondered to himself. He thought
about it for a moment, and then realied that it was all for the best that
he didn't know for that would probably scare him. His attention spand
never was very long, and by the time he had forgoten about what he was
thinking about, Zarfin was saying that maybe they should start looking for
something to eat.
The thought of more food made Icarus forget that they were even lost. He
was just happy that everyone was OK, and that they even had a new friend.
He gladly followed them out of the hole that they were in to get something
to eat.
****
A Suspicious Meal
The wild rothe had gone down quickly, with a strick of flying daggers.
Hardly the traditional manner in which to kill such creatures, but surely
just as effective.
Seyriyn had summoned a fire which cooked the meat but would not give off
smoke or smell to alert others. Icarus eagerly reached forward for a peace
of the juciy looking meat. Contrary to the anticipation she would once have
felt for the meat after going as long as she had without a meal, Seyriyn
felt absolutely no attraction to the sustanance at all. Zarfin offerered
her a piece of it, and she shook her head.
"I ate earlier," she, gesturing vaguely. He gave her a puzzled and
suspicious look. The man was no fool, she noted. He suspected something was
wrong. None the less, he did not comment.
Cerifa was munching on a peice of meat, eyes noting the actions of those
around her. Finally given a chance to evaluate the half-drow woman, Seyriyn
found herself wondering. The woman seemed almost carefree at first glance,
a rogue and adventurer, but on the second glance you saw those sharp eyes
and inner wonderings, and thought to yourself 'How much does she see that
she doesn't let on?' Seyriyn did not like her. Perhaps she could come to,
but for now the woman was a potential enemy. Nonetheless, she let on
nothing of what she was thinking, concentrating staring into the distance,
hands wrapped around her knees.
"Where are we going now?" the child, Icarus, suddenly inquired.
****
Suspicions
Something seemed odd after the exchange. After the combat with the mist
creature, he would have assumed that she would have been ravenous with
hunger, but yet she did accept his offer. Truly, something was amidst, and
this just made his suspicions worse. For now, he would have to trust
Seyriyn, as everyone's life was dependent on each other. Afterwards, many
questions will have to be answered.
Rummaging in his extra-dimensional pouch, he quietly unloaded the rest of
the items the mage had before placing some of the rothe meat in the bag. He
also picked some of the larger bones that he may have to fashion into bolts
for his hand crossbow. He only had three of them left, and he will have to
rely on his wits to get himself out of this awful place.
A quick inventory of the items revealed a metal rod of some sort, three
vials of suspicious liquid, and a large book of some sort. After quickly
rummagnig through the pages, he could not recognize the strange writing.
Also inside the bag were two old scrolls stored in leather tubes. Gathering
these items he walked over to where Cerifa was finishing her meal.
"Cerifa, I found these items on the wizard that sent us here." he whispered
to Cerifa. I cannot use these things, and I wish I could trust Seyriyn but
I cannot. If you can find a use of these, please do. You are the only one
I can trust for now, and I trustthat you will use these wisely, whatever
they are."
Cerifa looked at the items and quickly whisked them away into her cloak.
Nodding to Zarfin, she continued eating while he walked up to Icarus. He
wanted Icarus to be able to defend himself also, so he decided to give him
an item that he had treasured for many years.
"Icarus, take his hand crossbow and these three bolts. My father made it
for me and now I give it to you. Take care as there are only three bolts
left. Perhaps I will teach you how to make one of your own someday."
Icarus looked at the hand crossbow like it was the first present he ever
had. His eyes lit up in enjoyment. "Thank you Zarfin, I shall take care of
it." Zarfin knew he would. The hand crossbow had been helpful to him since
he was a kid, and now it will serve the same use to Icarus.
"Where are we going now?" the child, Icarus, suddenly inquired.
Standing up, Zarfin points ahead into the darkened corridor. "I suggest we
break camp and begin making some ground."
After several hours walking down a dark corridor, the hallway emptied into a
large chasm, extending farther than his night vision would allow him to see.
There was something in the middle of the room giving off heat, and after
signallnig the others to wait, he ventured forward to inspect it. In the
middle of the room were several bodies of humanoids. Recognizing them
immediately as duergar, he deduced that they were dead for less than an
hour, as the bodies were not stiff yet. Actually, he was in the midst of
several piles of bones of all types, placed in neat stacks. Thinking the
worst of his discovery, he began to make haste back to the rest of the
group, just as the inhabitants of the giant cavern made their presence
known...
****
Dangerous Wanderings
After Zarfin had given her the surely magical items, Cerifa sat in
thought for awhile. Surely she could trust Zarfin and Icarus, but she
was unsure of Seyriyn. The drow female seemed rather aloof towards her
saviors, which bothered Cerifa as Zarfin and Icarus were so clearly
ambitious to save her from her certain doom. She finished eating the
meal quickly, as Cerifa did not eat much, and followed Zarfin as he
suggested they make some ground.
That damnable wizard! First he screws up perhaps one of the most
important teleportation spells, and then he leaves with her rings,
obviously magical, that he did not explain fully to her before leaving
her alone. Why did she get herself into such things? She shook her head
and took out one of the scrolls that Zarfin had given her and unrolled
it, wondering what it contained. Zarfin was up ahead exploring the
cavern they had come to.
"Hmmm." she said to herself, curious about the intent. "Cute. A fireball
spell on a scroll." she spoke quietly to herself, rolling back up the
scroll. Suddenly, she noticed that Zarfin was quickly returning across
the cavern. Tucking the scroll in her belt, she placed her hands within
her cloak and acquired two daggers. She had a feeling that whatever he
felt was there was not something to be trifled with.
****
Enter the Reapers
Zarfin had just managed to dive in amongst a pile of dead bodies before
the creatures entered the cavern. It took everything he had to avoid
giving away his position as the smell was terrible. Duergar do not smell
that great to start with, and dead ones are even worst. By his best
guess, he estimated at least 20 of them in the pile he was in, and a total
of close to 40 in all.
At first, two creatures walked in, but then several more walked in. He
could make out four of them in the distance. They stood over 12 feet tall
and were bipedal in stature. They were vaguely shaped like giant apes,
with giant arms that ended in long, razor-sharp claws. The strength of
one of these alone was probably enough to kill ten normal people and he
could easily believe that these things could kill all of these duergar. They
had no fur but instead had a thick hide much like a rhinocerous, and they
had no eye sockets but instead had large ears and oversized noses.
These monstrosities were a sight to behold, and something that did not
make Zarfin feel very comfortable. He would be lucky to best two of
these under normal circumstances, but he was still nursing the wounds
that he had suffered when rescuing Seyriyn. One of these creatures
would be all he could handle under his current condition.
All of a sudden, one of them stopped about thirty feet from him and began
sniffing the air. The thing can smell that something is in the cavern, he
assumed. Zarfin looked back to the rest of the group, hidden about
twenty feet behind him, and motioned them to stay down. He continued
to watch the creatures until a loud roar erupted from behind him. Two of
the creatures had made their way behind the group and was ready to
deal with the intruders...
****
Notice
In the shadow, Seyriyn noticed the two vengeful beasts. Grimacing, she
calmed herself, and began to to chant. The words came smooth and easy to
her lips, forming in the air. Icarus was practically jumping up and down,
and Cerifa had thrown a dagger which impacted harmlessly upon on of the
beasts. It was looking over to the group, now, however. Idiot halfbreed,
the thought echoed in Seyriyn's mind, but she paid it not a sparkle of
attention.
There!
A spray of multicoloured streams ran from her hands, spearing their way
through the darkness. Impacing upon the beasts, they began to melt, like
wax. Upon closer examination, it was wax. It was not the beasts themselves
that were melting, but the wax all around them, which was trapping them in
a single position. Freezing them in time. Soon, they would suffocate, and
the wax shapes would contains a corpse. In times far ahead, perhaps they
would be seen and marvled at as perfect, macabe statues.
Ahead, the other beasts had noticed. They began to roar, howling as they
charged, mandables clicking. Zarfin had drawn his swords, and Icarus was
changing shape. Chanting once more, Seyriyn let loose a fire ball, which
exploded and killed two more of the creatures.
But there were still more left to go.
****
Flying Duergar
Icarus didn't have the time to marvel at how neat the wax was forming on
the beast, didn't even have the time to watch the fireball being launched.
The sudden adrenalin rush cause Icarus to go into his transformation.
As the last crack sounded, signifing the end of the transformation, Icarus
grabed his daggers and flew up into the air. He noticed that Seyriyn
seemed to have her end under control, and that Cerifa seemd to be only
fighting one at a time. He then looked towards the last member of the
group and the one that was out the farthest. Zarfin. He was surounded by
a score of them. Icarus flew towards the darting figure of Zarfin, but was
cut short by a Duergar that went flying past his face.
He looked down the corse that that body had just flown from to see one of
the strange creatures readying another Duergar. Icarus imeadiatly dove
down, and was very gald to hear the rush of the wind as that dead body flew
over his head where he was just floating. Icarus turned his flight right
after he heard the body go past him to try and get to that creature before
it threw something else at him. The thing had yet another Duergar up by
the time that he had gotten there, but didn't have enough room to throw it.
Icarus hit the beast in the shoulder with both blades. The blades began
their sparks once again and shot bolts throughout the things body droping
it right to the floor dead.
The light show had cost poor Icarus though for when he turned around there
was another three beast running over to get him.
****
Knee Deep in the Hoopla
Zarfin did not have time to see how the rest of the group was doing. He
had four of the beasts bearing down on him intent on tearing him to bits.
That number was soon reduced to two as Seyriyn's fireball ripped
through two of them. This still was not good odds for Zarfin. The first
one lumbered towards Zarfin and nearly finished him. Luckily, Zarfin got
the first swing in, disemboweling the poor creature. Feeling a stinging
sensation in his chest, he looked down to see thatthe creature had
indeed struck a lucky blow as four razor-thin lines were carved into his
chest. Reeling in pain, he moved to cover his back, waiting for the final
one.
Suddenly, Cerifa appeared out of nowhere directly in front of him. Giving
Zarfin a girlish grin, she spin her daggers in a dazzling display of speed
and finesse. Zarfin was thoroughly impressed with the display, right
before she buried the daggers deep into where the creature's eye
sockets normally would have been. The creature began to howl in pain,
blindly swinging at anything in sight. The creature's agony was
short-lived however, as Cerifa finished it off with several streaks of
silver light that flew from her fingers into the creature. The creature fell
over, a large hole blasted in its' chest.
"I'm starting to make a habit of saving your life, Zarfin. I think it is rather
fun!", Cerifa said to Zarfin. Zarfin could only return a half-hearted grin as
he tried to regain his composure.
Looking across the cavern, he could see that Icarus had dispatched yet
another of the foul beasts. He had flown into the beast, lighting up the
cavern with his weapons' magical effects. His victory was brief as even
more of them came into the room. Looking back to Seyriyn he could see
her advancing into the room to aid the rest of the party. Looking behind
her, he could see that the two creatures that were stuck in the wax
were starting to break free. The heat from the fireball had managed to
melt enough of the wax from them that their strength allowed them to
work themselves free. Even now, one of them had freed themselves
from the waist up and the other was now working its' way through the
crystalline wax. He had no time to notice anymore, as more of the
creatures enterted the room. They were all focusing on poor Icarus, who
had bravely attacked the one deeper in the room. Cerifa, sensing Zarfin's
reaction, called out to him, "Why not go together?" She held his hand, and
in uttering a quick incantation, he instantly was moved directly in front of
Icarus, who now was backed up into a corner by the four creatures.
Cerifa and Zarfin stood side by side as the four creatures attacked.
Icarus, ever eager, flew into one about to flank Cerifa. Cerifa responded
by ripping a lightning bolt through four others. The noise from the lightning
bolt seemed to stun them as they stood confused for a few seconds.
Zarfin took this opportunity to kill the last one before noticing more before
ensuring that no more entered the cave.
Looking back, he was just in time to notice one of the cretures that had
freed themselves from the wax had just swung at Seyriyn, throwing her
twenty feet in mid-air. Sensing the worst from the creature's razor-like
talons, he was surprised to see that Seyriyn showed no signs of
damage. The other creature was quickly descending onto Seyriyn who
lay on the ground obviously surprised at what had happened. Being at
the other side of the room, the trio was too far away to help Seyriyn
before the two attempted to finish her off...
****
Dematerialize
Seyriyn saw only the flash of the creatures movements, shock registering
briefly
in her conciousness, before they descended upon her. Instincts left over
from mortality prompted her to close her 'eyes' and then there was nothing
but a brief impact, heard rather than felt, and she floating. The creatures
were roaring in dismay as they looked about for their missing victim.
A moment more, and it registered with weary acceptance that she was once
more a cloud of dust. And irritable thought intruded upon her conciousness.
'I am really getting tired of this. . . .'
There were cries of shock emerging from the throats of her companions, but
they attacked the monsters all around them none the less, moving to defend
themselves once more.
The mystery of her dematerialization would have to wait, it seemed.
****
Are We Having Fun Yet?
Icarus found that he was having fun. He jumped at the large beast that was
flanking Cerifa, and sliced his daggers across it's stomach. The bite from
the daggers really didn't hurt the moster, but the sudden energy blast that
came along with the slice certainly did. It swung it's arm up to smash
down when it got hit by a lightning bolt from the side, and was launched to
the ground.
Icarus turned around to see more of the beast coming. He, as well as
Zarfin and Cerifa, ran towards the horde and began scicing through their
ranks. Seyriyn, however, was nowhere to be found, almost as though she had
turned to dusk, but the three had no time to think about that now. They
just tried to stay focused on the attack that was coming out of the tunnel.
The killed four of them before the last set even came into the cave, but
that hardly even made a dent to the group. The odds were now 9 against
three, and Icarus suddenly thought that it wasn't as much fun as he had
originally thought.
****
Out of Harm's Way
By the time that Icarus and Cerifa had finished with their opponents there
were only three left, and these did not stay around long enough to fight.
An enormous specimen, obviously the leader, bellowed loudly calling the
rest to retreat. Zarfin knew that they would not stay away very long, so
her had to make the best of it and leave this place, but not before looking
for a few items.
He looked in the bodies, and found what he was looking for. Duergar are
known for making exceptional armor, second only to the Drow
themselves, and in the piles of bodies he found a cloak barely big enough
to fit him. Also in the bodies, he found an intact chain mail shirt that was
very loose on him but was better than nothing. Using his magic detection
skills, he also found a bag with something magical inside and he hurriedly
handed it to Icarus for safekeeping. One last search revealed a repeater
crossbow, a duergar design that could fire multiple bolts by means of a
crude clip attached to it. Although it was much less accurate than his
hand crossbow, he was in no position to be picky. He picked up a couple
of duergar weapons and handed the repeater crossbow to Cerifa.
"Just point and shoot, can you handle this?", Zarfin said sarcastically.
JHe was starting to like Cerifa's glib nature. She took it in stride and was
not unafraid to dish any out herself. It was a pleasant departure from the
gloomy, threatening nature of the underdark they were in.
"Well, if I start shooting, you better stay out of my way. It would be a
shame if I was to plug you full of holes."
Zarfin quickly gathered the items he found in the cloak and hurried out of
the cavern. Seyriyn was nowhere to be found, and he could only hope
that she had used her magic to escape the battle. Part of him was upset
that she had left them alone. She had been changed, even more twisted
than he had known her before. He prayed that she could be trusted, and
that the lives of him and his friends were not at risk. Resolutely, he
gather the items and began to lead his friends out of this evil lair.
****
Matron Quelna: Fallen Petals
The Matron entered the round chamber where the group had rescued
Seyriyn and looked around in confusion. All around her, she saw broken
mirrors and burned rose bushes. She could feel the remnants of
something powerful, but its' power was now waning. Pulling out her
crystal ball, she focused on the room, and on the faint presence of the
entity that lived in this room.
Her crystal showed her the battle that took place, as well as the image of
Seyriyn. To avoid destruction, the entity placed itself in Seyriyn to protect
itself. Focusing on the entity, she reached out before finding Seyriyn.
She could see her fighting several bipedal goliaths, and she was with the
traitorous Zarfin and two others; a child and a half-drow. Hoping that
she was not detected, she began to plan her next step. She now knew
where the four of them were. She would follow them to the exit, and
maybe even to the Drow city herself. Then, when she is safely home,
she will dispose of the four and break the prophecy once and for all.
****
Cerifa's Mentations
As Cerifa followed Zarfin out of the lair, she wondered how exactly she
would leave these fellows after their adventure was over. The were-bat,
Icarus, was a fine companion and brave for his size, and Zarfin was
quite different from any other drow that she had met. He cared not for
personal gain as much as he did for getting the companions out of this
evil place. She would feel a bit of loss when it came time to leave them
behind.
Of course, Seyriyn would not really hurt her too bad when she left. The
half-drow never really felt a kinship towards the drow female, she only
fought for her for the sake of Zarfin and Icarus. So, the fact that the
drow could not be found did not worry her any, in fact, she wondered if
she was a reason that they were in this in the first place.
Flexing her fingers, she recalled the magic that she had used while in
the battle. Nothing like that had ever happened before, she usually
disliked using magic over weaponry to fight, and then again, she had not
known exactly how much that confounded wizard had given her. She sighed
as she thought of ever trying to explain to her companions exactly how
she had come to have this sort of power.
Following Zarfin, she stayed alert to her surroundings as they walked,
aware that in this place, anything could happen at any time.
****
What to Do
Seyriyn stirred from the floor, shifting up like sand through a sift,
backwards.
There sounded not single noise from anywhere around her, and she was
disturbed by it. The emptiness lay heavy upon her, in inside her essense,
in every grain of dust, she could feel the creature that had taken up
residence in her being. With a grimace, she gathered together. It was a
simple process this time, easy and smooth, though her seperation from
herself had been violent.
Thias would almost never have happened when she was truly alive. Then, the
survival instinct had been much stronger, her cleverness far more well
honed, something to be reckoned with. Now, she could be taken apart again
and again, and she did not like the implications to her lingering
character. She determined that she would be more careful from now on.
Should she go back to Zarfin's party now?
Seyriyn shook her head, wondering as to it. Should she now? When she had
last
joined with them, she had felt a difference, a space, a seperatness between
them that had not been there even in those few brief minutes in which they
had met when she was alive, and in that time that he had hunted her.
What to do?
****
Wandering
Part of Zarfin felt guilt at leaving Seyriyn behind. He was compelled to
search for her, to make sure that she was alright. But he had to face
facts, she had disappeared, and the rest of the groups survival was at risk.
No, he decided, there was too much at risk. And besides, he comforted
himself with the knowledge that Seyriyn could take care of herself.
The long corridor began to slope downward at a steep angle. After a few
minutes, he could see some sort of violet light at the end of the tunnel.
Once they got closer, the group was treated to a spectacular view.
The light was coming from a long, winding cavern. A cool breeze could be
felt from somewhere ahead, a smell that was flavored with the smell of fresh
water. Icarus, with his keen hearing, detected the sound of running water
and began leading the group to the sounds. The violet light, it turned out,
was coming from violet fungi that lined all of the walls in large patches.
The light bounced off the crystalline stalagtites, making an eerie light
display.
The group arrived at a small spring where numerous fish lived. The remnants
of an old camp could be found at the base of the spring, although no
inhabitants could be seen. Cerifa, upon looking at Zarfin, noticed
something odd.
"Zarfin, it seems you brushed up against the fungus. You are starting to
glow like they are."
Looking at his arm, he saw what she meant. He must have brushed against the
violet fungus, and the fungus was still glowing brightly. As he looked
closer, he could almost see that it was spreading up his arm. Shaking off
that notion he continued searching until he came upon a grisly sight.
The sight was about fifty feet from the camp. A body, not much bigger than
a goblin, was lying on the ground. It seemed to have been decomposed for a
long time, except for the fact that the tracks it made were no more than a
couple days old. The violet fungus had spread all over the body and
exposing the skeleton like some macabre prank. This unsettled Zarfin, who
suddenly did not like the idea of this fungus being on his arm.
"We must leave, and quickly."
"What do you mean, Zarfin?" Icarus replied, "This place is so pretty, and
look, I have even caught us a couple of fish."
Cerifa walked up to Zarfin, where she also found the body. Shivers ran down
her spine, as if something was unsettling to her. She agreed that something
was amidst here and that it was not wise to stay here very long.
Suddenly, from behind, Icarus let out a loud scream. Both Zarfin and Cerifa
turned to see a giant fungus creature wrapping itself around Icarus.
Several others, all wrapped in the violet fungus, was approaching the trio.
Even now, the small body was starting to move, and upon grabbing its spear,
began to shamble towards them....
****
Fungus Amongus
Cerifa, acting quickly, sprang to the rescue, slashing out with her
longsword at the fungus creature that was trying to take Icarus. The
fungus creature fell back a bit, but still had the poor were-bat in its'
clutches. Anger flared in her eyes at the thought of this creature
trying to kill Icarus, and she struck again, more violently this time,
causing the fungus to step back even further, breaking it's hold on the
small drow. Cerifa watched as the two sword slashes seemed only to
impede it a little, it would take a lot more than that to kill this
creature, it seemed. Suddenly, recalling a word from her past, she
struck upon an idea.
"Icarus, go run over to Zarfin, I think I can take care of this one!"
she said, shoving the were-bat in the direction of the older drow. The
small drow nodded uncertainly and ran to his friend as Cerifa turned
back to the fungus creature, who was now shuffling slowly towards her.
Reaching within her cloak, she siezed upon a small sphere. Muttering an
arcane word, she held it aloft as it began to glow with a bluish light.
"Take this, vile fiend." Cerifa said, throwing the now magical item at
the fungus creature. The sphere hit it squarely in the head and the blue
light surrounded it, leaving a pile of ash in its' wake. She
half-smiled to herself and turned to see how Zarfin was doing. The
remainder of the creatures had begun to surround him and Icarus, and
Cerifa darted over there, letting two daggers fly to give her a pathway
to the companions.
"I hope you have some ideas. While it's fun saving your life all of the
time, one does have her limits." she told Zarfin semi-cheerfully as she
slashed at the nearest fungus, driving it back a step. "If we could get
them all in one place, I may have something that will dispose of them
all, but I'm never sure about this magic that I seem to carry." she
told him conversationally, slashing yet again at another fungus.
****
Round 'em Up!
Icarus saw the ashes of the fungus that just tried to capture him, and was
glad that the creature was now just ashes. He had never liked fungus, it
had always left a quesy feeling in his stomach, but now was not the time
for food. Icarus had to focus on getting ride of the ones that we now in
his way.
"...get them all in one place..." he heard Cerifa say. He pulled out his
little daggers still unsure about how he gets them to work, and sliced one
of them at the fungus that was slowly moving to his left. Nothing happend
though, no spark no nothing. So, out of instinct, he thrusted both daggers
into the still advancing creature. Both of them together created the
effect that he was looking for, but it didn't have the same outcome. The
bolts that were corsing through the fungus body only made the thing glow a
brighter purple. Fourtunatly though, the thing was being pushed back
towards the other ones in line.
Icarus was so intently watching the spectical before him that he never even
noticed that another fungus had risen up out of a crack in the floor, to
form right behind him. Icarus spun when he heard Zarfin scream to him, but
it was a warning too late. The fungus formed around Icarus and the other
one formed around that one creating a large barier around the him.
Cerifa and Zarfin had no idea how to move next. They couldn't get close
enough to slice at the fungus as they had done before, and Cerifa knew that
if she used the attack that she had used earlier she would also turn Icarus
into ashes as well. They tried to cut at the thing every chance that they
got, but the fungus kept forming more over top of each one. Finnally it
formed into a giant fungus creature and started rolling forward to entrap
the other two that had dared to enter it's domain.
Suddenly the whole pile stoped and started to glow with a purple that
slowly got brighter and brighter. It was getting so bright that the mass
of fungus became transucent. The two supprised friends saw Icarus's blades
shooting bolts through the entire monster. Zarfin looked more closely in
through the mass, and saw that Icarus's mouth was moving. He instictivly
jumped towards Cerifa and nocked her behind a stalacmite just before the
mass blew apart sending scum all over the room.
Icarus knew not how he knew that chant, or what it would even do, he just
heard his mothers voice say; repeat after me. He had saved the day he
suddenly realized but then realized also that the bolts had takend hits on
him too. Suddely the room began to spin, fast. Just before he hit the
ground he saw two more fungus forms apear behind his friends. He got as
far a warning as "Zarf" and then passed out.
****
A Bright Idea
Icarus jumped backwards when he heard the explosion, and
was surprised when he noticed what had happened. Icarus, the Drow child
werebat, had just used some arcane power to destroy the fungus creature around
him. He did not even think that Icarus had that kind of power in him, but
at last now he was safe. Unfortunately, the blast left him a bit worse for
wear. Icarus managed to mumble a couple unintelligible words before
collapsing among a pile of creatures
Ignoring the hazrd, Zarfin jumped into the foray that was
about to contain Icarus. With Icarus unable to defend himself, it would
only be a matter of time before they would change him into one of those
creatures like the unfortunate goblin he had seen earlier. He quickly
dropped a globe of darkness and gather Icarus in his arm. He was unable to
begin levitating before even more of the foul creatures started attaching
themselves to him. In the darkness, he could hear Cerifa blasting away at
the overgrown plants, but it was not helping. The added weight was pulling him
into their midst. Pulling out his gnomish blade, he tried to balance Icarus
on his shoulder as he started to hack at the monstrosity that had now
combined from the bodies of several creatures to form one.
Just as he had thought that it was hopeless, he could
notice the creature retreating back into the recesses of the cavern. Looking
confused, he lowered his darkness sphere to notice a small figure, a
little girl perhaps, with a ball of light in her hands. The creature, being
afraid of bright light, began to cower from the light. The violet fungus
on his arm was even disappearing, and the effect of the light seemed to cure
the strange side effect. Once the creature disappeared back into its
lair, the girl walked forward to introduce herself....
****
Lost
Seeing an above-world elven child surprised everyone, not least of all
Zarfin. He had only seen but a few of them, and most of those were slaves
of wealthy Drow families. This child must be long from home, if this child
was actually missing.
"Hello, little lady." Zarfin began. "What is your name and where are you
from."
"My name is Cassandra and I am lost. Some mean monsters took me and brought
me down here. I have not eaten in a long time. Do you have any food I can
eat."
Zarfin went to dig into his sack to get some food, but could not help but
look at Cerifa. Cerifa looked as if she did not quite trust this young
girl. Icarus looked as confused as Zarfin did, but he would not deny
anybody some food.
Pulling out a chunk of the roasted rothe they had cooked earlier that week,
he handed it to the girl, who tore into it ravenously. Regardless of the
girl's motives, all he knew was that she was lost in the Underdark, just
like him and his friends. If he was a little girl, she would not last very
long in the underdark by herself. True, she may be a disguised creature but
the guilt of leaving her behind would tear away at him unless he took her
along.
"Well, young lady, we are just as bad off as you, and if you would like, you
may join us. We are trying to get out of here also."
Hearing those words, she ran to Zarfin and tightly hugged his legs. "Oh,
thank you kind sir! I'll be good, I promise!". This sort of affection
startled Zarfin, who promptly returned the gesture. Icarus had a strange
look on his faec, and he hoped that Icarus did not take it wrong. This girl
is lost and away from her parents and needs someone to protect her.
Hopefully he will understand that.
Cerifa walked quietly to Zarfin and whispered in his ear. "Don't you think
it odd that this little girl is stuck down here? I would not trust her if I
were you."
Zarfin returned her worries. "I understand your fears, but what if she is a
little girl. I need to make sure before I can live with myself. Please,
keep an eye on her just in case."
With that Cerifa looked a little bit more relieved, and nodded in agreement.
Hopefully, this ordeal will be over soon, and then they can all relax.
****
Thinking to Hard
The confused look on Icarus's face when the elven child took affection to
Zarfin was not one brought on by the effection, but because of the
realization of what all had just happened here. It finnally ocurred to him
that while in the mass of fungus he had chanted some strange rune, and it
had actually worked! He replayed the events in his head over and over
again replaying the whole thing from the 'out-of-body' experiance to the
point when the fungus had gotten up and realized that somehow he was
gaining an insight into his mind that had something to do with his long
gone mother. He was thinking about it so much that he still barely heard
Zarfin calling his name for the fifth time. By the time he focused back on
the events of now one last image was stuck clearly in his mind.
The elf child had come in caring some sort of light.
The image left quickly, and Icarus heard his mind say that he need not
worry about any of it and that it would all be better in soon. Thinking
that it was the same voice as what told him everything else so far, he just
srugged it off and told Zarfin that he was just thinking to hard.
Noone notice the smile that was across the elven child's face when she
realized that Icarus had listend to the voice that he heard. that she had
just put there.
****
Surface Elf Thoughts
Cerifa was immediately suspicious as soon as she spotted the surface
elf child. A surface elf here? What in the two moons of Akura was an
elven child, no less a surface elven child doing in the bowels of the
Realms? Cerifa thought to herself as she watched the child walk into
the cavern. Even if some monsters did bring her, she would not have
survived long enough to find them. Much less walk into a party full of
drow and ask for help! Even surface elves at a young age learn that
the drow is their enemy. The rogue did not speak this aloud yet, but
watched as Zarfin approached the child.
Zarfin, *the fool* the thought flitted across her mind, took pity on
her and offered her rothe meat. That again sent flames of suspicion
across her mind. Rothe?? Surface elves eat meat huh? And I'll bet that
they devour it so hungrily too. I'll guess Scherza was just a freakish
elf that only really liked the more 'natural' foods then. she thought
again, approaching Zarfin with the question on her lips. She was
quickly silenced, but fell back and listened to his advice that the
child may need watching.
Cerifa, twirling a dagger between the slim fingers of one hand under
her cloak, watched the elven child suspiciously. At the first sign of
treachery, that child was not going to live to regret trying to
manipulate her companions.
****
Surface Bound
Zarfin worried over whether he had made the right decision or not. Cerifa
had some valid points, and a month ago he would have just killed the poor
child without an afterthought. Now though, he had seen what that kind of
thinking caused and it did not settle well with him. He just hoped that his
decision did not get anyone in peril.
The entire time they walked through the cavern the elven child stayed close
to Zarfin. Perhaps she knew what Cerifa thought, Zarfin mused to himself.
The cavern continued to wind until the sound of running water and a slight
breeze gave the travelers hope. With a breeze and running water comes a way
out and fresh water to refresh themselves with. Picking up the pace, they
came upon a large waterfall extending upwards farther than Zarfin's
nightvision could see. The waterfall emptied into a pool that drained into
another unmapped section of the cavern. This area was filled with all kinds
of life. Bats of all sizes hung from the ceiling while large albino catfish
sat below waiting for any of the bats to make a fatal move. There were
signs of other animals as well, from rothe to small humanoids like goblins
or kobolds. Kobolds tend to live near the surface, he judged, so he knew
that a way out was approaching. Further investigation revealed four small
boats hidden behind several stalagmites. From what he could surmise, there
were two ways to go; up the waterfall to the source of the water and maybe
a way to the surface, or down the river to another section of the Underdark.
He wanted to head towards the surface to ensure the safety of his new
friends but a fear of the unknown gripped him. He had heard stories of the
burning light that kills Drow and how evil and cruel the inhabitants above
ground were. Nonetheless, his word was his bond, and he left it to the
group.
"Well, it seems like the way to the surface is up there." Pointing up to the
waterfall, he motioned to the bats. "Those bats need to leave the caves to
hunt so it I think that a way to the surface is not too far. For myself,
though, I have an appointment to keep. I am willing to help you guys get to
the surface, but after that I am afraid that I will have to leave your
company. I have a Matron that needs to be taught a lesson and I don't want
to keep her waiting."
After he spoke his mind, he looked at his companions waiting for their
answers.
****
the End
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