_________________
Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

_________________
Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play:
Salema Nefahri :: A penny for your thots
Zrae'a'stra'fryn :: That which nightmares are made of
Khasir :: From the East a storm is coming

Zrae continues her methodical circuits and inspections of the caverns, always starting with the temple and ending with another sweep of it. Sometimes, she returns to it once or several times as she was purposefully keeping her inspections on a semi-random timing. She seemed to have words for the Spider Guard as well, issuing comments about their appearance as needed and even a word about proper conduct should any require it, in her mind.

Upon reaching the cavern where the Sorcere and House My'afin reside, however, she takes pause and reviews the posting with a barely noticeable narrowed eye. One is plucked down and unceremoniously stuffed into a bag, the other in the main cavern and the ones on the inside would be untouched.

Then surveying the work being done her face would remain expressionless, dispassionately surveying the cavern entrance. She would then step through the entrance, calmly going through to survey the cavern beyond and inspecting it as she did the other two. Should any of the workers be there she would all but ignore them, practically pushing herself through. Should any confront her or seek to physically stop her, well, they may or may not enjoy what the Yathrin had to say to them.

// Open to trying to get IG later (or tomorrow) if anyone does want to come across her path.

_________________
Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play:
Salema Nefahri :: A penny for your thots
Zrae'a'stra'fryn :: That which nightmares are made of
Khasir :: From the East a storm is coming

The jaluk working under Streeaka'aels commands would bow upon seeing Zrae. He is shirtless, all sweaty and covered in granite dust. It would be obvious that he is strong considering the ripling muscle under his ebony skin.

As he sees her effort to get around the growing pile of granite slowly sealing the cavern he seems to hover near. His eyes are respectfully upon her boots yet he seems ready to aid her movements but doesn't do so without her order.

Then as soon as she is through he begins his work to seal the entrance again. He carefully seals between the gratnite blocks with mortor.

_________________
Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

The work on the wall closing off Edonil proper to Mu'll Har'ol continues. Starting from the Edonil side a complete wall now extends from the bottom to the top. Although the jaluk assisting Streeaka'ael can no longer be seen, the muffled sounds of building might still be heard.

It seems that only those in Mu'll Har'ol would be able to see the wall getting thicker.

The jaluk is not seen outside the cavern he's helped wall himself into now.

http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk21 ... a4f443.jpg

_________________
Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

A collection of the following notices are placed around the notice boards of Edonil's busy streets:

Quote:

"Citizens,

Under the direction of the Herald of Vigilance and his Vanguardsmen you may now proceed to the Temple Cavern, ready to board the barges when the time comes.

Those who bare arms under the banner of the Vanguard will be the last to board. The Orcs and the Daemons will be expecting a warm welcome: we should not exceed their expectations!

This is an official Vanguard Notice,

The War Sage. Lord Commander of the Vanguard."

Copies of the following messages are sent via spells of sending through the erected barricade at the entrance to the Myafin Cavern, in hopes that someone will receive them:

Quote:

"Citizens and fellow Myafins,

Your bravery is astonishing, but your wall will not keep the enemy out. The Dwarves of Barack Runedar were attacked by the Daemonic Legions deep within their own Fortress, irrespective of the wards and barricades designed to keep them out... the same will happen to you.

Worse still, it is with regret that I inform you that Nizzre'tyne Myafin, our Matron and First Matron of Edonil has been absent from Edonil for some time. We are still investigating whether she was captured by our enemy or whether she abandoned Edonil to its fate. Regardless it matters not which one it was for the outcome is still the same: she will not shed her blood for you or die with you if you choose to stay.

The Barges have been completed and there is plenty of room for you, Edonil's citizens if you wish to join us. Do not be foolish and stay in these caverns: only death will come of it by daemon claw, orc blade or starvation.

This is an Official Vanguard Notice,

The War Sage. Lord Commander of the Vanguard."

_________________
"I had a plan! A good plan, carefully laid out! ...but then I got bored."

The message is not recieved by the hard working jaluk who happened to be away shopping. Should anyone be in the area, say the tattoo artist and company, they would see him portaling out and then not so very long after reappearing at the exact same spot he portaled from. His bags would seem to be full of something or another which he delivers to the House.

Then he gets back to work filling the tunnel between Edonil proper and the My'afin/Sorcere cavern with well placed granite and morter and whatever else he was directed to put in there by Streeaka'ael.

_________________
Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

The tedium of hauling stone putting it in place, filling the top of the stone with mortar, adding another stone and repeating doesn’t seem to bother the jaluk in the least. He pauses for water and a quick bite to eat. He pauses when Streeaka’ael tells him to do so. He pauses for those shopping trips. He pauses for quick reverie.

He stays close to Streeaka'ael when an inspection of the work is done. Although, no one is within sight, no one to listen in on the conversation or see who is doing what and likely no one is able to hear the scraping of granite and the grunting of the one moving them into place.

Who knows how long it takes to fill up that passage from Edonil to the My'afin cavern.

_________________
Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

((Posted here for ease of reference, so I don't have to PM everyone))

The following notices are delivered to the majority of personnel who frequent the region of the barges. They bear the personal seal of the War Sage.




//I understand not everyone will be there due to circumstances, but I've thrown in every name of those who've come forward so there's no confusion. If I'm absent on the day for whatever particular reason (timezone clashes/emergencies/work), then Zrae'a'stra'fryn (Laktavian) takes overall charge in my place.

_________________
"I had a plan! A good plan, carefully laid out! ...but then I got bored."

*isen skims the notice and crumples it into a ball, tossing it over his shoulder*

"Ada'vrae leads the sword, Better than most. We shall have a fine slaughter!"

_________________
Slander [Zanthair Akarupa of the Horsemen of the Apcalypse] - Sorcerer 'Mediocreare'
Isendu't'tar Ussen'd'Vhid d'My'ana'd'Xull'd'Vharcan - possibly the longest name in Amia
Tiffany Seagrass - weak and fragile weaver of words

The diminutive female figure stepped from the portal effect into Edonil. There would have been no doubt that it was High Priestess of Lolth Matron Mother Nizzre'tyne. Her cloak floated around her and proudly showed Lolths Holy Symbol upon it. She wore Yath'tallar armor in spider egg white and dark indigo. The breast plate fit her so perfectly that it moved like a second skin showing a provocative view of her flawless ebony cleavage. Small cobras wrapped themselves around each femininely muscled bicep. A spiked gauntlet gripped one forearm dripping with blood. As the blood moved and exposed parts of the spike they would glitter like diamonds. The once dark indigo glove beneath it was drenched in blood that made tiny orbs that jumped like lazy divers before landing with a splatter on the cavern floor. A writhing whip protruded from her right hand with the cobras hissing and furious. One bare thigh was decorated with designs made of the same red blood on her gauntlet and glove. The other thigh was also bare except for a hilt which held a dagger and like a spider fang just after sinking into its prey, dripped with poison and blood. Her spiked boots were splattered in red as if she had just walked in knee deep red and green goo.

She exemplified her name that moment as she moved purposefully from the portal effect. Lightening Spinner was charged with the kind of electricity that didn't care who was the victim of its crackling fury, just as long as there was one.

Had there been anyone in the Edonil cavern they would have seen her movements. They would have noticed the time spent. But the cavern was vacant. Nothing but dust was present.

High Priestess of Lolth Nizzre'tyne did not glide into the Temple cavern. She moved like a spider on the way to the disturbance in it's web. She did not stop for anyone. She did not stop for anything. And the growling Sirrush appeared to be there to make sure her way was not impeded.

She took the Temple steps two at a time and a bloody hand print on the Temple door shrieked of her passing through.

Once inside she spun upon a Spider Guard on duty to the left of the door. “Where is the Ul'ath'tallar?” Her tone was far from pleasant. The volume was almost a whisper, the kind of whisper the cruel winds of a high mountain pass make, icy and deadly. Then the flash of her bloodied spiked gauntlet whipped up and struck the Spider Guard across the face. The strike was quick as well as hard. Clearly she didn't wait for an answer.

She reached up, dipped a finger in the blood that may have been pooling at the cut made. She added another design to her thigh as she spoke. “This is blood spilt for a /purpose/. Remember that. For soon you will be spilling it for none.” She finished the design with a flourish and turned her cold scarlet gaze back to the Spider Guard. “Tell that son-of-a-rothe exactly this...” She stepped close so that her blood red luscious lips were lightly brushing his ear. A whisper that only he would hear. “I know.”

The Lightening Spinner, Nizzre'tyne, whipped around so fast her cloak snapped at the violent movement like thunder. A portal appeared. “Follow and I will give you to the Banshees own as a gift.” was what echoed in a tone that promised pain and retribution as she vanished.

_________________
Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

It's not a usual cycle when someone is referred to as a son of a Rothe. It's especially not a usual cycle in this time and place that Nizzre'tyne is spotted in the streets calling people sons of a rothe! No doubt such an insult was directed towards the War Sage for only such a unique gentleman could the rumours remotely qualify that his mother was a Rothe of the rare shape changing variety.

"She knows..." he mused when the news is brought to him. "Her bite still has venom in it... my former Matron never ceases to amaze me. Offer with one hand, but arm the other. Too bad she believes yet another lie... one not of my doing either."

_________________
"I had a plan! A good plan, carefully laid out! ...but then I got bored."

The War Sage for now has taken a step back from active affairs of training and boosting morale, leaving his Group Commanders to continue such as they have been performing previously. Instead, in the few calm cycles before the storm, it is common to find him scaling Edonil's cliffs and foundation layers utilising the nimble feet of the Displacer Beast he has chosen to delve into.


If one were to watch him for prolonged periods of time, it becomes apparent that the cliffs and cavern walls he scales and traverses are not by coincidence. Starting from the ledges that surround Edonil's main gate, he systemically maps a pattern that slowly begins to work its way back towards the Temple Cavern and the barges that lay harboured in the waters of the lake. Once he has completed, he returns to the main gate and begins to map new paths, weaving through buildings and stopping to examine narrow walk ways or natural choke points in the cavern's roads.


He lingers upon the high grounds, examining the ranges towards the cavern entrances by throwing small stones towards them. He examines the low grounds and searches for vulnerabilities from above. He gently taps his knuckles against the erected wall that blocks the Myafin cavern, assessing its thickness during his rounds. He tests the width of the choke points by measuring the pacing of different forms, but most of all he searches for vulnerabilities and exploits behind such natural defencive lines. "He who defends everything, defends nothing" he was rumoured to be heard saying as he conducted his inspections.


As his business is conducted, he writes one final notice which copies are placed in the public areas of Edonil:

_________________
"I had a plan! A good plan, carefully laid out! ...but then I got bored."

*Several of these notices are covered by this adjusted notice. In places where one might see who replaced them it would have been the speedy 52. He would barely slow down as he put the new notices up in his mad dash about. The Melee Magthere, Iniquity, at the rothe pen and near Ussen d'Vhids gate.*

"Citizens, Faithful of Lolth

As of now, we are in the calm before the storm. Soon our enemy will be upon us and these streets will be filled with both Drow and Orc blood. Indeed, the enemy of the faithful is closer than you are lead to believe. I speak not of the demon army but those whom are the demons allies. The one called Solaviir among others.

Do not be fooled by our enemies barbaric nature: they are a quick breeding race of warriors whose survival and place is dictated by acts of aggression, strength and brutality. In a straight up fight, person to person, the orcs have a greater chance of prevailing over the majority of you, our enlisted citizens, despite our better arms and armour. To make matters worse, they will outnumber us. If you fight on their terms, they will win. The one called Solaviir has been CAUGHT aiding the demons. He has been CAUGHT working with the enemy aboleth in order to give the aboleth it's army. That army is anyone that Solaviir calls 'Citizens'.

We must not fight on their terms. And I am /not/ fighting on their terms. I am Drow of the superior race and faithful to Lolth.

Fortunately, we are fighting in our territory and possess the advantage of terrain. The orcs cannot see as well as we can in our realm and do not know our caverns as indepth as we know them. Our defence will consist of drawing their superior numbers into natural choke points, chiefly Edonil's Main Gateway and the Temple Cavern's Entrance. From there, we will use the high ground to rain arrows, rocks and other ballistic weapons upon their confined forces as the rest fight the orcs over the barricades to keep them out of our controlled territory. When Solaviir speaks of Fortune it refers to its own fortune. It has reveled Houses Vilrath, Qos'Yutsu and Ussen d'Vhid to be weak for they have been fooled by Solaviir. They have readily served up the faithful like rothe into the jaws of the demons and aboleth.

As for the Daemons that lead them, leave those to the Nobility or the Vanguard to deal with. We will put their reputations to the test personally. When Solaviir says “deal with” this means that the demon leaders are not to be harmed and that any priestesses with Solaviir will be killed by these demon leaders. Leaders that Solaviir has been aiding for a long time now.

We are Drow; if we cannot defeat the orcs in a fair fight, then we will not fight fair. Like a spider who immobilises their prey with the sticky film of a web before they bite, we will do the same: The use of poison is permitted. Arming your slaves is permitted. Unleashing your pet beasts is permitted. The use of shifting is permitted to those in the populace who secretly possess the talent. The use of blinding powders, choke gases, incendiary flasks, acid jars, hunting traps and nets, armoured spines, orbs of darkness and other harmful or improvised explosive devices is permitted against our foes. If you have them, get them. If you don't, improvise them from your homely belongings. If you are desperate, find large rocks or glass bottles to throw at the enemy. If you are really desperate, throw your boots spike first. What can Solaviir know of Drow battle? It only knows what ghaunadaur allows those that worship the slime lord. Creatures such as Solaviir are to be used by Lolths faithful until their use is no longer of...use. That time is now. Solaviir has no idea how Drow battle.What Solaviir has done here is tell the demon army exactly what they can expect.

Collateral damage to the city will not be punished. Collateral damage to its fleeing citizens however... I will feed you to the Aboleth myself. You have been warned. Solaviir needs the “citizens” alive for payment to the aboleth. Why else does Solaviir speak of feading anyone to the aboleth? Any “citizens” left will become slaves of King Solaviir.

Remember citizens that our aim is not to keep the enemy from the city itself, but to keep them at bay while our citizens board the barges. As more citizens board the barges, we will be expected to fluidly withdraw from barricade to barricade until we are able to board ourselves. Why does Solaviir want to allow the demons to enter Edonil? Since House My'afin has been gathering information and working /against/ the demons, we know the answer. Do you?

Just so there is no dispute, I will be the last soul to board: noone remains behind bar the dead and the Myafins. Focus only on defending that set route of barricades from the main gate to the barges:How else will Solaviir make sure that the demon army gets what they are after and that the aboleth is ready unless he is the last aboard?
...the Myafins have made their choice to stay and we will not expend assets to protect them. Why does Solaviir refuse to aid House My'afin? Because we know his part in this farse. We have no need of ghaunadaur's protection as the other Houses do.

There is no knowing how long this will take just as there is no knowing how quickly the orcs will cross our barricades. Those of spellcasting talent are advised to conserve their energies as long as possible as there will be no telling when you will find the time to compose more. For it needs to take just long enough to seem real.

If you do not do your job, the Queen's Whip will know. Follow the orders of your group commanders, fight hard and fight unfairly. If you do that, we will make it out of this alive. And should you board the barges you will be alive since live slaves are better than dead ones. May Selvetarm be impressed by our prowess.
This is an official Vanguard notice,
The War Sage. Lord Commander of the Vanguard.

The weak will believe anything spewed by any other than a faithful priestess. If you are weak you will stay, board a barge and serve Solaviir. If you are faithful you will understand that House My'afin has no reason to give you anything but the facts. If you are faithful you will revel in the chaos of departing to leave the heretics to their fate.

Yath'tallar Nizzre'tyne d'My'afin

_________________
Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

_________________
I Am:
Derrin: 'Nothing to see here'
Beck: Hard working dwarf paladin.
Naela 'Widow': Wandering priestess.
Celinor Triellian: Paladin of Corellon.

_________________
Eli Hodgewall <{/,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X
Sven <=={o===========>
Qeelak \ | / ,

The same male seen for many cycles in and around the Temple and Edonil proper takes up a station near the Temple steps overlooking the barges. He turns to the two Spiderguard on duty, “Do you see?”
Without waiting for a response that is not expected, he continues in his deep slow voice, gesturing at the assembled Vanguard and commoners. “Do you hear?”

“It is the price those that loose faith in the Valsharess face. Uncertainty, fear of anything but Lolth, placing the power of an illharess or priestess in a male...” He pauses to chuckle deeply. “Now they begin to panic when faced with the truth, whether they understand it or not.”

He turns and points at Illharess Nizzre'tyne as she once again departs from the Temple on some errand or another. “Now, has anyone seen any other illharessen since they attempted to banish me after killing the the last false illharess?” Pausing only to give a raised eyebrow to the two Spiderguard, “If one Illharess was unable to call upon Lolth to protect herself, one wonders how many others might be similarly affected, hmm?”

“Faith is your only defense against what is coming. Unless...”, giving both guards a grim smile, “You don't actually know who you're praying too.” His chuckle is heard for several steps as he starts another patrol into the deeper dark and is not seen for several hours after.

_________________
Thine taste in horrid footwear not withstanding, I did not say that thou were in fact an idiot, I merely implied that such things were self evident.

-Krrja

Nizzre'tyne truly was a gifted politician; he could not help but deeply respect her for such. The streets were in turmoil and the Scholar could feel the tension in the air. Eyes watched him: every street, every window, every public corner.


Slowly, it dawned upon him that he was being shepherded to Edonil's main square as any other way he attempted to turn was met with opposition. No doubt he suspected that several of the Nobles were part of this as well, watching if not participating. So far none had dared to strike him which he assumed he had his rank to thank for, but it was only a matter of time and he needed to act quick. With his trained eye he noticed several Vanguard were present in the general area. He suspected their souls were broken like the rest; he pointed to several of them as he weaved through the tension that surrounded him. ”You can watch, just like the rest!”


He stepped down the incline towards the square itself, by now circled by angry and frightened citizens in equal measure. He raised his arms out to greet the crowd like a musician blessing the stage, his trench coat, adamantine mask and hair now stained with the rotten remains of Lolth knows what was thrown at him.


For the first time ever, he raised his right hand to his face and began to remove his mask. Thick, black vapour engulfed the Scholar as the mask came away from his face, spreading outwards like smoke escaping from a lone window in all directions. After a few tense moments, the titanic roar, echoed by the natural accoustics hit with a force that vibrated diaphragms and caused hearts to race for those unprepared.


Dark maroon scaled fists, tipped with vicious talons long as a Drow's leg were the first to reveal themselves from the fog as they slammed into the pavement, causing the tiles beneath them to shake and crack under duress. From the opposite direction, a long whip-like tail swung large arcs to the left and right wisping the smoke in dazzling patterns. Large, black wings stretched outwards from the upper echelons of the smoke's towers that scattered the smoke's body towards the crowd with one giant flap. The final part to appear was the armoured ridge plates of the head, upon the end of a long, snake-like neck.


The Deep Dragon in all its serpentine majesty stood before the crowd, dark maroon scales glittering like a mountain of oily amethyst stones in Edonil's faerie lit cavern.


Using the momentum of several wing flaps, Solaviir raised onto his hind legs and let out another titanic roar, slamming his taloned fists again into the pavement. From his higher viewpoint, he could see that he had the attention of those willing to listen. His image had done most of the talking for him.


”It is a shame I had to reveal myself, because now your enemy knows I am among you” his sly, serpentine voice boomed towards those who would listen. ”Now you understand why I was appointed your Commander.” He began to slowly step towards the front of the crowd, turning at the last moment to pace before them, like a Drill-Sergeant addressing his trainees. ”Understand you were lied to for a good reason: if I came to you like this, you would have ran. Desperate times call for desperate measures... and I did what needed to be done.”


Keeping three points of contact with the ground, Solaviir gestured towards the crowd with his right hand. ”I have grown to respect many of you and your customs, particularly the Matron Nizzre'tyne despite her... interesting views... but you were lying to yourselves if you thought you were safe from this Obyrith. Its minions were entering the Underdark, our home. Cavern by cavern they would have eventually reached your gates and like now would be facing battle.”


“I confess, citizens of Edonil, that I am guilty of one crime: ensuring you were prepared for this cycle. And that you did not stand alone.”


Look about you citizens!” He gestured to the city. ”Your city was incomplete when I arrived and is still incomplete now! You still have no foreign trade relations, no exported goods and no allies to call upon. Your Noble academies were running on skeleton crews which your former Ul'Saruk can testify with these letters!” He tossed a bag into the air with his right taloned claw, sending scattered copies throughout the air for the crowd to gather. "You were defenceless... And your leaders were in denial of such because it was 'your Queen's way.' The High Priestess and the former First Matron left your city, left you all to rot in incomplete and undefended streets and now as you are threatened their way of assisting you was to build a wall to keep you out! No wonder the true Matrons decided to act!


They came to me for help... and help is what I gave them. I came to you, hidden as I was, as an ally.


I forged you an army to protect you.” He pointed a single talon to a random Vanguardsman in the crowd, lingering upon them for ten long seconds. ”As a result the devout of Selvetarm and the Nobility, Edonil's most gifted warriors, have rallied to spill blood and lose their own blood for you against the orcs and Daemons that lead them!


...and you -dare- to crumble their resolve by calling me Daemon Lover?"


He paused before continuing. “I gave you purpose. In the time of the Obyrith's threat, you have accomplished in weeks what you had not accomplished in years. When was the last time Iniquities doors opened for public festivities due to the completion of a building? Not since the days of Velthura the Tyrant!


...and you -dare- to accuse me of giving you to the daemons?”


He continued to pace before the crowd, waving his tail intimidatingly towards the front rank of citizens. ”I gave you allies where there was none. The Obyrith's invasion of our territories has caused others like myself and the Aboleth to stir into action to protect our realm.


...and you -dare- to disgrace their assistance? Have you forgotten in the isolation that was forced upon you that you are not the sole inhabitants of this Underdark or even this very cavern? The Aboleth was reminded when it fought you that you are a power to be feared, that siding with you would increase its chances of survival against such a powerful enemy. Do you really think it would turn against you and attempt to make the same mistake twice?"


But most of all...” He purposefully pauses, building suspense: ”...I restored your pride. The citizens of Edonil will now be known as the the people who defied an Obyrith. Not just 'those scum of L'Obsul's wastepit.”


”...and in return you -dare- to doubt my sense of purpose because a disgraced Matron and a hermit who care not of your survival say so?” He lets out a titanic roar once more and the great serpentine beast begins to make his way towards the front gate.


”Your true Matrons: Vilrath, Ussen'dvhid and Qos'Yutsu were given a vision of a new, rich and glorious Empire rising from the ashes of the fallen city. the Aboleth intercepted that vision from one of the younger priestesses and passed it on to me. Along with my arrival, are these two instances not signs that your deity still watches over you? I subdued myself to the Matron's will to give you that Empire your deity wants you to have. I intend to live up to that promise and will fight every moment beside you. But, if you all wish to panic and die alone...” He begins to climb up to the peaks of the cavern walls near the gate itself, looking down at the crowd once he reaches a flat enough plateau to support him. ”If I leave now through that cavern I will escape, unlike you."


"You must all ask yourself the following: do you wish to die in turmoil and be forgotten through the ages? Or do you wish to restore your pride as the apex race by defying a horde that outnumbers you many times over as you sail on to new shores to forge your destinies as the masters of this realm?"


What would your goddess prefer? What would you prefer?”


”You have one cycle to decide. When I awaken, I dearly hope to see the Vanguard manning their positions under the orders of Lord Commander Zrae'a'stra'fryn with fire in their eyes and steel around their hearts. The time of cowering in your webs is over.”


With that, Solaviir lies down and makes himself comfortable upon his nestled plateau. ”One cycle!” As a final gesture, he roars once more down towards them; their fate was now up to them.



((DM Approved.))

_________________
"I had a plan! A good plan, carefully laid out! ...but then I got bored."

_________________
Eli Hodgewall <{/,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~X
Sven <=={o===========>
Qeelak \ | / ,

Though it was almost a cycle after the confusion sprung up at the postings of Nizzre'tyne, Zrae'a'stra'fryn had said nothing save for her almost cryptic murmurs to the people. Now, however, as she stood before them in the Temple in her immaculate, rune-etched armor, there was little doubt as to if she was going to remain silent. Was it due to what the Scholar had revealed to them? Perhaps. If she thought anything of it, she hid it well.

People of Edonil and the Failthful of Lolth, I have seen all that has been written and heard what has been said on this cycle. No doubt you have heard of, or seen, the War Sage's revelation. Does it surprise you? Do you not see now the truth?!

Her eyes scanned them slowly, not everyone but carefully sweeping the multitudes to ensure her voice was being heard. And, of course, to measure the reaction to her opening words.

Nizzre'tyne would have you believe her words, to eat her lies one after another so as to drag you into oblivion with her! Some of you may doubt my words, but tell me thus: Why does she even now set herself on a course against the vision Lolth Herself has bestowed to her priestesses? I will tell you why. her breath hissed before she continued It is for the same reason that she ordered the cavern to her house walled off. For the same reason that she left these caverns for weeks at a time when we are under imminent attack. For the same reason she continues to laugh in the face of the Dread Queen's faithful! she let that hang for a moment Because she is a coward! She hides from the truth, from the unfailing Wisdom of Lolth! She fears not Her Will any longer, but instead her loss of power in this city!

Nizzre'tyne, the one who believes that our Queen has gone silent! That she has abandoned our mighty race. But I ask you this: If Lolth has, why do I hear Her voice in my prayers? Why do I feel Her eyes upon me with every passing spider? Why do I feel her power in every spell that I cast? Why, my sisters and brothers, can I call upon her power to do this!!

At this spells begin to be cast, not many but enough to ensure her point. Upon a stalagmite comes crashing down the divine power of Hammer of the Gods. In the next moment come the words of an Implosion spell, her voice carrying through the cavern and over the waters as the ground trembles and swirling vortex forms high in the air, fit to suck in and crush any interloper yet well clear of any living being at least. And yet she calls upon further power, her body wrapped in the unholy power of the Dread Queen so that she stands before them, glowing.

And what of the puppet -yes, puppet!- who occupies the most honored ranking of our Temple? In all of this she does nothing but mimic the falsehoods of Nizzre'tyne. When have any of you seen Widow? I have not seen her presence in the Temple for untold cycles. It is incomprehensible! The so-called priestess of Lolth's Wisdom has all but vacated her position until now!

At this point normally dispassionate priestess looks far from it. Her beautiful features are marred with disgust as she regards them all levelly, her words dripping from her tongue like acid.

I have seen nothing of value be done by either since I entered this city, and I have heard the tales of so little being done before that time. It disgusts me that they would fail the Valsharess so blatantly! When last did you hear of a sacrifice to the Valsharess! When last did you raid the Surface to strike fear into their pathetic hearts! When last did you see them do anything to make this city shine with Lolth's approval?

Has Lolth forsaken our city? None can answer that but the Valsharess Herself. But if She has it is because these foul charlatans of faith have lead you down a path of dishonor in Her name! But no more! No. More! You will not be tricked any further!

I say to you now, let Nizzre'tyne stride about the city with her false sense of power! Let the fool continue down her path to heresy! Let her continue to drag her house into damnation! We -we, the Faithful to our glorious Queen of the Demonweb Pits- will have none of it! None of it!

You have seen that which joins with us against our foe. A deep dragon has heeded our call! An aboleth yields to our might! Who amongst you can deny the supreme power that is the Valsharess when such might gathers with us to carve our glory into the Underdark? her voice suddenly picks up in volume None of you!

Do not doubt your faith for one moment. Remember that we follow the vision bestowed upon the Yath'tallar by the mighty Lolth! The very same vision that Nizzre'tyne has turned her back on! There is no wisdom but the Valsharess'! There is no power but the Queen of Spiders! There is no absolute but Lolth!

Listen not to Nizzre'tyne's forked tongue, let not her lies take root in your minds, for you will remember that we are truly drow, the children of Lolth! She would have you believe that we are all heretics. How convenient that only she and Widow are the remaining priestesses that follow the Dread Queen.

Is it not convenient that they, only now, look to sow dissent when their power is questioned. Power goes to those that seek it, and the weak and lazy will feel it slip from their grasp at the hands of those more cunning and capable. That is what has happened in these times. And that is what Nizzre'tyne and Widow now fear.

They no longer fear the might of Lolth, my sisters and brothers, but we do. That is why we follow Her vision. Because to not is to turn our backs on the Valsharess. And that is heresy!

To Lolth we gladly give our fealty and our lives! Only She will call us to Her webs!

Lolth tlu malla! she cried out as she cast the spell of Bless upon them. Nothing more was said, her mind apparently spoken as she raked them all with her fiery gaze.

_________________
Whomst've'll'd'mn't I play:
Salema Nefahri :: A penny for your thots
Zrae'a'stra'fryn :: That which nightmares are made of
Khasir :: From the East a storm is coming

Considering how often Yath'tallar Nizzre'tyne had been seen in and around Edonil, it would come as no surprise that she was at the wall closing off the My'afin cavern under invisibility during the amazing revelation of Solaviir. She would greet the guards who found their way to the tunnel with her usual pleasant voice and small smile. “I accept all of you as volunteers for this important duty...” Whatever else was said was lost in a quiet whisper.

And still later...

Yath'tallar Nizzre'tyne was still in the area for Zrae'a'stra'fryn's speech. Yath'tallar Nizzre'tyne was standing on the level below the Temple with a Drow male and the familiar form of 52 kneeling nearby. No doubt that considering the amount of guards and citizens and vanguard in the cavern now, someone would have seen them enter. The Drow male and 52 glittering with some sort of enchantment.

Considering all the times and different places Yath'tallar Nizzre'tyne had appeared over the last weeks perhaps it wasn't strange that she would be in the Temple cavern again. She had a black leather bound tome out and would be seen writing in it. She would stop writing every so often, reach into a pocket and then pop a little red ball into her mouth. Her cloak was pulled over one shoulder so that the Elgluth d'Jesshc, snake headed whip that Lolth herself gifted to deserving Yath'tallar, was visible. The cobras hissing and snapping at anyone that ventured near. The male with her seemed intelligent enough to stand on the opposite side. If one looked closely the male would look familiar, especially to the Spider Guard.

Clearly she was close enough to hear Yathrin Zrae'a'stra'fryn speaking. Yet she had that familiar small smile lifting the corner of her lips. At one point she caught the attention of the nearby Spider Guard on duty at the top of the hill overlooking the exit into Edonil proper with a quick drow hand signed question. “Where are the Matron Mothers of Vilrath, Qos'Yutsu and Ussen d'Vhid?”

At the point that Yathrin Zrae'a'stra'fryn spoke these words, “Remember that we follow the vision bestowed upon the Yath'tallar by the mighty Lolth! The very same vision that Nizzre'tyne has turned her back on!” Yath'tallar Nizzre'tyne stopped what she was doing and pursed her lips together. Her tone was not so pleasant, more like disgusted. “Glorious Goddess, they think that vision was from our Dread Queen. Vith.” She spun to face the Drow male so quickly the cobras experienced a bit of whiplash. “Oloth'Sutrinos, there is nothing else to do here. You will find that damn shadow dancer, I want to know where the hells the arse end of the creatures beating drums is already.” Her commanding tone low but not a whisper. “Meet me in our cavern, we have the trap to finish.” Her gaze did a quick sweep of the area. “If it gets to the item before we do...” The thought unfinished, a portal called and Yath'tallar Nizzre'tyne, the Drow male and 52 faded away.

_________________
Ari'aerath Dlues'athsha ~ Silver Singer with the Bow of the Sun
Clarette Feohn ~ Magic is Art.
Victoria Marrs ~ "I have an herb for that."

Another now familiar sounding roar echoes throughout the cavern: the single cycle is up and the Deep Dragon known to the populace as The War Sage stirs once again.


With slow majestic movements he begins to climb down from his perch, his taloned hands gripping to the stone similar to how one would watch a gecko scale a vertical wall. Once all four limbs have touched the compressed layer of the street's surface the similar fog as witnessed upon "the revelation," as it came to be known, engulfed the Dragon as it did the masked male the previous cycle.


"I will be with you... and I will be watching" were the lone words that echoed from the thick shroud. As the shroud's consistency faded, of the Dragon there was no sign.


Hours later, rumours once again spread of sightings of the familiar masked male dressed in his weather-beaten trench coat present in the Temple District, not far from the presence of Zrae'a'stra'fryn, Ada'vrae or the Matron of Vil'rath.

_________________
"I had a plan! A good plan, carefully laid out! ...but then I got bored."

...And with the orcs continuing to take wrong turns the fighting continues!


Contempt with letting the females battle for the loyalty of the citizens, The War Sage continues to do as his colloquial reference implies: fight the "war."


Orc patrols and groups are preyed upon indiscriminately regardless of their location, size or consistency as the diverse extent of the War Sage's personas are unleashed. One group was rumoured to be attacked by a large wall of stone where another's scout was dragged into the dark by the tendrils of a mammalian creature that "shunted" itself about the caverns like a blur. A small patrol was rumoured to have fought amongst themselves as a feral humanoid periodically killed them one by one just as caverns were lit with fire and lightning as storms raged between orc shamans and a masked, reptilian humanoid.


Other rumours speak of orc carcasses found in varying messy states: Some appear to have been sliced open by blades where others have had their bones shattered with no visible reason why. Stragglers are found riddled with sharp boney spines from head to toe where others are rarely found forged in stone, their last moments of life captured upon their cold, eternal visage.


Although the attacks are only small scale and are no doubt pin pricks against the main body of the Horde ploughing aggressively into the Underdark, the message of the attacks is simple: They were fighting on the Underdark's terms... and no orc was safe. No matter their numbers, no matter their location, no matter their position or their power, in the Underdark no orc was safe.


But, such a message was not without its price: it was common for the War Sage to return to Edonil with a tired expression upon those areas of his face not concealed by the adamantine mask and as the cycles dragged on, his stays in Edonil between his "patrols" becomes increasingly longer. Accompanying such exhaustion were always a multitude of injuries ranging from grazes and bruises to lacerations of differing sizes, including on one occasion a pair of broken fingers. Although it was always weather-beaten, his iconic trench coat is riddled with rips, tears and with each passing begins to take a more tattered appearance that's unbefitting for a "Drow" of supposed nobility. Mixed with the dirt, grime and moss stains on his knees, boots and elbows from scaling the caverns the image of the War Sage also portrays a strong message to the citizens of Edonil who would still look upon him after his "revelation:" that war is not a pretty or glorious business.


But, luckily for the citizens, he never returned empty handed. Small quantities of scavenged orc blades in relatively stable repair and small enough for a Drow to use are pressed into the hands of those willing to take them. Other trophy items such as loin cloths, charms and broken armoured plates are also given to the Vanguard to wear upon their armour if they choose to.


It seems that the new tactic of buying time through terror has become the main aim of the War Sage as the drums beat ever louder in the darkness and the barges rock gently in their docks. But, who's to say that a race of warriors would not see such attacks as a challenge? Or if a city divided by fear and confusion would be willing to adopt such a tactic offered by a being who lied to them for so long?

_________________
"I had a plan! A good plan, carefully laid out! ...but then I got bored."