Notices written in Undercommon are posted around L'Obsul, one is handed to the guard at the Zau'tar Compound by Naltyrr.

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Around L'Obsul, quite near to those notices, more are placed. They are written in bold, clear Undercommon.

To all members of the Obsidian Vanguard military sector: Report to Commander Ada'vrae immediately for briefing and assignment. This threat is real, but manageable. We have both the strength and the means of opposing them. Be aware that there will be a full meeting to occur soon.

To all others, to those with the mettle to face the surfacer menace--stand with us! Gather with the Obsidian Vanguard, that we may swiftly end this foolish intrusion.

Let them suffer the might of all those who dwell in the great darkness.

Commander Ada'vrae, of the Obsidian Vanguard

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@Thanatopsis#6293

*A corpse would turn up in L'obsul one cycle. It appeared to be in disgusting condition, having been severely maimed and twisted by a barrage of powerful magics. Attempts at resurrection seemed to have no effect, and though the corpse was hardly identifiable in the state it was in, X'andu was not to be seen again in the Underdark. A note had been attached that read:*

To the Vanguard; if you are serious about protecting L'obsul, then keep your troublemakers off the surface.

Strolling into the L'Obsul Tradehouse one cycle, Naltyrr would see the corpse and muttter a curse as he hurried over, examining the body. Seeing the note, he would swipe it up, muttering another curse as he stuffed it into a pocket.

Taking a few steps back, he started muttering some words and in a bright flash, a Geared Guardian appeared!

Gesturing once to the body, the Geared Guardian would stoop down to collect the corpse with its massive arms. Then the drow and the geared guardian, carrying the horribly maimed corpse, would make its way out of the Tradehouse.

Troublemakers? You haven't seen just how troublesome we can be, surface scum.

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Ada'vrae moved quickly to the Vanguard base, shortly after word reached her of the incident. Seeing the mutilated corpse in one of the chambers she came to a halt, simply staring at it for a moment. Growling irritably, she set aside her sword and quickly prepared the body for resurrection; a quantity of diamonds were placed, and holy water sprinkled over them as she chanted the prayers, invoking the power of Selvetarm to restore the body to life.

When the call went unanswered she stopped, once again. "What?" she shouted, giving the corpse a solid kick as she repeated the last few words of the spell. Still no response. "This is ridiculous. You've work to do! Your vessel is naut so damaged that I cannaut call your spirit back..." she muttered, faltering slightly towards the end. With an angry snarl, she slammed her armoured fist against the wall, pacing around the room restlessly. She stopped as she retrieved her sword, standing over the body. For a long while, she stood in silent contemplation.

Raising her sword, she brought it down with incredible strength for her size, driving its tip a good few inches into the stonework, just by the head of X'andu's corpse. "You vithing idiot..." she hissed, glaring at "him"--she could just barely see that it was indeed X'andu. "It was meant to be me, who would kill you..." she uttered, in a voice barely above a whisper. Then she stood, wrenching her sword out of the stone. "So it ends... Vedaust, X'andu Xull d'Vharcan." She supposed that she would need to send word to Isendu't'tar about this. Before she would trouble herself with that, however, she began preparations for another spell...

Speak with dead.

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@Thanatopsis#6293

Another drow had been through the area and spotted the body. She would stop long enough to see the note and recognize enough of the body to match the description that she already had. A rare smirk graced her lips as she stepped around it. Anyone within earshot would have heard her remark. "Not one of mine."

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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."

Word, as always, travels. Bartenders talk, crane operators gossip. Shadows listen.

In Tarkuul, after returning from one of her usual jaunts, Irae, nearing the delivery of her tiny half-darthiir bundle of...something, lust perhaps?...shakes her head. Removing a small book wrapped in what appears to be leather, but on close inspection can be seen is actually drow skin, she simply crosses out one line. She tucks the book back away, heading to her empty bed, a cold grim expression on her face.
"A pity, little spark. That one was actually worth the gnome-powder it would take to blow him to Hell."
As though on cue, the unborn's foot kicks at her belly, and she giggles.

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Aly'dra Zau'ana: Priestessish Of Eilistraee
Danika Nefzen: Druid of the Earthmother
Delia Am'Anodel: Paladin of Torm

It can't be. She wouldn't believe it.

A female drowess dressed in white moved quickly through the caverns to the body. She peeked around corners, making sure she would not be spotted. Or so she hoped. She had heard the whispers of those in the Tradehouse, and had made her way to the Vanguard's base. She had only been there once before, but seemed to remember the path quite well.

She moved slowly throughout the base, murmering brief enchantments of invisibility and true seeing. She squinted as she came across the corpse of X'andu. He looked so awful, and nothing like the handsome creature she once new. She was uncertain at first, but the more she stared, the more she became aware of what she had feared most. He was really gone. With another murmer, the enchantments were removed from herself, and she stepped closer to the body.

Irr'xun reached out her obsidian hand, letting it rest upon the maimed face, where perhaps the cheek may have been.

With tears running silently down her face, she exited the room only to return moments later with a borrowed bucket of water and a rag. She knelt by his side, dipping the rag into the cool clean water, and wringing it out until it was simply damp. With care, she began washing away the blood and grime from his face, quite aware of her inability to fix the disfigurement. When she was finished with her task, she dropped the rag back into the bucket, only to stare at him for another long moment, silent tears stil streaming down her cheeks.

She closed her eyes as her vision blurred from the salty wetness, and she leaned forwards, her cheek pressed to his, as her body racked with her sobs of sadness. She blindly reached for his hand, entertwining their fingers as best as she could.

As her sobs turned to the soft sniffles of one who was cried out, her eyes reopened and Irr'xun looked down into his face.

She pressed her lips to his for the last time.

She stood slowly, walking to the door. She turned halfway, finally speaking. Her voice rang soft and sweet in the sad silence.

"Usstan ssinssrigg dos, zuch." I love you, always.

Councillor Naltyrr is seen once again leaving the Vanguard base in the upper level of the Charnag Mines with his Geared Guardian in tow, carrying the rotting body of X'andu. They go through L'Obsul and disappear into the Underdark.

Some hours later, Naltyrr returns to the settlement with his geared guardian, but no sight of X'andu's body. He disappears into his house and reappears soon after, posting up notices around L'Obsul.





// This Friday, Saturday and some of your Sunday I'll be lurking about around your times (hopefully)! So if you see me online, do log in!

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