Dungeons And Dragons @ MindSay

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Dan and Tan opened the door only about a foot and a half and peeked in. This room was lit with strange little floating orbs of light. The laboratory was filled with glass utensils, beakers and tubes. Books and jars with rather unsavory contents where on shelves that leaned against every wall. And off in the back of the room was a set of 3 racks. Two were empty and one held Zeal. And off on the right of him was a cage with 4 children in it.  Lastly they noted the two 12 foot tall humanoid creatures in full plate.

 

As Dan and Tan took all this in from the door way Deslynn joyfully skipped into the room and walked right up to the dozing Zeal. She started undoing the bindings around his hands. Zeal woke with a start first he worried Jynx had finally come but instead saw the same room but what woke him was the binding on his right hand loosening. “How you doing Zeal?” came Deslynn’s worried whisper. “Better now, those things shouldn’t attack you, but they are definitely going to try and stop me if I get off this rack,” Zeal said this as his hands came free. He stretched his arms to help ease his sore muscles. “There’s a key hanging by the door it goes to the lock on the cage the children are in. Where are Dan and Tan?”  Deslynn whispered her response as she started to head for the door, “By the door I’ll free the kids.”

 

            Dan and Tan were just venturing to the room when Deslynn closed the door behind them. “Zeal says those things won’t attack till he tries to get off the wrack. This key unlocks the kids.” Dan reached out and found Deslynn’s arm and then turned her around and fished Zeal’s sword out of her bag and then made his way to Zeal. Tan and Deslynn went to get the children out of the cage.

 

            Zeal had just finished freeing his legs when Dan came up to him and offered him his sword. “Are you ready to leave my friend?” was all Dan said. Zeal nodded, not sure if he could trust the elf and his sister anymore. He then stepped off the wrack.

 

            Both of the Behemoth’s drew their oversized great swords and swung at Zeal at once. Their swings where clumsy and slow to say the least but possessed incredible strength. He nearly buckled under the first set of strikes, but he held his ground. The next set of attacks he deflected or dodged, he couldn’t take them head on but he could easily deflect the attacks.

 

            Dan joined the battle with a flurry of strikes many hitting but none of them doing any damage, even when they slid between the steel plates, his blade seemed to grate on bone but find no flesh. Zeal remembering what the children had told him before, how these monsters where made of just bone under the armor, “Dan, they are undead; I don’t think our blades are going to do much good.” Tan and Deslynn saw the fight start and heard Zeal pronouncement. 

 

            Deslynn immediately pulled her rod of wonder and began to discharge it a one of the undead creatures. And immediately he grew feathers. They grew straight out of his boney body and stuck out of his armor on all sides. Deslynn laughed at the effect even though it seemed to have done nothing to harm him.

 

            Tan fitted a red arrow to her bow and let fly at the feathered undead. And sure enough he caught fire. And the feathers burned well. Zeal parried two more blows his focus was on defense and he was contemplating a lesson back from the order, undead where harmed by healing energy, but he wasn’t sure if they where undead or not, and healing magic was precious little, he attempted a stab at one but maintained focus on his defense.

           

            Dan unleashed another flurry to slashes at the undead creature and seemed to actually do some damage but not much. He cursed at the creature to vent some frustration by cursing at the creature. Deslynn unleashed the magic of the rod again and was rewarded with all the stones in the room beginning to monologue about were they where mined and who shaped them and how they got there and so on and so forth. Deslynn looked at her rod in bewilderment wondering what it would do next.

 

            Tan moved to engage the one Dan was fighting (aka not the burning chicken feathered one) but rather then pull her own sword she drew the wand of healing she had purchased back at the Monastary of Saint Amalia. Moving right up to the monster she tapped it on the back letting the healing magic it contained into the monster.

           

            Zeal watched as the beast shuttered and seemed to weaken from the magic for a moment. Caught of guard he reacted to slow when it swung it’s blade at him. It scrapped along his bracers and then bit into his upper arm and shoulder. Blood burst from the slash, Zeal only growled and called on the blessing of Ilmayter charging his hand was healing energy and punched the undead in the chest. The crunch of bone was punctuated by the cracking and crumbling of the whole thing as the suit of armor fell apart as the bones under it crumbled to dust.

 

            As Zeal, Tan, and Dan turned to other undead soldier Deslynn released the magic contained in her rod again. This time the creature vanished altogether. And a half moment later the armor, blade, and dust that was what it had been fell ,seemingly, out of the walls behind the racks in a dented battered mess.

 

            The group looked at defeated undead, then the kids, and then to each other. Each smiled and the children rushed out of the cage cheering for their hero Zeal. Zeal nodded and roared over the continued monolog of the stones of the room, “Lets be gone from this place now!” and so they rushed out of the ruined room.

 

None of them noticed the small Quasit that sat cross-legged on top of the shelf. He watched them go and then scratched his little horned head. “Master, no gonna like this. Maybe, I go find master Jynx, Yes?” the mummified cat’s head he was sitting next too didn't offer a response. He tumbled off the shelf and used his little wings to glide over to a lab table collecting a vial and some swabs. “No matter he leaves sum tin behind!” The Quasit giggled to himself as he collected some of Zeal’s spilt blood from the blade of the undead and the floor. “This maybe make Master Jynx happy with lil Dicue!” and with that the little demon flew off to find his master, vial in hand.

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           As Tan, Nakre, and an unseen Deslynn walked back to the circle, Tan approached the subject tactfully. “I don’t really feel like going back to the circle yet. I haven’t seen much of anything of this place, can we go see something?” Tan inquired. Nakre considered this as they walked, “The argents. They are the 3 schools that teach the young the ways of the blade, the priest, and the mage. We can also visit the nursery it’s located near them, I would like to check on my daughter while we are there.”  Deslynn followed but didn’t understand a word of the under common the elves where speaking.

 

            Nakre lead them out of the female barracks into the commons, which was still occupied by some drow of both genders. Deslynn didn’t spot the disguised Dan among them anywhere so she mere followed the two as they turned left down the same tunnel Deslynn and Dan had came up through.

 

            Meanwhile else where in the Court of Shadows Keb slipped from his room and walked to the Slave warrens, he said me said not a word as he collected his 5 favorite two headed dogs and placed their barding on them. Then without a word he walked them up to the surface and went just south of the dilapidated town and waited with his dogs right next to a stone that was perhaps 2 hand span’s wide. He scratched one of his hounds behind the ear on it’s right head as he said, “Come brother, I am waiting for you.”

 

Not but 30 feet down the tunnel they met Dan. Tan didn’t know this drow but he was really cute and if she could get some “alone” time with him she could have some fun and then see about getting away afterwards. “Nakre, who is he?” Tan gave a little tug on Nakre’s arm to stop her. Nakre examined the dashing drow and then whispered to Tan, “Don’t know, he’s cute though.” Tan’s face took on a wicked grin, “I’m going to go talk to him.”

 

            Thus Tan sauntered up to the drow, who was Dan. She tilted her hips and adjusted her posture to accentuate her womanly physique as she moved very close to him, almost pressing her body against his. She whispered softly in a sultry voice, “Hello, tell me handsome, would you like to come with me and share the night?”   She added her touch to the message as she ran her finger along the drow man’s cheek.

 

            Dan immediately caught on to his sister’s act and silently applauded her for the clever strategy. Disguising his voice as best he could, “Why yes, I would, I was hoping to catch a beauties eye.”  Dan smiled and winked at Tan, this was going smoothly so far.

 

            Tan beamed with delight, this one was most handsome, and she would have to make sure not to kill him after they had their fun. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.” Deslynn stifled a giggle. She had no idea what was being said but it was clear that Tan didn’t know that was Dan and was totally intending to jump his bones!

 

            “Nakre, is there some place you can take me where me and him can be alone?” Tan asked innocently. Nakre looked at Tan and then back to Dan. A low risk that would doubtlessly garner her favor with Tan, who was easily going to rise in the ranks of the Court of Shadows thanks to her blood alone. Nakre smiled like a cat, “I know the perfect place.”

           

            She led them down the hall past the Dinning chamber and took a left turn and stopped an ornate wooden door. “This is the library of the scribes, at this time of the night they should all be back at the writing desks so the front of the library will be empty for you two.” Tan gave out a small squeak of excitement and opened the door and sauntered her ways in. Dan paused to look at Nakre for a moment; giving Deslynn the space and time she needed to slip into the library and then followed closing the door behind them.

 

            Alone in the hall Nakre leaned against the door to keep watch. While inside Tan gave a quick snicker and looked about at the shelves and books. Dan looked at the thin air to his left and asked in a whisper, “What now Deslynn?” Tan stopped dead in her tracks and looked more closely at the drow. She picked out Dan’s features and felt a momentary wave of disorientation and disgust came in its wake. Tan suppressed and quickly chose to laugh it off as if she knew all along and had planned it.

 

            Deslynn shrugged but then realizing no one could see it said, “I don’t know I’m making this up as I go.” Dan looked to Tan, “What do you think? We can get away if we want to, but it’s not too late to stay either.” Dan’s eyes showed he was willing to stay if Tan did. Tan was silent for a long moment, “I don’t like this place all that much.” Dan broke into a broad grin, “I’m glad you agree, so what do we do now?”

 

Tan considered the surroundings and noted the light in the back of the library signaling the presence of scribes. “Lets lure Nakre in her then we can knock her out and leave her here and get out of this place. I don’t want to kill her Dan. She was kind to me. I’ll get her to poke her head in.” Tan moved to hide behind a shelf and started casting. Deslynn tossed Dan his rapier before moving to join Tan.

 

As Nakre waited silently outside the library, she became aware of foot steps coming down the hall in her direction. She wrapped on the door twice, when no response came she cracked the door and hissed into the room, “People are coming we got to go.” Dan pulled the door open and was rubbing the back of his head like he had just been bludgeoned, “Were did she go?”

 

Nakre’s eyes when wide with alarm and stormed into the room looking about, “You lost HER!” Dan promptly struck Nakre in the back of the head with the flat of his blade. Nakre stumbled a moment and then whirled in surprise shaking the dizziness from her head and pulling her dagger, “What are you doing?” Dan didn’t say a word and readied his next attack.

 

In the corner still hidden, Tan watched, Deslynn fished a clay sphere up from her pack and pressed it into Tan’s hand and whispered, “Use this.” Tan nodded and the lobbed the orb at Nakre, it struck the floor at her feet and exploded into sticky strands of webbing. Nakre and Dan both nimbly avoided the strands. When Nakre whirled to see Tan in the corner with her dagger out her shock turned to outrage, and then pain as Dan struck her in the back with the flat of his blade again.

 

“What in Toril is wrong with you TWO!” she practically screamed this and rushed at Tan with a powerful downward slash that cleaved through Tan’s chain shirt and gouged deep into her skin. Tan looked down in pain and horror as her shirt and armor hung open in front of her spraying blood on bother her and Nakre. Nakre was the captain of her circle and a fierce warrior, Tan was no match for her.

 

Fortunately Dan wasn’t far. Taking that moment he moved to flank Nakre and swung the flat of his blade into her lower back. Nakre caught off balance fell and struck her head on the stone floor, knocking her out cold.

 

Deslynn slipped over to the door and peeked out; the hall way was empty fortunately. “What’s going on up there?” that noise came from the back of the library and in rapid response Dan scooped up the fallen Nakre as he, Tan, and the unseen Deslynn rushed into the hallway.

 

            They paused only long enough to stem the flow of blood from Nakre with bandages and for Tan to use her belt to close her wounds and a mending spell to knit her shirt back together. From here they rushed off to the anthem chamber and then went down a short hall way to the room in the back behind the dais.

 

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          Once their little act was done Keb motioned her close and whispered,
“Now when I walk out of here I need you to stay right behind me, be silent and
don’t attack or make any hostile actions to anything. The spell will last an
hour at best. Is that understood?” Deslynn nodded and Keb began casting. When he
was done he turn, opened the door and stepped out, taking a moment to adjust his
trousers (and let Deslynn fall in step behind him) he then walked to the guard
standing by the door. They passed through with out a problem.  
 
            Keb walked through the slave farms where drow taskmasters kneeled to
him and slaves cowered from him. He said not a word, merely ignored them. He
then passed through a guard room, then though the audience chamber, and finally
a short hallway into his room.
           
            Deslynn stood in the hall alone savoring her freedom and then move
quickly to Dan’s door. It was a large Iron door heavy and sturdy. She tried the
handle, locked. She silently cursed the fact she had never learned to pick
locks. She could use her rod but that would likely blow her cover and the spell
keeping her invisible. She riffled through her things and then came up with a
glass sphere filled with a deep brown liquid.
 
            She remembered taking this from the dead kobold, if her guess was
right this was a rust sphere. It was alchemical like her contact acid cloud,
unlike that acid cloud this stuff would eat right through anything make of metal
but leave flesh and wood right alone. Deslynn grinned evilly as she uncorked the
sphere and dumped it on the lock holding the door shut. Sure enough the lock
crumbled to a rusty power, and then the handle rusted off, followed by the gears
and latch in the handle, then the right side of the door, then the rest of the
door, and finally the hinges for the door. In the span of perhaps 3 seconds the
entire door had be reduced to nothing but rust without making a sound.
 
            Deslynn preened with joy at the effectiveness of the plan. Dan was
actually in his room going through some training exercises. Almost a half a
minute went by before he noticed that his door was gone. Deslynn ,suppressing a
giggle, watched as Dan crept up to the door way with training sword in hand and
looked up and down the hall way. Nothing.
 
            “BOO!” Deslynn exclaimed in a loud whisper. Dan hopped back and then
sighed as he recognized the voice. “Dan we got to get out of here, Keb’s going
to kill you if you don’t leave. Tan too, I know where she is and Zeal too. We
can get them and be gone. I found a way out! I have your stuff too!” Dan’s gear
and weapons materialized out of thin air at his feet. Dan felt like crying in
joy. Not only did Deslynn not hold a grudge for what he had done, but she had
come to get him and their friends out. Dan’s iron clad mind kept those emotions
in check though.
 
            Calmly he turned without a word and walked back into his room.
Deslynn followed him silently. He walked over to his small book shelf and
grabbed a tome then walked back to the door way and addressed the hall. “Take
the weapons I can’t carry them in here, give me Tan’s kit.” Deslynn, who was
behind him chimed in with a mischievous, “Ok, but maybe I should do that instead
of the hall way, ok?”
 
            Dan looked down at the floor. Did she think this was some game? He
turned and reached out to where he though the voice was, and his palm connecting
with something. A moment of textile checking confirmed it was Deslynn’s left
breast. Deslynn though it was funny but Deslynn only took hold of her shirt
turned her around and stuffed the book in the bag, then fished out the disguise
kit. Dan quickly altered his features and dressed so as he would look like a
different drow elf entirely. While he did that Deslynn place all of Dan’s
weapons in the bag save his hunting knife.
 
            Thus disguised Deslynn issued Dan out the door indicating which way
he should walk by nudging his shoulder.  They walked to an anthem chamber where
a few drow here and there where discussing things or engaged in some other
pursuit. Dan addressed the air behind him, “Which way do we go?”  Deslynn, who
was standing to his left, whispered. “Zeal is in a room down there behind the
stage, Tan is up the corridor to the left.” Dan nodded and whispered back, “We
have to get Tan first; she will be able to move around without suspicion.”
 
            So Deslynn led Dan up the tunnel and to a commons where there where
many drow both males and females who were conversing in drow sign. Dan tried to
move into a tunnel but a rather well build drow woman stopped him. “No males
past this point you know the rules.” Dan winked at her working his charming good
looks to their full potential, “I wanted to see the new girl. The one they been
talking about.” The drow woman looked Dan up and down and smiled mischievously.
“Sorry, no males no matter how cute, those are the rules. If you want to see her
get her to come out here or find someone else to play with.” She winked at the
end of that statement.
 
            Dan just shook his head in disbelief; he would NEVER get use to
being hit on. He walked a short ways down the tunnel and leaned against the wall
like he was waiting for someone and asked Deslynn, “Well? What now?” after a few
moments when there was no response he realized he was talking to himself.
           
            Deslynn had only heard the guard telling Dan no males past this
point; she was too busy heading down the tunnel to collect Tan. Sure enough
first 2 rights and she was in a room with about 8 women, one of them was Tan.
Tan unfortunately was engaged in a conversation with two other women using that
strange sign language the drow use. Tan got right next to Tan’s ear and
whispered, “Dan’s free we need to escape.”
 
            Tan looked around a bit bewildered and before she could say anything
the woman to her right asked in sign, did anyone else hear that? Tan immediately
grew leery, No, what was it? The drow responded with a simple, nothing, must
have been an echo. Tan sighed inwardly and then asked a question, where’s the
privy I need to use it. The women to her left, Nakre the leader of the circle,
responded with, oh yes, come with me I’ll take you too it.
 
            With that they stood and walked out of the circle’s room and into
the tunnel and followed some 30 feet and into a small room with a chamber pot in
it. Tan was left “alone” to tend to her business, which she pretended to do.
 
            Deslynn’s whispers where fast and almost frantic, “Tan, here’s your
stuff, we got to do Dan’s waiting we are going to get out of here, ditch the
nanny.” Tan’s gear appeared at her feet. Tan’s response was frantic, “Fool, put
those things back in the bag. I’ll see if I can get out of the circle and get
away from Nakre.” Deslynn put the gear back in her bag and paused for a moment
when her hand landed on the sand stone.
 
            Deslynn realizing it was a good time to contact Megrom pulled the
sand stone out and whispered, “Esper, Megrom, help, we need help bad, help we
are all going to die, help how are you? help I think you get the idea help.” She
then tucked the stone into her pack with the hope that Megrom would arrive in a
timely manner.
 
            Meanwhile at Megrom’s estate Megrom yet again was woke up in the
middle of the night to the message from the stone. “Wake, scrying chamber
prepare it, I’ll be along shortly.” The Familiar fluttered off to do his
master’s bidding. Megrom studied his book for the spells he would need and then
went to the readied chamber. Channeling the proper components and spells he
focuses on the large crystal expecting an image of Deslynn to come into view,
instead, nothing. Megrom attempted the spell again, again nothing came into
view.
           
            Megrom growled in agitation. “What matter master?” Wake inquired. “I
can’t find her, the Scrying is being blocked.” Megrom looked glumly down at his
scrying crystal.  “So… how we help mate?” Wake pressed he wanted to help. “We
can’t, if I can’t find her I can’t reach her, if I can’t reach her I can’t help
her…. She’s on her own for now.” Megrom let himself collapse into a nearby chair
as this realization set in.
 
            Wake sensing his master’s distress landed on his shoulder and gently
said, “She strong master, she be fine I sure.” Megrom nodded and hoped Wake was
right.

 

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    By the time Dan reached her she had already managed to blast the grade free, the heat was taking a toll on her and she needed to hurry. She saw Dan approach and promptly threw the grade at him. Dan took it with a grunt of pain. Deslynn then quick as a lizard squeezed into the vent and wiggled and crawled till she had her torso into the vent shaft. Leaving her rump and legs dangling from the ceiling.

                    

            Dan not one to be just shrugged off jumped onto the dresser and grabbed a hold of her legs. Maykill and Tan watched from the safety of the door. Deslynn wiggled and managed to smash her knee into Dan's face stunning him, but not hurting him. Deslynn was gasping, coughing, and sweating from exertion and smoke; she could feel the searing pain of her legs being roasted by the flames, but it was better then going back to her cell. She squeezed and climbed as best she could and managed to drag herself further up into the shaft, only her feet where left dangling out of it.

 

            Dan coughing from the smoke that was now billowing out into the room rather then going up the shaft, he redoubled his efforts and grabbed at Desslynn’s feet. He was rewarded with her boots as they slipped off into his hands. Cursing he felt the first hits of fire as the magic in his clasp began to exhaust itself. He looked back to Maykill and yelled, “I can’t get her!” Maykill grimaced and tossed a spider dagger to him, He barely reacted fast enough to catch it.

 

            Desslyn was already feeling faint from exertion, smoke inhalation, and the blood loss from where Maykill had stabbed her earlier, but she struggled on and pulled with all her might. She brought her feet up into the shaft, safely away from the flames and the smoke now that she wedged the tunnel shut. Her sigh of relief was shattered by her cry of pain as something stabbed into her right calf muscle. She blacked out at that point.

 

            Dan looked up at Desslynn’s feet and felt a few blood droplets land on his face. She wasn’t moving. Dan felt a wave of guilt and horror at the though he might have just killed Deslynn. It was quelled by his disciplined mind,but only barely so. He felt the full blast of the heat as it hit him and he took that moment to retreat.

 

            As he reached the hall Maykilled eyed him with suspicion as she asked, “Well?” Dan heaved in air as he coughed out, “She’s *cough* in the shaft *cough, hack* she’s not moving anymore.” Tan looked at Dan with concern, Dan stared at the floor feeling a torrent of emotions, Maykill smiled in triumph.

 

            The fire burned out after just a few minuets. Fortunately for Deslynn, the shaft protected her from being hurt by the flames. When Maykill pulled her from the shaft and she landed in Dan’s arms they discovered (to Dan’s relief) she was still alive, badly hurt but alive. They returned her to her cell and Maykill stripped her of everything she had, clothing included. So she left Deslynn in her barren cell, alone, naked, and half dead. Deslynn’s things where placed with her other possessions, to be inventoried and distributed to the army. Dan and Tan where returned to their perspective rooms.

 

            Dan went into a frenzy of training routines to vent his anger on the training dummy. It did last a half hour till the dummy broke. Tan discussed with her sisters about Maykill. They all told her the obvious. She was warm and generous on the surface, but ruthless and blood thirsty deep down.

 

            The first thing Deslynn realized when she regained consciousness was that her lower half felt like fire, then that her chest hurt like hell, and lastly someone was touching her injured calf  there was a comforting warm sensation from it.

 

            As she looked around she saw Keb standing by the door, and a bald drow man was muttering prayers over her wounds causing them to heal. He finished. Deslynn felt better but the cuts on her chest and burns hadn’t healed at all. She looked to the two drow men in bewilderment.

 

The bald man turned and spoke in the drow language, “There, she’s conscious now you can have your fun, now I will go back to my room.” Keb glared back at the priest responding in the same language, “Wrong, you will heal her all the way. I want her to be fit I intend to have a lot of fun with her. And I won’t have her risking infection in this place.” The cleric frowned and turned back to Deslynn muttering more prayers.

 

Deslynn had no idea what either of them had just said, but she had the strange sense she should thank Keb for some reason. Once all her pains and cuts and bruises where gone the priest stood and walked away, leaving Keb and Deslynn alone, in her cell.

 

            Keb held out a wooden bowl with water and a rag in it to Deslynn, “Clean yourself up.” Deslynn did so and marveled at how great the water felt as she cleaned herself, she felt no modesty, she was proud of her body and Keb wasn’t leering at her like some pervert either. Once she was done she put the bowl aside and glared at Keb, something about this was strange.

 

            Keb eyed her for a few moments, then he took a pack off his back and fished out Deslynn’s cloths, boots, cloak, and all her other gear, weapons included, and tossed them to her. “Put them on.”

 

            Deslynn eagerly clothed herself and armed herself; she even found her treasured rod of wonder among her things. Now she was eyeing Keb with interest. “You want out?” Deslynn nodded emphatically. “Ok, then here’s the deal, "Kebs voice was a dangerous low whisper as he pulled out a map of the court of shadows, “You’re here, when I leave here you will follow me, we will return to my room. The door to the right of my room is Dan’s you will take him then double back to the audience chamber and escape. From there I don’t care were you go or what you do so long as you’re both out of my hair.” Keb looked and Deslynn for her agreement. “No, I won’t leave Zeal and Tan behind.”

 

            Keb didn’t like that answer. “Look it’s easy for you to slip out, and it might even be possible to get that ½ orc your so fond of, but you would have to walk through a commons to reach Tan, and that means walking right past some men and women. Even at this time of night there will be people there. Give it up and cut your losses.” One look at Deslynn’s eyes told Keb she wasn’t going to accept that. “Fine it’s your life. Follow me, get Dan, then travel up this northern tunnel past the 3 argent schools and thought the commons, then it’s just the first 2 rights and you will be in the circle Tan was assigned, do as you wish with this knowledge. Is that enough?” Deslynn nodded. What Keb did next startled Deslynn.

 

            He grabbed her by her collar and pulled her up close to him and whispered, “Now, make it seem like I’m having a good time with you in here.” He then threw her to into a wall making a resounding thump. They spent the next 10 minutes thumping around the room making gasps, cries, and rhythmic thumping noises. Deslynn nearly giggled at how silly this all was, but said nothing.

 

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Dan trained with the practice weapons and read some books of the glories of the masked lord. It was propaganda and all talk of the glory of their god and how they should reclaim the surface world. Dan found this place appealing in some ways but completely revolting in other ways. Dan’s thoughts stretched full length of his life, this place was what he wanted but at the same time not. He was accepted and given notoriety but he wasn’t welcomed and wanted.  So long as Tan was here and he could protect her he would remain. Yes, Dan felt the certainty that his place was to protect Tan that has and will always be his first priority.  

 

True, Zeal and Deslynn had followed them here, but Dan felt no remorse for it. It had been their own choice and He had warned them many times. Even with that rational, Dan still felt a fair amount of sympathy for Zeal. He deserved a better death then the plaything of some demented drow.

 

Mean while else where, Tan mean while gossiped, chatted, and learned of the Court of shadows with her sisters of the circle.  Tan was enjoying the sister hood and had to admit she liked her sisters. They where amiable and welcoming, but on the other hand, it was clear that everyone in the Court of Shadows had a role and expectations, there wasn’t much room for freedom. She had always been free, doing what she wished when she wished, but here. No they all had expectations and demands. She could live here for now, but her friends.

 

She didn’t owe Zeal anything, but he was a friend. She would hate to see him die but there was no place for him here and she couldn’t possible free him. She didn’t even know where he was! Deslynn, now there’s a life debt that Tan couldn’t ignore. She owed her what now? Her life, her brother’s life, a house, and some gold!  Deslynn was bound off to be a brood mare for the soldiers.  Perhaps she could be persuaded to join them…

 

Her sisters stood as Maykill entered their oval chamber, Tan followed suit and stood.  Maykill seemed to beam as she addressed Tan, “Ah my daughter, how do you find your accommodations?” Tan was respectful and polite in her response, “I find them quite nice. My sisters are most kind and welcoming. May I make a request?” Maykill’s smile seemed sincere enough, “Of course, what is it that you want?”  “Deslynn, the elven women that accompanied me here. I believe she would join us, she is cunning, resourceful, and has magic I have never seen. She would be an asset to us. Could we release her to my care? So I may teach her our ways?”

 

Maykill made a little frown as she spoke softly, “I am sorry my dear, but I cannot release her to your care, which would mean going against my husband’s word.  That I dare not do, but we can pay her a visit later though and see how receptive she is. I may be able to convince him in due time. But now it is time to eat, Brakin has ordered a feast for your arrival.” Maykill brightened and took Tan by the arm and lead her from the room.

 

“Will brother be there?” Maykill nodded and smiled again as she said, “Both of them will be there.”

 

Dan’s exercises came to a stop when he heard his door unlock and then opened. Braekin entered the room and seemed to smile approvingly at Dan. “Come with me my boy, it time we feast.” He waited patiently while Dan cleaned himself up and fitted his boots on.

 

As they walked to the dinning hall Braekin made small talk of what the on goings of the Court was and where rooms where and what he would see and learn. Dan made mental notes and quietly listened.

 

They entered a large hall that, like all drow rooms, was unlit. The room was filled with tables and chairs. There was a large central ornate table in the center. Jynx, Keb, Maykill, and Tan where already seated there. Drow men and women moved about the room; more then a few males where chatting with Tan and making small gestures of interest with her. She seemed to be eating up the attention and reciprocating for some of the more handsome males. As Dan sat he noted the table cloth has small sigils of Ilmayter embroidered into the edges. ‘Another sign of some connection between the Shar followers and the Court of shadows,’ He wondered.

 

Brakin took his place at the head of the large table; Dan sat to his right and next to him Keb, then Jynx. Maykill sat to his left followed by Tan and then a few tough and pretty looking drow women. Brakin stood and all fell silent and took seats. His voice boomed over the hall and held the full assurance and charm he had, “My fellow warrior of the Masked Lord, Tonight We welcome two new comers. My very own flesh and blood, My son Dan and my daughter Tan. They sought me guided by visions and driven to find a place they would be accepted. Here they stand now, rewarded by our God for their pursuit.  Welcome my children, together we will create a world where we Drow as one race rule over the lesser races and bring order and prosperity to the land. Let the feast BEGING!”

 

As he said this he brought his hands down to the table and food seemed to materialize on it. Roast Duck, wine, fruits, an entire cooked boar, and even some sugary pastries simply spring from the patter on the table cloth. At the same time a pair of double doors at one end of the hall opened and slaves bound at the ankle where lead single file. Most of the slaves were human, but some half elves, and few other races. They were all as good as blind in the pitch blackness of the room. Each slave bore a tray of food. They scuffled and marched chained to one another. Each little train of slaves was led by a kobold. They marched in seemingly preset patterns and distributed food. When one stumbled or lagged the kobolds leading them where quick to strike they and sometimes the drow at the tables would trip them.

 

Dan and Tan both made no comment on this. One slave caught Dan’s eye, this one, a human, of muscular build with close cropped hair had a scruffy beard and old depression in his right arm from an old injury. This man’s name was Garret, he came from the village of Cavern Well. He was a man that Dan had promised a child that he would rescue if he found him. Dan made no comment. He only locked away the proof that the Court of shadows had in fact been behind the attacks on Cavern Well.

 

As the feast carried on Tan decided to help the slaves as best she could, “Father, May I sing?” Braekin smiled warmly and nodded. Tan stood and began her song. She consciously wove magic into it that would make the slave surer of foot. No one would notice such magic, and it would spare some beatings. Her song was of their adventure with the kobolds and how they had save children. If the slaves noted or realized anything they hide it well.

 

Braekin addressed Dan and Keb while tan was singing, “I believe you will make an invaluable general Dan, your travels have surely shown you much of the world.” Keb stated quite harshly, “Travel he may have but he doubtlessly lack combat experience and a grasp of tactics.” Dan never having been one to take an insult lying down retorted with, “I have trained in tactics, war fare, and magic all my life.”  Brakin interjected at this point with a simply statement of, “You may have seen more battles them him Keb, but he’s doubtlessly seen more of the world and knows more of its people then you.”

 

Keb bristled at this statement and addressed Dan directly. “How many giants have you killed? What of raids? How many have you lead? Can you cast 3^rd Tier magic? No? Well I’m sure you will learn to one day.” Keb’s words dripped with sarcasm, Dan was getting heated at this rude jerk’s insults. “I haven’t killed any Giants. Nor did I raid any defenseless villager’s farms like a coward in the night. I’ve already mastered the First Tier and I’ve seen more then 9 different nations.”

 

Braekin mean while had watched his two son’s battle of words and nodded, valid of points as Keb had he was losing. He was too hot headed and his judgment was poor.  Dan couldn’t match him in prowess yet but he would doubtlessly surpass him in time. This rivalry would nurture that strength, but for now he needed them both to calm down. “Enough my sons. We are all allies and Keb I’m sure you and Dan will be able to learn much from each other,”  Braekin’s tone was smooth and placated both of them for the time. Yes, his son’s were quite strong indeed. 

 

After almost an hour of food, wine, songs and good natured matches of duels to entertain the revelers, the party started to wind down. Tan took the moment to remind Maykill of her promise “Would now be a good time to visit my friend?” Maykill nodded smiled that warm smile again. “Dan, will you come with us?” Dan who had noted how Keb glowered continuously at him, and he did want to speak with his sister. “Yes, I will.”

 

Maykill lead the twins away from the hall and through the twisting passages. As they walked Dan took the time to talk with Tan by virtue of the hand signs they knew. What do you think of them my sister? Tan had been expecting this and contemplated it for a few moments. They are strong and they welcomed us, I think we have a place here, but I owe Deslynn a lot and I don’t want Zeal to die.  Dan nodded his agreement but followed her thoughts up with, But there isn’t anything we can do for them, I can be happy here so long as I can stay with you and protect you.

 

Tan sighed, Dan was always like that, not that it mattered really, they were in a gilded cage for now it seemed. She lamented the lost freedom with the fact that she could at least she could try to help Deslynn. As they arrived at the cell Dan leaned against the wall by the door out of site of anyone in the cell, as Maykill removed the drop bars and walked into Deslynn’s cell.

 

 Deslynn sat in her cell awaiting something, anything, to happen she heard people walk by every now and again and an occasional gasp or cry, some pleasure, some pain, some fear. He cell was nothing but a 10foot long and 10foot wide room with no windows, vents, furniture or anything. The only thing she had was a pallet of straw. She finally settled on her straw pallet and slipped in and out of reverie (the meditative sleep of the elves).

 

Naturally when her door opened her eyes popped open with surprise. Maykill jingled her way in. Deslynn obliged her by spitting at her. Maykill’s hand moved with dizzying speed as she flung two palm sized blades at Deslynn, both slammed into her chest painfully. Deslynn gritted her teeth in pain as she ripped them out. Tan moved into the little cell rapidly speaking in an effort to sooth tempers. “Deslynn is that really how you greet someone who’s come to help you?”

 

Deslynn gave a might humph and proceeded to pull the two blades out of her side and toss them to the ground. The blades where spider knives, wicked little daggers meant to be thrown, each had 3 curved blades in a kind of buzz saw way that attached to a short little handle, useless in a melee fight but good for throwing. Deslynn wasn’t about to try and hang on to the weapons.

 

“Deslynn,” Tan’s tone implied the importance of her words, “We’ve come to see if you want to join us. Would you be able to live in the Court of Shadows as a soldier? Or a Scout? There are a lot of advantages and you can get high in rank.” Deslynn eyed Tan and read the silent plea there.

 

Her life bound in service to a dark army? She would never, but a chance to get away and a way to avoid being some male’s fuck toy/baby maker that she couldn’t pass up. “I’ll serve.” She said feigning a crest fallen look. Maykill eyed the distasteful woman and judged her actions. She might be telling the truth…. Or she may just be lying. She would need to prove her willingness to serve first.

 

“Very well Deslynn,” Maykill’s words brought a wave of relief but it was short lived, “you shall have a place among us once you have spawned a child with a drow and the young is turned over to the argents. It shouldn’t take you more then a year and a half.” Mykill smiled smugly as she watched the rage and outrage twist in Deslynn’s eyes.

 

“Mother, surely there is another more expedient and less demeaning means of her proving her worth. Perhaps a trial by combat or something like that would be sufficient.” Maykill declined and begin to tell her daughter how spawning a child would not only show her acceptance of the drow and their race and her willingness to serve but also turning the child over to the argent schools it would show her dedication to the Masked lord.

 

Deslynn didn’t pay much attention; the moment she turned away Deslynn flipped the hood of her cloak up and vanished. About the time that both women noticed Deslynn’s conspicuous absence Deslynn had stepped out of the room.

 

Maykill immediately switched to combat mode, “Close the door Dan!” she barked. Dan rapidly complied and slammed the door shut asking, “What is it? What’s going on?” May kill rounded on Tan, “What is the meaning of this!?” Tan stumbled back a step and stammered, “I don’t know, I’ve never seen her manifest this power before.” Maykill glowered at Tan and then stated in a tone worthy of a commander, “get in one of the corner and don’t move.”

 

Tan complied and Maykill began to throw spider knives in all directions. The sound of mettle on stone rang out like rain striking a roof. Tan could tell how many she threw at once or where she pulled them from but in moments later there was easily 50 or more spider knives littering the room. Maykill growled and stated simply, “She’s not in here.”  Then turned and kicked the door open.

 

While Maykill hand issued her deadly rain of blades to search the room Deslynn had surveyed the hall. Many doors all double barred from the outside. The hall was a dead end in one direction and the other lead to an iron door with a drow guard standing at it. Deslynn, short on options and time rushed down the hall and silently lifted the two drop bars off of it, opened the door and closed it behind her.

 

            This little cell had a dresser, and actual bed, over stuffed pillows, a small bottle of wine, and a sleeping human woman in a VERY revealing outfit. Deslynn ducked under the bed to hid as the invisibility left her. She noted with some irritation that this room was much nicer then hers.

 

            Maykill burst from Deslynn’s cell and looked up and down the hall. “Guard! Has that door been opened?” The male guard rapidly responded with a no. “Good, make sure it doesn’t, now go and pick up my knives while I find this rat.” Maykill then began to walk the length of the hall looking at each door, Dan and Tan followed close behind.  She stopped at the 3^rd to last door. This door’s drop bars had been removed.

 

            Maykill not so quietly pulled open the door and surveyed the room. The human woman managed a “Wha?” before she was pulled up and thrown at Dan by Maykill. “Hold her.” Maykill ordered as she examined the human woman. The woman dropped her gaze in servitude. Maykill looked to Tan, “Does that Elf have the ability to change her appearance?” Tan paused to consider this, “I don’t think so.”

 

            Maykill looked at the human for a moment, then quick as light shoved a dagger into the girl’s belly just below her belly button and slashed up, spilling the girl’s entrails into the room. Dan looked at the girl he held in shock as she shrieked in pain and then slumped, dead. Dan let go of her lifeless form and she fell to the floor amid a pool of her own blood and organs.

 

            Maykill watched the body for a few moments and then gave an aggravated huff, it wasn’t the elf woman. She was probably in this room then. Maykill pulled a tinder twig from her pack, struck it, and tossed it to the bed. The flames began to eagerly devour the bed and blankets. Maykill strutted out of the room. Dan and Tan spared a meaningful glance at each other and followed, closing the door behind them.

 

            Maykill did watch the room catch fire, the light hurt her sensitive eyes but she listened intently out side the door, hopping for a scream. Dan and Tan stood grimly by her.

 

            Deslynn waited just a few moments, then using the last charge of her cloak turned herself invisible and crawled out from under the bed. A quick survey confirmed that the room was catching on fire, the door was closed and she was in deep shit.

 

            Deslynn’s thoughts ,fuelled by adrenaline, rapidly rationalized that she could escape into the all and probably be reduced to paste by Maykill or she could die in the room. Deslynn looked up in contemplation and noted the movement of the smoke. In the back of this room was a vent!

 

            Rapidly moving over to stand under the vent she saw it was in fact barred by a metal grade but no worry her magic could break it… she hoped. She dragged the small dresser over to be underneath the vent and climbed onto it. She blasted the grade where it meets the wall’s mortar.

 

            That first blast alerted the trio outside of her prescience and ended her invisibility. Maykill flung open the door and looked to Dan and Tan. “Well GO GET HER! And bring her back alive, I want to have a word with that bitch.”  Dan not wanting to put himself in danger by not obeying and aware of the resistance his clasp gave him to fire rushed into the burning room to try and apprehend his friend.

 

NExt chapter is here