Atlantic Roleplay Community Boards

[Thrax]

---

Dharzhal cast his gaze across the room to Thrax, still wondering why he had agreed to yet another meeting with his arch-foe. Oh how he despised the man... this freakish being who had no right to be in this world, much less breathing its air. But then he realized the same could be said of him. This world was not his home and he had done more than a few misdeeds easily the equivalent of the evils perpetrated by Thrax.

"I'm glad you came so willingly, Black Prince," Thrax addressed him. He was sitting in the main hall of the Citadel, on his throne of human bones, quite relaxed in the knowledge of holding all the cards between them. Dharzhal sat in a elvish chair made of bloodwood. While he admired its beauty and feel, he felt a twinge of disgust at the thought of the hands that had made it. Old hatreds die hard, he mused.

"What choice did I have? Like the fox chased by the hounds, you will not let me rest until you've brought me to bay," he replied, calmly. Then, in a very frank tone of voice, "But do not mistake my haste in coming for excitement in the invitation, nor for any desire whatsoever to see your endearing face again... milord."

Thrax laughed out loud. It was a hearty laugh, one accepting the insult with mirth born of a full awareness of truth plainly spoken by a reckless enemy uncowed. "Well said old friend! My but I could learn a great deal of diplomatic language from you!" Then he straightened himself in the chair and his face took on a somber expression. "Do you still wear the stripes of your beating?" he asked.

"I am sure you did not ask me here just to gloat, or to see them for yourself. Yes, I still wear them, and yes, some of the bones remain fractured. Does that please you?"

"It does. But you are right. I did not ask you here to gloat. I have one last favor to ask of you, and I have already given you what you ask for... public recognition of peace between us and my word that no further harm will come to you from me or mine."

"Did you swear by Oggaroth?"

Thrax frowned. "No, I didn't, but I meant it just the same! The Royal Court of Light in Luna heard it just last night. They are witnesses who will hold me to my word."

"That is not enough for me. Swear it by Oggaroth... to me... right now," Dharzhal demanded.

Thrax sat up in his chair, "Do not provoke me, drow!"

"Unfortunately, they do not know you as well as I do, and they do not know the second of your greatest secrets. I told them one, that you are a demon and not a man, but they did not believe me. They might believe, or at least try, the other... that once you have invoked the name of Oggaroth in a pledge, you cannot break it, nor lie under an oath taken in his name."

Thrax's face got red and he clenched his teeth together. "That secret remains between us, traitor, or you will pay dearly for spilling it to the heathens!"

"As you say, it shall. But since it IS between us, I demand that, in the name of Oggaroth, you swear to me that after this last task, and provided I do you no more harm, you will leave me and mine alone forever. Now, swear it to me thus!" Dharzhal's voice was stern and commanding.

Thrax was taken aback by it, momentarily. He sat back in his chair and nodded once. "So be it. In the name of my god, I swear you no more harm or impositions after this last task, provided you leave me and mine alone also. This vow, however, does NOT include your daughter. She is fair game as long as she remains above ground. Is that clear?"

Dharzhal nodded, still clinging to the hope that he could talk Nizzre into leaving with him for the Underdark and soon. "It is. I accept your promise and the conditions. Now... what is it you ask of me?"

"I want you to train my son in all the secrets of alchemy. I want him to be able to do as you do, so that he may carry on the work I need doing. You will teach him everything... everything... you know. When you are done, and he passes all tests you give him, you are free to leave."

"There are many alchemists in the land... perhaps many whose skills match mine. Why not get one of them?"

"They do not have the experience in toxicology that you have. You are the creator of the Papuan poison. I want some modifications made to it and to another substance that I have recently... been acquainted with. Besides, I do not trust anyone with this knowledge. I almost ran afoul of the law with your involvement. I will not take that chance again."

Dharzhal paused. The idea of training a potential mass murderer did not in any way soothe his ailing conscience. "I cannot do this. I will give him some training, but not in toxicology. I will not contribute to the deaths of innocents for your self-aggrandizement any longer."

Thrax laughed. "Skurj said you would refuse me. It is true then... the call of the treacherous druid goddess has warmed your cold heart once more. A true servant of Lloth would care nothing for the deaths of a few humans. So, you have abandoned her in favor of Concordia! How typical!"

Dharzhal chaffed under his words but he knew they were true. Thrax continued, "But you WILL do as I ask. For it is that very goddess whom I will banish from this plane if you refuse! I will invoke the secret spell of the scroll which I hold, breaking her link to her adherents in this realm. Her followers will sense the severed connection and faith in her will dwindle and disappear forever. I have been holding off this, saving it for a time when I need a trump card, but since faith in her is failing enough as it is, I have held back... until now. Do as I ask, or else," he threatened.

Dharzhal knew he had the scroll... it had been stolen from him by Skurj, and he knew Thrax was capable of casting the spell hidden in it, being the priest of a dark god. Perhaps there was another way to foil this... he had to think!

"Yes or no?! What will it be?" Thrax demanded.

The drow stood up and turned to leave.

Thrax rose up out of his seat also. "Where do you think you are going?!! I want an answer...right now!!!" He shrieked as spittle flew from his mouth.

Dharzhal did not even look back. "I am going to get my things. Tell that reprobate son of yours that alchemy class will begin here tomorrow, at sunrise, and if he is dilatory he should expect suitable punishment. I do not suffer fools, nor their degenerate sons, gladly," he stated flatly, walking out and closing the door behind him.