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Dharzhal · Visitor Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 19

The hall of the undead had not changed as he remembered it, save for a few more fallen stones, probably dislodged by quakes and decay. Blood elementals and the mindless "executioners," flesh-covered automatons wielding their deadly axes, still prowled the corridors and stalked the darkened chambers. Dharzhal knew that those were merely the guardians of the liches' dream-world. He avoided and evaded them all easily enough.

A bit of confusion on direction caused him to get turned around, but he soon found the room wherein lay the shelves with their scrolls, tomes, elixirs and precious reagents. Dhar took his time examining what he could, taking time to hide from the liches who appeared occasionally, seeking to fulfill some personal purpose among the items.

He found what he was looking for: ten slender vials of what appeared to be greenish roots, crushed and dried, stoppered with wax. He wrapped each one individually in cloth and placed them carefully in the inner pocket of his robe. His work was done. He smiled and congratulated himself on the success of his mission...

...until skeletal hands seized him from behind. A quivering, gurgling, voice spoke, "Welcome back, drow... we of the Forgotten Empire have sorely misssed you."

He had no time to cast a spell or hide. His arms were clamped tightly and he was turned around. How the liches detected him, he did not know. How they managed to arrive unnoticed filled him with astonishment, shame, and admiration. There were three of them. One was the leader, Opheron, who stood apart from him and the other two who held him fast. It was he alone who did the speaking. "Why have you returned to usss?"

"I came seeking knowledge. I remembered the wealth of it in your archives."

The liche lord cackled dryly. "That bait never fails to draw intruders. Did you find what you were looking for?"

"No, you interrupted my search."

The liche's eyes blazed in their dark sockets. "Do not be concerned. You will have ample time to finish it after your conversion."

Dharzhal did not need to ask him what he meant.

Dharzhal · Visitor Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 19

Opheron the Lich Lord ordered his minions to chain Dharzhal to a wall. He then summoned a horde of hellhounds to serve as guards in the room.

"I ssshall finissh what I began, drow. None can save you now," he stated.

Dhar only hoped his messenger spider had gotten through.

Sleep was difficult for him. The hounds bayed constantly. Occasionally a lich entered the room to check on him, making sure the chains were fastened securely. He was given water and bread twice a day, but he could not rest.

There was a time when the hounds were all sleeping. The room was steeped in darkness. A dark form entered silently and strode over to him. His infravision made out the form of a winged apparition. It drew near and extended its clawed hand. "I know you," came the voice. It was female. "Dharzhal, is it not?" she whispered in his ear.

He nodded slowly. "Who are you? How do you know me?"

"From the past, when I was consort to Lord Thrax... before even he knew what I was. I am Nefariana. Remember me?"

Dhar was confused. The one he recalled by that name was a vampyre, a woman cursed by the gods for stealing a holy relic; destined to live out the ages never knowing peace from the hunger for treasure. "It can't be," he muttered.

She looked at the chains. "Adamantite. The locks are warded. I could pick them, but an alarm would sound. I cannot help you, Dhar," she stated calmly.

"Yes you can. I have sent a messenger to find help. If they are coming, they will arrive at the Shrine of Compassion. They are drow, possibly others: orcs or undead. Could you go there, wait for them, and lead them here?"

Nefariana smiled. "I owe you no favors. What will you give me?"

"I have many relics, highly prized. If you will do this, come later to my home, at Alderglen, and I swear on the goddess's life you will have any you choose."

"Verywell. I will go and wait for two days... no more."

"Two days is about all the time I have."

"Try to stay alive that long," she said, turning to gaze at the hounds. "They will awake soon... and will likely be hungry." She turned and winked at him.

Dhar then realized she had cast a sleep spell upon them, one of the new magic, Mysticism. But he hoped she was truly only joking.

She lifted up into the air, her leathery, magenta wings carrying her high, away from the dangers below. In a moment, she was gone.

Kal'iksix · Guest

Kal’iksik paced the halls of the palace, Dharzhal’s note clenched in her hand. She had hope that Lord Church’s followers would assist her in retrieving her male. String of drow obscenities flowed from her crimson lips as she removed her royal clothing and replaced it with her armor. Drayden was not far from her, hidden in the shadows no doubt, the ever vigilant protector.

Soon Kal’iksix was making her way to the stables to retrieve her pets and guardians from the Dark Mother, her five spiders when she ran into Izrenm and Bryelle just near the cannoneer bunker by the bridge. She was startled but pleased to see the allies which appeared to be looking for her. Izrenm was a fine specimen of drow that Kal’iksix silently wished was within her House. Bryelle appeared different since the last time Kal’iksix saw her. Kal made a mental note to ask Drayden about this later.

After a short discussion and Izrenm showing Kal’iksix the letter that she had sent out to her friends, the parties parted ways to prepare for the journey and to rally more arms. Very soon, Kal’iksix, Drayden, and Larisah, the beast mistress of the House, all gathered by the bridge. Kal’iksix scanned the people gathered. Dealthager, Ceinwyn, Izrenm, and even an orc all showed, in full armor. Kal’iksix praised the Goddess silently. After the pleasantries were exchanged, Kal’iksix gave Drayden the order to open a gate to the shrine of compassion in the lands of Ilshenar.

“Loth tlu malla; jal ultrinnan zhah xundus,” Kal’iksix whispered under her breath as she stepped through the blue portal, clutching her arachnid shaped necklace with her hand.

Drayden Calamyr · Sage Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 612

Apparently some of Matron Kalik'six's males did not understand the meaning of the term, "Don't get caught." This is the singular thought that crossed his mind as his Matron handed him a quickly written message pleading for rescue from some obscure dungeon near the Compassion Shrine of Ilshenar. Her anger was obvious, he could see it in her eyes and could hear it in her venom edged voice. Drayden did as he was bid and began gathering the small search party composed of the Umbran militants. They milled near the bridge into the Umbran city proper, at the north side of Shinduago Charnnagen. After making her preparations and fetching her pet spiders, Kal'iksix joined the search party and gave the order to set out.

Drayden's mind was still rather numbed by the intensive training he had been subjecting himself too over the past week. He had been a student of the arcane his entire life, and never had even the highest circle of spells taken such a toll as the dark magics he had been working. As time progressed it became more bearable, but this evening, the Patron was going on willpower alone. A shame his Matron wanted this Dharzhal rescued and returned alive. He wished he could punish the male himself to show how much this outing would drain him.
It was Drayden's duty to serve his Matron however, and serve he shall. The group quickly vanished into his gate, destined to meet at the Compassion shrine. Such irony, as he could sense that Kal'iksix nor himself would be very compassionate this evening.

A gargoyle was waiting for them to arrive, it claimed to know the location of their lost comrade. After brief discussion the troupe set out. All clad in dark colors, all holding true to some ideal. "We do this for the glory of the Dominion." The moved on then, led by the gargoyle to the distant dungeon, sterilizing the path they took of life. Leaving none standing in their way....

Dharzhal · Visitor Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 19

As the second day wore on, it became evident to Dharzhal that either his messengers had failed to get to the Matron, or else she had left him to his fate. He dismissed the latter, but that did nothing to bolster his spirits.

Opheron appeared and forced him to quaff an horrendous-tasting liquid, to the dregs. It made his head swim and he finally passed out. When he awoke, he saw three liches chanting nearby, preparing some kind of spell.

Then he heard the sound of fighting in the corridor just outside the chamber...

Dharzhal · Visitor Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 19

Nefariana waited patiently near the moongate, hovering at times, alighting to rest at others. She began to wonder if the drow would show at all. And then, suddenly, as if at the last possible moment, they appeared... first one, then two, then more... about six or so in all. She spoke to one of them, introducing herself and explaining that she could lead them to the dungeon. Warily, they agreed, though she noticed they kept a watchful eye on her and their surroundings.

The way was long and was fraught with danger. Ilshenar is not known for its hospitality, but the drow were up to the challenge and cleared the path all around them.

Eventually they found themselves at the entrance to the dungeon. Nefariana departed, having done her good deed. She would visit Dhar later, if he had indeed escaped, to claim her treasure, the only thing that now ever motivated her.

The party entered the dungeon and cut its way to the chamber where Dhar was imprisoned, chained to a wall. They were intercepted by several liches who sent their hell hounds against them.

Opheron himself appeared, cursing them and a few of them fell to his spells and power. Eventually he was subdued, though not destroyed as they had no time to search for his phylactery. But they all were witness to his power.

They made haste to escape the dungeon. All of them were very displeased with the drow that had caused them so much trouble. They would make sure he understood clearly the reason for their ire.

Dharzhal · Visitor Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 19

Nefariana knew where to find the drow who owed her. She arrived at the door to his home in Alderglen and knocked on it.

Dharzhal appeared and greeted her, knowing why she came. "Greetings, Nef. I did not expect you so soon." He bade her enter.

"As usual you underestimate me," she replied, rather casually. She stepped inside and viewed the surroundings. "I see you have truly steeped yourself in your new vocation. I am sure that is why you were among the liches. Am I correct?"

Dharzhal nodded. "You are. Like you I am always interested in enhancing my... career." She stepped towards a bookshelf and began going through the books there, one by one, ignoring him.

"Please be careful with those; they are priceless and quite rare." he entreated. "Not to mention they took decades to collect."

She seemed to find what she was looking for in one of the books. "I am sure. Ah, here it is."

"What might that be?"

"When you poisoned Thrax, my former husband, he would have died had not he been able to purge the poison from his system by transforming into the daemon that infused his flesh. I always wondered what that poison was and how best I might put it to use. Here is the recipe for the antidote."

Dhar became visibly unsettled. "Yes, and that is one of the two copies of it."

Nef closed the book and placed it back on the shelf. "I want what you were looking for in the lich lair. I will take nothing else."

The drow carefully reached for his reagents, talking all the while. "You may not have that. Anything else I can give you, but not that. For curiosity's sake, why?"

She turned to face him, glancing at his hands. "It must be very valuable for you to risk your life for it. I shall sell it to the highest bidder, who might be you, of course," she said, smiling. "Then again, maybe not." Her hand flashed outward, the words of a spell on her lips. He fell back, almost down, held fast in a stupor that he struggled to shake. He remembered the hell hounds.

Nef smiled. Taking leather cords she had with her, she tied his hands behind his back. Then she forced him to sit down on a stool. She held his head back and gazed into his purple eyes with her own. "Now... let us talk about what you went there to find."

Dharzhal · Visitor Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Posts: 19

Nefariana could get nothing out of the drow. His will was too strong; he had seen many dangers in his long life and he shrugged off her direst threats with scarcely the blink of an eye. She allowed the spell to dissipate, but kept his hands tied.

"You are more stubborn than I expected. The treasure must be very dear to you," she commented.

Dharzhal, not prone to revealing his true feelings, this time, snarled. "Or someone else!"

Nef smiled. "I had not thought of that. Very well, I will find something else." She went back to the bookshelf and took out the journal that described the antidote for the Papuan poison. "This might prove useful to some collector," she remarked as she placed it in her pack. "I will take it." As she moved to the door and opened it, she raked a talon along his taut bonds, slicing them. "Until we meet again!" She exited swiftly.

Dhar shook off the strands of leather and rose to his feet, hurrying to the open doorway, looking out. He saw her flying away far to the west toward Yew. He closed the door, rubbing his wrists, sighed, and went back to work.