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[Thraxas]

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The door to his cell opened slowly with a creak. Esric, sitting on a flimsy stool, turned his battered head to see who it was, expecting it to be his tormentor of the many last months: Magda Ruk. Instead, he watched as his former master, Lord Regent Thraxas, stepped from the shadows into view. If Esric had been just a bit stronger, with bones unbroken, he would have made a lunge for the man's... no... the daemon's... throat and died, if he must, trying to throttle him. As it was, he could only sit there, weary, wounded, and defeated.

"Come with me," Thraxas commanded. "I want you to meet someone."

Accepting the futility of resistance, Esric stood up and shambled slowly out the door.

"You won't need this," Thraxas said as he ripped the threadbare, hooded robe off the prisoner and threw it to the floor. Thraxas folded his arms to watch the proceedings.

Esric walked past him and stopped, standing before a man whose very presence chilled him to the bone. He knew immediately the man was not human, nor mortal, nor alive at all.

The man introduced himself as Lord Shai. "What is your name?" he inquired as he circled around, surveying the emaciated, half-naked, drow, like a slave-trader trying to decide whether or not to make a purchase.

Esric breathed in deeply and replied in drow: "None of your business, undead offal." He fully believed those words might be his last, but he didn't care anymore. Death, or even undeath, was preferable to one more day in this hell-hole.

Shai leaned over and whispered in his ear. "You will obey me from now on. If you do not, you will suffer more than you can know."

Esric's mind suddenly cleared. It seemed as if a curtain of fog had lifted around him. All things... the torture, the long months of waiting, had found their meaning in his words. He realized he had to suffer this terrible, painful, nightmare to prepare him for what was the true purpose of his life---to serve him who held the key to life, power, and immortality. There was no question but that he would willingly give his life in service to Lord Shai. Esric bowed low. "Assanque... as you wish... Master." His wounds troubled him no longer. The dark memories of this temple of darkness and pain had now faded. With renewed zest for life, he eagerly waited his master's next command.

"Clean yourself up, and come to my tavern. New orders will await you there."

Thraxas smiled and nodded approvingly to Shai, thanking him as he departed. He returned Esric's equipment to him, fed him, and sent him on his way.
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"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."

[Shai_Hulud]

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Esric walks into the bloody feast tavern and makes his way through the patrons who eye him as he walks by. He catch's the sight of his master coming down the grand staircase and moves to fulfill his meeting with him.

"I have come as requested master" Esric mutters.

Shai looks him up and down in disapproval "This will surely not do."

Leaning over to a blood guard at his side Shai whispers a command and the guard begins to walk up the stairs. He motions for Esric to follow him. The guard opens the door leading to a room filled with supplies stacked to the ceiling. An ill tempered gargoyle hammers away on an anvil turning around at the sound of footsteps entering.

"Whats this?" He shouts at the Guard

"Your new project" the guard replies pushing Esric to the ground in front of him. "I suggest you watch your tounge of I will remove it myself"

The Guard slams the door shut and leave the Drow with the Smith. The Smith hiss's at him and begins to rummage through a chest removing items and placing them in a bag. Esric stands up and opens his mouth to speak as the smith throws the bag of items into his gut.

"Go to the caves, don't come back till you have learned how to use whats in that bag" pointing to the door.

Esric rushes out the door pausing once out of sight opening the bag to view its contents. The bag is filled with poor leather armor and a rusted weapon. He heads for the caves with purpose in his steps.