Ch 4: Part 2: Last Home of the Elves: Session 57

[15:54] <@Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:54] <@Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 4: Endless Night~~~
[15:54] <@Kilarra> \Part 2: Last Home of the Elves/
[15:54] <@Kilarra> -Session 57-
[15:54] <@Kilarra> The stone inside the arch grows smoky, then translucent, revealing a cloudy view of a shadowy cavern beyond. An elven voice shouts “Run dogs!” in Undercommon as the scouts ready their weapons for the party's flight through the portal.
[15:56] * Kilarra takes a deep break and runs through the portal. She barely manages to avoid tripping over herself, and has to hobble a bit to keep steady. At least it would make her look convincingly injured.
[15:57] * Aluthyra follows quickly after. She doesn't make much of a show of it, however, and simply keeps up with Kilarra.
[15:57] <@Kilarra> Kjell takes the portal at a run, glancing back to make sure they were just far enough ahead of the elves that would be chasing them to avoid getting caught in any crossfire.
[15:59] <Aluthyra> Kahree grins as she enters the portal, following Kjell. Her grin fades and she replaces it with a mask of faux distress, trying to remain convincing.
[16:02] <@Kilarra> The drow have, apparently, maintained a small camp on the other side of the portal. A dozen drow soldiers and three hideous male driders, all of whom look completely shocked to see a handful of 'drow' stragglers rush through the suddenly active gate, followed by a dozen surface elves. Upon seeing the drow camp, the elves immediately open fire on them, while the driders, though equally shocked, immediately rush to meet the 'invasion'.
[16:02] <@Kilarra> though equally shocked, immediately rush to meet the 'invasion'.
[16:03] * Aluthyra winces. Hopefully the elves would be able to retreat without any, or little, casualties. She continues to keep up with Kilarra, running to the Drow line.
[16:05] <@Kilarra> The spider legged abominations bear down on the party, as they were the first things through the gate, but then completely stride over them, falling for the disguises completely. They rush to meet Kaerishiel's men, who certainly weren't expecting the abominations to be present.
[16:05] * Kilarra looks slightly relieved at that, having been reaching for her mace as the driders closed in on them. She keeps running, trying to motion for the group to stick close together.
[16:05] <Aluthyra> Kahree's nose scrunches in disgust. Spiders. She hates spiders.
[16:06] <@Kilarra> Kjell ignores the driders in his attempt to keep up with his companions, trying to find a place for them to lose themselves
[16:06] <Aluthyra> Kahree doesn't let her disgust slow her though! She continues to run behind Kjell.
[16:08] * Kilarra is totally okay in not picking a fight with three driders on top of everything else.
[16:09] <@Kilarra> The party can see, at the far edge of the drow camp, a heavy iron cart that looks like it might provide solid cover until the fighting stopped.
[16:11] * Aluthyra continues for the cart, taking cover once she reaches it. As she does so, she looks to her companions, making sure everyone arrived safely...
[16:12] * Kilarra slides in roughly next to Aluthyra, nearly falling flat on her face.
[16:12] <@Kilarra> Kjell comes to a halt and ducks behind the cart when he sees Kilarra slide in.
[16:13] * Aluthyra holds Kilarra steady as she reaches the cart. She would even chuckle, if not for their present situation.
[16:13] <Aluthyra> Kahree arrives right after Kjell, moving around the cart. She frowns. "So, what, we just wait here 'til it's over?"
[16:14] <@Kilarra> In addition to two rather large cave geckos hitched to the cart, there is another drow hiding behind the cart. He certainly doesn't look like a soldier, and seems just as keen as the party to avoid the fighting.
[16:16] <Aluthyra> Kahree frowns at the drow. She'd comment on him being a pussywillow for not joining the fight, but... well.
[16:17] <@Kilarra> After about half a minute, the sound of the fighting dies away, only to be replaced by the sound of arguing drow. Though they speak in undercommon, the blooklinks allow the party to understand perfectly. They are mainly bickering about who should be taking charge now.
[16:18] * Kilarra motions for Aluthyra to take a look at the situation, "What's the score?"
[16:23] <@Kilarra> Aluthyra can see that there are a few dead on each side. The drow are irate and bickering, one even going so far as to stomp on the throat of a wounded ally, killing him.
[16:23] <@Kilarra> The drow behind the cart looks to Aluthyra, "It's um... all over then?"
[16:24] * Aluthyra frowns deeply. "Yes, it is over." She sighs. "They are fighting, it would seem, amongst themselves."
[16:25] * Aluthyra shakes her head. "The dead are on both sides. It seems one was not favored."
[16:27] <@Kilarra> The drow looks to his fellow 'drow' and gives a half-smile, "Well, it seems we're lucky then." He stands up and dusts himself off, "Greetings to you," he says warmly, "I am Gadark Simiryan, servant of the Illustrious House Vonnarc."
[16:28] * Kilarra knows damn well better than to trust anyone down here, but at least this one seemed cordial. She stands up and nods, "Kilarra. She," pointing to Aluthyra, "Is Aluthyra."
[16:28] * Aluthyra strains herself to smile. She nods. "Well met. And I am Aluthyra."
[16:28] <@Kilarra> Kjell keeps quiet, remembering what was said about drow and females, and lets Kahree speak for him.
[16:29] <Aluthyra> Kahree flicks Kjell's ear-- must keep it convincing. "The dog's name is Kjell, and me-- Kahree." She smirks.
[16:30] <@Kilarra> Kjell simply nods to Kahree firmly, wanting to play the strong, but submissive type here.
[16:31] <Aluthyra> Kahree raises an eyebrow. "Servant, huh?" She frowns. "We were fleeing from the party of elves, you, on the other hand, were not." She raises an eyebrow. "Why didn't you fight?"
[16:32] <@Kilarra> Gadak nods, "Well, good. I was here to make a delivery," he gestures to the cart, which is laden with alchemical reagents, "but it seems I was thwarted."
[16:32] <@Kilarra> The arguements amongst the drow soldiers continue in the background.
[16:33] <Aluthyra> Kahree looks over to the arguing parties. She shakes her head. "Well, gonna take it over now, or wait for them to cool down?"
[16:33] <@Kilarra> Gadak shoots the soldiers a glance, then addresses the party, "If, like me, you wish to avoid being conscripted back into their suicidal ranks, just waiting for the next volley of traitor elf arrows, perhaps I can offer you an escort. I am headed back to the city."
[16:36] <Aluthyra> Kahree shrugs. "Yeah, I think that'll work."
[16:36] <Aluthyra> Kahree looks to Kilarra to confirm.
[16:36] <Aluthyra> "Right?" Kahree asks.
[16:37] * Kilarra looks to Gadak trying to gauge the drow. "What were you hoping to gain from us in return?"
[16:39] <@Kilarra> Gadak nods, "There's plenty of room in my wagon for you, and I would offer it to you happily in exchange for your tale of what went on beyond the gate. Considering your state, I can only assume these supplies are no longer needed by master Nolveniss."
[16:40] * Aluthyra stays silent. Hopefully, Kjell or Kilarra can handle the storytelling.
[16:41] * Kilarra leans back to the party and whispers, "I think we caught a break here, but be on your guard." She then looks back to Gadak, "Alright, deal. But if you try to cross us, I'll make you wish I was using my whip."
[16:42] <@Kilarra> Gadak chuckles a bit nervously, eyeing Kilarra's whip, "Perish the thought." He looks over the cart and calls to the drow soldiers, "I'll rush back to the city for reinforcements!"
[16:43] <Aluthyra> Kahree's eyebrows furrow at the mention of the whip. She shakes her head. "Whatever, let's get a move on if you don't need to deliver those."
[16:43] <@Kilarra> Kilarra can tell quite easily that he's lying, but none of the drow soldiers seem to question it amidst their own arguements.
[16:44] * Kilarra climbs onto the wagon and seats herself, glad to be off her lousy, non cloven feet.
[16:45] <@Kilarra> Kjell waits for Kahree to mount the cart first, wanting to keep up the act.
[16:45] * Aluthyra climbs within and sits herself next to Kilarra. She reaches over and gives the other woman's hand a squeeze and a light smile.
[16:46] <Aluthyra> Kahree frowns, pushing Kjell forward. "Up. Don't assume."
[16:46] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods and steps into the cart, offering to help her up from inside by extending his hand.
[16:47] <Aluthyra> Kahree chuckles lightly to herself as she climbs, with Kjell's assistance, and sits.
[16:47] * Kilarra squeezes back and smiles. It seemed like they had gotten lucky. She then glances at Kahree, "Enjoying yourself?"
[16:49] <Aluthyra> Kahree smirks. "Kinda." She glances at Kjell, whispering quietly, "All for the act."
[16:49] <@Kilarra> Kjell shrugs, he didn't object to a strong woman.
[16:50] <@Kilarra> Gadak waits for the party to get onto the cart, then whips the hissing cave lizards into moving. The trek to Zirnakaynin has begun.
[16:54] <@Kilarra> The lizards pull the wagon towards the only tunnel leading out of this cavern. The Darklands are likely an amazing sight to the party, even if showing that would bring about immediate suspiscion. Caverns capable of fitting entire castles, forests of colourfull fungi that have a strange, otherworldly beauty to them.
[16:54] <@Kilarra> Eyeless cave beasts and insects of terrible sizes can occasionally be spotted, and some of the crevices seem to be without bottoms.
[16:56] <@Kilarra> As the journey continues, Gadak begins to look back at the party, making conversation. "So, tell me, what happened up in Celwynvian? What of Nolveniss?"
[16:57] * Aluthyra watches as the terrain goes by, maintaining a look of disinterest. In truth, it is very interesting and would be a wonderful sight if not for the inhabitants.
[16:58] <Aluthyra> Kahree doesn't know all of the details, but she assumes Kjell does. She nudges his side roughly. "Do your best, Kjell. I'm a bit tired, so I'd prefer not to be the storyteller."
[17:01] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods, "As you wish." He looks up to Gadak, "Well, the traitor elves and their allies fell upon us in force a couple of weeks ago. Strangely though, there was a single squad of non-elves that proved exceptionally dangerous. The cowards pushed against us when we were weakened by daylight, and we lost several key holdings before we could push back."
[17:04] * Kilarra decides to pipe in, "Eventually, our losses outweighed what we could regain, and the elven strike team cut deep into the heart of our holdings, even slaying Nolveniss and our dragon ally. We knew then that the elves would likely push further, drunk on their small victories, and hid so as to return and bring word before they could catch you unawares."
[17:05] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods and concludes, as Kaerishiel suggested, "We hid and waited for the gate to recharge, and when it did, we slew the elves guarding it and made our return. We had not expected to be pursue so quickly."
[17:06] <@Kilarra> Gadak listens to the story intently, then chimes in, "You have curious accents. Are you perhaps from one of the more far-flung holdings? Gizratayn? Umberweb perhaps?"
[17:08] * Kilarra thinks that Umberweb is the easiest to remember, and holds up two fingers to Kahree, figuring she could say it more convincingly.
[17:09] * Kahree scowls. "A servant doesn't need to know. Our business is our own." She rubs her forehead. "But if you -must- know, Umberweb."
[17:10] <@Kilarra> Gadak nods, "Then you have the good fortune of seeing the majesty of The Last Home of the Elves for the first time." Notably, what the party understood as 'Last Home of the Elves' was spoken as 'Zirnakaynin'.
[17:11] <@Kilarra> Gadak adds, "Of course, I would be happy to answer any questions you might have about our grand home, since you've so indulged my inquiries.'
[17:11] <@Kilarra> "
[17:20] * Kilarra looks at the alchemical reagents and comes up with something. She pulls out an alchemical bolt and looks at. "I take it you were the one providing the components for our ammunition then?"
[17:20] <Aluthyra> Kahree shrugs. "What is there to do in The Last Home of the Elves? To pass the time as we await for our orders."
[17:26] <@Kilarra> Gak responds to Kilarra first, "I suspect perhaps not the only one, but yes, I was called upon to make these deliveries. I hope they produced impressive results." He then goes on to tell Kahree about a few opera houses run by House Sadarvic, a few notable 'pleasure dens' including one called 'Venom Kiss' that he seems to favour. He also mentions performance torture displays and shopping in the same sentence as though both were equally
[17:26] <@Kilarra> as though both were equally enjoyable to drow looking to spend their free time.
[17:28] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods, trying to hide how perturbed she is by the casual answers. "And there would be an inn or some place that we could stay, being that we have not been here before?"
[17:30] <@Kilarra> Gadak smiles, "Well, if you've no arrangements made previously, perhaps I can pull a few strings and have you taken in amongst the servants of House Vonnarc. You must surely be competent, having survived the war above and slain so many traitor elves, and the slavemother and blademaster do have a need for competent sorts."
[17:31] * Aluthyra frowns. "Will that do, Kilarra, Kahree?"
[17:32] * Kilarra ponders that for a moment, then motions for the others to lean in and discuss the offer quietly. "I'd say it almost seems too good to be true, but frankly this guy doesn't seem like much of a threat. I suspect he's just looking to make himself look good to his masters. Still, what do you think Kahree, can we make this work in our favour?"
[17:33] * Kahree nods. "Yeah, we should try, at least. If we're around a 'House' that's as... important as he says it is, we might see or hear something we'll need."
[17:35] * Aluthyra purses her lips. "Though if we are to take his offer, then favors may be expected of us."
[17:36] <@Kilarra> Kjell chimes in, "Taking him up on his offer could save us valuable time trying to infiltrate the drow society on our own, leaving us with more freedom, excepting potential menial duties would likely include, to seek out what we came here to learn. As well, since part of what we want to learn is their way of life, what better way than to live it? Excepting perhaps more vile practises."
[17:37] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "Good, then we'll go with that plan?" she looks around at the others, making sure.
[17:37] * Aluthyra nods. "If it is the best option, yes."
[17:39] * Kilarra nods, "Just try to stick relatively close to each other. I want us to be able to gather up and bail easily if things go south. I suspect if any one of us is found out, the rest of us won't last much longer under scrutiny."
[17:40] * Kilarra announces to Gadak, "Given your most generous offer, we would be both disrespectful to such an illustrious house and laughably foolish to refuse."
[17:41] <Aluthyra> Kahree rolls her eyes.
[17:41] <@Kilarra> Gadak nods, "Excellent. I do hope Slavemother Undamesta takes to you."
[17:43] <Aluthyra> Kahree blinks. She hadn't heard correctly before, and hearing the mention of the slavemother sets her on edge. A scowl sets itself upon her face.
[17:44] <@Kilarra> The party emerges into a cavern of immense size, flickering with the red and violet glow of arcane fires. A 30-foot wall of barbed stone and bladed iron stands before them, a closed gate of spiked black iron etched with images of howling demons barring all passage. Approaching the gate, they are stopped by four heavily armed drow guardsmen.
[17:46] <@Kilarra> Gadak merely flashes the house brooch he wears and the guards allow his wagon to pass. Kahree and Aluthyra can spot triple the number of guards at the gate watching from the shadowy battlements above, their crossbows leveled, but not firing. When the gates begi nto open, they stand down.
[17:48] <Aluthyra> Kahree continues to take stock of the place if the situation were to call for them to escape.
[17:48] <@Kilarra> Kjell looks on as the gates open, wondering what the drow city would look like
[17:49] * Kilarra keeps close to Aluthyra, watching carefully. They were behind enemy lines now. Way behind.
[17:49] <@Kilarra> Stretching into the darkened distance, a fearsome city of sculpted stone and bladed iron fills this impossibly sized cavern. Eerie eldritch flames—burning with the colors of dying suns and lightning-furious thunderheads—ripple over spires carved from ancient stalagmites, adoring them with the blaze of ominous, spidery runes.
[17:50] * Aluthyra takes a deep breath. She sighs, exhaling. Hopefully, this will all go well.
[17:50] <@Kilarra> Two steep cliffs jut from the cavern floor, one stacked upon another, creating massive steps over which the city spills like a benighted waterfall. Flickering in the distance rises a single topless tower, a column connecting the cavern floor with the ceiling, its height crawling with runes. Elsewhere grows a tangle of fungal blooms alongside pools of oily cave water.
[17:51] <@Kilarra> Above, carved into the dome-like ceiling, flickering feyfire illuminates twelve caves, their mouths carved into unsettling and demonic images. And everywhere amid the severe, black city—as menacing as shadows—glide the graceful, deadly forms of drow.
[17:53] <@Kilarra> Kjell looks impressed. Even for all the evil surely contained within, the drow had certainly constructed a rather amazing city for themselves.
[17:54] * Kilarra has to take effort to keep her jaw from dropping. The city was beautiful, in a very eerie sort of way, but presumably every bit as dangerous as it was dark.
[17:54] <Aluthyra> Kahree would agree, if she weren't scowling, still stuck on the fact that they'd be meeting a slavemaster soon.
[17:54] * Aluthyra 's eyebrows raise as she looks upon the city. An amazing sight, truly.
[17:56] <@Kilarra> Gadak's cart of supplies, along with his passengers, force him to take the long way to his destination, which he informed them was on the upper level of the city, Eirdrisseir. Taking a winding, southbound path, he shows of his love of talking by giving the party what amounts to an impromptu tour, making sure to highlight the few places he had mentioned offhand before, such as the markets and pleasure dens.
[18:02] * Kilarra pays keen attention to Gadak's tour, quite certain there was much there they would need to know if they were going to fit in here. She was glad for the small mercy that the tour was being granted as to out of towners, rather than any real suspicion of their deception.
[18:03] <@Kilarra> Kjell, curiously enough, is able to take in this information quite readily. In addition to Nolveniss headband improving his memory and wits, it also seemed to be a recepticle of knowledge that was passed into the wearer's mind.
[18:04] <Aluthyra> Kahree has difficulty paying attention, but gets the majority of it. She thinks.
[18:04] * Aluthyra listens, making sure to concentrate on remembering every detail. She may be unable to lie, but being without this knowledge would only further danger her friends.
[18:05] <@Kilarra> Eventually, Gadak's tour takes the party to A palace of warped stone, spidery iron, and towers alight with magical flame. The House of Vonnarc.
[18:06] <@Kilarra> Seemingly grown from the dark stone of this nighted abyss, a sinister palace of unnatural beauty and deadly grace looms. Spires of web-like metal slice through the darkness, their heights illuminated by arcane flame, while the elegant curves of the structure’s walls seem to flicker and shift in the dancing shadows.
[18:06] <@Kilarra> Around the compound, the barely perceptible silhouettes of dark armored shapes glide in soundless patrol upon an arcing barricade of bladed steel. Suddenly, from somewhere within, rises an otherworldly shriek, a cry half scream, half bestial howl that slowly resonates and dies amid the gloom. A moment later comes the terrible noise’s answer, a fluttering peal of mirthless, mocking laughter.
[18:08] * Aluthyra frowns, trying to look for the source, if it is to be seen.
[18:08] <Aluthyra> Kahree is drawn out of her thoughts at the scream. She blinks, trying to tell the cause.
[18:09] <@Kilarra> Whatever it is, it came from inside, and no one seems to care beyond those laughing at it.
[18:09] * Kilarra frowns. This was going to be a long three months. If they stuck around that long.
[18:10] <Aluthyra> Kahree clears her throat. "Mind explaining that, Gadak?"
[18:13] <@Kilarra> Gadak shrugs, "Probably Second Daughter Faidaeva showing off some new performance torture. She's quite adept." He clearly doesn't want to be caught saying anything insulting about whoever he just mentioned.
[18:15] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "I see..."
[18:17] <@Kilarra> Gaining entrance to the noble house proves simple while accompanying Gadak - a quick flash of his ring and the wall guards open the gate. Within, House Vonnarc teems with drow soldiers.
[18:17] * Kilarra looks around the group, "Stay cool," she whispers.
[18:21] <@Kilarra> Drawing the wagon up to a large barn-like structure, Gadak unbridles and stables his cave lizard then asks the party to stay here while he seeks an audience with the house’s slavemother.
[18:22] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods and stands up, stretching. They had been riding for more than four hours.
[18:22] * Kilarra stands up, then promptly falls over the side of the cart.
[18:23] * Aluthyra chuckles, helping Kilarra to stand. "Careful," she smiles. "take it slowly."
[18:23] <Aluthyra> Kahree rolls her eyes at the pair and hops out of the cart. She stretches and yawns. "Guh... I hope they eat meat, at least."
[18:23] * Kilarra nods and gets up, wincing like she was injured to try and sell an excuse for her fall in case anyone was watching.
[18:24] <@Kilarra> Kjell chuckles a but at Kahree. "I suspect they don't exactly grow carrots and apples down here."
[18:24] <@Kilarra> *bit
[18:24] <@Kilarra> A few troglodyte slaves busy themselves in the stable nearby, but otherwise the party is alone for now.
[18:25] <Aluthyra> Kahree smirks. "Good. Even a day or two of just that sucks."
[18:26] * Kilarra looks around the group, "Alright, so, let's make sure we've got our story straight. Aluthyra, I'll probably be doing the talking for you, so remember what my excuse was."
[18:26] * Aluthyra makes sure that Kilarra reaches the ground without falling again, and nods. "Of course."
[18:26] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "Yeah, I got it now-- after hearing you all explain it."
[18:28] <@Kilarra> Kjell nods to Kahree, "Well, we admittedly were a bit blindsighted ourselves by the mission, but well... now look at where we are."
[18:29] <Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "Easy so far... hopefully it stays that way."
[18:32] * Aluthyra sighs. "Indeed."
[18:32] * Kilarra nods, "We got lucky. Still, the key points are that we're from Umberweb, wherever that is, we bailed on Celwynvian when Nolveniss fucked it up, and we killed lots of 'traitor' elves. They seem to be impressed by that."
[18:34] <@Kilarra> KJell frowns a bit, "I wonder what makes them consider the surface elves to be the traitors."
[18:35] * Aluthyra shrugs. "Another fact that we will find out, I am sure."
[18:36] * Kilarra chuckles a bit, "At least Gadak was chatty. I'd still put money on him being out to make himself look good, but at least he was useful."
[18:38] <Aluthyra> Kahree frowns. "Hopefully he isn't expecting favors from it."
[18:38] <@Kilarra> -End Session-
[18:38] <@Kilarra> Rewards: Shortcut into Drow Society, 1500 Experience