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Post by Invalid Username on Feb 23, 2008 3:55:56 GMT -5
Somewhere off the coast of Faerun, a brilliant white light flared into existence, accompanied by a loud boom as the fabric of reality was torn apart. Something small and dark dropped a few feet into the ocean. The light seemed to turn sideways, becoming thinner and thinner as reality knit itself back together. All this took scant moments. The small figure broke the surface, gasping loudly. Turning, eyes wide in disbelief. Was she home? Or was it some cruel trick? There was only one way to find out.
Doggedly, each moment seeming a full hour, she dragged herself through the water, weighted down by what she carried. Luckily, less than half a mile away was a tiny island, part of a small archipelago. it seemed an age before her small feet brushed against wet sand. Haling herself from the water, chest heaving, limbs shaking in exertion, she let exhaustion wash over, sinking gladly into the blackness of sleep.
It could have been hours, it could have been days for all she knew. Finally, she awoke, blinking out the harsh glare of the noon day sun. Goddess, she was thirsty! Staggering to her feet, the small figure shambled towards a bridge that lay not far off, linking this island to another, larger island. An island that was home to a small village. Stumbling acorss the cobbled streets, she found an inn, and staggered inside; tired, thirsty, hungry, shaking like a drunk with the DT's. Taking no notice of the other patrons, she croaked "water" to the tender, who hurried, seeing her state. it wasn't until the third glass that she finally stopped, turning to survey the scene.
Her heart almost stopped. The inn was crowded -- not only with the more usual races; halfling, Dwarf, Human, and Elf -- but also with half-fiends and Tieflings, even a Drow or two. She hadn't left at all! It was all a cruel, cruel joke! But, wait. No, this was not the Inn she'd spent so much time in back there. The layout was wrong, the furniture wrong. Swinging back to the barkeep, she roughly demanded "Where am I? What is this place?" A little taken aback by her sudden change in behaviour, he stammered "Wh.. why this is a place as known as Haven miss, near the Nelanther isles, miss" "What isles?" she demanded again, fixing him with a hard stare "Ne.. Nelanther miss!"
A heavy sigh of relief broke from her. Somehow maintaining her composure, she hired a room and bath for the night. The heavy Oak door of the room swung shut, and she crumpled against it, no longer able to hold back the tears of sheer joy. She was home, home at last!
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Post by Invalid Username on Feb 23, 2008 5:27:09 GMT -5
After taking a month or so to recuperate, and earn enough gold for the trip back to her true home, the woman set off across the ocean, heavily disguised as a Moon Elf. Daily applications of the white powder, staining of her hair with teh special dyes. It was a lengthy affair, but necessary. The tinted eyeglasses she'd brought - at a price she thought greatly over-inflated -- from a wandering Lantan Gnome, helped hide the colour of her eyes. When asked why she wore them, and so many clothes in such stifling weather, her reply was that she had a rare disease, which required her to cover up in the sun.
The journey was uneventful, they reached Amn within the month. Now the long trek overland was ahead.
Some months later, she reached the place she'd grown up. Except, the place she'd grown up was no longer there. Not a building was left standing, the entire village burnt to ashes. Bodies, rotting i nthe sun, assaulted her sense of smell. She wandered the village, pausing now and then to recall memeories. Here was the place the merchant's horse had kicked her and left her barren; over by the well. Here, the place she had danced with her "sisters" on occasion, near the edge of the village. And over there, where Tomas and her had... she trailed off, a broken, choked sob erupting from her. Pain threatened to overwhelm her. Just then, she heard a voice, or rather, cold, mocking laughter. Turning, she spotted the woman, laying broken and half-dead in the ruins of a half-burnt building. She'd passed her by before, thinking her dead.
Hurrying over, she knelt beside her, murmuring in Drow, "You are hurt, here, let me help you." The woman laughed again, shaking her head. "Why do you not finish me off? Are you one of those fools that dance beneath the moon?" "I do, but I am no fool" was her reply. Once more, that bitter, cold laugh. "Only a fool would leave themselves defenceless, sending the militia off on a wild chase." The red eyes hardened in scorn and derision. "Such lovely screams, the sweet smell of burning.." The woman never got to finish. The entire time she'd been speaking, an unfathomable rage had been building up in the mind of the smaller woman. "I am Aly'ae Ilphukiir, follower of the Dark Maiden. I aid those in need, and now I see what YOU need" her voice was cold and level, but under it there churned a fury like she'd never felt before. To go through so much, to struggle so hard, only to find she'd been days too late? it was too much for her to handle. Her mind, already stressed and beginning to fracture from her experiences, finally shattered. The dark rage swept over her like the wild waves of a storm-tossed ocean, and her heart hardened as she drew her blade
"Oh? And what do I need, 'moonie' " the other drow replied scornfully. "Death!" The crunch of the Rapier as it punctured the windpipe was sweet music to the woman. The spurt of crimson blood that gushed over her hand was an ambrosia. Hefting the body from the ground, she threw it as far as she could, relishing in the solid thud it made as it hit the side of the charred building.
She knew why she'd come home now, knew her purpose; though it was not her original intention. She'd hunt down every last one of the filthy spider kissers she could and give them a taste of their own medicine. Turning her back on the destroyed village, and her former life, she moved off into the woods. The hunt had begun.
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Post by Invalid Username on Feb 23, 2008 6:19:14 GMT -5
Months had passed since the first killing. In that time, she'd stalked a dozen or so others of the filthy Spider Kissers. Her hands were bloodied with the lives of her kind now. It was while she was setting up camp one evening that she was approached by a male drow. He crept towards the fire, looking furtively about, as if worried about being seen with her. One slim hand dropped to her bow, the other, to the quiver of arrows beside it. Swiftly drawing one of the shafts and nocking it, she leveled it at his chest "Speak! What is your purpose that you go creeping about a strangers camp?" "Ah, ah. Pardon, miss, I wish only to share the fire a moment." he bowed subserviently. "Hmph, very well, but one wrong move and.." she waved the bow threateningly at him.
"I hear you've been thinning out the numbers of Her followers.. if you get my meaning?" the an asked slyly, peering about. Suspicious, she knelt up on the balls of her feet, bow across her knees and arrows ready. "Who told you that?" She demanded. "Oh, just rumour. Just rumour" he shrugged nonchalantly, before leaning closer and whispering in a conspiratorial manner. "But if it IS true, I'd like to help?" He sat back again, as if he'd asked nothing more than the price of fish at market.
Aly'ae's eyes narrowed, the bow coming up level to the man's chest. "Where are the others? I know you've got them lurking about somewhere!" She barked at him, as he waved his hands, "No, no! If they were, you'd be dead by now, see?" He smiled slightly "I suppose you have a point. But why do you want to help me? You are not a follower of her son, are you?" The man's face suddenly looked pain, his head shook slowly. "I... was" he mumbled. "What do you mean, 'was'?" "I had a change of heart, you could say. After one of my colleagues was assassinated, by a fellow of ours." "oh" Was the only reply as she sat back.
"Well, I don't WANT any help! I'm quite capable of doing the job myself." This, the man smiled at, shaking his head. "Well, think it over. The offer is there. I enjoy killing them as much as you do!" "I do NOT enjoy killing them!" She retorted angrily, leaning forward once more.
The drow smiled, white teeth reflecting the light "oh, no? I have watched you a time or two. You may do it swiftly, but your face! Oh, your face betrays you. I see the way it twists up in ecstasy. The cold smile as your blade digs deep into flesh. Oh, yes, I know the signs." She scowled, tossing another stick on the fire and sending bright spark into the air. "What do you mean by 'I've seen the signs'?" The man shrugged, murmuring his reply. "You're giving in to it, aren't it? Soon enough, the lust for death will be all you'll know. And then what? Do you stop at HER followers? Or do you find some excuse to kill someone else?" "What do you mean?! Don't mock me, or I'll.." She stopped, unable to finish as a chill ran down her spine. "Or you'll, what? Kill me?" His smile was cold, knowing. "yesss, yess. I told you." Suddenly he leaned forward again, speaking quickly, almost urgently. "To kill someone for a reason is one thing, to kill them for a belief is another. Not even the Assassins of the masked one kill "just because". He suddenly rose, dusting himself down "But, I must go. I will return tomorrow night for your decision." So saying, he seemed almost to fade into the night woods, leaving the woman with a cold, uneasy feeling in her heart.
That night, her reverie was broken by doubt and fear.
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Post by Invalid Username on Feb 23, 2008 6:52:00 GMT -5
Three weeks they had traveled together. Despite the promise of the male drow -- who'd introduced himself as simply "Venorik", which meant "silent" -- they had avoided every encounter with other Drow they came across. Venorik always telling her it was "not time". Since the first night they'd met, doubt and worry had gnawed at her conscience. Was she doing the right thing, by killing the drow who followed Lolth? She finally ventured to ask him one night as they made camp. His answer was a slow smile, and a slight nod of his head. "Ahhh, at last! The fog is lifting from your eyes. Soon, my friend, soon you will have an answer. But it must come from within."
She worried even more over this, finally giving up on reverie that night and spending the time until dawn staring into the small fire's flames.
"Why do we not kill them" she blurted the next morning as they found shelter in a small cave. "They are evil!" "Ah, my friend, but evil is as evil does, yes?" He replied cryptically. Shaking her head, she made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat, turning away. Seeing her confusion, he spoke quietly to her. "I told you before. To kill for reason is one thing, to kill for belief is another. Is the executioner evil because he beheads a man who murders children?" "Of course not!" she threw over her shoulder. "Is the judge who orders the execution evil?" "Well, no." "Ah, but what about the man who murdered the children. Is HE evil?" "yes!" "Why?" "Well, he had no reason to murder innocent children did he? They didn't hurt him, did they?" "Hmm, now we are getting somewhere. Rest now, and think on what we have said." She prompted him to speak more, but he was already in the trance.
The next morning, she was at him again, first asking, then demanding an explanation. "You must THINK, woman. That is your problem. You are too impetuous and whimsical. THINK on what I have been saying to you the past few weeks." She scowled, turning away, and began muttering to herself. Finally, she turned, her brow wrinkled in thought" So, what you're saying is. it was acceptable for me to kill the first Drow, because she'd helped kill the people in my village?" "Mm, yes, I suppose it was." "But! To hunt down and kill the others... that was not right?" "Ah, now you have struck the nail right on the head." "hah! I got you there! You said you served "Him" that night we first met." "So I did, so I did. But is not the Dark Maiden a goddess of trickery?" His smile was smug, knowing, as understanding finally dawned on her. "So, all this time, we've been avoiding those Drow..." "Yes, it was because you needed to clear your head."
Frowning deeply, she shook her head. "I had started to become like them, hadn't I? Full of hate and anger and distrust." She murmured i in a small voice. "Aye, you had. Which is why I followed you." Opening his shirt, he revealed the silver medallion hanging from a chain. a nude drow woman dancing before the moon with a bastard sword in hand. Aly'ae crumpled into a ball ,weeping like a little girl. Venorik, moving closer, bundled her into his arms and patted her back as she clung to him, trembling. "Shhh, child. We learn from our mistakes, not our successes. All will be well. We head for the Promenade tomorrow"
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Post by Invalid Username on Feb 23, 2008 18:31:32 GMT -5
The reaction she had received from Qilue had both shocked and dismayed her. She had appeared ready to demand some great act of atonement for Alyae's sins, when suddenly, she shrugged, waving the matter off. "It is of no import right now. We have bigger things to concern ourselves with. You may go." Numb with confusion and fear, she nodded her assent and quickly walked off., her mind reeling at this apparent lack of caring. Was not part of her dogma to try and convert those who still followed Lolth? Did she not speak out against senseless and unneeded acts of violence against any Drow? She simply could not comprehend.
Venorik was there to meet her, a faint smile on his face. "She has been greatly troubled of late, Aly'ae. As, by the look on your face, are you?" She nodded slowly, chewing her bottom lip. "I know she is not a vengeful goddess, but surely even SHE would demand some form of atonement?" Venorik shrugged his shoulders. "Things are changing. It's whispered that terrible events are in motion within the realms." He shrugged again. "I must find out!" She said suddenly "What? Why? let it be, it's nothing to concern you" "Oh, but it was, Venorik. I'll explain later, when I find out more." So saying, she hurried off to her quarters, gathering her gear and some provisions. She left that night.
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Post by Invalid Username on Feb 23, 2008 18:49:22 GMT -5
It was barely a tenday after her departure from the Promenade when her first encounter occured. A trio of Orcs ambushed her as she passed through the Velarswood. Suprised, unready for the attack, it was all she could do to fight her assailants off. The flash of blades in the moonlight, the sharp cries of pain from both sides, the raging shouts of battle. It was over in less then five minutes. Three Orcs lay dead at her feet, bloody gash ran down her left cheek, and a burning sensation from her throat. She'd been extremely lucky, for had the second Orcs' blade been just a fraction of an inch closer, it would have been her laying lifeless on the ground. As it was, the wounds would take weeks to heal.
Some days later, her luck stayed with her, as she stumbled across an encampment of Eilistraeen drow, one of whom was a minor cleric in the Dark Maidens service. The wounds, properly tended to, healed rapidly. She'd never sing again, however. The scar on her throat attested to that.
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Post by Invalid Username on Feb 23, 2008 20:26:22 GMT -5
Almost a year had passed since her return. A year of pain and agony. She sometimes wondered why she'd ever bothered coming back. During her travels, Aly'ae had picked up some disturbing rumours. Dark whispers that the very gods themselves fought. Tales of gods dying. It was a dark and terrifying thought. She knew, if one god could die, any god could. What would happen if SHE died? What would become of her followers, those that wished to live in peace on the surface? A cold dread filled her at the thought. Would they abandon their ways and become cold-blooded killers again? Would they be hunted, no longer having her protection? Or would they continue the struggle, their faith keeping them going?
But perhaps it was all just a rumour, a whisper spread, corrupted. Maybe it was Shar at work again, seeking to usurp the other gods? Aly'ae shrugged the pack back into her shoulders and left the stream she'd been fishing at. The journey was far from over. Perhaps it would never be over, for she had no set destination in mind.
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Post by Invalid Username on Feb 23, 2008 20:47:25 GMT -5
Fate. That uncaring force which many say drives the multiverse. Fate may grant boons to those least expecting it, or it may play a cruel joke. They say one cannot avoid their fate. yet others say fate is an excuse for those too weak to make their own "fate". Whatever it is, at times it seems life is beyond our control, that the gods themselves play whimsy with our being.
Fate had a hand to play in the events of this day. At least, for one woman. It had dawned like any other day. The sun bright in the sky, a few tattered clouds scudding along. It a warm day with a cool breeze blowing. Such a cheerful day it seemed. A small, dark figure strolled through the Coldwood, taking it's time to get wherever it was going. Long, pale hair blowing slightly in the breeze, a pleased humming from it's lips. it seemed as though -- for the first time in an age -- the old self peeked out of the gloom. A trace of the cheerful, happy-go-lucky woman that so many had come to know and love. Quite a change from the present, gloomy-minded woman she had become.
The good cheer would not last long. She'd been up and about for less than an hour when things went wrong. There was no warning, 'less a slight warping of sight be considered such. Scant moments before the terrible event took place, things seemed to twist, the trees appearing to droop. With shocking rapidity, the tiny woman found herself naked and at the mercy of the wild storm. Why am I naked? it wasn't storming a second ago? What's going on here? The terrified mind screamed silently. Standing on shaky legs, she peered about. She recognised these woods, the tang of the sea so close. And over there, wasn't that a village? She stumbled off in that direction, determined to find out just what in the hells was going on.
A shrill cry tore from her lips as she recognised the house before her. it was hers!. "Oh Goddess, no. no. NO!" she screamed to herself. Crumpling like a broken doll, she wept openly, unheedful of her nudity and the fact she was in the middle of a village. She knew where she was. She'd left here not more than a year ago, abandoning all she loved for the vain hopes of returning home. Return home she did indeed. But fate is a cruel mistress at times, and enjoys it's little pranks at the misfortune of others. having had it's laugh, fate moved on from the woman, leaving her to deal with circumstances as best she could.
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