House Millithor in the City of the Spider Queen II

Her lips part slightly and she inhales, her breath hissing sharply between her teeth. She composes herself swiftly, but her voice still betrays a hint of avarice.
And she will use the power of the Undying Temple to control the horde? A glorious vision, worthy of a Goddess. She inclines her head a few degrees, a gesture of respect not to Dorina but to her Goddess. Somehow I doubt that she's lying about this... If such a ritual is possible, and the means to accomplish it are right here in this very complex, near infinite power lies within my reach. If there's the slightest posibility that I can take control over this process, take control over the Horde, then it's worth risking everything. Lolth, Kiaransalee, dieties are just a means to an end, they are to be exploited even as they exploit their worshipers in turn. We all strive towards greater power, and only a fool allows loyalty and tradition to stand in her way.

(ooc: when she has heard Dorina's reply; )

You have given me much to think about, until the next time we meet. Farewell, Dorina.
She turns, and walks out of the chamber.

The remainder of the day, the last day of the month of Uktal in the Fearunian calendar, passes uneventfully. The Necromancer Umaerh appears to have vanished after being introduced to Matron Ki'Willis (perhaps he has magically returned to Maerimydra).

Quertus and Eilos focus on their magical research in the Inverted Tower.

The Priestesses of Lolth spend the day exploring and resting.

The male warriors exercise and train with the other warriors on the barracks level.

Kilcif hangs around in his nominal bodyguard position to protect the Priestesses of House Millithor.

Another day arrives. The Feast of the Moon in the calendar of the surface worlders.

All those who are participating in the raid against the surface worlders assemble in the Barracks area for final orders. Marckarius, Eilos, and other members of House Millithor ask permision from the Matron to participate in the hunt on the surface world.

Zedar T'Sarran will be going and is the offical organizer of the expedition, but drow tend to be highly chaotic, so he is not planning on giving orders of any sort. He is also bringing a "pet" with him, a displacer beast that has been trained for hunting.

Velasta T'Sarran will also be going, spurred on to volunteer by Torellan's suggestion. Velasta is also bringing one of her Quth-Maren bodyguards.

Kiernan and Leonon Morcane (both vampires) are going.

Approximately twenty drow commoners are armed for war and will be going into the crypts between the drow fortess and the surface, but won't actually go onto the raid. Another ten of the regular drow troops will also be going into the crypts. This force will secure the entrance and assist with escorting slaves and make sure that the drow are prepared in case the surface worlders stage a counter-attack or somehow track the drow back to the Dodrien crypts.

The Lake of Shadows is huge, some sixty miles across in its longest dimension. The lake is located a mere thirty miles from Szith Morcane. The most direct trade route to Maerimydra involves crossing the lake.

Its water is clear and fresh, and it is inhabitated by a wide variety of eyeless fish, crabs, and less mundane creatures such as Aboleths and Kuo-toa. The depth of the lake is about one hundred feet deep for most of it and the height of the cavern above the lake ranges from fifty to one hundred feet.

Kuo-toa populate the western portion of the Lake of Shadows while Aboleths live in the Eastern portion, but all that live within the lake worship "That Which Swims in Darkness", the terrible creature that gave the Lake its name.

The bloated fishlike humanoid maneuvered slowly in the dark waters of the lake. Its arms and legs were small for its size, but its gaping maw looked big enough to swallow a horse. Although the ten-ton Kuo-toa Leviathan was a terrifying figure to the other Kuo-toa, it too was terrified to be in the presence of its master, "That Which Swims in Darkness." The Kuo-toa, whom the other Kuo-toas called "The Claw", heard the message of its master and then it retreated as soon as it had been dismissed.

In the Shrine that the Kuo-toas had built to honor "That Which Swims in Darkness" as a physical manifestation of the power of the Abyssal Lord who ruled all that swims in darkness, the Claw held court. The Claw, as the primary interpretor for "That Which Swims in Darkness", gave its orders to the Kuo-toa Whips.

As Kilcif leaves the bugbear cave to cross the common areas to report to the Priestesses of Lolth for duy on the Feast of the Moon, he notices someone he had not seen before.

A fishlike humanoid (a Kuo-toa) is entering the Drow trading post in the commoner area.

Endur said:

All those who are participating in the raid against the surface worlders assemble in the Barracks area for final orders. Marckarius, Eilos, and other members of House Millithor ask permision from the Matron to participate in the hunt on the surface world.

Click to expand...

They have her permission.

Kilcif: Bugbear/Male (Barbarian/Ranger/Rogue)

Kilcif will try and fallow the Kuo-toa nonchalantly threw the commoner area. If this leads to a “side” tunnel where I would be more noticeable then Kilcif will try and fallow quietly and from the shadows.

With his Kracken-face Helm under one arm, Kripp Yelloweye takes in the alien nature of the Commoner's Area, the lack of Water bothering him for a mere moment before his mind bent to other things, other tasks. An oddity amongst his Folk, Kripp wore a complete suit of Plate Armor, forged a decade ago by the finest Duergar Craftsmen, it's surface embossed with all manner of fish and creatures of the Depths. A massive shield showing serpents and tentacled Things was upon is back, as well as a pack and several smaller pouches.
Checking his morningstar in it's belt-ring, Kripp moved deeper into the Commons, seeing what the outer world had to offer an enterprising young Kuo-Toa...

The common area of the trading post has drow buildings on the western portion of the map and various humanoid caves on the eastern portion of the cave. In the center of the map is a large pond that is fed by a stream.

The cave mouth in the chasm winds back deep in the rock, opening into a very large cavern, which is easily 30 feet high at the entrance and rises sharply from that point. The cavern streteched for nearly half a mile to the east, its floor broken into a myriad of ledges and tilted slabs. Many of these are covered with weird fungal growths that appear to have been carefully cultivated, others sport bulbous houses or cottages that seem to have grown from giant toadstools. Eerie green witchlight dances in the small, round windows of these dwellings. A few dark figures move about between the fungal patches and the houses.

The still surface of the lake reflects the light of the phosphorescent fungus in the cavern, making it difficult to see what might lie beneath the surface.

The eastern side of the cavern is where the bugbears and other non-drow live. The ceiling of this vast cavern rises more than one hundred feet from the uneven ground. Stalactites hang from the ceiling and stalagmites rise to meet them throughout the cavern, occassionally joining to form a solid column. Dense patches of phosphorescent fungus grow in various locations throughout the cavern, including on some walls, illuminating the whole area in a soft purple light. Several beasts resembling small catttle or yaks seem to roam about a stone-walled enclosure beside a large, dark lake/pond. A number of side caves are visible in the walls at various altitudes on the eastern end of the cavern.

When Icho volunteers for scroll scribing service, Quertus coldly ansvers: "No, I don't have another book for these spells. And even if I would, I wouldn't let you touch it. Wizard's spellbooks are sacred, and anybody else that touches them without permission will be killed instantly. Besides, scribing spells is a personal matter for me."

Quertus will also ask permission from Matron to take part in the raid. He is eager to view the others in action (especially Eilos), and there has to be somebody that belongs to house Millithor that has brains and authority (Eilos doesn't count) to supervice other Millithors. Not to mention that there might be some "accidents" on the trip... He will of course not mention the last part to Matron.

OOC:

Since she doesn't yet know about the kuo-toan attack she will allow Quertus to join the raid. Unless someone else, in addition to Carcelon, wishes to stay she will ask Kilcif to remain in the complex to guard her. She does not want to tempt Dorina to betray her by appearing too weakly guarded, not does she want to seem overly cautious since that would also be a provokation.