Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="BLACKDIRGE" data-source="post: 1393133" data-attributes="member: 1953">Part IIGrummok peeled away the dense muscle tissue that filled the bugbear’s chest cavity with the precision of an experienced butcher. The exposed ribs were a near solid mass of bone with little to no gap between each rib. “As you can see the bugbear has formidable protection against attacks to the upper torso. This thick shield of bone” – Grummok tapped the osseous wall – “will turn aside all but the most powerful thrust from a sharp blade.” Grummok stood in a large square room with a white tiled floor and ample lighting from a magical globe suspended from the ceiling. Four stone tables, complete with wrist and ankle manacles, dominated the center of the room. The corpse of a bugbear currently occupied one of the tables, its vivisected remains spread open for all to view. Grummok hovered over the table, a thin bladed scalpel in hand while a group of six dark elves, wincing at the bright light, huddled around with an air of hushed awe. The drow elves, assassins in training, were being treated to a rare spectacle, their legendary guildmaster had deigned to spend a few hours imparting a portion of his vast knowledge in the killing arts to a few eager pupils. All the drow where promising students, the very best of the young recruits, for Grummok had no time to waste on mediocrity. Normally all portions of the guildhall were unlit, but Grummok often subjected his pupils to varying degrees of illumination. He did this so his students would slowly become accustomed to the unnatural brightness, as drow light sensitivity was a weakness oft exploited by non-drow. Grummok held these classes once every week, sometimes working on combat training, sometimes on techniques of stealth and subterfuge. Today he had decided to give his pupils something a bit more visceral.“The bugbear is a powerful opponent, but certainly not invulnerable.” Grummok continued to lecture. “If you can get behind one—no simple matter, their hearing is very acute—you can strike at a weak spot at the base of the skull. Vedren. Mezekar. If you would.” The gargoyle motioned to two of his students who eagerly came to the head of the table and lifted the bugbear’s head up. “You see here?” Grummok tapped the base of the bugbear’s skull while his students crowded around for a closer look. “Just below the neck joint is a weak spot. A dagger thrust here will almost certainly sever the spinal cord, killing or at least paralyzing the beast.” Grummok watched the eyes of his students as they assimilated the information he had just given them. He knew that each one of them was storing that little fact away for later use. “How many have you slain personally, master?” The students whirled around in shock at one of their number who had dared speak to the guildmaster.Grummok detected no disrespect in the question, merely curiosity, as he regarded the slim handsome young drow who had spoken. “I don’t recall, Vedreshar. Bugbears are commonly employed as bodyguards and I have killed a fair number in order to reach a mark.” The drow, Vedreshar Tormtor, was the grandson of Matron Mother Kezekia Tormtor and had recently become Grummok’s own personal apprentice, the first he had taken in two decades. Vedreshar’s recent improprieties, namely attempting to assassinate the guild master himself a scant two weeks ago, had all been forgotten and the young drow had taken to his studies with a will, eager to please his master. Vedreshar made no remark to Grummok’s reply and seemed satisfied with the answer he had been given. The other students glared at the young drow noble with unabashed jealousy and hatred. Grummok had no doubt that at least a few of them would die beneath Vedreshar’s blade before the year was out.“Any other questions?” Grummok asked his small class with a needle-toothed grin. There were no takers. “Very well, let us continue. Now the abdomen of the bugbear…” Grummok’s voice was suddenly drowned out by a loud and determined rapping at the iron bound door that served as the vivisection room’s only entrance. The gargoyle looked up in annoyance. “Come!” he barked. The door creaked open to reveal the odious form of one the guildhall’s many slaves, a half-ogre called Tergot, in this case. The half-ogre had to stoop to fit his eight-foot frame through the door as he shuffled forward into the vivisection laboratory. The large humanoid kept his head down, his bestial features pinched with fear, as no one wanted to disturb the guildmaster if at all possible.“Sir, woman is here, she want talk you.” The half ogre muttered in broken undercommon, shuffling his feet nervously as he awaited Grummok’s reply.“What are you talking about? Who is here?” Grummok demanded, laying his scalpel down on the vivisection table and stepping towards the cowering half-ogre. “Drow women. Agvak say very important. Send Tergot to tell Grummok.” Tergot labored to recall his entire message, speaking slowly and carefully.Grummok had moved to stand before the half ogre, who towered a full two-feet above the gargoyle assassin, and placed a clawed hand on Tergot’s forearm. “Think carefully, Tergot,” Grummok whispered, digging his long talons into the half-ogre’s flesh and drawing tiny pin pricks of blood. “What drow woman did Agvak send you to tell me about?” Grummok hissed, his eyes burning with impatience. Agvak was Grummok’s major domo and handled all of the day-to-day affairs that kept the guild running, the veteran drow assassin also had sadistic sense of humor, which had most likely prompted him to send the slow-witted Tergot with such an important message. The drow students watched with a mixture of fear and mocking superiority, secretly hoping that the half-ogre would further annoy the gargoyle assassin, and give them first hand knowledge of the guildmaster’s killing expertise. Tergot swallowed audibly, his eyes growing wide as his dull mind began to grasp the danger of his situation if he failed to remember the name that had been given him by Agvak. “Please…Tergot not remember name.” The half-ogre mewled pathetically as Grummok’s talons sank deeper into his the dense muscle of his forearm. Grummok was less than pleased with the cowering half ogre and with a growl of pure aggravation yanked down savagely on Tergot’s forearm, dragging the Half-ogre to his knees with a yelp. Now eye-to-eye with his quarry, Grummok leaned forward pushing his terrible horned visage into the Tergot’s face. “You will remember, Tergot.” Grummok hissed. “Or I will strap you down on to one of these tables and have your skin off one strip at a time.”Cruel smirks marked the face of each of the young drow standing behind Grummok, all save for Vedreshar, who observed the unfolding drama with stoic reservation. Tergot’s cheeks were now streaked with tears as Grummok hissed all manner of foul curses and promises inches away from the half-ogre’s contorted face. Grummok’s patience was running thin and his left hand was casually reaching towards his belt and the dagger that hung there, when Tergot’s eyes suddenly lit up with a jolt of mental victory.“Tormtor!” The half-ogre bellowed. “Kezek… Keza…” Tergot struggled to pronounce the first name of the most powerful drow in all of Erelhei-Cinlu.Grummok released his grip on Tergot’s arm, allowing the half-ogre to collapse in a sobbing heap at the gargoyle’s feet. “Kezekia Tormtor is here?” Grummok asked quietly.“Yes! Kezekia Tormtor. Here, want talk you. She in study” Tergot mewled up from the floor.“Very well, Tergot you may go.” Grummok dismissed the half-ogre casually as if the brutality he had shown moments earlier simply had not happened. Grateful beyond expression, Tergot climbed to his feet and fled into the hallway beyond the vivisection lab. “Well lads, it seems that I have a very important visitor. If you will excuse me.” Grummok did not wait for his pupil’s response and hurried from the lab. He made his way to his office with great alacrity, no one kept a matron mother waiting, especially one as important and dangerous as Kezekia Tormtor.Grummok burst into his office to find the matron Mother seated behind his desk, feet propped up on its polished surface. She flashed a brilliant smile that was all teeth, and motioned for Grummok to take one of the guest chairs directly in front of the desk.Kezekia Tormtor was rumored to be over five hundred year old, but her lithe form and delicate features betrayed none of this advanced age. Always the most warlike of the matron mothers, she wore a formfitting suit of fine mithral links, and knee-high boots of black leather. Her twin maces hung casually from a wide belt, and a scarlet cape was flung over her left shoulder, adding a dash of color to the steel and leather of her attire. Her hair had been short, cut close to her scalp, when last Grummok had seen her, nearly twenty years earlier. But now her silken lockes cascaded down past her shoulder, and were held in place by a simple platinum headband. She was breathtakingly beautiful and without doubt the most dangerous living creature in all of Erelhei-Cinlu“Matron Mother, I am deeply honored by your presence.” Grummok began as he settled into the chair she had indicated.“Yes, well I do have that effect on people.” Kezekia said softly, the smile never leaving her face. “How are you, Grummok?” She said, taking her feet of the desk, and presenting her stunning visage to the gargoyle. “It has been too long since last we spoke. I fear you do your job so well, that I have little reason to call upon you personally, unlike your predecessor.” Grummok did not miss the ominous implications carried by the mention of the former guildmaster. Jen Kedar Everhate, the son of Matron Mother Ganevra Everhate, had been revealed to be the leader of a secretive cult devoted to the worship of the archdevil Baalzebul. Grummok had confronted, and tricked Jen Kedar into confessing his allegiance to the archdevil, nearly losing his life in the process. It was rumored that Jen Kedar lived still, locked away in some lightless cell beneath house Tormtor, tortured to the brink of death every day, only to be magically revived to face an eternity of pain. “Yes, one can learn much from the mistakes of others.” Grummok said quietly, a woeful suspicion slowly kindling in his mind.Kezekia flashed Grummok another smile, warmer this time. “Don’t look so suspicious, I have no doubt of your loyalty.”Grummok took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Then if I may be so bold, Matron Mother. Why have you come?”“Simple. I need someone assassinated. That is what you do, correct?” The smile had not left Kezekia’s face, and her words carried only fond mockery.Grummok finally returned the matron mother’s smile, a predatory gape unchanged by his lightening mood. “Yes, well that is the rumor.”“Good. Then here is the information you will need to begin.” Kezekia took a deep breath before launching into her briefing, and Grummok caught something in the matron mother’s face. There was fear behind her mask of powerful indifference, an emotion Grummok thought Kezekia Tormtor incapable of.“It appears that your guild has some competition.” Kezekia began. “A rogue assassin has appeared in our fine city, and has selected a very powerful group of targets.” Anger began to harden the lines of the matron mother’s face as she continued. “Two sons of house Despana have fallen under this rogue’s knife, including the elder boy Nebever. Although as shocking as this is, it is nothing compared to what I must say next. Matron Mother Mevremas Aleval was found slain in her bed, only last night. There were no signs of intrusion, or even a struggle, Mevremas had apparently died in her sleep from a dagger thrust to the heart.”Grummok jaw fell open, and he could not hide his disbelief at the sheer magnitude of skill and audacity it would take to slay a matron mother in her own home. Mevremas Aleval was the second ranking drow matron in the city, directly below Kezekia Tormtor herself. In addition Matron Aleval was the most powerful sorcerer in Erelhei-Cinlu, it boggled the mind she that had died in her bed without a fight.“I fear that this is only the beginning.” Kezekia said. “There is no doubt that this assassin will continue killing our nobles if he is not stopped.”The matron mother’s fear was quite evident now. She feared not only for her life, but her dignity as well. Kezekia Tormtor had been victorious in literally hundreds of battles with rival nobles, and even invading armies. Each time she had stood defiant of her own death, resolute in her faith in the spider queen. But this was entirely different; to face the ignoble death of an assassin’s blade was reserved for the lower ranks of nobility. No one had attempted an assassination of a matron mother, much less succeeded, in nearly three hundred years. It was simply unheard of; Lolth would not recognize the ascension of a daughter who slew her mother with anything beyond her own skill. Direct confrontation was required for those who wished to displace the rulers of Erelhei-Cinlu, and the very idea of anything else was considered the height of political treason and outrage.“Do not worry Matron Mother, I will put my best to work on this immediately.” Grummok offered quietly.“No!” Kezekia slammed her fists down on Grummok’s desk, her fear and rage finally breaking through her calm exterior. “No, you will handle this personally. I will not allow this outrage to continue. There can be no failure in this, do you understand, Grummok.” There was venom in her voice.“Yes, Matron Mother, of course. Please excuse my error in judgment.” Grummok said quickly, bowing his head in acquiescence.Kezekia’s features suddenly softened, giving way to haggard frustration. Grummok doubted that the matron mother had seen much rest in recent days. “Oh, Grummok, forgive me.” She said. “I should not abuse such a loyal servant.” An awkward apology from one not used to giving them.“There is nothing to forgive, Matron Mother. It is obvious that you have been under much strain.” Grummok said softly. “I will do everything within my power to see that this menace is eradicated. You have my vow on that.” Grummok’s words brought the smile to Kezekia’s face again, and the brilliance of her dark beauty shown full upon the gargoyle assassin.“Thank you, Grummok. I knew you would not fail me.”“Is there anything else you can tell me about these slaying, my lady.” Grummok asked.“No, and that is without doubt the most maddening thing about this whole affair.” Kezekia seethed. “All of my efforts have yielded nothing, it as if this assassin does not exist, or is invisible to magical divinations.”This was very surprising to Grummok, for Kezekia Tormtor was the most powerful cleric of Lolth in the city, and her magical resources were nearly unlimited. If Kezekia could not find this assassin through magical means, then no one could.“Has Mevremas’s body or her room been disturbed greatly?” Grummok asked, thoughtfully.“No, I left it untouched and ordered that no one enter the room.” Kezekia smiled mischievously. “Henevra is having fits. She cannot take her mothers power until the body has been given to Lolth.”“That is good, very good.” Grummok said, tapping his chin with one taloned finger. There were often mundane, physical clues left at the scene of a murder that were missed by those too reliant on magic. Grummok hoped Mevremas’s body would yield some information as to the identity of her killer. “Henevra will not hinder me in my investigations?” Grummok asked. The sole Aleval daughter was most likely going mad with desire to take her mother’s place, something she could not do until Kezekia released Mevremas’s body to her.“If Henevra even glances at you in a way you do not like, I will flay the flesh from her bones. She has been made aware of my wishes in this matter.” This was not idle chatter, Kezekia would be more than happy to enforce such a threat, given sufficient reason.“Very well, I will begin at once.” Grummok stood and prepared to make his goodbyes.“Sit down Grummok. There is another matter I would discuss with you.” Kezekia’s eyes remained neutral as she issued her order. Grummok sat without a word and awaited the matron mother to speak.“How does my grandson fare? I hear he tried to kill you.” Kezekia’s eyes gleamed with mirth at the obviously shock that overtook the gargoyle’s features.“Uh…well.” Grummok stammered. “He is well, my lady. I was not injured, in fact I have accepted him as my personal apprentice.” The guildmaster marveled at how easily information, even very secret information, reached the matron mother’s ears. “He is one of our brightest students and I have no doubt that one day he will make a formidable assassin.” “Good, good. I consider it a personal favor that you have taken Vedreshar under your wing. It will not be forgotten.” Kezekia rose from behind the desk and moved towards the door, her standing was an obvious signal that the meeting was at an end.Grummok breathed an inner sigh of relief as he stood to escort the matron mother to the guild house’s main gate. It was always a risky venture when dealing with the volatile and unpredictable matron mothers. He felt he had done well by merely surviving.Grummok walked along side Kezekia through the winding hall’s of the guild house, glaring menacingly at the few gawkers who had the courage to remain in the open to get a look at the matron mother. They reached the main gate in a few moments, and at Kezekia’s request, Grummok dismissed the two guards who stood beside the massive iron bound doors.Grummok turned to make the proper obeisances to the matron mother, only to find that she had quietly moved up very close to him. The heavy female scent of her perfume filled his head with its intoxicating aroma, and she smiled up at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief.“It is unfortunate that we must meet after so long, beneath such evil tidings.” Kezekia purred, reaching up to trace the length of Grummok’s jaw with the delicate tip of one long finger. “Perhaps when this business has been put to rest we can come together under more…pleasant circumstances.” Her breath was heavy in his face, smelling of mint and honey.Grummok fought against the tide of desire that rose within him. It had been a very long time indeed since he had experienced any fleshly pleasures. There were no female gargoyles in Erelhei-Cinlu, and he could not bring himself to visit any of the brothels that infested the city like plague. There were too many memories there.Before Grummok could speak or react to Kezekia’s advance, she pulled away from him, her eyes turning to steel in a heartbeat. “I want this assassin found, Grummok. Do not fail me.” She then threw open the wide double doors of the main gate and strode through to meet her personal guard, which awaited her outside. Grummok watched her go, his mind aflame with the richness of her smell, and the soft and steel contradiction that was Kezekia Tormtor. Once she had left, he returned to his study, his mind already racing with the blood and pain that would certainly follow the matron mother’s visit.</blockquote>

Verification