House Millithor in the City of the Spider Queen II

[Brother Shatterstone]

Kilcif takes the coin from the old man unsure of rather or not its truly there he gives it a good squeeze with most of the pressure he can generate. He had been experiencing a slightly blurriness in his vision and a drained feeling as if he is lacking the energy he needs to function. Both of those experiences had lead him to not trust his own perceptions something he has always replied upon for his survival. With his other arm he reaches out to the old bugbear speaking his mind to freely at the same time, “Wait! I doubt I use this to bribe them… How does it work?”

Realizing that his words are far to harsh he tries to lighten them, “Thanks for fixing me up..." He points to a space on the floor next to him' "Sit." he heistates as if he looking for the right word, "Please, its been far to long sense I’ve had a serious talk with one of my own kind. What is your name? How long have you been here…?” Kilcif stops almost in the middle of the last question as he tried to judge the elders age, “How old are you…?”

 

[Endur]

The bugbear (so old that you think he only has months left of his life) responds, "The Life drinkers, like all undead, feel the energy of life and death. Their fear of the true wielders of divine power is so great that they will flee from an image of a deity or a symbol of divine power if presented.

"My name is Gnarck and I have lived here all of my life."

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

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

Kilcif looks at the face of Hruggek upon the coin while the elder is talking and he absently rubs the coin while he listens. “So if you’ve lived as long as you appear to have what can you tell me about this House T'sarran? I’ve been to many places in the underdark but undead drow that worship a deity other than Lolth are new to me…”

 

[Xael]

Quertus nods an mumbles something resembling an affirmative ansver to the wizard, after being showed his room. Quertus first gives the room a quick look while walking in circles, not bothering to actually search for traps. He then casts Detect Magic to see if there's anything of value or danger in the room.

He will then sit on the bed an enter trance, and change some of his spells when he has rested and head for Solom's audience chamber.

 

[Endur]

The old bugbear responds,

"Not much to say. The nobles of house Morcane moved here over a month ago and stopped the caravans, collecting all the goods in the warehouses. That Zedar came with them as one of their hired warriors.

"About two weeks ago, Zedar slew the sentries and let her Ladyship and the other members of House T'Sarran into the complex. A few hours later, all of the nobles of House Morcane were dead, captured, or fled. About a week ago, her Ladyship sent a caravan to Maerimydra with all of the Goods, rothe, beasts of burden, zombies, skeletons, and living warriors that she could spare.

"I'd never heard of House T'Sarran before.

"But, I have heard a rumor about drow that worship a god of tentacles and slimes. Rumor has it that this god doesn't appeal to nobles, though. It is only worshipped by drow commoners."

 

[Endur]

After resting, Quertus enters Solom Ned'razak's audience hall. An impressive throne made of heavy-looking black metal looms on a high dais on the far side of the room from the door. Rich tapestries with abstract designs hang on the wall behind the throne, flanking it and contributing to its air of impressive authority. Two doors, one on either side of the entrance, lead out of the room.

Solom Ned'Razak sits in the throne watching Quertus. Eilos stands by the side of the throne, in almost the same defensive guardian position that Zedar had chosen in Dorina's audience hall.

Quertus is struck by the similarities in the two competing audience halls.

Solom is a middle-aged drow with a fine fashion sense and an air of hedonism. He is ruggedly handsome, though not especially muscular, and he wears a large gold hoop in his left ear. His garb consists of black trousers tucked into knee high black leather boots and a billowing purple shirt unbuttoned halfway down. A fine gold headband holds his long white hair back from his face, and the sleeves of his shirt are tucked into elaborate gold bracers. A fine black cloak completes the ensemble. He smells of perfume and incense, particularly sandalwood.

Eilos is wearing a dark gray shirt and black trousers, and is wrapping himself in a black silk cloak embroidered with a weblike pattern.

Solom speaks.

"Welcome again to the Inverted Tower. So how goes Groomph and the other masters of Sorcere? Surely they must fare better than Duneth Wharreil and our other unlucky comrades in the Shattered Tower?

"I have been studying Lolth's silence, and the histories do not give much guidance. Although Lolth has withheld her favor from particular priestesses and houses, never has she withheld her favor from an entire city in our recorded history, let alone multiple cities.

"And yet, there has not been the general calamaties and disasters that accompany the death of a divine being. I do not know what to make of this mystery. Have you any thoughts on this matter?"

 

[Xael]

Quertus gives a quick glance at Eilos, but then turns to look at Solom. "Pleasure to be here. According to last that I've heard, the masters of Sorcere and other wizards in Menzoberranzan fare better that ever. Mainly because of aforementioned reasons."

*I wonder if he knows about the slave revolt...*

"Regarding Lloth, I doubt the history matters. She is the goddes of chaos, there wouldn't be much sense in redoing the past. Nobody would care much about her disappearance, if there would be mention of something like it before. But the act of completely disappearing is historical in itself, and will find it's way in history books, whatever happens.

I doubt I have any theories you haven't thought about. First is the simple test of faith, which her priestresses naturally claim to be the only truth. Then there's the slight possibility that she's been captured by another deity. It could also be some kind of evolving to higher power.

But I find it highly difficult to guess the motives of a goddess. The only fact is, that if she comes back, there's going to be one hell of a chaos.

But now, if I may ask: How fares the Inverted Tower and Szith Morcane?

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

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

Kilcif thinks about what the other bugbear had said while he squeezed the coin one more time, “Do we have any other weapons to fight the undead? Are any of the other capable warriors, or at least have effect uses in combat?”

Kilcif can’t help but wonder if the whole fight was set up just to remove him from the others… “Do you know the area very well beyond the audience chamber?

 

[Endur]

Solom chuckles and responds to the question by Quertus.

"Quite well indeed. There was a bit of a dispute between your brother Eilos and myself, but it was resolved amicably."

Quertus can't help but notice that Solom is absent-mindedly playing with an amulet around his neck as he discusses the dispute.

"Dorina T'Sarran and her followers do not interfere in our pursuit of magical research. From our perspective, little has changed except the name of the goddess."

 

[Endur]

The old bugbear winces when Kilcif mentions fighting.

"There are fighters here, but none that will fight the drow. All those who wished to fight them died long ago. There are many here, though, that will sell the smallest sliver of information to the drow for a small coin.

"I have never entered the Drow noble areas. I have worked these fields my entire life."