House Millithor in the City of the Spider Queen

[Pyrex]

Carcelon looks from Django to Tanis.

"You may want to keep a closer eye on him in the future. My sister left him alive, few other Drow would."

Carcelon walks over to the bar and sets down a couple of gp.

"Wine. Not too dry."

OOC: As noted in the other thread I'll be offline until Monday morning. Anyone heard from either Endur or Yasarra? They seem to be MIA.

 

[Endur]

The bartender pours a glass of wine for Carcelon. The label on the bottle has the strange characters of the Common Tongue of the Surface World.

Tanis meekly responds to Carcelon, "That sounds like excellent advice. I'll do my best to keep a close eye on Django."

The female duergar who dropped the tankard of ale on Django makes a sarcastic-sounding comment in dwarven, and one of the younger male Duergar at the table laughs in response to the comment.

Tanis, and the other shield dwarf sitting at the table, get pained expressions on their face in response to the comment. The old bald male Duergar glares at the laughing male duergar, and the laughter ceases.

The other customers in the bar have returned to their attention to other topics, and are no longer paying attention to Django and the Drow.

 

[Thels]

Dariel sheats his swords and sits down. He jells a quick "Wine!" at the barkeeper while tossing him a gold piece, before he turns his focus back to the dwarves.

 

[Endur]

The bartender quickly pours a glass of wine for Dariel.

Then he returns to Carcelon and asks in undercommon, "Noble Lady, does this wine meet your satisfaction? This wine was imported from a vineyard near the surface city of Calaunt."

 

[Prince Atom]

Marckarius wants to join Dariel at the table and sup wine too, but as elderboy his duty is to attend on his Matron for as long as she desires. He's also trying extra-hard to keep his place ever since the rebuke she gave him.

He tries not to let his desires show on his face.

Although he takes his hands off his instruments of war, he maintains his vigil on the Spirit Nagas -- but he tries to be subtle about it. He doesn't fear the Nagas, but he wants no unnecessary battle to be his fault.

TWK

 

[Endur]

Matron Mother Ki'Willis Millithor stops walking when she hear's the dwarf's whistle of appreciation. She doesn't turn to look at the impudent dwarf or otherwise react to the actions of the other members of her house.

A cruel smile forms on her face as she listens to Narcelia inflict punishment on the impudent dwarf.

Then, with a nod to the innkeeper, she indicates for him to continue leading her to the suite of rooms.

Narcelia, Marckarius, Torrellan, and Quertus follow her to the luxury suite of rooms.

Krecil, Carcelon, and Dariel remain in the bar with their drinks.

Once in the suite, Ki'Willis ordered a hot bath made ready and a meal to be served.

 

[Thels]

Dariel, slowly sipping his single glass of wine, stays close to Krecil and Carcelon, keeping his eyes open towards the various other races gathered at the inn, staying ready to defend Carcelon and optionally Krecil, if he thinks for some reason Krecil can't handle on his own. He'll stay at the bar as long as his family members remain, trying to overhear some of the ongoing conversations.

(OOC: If they leave into town, Dariel might tag along. If they go for their chambers, Dariel will head into town, trying to find something like a guard dog.)

 

[Endur]

After most of the Drow left the tavern, Django returned to consciousness and Tanis and the other shield dwarf picked him up and walked him out of the tavern.

Krecil, Dariel, and Carcelon, who are still in the tavern, watch a couple of rounds of combat in the arena. In the first combat, the reptilian humanoids eventually defeat the land shark, although one lost an arm. For the second combat, one of the humans in the bar challenges a Quaggoth to a duel, and the pale-skinned human rips out the Quaggoth’s throat with his bare hands and drinks deeply of its blood.

The hours pass uneventfully as the members of House Millithor recover from their grueling ordeal in the comforts of civilization.

Marckarius and Dariel go out shopping while the others recuperate.

Marckarius found a particularly sleek and spirited lizard-stallion for sale from a Drow commoner for the low price of 800 gold. The saddle, bit, bridle, and other tack cost another hundred gold pieces.

Dariel found the Cavvekan he was looking for. The Cavvekan was being used to guard a merchant’s goods. After some negotiating, Dariel was able to persuade the merchant to part with the Cavvekan for 300 gold.

After everyone returns from their shopping expeditions, Matron Ki’Willis announces that since what happened in Menzoberanzan is not public knowledge in Mantol-Derith, it is now time to see Lady Yyssiriryl, representative of the ruling council of Menzoberanzan, and find out what news she has.

Wearing the House symbol of Qu’ellar Millithor openly, Matron Ki’Willis leads the members of her family out of Laral’s of Skullport across Mantol Derith into the Menzoberanzan quarter.

The Menzoberanzan quarter is empty of activity and light and everything is quiet, in marked contrast to the crowded, bustling Gracklstugh quarter.

As you walk down the streets towards a large pavilion, you see three dwarves headed your way, one with a bandaged face. The other two dwarves drag the third dwarf off in a different direction as soon as they notice your group.

Outside a large pavilion decorated with symbols of Lolth, you encounter Tolokoph and another drow male, whom he introduces as Reftael Jerritrel. With one look at your house symbols, they bow and request the members of House Millithor to follow them to meet with Lady Yyssiriryl. (Marckarius remembers Reftael from when Reftael was an instructer at Melee-Magthere, the school for warriors. Reftael is one of the finest warriors in Menzoberanzan who has not joined a noble house as a weapons master).

Entering the pavilion, you notice a large green statue of a Spider, nearly the size of the spider that guards the portal and made of solid jade.

Incense considerably improves the smells and scents compared to the awful smells of the other parts of the cavern.

Luxury items of all kinds are scattered around the pavilion, almost randomly. Artwork, books, scrolls, jewelry, clothing, musical instruments, weapons, spices, wine, and many other goods are on display. Soft lantern light flickers through the pavilion.

You see a beautiful, female drow, dressed in a minimal amount of silk clothing and jewelry, lounging on a couch. An old bald gnome with an obsidian collar around his neck is writing in a book at a small desk.

As you enter, the female drow stands up. She speaks, “Welcome to Mantol Derith, Matron Ki’Willis and noble members of Qu’ellar Millithor. I am Yyssiriryl, the trade representative of the ruling council of Menzoberanzan. I have been in charge of negotiating trade and certain other matters in Mantol-Derith for several centuries. I hope you found the accommodations at Laral’s of Skullport to your taste. We also have accommodations here for visiting nobles.

“I have been expecting you since I heard that a noble priestess had used her whip on an impudent dwarf in the inn. There is much we need to discuss.”

Turning for a moment, Yyssiriryl says, “Tolokoph, lock Kassawar in his cage.” Tolokoph leaves the room with the gnome slave. Reftael takes a position near the entrance to the room.

Yyssiriryl says, speaking to Matron Ki’Willis, “ Reftael is my second and you can speak freely in front of him.”

 

[Endur]

Yyssiriryl pulls a hanging curtain aside and reveals a large standing mirror. She motions the members of House Millithor to stand around the mirror. She stands facing the mirror and she speaks, “Show me Sos’Umptu Baenre.”

The image in the mirror shifts and changes. A priestess appears in the image.

Yyssiriryl continues to speak, “Sos’Umptu, hear me. This is Yyssiriryl from Mantol Derith. The Matron of Qu’ellar Millithor and the nobles of her family are here with me now.”

The image of Sos’Umptu appears to focus on the mirror, almost staring straight at Yyssiriryl and speaks, “That is excellent news! We had feared that House Millithor had been exterminated by the slave revolt, and all her nobles had suffered a most terrible fate.

“The Loyal Drow of Menzoberanzan crushed the slave revolt. Groomph Baenre, Archmage of Menzoberanzan, prevented the fire from completely destroying the city by summoning a rainstorm from the surface world.

“The Revolt was led by an Alhoon, an undead Illithid, that used its mental powers to coordinate the slave attack. Renegade male drow and Driders were also involved. Their headquarters contained a shrine to several Lords of the Abyss. The Alhoon, the renegade males, and the Driders were exterminated. The wizard Phaerun, one of the masters of Sorcere, destroyed Syrzan the Alhoon in a magical duel.

“Half of the slaves are dead, a quarter captured, and a quarter fled into the tunnels of the Underdark. Of the captured slaves, all those that drew the blood of the drow are to be executed. The rest will be punished and returned to service. The ruling council is organizing patrols to hunt down and exterminate the slaves that fled.

“Several of the minor houses were destroyed in the fighting. I am pleased to see that House Millithor was not destroyed.

“Yyssiriryl, please use the powers of the mirror to show them what happened to their residence.”

Yyssiriryl commands the mirror, “Show the residence of Qu’ellar Millithor.” The mirror begins to display the residence which all of you spent more than a hundred years in, and some of you spent several centuries. The walls of your house are still standing, but it was looted and the interior was completely destroyed by the fire. It is a mess, and it appears abandoned.

Yyssiriryl commands the mirror, “Show Menzoberanzan.” The mirror begins to display the city and it is changed. A great fire has swept through some parts of the cavern, destroying and damaging many buildings. Works of sculpture that were once perfection are now marred with smoke, melted from intense heat, or defaced by violence. It will be many years before Menzoberanzan can recover, especially since most of the slave workers are dead or fled.

Yyssiriryl commands the mirror, “Show Sos’Umptu.”

Sos’Umptu speaks, “Now you see the situation we face.”

Ki’Willis suggests using the wealth of L'Tar'annen de’l Elgluth to aid in the rebuilding process.

Sos’Umptu responds, “We had that thought as well. Unfortunately, there is a problem with L'Tar'annen de’l Elgluth. The caravans are overdue. After the revolt, we tried to reach Alvera, the head administrator of L'Tar'annen de’l Elgluth, but we can not locate her or contact anyone at the merchant company headquarters through magical divinations. In fact, we were just discussing the idea of putting together an expedition to find out what might have happened to the merchant company as well as recover any valuables that can aid in the process of re-building Menzoberanzan.

“We scried Maermidrya, to see if House Morcane was the cause of the problem. They appear to have their own problems: The city of Maermidrya also suffered a revolt simultaneously with the revolt in Menzoberanzan. There the Archmage of the city, Dunneth Wharreil, betrayed their ruling council and declared himself the ruler of Maermidrya. He opened a gate to the Abyss, and a horde of fiends came through. The Archmage, the fiends, the slaves, and some driders have turned Maermidrya into a ruined city. The noble houses remain under siege, afraid to leave their fortresses, while the rest of the city is in the hands of the rebels. The archmage sits and watches the destruction from the Shattered Tower, Maermidrya’s equivalent of Sorcere.

“Matron Triel has decided that because Qu’ellar Morcane could not keep control of their city, they are no longer worthy of being partners in L'Tar'annen de’l Elgluth. Instead, we are going to give Qu’ellar Millithor their 25% share. In exchange for the increased profits, you will be required to go to the merchant headquarters, and if necessary go to Qu’ellar Morcane, to find all the recoverable assets of L'Tar'annen de’l Elgluth and bring them back to Menzoberanzan. Please feel free to mete out punishment to anyone who has misused corporate assets or whoever is responsible for preventing us from being able to contact those who are in charge of the Merchant company headquarters.

“Matron Triel asked me to tell you that this is not a request and that you have no other option. We will also be sending an expedition to Ched Nassad to ascertain the situation there and recover assets belonging to another mercantile concern. If you run across any information regarding Lolth’s silence, please make that information your highest priority and send that information back at your earliest convenience."

Sos’Umptu concludes, “Yyssiriryl, please show them what they face and give them any assistance they require. May Lolth’s favor be with Qu’ellar Millithor and Menzoberanzan.”

Yyssiriryl motions for Reftael to move closer. Reftael takes a position standing right next to the mirror with a sword drawn in each hand.

Yyssiriryl commands the mirror, “Show the headquarters of L'Tar'annen de’l Elgluth”. The mirror grows foggy and nothing is seen within the mirror.

Yyssiriryl commands the mirror, “Show the city of Maerymidrya ”

You see a city in a Great Cavern. Tall graceful buildings of dark elven design. When you look closer, you realize that many of the buildings are on fire or are crumbling ruins. Several score of creatures fly above the city, circling various buildings or diving upon creatures on the ground.

Yyssiriryl commands the mirror, “Show Qu’Ellar Morcane.”

The image shows a ledge. Underneath the ledge is a crevice going downward. The crevice is filled with a gigantic web. Tunnels leading off the web lead into the residence of House Morcane.

Drow still live in House Morcane, but an angry mob of Humanoids and Fiends lurk outside the crevice, waiting for anyone to leave the House.

Yyssiriryl commands the mirror, “Show the traitor archmage, Dunneth Wharreil “

You see a male dark elf, flying atop a darkness so black that you can only see it by the fact that it blocks other things out. The Dark elf swoops out of the sky towards some figures scurrying through the ruined streets. Dark elves flee the flyer in every direction. A wave of darkness flows out of the creature he rides upon, and the elves that are touched by the darkness are drained of life and fall dead. The rider casts arcane spells of terrible power and the few elves that survived the darkness perish instantly. The Archmage and his dark mount continue their pursuit. (Quertus recognizes the creature made out of darkness as a Shadow Dragon)

Yyssiriryl commands the mirror, “Show the fiends summoned into Maerymidrya.”

The mirror shows the largest building you have ever seen. The great coliseum of Maerymidrya. For thousands of years, lesser races have turned the sand red with their blood. But now, the heads on the pikes surrounding the Coliseum are from drow.

The view shifts to inside the Coliseum. The audience stands could hold 100,000 spectators, but only a few thousand creatures are in the stands today.

A crowd of humanoids, giants, and fiends are sitting in the audience stands. Two female dark elves are standing on the coliseum floor.

The two dark elf females face each other, each holding a dagger in her left hand and wearing the tattered remainder of what once must have been the outfit of a high priestess of Lolth.

Then, they turn as one, and bow to the members of the audience and shout, “We who are about to die give honor to great Kurgoth, Conqueror of Maermyidrya.”

“Ho, Ho, Ho!” The voice booms throughout the arena. It seems supernaturally amplified and reverberates out of the Mirror. The view shifts and begins to focus on a large fiend in the audience, a repulsive towering humanoid with dark red skin, massive clawed hands, and huge bat wings.

Quertus recognizes the Fiend as Kurgoth, a powerful denizen of the Abyss, member of the race of Demons known as Balors.

The fiend lashes out a huge whip into the air and the cracking sound causes the duel to begin.

Then the fiend lashes out with the whip once more, and the front half of the great whip disappears …

And reappears coming out of the mirror and wraps around Reftael’s neck.

As the demonic laughter booms through the mirror, the fiend yanks hard and Reftael’s body is yanked into the mirror and passes through it and lands in front of Kurgoth in the Arena of Maermyidrya.

Initiative:

Kurgoth: 22 (dragged Reftael through the mirror with his whip)
Torellan: 21
Narcelia: 21
Reftael Jerritrel: 20
Carcelon 15
Dariel 13
Yyssiryl: 11
Krecil: 10
Marckarius 9
Ki’Willis: 4
Quertus: 4

 

[Thels]

Dariel instantly draws his swords and then orientates himself on the situation.

What's going on! One time we're just viewing a scene through the mirror and the next second the mirror became a portal? Some powerfull demon. Good thing I didn't feel aquianted to Reftael.

He stays in defensive position, ready to attack anything coming through the mirror. He won't go through the mirror himself, unless one of the women of his house goes there or orders him there.

If he ends up in melee with a creature that's being attacked by another housemember as well, he'll try to take flanking positions in order to apply his best attacking moves.