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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tellerian Hawke" data-source="post: 7252612" data-attributes="member: 6790669">Respen's Reconnaissance Part OneRespen, reflecting on his situation, seethes with resentment and bitterness at Clare's abuse of him; it occurs to Respen that perhaps Kylaendra shares his resentment of Clare, since she is obviously at Clare's beck and call, and often forced to seduce and control people on Clare's whim.~Perhaps she could be a potential ally?~[gm]Respen's resentment of Clare because of the beating WILL give him a bonus to future attempts to resist Domination.Your bonus will be:(Will Save +6) + (Elf Racial Bonus +2) + (Resentment / Bitterness Bonus +2) = Total Will Save 1d20+10; But your DC is still 30. So you're looking for a Natural 20 on the base die roll, which is hard to do.[/gm][gm]Whoops, just realized I made a mistake. Nelvranda's CHA is not 20; it's 21. LOL.[/gm]Over the next four days, Nelvranda keeps Respen quite busy; she is so obsessed with the idea of bearing children for Clare, she has obviously developed an extreme degree of Nymphomania. Her embraces are sensual, intoxicating, and often.[gm]Day One: 1d6+1 = 3 EmbracesDay Two: 1d6+1 = 5 EmbracesDay Three: 1d6+1 = 2 EmbracesDay Four: 1d6+1 = 4 EmbracesBase chance of conception: 10%Both of you are Elves: +10%Prolonged "sessions" = +2% (Each time lasting over an hour!)Multiple "sessions" = +2% per occurrence in a 24-hour period, cumulative.Day One: Base 22 + ((2)+(2+2)+(2+2+2)) = 34% ChanceDay Two: Base 22 + ((2)+(2+2)+(2+2+2)+(2+2+2+2)+(2+2+2+2+2)) = 52% ChanceDay Three: Base 22 + ((2)+(2+2)) = 28% ChanceDay Four: Base 22 + ((2)+(2+2)+(2+2+2)+(2+2+2+2)) = 42% ChanceThese rolls will be kept secret for now, but it looks as if there is a good chance of Respen impregnating Nelvranda.[/gm]What Respen discovers is shocking, and bittersweet; he cannot help but feel great empathy for Nelvranda, given what she tells him. "Clare is my oldest sister," she says at one point, "Out of her, Bethanael, and me, I am the youngest. Clare is 328 years old; Beth is 310 years old. I am only 176. Our mother, Matron Jasmina, is 450 years old this year! She is quite beautiful for one as old as she. But then again, we are all beautiful; House Delzeen has always been known for a lineage of stunningly beautiful females. The males in our line have been historically plain-looking, except for our father,Jerido; he was quite handsome. Clare really loved him; I did, too. But Jasmina made him into a sacrifice, because she thought the kindness he showed to Clare and I was the cause of our weakness... You see, neither Clare nor I was ever cruel enough to suit Jasmina. That's why we weren't asked to join the sisterhood. Only Bethanael got inducted, and only because it was Bethanael's suggestion that Jasmina sacrifice our father. Beth was always so jealous with the amount of affection our father showed Clare and I.Nelvranda (hereafter referred to as "Nel,") goes on to say that any male Drow that is found to be less than "perfectly cruel" is an abomination in the eyes of Lolth, and the Dark Codex of Lolth's Law commands that such weaklings be put to death. Nel also says that females found to be less than "perfectly cruel" are spared the fate of the males, simply by virtue of their gender. Lolth favors females. But imperfect females are not permitted to join the Dark Sisterhood. They are forced to pursue other passions, and are treated as second-class citizens, although some (like Clare) become powerful enough to regain the respect of society."I don't know how she does it," Nel says, "She's always been so kind to me. But the other Drow Matrons fear her. She has the ear of the Queen. If it were not for that, I think Jasmina would have assassinated her long ago. Jasmina is so jealous of Clare; she envies how well she's aged, and how powerful she's become. Clare is the best Golemsmith in Shalistaurimon. She made 4 special Golems out of MITHRIL for the Queen! It is said that over a thousand Dwarves lost their lives for each one. I don't know if I believe that, after all, she's one Wizard, and we're talking about 4,000 Dwarves! Ha ha ha."Nel goes on to mention, among other things, that Clare is barren, and unable to have children. "Only females who are members of the Dark Sisterhood can inherit titles and houses. To be a Drow Matron, you have to be chosen by the old Matron to become her replacement. Clare and I weren't worthy, so it's Bethanael who will inherit Matronship of the House. But poor little Beth has never been able to have a female child; she's had 4 males, and three of them have died. Her fourth male child left Shalistaurimon to live on the surface world, much to Beth's eternal shame. When she found out, she executed 472 of her slaves in a fit of rage."Nel continues, "But Clare and I have a plan; Beth is not aging well, and even when she inherits House Delzeen, she won't rule it for long. Clare won't act directly against Beth; her "imperfect cruelty" won't let her. As much as Clare loathes Beth, she won't harm her. But she DOES intend to wait her out. Clare says that the best hope for House Delzeen lies in its youth; I am far younger than either Clare or Beth. And even though I cannot inherit the House, if I can manage to conceive female heirs, and if those heirs are admitted into the sisterhood, THEY will be able to inherit. Clare says that my children will just be coming of age around the time that Beth should be on her death bed. Thus, the hope for House Delzeen lies with the issue of my womb. Clare says I have a great destiny, not to rule, but to be the mother of those that will. And as the Esteemed Mother of House Delzeen, my place in Drow society will be uncontested. Clare says that she can train my children to be ruthless, and I believe her. Clare's cruelty may not be perfect, but she can be downright diabolical when she puts her mind to it. I'm so lucky to be her sister; to Clare, if you're not family, you're the enemy. And her enemies have never fared well."[gm]Things Respen has noticed:1) Nel seems to be unaware of Clare's undead nature.2) Nel does not seem cruel at all; she does seem self-centered, and she does talk condescendingly toward Respen, whom she refers to alternately as her "Man Elf," or her "Pillow Pet," and she asks Respen more than once how it feels to know that he'll never be a ruler, that he'll always be a lowly male, unworthy of honor. But there is also a sweetness to her that surfaces at times, and she talks a lot about what a wonderful husband Respen will make, and about how the two of them will make a wonderful couple. Her treatment of Respen reminds him of Vale's treatment of Gus.3) Despite what has transpired, Dame Clare does indeed seem "less cruel" than anyone who would execute 472 slaves, or sacrifice their husband to their dark goddess.4) Kylaendra is nowhere to be seen for the four day period; you suspect that she has been commanded to leave you and Nel alone together. But occasionally, you hear faint music coming from down the hall, and you realize that the voice that is making that music is most certainly Ky's.5) Respen realizes something: If Clare can indeed train Nel's children to be ruthless enough to join the Dark Sisterhood, and if what she told you about giving all of you the Dark Gift is true, then there is one aspect here that Nel is unaware of; as the vampiric children of Clare, Nel's daughters will be Clare's to command, which will make Clare the "power behind the throne" of House Delzeen. "Dame" Clare would then be "Matron Clare," for all practical purposes. And a clan of several vampires in control of a Drow noble house is likely to reign without peer in Drow society. It's the ultimate power play. And Clare stands to not only become a Matron, but quite possibly, even QUEEN.[/gm]</blockquote>

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