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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aust Thale" data-source="post: 7464191" data-attributes="member: 6804768">Respen:  At Dame Clare's Beck & CallDame Clare reaches out Respen bolted upright in bed.  Clare’s mental communication wasn’t subtle as normal.  Something was wrong.  Her mental voice was normally soothing, thick with what Nel described as “Drow of high station” accent just as her regular voice was.This was louder with a sense of urgency and concern.  No mention of the twins, nor Nel.  There was more storytelling to it, but it was strained, as if taking the time to tell the story was labored.  She was selling him on taking this mission, despite their both understanding his oath.  He leaned in and kissed Nel on the neck, checked on their infant children, and moved quietly and quickly into the antechamber, answering mentally with a single mental response which he allowed Nel to hear as well. ~Clare, I will. ~ He hoped Dame Clare understood that he understood, and he hoped Nel would understand as well.  He proceeded to dress and collect himself, preparing his gear and himself, his daily spells and magic enchantments.  It was early outside, and clouds currently obscured the sky.  It was dreary and warm, despite Abigail’s magical climate control within.   Two parts of the story disturbed him: that she was sending him after Serindak, and the clerics presence and their activities.  He had no real interest in undertaking anything where Serindak was concerned.  The spider form to which she referred was anathema to Respen as well.If he was met with antipathy from Khubsheth for any reason, Respen was perfectly fine with it.   ~ Clare, can you hinder, or better, cripple the clerics’ efforts?  One of our company acquired the giants’ heads, and we have them.  Surely that presents a challenge to Lolth’s people?  Why on Oerth would Lolth care enough to resurrect this sorry lot? ~ Respen headed down the steps to the outbuilding first.  Vale kept early hours, and he hoped their magical work together in the last months had made them friends.  He found Vale firmly into his work, his prayers finished hours before and his hands full with hot metal and magicks.  He listened intently to Respen’s relaying of information; Respen gave him the high points on Clare’s request, and the whole part of her promise.   Vale replied, “ Laddie, I’m amused by the mischief you get yourself, but I’m not eager to assist with your witch-queen’s errands.  That said, I’ll go with you, if for no other reason than to prevent you having more unwise notions.  I can be ready tomorrow.”   Respen thought to himself, ~That’s one.~    He called the fellowship together at early afternoon mealtime, where it happened that all were present.   Respen laid out his plan, “I have been summoned to retrieve an artifact, by purpose or by accident.  And I could use your help. I've heard that the orcs outside the Steading have moved on, at least for now, to the Stark Mounds.  However, evil grows within the Steading again. The giants were puppets, and their puppeteer is attempting to bring them back from the dead.  You'll recall that Sylvar was saved from a curse from the Solar.  They are preparing evil rituals to give Vulka and her ilk form again.  I've been offered assistance from my mistress.  She will aid us in round two.  However, she needs an artifact first.  I must go; my oath constitutes a powerful and binding magical contract.  I request your assistance."  Respen addresses Abigail as well, "Your Grace, I want to thank you for your tutelage and these months of respite, training, and kindness, to myself and Nel and my infant twins.  I owe you the Key of Krigala, and it was my cause as an upspoken oath to you to retrieve it.  I owe a similar oath to a mentor, Laramon, in Dyvers.  I must do this other first.  I'm sorry. The Helm of Selreen has higher priority, and I must find the Prophet Khubsheth in the Kingdom of Ull.  I will do my work quickly, and Corellon-willing, I shall return to visit pain on the Steading and chase them from the region for good.  If any of you wish to remain to attack the Steading and pursue the Key sooner rather than later, I shall respect your decision.  We shall part as friends, and I will join you when I can."At this point, Vale makes it clear that he will go with Respen.  He places the bags with the giants' magically resposed (preserved) heads into the floor.  And he places parchment with the questions and answers from the giants written on them on a table for Abigail, "This is everything I could glean from those tossers.  Their heads are in those bags, and I've kept them nice and squishy for the last ten months.  I don't think anybody will get them back among the living without their heads, and if they find a way, it will take a considerable amount of time, resources, and divine magic to do it.  They'll keep.  We have a little time. "   Respen says to the group, "I'll leave you to your choices, but I must leave tomorrow.  Now, I must see about Nel.  She and I must have a discussion about what to do with the children. Abigail, Ebony, I don't know how you feel about this, but Nel certainly values your counsel.  Would you be so kind as to make yourselves available to her after we discuss what happens next?"He proceeds back to Nel, hoping she will take his decision in stride.  'Decision'.  If that's what it really is.  Upon seeing her, he is struck by how strikingly beautiful she is.  Her figure returned immediately, typical of most elves, but she looked 30 years younger, and radiant.  Motherhood became her.  It was common among the Drow, and for that matter, surface elves, to leave their young in the care of nannies or other family whilst they continue to adventure, explore, or in the Enllaves, performed hunting or trade missions.  He looked at her, genuine admiration and affection in his eyes, and asked her a question, "Nel, I have to go.  Clare calls.  What do you want to do?"  He knew the answer; she knew it too.  He asked it because that's what loving parents do with each other when they are parents and obligation makes them have to choose between duty and their children.  One of them had to remain with the children, and it couldn't him, or neither of them would remain with the children, and someone else could potentially raise them.  "If you choose to go, we need to leave the little ones.  And we need to leave them here, if Abigail is willing.  They can not be detected here.  I have not choice.  I have been summoned."The weight of the decision and what the others decided was as stuffy and heavy and suffocating as the summer warmth outside.</blockquote>

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