Ascent from Darkness

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Helvighym got up to comfort the surface male. It bothered her as much, but she had to maintain control or all would be in vain.
"this is why we struggle and cope in such, to bring the message of light to all. Our Lady is light among the darkness of our world."
She sent a mental communication to Eva, [i:120brgqs]prepare a place in the younger dorms for these two children. and set a place in the house for the warrior.[/i:120brgqs]
When Veraka was ready, she would lead them to a place to stay.
--
Zarae and Nilree sat talking. She told him about a chance to go to the surface, to get away from here. He seamed more reluctant than her, but he did want out. they both knew that they had little time left before the battle. tomorrow was the last day, if the yochol even told the truth. Shade chittered also. she wanted to see the surface world and see her 'surface cousins.'
after a while, Nilree left and headed back to his room, his mind full of questions and contemplatons. if he escaped with Zarae, he had to find a way to get Rhylaun out too.
--
Matron Shyntyl screamed, even threw a fist-size gem from her throne. a small goblin went to fetch it when it felt the sting of a snake headed whip upon it's back. Xullafay stood over it as it crumpled below her. he laughed wickedly and struck again. blackness crept over the pitiful creature.
She tried to calm her mother with thoughts of plunder and victory, tho deep down she was plotting how to turn the war into an advantage for her. She was ready to be matron, even if she was only in her 4th century. Soon Zebeycyrl joined back up and the three headed down twords the war council. Shyntyl did not want the males, especially Rhylaun, deciding everything.

[veraka]

Veraka looked up to see Lady Helvighym comforting him, an action which he deeply appreciated.
"I understand why we all fight, fall, and struggle through our conflicts; but children, young ones who've done no wrong, no evil. They are destroyed, discarded without remorse, without hesitation. THAT is not right," he said, regaining his composure and looking Helvighym in the eyes.

He closed his eyes and wiped away the tears that he'd shed; "now I understand why I was sent down here, if at all, it's to make sure that those younglings that can make it out of here will; and if worst comes to comes to worst, I'll make sure that all of them make it out alive," Veraka said aloud in a hard-edged voice, as he opened his eyes, which glowed with an intense deep-silver to them.

"Lady Helvighym, know this; as a paladin of the Dark Maiden, I fight to protect those that need of it, and to bring others to her guidance, but as a storm warrior, I will destroy everything in my path to ensure that children among any race are kept safe, and will gladly take a killing blow if it means one child will live. Call it a soft spot, but I believe that all children are innocent until they fully understand the consequences of their actions, and therefore deserve to be protected the most of anyone. There is nothing more sad in all the realms then seeing young ones get hurt in any for nothing more in all the Realms that will drive the berserker within me to its max." Veraka looked over to both of the younglings, his face softening and his heart warming;

"It's truly amazing, how someone like me can become something as vile and destructive as the drow you've described, Lady Helvighym, to protect something as innocent and young as them," he said gesturing to Xaeraen and Volas.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((i dont think gender was mentioned, but i went looking.))
She smiled warmly. for they have been trying to save all who would.
"come, let me show you joy and why we are here," she tried to lift the large male, but he would have to pull himself up.
"come you two, Eva prepares a place for you," she smiled warmly to them.
She turned to Veraka, "Eva is also preparing a personal room for you, and you may stay as long as you wish. I would provide a way of seeing but it appears you can see just as well."

Mayae wasnt sure of the scene. such emotions were still new to her. "would it be possible to use the portal to head back when it's time? I said I would stay with them as long as I could, so I will till they get settled in a room."

Helvighym nodded. "of course. I'll activate it for you. since only five here have the 'keys' to use it."

[veraka]

Veraka got over his emotional state within a few seconds and lifted his bulk up and off the floor, assuming his full height.
"I believe that joy and why you are here would be a nice reprieve from everything; you have my thanks, Lady Helvighym," he paused looking at Aurora, and then to the younglings; "my lady, you wouldn't have any qualm if my winter wolf here, Aurora, accompanied the two young ones? She seems to take great pride in watching over them, and from what I've noticed, they seem to like her more and more."

Aurora looked at him directly in the eye [i:1xva87ko]You want me to accompany the children, after what you went through?

It's not that I'm incapable of helping myself, I just think I need to let all this settle before doing anything more drastic.[/i:1xva87ko] he told her through his mind. The great white wolf merely nodded her head.
Turning back to Helvighym, "oh and one more thing, though I believe that this dye is an adequate disguise for now, I do believe that I'll be wanting to remove it here soon; after all, not many drow males are my stature," he chuckled at the remark, for Veraka had never truly seen any males, even among the surface elves, with his physique.

Xaeraen and her brother lit up like miniature firefly's at the mention of a room for them; it had been a very long time since both of them had ever seen quarters of their own. Upon hearing the paladin's comment about having the wolf go with them, they both started jumping up and down, saying "yeah, yeah, yeah."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((i randomlly and finally looked up a name for her. tho i cheated and found one from players who dont play anymore.))

"all friends and seekers are welcome here. your room will have the soap you need."
the children's excitement was warmth for her heart. little brung such in all her 8 centuries.
"follow me, i'll show yall the complex. by the way, you can call me however, but I am Erelae. most call me Lady Helvighym, a few Lady Erelae. and when we have Llotites, matron. I personally hate that title, but I do so for the safety of all here."
She lead the group out of the house chapel and down the large adorned halls to what looked like a mural of ancient drow history, before they were drow. Erelae whispered the divine words and the mural opened like a secret door into the cavern complex.
before them was a dimly lit corridor (whitish faerie fire) with branching corriders. fsr down, the corrider turned about 45 degrees. as she walked she pointed out the halls that lead to different rooms.
"that leads to our 'cafeteria, accessible thru the house and complex. we have wonderful ladies, and a few males who spend their time preparing to food for all 50 who live here. they keep that part of Eilistraee's dogma close and dear to them. without their service feeding all the younglings and leaders would be hard." she used a general term since they had a few non-drow children among the numbers.
She showed then down the short hall to a large gym. a few older students were practicing with a teacher watching closely and instructing on proper parries. "this is for our older aged to practice and train. we keep skill levels separate to protect them. this one is a bit smaller than the other gym but we keep more equipment stored behind that shimmering curtain. these is also connected with the house." She waved to Lynet and lead them on down into the mantle. they passed two corriders, "those go to two of our classrooms, and soon we may begin building more personal rooms and storage places."
they came to the turn, and corriders that lead to the dorms. "to the right is the female dorms and bath and left the male's. each has 3-4 occupants right now, and with curtains dividing them for each to have privacy. we keep older and younger seperated."
ahead it opened up to a large cavern, "that is our most important place, the cavern of song. there we join for the evening song and important assemblies. halls branch leading to rooms, storage, and a couple classrooms."

[veraka]

Veraka followed Erelae down the corridors listening intently as she described the house and all of its features among its walls. The two younglings were enjoying their time on Aurora's back as the winter wolf paced behind Veraka and Erelae.

When they came across the gym, Veraka had a sudden urge to hop in the sparring session and join the fun, but kept that part to himself.
"Erelae, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like join in with the training here; I think I might be able to teach a few things to the students here."

As they entered the through the cafeteria, Veraka took a mental note on the number of Elistraeens in this house alone. As they entered the cavern of song, he felt his breath leave his lungs as he looked about the immense cavern, which was decorated to the Dark Maiden.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

"yes, that would not be a problem. I will speak with my trainers and give them a heads up."
Erelae had paused at the entrance to the rounded cavern and beckoned the others in. She wanted them to experience the magic of the room. magic had been used to carve the room into a sphere shape. the ceiling was well above even her vision. the center of the curving floor stood the most magnificent obsidian statue carved of a dancing female elf (drow) with ankle-length sweeping hair and an elaborately decorated sword. above her was a pale glowing ball of faerie fire made to look like a full moon.

Mayae had only been in the cavern once before, but it still took her breath away.

"it's unfortunate that yall arrived after the evening song, you should how it rings thru the complex. the notes of every singer, the melody...it is the most peaceful time I have found," Erelae said to them.
Eva came down the corridor and joined the group.

behind the group, 2 boys, a black headed tan elf and half-drow exited their rooms and headed twords the cafeteria.

[veraka]

((sorry if I go a little foreshadowing here ))
Veraka looked in awe at the obsidian statue within the enormous spherical cavern; both he and Aurora felt the power behind the magic that emanated from the cavern. At the beckoning of Erelae, both of them, Aurora with the younglings on her back stepped into the chamber.

Veraka felt drawn to the statue of Elistraee; he walked up to it slowly, reaching a hand out to touch it's surface. As his armored hand drew close, Marala Vharc began to glow and crackle with electrical arcs of lighting, his totem necklace began sear with heat, and his gloves started to feel like an inferno, but he continued forward, suppressing the pain.

[i:dsjwlqyd]Veraka what are you doing?[/i:dsjwlqyd] Aurora yipped at him, though he was completely oblivious to her. His fingers brushed the surface of the smooth obsidian, and within an instant, his vision was engulfed in flames, with red everywhere. He saw a house in flames, it was one of the noble houses of this very city. He gasped as he recognized a very familiar drowling face.
"What!? Zarae's house; but why?" he asked out loud as he stumbled backwards, nearly losing his balance, but an unknown caught him before he went down.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Mayae walked behind Veraka as he neared the center of the cavern. her vision picked up a slight disturbance in the air, heat emanating from the warrior more so than usual. She turned as the wolf yipped. she turned back around when Veraka touched the statue.
he spoke and then tumbled, she tried to catch him with her tiny frame, but he was too much.

Erelae saw what was happening just as he fell and rushed to help Mayae. She figured he had some vision, and likely with the drow house war. one house finally had name, and only 1 other house could be powerful enough to attempt an attack, the first house.

[veraka]

Regaining his balance, he turned to regard Mayae and Erelae whom were standing behind him, "Thank you, Mayae, Erelae; I've the slightest clue as to what came over me; though, in this case, I wish I didn't have my celestial bloodline flowing in my veins," he paused as if considering something for a moment.
"Does anyone know what in the Nine Hells is going on in this city, because I just had a 'vision' of a house engulfed in flames; Mayae do remember that young female drowling, Zarae, I believe her name was?"

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Erelae a look of sadness come over her.
another example of the darkness of the drow world.
"you may have heard some rumors of an upcoming house war." she remembered to explain it, "when a house loses favor with Lloth, others will destroy it to gain status, position, and favor. should they not succeed, and by that i mean eradicate every member, then drow justice will be carried out for failure. that means eliminating the attacking house. based on what you hollered and are telling me, the second house will be the one attacked, that is Zarae's house. there is only one house capable of attempting such a war with the second. and that is risky in it self."
She thought for a minute.

Mayae had head from Bruh that a meeting of the council had taken place, and not everyone had attended. How he discovered such, no one would know. that was the blessing of Bruh.
"I think it will be more than the first house. maybe a colilition of numerous houses. which is rare for houses to do."

"Lets get these children settled in and we can continue this talk," Eva spoke up.

[veraka]

((sorry, another long one))
Veraka felt his face go red, but he held his temper in a solid check. "Normally, I'm not one for intervening in such affairs, but I cannot help but get a feeling that the reason that this vision of the future came to me was to do something about it, especially given the fact that I now know who it is that is getting attacked; now granted, Erelae, I wouldn't expect you to take my style of approach on this matter, but there must be something that I can do about this, whenever it'll happen."

Turning to regard the two children, he caught wind of Eva's comment and had to agree; walking up to Aurora, he looked at Xaeraen and Volas, saying "Ok you two, now you're not going to give Aurora here any trouble are you?." Both shook their heads in a 'no' response. At this Aurora nearly went off, however a very over-eccentric Volas stopped her.

"You know what you should do, Ver-aka, you should beat them up, all of them. Beat them like they did to me and sis. You take them down, all of them, all of the evil ones," Volas mock punched Veraka's super-hard adamantine plating to emphasize his point.

The storm warrior was a little taken aback by the young ones sudden outburst, but then he realized [i:3sm9j2qk]I should've known; no race in all of the Realms understands the word vengeance than the drow, even young Volas here has already been poisoned by it's alluring tastes and now he sees a chance to take it back through me.[/i:3sm9j2qk]
"Maybe later, young one, but for now let's . . "
"No, you should do it NOW!" he yelled. At this, the assimar's eyes narrowed.
"Learn this young one," he said in a calm, but firm and commanding voice, "there is a difference between vengeance and justice; what you want is vengeance, the blind anger and rage that wants to destroy everything in front of them; vengeance does not care if your enemy is drow, or faerie, elder or youngling, like yourself. Vengeance is self-centered, you're not doing it for anyone but yourself. Justice is different; with justice, you are doing it for others, like your sister. Justice demands that the evil ones pay, but in the right way, the [b:3sm9j2qk]self-less[/b:3sm9j2qk] way. I will not give those evil ones vengeance, however, I [b:3sm9j2qk]will[/b:3sm9j2qk] give them justice. Do you understand that?"

The young male drowling merely nodded his head at the storm warriors reaction, though he looked distressed; he'd never seen a male before take up words like those before, not like this. It made Volas wonder, what would his mother have been like; would she have been like every other matron mother that he'd encountered in the city, or would she have been like these females, here in this house, kind and caring. What would have his father been like. Like all the other male drow in the city, subordinate, and devious, or like this surfacer: strong, fearless, and willing to fight to the death for his own children. Volas teared up at the realization that he'd probably never get to meet his own parents.
Veraka instantly recognized the frustration that the young child was experiencing, and went to comfort Volas, however, was beat to the punch by . . .

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

"by her words, Zarae may come here on her own before then. did she not mention bringing another? I know Matron Shyntyl had twins, unusual among drow. But many of us will 'watch' the house war to find those who may be willing to come into the light. a noble house has hundreds of soldiers. We will be actively seeking folks out. I understand how you feel and think right now. this darkness, this evil and all this work to protect these younglings and seekers is a burden, one I willingly take. but to storm the house would hurt our cause and jeopardized many lives. a noble house is impregnable without invitation. just as this house is. the keys are tuned to the wards to allow entrance. they have house emblems that do likewise."

Eva smiled, till the boy's comment. the darkness of this city was still a reality. the halfling didnt truly understand; she had come from the surface refuge to help and she had not experience the city herself.

Mayae, tho she didnt know how to deal with children, walked over to Volas. She could understand. She had grown up here, had been the epitome of the drow. that was before the Dark Maiden.

When everyone was ready Erelae would lead them to their rooms.

Zarstra walked down the hall dressed in the black robes.
"Vendui mother. I see you have met with the guest. I have brung another in, he is in one of the guest rooms. When you have a chance, he wants to talk with you."

"Thank you. I will speak with him when I am done." turning to the group, "this is my eldest daughter, Zarstra. and if you are wondering about her dress, she is responsible for public appearances."

"vendui abbilen. I will change soon. But first I must head back out and finish." she dismissed herself and headed up the corridor.

[veraka]

"Understood, though I wasn't necessarily talking about a frontal assault, but I see now why you are the guiding mother of this house, Erelae. I will do what I can around here to strengthen this houses defenses, though I'm not sure where I would start."

Veraka saw that Mayae understood how Volas felt, so he left them be; if he was needed, he would do what he's needed to do to assist in any capacity required of him. His thoughts were broken as a female drow walked down the corridor to where they were located.

Upon seeing her dress, his instinctive reaction nearly sent his hand to his sword, but a second-thought interrupted it. [i:3cker6o7]How would a priestess have access to this house; like Erelae pointed out, this house to has magical defenses to prevent such intrusions. Must be someone from the front gates area. The introductions confirmed that thought.

As Erelae introduced her oldest child, Zarstra, the storm warrior gave a curt nod, "Pleasure." As Zarstra headed back up the corridor, Veraka noticed that the drowlings on Aurora's back were no out cold.

"Erelae, I believe now would be an adequate time for these two to get some shut-eye; as for me, I believe that I could use some of that fancy soap that you mentioned; this dye has more than served its purpose."[/i:3cker6o7]

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Erelae lead Aurora, who was carrying the children, to their rooms. Each now had their own place, seperated by curtains and fully furnished with bed, (clothes storage, like a dresser), desk, and shelves.
When both were settle in, Erelae led Veraka to the guest room for him.
"if you decide you want to stay, more pernamently, then we will have your self a room. this room is fully equiped. the bathroom should have the soap you need as well as any other nessesities. is their anything else?"