On the Shores of Despair

[NathreeDe'Shezbron]

Zazzt glanced at Adian, "Who are you speaking to?" He called through the door, "You haven't become mind touched form your centuries of life, have you? I knew those priests were bad news."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Zarae gave Adian a look. "I reckon you have been communicating with them? I knew I heard a giggle out there."
She whistled to Moonlight who came trotting behind Argo and Phenix.
After Pwdn, Lyon, Frad, and Adian with all their horses entered, Zazzt already in, Moonlight and Zarae entered.
It was a major difference from outside. and there were so many foods, some she didnt even recognize, and people.
A servant went to take Moonlight, but she stopped him before he got irritated. "just tell him where to go and he will go. there is no bridle for you to handle anyway."

Pyoro saw an unusual room, lavishly furnished with food and servants. 'where in the nine hells are they? did they betray my hospitality and steal my horses running away to some tavern?'
He sent a sending to Adian, "[i:2e0nn40e]where are you? what have you done with MY horses? I trusted yall, gave you the benefit of the doubt despite your race.[/i:2e0nn40e]"

[NathreeDe'Shezbron]

Zazzt looked around, the wards on this place detected a scrying on the ones inside ((technically it would be impossible, since they are on a different plane, w/e this is more fun )). He raised his hands, and his fingers flashed through complicated movements, and a quietly mumbled phrase could be heard under his breath. It didn't take him long to trace the scrying back to Pyoro, and another spell connected the two telepathically, and while he missed the majority of his sending to Adian, he could tell from the tone, and his thoughts, that Pyoro suspected treachery. "Sir, we are simply taking a rest from the road. This is most commonly known as a mage's mansion. While tis true, your horses are bred for the cold, even they must welcome the opportunity for a break."

[Ra'Sona Races-The-Wind]

((No big secret, just an opportunity. Also, did you know that 'throw companion' is an actual special ability?

Scrying. . . I have a defence available, but not active.))

Pwdn gave her coat to one of the servants standing ready to take it, and looked around the mage's retreat that had been called into existence. Lyon and Frad were similarly awed, though Lyon was still avoiding her. Frad mumbled something about integrity and huffed, causing Leon to look awkward and finally glance at Pwdn. Frad knew him too well, he had never been capable of being angry at a pretty girl and trying to force himself to stay angry was a waste of time. Pwdn looked back hesitantly, then approached. Before she could speak, he cut in with a commanding speech. "I'm not going to admit that what you did was right, but I understand why you did it. protecting your friends is a very important responsibility and I would surely have done the same for Frad. Just tell me next time you're going to lie to me, okay?"

Pwdn stared for a moment, then broke down into giggles; Lyon had meant every word and hadn't even tough about what little sense that request made. "Lyon, if I told you then I wouldn't be [i:2w7lw801]able [/i:2w7lw801]to lie. But thank you." She held out a hand to him, her simple robes were little more than a loose toga and showed off her arms quite beautifully. He took it and rather than shaking, raised it to his lips and kissed it graciously. Pwdn looked back at the others; he really [i:2w7lw801]was[/i:2w7lw801] keen and she was quite charmed by his attempts at chivalry, however clumsy, but it was a little embarrassing being treated so in front of all the others. Frad cleared his throat noisily and Leon broke off with a self conscious bow of his head to hide the slight blush. Pwdn curtsied sweetly in what might have been construed as teasing by a casual observer, and moved away. "I should see if there's a bath here, the air's so very dry outside."

It was a bit of a liberty, but she did so hate drying out and would only be a minute. Lyon and Frad remained behind, looking at the Drow and wondering what they were supposed to say.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((hahaha...i should take that up...))

off to the side, Zarae caught most of the interaction tween the two and Pwdn before she headed off. carefully hidden so only she could see [i:1cf7znfk]I see someone is taking a liking to the human as well.[/i:1cf7znfk] it was obvious she was joking. it was ironic, romance on a mission? She was too young to care about that kinda love right now, too much a free spirit.
Zarae walked over to the others as Moonlight headed to find some food. She looked at the various foods, unsure of many. when traveling, one eats what can be caught or had in the pack. picking up a new fruit she examined and inspected it.
Lyon and Frad looked uncomfortable among the drows.

[CinderSuru]

Cinderanna signaled Meldrinus and he gracefully pranced down the hill to mysterious the door.

"Thank you for your invetation" she smiled at Adian as she dismounted beside him. " My name is Cinderanna you may call me Cinder and this is my caribou his name is Meldrinus and a dear companion he is." She handed his ranes to a servent thanking him. "behave yourself Meldrinus, try to mind your manners".

[Adian Novar]

[quote:rac01mjd]"where are you? what have you done with MY horses? I trusted yall, gave you the benefit of the doubt despite your race."[/quote:rac01mjd]
So now the spectre of mistrust finally raised its ugly head.

[i:rac01mjd]We are still on the trail. We are within a magical creation of Zazzt's against the cold of the night, and have taken two wanderers to shelter. They are ill-prepared and inexperienced. Despite my race, we remain on our mission.[/i:rac01mjd]

He tried to keep the brief resentment out of the last statement, but the thought was difficult to conceal.

"Welcome, Cinder," Adian said aloud. "Thank you for your help."

[NathreeDe'Shezbron]

Zazzt looked at Cinder with a stoic expression, but tothose who knew him, Zazzt was obviously surprised. "You trust her?" His fingers asked Adian, but he was already looking at Lyon and Frad, "Oh come on you two," Zazzt walked over to them, "The first thing any true adventurer on the road would have done at the sign of such food in close proximity was to strart scarfing it down. You never know when the next opportunity like this arises," Zazzt steped behind them and gave both of them a firm push towards the table, "So come along and eat. We are drow, tis true, but we have already eaten the food, so it is not poisoned. Eat, or as a host, I will be insulted."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Pyoro sputters when he heard Zazzt and Adian's reply.
'[i:36sp4tvr]very well then. I may have jump to conclusion. i apologize, helping others is a good reason. I just needed to check your progress. Expect me at least once a day. I have alot invested in this.[/i:36sp4tvr]
with that he was gone.

Zarae felt the scrying. Her senses were highly keen to magic. She signed to her party so as to not cause fear, [i:36sp4tvr]someone is spying on us.did any of yall receive a message?[/i:36sp4tvr]
Zarae couldnt help but laugh at the two and Zazzt's actions. it was comical. She turned to the new comer Cinderanna, another drow for irony too!
"I suspected you been in cahoots with Adian then," she obviously joked.

Pyoro remembered he needed to send word to the outpost of the party heading their way. The guards would likely believe the drow stole the horses and killed the riders. Especially now; they wouldnt be expecting anyone this time of the year in this weather.
He sent a message to the captian, relaying to her to [i:36sp4tvr]'look for a party of at least 4 drow and a cleric of Ilmater with possible others. they will be with four of my horses. Do NOT attack!'[/i:36sp4tvr]

[Ra'Sona Races-The-Wind]

Lyon and Frad were still somewhat stunned by the house, but they didn't need to be told twice about eating. As directed by Zazzt they gladly demolished whatever caught their eyes. Frad spoke first, somehow able to articulate perfectly even through a mouthful of baked apple brandysnaps. The dwarf had a sweet tooth, it seemed. "So ye say ye're not evil, but then we hear tell of stories that yer all a viscious bloody lot. Jus sayin,' why's that?"

Lyon swallowed his own mouthful and with a worried glance to Frad, nonetheless agreed. "Well, I wouldn't put it so bluntly, but yes. It's just a surprise that after being told such horror stories you turn out to be all right after all. An explanation would certainly help." Frad had discovered a cake, and that was vanishing swiftly, too. "Me mam's friend's sister met one of ye once, said ye worship spiders and keep slaves of everyone ye meet." Lyon nudged him, and shushed hurriedly. "I'm sure they've already heard that one, Frad."

Having decided that they at least seemed friendly, Lyon was trying not to offend them accidentally. A real gentleman [i:39uh3mwo]never [/i:39uh3mwo]offends anyone by accident, after all.

[Adian Novar]

[quote:3jvtjn4w]"You trust her?" His fingers asked Adian.[/quote:3jvtjn4w]
[i:3jvtjn4w]"Within reason,"[/i:3jvtjn4w] Adian signaled back. [i:3jvtjn4w]"I sense no malice in her, but at the moment her agenda remains unknown. I would rather have her here than where she cannot be seen."[/i:3jvtjn4w]

To Frad and Lyon, Adian smiled paitently. It was not as though he hadn't had to explain it before.

"The story is a long one," he said. "Suffice to say that a child of the Spider Queen, Eilistraee, seeks to redeem our people. Our numbers are relatively few, but we are growing. One day we hope to see the entirety of our kin renounce the Spider Queen and return to our ancestral homes in the forests. She is known as the Dark Maiden and is a patron of song, dance, the Hunt, and redemption. Gentle of heart but fierce to those who would harm the innocent and the helpless.

"It is part of our creed to help those who hunger or are otherwise in need, and to try to heal the rift between us and our surface kin. I, for one, have never been in any of the Underdark cities of the Drow. I was raised in a holy place called the Promenade, surrounded by people as kind and loving as any on the surface world.

"I cannot speak for all drow, of course," he said. "The Lolthians and others are still forces to be feared...but we hope to one day end that. "

[NathreeDe'Shezbron]

Zazzt nodded and smiled, "A true drow. Keep your friends close and your enemies within dagger's reach." he walked to the table behind the two younglings, and grabbed a flagon of wine, and a slice of bread. He walked to Adian and offered him some wine, eating the bread, "Perhaps we should show the fearless duo over there why drow are a force to be feared. It has been a while since I have had a decent sparing companion."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Zarae finally decided on something she recognized- smoked salmon and fresh water. She avoided alcoholic drinks, preferring to keep her mind sharp and clear. She detected no poisons, tho it was unlikely any would attempt, but she always checked her foods. one could never be sure. Walking tword a couch, she sat down near Cinderanna.
"So what brings you here? I would guess you as a ranger or druid of sorts? Your mount, I havent seen that specific kind but he looks similar to ones I read about before."
Looking back towrds the table she saw the two eat like they hadnt eaten in years as they talked with Adian and Zazzt.
'Surfacers could really put down some food.'
She stayed out of the religious topics unless directly asked, she was still new to the faith and still learning herself. She hadnt even understood why she had been sent up north to begin with. With the other more than capable of sharing worked out she figured.
Calling out to the others, "how long are we planning to rest? we havent been on the road long and how many wanna travel during the day? If we wait till night we will waste alot of time. I'm up for fun, but we we're appointed to accomplish something."

[CinderSuru]

Your sences serve you well Adian" she smiled at him " I mean now harm but seek the dark maiden. "
I was raised by my grandmother who revered her. She was a elven Baroness of the Caribou Clan Who dwel in the far north.
"Meldrinus and I were jioned when i was five " she said turning to Zarae "he is one of who were born with the magic of thier kind and I was tought these magical secrets of the caribou by a special sage, we will be together for life."
"I have not seen the likes of such dinning in the middle of the woods Zazzt" she offered a slite bow. Then reached for a delicate cake.

[Ra'Sona Races-The-Wind]

"So yer like renegades, from th'other lot?" Frad shrugged, and swallowed a mouthful of candied fruits. "That'll do for me." Lyon seemed a little more hesitant, but also accepted their story. "To that end then, we must aid you all as best we can, isn't that right, Frad?" "Right." Lyon bowed to Aidan formally, one skill which he seemed to actually have down cold. "It is an honour to aid you in such a noble cause."

Pwdn returned midway through these theatrics. She didn't look any different, but she seemed a lot more pleased with her appearance and that in itself made some difference. She sorted through the table of foods, and was about to try some mutton roast when she found a bowl of trifle. This proved too much of a curiosity, and she was stunned at how the jelly wobbled and seemed almost to leap from her spoon as she tried to eat it. A rosy tint came to her face among the blue, and she looked for Zazzt. "It's not alive, is it? It seems to have a mind of its' own." She succeeded in a few mouthfuls, each one melting away easily as she ate it, and found that she rather enjoyed the flavour. Lyon, eager to make up for his earlier moodiness, tried to explain about what it was and that she didn't need to try and balance her jelly on the the spoon, it wouldn't fall off if she let it wobble a bit. This took a little while, but eventually she was able to clear her plate and manage another bit before Frad found it. He hadn't even looked at the savoury foods; Lyon, however, seemed to have selected a good range of different things and moved through them in order. Lyon and Pwdn chatted quietly, waiting until the others were finished; talking about nothing in particular. Frad, showing a practical side upon realising he'd not see many more places like this, was packing cakes, biscuits and all manner of sweet things in with the trail rations. Eventually Lyon decided to ask Pwdn straight-out what he'd been wondering.

"So, if you're not one of them, then what are you exactly?" She chuckled softly in response, wondering how to explain. "Well, it's difficult to explain. I could show you?" Lyon nodded, and she took his hand in hers. Then the clear blue shifted to surround his hand, and crept up his arm to his shoulder, engulfing the whole thing. Leaning closer, his arm was absorbed and turned around so that he and the others there could actually see it there inside her head, and on his other arm more of her had crept down and come up in small ridges, swaying like reeds. "Truthfully, I only understand myself as far as I've experienced, I have yet to meet another. Are you feeling okay?" Lyon, eyes wide and stunned into silence, nodded. Stepping forwards, Pwdn switched sides entirely, emerging inside her robes that she'd passed over as she moved when she resumed her normal form and was finally holding his other hand in hers. "And that's about it." Lyon shuddered, and smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. "Sort of tickled a bit, but that wasn't so bad. Can you do that whenever you want?" Pwdn nodded, and then hesitated. "Well, it's difficult if I'm being distracted."

Frad and Lyon exchanged incredulous glances, but Frad seemed happy with this. Lyon actually seemed quite cheerful, more so than before. "Maybe we could, ah. . . do this again some time?" Pwdn gave him a light push, and laughed. "Maybe sooner than you think." She played with what was left of the jelly, her fascination with it now making a little more sense. She looked to the others, wondering when they would move on once again.