Ascent from Darkness

[veraka]

Veraka started to grow more anxious by the second. Although he knew he could trust Mayae, something was unnerving him by the moment. Didn't know what it was or where it was coming from but he didn't like it. He darted his eyes from corner to corner, looking for trouble, but also looking for the source of this nervousness of his.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((i was teaching archery this weekend and just got back a bit ago...long day saturday! didnt kill any kids either...
from Moriquenti message, I told him I'd have him staying there at the house for when he is able to join.))

Zarstra and Moriquenti walked and talked a bit as she personally lead him to a nice room for him to relax and stay. When he became comfortable and was sure he wanted to stay, he would have a permanent place inside the complex.
--
Mayae waved her keyring in front of the door, inconspiciously. the door opened to a grand hall, decorated with random shapes and highlighted with numerous colors of faerie fire. some of the figures, those of dancing drows, had a wavy appearance, indicating they were disguised to some. ((appear like spider to those of evil alignment))

[veraka]

((seems to be the case with a lot of people, either just gone or on vacation))
Veraka followed Mayae on through the house, giving curious glances to random things. He was impressed by the shear amount of subtlety that went into the houses design and architecture. He was struck in awe at the house's statues.
"Is the rest of this house as magnificent as this is right here?"

Veraka got the feeling that Lady Helvighym would be with them soon enough.
[i:3v5qrbi6]I hate it when I get that feeling.[/i:3v5qrbi6]

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((well i expect summer to slow the boards alot, i know i will not be on much...if i can even get on at all...i'm a staff/archery teacher at a kids camp, 5 weeks! but thats in june))

Mayae chuckled, "this is the most elaborate beside the so called chapel; for obvious reasons. now the cavern of song back in the main complex is the most wonderful, and no illusions effect the carvings. the center holds a large statue made in the replica of the Dark Maiden with a whitish blue ball of faerie fire above to represent the moon. the classrooms are unique to the studies: magic training, history/religion, and such. our gyms are rather neutral and the dorms are fitted to the younglings likings." She whispered, "we have a good number of non-drow, mostly rescued slaves who have stayed."
--
Lady Helvighym knew of the 4 visitors. She was in the middle of something so she asked Eva, her best friend and favorite halfling to bring them to her.
Eva entered the hall seeing the strangers captivated by the decerations.
"Drow do love beauty, dont they," she remarked as she walked to them. "Mayae, it's been a while. how are things in Eastmry?"
--
"Vendui abbil. it has been awhile since I have ventued into the city itself. where are my mannors? this is Veraka, Aurora. they are here to see Lady Helvighym about the two children."

((i'll put up a map of the complex when my computer gets fixed...grrrr to blue screens of death...))

[veraka]

((LOL, I know the feeling))
Veraka couldn't help but smile at the thought of some slaves being here and staying within the walls of this house.
"Wait there's a bigger room than this, with a carving of the Dark Maiden within? I know I might be over stepping my bounds here, but if we have the time, I would like to see this Cavern of Song; unless of course there's some rule against it."

Veraka finished his last sentence just as a female halfling came into the room that they were in. The aasimar was a little taken aback by this, given the fact of his tremendous size and being raised among the Uthgardt. His deep green eyes gave the halfling a look over.

[i:3u2sbqqv]I suppose even here in the Underdark there's a surprise around a corner here and there.[/i:3u2sbqqv]
A low repeating rumble emanated from Aurora; Veraka knew that she was laughing; [i:3u2sbqqv]and you say that I'm not well versed in the ways of the world.[/i:3u2sbqqv]
His temper flared at the remark; he nearly snapped, but a quick glance around reminded Veraka that he had more pressing matters to attend to. He let out a sigh.

Upon hearing the halfling comment on something about drow and beauty, Veraka snapped his attention to her. As Mayae introduced him, he gave a graceful bow to the halfling. [i:3u2sbqqv]At least you haven't forgot your mannerisms,[/i:3u2sbqqv]Aurora taunted him through their link.
"Stow it," he retorted under his breath.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((the [u:2p3bigu4]complex [/u:2p3bigu4]is a promenade like structure that people dwell; caverns with dorms, cafeteria, classrooms and gyms. the [u:2p3bigu4]house [/u:2p3bigu4]is just a front, tho few do live in there and it contains what drow houses do.))

"Same as always Eva. well usually. unless you have a surfacer who follows the Lady also show up after a big fight."
Mayae chuckled at the scene then gave Veraka a confused look. her keen ears picking up his mumbling.
"welcome all," Eva said looking up to the tall surfacer.

"Come this way, Lady Helvighym will meet you in the antechamber of the house."
Mayae nodded allowing the others to follow.
"After such important matters are taken care of, I think a tour of the complex would be nice." turning to talk to Veraka, "The classes should be done till tomorrow. We missed the Evening Song but you should be allowed to attend with the others for tomorrow's."

[veraka]

"Very well, though I think it'd be wise to consult Lady Helvighym for this," Veraka said as he followed Eva to the antechamber, where, apparently, he was going to be met by Helvighym. Aurora followed closely behind Veraka, as did the younglings, Xaeraen and Volas, though they were caught every now and then by Mayae as they both tried to keep pace with the assimar and his winter wolf companion.

Volas looked up to Mayae, asking "What will happen to me and Xaeraen now?"

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((computer working, now just gotta get all my files back on it. my 'maps' included...))

Mayae smiled at the children. "If you want too, you will be allowed to stay her. This is a wonderful place with some probably close to your age. and away from the influence of Lady of Chaos."
She let them catch up as Eva lead them to the room. Eva open elaborately carved door decorated in geometric designs that one could imagine a spider shape. tho to many it would appear as something else.
the room was also elaborately decorated with illusions as the rest of the house had been. even the paintings along the wall were illusions. above a whitish ball of faerie fire (looking like a moon) illuminated the room in a soft silvery glow.
Lady Helvighym was in the far corner at a desk like structure dealing with some glowing tome. She looked up at the group and smiled warmly as she motioned them over.
Despite her long century, Lady Helvighym was a beautiful as a 3rd century drow. and her presence warm and peaceful, even tho she was busy.
Mayae nuddged everyone over twords Lady Helvighym.

[veraka]

Both of the younlings eyes lit up at the thought of able to interact with others their age, given how little they'd been able to see each other when they were growing up.

Veraka stepped forward to Lady Helvighym, who looked like she was expecting him and Aurora for some time, though he decided to go through formalities anyways.
"Greetings Lady Helvighym, guiding mother of this esteemed house and fellow follower of the Dark Maiden," he said, tacking on a curt bow for good measure.

"It's been awhile since I've traveled to the Underdark, and an even longer time since I've had such an awkward, but warm welcoming."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

"vendui abbilen. I am glad at least it was somewhat welcoming,' she laughed. She smiled to the children who seamed shy. She closed the tome, the glowing ink faded from sight.
"The Lady has told me to expect you, tho not what. I welcome yall here. So, how can I help a fellow believers?"
Eva nodded and dismissed herself from the room.

((how old are the 2?))

[veraka]

((They're both only about 7-8 years of age, growing up they were taught like any other drow child, what their position in society was to be))

Veraka had to smile at the thought of the reason as to why he'd been sent here; "My reason for being here was revealed to me only a short while ago," he said, waving an armored hand to gesture toward the two younglings.
"Are you familiar with the names Xaeraen and Volas? You might be, though I wouldn't know."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((i'm so close to using lady H so I aint gotta keep looking and copying the name. why do i pick such hard names to spell...? ))

"From House X'larraz'et'soj? the matron's grandchildren? I'm actually surprised matron X'larraz'et'soj has allowed her eldest daughter's children to live. how did you manage to get them?" she asked incredulously. "their wean mother must be looking for them!"
She couldnt help but smile at the blow to the third house.
--
Outside, Zarstra Helvighym lead a young warrior thru the house to a room till they could get him settled into a room or dorm.

pix: (dont laugh too hard)

[img:2isnqq0o]http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o125 ... /house.jpg[/img:2isnqq0o]

peach is the house with red rooms. white rooms are in the cavern

[veraka]

((actually the map's not that bad, good enough it is))
"How did I come across these two? That's actually quite interesting in and of itself." With that, he proceeded to recount the events that led up to this moment to a now interested Lady Helvighym.

"The strange thing is how they trusted me, openly and without hesitation," he said, turning an eye to regard the two youngling, "here's the part I'm having trouble grasping, why would their [b:3ffh03dm]mother[/b:3ffh03dm] come to me of all people, and in a dream or vision or whatever you wish to call it. There's also one more thing; I was instructed NOT to let back into their house, but to bring them to the surface, where they might be properly brought up, not to become something that they're NOT," Veraka finalized that last statement with the firmness in his voice.

Veraka looked at Lady Helvighym with surprise in his eyes; "what do you mean, 'you're surprised Matron X'larraz'et'soj has allowed her eldest daughters children to live, their barely over the age of 7," he said, completely shocked.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

She listened to his tale. "their mother? the eldest daughter came to you in a dream. that is a new development. there has been no word of a conversion among the house."
Lady Helvighym thought for a minute. if Ssin'urn had turned to the Dark Maiden then new head way into the noble houses had been gained. was this the house to go to war?
unknown to Lady Helvighym, the third house and first house was about to attack the second house.
Veraka's comment about murder did stump her a second.
"so you are not familiar with the ways of the drow are you? those children pose a threat to the matron. daughters do not normally have their own till they become the matron or they must move out to start their own house. So Matron X'larraz'et'soj would normally eliminate such rivals till the daughter removes her and claims the house," she said manor-factually. She continued to explain many things that would come a shock to any surfacer.
She walked to sit on a bench, contemplating everything as she allowed Veraka to digest the truth of drow life.
"there is not a surface trip planned for a while, but they can stay here in the complex till then. I can set them up in the (male or female) dorm with some of the others their age. we have about 15 drowlings total, ranging from 10-20 who stay and live here."

Mayae listened in the conversation, also shocked at Veraka's reaction to what her normal day was. the surface was different. She remain a silent friend, tho soon she would need to head back.

((dont forget that u still have shadow dye on and will need a special soap to remove it when u get a chance...like stay in a guest room or such.))

[veraka]

"Yes, I believe that placing these two young ones in a dorm would be the best bet, preferably with those around their age. Oh and also if you could, Lady Helvighym, I would appreciate it if you . . . . . " he stopped mid sentence as the a realization suddenly washed over his head, heart, and soul.

Veraka looked as if he was about to slump onto his knees; he'd known about the drow way of living when it came to their society, their treatment of other species, even their way of thinking, twisted as it was.
"They kill their own children. The very being that has innocence as a gift, and they kill them without a second thought, all for a power lusting," Veraka said weakly. He felt a warm fluid roll down his cheek; raising an armored finger to his face, he realized that he was unintentionally crying. The thought of a drow youngling being put to the sword made his stomach turn way upside down.

"You mean this goes on on a day-to-day basis, that even now there's a young child being slaughtered, all for the purpose of some matron bitch who is fearful of a usurper trying to oust her," he asked, his voice half-sorrow, half-shock. His knees answered his own question for him, buckling under his weight.

Aurora raised her head, as did Xaeraen and Volas, as her best and only true friend went down from nothing more than a thought in his head; she left him be, knowing that he'd recover soon enough.