Ascent from Darkness

[veraka]

Veraka had to hand it to the boy; not only had he held his own for the entire duration of the fight, but had also managed to put the aasimar on the defensive for a change.
"I have to hand it to you, you really know what you're doing. Now, I believe that you've got some other lessons to attend to. Find me whenever you're ready for your next lesson, and I'll show you what my masters truly taught me."

Veraka actually found peace and quite a workout just from sparring with the young male. He smiled to himself, "maybe there is a place for me in this world."


Dacuda merely listened as the daughters of Mae'Vir went through their strategy step by step. When they reached their 'advantage', they seemed to stop;
"Forgive my intrusion, but what advantage are you talking about?"

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

the boy, catching his breath, thanked the surfacer before replacing his sword and heading to his room. he had a couple hours so he would take his reverie.
--
Matron Mae'Vir then smiled her wicked smile.
everyone else chucked.
she pulled out a small round adamantine disk, with a spider carved into it and a symbol.
"why, this."
One of the Mae'Vir's red sisters had aquired from Shyntyl's personal guard the house emblem. the symbol, unique to every house, showed it to be House Kilanatlar's tho only a noble could read it. to most it just indicated a powerful house.
--
Matron Shyntyl with Xullafay grew impatient. the solider had yet to return with word.
"must I do everything myself?" she screamed, her face boiling with rage. they were going to war tomarrow and everything was going wrong.
Finally she summoned Alylin.
when she appeared before the black sapphire throne, "go to House Tirin. You know what to do."
Alylin left quickly, she knew her mother was on the breaking point.

[veraka]

Veraka bowed to the young lad before seeing the boy run off to attend his other studies.
"Now what do I do?" he asked himself out loud; suddenly, his aasimar senses flared to life, as Marala Vharc crackled with energy in his hand.
"Something's amiss within the city," he said as he ran down the corridor, looking for either Zarstra or Erelae.

Aurora slept quite nicely for the past 6 hours, keeping an extra close eye on Volas and Xaeraen, [i:3i76xuot]they're so young; I'm beginning to understand Veraka's sentiments towards children.[/i:3i76xuot]


Dacuda grinned, then laughed manically; "Haha, devious, most devious Matron Mae'Vir; Mistress Ahuanatae was right to place me under your command."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

Mae'Vir had the look when he complimented her.
they continued to go over different senerios and ways to counteract problems that would arise.
--
Erelae awoke from her reverie hours before. she had spent the last bit of time in prayer to the Lady.
finally she got dressed in her usual silk white robe, snapping her belt. she brushed her hair and tied it up after applying the soft perfume.
When finished, she got up and headed into the complex to begin the morning check of the wards. when she open the complex doors she saw Veraka running.
She called out to him, "is everything all right?"

[veraka]

Dacuda was content to remain silent for the rest of the briefing, taking in every detail, memorizing every step and every counter-step.


Veraka saw and heard Erelae call to him, so he blitzed over to her.
"No, Erelae; I fear that everything is not alright, for two reasons.
One: more than two houses are about to go to war within days, maybe hours.
and the second; I've picked up the 'scent' of an old, but very powerful nemesis of mine. I don't know how he got in the city or where he is, but I fear that the longer I stay here, the more danger that this house will be in."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

"calm down." she starts. listening her expression grew serious, "an old enemy? what kind? and dont worry, we stand behind our people. they Lady will protect us. but if you need to go out into the city we can provide supplies. you are much safer here."

[veraka]

The storm warrior closed his eyes, took three slow, calm, deep breaths, slowing his heart rate to normal, and spoke, "my old enemy; a powerful, elite vampire named Dacuda; he has stalked me since I first discovered my berserker rage, and has annihilated any and everyone that has come into contact with me," he said in an-all-to-serious tone of voice.

"I do not doubt the Dark Maiden's sanctuary, but this time, he comes at the bidding of a daemon-fey named Ahuanatae; why she is obsessed with finding me is beyond my knowledge. However, if you believe that this place is secure enough, then I will heed your advice; however, from a tactical perspective, might I suggest that you start making war preparations. My copper's down on a bet that Dacuda [b:17vex29f]will[/b:17vex29f] be involved in this upcoming house war; if that is the case, you must be ready for an all out assault; I will do whatever I can to help should you take these steps."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

she listened carefully. tho she hadnt heard of vampires interested in drow politics. and if the first house hadnt discovered Helvighym for as long as they been around, then there was hope for them.
"I will prepare our people for a possible attack and send out the spies. have faith warrior, we have the Lady on our side, and she is not fickle."
she knew it would be little comfort, but she hoped it helped.
"come, you must eat and regain strength to get thru the day."

[veraka]

"That is good, I would also lay out a contingency plan for everything, should my arch nemesis penetrate this houses defenses, you will want to get everyone out via that portal that Mayae mentioned to me; if it comes down to it, I'll take him on to give you and your house time to evacuate, but this should be a last resort plan."

Veraka nodded his agreement at the mention of a good meal; [i:ubmlmzxv]at the very least, she knows when to take advice of others; that's good, militarily speaking. Gods, Elistraee, if this house is going to survive, it's gonna need all the blessings you can give.[/i:ubmlmzxv]

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

he thought up ideas they had set up for such situations. it was good he thought simular. she smiled at it as she walked with him to breakfast.

despite the rest of the complex, the cafiteria was more simple in decerations and more practical. the was a section that held numerous dishes of the city and a few from the surface world.
to the side was the kitchen. the main part included the tables for eating.
half the 50 people of the complex were there. some were slowly enter for the morning. some, non-early birds, would seep in later.
Erelae then spoke up, "I must finish checking the wards. feel free to join in among the groups."
the cooks were their helping the younglings get breakfast.
a few looked to the warrior, some recognizing him from the gym.

[veraka]

"Oh I think I'll do that," Veraka said, grinning as he turned.

The aasimar went over to the kitchen area, dishing himself mostly the dishes of the city; he looked at the cooks, who smiled his way. He walked by one of the tables, only to find one of the younglings sleeping.
"Oh this is too rich," he said, drawing curious glances from the younglings around him.
"Watch this," Veraka whispered to the younglings, many of whom began to smile.
The storm warrior set his tray down, and assuming his military stance, shouted in his best commander's voice, "What do you think you're doing?!" at the slumbering drow.
The drow jumped at least a good foot off his seat, and had the most startled expression on his face, as he looked up at the aasimar who was looking down at him. Within a split-second, half of the younglings were laughing hysterically, some were rolling on the floor.
The poor male looked up at Veraka, whom smiled at him, and reached out and said, "Did you get enough sleep, young one?"

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

the kid wiped his eyes, now alert. he remembered the big guy from the gym.
"I...I was studying..."

one of the cooks whispered, "well, he fits in."
another walked to the aasimir to welcome him.

when Veraka set his plate down to eat, he was surrounded by several curious about stories of the surface.

[veraka]

The storm warrior nodded to young startled drow,
"well then you keep up your studies," and with that picked his tray back up. He was greeted by one of the cooks, whom he immediately returned the warm welcome.

From the moment he sat down to enjoy his meal, he knew that he was in trouble; quite the number of drow had him surrounded, all with curiosity etched into their faces.

He pretended to sigh, then turned to the little crowd that had assembled around him.
"Alright, now what do the lot of you want? Grand tales of the surface above?" he asked smiling.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

sveral yeah's were heard.
"about monsters!"
"no the cities."
"the people"
"the land"

"he sure is popular Eva," said as she walked in. "this upcoming hunt in a few months, we should at least take them to the surface even if they cant participate in the hunt itself."
"I agree," Zar said walking in. "mother plans on such a trip soon. but the night of the hunt would be more special."

[veraka]

"Ok, ok, you want monsters, cities, the people, and the land? Let's see, ahh," he snapped his fingers. With that, Veraka proceeded to explain the city of Waterdeep, and the people that he had encountered on the surface: the elves, dwarves, halflings, humans and all the races that dwelt on the surface, including the not-so-nice ones. He got to the land portion when an idea hit him.
"You've all heard of dragons, correct?" he asked the eager younglings.