Ascent from Darkness

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

ooo's and a captured audience was enough of a clue.
Zar had joined in with the students. most the 25 there listening. some of the older drowlings had headed off to their rooms.
"waterdeep? thats near the promenade right?" Eva asked Zar.
"i believe so, but only mother had been there that I know of. My youngest sister was born there." a bit of sadness fell over Zarstra. she missed her sister dearly and the loss was still recent. Eva comforted her as the turned to listen about dragons.

[veraka]

Veraka took the cue as he noticed Eva and Zarstra among his listeners. [i:2bjqofcj]I didn't realize that I attracted such a crowd.[/i:2bjqofcj]

"Since you all know about the dragons, Do any of you know who Bahamut is or what he envelops?" he asked, grinning. Veraka was not only building up to story, but a point. He focused his energies and brought for a lighting shaped dragon from his armored hand to emphasize his question.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

a couple more ooo's and some shock from the youngest at the shaped lightening.

"i know who he is. a dragon deity, i think. a good guy."
"i like dragons!"
"tell us veraka!" a familier drowling voice.

[veraka]

((not sure who you're referring to with the 'familiar drowling, though I'm guessing it's one of the two or both of the younglings.))

Veraka heard the familiar voice and had to smile.
"Yes, you are correct. Bahamut is the mighty platinum dragon deity. Have any seen him before; they say that his roar can be heard across the planes, and if anyone is within 100 meters of it, they're vaporized, turned to dust. He is one of the most powerful being's I've known; and yes I have met Bahamut before, though, let's that our meeting was not exactly physical. Do any of you know what Bahamut desires above all else among his followers and all metallic dragons?" he asked his crowd, knowing that his question went hand-in-hand with what he wanted to teach these young ones.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((yeah))

Zar spoke up, "he's not too off from what the Lady stands for..." giving a hint.
One reasoned, 'metallic are good dragons...'. "good of dragons and others. or save the evil dragon."
"you met a dragon god?"
"you mean in the astral plane?"
wow, thats powerful!"

[veraka]

((perfect, ))
Hearing Zarstra's comment about Bahamut being similar to the Dark Maiden, he continued on; "aye, that'd be correct. Metallic dragons are good-aligned wyrms, yes."

Turning to see Xaeraen and Volas among the crowd, Veraka had smile; "Yes, I did meet the Platinum dragon himself; as to whether it was on the astral plane, I know not; and yes that is very powerful for one such as myself to encounter the great platinum Wyrm himself." He straightened up at the final comment; "but remember this, Bahamut desires that all metallic dragons and non-draconic followers not abuse such power. He desires that it be used to protect the weak and meager."
Volas raised his hand; "yes Volas, what is it?" Veraka asked.
"Why would he want to use power to protect the weak if they are already going to be dead?"
Veraka recoiled on the inside, but maintained his military stature. "Because, my young drow, when power is abused, it corrupts, distorts ,and transforms something that could be very beautiful into something unnatural and disturbing. Bahamut sees this, as does the Dark Maiden, whom you all follow and are learning about; Bahamut sees through the fog of lies that power can build up and he sees that all life is sacred, because all life has a strength in it," he paused, eying all of the audience in the eye; "each and every single one of you has a strength in you; it might be toughness, the ability to resist physical punishment to an extraordinary degree, much like myself. It also might be magic; you might have the gift of healing or to control the elements, like so," he demonstrated, arching lighting bolts all over his body.

"This is why I follow both Bahamut, the mighty platinum dragon god, and the Dark Maiden, Elistraee, much like your instructors here do. Both of them have ideals and principles that I hold to very high regard. The first and foremost with the Dark Maiden, is her willingness to bring young ones like you to see the light of that inner strength you each posses. Like Bahamut, the Lady believes much of what Bahamut stands for; Justice that is honorable and responsible, care for all life, no matter who it belongs to, and when in dire need, meet battle with swift battle, so that few innocents may be harmed."

Veraka breathed out after saying all of that; "if you all abide by those three ideas that I just stated, I'm pretty sure that Bahamut himself might take a few of you under his wing and, like me, you could meet him yourself. Remember that; fight with honor and responsibility, if power is thrust upon you, use it with compassion and your head, meaning your common sense, and finally, keep all life sacred; it is a gift, not something to be trifled with and tossed out like a used sword."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

they listened, silent and attenitive. they especially loved the lightening trick.

"keep this up and you might put me outta work," Eva joked.
Zar saw her mother walk by, finished with the ward check.
"hard to believe time has flown so quick. tho today might be an easy day."
unknown, it was the night they would need to worry about.
--
Matron Mae'Vir looked to the vampire, so you understand. When my wizard get in, take out the commanders. capture the daughters, slaughter who ever else. I cant wait for tonight."
the guest matron headed back to her house to get her soliders ready for the night's war. she also was hoping some unfortunte 'accident' would remove the recent male; she was good at making such accidents.

[veraka]

Veraka laughed at Eva's comment and went back to his meal after his little lesson-speech.

Dacuda nodded to Matron Mae'Vir; "Understood. Commanders take priority; Daughters are to captured alive, anyone else in the way is just fodder," he repeated her instructions.
[i:2ew9qpjl]One step closer to finding you, my rogue aasimar.[/i:2ew9qpjl] He grinned at the thought.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

"alright, let the man eat. it time for yall to head to your classes," Zar spoke up.
the room soon grew more empty as the students filed out.
some headed to the gym, some to history (& religion) class, and some to magic training.
Eva thanked the feeding crew as she left for her classroom.
"so what are your plans for today?" Zar asked Veraka.
--
something awakened Zarae. something hinting, warning her, 'soon.'

[veraka]

Veraka finished his meal, thanked the cooks for the excellent food and put away his dish.
"You know, for the first time since I arrived down here, I haven't foggiest idea of what I'm a gonna do," he replied to Zarstra.


Dacuda was keen on getting his work done so he was impatient at the moment, but it also seemed that way the Matron Mae'Vir. He was waiting as patiently as an undead could, for Mae'Vir's resident wizard to get prepped.

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((do you want to go ahead and skip to tonight since it's morning? or is the vampire just impatient? they got some time before marching out.))

"well, I'm heading into the Bazaar. I'm gunna stop by Bruh's and a few Inns. your welcome to join, we can disguies you well make you look like whatever, small as a halfling or large as a giant."
she whispered, "but giants aint inconspicious."

[veraka]

((eh I can go a few posts onward, see what happens; I just put that the vamp was impatient for added measure))


"Into the Bazaar, huh? I suppose I could tag along; as for a disguise, if you have any of that disguising oil, my old roguish disguise might work, though it would be wise to for me to get a darker cloak and an extra weapon to make my style look like that off a rogue, would be adequate."

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((okie dokie...))

Zar chuckled, "houseless rogue might just be in this week. come, I'll show to the right storage room."
she led the warrior to the room near one of the classrooms. the sound of instruction echoed slightly down the hall, "does anyone remember from last weeks studies, why drow are this way?"
Zar opened the door full of shelves with clothing. she walked right to a specific shelf and grabbed a cloak and handed to him. "it's not one of our more powerful piwafwi's so when sunlight hits it, it will begin to dissapate. but it will hide your heat signiture well enough."
then she headed to the lab. only a few students were in her at this hours. the male leader was demonstrating the mixing of chemicals for potions.
"I'm sorry to bother you, i just need something from the cabinet."
"no bother Lady Zar."
she fetched the vial and thanked the male.
"here. weapons are in the gym, on the way out."
she took Veraka to the smaller gym (gym 2), the one for older students. the weapons rack was larger with more finely crafted weapons than the other one.

[veraka]

Veraka took the cloak; while he was walking, he took off his own cowl, and wrapped the new one around himself; it blended perfectly with his dark adamantine full-plate armor.

Grabbing the vial that Zarstra gave him, applied it to himself((I'm guessing it's that fancy oil stuff that makes him take on an ebony tone to his skin)), and continued onward toward the training gym.
Upon arriving, he was greeted by a few students, even asked to spar a few times; he returned the greetings and politely declined, but said maybe later on.
Veraka went up to the weapons racks; he browsed the selection for a weapon that he was very familiar with. Coming upon a bastard sword, he grabbed it, took a couple of swings with it; it was lighter than Marala Vharc, so he switched it to his off-hand weapon; drawing Marala Vharc, he went through a series of manuvers, testing to see if the weapon would compliment his primary.

Sheathing Marala Vharc and grabbing the scabbard to the off-hand sword, he said to Zarstra," this will do just nicely; shall we?"

[Zarae Zyne Kilanatlar]

((shadow dye? i was thinking a potion u drink and can become whatever you want...))

she whispered, "it works better if you drink it."
the students acknowledge her and went back to their work.
"yes mighty sir." gigling like a girl. "you think I would get use to such, attention. but alas, i always feel silly with such formal things."
She stopped real quick by her chambers and grabbed her piwafwi. she was already in neutral clothing for the day. the door opened to the courtyard then out the gate.
they walked thru the poor part of the Bazaar, where the temperary, forign or nomadic traders stayed.
Zar walked to a stall, looking at the wares.
up a ways the duerger slaver had 4 slaves, 2 humans, 1 elf and and an orc. his voice carried the hardest, but not too much do to the special sound barriers.