The downfall of House Alean'rus'ghym... I blame Nilan!

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Ruagh
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The downfall of House Alean'rus'ghym... I blame Nilan!

Postby Ruagh » Tue Jan 21, 2020 5:12 pm

This story was written together with Nilan, many thanks to that vhaeraunian filth :)))

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Nilan ventured deeper in to dark tunnels that traversed the Underdark caverns running both
below and alongside the Duergar Lock. The intricate maze of solid rock lined with lichen
eventually poured into the Dark Dominion and continued onward toward the imposing gates of Menzoberranzan. The assassin despised everything about the City of Spiders and its sadistic
inhabitants and whispered a prayer to Vhaeraun with each passing step that brought him closer and closer the walls of Lloth’s cursed domain. Groaning he staggered briefly as the ground trembled beneath him. “Duergar scum,” the drow grumbled, pausing momentarily to steady himself. Nilan knew the source of the tunnel’s instability having encountered several duergar miners and mages blasting as they delved deeper into rock and stone of a nearby mining quarry. Grimacing, Nilan looked up at the stalactites as several small pebbles dropped all around him.

Lightly touching the black mask insignia on his cloak the assassin pressed onward. He was on a mission for Vhaeraun’s Temple, a task granted to him by High Priest Dlavizz. The Duergar Lock was the center of trade from Menzoberranzan to the Underdark and to the Surface Realms above. All goods coming into and out of Lloth’s City passed through the Duergar Lock. And all trade goods passed though the network of intricate tunnels not unlike this one. Nilan had gathered information of the egress points to and from all surrounding tunnels, save this one. The sooner he completed his exploration of this cavern, the sooner he would return to his homeland of Dobluth Kyor to make his report to Vhearaun’s High Priest.

A small tingling sensation ran up his arm as ‘Shadow’ vibrated eerily in his grasp. “Shhh, we will be going home very soon,” Nilan whispered to the sentient blade and almost immediately ‘Shadow’ fell silent. Grinning, Nilan continued forward, his eyes darting about the damp tunnel, scanning for any signs of movement. No sooner had he rounded the rock strewn chamber, when a blast followed by a low rumble rocked the cavern dropping the Vhaeraunite to his knees. Nilan scrambled to his feet and launched himself in a dead run as rocks and stalactites rained down all around him. The drow groaned painfully, his breath was stolen from him as a rock struck him in the ribs sending him sprawling to the cavern floor. Wincing, he tried desperately to regain his footing, the pain in his ribs slowing his movements. A final blast tore through the already unstable tunnel and Nilan dove for cover as the cavern ceiling fell down around him pummeling his body painfully driving the very breath from his lungs. In his right hand he gripped ‘Shadow’ tightly struggling against the avalanche of falling stone and debris. Blood trickled from his mouth and he gasped as pain tore through his chest. With his final breath he whispered an arcane word and through blurred vision watched as ‘Shadow’ took the form of a rather plain but deadly looking dagger. Tighten his grip on ‘Shadow’ he struggled to tear himself free of the falling rubble before all went black and darkness took him.


+++++++++++++++++++++++
Dust. Stone. Silence of the Underdark, only broken by the still crackling tunnel remains.

A small patrol has cautiously approached. Their priestess chanted something with closed eyes... then opened them wide and briefly commanded, “A drow?! Dig! There!”. Dusting their cloths, they became overthrowing large boulders, scattering little ones, digging the earth deeper and deeper. Then they saw a leg, heard a moan and continued even faster, getting a pile of dirt in a form of a slender but well-muscled drow.


+++++++++++++++++++++++

Nilan stirred groggily as he felt some of the rocks and dirt that pinned him down give way. Pain lanced through his body but the pressure upon his back and chest gradually diminished. His addled mind registered voices but in his unaware state he couldn’t follow the dialogue. The drow assassin felt the pommel of ‘Shadow’ grate against the palm of his hand and involuntarily his grip tightened around the dagger. Visions flashed before his semiconscious mind and he recalled calling forth the arcane words to hide the true identity of the blade.

Suddenly, Nilan felt hands upon him, some pulled at his limbs while others removed the dirt and stone that had buried him. Choking, Nilan spat a mixture of both dirt and blood as he desperately tried to gasp for air. Suddenly he felt strong hands forcefully roll his battered body onto his back. Gasping in pain, Nilan’s vision slowly began to focus on those around him. He saw several well armed drow soldiers each bearing sinister weapons. Spiders crawled all around him and the assassin struggled to roll his body away from the foul creatures. He winced as his vision blurred and faded and he instinctively tightened his grip on the dagger.

A muscular drow came forward suddenly, his fine leather boots stepping painfully on his wrist causing Nilan to release his grip on the dagger as several other hands were upon him. The Vhaeraunite struggled but could do little to retain his hold on the blade. Helplessly he watched as the drow male bent over his prone form and retrieved the dagger. This sinister drow was well dressed and bore fine armor. A blackened piwafwi cloaked his imposing form. Though a fine insignia was woven into the cloak, Nilan did not recognize the House it belonged to.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Their priestess approached, kneeled by him, then suddenly raised in anger, “a Vhaeraunite! Such a foul surprise, what is he doing here?!”

The rest of the patrol stepped backwards, trying to hide past another or to blend with a rock, just to avoid an angry priestess' gaze, seemingly capable of charring the rocks. Then she smiled - Lolth wanted an immolation?



+++++++++++++++++++++++


The noble drow turned and bowed giving deference to a larger well muscled female, who approached as several of the other drow males lowered their gaze. Nilan struggled to move away but winced painfully and coughed up blood that trickled from his mouth. His ribs ached and his head rolled back as vision faded in and out of focus. He vaguely felt the cruel hands of the priestess upon him and heard several gasps as she tore at his cloak and the black mask insignia upon it. “Blasphemous Vhaeraunite filth,” she hissed venomously. Though he barely registered the words he felt the vicious backhand and groaned painfully. Nilan winced as she caressed his cheek in a mocking display of affection. Coldly she whispered, “may Lolth enjoy your pain as much as I will.” Grinning wickedly she felt the Vhaeraunite shudder at her touch as he tried to pull away. Snickering, she rose to her feet giving a final order to the male entourage, “Bind him, take him to the House.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

They did. The rope was thin and seemingly brittle, but a faint glow told its not all that it seems, and took all of his weapons.

Then she laid her hands on a dirty drow, and chanted. Several flashes flowered the tunnels with a dazzle of colors. He opened his eyes and inhaled deeply, coughing out blood and dirt.

He saw spiders all around on their weapons, cloaks, tabbards... But he was as well-tied as a rothe on a market. So he calmly said, “why bother to save my life?”

She flashed him a wide grin, definitely not promising anything good to him, and hissed “You will see... You will feel. Take him to the House!".

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Though he had passed in and out of consciousness along the way, the Vhaeraunite vaguely recalled the path the Lolthite Priestess and her entourage traversed. He recalled the impressive gates of Menzoberrazan and the gates surrounding a medium sized compound bearing the insignia that the muscular noble male wore upon his piwafwi. His addled mind saw visions of a dark stone path illuminated with magic faerie fire leading to the dungeons below. Only now did the assassin slowly regain full consciousness and his eyes intently scanned the stone cavern and the vulnerable position he now found himself in.




+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

They have carried him past the proud adamantite gates of a rich House. He was left alone with the silence of the dungeon, and only the water droplets were talking to him for a long amount of time.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

He was hung from the stone ceiling, his arms pulled above his head bound tightly in strong spidersilk. To add to his discomfort, his feet barely touched the dirt covered stone floor. His naked body shivered in the chill of the dank chamber and Nilan saw his armor, supplies and clothing in a pile in the far corner of the dungeon. ‘Shadow’ was no where to be seen. Panic consumed him and he pulled at the bonds securing him in an effort to break free. The more he tugged the tighter they became until his fingers tingled with a numbing sensation. Still he struggled in a futile attempt to gain freedom. Gasping he allowed his breathing to steady. Whispering a prayer to Vhaeraun, the assassin lowered his gaze allowing the pious words offered to his God to grant him the strength he would no doubt need before the night was over. The sounds of water droplets hitting the stone floor left him in a trance as he silently prayed hoping to be spared the agonizing fate that he was almost certain to endure. Death in any form would be a welcomed release than to suffer endlessly for eternity as a drider in Lolth’s army.

The sounds of footsteps tore him from his dark thoughts and for a brief moment, the assassin once again tried to free himself from the ropes that bound him. As the sounds grew closer, Nilan realized that this was the sound of several guards. Even with his skills he could not hope to defeat so many with no weapons or armor. Nilan groaned and shivered, his body feeling both the chill of the damp air and the anticipated pain that would no doubt soon follow. He heard the rattled of a key and the door lock gave way.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Then he - rather felt than heard - that guards are coming, many of them. Too many to fight barehanded, even with all of his skills. Once again, the same priestess entered with an escort of well-armed males.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

As the priestess entered Nilan took notice of the drow male he had seen in the collapsed cavern. The assassin defiantly held his gaze meeting the noble male’s cold visage as he confidently stalked into the chamber standing but a mere three feet from his bound form. The drow noble was flanked by several soldiers, each bearing dark armor and adamantium swords. The priestess encircled his naked and bound form, her hand tightly grasping the three headed whip of fangs at her waist.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“What isss your name,” almost hissed she. “What house do you serve.”
“Nilan,” came the pained response. He glared directly into the female’s eye.
The priestess interrogated him further with questions and Nilan glared defiantly refusing to answer any of them.
“Hey you, renegade worm! How dare you?!” The noble male jumped ahead in a swift and smooth motion to cut the prisoner’s throat. The noble drow was surely very proficient with daggers, for the cut wasn’t deep enough to bleed freely. Just humiliating - Nilan knew that dagger ... Knew it too well, for Nilan has been handling the hilt of “Shadow”, - handling for a very long time... Until now……

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Nilan’s eyes flashed crimson as he saw ‘Shadow’ in the hands of the noble male drow. Catching the Vhaeraunite’s cold stare, the drow chuckled and held the weapon tauntingly in front of Nilan’s face,as a thin trickle of blood ran down the prisoner’s neck. “You want this, renegade” he sneered taking a step toward his prisoner. Nilan glared defiantly and boldly spit in the face of the noble male.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Stop that, Jarex! I havent ordered!” The priestess almost slashed him with words
“But... I am sorry, Your Highness. I wont.”
“Get out! All of you, males!”
“But... But... Yes, Your Highness” All the drow quietly disappeared past the heavy door.
“Now we will have a good time”... She stepped next to him, smelled his fresh blood and took the snake-headed whip in her hand. Petting Nilan with the whip, she whispered, “you will respond to my questions …… and you will die screaming!”
Nilan groaned and looked away.
“I am only interested in your pain.” A twinkle of craziness made her eyes flash for a brief moment. Then the whip stung with a quick hiss.

The pain was intense. He almost passed out... But that wasn’t her plan. Some words, an arcane gesture - and he felt much more alive, less close to the cold sleep of freedom.

Time wasn't existing. Only him, her...and pain. And no death, which would be such an easy solution.

Then the second whip stung him hard, ruining the mesmerizing rhythm.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Nilan’s screams echoed in the dark dungeons. With each lash he felt his skin tearing and warm blood slowly filling the rivulets the vile fangs made as they bit and tore into his flesh. The priestess interrogated him, but through the pain filled haze, the Vhaeraunite could barely even register the questions in his mind. Too weak to cry out, the assassin’s screams diminished and only the lashes continued. The rhythm and the crack of the whip were soon the only sounds to be heard, interrupted only by the occasional gasp of pain. Darkness clouded his vision but the welcomed relief of unconsciousness was denied to him by the cruel priestess. He felt the cold hand of the priestess upon the back of his neck. The healing spell revived him just enough so he could continue to once again feel the searing agony of each well placed lash and vicious bite.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Who knows how many hours passed by. The only thought was in Nilan’s head - even being a drider is not this cruel, compared to this endless pain, revival and more pain. Pain, pain, pain. Yes, he was used to it - it is always an unwanted companion of the Underdark life, but the flash of pain from a wound is rather momentary - and here, in this dungeon, it was still and endless.

Knocking on dungeons door interrupted that pain briefly as the priestess lowered her blood stained whip. It was Jarex. “You?! Again?! “ she growled angrily at the interruption, it wasn’t putting the priestess into a good mood for sure.
“I am sorry for disturbing you, but the Mother wants to see you on an urgent matter”, said he, eyes down and trembling.
“Don’t let him rest”, nodded she at Nilan's bound form, healing him just enough to make the next round of torture all the more exquisite, and then moved outside.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Grinning coldly, Jarex encircled him and Nilan slowly raised his gaze to look upon his new tormentor. The noble rogue slowly unsheathed a dagger, Nilan’s dagger and the assassin struggled against the spider silk bonds that secured him. “What do you want?” Nilan gasped painfully as he continued to tug at the ropes that held his wrists, blood trickled from his lips. The menacing drow did not respond but continued to encircle him. He felt the cold blade of the dagger press against his back, momentarily stopping his futile attempts to free himself.

Suddenly, without warning Jarex whirled about in a dazzling display of weapon skill slashing at him in rapid succession, opening his skin in several places along his already torn back. The Vhaeraunite screamed as agonizing pain coursed through his battered body with each well place slash. Thin lines of blood appeared on this back, arms and chest, as his tormentor came full circle to face him. Nilan gasped with each slash and cast his eyes upon his blade, “Shadow’” now in the hands of this rogue and bathed in his own blood. The magical enchantment that he had placed upon the blade as the caverned collapsed was still in tact and “Shadow” appeared as a fine black dagger. Nilan focused his thoughts upon “Shadow” concentrating intently on the sentient dagger, fighting through the pain, as Jarex once again continued slashing him, opening his flesh in many places. He felt the blade call to him as his addled mind tried to push aside the intense agony his body felt.

Jarex came full circle snickering as his prisoner gasped painful as the frenzy of slashes abruptly ended. Thin lines of blood oozed and trickled from the many wounds carefully placed by his skilled torturer. Though the cuts made were not deep, Jarex relished in the intense discomfort that masked his captive’s face. Nilan winced and met his tormentor’s cold gaze before fixating on “Shadow”, now in the noble rogue’s hand.

Jarex grinned wickedly taking a step toward the bound Vhaeraunite twirling the dagger deftly between skilled fingers. He felt the assassin shudder as he placed the blade against his cheek just below his right eye. Slowly, so as to humiliate his captive further, he traced the edge of the blade down his cheek and across his throat. Though the blade did not break skin it served its purpose indicating the superiority of his position.

Involuntarily Nilan tried to pull away and Jarex lowered the blade and took a step back. In one smooth motion, Jarex skillfully reversed his hold upon the dagger and drove the pommel of the blade forcefully into the drow’s ribs. He grinned evilly hearing the satisfying crack of bone followed by a groan and the rush of air leaving the lungs. Pain wracked his body and Nilan took several agonizing gasps. Groaning, blood trickled from his mouth as he desperately steadied his breathing. Spitting blood as he struggled to breathe, the Vhaeraunite lowered his gaze, seemingly submitting to the will of his torturer.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Don’t know what was worse - snake whips or this... smile and joy can be seen deeply in Jarex’s eyes, thought Nilan through the red mist of his half-lost conscience. Jarex stepped in again, wielding Nilan’s dagger. Formerly Nilan’s, because it was slashing Nilan’s skin, cut by cut, skillfully not touching anything serious. It was something else than pain. It was a humiliation. His own dagger... Almost a part of Nilan’s body once, now it was turned against him.

Jarex heard the assassin gasp the name of his God aloud, then a muffled word….. A thought, or maybe a prayer, or simple words said aloud in a bloody fever.

A flash of light suddenly encased the dagger, and Jarex's eyes momentarily changed from joy and triumph to something - not fear, but misunderstanding.

The dagger became alive on its own, flying, like being held by a greater deity's invisible hand. With a few blurry motions it slashed Nilan’s fetters - magical ropes or even metal, nothing could withstand the dagger’s onslaught. The Vhaeraunite fell to his knees, too suddenly he was released, weak, bleeding and totally unexpected. But its too deep, reflexes were ready. And then the hilt of the dagger just flew into Nilan’s hand - almost like saying "its all in your hands now".

+++++++++++++++++++++++

Gaining strength from the sentient blade, Nilan slowly raised his gaze to look upon Jarex. Snickering, the Vhaeraunite slowly rose to his feet feeling the power of his god course through his body healing some of his superficial wounds. Whispering softly, he recited a prayer countering the incantation he had used when the tunnel collapsed to hide the true identity of the blade. “Shadow” flashed a faint glow and whispered to its wielder giving him the strength his battered and exhausted body needed. Nilan glared at Jarex and gripped the God touched blade tightly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jarex gracefully jumped back, unsheathing both of his daggers on the fly. A very formidable and dangerous opponent even for Nilan in his better times, let aside now in his weakened state. But we will settle it later! Nilan jumped outside the dungeon. The best fight is the avoided fight, especially in his condition. Slammed door with the faintly glowing hinges would surely stop Jarex for some time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

The assassin saw the door flash as the magical lock clicked shut. Confident that it would hold his tormentor for some time, Nilan scrambled down the dungeon hallway toward the faerie fire lit stairway. “We need to get out, my Chosen,” hissed the blade as it guided its wielder toward the staircase, “there are too many of them. Something bigger comes…..”

Nilan winced, though his ribs ached, the multitude of slashes no longer bled. As he rounded the corner toward the stairs, he came face to face with a well armed drow guard.

++++++++++++++++++++++++


The drow guard rushed to him, but thats no Jarex, his skills with a blade was not nearly as perfected…. One swift motion, and Nilan felt hot blood bathe his hands with a throat cut from ear to ear. Ripping the piwafwi with the House Alean'Rus'Ghym crest from the warm corpse, Nilan covered his naked and battered body and whispering a prayer to Vhaeraun, he disappeared into the shadows.

Now to get out... Out of this place. Yes, a highly skilled assassin he is, but there are too many enemies around, and he was still weak after torturing... A staircase up from dungeon led him right into a couple females discussing something of great importance. They saw him a bit too late... Nobody would expect an attack from the dungeon side! He stabbed a younger priestess in the back without hesitation. She was still standing - but she was already dead. Very, very dead. That could be seen in the eyes, which wasn’t believing that still - her eyes and her Mother.

Younger... body haven’t fallen down yet, but Nilan was already attacking the older priestess. Unprepared, but doing her best. A snake whip bit Nilan, ripping the pieces of his flesh away. But he already was in a berserk frenzy, after dying for hours - or days, or weeks? In that dungeon, so it wasn’t something to stop him. Faint glow begin gathering around the elder priestess. Not being a mage, he couldn’t say what it was - but definitely nothing good for him.

++++++++++++++++++++

The five heads from the snake whip of the older priestess, tore into his flash dropping him to his knees in searing agony. The priestess continued her chant pulling back on the whip, ripping his flesh as the Vhaeraunite screamed. Nilan fought to maintain consciousness. Darkness clouded the edges of his vision and Nilan clenched his teeth, fighting through the pain. Calling upon his God, the assassin released his hold on “Shadow” and the blade took on a life of its own, fueled by its desire to drink the blood of Lolth’s faithful.

+++++++++++++++++++++++

The dagger flew out of his hand, and attacked the priestess on its own. Yes, his hands were skilled, but this... This made all of his skills look bleak. A moment later, elder priestess body was falling down on the younger one, and Nilan gained strength as the soul of Lolth’s priestess was devoured. Scrambling to his feet Nilan rushed outside into the courtyard with his dagger in hand.

Outside was a battle. It was that "urgent matter to discuss", apparently. He was inside a fortified drow compound being attacked from the outside. With Baenre tabards on the attackers, this House was doomed, and the defenders knew it well, trying at least to die with valor. In the chaos, nobody took notice of him. Using that to his advantage he searched to see where the shadows were the deepest, and whispering a prayer to Vhaeraun he slowly dissolved into one of them escaping the doomed house...

Some time later, an avatar of Lolth appeared at the smoldering remnants of the once glorious House. Passing the dead High Priestesses, it quietly descended into the darkness of the dungeon...
Va'esse deireadh aep eigean... Something is ending...
Nilan
Sojourner
Posts: 689
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2001 6:01 am

Re: The downfall of House Alean'rus'ghym... I blame Nilan!

Postby Nilan » Wed Jan 22, 2020 2:25 am

Glad to help Jarex. The plot you thought up leaves you with plenty of room to expound on Jarex's story further. It was fun working with the plot and story line you created. Thank you for the opportunity.

Always happy to aid in the fall of a Lolthite House :) (Even though I think I got the worst of that encounter) Vhaeraun was pleased.

Until we meet again Spider Scum ......

Nilan
Hand of Vhaeraun - Drow Assassin

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