AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

Changes to the temple laws governing Matron Rank are left in webbing over night. Chaos has been sewn and some of the yath are claiming Edonil presently holds Lolth's attention. Once word spreads to the commoners, everyone acts upon their best behavior outwardly as to hopefully impress the Dread Queen. Just a new cycle in the City of Webs.

*Velve continues on her day basis awaiting the matron order as she remains in her office prepairing for what's to come*

Some in the streets of the City of Webs would have seen a huge demon portal in. The large creature carried a huge axe on one shoulder and the limp figure of a tied up drow jalil upon the other. The Nycaloth demon trotted off towards the Temple obviously following someone. Those fortunate enough to be near enough to catch sight of the invisible one being followed would see enchantments, a large shield and a morning star. The individual would be hard to recognize.

Yet the individual must be of the Temple since they entered without escort.

In the ten-day following the Matron Council's public crackdown of Nobles that do not have noble claims to the cavern of Edonil, Houseless commoners are scarcely seen. When they are, they seem extra courteous to anyone bearing house insignias before they go dashing off and hiding. Within the last tenday, common everyday supplies have also started to get scarce in general stores, causing prices to skyrocket on simple things, even food.

The usual supplies people would need for extended stays in the tunnels have also grown short in supply, having been snatched up in bulk through various trade agreements between merchants and Houseless commoners. Shopkeepers seem pleased with the immediate business and outwardly express such at their shops. However, once they close, they murmur darkly at Inequity of their deeper fears of the sudden lack of supplies in a consumer driven market.

Elsewhere, those warriors and mages displaced by the closing of the academies are reporting to the Temple and once again, a camp has formed outside of it. If questioned, they respond that they have gathered in the hopes of still serving the city in some capacity and solidifying their livelihoods.

Discontent is evident, shaking the very webbing that adorn the city...
Just another day in the City of Webs.

*Il'haress Tinnerai meticulously writes out a new notice and passess it to her scribes to copy. After working all night and most of the next day, the scribes return the finished copies and Maral inspects each one verifying its contents.*

Send the quickest messengers. Put these anywhere another notice is posted. And take down the old notices... the litter is ruining the city. Make sure criers go through the Temple cavern and READ this in the camps! *slaps the messenger standing before her in Tinnerai livery* And I -MEAN READ IT-! The messenger backs out of her office door, not daring to raise from his bow, or look in the Il'haress' direction.

Beloved Citizens of Edonil, the Malla Il'haressen have witnessed the harm done to you by the false law implemented by former ust'Il'haress Qos'Yutsu.

Effective immediately the Melee Magthere is to reopen.

Honor should go to the Ul'Faruk of Sorcere, who saw the false law for what it was, and reopened his academy.

All members of the academies shall return to their previous rank, and honor.

Since, at the time of this writting the Melee Magthere remains closed; A GRAND TOURNAMENT will be held. ANY jaluk may compete for the right to claim the title of Ul'saruk! Watch for posters and signup information coming soon.

Be it known, because of the hardships that were inflicted on our blessed City of the Webs, House Qos'Yutsu has been demoted to fifth house of Edonil.

The Il'haressen are pleased to recognize Qu'ellar Iira'urden as a Noble house of Edonil.

Support our new Ust'Il'haress Eclav'llara Ussen d'Vhid as she works to bring Edonil a strong and glorious future!

"Sabrar reads the notice and shakes his head and says to himself" holy vith, why do I vithen bother when the cant make up their vithen minds, no wonder edonil is such a shit hole and the magthere is always being changed around. Vithen elg'caresses. "he then tosses his newly grabbed ul'saruk symbol on the ground and crushes it under his boot" they can run this themselves .

Il'haress Maral Tinnerai stood outside the Melee Magthere passing time in pleasant conversation with several of the Cities citizens when a trembling shook the cavern floor. All heads turned, looking for damage or injury to the commoners near the marketplace. Before any comment could be made a more severe quake shook the entire central cavern. Loose stone could be heard sliding from the side of the Magthere, along with the sound of crashing scaffolding, and screaming dwarves as they fell to the hard floor of the Underdark.

Maral pulled her tower shield from her back to protect herself from falling debris, and sent a nearby jaluk to investigate what seemed to be the epi-center of the noise, the northwestern corner of the cavern. Soon, the Yath that had remained near the front of the Magthere could hear the sounds of battle from the back of the cavern. Maral left the other Priestesses and walked in the direction of the sounds. She climbed the northwestern hill to find two jaluken surrounded by akheg bodies, and a giant crack ripped through the bedrock of the cavern.

Using the dwarves that could still work, and their own summons, the jaluken worked to seal the breach. Maral sent her own planar summon into the creavice to see if it could locate the creatures' nest. When more of the akheg managed to crawl through the crack, the Il'haress lead those present down, through the rift, in protection of the city.

The small band of drow found themselves in a new cavern. The roof glowed brilliantly with a familiar radiation, its light increasing over time to rival the sun of the surface world. They dispatched any hostile resistance, but did not find a nest for the creatures that had invaded their precious Edonil. In a small camp they located a map, its layout all too familiar. While it held no indications of the creature's plans, its legend was written in undercommon, and it was clearly a map of their own City of Webs.

Maral rolled the map and placed it under her cloak for safe keeping, ordering the jaluken to bring the humanoid body back to Edonil to see if a necromancer might be able to resurrect it for questioning.

The slight, feminine form was locked in the cells within qu'ellar Tinnerai. The body preserved until it could be dealt with, and il'haress Tinnerai left to find the Ust'ilharess. Giving her the map, and explaining all that she had seen.

A party of armed drow head toward the same spot Ilharess Tinnerai may have been seen the other cycle, disappearing into the earth...

...when they returned, person by person (and not all together), it was not out of the ground but by appearing by the central ley node in a fashion quite unlike that typical of portal wands.

*Auen'nal is the last to reapear from the adventures drow party, after several words exchanged, he soon after disapears from the scene*

Il'haress Maral Tinnerai stepped out of the unfamiliar feeling portal near Edonil's Leyline node. She spoke to the jaluk standing nearby, "Keep a guard on this node at all times," and turned smartly walking with quick, purposeful steps toward Qu'ellar Tinnerai.

Following the il'haress's instructions the Tinnerai spider keeper coaxed Tinnerai's giant qu'ellar spider out of the families altar room, and toward the locked cells. The spider wrapped the body tightly in a cacoon covering all but its face from eyebrows to below it's chin. Maral waved the spider keeper and Lolth's child out of the tiny cell, locked its door, and waited to make sure the spider silk was dry and firm.

The Priestess threw her head back, her left arm raised toward the prisoner, its fingers curled back slightly over the upturned palm. She began reciting the powerful divine words from memory, and threw her right arm up, into the air behind her.

Maral's back arched, her body bending of its own accord, as the almost visible wave of divine power surged through her and toward the body in the cell. The body that the small group of Drow had brought back from their first foray down the breach.

"Dread Queen...Return this soul... that we might find what danger it presents for dos chosen!"
"Lolth Tlu Malla!
Her hands gently drift back down to her sides, and she stands calmly surveying the body. Anyone walking upon her would have no clue of the exquisite magic she had just channeled for the Valsharess. For awhile, Il'haress Maral Tinnerai stands and watches the bundle that lies in the cell floor. Her faces is a blank unreadable mask.

The body quakes, but no soul is forthcoming.

Il'haress Tinnerai curses, and glides off to find the qu'el'neccasalmor'.

*Auen goes off in search of Maral*

*Israe'anna would sigh, and upon noticing the predicament she would send word to Maral in a message, short, but not sweet either.*

"Dear Malla Illharess, if you wish the corpse to move again, we can accomplish this, however I do feel you might find that the corpse will be a perfect mindless servants if you permit me to intervene. Lolth tlu malla."
*Signed*
Israe'anna Tinnerai.
*below would be a picture of a hand of a revenant with 4 silver rings on its fingers.*

*auen'nal standing guard at the entrence of the magthere thinks of it as a typical boring day, as Oloth'gleen ports into the city, they find themselves alone and looking at one another, when a yell of a creature in smaller stature yells out that the drow are boring. As they hear the voice they find themselves faced with a wyrmling soon to shift back into a young female drow.*

We are being invaded! *she yells*

*Auen looks around seeing nothing he thinks twice of what the shifter had to say, arming himself with out any buffing, he second guesses her*

*soon after a mechanical creature arose from the hill side and struck her down in a single blow, Auen snickering springs into action as he starts to tear the creater or thing into peices.*

"what the vith!" *someone shouts*

*Auen glances around then heads to the gate to find a few more other drow standing gaurd, after some time of spoken words all seemed quiet and they dispursed*

*as the green light appears on the hill yet again, Auen stopped by the My'afin's yath'abben, soon he spoke words with the matron, soon after Auen leaves down the hill and stands guard at the magthere over watching the rest of the city. He gives orders to the soilders of the magthere.*

"The My'afin house has the guard and advance into the threat, you are not to interfeir with their work, should anything come out of the tunnels, you will not assist the my'afin gaurds, unless they fail and fall, then the orders are to destroy everything that isnt a My'afin."

Il'haress Tinnerai sat at her private desk in the corner of her office. She glanced around the room again, insuring she was alone, before taking a stack of parchment and penning identical letters to several of the city's leaders. She sealed each in the black opalescent wax and gold spider of her qu'ellar, and sent separate messengers in Tinnerai livery to deliver each.

//PMs sent

A messenger in Tinnerai livery delivers an unsealed parchment to the leader of each academy and house Ussen d'Vhid.

Be it know that this cycle house Tinnerai claims the seat of First House of Edonil.

House Ussen d'Vhid has failed our citizens in the following ways:
+ Not being present to serve the city
+ Refusing to assist the citizens during the city's current crisis of mental attacks
+ Failure to attend the meeting of the Matron's Council.

*signed*
Ust'ilharess Maral d'VerinVharc Tinnerai

Il'haress Tinnerai lays the notice from the ul'ath'taller down on her dark desk. Her violet eyes flashing briefly, as she pulls a clean sheet of parchment towards her. She reads over the note when she is done, and sprinkles the damp ink with a gold powder. Folding the thick paper she seals it with her black opalescent wax and gold spider. Shouting for a messenger, she holds the letter out.

"Take this to the temple. Place it in the ul'ath'taller's hands. If she is naut present, wait until she arrives. If you fail, then go and lose yourself in the caverns, for the beasts will be kinder to dos as they devour you than usstan!"

//PM forthcoming

Chaos. Simple, tolerated, unbridled chaos. Periodically minds fall prey to a predator time forgot. The laughter of one has ceased and eerie silence replaces it. One title echoes in the words spoken freely by the afflicted.

The Keeper.

Something old stirs, something new dawns, and something terrible lurks. It waits somewhere in the void below.

The ust'ilhasess watches the young house mage as he stands in her office and performs the sending spell, on her behalf, to the Ul'faeruk: "Bring me dosst research now! This crisis has dragged on far too long!"

Never one to trust a lowly male, or a mere slave to handle such important business as correspondence to the Ul'ath'tallar, Widow is easily seen going into the temple herself, nodding easily at the Spider Guards that bow to her as she enters and makes her way through the halls. She picks on of burly men, and watches him personally put the message on her desk. With a satisfied nod, she heads back to her business in and around the City of Webs.

//PM sent! =D

Over the weeks following the last of the laughs, the residents of the caverns of Edonil return to their usual business. If any alone seem to have benefited from the events of the past month, it was the merchants. They seem to be well fed and the least rattled by said events.

Normalcy, if it can be called that, has returned for now. How long it will last is anyone's guess as the tunnels of the Upper Dark team with hidden dangers and lurking threats ready to trample upon any that defy them.

Another day passes in the City of Webs.

Widow, again, is seen at the Temple bulliten's, pinning up a message. She turns away any offers of 'assistance' made by the Spider Guard, or the house slaves with a cold glare.

'Widow' wrote:

To the Ul'ath'tallar

I would like report that the mage Bae'nar, and Alakton d'My'afin have both been tested, and found acceptable before our Queen. I also need to report that Nyx'ill d'My'afin is currently away with Ilharess Vierrae's leave, and will be subject to the testing immediately upon his return.

Lolth tlu Malla!

'Widow' d'My'afin

After reading the notice, Ul'ath'tallar Nizzre'tyne takes a deep calming breath and turns to the nearest Spider Guard. "Have Yahtrin Naela report to me immediately."

Then she snatches down the notice and carries it with her to her office.

She is promptly seen making her way through the city with graceful swift strides. She does not stray or tarry, but goes straight to the Temple as soon as she receives the messgae. There, she waits. She fills her time mostly praying in the altar room, or she is seen feeding or spending time with the few spiders about the place, or in the lobby area with a large tome opened in her lap, studying diligently.

After the il'haressen council meeting a messenger in Tinnerai livery can be seen posting notices near the leyline node, on the gates, and inside the marketplace. The notices are written in drow and undercommon.

To bring benefit to our citizens, Edonil is open to trade for other underdark races. Such visitors are limited to the marketplace, and not considered to have free roam of the caverns.

Visitors conducting business with the merchants within the marketplace are to be observed, but left alone.

Visitors found wandering the caverns are to be assumed spies and treated accordingly.

This has no bearing on commoners and refugees which already live within the city - which will be treated as citizens of the Chel'el d'Cressen.

Zarae reads one of the notices and nods slowly. "Interesting" - she thought. "A bold move, one that might backfire even. But definitely a great opportunity for our city. And perhaps my own establishment..."

//We can has rentable merchant stalls plz!? Like the ones in L'Obsul?

((For merchant stalls, you need to put in the work for them.))

//Tell how - drowsies maek! My own character can contribute as she is a carpenter among other things [practically she could build an entire stall on her own], i just need to know what to do in order to have DM's put in the proper doodads into the module.

As the back and forth of the day continue, public opinion stays where it usually does. When coaxed, the citizens cheer and shout and do as they are told, but many of them look upon their superiors with well masked disdain, fear, terror, and mix of other emotions as they hide the tides of inner-city accusations and rumors of war. A clear cut winner has yet to emerge from either of the warring factions for them to truly cheer for on their own without coaxing.

Civilians are once again seen stocking up on mundane supplies, some even purchasing carts if they can afford them. Those that cannot have taken to 'fortifying' their homes with what ever they can. The only thing certain in their minds is that Edonil has made itself vulnerable to the outside, and like the Ul’ath’tallar said, the weak are to be culled.

Aeqvinox wrote:

//Tell how - drowsies maek! My own character can contribute as she is a carpenter among other things [practically she could build an entire stall on her own], i just need to know what to do in order to have DM's put in the proper doodads into the module.

birroudin is a carpenter too. >.> if we're buildin stalls and such,he''ll definately give a hand.

// I'm guessing it would be RP gather materials etc. You can place items in the city donation chest and designate what they are for. No protocol for that, that i'm aware of, but I guess maybe a new thread on the forum?

*The full force on the Magthere can be seen out at most times, enforcing the laws as usual and making the presence as visible as possible, however for the time remaining neutral to all events related to the warring factions.*

Loud voices can be heard echoing through the central cave of Edonil. The owner of theese powerfull bardic voices can easily identified as Aushrin, the Linthar of Edonil, standing on the hill by the crystal node.

"Hear dos, hear dos! Citizens of Edonil!
The council has decided!

My'afin forth holds the position of the first house with Vierrae as your new Ust'ilharess!

The position of the second house along with the responsibilities of trade affairs goes to house Do'Vir!

Noqu'tar is the new third house of Edonil!

Tinnerai and Ussen'd'Vhid have lost their priviledge to hold ranks within the city of webs!

With the new ranking and your support Edonil will rise towards to more prosper times!

Lolth tlu malla!"

A still-young and still as of yet largely unknown cleric hears the words with a teeth-bearing smirk before going back to her business.

*This older looking female leans on the piller of the Magthere over looking the city, her ruby red eyes peirceing any and all that comes near her, at glance you can see a wicked tooth grin, her armor looks just as old, with the Iira'ulden crest embued in, with a ver old looking Yath'taller rank embued as well, her 8 point pentigram giveing a slight glow of red over her heart, she waits grinning...*

*Isendu't'tar hears this proclamation and shakes his head, then merely walks to his house*

The word goes out among the Temple Spider Guard of the new house rankings per the Matron Mothers council. Detailed descriptions of the Ilharessen are also given so that the Spider Guard will show the proper respect.

The woman known to some as Zrae'a'stra'fryn would be seen more often during the past and upcoming weeks. It seems that she does indeed enjoy the City of Webs, and mostly can be seen either frequenting Iniquity for a drink and a bath or standing out on the overlook around the main gathering area.

The black and gold clad priestess exited the Tinnerai compound with her back held straight as steel, and her violet eyes sweeping the cavern. The two slaves following her wore their Tinnerai livery and struggled under the weight of the throne they carried. The Il'haress took her time as she strolled through the marketplace oblivious to their plight, looking over the wares on the merchants' tables.

After some time she stopped in front of the Magthere facing the leyline node. Without waiting for the command, the slaves sat the throne behind her and backed away.

Maral swept her ebony cloak to the side and sat gracefully on the throne. Leaning her longsword against the front of the right handrest, she simply waited and watched.

Word reaches the ears of a certain jaluk that a familiar face has returned to the city. He waves away any possible warnings or hostile reactions to this return and smiles, sending off a courier to inform his dark mistresses, though he is certain they already know.

"Ah the return of one of my favorite spiders. We shall need all of them, our web has long been left unweaved."

*he lets out a single baritone chuckle and returns to the drills of his soldiers*

A throne left unattended encounters all manner of tampering. The Voice of Lolth thought to herself as she watched the Tinnerai throne be deposed by another.

The new throne was then surrounded by gold coin and gems. Tastefully placed and quite pretty. She thought with a little smile.

The Voice of Lolth, having some other place to be, didn't tarry long. Yet she was left wondering if Ilharess Tinnerai would ever catch the prankster.

An Ankheg's husk is spotted being lowered by a sword spider from the ceiling of the cavern. The spider proceeds to then tangle it in the webs that lay above the door of the Magthere.

So far the reactions of the common Drow seem to be mixed. Some believe it may be that Lolth demands trophies and proceed to adorn their homes' door posts. Others consider it to be an omen of an impending attack upon the City of Webs and this causes them to barricade themselves up within their homes. A few even take it as a sign to donate to the Magthere, and make offerings of bolts of silk.

Whatever the case may be, the common Drow look to the Houses and Temple of the Edonil for guidance in interpretation and protection.

((Will be back in game soon my friends.

))

Ul’ath’tallar Nizzre’tyne takes a leisurely walk about the City of Webs pausing to look at the trophies adorning various door posts. Her expression just a simple small smile making it seem as if the trophies have her approval. As a matter of fact anyone watching her for a time would notice that at each door not sporting a trophy while Ul’ath’tallar Nizzre’tyne continued on, her male human slave 52 would pause and make a mark in a black leather bound book. 52 was quick to catch up, of course.

Pausing at the Melee Magthere her expression turned puzzled at the bolts of silk left there. There was no comment to expound on her thoughts at that time. However she didn't look displeased.

On her way back to the Valsharesses Temple, she stopped at a particular door post sporting a particular trophy and chanted a protection from good upon those that lived there.

During the Ul’ath’tallar's walk and ad-lib inspection she would likely encounter the puzzling Zrae'a'stra'fryn. The tall, serene cleric would be as composed and well-kept as ever, and though she was not seen often in recent times she had been appearing more as of the past few cycles. She would, of course, offer her dutiful respects and praises to the city's Voice, which many would notice are far more earnest than those offered to others of rank in the city, if any recalled seeing her the oft times she met any of the house matrons. That is not to say she was ever disrespectful, but perhaps she held greater respect of those of the clergy than those that were not.

Regardless, the proud drow stood watch in her usual spot over looking the common area leading to the city gates. Her cold eyes watched it, a hand resting on her sword's hilt. More often than not she would watch towards the gates. Perhaps she was watching for an attack? Perhaps not. None could say what went on behind her deadly beautiful visage, save that she was coolly determined to carry out her Queen's word.

Above the door of Iniquity, the My'afin qu'ellar, some artful trophies are finally posted up.

The trophies consist of the following:

Zrae continues to make her semi-frequent stops in at the city. She mostly checks with the merchants and then returns to her usual position near the node overlooking the courtyard. Otherwise, she can also be found in Iniquity drinking wine or in the bath area.

Go'ree comes and goes, with no apparent purpose except the usage of the shops and to look around. The young mage is oftentimes seen in the company of the large and rangy looking Hellhound he has as a familiar.

The black and gold clad priestess took her time walking through the caverns of the Chel'el d'Cressen. She crossed from the farthest East side, to the Arach-Tinilith, her eyes taking in the quiet city as she made her way to leave yet another token for the Dread Queen.

Entering the inner sanctum of Lolth's temple, Maral bowed in reverence before crossing the inner circle. She whispered words and layed the flawless bloodstone upon the dark slab of the Queen's altar before kneeling and offering honor to her Goddess.

Rising once again she took her ceremonial dagger, Spider, from its sheath and made a diagonal cut across her forearm. Standing for many moments she allowed her life's blood to drain over the offered gem, further deepening its color, and adding to the meaning of its name as she continued the litany.

"LOLTH TLU MALLA!"

Her voice resounded off the walls as she opened her eyes and wiped the dagger on a rag hanging from her belt. The rag's splotchy brown color would indicate it had been used for just this purpose many times... and recently.

Sheathing the now clean dagger she strode up the steps into the Yath'taller library. Her white hair glinting with silver highlights in the glow of the candles even though her erect posture did not permit much movement of the tresses. Her strides led her to the bulletin board where she paused to read the notices left only for Lolth's priestesses. A hiss escaped her lips as her arm seemed to rise of it's own accord, long, hardened fingernails raked the notice off of the wall, leaving the smallest scraps of parchment where it had been attached.

The strides of her powerful legs took her back down the stairs, and across the inner sanctum. She paused, turned, and bowed once again to Lolth's altar, her hard violet eyes resting momentarily on the Queen's idol before she turned and walked through the door toward the office of the Ul'athtaller.

Maral took a breath, raised her hand and knocked on the office door. The Ul'ath's slave, 52, rushed up and bowed before kneeling, "Sincere apologies Malla Il'haress. Malla Ul'ath'taller has gone to Zanshibon."

Flames lept into the violet eyes as Il'haress Tinnerai growled, her hand clenching closed, wadding the parchment into a crumpled heap. She slung the paper toward the office door with no further thought to where it would end up and turning she stalked from the temple.

[IC] The City of Webs

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