AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

The notice seems to be professionally written. It is posted on the bulletin boards of the Temple, the Melee Magthere, the Sorcere, and at each merchant stall. A copy is sent to each of the qu'ellars in Edonil.

Thanks to the quick action and sharp mind of Ust'Sutrinos Auen'nal Tinnerai,
the creature which induces madness with its dark laughter has been identified,
as well as the means by which it interacts with our citizens!

BEWARE REFLECTIONS!

The being which bears the appearance of a Svirfneblin accesses our plane by way of reflections.
It can appear in a reflection from armor, water, even in the eyes of those living or dead!

House Tinnerai recommends all citizens remain warded against mental influences at all times
to prevent falling victim to the madness, and control of this being!

The populace reacts strongly following the announcement. What had been timid fear becomes unbridled panic.

Con artists peddle helmets in the streets, approaching their fellow Drow to sell them "The latest fashion in Mental Protection!" as others splash black paint upon anything that shines.

Those with enough wealth to afford slaves are particularly paranoid and are seen blindfolded, their slaves leading them about town.

The lowest of the low sieze the oppurtunity to amass coin, offering 'safe disposal' of mirrors, taking them, and simply reselling them in L'Obsul.

The balance of power amongst the Houseless Drow within the City of Webs is twisting. Perhaps even caught within a web itself.

Miz'ri walked away from the mag'there with a contemplative face. She watched the peddling in the streets with mild amusement beneath her helmet. Though, she did want to know more about the voice she heard in her head.

Mental protection.. *she laughed.... and then continued walking towards the qu'ellar.*

A face not normally seen in Edonil stops to survey the new posting, seemingly important given it is prominently posted and in several locations. Red eyes scan down the page, narrowing as they reach the bottom. So this is what causes such a stir in the city. the tall drowess murmurs in Drow, How utterly ... detestable. After a pause and a glance around she makes a scoffing noise and shakes her head. Her armor, as she was nearly always seen wearing it, was still somewhat reflective, and she smirked as she noticed someone averting their eyes when they saw it. Once more she affixed her helmet over her long white hair and walked onward with her usual arrogant posture, striding towards the gates until portalling out.

Hmm.... *runs a long finger along his strongly cut jawline* how interesting. That would explain all the commotion. *lets out a solitary chuckle* I am glad to see -something- being done about that little bastard, I guess now we won't have to set alight every svirf village from here to Amia. *sighs* Kudos Auen'nal... it seems our fair city is forever singing your praises. I do hope all this attention doesn't make the Ul'saruk jealous. *the tall, full armored jaluk's canines stick out as he lets out another haughty laugh before turning, taking his leave and walking into the shadows of urban chaos*

*Auen watches the level of fear rise* Vith ..... it uses their fear to make it reality... *with that quick thought he headed to the magthere*

I need a vacation if I live this...

*The Magthere's forces are easily noticeable in the cycles after this announcement, preventing any damage to the city and "dealing" with any going against the city's laws. It would seem however that they are otherwise content to simply contain the chaos.*

With a great flash and pealing of thunder echoing through the cavern near the Sorcere, a shout of “People!” can be heard. With the aid of an auditory enchantment, a voice is heard clearly and loud enough for all to hear, comes from the balcony of the Sorcere.

“Citizens of the City of Webs!” calls the voice. “Running and panic in the streets is what rivvil do, as they take after the cattle they love so. This is naut for us!” He pauses for a few heartbeats and continues, “Our Dread Queen thrives on the chaos of the world, and takes pride in our superiority over those that wander under the curse of Sunlight in the wasteland.” A short pause for effect, “Do dos think the Great Valsheress would leave her most prized weapons unable to cope with an unseen danger?!?”

He looks about at those gathered, listening. “Nau!! We do naut huddle in the darkness! We conquer!" He pumps a fist into the air, “Right!?!” Nodding, he continues, “The power of our Dread valsharess is such that we need naut fear, the leaders that She provides also provide for dos.”

Continuing in a softer tone, “In this time of crisis, all Zhaunin and M'elzar are authorized to provide protective enchantments for any who might ask. They will last several cycles, and protect dos from this entity that thinks it is in any way superior to we. Spread the word, if dos would, the Sorcere serves the City of the Webs. We are secure.”

The Ul'faeruk casts his gaze across the assembled people, and watches several zhaunin move through the crowd and begin casting protections and nods to himself. With a final wave and word he returns inside the Sorcere, “Bella'dos and Aluve, Lolth tlu malla.”

Elvinna'dris, hardly ever entering that far-away cavern, hears of the speech from the grapevine of groping, crazy citizens coming to pray to their Queen for protection. She smirks again and nods once.

Yathrin, send a runner to the Sorcere to tell Krrja that he is to come see me at his earliest availability. Which had better be sooner rather than later.

A runner is dispatched... sadly, it's still not Slave 52 and no tea accompanies the message.

Oloth'chu Tinnerai observes the scene fron her concealed perch overlooking the city and snorts with anoyance. More lack of forward thinking and half measures, will the Valsharess' children never learn? She leaves for the serface taking with her the prized elven slave who's served her so well for regions that haven't heard of the Drows current plight. At the witches residence she purchases every mind boosting and protection potion she can lay gold to. Protects from evil, mind shielding and the like.

Once she's acumulated as much as she can she ventures back to Tinnerai. She leaves the protective supplies there with rashioning and apropriate dosng instructions. The demonic guards obey her uncharacteristicaly well for their kind. With her own suply and a life size mirror she sets off for an obscure and remote cavern. Its time this thing and I met, I've a proposal it may enjoy neerly as much as I will. (DMIC drop me a pm as yr convenience please)

There is a flash of portal light and as it fades Ul’ath’tallar Nizzre’tyne strides over to the portal guard for an update on those whom he has seen recently. This was the second appearance of the Ul’ath’tallar since she had arrived earlier in the cycle gone into the Melee Magthere with Ust’Sutrinos Auen’nal and Ul’faeruk Krrja. After a time others had entered and the Ust’Sutrinos was carried to the Temple under the close supervision of Ilharess Tinnerai. Ul’ath’tallar Nizzre’tyne followed a short time later.

Yet now, she seems a bit taller, a bit more lively as she turns to stand by the portal crystal to gaze down upon those in the merchant area. There is a low chant, a burst of power and light and all within her view are bathed in Lolths blessing.

“You!” she points out a random drow her voice is strong and it carries. “You are the Valsharesses. Our Mighty Queen of the Webs made you, chose you and saved you from the wastelands above.” Her gaze goes from drow to drow. Any whom dare look her in the eye is immediately met with a cantrip of light. In the dim cavern the light is wickedly bright. “Every single one of you are taking in breath only because our Queen has gifted you with that privilege. So, whom is it that you cower in fear from?” She pauses and narrows her eyes. “You are Drow! Made perfect by the Dread Queens fingers. Drow! A name that is used to frighten rivvil children. Drow! A name that causes wastelanders hearts to stop, their blood to freeze and their minds shriek in terror. You are Drow!”

Her volume picks up as her excitement grows. “Drow do not fear reflections, we conquer! Drow do not fear laughter, we paint bloody paths through our Queens enemies. Drow do not fear pieces of guano who are too weak to face us directly! We only fear Lolth Herself!”

She smiles wickedly now. “So whomever of you are not the Queens Drow should report to the Temple for your Yath’tallars would be pleased to sacrifice you upon the Dread Queens alter for your heresy.”

“Those of you whom are Lolths Drow…you will not fear this lesser. You will report any occurrences to your Ul’Faeruk, Ul’Saruk, your matrons and your priestesses. The Temple is open for your tribute to our Queen after which you will be given the appropriate protections.” There is a pause here for effect, then loudest of all with her arms raised she shouts. “ LOLTH TLU MALLA!!”

Ul'ath'tallar Nizzre'tyne then turns and strides to the Temple to get the priestesses there ready with protection from evil, death wards and blessings.

*Auen would not be seen but the last seen of him was him being halled away to the Tinnerai house where he yets come out of*

"Hmm.. There's money in this..." ...were the words said momentarily by one of the many con artists now joining in on the festivities, using the confusion and (supposed) panic to make some easy coin.

One could say the Scholar is (at the moment) one very entertained Drow, joining the panicked crowds and scribbling notes and gibberish as he delves in run-by interviews, buying and selling con artist's equipment, reviling in lots of (supposed) panic and most of all, trading bets with the flamboyant gambling crowds of Iniquity.

"For the history" he'd say as he methodically captured the (supposed) panicked state by becoming one with it. Though to a more trained eye its more likely "history" and "money" are not too different from each other...

How maliciously greedy the Drow are.

Hearing of the Ul'ath'taller's speech As'drubal smiles, a rare occurrence of late. "Ah, some leadership in this city for once." He whispers to no one in particular, shaking his head at craven merchants that would make well for themselves yet not for their Valsharess as he passes them by.

Copies of the following report are given to those in position to read it (namely the academy and temple staff).

Sorcere Report:

"Honoured Mistressen and males of the academies,

In recent cycles the mysterious Laughing Entity returned once more to plague the inhabitants of the Settlement of Webs. To intervene and investigate this new link in the chain of disturbances, three Drow and a Duergar were on hand and rushed into action; one was confirmed as a Faern of the Sorcere and the two others soldiers of Noble Houses Ussen D'vhid and D'Myafin respectively.

Initially, the induced madness that has become synonymous with the echoing laughter set in, causing one of the three to fall victim to its damning whispers. As the others began to lock down their comrade, it was The Faern's turn to follow suit which led to a crippling discovery: prior to the Faern falling victim to the manipulative attacks he had assumed the transmuted form of the illithid and maintained its shape throughout its attacks. As it is common knowledge that the illithid minds bear extreme mental defences against such specialised magics, it can be confirmed that conventional shields for the minds are ineffective in protecting one against attacks from the Laughing Svirfneblin Assailant. It is hereby advised that mind blank potions and divine incantations may offer some defence to their users, they do not guarantee 100% protection.

In light of this dark discovery however, it became evident that the Faern had not fallen victim so easily. Although reduced to his knees and leaving a (literal) bloody mess on the Magthere's floor, it was apparent to bystanders and fellow investigators that the Faern, now barely responsive, was locked in what appeared to be an internal battle of minds with our laughing assailant. Lasting nearly fifteen minutes, the confrontation finally ended with the Faern, assuming his original masked form, falling unconscious to the ground. Later that cycle, the Faern confirmed that he was thoroughly outmatched and swiftly defeated in the duel despite his and the efforts of his fellow investigators.

Although the cycle is riddled with such a series of unfortunate events, the Faern's defeat proved that our Laughing svirfneblin Assailant is indeed mortal and can be battled by conventional means if detected early enough to intervene.

As of now, the visibly exhausted and drained Faern was observed retreating into the sorcere's inner studies and was not available for further questioning. Official statements from other members of the investigation team have not yet been released at this time.

Written in the name of The Scholar."

*A reply via letters to the Yath'tallaren, Ilharessen, Ul'Faeruk, Ul'Saurk and Slave Leshti are delivered swiftly by 52 not long after the Sorcere Report was received.*

The Temple urges the Ust'Ilharess to call a meeting so that we may consolidate our information and provide a united solution to this latest annoyance.

Lolth tlu Malla,
Ul'ath'tallar Nizzre'tyne

(IC) NOTICE: Beware Reflections!

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