AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

During rainstorms, spiders of all sizes can be seen digging large holes in the Valley of the Arachnid.
Trees from dense thickets are uprooted carefully from the forest, roots and all, and replanted in the holes of the valley.
The soil is then packed down, and cemented nicely by the rainstorms.
Soon after, the spiders disappear into the valley proper.

Crow watches from a distance with interest and makes a report.
He notes how they are watching the travelers along the road now as well, and gives warnings to those going north from the forest.

Within the Skull Crags, a half-elven monk hears word, and can barely get there fast enough. She nods to her ever-present shadow and breathes...

I knew it, Master. They're at it again.

Several of the trees are burned down and another is badly scorched in one area. There is also blood and evidence of a brief fight, but the rain washes those away quickly.

Every once in a while a large figure in black plate lined with blue makes rounds through the area, checking on what teh Shekat are up to.

On her way to Winya Pilineh spots the strange spiders and eyes them with caution, deciding not to fight today.

One adventuring cleric decides that today, just after the rainstorm, was an excellent day for a fight and took his pack with him to wreck havoc amongst the spiders in the valley. All this talk of balance and natural order, and giving them peace and quiet was overestimated. They were disgusting spiders, and there were lots of them too.

Faint footsteps, and perhaps a shimmer in the air if one looked just right would be all that someone without spells might notice of Janna's passage through the valley, every so often.

Hearing something, and despite the rain, an armored figure would stop to investigate while on one of his often trips to the Eilistraeen shrine. He would watch from a distance, carefully observant of any spiders which drew too close so that he backed away to leave them alone in their tasks. Left curious by their actions, he would continue on his way.

Hearing of the going ons, Fara'dome would make her way to the valley to observe the spiders, her own large arachnid following behind in guard of her. She looks out for anything of interest, already curious about activity of the place with what she had been told of events in the past.
She studies what spiders she does with interest, gauging how they possibly react to the presence of her funnel-web companion and the vegetation that is actually moved. She does though, take care not to disturb them herself before she moves on from the area at last.

Several adventurers find themselves stalled by a red-headed monk, who calmly but firmly turns them away.

Happily, no bloodshed ensues.

Malandria would watch the spiders closely when they take trees and would carefully not how many and what kind of trees are taken.

Kel'riia stays the Hells away from the valley, avoiding it like the plague!

She juuust might be heard saying something along the lines of "...not getting involved in it again. Not after what happened last time."

After watching the Spiders for a long while, she would simply give a brief nod towards them before tending her other duties once more and informing the others of the Grove of what she had witnessed.

Tyrus would return, curiously trying to find a pattern in their actions. Always alone, unless someone happened to come along with him. Sometimes under a cloak of invisibility, others using a skill of hiding that none save one knew he posessed, or even without any type of hiding at all.

He would not directly approach the spiders, only watching. If they saw him and came for him, he would try to back off to show he was not threatening their territory. He was not looking for a confrontation with thm, after all, but would defend himself if need be.

Shortly after seeing the recent activity and hearing the people she could only call bleeding heart weaklings for buying the lies of the She-kat Valsharess and the hive mind Erelkacha returns home and sets to work on some arts and crafts.

Soon enough the perimeter of the Shrine is Adorned with ornate black wind chimes. Wind Chimes that on closer inspection look to have been made from various species of Giant spiders fang's. The shear number of the Wind Chimes leads one to question how many giant spiders have been hunted and slain over the years to collect such a bounty of trophies.

It is also quite clearly a warning to the near by She-kat their fate if they harm the Shrine, a protest against the movement to treat the She-Kats as anything but monsters, a bit of art and a way to add some lovely sound to the air.

Katsumi watches. Perched on a cliff above the valley, she simply watches, listens, and tries to understand, as best as a totally alien mind can. She spends her time cloaked in shadow, so as not to draw the ire of the spiders. An ire she understands well, she considers it akin to one getting angry by a rival tribe constantly invading and killing her own tribe's numbers...she would get violent, as well.

When she can, if there are stragglers, she approaches, gently herding them back into the valley; while she supports their right to exist, it seems she's no keener on letting them expand than she is on letting anyone in.

A heavy armored figure in black and blue plate passes through now and again. He makes no overt moves against the spiders but effectively and quickly deals with any that make such moves against him. He leaves the trees be for the time being and only observes the behavior of the She-Kat before moving on.

Crow makes fairly regular trips through the valley, keeping track of the progress. He continues to warn travelers of the danger of attacking the She'kat Wraiths, most do not listen, some of those pay the price for not.

Erelkacha noted the patrols and people watching the She-kats with dismay, she knew deep down that hive minds among vermin were a sign of profane magic, she knew the She-kat were evil for her holy sword had once sizzled and boiled their skin even if now they had found some way to ward themselves, she knew that clerical She-kat had been sighted in the past and that only Lolth and Obox-Ob would answer the prayers of such creatures, she knew all to well that the She-kat had gained intelligence beyond mere verminous predators, they were playing everyone for chumps. They were dangerous man eaters possessed by an ever growing intelligence guided by the spider Valsharess (As Kacha called the true spider queen) who moved her pawns and controlled her field of play like a master strategist. She had tricked people into allowing them to bred more and more soldiers below, they were tricking people into allowing them to fortify their lair to prevent counter attack, had they been orc's sharpening blades and shoring their battlements people would not be so eager to let them do so Kacha mused to herself.

She turned her head to look out over the Vally from her Shrine as she casually removed light generating magical items from her person. Her mind now slipping to another grave matter that worried her about the She-kats. Long had the She-kat breed other giant spiders into their hives adding some of their strength to the hive. The bladed forelimbs of sword spiders, the phase spiders dimensional instability, and each she-kat seemed to display traits of both web builder and hunting spider. They were breeding the perfect archnid species and her mind once more could only drift to Lolth. As Kacha started to sharpen her sword her mind found another horror gnawing at its edges. What if the She-Kats had bred with fiendish spiders, or Bebilith, Harpoon spiders, Spell Gaunts and countless truly evil spider creatures with great and menacing abilities, what if one of their queens had been touched by the mark of Lolth. The mark could appear on any breed of giant spider at birth and she doubted the She-kat were an exception.

She swallowed her worry and readied her blade, if the bleeding hearts and fools would sympathize with man eating monsters so be it. If this was going to be another formian nest she would use guile rather then incur the wrath of fools and endanger the shrines diplomacy. Deftly she drew up her cloak hood wrapped a scarf around her face, donned a suit of matte black adamantite plate and traded her sword for a battle axe. She whispered her prayers for battle and turned to the direction of the Vally, there in the dark of night with no light to mark her passing, and only her incredible dark-sight to guide her she would cull the enemies forces and take their corpses as trophies.

"Tonight the white queen takes some of your pawns from the board Orbb Valsharess She-Kat"
was all she said before moving into the Vally below as an angel of death, so guided by her heart and what she knew in it to be true and good.

Those travelling in the valley will find it very heavily populated by trees. If one were to look up, webs create a small highways between trees. Smaller shekats can be seen traversing these highways whilst larger spiders keep watch.

Crow keeps watch of the changes the creatures are making to their home, he travels through almost daily. One day he clears rubble from the small shrine that can be found and says a small prayer in remembrance.

It seems that the spiders in the valley have been venturing northward. Reports of caravans crossing the Minmir Bridge being destroyed by arachnids are coming in more readily.
Anyone going through the Valley of the Arachnid would notice that the trees are much darker, and the Shekats less forgiving.

Earalenia passes from the Shrine to the forest several times a day, she would kill any spiders she meets on the roads.

((No point wasting a perfectly good thread!))

The valley stormed into a frenzy of activity this day: Responding to a cry of aid, a party of adventurers predominantly from the nearby Winya Ravanah stormed into the Valley of the Arachnid and were greeted by warm hospitality upon their arrival.

Those adventurers on the ground were met with heavy resistance as shekats burst from hidden trapdoors and from the very tree tops to engage them, including the most gigantic spider ever seen in the valley. Although successful in taking down the great arachnid, an unlucky adventurer of their number who fell during the fighting was dragged away into a nearby trapdoor: a desperate chase had begun to save their companion.

Braving the darkness of the caverns, the adventurers were assailed by horrors only an arachnid intellect could organise: some found their ankles wrapped in silken strands that dragged them down dark corridors away from their companions, others found themselves falling down false trapdoors to deeper pits in the ground and pounced upon by readily waiting ambushes. Several were transfixed in walls of strangling webs that tightened as they struggled while spiders bit at the joints in their armour. Worse still, an unlucky few were coated from head to toe with swarms of smaller arachnids whose very dozens of bites accumulated into intense pain.

Although the rescue was a success, the last laugh was on the Shekats. The very venom and ichor the adventurers wore from their grisly work began to eat away the steel and leather that protected them, causing significant damage to sword, plate, skin and jacket alike. The success was a costly one... and one not soon forgotten.

Deeper still, darker whispers spread that Drow were behind the massive uprising in the valley... angry eyes, particularly from the fearful Road Wardens who must patrol the valley, turn towards the nearest outlet of Drow in the area as anger and old superstitions blaze like a spark in dry grass: The Shrine of Eilistraee.

Needless to say... the valley of the Arachnid is not a safe place to travel at the moment.

The Valley stirred once again into a frenzy as rumours spread of a cart passing through the valley disappearing from the road. Adventurers particularly from the Grove were quick to investigate the ordeal and once again encountered the insidious intellect of the arachnids as they responded to the intrusion of their domain.

The subsequent uprising ended abruptly as a medium sized explosion erupted in the valley's canopy. The investigating adventurers emerged several minutes afterwards, all with their own stories to tell of the ordeal.

The adventures were not the only ones to investigate this instance however. A pair of Salandran Templars who also responded to the rumours managed to rescue one of the abducted victims; a boy of roughly ten winters. The boy was transported back to the Salandran Temple and placed in immediate intensive treatment. Of the boy's family there was no sign...

A gold dragon and her elven rider fly out of Winya Ravana shortly after highsun. They spend a couple hours flying over the Shekat valley, high enough to not be at risk for their safety or startling the spiders but low enough to clearly see the area from overhead. They pay particular attention to the tops of the cliffs, watching for any spider activity.

Following yet another caravan attack, and subsequent chase in the caves, Crow and the group with him move near the Grove, where they have an interesting discussion of sorts, with an equally interesting individual. They go their separate ways, once everyone is deemed fit for travel.

Crow returns to both the north and south entrances of the She'kat Valley, where he posts temporary signs, indicating the unsafe conditions that once more plague the valley.

Heavy rain pattered down in the Valley, making the already gloomy forest more dark and forbidding as a lonely caravan made its way through the muddy roads. Once again the arachnids struck, dozens of them using strong web strands and working in teams to pull the caravan into the woods in a tug of war fashion. Barbs shot at the caravan from all angles as the arachnids kept constant fire upon their trapped prey to keep their heads down whilst others swarmed up to begin the task of breaking it open.

A large breed spread itself across the caravan's canvas roof, locking its eight limbs over the caravan's sides. The smaller ones around it then began to inflict wounds on their larger cousin, the spraying ichor eating away the canvas to reveal the prey inside the now exposed caravan's shell.

A single Salandran was the first to burst through the now ruined canvas, her morningstar hitting home upon the closest arachnid.

And then the fighting began once more within the valley.

Nearby adventurers were quick to respond and once again found themselves facing the alien intellect only an arachnid could fathom. Keeping their distance, the arachnids systemically surrounded and pelted the adventurers with venomous barbs from nearby trees, dragging separated individuals down trapdoors when their attention was elsewhere. As the adventurers found themselves forced into the caves by this change of tactics, they were greeted by more horrors as the day dragged on: entrapment, cunning ambushes, exploding arachnids, web lassos that dragged individuals down side caverns, separation and the ever constant threat of the acidic venom.

However, in the end the rescue of the Salandran proved a success... but not without some stories to tell, several suits of armour to repair and new found respect to be had from both sides. An uneasy stalemate now sits across the Valley of the Arachnid, with adventurers keenly watching the road of any disturbance. And dozens of eyes watching their every move from the darkness.

Very soon after yet another attack in the She'kat Valley, Crow is told the news of the attack, and the subsequent fire damage caused by one of the adventurers. He learns that all involved are in fair enough condition, and recovering. Crow goes to the northwest area of the valley and surveys the damage. He puts out what fires are still burning, and does what he can to promote healthy regrowth of the forest. He then gets the hell out of there, as his companion wolf indicates the presence of the returning workers, and their guards.

*kex despite many conflicting rumors tales and reports, continues to patrol the region assisting any who are harmed or threatened by the spider horde. No thanks is ever given no rewards are ever sought. He can be seen constantly kulling the spiders in a methodical manner*

As things intensify in regards to the spiders Kohlingen seems to become more active and involved. Silver Dragons can be seen checking upon the forest and checking up with allies along the way. Coordinating between the Grove, Elves and Shrine. A effort that is becoming slightly noticeable. Area's seem to become more guarded but not heavily which is slightly misleading to what exactly is going on. A few forces can be seen working with some Salandarins as well as some wardens but nothing overly noticeable. This continues on for quite awhile.

The Shrine, for its part, seems abuzz with activity. Aly'dra spends much of her time in Kampo's or Bendir, warning people off from the Valley.

The Valley is indeed crawling with activity.

The increased rains in the region reflect the demoralised attitude of the mud-stained and weary Road Wardens tasked to guard it. Their uniforms appear in tatters, their weapon blades heavily damaged from the corrosive weapons of their enemies. Loss after loss sustained by the adventurers, which the ruined remains of carts and their scattered supplies serve as a crushing reminder to this fact, negatively takes its toll on their fragile moods. Several of the Wardens speak of abandoning the valley to the Arachnids for good.

The Valley's road and surrounding lands become ankle deep with mud and the canopies seemed to have thickened, reflecting an ever more obvious mastery in which the enemy has of their home territory; transforming it to serve their purpose. Mosquitoes are thick in the air from the muddy conditions. Leaches are more prevalent as the rains increase. The eyes of the arachnid scouts watch gleefully from the Canopies and long grass, venomous barbs firing at interlopers who dare to cross the newly founded "No Man's Land" that was once the main arterial road between Benwick Hollow and the Dale.

If nature could be described as hell... this would be it.

But not even Hell can deter faith.

Four Templars of the Salandran Undead Counter Operations led by the one known as Sister Rose march grimly into the valley from the North, forming the largest gathering of Salandran Templars raising their weapons in anger ever encountered. Their gleaming silver and red plates radiate with embedded yellow light, like angels of mercy coming to banish the darkness in the eyes of the weary wardens.

Sister Rose steps before her brethren and raises her morning star into the air, shouting down the road towards the canopy: "This pestilent outbreak ends here! Quarantine these abominations to their canopy!"

Her words are greeted by the cheers of her fellow Templars... and a wave of venomous barbs as fighting erupts between the Templars and the Arachnid Scouts over the designated No Man's Land.

The Quarantine has begun.

Watching them march from the waterfall near the Shrine, Aly can really only think of one thing to say....

"Aw, shit...."

The patrol continues, at random times, sometimes with allies, others just with a Guardian, but the presence of the Silver Dragons is seeing often on the Valley. Of course, after the patrols through Kohlingen territory.

As things become more intense and the battles become more fierce there comes a great loss. The battle was fought back but the losses great on the allies side. This will not stand many of the ones that fought say. As coordination come and the time to rise is heart many of the allies begin to use there heads more then there skulls and something new comes afoot. Letters are sent out and a meeting soon to be held is called.

With the quarantine in tatters from the previous days of battle, the hammer struck hardest upon the Shrine of Eilistraee. With naught but a heavy storm to herald their coming, the Shekats were unleashed.

The Shrine was left tattered in its aftermath, its lawns torn open by gaping pits of mud. The inner sanctum was smashed open and warped by the deadly, corrosive venom with a few Drow citizens littered amongst the masses of the dead invaders: a painful blow to such a small community. But most of all, the idol of Eilistraee laid smashed at the base of the gargantuan corpse that tore it asunder from its podium.

As the heavy rains continue to pelt the Benwick Hollow region, the cry for retribution drowns out the heavens... and not but a handful of shekats crawl back into their burrows. The damage was done, but the cost was high with the shekat dead far outnumbering the very Drow they fought against.

Tuomas would quietly spend time sitting Vigil over Erelkacha in the Salandran Temple after some time once he heard of the matters that occured.

~.. Indeed, I will pray. ~ he noted in his thought as he produced his spellbooks, beginning to open to the third Circle formulae for Vampiric touch and copying it out, seeming to begin the framework for a spell, or ritual as he carefully sat watching the Drow High priestess.

The Priestess moved through the dead, her holy symbol of Eilistraee gripped in one hand, and an open flask of holy water in the other. She had prayed the prayer of resurrection so many times, that for the next two days she would murmur it in her sleep – but this night rest was still a long way off.

The dead and dismembered arachnid forms were being gathered and piled. Several of each type were boxed and shipped to Kohligen on her order... someone wanted to study them, but right now she couldn’t remember who.

Acrid smoke made her eyes water and her throat ache as the spider bodies were destroyed, but the Priestess moved on. At some point she had sent Irr’afae to Kampos to see if the gem merchant had any diamonds on hand... they needed far too many. Looking down on the next corpse she sighed. It was in the Maiden’s hands now, all she could do was ask, so kneeling she repeated her routine, but wasn’t really surprised when the unrecognizable form would not respond... she moved on.

Ginafae had taken several groups out already by the time Maral’s gruesome job was complete. So Maral and Aly’dra, with Triel and Yudann took the last group of evacuees to Kohligan. It was safer for them to be elsewhere until the breached inner sanctum could be evaluated, even now the spider ichor was melting the walls.

At the counter in Mayfield’s Maral purchased large quantities of food, along with nonalcoholic drinks, As she settled the group in rooms on the reserved upper floor she passed out the supplies insisting that anyone knock on her door, no matter the time, should a need arise.

Later during a brief trip to the bathhouse in the holy city she carefully cleaned her armor. Her fingertips lingering on Auen’nal’s stamp just inside, right over the part that covered her heart. She laid it aside and slid down into the water... whether it was warm or cold she didn’t notice.

The Knights had arrived to late, the battle was being won by the she-kats and the losses were heavy. Sir Abdullah and Sir Izariel as well as a young Kelvemorian stood watch and soon the blue eyed wolfs instinct kicked in.

Once more he leap into the Frey, he ordered those that listened to fallow him and they punched through the lines of the spiders. There was no telling how many fell to these warriors blade but one thing for certain was the pain in his eyes because a sheer hunger to end this threat.

People had fallen all over, the Shrine was in rough shape but the fight was not over. The rain acted as if it rained the spiders down upon them itself. But alas there was no time to worry about such, not while people fought for their lives. Then it came.. that awe full sound.

"They Breached the Inner Sanctum! The Children are there!"

As soon as such was heard Izariel looked to those that followed him and yelled Orders to them while raising his blade to cleave through the lines of spiders.

"Charge! To the inner sanctum, protect the Children!"

With such said the Knights and all they stood for was put into play. The struck hard and swiftly and cleaved through the ranks into the battle going on within. It was organized this assault he lead and the people focused for children were involved. He ordered them to each stand and then when the sanctum was cleared and their leaders dead they held that position. Seeing his Drow allies standing there and some wounded, they gave cover and got each of them up. This was there pinch point and no more deaths would come. They held that sanctum like it was there mission in life and stayed strong till the end. After the fight was over the casualties came in. Izariel and the others stayed behind to look for survivors and help the wounded. Once such was done he returned to Kohlingen to send a small detachment of Silver Dragons to aid as well as a small group of Salandarin clerics. He would do so as he went to return before helping Aly and the rest of them organize a place for them all to stay. He would put the tab on himself or the keep. These people had seen enough this day, as had Izariel.

The damage was done, the idol of Eilistraee smashed, many lives couldn't be saved... And some of them children. High above the cliffs overlooking the She-Kat valley a battered drow stood watch; He was beaten, bruised, cut, looking frankly like he had taken a fist-fight with one of the gargantuan spiders that tore the idol from it's podium... And he likely had. But there he stood, he was still standing. His forehead was wrapped in bandage, his left eye covered by them as well, but his right blood-red eye burned with anger, with desire for vengeance. Violence was brought into their holy Shrine and their home, that violence would be met with swift violence, furious anger and divine wrath soon enough.
"Burn them all, Jud... Just give me the word."
Yudann murmured to himself between gritted teeth, watching the valley, waiting...

Ginafae's morale is the lowest it has been since escaping life in the Underdark. She had been in the Inner Sanctum of the Shrine tending to the children and other non combatants when the wicked arachnids breached their defenses. They had charged up so fast and killed her before she even cleared blade from scabbard.

After being raised, she looked around at the carnage. Never had she felt inadequate in her life. She spend the rest of the night raising who she could, stabilizing others and portaling those who could not walk on their own to the Salandran compound.

After a small rest, she spends her working time seeing to the needs of the wounded and her personal time checking in on her high priestess, friend, family: Erelkacha. She will tend to her as much as the Salandrans allow. Bringing her fresh flowers, fresh clothes or cleaning her up, while respecting the Salandrans superior abilities.

The Salandran recovery wing is buzzing with activity as the influx of the Shrine's wounded pour in. Drow injured lie alongside the likes of Road Wardens, Silver Dragons and the odd member of the Salandran Undead Counter Operations; victims of both Shekat and Beastmen attacks in the past weeks.

Many of the Salandrans appear excited by the influx of victims, setting about to work with a degree of efficiency not seen during times of peace. But even amongst the Salandrans the morale is low at this point: Sister Rose, one of their best and brightest, continues to lie comatose in the closely watched care of her sisters.

In all of the disasters that have occured during the recent cycles, there was an overlooked measure of success: the remnants of the Salandran Undead Counter Operations still operating within the Valley were successful in intercepting a raiding party of arachnids near the Valley's southern-most borders... and living to tell the tale.

The aftermath of the attack on the Shrine many were wounded, some were dead and the morale and spirit of the shrine lay weak and tattered. A mirror of the damage to the Shrine its high priestess lay in the recovery wing at the Salandrian temple, weak, broken and hovering on deaths door.

For those inquiring and it would likely enter the gossip chain sooner or later, her condition was very poor. She was barely clinging to life her will to live weak and fractured like the recent dramatic politics had left the shrines leadership.

The reason for her condition was a heart attack induced by physical, mental and spiritual trauma. Her own medical past spotless save for an event in her youth when she channeled a living Avatar of her goddess and held the state for too long leaving her spirit damaged and difficult to handle attempts to channel direct divine intervention.

The High Priestess had fallen not in battle but after, after she had rushed to the moon circle and risked her life and spirit to try and call down direct divine intervention to save countless lives. Had it worked? There had not been a heavenly choir or a crash angelic fury to stem the tide of battle or save the people of the Shrine. However some few noted that the She-kats had the numbers and power to kill every member of the Shrine and their allies yet something had lured them to suddenly focus their strike at the Idols of Eilistraee then flee back into the forest rather than press their obvious advantage.

Faith it is said often works in mysterious ways, and faith was the only thing that could save the High Priestess of the Dark Maiden from her last dance.

Continuing his work, Tuomas kept vigil over the barely alive Erelkacha quietly as he wrote sigils and modifications into an existing if simple Spell formula that he had in front of him, seeming to carefully consider as he watched her.

Aly, having been away with her children during the attack, thankfully, returns to find the place in ruins, and as usual, nothing but drama and stupidity from those that should be trusted. She took one deep breath and buried the want to seriously plant her boot up someone's ass for the spectacle when shaking injured were still in the halls needing leadership and help.

Instead, she moves to do what was necessary, directing those that lingered in the hall.

Aiss, Alakton, Irr'afae. We need to clear this rubble and get the bodies out. I can save them, hopefully, but not here. It's not safe. Everyone else, get the spider bodies out. Kohlingen wanted to study them, they'll have a field day with this.

She listened, exercising self-restraint that was already at its breaking point as the insults to Alakton were revealed, the insults to her own House as usual. Because as always, gotta get in that last shot. People dying and in pain all around you? Fuck'em! perfect time to show how awesome you are! She sighed heavily, and chose her words carefully, trying to make the wounded and insulted male feel a little better.
"I can't say I trust you, because I won't lie to you. But....I don't trust most people, and I try to save my outright hatred for those who have actually -done- something to deserve it. You haven't. If you need us, you have us. Just please....as angry as you are, and you're right to be angry, please help us with our dead. So that maybe, just maybe, we can bring some of them back."
He reluctantly agreed, which made her feel at least a little better. Slowly, with the help of the otherwise-rejected and her own House, and one (for a change not so) bumbling copper kin, the wounded and dead were extricated and lined up along the shore, where they could be safely examined and cared for. The first on her plate was a small child, and she had to take a moment to knuckle her eyes and rein in her temper at the sight of a broken body who should have been playing and laughing. Her teeth grit audibly, and she starts calling the Maiden's might down, begging her for every lost soul back. At the end, only two handfuls out of all of the residents remained dead, and though it grieved her, she had to acknowledge that she, Maral and the others had done all they could.
When Erelkacha was carried out by Jud, she spared enough time to roll her eyes and actively try not to wish a rock to drop on her head. That was about as kind as she was willing to be, given the circumstances.
Heading back inside to make a last sweep and clear out the not-as-badly-wounded, she (as an Umberhulk) and Yudann cleared out the worst of the wounded to the Salandran temple, and got the rest outside, forbidding anyone from going back in until the structural damage of the architecture was seen to, and declared safe.

From there, those that could live without constant medical attention, the least of the wounded that remained, were taken to Kohlingen, under Izariel and Jerand's watch. When she got back to the Shrine to get her House out, somehow they missed Irr'afae. As she stepped out into the blessedly cool air of Kohlingen from the sweltering heat of the shrine, her body apparently decided it was done putting up with her crap, and turned off. She awoke a bit later, cradled in Yudann's arms as he lambasted her for her foolishness. He got a sunny, if dazed smile in return for his haranguing.
"Are you insane? Did you forget you're pregnant, do you KNOW what could have happened?!"
She chuckled and gave him a ruffle of his hair, though she knew it was about his least-favourite thing ever.
"What matters, dear Yud, is what -did- happen. What happened is that we saved every last soul we could, and those who survived are safe now."
He grumbled at her, narrowing his eyes.

In the depths of the Underdark, far below the wretched wastelands known to many as the Surface, the sound of chanting prayer can be heard echoing from within a Temple altar room. The door is firmly shut, the guards outside ordered to politely turn away any priestess -for only a priestess would be allowed so deep within the Temple in any case- upon the order of the most high Ul'ath'tallar. What transpires inside is heard only as muffled echoes through the heavy stone door.

Inside, a still-young -relatively, given she is in her late first century of life- priestess stands near the central pit of the altar room clad not in armor but in garments of fine silk and cloth. She is facing the altar, her gaze lifted almost feverishly upon the idol of her goddess, the most wise and beautiful -and dreaded- Lolth. The drow's arms are at her sides and held comfortably straight, forming an upside down V, and in her right had is a small ornate dagger made of darksteel.

Flawless skin glows in the light of the torch fire adorning the walls, her countenance one of beauty as her crimson gaze catches the light of the fires around the periphery. Delicately groomed nails brush against the meat of her palm as she tightens her grip on the dagger ever so softly and she inhales the scent of incense. Again her voice raising in praise to her dark goddess, the one true mistress of the drow peoples, her praiseful tone lilting with a musical edge as she gives thanks to the Valsharess. It had been nearly an hour since she first entered to begun the impromptu session of prayer and she held no sign of wavering from fatigue.

Calmly, nearly as if in a trance as she gave herself to the Will of the Spider Queen, she approached the altar. Upon the cold, blood wetted stone lay a scattering of precious gems and gold which glinted in the same torchlight. The Ul'ath'tallar's eyes were fixated upon the statue of Lolth still, drinking in the cold and uncaring gaze of the stone effigy, as she raised her left hand and the right with the dagger. Slowly, methodically, she ran the blade against her palm. Lifeblood seeped from the wound at first as she lifted her hand over the assorted treasures and squeezed it into a fist so that it poured out in quicker fashion. As her voice rose in power she intoned the words of praise swelling through her soul, and her purpose turned towards the Shekat forest. She spoke of revenge and retribution, and punishment for those that would defy Her most holy Will.

Perhaps a half hour later she emerged, the guards looking down in deference as she left the altar room with a pleased look upon her face. What was said inside was between the Valsharess and herself, and she silently departed the foyer into the priestess antechamber.

As the healers had predicted the high priestesses physical condition had improved slightly after the first twenty four hours. She rested weakly in her bed somewhere between life and death. Between delusion and divine insight. Those caring for her could have heard her muttering about past events as if speaking to people she once knew strange names such as Zeral, Willow, and Ravena were muttered in odd contexts as well as names more well known by her friends. The incoherent of walking down memory lane were broken at times cryptic lucidity and focus whence was uttered

"Took her own to safety before they came... wasn't there til the aftermath... I know who the real betrayer is.. wearing fathers mask of smiles... don't trust the enemy with in"

"Sssh.. Ssh.. easy Miss Erelkacha." Tuomas said quietly as he patted her on the forehead, checking her temperature. "Please, relax and be easy.. your'e safe here at the Salandran Temple." he'd add, sighing and looking to the Drowess with concern.

However, that being said he did keep a sharper eye out on any visiting her.

"And then I say to the magistrate 'that's not all I can train a bear to do!'"

Raucous laughter erupts from the grand table in the Ma'fer Manor, guests lining the sides chuckling and looking eagerly to the finely dressed drow at its head. All is laughter and ribaldry until a Shadow intrudes from a dark corner of the room bearing a folded note. As silent as death, it slips it to Beldor and he reads it with a wrinkled brow.

"..."

"Something the matter, Mister Ma'fer?"

"I say, I hope you have another story, that was quite the kicker."

Beldor slowly buries his face in his hands, his hair beginning to bristle around his shoulders. The room grows quite just before he rises and furls his cape over his shoulder. A practiced smile is stretched across his face.

"Gentlemen. Ladies. It seems a matter has arisen that I must attend to. Enjoy the refreshments, continue your merriment. My deepest apologies for the abruptness of my departure."

With a word he is gone into the backdrop of a Gate.

--------------------------------------------------

"Well, then. Let's get started."

The Spider's Forest

Who is online