Some of these groups
have bolstered their numbers with slaves or by putting weapons in their hands to
defend their leaders, while other groups like elect to create elite adventurers to spread
their influence and power base- but for some it is just survival. Gone were the old ways and old days of Skullport to an ever changing hierarchy
of government that control the portals and therefore possess the real
power potential of the under-city.
“Our spies report House Drodeen is poised to strike and are
expected to attack this very evening.” Matron Darien Auvryndar said with an
agreeable nod from her venerable husband Domarlynnas who was in fact the very
spy Darien was referring to.
Far above Skullport is the magical fortress of House
Auvryndar, like an enormous clinging spider positioned to fall upon it victim
at any moment, a clan meeting has been called bringing together the true
Auvryndar bloodline.
“Our spies report House Drodeen is poised to strike and are
expected to attack this very evening.” Matron Darien Auvryndar said with an
agreeable nod from her venerable husband Domarlynnas who was in fact the very
spy Darien was referring to.
The central room of the spider-fortress resembled their
house in the inside but on a much smaller scale; like Darien’s surviving family members. Clustered
in the parlor in the presence of their Matron Mother and her male-consort were her
two children Tevera and Yamon as well as three grandchildren: Tevera’s son and
Valsharess Mara and Princess Moria whose parents are believed to have died in
Ched Nasad.
The rest of the house drow, Darien lamented, were refugees
and thus could not be fully trusted with the fate of the Auvryndar sorcerous
bloodline in jeopardy.
“Our house has acquired weapons and magic to help us this
day,” Darien remarked nodding to Mara in recognition for the boon she brings to
the house. Darien motioned for the women to approach and peruse three small tables
each covered with a fine red cloth where various pieces of equipment were
arranged.
The first table was obviously drow armor and weapons
captured from House Drodeen. (Two suits of +1 studded leather, +2 studded
leather, +2 light mace, decorated with holy symbols of Umberlee, +2 banded
mail, and +2 heavy steel shield)
On the second table was a mix of armor and items from the
surface. (+1 Mage bane long sword, Eleven chainmail, mithril chain shirt, cloak of resistance +2, gloves of
endless javelins with a Greater Phoenix ash threat weapon crystal, and
four fully charged 5th level wands
of magic missile)
The third and final table was also host to items from the
Realms above. (+2 keen rapier, +2 ring of protection, +2 bracers of
natural armor, +2 cloak of resistance, +2 belt of strength)
As the women of the house disputed over the magic, Tevera’s
son waited as was the case when the Matrons got together- they would have
their first right of claim and he would see none of it. The young noble regarded Warden Yamon who exchange glances with grandfather Domarlynnas who in turn only offered a
sideways shrug conceding to his station.
The young sorcerer waited with reserved anticipation, hoping
his naming would be at hand permitting his use of his sorcerous power; too long has
he stood in the shadows of his matrons and the women of his house. The witches hungered
for magical power and left everyone else starved for it. He was the only surviving
male sorcerer in house Auvryndar and that circumstance would never elevate him
to the pinnacle of his craft.
After the tables were free from their burden of magic items the drow stood gathered around their Matron Mother regarding the young drow.
“Grandson,” Darien began. Her deep crimson eyes always reminded
him of exquisite rubies reflecting the torturous fires of hell. “Today on what
the humans call Greengrass, you will be elevated from ward to apprentice sorcerer
an honor that allows you to use your birth name. Stand and be known among us Shar
Auvryndar.”
One by one the drow of house Auvryndar presented the new
apprentice with an item of magic from the tables. From his mother, a ring of
protection; Yamon, wielder of the luck blade, uncle and teacher; bracers of
natural armor; from Moria, the cloak of resistance; and finally from Mara four
wands of magic missile.
Before he could say a word the attack came.
No comments:
Post a Comment