Be advised, I claim no right to ideas/characters/ ect contained herein. I do not claim responsibility for Dungeons and Dragons, Spell Master, Lore Master, Forgotten Realms, or any affiliated licensed ideas.
WARNING: Evil Aligned Drow, and mentions of non con, ect.
Thanks to all those that read and review! Especially you Silt, every chapter, and I do play Neverwinter MMORPG as well XD
OoOoOo
Humans were not meant for the Under dark. They lacked the proper vision to see in the belly of the Earth. A belly that held creatures which skittered in the inky-black darkness that hid the monstrosities. Their leering teeth gleamed wickedly, though a human could not see it. The echoes of hisses, groans, and shrieks of creatures could be heard at every turn. Pockets of gas burst forward from deeper layers of the earth, causing painful burns or occasionally death for an adventurer that did not pay attention.
However, for the Paladin, no darkness could ever stop him from his sacred oath. The one he had sworn when Tyr still lived as a God. The one that guided him now. Further into the unknown and unseen landscape, he went. The only light, was that of the holy aura he produced. Enough to see the most vicious and dangers traps lurking closest to him.
The silence was as unnerving as the evil that radiated from all around him in the distance.
Yet, the Paladin would not be deterred. His quest was of the utmost importance, and only death would prevent him from seeing it to its end. No matter the consequences.
He came from the East, carefully moving around or confronting the every present dangers that appeared with each turn and step closer to where the tainted cites of the Under dark lay. Where Ilithids, dark dwarves, and Drow ruled with iron fists soaked in blood. Where demons often found a place to frolic, and the unimaginable things that Paladins fought against for the safety of others, teemed like fish in a river.
It had taken him years to reach this point, and there was a tension about him, one lone Paladin against the evils of the Under Dark. He would not falter. He would not fail.
Even if he was alone.
He blinked, dark eyes, roaming over the parts of the landscape, waiting and watching for the smile or Drow teeth right before they attacked. Or the dripping venom of the spiders they rode. The blistering heat made his armor uncomfortable. Perspiration slicked his black hair, at his temples. His shirt clung to his skin, making him feel the heat all the more.
A Paladin of Tyr would always-
He felt the shift. As if something more akin to him, and less like the evil creatures were scattered about everywhere.
It is the light in the to the South that first draws his attention. A long line of lights, spaced fairly regularly, that moved down the side of the cavern wall, he surmised.
From the North, another soft glow slowly traipsed forward. Followed by another, then three more.
Seven from the West, moving in a slow procession in the darkness.
Liu Wei blinked, his dark eyes widened slightly, as he felt the familiar tug of holiness toward the soft glowing figures in the distance. His wizened features held a gentle, nearly euphoric expression. This is what he had prayed for, and had secretly wanted to occur before he rushed to meet the God of Justice in the ever after, even if it meant non-existence.
To charge forward with his holy brothers and sisters, once more.
They were his brethren. His kith. His kindred.
The other living paladins of Tyr, were moving toward a singular point.
Ever onward. The voice urged, and his body shook off the sensation of fatigue. They would converge at the end of his path. He somehow knew it. They were being called.
All of them.
He knew naught why, but his heart and soul sang in sweet relief. There had been moments of doubt, in the deepest recesses of his mind, where he had entertained the notion that he might be the only one left. Yet, seeing the warming glow of the light amongst a never ending darkness, made him shiver in a long awaited anticipation. One that made his blood alight with the possibility of bringing Tyr's justice upon this chaotic under world.
A dull striking noise, of stone hitting stone, caused him to turn his attention away, his gaze moved from the glowing lights, to see a figure descending down the very path he had started upon a candle mark ago.
He could sense the other instantly. A being devoid of evil or dark intent. The same glow about them as Lui Wei himself possessed. Others had gone to the God Torm, but Liu Wei was a loyal paladin. One that trusted the deceased God implicitly. The light drew closer, and he stood tall and proud in the presence of the other Paladin. The older paladin was what remained of the Order of Grimjaws. The most elite of Tyr's holy order of Paladins.
A half-elf drew closer.
"May the Just God ever watch over you," Liu Wei called out, when he could make out the other.
"The Even-handed, preserves us all."
The melodic reply was as joyous as the older Paladin had felt but moments before. The Grimjaws Paladin watched as the Merciful Sword Paladin nodded in mutual respect, before tipping his head.
"Come brother," The elder said with purpose. "Tyr calls us forward."
The half-elf nodded briefly, and together they continued toward the center.
The orders of Tyr would be made whole once more. He could sense it.
OoOoOo
The Matron is much colder -and Trixis had not thought it possible-, crueler, and cunning than her former mother. The human knows to help 'Twig' hide and her Darfellan friend becomes scarce as his master forces him to run errands. Those that owned slaves in the house did not wish to lose them to a new Matron's insane whims.
Though it grated on her nerves, and haunted her nightmares, Master Filinid kept her in his quarters. Where she had been unable to venture out beyond the wards of the room for two days. It is a blessing, to be free of him and his touches for so long. Though, without her normal chores to occupy her, the days seem endless. She choses, to pray. The words tumble off of her lips in a quiet plea. There is a meaning in them, she understands that much, but not what that meaning is.
There is just an overwhelming need to pray.
Her world, from early morn to late evening are spent behind the Arcane barrier she cannot touch. Calling out in the darkness to her God. A God that does not live. One that still holds all her faith. The human's knees are bruised, but those small wounds heal even as the stone floor bites into the tender flesh. Each minute brings her closer to some unknown precipice that she wants to fling herself into, head-long, yet she knows it is not time yet.
Not yet.
She is waiting for something, though Trixis cannot put name to what it is. She simply waits. Some part of her needs her to wait and hold on just a little bit longer.
Finally, something in her tugs sharply, and she moves to a sitting position. Her prayers cease for several moments. She senses that the time is no longer safe.
Her gaze, catches the barest hints of a moving shadow, and Trixis looks up. A Drow male watches her. His face was partially obscured by a black cloth. A mask. The leather and metal that adorns him lacks the ornate aspect of some of the guards.
An Assassin.
Her thoughts clamored around that bit of information, as she stared into his slate-gray eyes. The color of stone, and not blood. It startles her, slightly, for they are not as common as the crimson gazes filled with malicious hate toward everything that did not directly deal with Lolth or her favorites.
They watch each other silently for a moment. Trixis knew that the head of the assassins of the house had been rather busy these past few days. Sacrifices had been made and lesser connections had mysteriously suffered suspicious deaths. Not uncommon amongst their kind at all. The human drew back, slowly moving her feet but keeping eye contact with the male.
She honestly should not stare at him so, but he was an assassin and those that did not watch assassins did tend to end up on the sharp end of a blade.
He titled his head, apprising her without a comment. She could make out a tear in the greaves of leather he had on. A splotch of dark blood made her still.
"You are hurt," she said quietly, flickering her gaze toward his injury and back to the stone-gray eyes that seemed less terrifying. It was but an illusion. All Drow were deadly, no matter the color of their eyes.
He made no acknowledgement of her words, for he turned his attention toward the barrier that denied him access to her Master's room. Had Master fallen out of favor so quickly? Did the Matron already tire of him?
A scantily clad Drowess, rounded behind the male. Her shockingly bright hair, hung past her shoulders, and Trixis could see that a large portion of her body was no longer left to the imagination. Though symbols of the Spider Queen were tattooed upon her skin, along with that of the house she served. The female's armor was much more expensive and looked as if it had been crafted by a master. The band of a magical circlet was wrapped around her head. A gem that likely cost more than Trixis, several times over, glinted from the faint glow of the hall lights.
"What are you waiting for?" The female asked with distain and annoyance dripping from her words.
The Male stilled, inclining his head, his tone held the utmost respect lest he anger the female. She would kill him, Trixis knew, if she felt offended.
"I have not seen a human before, so close." The male uttered, keeping his gaze properly averted.
Said human did the same, knowing that the path they tread was extremely thin whenever the females were around. The hall reverberated with the sound of her striking the male. Though he had done nothing to incur her wrath, and despite herself, Trixis felt agitated.
"Get back to your task, you fool! And be quick about it."
The Drowess hissed the order, a clear warning that punishment would be taken from his hide next. The male recovered quickly, making a noise of acknowledgement. She would still punish him later, Trixis knew. They enjoyed torturing the males, as much as the males enjoyed using their position of power over the slaves.
"As you command, Mistress Assassin," The male replied in a dutiful tone, not even appearing upset for being knocked about by the Drowess.
Trixis felt fear pool tightly in her stomach, the concern drifted in her thoughts, that she could not fight her Master off. Granted he was a high ranking wizard, and she was but a mere human. However, Trixis was wise enough to not like her chances of going up against a Drow that made a living off of killing with stealth.
She swallowed a lump in her throat, when his Gary gaze landed on her once more.
OoOoOo
The Assassins are brutally efficient. By the night's end, those that had ever spoken out against Matron Luatyna are disposed of in the worst and slowest way possible. It maximized the amount of glory brought upon the house. Lolth enjoyed the savage chaos in all forms. It also served the dual purpose of warning those that might challenge the power of the Matron. It was unlikely, but not unheard of.
It would bean that soon Luatyna would start seeking to have her own children. The Drow were very fertile when compared to their above world counterparts. It meant that they could have many children, and there were rules to even that. Trixis had heard about it a time or two when slaves were purchased from other houses, or when those that came to this house were brought in from elsewhere.
Trixis attempts to keep herself calm, and not worry about the shadows that might conceal one or more assassins. Darkness follows the Drow, seemingly it does their bidding as they require it. A handy thing for those that can see without light. She is not among them. By the end of the day, the halls are ready to be scrubbed free of... whoever had once been there.
Still, her Master does not come to her room. She reluctantly begins to entertain the idea that now, her Master will be content with the Matron -or the Drow equivalent which meant mostly mur-
She twitched and yelped at the shock of the collar. She had been so intent in her devotionals, that she'd not suffered a jolt from it for days. That too had been a pleasant reprieve. She knew however, that like all respites, eventually it would come to an end. The human simply did not know when. Or how. Not that she would be able to do much about it.
Her Master was the Matron's most called upon bedmate, there was a chance that he would continue to have that station as long as Luatyna wished it. Surely, when he had the Matron to warm him -or at least, not eat him-
She winced.
The favor of the house Matron would afford him some more importance and respect, as much as Luatyna wished it, granted. It also meant he would have to continue to serve her in any capacity the Drowess wished. The wishes of a Drow were something that Trixis had learned to be more than wary of. Her master was the most mercurial of the lot. He had never paid her any true attention until this year, and now so much had been changed. She actually missed the days of just being beaten for his entertainment.
Trust. The voice whispers though her, and she bites her lip.
Human eyes, far gentler than any dark elf, close as she take a breath.
She could trust. She could wait.
OoOoOo
Liu Wei watched the soft glow of the individual paladins turn into a veritable small sun of brightness in the Under dark. Creatures still. The clacking mandibles of spiders, still and the wretched evil creatures with luminescent eyes shrink back in pain and fear. It is such a sight, that the very bowels of the world seem to still in awe at the sight.
The head Paladin, with dark and intelligent eyes, feels a swell of hope.
He had believed himself alone. But one Paladin had become a dozen. A dozen had soon turned into a hundred. The hundred Paladins, had gathered waiting in the darkness as their ranks increased. It was as if they had all been guided to this place. They had been called at different times, different places, and prompted to head toward this location when they would arrive on the same day.
However, despite his faith in Tyr, though no longer a living God, and in the position of the highest Paladin of the order of Grimjaws, could not help but be moved by the waves of hundreds of Paladins that filed in, lines of soft glows moving down the same paths their brethren had trod just hours before. His holy symbol shined underneath the combined light.
They were an army.
The voice and arm of a dead God. On a mission into the Under dark. He clenched his jaw briefly, wondering what could have caused the echoed words of the memory of his God to ring through his soul. Through all their souls. However, their vows have been sworn and they will not be deterred.
A holy army was descending upon the Under Dark. What had been inky-blackness, blinding them from the dangers lurking about, seemed to fall away.
Together, they were as bright as the mid day sun.
Onward.
Liu Wei lifted his hand. Thousands of eyes turned toward his raised gauntlet. He moved his arm, pointing toward the direction where the prompting told them to venture.
"In Tyr's Name!" He shouted, and the cavern roared with the answering cries of his brothers and sisters in faith.
The Procession of Justice had been called, once more.
OoOoOo
Blue eyes open suddenly.
Trixis stills, feeling as if something of a great magnitude has just occurred, but she cannot describe what made her feel this way. Her head turns, and she stares at the opening of the door, as if she can stare through it somehow. Past the hallway and the wall on the other side.
That way.
She did not know what it was, or how it involved her, but she could sense that it was coming.
Elation filled her. A jubilation that caused the human to do something she had never done since her enslavement. Laughter, a sound she barely recognized, was coming from her. Honest and sweet laughter.
She brought her hands together by her face, covering her lips as the sound bubbled forth, as the surreal feeling of hope and happiness filled her. Her lips stretched into a smile and she allowed herself to bask in that moment.
It dies as quickly as it had come, however, for her mind registers that her Master has returned.
His crimson gaze stares at her, and she feels extremely uncomfortable and small again. Trixis averts her gaze, but not before she sees that Master Filinid is not alone. He has brought the house's newly appointed battle master.
It would seem that the guard that betrayed the late Matron had been promoted. She could recognize him easily, he was a bit infamous amongst the house slaves at the moment for the upheaval that had occurred with his help.
"Slave," Her master says coldly, and she holds her head down. "Come here."
she slowly moves to stand, and walks toward him. She says nothing when she stops in front of him. Her eyes glance to the side, noting that the Battle master takes a step closer toward her. Akin to a moth drawn to a flame. It was a disheartening sign.
That something inside of her was beckoning for the thing in the distance.
She felt a sinking sensation in the pit of her stomach.
If something was calling to whatever power was far from her sight, she understood that it would be especially attractive to those that were much closer. She dared no look up at her Master or his 'guest'.
Her Master grabs at her collar, tugging on it. His fingers hooked under the metal, and it took all she had not to flinch at his touch. She swallowed, tamping down her nervousness. The Wizard Drow snapped something against her collar. Her blue eyes widened, as she realized the soft 'clink' against her collar was her master attaching a length of chain.
He had put her on a leash. Like a pet.
Part of her quivered in revulsion. To be a Pet was as bad if not worse than being a bedmate. She tried not to think about how he would never willingly part with her now. But, she, did not think she could survive being anywhere near him.
Especially when the Weapons Master was looking at her with the same red gaze that Master Filinid watched her with. And she stiffened, when her Master placed a hand around the base of her neck, while the other held her leash securely.
He titled her chin upward, with the hand that held the chain, and looked at her quietly.
"Behave, of you will be punished." Her Master warned her subtly.
Trixis shivered.