QOS 2014 update

By Reinamarie

NB: spark's still there, but not yet got round to ordering the sequence of events. Yea did it *some deliberately not punctuated as I want to show a lyrical movie. Spoken in drow!

For the Love of it And this pairing d x ilks which is rare. I remember famous advice write what u wanna read. Yup!

Drizzt In Purgatory

I did not know how I got separated from my companions, but their voices were extremely distant. Was it my ears that had been sealed with wax? But I could not move a muscle. As my swords were absorbed into a bottomless pit of darkness, I tried to respond. My body was falling, my heart rate increased but I was denied even the softest of whispers. Mielikki, don't forsake me now! With all of my resolve, I summoned the energy to shout.

The last thing that flashed before me was Felicia's Familiar, Serif scrabbling towards my open hand. Then immeasurable agony, hot coals flaying my face and another voice singing in a language I never expected to hear again… Dark Elf tongue? Memory came in bursts of light and snatches. Ilkar smiling worried determined

He is an Elf from a tropical forest, his mage lore vastly differing from the wizards I'd met. Unlike most of us, he prefers to crop his dark hair. He had initially been wary and resentful of me… Now his brow is knotted and he pales why?

It hurt immensely to think, and I stopped. The young vagabond with Ilkar, her ability to communicate with wildlife, human yet not with a feral nature agile adept. Not showing fear for many evil things had been done…

My wife, with ginger hair and wielding Taumuril the bow waving her feet above the mist… my heart was breaking she was snatched from me too young. Stop, don't want to go there!

Water splashed my face. I gasped. "Aha you're awake, finally. Interesting dreams, Do'urden N'a'shezbaernon." Sounded like a woman with the Underdark language, with hard nails she tilted my face up. She appeared to be ebony-skinned like me, and red eyes. How is it I've come to the Underdark? Blood was dripping into my eyes, which I could tell from the scent. My arms ached, pulled far back up and below all else was numb. My lungs were constricted slowly, I could respire but not inhale too deeply.

"Can't talk? But oh your lips are So lush. Your tongue is still intact. I am a Priestess of the Nine Moons…. Menzoberranzan…name is…." I failed to hear that part of her speech, as fatigue embraced me.

Just the tinkling of a star shaped pendant spinning to a stop, a violet-haired child. 'Hey Drizzt! Don't tell Ilks I stole something again ok? It can help him!' she pleaded, smiling roguishly.

I smiled. 'It depends what will you give me for that?' Although we seemed to have spoken like this before many many times, I couldn't remember who she was! She eyed me curiously.

'Eh you're very black. Got burnt? I've never seen an elf like you before.'

'Yes, I am. I'm fine. Don't you fear me?' I sounded amused with this banter. Now she came closer and reached to take my hand. Felt foreign, yet I let her grip me tightly. Though I could not see my body, I knew of a shoulder wound. Instead of continuing, the girl whispered and soft heat seeped in, mending torn tissue. In the background Ilkar's voice became clearer in quenya, confiding his fears and hopes, that he wanted to be happy going home but wondering what kind of reception he'd have…

Something warm trickled into my mouth. I turned away, the woman is poisoning me! The pain in my head dulled. Now I was seated, my ankles and hands bound. The dark elf woman's legs in my vision moved to the righ, showing sheer numbers of torture instruments. Barbs whips razor sharp swords, those I had no name for.

"Drizzt! Take me! I won't use them!" she breathed removing her vest. Like all of them, this woman did not worry about modesty and her cleavage was unveiled.

No! I turned away, eyes shut. My weakened voice betrayed the frustration and intensity of being asked.

"What? What don't you find irresistible about me, Fool? I'm Quer' yanisha NOBODY refuses me!" she screamed, accompanied by slamming on a surface and multiple things dashed to the ground. I glared directly into those red demonish eyes, at her lividness. She must have forcefed some sort of healing potion just now. Now I had my usual voice back, though air was still in short supply.

"I have a wife. Why, capture me?" I replied, the language rusty from disuse. Carefully, I tried to wiggle my hands free.

Would my companions come back to save me? I decided not to fear for myself, but what if they were killed?

Quer' yanisha threw back her head and guffawed. She barked orders! Some servants without eyeballs limped into view, may have been human before but now were just wasted shells. She pointed at me. The horrible things advanced forward.

I strained to reach any instrument that had dropped, with some of my fingers loosening from the rope behind. Some claw-like hands tickled my face and I wanted to avoid them. Were they Mind flayers?

Mielikki, I pray, I haven't prayed for so long! But please don't let courage fail me! Wait Guen! So difficult to find an item without looking. I clasped air. Abruptly the tickling ceased and only one undead was glued to my lap. Its hollow sockets flared with light.

"I have no quarrel with you Quer'ya, just I am… injured in that area. What do you want? " I hoped the dialect I chose was correct.

For a moment, she remained still folded arms, and scowled. Then her thin black lips exposed fangs. "If you do not desire me, then I have no option but to give you pain, plenty of it. Until you submit. I Have a quarrel with thee, Drizzt. You killed my allies in House ….. Was my climbing stone. I Hate you!"

With instruction, the maw of the creature gaped, fetid breath exhaling. Horror and panic became oblivion.

NO SOMEONE, PLEASE DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN! ILKAR, SERIF, CATTI where are you? Then tendrils began to trail and pierce into my mind. I panted, concentrating so hard to conjure a wall my father Zak had shown me. Suddenly the mind- piercing ceased.

Suddenly a faint voice cried out. "Hey!" It was Felicia, and Guen! The panther growled and head butted me. I smiled. What kind of spiritual state were we in? I thought I was being chained? Not able to see my lower body, I seemed to be levitating and rocks of multiple colors, stars rotated. My feelings were not surprise as this was not my first time, but a shortlived happiness. I remembered her name!

The thief-girl had an ethereal light around her, as she held up my head. "Listen Drizzt! We're outside! This is my astral form…. Guen led me here! Can't get in caverns, Ilkar is forming a plan! Can't you move?" She tried to pull me in the opposite direction.

A force firmly immobilized me somehow. My lower body hurt. "No I can't. Some undead are… feeding on me. I have been tied down, though… I am here. You need to go while you can." I had never seen Felicia glare so forcefully before this, and she opened her mouth to interrupt. "It's too dangerous! The witch is strong. Where's this place?"

"I'm NOT going. Huh its not really deep Underground Drizzt… don't you remember? We were running from some hordes of demons. While we prepared to cast, you stabbed a dark elf, a She. Ilks hurried to stop her as she chaned but too late, she waved and he hit a wall…"

"Is he?" I gripped her hand.

"Yea he's ok, I tossed a knife at her but she made a purple smoke and grabbed you. Leaving us at the front of a big rock sealed entrance! C'mon I came all this way. Maybe… "

I felt a sense of urgency that Quer'ya would do something drastic. "Drow females have backup forces, more will come! I can't risk your lives not for me. Guen, take her back!" I ordered, with a pleading voice. Guen's ears flattened, her tail swished.

Felicia said, "She's pissed. Rubbish how can you give up now? Not much time, (she listened though the panther was staring at me) yup she said it's possible to save you. We're helping you fortify the shield against the attacks."

I sighed and watched her tie a string on my right hand. The paralysis left for a while and I floated along with them. Below the clouds were cases of other prisoners, couldn't tell if they were my kin, in viscuous liquid. "Can you find your body?"

I shook my head. "I was in a room alone, tied up." Felicia asked why they were lying like this and I wished I could have blocked her from such horror.

On each side, my friends were supporting me towards a mist. Perhaps I would make it… but sudden nausea and pain gripped me. Severe chills wracked and I fell. She shouted my name. Guen pressed against me till I leaned on a wall.

"I… I think I'm being called back to my physical body! Farewell…." I panted, unable to look at them. My fingers were more and more like glass. Fading… Felicia took out a white object and commanded me to open my mouth. I obeyed, for a while the chills stopped. "Listen to me, I know it's hard but try. Keep it in, don't let go of this gardenia flower. Outside, there won't have this..can trace where you are…..

I was exhausted and could no longer stop the inevitable Fading. Her last words were Rescue party! Thank you I thought and drifted into a vortex.

Querya was slapping my face. I blinked, from the smarting pain, this had not been the first time. I coughed blood. "YOU'RE WEAK! WEREN'T you strong to wipe out my House? My husband? No mercy, glad you're now in my care!" I remained silent gathering my remaining stamina. There it was, the petals spinning slowly in my mind's eye. The aching and wounds were pure acid and venom, my head pounded with a vengeance, and sweat flowed freely, that I shivered. Quer'ya picked up a barb instrument and fixed it to her staff. Where were the snake heads? "I'm going to hit you with this painful device. These zombies died from my care…. Eh? The fair mage Ilkar? He is handsome." But her tone was not admiration, brimmed with malice and cruelty.

I clenched my fist. "Don't you hurt him! I.. I'll do as you say!" No, he wouldn't be able to withstand torture… after so much mana was drained in our escape, he had almost died. Drow despised the surface dwellers, especially Surface elves whom they believed had condemned them here! "Since you reject having sex, I need a replacement. I'm not that evil, come now…."

How I longed to slice her throat! But, how could my friend die on my behalf? She smiled and removed her clothes. I focused on seeing Catti, through her forcing me to lie on the table naked and caressing me seductively. Yes what I saw was not my wife.

This abomination could Never be someone I cared about, just for now. Just as I relaxed into the charade almost asleep, a hot searing fire blossomed in my chest. Fluid dripped from my mouth and nose and I was looking up at a dark tunnel.

What had… The woman leaned close and showed me a dagger coated with red. No more… DRIZZT! OH GODS, WE'RE COMING! Why are you disappearing? Suddenly, Ilkar's voice was clear as a bell. He grimaced and his face was sweat-slick.

I've… been stabbed…. Don't let them, catch… goodbye…. My heart shattered as the mage began to sob and his lips were in an 'O'

Expecting to see the goddess of the hunt, unicorns and those who were gone before me, I wandered in a mist.

Hearing a loud pop sound, my eyes flew open and I gasped. Back in the Underdark? Had I not died? But I felt as if my body was rejuvenated, instead of fatigue and blood loss. No I Cannot die now! My face still had blood smears, and I raised a hand to wipe it. Quer'ya was still standing over me, but she was distracted and shouting something.

Devoid of rational thought, I could get up and without weapons, barefisted, I tackled her to the floor. She went down, didn't predict my move!

My arm was pressed against her throat, and she coughed and spluttered. Though she resisted me kicking and scratching, I felt nothing and slowly embers of hatred and revenge coursed through my veins. I simply applied force to her throat.

The woman stared up at me, face a pale grey now and her struggle weakened. Her arms dropped to the floor, her skin gleamed with sweat and her breast was heaving rapidly. Then all movement stopped.

When our burning stares connected, Quer'ya closed her eyes. Then she went slack and her red eyes had become blue. In a monotone she said she would obey me. Panting, I sank back on my knees and said 'get me out of here, heal me' When I was dressed in a spare robe, she called off her minions. Now my original dying pains and weariness threatened to take me, I collapsed on a chair. I had no idea why I had been saved from Death's gate. Looking at my hands, I trembled.

In a while, footsteps rushed in and the girl and Ilkar were holding swords too. Some soldiers were about to skewer the woman but I raised my hand. "Stop!" They all stared at me incredulously. "She is under my control. Good to see you all." Felicia hugged me and Ilkar sheathed his sword.

Finally we were out in the daylight and headed to some kind host's house. Felicia was just smiling and telling her accomplishments in the spirit plains to listeners. Ilkar leaned close and asked, "I felt you die. Then she became like a… servant? How?"

"I… don't know…." I told him my experiences and at the end of it, his ears twitched. The mage brushed back hair from his forehead. "Seems like this maejic… is unexplored. The ability to control will. Did you discover it before?"

"No. You do know I would never use this against friends?" I needed to ascertain this. The mage distrusted black magic. His expression was clouded. Still, Ilkar smiled and punched my shoulder. "Good to have you alive! I don't want to waste energy."

Perhaps they would worry about it in future, but now I could not agree more!