Heroes

29

Peace is for weak fools. War makes all participants strong, and only in head to head conflict is honor satisfied. Only cowards avoid battle. Any who strike down a foe from ambush or from behind demonstrate cowardice. Retreat is never an option, even in the face of a greater foe, for if a warrior's heart is focused on Garagos, the god will provide strength enough to conquer any enemy.

The Creed of Garagos.

"So, the brave Drowbiter has finally abandoned you. Pathetic." Lolth spoke with a hissing whisper, full of malice.

"It is you he has forsaken!" Selvetarm shouted, "It is you he hates! He would rather go to any hell than look upon your ugliness!"

Lolth hissed louder. Above all things, above even her cruelty, was her vanity. "He feared me! That is why he abandoned you!"

"He despised your hideousness almost as much as I do! You are ugly, dear grandmother, uglier than any fiend of the pits!" Lolth lashed out with a sharp claw, but Selvetarm, younger and faster, dodged the blow.

"Do not insult your mistress, dog!" An elegant, refined voice shouted from behind him.

Keptolo.

"Go back to your bedchamber, whore." Selvetarm retorted, "Unless you actually want to try and fight me with those pampered hands."

"How dare you!" The Eager Consort's beautiful face twisted in rage, but he made no move, he knew he could not fight Selvetarm.

The Spider Who Waits laughed, "I thought not."

He might be forced to serve Lolth, but Selvetarm would not bow to a whimpering harem boy like Keptolo.

...

Uru Drowbiter sat alone in The Dark Sun tavern, waiting. He wondered if Lolth would make more attempts upon him, if she did, he would make sure it would be to her detriment. Jessc had taken the news well, and had even suggested an alternate deity, Garagos, a six-armed warrior and an ally of Selvetarm. He could still aide The Spider Who Waits by strengthening his only true ally. Still, Garagos, like Selvetarm, was mad, and Uru knew nothing of the human deity's church or teachings, if any...

His lower left hand shot out like lightning, clutching a thin wrist that reached for his purse. The glint of his platinum holy symbol and his obviously distracted demeanor had drawn in a pickpocket. He turned and looked the halfling full in the eyes, and the thief saw in those multifaceted, shining black eyes a vast darkness, they seemed almost... Soulless.

The utterly alien eyes of an insect. Set in that pale face, those eyes seemed like openings into the void. He shrieked and tried to pull away, but the Chitine held him fast for a moment, staring at him with those bottomless eyes. Then he released his grip, and the halfling shot out the door as if the very fiends of the pit were chasing him. Uru sighed and turned back to his drink.

When the massive form of Gristle entered the tavern, shadowed by the tiny Rizzen, he sat up a little, and put on a slight smile, "Is everything ready?"

"Yes," Rizzen sat across from him, while Gristle stood, "Ilix'Ith has hired some guides, and we're both ready." He looked searchingly at the Chitine, "Are you?"

Uru nodded, "Yes." "You don't have to come if..."

"No, I want... I need to go. There's nothing for me here, now. The trip will do me good."

...

The more Selvetarm considered the situation, the happier he became. By leaving him, Uru had saved himself from Lolth. He had done what Selvetarm himself could not. He had freed himself from Lolth's web. She had lost all claim to his soul.

She had lost!

He laughed defiantly, and, for once, Lolth was silent.

To be continued...

Notes:

Thus Keptolo lives up to all expectations...

Purse, in this context, means money pouch.

Uru's not 'pretty' like Drizzt, he can scare the hell out of people when he wants.

Garagos. Not only is he a warrior, he's also Selvetarm's only true ally, and possibly even his friend. His followers are in all Chaotic Alignments, from Good to Evil. And, like Uru, he believes back-stabbing is cowardly.

Garagos

Lord of War

Master of All Weapons

The Reaver

Targus (Formerly)

Gender- Male

Domain- Cocytus/Battle Garde

Alignment- Chaotic Evil or Chaotic Neutral (The sources don't agree.)

Class- Exarch of Tempus, Demigod of Destruction, Plunder, Skill at Arms, War

An insane, six-armed humanoid deity, he is a near-mindless engine of destruction. His worshipers are mainly Barbarians and Fighters, though there are also Rangers and Soldiers. He is the only being Selvetarm is on good terms with, as they have so much in common. His holy symbol is The Tentacus, a pinwheel of five black arms, each holding a longsword. In canon he's recently gone completely over the deep end, becoming a merciless, mindless god of blind slaughter.

To LadyofShadow

You're right about Atheism in D&D, but there are true atheists there, such as Victor Mordenheim, (From the book Mordenheim by Chet Williamson), who refuse to believe in any power above man, even if it's standing right in front of them, they'll try to rationalize it as a quirk of science or parlor tricks. In D&D, most such atheists are insane.

Uru no longer serves Selvetarm formally, but he has not exactly 'renounced' him, he's recognized that Selvetarm needs help against Lolth, (And therefore is in no position to help either of them), so he's trying to find a god or gods who can help him break free.