Disclaimer: The only thing I own is Essande E'lenei and Terrill Sollec, Bioware owns the rest.
Author's Note: I apologize for the late chapter but I had finals and plays rehearsals and then I got to get toted around away from the computer for the holidays so I haven't been able to type for a while. By the way, a big thanks to Essence Silverdragon and Guan for the reviews. Sorry if the last chapter was confusing and I'll try to keep my errors to a min.
Things To Do Before I Die
Chapter Five
We're Saved Now
Essande was only slightly aware of the shouting in the dark tongue about her. In fact she barely registered the movement of dark elves about her nor did she think of Deekin's slight tugging on her thick, dark gray tunic. Somewhere to her left Terrill was crouched in a defensive stance, ready to slip into one of the many provided shadows and use unethical tactics if need be. She felt extremely unnerved, not because of the geas that had just been put on Terrill and herself but because of the feeling of such a weight overhead. She'd heard many a thing of the Underdark but she'd never expected to be here, it disturbed her much like trying to sleep but having someone just staring at her disturbed her. A drow woman in white robes stepped forwards speaking in her native tongue to the soldiers causing them to relax and in turn, causing Terrill to relax. The priestess or perhaps she was even this House's matron mother, Essande wasn't really concentrating on that, began to address Nathyrra, the drow assassin that was partially responsible for the trio's being here. The dark elf had confronted Terrill in particular and told him of some sort of cause. During this Essande had been busy changing into her old outfit, which they had recovered from a chest in a drow encampment along with all her other things, so the half-elf had not paid any attention to the finer points. In fact, technically she and Deekin were not even supposed to be here but Terrill had forgotten to order them back to Waterdeep so they tagged along.
"Um, Boss?" Deekin's whispered voice seemed to Essande like a shout, bringing her from her dazed state. Looking down at the concerned looking kobold Essande knelt a bit so he could whisper in her ear. "You not looks good, but Deekin think he understand. Feels like roof is going to fall in any moment, much like Deekin's first steps outside cave, felt like sky would suck him up and he not be able to get down." Essande smiled, patted Deekin's shoulder before straighten, a silent thank you to the smaller bard that made him grin. 'Don't know what I'd do without him. Gee, I think "Explore the Underdark" is on my list but I never expected to get here so suddenly…hmm, should cross that off, as well as "Get put under geas". It's been a busy, busy day…' By now Nathyrra had finished briefing the other woman on the events in Undermountain and the priestess now approached the group and addressed Terrill.
"You are most welcome here, darthiir. I am the Seer. I have awaited your arrival with great anticipation. Please, come... do not be alarmed." Terrill stared at her dumbly for a moment.
"Riiight…um, my name's Terrill Sollec, this is Essande E'lenei and that's Deekin Scalesinger but, we have no one by the name of Darthiir in our party nor have I for one ever met anyone by that name." A grin broke across Essande face and she began to laugh, shaking her head and pointing at Terrill. The moon elf looked at Deekin for an explanation buthte kobold just shrugged.
"Deekin thinks maybe Boss loses it. Did come a looong way down…" The few drow that still in the room shook their heads, whispering among themselves. Slowly recovering Essande stood up a smile plastered on her face.
"You are such an idiot Sollec! Darthiir means surface elf!" She said, doubling over in laughter again. Terrill sighed, shaking his head at the redhead.
"It will forever escape me as to how, of all people, you survived the raid on the academy!" The shadowdancer said, before turning to Nathyrra. "This is what I told you about." Essande stifled her laughter for a moment her golden eyes dancing.
"Aww, you tellin' people 'bout me?" She said giggling a bit as she finally composed herself. Terrill threw a pleading look at Deekin, who the moon elf assumed knew where the "off" switch on Essande was but the kobold was busy writing down the current events to notice. Amused looks were on most of the room's occupants besides the surfacers and the room's only other non-drow. A tiefling watched the whole scene with icy blue eyes, a frown on his face in disapproval. The man was supposedly their prophetical savior and would defeat the Valsharess, the drow who was planning to rule the entire Underdark and then move to the surface. To the tiefling the shadowdancer looked unfit for the job. Terrill, like most elves was lean and had a look of grace about him, he had decent muscle about him but the moon elf also had a look of frailty. His hair was raven black, cut short like a human's and match the color of his leather tunic. Aside from his face his entire body was covered in black material and it looked like he had a hood to his top. By the worn look of the cloth wrapped around his rapier's handle for grip, the boy was no stranger to killing. Indeed, he looked well adapted to the sneak's men trade but that generally didn't work with entire armies.
His companions were no better. The kobold for starters looked primarily a spell caster, which wouldn't have been so bad had the creature showed signs of intellect. He could read and write yes, but for a bard, as the tiefling guessed the reptile was; the creature just wasn't all there. Then there was the girl. She was so loud! She wouldn't last five seconds out there. Still, perhaps if she was left here at the temple it would do some good, they could use someone as bubbly as her about. The tiefling began to wonder what exactly the half-elf was doing here; she looked no older than perhaps twelve judging by the fact she still wore her hair in two large poofy pigtails. Her tunic seemed of a thick material but obviously gave as much protection as a rag. Her black leggings were tucked into light gray boots that the tiefling sensed were magical. Metal could just barely be seen under one of her sleeves, indicating she wore bracers of some sort. A katana and a wakizashi hung at her left hip an odd choice for duel wielding. It was then that he noticed the girl was staring at him, a look of awe on her face.
'A tiefling, wow, here of all places. Mental note cross off "Explore Underdark", "Get put under geas" and "Encounter tiefling".' Essande thought as she looked away. Terrill and the drow priestess, or the Seer as she was called, were speaking about the whole war Terrill was supposedly destined to stop. Looking at the last member of the group Essande smiled seeing that Deekin wasn't paying any attention either as he was busy writing down the Seer's words as she spoke. At the rate he was writing Essande was sure she would later be bombarded with questions about spelling. A flick on the temple from Terrill brought Essande's attention to the conversation.
"…a powerful Duke of the Nine Hells, an archdevil she bound to her service." The Seer was saying, "Drawing on this enslaved devil's power, she became a conqueror of the Underdark." Nathyrra nodded and turned her attention back to the trio.
"Once the Underdark is hers, she will turn her attention once more to the surface. She believes herself a Queen...a Valsharess, by our tongue...and her ambition knows no end." The assassin said, coming to what seemed the conclusion of a long tale. Not that Essande really knew; she had been busy not paying attention.
"Sooo, how does all this involve me?" Terrill said tilting his head to the side. Essande gave him a look conveying false sympathy.
"Aww, is poor wittle Terri getting tired of pwayin' herwo?" She asked, batting her eyes at him. The shadowdancer rolled his eyes before smacking her over the head, to which he was answered with a swift kick to the shin. The elf grimaced for a second before yanking hard on one of the redhead's pigtails. Deekin, still writing and mumbling to himself, started to subconsciously move away from the fighting as had Nathyrra who had foolishly tried to step in the one time they began this in Undermountain. The two were very much unopposed to any and all unethical fighting techniques. Insults started flying in the air and the Seer sighed shaking her head.
"And the hero and heroine began to beat each other silly…" Deekin muttered. Nathyrra looked up to meet the tiefling's gaze from across the room and was torn between chastising him and hanging her head in defeat. The expression on his face clearing said: "We're doomed."
"Eilistraee xxizz udossa…"1 Nathyrra muttered, watching as Terrill as tackled to the ground by a fuming Essande.
"Damn you Sollec! May you be eaten alive by a horde of angry bunnies!" The drow rogue glanced at Deekin, perhaps he knew some surface gods they could pray to. Celestia knew they could use all the help they could get.
"Why didn't you just stick with your troupe ya crazy mutt?!"
"Well I'd be with 'em now if—GET YOU'RE HANDS OFFA MY HAIR!!!"
1: Eilistraee help us.