The Tale of Negrath Chapter XXXI.

Having dealt with a small group of hostile, giant mushrooms, whose reproductive rate was nothing short of magical, the revenge-hungry adventurers soon found themselves looking at a somewhat insufficiently guarded bridge. Not wanting to deal death to anyone beside their main opponents, they had Viconia step forward to represent them.

After a lengthy while in a tongue it sounded like the two races had in common, during which Viconia appeared to have the most authority, her group notwithstanding, she turned back to them;

"It would seem we are as welcome as any group with my kin can be…I should think your instincts would work better with these slugs than mine." She commented to Negrath, reluctantly taking up her place at his side.

Crossing the bridge, they found themselves in an area that reminded the Kensai vaguely of the Nashkel Mines. Soon locating openings in the rock wall, Viconia was the one to interrogate the few svirfneblin that dared show themselves, about how to follow the two Surfacers that had passed through the area had the quickest possible path.

Not two hours later, they all found themselves studying what their companions looked like as Drow. Viconia, accepting the ruse with a smirk, led the way as they ascended the last leg to the City Gates of Ust Natha, slapping the guard awake as though she tried to imitate the impact her hammers would have done, she proceeded to introduce them as though they had no time to lose…but gladly would take of what little they had to deal with him first, if he wanted to delay them unnecessarily…

Once inside, the group found themselves, while pausing in wonder at the first of many immense platforms, bizarrely interested in a Grade A example of Drow Justice. A slave of the stockier races had apparently been working badly or carelessly with some nearby cargo, and were so attacked by a slavekeeper that evidently had wanted to do so for some time…Not where the slave down, before the air crackled as a female Drow teleported in.

Catching the situation at a glance, she snarled;

"How do you presume to kill my slaves? Do you perhaps think you are harder to replace than they? Let me assure you," she intoned hands manipulating magical energy without a single arcane letter spoken; "that you are not."

A cloud of unknown effects flew from her hands, enveloping the unfortunate victim, at which point…he ceased to exist.

Hurrying further into the Drow city, they soon found themselves approached by a male that seemed to be of some importance, considering that he tersely instructed them to follow. In so doing, they returned to the entrance platform, where a female who's arrogance made Viconia look like a jester, told them to accompany the fellow they had followed, referred to as "Soulafein", on an assignment of the "outmost importance"; to rescue a daughter of the "Matron Mother" who had been unfortunate enough to be captured by a group of Illithids, before these returned home.

Glancing at Viconia, who proved to be most uncooperative regarding what options they had, he decided to not be quite as arrogant as he felt like being, and turned eyes on Soulafein, as though wondering what he was waiting for. With a mutual, verbal stab, the two Drow went separate paths, their new "companion" heading for the exit, evidently ignorant of whether they followed or not. Assuming that it probably would be wise to do so, Negrath followed, waving the others with him.

At Soulafein's warning that they were about to engage in battle, the spellcasters fortified what they could of the group's minds, before splitting up; Aerie retreating to where she would not be noticed, and Jaheira and Viconia making sure their weapons could still deal damage without taking any in return.

As the male Drow finished his little ritual, several small whirlwinds of blue smoke faded into view, dissolving into a number of despicable, humanoid creatures and their elemental guardians. In the middle of the recently materialized enemies they saw a Drow Female that seemed to have expected them, and was annoyed that they had been taking so long…

One insect-faced creature immediately impaled on his most potent blade, Negrath let the other make a deep cut in the leg of a nearby guard. Unsurprisingly, neither paid much attention to the damage inflicted, the tentacled one stretching tendrils towards his head, and the guard offering the distraction of a second opponent. Dancing away in near-panic, the Kensai called for Aerie to do what she could to stop them.

Precious moments later, in which an elemental fist knocked Minsc off his feet and prepared to stomp on him, the energy-sapping energy released by a Sleep-spell enveloped them all. The Mindmen, not needing physical strength, remained on their feet by force of will alone…which were more than sufficient… whereas the Elementals, whose damage mostly relied on physical damage, became, although not harmless, a lot less dangerous, as they needed what strength they were allowed to keep to just keep their massive arms lifted.

Minsc, scrambling to his feet, swung longswords taken off the bodies of a Drow warparty they had bumped into on their way to their winged helper, leaving the previously threatening foe twisting on the ground, legless stumps twitching as arms flailed in a pitiful attempt to push itself up. Apparently realizing it could do no other, the imposing being returned to whence it had been called, quickly followed by it's friends as Minsc were free to help his friends.

Joining up with Viconia, the two made short work of the puny captors, Soulafein keeping the bugs' concentration broken by going up close and personal with his fists to the back of their heads, Viconia hammering their faces to soup, and Minsc turning what there were of their bodies to kindling.

As the last of them fell, the freed prisoner, referred to by Soulafein as "Phaere", initiated a lengthy dialogue with the male Drow, most of which were of a rather condescending tone. Negrath, assuming that whatever he was posing as would have little to nothing to say in this company, retreated, leaving Viconia at the front of the tiring group.

Turning to the group, Phaere studied Viconia for a moment, before discarding her as unimportant, and, having Negrath reluctantly accept that he were to be the one with whom she spoke, she smiled, a cat having found her mouse;

"So, you are the ones that were dispatched to free me? From what I can tell, you must have cost a few favors to call in. I am pleased."

Viconia snarled; "We were nothing but a visiting group from Ched Nasad, and you know well enough that we are here because we were convenient."

"If that is what you prefer to think…I was not speaking to you, though."

"Well, you should! I am the leader of this group, and if you wish to speak to them individually, do so when I'm not there! As it is, you speak to me, and not some male in my company."

"…I suppose then, that you would consider loaning him to me?" were the question that followed a moment silence as Phaere studied the cleric more thoroughly.

Throwing a glance at the Kensai, who just then found out that he should probably sheath his blades, Viconia sneered disdainfully;

"I wouldn't bother with it…not unless you are interested in an hour with a skill-less, babbling fool of a partner. No, I do not keep him with me for the horizontal pleasures. That would be him." She added, waving a thumb at Keldorn, who, not quite believing what he heard, rapidly retreated to the back of the group, gauntlets creaking as he gripped the hilt of his sheathed blade tightly enough so as to almost break it.

"Hnh. Really?" Phaere wondered, looking intently at the retreating male.

Stepping into her line of sight, Viconia smiled apologetically;

"I'm sure he would be far less impressive than those you no doubt have waiting back home, honored one."

"…no doubt. I still would like to try out the unarmored one. I'm sure I could get some skill into him."

"You mean you would bother to train a male that will not remain in your service?"

"Sure…although I will be somewhat busy in the near future. I'll let you know."

With that, she wandered off, heading back the way they had come, Soulafein mumbling sourly, as he waited momentarily, before taking off after her, disappearing from sight in the assumed intent of following her unnoticed.

As the "surfacers" were alone, Keldorn stomped forward through the group, toward a Viconia that just grinned at him. Stopping at arms length, straining not to strangle the woman, the Paladin made some inarticulate sounds, before venting his rage in a loudvoiced prayer for strength. That done, he positively yelled at the cleric;

"What was the meaning of that? Offering me up as some trained animal! I should…"

"We all know she never would have taken me up on the offer. She was interested in Negrath, and my suggestion that she does not bother with him, doubled that interest. That I offered you made her unwilling to touch you with a ten foot pole. I knew it, and she knew that I knew it."

"What…"Negrath began, but were bitten off with a snap;

"Silence, male!"

Proceeding to ignore him, Viconia turned back to Keldorn;

"Would you perhaps offer your best equipment to someone who could take it away from you at a whim?"

"…That would depend…" he began, the cleric stopping him;

"No, it wouldn't. The person in question would be someone who had infinitely more to gain on using you than not. He would have no respect for you whatsoever."

"But if you both knew, then why…"

The main goal would be to use that postponing to gain a position from which I could ignore her and whatever deal I may have made with her. As we do not belong to any house in Ust Natha, we both know that will never happen. And male…"she continued, turning to a slightly confused/impressed Negrath; "…she will expect you to be exquisite. Pull up whatever recollection you can from your time in Candlekeep's more restricted parts. You'll need it."

Ignoring his beginning objections, she warned;

"Do not presume to teach her anything, though. The control is hers at all times. You would do well to remember that."

"Good, but not great. I got it." The Kensai growled.

"I don't think you do," the Drow informed him.

"You are to do what you can to NOT be better than the average Drow. She will probably know you can do better, but unless she threatens with death, you are not to do so. Then she will realize that although she may have your body, your mind is mine to control. Of course she will be aware of the reason why you do not do your best, and so we would do well to be out of here as soon as possible."

"Viconia, I was wondering…" Negrath began, half fearing another snap.

She just looked at him, waiting. Grateful as the rest of the group wordlessly withdrew back towards the Drow city, he cleared his throat, not sure how to put his question…

"You…you are aware that we probably will get nowhere without dealing with that woman…"

"So you want to know -exactly- what to do in her lair?" Viconia smirked.

"Not exactly, just…"

"What to do, and what not to do in comparison to us." She stated calmly.

"Well…yes."

"O.K., let us see if I cannot come up with a combination that will make her want to have nothing more to do with your brand of pleasure..." the Drow chuckled, leading him back the way they had come, a malevolent grin momentarily reminding him that she had come from such a place…and probably knew more about it than even Sarevok would have wanted to learn…

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Last modified on September 2, 2001
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