It was growing darker and for Heredon the drow necromancer this meant great unease, behind him it was certain that the great light still shined high up in the sky above and yet as he looked ahead of him there was dusk.
But the darkness was not natural to this plane and he knew it. Just the feel in the air, cold and discerning as it was brought back many memories both good and bad, and the dark skinned tiefling shuddered against the chill. Pushing back branches as he chose not to remain on the dirt pathway Heredon treaded light and alone, it wasn't in his bones to desire possesions, and such things would only hinder his travel.
No he was rather at peace with what little he had, and the good memories that he dwelled upon.
The darkness of his displacer beast cloak, skin boots, and leather vest blended well with not only his skin but it also kept him quite unplaceable in the ominous blackness he was heading into. Heredon stopped when the forest thickened.
Looking at the twisted branches of dying trees the drow shook his head, "You've not yet graced this plane with your wretched presence Adriara, that rotted stink of yours does not bite my senses."
Pulling his cowl close Heredon smirked and continued walking. Not so long would pass before he came upon a broken wall, one that seemed out of place.
His eyes scanned the wall before traveling upward, Heredon saw the lands beginning to die, and striding about in the ravaged land were heftilly built sentinels. Upon closer inspection Heredon saw that they were not warriors of devilish ancestry, but rather brutish orcs.
A sure sign that the devils had not yet made their appearence here, a good sign.
Stalking around a large boulder he stopped and lay upon his belly, down below in a valley there were hundreds of skin tents most revolving around the northern border of the fortress. Heredon quickly spotted a patrol and with haste he rose to his feet, sidestepping behind another boulder as the orcs passed by without a hint of anything amiss amongst their new acquired land.
When they were gone the drow croutched down and once again scanned the army, nothing out of the ordinary when it came to an orcish encampment was to be seen, until a caravan pulled onto the road and from within the fortress came out a tall black haired warrior. To Heredon the brimstone and fire was unmistakable, this fiend was a devil of sorts, and by all looks of it a very dangerous one.
Eyes narrowing and his face contorting to a scowl the tiefling spoke, "So you're her link to this plane. I should have guessed a tiefling would take that place." the scowl disappeared as a clever grin took it's place, "Just one tiefling? This is going to be easier then I thought."
None of the orcs were wise to the fact that a rogue drow necromancer was in their midst as Heredon found a way into the courtyard of the ruined keep.
How long had she been in here? Locked up in some dank dungeon with those smelly yellow eyed brutes constantly keeping a vigil. Myria weakly lifted her hands before her, they were shaking so terribly and have been for some time. When they fell to her lap a shuffle sound beside her caught her attention.
"Myria you're awake." came a small toned voice and the girl turned to look at her halfling companion.
"Renna how are you doing?"
"Despite this mess, and all I'm great." the halfling replied as she sat up rather groggily, "And you?"
"I'm fine." answered Myria gently as she glanced over by the large form chained against the far wall. It was Gremis and the big hobgoblin warrior was weak and in terribly bad shape. The orcs it seemed were not too fond of hobgoblin kin and took out this hatred on the warrior.
"Gremis!" Renna called over to get his attention and see if he were still alive. For a few moments he remained still until the shackles about his wrist clinked together and he glanced up, sore and with a badly swollen eye, "Eh?" he grunted weakly nursing a shattered forearm.
Renna's look was solemn, "Just wanted to make sure you were still with us."
"Of course." the hobgoblin's response wasn't a sure one obvious by the way he lowered his head in pain for a moment.
"We need to find a way out of here."
Myria looked at the halfling and shook her head at the girl's comment, "Renna I don't think we can find a way out of this? Not unless Ravnos and Kai find us." Myria's thoughts fell on Ravnos and Kai, and she began to wonder that even if they did find them, would the two tiefling's even survive a rescue?
Suddenly the three prisoners heard heavy footsteps down the hall coming toward the room they were in. Soon two orcs stepped into the room followed by the tall dark haired tiefling and the boy twin from the cabin. Both Myria and Renna watched in horror as the orcs forced Gremis to his feet. When they removed his chains Renna shot straight for the bars of her cell.
"Leave him be you ugly dung piles!"
"The feisty runt still has not learned to keep her tongue silent." came the hate filled voice of the tall devil as Ixian stepped up to the cage and glared the girl straight in the eyes, "keep it up rat, and I'll feed you to my soldiers."
Renna in all her spite was about to argue but it was Gremis who cut her off this time.
"Renna, please." the hobgoblin pleaded with what breath wasn't taken from him from his harsh treatment, a sharp pain hit his shoulder as the orcs pulled him away, "don't give in, they won't win this one." he added quickly as an orc thrust his weapon's pommel into Gremis's head.
"Gremis!" the small halfling called out to him as he was taken from the room. Her small arm reached out to him but it would do no good, this would be the last time her eyes would ever meet his own.
As Myria pulled Renna back Ixian cast them both a fanged grin.
"Oh how sweet." the dark devil spoke maliciously, "look Drevin, see how weak they can be.." his clawed hands wrapped around the bars as Ixian moved in closer, "I have been wondering? What possibly could a small runt of a halfling find so interesting in a disgusting beast such as your hobgoblin friend was?" he continued with a smile, "And what could a devil bred possibly have found intriguing in a frail creature like a human." Ixian's eyes flashed as they fell on Myria, "Besides the obvious choice of a plaything that is."
Myria grimaced at Ixian's words really not wanting to show the brute that he was burning her nerves the more he spoke. Still holding Renna back she replied, "You're trying to trick us devil, you speak as if Gremis is dead.."
"Tricks?" Ixian spouted as he uttered a dark snicker, "I don't delve in tricks pet, deceit is for the weak." he turned and headed for the door, "enjoy your companionship, it won't last much longer."
As the tiefling left Drevin glared at Myria and Renna before following.
He felt lucky, for some reason once he gained access to the inside of the keep Heredon had no run in's with the orc soldiers. For now he was playing it safe, croutching behind the heavy railings of an indoor balcony overlooking what he believed to be the main hall of the keep.
Planning his next move his eyes caught movement at a large door and the drow felt an immense presence, an all too familiar and hated one. Heredon's green flecked eyes scanned the room seeing an odd pedestal that sat upon a circle in the middle of the hall, he had hoped it's use was not for what he supposed it was meant for.
The truth would come soon enough.
Heredon remained still as a group of orc came in behind the tall winged being, in chains they led yet another bulky form behind them. With force they shoved the prisoner to his knees, a hobgoblin the tiefling remembered thinking back to his studies of the races here, but why was he imprisoned here?
Soon after the hobgoblin was kneeling a young man entered the hall and took a place beside the much larger devil. A horrible realization came to the drow at that moment...
Below unaware that he held an audience Ixian let his claw drop before the weak hobgoblin, then with a harsh move he forced Gremis to look up at him.
"You will serve a dire purpose here hobgoblin don't despair, it's your blood that will begin the death of this plane."
"Despair." Gremis hissed with what fight remained in his heart, "you thought much of this plan devil tiefling, but you forget one thing so imperitive for one of your stature to remember."
"And what is that?"
Gremis rolled his eyes, "You underestimate your enemy, they have one of your own on their side. And he will make sure your end is full of suffering."
"My father?" Ixian chided with sarcasm as he backed away, "you put so much faith in that wretch of a devil, strange how you and Adriara seem to have so much in common with one another.."
"Father?" Heredon thought to himself as a shock wracked his brain.
Ixian continued, "Ravnos will fall with those weak mortals he allies himself with, it matters not to me." the devil reached for a obsidian handled blade and turned back to Gremis, "He chose his path, a bad choice indeed but who are we to control him."
Gremis watched the glint of the blade as Ixian lowered it against his skin. The hobgoblin's eyes closed as the cold steel ran across his throat, blood flowing freely now Gremis fell forward.
After the sudden chaos in the room became still Ravnos had taken a place near the window as the drow tiefling Drizzt stayed across the room. The space between them was cold indicating a particular distrust that they both shared in common.
It was Kai, who found the silence in the room to be a little too much to take spoke up.
Throwing the apple core onto the floor he stepped into the middle of the room, "So what's the plan?"
He looked at Ravnos first due to recognition and habit but the big tiefling said nothing, instead he continued sharpening an already fierce edged blade.
"There is a force, a small army moving from Silverymoon." Drizzt said in response, "They're plans are to rid the lands of this devil and his legion of orc warriors."
"We have to get to them first." added Ravnos as he turned his head to glance over momentarily, "That devil is far more dangerous then he is taken for." the sharpening stone in his hand ran across the edge one more time before the tiefling lifted the blade up and ran it across his finger. "That army will be facing far worse then merely orcs and broken men if we don't stop the devil's plans with haste."
Drizzt glanced at Ravnos, "How do you know so much tiefling?" he asked.
For a moment Ravnos did not answer he was ashamed of what would be revealed should the truth come to light. His green eyes dimmed lightly as they fell to the floor, "because the enemy shares my blood." he replied to the drow's shock, "He is my son."
"Definitely nothing alike those two." Kai cut in as his back fell against he wall and he folded his arms. Both Drizzt and Cattie gasped at the news, this tiefling was closer to the enemy then just by race alone.
Miles away in the calm of the night menacing clouds rolled across the skies. They bore no storm of nature's making but for those in the lands below they bore ill tidings.
Ixian sneered as the tall figure stepped through the portal and even though the figure was immence when compared to his own bulky form the tiefling was not intimidated at all by the one before him. In grace he took a step back allowing the arch devil a chance to view his surroundings.
After some time Ixian took a step toward the great humanoid devil lord, "Now to keep to your end of the bargain dark lord."
The large devil turned his glowing eyes to the tiefling and gave a sharp look as if to remind the lesser devil of his bounds. Indeed he remembered the bargain he struck with the she devil, and he would uphold his end.
Mephistopheles did not wish Bel's wrath.
"So. You're the witch's get eh?" Mephist added with uncaring regard, "I was warned of your disobedient temper tiefling child, Ixian is it?" the arch devil grinned at the tiefling's obvious frustration, "the courtyard that is where the door will open. Do you have the twins?"
At this Ixian looked down, "Only the male dark one. The female has eluded us."
Mephist growled in a rage and raised his claw towards Ixian but the tiefling showed no sign of submission, the arch devil expected this, "Fool the door will not remain open without her."
"She will come, the little bitch has love for her traitorous brother." Ixian replied folding his wings as the arch devil turned his back.
"I grow impatient tiefling, but I will summon others to join me on this plane." his feral eyes narrowed as Mephistopheles glared at Ixian, "This place wreaks of poison, you best not test my patience."
Groaning at the obvious ill intended threat Ixian nodded and left the hall.
Up in the balcony Heredon had to make a good plan, and quick.
Another day went by as the motley group made their way across the lands. Ravnos knew the next place that they were going to wander through could be dangerous, on the other hand their destination was the great meeting place for the races involved in the war for Toril. Whether or not the tieflings and drow would find kind greeting there was not known. No matter who they fought for. In the next coming miles ahead of them was the city of Silverymoon the dwelling of good folk, and the home of one of Mystra's chosen. The beautiful Alustriel.
Onward the horses moved Risen taking the lead position as the others lagged behind. The road was a used one and with the rains that were still plaquing the land it was soft on the horses' feet.
When they reached a high bluff Ravnos pulled the reins back commanding Risen to stop as he looked down across the lands, and on the skyline he could see a darkness. As his eyes narrowed Drizzt and the others rode up.
"The dark clouds, what are those?" Shela asked as she saw the darkness.
"Remnants of Avernus. A portal was opened leaving a doorway between this plane and that of the hells. You see what I saw..." Explained Ravnos as he scoped out the area.
Kai'lair looked at the skies just to make sure that there was no unwanted welcoming committee coming from above.
Drizzt saw a movement from the boulder to their left, "Ravnos, to the left."
Ravnos looked over just in time to see a group of armored soldiers riding toward them bearing banners of Silverymoon itself. It was Drizzt who sighed as he looked at the two tieflings, "They don't take kindly to our type, remember that, but don't judge them."
"Oh and they can judge us?" Kai quipped as both he and Ravnos shook their heads. Drizzt would not explain instead he rode out a short distance to greet the oncoming guards with hands up in a show of peace.
"We do not come here to cause any trouble." the drow said kindly yet with a strong tone.
"Then why are you here drow?" came a sharper voice as the captain of the guard eyed not only the tiefling but his companions with suspicion, "We do not see too many of your species moving through these lands."
Ravnos kept his mount steady as the tiefling and men conversed.
"Speak drow! We are not fond of intruders into our lands! Especially intruders who travel with outlanders."
"Get off your pampered pony fool and I'll show you just what type of intruders we are." Kai'lair hissed taking offense to the way they were being treated. So he responded in kind pulling his sword in anger but Drizzt shook his head and the dark tiefling childishly put the weapon back.
"We are here to meet with Alustriel, she summoned us to come and aid her in the battle. The devil is the one we are after."
Explained Drizzt in a calm manner, "I am the Drizzt Do'Urden."
"And of your companions." the armored rider said harshly as he glared at Kai'lair, "You should help that one maintain his tongue." he warned, "I am Rael. You speak of a devil. Our leader has received word just this morning that a tiefling has gained help and from a portal he summoned one of the Lords of the Nine."
"The Lords of the Nine." Ravnos groaned with disgust.
Ravnos sighed, such powerful devils were not something easily dispelled of that was for sure.
"Then that is the problem we are going after. He wishes to turn the world dark for eternity, and we are going to stop him."
Rael smiled as he patted the neck of his dappled steed, "You are bold to go after that abomination. He has been an enemy of ours for some time, and now he has the portal opened and the army of the hells on his side."
Staring the newcomers down Rael noticed that two of them were not tiefling, no they were human.
"Strange for warriors to travel with women amidst their ranks."
"They both hold a place in this battle, one will fight and the other... Her purpose is far greater then we can realize, and we need to move on." Drizzt replied as Rael turned his mount away from them.
"You cannot fight this battle alone. Come, we will speak with my lieutenant."
Drizzt looked at Ravnos, who nodded and agreed to follow Rael down the diminishing pathway. The light canter through a grove of trees was brisk and when the group came out the other side they were shocked at what greeted them there. Across the valley there were thousands upon thousands of tents raised by dwarves, elves, and other races known to grace the land they resided in.
It was an army of mass proportions unlike anything Ravnos had ever seen here on the prime plane.
"Are you coming?" Rael asked as he stopped his horse waiting for them.
As the band rode into the encampment they did so with the wandering and somewhat untrusting gazes' of the soldiers here waiting to fight for their homes. Ignoring the stares they soon stopped at a large dome tent in the middle of the encampment where sitting at the end of a large wooden table was a strong looking human with a mane of blond hair and beard, he seemed to bear a certain goodly awe about him, unsettling Ravnos just a bit.
He looked both Ravnos, Drizzt and Kai'lair down and stood to greet them, despite the uptight attitude of tje welcomimg committee that was Rael this man was quite kind.
"So you must be Drizzt, and you Ravnos, I am Thraxus, please sit down and we can discuss our problem." he said offering both the travelers, plus their companions a seat at his table.
Respectfully Ravnos nodded and took a seat, if he could get the aid of this and his army it would be a great relief.
Thraxus took a drink of ale and relaxed in his chair all the while motioning Rael to grab a map from the chest at the back of the tent.
"My commander tells me that you are troubled by the same Baatezu devil we are hunting." he said as the map was set down at his table.
"Yes." Ravnos replied, "We are seeking to destroy the parasite before he raises the hells and ruins this world as we know it."
"As are we." Thraxus told the tiefling as he scanned across the map and found what he was looking for, "This is Hellgate Keep, battle ground for fiends and mortals alike for many a century. My scouts have found the winged fiend and a large army of orcs awaiting there."
The two tieflings looked at the map, Kai'lair took a big breath as he sat back down.
"Of course he would have to be penned up in an unaccesible place. How are we supposed to get to him there? There are open plains surrounding that place,"
"Not to worry." Thraxus told the dark tiefling calmly, "Our armies will gather and meet with him head on, the lack of strategic hiding places is not such a problem as you think."
"You've got great faith in the ability of your people." Ravnos interrupted, "But how many armies of the damned have you struck down in your life? They will not fall to mundane weaponry nor will they be intimidated by your forces."
Thraxus leaned back giving them all a casual glance before shaking his head, "We have far more allies then you think tiefling, more allies and a great number of devestating creatures. From the southlands come a troupe of strong beings, great wyrms of bold colors who are more then willing to stop this threat."
Giving a strange look the always bold Kai'lair stood up quickly and backed up nervously, "You mean those big lizards? Is that a wise decision, you know getting help from those beasts"
Ravnos looked back at his friend with a smile across his face, "Oh Kai, don't tell me that you are scared of them?"
"Oh no way." the dark one replied back, "Just a little height issue that's all."
"I assure you that these beasts are gentle Kai'lair, they will keep you safe." Thraxus told them as he sat back down.
In taking another drink his eyes fell on Shela and the powerful man smiled, "And you needn't worry, we will find your brother and bring him back to you."
Shela gasped as both Ravnos and Kai'lair gave the man cross looks. Thraxus laughed with a good nature as he offered them all another drink then he explained.
"The grandness of our lady Alustriel holds no bounds, now will the lady prefer some rest as we bring some plans together for the armies to be arriving in the morn?" he asked as he motioned toward Shela. In courtesy Shela nodded wanting some good rest to relax her sore muscles, and a warm bath would do the trick.
Later that evening as Shela slept, Ravnos kept himself at a fire not far from the door to her tent, he himself did not trust these others farther then he could spit. And Shela was always vulnerable to those whose allegiances fell on a whim to darkness.
Rael walked over to the new tiefling and sat across from him. For a few seconds the two were silent, and never made eye contact. Both probably felt very uncomfortable with the other.
Finally Rael looked over at the male and broke the silence,
"So what's special about the human girl?"
"If this Alustriel has not spoken of this to you, then it will remain a mystery. I will not put Shela in danger, and my trust of you holds little bearing." Ravnos replied quickly. Rael shook his head, got up and walked away from the tiefling.
Ravnos watched him go, his brow furrowing in distrust slowly his eyes returned to the fire and he began to think.
The silence of the night urged his eyes to grow heavy, and soon he fell into a reverie of sorts.
Though his dreams were always full of nightmares.
He growled restlessly, his green eyes flashing awake as he rose quickly, broad chest heaving from the million beats if fought for. The tiefling grabbed his head feeling the pounding that resounded at a constant straining beat.
The drums from the nightmares of before...
Another growl came as the warrior stood, bare to the skin from the waist up he walked to the fire it's light tracing his muscles and shining with a warming glow against his scarred ashen skin. In the life he lived before he had been forcing a path through the blood of his enemy and now when it was his time to rest, such rest would not come so easily to him any longer.
Ravnos narrowed his green eyes and grabbed his head as another pain shot through, he was still lathered in the sweat that his nightmare caused and his long red hair was damp hanging in wayward locks down his face before his eyes.
"So even the dark blooded squirm in fear of their own dreams."
Ravnos gave Shela a shocked and somewhat humbled glance in response to her sudden appearence, "My nightmares were my reality once, not an imagination of my own creation. What are you doing up? You should be sleeping."
"I couldn't, it's easier to stay away from my nightmares if I don't give them a chance to be Ravnos." Shela wrapped her fur around her body and took a seat before the fire, "would you want to talk about them?"
"Talk about what?"
"Your dream sometimes it helps to talk about your nightmares, or so I've heard."
The tiefling sat back down across from her and held his forearm up, palm to him as his eyes followed the scar that was burned there, "you wouldn't want to hear what my dreams contain Shela, all the bloodshed, the killing that I've..." his voice trailed off slowly as another form came into the light of the fire and the drow took a seat. Drizzt had heard the conversation.
"We've all done things we regret tiefling the nightmares will come and go but they will ebb away if not disappear completely as you continue to move on."
Ravnos glanced up at Drizzt with a neutral look in his feral eyes. What if the elf were right? Could he possibly escape the dreams, after all he had escaped the cause of those dreams alright. And that was no easy task, not at all.
"Words of wisdom from a drow." mumbled the tiefling deeply. This caused Drizzt to shake his head and grit his teeth together, "I could see pass your blood tiefling, I know more then most not to seek a person's heart by the color of their skin or the nature of their appearence, those are words of wisdom that I give to you not as a drow but as an ally against a common enemy. There is enough predjudice here in this encampment, I know you've felt it, lets not join them in their misunderstandings."
"He's right." She interrupted nodding in understanding and agreement at Drizzt. Ravnos remained silent for the moment before he threw a stick into the kindling and looked up at the two of them.
"We do make a rather motley group don't we?" he half asked with a smirk on his face, life was short and could be lost tomorrow for all he knew. Not uttering a sound the tiefling stood up calling for his mount he reached for two daggers as Risen came to his side.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm hungry and this human food isn't doing the trick." he told Shela as he hefted himself into the saddle and rode into the night.
Ravnos stopped the soaking dappled horse when he caught some movement ahead of them, near the lake. For a moment he just sat on the animal trying to see if whatever it was felt safe enough to move once more, as the tiefling didn't want to confront a creature he couldn't easily take out. The sword at his side was useless now the wet weather would no doubt turn the weapon's powers to his disadvantage and probably kill him. So with only one other option the tiefling pulled out his dagger and dismounted the shaken equine to get closer to the figure that moved ahead. The rain pelted his leather armor, as he moved on getting closer to the thing. To his relief it was a large razorback boar wallowing itself into the mud not minding the tiefling that lurked in the shadows blade ready for it's demise. The tiefling himself stepped quietly through the mud trying with every effort not to lend the animal an idea of his being there, he came up from behind a grim smile on his handsome face and his claws open to dig into the pig;s flesh. As he got close enough a twig snapped behind him, tense the tiefling glanced over his shoulder to see Risen following him. He rolled his eyes and turned back hearing the defiant snort that came from his intended prey, "Great, thanks you old nag!" Ravnos hissed seeing the boar stomp to a charge straight at him. Ravnos flung his body to the side missing the great animal's sharp tusks that would indeed rip him open. Finding himself in the mud Ravnos shook some wet dirt from his face as he gained his senses back, but when he looked up the boar was already closing in for a second attack not giving him any time to defend himself. Gritting his teeth for the inevitable blow the tiefling took the creature's tusks into his stomach, but he also dug his sharp claws into it's shoulders to hold himself to it, feeling that the sharp bone did not tear his leather yet. As the boar ran forward trying to fling his unwelcome rider Ravnos pulled one of his claws from the animal's meat, judging when the creature would turn his head once more the tiefling caught the moment with claws lunging deep. It felt the pain from the tiefling's claws enter it's eye, stumbling for a moment the tough animal felt a rush of energy before he fell not being able to raise up. Still it was not done with the fight, but Ravnos had ended the game, he stood over the flailing animal cautious yet he slashed it's throat. Warm blood oozed onto the ground as Ravnos watched with fascination, he felt his urges once more at the surface and dared not fight them, he had not fed in some time now, and this was an opportunity he will not let pass.
Shela held her sights on the path that Ravnos had taken out of the encampment, across from her Drizzt seemed in his own and was silent. Then to her sights came a shadow, looming from the light rain it slowly came forward and stopped before coming to the now wet fire. With a loud thud she saw the razorback's corpse fall lifeless to the ground and knew it was Ravnos, she was comforted to see him and couldn't resist the smile that grew on her face. Drizzt himself turned to see who caused the slight noise.
After ridding himself of the corpse the tiefling limped in with Risen behind him favoring the pain that the damned pig caused in his stomach. Shela became afraid when her eyes saw the blood that covered Ravnos, but when she got close there were no visible wounds to cause that must too be lost, but he was still in obvious pain either way.
"Now that is a pig!" Kai'lair blurted out as he knelt down next to the dead animal, "Ravnos, you've outdone yourself this time."
"I always come through Kai, you know that." came a reply when the tiefling fell against a tree, grimacing in pain while he tried to smile. The damage was healing he could tell, but damn it hurt. "They can deal with it now Ravnos, you need to rest and tend that wound." Shela said taking his hand and pulling him back through the encampment to her tent. He was quite confused with what she was doing, but did not dare ask. Instead he went along with her quietly.
Once at her empty tent Shela helped him sit then knelt down before him, "How bad does it hurt?" she asked helping him remove his armor, the tiefling took a painful breath as he faced her.
"It hurts, but it's not debilitating." he replied when she placed his armor down on the ground beside them. After doing that the girl placed her cloak on the ground gazing up at him with longing in her hazel eyes, she ran her hands down his strong chest, "We should not hold out any longer." with whispers the girl pushed close to him, "I cannot." She was now on straddling him and he at first was confused at her willingness to give in to him, but even his feelings would not hold out much longer and soon he found himself falling to her caress, as she took in his strength within herself.
It was her first time, Ravnos saw the blood as he pulled free and stood up. Shela herself was quietly reaching for her clothes when she turned to him, "It's alright Ravnos, there was no wrong done here. You took nothing I was not willing to give you."
Her hands slid down his back and he sighed,"It's not just that." he mentioned then moved away from her as he finished dressing and went for the tent entrance, "we can't be together like that anymore Shela, it's not right."
"I know." she responded watching him walk out of her tent.
Within the sanctity of a great city she looked out, an ancient soul contained within the body of a beautiful woman. Alustriel, one of Mystra's chosen looked across the plains and forests of her homeland with some sorrow in her gaze, just on the horizon there were fires, not the enemy but her allies were camped there this night.
A great war would be fought, and already the world at her feet began to mourn for those who would not be making it back. She too mourned for them.
There was the swish of a cloak and beside her stood one of her associates, a rather powerful mage who had been her confident for some years.
"The girl, does she live?" he asked placing his hands on the guard rail of the balcony as he followed the woman's gaze. Alustriel nodded lightly, "She does, and is well thank the gods of good, her defenders are strong and take their roles seriously in all this." she turned to face the wizard and smiled gently, "The girl will aid the Baatezu in their choices, but they don't realize that one of their own can help aid us in this battle. He just don't realize it yet."
"Which one, Drizzt?"
"No the girl travels with another a tiefling of Baatezu blood born in the hells. I sense in him a presence long forgotten in the books of the devil past, his spirit is special." Alustriel's smile widened, "Have you knowledge of the history of devil kind?" when he shook his head she smiled, "They were not always the fiends you know of now, in the before they were spirits not born of flesh and bone. They were called Barathrum." There was some familiarity there, the wizard had heard of such beings but they were supposed to be a myth and nothing more but here and now one of the ancients spoke of them in truth. He sighed, "the originators of the Baatezu race they were, until their own creations broke the mold through imagination and free will thus destroying their own creators. Were they not all destroyed in that long ago battle?"
Alustriel gave her companion a long worn gaze, "Not all of them it would seem, one somehow lives on through this red haired tiefling's aura. In our hands he can become the devil army's downfall, in their hands should he not turn against his own he would make our chances here dismal."
"Not good at all." the wizard added and she nodded in response. Alustriel would have to speak with this tiefling alone.
Ravnos was making his rounds, the fire had grown dim and the thoughts of what he had done earlier tore at his heart. What would Myria think of him should she find out? Could she find it within herself to trust him ever again? His steps led him back to the girls' tent so Ravnos stopped before the door flap and chose to check in on them both quietly, just in case they had fallen asleep earlier but as he listened the voices within told him they still were awake. The tiefling was curious and despite all his senses warning him of what he was about to do Ravnos figured just a quick look wouldn't hurt. So he pulled back the flap ever so slightly.
Inside the red haired woman companion of the drow was sitting on the side of one of the beds, and sitting with her back turned to him was Shela. She was covered in only a blanket that did not cover her back, leaving it bare with only her long brown hair to cover her skin. For a few moments his sight was transfixed on her until someone had caught his attentions.
"You should allow them their privacy tiefling." came Drizzt's familiar voice.
Ravnos smirked and whispered back, "They will have their privacy once I find out that no harm will come to them."
"They seem alright to me." Drizzt replied though he couldn't stop his own lavender orbs from straying into the tent, he suddenly found himself doing the same as the tiefling. The two of them could have watched for some time if it weren't for a rather rude interruption.
"So what are they doing?" came a sarcastic sounding voice causing Ravnos and Drizzt to both bump against the doorflap. The drow elf's smaller size couldn't hold the tiefling's bulk back causing Drizzt to lose his step and fall forward into a heap on the fur rug at the girls' feet. Helpless to stop it now both watched as the girls glared their way, each trying to look as though they happened to be passing by when it opened. But it was Kai'lair's devious laughter as he stood in the tent's entrance that broke their innocense.
"Are you spying on us now!" Cattie muttered in accusation as Shela was quick to cover her shoulders. Both Ravnos and Drizzt took a quick glance at one another, then back to them, "No!" muttered Ravnos with a cocky smile as he pushed Drizzt to move, "Now why would we do that."
It was hard to regain their composure and Kai's laughter didn't help the situation much, Ravnos glared at his other tiefling companion for the betrayl as he nearly stumbled on his way out of the tent. Drizzt cast Cattie a rather embarrassed look before he too was quick to leave.
The girls watched as they left, then laughed.
Night was his favorite time, dark shadows eased his eyes and the quiet was comforting to the tiefling. Ravnos was alone as he wandered down the hoof worn pathway between the army tents. He had left Shela in her tent after their union not wanting her to see the guilt on his face for what he had done. Coming the end of a large tent he stopped to think, leaning his back against a tree and taking a deep sigh. It was then that a noise commanded his attentions, senses flaring the tiefling moved from the tree keeping his eyes out for any sign of danger. When whoever snuck up to him did not respond to his signal the tiefling grew frustrated knowing that the assailant was yet watching him. "You are quite unwise to sneak up on me and figure I will not seek you out stranger. Show yourself now and I may let you survive."
"Don't be harsh tiefling." came a kind yet wise sounding feminine voice. This caught the tiefling off guard as he watched closely when a human woman, small in stature with long dark hair and delicate features, wearing a dress of golden fabric came from around the corner and stood without fear in front of him. For Ravnos this was an odd occurrence, he knew that physically there was nothing to concern him about the woman, but his darker senses warned him the dangers that this woman could show him, that he held within himself. Despite an urge to at least make a move on this human who was so bold to confront him, the tiefling decided otherwise, instead he focused his attentions on the staff that the woman held close to her side. "I say and do as I must human." he hissed crossing his arms across his chest, "why is one such as you wandering the encampment alone at night? I did not see you around here earlier."
"Such as myself?" she repeated and smiled with a pureness that even the tiefling had to ignore.
"Don't be coy with me woman, I can feel the magic you hold. A wizard perhaps?"
Grinning from ear to ear the woman held her staff in front of him for the untrusting tiefling to see, "Ah the insight of a tiefling."
"I have learned to trust my instincts magic user, but you still have yet to answer my question."
The woman looked at Ravnos with such pride within herself; in these lands she had never seen an tiefling such as this, although she knew the tiefling's race was that of the barbaric Baatezu. Here that race was in the nightmares of her people, so for many to see this red hair and his darker companion there was a sort of animosity. With kindness she answered the tiefling's question, "You have traveled far my tiefling friend, for a cause you are uncertain about" she told the tiefling as she walked up to Ravnos seeing that the tiefling's eyes kept close watch of the staff that she held. This one has battled magic before, she could see the sword that rested on the tiefling's belt, a hornblade created by another powerful mage from the horn of a blue dragon. And from the looks of the bone itself the wyrm was ancient, and this tiefling was quite strong indeed to have taken the life of one so old.
Watching the woman's eyes fall to his sword the tiefling placed his hand on the hilt almost as if he were afraid that the woman would try to take direwrath from him. "Gives reason to the strange glares we have been getting from the villagers here." Ravnos muttered trying to gain the woman's attentions back on him, "You are quite intent on changing the subject from my question magic user, your kind has far too much gall to wander and seek out danger."
"From my sights I see that you also seek to find danger here tiefling, but I have come to seek out someone special... you." came the woman's answer as she took her sight from the sword and back to the tiefling, "We may have something in common."
"And what might that be?"
Becoming aware of the sarcasm in the tiefling's voice the woman grinned wider before she held her staff down to the ground. Brilliant lights sprung forth from the dirt revealing a swirling pool of colors that changed to white, "Look here." pointed the woman to the pool. Within the radiating lights that although they were bright, hurt his eyes none, the tiefling saw a lone keep standing strong surrounded by water on one side and lush valleys on the other. Inside this half ruined fortress an evil face looked out, her dark eyes ever familiar stung his memory making Ravnos turn his head away to escape the dark feeling her image brought.
Fighting the urge to stare Ravnos looked away from the sight and at the ground, "What is this supposed to show to me woman?"
"She is familiar to you is she not? The one who birthed your own mother and raised you to become a soldier of death, the she devil has found her way back here Ravnos we could not stop her arrival. Her intentions against you have never wavered and should she get her hands on you and the girl.."
When she said that Ravnos quickly turned to her, "Leave Shela out of this stranger! I would not think twice to cut you in half if she fell to any harm caused by you!"
"Then you care deeply for her." replied the woman sensing the tiefling's blood boiling, "but she isn't the only one you stand to lose in all of this." she added giving Ravnos an accusing glare, "Ravnos you are treading on a thin line, the one that seperates what you are from who you are. Don't let what you came from destroy any hope you have for a future life free of torment and sorrow. I know of your Myria, and of the halfling and hobgoblin's capture. These fiends have taken your family from you again, don't allow it this time." her shining eyes bore through him with empathy, "Already you have taken the advantage away from our enemy, the girl was meant to remain pure for them to fulfill their intentions. You hold some guilt for what you did, even if it is not the girl shela you favor, but Myria is the one who holds your soul. Ravnos you did no wrong, not this time.."
Sharp points shoved through the heart of the tiefling, paining him to no end and the woman knew this, she felt for him deeply but this was something that he had to confront on his own. "I can feel the sorrow in your soul tiefling, and that is why I have come to you in person. This battle tomorrow will end as it will, but the one who will be afflicted most will be you. How you choose will decide the fate of your friends, and the woman you are meant to defend."
The woman shining against the light of the moon smiled as she took his large claw tipped hand into her own, when he tried to pull back her grip tightened but the look on her face softened, "Casualties are the darkest dreams of battle tiefling you know that as well as anyone here, but do not give up on your hope."
She let go and began to back away, now Ravnos realized he did not even know the woman's name.
"Who are you anyways?" he called to her. She stopped and looked back at him from over her shoulder, "They call me Alustriel." she whispered putting a finger to her lips with a smile and disappearing into the night.
