Author's Note: I wanted to pick a fight with someone...anyone...to spice up this chapter but the Seer gave me one of her Looks. She barely let me get away with a bit of snide banter before she slapped me down. Sheesh! Next chapter will be less sedate, I promise.
11...Doomed
Nathyrra continued to tour them through the town.
"Who was that tiefling in the temple?" Haer'Dalis asked.
"Valen Shadowbreath. He's the Seer's general. He commands the combined army."
"A tiefling over all the troops?" Solaufein asked. Haer'Dalis raised one brow but he had lived amongst the drow long enough to know just how unusual it was to see one of the 'lesser' races in command.
Nathyrra made a quick scan for eavesdroppers but Solaufein had already checked that no one was in earshot. She lowered her voice. "In our first real battle against the Valsharess, we lost almost all of our command staff, most of whom had been provided by House Maeviir. The Seer had told them it was too soon, to wait for a sign but Maeviir insisted and-well, no matter, what happened, happened. Valen led the retreat. He protected the Seer and kept everyone together. Without him, we would have lost everything."
"Interesting," Haer'Dalis said. "But how did he happen to come here?"
"Maybe he'll tell you his story," Nathyrra said. "He's a good man and we owe him much, but he's-touchy. So watch yourself with that one."
"Touchy how?" Haer'Dalis asked.
"Just touchy," she said. "He has a vicious temper, like an animal sometimes. In battle, he's a frightening force. Stay out of his way when he gets...worked up...and whatever you do, don't set him off. He's a tiefling, you know. They're like that."
"Let me assure you, my dear Nathyrra, that tieflings are perfectly capable of civilized behavior. We are not all berserkers."
"Oh. You are-I'm sorry. I didn't realize. You are a tiefling then? But you look so different from Valen."
"Like snowflakes, no two tieflings are alike."
"Truly? That is interesting." She gave Haer'Dalis a brief smile. "But what is a snowflake?"
"Snow," Deekin said. "You know. Comes from the sky like rain. Only colder. And fluffier."
"I've heard of rain," she said.
"Lots of snow where Deekin come from. Crotch-deep snow very bad. Make Deekin want to wear pants. Almost."
"When the snow's that deep, even your pants get soaked," Haer'Dalis said. "You need snowshoes. Or a levitation spell."
"I have never seen snow," Solaufein said. "Where I lived, the climate was too warm. Have you never been to the surface?"
"Not yet," she said.
"Weather is strange and sometimes dangerous," Solaufein said. Nathyrra gave him a look but no reply. I guess I did sound condescending. She walked them past the barracks, the training ground and House Maeviir, the largest of the drow Houses that still opposed the Valsharess.
"You will need to meet Matron Mother Myrune," she said. "The Seer will arrange this but for now, she wishes an informal meeting with a smaller group." They walked on in silence. Solaufein's nose began to prickle from a strange acrid smell. "That's the Dark River up ahead," Nathyrra said. "Its waters are poisonous and its currents deadly strong. The river is the reason Lith My'athar has never fallen to invaders. No army can cross it."
"Yet I see a dock and a boat," Haer'Dalis said.
"The boat belongs to Cavallas the Boatman. He listens to the river and it talks to him, they say. He knows it better than anyone. Valen has spoken to Cavallas and even traveled in his boat to scout out the islands nearby." She gave a delicate shudder. "You should speak to Valen if you're curious."
"Deekin not be liking boats. Not be liking the smell of that river."
"Nathyrra be agreeing with Deekin," she said with a grin.
"We seem to be collecting curious looks," Haer'Dalis said.
"Yes, the rumors will be flying by now," Nathyrra said. "This town is a demonweb of gossip and speculation. That's why we always meet in the temple. It is warded against the Valsharess' spies and scrying. And we have less chance of being overheard by those whose loyalty is-untested." They followed her back to the temple and passed through its dark ominous doors. "The Seer and many of the priests from the High Forest live here in the temple compound," she said. "And Valen Shadowbreath, of course."
"Of course?" Haer'Dalis asked. Nathyrra gave him a warning look.
"If you have salacious speculations about them, you'd best keep them to yourself," she said. "Unless you want to lose teeth. The Seer is one of the subjects Valen is touchy about."
"I will attempt to control my terror," Haer'Dalis said.
"You wouldn't be so flippant if you'd seen Valen fight. Let us just say that the Seer's personal safety is very important to him. She is special to us all, of course, but to him-well, you will understand when you come to know him better."
"Is he a friend of yours?" Haer'Dalis asked.
"Valen doesn't have friends."
"Does he have enemies?" Haer'Dalis asked.
Nathyrra smiled. "Typically-not for long."
The Seer awaited them in her sitting room, a spacious area with a low table surrounded by comfortable chairs. She poured them tea from a surfacer-style teapot. Valen was already present. He did not sit but stood behind the Seer's chair and leaned against the painted wall with an expression of nonchalance belied by his twitching tail. Solaufein had to yank his attention away from its fascinating movements.
Deekin curled up beside Haer'Dalis' chair but his attempt to be unobtrusive did not protect him from Valen's glare.
"Can we dispense with the pet?" he asked.
"Deekin not a pet," the kobold said indignantly. At Valen's look, he scuttled behind the chair.
The Seer turned to look at Valen. He pursed his lips. "We know nothing of this creature," he said. He looked at Solaufein and Haer'Dalis and his frown deepened. "We know nothing of any of them."
"Eilistraee has brought them to us. This I know," she said.
"We cannot rely solely on dreams!"
The Seer raised a delicate hand. "Valen, was it not a dream that brought you across the planes?"
"No." His eyes shifted under her steady gaze. "What I saw-what I came for-was real."
She smiled. "And dreams can be real also but now is not the time for this debate," she said. She exchanged another look with Valen. He acknowledged this with a shrug and settled his shoulders more comfortably against the wall. His tail continued to twitch. "For now, we will discuss our situation," the Seer said.
"It's dire," Nathyrra said.
"Grim," Valen agreed.
"Our troops suffer from poor morale and inadequate leadership," Nathyrra said. Valen's gaze snapped to her.
"Inadequate?" Valen's tail lashed against his calf. "Compared to what?"
"We're outnumbered twelve to one," Nathyrra said.
"Oh, I think it's more than that now. Another House pulled out while you were larking around in Undermountain."
"Light upon them," Nathyrra cursed. "Sorry, Mother Seer, pardon my words. Which House?"
"I thought it was your job to keep up with such things," Valen said. "I'm busy supplying inadequate leadership."
"Enough bickering, you two," the Seer said. She leaned toward Solaufein. "It is true we are outnumbered. We have been driven here by the army of the Valsharess. We have not been successful on the field against her."
"Lost every engagement," Nathyrra said. "Routed, really. But the retreat was brilliant," she cooed. Valen scowled at her. "The Valsharess has not destroyed us mainly because she has more pressing concerns."
"Her assault on Undermountain?" Solaufein asked.
"Yes," Nathyrra said. "With Halaster free, I expect she will return her attention to us. And we are not ready."
"She will need to regroup," Valen said. "She had sent quite a number of her elite troops to Undermountain. With any luck, Halaster has destroyed them. She will continue to search for a better way to the surface. There are other entrances, of course, although none as useful as a portal through Undermountain. Still, she must find one. The small surface raids she is limited to now will not gain her the gold, food, and slaves she needs to keep her army moving. She has already squeezed the Houses under her control."
"They can be squeezed harder," Nathyrra said.
"Yes," Valen said. "With diminishing returns."
"What is your estimate of the size of the Valsharess' army?" Solaufein asked. Valen told him. A short silence fell over the room.
"How is this possible?" Solaufein asked at last. "How could one house grow so powerful?"
"Kilath was a minor house in Menzoberranzan," Nathyrra said. "Matron Mother Sinvyl was not in favor with Lolth and her House had no powerful priestesses, so we all dismissed her as a threat. When Lolth went silent and Her clerics lost their spells, Menzoberranzan was ripe for her plucking." Nathyrra looked down at her teacup and then met Solaufein's eyes. "My own House was one of her early conquests. She and her sons are conjurers. The creatures they summoned from the Hells turned the battle against us and Lolth's priestesses did not have the power to dismiss them. My House was crushed. As were many others."
"What had been her weakness became her strength," the Seer said. "Since then, her powers have grown. She has summoned an Archduke of the Nine Hells. His aid has allowed an ambitious matron mother to become-"
"A Valsharess," Nathyrra said. "A queen."
"Is Lolth dead?" Solaufein asked.
"No one knows why She has become silent," the Seer said. "I think if She were dead, we would have seen some unmistakable sign but truly, I do not know."
"I think She must be dead," Nathyrra said. "She would never have allowed all this to happen."
"An archduke of the hells," Haer'Dalis said. "Are you certain? How could anyone bind such a powerful devil? And how does she continue to hold him?"
"My visions say that she has bound Mephistopheles," the Seer said.
Haer'Dalis stared. "The Lord of Cania? The Lord of Cania is bound to this plane?"
"So I believe."
Solaufein saw Haer'Dalis trade grim glances with Valen. "How?" Haer'Dalis asked. "I can scarce believe it possible to bind him. It would take god-like power, surely."
"We do not know," the Seer said. "Perhaps she has unearthed a powerful artifact or spell. The search for ancient knowledge has long been a passion of hers."
"There is something she still seeks," Valen said. "She sends many of her agents in search of scrolls and artifacts. Even now, with all the power she has garnered, she seeks more. Cavallas tells me her spies comb the islands in the Dark River. How they travel there, he does not know. Her losses must be considerable yet she perseveres."
"She had Waterdeep searched as well," Haer'Dalis said. "Her forces attacked places of learning and took away books and killed scholars. In particular they searched for books of True Names."
"True Names," the Seer mused. "For summoning? Perhaps she knows she will not hold her devil much longer. Or perhaps she knows there is something that makes her vulnerable somehow."
"Whatever she seeks, we must find it first," Valen said.
"We must find a way to banish this devil," Haer'Dalis said. "Who could face the Lord of Cania in battle? His resources are vast indeed. Surely it would take one of the great demon lords to oppose him. Or one of the gods of the Primes."
"Are you afraid?" Valen murmured.
"Yes!" Haer'Dalis said. "Only a fool would not fear Mephistopheles."
"Ultimately we must face this devil, one way or another," the Seer said. "For now, we must buy time."
"How?" Solaufein asked.
"We can undermine the Valsharess' alliances," Nathyrra said. "And if possible, forge alliances of our own."
"What of Halaster?" the Seer asked. "He would make a mighty ally."
"I failed to recruit him," Nathyrra said. "He didn't give me the chance to speak. His attitude did not give me hope that he will aid us, even though we saved his life. He will defend Undermountain but he wasn't willing to attack the Valsharess directly." She rubbed the back of her neck, thoughtful. "I'm not sure he can leave Undermountain. Much of his power seems invested there. And without his support, there is little point in appealing to the leaders of Waterdeep. Their people cannot pass through Undermountain any easier than the Valsharess' troops could."
"Has anyone approached the surface elves?" Solaufein asked.
"The darthiir have agreed to guard the known entrances to the surface," the Seer said. "That is all the help we can expect from them, I'm afraid."
"I think we must concentrate on the Valsharess' allies here in the Underdark," Nathyrra said. She looked at Solaufein. "A cult of necromancers is supplying her with large numbers of undead. We know little of this cult. Even more dangerously, a hive of beholders has joined her. They are within striking range of Lith My'athar and pose an obvious threat. She has also joined with the illithids." Haer'Dalis made a face. "They are dangerous foes and they have little love for any of our people. Perhaps we can convince them to stay out of the fight."
"How did the Valsharess ally with them? We are all thralls in their eyes," Solaufein said.
"Unknown," Nathyrra said.
"Any other possibilities?" Solaufein asked.
"Maybe," Valen said. "Many of her troops are captives from other Houses and serve the Valsharess under duress. Any victory of ours will increase the chance that some will desert and join us."
"And you would trust a deserter?" Nathyrra asked.
"We trust you, don't we?" There was a bite in Valen's tone. Nathyrra gave him the side of her eye.
"Lolth may be silent," Nathyrra said. "But it will take more than a token victory or two to induce most drow to join with followers of Eilistraee. I mean no offense, Mother Seer. Unless it is proven Lolth is dead, many will continue to believe Her silence is a test of their faith."
Solaufein blinked. "Is that a possibility?"
The Seer spread her hands. "That is unknown to me." She smiled at him. "Eilistraee will guide us-that is what I know. Take a cycle or two to familiarize yourself with the camp and the people here who will help you. I will study this curse Halaster placed upon you. I am happy you are here. And your allies, of course." She nodded to Haer'Dalis and Deekin.
"Sounds like we be doomed," Deekin said.
The Seer gave him a startled look. "Do not despair, good kobold. The Dark Maiden guides us."
Deekin grinned, showing a long jaw filled with small sharp teeth. "No problem, Seer lady. Doom nothing new to Deekin. Deekin been doomed lots of times. Makes a good story."
"A good story?" Valen asked.
"Everyone likes hearing about doom," Deekin said.
